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Preisdatenbank abonnierenPair: Corporal V. M. Fowler, Women’s Royal Air Force Jubilee 1977, unnamed as issued; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (Cpl V M Fowler (02834692) WRAF) mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted, light contact marks, nearly extremely fine (2) £140-£180
Nine: Stoker Petty Officer A. R. Murrell, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Suffolk during the first sighting and chase of German battleship Bismarck and her escort Prinz Eugen during the Battle of Denmark Strait, May 1941 1914-15 Star (K.21015, A. R. Murrell, Sto.1., S); British War and Victory Medals (K.21015, A. R. Murrell, Sto.1. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension, with Second Award Bar (K.21015, A. R. Murrell, S.P.O. H.M.S. Bluebell.) mounted court-style for display, the Great War awards and LS&GC heavily worn, therefore fair; the Second War awards and Jubilee Medal good very fine (9) £400-£500 --- Arthur Robert Murrell was born on at Colliers Row, Essex, on 5 April 1895 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 6 October 1913 stating his occupation as ‘Porter Great Eastern Railway.’ He served during the Great War in the Devonshire-class armed cruiser H.M.S. Antrim from 2 April 1914 to 16 December 1917 when she was decommissioned, at which point he reverted to Pembroke II. Advanced Leading Stoker on 3 May 1918, he served during the inter-War period in a variety of ships and shore based establishments; was promoted Stoker Petty Officer on 1 April 1925; and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Gratuity on 8 January 1929. Shore pensioned on 5 October 1935, he was recalled for duty on 6 September 1939, and joined H.M.S. Suffolk on 10 April 1941. The Battle of Denmark Strait Murrell’s period of service with H.M.S. Suffolk would encompass the ‘Battle of the Denmark Strait’, when, alerted by aerial reconnaissance to the sighting of the German battleship Bismarck and its escort Prinz Eugen in the immediate vicinity, one of Suffolk’s look-outs sighted both enemy ships emerging from a snow squall, at 7.22 p.m. on the evening of 23 May 1941, moving fast in a South-Westerly direction parallel to the ice. Ordered to maintain contact, Suffolk increased speed and tracked the enemy ships with its RDF. One of the officers afterwards recalling; ‘We could tell by the tremendous vibration that Suffolk was putting all her reserves into the chase. I had never seen the needle touch 30 knots before, and it was difficult to use instruments on the plotting table. Every moment we expected Bismarck to open fire. At this stage however it was more important to maintain contact than force action and be annihilated’. No doubt Petty Officer Stoker Murrell was directly responsible for maintaining maximum speed during this critical period. The following account which was written by one of Suffolk’s officers, Lieutenant D. N. Paton, would echo the experiences of Petty Officer Stoker Murrell during this momentous occasion: ‘On 22 May, a naval aircraft reported that the enemy ships were no longer at Bergen, so that the stage seemed set for the battle likely to follow. Suddenly, at 7.22 in the evening of 23 May, one of the look-outs sighted Bismarck and Prinz Eugen emerging from a snow squall between Suffolk and the ice. There could be no mistaking the vastness of the battleship at the point blank range of seven miles, though the somewhat inappropriate remark of a midshipman - “Hood and Prince of Wales, I suppose” - subsequently became legendary. The enemy ships were moving fast in a S.W. direction parallel to the ice. This was the culminating moment of all those weary months of training and waiting. “Action stations” was immediately piped, full speed rung to the engine-room, and a sharp alteration of course made into the enveloping mist. Every second was vital. In a flash the first of a long stream of reports was sent out; that stream which set in motion the elaborate chase that followed. Meanwhile Suffolk had increased speed and located the enemy ships with the RDF. We could tell by the tremendous vibration that she was putting all her reserves into the chase. I had never seen the needle touch 30 knots before, and it was difficult to use instruments on the plotting table. Every moment we expected Bismarck to open fire. At this stage however it was more important to maintain contact than force action and be annihilated. Later Norfolk joined us and began to shadow too. So the pursuit continued at high speed throughout the night, moving roughly parallel to the coast of Greenland. I remember losing all sense of time, especially as in that latitude there is no true night but only a kind of pallid twilight. During this time Norfolk and Suffolk sent out a succession of enemy reports, from which the battle cruiser force of Hood and Prince of Wales was directed to engage the enemy. Admiral Tovey sailed from Scapa Flow in the battleship King George V together with Repulse and Victorious, cruisers and destroyers. Hood and Prince of Wales had expected to engage the enemy shortly after midnight on 24 May but at that time Suffolk lost contact in a snowstorm. It was feared that the enemy may have doubled back in the poor visibility to return to base. But at 2.47 a.m. Suffolk regained contact. We all knew action was imminent and it was only a question of time and place. With the pale light of the morning Hood and Prince of Wales intercepted the enemy at 5.35 a.m. and the battle opened about 6 o’clock. The orange flashes on the horizon showed the enemy had replied. In the short action which ensued Hood was hit and a great column of flame shot into the air followed by an immense pall of black smoke. In an instant the stately ship and all but three of her gallant crew of over 1400 perished. Apart from the magnitude of the disaster a dazed sense of incredulity overtook us all. Prince of Wales had suffered damage too. One gun turret was out of action and in her forward turret there was a defective gun. Shortly after 6 a.m. a hit on the bridge killed or wounded all the officers except for the captain. The ship had only recently been commissioned and owing to defects was still carrying civilian workmen. But the enemy had not escaped entirely and her speed had been reduced. There were also tell-tale patches of oil in the sea. So the chase continued with the enemy ships heading for the safety of the ocean, followed closely by Prince of Wales and the two cruisers. “After mid-day the enemy altered course to the south. At the same time the weather deteriorated and patches of mist and rain got thicker and more frequent. The range was closed so as to maintain contact. As each successive storm hid the German ships it became crucial to proceed warily. At about 6.30 in the evening of 24 May the enemy entered a particularly thick squall. An uncanny sense must have warned the captain to beware of the ambush. Suddenly the great battleship loomed through the mist about ten miles distant. Immediately we altered course and at the same time opened fire with the main armament of 8-inch guns. The noise was deafening. Bismarck, too, was firing and after what seemed an interminable wait, great fountains of water rose into the air nearby. From the comparative safety of the plotting office exploding shells sounded like extra loud machine gun fire. We made violent alterations of course and laid smoke in order to escape the fire. Prince of Wales had come to our assistance, but the enemy turned again to the south and tried to elude the British ships at high speed. What was not known at the time was that during this encounter Prinz Eugen had been detached to the south west. So the chase continued with another brief, but ineffective encounter at about 1 a.m. on 25 May. But at 3.06 a.m. Suffolk lost contact. It was apparently at this time that Bismarck had altered course eastwards seeking the shelter of a French port. Suffolk and Norfolk were ordered to s...
Three: Private L. A. Burton, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, who was twice wounded during the Great War, and later served with the British South Africa Police British War and Victory Medals (39158 Pte. L. A. Burton. K.O.Y.L.I.); War Medal 1939-45; together with the recipient’s riband bar, good very fine 1939-45 Star (3); Atlantic Star (2); Africa Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star (2); Defence Medal (3); War Medal 1939-45 (3); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; together with an erased Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp Minesweeping 1945-51, generally good very fine (21) £100-£140 --- Laurence Albert Brown attested for the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in 1917 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front, being wounded at Passchendaele, and then gassed at Minchy-le-Prieux. Following the end of the War he attested as a trooper in the British South Africa Police on 18 June 1920, and retired twenty years later with the rank of inspector. He died in Gwelo on 12 July 1966. Sold with a copy of the recipient’s obituary as published in Outpost, Septemebr 1966, containing a photograph of the recipient.
Pair: Private G. H. Jeffrey, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 16 September 1918 British War and Victory Medals (24562 Pte. G. H. Jeffrey. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Memorial Plaque (Henry George [sic] Jeffrey) in card envelope, good very fine (3) £100-£140 --- George Henry Jeffrey was born in Buckingham and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, serving with the 2nd/4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. He died of wounds on 16 September 1918 and is buried in St. Venant Communal Cemetery, France.
Four: Gunner R. Atkinson, Royal Garrison Artillery, later Yorkshire Light Infantry India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (87894 Gunr. Coy. R. Atkinson 5th Coy. Western Divn. R.A.) with minor official corrections; 1914-15 Star (3-2173 Pte. R. Atkinson. Yorks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (3-2173 Pte. R. Atkinson. Yorks. L.I.) nearly extremely fine (4) £200-£240 --- Sold with the recipient’s Parchment Certificate of Character on discharge; the remnants of his accounting book; a somewhat damaged photograph of the recipient; and his riband bars.
