National Medals in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | Accessories

National Medals

Locality: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 7 3871 0600

Address: 13/200 Moggill Road, Taringa 4068 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.national-medals.com

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25.01.2022 A recently refurbished group of medals and other family treasures ready to go back to the family.

25.01.2022 In Memory Of Vance Drummond, DFC, AFC (22 February 1927 17 May 1967). He was a New Zealand born Australian pilot who fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He... initially saw service in the New Zealand military, but joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1949 and graduated as a sergeant pilot in 1951. Posted to No. 77 Squadron in Korea, he flew Gloster Meteor jet fighters and earned the US Air Medal for his combat skills. He was shot down by a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 in December 1951 and imprisoned for almost two years. After returning to Australia he converted to CAC Sabre jets and in December 1961 became a flight commander with No. 75 Squadron. He subsequently led the squadrons Black Diamonds aerobatic team, and was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1965. Vance Drummond was promoted to acting wing commander in December 1965 and posted to South Vietnam on staff duties with the United States Air Force. He joined the US Air Forces 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, operating Cessna Bird Dog aircraft, as a forward air controller in July 1966. That month he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in rescuing a company of soldiers surrounded by Viet Cong forces. In October he was awarded the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. Vance Drummond took command of No. 3 Squadron, flying Dassault Mirage IIIO supersonic fighters out of Williamtown, New South Wales, in February 1967. His Mirage crashed into the sea during a training exercise on the 17th of May 1967. Neither Vance Drummond nor the plane was found. Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM JK0163. Information came from Wikipedia.

25.01.2022 Another happy customer with a military display frame of a previous generations war service in WW1 & 2 heading home to proudly hang on the wall.

24.01.2022 Memorial welcomes Teddy Sheean VC recommendation The Australian War Memorial has welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrisons announcement that he has recommended t...he Queen posthumously award Second World War hero Edward Teddy Sheean the Victoria Cross. Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean was killed during the attack by Japanese aircraft which sank the Bathurst Class corvette HMAS Armidale in the Arafura Sea on 1 December 1942. After the order to abandon ship, Sheean stayed at his post at the aft Oerlikon gun, firing as the ship sank. Of the 149 men on board Armidale, 47 died when it was attacked; only 49 men were rescued a week after the sinking. Ordinary Seaman Russel Caro, who survived the attack, later said: Teddy died, but none of us who survived, I am sure, will ever forget his gallant deed ... When the order abandon ship was given, he made for the side, only to be hit twice by the bullets of an attacking Zero. None of us will ever know what made him do it, but he went back to his gun, strapped himself in, and brought down a Jap plane, still firing as he disappeared beneath the waves. Memorial Director Matt Anderson said he welcomed the decision and it would now be a matter for consideration by the Queen. By any measure, the courage demonstrated by Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean on 1 December 1942 was extraordinary. He set an example for all and for all time by his selfless act of bravery. It is a story more Australians will now know, Mr Anderson said. Image: Dale Marsh, 1978 Oil on canvas. Depicts the figure of Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean firing his gun to the last. ART28160

23.01.2022 #OnThisDay in 1917 Captain Percy Cherry was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for leading his company in an attack on Lagnicourt in Northern France. Despi...te all the other officers being killed or wounded he cleared the village of the enemy and held it in the face of a fierce German counter-attack. He was wounded in the morning and refused to leave his post, where he was killed at 4:30 in the afternoon by an enemy shell. Earlier that day Cherry was awarded a Military Cross for an earlier action for capturing two enemy machine gun posts. Read more: http://ow.ly/Yv4a50E0Pq2 Image: Captain Percy Herbert Cherry c 1916 P02939.011

23.01.2022 #Onthisday in 1942 the Japanese transport ship, Montevideo Maru, was sunk by the American submarine USS Sturgeon. Unaware it was carrying Allied prisoners of wa...r and civilians, USS Sturgeon fired four torpedoes, causing the vessel to sink in only 11 minutes. The loss of the Montevideo Maru remains Australias worst maritime disaster. It was carrying more than 1050 Australian prisoners, captured on New Britain and New Ireland. None of the prisoners survived. Read more: http://ow.ly/K7dR50Aij2C Photo: Starboard side view of the Japanese passenger ship MV Montevideo Maru.

