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The unique Second War ‘Maritime R.A.’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Gunner F. J. Carus, 6th Maritime Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery, who, though wounded in several places, continued to engage enemy aircraft as his ship broke up and sank beneath him Military Medal, G.VI.R. (Gnr. F. J. Carus. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp France and Germany; Africa Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last six privately inscribed ‘3717702 Gunr. F. J. Carus, M.M., Maritime R.A.’, mounted as worn, extremely fine and unique (7) £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Only six M.Ms were awarded for actions at sea in the Second World War, prior to Admiralty Orders in Council of July 1942 and November 1942 extending the award of the D.S.M. and D.S.C. to Army personnel. In consequence, Carus was the first and only Maritime R.A. gunner to be awarded the M.M. in the last war. M. M. London Gazette 21 October 1941: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.’ The original recommendation states: ‘On 25 May 1941, Gunner Carus was a member of an A.A. protection party on the tanker Helka. His Sergeant in charge reports as follows: “Just outside Tobruk we were attacked by 27 bombers, according to the warning issued from TOBRUK. Gunner Carus, though hit in several places, and although the ship had been blown in two pieces, continued firing his gun until he was pulled away and told to get in his boat.’ Francis Joseph Carus was born in Liverpool, Merseyside on 25 May 1911 and originally served in the King’s Own Royal Regiment. Of subsequent events off Tobruk in the tanker Helka in May 1941, the following action report was submitted by Bombardier T. Russell, a fellow member of 6th Maritime A.A. Battery, R.A.: ‘I was 2nd N.C.O.-in-Charge of the Troop on board the S.S. Helka proceeding to Tobruk from Alexandria. We were attacked by 27 Dive Bombers (German markings). We and our Escort opened fire, our Escort being H.M. Sloop Grimsby and an Armed Trawler the Southern Maid. All guns were in action and our ship received a direct hit with a bomb and split in two parts. We carried on firing to the last. The Grimsby had already been hit and was sinking. Owing to the flurry and excitement caused, the accuracy of our fire was indefinite although some of the planes left rather hurriedly damaged. The Officer-in-Charge gave orders to abandon ship and men dived overboard to swim to the only lifeboat which was freed and floating away from the ship. Gunner Carus was still firing the gun of the aft deck although badly wounded. I and an Australian Sergeant went aft and had to use physical force to get Gunner Carus away from the gun, in order that we could get him off the ship before she exploded - her cargo was bensine (sic) spirit. The total number of survivors I do not know. We were picked up by the Armed Trawler and a Roll Call was made. Gunner Cunliffe was missing - the last anyone saw of him, he was on the for’ead part of the ship that was being taken away by the current. Gunner Gilbert was admitted to hospital at Almaza Camp, Cairo with sun-fly fever. I might add that all the Troop acted in a most efficient manner and their conduct was exemplary and no man ever thought of himself first.’ The recommendation for Carus’s M.M. was endorsed by General Auchinleck, C.-in-C. Middle East and he received his award at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 20 July 1943. His recently released D.E.M.S. gunner’s service record reveals that he also served in the tanker Athel Monarch (December 1941-September 1942); the steamship Sirsa (September-December 1942); the steamship City of Barcelona (December 1942-June 1943); the corrugated ship Colytto (November 1943-May 1944); the Isle of Wight shore establishment Vectis (June-July 1944); Sam Austral (July 1944-December 1944), and the steamship Obsidian (January-May 1945). He died back in Liverpool in December 1978. Sold with his original investiture admittance ticket and copied ‘Secret’ action report

The Chinese Civil War incident D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Petty Officer F. H. Image, Royal Navy, among those who boarded the captured steamer Wanhsien amidst ‘a hurricane of bullets’ in September 1926 Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.100599 F. H. Image. A.B. H.M.S. Kiawo. Wanhsien, 5. 9. 1926); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (M.39890 F. H. Image. R.P.O. H.M.S. Titania) mounted as worn, very fine (7) £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 May 1927: 'The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the following Decorations and awards to Officers and men of H.M. Navy and the Mercantile Marine, in recognition of their services at Wanhsien, Yangtze River, China on 5 September 1926, and the connected events. One of the surviving members of the boarding party, who acted with courage and resource in extremely trying circomstances.’ This rare award was granted for gallantry during the Civil War in China, the above London Gazette announcing two D.S.Cs, two C.G.Ms and four D.S.Ms, in addition to 28 'Mentions'. One of only 10 inter-war awards of the D.S.M. The action stemmed around the attempted rescue of two Butterfield and Wire Line Steamers, following an incident in which another of the Company's Steamers, the Wanlu, had got into difficulties with General Yang Sen's soldiers at Yunyang, the Chinese claiming that two Sampans had capsized as a result of her wash - several soldiers were drowned and apparently many thousands of dollars lost. Despite a contrary statement from the Wanlu's Captain, in which he denied the charges and stated that his ship was boarded by Chinese soldiers and was fired on while afterwards endeavouring to escape, General Yang Sen - one of Wu Pei Fu's supporters - ordered reprisals in the form of the seizure of two other vessels of the Butterfield and Wire Line, namely the Wanhsien and Wanting. As a result, the Royal Navy sent to their rescue the Gunboats Cockchafer and Widgeon, in company with the Steamer Kiawo, which latter vessel was owned by Matheson & Co., but had been taken over by the Royal Navy and manned by four Officers and 60 Ratings, Able Seaman Image among them. Arriving at the the port of Wanhsien, where the two Steamers had been held and boarded by 300 Chinese soldiers and the Mercantile Marine Officers locked in their cabins, the R.N. came under a very heavy fire from Chinese artillery and machine guns, but replied in kind and managed to effect the rescue of the incarcerated Officers before beating a hasty retreat - sadly a Mr. Johnson, who was Chief Engineer of the Wanting, was drowned while attempting to swim away from his captors. Given the scale of the action, the R.N's casualties were high, not least among the crew of the Kiawo, who had three Officers and four Ratings killed, and one Officer and eight men wounded, no doubt as a result of their gallant attempt to board one of the captured Steamers. The Cockchafer too had run into problems, her Captain and five men being wounded. Their combined bravery was not lost on their Lordships, who signalled the C.-in-C., China: 'Having received your telegraphic report of the expedition to Wanhsien on Sunday 5 September, Their Lordships, while deeply regretting the loss of valuable lives and the number of casualties suffered, note that the traditional gallantry of H.M. Service was fully sustained by all Officers and Ratings who took part in the hazardous expedition which resulted in the extrication of H.M.S. Cockchafer from her dangerous position and the rescue, with one exception, of the British Mercantile Marine Officers of the two Steamers. Their Lordships desire that an expression of their warm appreciation may be conveyed to all Officers and Ratings concerned'. Francis Herbert Image was born in Willesden, Middlesex in October 1904. At the time of the China Incident in 1926, he was serving as an Able Seaman in H.M.S. Mantis and, no doubt, was one of those who volunteered to man the Steamer Kiawo in her daring enterprise to effect the rescue of the Chinese-held British Mercantile Marine Officers. Image, moreover, was among the wounded (The Times refers). He died in December 1958, aged 54 years. Sold with copied news cuttings reporting the incident

The ‘Juba River 1893’ group of four awarded to Able Seaman Charles Clift, Royal Navy East & West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, Witu August 1893, Juba River 1893 (C. Clift, A.B., H.M.S. Blanche.); 1914-15 Star (129434, C. Clift. A.B. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (129434 C. Clift. A.B. R.N.) mounted court style for display, very fine and better (4) £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: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. 42 clasps for ‘Juba River 1893’ issued to the Royal Navy, 24 in combination with the clasp ‘Witu August 1893’. Charles Clift was born on 8 December 1869, in the village of Freshford in Somerset. He joined the Royal Navy on 9 December 1884, aged 15 years, as a Boy 2nd Class aboard the Training Ship H.M.S. Impregnable. On 20 December 1884, less than a month after first joining Impregnable, he was transferred to H.M.S. Lion. Whilst serving, he was advanced to Boy 1st Class on 17 February 1886, and on paying off in October 1886 he was sent to the Receiving Ship Royal Adelaide. Clift was next afloat aboard the Audacious, Flagship China Station, Vice Admiral R. V. Hamilton, C.B., which he joined in November 1886. Over the course of the three years he served aboard this ship he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 8 December 1887, and thus began his adult service. On paying off he joined the Duke of Wellington in February 1890. He next served aboard the Active from June 1890; the Vivid from December 1890; and Blanche from December 1890. Whilst in the latter vessel he was advanced to Able Seaman on 1 May 1891. During the three and a half years he spent in the 3rd Class Cruiser Blanche, Commander G. R. Lindley R.N., much of which was in East African waters, Clift was twice landed for service on shore with the ship's Naval Brigade. On the first occasion he was a member of a Naval Brigade consisting of 10 officers, 220 seamen and 36 Royal Marines drawn from H.M. Ships Blanche, Sparrow and Swallow. The Naval Brigade landed at Lamu on 7 August 1893, to punish Furno Omari, Sultan of Witu, who was openly rebellious and defiant, and had committed a number of atrocities. The stronghold villages of Pumwani and Tongeri were attacked; the gates of Pumwani were blown up by a field gun and war rockets and both towns were taken after a short, sharp fight. The Naval Brigade lost one stoker killed, and had two officers and six seamen wounded. Following their successful action, the members of the Naval Brigade returned to their respective ships on 15 August 1893. Each member was later to receive the East and West Africa Medal with Clasp 'Witu August 1893 '. A week after returning on board Blanche, Clift again volunteered to land as part of a much smaller Naval Brigade under Lieutenant P. V. Lewes, R.N. On hearing the news that Mr W. G. Hamilton, Superintendent of Askaris, had been murdered at Turki Hill, and that Count Lovattelli and Mr Farrant of the Imperial British East Africa Company were under siege at the British Residency at Kismayu, Commander G. R. Lindley of H.M.S. Blanche took the decision to land a small Naval Brigade to rescue them. The all-volunteer party of 42 sailors and stokers were joined by an additional 50 loyal Keribotos when they landed at the mouth of the Juba. Following a tiring night march, the force arrived at Turki Hill on 24 August, which was taken after a brisk fight. The small defending force at the Residency was relieved; upon hearing that Captain Tritton and Mr McDougall were trapped aboard the British Imperial East Africa Company's steamer Kenia at nearby Gobwen on the Juba River, Lieutenant Lewes and his small force set out to rescue them. On finding the two Englishmen safe, Lieutenant Lewes decided to fortify the steamer by placing iron plates, cut-up canoes, sand bags and bales of goods around the sides. Two maxim guns were mounted, and the Hotchkiss gun in the bow was manned. On 25 August the steamer set off up river to punish the mutineers and to destroy the town of Kajwalla. After proceeding only a short distance, the engine donkey feed pump broke down and the boiler fires had to be drawn. The element of surprise had been lost and the Kenia came under heavy fire from the mutineers concealed on the banks of the Juba River. The repairs to the pump, which took four hours to complete, were carried out by the engine room ratings. The steamer then continued upriver to shell and destroy the village of Magarada. After further shelling and firing of rockets, 30 men were landed from the Kenia, and after one hour of fighting, the town of Kajwalla was taken, burned and destroyed. The Kenia then crossed to the other side of the river, landed every available man, and after a brisk fight the town of Majawen was captured and destroyed. The Naval Brigade then returned to the Kenia and soon after rejoined the Blanche. For his services, Lieutenant P. V. Lewes received the Distinguished Service Order. The members of the Naval Brigade received the East & West Africa Medal with clasp 'Juba River 1893'. Those who were present at the previous action at Witu earlier in the month received the clasp only. On returning to England, Clift subsequently served short spells aboard the following ships: Victory I from March 1894; Excellent from June 1894; and Enchantress from October 1894. He then joined the Inflexible in May 1895; Victory I in September 1896; Vulcan in October 1896; and Victory I once again in October 1897. In January 1898, Clift joined the battleship Majestic, Flag Ship of the Channel Squadron, Vice Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, K.C.B. In this vessel he served a four-year commission before being paid off to the Duke of Wellington in January 1902. After three months on shore he joined, in April 1902, the 1st Class Battleship Vengence, Channel Squadron. In April 1902 he joined the 1st Class Battleship Barfleur, Flagship Reserve Division, Portsmouth, Rear Admiral R. L. Groome C.V.O. His stay in Barfleur was short, for a month later in May he had already been transferred to the Vivid. In October 1905 he joined Impregnable, Flagship, Devonport, Admiral Sir Lewis A. Beaumont, K.C.B., K.C.M.G. Following two years spent aboard the latter ship, Able Seaman Clift was pensioned ashore having completed twenty years’ adult service. He was never awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, since on three separate occasions his character assessment fell below 'Very Good'. Shortly after his discharge, he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Devonport on 5 January 1908, and was mobilised on 2 August 1914 as an Able Seaman aboard the Majestic Class Battleship Caesar, serving with the 7th Battle Squadron in the English Channel. He remained aboard Caesar when the ship was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet early in 1915. Following a short period aboard Vivid, which he joined in October 1917, Clift was transferred in February 1918 to Hecla II, Base Ship at Buncrana, and remained in this posting until he was demobilised in November 1919, having served his country for a total of 25 years. Sold with research including copied record of service.

