Other Properties - Australian Singles

Lot 3639    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 21ST NOV)    Other Properties - Australian Singles

Estimate $900
Bid at live.noble.com.au

BRITISH WAR MEDAL 1914-18 AND CIVILIAN RESCUE AWARD. 9201 MT-DVR H.J.Plunkett. AMC. A.I.F. Impressed. No ribbon, extremely fine.

Together with 15ct gold medal (25mm; 5.3gm), hand crafted and engraved, obverse, 'Presented/By/Farrow/Concert/Committee/To/Constable Plunkett', reverse, 'For/Brave effort to/Save Life and/Bus (?) in Flood/27.5.89/Canterbury N.S.W.'; also silver shooting medal (29x33mm), by W.Kerr, with suspension loop, obverse, crossed rifle on shield with garter belt around and this inscribed, 'H.Plunkett', reverse inscribed, 'N.S.W.Rifle Clubs' Union 1902-3/A Grade/2nd/Police R.C.'

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 99 (lot 2190).

Rescue award: On the weekend of 25-27 May 1889, seventeen inches of rain fell in Sydney and all the low lying land was flooded, especially the river flats of Campsie, Canterbury and Marrickville. At about 1 pm on 27 May on the return trip, the driver of the Canterbury horse-bus found that the water had covered the bridge much more than on its earlier, outward trip. Nevertheless, he tried to cross the bridge and during the crossing the four horses attached to the vehicle were swept off their feet, and the animals and bus were swept away. The fare boy and all four horses were drowned and the bus smashed to a heap of splintered driftwood. Fortunately the driver and passenger managed to reach safety, being dragged out of the floodwaters by rescuers. Constable Plunkett made a desperate attempt to save the fare boy. Unfortunately he failed and in a thoroughly exhausted condition he was saved by some local Chinamen who were local market gardeners.

Driver Henry James Plunkett, Sergeant of Police (joined NSW Police Force c1886), age 45, born at Bristol, England; Enl.17Jul1915 at Warwick Farm with previous volunteer service with 4 Coy 2nd Regt Infy 1878-9; Emb.22Dec1915 with Dermatological Hospital, AMC; 28Sep1916 AMC Training Depot; 13Oct1916 detached for service with Bulford Military Hospital; 25Jun1917 to France; 26Sep1917 Medical Board hearing at Havre classified Plunkett as 'PB' age and debility and sent to England; RTA 01Nov1917; Disch.12Feb1918; name recorded on NSW Police Chapel War Memorial.

With folder of research.