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Lot 97
A rare R.V.M. and Durand Medal pair awarded to Subadar Krishna Appaji Bahadur, O.B.I., R.V.M., 3rd Bombay Sappers and Miners Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., Silver (Sbdr. Krishna Appaji Bahadur, 3rd S & M); The Durand Medal, annual award for 1908 (Subadar Krishna Appaji, 3rd Sappers and Miners. 1908) the second with numerous edge bruises and knocks, otherwise nearly very fine and rare (2) £800-1000 R.V.M. awarded on 16 December 1911, for services at the Delhi Durbar 1911. The Durand Medal was an annual award to an Indian officer, N.C.O. or Sapper of the Indian Sappers and Miners who had distinguished himself as a soldier and a sapper by good and efficient service. The prize originated in 1876, when a fund was raised by R.E. officers at home and in India to commemorate the memory of Major-General Sir Henry Durand, K.C.S.I., C.B., of the Bengal Engineers. The design on the medal commemorates one of the first acts of his military career when he blew in the gate of the Ghazni fort in 1839. The Trust Fund is controlled by the Institution of Royal Engineers and since partition the medal has been awarded on the basis of two years to the Indian Engineers to one year to the Royal Pakistan Engineers on the advice of their respective Engineers-in-Chief. Krishna Appaji enrolled into the Bombay Sappers and Miners in 1877, becoming Jemadar in 1893, and Subadar in 1902. For his war services he received medals for Kandahar 1880, Samana 1891, the relief of Pekin 1900, and Somaliland 1902-04. He was mentioned in despatches for Somaliland, and later awarded the Order of British India, 2nd Class (G.G.O. 15 September 1908). Subadar Krishna Appaji retired in March 1909. He was awarded the R.V.M. (Silver) for services at the Delhi Durbar in 1911 and also received the Delhi Durbar medal.
Lot 98
An unusual inter-war civil C.B., C.B.E., Great War military O.B.E. group of ten awarded to Kenneth Lyon, Under Secretary of State in the 1939-45 War, late Captain, Royal Field Artillery The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companions neck badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1934, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commanders 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, London fitted case; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officers 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt. K. Lyon); Defence Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; France, Legion of Honour, Chevaliers breast badge, in silver, gilt and enamel, together with Glass Sellers Companys Medal, bronze-gilt, officially named to Kenneth Lyon, Esq., C.B., C.B.E., M.A., Master 1951-52, in fitted case, mounted as worn where applicable, the O.B.E. with worn gilt and the French badge chipped at arms points, otherwise very fine and better (11) £800-1000 C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1938. C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1924. French Legion of Honour London Gazette 14 January 1921. Kenneth Lyon was born at Rainhill, Lancashire in February 1886 and was educated at Birkenhead School and Merton College, Oxford. Entering the Civil Service in 1909, as a Higher Division Clerk at the War Office, he acted as Private Secretary to the Adjutant-General 1912-16. In June of the latter year, however, in order to play a more active part in the prevailing hostilities, he was accepted as a Cadet by the Royal Artillery and, on completion of his training at the end of the same year, was embarked for France as a 2nd Lieutenant in 13th Brigade, R.F.A., in which capacity he remained actively employed until the end of the War. And, in addition to being mentioned in the Secretary of States List in February 1917, and winning a ômentionö in December 1918, was awarded the O.B.E. - the announcement of this latter honour has yet to be traced in the London Gazette, but is listed after his name in the same publication on the confirmation of his advancement to Captain (see London Gazette 16 July 1920). Returning to his duties in the Civil Service, Lyon was Private Secretary to various Secretaries of State for War 1921-24, including Lord Derby, and was awarded the C.B.E. in the latter year. Next serving as Assistant Secretary at the War Office 1924-36, he was also a Member of the British Delegation to the Disarmament Conference at Geneva in 1932. Lyon took up his final appointment, as Under Secretary of State in 1936, in which latter capacity he was awarded the C.B. in 1938 and served throughout the 1939-45 War. A Freeman of the City of London, he served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Glass Seller 1951-52 and died in August 1956; sold with original Times obituary cutting (dated 6 August 1956), and related statements published in later editions. Also see Lot 100 for his brothers Honours and Awards.
Lot 124
Pair: Captain Robert Lyon, Gordon Highlanders, killed in action, 30 July 1916 British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); together with a Memorial Medallion, by A. Drury R.A., 80mm., silvered base metal, reverse inscribed, Robert Lyon, M.A.L.L.B. younger son of Sir Alexander & Lady Lyon Captain 5th Gordon Highlanders Killed in Action in France 30th July 1916, ref. B.H.M. 4150, extremely fine (3) £200-250 Robert Lyon was born in Aberdeen on 14 September 1891. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and Aberdeen University and gained an M.A. in 1912 and LL.B. in 1914 and was a Hunter Medal winner in Roman Law. He was Clerk to Messrs. Paull & Williamson, Advocates, Aberdeen, 1912-13 and then Clerk to Messrs. Dalgleish, Dobbie & Co., Edinburgh, 1913. Lyon was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders in 1914 and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 3 May 1915. Having attained the rank of Captain, he was killed in action at Delville Wood on the Somme, on 30 July 1916. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He was the son of Sir Alexander Lyon, Kt., D.L., J.P. and Lady Elsie Inglis Lyon of Queens Road, Aberdeen. With copied research.
Lot 138
A rare and important Military General Service Medal for Maida awarded to Major W. S. Plenderleith, who commanded the 81st Foot on that occasion: though favourably ômentionedö in Major-General Sir John Stuarts despatch immediately following the battle, his leadership later appears to have become the subject of a secretive but nonetheless telling smear campaign - so much so that he was never awarded the Maida Gold Medal to which he was properly entitled Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Maida (W. J. Plenderleith, Majr., 81st Ft.), note second initial, good very fine £3500-4000 William Smythe Plenderleith was originally appointed an Ensign in the 60th Foot in November 1793, but shortly afterwards transferred to the Royal Fusiliers, and thence the 81st Foot, in which latter regiment he purchased a Captaincy in February 1797 and a Majority in April 1803. His subsequent command of the Regiment at Maida in July 1806 seems to have become a topic of heated and unfavourable debate in the years following that great victory, but in terms of his immediate ômentionö in Major-General Sir John Stuarts despatch dated 6 July 1806, his leadership appeared anything but contentious: Brigadier-General Ackland, whose Brigade was immediately on the left of the Light Infantry, with great spirit availed himself of this favourable moment to press instantly forward upon the Corps in his front; the brave 78th Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel MacLeod, and the 81st Regiment, under Major Plenderleath, both distinguished themselves on this occasion. The enemy fled with dismay and disorder before them, leaving the plain covered with their dead and wounded ... (London Gazette 5 September 1806 refers). As, however, revealed in a memorandum written in July 1828 by a fellow officer, Major (afterwards Major-General) Stewart of Garth, and published in The Military History of Perthshire in 1908, Plenderleith was responsible for almost turning victory into defeat as the battle reached its zenith: Major-General Stewart had an opportunity of performing some important pieces of service at the battle of Maida. The circumstances being of such a nature that a public notice of them might be injurious to the character of some brother officers, long dead, he has foreborne speaking of the subject and cautioned the officers who were present to do the same; and now he will only state a few brief particulars. After the enemy had been driven by the first charge at the battle of Maida, Major Stewart observed the Officer Commanding the 81st Regiment did not seem to understand or act to his instructions; he therefore rode to his part of the field and remonstrated with him, a remedy was instantly applied, and by his timely interference, was prevented a serious calamity which might have affected the character of that officer and the general success of the day ... Fearful, as he had already observed, that the circumstances if known would prove injurious to the officers, Major Stewart requested of General Sir John Stuart not to represent the case to the Secretary of State as he expressed a wish to do, in justice, as he said, to an officer to whom he owed so much - for the question rested upon this, whether Maida was to be an honourable achievement, or a thorough defeat - but that disaster was prevented. Now as 20 years had elapsed and as the present representation is intended for a foreign power which will ask for no names, Major Stewart trusts that there is no impropriety in mentioning the subject thus confidentially. Plenderleith briefly held an appointment in the 100th Foot following Maida, but was suddenly placed on the Retired List in June 1808. He died at his residence in Ramsgate on 5 June 1863, aged 88 years - never having received the Maida Gold Medal to which he was entitled and not, as suggested by Tancred, in his Historical Record of Medals & Honorary Distinctions having died before the Medal was issued: surely further evidence if it were needed that his reputation had been smeared by his old comrades and of a deliberate campaign to prevent him receiving his due entitlement to that rare distinction.
Lot 256
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) a scarce George IV Knight Grand Cross Princes breast star by Rundell Bridge & Rundell, silver, gold and enamels, circa 1820-25, 71mm x 69mm, the reverse inscribed Rundell Bridge & Rundell, Jewellers to His Majesty, and The Royal Family, fitted with gold pin for wearing, minor chipping to enamels, therefore very fine and scarce £1500-2000
Lot 257
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) a fine and unusual Georgian Knight Grand Cross embroidered breast star by Lewis, the silver and gilt sequinned body with metal centre in silver, gilt-metal and enamels, circa 1820-30, 93mm diameter, the reverse with makers paper roundel Lewis Embroiderer, Laceman & Sword Cutler to his Royal Highnefs the Duke of Sussex, No 10 St. Jamess St. Masonic Embroidery Neatly Executed, some old repairs to enamels and minor loss to paper backing, otherwise very fine and scarce £600-800
Lot 258
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) a fine Georgian Knight Grand Cross embroidered breast star by Lewis, the silver and gilt sequin and wire body with centre embellished with coloured silk threads and red velvet, circa 1820-37, 112mm diameter, the reverse with makers paper roundel Lewis, Gold Laceman, Embroiderer, Sword Cutler &c. To the King, 33 St Jamess Street, two sequins lacking from central motto and some loss to paper backing at the extremities, otherwise good very fine and scarce £500-600
Lot 259
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) a rare William IV Knight Grand Cross breast star by Rundell Bridge & Co., silver, gold and enamels, circa 1834-37, 91mm x 84mm, the reverse fitted with gold pin for wearing and inscribed Rundell Bridge & Co., Jewellers to their Majesties and all the Royal Family Ludgate Hill, London, some enamel loss to Ich Dien motto and central wreath, otherwise good very fine and rare for this period £1500-2000 The name of the firm was changed to Rundell Bridge & Co. in 1834 after the deaths of various former partners.
Lot 261
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commanders breast star by Rundell Bridge & Rundell, silver, gold and enamels, circa 1815-20, 73mm x 72mm, the reverse inscribed Rundell Bridge & Rundell, Jewellers to their Majesties & his Royal Highness the Prince Regent., fitted with gold pin for wearing, lacking two red enamel berries from wreath, otherwise extremely fine and scarce £1200-1500
Lot 264
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Civil) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia by Garrard, comprising sash badge in 22 carat gold, hallmarked London 1865, makers mark of Robert Garrard, 60mm x 52mm; and breast star in silver, gold and enamel, 98mm x 92mm, the reverse inscribed R & S. Garrard & Co.Goldsmiths & Jewellers to the Crown, 25 Haymarket, London, fitted with gold pin for wearing, the set with non-standard sash in its R. & S. Garrard & Co. case of issue, the interior silk lining inscribed in ink with the Arabic word for British, extremely fine and scarce £2000-2500 Provenance: Khedive Ismail Pasha of Egypt.
Lot 266
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Civil) Knight Commanders embroidered breast star by DAlmaine & Co., the silver and gilt sequin and wire body embellished with red silk, circa 1847-50, 85mm diameter, the reverse with makers paper roundel DAlmaine & Co., Embroiderers to Her Majesty, 38 Gerrard Street, Soho, London, some loss of paper backing at extremities, otherwise good very fine and very scarce £300-350 The Civil division of the Order of the Bath was enlarged in 1847 to include Second and Third Classes of the Order, and provision was made for 50 K.C.B.s and 200 C.B.s. The first K.C.B.s were issued with embroidered stars but official metal stars were introduced just a few years later.