Pair: Sergeant D. Martin, Royal Field Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (76760 Serjt: D. Martin. 63rd. Bty: R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (76760 Serjt: D. Martin. R.F.A.) suspension claw re-riveted on QSA, edge bruising and light contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £140-£180
Three: Squadron Sergeant Major H. H. Coxen, 18th Hussars, later Yorkshire Hussars, who distinguished himself and was mentioned in despatches for his gallantry during a Boer ambush east of Uitkyk Station, 24 December 1900, ‘I had rather a narrow shave myself, five bullets through my jacket, two through my pants. Not one of these touched my skin, although I was hit through the muscle of the leg below the calf.’ Coxen, who was twice shipwrecked during previous employment with the merchant service, met a sad and untimely end at a rifle range in the Bedern Yeomanry Drill Hall, York, June 1908 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Belfast, Orange Free State (3122. Serjt: H. H. Coxen. 18/Hrs.) unofficial rivets between 2nd and 3rd clasps; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3122 Serjt: H. Coxen. 18th Hussars); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3122 S. Sjt. Mjr. H. H. Coxen. 18/Hussars.) mounted for display, light contact marks, therefore generally nearly very fine or better (3) £360-£440 --- Provenance: D. Lloyd Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 2021. H. H. Coxen was a native of Bristol, served with the 18th Hussars during the Second Boer War, and was mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s despatch, 8 March 1901, for his gallantry during outpost duties at Uitkyk, near Middleburg, 24 December 1900. Coxen supplied a report for the action, which was reproduced in full in The 18th Hussars in South Africa 1899-1902, by Major C. Burnett. The following extracts are taken from that report: ‘At 7.30am on the 24th December, 1900, Lieut. Thackwell, with our patrol of thirty-two non-commissioned officers and men of ‘B’ Squadron, relieved ‘A’ Squadron, which under command of Lieut. Wood, since 2am had been holding a position near the colliery to the East of Uitkyk Station, distant about three and a half miles from Middleburg. Reaching the colliery, we dismounted and relieved the different posts, and our horses, led by the number threes, were placed under cover. We had not taken up position more than ten minutes when we saw Boers moving about amongst the trees surrounding Van Niekirk’s Farm, then we saw a waggon, which, with the Boers, was making towards the railway line. Lieut. Thackwell was occupying a position commanding the line, the ground affording little or no cover, with the exception of a few small ant heaps. Looking through my glasses I saw another party of the enemy threatening our left flank and rear, so sent Private Collier with a message to that effect to Lieut. Thackwell, meanwhile placing the five men (Privates Speigh, Slinger, Seppings, Kempster, and Jackson) and myself well extended to resist a flank attack. By this time the Mauser bullets were flying thick and fast, and we could hear Lieut. Thackwell’s party hard at it as well... Then we heard three loud explosions, which we at first thought were from the guns at Oliphant’s River, but soon discovered they were caused by the charges of dynamite placed under the rails, which resulted in blowing up the line. As soon as this was accomplished the Boers (who certainly numbered 130, some say 150) devoted their whole attention to us, and as they had to advance for some distance up a gentle slope they made a fair mark, and we made it rather warm for them. We held on to our positions for quite an hour and three-quarters, then a shrill whistle sounded, ponies appeared as if by magic, the Boers were in the saddle in a twinkling, and they rushed us, yelling like fiends as they came. Slinger, Seppings, Kempster, and Jackson managed to reach their horses, but, to tell the truth, I did not miss them until I heard them shouting to Speight and myself, for they were bringing our horses up; but I waved them back, for I saw that it would mean the whole of us being captured, as the Boers were too close upon us. Speight and I went on firing as quickly as we could, still hearing Lieut. Thackwell’s party doing the same. When the Boers were within about one hundred yards of us we opened cut-offs and commenced magazine fire, the last shots ringing out when they were about ten or twelve yards away. The next second I was jerked on my feet by two burly Boers seizing my bandolier, my carbine wrenched out of my hand, and I saw Speight had been served in the same manner. We were then marched down into a hollow towards Van Niekirk’s farm by four of them and two armed Kaffir boys, the remainder pursuing the four men who had got away, but they fortunately did not succeed in wounding or capturing one of them. In about a quarter of an hour they returned, and then there was a big palaver, and very excited they seemed to get. Luckily Speight and I did not understand Dutch, or we certainly should not have been so unconcerned. Just then they were joined by a man in a white jacket, who evidently seemed to be someone in authority, although his appearance and dress would not have proclaimed it. They had a long talk with him, and we heard the name “Jansen” frequently mentioned, and angry faces were turned towards us as they pointed at us. Ultimately we were told to go, the man in the white jacket coming a little distance with us, saying to us before leaving that we should consider ourselves lucky for his timely arrival, as the majority of the Boers were for shooting us, on account of firing until the last moment, instead of laying down our carbines and putting our hands up..... I had rather a narrow shave myself, five bullets through my jacket, two through my pants. Not one of these touched my skin, although I was hit through the muscle of the leg below the calf, but not bad enough to go sick with, and it healed entirely in about a fortnight. In conclusion I heard from three different sources, one them being a Boer who was himself in the attack, and was captured some months afterwards, that the Boers had nine killed and nineteen wounded, five of the latter subsequently dying. “Jansen,” I discovered, was one of Trichardt’s leading men, and was amongst the killed.’ Coxen advanced to squadron sergeant major, and transferred to the Yorkshire Hussars. He committed suicide on the rifle range at the Bedern Yeomanry Drill Hall, York in June 1908. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Private C. B. Crook, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died of wounds in Mesopotamia during the Siege of Kut on 18 March 1916 1914-15 Star (9529 Pte. C. B. Crook. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (9529 Pte. C. B. Crook. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) edge bruise and some staining to VM, otherwise nearly extremely fine Pair: Private R. Smith, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 23 July 1916 1914-15 Star (3270 Pte. R. Smith. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (3270 Pte. R. Smith. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) very fine (4) £60-£80 --- Charles Benjamin Crook was born in Reading, Berkshire in 1889 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War. He served with the 1st Battalion in Mesopotamia, and died of wounds during the siege of Kut-Al-Amara on 18 March 1916. He is buried in Kut War Cemetery, Iraq. Robert Smith was born in Lechlade, Oxfordshire and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He served with the 1st/4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action on 23 July 1916. He is buried in Pozieres British Cemetery, France.
Pair: Lance-Corporal W. Oliver, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action at the First Battle of Sannaiyat, Mesopotamia, on 6 April 1916 British War and Victory Medals (18846 Pte. W. Oliver. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Memorial Plaque (Wallace Oliver) nearly extremely fine (3) £100-£140 --- Wallace Oliver was born in Warley, Worcestershire and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Smethwick, Staffordshire. He served with the 1st Battalion in Mesopotamia, and was killed in action on 6 April 1916 during the First Battle of Sannaiyat. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. Sold together with a portion of an original postcard photograph of the recipient in uniform; and copied research.
Pair: Acting Corporal E. H. Stokes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action on the Somme on 30 July 1916 1914 Star (8207 L.Cpl. J. A. [sic] Stokes. Oxf; & Bucks: L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (8207 A. Cpl. E. H. Stokes. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) some contact marks, very fine (2) £70-£90 --- Ernest Harry Stokes was born in Buckinghamshire and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War in the Western Front from 22 September 1914 (also entitled to a clasp to his 1914 Star), and was killed in action on the Somme on 30 July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Centaur 26 Augt 1808 (James Goslin.) letter ‘a’ double-struck, two light scratches to obverse, otherwise nearly extremely fine £4,000-£5,000 --- Provenance: Mackenzie Collection 1873; Cheylesmore Collection, July 1930; Spink, March 1995 and July 2010. Approximately 41 clasps issued for this action. James Goslin is confirmed on the rolls as a Landsman aboard H.M.S. Centaur at the pursuit of the Russian fleet of 24 ships and the capture of the Sevolod by H.M. Ships Centaur and Implacable off Hango Head, south coast of Finland. In August 1808, Sir Samuel Hood in Centaur accompanied by Implacable, Captain Thomas Byam Martin, joined Rear Admiral Nauckhoff and the Swedish fleet in Oro Roads and they all sailed from there on the 25th, in pursuit of the Russian fleet which had appeared off Sweden two days earlier. Due to their superior sailing Centaur and Implacable were soon well in advance and closing on the Russians who appeared to be in disorder. By the morning of the 26th, Implacable was able to bring the leewardmost of the enemy's line-of-battle ships, the Sevolod 74, Captain Roodneff, to close action. After 20 minutes the enemy's colours and pendant were lowered but the approach of the whole Russian force obliged Sir Samuel to recall Captain Martin. A Russian frigate took the crippled ship in tow but when the Russian Admiral hauled his wind, Centaur and Implacable gave chase and forced the frigate to slip her tow. The enemy ships again bore down in support but instead of engaging they entered the port of Rager Vik (also known as Port Baltic or Rogerswick). When boats were sent out to try and tow her in to harbour Centaur stood in and, after driving the boats off, ran across the bow of the Sevolod just as she was entering the harbour. The Centaur then lashed the Sevolod’s bowsprit to her mizen-mast and both ships soon drifted aground. The Russians refused to strike and the battle went on until the arrival of the Implacable finally induced the Russian ship to surrender. Implacable had to heave Centaur off. However, the prize was so firmly aground that after taking out the prisoners and wounded men, Sir Samuel ordered her to be burnt. Implacable lost six men killed and twenty-six wounded including two who did not recover and three who had limbs amputated. Centaur lost three killed and twenty-seven wounded, and the Sevolod 303 killed, wounded and missing.
Family Group: Three: Private S. F. Saunders, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action at Soupir on 16 September 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (9955 Pte. S. F. Saunders. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (9955 Pte. S. F. Saunders. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) slight edge bruise to BWM, otherwise very fine Victory Medal 1914-19 (S-5933 Pte H. Saunders. Midd’x R.) slight edge bruise, very fine (4) £140-£180 --- Sidney Frederick Saunders was born in Brill, Buckinghamshire, and attested into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914 and was killed in action at Soupir on 26 September 1914 by a shell when his company had been sent up in support of the Grenadier Guards. He is buried in Vailly British Cemetery, France. Harry Saunders, younger brother of the above, was born in Brill, Buckinghamshire, and attested for the Middlesex Regiment. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 December 1914 and died in Italy, whilst serving with the 3rd Battalion, on 2 November 1917, and is buried in Taranto Town Cemetery, Italy. Sold with copied research.
