155745 Preisdatenbank Los(e) gefunden, die Ihrer Suche entsprechen

The rare M.G.S. medal for ‘Chrystler’s Farm’ awarded to Captain J. M. Shand, 89th Foot, one of only three officers of the regiment who lived to claim the clasp for this action Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Chrystler’s Farm (I. M. Shand, Capt. 89th Foot) correction to first initial, some very minor edge bruises, otherwise good very fine £14,000-£18,000 --- Only three M.G.S. medals with ‘Chrystler’s Farm’ clasp issued to officers of the 89th Foot, out of a total of only 17 officers to receive this clasp from British or Canadian regiments. John Muller Shand was originally commissioned as temporary Lieutenant in the 13th Foot on 15 October 1799, then as Ensign in the 15th Foot on 9 February 1801, but was placed on half-pay on 24 June 1802. He was appointed Ensign in the 89th Foot, from h.p. 15th Foot, on 22 October 1802, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 28 August 1804. He was appointed Adjutant in March 1806 and promoted to Captain on 15 January 1812. He was placed on half-pay on 25 January 1817, upon disbandment of the 2nd Battalion. Captain Shand served in the American War with the 2/89th and was present in the action at Chrystler’s Farm, for which he received the War Medal with one Clasp. Captain Shand died on 30 September 1851, at Horton, Hampshire.

The rare M.G.S. medal for ‘Fort Detroit’ awarded to Major Ebenezer Reynolds, 1st Essex Militia, who commanded the Flank companies of the 1st and 2nd Essex Militia at the first battle of Frenchtown on the River Raisin; he is the only Canadian officer of Field rank on the rolls for Fort Detroit Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Fort Detroit (E. Reynolds, Major, Canadn. Militia) extremely fine £8,000-£10,000 --- Provenance: Hayward, August 1971. A total of 31 M.G.S. medals with ‘Fort Detroit’ clasp issued to officers of Canadian units, of which Reynolds is the senior by rank. Major Ebenezer Reynolds, the commander of the Essex Militia, was the son of a Commissary officer to the British troops at Fort Detroit when it was a British possession. In the autumn of 1812 he occupied Frenchtown with two companies of militia and about 200 Pottawattomi native warriors, but on the advance of Colonel Lewis with a superior force, numbering about 680, was obliged to retire. Major Reynolds took part in all the engagements of the Right Division, viz. 1812 - Brownstown, 5 August; Maguaga, 9 August; Detroit, 16 August; 1813 - Frenchtown, 18 January; Frenchtown, 23 January (later known as the River Raisin Massacre); Miami, 1-9 May; Fort Meigs, 5 May; 1814 - Lundy’s Lane, 25 July. Major Reynolds served as a Permanent member of the Militia Pension Board of Upper Canada, established on 24 May 1816. He also received the Prince Regent’s land grant for services during the war. From 10 September 1833 until 7 August 1937, Major Reynolds was Sheriff of the Western District.

A fine group of five awarded to Captain Sir W. Maxwell, K.B.E., who, during a most adventurous career, served as War Correspondent for the Standard at the Battle of Omdurman, and also subsequently during the Boer War where he was shut up with the British forces at Ladysmith. Having witnessed some of the momentous opening exchanges of the Great War on behalf of the Daily Telegraph, he accepted a commission and served as Chief Field Censor on Sir Ian Hamilton’s Staff in the Dardanelles; he was recruited into the Secret Service after the war Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no claps (Mr. W. Maxwell. “Standard”); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Japan, Empire, Order of the Rising Sun, Fifth Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with central cabochon; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum, unnamed as issued; Japan, Empire, Russo-Japanese War Medal 1904-05, unnamed as issued, about very fine (5) £1,600-£2,000 --- Provenance: Sotheby’s February 1990, when sold together with K.B.E. neck badge and breast star, and Turkish Order of the Medjidjie Commander’s 3rd Class neck badge; and Spink May 1991 when sold with Turkish Order of the Medjidjie Commander’s 3rd Class neck badge. K.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 8 January 1919: ‘Captain William Maxwell’ William Maxwell was born in 1860 in Workington, Cumberland to Irish born parents. He was described in the 1881 census as a ‘Newspaper Reporter’ and in 1885 he was assigned by the morning Standard to replace John Cameron in the Sudan, the latter having perished with Hicks relief expedition in 1885. As war correspondent, he experienced the march to Khartoum with Kitchener’s army in 1898 and witnessed the defeat of the Mahdi at the Battle of Omdurman (Queen’s Sudan medal). After describing the spectacular tour of the German Emperor through Palestine and Syria, and covering the first peace conference at the Hague, 1899, he was packed off by his employers to cover the Boer War where he was shut up with the British Forces under White at Ladysmith. Undaunted by this trying experience, he then went to Kimberley and was with Robert’s army in every engagement from the capture of Bloemfontein to the Battles of Lydenburg and Komati Point (medal). He then served as the Standard’s correspondent on the Prince and Princess of Wales’s tour around the Empire, March to November 1901 and the following year published his own account of the voyage - With the “Ophir” Round the Empire. In 1903 Maxwell joined the Daily Mail with which paper he was assigned to cover the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-05. He accompanied General Kuroki’s Army from the Battle of Yalu to the Battle of Shaho and was with General Nogi at the surrender of Port Arthur (Order of the Rising Sun and medal), the campaign was described in his book From the Yalu to Port Arthur: a personal record (1906). This was followed by a number of Eastern trips including the Prince of Wales’ Indian tour and his attendance at the Coronation of the Shah and the Delhi Durbar of 1911 (medal). A journey up the Yangtze to cover the revolution in Peking was then followed by a visit to Borkum to report on the German island defences and he accompanied the Bulgarian forces whilst reporting on the Balkan Wars, 1912. At the outbreak of the Great War Maxwell was in the service of the Daily Telegraph attached to the Belgian Army and, in the first of many adventures during that war, he was arrested by a British patrol outside Mons after fleeing Brussels as it fell to the German Army in August 1914. He was present at the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne and received a commission as Captain on the Special List attached to the Imperial General Staff on 16 April 1915 (London Gazette 16 April 1915). He immediately embarked for the Dardanelles where he joined the Headquarters Staff of Sir Ian Hamilton as Chief Field Censor. Under regulations drawn up and enforced by the British Army, press correspondents at Gallipoli were required to submit all their writings to Captain Maxwell, whose approval was required prior to their transmission. Maxwell therefore played a central role in the unsuccessful attempt to palliate reports about the events unfolding in the Gallipoli Campaign. After the war he became a section head in the Secret Service. Captain Sir William Maxwell died at Wraysbury in 1928, aged 66. Sold with a 1902 copy of With the “Ophir” Round the Empire. Note: No Great War Medal Index Card or medal roll entries for Maxwell have been found. His Great War campaign medal entitlement is therefore not confirmed.

The Queen’s South Africa Medal pair awarded to Lord Cecil Manners, War Correspondent for the Morning Post, who was taken prisoner by the Boers near Johannesburg on 30 May 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Lord Cecil Manners, M.P.) officially engraved naming; Coronation 1902, silver issue, unnamed as issued, nearly very fine (2) £1,200-£1,600 --- Lord Cecil Reginald John Manners was born on 4 February 1868, the second son of John Manners, 7th Duke of Rutland, by his second marriage to Janetta, daughter of Thomas Hughan, and half brother of Henry Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland. He was educated at Charterhouse and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Lord Cecil went to South Africa in early 1900 to serve as press correspondent for the Morning Post, the paper that also employed Winston Churchill, and was with General Ian Hamilton’s force when he was captured following a fight with the Boers near Johannesburg on 30 May 1900. The following report of the action, written by General Rundle, appeared in the Morning Post on 1 June 1900: ‘The brunt of the fighting yesterday fell on Ian Hamilton’s column. I had sent him, as already mentioned, to work round to the west of Johannesburg in support of French’s Cavalry, which was directed to go to the north near the road leading to Pretoria. I have not heard from French yet but Hamilton, in a report which has just reached me, states that at about one o’clock in the afternoon he found his way blocked by the enemy strongly posted on some kopjes and ridges three miles south of the Rand. They had two heavy guns, several field guns, and “pom-poms.” Hamilton at once attacked. The right was led by the Gordons, who after capturing one extremity of the ridge, wheeled round and worked along it until after dark, clearing it of the enemy, who fought most obstinately. The City Imperial Volunteers led on the other flank and would not be denied. But the chief share of the action, as in the casualties, fell to the Gordons, whose gallant advance excited the admiration of all.’ Having been reported as missing on 30 May, Lord Cecil arrived as a prisoner at Pretoria on 1 June and was immediately liberated. Returning to England shortly afterwards, he succeeded his brother as Member of Parliament for Melton in September 1900, holding the seat until 1906. He served as assistant private secretary to the Secretary of State for India and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Derbyshire in 1902. Lord Cecil Manners died in an accident at Crowborough train station in 1945, aged 77. Sold together with a small file of copied research and a portrait photograph of the recipient.

The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Mr. E. A. Brayley Hodgetts, who served as Special Correspondent for the Daily Express in South Africa during the Boer War; a noted and widely travelled journalist and author, his entertaining remembrances were published in 1924 under the title ‘Moss from a Rolling Stone’ Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Mr. B. Hodgetts. “Daily Express”) good very fine £1,000-£1,400 --- Edward Arthur Brayley Hodgetts was born in Berlin in 1859, a British subject by parentage, and was educated at Moscow. During a highly cosmopolitan career, he served as Russian Correspondent to The Times, the Daily Graphic and and Reuters for several years, was Paris Editor of Dalziel’s Agency, Foreign Editor of the New York World, Librarian to the Institution of Civil Engineers and wrote many books, the first of which - Personal Reminiscences of General Skobeleff - was published by W. H. Allen & Co. in 1884. He was fluent in many languages and widely travelled from a young age, spending time on the Continent as well as in America, Russia and Asia Minor - his experiences of the the latter two were related in two well-received travel memoirs: In the track of the Russian famine; the personal narrative of Journey through the famine districts of Russia, published by T. Fisher Unwin in 1892 and Round about Armenia: the record of a journey across the Balkans through Turkey, the Caucasus, and Persia in 1895, published by Low, Marston, 1896. He translated Johann David Wyss’s The Swiss Family Robinson into a widely read English language version in 1897 and throughout this period authored many articles for The Strand Magazine and The Pall Mall Gazette. Following the outbreak of the Boer War, Sir Arthur Pearson secured the services of Brayley Hodgett to cover the conflict as Special Correspondent for his soon to be launched newspaper, The Daily Express. Having embarked for the Cape in the Dunvegan Castle in mid February 1900, Brayley Hodgetts is known to have been invalided with enteric fever during his time in South Africa. Returning to London, he continued to write, his books now beginning to focus mostly on Russian and German historical themes: The court of Russia in the nineteenth century, Methuen 1908; The House of Hohenzollern: two centuries of Berlin court life, Dutton 1911; The life of Catherine the Great of Russia, Brentano’s 1914 and Glorious Russia : its life, people and destiny, Bristol 1915. In the 1911 census, however, he describes himself as an author of literature and Secretary of a public company in the Dynamite Trade; his book entitled ‘The rise and progress of the British explosives industry’ had been published two years earlier. Towards the end of his career, in 1924, his wrote an entertaining and anecdote filled personal memoir, ‘Moss from a Rolling Stone’, in relation to which the following article appeared in The Scotsman, 31 March 1924: ‘Mr E. A. Brayley Hodgetts makes a very agreeable companion in his recollections of what has been a varied and active career. As a journalist and foreign correspondent he has visited many lands and met all sorts and conditions of men; and he records his impressions effectively, bringing many a good story to his aid. He was born in Berlin - “because a man is born in a stable he is not necessarily a horse, and my being born in Berlin of British parents did not involve the forfeiture of my birthright as an Englishman” - and his earliest recollection of Berlin was - “seeing a rather flush faced officer, clean shaven, in a military cap, and with strange, dreamy, blue eyes, driving in an open carriage. That was Frederick William IV., the mad king of Prussia!” Subsequent memories cluster round New York after the Civil War, London in the ‘eighties, Berlin under William II, Paris under the Republic, St. Petersburg under Alexander III. There are chapters on experiences in the Near East and in South Africa . Among well-known figures of whom there are glimpses in the course of the reminiscences are Ruskin, Bronte Harte, Oscar Wilde, Tolstoy, Gladstone, Joseph Chamberlain, Clemenceau, King Edward VII and Kaiser Wilhelm II.‘ He died at Kensington, London in 1932.

The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to ‘painter, etcher, raconteur and rifle-shot’, Mortimer Menpes, who accompanied the City of London Imperial Volunteers to the front during the Boer War as war artist for Black & White illustrated weekly magazine Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp, (Mr. M. Menpes “Black & White.”) very fine £1,400-£1,800 --- Mortimer Luddington Menpes was born in 1855 at Port Adelaide, South Australia, the son of property developer James Menpes and was educated at John L. Young’s Adelaide Educational Institution, although his formal art training began at the School of Art in London in 1878 after his family had moved back to England in 1875 and settled in Chelsea. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1880, and, over the following 20 years, 35 of his paintings and etchings were shown at the Academy. He met James McNeil Whistler on a sketching tour of Brittany in 1880 and became Whistler’s pupil, learning the etching techniques that were to become evident in much of his later work. In 1886 he stood as godfather to Oscar Wilde’s son and the following year, a visit to Japan led to his first one-man exhibition at Dowdeswell’s Gallery in London. In 1900, following the outbreak of war in the Transvaal, Menpes sailed to South Africa as a war artist for the weekly illustrated magazine Black & White, in which, on 3 February 1900, the following appeared: ‘Accompanying the City of London Imperial Volunteers to the front is an artist whose name is known the whole world over, because he is first of all an artist, and secondly a reporter of events. This is Mr. Mortimer Menpes, who is entitled to tag after his name a list of honours and titles of which few artists can boast. Mr. Menpes is the inventor of a process of colour etching, in which, to the sharpness and definition attained by the tools of the etcher, he has added the softness and brilliance of all the rich colours that may be laid on the painter’s palette. Mr Menpes will be able to send us from the front portraits of all the principal Generals and notabilities of the war.’ Menpes’ sketches from the campaign were subsequently transcribed by his daughter Dorothy Menpes and published by Charles Black of Soho Square in 1901 under the title ‘War Impressions, being a record in colour by Mortimer Menpes’. After the war Menpes travelled widely and and many of his illustrations were published in books again accompanied by text written by Dorothy. He painted in oil and watercolour as well as being a prolific printmaker, producing over 700 etchings and drypoints during his career to great acclaim. A definitive catalog raisonné of his printed works was published in 2012 which also included an extensive biography and his exhibition history. He died at Pangbourne in 1938. ‘Menpes, Mortimer, F.R.G.S.; painter, etcher, raconteur, and rifle-shot; inartistically born in Australia; war artist for Black and White in South Africa, 1900. Educ.: nominally at a grammar school in Port Adelaide, but really on a life scheme of his own. His career as a painter began when he was one year old; he is still a painter. He had held more one-man exhibitions in London than any other living painter: viz Japan, India, Mexico, Burmah, Cashmere, France, Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Venice, Beautiful Women, Beautiful Children, The War in South Africa, Venice, exhibitions of Black and White, and of Etchings in colour, thereby reviving a lost art. Publications: a whole series of etchings at different periods; Essays (one called the Actualists, a skit on the Impressionists); War Impressions, 1901; Japan 1901; World Pictures, 1902; World’s Children, 1903; The Durbar, 1903; Venice, 1904; Whistler as I knew Him, 1904; Brittany, 1905; Rembrandt, 1905; India, 1905; Thames, 1906; Sir Henry Irving, 1906; Portrait Biographies, Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener. In the preparation of World Pictures he did the world in record time, being unsurpassed even by Jules Verne. Founder of the Menpes Press; Founder of the Menpes Great Masters, which are reproduced under his direction; Founder and Managing Director of the Menpes Fruit Farms, Pangboume.’ (Who’s Who, 1932) Sold together with a copy of Black & White magazine (cover loose), dated 3 February 1900, containing the above quoted reference to Menpes and his portrait picture; copy of Black & White magazine, dated 5 May 1900, cover loose; a quantity of copies of Menpes’ illustrations and sketches appearing in Black & White magazine during 1900; a letter from Menpes to a Mr Head, written from the Vicarage, Gorelstone in 1902, regarding a sold painting; other copied research and the following 8 hardback books: Deluxe Edition (No 86 of 350 copies and signed by Mortimer Menpes) of War Impressions, being a record in colour by Mortimer Menpes transcribed by Dorothy Menpes published by Adam & Charles Black Soho Square, London 1901, very good condition; another, standard 1901 edition, binding loose; Japan a record in colour by Mortimer Menpes transcribed by Dorothy Menpes published by Adam & Charles Black , Soho Square, London 1901, binding loose; World Pictures by Mortimer Menpes text by Dorothy Menpes published by A. & C. Black Soho Square London 1902; World’s Children by Mortimer Menpes text by Dorothy Menpes, published by Adam and Charles Black, London, 1903, 1st edition, Westbourne School Sheffield 1908 prize label inside front cover - awarded to Dorothy A. Nash, cover of spine weak; India by Mortimer Menpes text by Flora Annie Steel published by Charles Black Soho Square London, 1912 edition, ex public library, spine sun faded; Paris by Mortimer Menpes text by Dorothy Menpes published by Adam and Charles Black 1909, with partially torn dust jacket, inscribed inside front cover ‘with love and good wishes from all at Netherley, Xmas 1909’ Venice by Lonsdale and Laura Ragg illustrated by Mortimer Menpes, published by A. & C. Black Ltd. 4,5 & 6 Soho Square, London, 1916.

