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The 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of FootThe exploits of both Battalions of the 24th Foot during the Zulu War need little introduction. They are perhaps the most storied of all regiments to set foot in South Africa during 1877-79. Scores of worthy titles are recommended, with The Washing of the Spears perhaps a good place to start for one with a new-found enthusiasm.The Zulu War Medal awarded to Private J. M. Meredith, 1st Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, who was killed in action at the disastrous Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (293. Pte. J. Meredith. 1-24th. Foot.), rod perhaps tightened at some point, very fineJohn Henry Meredith was born at Rhosyoside, Ruabon, Denbighshire on 27 December 1854, son of Henry and Ann, his father being the local tailor. Young Meredith enlisted at Manchester, Lancashire on 17 June 1874, aged 19 years. He served with 'H' Company and was killed in action at Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879, with his effects, to include the Medal & clasp '1879' were claimed by his father.Both Battalions of the 24th participated in the campaign (each fielding six companies) with the 1st Battalion forming the principal element of Number Three Column, which was under the overall command of Colonel Richard Glyn of the 1st/24th: therefore Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pulleine was appointed to command in his stead.Upon crossing the Buffalo River on 11 January, the column (accompanied by the Commander-in-Chief, General the Lord Chelmsford) found itself pitching camp nine days' later at the base of a prominent feature - the hill at Isandlwana. Chelmsford, eager to bring the campaign to a swift conclusion, departed at dawn on 22 January with half the column's strength (some 2,800 men) leaving behind Pulleine with approximately 1,300 men - five companies of the 1st/24th, one company of the 2nd/24th, 700 men of the Natal Native Contingent, two 7-pdr artillery pieces and a rocket battery.Failing to take any defensive measures to secure the camp, Pulleine's force was subsequently surprised by a vast Zulu army totalling some 20,000 warriors which, by additionally using the terrain to their advantage, swept forward to the attack using their traditional 'Horns of the Buffalo' strategy - a central advance supported by encircling forces on both flanks. Pulleine deployed the 24th Foot some way in advance of the camp in an extended firing line, aiming to subdue the Zulus with superior firepower - the young Meredith must have been one of those men in the line; what he likely thought and felt at that moment defies description.For at least an hour, the British held the Zulu warriors at bay, inflicting significant casualties with their powerful Martini-Henry rifles and aided by support from the two 7-pdr guns from N/5 Battery Royal Artillery. However, as the mounted force (commanded by Colonel Anthony Durnford) began to withdraw in the face of mounting numbers of Zulus, this exposed the right flank of the British infantry firing-line; G Company (2nd/24th) was swiftly overrun and the remainder also began a withdrawal, loading and firing as they went, back towards the camp. However, by this point the Zulu encirclement of the position had almost been completed and the remains of the British force were left with no option but to either try to fight their way out or fight to the death - the result has subsequently been recorded as one of the most famous 'Last Stands' in British military history, immortalised in paintings, books, and the 1979 major motion picture 'Zulu Dawn' starring Peter O'Toole and Denholm Elliot amongst many other household names.Of the 1,800 men at Isandlwana over 1,300 of them were killed; the bodies of the slain were afterward buried in mass graves on the battlefield, their last resting places still marked to this day by white-painted stone cairns; Private Meredith is amongst them.In July 2001, DNW sold another Medal (bearing both initials but the incorrect '1878-8-9' clasp) to this man. This Medal was inspected by John Hayward in April 2006 and the assumption that a duplicate must have been made at some time. This Medal was considered entirely as issued.…

A 'Mesopotamia 1917' D.C.M. group of four to Private A. H. Price, North Staffordshire Regiment,Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8586 Pte A. H. Price. 7/N. Staff: R.); 1914-15 Star (11575 Pte A. H. Price. N. Staff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11575 Pte. A. H. Price. N. Staff. R.), mounted as worn, light contact marks and polishing, otherwise very fine (4)D.C.M. London Gazette 29 August 1917, the original recommendation states:'For conspicuous gallantry in action. Being the only man left of a gun team except the No.1, he kept the gun supplied with ammunition all day. He was the last to leave the enemy's trench, bringing back the gun and tripod.'Albert H. Price is noted upon his M.I.C. as entering the war at Gallipoli prior to 1 January 1916, serving with the 7th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment. This unit left Avonmouth on 19 June 1915 first landing in Alexandria before moving to Mudros.They landed on Cape Helles between 6-16 July 1915 to relieve the 29th Division, returning to Mudros at the end of July. The entire Division landed at ANZAC Cove between 3-5 August 1915 and were in action at the Battle of Sari Bair, Russell's Top and Hill 60. Soon afterwards they transferred from ANZAC to Suvla Bay, remaining there until the sector was evacuated on 19-20 December 1915. They moved to the Helles bridgehead having been rested for a week. They were then in action during the last Turkish attacks at Helles on 7 January 1916 and were evacuated between 8-9 January.The Division concentrated at Port Said, holding forward posts in the Suez Canal defences. Posted to Mesopotamia on 12 February 1916, they joined the force being assembled near Sheikh Sa'ad for the relief of the besieged garrison at Kut al Amara. Joining Tigris Corps on 27 March they were in action in the unsuccessful attempts to relieve Kut and the Battle of Kut al Amara. They saw further fighting at the capture of the Hai Salient, the capture of Dahra Bend and the Passage of the Diyala, in the pursuit of the enemy towards Baghdad.Units of the Division were the first troops to enter Baghdad when it fell on 11 March 1917; it was around this time that Price received his award. The Division then joined 'Marshall's Column' and pushed north across Iraq, fighting at Delli Abbas, Duqma, Nahr Kalis, crossing the Adhaim on 18 April and engaging again at Shatt al Adhaim. Later in the year they were twice action at Jabal Hamrin and at Tuz Khurmatli the following April. By 28 May 1918 the Divisional Headquarters had moved to Dawalib and remained there until the end of the war, enduring extreme summer temperatures. The 39th Brigade was detached and joined the North Persia Force in July 1918 which was in Transcaspia, Russia by October 1918.Sold together with a card mounted studio photograph of him in uniform with two other colleagues - his D.C.M. riband clearly visible - the photograph taken by a studio 'George' in Baku, the reverse of this marked in coloured pencil 'From Albert To Mrs E. Price, 80 Copland St, Stoke, Staff, England'; together with a further photograph of him with young recruits c.1922/24 wearing the mounted group sold here.…

The unusual and impressive 'Inter-War' K.C.V.O., 'County of London' K.B., 'Great War' C.B.E., O. St. J., Legion of Honour group of eight awarded to Sir C. B. Levita, Royal Horse Artillery, who earned a further 'mention' during the Boer War and commanded the Royal Horse Artillery detachment during the funeral of Queen Victoria, marching alongside the Royal coffinHis remarkable career was overshadowed when he was dragged into a slander case regarding the supposed haunting of the Dalby Farmhouse - a bizarre episode recently brought to film in Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose- Levita was successfully sued for expressing his forthright opinion about the supposed hauntingThe Royal Victorian Order, Knight Commander’s (K.C.V.O.) set of Insignia, comprising neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘K543’; breast Star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, with gold pin, the reverse officially numbered, ‘543’; Knight Bachelor’s Badge, 2nd Type breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1933, enamel damaged and gilding worn; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Commander’s (C.B.E.), 1st Type neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse contemporarily engraved 'Liet Colonel Cecil B. Levita 1919', with neck cravat in Garrard, London case of issue, which is lacking internal pad; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Commander’s neck Badge, silver and enamel, in fitted case of issue; British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, no clasp (Lieut. C. B. Levita, R.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (Major C. B. Levita, M.V.O., R.F.A.); Jubilee 1897, silver (Lieut. C. B. Levita, R.H.A.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Commander’s neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck cravat, minor contact marks and enamel damage, overall very fine (8)One of only 2 B.S.A.C. medals for Rhodesia issued to the Royal Artillery.K.C.V.O. London Gazette 1 January 1932.K.B. London Gazette 1 March 1929.C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.O. St. J. London Gazette 24 June 1930.Cecil Bingham Levita was born in Manchester on 18 January 1867, the son of Emile and Catherine Levita. He came from a prestigious family of Jewish bankers and scholars related to Elijah Levita, author of Bovo-Bukh. Levita's father was a German-born Banker who emigrated to Manchester whose remarkable career saw him become Director of The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, later the Standard Chartered Bank. His mother was the relative of Admiral James Plumridge and was herself a member of the Ree family, a Danish-Jewish family who had created an important shipping business in Denmark.Service in Africa and Queen Victoria's FuneralThe young Levita studied at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and was commissioned Lieutenant on 24 July 1886. Serving in the Matabele conflict in 1896 with that rank, he was one of only two members of the Royal Artillery to be entitled to the Rhodesia 1896 reverse medal for that war.Levita was later appointed to the Staff of Lieutenant-General Sir Baker Russell as an Aide-de-Camp and Special Service Officer. In this position he was part of the Relief of Ladysmith, including action at Colenso, the operations of 17-24 January 1900, and engagement at Spion Kop, as well as the actions of 5-7 February 1900, the engagement at Vaal Krantz, fighting on the Tugela Heights, and the action at Pieter's Hill. Levita was appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for the 5th Division, Natal Field Force and was 'mentioned' for his work in this role (London Gazette 8 February 1901 refers).Promoted to Captain on 1 November 1900 and given command of 'N' Battery Royal Horse Artillery, he was an officer commanding the Royal Horse Artillery at the funeral of Queen Victoria. We know the details of this last service due to a letter he wrote to The Times in 1936. Levita mentions posting his battery to the Long Walk for the 81-gun salute and preparing the carriage for the procession, however a disaster occurred at the final moment, his states:'When the Royal coffin, weighing about 9cwt., had been placed on the carriage, drums began muffled rolls, which reverberated under the station roof, and the cortege started. Actually, when the horses took the weight, the eyelet hole on the splinter bar, to which the off-wheel trace was hooked, broke. The point of the trace struck the wheeler with some violence inside the hock, and naturally the horse plunged. A very short time would have been required to improvise an attachment to the gun-carriage. However, when the wheelers were unhooked the naval detachment promptly and gallantly seized drag ropes and started off with the load. The "gun-carriage" had been specially provided from Woolwich and was fitted with rubber tyres and other gadgets. This was due to Queen Victoria's instructions after seeing a veritable gun-carriage in use at the Duke of Albany's funeral, as also was the prohibition of the use of black horses. On February 4, in compliance with the command of King Edward, I conveyed the royal coffin, on another carriage, from Windsor to the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore by means of the same detachment of men and horses. I may add that a few days later King Edward told me that no blame for the contretemps attached to the Royal Horse Artillery by reason of the faulty material that had been supplied to them.'The Great WarAppointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order for his service during the funeral Levita was further promoted Major on 5 January 1902. He remained in service for some time but retired in October 1909, standing for Parliament the next year for St. Ives, Cornwall in 1910 but was unsuccessful. The next year, however, he was successfully elected to the London County Council as a Municipal Reformer, later returning to military service with the Reserve of Officers on the outbreak of the Great War. Appointed an embarkation officer in 1914 he was later transferred to become General Staff Officer Grade III on 22 February 1915.Levita was advanced G.S.O. Grade II on 22 September 1915 and the next month Grade I on 22 October. Promoted Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 March 1917, his M.I.C. makes no note of any medals being issued for this service. However, it does state that he was serving at 'Port: No 1 Southampton'. After the end of the war Levita was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire as a reward for his services.Politics, Libel and a Talking MongooseLevita once again returned to politics, being appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the County of London and a J.P. in 1924, a role he would hold for some years. Later sitting as chairman on the housing committee and later as chairman of the London County Council from 1928-1929, his appointment as a Knight Batchelor derived from this role. The award of the French Legion of Honour also followed in 1929. One of his main areas of interest was the idea of film being used for educational uses, he was also the driving force behind the foundation of the King George Hospital, Ilford, this last being the reason for his advancement to the K.C.V.O.His interest in film proved to be his downfall however due to a forthright statement made in 1936 about Richard Stanton Lambert, who was working alongside Levita's wife in the British Film Institute. Lambert was the founding editor of The Listener, published by the B.B.C. and an influential man in the world of British broadcasting. Over a lunch with the Assistant Controller of Programmes at th…

A very fine Korean War M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal A. Talbot, 1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light InfantryA Regular soldier who shared in 'every action' in which his unit shared - including Operation 'Commando' in October 1951 - he won his M.M. for his gallantry during a fighting patrol when his Officer was severely wounded in the act of destroying an enemy bunker; Talbot sprung to action and assumed command of the Cover Party, saving the life of the stricken Subaltern by dressing his wounds and bringing down effective artillery fire to allow their coming out under a heavy hail of fire - he would go up to Buckingham Palace in March 1953 to receive his M.M. from the hands of The QueenMilitary Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (19043240 A. Cpl. A. Talbot. K.S.L.I.), minor official correction to surname; Korea 1950-53 (19043240 Cpl. A. Talbot. K.S.L.I.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, good very fine (3)M.M. London Gazette 10 October 1952. The original recommendation - from Lieutenant-Colonel Barlow D.S.O., O.B.E., CO 1KSLI and dated 6 June 1952 - states:'Cpl Talbot has been a Rifle Section Commander in "B" Company 1 KSLI for the past thirteen months.Throughout this period he has demonstrated the highest qualities of a junior NCO. Loyal, sturdy in action, and determined to carry out his orders, he has participated in every action in which the Battalion has been involved.In particular on the night of the 29th January, Cpl Talbot was second in command of a fighting patrol, which was ordered to destroy an enemy occupied bunker.The bunker was located approximately 1,200 yards from the Company position. The patrol commander, 2/Lt Whybrow, dropped off a covering party 200 yards from his objective. Cpl Talbot was left in command of the covering party, consisting of himself, a wireless operator, and a bren group. On entering the bunker, 2/Lt Whybrow was seriously wounded and he ordered his patrol to leave him and return to the Company positions. Cpl Talbot then took command of the patrol and acted with great coolness. He passed an accurate account of the situation to Company HQ, which enabled artillery fire to be brought down to cover the withdrawal of the patrol. He then proceeded forward to the objective and moved 2/Lt Whybrow into dead ground, where he dressed his wounds and stopped him bleeding. He then ordered the party, carrying 2/Lt Whybrow back across no mans land, to the foot of the Company position. He moved his party back by bounds and kept Company HQ informed of his movements thus enabling artillery fire to be placed. This undoubtedly stopped the enemy from following up the patrol. 2/Lt Whybrow's life was saved and further casualties were inflicted on this patrol.This young NCO has over a long period commanded his section with skill and bravery and his devotion to duty merits recognition.'Alfred Talbot was born in November 1922 and was a native of East Garforth, near Leeds, West Yorkshire. Having been exempted from service during the Second World War as he was a farm labourer at Manor Farm, Garforth, he joined the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry as a Regular in 1947. He was transferred to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry at Hong Kong for the Korean War. The Battalion was then sent to Korea on 13 May to take over from the Middlesex Regiment.Operation CommandoThe object was for the K.O.S.B. to capture Point 355, with the K.S.L.I. supporting the left flank, with Centurion tanks from A Squadron, 8 Hussars being available as and when required. Early on 3 October 1951, D Company attacked and occupied Point 208. B Company - with Talbot to the fore - then passed through to occupy the next hill, incurring six wounded. C Company pushed through and attacked a spur; supported by fire from B Company they captured the position with two killed and seven more wounded.These positions were consolidated and held overnight. As dawn broke on 4 October, D Company went forward with tanks following on behind. The Company was to attack Point 210. As they moved forward they came under sustained fire from a heavy Chinese Machine Gun (M.G.). A Bren was sent to a suitable feature and engage the M.G., with the words "go and find it and get rid of it." With four magazines in his pouches, Lance-Corporal Norton (who won an M.M.) set off on the right flank looking for the enemy position. As he was getting into cover he was wounded by a ricochet in his left thigh. Ignoring his wound he engaged the M.G. and successfully knocked it out; it was later found to have been manned by three Chinese. This gun is now on display at the K.S.L.I. Museum. Whybrow noted the part he and Talbot would have played:''D' Company passed through with tank support and Andrew and I tackled the twin features comprising Pt 210. A bayonet charge in true story book style resulted in 10 Chinese dead and 12 Prisoners. Three of my chaps were hit. Platoon displayed guts and determination.'The following months saw the unit throw off numerous 'human wave' attacks from the enemy in order to hold their ground. It was to be that 'Hill 227' was added to the Battle Honours, much like 'Hill 355 ' for the K.O.S.B.Fighting patrol - M.M.The events which saw Talbot take his M.M., along with Whybrow losing his leg below the knee - and an M.C. for his troubles - are well described in the official citation. However, Dawney Bancroft wrote to the family of Whybrow after the events:'Pte Tearney was the man who endeavoured to cover John into the bunker. The entrance being so narrow this proved impossible. When John was hit, he pulled him out and threw him clear of further bullets. Tearney then sent [one of the brew-up group] to Cpl. Talbot, who was covering them with a machine gun [Bren at Bd. 3].Pte Bennett, the wireless operator, then got straight on to me and gave me exact details of the situation. His coolness and prompt action enabled me to take charge and cover the patrol back by boxing off the area with fire from various weapons.This probably prevented the enemy from following up. Cpl Talbot took charge of the withdrawal, which he did magnificently. Once they got him [John] into dead ground, he placed first field dressings on his wounds, which stopped the flow of blood and then wasted no time in getting him back to me. I couldn't have wished fora better conducted withdrawal. They worked as a first class patrol should do.Most praise must go to Cpl Talbot, and to Ptes Bennet and Teamey. (...) You will be glad to hear that John's old platoon hit back [later] with good measure to the score of 7-0. It has done their morale an enormous lot of good as they were a sad-faced lot for some days after John left.'Talbot would sail home in September 1952 and was to be re-united with Whybrow in March 1953 in order to be presented his richly-deserved G.VI.R. M.M. from the hands of The Queen at Buckingham Palace. It is fitting it bears his effigy, having been earned on 29 January 1952, just a few days before the passing of King George VI at Sandringham on 6 February 1952.Talbot was married for the first time at Garforth in August 1953. He died, having re-married, in Lincolnshire in January 1997; sold together with copied research, newspaper cuttings including portrait photograph and John Whybrow's Korea 1951-52 - Some personal impressions.…

