John Alexander Spence was born in Fremantle 2nd July 1893. In 1912 he joined the Australian Navy as a Stoker and was posted to H.M.A.S. Australia. He was on this ship when it sailed at the head of the convoy into Sydney Harbour in 1913. At the outbreak of WW1, his ship was sent to German New Guinea where he saw conflict with the enemy and received a gunshot wound to his hand. This required him to be returned to Australia and the Naval doctors considered him unfit for further Naval service. When his hand healed Spence joined the AIF on the 2 August 1915 and was posted to the 52nd Battalion and embarked on the “Benalla” on the 1 November 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 1 June 1916 on 9 September was promoted to Corporal and the next day to Sergeant. At Messines Ridge he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. At Dernancourt, a village near Villers he was awarded the Military Medal on 6 April 1918. Subsequently he was badly injured. He had captured four German soldiers and one Officer. While marching them back to the Allied lines the Officer grabbed one of the patrol member’s gun and fired three shots at Sergeant Spence which smashed his hip. Despite his injuries Spence managed to bring the Officer down with a revolver shot. On the 30th April he was repatriated to England and admitted to the Alexandria Hospital at Cosham. He did not return to the western front as his injuries were too severe. He returned to Australia on board the Somalia arriving home on the 21st December 1919. Before joining the forces he was a prominent amateur boxer, a pupil of the renowned heavyweight Bill Doherty. During WW1 he won the Army lightweight championship, competing against professionals as well as amateurs. He defended the title successfully for three successive years. On his discharge from the Army he fought under the name of Sonny Kidson. He also turned to coaching and had remarkable success having coached the Army and Navy boxing teams. John Spence died on the 20 November 1962 at Hollywood Repatriation Hospital aged 69. Post card sized photo of 3400 Sergeant John Alexander Spence DCM, MM, 52 Battalion AIF. Photo shows medal ribbons of Distinguished Conduct Medal (awarded June 1917) and Military Medal (awarded April 1918), 2 wound stripes, 5 service stripes, 52 Battalion AIF colour patch and soft style forage cap.spence, 52 battalion, aif, dcm, mm

Pte Simmons was born in Kyneton. Died at the battle of Fromelles, July 1916.Fromelles. The battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916 was a bloody initiation for Australian soldiers to warfare on the Western Front. Soldiers of the newly arrived 5th Australian Division, together with the British 61st Division, were ordered to attack strongly fortified German front line positions near the Aubers Ridge in French Flanders. The attack was intended as a feint to hold German reserves from moving south to the Somme where a large Allied offensive had begun on 1 July. The feint was a disastrous failure. Australian and British soldiers assaulted over open ground in broad daylight and under direct observation and heavy fire from the German lines. Over 5,500 Australians became casualties. Almost 2,000 of them were killed in action or died of wounds and some 400 were captured. This is believed to be the greatest loss by a single division in 24 hours during the entire First World War. Some consider Fromelles the most tragic event in Australia’s history. www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/fromelles Two WW1 War service medals with ribbons in a white presentation case. With black clothe lining. On the rim of each medal is: 4899Pte N T Simmons 59 Bn AIF The medals are labelled British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal 1914- 1918. On the inside of the lid is card inscribed: Posthumus award to 4899 Pte N T Simmons 59 Bn AIF. ww1 medals, british war medal, allied victory medal 1914- 1918, n t simmons, fromelles

Medals from WW1.Significant to remember previous wars and conflicts as it is from these that the qualities and attributes for future generations of soldiers (including Vietnam veterans) have been born.WW1 trio of Medals: 1st medal: 1914-15 Star: The four pointed star is bright bronze, ensigned with a crown. The obverse has crossed gladius, overlaid with an oak wreath that is ensigned with the cypher of King George V. A scroll bearing the legend 1914-15 is centrally placed across the crossed blades. 2nd Medal: The medal is circular, 36mm in diameter, silver in colour. The obverse bears an un-crowned effigy of King George V, facing left, with the inscription; ‘GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:’ The reverse depicts St. George naked on horseback, armed with a short sword. The horse tramples on the Prussian shield and the skull and cross-bones. Just off-centre, near the right upper rim, is the Sun of Victory. The dates 1914 and 1918 appear in the left and right fields respectively. The recipient's details can be found on the medal's rim impressed in sans serif capitals - but due to the large numbers that were issued and the several suppliers that were involved this varies. The ribbon is 36mm wide with colours orange, white, black and blue. 3rd Medal: Victory Medal: The medal is bronze with a winged figure of Victory on the obverse. The obverse has the words ‘THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION’, all surrounded by a laurel wreath. The ribbon has a ‘two rainbow’ design, with the violet from each rainbow on the outside edges moving through to a central red stripe where both rainbows meet. Dimensions: rack: xxmm by yymm; medal 1: xxmm x ymm; medal 2: xxmm x ymm; medal e3: xxmm xy yymm. 1st medal: The obverse has, centrally located, a scroll reading 1914-15. 2nd medal: The obverse has the inscription; ‘GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP 3rd medal: The obverse has the words ‘THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION’.diamond valley vietnam veterans sub branch, ww1

