155742 Preisdatenbank Los(e) gefunden, die Ihrer Suche entsprechen

* GUDIASHVILI, LADO 1896-1980 Devi Abducting a Beauty signed in Georgian and dated 1942 Oil on canvas, 100 by 67.5 cm. Authenticity certificate from the House Museum of Lado Gudiashvili, Batumi, Georgia, expert Zaur Tsuladze. Fantasies featuring naked female figures first appeared in Gudiashvili’s work during his years in Paris, where between 1919 and 1925 he honed his skills. This was a time of vigorous growth of modernist trends, and Gudiashvili had a natural inclination towards the decorative and expressive qualities of art of the new age. Following his return to Georgia, the artist strove for some time to become part of the development of Soviet art, giving his decorative talents entirely over to portraying the “New Life” he could see around him. However, from as early as the second half of the 1930s, fantasy and romanticism were taking precedence over “real”, social themes. Inspired by the success of archaeologists who had discovered major sites in the Armazi district in Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, Gudiashvili immersed himself in the world of his country’s legendary past, and in 1940 painted The Walk of Seraphita, one of his largest works. The name of Seraphita, the daughter of Zevakh, the junior Pitiakhsh (governor) of Tsar Farsman, became famous from an inscription that had been discovered on one of the tombs. And although there was no hint of any specific historical details in the artist’s work, this theme provided great scope for fantasy, and the successes of Soviet science, which was still in its infancy, served as the necessary source of inspiration. Henceforth, Gudiashvili would turn repeatedly to images inspired by the historical past and Georgian folklore, and in fact began to create, year after year, his own mythology based on Georgian themes. During the course of each decade the artist painted an entire series of canvases which represented variations on the theme which was close to his heart from the 1920s onwards, that of “maidens and beasts”. Most notably there is an entire gallery of “devis” – perennial characters of national Georgian folk-tales, good or evil spirits, presented in various guises in the works Devi Abducting a Beauty, Before the Stroll, and The Battle of the Amazonians and the Devi (all painted in 1942), Face to Face (1951), Woman with a Lion (1953) etc. Gudiashvili’s bestiary became more defined and, one might say, more aggressive in its symbolism. In place of the former peaceful idyllic scenes, we are now presented with tempestuous movement: here we have women lost in a dance, rearing horses, masks from national theatrical shows, and magnificent folk-tale garments. In place of the former languorous long figures and faces of whirling maidens, we see the substantial forms of full-blooded lovelies glowing with health. The spiritual aspect recedes into the background, giving precedence to physical beauty, sensuality and the overflowing joy of being alive. Gudiashvili’s style itself and the colours employed by him have also undergone significant changes, one of them being the emergence of thickly applied paint, iridescent colours and a “vibrating” surface, which replaced his former “flat” style. The artist himself acknowledged that these fantastic images brought him closer to the history and traditions of his homeland: “I have thought about this so much that I have at times mentally reconciled the forces of good and evil. This is how, for example, I thought of my large canvas The Wedding of the Devis (The Wedding Procession of the Devis, 1954). In this work the gigantic, bizarre Devis have been presented by me as good creatures. Our national creativity embodies an inexhaustible source of fantasy, and this world never ceases to inspire me. Through my portrayal of Devis, I have first and foremost wished to express the desire for our motherland to be without enemies and for these inimical elements to develop a respectful and caring attitude towards the motherland. They ought to love and value its beauty … they ought to examine their consciences and become forces for good, and they ought to strive not to slight our country even through mere clumsiness. The portrayal of the Devis shows them to be full of good and love for people, and they even befriend people. This, of course, is possibly mere fantasy and is not entirely justified – is even unacceptable and unfeasible – but this is a world of fairy tales and I love it ... women are in fact protagonists in almost all my works, for after all woman is the source of life and goodness, and therefore women have also occupied the loftiest position in painting as a whole. For me women are the crowning glory of nature and the personification of its inexhaustible abundance”.

SEREBRIAKOVA, ZINAIDA 1884-1967 Bathing Nude signed and dated 1927 Pastel and pencil on paper, 47 by 62 cm. Provenance: Private collection, UK. Authenticity has been confirmed by Catherine Boncenne, niece of the artist. Related literature: For similar works, see V. Kruglov, Zinaida Serebriakova, Zolotoi Vek, St Petersburg, 2004. Serebriakova’s lovely pastel Bathing Nude, which she executed in 1927, is one of the earliest in a series of portraits of a young, dreamy model who became the artist’s favourite “life model” between the end of the 1920s and the first half of the 1930s. In Serebriakova’s best works of this period, we time and again encounter this same, invariably pensive girl from a Parisian Russian family. She poses lying serenely on sheets with a red scarf (Nude with a Scarf, 1932); blowing out a candle before going to sleep (Nude with a Candle, 1934); sleeping (Nude, 1927); washing herself in a bath-house, long tresses of hair over her shoulder (The Bathhouse, 1926); and rubbing herself dry and relaxing (Reclining Nude in a Light Cherry Cloak, 1934).The nuances of the way the model is portrayed vary in each case, and some of the works are less finished than others. These variations are determined by the goals Serebriakova set herself in each occasion. For example, the work presented for the auction, similar to Torso for which the same model sat and which is now in the State Russian museum, is one of the more lively and gentle studies. It is executed in pastel, which brilliantly conveys the nuances of air and colour and is so well-suited to the purpose that even the seemingly misplaced strokes of chalk all but enhance the impression of the vibrancy of life. As an artist specialising in life drawing and painting, Serebriakova occupies a special place in the history of the art of her native land. She had no systematic training, but she did possess a natural taste in relation to how to portray a human body. The young artist had her first lessons in the laws of human anatomy during a brief period of study in the school of M.K. Tenisheva and in the studio of O. Braz in St Petersburg. Her education was continued in Paris (1905 to 1906), where she made a detailed study of the Louvre collection and made sketches from works by Brueghel, Watteau, and Fragonard that had made an impression upon her. Serebriakova produced her first “female bathers” in early 1920s, thus laying a foundation to a whole series of works that would bring her international recognition. Following a move to Paris in 1924, Serebriakova revisited her avourite topic and spent quite some time doing life drawing and painting. Thus, she created another version of her renowned work The Bathhouse, featuring the same model that sat for the pastel presented for the auction. However, the artist’s principal achievements between the late 1920s and the 1930s were her studies and her life sketches in pastel and oil, in which Serebriakova refrained from attempting, similar to Kabanel, to transform her life models into abstract “bathers” or heroines of ancient mythology. She filled her albums with entire series of “nudes” lying, sitting, and standing in various poses, drawn with astonishing ease and with a fine understanding of the female body. Serebriakova herself explained her passion for drawing and painting the naked body in a letter which she wrote from Paris to A. Savinov: “I have always had a passion for the theme of the nude, and the subject of The Bathhouse was merely a pretext for this purpose, and you are right that this is ‘simply because a young and clean human body is a nice thing’. At the beginning of my time here, that is from 1922 to 1934, I had a number of acquaintances – nice young Russian girls – who would agree to sit for me. Then they would go off and get married, and after that they would no longer have any time to act as models. I did not have the money to draw and paint professional life models, and I began to content myself with drawing and painting still life instead, and also managed to find some joy of painting in this ‘quiet life’ also …”

HARLAMOFF, ALEXEI 1840-1922 Girl with a Pearl Necklace signed and dated 1881 Oil on canvas, 66 by 51 cm. In the 1870s, alongside works of the domestic genre and portraits, Harlamoff began working on his so-called “heads” and their related genre compositions, which became predominant and now represent the bulk of the artist’s creative legacy. This proved to be an astonishingly lucrative enterprise for the artist, which to a large extent explains why he painted so many of these compositions. It is true that Harlamoff struggled financially during the first few years of his sabbatical. The funds sent to him by the Academy were scarcely enough to support even the most modest lifestyle. Ilya Repin wrote that “The Academy’s scholarships were sufficient to enable the recipients to get to some town or other and then sit there doing nothing in some cheap cramped room”, barely making ends meet. So Harlamoff, to quote Repin, “for two or more years could only afford to dine in cheap eating houses; then, after he received fifteen hundred roubles for a copy, he started painting items for sale for the first time and is now selling little heads ...”. Among the buyers of these “little heads” were members of Russian and European nobility and royals, including Empress Maria Fedorovna and Queen Victoria. Harlamoff ’s early “heads” included his Head of a Gypsy Boy, which was painted before the artist’s trip to Belgium. Subsequently, in the 1870s, after returning to France, he created his Mordovian Girl (the Radishchev Saratov Museum), Little Italian Girl and Gypsy Girl (both held by the State Russian Museum), A Head (Penza Picture Gallery), and Portrait of a Girl (Perm Museum of Art), amongst others. These seem to have been painted by Harlamoff so as to invoke associations with the works of Italian artists of the 17th century. What distinguished Harlamoff ’s “heads” genre from the multitude of other portraits of the same period? One of the artist’s contemporaries wrote that “the head and the study [for the head] are nothing other than ‘uncommissioned’ portraits, portraits under which not only do the first name and surname of the original artist not appear, but we do not have even the inevitable X., N. or Z. The artist executes his head and the study from life in exactly the same way as that in which he paints a portrait from life. However, his choices are not diffident ones, and that is the reason all his heads are beautiful ...” To put it succinctly, this approach provided the artist with a rare opportunity to freely juxtapose his ideal of beauty against real life. The unrivalled master of this genre was considered to be Leon Bonnard, Harlamoff ’s teacher in Paris. However, despite the fact that such works were integral elements of the works of the Paris Salon, only a few artists managed to reach the standard of the master’s work. Harlamoff, who in his works provided his own unique interpretations of the achievements of Russian artists of the first half of the 19th century – most notably Bryullov, Kiprenskiy, and Moller, amongst others – was one such artist. Girl with a Pearl Necklace is one of the artist’s best “heads”. In his delicate, thoughtful image of a young girl, Harlamoff attempts to express certain psychological characteristics. The canvas as a whole contains a brownish “museum-like” colour spectrum; at the same time, however, Harlamoff is not afraid of providing a combination of resonant, “pure” white and red colours in the model’s clothing, and this was characteristic of his work in the late 1870s through early 1880s. The style of her simple dress – a blouse and a sarafan [Russian peasant tunic dress] – creates the impression that there is something Russian about the portrait, despite the fact that the painting was executed in France. The model for Girl with a Pearl Necklace was possibly one of the many female pupils of Pauline Viardot, with whom Harlamoff was very friendly in Paris. In any case, she can by no means be described as incidental to the artist’s work, as we certainly know of a number of works which had as their subject the same model as Girl with a Pearl Necklace. Moreover, one of them – The Girl with Brown Eyes – is virtually an exact copy of the composition of Girl with a Pearl Necklace, with the same angle of the head, the same cloak, and the same hands crossed on the chest. Diverse stylistic trends are interwoven in both of these canvases. Here, as in many of Harlamoff ’s other portraits, we have romantic or even sentimental reminiscences (it was not for nothing that his contemporaries remarked upon their “daydream” origins), features of realism, and, finally, allusions to the paintings of the “old masters”. After all, in the majority of his works Harlamoff continues to be a good colourist and a master who has a marvellous command of painting techniques. According to the recollections of the artist E.K. Liphart, who was one of Harlamoff ’s and Bogoliubov’s friends amongst the community of Russian artists in Paris, “everyone considered it to be an honour to pose for Harlamoff. In his strikingly similar portraits, what was important to him was the overall effect of the painting, and the details did not interest him – for example, if – as a result of being lit from above – an eye appeared to be sunken into the deep shadow of the eye socket, Harlamoff would satisfy himself with a half shadow, which would allow the pupil to be seen together with the vivid expression of the model’s gaze”. It was precisely this intense interweaving of light and shadow, as a contemporary artist noted, that created a certain sense of intrigue and mystery in Girl with a Pearl Necklace.

FILONOV, PAVEL and PORET, ALISA 1883-1941 and 1902-1984 Two Faces Pen and black and red ink on paper, 16.5 by 12 cm. Provenance: The Lothar Bolz collection, Germany. Acquired from the above by the present owner. Private collection, the Netherlands. The selection of drawings being presented at this auction is an important part of Russia’s artistic heritage that is located abroad. The collection was built up in Soviet Russia between the 1930s and the 1960s by a German, Lothar Bolz. He fled from Hitler’s regime and in 1933 moved to Moscow, where he became a lecturer in philosophy and law at the Institute of Marxism-Leninism. As he had for a long time been attracted to the fine arts (which he had studied in Munich in the 1920s) olz became acquainted with many well-known artists and journalists in Moscow, and later they were to become his close friends. Having sufficiently broad options and easily available resources, Bolz showed a preference in particular for collecting drawings, for in these he saw the specific individuality and stylistic variety of Russia’s richly-talented art. When he returned to the German Democratic Republic, Bolz became president of the Russian-German Friendship Federation, and soon after, minister for foreign affairs of the GDR. The current owner of the collection, a friend of Lothar Bolz’s family, obtained the most valuable items in the collection directly from Bolz himself between 1977 and 1986, and later on from his daughter. The main sheets of the collection have been exhibited in many famous Western museums and have frequently been reproduced in well-known exhibition catalogues and in specialised monographs on graphic art. The items in the collection include genuine masterpieces in watercolours and other media that reflect the artist’s true essence, attitude and individuality, and his or her place in the sphere of Russian graphic culture. Leading names include Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, Lyubov Popova, Zinaida Serebriakova, Nathan Altman, Alexander Samokhvalov, Alisa Poret, Tatiana Mavrina and other remarkable artists who contributed to the prestige of the Russian artistic school. The value of the current material lies in its varied “applied” tendency. This includes original studies of models from life, plein air landscapes and the traditional book illustrations that are an integral part of easel art. The varying degree of completeness of the works reflects the artists’ stylistic preferences and also the way that they dealt with specific artistic tasks. The famous Kuzma Sergeyevich Petrov-Vodkin is represented by a magnificent watercolour study of a skull painted in 1913. It was at this time that the artist’s style had finally become established, and it defined his personal colouristic preferences and specific utilisation of planes to construct the images in his works. The hard tonal drawing and contiguity of the blotches of colour give this striking work a freshness of perception and exceptional originality. A rare study from life by Lyubov Popova, dated 1915, reflects the artist’s strivings towards expression and constructive generalisation.The minimalist variations on one colour are a device that Popova hardly ever used in her completed works executed in oils. Of great interest are two sheets by Alisa Poret, one of Pavel Filonov’s students and a leading representative of his school. A large number of talented individuals gathered round Filonov, and this led to the creation of one of Russia’s most interesting artistic associations, known to history as the Mastera Analitiches ko go Iskusstva (Masters of Analytical Art). Two Faces and The Bride were created in 1933 based on motifs from the legendary Finno-Karelian epic Kalevala. The Bride was included in a famous edition of the work, now a bibliographical rarity, published in two languages, Finnish and Russian, in 1933 by the Leningrad publishing-house ACADEMIA. There is no doubt that it was Poret herself who produced the actual picture, but the respect that the members of the association had for Filonov was so great that many of his students always associated their own thoughts and actions with the exhortations of their teacher; they defined their own creativity by its close contact with that of Filonov and considered their works to have been produced directly under the master’s guidance. Unlike his Leningrad colleagues Pakhomov and Lebedev, Alexander Samokhvalov turned to book illustrations far less often. However, the beautiful sheet from Saltykov-Schedrin’s The History of One Town shows the artist to be a magnificent master of the form. The characters of the people in the illustration to the story are clearly defined with great humour and taste. The virtuoso control over watercolour techniques lacks any narcissism and is totally subservient to the meaning of the text. Using the works of Gogol, Nathan Altman, another prominent 20th-century Russian artist, anticipated the development of the post-avant-garde mystical and romantic trend in book illustration that was seized upon and modified by Mikhail Chemiakin at the end of the 1960s. Without exception, each of the works from the collection of Lothar Bolz is valuable in its own right, and they represent a unique exposition reflecting as a whole the many trends and developments in XX century Russian and Soviet graphic art.

KHARITONOV, ALEKSANDR 1932-1993 The White King signed with initials and dated 1963, also titled in Cyrillic on the reverse Oil on canvas, 63.5 by 46.5 cm. Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by the father of the present owner. Thence by descent. Private collection, Germany. Authenticity has been confirmed by Tatiana Sokolova-Kharitonova, the widow of the artist. Exhibited: GorKom of Graphic Artists, Malaya Gruzinskaya Street, Moscow, 1970s. The White King, which was painted in 1963, is one of Kharitonov’s few early works. It is hard to say exactly what evokes the grotesque image of the distant romantic country. Does it reflect numerous literary references or was it influenced by the War of Roses? Is it the enthusiasm for Symbolist poets, or perhaps the famous 1963 match between the chess kings Fischer and Benko? The world on the canvas, made up of the most delicate brush strokes, flickering with light, which became a distinctive feature of Kharitonov’s artistic technique, is not simply bright and festive. It verges on a fairytale fantasy. The inhabitants of a magical country stroll around an enchanted park, amidst minute houses, immense trees and statues of knights; there are maidens, both semi-naked and clad in 19th-century costume, a girl with a little flag, and a pensive gentleman. This magical world exists, uninterrupted: in one house, a wise man is reading a book, while his female neighbour is busily doing her laundry. Is this reality or simply the dream of the young king seated in the armchair beneath a canopy? On this canvas, everything seems to be a blissful dream; both The White King, with his eyes closed and his golden hair gleaming, and his enchanted land, are seemingly bewitched by the prick of a magic spindle. The picture does not merely record the bright, romantic attitude of the artist, who had, at that point, already reached his artistic maturity, but it also gives glimpses as to the future direction of Kharitonov’s search for forms and subjects. The White King represents, in a sense, the credo of the young artist, whose nonconformism has, by that moment, become his existential position, connected to the category of the spiritual, and to the tradition of the so-called “metaphysical” underground, rather than to any politicised dissident movements. The redeeming feature of Kharitonov’s artistic metaphysics, despite their apparent simplicity, is a contemplative sincerity. The refinement of the alien characters and the conventionality exuded by the magical land conceal both the conscious artistic escapism of one of the most important figures in Moscow’s “unofficial art” and an interest – typical of the period of the “Thaw” – in religious philosophy and the legacy of the Symbolists of the beginning of the 20th century. This canvas reveals to the fullest possible extent the tendency which Tatiana Sokolova-Kharitonova, the artist’s widow and renowned expert on Kharitonov, refers to as “the mysterious world of philosophical pictures”.

* § TSELKOV, OLEG B. 1934 Smoker signed, titled in Cyrillic and dated 1969 on the reverse Oil on canvas, laid on panel, 100 by 152.5 cm. Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner. Private collection, USA. Authenticity has been confirmed by the artist. Literature: Oleg Tselkov, Le Grandi Monographie, Turin, Fabbri Editori, 1988, p. 67, illustrated. Roger Pierre Turine, Oleg Tselkov, Bonfi, Moscow, 2002, p. 33, illustrated. Related literature: For similar works, see Roger Pierre Turine, Oleg Tselkov, Bonfi, Moscow, 2002. The image of the “pipe smoker” became one of the most important in Tselkov’s creative oeuvre during the second half of the 1960s. Evolving from the still life of 1964, in which a grey, large-toothed face, two long smoking pipes and a burning candle form the traditional vanitas composition, evocative of the “nature morte” of African totems and of ancient Latin American art, to the self portrait of 1969, and the suite which is made up of several impressive compositions of the same name, the image of “the smoker” grows, not only in relation to scale, but also in terms of meaning. This represents one of the allusions, which can occasionally be found in Tselkov’s works, to classical museum art - “the smokers”, a popular subject for painters, beginning with the Dutch and Flemish school of the 17th century, and continuing up to the time of Cezanne and Gris that became the darlings of the 20th century. Yet, Tselkov’s smoking monsters are merely a fragment of a classical painting, the spatial and compositional structure of which, containing references to well known iconographic motifs and traditional subjects, is merely a trick, a theatrical effect, designed to emphasise the alien nature of Tselkov’s world. Before us we do not see real people, whether in the form of a self-portrait of the artist or a canvas presented at the auction, but a world of simulacrums, in which genuine existence is wholly impossible. There is, therefore, no visible distinction between the genuine and the surrogate, nor is there any real difference between the mask and the face. The large toothed and toothless “Tselkov mugs”, which have been painted in the traditional palette of various shades of red, apathetically and, for no apparent reason, inhale and exhale clouds of grey and violet smoke. This smoke has poisoned everything that surrounds them: the yellow featureless towns and the spatial dimensions of life, squeezed into a frame and suspended by a nail. At the same time, Tselkov’s works contain no hint of the pathos of a Soviet poster calling for the battle for a better world; rather, what is at issue here is the metaphysical death of modern man and his urban world, in which, to use the words of the artist himself, no trace of “the face of god” remains. A student of the legendary theatre designer Nikolai Akimov, from his early days Tselkov was fascinated by experimenting with the “Jack of Diamonds” style of painting. However, the artist’s present-day fame has come about thanks to his so called “ugly mugs”: his bright, almost surrealistic canvases depicting round-headed creatures, which resemble humans with flabby bodies, blank eyes and large, glossy mask-like faces. Painted in bright, sparkling colours, usually against a black background, these “poster-like” garish images became a popular symbol in the West, as early as the 1970s, of the Soviet artistic underground: a caricature, in a sense, of Homo Soveticus. Tselkov himself stated that “I painted a portrait, so to speak; not a portrait of any individual subject, but, rather, a universal portrait of every human being, synthesised into one face, and one which is horribly familiar… This face is the face of modern humanity as a whole. I did not set myself the task of ‘ripping off the mask’: rather, I saw neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’, but something which was more real, more than skin-deep. And it is what we all are under the skin that brings all of us closer together. I cannot make any specific accusations against any particular person, but I am making more than a specific accusation against the large numbers of people who degrade one another, torment one another, and do away with one another. I am entitled to make such charges in relation to the past, the present and the future …” Tselkov was forced to leave for the West in 1977, where his work was compared to that of Fernand Leger, Francis Bacon and Fernando Botero, and occasionally to the later work of Kazimir Malevitch. As a result of Dovlatov’s famous story, the artist himself became a semi-mythical hero of underground art. Since that time, Tselkov’s works have found their way into museum collections on both sides of the Atlantic; as well as into public and private collections in Russia, the United States, France and Japan. Solo exhibitions of his work have been held in the Russian Museum and the Tretyakov Gallery, and the value of the artist’s works has risen in proportion to the increasing size of the paintings, which between the 1980s and 1990s, reached truly gigantic, mural-like dimensions.

