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Lot 206
Two x Three hand painted coloured and mounted celluloids, of household servants in various domestic situations, 5.5ins x 4.24ins. These were acquired by Lt Col. Thomas Goddard during his time in the Indian Army, part of the East Indian Company. He was in the Punjab and Bengal from 1829 -1854
Lot 205
Two x Three hand painted coloured and mounted celluloids, of household servants in various domestic situations, 5.5ins x 4.24ins. These were acquired by Lt Col. Thomas Goddard during his time in the Indian Army, part of the East Indian Company. He was in the Punjab and Bengal from 1829 -1854
Lot 195
Political and Military Interest. A silver presentation cigarette box, engraved 'Presented to Capt. W. Lloyd George on the occasion of his Marriage, by his Brother Officers in the 4th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers, April 1955', and engraved on all sides with the officers signatures. Hallmarked London 1954 by Garrard & Co Ltd. 16 cm wide. 16.8 ozt / 524 grams gross. Note: William Lloyd George, (3rd Viscount Tenby) served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers and later retained a Territorial Army commission with the regiment. In 1955 he married Ursula Diana Ethel Medlicott. Provenance: Estate of the late William Lloyd George, 3rd Viscount Tenby (1927-2023), he was the son of Gwilym Lloyd George, 1st Viscount Tenby (1894-1967) and the grandson of David Lloyd George, 1st Earl of Dwyfor (1863-1945) the British Prime Minister from 1916 to 1922 during WWI.
Lot 168
* Attributed to Cornelius Beris Durham (1809-1884). Major Robert Martin (circa 1782-1855), late of the Ceylon Rifles, 1827, fine oval head and shoulders portrait miniature, watercolour heightened with white bodycolour, on ivory backed with paper, frame and backing card versos with extensive near contemporary ink manuscript inscriptions detailing the military career of the sitter, and his address: 4 Prospect Terrace, Douglas, Isle of Man, together with A Junior Officer in the British Army, probably the son of Major Robert Martin, 1840, fine oval head and shoulders portrait miniature, watercolour heightened with white bodycolour, on ivory backed with thin card (now detached), the card with contemporary ink manuscript 'Cornelius Durham, 100 Strand, London, May 1840', plus Portrait of a Young Girl, probably the daughter of Major Robert Martin, circa 1840, fine oval head and shoulders portrait miniature, watercolour on ivory backed with thin card, portraying a young girl in a blue-green dress with large puffed sleeves, frame apertures 71 x 57 mm (2 3/4 x 2 1/4 ins), uniformly framed in period wood frames with inset oval gilt metal surround, and hanging loop, glazed, some losses to frame edges, each 15 x 12.5 cmQTY: (3)NOTE:Major Robert Martin: The inscription on the frame verso reads: This portrait was taken in 1827 when the Major was 45 years of age, he died 20th June 1855 age 73 at 6.30am, 4 Prospect Terrace, Douglas, Isle of Man.The inscriptions on the backing card verso read: Major Robert Martin late of the "Ceylon Rifles", 49 years in H.M. Service, Ensign "The Loyal Nottingham Fencibles" 2nd June 1801, Ensign 62nd Regiment 15th August 1804, Lieutenant 62nd Regiment 28th March 1805, Captain 62nd Regiment 21st November 1816 ... Major "Ceylon Rifles" [on reduction] 1847, Retired from the Service 1849, Campaign in Egypt - 8 years in the Field in Sicily - Taking of Genoa 1814 - Two Campaigns in America and the taking of Castine & its dependencies on the river Penobscot. India, China and stationed at every British Colony except Australia.Ivory Act 2018 self-declaration submission reference: PX4GRRPX.
Lot 1096
Variation Two. Army steel helmet with netting; khaki tunic; red patch on canteen. Commissioned by the British Toby in a limited edition of 250 pieces. Series: The Canadians. Royal Doulton and The British Toby backstamp. Artist: William K. HarperIssued: 1991Dimensions: 4.5"HEdition Number: 69Manufacturer: Royal DoultonCountry of Origin: EnglandCondition: Age related wear.
