Description
Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, George VI Type I, impressed to “19220 P.O. COOK G.E. REDFEARN. R.A.N.”.
With WWII 1941 H.M.A.S. Sydney Jack’s Day 1941 Tin Button and WWII Jack’s Day 1941 blue enamel lapel badge by Amor.
A fine Naval LS&GC medal in great preservation to a seaman with some highlights to his Naval service, includes two badges for Jack’s Day 1941, a fundraising campaign for returning Naval and Mercantile marine soldiers. Some hairlines, otherwise medal virtually as made.
George Eugene Redfearn, born on the 2nd June 1908 in the suburb Prahran in Melbourne, Victoria, attested for the Royal Australian Navy on the 10th January 1929. During the interwar period, George served as Cook on several of ships, mostly H.M.A.S. Canberra, and was appointed leading Cook between the 4th August to 4th December 1936 whilst aboard H.M.A.S. Penguin. At the beginning of Second World war, George served as acting Petty Officer Cook aboard H.M.A.S. Sydney and was onboard during the ship’s eight-month active service in the Mediterranean. Sydney returned to Australian waters in February 1941 and resumed home water duties.
On the 28th February 1941, George transferred from Sydney – an auspiciously timed move as he was therefore not present on the ship’s fateful encounter with the German auxiliary cruiser ‘Kormoran’ on the 19th November 1941, resulting in her sinking and the loss of all hands aboard.
Following his transfer, he served with several ships for the remainder of his service, of note he was aboard H.M.A.S. Townsville as Petty Officer Cook between the 10th March 1941 and 31st December 1942 and therefore presumably aboard when she was present during the Bombing of Darwin on the 19th February 1942.
George received his first good conduct badge on the 10th January 1937, his second five years later, and his third on the 10th January 1942, and was awarded his Naval Long Service and Good Conduct medal on the 10th January 1944. On the 9th January 1951, he discharged from the Royal Australian Navy.