Three: Captain L. H. D’O. ‘Bill’ Moule, East Lancashire Regiment and South Nigeria Regiment, who took part in active service in assorted operations against local tribesmen in South Nigeria 1903-11, largely under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. G. Heneker, D.S.O., Connaught Rangers. He married the daughter of the Irish nationalist politician Charles Stewart Parnell, and was a personal friend of Sir Roger Casement, the latter being executed for treason in August 1916 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut: L. H. D.’O. Moule. E. Lanc: Regt); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. L. H. D’O. Moule. E. Lanc. Regt.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, S. Nigeria 1902-03, West Africa 1906 (Lieut: L. H. D. O. Moule. S.N. Regt.) last clasp loose on riband, light contact marks, generally very fine (3) £800-£1,200 --- Provenance: R. Magor Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, July 2003 (when A.G.S. had ‘S. Nigeria 1902-03’ clasp only). Louis Horsford D’Oyley Moule was born in Mizzapur, India in October 1876. He was the son of H. D. Moule, C.S.I., and educated at Exeter before enrolling as a cadet at Dartmouth Naval College in 1891. The navy was obviously not for Moule, and he commenced his military career in the Cape Mounted Rifles and was a veteran of the punitive expedition to Griqualand West in 1897. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment in May 1900, direct from his old regiment out in South Africa. Subsequently employed in the operations in Cape Colony with the Colonial Division, and in the Transvaal and Orange Free State with Lord Methuen’s Flying Column, and afterwards in a mobile column, he was advanced to lieutenant in March 1902. Moule transferred in the same year to the Southern Nigeria Regiment, and quickly witnessed further active service in assorted operations against local tribesmen 1903-11, largely under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. G. Heneker, D.S.O., Connaught Rangers (additionally entitled to ‘South Nigeria 1903’ and ‘South Nigeria 1905-06’ clasps). He was appointed a captain in the 8th (Service) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment in September 1914, but had to relinquish his commission due to ill health (entitled to Silver War Badge). Moule married Katie O’Shea, the daughter of the Irish nationalist politician Charles Stewart Parnell, in 1907. They were both friends of Sir Roger Casement, whom Moule had met in South Africa during the Boer War. Casement, who was executed for treason at Pentonville Prison 3 August 1916, frequently mentions his friend “Bill” Moule in his famous Black and White Diaries. In later life Moule resided at 30 Mornington Crescent, London, and he died at St. Pancras Hospital, London in June 1938. The latter part of his family life had been particularly sad after having to leave the Army due to heart disease - the family became impoverished, with his wife resorting to crime - varying from petty theft, and fencing to driving an unlicensed taxi! Sold with copied research.
A Great War ‘Mesopotamia’ D.S.O., M.C. group of twelve awarded to General Sir Roger C. Wilson, K.C.B., 114th Mahrattas, Indian Army, later Union Defence Force of South Africa Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Capt. R. C. Wilson, 114/Mahrattas.); British War and Victory Medals (Col. R. C. Wilson.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (Col. R. C. Wilson.); War Medal 1939-45 (558765 R. C. Wilson); Africa Service Medal (558765 R. C. Wilson); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914-18, with bronze palme, mounted in incorrect order as worn, generally good very fine (12) £1,800-£2,200 --- K.C.B. (Military) London Gazette 11 May 1937. C.B. (Military) London Gazette 3 June 1930. D.S.O. London Gazette 26 August 1918: ‘For distinguished service in connection with military operations in Mesopotamia.’ M.C. London Gazette 22 December 1916: ‘For distinguished service in the Field in Mesopotamia.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 19 October and 14 November, 1916 (Mesopotamia); 14 June 1918 (Egypt); 27 August 1918 (Mesopotamia); 5 June 1919 (Mesopotamia); 7 February 1921 (Mesopotamia 1920). Croix de Guerre London Gazette 31 August 1917. Roger Cochrane Wilson was born on 26 December 1882, and educated at Wellington College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was first gazetted to the Cheshire Regiment in 1901, and joined the 114th Mahrattas, Indian Army, in 1904. He attended Staff College in 1914, and served in Mesopotamia, 1914-18 (D.S.O., M.C., Despatches, Croix de Guerre). Promoted to Major in 1916 and to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1917; Colonel, 1920; served on General Staff, India, 1922-25. Promoted to Brigadier to Command the Manzai Brigade in Waziristan, 1926-30; Major-General, 1929; Commandant, Indian Staff College, 1931-34; Lieutenant-Colonel, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry; General Officer Commanding Rawalpindi District, 1934-36; Secretary, Military Department, India Office, 1936-37; Lieutenant-General 1937 and served as Adjutant General, India, 1937-41; Promoted to General in 1940 and appointed Aide de Camp General to the King, 1940-41; retired from the Army in 1941, and subsequently served in the South African Army on the Staff of the Union Defence Force of South Africa, 1942-47. General Sir Roger Cochrane died on 5 February 1966. Sold with original Warrants for K.C.B., C.B., D.S.O., and six M.I.D. certificates.
An interesting Egypt campaign group of three awarded to Mr H. R. Baines, Secretary of the Administration of the Railways in Cairo, 1882-83 Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (H. R. Baines); Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidieh, Fourth Class breast badge, silver, gold, and enamel, mint mark to reverse, with rosette on riband; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, mounted as originally worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £700-£900 --- Provenance: J. Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2003. Henry Robert Baines was the Secretary of the Administration of the Railways in Cairo in 1882-83. He was awarded the Order of the Medjidieh, 4th Class, by the Khedive of Egypt, and was granted licence and permission to accept and wear this insignia London Gazette 15 July 1884. Baines is mentioned numerous times in various railway journals and publications in the late 1890s, including: ‘Mr. Baines commenced his railway career with the Chatham & Dover Company, and was also connected with the Great Eastern for some time. He subsequently entered the service of Egyptian Railways, where, as in his work in Turkey, his knowledge of French, German and Italian were of great value to him. By the directors his work for the Smyrna & Cassaba Company has been much appreciated, and hardly a meeting has passed without the chairman cordially acknowledging the value of his services.’ (The Railway News 1896, Vol. 64 refers) ‘Egyptian Light Railway: The first section of the Delta Light Railway was opened on the 5th inst. in the Beherah Province, and it will not be long before the railway will compete with camel and cart transport, throughout the province. The ceremony, which excited great interest amongst the natives, was presided over by Mr H. R. Baines general manager of the company, and attended by the governor of the province, with a number of other high native officials, also crowds of fellaheen riding in the third-class carriages. The line which has a 73 centimetre or 29 inch gauge, is laid upon the government agricultural roads, of which it has to follow the not inconsiderable sinucities.’ (Railway Times 1898, Vol. 73 refers) Sold with copied research.
Pair: Private F. G. Richardson, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (23650 Pte. F. G. Richardson. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) both in named card boxes of issue, extremely fine (2) £70-£90 --- Sold with the recipient’s Soldiers’ Service and Pay Book; cap badges, shoulder titles, oiler, button cleaner, and other miscellaneous items; including two unrelated unofficial coronation medals, both silver-gilt the first for the proposed Coronation of Edward VIII, unnamed; the second of for the Coronation of George VI, the reverse engraved ‘W. Leuw’, with London Guildhall suspension bar; and a Primrose League Badge, with 5 ‘Special Service’ clasps, for 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1898.
Five: Leading Seaman R. Wynn, Royal Navy East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1891-2 (R. Wynn, Ord. H.M.S. Widgeon); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (145837, A.B, R. Wynn. H.M.S. Powerful.) engraved naming; 1914-15 Star (145837 R. Wynn, L.S., R.N.); British War Medal 1914-20, naming erased; Victory Medal 1914-19 (145837 R. Wynn. L.S. R.N.) minor edge bruising and light contact marks, nearly very fine and better (5) £700-£900 --- Richard Wynn was born at Donabate, Dublin, on 4 March 1873 and joined the Royal Navy as a boy second class on 8 June 1888. He was posted to H.M.S. Widgeon on 13 May 1890, and served during the operations on and off the coast of Gambia, December 1891 to February 1892. Promoted able seaman on 1 May 1893, he served in a variety of ships and shore based establishments over the next seven years before joining H.M.S. Powerful on 2 June 1899, and and served during the Boer War ashore with Powerful’s Naval Brigade during the Defence of Ladysmith. Promoted leading seaman on 28 September 1903, and petty officer first class on 19 February 1904, Wynn reverted to the rate of leading seaman on 14 June 1907 (his character that year being merely ‘Good’) and was shore pensioned on 5 March 1913, joining the Royal Fleet Reserve at Devonport four days later. Recalled for service during the Great War, he served in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, notably H.M.S. Malaya from 28 January 1916 to 1 May 1917, was present in her at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, where Malaya was hit eight times and suffered heavy casualties. He was shore demobilised on 4 February 1919. Sold with copied record of service and other research.
Pair: Corporal S. T. W. Bonnar, Royal Air Force British War and Victory Medals (218873. Cpl. S. T. Bonnar. R.A.F.) nearly extremely fine Pair: Private F. P. Townsend, Royal Air Force British War and Victory Medals (93216. Pte. 1. F. P. Townsend. R.A.F.) light contact marks, good very fine (4) £70-£90
Five: Corporal W. L. Powell, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, later South African Service Corps India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (5136 Pte. W. Powell, 2nd Bn. Oxf. lt. Inf.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, clasp carriage reconstituted (5136 Corpl: W. Powell. Oxford: L.I.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5136 Corpl: W. Powell. Oxford: L.I.) renamed; British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (A/Sjt W. L. Powell. S.A.S.C.) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (5) £200-£240 --- Not entitled to South Africa 1901 clasp on the Queen’s South Africa Medal; nor the King’s South Africa Medal. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient around a campfire in the early years.
Pair: Private P. J. Allen, Royal Berkshire Regiment, late Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 5 December 1917 British War and Victory Medals (27567 Pte. P. J. Allen. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Memorial Plaque (Percy John Allen) glue residue to reverse of plaque, otherwise very fine and better (3) £100-£140 --- Percy John Allen was born in Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire in 1881 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He served with them during the Great War on the Western Front before transferring to the 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, and was killed in action on 5 December 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, France.
