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Military Interest and in particular Dieppe and D Day Landings Mulberry Harbour and Winston S.
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Military Interest and in particular Dieppe and D Day Landings Mulberry Harbour and Winston S. Churchill - Colonel Vassal Charles Steer-Webster OBE born 1896 an important archive including the following: signed photograph Winston S. Churchill VE Day 1945 with accompanying personal letter to Colonel Steer-Webster "Herewith copy of my Minute - Piers for use on beaches - and an autographed photograph of myself as a gesture of thanks to you for helping me to achieve it by your dedication to Mulberry". NOTE - Colonel Steer-Webster was in almost daily contact with Sir Winston Churchill during the construction and development of the Mulberry Harbours. Colonel Steer-Webster's medals and miniatures, including Order of The British Empire, World War One and World War Two medals, French Legion of Honour Medal and American Legion of Merit Medal. Both presented in A.H. Baldwin & Sons Limited presentation cases. Silver model of a "Concrete Mat" hallmarked London 1942, presented to Major V.C. Steer-Webster RE "As a tribute to his ingenuity and energy in discovering a simple solution to the baffling problem that made Dieppe possible, N.E. Wates and R.W. Wates December 1942". Length 14 cm. Colonel Steer-Webster was Deputy Director of Experimental Engineering and played a large part in the design of Mulberry B for Arromanches and previously designed concrete mats, "Chocolate Mattresses" to allow access to beaches with heavy artillery. Colonel Steer-Webster was awarded £1000 for his invention from "the Royal Commission on Awards". A silver plated model "Whale" (floating roadway), length 15 cm, and a silver plated model "Phoenix" anchorage point, length 14 cm. Both were important sections of the Mulberry Harbour. Colonel Vassal Charles Steer-Webster's Military OBE, cased. Colonel Vassal Charles Steer-Webster's "Freedom of The City of London" in later silver case dated October 1963, Garrard & Co. The Freedom of The City of London granted in 1951 "In Recognition of his achievements for having the Mulberry Harbours ready of D Day". Watercolour, Colonel V.C. Steer-Webster and black and white photographs of the same in military uniform. Approximately 150 black and white photographs of aspects of the Mulberry Harbour in construction and use, including official photographs. Tinted panoramic photographic view of Mulberry B 1944, 18 cm x 100 cm. Terence Cuneo Mulberry B 1944, 32 cm x 57 cm. Scrapbook "Mulberry Mission" to Canada 1946 comprising press cuttings and photographs, etc. The Mission was to allay misconceptions in Canada that the Canadian action at Dieppe was simply a tragic episode in the campaign, when in fact the action paved the way for the allies brilliant success in the D Day Landings of 1944. A case of 71 photographic slides in wooden case all Mulberry Harbour related, including design drawings and the harbour itself. World War One - Private V.C. Steer-Webster's dog tags, 1914 silver cigarette case, Royal Engineers cigarette lighter, 1914 Christmas tin, Victorian silver hip flask, Elliott Brothers pocket barometer, service books. The bullet that was removed from Private Steer after an injury which led to him being declared "no longer fit physically for war service" April 1916. There are numerous other items within the archive including lecture notes and in depth analysis of the D Day Landings and documentation from colonel Vassal Charles Steer-Webster's later career. There is also correspondence with the French Authorities in relation to his receipt of the French Legion of Honour Medal. A brief note on the importance of the Mulberry Harbours - the Mulberry Harbours were floating artificial harbours designed and constructed by British Military Engineers during World War Two. They were used to protect supply ships anchored off the coast of Normandy after the D Day Landings of June 6th 1944. The idea for such harbours came from several people and in particular Winston Churchill. The harbours were intended to protect the ships from storm and enemy attack. Many of the French ports had been destroyed and/or booby trapped by the Germans. The disastrous British attack on Dieppe in 1942 rekindled the interest in the artificial floating harbours. Two were built for D Day. Mulberry A was constructed off Omaha Beach to supply US forces. Mulberry B was built off Gold Beach at Arromanches to supply British and Canadian troops. Mulberry A was destroyed in a storm a few days after it was built. Mulberry B was operational for some 10 months after the landings. In the 10 months after D Day Mulberry B was used to land over 2.5 million troops, 500,000 vehicles and 4 million tons of supplies. The harbour is credited by some historians with shortening the war by increasing the effectiveness of the allied supply chain during the invasion. The harbours were a huge feat of civil engineering. They were built hastily in the dry docks on The Thames and Clyde. They were pulled across the channel by tugs and assembled off the French coast. They were operational within 12 days of the landings. The archive also includes a war time letter from Louis Mountbatten from South East Asia Command Headquarters August 1945 writing to "thank you for your great kindness in presenting me with a painting of Mulberry. I was informed of this just before I left London recently but owing to the Japanese surrender I had to leave so quickly that I was unable to write at the time and thank you". There is also a signed letter from Winston Churchill dated 24th April 1945 thanking Colonel Steer-Webster for "the excellent coloured reproduction of Mulberry B which you have been good enough to have prepared for me" and "thanking you for the various models and relief map of the Mulberry which you have sent to my map room during the past months". There is a secret movement order to Steer-Webster and in reference to Juno Beach June 1944 and other wartime orders (see illustration).
