Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Lot 3707    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 4TH APRIL)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $3,100
Bid at live.noble.com.au

MM GROUP OF FIVE: Military Medal (GVR type 1); British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. 13432 Pte W.J.Clarke. 13/F.A.Aust.A.M.C. on first medal, 13432 T-Cpl. W.J.Clarke.13-F.Amb. A.I.F. on second and third medals, V81138 W.J.Clarke on last two medals. All medals impressed. Display mounted, third ribbon with some marks, some contact marks on a few medals, otherwise very fine - good very fine.

Together with medalet for Honor to the A.I.F./Anzac Day, 1918, in bronze (27mm) (C.1918/2).

MM: LG 21/10/1918, p12421; CAG 12/2/1919, p272.

Recommendation: At about 4 a.m. on 4-7-1918 near Hamel East of Corbie Private Clarke whilst stretcher-bearing showed conspicuous gallantry. He was seen to carry wounded through an enemy barrage with the utmost coolness and contempt of personal danger. Though many times under heavy shell and machine gun fire he continued to carry with conspicuous coolness and courage throughout the whole battle.

William James Clarke, iron moulder, age 23, born at Parkside, Sth Aust; Enl.16Feb1916 at Adelaide, Sth Aust while serving in 7AGH and previously rejected for service due to a cleft palate; Emb.11Apr1916; joined 13 F.Amb 24Aug1916; WIA 07Apr1917 SW side and left elbow, France; WIA 05Jun1917 SW buttock, France; awarded MM RO No. 40 of 31Jul1918, France; to T/Cpl 03Mar1919 in Belgium; RTA 21Jun1919; Disch.28Sep1919. WWII: Enl.09Oct1939 at Melbourne, Vic; Disch.22Oct1945 as Corporal ex Murchison PW Group (Murchison Prisoner of War Group). The POW camp at Murchison in the Tatura District of Victoria housed Italian, German and Japanese prisoners of war including Kriegsmarine survivors from the HSK Kormoran.

With research.