Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 3985    Session 13 (2.30pm Thursday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $900,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,002,000

GROUP OF TEN: Victoria Cross; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Coronation Medal 1953; Jubilee Medal 1977; Golden Jubilee Medal 2002; Centenary Medal 2001. On reverse of VC, on suspension bar, V.X.102142 Pte Edward Kenna / 4th Australian Infantry Battalion.', and in centre, '15th MAY 1945.', VX102142 E.Kenna on second - sixth medals, the seventh - ninth medals unnamed as issued, Edward Kenna on last medal. The first medal engraved, the second - sixth medals impressed, the last medal pantograph engraved. Until recently on display on behalf of the family at the Australian War Memorial and accordingly all medals cleaned and lacquered and mounted in court style for display purposes, extremely fine.

Together with small and large size photos several as a member of the Australian 1953 Coronation Contingent to England, others relating to important dignitaries or occasions, some with other VC recipients, a few with autographs, and another two photos taken at the VC presentation ceremony by the Governor General of Australia, HRH Henry, The Duke of Gloucester; Australian Red Cross Society, Victorian Division, Blood Transfusion Service, Donor's Certificate named to Edward Kenna, shows donations on 26.1.49 and 27.7.49; Invitation from the Government of Victoria to a State Reception to meet Their Royal Highnesses The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, and The Duke of Edinburgh 26 March 1952; Book for the Coronation Cruise of H.M.A.S. Sydney 1953; 1953 Entertainment Programme for Commonwealth and Colonial Contingents at The Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; Programme for Coronation Celebrations in Victoria 1953; Elizabeth R Coronation Tuesday 2 June 1953 free public transport system souvenir map; Certificate from City of Melbourne to Mr & Mrs E Kenna in honour of the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh 2 March 1954; Programme for The City of Melbourne Ball in honour of the visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 2 March 1954; Invitation from Government of Victoria to attend State Reception for Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh 8th March 1954; Invitation from the Prime Minister The Rt Hon R G Menzies and Dame Pattie Menzies to a reception at Australia House 22 June 1956; Invitation from Sir Walter Monckton KCMG, KCVO, MC, QC, MP, Minister of Defence to Tea in Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster on 25 June 1956; Souvenir Programme for Victoria Cross Centenary Review of Holders of the Decoration by Her Majesty The Queen, Hyde Park 26 June 1956; Victoria Cross Centenary Celebrations Review in Hyde Park on 26 June 1956, order of form up for holders of the decoration on parade; Elizabeth R address to Review of VC holders 26 June 1956; Programme for Corporation of London Reception at Guildhall to mark Centenary of VC, 27 June 1956 (2 copies); Souvenir Programme for Victoria Cross Centenary Celebration for Tea Party and Cabaret by Mecca Ltd, 28 June 1956; Programme for Visit of Australian VCs to The Battlefields of WWI in Ypres and Somme Areas, July 2nd - 7th 1956; Invitation from the Government of Victoria to attend a reception for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on 27 February 1958; Invitation from the Government of Victoria to a State Reception in honour of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh 23 February 1963; Invitation from the Government of Victoria to an evening garden party to farewell the Governor of Victoria His Excellency General Sir Dallas Brooks and Lady Brooks 1 April 1963; Letter to Pte Edward Kenna VC from Paramount Pictures dated July 30th 1964 being a personal invitation to attend the premiere of the movie 'Zulu' which concerns the historic Battle of Rorke's Drift and the subsequent award of eleven VCs; Invitation from Buckingham Palace to a reception at Windsor Castle given by The Queen and The Duke of Windsor 18 July 1968 (2); Admittance card for The Victoria Cross and George Cross Association reunion dinner 19 July 1968; Programme for the visit of Mr E Kenna VC to Royal Air Force Changi on 24th July 1968; another identical for Mrs E Kenna; Programme/booklet for Return to Wewak Week 13th - 20th September 1970, includes details of E Kenna's VC action, signed inside, 'To Ted Kenna VC `You did come back.' Thanks mate for journeying so far and back again.', signed personally by author of the booklet, Kerry Leen ex RAAF 13th September 1970, Wewak; Invitation from Buckingham Palace to a reception given by The Queen at Buckingham Palace to mark 14th reunion of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association 14 May 1986; Invitation from the Prime Minister, The Hon R J L Hawke AC, MP, to the opening of