THE LAURIE OSBORNE ESTATE MEDAL COLLECTION
Monday, 25 May - Monday, 8 June 2026
WWI ANZAC Trio and WWII Pair to soldier who volunteered a week after war was announced; but after Gallipoli wrote (regarding Churchill) ‘… the whole adventure is a betrayal’,
Realised: $400 plus premium
Lot Details
Alfred Edward Smith (21 Nov 1893 - 3 Sept 1982) Christchurch. WWI 6/142 NZEF Pvte. Canty Infantry Bn, Main Body. Egypt and Gallipoli. WWII 3/8b/101. Enlisted 12 Aug 1914. Discharged (medically unfit: pneumonia), 25 Mar 1916. Lot comprises: WWI/WWII group - (i) 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, (ii) 1939-45 War Medal and NZ Service Medal. Referenced: 'The Great War: Colonialism, Native Peoples, and National Identity in Australia and New Zealand.' California State University, MA Hist. Thesis, Joey Hwang, 2017. https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/sf2686124 : (On the Gallipoli Campaign) 'The British generally took the blame for these operational failures, from the leadership to the enlisted ranks. New Zealand Private Alfred Edward Smith penned, “The men are horribly bitter against Winston Churchill. They say we are sent here with no guns, little ammunition, no airplanes, and the whole adventure is a betrayal.” Private Alfred Edward Smith., Letter dated June 20, 1978. National Library of New Zealand.' Listed: Roll of Honour, New Zealand Casualties. Dangerously Ill with Pneumonia: Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16942, 23 August 1915, Page 6. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19150823.2.45 Army Medical Board Opinion notes: ‘Chronic Colitis and Nervous Debility ‘... ‘Nervous excitable man who finds it difficult to control his emotions, is ( ) impulsive and easily disturbed ‘ (unattributed to military service abroad or in New Zealand, but aggravated by service, and recommends a 20% disability pension). Archives New Zealand: SMITH, Alfred Edward - WWI 6/142, WWII 3/8b/101 - Army, Item Code: R24063500 page 47. https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE20257574 Literature: ‘Gallipoli, The New Zealand Story’, Pugsley, C. (1984/2014) pg 132 (on being subjected to effective Turkish sniping on day one of the campaign) ‘From then on Gallipoli - the battlefield - was only seen from the prone position ‘ and ‘even small rises looked like hills ‘ (letter June 20 1978, AT ms 1542 folder 1) AWWM printout Provenance: Laurie Osborne Collection
Other items you may like from this sale
WWI trio to Sgt. W.J. Smith and three WWII medals on card attributed to ‘625911 Capt W.J. Smith WWII ‘,
Estimate: $360 - $450
WWI/WWII ANZAC trio & pair; medallion; insignia; tags and badges; plus miniatures trio of Malay/Borneo medals to a Gallipoli sharpshooter (also see following lot),
Estimate: $900 - $1,500
WWI ANZAC Trio; Memorial plaque and Gallipoli medallion to a 23 year old soldier who survived Gallipoli to be killed in action at the Somme. Together with a heartbreaking letter to his parents,
Estimate: $900 - $1,600
WWI Trio to an Otago Sapper who landed at Gallipoli and was subsequently re-engaged there; but whose ongoing record of repeated sickness and hospitalisation reflected the horrendous conditions at Anzac,
Estimate: $300 - $500
WWI Trio with TSM to a Trooper who had been too young for the Boer War but a member of the Cadets; Wairoa Rifles and Territorials before enlisting at age 22 and fighting in the Sinai-Palestine Campaign,
Estimate: $550 - $1,000
WWI ANZAC Trio to Volunteer who enlisted 2 weeks after war declared and served at Gallipoli and the Western Front,
Estimate: $500 - $900
WWI Military Cross (from Ypres - the First Battle of Passchendaele) and service medals to Richard Selwyn Halliwell who originally served in the Samoan EF; the NZEF Otago Infantry Bn. and subsequently WWII NZSC,
Estimate: $1,900 - $3,000
WWI ANZAC Trio; Memorial Plaque and Documents to a soldier who served in Egypt Gallipoli and France. Killed in action at the Somme,
Estimate: $750 - $1,250
WWI ANZAC Trio to N.C.O Medic who saw duty in Gallipoli; Flanders and France and was MiD by Haig,
Estimate: $400 - $600
WWI ANZAC Trio to William Clement Burdett (28 May 1886 - 22 Dec 1959) Otago. WWI 8/17 Private Otago Infantry Bn. Main Body. Egypt and Gallipoli (wounded),
Estimate: $300 - $400
WWI trio to ANZAC Charles Claude Craig 12/71 NZEF Sergt. Auck Infty Bn. Main Body. Egypt and Gallipoli (wounded),
Estimate: $260 - $400
Military Medal and WWI Trio to Percy Robinson Hadley (20 Apr 1887 - 3 Aug 1964) WWI 2/1977 NZEF Gnr. NZ Field Artillery 6th Reinforcements. Egypt; EEF and Western Front,
Estimate: $750 - $1,250
WWI Trio to a soldier seriously wounded on the Western Front who served again in WWII,
Estimate: $260 - $400
Uncommon trio and TLS to Chaplain to the Forces IV Class (Captain) Rev. Frederick Thomas Read,
Estimate: $400 - $800
WWI trio to an older overworked and underpaid Medical Practitioner George Ernest Lapraik (6 Jan 1864 - 6 May 1933) WWI 3/1440 NZEF Maj. NZ Medical Corps,
Estimate: $400 - $500
QSA with 1 clasp and WWI trio to New Zealand Veterinary Corps Trooper Edward May,
Estimate: $550 - $900
Rare WWI trio to Richard Te Paa of the 1st Māori Contingent who enlisted at 17 - three years underage! ,
Estimate: $600 - $1,200
QSA with 3 clasps and NZEF trio to South African born Albert Sytner who served in the Sinai; Dardanelles and Europe,
Estimate: $750 - $1,250
WWI British War Medal: Victory Medal and Memorial Plaque and Scroll along with NZEF Cert of Service and an Armistice Ribbon to a machine-gunner on the Western Front who was wounded three times - eventually succumbing,
Estimate: $380 - $650
A rare 1913 Wharf Strike 'Massey's Cossacks' Foot Specials medal and WWI Trio to a NZ Rifle Brigade Sergeant,
Estimate: $550 - $800
