LANCE SERGEANT (ACTING REGIMENTAL QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT) E. ENGBRIGTSEN, 39TH BATTALION, AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE, RECOMMENDED FOR THE AWARD OF THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL IN SEPTEMBER 1918 FOR "EXCELLENT WORK" AS THE ACTING REGIMENTAL QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT OF THE 39TH BATTALON IN FRANCE. Two: British War and Victory Medals (both officially impressed: 874 L/SJT E. ENGBRIGTSEN. 39 BN. A.I.F.). Naming on BWM impressed off-centre at one point, slightly distorting small section of rim, otherwise Almost Extremely Fine.
Group accompanied by 14 pages copied service papers.
Erik Engbrigtsen was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He enlisted at Melbourne on 5/2/1916. At time of enlistment he was 22 years and 11 months old and gave his trade as mechanical draftsman. On enlistment, Engbrigtsen was posted for service with the 39th Battalion. Promoted Lance Corporal, 20/8/1916, he sailed for France via Southampton on 23/11/1916. He was promoted Corporal, 1/7/1917, subsequently appointed Acting Quartermaster and promoted Lance Sergeant 18/9/1918. Engbrigtsen was hospitalised with influenza on 31/10/1918, was invalided to England on Armistice Day, 11/11/1918 and repatriated to Australia on 2/1/1919, suffering from influenza, being discharged on 25/3/1919.
Engbrigtsen was recommended for the award of the Meritorious Service Medal on 17/9/1918, at which time he was serving as a Corporal (Acting Regimental Quatermaster Sergeant) in the Quartermaster's Store of the 39th Battalion. The recommendation reading "This n.c.o. has been with the battalion since its inception and since the whole of the period has done excellent work. for the past two years he has been attached to the Q.M. Store and for the past three months has carried out the duties of R.Q.M.S. to the satisfaction of all concerned."