parliament house by HM Queen Elizabeth II 9 May 1988; Programme for Remembrance Day Ceremony and Ceremony to mark 50th Anniversary of the official opening of the Australian War Memorial 11th November 1991 (2 ); Programme for Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip to the Victoria Cross Memorial Queen Victoria Building on the occasion of the Sesquicentenary of the City of Sydney 23rd February 1992, features a photo of the Memorial and a list of all Australia's VC recipients as well as photos of Australia's living VC recipients in 1992, Sir Roden Cutler, Edward Kenna and Keith Payne (2 copies, both signed personally by Edward Kenna VC and Keith Payne VC); Invitation from Field Marshall The Lord Bramall Chairman of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum to a reception for the opening of The Victoria Cross and George Cross permanent exhibition by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales KG 28 May 1997 (2); Norfolk Island, first day cover Commemorating 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War, 25 April 2000, featuring E Kenna and K Payne in the cover pictorial leading a parade, signed personally by Edward Kenna VC; another two covers, nos. 080 and 083, for the same event but with added pictorial featuring E Kenna and K Payne together, both covers signed personally by Keith Payne VC and Edward Kenna VC; Invitation from Australia Post to attend unveiling of Australia Post's tribute to the Centenary of Australia's First Victoria Cross, Sunday 23 July 2000 includes Royal Australian Mint one dollar VC coin 2000 in card holder for inserting into first day cover envelope, card holder signed personally by Edward Kenna VC; Menu and Program for Victoria Cross Commemorative Dinner to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Winning of the Victoria Cross by Lt Neville Howse on 24 July 1900, held Saturday 22 July 2000, signed on cover, 'To Marje with all good wishes Roden Cutler' and also 'Rusty Priest RSL (NSW) 22 7/2000'; Australia Post, For Valour first day cover, 24 July 2000, featuring strip of five stamps one of which is of Edward Kenna in Army uniform in New Guinea, signed personally by Edward Kenna VC (2); postcard bearing Ted Kenna's photo from WWII and with his Australia Post stamp affixed postmarked on first day of issue 24 July 2000 at Orange NSW, signed personally by Edward Kenna VC; Programme for Commemorative Ceremony for the 60th Anniversary of VC to Corporal John Hurst Edmondson conducted by 2/17 Bn Association, City of Liverpool RSL Sub-Branch and the John Edmondson VC Memorial Club 10 April 2001; Letter of congratulations dated 9 April 2003 from Prime Minister John Howard on the award of the Centenary Medal; Folder from The Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Honourable David Hawker MP including a photo of him presenting E Kenna VC with his Commemorative Medal for the 60th Anniversary of the End of WWII (2005); Copy of a message from Prime Minister John Howard offering his apologies for being unable to attend 60th Anniversary Celebrations for the awarding of the VC to Edward Kenna and also his best wishes to Edward and his wife Marjorie for the occasion, undated (2005); photocards of Ted Kenna VC wearing medals in civilian wear, signed personally by Edward Kenna VC (8 copies); postcards (unused) Brooklet V.C. Card No.28 featuring Pte E Kenna VC (3); Programme for the launch of the book, 'Where To? For Valour' The Story of Keith Payne V.C., launched by Edward Kenna VC and Ray Martin, signed personally by Keith Payne VC; other memorabilia such as Xmas cards and also ship menus from SS Orcades and Orion during the trip to the 1956 VC reunion in London. VC: LG 6/9/45, p4467, pos 2; CAG 13/9/45, p1979, pos 2. Citation: Valour of the highest order at Wirui Mission 15/5/45. (AMF O/A 29). The full citation as recorded in LG Supplement 37253, pp4467-4468 is as follows; War Office, 6th September, 1945 The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:- No. VX.102142 Private Edward KENNA, 2/4 Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Military Forces. 'In the South West Pacific at Wewak on 15th May, 1945, during the attack on the Wirui Mission features, Private Kenna's company had the task of capturing certain enemy positions. The only position from which observation for supporting fire could be obtained was continuously swept by enemy heavy machine gun fire and it was not possible to bring Artillery or Mortars into action. Private Kenna's platoon was ordered to deal with the enemy machine gun post, so that the company operation could proceed. His section moved as close as possible to the bunker in order to harass any enemy seen, so that the remainder of the platoon could attack from the flank. When the attacking sections came into view of the enemy they were immediately engaged at very close range by heavy automatic fire from a position not previously disclosed. Casualties were suffered