The 'Spanish Flu 1919' O.B.E., 'Egypt' M.C. group of five awarded to Major W. F. T. Haultain, Royal Army Medical Corps, attached 29th Lancers, a graduate of Cambridge University's Officers' Training Corps, who was further 'mentioned' by General Allenby for his serviceHe went on to serve as the Zone Medical Officer with the Edinburgh Home GuardThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st Type, Officer's (O.B.E.) Badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. W. F. T. Haultain.), with M.I.D. oak leaves; Defence Medal 1939-45, minor contact wear, overall very fine (5)O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919:'… for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt.'M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919:'… for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt.'M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919.William Francis Theodore Haultain was born at Edinburgh on 14 January 1893, the son of Francis W. N. Haultain, a well-known obstetrician and gynaecologist. The younger Haultain studied at Edinburgh Academy before joining Caius College, Cambridge and graduated with a B.A. in 1914.He joined the Red Cross as a Dresser in August 1914 and worked with the 2nd Scottish General Hospital until April 1915 when he returned to Edinburgh to study as a Surgeon. He graduated M.B., B. Chir. in 1916, qualifying as a Surgeon. Commissioned Lieutenant from the Cambridge University Officer Training Corps on 5 August 1916 he entered the war in France on 25 August 1916.Haultain was attached to 29th Lancers as Medical Officer, at the time the unit was serving in the trenches as Infantry. They were transferred back into their more traditional role in Palestine in February 1918 where they were in action at the Battle of Magiddo. After the war he was posted to the 31st C.C.H. with the acting rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. His service papers note that he was granted specialist pay whilst a 'Surgical Specialist at 31 C.C.H.'His obituary in the International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology states:'He was awarded the M.C. later the Battle of Cambrai in 1918 and a Mention in Lord Allenby's despatches and the O.B.E. followed the excellent work he did in 1919 during the malaria-influenza epidemic in Palestine.'Going on to work at Aberdeen University he was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1922, joining 2nd Highland Field Ambulance as Major during the 1921 strike. Haultain was further noted as serving as Major with the City of Edinburgh Battalion, Home Guard as Zone Medical Officer.In his professional career he was the author of Ante Natal Care and Handbook of Midwifery and Gynaecology and was a lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology to the School of Medicine of the Edinburgh Royal Colleges. After this he became a founder member of the College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a Fellow of that College as well as the College of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1945. Haultain retired in 1958, his obituary in the International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology reads:'In everything Haultain did there was an expression of his genuine love for and interest in his fellow men. His delight was to help, be the need great or small and the needy young or old, rich or poor. His thoughtfulness, his understanding and his unobtrusive personal contribution to the smoothing and brightening of many a path for student, colleague and friend were characteristic of his kindliness and generosity. Many will miss but remember with gratitude, this kind man.'…

The rare 'H.M.Y. Helga, Irish Sea 1918' D.S.M. group of six awarded to Leading Deck Hand E. E. Duff, Royal Navy and Merchant Fleet Auxiliary, who was in charge of Helga's gun when she was credited with sinking a German submarineDespite her Irish heritage, Helga was commandeered by the Admiralty in March 1915 and later used by the Royal Navy to shell Liberty Hall in Dublin from the River Liffey with her pair of 12-pounder naval guns during the Easter Rising of 1916Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (Ldg. Dk. Hd. E. E. Duff, (A.P.) H.M.Y. Helga. Irish Sea 4. Apl 1918); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (210674. E.E. Duff, Lg. Sea. H.M.S. Highflyer.); 1914-15 Star (E.E. Duff, A.B. M.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (E.E. Duff. D.H. M.F.A.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (Ernest. E. Duff), good very fine (6)D.S.M. London Gazette 29 November 1918, the original citation states:'HMY Helga attack on enemy Irish Sea 4 April 1918. In charge of gun when HMY Helga sank an enemy submarine.'Ernest Edwin Duff was born at Deal, Kent on 12 April 1885. A telegraph boy, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 12 April 1903. A succession of shore and sea-based appointments followed and on 21 February 1911 he was drafted to Highflyer, serving aboard her until 29 May 1913. Later that same year he was invalided from the service with myopia on 9 October.Duff married Kathleen Power in Dublin in September 1916 and despite his disability enrolled in the Merchant Fleet Auxiliary, joining H.M.Y. Helga for service during the Great War.1916 Easter UprisingChris Shouldice takes up the story in his online article 'The Captain's Table':'HMY Helga is infamously known for its role in shelling Dublin during the 1916 Rising but before she was pressed into war service, she had a far more benign profession as a protection cruiser and research vessel for the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. Built in the Liffey Dockyard in Dublin in 1908 and originally named the Helga II, her purpose was to engage in fishery patrols, monitoring the coast for any illegal fishing activity. She was also equipped with a laboratory for marine research and took part in research projects like the survey of Clare Island in 1909.As the British found themselves in an unexpectedly lengthening war in Europe, she was taken over by the Admiralty in 1915 for military purposes as an armed auxiliary patrol yacht. She was renamed the HMY Helga and served as an anti-submarine patrol vessel and an armed escort.It was however in Ireland during the 1916 Rising that the Helga's most notable acts occurred. The Helga was summoned by British forces to the capital to use artillery to root out Irish Volunteers. On the 26th of April 1916, positioned on the Liffey, she raised her 12-pound artillery guns over the Loop Line railway bridge and fired at her first target Liberty Hall, the headquarters of the Citizen Army. Her shots were less than accurate, and her shells destroyed much of the surrounding buildings and beyond. She also targeted the GPO and Bolland Mills which Eamon De Valera had occupied.1918 rescuing survivors from R.M.S. Leinster.In 1918, she successful sank a German U-Boat Submarine off the coast of the Isle of Man. This was the Helga's first and sole confirmed sinking during the war. However, the presence of U-boats continued to be a real threat to the merchant and passenger vessels in the Irish Sea.In 1917, the Germans began placing their U-boats in the Approaches, the name given to the region near the entrance and exit to the Irish Sea. This was an attempt to stifle the British attempts at Trans-Atlantic trade. The RMS Leinster was typical of their targets, a passenger ship which, along with three other sister ships, made daily crossings from Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) to Holyhead. Known for its exceptional speed, the RMS Leinster held a place of pride in Irish eyes, as it was seen to be their representative in the commercial competition over the Irish Sea. The Leinster along with its sister ships, had won the tender for the Royal Mail delivery from Ireland to the British mainland. While it provided valuable employment to the people of Kingstown and Holyhead in Wales, the requirements of this contract were strict. There was a stipulation that the post collected in Dublin had to be delivered to the mainland the following day. This meant that the RMS Leinster ran daily, and on-time no matter the circumstances.On the morning of the 9th of October (1918), the RMS Leinster set out from Dun Laoghaire, filled to capacity, for what was to be its final voyage. Despite the U-boat warnings, that morning was no different, the war had been in action for four years, and the crossings were routinely unprotected. Furthermore, the level of censorship which the British government exercised over the press meant that many civilians were largely unaware of the danger that awaited them. Lurking under the waters off Kish Island was U-boat 123, which had already sunk two boats since it left Germany days earlier. At 09:45, the first torpedo was fired, shooting past the brow of the Leinster. The second was a direct hit, and a third torpedo sunk the entire vessel.Coaling, or refuelling, that same morning in Dublin was HMY Helga, the same ship which had been shelling the city two and a half years earlier. That day however, the Helga succeeded in being first on the scene of the Leinster sinking, and managed reach it just in time to rescue approximately 90 passengers, though there is some confusion as to the exact number. These passengers were not returned to Kingstown but disembarked in Wales. Due the controls on wartime press, the British government were keen to keep any such disasters out of the public eye'.Duff died on 11 November 1935 at Dover, at the time he was employed on the Trinity House Pilot Cutter, S.S. Prudence. (The Dover Express of 22 November 1935 refers).Sold together with his silver wound badge, this numbered B158828, a copy photo of Helga, a postcard of Highflyer, copy of Helga's ships log from the National Maritime Museum for 4-5 April 1918 and a copy of Irish Naval service.…

'It is always good to know some of us survived the War, it is a long time now but looking back we were very fortunate to get into Oosterbeek at all! And then to live to tell the tale is remarkable, many of our fellow Glider Pilots didn't survive that 10 days of chaos. How you managed to get over the Rhine at the evacuation is a marvel.'So wrote Sergeant Thomas, 2nd Pilot, to Sergeant Cawthray.The well-documented Battle of Arnhem campaign group awarded to Sergeant Pilot G. Cawthray, 23 Flight, 'G' Squadron, Glider Pilot RegimentA pre-War professional cricketer who turned out for Yorkshire, Cawthray successfully went into action on Op Mallard - 6 June 1944, D-Day - and Op Market Garden, the Battle of Arnhem, sharing fully in the action over those famous days1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (4)George Cawthray was born on 28 September 1913 at Selby, Yorkshire and from a young age excelled as a cricketer, in perhaps the most important county for that game in England. Such was his skill that Cawthray shone for Brayton School, Hull Cricket Club and eventually the Second & First XI for the 'White Rose' County.With the outbreak of the Second World War however, he joined the Glider Pilot Regiment (No. 4695914) and became a Sergeant Pilot, going through 21 EFTS during 1943 and having some 178hrs 25mins on his Flying Log Book by early May 1944 and having taken his 'Wings'.Op MallardSo it was that on 6 June 1944, flying with 23 Flight, 'G' Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment he clocked up 2hrs of Night Flying in PW661, landing near Zetten, with Sergeant Thomas as 2nd Pilot, taking in a jeep & trailer and two motorcycles for the 1st Parachute Brigade, on D-Day itself. Little more need be said of the importance of the work of this embryonic unit on that fateful day. Cawthray was also called on as 2nd Pilot of Stirling 'B' on 26 August for an Op to France to assist the Special Operations Executive. He logged 6hrs 55mins and landed back at Harwell the next day.Op Market GardenThe unit were of course to be kept plenty busy in September 1944, Cawthray went in with Sergeant Thomas again, taking Horsa PW656 on 18 September for their fateful three hour flight by day. Cawthray got them down and then shared in the epic events that followed. His name features in the diary of Lieutenant Mike Dauncey:'18 September -S/Sgt. Cawthray of our Sqdn arrived in great form - he had landed south of the Rhine and got his party with jeep over by the ferry - a good show.Spent a shocking night hiding in our trenches on the banks of the Rhine waiting for an attack which did not materialise. Extremely cold. Had difficulty in keeping chaps awake as we were not to move about.'He gives a good flavour of what Cawthray would have shared in on 25 September:'Things started fairly early Monday morning, particularly on our left. The old tigers started coming down the road once more and I thought that if they did not have a little opposition they would go right through, so with one paratroop I took THE gammon bomb and set off through the gardens a little up the road andsettled down to wait for them at the side of a house by the road. We could hear them too clearly though they were moving very cautiously and obviously had plenty of ammunition. After a few minutes the chap with me belted off, so my local protection wasn’t too good. Eventually the tank crept into view and I waited until it was exactly level with me and ran forward and let fly with the bomb.The result was disappointing. The fuze was quite a long one so I wondered if it would work however eventually after a long pause, there was a loud explosion and lots of dust but when it had all settled down the tiger looked very much the same as before. As I only had a pistol there wasn't much future in staying put so I made my way back to my house which had been evacuated. A little further down the road there was a sort of barn complete with outhouses etc. where there were about 4 chaps rather wondering what to do We arranged a little ambush around here (after a little hand grenade duel) as of course they were quite close. I was told that they had broken through on the other side of the road and indeed this wasthe case and we had a slogging match across the street using the Bren and pistols.Just then someone shouted "Look out here they come" and two chaps darted off. However luckily it wasn’t true. However I was then shot through the thigh. The two other chaps with me one of them wounded in the face were very good. We all got down one man looking out for the jerries and the other helped me to dress my leg. We had just done that and were deciding on the next step when something came over the corner of the outhouse and landed about 3 feet away. I turned to see what it was and the grenade exploded immediately in my face. The two paraboys were excellent and put a shell dressing over my mouth. I could think clearly but felt very weak. The two chaps then helped me to the RAP which unfortunately wasso full that I couldn’t get inside. I was left outside by the side of a dead manwhere I stayed for some time until awakened by the rain when I managed to pull the dead man’s blanket partly over myself. I couldn’t get to that house though and stayed there until someone came outside and I managed to attract his attention.The MO had been hit and it was impossible for the orderly and Padre to do anything as there must have been at least 300 chaps there. The drill was get a blanket, find a spot to lie down and a cup of char (tea) but unfortunately this came out again through the hole in my chin which I have since heard from other people was a most amazing sight. The padre then did a very good thing - I don’t know the time but fighting was going on all around with the tigers knocking all the houses for six as usual and he went outside with the Red Cross flag and told the tank commander the situation with the result that we were left alone.'Cawthray was lucky not to go 'in the bag', as recalled in a letter by Sergeant Thomas:'...It is always good to know some of us survived the War, it is a long time now but looking back we were very fortunate to get into Oosterbeek at all! And then to live to tell the tale is remarkable, many of our fellow Glider Pilots didn't survive that 10 days of chaos. How you managed to get over the Rhine at the evacuation is a marvel.'The Log Book confirms his flight from Brussels to Northolt on 29 September as 2nd Pilot on Dakota DK866, no doubt glad to have a break from the controls. Cawthray then transferred out to India.25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:A newspaper report in the Sunday Mirror of 17 December 1944 gives moving details on how Cawthray swam the Rhine out of Arnhem, carrying a letter for his good friend, Sergeant Pilot Stanley Lewis, which he carried home to his wife and children to let them know he was thinking of them. Cawthray stated: "I am very lucky to be alive myself, having had my nose and both lips shot away, as well as bullet wounds in the head. Once again, please don't worry about Stanley - he's being well cared for."

