Medals of Commander Harry Thring Bennett : (1) Distinguished Service Order World War II; (2) 1914-1915 Star; (3) British War Medal 1914-1918; (4) Victory medal 1914-1919; (5) Defence medal 1939-1945; (6) War medal 1939-1945; (7) Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.
Date1914-1945
Object number00003836
NameMedal
MediumMetal, ribbon
DimensionsOverall: 120 x 230 mm, 0.3 kg
Display Dimensions: 227 x 15 x 120 mm
Display Dimensions: 227 x 15 x 120 mm
ClassificationsCoins and medals
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from J Bouvy
DescriptionMedals awarded to Commander Harry Thring Bennett. Featured from left to right are the Distinguished Service Order, World War I with bar; 1914-1915 Star; British War Medal 1914-1918; Victory medal 1914-1919 with oak leaf; Defence medal 1939-1945; War medal 1939-1945; and the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.HistoryHarry T Bennett DSO served in the Royal Navy during World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order; he then transferred to the Royal Australian Navy where he spent most of the 1920s in the Hydrographic Branch undertaking surveys of northern waters and of the Great Barrier Reef. He retired in 1929 but was recalled during World War II where he served firstly as Commander of HMAS PLATYPUS and then as Staff Officer in Sydney of the DEMS (Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships).SignificanceThese medals represent the distinguished naval service of Commander Harry T Bennett during World Wars I and II.