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Nassau 22 March 1808 (James Moullen, Gunner.) attractively toned, some light scratches to obverse, otherwise nearly extremely fine £4,000-£5,000 --- Provenance: Spink N.C. July 1948 and March 1949; Glendinings, June 1952, April 1953, and May 1965; Christie’s, July 1985. Approximately 30 clasps issued for ‘Nassau 22 March 1808’. James Moullen is confirmed as a gunner aboard H.M.S. Nassau when, together with H.M.S. Stately, they jointly attacked and destroyed the Danish 74-gun ship Prindts Christian Frederick off Grenaa, Coast of Jutland, Denmark, on 22 March 1808. The Nassau suffered two men killed, and sixteen men wounded, whilst the Stately lost four men killed, and two officers and twenty-six men wounded. The loss to the Danish, out of a crew of five hundred and seventy-six, amounted to fifty-five men killed and eighty-eight wounded.
Pair: Captain F. L. Blosse, West India Regiment Ashanti Star 1896, unnamed as issued; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, 1897-98, Sierra Leone 1898-99 (Capt. F. L. Blosse. 1/W.I.R.) unofficial retaining rod between clasps, and alteration to lugs to facilitate additional clasp, good very fine (2) £460-£550 --- Francis Lynch Blosse was born in November 1868, and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry in May 1889. He transferred as lieutenant to the West India Regiment in November 1893, and suffered with fever in 1895. Blosse advanced to captain, and served in the Ashanti Expedition of 1896, in West Africa in 1897-98, and was employed in the Hinterland Operations in Sierra Leone. He served as a staff officer to the Governor of Sierra Leone and deputy assistant adjutant general. The ‘death occurred during Tuesday night, last week, of Captain Lynch Bloss [sic], of Moorcroft, Waterford, at the early age of 47 years. The deceased gentleman had not resided in the town, and died from pneumonia. Captain Bloss, in the early part of the war, went out to France and rendered useful service to his country in the Records Office.’ (Western Gazette, 26 February 1915 refers) Captain Blosse died in Lymington, Hampshire in February 1915. (MIC gives entitlement to 1914 Star, but no indication of it being issued or claimed) Sold with copied research.
Pair: Master At Arms J. Bond, Royal Navy, who was killed on 6 August 1914, when H.M.S. Amphion struck a mine off the Thames Estuary and sank with the loss of 132 men killed; she was the first ship of the Royal Navy to be sunk in the Great War Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (J. Bond, P.O. 1Cl, H.M.S. Highflighr.); British War Medal 1914-20 (173919 J. Bond. M.A.A. R.N.) nearly extremely fine (2) £140-£180 --- John Bond was born on 2 April 1877 in Plymouth, Devon. He attested for the Royal Navy as a Boy on 5 June 1893. Advanced Petty Officer Second Class on 8 August 1901, he served in H.M.S. Highflyer during operations off the coast of Africa during the Somaliland 1902-04 campaign. He later joined the battleship H.M.S. New Zealand on 26th January 1910, where he was awarded his LSGC before his return to Devonport on 1 August 1911. Advanced Master At Arms, he joined the newly commissioned scout cruiser H.M.S. Amphion on 2 April 1913. By the start of the War Amphion was leader of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, assigned to the Harwich Force, defending the eastern approaches to the English Channel, under the command of Captain Cecil H. Fox. In the morning of 5 August, Amphion and the 3rd Flotilla sortied into the North Sea to patrol the area between Harwich and the Dutch island of Terschelling for German activity. At 10:15 a ship in the black, buff, and yellow colours of the Great Eastern Railway's steamers that plied between Harwich and the Hook of Holland was spotted. Fox sent the destroyers H.M.S. Lance and H.M.S. Landrail to investigate and shortly afterwards another destroyer reported that a trawler had seen a suspicious ship, ‘throwing things overboard, presumably mines’. H.M.S. Amphion led the flotilla to investigate and observed that the fleeing ship was deploying mines even then. At 10:45, Lance opened fire at a range of 4,400 yards (4,000 m). The target was S.M.S. Königin Luise, a former Hamburg-Heligoland excursion boat that had been converted to an auxiliary minelayer by the Germans. They had planned to mount a pair of 8.8-centimetre (3.5 in) guns on board, but they did not have the time to do so; her only armament was a pair of lighter guns and 180 mines. On the night of 4 August, she had departed Emden and headed into the North Sea to lay mines off the Thames Estuary, which she began to do at dawn. The fire from the destroyers was ineffective until Amphion closed to a range of 7,000 yards and began hitting the German ship at about 11:15. By noon, Königin Luise was sinking and the three British ships rescued 5 officers and 70 ratings. The flotilla proceeded onwards with their patrol until they reached the Dutch coast around 21:00 and turned for home. Fox was uncertain as to the locations of the mines laid by Königin Luise and laid a course that was seven nautical miles west of where he thought the mines were. He guessed wrongly and led his flotilla over the danger area. At 06:35, Amphion struck a mine that detonated underneath her bridge. The explosion set her forecastle on fire and broke the ship’s keel. The destroyer H.M.S. Linnet attempted to tow the cruiser, but a deep crack across her upper deck showed that she was hogging badly and Fox ordered his crew to abandon ship. Shortly afterwards, her forward magazine exploded, throwing one 4-inch gun into the air that narrowly missed Linnet. One of Amphion’s shells burst on the deck of the destroyer Lark, killing two of her men and the only German prisoner rescued from the cruiser. Amphion then rapidly sank within 15 minutes of the explosion losing 1 officer and 131 ratings killed in the sinking, plus an unknown number of the crew rescued from Königin Luise. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
A Great War ‘Fauquissart Sector, January 1917’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private Fred Embleton, 2nd Battalion, London Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1824 Pte. F. Embleton. 2/Lond: R.); 1914-15 Star (1824 Pte. F. Embleton, 2-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1824 Pte. F. Embleton. 2-Lond. R.) medals unmounted, toned, nearly extremely fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 March 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He went forward to the assistance of two wounded men under the most intense fire. He set a fine example of courage and devotion to duty.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘Mauquissart (sic), 1 January 1917’. Fred Embleton was born at Lambeth, London, and enlisted into the 2nd London Regiment in August 1914, aged 24, a plasterer by trade. He served in France with the 2nd London Regiment from 6 January 1915, and served with the Royal Engineers from 11 March 1917, being employed as a pattern maker with the 28th Light Railway Workshop Company. Sold with copied research including D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, gazette notices and War Diary extracts for the Fauquissart Sector operations of January 1917.
Three: Private A. T. Bonham, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 27 August 1917 1914-15 Star (2385 Pte. A. T. Bonham, Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2385 Pte. A. T. Bonham, Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) very fine and better Three: Private W. R. C. Gibbard, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light infantry 1914-15 Star (1633 Pte. W. R. C. Gibbard, Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (1633 Pte. W. R. C. Gibbard. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) mounted for wear, contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine (6) £100-£140 --- Arthur T. Bonham, from Wendover, Buckinghamshire, attested for the 1st/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 30 March 1915. Later transferring to the 1st/4th Battalion, he was killed in action on 27 August 1917; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. William Richard Charles Gibbard attested for service with the 1st/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 30 March 1915. Appointed Lance Corporal, he later served in the Italian theatre and was disembodied on 2 June 1919. He died, aged 72, on 8 June 1967. Sold with copy research.
A fine Great War ‘Battle of Loos’ 1915 D.C.M. and French Medaille Militaire group of five awarded to Sergeant William Hogg, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, for conspicuous gallantry near Hulluch on 26 September 1915, when he took charge of the battalion machine-guns after the Machine-gun Officer was wounded, an action graphically depicted in Deeds That Thrill The Empire Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (A-6170 Sjt: W. Hogg. 2/R. Sco: Fus:); 1914-15 Star (A-6170 Sjt. W. Hogg. R. Sc: Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (6170 Sjt. W. Hogg. R.S. Fus.); France, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, medals unmounted, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 16 November 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry on the 26th September, 1915, near Hulluch. When the Machine-gun Officer was wounded, Sergeant Hogg took charge of the battalion machine-guns, and carried out his duties throughout the operations with marked ability and great bravery. On the 30th September, being in charge of a machine-gun posted on the extreme left of Gun Trench, and the enemy having broken through on his left and at the same time attacked him in front from a communication trench, he opened fire, killing ten of the enemy, but, as he was being bombed from both front and flank, he was forced to withdraw his gun, which he did successfully. He brought it into action again further down the trench, and continued to fight it throughout the night operations.’ Medaille Militaire London Gazette 1 May 1917. William Hogg landed in France on 25 January 1915, and joined the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, part of the 21st Brigade, 7th Division. The medal roll for the British War and Victory Medals shows that he ended the war in the rank of Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant. Sold with large gilding metal cap badge, two lugs to reverse, together with copied research including a small group picture including Sergeant Hogg, D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, gazette notices, extracts from Battalion War Diaries and regimental history.
A fine Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. and Russian Medal of St George group of five awarded to Private Percy Gunner, 1st and 8th Battalions, Somerset Light Infantry, who was killed in action in December 1915 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (9199 L. Cpl. P. Gunner. 8/Som: L.I.); 1914 Star, with clasp (9199 Pte. P. Gunner. 1/Som: L.I.) star sometime gilded; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (9199 Pte. P. Gunner. Som. L.I.); Russia, Empire, Medal of St George for Bravery, 4th Class, silver (9199 Pte. P. Gunner. 1/Somt. L.I.) impressed naming, together with Memorial Plaque (Percy Gunner) with Buckingham Palace enclosure and card envelope, medals unmounted, nearly extremely fine (6) £1,800-£2,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916; citation published 11 March 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry, when he carried important messages under heavy fire. He has been previously recommended for his bravery and ability, on an occasion when he took command of his platoon after all the non-commissioned officers had been killed or wounded.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915 (Sir John French’s despatch of 20 November 1914, covering the period 11 October to 2 November 1914, and concerns the fighting that took place in the Armentières-Ypres area). Russian Medal of St George, 4th Class London Gazette 25 August 1915. Percy Gunner was born at Worplesdon, Surrey, and enlisted at Tregantle, Cornwall. He served in France and Flanders with the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry from 21 August 1914, later transferring to the 8th Battalion, with whom he won the D.C.M. and was killed in action near Armentières on 6 December 1915. He is buried in Chapelle d’Armentières New Military Cemetery. Sold with copied research including D.C.M., M.I.D. and Medal Index Cards, and various gazette notices.
