State Government takes possession of military prize

19/12/00
A prized military service medal awarded to one of Western Australia's founding fathers will soon be added to the State Museum's History Collection.
The State Government, represented at a Sotheby's auction in London, last month bought the highly valued Military General Service Medal presented in 1848 to Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Chidley Irwin.
Arts Minister Mike Board said the State Government decided to make the purchase after representations from the ex-service community.
"We were delighted to learn the medal was available for purchase," Mr Board said.
"Lt Col. Irwin's Military General Service medal is not only valuable in its own right, but also in an historical context for Western Australia because of his significant role in the founding years of this State.
"The medal will be a wonderful addition to the museum's great history collection."
Lt Col. Frederick Chidley Irwin had a long and distinguished military career that included fighting with British troops under Wellington in the Napoleonic wars - including the punishing Peninsular War (1808 - 1814).
Fifteen years and many battles later, the then Captain Irwin arrived in Fremantle as Captain in Command of 68 men of the 63rd regiment. Many of his troops had fought in the Napoleonic Wars and most had found it extremely difficult to gain employment in post-war Britain.
For them, Western Australia presented a promised land of new opportunity.
In 1834, Irwin returned to England where he married. Two years later, he was back in Western Australia, with his wife Elizabeth, as Commander of the WA Forces.
"Irwin served almost 20 years in this State, twice acting as Governor - on behalf of Governor Stirling between 1832 and '33 and in 1847 and '48," Mr Board said.
"He is depicted with Captains Stirling and Dance and Mrs Dance in the famous 1929 George Pitt Morison painting 'The Foundation of Perth', which shows Mrs Dance, axe in hand, symbolically cutting down a tree to mark the founding of the Swan River Colony.
"Lt Col. Irwin's contribution to the settlement years of WA was most significant and to have attained his Military General Service Medal as we approach the centenary of Federation is a great coup for the museum and a fantastic addition to the State's history collection."
The Military General Service Medal, which includes nine bars or clasps representing the battles in which Irwin fought, came with two others, Irwin's Crimea War Medal, awarded in 1854, and the Turkish Crimea Medal, 1855, which is believed to have belonged to his son.
They were purchased for the equivalent of just over $10,000.
The returned servicemen's community has welcomed the news the medals have been obtained by the State Government.
Jim Dalton, Executive Officer of the RSL War Veterans' Homes, said the medals were a reminder of the deeds of a very significant soldier who had played a crucial role in WA's founding years.
"In these times, as we prepare to celebrate the centenary of federation, it is important to pause and reflect on the people who contributed so much to the formation of our State," Mr Dalton said.
"The ex-service community of WA is delighted the State Government has seen fit to commemorate this significant soldier and most significant Western Australian."
The medals are being cleaned and their box restored at the WA Museum. It is expected they will be available to be photographed by mid-next week.
Media contact: Tamatha Smith, 9222 9211