Lot 267
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companions breast badge in 18 carat gold, hallmarked London 1847, makers mark of Robert Garrard, complete with original wide swivel-ring bar suspension and gold ribbon buckle as issued, extremely fine and very scarce £500-600 The Civil division of the Order of the Bath was enlarged in 1847 to include Second and Third Classes of the Order, and provision was made for 50 K.C.B.s and 200 C.B.s. The first insignia was made by Garrard & Co., the elements of the hallmarks including an upper case Gothic M for 1847, the makers initials RG and the figure 18 for the fineness of the gold.
Lot 268
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companions breast badge in 18 carat gold, hallmarked London 1870, makers mark of Robert Garrard, complete with original narrow swivel-ring bar suspension and gold ribbon buckle as issued, in its R & S. Garrard & Co. case of issue, extremely fine £400-500
Lot 272
The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, K.C.M.G., a superb George IV Knight Commanders breast star in silver, gold and enamels by Rundell Bridge & Rundell, circa 1820-25, 89 mm. diameter, the obverse centre with superbly enamelled representation of Saint Michael, the reverse inscribed Rundell Bridge & Rundell, Jewellers to His Majesty, and all The Royal Family and fitted with gold pin for wearing, nearly extremely fine and extremely rare £3000-3500
Lot 281
Royal Marine Meritorious Service Medal, V.R., 2nd issue (1st Cl: Staff Sergt: Jno: Downer, R.M.A.) impressed naming, nearly extremely fine and scarce £600-700 54 Victorian 2nd issue M.S.M.s awarded. John Downer was born at Goudhurst, Cranbrook, Kent, and attested to serve as a Private with No. 8 Company of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, on 8 April 1841. He was then aged 21 and formerly a labourer. He joined the Royal Marine Artillery on 23 September 1847, and was discharged due to length of service on 28 April 1863. He had been awarded a wide suspension L.S. & G.C. in February 1863, with a ú10 gratuity, after a total service of 21 years 268 days, of which 8 years 73 days had been at sea. He received his M.S.M. on 18 January 1889.
Lot 314
A scarce Edward VII Sea Gallantry Medal group of four awarded to Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Barry, R.N., Ardmore Coastguard, for services at the wreck of the Teaser in 1911 Sea Gallantry Medal, E.VII.R., small 2nd issue, silver (Richard Barry. Teaserö 18th March, 1911); British War Medal 1914-20 (146042 P.O.1, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (146042 P.O.1Cl., H.M.S. Carron); Royal National Lifeboat Institution, E.VII.R., silver (Mr Richard Barry. Voted 13th April 1911) very fine and better (4) £1800-2200 S.G.M. presented by the King 2 February 1911, one of only 54 of this type awarded in silver (1906-10). 18 March 1911: During a terrific south-easterly gale, the Montrose schooner Teaser was driven ashore near Ardmore Bay, Co. Waterford, Ireland, in a very heavy sea. The rocket apparatus was brought to the scene and lines were thrown over the vessel, but her crew, exhausted and cold, could not make use of them. Aware of this, Messrs. Barry and Neal tried to swim out, but were beaten back to the shore. Father OShea then obtained a boat in which he put out with others, including the two coastguardmen. They boarded the wreck, but two of her crew were already dead and the other succumbed shortly afterwards. (Ref. Lifeboat Gallantry, by Barry Cox). For their services, The Reverend John OShea, Parish Priest of Ardmore, was awarded the R.N.L.I. Medal in gold; Petty Officer Richard Barry and Leading Boatman Alexander Neal, H.M. Coastguard, Ardmore, were each awarded the R.N.L.I. Medal in silver. For a more detailed account of the rescue attempt, see The Wreck of the Teaser - A Gold Medal Rescue, by John Wilson, in L.S.A.R.S. Journal No. 30, p.22-25. Sold with copied research.
Lot 317
A Second World War M.B.E. and Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea group of seven awarded to Second Engineer Officer Norman Makepeace, Merchant Navy, for services aboard the S.S. Toorak, 16 January 1942 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Members 2nd type breast badge, silver; British War Medal 1914-20 (Norman Makepeace); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea (Second Engineer Officer Norman Makepeace, S.S. ôToorakö, 16th January 1942) mounted for wear, good very fine and better (7) £1600-1800 M.B.E. London Gazette 27 April 1943. Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea Lloyds List & Shipping Gazette 3 February 1944. Norman Makepeace, Second Engineer Officer, Toorak. When the ship was torpedoed the wireless was put out of action and the boiler room fires were extinguished. Temporary repairs were effected and the ship proceeded at reduced speed. Second Engineer Makepeace remained alone in the engine-room and kept the engines running, and his courage and devotion to duty greatly contributed to the vessels safe arrival in port. The S.S. Toorak, 8,627 tons, a British tanker of the Standard Transportation Company, was torpedoed by the U.86 in the North Atlantic on 16 January 1942. Despite serious damage she managed to reach the safety of a port and survived the war. For their services in preserving their ship, Captain Frederick Henry Graham was awarded the O.B.E., and Second Engineer Makepeace, the M.B.E. and Lloyds War Medal for Bravery.
Lot 321
Hartley Colliery Medal 1862, a die struck silver medal, 51mm, obverse: an angel looks on as two miners dig to uncover their comrades from the rubble; reverse inscription in raised letters, Presented to those who risked their own lives in attempting to save the lives of their fellow workmen buried in Hartley Colliery, January 1862, the edge inscribed, Richard Johnston, fitted with claw and straight silver bar suspension, crimson ribbon and silver buckle brooch, in J. S. Wyon, London case of issue, obverse with die flaw, nearly extremely fine (lot) £1400-1800 On 10 January 1862 disaster struck at the New Hartley Colliery in Northumberland, leaving in its wake a death toll of some 202 miners. A cage carrying eight people proved too much weight for the massive pumping engine beam which, although weighing over 40 tons, gave way and tumbled down the shaft, carrying with it a mass of machinery and debris. Much of it came to rest a little over 400 feet from the surface on the immense oak beams which held the centre set of pumps in the shaft. The unwalled sides of the shaft collapsed, piling tons of rock and rubble on top of the initial fall, sealing the shaft. It took six days of dangerous and strenuous work by the rescuers to reach the men trapped by the fall, but all were found to be dead. One of the dead, by the name of James Armour, kept notes of the ordeal in a book whilst trapped underground. These notes were referred to in the official enquiry into the case It appears to be certain from the date of the entry in the book found on the person of the overman, Armour, that all had died not later than the afternoon of the day following the accident, having fallen victims of the noxious gasses generated in the pit. Subsequent to the disaster there were many expressions of opinion in favour of some reward being made to the sinkers and others, who had so nobly risked their lives in their ill-fated attempts to rescue the entombed miners. In accordance with this widely expressed desire a special fund was instituted under the direction of a Committee with Mr T. G. Hurst as its secretary. At the outset it was determined that the testimonial should assume the form of a medal, and ultimately, Mr Wyon, of the Mint, whose designs had been approved by the committee, was engaged to execute the dies and strike the medals. A total of 1 gold and thirty seven silver medals were awarded. For his services, Richard Johnston was awarded a medal in silver, together with the sum of ú17. The amount of money paid was a reflection of the amount of time their assistance was given; ú30 being the highest and ú4 the lowest. With a copied extract from the Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin of March 1983 which relates to the medal. The medal and case set in a glass-fronted wooden case, 430 x 225mm. (approx.), together with a clay pipe and leather pit tokens (2) recovered from a dead miner, and a tooth from a pit pony killed in the disaster.
Lot 322
Colonel Sir Percival Scrope Marling, V.C., C.B., Kings Royal Rifle Corps Court-style medal mounting bar bearing the ribbons: Victoria Cross; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89; Queens South Africa 1899-1902; Kings South Africa 1901-02; 1914 Star War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal 1914-19; Jubilee 1935; Khedives Star, mounting with label on back, Hunt & Roskell Ltd, 25 Old Bond Street, to the King, K.S.A. ribbon frayed, fair condition £100-140 V.C. London Gazette 21 May 1884. Lieutenant Marling, 3rd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps, won the V.C. for his gallant action at the battle of Tamaai, 13 March 1884. Ribbons attributed to Colonel Sir Percival Scrope Marling. With ivorine label, Colonel Sir P. S. Marling V.C., C.B., Bart, Gloucester Regiment; with copied research including: gazette and auction catalogue extracts, newspaper cuttings, and photographs.
Lot 323
Lieutenant-General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, V.C., 4th Dragoon Guards Riband bar, khaki cloth-backed, bearing the ribbons: Victoria Cross, with bronze V.C. emblem; Order of the Bath, Order of St, Michael & St. George; Distinguished Service Order; Queens South Africa 1899-1902; Africa General Service 1902-56; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal 1914-19; Coronation 1937; Belgium, Order of the Crown, with 4th Class rosette; Poland, Order of Military Virtue; Poland, Cross of Valour 1920; Poland, Cross of Valour 1939; Belgium, Croix de Guerre 1914-18, faded but in good condition; together with another riband bar, this created for display purposes and showing additional W.W.2 and later awards, good condition (2) £150-200 V.C. London Gazette 9 September 1916. Lieutenant-Colonel Carton de Wiart, 4th Dragoon Guards, won the V.C. for his gallant action at La Boiselle, France, on 2/3 July 1916. With a photograph of the Generals medal group and card written by Lady Carton de Wiart, dated 24 April 1981, which accompanied the above (original) riband bar..
Lot 333
Lady Mary Soames, nee Churchill, D.B.E., M.B.E., daughter of Sir Winston Churchill Ribbons mounted for display, to represent those of the recipient: Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, civil, arranged, bow and tails; and the ribbons: Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, military; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; Zimbabwe Independence; and separately: France, Order of the Liberation, these mounted on card, signed, Mary Churchill below the six ribbons and Mary Soames below the Order of Liberation ribbon, very good condition £100-140 Lady Mary Soames, nee Churchill, was awarded the military M.B.E. in 1945 and was later awarded the civil D.B.E. With a typed letter to His Honour Judge Henry Pownall, Q.C., dated 24 June 1993, from Lady Mary Soames, concerning and listing her orders and medals: ..... I wore my medals yesterday at the unveiling of General de Gaulles statue by the Queen Mother, and so I had a particularly good opportunity to look at them carefully. .... My father was given the Croix de la Liberation by General de Gaulle in the War, and was formerly invested by the General (when President of France) in 1958. It is customary for next of kin holders of French decorations to wear the deceased holders decoration(s) on the right breast at commemorations. In Great Britain only the Queen Mother and I are entitled to wear the Croix in this way. ... (signed) Mary Soames. With a hand-written letter to His Honour Judge Henry Pownall, Q.C., dated 1 August 1993, from Lady Mary Soames: Dear Sir Henry, Thank you so much for your letter; I have duly signed the medal mounted card. I am v. proud to feel I shall have a place in your interesting & unusual collection. Also I am grateful to you for letting me know some background to my modest collection of ôgongsö! ... (signed) Mary Soames. With a photograph of Lady Soames wearing most of the above awards, in company with Her late Majesty, The Queen Mother; also with a similar picture taken from a magazine and several magazine and newspaper clippings.
