Australian Groups

Lot 1523    SESSION 6 (9.30AM TUESDAY 31ST AUGUST)    Australian Groups

Estimate $12,800
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $10,000

CB, CMG, DSO Group of Eleven: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion (CB) neck badge; The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, Companion (CMG) neck badge; Distinguished Service Order (DSO) (GVR); British War Medal 1914-18, Victory Medal 1914-19 with MID; Jubilee Medal 1935; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. First three and sixth medals unnamed as issued, Lieut-Col. H.D.Wynter. A.I.F. on fourth medal, Lt. Col. H.D.Wynter A.I.F. on fifth medal, QX6150 H.D.Wynter on last five medals. The first two named medals impressed, the other named medals pantographed. The first two medals with neck ribbons, the next four medals court mounted, the last five medals display mounted, very fine - uncirculated.

Note: The WWII service medals above were late-claimed by the family of Henry Wynter because he had died before they were issued to him. They are all official, late issues.

CBE: LG 1/1/1942, p3, to QX6150 Lt-General H.D.Wynter, Aust Army. The insignia was not received from London until 30 October 1944 by authorities in Australia. As Lt-Col Wynter had died in February 1945 before it could be presented, at the request of his next-of-kin, the CB was presented to Lt-Gen Frank Horton Berryman CB, CBE, DSO by the Governor-General at Government House, Melbourne on 30 November 1945.

CMG: LG 3/6/1919, p6793; CAG 15/9/1919, p1370, to Lt-Col H.D.Wynter, General List, AIF - for services rendered in connexion with military operations in France and Flanders.

DSO: LG 3/6/1918, p6461; CAG 7/11/1918, p2111, to Lt-Col H.D.Wynter, General List, AIF.

Recommendation: Good and meritorious service in following Staff appointments - Bde Major, 11th Aust. Inf. Bde. 27.4.16; D.A.A.& Q.M.G., 4th Aust. Div. 20.10.16; D.A.A.C., H.Q., A.I.F., France. 24.3.17; A.A.C., H.Q., A.I.F., France. 23.7.17; Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 1.6.17 and 28.12.17

MID (1st): LG 1/6/1917, p5420; CAG 4/10/1917, p2622, to Maj H.D.Wynter, General List, AIF.

Recommendation: Has proved himself a most efficient and capable Staff Officer. Has done excellent work.

MID (2nd): LG 28/12/1917, p13564; CAG 18/4/1918, p842, to Lt-Col H.D.Wynter, General List, AIF.

Recommendation: For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period Feb 26th to midnight 20/21 Sept 1917.

MID (3rd): LG 28/5/1918, p6204; CAG 24/10/1918, p2057, to Lt-Col H.D.Wynter, General List, AIF.

MID (4th): LG 11/7/1919, p8836; CAG 30/10/19, p1656, to Lt-Col H.D.Wynter, General List, AIF.

Award of Jubilee Medal to Lt-Col H.D.Wynter CMG, DSO, ASC confirmed on Commonwealth List.

Henry Douglas Wynter, military staff officer, age 29, born at Gin Gin, Qld; Served in Wide Bay Regt militia from 1907 as an officer; Enl.01Feb1911 in regular Army as a Lieutenant and by 01Apr1913 was appt'd Staff Captain.

WWI: Appt Maj & Bde Mjr in 11 Infy Bde HQs 27Apr1916; Emb.18May1916; From Bde Mjr to be A.A.A.& Q.M.G. 4 Aust Div 20Oct1916 and trf to unit HQs 27Oct1916; to be D.A.A.G., AIF Section, 1st Anzac HQs 24Mar1917; MID 09Apr1917; to Lt-Col and appt A.A.G. Aus. Corps 23Jul1917; MID 07Nov1917; MID 07Apr1918; awarded DSO 03Jun1918; Attch to 5th Army HQs 05Jul1918; Rejoined Aust Corps HQs from detachment 17Jan1919; Detached to Marcinelle with A.A.G. Aus. Corps 27Apr1919; Disemb.19May1919 to report to HQs London; proceeded to France 22May1919; Awarded CMG 03Jun1919; to be O.C.Troops AIF in France in addition to present duties of A.A.G. AIF 04Jun1919; Disemb.07Jun1919 to report to HQs London; Returned to France 09Jun1919; Disemb.08Jul1919 to report to HQs London; Relinquished appt as O.C. AIF Troops in France and Flanders 03Nov1919; Attch'd to A.A.G.'s Dept, London 05Nov1919; struck off strength of A.A.G.'s Dept 05Nov1919; RTA 03Jan1920; Appt in AIF terminated at Brisbane 18Apr1920.

WWII: Enl.22Apr1940 in AIF at Brisbane, Qld at age 53 while GOC Nth Comd and allocated serial number QX6150; Emb.05May1940; promoted Maj Gen commanding AIF HQs and temporarily AIF in UK 14Jun1940; Appt GOC 9 Div in addition to appt as GOC AIF 23Oct1940; to Middle East 18Dec1940; temporarily unfit for service due to illness 22Jan1941; RTA 13Mar1941; Disch.06Jul1941 from AIF while with AHQ, ASC.

Post WWII: various staff appts with AMF; seconded for service with Active CMF 30Jun1942; placed on Supernumery List pending retirement from PMF 20Sep1944; Died at Heidleberg Military Hospital in Victoria of Uremia and Hypertension on 07Feb1945; Buried at Springvale Cemetery, Victoria.

After Lt-Gen Wynter's death the following tribute was published in The Argus (Melbourne), Thursday 8 February 1945, p5.

'Distinguished Military Career
Lieut-General H. D. Wynter, CB, CMG, DSO, former GOC Eastern Command, and later lieutenant-general in charge of administration at Land Headquarters, Melbourne, died yesterday at Heidelberg Military Hospital, after a long illness. He was 58, and had a distinguished career as a permanent soldier.

Lieut-General Henry Douglas Wynter, a native of Queensland, joined the militia when he was 21, and began as a second lieutenant in the Wide Bay Infantry Regiment. He reached the rank of captain in the militia, and in 1911 transferred to the permanent forces as a lieutenant. In the last war he joined the AIF, with which he served in France, most of the time on General Birdwood's staff, and reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel. From June to November, 1919, he was OC, AIF troops in France and Flanders. In the interval between the two wars he was Director of Mobilisation and Director of Military Training. After the outbreak of the present war he was appointed GOC, Northern Command, and District Commandant of the First Military District.

In April, 1940, he joined the Second AIF with the rank of brigadier, and soon afterwards left for service overseas. On his arrival in Britain he was promoted major-general, and appointed Commandant, AIF HQ in Britain, with the temporary command of the whole of the Australian forces in Britain. In October, 1940, he took command of the newly formed 9th Australian Division, but after a short term in the Middle East he was compelled by ill-health to relinquish his command and return to Australia. In December, 1941, he was promoted lieutenant general, and appointed GOC, Eastern Command. He became lieutenant general, Administration, Land Headquarters, in April, 1942.

He is survived by his wife (formerly Miss Ethel May White) and two sons, one of whom, Philip, is a war correspondent. The burial will be at Springvale Cemetery, with military honours.'

Together with small scanned images of an oil painting of Lt-Gen Wynter, also some gazette pages and a few articles on the life of Lt-Gen Wynter including a very comprehensive one that comprises 36 pages.