and the attackers could not move further forward. Private Kenna endeavoured to put his Bren gun into a position where he could engage the bunker, but was unable to do so because of the nature of the ground. On his own initiative and without orders Private Kenna immediately stood up in full view of the enemy less than fifty yards away and engaged the bunker, firing his Bren gun from the hip. The enemy machine gun immediately returned Private Kenna's fire and with such accuracy that bullets actually passed between his arms and his body. Undeterred, he remained completely exposed and continued to fire at the enemy until his magazine was exhausted. Still making a target of himself, Private Kenna discarded his Bren gun and called for a rifle. Despite the intense machine gun fire, he seized the rifle and, with amazing coolness, killed the gunner with his first round. A second automatic opened fire on Private Kenna from a different position and another of the enemy immediately tried to move into position behind the first machine gun, but Private Kenna remained standing and killed him with his next round. The result of Private Kenna's magnificent bravery in the face of concentrated fire, was that the bunker was captured without further loss, and the company attack proceeded to a successful conclusion, many enemy being killed and numerous automatic weapons captured. There is no doubt that the success of the company attack would have been seriously endangered and many casualties sustained but for Private Kenna's magnificent courage and complete disregard for his own safety. His action was an outstanding example of the highest degree of bravery.' Edward 'Ted' Kenna was born at Hamilton, Victoria on 6 July 1919 where he grew up. The fourth child of a family of seven he attended school at St Mary's Convent, Hamilton but left at age 14 to become an apprentice plumber to help the family after his father became ill. On 9 August 1940, a month after his twenty-first birthday, he joined the Citizens Military Force and was allotted service number V55955 and posted to 32 Bn at Mt Martha, Victoria on 20 August. On 31 January 1941 he transferred to 23/21st Bn at Geelong, Victoria. On 15 December the CMF were called up for full time service for the duration of the war. On 2 May 1942 he entrained with his battalion for the 7th Military District (Northern Territory) for training. On 14 June 1942 Kenna volunteered for the AIF, enlisting at Hamilton, Victoria, and was allotted new service number VX102142. Private Kenna served in the 23/21st Battalion in Victoria and later in the Darwin area. His unit returned to Victoria in June 1943 and then to Queensland when it was disbanded and its members transferred as reinforcements to other units. On 3 September 1943 Private Kenna was posted to the 2/4th Battalion as a Bren gunner with 5 Section and after training at the Jungle Warfare School at Canungra he embarked from Cairns for New Guinea on 24 October 1944 aboard USAT Mexico. On 1 November 1944 he disembarked as part of A Coy at Aitape. A Coy was ordered to move to Driniumor River to carry out security patrol duty east and west of the river mouth. Ted was admitted to 2/7th Fd Amb Hospital on 10 December 1944, meanwhile, on 12 December A Coy moved further east to Babiang but under great difficulty as the Japanese had felled coconut palms across the sand at intervals of about ten feet. The remainder of the battalion hooked up with A Coy and by 15 December the Japanese had been cleared form the area west of the Danmap River. The battalion was relieved on 23 December and on the 24th Ted returned to his unit. However, on 14 March 1945, he was admitted to the 2/11th Australian General Hospital suffering from malaria. He rejoined his unit on 26 March. By 29 April 1945 the 4th Battalion had commenced its advance towards Wewak moving through Dagua and Boiken and crossed the Hawain River to reach Cape Plus and Cape Worn with A Coy carrying out a flank protection role under the new Commanding Officer, Lt Col G S Cox. They then reached Yarabos and B Coy established a bridgehead across the Minga Creek. The unit was then involved in the assault on 10 May against machine gun pill-boxes, bunkers and caves set in steep terrain at Wewak Point. A Coy was ordered to work over the plateau and the caves in the steep ground rising up from the sea. On 14 May 1945 the 2/11th Bn was heavily engaged in the foothills south of the Big Road and Brig J E G Martin ordered the 2/4th Bn to attack the Wirui Mission located on a steep, kunai grass covered hill about 300 feet high which dominated the airfield. From this location the Japanese had been shelling the Australians. A, B and C Coys of 2/4th Bn were designated to take part in the operation. C Coy was to take the first objective, A Coy was to take the second, the Wirui feature, and B coy was to capture the Pimple feature to the west. Approaching from the west, in poor visibility conditions