Lot 686
One Signal Corps gelatin silver print or original vintage photographic reproduction from the archives of the Star Tribune depicting Field Marshal Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt arriving at the United States seventh army headquarters following his capture in Bavaria. Karl von Rundstedt was one of Hitler’s ablest leaders who held commands on both the Eastern and Western fronts. He played a major role in defeating France in 1940.Provenance: From the archives of the Star Tribune, established over 150 years ago, Minneapolis, Minnesota.The copyrights for these images remains solely with the Star Tribune or with the issuing agency or photographer. The prints are available as a collectible item only and may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written consent from the copyright holder.Sheet; Height: 7 1/2 in x width: 8 3/4 in.Condition: All lots are in used condition. These photographs are from a working archive and contains notes, marks, labels, clippings, and/or retouching put in place by the staff at the time of publication. All may have cracks in the emulsion, losses, creases, folds, tears, smudges, and other issues associated with time, age, and use. The archive contains both silver gelatin prints and original vintage photographic reproductions.
Lot 533
Sir Jacob Epstein KBE (American/British, 1880-1959). Graphite on paper portrait sketch titled "Head - Army Study," depicting a man, June 1918. Signed and dated along the right margin. Titled and dated along the verso.Provenance: Washington Irving Gallery, New York; Private Minnesota Collection.Exhibition: Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery, May 21 - June 11, 1967, no. 25.Height: 14 1/2 in x width: 10 in.Condition: There are no rips, tears, or restorations. No major creases. The sheet is lightly toned. There is a light strip of matburn along the perimeter of the drawing. There are spots of foxing throughout. There is a yellowed strip of old tape affixed along the upper edge of the verso. Light soiling to the verso. The work is not framed.
Lot 306
LOT 306 - A very rare Prisoner of war Rolex 3525 Chronograph wrist watch together with a medal group of 4, Prisoner of War dog tags and war diaries, named to (56590) Captain D S M MacKenzie, Royal Artillery. The watch case number (173365) dates the watch to circa 1942. The Rolex 3525 was offered to officers in POW camps with purchases delivered via the Red Cross.The watch features a stainless steel oyster case, screw down crown and a manually wound Valjoux movement, the black dial reads “Oyster Chronograph” “Antimagnetic” (worn) with luminous hour and minute hands. Approximate case size of 35mm. The outside of the case back is engraved D.S.M MacKenzie R.A. C/O Lloyds Bank Reward 1.The lot also includes an interesting collection of five personal war diaries including German newspaper clippings translated by Mackenzie with notable dates such as the German news of 7th June 1944 as well as a written account of the events leading up to and including his liberation on Sunday 29th April 1945. Also included are; Mackenzie's POW ID dog tags with his prisoner number 1299 and British army metal dog tags together with WW2 and post war medal group of four medals comprising; the 1939-45 Star, 1939-45 Medal with Mention in Dispatches oak leaf, ERII General Service Medal with Near East Clasp (impressed to LT-COL D.S.M.G. MACKENZIE Royal Artillery) and ERII 1953 Coronation Medal, together with medal ribbons. Biography:Douglas Stuart Malcolm Mackenzie was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1933 with the rank of Captain at the outbreak of WW2. He served with the 51st division of British Expeditionary Force in France and in June 1940 was attached to a French cavalry regiment during the final defence of St. Valery, where he was forced to surrender due to the lack of ammunition and the overwhelming power of the German attack. Taken prisoner he then Spent the rest of the War in various POW camps in Germany.Oflag VII C/H Laufen in Bavaria 08/06/1940 - -/10/1941 ,Oflag VI B Warburg nr Kassel - / 10/41 - -/ 10/41,Oflag VII B Eichstat , - / 10/1942 - -/04/45,Stalag VII A Moosburg 14/04/1945 – 29/04/1945During his early time in Oflag VIIC (1940-41) His fellow prisoners made three unsuccessful tunnelling breakout attempts, Douglas who was 6ft 6’ was not