The Naval General Service medal awarded to Commander Michael Dwyer, Royal Navy, a Lieutenant in the Révolutionnaire at the siege of St. Sebastian in 1813; a year earlier he had led a party of only seven men landed from H.M.S. Minstrel to successfully storm and spike a battery of 9-pounders garrisoned by 80 Genoese on the coast of Spain, only to be overwhelmed by a detachment of 200 French troops, in the course of which Dwyer was ‘stabbed by a bayonet in seventeen different places of his left arm and side, besides receiving, as in other parts of his body, a desperate gun-shot wound through the right shoulder’ - ‘in admiration of their consummate valour, the prisoners were at once set at liberty by their generous enemy’ Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, St. Sebastian (Michael Dwyer, Lieut.) contained in a contemporary Hunt & Roskell glazed silver frame, the edge with engraved naming details, with integral ring and swivel-ring bar suspension and silver ribbon buckle, some tarnishing, otherwise extremely fine £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- The practise of ‘glazing’ medals in this fashion was an option taken up by some officers at the time of the issue of the Naval, Military and Indian service medals. It was a service known to have been offered and carried out by Hunt & Roskell who were contracted to assemble these medals and clasps. In all known examples where it has been possible to inspect the actual planchet, invariably due to broken lunettes, the naming details have been correctly impressed by the Royal Mint. The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Michael Dwyer as a Lieutenant aboard the Revolutionnaire for the operations off St. Sebastian in September 1813. Michael Dwyer entered the Navy on 17 November 1804, as Able Seaman on board the Galgo sloop, Captain Michael Dodd. From July 1805, until the year 1812, he successively served, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Unité 36, Captain Charles Ogle, Queen 98, Captain Francis Pender, Zealous 74, Captains John Giffard and William Pierrepont, Bulwark 74, Captain Hon. Charles Elphinstone Fleeming, Téméraire 98, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Francis Pickmore, Unité again, Captain Edwin Henry Chamberlayne, and Weasel and Minstrel sloops, both commanded by Captain John Strutt Peyton. During that period, among other services, Mr. Dwyer was actively employed in the blockade of Carthagena and of Toulon, and at the siege of Cadiz; and, when in the Unité, he took part, on 1 May 1811, in a very gallant action of an hour and a half in Sagone Bay, where that frigate, in company with the Pomone 38, and Scout 18, effectually destroyed the two armed store-ships Giraffe and Nourrice, each mounting from 20 to 30 guns, and protected by a 5-gun battery, a martello tower, and a body of about 200 regular troops. On 4 July in the same year he further contributed, in the Unité’s boats, under Lieutenant Joseph William Crabb, to the capture, beneath a shower of grape from a battery at Port Hercule, on the Roman coast, of the armed and vigorously defended brig St. François de Paule; and, in the course of the same day, he assisted Captain A. W. J. Clifford, of the Cephalus, in very spiritedly cutting out three merchant-vessels from between Civita Vecchia and the mouth of the Tiber. On 12 August 1812 – (he had been unknowingly promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by commission dated 21 of the previous March) – we find Mr. Dwyer landing from the Minstrel (as a preliminary step to the capture of three privateers, two of which had been hauled on shore in the port of Biendom, near Alicant), and, at the head of a party of only seven men, successfully storming, in face of a desperate resistance, a battery of 6 9-pounders, garrisoned by eighty Genoese, the crews of the two vessels alluded to. Before, however, Mr. Dwyer and his little band of heroes, after spiking the guns of the battery, could regain their boat, they were surrounded by a detachment of 200 French troops, and were ultimately overwhelmed; but not until, of the British handful, one man had been killed, the six others desperately wounded, and their gallant leader stabbed by a bayonet in seventeen different places of his left arm and side, besides receiving, as in other parts of his body, a desperate gun-shot wound through the right shoulder, which has ever since deprived him of the use of that arm. We may add that, in admiration of their consummate valour, the prisoners were at once set at liberty by their generous enemy; and that Mr. Dwyer, who, as a matter of course, afterwards obtained a pension for his wounds of 91l. 5s., was also presented with an elegant sword by the Patriotic Society. Being next appointed, 16 July, 1813, to the Révolutionnaire 38, Captain John Charles Woolcombe, he occasionally served in the trenches at the ensuing siege of St. Sebastian, and materially hastened the fall of that important place by commanding the division of boats which stormed and captured the island of Santa Clara. He afterwards made a voyage to China, and when at the Cape of Good Hope, in July, 1816, was the chief instrument, by his energy and activity, of saving the Révolutionnaire and her consort the Zebra from destruction, both those vessels having been stranded, during a tremendous hurricane, in Simon’s Bay. Quitting the Révolutionnaire in December 1816, Lieutenant Dwyer subsequently commanded the Bittern tender, of 10 guns, on the Plymouth station, from 12 November 1824, until 7 January 1826; and, on 9 March, 1842, he was appointed to the Fearless surveying-steamer, Captain Frederick Bullock. Being in command of that vessel on the occasion of the Queen’s visit to Scotland, he was at length, on Her Majesty’s return, promoted to the rank of Commander, 21 September 1842.

The Yangtze incident group of six awarded to Leading Seaman T. S. Mullins, Royal Navy, who was ‘blown clean off’ the gun platform of X-Gun aboard H.M.S. Amethyst but immediately ‘jumped back on’ to continue the fight 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Yangtze 1949 (D/JX129448 T. Mullins. Ldg. Smn. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (JX. 129448 T. S. Mullins. A.L.S. H.M.S. Drake) mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Thomas Stanislaus Mullins was born in Queenstown in November 1911, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in September 1924. Gaining advancement to Ordinary Seaman in September 1929 and to Able Seaman in May 1931, he served throughout the Second World War, his ship appointments including the Battleships Rodney and Duke of York. Further advanced to Acting Leading Seaman in late 1942, and awarded his L.S. and G.C. Medal in October 1944, Mullins joined the Ship’s Company of the Frigate Amethyst in March 1948. An experienced Rating, he was appointed to the command of X-Gun, his subsequent services in the Yangtze Incident earning him a Commendation for ‘courage and devotion to duty’ from the Naval C.-in-C. (Special Order of the Day 22 December 1949 refers). Very probably this distinction stemmed from his bravery on 20 April 1949 during the initial Communist bombardment, as recorded by Lawrence Earl in his book Yangtze Incident: ‘Shells were thudding into the ship all the time. There seemed to be a great deal of disorganized running to and fro on the decks and passage ways ... X-Gun, firing independently, had got away 30 rounds. Boy Dennis Roberts, a Plymouth lad, had taken cover underneath the Bofors gun on the port side, just behind the funnel. He was looking aft when he saw the bright yellow flash of a hit on the X-Gun flare. Leading Seaman Mullins was blown clean off the gun-platform and on to the deck by the blast. Astonishingly, he was unhurt. He jumped back on to the gun. Several Ratings were handing out ammunition to supply the gun. The automatic hoist wasn’t working. Roberts later reported: “I saw the shell burst directly on X-Gun then, and splinters flew around like hail”. That second hit on the gun killed Ordinary Seaman Dennis Griffiths and Ordinary Seaman Battams, X-Gun’s trainer. Splinters wounded Albert Rimmington, Amos Davies and Gwilyn Stevens. One of the men was killed where he sat, his hands frozen to the training-handle. He appeared to still be on the job. “Train around!” Mullins yelled at him. “Train around!” Then he saw that the man was dead. There was a cloud of black smoke shrouding X-Gun and it was out of action for good’. Sold with contemporary Post Card photograph captioned ‘Amethyst after action’, Dockyard Pass ‘on the occasion of the return to Devonport of H.M.S. Amethyst from China on 1st November 1949’, and copied record of service including ‘Special Order of the Day’ mentioned above; together with related mounted group of six miniature medals.

The Naval General Service medal awarded to Charles Wilson, a Private Royal Marines aboard H.M.S. Africa at the battle of Trafalgar Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Trafalgar (Charles Wilson.) contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise nearly very fine £5,000-£7,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Christie’s, April 1979 and March 1986; Dix Noonan Webb, December 2005. Charles Wilson is confirmed on the roll as a Private, Royal Marines, aboard H.M.S. Africa at the Battle of Trafalgar. He is the only man with these names on the roll, is verified as being aboard on the Africa’s muster roll (ADM 157/4 refers), and was sent his Medal on 2 July 1849 (Official Admiralty Claimants’ Roll ADM 171/1/103 refers). H.M.S. Africa was with Nelson watching Cadiz in 1805, and under Captain Henry Digby bore a conspicuous part in the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October. She appears to have lost sight of the fleet in the course of the night before the battle, and, when the firing began, was broad on the Victory’s port beam, and nearly also broad on the port beam of the leading ship of the allied van. Nelson signalled her to make all possible sail; but Digby seems to have misunderstood the order - which was intended to keep him out of danger - as meaning that he was to lose no time in closing the enemy. He therefore made the best of his way along the Franco-Spanish van, exchanging broadsides with it, and at length bore down ahead of the Spanish 140, Santisima Trinidad. Judging from her appearance that that vessel had surrendered, Digby sent his First Lieutenant to take possession of her. This officer reached her quarter-deck ere he learned that the Spaniard had not surrendered, and as he was not in a position to coerce her, he withdrew, no one, strange to say, making an effort to stop him. The Africa, then, at about 3.20 p.m., very gallantly brought to action the French 74, Intrepide, and for about 40 minutes fought her steadily, until the arrival of the British Orion upon the Frenchman’s starboard quarter relieved her before she was silenced. She had her main-topsail-yard shot away, and her bowsprit and three lower masts so badly injured that none of the latter could afterwards stand. Her remaining masts and yards were also more or less damaged; her rigging and sails cut to pieces; while her hull, besides its other serious damage, received shots between wind and water. Her losses in killed and wounded amounted to 62, including 7 officers.

The superb ‘Dunraven’ Q-Ship D.S.M. group of five awarded to Wireman Stanley Woodison, Royal Navy, a Canadian who was three times decorated for gallantry, was in a ballot for the award of the Victoria Cross, and took part in all of Captain Gordon Campbell’s famous Q-Ship actions Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (M.15547. S. Woodison, Wiren. Atlantic Ocean. 8 Aug. 1917); 1914-15 Star (M.15547, S. Woodison, Ar. Cr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (M.15547 S. Woodison. Wmn. 1 R.N.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914 1917, with bronze palm, mounted as worn, nearly 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 2 November 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ The recommendation states: ‘Action of H.M.S. Dunraven with German submarine UC71 on 8 August 1917. Has served in all five actions of H.M.S. Dunraven with Captain Campbell.’ The Victoria Cross awarded to Lieutenant C. G. Bonner and Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher for this action. M.I.D. London Gazette 23 March 1917. Action of H.M.S. Q.5 on 17 February 1917, when the U-83 was sunk. French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 19 December 1917. Stanley Woodison was born on 22 August 1887 at Windsor, Ontario, Canada. An electrician (wireman) by trade, he volunteered for the Royal Navy on 6 October 1915, for the duration of the hostilities, and served throughout the war in ‘Q’ ships under Captain Gordon Campbell. In the space of less than two years he would witness the destruction of three U-boats in actions which would be rewarded with no less than 5 V.C.s, 7 D.S.O.s, 13 D.S.C.s, 7 C.G.M.s, 45 D.S.M.s, and numerous M.I.D.s. Woodison joined Loderer (later Farnborough and Q.5) on 5 November 1915. On 22 March 1916, Farnborough enjoyed her first success with the sinking of the U-68, bringing promotion to Commander for Campbell, and winning him the first of his three D.S.O.s. With her name changed to H.M.S. Q.5, she next sank the U-83 on 17 February 1917, but was herself badly damaged by torpedoes and had to be beached. Campbell was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action, and many crew members received decorations or mentions, including Woodison. Campbell’s next ship was the Pargust, which Woodison joined on 8 May 1917, and took part in the sinking of the UC.29 on 7 June 1917. Woodison’s service record is annotated: ‘Noted for War Services: Action with Enemy Submarine 7 June 1917,’ and also ‘Participated in ballot for award of the V.C. to one of the Ship’s Coy. of H.M.S. Pargust, June 1917.’ Clearly, he was not the man chosen in the ballot, this honour instead going to Seaman William Williams, whilst the officers voted Lieutenant R. N. Stuart, D.S.O., for the ultimate award. Pargust had been badly damaged in the action and repairs were going to take a long time to effect. Campbell therefore requested a new ship, which he got in the name of H.M.S. Dunraven. The action of Dunraven with the UC.71 on 8 August 1917 is one of the most famous Q-Ship actions of the war. It was a heroic three-hour gun and torpedo action in which the Dunraven was repeatedly hit by shells, refusing to return fire until the submarine came within range. With the poop heavily on fire as the submarine slowly approached Dunraven, Campbell had to make an agonising decision not to evacuate the gun’s crew, thereby exposing their intentions to the enemy, in the full knowledge that the magazine would certainly explode. As the submarine passed Dunraven’s stern, a matter of seconds before it would be in range of the guns, the inevitable happened. A terrific explosion occurred, the stern of the ship was blown out, and the four-inch gun and crew were blown into the air. The gun’s crew were all wounded but luckily none were killed, although one man later did later succumb to his wounds. The enemy was very wary and, having scored a hit with a torpedo, broke off the action when a torpedo was fired at her by the Dunraven. Despite being taken in tow and valiant action by the crew to save their ship, Dunraven sank at 0130 on 9 August 1917, the officers and crew being taken off by H.M.S. Christopher. This was to be Captain Campbell's last Q-Ship action; the Admiralty retired him to a shore posting at Holyhead. As for his crew, Campbell himself said of them ‘Not a man failed, not a man could have done more.’ Dunraven’s action brought numerous awards including Victoria Crosses for Lieutenant C. G. Bonner and Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher, and the D.S.M. for Stanley Woodison. Sold with an original Canadian news cutting with portrait and details of war service, together with copied record of service and action reports.

