The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Small gilded and enamelled unit association badge showing the purple over green colours, with grey border, of the 2/2nd Battalion. At the top of the badge in gold are two crossed rifles, the rising sun and the unit number '2/2'. At the bottom of the badge is a white enamelled scroll with the gold text 'NULLI SECUNDUS'.
Although this badge is for the 2/2nd Battalion Unit Association, it relates to the First World War service of Ernest Charles Peddell with the 2nd Battalion AIF. Peddell was born on 10 July 1899 in Sydney, NSW. Peddell, a shop assistant in a grocery and ironmonger's store, enlisted aged 17 at West Maitland, NSW, on 20 January 1917. He was allocated to the 2nd Battalion as a private with the service number 7308 and sailed from Australia aboard RMS Osterly in February 1917, disembarking in Plymouth two months later. Once in England Peddell was found to be underage and was detained in juvenile training until his 18th birthday, when he rejoined his unit for service on the Western Front.
On 12 August 1918, the 2nd Battalion was serving in the Somme Valley, near Auger Wood. During this time Peddell received shell wounds to his right hand and thigh, resulting in the loss of the first joint of his thumb. He was invalided to England where he spent time in hospital convalescing. He returned to Australia aboard HMAT Mamari on 14 February 1919 and was discharged from the AIF as medically unfit on 3 April.
During the inter war years Peddell served in the Militia (home defence force) with the 2nd Battalion. After the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted as a private on 18 July 1940 with the Second AIF at Gunning, NSW, and was allocated the service number NX60381. He was posted to the 9th Battalion and promoted to acting lance corporal and then to acting corporal in August.
In early February 1941 Peddell was transferred to Tamworth for training and promoted to acting sergeant. He married Ella Mary Medway before being posted to the Middle East in May 1941. There he served briefly with 9th Australian Infantry Special Group, before joining the 2/17th Battalion in September. He was then transferred to the AIF (Middle East) Security Battalion in December and Headquarters Guard Battalion in January 1942. He was promoted to corporal in June.
Peddell returned to Australia in February 1943 and spent several months recovering from a shoulder injury. In February 1944 he joined the 2/1st Guard Regiment before being posted to New Guinea in May. On his return to Australia in September he joined the 22nd Garrison Battalion based at the Cowra prisoner of war camp. In November Peddell was hospitalised due to malaria and pneumonia which he contracted while in New Guinea. He was subsequently classified unfit for service outside Australia or in hot, humid climates. Peddell spent the remainder of the war with the 22nd Garrison Battalion at Cowra until his discharge on 27 August 1945.
Ernest Charles Peddell passed away on 6 September 2000, aged 101. On his 100th birthday he was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French Government, and was presented with commemorative coins and medallions from the Australian and New Zealand Governments.
2/17 Battalion gilded and enamelled tie pin. The tie pin features the 'T' shaped grey, green and white formation sign of the 2/17 Battalion, overlaid by a gilded platypus. Associated with the Second
Pair of gilded and enamelled cuff links featuring the 'T' shaped grey, green and white formation sign of the 2/17 Battalion, overlaid by a gilded platypus. Associated with the Second World War servi
Pair of 'T' shaped colour patches for the 2/17th Battalion. The badges are made up of three stitched layers in grey, green and white. Associated with the Second World War service of Ernest Charles P
Circular bronze commemorative medallion. The obverse shows in raised relief, the eternal flame, a bugle and sprigs of oak and laurel leaves. There is text in French around the edge which reads 'SOIXAN
A circular medallion commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. The obverse shows in raised relief, Private Simpson with his donkey, carrying a wounded soldier from the battlefield.