21.01.2022 #Onthisday in 1942, during the battle of Milne Bay, Corporal John Jack Frenchs company came across some Japanese positions and was held up by intense fire fr...om three machine-gun posts. Ordering his own section to take cover, French successfully assaulted two positions with grenades. He then attacked the third with a sub-machine gun but finally fell dead in front of the enemy gun pit. For these actions he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. His grieving fiance Dulcie McCahon said that she knew he would always carry out his duty regardless of his safety. He is buried in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery. Learn more: http://ow.ly/WcI150Bagis Image: Corporal John Jack French 014332

21.01.2022 A recently completed frame for a 60th Wedding Anniversary gift. Both met while serving overseas the gentleman in the RAAF and the lady a nurse.

21.01.2022 #OTD: Battle of Mount Tambu On the 16th of July 1943, a small force of Australian soldiers held off close to 1,000 Japanese for three days. The Battle itself co...mprised of a series of actions fought in the Salamaua area of New Guinea from 16 July to 18 August 1943, the battles were fought during the final stages of the Salamaua-Lae campaign of which yesterdays post on the Battle of Mubo featured. The initial assault on Mount Tambu launched on the 16th was made by troops from the Second AIF 2/5th Infantry Battalion. Described by papers as one of the greatest achievements of the second AIF in the New Guinea Campaign, a company of Australian soldiers stormed the Japanese position atop the mountain, and proceeded to defend it for three days and night of continuous attacks. The first counter attack launched that night by the Japanese resulted in 39 Australian casualties, including 14 killed. In contrast, the Japanese suffered 350 killed during eight attacks before dawn. Over the next two days, over 1,000 Japanese soldiers launched another nine counterattacks by day and night, against an Australian position on the plateau that was just 150 yards by 100 yards in size. At times, the Japanese advanced as close as 10 to 15 yards from the Australian forward positions. After 72 hours of constant fighting, the Japanese finally accepted defeat and withdrew. The number of Japanese casualties suffered during this period is unknown. The fact that a company of Australians were able to hold off nearly 10 times their number demonstrates the strong tactical position held, and their fighting spirit. Image: Men of 2/5th Infantry Battalion in a defensive position on the plateau of Mount Tambu --------------------------------------------------------------- If you spot an error, please send me a message. Join our group here: https://business.facebook.com/groups/2626189084317964

21.01.2022 #OTD: Private John Carroll, VC From the 7th to the 10th of June, Private John Carroll performed a series of heroic actions whilst fighting in the battle of Mess...ines Ridge that would later see him awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery. Born on the 16th of August 1891, Carroll enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as a private on 27 April 1916. Carroll embarked for England in August with reinforcements for the 44th Battalion, then on 14 November was transferred to the 33rd Battalion. He went into the line at Armentières, France, and served there until April 1917 when his unit moved into position for the Messines offensive. On 7 June, in the battle of Messines Ridge, he rushed an enemy trench and bayoneted four men, then rescued a comrade who was in difficulties. Later in the advance he attacked a machine-gun crew, killing three men and capturing the gun, and, in spite of heavy shelling and machine-gun fire, dug out two of his mates who had been buried by a shell explosion. During the battle his battalion was in the line for ninety-six hours and Carroll 'displayed most wonderful courage and fearlessness' throughout. He was awarded the Victoria Cross and in September was promoted lance corporal. On 12 October, in the second battle of Passchendaele, he was severely wounded and did not rejoin his unit until June 1918; next month he was transferred to A.I.F. headquarters, London, and in August returned to Australia. Carroll, who was known among his A.I.F. comrades as 'the wild Irishman', was casual and happy-go-lucky by nature. He missed three dates for his investiture with the V.C. and had to be sent for on the fourth occasion; after the ceremony he amused himself by exercising the Victoria Cross winners' right to turn out the Buckingham Palace Guard. He was also known as 'Referendum Carroll' because he rarely said anything but yes or no. Two of his brothers served as privates in the A.I.F. ------------------------------------------------------------- If you spot an error, please send me a message. Join our group here: https://business.facebook.com/groups/2626189084317964

