Description
An excellent WWII Australian gallantry medal with a noteworthy citation descriptively detailing the recipient’s heroic efforts in maintaining communications which “materially affected the outcome of the battle and minimised the number of casualties sustained” – further confirmed by all the commanding officers that recommended his awarding of this MM. Further, the medal itself is very rare and seldom seen available on the market if at all, with only approximately 1001 military medals issued to the Australian Army during WWII. Obverse has been polished in the past, the reverse toned nicely, swing mounted for wearing, generally good Very Fine.
Military Medal, George VI, type I, impressed “NX51837. SGT. G.J. SHEARER. AIF.”
Grandville John Shearer, born on the 24th July 1919 in Narrabri, New South Wales, was the son of Mr John and Mrs Florence Shearer, and by trade was a butcher of Newtown, Sydney. At the age of 20, Shearer attested for the Second Australian Imperial Force at the Marrickville enlistment centre on Addison Road, Sydney on the 17th June 1940, enlisting as NX51837 and posted to various training battalions in preparation for overseas service.
- Posted to the Recruit Reception Depot (RRD) with the 6th Training Battalion
- 13th September 1940 posted to 4th Training Battalion
- Embarked at Sydney with the 5th Reinforcements to the 6th Division for overseas service in the Middle East on the 3rd February 1941, disembarked on the 17th March 1941
- Marched out to camp and posted to training battalion
- Taken on strength to the 2nd/4th Australian Infantry Battalion, 19th Brigade, 6th Division
- Appointed Lance-Corporal 21st October 1941
Embarked at Port Tewfik for Australia aboard H.M. Transport ‘Rajula’ on the 19th February 1942, disembarked on the 28th March 1942.
- Promoted Acting Corporal 9th June 1942, rank confirmed on the 25th August 1942
- 10th January 1943 qualified for the Northern Territory Force No. 1 School Camouflage course
- Promoted Acting Sergeant 6th March 1943, rank confirmed on the 20th April 1943
- Transferred to Depot staff, Northern Territory Force Aircraft Repair Depot
- Attended Northern Territory Forces Drill and Weapon training course
- 25th May 1943 returned to the 2nd/4th Australian Infantry Battalion and disembarked from Darwin on the 30th May
- Attended 1st Australian Army Weapon training school and completed leader’s course
- Noted as “Quiet but alert, intelligent and enthusiastic. An impressive man with good power of command”.
- Attended 1st Australian Army Weapon training school and completed leader’s course
28th October 1944, Shearer embarked at Cairns for the Pacific theatre with the 6th Australian Division aboard U.S.A. Transport ‘Mexico’, disembarking at Aitape, Papua New Guinea on the 1st November 1944. After establishing themselves, the 2/4th, amongst the 19th Brigade, were tasked with securing the area between around the Driniumor, Danmap and Danimul Rivers, and later around Matapau in late December 1944 and then around Abau and Malin in early January 1945.
Wewak was the site of the largest Japanese airbase in mainland New Guinea, and on the 10th of May was captured by the Australians. During the assault, Shearer was Platoon sergeant of the 17th Platoon of ‘D’ Company of the 2nd/4th Battalion, and he was recommended for an immediate award of the Military Medal:
“On 10 May 1945 in the attack on WEWAK PENINSULAR, Serjeant SHEARER was a platoon serjeant of one of the forward companies. During the initial stages, his platoon was in reserve with the task of protecting the right flank of the company and mopping up an intermediate feature called the KNOLL, which was under enemy artillery fire. When the leading platoons moved forward of the KNOLL, an immediate threat arose from an enemy point five machine gun bunker on the right flank of the main objective but defiladed from the view of the assaulting troops. SHEARER’s platoon commander was engaged on the other flank and SHEARER fearlessly went forward into the enemy fire to locate the bunker so that support could be brought into position to deal with it. His daring reconnaissance found the enemy position and he moved back to his wireless to summon tank aid, His wireless failed and he could not communicate with the tanks without once more passing through the enemy artillery fire and aimed machine guns from the bunker. He immediately dashed forward and ran the gauntlet a second time, contacted the tanks and directed them on to the target. With this support the platoon rapidly overcame the enemy position and so removed the threat which prejudiced the success of his company’s attack. Without doubt Serjeant SHEARER’s brave and decisive actions materially affected the outcome of the battle and minimised the number of casualties sustained by our troops.”
Shearer’s Military Medal was granted after recommendations by several notable figures, including Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Souter Cox (NX8576), Brigadier James Eric Gifford ‘Sparrow’ Martin (QX6049), Major-General Jack Edwin Stawell Stevens (VX17), and Lieutenant General Vernon Ashton Hobart Sturdee (NX35000), General Officer Commanding 1st Army. His award was confirmed with his official citation being the same as his recommendation, and it was announced in the London Gazette Supplement 37293, 02 October 1945, page 4886 and the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 153, 9th August 1945, page 1713, as well as the Sydney Morning Herald, 9th August 1945, page 6.
- 10th of June 1945 Shearer was discharged for the purpose of being appointed to a commissioned rank, and officially promoted Lieutenant on the 21st June 1945.
Grandville John Shearer discharged from the Second Australian Imperial Force on the 25th October 1945, finishing with a War Service in Australia of 236 days, active service overseas of 743 days, and active service within Australia of 957 days, totalling 1936 days. He later retired from the Australian Army on the 15th January 1947. Shearer is entitled to standard WWII service medals which would accompany his Military Medal offered here, as well as a War badge no. R.A.S. A118097.