allowed to attempt to tunnel out due to his height.One of his war diaries covers in depth the events leading up to and including his liberation. On Saturday 14th April 1945 while marching to Moosburg their column was attacked by two American P-51 Mustang aircrafts having mistaken the column for German troops, they had to take cover in a quarry whilst the aircraft made multiple passes resulting in 6 or 7 men killed and 20 to 30 wounded. Mackenzie then goes on to describe his liberation, writing about heavy fighting and shelling in a town a few miles away from the camp, with stray bullets flying overhead and into their camp, causing them to hide in their huts and take cover in the air raid trenches.On the 29th April 1945 he was liberated by American forces. A excerpt from his diary shows his relief at being liberated “another burst of cheering and another general rush and lots of pointing and by a bit of manoeuvring I got in a position from where I could see the best sight I have ever seen in my life; the ‘stars and stripes’ flying from a factory chimney in Moosburg”. The large parade of marching men and tanks rolling down the road was a sign of victory and that the war was over for Mackenzie. In his diary he mentions how he Managed to get close enough to the tank commander in the lead tank and was able to write his name into the commanders notebook in order to notify his family that he was safe.After the war, Douglas Mackenzie continued serving in the British army as a professional soldier. Serving in the ‘Near East’ during the Suez crisis in 1956, and subsequently in Hohne, Germany. He also held the rank of training major of the 219 TA regiment at Dundonald camp in Ayrshire and after leaving the Army he carried on serving with the Civil Defence.Douglas Mackenzie was gazetted three times and Mentioned in dispatches in October 1945 for Gallant and distinguished service in the field:London gazette 2nd September 1941 – the undermentioned Lts. to be Capts.: —D. S. M. Mackenzie (56590).London gazette 11th October 1945 Mention in dispatches for gallant and distinguished service in the field - Capt. (temp.) D S. M. MACKENZIE (56590).London gazette - The undermentioned Capts. to be Majs. 31st Aug. 1946: —D. S. M. MACKENZIE (56590).
Lot 162
An important Victorian photograph album of historical and topographical interest with photos from the Zulu War of 1879 each photo with handwritten title comprising; photographs of Zulu men and woment including "Cetewayo- King of Zululand", " Zulu refugees from Cetewayo's army, " " Rorkes Drift after the Battle," First Sight of Ulundi - Zulu War," " The Queen's Cross, erected on spot where the Prince Imperial was killed - Zulu Land," Dance in honour of Major Stabb in command of party sent to erect Cross," (NB; The Prince Imperial refers to Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, only son of Napoleon III, who was serving with British forces and killed in a skirmish with a group of Zulus) also included are various photographs of Natal Government Railways structures including; "Lower Umbilo Bridge," "Tunnnel under High Road," Wallacetown - Inchanga," "Bridge No8 Inchanga," "Inchanga Viaduct," No2 Bridge Inchanga," Umklatuzan Bridge," No1 Bridge Inchanga, also view of "The Station and Customs House Cape Town and views of "Adderley and Darling Streets Cape Town. Album also includes views of James Town, St Helena and St Thomas from French Wharf. Other photographs include various views of the Bolan Pass, Baluchistan, Pakistan including "Kirta Dak bungalow- Bolan Pass," "Kundalani Gorge - Bolan Pass," "Machi Railiway Station Bolan Pass," Fairlie Engine - Meter Gauge Upper Bolan Pass," ( NB the Fairlie Engine was built by the Avonside Engine Company, Bristol and a number were used on the Bolan Pass Railway), " Wreck of train - Bolan Pass 1886," "Railway Accident at Machi Dec 1885," "Nundicanama Tunnel" and "Broad Gauge Brake Van being mounted on narrow gauge Bogies - Bolan Pass. Over 70 photographs mainly 15x20cms, album in distressed condition with spine broken and soem pages loose, photos generally good condition with some spotting and staining to mounts. Provenance many taken by a family member serving with the British Army, Royal Engineers and thence by family descent ( see also lot no: 163 ) Album in distressed condition with spine broken and some pages loose, photos good with spotting and staining to mounts
