Lot 3864

Description

Group of Eight: Military Cross (GVIR); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; British War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Greece War Medal 1940-41. 1941 engraved on reverse of M.C., VX206 E.R.Wilmoth impressed on fifth, sixth and seventh medals, fifth medal with official correction to Wilmoth, second, third, fourth and eighth medals unnamed. Very fine.

Edward Russell Wilmoth. Born Horsham, Victoria, 10Jan1917. Enlisted in the Militia 14Mar1935 as 85712 with 1st Armoured Car Regiment. Promoted to Lieut, with 1st A.C.Regt on probation on 14Dec1938. Seconded to the 2nd AIF AS Lt with 2/8 Bn on 13Oct1939. Served in the Middle East 14Apr1940 until 17Jul1942 including Greece between 31Mar1941-Jun1941. Awarded M.C. for Tobruk. Served in New Guinea 5Dec1943-7Oct1944. Served Netherlands East Indies 20May1945-21Dec1945. Discharged 2Jan1946 as Major (T/Lt Col). Died 1984. M.C.: L.G.: 9May1941. 'For an act of gallantry and devotion to duty at Battle of Tobruk on 21st January 1941. During the advance of his Company a counter attack with tanks was launched by the enemy and the Company was halted by heavy machine gun and shell fire from tanks. One tank secured a position behind a sandbagged gun emplacement and effectively screened itself from fire from anti-tank rifles. Lieut Wilmoth worked his way round this emplacement and single handed threw grenades under the tank and silenced its fire, enabling the Company to continue its advance. This action had a great encouraging effect on the men who witnessed it. He displayed courage and daring in the most adverse circumstances and his initiative and leadership contributed in no small measure to the success of his Company's advance'.