Lot 339
Lieutenant-General Sir John Bagot Glubb, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C., K.P.M., Royal Engineers, Glubb Pasha, Officer Commanding the Arab Legion of Transjordan, 1939-56 Riband bar, on buckram, sewn onto red cloth, bearing the ribbons: Order of the St. Michael & St. George; Distinguished Service Order; Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, military; Military Cross; Kings Police Medal; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal 1914-19; General Service 1918-62; 1939-45 Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; Jordan, Order of Al Nahda; Jordan, Order of Al Istiqlal; Arab Legion Medal for W.W.2; Arab Legion Medal for War against Israel 1948; Iraq, Order of El Rafidain, military; together with a khaki tie, some ribbons a little worn, fairly good condition £120-160 John Bagot Glubb was born in 1897 and educated at Cheltenham and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He entered the Royal Engineers as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1915 and served in France where he was three times wounded and awarded the M.C. He resigned his commission in 1926 and became Administrative Inspector for the Iraqi Government. Transferring to Transjordan in 1930, he was the Officer Commanding the Desert Area in 1932 and was Officer Commanding the Arab Legion, Transjordan, 1939-56. He was awarded the K.C.B. in 1956, C.M.G. in 1946; D.S.O. in 1941 and O.B.E. in 1925. Lieutenant-General Sir John Glubb latterly lived at West Wood St. Dunstan, Mayfield, Sussex; he died on 17 March 1986. Sold with a typed letter to Henry Pownall from Lieutenant-General Sir John Glubb, dated 19 August 1967. Dear Mr Pownall, Thank you very much for your kind letter of 13th August. I am sending you herewith a brooch with the medals I used to wear. The K.C.B. is not included because I received it after my dismissal from Jordan, after which I never again wore uniform. ..... [The General goes on to identify his ribbons]. The letter is personally signed in ink. With another letter, addressed to a Mr Woodcock, hand-written and signed by the General, dated 29 October 1978, in which he encloses a khaki tie which he wore, together with a photograph of him wearing it in uniform. With other copied photographs and related newspaper clippings.
Lot 344
Admiral Mark Edward Frederic Kerr, C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy Riband bar created for display purposes: Order of the Bath; Royal Victorian Order; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89; British War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal 1914-19; Coronation 1911; Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus; Italy, Order of St. Maurice & St. Lazarus; Italy, Order of the Crown; Greece, Order of the Redeemer; Spain, Order of Naval Merit; Austria, Order of the Iron Crown; Italy, Military Order of Savoy; Greece, Order of George I; Royal Humane Society Medal, good condition Lieutenant Eric William Kevin Walton, D.S.C., A.M., Royal Navy Riband bar created for display purposes: Albert Medal, 2nd Class for Land; Distinguished Service Cross; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Polar Medal 1904; Jubilee 1977, mounted on card with a photograph of Lieutenant Walton, the card bearing his signature, good condition (2) £40-60 Ribbons created to represent those of Admiral Mark Kerr, Royal Navy, with copied research and the booklet, A Saga of the Drifters 1917, by Rear-Admiral Mark Kerr. Ribbons created to represent those of Lieutenant Eric William Kevin Watson, D.S.C., A.M., Royal Navy, with two hand-written letters addressed to Judge Henry Pownall from Kevin Walton. Lieutenant Walton was awarded the D.S.C. (London Gazette 27 April 1943) when serving on H.M.S. Onslow on Russian Convoy duty; was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 18 April 1944) when on H.M.S. Duncan, for operations against German U-Boats; awarded the Albert Medal 2nd Class for Land (London Gazette 8 June 1948) as a member of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, for rescuing a fellow officer who had fallen down a crevasse; awarded the Queens Commendation (London Gazette 12 May 1953) for rescuing a man who had fallen down a crevasse during survey operations in the Antarctic, and the Polar Medal (London Gazette 17 July 1953). With copied research.
Lot 345
Major-General Charles Edward Lawrie, C.B., D.S.O., Royal Artillery Riband bars (12 strips), pin-backed, bearing the ribbons: Order of the Bath; Distinguished Service Order; East & West Africa 1887-1900; Queens Sudan 1896-98; Queens South Africa 1899-1902; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal 1914-19; Coronation 1911; Italy, Order of the Crown; Turkey, Order of Osmania; France, Legion of Honour, with 4th Class rosette; Khedives Sudan 1896-1908 - 2 sets of three strips each with this combination; another five strips with a variation on the above; together with an unrelated (?) riband bar bearing the ribbons: Order of the Bath; Order of St. Michael & St. George; India General Service 1895-1902; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, good condition (12) £100-140 With six M.I.D. Certificates: 14 January 1915 (French);13 November 1916 (Haig); 9 April 1917 (Haig); 7 November 1917 (Haig); 7 April 1918 (Haig); 21 May 1920 (London Gazette). Also with a transmittal document from the Lord Chamberlains Office for the C.B. Companions badge. Edward Lawrie was born in 1864 and educated at Cheam, Eton and the Royal Military Academy. He entered the Royal Artillery in 1884. Was employed by the Bechuanaland Border Police Force, 1889-92; was on special service with the Lagos Jebu Expedition - being slightly wounded and mentioned in despatches. In the Expedition to Dongola, he was mentioned in despatches and received the brevet of Major. In the Sudan campaign he served in the battles of Atbara and Omdurman - for which he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O. and Order of Osmania. Serving in the Boer War he was again mentioned in despatches. In the Great War he was six times mentioned in despatches and in 1915 was awarded the C.B. Placed on Retired Pay in 1920, Major-General Lawrie died in 1953. With copied research and letters linking the riband bars and documents to the Generals son and daughter-in-law.
Lot 348
Admiral Sir William Christopher Pakenham, G.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., Royal Navy Riband bar, on buckram, in four strips, bearing the ribbons: Order of the Bath; Order of St. Michael & St. George; Royal Victorian Order; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal 1914-19; France, Legion of Honour; France, Croix de Guerre 1914-18; U.S.A., Distinguished Service Medal (Navy); Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus; Japan, War Medal 1904-05; Japan, Order of the Rising Sun Together with an Order of the Bath, full sash; Japan, Order of the Rising Sun, evening sash; Order of St. Michael & St. George, neck cravat; and a length (116mm.) of U.S.A. Distinguished Service Medal (Navy) ribbon, good condition (lot) £60-80 William Christopher Pakenham was born in 1861, the second son of Rear-Admiral Hon. Thomas Alexander Pakenham, R.N. He entered the Royal Navy in 1874, attained the rank of Captain in 1903 and was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1918 and Admiral in 1922. He was Naval Attache to Japan and China, 1904-06 - at which time he received the Order of the Rising Sun, and was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, 1911-13. During the Great War he commanded the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, 1913-17 and was the Rear-Admiral commanding the Battle Cruiser Fleet, 1917-19. For his wartime services he was awarded the K.C.B. (1916); K.C.V.O. (1917); and K.C.M.G. (1919). Post-war he was President of the R.M. College, Greenwich, 1919-20; C-in-C. of the North American and West Indies Station, 1920-22. Pakenham retired from the Royal Navy in 1926, having been promoted in the Order of the Bath, to G.C.B. in 1925. Appointed Bath King of Arms, 1930-33. Admiral Sir William Pakenham died in July 1933. With copied research and certified provenance of the riband bar and ribbon. His insignia was sold in Christies, 20 November 1984.
Lot 371
Three: James H. Marsh, Southern Railway St. Johns Ambulance Association Southern Railway St. Johns Ambulance Medal (3) by J.T. & Co., for 21 Years, 9ct. gold (James H. Marsh, 1941) hallmarks for Birmingham 1939, with gilt brooch bar; another, for 14 Years, silver (James Marsh, 1934) hallmarks for Birmingham 1933, ; another, for 7 Years, bronze (James H. Marsh, 1927) extremely fine (3) £160-200
Lot 457
The campaign and long service group of four to Private Joseph Ellicock, 32nd Light Infantry, an original defender and personal orderly to Brigadier Inglis at Lucknow Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Joseph Ellicock, 32nd Foot); India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (1873 J. Ellicock, H.Ms 32nd Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (J. Ellicock, 32nd L.I.) lettering aligned off-centre resulting in edge bruising; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1873 J. Ellicock, 32nd Regt.) contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine £2600-3000 Ex Brian Ritchie Collection, 23 September 2005. Joseph Ellicock was born in the parish of St Mary, Nottingham, circa 1820, and attested for H.Ms 32nd Regiment at Nottingham on 29 February 1840. A Frame Work Knitter by trade, he landed in India with his regiment in 1846 and served in the Second Sikh War at Mooltan and Goojerat. Evidently a steady, plodding fellow, he was granted penny increments in Good Conduct Pay every three or four years from 1846, but never attained a stripe. In 1857 he was present with his regiment at Lucknow and served in a combatant role during the defence of the Residency until being forced into hospital by sickness. On 2 September 1857, he was made orderly to the garrison commander, Brigadier John Inglis, 32nd, of whom Private Robert Waterfield wrote in 1853, Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. W. Inglis has ... returned with the daughter of Sir F. Thessiger [sic], to whom he has been married sometime, and a greater reformation never was made in any man, than was made in Col. John by his excellent Lady. He had the appellation of Scaly Jack before he went on leave to England, but now he is as another being. He is now kind and affable in his manners, generous in principle, benevolent where benevolence is required, and walks in the path of righteousness, as far as a soldier possibly can do. His present goodness ought to erase [malice] from the minds of those who formerly disliked him. Ellicock obtained his post, scarcely a demanding one since the garrison had long deserted the red and blue and now looked more like buccaneers than British soldiers, due to the death of Ingliss servant Vokins who had lost a leg earlier in the Defence. The Brigadiers excellent Lady, the Hon. Mrs. Julia Inglis, recorded in her account of the siege how Ellicock came to join their circle: Ellicock, a private in the 32nd, now did the little John required; he also had been very ill in hospital, but he [Inglis] took him out and brought him down to us, and the change of air and better food soon made a different man of him. John used to visit the hospital every day, and would often give the men cigars, which they thoroughly appreciated. A few weeks later Ellicock was again mentioned in Lady Ingliss journal, this time digging a 32-pounder shot out of the archway in Ingliss courtyard - It made a tremendous crash, and certainly was not a pleasant visitor. On 25 September, a day of excitement and anxiety as the thunder of guns and the crackle of rifles belonging to Havelock and Outrams Relief Force drew nearer, Lieutenant Frederick Birch, A.D.C., in an effort to make his Brigadier look more like the invading generals, ordered Ellicock to fetch his chiefs sword which had not been used since Chinhut. Ellicock obliged but Birch was forced to admit that the addition of a sword to the two pistols in the Brigadiers waistbelt only enhanced his piratical appearance, especially when compared with that of Major-General Havelock, who, smartly dressed in a blue coat buttoned up at the chin, stepped through the battered Baillie Guard Gate shortly before six oclock in the evening to shake Inglis by the hand. Next day the commotion caused by the occupation of the extended position reminded Ellicock more of the Donnybrook Fair than anything else. Ellicock was duly allowed to reckon an additional years service for the Defence, so that on his discharge at Devonport he was credited with having completed twenty-one years service. He was then forty years of age, five feet ten inches in height, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He was discharged from the service at Devonport on 25 May 1860. Refs: WO 97/1495; The Siege of Lucknow; A Diary (Hon Lady Inglis); Ordeal at Lucknow (Joyce).
Lot 477
Four: Troop Sergeant-Major J. Mobbs, 20th Hussars, who was wounded at Tofrek in March 1885 Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, Suakin 1885, Tofrek (874 Tp. Sgt. Maj., 20th Husrs.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letters reverse (874 Tp. Sgt. Maj., 20th Hussars); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (T.S. Mjr., 20/Hrs.); Khedives Star, 1884-86, the reverse regimentally impressed, 20 H. and 874, mounted as worn, minor official correction to rank on the first, the earlier awards with contact marks and edge bruising, thus nearly very fine, the last rather better (4) £600-800 The recipient was wounded at Tofrek on 23 March 1885, on which occasion the 20th Hussars were represented by a squadron of 82 men. Awarded his M.S.M. in AO 133 of 1915, he is believed to have died in 1924.