The very rare ‘Great War 1917’ D.S.M. and ‘Second Battle of Sirte 1942’ Second Award Bar group of ten awarded to Petty Officer Fred Smith, Royal Navy Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.28911 F. Smith. A.B. H.M.S. Laburnam 1917) with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star (J.28911 F. Smith, Ord. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.28911 F. Smith. A.B. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, 1 clasp North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (J.28911 F. Smith. L.S. H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth) mounted as worn, the first four considerably polished and worn, therefore fine, otherwise about very fine or better (10) £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 6 April 1918: ‘For services in vessels of the Royal Navy employed on patrol and escort duty during the period 1st January to 31st December 1917.’ D.S.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 8 September 1942: ‘For gallantry, skill and seamanship in H.M. Ships ...Dulverton... in a brilliant action against strong enemy forces, which were driven off and severely damaged. This action resulted in the safe passage to Malta of an important convoy.’ Awarded for Admiral Vian’s brilliant victory over Italian naval forces on 22 March 1942, in what came to be known as the Second Battle of Sirte. One of only three instances of a man winning a Bar in the Second World War to the D.S.M. from the Great War. One other man was gazetted with a second D.S.M. by mistake instead of a bar, thus making only four such double awards embracing both wars. Fred Smith was born at Yeovil, Somerset, on 28 October 1897, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 8 December 1913, an errand boy by trade. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in July 1915 and to Able Seaman in October 1916, joining H.M.S. Laburnam on the Irish station at Queenstown and remained in this ship until October 1918. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal in February 1931 whilst serving in H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth which he had joined in February 1929. He was appointed acting Petty Officer in November 1932 and confirmed as Petty Officer (Pensioner) in November 1933. Demobilised in October 1938, he was recalled in December 1939 and served aboard the escort destroyer Pytchley from October 1940 until damaged by a mine in June 1941. He joined the escort destroyer Dulverton in September 1941 and thereafter took part in escorting convoys to Freetown and Durban before moving to the Mediterranean in early 1942 where he took part in convoys to Malta and the Second Battle of Sirte. He was advanced to Chief Petty Officer (Temporary) in October 1943, and released from the service on 11 September 1945. Sold with copied record of service and other research.

The impressive Second War K.B.E., inter-War C.B., Gallipoli operations D.S.O. group of thirteen awarded to Vice-Admiral Sir George Swabey, Royal Navy Having served ashore with distinction in Gallipoli as a Naval Observation Officer, he rose to senior rank, serving as a Commodore of Convoys 1940-41 and as Flag Officer in Charge at Portland 1942-44: during the latter posting he successfully oversaw the embarkation of an entire U.S. Army Division bound for the Normandy beaches The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Military) Knight Commander’s 2nd type set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels and breast star, silver, with silver-gilt and enamel centre, in its Garrard & Co., London case of issue; The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, in its Garrard & Co., London case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Commr. G. T. C. P. Swabey, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. G. T. C. P. Swabey. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1902, silver; France, 3rd Republic, Legion of Hounour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamels; United States of America, Legion of Merit, Commander’s neck badge, gilt and enamels, the suspension loop numbered ‘263’, in its case of issue, mounted court-style as worn where applicable, one or two slightly bent arm points on the French piece, otherwise generally good very fine (14) £3,600-£4,400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- K.B.E. London Gazette 13 June 1946. C.B. London Gazette 3 June 1930. D.S.O. London Gazette 14 March 1916: ‘He rendered very valuable assistance to the Army as Naval Observation Officer. Strongly recommended by General Sir Francis Davies and General Sir William Birdwood.’ Legion of Honour London Gazette 23 March 1917. U.S.A. Legion of Merit London Gazette 28 May 1946. George Thomas Carlisle Parker Swabey was born in Bedfordshire on 22 January 1881 and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in Britannia in January 1895. Appointed a Midshipman in January 1897, he subsequently gained seagoing experience in H.M. Ships Cambrian and Venus in the Mediterranean and in the Crescent on the America and West Indies Stations. In 1903 he joined the gunnery establishment Excellent and was afterwards Gunnery Lieutenant in the Revenge and the Irresistible, and First and Gunnery Lieutenant of the Zealandia, in which latter ship he was advanced to Commander in 1913. Soon after the outbreak of hostilities in 1914, Swabey joined the flagship Lord Nelson, and in her sailed for the Dardanelles. He was subsequently appointed a Naval Observation Officer to the Land Forces employed in that theatre of war and was specifically awarded his D.S.O. ‘for services in action during the Gallipoli operations April 1915 to January 1916’, which period also witnessed him being mentioned in despatches by General Sir Charles Munro (London Gazette 12 July 1916). From 1916-17 he served as Executive Officer of the Lord Nelson in the Eastern Mediterranean and in June 1918 he was advanced to Captain. Between the Wars Swabey held several senior appointments, including those of Deputy Director of Naval Ordnance 1921-23; Captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich 1924-26 and Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Station 1926-29, when he was the first member of the R.N. to serve on the Royal New Zealand Naval Board. Advanced to Rear-Admiral in the latter year, he was also appointed an A.D.C. to the King and created a C.B. Having been advanced to Vice-Admiral on the Retired List in 1935, Swabey was recalled in September 1939, when he became one of that gallant band of retired Flag Officers to assume the duties of a Commodore of Convoys, in which capacity he served from 1940-41; one newspaper obituary states that ‘after two years’ service on the high seas, Swabey’s ship was sunk from under him and he was exposed for several days in an open boat.’ Then in 1942 he hoisted his Flag as Vice-Admiral in Charge at Portland, where he was entrusted with the preparation for, and execution of, the launching of one of two U.S. Army Divisions to assault the Normandy beaches in June 1944. He was subsequently presented with an official Admiralty Letter of Praise for his part in ‘Operation Neptune’, and the American Legion of Merit ‘for distinguished service during the planning and execution of the invasion of Normandy’ (Admiralty letter of notification, refers). An idea of the scale of his responsibilities in this period maybe be found in the inscription left by the Americans on a local commemoration stone: ‘The major part of the American Assault Force which landed on the shores of France on D-Day 6 June 1944, was launched from Portland harbour. From 6 June 1944 to 7 May 1945, 418,585 troops and 144,093 vehicles embarked from this harbour.’ Swabey was afterwards appointed Naval Officer in Charge at Leith, in which capacity he was awarded the K.B.E., the insignia for which he received at an investiture held on 28 January 1947. The Admiral, ‘a truly good man, kindly and modest, who feared God and honoured the King’, retired to Chichester and died there in February 1952. Sold with Buckingham Palace letter and invitation to attend Investiture on 28 January 1947; Bisley ‘Whitehead Challenge Cup’ medal, silver-gilt and enamels, hallmarked Birmingham 1905, with gilt enamelled ribbon bar ‘1905’ over wreath, and top suspension brooch, silver-gilt and enamel ‘NAVY’ surmounted by Naval crown, unnamed in B. Ninnes, Goldsmith, Hythe case of issue; together with studio portrait in uniform wearing medals and copied research

The unique Boer War C.S.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Commander E. Lowe, Royal Navy,thrice mentioned in despatches for his services as a ‘Gunner R.N.’ in the Naval Brigade, Lowe particularly distinguished himself the battle of Graspan, near Belmont, on 25 November 1900, when ‘he charged to the top of a hill, gallantly leading his men, all the time under a heavy fire’ Conspicuous Service Cross, E.VII.R., the reverse hall marked London 1901; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 8 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Relief of Kimberley (Gunner E. E. Lowe: R.N. H.M.S. Monarch) small erasure or correction to colon after surname; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. E. E. Lowe, D.S.C., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. E. E. Lowe. R.N.); Coronation 1911; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (E. E. Lowe, P.O. 1st Cl., H.M.S. Severn) good very fine (7) £20,000-£24,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. The Conspicuous Service Cross was instituted in 1901 and converted to the Distinguished Service Cross in 1914. During its short life, only eight awards of the C.S.C. were made: five for South Africa, two for China 1900 and one for Somaliland in 1904; Lowe’s C.S.C. is only the third provenanced example to have appeared at auction. Lowe was one of only two Royal Navy officers to receive the Q.S.A. medal with 8 clasps. C.S.C. London Gazette 2 July 1901. Ernest Lowe was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk on 12 October 1866 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in January 1882. His subsequent seagoing appointments included H.M.S. Canada on the North America and West Indies stations in the early 1880s, when he served as ‘hammock man’ to the Duke of York, afterwards King George V. When King Edward VII was pinning the C.S.C. to Lowe’s tunic at St. James’s Palace many years later, the Duke, who had a wonderful memory, turned to King Edward and said, “This is the fellow who used to throw me out of my hammock in the Canada.” Lowe also attended extended courses at the shore establishments Excellent and Vernon, scoring highly for torpedo gunner, and was duly appointed to the warrant rank of Acting Gunner in April 1897. Then in May 1898, he joined the Monarch at Simonstown and he was likewise employed at the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa in October 1899. Among those selected for services ashore in the Naval Brigade, he was given charge of a 12-pounder and joined the Lord Methuen’s column for the relief of Kimberley. The Naval Warrant Officers Journal (January, 1951) takes up the story: ‘Mr. Lowe was present with this column at the battles of Belmont, Graspan (where he was mentioned in despatches), Modder River and Magersfontein. After a stay of some weeks at Modder River, the Brigade joined Lord Robert’s column and was present at the following operations: capture of Jacobsdal; engagements at Klip Drift; Paardeburg (capture of Cronje’s force); Osfontein; Driefontein; occupation (after several forced marches) of Bloemfontein. After staying a while at the capital of Orange River Colony, they advanced north and took part in the actions of Vet River, Land River, occupied Kroonstad, passage of Vaal River, action and capture of Johannesburg and Pretoria (mentioned in despatches), action at Diamond Hill, occupation of Middleburg and action at Belfast (Bergendale). After that the Brigade joined General Gordon’s column and was present at the Tafel Kop and occupation of Barberton, returning to Capetown on 12 October 1900.’ In fact, Lowe was mentioned in despatches on three occasions: Lord Methuen’s despatch dated 25 November 1899, for the battle of Graspan: ‘Gunner Lowe and Midshipman W. W. Silem charged to the top of a hill, gallantly leading their men all the time under a heavy fire and are deserving of special mention.’ Captain Bearcroft’s despatch to Rear-Admiral Sir R. Harris, dated at Pretoria on 9 June 1900, reporting on the engagement of 4 June 1900: ‘Mr. Lowe, Gunner (T.) Monarch, for zeal and energy shown in keeping up an adequate supply of ammunition near the guns and looking after the safety of the remainder.’ And Captain Bearcroft’s despatch to Rear-Admiral Sir R. Harris, dated at Simonstown on 17 October 1900: ‘Mr. Lowe, Gunner (T.), this officer has performed the duty of Quartermaster to the Brigade while landed with ability and untiring zeal and energy.’ Graspan was surely the hottest of his engagements, for on what became a unique occasion, the Naval Brigade advanced as infantry, arriving opposite the Boer positions after a night march at 7 a.m. The Boers had burnt all the grass for 2,000 yards in front to allow them to pick up our khaki, in addition to marking ant hills to give the range. Lowe and his comrades duly set off under a blazing sun, advancing by 25-yard rushes, each half company passing the other half company. As the range closed to 600 or 700 yards, the Boer fire got much hotter, and the casualties began to mount. Captain Darwin, R.N., the Brigade’s senior officer, was severely wounded and Commander Ethelston killed. The Midshipman attached to Lowe’s company was also killed, as was Major Plumb of the Marines. Notwithstanding the loss of such senior officers, Lowe and his Tars charged to the top of the hill, under heavy fire, and managed to dislodge the enemy, who retreated to their horses on the other side. He then teamed up with Captain Marchment of the Marines and helped to drive off a small force of Boers on another hill nearby. Lowe, who returned home in December 1900, was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross and also became one of just two Naval Officers to receive an 8-clasp Queen’s South Africa medal. He was also recommended for special advancement to Chief Gunner on attaining 12 years seniority, a promotion that was confirmed in April 1910. In the interim, in 1902, he added the Coronation Medal to his accolades, most likely for ceremonial duties in connection with the participating Naval Detachment. Having then been advanced to Lieutenant in June 1912, Lowe was appointed to the command of Torpedo Boat 116 in December 1914, and he remained similarly employed for the duration of the Great War. He was mentioned in despatches ‘for good services in Destroyer Patrol Flotillas during the period ended 30 September 1916’ (London Gazette 23 May 1917, refers), an accolade that probably stemmed from his action in defending an important convoy from Canada in October 1915. Spotting an enemy submarine off Culver Cliff in the Isle of Wight, he steamed for her at full speed, firing on her and only missing ramming her by a few seconds. Lowe was advanced to Lieutenant-Commander in June 1920 and finally hung up his sea boots in October 1921, after 39 years of continuous service. He retired to Grayshott in Surrey, near Hindhead, where he won the Village Billiards Championship in 1945, aged 79. He died in October 1954. Sold with copied record of service and other research.

