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Lot 261
A Victorian gold mounted agate presentation table snuff box of canted rectangular form with panels of agate forming hinged lid and base, the concave sides with reeded borders and chased foliate designs within C scroll panels, with scalloped thumb piece 7cm x 5.5cm x 2.5cm Notes: The lid rim with engraved presentation border 'PRESENTED BY COLONEL DUGLAD CAMPBELL R.A. TO ARTHUR CAMPBELL WRITER TO THE SIGNET 1848' The Presenter of the snuff box Dugald Campbell was born in Campbeltown, Argyllshire, on 3rd February 1781. He was the eldest son of Duncan Campbell (born c.1755) and his wife Anne (born c.1759). His parents both came from the town and had married in Campbeltown on 23rd February 1780. Dugald Campbell was baptized in Campbeltown on 13th February 1781. He enrolled as a gentleman cadet at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich at the age of 14 on 14th July 1795, Campbell was subsequently commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, at the age of 15 years and 10 months, on 6th December 1796. Promoted 1st lieutenant on 16th July 1799, he spent the period from July 1800 to May 1802 in Spain, Malta, Egypt and Italy. He served at Ferrol, in Spain, in 1800 and in Egypt in 1801, taking part in the actions there on 8th, 13th and 21st March during which he was wounded and for which service the Sultan of Turkey awarded him the small gold medal of the Imperial Ottoman Order of the Crescent. Promoted 2nd captain on 29th July 1804, he returned to the Mediterranean in May 1805 to serve in that theatre of operations until August 1812. He fought at the Battle of Maida in Calabria, southern Italy, on 4th July 1806 and then again in Egypt in 1807, where he participated in the bombardment of Rosetta. He was present on the expedition to Diamente in Calabria in 1808 and at the capture of the islands of Ischia and Procida in the Bay of Naples in 1809. He was promoted captain on 3rd August 1810. In April 1813 Campbell was posted to Jamaica where he remained until August 1815 and during which posting he probably met his future wife, Anne Mary Bernard, the widowed daughter of David Kerr of that island. In 1814, at the apparent ending of twenty years of war with France, he was rewarded for his services by being included in a general brevet promotion to the rank of major: this took place on 4th June that year. On 30th January 1816 he married Anne Mary Kerr, or Bernard, in Edinburgh. His final overseas postings were to the garrison of Gibraltar, where he was posted from July 1824 to May 1828 and from February 1829 to July 1832. Campbell was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 17th June 1828 and retired on full pay on 4th June 1836, being promoted to the rank of colonel on 23rd November 1841. On the institution of the Military General Service Medal 1793-1814 in 1848 Campbell was awarded this campaign medal with the single clasp for the battle of Maida. Had he survived a further year, he would have been awarded an additional clasp for the campaign in Egypt in 1801 but he died in Edinburgh on 14th July 1849. Since his marriage was childless, his estate, apart from a few specific bequests, reverted to his widow, who died in Edinburgh in 1855. Among the specific bequests in Colonel Campbell's Will were three snuff boxes which were bequeathed to three of the four trustees of his Will, his three brothers-in-law, Herbert Newton Jarrett Kerr (d. 1875), William Mitchell Kerr (d. 1862) and Donald Macmillan, who was married to Campbell's sister Anne. The fourth trustee of the Will was Arthur Campbell WS, who had prepared it in 1844 and who was also bequeathed 'the four oil paintings which at present hang in our dining room'. The recipient of the snuff box, Arthur Campbell was born on 15th July 1788, the 4th son of Arthur Campbell of Auchmannoch, Ayrshire (d. 1828) by his wife Burella Hunter, the second daughter of Robert Hunter, professor of Greek at Edinburgh University. Campbell was admitted to the Register of Writers to the Signet on 23rd November 1813 and apprenticed to John Hunter, who may have been a kinsman. On 31st August 1825, Arthur Campbell married Jane Barstow, the daughter of Thomas Barstow of Kelso and elder sister of the distinguished Edinburgh accountant Charles Murray Barstow (1804-85). Campbell purchased the 481-acre estate of Nether Catrine, Ayshire, in 1852, was a director of the British Linen Bank for more than thirty years and was also a Justice of the Peace for Edinburgh. He died in Edinburgh on 3rd March 1875. His son, Arthur (1827-84) and grandson, George (b. 1862) were also Writers to the Signet. The three snuffboxes specifically bequeathed in the Will of Colonel Dugald Campbell may be of relevance. The text of the Will in this regard reads as follows: "We request Mr Herbert N.J. Kerr's acceptance of the Mosaic Snuff Box which was given to Colonel Campbell by Mr Jarrett. Also we leave to Mr Donald Macmillan the Pebble Snuff Box mounted in silver which formerly belonged to the Macdonalds of Sanda…. We request Mr William M. Kerr's acceptance of Colonel Campbell's Silver Snuff Box left him by David Kerr his father." Although it is clear that the gold-mounted agate snuff box that is the subject of this report was not among those bequeathed in Colonel Campbell's Will, it is implicit that the bequeathing or giving of snuff boxes was an action of some significance and particularly in the case of snuff boxes with some historic importance for both giver and receiver. '…the Pebble Snuff Box mounted in silver which formerly belonged to the Macdonalds of Sanda…', for example, may commemorate the massacre of the Macdonalds of Sanda following the capture of the Castle of Dunaverty in Kintyre by troops loyal to the Campbell Duke of Argyll in 1647: it may even have been an item of booty removed from Dunaverty by a Campbell ancestor of Colonel Dugald Campbell. Since Arthur Campbell WS was Colonel Campbell's legal advisor and man of business, and of course also a distant kinsman, it seems most likely that Note: The box was a gift from the Colonel in the year prior to his death, to his legal advisor for some service rendered and also, perhaps, in order that all the Trustees of theColonel's Will should each have an appropriate snuff box by which to remember him. Stephen Wood MA FSA,
Lot 3353
Palitoy Action Man, 5x 1970s flock haired figures, 4 very good, one with foot missing, all clean and with good hands, plus a collection of good clothing (G), sold with a Pursuit Craft (G), a Land Rover front bumper broken off (F-G), and a very large quantity of uniforms, accessories and paper related ephemera, all clean mainly, instructions sheets (G-VG)
Lot 3354
Hasbro, 1973, Cherilea, Sharna, Action Man accessories to include; abseiling tower appears complete, Sharna 4 wheel covered wagon, tilt damaged otherwise very good, scout car (P), Life raft, motorcycle combination and case by Cherilea, a few accessories plus a Gabriel 'Tonto' 10 inch doll figure (F-G-VG)
Lot 591
A Great War D.S.M. awarded to Petty Officer Mechanic G. Gardner, Royal Naval Air Service, awarded the D.S.M. and several Russian decorations for service with the Armoured Car Division in Russia Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (F.9891 P.O. Mech., R.N. Armd. Cars. Austria 1st July 1917) good very fine £2000-2500 D.S.M. London Gazette 30 November 1917. George Gardner was born in Sydney, N.S.W. on 24 April 1876. He entered the R.N.A.S. as a Petty Officer Mechanic on 16 November 1915. He embarked for Russia on 1 December 1915 and served with Nos. 1 and 2 Armoured Car Squadrons. His official record of service states: ... Aug-Oct. 1916 On detached service. Kars base. Novr.-Decr. On detached service in Dobrudsha. Hirsova base. Decr. On detached service in Roumania. Braila. Jany. 1917. On detached service in Roumania. Galatz. 10th April. Awarded Silver "St. George Cross" for conspicuous bravery under fire on the Galatz Front. No.864169. 22nd May. Returned to Tiraspol Base. ? June. Left Tiraspol Base for service in Galicia. Telyache. ? August. Left Proskurov Base for Brovary Base. 3rd Nov. Awarded Distinguished Service Medal. ? August. Left Brovary for England on leave. 18.9.17 Arrived in England. 18.1.18. Transferred to M.G.C. George Gardner is mentioned in the following despatch of Commander Locker-Lampson: I would also venture to bring to the notice of their Lordships the work of the following Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers: C.P.O. John MacFarlane (killed) F.2863; P.O.M. John Harrison F.2893; George Gardner, F.9891; John Marshall McEwan (wounded) F.10029. These were volunteers who assisted Lieut.-Commr. Smiles to repair the roads under very heavy fire during the attack on Brzezany. He was additionally mentioned by Smiles: For consistent good work during the whole of the expedition, both as a Cook and also when any heavy fatigue work was required. This man also volunteered for sniping when Colonel Balgramo asked for some good shots for the trenches. In The Czars British Squadron, by Perrett and Lord, the action at Brzezany, 1 July 1917, is described, The cars were due to cross their start line at 09.55 and the infantry to go over the top five minutes later. Watched by Kerensky from a forward observation post, Wells Hood led out his squadron in the Rolls armoured. The cars gathered speed in a cutting and then burst out onto the wastes of No Mans Land, Shells burst alongside the road ... bullets clanged off the armour, but within minutes they were level with the first line of enemy trenches and were enfilading them with their fire. ... While the Russian infantry came up Wells Hood protected the Corps left flank from interference, and then pressed on down the road to Brzezany until he found it blocked by a barbed wire and sandbag barricade. Smiles called for volunteers to go forward with him and remove the obstruction. He was joined by Chief Petty Officer MacFarlane, Leading Petty Officer Harrison and Petty Officers Gardner and McEwan, and together they crawled up the roadside ditch to the barricade, which was now under such shellfire that Locker Lampson wondered how any of them survived. Dodging shellbursts, they were able at length to dismantle the structure piece by piece, but in the process MacFarlane was killed and McEwan badly wounded. The cars passed through ... As the attack by the Russian infantry faltered, many of the men refused to go forward. The Czars British Squadron records, A powerfully built Australian Petty Officer named Gardiner (sic), serving with one of the Maxim detachments, was so sickened by the spectacle that he launched a personal attack on the nearest platoon, bodily throwing a score of men over the parapet; they merely crawled to the sanctuary of shell holes. It is quite likely that Australians Gardiner and Gardner are one and the same (The latter event is recorded in the diary of Petty Officer Mechanic N. E. Martin, R.N.A.S. - see lot 594). Various official documents indicate he was awarded the Russian Cross of Bravery, 3rd Class; Cross of Bravery, 4th Class, No. 864169, and St. George Medal for Bravery, 4th Class. Sold with copied service papers and Admiralty papers, including Smiles report on the action of 1 July 1917.