Lot 518
Six: Stoker 1st Class T. H. Humphreys, Royal Navy, who served aboard H.M. Ships Nestor and Onslow in the Great War 1914-15 Star (K.14672 Sto. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (K.14672 Sto. 1, R.N.); Defence Medal; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (K.14672 (Po.B. 15261) Sto. 1, R.F.R.); Romania, Medal for Hardihood and Loyalty, 3rd Class with swords, bronze, unnamed, some contact marks, very fine (6) £1000-1200 M.I.D. London Gazette 14 September 1918. .... for services in action with enemy submarines. Medal for Hardihood and Loyalty London Gazette 17 March 1919. Thomas Henry Humphreys was born in Liverpool on 10 January 1893. An Engineer Labourer by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 9 April 1912, being advanced to Stoker 1st Class in May 1913 when on the battleship King Edward VII. Posted to Woolwich in December 1913, he served aboard the destroyer Nestor until 31 May 1916. Nestor was sunk in a V.C. action at the battle of Jutland. As Humphreys does not feature in the list of Nestors survivors, it must be assumed that he had left the ship just hours before the fateful engagement. Having made his lucky escape, he then joined another destroyer veteran of Jutland, joining the Onslow in October 1916, remaining with her until March 1919. For his service aboard the vessel he was both mentioned in despatches and awarded the Romanian Medal for Hardihood and Freedom. Both awards seem likely to have been made in connection with the incident when Onslow was attacked by a German submarine on 25 February 1918. The ship retaliated and sank the submarine with depth charges. After the war Humphreys transferred to the Submarine Service at Dolphin and served on the K.14, April 1921-March 1924. Fortune shined on him yet again as he survived duty on the ill-fated class of submarines and he joined the R.F.R. in 1924. During the Second World War he is believed to have been an A.R.P. Warden in Liverpool. He died in April 1985. With copied service paper, gazette extracts and other research.
Lot 521
Four: Gunner James Loader, Royal Marine Artillery, who fought at Dogger Bank and Jutland in H.M.S. Tiger 1914-15 Star (R.M.A. 9270 Gr.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 9270 Gr.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (9270 Gunner, R.M.A.) mounted as worn, very fine (4) £200-240 James Loader was born in Petersfield, Hampshire, on 27 August 1881. A Plumber by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Marines at Estney on 19 January 1901. After training he was rated as a Gunner in November 1901. He served as a Gunner aboard the battlecruiser Tiger throughout the Great War, September 1914-July 1919. As such he saw action at the battle of Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915. In the action the ship was hit several times and lost 10 men. Like other ships of the battlecruiser squadron, the accuracy of her main armament was inaccurate and of 255 shell expended, only one was observed to hit. As a consequence, the Gunnery Officer was dismissed. Gunner Loader aboard the Tiger was next in action at the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. Whilst her accuracy had improved, she took some heavy blows from her opposite numbers, being hit by 15 heavy calibre shells, causing the deaths of 24 of her crew. On 17 November 1917 the Tiger was again in action at the second battle of Heligoland Bight. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in March 1916, he was discharged to a pension in January 1922 after which he transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve. With a photograph of the recipient and his wife set within a frame in the form of a life-belt inscribed, H.M.S. Tiger. With H.M.S. Tiger cap tally, copied service paper, extracts from the Tigers log and other research..
Lot 523
Four: Lieutenant-Colonel Raymond Coape Barry-Smith, 17th Cavalry 1914-15 Star (Maj., 17/Cav.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Maj.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1919-21 (Lt. Col., 17 Cavy.) mounted as worn, good very fine and better (4) £280-320 Raymond Coape Barry-Smith was born on 31 May 1874. After attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the Gloucestershire Regiment on 20 May 1893 and advanced to Lieutenant in November 1896. In July 1898 he transferred to the Indian Staff Corps and in April 1900 was appointed Squadron Officer with the 17th Bengal Lancers. He was promoted to Captain in May 1902 and Major in May 1911, and in March 1915 he was second in command of the regiment. A composite Pathan squadron of 17th Cavalry went to East Africa in January 1915 and returned to India in January 1917. Barry-Smith served in East Africa in 1917, and as a Major was mentioned in despatches by General J. C. Smuts, C-in-C. East Africa (London Gazette 8 February 1917). He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and Commandant of the 17th Cavalry in June 1917. Post-war he served in Waziristan and retired on 19 June 1922. He was the 10th Commandant of the Regiment (1917-22). With copied research, including an article by I. McInnes, in Coin & Medal News, January 1988, An Indian Cavalry Regiment - in which Lieutenant-Colonel Barry-Smith is mentioned.
Lot 580
Five: Lance-Corporal J. S. McCullough, Royal Irish and Ulster Defence Regiment General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (244475561 L Cpl, R Irish); U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon, unnamed; Jubilee 2002, unnamed; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal, 3 clasps (24447561 Pte., UDR) suspension weak; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (244477561 L Cpl, R Irish) mounted court style, some edge bruising, very fine and better (5) £450-550
Lot 581
Three: Sergeant K. J. Webber, Welsh Guards General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24263823 Gdsm. K. J. Webber, W.G.); South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24263823 L. Cpl. K. J. Webber, W.G.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., Regular Army (24263823 Sgt. K. J. Webber, W.G.), mounted-court-style as worn, good very fine (3) £1200-1500 Kenneth Webber, who was from Barry, served for most of his career in the Welsh Guards as a member of the Support Company (Anti-Tank Platoon), and accordingly was not present on the occasion of the loss of the Sir Galahad. A Battalion boxer 1978-80, he also served at least two tours of duty in Northern Ireland - accompanying notes refer; together with some copied regimental images, including the recipient.
Lot 582
The important G.C.B. and Large Army Gold Medal group awarded to General Sir George Anson, Light Cavalry Brigade Commander, formerly commanding 16th Light Dragoons and later Colonel of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, Governor of Chelsea Hospital, Equerry to the Duke of Kent and Groom of the Bedchamber to Prince Albert The Most Honourable Order of The Bath (Military) G.C.B., breast star in silver, gold and enamels, the reverse backplate inscribed with makers name Rundell Bridge & Co., Jewellers to Their Majesties and all the Royal Family, Ludgate Hill, London, fitted with gold pin, enamel chips to Ich Dien scroll and green wreath and lacking one stalk General Officers Large Gold Medal, for Talavera 1809, 2 clasps, Salamanca, Vittoria (Brigr. General George Anson) complete with all proper gold suspension fittings and full neck cravat Portugal, Royal Order of the Tower and Sword, Knight Commanders set of insignia, comprising large neck badge in solid gold, 67 mm, and a magnificent breast star of large size, 100 mm, in silver, gold and enamels, this with enamel damage to central wreath, one letter of legend lacking and two other letters damaged; together with another superb quality neck badge, 47 mm, in gold and enamels, and a fine period miniature badge in gold and enamels, the large badges with original neck cravats, unless otherwise described, generally good very fine and attractively displayed in an old frame within an oval gilt floral border with inscribed ivorine label (6) £40000-50000 Only 10 General Officers received the Large Army Gold Medal with two clasps, this combination being unique. General Ansons group of medals was first sold by Christies in April 1902. George Anson was born in 1769, second son of George Anson and Mary Vernon, and a nephew of Admiral Lord Anson. He entered the Army as a Cornet in the 16th Light Dragoons on 3 May 1786; he obtained a Lieutenancy in the same corps in 1791, and exchanged into the 20th Light Dragoons, with which regiment he served for five years in Jamaica. In 1792 he obtained a troop in the 20th, and his Majority in December 1794. He exchanged back into the 16th Light Dragoons in September 1797, became Lieutenant-Colonel in the 20th Light Dragoons the same year, and exchanged into the 15th Light Dragoons in September 1798, with whom he served in Holland. In January 1805, he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the King, and received the rank of Colonel in the Army. In December of the same year he became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 16th Light Dragoons. In 1809, Anson proceeded to Portugal and commanded the 16 Light Dragoons in the advance upon and battle of Oporto on 10th-12th May. On 24 May 1809, he was appointed Brigadier General and given command of a brigade of light cavalry consisting of the 23rd Light Dragoons and the 1st Light Dragoons of the Kings German Legion. Anson commanded the brigade at the Battle of Talavera on 27th and 28th July, and at the Battles of Busaco in 1810, Salamanca in 1812, and Vittoria in 1813, besides various other less important affairs. He received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, on separate occasions, for his services at Talavera, Salamanca, and Vittoria, and received the Gold Medal and two clasps in commemoration of those battles. In May 1813, he was granted a Royal Licence to accept and wear the insignia of a Knight Commander of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword, for the distinguished courage and intrepidity displayed by him in several actions with the enemy in the Peninsula. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Bath on 2 January 1815, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order on 29 July 1833. Anson became Lieutenant-General in August 1819, Colonel of the 4th Dragoon Guards in February 1827, and a full General in January 1837. Besides taking a seat in the House of Commons as Member for the city of Lichfield, Anson had a long association with the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, and was holding the highest office as Governor when he died on the 4th November, 1849. Anson married in 1800, Frances, daughter of John William Hamilton and the sister of Sir Frederick Hamilton. They had six sons and daughters, of whom Talavera Vernon Anson became an Admiral in the Royal Navy, and Thomas Anson was a first class cricketer. Lady Anson died in 1834, fifteen years before the death of Anson himself. In Who Do You Think You Are? transmitted by the BBC in October 2007, it was discovered that Sir Matthew Pinsent, the multiple gold medal Olympic rower, is a direct descendant of Sir George Anson.
