Lot 4002

Description

Group of Six for WWI and II to officer POW at Changi: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. Lieut. C.H.Collis. A.I.F. on first two medals, NX76342 C.H.Collis on last four medals. All medals impressed. Privately pin mounted as worn, good very fine.

Together with King's Silver War badge, reverse numbered A11431; medalet, Good Luck to Australian Bushmens Corps, 1900, in gilt, with suspension bar and original ribbon; WWII unit colour patch.

Cyril Humphrey Collis, warehouseman, age 20, born at Kew, Victoria; Enl.11Feb1916; previously attended and passed Officer's Training School No.3, 1915-16 while with Melbourne University Rifles; Emb.03Jun1916 with A Coy 37Bn; served on operations in France and Flanders including Messines, Ypres, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele and the Somme; appt'd 2nd Lt 17Jun1917 and Lt 06May1917; RTA 18Oct1919; appt terminated 20Jan1920 and to Reserve of Officers 3rd MD; Reserve of Officers 2nd MD 01Jun1925; Lt in Australian Signals Corps (Militia) 20Sep1939; Temp Captain 01Feb1940 at 'G' Branch HQs 1st Div; to Intelligence Corps 31May1940 attached to Eastern Command Security Section; Staff Officer Intelligence 1st Div 28Jun1941; Enl.20Aug1941 in AIF at Sydney; to Sea Transport Staff 22Aug1941; Emb.10Jan1942 for Singapore as Draft Conducting Officer (Ship's Staff); MIA Singapore 16Feb1942; reported POW at Malayan Camp (Changi) 05Jan1943; reported POW Changi 11Dec1943; found alive and well at Changi 04Sep1945 by Allied Forces; deplaned Darwin for discharge 14Sep1945. Cyril was one of the first POWS to return from Changi when eight Catalina flying boats touched down at Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour. His son Peter was there to meet him but did not recognise him because when Cyril left Australia he was 14 stone and on return from Changi he was 7 stone. His first son, Robert served in WWII in the RAAF and was killed in an aircraft accident on 07Jul1943 in England. His second son, Peter, served as an Army Dispatch Rider.

With photos and comprehensive research.