An outstanding Great War stretcher-bearer’s ‘Delville Wood, July 1916’ D.C.M. and ‘Calonne, May 1916 / Carency, June 1916’ M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal N. W. Bellinger, 13th Battalion, Essex Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (17391 Cpl. M. W. Bellinger. 13/Essex R.) note incorrect first initial (as per gazette and D.C.M. Card); Military Medal, G.V.R. (17391 Pte. N. W. Bellinger. 13/Essex: R.); 1914-15 Star (17391 Pte. N. W. Bellinger. Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (17391 Cpl. N. W. Bellinger. Essex R.) note ‘Pellinger’ on B.W.M., mounted court-style for display, light contact marks, otherwise very fine (5) £2,400-£2,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 14 November 1916: ‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion in action in charge of stretcher-bearers. For several days he worked, without rest and under heavy fire, tending and bringing in wounded, and his energy, fearlessness, and efficiency undoubtedly saved many of the wounded, who otherwise could not have been brought in. On previous occasions he had been recommended for reward.’ Official War Office copy of the citation states: ‘(Delville Wood 29th-31st July 1916).’ M.M. London Gazette 14 September 1916. The Official War Office copy of the citation states: ‘As a stretcher bearer this man has always carried out his duties in a brave and efficient manner, in many instances under hostile fire, particularly on 15th May 1916, at Calonne, when though not recovered from a wound previously received, he dressed the wounds of Lance-Corporal Dutton and assisted to carry him down when under shell fire, and also at Carency, Northern Sub-Section, on the night 1/2nd June, when he assisted to bring down several wounded men during the consolidation of the three mines blown in that night. Similar actions have been performed by him on other occasions.’ Norman William Bellinger was living at Barking, Essex, when he enlisted for the Essex Regiment at East Ham on 16 January 1915. Posted as private to the 13th Battalion he served in France from 17 November 1915. He was wounded by gunshot in the knee, chest and left finger on 27 April 1916, these wounds being referred to in the citation for his M.M. Promoted to corporal on 4 July 1916, he was discharged on 11 February 1919. Sold with original War Office copies of both citations and letters of congratulation for each award from West Ham Town Hall, dated 24 October 1916, these all stabilised on cartridge paper, together with copied research including service papers and Battalion War Diary extracts.
Five: Warrant Officer Class II A. A. Thompson, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914 Star (7671 L.Cpl (A. Cpl.) A. Thompson. 2/Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (7671 A.W.O.Cl.2. A. A. Thompson. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Defence Medal; Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Arthur Alfred Thompson) mounted court-style as worn, contact marks, some edge bruises, nearly very fine and better (5) £100-£140 --- Arthur Alfred Thompson attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion on the Western Front from 14 August 1914 (entitled to a clasp to his 1914 Star), being later appointed Acting Warrant Officer Class II. Post-War, he worked as a skilled workman in the London Telecommunications Region and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement (London Gazette 15 October 1946).
Three: Private A. G. Fulker, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 29 February 1916 1914-15 Star (16648 Pte. A. G. Fulker. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (16648 Pte. A. G. Fulker. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) generally good very fine Three: Private W. E. Harper, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 15 May 1917 1914-15 Star (15348 Pte. W. E. Harper. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (15348 Pte. W. E. Harper. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); together with the recipient’s card identity disc, generally good very fine (6) £100-£140 --- Arthur George Fulker was born in Drayton, Oxfordshire and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War. He served with the 6th Battalion on the Western Front from 20 May 1915 and died of wounds on 29 February 1916. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. William E.. Harper attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War and served with the 5th Battalion on the Western Front from 18 September 1915. He died of wounds on 15 May 1917 and is buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, France.
A Great War C.I.E. group of five awarded to Captain E. I. M. Barrett, Commissioner of Police, Shanghai, late Lancashire Fusiliers, who was wounded at Venters Spruit during the Boer War; a keen sportsman, he played Rugby Union for England; first class cricket for Hampshire; and won the Japan Amateur Golf Championship The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, C.I.E., Companion’s 3rd type neck badge, gold and enamel, with neck riband; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, the first clasp a tailor’s copy (Lieut. E. I. M. Barrett. Lanc. Fusrs.) officially re-engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. E. I. M. Barrett. Lanc. Fusrs.) officially re-engraved naming; Shanghai Municipal Police Long Service Medal, silver (Capt. E. I. M. Barrett, C.I.E., Com of Police) edge prepared prior to naming; War Medal 1939-45, the second, third, and fourth mounted as worn, the War Medal loose, retaining rod missing from the Shanghai award, light contact marks, generally very fine and better (5) £1,800-£2,200 --- C.I.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919: ‘For meritorious services connected with the War.’ Edward Ivo Medhurst Barrett was born in Churt, Surrey, on 22 June 1879 and was educated at Cheltenham College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers on 11 February 1899, and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War as part of the Ladysmith Relief Force, and was slightly wounded at the engagement at Venters Spruit on 20 January 1900. Promoted captain in 1902, in June of that year he was seconded as a wing officer to the Malay States Guides. He joined the Shanghai Municipal Police on 1 May 1907, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1919. He served as Commissioner of Police, Shanghai from 1925 to 1929. A keen sportsman, Barrett played rugby union for England against Scotland in the Calcutta Cup Match in the 1903 Four Nations Championship (which Scotland won 10-6 on their way to the Triple Crown), and between 1896 and 1925 played 86 first class cricket matches for both Hampshire and the Marylebone Cricket Club, with a top score of 215. He also won the Japan amateur golf championship in 1917. He died in Boscombe on 10 July 1950. Sold with the recipient’s original Bestowal Document for the C.I.E. For the recipient’s related miniature awards, see Lot 533.
Pair: Gunner G. Lack, Royal Artillery British War and Victory Medals (147577 Gnr. G. Lack R.A.) both in named card box of issue; together with a hand-painted envelope addressed to the recipient; and a postcard photograph of the recipient, extremely fine Pair: Driver A. E. Stebbing, Royal Artillery British War and Victory Medals (228491 Dvr. A. E. Stebbing. R.A.) nearly very fine Three: Driver L. E. Walls, Royal Artillery British War and Victory Medals (210365 Dvr. L. E. Walls. R.A.); National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal, bronze, with clasps for Five Years and Ten Years, the edge officially numbered ‘9965’ and contemporarily engraved ‘Leonard E. Walls’, light contact marks, very fine (7) £80-£100
Seven: Leading Cook W. J. Sims, Royal Navy, who survived the sinking of H.M.S. Amphion on 6 August 1914, when she struck a mine off the Thames Estuary and sank with the loss of 132 men killed; she was the first ship of the Royal Navy to be sunk in the Great War. 1914-15 Star (M.5636, W. J. Sims, Ck. Mte., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.5636. W. J. Sims. Ck. Mte. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (M.5636, W. J. Sims., L. Ck. H.M.S. Vivid.) contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (7) £120-£160 --- William Sims was born in Plymstock, Devon, on 12 September 1894 and attested for the Royal Navy on 24 January 1913. He joined H.M.S. Amphion on 29 October 1913, which, by the start of the Great War, was leader of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, assigned to the Harwich Force, defending the eastern approaches to the English Channel, under the command of Captain Cecil H. Fox. In the morning of 5 August, Amphion and the 3rd Flotilla sortied into the North Sea to patrol the area between Harwich and the Dutch island of Terschelling for German activity. At 10:15 a ship in the black, buff, and yellow colours of the Great Eastern Railway’s steamers that plied between Harwich and the Hook of Holland was spotted. Fox sent the destroyers H.M.S. Lance and H.M.S. Landrail to investigate and shortly afterwards another destroyer reported that a trawler had seen a suspicious ship, 'throwing things overboard, presumably mines'. H.M.S. Amphion led the flotilla to investigate and observed that the fleeing ship was deploying mines even then. At 10:45, Lance opened fire at a range of 4,400 yards (4,000 m). The target was S.M.S. Königin Luise, a former Hamburg-Heligoland excursion boat that had been converted to an auxiliary minelayer by the Germans. They had planned to mount a pair of 8.8-centimetre (3.5 in) guns on board, but they did not have the time to do so; her only armament was a pair of lighter guns and 180 mines. On the night of 4 August, she had departed Emden and headed into the North Sea to lay mines off the Thames Estuary, which she began to do at dawn. The fire from the destroyers was ineffective until Amphion closed to a range of 7,000 yards and began hitting the German ship at about 11:15. By noon, Königin Luise was sinking and the three British ships rescued 5 officers and 70 ratings. The flotilla proceeded onwards with their patrol until they reached the Dutch coast around 21:00 and turned for home. Fox was uncertain as to the locations of the mines laid by Königin Luise and laid a course that was seven nautical miles west of where he thought the mines were. He guessed wrongly and led his flotilla over the danger area. At 06:35, Amphion struck a mine that detonated underneath her bridge. The explosion set her forecastle on fire and broke the ship’s keel. The destroyer H.M.S. Linnet attempted to tow the cruiser, but a deep crack across her upper deck showed that she was hogging badly and Fox ordered his crew to abandon ship. Shortly afterwards, her forward magazine exploded, throwing one 4-inch gun into the air that narrowly missed Linnet. One of Amphion’s shells burst on the deck of the destroyer Lark, killing two of her men and the only German prisoner rescued from the cruiser. Amphion then rapidly sank within 15 minutes of the explosion losing 1 officer and 131 ratings killed in the sinking, plus an unknown number of the crew rescued from Königin Luise. Having survived her sinking, Sims saw later war service in H.M.S. Benbow and H.M.S. Rule. On 22 January 1919 he married Winifred Metters at St Eustachius parish church, Tavistock, Devon, but she was tragically killed in car accident later that day. Later that year he married again. He continued to serve post war and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1928. Discharged to pension at the end of January 1935, he was mobilised from 29 September to 3 October 1938 and later recalled for service during the Second World War. serving in H.M.S. Lucia the base for the Red Sea Force from 23 September 1939 to 29 September 1941. He remained in Lucia until the 29th September 1941 before service in H.M.S. Malaya and H.M.S. Drake, before his eventual discharge, whilst serving in H.M.S. Imperieuse, on 17 August 1945. Post war, he worked as a civilian in the catering section of a naval camp. He died, aged 79, in Plymouth, on 28 September 1973.
