Auction Catalogue

4 & 5 March 2020

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 131

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4 March 2020

Hammer Price:
£300

A Great War 1918 ‘French theatre’ stretcher bearer’s M.M. awarded to Private W. Jones, 13th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2586 Pte W. Jones. 13/Aust: Inf:) area of erasure prior to naming, very fine £400-£500

M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘On 4th July 1918 in the operation against Vaire Wood, east of Corbie, performed his duties as Company Stretcher Bearer in a particularly gallant manner. He worked incessantly under heavy shell fire throughout the day dressing and carrying wounded absolutely regardless of his own safety. On one occasion with magnificent daring he went forward into “No Man’s Land” in full view of the enemy and succeeded in bringing back a badly wounded man.’

William Jones was born in Singleton, New South Wales, Australia in 1899. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 21 August 1916, and served with the 13th Australian Infantry Battalion in the French theatre of war from May 1917.

Jones was tried by Court Martial for desertion in September 1917, before rejoining his unit to win the Military Medal. He was convicted of several further offences before his return to Australia in 1919.