Greg Smith Collection

Lot 4155    Session 12 (11.30am Thursday)    Greg Smith Collection

Estimate $100
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $660

PARAPHERNALIA BELONGING TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL H. Finn 1852-1924 soldier, born on the 6th December 1852 in Kent England. Joined the British Army 11th May 1871 as a private in the 9th (Queens Royal) Lancers at Aldershot. During the Afghanistan War of 1878-80 he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for Bravery. In 1881 he was promoted to Lieutenant and in 1884 he became Adjutant he married Catherine Scott in Dublin in 1896 and 1887 was sent to India where he was promoted to rank of Captain in 1894 in Burma he was promoted to Major before returning to his regiment in 1898. Finn commanded the Lancers left wing during their famous charge at Omdurman in September and was mentioned in despatches and was promoted Brevet Lieut-Colonel in November on his return to Ireland in 1899 he was offered the post of Commandant of the Queensland Defence Force with the local rank of Colonel and he took up this post in 1900 Finn was soon offered the post of Commandant in N.S.W. with the rank of Brigadier - General and began duty on 1st January 1902. In terns of seniority he was second in command of the Commonwealth Military Forces following the arrival in 1902 of another British Officer Major-General Sir Edward Hutton. He was also given the rank of Major-General in 1905. He retired in 1906 and returned to England. He died 24th June 1924 and was survived by his wife two daughters and a son. Finn was buried with full Military Honours in South Head Cemetery., part of this lot consist of three folders containing letters to and from his family during his stay in China and date from approximately 1898 to when he died in 1924 and family letters up to approximately 1937. There are invitations, letters, photographs, old receipts, commonwealth war loan treasury bonds, telegrams including Major-General H. Finn name card with title Inspector-General Military Forces of the Commonwealth. Also included is a dairy, several books being the Chitral Expedition 1895, The Story of Waterloo with the signature of H. Finn Capt. 2nd Hussars inside and Regulations for the Instruction and Movements of Cavalry 1887 with also with Finn's signature inside. This last book has the cover missing although the book end is still attached; Paperwork relating to a Mr Werner Richard Straub. This folder contains photographs, letters, bills, receipts etc. and a junior red cross circle dated 1919 with Werner Straub's name upon it, two invoices of Richard Straub indicating he had a Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Optician business in Church St. Parramatta post 1910, telephone number1920. Insurances policies. Of special interest is a Notice of Objection objecting to the name of Richard Straub being retained on the electoral roll for the district of Parramatta, Harris Park polling place on the grounds that he is a person of enemy origin dated 24th August 1916 court House Parramatta. Despite the fact that he was a naturalised citizen of N.S.W. since 1896 and had been residing in the colony of N.S.W. for five years prior to this date. Certificate of Naturalization is also included. A interesting example of anti German feeling during W.W.1 regardless of the statis of the person concerned. ; Photographs of Queen Elizabeth's Visit to Australia 1954 (10); These included The Sydney Town Hall Lite up for the occasion. Several of Macquarie with War Memorial in background and another in Elizabeth St. near Hyde Park.