ATTRIBUTED TO GIOVANNI JEAN SCHRANZ (MALTESE 1794-1882), H.M.S TRAFALGAR AT THE ENTRANCE TO VALETTA HARBOUR, Inscribed on a contemporary label verso `To Vice Admiral Fanshaw K.C.B - A souvenir from Mr & Mrs Tagliaferro, Malta, May 186...` oil on board, 23cm x 31cm (9in x 12in). Note:Arthur Fanshawe was born in 1794 the third and youngest son of Captain Robert Fanshawe, Resident Commissioner of Plymouth Dockyard. Fanshawe joined the Navy aged 10 and was made Captain by the time he was 22. After a rapid rise through the ranks and time spent in the Eastern Mediterranean, off West Africa and in North America and the West Indies Fanshawe was made Vice-Admiral in 1857 and from 1858 to 1860 he was Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in the Flagship Marlborough. In 1860 Fanshawe returned to Britain as Commander-in-Chief at Devonport. He was made Admiral in 1862 and died in 1864 aged 70 after 60 years in the Navy. The donor of the painting was probably Biagio Tagliaferro, one of the principal merchants in Malta and President of The Malta Bank, although Giacinto Tagliaferro who owned a Maritime Insurance Company remains a possibilty. We are grateful to Albert Ganado for his help in the preparation of this entry.

SIR JOHN LAVERY R.A., R.S.A., R.H.A., H.R.O.I., L.L.B (IRISH 1856-1941), HALF LENGTH PORTRAIT OF BETTY, Signed, inscribed verso `To Betty with `The President`s` compliments and good wishes`, S.Cromwell Rd, Sept. 1910, oil on canvas, 60cm x 41cm (23.5in x 16in). Exhibited:London, Goupil Gallery, Oil Paintings by John Lavery RSA, RHA, 1908, no 10 (?) as Betty. Note:Lavery would often begin a portrait by working on a small scale - experimenting with poses and colour schemes. On occasions he also produced a swift head study to familiarize himself with a sitter`s features. Long experience had taught him to act quickly if he wished to capture the essence of a personality. In an age when high aesthetic value was placed upon the fleeting glimpse, he was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Sargent, Blanche and Boldini, the masters of what Sickert dubbed `wriggle and chiffon` painting. There is however, no coy `come hither` posturing in the present study of a woman who holds the painter`s eye with calm concentration. Delicate modelling of the eyes and mouth is complemented by staccato notation of the sitter`s dress and lace collar. Unfailingly generous, Lavery would frequently present his sketches to friends, clients and sitters, often inscribed on the reverse with personal dedications, as mementoes of what were sometimes chaotic experiences. The painter`s busy work room, if RB Cunninghame Graham is to be believed, was sometimes filled with animated chatter `… scents, noise, confusion …` as dealers, framers, friends and fellow artists came and went. With his model posed on a dais, or `throne`, Lavery practiced his craft oblivious to the throng. In the present case, both the identity of the sitter and the meaning of the inscription remain obscure. One other portrait of this particular model is known, primarily from Walter Shaw Sparrow`s monograph on the painter. Up to this point, it has been assumed that this picture, Betty - A Portrait Study, was that shown at the Goupil Gallery in 1908. However with the appearance of the newly discovered Betty, this must now be questioned. An extensive search of the portraits of the period has yet to tell us with certainty who she was. It is possible that she too was a painter - Betty Fagan, an artist who exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters of which Lavery was a prominent member. In May 1910 he had hosted the society`s council meeting in his studio at 5 Cromwell Place, when JJ Shannon was voted in as its new president. It is possible that, despite his reluctance, Betty Fagan had been campaigning on Lavery`s behalf. He was currently the subject of a major retrospective at the 1910 Venice Biennale and had been collecting international honours for a number of years and since 1902, a campaign had been waged in the press to secure his admission to the Royal Academy. Although he was not immune to flattery, it is unlikely that a presidency would have appealed to him at this point. In 1910, Lavery`s reputation abroad was greater than that at home. Prominent sitters` commissioned portraits were clearly named and accounted for in exhibition reviews. Models and friends, `Mary`, `Idonea`, `Phyllis` and in this instance, `Betty`, are often only identified by a single Christian name. Dropping into the studio they were seized from the melée, placed on the `throne` and painted. We are grateful to Dr Kenneth MConkey for his help in the preparation of this entry.

Philip Wickstead (died circa 1790) A portrait of the family of James Henry of Jamaica (1732-1787) and his wife Elizabeth née Jones their six children James John William Edward Elizabeth and Josiah their maternal grandmother Catherine Jones and their tutor All full length seated in an interior a view of their estate called Southfield in St Ann’s Bay Jamaica beyond Oil on canvas in the original 18th Century Jamaican frame 123 x 99cm; 44½ x 39in This impressive family group is undoubtedly one of the most elaborate works that Wickstead produced in his career and certainly one of only a few on this scale to have survived from his time in Jamaica. He was there for 17 years and unfortunately much of his work from this time was destroyed in the great hurricane of 1780. It has been in the collection of the Henry family and their descendants since it was painted. Wickstead trained under Zoffany however his work is closer in style to that of Arthur Devis who also specialised in the conversation piece and who often depicted similar slim elegant sitters. He went out to Jamaica in 1773 with the landscape painter George Robertson under the patronage of William Beckford of Somerley who owned large sugar plantations in Westmoreland Parish. He stayed in Jamaica for the rest of his life and in the 1780’s after a failed attempt at being a planter he took to drink and died around 1790. The Henry’s were Lowland Scots who became prosperous merchants. After the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745/6 James Henry a surgeon and physician by training depicted on the right of the picture set out for the New World. He is recorded as living in Jamaica by 1767. He married the daughter of a wealthy widow and he accumulated considerable wealth. His eldest son James Henry shown seated at the left hand end of the table was a Captain in the St. Ann’s Militia Regiment at the time of his father’s death in 1787. He was the only one of the four brothers to marry and produce heirs and it is through his line that the picture has been passed down through the generations. Provenance: James Henry (1732-1787) James Henry (1765-1807) James Henry (1802-1877) James Henry (1836-1916) Elsie Beatrice Sharp neé Henry 1879-1952) Basil Telford Sharp (1917-1988) who gave it to the present owner a direct descendant of the Henry family ++In good condition

A hoof inkwell `In memory of The Sailor who was killed at the Liverpool Grand Steeple Chase` March 1848.

A scarce North West Frontier I.D.S.M. and Second World War B.E.M. pair awarded to Havildar Munshi Ram, 2-2 Punjab Regiment, the latter award for services whilst a prisoner of war of the Japanese Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (0135 L-Naik Munshi Ram, 2-2 Punjab R.) complete with top suspension brooch; British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (10135 Havildar Munshi Ram, I.D.S.M. I.A.) very fine and better (2) £1200-1500 I.D.S.M. Gazette of India 29 May 1937: For services rendered during the Waziristan operations in April 1937. The 2-2nd Punjab Regiment attacked high ground on the south bank of the Khaisora River, and this was taken without loss. But as the battalion withdrew and descended it was attacked by some three to four thousand tribesmen. Several men were wounded and a counter-attack was organised to rescue them. The regimental history records: ...the I.D.S.M. was awarded to Lance-Naik Munshi Ram for carrying back a badly wounded man unaided and under heavy fire. B.E.M. London Gazette 25 September 1947: For gallant and distinguished services whilst Prisoners of War in the Far East. The recommendation states: 10135 Havildar Munshi Ram, I.D.S.M., 5th Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment. His outstanding conduct as P.O.W. in Japanese hands was his steadfast loyalty at a time when the majority of his class (Dogras) had gone over to the I.N.A. Despite moral and physical coercion by members of his caste in the I.N.A., especially one Subedar Sant Ram, a prominent member of that Movement who threatened him with death and caused heavy punishment to be inflicted upon him, he not only remained loyal but aggressively resisted the Movement. His example influenced the few Dogras in his own Battalion, and in other units, in remaining loyal and maintaining their morale and discipline. Musselmans would acclaim an award for his loyal services. Munshi Ram was a Dogra Rajput from the village of Rakkar, Dera Gopi Pur, in Kangra district.

A rare R.V.M. and Durand Medal pair awarded to Subadar Krishna Appaji Bahadur, O.B.I., R.V.M., 3rd Bombay Sappers and Miners Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., Silver (Sbdr. Krishna Appaji Bahadur, 3rd S & M); The Durand Medal, annual award for 1908 (Subadar Krishna Appaji, 3rd Sappers and Miners. 1908) the second with numerous edge bruises and knocks, otherwise nearly very fine and rare (2) £800-1000 R.V.M. awarded on 16 December 1911, for services at the Delhi Durbar 1911. The Durand Medal was an annual award to an Indian officer, N.C.O. or Sapper of the Indian Sappers and Miners who had distinguished himself as a soldier and a sapper by good and efficient service. The prize originated in 1876, when a fund was raised by R.E. officers at home and in India to commemorate the memory of Major-General Sir Henry Durand, K.C.S.I., C.B., of the Bengal Engineers. The design on the medal commemorates one of the first acts of his military career when he blew in the gate of the Ghazni fort in 1839. The Trust Fund is controlled by the Institution of Royal Engineers and since partition the medal has been awarded on the basis of two years to the Indian Engineers to one year to the Royal Pakistan Engineers on the advice of their respective Engineers-in-Chief. Krishna Appaji enrolled into the Bombay Sappers and Miners in 1877, becoming Jemadar in 1893, and Subadar in 1902. For his war services he received medals for Kandahar 1880, Samana 1891, the relief of Pekin 1900, and Somaliland 1902-04. He was mentioned in despatches for Somaliland, and later awarded the Order of British India, 2nd Class (G.G.O. 15 September 1908). Subadar Krishna Appaji retired in March 1909. He was awarded the R.V.M. (Silver) for services at the Delhi Durbar in 1911 and also received the Delhi Durbar medal.

A rare Great War Kite Balloon Section operations D.S.C. group of six awarded to Major M. Lyon, Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Air Service, who was decorated for his gallant spotting work for land batteries and gunboats on the Tigris 1916-17 Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (AA. 1028 M. Lyon, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Major M. Lyon, R.A.F.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Egypt, Order of the Nile, 4th class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted as worn, together with set of related miniature dress medals, the whole contained in an old Gieves Ltd. red leather case, generally good very fine (12) £2000-2500 D.S.C. London Gazette 17 July 1919: For distinguished services with No. 14 Kite Balloon Section in Mesopotamia from August 1916 to February 1917. Mention in despatches London Gazette 15 August 1917 (Mesopotamia) and 3 June 1919 (Mediterranean). Egyptian Order of the Nile London Gazette 3 June 1924: For valuable services rendered to the King of Egypt. Maurice Lyon was born in July 1887, the son of Captain William Lyon of Holme Croft, Edenbridge, Kent. An architectural assistant pre-war, he entered the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman in March 1915, serving variously at the training establishment H.M.S. President, the cruiser Bacchante, and the naval base Europa I in Mudros, prior to transferring to the Royal Naval Air Service in October 1915, when he was commissioned as a Temporary Probationary Flight Sub. Lieutenant - his R.N. ratings service record is endorsed Land Operations but in exactly what capacity he was so employed remains unknown, although most likely it was during his time aboard Bacchante, which ship was employed in the Dardanelles. In January 1916, Lyon was assessed at Roehampton as An efficient officer, a careful and accurate spotter, a report that led to him being confirmed in the rank of Flight Sub. Lieutenant and joining No. 14 Kite Balloon Section and the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. Thus ensued a period of active service from August 1916 until February 1917, in which he was recommended for promotion and awarded the D.S.C., the latter beyond doubt for his gallant work in Drachen Balloons while spotting for land batteries and H.M. Gunboats on the Tigris (TNA AIR 76/311 refers). Back in the U.K. at Roehampton by April 1917, Lyon would appear to have carried out further patrols over the Channel in Caquot Balloons, prior to being posted to Malta as a Temporary Acting Flight Commander in early 1918. Once more recommended for promotion, he was appointed a Major in the newly established Royal Air Force, and transferred to the Unemployed List in April 1919. His subsequent award of the Egyptian Order of the Nile was awarded for his services as an architect, among other buildings credited to him being the Egyptian State Telegraphs and Telephones Building in Cairo; also see lot 98 for his brothers honours and awards.

Three: Lieutenant Walter Scott Stuart Lyon, Royal Scots, a War Poet, killed in action, 8 May 1915 1914-15 Star (Lieut., R. Scots); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.) nearly extremely fine (3) £400-500 Walter Scott Stuart Lyon was born on 1 October 1886, at North Berwick. He was the son of Walter F. K. Lyon. In 1905 he went up to Oxford from Haileybury, and read Classics. He came down in 1909 to begin his professional training in Edinburgh, where he graduated in Law and in 1912 he was admitted an Advocate. He was then for some years Sub-Warden of the Edinburgh University Settlement. He was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant on 14 December 1909, and posted to the 9th Battalion Royal Scots, being promoted to Lieutenant on 17 December 1912. When war broke out he was appointed Staff-Captain to the Lothian Brigade. He rejoined his battalion in France in March 1915. Major John Ewing, writing about the 2nd Battle of Ypres in his history of the Royal Scots , described the following incident on 23 April 1915: ôCö Company had come to a halt behind a hedge which was so thickly girt with barbed wire that men could not break through without great labour. Noticing this, Lieutenant Lyon very cooly stood up and, taking out his wire-cutters, began to make gaps. Machine-guns played on him, but without any sign of haste he proceeded with his task, never stopping until he had rendered the hedge penetrable. Later in his book, Ewing wrote: On 8th May the storm broke out anew ... South of the Menin Road the shelling was not so continuous or relentless as it was farther North, but it caused several casualties among the 9th Royal Scots. Lieutenant Lyon, who had distinguished himself by his cool daring on 23rd April, was among the victims. Lieutenant Walter Scott Stuart Lyon was killed in action on 8 May 1915, aged 28 years. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. He was said to be the first member of the Scottish Bar to fall in action in the Great War and perhaps the first Advocate to fall in action since the battle of Flodden. Lieutenant Lyon was one of the War Poets. After his death, his poems were published in a volume called Easter at Ypres. With copied research and a copy of the article, Some Great War Lyon Toffs and Toughs, by Dan Lyon, which appeared in the O.M.R.S. Journal of June 2009.

A rare and important Military General Service Medal for Maida awarded to Major W. S. Plenderleith, who commanded the 81st Foot on that occasion: though favourably ômentionedö in Major-General Sir John Stuarts despatch immediately following the battle, his leadership later appears to have become the subject of a secretive but nonetheless telling smear campaign - so much so that he was never awarded the Maida Gold Medal to which he was properly entitled Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Maida (W. J. Plenderleith, Majr., 81st Ft.), note second initial, good very fine £3500-4000 William Smythe Plenderleith was originally appointed an Ensign in the 60th Foot in November 1793, but shortly afterwards transferred to the Royal Fusiliers, and thence the 81st Foot, in which latter regiment he purchased a Captaincy in February 1797 and a Majority in April 1803. His subsequent command of the Regiment at Maida in July 1806 seems to have become a topic of heated and unfavourable debate in the years following that great victory, but in terms of his immediate ômentionö in Major-General Sir John Stuarts despatch dated 6 July 1806, his leadership appeared anything but contentious: Brigadier-General Ackland, whose Brigade was immediately on the left of the Light Infantry, with great spirit availed himself of this favourable moment to press instantly forward upon the Corps in his front; the brave 78th Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel MacLeod, and the 81st Regiment, under Major Plenderleath, both distinguished themselves on this occasion. The enemy fled with dismay and disorder before them, leaving the plain covered with their dead and wounded ... (London Gazette 5 September 1806 refers). As, however, revealed in a memorandum written in July 1828 by a fellow officer, Major (afterwards Major-General) Stewart of Garth, and published in The Military History of Perthshire in 1908, Plenderleith was responsible for almost turning victory into defeat as the battle reached its zenith: Major-General Stewart had an opportunity of performing some important pieces of service at the battle of Maida. The circumstances being of such a nature that a public notice of them might be injurious to the character of some brother officers, long dead, he has foreborne speaking of the subject and cautioned the officers who were present to do the same; and now he will only state a few brief particulars. After the enemy had been driven by the first charge at the battle of Maida, Major Stewart observed the Officer Commanding the 81st Regiment did not seem to understand or act to his instructions; he therefore rode to his part of the field and remonstrated with him, a remedy was instantly applied, and by his timely interference, was prevented a serious calamity which might have affected the character of that officer and the general success of the day ... Fearful, as he had already observed, that the circumstances if known would prove injurious to the officers, Major Stewart requested of General Sir John Stuart not to represent the case to the Secretary of State as he expressed a wish to do, in justice, as he said, to an officer to whom he owed so much - for the question rested upon this, whether Maida was to be an honourable achievement, or a thorough defeat - but that disaster was prevented. Now as 20 years had elapsed and as the present representation is intended for a foreign power which will ask for no names, Major Stewart trusts that there is no impropriety in mentioning the subject thus confidentially. Plenderleith briefly held an appointment in the 100th Foot following Maida, but was suddenly placed on the Retired List in June 1808. He died at his residence in Ramsgate on 5 June 1863, aged 88 years - never having received the Maida Gold Medal to which he was entitled and not, as suggested by Tancred, in his Historical Record of Medals & Honorary Distinctions having died before the Medal was issued: surely further evidence if it were needed that his reputation had been smeared by his old comrades and of a deliberate campaign to prevent him receiving his due entitlement to that rare distinction.

The Waterloo medal to Lieutenant E. J. Peters, 7th Hussars, who was taken prisoner at Genappe on 17th June but escaped to fight on the 18th at Waterloo when he was severely wounded Waterloo 1815 (E. J. Peters, 7th Regiment Hussars) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension, see note below about absence of rank on medal, some edge bruising, the obverse with contact marks from tunic button?, therefore very fine, the reverse nearly extremely fine. £5000-6000 Edward James Peters was commissioned as Lieutenant in the 7th Hussars on 10 November 1813, and was severely wounded at the battle of Waterloo when he was struck in the chest by a grapeshot about the size of a pigeons egg, taking with it part of his jacket and some of the buttons. Captain Thomas Wildman of the 7th Hussars mentions Lieutenant Peters several times in The Young Hussar, which documents Wildmans journey throughout the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns. Within this book, Lieutenant Peters and his subsequent capture and escape during the retreat through Genappe is mentioned in a letter written by Wildman to his mother: ...All our cavalry had come up during the night and when the arrangement was made to retire, the cavalry were ordered to cover the retreat. This movement commenced about 2 p.m. with the infantry and artillery and lastly the Cavalry moving off towards the left, so that the 7th being the right regiment covered the whole. When the infantry were all gone, the French began to move and soon after advanced with an immense column of Cavalry ð the Lancers and Cuirassiers in front ð three regiments of each. We skirmished with them till we had passed the village of Genappe, when they advanced so strong that it was thought necessary to charge them. This fell to the 7th and Major Hodge moved down with his squadron supported by the two others. The Lancers were however so wedged in the street of Genappe and with so large a column in their rear, that they were obliged to stand at all events and our squadron not making any impression was repulsed. When we retired, they pursued. Some men were killed and wounded. Major Hodge, Elphinstone and Meyers were made prisoners. John Wildman and Peters were also taken and stripped of their pelisses, belts, money, etc. Just at that moment the 1st Life Guards made a most gallant charge and drove the Lanciers [sic] in confusion in which the two young gents caught a couple of spare French horse and made their escape. Elphinstone got away last night and has arrived here and Lord Uxbridge sent to the enemys advanced post to enquire about the Major and Myers (whom report had good naturedly killed) and was informed that they were both doing well. I have no doubt that both will be exchanged very shortly╔... The 7th Hussars also were in the thick of the action at Waterloo as well. Extracts from a letter by Lieutenant OGrady in the regimental history gives a summary of the movements of the 7th Hussars at Waterloo: At daybreak on the 18th we were ordered to the extreme right of the army. We were close to the road where the hardest fighting was and had the opportunity of seeing almost the whole of this tremendous battle. In every fight I had ever seen we had acted on the offensive, but here we were attacked by double our force; we maintained our position until five or near six in the evening, repulsing every effort to break our lines and covering the field with dead. The 7th had an opportunity of showing what they could do if they got fair play, and we charged 12 or 14 times and once cut off a Squadron of Cuirassiers every man of whom we killed on the spot except the two officers, whom one MarÄchal de Logis I sent to the rear╔. Lieutenant Peters was still serving in 1819 but his early demise at Astrachan, in South Russia, was reported in The New Monthly Magazine and Universal Register for 1820, Part II, July to December: At Astrachan, Edward James Peters, esq. late of the 7th hussars, and son of H. Peters, esq. of Betchworth Castle, Surrey. Two other Waterloo medals to officers of the 7th Hussars are known in private collections without rank, namely Lieutenants Robert Douglas and John Wildman.

