Description:

- CMG group, 'Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St.George', awarded to Colonel D.S. Wanliss for services in Gallipoli, with ribbon in original Garrard & Co Ltd felt lined case, 1914-15 Star trio Mentioned In Despatches, Jubilee medal, KGV Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration, plus miniature set, 1914-18 Temple Inn bronze medallion (51mm) by Ernest Gillick, in original turned wood case, 1915 (Nov) 'OAS' cover with letter of congratulations from Lieutenant General W. Birdwood, Headquarters, Dardanelles Army. "..and I am so glad to think that a certain number of those, who have fought so magnificently at "ANZAC" during this last seven months, has been rewarded..", with hand written post-script " I do hope you are fit again now. ". Only thirty CMG's were awarded to Australian personnel for services in the Dardanelles Campaign.

Colonel David Sydney Wanliss (1864-1943) was the second son of Thomas Drummond Wanliss, founder and proprietor of “The Ballarat Star” newspaper. In 1901 Wanliss enlisted with the militia as a lieutenant and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel by 1913. In August 1914 he was appointed commanding officer of the 5th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. On 25^th April 1915, as part of the second wave Wanliss led his battalion at the landing on Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, and ten days after the landing transferred from Anzac to help in the attack on the village of Krithia, Helles, where nearly 1000 members of the A.I.F. were killed, wounded or missing. The Victorian battalions forming the 2^nd Brigade returned to Anzac to help defend the beachhead where Wanliss contracted typhoid and was hospitalised in Malta.

Mentioned in despatches in November 1916 Wanliss was awarded the Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). Wanliss Gully near Anzac Cove is named after him. Once recovered, Wanliss then returned to A.I.F. service in France commanding the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples. In July 1918 with the war nearing an end his A.I.F. appointment was terminated. After serving as Commandant of the 6^th Military District (Tasmania), he was appointed Chief Justice of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea from 1921 until 1937. He then retired to Melbourne.

Wanliss's third brother Ewan fought with the 4th Imperial Bushmen in the Boer War [see Lot 1536 for QSA medal with 5 clasps].