Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 4422    SESSION 18 (2.30PM FRIDAY 31ST MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $1,250
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,200

GROUP OF FOUR: Queen's South Africa Medal 1899, (type 3 reverse), - five clasps - Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 3383 Pte O.E.Miller. N.S.Wales A.M.C. on first medal, 4494 Pte O.F.Miller. 3/G. Hosp. A.I.F. on second medal, 4494 Pte O.F.Miller. 3 G. Hosp. A.I.F. on third medal and 4494 Pte O.F.Miller. 3 AGH. A.I.F. on last medal. All medals impressed. Swing mounted, the first and third medals with contact marks, otherwise fine - very fine.

Oliver Francis Miller, blacksmith, age 42, born at Goulburn, NSW; Enl.28Oct1914 at Liverpool, Sydney, NSW, in 1 Mobile Vet section, with previous service in AGA (5 years), AFA (7 years) AA Mob (14 months) and NSWMR (18 months) (Oliver Miller is recorded as having served in the Boer War with Aust Army Medical Corps as part of the Imperial Draft Contingent and also with the NSW Bearer Company); Disch.24Nov1914; Re-Enl. 29Apr1915, at Queens Park, Sydney, NSW, 3AGH in AMC, now aged 43 and an electrical fitter; Emb.15May1915; to 3AGH at Mudros with leg ulcer 01Sep1915; returned to duty 18Sep1915; struck off strength of 3AGH and assigned to transport duty 21May1916; to Australia as medical staff on H.T. Armidale 21May1916; Emb.29Jul1916 ex Sydney; Disemb.14Sep1916 at Plymouth and to Camp 1 on 15Sep1916; to Woodcott Park at Epsom 02Oct1916; to 1AAH at Harefield with thorac aneurism 27Dec1916; RTA 12Feb1917 suffering from senility and neurites; Disch.16May1917.^^While serving at Gallipoli, Oliver Miller received a comforts parcel from Australia and as a result the following was reported in the Warrnambool Standard newspaper on Friday 19 November 1915, page 3.^^A SOLDIER'S KINDLY ACTION^In June last, Master Joe Rodda, a pupil at the Gnotuk State School, included a pair of pyjamas in a parcel of comforts sent to the Australian Red Cross Society, and enclosed a note for the recipient. "Joe" is now in receipt of the following letter:-^"Dear Little Joe,-Away in your little bed in Australia you are no doubt dreaming of all our brave soldiers who are fighting for their country at the Dardanelles and you are wondering, perhaps, who would get your very nice little letter in the pyjamas. Well Joe, an old soldier who also fought in the Boer War in South Africa (Private Oliver Francis Miller) received them and has asked me to write and thank you ever so much for your letter and gift. He has little boys of his own in Australia who are waiting for him to return, so you see he thought it fine to get that letter from you. When the war is over he is going to try and get the Kaiser's head for you, and that will be fine, won't it? Well Joe, a soldier has too much to do to be able to write long letters and I now say 'Good Night Joe, and God bless you and bring your uncles safe home again.' With love to you and all your little friends, we remain your soldier friends.-Ernest Lawson and Oliver Francis Miller, on active service at the Dardanelles."^^With copy of Service File and other research.