A Staffordshire Volunteer Rifle Corps Shako Badge. An early small shako badge of the 39th Burton-on-Trent Volunteer c.1860, blackened crowned light infantry bugle with ‘39’ to the centre; together with a Senior NCOs white metal Pouch Belt Plate, c.1870, with crowned laurel wreath with Staffordshire Knot on stippled ground; and another NCOs bronze example, all fixings in place, good condition (3) £140-£180
Pair: Admiral C. H. Adair, Royal Navy, who accompanied and instructed the young Princes Albert and George on the cruise of H.M.S. Bacchante, and was later A.D.C. to their father King Edward VII Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (Lieut. C. H. Adair. R.N. H.M.S. “Helicon.”); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, with a fine cabinet photograph of recipient in uniform, signed by him and dated ‘1913’, mounted for wear, light contact marks, generally very fine (2) £400-£500 --- Approximately 29 Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, no clasp medals issued to H.M.S. Helicon. Charles Henry Adair was born in July 1851, and was the son of Colonel C. W. Adair, C.B., Royal Marines. He joined the Royal Navy in October 1864, and the Liverpool Daily Post, 21 September 1869, gives the following: ‘Lieutenant Adair and his brother William were charged with “wanton outrages” in that they had smashed a number of garden vases and ornaments whilst also injuring a number of flowers and shrubs in Maidstone Road, Rochester. Charles was further charged with wilfully breaking a street lamp in Rochester High Street wit his walking stick, and assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty. They appeared before the Mayor and Magistrates at the Guidhall, Rochester. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges and their father Colonel C. W. Adair, C.B., Royal Marines, spoke on their behalf as did others. The Mayor agreed that they should be fined, consequently a total of £7-17s was paid by the brothers who produced a a number of banknotes.’ The above seems not to have unduly affected the young Adair’s career, as he was promoted Lieutenant in June 1874. His service record gives ‘Commanded 1st Co. “Actives” men destroying piratical villages in Congo River, 18 September 1875’. Adair elected to specialise in gunnery, and served with H.M.S. Bacchante, July 1879 - August 1882. Whilst with the latter, he found himself in contact with the Royal Family. The two oldest sons of the Prince of Wales had entered the navy in 1877, and by 1879 it had been decided by the Royal Family and the Government that the two should undertake a cruise. They were assigned to Bacchante, which was then part of a squadron intended to patrol the sea lanes of the British Empire. The Princes, with their tutor John Neale Dalton, duly came aboard on 17 September 1879. The Bacchante was to be their home for the next three years, and the future Duke of Clarence and King George V were instructed by Adair: ‘The First Lieutenant the Honourable A. G. Curzon-Hawe taught the princes seamanship, the Gunnery Lieutenant C. H. Adair, instructed them in that skill.’ (Royal Education Past, Present and Future by P. Gordon and D. Lawton refers) The Reverend Dalton later donated photographs of the trip to the Royal Collection, and Adair features amongst them. Adair advanced to Commander in January 1886, and to Captain in June 1893. He was appointed to H.M.S. Royal Sovereign in January 1900, and the Christchurch Times, 16 November 1901, reported: ‘Gun Accident On Board the Royal Sovereign. A big gun burst on board the Royal Sovereign while she was manoeuvring. One officer and six artillerymen were killed and the captain of the ship and thirteen sailors were seriously injured. Captain Charles Henry Adair, who, is reported to have been seriously injured by the explosion was appointed to the ship on January 30th 1900.’ Adair, having recuperated from his injuries, was appointed A.D.C. to H.M. The King in January 1904. He advanced to Rear Admiral in April 1905, and was appointed to the command of the Second Cruiser Squadron the following year. Adair was promoted Admiral in May 1913, and retired at his own request later that month. Admiral Adair died in March 1920. Sold with copied research, including a group photographic image of the crew of H.M.S. Bacchante from the Royal Collection.
Pair: Second Lieutenant A. C. Skoulding, 6th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died of wounds received at Guillemont on 21 February 1917; in civilian life he was an Auctioneer’s Clerk British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut A. C. Skoulding) some scratches to VM, otherwise very fine British War Medal 1914-20 (2. Lieut. P. E. Craddock.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (2. Lieut. A. W. Wood.) BWM extremely fine, ring altered on VM to incorporate an unofficial straight suspension, some staining, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £80-£100 --- Alfred Cecil Skoulding, an auctioneer’s clerk from Melton, Suffolk, was born on 9 January 1894. He attested for the Honourable Artillery Company and served at home during the Great War, before being commissioned into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 19 December 1916. He served on the Western Front with the 6th Battalion from 4 February 1917 and, just a few weeks later, was wounded at Guillemont by gun shot to his left buttock on 19 February 1917. He died of wounds on 21 February 1917, and is buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, France. Percy Ernest Craddock was born in Wantage, Oxfordshire in October 1896 and attested for the Oxford Yeomanry for service during the Great War. Appointed sergeant, he was later commissioned in to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served with the 2nd/4th Battalion on the Western Front, where he was taken Prisoner of War. Almerick Watkins Wood was born on 11 October 1891 in Kurseong Parsonage, Bengal. He was educated at Beaumont College, where he was both School and Boats Captain; and at Merton College, Oxford, where he rowed in the college eight in the Henley Regatta in both 1912 and 1913. He was commissioned into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 22 September 1914, for service during the Great War, and served on the Western Front in 1915. On 10 September 1915, he was posted to the 5th Battalion and died of wounds on 26 September 1915, received the previous day at the attack on Bellewaarde Farm, during the Battle of Loos. He is buried in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium. Sold with copied research.
Three: Private W. J. Cross, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Intantry 1914 Star (8362 Pte. W. J. Cross. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (8362 Pte. W. J. Cross. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) very fine (3) £70-£90 --- William J. Cross was born in Cottisford, Oxfordshire, in 1898 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1906. A Reservist, he was recalled for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front with the 2nd Battalion from 14 August 1914, and was discharged ‘no longer physically fit for war service’ on 17 November 1915.
Five: Captain A. Williams, Royal Field Artillery, who was three times Mentioned in Despatches Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (99848 Sgt. A. Williams, 65th Bty: R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. Williams. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. A. Williams.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (99848 B.Q.M. Sjt: A. Williams R.F.A.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (5) £120-£160 --- Amos Williams was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery on 15 December 1914, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 August 1915. For his services he was three times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 18 May 1917; 21 May 1918; and 7 July 1919).
Three: Second Lieutenant L. E. Davis, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, late Army Service Corps, who was wounded at Glencoe Wood on 25 August 1917 1914-15 Star (S4-038822 Sjt. L. E. Davis. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. L. E. Davis) very fine Three: Lieutenant T. H. Webb, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was twice wounded on the Western Front 1914-15 Star (1955 Pte. T. H. Webb. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. T. H. Webb) traces of verdigris, otherwise very fine Pair: Lieutenant R. A. W. Kennedy, Highland Light Infantry, attached 7th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R. A. W. Kennedy) mounted as worn, very fine (8) £120-£160 --- Leonard Edgar Davis was born in Addlestone, Surrey on 13 June 1895. He attested for the Army Service Corps on 7 November 1913, and was promoted Sergeant on 4 August 1914. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 21 December 1914 and was commissioned into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 26 April 1917. Returning to France in June 1917, he joined the 5th Battalion at Arras and was wounded by a gun shot to his leg at Glencourse Wood, Ypres, on 24 August 1917. A Medical Board report dated 11 July 1919 states that the injury sustained a fracture to his right femur and knee, which resulted in a 2.5” shortening of his right leg. Thomas Harry Webb, a student at Culham College, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, attested for the 4th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 23 September 1913. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 March 1915 and was wounded on the Somme on 19 July 1916, with multiple gun shot wounds to his right forearm. Commissioned on 26 April 1917, he returned to his battalion in July 1917 and was further wounded by a shell splinter to his cheek on 28 August 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 26 October 1918. Ronald Alexander Whitelaw Kennedy was born in Glasgow in 1893. He was commissioned into the 2/5th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry for service during the Great War, and served in Salonika from May 1917, attached to the 7th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He died in York on 20 February 1966.