The 'Trench Raid' 1916 M.M. group of five awarded to Private C. Murray, 19th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, a Gallipoli veteranWounded in the neck during the second attempt on the Maze trench in November 1916, he survived and went on to become a famous artist in AustraliaMilitary Medal, G.V.R. (1073 Pte. C. Murray. 19/Aust:Inf:Bn:); 1914-15 Star (1073 Pte C. Murray. 19/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (1073 Pte C. Murray. 19 Bn. A.I.F.); Gallipoli Star 1914-15, marked to the reverse 'Collector's Item' and thus an unofficial award, light pitting and contact wear overall, very fine (5)M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1916, the original recommendation states:'For conspicuous bravery during period 25/28 July, 1916. During 48 hours intense bombardment of Pozieres, Pte Murray displayed great gallantry and ability in attending to wounded and carrying them in by night and day. For him to do this it was necessary from him to move outside the front line on the parados and also to bring his wounded men across open ground. He carried out his work with the utmost coolness under shell fire'Originally recommended for the D.C.M.Christopher William Murray was born at Geelong, Victoria on 8 September 1885, the son of John and Jane Murray, both native of Ireland. The young Murray's parents both died before he was ten leaving himself and his older brother as orphans. Made a ward of a state as a result he was placed at St. Augustine's Orphanage in Geelong where he learned the trade of boot making. He was also a member of the famous St. Augustine's band, discovering a love for music and art which would remain with him for the rest of his life. He studied art firstly at Geelong before joining the Melbourne Art Gallery and finally the Slade School of Art in London.Enlisting on 28 May 1915 in New South Wales, Murray stated his trade as 'Artist' and was initially posted to 7/1st Battalion, A.I.F. However Murray's musical flare came to the fore and he applied to join the Band of 'C' Company, 19th Battalion. Joining them on 15 June 1915 he embarked upon the Ceramic and travelled to Egypt before entering the war at Gallipoli on 21 August 1915.On the first day in the field the Battalion entered the Battle of Hill 60, they were later also engaged at Pope's Hill. 19th Battalion finally withdrew during the evacuation in January 1916 and returned to Egypt for a turn on the Suez Canal Defences. Once they had re-organised, they proceeded to France on 18 March 1916.Not long after they arrived in France Murray was one of a small group who volunteered to undertake a trench raid near Pozieres where they would shortly go into action in the Battle of the Somme. Just 6 officers and 65 other ranks took part, the raid was considered extremely dangerous and in recognition of their gallantry in undertaking it each man who took part had a note of recognition made in their service papers.It was during the Battle of Pozieres the following month that Murray was to earn his laurels. However, his luck ran out and he was seriously wounded by a gunshot in the neck near Guedecourt, North Flers on 5 November 1916. At the time the Battalion was engaged in a major attack against the Maze feature, and he was successfully recovered from the battlefield and taken to hospital.The severity of the wound required some years of recuperation after which Murray was detached to No. 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 17 February 1918. He remained serving there until the end of the war, not long after his detachment he was granted leave to study figure painting at the Slade School of Art in London. Murray returned to Australia on 22 August 1919 and was discharged on 7 December 1919, becoming a well-known artist in Australia as stated in his obituary, written on 2 January 1959:"He was a painter known to the Melbourne Art Club, and praised by some critics, as 'artist's artist'. He was a musician who built himself a "cello" of Australian wood and he was a bootmaker. Born at Geelong 73 years ago, he became an orphan early in life. At the orphanage he learned the trade of boatmaking, and was a member of the famous St. Augustine's band which, under the direction of the well-known band leader, travelled all over Australia. He studied painting at Geelong, the Melbourne Art Gallery and the Slade School of Art in London.He served in the 1st world war as a stretcher bearer, and won the Military Medal for gallantry in the trenches of France. After the war he made his living as a musician. He loved to work with his hands and occupied the last years of his life making the thousands of bricks of his home and studio at Emerald."Murray died at Emerald, Queensland in January 1959; sold together with copied research.…

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (W. Cook, 20th Foot.), traces of lacquer, very fine, mounted as wornProvenance:Glendining's, September 1987.William Cook was born at Totham, Essex circa 1785 and was a labourer also serving in the West Essex Militia upon his enlisting in the 20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot (Lancashire Fusiliers) at Haslar under a bounty of £5-5-3; a vast sum in that period. At that time he was described as having dark eyes, dark hair and a 'brown' complexion, perhaps being of West Indian heritage whose parents had made it to England.Cook was wounded by gunshot at Orthes. A fine account is offered by Colonel John Hogge, K.H., who commanded the Light Company:'I embrace the first moment I had to spare since the battle of the 27th to let you know I have again escaped one of the most murderous battles that ever I believe the old 20th witnessed. I had three most wonderful escapes, three balls struck me, one entering the glass you bought me in London, when in the act of looking at the troops opposed to us, the ball still remains in but has entirely destroyed the glass. Another entered my jacket near the right breast, was turned by striking a button, passed along my waistcoat, came out and badly wounded a man of my company. A grape shot struck the top of my shoulder, carried away the bugle and most of my right wing but did no other injury except a slight bruise. You will say my dear brother I am a fortunate fellow, I think to myself, for I believe no man ever had narrower escapes, the jacket and spyglass I shall preserve and one day I hope to show you them. I shall now begin to relate what passed on that eventful day confining myself to that part of the tragedy our Brigade acted.The Light Companies of the 23rd, 7th, 20th, and a company of Rifles were in advance about 2 miles, when we came in contact with the advance post of the enemy, we immediately engaged them and drove them about a mile into a village where they had posted, unbeknown to us, a number of men in every part. We attacked it three times but did not succeed, soon after two companies of the 7th reinforced us and we quickly drove them out, took possession and retained it till the Brigade came up, we lost in this affair two Captains and about 60 men out of the light companies of the Brigade, eleven of my company were killed and wounded. It was here I had two escapes. We were then ordered to join our Regts. I found mine just in rear of the village.Soon after an order came to us to advance and support our Portuguese Brigade, as they had just given way about half a mile in front of us. The great bone of contention was a small town [St Böes] and a range of hills just in the van of it, upon which a strong column of French were posted with 6 pieces of Artillery. The main road ran directly through the town, and the heights and all the Artillery commanded it, we fixed bayonets and there the bloody scene commenced. I passed the Portuguese and actually carried the town under a most dreadful fire of grape shot and musquetry, that ever a regiment was exposed to, out of 291, all we had, 126 men and nine officers were killed and wounded. We had two other officers wounded but they were not returned so, being slightly hit. The enemy attempted again to take it from us, they got into the town but we managed to drive them out again. They carried away about 25 of our men and Captain Tovey, they surrounded them. The 7th Division soon came up and the French retreated in all directions. We followed till darkness put an end to the contest.Genl. Moss was wounded but not badly before we took the town. Major Bent who nobly commanded us had first his horse shot and was immediately afterwards killed himself. Three balls entered him. One Captain killed and three badly wounded. Capt Russell commands what few of us are left, he certainly gets the Brevet. Col Ellis, who commands the Brigade, rode into the town after we had taken it and declared that there never was a more gallant thing done by any Regt, and his Lordship sent in soon after to know what Regt it was that had taken the town. It is certain that they had in it double our numbers, posted so as to rake every part of the road leading through the town. Had we not succeeded we should have been cut to atoms, the only chance we had was to charge through it instantly, and after driving them out get under cover of the houses. It was impossible for our men to have stood it for five minutes longer, the grape from the Artillery on the hills cut us down by the dozens at a time. I got off most fortunately with the loss only of a strap. We mustered on parade next day only 144 men and nine officers. Soult may now say he annihilated us.’Cook was in fair shape to share in the action at Toulouse and was discharged on 31 January 1816. …

The 1944 D.F.C. group of four awarded to Flight Lieutenant L. C. Ainsley, Royal Air Force, who ploughed on through heavy flak despite taking a total of four hits and successfully bombed the target: making it back to Britain he crash landed without any casualties and little damage to the aircraftDistinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated '1944'; 1939-45 Star (P/O L. C. Ainsley R.A.F.); France and Germany Star (F/O L. C. Ainsley No. 51. Sqd. R.A.F.; War Medal 1939-45 (F/O. L. C. Ainsley. D.F.C. R.AF.), all campaign awards privately in the same style, mounted court style as worn, sold together with a Buckingham Palace slip of issue named to the recipient and a related telegram, good very fine (4)D.F.C. London Gazette 31 October 1944, the original citation states:'This officer is a most competent pilot and a first-class captain of aircraft. One night in September 1944, he was detailed for an attack on a synthetic oil plant at Nordstefn. When nearing the target area the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and the starboard inner engine was rendered unserviceable. Shortly afterwards the aircraft was hit in the port aileron; making it difficult to steer correctly. In spite of this, Flying Officer Ainsley continued to the target and bombed it. On the turn for home the bomber was hit once more. The port engine was affected and the hydraulic system was put out of action. After crossing the-English coast the defective port engine became useless. Flight Lieutenant Ainsley thereupon headed for the nearest airfield where he made a safe landing with the undercarriage retracted. This officer set a fine example of skill, courage and tenacity.'Lawrence Cuthbert Ainsley enlisted with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 19 June 1941 and was commissioned Pilot Officer with the General Branch on 21 April 1944. Initially posted to No. 41 base, Marston Moor, Yorkshire on 21 April he later joined No. 51 Squadron on 30 July. His first raid as a Captain of Aircraft occurred on 3 August 1944 in a Halifax III over Bors-de Cassan.Three further raids that month saw good results and Ainsley was present for an attack over Le Havre on 10 September. It was for the raid the next day, 11 September 1944, that he was awarded the D.F.C, the Squadron Record book provides details for that day stating:'This aircraft sustained flak damage over the target, causing on [SIC] engine to be feathered. On arriving over this country another engine had to be feathered, and the aircraft was landed safely away from base on two engines. No members of the crew were injured. The aircraft landed away from base.'The initial recommendation for the award expands upon this, stating:'On 11th September 1944 this officer was the captain of an aircraft detailed to attack the synthetic oil plant at Nordstorn. When about fifteen miles distant from the target and at 18,000 feet, his aircraft was hit by heavy flak which rendered the starboard inner engine unserviceable, but he continued one his course and shortly afterwards the aircraft was hit again, causing damage to the port aileron and making it difficult to handle. Flying Officer Ainsley still continued on his course, however, and although he was hit yet again and had lost height to 14,000 feet, he pressed home his attack and bombed the target. Then as he was turning away and was about to leave the defended area, the aircraft was hit by a fourth burst. This time the wireless operator was slightly wounded in the head, the hydraulics were hit and the port inner engine was destroyed.After clearing the Ruhr defences he set course for Woodbridge, but on crossing the English coast the port inner engine finally stopped and a crash landing had to be made at the nearest aerodrome. Without hydraulics to operate the undercarriage and flaps, he landed the aircraft without appreciable damage or any injury to the crew.Flying Officer Ainsley's devotion to duty in continuing to bomb the target in spite of serious damage to his aircraft and in the face of intense flak, and his skill in bringing his aircraft back and landing it without more serious consequences, deserves the highest praise and his courage and determination are an example to all.Flying Officer Ainsley had now carried out nine sorties against the enemy, and has proved himself to be a most competent pilot and a good captain and leader. He is recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.'The station Commander commanding R.A.F. Snaith added his own recommendation stating:'This officer undoubtedly showed courage and determination in pressing home his attack in the face of what appears to have been very accurate predicted flak, and a high degree of skill in bringing home his badly-damaged aircraft back to this country and landing it with so little damage and without injury to his crew.He also displayed great coolness and presence of mind, and proved himself to be an excellent operational captain. He is strongly recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.'This is back up by an exciting account in the Sunday Sun (Newcastle) on 29 October 1944 which states:'A young man called L. C. Ainsley born in Carlise in 1916, was working on a television research bench in America when the war began, but he was determined not to miss it. So he "jumped" an oil tanker and worked his way to England. To-day he is Flying Officer Ainsley and has just gained the immediate award of the D.F.C. for fine work during the bombing of the oil works at Nordstern. His Halifax was thrice hit before reaching the target - but it got there. One more it was hit after the bomb load had gone - but it got home with a crash-landing near a drome. Now he thinks he will stay on this side of the Atlantic and make the R.A.F. a career. He has married a Scots Girl.'Ainsley was advanced Flying Officer on 21 October 1944 and continued to fly, seeing a total of seventeen successful sorties. Transferred to R.A.F. Tangmere on 15 May 1945 he was posted to the Administrative and Special Duties Branch on 26 April 1945 and then transferred to Andrews Field on 27 July.Several more transfers occurred to sites such as R.A.F. West Malling on 5 September, Castle Camps on 27 September and R.A.F. Duxford on 10 December. However he was to leave the R.A.F. under a cloud, being dismissed by sentence of a Court Marshal on 6 August 1946.…

The stretcher-bearer's D.C.M., 'Great War' M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal W. J. Barltrop, 17th (British Empire League) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle CorpsDistinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (C-3553 L.Cpl W. J. Barltropp. 17/K.R.R.C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (C-3553 L.Cpl W. J. Barltrop. 17/K.R.R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (C-3553 Cpl. W. J. Barltrop. K.R.Rif.C.), some light edge wear, minor contact marks, overall very fine (4)D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1917, the original citation states:'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as stretcher bearer. He worked untiringly for six days, dressing the wounded under fire with admirable skill and disregard of personal danger. During this time he carried a wounded man, who was in need of immediate medical treatment, over ground which was swept by enemy snipers; they had already that day accounted for four runners who were using the same road. No praise can be too great for his courage and devotion.'M.M. London Gazette 6 January 1917.William James Barltrop, sometimes spelled Barltropp, was born near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire around 1886. He appears on the 1901 census living at Henham Hall Cottages, near Stansted, Saffron Walden. Enlisting with the 17th (British Empire League) Battalion Barltrop entered the war in France with them at some stage after 1916.The Battalion entered the war in April 1916 and saw action during the Somme Offensive starting at Ancre in September before moving to support the attack on the Schwaben Redoubt in October. Given the date of Gazette for Barltrop's M.M. it is quite likely that his medal was related to these actions.The 17th Battalion saw out a gruelling Christmas and New Year in the Ypres Salient suffering a constant attritional stream of losses. They were back in the action proper at the start of the Third Battle of Ypres at Pilckem Ridge and saw continual fighting through July, August and into September. It was very likely during the early engagements of that Offensive that Barltrop won his D.C.M.The Regiment was seriously mauled during the German Spring Offensive of early 1918 and as such they were amalgamated into a composite Brigade. After the Offensive was halted they went into the reserve as a training cadre. Barltrop appears to have taken his pension from April 1919, his death was registered in 1925; sold together with copied research.…

