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Lot 1784
A Neca Toys 1/8 scale group of six action figures to include Frankenstein 'The Man Who Made the Monster', The Wolf Man 'Ultimate Wolf Man', Frankenstein 'Ultimate Frankenstein Monster', Dracula 'Ultimate Count Dracula', and two others (all appear complete), all housed in the original card and plastic window boxes, together with one other boxed figure (7)
Lot 598
Vintage Toys ; Palitoy action man figures to include 2 with damaged heads and one without a head -detailed pictures, so all as shown for a repairer or parts required dinky toy aircraft, metal ships, action man outfit pieces boots helmets and German tops etc and several toys to include a Garbin part robot and other action figures and Playworn toys from a childhood . ( plenty of loose items for a collector)
Lot 1556
Action Man - Boxed original 1960's Palitoy Action Man Commander Soldier figure with movable limbs, in military clothing with brown painted hard head, with Action Man soldier name tag, pair of brown boots and Commander hat and Official Equipment Manual, figure showing some grubbiness and light marks, but vg overall, box in gd-vg condition with signs of edge wear, with all tabs intact, together with 4 x Action Man clothing sets to include German Soldier (Jacket with German medal, trousers, German hat, pair of black shoes, backpack / satchel, hand gun, ammo belt and rifle gun), US Soldier (Jacket with US medal, shorts, pair of socks, military hat and machete in sheaf (Broken)), Scuba Diver (2 x Oxygen Tanks (1 x orange and 1 x grey), 2 x diving goggles and 2 x pairs of Scuba Diving footwear) and Red Devil Free Fall Parachutist (Red jumpsuit, parachute with box container, helmet, satchel and Red Devil instruction manual), plus a quantity of associated accessories to include compass, guns, dingy, bags, ammo boxes, ammo belts, ore, etc
Lot 1557
Action Man - Two boxed original 1960's Palitoy Action Man Action Soldier figures with movable limbs, both in military clothing with painted hard heads (1 x with brown hair and 1 x reddish brown hair), Model No. AM 93530000, both complete with Official Equipment Manuals and Army Manuals, two pairs of boots to include 1 x brown and 1 x black pair and army hat, one figure with broken foot but still present, figures in vg condition overall with some light grubbiness and marks in places, boxes gd-vg overall with one missing one end tab and other missing all end flaps and tabs and showing signs of storage and edge wear
Lot 1565
Action Man - Collection of original Palitoy Action Man figures and accessories to include boxed Action Man Basic Figure, boxed Action Man Field Commander and Field Radio, together with a quantity of Action Man figures to include some in dress and some without and a quantity of various clothing, accessories and weapons, etc
Lot 377
Collection of 80s onwards toys and games to include Peyo / Schleich Smurfs figures, original Palitoy Action Man with accessories and clothing, boxed TMNT Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Turtle Trooper, quantity of diecast models to include boxed Saico TR3A, boxed Matchbox MB38 Ford Model A, etc, quantity of Hot Wheels track, boxed 1/24 scale High-Tech Model Triumph TR3, boxed Matchbox Rough Riders 4x4 Impossibles, etc (2 Boxes)
Lot 380
Quantity of various toys and games to include quantity of Playmobil items featuring figures and accessories, Tonka Dumper Truck, Britains Massey Ferguson Combine Harvester, small quantity of play worn diecast models to include Corgi Juniors, Dinky, Britains, etc, boxed Chad Valley Miniature Bagatelle Board No. 9332, Action Man boat, etc
Lot 597
Comics. Collection of comics, including "Nick Fury, Agent of Shield" #1 (Marvel, June 1968, VG), stunning cover by Jim Steranko, "The Forever People" #1 (DC, March 1971, VG), first appearance of the Forever People, first full appearance of Darkseid, Superman appearance, story, cover and art by Jack Kirby, together with a selection of other 12c and 15c DC comics such as Superman, Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane, Superboy, Adventure Comics and Action Comics (featuring Superman), Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, World's Finest (featuring Superman & Batman), The Flash, Sea Devils, Batman, Tales of the Unexpected, Detective Comics and Spider-man, plus a collection of graphic novels, other comics (X-men, Judge Dredd, Crisis, Eagle, Beazer, Wizzard, Topper, Classics Illustrated, King Kong, Rupert, War Picture Library, Battle Picture Library), a collection of miscellaneous periodicals (Radio Times, Razzle, Punch, Picturegoer, Film Weekly, Film Pictorial, Picture Show) and some British Royalty-related publications QTY: (2 cartons)
Lot 835
Greene (Graham). Rumour at Nightfall, 1st edition, London: William Heinemann, 1931, a few small spots to preliminaries, original red blindstamped cloth gilt, backstrip lightly faded, extremities lightly rubbed, 8vo, together with:A Gun For Sale, 1st edition, London: William Heinemann, 1936, light occasional spotting, original red cloth gilt, some faint white staining to covers and backstrip dulling gilt, 8vo, plusThe Name of Action, 1st edition, London: William Heinemann, 1930, small stamps and excised bookplates to pastedowns and front free endpaper, original blue cloth gilt, small stain to head of upper cover, rubbed, 8vo, with 5 other Graham Greene first editions, including The Third Man and A Burnt-Out Case in dust jacketsQTY: (8)
Lot 143
Action Man: A collection of assorted Action Man figures, to include three 50th Anniversary boxed figures: Bobby Moore, Ski Patrol and Scuba Diver, other boxed figures, and an additional four unboxed. Together with a Gargon Monster and Action Man Full Parade Accoutrement boxed. General condition of contents is good. Please assess photographs. (one box)
Lot 550
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (21924 Tpr: F. Riches. 28th. Coy. Imp: Yeo:) nearly extremely fine £100-£140 --- Frank Riches enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry, and served in the 28th (Bedfordshire) Company, 4th Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War. The latest published casualty roll gives a man of this name, 4th Imperial Yeomanry, as Missing in Action at Kromspruit on 28 April 1901, but does not give a number.