The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Mr. Daniel Innes Calder, Special Correspondent for Reuter’s Agency in Basutoland during the Boer War, who was personally complemented by Baron Reuter and made the subject of a substantial testimonial on account of his intrepid reporting during the conflict Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Mr. D. Innes Calder. “Reuter.”) nearly very fine £1,000-£1,400 --- Daniel Innes Calder was born in Fraserburgh, Scotland in 1866. He served for seven years as a journalist in South Africa, including during the Boer War as special correspondent for Reuter’s Agency in Basutoland, seeing much action and performing some impressive feats of journalism, services for which he was personally complemented by Baron Reuter and made the subject of a special testimonial following his return to Britain in 1901. His brother, also a war correspondent, died of dysentery whilst working for Reuters during the Boer War. The following obituary appeared in print following Calder’s death in 1907: ‘His many friends in Fraserburgh, and in other parts of the country, will regret to hear the death of Mr Daniel Innes Calder, a partner of the printing and publishing firm of Messrs Calder Brothers, Fraserburgh. The sad event took place on Saturday morning at his residence, Seamount, Fraserburgh. Mr Calder had not been in robust health for some time, but he was at work at his office little more than a week ago. He was only 41 years of age, and had an interesting career as a journalist. After having been for several years a reporter on the “Fraserburgh Advertiser,” Mr Calder, prior to leaving Fraserburgh, was editor of the paper, but on account of ill-health he left for South Africa in the end of 1896. On arrival at Cape Town, he made his way to Bloemfontein, where he saw the late President Kruger, and heard him make his speech on the fatal close alliance between the Transvaal and the Free State, the outcome of which was the war. After a short residence in the Orange Free State capital, Mr Calder went to Maseru, Basutoland. Here he met Sir Godfrey Lagden, then Resident Commissioner, and became connected with Reuter’s News Agency. Leaving Basutoland for Swaziland, where he was appointed editor of the “Swaziland Times,” Mr Calder found himself in a different country, and climate, and among quite a different race of people. When he had been about a year and a half in Bremensdorp, the Boers declared war, and Swaziland being under Dutch, or rather Transvaal, administration, all Britishers had to clear out of the country as best they could. There being no railway nearer than the Delagoa Bay line, the long trek to the railway had to be done in waggons. After a visit to Lorenzo Marquez, Mr Calder went back to Basutoland, his brother, another of Reuter’s correspondents, having succumbed to dysentery. It was worthy of note that his brother was the correspondent whose message of the relief of Kimberley was the first information of the great event received in Britain. After a stay of a month or more in Basutoland, during which time Ladybrand, close to Basuto border, was besieged, Mr Calder left to join General Hunter’s forces. There were plenty of “scraping” then, and Mr Calder frequently accompanied Colonel Damant in a skirmish. He was also with the 2nd Brigade, and while attached to saw the burning of Bothaville. He was at the capture of 11 guns, taken from the Boers in a hot action, when the gallant and able Colonel Le Gallais and a number of other officers were killed. During the engagement De Wet was personally in command of the Boers. The report of this important capture of guns Mr Calder had in London five or six hours before Lord Robert’s official despatch was received, and for his smart work he received great credit from Reuter. He continued with General Bruce Hamilton’s forces until ordered north to Kitchener’s great drive, which thanks to the irregularity of the trains, he just missed. Making a short stay in Pretoria, he travelled to Ladysmith, and on to Harrismith, in which district General Rundle was operating. After following the fortunes of the Guerilla warfare for a time, he covered the long journey from Ladysmith to Bloemfontein by train, and thence to Basutoland , where he received leave to return home after a stay of five years in the country. On several occasions he rode, through difficult country, and obtained information of great value, which he managed to transmit by telegraph to his agency, earning from those in whose service he was the highest encomiums for intrepidity, smartness, and accuracy. His services were specially acknowledged when he returned to this country in 1901. Then he was personally complemented by Baron Reuter, the head of the Agency, in London, and made the recipient of a substantial testimonial in recognition of his services. Mr Calder was one of the few war correspondents who received a medal from the Government, as a mark of appreciation of his services in connection with the war. One of his most prized meetings was his interview with Sir Hector Macdonald. He called upon “Fighting Mac” in Aliwal North where General Macdonald was acting as Commandant. The gallant general received him with much warmth and on taking his departure after a long conversation Mr Calder received a hearty invitation to make another call on an early date. Locally Mr Calder was a great favourite, his bright and witty disposition making him very popular wherever he went. He took a great interest in many local institutions, especially those of a sporting and recreative kind. He was a prominent member of the Fraserburgh Liberal Club. In the Mid Street Congregational Church on Sunday afternoon, feeling reference was made by Rev. Thomas Johnstone, to the loss the congregation has sustained by the death of Mr Calder. The funeral which will be a Masonic one, takes place to Kirkton cemetery this afternoon.’ (The Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties Advertiser, 19 March 1907)

Pair: Private T. W. Kitchen, 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died of wounds in France on 1 April 1918 British War and Victory Medals (26306 Pte. T. W. Kitchen. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Memorial Plaque (Thomas William Kitchen) the reverse of the plaque additionally engraved with his regimental details and ‘Born Quinton, Glos. Enlisted Stratford-on-Avon, Warks. D of W. 1st Apr. 1918. France. Lest We Forget’, nearly extremely fine (3) £60-£80 --- Thomas William Kitchen died of wounds on 1 April 1918, and is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. He was married to Helen Kitchen, of Shakespeare Street, Stratford-on-Avon.

Pair: Private W. A. Smith, 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action at Bois de Blancy, France, on 4 April 1918 British War and Victory Medals (30105 Pte. W. A. Smith. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Memorial Plaque (William Allan Smith) drilled with three holes for mounting, very fine (3) £60-£80 --- William Allan Smith was born at Berts Mourton, Worcestershire, and enlisted at Worcester into the 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He was killed in action on 4 April 1918 at Bois de Blancy, east of Hamel: ‘Heavy bombardment opens at 5.25 am; about 8.00 Germans attack employing at least 4 waves of troops. Both flanks go, Battalion forced to evacuate position. Line taken up South of Varied. 1 2/Lt killed and 6 wounded. 1 Major and 1 Lt missing. 160 other ranks killed, wounded or missing.’ He was the son of Mrs Annie Smith, of Castlemorton, Malvern, Worcestershire, and is commemorated by name in Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres.

A Great War ‘Kut-al-Amara’ D.C.M. awarded to Sergeant T. W. Armitt, 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died in captivity after the fall of Kut Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8397 Sjt: T. W. Armitt. 1/O. & B.L.I.) nearly extremely fine £700-£900 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 12 December 1917. No citations were published for the 65 awards of the D.C.M. announced in this gazette. It is believed that they were all rewards for services prior to the fall of Kut-al-Amara or whilst in captivity. M.I.D. London Gazette 13 July 1916: ‘Officers, N.C.O.’s, and men under Major-General C. V. F. Townshend, C.B., D.S.O., brought to notice for Gallant and Distinguished Service in the Field from 5th October 1915 to 17th January 1916.’ Thomas William Armitt served with the 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and entered the Asiatic theatre of war on 5 December 1914. The battalion history records that he was wounded at the capture of One Tower Hill on 31 May 1915 (p 61) and that he led “R” Company (67 men) on the march to captivity (p 225). He was captured at Kut and died in captivity at Afiun Qarahisar on 4 November 1916. He is commemorated by name in the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq. Banbury Guardian, 20 January 1916: ‘Sgt. T. W. Armitt of the 1st Oxf. & Bucks. L.I., son of Mr W. Armitt, 50 Calthorpe St., has been wounded in the Persian Gulg and his parents received notification a few days ago. This is the second time Sgt. Armitt has been wounded. Mr & Mrs Armitt have three other sons serving with the colours.’ Banbury Guardian, 29 June 1916: ‘Mrs Armitt, 50 Calthorpe St., has been advised that her youngest son L/Cpl. Edward Armitt was killed in action on the 16th inst. He was serving with the South Wales Borderers and was only 18 years of age. Sgt. T. W. Armitt, the eldest son, is presumed to be a prisoner of war with the Turks having been with General Townshend’s force at Kut-al-Amara, and another son Pte. Charles Armitt was wounded by a shell a year ago and is still in hospital. A fourth son is serving with the local territorial battalion at the front.’ Banbury Guardian, 15 February 1917: ‘Mr William Armitt of Calthorpe St has this week been notified of the death of his eldest son Sgt. T. W. Armitt of the Oxford & Bucks L.I. which occurred from intestinal inflammation at Afiun Karahisar on November the 4th. Sgt. Armitt was with General Townshend’s force throughout the defence of Kut and died a prisoner in the hands of the Turks. He was mentioned in despatches for bravery and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.’

Pair: Private William Fox, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who later served with the 8th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment and was killed in action 26 October 1918 British War and Victory Medals (24376 Pte. W. Fox. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Memorial Plaque (William Fox) and R. Berks cap badge, good very fine (4) £60-£80 --- William Fox was born in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire and enlisted at Oxford into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He later served with the 8th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment and was killed in action on 26 October 1918. He is commemorated by name on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Whrmn: J. Hamilton, Irish Hospital) nearly extremely fine and scarce £400-£500 --- Provenance: John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2003. The Irish Hospital was offered to the Central Committee of the British Red Cross, in December 1899, by Lord Iveagh, who generously offered to pay for equipping the hospital for service in South Africa. He proposed that ‘it should be as far as possible a mobile unit and that the management should be left to whatever civilian medical gentleman he should select’. The hospital was formally established on 28 December 1899, and the first personnel and equipment sailed for the Cape in the following February. On arrival at Cape Town the staff went into camp at Green Point and then moved by rail to Naauwport, arriving there on 10 March. The following day two surgeons, two dressers and eighteen orderlies, with stores, were sent by rail to De Aar. The remainder of the unit, being under orders to move to Bloemfontein, were unable to operate at Naauwport. The final move was made between 10th and 12th April and the De Aar detachment joined the main body on 21 April at Bloemfontein. On 10 May 1900 a section under Sir William Thomson marched out to join Lord Roberts’ force at Kroonstadt, were attached to the 11th Division on the advance which commenced on 22 May, and reached Pretoria on 6 June. On 14 June the Irish Hospital commenced operations in the Palace of Justice and by 19 June had had 93 admissions. The original capacity of 100 beds was soon extended to 250 beds and by 10 July there were 500 beds, the staff being supplemented by military personnel. No patients were admitted after 30 September 1900 and the unit left South Africa on 15 October, handing over its last 180 patients to the Royal Army Medical Corps. The medal roll for the Irish Hospital shows a total of 67 members entitled to the medal with various clasps. Also included in the roll are three members of the R.A.M.C. and 25 Nursing Sisters of the Army Nursing Service Reserve. Hamilton is one of two Washermen shown on the roll and, interestingly, is one of only two recipients to receive just these two clasps.

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Nassau 22 March 1808 (Geo. Shreeves.) good very fine £3,000-£4,000 --- George Shreeves is confirmed on the rolls as an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. Nassau for the destruction, in company with Stately, of the Danish 74-gun ship-of-the-line Prinds Christian Frederick off the coast of Jutland, Denmark, on 22 March 1808. Approximately 30 clasps issued to each ship. George Shreeves is not to be confused with George Shreeve (without an ‘s’) who received the clasp for Stately 1808 and Boat Service 25 July 1809, his two-clasp medal being named ‘George Shreeve, Midshipman’ and sold at Glendining’s in June 1952. Both of these men are shown on the Admiralty Claimants Lists (ADM 171/2) and a Clerk has even underlined each name to emphasise the different spelling and the fact that they are two different men. Most of the published rolls show each man correctly but Shreeves is omitted from the Douglas-Morris roll altogether as a result of misinterpretation. Nevertheless, this medal to Shreeves was sometime fitted with clasp for Stately 1808 and has since been expertly restored to its correct entitlement by C. J. & A. J. Dixon in June 2012 (paperwork confirmation included with Lot refers).

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Sahagun, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (Edmond Drewett, 15th Hussars.) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and scarce £2,000-£2,600 --- 103 clasps for Sahagun issued, mostly to the 15th Hussars who were not present at the subsequent action of Benevente. Edmond Drewett/Drewitt was born on 8 December 1788, in the Parish of Coggs, near Witney, Oxfordshire, and attested for the 15th Hussars at Queen’s Square, London on 18 December 1805, aged 17, a bricklayer by trade. He served ‘nearly three months in Spain in 1808-09, one year and four months in Portugal, Spain and France in 1813 & 14, and was in the Battle of Vittoria, Orthes and Toulouse. About a year in the Netherlands and France in 1815 & 16 and was at the Battle of Waterloo. Wounded at Vittoria in the head and at St Germier in the right arm. Distinguished himself as a Brave Soldier in Action.’ He served a total of 28 years, including two years for Waterloo, and was discharged to a Chelsea Hospital out-pension on 11 December 1832, in consequence of sciatica in the right leg and thigh which has left the limb weak and stiff. The Principal Medical Officer at Chatham reported that his ‘constitution [was] much broken by wounds and long service.’ During his service he had been promoted to Corporal on 25 August 1815, but was reduced to Private on 22 April 1821, in which rank he served the rest of his time. Edmund Drewett is listed in the regimental history by H. C. Wylly as one of the N.C.O.’s and men who specially distinguished themselves in the Peninsula, South of France and Waterloo, and he was also noted in his discharge papers as being a ‘Brave Soldier in Action.’ Edmund Drewett was married to Elisabeth Owen in Manchester on 18 June 1819, where two months later the 15th Hussars played a pivotal role in the notorious ‘Peterloo Massacre’. He was still alive and living as an ‘Army Pensioner’ at Coggs in 1861. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.