StaffSome 48 Medals issued to the Staff, 3 of these to Interpreters and all with clasp '1879'.'The Border Horse now began to fire at the distant snipers, and Wood waited to see what effect the shots might have. A Zulu suddenly popped up from a rock a scant fifty yards away and fired. Wood noted that the shot seemed low, but Lloyd fell back, exclaiming, "I'm hit - badly! My back is broken!" Wood and Campbell caught him and carried him down to the stone kraal. Wood then started back up, leading his horse, but a shot struck it and killed it, and when he regained the kraal he found that Lloyd had died. Wood now ordered Weatherley to take the Border Horse up to clear the trail, but the men balked again. Campbell then picked up Lysons and four privates from Wood's escort and started up the trail in single file, making for a cave from which several Zulus were firing. The narrow passage was only two feet wide between towering rock walls, and as Campbell plunged into the mouth of the cave, a Zulu fired a shot straight into his forehead, killing him instantly. Undaunted, Lysons and Private Edmun Fowler sprang over his body, driving the Zulus into the recesses of the mountain. Lysons then held the mouth of the cave while the others dragged Campbell's body back to the kraal…'High drama on Hlobane Mountain on 29 March 1879; The Washing of the Spears by Donald R. Morris, refersThe outstanding South Africa Medal awarded to Mr. L. Lloyd, Evelyn's Wood's interpreter, who - in one of the most contentious episodes of the conflict - was mortally wounded in the disastrous action at Hlobane on 29 March 1879South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (L. Lloyd, Esq., Interpreter), suspension claw tightened, minor contact wear, very fineLlewelyn Lloyd was a prominent casualty in the disastrous action fought at Hlobane Mountain on 28 March 1879, his death being indelibly linked to that of Captain Hon. R. G. E. Campbell of the Coldstream Guards, as outlined in Colonel Evelyn Wood's much quoted despatch to Lord Chelmsford. It was an episode in which incompetence played its role, amidst charges of cowardice, and has accordingly remained the subject of ongoing debate.In fact, no history of the Zulu War would be complete without mention of this contentious chapter, some historians claiming that Wood (later Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.M.G.) momentarily lost the plot.An excellent account of events may be found in John Young's Horror at the Devil's Pass - The Battle of Hlobane, 28 March 1879, from which the following extract has been taken:'…Dawn broke and a new horror became apparent. The Zulus were behind prepared barricades and concealed within caves that riddled the mountain, awaiting the assault. From behind their positions, the Zulus opened fire on the scaling troops. Two officers of the Frontier Light Horse, Lieutenants Otto von Stietencron and George Williams, fell dead, two troopers also fell to the fire.Wood and his escort rode to the sound of the firing. Just below the summit of the mountain plateau they chanced upon Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Augustus Weatherley and his Border Lancers. Weatherley's unit should have been with Buller, but during the storm they had become separated and now lagged behind. Wood spied a Zulu rifleman level his gun in his direction and he expressed his contempt of the Zulu marksmanship. The Zulu fired, and his bullet found its mark, shattering the spine of Mr. Llewelyn Lloyd, Wood's Political Assistant and his interpreter, who was at Wood's side. Wood attempted to lift the mortally wounded man, but stumbled under the weight. Captain the Honourable Ronald Campbell, Coldstream Guards, Wood's chief staff officer, came to his aid and carried the dying Lloyd out of the line of fire. Again a Zulu fired at Wood, killing his lead mount. The horse fell against Wood, and caused him to stumble.A gasp went up from his men, fearing their commander wounded. Wood shouted a reassurance that he was not hit, and picking himself up, he made his way downhill to the troops' position. Angered at being pinned-down, Wood ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherley to assault the position from where the fire was coming. Weatherley in turn, addressed his men, ordering them forward, but only Lieutenant J. Pool and Sub-Lieutenant H. W. Parminter responded to the command. The remainder of the Border Horse refused to assault the position, saying that it was unassailable. Captain Campbell was horrified; this was tantamount to mutiny - if not cowardice.Campbell was of ennobled birth, the son of the 2nd Earl Cawdor. Such behaviour was unheard of within the class to which he belonged. Uttering his contempt of the fainthearted volunteers, he sprang forward towards the foe, supported by Second-Lieutenant Henry Lysons, 90th Light Infantry and four mounted infantrymen of Wood's personal escort, also drawn from the 90th. The small party advanced in a determined manner, clambering over boulders and through crevices, which led to the Zulu position. The path was so narrow that the advance could only be made in single file. Campbell gained the mouth of the cave first, only to be shot in the head at point-blank. Undeterred, Lysons and Private Edmund Fowler carried the position, forcing the Zulus to withdraw into a series of subterranean passages and, with Lysons and Fowler in pursuit, they killed all those who offered resistance, and put the others to flight.With Lysons covering the cave mouth, Campbell's body was brought down and placed alongside Lloyd, who had succumbed to his wound. Fearful of the bodies being mutilated, Wood decided to bury them on the field. Being the son of a clergyman, he wished to conduct a proper burial service, only to realise that his service book was still in the wallets of his saddle on his dead mount. He ordered his bugler, Alexander Walkinshaw, to recover the prayer book. Walkinshaw, whom Wood described as "one of the bravest men in the Army," calmly strode up, under heavy fire and recovered not only the prayer book but also the entire saddle.Wood had the two bodies removed some three hundred yards downhill, to where the soil was less rocky and the Zulus of Wood's escort dug the grave with their spears, under the watchful eye of Prince Mthonga. Their task completed, Wood committed the two bodies to the ground, reading an abridged version of the burial service from a prayer book which belonged to Captain Campbell's wife, who was the daughter of the Bishop of Rochester, Kent…'Lieutenant Henry Lysons and Private Edmund Fowler, both of the 90th Regiment, were awarded the Victoria Cross.PostscriptOn 21 May 1880, Mrs. Campbell was taken to Hlobane where a headstone was placed on the grave of her husband and Llewelyn Lloyd. Some of the party, including Empress Eugenie, actually climbed up the Devil's Pass to the summit. Finally, they reached the site where the Prince Imperial was killed. Another memorial stone was laid and the empress planted cuttings of a tree she had brought from the family estate at Camden Place in Chislehurst. The grief-stricken party returned to England by the end of July.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Clasp an old tailors copy, naming details as described. The estimate is revised to £6,000-8,000.

'A charming & handsome old man with one arm.So wrote the niece of the gallant Colonel KnoxAn outstanding campaign pair awarded to Colonel K. Barrett, 13th Regiment of Foot (1st Somersetshire) (Prince Albert's Regiment of Light Infantry), a long-served and most gallant officer who served on campaign in the Caribbean, Upper Canada and Burma - having his arm blown off in the attack on the Great Pagoda in July 1825 in the lastMilitary General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Martinique, Guadaloupe (Knox Barrett, Ensn. 13th Foot.); Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Bt. Captn. K. Barrett, 13th Foot.), short-hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, heavy edge bruising, very fine (2)Knox Barrett was born circa 1783, the son of William Barrett, High Sheriff of Sligo, of Culleenamore House. The Sligo Independant of July 1882 gives more detail:' He joined in 1805 from the North Mayo Militia, obtaining an ensigncy in the gallant 13th Regiment of Foot. This regiment, when in India saw much service, and Colonel Barrett, then a Lieutenant, showed much pluck and coolness on the battle field. At Rangoon, when the English army under General Dale fought well and bravely, Colonel Barrett led his Company in the thickest of the fight, and had his right arm shot off. He was specially mentioned by his Colonel, afterwards the great and good General Havelock as being a brave officer. Of course, the loss of his arm obliged him to retire from the Army, and General Havelock, whose friend and companion he was, parted from him with regret. He possessed medals and claps for Ava, Guadeloupe, Martinique, India etc. Since he left the army, he came to reside in Sligo.'Barrett has a remarkable record of service in the Caribbean, North America and in India. Having shared in the actions at Martinique in October 1809, he was present at the capture of Guadaloupe and was then subsequently posted to Upper Canada with his unit. Their Light Company was stationed at le Aux Noix and a detachment went to the blockhouse of Lacolle Mills - when they shared in the famous defence of that place in March 1814.Furthermore, Barrett would have been with his unit when they crossed Lake Champlain to attack Plattsburgh in New York, sharing in the final acts of the War of 1812. They departed the scene in July 1815. He would then share in the events in India, being unfortunate to have his '...arm blown off' during the attack on the Great Pagoda in the First Anglo-Burmese War. On 5 July 1825 the unit also suffered one man killed and seventeen other ranks wounded in action besides Barrett.Retired on account of his wounds, he was provided with a pension of £70 for his wounds. Returned to his native Sligo, he took up various posts, including as Justice of the Peace, Superintendent of the gaol, a member of the Sligo Harbor Commission and sat on the Dispensary Commission. Having married Anne Rice in 1827, the pair had no children but were always known for their generosity to their numerous nephews and nieces. The good Colonel died on 10 July 1882 and is buried in the family tomb at St John's Churchyard. His obituary notice gives the final word:'Our obituary notices of to-day announce the death of this gentleman who lived to a patriarchal age, being nearly a century old when he breathed his last at his residence, Rathanna, near this town. It may be well said that by his death a link connecting the present generation with the past – the long past – a severed, for when many grandfathers of today were leading strings Colonel Barrett was fighting for his King and country on the burning plains of India...In private life he was distinguished for his mildness of disposition and goodness of heart.'…

The superb campaign pair awarded to Colonel W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infantry, an Australian-born Indian Army Officer, who was thanked for his services in the Jowaki Expedition 1877, seeing out all of his service on the North-West Frontier and Afghanistan, being thrice 'mentioned' in the latter campaignIndia General Service 1854-94, 3 clasps, Umbeyla, North West Frontier, Jowaki 1877-8 (Lieut. W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infantry) unofficial connection between 1st & 2nd clasps; Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Kabul, Kandahar (Maj. W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infy.), good very fine (2)Ex-Brian Ritchie Collection.William Benjamin Aislabie was born at Richmond, Van Diemens Land, Australia, the son Reverend William John Aislabie and his wife Amerlia. Notably his elder brother was Rawson Aislabie - later Major General - one of only five officers to escape the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny at Delhi. His grandfather was Benjamin Aislabie, a famous cricketer and secretary of the M.C.C.. Most of the Reverend Aislabie's children appear to have been born in Australia, suggesting the family was residing there at the time. However they had returned to Britain by 1851, settling at Alpheton, Suffolk where the younger Aislabie appears upon the census.The Indian Army and North-West FrontierCommissioned into the Indian Army as an Ensign on 20 December 1859, Aislabie was advanced Lieutenant in the 3rd Sikh Infantry on 23 November 1861. Serving throughout the Umbeyla campaign of 1863, he was present for the actions of 15-16 December as well as the Hazara campaign of 1868, including the expedition against the tribes on the Black Mountain.Promoted Captain after the Hazara campaign on 29 June 1869 he was serving in that rank during the Jowaki Expedition 1877. Whilst there his commanding officer, Colonel Mocatta, succeeded to the command of the force consisting of the 1st Sikhs and 4th Punjab Infantry in addition to the 3rd Sikhs. Aislabie took command of the Regiment and led them during the campaign in which his column was to make a demonstration through the Tortung Pass towards Gumbut. The operation involved some skirmishing and cost the life of one man of the 3rd Sikhs and five wounded before returning to Kohat next day.In September Aislabie, in command of a detachment of 220 rifles, relieved a similar party of the 1st Sikhs at Gundiali and was employed for a fortnight in heavy patrolling duty from Gumbut. At the end of the month he commanded 447 rifles and, together with the 1st Sikhs, covered the building of a fort at Gundiali during which three men were wounded.In the autumn the Jowaki Afridis turned up the heat, attacking tribes between Peshawar and Kohat. Two 'Piffer' punitive columns were organised under Brigadier-Generals Keyes and Ross. The 3rd Sikhs advanced with the main force (the Kohat Column) under the former and on 1 December 1877 attacked and captured Jummoo, the principal stronghold of the Jowaki Afridis. The tribesmen fled into the hills and the Jowaki headmen sought peace. But, they found the terms unacceptable and hostilities were resumed until the tribesmen were utterly defeated by 250 British cavalry on 15 February. Aislabie was subsequently thanked for his services in Keyes despatch (GO No. 738 of 9 August 1878) in the following terms:'The command of the 3rd Sikh Infantry devolved, in the absence of Colonel Mocatta and Major Money, on Captain W. B. Aislabie, who carried out the duty in the advance on Piah, the advance on the Dargai heights and operations at Narel Kula to my entire satisfaction and with much credit to himself.'AfghanistanWith the renewal of hostilities in the Second Afghan War on 6 September 1879, Aislabie accompanied his Regiment from Bunnoo to Kurram. Orders were received for the march to the Shuturgardan Pass on the road to Kabul on 20 September which they were to defend with distinction. The pass was reached on 25 September and Aislabie was duly present at the repulses of the enemy with heavy loss on 2 October and again on 14 October.On the latter occasion, 'A large body of tribesmen had, for a short time, commanded the British position and broken its telegraphic communication with the Kuram. Major C. J. Griffiths, who went out with 250 Sikhs to dislodge the enemy, was wounded early in the engagement, but his men, led by Captain W. B. Aislabie, drove the tribesmen from the heights with the loss of their main standard, captured by Jemadar Gunesa Sing, and of two or three hundred killed and wounded, whilst, including Griffiths and Signalling-Sergeant Browne, the victors had only eight men wounded.'With this heavy engagement the Afghans were totally routed and pursued for two miles though not dispersed. For this action he was 'mentioned' in Roberts' dispatch of 15 October which states: '… and further brings to my notice the names of Major Griffiths, 3rd Sikhs, who led the attack until wounded; of Captain Aislabie, 3rd Sikhs, who succeeded to the command…'Following the abandonment of the Shutargardan on 30 October and the Regiment's arrival at Kabul, Aislabie took part in the defeat of the Afghans by Macpherson's Brigade in the Chardeh Valley on 10 December, and again on 11 December when Massy's guns were recovered. When 400 men of the 92nd Highlanders, the Corps of Guides, and 300 rifles of the 3rd Sikhs, under Brigadier-General T. D. Baker marched out from the Sherpur cantonment on 13 December to attack and carry the Takht-i-Shah peak, Aislabie went up the spur with 100 rifles as escort to No.3 Mountain Battery. For his work in this action he was again 'mentioned'.In the afternoon next day, 'the enemy attacked a strong picket left on the conical hill below Asmai heights and succeeded in driving the defenders away with the loss of 2 mountain guns, following them down into the plains. The 100 rifles under Captain Aislabie were ordered at the double to check the enemy and cover the retirement. The 3rd Sikhs formed skirmishing order, passed through our retirement, engaged the enemy and drove them up the hill ... In this affair all ranks behaved with coolness and gallantry.'Between 14 and 23 December Aislabie served in the Defence of Sherpur. Promoted to Field Rank on 20 December, he was appointed Wing Commander in his corps on the same date, vice Major Griffiths. He accompanied the regiment into the Logar, Wardak, and Maidan valleys in May 1880 to collect supplies and destroy refractory Ghilzai villages. Joining the march from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar in August he was present at the crushing defeat of Ayub Khan at the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September. For services in the Afghan War of 1878-80, he was three times mentioned in Roberts' despatches, received the Medal with two clasps and the Bronze Kabul to Kandahar Star.EpilogueThe 3rd Sikhs arrived at Dera Ghazi Khan in November 1880 and occupied the Right Infantry lines and, on the departure of Colonel Money on sick furlough to Europe, Aislabie was appointed to officiate as second in command. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 20 December 1885 he finally became Commandant of his corps in December 1887 on the retirement of Major Griffiths. 'By GGO dated 15th March, Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. Aislabie was permitted to retire from the service with effect from 18th March [1889] and was struck off the strength of the Regiment.'Returning to Britain, Aislabie was granted probate on the estate of his brother Major-General Rawson Aislabie the next year in 1890. He died at Cheltenham on 12 June 1910, his obituary in the Gloucester Journal reads:'Lieut. Colonel William Benjamin Aislabie who died on June 14th at 1, Berkeley-place, Cheltenham, retired from the Indian Army on December 20th, 1885. He served in the Frontier…