Lot 794
Five: Captain A. P. Sutton, Merchant Navy, whose command, the railway steamship Archangel, was seriously damaged and beached as a result of three bomb hits off the East Coast of Scotland in May 1941: the enemy aircraft followed up with at least two machine-gun attacks, bringing the total casualties to 33 killed and 77 wounded - the latter including Sutton British War and Mercantile Marine Medals 1914-18 (Arthur P. Sutton); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine and better (5) £250-300 Arthur Pearson Sutton was born at Alderburgh, Suffolk in August 1897 and qualified as a 2nd Mate (Steamships) in London in December 1917, during the course of his services in the Mercantile Marine in the Great War. Having then added to his qualifications with a 1st Mates Certificate in Calcutta in September 1921, and a Masters Certificate in London in September 1924, he enjoyed several seagoing commands in the intervening period before joining the L.N.E.Rs railway steamship Archangel in March 1941. In common with so many other Merchant officers, however, his period of command proved short-lived, the bare facts of the Archangels fate being covered in the following secret report to the Ministry of War Transport: I am sorry to inform you that the Archangel was attacked by enemy aircraft about midnight on 16 May 1941, while conveying troops from Kirkwall to Aberdeen. She was struck heavily amidships, the engine and boiler rooms being put out of action and the upper decks so badly damaged that there was no communication between the fore and aft of the ship. The Master, Captain A. P. Sutton, was seriously injured, and out of a crew of 75, 17 are dead or missing and 15 injured ... Casualties among the troops were very heavy but the discipline throughout of both troops and crew was excellent. The destroyer escort sent a Surgeon to assist the ships Medical Officer. While they were attending the wounded there were two further attacks from the air, but these were beaten off by the Archangels own guns. At 4 oclock in the morning tugs arrived and both the wounded and uninjured troops, with part of the crew, were transferred to a destroyer. The Archangel was beached but unfortunately is a total wreck. Casualties among the Army were indeed high, 16 being killed and 66 wounded, the whole from the ranks of 182 and 196 H.A.A. Batteries, R.A. Clearly, too, Captain Sutton was too seriously wounded to submit his own report of the action, the task falling to Chief Officer A. W. Greenham: The enemy aircraft released three bombs simultaneously which struck the ship amidships between the funnels ... They wrecked the whole of the upper decks and blew out the private cabins; wrecked the engine and boiler rooms and there was hell let loose with escaping steam. I noted that the engine room skylights still remained in position but there was nothing left of the after funnel except a great chunk of iron ... the Second Officer came back and said he had found the Captain on the deck injured, and the O.C. Troops and I decided there was nothing to do but collect the wounded. Just at this time we heard the destroyer [H.M.S. Blankney; her Captains report included], which was ahead of us at the time of the attack, firing at an aircraft and our guns joined him. The starboard forward gun was very busy, and I think he got off two or three belts, but I am unable to say whether the after guns were used. The aircraft flew over us twice, using his machine-guns, and I saw tracer bullets flying directly at me. Although I did not actually see the aircraft I got the impression it was flying about 500 feet high, as I saw bursts of shells in the half-light about 1000 yards away at low altitude. I believe the destroyer shot down the aircraft. Some of the crew thought that tracer bullets from our guns struck the aircraft, but it was not seen approaching or overhead. The first thing we heard was the bombs and later there were machine-gun attacks ... Sutton eventually returned to seagoing duties in February 1943, when he joined the Prague, aboard which ship he served until transferring to his final wartime command, the rescue ship Bury, in September 1943. A vessel of 1910-vintage, the Bury was handicapped by her great age, and considerable leaks in her accommodation were the result, but she nonetheless gave sterling service from 1941-45, Suttons period of command encompassing at least a dozen operational voyages and the admission of many convoy patients to the ships hospital. So, too, her providing excellent H./F. and D./F. bearings of enemy submarines to her Naval escorts. But probably the highlight of her time under Suttons command was the occasion H.M.S. Vervain was torpedoed approaching the Clyde on 20 February 1945 - within 20 minutes the Burys rescue motor boat was picking up survivors, and though they were spread over a wide area, the task was completed within an hour. Sutton transferred from the Bury to the Macclesfield in August 1946, but for much of the late 1940s and 1950s he commanded the Vienna. Yet it was during the course of a short spell as Master of the British Railways ship Arnhem in 1952, that a little of his character was captured in a press interview: Captain A. P. Sutton has a back as straight as a cliff and a pair of clear, unflinching eyes, well-trained and accustomed to penetrating whether it be the dark shadows of the sea or, perhaps, the character of men. By instinct and experience he is a man of action, decisive, firm, and where the job is concerned, quite sure of himself. He carries an air of quiet confidence as comfortably as he wears his snug duffle-coat and peak cap. Captain Sutton came ashore for a final time in August 1962.
