Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 4322    SESSION 13 (2.30pm Thurs 29 July)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $800
Bid at live.noble.com.au

TRIO: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. O.N.1760 J.H.Woolright Ord.Sea. on first medal, 1760 J.H.Woolright. A.B. R.A.N. on second and third medals. All medals impressed. With original ribbons, in poor condition, medals fine - very fine.

Able Seaman James Hedley Woolright, born Sydney, 1897; entry to RAN 01Jun1912 Tingira as Boy; New Guinea Force 14Aug1914-05Mar1915; Enl.15Sep1915 for 7 years; served on postings to HMAS Melbourne 14May1913-30Sep1916, London Depot, HMAS Cerberus, Tingira, HMAS Sydney and HMAS Penguin; Disch.16Oct1922; Died 18Sep1958. James Woolright served on the cruiser HMAS Melbourne while she was part of the escort for the New Zealand force that occupied Samoa on 30 August 1914 and landed a force that captured Nauru on 9 September 1914. She then returned to Australian waters and joined the escort of the first troop convoy from Australia to the Middle East which departed Albany on 1 November 1914 taking control of the convoy after the departure of HMS Minotaur and on 9 November ordered HMAS Sydney to investigate a ship near the Cocos Keeling Islands which turned out to be the Emden. Melbourne left the convoy at Colombo on 15 November and proceeded to the Atlantic Ocean deployed to the Caribbean and based at Bermuda. For the next 18 months she patrolled the ocean between the West Indies and along the east coast of North America in conjunction with HMAS Sydney. When the Melbourne was transferred to the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron for duties with the Grand Fleet in the North Sea AB Woolright was posted to London Depot resuming duties with Melbourne on 30 December 1916 until 13 April 1918, once again posted to London Depot until 10 May 1918 and then returned to Australia for home postings at Cerberus and Tingira until 1920. He served on HMAS Sydney from 18 June 1920 until 6 September 1922 and then was posted to Penguin until 16 October 1922 when discharged, time expired.