The Waterloo medal to Lieutenant John F. Breton, Royal Horse Artillery, the junior Lieutenant of Mercers troop at Waterloo where he had three horses shot under him Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. John F. Breton, Royal Horse Artillery) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension, together with his original George III parchment commission as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Artillery, dated 1 October 1808, correction to initial, some light contact marks to the obverse, otherwise nearly extremely fine and a rare officers medal to this famous troop £6000-8000 Besides Captain Mercer himself, ôGö troop had one Second Captain and three First Lieutenants, just five officers in total, Breton being the most junior. John F. Breton was born in Jamaica on 25 September 1791, became a Cadet in 1806, and entered the Royal Artillery on 10 October 1808, at the age of 17, as a Second Lieutenant. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on 15 March 1811, and served in the West Indies until 1814. Breton then served in Captain CavaliÄ Mercers ôGö Troop of Royal Horse Artillery in the Waterloo Campaign. He retired on half pay in 1820, married in 1825, having issue three sons, and died at Lyndhurst, on 17 March 1852. Mercers ôGö Troop became immortalised for its services at Waterloo through the publication of his ôJournal of the Waterloo Campaignö which is considered one of the classic accounts of this famous battle. The troop came in for the hottest part of the battle on Waterloo Day, and suffered considerably in loss of men and horses. Sir George Wood, R.A., paid the battery a visit on that afternoon and was surprised to find so many cannon balls whizzing round his ears. ôDamn it, Mercer,ö he exclaimed, ôyou seem to be having a hot time of it here.ö Hot it was for all parties concerned, but the gallant way in which the gunners worked their guns kept the French cavalry from reaching the infantry squares behind Mercers battery. Mercers own description of the state of his troop at the end of the battle amply summarises the hot action they saw in the centre of the line fending off the French cavalry: Our situation was indeed terrible: of 200 fine horses with which we had entered the battle, upwards of 140 lay dead, dying, or severely wounded. Of the men, scarcely two-thirds of those necessary for four guns remained, and these so completely exhausted as to be incapable of further exertion. Lieutenant Breton had three horses killed under him; Lieutenant Hincks was wounded in the breast by a spent ball; Lieutenant Leathes on the hip by a splinter; and although untouched myself, my horse had no less than eight wounds, one of which ð a graze on the fetlock joint ð lamed him for ever. Our guns and carriages were, as before mentioned, altogether in a confused heap, intermingled with dead and wounded horses, which it had not been possible to disengage from them. My poor men, such at least as were untouched, fairly worn out, their clothes, faces, etc., blackened by the smoke and spattered over with mud and blood, had seated themselves on the trails of the carriages, or had thrown themselves on the wet and polluted soil, too fatigued to think of anything but gaining a little rest. One particular anecdote taken from Mercers journal concerns the loss of Lieutenant Bretons third mount of the day: Lieutenant Breton, who had already lost two horses and had mounted a troop-horse, was conversing with me during this our leisure moment. As his horse stood at right angles to mine, the poor jaded animal dozingly rested his muzzle on my thigh; whilst I, the better to hear amidst the infernal din, leant forward, resting my arm between his ears. In this attitude a cannon-shot smashed the horses head to atoms. The headless trunk sank to the ground ð Breton looking pale as death, expecting, as he afterward told me, that I was cut in two.

The unique Waterloo medal to Captain Stephen Holmes, 78th Foot, late 24th Foot, with which regiment he greatly distinguished himself in leading the storming party in the successful assault of the main breach at Burgos in October 1812 Waterloo 1815 (Captain Stephen Holmes, 78th Foot) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension, the obverse with light contact marks, very fine, the reverse nearly extremely fine and unique to an officer in this regiment £6000-8000 The only Waterloo Medal issued to an officer in the 78th Foot. Captain Stephen Holmes served in the Peninsula and led a Forlorn Hope at the siege of Burgos in 1812. He was Major of Brigade in the Waterloo campaign under Major-General Johnston. He was appointed a Knight of Hanover (K.H.) in 1832 and as a Lieutenant-Colonel received the appointment of Deputy Inspector General of the Irish Constabulary in 1838. He died on 19 December 1839. Holmes served in the 24th Foot throughout the war in the Peninsula and came to prominent notice for his deeds at the siege of Burgos: On the afternoon of the 4th October 1812, the 2nd Battalion 24th Foot, were marched into the trenches, where they were formed into two storming parties. One hundred and forty men were detailed for the assault on the main breach, led by Lieutenant Stephen Holmes, whilst the second party, comprising 58 men led by Lieutenant Fraser, were detailed to assault the breach expected to be made by the mine. The attack was to be delivered in daylight and many officers of other regiments managed to find their way to the hill to witness the assault, Wellington himself being present on San Miguel. At 5 p.m. the signal for the explosion was given by Colonel Jones, the engineer in charge, afterwards the historian of Wellingtons sieges. He was hit in the act of giving the signal, but the mine went off and simultaneously the 24th dashed forward. The party who made for the new breach made by the mine, led by Lieutenant John Fraser, were there so soon that many were hit by falling stones, and all were covered by dust and fragments. This did not stop them, and before the surprised enemy could offer much resistance they were up and over the breach. Many defenders had been killed and directly Captain Lepper and the supports joined Lieutenant Frasers stormers the breach was secured and the attackers started to consolidate. The main body had a harder task: they had farther to go and here the defenders had not been shaken by the explosion. But, headed by Lieutenant Holmes, the 24th dashed forward and though received with a hot fire swarmed up the breach, where a savage struggle followed. The 24th maintained themselves in the captured position until nightfall, when they were relieved. On reaching their camp they found it thronged with officers who had come to offer their congratulations. Carried out in full view of a large concourse, the storm had caught the imagination of the army and won the battalion great renown. The storm had cost the 24th twelve men killed, and two officers, Coote and Stack, and 56 men wounded. Wellington himself wrote warmly of the 24th, whose conduct he described to Lord Bathurst as highly praiseworthy, while he wrote a special letter to the Duke of York to recommend to H.R.H.s favour and protection Captain Hedderwick and Lieutenants Holmes and Fraser, who had so greatly distinguished themselves. On the recommendation of Lord Wellington, Holmes was promoted to be a Captain in the 8th West India Regiment and Fraser was promoted to be a Captain in the 1st Ceylon Light Infantry, both promotions gained in recognition of their gallant services at Burgos. Further details of Colonel Holmes career are extracted from his obituary in the Untied Services Journal (1840): Dec. 19th (1840), in Dublin, Lieut.-Colonel Stephen Holmes, K.H., Unattached, Deputy Inspector-General of Constabulary in Ireland. This lamented officer entered the service as Ensign in the 6th Garrison Battalion, in 1806, and successfully obtained the appointments of Lieutenant and Adjutant in the same corps. In the latter end of 1809 he was transferred to the 24th Regiment, then in Portugal, which he joined in the month of February following, and in which Regiment he served during the whole of the campaigns of 1810, 1811, and 1812, having been present at the battles of Busaco, Fuentes dOnor, Salamanca, and some minor affairs, as well as the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo and Burgos. At the latter fortress, he volunteered to lead the storming party, which succeeded in the assault of the main breech on the 4th Oct. 1812, and of his conduct on this occasion, his Grace the Duke of Wellington was pleased, in his dispatch to Lord Bathurst, to express his approbation, in consequence of which he obtained his promotion to a Company in the 8th W.I. Regiment, which, however, he never joined. In the course of the foregoing service he acted as Brigade Major to the Brigades of the Line in the 1st and 7th Divisions under the command of Major-Generals the Hon. Sir Edward Stopford and Sir Edward Barnes. In February, 1814, Captain Holmes was transferred from the 8th W.I. Regiment to the 78th, and immediately joined the 2nd Battalion (then employed in the blockade of Antwerp), which formed part of the Army in Flanders under Lord Lynedoch, and continued to serve with his Regiment until appointed Brigade Major to Major-General Mackenzies Brigade. The Brigade broken up, he was removed to that of Sir Frederick Adam, and subsequently to Major-General Johnstons, in the 6th Division, in which latter he served during the campaign of 1815, but owing to its not being brought into action at Waterloo, he lost the chance of the promotion, which, we believe, was obtained by every Brigade-Major whose Brigade was engaged on that day. After the taking of Cambray, in which General Johnstons Brigade was employed, Lieut.-General Sir Charles Colville, who commanded the Division, recommended Captain Holmes for promotion, but his recommendation was unattended with success. Captain Holmes continued on the Staff until the formation of the Army of Occupation, when he returned to England in January, 1816, with the troops then ordered home, and on the 24th of February following, he was, by the reduction of the 2nd Battalion of the 78th, placed upon half-pay, and so remained till appointed to the 90th, in February, 1820. In the September following he proceeded to Malta and the Ionian Islands, where he served with his Regiment until appointed Major of Brigade at Corfu. On the 24th of December, 1825, he obtained an unattached Majority by purchase, and continued to hold the appointment of Brigade-Major till July 1827, when Major-General the Hon. F. C. Ponsonby appointed him Military Secretary on his staff at Malta, which appointment he continued to hold until Sir Fredericks state of health compelled him to relinquish his command. In 1838, he was included among the general Brevet promotion of that year, and thus obtained his Lieut.-Colonelcy. In 1824 he married, at Corfu, the eldest daughter of Major-General Sir Patrick Ross, commanding the troops in the Ionian Islands, Colonel Holmes at that time Brigade-Major to Sir Patrick. Colonel Holmes joined the Irish Constabulary as Provincial Inspector of Leinster in 1837, and in 1838 was appointed Deputy Inspector-General. The value of Colonel Holmes services during his tenure of office in the Irish Constabulary, have been thus handsomely acknowledged by the amiable nobleman at present filling the office of Viceroy of Ireland, whose letter to Colonel McGregor, Chief of the Department, we venture to quote in justice to its meritorious subject. Phoenix Park, Dec. 23d, 1839. Dear Sir, - In compliance with the wish expressed to you by Colonel Holmes, I request that you will announce to Mrs. Holmes and his family, my intention of appointing his brother to the vacant Paymastership of the Constabulary. Amidst the regret which I feel at the loss which the public has suffered from the death of Colonel Holmes, it is some satisfaction to me to have an opportunity of manifesting by the above appointment, as well to those most nearly connected with him as to all members of that Force to which he belonged, my high sense of his meritorious and valuable services. I am, dear Sir, . .. Very faithfully yours . . . . . . . . Ebrington. The premature decease of Colonel Holmes, itself deplorable, was rendered more affecting by the concurrent death of his son, a promising boy of nine years, who was interred in the same grave with his father, at Harolds Cross, near Dublin. Four children survive, who with their afflicted mother, are now under the roof of their excellent relative, Sir Patrick Ross Colonel Holmes, who was in his 49th year, processed every qualification to ensure respect and affection. Highly prepossessing in appearance and manners, truly amiable in disposition, a good soldier, and an excellent man, he has descended to the grave, followed by the respect and sorrow of all who knew him.

The Crimean War medal to Lieutenant-Colonel T. B. Gough, 33rd Regiment, who was severely wounded at the battle of the Alma and died of wounds received in the attack on the Redan Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lt. Col. J. B. Gough, 33rd Foot.) officially impressed naming, note error in first initial, minor marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine £2000-2500 Although this medal is entirely as issued it should also have the clasp for Alma. Thomas Bunbury was appointed Ensign in the 33rd Foot on 27 December 1827; Lieutenant, 25 January 1831; Captain, 23 November 1838; Major, 22 December 1848; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 12 December 1854. Lieutenant-Colonel Gough was severely wounded at the battle of the Alma, and died on 18 September, 1855, of wounds received in the attack on the Redan, Sebastopol, on 8 September.

A fine Sea Gallantry Medal group of nine awarded to Able Seaman Robert Charles William Brown, Merchant Navy, awarded a total of five gallantry medals for his services in rescuing the crew of the Usworth in the North Atlantic, 1934 Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Robert C. W. Brown S.S. ôUsworthö 14th December 1934); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed as issued; Lloyds Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, bronze (Able Seaman Robert Charles William Brown S.S. ôUsworthö 14th December 1934); Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, silver (To R. Brown, For Gallant Service 14/12/34) with silver brooch bar on ribbon; Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society, 6th type, silver (R. Brown, A.B., S.S. ôAscaniaö December 14th. 1934) with double-dolphin slip-bar and silver buckle on ribbon; Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York Medal, bronze, reverse inscribed (name engraved), Awarded to R. Brown for saving human life in peril, brooch bar inscribed, December 14, 1934, mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine (9) £2000-2500 Ex Edrington Collection 1980. The Dalgliesh Steamship Companys steamship Usworth, Captain J. J. Reed, left Sydney, Nova Scotia, for Queenstown on 6 December 1934, with a cargo of wheat. Encountering rough weather from the onset, she suffered damage to her steering on the 10th. Seeking urgent assistance, the Belgian steamship Jean Jadot and the Cunard liner Ascania came to her aid. The citation for the Board of Trade Sea Gallantry Medals well describes the efforts of those involved: The S.S. Usworth was severely damaged in a hurricane in the North Atlantic in December 1934. The vessel had battled with the gale for 3 days and efforts to effect temporary repairs were unavailing. The steering gear became damaged and it was not found possible to steer the ship. An S.O.S. was sent out at 6 a.m. on the 11th December which was answered by the S.S. Jean Jadot who steamed to her assistance. The Jean Jadot made attempts at salvage which continued until the afternoon of the 13th. The Usworth was then shipping very heavy seas which stove in the hatches and threw the vessel on her beam ends. At 7 a.m. on the 14th December the S.S. Ascania arrived on the scene and poured oil on the sea while the Jean Jadot manoeuvred into position to fire a line across the Usworth. Three rockets were fired, each of which fell short. The Ascania then steamed round to the weather side of the Usworth and fired 2 rockets each of which fell short. The position of the Usworth was getting desperate and the master asked whether a boat could be sent to take off her crew. A boat was sent away from the Jean Jadot which manoeuvred to the leeside of the Usworth and 15 men were taken off. The boat had shipped a lot of water and was capsized by a cross wave. The men thrown in the water became covered with oil and were quickly exhausted. It was possible however to get some of the men on board the Jean Jadot but unfortunately 2 of the crew of the Jean Jadot and 13 of the crew of the Usworth lost their lives. As there were still some of the crew left on the Usworth, the master of the Ascania decided to launch a lifeboat. The boat was got clear with great difficulty and had a perilous time before reaching the lee of the Usworth. Those on the Usworth were told to jump one at a time. Three jumped together and two lost their lives, although T. Gibson, cook, could have reached the boat but for turning back to the assistance of the messroom boy. The officer in charge of the lifeboat then decided he must go alongside the Usworth which he did with great skill thus being able to save the lives of the remaining 9 crew. The Ascania was manoeuvred to protect the lifeboat. The survivors were got on board the Ascania with great difficulty. The Jean Jadot had remained by the Usworth for 3 days and the Ascania for 18 hours. Great skill in seamanship by the Masters of the Jean Jadot and the Ascania and the action of Lieut. Pollitt of the Ascania who was in charge of the lifeboat was nothing short of heroic. He displayed remarkable seamanship in a very difficult and dangerous operation. (Ref. P.R.O. BT.261.7, rotation no.41, reg. no. M9380.35). For the rescue, the British Board of Trade awarded 12 S.G.M. in silver to men of the Ascania and 11 S.G.M. (Foreign Services) in silver to men of the Jean Jadot. In addition, Captain Bisset of the Ascania was awarded a silver rose bowl to the value of ú30; 3rd Officer Pollitt and 2nd Officer Leblanc, commanding the boats crews of the Ascania and Jean Jadot, were awarded silver cups to the value of ú15; 4th Officer Lambert of the Jean Jadot was awarded a silver salver to the value of ú12 and members of both boats crews were awarded 35 each. In addition to medals for saving life, Lloyds of London presented a commemorative plaque to the Ascania. Cook T. Gibson of the Usworth was awarded a posthumous Albert Medal for sacrificing his life in attempting to save the life of L. Jones, the messroom boy. Sold with some newspaper cuttings and a quantity of copied research, including newspaper extracts, reports and citations relating to the various medals.

A Second World War Russian Convoys O.B.E. and Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea group of eight awarded to Captain Wilfred Geoffrey Perrin, Merchant Navy, for services aboard the S.S. Dover Hill when she was bombed in the Kola Inlet, North Russia; he led a team of volunteers to locate and defuse an unexploded 1000lb bomb which had penetrated some 22 feet into her cargo of coal, a feat accomplished after two days and two nights hard work, often under repeated bomb attacks The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officers 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea (Captain W. G. Perrin, S.S. ôDover Hillö, 4th April 1943) mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine (8) £1400-1800 O.B.E. London Gazette 12 October 1943. - for services when the ship was bombed and damaged. Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea Lloyds List and Shipping Gazette 5 September 1944. Captain Wilfred Geoffrey Perrin, Master, Dover Hill. For dangerous work in hazardous circumstances. The S.S. Dover Hill, was a cargo vessel of 5,815 tons. She formed part of convoy JW 53 bound for North Russia heavily laden with a cargo of fighter aircraft, tanks, lorries, guns and ammunition. The convoy comprised of twenty eight merchant vessels with an escort of three cruisers, one anti-aircraft cruiser, one escort carrier, sixteen destroyers, two minesweepers, three corvettes and two trawlers. Such a heavily defended convoy emphasizes both the importance of the cargo and the expectation of trouble from enemy attack. The convoy set off on 15 February 1943, in a gale which developed into such a severe storm that six of the merchant ships were so damaged that they were forced to return to Iceland. The S.S. Dover Hill lost much of her deck cargo overboard, including oil drums and crated lorries, but managed to save the tanks and continue her difficult passage northwards. Despite a concerted attack by JU-88 bombers a few days later the remaining twenty-two merchant ships of the convoy arrived at the Kola Inlet on 27 February. A few days later S.S. Dover Hill discharged her cargo at Murmansk, still being subjected to frequent attack from enemy bombers, and afterwards moved out to an anchorage in the Kola Inlet where the ships lay about a mile apart. The German front being only about ten miles away, these ships came under frequent low-level attack by ME-109 fighter bombers. The D.E.M.S. gunners aboard these merchant ships were kept very busy as they patiently awaited their escort home and, indeed, the gunners aboard S.S. Dover Hill successfully claimed one destroyed and one shared destroyed before the incident occurred whereby the names of several members of her crew appeared in the London Gazette. The personal account that follows is that of the ships Radio Officer David Craig, who related his experiences for the online BBC archive WW2 Peoples War: ôI feel that the story should be told why the names of these men should appear in the London Gazette. I write the story as I remember it but I write on behalf of the nineteen men, as we all worked together and none of us did anything different from anyone else. On Sunday, April 4th we were anchored in Misukovo Anchorage a few miles north of Murmansk and I was playing chess in the Officers mess when Action Stations sounded and our guns opened up at the same time. I went through the pantry, looked out of the door, and saw two JU-88 bombers coming up from astern, high up. Our Bofors shells were bursting below them and when they turned away I assumed we had beaten them off and stepped out on deck. This was a foolish thing to do as, unknown to me the planes had released their bombs before turning away. Four bombs exploded close on the port side and one on the starboard side and I was blown off my feet. As I got up our gunlayer came down from one of the bridge oerlikons and pointed out a large round hole in the steel deck a few yards from where I had been standing. It was obvious that the sixth bomb had gone through the main and tween decks into our coal bunkers and had not exploded. We informed the S.B.N.O, Murmansk of the situation and were advised that there were no British Bomb Disposal people in North Russia. We then realised that we would have to dig the bomb out ourselves in order to save our ship. The minesweeper H.M.S. Jason was ordered to anchor astern of us and to come alongside to render assistance if the bomb should explode, although I doubt if there would have been much to pick up. Incidentally, I did enjoy talking to the Jason by Aldis lamp during this time. You must understand that though the Dover Hill was only a battered old Merchantman she was our home and no German was going to make us leave her while she was still afloat. The Captain [Perrin] lined the whole crew up on the after deck and asked for volunteers, and nineteen of us including our Captain formed our own Bomb Disposal Squad. We had no bomb disposal equipment, in fact we only had a few shovels borrowed from our stokehold and nineteen stout hearts when we started digging back the coal, trying to find the bomb. The bunker was full of good British steaming coal which we were saving for the homeward run so we used a derrick to bring it up on deck, hoping to replace it when we got the bomb out. When the Russian authorities heard what we were doing, although they had many unexploded bombs to deal with in the town, they kindly offered to send one of their Bomb Disposal officers to remove the detonator if we could get the bomb up on deck. When we dug about ten feet down into the coal we found the tail fins and, by their size, decided our bomb must be a 1000lb one. Unfortunately the Germans also discovered what we were up to and came back and bombed us again, hoping to set off the bomb we were digging for. Between bomb explosions and the concussion of our own guns the coal used to fall back into where we were digging and things got difficult at times. We had to dig down approximately 22 feet before we got to the bomb, but after two days and two nights hard work we finally got it up on deck. I was standing beside the bomb with two of my fellow officers as our Russian friend started to unscrew the detonator when after a few turns it stuck. He then took a small hammer and a punch and tapped it to get it moving. I can honestly say that every time he hit it I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing against my duffle coat hood. After removing the detonator and primer we dumped the bomb into the Kola Inlet where it probably lies to this day. We then moved back to Murmansk for repairs. Of the fifteen ships which had come to Murmansk in February, one had been sunk and four damaged. On 17th May, in company with three other ships we left the Kola Inlet and set out for the White Sea. We arrived in Economia on the North Dvina River where we stayed until 18th July when we moved to Molotovsk (Severodvinsk) and finally on 26th November, with eight other ships, some damaged, we set out for home. Since it was now dark for almost twenty four hours each day and we could only do seven knots maximum speed we went north to the edge of the ice. Knowing that a Russian bound convoy was coming up to the south of us we expected the Germans to attack it and leave us alone. This in fact happened and we eventually arrived in London on 14th December 1943, in time to be home for Christmas.ö After returning from North Russia the Dover Hill was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport and was sunk at Arromanches on 9 June 1944 along with other ships to form an artificial port for the invasion of Normandy.

