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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 606

(x) A 'Bombing of Darwin 1942' casualty campaign group of three awarded to Lieutenant G. P. Rayner, Australian Army Medical Corps, who was lightly wounded during the Bombing of Darwin Harbour

Surviving the bombing of his ship the Manunda he was so seriously affected that he took to drink and was Court Martialled for stealing five bottles of brandy from a hospital in 1943

1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45, all officially impressed (NX70163 G. P. Rayner), very fine (3)

George Philip Rayner was born at Newton, New South Wales on 5 August 1900 and joined up at Paddington, New South Wales on 31 July 1940. The specialist knowledge acquired during his previous job as a Pharmacist saw him posted to 2/1 Hospital Ship, the Manunda. Oddly Rayner is listed as being commissioned Lieutenant on 1 July 1940, possibly an appointment backdated for seniority. He worked as the ship's pharmacist, responsible for the medical stores aboard.

Between November 1940 and September 1941 the ship made four trips to the Middle East, it is not clear whether Rayner was aboard for these journeys. However, his service papers make it clear that the medals present with the lot are his full entitlement.

Present at Darwin on 19 March 1942 when Manunda was resupplying he was caught up in the Darwin raid. Flyovers by Japanese aircraft the month previously had identified Darwin as an area with poor air defences and a high concentration of Allied shipping. This impression was not aided by the erroneous identification of the seaplane tender USS Langley as an aircraft career. Seeking to prevent Allied interference in the landings at Timor and Java it was decided to launch a raid on Darwin.

The attack arrived at 09:58 at which time the orderlies aboard Manunda were undergoing examinations in the wards. As the Air Raid sirens went off they scattered and before long the ship was under fire, a near miss killing four people on the deck. Not long afterwards a bomb fell through the skylight of the 'music room' detonating through B deck and into C deck. The ship was also machine gunned at least once, despite a number of fires aboard the ship the crew manned lifeboats and managed to rescue a number of injured men from the water.

Reyner's service papers state he was 'Wounded in action remaining on duty' on 19 March 1942', the report for this injury was apparently made on 6 March 1942. It is highly likely that this date is incorrect and he was actually wounded on 19 February since he was not present in any warzones during this period. Manunda herself sailed to Fremantle the day after the attack and underwent refits at Adelaide before continuing her service.

Unfortunately the attack seriously effected Reyner, it was felt that he was no longer fit for service afloat and instead went ashore to serve in a Hospital. He was stationed with 114th Australian General Hospital the next year when he was found to be drunk on duty and arrested. Reyner was charged with theft of Government property and conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline.

The pre-trial notes states:

'The accused is 43 years of age, married and in civil life was a pharmacist by occupation, having a shop of his own at Bondi Beach.

He was appointed to the AIF in Jul 40, when he joined "Manunda" and was on that ship when it was bombed at Darwin on the 19 Feb 42.

As a result his nerves were badly affected and up to Jun 42 he received treatment. It was then thought it would perhaps be better if he took up some occupational duty, and as a result he was sent, in Jun 42, as a pharmacist to the 114 AGH Goulburn. At that date he hospital had not long been functioning and there is no doubt that throughout the period Jul 42- Jan 43 he was working under very difficult conditions and without proper assistance.'

Though Reyner was only accused of stealing 5 bottles worth of brandy it was noted that an amount equivalent to 86 bottles was missing from the stores (although the court notes state clearly that Reyner could not be held accountable for all of that). He was invalided for unspecified reasons in November 1943; sold together with copied research.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£230

Starting price
£110