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medal, campaign

On display
human history
  • Other Name

    Italy Star, WW2 (descriptive name)

    Major George Ramsay Andrews, 2NZEF (associated name)

  • Description

    Italy Star, WW2

    awarded to Major George Ramsay Andrews, 2NZEF

    bronze six pointed star 43mm diameter, ring suspender, with ribbon

    Obverse: In the centre the Royal cypher ‘GRI’ with ‘VI’ below. The cypher is surmounted by a crown on a circlet which bears the title of the star ‘THE ITALY STAR’

    reverse: plain

    Ribbon: 32mm wide grosgrain ribbon, The Italian colours are represented on the ribbon by equal stripes of red, white, green, white, red.

  • Place
  • Associated Place
  • Accession Number
    2001.25.14.6
  • Accession Date
    15 Aug 2001
  • Other Id

    Spink: 160 (Spink 1988)

  • Department
  • Display Room
Italy Star 2001.25.14.6

Images and documents

Images

Artefact

  • Display location

    Pou Maumahara drawer bank 5, drawer F, medal position 58

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, 2001.25.14.6 Brent Mackrell Collection
  • Collection
  • Primary Maker

     Royal Mint (Medallist)

  • Place
  • Date
    [1945]
  • Associated Notes

    Italy Star

    Major George Ramsay Andrews, 2NZEF

    George Ramsay Andrews MBE MC DCM JP (1910-1991)

    Military Service

    Pre-WW1: Territorials with 1st Battalion Hauraki Regiment (NZ Territorial Force)

    WW2: 1st Echelon 2NZEF : Greece, Crete, Nth Africa, Italy

    post-war: Territorials, JP

    Awards: MBE MC DCM

    George Ramsay Andrews received the MBE in 1976. He was serving as a JP at the time and was living in Te Aroha.

    WO1 Andrews was awarded the DCM for gallantry during the action on Galatos on 25 May 1941. While waiting for an arm wound wound to be treated (during a German advance), he organised and led a group to rescue wounded and himself received three additional wounds. He later received the Military Cross for outstanding courage over a period of time including the battle for Florence in August 1944 and at Cassino - recovering tanks and clearing roads.

    Biographical Note:

    2640 Major GR Andrews, MBE MC DCM JP. Born Cambridge, NZ in 1910.

    Occupation: Farmer and contractor

    Embarked 1st Echelon 5 January 1940. Wounded 25 May 1941; commissioned 2 Lieutenant on 25 August 1941. Returned to New Zealand 25 December 1941, promoted Lieutenant 25 August 1942; Captain 17 December 1942. Re-embarked with 10th Reinforcements on 21 July 1943; returned 7 September 1945. Posted to Reserve 14 December 1945. Served with 18 Battalion, NZ Ordnance Corps, and 4 NZ Armed Bde Wksps NZEME in Middle East, Greece, Crete, Italy. Recalled to Territorial Force 1 January 1950; promoted to Major on 4 October 1950. Re-posted to Reserve on 1 June 1954. Retired List 1 February 1958.

  • Associated Event
    WW2; 1939-1945
  • Associated Person
  • Associated Place
  • Associated Date
    1939-1945
  • Period
  • Media
  • Measurement Description
    medal: 43mm diameter
    ribbon: 32mm wide
  • Measurement Reading

    43mm (medal)

    32mm (ribbon)

  • Subject Category
  • Classification
  • Media/Materials Notes

    medal

    ribbon

  • Last Update
    19 Mar 2024
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