19.01.2022 Studio portrait of VX89030 Major (Maj) William Edward Hanley Stanner, 2/1st North Australia Observer Unit (NAOU), of Watsons Bay, NSW. Prior to the war Maj Stan...ner worked as an anthropologist, conducting research into the peoples of the Daly River and Port Keats in the Northern Territory. In March 1942 Maj Stanner was responsible for the formation of the 2/1st NAOU, otherwise known as ‘Stanner's Bush Commandos'. Known colloquially as 'Nackeroos', the men were deployed in small groups throughout the rugged north of Australia, where they observed and reported on signs of enemy activity, often patrolling on horseback. As the unit’s Commander, Maj Stanner made contact with many local Aboriginal groups, and employed some to assist his troops as guides and labourers. Nackeroo operations were scaled down as the threat of Japanese invasion passed, and the unit was eventually disbanded in March 1945. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) in 1943, Stanner served as Senior Civil Affairs Officer for the British Borneo Civil Affairs Unit (BBCAU) until the conclusion of the war. He continued his anthropological work after the war, becoming a prominent writer, lecturer and public advocate of the study and appreciation of Aboriginal society and its place in Australia. In recognition for his services to Government and Aborigines, Lt Col Stanner was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1972 c 1942 AWM.

19.01.2022 Here is a recently mounted New Zealand Group of medals. From left to right, New Zealand Operational Service Medal, New Zealand General Service Medal, Afghanistan, Secondary Operational Area Medal, New Zealand Defence Service Medal with Regular clasp.

19.01.2022 Here is one of three frames we have just completed of a customers grandfather who served in WW1 in both the 11th Light Horse and the Camel Corps.

18.01.2022 Here is a group of medals before and after a refurbish. WW1 Military medal, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal.

17.01.2022 #OTD: National Military Working Dog Day Today we pause to remember the life and service of our unsung four-legged heroes, the Military Working Dogs of the ADF. ...The 7th of June every year is National Military Working Dog day, a day where we can reflect on the sacrifice of Australia’s Military Working Dogs (MWD). These brave canines have served faithfully alongside Australian personnel since 1943, and many of them paid the ultimate price to save their fellow Australians. Originally employed by the RAAF to provide security for airfields, use of MWD was expanded to the Army and Navy in 1977. However, units of the Australian Army were using MWD well before then during the Korean War as well as the Malayan Emergency and Borneo. Since then, MWD have been deployed on operations domestically and overseas. In addition to airfield defence, MWD are now primarily employed as explosive detection dogs (EDD) or with the special forces as special operations military working dogs (SOMWD). Unfortunately, I was unable to locate an exact number of MWD who were killed since 1943, however, since 2007 10 MWD have been killed on operations in Afghanistan. We remember today all MWD who served, and pay tribute to those who never returned. Lest we forget. ------------------------------------------------------------- If you spot an error, please send me a message. Join our group here: https://business.facebook.com/groups/2626189084317964

17.01.2022 #OTD Lieutenant Wilbur Dartnell, VC, KIA On the 3rd of September 1915, Lieutenant Wilbur Dartnell was killed in an ambush that would see him posthumously aw...arded Australias highest award for gallantry and bravery, the Victoria Cross. Dartnell joined the Victorian Mounted Rifles at the age of 15, and saw service in 1901 during the Second Boer War. He fought in battles in the Cape Colony and Orange Free State, and was wounded on his 16th birthday. Returning to Australia in 1902, his unit was demobilised but he returned to South Africa and served as part of Roystons Horse during the Babatha Rebellion in Natal in 1906. Commissioned in the 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers on 12 February 1915, Dartnell was one of a number of Australians who requested passage to England in order to enlist. He deployed with the battalion to Mombasa in May, and was dispatched to Kajiado to defend the local section of the Uganda Railway from German raiding parties. On the 3rd of September, Dartnell was serving with a force of 117 men from his company who were sent to intercept a German raiding party in vicinity of Maktau. His force was ambushed by a German party approximately 200 strong, which included a number of native Askari soldiers. Casualties during the engagement were high, and the force was ordered to withdraw. Dartnell had been wounded in the leg and was being carried to safety when he realised that the more grievously injured would be unable to withdraw. Fearing what the Askari would do to the British wounded, he demanded to remain and fight. Though twice ordered to leave, Dartnell refused and gave the order for his men to abandon him. He was last seen firing on the German troops who were within 25 metres of his position. When his body was recovered several hours later, it was surrounded by seven dead German soldiers. Dartnell gallantly gave his life in an attempt to save others. For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Lest we forget. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you spot an error, please send me a message. Join our group here: https://business.facebook.com/groups/2626189084317964

17.01.2022 Another old photo (post card I think) that I like, and no question about the rifle in this case. But what would be really clever is, having fired, he works the bolt and prepares for a second shot.

