Lot 4502

Description

Group of Five to POW: 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. VX30846 W.E.Smith. All medals impressed. Some contact marks and spotty toning on last three medals, otherwise very fine - extremely fine.

Note: On 1 September 1962 William Smith lodged a Statutory Declaration stating that his R.A.S. Badge and his campaign medals had been lost. The declaration is marked to state that the R.A.S. Badge was replaced on 1 September 1962 but there is no indication on the declaration or in his file that the medals were replaced so perhaps he located his originally issued medals.^^William Edward Smith, motor mechanic, age 26, born at Melbourne, Vic; Enl.07Jun1940 at Royal Park, Vic; tfr to Infy Trg Depot No.3 13Jun1940; posted to 2/21 Bn 17Jul1940; detached to Driver Mechanic's Course 26Aug1940; rejoined unit 30Aug1940; graded Group III Driver Mechanic 04Mar1941; Emb.13Dec1941; MIA 02Feb1942 at Ambon, NEI; now reported as POW 17Feb1942 at Ambon, NEI; RTA and Disemb.16Oct1945; Disch.03Dec1945 as Private ex 2/21 Aust Infy Bn.^^With copy of Service File and a b&w photo showing a group of POWs including W.E.Smith in the process of being evacuated by train from Bakli Bay, Hainan Island to Sama Bay on about 28 August 1945 after being liberated by a detachment of the US Office of Strategic Services following the surrender of Japan.