Six: Temporary Commissioned Catering Officer R. J. Arnold, Royal Navy British War Medal 1914-20 (L.10096 R. J. Arnold O.S. 3 R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (L.10096 R. J. Arnold. P.O. Stwd. H.M.S. Pangbourne.) light contact marks, very fine (6) £70-£90 --- Reginald John Arnold was born on 23 July 1899, at Lewes, Sussex. He commenced naval service as Boy Servant, H.M.S. Excellent, on 27 February 1917. He was appointed Officers Servant Third Class on 23 July 1917, and Officers Servant Second Class on 1 September 1919. He subsequently served in several ships including H.M.S. Crescent (Hood), H.M.S. Victory II, H.M.S. Dryad (Naval School), H.M.S. Argus and H.M.S. Vernon (Wrestler). He was advanced to Leading Steward, H.M.S. Vernon, on 1 October 1931, Petty Officer Steward, H.M.S. Victory X (Pangbourne), on 2 December 1931, and Chief Petty Officer Steward, H.M.S. Victory II (Faulknor), on 20 January 1937, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in September 1932. He was shore pensioned in July 1939, but was recalled for war service on 20 January 1940, serving in H.M.S. Victory II, and H.M.S. Excellent. He was promoted to Temporary Acting Warrant Catering Officer R.N. on 18 November 1944. He still appears in the Navy List for July 1949, as a Temporary Commissioned Catering Officer. The British War Medal is his sole medal entitlement for his service in the Great War.
534297 Preisdatenbank Los(e) gefunden, die Ihrer Suche entsprechen
534297 Lose gefunden, die zu Ihrer Suche passen. Abonnieren Sie die Preisdatenbank, um sofortigen Zugriff auf alle Dienstleistungen der Preisdatenbank zu haben.
Preisdatenbank abonnieren- Liste
- Galerie
-
534297 Los(e)/Seite
Family Group: Three: Private A. E. Pearce, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914 Star with clasp (9450 Pte. A. E. Pearce. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (9450 Pte. A. E. Pearce. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) edge bruising, nearly very fine Seven: Signalman A. E. Pearce, Royal Signals 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Arthur Edward Pearce); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Militia (2327006 Sigmn. A. E. Pearce. R. Sigs.) generally very fine and better (10) £160-£200 --- Albert Edward Pearce attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1910, and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. He was admitted to No. 11 Casualty Clearing Hospital at Verennes, in November 1916, suffering from P.U.O., (Pyrexia or fever of Unknown Origin) and sent on to No. 19 Ambulance Train. Arthur Edward Pearce was awarded the Imperial Service Medal in the London Gazette 6 January 1967, as Overseer, General Post Office, Birmingham.
German Second World War Army Panzer Grenadier Shoulder Boards. 4 shoulder boards, all piped in light apple green for Panzer Grenadier units, comprising 1 shoulder board slightly longer, presumably for a greatcoat, mid war, field grey centred, slightly shredded silk piping; 1 for a tunic, slip-on mid war field grey centre, silk apple green piped; 1 slip-on shoulder board, light apple green silk piping with subdued nco lace, residue of paper and glue on the reverse side where once applied to a collectors display board; 1 slip-on shoulder board, light apple green silk piped, field grey centre with subdued army lace, good condition (4) £100-£140
A unique 1801 Medal awarded to Ensign John Armstrong, 49th Foot, for his gallantry aboard H.M.S. Ardent at the battle of Copenhagen, 1801, where detachments of the 49th served as Marines Circular silver medal with laurel wreath border, silver, hallmarks for London 1801, the obverse engraved with the Royal Crown and ‘Copenhagen 49 1801’, the reverse engraved ‘A Reward for Gallantry from Capt. C. Plenderleath to Ensign J. Armstrong H.M.S. Ardent’, with small ring suspension, light cabinet marks, good very fine £1,400-£1,800 --- Provenance: Armstrong’s group of three medals, consisting his Naval General Service Medal, Military General Service Medal and this silver Gallantry medal for Copenhagen, were sold at Sotheby’s in 1910; in the Payne collection in 1911; and finally as part George Dalrymple White’s Collection in 1946. The group was subsequently split, each medal coming up for sale separately during 2013 and 2014. At the Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801, the 49th Foot and the Experimental Corps of Riflemen (later 95th Rifles), served aboard the fleet of Lord Nelson. Both Regiments were initially to be tasked with landing during the battle and attacking shore targets, however, it was subsequently decided that they should be distributed amongst the fleet to serve as marines. According to the Rifles museum: ‘The 49th saw action throughout the fleet. Men of the Regiment inflicted heavy losses to a Danish floating battery. As casualties among the sailors mounted, soldiers of the 49th helped man the guns. Lieutenant Armstrong was awarded a medal for gallantry by his company commanding officer. The 49th lost 13 men killed and 41 wounded.’ Additionally, a Regimental history, ‘The Royal Berkshire Regiment’ by Frederick Myatt, has a section of the book dedicated to the 49th at Copenhagen and confirms the award to Armstrong’s Silver medal, though it seems the exact act of gallantry that caused Captain Plenderleath to award Armstrong with this medal has been lost to time: ‘Lieutenant Armstrong of the 49th performed some notable – although unfortunately unrecorded act of gallantry on H.M.S. Ardent for which in the fashion of the day, he was given a private medal by Captain Plenderleath his company commander. Considering all things the Regiment was fortunate to escape with a casualty list of thirteen killed and forty one wounded.’ Armstrong’s award is again confirmed in ‘A Regimental Medal Collection: 88th and 94th Regiments: the Connaught Rangers’, by Colonel H. F. N. Jourdain, Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research Vol. 28, No. 115 (Autumn, 1950), pp. 127-131. This article notes Armstrong receiving both the Naval and Military General Service medals but critically was also awarded ‘a special medal for Copenhagen, soon after that battle.’ A study of the 49th Foot’s presence at the battle of Copenhagen was produced by Commander W.B. Rowbottom, R.N., on behalf of General Sir Felix Ready, the Colonel of the Berkshire Regiment in 1936. Using muster rolls, he was also able to establish which Officer were in which ships (medal rolls at error a number of times) along the number of other ranks. Aboard H.M.S. Ardent were; Lieutenant Colonel John Vincent, Captain Charles Plenderleath, Ensign John Armstrong, Ensign Joseph de la Hay and 78 other ranks. At the battle of Copenhagen, H.M.S. Ardent was heavily engaged, suffering 94 Officers and men killed or wounded. This was the fourth highest number of casualties sustained by any ships in Nelson fleet. John Armstrong was born c.1780 and was commissioned Ensign in the 49th Foot on 2 April 1800, taking part in the Naval Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. On 26 September 1804, he advanced to Lieutenant in the 5th Reserve, before transferring to the 2nd Garrison Battalion on 25 December that year. Transferring to the 88th Foot on 25 July 1807, he served with the 1st Battalion, 88th Foot in the Peninsula between March 1809 and April 1814, taking part at the battles of Busaco, Foz a, Fuentes d’Onor, El Bod, Cuidad Rodrigo (severely Wounded), Badajoz (wounded during assault), and Salamanca. Promoted Captain on 5 January 1815, he was placed on half pay by reduction of his battalion, 25 March 1816. He did not served again. In addition to the silver gallantry medal, for his services, Armstrong later received a Naval General Service Medal with the Copenhagen clasp (Ensign 49th Foot) and a 5 clasp Military General Service Medal for his service as an Officer in the 88th Foot.
A 32nd (Cornwall) Light Infantry Officers Mess Marrow Scoop Spoon. A fine bone marrow scoop by Chawner & Co., silver, hallmarks for London 1853, engraved to the rear with regimental device and ‘Lucknow 1857’, slight rubbing to regimental device, otherwise good condition and scarce £260-£300 --- Possibly part of the 32nd Light Infantry’s Messware in use during the Siege of Lucknow. The Regimental Museum in Bodmin has similar items.
Pair: Quarter Master Sergeant H. Stokes, 52nd (Oxfordshire) Light Infantry Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (Qr. Mr. Serjt. H. Stokes, 52nd L.I.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (No. 1133. Henry Stokes Qr Mr Serjt.) Regimentally engraved naming, edge bruising to first, this good very fine, the LS&GC better (2) £400-£500 --- Henry Stokes is recorded as a Corporal serving at the Depot, 52nd Foot, at Athlone, in the 1841 Worldwide Army Index, and in 1851 he is recorded as a Colour Sergeant serving at Limerick, Ireland. He appears on the medal roll of the 52nd Light Infantry, for the Indian Mutiny and is entitled to the medal with clasp for Delhi.