Lot 841
A rare Uganda D.S.O group of three awarded to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. G. Sitwell, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, killed in action at Harts Hill, 24 February 1900 Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with top bar; East and Central Africa 1897-991 clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (Capt. C. G. H. Sitwell, Uganda Rif.); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (Lt. Col. C. H. G. Sitwell, D.S.O., Rl. Dublin Fus.) extremely fine (3) £6000-7000 Claude George Henry Sitwell was born on 18 October 1858. He joined the 85th Foot as a Second Lieutenant from the Militia, 14 September 1878, and served in the Afghan War, 1879-80, with the Kuram Division, Yarmusht Expedition (Medal).ÊHe became a Lieutenant, Shropshire Light Infantry, 1 July 1881, and in 1882 served with the Egyptian Expedition, being present at the defence of Alexandria, occupation of Kafr Dowar and surrender of Damietta (Medal and Star). He was promoted to Captain in the Manchester Regiment, 13 July 1886 and Major in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 13 October 1898.Ê From 11 May 1895 to 10 October 1899, he was employed in the Uganda Protectorate.ÊHe commanded the expeditions against the Kitosh, Kabras and Kikelwa tribes, 1895.ÊFor the Nandi Expedition, 1895-96, he was mentioned in Despatches. In Uganda, in 1897-98; in February and March 1898, he commanded the operations against the Mwanga, and fought an action near Katonga River, and other engagements.ÊFor these services he was mentioned in despatches; was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, 4 October 1899, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette, 24 January 1899): Claude George Henry Sitwell, Major, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. In recognition of services during the recent operations in Uganda.Ê The D.S.O. was sent to the Foreign Office and thence to H.M. Commissioner in Uganda.ÊLieutenant Colonel C. G. H. Sitwell's medals, etc, were returned by Sir R. Buller, Lieutenant Colonel C. G. H. Sitwell having been killed at Tugela.ÊThe D.S.O., Warrant and Statutes were sent to Miss Blanche Sitwell for Colonel Sitwell's daughter, Miss C. D. C. Sitwell.ÊColonel Sitwell was killed in action 24 February 1900.Ê Sir A Conan Doyle in The Great Boer War, p.216-219 wrote:Ê Brigadier Fitzroy Hart, to whom the assault was entrusted, is in some ways as singular and picturesque a type as has been evolved in the war, a dandy soldier, always the picture of neatness from the top of his helmet to the heels of his well-polished brown boots, he brings to military matters the same precision which he affects in dress.ÊPedantic in his accuracy, he actually at the battle of Colenso drilled the Irish Brigade for half an hour before leading them into action, and threw out markers under a deadly fire in order that his change from close to extended formation might be academically correct.ÊThe heavy loss of the brigade at this action was to some extent ascribed to him, and affected his popularity; but as his men came to know him betterÑhis romantic bravery, his whimsical soldierly humourÑtheir dislike changed into admiration.ÊHis personal disregard for danger was notorious and reprehensible.Ê'Where is General Hart?' asked someone in action.Ê'I have not seen him, but I know where you will find him.ÊGo ahead of the skirmish line, and you will see him standing on a rock', was the answer.ÊHe bore a charmed life.Ê It was a danger to be near him.Ê'Whom are you going to?' 'General Hart', said the aide-de-camp.Ê'Then good-bye!' cried his fellows.ÊA grim humour ran through his nature.ÊIt is gravely recorded and widely believed that he lined up a regiment on a hill-top in order to teach them not to shrink from fire.ÊAmid the laughter of his Irishmen, he walked through the open files of his firing line holding a laggard by the ear.ÊThis was the man who had put such a spirit into the Irish Brigade that amid that army of valiant men there were none who held such a record.Ê'Their rushes were the quickest, their rushes were the longest, and they stayed the shortest time under cover', said a shrewd military observer.ÊTo Hart and his brigade was given the task of clearing the way to Ladysmith. The regiments which he took with him on his perilous enterprise were the 1st Inniskilling Fusiliers, the 2nd Dublin Fusiliers, the 1st Connaught Rangers, and the Imperial Light Infantry, the whole forming the famous 5th Brigade.ÊThey were already in the extreme British advance, and now, as they moved forwards, the Durham Light Infantry and the 1st Rifle Brigade from Lyttelton's Brigade came up to take their place.ÊThe hill to be taken lay on the right, and the soldiers were compelled to pass in single file under a heavy fire for more than a mile until they reached the spot which seemed best for their enterprise.ÊThere, short already of sixty of their comrades, they assembled and began a cautious advance upon the lines of trenches and sangars which seamed the brown slope above them. For a time they were able to keep some cover, and the casualties were comparatively few.ÊBut now at last, as the evening sun threw a long shadow from the hills, the leading regiment, the Inniskillings, found themselves at the utmost fringe of boulders with a clear slope between them and the main trench of the enemy.ÊUp there where the shrapnel was spurting and the great lyddite shells crashing they could dimly see a line of bearded faces and the black dots of the slouch hats.ÊWith a yell the Inniskillings sprang out, carried with a rush the first trench, and charged desperately onwards for the second one.ÊIt was a supremely dashing attack against supremely steady resistance, for among all their gallant deeds the Boers have never fought better than on that February evening.ÊAmid such a smashing shell fire as living mortals have never yet endured they stood doggedly, these hardy men of the veldt, and fired fast and true into the fiery ranks of the Irishmen.ÊThe yell of the stormers was answered by the remorseless roar of the Mausers and the deep-chested shouts of the farmers.ÊUp and up surged the infantry, falling, rising, dashing bull-headed at the crackling line of the trench.Ê But still the bearded faces glared at them over the edge, and still the sheet of lead pelted through their ranks.ÊThe regiment staggered, came on, staggered again, was overtaken by supporting companies of the Dublins and the Connaughts, came on, staggered once more, and finally dissolved into shreds, who ran swiftly back for cover, threading their way among their stricken comrades.ÊNever on this earth was there a retreat of which the survivors had less reason to be ashamed.ÊThey had held on to the utmost capacity of human endurance.ÊTheir colonel, ten officers, and more than half the regiment were lying on the fatal hill.ÊHonour to them, and honour also to the gallant Dutchmen who, rooted in the trenches, had faced the rush and fury of such an onslaught! To-day to them, to-morrow to us; but it is for a soldier to thank the God of battles for worthy foes. It is one thing, however, to repulse the British soldier, and it is another to rout him.ÊWithin a few hundred yards of their horrible ordeal at Magersfontein, the Highlanders re-formed into a military body.ÊSo now the Irishmen fell back no farther than the nearest cover, and there held grimly on to the ground which they had won.ÊIf you would know the advantage which the defence has over the attack, then do you come and assault this line of tenacious men, now in your hour of victory and exultation, friend Boer! Friend Boer did attempt it, and skilfully too, moving a flanking party to sweep the position with their fire.Ê But the brigade, though sorely hurt, held them off without difficulty, and was found on the morning of the 24th to be still lying upon the ground which they had won. Our losses had been very heavyÑColonel Thackeray of the Inniskillings
Lot 851
The superb Great War High Wood M.C., Life Saving A.M. group of seven awarded to Captain W. L. C. Rathbone, 15th Battalion, London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles), formerly Devonshire Regiment, who was awarded the Albert Medal for great gallantly in disarming a madman who had run amok in a trench carrying a loaded rifle with fixed bayonet Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed Captain W. L. C. Rathbone, 15th London Regt., 18th Sept. 1916; Albert Medal, 2nd Class, for Gallantry in Saving Life on Land, reverse officially inscribed Presented by His Majesty to 2nd Lieutenant William Leslie Coutts Rathbone, 15th Bn., The London Regiment, for gallantry in saving life in France on the night of the 6th May 1916; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Natal, Transvaal (5815 Pte., Devon. Regt.); 1914-15 Star (1210 Sjt., 15/Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, E.VII.R. (1210 Pte., 15/London Regt.) Q.S.A. and T.F.E.M. with single initial L (he was serving with the single christian name Leslie at the time), generally good very fine (7) £8000-10000 M.C. London Gazette 14 November 1916 (awarded for action at High Wood, 18 September 1916). For conspicuous gallantry in action. He collected together a party of men, and led them in an attack in conjunction with another battalion. Owing to his courage and initiative, his party succeeded in capturing the enemy support line. A.M. London Gazette 4 August 1917 (Joint citation with Corporal Feldwick) As a working party under Second Lieutenant Rathbone, 15th London Regiment was proceeding down a communication trench by night, they were fired upon from close quarters. Second Lieutenant Rathbone ascertained that the shots came from a soldier who had run amok, and had posted himself with loaded rifle and fixed bayonet farther down the trench. Second Lieutenant Rathbone borrowed a rifle and, accompanied by Corporal Feldwick, advanced along the trench until in view of the mentally deranged man. They then advanced with rifles at the ready; the officer calling upon the man to surrender. Receiving no reply, they then dropped their rifles and rushed him, and after disarming him took him to the nearest dresing station. The following statement which was written by Second Lieutenant Rathbone on 7 May 1916, the day after the event is included in his A.M. recommendation file, copies of all of which are included in the lot: I was taking a working party along Cabaret Road and had nearly reached the artillery positions when I heard a shot and the bullet seemed to pass close to the party. I concluded that it had probably come from an incinerator and took no notice. A little further on the artillerymen shouted to us to stop, which I did thinking some guns were going to fire. As nothing happened for some time I called out to know what was the matter. The artillerymen then shouted "There is a man who has gone dotty further up the trench with a loaded rifle". This explained the shot and as the trench is shallow I ordered the men to get down. The artillery did not appear to be making any attempt to deal with the situation so I borrowed a rifle - loaded - from Corporal Feldwick of the 8th and told him to get another and load that. I then worked my way along until I could see the madman and ordered him to put his hands up. He took no notice so I walked towards him with my rifle at the ready. As soon as I got near enough I dropped my rifle and grasped that of the man, holding it so that he could neither shoot nor use his bayonet. The Corporal and others then rushed up and collared him. The bayonet was fixed and the rifle was at full cock with a round in the chamber and one on the magazine. The man was with difficulty removed to the dressing station in Hospital Road. I do not know to what regiment the man belonged. The two men of my own party who were nearest were Corporal Feldwick and Rifleman Haynes, both of the 8th Battalion. Some of the artillerymen must also have seen what occurred. A note in one of the reports in this file suggests that the soldier who ran amok in the trenches belonged to the Royal Irish Rifles. M.I.D. requires confirmation. William Leslie Coutts Rathbone enlisted into the Devonshire Regiment in February 1898 under the name of Leslie Rathbone, changing to William Leslie Coutts Rathbone. circa 1908, by which time he was serving with the 15th Battalion, London Regiment. He was wounded by in the face by a splinter of shell on 7 October 1916, but made a full recovery. He died on 18 February 1929 and therefore did not live long enough to exchange his Albert Medal for a George Cross. Sold with 21 pages from his National Archives correspondence file and a quantity of other copied research material, including several copied photographs of recipient in uniform and references to Rathbone in the book, The Civil Service Rifles and The Great War, by Jill Knight.
