Militaria

Lot 4685    Session 17 - (11:30am Friday 3rd August)    Militaria

Estimate $13,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

HMAS SYDNEY/KORMORAN, very rare documents to a German sailor killed in action during the battle that resulted in the sinking of both ships, these important documents include,1. Official death certificate for August Bilges showing him as killed in action in Australian waters on 20 November 1941 and dated 22 Juli 1943.2. Official German Third Reich death scroll with naval decorated border and named to Maschinenobergefreite (Machines Corporal) August Bilges and dated at Wilhelmshaven on 11 Mai 1943, designed to be framed by next-of-kin.3. Iron Cross 2nd Class award document to, Maschinenobergefreite August Bilges vom Kommando Hilfskreuser "Cormoran" (Machines Corporal August Bilges from the Commando Auxiliary Cruiser Cormoran), dated 19.11.1941 thus making it an actual award for the sinking of the Sydney.4. A transcript in German of August Bilges' service record and a copy of his photo as obtained from the German archives office.In addition to the above documents there are other rare documents for sailors from the Kormoran and these include,1. A document awarding Otto Dornis 'das Kriegsabzeichen fur Hilfskreuzer' (the Auxiliary Cruiser Badge) from Der Chef des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht (The Chief of the Upper Command of the Wehrmacht), the certificate stating his location as Australia, Murchison, Lager (Camp) 13, and the certificate is dated 26.10.42 (the badge had not been instituted at the time of the Sydney/Kormoran action so it is interesting that the efficient Germans have taken the trouble to make sure their sailor is aware of his award even though he is in a prison camp in Victoria, Australia). Also with this is a copy of the Australian Military Forces Report on Prisoner of War for Otto Dornis.2. Two other documents by the same Chief of the Upper Command advising Mtr. I Friedrich Krebs of promotions to Mtr. Gefreiten effective from 1.4.1941, the advice dated 21 Januar (German spelling) 1943 and the other promoting him to Mtr. Ob. Gefr. and dated 31.5.1944, both naming him as in prison in Australia, Ser.Nr. 42358 at Murchison Camp, Victoria. With this is a photcopy image of a group photo in which Krebs is identified and also a copy of his POW Form stating he was captured 23 November 1941 at Sea near Carnarvon.3. Also included is a registered envelope from Admiral der Nordseestation, Wilhelmshaven dated 17.11.42, the handwritten address is illegible.All documents in excellent condition, very fine - extremely fine and extremely rare. (6 + 5 research photo images + envelope)

The battle between HMAS Sydney and the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran took place off the coast of Western Australia on 19 November 1941 with Sydney sinking on that night. Also on that night the survivors on the Kormoran were evacuated before she sank after midnight i.e. on 20 November, and one of her life rafts sank killing all but three of the sixty on board.