The Great War ‘Falklands 1914’ D.S.M. and Italian Al Valore Militare group of six awarded to Shipwright 1st Class A. E. N. England, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in the cruiser H.M.S. Glasgow Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (341971 A. E. N. England, Shipt. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Glasgow); 1914-15 Star (341971 A. E. N. England, D.S.M., Shipt. 1, R.N.); British War & Victory Medals (341971 A. E. N. England. Ch. Shpt., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (341971 A. E. N. England, Car. Mate H.M.S. Glasgow); Al Valore Militare, bronze, unnamed as issued, mint mark crowned ‘Z’ over ‘F.G’, light contact wear, otherwise good very fine (6) £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 3 March 1915: ‘The names of the following are specially mentioned … To receive the Distinguished Service Medal: Shipwright, 1st Class, Albert N. E. England, O.N. 341971, H.M.S. Glasgow.’ The original recommendation states: ‘This Shipwright was stationed at the upper end of the fore ammunition hoist and when one man was killed and another of his party disabled, continued by his extraordinary exertions to keep up a rapid supply of ammunition to the guns.’ One of 12 D.S.Ms for the battle of the Falklands and the only one to H.M.S. Glasgow. Al Valore Militare London Gazette 17 November 1917. Albert Edward Newton England was born at Landport, Hampshire on 13 November 1876 and entered the Royal Navy as Carpenter’s Crew in April 1898. A Shipwright 1st Class in the cruiser H.M.S. Glasgow on the outbreak of war, he quickly saw action at the battle of the Coronel on 1 November 1914, when Vice-Admiral Graf von Spee overpowered a squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock, sinking the Good Hope and Monmouth with heavy loss of life. For her own part, Glasgow duelled inconclusively with the Leipzig and Dresden, and is estimated to have had around 600 shells fired at her. Remarkably, however, she suffered only light damage from five hits and lived to fight another day. As it transpired, that day was the occasion of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee’s celebrated victory off the Falklands on 8 December 1914, when England distinguished himself on one of Glasgow’s ammunition hoists. Having cleared Port Stanley harbour at 0945 hours, Glasgow was ordered by Sturdee to shadow von Spee’s squadron and report on any significant actions. Once the remaining British cruisers had caught up, a general engagement commenced and Glasgow opened fire on Leipzig at a range of 12,000 yards, getting in one good hit but suffering two in return. She nonetheless stuck to her adversary when the German squadron scattered, and was in at Leipzig’s end; Glasgow and Cornwall managed to rescue just 18 German sailors in the darkness. In addition to his subsequent award of the D.S.M., his service record notes that England also received the Italian Al Valore for like services in November 1917. His subsequent wartime appointments comprised the shore establishment Fisgard (January 1916-February 1917), the battleship Canada (February-October 1917), and the cruiser Minotaur (October 1917-February 1919). Having also been awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in March 1918, he was pensioned ashore in May 1920. Sold with named card lids for Great War medals and two old ribbon bars, together with copied research.

The Second War ‘Battle of Crete 1941’ D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Leading Seaman F. M. Waite, serving aboard H.M.S. Kelly under Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C/JX.142954 F. M. Waite, L. Smn. H.M.S. Kelly) impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (8) £1,400-£1,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997. D.S.M. London Gazette 8 January 1942: ‘For outstanding gallantry, fortitude and resolution during the Battle of Crete.’ Three D.S.M.s were awarded to Kelly, including Leading Seaman F. M. Waite. The destroyer Kelly, under the command of Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten, was badly damaged in June 1940. She was hit by a German torpedo boat in foggy weather, the torpedo exploding under the bridge and blowing a huge hole in her side which almost broke her in two. She was taken in tow but with small chance of survival as a gale sprang up shortly afterwards. For four days and nights she was at the mercy of the seas, and on some occasions had to be temporarily abandoned by her crew. During this time there were frequent attacks by enemy aircraft to be contended with, all of which were successfully beaten off. She was eventually brought safely to harbour and repaired. On the night of 22 May 1941, in company with the destroyer Kashmir, Kelly was bombarding German positions on the island of Crete. At daybreak the next morning, they destroyed two caiques carrying troops and ammunition. This action brought upon the two destroyers the unwelcome attention of German dive-bombers and from 5.30 a.m. they were repeatedly attacked. The Kashmir was struck amidships by a 1,000-pound bomb and sank immediately. The Kelly was hit soon afterwards and sank with great rapidity, taking with her nine officers and 119 ratings. Eight officers, including Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten, and 120 ratings were picked up by the destroyer Kipling, which also saved a number of the crew of Kashmir. Frank Moore Waite entered the Navy in 1934 and specialised in Gunnery. He joined the newly commissioned H.M.S. Kelly in August 1939, and as one of the most experienced gunners in the service he was made captain of Kelly’s eight-man pom pom crew and witnessed her first wartime operation, conveying the Duke and Duchess of Windsor out of France.

The unique and poignant Second War bomb and mine disposal G.C., D.S.C. group of ten awarded to Lieutenant-Commander W. E. Hiscock, Royal Navy In his capacity as Controlled Mining Officer at H.M.S. St. Angelo, Malta, he dealt with no fewer than 125 ‘incidents’ at the height of the island’s siege, among them an ‘Italian torpedo machine’ and other unknown types of ordnance: in dismantling the former, which contained a 650lb. high explosive charge fitted with four firing devices and a time fuse, the clock mechanism whirred into action, but Hiscock calmly neutralised the device nonetheless Tragically, he and his wife were killed in a bombing raid on Valetta in February 1942, just a few days after the announcement of his award of the G.C. George Cross (Lieut. (Acting Lieut. Commander) William Ewart Hiscock, D.S.C. R.N. 3rd February 1942); Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse hallamrked London 1940 and officially dated ‘1941’; 1914-15 Star (Act. Gnr. W. E. Hiscock, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Gnr. W. E. Hiscock, R.N,.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee Medal 1935, mounted court-style for display, good very fine and better (10) £80,000-£120,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- G.C. London Gazette 3 February 1942: ‘For great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.’ The original recommendation states: ‘Lieutenant (Act. Lt.-Commander) Hiscock was in charge of the salvage, rendering safe and stripping of an Italian Torpedo Machine, which was recovered from 15 feet of water off St. George’s Bay, Malta. The operation of salvaging itself was one of great danger as, apart from the possibility of booby-trapping, no information was available as to the technical mechanism of the explosive head, whilst its behaviour when parted from the body was a matter of complete uncertainty. Rendering safe and stripping of the explosive head after salvage had been carried out personally by Hiscock, helped by Le Bargy [Petty Officer C., awarded the D.S.M., and later still the G.M.]. During the course of the operation the clock mechanism started and it was only cool determination and skill in the face of extreme danger which allowed of a successful conclusion. The machine contained a 650 lb charge of high explosive, fitted with four firing devices, including impact and hydrostatic types.’ Further notes appear in the Honours & Awards File ADM 516/41: ‘Total of all incidents - 125. Two specifically detailed: 1. While dismantling a one-man submarine recovered off Malta and rendering it safe, a special spanner (made in the Dockyard) slipped and started the clock mechanism. The lighter was then alongside N.A.D. but he tackled the mechanism again and succeeded in stopping the clock and withdrawing the detonator. 2. A new type German mine was recently encountered and rendered safe, regardless of the danger of its detonating on the rocks, he had what can only be described as an “all in wrestling match” when it washed to and fro in the heavy scend.’ His calm tackling of these highly dangerous jobs without fuss and with unfailing cheerfulness is, I consider, the highest form of courage and worthy of a very high award.’ D.S.C. London Gazette 14 January 1941: ‘For courage, enterprise and devotion to duty in contact with the enemy.’ William Ewart Hiscock was born in Dorchester, Dorset on 13 January 1886 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in July 1901. Subsequently appointed an Acting Gunner, R.N., in August 1914, his wartime appointments included H.M. Ships Kale, from November 1914, Medea, from June 1915 and Tribune, from June 1918, and he was mentioned in despatches for ‘services in action with enemy submarines’ (London Gazette 20 September 1918, refers). In August 1924, he was appointed a Commissioned Gunner, and, following further seagoing appointments, he joined the Admiralty’s Torpedo and Mining Department in late 1931. Advanced to Lieutenant in March 1934, he was placed on the Retired List in January 1936. Recalled shortly before the renewal of hostilities, Hiscock was posted to the Malta base St. Angelo, where he was appointed Officer in Charge of Controlled Minefields and Parties, and it was in this capacity that he dealt with no less than 125 devices in 1940-42. Awarded the D.S.C. in January 1941, for his ‘courage, enterprise and devotion to duty in contact with the enemy,’ he was also advanced to Acting Lieutenant-Commander. As alluded to in the recommendation for his subsequent award of the George Cross (G.C.), Hiscock’s gallant work extended to all manner of ordnance. A case in point would be the parachute mine that fell in the gardens of Lady Bernard’s Nursing Home in the Villa Portelli. The patients were quickly evacuated to the Blue Sisters Hospital and Hiscock, after gently lowering the mine to the ground - its parachute had got caught up on a wall and a tree - defused it. Tragically, as confirmed by his service record, he and his wife, Alice, were killed in an air raid on 15th February 1942, just 12 days after his G.C. was gazetted. A local newspaper report stated that their home in the married quarters in St. George’s Barracks, St. Julian’s, just north of Valetta, received a direct hit. They were buried in Capuccini Naval Cemetery. Hiscock’s G.C. was presented to one of his daughters by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 23 June 1942.

The Second War submariner’s D.S.M. awarded to Leading Stoker W. E. Edwards, Royal Navy, who was present at some memorable actions and incidents, including the occasion Lieutenant Roberts and Petty Officer Gould gained V.Cs for dealing with two unexploded bombs in the casing of Thrasher in February 1942, and the Trenchant’s spectacular 8-torpedo strike against the Japanese heavy cruiser Ashigara in July 1945, the largest warship ever sunk by a British submarine Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A/Temp. Ldg. Sto. W. E. Edwards. C/KX.75603) in case of issue, extremely fine £2,000-£2,400 --- 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 23 October 1945: ‘For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty whilst serving in H.M. Submarine Trenchant in Far Eastern waters. Her operations in six patrols were successfully carried out in the face of opposition in shallow and difficult waters. During the last of these a Japanese heavy cruiser was sunk under exceptionally hazardous conditions.’ The original recommendation states: ‘Leading Stoker Edwards is the oldest man in H.M. S./M. Trenchant (40 years) and carries out his duties in a very efficient manner. His war service includes six patrols in H.M. S./M. Trenchant in the Far East; two patrols in H.M. S./M. Thrasher in Home Waters and twelve patrols in H.M. S./M. Thrasher in the Mediterranean.’ William Edwin Edwards was born at Gillingham, Kent on 8 August 1907 and entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in January 1926. Two years later he volunteered for services in submarines and remained employed as such until coming ashore in January 1938, when he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve. Recalled in the summer of 1939, Edwards attended a refresher course in H. 28 in the 5th Submarine Flotilla at Gosport, prior to removing to the river-class submarine Clyde in January 1940. On 13 May 1940, in Scandinavian waters, Clyde encountered the German auxiliary cruiser Widder on the surface and a lengthy exchange of gunfire ensued, but without any telling results. Having then attended another refresher course in the Oberon, Edwards commenced his first proper operational tour in the Thrasher, from March 1941 to October 1943. And an action-packed tour it proved to be, his 12 war patrols witnessing the destruction of some 20,000 tons of enemy shipping. However, likely most memorable of all was the occasion that Thrasher came under attack after sinking an enemy supply ship north of Crete on 16 February 1942. Relentless attack, as it transpired, for she endured three hours of depth charging and bombing before daring to surface that night. And it was then that two unexploded bombs were discovered, lodged in Thrasher’s gun casing. Lieutenant Peter Roberts and Petty Officer Tommy Gould, volunteered to remove the bombs. The first UXB was quickly dealt with and lowered over the side, but the second had penetrated further into the deck casing. So Roberts and Gould had to enter the confined space, just two feet high, and lying flat, wriggle their way to the UXB, past deck supports, battery ventilators and drop bollards. Gould then lay on his back, clutching the 150lb bomb, whilst Roberts dragged him out by his shoulders, a distance of 20 feet. As Gould recalled: ‘It was then a matter of the two of us, lying horizontally, pushing and pulling the bomb back through the casing. It was pitch black and the bomb was making this horrible ticking noise while the submarine was being buffeted by the waves.’ Throughout their 50-minute ordeal, Thrasher was surfaced, stationary and close inshore to enemy territory. Had she been forced to crash dive, Roberts and Gould would have perished. They were both awarded the Victoria Cross. In October 1943, Thrasher’s crew transferred to the Trenchant, taking with them their C.O., Lieutenant-Commander ‘Baldy’ Hezlet, afterwards Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Hezlet, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., D.S.C. And thanks to his wartime memoirs, H.M.S. Trenchant at War - From Chatham to the Banka Strait, the entirety of Edwards’ operational tour in the Far East is described in detail. Trenchant carried out a total of seven war patrols between July 1944 and July 1945, in which period she achieved some notable ‘kills’, among them the German U-589 with three torpedoes off Penang on 23 September 1944, and a Japanese minesweeper in the Java Sea on 25 May 1945; she picked up 17 survivors from U-589, including her captain. But the biggest ‘kill’ of all, indeed the largest warship ever sunk by a British submarine, was the heavy cruiser Ashigara, taken out by a full bow salvo of eight torpedoes off Muntok Island in the Banka Strait on 8 June 1945. Trapped between the Sumatran shore and a shoal, Ashigara was unable to comb the full complement of ‘fish’, and five of them found their mark. She sank at 1239 hours, with a loss of over 100 of her crew and around 1200 embarked troops. The remainder, including her captain, Rear-Admiral Miura, and 400 troops were rescued by the enemy destroyer Kamikaze. Regular submarine patrols aside, Trenchant also undertook special operations, most notably the raid on Phuket harbour on the night of 27-28 October 1944, when she conveyed a pair of chariots ‘Tiny’ and ‘Slasher’ and their two-man crews to the target area. The Sumatra Maru having been sunk, and the Volpi damaged, Trenchant recovered the charioteers amidst much celebration. All four were decorated, as was the long-served Edwards, who finally came ashore in August 1945, when he was released ‘Class A’. Sold with the original named Buckingham Place enclosure letter for his D.S.M.