The historically important North West Canada medal awarded to Mr E. S. Andrews, a prominent citizen of Saskatoon, who was appointed transport officer aboard the steamer Northcote, and was present at the battles of Fish Creek and Batoche North West Canada 1885, no clasp (E. S. Andrews. For services on Steamer Northcote.) engraved naming, lightly toned, good very fine and very rare £2,000-£2,600 --- E. Shelton Andrews was born in New Brunswick and served 14 years in merchant naval service before heading west. In 1884 he was hired by the Temperance Colony Pioneer Society to sail the May Queen from Medicine Hat to Saskatoon. He subsequently decided to homestead at Saskatoon and married Mary Ellen Thompson in 1885. At the start of the rebellion Andrews was appointed Captain of the Saskatoon home guard. Owing to his naval experience he was ordered to command the ferry at Clarke’s Crossing, where he was charged with transporting men and equipment across the South Saskatchewan River. He also served as a river pilot for both Lord Melgund and the reporter George Ham. After his ferry service he was appointed transport officer on the steamship Northcote which was ordered to make a diversionary attack at Batoche. As the ship sailed past Batoche it was riddled with bullets from the shore. Andrews volunteered to reinforce the wheelhouse and was hit by a bullet through his cap and another that dented a metal case in his shirt pocket. Despite the Northcote’s lack of success as a fighting ship, the army commander on board ordered the ship’s captain to make another pass by Batoche but the captain refused owing to a lack of wood. Andrews was then offered command of the ship but refused for the same reason. After the capture of Riel, Andrews hitched a ride back on the Northcote and was placed in the cabin next to Riel. The medal is accompanied by some research including a Saskatoon Star Phoenix article from 1966 that includes a photograph and description of Andrews’ medal, and partial transcript of the ‘Proceedings of Fifth Meeting, Saskatoon Historical Association, April 5th, 1922’ in which Captain Andrews gives his experiences in the Riel Rebellion. The family always referred to his N.W. Canada medal as an award for bravery. To some extent this seems to be true. Transport Officers were non-combatants and as such did not receive the ‘Saskatchewan’ clasp. However, Andrews was clearly under fire but as he was not a member of the Northcote's crew, his medal is engraved ‘for services’, acknowledging his important role on the Northcote. Andrews is confirmed on the roll as a Captain in the Transport Service.

The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Madame Alice Bron, a Belgian lady whose ‘Diary of a Nurse in South Africa’ provides a narrative of her experiences as a nurse attached to an ambulance with the Boer Forces and later as a nursing sister in the British service in South Africa Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Nursing Sister A. Bron) with re-affixed replacement suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £300-£500 --- The following extract is taken from a review of her diary published in The Times, August 27, 1901: ‘Mme. Alice Bron, whose DIARY OF A NURSE IN SOUTH AFRICA (Chapman and Hall) has been translated from the French by G. A. Raper, is a Belgian lady who has for many years taken an active part in hospital work. When war broke out in the Transvaal, she joined the staff of the ambulance sent out by the Dutch and Belgian Red Cross Associations, and remained in South Africa until the summer of 1900, when she was recalled to Belgium by the sudden death of her husband. Mme. Bron went out, she tells us, full of enthusiasm for the Boer cause, but she had got no further than Lorenzo Marques when her enthusiasm began to ebb away. She preserved enough, however, to enable her to write from Pretoria an article for the Petit Bleu, extolling the civilisation of the Boers; but she now confesses in her preface that that with a newcomer’s ignorance she mistook the Hollander colony for the Boers themselves, and devotes the bulk of her book to telling us in no uncertain terms what she thought of the Boers... It is pleasant to read that when Mme. Bron had settled her affairs in Belgium, she returned as a nursing sister in the British service to South Africa.’ Sold with a recent O.C.R. reprint of Alice Bron’s diary.

Family group: The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Private C. Jones, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was mortally wounded at Colesberg on 1 January 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (4164 Pte. C. Jones, 2nd Rl: Berks: Regt.) Three: Private F. G. Jones, Royal Berkshire Regiment, later Royal Army Ordnance Corps 1914-15 Star (16578 Pte. F. G. Jones. R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals (16578 Pte. F. G. Jones. R. Berks. R.) good very fine (4) £260-£300 --- Private C. Jones was mortally wounded at Colesberg on 1 January 1900, and died two days later. He was the father of Frederick G. Jones, who served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment in France from 23 February 1915, and later transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Mafeking (170 Corpl: W. Frankish. Protect: Regt. F.F.) extremely fine £1,800-£2,200 --- Walter Frankish was killed at Mafeking on 7 December 1899, by a shell splinter from a 94-pounder. Originally from Accrington, Lancashire, he was an electrical engineer prior to attesting on 18 August 1899 for service with “D” Squadron in Colonel Baden Powell’s Frontier Force (later the Protectorate Regiment F.F.). The following extract is taken from the Mafeking Diary of Edward Ross, Thursday, 7 December 1899: ‘Two large shells this afternoon burst in front of a chemist shop in the Market Square, destroying the whole of the shop and cutting a native all to pieces; parts of him were found lying about the road. Two of B.P.’s staff (Tracey and Wilson) were in the shop at the time, but very luckily escaped being hurt. Some of the pieces of these shells after bursting seemed to travel around corners, one 94-pounder burst in the Market Square. A small piece of it seemed to come around the corner of the street, passed through the door of the Mafeking Hotel bar and into the head of the man standing at the counter, Corporal Frankish of D Squadron P.R. who was killed on the spot. Another native was also killed today, a piece of a 94-pounder literally cutting him in half.’ Sold with copied research and several photographs of his grave and memorial.

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (W. Cuthbert, 52nd L.I.) very fine £200-£260 --- William Cuthbert was accidentally shot and killed on 16 July 1857. Mr R. G. Wilberforce refers to this incident in his book An Unrecorded Chapter of the Indian Mutiny, at p 66, ‘That evening one of our poor fellows shot himself, etc.’ In reviewing this book in 1895, the Regimental Chronicle states: ‘The man here referred to accidentally lost his life thus: On the 16th July, 1857 (not the 15th as given in the book), after returning from an engagement on an island in the Ravee, an officer gave his revolver to Private William Cuthbert (D, or Captain Crosse’s company), to take home. During the Day, Cuthbert, who was sitting down in the corner of the tent at the time, handed the revolver to Bat. [Bartholomew] Ryan to look at; while he (Ryan) was examining it, the weapon went off accidentally and shot Cuthbert dead. Those two men were regimental tailors, and strong comrades for years. Indeed, poor Ryan never did much good in the corps after the deplorable occurrence, for he seemed ever after to take the affair very much to heart.’

The 1914-15 Star awarded to Lieutenant-Commander W. A. Selby, Royal Navy, who was commended for services aboard H.M.S. Mersey in action against the Konigsberg in the Rufiji River Delta on 6 July 1915, when he ‘was in the top controlling the fire all the 6th July’ 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. W. A. Selby. R.N.) very fine £100-£140 --- Walter Arthur Selby was born in London on 31 July 1882, and joined the Royal Navy as Midshipman on 15 May 1899; Sub-Lieutenant, 15 May 1902; Lieutenant, 30 September 1904; Lieutenant-Commander, 30 September 1912. He was appointed to H.M.S. Severn on 8 August 1914, and transferred to her sister-ship Mersey 6 days later, serving in Mersey until invalided on 28 February 1916, in consequence of ‘wound in action, nerve deafness due to gunfire’. Despite treatment at Haslar Hospital he was placed on the Emergency List (Physically unfit) on 2 November 1916. He died on 22 November 1930. Sold with copied record of service and official report of the Konigsberg operations.

The 1914-15 Star awarded to Lieutenant H. A. Hodges, Monmouthshire Regiment, an all-round sportsman who played First Class Cricket for Nottinghamshire and was capped twice by England for Rugby Union playing against Wales and Ireland in the 1906 Home Nations Championship; he was twice mentioned in despatches and was killed in action in March 1918 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. A. Hodges. Monmouth. R.) extremely fine £300-£400 --- Harold Augustus Hodges was born at The Priory, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, on 22 January 1886, the son of William A. Hodges, J.P. and Augusta Hodges of 'Oaklands', Bromley Park, Kent. He was educated at Roclareston School and from January 1899, Sedbergh School. He entered Trinity College, Oxford, in 1905, and following university he studied at the Sorbonne, Paris, for a short period before joining Tonbridge school as a master in September 1909. He played Rugby Union for England and Oxford University (Blue); Lacrosse for Oxford University (Blue), and also played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club (1911). He served in France with the 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment, attached 11th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment. He was twice mentioned in Despatches (25 May and 24 December, 1917) and was promoted to Captain. He was reported missing believed killed on 24 March 1918, but his death was not confirmed until the following October, when it was reported that 'On the night of 22 March 1918, he entered a small factory on a road between Ham and Eppeville, hoping to make contact with a British battalion. He instead encountered enemy troops and was shot dead.’ He is buried in Roye New British Cemetery.

An interesting British War Medal awarded to Captain N. A. Rew, Royal Engineers, who post-War designed over 40 War Cemeteries for the Imperial (later Commonwealth) War Graves Commission British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. N. A. Rew.) very fine £60-£80 --- Noel Ackroyd Rew was born in Streatham, South London, in 1880 and was educated at Berkhamsted School and the Slade School of Fine Art. An architect by profession, he attested for the Inns of Court O.T.C. on 7 February 1916, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 21 October 1916. He served with the 93rd Field Company during the Great War on the Western Front, was appointed Adjutant (with the rank of acting Captain), and was gassed at Armentières, being removed to No. 7 General Hospital. Relinquisihing his commission on account of his wounds (the effects of gas had temporarily blinded him), he resumed his Architectural career, and was employed by the Imperial War Graves Commission. From 1919-28 Rew designed a total of 42 War Cemeteries in France and Belgium, including Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium, and Rancourt Military cemetery on the Somme. One of his best-known designs was for Orchard Dump cemetery in France, where he chose an attractive local stone for a rubble wall linking two shelter features. He died in 1971. Sold with copied research including details of the various C.W.G.C. Cemeteries that he designed.

The British War Medal awarded to Private R. Tansey, 42nd Canadian Infantry, who was killed in action in October 1916 British War Medal 1914-20 (418304 Pte. R. Tansey. 42-Can. Inf.) surname re-impressed; together with Canadian Memorial Cross (418304 Pte R. Tansey) brooch fitting to reverse, good very fine (2) £60-£80 --- Reginald Tansey was killed in action on 7 October 1916.

The Victory Medal awarded to Captain C. I. Prowse, Royal Navy, commanding officer of H.M.S. Queen Mary who was killed at the battle of Jutland when a German shell ignited Queen Mary’s magazines Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. C. I. Prowse. R.N.) extremely fine £200-£300 --- Cyril Irby Prowse was appointed Captain of the battle cruiser Queen Mary on 13 October 1914. During the battle of Jutland she engaged the Derfflinger, putting one of her turrets out of action, and then scored four hits on SMS Seydlitz. The German battlecruiser hit back striking ´Q´ turret before sending more 12 inch shells to hit near ´A´ and ´B´ turrets before scoring another hit on ´Q´ turret. Queen Mary´s forward magazine exploded, the ship listed to port and began to sink amid more explosions with the loss of 1,245 men. There were just 18 survivors. Prowse's younger brother, Brigadier-General Charles Bertie Prowse, C.B., D.S.O., was killed a month later on 1 July during the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He had decided to move his 11th Brigade headquarters into the captured German front line, and while assembling men of the Seaforth Highlanders in the British trenches he was shot in the back by machine gun fire. The brothers are remembered on the Prowse window at St John the Baptist Parish Church, Yeovil, Somerset, and by a memorial tablet at St Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton, Somerset.

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Yangtze 1949 (C/KX 101699 T. Main. Sto. Mech. R.M.) very fine £800-£1,200 --- ‘The troopship Empire Halladale reached Liverpool to-day with two of the wounded from the Yangtse River battle - Stoker Thomas Main (26), Newcastle, who received shrapnel wounds while serving in H.M.S. London, and Able Seaman Eric Rimington (20), Leicester, who received multiple gunshot wounds while serving in the Amethyst. The Empire Halladale also carried 1,000 Servicemen and 268 civilian passengers, including some Service families and refugees from Shanghai.’ (copied news cutting from the Yorkshire Evening Post of August 4, 1949, refers).

The Royal Navy Long Service Medal awarded to Stoker Petty Officer I. T. Bowdler, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Cameron was bombed during an enemy air raid whilst in drydock at Portsmouth Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (K.63690 I. T. Bowdler. A/S.P.O. H.M.S. Glorious.) edge bruising, very fine £140-£180 --- Idwin Thomas Bowdler was born in Pontywain, Monmouthshire, on 13 March 1906 and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 13 March 1939. Advanced Stoker Petty Officer on 5 July 1939, he transferred to H.M.S. Cameron, one of the first eight destroyers transferred from the U.S. Navy, on 1 October 1940, and was killed in action when she was bombed during an enemy air raid whilst in drydock at Portsmouth. He is buried in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire. His widow, Georgina Bowdler, née Abela, was originally from Curmi, Malta.

An Air Efficiency Award to Flight Lieutenant G. A. Waller, D.F.C., who served as a Navigator on Blenheim nightfighter patrols with 29 Squadron during the Battle of Britain and was decorated in 1944 in respect of his services as a Radar Operator, in particular his part in the destruction of three enemy aircraft, in Mosquito nightfighters of 604 Squadron Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Flt Lt G A Waller RAFVR) officially impressed naming, with named lid of original card box of issue, nearly extremely fine £600-£800 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 20 October 1944: ‘This officer is a first class navigator and has shown great keenness during his tour of operations against the enemy. He has assisted in the destruction of three enemy aircraft.’ George Alfred Waller, born in 1918, joined 601 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force before the war as an Aircrafthand. Called up on 24 August 1939, he remustered as an Airman Air Gunner and with training completed, served with 23 Squadron, first being mentioned in the Operations Record Book dated 25 May 1940. He flew a number of sorties in Blenheims of 23 Squadron from Martlesham and Debden, before joining the Blenheim nightfighter unit, No. 29 Squadron, at Digby in June as a Sergeant Navigator, thus becoming a contemporary of the abundantly decorated J. R. D. ‘Bob’ Braham and his radar operator Bill ‘Sticks’ Gregory both of whom were flying with the squadron at the time. Waller was in Blenheim L 1371 on 28 September when it was hit in the starboard wing by British anti-aircraft fire during an evening patrol. He and Pilot Officer J. Buchanan were unhurt and returned safely to Digby. After the advent of the Beaufighter and greatly-improved AI equipment, Waller retrained as a radar operator and was flying as such by November 1940. He was commissioned Pilot Officer in June 1943 and awarded the D.F.C. in 1944 as a Flying Officer with 604 Squadron (flying Mosquitos from February 1944) having by then assisted in the destruction of three enemy aircraft. He was released from the Royal Air Force in 1950, as a Flight Lieutenant, and he died in 1983. Sold with a file of research. Note: a D.F.C., reverse engraved 1944; 1939-45 Star with Battle of Britain Bar; Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany Bar; Defence Medal and War Medal group of five attributed to Flight Lieutenant G. A. Waller (with no Air Efficiency Award) was sold by Glendining on 26 March 1998. The medals sold on that occasion were accompanied by a slip from Buckingham Palace, copy birth certificate, various newspaper cuttings and an Officer’s Medical Record Card.