The Second World War campaign group of four awarded to Guardsman K. O. Gammell, Grenadier Guards; reputedly the tallest man in the Brigade of Guards (standing at 6ft. 7 1/2in. tall) he was destined for a fine academic career but instead enlisted in the British Army upon the outbreak of war, tragically he died on Christmas Eve 1943 of wounds received during the Italian Campaign1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army (2622616 Gdsmn K.O. Gammell Grenadier Guards); Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, all privately and contemporarily engraved '2622616 Gdsmn K.O. Gammell Grenadier Guards' in upright capitals, mounted court-style for wear, sometime lacquered, about extremely fine (4)Kenrick Orm Gammell, son of Kensington and Doris Gammell, was born in Bedford on 18 May 1910. Clearly academically gifted, after education at Bedford School (a boys public school founded in 1552) he went up to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (1928-31) and graduated with a B.A. Becoming a schoolmaster in Essex, the outbreak of war in September 1939 thwarted his plans to take up a post as Headmaster of Akley Preparatory School and instead he enlisted in the Grenadier Guards, being posted to the 6th Battalion after his basic training.Formed in 1941, the 6th Battalion was posted to Syria in September 1942 and saw action in the Tunisia campaign before participating in the invasion of Italy a year later. On 23 October 1943, Gammell was severely wounded in an action near Naples and evacuated to North Africa. Sadly he succumbed to his injuries on 24 December and is buried at Bone Military Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria. In addition to an obituary in the 'Bedfordshire Times and Standard' (7 January 1944), his grave bears the moving epitaph: 'Thoughts Too Deep For Words. A Very Dear Only Son. He Was 6 Feet 7 1/2 Inches Tall'.Sold together with a Guards Depot Recruits Musketry prize medal in the form of a watch-fob, engraved Rct. K. Gammell. For his father's Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, see Lot 107.…

The rare and remarkable 'Tiddim Defence of Point 6052' M.C. and 'Battle of Imphal' Second Award Bar group of five awarded to Captain C. F. V. Martin, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light InfantryMilitary Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated '1944', with Second Award Bar dated 1944; 1939-1945 Star; Burma Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, sold together with the named Buckingham Palace forwarding slip for the Military Cross and Second Award Bar and a further archive, good very fine (5)M.C. London Gazette 18 May 1944, the original recommendation states:'While in command of a company on pt. 6052 on the 26th of January 1944, the enemy put in a persistent attack from 1745 hours to 1830 hours, which was repulsed with heavy losses. At 2300 hours the enemy again attacked with even more determination but was again driven back. During both these attacks, Captain Martin ran from post to post in the open, directing the fire and encouraging the men, regardless of his personal safety. Throughout the 27th and the 28th, the enemy sent frequent harassing parties to wear down our defences and to prevent our men from sleeping. On the 29th of January, our position was again very heavily attacked, this time by two enemy companies, from 0530 hours to 1030 hours. Although the position was thinly held, our casualties equivalent to one platoon, and the men tired through three sleepless nights, the enemy was driven back time and again with very heavy losses estimated at 200 killed and wounded. Although completely without sleep during these four days, Captain Martin went from trench to trench, encouraging the men and urging them to hold on, despite close range grenade, small arms and very heavy mortar fire. When the enemy broke through the wire and threatened to swamp the defences, he personally organised and led a counterattack which, by determined hand to hand fighting wiped out all the enemy who had broken in. Captain Martin's splendid example of personal gallantry and leadership in the face of heavy odds, his spirit of endurance and determination to hold out, inspired all ranks to resist at all costs, over a period of four days, a persistent enemy attempt to capture a position of extreme tactical significance'Second Award Bar London Gazette 5 October 1944, the original recommendation states:'On the morning of the 26th of May 1944, Captain Martin was leading a Company taking part in the attack on Red Hill RK 224488.In the initial stages of this attack Captain Martin was wounded leading his Company under heavy MMG fire on to the objective, but ignoring his wounds this officer personally led a grenade throwing party to wipe out a Japanese Bunker, which was holding up the advance of his company. With complete disregard for his own safety and despite his wounds this officer approached the bunker, the occupants of which had been catching our grenades and throwing them back, and by waiting 3 seconds after the cap of the grenade had been struck before he threw it, succeeded in wiping out the bunker and thereby clearing the way for the advance. In doing this Captain Martin was again wounded, but continued to lead his Company forward until he collapsed from loss of blood.This magnificent example of gallantry and selfless devotion to duty under heavy fire was not only a supreme inspiration to every man in the Company, but a vital contributory factor in the success of the attack.'Clifford Frederick Victor Martin was born in Oxfordshire on 17 July 1919, the son of Captain Victor and Rose Martin. Granted a Regular Army Emergency Commission and gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant with the number 113619, he joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 16 January 1940.Martin then saw service out in India and Burma when on attachment to the Indian Army and serving with the 7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment. He likely received his attachment to the 7th Battalion in the aftermath of the retreat from Burma in 1942, during which the Battalion had formed part of the 46th Indian Brigade in the 17th Indian Division. After withdrawing from Burma, the 17th Division then found itself stationed in Assam.They were not part of the failed First Arakan Offensive of late 1942 into the spring of 1943, but instead undertook intensive training to learn from the mistakes of the previous year in readiness to take the offensive against the Japanese in 1944 and 1945.The Defence of Point 6052Their first major operation occurred in January 1944, and it was Martin - then commanding a composite formation of 'A' and 'C' companies - who bore the brunt of it. It was for this period while serving as a temporary Captain that he was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry during the defence of Point 6052.Martin's composite company was established on Point 6052, seven miles south of Tiddim, to form a patrol base. They launched several patrols to engage and identify the Japanese in the area and the perimeter of the base was at one point attacked but the company was able to hold on. This attack occurred on 26 January 1944, the day Martin earned his first Military Cross.It was estimated that the 7/10th Baluch killed more than 200 Japanese in the area, while themselves suffering only 3 killed and 10 wounded over the course of the month. The positions were dug in all round defences on ground of the 7/10th Baluch's choosing. This enabled them to repel the Japanese attacks, unlike at Pa-an in 1942, and showed that the retraining of the past 18 months had paid dividends.In the aftermath of his honour, Martin received a personal letter from General Slim, commander of the 14th Army, stating: 'I am very pleased to hear that your gallant action has been rewarded, and sent you my warmest congratulations on a well deserved honour.'The Battalion continued to send out patrols in the areas in front of and around Point 6052 in February and March, with the men and officers gaining valuable experience in operating as light infantry during this period. The Battalion, along with the 4/12th Frontier Force Rifles, withdrew along the Tiddim Road on 4 April in the face of increasing pressure during the Japanese advances and the repositioning in readiness for the Battle of Imphal.ImphalHaving retreated onto the Imphal Plain, they were sent to protect the Panel airstrip. The Battalion took over positions in the 'Catfish Box' area on 5 April, also at this point receiving reinforcements to create a fourth company and bring it up to strength as an ordinary infantry unit.A Company, under the command of now acting-Major Martin, was sent to Point 5846 on the Bishenpur-Silchar Road while the rest of the Battalion took the opportunity to re-organise and to incorporate the new company. The 7/10th Baluch moved to the 17th Divisional Box at Chingphu, north of Bishenpur, in mid-May as a response to increased Japanese pressure on the entrance to the Imphal Plain from the Bishenpur region.Red Hill PimpleThey began to dig in immediately upon arrival in their capacity as a protection of the divisional HQ. A series of patrols were sent out around the area as reports arrived of Japanese forces coming from the west, and a major clash ensued on 20 May involving one platoon on a ridge overlooking the divisional area. This force managed to hold out for more than 8 hours and successfully held up a major Japanese group. On 25th May, the Battalion was ordered to carry out an attack on Point 2926, 'Red Hill Pimple'. That evening, 3 Companies - A, B and C, respectively - moved to their jumping off positions, which included the ridge itself, without being heard or noticed by the Japanese.The A and C Companies were to attack the Japan…

Six: Major L. F. Scott, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, late North Nigeria Regiment, who served as A.D.C. to Sir George Chardin Denton in Lagos and later A.D.C. to the Governor of GambiaEast and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1897-98 (Lieut. L. F. Scott. N. Nigeria R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (Capt. L. F. Scott. Oxford. L.I.), rank corrected; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. L. F. Scott. Oxford L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. L. F. Scott. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. L. F. Scott.), good very fine (6)Lionel Folliott Scott was born at Arlesley, Bedfordshire, on 23 October 1870 the son of the Reverend Richard Scott of Bennett's Farm, Arlesley and his wife Emily. He attended Repton School and joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. From there he was commissioned Lieutenant on 26 April 1893 with the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.Advanced Lieutenant with them in 1897, he saw service with the West African Field Force in the Lagos Hinterland. In the aftermath of prolonged wars between the mainland Yoruba states, the Lagos Colony established a protectorate over most of Yorubaland between 1890 and 1897. Lagos Colony was a British colonial possession centred on the port of Lagos in what is now Southern Nigeria. Lagos was annexed in August 1861 and declared a colony on 5 March 1862.Sir George Chardin Denton K.C.M.G., Colonial Secretary of Lagos and in 1900 was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief, who was in office from 1900 until 1911. Scott was appointed his Aide-de-Camp, attached to the North Nigeria Regiment for a period between 1897-8.Returning to his Regiment he saw service with the 1st Battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry throughout the Second Boer War. As a Special Service Officer he served in the Relief of Kimberley; operations in the Orange Free State, February-May 1900, including service at Paardeberg; Poplar Grove and Driefontein; and operations in the Orange River Colony, May 1900-May 1902.An article in the Bucks Herald on 24 November 1900 states:'Lieutenant Lionel Scott has been promoted to the rank of Captain in the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, in succession to Major Fairtlough, who is Adjutant of the Bucks Militia Battalion. Captain Scott commenced his career in the old West Suffolk Militia, and has for some time past been employed in South Africa as a Special Service Officer.'Still in Africa after the war he was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gambia in 1902, serving there until 1906. His replacement in the role was a man by the name of Edward Kirkpatrick whom Scott befriended, he was later to marry his sister Florence.Becoming the Adjutant of the Special Reserve Battalion in 1908 Scott served in that role for some time before retiring in October 1912. He joined the Reserve of Officers and as such was recalled to service in the Great War, being placed in command of 'D' Company, 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 13 December 1914.Initially serving as Railway Transport Officer in Britian he later entered the France on 7 December 1915. Tragically his brother-in-law Captain Kirkpatrick was killed in action in 1915. Scott served at the front until February 1917, being appointed Regimental Transport Officer alongside his other duties. He returned to Britian and served as a Major in the Labour Corps. He died at Quarry House, Headington, Oxford on 7 January 1941; sold together with copied service papers.…

The scarce 'Benin 1897' casualty's East and West Africa Medal awarded to Gunner A. A. Targett, Royal Marine Artillery, who was specially recommended for his service in the expedition, having been seriously wounded while manning a Maxim Gun outside Benin CityEast and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (A. A. Targett, Gr R.M.A., H.M.S. St George.), slight contact wear, very fineAlred Arthur Targett was born at Portsmouth in June 1869 and attested with the Royal Marine Artillery at Eastney Barracks on 9 March 1888. He served with a number of shore establishments before being posted to Royal Arthur on 2 May 1893 and served with her for three years. Joining St. George on 24 January took part in the Benin Punitive Expedition, helping to crew a Maxim gun.In this role he was present for the attack on Benin City which occurred on 18 February 1897. Targett's service papers note, 'Feb 197 Present at attack on Benin Specially Recommended'.Unfortunately there was stiff opposition to the advance and Targett was to suffer as a result:'-shot by a man in a tree while storming Benin - when trying to remove the bullet it was found that the pubic bone was shattered & the bullet impacted - also bullet wound of chest (which was removed).'(IBID)It should be noted that the diary of Private Lewis (OMRS Journal March 2019) states that Targett continued firing the Maxim despite his wounds. The Globe and Laurel quotes the journal of Corporal Rogerson, R.M.A. which describes the role of the Maxim's during the Battle, stating:'Water was being served out, our guns put down, and we were lying about, glad of a rest, when, suddenly, fire was opened on us. "Mount the gun," was the order, and mounted it was, and in action, in less than thirty seconds, on the bush to the right, while the infantry fired volleys. The St. George's bluejackets, the 1st Section of the Marine Battalion, under Captain Byrne, our two maxims and their thirteen men, were the only troops in front, Lieut. Robertson, with the 2nd Section of the Marine Battalion being with the carrier column, in the rear. As soon as the bush to the right. Everything was stopped, as before, by the carriers burying their heads in the earth. The respective Nos. I shouldered the guns, another picked up the tripods, and the rest of the guns' crews brought up the belt boxes, but it was with difficulty that any advance was made as the coolies laid down on, and hid, the ammunition.Meanwhile the Bluejackets and Marines had left us about 200 yards in rear, while desultory firing from the right bush was still going on. This became so hot that Sergeant Turner halted and mounted his gun in a position just in front of the hot spot and backed by a large tree, I came up and took up a position and mounted three yards on his right and immediately opened fire. We had not been there five minutes before Gunners Howlett, Targett and Sinister were wounded- Captain Byrne was shot through the right side and Private Varndell in the open during the advance, while Gunners Jones and Denman were wounded slightly. An incessant fire came from the trees opposite, scarcely fifty yards away and as the guns had not sufficient elevation to clear them, I directed Gunner Flatman to place boxes under front legs…'They held their ground until the rearguard came up and then brought their guns forward to the now captured Benin City. Targett was posted to S.S. Malacca on 3 March 1897, his wound was clearly severe however despite this he was able to continue serving until March 1909 with a number of ships and shore establishments. Targett returned to service in August 1914 and served at Dunkirk before being transferred to Holm in the Orkneys in October 1915; sold together with copied research including service papers, a copy of Globe and Laurel and a casualty roll.Further entitled to a 1914 Star Trio.…

