11/391 John George Concanon Wales MC, NZEF
NZEF Military Cross Group - JCC Wales
The superb GV Military Cross group of nine awarded to 11/391 John George Concanon Wales, who was wounded on Chunuk Bair and later was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry during the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). He later commanded the Fiji Military Forces during the Second World War.
John George Concanon Wales was born 26th August 1885 in London, England. Son of John George Kilminster and Jane Blake Wales (née Concanon). He was educated in England, the family residing in Baker St - a street made famous by the Sherlock Holmes publications. He saw service with the Royal Fusiliers prior to coming out to New Zealand. During the First World War Wales initially served with the Wellington Mounted Rifles - embarking with the Main Body and landing on Gallipoli in May 1915. He was promoted to QMS prior to being wounded by a gunshot wound to the leg during the tumultuous attack on Chunuk Bair in August 1915. Upon recovery he was returned to New Zealand for commissioning, returning to France with the 20th Reinforcements. During the campaign around Passchendaele, as Battalion Transport Officer he was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery. The recommendation stating: "Operations east of Ypres on Oct. 4th and Oct. 14th to 20th for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As Transport Officer for his Battalion this officer took up his Transport daily – very often through very heavy shell fire. He never failed throughout to bring up every thing that was required. He set a very fine example to his men of courage and determination, and has always proved himself a capable and efficient officer". He was promoted to Captain prior to be struck off the strength of the NZEF at the end of the war. He was appointed to the New Zealand Staff Corps in 1919, and was highly regarded for his efficient and hard-working performance. During 1926-27 he was seconded to the 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians in India, where he continued to impress. He was transferred to the Reserve of Officers in late 1930, and took up the role of Bursar at King's College, Auckland.
During the Second World War Wales was initially appointed Major and Commandant of the School of Instruction at Narrow Neck before deploying to Fiji in 1941 with the rank of T/Lieut-Col. He was subsequently appointed the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces in the rank of Brigadier, and served in this capacity 1942-43. During this period he toured Vella Lavella and Guaduacanal, thus qualifying him for the 1939/45 and Pacific Stars. He was posted to the Retired List in 1944 and died in Auckland in September 1967.
The Military Cross has been contemporarily engraved on the reverse CAPT. J.G.C. WALES OCT. 1917. PASCHENDALE (sic)., and the trio is correctly impressed 11/391 CAPT. J.G.C. WALES. N.Z.E.F.. The WW2 medals are all unnamed as issued. See attached letter for refence to the award of the campaign stars. The MC shows signs of pitting on the reverse, consistent with years of being worn and impacting the 1914/15 next to it. The photograph of 2/Lt. Wales is a digital copy courtesy of the Imperial War Museum (ref HU 126940).