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The fine Second War Coastal Forces D.S.M. group of six awarded to Leading Seaman J. J. Phillips, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who was decorated for his deeds as a Coxswain in a brilliant night action in the Channel in March 1943, when M.G.B. 333 accounted for two E-boats, one of them by ramming at high speed: such was the calibre of the bravery displayed that night that five members of 333’s crew were decorated and three more mentioned in despatches Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (DX.1349 J. Phillips. L. Sea.), impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (1349 J. J. Phillips. A.B. R.N.V.R.) mounted court-style for display, extremely fine (6) £2,400-£2,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2007. D.S.M. London Gazette 1 June 1943: ‘For skill and gallantry in action with enemy light forces.’ A brief account of the action for which Phillips was decorated appears in Dog Boats at War by Leonard C. Reynolds, O.B.E., D.S.C.: ‘On 28-29 March 1943, it was one of the customary defensive patrols that brought the opportunity for confrontation with the E-boats against which, night after night, the boats lay in wait ready to repel their attacks. Lt. D. G. Bradford. R.N.R., was leading the unit in his own 333, with 321 (Lt. P. L. Stobo, R.N.V.R.) in company. While lying ‘cut’ (i.e. stopped with engines not running to enable a listening watch for E-boat engines), he suddenly heard them, started up, intercepted their course and having sighted them, tracked a line of five moving slowly. Why so slow, he could not fathom. He was able to approach very close, pour a broadside into the last in line, and then take on the next ahead. Stobo in 321 had gone after the others, so Bradford decided to ram, and sheared off the last twenty feet of her hull, which broke away. He circled back and could find little trace of either E-boat, so chased off to find the first three. When he found them stopped in a group, he opened fire and they were away at full speed. A group of prisoners of war later admitted that their E-boat, S. 29, had been scuttled after action damage from British M.G.Bs’. Phillips’ C.O. that night, Lieutenant D. G. “Don” Bradford, R.N.R., would later command the 31st and 55th M.T.B. Flotillas, and ended the War as one of the most decorated officers in Light Coastal Forces, having won the D.S.O., three D.S.Cs and a brace of “mentions”. A colourful character by any standards, his pre-war career included service as ‘an Adjutant in the Bolivian Army during the Gran Chaco War and as an Ensign in a cavalry regiment of the International Brigade in Spain, and in both he had been wounded’. Perhaps it is not surprising, therefore, that Phillips would recall that his skipper had ‘a revolver stuck in his belt’ on the night of 28-29 March 1943, and that ‘around the bridge lay Mills bombs and cutlasses’. As Peter Scott would put it in his Battle of the Narrow Seas, ‘fighting was in his blood’. Joseph John Phillips, who joined the R.N.V.R. in Bristol in 1935, commenced his wartime career with an appointment in the cruiser H.M.S. Diomede, then employed on northern patrols. In early 1941, however, he volunteered for Light Coastal Forces, and joined M.L. 451 that March, in which motor launch he served for 12 months, operating out of Immingham, Lincolnshire, on air sea rescue patrols. Then in July 1942, he joined M.G.B. 333 as her coxswain, the commencement of an eventful operational commission under “Don” Bradford, but one that came to a halt when he was “busted” down to Able Seaman for being found drunk at sea - but not before winning his D.S.M. for the above related action off Smith’s Knoll. Phillips subsequently joined M.T.B. 702 at the end of 1943, as a Gunner on one of her 6-pounders, but had reclaimed his Coxswain’s post in the same boat by the war’s end. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal in 1945 and was demobbed in October of the same year. Sold with a photograph of Phillips and his two brothers, and a hand-written résumé of his career.

The unique Great War D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant C. A. Pearce, Royal Marines, for service in Serbia at the defence of Belgrade and subsequent retreat of the Serbian Army in 1915 Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (9294 Sergt. C. A. Pearce, R.M.A. Service in Serbia.); 1914-15 Star (R.M.A. 9294 Sgt. C. A. Pearce.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. C. A. Pearce. R.M.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (9294 C. A. Pearce, Sergeant, R.M.A.); Serbia, Oblitch Bravery Medal, gilt; Serbia, Medal for Military Virtue, gilt, incorrect ribbon; Belgium, Croix de Guerre, ‘AI’ cypher, mounted court style as worn, very fine and better (8) £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 1994 and May 2011. D.S.M. London Gazette 21 January 1916. The recommendation states: ‘H.M.S. Egmont. Service in Siberia 5 to 8 October 1915. For services during the battle of Lisbona. Was the senior N.C.O. in charge of the two British 4.7in guns on Velike Vrachar which were in action against an overwhelming fire from the enemy’s artillery during the days and nights of the 5, 6, 7 and 8 October, until both guns were finally crushed and destroyed. They were fought to the last with superb bravery and devotion to duty.’ Charles Arthur Pearce was born on 22 May 1882 and enlisted as a Private in the Royal Marines on 23 January 1901. Ranked as a Gunner in November 1901, he became a Sergeant in September 1913 and Colour Sergeant in February 1916. During the early months of the war he served aboard H.M.S. Audacious; in February 1915 he was posted to the British Naval Mission in Serbia. The purpose of the Naval mission to Serbia was to prevent the Austrian monitors and patrol launches from using the Danube. As the Serbians had no floating forces and were weak in artillery, the Austrian monitors were free to bombard Serbian positions at will. Directly after the re-occupation of Belgrade by the Serbians in December 1914, a party of R M.L.I. and seamen were sent hither from Malta. This mission was strengthened in February 1915 by the arrival from England of eight 4.7-in, guns, accompanied by eight R.M.A. ratings under Sergeant C. A. Pearce. The eight 4.7's were organised in four batteries of two guns each, the R.M.A. providing the higher numbers of No. 1 Battery, and seamen those of the remainder. The 4.7 batteries were widely separated to command the rivers, only the R.M.A. No. 1 Battery, under Sergeant Pearce, being close to Belgrade itself, its position being on Veliki Vrachar Hill, on the south-east of the city. By 1 October the Austro-Germans had effected a great concentration opposite Belgrade, and on the morning of the 3rd a terrible bombardment was opened. It was estimated that in the first 24 hours some forty-eight thousand shells fell upon the doomed city. No one had better cause to appreciate the magnitude of Belgrade's bombardment than the occupants of No. 1 Battery on Veliki Vrachar Hill. Commanded by a Serbian artillery officer, with another Serbian officer as second-in command, the battery was composed of Sergeant Pearce with a Corporal and four gunners of the Royal Marines, and a small crew of Serbian soldiers to assist with the heavy work. Of the latter Sergeant Pearce said he could not speak too highly. For the first four days the battery reserved its fire, waiting for the first sign of the enemy to attempt to cross the river. On the 7th they could wait no longer, but opened fire on the batteries along the river front, and for the rest of that day carried on an engagement with no less than 24 Austrian guns. The inevitable happened. As soon as the battery opened fire the aeroplanes corrected the range, and the enemy shells, instead of passing overhead, began to fall upon it. They managed to keep up the unequal contest all day long, and most of the next day, until those two guns were all that was left of Belgrade's defences, and nearly the whole of the Austrian artillery was concentrated upon them. Inevitably, on the night of the 7th, the No. 1 gun was put out of action, and on the following day the No. 2 gun suffered a similar fate. In face of heavy fire, the breech blocks and carriers of both guns were stripped, and under cover of darkness the gun detachments retired to a small village a few miles from Belgrade. In all two were killed and fourteen wounded, these remarkably small casualties being attributed to the excellent construction of the battery. Sergeant Pearce and his gallant little team now joined the rapid retreat of the Serbian army which began on the 12th November, in the face of the advancing Austrians and Bulgarians. Reaching Ipek in Montenegro in late November the most difficult part of the journey remained to be made. The way was across the mountains of Albania to Scutari. Winter had set in, the tracks were so bad and so congested with the debris of the Serbian army that all wheeled transport had to be abandoned, and there was in consequence a great shortage of food. On 13 December the men of the batteries reached Podgaritza, on the 15th Scutari, and on the 19th San Giovanni di Medua. Sergeant Pearce was by now ill with dysentery but the remainder of the party were embarked on H.M.S. Dartmouth and proceeded to England. Sergeant Pearce and Corporal A. H. Turner were each awarded the D.S.M., the six Gunners all being mentioned in despatches. Pearce was uniquely awarded the Gold Medal for Bravery and the Gold Medal for Military Virtue, the other members of the battery between them being awarded a further 14 Serbian decorations, probably making them the most highly decorated battery in the history of the Royal Marine Artillery. Colour Sergeant Pearce was awarded the R.N. Long Service medal in October 1916 and was commissioned in September 1917. He was further decorated with the Belgian Croix de Guerre for his services with the R.M.A. Siege Guns in 1917. Temporary Lieutenant Pearce was placed on the Retired List in July 1919; appointed to the Special Reserve of Officer in November 1920, this being cancelled on 4 February 1921 on his being granted a permanent commission in the Army Educational Corps. Pearce died on 16 September 1966.

The Second War Salerno and Anzio Landings D.S.C. group of nine awarded to Boatswain Harry Ashworth, Royal Navy Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated 1944; British War and Victory Medals (J.57994 H. Ashworth. Boy 1 R.N.) the B.W.M. renamed; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (J.57994 H. Ashworth, P.O. H.M.S. Bridgewater) mounted as worn, the Great War pair polished, fine, otherwise better than very fine (9) £1,200-£1,600 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1999. D.S.C. London Gazette 1 August 1944: ‘For outstanding courage, leadership, resource and determination during the assault on Anzio and in subsequent bombardments in support of the Army, and in maintaining an unbroken flow of supplies which accomplished the building up of the beach-head despite bombing, mining and bombardment by shore batteries.’ The following recommendation was extracted from Admiralty records: ‘Recommendations for awards to officers and ratings who have served in L.S.T. (Landing Ship Troops) in the Mediterranean from the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, until the completion of the build-up of the Anzio beach head in April 1944. During the landing operations on the Sicilian and Italian coasts L.S.T. were employed for the first time in large numbers and due to the fine spirit shown by their crews, more than came up to my expectations. During their stay in the Mediterranean these ships have been continuously employed on ferrying troops and stores to the forward areas and can justly claim credit for having kept the Armies fully supplied during these critical months. Their finest achievement has been the build-up of the Anzio beach head where despite enemy bombing, mining and bombardment, stores averaging five to six thousand tons daily have been discharged. Mr Harry Ashworth, Boatswain, R.N., Party “Chain” (2) - Operation Husky, Avalanche & Shingle. Was launched with his party onto Salerno and Anzio beaches with a pontoon causeway. His courage and fearlessness inspired his party of young seamen to work in the causeway in spite of shell-fire and air attacks, extending over a period of 10 and 30 days.’ Harry Ashworth was born on 30 January 1901, at Shardlow, Derby, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 25 August 1916. He served afloat during the war aboard Impregnable and Colossus. Appointed Temporary Boatswain (Acting) on 9 November 1940, Harry Ashworth served aboard H.M.S. Prince Leopold during the commando raid on Vaagso, Norway, in January 1941. He was appointed to H.M.S. Hannibal, base at Algiers, on 12 April 1943, for Sea Transport Duties, and took part in the Sicily and Italy landings. He was invested with his D.S.C. at Buckingham Palace on 16 October 1945, and retired with the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October 1953. Sold with copied recommendation and record of service.

