Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 3025    SESSION 14 (2.30PM THURSDAY 1ST AUG)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $2,750
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF NINE TO POW: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (EIIR) with Australia suspender; Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal (EIIR); Greek Commemorative War Medal 1940-41. Third and last medal unnamed, NX8726 H.Gray on first, second, and fourth to sixth medals, 2/523 WO1 H Gray RAACC. on seventh medal, 2523 WOI H.Gray ARA on eighth medal. The seventh and eighth medals engraved, the other named medals impressed. The first eight medals swing mounted, the ninth medal loose, with contact marks, otherwise toned very fine.

H.Gray has no entitlement to the France and Germany Star even though he was a POW in Germany for 4 years. Australian Military Forces, Northern Command made an application for the award of the France and Germany Star on 24 April 1956 on behalf of WO1 H.Gray but even though he was a POW in Germany this did not qualify him for the award as qualification requires that the individual took an active part in a fighting partisan organization or in officially organized operations under arms, and in a forward zone, during or after the process of escape or liberation. Unorganized activities, such as individual acts of sabotage and the grant of a personal award for escape activities only, are not regarded as qualifications for a special award of campaign Stars.^Together with The "First" Post, Journal of the Association of First Infantry Battalions, March 1981 issue and October 1981 issue. In the March 1981 issue Arthur 'Sailor' Gray is mentioned on the inside cover page and page 7 and in the October issue he is mentioned on the inside cover page and there is an obituary (The Last Post) to him on the inside back cover and the back cover pages. Also with the lot is a religious photo with details printed on the back on the death of Sailor's wife, Eileen Teresa Gray. ^LS&GCM: CAG No.10 20/2/1958, p562 - to 2/523 WO1 Harry Gray, RAAOC.^CofAMSM: CAG No.84 26/10/1961, p3841 - to 2523 WO1 Harry Gray, RAAOC.^Harry 'Sailor' Gray (nickname came from the fact he was previously in RANR Train as a 1st Class Stoker), soldier, age 25, born at Gladesville, Sydney, NSW; Enl.24Nov1939 at Ingleburn, Sydney, NSW in 2/1Bn while serving in RAA, PMF; Emb.09Jan1940 with Reinf 2/2Bn; to Sgt 23Jan1940; to 2/1Bn in Middle East 13Feb1940; at the battles of Bardia and Tobruk; to Greece 18Mar1941; to A/WO2 10May1941; MIA 09Jun1941 on Crete; amended report now POW on Crete 01Jun1941; reported POW interned at Stalag VIIA 07Nov1941; reported POW interned at Oflag IIIC 16Nov1942; reported POW interned at Stalag 383 10Apr1943; arrived UK as recovered POW ex West Europe 02May1945; Disemb.07Jul1945 at Sydney; remained with Interim Army and then transferred to Australian Regular Army, Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps; with 1st Base Ordnance Depot, Gaythorne, Qld in 1950s; with 2nd Base Ordnance Depot circa 1962 and 1965; with 1st Composite Ordnance Coy circa 1963; with HQ Northern NSW circa 1965 and HQ Singleton, NSW; to Lieut (Quartermaster) 13Jul1962; to T/Capt 21Jul1965; to Capt 13Feb1968; retired and granted rank of Major in Eastern Command 03Oct1969; Died 19Oct1981 at Concord Repatriation Hospital, Sydney, NSW.^With copy of Service File, research by Mostly Unsung, reports on conditions in POW camps by Harry Gray and other research.