The important Boer War C.B., M.V.O. group of three awarded to Vice-Admiral R. C. Prothero, Royal Navy, who was severely wounded at the battle of Graspan when in command of the Naval Brigade The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels; The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class, breast badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamels, the reverse officially numbered ‘147’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Belmont (Capt. R. C. Prothero, R.N, H.M.S. Doris) impressed naming, original Spink & Son, Piccadilly court-style mounting, nearly extremely fine (3) £5,000-£7,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. C.B. (Military) London Gazette 6 November 1900: ‘For services in South Africa.’ One of 8 such awards to the Royal Navy for South Africa. M.V.O. London Gazette 2 June 1903: ‘Commanded H.M.S. Implacable; H.M’s visit to Malta. Reginald Prothero was born on 15 June 1849. At the age of 13 years 6 months he entered the Royal Navy on 9 December 1862, as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship Britannia. On passing out in June 1864 he was awarded a 3rd Class Certificate and on joining his first ship H.M.S. Victory he was promoted to Midshipman on 1 September 1864. During his time aboard Victory he served for short periods of training in the following ships: Geyser, Warrior, Meednee, Orlando and Liffey. In May 1866 he was appointed to Victoria where he served for 18 months until posted to Excellent in October 1867. On promotion to Acting Sub Lieutenant on 23 April 1870, he joined the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth. On passing out of Excellent he obtained three 2nd Class Certificates and was confirmed in the rank of Sub Lieutenant on 22 July 1870. His next seagoing appointments were to Research, April 1871; Royal Adelaide, September 1872; Impregnable, January 1873; and Fantome, November 1873. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 8 August 1874, and in July 1875 he was granted 9 months foreign leave to accept employment with the Mexican Government. On his return to England he was appointed to the following ships: Magpie, July 1876; Nassau, November 1878; Magpie, November 1878; Tyne, March 1881; Duke of Wellington, June 1881; and Vernon, October 1881. In the latter ship he underwent a Torpedo Course and obtained a 3rd Class Certificate. He next joined Excellent, November 1881 for a Gunnery Course where he was awarded a 2nd Class Certificate. His next appointment was to Assistance, March 1882; he later transferred to Himalaya in December 1882 and remained in this vessel until January 1886. He next joined Spey, July 1886, followed by Canada in September 1886 and Devastation in January 1889. Whilst in the latter ship he was promoted to Commander on 30 June 1889. In his new rank he was appointed to Edinburgh in January 1890; Nile, June 1891;and Achilles in October 1894. Promoted to Captain in January 1895. He was given command of Trafalgar in April 1896, followed by Revenge in December 1896 and Doris in April 1898, as Flag Captain to Rear Admiral Sir Robert Harris, Commander in Chief on the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station. Following the outbreak of War in South Africa Captain Prothero was landed in November 1899 in command of a Naval Brigade drawn from H.M. Ships Doris, Monarch, and Powerful. The Brigade joined Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen on 22 November and on the 24th Captain Prothero was informed that he and his men were to have the honour of leading the attack at the battle of Graspan. Following an artillery bombardment of the Boer positions the seamen and marines deployed into a single line on the right of the attack with intervals of four paces between the men. They advanced on the enemy's position led in the centre by Captain Prothero, on the left by Major Plumbe R.M.L.I., and on the right by Commander Ethelston; the two last named officers were killed during the action. The enemy opened a withering frontal fire at about 600 yards which was later supplemented by an equally heavy cross fire. Notwithstanding, the Naval Brigade continued to steadily advance by rushes. Well over six feet tall Captain Prothero had a charmed life; men were being knocked down all around him as he led his men forwards. With the top of the kopje in sight he was struck down and was unwillingly carried to the rear. The Naval Brigade had been decimated and command devolved to Captain A. E. Marchant, R.M.L.I. Captain Prothero in his Despatch relates how the fire was so hot that several times he saw a man hit three times before he reached the ground. There was not a moment of hesitation in the Naval Brigade as they continued to advance to the summit of the kopje, driving the Boers before them until they were in full retreat. In his report to Rear Admiral Harris, Captain Marchant stated that ‘Captain Prothero both before and after he was wounded behaved with great gallantry and coolness and from the ground where he had been struck down continued to urge his men forward until he was reluctantly removed to the rear.’ For this action Captain Prothero was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the C.B. (Military). Following recovery from his wounds aboard Doris, Captain Prothero was again landed to command the Dockyard Defence Corps at Simonstown and acted as Commandant of the town in February 1901 when the Boers were threatening Cape Colony. In November 1902 he was given Command of H.M.S. Implacable and remained in this vessel until promoted to Flag Rank in February 1906. In 1903 he was awarded the M.V.O., for services during the visit of King Edward VII to Malta. Shortly after this appointment he was placed on the Retired List (age) having served for nearly thirty years. In July 1910 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral on the Retired List. He died on 26 May 1927 aged 78 years. In the book 'Fabulous Admirals' by Commander Geoffrey Lewis, A.F.C., R.N., fourteen pages are given to career of Rear-Admiral Prothero when he was serving as a Commander and Captain in the Mediterranean Fleet and provides both an informative and humorous insight into the man who became a larger than life legend in naval circles.

The important Great War Q-Ship commander’s D.S.O. and Bar group of seven awarded to Captain S. H. Simpson, Royal Navy, who was twice decorated for his command of the Q-Ship Cullist from March 1917 to February 1918, a period that included no less than five close encounters with enemy submarines, the last of them resulting in Cullist’s demise Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. S. H. Simpson, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Commr. S. H. Simpson. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; France, 3rd Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914-1917, with bronze palm, mounted as worn, minor enamel chips to wreaths of the first, generally good very fine and better (7) £10,000-£14,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996; R. C. Witte Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2007. D.S.O. London Gazette 29 August 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ D.S.O. Second Award Bar London Gazette 22 February 1918: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 17 May 1918. Salisbury Hamilton Simpson was born in Karachi in September 1884, the son of a half-Colonel in the Indian Army, and entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in Britannia in January 1900. Appointed a Midshipman in the battleship Jupiter in the Channel Squadron in June 1901, he was advanced to Lieutenant in April 1907, and was serving in the cruiser Argyll in that rank on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Removing to his first command, the sloop Jessamine, in early October 1915, he informed his Admiral that he would need a week to get the ship seaworthy - the latter coldly informed him to proceed to sea at 8 a.m. the following morning. Thus ensued an eventful commission, Chatterton’s Danger Zone quoting some of Simpson’s operational reports. But it was his transfer to Queenstown Command in March 1917 that led to his many honours, for, in the same month, he was appointed to the command of the Cullist (ex-Westphalia), a Q-Ship armed with one 4-inch gun, two 12-pounders and two torpedo tubes. Between then and February 1918, Simpson was involved in no fewer than five actions, the last of them resulting in Cullist’s demise: On 13 July 1917, while sailing between the French and Irish coasts, an enemy submarine was sighted on the surface at 11,000 yards range, from which distance it began shelling the Cullist. After firing 38 rounds without recording a hit, the enemy was enticed by Simpson’s tactics to close the range to 5,000 yards, and fired a further 30 rounds, some of which straddled their target. At 1407 hours Cullist returned fire, her gunners getting the range after their second salvo was fired and numerous hits were recorded on the enemy’s conning tower, gun and deck. Then an explosion was seen followed by bright red flames, and three minutes after engaging the submarine it was seen to go down by the bows leaving oil and debris on the surface - the latter included ‘a corpse dressed in blue dungarees, floating face upwards.’ Simpson was awarded the D.S.O. On 20 August 1917, in the English Channel, an enemy submarine was sighted on the surface and opened fire on the Cullist at 9,000 yards range. After 82 rounds had been fired by the submarine, just one of them scored with a hit on the water-line of the stokehold, the shell injuring both the firemen on watch and causing a large rush of water into the stokehold, which was overcome by plugging the hole and shoring it up. Several time-fuzed shrapnel projectiles were also fired at the Cullist but without effect. The submarine then closed the range to 4,500 yards at which time the Cullist returned fire and scored two hits in the area of the conning tower, upon which the submarine was seen to dive and contact was lost. On 28 September 1917, in another hotly contested action, Simpson gave the order to open fire on an enemy submarine at 5,000 yards range - ‘thirteen rounds were fired of which eight were direct hits, causing him to settle down by the bowstill while about 30 feet of his stern was standing out of the water at an angle of about 30 degrees to the horizon. He remained in this position for about ten to fifteen seconds before disappearing at 12.43 hours.’ Soon afterwards Simpson spotted another enemy submarine and set off in pursuit, on this occasion to no avail. Yet another brush with the enemy took place on 17 November 1917, when the Cullist was sighted by an enemy submarine which opened fire at 8,000 yards range. Within five minutes the enemy had the range and a shell glanced off the Cullist’s side, damaging one of three officers’ cabins before bursting on the water-line. After disappearing in a bank of fog the submarine re-appeared and continued to shell the Cullist with such accuracy that for 50 minutes the decks and bridge were continually sprayed with shell splinters and drenched with water from near misses. In all, the enemy fired 92 rounds, while the Cullist returned fire from 4,500 yards, 14 rounds being fired at the submarine of which six were seen to be direct hits. The submarine, although badly damaged, was able to turn away, dive and escape. Simpson was awarded a Bar to his D.S.O. On 11 February 1918, however, the Cullist’s luck ran out and she was torpedoed without warning in the Irish Sea and sank in two minutes. The enemy submarine then surfaced and asked for the Captain, but was told that he had been killed. The Germans then picked up two men and after verbally abusing the remaining survivors, made off. Simpson, who had been wounded, was pulled into one of the rafts, and the survivors were subsequently rescued by a patrol trawler, but not before being forced to sing “Tipperary” to convince the trawlermen of their true identity. Simpson was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 February 1918), but such was the nature of his wounds, which included a ‘broken shoulder’, that he did not obtain another seagoing command until joining H.M.A.S. Anzac in September 1919, shortly after his advancement to Commander. In late 1924, he assumed command of the Widgeon in the Far East, taking over from Commander M. G. B. Legge, D.S.O., and in August of the following year he became S.N.O. on the Upper Yangtze, winning Their Lordships’ appreciation for his services during ongoing local disturbances. His First Lieutenant during this period was Lieutenant (afterwards Rear-Admiral) A. F. Pugsley, the author of Destroyer Man, a work in which he refers to his C.O’s gathering apathy, rather than the more charming eccentricity for which he was known in his Q-Ship days, and therein, no doubt, lay the roots of Simpson’s request to be placed on the Retired List in December 1930. Recalled on the renewal of hostilities, he served as a Divisional Sea Transport Officer at Plymouth, Belfast and Glasgow, and was released in March 1946. Simpson died in January 1951.

The ‘Okinawa operations’ D.S.M. group of six awarded to Acting Leading Seaman D. I. J. Moyse, who as a Bofors gunner displayed ‘great courage and presence of mind’ aboard the aircraft carrier Illustrious during ‘a suicide attack by a Japanese aircraft which missed his position by only a few feet’: the enemy pilot’s eyeballs were afterwards found on the flight-deck, and booted overboard by a “Kiwi” from the F.A.A. Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A./Temp. L.S. D. I. J. Moyse, DJ/X. 245806); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star, 1 clasp, Pacific; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, some edge bruising but generally good very fine (6) £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 23 October 1945: ‘For gallantry, skill and great devotion to duty whilst serving in H.M. Ships Formidable, Victorious, Indefatigable, Illustrious and Indomitable during the operations performed in collaboration with the United States Pacific Fleet in the capture of Okinawa and the Nansei Shoto area, over a period from 26 March 1945 to 20 April 1945.’ The recommendation states: ‘As Captain of No. 2 Bofors during a suicide attack by a Japanese aircraft which missed his gun position by only a few feet, he showed great courage and presence of mind in jumping into the layer’s seat and firing the gun when the layer was absent from his position, scoring several hits on the enemy and thereby materially assisting in the enemy’s destruction clear of the ship.’ In what was code-named “Operation Iceberg”, a series of air strikes against Okinawa and surrounding targets between March and May 1945, five British aircraft carriers, as part of Task Force 57, worked alongside the American Pacific Fleet. The British assignment was to neutralise, and keep neutralised, the enemy airfields of the Sakishima group. On several occasions the carriers were subjected to Japanese suicide attacks, or as the enemy preferred to term it “Divine Wind”, but they remained on station and mounted numerous F.A.A. strikes which accounted for 100 enemy aircraft. Of the action in which Moyse, a Devonshire man, won his D.S.M., on 6 April 1945, Kenneth Poolman records in his history Illustrious: ‘Five days later it was the turn of Illustrious. The gunners saw him coming, diving towards the forward part of the ship. Perhaps he was following the usual Tokko practice of aiming for the forward lift. Whatever he had in mind the Bofors gunners changed it for him, knocking him about so much that he exploded over the side. But he left some souvenirs behind. The starboard wing of the suicider had actually crashed into the bridge about nine feet away from Captain Lambe, and pieces of plane and pilot were scattered over the flight deck. Bob Ellison bent down rather dazedly and picked up two eyeballs and a piece of skull. He was looking stupidly at them when Don Hadman, a wild Kiwi from 1833, dashed up and grabbed the piece of skull from his hand. “That’s my mascot from now on!” he yelled. Then he booted the eyeballs over the side, for Don had never heard of Emperor Meiji and cared even less for the immeasurable blessings of the Imperial Goddess. Even so, he very soon helped yet another acolyte towards deification and “everlasting honours in the temple”, for Don was carrying his mascot when he took off and stopped the breath of the next Divine Wind to appear over the Fleet.’