Lot 860
An emotive Great War Hejaz railway operations M.C. group of four awarded to 2nd Lieutenant W. T. Davies, Royal West Surrey Regiment, attached Imperial Camel Corps, late Shropshire Yeomanry, who was decorated for his gallant leadership in the famous raid on Mudowwara Station on 8 August 1918, which place he had earlier reconnoitred with four other officers, the whole attired in Arab dress: undoubtedly known to Lawrence of Arabia, who rode alongside the Camel Corps on many occasions, it seems improbable that the great man was not shown the "Mudowwara Trumpet", which instrument Davies retained as a souvenir of the raid - and which was sounded at the annual reunions of the Imperial Camel Corps right up until the 1960s Military Cross, G.V.R., in its case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1374 Sjt., Shrops. Yeo.), generally extremely fine (4) £8000-10000 M.C. London Gazette 10 September 1918: During the raid on Mudowwara Station on 8 August 1918, he was in charge of the attacking party which he led and directed with conspicuous ability. It was owing to his quickness of action that we incurred few casualties. His demolition work throughout the operations was invaluable. William Thomas Davies was born in Shrewsbury in October 1891 and joined the Shropshire Yeomanry in early 1910. Having then served in Egypt as an N.C.O., he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment in December 1917, and attached to the Imperial Camel Corps in Palestine. And it was in this latter capacity that he would come into close contact with Lawrence of Arabia in the following year, his, and one other company of the Camel Corps, totalling 300 men, being chosen to capture the railway station at Mudowwara. Mudowwara lay on the Hejaz railway, Lawrences favoured hunting ground, and possessed the only significant water supply to cover 150 miles of the line south of Maan. As a result, Lawrence had made two or three attempts to mount an attack on the station in September 1917 but, for assorted reasons, they never got off the ground. And it was only in August 1918 - via the suggestion of his friend Colonel Dawnay - that he got clearance to use two companies of the Imperial Camel Corps, under Colonel Robert Buxton, for a renewed initiative: Dawnay and I sat down with a map and measured that Buxton should march from the Canal to Akaba; thence, by Rumm, to carry Mudowwara by night-attack; thence by Bair, to destroy the bridge and tunnel near Amman; and back to Palestine on August the thirtieth (Revolt in the Desert refers). Here, then, Lawrences first mention of Buxton and the Imperial Camel Corps, but such were the achievements of this irregular force over the coming weeks - achievements in which Lawrence shared for he delighted in riding alongside them - that he would dedicate an entire chapter in Revolt in the Desert to their story. In late July 1918, he visited Buxton and his men for the first time: Accordingly I went down to Akaba, where Buxton let me explain to each company their march, and the impatient nature of the Allies whom they, unasked, had come to help; begging them to turn the other cheek if there was a row; partly because they were better educated than the Arabs, and therefore less prejudiced; partly because they were very few. After such solemnities came the ride up the oppressive gorge of Itm, under the red cliffs of Nejed and over the breast-like curves of Imran - that slow preparation for Rumms greatness - till we passed through the gap before the rock of Khuznail, and into the inner shrine of the springs, with its worship-compelling coolness. There the landscape refused to be accessory, but took the skies, and we chattering humans became dust at its feet. It was shortly after this visit that Davies participated in the reconnaissance from Rumm towards Mudowwara in Arab cloaks, the party also comprising Colonel Buxton, Captains Lyall and Bell-Irving and 2nd Lieutenant W. Jones (verified by records held in the Liddle Collection at Leeds University). And of the subsequent attack on Mudowwara, Lawrence later wrote: Next morning we heard by aeroplane how Buxtons force had fared at Mudowwara. They decided to assault it before dawn mainly by means of bombers, in three parties, one to enter the station, the other two for the main redoubts. Accordingly, before midnight white tapes were laid as guides to the zero point. The opening had been timed for a quarter to four, but the way proved difficult to find, so that daylight was almost upon them before things began against the southern redoubt. After a number of bombs had burst in and about it, the men rushed up and took it easily - to find that the station party had achieved their end a moment before. These alarms roused the middle redoubt, but only for defeat. Its men surrendered twenty minutes later. The northern redoubt, which had a gun, seemed better-hearted and splashed its shot freely into the station yard, and at our troops. Buxton, under cover of the southern redoubt, directed the fire of Brodies guns which, with their usual deliberate accuracy, sent in shell after shell. Siddons came over in his machines and bombed it, while the Camel Corps from north and east and west subjected the breastworks to severe Lewis gun fire. At seven in the morning the last of the enemy surrendered quietly. We had lost four killed and ten wounded. The Turks lost twenty-one killed, and one hundred and fifty prisoners, with two field-guns and three machine-guns. Buxton at once set the Turks to getting steam on the pumping engine, so that he could water his camels, while men blew in the wells, and smashed the engine-pumps, with two thousand yards of rail. At dusk, charges at the foot of the water-tower spattered it in single stones across the plain: Buxton, a moment later called "Walk-march!" to his men, and the three hundred camels, rising like one and roaring like the day of judgment, started off to Jefer. Thence we had news of them. They rested a day, revictualled, and marched for Bair where Joyce and myself had agreed to join them. And so it was, Lawrence rejoining the men of the Camel Corps for several days, a period in which he would undoubtedly have sought out information about the attack on Mudowwara - most likely, too, from one of the heroes of the raid, such as Lieutenant Davies - if so, we may be sure he showed the great man his souvenir, the trumpet that had been taken by him from a Turkish sentry who had tried to sound the alarm during the advance of his men, but who was silenced before he could do so. It was also during this visit to the Camel Corps that Lawrence observed with pride how well the men were progressing, largely thanks to Buxton having made some useful changes: Consequently, our Imperial camel Corps had become rapid, elastic, enduring, silent; except when they mounted by numbers, for then the three hundred he-camels would roar in concert, giving out a wave of sound audible miles across the night. Each march saw them more workmanlike, more at home on their animals, tougher, leaner, faster. Encouraged by the victory at Mudowwara, Lawrence guided the Camel Corps towards their next target, the railway viaduct at Kissir, south of Amman, a journey entailing another 120-mile journey behind enemy lines, a daring enterprise best summed up by Buxton: It is not unlike an attempt on the part of the Huns to blow up Waterloo Bridge, as it is many miles at the back of their lines and within five miles of their Army headquarters. But with the promise of Arab support, Lawrences leadership and an element of surprise, the matter should not be difficult. As it transpired, two enemy aircraft soon ended any notion of surprise, while the presence of three large Turkish patrols led both men to conclude that any attack would now end in serious casualties, and since Lawrence had assured Al
Lot 867
A particularly fine and well-documented Second World War North-West Europe operations M.C. group of seven awarded to Major A. Ritchie, Royal Engineers, a Troop Commander in 6 Assault Regiment whose specially adapted Churchill tanks proved instrumental in the capture of Boulogne in September 1944: equipped with spigot mortars that fired concrete-shattering 40lb. projectiles (a.k.a. "Flying Dustbins"), they were nonetheless vulnerable to the enemys much vaunted Panzerfaust - so much so that by the end of his 48-hour M.C. winning exploits, just one of his troops six Churchills remained Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated 1944; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (1869123 Spr., R.E.