Australia WW1 Navy Meritorious Medal.

[Kevin R]

I have in my possession a WW1 Navy Meritorious Service Medal on the rim it say's "HMAS Sydney" for services during war. it also gives the sailors name. i believe only 5 of these medals were struck and were given for service during the battle with SMS Emden.

I also have his 1914-15 star British war medal and victory medal

does anyone have a clue what this medal or medals would be worth, the sailors last living relative want's to sell them but i don't know whats a fair price.

I'm hoping someone can help..thanks

[Mervyn Mitton]

We seem to have overlooked this question - can any member help with Aust. medal prices ? Mervyn

[Deelibob]

Thought this may be of interest :

Shortly after the outbreak of WWI the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney located the German light cruiser Emden in the Cocos Islands. After a brief engagement the Emden was boarded and captured. A quantity of Mexican silver dollars were found in the hold and these were later mounted and presented to the all members of crew. Consists of Kings Crown with dated Scroll and another scroll bearing HMAS Sydney - SMS Emden.

Value c. 2009 for this medal was £400

[Medaller]

I have in my possession a WW1 Navy Meritorious Service Medal on the rim it say's "HMAS Sydney" for services during war. it also gives the sailors name. i believe only 5 of these medals were struck and were given for service during the battle with SMS Emden.

I also have his 1914-15 star British war medal and victory medal

does anyone have a clue what this medal or medals would be worth, the sailors last living relative want's to sell them but i don't know whats a fair price.

I'm hoping someone can help..thanks

Can you post up some pictures please? Its far too hard to make judgements without them. What makes you think only 5 wherever made?

[Robert Rytir]

Yes we need to see some photo's of the group and naming please .But if it's all correct you would have a group worth a few thousand dollars?

Rob

[Kevin R]

Thank you for your replies, it is documented that in ww1 4 MSMs were awarded to sailors of the Royal Australian Navy and 2 to Royal Navy sailors serving on Australian War ships.

The distribution of the 6 MSMs were-- 3 to RAN and 2 to RN Sailors serving on HMAS Sydney during the Emden battle, and the 1 other MSM was awarded to a RAN sailor serving on a mine sweeper.

This means only 4 MSMs were awarded to the RAN in ww1 making this Medal with the Kings Bust dressed in Admirals' uniform extremely rare.

The medal has been put on hold for the moment.

Thanks for your interest.....

[paul wood]

This was a nice Emden related group which turned up at Dix Noonan and Webb in 2008. I would have thought the MSM group would probably make considerably more.

Paul

Click to Zoom

Back to Search Results/CatalogueLot 1546Date of Auction: 25th September 2008

Sold for £5200

Estimate: £1,800 - £2,200

A fine ‘long service’ group of eight medals awarded to Leading Seaman R. F. Grimley, Royal Australian Navy, who served as an Ordinary Seaman aboard H.M.A.S. Sydney in the action against S.M.S. Emden, 9 November 1914

1914-15 Star (O.N.2263 Ord. Sea.); British War and Victory Medals (A.B., R.A.N.); War and Australia Service Medals (2263 R. F. Grimley); Royal Australian Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension, with Second Award bar (2263 Leading Seaman, R.A.N.); H.M.A.S. Sydney - S.M.S. Emden Medal, 9 November 1914, silver Mexican Dollar dated 1895 , mounted by W. Kerr, Sydney, unnamed; Western Australia, Sydney - Emden Commemorative Medal, reverse inscribed (part engraved) ‘Presented by the People of Western Australia to R. F. Grimley, Boy 1 Class’, mounted for display, edge bruising, first three worn; others very fine (8) £1800-2200

Footnote

Reginald Francis Grimley was born in Rockhampton, Queensland on 24 August 1897. He entered the Royal Australian Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on Tingira on 24 October 1912. On 15 October 1913 he was posted to the cruiser Sydney with the rank of Boy 1st Class and was advanced to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class on 24 August 1914. In that capacity he was serving on the Sydney when she engaged and overcame the German light cruiser Emden on 9 November 1914. Remaining on the Sydney, he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in August 1915 and Able Seaman in September 1916, finally leaving the vessel in September 1917. He spent the last year of the war as an A.B. on the Encounter, January 1918-June 1919. Grimley was advanced to Acting Leading Seaman when on the Adelaide in July 1927 and was confirmed at that rating in July 1928 when on the Anzac. In December 1930 he was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal when on the Albatross. He transferred to the Auxiliary Services as a Boatman in August 1939 and was awarded the Second Award bar to his L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1946. Latterly employed with the recruiting service, he was pensioned in 1952 and died on 23 June 1955.

The famous action took place on 9 November 1914 when the 2nd Class Cruiser H.M.A.S. Sydney encountered the German Light Cruiser S.M.S. Emden off the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. In a short but spectacular career in the Indian Ocean the Emden (Captain Karl von Müller) had bombarded Madras and captured or sunk some 23 allied vessels including a Russian cruiser and a French destroyer. In action with the Sydney, the slower and outgunned Emden was eventually beached in a wrecked condition on North Keeling Island.