Lot 313
An entire letter from Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother, Lucien, of postal, historical and literary importance, with a Shrewsbury connection. Having been a supporter of the Revolution and of his brother, Napoleon, by 1810 that relationship had cooled and Lucien (Prince of Canino and Musignano) set sail with his family from Italy to start a new life in the USA. The ship sheltered in Sardinia from storms and he was taken prisoner by the British and brought to this country where he became a paroled prisoner. He spent time at Lord Powis’ house “Dinham” near Ludlow and then purchased “Thorngrove” near Worcester. As part of the parole arrangement he and his family were restricted to a 10 mile radius of Thorngrove and his mail was subject to inspection by his “minder” (Lt Col Francis Leighton of Shrewsbury, a retired army officer) before being posted. Leighton had an arrangement with the postmaster in Worcester whereby the latter would only accept mail that had Leighton’s “secret mark” to denote it had been inspected. This letter, in Lucien’s hand and with part of his LB seal remaining, was written at Thorngrove and posted in Shrewsbury on 25th November 1813 to Cambridge; received there 27 Nov. There is no trace of any “secret mark” so perhaps it was smuggled to Shrewsbury to avoid censorship. The letter is to Francis Hodgson, Fellow at Kings College, Cambridge and a friend of Byron. Hodgson had translated the poetry of Juvenal into English and Lucien was seeking his help to translate his own epic poem “Charlemagne” (or “The Church delivered”) into English. The request obviously bore fruit as Lucien’s epic 24 book poem was translated by Hodgson working with Samuel Butler and a copy eventually presented to King George IV whilst Prince Regent in 1815. To include a translation of the original French, various notes/pictures etc. The letter has been professionally conserved.
Lot 77
GAME BOOK & HUNTING DIARY, India 1889-90 and 1900-11. Treacher's Shikar Diary and register of large and small game shot, speared or hunted in India. About 30 pages of entries recorded by one TM Kirkwood. As well as small game, kills include bustards, wolves, panthers and bears. Limp cloth, badly damp marked and in poor condition, but all entries are legible.With a folio Shikar Diary with the name TM Kirkwood on the front cover, recording his shooting adventures from 1900-11. Circa 68 pages of handwriting with numerous newspaper cuttings and notes inserted. The following entry is fairly typical: "21 January 1911. 1 mugger (Indian crocodile) 6'9". Shot the mugger at about 50 yards distance, he was in midstream, only showing his head. I blew off the back of his head with a .500 Express Bullet; he floated for a few seconds stomach up and then sank. I sent one and a half miles for a boat down towards the railway bridge and found him lying dead on his back in about 4 1/2 feet of water". Half calf, rubbed but sound. A few leaves detached.Lt-Col Thomas Moore Kirkwood (1865-1933) was born in Ireland and served in the Indian Army in the 97th Deccan Infantry. He served in Tibet in 1903-04 and died in Ireland in 1933. (2)
![* Gillray (James). John Bull's Progress: John Bull Happy, John Bull going to the Wars, John Bull's property in Danger [and] J](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/69b81347-ed36-42b1-a009-b17f00aaeca9/9ded4bc0-e6d9-4d56-b98f-b1ab00ab9e44/468x382.jpg)
Lot 231
* Gillray (James). John Bull's Progress: John Bull Happy, John Bull going to the Wars, John Bull's property in Danger [and] John Bull's Glorious Return, H. Humphrey, June 3rd 1793, four etched caricatures on one sheet (as published), contemporary hand-colouring, slight creasing to the margins, small areas of adhesion scaring to the verso, overall size 305 x 375 mmQTY: (1)NOTE:BM satires number 8328. A hard-hitting social caricature which shows the disastrous effects upon John Bull and his family, resulting from his decision to join the army after the French declaration of war against Britain in February 1793. Gillray was the son of a veteran who had lost his arm at Fontenoy during the war of the Austrian Succession, so he would have had a daily reminder of the 'cost' of war. This is also the first time that Gillray uses a multi-panel format to tell a consecutive story.
