Orders, Decorations and Medals

Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (W.O. Whitehead, S.R.S.M. Instructional Staff) impressed naming, nearly extremely fine £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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Edward Whitehead was born on 18 May 1855. Serving in the Australian Permanent Military Forces, he was promoted a Warrant Officer 2nd Class on 1 August 1897 and 1st Class on 30 May 1900. He was on the Instructional Staff serving in Victoria. He was awarded the Commonwealth of Australia L.S. & G.C. as a Staff warrant Officer Instructor (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 25 November 1905) and the Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal as Staff Regimental Sergeant-Major on the Instructional Staff (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 12 October 1912). On 1 April 1913 Whitehead was appointed an Honorary Lieutenant on the Administrative and Instructional Staff, Australian Military Forces; and on the same day became Adjutant and Quartermaster of the 46th (Brighton Rifles) Infantry Battalion. This battalion had its headquarters at Elsternwich, but later they were at Ripponlea. He served with this battalion throughout the Great War. Whitehead was granted the honorary rank of Captain on 1 April 1918. He retired on 1 November 1919 and was granted the rank of Honorary Major. Sold with copied gazette extracts and research.