Auction Catalogue

2 December 2009

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 648

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2 December 2009

Hammer Price:
£680

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Corporal Frank West, 55th Battalion Australian Infantry

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2019 A.L. Cpl., 55/Aust. Inf.) extremely fine £550-650

M.M. London Gazette 11 January 1918; Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 23 May 1918.

Recommendation states: ‘This man displayed great devotion to duty and courage during the attack on Polygon Wood on 26th Sept. 1917. On the night of 26/27th he took a Lewis Gun out to an exposed position between two companies and captured an Officer & 5 men of the enemy, bringing them into our lines. His coolness was very noticeable throughout the engagement’.

Frank West was born in Greys, Essex, England. Living in Australia and a Contractor by occupation, he attested for the Australian Imperial Force on 2 March 1916, aged 32 years, 7 months. With the 55th Battalion Australian Infantry, he proceeded to France in November 1916. West was wounded in action on 10 March 1917, suffering a gunshot wound to the left shoulder, and was invalided to England. Returning to France and rejoining his unit in June 1917, he was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery in action on 26/27 September at Polygon Wood. In August 1918 he was transferred to the 14th Training Battalion based at Tidworth, England. Corporal West returned to France once more in early 1919 and as a Temporary Serjeant was attached to the Australian Burials and Graves Registration Detachments. Returning to England in April 1919 he embarked for Australia and was demobilised in July 1919. Frank West died on 19 April 1957.

At the time of his M.M. award, the 55th Battalion Australian Infantry was part of the 14th Australian Infantry Brigade; 5th Australian Division, I Anzac Corps.

With copied service papers in folder.