through the tall kunai grass, C Coy, with a troop of tanks, soon took the first objective, dominating ground about halfway up the hill. A Coy passed through the lead company as they were mopping up and, with the aid of the tanks, whose crews estimated that they killed about thirty Japanese, reached the top. The Company commander, Capt E P A Smith requested that the artillery program be repeated. As A Coy experienced very little opposition he also requested that his company continue its advance to take B Coy's objective. His request was granted however what was light opposition now started to grow much heavier, especially for the area known as the Pimple or Bump. By nightfall the top and the eastern slopes were held and A Coy was ordered to maintain its position. The Japanese, however, were fighting back from well-sited bunkers on the north-western slopes. Next day, 15 May 1945, with artillery support, two sections of A Coy's No 8 Platoon attacked these remaining bunkers. The leading section was halted by intense fire after several men had been hit. Private Kenna, in the supporting No 5 Section which was firing on the bunkers at a range of only fifty yards, tried to bring his gun to bear on one of the bunkers but was unable to get effective fire onto it because of the difficult terrain. Without being ordered, on his initiative, he stood up in the kunai grass in full view of the enemy and fired his Bren gun at one of the Japanese machine gun posts. The machine gunners returned his fire, some bullets passing between his arms and legs, but failed to hit him. Kenna then said to a Private beside him that the Japanese 'had a bead on him' and he asked for his rifle. Ned, as his mates called him, used the 'crack shot' shooting skills he developed as a lad hunting rabbits to help feed the family during the depression years. Still standing he fired and silenced the enemy post. He then opened fire on another machine gun post about seventy yards away and silenced it too. A tank knocked out the remaining post and now with the 2/4th and 2/11th Battalions soon in contact, the enemy position was captured. Japanese losses amounted to approximately forty killed and perhaps twenty escaped during the firefight. Possession of the Wirui Mission gave complete control of the Wewak coastal plain. The Battalion continued with is clearance operations, capturing Koigin, and marching southwards. As a result of his 'magnificent bravery and magnificent courage' and with complete disregard for his own safety Private Ted Kenna was awarded the Victoria Cross. Then on 5 June 1945 A Coy mounted an attack on a Japanese position sited on the steep northern spur of Mount Kwakubo near Wewak. Just forty yards short of the Japanese position they were fired upon with automatic weapons and rifles; this left No 7 and 8 Platoons with little alternative but to return direct fire at the knoll. Lt Whitehouse charged forward with his No 8 Platoon throwing grenades and taking over enemy positions. Unfortunately, Private Kenna's war service was now about to end after he was shot through the mouth by a Japanese sniper. The bullet passed through his cheek shattering some jaw bone, exited his neck and then entered his chest coming out near his stomach. The battalion medical officer dressed Ted's face as best he could and then, without any painkiller, sewed up his body wounds to stop him bleeding to death. Afterwards he was carried out of action by Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, native carriers, who took him down the torturous slopes of the region, a journey that took the whole day. He was evacuated to the 2/7th Fd Amb Hospital then the 2/11th General Hospital and finally returned to 2/7th Fd Amb where he was placed on the `Dangerously Injured' list for treatment. After initial treatment he was returned to Australia to 112th British Military Hospital, Brisbane on 12 June 1945. From there he was transferred to the 115th (H) Military Hospital (Heidelberg Military Hospital), Victoria on 15 June. There he underwent several operations to graft skin and bone from his hip area to his cheek and jaw. Finally on 26 June 1945 he was downgraded from the critical list. After many months of recuperation he was discharged from the AIF on 22 February 1946 as 'unfit for further service'. The following year he married Marjorie 'Marje' Rushberry, a nurse who had cared for him in Heidleberg Hospital. Ted was presented with his VC in the presence of his wife and family by the Governor General of Australia, HRH Henry, The Duke of Gloucester at Government House, Melbourne, Victoria on 6 January 1947. As a tribute to Ted Kenna's gallantry, the people of Hamilton District raised sufficient funds to build a house for the newlyweds, a house where he and Marje went on to raise four children. After the war Ted worked with the local council, first as a curator of Melville Oval, the main sporting ground in Hamilton, and later as a Hall Keeper at