![A fine inter-War K.C.B. [Great War C.B.], Great War C.M.G. group of twelve awarded to Major-General Sir Henry L. Croker, Leic](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/75feb709-2815-42a4-9a90-b0d900c42a90/b861bed9-8b56-42bd-bf71-b18500bfc680/468x382.jpg)
Lot 148
A fine inter-War K.C.B. [Great War C.B.], Great War C.M.G. group of twelve awarded to Major-General Sir Henry L. Croker, Leicestershire Regiment, who Commanded the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front in 1914, was wounded, and during the course of his illustrious career was nine times Mentioned in Despatches The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with section of neck riband for display purposes, and breast Star, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, with gold retaining pin, traces of adhesive to reverses of both; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with section of neck riband for display purposes, traces of adhesive to obverse; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, clasp carriage ‘flattened’ for mounting purposes (Capt & Adjt. H. L. Croker. Leic: Regt.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, clasp carriage ‘flattened’ for mounting purposes (Maj. & Adjt. H. L. Croker. Leic: Rgt.) engraved naming; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lt. Col: H. L. Croker. Leic: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Maj. Gen. H. L. Croker.); Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; Greece, Kingdom, Order of the Redeemer, 2nd type, Grand Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse central medallion missing, with section of neck riband for display purposes, and breast Star, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, unmarked, with original retaining pin, lacking hook, with two additional retaining hooks, traces of adhesive to reverses of both; Serbia, Kingdom, Order of the White Eagle, Military Division, Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, unmarked, with section of neck riband for display purposes, reverse central ‘1882’ missing with resultant red enamel damage to reverse central medallion, significant blue enamel damage to pendelia and crown suspension detached but present; Greece, Kingdom, War Cross 1916-17, silver, with silver star on riband; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze palm on riband, the medals mounted court-style as worn, traces of verdigris to 1914 Star, except where otherwise stated generally good very fine and better (14) £6,000-£8,000 --- K.C.B. London Gazette 3 July 1926. C.B. London Gazette 2 March 1915. C.M.G. London Gazette 4 June 1917. M.I.D. London Gazettes 8 February 1901; 10 September 1901; 29 July 1902 (these all South Africa); 17 February 1915; 1 January 1916 (these two both France); 6 December 1916; 21 July 1917; 28 November 1917; and 30 January 1919 (these last four all Salonika). Greek Order of the Redeemer Second Class London Gazette 9 November 1918. Serbian Order of the White Eagle Third Class with Swords London Gazette 7 June 1919. Greek War Cross London Gazette 21 July 1919. French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 21 July 1919. Sir Henry Leycester Croker was born in Cheltenham on 17 October 1864, the son of Captain Edward Croker, 17th (Leicestershire) Regiment of Foot, and the grandson of Lieutenant-Colonel William Croker, 17th (Leicestershire) Regiment of Foot, and was educated at Cheltenham College. He was commissioned Lieutenant in the 4th (Militia) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, on 30 January 1884, and transferred to the Regular Army as a Lieutenant in his family Regiment, the Leicestershire Regiment, on 28 April 1886. He served with the 1st Battalion in the West Indies and North America during the 1890s, and was promoted Captain on 5 February 1894. Appointed Adjutant of the 1st Battalion on 25 November 1899, Croker served with the Regiment in South Africa during the Boer War, and took part in the operations in Natal in 1899-1900, including the action at Talana, the march from Dundee to Ladysmith, the engagement at Lombard’s Kop, and the Defence of Ladysmith, and is one of those officers who was depicted in Dickinson’s and Foster’s famous painting The Defenders of Ladysmith. Present at the action at Laing’s Nek from 6 to 9 June 1900, in the subsequent advance under Sir Redvers Buller through Northern Natal into the Transvaal he took part in the engagements at Armesfoort, Ermelo, Geluk’s Farm, Bergendal, and Badfontein, and was present at the actions at Belfast on 26-27 August 1900, and at Lydenberg from 5 to 8 September 1900. He saw further service in the operations under Sir John French in the Eastern Transvaal and on the Swaziland border, and under Major General W. Kitchener at Blood River Valley, South Eastern Transvaal, and Ilangapies. For his services in South Africa he was three times Mentioned in Despatches, awarded both the