Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Lot 4556    SESSION 18 (2.30PM FRIDAY 31ST MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $850

BRITISH WAR MEDAL 1914-18. 9201 Mt-Dvr H.J.Plunkett. AMC. A.I.F. No ribbon, toned good very fine.

Entitled to Victory Medal 1914-19.^^Together with bravery recognition for historic Canterbury Flood on weekend 25-27 May 1889, a medal in gold (tested as 15ct; 5.32g; 25mm), hand decorated and engraved, ring top suspension, obverse inscribed, 'Presented/By/Farrow/Concert/Committee/To/Constable Plunkett', reverse inscribed, 'For/Brave effort to/Save Life and/Bus in Flood./27.5.89./Canterbury. N.S.W.'; N.S.W. Rifle Clubs' Union prize medal in voided silver (29x32mm), by W.Kerr, ring top suspension, obverse inscribed, 'H.Plunkett', reverse inscribed, 'A. Grade./2nd/Police R.C./1902-3'.^^Henry James Plunkett, sergeant of police, age 45 (actual age was 55), born 22Aug1860 at Barrow Gurney, Bristol, Somersetshire, England; Enl.17Jul1915 at Warwick Farm, NSW, with previous service in 2Regt Infy 1878-9 and then joined NSW Police Force; Emb.22Dec1915 with AMC; to Bulford Dermatological Mil Hosp 13Oct1916; trf to 5Div Supply Coy 16Jun1917; to be Driver 19Jun1917; to France 20Jun1917; to hospital with scabies 18Aug1917; RTA 01Nov1917; Disch.12Feb1918 as over age and Medically Unfit; commemorated at the NSW Police Chapel War Memorial.^^Police career began as a Probationary Constable 21Jun1886; to Ordinary Constable 01Sep1886; to Constable 1st Class 01Jan1890; to Senior Constable 01Sep1893; to Sergeant 2nd Class 01Aug1909; to Sergeant 1st Class 28May1918; Disch.30Jun1918; Died 09Jul1940 at his residence in Charing Cross, Sydney, aged 79; Buried at Botany Cemetery on 10Jul1940.^^On Monday 27 May 1889 Constable Plunkett was a passenger in a horse-bus that was swept off the bridge over the Cook's River at Canterbury. Despite a desperate attempt by Constable Plunkett to save the fare boy named Herbert Price of Newtown, unfortunately he drowned as did the four horses. The driver and Constable Plunkett were later rescued by some local market gardeners.^^At a meeting of the Canterbury Borough Council on 19 June 1889 Alderman Stone moved, 'That a letter be sent to the Inspector-General of Police, asking him to recognise Constable Plunkett's heroism during the recent floods at Canterbury, in trying to save life and property.' The motion was carried.^^Also on Friday 28 June 1889 a handsome gold appendage was presented to Constable Plunkett at the School of Arts, Ashfield. Dr Fitzpatrick made the presentation on behalf of the committee, who assisted Miss H.L.Farrow in the carrying out of a concert recently to aid the flood victims.^^^With a folder of research.