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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 218

The group of three awarded to Private E. Diacono, King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia, after which he latterly moved to Australia and worked as a translator in Prisoner of War camps during the Second World War

British War Medal 1914-20 (9643 Pte. E. Diacono. K.O. Malta M.); Defence Medal 1939-45 (V16015 E. Diacono), officially impressed naming, third letter of surname reimpressed; Australia Service Medal 1939-45 (V16015 E. Diacono), very fine (3)

Emmanuel Diacono was born on the 10 December 1896 at Zebbug, Malta, and enlisted into the 2nd, Battalion, King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia in 1914 at the age of 17 years old. He disembarked at Cyprus in January 1915 and served there for eight months. He discharged from service in April 1918 after which he emigrated to Australia, settled there for the following 50 years of his life, and later qualified for Australian citizenship. He lived at Royal Park, Melbourne and worked as a Shop Keeper. Stirred by a sense of duty once more, Diacono enlisted into the 3rd Garrison Brigade, Australian Force, working as an interpreter at the rank of Sergeant in their Prisoner of War Camps. He served for just under two years with them and discharged in May 1943.

In the final ten years of his life, Diacono felt the call to return to his homeland, moved back to Malta and died on 14 July 1982. He is buried in Zebbug Cemetery, Malta; sold with copied research.


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Estimate
£140 to £180

Starting price
£110