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Able Seaman J. Kennedy, Royal Navy, one of Captain Peel's famed 'Shannons'Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Jas Kennedy, A.B. H.M.S. Shannon), suspension somewhat slack, light contact marks, very fineJames Kennedy served with H.M.S. Shannon with the number 344 and appears as a Leading Seaman on the roll. The Shannon was an imposing Liffey-class steam frigate armed with 51 guns. Originally intended for service in China, she left Hong Kong in company with the Pearl when news broke of the Indian Mutiny. When she docked at Calcutta in August 1857 she was, at that time, the largest vessel to have navigated so far up the River Hooghly. Her Captain William Peel V.C., C.B., took a considerable risk in moving her into such shallow water, but subsequent events were to prove him a man undaunted by any danger.Sir Patrick Grant, who was then acting Commander-in-Chief at Calcutta, knew that British forces in Oudh were woefully short of heavy guns. He ordered Peel to form a Naval Brigade comprising 'Bluejackets' from both the Shannon and the Pearl. The contingent from Pearl numbered 175 men, bringing the Naval Brigade's total strength to 408 officers and men, including Marines from both ships.This force was armed with: ten 8-inch 68-pounders with 400 rounds of shot and shell per gun, four 24-pounders, four 12-pounders, a 24-pounder howitzer, and eight rocket tubes. 800 bullocks were required. For the voyage up the Ganges, the men and guns were to be transported in a steamer called the Chunar, as well as a flat-bottomed transport. The force left Calcutta on 29 September, heading straight towards 'The Devil's Wind'.On 10 October, the contingent from Pearl stopped at Buxar on the Ganges, and thenceforward operated separately under the command of Captain E. S. Sotheby. The remainder of Peel's Naval Brigade, already nicknamed 'The Shannons', continued up the Ganges to Cawnpore, where British forces were gathering for the Second Relief of Lucknow. Peel kept the men occupied with constant drilling and manoeuvres. He knew that in battle, the guns would have to be moved using drag ropes, eighteen men to each gun.Sir Colin Campbell was greeted with a great cheer when he arrived at Cawnpore on 31 October, assuming command of the army. His force only amounted to 3,400 men, made up of detachments from HM 8th, 23rd, 53rd, 82nd, 90th and 93rd Foot, the 2nd and 4th Punjab Infantry, and the 9th Lancers. Peel's Naval Brigade thus proved invaluable when the force arrived before Lucknow on 15 November.The next day, Peel's guns and two heavy guns of the Royal Artillery began a fierce bombardment of the Sikanderabagh, a huge rebel-held building, 130 yards square, with a thick, brick, loopholed wall 20 feet high, flanked by bastions at the corners. After firing for 90 minutes, the guns had created a small hole, three feet high and three and a half feet wide. As their pipers struck up the Highland Charge 'Haughs of Cromdale', men of the 93rd Highlanders surged forward in the hope of being the first to enter this 'breach', and won six Victoria Crosses.Although losses at the Sikanderabagh were severe, the stormers were able to trap about 2,000 mutineers in a corner of the building. Remembering earlier atrocities, particularly the massacre of women and children at Bibighar, Cawnpore on 15 July (the gore at Bibighar lay undisturbed, creating a nightmarish scene for troops passing through), the stormers killed every man they found. Lord Roberts later recalled:'There they lay, in a heap as high as my head, a heaving, surging mass of dead and dying inextricably tangled.'The capture of the Sikanderabagh enabled Campbell's army to reach the beleaguered Residency compound, but having lost 45 officers and 496 men, Campbell realised he could not possibly hold Lucknow against the vast rebel armies in the region.On 19 November, the evacuation of the Residency began. Women and children who for six months had suffered unimaginable terrors emerged from its shattered ramparts and filed towards Dilkushah, under the protection of the 9th Lancers. Campbell organised the evacuation so that the enemy never suspected a British withdrawal. The Naval Brigade was pivotal to this conceit: while Peel's guns and rockets pounded the Kaiserbagh as if in preparation for an assault, women and children were silently extricated from the Residency compound, under the noses of a distracted foe. Part of the rearguard, Peel's Bluejackets were among the last to quit Lucknow on the night of 22 November; it was many hours before the mutineers realised that the Residency was empty.Return to CawnporeJust before leaving Cawnpore for Lucknow, Sir Colin Campbell had left 500 men to defend the city under the command of General Windham. Included in this garrison were fifty Bluejackets of the Shannon, with two 24-pounders, led by Lieutenant Hay and Naval Cadets Watson and Lascelles. Cawnpore lay on the Grand Trunk Road, its bridge of boats over the Ganges a vital artery for British supply and communication. Most of Campbell's reinforcements arrived via Cawnpore (hence why the massacre there had such impact).On 19 November, Windham's tiny garrison was invested by 25,000 mutinous sepoys of the Gwalior Contingent, led by Tantia Tope. Windham's men, including the Bluejackets, dug entrenchments at each end of the bridge of boats and managed to hold it for ten days. Since Kennedy was not awarded the 'Relief of Lucknow' clasp, he may very well have been a part of this 50-strong detachment at Cawnpore.Hearing of Windham's plight, Campbell left Sir James Outram with a small force to hold the Alum Bagh, near Lucknow. With the remainder of his army, including the Naval Brigade, Campbell dashed southwards. When heavy gun-fire could be heard from Cawnpore on 27 September, Campbell pressed ahead with his cavalry and horse artillery. He linked up with Windham's entrenchments the following day, and to his great relief, the bridge of boats remained intact.The Naval Brigade arrived on the northern bank of the Ganges two days later. The mutineers had massed their artillery on the southern bank, aiming to destroy the bridge of boats, but Peel's guns quickly silenced them. Over subsequent days, Campbell arranged for the sick, wounded and non-combatants from Lucknow (over 2,000 souls) to be escorted to Allahabad, thence to Calcutta. This left him free to conduct offensive operations. He received reinforcements, including a wing of the 42nd Foot, bringing his total force to 600 cavalry, 5,000 infantry and 35 guns. On 6 December, he launched a full-scale assault across the river. In The Devil's Wind: The Story of the Naval Brigade at Lucknow (1956), G. L. Verney tells how the Naval Brigade lifted morale when the assault began to falter:'Every attempt at forward movement was met by a storm of shot, shell and bullets, the slow rate of fire of the [rebel] muskets being compensated by the large number of men handling them. Each rush cost a few lives and it looked bad. In the clouds of dust and smoke which billowed across the plain, it was hard for commanders to see what was happening or why the advance in that area was making so little progress. To those in front, it seemed that increased artillery support was their only hope.Suddenly, however, the men of the 53rd Foot and the 4th Punjab Infantry, lying down near the bridge and extended short of the bank of the Canal, heard a rumble of wheels behind them, and there they saw Captain Peel, followed by a 24-pounder gun, hand-drawn and double-crewed, some forty Seamen, running hard, followed by a limber. "Action Front" shouted Peel, an…

‘I am glad to learn that the Government has granted an increase of the pension allowed to ex-Lieut. Charles Jenkins, a native of Ventnor, of the Cape Mounted Rifles ... for distinguished conduct in the field during the Zulu War of 1879. Lieut. Jenkins daringly made the charge single-handed with revolver and sword upon a number of Zulus who were defending their own kraal, but were forced by him to retreat, seven of the enemy being left dead ... It was owing to the action of Lieut. Jenkins that an army of Zulus who were coming over the hill at the battle of Inyazana ... were successfully put to flight ... Lord Chelmsford afterwards recommended the soldier for promotion from Sergeant-Major to Lieutenant.’A newspaper extract refers.The outstanding campaign group of three awarded to Lieutenant C. Jenkins, Natal Native Contingent, late Royal Navy and Cape Mounted Rifles; he was the only man to earn a field commission from Lord Chelmsford during the Zulu War - that gallantry latter earned him a pension for 'for distinguished Conduct in the field'Baltic 1854-54 (C. J. Jenkins, Boy 2nd C. H.M.S. Ajax); South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (Lieut. C. Jenkins, 4th Battn. N.N.C.), re-engraved naming; Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Basutoland (Pte. C. Jenkins. C. M. Rif.), mounted on silver bar as worn, very fineCharles Jenkins was born at Brading, Isle of Wight in 1840 and served in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in the Baltic operations (Medal), leaving home for a new life in South Africa in 1858. He joined the Cape Mounted Riflemen but returned home in 1868, being married on Christmas Day that year and taking work as a warder at Portsea. Little more needs to be said of his exploits during the Zulu campaign, but his record would appear to be a unique one.His final campaign would be in the Basuto Gun War of 1881, when serving with the Cape Mounted Rifles, although it took until 1903 for his Medal to reach him back on the Isle of Wight (Isle of Wight Mercury refers). Jenkins served in the Bechuanaland expedition as Interpreter to Sir Charles Warren and was 'disabled by accident on duty' in July 1885. This was further detailed in a 1904 letter from Major-General Sir F. Carrington:'I have much pleasure in testifying to the good services of Sgt. Major Charles Jenkins. He served under my command in the Basuto War in the Cape mounted Rifles and afterwards in the 2nd Mounted Rifles during Sir. C. Warren’s expedition in Bechuanaland where he was promoted to Sgt. Major for his efficiency and general good service. He unfortunately met with a severe accident when on duty by his horse backing into one of our wagons he was escorting – the horse being killed and Sgt. Major Jenkins having his collarbone and six ribs broken. He was taken to Mafeking Hospital where for some time he lay in a precarious state. He is in possession of the Baltic medal, Zulu War medal, Cape general Service medal and clasp for Basutoland. He is, I know, in most needy circumstances never having regained sufficient strength to do much work.'By April 1906 Major-General Hart Symot had taken up the case to assist in getting an increase in pension:'...I remember your gallant fighting in the critical action with the 2nd Zulu Army on the 22nd January at Inyazana, and your promotion from Non Commissioned Officer to Lieutenant in our NNC by Lord Chelmsford, upon my report.'The reply followed by letter from the Royal Hospital Chelsea in November 1906:'Sir,I am directed by the Lords and others, Commissioners of this hospital, to acquaint you that having taken into consideration all the circumstances of your case they have been pleased to increase your pension from nine pence to fifteen pence per diem. The additional 6d per day is awarded for ‘distinguished Conduct in the Field’.'The gallant old soldier died on 7 November 1919 and is buried at Ventnor.…

58th RegimentThe 58th 'Rutlandshire' Regiment was stationed at Grand Shaft Barracks, Dover when, on 11 February 1879, it received orders to hold itself in readiness to proceed on active service to South Africa. Embarked at Portsmouth in the hired transport Russia, the men arrived at Durban on 4 April and proceeded via Pietermaritzburg and Ladysmith to Landman's Drift.Aided by the 5th Brigade R.A., the men set to work constructing Fort Whitehead at Koppie Allein. Using this fort and Fort Evelyn as staging posts, the Regiment conducted numerous reconnaissance missions and on 3 July a water picquet of the 58th was fired upon by Zulus concealed behind rocks, within a mile of the White Umvolosi. This action lasted for approximately three hours and one man was wounded.Four companies of the Regiment were engaged at the battle of Ulundi; Lance-Corporal Tomkinson was killed and 13 others wounded. In Regimental Orders dated 4 July, Colonel Whitehead congratulated the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, on the coolness exhibited by them when under fire; General Newdigate thanked the regiment for its gallant behaviour during the action.After Ulundi the regiment commenced building Fort Victoria and returned to garrison duties.1034 Medals were issued to the 58th Regiment, 689 of them with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (29/905 Pte. W. Alberry. 58th Foot.), suspension sometime re-affixed, heavy contact marks, fineWilliam Alberry was born at Rogate, Sussex in 1855 and was a servant by trade upon his joining the 58th Foot at London in March 1878. He served with the unit in South Africa from July 1879-February 1880 and saw further service in South Africa from February-May 1881. The unit fought at the Battle of Laing's Nek in January 1881 and the Battle of Majuba Hill in February 1881 during the First Boer War, on the former day it was the last regiment to carry its regimental colours into battle and Lieutenant Alan Richard Hill won the Victoria Cross. Alberry was discharged in October 1884.…

Pair: Private T. F. Arms, 4th (Queen's Own) Light Dragoons, latterly Bugle Major, Norfolk Regiment, who was severely wounded in the charge at Balaklava and is said to have been nursed by Florence Nightingale at ScutariCrimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (Pte. Fredk. Arms, 4th Dragoons), contemporary engraved naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British die, unnamed as issued, fitted with replacement ring suspension, both medals fitted with silver riband brooches, very fine (2)Thomas Frederick Arms (or Armes) was born in the Parish of St Peter’s, Norwich, one of six sons of Thomas Arms, a leather cutter, of Dove Lane. He was enlisted at Norwich by No. 1215 Sergeant William Waterson on 26 May 1852, aged 21 years 11 months.Both he and his horse were wounded in action in the charge at Balaklava. Lummis and Wynn state that he was left for dead on the field at Balaklava after a Cossack ran a lance through his leg. However, there is nothing in the medical report to substantiate this claim nor on his documents that ‘he was promoted to Corporal on the eve of Balaclava but rode in the Charge as a Private.’ He was sent to Scutari General Hospital on 26 October 1854, where he is said to have been nursed by Miss Florence Nightingale and Miss Stanley, the daughter of the Bishop of Norwich, before being invalided to England on 17 February 1855.Arms was discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on 16 October 1855, being:‘Unfit for further service - Disabled by loss of fifth phalange of middle finger and injury to index finger of left hand by fragment of shell at Balaclava. Ring and little finger also contracted.’He afterwards returned to Norwich where he became Bugle Major of the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. In about June 1865 he married Emily Mary Ann Probyn. He attended the first Balaklava Banquet in 1875 and was a Member of the Balaklava Commemoration Society in 1879. He died at All Saint’s Green, Norwich, on 21 January 1885, as reported in Norfolk Annals for 31 January of that year:‘Died at All Saint’s Green, Norwich, Thomas Frederick Armes, Bugle Major of the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. Formerly in the 4th Light Dragoons, he took part in the famous light cavalry charge at Balaclava, in which he was wounded and left for dead on the field.’In also recording his death, the United Services Gazette of 31 January 1885 added:‘Towards the close of the famous engagement at Balaclava Armes was struck by a round shot in the ribs, which sent him flying out of the saddle. He was at first supposed to have been killed, but through careful nursing at Scutari he, to a great extent, recovered his health, although he always suffered more or less from his wounds, especially at certain seasons. Two fingers of his right hand were cut off by a Russian cavalry soldier. Armes lay so long at Scutari that when he was finally discharged from the hospital there, the Crimean war had terminated.’He was buried in the City Cemetery, Norwich, where he was later joined by his wife who died in March 1919. The inscription on the erected tombstone reads:‘In memory of Thomas Frederick Armes, formerly of the 4th Light Dragoons and for 17 years Bugle Major of the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment, who died at Norwich on the 21st of January 1885, aged 54 years.He took part in the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in the Crimea in which he was severely wounded and for 30 years he bore with exemplary patience the suffering from these wounds, which subsequently caused his death.This monument was erected by his comrades in the Volunteers to whom he was endeared by the unselfishness of his character as a man, and by the unflagging discharge of his duties as a soldier.Blessed are the dead which lie in the Lord.’For the Medals of a relative, please see the next Lot.…

Natal Mounted PoliceRaised by Major Dartnell in 1874, the N.M.P. was never given the same opportunities as the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, later Cape Mounted Riflemen, and the unit always had difficulty in trying to obtain proper arms and equipment. Nonetheless, it always attracted a 'very good class of recruit', and in 1877, when Shepstone annexed the Transvaal, a 25-strong N.M.P. contingent acted as his sole escort. Moreover, of those men who served in the Zulu War of 1879, over 30 of them lost their lives at Isandhlwana.256 Medals were awarded to the Natal Mounted Police, 167 of them with the '1879' clasp.The Zulu War Medal awarded to Trooper A. R. Parsons, Natal Mounted Police, who was Killed in Action at the Battle of Isandhlwana - he was perhaps the unluckiest man on the field, for he accidentally discharged his weapon and was left in camp in punishmentSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tr. A. R. Parsons. Natal Md. Police.), nearly extremely fineExhibited:Anglo-Zulu War Society, Royal Logistic Corps HQ, 2009.Details of his sad demise is recorded by Holt in the History of the Natal Mounted Police:'Taking fifteen days' supplies on ox wagons, the column moved on to Isandhlwana on the 20th January. A month's supplies were left behind at Rorke's Drift, where a number of sick and wounded remained in hospital. The men paraded at 4 a.m. and the police acted as advance-guard. Some of them had to scout the country, keeping at least a mile from the road. They climbed up and down stony hills for miles, coming out on the plain where the Isandhlwana church now stands, the troops being halted on the nek below Isandhlwana Hill. The police had had a hard task, and were anticipating rest and food for themselves and their beasts when a Staff officer rode up and ordered Inspector Mansel to place out-posts on all the commanding hills on the east. Colonel Clarke recalls the fact that his troop was sent to an outlying ridge, and it was left there until long after dark, when a non-commissioned officer rode out and explained apologetically to the ravenous men that they had been forgotten by the Staff officer. It was then 8 p.m., and they did not reach camp until an hour later, when dinner (which consisted of biscuits and bully beef) was over.At 9.30pm Fall in for orders was sounded, and the police were informed that they had to parade at 3 a.m. with the volunteers to reconnoitre in the direction of Matyana's stronghold. The news that Major Dartnell was to be in command was received with cheers. The police, having only a few hours in which to rest, did not trouble to find their kits, and they never saw them again. All but thirty-four members of the police went off before dawn. They took no rations, being informed that they would be back at noon, when a hot meal would be provided for them. There was many a man wished, sorrowfully, afterwards, that he had put something to eat in his pocket.They covered a considerable extent of the country during the morning without getting a glimpse of the enemy, and after midday met the Native Contingent, under Colonel Lonsdale. The troopers offsaddled for a while, and then received sudden orders to move in an easterly direction, away from the main camp, where small bodies of the enemy had been reported. On a ridge near the Isipezi Mountain a few Zulus were seen, whereupon the force dismounted, while Inspector Mansel, with a small number of police, Sergeant-Major Royston, and a few of the Carbineers, galloped out to reconnoitre. It was soon seen that the enemy were there in large numbers, for they opened out until they covered the whole ridge, and dashed down the hill in an attempt to surround Inspector Mansel's party, who, however, wheeled back and escaped the impi. A trooper named Parsons, in attempting to load his revolver, accidentally discharged the weapon. His horse shied and he fell off. As a reward he was sent back to camp in disgrace, the incident causing a good deal of merriment. Parsons was killed during the attack on the camp the next day.'…

