Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Lot 3284    SESSION 12 (11.30AM THURSDAY 1ST AUGUST)    Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Estimate $2,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

TRIO: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. O.N.2527 D.B.Gordon. Stoker on first medal, 2527 D.B.Gordon. Sto. R.A.N. on second medal, 2527 D.B.Gordon. Stoker. R.A.N. on last medal. All medals impressed. Toned and nearly uncirculated.

David Bruce Gordon, born 13Aug1892 at North Fitzroy, Vic; Enl.02Jan1913 in RAN for 7 years; served as Stoker II with Cerberus 02Jan-19Feb1913, and Encounter 20Feb-16May1913; deserted from HMAS Encounter on 16May1913 and arrested; ruled not to be claimed for further service and discharged; Enl.24Aug1914 in RAN for 5 years; served as Stoker II with Cerberus 24Aug-22Sep1914, Melbourne 23Sep1914 - 30Jun1915; then as Stoker with Melbourne 01Jul1915-19Jan1916, Sydney 20Jan-04Mar1916; killed on board Sydney by misadventure; buried in Naval Burial Ground, Fort Augusta, Kingston Memorial No.1, Jamaica.

David Bruce Gordon first enlisted in the RAN and was allocated number 2527. After he was discharged for desertion and ruled unfit for service with the RAN he subsequently enlisted again but failed to mention his previous service. He was allocated number 4009 but A/Director of Naval Accounts discovered his previous service in September 1915 but it was decided to take no action until he returned to Australia. Thus when he died O.N.4009 was the number recorded against his name on the memorial plaque at the Naval Burial Ground in Jamaica and also the number recorded for the enquiry into his death. At a later date, his prior service and all of his records were amalgamated under the original service number of O.N.2527 and this is the number on his service medals.

An enquiry into the circumstances of O.N.4009 Stoker D.B.Gordon's death on board HMAS Sydney at Kingston on Saturday 4 March 1916 was held by the commander of HMAS Sydney, Captain J.T.Glossop C.B., RAN on 10 March 1916 and his letter of the outcome of such was forwarded to the Commander-in-Chief for North America and West Indies. It was found that Stoker Gordon 'died through misadventure by impaling himself on the bayonet of a guard of HMAS Sydney who was acting in the performance of his duty, and to whom no blame is attachable.'

During the enquiry one of the witnesses called was Stoker Wilfred Wright O.N.1164. He stated as follows, 'I was lying on the mess stool and saw Stoker Gordon with a fork in his hand jabbing at things on the mess table, as he appeared to be drunk I thought he was going to do some damage so I got off the stool and saw him make a lunge at Stoker Roberts and brought the fork down into the table. A minute or two afterwards I saw Stoker Gordon go into the tube and bring with him a Branch Pipe. He came back into his own mess and first knocked over a fanny of tea then he started with the plates and basins: he went from our mess to Nos.12 and 10 messes doing the same with their crockery, he did the same with the Leading Stoker's mess. He came over then and stood between the torpedo hatch and the Corporal's mess and I heard him say "I have nothing to live for" and saw him go to his cap box which was on the bag rack and draw a razor from it. He went back to the centre of the deck again and opened out the razor, still having the Branch Pipe in his hand. He put the razor up to his throat but he did not seem as if he cut himself but after bringing his hand down he saw blood all over his hand and said "blood, that's what I like". The next I saw was the escort come down and I went into the tunnel tube so did not see anything further.'

Another witness, Chief Stoker Thomas McCleery O.N.7841 stated as follows, 'Between ten and five minutes to four I was sat in my mess and Stoker Dott came to the mess and called out "There is a Stoker cast loose on the Stokers' after mess deck". I immediately got up and went to that mess deck. When I got to the foot of the ladder I looked round and saw Stoker Gordon with a Branch Pipe in his hand smashing up all the plates and basins. I made a rush for him but he made at me with the Branch Pipe: then he rushed across the deck, I went to follow and he seized a razor, someone called out "Stand clear, he's got a razor", then he rushed towards the Corporal's mess and smashed the Watch Bill there. I went to go forward the Starboard side when I heard the Guard was on the deck. The next thing I saw was the Guard come to the charge. Stoker Gordon made a rush at the Guard with a Branch Pipe and struck at him, and I saw the bayonet close to his left shoulder. He then fell and I closed up and saw the blood flowing from his face and then from his shoulder. He was then picked up and carried to the torpedo hatch.'

When asked "Did you see Stoker Gordon inflict any wound on himself with the razor?" the witness responded, "I saw Stoker Gordon as he was falling with an open razor in his hand inflict a wound across either his face or neck."

Some witnesses stated that Stoker Gordon was addicted to alcohol and they had previously seen him drunk and violent.

A medical witness, Surgeon Leonard Darby RAN was asked as to whether he was aware that Stoker Gordon had come on board drunk and in a violent condition 56 hours before his breaking out on the mess deck. He answered, 'Yes, I am aware of that and the condition in spite of this may have been due to a delayed attack of Delirium Tremens, or the man may have from hereditary been of unbalanced mind with occasional irrepressible tendencies such as the desire to commit suicide. The irrepressible tendency probably was stimulated by alcohol excess.'

Note: Delirium Tremens (DTs) is a rapid onset of confusion usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol. When it occurs, it is often three days into the withdrawal symptoms and lasts for two to three days.

With copy of comprehensive Service File including Minutes of the Board of Enquiry all housed in a large blue binder.