The outstanding Great War ‘Dunraven’ C.G.M. and ‘Farnborough’ D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Wireless Telegraph Officer T. E. Fletcher, R.N.R, for two of the most famous ‘Q’ ship Victoria Cross actions of the War Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R. (W.T.S. 404 T. E. Fletcher, W.T.O. 1Cl. R.N.R. Atlantic Ocean. 8. Aug. 1917); Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (W.T.S. 404. T. E. Fletcher, W.T.O. 1Cl. R.N.R. Off W. Coast Ireland. 17. Feb. 1917) some official corrections to location and date on this; 1914-15 Star (WTS. 404, T. E. Fletcher, W.T.O., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals; Defence Medal (404WTS T. E. Fletcher. W.T.O. R.N.R.); France, 3rd Republic, Medaille Militaire, mounted for wear, blue enamel chipped on the last, otherwise good very fine (7) £16,000-£20,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. C.G.M. London Gazette 30 October 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ D.S.M. London Gazette 23 March 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ On 17 February 1917, H.M.S. Farnborough (Q.5) Captain Gordon Campbell, V.C., D.S.O., R.N., was torpedoed without warning by the U.83 (Hoppe). The panic party were quick to leave the stricken ship. Captain Campbell and the gun’s crews remained concealed until the submarine came into range. Whilst remaining submerged this submarine closely examined Farnborough from a number of positions including passing down the length of the ship at a distance of 10 yards. Captain Campbell stated that in this position he could see the whole hull distinctly. At 1005 the submarine broke surface 300 yards off the port bow and passed slowly down Farnborough’s port side. When all guns could bear the order was given to open fire. The first shot from the 6-pdr hit the conning tower and according to a prisoner later picked up ‘removed the Captain's head'.’ The U.83 never recovered from the surprise. Her conning tower was repeatedly hit, many shells passing clean through it. Altogether 45 rounds were fired and in addition the maxim guns did good service. As U.83 began to settle there were 8 men in the water and although the lifeboat was immediately lowered, only 1 Officer and 1 Rating were saved. Whilst this action was taking place the Farnborough has been slowly sinking. The majority of the crew were ordered into the lifeboats and only a small nucleus of essential personnel remained on board. Farnborough was now so low in the water that it looked as if she too would sink and Campbell made the mournful signal: ‘Q.5 slowly sinking respectfully wishes you goodbye’. However, the destroyer Narhwal and the sloop Buttercup arrived in time to take Q.5 in tow and eventually she was safely beached. Campbell was awarded the Victoria Cross as a result of this action, and amongst the other awards was the D.S.M. for Fletcher. Campbell’s next command was the ‘Q’ ship Pargust, into which his loyal crew followed him. Pargust’s exploits resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross to the whole ship, resulting in the selection of Lieutenant R. N. Stuart, D.S.O. and Seaman William Williams to each receive the Victoria Cross as a result of the ballot by the men. Campbell’s third and last ship was the Dunraven and aboard we again find Fletcher as Wireless Telegraph Operator and member of a gun’s crew. On 8 August 1917, Dunraven was fired upon by the German submarine UC.71 (Salzwedel). There ensued an heroic three-hour gun and torpedo action in which the Dunraven was repeatedly hit by shells, refusing to return fire until the submarine came into range. Fletcher’s ‘Action Station’, rather strangely for a wireless rating, was as a member of the 4-inch after-gun’s crew which was situated not only on the poop, but on the magazine. The poop was heavily on fire as the submarine slowly approached Dunraven and Campbell had to make an agonising decision not to evacuate the gun’s crew, thereby exposing their intentions to the enemy, in the full knowledge that the magazine would certainly explode. As the submarine passed Dunraven’s stern, a matter of seconds before it would be in range of the guns, the inevitable happened. A terrific explosion occurred, the stern of the ship was blown out and the 4-inch gun and crew complete were blown into the air. The gun’s crew were all wounded but luckily none were killed, although one man later succumbed to his wounds. The enemy was very wary and having scored a hit with a torpedo broke off the action when a torpedo was fired at her by the Dunraven. Despite being taken in tow and valiant action by the crew to save their ship, Dunraven sank at 0130 on 9 August 1917, the officers and crew being taken off by H.M.S. Christopher. This was to be Captain Campbell's last 'Q' Ship action. The Admiralty compulsorily retired him to a Shore posting at Holyhead. As for his crew, Campbell himself said of them ‘Not a man failed, not a man could have done more.’ Lieutenant G. C. Bonner was awarded the Victoria Cross, and the Victoria Cross was also awarded to the after-gun’s crew under article 13 of the Statutes of the Victoria Cross. Petty Officer Pitcher, the captain of the gun was selected to receive it, and the remainder of the gun’s crew, including Thomas Fletcher, were awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

The Queen's South Africa medal to Ordinary Seaman S. Austen, Royal Navy, who was killed in action at the battle of Graspan on 25 November 1899 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Belmont (187211 Ord: S. Austin, H.M.S. Monarch) impressed naming, toned, good very fine £1,200-£1,600 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Only 16 single ‘Belmont’ clasps to H.M.S. Monarch. Ordinary Seaman S. Austin was killed in action at Graspan on 25 November 1899. Four officers and 12 men of the Royal Naval Brigade were killed at Graspan, and one man died of wounds. At 7am on 25 November 1899, at Graspan, the infantry began to work forward under the cover of artillery fire. The Naval Brigade led the storming force, extended in a single line, each man six paces apart from his neighbour. As they began the ascent, advancing by brief rushes in very open order, the hill suddenly appeared to swarm with enemies; from the crest, from behind every boulder poured a murderous fire. The naval officers of the Brigade still carried swords and could be readily distinguished; they were the target of every Boer rifle. Major Plumbe of the Marines, who was gallantly leading in front of his men, closely followed into the storm of battle by his little terrier, staggered, shouting to his soldiers, not to mind him, but to advance. He never rose again. Colonel Verner, who survived the action, afterwards stated that ‘no better kept line ever went forward to death or glory’. However, so terrible was the fire and so annihilating it’s effects upon the Brigade, that the order had to be given to retire upon the last cover. For a moment it seemed as though the attack had failed. But the artillery poured its fire upon the crest of the ridge with more vehemence than ever; and up the slopes in very open order, firing and cheering, came the Yorkshire Light Infantry to the support of the hard pressed Naval Brigade, while the Loyal North Lancashire’s and Northumberland’s too, were sweeping forward upon the line of heights held by the Boers. Once more the Seamen and Marines pressed upward at an order from the wounded Captain Prothero ‘Men of the Naval Brigade, advance at the double; take that Kopje and be hanged to it.’ The men responded magnificently. For the last few yards of the advance the Boers could no longer fire with safety at their assailants. Their very position became disadvantageous as the slopes were so steep that they had to stand up to see their assailants, and in the deluge of shrapnel and rifle bullets which beat upon the summit, this meant almost certain death. Lieutenant Taylor of the Navy and Lieutenant Jones of the Marines, the last in spite of a bullet in his thigh, were the first into the Boer entrenchments at the top. They were closely followed by their men, and the Kopje was won. ‘I shall never forget the faces of some of those who had fallen in the final rush,’ said Colonel Verner, of the dead of the Naval Brigade. ‘They lay about in every attitude, many with their rifles, with bayonets fixed, tightly clutched in their hands, and in some cases still held at the charge. These were the same hard featured, clean cut faces, which but a short time before I had watched laboriously skirmishing across the veldt, now pale in death, but with the same set expression of being in terrible ernest to see the business through.’

The outstanding Great War Dogger Bank D.S.C. and Antarctic 1902-04 group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Commander F. E. Dailey, Royal Navy, a carpenter by trade, he assisted in the building and fitting out of the Discovery and lent valuable service in Scott’s first expedition, service duly recognised by the naming of Dailey Islands in McMurdo Sound; subsequently Chief Carpenter of the cruiser Lion for much of the Great War, he was present at Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank and Jutland, the latter action resulting in him being awarded the Russian Order of St. Anne Medal of Distinction for Foreigners Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1916, the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Chief Car. F. E. Dailey, “Dogger Bank”, H.M.S. Lion, 1915’; 1914-15 Star (Ch. Carpr. F. E. Dailey, D.S.C., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Cd. Shpt. F. E. Dailey, R.N.); Polar Medal 1904, E.VII.R., silver, 1 clasp, Antarctic 1902-04 (Carpenter F. E. Dailey. “Discovery”); Royal Geographical Society’s Silver Medal for Scott’s Antarctic Expedition 1902-04, the edge officially impressed, ‘F. E. Dailey, R.N.’, where applicable, mounted as worn, generally very fine and better (6) £18,000-£22,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Provenance: Christie’s, November 1987; R. C. Witte Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2013. D.S.C. London Gazette 3 March 1915. As per Admiral Beatty’s despatch for gallant services in the action off the Dogger Bank, dated 24 January 1915. Frederick Ernest Dailey was born in Portsmouth in 1873 and served his apprenticeship as a carpenter in Devonport Dockyard, following which, after ‘seven years of practical and theoretical shipbuilding’, he transferred to the Royal Navy and was serving in Ganges when recruited by a friend of Scott’s, a naval officer by the name of Arthur Ewart, for the Antarctic expedition. Scott wrote to Dailey from his residence in Chelsea in November 1900, confirming his appointment as Carpenter: ‘Before you go to Dundee, where the ship is building, I shall hope to see you in London and tell you more of our plans and your work.’ Scott’s first expedition Having duly assisted in the construction and fitting-out of the Discovery, Dailey was embarked for the journey South, a voyage during which he quickly made his mark with Scott, who wrote: ‘In his own department our carpenter, F. E. Dailey, worked with the same zealous care as the Boatswain. He possessed the same ‘eye’ for defects and the same determination that his charge should be beyond reproach.’ So, too, with the expedition’s Deputy Chief Scientist, George Murray, F.R.S., who was compelled to return home once the Discovery reached South Africa. Immediately on his return to the U.K. he wrote to Dailey’s mother in the following terms: ‘I promised your son when I left the Discovery at Simon’s Bay to write and assure you of his good health and and excellent spirits. He was respected and trusted by all his officers and personally I found him most useful and obliging on the voyage out to the Cape. He is a man of such excellent character that I regard him as one of the mainstays of the Expedition.’ A mainstay indeed, for, as verified by numerous published sources, he went on to participate in a number of sledging trips, Dr. Wilson noting in his diary on Wednesday 24 September that Dailey, in company with Koettlitz and Bernacchi, ‘went off man-hauling a lightly loaded sledge towards the west to investigate the old penknife ice Royds had met with in his journey’, and similarly of their return nine days later - ‘They were pretty tired out, but very perky and pleased to get home again.’ Next employed in one of the teams supporting Scott’s ‘Southern Journey’, Dailey was out on the ice sledge-hauling from 2-12 November 1902, before turning back for Hut Point on the latter date; and again six weeks later, having received a ‘Sledging Order’ from Lieutenant C. Royds, R.N., dated 31 December 1902: ‘You will proceed tomorrow with Mr. Ford and Whitfield, with provisions for 14 days, to the depot off the Bluff, the position of which you already know, taking with you 3 bags of provisions, one gallon of fuel and one box of biscuit, as a depot for Lieutenant Armitage ... Owing to the number of parties away, there is not sufficient gear to send a relief party out, should you require it. Wishing you a pleasant trip ... ’ A trip that lasted for 17 days. By this stage, Dailey had clearly established himself as a popular member of the expedition, Dr. Wilson, among others, enjoying his company: Monday 22 June 1903: ‘We sat down to our Christmas dinner to which the four Warrant Officers had been invited, namely the Bo’sun, the Second Engineer, the Chief Carpenter [Dailey] and the Steward. They were great fun and enjoyed themselves well. I had the Carpenter next me at dinner, the nicest of the four. We had the remains of the champagne that was sent on board specially for the King at Cowes. It was by no means bad stuff. The Carpenter asked me what it was about three parts through dinner. He said it wasn’t like any champagne he had ever drunk, because it “didn’t seem to do you any good.” He had done his best and had been unable to get any forrarder on it.’ Champagne interludes aside, Dailey continued to lend valuable service, and was back out on the ice man-hauling with Scott in September 1903, in a journey to the Western Depot, and again in the ‘Western Attempt’ journey of 12-21 October 1903, Scott noting in his journal of the 14th that Dailey was ‘a bit seedy, probably a little overcome with the march.’ Given the prevailing temperature of circa -50, no great surprise. With the arrival of the relief ships Morning and Terra Nova in January 1904, the expedition came to a close, although the Discovery did not break free of the ice until February. And the return voyage was not without incident in terms of Dailey’s post as Carpenter, Wilson noting how he came to the rescue when Discovery’s rudder was ‘smashed up’ at the end of the same month: ‘The only thing to do was to hoist it and put in our spare one. It is at all times a heavy and tricky undertaking, as the rudder weighs about 5 tons. Our spare rudder is a good deal smaller than the broken one and there are doubts as to whether it will steer the ship. How the shaft of our rudder got broken is not quite clear. It may have happened at the glacier, where our stern got a heavy bump, or it may have happened in Wood Bay when we were backing in some very heavy pack. Anyhow the shift is splintered and revolves in the collar with no answering movement of the blade. Dailey the carpenter noticed it.’ Dailey was invested with his Polar Medal by King Edward VII in December 1905, having earlier that year been presented with his Royal Geographical Society Medal by Admiral Sir Lewis Beaumont, G.C.B., at that time C.-in-C. Devonport. And, as verified by Scott’s post-expedition geological observations, he also left behind a permanent memorial in Antarctica: ‘The Dailey Islands are fine small conical masses surrounded by the ice in the middle of McMurdo Sound. Only one of these - the largest - has been visited, and the usual scoriaceous basalts were procured.’ Heligoland Bight and Dogger Bank Dailey served with Scott in t...

