Medals from the Collection of Warwick Cary, Part 1


Richard Humberstone was born in Winchester, Hampshire and served in South Africa with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Volunteer Corps during the Boer War, 27 February 1900 until 31 May 1902, and with the Natal Carbineers during the Natal Rebellion of 1906 (medal and clasp entitlements confirmed). Relocating to Australia, he attested for the Australian Imperial Force at Kensington, New South Wales on 29 August 1914, aged 39 years and, having been assigned to G Company, 3rd Battalion, A.I.F., he was embarked to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the Derflinger, landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 with the initial force. He was mentioned in despatches and was awarded the D.C.M. for his gallantry during the initial landings and on subsequent occasions leading to his promotion to Corporal on 1 July 1915. Humberstone was wounded (gun shot wound - left eye), in the trench in front of Lone Pine on 11 July 1915 and was embarked for Malta where his left eye was excised. Onward embarked for England, he was admitted to the King George Hospital on 18 July where he was fitted with a glass left eye. Declared medically unfit on 12 December 1915, he returned to Australia on the Star of England, arriving at Melbourne on 29 January 1916 and was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force in consequence of medical unfitness on 22 May 1916. With his uniform now bearing sergeant’s stripes, he was presented with his D.C.M., on 23 June 1916 at a ceremony in Moore Park, Sydney. He died in May 1917.


The following article, published in the Daily Telegraph of 23 June 1916, describes more details of Humberstone’s D.C.M. winning exploits: ‘Sergeant Humberstone, who was the hero of the day, spent many years in South Africa, but was in Bathurst when the war broke out and promptly offered his services in the A.I.F. He landed at Gallipoli with the 3rd Battalion at 5 o’clock on the morning of the original Anzac Day, and, just behind the Queenslanders, took part in the wild rush up the cliffs. Bit by bit, he said the Anzacs worked their way inland until they occupied trenches facing Lone Pine Ridge, and it was here, under the withering fire of the Turks, that he won the D.C. M. The official statement issued at the time set forth that the sergeant had taken part in several hazardous enterprises, showing conspicuous gallantry and coolness on each occasion, and bringing each enterprise to a successful issue, to the entire satisfaction of his officers. A man such as Sergeant Humberstone, who has fought over much of South Africa, and served under such leaders as Lord Methuen and Colonel Mackenzie, the latter of whom conducted the operations against the rebel Zulu chief Bambatta, know how to take advantage of every inch of cover, and as a consequence the sergeant was able to do a lot and save his men from needless exposure and risks. Reverting to his final exploit, the sergeant remarked “that the trench in front of Lone Pine was just hell. It was half full of dead men but I sent word that we - there were only 20 of us left, and our officer Lieutenant Brodziak (who has just returned again to the front) was shot through the neck - would hold on till supports arrived. Well, we did manage to hold on, but it was a tight corner, and not the sort of party a man wants to be at twice. I got knocked out in the end after 14 weeks in those trenches when a Turkish sniper’s or some other bullet whipped my left eye out. My one eye is as good as ever, and if they’d let me I’d be off again.’


Note: After Humberstone’s death, his estate was administered by the Public Trustee but no next of kin or blood relative was ever found. His Great War campaign medals, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, were issued but never claimed and so were retained by the Department of Base Records at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. In 1933 the Department was contacted by a Mrs. G. Wilson, daughter of a Mr Richard Humberstone (not identical with the recipient), claiming to be the likely next of kin but without any certainty. The officer in charge of Base Records, unconvinced of her claim, sent the following reply, dated 9 March 1933: ‘Dear Madam, In the absence of any known relatives, the question of your Father’s relationship to the deceased would appear to be somewhat complicated, and for the present it is proposed to retain the late soldier’s mementoes in the custody of the Department. Should you have occasion to visit Melbourne, however, and find it convenient to call at this Office, I shall be glad to afford you the opportunity of discussing the matter further.’


There is no further communication on the record. Sold with copied research.


Note: This lot is available for viewing in Swanbourne, Western Australia, by appointment with our Australasian representative, John Burridge.


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220  |  Page 221  |  Page 222  |  Page 223  |  Page 224