1914-15 Star (K.21273, H. Fox, Sto. 1., R.N.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (2) (K.21240 W. Brett. Sto.2. R.N.; J.17106 G. E. Sellick. A.B. R.N.) heavy digs to last with replacement suspension, therefore fair; the Star fine and the VM to Brett good very fine (3) £80-£100 --- H.M.S. Amphion At the start of the Great War, H.M.S. Amphion was leader of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, assigned to the Harwich Force, defending the eastern approaches to the English Channel, under the command of Captain Cecil H. Fox. In the morning of 5 August, Amphion and the 3rd Flotilla sortied into the North Sea to patrol the area between Harwich and the Dutch island of Terschelling for German activity. At 10:15 a ship in the black, buff, and yellow colours of the Great Eastern Railway’s steamers that plied between Harwich and the Hook of Holland was spotted. Fox sent the destroyers H.M.S. Lance and H.M.S. Landrail to investigate and shortly afterwards another destroyer reported that a trawler had seen a suspicious ship, ‘throwing things overboard, presumably mines’. H.M.S. Amphion led the flotilla to investigate and observed that the fleeing ship was deploying mines even then. At 10:45, Lance opened fire at a range of 4,400 yards (4,000 m). The target was S.M.S. Königin Luise, a former Hamburg-Heligoland excursion boat that had been converted to an auxiliary minelayer by the Germans. They had planned to mount a pair of 8.8-centimetre (3.5 in) guns on board, but they did not have the time to do so; her only armament was a pair of lighter guns and 180 mines. On the night of 4 August, she had departed Emden and headed into the North Sea to lay mines off the Thames Estuary, which she began to do at dawn. The fire from the destroyers was ineffective until Amphion closed to a range of 7,000 yards and began hitting the German ship at about 11:15. By noon, Königin Luise was sinking and the three British ships rescued 5 officers and 70 ratings. The flotilla proceeded onwards with their patrol until they reached the Dutch coast around 21:00 and turned for home. Fox was uncertain as to the locations of the mines laid by Königin Luise and laid a course that was seven nautical miles west of where he thought the mines were. He guessed wrongly and led his flotilla over the danger area. At 06:35 on 6 August, Amphion struck a mine that detonated underneath her bridge. The explosion set her forecastle on fire and broke the ship's keel. The destroyer H.M.S. Linnet attempted to tow the cruiser, but a deep crack across her upper deck showed that she was hogging badly and Fox ordered his crew to abandon ship. Shortly afterwards, her forward magazine exploded, throwing one 4-inch gun into the air that narrowly missed Linnet. One of Amphion’s shells burst on the deck of the destroyer Lark, killing two of her men and the only German prisoner rescued from the cruiser. Amphion then rapidly sank within 15 minutes of the explosion losing 1 officer and 131 ratings killed in the sinking, plus an unknown number of the crew rescued from Königin Luise. She was the first ship of the Royal Navy to be sunk in the Great War. Harold John Fox was born in Plymouth on 1 July 1893 and attested for the Royal Navy on 10 November 1903. He joined H.M.S. Amphion on 28 April 1914, and was present in her when when she sank on 6 August 1914. He afterwards served in H.M.S. Temeraire, which took part in the Battle of Jutland. Advanced Leading Stoker on 18 January 1919, he was still serving in 1932, in H.M.S. Lucia, when he was taken seriously ill. Admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire, he died, aged 39, on 21 May 1932 due to general peritonitis. William Brett was born in Exeter on 9 April 1895 and attested for the Royal Navy on 3 November 1913. He joined H.M.S. Amphion on 28 March 1914, and was killed when she struck a mine and sunk on 6 August 1914. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. George Edward Sellick was born in Topsham, Devon, on 20 April 1896 and attested as a Boy for the Royal Navy on 17 April 1912. He joined H.M.S. Amphion on 20 April 1914, and was present in her when when she sank on 6 August 1914. Sellick was later serving in H.M.S. Brisk, when, on 21 February 1917, about 10 nautical miles from St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight, in thick fog, whilst escorting the chartered troopship S.S. Mendi, which, having arrived at Plymouth from South Africa, was bound for Le Harve, France. The Mendi was carrying 823 men of the 5th Battalion of the South African Native Labour Force, many of whom had never seen the sea and very few of whom could actually swim. In the thick fog the Mendi was accidentally rammed and sunk by the large steamship S.S. Darro which was sailing at high speed in ballast for Argentina. Darro made no attempt to rescue survivors and it did not remain at the scene, although H.M.S. Brisk launched her boats which rescued around 200 men, although 616 South African soldiers and 30 crew members from the Mendi were lost. On 2 October 1917, he had a further lucky escape when Brisk was at sea off the north coast of Ireland to meet and escort convoy H.H. 24, which was inbound from America. After Brisk had joined the escort, the convoy was attacked by the German submarine U-79 which torpedoed the cruiser H.M.S. Drake which later sank with the loss of 19 lives. After this attack, as was normal procedure, the convoy dispersed and the remaining naval and auxiliary escorts including Brisk, were deployed to follow up the dispersed ships, some through Rathlin Sound and others in the North Channel. As the steamship Lugano entered the sound, she was torpedoed and sunk by U-79 and shortly afterwards, while making a sweep of the Sound, Brisk either struck a mine, or was torpedoed. The explosion broke Brisk in two and the bow section sank in the sound, whilst, of the 141 crew members, 32 lives were lost. The stern section remained afloat and was towed to Londonderry and on being fitted with a new bow Brisk later returned to service. He later served in the new destroyer H.M.S. Simoon from 11 March 1918. Post war, he continued to served until his discharge on 19 April 1926 and later died, aged 63, in Exeter in 1959.
A Great War ‘gallantry’ M.B.E. group of five awarded to Captain H. C. Gray, Royal Field Artillery, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his services during the Siege and Defence of Ladysmith, and again during the Great War, and was wounded on the Somme The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1918, in Garrard, London, case of issue; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Orange Free State, unofficial retaining rod between third and fourth clasps (86201 Cpl. H. Gray, R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (86201 Serjt: H. Gray. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. H. C. Gray.) light contact marks to the Boer War pair, these very fine; the Great War awards better (5) £500-£700 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 18 November 1917: T./Lieutenant Herbert Chester Gray, Royal Field Artillery (For an act of gallantry not in the presence of the enemy) ‘For distinguished service in connection with military operations in France and Flanders.’ Herbert Chester Gray ‘served in the South Africa War and took part in the defence of Ladysmith, being mentioned in the late General St. George White’s Despatch for services during the siege. He rejoined on the outbreak of War, having retired with the rank of Sergeant Major, and was promoted for good service. He was Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig, and was wounded on the Somme, having his horse was shot from under him.’ (Northampton Independent, 21 December 1918 refers). Gray was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 9 May 1915, and served during the Great War on the Western Front with the 30th Division from July 1916. Sold with various newspaper cuttings announcing the award of the M.B.E.; and a small group photograph.
Five: Private T. Chappell, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (3720 Pte. T. Chappell. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Civil Defence Long Service Medal, E.II.R., mounted as worn, contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine Three: Private H. Tanner, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (22398 Pte. H. Tanner. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Henry Tanner) in Royal Mint case of issue, contact marks, generally very fine and better (8) £70-£90 --- Henry Tanner attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served with them during the Great War. He later worked as a Blacksmith Fitter with the War Office and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal on his retirement in 1960 (London Gazette 30 September 1960).
Six: Private A. Benge, Frontier Light Horse Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (1165 Pte. A. Benge. Frontier Lt. Horse); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1165. Pte. A. Benge. Frontier Lt. Horse.) renamed; British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (No. 35. A. Benge. Special Police.) both renamed; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, both officially impressed ‘213788 A. V. Benge’, the KSA, BWM and VM all renamed; nearly very fine (6) £120-£160
Three: Corporal John McDonough, 13th (Prince Albert’s) Light Infantry Crimea 1854-56, no clasp (2565 Corpl. John McDonogh 13th P.A.L.I.) regimentally engraved naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Corpl. J, McDonough. 1st Bn. 13th Lt. Infy.); Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed, fitted with replacement scroll suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine --- John McDonough enlisted into the 13th Light Infantry at Enniskilling, Ireland, on 13 July 1847, aged 19 years 6 months. He served in Ireland, Scotland, and at Gibraltar, being promoted to Corporal in February 1855. He served in the Crimea from July 1855 to June 1856, before going out to India, via Gibraltar and Grahamstown, South Africa, in November 1857, serving there with the Left Wing of the regiment. He was discharged at Calcutta on 16 January 1860, time expired. Sold with full muster details.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ 1918 D.C.M., M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal John Markinson, 8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (305208 Cpl. J. Markinson. M.M. 8/W. York: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (305208 Cpl. J. Markinson. 8/W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (1658 Cpl. J. Markinson. W. York. R.) mounted court-style for display, light contact marks, otherwise very fine (4) £1,600-£2,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919; citation published 10 January 1920: ‘On the 20th October, 1918, in the attack near Solesmes, he showed great gallantry and initiative. Before reaching the final objective four of the enemy made a determined resistance on the right flank. He collected a few bombs and rushed the post, killing one, wounding another, and capturing two prisoners. Later he made two reconnaissances under heavy fire and brought back important information.’ M.M. London Gazette 11 February 1919. Award of M.M. noted in War Diary on 21 September 1918, to nine men, including Markinson, all of “C” Coy, for gallantry in action. John Markinson was a native of Leeds and served with the 8th West Yorkshire Regiment. He was disembodied on 9 May 1919. Sold with copied research including D.C.M., M.M. and Medal Index Cards, gazette notices, and extracts from Battalion War Diaries.
Pair: Private William Woodley, 7th Hussars Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Orthes, Toulouse (William Woodley, 7th Light Dragoons.); Waterloo 1815 (William Woodley, 7th Regiment Hussars) fitted with replacement silver straight bar suspension, the first with light contact marks, otherwise good very fine, the second with edge bruising and contact marks, fine (2) £3,000-£4,000 --- William Woodley was born in the Parish of Latney, Oxford, and attested for the 7th Hussars at Reading on 11 October 1809, aged 20. He ‘served in Spain and France in the year 1814, was at Waterloo and with the Army of Occupation in France till the year 1818.’ He was discharged due to chronic rheumatism on 9 August 1832, with 24 years 303 days service, including 2 years for Waterloo, where he served in Captain Verner’s Troop. His conduct was that ‘of a good and efficient soldier.’ Sold with copied discharge papers.
1914 Star (9904 Pte. F. J. Mooring. 2/ Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (5711 Pte. P. A. Heady. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) good very fine (2) £80-£100 --- Frederick James Mooring (also recorded as Mooren) was born in Sutton Courtney, Berkshire, in 1891 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, serving with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914 (also entitled to a clasp to his 1914 Star). He was killed in action on 25 September 1915, on the first day of the Battle of Loos. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France. Percy Arthur Heady was born in Stewkley, Buckinghamshire and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He served with them during the Great War on the Western Front before transferring to the Lincolnshire Regiment, and was killed in action whilst serving with the 10th Battalion on 10 June 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Egypt (William Caworth.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine £1,400-£1,800 --- Provenance: Whalley Collection 1877 and Christies, July 1985. William Caworth served as a Boy with H.M.S. Eurus in the operations on and off the coast of Egypt in 1801. Approximately 3 N.G.S. issued to this ship.
