Australian Groups - Other Properties

Lot 4650    Session 15 ( 7.30pm Thursday 20th November)    Australian Groups - Other Properties

Estimate $550,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $500,000

VC, DCM GROUP OF EIGHT: Victoria Cross; Distinguished Conduct Medal (GVR type 1); Queen's South Africa Medal 1899, - four clasps -Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937. 9 Apr & 15 Apr 1917 on centre back of first medal, 2902 Sjt: J.W.Whittle 12/Aust:Inf: on second medal, 347 Pte J.W.Whittle Tasmanian I.B. on third medal, 2902 Sjt. J.W.Whittle. 26 Bn A.I.F. on fourth to sixth medals, last two medals unnamed as issued. The first medal engraved, all other named medals impressed. Display court mounted, contact marks on fourth to sixth medals, otherwise fine - extremely fine.

Ex J. and J. Edwards Collection.

Together with medals and original documents as follows,

1. Royal Navy And Army Boxing Association medal, in silver, (32mm), by Mappin & Webb, hallmarked for London, 1917, reverse inscribed, 'Argt/J.W.Whittle/V.C. D.C.M.'

2. British Expeditionary Force Recreational Training medal, in bronze (32mm) with suspension loop, reverse inscribed, 'Sergt/J.W.Whittle./V.C. D.C.M.'

3. Tasmanian Unit Imperial South African Contingent Certificate of Discharge dated 24 June 1902 at Hobart.

4. AIF Certificate of Discharge dated 15 December 1918 at Hobart.

5. Permanent Military Forces of the Commonwealth Certificate of Discharge dated 31 December 1918 at Hobart.

6. List of Canopy Bearers in the Eucharistic Congress Procession showing Mr J. W. Whittle V.C. as one of the bearers. (undated but Congress was held in 1928 in Sydney).

7. Letter from Government House, Canberra dated 8 May 1937 advising of the issue of a Coronation Medal 1937 and the impending delivery of one to him.

8. Returned Sailors, Soldiers & Airmen's Imperial League of Australia subscription receipt to Bro. J. W. Whittle dated 2 February 1944.

9. Large colour photo of the medal group.

VC: LG 8/6/1917, p5704, posn 1; CAG 4/10/1917, p2628, posn 1.

Recommendation (24 April 1917): For conspicuous gallantry, heroism and devotion to duty on two occasions.

'On 9th April 1917 near Boursies Sgt Whittle was in command of a platoon when the enemy, under cover of an intense barrage of artillery smoke and bombs, attacked the small trench he was holding. Owing to weight of numbers the enemy succeeded in entering the trench and it was only by Sgt Whittle's personally collecting all available men and charging the enemy that the position was regained. This section of trench had only been captured the previous night and was in a commanding position for the defence of Boursies.

On 15th April 1917, when the enemy broke through the left of our line to Lagnicourt, Sgt Whittle's platoon had to retreat to the sunken road to the East of that village. Here again Sgt Whittle's own splendid example was the means of keeping the men well in hand. After his platoon was established in its new position, it began to suffer heavy casualties and the enemy endeavoured to bring up a machine gun to enfilade the road. As the enemy machine gunners were fixing the gun, Sgt Whittle single-handed rushed across the bullet swept slope and attacked the gun crew with bombs. He succeeded in killing the whole crew and in bringing back the machine gun to our position.

The actions of this N.C.O. cannot be too highly rewarded. His example at all times under the most trying circumstances was certainly a stimulus to the gallant manner in which his platoon successfully drove back the enemy attacks.'

DCM: LG 26/4/1917, p3944, posn 15; CAG 21/8/1917, p1786, posn 8.

Recommendation (1 March 1917): 'For conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy. At the attack on Le Barque on 27/2/17, Sergeant Whittle's Company was held up by an enemy strong post at the junction of Misty Way and Warlencourt Road. Sergeant Whittle called on his men to follow and rushed the post, 3 Huns being killed there and about 8 shot by Lewis Machine Gun fire as they retreated towards Albert-Bapaume Road.'

John Woods Whittle was born on 3 August 1882 at Huon Island, near Gordon, Tasmania; Enl. as a private in Tasmania's 4th (2nd Imperial Bushmen) Contingent; arrived in South Africa on 24 April 1901; saw action in the Cape Colony; RTA to Tasmania in June 1902; Enl. in the Royal Navy and served for five years as a stoker; joined the Permanent Military Forces; 23 July 1909 at the Catholic Archbishop's house, Hobart, married Emily Margaret Roland; Enl.06Aug1915 in AIF and given rank of Acting Corporal; Emb. Oct1915 as a reinforcement for the 26th Battalion; Apr1916 with 12 Bn in France; WIA 18Jun1916 France; Oct1916 to Sgt; 27Feb1917 during the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg line his battalion attacked the outpost villages of Le Barque and Ligny-Thilloy with him on the left flank with Captain J. E. Newland's 'A' Company and it was here that he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal; then on 9Apr Whittle was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism at Boursies and Lagnicourt; WIA again during the German offensive of March 1918, and once more in late July 1918; RTA Oct1918 with other VC recipients to take part in a planned recruiting drive; Disch.15Dec1918 and lived in Sydney; in 1928 was one of the Canopy Bearers at the Sydney Eucharistic Congress; in 1932 he made a desperate plea for work as he and his wife had six children and within a month he was employed by the Western Assurance Co; 07Feb1934 Whittle saved a small boy from drowning in an ornamental pool in University Park and though he departed without giving his name, the deed became widely known; John Woods Whittle died of a cerebral haemorrhage on 02Mar1946 at Glebe, Sydney and was buried in Rookwood Cemetery.

Sgt J. W. Whittle, Tasmanian born, and Captain J. E. Newland were the only two permanent servicemen before the war to be awarded the Victoria Cross.