Lot 587
An extremely rare Second World War O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Captain H. H. Golding, Merchant Navy, one of a handful of recipients of the Southern Railway Companys M.S.M - for his gallant deeds as Master of the S.S. Isle of Sark in St. Peter Port, Guernsey in June 1940, when his ship came under attack while embarking evacuees The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire O.B.E. (Civil) Officers 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt, in its Royal Mint case of issue; British War Medal 1914-20 (Hervy H. Golding); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Hervy H. Golding); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45; Southern Railway Companys Meritorious Service Medal, silver-gilt, the reverse officially engraved, H. H. Golding, in its fitted Royal Mint case of issue, the Great War awards slightly polished, otherwise generally good very fine and better (7) £4000-5000 O.B.E. London Gazette 3 January 1945. Southern Railway Companys M.S.M.: Delayed the departure of the S.S. Isle of Sark from Guernsey, during intense bombardment of the Island on 28 June 1940, in order that as many passengers as possible might be embarked. The Southern Railway Companys M.S.M. was instituted by the Companys directors soon after the outbreak of hostilities, 18 awards being presented at a ceremony held on 16 August 1940 and thereafter just six further awards. Hervy Hardinge Golding was born in Tongham, near Farnham, Surrey in October 1887, and sailed out of Greenock as an apprentice aboard the Samoena, a threeðmasted ship, and for four years survived the life, sailing and the dreaded Southern Ocean, learning the skills that would one day enable him to join that exclusive society of men ð the Cape Horners (The Evening Echo, Bournemouth, 22 June 1974 refers). Having passed his 2nd Mates examination in London in November 1908 and his 1st Mates examination in Hong Kong in November 1910, Golding was next employed in vessels of the British Steam Navigation Company and Seang Line, trading routes from Rangoon to China. In April 1914, he entered the service of the London & South Western Railway fleet as a 2nd Officer in the Bertha (afterwards merged with the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, and the South Eastern & Chatham Railway companies to form the Southern Railway Company). Actively employed in the Mercantile Marine in the Great War, he was employed on the Southampton-Le Havre run, latterly in the Normannia and Hantonia. And he stayed in the Companys employ for the remainder of his career, his otherwise peaceful voyages to France and the Channel Islands coming to an abrupt end on the renewal of hostilities. Evacuation of Guernsey ð June 1940 On the renewal of hostilities, Golding was in command of the Isle of Jersey, shortly to be refitted as a hospital carrier, but in early 1940 he was given command of the Isle of Sark, which appointment led to his part in the evacuation of the Channel Islands. The ships matter of fact official log entry for 28 June 1940 states: 6.55 p.m., St. Peter Port, Guernsey: At time and place stated, while passengers were beginning to embark, enemy planes appeared and commenced a bombing and machine-gun action on harbour and shipping. A wireless transmission message was transmitted and acknowledged. The attack was maintained for an hour, during which no damage was done to the ship. Vessel sailed for Southampton at 10.15 p.m. according to schedule. A more extensive account of events that evening at St. Peter Port was later published in the Great Western Railway Magazine: On 28 June 1940 enemy bombers attacked in earnest. About 7 oclock in the evening a number came over, flying at about 3,000 feet. Diving lower, they then machine-gunned the jetty and its vicinity, and bombed the harbour very intensely. As it was low tide, the area under the jetty provided reasonably good shelter for those who were able to get there, but casualties were nevertheless considerable. Three of the Companys staff were among the wounded who were taken to a hospital in the Island. The jetty itself was soon ablaze with burning lorries, and at the end of the raid the scene was an inferno, and passage from any one point to another was not an easy matter. It is now clear to the Companys staff that it was high time to leave. There were three vessels in the harbour, which had been kept in steam in readiness for just such an emergency. They each had some guns for defensive action, and had succeeded in keeping hostile aircraft far enough away to prevent any direct hits. The vessels sailed for England at 9.30 p.m. the same evening, the Companys staff, as had already been stated, being on the last boat to leave. Of the 49 Great Western and Southern Railway joint staff at Guernsey, 38 sailed to England, three are known to have been left behind wounded, and eight remain unaccounted for. Most of the wives and families of the men had sailed for England at an earlier date. It is understood that the island of Guernsey was occupied by German troops on Sunday 30 June. And a glowing portrait of Goldings calmness under fire was later published in the Bournemouth Daily Echo, from which the following extract has been taken: The ship had some near misses and there were very heavy casualties among the people on the quay. A large number of lorries caught fire. The bombing and machine-gunning went on for about an hour. The quay was a shambles with 50 killed, 200 wounded and over 100 lorries burning. Many of the women and children passengers were unaccompanied by men, and with the large number of people on the ship and on the quay a panic with grave consequences might easily have commenced. Captain Golding issued orders from the bridge and then walked along the decks keeping everybody as calm as possible. His presence was felt immediately wherever he went, and in my judgment he was largely responsible for the steadiness of the crew, the passengers and the people on the quayside. As soon as he felt the people aboard were steady, he walked across the quayside to telephone to the Naval Authorities, then returned calmly to his bridge, although concentrated machine-gunning and bombing were going on. When the bombing had finished, he had to make important decisions. How many people he would take aboard from the number who were clamouring to come; the best time to leave in view of the fact that he would be unescorted and so on. It must also be remembered that he had a very tired crew. They had been working at top pressure for many weeks. Captain Golding remained on duty the whole of the day as he had on every other day when in Guernsey. During the bombing and afterwards, he was absolutely calm and imperturbable, and tireless in stimulating and encouraging his crew. The Isle of Sark was in fact the final ship to depart St. Peter Port before the German occupation, with 647 passengers embarked, and but for the light A.A. and Lewis gun fire she put up at the attacking Heinkel IIIs, casualties may well have been higher ð on Goldings recommendation, Able Seaman G. Mace, also received the Companys M.S.M. for manning the ships gun on the same occasion. Having been actively employed elsewhere, Golding was not able to attend the first investiture of the Companys M.S.M. in August 1940, but shortly afterwards, he received his award at Southampton from the Docks and Port Manager, in the presence of many officials and staff ð the gathering also included the Flag Officer i./c. Naval Operations, Southampton, the Garrison Commander and the Principal Sea Transport Officer (Southern Railways Journal refers). Golding returned to his old command, the Isle of Jersey, in December 1940, by now a fully fitted-out hospital carrier attached to the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow, and in which capacity he remained in command until the Wars end. During the Normandy landings, the Isle of Jersey steamed south and served off Gold and Juno Beaches, bringing home nearly 2000 patients in a matter of weeks. He was awarded the O.B.E. and returned in triumph to St. Peter Port in October 1945. He finally retired in late 1947, after 33 years with the Southern Railway Fleet, latterly having served as Commodore of the companys Southampton Section ð and having completed 4,800 Channel crossings. He died in December 1982, aged 94 years. SOLD WITH THE FOLLOWING RELATED MEMORABILIA DOCUMENTATION Ordinary Apprentices Certificate of Indenture, dated 9 September 1904, for 4 years to the John Clink Line at Greenock. A privately compiled ships log covering the recipients time in the Samoena circa 1906-08, large cloth bound volume with leather spine. A quantity of competency reports (or ôFlimsiesö) in respect of the recipients pre-Great War service out in the Far East in ships of the British Steam Navigation Company and Seang Line, circa 1910-13, together with a run of related discharge certificates. Certificate of Competency as Master of a Foreign Going Ship, Board of Trade, dated 18 July 1913. Board of Trade correspondence relating to the award of the recipients British War and Mercantile Marine Medals 1914-18, including forwarding letter dated 4 May 1921; together with Ministry of Transport forwarding certificate for his 1939-45 campaign awards. A series of privately compiled ship log books (15), with details of individual voyages, many with Southern Railway label to front cover bearing the recipients name and relevant dates, and covering the periods January 1918 to December 1922; January 1923 to December 1928; 22 June 1927 to 31 August 1929; 2 September 1929 to 23 October 1930; 23 October 1930 to 2 July 1932; 4 July 1932 to 29 May 1934; 29 May 1934 to 3 August 1935; 3 August 1935 to 22 July 1936; 23 July 1936 to 9 August 1937; 10 August 1937 to 11 June 1939 (re. Isle of Jersey); January 1939 to December 1936; 3 November 1937 to 15 April 1939; 12 June 1939 to July 1946; a separate folder entitled Isle of Jersey ð Account of All Movements 24 August 1939 to 11 July 1945; 20 July 1946 to 11 September 1947; and another up to September 1947, but with earlier entries from January 1937; together with Goldings Guernsey and Jersey Pilots log books and notes. Goldings official Dock Permit (No. 21067), for permission to enter Southern Railway Companys docks at Southampton, dated 8 May 1940; and three letters of appreciation from passengers he brought out of St. Peter Port a few weeks later, citing his calmness under fire and the steady conduct of his crew. A fascinating scrap album, with numerous newspaper reports, many dealing with events at St. Peters Port in June 1940, together with some official reports and correspondence, the latter including a letter from the Manager of Southern Railway congratulating Golding on his courage and resource, and Ministry of War Transport letter of notification regarding the award of his O.B.E. The recipients original O.B.E. warrant, dated 1 January 1945, framed and glazed. The recipients Imperial Merchant Service Guild membership certificate, brown leather folder with gilt title His Minister of Shipping Continuous Certificate of Discharge (R218098). A hand-illuminated retirement certificate, the upper inscription reading, We the undersigned Ships Officers of the Marine Department of the Southern Railway at Southampton hereby place on record our esteem and good wishes to Captain H. H. Golding, O.B.E., on his retirement from the service after 43 years at sea and wish him a long and happy enjoyment of his well earned rest, with 50 signatures (some faded), 30cm. by 26cm., framed; together with an assortment of related retirement telegrams and letters. A box containing as large quantity of ôCape Hornersö documentation, membership and otherwise. A file containing assorted letters of condolence and cards (approximately 25); and much further documentation, including pocket diaries, marriage certificate, wills, insurance policies and further family-related papers. PHOTOGRAPHS An image of the Officers and Apprentices of the Samoena, circa 1907, 37cm. by 32cm., framed and glazed; another from same period, or slightly later, by local photographer Chueng Kulan, Amoy, 43cm. by 36cm., framed and glazed; and a pair of smaller group images from his days in the Glengogle in the Far East, both framed; an image of the Isle of Jersey, the mount captioned, H.M. Hospital Ship ôIsle of Jerseyö. Refitted by The Grangemouth Dockyard Co. Ltd, October 1941, 30.5cm. by 25cm., framed and glazed; a display of 14 wartime images, mainly of Isle of Jersey interest, framed and glazed, and two further images of Golding, his ships officers and matrons from the same period, framed and glazed. Photograph albums (8), with several hundred images in total, covering his time in the Far East, 1911-13, with excellent ship views and captioned crew images; inter-war service and various ôfamilyö travel and holiday scenes in the U.K. and abroad, together with a postcard album. A large selection of other photographs, dating from the late Victorian era through to the 1950s (approximately 400 images), quite a few on card mounts, many of nautical interest but others of family subject matter, the former including numerous scenes from the Isle of Jersey in the 1939-45 War. PICTURES A water colour of H.M.H.C. ôIsle of Jerseyö at sea, initialled J. D. A. and dated 1945, 30.5cm. by 20cm., framed and glazed. A water colour depicting a ship in distress approaching rocks, unsigned, 19cm. by 13.5cm., framed and glazed. NAUTICAL MEMORABILIA Captain Goldings sea chest, the exterior green painted, the plain wooden interior with two large and one smaller raised compartments, and the inside of the lid with hand-painted signal flags, rope handles, 87cm. by 43cm. by 39cm. A portable ships compass, by Mahier, Le Havre, in wooden, part-glazed carrying case. A telescope, by Ross, London (No. 47449), retailed by Murray, Calcutta, leather grip. Captain Fields improved parallel rule, antique boxwood, brass hinges; together with a whistle, pocket compass and stop-watch. A selection of ships pennants and flags (5), including large yellow flag emblazoned with an Imperial Chinese dragon, this latter, as described in an accompanying newspaper article, flown from the foremast of his last deep sea command, plying the China Seas and visiting ports all over the Far East. A portable signal kit, by Woolf, Southampton, with individual pockets containing 20 pennants, and lower pockets for burgee, signal book and ensign, the whole contained in a folding brown canvas case, with ties; together with a smaller kit of nine pennants in a white linen container. A selection of items relevant to the ôCape Hornersö, including brass and enamelled car bumper badge, a glass ashtray, two blazer patches and two lapel badges; Merchant Navy ôMNö lapel badge and two similar tie-pins; the recipients silver identity bracelet, inscribed ENN221818 H. H. Golding, Ewshott, Brockenhurst, together with his bullion embroidered cap badge, three similar company badges, and a large quantity of Merchant Navy uniform buttons. A bag containing several expended .303 shell cases and a piece of shrapnel, these latter souvenirs of events at St. Peter Port in 1940. A bullion and embroidered uniform epaulette of Queen Alexandras Royal Naval Nursing Service, mounted on card, with ôH.M.H.C. Isle of Jerseyö inscribed above, and accompanied by five signatures of nursing staff who served in her, dated 1944-45, framed and glazed. A presentation silver salver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1940, with central inscription, To the Captain, September 1947, with ten engraved autographs around, 24.5cm. See lots 219 and 220 for brothers medals.
Lot 601
A Great War M.C. & Bar group of four awarded to Captain D. Addison, Seaforth Highlanders Military Cross, G.V.R. and Second Award Bar, cross reverse inscribed, Lieut. Dering Addison, 4th Seaforth Highlanders, Ypres 31 July 1917; bar reverse inscribed, Mont Huwy 28.10.1918; 1914-15 Star (3300 Pte., Sea. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.) mounted as worn, very fine (4) £1800-2200 M.C. London Gazette 26 September 1917; citation 9 January 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During operations he showed great gallantry and resource, making several important reconnaissances of the front and bringing back valuable information. He also guided several platoons into position, saving many casualties, although at all times under an intense barrage. Bar to M.C. London Gazette 8 March 1919; citation 4 October 1919. For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership at Mont Houy on 28 October 1918. He led his company with the greatest skill and daring through a network of buildings, overcoming the enemy resistance, capturing twelve machine guns and about forty prisoners. M.I.D. London Gazette not confirmed. Dering Addison served in France/Flanders, 8 March-3 June 1915 and 11 March 1916-14 July 1918 and was twice wounded in action. He was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on 29 June 1915 and Lieutenant on 1 July 1917.