Queen’s South Africa Medal with the usual four clasps awarded to the Leicestershire Regiment and the King’s South Africa Medal, and was promoted Brevet Major on 22 August 1902. Confirmed in the rank of Major on 31 May 1904, Croker was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 November 1910, and served during the Great War in command of the 1st Battalion on the Western Front from 7 September 1914 to 18 March 1915. Promoted Major-General, he commanded the 81st Infantry Brigade in France from 21 March 1915 to 20 May 1916, and the 28th Division in Salonika from 21 May 1916 to the cessation of hostilities. Wounded, for his services during the Great War he appointed a Companion of both the Orders of the Bath and of St. Michael and St. George; was six times Mentioned in Despatches; and was honoured by the Governments of Greece, Serbia, and France. Croker married Mabel Tedlie in London on 1 June 1897, and together they had two daughters, including Phyllis Marian Croker. He retired with the rank of Major-General in 1923, and was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1926. He died in Kensington on 20 August 1938, and is buried in Leicester Cathedral. His obituary in the Regimental Journal gave the following personal tribute: ‘Croker was a man who inspired in both his superiors and subordinates feelings of affection, respect, and admiration. He was essentially a regimental officer who identified himself in every way with the Regiment, whose welfare and prestige were very near his heart. One can understand his feelings of loyalty and love of the Regiment when one realises what a long connection his family maintained with the 17th Foot. Not only was his father in the Regiment, but his grandfather commanded it with great distinction at the storming of Khelat in India in 1839. Every officer and man who served with him will mourn his loss.’ Sold with two portrait photographs of the recipient; four bound photograph albums, the first from the West Indies and North America; the second from South Africa; and the last two from Turkey, Greece, and Salonika; and other ephemera.
Lot 779
A fine R.N.L.I. Silver Medal, R.N.L.I. Bronze Medal and Second Service clasp, and Daily Star Gold Award Medal group of three to Helmsman F. Dunster, Hayling Island Lifeboat Station, who over the course of his R.N.L.I. career also received various Letters of Thanks and Appreciation Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Sir William Hillary, silver (Frank Dunster voted 19th January 1993), with uniface ‘double dolphin’ suspension, in case of issue; Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Sir William Hillary, bronze (Frank Sidney Dunster - voted 19th March 1981), with ‘Second Service’ clasp, the reverse inscribed, ‘Voted 27th January 1982’, with uniface ‘double dolphin’ suspension, in damaged case of issue; Daily Star Gold Award, neck badge, 62mm, gilt, the reverse engraved ‘Frank Dunster, 1993’, with neck riband, some edge bruising, good very fine and a rare combination of awards (3) £2,000-£2,400 --- R.N.L.I. Bronze Medal, voted 19 March 1981. Frank Sidney Dunster, Helmsman, Hayling Island Inshore Lifeboat. ‘14 December 1980: The yacht Fitz’s Flyer, her rudder broken, was in danger of being driven by a gale on to a lee shore off Eastoke Head, Hayling Island, Hampshire. The Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat launched at 1.20 p.m. On Chichester Bar and around Chichester Bar Beacon, visibility was poor with very high waves, driving spray and pouring rain, but, in spite of heavy seas forcing the two boats apart, Helmsman Dunster ran eight times and took off four men. On two occasions, the lifeboat’s twin engines stalled but were restarted immediately’. R.N.L.I. Bronze Second Service clasp, voted 27 January 1982. Frank Sidney Dunster, Helmsman (Bronze Second Service clasp) and Roderick Harold James, Crew Member (Silver Medal), both Hayling Island Inshore Lifeboat. ‘19 September 1981: In a south-easterly near gale, a teenage boy was seen clinging to the post of a groyne, some 20 yards out to sea, opposite the Golden Nugget Cafe, Eastoke, Hayling Island, Hampshire, with very rough, confused seas breaking over him. The Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat had already been engaged in services to two windsurfers, a dinghy and a yacht but, when at 5.20 p.m., Helmsman Dunster was told of the boy’s predicament, he closed with the scene. Two attempts by shore helpers had already been made, and the lifeboat made four unsuccessful attempts to rescue. Then, when she came to within 30 feet of the boy, Roderick James entered the water and, as the exhausted boy let go and disappeared, he grabbed him and made for the shore. After landing him safely to shore helpers, Mr James regained the boat at the lifeboat station which continued to deal with vessels in distress until 7.50 p.m. During services that evening, seven people were rescued from