Six: Stoker Chief Petty Officer W. Grieve, Royal Navy 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Near East (P/MX.57023 W. Grieve. S.C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (MX 57023 S.P.O. (V) H.M.S. Glasgow.) mounted as worn, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (6) £140-£180 --- Sold with ‘H.M.S. “Glasgow: Souvenir Menu, Christmas 1951 at Malta’.
Three: Petty Officer A. J. Carter, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve British War and Victory Medals (179010 A. J. Carter. P.O. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (479010 Po. A.6834 A. J. Carter. P.O. R.F.R.) light contact marks otherwise very fine (3) £60-£80 --- Alfred James Carter was born on 23 January 1879, at Melcombe Regis, Dorset. He commenced naval service as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Boscawen, on 16 April 1894. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Majestic, on 23 January 1897, and as Able Seaman, H.M.S. Active, on 26 July 1897, and he qualified as a Naval Diver, in July 1899. He was advanced to Leading Seaman, on 1 November 1902, and to Petty Officer Second Class, H.M.S. Firequeen, on 1 April 1904. He was de-rated and reduced to Able Seaman in June 1905, following the death of a shipmate, for which he was held to be in neglect of duty. He was advanced to Petty Officer, H.M.S. Excellent on 8 November 1912. During the Great War he served in H.M.S. Victory, H.M.S. Excellent and H.M.S. Avoca. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in January 1919, and was shore pensioned in July 1920. He joined the New Coast Guard Force, in July 1920, but his appointment was terminated in June 1922.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (2969 Pte. H. F. Miller. 1/Oxfd: L.I.) clasp block loose on riband, very half-hearted attempt to obliterate naming, but details all perfectly legible, nearly very fine £60-£80 --- Henry Fitzhardinge Miller was born in Thornbury, Bristol, in 1867 and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry at London on 26 March 1888. Transferring to the Army Reserve on 26 March 1895, he was recalled to the Colours and served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 22 December 1899 to 8 May 1900. He was finally discharged on 30 November 1901, after 13 years and 248 days’ service. Sold with copied record of service which confirms the three clasps.
Three: Acting Corporal E. C. Hays, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was Mentioned in Despatches 1914-15 Star (9684 Pte. E. C. Hays, Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (9684 A.Cpl. E. C. Hays. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) some dark discolouration and spotting to VM, otherwise very fine Three: Private G. W. Green, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 3 May 1917 1914-15 Star (2428 Pte. G. W. Green, Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2428 Pte. G. W. Green. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) nearly extremely fine Three: Private A. Morgan, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, late Black Watch 1914-15 Star (15939 Pte. A. Morgan, R. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (15939 Pte. A. Morgan. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) very fine (9) £140-£180 --- Edward Charles Hays was born at Abingdon, Berkshire, and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Oxford on 21 August 1914. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 November 1914, and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 21 December 1917). He transferred to the Army Reserve on 3 April 1919. Geoffrey William Green 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. He was re-numbered 200535 and having transferred to ‘A’ Company, 5th Battalion, O.B.L.I., he was reported missing presumed dead on 3 May 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. The medal index card for Alfred Morgan indicates service with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (15939), Labour Corps (576468), Worcestershire Regiment (64364) and the Royal Fusiliers (GS/83458), but not the Royal Highlanders. The medal roll for the 1914-15 Star, does note service with the 6th Battalion, Black Watch, as Private, No. 15939, and later with the 43rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers with number 83458. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 July 1915, and is noted as discharged from the Royal Fusiliers on 11 April 1919.
Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Bt. Major C. Gill, 17th. M.N.I.) nearly extremely fine £400-£500 --- Provenance: George McIlroy Collection. Charles Gill was born in Nottingham on 25 September 1812, and was educated at Rugby School. He was commissioned Ensign on 13 December 1833, and was promoted Lieutenant on 25 May 1839; Captain on 28 March 1845; and Brevet Major on 28 November 1854. He served with the 17th Madras Native Infantry during the Great Sepoy Mutiny - in common with the rest of the Madras Army the regiment remained loyal, as the following extract, published in The Morning Post some 30 years later illustrates: ‘A small party of ladies and officers were riding along the beach at Madras one afternoon shortly after the mutiny had broken out, when Major Synge, of the 43rd Light Infantry, then quartered at St. George, galloped up and reported something wrong at the guard of the 17th Madras Native Infantry, which he had just visited as officer of the day. Major GiIl, who was commanding the regiment, and who happened to be one of the party, at once rode back, and found an emissary from Bengal had been tampering with the men, who were anxious to hang him on the spot. Major GiIl expressed his regret that he could not oblige them, but the man was afterwards hanged, and the 17th Native Infantry did good service against the mutineers.’ Gill was subsequently advanced Lieutenant-Colonel, and died in Twickenham, Middlesex, on 10 June 1902. Sold together with a photographic image of the recipient taken in later life; and copied research.
German Second World War Army Panzer Shoulder Boards. 6 shoulder boards. Early model 36 board, dark green centre with chain stitched Gothic P with pink piping, stitch-on; Slip-on nco with metallic Gothic P to the centre, three rank pips and worn litzen, pink wool piping; Mid war shoulder boards, light field grey green centre, slip-on, two rank pips with slightly oxidised litzen, pink wool piping; Early pre 36 shoulder board with light apple green centre for an nco, stitch-on with pink wool piping; 1 stitch-on Panzer board, pink silk piping with field grey centre; A slightly longer Panzer shoulder board, possibly for a greatcoat with slip-on, field grey centre with faded pink piping overall, generally good condition (6) £100-£140
Family Group: Three: Private S. A. Read, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, later Royal Marines British War and Victory Medals (25112 Pte. S. A. Read. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (PO.216252 S. A. Read. Mne. R.M.) heavily polished and worn, therefore fair, the LS&GC fine Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (E.773 J. Read. Sean 1Cl. R.N.R.) toned, nearly extremely fine (4) £80-£100 --- Sidney Albert Read was born at Southsea, Hampshire, on 5 February 1900, and having attested for and served overseas with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, transferred to the Royal Marines on 7 March 1918. His Royal Marines service papers show ‘former service’ and entitlement to the British War and Victory Medals. He commenced his Royal Marine service with ‘Q’ Company, Royal Marine Artillery, and appears to have principally served at Portsmouth, including service in H.M.S. Centaur, H.M.S. Royal Sovereign, and H.M.S. Iron Duke. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in May 1933, and was discharged on the termination of his second period of engagement on 6 March 1939. He was recalled for war service on 25 August 1939, and served during the Second World War in H.M.S. President III, and H.M.S. Dolphin. He was released from service on 2 October 1945.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between third and fourth clasps (4581 Pte. E. Benton. Oxford: Lt. Inft.) edge bruising, polished, nearly very fine £100-£140 --- Eli Benton was born at St. Asaph’s, Birmingham, in 1873 and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry at London on 24 October 1893, declaring himself as currently serving in 4th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (his earlier service with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment had actually been terminated when he was discharged ‘with ignominy’, and sentenced to one year in prison, following a conviction for desertion with all former service being forfeited). He served with the 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, in South Africa during the Boer War, and was discharged ‘medically unfit for further service’ on 25 October 1901. He re-enlisted into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service in the Great War on 21 October 1914, and was serving at the Depot, before again being discharged medically unfit on 31 May 1915, after only home service.
Six: Acting Colour Sergeant E. Hazell, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, later Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was wounded at the Battle of Paardeberg on 18 February 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Transvaal (5471. Pte. E. Hazell. 1/Oxfd. L.I.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5471 Pte. E. Hazell. Oxford: L.I.); 1914-15 Star (5471 Sjt. E. Hazell. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (5471 Sjt. E. Hazell. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (5471 Sjt. E. Hazell. O. & B. L.I.) contact marks to the Boer War pair, otherwise very fine (6) £300-£400 --- Edward William Hazell was born at Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, in 1879 and attested there for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry on 14 July 1897, having previously served in the Militia. He served with the 1st Battalion in the South Africa during the Boer War, and trained for Mounted Infantry duties. He was wounded at the Battle of Paardeberg, on 18 February 1900. In 1904 he elected to extend his period of engagement and was appointed to be Bugler in the 2nd Battalion on 21 January 1904. He was promoted Corporal in 1908, and Sergeant in October 1913. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War in the Asiatic theatre of War from 5 December 1914, but soon after contracted malaria at Basra in 1915 and was transferred sick to India. In December 1915 he was appointed to the Indian Depot, O.B.L.I., and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 55 of 1917, before returning to the 1st Battalion as an Acting Company Sergeant Major on 1 December 1917. He was discharged on termination of his second period of engagement in June 1919, after 21 years and 326 days’ service.
