Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Warrant Officer Class 1 V. J. McKibbin, Canterbury Mounted Rifles

1914-15 Star (7/84 S.S/M., N.Z.E.F.); British War and Victory Medals (7/84 W.O.1, N.Z.E.F.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (7-84 Sq. S. Mjr., Canterbury Mtd. Rif.) mounted court style as worn, very fine and better (4) £240-280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Extensive Collection of Medals for Long and Meritorious Service.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1918. ‘... in recognition of Valuable Services Rendered with the Forces in Egypt’. 336 ‘Immediate’ M.S.M’s. were awarded to the New Zealand Forces in the Great War (4 to the Army for Gallantry, 4 to the New Zealand Navy Auxiliary Service for Minesweeping, and 328 to the Army for Meritorious Service.

Victor James McKibbin was born at Pleasant Point, South Canterbury on 24 May 1893 to William McKibbin and Margaret nee Morgan, early farming settlers. A Commercial Traveller by occupation and a member of the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifle Regiment, he attested to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Timaru on 14 August 1914, aged 23 years, 3 months. He sailed from Lyttelton, Christchurch with the battalion on 23 September 1914 for Wellington to be joined by the other battalions with their transports. The fleet departed on 16 October 1914 with McKibbin aboard Transport No. 11 (Athenic) and disembarked at Alexandria on 3 December 1914. He was made Sergeant on 14 August 1914, Staff Sergeant on 1 January 1916, Squadron Sergeant-Major 8 April 1916, and Warrant Officer 30 April 1918. He embarked for New Zealand at Suez on the Devon on 5 April 1919. During his service in Egypt he was admitted to hospital on 7 August 1916 for 10 days at Alexandria sick with ‘jaundice’. During this period he met his future wife, Margaret Elsie Louise Dodd, who was a volunteer nurse, and married her in Cairo. He was discharged on 2 July 1919 after 4 years and 231 days of service. In 1942 he was Managing Director of a motor business and living at 56 Dyers Pass Road, Cashmere, Christchurch, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Home Guard (Christchurch East Battalion). He was promoted to Lieutenant from 1 August 1943 and was posted to the Reserve of Officers with effect from 1 January 1944. Victor James McKibbin died at the above address on 4 June 1962, aged 69 years. At the time of his death he was Managing Director of South Island Motors Ltd and Treasurer of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club, and was a member of the Metropolitan and New Brighton Trotting Clubs.

Included are about 30 pages of copies of his attestation to the N.Z.E.F., military history sheets, casualty form, certificate of discharge, appointment to commission in the Home Guard, notification of promotions in the Home Guard, page from the nominal roll of N.Z.E.F. 1914, notification of his M.S.M. in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 3 June 1918, and certified copy of entry of death, and obituary from the Christchurch Star, 5th June 1962.