720
*The Sicily Military Cross Group awarded to Captain Stanley Charles ‘Bombs’ Panter, Parachute
1/12
Description
*The Sicily Military Cross Group awarded to Captain Stanley Charles ‘Bombs’ Panter, Parachute Regiment, who was later captured at Arnhem and recommended for a Bar to his M.C., Nine: Military Cross, dated 1943, privately-engraved (Capt. S.C. Panter Parachute Regt.), together with an unconfirmed and undated bar for second award; 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 1st Army clasp, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1953, privately engraved (Major S.C. Panter Royal Fusiliers); Territorial Efficiency Decoration, reverse dated 1955; with Netherlands, Battle of Arnhem bronze honorary medal, 59.5mm, engraved (Capt. S.C. Panter Para. Regt.), this in Gerritsen van Kempen card box of issue; good very fine or better, offered with much original documentation, related items and memorabilia (see below) (lot). M.C.: London Gazette: 23 December 1943: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and initiative in action. On the 14th of July 1943. The officer was in company with a part of the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment which had been dropped on the Catania Plain in Sicily, to secure the high ground South of the River Simeto. On two occasions this officer led small parties to deal with enemy machine-gun positions that were menacing the Battalion’s flank, on each occasion he succeeded in capturing the machine guns and killing or capturing the crews. Later this officer single-handed captured an enemy howitzer together with ammunition, and himself organised a gun crew from the men of the battalion and directed the fire from this weapon on to the enemy. Throughout the action he displayed great courage under heavy fire and complete contempt for danger.’ Territorial Efficiency Decoration: London Gazette: 25 February 1955. The lot is offered with the following: Two ‘dog tags’ (octagonal and circular), both named SC PANTER 165617 LIEUT CE; gun-layer’s badges (2), in gold braid and khaki; anti-tank and crown (2) badges in khaki; a trident badge; riband bar representing MC (with bar) and Panter’s first three Stars; and two (unmatched) Captain’s dress ‘stripes’; A Medjez El Bab skull-and-crossbones pennant, 1942;Sequence of photographs of the first parachute drop (by Panter) made from an American Dakota using a British parachute; Original telegrams and letters, including telegram to Fusilier Panter dated 25 August 1939 “Join 9 RF.” and various correspondence advising Mrs Panter that her husband was missing, 25 Sept. 1944 and later; Nine original personal greetings telegrams, circa 1937-41;Ticket for Buckingham Palace Investiture, 18 April 1944; Two original PoW Camp identity documents, both with photographs (one illustrated); Panter’s 112-page ‘Wartime Log’ (approx.. 100 pages filled), prepared during his time as a Prisoner-of-War and including: his interesting detailed personal account of Operation “Market” [sic], capture at Arnhem, interrogation, escape during a bombardment and subsequent recapture; “S” Company, 2nd Parachute Regimental roll and Memorial; numerous watercolours, sketches and drawings by Panter and some others, including views of Arnhem and Oflag 79; and cuttings, poems, other contributions, tickets, prison camp stamps, personal records, etc.; Memorabilia from Arnhem Commemoration and Memorial, September 1947;A 10th Bn. (T.A.) Parachute Regt. ‘Visitors Falling Plate’ runner-up medal, 1960, 38mm; International Police Association membership card with photograph, 1961; Newspaper cuttings, two pencil portraits and two portrait photographs, and photocopied research; A German photograph, taken after Panter’s capture and subsequently published in Germany, of his kit and equipment (clearly showing his name, with related 1996 correspondence). STANLEY CHARLES “BOMBS” PANTER, born in Warwickshire on 5 September 1909, joined the 9th (2nd City of London) Royal Fusiliers as a private soldier just before the outbreak of War in August, 1939, having previously been an active member of the Territorial unit based in Balham High Road, Tooting, South London. He fought in France and Belgium, was evacuated and granted an emergency commission as 2nd Lieutenant on 28 December 1940. In late 1941 Panter volunteered for the 1st Parachute Brigade shortly after its formation, and by July 1942 he was commanding an experimental airborne platoon nicknamed “Panter’s Pirates” before a formal transfer to the Parachute Regiment is recorded as having taken place on 1 August. He served in Tunisia, including Medjez El Bab, and as part of Operation Torch led a successful operational jump with parachute mortars over Tunis in December, 1942 (when he seems to have gained the sobriquet ‘Bombs’ for the first time). He was in Italy from September 1943 to 1 May 1944 before dropping with the A Company in Sicily (Operation Husky), and was awarded an immediate M.C. for Catania Plain. Panter landed near Arnhem on the afternoon of Sunday 17 September 1944 as T/Capt., Officer Commanding Support Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion and was closely