The Naval General Service medal awarded to Midshipman James R. Crawford, Royal Navy, for his part in one of the most celebrated and sanguinary Gold Medal actions of the war - the capture of the French 74-gun Rivoli by the 74-gun Victorious under Captain John Talbot, R.N. Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Victorious with Rivoli (J. R. Crawford, Midshipman.) small edge nick, otherwise good very fine £6,000-£8,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Christie’s, November 1986. James R. Crawford is confirmed on the roll as Midshipman aboard the Victorious. Approximately 66 clasps issued for this exceptionally bloody action, for which the Naval Gold Medal was awarded to Captain John Talbot, in addition to a Knighthood. Crawford does not appear to have passed for Lieutenant. On 16 February 1812, the British 74-gun ship Victorious, Captain John Talbot, accompanied by the 18-gun brig-sloop Weazel, Captain John William Andrew, arrived off Venice, to watch the motions of the new French 74-gun ship Rivoli, Commodore Jean-Baptiste Barré, and two or three brigs of war, lying ready for sea in that port. Foggy weather made it the 21st before Captain Talbot was enabled to reconnoitre the port. On that day, at 2.30 p.m., the Victorious descried a brig in the east-north-east, and at 3 p.m., in the same direction, a large ship, with two more brigs, and two settees. The ship was the Rivoli herself; the three brigs were the Jéna and Mercure of 16, and the Mamelouck of eight guns; and the two settees were gun-boats; all about 12 hours from Venice, bound to the port of Pola in Istria, and at this time steering in line of battle; the two gun-boats and one brig ahead, then the Rivoli, and astern of her the two remaining brigs. The British 74 and brig were presently under all sail in chase, and soon began to gain upon the French squadron. At 2.30 a.m. on the 22nd, perceiving that one of the two brigs in the rear had dropped astern, and that the Rivoli had shortened sail to allow her to close, Captain Talbot hailed the Weazel, and directed Captain Andrew to pass the Victorious if possible, and bring the sternmost brig to action. Captain Andrew was so prompt in obeying the order, that at 4.15 a.m. the Weazel overtook the Mercure, and engaged her within half pistol-shot. After the action between these two brigs had lasted about 20 minutes, the brig that had been in company with the Mercure, the Jéna, shortened sail, and engaged the Weazel distantly on her bow. Thus opposed, the latter still continued a close and well-directed fire upon the Mercure until another 20 minutes had elapsed, at the end of which the French brig blew up. In an instant the Weazel lowered down her boats, but only succeeded in saving three men, and those much bruised. In the meanwhile, taking advantage of the darkness of the morning and the damaged state of the Weazel’s rigging, the Jéna had made off, and soon disappeared. At daylight, however, the British brig regained a sight of both French brigs, one a short distance astern of the other, and, having by this time refitted herself, she crowded sail in pursuit, sweeping occasionally, owing to the lightness of the breeze; but the Jéna and Mamelouck outsailed the Weazel, and kept gradually increasing their distance. At 4.30 a.m., just a quarter of an hour after the Weasel had begun her engagement with the Mercure, the Victorious, having a light air of wind on her larboard beam, arrived within half pistol-shot of, and opened her starboard guns upon, the Rivoli, who immediately returned the fire from her larboard broadside, and continued, with courses clewed up, but royals set, standing on towards the gulf of Triest. A furious engagement now ensued between these two line-of-battle ships, interrupted only when, for a few minutes together, the fog or the smoke hid them from each other’s view. In the early part of the action, Captain Talbot received a contusion from a splinter, that nearly deprived him of his sight, and the command of the ship devolved upon Lieutenant Thomas Ladd Peake, who emulated his wounded chief in bravery and judgement. After the mutual cannonade had thus continued for three hours, and the Rivoli, from the superior fire of the Victorious, had become unmanageable and reduced to such a resistance as two quarterdeck guns only could offer, Lieutenant Peake, by signal, recalled the Weazel, to have the benefit of her assistance, in case either ship, the Victorious herself being in a disabled state, and both ships at this time in seven fathoms’ water off the point of Groa, should happen to get aground. Having bore up in obedience to the signal, the Weazel stood across the bows of the Rivoli and, at 8 a.m., when within musket-shot distance, poured in her broadside. This the brig, wearing or tacking as necessary, repeated twice. Meanwhile the Victorious maintained a steady cannonade, and at 8.45 a.m. shot away the Rivoli’s mizen mast. In another quarter of an hour the French 74 fired a lee gun, and hailed the Victorious that she had struck. The Victorious had her rigging cut to pieces, gaff and spanker-boom shot away, her three topmasts and mainmast badly wounded, her boats all destroyed, except a small punt belonging to the ward-room officers, and her hull struck in several places. Out of her actual crew of 506 men and boys (60 of the men sick, but only a few absent from their quarters), she had one lieutenant of marines, and 25 seamen and marines killed, her captain (slightly), one lieutenant of marines (mortally), two master’s mates, two midshipmen, and 93 seamen and marines wounded; in total, 27 killed and 99 wounded. The Weazel had the good fortune not to have a man hurt, either in her forty minutes’ engagement with the Mercure, or her very spirited, and in all probability, not ineffective cannonade of the Rivoli. Captain John Talbot not only received a Small Naval Gold Medal for this action but was also knighted. Lieutenant Peake was promoted and Captain John W. Andrew of the Weazel was rewarded with a Post Captain’s Commission. Weazel’s part in this action was commemorated with a separate clasp inscribed ‘Weazel 22 Feby 1812’, but there were only 6 claimants for it including Captain Andrew.

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Lion 15 July 1798 (Robert Murry.) nearly extremely fine £5,000-£7,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Murray Collection 1925; and Loxley Collection, Glendining’s, October 1949; Seaby, February 1950; Glendining’s, December 1951 and May 1965. Robert Murry, a unique name on the rolls, is confirmed on the roll as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Lion for the action of 15 July 1798. 23 clasps were issued for this action. On 15 July 1798, the Lion 64-guns, Captain Manley Dixon, about 30 leagues off Carthagena, met with four Spanish frigates - one of them, the Santa Dorotea 42-guns, having lost her fore-topmast. The Spanish ships formed in line of battle but the Lion, having the weather gage, bore down and succeeded in cutting off the Santa Dorotea, left astern by her consorts. This ship, though her topmast was gone, sailed nearly as well as the Lion, and the other three frigates tacked and made three attempts to support her, but each time receiving a broadside from Captain Dixon, at length hauled off, and stood away to the north west. The Lion then got alongside the Santa Dorotea and engaged her yard-arm to yard-arm, shooting away her mizzen mast and damaging her main mast and rudder, till seeing herself abandoned by her comrades, and having 20 of her crew killed and 32 wounded, she struck her colours. The Lion who was 50 men short of her complement, had a midshipman and one man wounded. The Santa Dorotea was afterwards, under the same name, added to the British Navy as a 36-gun frigate.

Action Man - an 1993 brown fuzzy hair figure, camouflage uniform, accessories including scuba, skiing, weapons, etc.

Action Man - a Sabotage set; a Special Operations Kit; Medic; Deep Sea Diver; Scuba Diver; etc. (not checked for completeness)

Action Man - 'Uniforms of the World' Accessories Pack, unopened; British military trousers, jumpers, shirts, scarfs, belts, Infantry Major cap, helmets; two equipment posters; Star Scheme Gifts card etc. NB. It is believed these are genuine Action Man/Geyper Man items of clothing and accessories were sold on to third parties and re-marketed within plain un-branded packaging.

Action Man - a Transport Command Scorpian Tank; a Training Tower, includes rope ladder, rope, escape slide (or zip line) & netting, instructions; Motorcycle and Sidecar c1976; a Transport Command Jeep (all with faults and not checked for completeness)

Action Man - a pre 1973 'fuzzy' brown hair Action Man in Mountain and Arctic uniform (faults); another post 1973 'gripping hands' 'fuzzy' blonde hair, HMS Victory sailor outfit; a Panzer Captain uniform (not checked for completeness)

A group of Action Man figures and accessories. (1 box)

Palitoy - Action man - 3 action men, all stamped 1964. 1 has painted hair, 2 have flocked hair, all have painted eyes. Item appears to be mostly intact but are in a playworn condition, 1 figure has a partially melted / heat damaged hand. Items come clothed in military and civilian clothing. Also in this lot is an assortment of related clothing and mixed accessories, some missing parts. (This does not constitute a guarantee) RG

Palitoy - Action man - 2 action men, both stamped 1964 and with flocked hair. Both items have painted eyes and appear to be intact but are in a playworn condition, some hair has come away from the beard on 1 item. Items are clothed and come with an assortment of related clothing and mixed accessories, some missing parts. Also an Action Man Horse in good condition but has a missing foothold. All items are unboxed. (This does not constitute a guarantee) RG

A quantity of Action Man toys and models etc

FOUR BOXES AND ONE TRUNK OF VINTAGE TOYS, DOLLS AND BOARD GAMES, to include a large metal trunk painted yellow containing a quantity of soft toys and soft toy fabric, three Esquire putting irons, a Hamleys of London hickory shaft children's golf iron, two Sindy dolls, one blonde, one brunette (missing both hands), each marked 033055X, a Japanese Talking Qen doll, a 1996 Hasbro Action Man, a battery powered 'Cragston Toy' Overland Stagecoach, a Summers Brown & Sons Ltd 'Force' cricket bat, four tennis racquets, approximately ten jigsaws, a Waddington's 'Game of Dracula', Go For Broke, Monopoly, Travel Go, etc. (s.d) (4 boxes + 1 trunk)

Hear'say dolls/figures, modern Action Man dolls, Micro Machines, die-cast model vehicles, etc.

Action Man figures and accessories Comprising five Action Man dressed figures, a Marx Native American Indian figure plus a quantity of clothes, hats and accessories, weapons etc.

A collection of modern Action Man figures, along with selection of accessories including boat, boots, clothing etc

A boxed Palitoy Action Man Transport Command Pursuit Craft set (contents unchecked). Also enclosed are two Action Man figures (A/F), various Action Man accessories and other small toys

A collection of modern Action Man figurines, mainly dating from 1990's, along with Batman and The Terminator figures.

