Share your interesting War and special Medal Groups etc

[borsac]

That is a particularly impressive medal group!

Regards Tony

[Global Admin]

So the DSO is the one far left? What Medal is 3rd from left?

Attached to the regiment's 6th Battalion, Spowers fought at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia in the following year. He won the Military Cross (1916) for leading his men in a night-attack during which he was twice wounded. In addition, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (1916) and was mentioned in dispatches. He was promoted lieutenant in April 1917 and demobilized from the army in July 1919.

[kerema]

This is only a copy group which I purchased from a major Australian Auction house several days ago. The Original group sold in London a year ago for 8,500 pounds + 24 % buyers commission.
Medals are
DSO
MC
WW1 trio
WW2 Africa Star Group with mentioned in dispatches emblem
A Territorial Efficiency Decoration.
I think the Colonel was entitled to a KGV Silver Jubilee Medal + a KGVI Coronation Medal.
PLUS an order of St. Michal & St George

[kerema]

Lt Commander "Griffo" Griffiths - Royal Navy

A badly behaved SUBMARINE OFFICER with the following medals awarded to him:
1914/15 Star named - S. LT. L.G. GRIFFITHS. R.N.
British War Medal - LIEUT. L.G. GRIFFITHS R.N.
Victory Medal LIEUT. L.G. GRIFFITHS R.N
Victory Medal LIEUT. L.G. GRIFFITHS R.N.
1939 - 45 Star (WW2 medals were issued un-named)
Defence Medal un-named
1939-45 War Medal un-named

A very interesting group to an officer serving in Royal Navy who served aboard Submarines and was found guilty of being drunk on board to such a degree he was sick and unable to carry out his duties.

He also got reprimanded for wearing the 1914 star rosette on the 1915 star ribbon on his uniform, he obviously thought he was entitled to one. He was lucky to keep his rank. He gained his Masters Certificate through the Navy which allowed him to skipper quite large ships. He retired in from the Royal Navy in 1924 and went on to sail on commercial ships between the Wars.

His character was not rated very high and although he did briefly serve in WW2 it would appear he did not qualify for campaign stars, just the 1939 45 star which would indicate at least 6 months active service against the enemy, I am surprised that he did not receive an Atlantic Star.

Again in 1941, Griffo was charged on three counts of excessive drinking. He was acquitted on one account, and found guilty on the others. His career in the Royal Navy was over

The medal came with copies of service papers etc detailing his misadventures and ships/submarines served on.

He died in Mozambique in 1951 from a smashed skull . At the time he was the Mate of the ship he was working on. His death certificate states that his death was an accident.

I will try to find out the circumstances of his death as no details were on the certificate. He obviously played hard, and may have paid have paid with his life.

The first submarine officer set I have had, and these medals have had a hard life. It is my intention to have the medals cleaned and mounted with new ribbons. I will give an update to you viewers in a few weeks when the medals are more presentable and more research is available.

[Global Admin]

He died in Mozambique in 1951 from a smashed skull. At the time he was the Mate of the ship he was working on. His death certificate states that his death was an accident.

'Accident'??? A smashed skull!!!

[kerema]

To be auctioned in London by Noonans, Mayfair: Auctioneers and Valuers - 26 July 2023

DESCRIPTION
A fine Great War ‘Western Front’ V.C., D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant A. Loosemore, 8th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), for his great gallantry south of Langemarck on 11 August 1917: after two members of his section had been killed beside him, he fought with every means at his disposal - machine-gun, bomb, rifle and revolver - to thwart a determined counterattack which appeared to many as though it must succeed, and accounted for about twenty of the enemy as well as a number of snipers, before returning to his original post with a wounded comrade under heavy fire.

Remarkably, Loosemore’s V.C.-winning exploits came the day after he was reputed to have shot down with his Lewis gun a German fighter that was engaged in a ‘dog-fight’ with a British aircraft, this saving the British pilot’s life.

Subsequently awarded the D.C.M. for his gallantry with the 1st/4th Battalion at Zillebeke during a raid on 20 June 1918 - ‘a highly successful operation, 11 prisoners and one Machine Gun being captured and numerous casualties being inflicted on the enemy’ - Loosemore was severely wounded by machine gun fire at Villers-en-Cauchies on 11 October 1918, resulting in his left leg being amputated. He never fully recovered from his war wounds, and died as a result of tuberculosis in 1924

Victoria Cross, reverse of suspension bar engraved ‘No. 15805 Pte. A. Loosemore. 8th. Bn. West Riding R.’, reverse of Cross engraved ‘11. Aug. 1917.’; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (15805 Sjt: A. Loosemore. V.C. 1/4 W. Rid: R.); 1914-15 Star (15805. Pte. A. Loosemore. W. Rid. R.); British War and Victory Medals (15805 Sjt. A. Loosemore. W. Rid. R.) recently re-mounted, but together with the original court-mounted riband bar, and housed in a contemporary Hunt & Roskell, London, case, traces of lacquer, light pitting and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (5) £180,000-£220,000

[Mutiny1857]

One of my offerings.