16.01.2022 78144 Sergeant (Sgt) Leonard Victor Waters, 78 Squadron, RAAF, sitting in the cockpit of a P40N Kittyhawk, possibly Black Magic. Sgt Waters was one of a small... number of Aboriginal pilots known to have served in the Second World War. He joined the RAAF on 24 August 1942 and was trained as a flight mechanic. When the RAAF called for aircrew trainees he applied and was accepted for pilot training. He undertook his initial training at 1 Elementary Flying Training School (1EFTS), Narrandera, NSW, before graduating as a Sgt pilot from 5 Service Flying Training School (5SFTS), Uranquinty, NSW. His training continued at 2 Operational Training Unit (2OTU), Mildura, Vic, from where he was posted to 78 Squadron on 14 November 1944. He flew 95 operational sorties with 78 Squadron, operating from Noemfoor, Morotai and Tarakan. Sgt Waters was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 1 January 1945 and to Warrant Officer on 1 January 1946. He was discharged from the RAAF on 18 January 1946. Leonard Waters died on 25 August 1993. Engagements: New Britain campaign New Guinea campaign Borneo campaign Original text and photographs sourced by: www.awm.gov.au/collection/C268699

15.01.2022 Sharing some puppy love on International Dog Day! When our troops are deployed, they are often accompanied by our four-legged friends, who perform a range of ro...les including detection, patrols, emergency response and security. We captured this great shot of a military dog and its trainer at last years Explore the Barracks event.

15.01.2022 Here is a unique group of original British medals spanning three Monarchs that we have just completed mounting. From left to right, The Military Cross, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Allied Victory Medal with MID, 1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal 39-45, War Medal 39-45 and the Africa General Service Medal with clasp Kenya. (Note customer requested that the medals not be cleaned)

15.01.2022 A recently completed group of medals from left to right, Aust. Service Medal 75 with clasps Timor Leste and CT/SR, Aust. Operational Service Medal (Greater Middle East) Defence Long Service Medal, Aust. Defence Medal, Timor Solidarity Medal, NATO with clasp, Afghanistan and the US Air Force Commendation Medal with "C" devise. The "C" devise recognises a combat area.

14.01.2022 NZ's role in capture of Beersheba

14.01.2022 Here is a recent group of medals we have made up for a Queensland Police Officer. From the left, Commendation for Brave Conduct, National Emergency Medal with clasp QLD 2010-11 (for Qld Floods) The Royal Humane Society bronze medal and the Qld Police Service Medal with 15 year clasp.

14.01.2022 Today marks the 79th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin. At around 10 am on 19 February 1942 Japan launched 188 planes against Darwin, whose harbour was full ...of ships. Eight ships were sunk, two were beached and many of the other 35 ships in the harbour were damaged by bomb or machine gun fire. A second raid of 54 bombers was launched two hours later. By the end of the attacks some 250 people had been killed and a further 300 had been wounded. Those who died that day included members of all three services, in rank ranging from a Wing Commander down to two cooks. They also included merchant seamen, postal workers and civilians. The 19 February attacks were the first of 64 raids made on Darwin between February 1942 and November 1943. Footage from the bombing of Darwin: http://ow.ly/fnct50DDiNN Image: HMAS Deloraine in Darwin Harbour, 19 February 1942. 128108

14.01.2022 Naval gun being ferried across to Bribie Island, 1939. (State Library Qld. 2 112856)

13.01.2022 A recently mounted group of medals from left to right, Aust. Service Medal 75 with clasp Bougainville, Defence Long Service Medal with one clasp (20 years service) Aust. Defence Medal and the USA Joint Service Achievement Medal.

13.01.2022 At 11am On the 11th November We Pause.....To Remember Their Name Liveth for Evermore #pausetoremember #TheirNameLivethForEvermore... #remembranceday See more

12.01.2022 We dont get to refurbish a group of medals like this every day, but always great when we do. From left to right, Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross, 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal 39-45 and War Medal 39-45.

12.01.2022 Here is group of medals that wouldnt be that common, from left to right, Aust. Active Service Medal 75 with clasp Namibia, Aust. Operational Medal "Special Operations" Aust. Defence Medal and UN Namibia. The ribbon for the Aust. Operational Service Medal is as follows, Black with a central thin red stripe. The black represents the non-conventional conduct of special operations, while the single red stripe represents danger, strength and the great sacrifices made by recipients in defence of Australia.

12.01.2022 Don't leave it until the last moment to update your medals or to get replica medals in time for ANZAC Day, cut off is 31 March.

