Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private R. H. King, 20th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 28 October 1917

British War and Victory Medals (5689. Pte. R. H. King. 20-Bn. A.I.F.); Memorial Plaque (Robert Henry King) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure, nearly extremely fine (3) £180-£220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties.

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Provenance: Acquired by the vendor directly from the recipient’s family.

Robert Henry King was born in Clerkenwell, London, and having emigrated to Australia attested for the Australian Imperial Force at North Sydney, New South Wales. He served with the 20th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 May 1916, and in a letter home, dated 26 August 1917, he writes: ‘According to the way that the Germans keep retreating I think that he is fed up with it and will soon turn it in and the sooner he does the better for all of us.’

King was killed in action on 28 October 1917. A comrade from the same unit stated: ‘I saw Private King killed at Halfway house at Ypres. He was out delivering rations when he was caught by a shell, which killed him instantly.’ He is buried in Perth Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium.

Sold with a quantity of ephemera, including silk postcards and letters written by the recipient to his wife; a small coloured portrait of the recipient housed in a silver pendant; two Australian Military Forces ‘For Australia’ memorial silks; cap badge; and an A.I.F. ‘To the Women of Australia. For Duty Done’ lapel badge, reverse numbered ‘189350’; together with official telegram and letter notification of death; a portrait photograph of the recipient and a photograph of his original grave; and a large quantity of copied research.