Corporation of Glasgow Bravery Medal, 2nd type, silver, with 2nd Award Bar (?) (Hugh Kennedy) with hallmarks for Glasgow 1935, lacking brooch bar, some edge bruising, very fine £100-140 Hugh H. Kennedy, of 11 Tower Street, Glasgow. Awarded the Glasgow Bravery Medal on 9 March 1937. ... who rescued a boy from drowning in the Monkland Canal at Castle Street on 14th September last (1936). Again awarded on 14 December 1937. ... who (with Peter Murphy and James Boyle) ... made repeated but unsuccessful efforts to rescue a child from drowning in the Forth and Clyde Canal near Castle Street on 15th June last. It is possible that Kennedy was awarded a second medal rather than a clasp for his second act of bravery. The above slip-bar is not confirmed as the 2nd Award Clasp for the medal. With some copied research.

Hartley Colliery Medal 1862, a die struck silver medal, 51mm, obverse: an angel looks on as two miners dig to uncover their comrades from the rubble; reverse inscription in raised letters, Presented to those who risked their own lives in attempting to save the lives of their fellow workmen buried in Hartley Colliery, January 1862, the edge inscribed, Richard Johnston, fitted with claw and straight silver bar suspension, crimson ribbon and silver buckle brooch, in J. S. Wyon, London case of issue, obverse with die flaw, nearly extremely fine (lot) £1400-1800 On 10 January 1862 disaster struck at the New Hartley Colliery in Northumberland, leaving in its wake a death toll of some 202 miners. A cage carrying eight people proved too much weight for the massive pumping engine beam which, although weighing over 40 tons, gave way and tumbled down the shaft, carrying with it a mass of machinery and debris. Much of it came to rest a little over 400 feet from the surface on the immense oak beams which held the centre set of pumps in the shaft. The unwalled sides of the shaft collapsed, piling tons of rock and rubble on top of the initial fall, sealing the shaft. It took six days of dangerous and strenuous work by the rescuers to reach the men trapped by the fall, but all were found to be dead. One of the dead, by the name of James Armour, kept notes of the ordeal in a book whilst trapped underground. These notes were referred to in the official enquiry into the case It appears to be certain from the date of the entry in the book found on the person of the overman, Armour, that all had died not later than the afternoon of the day following the accident, having fallen victims of the noxious gasses generated in the pit. Subsequent to the disaster there were many expressions of opinion in favour of some reward being made to the sinkers and others, who had so nobly risked their lives in their ill-fated attempts to rescue the entombed miners. In accordance with this widely expressed desire a special fund was instituted under the direction of a Committee with Mr T. G. Hurst as its secretary. At the outset it was determined that the testimonial should assume the form of a medal, and ultimately, Mr Wyon, of the Mint, whose designs had been approved by the committee, was engaged to execute the dies and strike the medals. A total of 1 gold and thirty seven silver medals were awarded. For his services, Richard Johnston was awarded a medal in silver, together with the sum of ú17. The amount of money paid was a reflection of the amount of time their assistance was given; ú30 being the highest and ú4 the lowest. With a copied extract from the Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin of March 1983 which relates to the medal. The medal and case set in a glass-fronted wooden case, 430 x 225mm. (approx.), together with a clay pipe and leather pit tokens (2) recovered from a dead miner, and a tooth from a pit pony killed in the disaster.

Admiral Mark Edward Frederic Kerr, C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy Riband bar created for display purposes: Order of the Bath; Royal Victorian Order; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89; British War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal 1914-19; Coronation 1911; Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus; Italy, Order of St. Maurice & St. Lazarus; Italy, Order of the Crown; Greece, Order of the Redeemer; Spain, Order of Naval Merit; Austria, Order of the Iron Crown; Italy, Military Order of Savoy; Greece, Order of George I; Royal Humane Society Medal, good condition Lieutenant Eric William Kevin Walton, D.S.C., A.M., Royal Navy Riband bar created for display purposes: Albert Medal, 2nd Class for Land; Distinguished Service Cross; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Polar Medal 1904; Jubilee 1977, mounted on card with a photograph of Lieutenant Walton, the card bearing his signature, good condition (2) £40-60 Ribbons created to represent those of Admiral Mark Kerr, Royal Navy, with copied research and the booklet, A Saga of the Drifters 1917, by Rear-Admiral Mark Kerr. Ribbons created to represent those of Lieutenant Eric William Kevin Watson, D.S.C., A.M., Royal Navy, with two hand-written letters addressed to Judge Henry Pownall from Kevin Walton. Lieutenant Walton was awarded the D.S.C. (London Gazette 27 April 1943) when serving on H.M.S. Onslow on Russian Convoy duty; was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 18 April 1944) when on H.M.S. Duncan, for operations against German U-Boats; awarded the Albert Medal 2nd Class for Land (London Gazette 8 June 1948) as a member of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, for rescuing a fellow officer who had fallen down a crevasse; awarded the Queens Commendation (London Gazette 12 May 1953) for rescuing a man who had fallen down a crevasse during survey operations in the Antarctic, and the Polar Medal (London Gazette 17 July 1953). With copied research.

An interesting map of Basra City and surrounding area as used on the ground during the assault on Basra in April 2003 by Corporal J. S. Cooke, M.C., Irish Guards, later Parachute Regiment, scale 1:15,000, marked Secret, produced by Engr. Int. Geo. Cell HQ 1 (UK) Armoured Division, annotated by hand with numerous positions and showing such things as Baath H.Q., Al Basrah Prison, Fedayeen, etc., contained within an oak glazed frame, 75cm by 68cm, also contained within the frame is a colour photograph of Corporal Cookes platoon, together with three cloth badges as worn by him in Iraq, good condition £300-500 Sold with a five-page printed account written by Cooke and including a photograph of him in uniform, detailing his time in Iraq and giving detail of the actions that took place at a number of the locations identified on the map. Corporal J. S. Cooke served with the Irish Guards in Iraq who were the first regiment to cross the bridge into Basra City and was in the second tank on the assault of the university complex. He subsequently went on to serve with The Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan where he was awarded a Military Cross for rescuing a civilian interpreter who had been wounded in a Taliban ambush.

The campaign and long service group of four to Private Joseph Ellicock, 32nd Light Infantry, an original defender and personal orderly to Brigadier Inglis at Lucknow Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Joseph Ellicock, 32nd Foot); India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (1873 J. Ellicock, H.Ms 32nd Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (J. Ellicock, 32nd L.I.) lettering aligned off-centre resulting in edge bruising; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1873 J. Ellicock, 32nd Regt.) contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine £2600-3000 Ex Brian Ritchie Collection, 23 September 2005. Joseph Ellicock was born in the parish of St Mary, Nottingham, circa 1820, and attested for H.Ms 32nd Regiment at Nottingham on 29 February 1840. A Frame Work Knitter by trade, he landed in India with his regiment in 1846 and served in the Second Sikh War at Mooltan and Goojerat. Evidently a steady, plodding fellow, he was granted penny increments in Good Conduct Pay every three or four years from 1846, but never attained a stripe. In 1857 he was present with his regiment at Lucknow and served in a combatant role during the defence of the Residency until being forced into hospital by sickness. On 2 September 1857, he was made orderly to the garrison commander, Brigadier John Inglis, 32nd, of whom Private Robert Waterfield wrote in 1853, Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. W. Inglis has ... returned with the daughter of Sir F. Thessiger [sic], to whom he has been married sometime, and a greater reformation never was made in any man, than was made in Col. John by his excellent Lady. He had the appellation of Scaly Jack before he went on leave to England, but now he is as another being. He is now kind and affable in his manners, generous in principle, benevolent where benevolence is required, and walks in the path of righteousness, as far as a soldier possibly can do. His present goodness ought to erase [malice] from the minds of those who formerly disliked him. Ellicock obtained his post, scarcely a demanding one since the garrison had long deserted the red and blue and now looked more like buccaneers than British soldiers, due to the death of Ingliss servant Vokins who had lost a leg earlier in the Defence. The Brigadiers excellent Lady, the Hon. Mrs. Julia Inglis, recorded in her account of the siege how Ellicock came to join their circle: Ellicock, a private in the 32nd, now did the little John required; he also had been very ill in hospital, but he [Inglis] took him out and brought him down to us, and the change of air and better food soon made a different man of him. John used to visit the hospital every day, and would often give the men cigars, which they thoroughly appreciated. A few weeks later Ellicock was again mentioned in Lady Ingliss journal, this time digging a 32-pounder shot out of the archway in Ingliss courtyard - It made a tremendous crash, and certainly was not a pleasant visitor. On 25 September, a day of excitement and anxiety as the thunder of guns and the crackle of rifles belonging to Havelock and Outrams Relief Force drew nearer, Lieutenant Frederick Birch, A.D.C., in an effort to make his Brigadier look more like the invading generals, ordered Ellicock to fetch his chiefs sword which had not been used since Chinhut. Ellicock obliged but Birch was forced to admit that the addition of a sword to the two pistols in the Brigadiers waistbelt only enhanced his piratical appearance, especially when compared with that of Major-General Havelock, who, smartly dressed in a blue coat buttoned up at the chin, stepped through the battered Baillie Guard Gate shortly before six oclock in the evening to shake Inglis by the hand. Next day the commotion caused by the occupation of the extended position reminded Ellicock more of the Donnybrook Fair than anything else. Ellicock was duly allowed to reckon an additional years service for the Defence, so that on his discharge at Devonport he was credited with having completed twenty-one years service. He was then forty years of age, five feet ten inches in height, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He was discharged from the service at Devonport on 25 May 1860. Refs: WO 97/1495; The Siege of Lucknow; A Diary (Hon Lady Inglis); Ordeal at Lucknow (Joyce).

A Crimean War Naval Brigade Al Valore Militare group of six awarded to Captain J. G. Courtenay-Everard, Royal Navy; his ships mascot Timothy the Tortoise survived until 2004 Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Taku Forts 1858, unnamed as issued; Legion of Honour, Knights breast badge, silver, gold and enamels, fitted with silver ribbon buckle, enamels chipped and damaged; Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class, silver, gold and enamel; Al Valore Militare, Spedizione DOriente 1855 1856 (Lieut. J. G. C. Evered, Nl. Bde.); Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, unnamed, fitted with silver ribbon buckle, unless otherwise stated, good very fine or better and a rare group (6) £3500-4000 Only 30 Al Valore Militare awarded to the Royal Navy for the Crimean War. The citaition states: Served with the Naval Brigade upwards of eight months. Was present at every bombardment except the first, and on one occasion was wounded. John Guy Courtenay Evered was born in 1830 and passed his examination in May 1852. For his services as Senior Mate of the Queen 116, Captain Frederick Thomas Mitchell, in the attack of 17 October 1854 on the sea-defences of Fort Constantine, Sebastopol, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 9 November following (Crimean and Turkish medals, Sebastopol Clasp, Knight of the Legion of Honour, 5th Class Medjidie). He was afterwards employed on shore for eight months in the Naval Brigade in the Crimea as Additional of the Britannia 120 and Royal Albert 121, bearing the flags of Admirals Deans Dundas and Sir Edmund Lyons, and as Lieutenant of his former ship the Queen. He was present at every bombardment of Sebastopol but the first, and was once wounded (awarded the Sardinian Medal for services in the Naval Brigade before Sebastopol). He returned to England in the Queen under the command of Captain Robert Fanshawe Stopford in 1856. From 1857 until 1859 he served in the Princess Charlotte 104, Captain George St. V. King, Fury steamer 6, Captain Charles Thomas Leckie, and Nankin 50, Commodore Hon. Keith Stewart, on the coast of China, where he took part as Lieutenant of Fury in the operations of 1858 including the capture of the Taku Forts (China Medal and Clasp, Taku Forts). He married, 24 August 1859, Gertrude Eliza, only daughter of T. Hay Nembhard, and had at least 8 sons and 2 daughters, with whom he appears to have emigrated to New Zealand, where they settled at Te Puke in about 1880 with a farm of some 200 acres. In 1887, he succeeded his father to the Barford Park estate, near Bridgewater in Somerset, and returned home to take charge. In 1904 he changed his name to Courtenay-Everard, before dying at the age of 100 in 1931. Shortly after his death The Times published an account of his remarkable life called A Centenarians Memories, form which the following extract is taken: During the War with Russia, he served as senior mate of this vessel [Queen] in Crimean waters. He was present in the attack on Fort Constantine, and in other operations, as well as being landed with the Naval Brigade before Sebastopol. It was while he was in the Queen that he was promoted to lieutenant on November 9, 1854, and reappointed to the ship. ôI was given my lieutenants commission,ö he said on one occasion, in an interview, ôfor saving some women from the Cossacks. My captain told me to take two boats and such men as I wanted, and do our best. It was a tough job getting the women away from those rascals. They blazed away at us, and we had to lower the women into our boats by the hair of their heads in some cases. But we brought them safely away.ö Captain Everard used to recall having met Florence Nightingale, ôas good a woman as any living or dead,ö when she one day, with a little band of followers, came up to the battery he commanded. Also sold with a copy of Timothy the Tortoise - The Remarkable Story of the Nations Oldest Pet, by Rory Knight Bruce, which chronicles the life of a tortoise taken from a Portuguese man of war by Captain Evered prior to the Crimean War. Timothy, who later turned out to be female, served with Evered as a ships mascot throughout the wars in the Crimea and China until Evered emigrated to New Zealand in about 1880, when he was passed to Captain Edward Rutherford R.N., finally living out his life at Powderham Castle in Devon where he died in 2004, aged about 160 years. The book also reproduces a small portrait of Everard in later life wearing his medals.

Three: Private James Cloke, late 49th and 62nd Regiments Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (3852 .... Jas. Cloak. 62 Regt. Foot) depot impressed naming, rank illegible through bruising, clasp carriage broken at one side; South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (J. Cloke, late 49th Foot); Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue (3852 Pt. J. Cloke 62 Regt Foot) the first with heavy edge bruising and contact marks, good fine, the second with edge bruise, otherwise good very fine and very rare £1200-1500 The roll confirms J. Cloke for medal and clasp, no rank shown, and notes that he also had the medal for the Crimea. One of only two South Africa 1877-79 medals to the 49th Foot, the other recipient being Lieutenant H. E. Haldane who was attached to the Commissariat and Transport Staff. Cloke was possibly his batman.

The Crimea War group of three awarded to Sergeant J. Andrews, 4th Light Dragoons, who was decorated with the French Medaille Militaire for his gallant part in the Charge of the Light Brigade Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Sergt. Andrews, 4th Light Drags.), contemporary engraved naming; French Medaille Militaire; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (Serjt. J. Andrews, 4th Lt. Dragoons), contemporary engraved naming, each fitted with original dated and numbered Bailey, Coventry laurel wearing devices, together with the recipients original Parchment Certificate of Discharge, dated 17 December 1860, the second lacking its obverse enamel and reverse centre, all dark toned, contact marks, nearly very fine or better (3) £6000-8000 John Andrews was born at Kingclere, Hampshire and enlisted in the 4th Light Dragoons at Chesham in April 1846, aged 23 years. A Corporal by the time of his disembarkation in the Crimea, he served throughout the campaign and is confirmed as having participated in the Charge of the Light Brigade, the citation for his French Medaille Militaire stating: For gallant and distinguished conduct in the charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade on 25 October 1854. Served during the whole campaign 1854-55. Present at the battles of Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Traktir and the expedition to Eupatoria in October 1855. Andrews, who was also present in operations before Sebastopol, was advanced to Sergeant on 1 December 1855 and was discharged in December 1860 in consequence of his having claimed it ôFreeö with a right to registry for deferred pension of 4d a day on attaining the age of 50 years. The above described Certificate of Discharge also confirms that he was in possession of one Good Conduct Badge, in addition to the Crimean, French and Turkish Medals.

Four: Troop Sergeant-Major J. Mobbs, 20th Hussars, who was wounded at Tofrek in March 1885 Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, Suakin 1885, Tofrek (874 Tp. Sgt. Maj., 20th Husrs.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letters reverse (874 Tp. Sgt. Maj., 20th Hussars); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (T.S. Mjr., 20/Hrs.); Khedives Star, 1884-86, the reverse regimentally impressed, 20 H. and 874, mounted as worn, minor official correction to rank on the first, the earlier awards with contact marks and edge bruising, thus nearly very fine, the last rather better (4) £600-800 The recipient was wounded at Tofrek on 23 March 1885, on which occasion the 20th Hussars were represented by a squadron of 82 men. Awarded his M.S.M. in AO 133 of 1915, he is believed to have died in 1924.

Four: Rev. Frederick Wilmot Bennitt, who led the R.A.O.B. Memorial Service at Cardington for the dead of airship R.101 Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (Rev. F. W. Bennitt) with silver brooch bar; R.A.O.B. Jewel, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for Birmingham 1932, reverse inscribed, Presented to Bro. The Rev. Frederick Bennitt CP by the Swan Lodge No.6397 Certified on the 21 June 1933, with brooch bar, inscribed, Swan Lodge No.6397; Prize Medallions (2), 57mm., silver, obverse: presentation of a charter to the king, in exergue, Edwardvs Rex Lib. Schol. Brimicham Fvndator A.D. MDLII, reverse: inscribed, in raised letters, Studio Fallente Laborem, Praemium in Gymnasio Meritum, engraved, F. W. Bennitt 1891; another, engraved, F. W. Bennitt 1892, good very fine (4) £500-550 Frerick Wilmot Bennitt was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge and gained a B.A. in 1895 and M.A. in 1899. He was ordained a Deacon in 1896 and a Priest in 1897 at Rochester, Kent. He was Curate of St. Margarets, Plumstead, 1896-98 and then of Rugby, 1898-1901 and 1902-03. During the Boer War he served as an Acting Chaplain to the Forces, 1901-02. The Rev. Bennitt was then Curate of Hagbourne, 1903-05 and of Buxton, 1905-06. He then served as Rector of Bletchley, 1906-34 but served in the R.A.M.C. during 1918-19. Bennitt was appointed the Rural Dean of Bletchley, 1923-34, after which he was Vicar of East Peckham, 1934-42 and Curate of Sunninghill, 1943-45. The R.101 was a British rigid airship completed in 1929 as part of the Imperial Airship Scheme. The airship crashed on 5 October 1930 in France on its maiden overseas flight. The R.101 departed its shed at Cardington, Bedfordshire, on 4 October, for a flight to Karachi, British India, with an intended fuel stop at Ismailia, Egypt. However, when travelling at a low altitude in poor weather over France the next day, the R.101 hit the ground near the Beauvais Ridge and burst into flames - 46 of the 54 passengers and crew were killed immediately and 2 others died later in hospital. The loss of 48 dead surpassed that of the Hindenburg disaster of 1937. The tragic loss of the R.101 effectively ended British involvement with rigid airships. A special memorial to the dead of the R.101 was held by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes in the airships shed at Cardington on Sunday 16 November 1930. The memorial service, led by the Rev. Frederick Bennitt, was attended by some 7,000 R.A.O.B. members, in remembrance of the many victims of the disaster who were members of the Order. With original newspaper cuttings relating to the Memorial Service, including one with a picture of Rev. Bennitt officiating at the service. Also with copied research.

Six: Stoker 1st Class T. H. Humphreys, Royal Navy, who served aboard H.M. Ships Nestor and Onslow in the Great War 1914-15 Star (K.14672 Sto. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (K.14672 Sto. 1, R.N.); Defence Medal; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (K.14672 (Po.B. 15261) Sto. 1, R.F.R.); Romania, Medal for Hardihood and Loyalty, 3rd Class with swords, bronze, unnamed, some contact marks, very fine (6) £1000-1200 M.I.D. London Gazette 14 September 1918. .... for services in action with enemy submarines. Medal for Hardihood and Loyalty London Gazette 17 March 1919. Thomas Henry Humphreys was born in Liverpool on 10 January 1893. An Engineer Labourer by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 9 April 1912, being advanced to Stoker 1st Class in May 1913 when on the battleship King Edward VII. Posted to Woolwich in December 1913, he served aboard the destroyer Nestor until 31 May 1916. Nestor was sunk in a V.C. action at the battle of Jutland. As Humphreys does not feature in the list of Nestors survivors, it must be assumed that he had left the ship just hours before the fateful engagement. Having made his lucky escape, he then joined another destroyer veteran of Jutland, joining the Onslow in October 1916, remaining with her until March 1919. For his service aboard the vessel he was both mentioned in despatches and awarded the Romanian Medal for Hardihood and Freedom. Both awards seem likely to have been made in connection with the incident when Onslow was attacked by a German submarine on 25 February 1918. The ship retaliated and sank the submarine with depth charges. After the war Humphreys transferred to the Submarine Service at Dolphin and served on the K.14, April 1921-March 1924. Fortune shined on him yet again as he survived duty on the ill-fated class of submarines and he joined the R.F.R. in 1924. During the Second World War he is believed to have been an A.R.P. Warden in Liverpool. He died in April 1985. With copied service paper, gazette extracts and other research.