Awarded to 168 CSMjr F.T Brent, 6th Australian Infantry, 'for capturing a string of strong posts on the 20 September 1917'. Commonwealth Gazette 27 June 1918. CSM Brent enlisted 20 August 1914. Returned to Australia 10 May 1919 Circular medal with a single suspension bar. Obverse - left profile of GvR and 'GEORGIVS V BRITT: OAN: REX: ET IND: IMP: around inside edge Reverse - 'FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD' Rim - '168 C.S.Mjr F.T. BRENT 6/Aust Inf' Ribbon - maroon/blue/maroon approx 70mm stapled through suspender Diameter - 36mm Obverse - left profile of GvR and 'GEORGIVS V BRITT: OAN: REX: ET IND: IMP: around inside edge Reverse - 'FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD' Rim - '168 C.S.Mjr F.T. BRENT 6/Aust Inf'medal, dcm, ww1, 5/6rvr, 6th australian infantry

Medal set and insignia from the uniform of a Czech Lieutenant who served with the British Army at the Siege of Tobruk.His medal ribbons show that he served during the First World war and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

Charles Frederick Clark was 1 of 3 sons of Thomas and Elizabeth Clark of Bonegilla who served in WW1. Charles, Ernest and Thomas were the eldest children of a family of 12 children. At the age of 25, Charles enlisted in 13th Light Horse Brigade 1st Reinforcement on 25 January 1915. He was later transferred to the 2nd Division Artillery Column and the 4th Australian Medium Trench Mortar Battery. Charles served in Egypt, Gallipoli and France. As a result of his actions at the Third Battle of Morlancourt on the Western Front, Charles was awarded the Military Medal. The citation for the medal read:- Awarded: Military Medal 24th June 1918 Recommended by: Brigadier-General O. F. Phillips Commanding 2nd Division Artillery Column Action for which commended: 637 Bombardier Charles Frederick Clark 868 Bombardier (T/Corporal) George Traill McLennan "On the night 10/11th June 1918 during the attack South of MORLANCOURT near ALBERT, these NCOs showed great courage and determination under most trying conditions. They were each in charge of 6” Newton Mortars which had very important tasks. Just prior to the attack their gun positions were very heavily shelled and this continued throughout the barrage fire covering the advance. The work of these NCOs, who could not remain under cover all the time, was extremely dangerous, the enemy batteries having the range exactly. Their great gallantry set a splendid example of coolness to their men." (Signed) C. Rosenthal, Major General Commanding 2nd Australian Division He also received the 1914-15 Star, the British War medal and the Victory Medal.This uniform is significant as it was worn by a Wodonga District resident who received the Military Medal which was awarded for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire during World War 1.Khaki Australia WW1 uniform for AIF. This uniform has 2 external patch chest pockets and 2 internal pockets with opening flap. It has 5 central buttons and 4 pocket buttons. There is a buttoned down epaulet on each shoulder and unit badges sewn onto each arm. An AIF Rising collar badge is on each peak of the collar. A strip of service ribbons is attached at the top of one chest pocket.australian military uniforms, ww1 bonella, military medal, 13th light horse, 4th australian medium trench mortar battery

The Australian Service Medal and Pacific Star Medal that were awarded to Private Arthur Norman Comben VX26251 for his war service in World War Two. From the AWM website Private Arthur N Comden of the 2/21st Australian Infantry Battalion, who died on Hainan Island, China, on 27 June 1945. The DVA records show he was born 6 April 1907 in Yarraville and enlisted on 17 June 1940 whilst residing in Coopers Creek Victoria. His next of kin was shown as H Dilks. Also that he had been a prisoner of war. His connection with Legacy is not known, he may have been a junior legatee though there's no record of his father Arthur John Louis Comben serving for Australia in WW1. More research is needed to check, it is possible the medals were donated to Legacy as no family members wanted them. Additional information provided by a distant relative - Arthur's mother (Mary Eleanor Norman) remarried twice after his fathers death in 1911. His stepfather Horace Dilks served in World War 1 with the 2nd Pioneer Battalion.These are examples of World War 2 medals awarded to a serviceman who participated in the conflict in the Pacific region. Many returned servicemen joined Legacy after World War 2 and would have had similar medals.Silver circular medal and bronze star shaped medal from World War 2 mounted on ribbons initially together by a safety pin. 01700.1 The medal is nickel silver with the crowned effigy of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse has the Australian coat of arms, placed centrally, surrounded by the words ‘THE AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL 1939-1945’. The normal ribbon is missing and it is on the ribbon meant for the UK War Medal which is of red, white and blue to represent the colours of the Union Flag. 01700.2 The six–pointed star is yellow copper zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design of the Royal and Imperial cypher, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words ‘The Pacific Star’. The ribbon has central yellow and green stripes that represent the forests and the beaches of the Pacific, flanked dark blue, light blue and red stripes that represent the service of the Naval Forces and Merchant Navy, the Air Forces and the Armies.Both engraved with 'VX26251 A. N. Comben'.medals, world war two, arthur comden

Medals awarded to "Pte H.C. Nott", No.288, 6th Bn AIF. See Catalogue No. 7816.4 for Nott's service record. Part of the Cooper Collection.Set of three WW1 court mounted medals; 1914 -15 Star - red, white and blue ribbon. Kings crown above crossed swords. Victory Medal - purple, green, yellow and red ribbon, gold coloured circular disc with winged victory on front. British War Medal - yellow ribbon with blue and white edges. Silver coloured disc with King's profile. (N.B. Medals mounted in incorrect order - Victory Medal and British War medal reverse positions.)cooper collection, herbert charles nott, medals, ww1