two sail-boats, a cabin cruiser, a yacht and a catamaran as well as the boy on the groyne. Help was also given to other craft’. R.N.L.I. Silver Medal, voted 19 January 1993. Frank Sidney Dunster, Crew Member (Silver Medal) and Roderick Harold James, Helmsman (Silver Second Service clasp), both Hayling Island Inshore Lifeboat. ‘25 October 1992: At 11.50 a.m., the Coastguard received a Mayday from the 75 ft. ketch Donald Searle which had anchored at the eastern end of Chichester Bar after her sails had been blown out in a 50 knot westerly gale and her engines had failed. There were 17 people on board, and the yacht was dragging her anchor as she was hurled about in 15 to 20 ft. breaking seas. As the Hayling Island’s Atlantic 21 was already out on service, Frank Dunster launched his own 28 ft. rigid inflatable Hayling Island (elsewhere called the Hayling Rescue) and headed for the casualty, which by now was in very shallow water and close to the Target Wreck. He took his boat alongside the ketch’s starboard quarter and, at the second attempt, took off the first of the crew, and then a female crew member who had to be recovered from the sea between the two boats. Dunster, knowing the Bembridge lifeboat and a helicopter were on the way, headed back to Hayling Island lifeboat station and landed the two survivors at 12.35 p.m. Meanwhile Roderick James, in the Atlantic 21 Aldershot, was heading towards the casualty through very steep seas, such that at one stage the lifeboat stood on end. He reached the casualty at the same time as the helicopter and, in a series of five approaches, took five people off the Donald Searle. A lifeboat crew member was put on the ketch to enable the helicopter winchman to be hauled towards the yacht. Two more people were taken on to the Atlantic 21 which then headed back to the station and landed all seven survivors. The Bembridge lifeboat arrived at 12.42 p.m. to help. During a very difficult approach, the two vessels made heavy contact as the ketch was thrown 20 ft. to leeward by a sea, damaging both boats. One survivor was pulled on to the lifeboat, but the Coxswain then decided it would be safer for the helicopter to complete the rescue. All seven remaining crew of the Donald Searle, the Hayling Island lifeboat crew member and the helicopter winchman were safely aboard the helicopter by 12.52 p.m.’ The R.N.L.I. Lifeboat station on Hayling Island, Hampshire, opened in 1865 and remained active until closed in 1924 when motor lifeboats were permanently stationed at Bembridge and Selsey. However, it was later realized that there was an urgent need for an inshore craft to cover Chichester Harbour and the vicinity, an area of water increasingly popular with yachtsmen, windsurfers and general holiday makers. On 25 March 1975 the lifeboat station was re-opened and an Atlantic 21 Class lifeboat installed. These craft, 6.9 x 2.4m., with a 2,750 lb. displacement, with a glass-reinforced plastic hull, a speed of 30 knots and a crew of three, were ideal craft to work in inshore conditions. Frank Dunster, an early member of the re-opened Hayling Island lifeboat station, together with Helmsman Paddy Lamperd, Hon. Medical Advisor Dr Richard Newman and Crewman Brian Quinton, were awarded Framed Letters of Thanks by the Chairman of the R.N.L.I. for their services when the inshore lifeboat rescued a man and his son from the cabin cruiser Tomey Too on 3 January 1978. Dunster then received the first of his R.N.L.I. Bronze awards in recognition of his courage as Helmsman of the Atlantic 21 Class in rescuing the crew of four from the yacht Fitz’s Flyer on 14 December 1980. The lifeboat crew members Trevor Pearce and Graham Wickham each received the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum for this rescue. The Ralph Glister Award was also given in respect of this rescue (An award given annually to the inshore rescue boat crew who have given outstanding service). Dunster was awarded the Second Service clasp to his Bronze R.N.L.I. Medal as Helmsman of the Atlantic 21 Class in rescuing a stranded boy and others on 19 September 1981. Crewman Roderick James was awarded the R.N.L.I. Silver Medal and Crewman Graham Raines and two of the shore crew received the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum for this rescue. The Ralph Glister Award was also given for this action. A Framed Letter of Appreciation was awarded to Helmsmen James and Dunster in recognition of their services on 24 September 1988 when nine persons were rescued from the ketch Seaway Endeavour which was in difficulties on the East Pole Sands. Dunster, in his own craft, the Hayling Rescue brought five of the people to safety, James in the Atlantic 21 Class Aldershot rescued the other four. Crew members of both craft and shore crew received letters of thanks signed by the R.N.L.I. Chief of Operations. For their part in the rescue of one of the crew of the yacht Dingaling...