Four: Gunner James Loader, Royal Marine Artillery, who fought at Dogger Bank and Jutland in H.M.S. Tiger 1914-15 Star (R.M.A. 9270 Gr.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 9270 Gr.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (9270 Gunner, R.M.A.) mounted as worn, very fine (4) £200-240 James Loader was born in Petersfield, Hampshire, on 27 August 1881. A Plumber by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Marines at Estney on 19 January 1901. After training he was rated as a Gunner in November 1901. He served as a Gunner aboard the battlecruiser Tiger throughout the Great War, September 1914-July 1919. As such he saw action at the battle of Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915. In the action the ship was hit several times and lost 10 men. Like other ships of the battlecruiser squadron, the accuracy of her main armament was inaccurate and of 255 shell expended, only one was observed to hit. As a consequence, the Gunnery Officer was dismissed. Gunner Loader aboard the Tiger was next in action at the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. Whilst her accuracy had improved, she took some heavy blows from her opposite numbers, being hit by 15 heavy calibre shells, causing the deaths of 24 of her crew. On 17 November 1917 the Tiger was again in action at the second battle of Heligoland Bight. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in March 1916, he was discharged to a pension in January 1922 after which he transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve. With a photograph of the recipient and his wife set within a frame in the form of a life-belt inscribed, H.M.S. Tiger. With H.M.S. Tiger cap tally, copied service paper, extracts from the Tigers log and other research..

Three: Major R. V. Brandon, 1st Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Lt.) the letter T of Lt. over struck upon the letter S; India General Service 1908-35, 4 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24 (Capt., 1-4 Grks.) minor contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £340-380 Major Roy Victor Brandon served in a number of Gurkha regiments and battalions both during and after the Great War. Born in 1889 and a foundation scholar of St. Pauls School, Hammersmith, he was commissioned in 1910 as a University Entrant. He was gazetted to the Unattached List of the Indian Army in 1911 and subsequently posted to the 18th Infantry. He was attached to the 2nd Battalion 2nd Goorkhas in France in 1915 and later the same year was sent with a draft of 100 picked men to reinforce 1st Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles who were being sent from France to Gallipoli. He served in the Dardanelles and later in Egypt until 1916. In 1917, he took part in operations against the Mahsuds in Waziristan with the 1st Battalion 4th Gurkhas. He was subsequently posted to the 3rd Battalion 2nd Goorkhas in India, with whom he served until returning to the 1st Battalion 4th Gurkhas on the outbreak of the Third Afghan War. He represented the 1st Battalion 4th Gurkhas at the Peace Celebrations in London the same year. In 1921, he was attached to the 1st Battalion 50th Kumaon Rifles until he was posted to the 1st Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles in 1923 with whom he served until his death in England whilst on leave in 1931 at the age of 41 years. With copied photograph and service details.

A well-documented Coastal Command pilots Second World War campaign group of four awarded to Flight Lieutenant F. Hughes, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who completed around 50 operational sorties in Sunderlands and Swordfish of Coastal Command 1943-45, in which period his aircraft attacked U-Boats on at least two occasions - he was subsequently killed in a flying accident 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in their original addressed card forwarding box, extremely fine (4) £340-38 Frederick Hughes, who was born in Prestwich in October 1916, volunteered for the Royal Air Force in June 1939 and was embarked for training in Canada and the U.S.A. in February 1942. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in early 1943, he returned to the U.K. and, on qualifying as a 2nd Pilot in Sunderlands of Coastal Command, was posted to No. 228 Squadron at Pembroke, in which unit he would fly operationally over the Bay of Biscay until June 1944, mainly in the crews of Flight Lieutenants Squire or Bowie. His Flying Log Book records some 30 anti-submarine patrols in this period and at least two attacks, one on a U-Boat off Brest on 4 January 1944, when Squadron Leader Bailey was shot down, and another on 5 June 1944. So, too, other notable events, including sighted F.W. Kurrier who tried to attack on 31 December 1943 and the loss of Flight Lieutenant Grimshaws Sunderland in flames on 17 January 1944. Qualifying as a 1st Pilot and advanced to war substantive Flight Lieutenant in January 1945, Hughes returned to the operational scene in No. 119 Squadron, another Swordfish unit, and completed at least another 20 sorties off the Dutch and Belgium coasts, largely on the prowl for further U-Boats. Post-war, while employed in 1693 Communications Flight, a unit of the British Air Forces of Occupation (B.A.F.O.), Hughes was killed in a flying accident on 25 June 1946 when his Anson struck a hill near Osnabruck. Sold with a large quantity of original documentation, including the recipients original Flying Log Book (R.C.A.F. type), covering the period April 1942 to November 1945 - two or three opening pages absent and his earliest entries undated, but April would appear to be the likely month in which his training commenced; together with his Buckingham Palace memorial scroll in the name of Flight Lieutenant F. Hughes, Royal Air Force; R.A.F. identity card; assorted wartime period photographs (approximately 30), among them several portrait photographs and scenes from his funeral service and burial, and much besides, including official correspondence, training notes, mess invoices, telegrams, letters and postcards.

Three: Sergeant K. J. Webber, Welsh Guards General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24263823 Gdsm. K. J. Webber, W.G.); South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24263823 L. Cpl. K. J. Webber, W.G.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., Regular Army (24263823 Sgt. K. J. Webber, W.G.), mounted-court-style as worn, good very fine (3) £1200-1500 Kenneth Webber, who was from Barry, served for most of his career in the Welsh Guards as a member of the Support Company (Anti-Tank Platoon), and accordingly was not present on the occasion of the loss of the Sir Galahad. A Battalion boxer 1978-80, he also served at least two tours of duty in Northern Ireland - accompanying notes refer; together with some copied regimental images, including the recipient.

The important G.C.B. and Large Army Gold Medal group awarded to General Sir George Anson, Light Cavalry Brigade Commander, formerly commanding 16th Light Dragoons and later Colonel of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, Governor of Chelsea Hospital, Equerry to the Duke of Kent and Groom of the Bedchamber to Prince Albert The Most Honourable Order of The Bath (Military) G.C.B., breast star in silver, gold and enamels, the reverse backplate inscribed with makers name Rundell Bridge & Co., Jewellers to Their Majesties and all the Royal Family, Ludgate Hill, London, fitted with gold pin, enamel chips to Ich Dien scroll and green wreath and lacking one stalk General Officers Large Gold Medal, for Talavera 1809, 2 clasps, Salamanca, Vittoria (Brigr. General George Anson) complete with all proper gold suspension fittings and full neck cravat Portugal, Royal Order of the Tower and Sword, Knight Commanders set of insignia, comprising large neck badge in solid gold, 67 mm, and a magnificent breast star of large size, 100 mm, in silver, gold and enamels, this with enamel damage to central wreath, one letter of legend lacking and two other letters damaged; together with another superb quality neck badge, 47 mm, in gold and enamels, and a fine period miniature badge in gold and enamels, the large badges with original neck cravats, unless otherwise described, generally good very fine and attractively displayed in an old frame within an oval gilt floral border with inscribed ivorine label (6) £40000-50000 Only 10 General Officers received the Large Army Gold Medal with two clasps, this combination being unique. General Ansons group of medals was first sold by Christies in April 1902. George Anson was born in 1769, second son of George Anson and Mary Vernon, and a nephew of Admiral Lord Anson. He entered the Army as a Cornet in the 16th Light Dragoons on 3 May 1786; he obtained a Lieutenancy in the same corps in 1791, and exchanged into the 20th Light Dragoons, with which regiment he served for five years in Jamaica. In 1792 he obtained a troop in the 20th, and his Majority in December 1794. He exchanged back into the 16th Light Dragoons in September 1797, became Lieutenant-Colonel in the 20th Light Dragoons the same year, and exchanged into the 15th Light Dragoons in September 1798, with whom he served in Holland. In January 1805, he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the King, and received the rank of Colonel in the Army. In December of the same year he became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 16th Light Dragoons. In 1809, Anson proceeded to Portugal and commanded the 16 Light Dragoons in the advance upon and battle of Oporto on 10th-12th May. On 24 May 1809, he was appointed Brigadier General and given command of a brigade of light cavalry consisting of the 23rd Light Dragoons and the 1st Light Dragoons of the Kings German Legion. Anson commanded the brigade at the Battle of Talavera on 27th and 28th July, and at the Battles of Busaco in 1810, Salamanca in 1812, and Vittoria in 1813, besides various other less important affairs. He received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, on separate occasions, for his services at Talavera, Salamanca, and Vittoria, and received the Gold Medal and two clasps in commemoration of those battles. In May 1813, he was granted a Royal Licence to accept and wear the insignia of a Knight Commander of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword, for the distinguished courage and intrepidity displayed by him in several actions with the enemy in the Peninsula. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Bath on 2 January 1815, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order on 29 July 1833. Anson became Lieutenant-General in August 1819, Colonel of the 4th Dragoon Guards in February 1827, and a full General in January 1837. Besides taking a seat in the House of Commons as Member for the city of Lichfield, Anson had a long association with the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, and was holding the highest office as Governor when he died on the 4th November, 1849. Anson married in 1800, Frances, daughter of John William Hamilton and the sister of Sir Frederick Hamilton. They had six sons and daughters, of whom Talavera Vernon Anson became an Admiral in the Royal Navy, and Thomas Anson was a first class cricketer. Lady Anson died in 1834, fifteen years before the death of Anson himself. In Who Do You Think You Are? transmitted by the BBC in October 2007, it was discovered that Sir Matthew Pinsent, the multiple gold medal Olympic rower, is a direct descendant of Sir George Anson.

A fine C.B. and Peninsula Gold Medal pair awarded to Brevet Colonel A. Campbell, 46th Regiment, late C.O. of the 15th Portuguese Infantry, who was severely wounded at Vittoria in June 1813, on which occasion he was favourably mentioned and commanded the advance of his Brigade amounting to 300 men in the attack on the village of Gomarah Mayor, so, too, by Lord Beresford, for subsequent distinguished conduct at Nive in December 1813: he had earlier been commended for his conduct as a Captain in the Grenadier Company of the 46th during the French attack on Dominica in February 1805 The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companions breast badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks for London 1815, gold swivel-ring and later narrow bar suspension, complete with riband buckle; Field Officers Gold Medal 1808-14, for Nive, no clasp (Lt. Coll. Archd. Campbell, 15th Portugese (sic)), enamel work slightly chipped on the first, and one lion fitment loose, the second with old replacement lunettes, otherwise generally good very fine or better (2). £7000-9000 Ex Hamilton-Smith Collection 1927. C.B. London Gazette 26 September 1831. Archibald Campbell was born in Kruek, Isle of Mull, in 1777, and was originally appointed an Ensign in the 25th Regiment in November 1797. Obtaining a Lieutenancy in the 46th Regiment in June of the following year, and advanced to Captain in February 1804, he served in the West Indies from the latter year until June 1811, gaining favourable mention from Major-General Prevost for his command of the Grenadier Company of his regiment during the French attack on Dominica on 22 February 1805. Further active service ensued in Spain, Portugal and France from September 1811 until January 1814, in which period he commanded the 15th Portuguese Infantry, was advanced to Major in September 1812, twice favourably mentioned and severely wounded. First going into action at Salamanca in July 1812, Campbell was next engaged at Vittoria in June 1813, when he was mentioned in Brigade Orders by Major-General Spry for his conduct in the battle, on which occasion he commanded the advance of his Brigade amounting to 300 men in the attack on the village of Gomarah Mayor, when he and two Captains were severely wounded. Subsequently present at the first and second siege and final surrender of St. Sebastian, and at the crossing of the Bidassoa into France, he also commanded the 15th Portuguese in the forcing of the enemys lines on 10 November, and again at Nive in the following month, when in recognition of his distinguished conduct, he was favourably mentioned by Lord Beresford and awarded a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the Portuguese Army. Having then been appointed a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 46th Regiment in February 1814, Campbell served in the Madras Presidency and East Indies from June 1818 until December 1829, and was given the Brevet of Colonel in June of the latter year while commanding the Hyderabad Subsidiary Force. Appointed a C.B. on his returning home from the East Indies in September 1831, the Colonel died in November 1840.

The outstanding post-war C.B., Second World War D.S.O., D.S.C. and Bar group of nine awarded to to Rear-Admiral C. T. Jellicoe, a kinsman of Jellicoe of Jutland: the epitome of the gallant destroyer captain, who survived the loss of two commands in the Mediterranean, he added a third decoration to his accolades for his role as Senior Officer Operations in the Duke of York at the destruction of the Scharnhorst in December 1943 The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companions neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated 1942; Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, hallmarks for London 1939, the reverse of the Cross privately inscribed, Comdr. C. T. Jellicoe, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N. and officially dated 1939, the reverse of the Bar similarly dated 1944; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D.oakleaf, these last five privately inscribed, Capt. C. T. Jellicoe, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.; Coronation 1953, good very fine and better (9) £8000-10000 C.B. London Gazette 9 June 1955. D.S.O. London Gazette 8 September 1942: For gallantry, skill and seamanship in a brilliant action against strong enemy forces, which were driven off and severely damaged. This action resulted in the safe passage to Malta of an important convoy. D.S.C. London Gazette 23 December 1939: For successful actions against enemy submarines. Bar to D.S.C. London Gazette 7 March 1944: For gallantry, devotion to duty and distinguished service on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet during the action in which the Scharnhorst was engaged and sunk. The original recommendation states: He showed a quick and accurate appreciation of events throughout the action which, combined with his sound judgement and careful planning of earlier movements, was of very great assistance to me in bringing the enemy to action in an advantageous position. Mention in despatches London Gazette 17 November 1942: For bravery and devotion to duty while serving in the Mediterranean. The original recommendation states: His coolness and leadership when his ship H.M.S. Jackal was badly damaged by aircraft bombs at about 2000 hours on 11 May 1942. Badly shaken and slightly wounded as he was, with his boiler rooms and one engine room flooded, and a fire spreading from another, he made every effort to save his ship. She was taken in tow at about 0100 hours on 12 May and it was not until 0300 hours that he was reluctantly compelled to report that the situation was hopeless. The good control he maintained throughout was most marked. Christopher Theodore Jellicoe was born at Chailey, near Lewes, Sussex in June 1903, the son of a clergyman, and entered the Royal Navy as Cadet at the R.N.C. Osborne in March 1917, but had not completed his training before the end of hostilities, when he was attending the R.N.C. Dartmouth. D.S.C.: anti-submarine patrols in home waters 1939 Gaining steady advancement between the Wars, Jellicoe was serving in the rank of Commander on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, when he held command of the destroyer H.M.S. Winchelsea. Deployed at Portland as part of the 11th Destroyer Flotilla, the Winchelsea escorted convoys O.B. 2 and O.B. 3 in September, prior to removing to Western Approaches Command for similar duties. And for his command in these opening months of the War in successful anti-submarine operations, Jellicoe was awarded his first D.S.C., which distinction he received at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 6 February 1940. D.S.O. and ômentionö: Malta convoys and the Mediterranean 1941-42 A brief period of service having ensued at the Admiralty, Jellicoe assumed command of another destroyer, the Southwold, in 1941, a ship of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla which he also commanded. And it was in this capacity that he won his D.S.O. for great gallantry in Malta convoy MW. 10, part of Operation ôM.G. 1ö, one of the most heavily contested convoys of the War, Jellicoe estimating that on one occasion the escorts and merchantmen were under attack from no less than 60 bombers and nine torpedo-aircraft - and reporting early on in the convoy that he had expended 40% of his 4-inch ammunition after nine successive attacks. Nor were the incoming threats limited to enemy aircraft, Admiral Vian famously leading his force against capital Italian ships and compelling their hasty retreat in what became known as the 2nd Battle of the Sirte. But it was while offering assistance to a crippled merchantman outside Malta harbour on the 25th, that the Southwold met her end, striking a recently laid mine - official Admiralty sources take up the story: Southwold was aiding Breconshire in the Mediterranean when a mine exploded under the engine room. The hull was severely damaged, engine and gearing rooms wrecked, and the upper deck was split over the engine room. Slow flooding of the engine room from the gearing room through bulkhead shaft glands, spread to the after boiler room through a fracture in the bulkhead. Both boiler rooms were shut down and the ship listed slightly to starboard. All lighting was temporarily lost but it was later restored with diesel generators. Whilst in tow, the side plating port and starboard in the vicinity of the engine room split to the upper deck. During the tow an enemy aircraft attacked Southwold and near miss bombs possibly caused further damage and flooding. Southwold settled slowly with considerable sag and an increased list to starboard and was finally abandoned, afterwards sinking. For his own part, at the end of the same month, Jellicoe submitted no less than 16 recommendations for decorations or a mention in despatches for his crew. His own ômentionö followed for like services in the destroyer Jackal in Operation ôM.G. 2ö (London Gazette 17 November 1942 refers), when his ship was again lost to enemy action on 11 May, the Evening Standard reporting: Twice within a month has Commander Jellicoe, nephew of the famous Admiral, had his ship sunk under him. On 26 April it was announced that the Southwold had been lost. Temporarily placed in command of the Jackal, Jellicoe, after a gallant stand against one of the hottest attacks by Nazis in the Mediterranean, had to abandon his ship which was ablaze from stem to stern. Although wounded, the Commander was the last man to leave the destroyer. This was, in fact, the famous occasion on which Jackals consorts Lively and Kipling were also sunk, a episode captured in some spectacular footage (sse Destroyers at War, by Geoffrey Haines). Jackal lost nine crew. Bar to D.S.C.: sinking of the Scharnhorst 1943 Returning home shortly afterwards, Jellicoe was appointed Staff Officer Operations (S.O.O.) to the C.-in-C. Home Fleet in the battleship Duke of York - and was invested with his D.S.O. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 15 December 1942. As it transpired, however, his new appointment in the Duke of York would result in yet another encounter with the King, for, famously, in December 1943, as the flagship of Admiral Bruce Fraser, she orchestrated the destruction of the mighty Scharnhorst on 26 December 1943: Meanwhile, the Duke of York with the rest of Admiral Frasers force had been working up from the S.W. and the flagship made contact with the Scharnhorst at 4.15 p.m., by which time darkness had closed in. Shortly afterwards the 14-inch guns of the Duke of York obtained a hit below the water-line and the Scharnhorst turned away to the northward and then eastward with a slight diminution in speed. Admiral Fraser ordered a torpedo attack by the destroyers Savage, Saumarez, Scorpion and Stor. These ships steamed ahead of the raider beyond a point where they could expect any assistance from their heavy consorts, and then turned in and discharged their torpedoes, securing at least three hits. There was an immediate drop in the German battleships speed and the