A fine Royal Humane Society Medal in silver awarded to Lieutenant J. P. Palmes, Royal Navy, who, having been wrecked together with ten fellow Royal Navy officers in the pinnace H.M.S. Seringapatam, off English Bay, Antigua, on 26 August 1838, volunteered to accompany W. R. Smith, R.N. in a two mile swim through shark infested waters to shore, thereby effecting the launch of rescue boats and the ultimate rescue of the remaining members of the stricken party, the latter having endured some five in hours in the water clinging to the wreckage of their capsized vessel Royal Humane Society, large silver medal (successful), (J. P. Palmes, Armo. R.N. 1838) unmounted, some edge bruising, very fine £400-£500 --- The following citation, which mistakenly refers to Palmes as Palmer, appears in Acts of Gallantry by Lambton Young: ‘On the 26th August 1838, as eleven officers started for a cruise in the pinnace of H.M.S. “Seringapatam”, from English harbour, Antigua, to Falmouth Bay, about two miles to leeward, the wind was fair, the afternoon very fine, and all seemed to promise them a pleasant excursion. Having made a short stay at Falmouth harbour, they hauled their wind, and made three or four tacks, coming back to the ship. The boat made little or nothing to windward, the wind being light, and standing in on the starboard tack, she was taken by a sudden squall. The helm was put “a lee,” but the boat not coming to the wind, so as to lift the sails, was capsized under every stitch. She, however, went over so gradually, that every one had time to creep to windward and seat himself on the gunwale. All sail being on the boat, it protected them, in some measure from the breaking of the sea. No one, unfortunately, being in possession of a knife, righting the boat was quite an impossibility. Their destruction at this moment would almost appear inevitable, being upwards of two miles from land, and the boat’s gunwale only six inches awash; accordingly, Mr Smith, a very bold swimmer, thought he might, in company with another, gain the shore, the only apparent chance of saving their lives. Being all of them but very indifferent swimmers, they remained by the boat, except Mr Palmer, who, although confident in himself of sinking in the attempt, determined, in so good a cause, to try his luck. These two noble adventurers then quitted the wreck, and before the poor fellows had got half way to terra firma, were visited by the monsters of the deep, whilst struggling for the lives not only of themselves, but nine fellow-creatures. Two sharks actually grazed Smith’s legs, to whom must be attributed the salvation of the whole. Still fearless, he gloriously persisted in the arduous task he so generously undertook; and concealing the fact of his narrow escape, cheered up the heart of his companion; nor did Smith ever once lose command of himself on this awful occasion. Being obliged several times to dive, as it were, to feel his way, still nearly a mile from land, and the sea-lawyer distinctly visible hovering for his prey, let the reader picture to himself any situation more critical, or a deed more gallant than the presence of mind exhibited by Smith. Palmer was so exhausted that Smith had to support him once or twice; but fearing that this stopping would attract the sharks, he saw the necessity of spurring him up for a last push. At last, after a tedious and frightful swim, they both, to their utmost astonishment and delight, landed on the beach. Smith not being very much fatigued, and yet alive to the fate of his fellow-sufferers, ran to spread the news. “Bad news flies on the wings of the wind,” and the report spread like wildfire; men, women, and children all ran frantic at the news of so melancholy an occurrence. They had been upwards of two hours reaching the shore, and the accident having taken place at 4.30pm, drew daylight nearly to a close. The boats were immediately manned, and despatched forthwith in search of the wreck, while Smith and Palmer (who from exhaustion had been unable to move from the beach for some time) procure other boats to aid in the rescue of their comrades. They pulled in search of the boat; the dark clouds of night were just shutting in, and although hope lived in the breast of every soul, fears still existed as to their safety; in short, the people on shore seemed to think their recovery impossible, for sharks, on once tasting blood, never relinquish their hold till no living soul survives to tell the tale. The boats all taking different directions, each shaped the course thought most certain of success. They pulled incessantly in a zigzag way, so as to cross their wake. Hour after hour passed on; the coal-black clouds and white-topped sea arose, to add to the gloominess of the scene; the rain fell in torrents, and the lightning burst forth in sharp and vivid flashes, as if to mask their efforts and renew their fears. Despondency here took root in every heart, and the hope of ever again seeing their friends had nearly failed. At three in the morning the barge brought the pinnace and all hands on board. The gunner who commanded her certainly had taken the best course, by going to leeward instead of to windward, and tracking up, on his way down he was joined by Mr. Smith, and had not got far down after this, when they observed the wreck. It was then past nine o’clock, making it nearly five hours the poor fellows had held on to the boat. Driven to extremes, four had lashed themselves to oars (for only one of the nine could swim fifty yards), and luckily had not left the pinnace on their perilous adventure five minutes, when the barge came to their assistance, and all were saved. The pinnace was towed on shore, baled out, and the two boats returned, having picked up about five or six miles to leeward of where she capsized, and drawn some distance from the shore. Had it not been for Smith’s swimming on shore, everybody must have perished. “To save a poor fellow from a watery grave, is worthy a Briton, who conquers to save.”’ John P. Palmes, was born at Naburn, Yorkshire in 1816, the third son of George and Margaret Isabella Palmes and younger brother of Bryan Palmes, Captain in the 57th Light Infantry, who died at Barbados in 1839. He entered the Royal Navy as a Volunteer 1st Class on 2 December 1830. Having passed his examination on 10 November 1838, he served for some time at Portsmouth, as Mate, in the Queen 110, flag-ship of Sir Edward Codrington and was promoted Lieutenant while in the Royal George yacht, Captain Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, 7 March 1842. His succeeding appointments were: March 1842 to the Thunderer 84, Capt. Dan Pring, employed in the Mediterranean and on particular service - December 1844 as Additional to the Hydra steam sloop, Capt. Horatio Beauman Young, on the coast of Africa - April 1845, to the Penelope steam-frigate, Commodore William Jones, on the same station - 1846 to the Belleisle 24, troop-ship, Capt. John Kingcome - and, 1847 to the Howe 120, Capt. Sir James Stirling, fitting at Portsmouth.

Honourable East India Company’s Edwardes Medal 1848, a later striking in bronze-gilt of the unique gold medal presented by the H.E.I.C. to Lt. and Brevet Major H. B. Edwardes, C.B., for his services in the Punjab, by William Wyon, 45 mm., fitted with swivelling scroll suspension and Punjab ribbon, minor scuffs and marks, otherwise good very fine £400-£500 --- Provenance: The Dr. Arthur B. King Collection, October 2003. In 1850, when word reached England of the exploits of Lieutenant Herbert Edwardes in bringing order to the wild inhabitants of Bannu and uniting them against Mulraj, whom he had defeated in a series of actions in 1848, he became a household name, and the Court of Directors elected to reward his highly cost-effective services with a ‘special gold medal’, the design of which was entrusted to Wyon. On the obverse is the head of Queen Victoria, ‘the fountain of all honour’, and on the reverse the Edwardes family arms surmount the inscription, ‘To Lieutenant Herbert Benjamin Edwardes, Brevet-Major and C.B., for his services in the Punjab, 1848’. The inscription is flanked by the figures of Valour and Victory, and beneath the inscription, the figure of the infant Hercules (emblematic of Edwardes’ youth) strangles the serpent. The medal was intended as a unique honour and instructions were issued from the Court that once struck, the die was to be broken, but these instructions were evidently not obeyed and a number of specimen strikings exist in silver, bronze-gilt and bronze, both with and without suspension. Edwardes received the medal from the hands of the Chairman, John Shepherd, at a formal presentation held at East India House, Leadenhall Street, on 12 February 1851. In his short address Shepherd ‘confidently’ anticipated that ‘the same energy, skill, and bravery would distinguish’ Edwardes’ future career. Unfortunately, Edwardes, a man who worked at ‘white heat’, became fanatical after the Mutiny and ‘wished to give no recognition to either Hinduism or Islam.’ Sold with copied Cadet papers and biographical details of H. B. Edwardes, together with a copied portrait photograph.

The Freedom of the City of London parchment certificate awarded to the New Zealand born pioneering plastic surgeon Sir A. H. McIndoe C.B.E., F.R.C.S., who greatly improved the treatment and rehabilitation of badly burned R.A.F. aircrew during the Second World War and with whose support, his patients formed the ‘Guinea Pig Club’ mutual support network Freedom of the City of London parchment certificate, named to ‘Sir Archibald Hector McIndoe, Kt., C.B.E., Citizen and Pattenmaker of London’ in the Mayoralty of ‘Sir Denis Henry Truscott, Kt., T.D.’ dated 19 March 1958, contained in its red card envelope inscribed Copy of Freedom - City of London, together with ‘Rules for the Conduct of Life’, a booklet which accompanied the Freedom of the City, these in very good condition and also together with two books: Faces from the Fire. The Biography of Sir Archibald McIndoe by Leonard Mosley, 269 pp. hardback; and The Guinea Pig Club by Edward Bishop. 125 pp. softback., good condition (4) £100-£140 --- Knight Bachelor London Gazette 12 June 1947: ‘Archibald Hector McIndoe, Esq., C.B.E., M.S., M.Sc., F.R.C.S., F.A.C.S., Civilian Consultant in Plastic Surgery to the Royal Air Force.’ C.B.E. London Gazette 8 June 1944: ‘Archibald Hector McIndoe, Esq., M.S., M.Sc., F.R.C.S., Civilian Consultant to the Royal Air Force in Plastic Surgery.’ Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta London Gazette 5 June 1945. Archibald Hector McIndoe was born in Dunedin on 4 May 1900, the son of John McIndoe, founder of a successful printing firm, and of Mabel, née Hill, well known in her own right as singer and artist, and sister of Alfred Hill, composer and musician. He was educated at the Otago Boys' High School, and the University of Otago. After graduation he held a house surgeon appointment at the Waikato Hospital in Hamilton and then secured the first fellowship at the Mayo Clinic granted to New Zealand. In 1930, McIndoe moved to London and came under the influence of a relative, also a New Zealander, Sir Harold Gillies, who was at that time creating the new speciality of plastic surgery at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. McIndoe became his assistant at St. Bartholomew's and joined him in partnership in private practice as a plastic surgeon. In 1938 McIndore was appointed a consultant in plastic surgery to the Royal Air Force and on the outbreak of war he became surgeon in charge of the now famous plastic and jaw injury centre at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. A brilliant and quick surgeon, McIndoe soon went from strength to strength in his speciality, developing new techniques for treating badly burned faces and hands; and in his remarkable “Guinea-pig Club” he brought into play all his powers of enlisting the full psychological co-operation of his patients in their rehabilitation. Before long he had won international recognition for his work. He was created a C.B.E. in 1944 and after the war he received a number of British and foreign honours, including the Commander of the Legion of Honour (France), Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia), Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland) and Commander of the Order of Nassau (Holland). He was knighted in 1947. McIndoe was a great leader of men, an inspiring teacher and had a great warmth of personality. He died suddenly in London on 12 April 1960.

The German Luftwaffe Night Fighter’s Salver and Trophy Cups attributed to Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves recipient Leutnant Rudolf Frank, 3rd Night Fighter Wing, who was one of the outstanding German Night-Fighter Aces of the Second World War, with 45 confirmed victories, including five in one day, prior to being killed in action on 27 April 1944 A German Second World War Luftwaffe Night Fighter’s Salver, measuring 225mm in diameter with three legs, engraved ‘ABSCHUSSAELEILIGUNGEN FUR RUDOLF FRANK 1-27’ followed by ‘4.7.41 – 21.1.44’, with either side of the engraving the RAF and Soviet wing insignia, and below the insignia of 1/N.J.G.3 being Frank’s Night Fighter Squadron; together with five German Second World War Luftwaffe Trophy Cups, all marked Abschuss with the appropriate kill number with the date of the kill thus: ‘Abschuss 1, 4.7.41 Wellington,’ ‘Abschuss 4, 26.1.42 Whitley’, ‘Abschuss 7, 14.9.42 Wellington’, ‘Abschuss 14, 4.7.43 Halifax’, ‘Abschuss 23, 18.11.43 Lancaster’, and housed in a later Luftwaffe Honour Goblet box named to the recipient, good condition (6) £1,200-£1,500 --- Rudolf Frank was born in Karlsruhe-Grünwinkel, in what was then the Republic of Baden in the Weimar Republic, on 19 August 1920, and volunteers for the Luftwaffe following the outbreak of the Second World War. Following night-training, he was posted to NachtJagdGeschwader 3 (NJG III, the 3rd Night Fighter Wing) on 5 February 1941. This unit, based at Stuttgart, was equipped with the C-variant of the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter, and Frank was paired with Hans-Georg Schierholz as his permanent radio operator. Frank and Schierholz flew their first operational combat mission on 9 May 1941, without success. Their first victory came on the night of 2-4 July 1941, when they intercepted an R.A.F. Wellington bomber 6 miles north of Oldenburg, and shot it down at 00:54. For this achievement, they were both awarded the Iron Cross Second Class. By 13 August 1941 Frank had flown over 20 night-fighter missions, and was awarded the Front Flying Cross of the Luftwaffe for Night Fighters in Bronze, and was promoted to Unteroffizier (Sergeant). He was awarded the Iron Cross First Class on 15 April 1942 and, two months later, the Front Flying Cross of the Luftwaffe for Night Fighters in Silver on 18 June of that year. On 30 June 1942, whilst attacking a Wellington bomber on his 64th mission, his aircraft was hit by defensive fire, and he and Schierholz were forced to bail out. On 28 July 1942 Frank’s group relocated to Rheine in Westphalia, and were re-equipped with the night-fighter variant of the Dornier Do 217. On 14 September 1942 he claimed a Wellington shot down in the vicinity of Osnabrück, but suffering engine problems was forced to make a forced landing himself. He ended 1942 with 7 confirmed victories to his name. Reverting to the Messerschmitt Bf 110, he claimed his first victory in 1943 on 3 March, when he shot down a Short Stirling out of Delmenhorst. After five more victories in the first half of the year, he claimed his 14th victory when he shot down a Halifax bomber north of Antwerp on 4 July 1943, and for his services was awarded the Luftwaffe Honour Goblet on 9 August 1943. Converting to the Junkers Ju 88, he claimed a further three victories in August 1943, and having completed his 100th mission was awarded the Front Flying Cross of the Luftwaffe for Night Fighters in Gold on 18 August 1943. He claimed his 20th victory on 24 September 1943, and having added two more victories in quick succession was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943. He was shot down again over Berlin by an R.A.F. intruder night-fighter on Christmas Eve 1943, but managed to bail out unharmed, and finished the year with 26 confirmed victories. Frank claimed his first victory of 1944, his 27th in total, on 21 January 1944, when he shot down a Lancaster bomber near Magdeburg, and was promoted to Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant) Reverting once more to the Messerschmitt Bf 110 , the following month he achieved ‘Ace-in-a-Day’ status when, between 1:53 and 5:04 a.m., he shot down five Lancaster bombers on their way to attack Leipzig. He claimed another three victories on the night of 25 March, and then on 30-31 March took part in the Luftwaffe’s most successful night of the entire War, when the night-fighter force was credited with the destruction of 132 enemy aircraft, Frank’s personal contribution being a further three: two Lancasters and a Halifax. For his achievements he was promoted Oberfeldwebel (Senior Staff Sergeant), and was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944. His 44th victory came on 23 April 1944, when he shot down a Stirling on a minelaying operation over Lolland. On the night of 26-27 April 1944, Frank and Schierholz, together with air mechanic Feldwebel Heinz Schneider, took off in the Messerschmitt Bf 110 from Vechta. Their mission, Frank’s 183rd of the War, was to intercept incoming bombers heading for the Ruhr. Shortly before 2:00 a.m, they spotted and attacked a Lancaster bomber over Eindhoven. The Lancaster, severely hit by cannon fire, exploded, and became Frank’s 45th victory. Debris from the Lancaster tore off the Messerschmitt’s right wing, and Frank lost control of the aircraft. He gave the order to bail out. Schierholz and Schneider parachuted to safety, but Frank failed to get out in time. He was killed when the aircraft crashed at Heeze, 6 miles southeast of Eindhoven. Frank was posthumously promoted Leutnant, backdated to 1 April 1944, and is buried in the German War Cemetery at Venray, with his crew attending his funeral. He was very popular in N.J.G. III, coming from a modest background, being known for taking his small terrier on flight with him, and married one of the female base staff. He was also known for visiting the surviving crews of aircraft which he had shot down over Holland. For his outstanding services during the Second World War, when he claimed 45 victories, all over the Western Front in the nocturnal defence of the Reich, he was posthumously awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves. Note: The Luftwaffe Trophy Cups were normally given to Luftwaffe pilots as individual unofficial trophies on the shooting down of enemy aircraft.

Two German Second War Adolf Hitler Presentation Photograph Frames. Two identical official photograph frames from the office of Adolf Hitler, designed by Professor Gerdy Troost and manufactured by the high quality jewellers the Brothers Franz and Hermann Wandinger. Both frames measure 342mm x 240mm, the inner frame with three steps in a hand hammered finish overall, the lower plate having to the centre the outspread winged national eagle and swastika with the letters AH to either side of the central swastika. To the edge of this lower plate is the art deco style Greek key decoration. Both frames are maker and silver content stamped FHW within a block, the German silver half moon with the silver number 925 to one of the frames, to the other frame identical markings but also with the state silver marking of Munich. Both frames are with their brown/dark maroon grained leather back section with a folding stand, slight scuffs to the leather on both of the frames, complete with all of their closing catches. Both the frames are fitted with quality copies of contemporary Hoffman photographs of Adolf Hitler with facsimile signatures, both in excellent condition and highly desirable (2) £8,000-£12,000 --- Note: These presentation frames were presented with a long dedication or a simple Adolf Hitler signature on the original photographs and they were presented fitted within a very high quality red/maroon casket, with large silvered eagle to the front, the casket manufactured by the famous leather artisan Frieda Thiersch. They were presented to high ranking officials of the NSDAP, military dignitaries, and to foreign personalities who showed support to the Third Reich. 