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., Regular Army (Capt., M.C., R.E.). mounted as worn, minor contact marks, generally good very fine (7) £2200-2500 M.C. London Gazette 21 December 1944. The original recommendation states: On 17 September 1944, Captain Ritchie was commanding a troop of six Assault Vehicles, Royal Engineers (A.V.R.E.) supporting the North Nova Scotia Highlanders in an attack on "Mount Lambert", one of the defences of Boulogne. The approach was covered by a large number of enemy weapons in concrete, and the advance was frequently held up by big casualties to the Infantry from shell and automatic fire. Captain Ritchie supported the attack, pressing on despite casualties to his Assault Vehicles and attacked each emplacement in turn with "Petard", subduing the fire and allowing the Infantry to get forward. By nightfall he had run out of ammunition, but remained with the Infantry half-way up the slope throughout the night under shell and mortar fire. He was replenished in the early hours of 18 September and later went on to attack emplacements with his "Petards". His troop was now reduced to two Assault Vehicles, but he went on attacking enemy strongpoints until 1900 hours on 18 September, when after the positioned was captured he was relieved. Captain Ritchies personal effort and leadership throughout the action, were of a high order, and contributed greatly to the capture of a vital enemy position. Andrew Ritchie was born in Colchester in October 1914, the son of a Gordon Highlander who was killed in action just three weeks later. Having attended the Army Technical College at Chepstow in the late 1920s, where he excelled in rugby and boxing, young Andrew joined the Royal Engineers, in which corps he served in Palestine 1936-37. Commissioned soon after the outbreak of hostilities, he remained employed in the U.K., where he was appointed a Troop Commander in 6 Assault Regiment, R.E., a component of the 79th Armoured Division, 2 (Canadian) Corps, on the eve of the Normandy invasion. As such, he had command of six Assault Vehicles, Royal Engineers (A.V.R.E.), in fact Churchill tanks fitted with a spigot mortar called a "Petard", which fired a 40lb. demolition charge specially designed to shatter concrete over a distance of 80 yards - a charge nicknamed by A.V.R.E. crew as the "Flying Dustbin". Thus equipped, Ritchies troop landed on D-Day, but as described above, it was for his subsequent part in the assault on Boulogne that he won his M.C. As confirmed by his own account of the proceedings on the 17-18 September, his troop quickly suffered fatalities, his Second-in-Commands tank being hit by three rounds from a Panzerfaust, killing four of the six man crew - these were vicious little rockets fired by the enemy infantry. When they struck a tank they punched a hole no thicker than a pencil through the armour and poured in fire and steel fragments more deadly than any shell. One of his Sergeants tanks was also put out of action in this firefight, but his four remaining Churchills continued on their way, knocking out several gun positions in pill-boxes and destroying many houses, and thereby enabling the Canadians to continue their advance to "Mount Lambert". The slopes of the latter feature were heavily defended by a series of concrete gun emplacements, each connected by underground tunnels, and in the ensuing action two more of Ritchies tanks were knocked out - one to a Panzerfaust and the other to a mine. Nonetheless, he insisted on remaining in position overnight, under constant shell and mortar fire, until fresh ammunition could be brought up in the morning, at which stage he went forward to meet the Canadian commander to recce the latest enemy positions: He led the way to a communication trench and we crawled along to the end. He cautiously lifted his head and looked over the top and then withdrew to let me have a look. I eased my body up until I could just see over the top of the parapet. Everything appeared very quiet. About 150 yards ahead was a large emplacement with a large gun pointing out of the embrasure and machine-guns each side. A similar strongpoint was situated about 70 yards to its right and the ground was heavily cratered by the bombing. I slid down and told the Canadian that I had seen enough and suggested that my two tanks took on a strongpoint each and hopefully silence the guns. His troops would then follow and then make the final attack on "Mount Lambert". He agreed and said he would have another quick look at the position in front so that he could finalise his plans. He had only just moved his head up when a single shot rang out and he collapsed back in the trench. A snipers bullet had got him straight through the forehead and he was dead before he slumped down. Notwithstanding this unhappy interlude, Ritchie went straight into action: It was slow and rough going as the shell holes were quite deep. My gunners fired their machine-guns directly into the embrasure to distract the enemy gunners but I wanted to get a shot in with the "Petard" as quickly as possible. I was peering through the periscope and after climbing out of a shell hole saw the enemy position in front but still out of range. They opened up with their guns and I felt several thuds as we were hit by shots from their big gun but luckily they ricocheted off the curved turret. Our constant machine-gun fire was obviously affecting their accuracy. We started to make better progress and when about 70 yards from the enemy position I told the driver to stop and the "Petard" gunner to aim and fire when ready. He quickly sighted on to the front of the position and I kicked the large lever which fired the "Petard". We could see the charge flying in an arc through the air and it hit the narrow embrasure dead on - this is what we call "posting a letter". The gunner reloaded and hit the front again with another shot higher up. Hardly had the noise and dust died down when a hoard of German soldiers rushed out from the back of the emplacement with their hands in the air. I contacted my other tank commander and he said that after he had "petarded" his position the Germans came streaming out to surrender too. I notified the Canadians and they advanced to take prisoners. But one more rude shock awaited the gallant Ritchie atop "Mount Lambert": While I was talking to my C.O. over the radio I felt a terrific thud on the front of the turret and the tank was plunged in darkness. When I jumped out to see what had happened I found a shell, fired from a German 88mm. gun in the port or town, a considerable distance away, had hit the turret and ricocheted off. When we checked the damage we found that the turret was jammed and the whole electrical system out of order. Thus, after 48 hours fighting, Ritchies troop was left with just one operational Churchill. And of his subsequent part in the Commando-led assault on Walcheren on 1 November 1944, a local newspaper reported: Tanks under the command of Captain Ritchie acted as "pathfinders" during the landings on Walcheren Island. Under heavy fire the tanks found themselves pinned on the beaches and faced with a deep
Lot 889
A Great War M.M. group of six awarded to Corporal H. V. Simmons, Warwickshire Yeomanry, wounded in the brilliant charge of the Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry at Huj, in Palestine, for which he most probably received his decoration Military Medal, G.V.R. (310294 L. Cpl., War. Yeo.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (1799 Pte., Warwick. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (1799 Cpl., Warwick. Yeo.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (1799 Pte.-A. Cpl., War. Yeo.); Defence Medal, unnamed, mounted as worn in that order, good very fine and better (6) £1000-1200 M.M. London Gazette 10 April 1918. Henry Victor Simmons came from Birmingham. The group is sold with a fragile leather bound photograph album containing photographs and postcards of military subjects - several identified as the Warwickshire Yeomanry. On an inside page is a paper cutting bearing a photograph of the recipient and reading, L. Corpl. Henry Victor Simmons, Warwickshire Yeomanry, Military Medal, is the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Ted Simmons, of 63 Edward Road, Balsall Heath. He took part in the brilliant charge of Yeomanry at Gaza, where he was wounded. He is in his twenty-fifth year, and joined the Yeomanry a few years before the outbreak of war. Another brother is in the Warwicks. The following account of the cavalry charge at Huj is taken from the Marquess of Angleseys History of the British Cavalry: The Worcesters led the way: Major M. C. Albright's 'A' Squadron of the Worcesters, followed by two troops of 'C' Squadron under Second-Lieutenant J. W. Edwards. Bringing up the rear was Captain R. Valintine's 'B' Squadron of the Warwicks, followed by two troops of 'C' Squadron. As they advanced at a brisk trot from the south-west end of the ridge they could not see the hostile guns firing at the infantry of the 60th about 11,350 yards away. They then moved north-eastwards under (as they thought) the ridge's protection, in line of troop columns. When they were some 300 yards from the northern tip of the ridge, these hitherto unseen guns - a 75mm Austrian battery - came into sight about 1,000 yards almost due west. Between them and the cavalry it was noticed that the ground, though undulating, was perfectly open. As the yeomen trotted on they raised clouds of dust. This alerted the Austrian gunners who swung round two of their guns and fired at the horsemen as they came on. Little harm was done for by now the yeomen were gathering speed and it was difficult for the gunners to pick up the range quickly enough. The squadrons halted for a brief moment near to the northern tip of the ridge, but they were instantly subjected to heavy fire from four mountain battery guns and some 200 riflemen, numbers of whom stood up to take aim. These were positioned on a slight ridge to the north-west, some 600 yards distant. Albright, realizing that the attack on the main target to the left could not go ahead while these guns and infantrymen were in a position to enfilade it, formed