Three: Acting Colour-Sergeant A. Lambert, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1919 British War and Victory Medals (25130 A.C. Sjt. A. Lambert. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (25130 Sjt. A. Lambert. 11/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.) edge bruising and contact marks, with the MSM showing signs of having been abrasively cleaned, therefore good fine (3) £80-£100 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 18 January 1919: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered in France and Flanders.’
Pair: Private J. H. Cross, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, who was taken Prisoner of War at Zoutpan on 12 August 1901 India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4750 Pte. J. H. Cross 2nd Bn. Oxf: L. Infy.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (4750 J. H. Cross. Oxfd. L.I.) engraved naming, contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine (2) £200-£240 --- J. H. Cross attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served with the 2nd Battalion in India as part of the Mohmand Expedition; he subsequently served with the Mounted Infantry in South Africa during the Boer War, and was taken Prisoner of War at Zoutpan on 12 August 1901 (also entitled to the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps).
Pair: Major F. A. Dixey, 1st (Oxford University) Volunteer Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, who was a Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford, and President of the Entomological Society of London Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Major F. A. Dixey 1/V.B. Oxford L.I.); Volunteer Officers’ Decoration, E.VII.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1904, unnamed as issued, lacking integral top riband bar, mounted court-style in this order, very fine (2) £200-£240 --- Frederick Augustus Dixey was born at Westminster in 1855, and was educated at Highgate School and Wadham College, Oxford. He qualified as a Doctor and Surgeon (M.B. 1884, M.D. 1891, Univ. Oxfd., M.R.C.S. Eng., 1885), and subsequently became President of the Entomological Society of London, and was a world renowned Entomologist. Dixey was appointed to be Second Lieutenant, 1st (Oxford University) Volunteer Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, on 5 March 1890. He was promoted Captain on 4 October 1890, and appointed Honorary Major on 6 March 1908. Later in the same year, on the disbandment of the Volunteer Force, he resigned his commission in the 1st (Oxford University) Volunteer Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and was appointed to a commission in the Territorial Force, on the Unattached List, for service with the Oxford University contingent of the Senior Division of the Officers’ Training Corps, retaining rank and precedence. He resigned his commission on 25 October 1911, aged 56. Dixey is recorded in the 1911 Census as a Fellow of Wadham College and was residing at 24 Museum Road, Oxford. In 1919 he is recorded as Sub-Warden of Wadham College, Oxford. He died in London on 16 January 1935, after he had been knocked down by a car in Hyde Park, after attending a meeting for which he had come from Oxford. An extensive Obituary was published by the Royal Society. Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient in later life.
A rare ‘Edward VIII’ inter-War M.V.O., post War Order of St. John group of six awarded to Quartermaster and Captain W. R. Lines, 5th Lancers, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, who was Mentioned in Despatches during the Great War, and was one of only 10 people awarded the M.V.O. Vth Class by King Edward VIII The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 5th Class breast badge, silver and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘488’; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, skeletal type, silver; 1914-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. W. R. Lines. 5. Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Q.M. & Capt. W. R. Lines.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3871 Sjt: W. Liones. 5/Lrs.) mounted court-style as worn, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine and better (6) £800-£1,000 --- One of only 10 M.V.O. Vth Class awards made during the reign of Edward VIII, of which 5 were for the Funeral of King George V. M.V.O. London Gazette 23 June 1936: Walter Reuben Lines, Honorary Secretary, Windsor Branch, British Legion. Serving Brother of the Order of St. John London Gazette 28 May 1948. Walter Reuben Lines was born on 29 April 1872 and attested for the 5th Lancers in 1890. He served in the ranks for 23 years and 330 days before being commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) on 25 August 1914, and served with the Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 July 1915. Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 4 January 1917), he was promoted Honorary Captain, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, on 25 August 1917, and subsequently served as an Assistant Inspector with the Quartermaster General’s Service. He was placed on half-pay on account of ill health on 3 October 1923. Lines was appointed a Member Fifth Class of the Royal Victorian Order for his services as Honorary Secretary of the Windsor Branch, British Legion, in June 1936, one of the very few number of appointments to the Royal Victorian Order made by Edward VIII. He was later appointed a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John. He died in Slough, Buckinghamshire, on 26 January 1960. Sold with copied research.
Three: Chief Petty Officer T. E. Ward, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Conqueror at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916 British War and Victory Medals (183781 T. E. Ward. C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (183781. T. E. Ward, C.P.O. H.M.S. Ganges II.) light contact marks, good very fine (3) £100-£140 --- Thomas Edward Ward was born on 16 October 1879, at Falmouth, Cornwall. He commenced naval service as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Ganges, on 13 May 1895. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Wild Swan, on 16 October 1897, and Able Seaman, H.M.S. Imperieuse, on 4 November 1899. He was further advanced to Leading Seaman, H.M.S. Arrogant, on 7 September 1901, and Petty Officer Second Class on 13 May 1902. He was appointed to be Petty Officer First Class in H.M.S. Caernarvon on 5 February 1906, and Chief Petty Officer, H.M.S. Hyacinth on 21 April 1908. He served in H.M.S. Conqueror during the Great War, and took part in the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in February 1919, and was demobilised from H.M.S. Blake in April 1920.
A post-war Military Division M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer Class I R. R. Calvert, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type, breast badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, G.VI.R., Cyprus (22237051 S/Sgt. R. R. Calvert. R.E.M.E.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Malay Peninsula (22237051 W.O. Cl. 1 R. R. Calvert. REME) mounted court-style for wear, cleaned, and worn in places, therefore generally nearly very fine (7) £200-£240 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 11 June 1966. The original recommendation states: ‘Warrant Officer I (Artificer Sergeant Major) Calvert has been the Warrant Officer in charge of 25 and 61 Squadrons Royal Corps of Transport Combined Light Aid Detachment for a period of two years which has been a period of intense transport activity in Singapore due to Indonesian confrontation against Malaysia. That 32 Regiment has been able to maintain a very high, and at peak operating periods 100% vehicle availability has been entirely due to the exceptional devotion, leadership and skill of this Warrant Officer. The pride he takes in the rapid turn around of vehicles from this very busy Light Aid Detachment is positively intense and but for his efforts we would have been short of vehicles for operational tasks, which is unacceptable, and the Civil hiring bill would have increased alarmingly. In January 1965, with the return to Singapore of some thirty 3 ton vehicles from Labuan where they had been extremely heavily employed for the past eighteen months, there existed the unacceptable risk of wholesale replacement which would have seriously jeopardised theatre stocks. Warrant Officer I Calvert, by his tremendous drive, leadership, skill and organisation, returned all but five of these vehicles to their Troops in a taskworthy condition within ten days. This would normally have been quite outside the scope of a Light Aid Detachment, but due to Warrant Officer I Calvert’s tremendous effort it was accomplished without outside assistance. Throughout 1965 he has maintained the same exemplary standards culminating in some two-hundred vehicles, which have covered three and a half million miles this year, being found 100% taskworthy by Annual Inspection.’
Five: Sergeant W. A. J. Tasker, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (4772 Pte. W. Tasker. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (5376574 Sjt. W. A. J. Tasker. 4-Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) nearly very fine and better (5) £60-£80 --- Sold together with two Territorial Army Rifle Association Prize Medals, one silver and one bronze, both named to the 4th Battalion, O.B.L.I.; and a group photograph.