Pair: Private G. E. Gardener, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was taken Prisoner at Kut-al-Amara and subsequently award the M.S.M. for his conduct whilst in captivity 1914-15 Star (9645 Pte. G. E. Gardener. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (9645 Pte. G. E. Gardener. Oxf & Bucks. L.I.) obverse of both medals heavily polished, therefore about fine 1914-15 Star (1579 Pte. A. Adams. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (143426 Bdr. R. F. C. Watts. R.A.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (10480 PCpl. H. Paul. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); together with an unofficial Occupation of Japan Medal 1946-52 (R.K Watts R.N.) very fine (6) £80-£100 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 30 January 1920. George E. Gardener attested into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War and served in Mesopotamia with the 1st Battalion from 24 February 1915. He was taken prisoner during the siege of Kut-al-Amara and subsequently awarded the M.S.M. ‘in recognition of devotion to duty and valuable services rendered whilst prisoners of war interned’ (London Gazette 30 January 1920, with the award dated 5 May 1919). Albert Admans attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served with the 1st/4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 March 1915. Advanced Sergeant, for his gallantry he was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 11 November 1916). He was also awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal in 1920. Hosea Paul attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served with the 5th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 May 1915. For his gallantry during the attack on Hillside Wood, Vis-en-Artois, as part of the Arras offensive, he was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 28 July 1917).
Pair: Sergeant Alexander Murdock, 3rd Foot Guards Military General Service 1793-1814, 6 clasps, Egypt, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria (A. Murdoch, Serjt. 3rd Ft. Gds.); Waterloo 1815 (Serj. Alex. Murdock, 2nd Batt. 3rd Reg. Guards.) fitted with rather crude replacement steel clip and ring suspension, the second with edge bruising and contact pitting, naming weak in parts, therefore fine, the first with light nicks and marks, otherwise good very fine (2) £3,600-£4,400 --- Alexander Murdock was born at ‘Barrynry’ [Barony], Glasgow, and enlisted for the 3rd Foot Guards at Glasgow on 18 August 1800, aged 19, for unlimited service. He served 21 years 85 days, including 2 years for Waterloo, and was discharged in London on 10 November 1819, ‘having Rheumatic Pains’. He had served 9 years 4 months as a private, 5 years 1 month as corporal, and 10 years 10 month in the rank of sergeant, conduct ‘Good.’ Sold with copied discharge papers and M.G.S. medal roll entry confirming all 6 clasps.
Six: Acting Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant J. Walmsley, Manchester Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (4720 Pte J. Walmsley, Manch: Regt); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4720 Serjt: J. Walmsley. Manch: Regt); British War and Victory Medals (33306 C. Sjt. J. Walmsley. Manch. R.); Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., Circular issue, 2nd ‘Coronation robes’ issue (Joseph Walmsley.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (33306 C.Q.M. Sjt. -A.R.Q.M. Sjt.- J. Walmsley 12/Manch: R.) minor traces of adhesive to obverses, light contact marks and minor edge bruising to the Boer War pair, otherwise generally very fine or better (6) £700-£900 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919. Joseph Walmsley attested for the Manchester Regiment, and served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boar War, and subsequently with the 12th Battalion during the Great War. Initially a Home Defence battalion, the 12th Manchesters took part in the battles of the Somme and at Delville Wood in 1916, continuing through Arras in 1917, the Spring Offensives of 1918, and until the end of the war. For his serves as acting regimental quartermaster sergeant during the Great War he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Sold with copied research.
Three: Colour Sergeant W. T. Sillence, Hampshire Regiment India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (1250. Corp: W. T. Sillence. 2/Hamps: R.) engraved in upright serif capitals; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (1250 Cr:- Sjt: W. T. Sillence. Vol: Coy. Hants: Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1250 Clr:- Serjt: W. T. Sillence. Hamps: Regt.) light contact marks, good very fine and better (3) £300-£400 --- William Thomas Sillence was born on 22 July 1862 and attested for the Hampshire Regiment on 24 November 1883. He was promoted Corporal on 18 June 1885; Sergeant on 17 January 1889; and Colour Sergeant on 23 April 1894, and served with the 2nd Battalion overseas in India and Burma, and with the Volunteer Company in South Africa during the Boer War from 8 March to 31 July 1902 (entitled to the clasps Transvaal and South Africa 1902 to his Queen’s South Africa Medal - such clasps were issued loose to the Volunteer Company). He was discharged on 23 November 1904, after 21 years’ service, and died in Portsmouth on 20 January 1944; his occupation on his death certificate stating ‘Pensioned Colour Sergeant, Hampshire Regiment, and Pensioned Civilian Clerk, Royal Army Ordnance Corps’.
Four: Petty Officer (Telegraphist) S. H. Dawe, Royal Navy, who was killed on 6 August 1914, when H.M.S. Amphion struck a mine off the Thames estuary and sank with the loss of 132 men killed; she was the first ship of the Royal Navy to be sunk in the Great War Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (185605 S. H. Dawe, Ord. Sig., H.M.S. Magicienne); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Jubaland (185605 S. H. Dawe, Ord. Sig., H.M.S. Magicienne); Victory Medal 1914-19 ((185605 S. H. Dawe, P.O. Tel. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (185605 S. H. Dawe, P.O. (Tel) H.M.S. Amphion) toned, extremely fine (4) £300-£400 --- Duplicates of the Q.S.A. and A.G.S., and most likely the Naval L.S. & G.C., were issued to his widow on 26 March 1915. Samuel Henry Dawe was born at Aubyn, Devonport, Devon, on 20 March 1880, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class from Greenwich School on 8 September 1895. He served as Ordinary Signalman aboard Magicienne from November 1897 to June 1901, seeing service off South Africa and Somaliland. He became a Petty Officer (Telegraphist) in November 1907, and joined the newly commissioned scout cruiser Amphion on 2 April 1913. By the start of the War Amphion was leader of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, assigned to the Harwich Force, defending the eastern approaches to the English Channel, under the command of Captain Cecil H. Fox. In the morning of 5 August, Amphion and the 3rd Flotilla sortied into the North Sea to patrol the area between Harwich and the Dutch island of Terschelling for German activity. At 10:15 a ship in the black, buff, and yellow colours of the Great Eastern Railway's steamers that plied between Harwich and the Hook of Holland was spotted. Fox sent the destroyers Lance and Landrail to investigate and shortly afterwards another destroyer reported that a trawler had seen a suspicious ship, 'throwing things overboard, presumably mines'. Amphion led the flotilla to investigate and observed that the fleeing ship was deploying mines even then. At 10:45, Lance opened fire at a range of 4,400 yards (4,000 m). The target was S.M.S. Königin Luise, a former Hamburg-Heligoland excursion boat that had been converted to an auxiliary minelayer by the Germans. They had planned to mount a pair of 8.8-centimetre (3.5 in) guns on board, but they did not have the time to do so; her only armament was a pair of lighter guns and 180 mines. On the night of 4 August, she had departed Emden and headed into the North Sea to lay mines off the Thames Estuary, which she began to do at dawn. The fire from the destroyers was ineffective until Amphion closed to a range of 7,000 yards and began hitting the German ship at about 11:15. By noon, Königin Luise was sinking and the three British ships rescued 5 officers and 70 ratings. The flotilla proceeded onwards with their patrol until they reached the Dutch coast around 21:00 and turned for home. Fox was uncertain as to the locations of the mines laid by Königin Luise and laid a course that was seven nautical miles west of where he thought the mines were. He guessed wrongly and led his flotilla over the danger area. At 06:35, Amphion struck a mine that detonated underneath her bridge. The explosion set her forecastle on fire and broke the ship's keel. The destroyer Linnet attempted to tow the cruiser, but a deep crack across her upper deck showed that she was hogging badly and Fox ordered his crew to abandon ship. Shortly afterwards, her forward magazine exploded, throwing one 4-inch gun into the air that narrowly missed Linnet. One of Amphion's shells burst on the deck of the destroyer Lark, killing two of her men and the only German prisoner rescued from the cruiser. Amphion then rapidly sank within 15 minutes of the explosion losing 1 officer and 131 ratings killed, including Dawe, in the sinking, plus an unknown number of the crew rescued from Königin Luise. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Four: Bugler E. T. H. Gell, Durban Light Infantry, later Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (705 Bglr: E. T. H. Gell. Durban L.I.); Natal 1906, 1 clasp, 1906 (Tpr. E. T. H. Gell. Natal Mtd. Rifles.) renamed; 1914-15 Star (8984 Pte. E. T. Gell. R. Innis. Fus.); British War Medal 1914-20 (8984 Pte. E. T. Gell. R. Innis. Fus.) nearly very fine (4) £140-£180
Three: Acting Corporal P. B. Chew, Royal Army Medical Corps 1914 Star (68 Pte. P. B. Chew. R.A.M.C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (68 A. Cpl. P. B. Chew. R.A.M.D. [sic]); Victory Medal 1914-19 (68 A. Cpl. P. B. Chew. R.A.M.C.) mounted as worn and housed with shoulder titles and cap badge in a glazed display frame, light contact marks, very fine (3) £140-£180 --- Percival Bradley Chew was born in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in 1886 and attested for the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving with them pre-War in Egypt. He served with No. 13 Stationary Hospital on the Western Front during the Great War from 14 October 1914, and was later posted to the Somerset Light Infantry. He died in Stroud in 1953. Sold with a Princess Mary 1914 Christmas tin with reproduction contents; a 1914 Active Service New Testament; various postcards and photographs; a small bag of miscellaneous charms; and copied research.
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