Lot 603
A regimentally unique Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Major A. C. McLachlan, 18th Hussars, who was wounded and taken P.O.W. at Talana prior to seeing further active service in North Nigeria 1902-03 and in the Great War Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, Captain A. C. McLachlan, 18th Hussars, 24th May 1915; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Talana (Lieut. A. C. McLachlan, 18/Hussars); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, N. Nigeria 1902, N. Nigeria 1903 (Capt. A. C. McLachlan, 8th Hussars); 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. C. McLachlan, 18/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Major A. C. McLachlan), mounted as worn, generally good very fine (6) £1600-1800 M.C. London Gazette 16 January 1916. Albert Charles McLachlan was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 18th Hussars in December 1893, and advanced to Lieutenant in August 1899, on the eve of the Boer War. Subsequently employed in the Natal operations, he was wounded and taken P.O.W. at Talana on 20 October 1899. On that date, as verified in The 18th Hussars in South Africa, he served in B Squadron and acted as his C.Os galloper and, in common with most of his comrades, and attached elements of the Mounted Infantry, was taken prisoner. The same source states that he was one of 13 men who remained in enemy hands until sent into Ladysmith during the investment, but as a prisoner on parole, he was debarred from taking any further part in the war (Queens Medal & clasp). Subsequently attached to the West African Frontier Force, McLachlan participated in the North Nigeria operations of 1902, when he was present at Argungu and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 28 October 1904 refers), and afterwards in the Kano-Sokoto campaign of 1903 (Medal & 2 clasps). During the Great War, he first landed in France in May 1915 and, in addition to his M.C., added two further ômentionsö to his accolades (London Gazette 1 January 1916 and 15 May 1917 refers). On 25 May 1915, the date inscribed on the reverse of the recipients M.C., the Germans launched a gas attack in their last but one major attack in the 2nd Battle of Ypres.
Lot 605
A fine Great War 1915 operations M.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel F. R. G. Forsyth, 4th Dragoon Guards, late Scottish Rifles, Northumberland Fusiliers and Seaforth Highlanders, who was twice wounded and once gassed on the Western Front Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, Capt. Bt. Major F. R. G. Forsyth, 1915; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. F. R. G. Forsyth, Scot. Rif.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Lieut. F. R. G. Forsyth, 1st Bn. Sea. Highrs.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut. F. R. G. Forsyth, Sea. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Bt. Major F. R. G. Forsyth), these last two with further private inscription after surname, 4th D. Gds.; Royal Humane Societys Medal, small, bronze (2nd Lieut. F. R. G. Forsyth, July 6, 1905), complete with riband buckle, this last with refitted suspension, contact marks, lacquered and somewhat polished, thus nearly very fine or better (7) £1600-1800 M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916. Frederick Richard Gerrard Forsyth was born in Netherleigh, Leamington in November 1882, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Arthur Forsyth, late 5th Fusiliers, and was educated at Sandroyd School and Wellington College. Appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Scottish Rifles, in April 1901, he witnessed active service in South Africa, where he was present in operations in Cape Colony, Transvaal and Orange Free State ð and injured on the occasion of the derailment of No. 12 Armoured Train (Queens Medal & 5 clasps). The latter incident is mentioned in a letter of recommendation for a Regular Army commission from General G. T. Pretyman: I recommended him for one when I was at Kimberley. The lad was badly shaken in an armoured train accident which occurred up by Taunga some months ago. I knew all about the accident. Young Forsyth was working in the train under Grant of the Black Watch, who was one of the best captains of an armoured train we had ... Duly granted a commission in the Northumberland Fusiliers in May 1902, Forsyth won his Royal Humane Society Medal for rescuing one of his men who got into difficulty while bathing in a river at Fenit, Co. Kerry, in July 1905 (R.H.S. Case No. 33,996 refers). In February 1908, after transferring to the Seaforth Highlanders as a Lieutenant, he quickly witnessed further action on the North West Frontier in Mohmand country (Medal & clasp). And shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, after attachment as a Captain to the Army Signals Service, he served out in France and Flanders from October 1914 until September 1915, including a brief stint as an A.D.C. to the G.O.C. 4th Division. And, as verified by the following private medical report, he was twice wounded in the same period: Mr. Forsyth has been under my immediate medical supervision for some years. His war medical history dates from June 1915: June, 1915: wounded in the face. Machine-gun fire. France. September, 1915: wounded head and scalp. H.E. France. Forsyth was awarded the M.C., went on to witness further action out on the Salonika front from January 1916 until June 1917, latterly in the 4th Dragoon Guards, and again in France and Flanders, but was invalided after being gassed in the Ypres Salient in November of the latter year. In addition to his M.C., he won a brace of ômentionsö (London Gazette 1 January 1916 (France) and 21 July 1917 (Salonika) refer), and was latterly employed as A.D.C. to the G.O.C. in Ireland from June 1918 until May 1919. Placed on the Retired List in November 1926, Forsyth transferred to the Territorials with an appointment as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 51st Highland Division, Royal Signals, in the same month, in which capacity he served until resigning his commission in October 1928. He was, however, recalled on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, and served as an Honorary Colonel in 51st/52nd Scottish Divisional Signals from November 1941. Forsyth, who was a Deputy Lieutenant of the City and County of Aberdeen, died in 1962; sold with three files of research, a mass of career information copied from T.N.A. sources.
Lot 606
An unusual Great War M.C. group of seven awarded to Captain F. P. Barrett, Yorkshire Dragoons, late Imperial Yeomanry Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (24146 S.S. Maj. F. Barratt, 11th Coy. Imp. Yeo.), note surname spelling; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. F. P. Barrett); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Capt. F. P. Barrett, York Dns.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, E.VII.R. (1275 Sq. Q.M. Sjt. F. Barrett, York Dgns. Yeo.); Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal, 3rd Battalion, 1901-1902 (24146 T.S.M. F. Barrett), the second with officially corrected surname, contact marks and somewhat polished, otherwise generally very fine (7) £1600-1800 M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919. Frank Peace Barrett served as a Squadron Sergeant-Major in the 11th Company, Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa 1901-02, including operations in Cape Colony, Transvaal and Orange Free State (Medal & 5 clasps). During the Great War he first entered the French theatre of war in November 1916, in the rank of Acting Captain in the Yorkshire Dragoons, his MIC entry further confirming the award of his Territorial Force War Medal in October 1922.
Lot 608
A rare German East Africa M.C. group of five for the action at Mahiwa awarded to Captain J. E. H. Maxwell, Notts and Derby Regiment, attached 4th Nigeria Regiment Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. J. E. H. Maxwell, Notts & Derby. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major J. E. H. Maxwell); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Nigeria 1918 (Major J. E. H. Maxwell, Notts. & Derby. R.) mounted court style for display, the obverses polished, therefore good fine or better (5) £1200-1400 M.C. London Gazette 27 December 1917: `Rendered much useful service in command of a Company; he has always displayed a marked coolness and disregard of personal risk in action. His personal example and quiet manner of control in action have been most beneficial to his Company. At Mahiwa on 15th Oct. 1917 he was in command of the vanguard; the manner in which he handled his Company during a very anxious and trying day reflects the greatest credit on his skill and leadership. His personal courage and example in this action had a most steadying effect on all ranks.` Maxwell is referred to several times in With the Nigerians in German East Africa by W. D. Downes, London, 1919.
Lot 610
A Great War Salonika operations M.C. group of three awarded to Lieutenant Arthur Mitchell Kirk, Rifle Brigade Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed, in case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); together with a silver identity bracelet, inscribed, A. M. Kirk, C.E., The Rifle Brigade, medals extremely fine (4) £1100-1300 M.C. London Gazette 11 January 1919. T./2nd Lt. Arthur Mitchell Kirk, 4th Bn. Rif. Brig. Salonika For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. He was in command of the left carrying party, which made four separate journeys to the captured position through the enemys barrage. In the first journey he was knocked over by a shell burst, but continued to lead each successive party, and displayed marked courage and coolness. The carrying operations lasted for seven hours. Arthur Mitchell Kirk was born in Macclesfield on 20 March 1891 and was educated at King Edward VI Modern Grammar School, Macclesfield. A Bank Clerk by occupation, he attested for the 7th Battalion Cheshire Regiment at Chester on 15 February 1916. In December 1916 he was posted to the Officers Cadet Battalion, Lichfield, Commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in March 1917, he entered the Salonika theatre of war on 22 July 1917. For his services in Salonika he was awarded the Military Cross in September 1918. Promoted to Lieutenant in January 1919, he later served in South Russia and was treated for Malaria in Tiflis and Batoum, Georgia. Lieutenant Kirk was invalided to the U.K. from Batoum in April 1919. He was released from service on 18 June 1919, relinquishing his temporary commission whilst retaining the rank of Lieutenant. With original London Gazette Supplement for 10 January 1919; a large photograph of the recipient in uniform, in a wooden frame, 420 x 345mm.; a large group photograph of ôBö Company, No. 8 Officer Cadet Battalion, March 1917, in wooden frame, 560 x 345mm.; a letter of congratulations from the London County Westminster & Parrs Bank Ltd, dated 11 October 1918; a War Office letter to accompany the M.C., dated 1 February 1921; together with copied m.i.c., service papers and war diary extracts.
Lot 614
A rare Darfur 1916 operations M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant S. Hart, attached Military Works Department, Egyptian Army Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. S. Hart); Egypt, Order of the Nile, 4th class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; Khedives Sudan 1910-21, 4 clasps, Darfur 1916, Lau Nuer, Nyima 1917-18, Aliab Dinka, unnamed as issued, clasp rivets sewn on the last, good very fine or better (4) £1600-1800 M.C. London Gazette 4 June 1917. Samuel Hart, who was attached to the Egyptian Army, participated in the Darfur operations of 1916, for which he was mentioned in despatches for the military operations from the occupation of El Fasher to the conclusion of hostilities (London Gazette 29 May 1917 refers), and awarded the M.C. He subsequently served in operations against the Lau Nuers and in the Nyima Hills and Nuba Mountains Province 1917-18, and in the operations against the Aliab Dinka 1919-20, and was awarded the Order of the Nile, 4th class (London Gazette 22 April 1921 refers), in addition to qualifying for the above described Khedives Sudan Medal & 4 clasps and a single British War Medal 1914-20; sold with copied MIC entry which also refers to his entitlement to the clasps for ôNyima 1917-18ö and ôAliab Dinkaö.
Lot 615
A Great War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Colour-Sergeant W. E. Large, Cheshire Regiment, late Grenadier Guards Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11330 C.Q.M. Sjt. W. E. Large, 9/Ches. R.); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (2477 Corpl. W. Large, Gren. Gds.); 1914-15 Star (11330 Pte. (A. Sjt.) W. E. Large, Ches. R.); British War and Victory Medals (11330 C. Sjt. W. E. Large, Ches. R.), generally good very fine (5) £1200-1400 D.C.M. London Gazette 1 January 1918: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to for over two years. He has always rendered invaluable services during many active operations in personally supervising the taking up of rations, often under very adverse conditions, and has set a fine example to all ranks. William Edward Large was born at Davenham, Northwich and enlisted in the Grenadier Guards direct from the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment in June 1890, aged 18 years. Gaining steady advancement to Lance-Sergeant in July 1895, he was convicted of drunkenness in at a District Court Marshal in the following year and reduced to Private, but had regained a Lance-Corporals stripe by the time of being transferred to the Army Reserve in June 1897. Recalled on the outbreak of the Boer War, he served in the 3rd Battalion in that theatre of war from April until July 1902, gaining entitlement to the above described Medal & clasps (accompanying roll verification refers), and was discharged on his return to the U.K. But with the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he re-enlisted, and was posted to the Cheshire Regiment and, having been advanced to Acting Sergeant that October, went out to France in 9th (Butterfly) Battalion in mid-July 1915. Confirmed in his rank at the end of the year, he would have been present with the Battalion on the Somme in July 1916, when it was engaged in heavy fighting around La Boiselle on the 2nd-4th, actions that resulted in casualties in excess of 300 men. This then one of the chapters of his wartime career reflected in his D.C.M. citation, although regimental records state that he was decorated for a specific act of bravery on 10 July 1917. Be that as it may, Large, by now a Company Quarter-Master Sergeant, remained on active service until the Wars end, a period encompassing the award of the V.C. to 2nd Lieutenant Hugh Colvin for gallant deeds with the ôButterfliesö on 20 September 1917. Large was demobilised in March 1919 and in later life a resided in Northwich, Cheshire and and was the recipient of a Chelsea Pension. He died in October 1938; sold with research.
