John MACLEAN (from W.A.) 28th batallion

[rosball]

Great photos Greg 

And thanks for the suggestion Jan.   

I'm not sure if this is the site Greg tried before but at the risk of annoying them I will try it now and include Greg's photos.

regards,
   Ros

Adding : sent 

[rosball]

Well I didn't get a reply from the RAAF  Museum (and that was sent nearly a year ago).

Did you get a reply from the Mt Magnet Cemetery lady Greg?

I wonder what we could try now ...?  Would the WA branch of RSL give out info on deceased members (if John was a member)?

cheers,
   Ros

[stuart.d]

Have you tried contacting this website http://www.lostmedalsaustralia.com/.

[rosball]

Thanks for the suggestion stuart_d.  I'm fairly certain that Greg contacted him but he wanted Greg to send him the medal and forget about it.  And Greg wanted to know that it was going to someone who would value it and who that was, so was reluctant to let go of it.   That was some time ago before we became stuck so maybe he will reconsider.

Greg may be along shortly to correct me if I'm wrong.

cheers,
   Ros

[q98]

Hi Ros
What you have is the "Victory Medal" depicting "winged victory". It was issued to all those who were awarded the "1914 Star" and to MOST of those who were awarded the "British War Medal". The "Victory Medal" was NEVER awarded singly. Together, these three medals were known colloquily as "Pip, Squeek and Wilfred".

The other two medals should be somewhere or perhaps lost. As a Veteran, I cannot understand anyone who would "dispose of" a man's medals!!!!!

Q98
Fremantle

[rosball]

Thanks Q98. 

Yes it is hard to understand how they came to be on the remains of a campfire in an old camping site.  Perhaps the son (in RAAF) in a fit of anger or grief threw them away onto the fire(speculating wildly).  Or maybe they were stolen and then the thief found he couldn't easily sell them in a country town and just threw them away. 

Maybe another trip to the campsite for Greg to see if he can find pip and squeak.  (I think it was many years ago as a kid that he found them  so unlikely to find more)

regards,
  Ros

[Neil Todd]

I think there is a possibility they were attached to the jacket that was burnt in the fire. It may have been stolen and would have attracted some attention. To a thief in the scrub the medals would not have held any value.

Burning one's own jacket would be unusual, not unbelievable, I have heard of it happening!

Neil

[Neil Todd]

I just went back and looked for a refresher on this post as it has been awhile since it commenced. I am having a funny day. A good friend is touring Scotland in that area at the moment.

Neil

[q98]

Me again Ros
In his Army records, John's surname is spelled MacLEAN and it later changes to McLEAN (probably a transcription by Orderly Room clerk) while he himself clearly signs MacLEAN!

Further to my previous communication, I can confirm he was wounded in the thigh at Gallipoli on 26 Sep 1915.

His "1914 Star" was numbered 5442, "British War Medal" was 3403 and "Victory Medal" was 3399. There is a trio of these on "evil-bay" for an asking price of $750. Phew!

The Air Force Association lapel badge is probably of early 1970s. I believe the "46" depicted on front to represent 46 Squadron, Royal Air Force as there was no 46 Squadron in the Royal Australian Air Force. The number on the reverse of the badge could represent the manufacturers mark.  46 Squadron, RAF was disbanded on 31 August 1975. There is a 77 Squadron, RAF lapel badge on "evil-bay", for an asking price is $30. However it has a pin and hook for affixing to a lapel while yours has a method of affixing through a lapel buttonhole.

Q98
Fremantle
Q