his men in column of half squadrons and 'went,' according to Wiggin, 'straight on to attack this lot immediately he realized the position and without waiting for further orders either from me or from Lieutenant-Colonel Cheape. To avoid the shock, some of the Turkish infantry fired wildly, others wavered, but the majority 'fled down the reverse slope with the victorious horsemen thundering at their heels. Although many more Turks could have been put to the sword (considerable numbers were) and although the guns of a retreating 5.9 howitzer battery which they were protecting, as well as the mountain guns, were at 'A' Squadron's mercy, Wiggin instantly ordered Albright to break off the pursuit. This wise decision was occasioned by what he saw of the troubled position which Valintine's Warwicks and Edwards's Worcesters were in. A few moments after Albright had launched his charge, Cheape had ordered Valintine, with Edwards's two troops slightly echeloned to the right, to lead them over the crest of the northern end of the boomerang ridge and to charge the Austrian 75mm guns in flank. Valintine, like Albright before him, formed his men into column of half-squadrons with swords at the 'engage' and the moment they cleared the crest the Austrian gunners opened fire on them with 'an absolute inferno of shells.' Four machine guns behind them and about two companies of riflemen, all protecting the 75mm guns, also opened a fierce fire upon the galloping, shouting yeomen. The distance they had to cover was some 900 yards down a slope and up the other side, 'with the last 100-150 yards very steep indeed'. The Austrians depressed their muzzles to the maximum and set their fuses at zero so that the shells exploded almost as soon as they left the barrels. It was only a matter of moments before Albright, having rallied and reformed his men, joined in the charge in echelon from the right, sweeping down on the gunners' left flank. The Austrians stuck most heroically to their guns. Their final shot, indeed, 'passed through a horse that was almost at the gun's muzzle'. 'Few,' according to Lieutenant Alan-Williams, 'remained standing and, where they did, they were instantly sabred. Others, running away from the guns, threw themselves on the ground on being overtaken and thus saved themselves, for it was found almost impossible to sabre a man lying down at the pace we were travelling.' Despite terribly high casualties, the yeomen, equally heroically, broke right through the battery, riding down the gunners, sabreing numbers of them, and then hurled themselves, by now perhaps only twenty in number, against the machine guns. These were taken a few seconds later by Albright's Worcesters as they swung to the right. Most of the Turkish foot soldiers, possibly 200 in number, when they saw this second charge bearing down on them, quickly broke and fled, a few stopping to take pot shots at the yeomen who managed to cut down quite a number. They probably thought that the troops opposed to them were far more numerous than they were. The fact that they were not ruled out any question of a pursuit, but at this moment the machine-gun sub-section which had followed the squadrons arrived on the scene and turned its two guns, as well as the four captured ones, on the fleeing Turkish riflemen, mowing down many of them. Some seventy were made prisoner. While this formidable charge, lasting, from start to finish, according to one authority, about twenty minutes, was in progress, Cheape had led his two remaining troops of the Warwicks off to the right, where he intercepted the 5.9 howitzer battery. This he captured complete, as well as the abandoned camel-pack mountain-gun battery. At this moment Lieutenant-Colonel Williams returned from his mission to bring up the 4th Australian Brigade which failed to reach the scene of action in time to take up the pursuit. He found a horrible scene of carnage and in its midst the three remaining officers of his regiment arranging the defence of the captured ridge with the few unwounded men who remained. He was helped by the Warwicks' Second-in-Command who brought to the task the few men of his regiment who had been unhorsed or outpaced in the charge. The position was consolidated and the 60th Division, meeting little further opposition, was at once able to establish itself three miles north-west of Huj. "Suddenly," noted the Worcesters' Medical Officer as he rode up to the battlefield, "the terrific din of shrieking and exploding shells ceased and we knew the end had come. A wonderful and terrible sight met our view.... The ground was strewn with horses and fallen yeomen, many of whom were lying close to, and some beyond, the batteries.... [The guns] were in various positions surrounded by Austrian and German gunners, many of whom were dead or wounded.... Our squadrons had not fired a shot and every single casualty we inflicted was caused by our sword-thrusts
Lot 898
A Great War Battle of Amiens M.M. group of three awarded to Acting Sergeant J. L. Dickson, Tank Corps Military Medal, G.V.R. (91643 Pte., 5/Tank C.); British War and Victory Medals (91643 Pte., Tank Corps) nearly extremely fine (3) £600-800 M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1919. 91643 Pte. Dickson, J.L., 5th Bn. Tank Corps (Glasgow). Recommendation states: Near Demuin, August 8, 1918, this man was actiing as first driver of the tank commanded by 2nd Lieut. Birch. This tank engaged a hostile field battery at close range. Pte. Dickson was wounded early in the engagement, but continued to drive his tank, which he manoeuvred with such skill that one gun of the battery was knocked out and many of the gunners killed or wounded before the tank received two direct hits which put it out of action. His courage and coolness on this occasion were worthy of the highest praise (Lieutenant Birch was awarded the Military Cross for the same action). James Lockhead Dickson, of 24 Woodcroft Avenue, Broomhill, Glasgow, a Cashier by occupation, entered into the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) at Glasgow on 20 October 1916, aged 29 years, 6 months. He was transferred to the M.G.C. (Tanks) in December 1916 and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war in June 1917 and was posted to the 5th Battalion Tank Corps in July 1917, graded as a 1st Class Tank Mechanic. The 5th Battalion formed part of the 4th Brigade of the 4th Army. He was wounded and awarded the M.M. for bravery in the action near Demuin during the battle of Amiens in August 1918. Dickson was promoted to Lance-Corporal in June 1918 and Acting Sergeant in November the same year. He was discharged on 31 March 1920. Sold with copied services papers, m.i.c., gazette extracts and War Diary extracts.
Lot 911
An extremely rare Borneo operations M.M. pair awarded to Corporal Bombahadur Limbu, 1/7th Gurkha Rifles: a leading scout in a three-man reconnaissance patrol, he killed outright a brace of Indonesian insurgents in a jungle firefight - and wounded a further three while lending cover to his comrades as they withdrew across a deep, fast flowing river Military Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (21152190 Rfn. Bombahadur Limbu, 7 G.R.); General Service 1962, 2 clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula (21152190 Rfn. Bombahadur Limbu, 1/7 G.R.), good very fine (2) £3000-3500 Just 36 Military Medals (and two Bars) were awarded for the Borneo confrontation 1962-66. M.M. London Gazette 14 December 1965. The original recommendation states: On the 18 March 1965, Rifleman Bombahadur Limbu was in operations in the Bau District of the First Division of Sarawak. On this day Bombahadur was the leading scout of a three man reconnaissance patrol some six hundred yards from their patrol base, in thick jungle. The patrol halted on the far side of a deep, swift flowing river. While the patrol commander checked his map Bombahadur acted as sentry some twenty yards off, on a track. Suddenly three Indonesian regular soldiers appeared on a bend in the track ten yards away. Bombahadur fired, immediately killing the two leading Indonesians. He then shouted a warning to his patrol commander. By this time a whole Indonesian platoon of some forty men had deployed on the rising ground ahead of Bombahadur and opened very heavy automatic and rifle fire on him. Realising that his two comrades would require time to swim across the river behind him, Rifleman Bombahadur coolly covered their withdrawal for several minutes. During this exchange of fire Bombahadur wounded three more Indonesians. His fire was so effective that the enemy pulled back. Bombahadur, having checked that his comrades had withdrawn, then swam across the river and returned to his patrol base. Bombahadur showed an utter disregard for his own safety in the face of great personal danger. Despite tremendous odds he selflessly covered the withdrawal of his comrades across a deep, fast flowing river which he knew he himself would have to cross. Rifleman Bombahadur's gallant and inspiring conduct is worthy of the highest praise. The Gurkhas suffered by far the highest casualties of the Borneo confrontation, with 43 killed in action and a further 87 wounded. Bombahadur Limbu enlisted in the 1/7th Gurkha Rifles at Dharan, Eastern Nepal, in December 1960, and was discharged in the rank of Corporal in September 1976; sold with photocopied service record.
