Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 4064    SESSION 19 (2.30PM FRIDAY 28TH JULY)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $1,300
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,400

MID GROUP OF SIX TO POW: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45 with MID; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal with Australia suspender (EIIR type 2 with BR.OMN. omitted). First two medals unnamed, NX151 J.K.Smith on the third to fifth medals, NX151 Lt. J K Smith AIF on last medal. The third to fifth medals impressed and the last medal engraved. Court mounted, contact marks, otherwise good very fine.

Ex Dix Noonan Webb 22 October 1997 (lot 282) realised ?65; Ex John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb Auctions, Mayfair, England 26 March 2009 (lot 75) realised ?580; Colonial Coins and Medals June 2013 sold for $1,850.

MID: LG 1/4/1941, p1876, for distinguished services in the Middle East during the period August 1939 to November 1940 to NX151 Lieutenant John Keith Smith, 2/1st Field Regt.

Australian Efficiency Medal: CAG No.25, 9 May 1957, p1354, to NX151 (now 2/191703) Lieutenant John Keith Smith, 2nd/1st Field Regt

John Keith Smith; Enl.08Oct1934 at Addison Road, Marrickville, Sydney, NSW; to Pte in 54 Fd Bty, 14 Fd Bde of Australia Militia; to Bdr 28Oct1935; to Sgt 15Feb1937; Re-engaged 08Oct1937; to Lieutenant 29Sep1938; Enl.27Oct1939 in AIF at Sydney, NSW and appt'd Lieutenant; TOS 2/1 Aust Fd Rgt 02Nov1939; Emb.10Jan1940; Disemb.13Feb1940 at Kantara, Egypt; tfr to 'X' AA Regt RAA 15Aug1940; tfr to 2/1 Fd Regt 17Aug1940; detached for Special Duty 01Oct1940; rejoined unit 05Oct1940; to Greece 10Apr1941; MID Middle East - AIF Orders 320 of 9.5.41; MIA Greece, no date; now reported POW 24Jun1941 in Oflag V B, Germany; now POW in Oflag VII B 12Sep1944; recovered POW and arrived in UK 24May1945; RTA 03Jul1945; trf to Reserve of Officers (RAA), NSW.

With research including a b&w photo that shows Lt J.K.Smith handing a message to Battery Sgt Maj D.Muir on a motor cycle.