Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Polar Medal 1904, silver, E.II.R., 2nd issue, 1 clasp, Antarctic 1971 (B. R. Ryder) in its Royal Mint case of issue, extremely fine £1500-2000

Polar Medal London Gazette 1 March 1974: ‘Brian Paul Ryder, Radio Officer, Mawson Station 1961; Wilkes Station 1963 and 1965; Davis Station 1971.’

Brian Paul Ryder was born at South Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, and attended the De La Salle Brothers High School at Armidale. A radio operator by profession, he served in the Royal Australian Navy as such, between 1953 and 1959. He served as radio officer at various times at several stations in the Antarctic over a period of some twenty-five years, and during 1967 and 1973 he served at Macquarie Island.

The Polar Medal offered above is the original medal issued to Ryder in 1974, named with incorrect initials “B. R.” He was subsequently issued with a replacement medal with his names engraved in full. Sold with an original portrait photograph and a group photograph of the Wintering Party at Macquarie Island in 1967.

The illustration refers to Lot 325, not Lot 324