Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Countries

Lot 3723    Session 12 (11.30am Thursday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Countries

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $5,500

PAIR: Military Medal (GVR); 1914-15 Star. 10-303 Pte C.W.Connell. 1/Well' Tn: R. on first medal, 10/303 Pte. C.W.Connell. N.Z.E.R. on second medal. Both medals impressed. Good extremely fine.

Together with book titled, The New Zealanders at Gallipoli by Major Fred Waite D.S.O., N.Z.E., New Zealand Government 1919, hard cover, 330pp + fold out maps. MM: Supplement to LG 11/10/1916 p9839; NZEF Orders (171) London 18.10.16. Citation: ’This man showed conspicuous bravery on 8th August 1915, during the attack on Chunuk Bair he went out under heavy shrapnel, M.G. and rifle fire and removed an Artillery Ranging Flag. This flag had been used by our artillery in the attack but, owing to our advance it had become a danger to our own troops and was causing many casualties.’ The Battle of Chunuk Bair: The Wellington Battalion took the peak at Chunuk Bair on the morning of 8 August 1915 but they were then subjected to a relentless Turkish assault with fierce hand-to-hand trench combat. Without reinforcements they could not secure the position. Throughout 9 August other NZ soldiers hung grimly to Chunuk Bair but no reinforcements arrived. If they had then perhaps there would have been a different outcome for the Gallipoli campaign. The Australian war historian, Charles Bean, wrote of the Wellingtons, ’..there came out only 70 unwounded or slightly wounded men ... they could only talk in whispers ... their eyes were sunken ... some broke down and cried.’ Private Christopher William Connell, age 23, motor mechanic of Wanganui; Enl.14Aug1914 at Wanganui; Emb.12Apr1915 for Dardanelles; awarded MM for Battle of Chunuk Bair at Gallipoli 08Aug1915; 03Jun1916 following a motor cycle accident he was admitted to hospital with fractured right clavicle and fractured base of skull; this resulted in deafness in right ear, the inability to sleep properly and constant headaches; RTNZ 03Sep1916; Disch.13May1917 as Medically Unfit due to wound received in action and injury sustained on active service; died 25Nov1918 from Influenza and complications. The following items were sent to his mother, (1) Memorial Scroll 29Nov1920, (2) war service medals 22Jun1922, (3) Memorial Plaque 10Jan1930.