Historical information
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.
Significance
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.
Physical description
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.
Inscriptions & markings
Both engraved with 'VX26251 A. N. Comben'.
