Hyperfocal22

Second Picture

My Grandfather got these photos from an Italian POW when he was in Africa. No idea in what manner he obtained them, or any information about who the prisoner was.

As my Granfather has long since passed away I was wondering if anyone here could break down the who, what, where and when for them. I have picked Rommel out but that's about it.

Many thanks in advance.

Well in the end it didn't go up for sale.

From the Sydney Morning Herald online;

A rare Victoria Cross that was to be auctioned on Sunday has been withdrawn because of a disagreement over its value between descendants of the digger who received the medal.

The VC belonged to William Jackson, a private with the 17th Battalion in the Australian Imperial Force fighting on the Western Front in France during World War I.

A spokeswoman for auctioneers Bonhams and Goodman said the three siblings of Pte Jackson had had a disagreement and had withdrawn the medal from the Remembrance Day auction.

"We received instructions unacceptable to us and unrealistic for the lot - they had set too high a reserve price," she said.

She said Bonhams and Goodman valued the VC, along with other service medals won by Pte Jackson who had also fought at Gallipoli, in the range of $500,000 to $800,000.

Pte Jackson, at just 18 years old, received the VC in 1916 after his right arm was blown off by an exploding shell while he rescued wounded soldiers in No Man's Land on the battle front.

He had continued rescuing wounded comrades even after losing his arm.

It was to be the third Victoria Cross to have been sold by the auction house in 16 months.

The previous two were sold for $1.2 million and $480,000 to Seven Network chairman Kerry Stokes who donated the medals to the Australian War Memorial on behalf of the RSL.

An Australian VC goes under the hammer this Sunday.

http://www.rippledirect.com.au/ECeS.cfm?e=ct8-m-d6-jlyq1t

It is the last item listed.

It was awarded to Private John William Alexander Jackson 17th Battion AIF

His citation is as follows;

On the night of 25-26 June Jackson was one of eighty-two Australian raiders who entered the German trenches. Engineers with the party blew up two bomb stores and five minutes later the party withdrew after causing considerable havoc, but as they crossed no man?s land they suffered casualties from enemy artillery fire. Jackson got back to his lines safely, handed over a prisoner, and immediately went back out into the heavy shell fire to assist in bringing in one of the thirteen wounded. He went out again and was assisting a sergeant to bring in another wounded man when his arm was blown off and the sergeant was knocked unconscious. Despite his terrible wounds Jackson returned to his lines and got assistance, then went out again to search for the sergeant and the wounded man he had been helping in. One of the men was located and escorted to safety and Jackson was then dispatched for treatment. His arm was amputated.

I may be a couple out, but by my calculation there are now only 22 Australian VC's in private hands while the rest are in the Public domain most being found at the Australian War Memorial while 3 are on display overseas (one in the UK and two in New Zealand).

Does anyone have a accurate breakdown of where they all are?

Thanks for posting this item about Doc Neeson, I never knew about his military service or the double honours degree. He must be older than I thought to fit all that in berfore the Angels.

I still remember how powerful a rock act the Angels were, I got to see them live once in the early 80's at the Royal Antler Hotel in Narabeen.

I there any information available on his service, it must have been quite a career to receive all those gongs

This may just be a wild guess but in the medical profession Mr is a standard term, I lifted this from the Wikipedia.

In the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand surgeons are distinguished from physicians by being referred to as "Mister.

Perhaps you man was a surgeon in the military, others who have known medals to a surgeon can confirm this or shoot it down in flames.

I will pass on all info received.

Thanks for the help!

Hi all,

I am ready to start researching some of my Soviet awards ( a couple of red stars at this stage) and would be greatful if someone could advise me who I contact to get this done.

Best wishes

David Barnes (hyperfocal22)