involved in the capture and defence of the Arnhem Road Bridge under Frost, based at “Company HQ” to the north of the bridge where they held out until capture by the Germans on Thursday 21st. As Panter was wounded he was sent to a makeshift hospital but succeeded in obtaining boots and a revolver, and walked out of the building during Allied shellfire on the night of the 21st. Unluckily he did not get far, walking straight into a German patrol beside the river, and he was recaptured. Like many Arnhem prisoners he was sent initially to Stalag XIIA at Limburg before transfer to Oflag 79 (Brunswick), via Oflag XIIB; Oflag 79 was as it happened the former home of a German parachute regiment and was to be liberated by the U.S. Ninth Army on 12 April 1945. After the war Panter served with the Territorial Army until 1959, receiving the Territorial Efficiency Decoration in 1955, and he also joined the City of London Special Constabulary. He evidently wore an unofficial bar to his M.C. for Arnhem but it should be reiterated that although he was recommended for this by his unit it was not confirmed at Divisional - or, perhaps, ‘suits’ - level. Stan Panter died 0n 20 April, 1968.
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Ask seller a question
*The Sicily Military Cross Group awarded to Captain Stanley Charles ‘Bombs’ Panter, Parachute Regiment, who was later captured at Arnhem and recommended for a Bar to his M.C., Nine: Military Cross, dated 1943, privately-engraved (Capt. S.C. Panter Parachute Regt.), together with an unconfirmed and undated bar for second award; 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 1st Army clasp, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1953, privately engraved (Major S.C. Panter Royal Fusiliers); Territorial Efficiency Decoration, reverse dated 1955; with Netherlands, Battle of Arnhem bronze honorary medal, 59.5mm, engraved (Capt. S.C. Panter Para. Regt.), this in Gerritsen van Kempen card box of issue; good very fine or better, offered with much original documentation, related items and memorabilia (see below) (lot). M.C.: London Gazette: 23 December 1943: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and initiative in action. On the 14th of July 1943. The officer was in company with a part of the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment which had been dropped on the Catania Plain in Sicily, to secure the high ground South of the River Simeto. On two occasions this officer led small parties to deal with enemy machine-gun positions that were menacing the Battalion’s flank, on each occasion he succeeded in capturing the machine guns and killing or capturing the crews. Later this officer single-handed captured an enemy howitzer together with ammunition, and himself organised a gun crew from the men of the battalion and directed the fire from this weapon on to the enemy. Throughout the action he displayed great courage under heavy fire and complete contempt for danger.’ Territorial Efficiency Decoration: London Gazette: 25 February 1955. The lot is offered with the following: Two ‘dog tags’ (octagonal and circular), both named SC PANTER 165617 LIEUT CE; gun-layer’s badges (2), in gold braid and khaki; anti-tank and crown (2) badges in khaki; a trident badge; riband bar representing MC (with bar) and Panter’s first three Stars; and two (unmatched) Captain’s dress ‘stripes’; A Medjez El Bab skull-and-crossbones pennant, 1942;Sequence of photographs of the first parachute drop (by Panter) made from an American Dakota using a British parachute; Original telegrams and letters, including telegram to Fusilier Panter dated 25 August 1939 “Join 9 RF.” and various correspondence advising Mrs Panter that her husband was missing, 25 Sept. 1944 and later; Nine original personal greetings telegrams, circa 1937-41;Ticket for Buckingham Palace Investiture, 18 April 1944; Two original PoW Camp identity documents, both with photographs (one illustrated); Panter’s 112-page ‘Wartime Log’ (approx.. 100 pages filled), prepared during his time as a Prisoner-of-War and including: his interesting detailed personal account of Operation “Market” [sic], capture at Arnhem, interrogation, escape during a bombardment and subsequent recapture; “S” Company, 2nd Parachute Regimental roll and Memorial; numerous watercolours, sketches and drawings by Panter and some others, including views of Arnhem and Oflag 79; and cuttings, poems, other contributions, tickets, prison camp stamps, personal records, etc.; Memorabilia from Arnhem Commemoration and Memorial, September 1947;A 10th Bn. (T.A.) Parachute Regt. ‘Visitors Falling Plate’ runner-up medal, 1960, 38mm; International Police Association membership card with photograph, 1961; Newspaper cuttings, two pencil portraits and two portrait photographs, and photocopied research; A German photograph, taken after Panter’s capture and subsequently published in Germany, of his kit and equipment (clearly showing his name, with related 1996 correspondence). STANLEY CHARLES “BOMBS” PANTER, born in Warwickshire on 5 September 1909, joined the 9th (2nd City of London) Royal Fusiliers as a private soldier just before the