The unique inter-war and Second War ‘Triple D.S.M.’ group of eight awarded to Chief Petty Officer T. A. Topley, Royal Navy; first decorated for his gallant deeds in the gunboat Sandpiper on the Yangtse River during the Sino-Japanese conflict in 1938-39, he added a Bar to his decoration for like services as a member of a beach party at Dunkirk in 1940, and a second Bar for his ‘fighting spirit’ in command of “A” turret in the cruiser H.M.S. Dido at the Second Battle of the Sirte in 1942 Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R., with Second and Third Award Bars (T. Topley, P.O. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J.112800 T. A. Topley, C.P.O. H.M.S. Dido) mounted court-style for display, good very fine (8) £30,000-£40,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Just five ‘Triple D.S.M.s’ have ever been awarded, two of the 2nd Bars being awarded in the Great War and three of them in the Second World War; uniquely, one man added a 3rd Bar to his award in the latter conflict. D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1940: ‘For services during the Sino-Japanese Conflict.’ D.S.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 7 June 1940: ‘For good services in the withdrawal of the Allied Armies from the beaches of Dunkirk.’ The original recommendation states: ‘For distinguished service as members of the beach parties employed on the beaches and breakwater at Dunkirk during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force and part of the French Army. The initiative, resource, and power of endurance displayed by these ratings, under the most arduous and hazardous conditions was worthy of the highest praise, and contributed largely towards the rapid and successful embarkation of the Troops.’ D.S.M. Third Award Bar London Gazette 8 September 1942: ‘For gallantry, skill and seamanship in H.M.S. Dido, in a brilliant action against strong enemy forces, which were driven off and severely damaged. This action resulted in the safe passage to Malta of an important convoy.’ The original recommendation states: ‘For courage, coolness and devotion to duty in the face of greatly superior enemy forces. Throughout the commission this C.P.O. has by his resolute character, fighting spirit and fine seamanship shown a grand example to all junior ratings. During the action for which I now recommend him for a decoration as senior rating in charge of “A” Turret he carried out his duties in exemplary fashion, and his turret did not miss firing a single round.’ Thomas Alan Topley was born in Lewisham, London, on 24 June 1909, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in January 1925. Advanced to Petty Officer in October 1935, he joined the gunboat H.M.S. Sandpiper on the China station in April 1937 and remained likewise employed until returning to the U.K. in January 1940. Here, then, the period of active service in which he was awarded his first D.S.M. In the summer of 1938, the Sandpiper was based at Changsha, capital of Hunan province, which lay on the Xiang River, a tributary of the Yangtse. The Sino-Japanese War was raging at that time and the Japanese were attempting to capture the nearby city of Wuhan, which was defended with great tenacity. In consequence, endless columns of refugees passed through Changsha and many inhabitants left the city. Amidst this chaos, Sandpiper stood alone in protecting British interests in the Changsha area, and her captain, Lieutenant-Commander W. E. J. Eames, doubled up as British consul. Japanese air-raids increased in intensity and on 6 September 1938 bombs straddled Sandpiper which, because of her shallow draught, swayed at her anchors ‘like a novice water-skier’ but luckily there were no direct hits and no injuries other than minor cuts and bruises. Commander Eames subsequently reported to his Admiral: ‘Six Japanese bombers dropped a number of bombs around Sandpiper. Two cabins and sickbay wrecked. Considerable damage to superstructure but no underwater damage. No casualties. Consider attack deliberate.’ During the same attack, a ferry-boat loaded with refugees which had anchored only 30 yards away received a direct hit and sank, and several junks were also sunk, and Sandpiper sent away her boats to rescue survivors. Commander Eames also recorded in his report, ‘I would like to comment on the cool and excellent conduct of my officers and ship’s company, who did splendid work in saving the lives of a large number of people. Surgeon Lieutenant Sheridan is particularly deserving of high commendation.’ It is equally apparent that Topley likewise distinguished himself on the same occasion, subsequently receiving one of two D.S.M.s for the action. Shortly before Christmas 1939, the ship’s company was notified that Sandpiper was to be laid up and her personnel evacuated. Their subsequent journey from the interior of China was not a straightforward matter, as the Sino-Japanese war raged across much of the country. The overland route to Ningpo was selected following publication of a missionary’s account of a successful journey using this route. Many preparations had to be made, including the destruction of all the ammunition and the packing of nearly seven tons of stores which had to be brought out. The sailors were dressed in civilian clothes and all had grown beards to disguise their identity as naval personnel. They departed Changsha at 6 a.m. on 15 January 1940, in junks and sampans, and the journey to Shanghai took 15 days, requiring many modes of transport - boats, lorries, train, buses, and at one time rickshaws. On five or six nights they found accommodation in local hotels, but the other nights were spent on lorries or trains in bitterly old conditions. Their eventual arrival in Shanghai was followed by a celebration. The ship’s company then travelled to Hong Kong from where they took passage in the P. & O. liner Viceroy of India to England, where they disembarked at the end of March 1940. Following his return to the U.K., Topley was borne on the books of Pembroke I, from which employ he was seconded for service in Operation ‘Dynamo’ in May-June 1940. As cited above, he came ashore as a member of a beach party at Dunkirk, where his initiative, resource, and power of endurance, under the most arduous and hazardous conditions, was worthy of the highest praise. He was awarded a Bar to his D.S.M., which he received at a Buckingham Palace investiture in March 1941. Having been advanced to Chief Petty Officer in September 1940, in which month he joined the cruiser Dido, Topley was awarded his L.S. and G.C. medal in March 1942, the same month in which he distinguished himself for his ‘fighting spirit’ in command of Dido’s “A” turret at the 2nd Battle of Sirte on the 22nd. Earlier, in May-June 1941, Topley saw much action in the evacuation of Crete, when Dido went through some of the heaviest fighting and joined in the ‘midnight massacre’ of an enemy convoy north of Canea. But she was herself badly damaged, taking a bomb hit on a forward turret with resultant casualties. Topley likely shared in further honours in Dido and received his 3rd Bar at a Buckingham Palace investiture on 13 May 1943. He was finally pensioned ashore in July 1949 and died in Herne Bay, Kent, in August 1990. Sold with his original Admiralty admittance ticket for the latter investiture, together with copied research.

The rare Scinde campaign medal for the battle of Hyderabad awarded to Acting Master B. Higgins, Indian Marine, commanding the Honourable Company’s Steamer Meteor Hyderabad 1843 (B: Higgins Act: Mr. E:I:C:. Sr. Meteor) officially impressed naming, fitted with original German silver bar suspension, good very fine £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 2004. Confirmed on the roll which gives his initial as ‘R’. As Acting Master, Higgins commanded the East India Company steamer Meteor during the battle of Dhubba on 24 March 1843. A total of 52 medals were issued for Hyderabad to the crews of the Meteor (15), Comet (19), and Nimrod (18). The 61 Indian hands aboard the three steamers, were issued with unnamed medals. On the day following the battle of Meeanee, six of the opposing principal Amirs surrendered unconditionally as prisoners of war, who were later to be held captive in Hyderabad. On 20 February 1843 a British force accompanied by a party of seamen had taken formal possession of that place, wherein Sir Charles Napier formed a fortified camp. Shere Mahomed amassed an army of some twenty thousand Belooches by the latter days of March, and took up a strongly entrenched position at Dubba, about four miles from Hyderabad. Mahomed hoped to rescue the six Amirs from Napier’s fortified camp as the British came out to attack his lines. Once this intelligence was known, the six princes were moved to the security of the H.E.I.C. Vessel Comet, lying with steam up in the river awaiting immediate orders as circumstances might require. The other steamers, Meteor and Nimrod took up positions to protect the river side of the fortified camp. On 24 March Sir Charles Napier marched out with five thousand men to attack Shere Mahomed at Dubba, where the Belooch army were defeated. No seamen took part in the battle, these three steamers being several miles away from the battlefield, but their crews were awarded the medal for Hyderabad in recognition of their defensive ancillary activities.

The Matthew Boulton’s Medal for Trafalgar 1805 worn by Peter Moser (alias Reynolds) who served as an Able Seaman on board the Victory Matthew Boulton’s Medal for Trafalgar 1805, white metal (P. Reynolds, Victory) contemporary engraved naming in reverse field, fitted with rings for suspension, corrosion and pitting, therefore fine and rare £2,000-£2,400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Peter Moser (alias Reynolds) received the N.G.S. medal with 3 clasps and is confirmed in the application books for 17 June 1795 (as Moser), Gut of Gibraltar 12 July 1801 (as Moser), and Trafalgar (as Reynolds). Having been ‘beached’ after the peace in 1802, he was unfortunately ‘pressed’ the following year and began using the alias name of Peter Reynolds. In this name he fought aboard the Victory at Trafalgar but his medal, when it was issued over forty years later, bore the name Peter Moser to which he had by then reverted. With the confusion of names it is unsurprising that this medal became separated from his N.G.S. medal which now forms part of the Douglas-Morris Collection at the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth. However, there is more to his story. Discharged from the Navy as Peter Reynolds in early September 1812, now rated as Sailmaker’s Mate, he next appears in 1826, when on 22 July he is admitted as an ‘In Pensioner’ to Greenwich Hospital in the name of Peter Moser. During his time at Greenwich Hospital he was gainfully employed as a Boatswain’s Mate and subsequently advanced to Boatswain in 1831. He appears in the well known painting by Andrew Morton ‘Naval pensioners at the Royal Hospital at Greenwich entertaining Army pensioners at Chelsea, in the Painted Hall’, and now on display at the National Maritime Museum. Furthermore, in 1844, Peter Moser (alias Reynolds) received one of the Nelson Testimonial Medals struck for presentation to the Royal Marine guard-of-honour who were present at the ceremonial opening of Nelson’s Column, and also to the men who fought under Nelson at Cape St Vincent, Teneriffe, The Nile, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar, who, at the time of the opening, were pensioners in the Naval Hospital at Greenwich. The full story of Peter Moser (alias Reynolds) is told in Naval Medals 1793-1856 by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris, together with illustrations of Morton’s painting (all participants identified) and of the presentation of the Testimonial Medals. Peter Moser died at Greenwich on 21 August 1856.

