An O. St. J. Knight of Grace group of four awarded to Colonel W. J. Will, New Zealand Expeditionary Force

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight of Grace set of insignia (pre-1926 type), neck badge, 57mm. dia. and breast star, 56mm. dia., silver and enamel, with neck cravat, in case of issue, star with some enamel repair; 1914-15 Star (15/10 Colonel, N.Z.E.F.); British War Medal 1914-20 (15/10 Col., N.Z.E.F.); Colonial Auxiliary Force Officers’ Decoration, E.VII.R., ‘convex’ type, reverse inscribed, ‘Surgeon-Major W. J. Will, 1st Batt. Otago R.V.’, lacking top bar; together with a renamed Victory Medal 1914-19 (15/10 Colonel W. J. Will, N.Z.E.F.) medals mounted court style for wear, good very fine except where stated (6) £400-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An outstanding Collection of Awards relating to the Order of St John.

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William Johnston Will was born in East Taieri, Dunedin on 30 November 1858, the son of Rev. W. Will. He was educated at East Taieri, the University of Otago and the University of Edinburgh, and qualified in medicine as a M.B., C.M. in 1884. He began his practice at Green Island. He was Chairman of the Dunedin Centre St. John Ambulance Association.

Wiil served with the East Taieri Rifles, 1878-79; Edinburgh University Volunteers, 1879-83 and was Surgeon with the Southern District Rifles, 1885; Surgeon-Captain with the Dunedin Engineers, 1892; Surgeon-Major on the Staff of the 1st Battalion Otago Rifles, 1901 and appointed Brigade Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel in 1905. Principal Medical Officer at Otago in 1914. Serving overseas, he was invalided in 1918. Awarded the Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John in 1915 and the Colonial Auxiliary Force Officers’ Decoration in 1904. With some copied service details.