An extremely rare Second World War O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Captain H. H. Golding, Merchant Navy, one of a handful of recipients of the Southern Railway Companys M.S.M - for his gallant deeds as Master of the S.S. Isle of Sark in St. Peter Port, Guernsey in June 1940, when his ship came under attack while embarking evacuees The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire O.B.E. (Civil) Officers 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt, in its Royal Mint case of issue; British War Medal 1914-20 (Hervy H. Golding); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Hervy H. Golding); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45; Southern Railway Companys Meritorious Service Medal, silver-gilt, the reverse officially engraved, H. H. Golding, in its fitted Royal Mint case of issue, the Great War awards slightly polished, otherwise generally good very fine and better (7) £4000-5000 O.B.E. London Gazette 3 January 1945. Southern Railway Companys M.S.M.: Delayed the departure of the S.S. Isle of Sark from Guernsey, during intense bombardment of the Island on 28 June 1940, in order that as many passengers as possible might be embarked. The Southern Railway Companys M.S.M. was instituted by the Companys directors soon after the outbreak of hostilities, 18 awards being presented at a ceremony held on 16 August 1940 and thereafter just six further awards. Hervy Hardinge Golding was born in Tongham, near Farnham, Surrey in October 1887, and sailed out of Greenock as an apprentice aboard the Samoena, a threeðmasted ship, and for four years survived the life, sailing and the dreaded Southern Ocean, learning the skills that would one day enable him to join that exclusive society of men ð the Cape Horners (The Evening Echo, Bournemouth, 22 June 1974 refers). Having passed his 2nd Mates examination in London in November 1908 and his 1st Mates examination in Hong Kong in November 1910, Golding was next employed in vessels of the British Steam Navigation Company and Seang Line, trading routes from Rangoon to China. In April 1914, he entered the service of the London & South Western Railway fleet as a 2nd Officer in the Bertha (afterwards merged with the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, and the South Eastern & Chatham Railway companies to form the Southern Railway Company). Actively employed in the Mercantile Marine in the Great War, he was employed on the Southampton-Le Havre run, latterly in the Normannia and Hantonia. And he stayed in the Companys employ for the remainder of his career, his otherwise peaceful voyages to France and the Channel Islands coming to an abrupt end on the renewal of hostilities. Evacuation of Guernsey ð June 1940 On the renewal of hostilities, Golding was in command of the Isle of Jersey, shortly to be refitted as a hospital carrier, but in early 1940 he was given command of the Isle of Sark, which appointment led to his part in the evacuation of the Channel Islands. The ships matter of fact official log entry for 28 June 1940 states: 6.55 p.m., St. Peter Port, Guernsey: At time and place stated, while passengers were beginning to embark, enemy planes appeared and commenced a bombing and machine-gun action on harbour and shipping. A wireless transmission message was transmitted and acknowledged. The attack was maintained for an hour, during which no damage was done to the ship. Vessel sailed for Southampton at 10.15 p.m. according to schedule. A more extensive account of events that evening at St. Peter Port was later published in the Great Western Railway Magazine: On 28 June 1940 enemy bombers attacked in earnest. About 7 oclock in the evening a number came over, flying at about 3,000 feet. Diving lower, they then machine-gunned the jetty and its vicinity, and bombed the harbour very intensely. As it was low tide, the area under the jetty provided reasonably good shelter for those who were able to get there, but casualties were nevertheless considerable. Three of the Companys staff were among the wounded who were taken to a hospital in the Island. The jetty itself was soon ablaze with burning lorries, and at the end of the raid the scene was an inferno, and passage from any one point to another was not an easy matter. It is now clear to the Companys staff that it was high time to leave. There were three vessels in the harbour, which had been kept in steam in readiness for just such an emergency. They each had some guns for defensive action, and had succeeded in keeping hostile aircraft far enough away to prevent any direct hits. The vessels sailed for England at 9.30 p.m. the same evening, the Companys staff, as had already been stated, being on the last boat to leave. Of the 49 Great Western and Southern Railway joint staff at Guernsey, 38 sailed to England, three are known to have been left behind wounded, and eight remain unaccounted for. Most of the wives and families of the men had sailed for England at an earlier date. It is understood that the island of Guernsey was occupied by German troops on Sunday 30 June. And a glowing portrait of Goldings calmness under fire was later published in the Bournemouth Daily Echo, from which the following extract has been taken: The ship had some near misses and there were very heavy casualties among the people on the quay. A large number of lorries caught fire. The bombing and machine-gunning went on for about an hour. The quay was a shambles with 50 killed, 200 wounded and over 100 lorries burning. Many of the women and children passengers were unaccompanied by men, and with the large number of people on the ship and on the quay a panic with grave consequences might easily have commenced. Captain Golding issued orders from the bridge and then walked along the decks keeping everybody as calm as possible. His presence was felt immediately wherever he went, and in my judgment he was largely responsible for the steadiness of the crew, the passengers and the people on the quayside. As soon as he felt the people aboard were steady, he walked across the quayside to telephone to the Naval Authorities, then returned calmly to his bridge, although concentrated machine-gunning and bombing were going on. When the bombing had finished, he had to make important decisions. How many people he would take aboard from the number who were clamouring to come; the best time to leave in view of the fact that he would be unescorted and so on. It must also be remembered that he had a very tired crew. They had been working at top pressure for many weeks. Captain Golding remained on duty the whole of the day as he had on every other day when in Guernsey. During the bombing and afterwards, he was absolutely calm and imperturbable, and tireless in stimulating and encouraging his crew. The Isle of Sark was in fact the final ship to depart St. Peter Port before the German occupation, with 647 passengers embarked, and but for the light A.A. and Lewis gun fire she put up at the attacking Heinkel IIIs, casualties may well have been higher ð on Goldings recommendation, Able Seaman G. Mace, also received the Companys M.S.M. for manning the ships gun on the same occasion. Having been actively employed elsewhere, Golding was not able to attend the first investiture of the Companys M.S.M. in August 1940, but shortly afterwards, he received his award at Southampton from the Docks and Port Manager, in the presence of many officials and staff ð the gathering also included the Flag Officer i./c. Naval Operations, Southampton, the Garrison Commander and the Principal Sea Transport Officer (Southern Railways Journal refers). Golding returned to his old command, the Isle of Jersey, in December 1940, by now a fully fitted-out hospital carrier attached to the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow, and in which capacity he remained in command until the Wars end. During the Normandy landings, the Isle of Jersey steamed south and served off Gold and Juno Beaches, bringing home nearly 2000 patients in a matter of weeks. He was awarded the O.B.E. and returned in triumph to St. Peter Port in October 1945. He finally retired in late 1947, after 33 years with the Southern Railway Fleet, latterly having served as Commodore of the companys Southampton Section ð and having completed 4,800 Channel crossings. He died in December 1982, aged 94 years. SOLD WITH THE FOLLOWING RELATED MEMORABILIA DOCUMENTATION Ordinary Apprentices Certificate of Indenture, dated 9 September 1904, for 4 years to the John Clink Line at Greenock. A privately compiled ships log covering the recipients time in the Samoena circa 1906-08, large cloth bound volume with leather spine. A quantity of competency reports (or ôFlimsiesö) in respect of the recipients pre-Great War service out in the Far East in ships of the British Steam Navigation Company and Seang Line, circa 1910-13, together with a run of related discharge certificates. Certificate of Competency as Master of a Foreign Going Ship, Board of Trade, dated 18 July 1913. Board of Trade correspondence relating to the award of the recipients British War and Mercantile Marine Medals 1914-18, including forwarding letter dated 4 May 1921; together with Ministry of Transport forwarding certificate for his 1939-45 campaign awards. A series of privately compiled ship log books (15), with details of individual voyages, many with Southern Railway label to front cover bearing the recipients name and relevant dates, and covering the periods January 1918 to December 1922; January 1923 to December 1928; 22 June 1927 to 31 August 1929; 2 September 1929 to 23 October 1930; 23 October 1930 to 2 July 1932; 4 July 1932 to 29 May 1934; 29 May 1934 to 3 August 1935; 3 August 1935 to 22 July 1936; 23 July 1936 to 9 August 1937; 10 August 1937 to 11 June 1939 (re. Isle of Jersey); January 1939 to December 1936; 3 November 1937 to 15 April 1939; 12 June 1939 to July 1946; a separate folder entitled Isle of Jersey ð Account of All Movements 24 August 1939 to 11 July 1945; 20 July 1946 to 11 September 1947; and another up to September 1947, but with earlier entries from January 1937; together with Goldings Guernsey and Jersey Pilots log books and notes. Goldings official Dock Permit (No. 21067), for permission to enter Southern Railway Companys docks at Southampton, dated 8 May 1940; and three letters of appreciation from passengers he brought out of St. Peter Port a few weeks later, citing his calmness under fire and the steady conduct of his crew. A fascinating scrap album, with numerous newspaper reports, many dealing with events at St. Peters Port in June 1940, together with some official reports and correspondence, the latter including a letter from the Manager of Southern Railway congratulating Golding on his courage and resource, and Ministry of War Transport letter of notification regarding the award of his O.B.E. The recipients original O.B.E. warrant, dated 1 January 1945, framed and glazed. The recipients Imperial Merchant Service Guild membership certificate, brown leather folder with gilt title His Minister of Shipping Continuous Certificate of Discharge (R218098). A hand-illuminated retirement certificate, the upper inscription reading, We the undersigned Ships Officers of the Marine Department of the Southern Railway at Southampton hereby place on record our esteem and good wishes to Captain H. H. Golding, O.B.E., on his retirement from the service after 43 years at sea and wish him a long and happy enjoyment of his well earned rest, with 50 signatures (some faded), 30cm. by 26cm., framed; together with an assortment of related retirement telegrams and letters. A box containing as large quantity of ôCape Hornersö documentation, membership and otherwise. A file containing assorted letters of condolence and cards (approximately 25); and much further documentation, including pocket diaries, marriage certificate, wills, insurance policies and further family-related papers. PHOTOGRAPHS An image of the Officers and Apprentices of the Samoena, circa 1907, 37cm. by 32cm., framed and glazed; another from same period, or slightly later, by local photographer Chueng Kulan, Amoy, 43cm. by 36cm., framed and glazed; and a pair of smaller group images from his days in the Glengogle in the Far East, both framed; an image of the Isle of Jersey, the mount captioned, H.M. Hospital Ship ôIsle of Jerseyö. Refitted by The Grangemouth Dockyard Co. Ltd, October 1941, 30.5cm. by 25cm., framed and glazed; a display of 14 wartime images, mainly of Isle of Jersey interest, framed and glazed, and two further images of Golding, his ships officers and matrons from the same period, framed and glazed. Photograph albums (8), with several hundred images in total, covering his time in the Far East, 1911-13, with excellent ship views and captioned crew images; inter-war service and various ôfamilyö travel and holiday scenes in the U.K. and abroad, together with a postcard album. A large selection of other photographs, dating from the late Victorian era through to the 1950s (approximately 400 images), quite a few on card mounts, many of nautical interest but others of family subject matter, the former including numerous scenes from the Isle of Jersey in the 1939-45 War. PICTURES A water colour of H.M.H.C. ôIsle of Jerseyö at sea, initialled J. D. A. and dated 1945, 30.5cm. by 20cm., framed and glazed. A water colour depicting a ship in distress approaching rocks, unsigned, 19cm. by 13.5cm., framed and glazed. NAUTICAL MEMORABILIA Captain Goldings sea chest, the exterior green painted, the plain wooden interior with two large and one smaller raised compartments, and the inside of the lid with hand-painted signal flags, rope handles, 87cm. by 43cm. by 39cm. A portable ships compass, by Mahier, Le Havre, in wooden, part-glazed carrying case. A telescope, by Ross, London (No. 47449), retailed by Murray, Calcutta, leather grip. Captain Fields improved parallel rule, antique boxwood, brass hinges; together with a whistle, pocket compass and stop-watch. A selection of ships pennants and flags (5), including large yellow flag emblazoned with an Imperial Chinese dragon, this latter, as described in an accompanying newspaper article, flown from the foremast of his last deep sea command, plying the China Seas and visiting ports all over the Far East. A portable signal kit, by Woolf, Southampton, with individual pockets containing 20 pennants, and lower pockets for burgee, signal book and ensign, the whole contained in a folding brown canvas case, with ties; together with a smaller kit of nine pennants in a white linen container. A selection of items relevant to the ôCape Hornersö, including brass and enamelled car bumper badge, a glass ashtray, two blazer patches and two lapel badges; Merchant Navy ôMNö lapel badge and two similar tie-pins; the recipients silver identity bracelet, inscribed ENN221818 H. H. Golding, Ewshott, Brockenhurst, together with his bullion embroidered cap badge, three similar company badges, and a large quantity of Merchant Navy uniform buttons. A bag containing several expended .303 shell cases and a piece of shrapnel, these latter souvenirs of events at St. Peter Port in 1940. A bullion and embroidered uniform epaulette of Queen Alexandras Royal Naval Nursing Service, mounted on card, with ôH.M.H.C. Isle of Jerseyö inscribed above, and accompanied by five signatures of nursing staff who served in her, dated 1944-45, framed and glazed. A presentation silver salver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1940, with central inscription, To the Captain, September 1947, with ten engraved autographs around, 24.5cm. See lots 219 and 220 for brothers medals.

Family group: A fine Second World War O.B.E., Great War M.C. group of seven awarded to Captain C. H. Pigg, Worcestershire Regiment, afterwards R.A.F.V.R. and a Commandant in the Auxiliary Fire Service in the 1939-45 War: extensive extracts from his Great War diaries were published in the regimental journal 1949-50 and represent an important record of the 2nd and 10th Battalions in action on the Somme and elsewhere - and speak of the moving loss of his brother and of his experiences after being gassed The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officers 2nd type breast badge; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. C. H. Pigg, Worc. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. C. H. Pigg); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, rank corrected on the fourth, generally good very fine The Great War campaign group of three awarded to 2nd Lieutenant B. W. Pigg, Worcestershire Regiment, late Honourable Artillery Company, who was killed in action with the 10th Battalion on the Somme in July 1916 1914 Star, with clasp (753 Sjt. B. W. Pigg, H.A.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. B. W. Pigg), extremely fine (17) £2500-3000 O.B.E. London Gazette 3 January 1945. M.C. London Gazette 27 July 1916: For conspicuous gallantry. He has done excellent work throughout the operations, and organised his company with great skill. Charles Herbert Pigg was born in January 1887 and was educated at Cheltenham College, where he excelled at cricket, football and hockey, and at Jesus College, Cambridge. He later played for the the Cambridgeshire Cricket XI and played rugby for Blackheath. Pre-war, he was a master at his old school, but with the advent of hostilities was commissioned in the Worcestershire Regiment in October 1914 and first went out to France as a Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion in July 1915. But it was after being attached to the 2nd Battalion that he won his M.C., a typical example of his excellent work being a successful raid on Auchy on 1-2 July 1916, an action recorded in detail in his diary: The bombardment when it came was terrific, and after a minute a 60-pounder shell dropped short and just in front of our noses. For a few seconds when it exploded the men thought the mine had gone up for the advance; but we checked them, and then at last, after what seemed ages, up went the mine with a great shake of earth, and we were in the remains of the enemy wire and through it in a moment. Each man and officer knew his task to an inch and went straight to his post. The German trench, as I stood above it, seemed very deep and much more soundly constructed than ours. Jumping down, I found Private Raven with his bayonet at the throat of a German soldier. Raven was young, dark, devil-may care, up to anything when out of the line, though in the line he was a first rate soldier; the German was a good-looking boy, in appearance about sixteen, wearing a neat and new field grey uniform and cap. He looked like one of our own young cadets, and faced his death fearlessly with his hands at his side. But I told Raven to spare him and take him back safely as a prisoner. We soon fixed Company H.Q. at the point previously determined, and immediately I was speaking to Leman 200 or 300 yards away; the noise was deafening and only by shouting could we use the telephone at all. Our organisation worked perfectly, and at 1.15, after an hour had passed very rapidly, I gave the signal to withdraw. Our own firing ceased and the trenches were rapidly cleared. Presently a runner and I were left alone and we walked along the new empty lines to ensure no one had been left behind. It was a curious experience in the comparative silence; and the climb out of the deserted trench and the walk back across the open uncanny. Direction might have been easily lost, but to guide us we had German guns which were now slowly shelling No Mans Land. The shells rushed past us in the darkness and burst in front of us along the parapet, and we were relieved to pass our wire and drop into our lines. A week or two later, he was gassed at High Wood on the 21st, but managed to remain on duty until being evacuated by No. 1/3 Highland Field Ambulance 48 hours later, and thence to No. 45 Casualty Clearing Station, Rouen and England. Of this episode, his diary states: Now, as I gave orders for the Company to fall in by platoons on the road, I had some hope that the darkness would protect us. But it was not to be. Just as we formed up and were moving off, the Boche turned everything available on to us. I was in the rear of the Company, and with the high explosive came the soft thud of what at first seemed dud shells. One of these fell and burst gently in front of and to the right of the man marching before me; he paused and fell in his tracks, dead in a moment. I shouted gas, and our helmets were on in an instant; but, if gas, it was something new to us, not tear, shell, nor deadly chlorine. Soon the low valley through which we stumbled in the darkness was full of smoke and gas, nor was it easy to read a map and find our destination; to do this I had to make intervals to take a deep breath and pull up my helmet. It was the inferno of Dante made real ... He was subsequently employed as an instructor, being advanced to Staff Captain with command of an Officer Cadet unit and, in August 1918, was appointed Brigade Major. Returning to Cheltenham College after the War to resume his teaching career, he was a popular housemaster and member of staff in the 1920s and 1930s, prior to retiring in 1940, but quickly returned to duty with an appointment as a Flying Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Resigning his commission in late 1942, he next served as Commandant of the National Fire Services Officers Training School in London, in which capacity he was awarded the O.B.E. He died in February 1960; sold with research, including copied entries of his published wartime diary. Bernard William Pigg, brother of Charles, originally entered the French theatre of war as a Sergeant in the Honourable Artillery Company in September 1914, but was invalided home at the end of the year. Subsequently commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in his brothers battalion - the 10th - Worcestershire Regiment, in February 1915, he returned to active duty, and was killed in action leading his company into action at La Boiselle on the Somme on 3 July 1916. On that date, his unit launched an early morning attack in the face of formidable opposition, the regimental history noting that the German dug-outs were so deep and of such solid construction that even after the terrific bombardment of the previous week, many of them were still undamaged; and the defenders, troops of the German 13th, 23rd and 110th Reserve Regiments, had fought to the last. The 57th Brigade captured 153 prisoners, nearly all wounded. But their success had been dearly purchased. The Battalion had lost a third of its fighting strength, including the C.O. and Adjutant. A moving glimpse of Piggs conduct and fate is to be found in his brothers diary, which source also confirms, though only a 2nd Lieutenant, that he commanded B Company - the eye-witness account was written by the young subalterns Company Sergeant-Major, F. Yeates, D.C.M., a veteran of Mons, who received a bayonet wound but survived: It was during this period that the Company saw what a gentleman they had commanding them, for if ever a man proved himself a man he did that night. He himself and Mr. Hadley, his dear chum, also killed, simply walked up and down the Company during the hail of shrapnel, endeavouring to keep the men steady, which I am pleased to say they were successful in doing ... at 3.15 the signal came and we were off just like a lot of schoolboys and quite as happy, for we were all eager to get to close quarters. We had got to the first German line when a German officer jumped up and shouted in English, ôRetireö. Mr. Pigg at once shot him dead and at almost the same moment was shot himself. Mr. Hadley ran towards him but it was all over. After the assault, survivors of the Battalion were left out in No Mans Land for the rest of the day, and were only able to withdraw after dark - Private Turrall won the regiment a V.C. for his gallant deeds in attending to a mortally wounded officer. Bernard Pigg has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

A Great War M.B.E., M.C. pair awarded to Captain G. W. Duncan, Seaforth Highlanders The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Members 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1918; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, extremely fine (2) £500-600 M.B.E. London Gazette 7 June 1918. M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917. George Wilson Duncan, who was born in January 1895, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Seaforth Highlanders direct from the Edinburgh University O.T.C. in September 1914, and witnessed active service out in France with the 8th Battalion prior to being invalided home with jaundice in January 1917. He was subsequently employed at the Ministry of National Service War in London and awarded the M.B.E. Sold with original M.B.E. warrant in the name of Captain George Wilson Duncan, M.C. (dated 3 June 1918); mention in despatches certificate in the name of T./Lt. G. W. Duncan, Seaforth Highlanders (dated 30 April 1916); a War Office communication informing the recipient that he was allowed to retain the rank of Captain (dated 18 August 1919); several original photographs dating from the 1940s and 1950s, and assorted Second World War period newspapers and cuttings; together with his daughters Royal Observer Corps Certificate of War Service in the name of Woman Observer Elizabeth Mary Baillie Duncan, and her related cap and lapel badges, in addition to a W.V.S. Civil Defence lapel badge.

A regimentally unique Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Major A. C. McLachlan, 18th Hussars, who was wounded and taken P.O.W. at Talana prior to seeing further active service in North Nigeria 1902-03 and in the Great War Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, Captain A. C. McLachlan, 18th Hussars, 24th May 1915; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Talana (Lieut. A. C. McLachlan, 18/Hussars); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, N. Nigeria 1902, N. Nigeria 1903 (Capt. A. C. McLachlan, 8th Hussars); 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. C. McLachlan, 18/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Major A. C. McLachlan), mounted as worn, generally good very fine (6) £1600-1800 M.C. London Gazette 16 January 1916. Albert Charles McLachlan was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 18th Hussars in December 1893, and advanced to Lieutenant in August 1899, on the eve of the Boer War. Subsequently employed in the Natal operations, he was wounded and taken P.O.W. at Talana on 20 October 1899. On that date, as verified in The 18th Hussars in South Africa, he served in B Squadron and acted as his C.Os galloper and, in common with most of his comrades, and attached elements of the Mounted Infantry, was taken prisoner. The same source states that he was one of 13 men who remained in enemy hands until sent into Ladysmith during the investment, but as a prisoner on parole, he was debarred from taking any further part in the war (Queens Medal & clasp). Subsequently attached to the West African Frontier Force, McLachlan participated in the North Nigeria operations of 1902, when he was present at Argungu and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 28 October 1904 refers), and afterwards in the Kano-Sokoto campaign of 1903 (Medal & 2 clasps). During the Great War, he first landed in France in May 1915 and, in addition to his M.C., added two further ômentionsö to his accolades (London Gazette 1 January 1916 and 15 May 1917 refers). On 25 May 1915, the date inscribed on the reverse of the recipients M.C., the Germans launched a gas attack in their last but one major attack in the 2nd Battle of Ypres.

A fine Great War 1915 operations M.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel F. R. G. Forsyth, 4th Dragoon Guards, late Scottish Rifles, Northumberland Fusiliers and Seaforth Highlanders, who was twice wounded and once gassed on the Western Front Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, Capt. Bt. Major F. R. G. Forsyth, 1915; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. F. R. G. Forsyth, Scot. Rif.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Lieut. F. R. G. Forsyth, 1st Bn. Sea. Highrs.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut. F. R. G. Forsyth, Sea. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Bt. Major F. R. G. Forsyth), these last two with further private inscription after surname, 4th D. Gds.; Royal Humane Societys Medal, small, bronze (2nd Lieut. F. R. G. Forsyth, July 6, 1905), complete with riband buckle, this last with refitted suspension, contact marks, lacquered and somewhat polished, thus nearly very fine or better (7) £1600-1800 M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916. Frederick Richard Gerrard Forsyth was born in Netherleigh, Leamington in November 1882, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Arthur Forsyth, late 5th Fusiliers, and was educated at Sandroyd School and Wellington College. Appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Scottish Rifles, in April 1901, he witnessed active service in South Africa, where he was present in operations in Cape Colony, Transvaal and Orange Free State ð and injured on the occasion of the derailment of No. 12 Armoured Train (Queens Medal & 5 clasps). The latter incident is mentioned in a letter of recommendation for a Regular Army commission from General G. T. Pretyman: I recommended him for one when I was at Kimberley. The lad was badly shaken in an armoured train accident which occurred up by Taunga some months ago. I knew all about the accident. Young Forsyth was working in the train under Grant of the Black Watch, who was one of the best captains of an armoured train we had ... Duly granted a commission in the Northumberland Fusiliers in May 1902, Forsyth won his Royal Humane Society Medal for rescuing one of his men who got into difficulty while bathing in a river at Fenit, Co. Kerry, in July 1905 (R.H.S. Case No. 33,996 refers). In February 1908, after transferring to the Seaforth Highlanders as a Lieutenant, he quickly witnessed further action on the North West Frontier in Mohmand country (Medal & clasp). And shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, after attachment as a Captain to the Army Signals Service, he served out in France and Flanders from October 1914 until September 1915, including a brief stint as an A.D.C. to the G.O.C. 4th Division. And, as verified by the following private medical report, he was twice wounded in the same period: Mr. Forsyth has been under my immediate medical supervision for some years. His war medical history dates from June 1915: June, 1915: wounded in the face. Machine-gun fire. France. September, 1915: wounded head and scalp. H.E. France. Forsyth was awarded the M.C., went on to witness further action out on the Salonika front from January 1916 until June 1917, latterly in the 4th Dragoon Guards, and again in France and Flanders, but was invalided after being gassed in the Ypres Salient in November of the latter year. In addition to his M.C., he won a brace of ômentionsö (London Gazette 1 January 1916 (France) and 21 July 1917 (Salonika) refer), and was latterly employed as A.D.C. to the G.O.C. in Ireland from June 1918 until May 1919. Placed on the Retired List in November 1926, Forsyth transferred to the Territorials with an appointment as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 51st Highland Division, Royal Signals, in the same month, in which capacity he served until resigning his commission in October 1928. He was, however, recalled on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, and served as an Honorary Colonel in 51st/52nd Scottish Divisional Signals from November 1941. Forsyth, who was a Deputy Lieutenant of the City and County of Aberdeen, died in 1962; sold with three files of research, a mass of career information copied from T.N.A. sources.