Captain Richard Douglas Morris RE, the Egyptian Order of the Nile was for service in the irrigation department

[kerema]

.

British Crimea Medal
New Zealand Medal
Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Turkish Crimea Medal

James Surrock was born in Quebec, Canada during July, 1834. His parents were Mrs Jane & Colour Sgt Melville Surrock of the Royal Artillery. His father later became the Master Gunner of Ireland.

By 1836 the family had moved back to Woolwich in England, and James enlisted with the Royal Artillery as a trumpeter in February, 1849. In 1854, James was in the Crimea with thousands of other soldiers fighting the Russians. He was awarded both the British Crimea Medal with three clasps (Alma, Inkerman, & Sebastopol) and the Turkish Crimea Medal.

He married Ellen Langford in 1858 and they had six children. The family moved to New Zealand in early 1861, and James played a role in the Maori Wars, for which he received his New Zealand Medal. In 1867, The family moved back to Woolwich, with James promoted to Corporal. James was then posted to the Royal Horse Artillery and he received his Long Service & Good Conduct Medal after 21 years service. By 1874, with the rank of Sergeant, James resigned, and moved his family back to Woolwich, and purchased a house. He worked at the Woolwich Munitions Arsenal to the late 1890's.

In 1901, he had a job as a "road ganger" but a few years later Ellen died and he moved in with one of his sons. In 1917, James applied to become a pensioner at the Chelsea Hospital in Kensington, London where he was well looked after until his death in 1919. Chelsea pensioners were and are senior NCO's who had received their Army pension and elected to forgo it in exchange for total care in the Chelsea Hospital. The hospital and the scheme still exists today.

[kerema]

Today I received this nice little mini group from a coin auction. Un-named as normal for mini medals, but an interesting history

The medals are from left to right
1995 - Australian Active Service Medal with two clasps - Korea & Malaya.
1951 - Queens Korea Medal for service in the Korean Conflict
1951 - United Nations Korea Medal and Korea clasp again for service Korea. Issued for all UNO Troops.
1945 -1960 Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Malaya" for fighting Communist rebels
1945-1975 Australian Service Medal with two Clasps "PNG" & "FESR"
2006 - The Australian Defence Medal to commemorate 4 years service
2005 Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal. Issued by the Malaysian government for fighting Communist rebels

The clasp on the ASM "PNG" was for duty in Papua & New Guinea 1945 - 1975

The Clasp "FESR" was for naval patrolling in an area by ships in the Far Eastern Strategic Reserve from 1965 - 1971. It was a joint force of the British, Australian, and New Zealand armed forces. It was created in the 1950s and based in Malaya, to fight the communist influence.

An Interesting group for a sailor that did not get a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, but most likely spent 20 years in the R A N. Saying that, it may not be through mis-conduct, but this chap may have been a Regular Naval Officer. Regular Officers in all Services, did not get long service medals until the introduction of the National Medal in 1975.

[VFND55]

Here's a rather scarce Tibet Medal issued to R.O. Bulpin. A family friend and expat from Great Britain.

Researching his military records showed only his South Africa involvement with the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers but no records were found for the Tibet Mission. Family knowledge of Bulpin was never discussed over the years and until the death of a family member that possessed the medals, did we know of their existence.

However, I did manage to locate a document that was signed by his commanding officer, Lieut. Colonel E.J. Cooper 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers in which his command was selected to reinforce the escort to Colonel Youngblood's Tibet Mission. This is the only connection Bulpin had to the 1st Bn. Royal Fusiliers I could find.

The medals below are now in the possession of a military medal collector from Great Britain that is satisfied with their authenticity.

[kerema]

Drummer W. Sutherland, Seaforth Highlanders

1. Queen’s Mediterranean Medal 1899-1902;
2. Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal ( K E.VII.)

Both named to (3276 Dmr: W. Sutherland. Seaforth Highlanders

The Queen’s Mediterranean Medal was issued to troops who guarded Boer Prisoners of War in such places as Bermuda, Canada, India, St, Helena, and Egypt. They were often militia units and were used as guards to relieve regular troops so they could fight in South Africa against the Boers. The medal was identical to the Queens South Africa Medal (QSA) except "South Africa" was removed and "Mediterranean" was inserted. It no bars and only 5000 medals were issued. There were nearly 200,000 QSA issued so the Mediterranean Medal is quite scarce.

William Sutherland was born in Haddington in 1871 and attested for the Seaforth Highlanders at Leith on 22 April 1890, having previously served in the 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Scots. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he was appointed Bandsman on 7 June 1894, and served with the Regiment in Egypt from 14 February 1900 to 10 June 1901. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, together with a gratuity of £5, he was discharged on 25 September 1908, after 18 years and 157 days’ service. He saw further service at home during the Great War from 17 December 1914 to 2 October 1918. He was discharged on 21 February 1919, and died in Inverness on 17 April 1950.