Lot 919
An unusual Second World War Home Front B.E.M. group of three awarded to Private J. T. Doran, South Lancashire Regiment, who helped his Company Commander disarm a soldier who had run amok with his rifle British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (No. D/29808 Pte. John Thomas Doran, S. Lan. R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, generally good very fine (3) £300-350 B.E.M. London Gazette 11 March 1941: For gallant conduct in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner. The original recommendation states: On the night of 28-29 August 1940, a soldier in Private Dorans Company ran amok and was firing his rifle indiscriminately. Without any regard for his own safety, Private Doran was of invaluable assistance to his Company Commander in disarming the man. His action was most commendable. John Thomas Doran was serving in 6th (Home Defence) Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, at the time of the above related incident at Chorlton barracks, Western Command. His Company Commander, Acting Captain H. L. Hirst, was awarded the George Medal, an award which was also announced in the London Gazette of 11 March 1941. The 6th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment was formed as a Home Defence unit from Defence Companies and, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G. W. Morriss, D.S.O., was employed in looking after vulnerable points in the Mersey Estuary area. In November 1941, the unit was retitled the 30th Battalion and continued to do fine work in its special role until disbanded in January 1943.
Lot 350
An Afghan War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private John Dennis, 92nd Highlanders, for gallantly saving the life of his officer commanding at the battle of Kandahar during which he was dangerously wounded Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Pte. J. Dennis, 92nd Foot); Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (1163 Pte. J. Dennis, 92nd Highrs.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (1163 Prive. John Dennis 92nd Highlanders); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1163 Pte. J. Dennis, 2nd Bn. Gor. Highrs.) together with original Parchment Certificate of Discharge signed by Lieutenant-Colonel G. S. White [V.C.], contact wear and pitting, therefore good fine or better (4) £6000-7000 D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 23 November 1880 - Kandahar 1 September 1880, behaved with distinguished gallantry. The 92nd Highlanders, under the command of Colonel Parker, was one of the regiments selected to form part of the force under Sir Frederick Roberts which, in the month of August 1880, performed its memorable march from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar. In the crowning defeat of the enemy at the battle of Kandahar on the 1st September, the regiment, as one of the two leading battalions in the right attack, played a conspicuous part, being engaged in the successive captures of the villages of Gandi Mullah Sahibdad, and Pir Paimal, and finally carrying at the point of the bayonet the entrenched position on which the enemy had taken up their last stand. The casualties on this day numbered 14 non-commissioned officers and men killed 2 officers and 70 non-commissioned officers and men wounded. In the engagement Captain Menzies' life was saved by Privates Dennis and Roddick, who both received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their gallantry. The following account, is taken from The Life of a Regiment and was related to the author by Lieutenant Menzies and Drummer Roddick: Two companies of the 92nd under Major G. S. White, and two of the Gurkhas under Lieut.-Colonel A. Battye, carried the village [Gundi Mulla Sahibdad], the Highlanders and the hillmen of Nepaul rivalling each other in their efforts; the Gurkhas on the left, having the shorter distance to go, were the first within the walls. The enemy retired slowly, fighting, but a number of Ghazis stood to receive a bayonet charge of the Highlanders, while many shut themselves up in the houses and fired on our men as they passed, and some splendid hand-to-hand fighting occurred. In the melee Lieutenant Menzies found himself in a courtyard, at the end of which was an open door, and beyond it another door which was locked, but, voices being heard within, the lock was burst by a shot from the officer's pistol, and the door swung open; instantly a shot from the inside hit Menzies in the groin, and he fell. The only man near at the moment was Drummer Roddick, whom he asked not to leave him. You're all right, sir, as long as this blade lasts," replied Roddick, as with his drawn claymore he stood over his wounded officer. A number of Afghans rushed out, and the leader fired, the bullet knocking off Roddick's helmet; the man then made for him with the muzzle of his rifle, but the stalwart drummer parried the blow, and ran him through with his sword. At this moment Private Dennis came up; not liking to put the wounded man in the house, where a lot of bags of grain might conceal a foe, they laid him in the slight shade given by the wall of the court. Just as they had done so, an Afghan rushed from behind the bags, making a slash at the officer as he passed and cutting his shoulder; but, fortunately, his blade hit the wall, which broke the force of the blow, and the man was shot by Dennis. More men joined them, Roddick and Dennis carried the lieutenant to a doolie, and immediately rejoined their company. John Dennis was born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, in about 1845, and enlisted at Glasgow into the 92nd Highlanders on 31 July 1863, aged 18 years 7 months, a collier by trade. During his service he was 13 years in India and Afghanistan, and accompanied the regiment to South Africa in January 1881, where he served in the First Boer War. He was recommended for his L.S. & G.C. medal on 1 October 1881, and took his discharge at Devonport on 5 August 1884. His discharge papers note that he Specially distinguished himself by gallantly saving the life of the O/C his Company at the action of Kandahar 1st Septr. 1880. Medals and decorations, For distinguished conduct in the field in recognition of his conduct at the Battle of Kandahar on 1st Sept. 1880 - Medal (Afghan) 3 Clasps & Bronze star - Medal for Long Service & Good Conduct. Wounded, Received Sword Cuts of "Head", "Wrist" and "Knee" in action at Kandahar Afghanistan 1 Sept. 1880. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.
Lot 512
A rare Victorian campaign service and M.S.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant A. McKerrow, 90th Regiment, who was wounded in the attack on the Great Redan in September 1855 and hit by a Tulwar blow in the Indian Mutiny - but the gentleman who gave it never gave another as I had the good luck to drop him with a shot through the chest: and this just one of many fascinating observations to be found in McKerrows memoirs, published in the regimental journal shortly before his death in 1927 Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (90th Regt.), officially impressed naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow (90th Lt. Infy.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (3914 Sergt., 90th Foot); Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Sejt., 90 Foot), officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British die, unnamed, the Mutiny Medal with refixed suspension claw, the first two with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus fine, the remainder very fine and better Together with: Army Temperance Association: India, A.T.A.I.14 (The Association Medal), with 'For Merit' top bar; A.T.A.I.7 (7 Year Medal); A.T.A.I.6 (6 Year Medal); A.T.A.I.5 (5 Year Medal); A.T.A.I.3, with 'Excelsior' top bar (4 Year Award); A.T.A.I.1.5 (Victoria Commemorative Medal); A.T.A.I.2 (1 Year Medal); Army Temperance Association: Home, A.T.A.H.2, with 'Fidelity' top bar (2 Year Award); A.T.A.I.1, silvered (6 Month Medal); 'Grand Lodge, India' Cross, these added by Ian McInnes to replace the McKerrow family Temperance Medals which accompanied his official awards when first auctioned in London, generally very fine (Lot) £1800-2200 Alexander McKerrow was, by his own account, born at Springkell, Dumfriesshire on 29 September 1833, although his enlistment papers state the year 1835 and a family bible 1836. More certain is the fact he enlisted in the 90th Regiment at Westminster in January 1855, aged 20 years, and, as confirmed by his memoirs, quickly saw action in the Crimea, not least in the attack on the Great Redan on 8 September 1855, when he witnessed Sergeant Andrew Moynihan winning his V.C.: I took part in trench work until the final assault on the Great Redan, when the Regiment formed part of the scaling ladder party, and then I knew what it was to be a soldier of the Queen. In reality, as I was making my way into the Great Redan, and squeezing myself through the embrasure of a heavy gun, a Russian gunner took it into his head to prevent me, so he quietly despatched me into the trench 30 feet deep by giving me a blow in the right thigh with a rammer of gun-sponger. I remained there until found the next morning with the dead and wounded. McKerrow, who was also wounded in the head by a musket ball, appears to have been admitted to Scutari, for in later years he would talk about his gratitude to Florence Nightingale - he christened one of his daughters after her. Having then briefly returned to the U.K., he was quickly back on the campaign trail, for the 90th were landed at Calcutta at the onset of the Indian Mutiny: When we crossed the bridge of boats at Cawnpore, the Regiment had its first engagement with the rebels - I think the name of the place was Mungawar. Here the Regiment was extended into skirmishing order, and commenced operations, driving the rebels before them and scattering them in all directions. Sir James Outram accompanied us on his fly-bitten charger, and Sir Henry Havelock remained with the main body on the Grand Trunk Road. Things went all right until the Baggage Guard was attacked by overwhelming numbers, and we had to form rallies and squares. I received a hit in the left foot with a Tulwar, but the gentleman who gave it never gave another, as I had the good luck to drop him with a shot through the chest. And of the subsequent operations at Lucknow: On our way out our Adjutant, Lieutenant Rennie, was riding along, and happened to find out a byway. He was officious in these matters and he took it into his head to have a look, and found to his surprise two guns in the rebels hands. He shouted out "H Company" (which was my company) "right about turn, follow me at the double." We did so, and found him engaged with the gunners. Seeing us join him the rebels let go one of their guns. It swept the road and took a number of my company, amongst whom was Lieutenant Nicol Graham, who was related to the Graham who raised the Regiment. By his death we lost as brave as officer as ever drew a sword for his countrys cause. I well remember him saying, as we put him in a dooley, "Ah, McKerrow, I have seen many a man fall, but I never expected to fall so soon myself." He died of his wounds that evening and the Regiment mourned his loss. He was a soldier of the front rank. The Adjutant [Rennie] received the V.C. for his work, which he well deserved, and I was recommended for a medal for distinguished conduct. McKerrow, who married Elizabeth Moore in 1868 (who had been a child at the defence of Lucknow), saw no further action and was discharged in the rank of Sergeant in July 1875. But he retained his military links by finding employment as a Sergeant in Barrack Department of the Commissariat, first in Mauritius, and then in Malta, from 1883 to 1890, in which latter year he chose to settle there with with his family. But he was to be called out on parade one more time, for in AO 156 of 1900 he was awarded the M.S.M., which distinction was presented to him by His Excellency the Governor in an investiture held at Palace Square, the Daily Malta Chronicle reporting that he was an old soldier well known in Malta and highly respected and that Colonel Hughes Hallett, the Assistant Adjutant-General, read aloud to the spectators Mr. McKerrows record of war services, a record of which any man may well be proud of. Following the death of his wife, McKerrow returned to Scotland in 1915, and settled with one of his daughters at Glasgow Road, Perth, but not before being given a rousing send-off from Malta, his "Benefit Concert" at Valetta attracting the patronage of Field Marshal Lord Methuen, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.M.G. and Vice-Admiral A. H. Limpus, C.B. Back in Scotland, in the late 1920s, he wrote his memoirs for publication in the Covenanter, the regimental journal of the Cameronians (the new title of the old 90th), the editor then describing him as the oldest living member of the Regiment - undoubtedly, too, he was one of the last surviving Crimea & Mutiny veterans when he died in October 1927; for further extracts from his memoirs, and other career details, see The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, by Ian McInnes, in particular Appendix I).