Pair: Acting Sergeant H. A. Long, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Mentioned in Despatches for his services in Mesopotamia Victory Medal 1914-19 (9112 A. Sjt. H. A. Long. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (9112 Pte. H. A. Long. 1/O. & B.L.I.) very fine (2) £80-£100 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917: ‘For valuable services rendered with the Armies in the Field, during the present War.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919: ‘For Embarkation duties with the Mesopotamian Field Force. ‘ Harold Arthur Long attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served with the 1st Battalion in the Asiatic Theatre of war from 5 December 1914. For his services with the Mesopotamian Field Force he was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
Five: Private J. E. Payne, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, these all privately engraved ‘5385161 Pte. J. E. Payne Oxf. Bucks.’; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (5385161 Pte. J. E. Payne. Oxf. Bucks.) nearly extremely fine (5) £70-£90
A Great War D.S.M. group of four awarded to Trawler Cook William Gladding, Royal Naval Reserve, H.M. Trawler The Banyers, for minesweeping operations off Scarborough in December 1914 clearing the minefield which had been laid earlier by the German light cruiser Kolberg Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (223 TC. W. Gladding Cook, R.N.R., H.M. Tr. The Banyers); 1914-15 Star (T.C.223. W. Gladding, Tr. Ck., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (223T.C. W. Gladding. Tr. Ck. R.N.R.) mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £900-£1,200 --- D.S.M. London Gazette 19 February 1915: ‘The following Memorandum has been furnished by the Admiral Commanding the East Coast Mine-sweepers, detailing the recent mine-sweeping operations off Scarborough. From the 19th to the 31st December sweeping operations were conducted by the East Coast Mine-sweepers with the object of clearing the minefield which had been laid by the enemy off Scarborough. At the beginning there was no indication of the position of the mines, although owing to losses of passing merchant ships it was known that a minefield had been laid. In order to ascertain how the mines lay it was necessary to work at all times of tide with a consequent large increase in the element of danger. The following officers are specially noticed for their services during the operations - ... Lieutenant H. Boothby, R.N.R., H.M.S. "Pekin". When Trawler No 99 ("Orianda") in which he was serving was blown up by a mine on the 19th December, Lieutenant Boothby successfully got all his crew (except one who was killed) into safety. Lieutenant Boothby was again blown up on 6th January, 1915, in Trawler No 450 ("The Banyers"). The following are also commended for Good Service done under dangerous conditions: (eight names including) William Gladding, Cook, R.N.R. No.223T.C., M.S.Tr. No. 450.’ Five D.S.M.’s were awarded for these operations, including three to crew members of H.M. Trawler The Banyers whose skipper, Lieutenant Hubert Boothby, R.N.R., was awarded the D.S.O. The Grimsby steam trawler The Banyers was one of numerous requisitioned trawlers which were brought to Scarborough to help clear the minefield laid by the German cruiser S.M.S. Kolberg under the cover of the bombardment of Scarborough. The Banyers struck a mine whilst carrying out sweeping operations and went down with 6 of her crew on 6 January 1915. Her skipper was Lieutenant H. Boothby, who had survived the earlier loss of the trawler Oriander on 19 December 1914, when, with the exception of one man, who was killed, Boothby got the rest his crew into safety, all of whom were transferred to The Banyers. He managed to escape from this sinking [The Banyers] by climbing out of the wheelhouse window as the trawler took its final plunge. He was awarded the D.S.O., as he put it himself, for losing two ships! His luck inspired him to write a book about his experiences which was entitled “Spuryarn”.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (6069 Corl. W. Stopp, Oxford: L.I.) nearly extremely fine £100-£140 --- W. Stopp attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry and served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War. He died of disease on 10 December 1900, at Heilbron, and is commemorated on the Boer War Memorial to the men of the 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry who died in the South African War in Abingdon.
Pair: Major F. de C. Helbert-Helbert, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, later Royal Fusiliers, who served as Aide-de-Camp to The Maharaja Holkar of Indor India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (Lieut. F. de C. Helbert-Helbert. 1st-R. Welsh Fus.) a later issue impressed in small sans-serif capitals; Jubilee 1887, 1 clasp, 1897, silver, unnamed as issued, good very fine and better (2) £400-£500 --- Frederic de Courcy Helbert-Helbert was born in Brighton on 14 July 1862 and was educated at Winchester College. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry on 22 October 1881 but transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in November the same year. With the 1st Battalion he went to Burma in 1885 but was invalided home sick. During the Jubilee celebrations of 1887 he was A.D.C. to The Maharaja Holkar of Indor. He was placed on Half Pay in April 1888 but returned to Full Pay in May 1889 and was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor and C-in-C., New South Wales, a post he held until November 1891. In November 1892 he transferred as a Captain to the Devonshire Regiment but retired with a gratuity in February 1895. On 28 August 1895 he became a Major in the 5th (Militia) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Helbert-Helbert was removed from the Army on 23 April 1902, ‘His Majesty having no further use for his services’. The reason for this is not known exactly but it seems it was bankruptcy. He was imprisoned in February 1904 for obtaining credit while a bankrupt and stealing a ring. He was incarcerated in Wormwood Scrubs. Yet again in November 1907 he was incarcerated in Wormwood scrubs for 18 months for three offences against Francis McCarthy: altering a cheque, misuse of a share certificate and misuse of cash. The Officers Mess Minute Book records on 15 May 1908: ‘Pieces of silver presented by F de C Helbert should be made away with out of the mess for obvious reasons but decided to hold over until the Regiment is together again.’ A further entry on 5 December 1910 records: ‘The Cup presented to the Mess by Major Helbert should be sold and the proceeds given to a charity to be decided on at the next meeting.’ The recipient’s Bankruptcy papers held at the National Archives also describes how in 1896 Helbert-Helbert was at sea and made friends with a young man of wealth and position who died on the voyage. On Helbert-Helbert’s return to the UK he produced a will purportedly made by the young man leaving him his estate. The young man’s friends contested the will but a settlement was reached out of court with Helbert-Helbert receiving £25,000. Sold with copied research. Note: The India General Service Medal roll shows that a replacement medal was issued on 30 November 1937; the naming style on the IGS in this lot is consistent with the style used at the time.
Pair: Private E. Smith, 18th Hussars Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (2221. Pte. E. Smith. 18/Husrs.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, pitting from Star, better than good fine (2) £240-£280 --- Edward Smith was born in Nottingham in 1858 and attested for the 18th Hussars at Sheffield on 4 July 1878. He was one of 2 officers and 42 other ranks of the 18th Hussars who served with the Light Camel Regiment on the Nile Expedition of 1884-85. He transferred to the Reserve on 4 July 1886, and was discharged on 3 July 1890, after 12 years’ service. Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extract.
Four: Major E. C. Fortescue, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (Capt. E. C. Fortescue, Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Major E. C. Fortescue.); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, with integral top brooch bar, extremely fine (4) £200-£240 --- Edward Claude Fortescue was born at Banbury, Oxfordshire, in 1879; a Solicitor by profession, he initially served in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, being commissioned Second Lieutenant on 23 February 1901. On the creation of the Territorial Force, he became an officer in the 4th (Territorial) Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and at the outbreak of the Great War he held the rank of Captain, with seniority from 1 April 1908. He served during the Great War with the 1st/4th Battalion on the Western Front from 29 March 1915, and was promoted Major on 1 June 1916, serving as Second in Command of the battalion from 13 June 1916. On 14 May 1918, he was seconded to become Second in Command of the 12th Battalion,London Regiment, and following the cessation of hostilities was appointed to the Staff to become a Courts Martial Officer. He died at Banbury in 1967, aged 87. Sold with copied research.
Four: Corporal A. H. M. Tuffrey, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (1524 Pte. A. H. M. Tuffrey, Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (1524 Cpl. A. H. M. Tuffrey. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (200091 Cpl. A. H. M. Tuffrey. 4-Oxf. &. Bucks. L.I.) better than very fine (4) £80-£100 --- Albert Henry Montague Tuffrey was born at Headington, Oxford, in 1892 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He served with the 1st/4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 March 1915, and later served with 2nd/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion. He died at Oxford in 1984. Sold together with a silver shooting prize medal, hallmarks for Birmingham 1911, crossed rifles within a wreath surmounted by a central gold fronted shield, with an indistinct monogram, and ‘S & D - 1911 - M.R.L.’ to scroll below.
Four: Acting Warrant Officer Class I A. E. Fleckner, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for valuable services in Salonika 1914-15 Star (9179 Sjt. A. E. Flickner [sic]. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (9179 A.W.O. Cl. 1 A. E. Flickner [sic]. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (9179 C.S. Mjr: A. E. Fleckner. 7/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.) very fine and better (4) £160-£200 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1918: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in Salonika.’ Albert Edward Fleckner was born at Oxford and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry in 1893, serving with them in India on the North West Frontier (entitled to the India General Service Medal 1895-1902 with clasp for Punjab Frontier and Tirah). Re-enlisting in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Haywards Heath on 1 September 1914, he was immediately promoted to Acting Corporal, and then to Acting Sergeant on 22 October 1914. He served with the 7th Battalion during the Great War initially on the Western Front, before proceeding to Salonika, and was appointed Acting Company Sergeant Major on 22 February 1916, and Acting Regimental Sergeant Major on 4 October 1916. For his services during the Great War in Salonika he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, and he was discharged to the Army Reserve on 5 March 1919. Sold together with a rather poor quality photographic image of the ‘Physical Training Class - Oxford, Spring, 1915’, in which the recipient is identified.
