Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Tasmania M.S.M. and Commonwealth of Australia Long Service pair awarded to Warrant Officer J. Chisholm, 3rd Volunteer Rifle Company, Tasmanian Defence Forces

Tasmania Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Warrant. Officer. J. Chisholm. 1903.) impressed naming; Commonwealth of Australia L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (Warrant Officer. J. Chisholm, 1904.) engraved naming, extremely fine and extremely rare (2) £3,000-£4,000

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of H.M. King Edward VII Medals.

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Tasmania Meritorious Service Medal awarded per Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 31 October 1902.
Note: State Meritorious Service Medals were discontinued in March 1902 when they were replaced by the Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal.

James Chisholm was born in Edinburgh in 1831, the son of Mr. James William Chisholm, an Armourer at Edinburgh Castle, and emigrated to Tasmania in August 1852, being employed as a gun maker. He joined the 3rd Volunteer Rifle Company as an Armourer on 7 June 1860, and was appointed to the Permanent Force as Armourer-Sergeant on 1 January 1965. He was promoted Master Gunner on 1 June 1872, and served as military storekeeper from 1 July 1886. He had, at the time he was awarded his Meritorious Service Medal, served for over 42 years in the Defence Forces of Tasmania, and was presented with his M.S.M. by the Governor of Tasmania, Sir Arthur Havelock, G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E. on 9 November 1903. Subsequently employed by the Tasmanian Government as Magazine Keeper and Inspector of Explosives, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in November 1904, and died in Hobart on 28 September 1910.

Sold with a Warrant Officer’s King’s crown gilt arm badge with backing plate; and an Armourer-Sergeant brass arm badge with backing plate.