Lot 5737

Description

Group of Four: Distinguished Conduct Medal (GVR type 1); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 176 Sgt. W.D.Archibald 7 - Aust. Lt.Horse R. on first medal, 176 Sgt W.D.Archibald 7 - LHR - AIF on second medal, 176 Sgt. W.D.Archibald 7 - LHR. AIF. on third and fourth (A.I.F.) medals, the British War Medal an officially renamed medal, all lettering smaller than normal and last two medals have name upset compared to normal naming. Impressed. An official duplicate set of the first four medals of the previous lot. Extremely fine.

Copy of correspondence confirming the official status of the medals reissued in 1935. This shows that Archibald completed a Statutory Declaration in respect of the medals on 25 August 1934 declaring that he 'believed that they were inadvertedly thrown overboard at sea with some discarded clothing.' He also forwarded thirty shillings to defray cost of the replacement medals. He then received advice from the OIC Base Records stating that the WWI trio would cost fifteen shillings and tenpence and these would be forwarded to him in the next few days. However, the OIC advised that the cost of the replacement DCM was contingent on the current rate of exchange and also asked Archibald for a separate declaration for forwarding to the War Office, London. On 17 January 1935 the Military Liaison Officer at the Australian Embassy in London advised the Department for Defence in Melbourne that a duplicate DCM had been received from the War Office. On 28 March 1935 the replacement DCM was forwarded by OIC Base Records to Archibald.