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Military Interest and in particular Dieppe and D Day Landings Mulberry Harbour and Winston S. Churchill - Colonel Vassal Charles Steer-Webster OBE born 1896 an important archive including the following: signed photograph Winston S. Churchill VE Day 1945 with accompanying personal letter to Colonel Steer-Webster "Herewith copy of my Minute - Piers for use on beaches - and an autographed photograph of myself as a gesture of thanks to you for helping me to achieve it by your dedication to Mulberry". NOTE - Colonel Steer-Webster was in almost daily contact with Sir Winston Churchill during the construction and development of the Mulberry Harbours. Colonel Steer-Webster's medals and miniatures, including Order of The British Empire, World War One and World War Two medals, French Legion of Honour Medal and American Legion of Merit Medal. Both presented in A.H. Baldwin & Sons Limited presentation cases. Silver model of a "Concrete Mat" hallmarked London 1942, presented to Major V.C. Steer-Webster RE "As a tribute to his ingenuity and energy in discovering a simple solution to the baffling problem that made Dieppe possible, N.E. Wates and R.W. Wates December 1942". Length 14 cm. Colonel Steer-Webster was Deputy Director of Experimental Engineering and played a large part in the design of Mulberry B for Arromanches and previously designed concrete mats, "Chocolate Mattresses" to allow access to beaches with heavy artillery. Colonel Steer-Webster was awarded £1000 for his invention from "the Royal Commission on Awards". A silver plated model "Whale" (floating roadway), length 15 cm, and a silver plated model "Phoenix" anchorage point, length 14 cm. Both were important sections of the Mulberry Harbour. Colonel Vassal Charles Steer-Webster's Military OBE, cased. Colonel Vassal Charles Steer-Webster's "Freedom of The City of London" in later silver case dated October 1963, Garrard & Co. The Freedom of The City of London granted in 1951 "In Recognition of his achievements for having the Mulberry Harbours ready of D Day". Watercolour, Colonel V.C. Steer-Webster and black and white photographs of the same in military uniform. Approximately 150 black and white photographs of aspects of the Mulberry Harbour in construction and use, including official photographs. Tinted panoramic photographic view of Mulberry B 1944, 18 cm x 100 cm. Terence Cuneo Mulberry B 1944, 32 cm x 57 cm. Scrapbook "Mulberry Mission" to Canada 1946 comprising press cuttings and photographs, etc. The Mission was to allay misconceptions in Canada that the Canadian action at Dieppe was simply a tragic episode in the campaign, when in fact the action paved the way for the allies brilliant success in the D Day Landings of 1944. A case of 71 photographic slides in wooden case all Mulberry Harbour related, including design drawings and the harbour itself. World War One - Private V.C. Steer-Webster's dog tags, 1914 silver cigarette case, Royal Engineers cigarette lighter, 1914 Christmas tin, Victorian silver hip flask, Elliott Brothers pocket barometer, service books. The bullet that was removed from Private Steer after an injury which led to him being declared "no longer fit physically for war service" April 1916. There are numerous other items within the archive including lecture notes and in depth analysis of the D Day Landings and documentation from colonel Vassal Charles Steer-Webster's later career. There is also correspondence with the French Authorities in relation to his receipt of the French Legion of Honour Medal. A brief note on the importance of the Mulberry Harbours - the Mulberry Harbours were floating artificial harbours designed and constructed by British Military Engineers during World War Two. They were used to protect supply ships anchored off the coast of Normandy after the D Day Landings of June 6th 1944. The idea for such harbours came from several people and in particular Winston Churchill. The harbours were intended to protect the ships from storm and enemy attack. Many of the French ports had been destroyed and/or booby trapped by the Germans. The disastrous British attack on Dieppe in 1942 rekindled the interest in the artificial floating harbours. Two were built for D Day. Mulberry A was constructed off Omaha Beach to supply US forces. Mulberry B was built off Gold Beach at Arromanches to supply British and Canadian troops. Mulberry A was destroyed in a storm a few days after it was built. Mulberry B was operational for some 10 months after the landings. In the 10 months after D Day Mulberry B was used to land over 2.5 million troops, 500,000 vehicles and 4 