Lot 625
The rare Kassassin C.G.M. group of nine awarded to Colour-Sergeant Benjamin White, Royal Marine Artillery, later Yeoman of the Queens Body Guard Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, V.R., 2nd issue (Color Sergeant B. White, R.M.A.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (Cr. Sergt. B. White, R.M.A.); Jubilee 1897, bronze issue; Coronation 1902, bronze issue; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Benjamin White, Sergt. 13th Co. R.M.A.) impressed naming; Royal Marine Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., Admirals bust (No. 206. Benjamin White, Q.M. Sergt. R.M.A.); Khedives Star 1882, mounted court style as worn, contact marks to the earlier medals, otherwise nearly very fine or better (9) £12000-15000 Only 6 C.G.Ms. were awarded for the operations in Egypt 1882, all to the Royal Marines, including two for the battle of Kassassin. The following citation for Benjamin Whites Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was submitted by Lieutenant Colonel Tuson, R.M., in December 1882: For gallant conduct at Kassassin on 28 August 1882. Having detached a company to prevent the enemy from out-flanking our left, and to prevent two guns advancing up the banks of the canal, which were doing mischief on our line. This Non-Commissioned Officer on two occasions under a very heavy fire, advanced up the Canal Bank and shot the horses each time they limbered up, and so prevented their advance. Benjamin White was born in April 1848 in Hatherleigh, Devon, and was a labourer prior to enlisting in the Corps at Exeter on 20 June 1866. He served ashore with the Royal Marine Artillery for nearly two years prior to embarking aboard his first ship H.M.S. Juno in May 1868. He was promoted to Bombardier on 2 April 1874 and to Corporal on 20 March 1875. He embarked aboard Minotaur in August 1875 and was promoted to Sergeant on 27 February 1876. He served ashore for nearly six years during which time he was promoted to Colour Sergeant on 13 January 1881. He was next embarked for service with the Royal Marine Mediterranean Battalion in June 1882 and was landed for service on shore to take part in the battles of Kassassin and Tel-El-Kebir. He returned to England aboard the SS Greece in October 1882 and disembarked to the R.M.A. Depot, being promoted to Quarter Master Sergeant on 9 December 1882. He continued to serve on shore until 9 April 1888 when he was discharged from the Corps having completed 21 years service. His Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was presented by Queen Victoria at a special Audience held at Windsor Castle on 21 November 1882. He received the rare distinction of being appointed to the Queens Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard on 5 February 1893, being the first Royal Marine N.C.O. so honoured. He served in this capacity until his death in his 90th year on 19 March 1937. Over the course of forty four years he had served three Monarchs and had been the senior serving Yeoman for some years. During his long and faithful service he received the 1897 Jubilee Medal, the 1902 and 1911 Coronation Medals, and the 1935 Jubilee Medal being the only member of the Bodyguard thus honoured.
Lot 627
A particularly fine Second World War D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer S. J. L. Evans, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in Unshaken of the famous ôFighting Tenthö: in addition to sinking an impressive array of enemy shipping, Unshaken several times embarked Major ôAppleö Appleyards S.A.S. ôSmall-Scale Raiding Forceö and captured the Italian submarine Menotti, Evans skipper being handed a unique receipt from his Flotilla C.O. on bringing the latter prize into Grand Harbour Valetta on 11 September 1943 - Received from Lieutenant J. Whitton, R.N., one Italian submarine named Menotti and sixty-one crew Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C.E.R.A. S. J. L. Evans, PM/X. 46521); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (MX. 46521 S. J. L. Evans, C.E.R.A., H.M.S. Unshaken), mounted as worn, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, the first and last polished, thus generally nearly very fine or better (14) £1800-2200 D.S.M. London Gazette 18 April 1944: For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty in successful patrols in H.M. submarines. The original recommendation states: During 12 Mediterranean patrols Unshaken has sunk by torpedo one destroyer, three merchantmen and two schooners. By gun action, one schooner destroyed, one 4,000-ton merchantman damaged and a suspension bridge on the Tunisian coast shelled. Other incidents include three special operations with military personnel on Pantellaria, the machine-gunning of German troops evacuating from Castia, and enforcing the surrender of the Italian submarine Menotti, deliberately contravening the armistice regulations. For outstanding efficiency and devotion to duty as C.E.R.A. in charge of the Engine Room Department of Unshaken during the above patrols and showing coolness and determination under difficult conditions. Samuel Joseph Lindop Evans, a native of Weymouth, Dorset, was decorated for his gallant deeds in Unshaken during successful war patrols in the Mediterranean in the period March to September 1943. The Unshaken arrived at the Fighting Tenths base at Lazaretto, Malta in March 1943, in the middle of a ôSpriteö alert, intelligence having reported the high risk of an Italian human-torpedo attack, but was quickly out on patrol. The definitive history of the Flotilla, The Fighting Tenth, by John Wingate, D.S.C., takes up the story: Unshaken, being the newcomer, sailed for her first patrol to the ostensibly quieter area east of Tunisia ... First she shelled a schooner hauled up on a beach, but was warned off by spirited action from shore batteries. Then off Sousse on 8 April, Jack Whitton sank the 1,245-ton Foggia with one of his three torpedoes. Lingering off Kelibia in the hope of catching a reported convoy, Unshaken continued southwards to beat up an important road bridge until shore batteries again forced her to desist. In common with other submarines of the Fighting Tenth, Unshakens operational agenda extended to clandestine operations, Wingate describing a series of intelligence gathering patrols in the lead-up to operations ôHuskyö, Major J. G. ôAppleö Appleyard, D.S.O., M.C.* and fellow members of 2nd S.A.S. being embarked: Then on the 18th [May 1943], Appleyard and his No. 1 Small-Scale Raiding Force sailed in Unshaken (Lieutenant Whitton) to make a periscope observation of the islands beaches where assault troops could be landed. The recce proving satisfactory, on 20 May Unshaken turned for home. Halfway back to Malta she was met by an M.T.B. with an aerial escort which Jack Whitton describes as an impressive and lively umbrella of three Spitfires, each clearing the periscope standards by inches. The M.T.B. had come to collect Appleyard, to save time. He was safely transferred and soon disappeared with his escort. Unshaken returned to Lazaretto the following day. The second attempt at the snatch job began on the 24th, when Unshaken again sailed with the S.A.S. party. The conditions being good, the inflatable dinghies paddled off into the darkness. After scaling the vertical and crumbling cliff, they eventually pounced on a sentry whose terrified yells alerted the defenders. Reinforcements were immediately on the spot, a burst of automatic fire killing Sergeant Herstall, a policeman from Bristol. The raiders escaped down the cliff by sliding down it from top to bottom. Whitton and Unshaken were waiting for them and they reached Lazaretto on 30 May. And of operations in June, Wingate continues: Immediately to the south of Unison was Unshaken (Lieutenant Jack Whitton), released from her expeditions with Major Appleyard and now patrolling off Syracuse and Augusta. Close inshore, on the afternoon of 22 June, she hit a laden schooner, Giovanni G. (69 tons), with two torpedoes at a range of 2,400 yards. The schooner disintegrated. This was a historic moment. Small though she was, this schooner earned a place in the history of the Fighting Tenth, for she had been sunk by the one thousandth torpedo to have been fired in action by a U-class submarine of the Tenth Flotilla. Capture of the Italian submarine ôMenottiö Having then had two close encounters with enemy submarines, one of which tailed Unshaken back to Malta in mid-July, but was attacked by the Polish submarine Dzik, thereby saving her from almost certain destruction, and sunk the naval transport Asmara,Unshaken achieved her greatest success - the capture of the Italian submarine Menotti on 9 September 1943, at the time of Italys capitulation. Wingate continues: On the morning of 9 September she [Unshaken] was making her way south around the heel of Italy when the hydrophone operator reported: High Speed revs. Suspecting an enemy submarine, Whitton ordered Diving Stations. The problem was whether this was a German U-boat or an Italian one. Through the periscope it was hard to tell: the enemy submarine was hull-down, the conning tower glinting in the bright morning sun. Whitton takes up the tale: At about 1500 yards range, and with but a few minutes to go before firing torpedoes, I had a long and careful look at the target: the submarine was Italian. She was also flying her ensign and had an unusually large number of chaps on her bridge, whom I could clearly see were gazing north-west and, no doubt, at their beloved country a few miles away. With that bunch on the bridge, she was hardly in a position to do a quick dive ... We would try to stop her, then board her. By chance, Whittons great friend and the flotillas spare C.O., Lieutenant ôShaverö Swanston, happened to be along for the ride. Whitton now appointed him commander of the boarding party, with orders to take over the Italian submarine. Unshaken surfaced and fired a warning shot across the U-boats bows: There were even more chaps on the bridge than before; I suppose they had come up to see what the hell was coming next. By this time Unshaken was alongside, stopped, with our bows against the Italians bow. The boarding party, led by Shaver brandishing a .45 were jumping across. They raced along the forward casing and climbed up the enemys conning tower. The objective: to secure the conning tower hatch and so stop him diving, then to subdue any further resistance. But there was no resistance. The enemy C.O. wanted to go to Brindisi; Whitton wanted to go back to Malta. A somewhat heated exchange followed, Whitton writes, as the two COs, each on his own bridge, side by side, voiced their intentions: Brindisi, he shouted. Malta, I yelled. Brindisi ... Malta ... Percy Westmacott, the Number One, passed up Whittons uniform cap, to give proceedings a little more dignity. I put it on. Also the 3-inch gun, still manned, and ready for action, was ordered: Load one round HE. The loading number, a seaman with considerable initiative, held up the 3-inch high explosive shell; he displayed it, rather like a music hall conjuror, to a very impressed Italian audience. He then slipped the round home into the gun, slamming the breech shut. The muzzle of the gun was trained on the Italian captains stomach, at a range of about thirteen feet. Shaver, who was standing close to him, was requested to stand aside. With a shrug of his shoulder and hands in the air, the Italian agreed: Malta. We were both now singing from the same song sheet - and I dont think my cap did the trick. With Shaver Swanston and the boarding party in control, the Italian boat, Menotti, would sail for Malta. Four Italian hostages were kept in Unshaken to encourage their shipmates to behave. Now began the two-day passage for Malta, mainly on the surface so that Unshaken could keep an eye on her charge. Each evening the two submarines closed while Whitton made sure all was well. Swanston complained at the dirt and lack of discipline, but he evidently had no problems with the officers who roundly expressed their loathing of the Germans in particular and the war in general. Menottis captain later told Whitton: He had no orders to proceed to an Allied port, except a signal which he considered false, the Allies having made use of captured Italian cyphers. He was upset at being defeated; he loathed the Germans but did not mind surrendering to the British. Unshaken, with her prize, arrived back at Malta on 11 September, as Whitton says, to pass through an impressive collection of Italian naval ships anchored off the Grand Harbour. That afternoon Unshakens CO was handed what must be one of the most unusual receipts noted in history. Typed on HMSO crown-embossed paper by the Lazaretto type-writer, it was addressed to His Majestys Submarine Unshaken and dated Saturday 11 September 1943. Signed by George Phillips as Captain (S) 10, it read: Received from Lieutenant J. Whitton, R.N., one Italian submarine named Menotti and sixty-one crew. As a result of this, and other actions, Whitton and his ôJimmy the Oneö, Westmacott, were awarded D.S.Cs, three ratings D.S.Ms and several crew members mentioned in despatches. Evans received his D.S.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 31 October 1944; also see Lot 487 for his fathers Honours & Awards.