A fine Great War Festubert M.C. group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. Graham, Scottish Rifles, later Pioneer Corps: having survived the decimation of the 6th Battalion at Festubert in May 1915, he added the American Medal of Freedom to his accolades in the 1939-45 War and later still volunteered for service as a Police Reservist in the Mau Mau troubles Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, Major A. G. Graham, Scottish Rifles, June, 1915; 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. G. Graham, Sco. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals, with small M.I.D. oakleaf (Lt. Col. A. G. Graham); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oakleaf; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (E. 1020 Sp. (R.) A. G. Graham, M.C.); Coronation 1953; U.S.A., Medal of Freedom, with palm, cleaned overall, very fine or better (11) £1600-1800 M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916. U.S.A. Medal of Freedom London Gazette 23 May 1947. The original recommendation states: Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Graham, M.C., Pioneer Corps, British Army, Allied Commission, Region Venezie: for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in Italy from 23 September 1943 to 8 May 1945. While serving with 46th Division, British Army, on the Garigliano River front in the winter of 1944, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham distinguished himself as a Civil Affairs Officer, in an area immediately under fire. He and one American enlisted man evacuated 350 civilians from the town of Rocci di Vandro, over a mule track covered with two feet of snow. It was an operation that required 14 hours, under continuous shell and mortar fire. The party which he evacuated included 14 stretcher cases, two typhus cases which died on the way out, and one woman who gave birth to a child during the progress of the operation. The evacuation was necessary for the improvement of the military situation and this officer, with great courage and fearlessness, overcoming almost insurmountable difficulties, made a contribution to the progress of the Allied Army that reflected great credit on the Allied Military Government organization, and the American Brigadier-General under whom he served. With great poise and understanding, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham trained a number of American officers in the field, who later became outstanding members of the Allied Military Government organisation. As Civil Affairs Officer of Tivoli, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham encountered one of the most difficult situations to be found in the wake of the advancing Army. There were 18,000 people living in caves, no food had come into the town for 14 days and there were 700 unburied dead in the town square. With energy and efficiency, he and his American associates set at once to the task of making the place inhabitable and preventing an epidemic of disease. Within an incredibly short time, order had been brought out of the chaos and the town restored to a point where the homeless were able to return. Subsequently as Civil Affairs Officer he contributed in large measure to the restoration of the port of Civitavecchia, vastly important from a military standpoint. He also served efficiently as Commissioner for the provinces of Terni and Rovigo, where he restored industry, maintained order and administered an outstanding public welfare programme. With deep understanding, wide experience, and personal generosity, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham was of inestimable value to the American officers attached to Allied Military Government. His service reflected great credit on the joint efforts of the British and American armies to administer the affairs of civilian Italy in such a way as to be of value to the military operations. Lieutenant-Colonel Graham originally entered the service from Glasgow, Scotland. Alexander Gillespie Graham, a pre-war officer on the Special Reserve, first entered the French theatre of war as a Captain in the 6th Battalion, Cameronians in March 1915, which unit was decimated at Festubert that June, when it sustained 357 casualties in a bloody assault launched on the 15th ð the Germans having taunted the Scotsmen by shouting across No Mans Land ôCome on, Jocks, we are waiting for you.ö At 5.57 p.m. that evening, in skeleton marching order, the 6th Battalion went over the top and swept towards the fully alerted Germans, the bombers and leading platoon reaching the opposing front trench before the first of many enemy bombardments started to take their toll. Ultimately, in the face of point-blank machine-gun fire, the Cameronian ranks started to dwindle. In the words of the regimental history, nothing but grim determination to close with the enemy could have carried the men forward in the face of such massacre. But close they did. Although the enemys front trench was occupied by superior numbers, the assault never faltered. It was rushed and taken with the bayonet, the once confident Germans fleeing in terror. Some, it is said, pleaded for their lives with presents and money, but to no avail, the Scotsmen bayoneting and bombing their way down the communication trenches to the second line, which, before dark, had been taken. By now, just three officers were left standing. Meanwhile, as a result of the failure of a neighbouring attack by 7th Division, the Cameronians were left exposed on their left flank, and when this shortcoming was compounded by the failure of G.H.Q. to send in reinforcements, the Battalions position became perilous in the extreme. While on their right, the 1/4th Loyal North Lancashires had been ordered to retire by midnight, thereby leaving the Scotsmen as sole inhabitants of the recently captured ground ð unbeknown to this gallant party of survivors, they, too, were meant to have been withdrawn, but the order never reached them, and it was not until 4 a.m. that a few ranks were able to get back to our lines. Among the wounded was Graham, though only slightly so, for, as revealed by the relevant war diary, he rejoined his unit from hospital 24 hours later and assumed command of what remained of the Battalion. Mentioned in Sir John Frenchs despatch that October (London Gazette 1 January 1916 refers), by which date he was a Temporary Major, Graham was awarded the M.C. Recalled on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, he was granted an Emergency Commission in the Pioneer Corps and, as cited above, was awarded the American Medal of Freedom for his gallant and distinguished services in Italy 1943-45, in addition to winning a ômentionö (London Gazette 23 May 1946 refers). Later still, as evidenced by his Africa General Service Medal, he volunteered for service as Special Constable in the Mau Mau troubles in Kenya. Sold with research.

An unusual Great War M.C. group of eight awarded to Brevet Major A. Orwin, Manchester Regiment, late Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery (Territorials) Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, Lieut. A. Orwin; 1914-15 Star (82265 Spr. A. Orwin, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. (Lieut. A. Orwin); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (Capt. A. Orwin, M.C., Manch. R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (1663313 Gnr. A. Orwin, (M.C.) R.A.), together with related Italian Altipiani Medal in silver, generally very fine or better (9) £1000-1200 M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919. Arthur Orwin, who was born in August 1891, was a pre-war Territorial who was mobilised as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers in March 1915. He subsequently served in France and Flanders from August 1915 to June 1916, and, having been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment in November of the latter year, from January to November 1917. Further active service ensued in Italy from November 1917 until the end of hostilities, where he was attached to 7th Divisional Signal Company, R.E. and won the M.C. He had earlier been mentioned in despatches for operations in France (London Gazette 21 December 1917 refers). Having then received a regular commission in the Manchesters in March 1919, Orwin served with the 1st Battalion in Ireland during the troubles, and, following advancement to Captain in February 1927, as Adjutant, Auxiliary Forces of India, during the campaign of Burma 1930-32. Placed on the Retired List in August 1936, he was given the Brevet of Major on the Reserve of Officers in September 1939, on the renewal of hostilities, and served in the U.K. in his old regiment for the duration of the War.

A rare Darfur 1916 operations M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant S. Hart, attached Military Works Department, Egyptian Army Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. S. Hart); Egypt, Order of the Nile, 4th class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; Khedives Sudan 1910-21, 4 clasps, Darfur 1916, Lau Nuer, Nyima 1917-18, Aliab Dinka, unnamed as issued, clasp rivets sewn on the last, good very fine or better (4) £1600-1800 M.C. London Gazette 4 June 1917. Samuel Hart, who was attached to the Egyptian Army, participated in the Darfur operations of 1916, for which he was mentioned in despatches for the military operations from the occupation of El Fasher to the conclusion of hostilities (London Gazette 29 May 1917 refers), and awarded the M.C. He subsequently served in operations against the Lau Nuers and in the Nyima Hills and Nuba Mountains Province 1917-18, and in the operations against the Aliab Dinka 1919-20, and was awarded the Order of the Nile, 4th class (London Gazette 22 April 1921 refers), in addition to qualifying for the above described Khedives Sudan Medal & 4 clasps and a single British War Medal 1914-20; sold with copied MIC entry which also refers to his entitlement to the clasps for ôNyima 1917-18ö and ôAliab Dinkaö.

A Great War D.S.M. awarded to Stoker Patrick OReilly, for services aboard the Vindictive in the raid on Ostende, 9-10 May 1918 Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (K.44713 P. OReilly. Sto. 2Cl. ôVindictiveö Ostend. 9-10. May. 1918) minor correction to official number, otherwise nearly extremely fine £900-1200 D.S.M. London Gazette 28 August 1918. Stoker Patrick OReilly is recorded in the list of men who were wounded in the second raid on Ostend on 9-10 May 1918.

A particularly fine Second World War D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer S. J. L. Evans, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in Unshaken of the famous ôFighting Tenthö: in addition to sinking an impressive array of enemy shipping, Unshaken several times embarked Major ôAppleö Appleyards S.A.S. ôSmall-Scale Raiding Forceö and captured the Italian submarine Menotti, Evans skipper being handed a unique receipt from his Flotilla C.O. on bringing the latter prize into Grand Harbour Valetta on 11 September 1943 - Received from Lieutenant J. Whitton, R.N., one Italian submarine named Menotti and sixty-one crew Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C.E.R.A. S. J. L. Evans, PM/X. 46521); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (MX. 46521 S. J. L. Evans, C.E.R.A., H.M.S. Unshaken), mounted as worn, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, the first and last polished, thus generally nearly very fine or better (14) £1800-2200 D.S.M. London Gazette 18 April 1944: For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty in successful patrols in H.M. submarines. The original recommendation states: During 12 Mediterranean patrols Unshaken has sunk by torpedo one destroyer, three merchantmen and two schooners. By gun action, one schooner destroyed, one 4,000-ton merchantman damaged and a suspension bridge on the Tunisian coast shelled. Other incidents include three special operations with military personnel on Pantellaria, the machine-gunning of German troops evacuating from Castia, and enforcing the surrender of the Italian submarine Menotti, deliberately contravening the armistice regulations. For outstanding efficiency and devotion to duty as C.E.R.A. in charge of the Engine Room Department of Unshaken during the above patrols and showing coolness and determination under difficult conditions. Samuel Joseph Lindop Evans, a native of Weymouth, Dorset, was decorated for his gallant deeds in Unshaken during successful war patrols in the Mediterranean in the period March to September 1943. The Unshaken arrived at the Fighting Tenths base at Lazaretto, Malta in March 1943, in the middle of a ôSpriteö alert, intelligence having reported the high risk of an Italian human-torpedo attack, but was quickly out on patrol. The definitive history of the Flotilla, The Fighting Tenth, by John Wingate, D.S.C., takes up the story: Unshaken, being the newcomer, sailed for her first patrol to the ostensibly quieter area east of Tunisia ... First she shelled a schooner hauled up on a beach, but was warned off by spirited action from shore batteries. Then off Sousse on 8 April, Jack Whitton sank the 1,245-ton Foggia with one of his three torpedoes. Lingering off Kelibia in the hope of catching a reported convoy, Unshaken continued southwards to beat up an important road bridge until shore batteries again forced her to desist. In common with other submarines of the Fighting Tenth, Unshakens operational agenda extended to clandestine operations, Wingate describing a series of intelligence gathering patrols in the lead-up to operations ôHuskyö, Major J. G. ôAppleö Appleyard, D.S.O., M.C.* and fellow members of 2nd S.A.S. being embarked: Then on the 18th [May 1943], Appleyard and his No. 1 Small-Scale Raiding Force sailed in Unshaken (Lieutenant Whitton) to make a periscope observation of the islands beaches where assault troops could be landed. The recce proving satisfactory, on 20 May Unshaken turned for home. Halfway back to Malta she was met by an M.T.B. with an aerial escort which Jack Whitton describes as an impressive and lively umbrella of three Spitfires, each clearing the periscope standards by inches. The M.T.B. had come to collect Appleyard, to save time. He was safely transferred and soon disappeared with his escort. Unshaken returned to Lazaretto the following day. The second attempt at the snatch job began on the 24th, when Unshaken again sailed with the S.A.S. party. The conditions being good, the inflatable dinghies paddled off into the darkness. After scaling the vertical and crumbling cliff, they eventually pounced on a sentry whose terrified yells alerted the defenders. Reinforcements were immediately on the spot, a burst of automatic fire killing Sergeant Herstall, a policeman from Bristol. The raiders escaped down the cliff by sliding down it from top to bottom. Whitton and Unshaken were waiting for them and they reached Lazaretto on 30 May. And of operations in June, Wingate continues: Immediately to the south of Unison was Unshaken (Lieutenant Jack Whitton), released from her expeditions with Major Appleyard and now patrolling off Syracuse and Augusta. Close inshore, on the afternoon of 22 June, she hit a laden schooner, Giovanni G. (69 tons), with two torpedoes at a range of 2,400 yards. The schooner disintegrated. This was a historic moment. Small though she was, this schooner earned a place in the history of the Fighting Tenth, for she had been sunk by the one thousandth torpedo to have been fired in action by a U-class submarine of the Tenth Flotilla. Capture of the Italian submarine ôMenottiö Having then had two close encounters with enemy submarines, one of which tailed Unshaken back to Malta in mid-July, but was attacked by the Polish submarine Dzik, thereby saving her from almost certain destruction, and sunk the naval transport Asmara,Unshaken achieved her greatest success - the capture of the Italian submarine Menotti on 9 September 1943, at the time of Italys capitulation. Wingate continues: On the morning of 9 September she [Unshaken] was making her way south around the heel of Italy when the hydrophone operator reported: High Speed revs. Suspecting an enemy submarine, Whitton ordered Diving Stations. The problem was whether this was a German U-boat or an Italian one. Through the periscope it was hard to tell: the enemy submarine was hull-down, the conning tower glinting in the bright morning sun. Whitton takes up the tale: At about 1500 yards range, and with but a few minutes to go before firing torpedoes, I had a long and careful look at the target: the submarine was Italian. She was also flying her ensign and had an unusually large number of chaps on her bridge, whom I could clearly see were gazing north-west and, no doubt, at their beloved country a few miles away. With that bunch on the bridge, she was hardly in a position to do a quick dive ... We would try to stop her, then board her. By chance, Whittons great friend and the flotillas spare C.O., Lieutenant ôShaverö Swanston, happened to be along for the ride. Whitton now appointed him commander of the boarding party, with orders to take over the Italian submarine. Unshaken surfaced and fired a warning shot across the U-boats bows: There were even more chaps on the bridge than before; I suppose they had come up to see what the hell was coming next. By this time Unshaken was alongside, stopped, with our bows against the Italians bow. The boarding party, led by Shaver brandishing a .45 were jumping across. They raced along the forward casing and climbed up the enemys conning tower. The objective: to secure the conning tower hatch and so stop him diving, then to subdue any further resistance. But there was no resistance. The enemy C.O. wanted to go to Brindisi; Whitton wanted to go back to Malta. A somewhat heated exchange followed, Whitton writes, as the two COs, each on his own bridge, side by side, voiced their intentions: Brindisi, he shouted. Malta, I yelled. Brindisi ... Malta ... Percy Westmacott, the Number One, passed up Whittons uniform cap, to give proceedings a little more dignity. I put it on. Also the 3-inch gun, still manned, and ready for action, was ordered: Load one round HE. The loading number, a seaman with considerable initiative, held up the 3-inch high explosive shell; he displayed it, rather like a music hall conjuror, to a very impressed Italian audience. He then slipped the round home into the gun, slamming the breech shut. The muzzle of the gun was trained on the Italian captains stomach, at a range of about thirteen feet. Shaver, who was standing close to him, was requested to stand aside. With a shrug of his shoulder and hands in the air, the Italian agreed: Malta. We were both now singing from the same song sheet - and I dont think my cap did the trick. With Shaver Swanston and the boarding party in control, the Italian boat, Menotti, would sail for Malta. Four Italian hostages were kept in Unshaken to encourage their shipmates to behave. Now began the two-day passage for Malta, mainly on the surface so that Unshaken could keep an eye on her charge. Each evening the two submarines closed while Whitton made sure all was well. Swanston complained at the dirt and lack of discipline, but he evidently had no problems with the officers who roundly expressed their loathing of the Germans in particular and the war in general. Menottis captain later told Whitton: He had no orders to proceed to an Allied port, except a signal which he considered false, the Allies having made use of captured Italian cyphers. He was upset at being defeated; he loathed the Germans but did not mind surrendering to the British. Unshaken, with her prize, arrived back at Malta on 11 September, as Whitton says, to pass through an impressive collection of Italian naval ships anchored off the Grand Harbour. That afternoon Unshakens CO was handed what must be one of the most unusual receipts noted in history. Typed on HMSO crown-embossed paper by the Lazaretto type-writer, it was addressed to His Majestys Submarine Unshaken and dated Saturday 11 September 1943. Signed by George Phillips as Captain (S) 10, it read: Received from Lieutenant J. Whitton, R.N., one Italian submarine named Menotti and sixty-one crew. As a result of this, and other actions, Whitton and his ôJimmy the Oneö, Westmacott, were awarded D.S.Cs, three ratings D.S.Ms and several crew members mentioned in despatches. Evans received his D.S.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 31 October 1944; also see Lot 487 for his fathers Honours & Awards.

A Great War Western Front M.M. and Al Valore Militare group of four awarded to Private H. Everall, Royal Army Medical Corps Military Medal, G.V.R. (65867 Pte., 132/F.A. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (65867 Pte., R.A.M.C.); Italy, Al Valore Militare, bronze, obverse with crowned Z and F.G. below wreath, reverse uninscribed, mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £1000-1200 M.M. London Gazette 14 January 1918. M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917. Al Valore Militare London Gazette 26 May 1917. Private Herbert Everall, 132nd Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. is several times mentioned in the units war diary. He was one of four bearers of the unit who were named by the Officer Commanding on 3 July 1916, For coolness under fire & good work all through the day. Everalls Al Valore Militare was in part awarded for service in the attack at the Boars Head, Richbourg LAvoue, on the night of 29/30 June 1916, where Serjeant N. V. Carter, 12th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, won a posthumous V.C. With original award document for the Al Valore Militare, dated 23 November 1918; together with a letter signed by Lieutenant-General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston, K.C.B., D.S.O., M.P., Commanding VIII Army Corps who wrote, I heartily congratulate you on the honour done you by His Majesty the King of Italy in awarding you the Bronze Medal for Military Valour for your gallant conduct and devotion to duty during operations on the 29th/30th June, 1916, and again during operations on the 3rd September 1916. With an associated photograph and New Testament, together with a quantity of copied research including m.i.c. and war diary and gazette extracts..