‘It is difficult to do adequate justice to an Admiral of the Fleet who was born nearly a century ago and whose life covered such a tremendous range: at sea in the pre-Dreadnought Navy; served in both World Wars; designed, put together and fought a successful major sea action with the most advanced naval weapon of the age; who spent eight months in a Bolshevik prison but 25 years later received the Order of Suvorov, 1st Class, at the hand of Stalin himself; who commanded three Fleets in war; was Controller of the Royal Navy and First Sea Lord; a member of the House of Lords; who made no great mistakes nor great enemies and was loved and respected by all with whom he came into contact … He never boasted of anything and it would be hard to find a man of his talents and position so totally devoid of pretension and pomposity, so unconscious of rank or position, and so very human and endowed with the common touch. He never sought publicity but when it came his way he would use it to promote the Navy, not himself … He had a keen sense of humour and an enormous sense of fun. Like all great leaders he had a streak of independence, a touch of rebel, backed by a dogged determination from which he would not be deflected so long as he was convinced he was right … ’ So stated Admiral Sir Henry Leach, G.C.B., at a Service of Thanksgiving for Admiral of the Fleet Baron Fraser of North Cape, at Westminster Abbey on 8 April 1981. The nationally important Second World War G.C.B., K.B.E. group of nineteen awarded to Admiral of The Fleet Baron Fraser of North Cape, who orchestrated the destruction of the Scharnhorst and signed the Japanese Surrender on behalf of Great Britain in September 1945 Such momentous achievements and historic occasions aside, Fraser had long before gained the glowing approbation of his seniors, from his stoic endurance of seven shocking months as a prisoner of the Bolsheviks at Baku in 1920, after being captured on a secret mission, to his pioneering work as Controller of the Royal Navy in 1939-42: in the latter post he masterminded the ship building programme that won the Battle of the Atlantic and afterwards became the only British Admiral to devise a new weapons system, oversee its production, and then win a major sea battle with it The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with gold centres; breast star, silver, with gold and enamel appliqué centre, with display sash; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Military) 2nd type, Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamels; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. B. A. Fraser, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr. B. A. Fraser. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; United States of America, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, gilt and enamels; France, Croix de Guerre, 1939, with palm; Denmark, Order of the Dannebrog, Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash Badge, Frederick IX, silver-gilt and enamels; breast star, silver-gilt and enamels, with display sash; France, 3rd Republic, Legion of Honour, Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; The Netherlands, Order of Orange Nassau, Grand Officer’s set of insignia, with swords, by Casa das Condecoracoes, Lisbon, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamels; Norway, Order of St. Olaf, 3rd type, Grand Cross set of insignia by Tostrup, Oslo, comprising sash badge with swords, gold and enamels; breast star without swords, silver, gold and enamels, with display sash; Soviet Russia, Order of Suvorov, 2nd type, 1st Class badge, gold, platinum, silver and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘102’ and stamped Monetny Dvov, original screw-back fitting removed and replaced by a pin-fitting, mounted court-style as worn where applicable, enamel work chipped in places, especially on Legion of Honour which is also lacking its original loop suspension, otherwise generally very fine and better (24) £30,000-£40,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Spink, November 1998. G.C.B. London Gazette 5 January 1944: ‘For good services rendered in the pursuit and destruction of the Scharnhorst on 26 December 1943.’ K.B.E. London Gazette 1 July 1941. Denmark, Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog, not gazetted: Visit to Norway as First Sea Lord. France, Commander of the Legion of Honour and Croix de Guerre, not gazetted: For services to the Free French Naval Forces when C.-in-C. of the Home Fleet. The Netherlands, Grand Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau London Gazette 19 January 1943: ‘For services to the Royal Netherlands Navy in the United Kingdom and the Far East.’ Norway, Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olaf London Gazette 13 January 1948: ‘For service to the Royal Norwegian Navy in the war.’ Soviet Russia, 1st Class of the Order of Suvorov London Gazette 29 February 1944: ‘For distinguished services in the action which resulted in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst.’ United States of America, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, not gazetted. Admiral of the Fleet Baron Fraser of North Cape, G.C.B., K.B.E. - ‘the victor of the Royal Navy’s last battleship action and Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful fleet Britain has ever sent to sea’ - was born Bruce Austin Fraser, the youngest son of General Alexander Fraser, C.B., R.E., in London on 5 February 1888. The General allotted his sons their respective careers shortly before his death in 1898, telling the older one he would join the Army and the younger, Bruce, that he would go into the Navy. Mrs. Fraser never thought of altering her husband’s choice, and in due course the boys went to Bradfield which offered both Army and Navy classes. In September 1902, the younger Fraser passed well into H.M.S. Britannia and on completing his Cadetship with distinction in January 1904, he was appointed a Midshipman in the Channel Fleet battleship Hannibal. Over the next seven years, amid Lord Fisher’s white-hot crusade for efficiency, he advanced steadily to the rank of Lieutenant, serving in a succession of battleships and destroyers in home waters. In 1911, having decided to specialise, he commenced the forbidding Long Gunnery Course at H.M.S. Excellent, Whale Island, where for ten months or more candidates were exhaustively examined on every subject from ballistics and dynamics to personal marksmanship with rifle and pistol. When the results of the Long Course were published in October 1912, Fraser emerged top of his class and carried off the Egerton Prize. Now ‘a man of mark in the branch of the Service in which promotion was regarded as most certain,’ he was next sent on the Advanced Gunnery Course at Greenwich and then returned to Whale Island as a Junior Instructor to produce, on the eve of the First World War, the Navy’s handbook on Director Firing. Yet, even though recognised as a leading exponent of modern Naval gunnery in 1914, he was destined to serve the first two years of the war far from the technical excellence of the Grand Fleet’s Battle Squadrons massed in Scapa Flow. In July 1914, he was appointed Gunnery Officer of the elderly light cruiser Minerva, and subsequently saw active service patrolling Akaba at the head of the Red Sea, landing agents, firing on forts, rescuin...

The unique Uganda Mutiny C.M.G. group of four awarded to Lieutenant C. W. Fowler, Royal Navy The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s, breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with ribbon buckle; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Lieut. C. W. Fowler, R.N. H.M.S. Carysfort) impressed naming; East and Central Africa 1897-99, 2 clasps, Lubwa’s, Uganda 1897-98 (Lt: C. W. Fowler, R.N.) mounted on original wearing bar together with related ribbon bar, nearly extremely fine (4) £8,000-£10,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- The clasp ‘Lubwa’s’ is unique to the Royal Navy. Charles Wilson Fowler was born in December 1859 in Cookham, Berkshire, the ninth of 13 children of Captain George Campbell Fowler, R.N. Like his father, he joined the Navy as a Cadet in January 1873, becoming Midshipman in June 1875, Sub-Lieutenant in April 1880, and Lieutenant in December 1883. He was Lieutenant of Carysfort during the naval and military operations near Suakin in 1884-85. Fowler was ‘allowed to resign from the navy to avoid court martial after sending a letter to his Captain accusing him without foundation of ‘scandalous conduct.’ He went to Uganda where he was appointed 3rd Class Assistant, Uganda Protectorate, in July 1896. He was Assistant Collector at Port Victoria, January to September 1897, and was at Lubwa’s during the Sudanese mutiny in November 1897. The mutineers were invested in Lubwa’s Fort by Captain E. M. Woodward, Leicester Regiment, with a very small force, and after several skirmishes they evacuated Lubwa’s and moved by launch and canoes up the Nile towards Mruli. Included in the medal rolls is Lieutenant Fowler, R.N., in command of 58 Swahilis. He was appointed 2nd Class Assistant and Superintendent of Marine in April 1898, and invested with the C.M.G. in January 1899 ‘for services rendered during the Uganda Mutiny’. The following extracts are taken from Major J. R. L. Macdonald’s official report and despatches: ‘Lieutenant C. W. Fowler, late R.N., was especially mentioned for his conduct in the engagement at Lubwa’s Hill, 19th October, 1897, again distinguished himself on the 24th November, though ill at the time. He was present at the fights of the 7th and 11th December, 1897, made a gallant effort to sink the enemy’s dhow on the 5th January, 1898, and subsequently served with the Unyoro column, and commanded in the minor engagement of the 10th April, 1898, when he inflicted a severe defeat on Mwanga’s Mahommedans.’ In more detail: Early October 1897: ‘Lieutenant Fowler, late R.N., at Port Victoria, also took steps to defend his fort, and to cut the bridges over the Sio River; but he was only able to partially carry out this step. On hearing that Lieutenant Fowler was in danger, Mr Jackson and I [Macdonald] advanced to his assistance with all the men we could raise.’ ‘On the 19th instant the mutineers, to the number of 300, assisted by some 150 Waganda Mahommedans, attacked our camp. The engagement commenced at 6 a.m. by a fierce attack on two sides of the camp, the mutineers coming on with the greatest determination. This attack was repulsed, but not until some had got within 50 yards of our line. The fight then continued until nearly 11 a.m., the mutineers bringing up supports, and making repeated attacks. About 11 a.m. when they appeared to have somewhat exhausted their attack, I made a counter-attack on the left with 100 Swahilis under Captain Kirkpatrick and Mr Mayes, on the right a few Swahilis under Lieutenant Fowler, assisted by some fifty Wasoga under a sub-Chief called Kyrania. This counter-attack was completely successful, and the enemy were driven down the hill, and retired to the fort, where they have since remained. Our total loss amounted to 16 killed, 18 severely wounded, and 12 slightly wounded. I cannot speak too highly of the gallantry of the Europeans and Indians. The Wasoga, as a result of our victory, came forward in large numbers, and on the 20th we were joined by an army of Waganda under the Sekebobo. The enemy are now invested in the fort.’ ‘Lieutenant Fowler kept his men incessantly at hand, assisted in repulsing the first attack on our right, and took part in the final counter-attack, when his courage and judgement were productive of the best results.’ ‘On the 14th January [1898] Lieutenant Fowler took the steam-launch and a sailing boat which had meanwhile arrived close to the enemy’s new fort under a heavy fire, and shelled their dhow, with a view to rendering it useless.’ ‘On the night between the 4th and 5th January the mutineers began effecting their escape from the fort by means of this vessel. A party of some sixty embarked and crossed to a small promontory lying north of the station... and proceeded to intrench themselves. On the second night Lieutenant Fowler, late R.N., made efforts with canoes and a Maxim to sink the dhow but without success, as the gun jammed, with a broken mainspring, and from that moment his canoemen absolutely refused to go anywhere near the dhow.’ ‘On the 14th January Lieutenant Fowler succeeded in getting near enough to the dhow to severely damage it with Hotchkiss fire, and on the following day the mutineers themselves destroyed it.’ ‘On the 10th April, 1898, Lieutenant Fowler and Corporal Brodie, acting under the orders of Captain Harrison, with a column of under 100 men, surprised the Mahommedan camp in Bugoma, and, after a brisk fight, in which he lost eleven killed and wounded, completely defeated the enemy and vigourously pursued them. The enemy lost fifty-five killed and twenty prisoners, and their camp and baggage.’ His last appointment appears to have been as Sub-Commissioner of the Nile Province. He died on 19 March 1907. The group is accompanied by two fine portrait photographs of Fowler wearing these medals; original letter notifying him of his appointment to be Commander of St Michael and St George ‘for services rendered during the Uganda Mutiny’; and original warrant for C.M.G. and accompanying transmission document, 23 January 1899.

