Birks family medals, ca.1887-1938

R 1085

fonds

ca.1887-1938

Badges, Medals

910011

10 military medals
6 medals
2 medallions
5 badges
5 buttons
3 ribbons
2 stickpins

The donor was the daughter of Eric Napier Birks and the granddaughter of George Frederick Birks. George Frederick Birks was a director of the firm Potter & Birks, manufacturing chemists. The relics were received in a box inscribed "Father's medals (E. N. Birks) / Mother's brother's (Edmonds) / possibly some Mr Potter's". They form part of the Birks family papers at MLMSS 2732.

Military medals
4 WWI medals with ribbons on one pin; 2 stamped on edge "Liet. E. N. Birks A.I.F."
4 miniature WWI medals with ribbons on one pin, arrangement as above
1 Mercantile Marine War Medal with red, green & white ribbon; stamped on edge "H. N. Edmonds. Australia. 1791"
1 WWI medal, stamped on edge "H. N. Edmonds. Australia. 1791"; with orange, white and navy ribbon, detached

Medals
1 Swimming 15-8-17 Lieut. Birks 50 yds Breaststroke C'ship / 5th M.C.G.
1 Australia's 150th anniversary 1938 / Arthur Phillip Governor New South Wales 1788
1 Masonic decoration: Maroon & gold ribbon with bronze pin, attached to mother of pearl keystone with black letters: HTWSSTKS
1 bronze ornament comprising bar in the shape of a sceptre; chain; ball; and pendant with chain tassels
1 Burns Club, Brisbane medal. Yellow metal with tartan ribbon. Engraved on reverse: "Presented to Mr. A. Davidson Denovan. David McAndrew. Scottish vocalist. 30th Sept. 1887"
1 Masonic medal: yellow silk ribbon with medal featuring eye of knowledge inside 6-pointed star; motto "Deo Regi Fratribus Honor Fidelitas Benevolentia"

Medallions
2 Masonic medallions: "HTWSSTKS" at centre of triangle / Son of Man Mark Well / Advanced

Badges
1 Scout badge in shape of a swastika with Scout emblem at centre. On reverse: "Presented to Mr Eric N. Birks. "Scout Week" 1925". Received from donor in paper envelope annotated "Thanks Badge. Design changed 1930" (envelope discarded).
1 "For King and Empire / Services rendered (A28119 stamped on reverse)
1 "Lest we forget / Digger 1919" enamel badge
1 Dept. of Defence A. I. F. Returned from active service (48370 stamped on reverse)
1 Commonwealth military identification tag?, featuring Crown device and insignia "VR"; stamped "7900"

Buttons
4 uniform buttons? Design features letters "GKC"
1 uniform button?, enamel, featuring letters "WFGC"

Ribbons
1 pair military bar ribbons, joined
1 pair military bar ribbons, stitching partly detached
1 pair military ribbons, loose

Stickpins
1 stickpin: hammerhead design
1 stickpin: horseshoe design

A handwritten note, evidently by the donor, which accompanied this collection, states "2 medals of George V. Birks for medical achievements given to Kyffin by mother April 1974" (note placed on ML file).

This pictorial material is part of Birks family papers, ca. 1880-ca. 1970 at MLMSS 2732

Pic.Acc. Upgrade Project - Information transferred from Pic.Acc.3175 as part of the eRecords project 2011-2012

No date