Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Countries

Lot 3762    Session 12 (11.30am Thursday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Countries

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $700

GROUP OF EIGHT: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), Military Divison (type 2); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration (GVIR) with New Zealand suspension brooch. The first seven unnamed, Maj. A.J.Neil. 2NZEF on last medal. The named medal engraved. Court mounted style but no mounting bar, good very fine.

Together with 3rd Auckland Regt cap badge; Warrant Officer crown in metal with backing plate; riband bar for four ribands; large studio photos and an album of photos on war service including in North Africa and a caricature of Maj Neil; documentation including NZ Government House MBE investiture letter dated 20 February 1948; a pamphlet titled ’Navigation by the Stars’ (1942, first edition); 2NZEF Diploma for ’Crossing the Line’ aboard M.S.Sobieski in 1940. Ex Glendinings auction, 16 November 1994, lot 349. Major A J Neil, MBE, ED, born Invercargill 8Jul1909, accountant; 28Jan1940 a Captain with 27Bn Training A Brigade Group. In 1942 New Zealand was responsible for training the men of the Fiji Defence Force. On 1 November 1942 an infantry brigade group was formed under Brigadier Wales to facilitate this. At the time there were 221 New Zealand officers and 1,340 other ranks with the Fiji Defence Force which soon after changed its name to the Fiji Military Forces. All units, both New Zealand and Fijian were regrouped to come under either brigade or administrative headquarters. Brigadier Wales selected Major A J Neil to be Brigade Major. Italian Campaign. Following the campaign in North Africa, Major Neil was in the Liri Valley after transferring from 22 (Motor) Battalion on 24Jun1944 to join 25 Battalion as second-in-command. In the book on the history of the 25 Battalion, mention is made of Major Neil as follows, ’The offensive was making progress... it was time for the Division to get up closer. On 5th (September) Major Neil took forward an advance party, accompanied by minesweepers, and the battalion followed early next morning, timing the start so as to arrive before daybreak at a concentration area a couple of miles south of Fano, 25 miles away. Strict security measures, including wireless silence, were still in force.’