1914/15 Star 984 N W Pile 18th Battalion

[admin]

For some reason the value of Australian medals has dropped in the last month or 2. This provides an excellent opportunity for collectors and investors to snap up some bargains, particuarly if you are an investor with the 100th anniverasy of WW1 just around the corner for us in 2015.

It will be interesting to see what this one is worth come Anzac Day 2015. I snapped it up for bargain price of $250.

Norman Wallace PILE was a clerk born in Petersham NSW and was 31 and a half when he enlisted at Liverpool on 3 February 1915 with B Company of the 18th Battalion.

The statement below from Wikipedia sums up what happened to the 18th Battalion :

On the afternoon of 21 August the first assault was made by Australians of the 13th and 14th Battalions together with the 5th Battalion of the Connaught Rangers. With no effective artillery support, under fire from Hill 60 and neighbouring Hill 100, the infantry were decimated. The undergrowth caught fire, burning to death many of the wounded. By nightfall the Indian Brigade had managed a foothold at the base of the hill.

On 22 August the attack was reinforced by the Australian 18th Battalion which was part of the newly arrived Australian 2nd Division. The men were fresh and healthy, in stark contrast to the veteran troops, but were inexperienced and ill-equipped, even by Gallipoli standards. Attacking with bayonet only, they suffered 383 casualties in their first attack.

Attacking and counter-attacking continued until 29 August when the Allied offensive finally ceased. The Australian 18th Battalion was reduced to one third of its original strength after less than a fortnight of action.

Norman's luck ran out of the 27 August.


Nothing like having to reinforce half strength battalions with bayonet only...no bullets


Norman Wallace Pile's fate is described in the report below...he was killed and his body then used to build up the trench's parapet walls. Click on image for full size.

[rewstar]

Here's another one for you Sanity.


Do people try and make fakes with War medals?
The British Star sells for a lot less than the Aussie one, any reason for that?

Cheers

Also do prices vary on what rank the person was and their history in the war?

[admin]

No, they arent something that is generally faked. That (dickerson) medal has been for sale for quite a while. I dont think the 12th FAB served at Gallipoli, and the impressions on it seem a bit "aggressive" ? It would require a bit of research before purchase.

Australian medals are worth more than British because there are a lot less of them.

Prices can vary on a lot of things, rarity of unit, rank, what battles they saw etc.