Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 926

The tragic and posthumous Australian Bravery Medal awarded to Mr A. N. Roberts, who died attempting to save the life of a young woman at Wangi Falls, near Darwin

Bravery Medal (Andrew Neil Roberts), sold together with a dress miniature, ribbon bar and lapel badge, good very fine

Bravery Medal, the citation states:

'On 20 December 1990 Mr Roberts went to the rescue of a young woman in difficulty while swimming at Wangi Falls. Mr Roberts was a member of a small touring party visiting the Litchfield Park area and had called at Wangi Falls for a swim in the pool at the foot of the Falls. When two members of the party experienced problems in coping with the strong rotating current near the base of the main waterfall. Mr Roberts unhesitatingly responded to their calls for help by swimming to the young woman furthest from the bank. Although the woman had gone under when he reached her, Mr Roberts brought her to the surface and gave his diminishing strength to supporting her in the demanding conditions. Both Mr Roberts and the woman sank beneath the water before help could reach them.

By his actions Mr Roberts displayed considerable bravery, thereby losing his life.'

Andrew Neil Roberts was a native of Adelaide, South Australia. A local newspaper recounts the details of the tragedy:

'When Andrew Roberts heard a drowning woman's cry for help under the Wangi Falls near Darwin, he rushed Young Adelaide man Andrew Roberts was a "typical Aussie boy" who would have instantly tried to help anyone in trouble, his father, Mr Peter Roberts, said yesterday.

Andrew, 25, drowned on Monday trying to save a young Japanese tourist who got into difficulties in a rock pool under a waterfall at Wangi Falls in Litchfield Park, about 140km south of Darwin.
Andrew entered the water to help the tourist and disappeared below the surface. A second Japanese tourist was dragged from the water and later died without regaining consciousness.
The first woman in the tour group had got into difficulties below the pool's waterfall and her companion had screamed for help before she, too, was overcome by the swirling water.
Mr Roberts, of Cashel Street, St. Marys, said last night Andrew had arrived in Darwin only last week, the first time he had set foot in Australia for almost two years.
Andrew's father flew to Darwin yesterday morning to comfort his daughter, Suzanne, who watched her brother die, and to bring home his son's body.
Mr Roberts said Andrew who had trained to be a jeweller, had wanted for some time to tour Europe and the United States and after the trip everything had been worked out for him to join the family business.
"He was to come into the printing game with me, doing wedding stationary." Mr Roberts said.'

Sold together with original newspaper cutting, presentation booklet and citation.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,800

Starting price
£1800