80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal. Impressed around the edge with recipients name. The 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal was was granted to Mr Pedell on 21 April 1999. Each of
Africa Star. Impressed on reverse with recipient's details. Associated with the Second World War service of Ernest Charles Peddell who was born on 10 July 1899 in Sydney, NSW. Peddell, a shop assis
Commemorative medallion of the German Afrika Korps association. The obverse shows a bust of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and a map of the region he fought over in North Africa during WWII. There is text
Australia Service Medal. Impressed around the edge with recipient's details. Associated with the Second World War service of Ernest Charles Peddell who was born on 10 July 1899 in Sydney, NSW. Pedd
British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around the edge with recipient's details. Associated with the First World War service of Ernest Charles Peddell who was born on 10 July 1899 in Sydney, NSW. Ped
British War Medal 1939-45. Impressed around the edge with recipient's details. Associated with the Second World War service of Ernest Charles Peddell who was born on 10 July 1899 in Sydney, NSW. Pe
The obverse shows two ancient spearmen, shields forward and capes flowing, fighting side by side. One represents the Gaulish cock (France) and the other the English lion (Britain and the Commonwealth)
Two brown, compressed fibre identification discs. Each is hexagonal in shape with holes at each end. They are impressed with the text 'NX60381 CE A2 E C PEDDELL'. The discs are secured with a steel ri
Defence Medal. Impressed around the edge with recipient's details. Associated with the Second World War service of Ernest Charles Peddell who was born on 10 July 1899 in Sydney, NSW. Peddell, a sho
Discharged Returned soldier badge. In the centre of the circular brass badge is the Rising Sun and 'A.I.F' surrounded by the words 'ISSUED BY DEPT OF DEFENCE RETURNED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE'. The badge i
Two gold five dollar commemorative coins marking the 75th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, issued in 1990. The New Zealand coin shows the reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, on the obverse. T
French Legion d'Honneur, 5th Class. In presentation box. Associated with the First World War service of Ernest Charles Peddell who was born on 10 July 1899 in Sydney, NSW. Peddell, a shop assistant
Gilded Maltese cross. The obverse has a central bust of a soldier wearing a helmet and is impressed with text that reads 'EDB'. The top of the cross is connected to a pivoting gold crown which forms p
A small circular bronze medal with a bronze securing ring and small bronze ball attached to the top. The obverse has a raised profile of a French helmet in front of a laurel branch. There is text arou
Silver one dollar coin specially minted to commemorate the last ANZACs. The obverse shows the head of the reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse shows a digger (Australian soldier) in a slo
Pacific Star. Impressed on reverse with recipient's details. Associated with the Second World War service of Ernest Charles Peddell who was born on 10 July 1899 in Sydney, NSW. Peddell, a shop assi
Bronze tri-service badge with combined anchor, rising sun and wings surmounted by a king's crown. Underneath is a boomerang with the words 'RETURNED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE'. The reverse is stamped with t
Silver War badge. A circular badge in silver with the royal cypher and kings crown. Around the edge is text which reads 'FOR KING AND EMPIRE SERVICES RENDERED'. The reverse has a hinged securing pin a
Victory medal. Impressed around the edge with recipient's details. Associated with the First World War service of Ernest Charles Peddell who was born on 10 July 1899 in Sydney, NSW. Peddell, a shop
The obverse consists of three different shaped crosses, each on top of the other. The bottom cross is a gilded Maltese cross, with the arms on the diagonal. The middle cross is a red enamel Greek cros
Brass wound stripe with backing plate. Text on the reverse of the stripe reads, 'SERVICE WOUNDED STRIPE SS LTD-B-No 4 PROV PAT 7342'. Impressed into the backing plate is: 'THE WOUNDED STRIPE PROV No 4
2/17 Battalion gilded and enamelled tie pin. The tie pin features the 'T' shaped grey, green and white formation sign of the 2/17 Battalion, overlaid by a gilded platypus. Associated with the Second
Pair of gilded and enamelled cuff links featuring the 'T' shaped grey, green and white formation sign of the 2/17 Battalion, overlaid by a gilded platypus. Associated with the Second World War servi
Discharged Returned soldier badge. In the centre of the circular brass badge is the Rising Sun and 'A.I.F' surrounded by the words 'ISSUED BY DEPT OF DEFENCE RETURNED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE'. The badge i
Silver War badge. A circular badge in silver with the royal cypher and kings crown. Around the edge is text which reads 'FOR KING AND EMPIRE SERVICES RENDERED'. The reverse has a hinged securing pin a
Commemorative medallion of the German Afrika Korps association. The obverse shows a bust of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and a map of the region he fought over in North Africa during WWII. There is text
A circular medallion commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. The obverse shows in raised relief, Private Simpson with his donkey, carrying a wounded soldier from the battlefield.