The unique Ashanti 1896 C.M.G., Dawkita 1897 D.S.O. group of six awarded to Commander F. B. Henderson, Royal Navy - the remarkable defence of Dawkita, over four days and nights, with 40-odd men pitched against an army of Sofas 7000 strong, stands out as one of the great epics of Empire, so too Henderson’s extraordinary bravery in giving himself up to the enemy to parley for the freedom of his men; he refused to kneel before the Samory and his elders, even having been shown the head of his most trusted officer The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, Dawkita 1897, 1897-98 (Lieut. F. B. Henderson. R.N.) second clasp loose on ribbon; Ashanti Star 1896; British War Medal 1914-20 (Commr. F. B. Henderson. R.N.); Coronation 1911, enamel work slightly chipped in places, generally very fine and better (6) £30,000-£40,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Richard Magor Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, July 2003. C.M.G. London Gazette 26 June 1902. D.S.O. London Gazette 8 March 1898: ‘In recognition of services in conducting operations against the Sofas in 1897.’ Francis Barkley Henderson was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire on 8 July 1859, fourth son of the Rev. J. H. Henderson and Anne, daughter of Rear-Admiral H. G. Morris, R.N. Educated at Britannia, he was appointed a Midshipman in October 1874 and, four years later, on promotion to Sub. Lieutenant, he joined H.M.S. Bacchante, sailing in her during her world cruise with the Dukes of York and Clarence as fellow Midshipmen. And on passing for Lieutenant in June 1882, he was awarded the Goodenough Medal for the best examination in gunnery. But in July 1884, his promising career seemingly came to a halt, when he was invalided from the active list. In the following year, however, he took up appointment as Private Secretary and A.D.C. to Sir W. E. Maxwell, K.C.M.G., Governor of the Gold Coast Colony, and accompanied him to Kumassi during the Ashanti Expedition of 1896, experience that no doubt assisted him in gaining appointment as a Travelling Commissioner in the Colony for the next six years. And it was during the course of this appointment that he commanded the small force allocated to the Defence of Dawkita in 1897. Not enough, perhaps, has been written of this gallant little affair, but in his Africa General Service Medals, Richard Magor provides a full and entertaining account of proceedings. As the author successfully illustrates, Henderson’s feat is wholly worthy of comparison to other 19th century epics, Rorke’s Drift among them. For reasons discussed at length by Magor, including aggressive behaviour towards Europeans and friendly tribesmen, Henderson raised the Union Flag at Dawkita in the full knowledge that his actions might be met with severe local opposition. Apart from anything else, the Sofas were said to be starving and his occupation of Dawkita effectively blocked their way to forage for food. He also took the trouble to warn the appropriate Chiefs that if they continued to molest his people, their actions would be considered as hostile ones This, of course, was like a red rag to a bull, and within a short period of time, the Sofas were on the warpath to Henderson’s little three-compound settlement. Henderson takes up the story in his subsequent despatch: ‘The Sofa army appeared over the hill in front of the town, massed in a huge square, numbering, as far as we could estimate, about 7000 men. Their mounted men, of whom they had about 400, tried to pass to the rear of the town on our left, but were driven back by some Lobis, and then, passing along the river bank, occupied the water-hole distant about 350 yards from our front. The Bonas, who were to have held this, made no resistance. I felt very much the want of this water-hole, want of water being one of the chief causes of my having, eventually, to retire. At 4.30 p.m. their riflemen (numbering over 1000) opened a heavy fire on us from the cover of the bush. They showed some skill in skirmishing and their fire was well directed, though high. I had been informed on good authority that they were very short of ammunition, but this want had evidently been supplied from some source, as they were able to keep up an almost un-intermittent fire through that night, the next day and the best part of the next night, and at intervals heavily for the rest of the four days. At night I only replied to their fire by an occasional volley, when they came to the edge of their cover.’ Such were the odds faced by the gallant defenders of Dawkita, a tiny force of arms comprising an African surveyor, Mr. George E. Ferguson, a native Police Officer and 41 Constables of the Gold Coast Constabulary, all of whom, under their gallant commander, found themselves pitched against the full might of several thousand Sofas, an army which they engaged and held off for four days and nights. Amazingly, given that they were outnumbered by 160-1, the defenders suffered just two men killed and eight wounded, while the Sofas are believed to have lost at least 400 warriors. It had been at dusk on the fourth day of the defence that Henderson had decided to evacuate Dawkita and retire to Wa, where reinforcements were expected, and after marching through the night, he duly met up with Captain Cramer, who had 50 men, two guns and some rocket launchers. Henderson later reported in his despatch that he regretted having to leave the Government’s tent behind, which had been used as an awning in the defence and was ‘riddled with bullets’, but was pleased to report that the Union Flag, which ‘had been flying since my occupation of the place’, was saved. He also made light of what had clearly been a terrifying 40-mile dash for Wa. Inevitably, however, this bid for freedom proved in vain, for the agitated Sofas hot-footed it to Wa, encircled Henderson’s barely increased force and recommenced hostilities. Painfully aware that their position was now hopeless, and in a desperate attempt to save his men, Henderson put his life on the line by suggesting he parley with the enemy Prince, whom he knew to be both ‘treacherous and cruel.’ His despatch continues: ‘I then laid this proposition before the other officers, who at first opposed the plan on the grounds of the risk I should incur, Ferguson especially saying that I should be uselessly courting death in some unpleasant form. In the end they concurred and a letter was written to the Prince stating that we had not come here to fight his people and could not understand why he had followed me here ... ’ Of subsequent developments, Magor states: ‘The next morning a Chief came to the British to enter into further discussion, and for reasons unknown, other than Henderson’s extreme gallantry, it was decided that he would indeed have to accompany the Chief back to his Prince for a face to face encounter of the terrifying kind. Given the near suicidal nature of this undertaking, it was decided that if Henderson was detained by the Prince, his men were to evacuate Wa as soon as possible. Henderson found the Prince surrounded by all his Chiefs and young courtiers and behind them about 1000 riflemen. The palaver commenced and after the usual preliminaries Henderson said he had not come to fight the Sofas but to prevent the French from occupying the country. He confirmed that he wished to march to Daboya en route for Kumassi. Just a...

The unique Great War London Omnibus Driver’s D.S.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant (Road Inspector) A. Chouffot, Royal Marine Artillery, attached Motor Transport Company, Royal Naval Division and Royal Marines Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (99. S. Sergt. A. Chouffot. Motor Tpt. Coy. R.N. Division.); 1914 Star, with clasp (99. S. Sergt. Mechn. A. Chouffot, M.T. R.N. Div.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 99-S-.Sgt. A. Chouffot.), together with London Omnibus A.O.C.A. 1914 badge, gilt and enamel, the reverse numbered ‘543’, the third partially officially corrected and the last officially re-impressed, generally very fine or better (4) £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Spink, July 2008. D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1916. ‘The following awards have been approved: Sergeant (Road Inspector) Alfred Chouffot, No. R.M.A./99 (S), R.N.D., Motor Transport Company.’ The recommendation states: ’R.N. Division Motor Transport Company. Antwerp 3-9 October 1914. For services at Antwerp. Throughout the time the Royal Naval Division Bus Company was running, he did excellent and efficient work, both in barracks and when on convoy duty. Displayed great ability.’ Alfred Chouffot was born in Barnsbury, London on 30 September 1887, and by profession a Road Inspector on joining the Royal Marine Artillery in September 1914. Quickly appointed a ‘Road Inspector Sergeant’, he was embarked for services in the Motor Transport Section of the Royal Naval Division. The creation of the Motor Transport Section arose at the time of the Royal Marine Brigade’s embarkation for Dunkirk in September 1914, when it was realised by the administrative staff of the Royal Naval Division that some additional method of transport was necessary. Consequently, under the orders of the First Lord of the Admiralty, 90 ‘B’ type buses of the London General Omnibus Company were purchased and dispatched to Dunkirk. At the same time their drivers were enrolled and sent to the Royal Naval Recruiting Office where they were attested as Marines. Stopping at Chatham or Eastney en-route, the ex-civilian drivers were fitted out with the uniforms and other equipment, prior to proceeding to their respective points of embarkation at Dover or Southampton, from whence they sailed to Dunkirk. Thus, it was, in a quite unique episode in the annals of war, that the London bus drivers commenced their wartime careers. Their splendid omnibuses, which to begin with were still decorated with garish advertisements, just as if setting off down Piccadilly, made a remarkable impression on the men and women of Flanders, even if the ill-fitting and incomplete uniforms of the drivers left a somewhat contrary impression. More importantly, they played a vital role, as did their gentlemen counterparts from the Royal Automobile Club, in supplying transport for the Naval and Marine Brigades in Antwerp, especially in respect of the evacuation of the wounded. Once the Royal Naval Division had returned to England, the unit was lent to the Army and proceeded to St. Omer, afterwards providing valuable service during the First and Second Battles of Ypres. During the latter they were particularly active: ‘All buses under Lieutenant Guest being ordered to Steenvorde and were there employed under fire between Hazeboruck and Vlamertinghe; on 29 April they note that they brought back 800 wounded and refugees. Again in the battle of Aubers Ridge and Festubert they had much to do.’ (Britain’s Sea Soldiers, by General Sir H. E. Blumberg, K.C.B., R.M., refers). Then in August 1915, after once more proving itself with all types of transportation, the unit was taken over permanently by the military establishment and became part of the Army Service Corps. Very few of the unit’s drivers transferred, however, and Chouffot was himself discharged in September 1915. In a short but much-admired life span, the Motor Transport Company, R.N.D., won three gallantry awards: a D.S.O. to Captain Leaf; a D.S.C. to Captain Summers; and a D.S.M. to Chouffot. Sold with copied research and photographs.