SIRIO TOFANARI (ITALIAN, 1885-1969) A LARGE 'GAZELLE' SCULPTURE; CONCEIVED IN 1924; CIRCA 1965 Bronze, variegated green marble plinth base Signed in cast 'S.TOFANARI' (at the tale) and with foundry name 'Fuse Marinalli Firenze' 48cm high, 58.5cm wide, 25.5cm deep This model is the last of four versions of this sculpture originally conceived in 1924, each successive variant becoming more streamlined. Around 1955 Tofanari gave Aldo Marinelli, owner of the Marinalli Foundry in Florence, a number of plaster models to cast into bronze. This particular gazelle was amongst them. The agreement was that Tofanari would detail the waxes and oversee the patination. Tofanari died in 1969 but the foundry still cast with the family permission until 1976 when the foundry was sold and the name of the foundry changed. This cast is before 1976, it is signed on the tail as opposed to the raised leg of the later casts, it also has a quality and finish with fine detail. The modern casts of this subject are marked clearly as posthumous after legal action by the heirs. Condition Report: Some wear and unevenness to the patina of the bronze, there is an area of one shoulder that has discoloured, signs of handlingSignatures clear to the rear of the animal,Standing solidly and firmly to the marble base all joints secure at time of report, it is advisable to not lift by the bronze but a secure 'two-man' lift from the marble base No significant damage detected to the marble plinth Please see additional images for visual reference to condition and appearance Condition Report Disclaimer

New Wave/Electronic/80s Pop & Hip Hop 12" Singles. A collection of 30 singles. New Order; 'Blue Monday' (FAC 73) VG/VG, New Order; 'Power, Corruption & Lies' (LP, FACT 75) VG/VG+, The Smiths; 'This Charming Man' (RTT 136) VG+/VG+, The Smiths; 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' (RTT 156) VG/VG+, Depeche Mode; 'See You (Extended Version)' (12 MUTE 018) VG/VG+, Simple Minds; 'Love Song' (VS 434-12) VG/VG+, Simple Minds; 'The American' (VS 410-12) VG/VG+, Black Box; 'Ride On Time' (PT 43046) VG+/VG, Yazz and The Plastic Population; 'The Only Way Is Up' (BLR 4T) VG+/VG+, Erasure; 'Sometimes' (12 MUTE 51) VG/VG+, Erasure; 'Oh L'Amour' (12 MUTE 45) VG/VG, Duran Duran; 'Girls On Film (Night Version) (12 EMI 5206) G+/VG, Dead Or Alive; 'Lover Come Back To Me' (TA 6086) VG/VG, Soft Cell; 'Tainted Love' (BZS 212) G/VG, Scritti Politti; 'Cupid & Psych 85' (V 2350) F/VG, Bronski Beat; 'The Age Of Consent' (BITLP 1) VG/VG+, Pamela Nightingale; 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again' (CART 361) VG/VG+, Raven Maize; 'Forever Together' (LICT 014) VG+/VG, Depth Charge; 'Bounty Killers' (STORM 13) VG+/VG, Hazell Dean; 'No Fool (For Love)' (ENA T 123) VG+/VG, Frankie "Bones"* Presents Bonesbreaks; 'Volume 4 (More Filthy, Dirty Breaks For DJ's)' (BBR-1000) VG+/VG+, The Human League; 'Hard Times / Love Action (I Believe In Love)' (VS435-12) VG/VG+, Visage; 'Mind Of A Toy' (POSPX 236) VG+/VG+, Thompson Twins; 'Love On Your Side (Rap Boy Rap)' (ARIST 12504) VG+/VG+, Prefab Sprout; 'Don't Sing' (SK912) VG/VG+, Latino Rave; 'Deep Heat 89' (12 DEEP 10) VG/VG+, The Beatmasters Featuring Betty Boo; 'Hey DJ / I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing' (LEFT 34T) VG/VG+, Various artists; 'Cover-Up' (CUP WL5002) VG+/VG+, Mel & Kim; 'That's The Way It Is (Remix)' (SUPETX 117) VG+/VG+, Hazell Dean; 'They Say It's Gonna Rain (Indian Summer Mix)' (12R6107) VG/VG.

An Action Man Scorpion Tank by Palitoy, with original box, along with quantity of Action Man toys and accessories, (A Lot).Condition report There appears to be a hatch to the top which is missing, and one of the headlights is missing. There are no other items with the tank, however there was a flag with the other toys which may be part of the tank set. 

Board games - A collection of board games to include: "The Fastest Gun", "The Action Man Game", "Escape from Colditz", "Go for Broke", "Totopoly", "Buccaneer" and others. Items unchecked for completeness. (This does not constitute a guarantee) [L]

Fifteen Mattel He-Man Masters Of The Universe 200x Plastic Action Figures and Creatures, playworn.

A Circa 1960's Action Man by Palitoy, painted head variant - Red Hair, Clothed in Green Uniform, Bomber Jacket, Belt, Boots and Helmet, Faults include split/damage to arm and leg, hand detached (present). Plus Armoured Car (incomplete), all playworn.

Twenty Four Circa 1980's Mattel He-Man Masters Of The Universe Plastic Action Figures to include Moss Man, Grizzlor, Buzz Off. Together with a quantity of weapons and accessories. All playworn.

Nineteen vintage Palitoy Action Man figures, the majority flock haired examples and some with eagle eyes, together with a collection of original clothing and accessories.

Denys Fisher Six Million Dollar Man Steve Austin action figure together with girder, bionic arms and a Whitman jig-saw puzzle.

Ten vintage Palitoy Action Man figures to include flock haired and painted example, some in original outfits.

Two vintage Palitoy Action Man figures, one flock haired the other painted, together with a collection of clothing and accessories.

Three vintage Palitoy Action Man figures, two flock haired and one painted, together with a collection of original clothing and accessories.

Denys Fisher The Six Million Dollar Man Steve Austin action figure with bionic grip, complete with steel girder and instructions, in original box.

Hasbro Action Man Stalker Ranger action figure, 06928, in original box.

A large collection of vintage Palitoy Action Man clothing, weapons and accessories to include 21st Lancers, Polar Explorer, Jungle Explorer, Red Devil, Mine Detection, Astronaut, RNLI Sea Rescue and two Special Mission Pods. Outfits have not been checked for completeness.

1914-15 Star (Pte. F. H. Somerset Kimberley Cdo.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. N. H. Moore.) very fine and better (2) £80-£100 --- Francis Henry Somerset was born on 5 September 1882 and having emigrated to South Africa served briefly with French’s Scouts during the latter stages of the Boer War (entitled to a Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and South Africa 1901). He saw further service during the Great War, initially with the Kimberley Commando in German South West Africa in 1915, before proceeding to England as part of the 1st South African Brigade. He served with them in Egypt, and then, having been commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment, South African Infantry, saw further service on the Western Front. Somerset distinguished himself during the epic action at Delville Wood on 18 July 1916, and was praised in a letter written by Captain Richard Medlicott, commanding ‘B’ Company, 3rd Regiment: ‘The bombardment was intense all day, and our fellows and a platoon of the 4th Regiment dug themselves in. Suffering from want of food and water, and with the wounded impossible to get away, D Company retired without passing up any word, so did those on their left. My Orders were to hold on. I was on point of salient and furthest force pushed out. A and C Companies on my right not being dug in were scattered - 1 platoon of D Company under Second Lieutenant Somerset did well on my left. I used 4th Regiment in reserve trench as reinforcements. Ammunition scarce. Mud caused ammunition to be useless as rifles jammed with mud. No cleaning material - all consumed. Two guns, one Lewis and one Maxim knocked out. Our own field guns killed and wounded many of us. Difficulty owing to this to extend to my left. D Company retired when the attack came at probably 5pm or later; however, beat Germans off. Many killed seven yards from my trenches. Remnants of A and C Companies overpowered... I learnt this after heat of attack abated, with machine-guns enfilading us from my right. By passing up five rounds at a time from each man I kept machine-guns and one Lewis gun going sparingly and killed many Germans. I divided my front i.e. alternate men facing alternate fronts. Sent bombing party and patrol under officer to try and clear my right and get away to retire to Waterlot Farm or our old regimental headquarters.’ Somerset was subsequently killed during the Battle of Delville Wood, his date of death officially recorded as 20 July 1916, the day the Brogade was relieved. He is buried in Delville Wood Communal Cemetery, France. Sold with copied research. Norman Hope Moore was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, before transferring to the 3rd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, on 1 December 1908. Appointed Instructor of Musketry on 1 January 1909, he was mobilised on the outbreak of the Great War, and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from September 1914, commanding ‘A” Company for a short period. Wounded at the Battle of the Aisne, he was invalided home at the end of October 1914, during the first Battle of Ypres, and subsequently rejoined the 3rd Battalion, serving with them at home for the remainder of the War. He subsequently compiled the Battalion History, Records of the 3rd Battalion, the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, Formerly 6th West York Militia, 1760-1910’. He died on 8 March 1938. Sold with copied research.

The extremely rare Russia 1919 operations D.S.C. group of four awarded to Gunner C. W. Clarke, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his command of the armed-barge Suffolk in the Kama River Flotilla, Siberia Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (235903 C. W. Clarke, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. C. W. Clarke, R.N.) mounted court-style for display, together with Osmotherley Great War Tribute Medal, silver, named to ‘C. W. Clarke, The Great War 1914-19 Foreign Service’, very fine and better (5) £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: R. C. Witte Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2013. D.S.C. London Gazette 8 March 1920: ‘For distinguished services in command of the river steamer Suffolk operating on the Kama River.’ Cedric William Clarke was born at Northallerton, Yorkshire, in December 1889, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in February 1906. A Leading Seaman in battleship H.M.S. Prince George by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he remained similarly employed until March 1916, in which period he was advanced to Petty Officer and witnessed action in the Dardanelles. Having then returned to a shore appointment back in the U.K., Clarke served in another battleship, the Albion, in January-June 1917, in which latter month he was commissioned as a Gunner, R.N. and in this latter rank he joined the cruiser H.M.S. Kent in May 1918, the commencement of his Siberian sojourn. Ordered to Vladivostock in January 1919, to relieve her consort Suffolk, Kent was approached for volunteers to man an oil-driven tug and a barge in support of operations on the River Kama in Siberia, and Clarke was among the chosen handful of naval personnel to support a larger force of Marines, the whole under the command of Captain T. H. Jameson, R.M.L.I. Kama River Flotilla The oil-driven tug was duly renamed Kent and the barge Suffolk, the former being armed with four 12-pounders and manned by a volunteer crew of 24, and the latter with a 6-inch gun and a crew of nine, of which Clarke was placed in command. Joining their new “ships” at Perm in late April 1919, where they came under the overall command of Admiral Smirnoff, C.M.G., C.O. of the Kama River Flotilla, the Marines and Bluejackets were quickly in action as part of the Third Division of the Flotilla, under Captain Fierdoroff, in May and June, engaging enemy gunboats and carrying out valuable shore bombardments - a story vividly recalled in Captain Jameson’s Expedition to Siberia 1919. It is clear from Jameson’s account of the expedition that Clarke’s command, the Suffolk, was regularly in action, more so than the Kent, not least in the closing days of the Third Division’s part in the campaign in late June - on the 26th Suffolk engaged the enemy in Veltanka district, and again the next day at the village of Stralka, where she routed large numbers of the “Bolos” at close range - in all she fired 256 rounds and, having expended her ammunition, was recalled to Perm, arriving at Motavaileka Works on the 28th. The Marines and bluejackets were now ordered to dismantle their “ships” and load the resultant 225 tons of material on to railway trucks, a task made yet harder by the threat that Perm would fall shortly to the “Bolos” - in fact confusion reigned everywhere and the local railway station was overflowing with refugees. Kent and Suffolk were then sunk by permission of Admiral Smirnoff. Commandeering a locomotive from the repair shop - much to the annoyance of the Russians - Captain Jameson and his men eventually chugged out of Perm Station in the early morning of 29 June, a total of 37 of all ranks being crammed into two wooden trucks. And it would be 52 days - via Omsk and many adventures - that the exhausted party finally reached Vladivostock on 8 August, when they were taken on board the Carlisle: transferring at Shanghai to the Colombo, they finally reached England on 10 November 1919. Jameson was awarded the D.S.O., Clarke and his opposite number in the Kent D.S.C.s, and eight Petty Officers and ratings the Naval M.S.M., in addition to a single D.S.M. to Sergeant Alfred Taylor, R.M.L.I. of the Suffolk. Remaining active between the Wars, Clarke was appointed Commissioned Gunner in December 1926, while serving in the Hood, and to Lieutenant in November 1937, while serving in the Royal Sovereign. Next removing to the Devonport establishment Drake in April 1938, where he was still serving on the renewal of hostilities in the following year, he later removed to Malagas, the Fleet Air Arm station in South Africa, and was placed on the Retired List as a Lieutenant-Commander in 1946. He died in January 1951. Sold with copied record of service and R.M. Historical Society reprint of Captain Jameson’s Expedition to Siberia 1919.

A fine Great War ‘Independent Force’ immediate D.F.M. group of nine awarded to Sergeant Observer, later Wing Commander, F. Lee, 99 Squadron, Royal Air Force - a D.H.9 air gunner who was decorated for his gallantry during a raid on the railway at Lahr, 30 July 1918, and was credited with at least 3 ‘victories’ from June 1918 to the end of war Distinguished Flying Medal, G.V.R. (7054 Sergt. Obs. Lee, F., R.A.F.) suspension slack; British War and Victory Medals (7054. Sgt. F. Lee. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (7054. F/Sgt. F. Lee. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, polished, nearly very fine (9) £2,800-£3,200 --- D.F.M. London Gazette 21 September 1918: ‘During a recent long-distance bombing raid the formation to which Sergt. Lee belonged was attacked when over the objective by 20 enemy scouts. He engaged one of them with his double gun, which caused the enemy to turn over on his back, and after various gyrations the pilot fell out of the aeroplane. This NCO has proved himself a gallant and skilful observer, and in all respects a most reliable man in the air.’ Frederick Lee was born in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire in July 1895 (despite his attestation papers stating that he was born in April 1897). He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in July 1915, served in France from July 1916, and advanced to A.M. 1 in February 1917. Lee transferred to the Royal Air Force as a Private, Aerial Gunner in April 1918, and advanced to Sergeant in June 1918. He served as Sergeant Observer with 99 Squadron (DH.9’s), Independent Force from June 1918, and was crewed with Sergeant H. H. Wilson as his pilot for the raid on the railway at Lahr, 30 July 1918, for which he was awarded the D.F.M. More detail is given about the raid on Lahr in the History of No. 99 Squadron, Independent Force R.A.F., published in 1920: ‘Eight pilots dropped bombs on the railway at Lahr, 15 miles SSE of Strasbourg, results being unallocated owing to mist. The formations were attacked by twenty hostile machines when re-crossing the Rhine. Lieuts. Dietz and Batty were shot down and killed, their machine being seen to break up in the air. Lieut. Martin’s machine was disabled by a bullet through the radiator, and his observer, Lieut. Burton, was killed before re-crossing the lines. The pilot was wounded in the foot, but managed to land with a serious crash, in a marsh which appeared through a gap in the mist. His machine was very badly damaged by bullets. Lieut. Notley, with Captain Taylor, shot down an E.A. in flames; Lieut. Taylor, with Capt. Beecroft, shot another to pieces; and Sergt. Lee, with Sergt. Wilson, brought down a third, from which the pilot was seen to fall. The excellent fighting qualities of Sergt. Lee, which had resulted in shooting down three hostile machines, were recognised by an immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’ The raid is also extensively described in Independent Force, The War Diary of the Daylight Squadrons of the Independent Air Force, June - November 1918, which also gives: ‘The whole formation were banging away trying to keep the scouts at bay. Sgt. Lee fired one hundred rounds claiming an Albatros scout where the pilot was seen to fall out; this was Lee’s third victory this month [one also being recorded on 22 July 1918].’ One D.F.C., and one D.F.M. were awarded for the action. Lee remained in the R.A.F. after the war, and remustered as a M.T. Fitter in August 1919. He then applied for pilot training and gained his ‘Wings’ in May 1924, advancing to Flight Sergeant the following year (awarded L.S. & G.C. in April 1933). Lee served in Egypt, Iraq and India prior to the Second World War. He advanced to Warrant Officer in December 1935, and was commissioned Flying Officer in the Technical Branch in June 1940. Lee advanced to Squadron Leader in March 1945, having served as Acting Wing Commander from March the previous year. He was placed on the Retired List in July 1946, and resided in Ellesmere, Salop in later life. Lee died in February 1976. Sold with copied research, which includes a photographic image of recipient wearing medal ribbands to which he was not entitled. When the medals were originally sold to J. B. Hayward several decades ago the group included a renamed 1914-15 Star; an erased I.G.S. with ‘N. W. Frontier 1936-37’ clasp; and French Legion of Honour 5th Class with a Croix de Guerre. These medals, to which he was not entitled, were removed from the group many years ago.