Lot 51
A rare ‘Borneo operations’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Rifleman (Local Lance-Corporal) Hindupal Rai, 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles, for his gallantry near the Sarawak border on 25 March 1966, when he ‘personally silenced five of the enemy during a jungle ambush and dominated the action on the right flank of his Platoon during a fierce engagement at point-blank range’ - the last D.C.M. awarded to a Gurkha Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.II.R., 1st issue (21140375 L/L/Cpl. Hindupal Rai. 10 GR.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (G.21140375 Rfn Hindupal Rai 1/10 G R); General Service 1962-2007, 2 clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, unofficial retaining rod between clasps (21140375 Rfn. Hindupal Rai. 1/10 GR.) mounted as worn, light contact marks and minor edge bruising, good very fine and better (3) £4,000-£5,000 --- Only 4 D.C.M.s awarded for the Borneo Campaign, this being the last example awarded to the 10th Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles. D.C.M. London Gazette 13 December 1966. The original recommendation states: ‘On 25th March 1966, Lance Corporal Hindupal Rai was commanding a section of 10 Platoon D Company 1st Battalion 10th Princess Mary’s own Gurkha Rifles near the Sarawak border covering a complex of tracks to prevent the withdrawal of an enemy incursion party. Visibility was about three to ten yards. At 1030 hours, approximately 25 regular Indonesian troops approached 10 Platoon’s position, seven of them passing Lance Corporal Hindupal’s post from right to left at a range of three yards. Coolly he allowed them to pass towards Platoon Headquarters and a general purpose machine gun on his left. As the machine gun opened fire Lance Corporal Hindupal and his rifle group engaged three enemy to their front killing two. Within seconds, two more enemy advanced towards Lance Corporal Hindupal’s position firing bursts. He shot them both dead at point blank range. Heavy automatic fire was now directed towards Lance Corporal Hindupal’s section and a fierce fire fight ensued. By shouted fire orders, personal example and by crawling to the various groups of his section Lance Corporal Hindupal was able to prevent the enemy’s approach to the platoon position from along the main track. The order was then given to break off the engagement. He ordered his light machine gun group to move first while he covered them. The sound of this movement attracted further well-directed automatic fire which wounded the light machine gun Number 1. Lance Corporal Hindupal at once engaged the enemy, silencing them temporarily and continued to cover the withdrawal of the light machine gun party. Now ordering the rifle group to withdraw, first one and then a second Rifleman were killed within a few yards of him as they moved to the rear. He again took on the enemy single handed and so ensured the safe withdrawal of the remainder of his men. He was the last man to leave the position and was in the act of changing his magazine when an enemy advanced towards him firing an automatic weapon. Lance Corporal Hindupal shot him dead at two yards’ range. He now withdrew to the Company rendezvous, and reported that since he had been forced to leave two of his dead in the ambush position while extricating the rest of his section, he wanted to go back to get them. In spite of the now confused situation and continued enemy fire aimed at the ambush area, he personally led two sections of his platoon back to his post to recover the bodies. It seemed at the time, and in retrospect still does, that this act called for the greatest courage of all. In the action 13 enemy were killed; D Company lost 4 killed and two wounded. Lance Corporal Hindupal personally killed 5 enemy and dominated the action on the right flank of his platoon. His leadership, control, personal example, coolness and, above all, his courage throughout a fierce engagement at point blank range were outstanding.’ Hindupal Rai was decorated for gallantry by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace in March 1967. The event was later detailed in the Reading Evening Post on 7 March 1967: ‘The Queen decorated for gallantry four members of the 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles for operations in Sarawak. The DSO went to Major Christopher Pike for “great personal courage, leadership and outstanding coolness under fire as a company commander; and the DCM to Lance-Corporal Hindupal Rai for “outstanding gallantry” as sector commander of a platoon. The Military Medal was awarded to Corporal Asmani Rai who showed “inspired leadership” in command of a section of a reconnaissance platoon, and to Lance-Corporal Jagatbahadur Limbu, who showed “complete disregard for his own safety” in his desire to get to grips with the enemy.’ Both Battalions of the Regiment made truly outstanding contributions to the success of the Borneo campaign in the mid-1960s, as did the Brigade of Gurkhas as a whole. In terms of enemy accounted for, gallantry awards won, and sheer professional accomplishment, the Regiment’s record was second to none; just six months earlier, in similar conditions on a jungle hill near Serikin, a fellow Gurkha, Lance Corporal Rambahadur Limbu of the 2nd Battalion, also found himself at the forefront of the action, faced intense machine gun fire concentrated upon him personally and carried out his leadership duties with persistence and bravery. He was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Lot 52
A superb ‘Borneo operations’ M.M. group of three awarded to Rifleman (Local Lance-Corporal) Jagatbahadur Limbu, 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles, for his gallantry near the Sarawak border on 5 March 1966 - ‘running at the enemy firing his general purpose machine gun from the hip, it was largely thanks to his courage and aggressive spirit that at least 28 enemy troops were killed in a highly successful riverboat ambush’ Military Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (21148768 L/L/Cpl. Jagatbahadur Limbu. 10 GR.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (21148768 Rfn. Jagatbahadur Limbu. 10th. G.R.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (21148768 Rfn. Jagatbahadur Limbu. 1/10 GR.) mounted as worn, minor edge bruising and polishing to high relief, very fine (3) £3,000-£4,000 --- 1 of 35 M.M.’s awarded for the Borneo campaign. M.M. London Gazette 13 December 1966. The original recommendation states: ‘On 5th March 1966, Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur Limbu was the general purpose machine gun gunner in 11 Platoon, D Company, 1st Battalion 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles and played a prominent part in a highly successful ambush near the Sarawak border following an incursion by regular Indonesian troops. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur with his general purpose machine gun was placed on the left flank of his platoon ambush position and it was from the left that an enemy party, some 35 strong, approached. The leading group, bunched and unsuspecting, passed him and at a range of twenty yards he opened fire devastatingly, enfilading them and causing many casualties. Reloading, he then moved round behind the troops on his right into the centre of the position and raked the ambush area again, this time from some ten to fifteen yards range. As the enemy now tried to move out of the ambush area, he again ran down the position towards the right flank in full view of the enemy to engage them, firing his machine gun from the hip into a group at point blank range until there were no targets in sight. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur fired some 400 rounds from his machine gun, of a total of not less than 28 enemy killed in the ambush there is little doubt that he was personally responsible for killing more than 50 percent. The enemy from a nearby position now opened fire on our troops in ambush using automatics and mortars, and 11 Platoon was ordered to move back to their rendezvous. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur remained with his platoon commander giving covering fire until the last of our men were clear of the area. During the action, lasting ten minutes, Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur displayed complete disregard for his own safety in his determination to get to grips with the enemy. The success of the operation was due in large measure to his courage and aggressive spirit.’ Jagatbahadur Limbu was decorated for gallantry by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace in March 1967. A firsthand account of the action was later given by company commander Major C. J. Pike, D.S.O., in Volume II of Bugle & Kukri: The Story of the 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles: ‘On 27 February D Company, carrying 10 days’ rations, were lifted by helicopter to LZ 1693 from where I sent patrols hastening south to recce a suitable night base on which the company closed by late afternoon. Further patrols went south and SW to check the route for the following day’s move to a second firm base, on 28 February. Five four-man patrols then went further south, one of which observed a 16-man enemy patrol on a track near the Sungei Koemba and clearly heard motor boat engines from the river. By 1300 hrs on 1 March, we had established a third firm base 1000 yards from the junction of the Koemba and Separan Rivers and for the next three days, set about detailed reconnaissance of the area, no easy task due to swamp, jungle and thick lalang (secondary jungle), the proximity of the enemy patrols, and civilian noise and movement in the area. Civilians were often seen, but skilfully avoided. By 4 March, I and Captain Templer, the FOO, had recced, and found empty, the old enemy base on the north bank of the Koemba/Separan junction, and located, by ear at least, an enemy base under construction on the south bank of the Koemba. From first light on 4 March, 11 Platoon watched the Koemba for every movement. The remainder of the company moved through swamp (to avoid leaving tracks) and clipped our way out onto some dry ground 300 yards from the river junction. Here the undergrowth was at times less than head height, so we tunnelled out a firm base beneath the fern. The noise of people shouting and singing could at times be heard clearly from the south bank. During the afternoon, 11 Platoon reported ten enemy in two small boats on the river and at 1030 hrs on 5 March saw a large diesel engined boat carrying stores and a few soldiers. We seemed in luck. All three platoons were finally in ambush positions by 1200 hrs that morning. At 1300 hrs a landing craft type vessel carrying 35 enemy moved downstream towards 11 Platoon, who engaged it at 10-15 yards range with two GPMGs, 94 grenades, and all platoon small arms. The result was devastating. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur Rai [sic], the GPMG gunner, fired a 200 round belt down into the midst of the troops sitting in the boat, reloaded and ran along the bank firing from the hip as he went. The 94 grenades registered two hits at point-blank range. As the boat passed out of the ambush it canted over to port, the engine stopped, and it slewed into the bank 30 yards downstream. Complete silence reigned, not a scream nor groan was heard... Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur Rai [sic] was awarded the Military Medal for his aggressive action in this ambush operation.’ Sold with copied research - Major Pike having clearly made an error recalling the recipient’s surname, all other details correctly tally to the event.
Lot 44
The Zulu War Medal awarded to Private G. Bull, 60th King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action at Ingogo River on 8 February 1881 South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (3079. Pte. G. Bull. 3/60th. Foot.) fitted with an elaborate engraved rifle inscribed ‘Bull, G.W.’, and an elaborate engraved top riband brooch bar inscribed ‘Died in the Battle of Ingogo South Africa Feby. 8th. 1881’, a couple of minor scratches to obverse field, otherwise nearly extremely fine £1,400-£1,800 --- George Bull served with the 3rd Battalion, 60th Rifles (King’s Royal Rifle Corps) in South Africa, and was killed in action at Ingogo River on 8 February 1881, during the First Boer War. The following extract is taken from Rifleman and Hussar by Colonel Sir Percival Marling, V.C., C.B.: ‘About 2.30 p.m. Sir George Colley sent Captain McGregor, R.E., to Colonel Ashburnham with a message that he was to send a company of the 60th Rifles out to the left, as he thought the Boers were going to rush the position. Colonel Ashburnham pointed out to the Staff Officer that ‘I’ Company were the only reserve he had, and asked would not half a company be sufficient. The Staff Officer replied “My orders are, sir, from the General, that you are to send a company, and if you will let me have them I will show you where to go.” This company, ‘I’, was commanded by Lieutenant Garrett, the other subaltern being Lieutenant Beaumont. The Staff Officer, Captain McGregor, went out with them, mounted. There is no doubt that he took them farther than he should have done. Captain McGregor, R.E., was himself killed. It was inevitable, considering the mark he presented. ‘I’ Company and the Boers were now only about 50 yards apart. Garrett was killed quite early, and every man in the company except 9 was either killed or wounded. Nothing could have been more gallant than their behaviour, many of them being quite young soldiers.’ Casualties in the 3/60th at Ingogo River amounted to 4 officers and 61 other ranks killed or died of wounds, a few of whom were drowned. A further 2 officers and 53 other ranks were wounded. Sold with copied medal roll extract.