outbreak of War in August, 1939, having previously been an active member of the Territorial unit based in Balham High Road, Tooting, South London. He fought in France and Belgium, was evacuated and granted an emergency commission as 2nd Lieutenant on 28 December 1940. In late 1941 Panter volunteered for the 1st Parachute Brigade shortly after its formation, and by July 1942 he was commanding an experimental airborne platoon nicknamed “Panter’s Pirates” before a formal transfer to the Parachute Regiment is recorded as having taken place on 1 August. He served in Tunisia, including Medjez El Bab, and as part of Operation Torch led a successful operational jump with parachute mortars over Tunis in December, 1942 (when he seems to have gained the sobriquet ‘Bombs’ for the first time). He was in Italy from September 1943 to 1 May 1944 before dropping with the A Company in Sicily (Operation Husky), and was awarded an immediate M.C. for Catania Plain. Panter landed near Arnhem on the afternoon of Sunday 17 September 1944 as T/Capt., Officer Commanding Support Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion and was closely involved in the capture and defence of the Arnhem Road Bridge under Frost, based at “Company HQ” to the north of the bridge where they held out until capture by the Germans on Thursday 21st. As Panter was wounded he was sent to a makeshift hospital but succeeded in obtaining boots and a revolver, and walked out of the building during Allied shellfire on the night of the 21st. Unluckily he did not get far, walking straight into a German patrol beside the river, and he was recaptured. Like many Arnhem prisoners he was sent initially to Stalag XIIA at Limburg before transfer to Oflag 79 (Brunswick), via Oflag XIIB; Oflag 79 was as it happened the former home of a German parachute regiment and was to be liberated by the U.S. Ninth Army on 12 April 1945. After the war Panter served with the Territorial Army until 1959, receiving the Territorial Efficiency Decoration in 1955, and he also joined the City of London Special Constabulary. He evidently wore an unofficial bar to his M.C. for Arnhem but it should be reiterated that although he was recommended for this by his unit it was not confirmed at Divisional - or, perhaps, ‘suits’ - level. Stan Panter died 0n 20 April, 1968.
Orders, Decorations and Medals
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 1-603
Lots: 604-720
Venue Address
Sotheby's
Upper Grosvenor Gallery
The Aeolian Hall, Bloomfield Place
New Bond Street
London
W1A 2AA
United Kingdom
For Morton & Eden Ltd. delivery information please telephone +44 (0)20 7493 5344.
Important Information
SALEROOM NOTICES
Lot 7: This is a post 1918 Rothe issue with a Mayer ring from another order attached,
estimate reduced to £300-500
Lot 21 This is a good quality Belgian made collector’s copy, the reverse of the retaining
pin does not read 1950 but A950; revised estimate £300-400
Lot 39 The right hand dragon on the star is damaged; revised estimate £800-1,000
Lot 54 The badge is 8th class rather than 9th, estimate remains unchanged
Lot 71 This is the CSSR issue and is now offered uncased, revised estimate £3,000-5,000
Lot 72 This is the First Czech Republic type and is offered with case of issue, revised
estimate is £1,800-2,200
Lot 73 The badge is numbered 96, the number is in the small circle beneath the lower linden branch
Lot 76 Withdrawn
Lot 77 Withdrawn
Lots 79-82: All withdrawn
Lot 94 Offered with case of issue and related sash
Lot 128 The illustration above the lot description is wrongly numbered 127
Lot 147 Offered with case of issue
Lot 159 Incorrectly numbered lot 160 on plate
Lot 160 Incorrectly numbered lot 159 on plate
Lot 201 Incorrectly numbered lot 202 on plate
Lot 202 Incorrectly numbered lot 201 on plate
Lot 243 The star from this set is from a type 1 (1905-08) set of insignia as Witte only made type 1 insignia, estimate remains unchanged
Lot 244 This is incorrectly numbered lot 243 on upper part of plate (lot 243 is correctly numbered on lower part of plate, however)
Lot 253 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 258 Now offered with case of issue and additional breast star
Lot 260 Now offered with case of issue and additional dress miniature
Lot 279 Now offered with case of issue for a Grand Cross set
Lot 291 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 316 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 335 This incorrectly numbered lot 336 on the plate (lot 336 is correctly numbered,however)
Lot 413 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 417 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 427 Now offed with case of issue
Lot 428 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 429 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 438 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 471 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 473 Now offered with (distressed) case of issue
Lot 485 Now offered with case of issue
Lot 539 This incorrectly numbered 537 on the plate
Lot 573 This is the 1957-81 (type 1) version of the Medal for Bravery (Tamga-i-Shujaat)
not the 1971 war issue.