A rare Great War M.M. group of twelve awarded to Sergeant A. Belsan, a Czech Legionnaire who served in the elite 1st Independent Striking Battalion, and was again decorated in the 1939-45 War for his gallant deeds in the Prague Uprising in the final days of the conflict Czechoslovakia, Bravery Medal 1939; War Cross 1918; Revolutionary Medal 1918; Victory Medal 1918, official type 2; F.I.D.A.C. Medal for Veterans of the Great War; Zborov Commemorative Medal 1917-47; Brachmac Commemorative Medal 1918-48; 4th Regiment Commemorative Medal 1918-48; Medal for Fidelity 1918-38, bronze emblem on riband; Brno Volunteers Medal 1918-19; Great Britain, Military Medal, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Russia, St. George Medal for Bravery, Nicholas II, 4th Class, the reverse numbered No. 22868, together with a small 20th anniversary commemorative badge for the Battle Of Zborov 1917-37, the last heavily polished and with replacement ring suspension, fine, the remainder generally very fine or better (13) £800-1000 Abbot and Tamplin estimate some 320 M.Ms were bestowed on Czech Legionnaires. Augustin Belsan was born in Hresihlavy in the district of Rokycany, south-west of Prague in August 1888, and was employed as head of a workshop in a locomotive factory in Kladno prior to the outbreak of hostilities. Recruited into the Austro-Hungarian Army in October 1914, he attended an N.C.Os course and was posted in the rank of Corporal to the famous 28th ôPragues Childrenö Regiment, going into action on the Eastern Front in March 1915, where he was wounded in the following month and taken prisoner by the Russians at a Field Hospital near Regetow. Forced labour followed but with news of the formation of the Czech Legion in July 1916, he was appointed a Sergeant in the 1st Regiment of ôMistr Jan Husö and participated in the Battle of Zborov, winning his Russian decoration on the same occasion. In January 1918, Belsan was transferred to the elite 1st Independent Striking Battalion and fought against the Germans at Bachmac that March, in addition to numerous clashes with the Bolsheviks, including the actions at Kljukvenaja, Krasnojarsk, Niznyj Udinsk, Beli, Kultuk, Irkutsk, near Bajkal Lake, and on the Uralsk and Samara fronts, but most probably won his British M.M. for the critical defence of the Trans-Siberian railway, in which he was twice wounded. Indeed his elite unit, which numbered around 800 men of whom 120 were killed in action, was regularly ordered to where the fighting was heaviest, finally covering the retreat of the Czech forces to Vladivostok, where Belsan and his comrades arrived in April 1920. He remained in the Army for another two years, latterly as part of the 6th Border Battalion (a.k.a. the ôSiberian Strikersö) in Domazlice, from which he took his discharge to take up employment as an Inspector of Price Control at the Land Government Office in Dejvice, Prague. And it was here, in the final days of the last War, that he won his prestigious Czech Bravery Medal for gallantly manning the barricades in the uprising of May 1945. Sold with two of the recipients original Czech Legion identity cards (ôClenska Legitimaceö), one with a portrait photograph and assorted stamps, and the other with front cover number No. 7529; and around a dozen Great War period photographs, including a fine portrait in uniform wearing some of his Honours & Awards, this with his handwritten dedication to a niece or nephew on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

A scarce Second World War B.E.F. 1940 operations M.M. group of four awarded to Lieutenant E. Marsden, Royal Tank Regiment (Royal Armoured Corps) Military Medal, G.VI.R. (7885532 A. Sjt. R. Marsden, R. Tank R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, minor contact wear, good very fine or better (4) £1200-1500 M.M. London Gazette 23 August 1940. Details of the recipients deeds were published in The Times: Although his tank was separated from the troop detachment and hit three times by anti-tank fire and severely damaged, he kept in action, knocking out one enemy tank and engaging several anti-tank guns. Eventually he brought his tank out of action and rejoined the squadron. Robert Marsden was raised in Brighouse, near Huddersfield but later moved to Bournemouth. Educated at St. Andrewss School, Brighouse, he was employed as an apprentice at Messrs. Ramsden and Camm until 1935, when he enlisted in the Royal Tank Regiment, aged 17 years. An acting Sergeant by the outbreak of hostilities, he was serving in 5th R.T.R. at the time of winning his M.M. for the above cited deeds near St. Valery on 29 May 1940. The Tanks, The History of the Royal Tank Regiment, by Liddell Hart, states: A similar situation developed on the other flanks, where the 5th R.T.R. reached the outskirts of St. Valery before meeting opposition, but there met a well-posted defence, and then found no help was forthcoming from the French. While waiting for this, Drew probed the enemys defence with tank patrols, and one (Lieutenant A. H. Laing and Sergeant Marsden) actually penetrated it near Boismont. During the afternoon a succession of different plans were made by the French divisional commander, who eventually decided that his troops would establish a line of defended localities on the general line of the second bound - the line which had been reached without opposition! He wanted to dispose the tanks in packets along the defensive front, but Crockers objections prevailed. While the arrangements were being finally settled, about 7 p.m., a message came from Drew that he was putting in an attack at St. Valery in co-operation with the French - but again they failed to back up the tank advance. During the days fighting the Brigades ôwrite-offö tank casualties had been eleven cruisers and seven lights - lost for nothing. The French commander, however, sent a warm message of thanks for the Brigades help in the conquest of the ground we have achieved. The 2nd Armoured Brigade had suffered a similar experience, and heavier losses. In all the two brigades had 65 tanks knocked-out, though some were recovered. To which the Brighouse and Elland Echo later reported: He had been in France for about six weeks and in a letter stated that they went into action almost immediately on arrival. It appears that Sergeant Marsden, who is of retiring disposition, was just as surprised as his family when he learned that he had been awarded the M.M. Posted to the Middle East, where he was commissioned in the R.A.C., Marsden was taken P.O.W. in 1942 and ended the War incarcerated in Oflag O79 at Braunschwieg; sold with several wartime newspaper cuttings.

ôI was told that on the boat back to Ascension Island, General Bramall came on board and gave the lads a tremendous speech. Afterwards he was asked the question. Sir, why did you send the Parachute Regiment? His reply was short and to the point: Gentlemen, because I wanted to win.ö The important Falklands M.M. group of seven awarded to Captain Ian Bailey, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who as a 22 year old Corporal charged with fixed bayonet and grenades the elevated Argentine position at Mount Longdon, alongside Sergeant Ian McKay who gained the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross. Bailey was shot three times causing severe wounds to his neck and hip and was the last man to see Sergeant McKay alive. He went on to serve a further 20 years in the Parachute Regiment retiring with the rank of Captain. The action at Mount Longdon claimed more lives than any other battle of the conflict and Baileys own wounds came back to haunt him 22 years later when it was discovered that he still had an Argentine bullet and numerous fragments of shrapnel lodged in his hip - it was not until June this year that they were finally removed by a surgeon. Military Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (24438472 Cpl I P Bailey Para); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24438472 L Cpl I P Bailey Para); South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24438472 Cpl I P Bailey Para); U.N. Cyprus; N.A.T.O. Medal, clasp, Kosovo; Jubilee 2002; Regular Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (24438472 S Sgt I P Bailey Para) some minor edge bruising and contact wear, otherwise generally good very fine or better (7) £50000-60000 M.M. London Gazette 8 October 1982 In the early hours of 12th June 1982, the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment assaulted enemy positions on Mount Longdon, eight kilometres to the West of Port Stanley on the Island of East Falkland. Corporal Baileys Section were tasked to aid a Platoon pinned down by heavy automatic fire. Under covering fire, together with Sergeant McKay, he attacked the enemys position with grenades. Whilst closing on the enemy, Corporal Bailey was wounded. His brave actions helped to destroy the enemy and relieve the pressure on the Platoon that was pinned down. The posthumous award of Sergeant Ian McKays Victoria Cross was announced in the same Gazette as Corporal Ian Baileys M.M. and the citation adds further detail to Baileys own award: During the night of 11th/12th June 1982, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment mounted a silent night attack on an emergency battalion position on Mount Longdon, an important objective in the battle for Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Sergeant McKay was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, which, after the initial objective had been secured, was ordered to clear the Northern side of the long East/West ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong, mutually-supporting positions. By now the enemy were fully alert, and resisting fiercely. As 4 Platoons advance continued it came under increasingly heavy fire from a number of well-sited enemy machine gun positions on the ridge, and received casualties. Realising that no further advance was possible the Platoon Commander ordered the Platoon to move from its exposed position to seek shelter among the rocks of the ridge itself. Here it met up with part of 5 Platoon. The enemy fire was still both heavy and accurate, and the position of the platoons was becoming increasingly hazardous. Taking Sergeant McKay, a Corporal [Bailey] and a few others, and covered by supporting machine gun fire, the Platoon Commander moved forward to reconnoitre the enemy positions but was hit by a bullet in the leg, and command devolved upon Sergeant McKay. It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to falter and increasing casualties to ensue. Sergeant McKay decided to convert this reconnaissance into an attack in order to eliminate the enemy positions. He was in no doubt of the strength and deployment of the enemy as he undertook this attack. He issued orders, and taking three men with him, broke cover and charged the enemy position. The assault was met by a hail of fire. The Corporal [Bailey]was seriously wounded, a Private killed and another wounded. Despite these losses Sergeant McKay, with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to charge the enemy position alone. On reaching it he despatched the enemy with grenades, thereby relieving the position of beleaguered 4 and 5 Platoons, who were now able to redeploy with relative safety. Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory, his body falling on the bunker. Without doubt Sergeant McKays action retrieved a most dangerous situation and was instrumental in ensuring the success of the attack. His was a coolly calculated act, the dangers of which must have been too apparent to him beforehand. Undeterred he performed with outstanding selflessness, perseverance and courage. With a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him. Sergeant McKays body was exhumed from the Falkland Islands some time later and brought back to England where it was re interred with full military honours at Aldershot Military Cemetery. One of the pall bearers at this funeral was Corporal Ian Bailey. The following description of the action at Mount Longdon which draws heavily from an interview between the author and Bailey is extracted from the book, Operation Corporate: The Story of The Falklands War, 1982, by Martin Middlebrook, published 1985: 3 Paras attack started first. Lieutenant-Colonel Hew Pike had planned a standard assault. He decided that Mount Longdon could not easily be approached from a flank and the feature was to be attacked frontally at its western end. A company on the left would attempt to seize a feature to be known as WING FORWARD. Which would then act as a fire-support base for an attack by B Company on the main Longdon feature, whose two parts were designated FLY HALF and FULL BACK. C Company would move up as a reserve and as the exploitation company if there was a swift Argentinian collapse. The Argentinian defenders of Longdon had been correctly identified as belonging to 7 Regiment, a conscript unit recruited in the province of La Plata. But 7 Regiment was holding Wireless Ridge as well as Longdon and there were probably only about one and a half companies reinforced with specialist snipers and commandos on Longdon itself. The paras moved off after dusk for the approach march to the Start Line. Lieutenant-Colonel Pike and his Tactical Headquarters were given a lift by civilian Land-Rovers, one of which was driven by a women, Trudi Morrison, perhaps the first time a battalion commander had been driven into action by a farmers wife. The British artillery were firing no more than the normal evening harassment. A and B Companies reached their Start Lines on a little stream about fifteen minutes late. Corporal Ian Bailey was a section commander in B Company. We were only on the Start Line a few minutes. I went round the lads and checked everybody and had a joke with my mates. The lads were quiet, each man whispering to their own very good friends, having a last drag. It was a time for being with your own mates. They knew some of them were going to get killed. For some reason, most of them fixed bayonets; I put mine on and looked round to find all the others were putting theirs on too. We stepped over the stream and set off. It was a very clear night, cool, but it didnt feel cold; there was too much adrenalin flowing. We knew we had got a punch-up on our hands. It was uphill, a fairly steep gradient, lots of rocks, tufts of grass, holes where you could break your ankle easily ð just like a good training area. You could see 200 or 300 metres ahead of you. As we went up, we were funnelled together into a space between the main Mount Longdon and a large separate rock. At one time, we were sho

There can be no question as to the bravery of these men of the Air Sea Rescue Service who were often working within sight of the French coast. For myself, I would rather meet a FW 190 head-on in my Spitfire than meet one from a rescue launch. Flight Lieutenant D. R. ôDonö Morrison, D.F.C., D.F.M., No 401 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, who rescued L.A.C. Dargue off Dieppe - taken from Air Commodore Graham Pitchforks Shot Down and in the Drink, R.A.F. and Commonwealth Aircrews Saved from the Sea 1939-45. An outstanding Second World War Dieppe raid B.E.M. group of five awarded to Leading Aircraftman A. Dargue, Royal Air Force, for great gallantry as a Nursing Orderly in high speed launches of Air Sea Rescue British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (1331108 L.A.C. Albert Dargue, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine and better (5) £2000-2500 B.E.M. London Gazette 29 December 1942: Leading Aircraftman Dargue was Nursing Orderly on a High Speed Launch during the combined operations on 19 August 1942. In spite of wounds, he endeavoured to carry out first-aid to the wounded until he was picked up in a seriously wounded condition. The courage and valuable services rendered by Leading Aircraftman Dargue are typical of the high qualities displayed by the nursing orderlies, who have carried out hazardous operations in High Speed Launches which play an essential part in Air Sea Rescue. Albert Drague was serving in H.S.L. 122 of No. 27 Air Sea Rescue at Dover at the time of operation ôJubileeö. Of the 14 High Speed launches called out on 19 August 1942, in response to no less than 47 ôMaydayö calls, three were lost to enemy action, among them H.S.L. 122 - five of her crew were killed, including Flying Officer J. R. Hill, four wounded and two taken P.O.W. Her fate - and that of H.S.L. 123 - is summarised in an official report submitted by Squadron Leader Coates, from which the following extract has been taken: At about 16.35, four miles S.E. of the position, going north, 123 was attacked by two out of four F.W. 190s that appeared ahead. L.A.C. Wilkins was wounded and Sergeant Smith slightly wounded. A ôHelpö signal was sent. The planes did not return and course was maintained. Shortly afterwards the boat was challenged from the shore and the batteries opened fire, the shells falling astern. At 16.50 four F.W. 190s attacked from the port beam and course was altered towards them and no casualties resulted. A second ôHelpö signal was sent. Course was altered to N.W. to try and shake off the planes, which again disappeared, and to contact 122 [with Dargue aboard] for mutual aid and support ... 122, when sighted, was being bombed by a Heinkel and when closed at 17.15 was found to have been badly damaged by cannon and machine-gun fire, and with only five men left alive. These were being transferred when six or eight F.W. 190s appeared and attacked from the port beam, four serious casualties being sustained. A signal ôUrgent Help 182 Dungeness 23ö was sent. The boats then became separated. In view of the fact that not a single British fighter had provided cover or was even sighted from the time the English coast was left, and that we had been informed that none could be expected, it was considered that absolutely no possibility remained of making the 25 miles to our coast against the concerted attacks in operation. The boat [122] was therefore abandoned at 17.20. Whilst the survivors were in the water both boats were attacked for about half an hour and set completely on fire ... H.S.L. 177, five to six miles distant, apparently saw smoke and having contacted R.M.L. 513 and two Spitfires, proceeded and performed a plucky and skilful rescue at about 18.00, the F.W. 190s making off on their approach ... A full account of the action is to be found in Air Commodore Graham Pitchforks Shot Down and in the Drink, R.A.F. and Commonwealth Aircrews Saved from the Sea 1939-45, in which it is revealed that Dargue was plucked from the water by Flight Lieutenant D. R. ôDonö Morrison, D.F.C., D.F.M., No 401 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, himself having been picked up by H.S.L. 177 after being downed earlier that day. Pitchfork takes up the story: Morrison noticed a semi-conscious seaman drifting away. He immediately dived into the sea and burning oil to reach the badly injured man, bringing him alongside the launch where he was recovered on board. He was Leading Aircraftman Albert Dargue, the medical orderly of H.S.L. 122, which had been attacked and set on fire by German fighters. Despite being badly hurt himself, Dargue tended the seriously wounded until H.S.L. 123 pulled alongside. Only four men were left alive and Dargue dragged the other three survivors on deck, but just as they were about to be transferred, H.S.L. 123 also came under attack and was severely damaged. As the launch caught fire, the master gave the order to abandon ship. Dargue inflated the Mae Wests of the three injured men and pushed them overboard before he jumped. Exhausted and weak from his wound, he could do little to help himself until Morrison rescued him. Once H.S.L. 177 had picked up the 14 survivors the master headed for Newhaven at full speed, where the wounded were quickly evacuated to hospital. Morrison returned to his squadron and was soon back on duty. Following the Dieppe operation there were a number of gallantry awards for the men of the R.A.Fs high speed launches, including an M.B.E. to Conway and a B.E.M. to the brave L.A.C. Albert Dargue. Morrison wrote a detailed report of his experiences but made no mention of his own courageous part. He was loud in his praise for the men who manned the R.A.F. rescue launches and concluded his report: There can be no question as to the bravery of these men of the Air Sea Rescue Service who were often working within sight of the French coast. For myself, I would rather meet a FW 190 head-on in my Spitfire than meet one from a rescue launch. Pitchfork continues: There were many lessons to be learnt from the Dieppe raid, in particular the lack of armour plate protection for the gunners on rescue launches operating in the combat area. There was also a clear need for more capable armament, and the Admiralty agreed to supply 15 Oerlikon guns for the R.A.Fs launches at Dover and Newhaven. During October approval was given for 32 launches based at the east and south coast units to be provided with one 20-mm. Oerlikon and four .303 Vickers guns on twin pedestal mountings. It was also agreed that armour plating should be provided for the more vulnerable areas of the launches. Assuming Dargue had been a regular member of H.S.L. 122 since his arrival at No. 27 A.S.R. Dover, he would have been the veteran of numerous rescue operations in the interim, the units O.R.B. revealing another encounter with enemy aircraft on 16 April 1942, when 122 was attacked by a pair of 109s off Folkestone - No casualties but bullet hole damage to hull (the units O.R.B. refers). Sold with the recipients original wartime photograph album, containing some rare and impressive images of A.S.R. craft and personnel (16 in total), the outer cover with R.A.F. cap badge and the inside cover ink inscribed, L.A.C. A. Dargue, R.A.F., together with a copy of Air Sea Rescue (H.M.S.O., 1942) and one or two related newspaper cuttings.

A fine Second World War M.M. pair awarded to Havildar Mohindar Singh, Frontier Force Rifles, who succeeded in escaping from German forces on his third attempt Military Medal, G.VI.R. (13631 Hav Mohindar Singh FFR); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (13631 Sep. Mohindar Singh, 4-13 F.F. Rif.) good very fine (2) £600-800 M.M. London Gazette 20 September 1945. The recommendation states: No. 13631 Havildar Mohindar Singh, 3/12 F.F.R. - On 15th September 1943, Havildar Mohindar Singh escaped from Avezzano for the first time, and led a small band into the mountains, where he contacted a friendly farmer, and laid up for the winter. However, on 7th January 1944 he was over-run by the Germans and re-taken prisoner. On 15th March, whilst en-route from Laterina to Germany, he cut his way through the under-carriage of the train, fell out, and awaited the train passing over him. Once free he struck off into the mountains towards Switzerland, but on the fifth day he was once again recaptured and sent to Nancy. On 1st September 1944 he was assembled in a column which was to march to Germany. Seizing his opportunity, Havildar Mohindar Singh dived out of sight of the column when the sentry was not looking, sought refuge in a nearby house, and a fortnight later was over-run by American forces. For his courage in attempting to escape no less than three times, it is considered that Havildar Mohindar Singh should be recommended for the award of the Military Medal.

Three: Acting Serjeant George Henry Lyon, Army Service Corps, who died at sea, 22 January 1917 1914-15 Star (M2-051051 L-Cpl., A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (M2-051051 A. Sjt., A.S.C.) extremely fine (3) £60-80 George Henry Lyon lived and enlisted at Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Serving with the 244th Motor Transport Company, Army Service Corps, he died at sea on 22 January 1917, aged 37 years. He was buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. He was the husband of Mary A. E. Lyon of 4 Durham Street, Scarborough. With some copied research.

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Mashonaland 1897 (279 Troopr. A. H. Lyon, B.S.A. Police) edge bruising, very fine £240-280 Alfred Herbert Lyon was born in 1873, the son of Alfred Lyon, a Landowner and Magistrate, living at Middlecott in Ilsington, Devonshire. Alfred Herbert Lyon first served as a young Lieutenant in the 4th Derby (Sherwood Forresters) Militia, from which he resigned in 1894 on taking up other professional duties. In November 1896 he embarked for Salisbury, Rhodesia, and attested for the British South Africa Police in December, signing on for 12 months. He served as a Trooper at Umtalli and Melsetter through the Mashonaland Rebellion, and was discharged in December 1897 when his period of engagement expired. The Imperial Yeomanry was established in December 1899, and the first contingent attracted members of the gentry, who had to provide their own horses, clothing, saddlery and accoutrements. Lyon, then employed as a Schoolmaster, signed on as Private 6520 with the 27th (Devonshire) Company of the 7th Battalion which served in South Africa from February 1900 to Mid-1901. His papers show service at Constanta and Wepener. Returning to England, by 1906 Lyon was married and was employed as a Teacher at Arden School in Tormoham. During the Great War, he applied for a commission in January 1917, was accepted to the Officer Cadet Battalion at Cambridge. In August 1917 he was granted a temporary commission with the Labour Corps and entered France in March 1918. In June he was transferred to the 11th Battalion Cameron Highlanders, and in November was appointed Acting Captain and given command of a Labour Corps Company detailed to guard prisoners-of-war. Demobilised on 29 October 1919, he was permitted to retain the rank of Captain. In 1936 Lyon was living at Foxleaze, North Lane, Rustington. There, he applied for a replacement B.S.A. Company Medal. He was informed that one could be supplied at a cost of 18 shillings but six months later he replied that he had been totally unable to earn anything since a severe illness and asked for time to raise the money. Alfred Herbert Lyon died of a cerebral haemorrhage in 1939, at the hospital in College Lane, Chichester. At that time he was a Private Schoolmaster, living at Wiston Rectory. With copied service papers and other research. Note: The above medal is the recipients original issue.

Memorial Plaque (George Lyon) in card envelope, good very fine £30-40 Attributed to 13/564 Private George Lyon, 13th (1st Barnsley) Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, who was born in and enlisted at Barnsley and who was killed in action on 1 July 1916. One of the Barnsley Pals killed on the 1st day of the battle of the Somme. With copied service papers, m.i.c., and other research. Note: there are other servicemen with this name on the C.W.G.C. list.

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (5 Corpl. W. T. Marchant, A.P.O. Corps) some edge bruising, contact and scratch marks, about very fine £600-800 On 8 August 1882 the newly created Army Post Office Corps (formed 17 days previously) under the command of Major Sturgeon (Army Postmaster) embarked aboard the Black Prince for its first overseas expedition, and landed at Alexandria on 19 August. Stationary Army Post Offices were established at Alexandria, Ramleh, Cairo, Port Said and Ismaila, while mobile Field Post Offices were attached to the divisional headquarters. On 9 September 1882, during the battle of Kassassin, the Army Post Office, under the command of Sergeant F. J. Inwood, attached to H.Q. 2 Division, came under fire. In the action, Private H. F. Yardley and Corporal W. T. Marchant, both of the A.P.O. Corps, were mentioned in despatches. The A.P.O. Corps as a whole received high praise from the C-in-C, who wrote, The formation of a purely military postal department has been tried for the first time in this war. It has been very successful ... I have much pleasure in bringing to the notice of the Secretary of State the admirable manner in which the Post Office Corps discharged its duties in Egypt. ... Their services have been so valuable that I hope a similar corps may be employed on any future occasion ...

Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (8509 G. Glen, 19th Coy. 6th Impl. Yeo.), last clasp unofficially riveted, very fine £150-200 Graham Glen, a well-known Scottish portrait artist who was active in the years 1897-1925, was born in Edinburgh and enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry in January 1900, aged 22 years. Posted to the 19th (Lothian and Berwickshire) Company, 6th Battalion, he served in South Africa from February of the same year until June 1901, and was discharged on his return to the U.K. in the following month; sold with copied service record which verifies the above described Medal & clasps.