British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Major R. E. S. Best, Australian Army

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45, these four officially inscribed, ‘VX. 80965 R. E. S. Best’; Efficiency Decoration, E.II.R., Australia, the reverse officially inscribed, 350134 Maj. R. E. S. Best, C.M.F.’, together with Australian Royal Signals badge, generally very fine or better (6) £250-300

Having enlisted in the ranks of the Australian Signals in February 1932, aged 17 years, Best was commissioned in November 1939 and first went overseas in December 1942, an accompanying summary of service stating that he established and controlled signal offices at Dobodura and Finschhafen during the Salamua-Nadzab-Lae-Finschhafen campaigns from August 1943 until June 1944. He was transferred to Torokina in November of the latter year, where he took over communications from the U.S. Army, and was advanced to Major in April 1945; sold with typed career summary for the period 1932-53.