A well-documented Belgian Great War group of seven awarded to Major U. Guffens, 8th Belgian Infantry Regiment, who was mortally wounded at Tervaete on the Yser Front on 21 October 1914, and died of his wounds on 20 November 1914 Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold, Military Division, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, French motto, with rosette and silver palm emblem on riband; Military Cross, Second Class, A.I.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, with bronze palm emblem on riband; King Leopold II Commemorative Medal 1865-1905, bronze-gilt; Yser Medal 1914, bronze and enamel; Commemorative Medal for the Great War 1914-1918, bronze; Allied Victory Medal, bronze; together with the recipient’s Chevalier’s badge for the Order of Leopold, Military Division, silver and enamel, French motto, good very fine and better (8) £300-£400 --- Ulysse Guffens was born in Namur on 18 February 1870 and was admitted to the Army Orphans’ School on 26 September 1881. Enrolling into the Belgian Army on his fourteenth birthday, he was promoted Corporal on 7 August 1886, and after a short period of service was selected for admission to the Royal Military College, arriving there on 4 January 1888. Commissioned Second Lieutenant on 4 January 1900, he was posted initially to the 11th Infantry Regiment, before transferring to the 14th Infantry Regiment. Promoted Lieutenant on 25 March 1896, Guffens attended the Staff College, and upon graduating was posted to the 2nd Guides Cavalry Regiment on 24 November 1898. After further Staff postings he was promoted Captain on 26 June 1904, and Captain-Commandant on 27 December 1908. He served with the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front, fighting with his unit all the way from Namar, to Antwerp, to the Yser Front. Holding the line at Tervaerte, waiting for British and French reinforcements to arrive, he was wounded on 21 October 1914 whilst repelling a massive German attack that had followed three days of bombardment. Evacuated to London, he died of his wounds on 2 November 1914. In 1920, Guffens was posthumously promoted Major, backdated to 19 November 1914. The 8th Infantry Regiment was awarded ‘Tervaete’ as a Battle Honour. Sold together with an extensive archive, including the Award Document for the Order of Leopold, Officer, with palm, and the Croix de Guerre, both retroactively awarded on 15 February 1915; Award Document for the Order of Leopold, Chevalier, dated 26 November 1910; Award Document for the Military Cross, Second Class, dated 8 May 1911; Award Document for the King Leopold II Commemorative Medal, dated 17 March 1906; Award Document for the Yser Medal, dated 1 June 1920; Award Document for the Great War Commemorative Medal, dated 15 May 1922; and the Award Document for the Allied Victory Medal, dated 15 May 1922; together with various commission and service record documents; a photographic image of the recipient; and copied research.

A Belgian Korean War group of fifteen awarded to Captain-Commandant J. A. P. de Schodt, Belgian Army, who was taken Prisoner of War during the Second World War, and served with the Para-Commando unit in Korea, where he was wounded Belgium, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Officer’s breast badge, gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; Order of Leopold, Knight’s breast badge, Military Division, silver and enamel, bilingual motto; Order of Leopold II, Knight’s breast badge, silver and enamel, bilingual motto; Military Cross, Second Class, gilt and enamel, with Belgian lion to both obverse and reverse centres; Korea, Republic, Order of Military Merit, Fourth Class, silver and enamel, reverse officially numbered ‘873’, with Star emblem on riband, with fitted case of issue; United States of America, Bronze Star, reverse engraved ‘J. A. P. de S.’; Belgium, Kingdom, Commemorative Medal for the Second World War 1940-45, bronze, 1 clasp, Chatkol, with crossed swords, crown, and red cross emblems on riband; Korea Medal, bronze, 1 clasp, Coree-Korea; Medal of the War Volunteer, bronze, 2 clasps, Pugnator, Korea-Coree; Volunteer’s Medal 1940-45, bronze, 1 clasp, 1940-1945; U.N. Medal for Korea 1950-54, French language issue; Korea, Republic, Korean War Participation Medal, bronze; Netherlands, Kingdom, Four Day March Cross, silvered and enamel, these all mounted as worn on two riband bars; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, L.III.R., bronze, with bronze palm on riband; King Albert Commemorative medal, bronze, these both loose; together with the recipient’s Chevalier’s badge of the Order of the Crown, silver and enamel, with silver palm on riband, generally very fine and better (16) £600-£800 --- Jean Alphonse Paule de Schodt was born in Serinchamps on 16 July 1911 into a prominent Brussels family (at least one of his ancestors had their portrait painted by van Dyck), and joined the Belgian Army just after his 19th Birthday, enlisting into the prestigious 1er Guides Cavalry Regiment. Advanced Sergeant on 20 December 1932, he transferred to the Reserve on 15 November 1937, but was recalled following the outbreak of the Second World War. Captured and taken Prisoner of War on 29 May 1940, he was released soon after. Joining the ‘Mouvement National Royaliste’ Resistance Movement as a Second Lieutenant on 6 March 1945, de Schodt was subsequently assigned to the Belgian Occupation Forces in Germany, and was promoted Lieutenant on 26 September 1949. Proceeding to Korea, he served with the Para-Commando Regiment, arriving in Korea on 14 February 1953. On the night of 9 March 1953, whilst second in command of a Company, he was supervising two sections in preparation for a counter-attack when a mortar shell landed and exploded close by. He suffered a pierced right arm, diagnosed as ‘acuptic trauma’. On 2 April 1953 he was appointed commanding officer of the HQ Company, and was promoted Captain on 26 September 1953. For his services in Korea de Schodt was appointed a Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II (Royal Decree 15 May 1954); the United States of America Bronze Star; and the Korean Order of Military Merit. The citation for the Bronze Star states: ‘Captain de Schodt, a member of the Belgian United Nations Command, is cited for meritorious service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in Korea during the period 19 February 1953 to 10 February 1954. As Headquarters Company Commandant, Captain de Schodt performed his duties in a highly commendable manner. He also assumed numerous additional responsibilities, displaying unusual resourcefulness and initiative in performing every phase of his tasks with the utmost of efficiency, When approached by the logistical and tactical problems inherent in such a command position, Captain de Schodt put into practice his comprehensive knowledge of military techniques and procedures, and through his untiring efforts and superior leadership contributed materially to the combat effectiveness of the Belgian Battalion. His loyalty, initiative, and devotion to duty earned him the respect and admiration of all those with whom he served. The meritorious service rendered by Captain de Schodt throughout this period reflects great credit on himself and the Belgian Battalion.’ De Schodt was appointed a Chevalier of the Order of the Crown on 15 November 1954, and a Chevalier of the Order of Leopold on 15 November 1957, the latter whilst serving in the Congo. Returning to Belgium, he was promoted Captain-Commandant on 26 March 1960, and was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the Crown on 15 November 1961. He was awarded the Military Cross, Second Class, in recognition of twelve years’ service as an Officer on 6 April 1962, and finally retired on 1 October 1965. For his Military service during the reign of King Albert (1909-34), de Schodt subsequently received the King Albert Commemorative Medal by Royal Decree on 12 July 1962. Following changes in the statutes to the Order of the Crown, he was further entitled to the Croix de Guerre, with palm, and received this, by Royal Decree, on 7 April 1967. He died two days later, on 9 April 1967. Sold with the recipient’s riband bar for the first thirteen medals; various other cloth and metal insignia; a portrait photograph of the recipient; and copied research.

A Japanese pair awarded to Gunto (Sergeant) Masaaki Yorioka, Imperial Japanese Army, who died of wounds in China in October 1937 Japan, Empire, Order of the Rising Sun, Eighth Class breast badge, silver, with lapel rosette, in original rio-nuri lacquered case of issue; China Incident Medal 1937, bronze, in case of issue, extremely fine (2) £60-£80 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2010. Masaaki Yorioka was born on 17 July 1909 in the Kochi Prefecture. As a Gunto in the Imperial Japanese Army, he died of wounds in the 2nd Imperial Field Hospital on 29 October 1937. Sold with the recipient’s original named Service Book; ‘Gunto’ collar rank patch; and a photograph of the recipient in uniform.

The 1914-15 Star awarded to Private Reginald Vaughan, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died of wounds in France on 26 September 1915 1914-15 Star (11435 Pte. R. Vaughan. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); Memorial Plaque (Reginald Vaughan) extremely fine (2) £60-£80 --- Reginald Walter Orwood Vaughan served with the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, in France from 26 May 1915, and died of wounds on 26 September 1915, aged 24. He was a native of Bristol, the son of Walter William and Caroline Vaughan, of Waterloo Road, Smethwick, Staffordshire, and is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery.

The 1914-15 Star awarded to Private Frederick Hutchins, 1/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action at St Julien on 16 August 1917 1914-15 Star (4109 Pte. F. Hutchins. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); Memorial Plaque (Frederick Hutchins) extremely fine (2) £60-£80 --- Frederick Hutchins/Hutchings served in France with the 1/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, from 28 June 1915. He was killed in action at St Julien on 16 August 1917, and is commemorated by name on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Sold with copied Medal Index Cards for 1914-15 Star (Hutchins) and British War and Victory Medals (Hutchings).

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Second Lieutenant H. A. I. B. Stokes, 3rd Battalion, attached 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, late Royal Fusiliers, who died in November 1918 of the wounds he received whilst in the act of winning the M.C. Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (STK-843 Pte. H. A. Stokes. R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. H. A. I. B. Stokes.) extremely fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- M.C. London Gazette 15 February 1919; citation London Gazette 30 July 1919: ‘While forming up for the attack near Rumilly on October 1st, 1918, he was wounded but remained with his platoon and advanced with it to the attack. Under very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire from three sides he reorganised his men into groups, thereby avoiding many casualties and enabling the advance to proceed. Later, when further advance became impossible, he, though wounded a second time, stayed and encouraged his men until every other wounded man had been got away. He showed great courage and devotion to duty.’ Hugh Adrian Innys Blyth Stokes served as a Private with the 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, in France from 31 July 1915, and was then commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the 3rd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and later into the 2nd Battalion. He was wounded on 1 October 1918, and died of his wounds on 28 November 1918. He is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. He was the son of Hugh Innys Stokes and Kate May Stokes of 46 Baker Street London. Sold with a rather faded portrait photograph.

‘I joined up as a youngster for a bit of fun, but it didn’t turn out like that. We were young men made old before our time. I felt then, that I had to go to the help of these lads. After all, they were my pals. Five men tried to get through and I was the sixth. I made a dive and got through. The worst part was that I didn’t know just where our chaps were. I had to find them, and in a run for about 150 yards I went within five yards of one of Jerry’s machine-guns. It was my lucky day.’ James Towers, V.C., reflects upon events at Mericourt on 6 October 1918 (The Lancashire Daily Post, 12 November 1929, refers). The outstanding Great War 1918 ‘Final Advance to Victory’ V.C. group of five awarded to Private James Towers, 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) who, with utter disregard for his own safety, volunteered to carry a vital message, under continuous heavy fire, to a stranded platoon at Mericourt in October 1918 whilst in the knowledge that five of his comrades had already been killed in turn making their attempts to carry out the same task. Setting out under heavy enfilading machine-gun fire amid scant cover, he moved between shell craters and crawled through barbed wire entanglements, before coming across the slumped body of the first volunteer runner - his close friend, Private Frank Dunlop, the Company Messenger. Undeterred, Towers continued, only to become pinned down beneath a guarded embankment which, opting for surprise, he navigated with a running leap - landing within five yards of a fully manned enemy machine-gun post whose fire he avoided in the mist by speed of movement and some grace of providence. Finally reaching the trapped platoon intact, he delivered his vital despatch and guided it back to safety after dusk, his display of supreme courage and determination a great inspiration to all ranks Victoria Cross, reverse of suspension bar named ‘30245 Pte. J. Towers, 2nd Bn. Sco. Rif.’, reverse of cross dated ‘6 Oct. 1918’, with its Hancocks & Co. case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (30245 Pte. J. Towers, Sco. Rif.); Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, generally very fine (5) £140,000-£180,000 --- V.C. London Gazette 6 January 1919: ‘For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Mericourt on 6 October 1918, when, under heavy fire, five runners having failed to deliver an important message, Private Towers, well aware of the fate of the runners who had already attempted the task, volunteered for the duty. In spite of heavy fire opened on him as soon as he moved, he went straight through from cover to cover and eventually delivered the message. His valour, determination, and utter disregard of danger were an inspiring example to all.’ James Towers was born at 8 Wildman Street, Preston, Lancashire on 8 September 1897, the son of James and Betty Towers. At the time of his birth his father was employed as a cotton loomer but he later took up farming at Broughton, in which work he was assisted by young James after he had attended Emmanuel Boys School. Enlisting underage in the West Lancashire Artillery in July 1915, Towers was quickly discharged when his true age was established, but he re-enlisted in the 5th Dragoon Guards in August 1916. Subsequently transferred to the infantry, he joined the 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), and went to France in December 1916, where his unit formed part of 59th Infantry Brigade, 20th Division. Supreme courage at Mericourt - V.C. On 6 October 1918, during the Final Advance to Victory, Towers and his comrades in the 2nd Battalion found themselves holding a railway embankment at Mericourt, three miles south-west of Lens in the Avion Sector. Coming under considerable pressure from the enemy, orders were given to retire, an order which failed to reach a platoon in ‘B’ Company under the command of 2nd Lieutenant W. R. Jack, as it had become cut-off in an isolated position between the lines of advancing Germans. The only means of communication between ‘B’ Company Headquarters and 2nd Lieutenant Jack was by orderly and so a volunteer was called for, a runner to pass on news of the order to retire to the stranded platoon. The first volunteer was killed. Four more volunteers suffered a similar fate in quick succession: James Towers, who had witnessed all five men going down, now stepped forward. It is said he had a natural sporting ability, the result of leaping dykes and fences on his father’s farm. If so, it was an ability about to serve him well, for the moment he embarked on his seemingly suicidal mission, heavy enfilading machine-gun fire was upon him. Darting from shell-hole to shell-hole, and crawling through wire entanglements, he came across the slumped body of the first volunteer runner - one of his best friends, Private Frank Dunlop. Undeterred, and hugging the ground, Towers continued on his way until he reached an embankment. Opting for the element of surprise, he broke into a run and leapt over the top, only to land within a few yards of a German machine-gun nest: he landed on his toes and with a few quick bounds disappeared into the mist before the startled Germans had time to react. Unaware as to the exact location of the missing platoon - ‘The worst part was that I didn’t know just where our chaps were’ - the gallant Cameronian’s persistence eventually paid off, and upon locating them he dug-in with his comrades for the night. The following day, in the early dawn mist, and making use of his newly acquired knowledge of the whereabouts of enemy machine-gun posts, he led the ‘lost platoon’ safely back to B Company area, recovering the bodies of numerous fallen comrades en-route. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, ‘his valour, determination, and utter disregard of danger,’ had been an inspiring example to all who witnessed it. For their coolness and gallant conduct during the operation, 2nd Lieut. Jack received the M.C. and three M.M.s were awardeded to N.C.O.s and men of his platoon. Invested with his V.C. by H.M. King George V in the Quadrangle at Buckingham Palace on 8 May 1919, Towers returned to the Palace to attend the V.C. Garden Party in June of the following year. He was also one of 74 V.C. holders who formed a special Guard of Honour for the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey on 11 November 1920. The latter years - farming and milk delivery - reunions and royal encounters Having been demobilised in January 1919, Towers returned to his father’s dairy farm at Durton Lane, Broughton. Later, when his father retired, he set up on his own, running a four acre poultry farm and a milk distribution business. As reported in The Lancashire Daily Post on 12 November 1929, Towers attended the Prince of Wales’s V.C. Dinner held in the House of Lords in November 1929 - ‘With me being a bit plump and red-faced he remembered me as I went up with my menu - “Hello, you here again!” he said’: on reaching his local railway station at 5 a.m. the following morning, Towers walked the three miles to his home and was out on the streets of Preston delivering milk by 7.30 a.m. Towers also attended the Victory Parade and V.C. Dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in June 1946, and returned to London to take part in the Centenary Review of Holders of the Victoria Cross by Her Majesty the Queen in Hyde Park on 25 June 1956. During the 1960s and 1970s he attended a number of V.C. & G.C. Association memorial services and dinners. He died at the Royal Infirmary, Preston in January 1977, aged 79, his last residence having been ‘Mericourt’, Light...

