Description
Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Elizabeth II, edge impressed “R28917 C.R.S. E.J. PHILP R.A.N.”.
A noteworthy medal representing an Australian who served between the ages of 18 and 43 and only lived to 56 – by being awarded Navy LSGC in 1959, he would have been 4 years short of a 15-year clasp. Medal unmounted and polished in the past, Extremely Fine otherwise.
Edward Jack Philp, born on the 22nd May 1926, was the son of Mr Henry William Philp and Mrs Nancy Ann Philp (nee Ward). At the age of 18, Edward attested for the Royal Australian Air Force at Brisbane on the 16th June 1944 and was assigned the rank and service number Air Crewman 453014.
- Promoted Leading Air Crewman 20th October 1944
- Re-mustered as Technical Trainee and reclassified with rank of Air Crewman First Class 31st May 1945
Edward discharged on the 3rd August 1945 and was eligible for the 1939-45 War Medal, his service was not long enough for the 1939-45 Australian Service medal.
Following the Second World War, Edward continued his military career by attesting for the Royal Australian Navy on the 7th January 1946. He served on many ships and bases as expressed in his file, and presumably in the capacity as Chief Radio Supervisor (as inscribed). Although it does not appear that he served on any R.A.N. ship that was deployed during the Korean War, he was serving aboard H.M.A.S. Warramunga between the 7th November 1957 to the 6th July 1959 which was the period in which this Destroyer-class ship was deployed in the waters near Malaya during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) as part of the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve (FESR). It is possible that Edward Jack Philp is eligible for the Naval General Service Medal with clasp ‘MALAYA’ as a result, and if he was alive at the time of its institution. the 1945-75 Australian Service Medal with clasp ‘MALAYA’.
Edward earned his first good conduct badge on the 19th November 1948, his second on the 19th November 1952 and his third on the 19th of November 1956, and was awarded the Naval L.S. & G.C. medal on the 21st November 1959 – although this appears to be two years early as the normal requirement is 15 years unblemished service, it is noted that Edward requested his time in the R.A.A.F. be counted towards his time which must have been accepted.
Edward appears to have continued serving with the Royal Australian Navy for many years thereafter, finally discharging in 1970. He later passed away in 1983.
