Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Third Battle of Ypres’ M.M. awarded to Lance-Corporal W. S. Touchell, Australian Engineers, Australian Imperial Force
Military Medal, G.V.R. (10801 L. Cpl. W. S. Touchell. 3/D.S. Coy. Aust: E.) with replacement suspension, nearly very fine £400-£500

Dix Noonan Webb, September 2006.

M.M. London Gazette 28 January 1918.

William Stanley Touchell, Australian Engineers was awarded the M.M. for services at Ypres, 4 October 1917. Touchell returned to the Australia after the war, and proceeded to have several brushes with the law illustrated by the following which appeared in the The South Australian Police Gazette 13 March 1929:
‘New South Wales - A provisional warrant has been issued at Adelaide for the arrest of William Stanley Touchell, described as from 30 to 35 years of age, 5ft. 9in. to 6ft. high, medium build, sallow complexion, black hair (streaked with grey), brown eyes (supposed), one prominent tooth right side of upper jaw on which no other teeth are visible, has false teeth for top jaw which he seldom wears, smart appearance, well spoken and accomplished, plays piano and sings and paints well, walks with a quick step, formerly a draughtsman, a native of Norwood, South Australia, where his father resides; charged that on or about the 26th February, 1929, Corowa, he did utter a forged document, to wit, a cheque, No. 028200, drawn on the National Bank of Australasia, Limited, at Corowa, in favour of W. S. Touchell for the sum of £14 10s...’

The following year Touchell was charged with a breach of the Licensing Acts, 1917 - 1928 at the Seven Stars Hotel, Adelaide. He was tried and found guilty at Adelaide, 13 August 1930, and fined £5 and ordered to pay costs of £1.