12.01.2022 75 years ago today, the 7th Division landed at Balikpapan, Borneo, as part of the final campaign fought by Australian forces during the Second World War. It wa...s the first time during the war that the division had fought as a whole. Once ashore, the men had to fight much harder for the beachhead than had the forces at earlier landings at Tarakan and Brunei Bay, and Japanese resistance continued for the next three weeks as they advanced inland. Daily engagements with the Japanese continued until the wars end. Read more: http://ow.ly/KOjl50AiiWi Photo: Balikpapan, Borneo, 1 July 1945. The view looking along yellow beach soon after the Oboe 2 operation landing by troops of the 7th Division.

12.01.2022 Recent group of medals, refurbished and updated, from left to right, MBE (Military) Aust. Active Service Medal with clasp Malaysia, General Service Medal 62 with clasp, Malay-Peninsula Aust. Service Medal with clasp, S.E Asia, Defence Long Service Medal with one clasp, Nation Medal, Aust. Defence Medal, Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal.

11.01.2022 This photo is from an album of QF268581, Elizabeth Mulholland from Dalby Qld, who served in the Australian Womens Army Service with the Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Unit. [QMHS: 2102 page 19]

11.01.2022 Here is a before and after shot of a recently completed refurbish of two WW1 groups, one WW2 group (Defence Medal and War medal) and General Service medal 18-62 with clasp, "Canal Zone"

11.01.2022 A recent refurbish of some WW2 medals ready to go back to the family. Some refurbish jobs are a challenge we have to be careful not to mark the surface of the medals by too much rubbing.

11.01.2022 Another refurbish for a 120 year old Queens South Africa medal (Boer War) with three clasps.

10.01.2022 WWII uncovered: Remembering the Brave Women of the Australian Nursing Sisters: Captain Jean Greer "Jean K. Greer was born 21 October 1912 in Petersham, New So...uth Wales. She enlisted in the Citizens Military Force as a trained nurse on 12 December 1940 and was posted to the Australian Army Nursing Service. She was then seconded to the AIF with the service number NX70937 and the rank of Lieutenant on April 25, 1941." "On June 29, 1941 Jean arrived in Singapore and was attached to 2/10 Australian General Hospital. On February 12, 1942 Greer embarked with 64 other nurses on the SS Vyner Brooke as the Japanese closed in on Singapore. When the SS Vyner Brooke was sunk by Japanese planes on February14, Greer managed to swim to a piece of wreckage which was big enough to accommodate several survivors. She was joined by other nurses and several other survivors in the aftermath of the sinking." "The raft floated past Banka Island where the occupants could see other survivors making a fire but Greer and the other nurses could not push the raft out of the current to the island, an act of nature which saved their lives. Later that evening, Greer and the others on the raft were caught in the middle of the Japanese invasion of Sumatra. Japanese landing craft passed either side of the raft and all aboard had a spectator's view of the invasion. Greer and her companions were captured when a Japanese boat stopped the next day. After taking Greer and the women onto the boat, the Japanese towed the raft with two men on board to Sumatra's shore and into captivity. Greer spent the next three and a half years as a Prisoner of War and during her captivity in October 1943 was promoted to Captain." "Greer was well known for her sense of humour and devotion to duty during her captivity, but was close to death when the Belalau camp in Sumatra was liberated in August 1945. Jean was evacuated to a Dutch hospital in Singapore (pictured). She returned to Australia in October 1945 aboard the hospital ship Manunda and after a period of time in hospital to recover, was discharged on September 23, 1946." "Greer’s brother Lieutenant Bruce John Kirkwood Greer was also a Prisoner of War of the Japanese having been captured at the fall of Singapore. The Greers are believed to be the only Australian brother/sister prisoner of war siblings." (Source: AWM) Jean passed away on December 7, 2001 at the age of 88. Lest We Forget. #ww2uncovered #greatestgeneration #WWII #WorldWarII #wwiihistory #worldwar2 #ww2 #nurses #armynurse #nursing #ww2history #nursingsisters #australia #ANZACspirit #lestweforget #WWIIveteran #POW Original description and photo sourced by: www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1068533 and ancestry.com

10.01.2022 Here is a recent refurbish job on a WW2 group of medals, from left to right, 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal 39-45, War Medal 39-45 with MID clasp, Aust. Service Medal 39-45 and the Efficiency Medal with clasp.