Four: Warrant Officer Class II T. Higgins, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (7825 Pte. T. Higgins. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (7825 W.O. Cl.2. T. Higgins.Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Defence Medal, very fine and better (4) £100-£140 --- Thomas Higgins was born on 17 November 1883 and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry in 1905. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914, and later transferred to the 7th Battalion O.B.L.I. as Company Sergeant Major, serving with them in Salonika. Regimental records indicate that he later became a warder at Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight, and he is recorded in the 1939 Register as a prison warder residing at 5 Hewitt Crescent, Parkhurst, Isle of Wight. Sold together with several poorly photocopied photographic images of the recipient in uniform, including one as a Warder at Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight; several postcards of places visited by the recipient, including a Great War souvenir postcard of the O.B.L.I. listing battle honours; original field postcard sent home by Lce. Cpl. Higgins on 3 October 1914; original set of badges including white metal cap badge with slider, two brass bugle horn collar badges and a pair of ‘Oxf & Bucks’, shoulder titles in brass (gilding metal); Old Contemptibles Association lapel badge, numbered to the reverse 2036B; and a silver and enamel Patrons lapel badge of the Old Contemptibles Association.
Three: Captain J. N. Treble, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action during an enemy bombardment at Hebuterne on 18 October 1915 1914-15 Star (Capt. J. D. [sic] Treble, Oxf. & Bucks L.I.) minor official correction to unit; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. N. Treble.) good very fine (3) £120-£160 --- James Noel Treble was born at Easington, Durham in 1883 and was educated at Durham University. He served in 4th Territorial Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action by heavy shelling at Hebuterne, on 18 October 1915, aged 32. He is buried in Hebuterne Military Cemetery, France. Sold together with a mounted group photograph of the Officers of the 4th (T.F.) Battalion, O.B.L.I., taken at Shorncliff in 1913, in which the recipient is named; and a card mounted studio portrait photograph of the recipient.
Five: Sergeant J. B. Lowe, 2/7th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Forces 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal, all officially named ‘VX 52246 J. B. Lowe’; together with large (62 mm wide) bronzed Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Forces slouch hat badge with faint maker mark for Luke, Melbourne, very fine and better Six: A. S. Snibbe, South African Forces 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially named to ‘61549 A. S. Snibbe’, light contact marks, very fine (11) £80-£100 --- John Basil Lowe was born at Ballarat, Victoria, on 30 July 1920, and enlisted at Royal Park, Victoria, on 28 March 1941. He served in the Middle East, in training at Palestine, with his unit, but was subsequently withdrawn for ‘Special Duty’ in Ceylon, in 1942. He subsequently served with his unit in New Guinea. He was appointed Corporal in 1943, and Sergeant in 1945, and was discharged in November 1945. He died at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 9 April 1990. Sold with copied research.
Three: Stoker First Class H. Hayne, Royal Navy British War and Victory Medals (281120 H. Hayne, Sto. 1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (281120 Henry Hayne. Sto. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Southampton.) light contact marks, generally very fine and better (3) £60-£80 --- Henry Hayne was born on 13 August 1875, at Abbotsbury, Dorset. He commenced naval service as a Stoker Second Class in H.M.S. Victory II, on 7 November 1895, and saw service in H.M.S. Duke of Wellington, H.M.S. Minotaur, and H.M.S. Leviathan, prior to being advanced to Stoker First Class in H.M.S. Excellent, on 1 July 1906. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Portsmouth on 9 November 1907, and having been recalled for War Service served during the Great War in H.M.S. Racer, H.M.S. Osborne, H.M.S. Victory II, and H.M.S. Southampton. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1918.
German Second World War Tropical Shoulder Boards. 11 Tropical shoulder boards, comprising Army Panzer Grenadier stitch-on board with tab cut, light apple green piping, earth brown backing; Army mountain troops earth brown wool centre with mountain green wool piping with slip-on tab, glue residue on the reverse; Army Panzer tropical slip-on, pink piped in silk, faded colour with tropical tress; Army slip-on transport nco, light blue piping, double rank pips with worn tropical lace; Army signals lemon yellow wool piping, which is worn and faded with worn and faded centre with slip-on tab; Army Panzer Grenadier earth brown centre, slip-on with light apple green piping; Luftwaffe tropical shirt material shoulder board with flight section yellow piping, slip-on, piping slightly worn; Luftwaffe flak nco with worn red piping at the point of the board, two rank pips, one sewn, one with prongs, slip-on tab with red piping; Luftwaffe slip-on with tab cut, flight section nco in shirting material with yellow wool piping; Luftwaffe lightweight European blue shirting material slip-on shoulder board for flak with red piping; and European Luftwaffe Veterinary branch with wine red piping, blue grey centre with slip-on tab complete. Two of the boards have residue of glue and paper on the reverse side where attached to a collectors display board, generally good very fine, the last rare (11) £200-£240
Royal Marine Light Infantry Insignia c.1870-1920. Comprising a scarce O/R 3 part glengarry badge 1870-97; a large pattern O/R helmet plate 1878-1902; another 1902-05; Officers small pattern helmet plate 1905; another O/R 1905; forage cap badge 1898-1923; Royal Marine Police scarce chromed cap badge and pair of shoulder titles; and sundry cap badges generally good condition (14) £120-£160
Five: Corporal F. G. Powell, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was an Olympic triallist for the 400 metres in 1920 1914-15 Star (15845 L.Cpl. F. G. Powell. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (15845 Cpl. F. G. Powell. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Defence Medal; Police L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (Inspr. F. G. Powell) the last unofficially re-named, generally very fine and better (lot) £120-£160 --- Frederick G. Powell attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 18 September 1915. A member of the Wycombe Phoenix Harriers Athletics Club, he participated in the Olympic Trial Test for the 400 metres in May 1920, but was placed third. Sold together with several athletic and sports medals, silver fob medal for athletics engraved to reverse (’C’ Company 8th O.B.L.I.); shooting prize medal, this unnamed; Large bronze medal for the Irish Command Sports Association 1919 (2nd O.B.L.I.) and (100 Yards Relay Race 1st Sergt. F. G. Powell); Three Berkshire Amateur Athletic Association bronze fob medals, one unnamed,two engraved (1920 1 Mile Relay Champion - 2nd) and (1920 440 Yds. Champion - 3rd - F. G. Powell); Buckinghamshire A.A.A., hallmarked silver and enamel prize medal, unnamed; Amateur Athletic Association Olympic Triallist bronze medal (Olympic Trials - 1920 - F. G. Powell); Bucks. Constabulary Athletic Sports medal, 12 August 1922, One mile Relay Race (Open) 3rd, this unnamed; Bucks Constabulary Athletic Sports 12 August 1922, large heavy un-hallmarked but marked silver (40g) sports medal, Tug of War (Open) 1st, this unnamed.
Family Group: Four: Petty Officer D. R. Singleton, Royal Navy South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (RO1(SM) D R Singleton D175785E HMS Spartan); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 2002, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, with Second Award Bar (RO(SM)1 D R Singleton D175785E RN) mounted as worn, light contact marks, good very fine Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (J960048 D. F. Singleton. PO HMS Oracle.) extremely fine (5) £800-£1,000 --- Douglas Robert Singleton joined the Royal Navy in January 1979 and after completing Basic Training at H.M.S. Raleigh moved onto H.M.S. Mercury for Part Two Communications Training, and then to H.M.S. Superb for Part Three Training. He joined H.M.S. Spartan in 1980, and served in her until December 1986, including in the South Atlantic during the Falklands campaign. From 1986 to 1990 he was employed by the Command of the Second Submarine Squadron in Plymouth, before joining H.M.S. Turbulent in 1990, transferring to H.M.S. Torbay in 1991. Between 1994 and 1996 Singleton was based at N.A.T.O. Headquarters in Naples, Italy, and for his services there was awarded two Commendations and received the N.A.T.O. Medal for services in Former Yugoslavia. Upon returning to the U.K. in late 1996, he re-joined H.M.S. Spartan, before transferring to H.M.S. Vigilant in 2000. His final appointment was at the Main Communications Centre at H.M. Naval Base Faslane from 2004 until his retirement in May 2010. Sold together with the recipient’s N.A.T.O. Medal bestowal certificate; Admiralty Board letter of appreciation on the recipient’s retirement; and three photographs.