Pair: Private W. A. Fell, 11th (Lonsdale) Battalion, Border Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 9 February 1916 1914-15 Star (17355 Pte. W. A. Fell. Bord: R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (17355 Pte. W. A. Fell. Bord. R.) good very fine British War Medal 1914-20 (28638 Pte. J. R. Collier. Bord. R.) good very fine (3) £160-£200 --- William Arthur Fell was born at Lyth, Westmorland, and enlisted in the 11th (Lonsdale) Battalion, Border Regiment, at Kendal on 27 October 1914. An original entrant, Fell served in France with ‘C’ Company from 23 November 1915 and was killed in action on 9 February 1916, one of the first men from the Battalion to die on active service. A note on the Battalion history website adds: ‘William was killed whilst on voluntary duty in the trenches for a sick man. Whilst digging, dirt was thrown over the parapet and a German bombardment ensued’. He is buried at Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension. James Robert Collier was born at Gravesend on 9 May 1898 and served on the Western Front with ‘D’ Company, 11th (Lonsdale) Battalion, Border Regiment. He was taken Prisoner of War at Nieuport on 10 July 1917 and was held at Dulmen Camp in the North Rhine, Germany.

A rare Second War ‘Norway V.C. action’ D.S.M. group of five awarded to Seaman C. E. Newman, Royal Naval Reserve, for gallantry aboard H.M. Trawler Arab when subjected to thirty-one air attacks in five days at Namsos; her skipper Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, R.N.R. was awarded the Victoria Cross, whilst members of her crew received a D.S.O., a C.G.M., and two D.S.M.’s Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C. Newman. Smn. R.N.R.) impressed naming, mounted on original investiture pin; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last four unnamed as issued in named card box of issue addressed to ‘Mr C. E. Newman, 31 St James Road, Hastings’, extremely fine (5) £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1940: ‘For bravery and devotion to duty in certain of H.M. Trawlers employed on the coast of Norway - Seaman Charles Newman, R.N.R., H.M.S. Arab.’ The following awards were given to the crew of the Arab, all announced in this same London Gazette: Victoria Cross - Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, R.N.R. Distinguished Service Order - Sub-Lieutenant Ernest Thomas Lees, R.A.N.V.R. Conspicuous Gallantry Medal - Second Hand David George Spindler, R.N.R. Distinguished Service Medal - Mr James Nicholson, 2nd Engineer, R.N.R., and Seaman Charles Newman, R.N.R. M.I.D. - Seaman Charles Hossack, R.N.R.. The citation for Stannard’s V.C. states: ‘For outstanding valour and signal devotion to duty at Namsos. When enemy bombing attacks had set on fire many tons of hand grenades on Namsos wharf, with no shore water supply available, Lieutenant Stannard ran Arab’s bows against the wharf and held her there. Sending all but two of his crew aft, he then endeavoured for two hours to extinguish the fire with hoses from the forecastle. He persisted in this work till the attempt had to be given up as hopeless. After helping other ships against air attacks, he placed his own damaged vessel under shelter of a cliff, landed his crew and those of two other trawlers, and established an armed camp. Here those off duty could rest while he attacked enemy aircraft which approached by day, and kept anti-submarine watch during the night. When another trawler near-by was hit and set on fire by a bomb, he, with two others, boarded Arab and moved her 100 yards before the other vessel blew up. Finally, when leaving the fjord, he was attacked by a German bomber which ordered him to steer East or be sunk. He held on his course, reserved his fire till the enemy was within 800 yards, and then brought the aircraft down. Throughout a period of five days Arab was subjected to 31 bombing attacks and the camp and Lewis gun positions ashore were repeatedly machine-gunned and bombed; yet the defensive position was so well planned that only one man was wounded. Lieutenant Stannard ultimately brought his damaged ship back to an English port. His continuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy was magnificent, and his enterprise and resource not only caused losses to the Germans but saved his ship and many lives.’ H.M. Trawler Arab, originally a Hull trawler requisitioned by the Navy was sent by the Admiralty, under the command of Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, as part of the 15th Anti Submarine Striking Force and had the task of sweeping the fjords for enemy submarines and to land supplies at the small fishing port of Namsos. On 28 April 1940, when enemy bombing attacks had set on fire many tons of ammunition and stores on the wharf, Lieutenant Stannard ran Arab’s bows against the wharf and held her there. Sending all but two of his crew aft, he endeavoured for two hours to extinguish the fire with hoses from the forecastle. He persisted in this work till the attempt had to be given up as hopeless. Stannard later received orders to evacuate French troops from a landing stage at 23.59 hours and transfer them to a troop-ship which was completed at 03.30. Following this Arab made for a small bay. In the vicinity were two sister trawlers, H.M.S. Gaul and Aston-Villa. On 1st May Gaul received a direct hit and was sinking, her crew making for the shore. Stannard placed Arab under shelter of a cliff, landed his crew and with those of the other vessels established a camp, where they were frequently attacked. When the trawler Aston Villa was hit Stannard, with two others, boarded Arab and moved her out of danger. On leaving the fjord on 2nd May Arab was attacked by a German Heinkel 115 bomber which ordered them to steer east or be sunk. Stannard held his course and, when the aircraft made her final run in to bomb the trawler, Arab’s Oerlikon gun brought the plane down. Throughout the five day action Arab was subjected to 31 bombing attacks. Lieutenant Stannard then brought Arab back to Scapa arriving on 6th May and on 16th August was awarded the V.C., and Newman his D.S.M. Charles Edwin Newman was born in Hastings, Sussex, on 25 March 1915. He joined the Navy on 19 March 1940 (Official No. JX.184489) and as Ordinary Seaman joined H.M. Trawler Hazel on 10 April but transferred to H.M. Trawler Arab on 21 April 1940. In November 1941, still serving in Arab, he changed branches to become a Stoker 1st Class (new Official No. KX.148617) and continued in Arab until 19 December 1942. He was held on the books of Europa, R.N.P.S. base at Lowestoft, for the remainder of the war, but from June to October 1945 saw service in the Virginia, yacht of 712 tons, at Columbo, Ceylon, Bahrain, Persian Gulf and Bombay. Sold with the recipient’s Royal Naval Patrol Service sleeve badge (1st type without the integral loops for stitching) with brooch pin; original Certificate of Service of Charles Edwin Newman listing his D.S.M. 16. Aug. 1940; Petty Officer’s first class embroidered arm badge; naval cap badge and shoulder board; photo of recipient; “His Majesty’s Minesweepers” booklet, HMSO 1943; “Junior Mirror” newspaper Jan 18th 1956, which introduces a section/feature “Our VC Heroes” of which No. 1 was the V.C. to Richard Stannard and during which Seaman Newman played his part, paper AF; together with copied research.

Three: Stoker Petty Officer W. C. T. Sheepwash, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Inflexible at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and in H.M.S. Phoebe during the Zeebrugge Raid, 23 April 1918 1914-15 Star (165419 W. C. T. Sheepwash. S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (165419 W. C. T. Sheepwash. S.P.O. R.N.) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (3) £120-£160 --- Walter Charles Thomas Sheepwash was born in Chatham, Kent, on 21 August 1872 and joined the Royal Navy on 11 January 1892. Advanced Stoker Petty Officer on 1 July 1906, he served served during the Great War in H.M.S. Inflexible from the outbreak of War to 30 September 1917, and was present during the Battle of the Falkland Islands, the Dardanelles campaign, ands at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. After a brief period ashore he served next in H.M.S. Phoebe from 11 November 1917 until the cessation of hostilities, and was present during the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918: ‘H.M.S. Phoebe was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander H. E. Gore-Langton. When he saw H.M.S. North Star struck and brought to a standstill he went to her assistance and made a smoke screen to shield her from view. Then H.M.S. Phoebe moved ahead of the North Star and passed a wire across to tow her out of action. The ships drifted some distance to the north east until the North Star lay almost at right angles to the Phoebe and by that time the smoke-screen had dispersed. The two ships were then again lit up by the searchlights and were heavily shelled at close range. The Phoebe again tried to drag the North Star to safety but by then the latter’s engine and boiler rooms were flooded and the strain caused the wire to snap. Gore-Langton then turned the Phoebe alongside the wreck of the North Star with the intention of drawing her further out before attempting to tow her from the front but several shells struck the North Star blowing her capstan overboard and killing and wounding many men. Realising that she was unable to carry out her intention, the Phoebe cast off, made another smoke-screen between the North Star and the shore and then sent a boat to rescue some of the survivors. The North Star also lowered her boats and ferried some men across to the Phoebe. Gore-Langton once again tried to tow the North Star clear under the cover of a smoke screen but again the North Star was hit and seeing that she was sinking he gave orders that she should be abandoned. Men scrambled across from the sinking ship to the Phoebe but it is said that one was left behind. When this was realised the Phoebe re-approached the North Star to rescue him but as she came alongside, the man was killed by a bursting shell. H.M.S. Phoebe had stayed by the North Star for nearly an hour'. Sheepwash was shore demobilised on 8 April 1919. He was not awarded a Long Service Medal. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

Four: Private W. J. Smith, Grenadier Guards, later Conductor, South African Service Corps, who was wounded in action at Senekal on 29 May 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (6683. Pte. W. J. Smith. Gren. Gds.) engraved naming; 1914-15 Star (Cdr. W. H. Smith S.A.S.C. - T & R.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Condr. W. Hooton-Smith. S.A.S.C.) last three in individual named card boxes of issue, edge bruise to QSA, otherwise extremely fine (4) £200-£240 --- William John Smith attested for the Grenadier Guards and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, being wounded in action at Senekal during the Battle of Biddulphsberg on 29 May 1900. It is believed that, remaining in South Africa, he changed his name to William Hooton-Smith, and served with the South African Service Corps during the Great War, although whether the QSA and the Great War trio were indeed awarded to the same man is unconfirmed.

A small quantity of Action Man figures and accessories, etc, including two figure, one wearing a USA space suit and the other in military uniform, together with a Boxer dog, a bag of clothes, weapons, gas mask, etc, s.d. (1)

Three Action Man Vehicles etc

Vintage Star Wars, Star Trek and Action Man toys

Two boxed Action Man sets from the 40th Anniversary Nostalgic Collection feature Action Soldier figures with original packaging, accessories, and manuals.

Three boxed Action Man sets: Soldier, Red Devil Parachutist 40th Anniversary, and Jungle Explorer.

Advertising Art Nouveau original vintage poster The Fine Art Society's Exhibition - Water Colours of Flower Time. In the Austrian Tyrol Italy & England by Rosa Wallis. The Fine Art Society are art dealers with two premises, one in New Bond Street, London occupied since February 1876, and given a new entrance facade in 1881 by Edward William Godwin (1833–1886), and most recently fully refurbished in 2004–05, with a new gallery created for contemporary work. The other gallery is in Dundas Street in Edinburgh's New Town (originally Bourne Fine Art, established 1978). The gallery is also known as the pioneer of the one-man exhibition, most famously that of James McNeill Whistler's First Venice Set of etchings in December 1880; the gallery having sent Whistler to Venice in 1879 in part to enable him to escape from the issues following his libel action against John Ruskin. The commission was for Whistler to travel to Venice for three months to create a series of twelve etchings. Beguiled by the city, he stayed for fourteen months and completed approximately fifty etchings. Venice also inspired Whistler to make some hundred works in pastel, of which 53 were shown in the Venice Pastels exhibition in 1881. During Whistler's absence in Venice, the gallery showed his antagonist John Ruskin's private Collection of Watercolours by J. M. W. Turner, and ran a subscription to pay for Ruskin's legal costs: a supreme exhibition of political sleight of hand. Other living exhibitors at the London premises included Sir John Everett Millais, John Singer Sargent, Burne-Jones, Frank Brangwyn, Walter Richard Sickert, Walter Crane, George Washington Lambert, Henry Charles Brewer and Joseph Southall, and more recently Leonard Rosoman, Emma Sargent, Emily Young, John Byrne, Alexander Stoddart and Geoffrey Clarke. Of many memorial exhibitions held, one was for Lady Alma Tadema in 1910.Fair condition, tears in margins, waving, creases. County: UK, year of printing:1910s, designer: Charles R. Stanton, size (cm): 64x49.5

Original vintage Soviet film poster for La Loi de l'Antarctique / The Law of the Antarctic, a 1963 action movie directed by Timofei Levchuk, starring Sergey Dvoretskiy, Nikolai Kryukov, Vsevolod Safonov, the poster features an illustration of two men assisting a man, with people walking on white snow and icebergs on blue sea. The film tells a story of Soviet polar pilots rescuing Belgian polar explorers in the ice of Antarctica. Issued by Sovexportfilm URSS. Good condition, folds, creasing, tears, paper losses, minor staining. Country of issue: Russia, designer: Unknown, size (cm): 118x83, year of printing: 1960s.

Return of the Jedi: An Ewok combat glider, A Speeder bike vehicle, A Tauntaun action figure, a CAP-2 vehicle, Hoth Wampa figure, Tri-pod laser cannon, one man sail skiff vehicle, Radar laser cannon, AST-5 armoured sentinel vehicle, Vehicle maintenance energiser toy, CAP-2 captivator vehicle, INT-4 Interceptor vehicle, Ewok Assault catapault, all boxed

Selection of vintage action men figures dated 1996, 94, and a 1997 action man toxic gut Dr x motorbike and action man

A first edition Action Man doll with army uniform and radio backpack, fair (Est. plus 24% buyer's premium inc. VAT)

A Collection of Vintage Action man style figures, Airfix items & Lead Soldiers

A Lego 76126 Marvel Avengers, Avengers Ultimate Quinjet, built, instructions (not checked for completeness);  Action man;  A vintage Playskool presents Richard Scarry's build and play world of Puzzletown Mayor Fox's Town Center (sic) set D, includes Mayor Fox, Mrs Murphy and Sgt Murphy, woodboard cut-outs, plastic bases and roof tiles, boxed (not checked, playworn);  army figures;  A boxed Artin Formula Challenge, unused, boxed; another similar slot car set, unboxed (2)

Collection of modern Action Man figures and sets to include 4x4 jeep, Turbolance motorbike, dinghy plus boxed and unboxed figures, model condition generally very good previously used, boxes generally poor, please note we cannot guarantee completeness of sets, please refer to photos, qtyShipping £58.00 plus vat (UK Only)

Collection of modern Hasbro Action Man figures, accessories, vehicles and aircraft, qty, all A/FShipping £33.00 plus vat (UK Only)

Collection of Meccano, a small quantity of Bayko and a boxed Action Man Assault CraftShipping £68.00 plus vat (UK Only)