The excessively rare Lake Tanganyika 1915-16 Expedition D.S.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant A. E. Wainwright, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, “The Old Loco Driver” and mainstay of that remarkable team of Jack Tars who transported two gunboats through 100 miles of African jungle to successfully challenge German superiority on Lake Tanganyika - and inspire C. S. Forester’s “The African Queen” Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., the reverse hallmarked London 1916; 1914-15 Star (S. Lt. A. E. Wainwright. R.N.V.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. E. Wainwright. R.N.V.R.) extremely fine (4) £20,000-£24,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Richard Magor Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, July 2003. D.S.C. London Gazette 31 May 1916: ‘In recognition of his services in command of a motor boat on Lake Tanganyika on the occasion of the destruction of the German gunboat “Hedwig von Wissman” on 9 February 1916.’ No single achievement during the Great War was distinguished by more bizarre features than the successfully executed undertaking of 28 daring men who transported a ‘ready-made’ Navy overland through the wilds of Africa to destroy an enemy flotilla in control of Lake Tanganyika. In the summer of 1915, the key to success in Central Africa lay in the overwhelming German supremacy on Lake Tanganyika. Just how this was challenged by a force of two motor boats commanded by an eccentric Naval Officer with a talent for public relations is one of the most extraordinary stories of the whole War. To cover the three thousand miles or so that lay between Cape Town and the Lake, the boats had to be hauled by steam traction engines and ox trains over more than a hundred miles of extremely wild and difficult country, where there were no roads or communications of any kind. The whole journey, by barely navigable rivers and narrow-gauge railways, through country where sleeping-sickness and other ghastly diseases were rife, is one of the strangest passages in the history of the Royal Navy. The two boats, with a small expeditionary force under the command of Commander G. Spicer Simpson, R.N., arrived at Cape Town towards the end of June 1915. By the 23 December the Mimi and Toutou, as the boats were christened, had been successfully launched on the Lake, and three days later the first action was fought. Lieutenant A. E. Wainwright, R.N.V.R., who had established his authority from the beginning, was a man to whom everyone turned in an emergency. He was already known affectionately to the ratings as “The Old Loco Driver”. In fact he was a great deal more. He had worked for many years in Africa, not only on coming up with the railway from Beira to Rhodesia, but on transport work with oxen, traction engines and native labour. He had a large farm in Rhodesia, raising cattle and growing mealies, which he had left in charge of a partner in order to return home and enlist in Kitchener’s Army. Commander Spicer Simpson was deferential, almost apologetic towards Wainwright, as if he were a bit afraid of him. He never gave him a direct order, it was always “Mr. Wainwright, I am thinking you might do this or that”, or “I’d be much obliged to you, Mr. Wainwright,” all without the least hint of sarcasm. He could not have failed to notice that the battle had enhanced and clinched the admiration of all hands, officers and men alike, for “The Old Loco Driver”. The first encounter with the enemy took place on 26 December, resulting in the capture of the German gunboat Kingani, a vessel of 30-40 tons, armed with one gun. A 12-pounder was mounted on her, and as H.M.S. Fifi she proved to be a valuable addition to the British Flotilla. This left the enemy with two ships, the Graf von Gotzen, a vessel of 400-500 tons carrying one 4-inch and two smaller guns, and the Hedwig von Wissman, a gunboat of about three times the tonnage of the captured one. Wainwright was placed in command of the Mimi, whilst Spicer Simpson embarked in the Fifi and on 6 February 1916 the Hedwig von Wissman was attacked by both of them, and sunk after a running fight of three hours duration. The result was largely due to the skilful manoeuvring of the two British vessels. The Mimi kept astern of the enemy and out of range of his after gun, causing him to tack from side to side in order to bring his foremost gun to bear, and thus delaying him until the Fifi could get within range. Finally a high explosive shell from the Fifi destroyed the enemy’s engines. Before she sank, the Germans abandoned ship, and all except two Europeans and three natives, who had been killed, were picked up by the Fifi and Mimi. It would have been satisfactory if the third and largest of the German ships could have been accounted for by the British Flotilla, but she did not risk an engagement. After being bombed by a Belgian aeroplane, she was scuttled by the Germans in Kigoma Harbour, on the eastern shore of the Lake. So ended Germany’s command of Tanganyika. Apart from the material loss inflicted on the enemy, the success of the Naval Expedition did much to enhance British prestige among the natives, not only in the immediate neighbourhood of the Lake, but also in the northern districts of Rhodesia and in adjacent German territory. In consequence of the great success of the expedition, Spicer Simpson was awarded the D.S.O., Wainwright and two other officers the D.S.C., and 12 ratings the D.S.M. For further reading, in addition to the more well known title Phantom Flotilla, there is a superbly illustrated article, Transporting a Navy Through the Jungles of Africa in War Time, which appeared in The National Geographic Magazine in October 1922, by Frank G. Magee (copy included). Although C. S. Forester’s famous novel The African Queen has a somewhat different story line, it was undoubtedly inspired by the Lake Tanganyika Expedition of 1915-16. So, too, of course, the subsequent oscar-winning film starring Humphrey Bogart.

The group of six miniature medals worn by Admiral C. H. M. Buckle, Royal Navy The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s, breast badge, gold and enamels; Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol; Baltic 1854-55; Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, the last five mounted on a contemporary wearing bar, nearly extremely fine (6) £400-£500 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Morton & Eden, December 2003. See Lot 323 for the recipient’s full sized medals.

The exceptional Victorian C.B. group of four awarded to Admiral C. Fellowes, Royal Navy, a seemingly fearless bluejacket of ‘splendid strength’ who on one occasion parried the thrust of an opponent’s bayonet and ‘literally tore his arm out of its socket’ Mentioned in despatches on several occasions, Fellows was promoted to Commander for his gallantry in actions against Chinese pirates in 1854 and to Captain for his deeds in the Second Opium War: wounded at the storming of Canton in 1857, he was the first member of the Naval Brigade to scale the city’s wall and seized a Chinese colour that Queen Victoria later gifted to Greenwich Hospital The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1870, complete with gold ribbon buckle; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Chas. Fellowes. Lieut. “Spartan”; Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Canton 1857, Taku Forts 1858, unnamed as issued, some light contact marks, otherwise good very fine or better (4) £4,000-£5,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. C.B. London Gazette 20 May 1871. Charles Fellowes was born at Potterne, Wiltshire on 19 October 1823, the son of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Fellowes, C.B., by his second wife, Mary Anne Catherine, only child of the late Colonel Isaac Humphreys, Bengal Artillery. On passing his examination in October 1842, Fellowes served as a Mate on the North America, West Indies and Pacific Stations over the next two or three years. And it was during this period - whilst employed in H.M.S. America - that he had his close encounter with a bayonet-toting opponent. John Moresby, a shipmate, takes up the story in The Admirals: ‘An incident occurred in Rio which illustrated the strength and presence of mind of Charlie Fellowes. Three Yankee frigates were in the harbour at the same time as the America and frequent drunken brawls took place between the British and American sailors; in one of the more violent of these incidents, the Brazilian police tried to arrest the ring leaders, but the sailors joined forces against the police and the army was called in to assist. The Brazilian soldiers with fixed bayonets forced the sailors back, wounding several of them. At this moment, Charlie Fellowes, whose splendid strength and presence attracted notice wherever he went, ran up and placed himself at their head, holding the Brazilians in check as he retreated slowly towards the quay, where his men would be in comparative safety. He accomplished his object and was the last man back to the quay when a Brazilian soldier lunged at him with his bayonet. Quick as a thought, Charlie Fellowes jumped aside and catching the man by the wrist, literally tore his arm out of his socket and flung him on the ground. The affair produced a diplomatic row, the Brazilian Government immediately demanding that Charlie Fellowes be given up to the civil authorities. However the America left Rio at once and heard no more of the matter.’ Advanced to Lieutenant in June 1846, Fellows went on to witness active service in the Spartan and Winchester on the East Indies Station, being landed with the Naval Brigade for the expedition to Pegu. He was subsequently present in the boats of Spartan and Winchester on the Pegu River at the attack on the city of Prome in September 1852 and on the city of Pegu in November 1852, and was commended by Commodore Sir Rowly Lambert, K.C.B., Commander in Chief, East Indies Station. In November 1854, having been ‘most creditably engaged in various enterprises against pirates in Chinese waters,’ Fellows was selected by Admiral Sir James Stirling to take charge of Winchester’s boats and those of Spartan, five in number, to take action against a robbery which had been committed in one of the channels leading into the harbour of Hong Kong. Early on the morning of the 2nd, he destroyed three boats on the beach in Pilang Bay and burnt six houses, and the stronghold of the freebooters. On the same day the force under his command also brought out two junks which had run on shore in Tynmoon Bay, took two Hong Kong fast boats, torched two junks up a creek, and blew up one of 200 tons, killing from 40 to 50 men and capturing nine guns and seven gingals. During these operations the small British force landed frequently and was exposed to a sharp fire from the enemy who were often concealed behind rocks, some of the boats occasionally grounding. In his subsequent report to the Admiralty, Sir James Stirling expressed his hope that ‘the entire success of the operation, and the very judicious and gallant conduct evinced by Lieutenant Fellowes, and the excellent behaviour of all who were employed under him, might meet with their lordships approbation’ (London Gazette 8 October 1855, refers). Fellowes went on to destroy 19 junks at Tyloo, in the island of Lantao, the crews of which had been previously driven out by a few well aimed shot and shell from Encounter, once again winning Sir James Stirling’s highest commendation (London Gazette 8 October 1855, refers). On 11 November 1854, in Winchester’s launch, he accompanied an expedition under Captain O’Callaghan to co-operate with the Chinese authorities in an attack upon pirates at their headquarters at Coulan, in the island of Tyloo, which was reached on 12th. During the following night he was employed in effectively blockading the Bay of Coulan. In the course of the 13th, he landed under fire from a battery of 20 guns, with a small body of armed men, and assisted at the capture of a second battery of 7 guns, in addition to contributing to the destruction of about 50 strongly armed junks. On the 14th he was directed to superintend and cover in his launch the landing of 60 ratings and marines who had been embarked on board the P. & O. steam vessel Charles Forbes and who had been directed to search the scene of the previous day’s achievement for prisoners and for lost property. In narrating these events Captain O’Callaghan in his official letter to Admiral Sir James Stirling remarked, ‘For Lieutenant Fellowes, Senior Lieutenant of your flagship, I have to assure you I cannot say too much in his praise - always willing and ready for anything.’ In recognition of his sustained gallantry, Fellowes was promoted to Commander in January 1855. Having then served in Winchester in the Gulf of Peter the Great in August 1855, whilst searching for the Russian squadron commanded by Vasily Zavoyko, Fellowes was appointed to the Cruiser in July 1856. And it was in that capacity that he added further laurels to his distinguished record back on the China Station, a notable action being his part in the capture and destruction of more than 70 heavily armed junks in Fatshan creek in June 1857. Subsequently, at the storming of Canton City in the following December, he was attached to the 3rd Division of the Naval Brigade, under Sir Robert McClure, and with Captains J. L. C. Hamilton and J. F. Slight, had charge of the scaling ladders. In the event, he was the first man of the Naval Brigade over the city wall and received a wound in the head. As a reward for his gallantry on that occasion, in which he also captured a Chinese colour, he was promoted to Captain in February 1858 (London Gazette 11 January 1856, refers). Having then served as Flag Captain to the C.-in-C. of the Channel Squadron and C.-in-C. of the Mediterranean Station, Fellows commanded the Duke of Wellington and the Duncan, the la...

