Medals from the Collection of Warwick Cary, Part 1 x8
A very rare Great War 1918 ‘Palestine Operations’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Trooper G. A. Hill, 12th Australian Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force, a veteran of the Gallipoli campaign, whose regiment saw action in several notable battles in the Palestine campaign including the charge at Beersheba on 31 October 1917
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (620 Tpr: G. A. Hill. 12/Aust: L.H.R.); 1914-15 Star (620 Pte G. A. Hill. 12/L.H. Rgt. A.I.F.); British War Medal 1914-20 (620 A/Sjt. G. A. Hill. 12 L H Rgt. A.I.F.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (620 A-Sgt G. A. Hill. 12 L.H.R. A.I.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45 (Q185868 G. A. Hill); Australia Service Medal (Q185868 G. A. Hill) good very fine and better (7)
£3,000-£4,000
D.C.M. London Gazette 12 December 1919 ‘For distinguished service in connection with Military Operations in Egypt and Palestine’, citation published 14 April 1920: ‘For gallantry and devotion to duty during operations in May 1918. He carried despatches repeatedly across fire-swept ground, and his daring in watching the valuable movements of the enemy resulted in valuable information. At Mussalaba also his night scouting was of the greatest value. His courage and coolness in action has always been conspicuous.’
The original recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations East of the Jordan near Black Hill on 4 May 1918. He volunteered to take an urgent despatch a distance of two miles of which one mile he had to proceed under heavy fire. On the same day he was selected to carry despatches which he carried out for four hours being under heavy fire most of the time. His courageous conduct was most exemplary.’
Geoffrey Austin Hill was born in 1896 at Warren, New South Wales. A station overseer by occupation, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 8 June 1915, having already served one year as a King’s School Cadet. Embarked for active service abroad on 11 June 1915 with the 12th Light Horse Regiment, he was landed at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli on 29 August 1915 and transferred to D Squadron, 6th Light Horse, attached to the 1st Australian Division, occupying the right flank of the ANZAC line. Following his unit’s withdrawal from the peninsula later in the year, he was disembarked at Alexandria on 25 December 1915 and, rejoining the 12th Light Horse in February, he would be frequently hospitalised over the next year due to an arm injury (sustained in the field) and an abscess.
Discharged from hospital on 1 May 1917, Hill joined the 4th Light Horse Training Regiment before taken back on the strength of the 12th Light Horse, now assigned to the 4th Light Horse Brigade in Palestine, on the 22 September 1917, and was therefore present with the regiment at the time of their celebrated charge to take Beersheba on 31 October 1917. On this occasion, late in the afternoon, together with the 4th Light Horse Regiment, they advanced over open ground in a pure cavalry charge, getting under the Ottoman guns and capturing the town. Over 700 Ottoman soldiers were captured and, more significantly for the Australians, the vital water wells were secured. In achieving this, the 12th lost 24 men killed and 15 wounded. Frequently engaged in actions during the Palestine campaign in late 1917, including the Battle of Hareira and Sheria on 7 November and the drive to capture Jerusalem in December, they also joined an attack on Es Salt in April 1918.
Hill’s D.C.M., a unique award to the 12th Australian Light Horse for Palestine, was awarded for his despatch and reconnaissance work in May 1918 near Musallaba during the Regiment’s retreat across the Jordan towards Jericho. It was also here, in temperatures as high as 50° C and with their camp infested with snakes, spiders, flies and scorpions that the men of the 12th were required to construct defences around Musallaba throughout May.
Remaining in Jordan and Syria, the 12th Light Horse saw frequent clashes with German and Ottoman forces in September and October 1918, including the notable Battle of Meggido, 19 to 25 September 1918 and the Capture of Damascus, 1 October 1918, before the Armistice of Mudros ended the fighting on 30 October. Their work in the region was not finished however, since, following the war, they were required to remain in the Middle East for a number of months, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel P. Chambers, and were used to suppress the 1919 Egyptian Uprising.
Hill finally embarked for his return to Australia with his regiment on 22 July 1919 and was discharged on 31 October 1919 at Sydney, N.S.W. After the renewal of hostilities, on 6 October 1939 he enlisted once more in the Australian Army and served at Headquarters 1st District Command. Commissioned Lieutenant, he served with the 1st Labour Company and was posted to the 49th Battalion on 25 February 1941, his appointment being terminated on 24 November 1942. He died in 1970 in Queensland.
Sold with an original Commonwealth of Australia Department of Defence letter dated 1 April 1920, sent to the recipient’s father, forwarding the London Gazette extract relating to the recipient’s conspicuous services rendered.
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
