Lot 5736

Description

Australia, WWII 'souvenir badge belt', Army webbed belt decorated with original badges, noted Australian including 31 Bn (The Kennedy Regt) collar pair, New Zealand (Queen Alexandra's 2nd WWC Mtd Rifles) hat badge, Canada, France, Germany (bronze General Assault Badge), South Africa, U.S.A. and others and a Palestine Police hat badge (voided type with lugs on reverse) and British, as well as rank badges, buttons and trench art memorabilia. Very fine. (84 pieces)

Together with research including photocopies of photo of uniformed Pte R.J.Gunthorpe and his Certificate of Discharge and other items. This is an interesting selection of WWII memorabilia put together by a Rats of Tobruk veteran, QX11411 Pte R.J.Gunthorpe who served with 2nd AIF from 26Jul1940 - 13Jan1944 with service in Crete, Benghazi, Tobruk and El Alamein. In the Charters Towers Northern Miner newspaper it was reported that at the 'Tobruk Rats' first reunion held at Charters Towers, the Queensland Director-General of Health and previously Lt-Colonel and former CO of local businessman, Mr R.J.Gunthorpe, spoke in glowing terms of his service in Tobruk. He said 'My friend, Mr Gunthorpe, displayed outstanding gallantry during the retreat, and I will maintain as long as discussion is raised on the subject, that it was his presence that resulted in the troops maintaining their high standard of morale.'