10.01.2022 Farewelling troops bound for the Boer War, Pinkenba, 1899.

09.01.2022 A another WW2 group refurbished, new ribbon. Let us give your families medals a new lease of life, please e-mail us for details.

08.01.2022 LEST WE FORGET... TO ALL VETERANS PAST AND PRESENT.... I TY !.... FOR OUR FREDOM

08.01.2022 Major Stephen Midgley (left), Commanding Officer of the 5th Light Horse Regiment, and Maj Lachlan Chisholm Wilson, Officer Commanding A Squadron, in a trench ...on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Both men are wearing pistol belts of civilian origin. Major Wilson has a clasp knife in his belt and wears an improvised pouch, possibly for carrying maps. The tin in his pocket probably contains tobacco. August, 1915

08.01.2022 #Onthisday in 1916 was the first day of the battle of the Somme. This was the worst single day in the history of British arms, with 60,000 men being killed or ...wounded. The battle of the Somme then continued for four months and resulted in more than 1,200,000 casualties on both sides. Learn more: http://ow.ly/SnMv50Aij5p Photo: Several unidentified soldiers walk along a line of trenches excavated during the German advance along the side of the road leading to Pozieres.

08.01.2022 Sometimes we get a families medal group to refurbish and some of the medals have been lost over the years. One customer was handed down the last two medals in this photo (WW2) and we were able to establish that the person was also entitled to the 1939-1945 Star and Pacific Star. We were able to buy these two original (un named) stars to make up the full group of medals using original medals rather than replicas.

08.01.2022 Here is a before and after shot of some original WW2 medals recently refurbished.

08.01.2022 A recent group just completed. The usual WW1 Trio with the last medal being the Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. This medal was awarded for 15 years service in the Fleet Reserve, it was discontinued in 2000.

07.01.2022 Another set of original WW1 medals refurbished and ready to go back to the family. Considering they are over 100 years old they have come up ok.

06.01.2022 It was a day that would change Clarence Atkinson’s life forever: the 27th of June 1941. The then 26-year-old was serving as a private with the 2/3rd Battalion i...n Syria when he made a split-second decision to charge an enemy machine-gun during fighting near Damascus. The men of 10 Platoon had been pinned down by enemy fire from a Hotchkiss gun for three hours while attempting to hold a defensive position on the Jebel Mazar feature. One section of 12 Platoon tried to outflank the gun, despite the number of snipers, but was held up. When the man next to him was shot in the head, Atkinson leapt into action. Armed with a haversack of grenades, he dashed forward among the rocks while coming under intense enemy fire. Pushing forward, he hurled the grenades, clearing the area of enemy and capturing the Hotchkiss gun. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions that day, the first known Indigenous Australian to be awarded the medal during the Second World War. Continue Reading: http://ow.ly/uiCU50Cd0rf Visit our NAIDOC Week hub: http://ow.ly/PnbJ50Cd0rg Image: Clarence Atkinson DCM. Photo: Courtesy Isabella Walker #NAIDOC2020 #NAIDOCWEEK

06.01.2022 We love mounting original medals and every now and then we get special ones as this WW2 DFC group. From left to right, Distinguished Flying Cross, 1939-1945 Star with clasp, "Bomber Command" The France and Germany Star, Defence Medal 39-45, The War Medal 39-45, the Australian Service Medal 39-45 and the (unofficial) Bomber Command Medal.

06.01.2022 A recently completed replica group, left to right, Aust. Active Service Medal with clasp, ICAT, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Emergency Medal with clasp for the Qld Floods, Aust. Defence Medal and the USA Joint Service Commendation Medal.

05.01.2022 #OTD: Outbreak of WWI On the 4th of August 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany as a result of German refusal to remove troops from neutral Belgium. As a... result, Australia pledged full support for Britain and entered WWI. Australia pledged a force of 20,000, to be placed at Britains disposal, but by the end of the war over 400,000 Australians were in uniform. For Australia, the First World War remains the costliest conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of whom more than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner. Below is an album of colourised images from the Australian Geographic showcasing the Australian experience of WWI please refer to the individual images for a caption and credits for each. Let us know which picture you think is best! Lest we forget. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you spot an error, please send me a message. Join our group here: https://business.facebook.com/groups/2626189084317964

05.01.2022 I have only ever seen two actual original Caterpillar Club badges over the years, and one just this morning with a WW2, DFC group of medals to an Australian, they are very collectable pieces. The caterpillar Club badge was a 9ct gold badge with membership card and was issued to British and Australian airmen in WW2, The name and rank of the recipient was engraved on the back of the badge. The badge was 20mm long by 4mm wide with red ruby eyes. The caterpillar represented the silk of the parachute and to become a member someone had to bail out of the plane and live to tell the tale thus the parachute being their saviour. The badge was a gift from parachute company.

