Associated with VX185 Lieutenant Colonel George Frederick Smith, DSO, ED. 

He was born in Victoria in 1905. He served with 6 Infantry Brigade in 1939; as a Major with 2/6 Battalion from 1939-1941; as commander of 17 AITB from October 1941 to March 1943; as Lieutenant Colonel commanding 24 Battalion from May 1943 to October 1944; and Commanding Officer of No 1 AIF Reception camp in the UK from November 1944 to September 1945.

During his service in New Guinea he played an important role in promoting anti-malarial discipline and drug use.

He particularly distinguished himself on the afternoon of 7th August during the attack on MUNSTER ALLEY and TORR TRENCH when for three hours he bandaged wounded men and carried them as far as the aid post. All this time there was a heavy bombardment and at places the communications trenches were blown in necessitating the stretcher bearers going overland.' [i.e. not protected by the trench walls]

The recommendation for the award of a second bar reads, 'For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On the morning of 18th September, 1918, his Battalion was attacking West of BELLENGLISE. This N.C.O., who was in charge of Stretcher-bearers, remained in a heavy barrage dressing and assisting wounded. His unfaltering courage, not only prompted the admiration of the wounded, but his care and attention was of inestimable benefit to them.'

He was made an Honorary Lieutenant in the AIF on 1 March 1916 and posted overseas on 12 February 1917. He returned to Australia on 25 December 1918. He was mentioned in Despatches on 5 March 1919, 'for gallant and distinguished services in the Field', and awarded an OBE (military) on 3 June 1919, for meritorious services in Palestine, where he was in charge of the Dental Corps.

 Awarded to Oliver Arthur Jones who served with the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) during the First World War. 

He later served with the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) during the Second World War. He retired with the rank of Commander.

Trooper C T Spencer, 6 Light Horse Regiment, AIF Associated with 2382 Private Cecil Thomas Spencer. 

He enlisted on 23 November 1915 in 6 Light Horse Regiment, AIF, and Returned to Australia on 15 November 1918. 

Made of sterling silver

Eligibility was: Attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization participating in ground/shore operations; Attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; Actually participating in one or more ariel flights supporting military operations in the areas designated above, or; Serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days during this period. The symbolism of the medal is as follows - the sunburst is the light of freedom; the globe, depicting the Arabian Peninsula, denotes the theatre of operations, and is encircled by palm, denoting victory; the palm tree with the crossed sabres is the emblem of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Green, red, white and black are the colours of the flag of Kuwait.

Commemorative medal comprised of a central badge on a Rupert's paty cross, suspended from a crown. At the end of the top arm is a fleur de lys. The obverse of the central badge shows the profile of a soldier wearing a helmet. The reverse features text only, which reads 'LES VETERANS DU ROI ALBERT 1 ER 1909-1934'. The ribbon consists of a central red stripe, with thin stripes of the Belgian tricolours (red, yellow and black) on either side.

 Two oak branches, one in silver, one in bronze, are horizontally pinned across the ribbon. The ribbon is secured to the medal with a gilded metal ring attached to the crown.

Somme Veterans Medal. The obverse shows two warriors with spears and shields fighting side by side. On one shield is a cockerel, representing France, and on the other shield is a lion, representing Britain and the Commonwealth. Above the warriors is a nymph which represents the Somme. The figure is reclined with her left forearm resting on an urn, out of which flows the river. 

Text beneath the warriors reads 'BATAILLES DELA SOMME JVILLET-NOVEMBRE MCMXVI'. The reverse is plain with text only, which reads 'COMBATTANTS DE LA SOMME 1914-1918-1940'. The ribbon consists of three stripes, one central blue stripe and two yellow stripes. The ribbon is secured to the medal with a copper ring.

Awarded to or collected by 3849 Corporal (Cpl) Frank McArthur. see 1 medal above and 1 below.

Text on either side of the windmill reads '1914-18', '1939-40'. The reverse shows a French helmet encircled with text which reads 'CHEMIN DES DAMES AISNE'. 

The ribbon consists of three main stripes, one central white stripe and two black stripes, with thin stripes of the French tricolours (red, white and blue) on either side. A bar horizontally pined across the ribbon reads 'AISNE 1914-1918'. The ribbon is secured to the medal with a copper ring.

Awarded to or collected by 3849 Corporal (Cpl) Frank McArthur. see 2 medals above.

FROM THE ROMA ADVERTISER 5/4/1919 IN MEMORIAM: PATERSON – In loving memory of my dear husband and daddy, Pte James Thomas Paterson, Wallumbilla, killed in action , Bullicourt France, 5th April 1917.

“Ah, its proud I am, always proud, that you went gladly and at once when the war horn blew; but ah I want you back, and I wonder why, in those smiling ranks, there couldn’t  have been room for one tall, lean, brown soldier, with a pair of steady blue eyes – who will NOT come back.” Inserted by his loving wife and little daughter “Coo-ee”, Wallumbilla.

BACKGROUND TO THE NICKNAME: COO-EE” given his daughter Elizabeth Maud Paterson: 

In the early 1900’s it was the  practice to give a nickname to all new-borns. Before leaving Australia James Paterson asked his wife , who was pregnant at the time, to give any child born a real AUSSIE name rather than the usual  “bubbles” (girl) or “ Bubby” (boy). Hence when  Elizabeth Paterson was born , on 26th July 1916, she was given the nickname “Coo-ee” and this remained with her until at least  1980.

Oval shaped medallion secured to a brass chain with a brass ring. The obverse shows a shield engraved with text which reads 'F MCA'. Above the shield are two crossed rifles under which is the text 'ANZAC'. At the base of the medallion is text which reads '1915-1919. The reverse is engraved 'Pres to CPL F MCARTHUR MM. by the residents of GLENFIELD on Returning from 'THE FRONT' and minor engraved decoration.

Presented to 3849 Corporal (Cpl) Frank McArthur by the residents of Glenfield, NSW, on returning from the First World War. Cpl McArthur enlisted on 28 August 1915 and served with 13 Battalion. He was awarded a Military Medal at Zonnebeke in 1917, and returned to Australia on 13 April 1919.

• The CdeG could be enhanced by having 1 or more palms added to the ribbon. 

• Another way was to have 1 or more stars added to the ribbon (see left).

Open to soldiers, sailors and airmen of all ranks, and of any Allied army, various types of Croix de Guerre were available: bronze (awarded by the army), silver (awarded by a division), silver-gilt (awarded by a corps), silver star (awarded by a division) and bronze star (awarded by a regiment or brigade).

Further acts of bravery resulted in the award of additional medal insignia worn on the ribbon of the medal; the ribbon being green ribbed with seven red stripes.  Recipients of five bronze insignia were automatically entitled to a silver medal.

Recipients of the Legion d'Honneur and Medaille Militaire were automatically eligible to receive the Croix de Guerre.  Foreign nationals were similarly eligible to receive the Croix de Guerre, as were individual units.

• The French Croix De Guerre (War Cross) with 7 stars.

 Dated 1918 -1929

• Unofficial medallion presented to T W Dillon by the citizens of Lidcombe, "on his return from active service".

• Note the 1933 "Efficiency" bar which was not originally designed to be worn on the riband.

Greek Service Medal from WW1 (marked 1916/17)

Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939/45. The maple leaf clasp indicates overseas service. Also available; the Dieppe Clasp.

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