Article
29 November 2020
An Australian-made Japanese flag, one of two that that adorned MV Krait during ‘Operation Jaywick’ in 1943 – one of the greatest raids of WW2 – when the Australian Commandos performed a raid on Japanese occupied Singapore Harbour in a vessel disguised as an Asian fishing boat, resulting in the sinking and burning of seven enemy ships, will be offered along with a group of medals by Dix Noonan Webb in their live/ online auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria on Thursday, December 3, 2020 on their website www.dnw.co.uk.
The medals were awarded to Lieutenant H. E. Carse, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his gallantry, skill and devotion to duty as skipper and navigator of the MV Krait during its hazardous and highly audacious 4,000 mile round trip Commando raid. This fascinating lot is estimated at £20,000-40,000.
John Burridge, Dix Noonan Webb’s Australasia Representative said: “‘Operation Jaywick’ was one of the most momentous occasions of WW2 – it is up there with the best raids - combining the joint skills of the British and Australian armies, while marauding Japanese aircraft flew above. The Australian Commandos were described by Winston Churchill as phenomenal in 1942 and it was this band of heroes who turned the tide of the war and did a magnificent job under excruciating circumstances – paddling a vast distance. The making of a Japanese flag by the Australians did break the Geneva Convention, but they were granted a special dispensation, and later on each participant in the raid was allowed to take an item from the vessel, the Krait is now anchored at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney and it would be wonderful to think that this flag will become part of a prestigious collection too. It is not known what happened to the other flag from the vessel.”
The group of items are from the third and final part of the Collection of the late Warwick George Cary (1949-2020). Cary was born at Engadine in the Sutherland Shire south of Sydney, New South Wales. He had always been a collector of something, but it was his love of medals that launched a whole new career for him. Joining the New South Wales State Emergency Service in 1982, he was appointed to be the Service’s inaugural State Protocol Officer in 2001. During his career, he was presented with numerous awards and also provided significant leadership in many major operations throughout the state, including the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
FULL CATALOGUING AVAILABLE
Due to the current COVID 19 situation, this auction will be online only and there will be no room bidding available. Customers are able to bid live online (DNW make no additional charge for this service) or leave commission bids prior to the auction.
FORTHCOMING SALES AT DNW
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 – JEWELLERY, WATCHES, ANTIQUTIES & OBJECTS OF VERTU
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1 & 2 – COINS, TOKENS AND HISTORICAL MEDALS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 - ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS AND MILITARIA
Free online bidding is available is www.dnw.co.uk
For more information, please call 020 7016 1700
DNW are on Social Media
Instagram @dixnoonanwebb
Facebook: dixnoonanwebb
Twitter @dixnoonanwebb
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Dix Noonan Webb – a brief history
In 1991, its first year of trading, the company held three medal auctions and sold 1,200 lots for a total hammer price of £553,000. Two years later it opened a coin department which also auctions commemorative medals and tokens and in 2015 DNW added jewellery to its sales calendar. In 2018, it set up a standalone banknotes department and expanded into premises next door. In the same year, DNW achieved a total hammer price of £11,676,580 and the total number of lots across all departments was 20,273. To date the company has sold in excess of 300,000 lots totalling £155 million.
For further press information and images please contact:
Rachel Aked - Tel: 07790732448/ Email: Rachel@rachelaked.co.uk
November 2020
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