RT Tragardh

Having a distinctive surname has its advantages and this search has definitely benefited from that. I received the Australian Service Medal 1939-45 last week from Ross G who found the medal amongst his father's medals. The medal was awarded to VX85608 Ronald Thackeray Tragardh. His brother also served in WWII, he was VX68469 Charles Thackeray Tragardh. 

I found Charles' death notice which gave me the names of all of Roland's children. From there is was a process of elimination to find the contact details of the one of the children and this led me to Ron's son, Ian. As it turns out this is a family who has volunteered to serve their nation across the generations as Ian's son was also an Australian soldier until recently. 

Thanks to Ross who sent me the medal. The returned medal tally is now 2629.

Mobbs family medals

When I received an email from Senior Constable Bell from the Queensland Police Service I was somewhat confused about the medal groups and the names. It took a bit to work out I was looking at the a father and son. 

The first is 53546 Allan George Mobbs. The second is 2900538 Allan George Mobbs. Allan Snr enlisted late in 1917 as a 20 year old and was able to enlist again for WWII. The next round of confusion was that Allan Jnr had three service numbers. The number commencing with the digit 2 indicated that Allan Jnr served after WWII. This turned out to be part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan.

I eventually narrowed the family connections and was able to provide Senior Constable Bell the name of a member of the current generation. The medals will soon be returned to the family. 

There wasn't much information available about Allan Snr or Jnr. I did know from the electoral rolls that Snr was an orchardist. This information led me to a very interesting news article. I'm sure that most Australian readers will know the name Tilly Devine. Tilly was notorious Sydney criminal and poor out of town orchardist Allan had a run in with her in 1922.

 The returned medal tally is now 2628. 

Contemporary Australian medals

I didn't have to put in much effort to find the owner of these three medals. The real effort was made by Roxanne S who told me that she works in a library in regional NSW. A person came in to her library with three medals which were believed to be stolen. Roxanne got my details from the NSW RSL but the person with the medals wasn't keen to take the matter further. Roxanne then took it upon herself to contact me and send on the medals.   

What I received was an Australian Active Service Medal, Afghanistan Medal and NATO Medal. Based on the service details I was able to track down the owner who tells me that these medals as well as other valuable items were recently stolen. There is still a missin Australian Defence Medal out there some where.

Well done Roxanne The returned medal tally is now 2618.

Alfred Freeman

This is the second pair of WWI medals sent to me by Sarah. The first pair were awarded to 2nd AM FH Hill. This pair was awarded to 53016 Alfred George Freeman. The story of Alfred's medals is a bit difficult to follow and I'm not sure when this pair was issued.

Alfred's number is not part of the regimental numbering system where each regiment or unit started at number 1. If a person moved from one unit to another they kept their number and added a letter to the end. However, Alfred enlisted in early 1918 and was a general reinforcement from Queensland rather than recruited direct to a specific unit. From his service record, Alfred looks to have spent time in 41st and 42nd Battalions before being reallocated to the Graves Registrations Detachment. 

For some reason it appears that Alfred didn't receive his medals in the mid 1920 as was normal so in 1927 the RSL wrote to the Army on Alfred's behalf. There is a note on the correspondence to say that the BWM and Victory Medal were in store. On the final page of the service record it indicates that the medal were sent. However, in 1971 the RSL wrote again on Alfred's behalf stating that he had never been issued his medals with the notation: 'Issue'. I suspect that two sets have been issued and this is the 1971 issue. The numbering if very cleanly impressed and the naming on each medal is opposite. That is, the BWM naming is the correct way up when looking at the obverse but when looking at the obverse of the Victory medal the naming is upside down. This isn't uncommon but just suggestive of a later issue.  

As far as I can establish, Alfred didn't marry or have children. I've located a great niece of Alfred's and will send her his medals later this week. 

Thanks again to Sarah. The returned medal tally is now 2615.

Frederick Hill

Over the years we have been returning medals, there has only been two occasions when medals named to a member of the Australian Flying Corps have come our way. Bill has had one success and I had the other. Medals impressed with AFC are less common than those to other corps since the AFC was relatively small and if the soldier transferred in from another corps then the original unit or corps will be on the medal.

This pair was awarded to 2511 2nd Aircraft Mechanic Frederick Francis Hill. Frederick was a 23 year old carpenter from Rockhampton, Queensland. He was enlisted direct in to the AFC in Special Draft number 1. Following WWI, Francis returned to Rockhampton and raised a family. At some point his medals left the family and came in to the possession of a Vietnam War veteran. His daughter Sarah came across them and sent them my way.

From what I could work out, most of Frederick's children left Rockhampton and had their own families. His daughter Mavis settled in Melbourne, it is one of her sons that I've been in contact with and will send the medal to in the near future.

Thanks to Sarah for sending these medals to me. The returned medal tally is now 2613.