The rare Military and Naval General Service medal pair awarded to Major-General James Clarke, Royal Marines Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Java (James Clarke, 2nd Lieut. R.M.); Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Algiers (James Clarke, 2nd Lieut. R.M.) together with a second Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Guadaloupe, Java (Jas. Clarke, Captn. R.M.) the first two with original ribbons with contemporary suspensions attached, edge bruising and contact wear, otherwise nearly very fine, the last with re-affixed suspension, nearly very fine (3) £16,000-£20,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Bonhams, December 2003, pair from family; M.G.S. with 2 clasps acquired privately in September 2014. Approximately 38 Military General Service medals awarded to Royal Navy and Royal Marine recipients James Clarke was born on 4 August 1788, the oldest son of the late Commander R. W. Clarke, Royal Navy. He joined the Royal Navy in March 1798, aged ten, aboard the sloop Pluto. After serving in her as a Volunteer and Midshipman, he joined the Romney in 1799, on the East India station, where he was successively lent to the hired armed transport Sea Nymphe, employed in conveying artillery and stores to Cosire in the Red Sea, and to the H.E.I.C.'s schooner Lady Popham. In the latter vessel, he was engaged in carrying despatches from Sir Home Popham at Mokha to General Hutchinson at Suez, where he was wrecked on a coral reef off Yembo. Twenty one of the crew drowned, whilst thirteen survived, escaping in two boats and made their way to Jiddah. The Romney returned to England and was paid off in 1803. He entered the Royal Marines as Second Lieutenant on 19 September 1808, and in the early part of 1809 sailed with the troops in the Dolphin for the West Indies, where, joining the Neptune and Pompée, flagships of Sir A. Cochrane, he assisted at the capture of the French gunship D'Haupoult [clasp for this action not claimed] and served on shore in co-operation with the army at the reduction of Gaudeloupe. After the latter event, which took place in February 1810, he returned to England with prisoners on board the Alcmene frigate. His next appointments from December 1810-October 1814, were on Gibraltar, Clarence and President, being employed on the coast of France, the North Sea and River Clyde. In July 1816 for about 3 months he was with Superb with Captain C .Ekins and was present at the bombardment of Algiers. From March- October he was with the Tees and Conqueror. Then he was with Rear Admiral Plampin on the St. Helena station, whence he returned in April 1819. In October 1821 he went to the Impregnable which was flagship of Sir Alexander Cochrane at Plymouth; then on to Ariadne and Andromache at the Cape of Good Hope, from where he came home in September 1825. From May 1830 for three years he was with the Caledonia in the Channel. At the end of February 1837 he was with the Malabar, off Lisbon. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 14 November 1823 and to Captain on 10 July 1837. In December 1837 he left the Caledonia. He was employed in the Calcutta in the Mediterranean and on the coast of Portugal from September 1840 until November 1842; and then into the Impregnable at Devonport from 2 January 1849, until advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, 12 November 1851, the day after his promotion to the brevet rank of Major. He acquired the rank of Colonel on 20 November 1854 and was awarded that of Major-General 20 February 1857. He married in 1817 and again in 1837, and had one son from the first marriage and one son and two daughters from the second. The book Naval Medals by K. J. Douglas-Morris mentions an M.G.S. to him but with clasp Guadaloupe (p. 156), as does British Battles and Medals, where there is also reference to a Naval Medal. There is no reference to the N.G.S. medal in the roll by Colin Message. His correct entitlement should be the clasp for Gualaloupe only on the M.G.S., together with the N.G.S. for Algiers, as confirmed in the Army List up to his death in 1873.

The Naval General Service medal awarded to Samuel Green for his services as a Private Royal Marines on board the Ajax at Egypt and on board the Victory at the battle of Trafalgar, where he was wounded in action Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Egypt, Trafalgar (Samuel Green.) edge bruise and small French silver import stamp, minor nicks, otherwise toned, very fine £14,000-£18,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Cheylesmore Collection, July 1930; Sotheby’s, December 1990; Buckland Dix and Wood, March 1996. One other Samuel Green got the N.G.S. with 2 clasps, Implacable 26 Augt. 1808, 7 July Boat Service 1809. His medal was sold at Glendining’s in November 1927 and is known to be in the Patiala Collection in India. 122 clasps for Trafalgar issued to H.M.S. Victory. Samuel Green is confirmed as a Private, Royal Marines, aboard the Ajax in Egypt, and aboard the Victory at Trafalgar where he was wounded and received an award of £10 from Lloyd’s. Of the six Seaman and two Marines aboard the Victory who were wounded and survived to claim the medal, only that to Green is known to survive. Samuel Green was born at Bilston, Staffordshire, in 1777, and attested for the Marines at Wolverhampton on 23 January 1798, a bucklefiler by trade. He joined Ajax from Chatham Headquarters on 1 January 1800, and served in Egypt the following year, being one of the Marines landed to fight with the Army at Alexandria in 12 March. He joined the Victory in April 1803 and the musters confirm his presence aboard for the complete commission until Victory was paid off on 6 January 1806, after which Green was sent back to Chatham Headquarters. He was disbanded from the Royal Marines at Chatham on 20 October 1815.

The important Army of India Medal awarded to Rear-Admiral William Burnett Dobson, Royal Navy, who had a ‘brilliant record’ in the Burma campaign of 1824-26, in which he was wounded, six times ‘mentioned’ and specially promoted to Commander: evidence of his outstanding service is to be found in his 10-page entry in Marshall’s Naval Biography Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Lieut. W. B. Dobson.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, nearly extremely fine £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. Just 27 officers of the Royal Navy received the Army of India Medal with Ava clasp. William Burdett Dobson was the son of Admiral of the White Man Dobson (1755-1847), a distinguished officer who had served in the American War of Independence. William Dobson entered the Royal Navy as a Volunteer 1st Class aboard H.M.S. Africa in December 1806 and was present at the unsuccessful attack mounted against Buenos Aires in July 1807. On 23 February 1808, he was transferred as Midshipman to the Polythemus, in which ship he was present at the capture of the French 74-gun ship D’Haupoult and the surrender of the city of St. Domingo. Advanced to Master’s Mate in July 1810, he was next appointed to the Hyperion on fishery protection duties off Greenland, in the course of which his ship was frozen up in the harbour of St. John’s, Newfoundland for four months during the winter of 1812; while still serving aboard Hyperion he was also given charge of prizes of 400 and 500 tons each. Next appointed to Royal Sovereign in the rank of Lieutenant in January 1814, Dobson was employed at the blockade of Toulon. Having then removed to the Tanais in September of the same year, he served off the Irish coast and in the West Indies before joining the Cadmus on the North Sea Station in December 1816. In April 1823, Dobson joined the Larne as her senior Lieutenant, under the command of Frederick Marryat, the famous author. And it was in Larne – and other vessels - that he was to serve with distinction in the war in Ava 1824-26, his ‘brilliant record’ of ‘zeal, ability and gallantry’ being the subject of continuous mention by his superiors. Among other actions he was present at the capture of Rangoon and of Dallah in May 1824, in which latter operations he captured ‘35 large boats and various cargoes.’ Subsequently, whilst in charge of the armed transport Satellite, he had command of all the shipping at Rangoon and was ‘most arduously and hazardously employed from August to November, ten miles in advance of the other men of war, and three miles above the advanced position of the Army.’ O’Byrne continues: ‘On 4 August 1824, he assisted in capturing the fort of Syriam where the natives had stockaded themselves. He was wounded in the hand in September while contributing to the capture of Penang, and in October he distinguished himself in a brilliant and decisive attack on the fortified village of Than-ta-bain. From 30 November to 9 December whilst still in command of Satellite he was constantly in collision with the enemy near Dallah, at the final assault on the works of which place he headed the soldiery and was nearly the first to enter. On 6 February 1825, he was further instrumental in the capture of a large 36 gun stockade at Than-ta-bain, by laying Satellite in a position to enfilade the strongest of the enemy’s works, and from 5 March to 19 April he was entrusted with the command of the Naval Station at Panland, with the responsible duty of forwarding supplies for the whole of the combined force during its advance on Ava. His name appears several times in the London Gazette. He was recommended to the Lords of the Admiralty and by the Commander in Chief of the forces in Ava, Sir Archibald Campbell. As a reward for these services, he was promoted to Commander and given command of Larne on 25 July 1825. After leaving Ava the ship visited New Zealand and other places before the crew was paid off, on 4 April 1827. He was next appointed to the command of Hyperion 42-gun warship, on 23 July 1830, in which ship he was employed in blockade services against smugglers off Newhaven. He relinquished this duty in May 1831 and was subsequently employed as an Inspecting Commander in the Coast Guard from 25 May 1834 to July 1837. He attained Post rank on 23 November 1841 as Captain of Royal William, a 120-gun 1st rate ship of the line, and subsequently went on half-pay. He eventually retired with the rank of Rear-Admiral and was placed on the half-pay lists of Flag Officers of the Reserve, on 12 April 1862.’ Sold with copied research.

The rare Second War Landing-Craft Operations Clearance Unit (L.C.O.C.U.) D.S.M. group of five awarded to Petty Officer H. C. Gore, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry as a frogman and demolition expert on D-Day and in the contested landings in the South of France Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P.O., H. C. Gore. R/JX.209374) officially engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, extremely fine (5) £2,400-£2,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Seedies Roll lists a total of just 10 D.S.M.s, 3 D.S.C.s, and one D.S.C. and Bar to L.C.O.C. Units during the Second World War, mainly for the landings in Normandy and the South of France. D.S.M. London Gazette 6 November 1945: ‘For bravery, skill and great devotion to duty in the reconnaissance and destruction of unknown obstacles and mines, and in the rescuing of survivors whose craft had been destroyed in a minefield during the Allied landings in the Baie de Cavalaire in the South of France, June-August 1944. And for similar good services in the landings in Normandy.’ The recommendations for this batch of awards are to be found in the National Archives under reference ADM1/30497 which reads: ‘The Honours and Awards Committee has considered the good services of certain ratings in the destruction of underwater obstacles and mines during the invasion of the South of France, and submits that the King may be asked to approve the Awards set forth below. During the landings in the Baie de Cavallaire in the South of France these ratings successfully carried out under fire the initial reconnaissance of unknown obstacles and mines and achieved their destruction. They also did good work in helping to save the lives of wounded soldiers of the United States Army when the craft in which they were embarked struck mines and was sunk.’ Henry Charles Gore was a frogman in a Landing-Craft Obstruction Clearance Unit, one of 120 such men engaged on D-Day, two of whom were killed and ten wounded; six of them were awarded the D.S.M. Just two L.C.O.C.U. units subsequently participated in the landings in the South of France, making Gore’s award of the D.S.M. most unusual. Lieutenant H. Hargreaves, a L.C.O.C.U. commander, later described what he and his fellow frogmen, such as Gore, faced on D-Day: ‘The invasion of Normandy to the average person was the greatest combined operation that had ever taken place, and that in fact was the truth. However, few people know of the work carried out by small, special units, both before the operation, and during the initial assaults. We were one of the small units which had this particular role to play. A role which was not easy, and from which many of us did not expect to return, but one which we were determined to carry out until our work was completed. For the invasion of Normandy the Force Commanders used approximately a hundred and twenty officers and men of the ‘Locku’ units divided into ten parties, or units. Each unit had an officer and eleven men, and each was allotted to its own beach and had its own particular job to do. In my case, and that of a brother officer, we found ourselves detailed to deal with the obstacles on a beach near the village of La Riviere. We were supposed to go in at H hour, which was the very beginning of the assault. We were dropped into our craft from an L.S.I. at seven o’clock in the morning and went hell-for-leather for the beach, and arrived hoping to find the front row of obstacles on the water’s edge, and not in the water, but discovered some two or three feet of water over them. We left our craft and got to work at once on posts with mines secured to the tops of them, specially constructed wooden ramps which were mined, and steel hedgehogs with mines and anti-aircraft shells on top of them, and we were subjected the whole time to quite a hot fire from rockets, shells and bombs. We must have been about four hundred yards from the beach when the firing first started, and they didn’t forget to inform us that they knew we were coming. When we finally got on the beach we discovered that we were being systematically sniped, not only with rifles but also by odd bursts of machine-gun fire - a most unpleasant experience - but one that we soon got used to. As time went on we almost forgot about it until we realised that opposition was dying down because in the meantime the Army had landed and was dealing with machine-gun posts, mortar posts, and all the other unpleasant places Jerry had prepared for us. The weather was very much worse than anyone would have expected in June, and we had the greatest difficulty working in a very heavy surf. It was hard going and we soon got pretty tired, but in the meantime the obstacles were being slowly but systematically destroyed. As we made an initial gap for the landing craft to come through, so we increased the size of the gap as time went on. We succeeded in clearing the whole of the beach some thousand yards in length, with obstacles going out to over four hundred yards by the end of D Day. That didn’t end our work, of course, although the worst was over. Landing craft of all shapes and sizes were simply pouring on to the beach, and in the meantime, having cleared that beach, we had to proceed to another beach and get rid of the obstacles there. In all, we successfully disposed of over two thousand five hundred obstacles, practically every one mined, in addition to this, as a sort of savoury, we cleared the explosives out of half a dozen beetle tanks. Not long before D Day a special jacket had been invented to protect us against that terrible blast which can be experienced when a mine or shell explodes underwater. This jacket was known as a ‘Kapok Jacket’ and was worn underneath our swim suits. It proved to be a most wonderful thing, and saved the lives of no less than three of my men. One of my Petty Officers, who was working in about six feet of water, had a shell or mortar bomb explode in the water quite close to him, and although he was completely knocked out, and in fact paralysed for several hours, he had no injuries whatever, and no after effects. A Royal Engineer who was swimming towards the beach from one of the landing craft, and was some distance farther away from the explosion than the Petty Officer, was killed outright, and I have no doubt that many men suffered the same fate on that day. I would like to make it quite clear that we don’t in any way look upon ourselves as supermen, or heroes, or anything like that at all, and we did not by any means clear all the obstacles off the beaches in time for the landing craft to get in. There were nowhere near enough of us to have hoped to do it. What we could, and did do, was to clear an initial gap for the landing craft to beach safely, and to increase that gap as quickly as possible until the beach was entirely free from obstacles. Consequently many of the landing craft who didn’t use the gap, because of the simple fact that there just wasn’t room for them, struck obstacles, or had holes blown in them or their bottoms torn out, with the result that many men had to swim ashore with full equipment. When our original job had been completed we had to keep our reputation as ‘Jack the Handyman’ by doing many jobs to assist on the beaches, such as winching drowned vehicles out of the water. We did this by taking a wire with a hook on the end, right out to sea in our swim suits and breathing sets, hook up the vehicle, come to the surface and signal to the operator ashore to...