Lot 620
A Medal Group, comprising Military Medal, Campaign Service Medal with bar Northern Ireland, South Atlantic Medal with rosette, and Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the Military Medal awarded to PO 29088B Sgt T Collins Royal Marines, with letters of commendation, press cuttings, a cartoon and a war artist's drawing See illustration Note: Sgt Collins, serving with three Special Boat Service Royal Marines and attached to 3 Commando Brigade, commanded a four man team which maintained a covert observation post above San Carlos for two weeks prior to the landing of the Task Force to re-take The Falkland Islands. The action of SAS and SBS teams relayed much vital information regarding Argentine strengths and dispositions in The Falkland Islands, enabling the re-taking of the islands to be undertaken successfully
Lot 298
MARK URBAN: THE MAN WHO BROKE NAPOLEON’S CODES THE STORY OF GEORGE SCOVELL, 2001, 1st edn orig cl d/w + RUDOLF KIPPENHAHN: CODE BREAKING A HISTORY AND EXPLORATION, 1999, 1st edn org cl d/w + STEPHEN BUDIANSKY: BATTLE OF WITS, THE COMPLETE STORY OF CODE BREAKING IN WORLD WAR II, 2000, 1st edn orig cl d/w + HUGH SEBAG-MONTEFIORIE: ENIGMA, THE BATTLE FOR THE CODE, 2000, 1st edn orig cl d/w + M SMITH & R ERSKINE (EDS): ACTION THIS DAY, 2001, 1st edn orig cl d/w + 2 others similar (7)
Lot 1078
Kent, Alexander. Signal-Close Action!, first edition, Hutchinson, London 1974. Boards, dustjacket, signed and inscribed by the author, octavo; with Kent, Alexander. Man of War, second impression, Hutchinson, London 2003. Boards, dustjacket, signed by the author, octavo; and a further fifteen works by Alexander Kent and Patrick O'Brien, (17).
Lot 285
Britains: five Mules from Post-war Set 28, two Sound Locators, Royal Corps of Signals Motor Cycle and Rider, pre war Steel Helmeted Stretcher Bearers and Stretcher, Johillco Air Raid Warden (repainted), Man Carrying Wounded, Crescent Field Wireless Set, Greenwood and Ball KRRC Officer, Charbens Machine Gunner with spring action gun and others, G-VG (24)
Lot 2031
Unknown photographer New York circa 1975, four black and white photographic contact sheets. Each sheet 16.5" x 20". (See general notes on lot 2029 above.) One with forty two images and three with forty one images each. Action photographs of a man running at a wall, man in a Studio, and figures male and female running past a tall wall with a door. There are no pen markings. Provenance: The Robertson Collection
Lot 1
:A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF CUSTOM BROWNING 'FRENCH REVOLUTION BI-CENTENNIAL' 12-BORE SIDEPLATED SINGLE-TRIGGER OVER AND UNDER EJECTORS, serial no. 17052 / 3, 27 1/2in. nitro barrels with 6mm ventilated matt top-ribs, relief engraved and gold-inlaid at the breech ends with ornate scrolls and chain links, the ribs gold inlaid respectively with 'LA ROYAUTE EST ABOLIE EN FRANCE' and 'DECLARATION DES DROITES DE L'HOMME', 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. 1/2 and 3/4 choke in both, hold-open toplevers, pierced with the portrait of a revolutionary soldier (17052) and a revolutionary bonnet and key (17953), manual safeties with integral barrel selector switches, actions and lockplates fully engraved with representations of key events and historical figures of the French Revolution in deep relief and fine bulino styles, with gold highlighting on the fences and borders, both guns dated '1789 - 1989'; gun no. 17052 with an armed citizen on the toplever and the underside with a scene depicting the 'The Tennis Court Oath', encircled with an elaborate border, inscribed 'LIBERTE, EGALITE, FRATERNITE OU LA MORT', the triggerplate with an angel and stone tablets carved with the 'Declaration of the rights of Man and the Citizen', the backstrap listing the spring and summer months of the French Republican Calendar, the action and lockplates with scenes of the storming of the Bastille and a meeting of the Estates General within the halls of the Palace of Versailles, with portraits of Camille Desmoulins (accredited with the first public call to arms to the French people), Jacques Necker (reforming French finance minister, whose dismissal by Louis XVI sparked Desmoulins outburst) and the Marquis de Lafayette (founder of the French National Guard and leading figure among the Feuillants) on the left; Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette (King and Queen of France) and Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau (a moderate who campaigned for the introduction of a constitutional monarchy) on the right, with emblematic representations of the people (in the form of agricultural implements) and the Church (in the form of garments and accoutrements of the Catholic Church), the whole surrounded and invaded by bold acanthus foliage on a matt background; gun no. 17053 with a windmill on the toplever and the underside with a scene of execution by guillotine encircled with an elaborate border, inscribed 'LIBERTE, EGALITE, FRATERNITE OU LA MORT', the triggerplate with a protrait of Claude-Joseph Rouget De Lisle (composer of 'La Marseillaise') with bars of music and the words of the first line 'Allons enfants de la Patrie', the backstrap listing the autumn and winter months of the French Republican Calendar, the action and lockplates with scenes of the storming of the Tuileries Palace and a victorious Napoleon Bonaparte on horseback being hailed by his troops, with portraits of leading revolutionary activists and politicians including Georges Danton, Jean Paul Marat, Louis de Saint Just, Maximilien Robespierre and Napoleon Bonaparte (ruler of France as Premier Consul of the French Republic), with an anonymous portrait named 'Charette' - the type of cart used to carry the condemned to the guillotine, with emblematic representations of the Republic (in the form of a book, mirror, serpents and coins to denote knowledge, truth, wisdom and renewal) and the monarchy (in the form of royalist arms and paraphernalia), the whole surrounded and invaded by bold acanthus foliage on a matt background, the fore-end irons engraved en-suite, with cartouches inscribed 'FEUILLANT' , 'BRETON' and 'CORDELIERS', 'JACOBINS' to signify the different revolutionary factions, triggerplates engraved 'Les Graveurs de Herstal', 14 1/2in. exhibition grade roachbelly stocks including buttplates, weight 6lb. 12oz., in their leather case with original certificates, confirming that the guns were completed in 1990
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