Lot 687 The rank is Police Lieutenant rather than Probationary Lieutenant as described
Lot 688 Probably no more than 250 GSM Malaya medals were issued with the rank of
Police Sergeant as the majority later became Police Lieutenants and were named
thus
Lot 691 The group is awarded to David Alexander Simpson, not David Alexander as per
the lot heading
All questions and comments relating to the operation of this sale or to its content should be addressed to Morton & Eden Ltd and not to Sotheby’s.
Public viewing:
45 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PE
Monday 8 June 10.00am to 4.30pm
Tuesday 9 June 10.00am to 4.30pm
Wednesday 10 June 10.00am to 4.30pm
Or by previous appointment.
Online Bidding
This auction can be viewed online at www.the-saleroom.com, www.invaluable.com and www.sixbid.com.
Morton & Eden Ltd offers an online bidding service via www.the-saleroom.com. This is provided on the understanding that Morton & Eden Ltd shall not be responsible for errors or failures to execute internet bids for reasons including but not limited to: i) a loss of internet connection by either party; ii) a breakdown or other problems with the online bidding software; iii) a breakdown or other problems with your computer, system or internet connection. All bids placed through www.the-saleroom.com are also subject to our standard Conditions of Business.
In completing the registration on www.the-saleroom.com and providing their credit card details, unless alternative arrangements are agreed with Morton & Eden Ltd, buyers
i) authorise Morton & Eden Ltd, if they so wish, to charge the credit card in part or full payment, including all fees, for items successfully purchased in the auction via www.the-saleroom.com and
ii) confirm that they are authorised to provide these credit card details through www.the-saleroom.com to Morton & Eden Ltd and agree that Morton & Eden Ltd are entitled to ship the goods to the cardholder name and cardholder address provided in fulfilment of the sale.
Important Information for Buyers
All lots are offered subject to Morton & Eden Ltd’s Conditions of Business and to reserves.
Estimates are published as a guide only and are subject to review. The hammer price of a lot may well be higher or lower than the range of figures given and there are no fixed starting prices.
* Illustrated lots are marked with an asterisk. Images of additional items not illustrated in the printed catalogue are available online.
A Buyer’s Premium of 20% is applicable to all lots in this sale and is subject to VAT at the standard rate (currently 20%). Unless otherwise indicated, lots are offered for sale under the Auctioneer’s Margin Scheme.
‡ Lots marked with a double dagger symbol have been imported from outside the European Union (EU) to be sold at auction under Temporary Admission Rules. When released to buyers within the EU, the buyer becomes the importer and must pay import VAT (currently 5%) on the hammer price.
VAT may be refunded to buyers from outside the EU under certain circumstances and if satisfactory evidence of export is produced within three months of the date of sale.
Morton & Eden Ltd can obtain quotations for the shipping of purchases and assist in applying for export licences. However buyers are reminded that it is their responsibility to comply with UK export regulations and with any local import requirements.
Morton & Eden Ltd will be pleased to execute bids on behalf of those clients unable to attend the sale in person, subject to our Conditions of Business. Lots will always be purchased as cheaply as possible, depending on any other bids and reserves. This service is offered free of charge.
Written bids should be submitted before 6pm on the day prior to the sale.
Payment Instructions
Payment must be made in pounds sterling and is due at the conclusion of the sale and before purchases can be released.
Bank Transfers:
Please quote your name and invoice number with the instructions to the bank.
Cheques and banker’s drafts should be drawn on a UK bank. We require seven days to clear cheques unless special arrangements have been made in advance of the sale.
Please note foreign cheques will not be accepted.
Credit and Debit Cards. All credit and non-UK debit card payments are subject to a surcharge of 2%.
Sterling Cash. Subject to statutory limits.