The extremely rare Second War B.E.M. and Bar group of four awarded to Fireman and Greaser A. Letch, Merchant Navy; originally decorated for his gallantry during an enemy aircraft attack off the Humber in February 1942, he added a Bar to his award for top-secret, blockade running Operation ‘Bridford’, a risky enterprise undertaken in a modified Motor Gun Boat to collect valuable steel and ball bearings from Sweden British Empire Medal (Civil), G.VI.R., 1st issue (Albert Letch) with Second Award Bar; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £2,000-£3,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: J. Hoare Auctions, Canada, April 2000. Abbott & Tamplin state in British Gallantry Awards that just 12 Bars were awarded to the British Empire Medal in the Second World War. B.E.M. London Gazette 12 May 1942: ‘The ship was attacked by an aircraft with bombs and machine-guns. The Master’s defence organisation was very efficient. Under his orders the First Mate and Second Officer held their fire until the range was close and then shot so accurately that the aircraft crashed into the sea. She had dropped bombs which exploded close to the ship’s stem. Excellent work was done by the Second Engineer, who was on watch. He remained at his post and calmly carried out with distinction urgent measures to secure the safety of the ship. Fireman Letch stuck to his post in the stokehold and carried out his duties during and after the action in a cool, calm and collected manner, even though the stokehold plates were thrown about by the explosions. It was due to the general resourcefulness of the ship’s company that the vessel reached port under her own power.’ Bar to B.E.M. London Gazette 2 May 1944: ‘For gallantry in hazardous circumstances.’ Albert Letch was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire on 18 November 1921. Awarded the B.E.M. for his gallantry as a Fireman aboard the S.S. Helder, when she was bombed and strafed in the Humber on 5 February 1942, official records also reveal that he afterwards served in the Royal Mail’s steamship Highland Brigade; he was likewise employed when she was diverted to New York following a storm off Bermuda in March 1943. Letch subsequently volunteered for Operation ‘Bridford’, part of an ongoing top-secret programme devised by Commander Sir George Binney, D.S.O., R.N.V.R., to ferry supplies of ball bearings and special steels, as well as occasional ‘passengers’, from Sweden to the U.K. The story of ‘Bridford’ and its predecessor operations is recounted in On Hazardous Service, by A. Cecil Hampshire, and a fascinating story it makes, for as Binney himself concluded: ‘Each trip in the running of this closely guarded Axis blockade has, of course, involved the dangerous sea passage through the Skagerrak and Kattegat between the enemy-occupied countries of Norway and Denmark … The operations owed their success to a combination of careful planning, courage, bluff and grand seamanship and sometimes perhaps there was an element of good luck.’ Binney managed to get hold of five Motor Gun Boats (M.G.Bs) for Operation ‘Bridford’. The boats, built by Camper and Nicholson, were 117-feet long and had three diesel engines which could produce a cruising speed of about 20 knots. After some modification, they could take a 45-ton cargo, and they were armed with Oerlikon and Vickers machine-guns. Manned by Merchant Navy volunteers, such as Letch – and hence flying the Red Ensign, each boat also had an S.O.E.-appointed Chief Officer to oversee the security and defensive arrangements. Binney named his five modified boats Gay Corsair, Gay Viking, Hopewell, Master Standfast and Nonsuch, thereby adding to the Elizabethan atmosphere of the adventure on which they were engaged. And to add a final touch to that sense of adventure, he ensured that ‘in each Captain’s cabin there was a picture of Sir Francis Drake.’ As it transpired, Master Standfast was captured by the Germans on her very first mission in November 1943, but the remainder of Binney’s flotilla plied back and forth from Hull and Immingham to the small Swedish port of Lysekil until March 1944. For his own part Letch served as a greaser in (ex-M.G.B. 505) Nonsuch, under ‘the tall, slim and quiet-mannered’ Captain Herbert ‘Jacko’ Jackson. And the boat’s S.O.E.-appointed Chief Officer was Ted Ruffman, who, according to On Hazardous Service, ‘was an ex-Artillery lieutenant who had been invalided from the army after having had most of his face shot off at Tobruk.’ Letch may have served in other ships of the secretive flotilla, but we know for certain from official records that he joined Nonsuch for a run over to Sweden in February 1944, when ‘the boss’, George Binney, came along for the ride. Happily, it would seem, Nonsuch dodged the mines and German patrol boats, and returned to Immingham with a 40-ton cargo valued at 570,000 Swedish Kroner. He was among those subsequently selected for reward, in his case an extremely rare Bar to his B.E.M. Whether he remained in Nonsuch for her future role in S.O.E.’s Operation ‘Moonshine’ remains unknown. He died in Grimsby in November 1990. Sold with copied research.

A mid 19th century Adjutant General Prince Menshikov ‘Theatre d’Inkerman’ papier-mâché nodder, with painted moustache, large bicorne hat with plume, moulded fur trimmed coat, grey jacket with gilt buttons, red trousers, now holding a baton, wooden base inscribed ‘Theatre d’Inkerman’ and underside ‘Contemporain de la Guerre de Crimea 1855’ —6 ¾in. (17cm.) high (baton replaced) - Prince Alexander Menshikov (Князь Алекса́ндр Ме́ншиков) 1787–1869 was a Russian nobleman, military commander and statesman. In 1853, he was sent on a special mission to Constantinople, and when the Crimean War broke out he was appointed commander-in-chief on land and sea. He commanded the Russian army at Alma and Inkerman and showed incompetence and lack of military talent.

A mid 19th century Thüringen composition Vivandière reclining drunkenly on the back of galloping donkey, the figure wearing blue uniform with red trim, white tunic front and apron, bearskin and swigging from a bone wine bottle, ridding side saddle on a grey donkey with tinplate ears and string tail, rocking on metal pin with painted wooden stand with original paper label to underside —6 ¾in. (17cm.) high (some and cracking and wear) - Vivandière or cantinière is a French name for women who are attached to military regiments as sutlers or canteen keepers. Their actual historic functions of selling wine to the troops and working in canteens led to the adoption of the name 'cantinière' which came to supplant the original 'vivandière' starting in 1793. The use of both terms was common in French until the mid-19th century, and 'vivandière' remained the term of choice in non-French-speaking countries such as the US, Spain, Italy, and Great Britain. They served in the French army up until the beginning of World War I, but the custom (and the name) spread to many other armies. They also served on both sides in the American Civil War, and in the armies of Spain, Italy, the German states, Switzerland, and various armies in South America.

A mid 19th century papier-mâché Emperor of Haiti Faustin-Élie Soulouque nodder, wearing elaborate and colourful military uniform with bicorne hat with multi-coloured feather trim, the nodding head and moving bottom jaw, standing on naturalistic wooden base with ‘Soulouque’ in ink on base —8in. (20.5cm.) high (some crazing) - Faustin-Élie Soulouque, 15 August 1782 – 3 August 1867) was a Haitian politician and military commander who served as President of Haiti from 1847 to 1849 and Emperor of Haiti from 1849 to 1859. Soulouque was a general in the Haitian Army when he was appointed President of Haiti. He acquired autocratic powers, purged the army of the ruling elite, installed black loyalists in administrative positions and the nobility, and created a secret police and private army. Soulouque was an enthusiastic vodouisant, maintaining a staff of bokors and manbos, and gave the stigmatized vodou religion semi-official status which was openly practiced in Port-au-Prince. Soulouque declared the Second Empire of Haiti in 1849 after being proclaimed Emperor under the name Faustin I, and formally crowned in 1852. Several unsuccessful attempts to reconquer the Dominican Republic eroded his support and he abdicated in 1859 under pressure from General Fabre Geffrard and Dominican military victory. Soulouque was temporarily exiled to Jamaica before returning to Haiti where he died in 1867.

A 9ct yellow gold Royal Army Medical Corps regimental brooch decorated with the regimental emblem of the Rod of Asclepius, with blue and green enamelling, inscribed 'In Arduis Fidelis', circa 1961, 3 x 2cm, approx 4.5g.

UNATTRIBUTED; pastel and charcoal drawing, mid to late 19th century army officer, 59 x 49cm, framed and glazed.

Four hallmarked silver military badges, comprising a WWI HMS Australian Infantry Battalion badge with white, green and blue enamels, inscribed 'Aut Vincere Aut Mori', diameter 3.1cm, also a Berkshire Regiment badge, Royal Corps Army Ordnance enamel badge and further crown badge, combined approx 31.5g (4).

AIRFIX; nine 1:35 scale model kits including M36B1 GMC Tank Destroyer, WWI British Army 30-CWT 4 x 2 G.S. Truck, Stug IV SD. KFZ.167 (Early Version), Austin K2/Y Ambulance, Ferret Scout Car Mk 2 (x2), M18 Hellcat GMC Tank Destroyer, etc (9).

AFV CLUB; eight 1:35 scale military vehicle model sets including YPR-765 Prat, US Army M54A2 Guntruck, 6x6 2-1/2 Ton Cargo Truck, Stryker M1134 Stryker and four further examples (8).

Second World War British Army Wolseley pattern pith helmet, with leather headband.

