Australian B.W.M. for WW1.

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Gents

This one was posted over at the Great War Forum and I am puting it here to get an opinion or three.

Its being offered on Ebay but no link was given.

It is named to: SMITH, ALBERT EDWARD

Initials: A. E.

Nationality: Australian

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.

Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Age: 29

Date of Death: 24/07/1916

Service No: 1623

Additional information: Son of Edward and Emily Smith, of "Tasma", Cardigan St., Guildford, New South Wales.

Born at Surry Hills, New South Wales.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Memorial: VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL

One member at GWF made a point about never seeing the word AUSTRALIA on a medal before

REAL OR REPRO???

Kevin in Deva

Edited May 25, 2007 by Kev in Deva

[Mark Gibson]

I'm not a medal collector but having seen a few WW1 groups, I would be very cautious of this one mainly due to having Australia engraved along with the name. As far as I was concerned Australian issued medals from this era only had the soldiers service number, rank, name and unit (in that order).

Mark

Edited May 26, 2007 by Mark Gibson

[Kev in Deva]

I'm not a medal collector but having seen a few WW1 groups, I would be very cautious of this one mainly due to having Australia engraved along with the name. As far as I was concerned Australian issued medals from this era only had the soldiers service number, rank, name and unit (in that order).

Mark

Hallo Mark,

thanks for your quick reply, any others to offer comments??

Kevin in Deva

PS: OK I know its the weekend, after all the clubbing and dancing the night away is done then

[Ed_Haynes]

While these are far from my collecting focus, as I collect not to natives (of Australia) or even more exotic natives (of the British Isles), but to Indians, I find this naming odd. I'd need to check the majhor dealers' lists (all online), but most contemporary WWI naming would, I think, be "A.I.F.". This seems to me to be a later replacement (or very late issue, especially for a KIA BWM). Worth checking the service records (online, I think?).

Edited May 26, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Pylon1357]

I don't like the "nationality" engraved on the medal either. The name A. E. Smith has me wondering.... for some reason that rings a bell, but can not recall why.

[Tiger-pie]

G'da Kev;

The link below will take you to the WW1 Nominal Rolls, and the one below it the Embarkation Roll. To save you some time he appears on File No. 48-069.

As a long time collector of Aussie medals, I can't recall seeing any with "AUSTRALIA" marked on them. Usually if it is there at all, it would be "A.I.F." Though one thing I have learned as a collector, there are always exceptions to the rules, but without provenance I would avoid it.

Regards;

Johnsy

http://www.awm.gov.au/nominalrolls/ww1/index.asp

http://www.awm.gov.au/nominalrolls/ww1/embarkation/index.asp

PS: TO Pylon, A.E. Smith was a well regarded violin maker in Australia who worked briefly with Carl Rothhammer in the US.

Edited May 27, 2007 by Tiger-pie