03.01.2022 We just completed this pair of medals, our customer wanted us to mount his originals and make up a matching replica set, can you tell which set is replica and which one is original?

03.01.2022 Yesterday I met with Martin Shaw from Wounded Heroes at Wacol in Brisbane. Wounded Heroes is a charity that raises funds to assist current and former members of the Australian Defence Force who in a lot of cases find themselves in desperate situations. Martin explained how they assist with the basics such as food and shelter etc and they are all volunteers and do an amazing job in difficult situations. If would like to know more about Wounded Heroes then you can go to their web site www.woundedheroes.org.au You can also view a segment with Steve Price, from The Project who is on board with Wounded Heroes and gives a personal account about one of his former relatives. If you can spare even a small donation please do so, every little bit helps.

02.01.2022 Here is a unique group of original medals recently mounted, before and after shot. From left to right, The George Medal, Aust. Active Service Medal 45-75 with clasps Korea and Vietnam, Queens Korea Medal, United Nations medal for Korea, Queens Vietnam Medal, Aust. Defence Medal, RAAF, LSGC Medal and the Vietnam Star with clasp 1960. Only 24 Australians (military) have been awarded the George Medal post WW2

02.01.2022 The 19th Reinforcements of the 10th Light Horse Regiment AIF.

01.01.2022 Claude Stanley Choules (3 March 1901 5 May 2011) was an English-born military serviceman from Perth, Western Australia, who at the time of his death was the o...ldest combat veteran of WW1, having served with the Royal Navy from 1915 until 1926. After having emigrated to Australia he served with the Royal Australian Navy, from 1926 until 1956, as a Chief Petty Officer and was a naturalised Australian citizen. In December 2011, the landing ship HMAS Choules was named after him, only the second Royal Australian Navy vessel named after a sailor. Claude Choules was able to leave school when he turned 14, at which point he attempted to enlist in the army as a bugler boy but was rejected as he was too young. His father then arranged for him to train to join the navy instead, and in April 1915, at age 14, he joined the nautical training ship TS Mercury. On the 20th of October 1917, Claude Choules joined the battleship Revenge, which was the flagship of the First Battle Squadron and stationed at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. While serving aboard it, he saw action against a German zeppelin, and witnessed the surrender of the German Imperial Navy at the Firth of Forth in 1918, ten days after the Armistice, as well as witnessing the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow. In 1926, along with 11 other Royal Navy senior sailors, Claude Choules travelled to Australia on loan as an instructor at Flinders Naval Depot. He decided to transfer permanently to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) after sampling and agreeing with the Australian way of life. During WW2 Claude Choules was the acting Torpedo Officer at HMAS Leeuwin, the naval base at Fremantle, Western Australia, and also served as the Chief Demolition Officer on the western side of the Australian continent. He was tasked with sabotaging Fremantle harbours and related oil storage tanks in the event of a Japanese invasion. He was also responsible for dealing with the first German mine to wash up on Australian soil during the war, near Esperance, Western Australia. Claude Choules and his wife Ethel were married for 76 years, until her death at age 98. He died on the 5th of May 2011. He was survived by three children, 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. He was given a naval funeral in Fremantle, Western Australia on the 20th of May 2011. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from Wikipedia.

01.01.2022 This is what they called a 'Remount Horse". WW1 Could carry a man weighing 12 stone (75-80 kilos) and all the equipment. Original meaning was a horse that was provided to soldiers whose horses had been killed in battle. Later it came to mean the type of horse.

01.01.2022 The Waler is an Australian breed of riding horse developed from horses that were brought to the Australian colonies in the 19th century. The name comes from the...ir breeding origins in New South Wales; they were originally known as "New South Walers". It was used as a stockmans horse and prized as a military remount, a hardy horse with great endurance even when under extreme stress from lack of food and water. The gaits of the Waler were considered ideal for a cavalry mount. In Australias two wars of the early 20th centurythe Second Boer War and World War Ithe Waler was the backbone of the Australian Light Horse mounted forces (see image). See more