Three Hasbro Action Man figurines (two dated 1964), along with a collection of Action Man accessories including Polar Exploration Kit, Deep Sea Diving equipment kit, boots, helmets, ammo boxes, weapon etc. Also includes a Red Devil Free Fall Parachutist kit and Royal Canadian Mounted Police kit - all kits unchecked

A vintage boxed Palitoy Action Man Field Radio, comprising of a radio, radio cover, head set and three interchangeable discs

India & England.- Scott (Jonathan, Persian Secretary to Warren Hastings, orientalist, writer and translator, including the first literary translation of the Arabian Nights, 1753-1829) Large correspondence to "My dear Dick" his brother Richard Scott, c. 55 autograph letters signed, together c. 620pp., [India], Gwalior, "Camp near Salbai", "Camp near Nerwer", Chunar, Aleabad, Calcutta, Kanpore, Benares, [England], London - Canonbury Place, Shrewsbury, Bath, Netley Cottage [Shropshire], 13th August 1780 - 4th April 1792, on a variety of matters, including: his participation in the the Anglo-Maratha War, with an account of the taking of Fort Gwalior, "A tribe of Mewatees, who lived by robbery about this place, informed the Rana that they had often ascended the fort in the night and found the chokeydaars sleeping. On Captain Popham's asking him particularly concerning the Fort he mentioned what these men had communicated... . Bruce mounted with 12 men and when he had got within the fort ordered them to sit down as closely as possible under the wall till others came up. Three chokeydaars were lying asleep near the place and three of his sepoys rashly fired without orders which had nearly ruined the whole plan and sacrificed his little party. The Garrison were alarmed and came running... but before they had recovered themselves... Captain Popham with thirty sepoys had ascended... . A few shot and Rockets were exchanged but the principal chief of the Garrison... being wounded... hung out a white flag", and back in England giving an account of Warren Hastings political problems, "Mr. Pitt was never a firm admirer... if Mr. Hastings is not to be a public Man, it is impossible for me to be of the smallest Consequence, nor shall I regret the want of it, as to myself, for an attendance upon the great I was never formed for and it appears to be ten times more irksome in England than in India", writing Persian letters for Warren Hastings, the impeachment proceedings of Hastings, "When I concluded my last, Mr. Burke had just begun to move for papers leading to his impeachment of Mr. Hastings. Upon this he drew up a string of Charges of the Rohilla and Mharatta Wars, the affair of Banares, Nuncomar and the Lucnow Begums", living in Bath, "For two Guineas and a half for the Season you subscribe to a Dress Ball, Concert and Cotilion Ball... weekly given at the Rooms...", family affairs etc.; and c. 50 letters addressed to Jonathan Scott, including: from Lord Macartney , Lord Teignmouth etc., folds, a few letters with small tears to edges, some some small staining, slightly browned, v.s., v.d. (c. 105). *** Jonathan Scott, specialist in oriental languages was born at Shrewsbury, the third son of Jonathan Scott (d. 1778), of Betton, Shropshire. Major John Scott-Waring (1747-1819), agent of Warren Hastings was his elder brother. "Jonathan entered East India Company service as a cadet in 1769, devoting his leisure to the study of Persian and Hindustani, and Indian history. He was posted ensign to the 29th battalion sepoys in 1772, made lieutenant in 1777, and finally captain in 1781. In 1779 he was appointed Persian interpreter to Major William Popham, under whom he saw action at the capture of Gwalior... ." (Oxford DNB). On his return to England Scott published several works including  A translation of the memoirs of Eradut Khan, a nobleman of Hindostan, containing interesting anecdotes of the Emperor Aulumgeer Aurungzebe, and of his successors, Shaw Aulum and Jehaundar Shaw, and more popular literary works such as the Arabian Nights. In 1802 Scott was appointed professor of oriental languages at the Royal Military College, Marlow, and subsequently at the East India College, Haileybury... publishing his Observations on the Oriental Department of the Hon. Company's East India College at Hertford in 1806." (Oxford DNB). Scott married his cousin Anne Austin in 1786 and he died in Shrewsbury in 1829,A transcript of the letters are included in this lot.Provenance: By descent in the family.

Action Man SAS figure, vintage restored figure with Eagle Eyes with modern box plus an accessory pack

Collection of Spiderman themed action figures to include Hasbro Amazing Spiderman Bombastic Bag-man and Toy Biz Flip and Swing Spiderman, Venom Talks and The Amazing Spiderman Talks (contents mint/factory sealed, packaging varies from good to excellent). Also included a Horizon Original 1/6th scale Carnage vinyl model kit (built up and partially painted, box good) (5)

Collection of He-Man action figures with original accessories including boxed factory sealed Skeletor and He-Man from Mattel. Also included 9x Mattel mini comics. Unboxed models in at least excellent little used condition and all will be bagged for protection

Two large boxed radio controlled Dalek models from Character (larger example previously used but re-tied into fair box and in excellent though slightly dusty condition, the other mint and unused, still tied in excellent condition factory sealed box), an unboxed 12" Cyberman action figure (fair/good previously displayed condition) and a 50th anniversary Action Man Action Soldier figure (box opened but contents complete and in mint condition, box excellent). Also included 3 previously used plastic play guns, all A/F, a Dalek comic album (copyrighted 1964) and a copy of Sinister Tales No 130 (incomplete, first page missing) (9)

Hot Toys 1/6th scale The Wasp action figure set from Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp series (item number MMS498), contents as new/un-displayed with all accessories, box mint with outer protective clear plastic bag

Collection of boxed as new DC and Marvel figure models to include 7x small scale Justice League figurines from Schleich and 5 action figures from Hasbro to include 4x Legends Series (Venom, Venom Carnage, Iron Man and Iron Man 2020) and 1x Infinite Series sets (Marvel's Death Head). All models unopened/factory sealed, boxes very good to mint. Also included a Spider-man 2 original film cell special edition from Rye By Post (with CoA to picture rear, 31.3x26.2cm) and a Marvel holographic picture (23.5x28.7cm) (14)

Action Man: A collection of seven Action Man unboxed vehicles to include: Tank, Jeep, Motorcycle and Sidecar, Helicopter, and more. Used condition, but generally good. Not all vehicles are complete. Please assess photographs. (7)

A collection of 1990s Action Man accessories.

Action Man: A collection of eight Action Man unboxed vehicles to include: Jeep, Tank, Trailer, Boat and more. Used condition, but generally good. Not all vehicles are complete. Please assess photographs. (8)

Action Man: A collection of assorted Action Man vehicles to include: boxed Space Speeder (unchecked for completeness) and a collection of vehicles including boat, Jeep, Motorcycle and more. Used condition, but generally good. Not all vehicles are complete. Please assess photographs. (Q)

DVDs: A collection of assorted DVDs and videos to include: Transformers Action Man and more. Untested for working order. Please assess photographs. (one box)

Pair: Private James McDonald, 94th Foot, a ‘Scotch Brigade’ veteran of the Mahratta Wars who was wounded three times in the Peninsula Army of India 1799-1826, 3 clasps, Asseerghur, Argaum, Gawilghur (J. McDonald, 94th Foot.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming; Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Salamanca, Vittoria (Jas. McDonald, 94th Foot.) with old ivorine display label, minor edge bruises, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare (2) £10,000-£14,000 --- Provenance: Lieutenant-Colonel Jourdain’s Collection, privately published catalogue 1934; Glendining’s, July 1949. A total of only 48 clasps were issued for Asseerghur. Another man of this name also entitled to Army of India medal with these three clasps. Only twelve men of the 94th earned both the Army of India and Military General Service medals. James McDonald was born in the Parish of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, and enlisted into the 94th Foot (Scotch Brigade) on 1 November 1800. He served with the 94th in the East Indies from 16 June 1802 until 12 April 1808, and afterwards in Spain and France. He was discharged at Wexford on 24 December 1814, to a pension of 1 shilling per diem at the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham in consequence of a ‘severe wound and the ball lodged in the left breast received in action with the Enemy at Vic Bigorre in France on 19 March 1814’. His discharge papers carry the following testimonial from James Campbell, Colonel, 94th Foot: ‘I certify that Private James McDonald has served most honestly and faithfully, is a most deserving good man, was never tried by a Court Martial, has been three times wounded, at the battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813 in the right shoulder; at the battle of Orthes 27 Feby. 1814 in the right wrist; at the battle of Vic Bigorre 19 March 1814, [severe] in the left breast & is hereby most strongly recommended for the consideration of the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham.’ Sold with copied discharge papers and entry from Kilmainham Hospital Admissions book.

Family Group: An outstanding Great War ‘Dewdrop Trench 1916’ D.C.M. and ‘Sensee River 1917’ M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal C. E. Read, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who died of wounds in December 1917 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (10444 L. Cpl. C. E. Read. 1/Middx: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (10444 Cpl. C. E. Read. 1/Midd’x: R.); 1914-15 Star (G-10444. Pte. C. E. Read, Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (G.10444 Cpl. C. E. Read. Midd’x R.) together with Memorial Plaque (Charles Edward Read) contact marks and polished, otherwise nearly very fine Three: Private George Read, 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who killed in action at Thiepval in September 1916 1914-15 Star (G-3232 Pte. G. Read. Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (G-3232 Pte. G. Read. Midd’x R.) together with Memorial Plaque (George Read) good very fine Four: Ernest J. Read, 1/8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who was invalided home with gas poisoning at Ypres April 1915, and later rejoined in the Labour Corps 1914-15 Star (2362 Pte. E. J. Read, Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2362 Pte. E. J. Read. Midd’x R.); Defence Medal, unnamed, nearly very fine (14) £2,800-£3,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 21 December 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action at DEWDROP TRENCH on the 28th October 1916. He showed marked courage and skill in the capture of a strong point, which contained a machine gun and was causing many casualties.’ M.M. London Gazette 18 June 1917: ‘West of the SENSEE River on 23rd April, the 33rd Division took part in a general attack at 4.45 a.m. only the flank portions of its line reached their objectives. The centre of the Division was met with most determined resistance. After several hours fighting, our centre was driven back to its starting point. The troops on our left did not appear. Our flank troops, who had gained the objective, consisted of officers and men of the 1st Middlesex Regt., and the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at first about 170 strong. They were completely isolated, about 1200 yards from our original line, and about the same distance from our right flank in the HINDENBURG LINE. When the enemy found nothing to the left of our left, he sent strong forces behind them, and attacked these companies from flank and rear - he also reinforced his original centre - “We were taking prisoners in front and being attacked from behind” as one wounded man described it. A hurried attack was made by the Division from the original line at 6 p.m. without much immediate success. The artillery barrage for this attack passed over our isolated troops, of whom no news had been received. Fighting continued during the night all along our lines, but the enemy was evidently very unsettled, for he retired in haste about 4 a.m., 24-4-1917, leaving rifles, ammunition, mine warfare and equipment in large quantities. Our centre at once advanced and found our isolated groups holding their positions stoutly. The gallant conduct of this man, together with others, directly influenced the retirement of the enemy.’ (Official account of action for which M.M. was awarded provided by the War Office to his next of kin in August 1920 refers) Charles Edward Read attested for the 1st Middlesex Regiment on 10 May 1915, at Hounslow and landed in France on 30 September 1915. He won the D.C.M. for his actions during the capture of Dewdrop Trench when the 1st Battalion suffered 208 casualties in killed, wounded and missing. He won the M.M. for his actions during the battle of Arras on 23 April 1917. Lance-Corporal Read died of wounds on 7 December 1917, aged 20, and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, south west of Poperinghe. Sold with 33rd Division Gallantry Cards for both awards, these dated 28 October 1916 and 23 April 1917 respectively, together with War Office copies of the ‘official account of the deeds for which the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal were awarded to the late Lance-Corporal C. E. Read, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment’, dated 13 August 1920, together with two news cuttings and copied research. George Read served in France from 25 July 1915, and was killed in action in the attack on Thiepval Ridge on 26 September 1916. He is commemorated by name on the Thiepval Memorial. Sold with copied research. Ernest J. Read served in France from 9 March 1915, until invalided home with gas poisoning during the second battle of Ypres, 24 April 1915. He later returned to France and served with the Labour Corps. During the Second War he served as a Civil Defence Warden. Sold with named transmission card for Defence Medal ribbon and CD cloth Warden’s badges, together with a white metal Silver Jubilee Medal issued by Middlesex County Council and copied research.

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Harold Siddall. P.C. 18th. Jany 1916.) with integral top bronze riband buckle, in Elkington & Co. Ltd. case of issue, minor edge nick, nearly extremely fine £140-£180 --- R.H.S. Case No. 42257: ‘On the 18th January 1916, a man in an attempt at suicide threw himself into the Thames at Chelsea, the depth being 6 feet and the night dark. Siddall went in, and with the help of a buoy succeeded in saving him.’ Harold Siddall was born in Devonport and witnessed early service policing the Royal Dockyard and patrolling the River Tamar in a launch. Transferred to the Metropolitan Police, his brave action on the north bank of the River Thames soon caught the attention of the Chelsea News and General Advertiser on 21 January 1916: ‘Chelsea Policeman’s Plucky Rescue. - An exciting incident at Chelsea Bridge has resulted in serious injury to a plucky police officer. About eleven o’clock on Tuesday night P. C. Harold Siddall 518B, was informed by a young woman that a man had jumped from the parapet. Running down the steps the officer saw the man about mid-stream, and, without a moment’s hesitation, he dived in to the rescue. In doing so he struck his leg against the railings, fracturing his left thigh. Although he was in great pain he stuck to the task, swam out to the man, and brought him safely ashore. Meanwhile another constable had gone off in search of a boat, believing that his comrade would be unable to get back with his burden. The rescued man, a postal official named Peel, was subsequently found to be insane. We are glad to learn that P.C. Siddall is making good progress, though he will naturally remain on the sick list for a considerable time. He is a very popular officer, and before coming to Walton-street he was stationed at Walham Green, where he came in for his fair share of rough handling.’

An Action Man tank, together with motorbike and sidecar, with dog.

Action Man and Barbie dolls, including Action Man by Palitoy Sailor, Ken as Prince Stefan and Barbie The Princess and the Pauper King Dominic, and a Boom.com 5 Scott doll, boxed. (4)

Playworn diecast, to include Corgi Land Rover 109, a Lone Star Product Bren Gun carrier, Action Man, plastic donkey figure, etc. (1 box)

A Cherilea Toys for Action Man tank, 25cm high, together with a painted wooden aircraft, lacking engine, 64cm wide.

Action Man accessories, to include armoured vehicle, tank, etc. (1 box)

A Palitoy Action Man and accessories, including boots, clothing, weapons, etc. (1 tray)