A post-War C.B. group of eight awarded to Engineer Rear-Admiral J. E. Cooke, Royal Navy, who joined up as a fifteen year old Boy Artificer, was commissioned in 1923, served 15 months as Engineer Lieutenant in H.M.S. Hood, and was mentioned in despatches whilst Engineer Commander of the aircraft carrier Furious following her attack on the battleship Tirpitz in 1943 The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with full neck cravat; British War Medal 1914-20 (M.11328 J. E. Cooke. B. Art. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953, the last seven mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (8) (8) £700-£900 --- C.B. (Military) London Gazette 9 June 1955: ‘Engineer Rear-Admiral, Portsmouth Dockyard.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1945: ‘Engineer Commander, H.M.S. Furious.’ John Ernest Cooke was born at Bicester, Oxfordshire, on 7 April 1899, and joined the Royal Navy from school as a Boy Artificer, aged 15, in January 1915. After training, and over eight years service as a rating, ashore and afloat, in war and peacetime, he was promoted to commissioned rank in 1923. He held the rank of Engineer Lieutenant during his fifteen months’ service in the battleship Hood from 1927-28. Further service in destroyers, cruisers and the battleship Royal Oak, saw him promoted to Engineer Commander in 1936. The early years of the Second World War saw him serving ashore but, in 1943, as Chief Engineer of the aircraft carrier Furious, he was mentioned in despatches following her attack on the battleship Tirpitz. He was promoted to Engineer Captain in 1946, and to Engineer Rear-Admiral in 1953, one of very few former ratings to achieve such high rank. He retired in 1957, and in civilian life held several senior positions in industry, mostly in connection with ship building and ship repairing. He retired in 1964 and died in 1980 at R.N. Hospital, Haslar, aged 81.

A rare ‘Rhodesia 1896’ D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Brigadier-General R. H. F. McCulloch, C.M.G., Royal Artillery, who remained with his gun after having been wounded in the attack on Skimbo in August 1896 Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar converted for mounting; British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, no clasp (Lieut. R. H. F. McCulloch. R.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901 (Capt: R. F. H. McCulloch, D.S.O., R.G.A.) last letter of surname officially corrected; 1914 Star, with clasp (Major R. F. H. McCulloch. D.S.O. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Brig. Gen. R. F. H. McCulloch.); Italy, Kingdom, Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus, Officer’s breast badge, gold, silver-gilt, and enamel, with rosette on riband; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamel, with rosette on riband; Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1917, mounted court style for display, nearly extremely fine (9) £4,000-£5,000 --- One of only 7 Distinguished Service Orders awarded for this campaign, this being unique to the Royal Artillery. D.S.O. London Gazette 7 May 1897: ‘In recognition of services in the recent operations in South Africa, 1896.’ Italian Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus London Gazette 12 September 1918. French Legion of Honour London Gazette 13 February 1917. French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 17 August 1918. Robert Henry Frederick McCulloch was born in October 1869 and joined the Royal Artillery in 1888, receiving promotion to Lieutenant in 1891. He commanded a section of 10 Mountain Battery, R. A., during the Matabeleland operations of 1896, was slightly wounded, Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the D.S.O. In his report, Major-General F. Carrington stated that McCulloch ‘worked his gun with great coolness and steadiness when the enemy were in force within 50 yards of him in the attack on Sikimbo on 5 August 1896. He remained with his gun after having been wounded.’ McCulloch's section had been operating in co-ordination with a force of men raised by the British South Africa Company. He had already witnessed a great deal of fighting during the advance on Bulawayo, which culminated with the capture of the Matabele strong holds in the Matoppo Hills. The incident referred to in Major-General Carrington’s report was probably the biggest of the campaign, five Impis being attacked by a combined Imperial Force of 800 men. The enemy were completely routed. However, at the outset of the action, when McCulloch and another gunner subaltern were ordered to detach themselves from the main force, and set up position on a ridge, the fast moving Matabele swept in for the kill, creeping up gullies under the cover of the bush. But for the prompt actions of McCulloch and his compatriot, it is probable the detachment would have been wiped out. Promoted to Captain in 1899, McCulloch served throughout most of the Boer War as D.A.A.G. on the lines of communication in Cape Colony. He afterwards became a Divisional and Militia Adjutant and held the rank of Major by the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. Picked out for command of heavy artillery, he held several senior positions, ultimately as Brigadier-General, Heavy Artillery, 11 Army Corps, France. He was created a C.M.G. in 1918, was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 15 June 1916 and 30 May 1918) and was decorated by the French and Italians. He retired in 1921 and died in Hayling Island, Hampshire, on 16 October 1946.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.S.O., M.C. group of five awarded to Brigadier-General F. S. Thackeray, Highland Light Infantry, attached Royal Dublin Fusiliers and West Riding Regiment, who was five times Mentioned in Despatches during the Great War, and later served as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Lincolnshire Regiment, and Commander, Shanghai Area, British Troops in China Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt: F. S. Thackeray. High: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Brig. Gen. F. S. Thackeray.) mounted court-style, light contact marks, very fine (5) £2,800-£3,200 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917. M.C. London Gazette 23 June 1915. M.I.D. London Gazettes 17 February 1915; 22 June 1915; 4 January 1917; 24 May 1918; 28 December 1918. Frank Staniford Thackeray was born in Cardiff in 1880, the son of a stockbroker, and was educated at Charterhouse and Oriel College, Oxford, where he was also a keen golfer. He joined the University’s Officers Training Corps and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry on 4 December 1901. Advanced Captain on 18 December 1912, he served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914. Wounded in early 1915, he was twice Mentioned in Despatches within the first year of War, as well as being awarded the Military Cross, and in July 1915 he was seconded for service as Brigade Machine-gun officer. Thackeray was promoted to temporary Major, before being attached to the 9th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers as Lieutenant-Colonel in March 1916 for some eighteen months. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the New Year's Honours’ List of 1917, and was Mentioned in Despatches a third time in February of that year. Next attached to the 7th Battalion, West Riding Regiment as Lieutenant-Colonel in November 1917, shortly afterwards he was Mentioned in Despatches for a fourth time. Subsequently attached to the 20 (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry for two months, July to August 1918, before returning to the 7/West Riding Regiment, he was a Brigadier Commander (temporary Brigadier-General) by the time the war ended, and received a fifth Mention in Despatches in December 1918. After a brief spell with the 6th and 15th Battalions, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, from April to August 1919, he was subsequently appointed Chief Instructor at the Junior Commanders School at Strensall from August to December 1919. In April 1920 Thackeray was appointed Brigadier Major, London District, a post he held until October of 1921, helping to organise the Territorial Force. He became a Colonel in 1923 enjoyed a year’s secondment in India from 1926 to 1927, before taking-up his next role as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Lincolnshire Regiment in June 1927. This he clearly enjoyed as there are many references to him in the Lincolnshire newspapers, organising and appearing at various social events. In November 1931 he was selected to command the 138th (Lincolnshire and Leicestershire) Infantry Brigade, Territorial Army. He also had his image included in the National Portrait Gallery in London in December 1931. Thackeray’s final military appointment was as Commander, Shanghai Area, British Troops in China, a posting he held from July 1933 to March 1936, and for which job he was granted the temporary rank of Brigadier and appointed an Aide de Camp to the King. He retired in August 1936, and was granted the rank of Honorary Brigadier General. He returned home and settled with his wife in Minehead in Somerset. There was clearly still a little bit of ‘commanding’ left in him, as in May 1938 he was appointed as the new Scout Commissioner for West Somerset. He died in Winchester in August 1960. Sold with a large quantity of copied research, including various photographic images of the recipient.

A Great War Transport Officer’s O.B.E. group of six awarded to Captain S. de B. Lockyer, Royal Naval Reserve, who commanded the hospital ship Simla during the Boer War The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Transport Medal 1899-1902, 1 clasp, S. Africa 1899-1902 (S. de B. Lockyer, In Command); 1914-15 Star (Commr. S. de B. Lockyer, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr. S. de B. Lockyer, R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1918, very fine or better (6) £1,800-£2,200 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 4 July 1919: ‘In recognition of the services of the under mentioned officers of the Royal Naval Transport Service during the War.’ Sydney de Bohum Lockyer was born in Middlesex in 1855 and took his Master’s certificate in Liverpool in 1887, while employed by the P. & O. Steamship Company. He subsequently commanded the S.S. Simla in South African waters during the Boer War, which ship had accommodation for 278 sick or wounded, and was presented with his Transport Medal & clasp by King Edward VII at a ceremony held in November 1903. Meanwhile, in his capacity as a qualified ship’s master, he had been commissioned as a Sub. Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, and had risen to the rank of Commander before being placed on the Retired List in October 1901. Duly recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he went to sea in the following year and, by the end of hostilities was serving as a Transport Officer 1st Grade, in which capacity he was awarded the O.B.E. Awarded the R.N.R. Decoration (London Gazette 14 May 1918, refers), Lockyer reverted to the Retired List, upon which he was advanced to Captain prior to his death in July 1924. Sold with copied research.

A post-War O.B.E. group of nine attributed to Colonel A. A. Duncan, Welsh Guards; a keen sportsman, he played First Class cricket for Glamorgan, and captained the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup golf team in 1953 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1977, unnamed as issued; Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, French motto, with bronze palm on riband; Croix de Guerre, L.III.R., bronze, with bronze palm on riband, mounted as worn, enamel damage to motto on Leopold II, otherwise good very fine (9) £400-£500 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1959. Belgian Order of Leopold II and Croix de Guerre London Gazette 25 September 1947. The original Recommendation states: ‘Major A. A. Duncan was Brigade Major, 231 Infantry Brigade, from July 1944 to February 1945 during which time he had to issue many orders and instructions for important, fast, and long advances in face of enemy opposition which necessitated him being under fire for long periods. On 2 September 1944, the Brigade arrived at Arras, having advanced from Amiens on the same day. On arrival orders had to be got out for the advance of the Brigade Group (mechanised) to Brussels, a distance of 90 miles. This entailed a great deal of work and organisation to get all units rested and re-fulled and tactically disposed. Hardly had this been planned when the 1st Belgian Brigade Group came under command. Late at night very strenuous efforts had to be made to get sufficient supplies of all kinds (petrol, food, and ammunition) in order that the Brigade Group could carry out its task early the next morning so that both British and Belgian Groups were able to reach the outskirts of Brussels the next evening despite heavy fighting. This great triumph was greatly due to the magnificent staff-work, tack, drive, and courage of Major Duncan, who later became Brigade Major, 6th Guards, Armoured Brigade, and completed the victorious advance of this Brigade to its final objective in Germany.’ Anthony Arthur ‘Tony’ Duncan was born in Cardiff on 10 December 1914, the son of Newspaper Proprietor, John Duncan. Educated at Rugby and Balliol College, Oxford, he was a successful schoolboy batsman, scoring 58 and 94 against Marlborough at Lord’s in 1933, and played three First Class matches, two for Glamorgan, and one for Oxford University. However, it was as an amateur golfer that he made his name, and was awarded a Blue in each of his three years at Oxford, later winning the Army Golf Championship at Princes in 1937 and Muirfield in 1938. The Welsh Amateur Championships came his way, as well as a place in the international team for the annual amateur home nations championship. In May 1939 he reached the final of the British Amateur Championship at Hoylake, Liverpool, losing to Alexander Kyle of Scotland. Whilst at Oxford, Duncan joined the Officer Training Corps and at the end of his studies proceeded to Sandhurst, from where he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Welsh Guards in 1936. Initially on the outbreak of war, Duncan found himself on home duties. In 1941 he was appointed adjutant to the 2nd Armoured Brigade, Welsh Guards, later joining the 231 (Malta) Infantry Brigade in Normandy in June 1944 as a Brigade Major. In July of 1944 he was part of Operation Market Garden as part of XXX Corps, which struck from Belgium through Holland towards the bridge at Arnhem. His organisational work during the period July 1944 to February 1945 came to the notice of the Belgian allies and he was made a Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II (with palm) and awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre with palm. Duncan was in the thick of most of the actions as Brussels was retaken, then into 1945 with actions at Haversum, Kassel and Hassum amongst others before returning to the UK in March. Duncan later became Brigade Major to 116 Royal Marine Brigade, then after the war to 6/Guards Tank Brigade. Between 1947-50 he was regimental adjutant, Welsh Guards. In 1947 he commanded a parade at Windsor Castle with the 2/Welsh Guards and was advanced to Major in 1948. Duncan continued to play top-level amateur golf through the post war years and in 1953 was chosen as the captain of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup Golf team to play the United States of America in Massachusetts. He later acted as a judge in many major golf tournaments around his home area of Surrey, and on one occasion incurred the wrath of Jack Nicklaus. Between 1950-53 Duncan was an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley, then later became non-NATO staff officer to the chairman of the British defence staffs in Washington DC, including being secretary of the British delegation to the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations. During 1956-58 he was manager for the rebuilding of the new Guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks, as well as Chelsea and Knightsbridge Barracks. He also fulfilled the role of Assistant Quarter Master General for the London District between 1957-1960, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours’ List of 1959. Advanced Colonel in June 1960, Duncan was later Army representative to the RAF Staff college at Bracknell, and between 1968-1970 he was commandant of the Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare School. He retired in 1970, but remained at the Staff College in Camberley until 1979. He died in Farnham, Surrey, on 3 January 1998. Sold together with the recipient’s Bestowal Document for the O.B.E.; Central Chancery enclosure for the O.B.E.; named Certificates for the Coronation and Jubilee Medals; the recipient’s Officers Training Corps Certificate; a group photograph and a photographic image of the recipient; a gold Staff Officer’s Baton, E.II.R.; the recipient’s riband bar and various buttons and rank insignia; various newspaper obituaries; and a large quantity of copied research, the majority dealing with his golfing exploits. For the recipient’s brother’s medals, see Lot 418.

A Second War M.B.E. group of four awarded to Warrant Officer W. J. Towner, Royal Air Force, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver, in Royal Mint case of issue and outer card box; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (347753. F/Sgt. W. J. S. Towner. R.A.F.) nearly extremely fine (4) £180-£220 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 8 June 1944: Warrant Officer Walter John Towner (347753), Royal Air Force. M.I.D. London Gazettes 24 September 1941 and 11 June 1942.

A post-war M.B.E. group of five awarded to Mr R. E. Manly, Air Traffic Control Officer at London Airport, formerly a Sergeant in the Royal Air Force who flew Spitfires with No. 129 (Mysore) Squadron The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, in its Royal Mint case of issue with instructions for wearing; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, these all unnamed with their named card box of issue addressed to Manly at London Airport, together with the ‘Gundabherunda’ silver medal presented to the pilots of 129 Squadron by the Maharaja of Mysore in 1942, named on the reverse ‘Sgt. R. E. Manly’ and hallmarked Birmingham 1941, in its presentation case, nearly extremely fine (6) £400-£500 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 31 May 1956: ‘Richard Edward Manly, Air Traffic Control Officer II, London Airport.’ The Operations Record Book for No. 129 (Mysore) Squadron for the period January to April, 1942, based at Westhampnett, has the following mentions of Sergeant Manly: Jan. 7 - Sgt. Manly reported for flying duties. Feb. 14 - 2 Spitfires Mark VB, Sgt. Tucker, Sgt. Manly. Scramble to investigate X raid over the Isle of Wight but plot faded and they were recalled. Mar. 12 - 4 Spitfires Mark VB, including Sgt. Manly take off for patrol over damaged Destroyer with escort making for Portsmouth. Mar. 22 - Captain Binstead, the Trade Commissioner for Mysore, Mr Goodchild of the India Office, and Sir Frank Brown of the East India Company visited the squadron, and after lunch with the Station Commander at Chopwyke House proceeded to the Dispersal where after speeches by Capt. Binstead and Sir Frank Brown, the latter presented Mysore Medallions to new pilots and to the 10 Senior N.C.O’s. Mar. 25 - 6 Sections, each of 2 Spitfires Mark VB, including Sgt. Manly, ordered to patrol over Newhaven area to intercept possible enemy Rhubarb but nothing seen to report. Apl. 10 - ... in the evening the Squadron took part in a Rodeo in the Hardelot-Desires area. They provided high cover on the instructions of the Wing Leader, while many dog-fights took place below them, in the course of which the Wing Leader (Wing Commander Robinson) and the C.O. of 340 Squadron were lost. Sgt. Manly of “B” Flight had to return on the way out owing to engine failure and crash landed between Brighton and Lewes, his aircraft being Cat. E. and he himself being severely shaken and bruised. He was post N/E. sick to Tangmere and admitted to Sick Quarters. Sold with relevant copied O.R.B. extracts.