Three: Private A. W. Avis, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (2929 Pte. A. W. Avis. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2929 Pte. A. W. Avis. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) very fine Three: Private A. E. Berry, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, later Hampshire Regiment, who died in Mesopotamia in 1915 1914-15 Star (8565 Pte. A. E. Berry. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (8565 Pte. A. E. Berry. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) very fine and better Three: Private T. Tolley, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (14031 Pte. T. Tolley. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (14031 Pte. L. [sic] Tolley. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (14031 Pte. T. Tolley. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) very fine (9) £120-£160 --- Albert William Avis attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 14 September 1914 and served with the 1st/4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 March 1915. He was discharged due to sickness with trench fever, on 4 September 1916, and was issued with Silver War Badge No. 21910. Albert Edward Berry was born in Bladon, Oxfordshire, and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Witney, serving with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 November 1914. He transferred to the Hampshire Regiment and served with the 1st Battalion in Mesopotamia. He died on 4 November 1915; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Angora Memorial at Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery. He is included in an unverified War Office list as a possible Prisoner of War. Thomas Tolley was born in Headington, Oxford, and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He served with the 7th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 21 September 1915, before being posted to Salonika, arriving there on 24 November 1915, and then to Bulgaria from 30 September 1918. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 16 April 1919.
German Second World War Army Shoulder Boards. 5 Army shoulder boards, comprising a Transport nco, slip-on shoulder board, M.36 style, dark green centre; Army transport nco shoulder board, light blue piping, 3 rank pips, nco lace and moth damage to the centre, slip-on; Mid war M.43 style shoulder board, field grey centre, light blue silk piping, slip-on; An early Army Motorised Reconnaissance shoulder board, stitch-on, copper brown piping with copper brown numbers 43 to the centre; and Army M.36 slip-on shoulder board, copper brown reconnaissance piping, dark green centre, generally good condition (5) £80-£100
Pair: Lieutenant R. S. G. Higgins, 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, who later became a tea planter in Ceylon Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 date clasp block loose on riband, as issued (Lieut. R. S. G. Higgins, 3/Oxf. L.I.) engraved naming, unit officially corrected; Ceylon Volunteer Service Medal 1914-18 (R. S. G. Higgins) edge bruise to first and suspension claw re-pinned, generally very fine (2) £240-£280 --- Robert Seton Graeme Higgins was born in 1882 at Eton, Buckinghamshire, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, on 25 December 1899. He was promoted Lieutenant in October 1900 and served with the Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, before resigning his commission in May 1903. He emigrated to Ceylon on or before 1907, in which year he is recorded as having joined a Masonic Lodge at Kandy. From 1912 to 1930 he is recorded as the owner and manager of the Ellagalla Tea Plantation, Galaha, Hantane, Ceylon. He returned to the U.K. after the outbreak of the Great War and was commissioned into the Worcestershire Regiment on 10 December 1917, serving in 1st Reserve Garrison Battalion. He relinquished his commission on 17 December 1920. He saw no active service overseas and was not awarded any medals for his service in the Great War. He died on 20 January 1941 and is buried at Weybridge Cemetery, Elmbridge, Surrey.
Three: Private A. M. Pringle, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, who was killed in action in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942 1939-45 Star; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, these all unnamed as issued, together with Canadian Memorial Cross, G.VI.R. (B.37414 Pte. A. M. Pringle); Birks Memorial Bar (Pte. A. M. Pringle. R.H.L.I. Died in his Country’s Service 19 Aug. 1942) nearly extremely fine (5) £300-£400 --- Alfred Meredith Pringle served as a Private with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and was killed in action in the Dieppe Raid, Operation Jubilee, on 19 August 1942. He is commemorated by name on the Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial, Surrey. Sold with small group photograph of five soldiers, R.H.L.I. cap badge, ‘The Beaver Club, London, named membership card, named enclosure slip for campaign medals, and enclosure letter for Memorial Bar.
A Great War M.B.E. group of four awarded to Acting Captain H. D. Hopcraft, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1918); 1914-15 Star (1910 L. Cpl. H. D. Hopcraft. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. H. D. Hopcraft.) nearly extremely fine (4) £160-£200 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919. Harry Douglas Hopcraft was born at Woodstock, Oxfordshire, in 1893 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He served with the 1st/4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 March 1915 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the same Battalion on 29 August 1917. He was appointed to the Acting rank of Captain while commanding a Company from 30 June to 4 October 1918, and was promoted substantive Lieutenant on 1 March 1919. For his services during the Great War he was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire. He was one of the founder trustees of the Deddington branch of the Royal British Legion in 1925, and he died at Oxford in September 1975.
Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (552264 Pte. J. C. Cunningham) with card enclosure, in case of issue, good very fine £60-£80 --- John Craigie Cunningham was born in Scotland on 28 August 1885 and having emigrated to Canada attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Claresholm, Alberta, on 3 February 1915. He served during the Great War on the Western Front initially with the 13th Canadian Infantry Battalion, before transferring to Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry on 4 November 1917, and was killed in action on 26 August 1918. He is buried in Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt, France.
A scarce Second War ‘North-West Europe’ Immediate M.M. group of eight awarded to Staff Sergeant T. H. E. Walters, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, for his repeated gallantry in an Armoured Recovery Vehicle extricating flaming tanks from battle positions and uncleared minefields Military Medal, G.VI.R. (7588463 Sjt. T. H. E. Walters. R.E.M.E.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (7588463 S/Sgt. T. H. E. Walters. R.E.M.E.); Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Talana Herbert Edward Walters) edge prepared prior to naming; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (7588463 S/Sgt. T. H. E. Walters. M.M. R.E.M.E.) number officially corrected on last, light contact marks, generally good very fine (8) £1,000-£1,400 --- M.M. London Gazette 12 April 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe.’ The original Recommendation states: ‘On 8 January 1945 “A” Squadron was detached to support 8 Infantry Brigade in the attack on Wanssum Wood, and Sergeant Walters in command of the Squadron A.R.V. accompanied it. A tank received a direct hit in Wanssum, and Sergeant Walters went up to it in its battle position under extremely heavy D.F. fire and towed it out although it was still on fire. He then went down to help the Canadians recover seven “Kangaroos” which were blown up on an uncleared minefield, and were under direct observed fire from the other side of Maas. Subsequently he went back to recover one of the Squadron’s tanks from the same minefield, but was driven back by the accuracy of the fire from the further bank; however, he returned after nightfall and worked on it until 02:00 the following morning in spite of continuing harassing fire and enemy patrols. During the period Sergeant Walters was in command of the only available A.R.V. and throughout displayed outstanding initiative in his efforts to recover the maximum number of vehicles and a complete disregard for his own safety.’ Talana Herbert Edward Walters was born on 2 December 1921 and served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during the Second World War. In civilian life he was employed at the Ministry of Defence, and was awarded the Imperial Service medal upon his retirement in 1987 (London Gazette 13 February 1987). He died in 1995.
Three: Private J. Binks, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914 Star, with copy clasp (5732 Pte. J. Binks. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (5732 Pte. J. Binks. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) good very fine (3) £80-£100 --- Joseph Binks was born at Leeds in 1879 and attested there for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry on 17 August 1898, having previously served in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. He served in India from 1899 to 1906, and then with the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during the Great War on the Western Front from 9 November 1914. He was discharged on the termination of his engagement, plus a period of 12 months, on 16 August 1915.
Five: Acting Regimental Sergeant Major A. E. Hill, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, later Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was wounded during the Great War Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6163 Pte. A. Hill. Oxford: Lt. Infy:); 1914 Star, with clasp (6163 Sjt. A. Hill. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (6163 Sjt. A. Hill. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) VM officially re-impressed; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (6163 Sjt. A. Hill. Oxf. & Bucks: L.I.) generally very fine (5) £240-£280 --- Albert Edward Hill was born in 1882 and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry on 19 December 1899, serving with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, and subsequently with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. Wounded during the Great War, he was discharged to a a pension on 18 December 1922, and subsequently joined the Corps of Commissionaires. He died in London in June 1928. Sold with copied research, including a copied group photograph.
Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (5373325 C. Sjt. G. C. Richards. Oxf. & Bucks.) extremely fine £70-£90 --- George Cecil Richards attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1934. He appears on the 1935 Jubilee Medal Roll for India, as Company Sergeant Major, 2nd Battalion O.B.L.I., and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal without annuity per Army Order 98 of 1953.
Six: Battery Sergeant-Major J. Gilbert, Royal Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Defence of Kimberley, Orange Free State (90431 Sjt. J. Gilbert, 23rd W.D., R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (90431 Corpl: J. Gilbert. R.G.A.); 1914 Star, with clasp (2658 B.S. Mjr. J. Gilbert. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (SR-2658 W.O. Cl. 2 J. Gilbert. R.A.); Mayor of Kimberley’s Star 1899-1900, reverse hallmark with date letter ‘a’, lacking top suspension brooch, light contact marks to the Boer War medals, otherwise nearly very fine and better (6) £500-£700
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (3565 Pte. J. Beale. Oxford L.I.) suspension claw tightened, edge bruising, nearly very fine £70-£90 --- James Beale was born at Witney, Oxfordshire, in 1872 and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry at Oxford on 21 January 1891. He was appointed to be Bugler in the 1st Battalion on 5 January 1893, and served with the Battalion in India from 4 December 1893 to 10 February 1902, seeing service on the North West Frontier of India with the Mohmand Field Force (entitled to the India General Service Medal with clasp Punjab Frontier 1897-98). Promoted Corporal on 26 June 1899, he was tried by Regimental Court Martial on 22 September 1899 for ‘using insubordinate language’, and reduced to Private. He saw further service in South Africa during the Boer War from 11 February to 4 October 1902, and was discharged on termination of his period of engagement on 20 January 1903. Sold with copied service papers.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (4799 Serjt. E. Betts. Oxford: L.I.) light polishing, nearly very fine £100-£140 --- Ernest Betts was born at Ashenden, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1876 and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry at Aylesbury on 30 May 1894. He served with the 1st Battalion in India on the North West Frontier with the Tirah Expeditionary Force, and the Mohmand Field Force (entitled to the India General Service Medal 1895-1902 with clasps for Punjab Frontier 1897 - 98, and Tirah 1897-98). He saw further service in South Africa during the Boer War from 9 January to 15 October 1902, and was appointed Lance Sergeant on 9 February 1902. He was discharged on termination of his engagement on 29 May 1906. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extracts.
A Second War C.B., C.B.E. group of eight awarded to Air Commodore T. Fawdry, Royal Air Force, late Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and Corporal, Royal Flying Corps The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914 Star, with clasp (776 Cpl. T. Fawdry. R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. T. Fawdry. R.A.F.) VM partially officially corrected; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935, very fine and better (8) £1,800-£2,200 --- Provenance: Christie’s 1990; Wing Commander Bill Traynor Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2007. C.B. London Gazette 13 June 1946. C.B.E. London Gazette 8 June 1944. Thomas Fawdry was born in April 1891, the eldest son of A. Fawdry of Maidenhead, and was educated at Abingdon. Enlisting in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in July 1909, he purchased his discharge in July 1913 in order to join the newly established Royal Flying Corps, and served out in France as a Corporal, attached to H.Q., R.F.C. from 18 August 1914. Later that year, on 17 December, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, and it would appear he remained employed in that capacity until being appointed a Staff Captain in the Middle East on the strength of the Royal Air Force in April 1918. He was awarded the M.B.E. (London Gazette 3 June 1919 refers). Between the Wars, Fawdry held a succession of appointments in the Stores and Equipment Branches of the Royal Air Force, including stints of service on the Staff in Iraq 1926-28 and in the Middle East 1933-36 (O.B.E.), and by the renewal of hostilities he was serving as a recently promoted Group Captain and C.O. of the R.A.F’s Maintenance Group. Advanced to Air Commodore in 1942, he transferred to the Staff of Bomber Command, and remained similarly employed until the end of the War, gaining a “mention” in addition to his C.B. and C.B.E. Placed on the Retired List in June 1946, Fawdry settled at Upper Clatford, near Andover in Hampshire. He resided at Sackville Court Farmhouse, a few hundred yards from the All Saints Church where he was Treasurer and Churchwarden. Air Commodore Fawdry died at home, and was buried at All Saints, in July 1968. Sold with a photographic image of recipient in uniform, and copied research.
An outstanding Great War ‘Zonnebeke 1917’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private H. G. Chamberlain, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, who personally accounted for six enemy snipers ‘stalking them when they declared themselves’ and subsequently died of severe wounds in April 1918 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (20655 Pte. H. G. Chamberlain. 2/Suff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (20655 Pte. H. G. Chamberlain. Suff. R.) together with Memorial Plaque (Henry George Chamberlain) nearly extremely fine (4) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 26 November 1917; citation London Gazette 6 February 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During operations, an enemy aeroplane flew over our lines and fired a white light, which was answered by a hostile sniper near by. Entirely on his own initiative he went in search of the sniper, found three in a shell-hole, killed them all, and returned with Very lights and a trench lamp. He afterwards accounted for three more snipers, lying out for hours in No Man’s Land and stalking them when they declared themselves.’ Annotated gazette states ‘Zonnebeke 20 [or 26] September 1917’, while contemporary news reports give a slightly longer citation, adding ‘He also entered a German pill-box and killed twelve more Germans single-handed.’ Henry George Chamberlain was born at Pirton, Hertfordshire, was resident at Hitchin and enlisted there into the Suffolk Regiment. He served with the 12th, 11th, 9th and, finally, 2nd Battalions in France and Flanders, part of the 76th Brigade in the 3rd Division. He died of severe wounds received in action on 20 April 1918, aged 39. His next of kin is noted as being an aunt, Elizabeth Gazely, of Pirton, Hitchin. Private Chamberlain is buried in Pernes British Cemetery, France. Sold with copied research including two extracts from The North Herts Mail, and war diary extracts.
‘I was particularly pleased and proud to hear the splendid news of your thoroughly well-deserved Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and very much wanted to drop you a line to send you my most heartfelt congratulations. To say that I am full of admiration for your truly exceptional courage, initiative and endurance, not to mention your selfless commitment to protect your comrades, is a serious understatement.’ (HRH The Prince of Wales in a letter dated 8 October 2013) The outstanding ‘Afghanistan 2013’ C.G.C. group of five awarded to Corporal J. E. H. Griffiths, 1st Battalion, Mercian Regiment, late Cheshire Regiment, who, having suffered a broken back and shrapnel fragments to his face in a bomb attack at Camp Folad, Helmand, Afghanistan in 2013, attended to other wounded men first despite his own debilitating injuries before confronting a party of insurgents which had entered the base throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons - dressed in light fatigues without protective equipment, he found a light machine-gun and engaged the enemy in a prolonged close range fire fight, thus allowing the wounded to be evacuated before leading an assault on the insurgents and clearing them from the base, only afterwards accepting medical treatment for his wounds, the seriousness of which necessitated his evacuation to the U.K. Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, E.II.R. (Cpl. J. E. H. Griffiths Mercian 25230885 2013) with its Royal Mint case of issue; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (25230885 Pte J E H Griffiths Cheshire); Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (25230885 Pte J E H Griffiths Mercian); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Afghanistan, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (LCp. J E H Griffiths Mercian 25230885); Jubilee 2012, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (5) £100,000-£120,000 --- C.G.C. London Gazette 4 October 2013. The original recommendation states: ‘On the evening of 25 March 13, with no warning, a massive Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), tore through the outer wall of the joint Afghan National Army (ANA) and International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) base. Estimated to be made up of half a tonne of explosives, the VBIED left a 40m gap in the perimeter wall, exposing the base to a well organised and complex attack. The cookhouse, where Corporal Griffiths and his fellow soldiers had been eating their evening meal was destroyed as was the operations room, which had been hit by 2 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs); resulting in casualties. Realising that a small number of determined insurgents had already gained entry into the patrol base and were less than 50m away from him and the other casualties, despite being seriously injured and wearing no protective equipment, Griffiths rallied the dazed soldiers around him. Armed with a light machine gun that he had grabbed in the chaos, Griffiths faced down the enemy who were throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons, placing himself and one other soldier between the casualties and the insurgents. His immediate actions halted the insurgents at the northern wall of the base, allowing the casualties from the initial explosion to be extracted. As other uninjured soldiers began to arrive, Griffiths who could have stepped back to receive treatment for his injuries, shrugged off his injuries and aided by the Sergeant Major, led a small team of soldiers as they charged forward in order to secure the base. Griffiths’ actions certainly saved the lives of his wounded comrades and contributed significantly to the successful defence of the base.’ Josh Edward Hayden Griffiths from Eastham, Wirral, Merseyside joined the British Army in September 2006. Having served previously in Afghanistan as well as Iraq and Northern Ireland, Griffiths was deployed with C Company (Cheshire), 1st Battalion, Mercian Regiment to Afghanistan as part of Herrick 17 on 6 October 2012. On 25 March 2013 at ISAF Patrol Camp Folad, Nad-e Ali, Helmand, Afghanistan, Corporal Griffiths was 23 days from the end of his tour and preparing to eat his evening meal when a pick-up truck packed with half a tonne of explosives was driven by a suicide bomber through the wall of the base. The resulting explosion tore a 40m gap in the perimeter wall; it was the start of an attack that was to last for several hours: ‘I was thrown around as well as everyone else and the next thing I remember it was dark and I was on my back. I heard one of the lads scream out.’ The cookhouse was utterly destroyed by the blast, as was the operations room. Griffiths’ back had been broken by the blast and grenade fragments were embedded in his face, just millimetres from his left eye. He was one of fifteen casualties (of whom one later died): ‘My first instinct was to see who was hurt and help. One of the lads was shouting that another was badly injured. We had to crawl through the debris in the dark to get him out... I heard one of the lads scream out, so I approached him and helped and then I climbed out of the tent to see if there were more casualties. When I did that, there were rounds snapping past and I thought, “That's a bit close.”’ Still disorientated, dressed in a combat shirt and fatigues without protective equipment, he grabbed a light machine gun and leaving the collapsed cookhouse, he was immediately confronted with a group of insurgents inside the walls of the base launching grenades and assaulting his position with automatic weapons less than 50m from him and the other casualties: ‘The job just took over and I pushed forward... I think adrenalin kicked in. Around me there were a lot of casualties. As soon as I was out in the open air, bullets where whizzing past my head, missing me by millimetres... I turned left and there were the insurgents standing there... they were also firing rocket propelled grenades. All I could think was ‘I have to stop them or they’ll kill me and my mates... I knew my friends were in trouble so I thought I’ve got to go out there and take the fight to them before anything happens to my lads.’ For some time an intense fire fight ensued at a range of just 25m. Despite his debilitating injuries, Griffiths killed one insurgent and his immediate response halted the insurgents at the northern wall of the base, allowing his injured comrades to be extracted: ‘I thought I’ve got to stay there... rather than me getting killed or my mates getting killed I wanted to kill them first.’ Inspired by Griffiths’ instinctive courage and leadership, other uninjured British soldiers began to arrive and join the fray, launching grenades back at the insurgents. Griffiths then, having consulted with the Sergeant-Major, decided that the best way to protect the base was to lead an attack on the enemy. With utter disregard for his own safety, he and the Sergeant-Major then led a small team as they charged forward and defeated the insurgents. Only once the base was secure did Griffiths agree to step back and receive medical treatment for his wounds. It was only afterwards that he realised he not only had damaged his eye, but had also broken the fourth vertebrae in his back in the original explosion when the vehicle hit the base. He later reflected: ‘When I got taken back to Camp Bastion and was lying in a hospital bed I thought about what happened – replaying what happened in my head... I was devastated we had lost a soldier. It is an amazing honour to receive the award and I am very proud but I’d much rather it hadn’t happened and he was still with us.’ Griffiths was later evacuated back to the UK due to the seriousness of his injuries. To be sold with the following original letters and...
A Great War O.B.E. group of three awarded to Major D. A. D. Sewell, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Order of the Crown of Italy The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (2.Lieut: D. A. D. Sewell. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); Victory Medal 1914-1919 (Lieut. D. A. D. Sewell) generally very fine (3) £180-£220 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 12 December 1919. M.I.D. London Gazette 11 June 1920. Italian Order of the Crown, Knight London Gazette 1 April 1919. Douglas Arden Dalrymple Sewell was born at Madras, India in 1895 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 8 August 1914. Appointed Adjutant of the 7th Battalion on 26 October 1914, he served during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 March 1915, and was wounded. He was promoted Lieutenant on 10 June 1916, and subsequently served as Adjutant of the 14th Infantry Base Depot. Seconded for service with the Tank Corps on 22 January 1917, he was promoted Staff Captain on the Military Secretary’s Staff on 6 December 1918, and promoted Temporary Major on 1 May 1919. For his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches, appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and was created a Knight of the Italian Order of the Crown. Sewell is recorded in the October 1943 Army List as Major, O.B.L.I. (Reserve of Officers), with Seniority from 29 August 1922. Having exceeded the age limit he ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers on 18 May 1948, and died at Bournemouth, Hampshire, in 1959.
A post-War 1960 Military Division B.E.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant W. R. Ryer, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached 2nd Battalion, The Queen’s Own Nigeria Regiment British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (14461821 Sgt. David W. R. Ryer, R.E.M.E.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (14461821 Sgt. D. W. R. Ryer. B.E.M. REME.) mounted for wear, light contacts marks overall, and edge cut to last, very fine (4) £200-£240 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 3 June 1960. The original recommendation states: ‘Sergeant Ryer joined the army in 1945 in the RASC. In 1946 he saw service in Greece and continued to serve with the Middle East Land Forces until September 1949. He was promoted Cpl in September 1948 and Sgt a year later. He returned to the United Kingdom in September 1949. He voluntarily transferred to the REME in 1951, and came to Nigeria in August 1953 serving with Nos 1 and 3 Command Wksps before joining this battalion in March 1954. Since then he has twice extended his service to enable him to complete the task which he had set himself of making his Nigerian successors completely competent in their duties before he leaves them to manage their own affairs. Sergeant Ryer is in charge of the technical repair and maintenance of all vehicles and other mechanical equipment on charge to 2nd Queen’s Own Nigeria Regiment. His untiring energy, and will to succeed, with which he has infected his subordinates, has improved the standard of vehicle mastership in this unit beyond recognition. It is due to his efforts, and his alone, that a very high standard has been attained despite tremendous difficulties caused by the steady reduction in the amount of European assistance and supervision available. At the same time as making this great contribution to day to day administration Sgt Ryer has devoted practically all the very little spare time left to him to instructing Nigerian NCOs and other ranks in their technical duties. This has gradually lead to the assumption of responsibilities by his subordinates so successfully that a very high standard can now be maintained in his absence. The admiration and respect which he has gained among Nigerian NCOs and other ranks, and the sound grounding he has given them by his untiring efforts for the later managing of their own affairs, is worthy of the best traditions of the Colonial Forces and deserving of the highest recognition.’
Four: Private A. J. Pratley, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all crudely privately engraved ‘A. J. Pratley. O.B.L.I.’; together with five O.B.L.I. regimental prize medals and miscellaneous unit insignia, very fine Four: Private Leslie P. Green, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, later Oxfordshire Special Constabulary 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Leslie P. Green) mounted as worn; together with a white metal Oxfordshire Special Constable lapel badge, very fine (8) £60-£80
Four: Private G. Smith, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and Royal Flying Corps, who was employed by the Great Western Railway 1914-15 Star (1514 Pte. G. Smith. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (20086 Pte. G. Smith. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Defence Medal, contact marks and polished, nearly very fine (4) £80-£100 --- George Smith was born at Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, in January 1891 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 10 February 1912, giving his profession as railway porter. He served with 1st/4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 March 1915 and received a slight shrapnel wound to the face and chin on 16 March 1916. He is noted on a casualty form as being a Bugler, when admitted to 31st Ambulance Train, in August 1917, for ‘I.C.T.’ (Inflammation of Connective Tissue). He later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, as an aero fitter, being renumbered 406937, transferring in as A.M. 2, on 5 January 1918, and was promoted to A.M. 1, on 30 July 1918. He was transferred to the R.A.F. Reserve on 11 March 1919. Sold together with cast white metal oval Great Western Railway Company badge with blackened background with two lugs; hallmarked silver Great Western Railway Fifteen Years First Aid Efficiency fob medal (5032 George Smith 1945); National Union of Railwaymen 30 Years Membership lapel badge in silver and enamels; small white metal pendant with photograph, inscribed in ink to reverse ‘G. Smith’; three railway staff buttons, one large ‘GWR’ maker marked ‘Compton Sons & Webb, London’, and two smaller buttons with locomotive motif.
Loading...-
534297 Los(e)/Seite