Summary

Group of medals awarded to VX 60821 Private William Frederick Murphy for service in World War II: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and the Australia Service Medal. William died during active service, while a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway.

The medals have not been unwrapped from the original tissue in which they were issued and remain stored in the box with a letter from Army headquarters, notes for guidance in the mounting, and the with compliments card from the Minister of State for the Army.

Part of a collection of material donated to Museum Victoria in 1988 by Miss Ida Murphy in memory of her brother William Murphy, who died during World War II, and her uncle Edward Pummeroy.

Physical Description

Housed in original box with papers.

Obverse Description

1939-1945 Star medal is a six pointed bronze star with loop and attached ribbon from top. The obverse features, below a crown, the Royal cypher GRI above the latin numeral VI (Translation- George VI King and Emperor); around 'THE 1939 - 1945 STAR'. The Defence Medal 1939-1945 is a silver circular medal showing the bare head of King George VI facing left; around, GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP, and the artist's initials, H.P. (T.H. Paget) in the field below the neck.

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