A fine Second War ‘Escaper’s M.C. group of six awarded to Captain C. N. Cross, Worcestershire Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Rigel Ridge, Libya, on 14 June 1942. After three previous unsuccessful attempts, he successfully escaped captivity in Italy and proceeded to make a 450 mile journey through German occupied territory Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated ‘1944’, and additionally engraved ‘Italy Capt. Charles N. Cross, 1. Worc. R.’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn; together with the recipient’s related miniature awards (last two plain discs only), these similarly mounted as worn, contact marks, therefore nearly very fine (6) £1,400-£1,800 --- Provenance: Glendinings, March 1995; Dix Noonan Webb, December 2004. M.C. London Gazette 9 December 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘This officer was captured at Rigel Ridge, Libya, on 14 June 1942. He was transferred to Italy and was imprisoned in Campo 21 at Chieti from 4 August 1942 to 4 August 1943. During this time he was involved in three escape schemes. On 4 August 1943, he was moved to Campo 19 at Bologna, whence he escaped on 12 September 1943, three days after the occupation of the camp by the Germans. With four other prisoners, Lieutenant Cross hid in an uncompleted tunnel which had been begun on 24 August 1943. He was the second officer to leave the tunnel and was able to climb out of the camp unobserved. In bare feet he followed the railway from Bologna to Castel S. Pietro where he obtained civilian clothes, food and 300 lire from English-speaking Italians. He then walked to Imoli and caught a train to Termoli where the train was taken over by the Germans. He evaded them and made his way from Termoli to Bari, receiving a good deal of help en route from Italians. At Bari he was able to contact British paratroops. In view of this officer’s enterprise and determination to rejoin the Allied Forces, I strongly recommend that he be awarded the Military Cross.’ Charles Napier Cross was born in Edmonton, Llandaff, Cardiff, in April 1913. Prior to the Second War he was employed as a Director of a company in Bridgend, and played for Cardiff Rugby Club, as well as being a former captain of Glamorgan Wanderers. Cross was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment, in April 1941. He served with C Company, 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment in North Africa, and was present when the Battalion fought in a gallant defensive action against the 21st Panzer Division at Rigel Ridge, south-west of Tobruk, 14 June 1942. Cross was part of a small number of men left to cover the withdrawal of the main force, and was eventually taken prisoner of war. The story of Charles Napier Cross’ remarkable 450-mile journey through German-occupied Italy, is reported at great length in his MI9 Debrief, and was retold in a wartime feature that appeared in the Western Mail & South Wales News, on 11 December 1943, from which the following extract has been taken: ‘ ... Six British officers continued their tunnelling operations, and decided to make a new passage under the cookhouse. They knew the officers were going to be moved, and their idea was to stay in the hole, for days if necessary, and come out after the camp had moved. Then came their first shock. Five of them got into the hole and waited for 15 hours. Coming out to reconnoitre they found that instead of the Germans having left the camp they had moved the British officers and taken the camp over as a barracks. Then there was a dash for freedom, Lieutenant Cross was second of the five to escape over a 12 ft. wall surmounted by another 4 ft. of wire. Bare-footed he went over another barrier of barbed wire, ran into the vineyards and began his great trek. After walking some miles with swollen legs and blistered feet he called at a villa and asked for shoes or boots. The occupants gave him boots and civilian clothes, and speaking Italian he was able to pass as an Italian civilian. After walking another 10 miles, he came between the railway and the road that ran to a town and jumped on a train in a siding. With a handkerchief over his head to the complete the illusion that he was an Italian, he travelled for 100 miles as a passenger. At the end of this journey the Germans searched passengers for arms, but his nationality escaped detection, and he made for open country. Occasionally, he got lifts in a mule cart; more often he walked, passing from village to village until at last he decided to make for Naples. A peasant warned him that it was impossible to get over the hills so he turned back to a town on the Adriatic coast. He had little sleep, rising at about one a.m. and travelling through the night and day until 10 p.m. when he had a couple of hours’ sleep and was off again. For food he helped himself from the vineyards. In the villages he bought macaroni and spaghetti and sat at cafe tables with other Italians. Sometimes he was asked too many questions. He escaped from a difficult situation by saying he had been with one of the Bersaglieri regiments, and, pointing to a mark on his face, said he had suffered a wound which made talking difficult. He had little trouble in bluffing the Germans. Sometimes an Italian who guessed his identity would shake hands with him, and, with a sly wink, help him on his way. When some 30 miles from the British lines a group of Italians mistook him for an escaping German and put him in a local gaol. But he managed to get out and shortly afterwards arrived at a town where he met a platoon of British paratroops. Lieutenant Cross, who has owned a business in Bridgend for the past seven years, is a son of the late Mr. Ernest Cross, managing director of Messrs. Cross Brothers, Cardiff, and will be remembered among Cardiff Rugby followers as a former player with Cardiff Rugby Club and a former captain of Glamorgan Wanderers.’ Cross managed to make contact with British Paratroops at Bari, 18 September 1943, and after a debrief at HQ 5 Corps was sent the following day to Brindisi. Whilst at the latter he was interviewed by General Mason-Macfarlane, Chief of the Armistice Commission. Cross was deemed useful and travel orders were raised for him to escort Herr Thisson (former German Consul at Bari) and his wife from Brindisi to Algiers by air (see original documentation included in lot). Having carried out his duty he returned to the UK via Marrakech, and advanced to Temporary Captain in May 1944. After the war Cross resided at 1 Rectory Road, Penarth, Glamorgan, and died in August 1964. Sold with a quantity of original documentation including an Allied Forces H.Q. travel order, with several carbon copies, marked “Secret” and dated 21 September 1943, authorising the movement of ‘Herr Thisson, ex-German Consul at Bari and his wife’ to proceed from Brindisi to Algiers, with ‘Lt. C. N. Cross’ as their ‘prisoner of war guard’, together with an Italian post-marked envelope addressed to Cross at his residence in Glamorgan from the Thissons at Merano; the above quoted newspaper feature from the Western Mail & South Wales News; a letter from a freelance journalist asking the recipient for permission to recount his escape story in an edition of The Soldier magazine, dated 13 August 1959; and three photographs, one of them - that shown - believed to have been taken of the recipient while a P.O.W. in Italy; and copied research.

A particularly fine Second War D.F.C and Second Award Bar, A.F.C. group of six awarded to Wing Commander W. J. “Marmaduke” Alington, Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers, late Mercantile Marine and Royal Naval Reserve, who, having shot down two Dornier 217s flying Beaufighters at night in 1942, converted to Mosquitos, destroying or damaging seven locomotives in May 1943. Rated an ‘exceptional’ pilot, the following month he led the four most experienced Mosquito crews of 264 Squadron in executing the highly successful ‘Instep 184’ low-level night raid on the German sea plane base at Biscarosse Lake, an action that is vividly described in a secret Official Intelligence Report, the recipient’s original copy of which is included in the lot Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Cross officially dated ‘1943’ and the reverse of the Bar ‘1943’; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1941’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, Atlantic; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £5,000-£7,000 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 2 February 1943: ‘This officer has completed a large number of sorties and has destroyed 2 enemy aircraft at night. He is an extremely able flight commander, whose efforts to achieve success in night fighting have been most praiseworthy.’ D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 23 July 1943: ‘This officer has displayed exceptional keenness and determination to inflict loss on the enemy. On 1 sortie, he damaged 7 locomotives. More recently, in June, 1943, he led a formation of light bombers on an operation which resulted in the destruction of 4 enemy aircraft on the ground, while much damage was caused to a hangar. In addition, a minesweeper was attacked and damaged. By his fearless and skilful leadership, Wing Commander Alington played a large part in the success of the sortie.’ A.F.C. London Gazette 30 September 1941. The recommendation (abridged) states: ‘This Officer has completed 2700 hours of instruction flying of which 595 have been flown since December, 1939. His great enthusiasm for the work is reflected in the high standard of his pupils.’ William James Alington was born on 26 March 1906 at Hythe, Kent, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. M. Alington, East Lancashire Regiment and the grandson of Admiral A. H. Alington. His two brothers also served with distinction: Paymaster Lieut.-Cdr. R. H. Alington, Royal Navy, mentioned in despatches and killed in the Mediterranean on active service in September 1943 and Wing Commander P. H. Alington, D.F.C. for gallantry as captain of a Sunderland aircraft during the evacuation from Greece, 1941. Allington initially embarked on a naval career, serving with the Mercantile Marine from 1921, and was also appointed Midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve, 1 January 1923, advancing to Sub-Lieutenant on 12 June 1928. His attention then switched to flying, however, and having obtained his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate at Hampshire Aeroplane Club on 24 June 1932, he joined the Royal Air Force Reserve, Class “F”, as a Sergeant on 15 October 1934 - this despite having rather inauspiciously crashed his Moth on Burbage Edge near Buxton just 4 days earlier. He joined the staff of Aberdeen Airways as a pilot in 1935 and, gaining his wings in the Reserve in April the same year, he was commissioned Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers on 4 April 1936, advancing to Flying Officer, October 1937 and Flight Lieutenant, November 1940. No. 54 O.T.U. Flying Instructor - A.F.C. On 18 May 1941, whilst employed as a Flying Instructor at at No. 54 Operational Training Unit, R.A.F. Church Fenton, Alington survived another plane crash; on this occasion, whilst giving dual instruction at night on instruments in a Miles Master, his pupil inadvertently switched off the engine shortly after take-off and during the attempted forced landing a wing tip of the aircraft clipped a tree. The aircraft was written off and Both Alington and his pupil were removed to York Hospital, seriously but not fatally injured. Alington resumed flying on 10 July and later the same year he was awarded the A.F.C. in respect of his services as a Flying Instructor, both before and since the start of the war. 25 Squadron - Beaufighter nightfighter operations - D.F.C. On 27 July 1941, Alington went operational with a posting to 25 Squadron, a Beaufighter unit flying out of R.A.F. Wittering. He flew four night patrols in August and continued flying regular sweeps and patrols over the course of the the next 15 months, gaining promotion to Squadron Leader on 1 December 1941. On 24 July 1942, his logbook describes an unusual sortie in search of a pilot downed over the sea. After 2.5 hours of searching he was then directed to pursue nearby enemy aircraft but after being misidentified and chased by Spitfires he finally landed at Catford with just 30 gallons of fuel left. On 23 August, he was again shot at by friendly fighters but the same night he destroyed a Dornier 217, the enemy aircraft crashing at Sutton Bridge killing all its crew. He shot down his second Dornier 217 off Sheringham on 15 September but on 11 November 1942, after 85 night sorties, Alington was posted back to No. 54 O.T.U., with which unit he resumed Instructor duties for a few months, this time on Beaufighters. He was awarded the D.F.C. in February 1943 for his night fighter exploits with 25 Squadron. 264 Squadron - Mosquito operations - locomotives destroyed Returning to operational duties, Alington joined 264 Squadron, a Mosquito unit, on 21 March 1943. After a short period familiarising himself with the ‘Wooden Wonder’, he began flying Ranger sorties over enemy territory, one of which, on 11 May, prompted him to observe in his logbook, ’passed two 190s at opps, they went on! Met two more and had a mild dog fight, fired quite a bit of ammo but missed all the time. Collected one bullet hole in port wing. Made cloud cover and returned to base.’ Another Ranger sortie on 22 May was more productive, ‘No aircraft seen. 7 locos attacked. 3 blew up. 4 severely damaged.’ ‘Instep 184’ - Biscarosse Lake raid - Bar to D.F.C. The following month, Wing Commander Alington led a team of his four most experienced mosquito crews on the highly successful ’Instep 184’ raid on the German seaplane base at Biscarosse Lake on the Bay of Biscay, France. Departing from R.A.F. Predannack in Cornwall on 20 June 1943 at 2015 hours, Alington, in company with Flying Officer E. E. Pudsey, Squadron Leader L. T. Bryant-Fenn, Flying Officer J. L. Mason and their respective navigators approached the target at 2217 hours, having between them already destroyed an airborne Blohm und Voss 138 encountered en-route. Identifying the shapes of moored aircraft on the lake, the Mosquitos of 264 Squadron then began to systematically strafe the stricken seaplanes with cannon fire. The secret Final Intelligence Report of the raid (Alington’s original copy with lot) describes the action on the lake from the perspective of each pilot in some detail, with Alington in Red 1 orchestrating proceedings and also very much partaking: ‘Red 1 had headed towards the two aircraft farthest from the Hangars and, as he did so, saw Cannon tracer going down towards these aircraft which were in front of him. He called out to say he was coming in from the East and then saw two large E/a beam on to him. He opened up with cannon fire from approximately 600 yards on the nearer aircraft aiming a little high. Strikes were seen all over it and a fire started. He ...

A fine St John Ambulance Brigade group of five awarded to Honorary Surgeon H. C. Howard, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., holder of the Honorary Associate’s badge of the Order of St John Honorary Associate’s Badge of the Order of St John, silver; Jubilee 1897, St. John Ambulance Brigade (Hony. Surg. H. C. Howard); Coronation 1902, St. John Ambulance Brigade (H. C. Howard Hon. Sur.); Coronation 1911, St. John Ambulance Brigade (Hon. Surg. H. C. Howard.) Service Medal of the Order of St John, Silver, ring suspension (Hon. Surg. Heaton C. Howard. 1906) mounted ‘cavalry’ style as worn, together with related ribbon bar, extremely fine and a scarce group (5) £400-£500 --- Heaton Clark Howard was appointed an Honorary Associate of the Order on 31 July 1906, as an Honorary Surgeon. This was not actually a grade in the Order of St John and did not confer membership but was a favoured and usual way of rewarding people of a certain social standing such as doctors who performed good service for the Order. In 1926 this Honorary award ended with a Royal Charter and living holders of the Badge were offered the privilege of becoming Officers of the Order. Dr Heaton Howard died in 1923 and the following obituary notice appeared in First Aid in April 1923: ‘Dr Howard was born in Lancashire in 1855 and took his medical degree in 1880. The cyclist division of the old Metropolitan Corps was founded in 1889 by Mr Alan Palmer in conjunction with Dr Howard, who was appointed its Hon. Surgeon. The late Dr Howard carried on practise in Stockwell, where he was known as the friend of the poor. His surgeries in Clapham-road and Wandsworth-road have been for years the refuges of the sick, the outcast, and the distressed, while the pauper and the orphan knew that the brave old man would respond to their call at any hour of the night. Dr Howard fell victim to blood poisoning and died in St George’s Hospital where he had been a student 43 years before.’

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of six awarded to Acting Company Sergeant Major C. Elles, Royal Engineers, who was wounded in 1915, and was later awarded the M.S.M. for his services with Eastern Command Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (15129 Sjt: C. Elles. 54/F. Co. R.E.); 1914 Star (15129 2.Cpl. C. Elles. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (15129 Sjt. C. Elles. R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1851953 Sjt. C. Elles. R.E.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (15129 Sjt.-A.C.S. Mjr.- C. Elles. D.C.M. R.E.) mounted as worn, contact marks and minor edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (6) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916; citation published 10 March 1916: ‘For consistent good work throughout the campaign. His energy and coolness have set a fine example at all times; he carried out work under heavy fire with cheerfulness and great personal bravery.’ M.S.M. London Gazette 30 May 1919. Conrad Elles attested for the Royal Engineers at Haverhill and served with the 54th Field Company during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 October 1914. Listed as ‘wounded’ on the Casualty List issued by the War Officer on 15 October 1915, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Advanced Acting Company Sergeant Major, he was subsequently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his services with Eastern Command, and received his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 145 of April 1923. Sold with the recipient’s diary for 1915, recording his service on the Front; and a postcard photograph presumably of the recipient.