Dinky Toys diecast Military Vehicles including Centurion Tank No.651, Obusier DE 155 ABS field gun No.819, EBR Panhard FL10 No.827 (x2), AMX 13 T tank No.801, Jeep Porte-Fusées SS10 No.828, Army 1-Ton Cargo Truck No.641Austin Champ No.674, Scout Car No.673, Armoured Car No.670 & Volkswagen KDF with anti-tank gun (1 box)

Scarce Indian Army. 1st Punjab Regiment post 1922 Officer’s cap badge, inscribed “1st Punjab Regiment” with additional “China” scroll beneath the dragon’s chest. By J.R. Gaunt, London.

Second World War Army Bush / Slouch Hat, with leather head band, stamped Walker Ashworth & LinneyLtd, dated 1943 and marked with broad arrow, together with an American example (2).

Almanac. Peacock's Polite Repository, or Pocket Companion; containing an Almanack, the Births, Marriages, etc. of the Sovereign Princes of Europe, Lists of both Houses of Parliament, Officers of State, Navy and Army, the Baronets of England, and various other Articles of Useful Information, printed for W. Peacock & Sons, 1816, tooled leather binding, 12cm high, in slip case

Group of Cold War era Militaria to include Czechoslovakian army badges and decorations (1 box).

1930s and later medal group comprising George V India General Service medal with one clasp- North West Frontier 1930 - 1931, named to 2607179 BMBR. C. H. Peachey. R.A., 1939 - 1945 Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, Defence and War medals and George VI Army Long Service and Good Conduct medal named to 2607179 W.O. CL. III. C. H. Peachey. R. A. Together with three bronze military medallions, two in fitted cases.

Dinky Supertoys diecast Military Vehicles including Tank Transporter No.660, Missile Servicing Platform Vehicle No.667, 10-Ton Army Truck No.622 (x2) & Medium Artillery Tractor No.689, all boxed and Dinky Toys Bren Gun Carrier with bubblepack No.622 (6)

Meccano Army Multikit and Subbuteo, both boxed (2)

Collection of Swiss Army pocket knives, old penknives and novelty paper knives contained in a collectors nest of drawers

Johnny Seven O.M.A (One Man Army) plastic assault rifle (no box) (weapon parts missing) (1)

Deluxe Reading Topper Toys (c1964) Johnny Seven O.M.A. (One Man Army) plastic Seven Guns in One, with grenades, missiles & bullets, boxed (poor) 6025 (1)

First World War Army Medical Service Red Cross arm band stamped 19.11.1914 and also stamped Sussex Voluntary Aid 964, together with another Red Cross badge and a Women's National Land Service Corps arm band (3).

Second World War Japanese Army field service cap with applied star badge and leather band.

1950's British Army Tank Binocular Periscope A.F.V., dated 1954

First World War pair comprising War and Victory medals named to 841929 PTE. R. Walker. 32 - Lond. R. Together with an Army Temperance badge and a cap badge.

British Army. Inns of Court O.T.C., Berkhamsted, 1914-1918, an album of approx. 90 photographs and photographic postcards, including two images of the King's visit, dated August 1st, 1916, semi-formal group portraits, machine gun practice, marching and playing in the snow, drills, parades and general officer training, camp, Easter Monday Sports, etc., the leaves often annotated, original limp papered covers, 4to; British India: Second Lieutenant William Tod Ritchie, [...], 2 Black Watch, School of Musketry, Satara, dated 8.10.17, a foolscap notebook of lecture notes, approx. 60ff, most of which are inscribed both sides, sometimes with pasted typed notes, original tan calf over papered boards, 4to; and a Boer War period album of 36 photographic prints, Shorncliffe Camp, 1901, illustrated with informal snapshots of comrades in camp, finely bound in contemporary three-quarter green morocco gilt, over marbled boards, some wear, 12mo, (3)  Provenance: 1st: Sir Frederic George Kenyon GBE, KCB, TD, FBA, FSA (1863-1952), President of The British Academy (1917-21), Director and Principal Librarian of The British Museum (1909-30); at the start of the First World War Kenyon served with the British Expeditionary Force in France to September 1914, then on home service with his regiment The Inns of Court O.T.C. He was promoted major in 1916 and lieutenant-colonel in 1917, retiring in 1921.

Miscellaneous British Army regimental cap badges, silver and enamel sporting prize fobs, a Maria Theresa Thaler, 1780 and miscellaneous other commemorative coins and medals, etc

A CWC British Army issue stainless steel wristwatch, quartz movement, 35 x 36mm Important Notice: Mellors & Kirk makes no warranty as to the condition of movements of battery watches, which are sold strictly as seen

India. Moyle Sherer (Joseph), Sketches of India, second edition, London: Printed for Longman, et al, 1824, original publisher's boards, split, uncut, contemporary armorial bookplate: Sir Joseph Radcliffe Bart., Rudding Park, [North Yorkshire], 8vo; Watt (Sir George) & Mann (Harold H.), The Pests and Blights of the Tea Plant, second edition, Calcutta [i.e. Kolkata]: Office of the Superintendent, Government Printing, 1903, later green cloth, 8vo; Sri Lanka: Wells (W.G.B.), Cooly Tamil As Understood by Labourers on Tea & Rubber Estates, fourth edition, Colombo: The Ceylon Observer, 1927, original cloth, 12mo; other domestic imprints; Hart's Army List, 1878, [&] 1883, London: John Murray, original publisher's cloth, worn, 8vo; Wilkins, Modern Hinduism, green cloth, 8vo; further faith; Blanford (Henry F.), A Practical Guide to the Climates and Weather of India, Ceylon and Burmah (sic), and the Storms of Indian Seas, London: Macmillan, 1889, original green cloth, 8vo; Jerdon's Mammals of India; a Natural History, second edition, London: John Wheldon, 1874, contemporaneous quarter-calf over cloth, 8vo; Churcher (Madeleine Amy), Indian Impressions, or The Diary of our Indian Trip 1904, Banbury: [Privately printed], 1982, red cloth, 8vo; further travel; some regional studies; pamphlets and maps, etc., (approx. 65)

Ten friendship albums and books, late 19th c and later, typically inscribed in manuscript with sentiment, verse and wit, with approx. 119 original watercolour, pen-and-ink, &/or pencil illustrations and drawings, including two early 19th c Italian Grand Tour gouaches of Mount Vesuvius erupting, "A Cold Steam Guard" (Serpentine) - a cartoon parody of a Coldstream Guard bathing, dated 1907, Spring Cleaning in two scenes, anthropomorphic cats in the manner of Louis Wain, an 18th c rake oddly inscribed with Chinese calligraphic characters, playing cards and a cribbage board, caricatures, chess, others, some ephemera in places, including a b/w group photograph of Boer War period British Army soldiers, etc., mixed bindings and sizes, (10)

English School, second-quarter 19th century - Portrait of a Lady, half-length, indistinctly signed: M.B. Gi*** del:t and dated Nov:er 6 1834 in pencil, wash en grisaille, picked-out in colour, 13 x 10cm; English School, c1914 - Portrait Miniature of a British Army Officer, probably a member of the Calthrop family, bust-length, watercolour on ivory, feigned oval, 8 x 6cm; with a contemporary studio photographic portrait of a World War One officer, presumably the same subject as the miniature (3)  Please note Mellors & Kirk have applied for an exemption licence for the ivory in this lot. Ref: PB4F48UP  As a lot in good condition.

Caricatures. Caricaturist Unknown, early 19th century - A Bill of Fare, s.l., s.n., n.d. [c. 1815], etching, with contemporary hand-colouring, 28.5 x 23cm; Robert Dighton (1752-1814) - Lord Dashalong Bent on driving, signed within the plate, identified as Lord Sefton (William Molyneux, 2nd Earl) in contemporary manuscript, [London]: Published by Dighton, Charing Cross, November 1801, etching, with contemporary hand-colouring, 24.5 x 19cm, platemark; Robert Dighton Junior (1786-1865) - Views of the Blues, army officers in their uniforms, signed within the plate, identified as Captains Packe & Fenwick in contemporary manuscript, [London], 1805, etching, with contemporary hand-colouring, 28 x 20.5cm; Henry Richard Cook (fl. 1802-1849) after 'M. Egerton' - How Much! - Seven & Eight pence!, a man is presented with his tavern bill, signed within the plate, [London]: Published by T. Gillard, Strand, May 1827, etching, with contemporary hand-colouring, 25 x 19.5cm (4) Good, mixed condition. Unexamined out of their mixed frames.

Twenty-one friendship albums and books, early-mid 20th c, typically inscribed in manuscript with sentiment, verse and wit, illustrated with approx. 60 original watercolour, pen-and-ink, &/or pencil illustrations and drawings, including First World War caricatures and cartoons, pen-and-ink of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, "Shun" - a sepia study of a sergeant commanding attention, a watercolour cartoon of an English lady and a newspaper headline viz. Lord Kitchener and his New Army, others, a leopard, further flora and fauna, etc., some ephemera in places, including a loosely-inserted English etching of a cottage, etc., mixed bindings and sizes, (21)

A WWI PAIR 21423 PTE. J. O. ATKINSON. C. GDS. (Joseph Obadiah Atkinson, Coldstream Guards) with photographs and other items, including his first army days' pay (a 1916 Half Crown with some tone), certificates, badges, postcards home etc

Collection of WW1 and WW2 Medals, buttons and badges. WW1 Defence medal, 39-45 Star. Edward VII Coronation medal, Royal Hussars Cap badge, Coldstream guard cap badge, WW1 Leinster Irish collar badge, WW1 Durham Shoulder title, United States Army Button, RAF 51 Squadron badge, WW2 British Nome front, G B & Russia badge, GB & France badge. 8 x Egypt themed Damacene black on gold coloured badge/buttons. Plus Ronson lighter display box

A late Victorian glazed oak single door gun cabinet by Army & Navy CSL Makers, fitted with later glass shelves to interior, with cupboard doors beneath, with keys, 80 cm x 35 cm x 224 cm

An enamelled metal recruitment sign 'Recruits are now wanted for all branches of His Majesty's Army', 66 cm x 81 cm.

A Lego 76126 Marvel Avengers, Avengers Ultimate Quinjet, built, instructions (not checked for completeness);  Action man;  A vintage Playskool presents Richard Scarry's build and play world of Puzzletown Mayor Fox's Town Center (sic) set D, includes Mayor Fox, Mrs Murphy and Sgt Murphy, woodboard cut-outs, plastic bases and roof tiles, boxed (not checked, playworn);  army figures;  A boxed Artin Formula Challenge, unused, boxed; another similar slot car set, unboxed (2)

Militaria - two gilt metal and enamel Army Officer stars/pips; another smaller; eight bronze Army stars/pips; a bronze Royal Fusiliers London Regiment cap badge; a Sherwood Foresters cap badge various Royal Artillery uniform buttons, John Gaunt and earlier; two Red Cross Penny a Week Fund badges; etc.

Militaria - a WW1 Italian Engineers helmet badge, recessed  enameled no. 1 denoting regiment number; other badges including a pair of British Army Drummer proficiency trade sleeve badges; a WWI The Kings Royal Rifle Corps cap badge; York and Lancaster Regiment Cap Badge; Royal Artillery Royal Artillery Regiment Sergeants NCO Arm left and right badges; cloth badges; buttons; medal bars etc.

Womens Land Army Breeches (6)

Box of Books - Womans Land Army

British Army Commando Dagger with Leather Scabbard