Australian Historical Medals

Lot 485    SESSION 2 (11.30AM TUESDAY 26TH JULY)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $5,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $5,000

VICTORIAN POLICE GOLD VALOUR BADGE, undated (1916), in 9ct gold and enamel by Bridgland & King, with 9ct gold and enamel suspension brooch bar, reverse of medal inscribed, 'Const Bresnan/6068'. Good very fine and rare.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 122 (lot 590).

Only 22 gold badges awarded.

Francis Bresnan, an engine driver, was born 14 July 1893 at Dunbulbalane (on the Nine Mile Creek about 200km north-northeast of Melbourne), Victoria. He was appointed as a Foot Constable to the Victorian Police Force on 17 December 1914 and discharged as a Constable on 1 November 1923 after 'Refusing Duty' during the police strike, along with many other constables, as recorded in Victoria Police Gazette 13 December 1923. Up until this time his conduct was recorded as good. As well as being awarded the Gold Valour Badge, along with two of his fellow policemen, for arresting three armed criminals he was also highly commended on 18 March 1918 for stopping at great personal risk a bolting horse in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne on 4 March 1918. The horse had freed itself from a van to which it had been attached and bolted out of Little Bourke Street and collided with another vehicle.

See previous lot E3459 for award to Constable W.Downes, also for arresting the same three armed criminals and for details of the presentation of the Gold Valour Badge.

With research.