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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  The John Fisher Collection of Aviation History
• Sale Date:
  30 Apr 2017 ~ 12noon
• Lot #:
  3
• Lot Description:
  VICTORIA CROSS Miniature:Awarded to Lt. Col. W.D. Joynt A.I.F.
  gazetted 27 November 1918, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on Herleville Wood near Chuignes, near Perrone on 23rd August 1918. Framed with engraved metal display plaque (380mm x 600mm).
• Notes:
  Early in the advance , Lieut Joynt’s Coy. commander was killed; he immediately took charge of the company and led them with courage and skill. A great deal of the success of the operations in this portion of the sector was directly due to his magnificent work. When the advance was commenced the Battalion lost all their officers and became disorganised. Under heavy fire and having no leaders they appeared certain to be annihilated. Lieut. Joynt grasped the situation and rushed forward in the teeth of very heavy machine gun fire and artillery fire over the open. He got the remaining men under control and worked them into a piece of dead ground until he could reform them. He manoeuvred his own men forward and linked them up with the men of the other Battalion. He then made a personal reconnaissance and found that the fire from the wood was holding the whole advance up, the troops in his flanks suffering very heavy casualties. Dashing out in front of his men he called them on and by sheer force of example inspired them into a magnificent frontal bayonet attack on the wood. The audacity of the move over the open staggered the enemy and Lieut. Joynt succeeded in penetrating the wood and working through it. By his leadership and courage a very critical situation was saved, and on this officer rests to the greatest extent the success of the Brigade’s attack. When the Battalion on our left was held up at Plateau Wood and was suffering severe casualties, Lieut. Joynt with a small party of volunteers worked right forward against heavy opposition and by means of hand to hand fighting forced his way round the rear of the wood, penetrating from that side, and demoralizing the enemy to such an extent that a very stubborn and victorious defensive was changed into an abject surrender. He was always in the hardest pressed parts of the line and seemed to bear a charmed life. He was constantly ready to run any personal risk and to assist flank units. He continually showed magnificent leadership and his example to his men had a wonderful effect on them causing them to follow him cheerfully in his most daring exploits. He continued to do magnificent work until he was badly wounded by shell fire in the legs.” [27/11/1918 p 14040]
• Estimate:
  A$4,000 - 6,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Militaria & Weapons

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.