Lot 636
A Great War Western Front M.M. and Al Valore Militare group of four awarded to Private H. Everall, Royal Army Medical Corps Military Medal, G.V.R. (65867 Pte., 132/F.A. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (65867 Pte., R.A.M.C.); Italy, Al Valore Militare, bronze, obverse with crowned Z and F.G. below wreath, reverse uninscribed, mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £1000-1200 M.M. London Gazette 14 January 1918. M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917. Al Valore Militare London Gazette 26 May 1917. Private Herbert Everall, 132nd Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. is several times mentioned in the units war diary. He was one of four bearers of the unit who were named by the Officer Commanding on 3 July 1916, For coolness under fire & good work all through the day. Everalls Al Valore Militare was in part awarded for service in the attack at the Boars Head, Richbourg LAvoue, on the night of 29/30 June 1916, where Serjeant N. V. Carter, 12th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, won a posthumous V.C. With original award document for the Al Valore Militare, dated 23 November 1918; together with a letter signed by Lieutenant-General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston, K.C.B., D.S.O., M.P., Commanding VIII Army Corps who wrote, I heartily congratulate you on the honour done you by His Majesty the King of Italy in awarding you the Bronze Medal for Military Valour for your gallant conduct and devotion to duty during operations on the 29th/30th June, 1916, and again during operations on the 3rd September 1916. With an associated photograph and New Testament, together with a quantity of copied research including m.i.c. and war diary and gazette extracts..
Lot 650
A rare Great War M.M. group of twelve awarded to Sergeant A. Belsan, a Czech Legionnaire who served in the elite 1st Independent Striking Battalion, and was again decorated in the 1939-45 War for his gallant deeds in the Prague Uprising in the final days of the conflict Czechoslovakia, Bravery Medal 1939; War Cross 1918; Revolutionary Medal 1918; Victory Medal 1918, official type 2; F.I.D.A.C. Medal for Veterans of the Great War; Zborov Commemorative Medal 1917-47; Brachmac Commemorative Medal 1918-48; 4th Regiment Commemorative Medal 1918-48; Medal for Fidelity 1918-38, bronze emblem on riband; Brno Volunteers Medal 1918-19; Great Britain, Military Medal, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Russia, St. George Medal for Bravery, Nicholas II, 4th Class, the reverse numbered No. 22868, together with a small 20th anniversary commemorative badge for the Battle Of Zborov 1917-37, the last heavily polished and with replacement ring suspension, fine, the remainder generally very fine or better (13) £800-1000 Abbot and Tamplin estimate some 320 M.Ms were bestowed on Czech Legionnaires. Augustin Belsan was born in Hresihlavy in the district of Rokycany, south-west of Prague in August 1888, and was employed as head of a workshop in a locomotive factory in Kladno prior to the outbreak of hostilities. Recruited into the Austro-Hungarian Army in October 1914, he attended an N.C.Os course and was posted in the rank of Corporal to the famous 28th ôPragues Childrenö Regiment, going into action on the Eastern Front in March 1915, where he was wounded in the following month and taken prisoner by the Russians at a Field Hospital near Regetow. Forced labour followed but with news of the formation of the Czech Legion in July 1916, he was appointed a Sergeant in the 1st Regiment of ôMistr Jan Husö and participated in the Battle of Zborov, winning his Russian decoration on the same occasion. In January 1918, Belsan was transferred to the elite 1st Independent Striking Battalion and fought against the Germans at Bachmac that March, in addition to numerous clashes with the Bolsheviks, including the actions at Kljukvenaja, Krasnojarsk, Niznyj Udinsk, Beli, Kultuk, Irkutsk, near Bajkal Lake, and on the Uralsk and Samara fronts, but most probably won his British M.M. for the critical defence of the Trans-Siberian railway, in which he was twice wounded. Indeed his elite unit, which numbered around 800 men of whom 120 were killed in action, was regularly ordered to where the fighting was heaviest, finally covering the retreat of the Czech forces to Vladivostok, where Belsan and his comrades arrived in April 1920. He remained in the Army for another two years, latterly as part of the 6th Border Battalion (a.k.a. the ôSiberian Strikersö) in Domazlice, from which he took his discharge to take up employment as an Inspector of Price Control at the Land Government Office in Dejvice, Prague. And it was here, in the final days of the last War, that he won his prestigious Czech Bravery Medal for gallantly manning the barricades in the uprising of May 1945. Sold with two of the recipients original Czech Legion identity cards (ôClenska Legitimaceö), one with a portrait photograph and assorted stamps, and the other with front cover number No. 7529; and around a dozen Great War period photographs, including a fine portrait in uniform wearing some of his Honours & Awards, this with his handwritten dedication to a niece or nephew on the occasion of his 50th birthday.
Lot 660
ôI was told that on the boat back to Ascension Island, General Bramall came on board and gave the lads a tremendous speech. Afterwards he was asked the question. Sir, why did you send the Parachute Regiment? His reply was short and to the point: Gentlemen, because I wanted to win.ö The important Falklands M.M. group of seven awarded to Captain Ian Bailey, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who as a 22 year old Corporal charged with fixed bayonet and grenades the elevated Argentine position at Mount Longdon, alongside Sergeant Ian McKay who gained the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross. Bailey was shot three times causing severe wounds to his neck and hip and was the last man to see Sergeant McKay alive. He went on to serve a further 20 years in the Parachute Regiment retiring with the rank of Captain. The action at Mount Longdon claimed more lives than any other battle of the conflict and Baileys own wounds came back to haunt him 22 years later when it was discovered that he still had an Argentine bullet and numerous fragments of shrapnel lodged in his hip - it was not until June this year that they were finally removed by a surgeon. Military Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (24438472 Cpl I P Bailey Para); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24438472 L Cpl I P Bailey Para); South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24438472 Cpl I P Bailey Para); U.N. Cyprus; N.A.T.O. Medal, clasp, Kosovo; Jubilee 2002; Regular Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (24438472 S Sgt I P Bailey Para) some minor edge bruising and contact wear, otherwise generally good very fine or better (7) £50000-60000 M.M. London Gazette 8 October 1982 In the early hours of 12th June 1982, the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment assaulted enemy positions on Mount Longdon, eight kilometres to the West of Port Stanley on the Island of East Falkland. Corporal Baileys Section were tasked to aid a Platoon pinned down by heavy automatic fire. Under covering fire, together with Sergeant McKay, he attacked the enemys position with grenades. Whilst closing on the enemy, Corporal Bailey was wounded. His brave actions helped to destroy the enemy and relieve the pressure on the Platoon that was pinned down. The posthumous award of Sergeant Ian McKays Victoria Cross was announced in the same Gazette as Corporal Ian Baileys M.M. and the citation adds further detail to Baileys own award: During the night of 11th/12th June 1982, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment mounted a silent night attack on an emergency battalion position on Mount Longdon, an important objective in the battle for Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Sergeant McKay was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, which, after the initial objective had been secured, was ordered to clear the Northern side of the long East/West ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong, mutually-supporting positions. By now the enemy were fully alert, and resisting fiercely. As 4 Platoons advance continued it came under increasingly heavy fire from a number of well-sited enemy machine gun positions on the ridge, and received casualties. Realising that no further advance was possible the Platoon Commander ordered the Platoon to move from its exposed position to seek shelter among the rocks of the ridge itself. Here it met up with part of 5 Platoon. The enemy fire was still both heavy and accurate, and the position of the platoons was becoming increasingly hazardous. Taking Sergeant McKay, a Corporal [Bailey] and a few others, and covered by supporting machine gun fire, the Platoon Commander moved forward to reconnoitre the enemy positions but was hit by a bullet in the leg, and command devolved upon Sergeant McKay. It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to falter and increasing casualties to ensue. Sergeant McKay decided to convert this reconnaissance into an attack in order to eliminate the enemy positions. He was in no doubt of the strength and deployment of the enemy as he undertook this attack. He issued orders, and taking three men with him, broke cover and charged the enemy position. The assault was met by a hail of fire. The Corporal [Bailey]was seriously wounded, a Private killed and another wounded. Despite these losses Sergeant McKay, with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to charge the enemy position alone. On reaching it he despatched the enemy with grenades, thereby relieving the position of beleaguered 4 and 5 Platoons, who were now able to redeploy with relative safety. Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory, his body falling on the bunker. Without doubt Sergeant McKays action retrieved a most dangerous situation and was instrumental in ensuring the success of the attack. His was a coolly calculated act, the dangers of which must have been too apparent to him beforehand. Undeterred he performed with outstanding selflessness, perseverance and courage. With a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him. Sergeant McKays body was exhumed from the Falkland Islands some time later and brought back to England where it was re interred with full military honours at Aldershot Military Cemetery. One of the pall bearers at this funeral was Corporal Ian Bailey. The following description of the action at Mount Longdon which draws heavily from an interview between the author and Bailey is extracted from the book, Operation Corporate: The Story of The Falklands War, 1982, by Martin Middlebrook, published 1985: 3 Paras attack started first. Lieutenant-Colonel Hew Pike had planned a standard assault. He decided that Mount Longdon could not easily be approached from a flank and the feature was to be attacked frontally at its western end. A company on the left would attempt to seize a feature to be known as WING FORWARD. Which would then act as a fire-support base for an attack by B Company on the main Longdon feature, whose two parts were designated FLY HALF and FULL BACK. C Company would move up as a reserve and as the exploitation company if there was a swift Argentinian collapse. The Argentinian defenders of Longdon had been correctly identified as belonging to 7 Regiment, a conscript unit recruited in the province of La Plata. But 7 Regiment was holding Wireless Ridge as well as Longdon and there were probably only about one and a half companies reinforced with specialist snipers and commandos on Longdon itself. The paras moved off after dusk for the approach march to the Start Line. Lieutenant-Colonel Pike and his Tactical Headquarters were given a lift by civilian Land-Rovers, one of which was driven by a women, Trudi Morrison, perhaps the first time a battalion commander had been driven into action by a farmers wife. The British artillery were firing no more than the normal evening harassment. A and B Companies reached their Start Lines on a little stream about fifteen minutes late. Corporal Ian Bailey was a section commander in B Company. We were only on the Start Line a few minutes. I went round the lads and checked everybody and had a joke with my mates. The lads were quiet, each man whispering to their own very good friends, having a last drag. It was a time for being with your own mates. They knew some of them were going to get killed. For some reason, most of them fixed bayonets; I put mine on and looked round to find all the others were putting theirs on too. We stepped over the stream and set off. It was a very clear night, cool, but it didnt feel cold; there was too much adrenalin flowing. We knew we had got a punch-up on our hands. It was uphill, a fairly steep gradient, lots of rocks, tufts of grass, holes where you could break your ankle easily ð just like a good training area. You could see 200 or 300 metres ahead of you. As we went up, we were funnelled together into a space between the main Mount Longdon and a large separate rock. At one time, we were sho
Lot 20
Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Sowar Meer Raheem, 5th Irreglr. Cavy.) fitted with original hook and slip-on bar suspension, small correction to unit, otherwise very fine £350-400 First sold at Debenham, Storr & Sons in December 1897 when part of a group with Cabul 1842 and Defence of Jellalabad (Flying Victory). This last medal was sold in our sale of 17 September 2009 (Lot 38).
Lot 59
Three: Private Michael, 26th Madras Native Infantry Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Meckiel, 26th Regiment N.I.) impressed naming; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (219 Pte. Michael, 26th Madras Infantry); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., Imperial issue (219 Pte. Miguel, 26th Mad. Infy.) suspension soldered on the first, nearly very fine, otherwise good very fine (3) £400-450
Lot 65
Four: Sowar Ram Nath, Poona Horse, late 33rd Light Cavalry British War Medal 1914-20 (3807 Sowar Ramnath, 33 L. Cavy.); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1921-24, North West Frontier 1930-31 (3807 Sowar Ram Nath, 33 Lt. Cavy.); Jubilee 1935; Indian Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (5173 Swr. Ram Nath, Poona Horse) the first two polished, better than good fine, otherwise good very fine (4) £120-140
Lot 107
Four: Temporary Serjeant R. Lyon, Military Mounted Police 1914 Star, with copy slip-on clasp (694 L. Cpl., M.M.P.); British War and Victory Medals (694 T. Sjt., M.M.P.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (694 Cpl., M.M.P.) nearly extremely fine (4) £100-140 Lance-Corporal R. Lyon, Military Mounted Police, entered the France Flanders theatre of war on 16 August 1914. Clasp not confirmed.
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