Lot 124
An Ashantee War C.G.M. awarded to Able Seaman William Sermon, H.M.S. Rattlesnake, who helped rescue a wounded seaman in the action at Chamah on the river Prah in August 1873 Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, V.R., 2nd issue (W. Sermon, A.B. R.N. Chamah); together with a privately named Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (W. Sermon, A.B. R.N. H.M.S. Rattlesnake 73-74) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and scarce (2) £6,000-£8,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2010 (C.G.M. only). Awards of the C.G.M. to Henry Godden, Captain’s Coxswain, and William Sermon, Able Seaman, both of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, as per Captain Commerell’s recommendation: ‘Both these men waded on shore through the surf at Chamah on 14th August 1873, and at the imminent risk to their lives, brought off to the 2nd cutter of the Rattlesnake, William Fryer A.B., who was seriously wounded and unable to make good his retreat to his own boat which was outside the surf. Both these men were mentioned in my despatches.’ Mention of this brave action is made in The Drums of Kumasi: ‘Meanwhile, at Shama, Sub-Lieutenant Draffen was landing from the Rattlesnake with ten Fante policemen who were to be posted at the fort. As they were marching from the beach they were interrupted by a hostile crowd and had to run for their lives back to the cutter which had landed them. To their dismay, they discovered that it had been overturned by the fierce surf and that its crew of British sailors, under a young midshipman, were having difficulty in righting it. Draffen and his policemen covered the sailors until their cartridges ran out, then took to the water. Four policemen and one of the sailors were killed and beheaded before the boats from the Rattlesnake could rescue them. Another sailor had a narrow escape. “I saw a white man, naked and wounded, get up from the beach and try to come off to the boat,” reported one of the rescuing officers. “Two men belonging to this boat - Charles Godden, coxswain, and William Sermon, ordinary seaman - volunteered to swim on shore and bring him through the surf, which was done, also a policeman who was wounded.’ William Sermon was born in London, Middlesex, on 24 March 1849. He attested into the Royal Navy as a Boy on 15 September 1864, and was advanced to Able Seaman on 24 February 1874, whilst serving in H.M.S. Rattlesnake during the Third Ashantee War. He was discharged to shore on 23 August 1877. Sold with detailed copied research. Note: The Ashantee medal is a privately named example for display purposes only to show entitlement.
Lot 147
Family Group: The rare Afghanistan Order of the Dooranee Empire badge attributed to Colonel W. Croker, C.B., 17th (Leicestershire) Regiment of Foot, who commanded the Regiment at the Storming and Capture of the Fortress of Ghuznee on 23 July 1839 Afghanistan, Order of the Dooranee Empire 1839, Third Class breast badge, with Swords, of Afghan manufacture, 53mm, gold and enamel, the central enamelled Persian inscription encircled by 16 small pearls, the reverse backplate plain, fitted with a gold straight bar suspension and contemporary top gold brooch bar, good very fine and rare Three: Captain E. Croker, 17th (Leicestershire) Regiment of Foot, who was present at the Storming and Capture of the Fortress of Ghuznee on 23 July 1839, and later served in the Crimea Ghuznee 1839 (Edward Croker, Ensign 17th. Regiment.) contemporarily engraved naming in upright serif capitals to edge, with top silver brooch bar; Ghuznee 1839, a contemporary good quality tailor’s copy of the so-called ‘Tall Tower’ variety and similar to other examples named to officers of this regiment, the reverse field engraved in small capitals ‘Ensn. Edw. Croker 17th. Regiment.’, with silver ball and gold split ring and straight bar suspension, with contemporary top gold brooch bar; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Edward Croker, Captn. 17th. Regt.) Hunt & Roskell engraved naming, with Hunt & Roskell top silver riband buckle; minor contact marks, generally good very fine and better, the last rare (4) £5,000-£7,000 --- William Croker was born in Co. Limerick, Ireland, in March 1788 and was commissioned Ensign in the 17th Regiment of Foot on 27 March 1803, being promoted Lieutenant on 2 June 1804, and Captain on 20 November 1806. He served in the East Indies from 1804 to 1824, and was present during the Siege of Gurnowri in 1807; the campaign against the Sikhs of 1808-09; in the Nepaul campaign of 1814-15; and in the Mahrattas and Pindarrees campaign of 1817-18. For his services in the Nepaul campaign, Croker was Mentioned in Major-General J. S. Wood’s Despatch: ‘His Majesty’s 17th Regiment of Foot led the column, headed by its gallant commander, Colonel Hardyman, and supported by the grenadiers of the 2nd battalion of the 17th and 14th regiments of Native Infantry, and advanced upon the works; while the grenadiers and one battalion company of His Majesty’s 17th Regiment of Foot succeeded in gaining the hill on the right of the redoubt. This party was led by a brave and cool officer, Captain William Croker, who drove the enemy up the hill, killing a chief, Sooraj Tappah’ (Historical Record of the Seventeenth or The Leicestershire Regiment of Foot, by Richard Cannon, refers). Promoted Brevet Major on 12 August 1819, Croker was confirmed in that rank on 16 June 1825, and served as Assistant Adjutant General to HM Forces in India from 1818 to 1824. After a period of home service from 1826, in 1831 Croker was posted to Australia, where he served as Commandant of Bathurst, New South Wales. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 April 1836, he arrived back in Bombay in command of the 17th Regiment of Foot in May 1836, and commanded the Regiment during the Afghan and Beloochistan campaign, including the storming and capture of the fortresses of Ghuznee on 23 July 1839. The Regimental History gives the following account of the role played by Croker: ‘Before daylight on the morning of the 23rd of July, one of the principal gates was destroyed by an explosion of gunpowder; and the British troops rushed in at the opening and captured the strong fortress of Ghuznee by storm. The 17th Regiment of Foot, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Croker, had the honour to take a conspicuous share in the capture of this fortress: it led the assault of the citadel, which was captured with little loss, and at five o'clock in the morning its colours were waving triumphantly on the fortress. The loss of the regiment was limited to one private killed and six men wounded.’ Croker further led the Regiment at the storming and capture of Khelat on 13 November 1839, where he was personally attacked by tribesmen who were fought off. For their services in Afghanistan, the 17th Regiment of Foot received the Battle Honours ‘Afghanistan’, ‘Ghuznee’, and ‘Khelat’, and Croker was nominated a Companion of the Order of the Bath (London Gazette 20 December 1839). He is also recorded in the Regimental History as being awarded the Order of the Dooranee Empire. Following the conclusion of hostilities in 1840, the 17th Regiment of Foot were ordered back to Bombay, and their troopship, The Hannah, was wrecked on a sand-bank off the mouth of the Indus on 17 March 1840, but was evacuated in good order, and not a single man nor horse was lost. After a period spent commanding the Troops at Aden, Croker was promoted Colonel on 9 November 1846, and returned home the following year, resigning by sale of his commission on 5 November 1847. William Croker married Elizabeth Stokes in Calcutta on 14 July 1819; together they had four sons and two daughters, including Captain Edward Croker, 17th Regiment of Foot. William Croker died in Cheltenham on 11 August 1852, and is buried in St. Peter’s Churchyard, Leckhampton, Cheltenham. Under the statutes in force at the time, his insignia of the Order of the Bath would have been returnable upon his death. Edward Croker, the eldest son of Lieutenant-Colonel William Croker, was born in Calcutta on 25 April 1820 and was commissioned Ensign in the 17th Regiment of Foot, by purchase, on 27 October 1837. He served with the Regiment in Afghanistan and Beloochistan, and was present at the storming and capture of the fortress of Ghuznee on 23 July 1839, and the storm and capture of Khelat on 13 November 1839. He was promoted Lieutenant on 21 October 1839, and subsequently served as Adjutant. Promoted Captain on 10 March 1848, he saw further service in the Crimea, including the first assault on the Grand Redan at Sebastopol on 18 June 1855. He resigned by sale of his commission that same year. Edward Croker married Catherine Keily in Cheltenham on 14 November 1850, and they had two sons and three daughters together, including Sir Henry Leycester Croker, who commanded the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment (as the 17th Foot had become) during the initial stages of the Great War. Edward Croker died in Cheltenham on 19 January 1892, and is buried in St. Peter’s Churchyard, Leckhampton, Cheltenham. William Croker’s nephew (and therefore Edward Croker’s cousin), John Lacy Croker, also served in the 17th Regiment of Foot, having been commissioned Ensign on 18 March 183, and promoted Lieutenant on 5 June 1839. He too served with distinction at the storming and capture of the fortress of Ghuznee on 23 July 1839, and it was he who placed the first British Standard (the Regimental Colour of the 17th Foot) on the Citadel of Ghuznee. He was killed in action in the Crimea during the first assault on the Grand Redan on 18 June 1855, the only Officer of the Regiment to be killed, and was buried on Cathcart’s Hill. Sold with a watercolour portrait of William Croker.
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