Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Lot 3209    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 25TH MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $2,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,000

PAIR TO WIA AND THEN WITH 3RAR AT KAPYONG: Korea Medal 1950-53; United Nations Korea Medal 1950-53. 3/2194 E.J.Roberts. Both medals impressed. Very fine.

Together with US Presidential Unit Citation (at that time named the Distinguished Unit Citation) awarded to 3RAR for its heroic actions at the Battle of Kapyong; Infantry Combat Badge.

Eric James Roberts, born 14Oct1928 at South Melbourne, Vic; Joined RAustInfy Corps and served in Korea with 3Bn RAR 28Sep-05Nov1950 and 16Mar-02Dec1951; WIA 25/26Oct1950.

Eric James Roberts died of lung cancer at the age of 62 on 25 November 1990. At his funeral his eulogy was given by his lifelong friend, Stanley Connelly, who also served with him in 3RAR in Korea. Apart from relating the details of his early life he also gave an account of some of his service in Korea. The following is an excerpt from that eulogy which was approximately four and a half pages long.

'We joined the Army together in 1949 and were sent to Puckapunyal to do our "Rookie Training". With us that day was a man who became a lifetime friend, Ron Dunque (awarded Military Medal in Korea). Before the end of 1949, we were sent to take part in the post-war occupation of Japan, and there became members of the 67th Australian Infantry Battalion, which was then stationed at Kure, about 200 miles south of Korea. Eric was not a good parade-ground soldier!!!

He worked hard and diligently to get it right, but never could achieve the near perfection standards of drill and dress, demanded by his superiors in Japan. He never was and never could be happy or at ease on the parade-ground, but when the Korean war erupted, and a different sort of soldier was needed, suddenly Eric James was in his natural element, and at his best.

Eric went to Korea with the first Australians to go. He landed at Pusan on 28 September, 1950, aboard the S.S.Aiken Victory, as a Bren-gunner in 6 platoon, B company, 3Bn, R.A.R. Right from day 1, his battalion was in the thick of it, and Eric as a front-line infantryman saw plenty of action. Then one night in late November, 1950, in a God-forsaken place called Pakchon, in a skirmish known historically as "The Battle of the Broken Bridge" Eric was shot in the chest during close quarter combat with the North Koreans. I saw him later that night being carried out on a stretcher. He was sitting upright, and he was complaining, very, very, loudly. No! Not because he was wounded and in pain, but because, and I quote him, "Those bloody gooks shot a hole through my new Yankee battle jacket."

He recovered quickly, but that North Korean bullet was never removed from his body, and will go with him to share his reward today. That wound was a "Homer" as we said in those days, and he could have retired from the war with dignity, but that was not his way. His mates were there, and right or wrong he was going to be there with them. So back he came for another go.

Not long after at another God-forsaken place called Kapyong, on Anzac Day, 1951, Eric was in the thick of it again. This time a battle for which his unit 3RAR received the Distinguished Unit Award from the President of the U.S.A. Many of you will recognise the blue oblong insignia of that award on Eric's Service Medals. How proud he was to wear it, and how much he looked forward to joining his mates next year at the 40th anniversary of Kapyong. Well, it was not to be. More the pity.'

With research including the full eulogy given at Eric James' funeral service and a photo.