A Great War ‘Gallipoli’ D.C.M. group of nine awarded to Acting Regimental Sergeant Major D. Christie, Highland Light Infantry, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his gallantry under fire during the Occupation of Crete in September 1898, and received a further Mention during the Great War. Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (4737 A.R.S. Mjr: D. Christie. 1/6 H.L.I. -T.F.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Wittebergen, Transvaal, unofficial rivets between third and fourth clasps (4737 Sgt. D. Christie, 1st. High: Lt. Infy.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4737 Clr:-Serjt: D. Christie. Highland L.I.); 1914-15 Star (4737 C.Sjt. D. Christie. High. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (4737 C-Sjt. D. Christie. High. L.I.); Coronation 1937 (David Christie.) contemporarily engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (4737 C.Sjt: D. Christie. H.L.I.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (David S. Christie.) edge bruising to the QSA and KSA pair, light contact marks throughout, generally very fine and better (9) £800-£1,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 19 August 1916: ‘For conspicuously good work rendered during the performance of a difficult operation. He has set a fine example to his Battalion.’ David Christie was born in Edinburgh in 1874 and attested there for the Royal Scots on 20 June 1892. He transferred to the Highland Light Infantry on 30 November 1892, and served with them during the Occupation of Crete, 31 July to 26 December 1898, being Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 24 January 1899). Major I. C. Conway-Gordon, 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was an eye-witness to Christie’s act of gallantry, and later wrote the following testimonial: ‘On 6 September 1898 fire was suddenly opened on the troops stationed at Kandia, Crete, by the Bashie Bazouks. Sergeant D. Christie immediately turned out “A” Company, 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, of which Captain A. G. Balfour was in command. Captain Balfour took up a position with his Company and shortly afterwards Private Walton was wounded. The Hospital was situated about 100 yards from the position occupied by “A” Company, and the ground between was open all the wire to fire. Sergeant Christie volunteered to take Private Watson to the Hospital. He succeeded in doing so although exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy. Against the advice of the Medical Officer he returned across the zone of fire and rejoined his Company. I was an eye-witness of this action on the part of Sergeant Christie and consider he showed the utmost bravery and coolness under fire in carrying out the duty he had volunteered for. Throughout the remainder of the action he continued to display the same gallant spirit and much assisted and encouraged the men by his example.’ Christie saw further action in South Africa during the Boer War from 23 October 1899 to 11 January 1903, and received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Wittebergen, and Transvaal (his entitlement to the Transvaal clasp appearing on a supplementary roll), as well as the King’s South Africa Medal with both date clasps. Remaining with the Regiment, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, before transferring to the permanent staff of the 6th Battalion (Territorial Force), and served with them during the Great War in Gallipoli from 2 July 1915 as Acting Regimental Sergeant Major. For his services in Gallipoli he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, as well as being once more Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 25 September 1916). Embarking for England from Alexandria on 3 September 1916, he was discharged at Hamilton on 20 October 1916, after 24 years and 123 days’ service, and was awarded a Silver War Badge.

A Second War ‘Bolster Force, Arakan 1944’ Immediate M.M. group of five awarded to Private L. N. Wallington, 6th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Military Medal, G.VI.R. (5374551 Pte L. N. Wallington. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) in its named card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- M.M. London Gazette 4 January 1945. The recommendation submitted by Major R. J. Northcote-Green (6 Oxf & Bucks) Commanding Bolster Force, states: ‘13/14 Sept 1944, Ponra Village, Maungdaw. On the night 13/14 Sept, the Bolster Force beech-head was heavily shelled - seventy five shells landing in the small area of the Camp. Pte Wallington was one of the two signallers manning the telephone to Force H.Q. When the shelling started Pte Wallington was at the Cookhouse and at the first lull in the shelling went to the Command Post where he found that the L/Cpl Signaller and the only Officer had been killed by a direct hit. Undaunted he set about mending the telephone line which had been cut in 8 places. This entailed working very near to the Petrol and Ammunition dumps which were on fire. Communication being established he rang up Force H.Q. and gave information of the situation. He checked the wireless set and then did a great deal to control certain non-combatants who were in confusion as a result of the shelling. By his coolness and courage he did much to restore order, thus enabling the Officer, sent down to take over to carry out evacuation. This soldier set a fine example. But for his fine efficiency and courage during the shelling, some time might have elapsed before Force H.Q. could have gained vital information.’ Major R. J. Northcote-Green was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry on the same occasion. Louis Norman Wallington was born on 26 September 1902, and was a chair maker by trade on enlistment. Sold with named Buckingham Palace enclosure letter and letter of congratulation from General W. J. Slim on Fourteenth Army headed paper (31 October 1944), together with the recipient’s Service and Pay Book.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Corporal R. Lacey, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 10 January 1918 Military Medal, G.V.R. (R-16600 Cpl. R. Lacey. 13/K.R.R.C.); Memorial Plaque (Rostron Lacey) nearly extremely fine (2) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 2 April 1918. Rostron Lacey was born in Haslingden, Lancashire, and attested there for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. He served with the 13th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and died of wounds on 10 January 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Sold together with a double-sided glazed small pocket photograph frame, one side containing a photograph of the recipient in uniform, the other a photograph of the recipient’s wife.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Company Sergeant Major T. J. Mead, Rifle Brigade, who died of wounds on the Somme on 15 September 1916 Military Medal, G.V.R. (2429 Sjt: T. J. Mead. 9/Rif: Bde:) toned, minor edge nicks, good very fine £260-£300 --- M.M. London Gazette 27 October 1916. Thomas Joseph Mead was born in Brentwood, Essex and attested for the Rifle Brigade at Harwich, Essex, serving with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 December 1914. He advanced to Sergeant, and served with the 9th (Service) Battalion as part of the 42nd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division on the Somme. The Battalion were engaged at Delville Wood on 24 August 1916, and ‘entrained for Dernacourt (11/9). Moved to forward area and in line at Delville Wood by (15/9). Attack towards Flers - lost heavily from enfilade machine gun fire from right flank while approaching Bulls Road - Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. P. Morris mortally wounded and every other officer hit except one junior subaltern. Casualties - 294. To Montauban Alley (16/9)’ (British Battalions on the Somme, R. Westlake refers). Company Sergeant Major Mead died of wounds on the Western Front on 15 September 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

A good Second War ‘Anzio Landings’ M.M. group of six awarded to Lance-Sergeant J. F. Thornton, Royal Signals, who died in Anzio on 16 February 1944 Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2031148 L.Sjt. J. F. Thornton. R. Signals); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn; together with a boxing prize medal, bronze, the reveres engraved ‘T. Bn. R. Signals. Runner Up Light Heavy. 1935. Sgn. Thornton.’, good very fine (7) £1,000-£1,400 --- M.M. London Gazette 15 June 1944: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’ The original Recommendation states: ‘In the assault landing on Anzio, Lance-Sergeant Thornton landed with assault Brigade Headquarters on 22 January 1944. Since that day he has carried out his duties with complete disregard of personal safety and has set a magnificent example in leadership and devotion to duty both to the line detachment and to the whole of the Signal Section. When the Brigade was holding the left Sector of the Beach Head on 23 January Lance-Sergeant Thornton was ordered to lay lines to forward Battalions. Owing to the nature of the country the possible line routes to the left Battalion were under observation and were subjected to enemy shell and mortar fire. Lance-Sergeant Thornton was continually called upon to repair breaks and his maintenance work whilst under enemy fire was beyond praise. On 1 February the Brigade was ordered to move at night to the Right of the Divisional front. 1 Loyals had previously moved to this sector and at 1130 hrs Lance-Sergeant Thornton was dispatched with one lineman to the new area to prepare line communication in advance of the move of Brigade HQ. The sector of the front which 1 Loyals were holding was under observation and the line routes to both 1 Loyals and 67 Field Regiment Royal Artillery were continuously being cut by enemy fire. Brigade HQ was established in the new area at 1945 hrs and by 2345 hrs lines were through to 1 Loyals and to the Field Regiment. Enemy fire, however, continued and the lines were in constant need of building and repair. Lance-Sergeant Thornton continued on duty in the forward areas throughout the night repairing the forward lines and also repairing the rearward route to the Divisional Signal Centre. He did not return to HQ until all the lines were reported through again at 0530 hrs on 2 February. During the subsequent eight days which the Brigade was in the line the enemy continued to shell and mortar the Brigade area and Lance-Sergeant Thornton was indefatigable in repairing and maintaining the 16 miles of cable laid in the area. That line communication on this scale had been maintained, with a detachment of only three men, under most difficult conditions, in both sectors in which the Brigade has been committed, has been entirely due to the example, set by Lance-Sergeant Thornton, of leadership, personal courage, and devotion to duty, whilst under fire. Brigadier E. E. J. Moore, D.S.O., Commanding 2 Infantry Brigade concurs in the above report and adds: “From my personal knowledge this N.C.O. has performed his duties regardless of his personal safety and has been conspicuous by his untiring energy throughout the operations in maintaining line communication. I strongly recommend the award of the Military Medal”.’ John Frank Thornton attested for the Royal Corps of Signals and served with 1 Divisional Signals during the Second World War in both North Africa and Italy. Awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry during the Anzio Landings, he died on 16 February 1944, and is buried in Anzio War Cemetery, Italy. Sold with a a portrait photograph of the recipient.

A Second War 1940 ‘Bomber Command’ D.F.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant R. F. H. Jones, Royal Air Force, Wireless Operator and Air Gunner in No. 40 Squadron Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (552118. Sgt. R. F. H. Jones. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, these last four unnamed as issued, the first with repaired and re-affixed suspension, otherwise good very fine (5) £1,200-£1,500 --- D.F.M. London Gazette 30 July 1940. The recommendation by Air Commodore J. M. Robb states: ‘Sergeant Jones has carried out 19 operational flights since 10th May, 1940. Although he has not had the opportunity to carry out any outstanding feat, his general work against the enemy has been of an exceptionally high standard. Towards the end of May, 1940, as a result of casualties, he was of necessity sent on missions on four successive days. Sergeant Jones, by his fine spirit and indomitable courage, set an excellent example to the new crews who were posted in to replace these casualties and he was, in my opinion, very largely responsible for maintaining the esprit de corps of the squadron. I recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’ Sold with full research including copied extracts from 207 Squadron O.R.B.

A Second War D.F.M. group of four awarded to Flight Sergeant C. H. Wolstenholme, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who completed 36 operational sorties with 90 and 7 Squadrons, many as part of the Pathfinder Force against some of the heaviest defended targets in Germany, and was killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down by a German nightfighter during a raid on Hannover in September 1943 Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1154508. F/Sgt. C. H. Wolstenholme. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine and better (4) £2,400-£2,800 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 2020 (Distinguished Flying Medal only) D.F.M. London Gazette 15 October 1943. The original Recommendation, dated 17 August 1943, states: ‘This N.C.O. has navigated bomber aircraft on 29 operational sorties; of these, 12 have been with the Pathfinder Force. Flight Sergeant Wolstenholme has achieved a very high standard of navigation. His careful pre-planning and the accuracy maintained throughout the flight have set a fine example. His targets have included many in Germany and Italy and against these, he has directed his Captain with such precision that very successful bombing runs resulted. Throughout his operational tour, Flight Sergeant Wolstenholme has displayed a fine spirit.’ Cyril Hayworth Wolstenholme was born in Cardiff in 1914. Working as a Clerk and living in Ammanford, Carmarth, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940 and trained as a navigator. Serving with 90 Squadron, flying Stirlings, his first operational sortie was a raid on Lorient on 13 February 1943. During the following two months, he took part in another 17 sorties, including a large number over targets in Germany, including Cologne, Wilhelmshaven, Nuremberg, Berlin, Essen, Kiel, Duisberg, Frankfurt, Stuggart, and Manheim. Transferring with his crew to 7 Squadron in May 1943, flying Stirlings as part of the Pathfinder Force, his first sortie with this squadron was a raid on Dortmund, followed by raids on Bochum, Dortmund, Wuppertal, Le Creusot, Krefield, Elberfield, Cologne, and Hamburg, before converting to Lancasters for an attack on Nuremberg on 10 August 1943. Continuing in Lancasters, three raids on Italian targets followed - to Turin and twice to Milan - before a series of four raids on Berlin and Nuremberg. On 5 September 1943, during a raid on Mannheim, Wolstenholme’s Lancaster was attacked by an Me210 which was shot down in flames by the rear and mid upper gunner. However, during their next raid, to Hannover on 27 September 1943, Wolstenholme’s Lancaster JA849 MG-F, under the command of Pilot Officer D. A. Routen, D.F.M., was posted as missing. A report noted they were shot down by a nightfighter and crashed at Osteressen. Wolstenholme, who had completed 36 operational sorties, and four other members of his crew were killed; two other members of the crew survived and were taken Prisoners of War. Wolstenholme is buried alongside his fellow crew-members in Rheinbery War Cemetery, Germany. Sold with quantity of research including copies of Operations Record Books for both 90 and 7 Squadron; Combat Reports; and other research including photographic images of the crew.

An R.V.M. group of three awarded to Deputy Superintendent F. L. Clifford, Aden Police, late Indian Medical Department Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, unnamed; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Clerk F. Clifford. Ind. Med. Dept.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, good very fine (3) £180-£220 --- R.V.M. (Silver) awarded on 27 July 1911, on the occasion of the visit of H.M. King George V to Aden. Mr Frederick Lakeland Clifford was then Deputy Superintendent of Police in Aden. Frederick Lakeland Clifford was probably born in India around 1861 where his father William Walter Clifford was a District Superintendent of Police. He appears to have been a Clerk in the Indian Medical Department and took part in the operations at Suakin in 1885, where clerks would have been engaged writing up records of casualties, pay, stocks, etc. At the time of his marriage at Poona on 28 December 1886, he was described as being an Inspector of the Abkari Department, India’s equivalent of customs and excise, and would have been engaged in tax collection. Subsequently living at Surat in 1887, where they had a son who died aged 2, and Bombay in 1889, by 1892 they had moved to Poona, where they had a second son. Information is very scant and it is not possible to prove that the Clifford in the Indian Medical Department is one and the same as the Clifford who later became Deputy Superintendent of Police in Aden but the geography fits well. The Royal Commission on the Public Service in India, published by H.M.S.O. in 1916, includes a discourse on pay and allowances by one F. L. Clifford, who states ‘The Aden appointment, which is recruited from the Deputy Superintendents of the Bombay Presidency, is one that causes infinite hardship. It is an appointment which has nothing to do with the Bombay District Police.’ Sold with research.

A Second War ‘Cardiff Blitz’ B.E.M. awarded to J. N. Anderson, Dock Porter, Great Western Railway, for his gallant conduct in rescuing two dock workers trapped in the hold of the burning S.S. San Felipe after she had been hit by German Bombers in Cardiff Docks, 9 July 1940 British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (John Nicholas Anderson) minor edge cut, very fine £240-£280 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 8 August 1941: ‘During an air raid a bomb fell in the hold of a vessel in which six dock labourers were working. Anderson obtained a rope and descended into the hold in which a quantity of timber was burning and smouldering. After the lead had been given by Anderson other helpers followed. In addition to the danger of suffocation from the smoke and fumes they were working under the water line. Two men were rescued alive and sent ashore. Anderson and his fellow rescuers then dug into the burning debris and recovered the bodies of four men who, apparently, had been killed outright by the explosion. Anderson showed initiative and leadership and by his courage set a fine example.’ John Nicholas Anderson was born in Cardiff in 1909 and worked as a merchant seaman for a short while from 1924, before becoming a Dock Porter for the Great Western Railway at Cardiff Docks. On 9 July 1940, the Roath Dock was raided for the first time by German Bombers. The S.S. San Felipe was badly hit and six dock workers were trapped in the hold of the ship. For his gallant conduct in rescuing two of them, and recovering the bodies of the other four, he was awarded the British Empire Medal. He died in Bridgend, Glamorgan, in 1962. Sold with copied research.

Pair: Surgeon Probationer Ernest Lowe, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who joined Zinnia in 1917 British War and Victory Medals (Surg. Prob. E. Lowe. R.N.V.R.) nearly extremely fine (2) £80-£120 --- Ernest Lowe was appointed Surgeon Probationer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 28 July 1916. Appointed to H.M.S. Hildebrand in 1916, he subsequently served in Zinnia, Acton and Viola. He qualified as Surgeon at Birmingham in 1920 and died in 1988.