Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superbly well-documented Great War 1918 ‘Somme’ M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant H. B. McCallum, 42nd Battery, 11th Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, for saving the life of his wounded Battery Commander, 19 August 1918. He was later wounded in action, 7 October 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (32298 Gnr: - T. Bmbr: H. B, McCallum. Aust: F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (32298 A-Sgt. H. B. McCallum 4- D.A.C. A.I.F.) mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (3) £800-1200

M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the 19th August 1918 the 42nd Battery - in action to the east of Hosieres, south east of Villers Bretonneux - was heavily shelled by 4.2s and 5.9s. Several shells fell right on the position, wounded the Battery Commander (Major S.F. Hodgens, D.S.O.), ignited the camouflage and started a fire in the gun pit. Gunner McCallum with two others, at great personal risk, remained at the position and carried the wounded Officer to a place of safety. This done, he immediately returned to assist in extinguishing the fire. This timely and brave action probably saved the life of the Officer mentioned and prevented the guns and ammunition from being destroyed during a critical period.’

Hugh Bateman McCallum was born in Creswick, Victoria, Australia, in 1887. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, at Melbourne, 5 October 1916, and embarked for the UK on the S.S. Osterley in September 1917. He served with the 42nd Battery, 11th Field Artillery Brigade as part of the 4th Australian Division in the French theatre of war.

McCallum was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations between Hosieres and Villers Bretonneux, Somme, 19 August 1918. He was wounded in action, 7 October 1918, and returned to Australia in March 1919, being discharged the following month.

Sold with the following related items and superb archive of original documents including: miniature award M.M.; riband bar; identity disc; cloth insignia; "Osteralia - Souvenir Number, February-April 1917", Printed and published by G. Harmsworth and Co., London, England, 1917. A record of the voyage from Australia to the U.K. on the SS 'Osterley' carrying reinforcements for the A.I.F. The reinforcements were from the Siege Artillery, New South Wales Field Artillery, Machine Gun Corps., Victoria Field Artillery, Medium Trench Mortar Battery and the 1st Infantry Battalion; newspaper cuttings from the Melbourne Argus. These refer to Sgt. McCallum being wounded in action, the award of the M.M. and the presentation of the M.M. by the Governor General at Melbourne Town Hall; "Presentation of War Decorations and Medals" programme listing recipients who were presented with their decorations on 22nd August 1919; 49 postcards sent by recipient to his family, including cards from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Exeter, London, Sutton Verey, Shearwater and Abberville; 83 letters and telegrams from recipient to his family, mostly written from France; 2 silk and 2 printed Christmas cards for 1917; 2 silk cards 'Souvenir from France' and 2 silk 'Souvenir from Belgium' and one silk 'a kiss from France'; printed Christmas card for 1918 from Australian Field Artillery Brigade; Card commemorating 4th Australian Divisional Artillery outlining its record from 1916-1919 - The Brigade was in action 253 days and fired 522,133 rounds of 18 pounders and 4.5 inch Howitzer ammunition; a number of photographs of recipient in uniform and other ephemera.