Sold with copied service records; confirmation of service on the Sydney on 9 November 1914 (rank shown as Boy 1st Class); two copied photographs of the recipient; other associated photographs; accounts of the Sydney-Emden action and sundry associated pictures.

Use your scrollwheel or the zoom buttons to zoom in/out. Click and drag to view other parts of the image when zoomed.

[Kevin R]

^{Thanks for that information Paul, a very nice grouping, it made interesting reading.}

^{We in Australia have just celebrated our 1st centenary for our Navy, it makes you realise what a young country we are when we had visiting navies from around the world including the English and Spanish Navy who have been around for hundreds of years.}

[Robert Rytir]

If this is a complete group well you could be looking at approx $35K to $40K as there is one forsale in a auction in Australia at this price coming up in Nov.

Rob

Edited November 5, 2013 by Robert Rytir

[Kevin R]

Hi Rob,

Yes the group you saw for sale in Australia is the same one as being mentioned here.

It was decided this would be the best way to sell them, the auction house put an estimate of $40,000.00 but they feel it may reach $50,000.00

we are hoping that they may end up in the Australian War Memorial or Maritime museum.

Thank you all for your interest if your interested in seeing the outcome they will be auctioned by Nobles Numismatics Auctions Sydney Australia on the 28th November 2013, you can now see the Medals on there website.

Regards,

Kevin.

[Robert Rytir]

Hi Kevin

yes a lovely complete grouping ,I know of a least 3 collectors that would be hoping they could get them and 1 would be me they are the holy grail for us as a Navel group .

Here is a link to the auction page http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot?id=311719 for others to view.

Regards Rob

[Kevin R]

I just wish you could see the other items with it.... the Navy and personal documents are in excellent condition one signed by Captain Glossop, the hand painted diagram of the battle course is in water colour and is amazing, his sword, cocked hat in it's tin with Turnbull's name on it, marriage certificate, last will and testament... a piece of shrapnel from an Emden Shell...the list goes on, just an amazing lot.

also a Group From H.Pierce ERA there is a photo of his group on the website as well, also a note book with every port that HMAS Sydney docked through out it's service and a hand written letter telling of the ship leaving tomorrow for Albany to escort Australia and New Zealand's finest who became the original ANZAC's, it's a letter that's a prelude to Australia's Military History, also a hand written account of the Sydney/ Emden battle. Harry was on the Sydney from commissioning to de- commissioning

The item numbers for the Auction are 3504 and 3505 other items that may be of interest are 3506, 3507 and 3508.

[peter monahan]

Kevin

You should be rightfully proud of having helped get this group the recognition it surely deserves. I hope it does end up in an Australian museum. Does your government have laws to stop it going out of the country? I hope so!

Congats. on the centennial of the RAN too!

[paul wood]

Peter,

Anything half decent Australian medalwise has to get an export license. If it is considered to be of national importance then the Australian government will refuse to let it out of the country. VCs GCs and other major gallantry will not get a license. I would have thought this group would be unlikely to get one. Canada has similar rules.

Paul

[Kevin R]

Kevin

You should be rightfully proud of having helped get this group the recognition it surely deserves. I hope it does end up in an Australian museum. Does your government have laws to stop it going out of the country? I hope so!

Congats. on the centennial of the RAN too!

Thank you Peter, yes I am hoping they go to a museum, as you see in the next post Paul informs me that Australia does have laws about important medals leaving the country.

I don't know if this group is covered by these laws but I'll find out and let the forum know.

The Centennial was a great success, we had Prince Harry as our guest to take the salute.

[Kevin R]

Peter,

Anything half decent Australian medalwise has to get an export license. If it is considered to be of national importance then the Australian government will refuse to let it out of the country. VCs GCs and other major gallantry will not get a license. I would have thought this group would be unlikely to get one. Canada has similar rules.

Paul

Thanks Paul,

I didn't know about the export licence, but I think it's a good law to have for any country, I believe anything of national importance should stay in the country of issue.

I will find out if this group is covered by the law.

Kevin.

[Robert Rytir]

I think this would not be covered and if sold to a collector outside of Australia there would be no problems.But as this group is so complete and I would imagine one would not see a complete grouping again it will sell in Australia and from what I hear around the traps that it, and the other lots will more than likely end up at the AWM (Australian War Memorial) which is not a museum but it would be on show at some stage.I think our friend KS will be donating it once again like the VC's he has bought an donated to the AWM.

Regards Rob

[Kevin R]

Hi all,

The auction was yesterday and after all the talk and anticipation the collection was passed in.

In saying that, I watched the auction for 3 days and there wasn't a lot of money about so disappointing all round I would say.....

Thank you for your interest.

Regards,

Kevin.

[paul wood]

Kevin, I am sorry to hear the sale was not successful but maybe there may be some post sale enquiries.

Paul

[Kevin R]

Thank you Paul, I guess it's just wait and see.... but there is no rush..

Kevin.