the Borough Hall in Hamilton until his retirement in 1981. He also played Australian Rules football for the local team. Ted was a member of the Australian and New Zealand 1953 Coronation Contingent to England. Also in the contingent were Sgt Reg Rattey, Pte Richard Kelliher, Pte Frank Partridge and New Zealand VC recipient, John 'Jack' Hinton. The Contingent sailed aboard the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney embarking from Sydney on 21 March, travelling via the Suez Canal. They stopped off to pay their respects at the grave of John Edmondson VC in the Tobruk War Cemetery and then arrived at Devon on 5 May before taking part in the 8 mile Coronation March. The Australian Contingent wore blue dress uniforms but its members were continually mistaken with British Royal Marines so the Contingent was given permission to march in their khaki uniforms and slouch hats. On 3rd June 1953, the day after the Coronation, the Queen, accompanied by Prince Phillip, inspected the Contingent and presented each of them with a Coronation Medal. In 1956 Ted and his wife attended the VC Centenary Celebrations in England travelling on the 'Orcades' and touring the battlefields of France and Belgium as part of the trip. In 1967 he unveiled a Memorial at the Royal New South Wales Regiment, and in 1968 he attended the 6th VC and GC Association Dinner at the Caf‚ Royal in London. In 1970 Ted returned to New Guinea for the 25th Anniversary of the end of WWII along with many other veterans. He was one of three VC recipients to plant 'South Africa Honey Pot' proteas in the VC Garden at the Australian Staff College, Queenscliff, Victoria, the others being Sir Roden Cutler and Rupert Moon. In 1989 Ted attended the 50th Anniversary of the formation of 2/4th Battalion and in 1998 a 2/4th Reunion at Coffs Harbour, NSW. He again visited Coffs Harbour with his wife in 1999 for the 50th Anniversary of its Ex-Services Club. On 3 November 2000, once again accompanied by his wife, he unveiled a memorial for the 2/4th Battalion at Heidelberg Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria. This was a memorable visit for him because it was where he had recuperated after his war injuries and also where he met his wife. In the same month of 2000 he attended a function at 1 Recruit Training Battalion at Kapooka near Wagga Wagga, NSW. In 2004 he was invited to `toss the coin' at the Australian Rules Football 'ANZAC Day clash' between Collingwood and Essendon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It is also worthy of mention that in 2003 Ted Kenna was the first Private to lead the annual ANZAC Day March in Melbourne. The 83 year old VC hero was driven by jeep from Flinders Street Station to the Shrine of Remembrance and later met up with many of his old Army mates when the 2nd and 4th Battalions had a reunion at the Clayton RSL Club. Ted Kenna died on 8 July 2009 at Geelong Hospital aged 90, the last surviving VC recipient from WWII. He was given a State funeral at 11am on Thursday 16 July at St Patrick's Cathedral, East Melbourne and on the day the Australian National Flag was flown at half mast all day on all Australian Government offices and establishments during daylight hours. Mr Kenna's VC and his other medals were pinned to a scarlet cushion near a casket draped with an Australian flag and adorned with a slouch hat bearing the insignia of his unit, the 2/4th Infantry Battalion. Led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, around five hundred mourners attended. Other mourners were the Victorian Premier John Brumby, Federal Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull and fellow Australian VC recipient, Keith Payne and the last Gurkha recipient, Captain Limbu Rimbahdur. Those in attendance were told of a selfless, modest man who 'loved a drink and a punt' and who almost never spoke of his heroic deeds but preferred to be thought of as a devoted husband, an admired father and a loving grandfather. Major General Gordon Maitland said Ted was a humble comrade known to his fellow soldiers as 'Ned', a man devoted to his wife of sixty two years. There are many tributes to Ted Kenna VC such as the following; Ted Kenna VC Meeting Room at Hamilton Performing Arts Centre; an Australian Bronze Commemorative Plaque, plaque no.83 was erected in New Guinea in 1995 to commemorate the two Victoria Cross recipients in the Aitape/Wewak campaign during WWII, namely Private Edward Kenna and Lieutenant Albert Chowne; in the 1980s eminent artist, Sir William Dargie painted his portrait; in July 2000 he was featured on a postage stamp as part of an issue commemorating Australia's living Victoria Cross recipients; plans are underway for the dedication of the Edward Kenna VC Rest Area on the northbound carriageway of the Hume Highway, a commemorative drive called the Remembrance Driveway between Sydney and Canberra featuring numerous Rest Areas dedicated to Australia's VC recipients.