million tons of supplies. The harbour is credited by some historians with shortening the war by increasing the effectiveness of the allied supply chain during the invasion. The harbours were a huge feat of civil engineering. They were built hastily in the dry docks on The Thames and Clyde. They were pulled across the channel by tugs and assembled off the French coast. They were operational within 12 days of the landings. The archive also includes a war time letter from Louis Mountbatten from South East Asia Command Headquarters August 1945 writing to "thank you for your great kindness in presenting me with a painting of Mulberry. I was informed of this just before I left London recently but owing to the Japanese surrender I had to leave so quickly that I was unable to write at the time and thank you". There is also a signed letter from Winston Churchill dated 24th April 1945 thanking Colonel Steer-Webster for "the excellent coloured reproduction of Mulberry B which you have been good enough to have prepared for me" and "thanking you for the various models and relief map of the Mulberry which you have sent to my map room during the past months". There is a secret movement order to Steer-Webster and in reference to Juno Beach June 1944 and other wartime orders (see illustration).
Three Day Sale of Antiques & Fine Art
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 1-641
Lots: 642-1238
Lots: 1238-1944
Venue Address
The Furniture Hall
47 Station Road
Cockermouth
Cumbria
CA13 9PZ
United Kingdom
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
We understand it is not always possible to attend a sale or collect your winning lots in person so Mitchells offers a postage and packing service using Parcel Force, Royal Mail Special Delivery or Cumbria Xpress for larger items.
We will do our best to ensure your parcel is packed in such a way that it is as safe as possible for its journey (see Testimonials for examples of positive feedback on the quality of service we provide) however we are not professional packers or shippers and Mitchells will not be responsible for making any claim in the event of damage. We also reserve the right to respectfully decline to send items which we deem too fragile/too heavy/too big for postage. We remind customers that items cannot be insured due to the nature of our lots and courier terms and conditions.
- Please note that items are sent a minimum of a week following the sale and cannot be guaranteed for a specific delivery date.
- There is a minimum packing charge of £10
- We can pack items for your courier to collect subject to a packing charge
- We will always use a tracked/signed for despatch route Eg. Royal Mail Special Delivery / Parcel Force
- For larger items in the UK, we use Cumbria Xpress on a 2/3 day delivery service
Important Information
Buyers Premium 22% + VAT
Shipping:
We understand it is not always possible to attend a sale or collect your winning lots in person so Mitchells offers a postage and packing service using Parcel Force, Royal Mail Special Delivery or Cumbria Xpress for larger items.
We will do our best to ensure your parcel is packed in such a way that it is as safe as possible for its journey (see Testimonials for examples of positive feedback on the quality of service we provide) however we are not professional packers or shippers and Mitchells will not be responsible for making any claim in the event of damage.
We also reserve the right to respectfully decline to send items which we deem too fragile/too heavy/too big for postage. We remind customers that items cannot be insured due to the nature of our lots and courier terms and conditions.
• Please note that items are sent a minimum of a week following the sale and cannot be guaranteed for a specific delivery date.
• There is a minimum packing charge of £10
• We can pack items for your courier to collect subject to a packing charge
• We will always use a tracked/signed for despatch route Eg. Royal Mail Special Delivery / Parcel Force
• For larger items in the UK, we use Cumbria Xpress on a 2/3 day delivery service
Terms & Conditions
SOCIETY OF FINE ART AUCTIONEERS AND VALUERS and the ROYAL INSTITUTION OF CHARTERED SURVEYORS
CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS
November 2004
(1) INFORMATION FOR BUYERS
1. Introduction. The following informative notes are intended to assist Buyers, particularly those inexperienced or new to our salerooms. All sales are conducted on our printed Conditions of Sale which are readily available for inspection and normally accompany catalogues. Our staff will be happy to help you if there is anything you do not fully understand.
