Other Commonwealth

Lot 3717    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 21ST NOV)    Other Commonwealth

Estimate $12,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $12,000

GROUP OF NINE: OBE; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 3/4543 Capt.A.E.L.Bennett, N.Z.E.F; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; A.L. Bennett; Coronation Medal 1937; Serbia, Third Order of St.Sava, neck badge; Royal Red Cross of Serbia. The second to fifth medals impressed, the first and last three unnamed. Very fine - extremely fine, a very rare group.

Together with a Navy League Special Service Medal, named to Dr Agnes Bennett OBE, Six Scottish Medical Shoulder Charges, British Medical Association 1931 badges (2), P.A.H. trained Nurses reunion Medal, various miscellaneous badges (6), W.W.S.A. arm band, trench art tumbler, engraved 'Bennett 9.22.1917' plus 18 items of research relating to Doctor Bennett, including letters, photos, birth certificate, newspaper cuttings, a Victory Medal named 'A.Sister F.A.Bennett'.

Dr. Agnes Bennett, B.Sc (Sydney) M.D. (Edinburgh), proceeded overseas on the outbreak of the Great War. She enlisted as a medical officer of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt and remained there until the first stationary hospital was established at Pont de Koubbeh. Subsequently she joined the district medical service of the British Army in Egypt, working in infectious diseases hospitals until the work ceased at Cairo; she then proceeded to England, and shortly afterwards went out to Serbia in charge of one of the units of Scottish Women's Hospitals. Dr. Bennett was decorated for distinguished services with the Royal Red Cross of Serbia, and Third Order of St. Sava of Serbia. The crown Prince of Serbia (afterwards King Alexander, who was assasinated at Marseilles) was a frequent visitor to the hospital. Dr. Bennett was invalided from this hospital, and afterwards acted as medical officer at Netley unit until the end of the war.