Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Lot 4550    SESSION 18 (2.30PM FRIDAY 31ST MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

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

SINGLE: 1914-15 Star. O.N.2028 R.Coughlan. Stoker. Impressed.; also H.M.A.S. Sydney medallion To Commemorate The Victory Over The Emden, 9th Nov. 1914, Presented By The People Of Western Australia To 'R.Coughlin. (sic)/Stoker' (inscribed), in silver (32mm) (C.1914/9), with ring top suspension; Mexico, silver eight reales, 1858 Mo F.H. (Mexico City Mint) (KM.377.10). Fine - good very fine. (3)

Ex Status International Sale 261 (lot 9790).^^Entitled to British War Medal 1914-18 and Victory Medal 1914-19. ^^Rupert Coughlin, labourer, born 27Mar1894 at Walwa, Vic; Enl.10Aug1912 at Melbourne, Vic in RAN; to Stoker II 11Feb1913; to HMAS Encounter 28Mar1913; to HMAS Penguin, Sydney Depot 01Jul1914; to HMAS Sydney 01Jul1914 and ops in German New Guinea and SMS Emden naval battle; to HMAS Cerberus 12Sep1915; deserted 12Jan1916; Re-Enl.07Sep1916 at R.A. Show Grounds, Moore Park, Sydney, NSW; to Dubbo Depot Bn 10Sep1916; posted to 4LTMB at Liverpool 14Sep1916; Disch.22May1917 having been convicted by a civil power (see newspaper report below).^^A cargo of 6,429 Mexican eight reales were recovered from the wreck of the Emden. A total of 996 were used to make Sydney-Emden Medals which were given to the crew of HMAS Sydney as well as politicians and senior naval officers. Every crew member also received another unmounted eight reales. Further coins were sold to the public and the rest melted down to aid the war effort.^^The following was reported in The Sun, Sydney, NSW on Tuesday 5 December 1916, page 5.^^'MENACED WITH REVOLVER - NIGHT PORTER'S STORY^TWO SOLDIERS CONVICTED^Arthur William Smith and Rupert Coughlan pleaded not guilty at the Quarter Sessions to-day to a charge of having assaulted Nicholas Galanis with intent to rob him. Galanis is the night porter at a George street coffee palace, and the Crown case was that the accused, who were members of the A.I.E.F. on final leave, went to the coffee-palace late on the night of November 9. They saw Galanis, and after a conversation with him knocked him down and menaced him with a revolver, while they demanded the contents of the cash register. They were told that the register had been emptied early in the night, and they then went away. They were afterwards arrested at a coffee stall.^^The accused, who were undefended, made statements from the dock to the effect that after spending a few hours at a house in Ultimo on the night in question they were on their way back to their military quarters at Moore Park, when they were arrested. The jury, after a brief retirement, returned into court, and one of the jurymen asked Judge Hamilton if it was the duty of the jury to believe the evidence for the prosecution. He said that two of the jurymen absolutely disbelieved the evidence for the Crown.^^His Honor said he could not assist them in the matter. If they had any doubt they must acquit the accused. He, however, said he would read a passage in the evidence which he had not referred to in his summing up. He then read: "One of the accused, when arrested, said, 'These are the sort of - we have to fight for; we should have murdered the black - ." The jury retired again, and after a lapse of a couple of minutes returned with a verdict of guilty against both accused. They were remanded for sentence.'^^A further report in The Sun newspaper on Friday 8 December 1916, page 3 stated 'Arthur William Smith, 23, and Rupert Coughlan, 22, found guilty of assault with intent to rob, were each sentenced to 12 months' hard labor in Goulburn Gaol.'^^With copy of Service files other research and a WWI b&w photo of HMAS Sydney.