2. Agency. As auctioneers we usually contract as agents for the seller whose identity, for reasons of confidentiality, is not normally disclosed. Accordingly if you buy your primary contract is with the seller.
3. Estimates. Estimates are designed to help buyers gauge what sort of sum might be involved for the purchase of a particular lot. The lower estimate may represent the reserve price and certainly will not be below it. Estimates do not include the Buyer’s Premium or VAT (where chargeable). Estimates are prepared some time before the sale and may be altered by announcement before the sale. They are in no sense definitive.
4. Buyer's Premium. The Conditions of sale obliges buyers to pay a buyer’s premium of 22% + VAT.
Please note: Lots purchased online with ATG media will attract an additional charge for this service in the sum of 4.95% of the hammer price plus VAT at the rate imposed
5. VAT. (*) indicates that VAT is payable by the purchaser at the standard rate (presently 20%) on the hammer price as well as being an element in the buyer's premium. This imposition of VAT is likely to be because the seller is registered for VAT within the European Union and is not operating the Dealers Margin Scheme or because VAT is due at 20% on importation into the UK. The double symbol (**) indicates that the lot has been imported from outside the European Union and the present position is that these lots are liable to a reduced rate of VAT (5%) on the gross lot price (i.e. both the hammer price and the buyer's premium). Lots which appear without either of the above symbols indicate that no VAT is payable on the hammer price. This is because such lots are sold using the Auctioneers' Margin Scheme and it should be noted that the VAT included within the Premium is not recoverable as input tax.
6. Descriptions and Conditions. Condition reports are provided on this web site or upon request. The absence of a report does not imply that a lot is without imperfections. The detail in a report will reflect the estimated value of the lot, and large numbers of such requests received shortly before the sale may not receive a response to all lots. Members of staff are not trained restorers or conservators and, particularly for higher value lots, you should obtain an opinion from such a professional. We recommend that you always view a lot in person.
We are, primarily, agents for the seller. We are dependent on information provided by the seller and whilst we may inspect lots and act reasonably in taking a general view about them we are normally unable to carry out a detailed or any examination of lots in order to ascertain their condition in the way in which it would be wise for a buyer to do. Intending buyers have ample opportunity for inspection of goods and, therefore, accept responsibility for inspecting and investigating lots in which they may be interested. Please note carefully the exclusion of liability for the condition of lots contained in the Conditions of Sale.. Neither the seller nor we, as the auctioneers, accept any responsibility for their condition. In particular, mechanical objects of any age are not guaranteed to be in working order. However, in so far as we have examined the goods and make a representation about their condition, we shall be liable for any defect which that examination ought to have revealed to the auctioneer but which would not have been revealed to the buyer had the buyer examined the goods. Additionally, in specified circumstances lots misdescribed because they are 'deliberate forgeries' may be returned and repayment made. There is a 3 week time limit. (The expression 'deliberate forgery' is defined in our Conditions of Sale).
7. Electrical goods. These are sold as 'antiques' only and if bought for use must be checked over for compliance with safety regulations by a qualified electrician first.
8. Export of goods. Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain (a) whether an export licence is required and (b) whether there is any specific prohibition on importing goods of that character because, e.g. they may contain prohibited materials such as ivory. Ask us if you need help.
9. Bidding. Bidders may be required to register before the sale commences and lots will be invoiced to the name and address on the registration form. Some form of identification may be required if you are unknown to us. Please enquire in advance about our arrangements for telephone bidding.
10. Commission bidding. Commission bids may be left with the auctioneers indicating the maximum amount to be bid excluding buyers' premium. They will be executed as cheaply as possible having regard to the reserve (if any) and competing bids. If two buyers submit identical commission bids the auctioneers may prefer the first bid received. Please enquire in advance about our arrangements for the leaving of commission bids by telephone.
11. Methods of Payment. As a general rule any cheques tendered will need to be cleared before removal of the goods is permitted. Please discuss with our Office in advance of the sale if other methods of payment are envisaged.
12. Collection and storage. Please note what the Conditions of Sale state about collection and storage. It is important that goods are paid for and collected promptly. Any delay may involve the buyer in paying storage charges.
Please check the Mitchells website www.mitchellsantiques.co.uk or telephone the saleroom directly for more information regarding their Terms and Conditions of sale.
