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Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Auckland
Date:
5-Sep-2011
Lot No.
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Description:
A Carrara marble box Inscribed on the lid with ‘2NZEF 1940-1944’, ‘Egypt, Greece, Crete, Western Desert, Alamein, Libya, Cyrenaica, Tripoli, Tunisia, Italy’ 'From Bcf’, the centre is set with a black marble square on which a fern and ‘NZ’ is engraved. This box came from the estate of Nzans Sister B S Wylie (see previous lot) who reputedly nursed General Freyberg following his plane crash in September 1944. Included is a small original framed image of Monty, Freyberg and Churchill in a staff car. It is presumed that ‘B C F’ is Bernard Cyril Freyberg and that this was an item perhaps presented to him which he in turn passed on to his Nurse, the box has a number of repairs however is an important and interesting item. A review of the Cenotaph database run by Auckland Museum confirms that the only member of the New Zealand World War I forces with the initials B C F in this database is General Lord Freyberg. General Bernard Cyril Freyberg Vc, GcmG, KCB, Kbe, Dso(3 bars), K St J was the Commander of the 2NZEF. He attended Wellington College before joining the Hauraki Regiment. During World War I he won the Victoria cross and a Dso with 2 bars. He was a hero of Gallipoli and France. Post war he served with the Grenadier Guards. During World War I he commanded the New Zealand division and won a 3rd bar to his Dso. Any Freyberg items are very closely held so this is a scarce find of some importance. Estimate
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified