Australian Groups

Lot 1559    SESSION 6 (9.30AM TUESDAY 31ST AUGUST)    Australian Groups

Estimate $12,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

PAIR: Tasmania Meritorious Service Medal (EVIIR); Commonwealth of Australia Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (EVIIR). Warrant Officer. J.Chisholm. 1903. on first medal, Warrant Officer, J.Chisholm, 1904. on second medal. First medal impressed, second medal engraved. Nicely toned, nearly uncirculated, the first medal very rare.

Together with King's crown gilt arm badge with backing plate as worn by Warrant Officer II; Armourer-Sergeant brass badge with backing plate.

Ex All items purchased from the auction of the contents of a house in Tasmania.

TASMSM: Tasmania - CAG No.51 31/10/1902, p532 to WO James Chisholm, Late Ordnance Dept.
(Note that this award is recorded in the book of LS&GCMs and MSMs to Australia 1897-1985 by Robert Dalton as being an award of a Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal.)

State Meritorious Service Medals were discontinued in March 1902 when they were replaced by the Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal. There are no recorded Tasmania Meritorious Service Medals and the assumption must be that when WO James Chisholm was awarded his Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal that the medal naming section has picked up an unissued Tasmania medal, which looks almost identical to the Commonwealth issue and have impressed it for issue to Warrant Officer J.Chisholm. This is reinforced by the fact that the medal has the naming impressed, as with many Commonwealth of Australia issues, instead of the normal engraved naming on State issues.

COALS&GCM: Tasmania - CAG No.32 21/5/1904, p386 to WO James Chisholm, Late Ordnance Dept.

In The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania on Monday 10 November 1902, page 5 was published the following report:- 'Well-earned Compliments. - Letters and personal congratulations have been received by Warrant Officer J.Chisholm, Hobart, on the notification of General Order No.205 of "Commonwealth of Australia Gazette", 31st October, 1902, of his having been awarded the medal for meritorious service, he having served for 42 years in the Defence Forces of Tasmania. He joined the 3rd Volunteer Rifle Company as Armourer Sergeant on June 7, 1860, and continued as a non-commissioned officer for that very long period, and retired as Ordnance Store-keeper on September 1, 1902.'

J.Chisholm was a gun maker prior to 1860. In 1903, after his retirement from the Defence Force, he was a government appointed Inspector of Magazines and Explosives. The Meritorious Service Medal was presented to him at the King Edward VII Birthday Celebrations on 9 November 1903 when he was the first one called up by His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania Sir Arthur Havelock GCSI, GCMG, GCIE who observed that the recipient had served for 43 years with credit and satisfaction to everyone. He then pinned the medal on retired Warrant Officer James Chisholm and complimented him on his service.

In November 1904 when Warrant Officer James Chisholm was presented with his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal it was reported that he had served not less than 18 years with an irreproachable character. He had joined the Tasmanian Volunteer Forces on 7 June 1860, was appointed to Permanent Forces as armourer-sergeant on 1 January 1865, master gunner 1 June 1872, and served as military storekeeper from 1 July 1886 to 31 August 1902, and as at the time of the presentation he was in the employment of the Tasmanian Government as magazine keeper and inspector of explosives.

It was reported in the Daily Post, Hobart on Friday 29 October 1909, page 7, that 'the Premier moved the second reading of the James Chisholm Pension Bill. He explained that James Chisholm, who retired from his position in the public service on December 29, 1908, had rendered long and faithful service since June, 1860. He had held the following positions at various periods:-Armorer (sic) in the defence force, armorer (sic)-sergeant, Southern Division of Volunteer Force; master gunner and sergeant-in-charge of powder magazine, Hobart; military storekeeper, military and magazine Storekeeper and inspector of explosives; inspector of explosives and of magazines, and magazine keeper for the Southern District. The Bill proposed to grant Mr. Chisholm an annual pension of ?60 payable monthly, dating from July 1 last, and in case of his death during the currency of any month the Governor could direct payment to be made to his personal representatives of a proportionate part of the pension up to the day of his death.' (after much debate, and with strong opposition from the Labour Party, the Bill was defeated by 2 votes).

A befitting civilian award was presented to James Chisholm by the Hobart Regatta Association in January 1907 in the form of a small gold trophy bearing on one side the model of a howitzer and the words 'Hobart Regatta Association', the trophy was encircled with oak leaves and on the reverse side was the legend 'Presented to Mr James Chisholm, in recognition of 43 years' service as gunner, 1863-1906'. For the whole 43 years, the work of firing the howitzers for starting of races had been performed by Gunner James Chisholm un until 1906 when he had to relinquish the duty due to ill-health.

The Mercury, Hobart, Thursday 29 September 1910, page 5 printed the following account of his death.

'Mr. James Chisholm, formerly senior ordnance officer al Hobart, died yesterday of pneumonia, being in the 79th year of his age. The deceased was a son of Mr. James William Chisholm, armourer, Edinburgh Castle. His father being transferred to the Royal Scots, the deceased accompanied his parents in their journeyings to Canada and the West Indies, afterwards returning lo London. He attended Sunday-school in the Duke of Kent's Palace.

In August, 1852, he landed in Hobart, and for eight years was in the employ of Mr. McConnel, gun maker. In 1860 he volunteered as armourer to the 3rd Rifles, and subsequently filled a similar position in the Buckingham Rifles. He next became Government armourer, and was ultimately promoted to the rank of master gunner and ordnance storekeeper, a position which he held for 32 years. In 1901 he was transferred to the Commonwealth forces as senior ordnance officer. He received a medal for meritorious service, and another for long service and good conduct. Having reached the age limit, he retired on September 1, 1902, receiving a retiring allowance. He then took up the position of magazine keeper and inspector of explosives under the State Government.

The deceased leaves a widow and a large family. For several decades he held the position of secretary to the Tasmanian Union Masonic Lodge, and some years ago was made a life member, in recognition of long and faithful service. He was a well-known figure in the community, and the news of his death will be received with regret.'

In another report in the Tasmanian News, Wednesday 28 September 1910 it was stated in part as follows.

'For many years he superintended the firing of the regatta guns, and on his retirement his services were fittingly recognised by the Regatta Association, which made him a handsome and appropriate presentation. He was a capable officer, and bore an excellent record. When the Russian war scare led to the formation of a defence force in Hobart in the middle of the seventies (i.e.1870s), Mr. Chisholm gave great assistance in drilling the Artillery branch, which was then under the command of Captain (now - Lieutenant-Colonel) Evans.

With additional research.