Lot 236
* Gillray (James). Pantagruel's victorious return to the Court of Gargantua after extirpating the Soup-Meagres of Bouille Land, H. Humphrey, Feby. 10th 1794, etching on wove with bright contemporary hand-colouring, large margins, 310 x 360 mmQTY: (1)NOTE:BM Staires 8435. Gillray has executed a complex caricature, critical of the King, the extravagance of his wife, William Pitt and the drunken son of the monarch, Frederick the Duke of York. The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel is a series of five French novels by François Rabelais about two giants, Gargantua and his son Pantagruel. In the first book, Pantagruel returns from the University to fight against the Dipsodes to preserve his father's kingdom and property. The impetus for this print was the brief return of King George's favourite son, Prince Frederick, the Duke of York, from Flanders where he had been leading a British/Hanoverian army against France as part of a larger Coalition including Austria, Prussia, and the Dutch Republic. The King and Queen are portrayed as gullible, greedy and grasping. The king accepts the 'Keys of Paris' whilst at his feet are bags of money labelled For Horses, Hounds & other Nicknackatories. Behind the throne and hidden from view, the Queen holds out an apron, which is filled with money by a devil. Her money bags are labelled Spy Money 40000, Flatterers & Toad-eaters 10000, Pin Money 50000 and Private Whim Wham[s] 50000. Funding these nefarious, frivolous and extravagant expenses is the ever-inventive Pitt, who sits in an obsequious position at the king's feet, eagerly inventing new taxes, including Bricks, Brandy, Water and Air.
Lot 478
Jacob (W. M.). The Clerical Profession in the Long Eighteenth Century 1680-1840, 1st edition, Oxford: University Press, 2007, original cloth in dust jacket, covers very lightly rubbed to head & foot, 8vo, together with:Ackroyd (Marcus, et al), Advancing with the Army, medicine, the professions, and social mobility in the British Isles, 1790-1850, 1st edition, Oxford: University Press, 2006, monochrome illustrations, original cloth in dust jacket, covers very lightly rubbed, 8vo, plusLoudon (Irvine), Medical Care and the General Practitioner 1750-1850, reprinted, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1999, previous owner inscription to the front endpaper, original blue cloth, 8vo, andCoss (Peter), The Foundations of Gentry Life, the Multons of Frampton and their World 1270-1370, monochrome illustrations, original cloth in dust jacket, 8vo, plus other scholarly university publications, including publications by Manchester, Cambridge, Harvard, Hull, all original cloth, many in dust jackets, some odd volumes, G/VG, 8voQTY: (6 shelves)
Lot 226
* Gillray (James). Fatigues of the Campaign in Flanders, H. Humphrey, May 20th 1793, etched caricature with bright contemporary hand-colouring, slight dust soiling to the margins, vertical fold, one repaired marginal closed tear, small areas of adhesion scaring and an ownership monogram to the verso, 355 x 505 mmQTY: (1)NOTE:BM Satires 8327.A caricature based on the small and ill-equipped British army dispatched to help defend Holland against a marauding Napolean. It was commanded by the Duke of York who is shown raising a bumper of wine as he supports a plump Flemish woman on his knee. She handles his upright sheathed sword suggestively. Her fat bottom contrasts with the gaunt British infantry, their uniforms adorned with corkscrews, who bring more wine and punch. Seated next to the Duke is the somnolent figure of Stadholder, the Prince of Orange, and opposite him, seated on the barrel of a cannon, is an Austrian officer guzzling wine from a bottle. The implication is that the Duke and his entourage were not suffering from privation or hardship 'in the field', but instead, were carousing and enjoying themselves, rather than prosecuting a serious military campaign.
![* Gillray (James). [Fatal Effects of the French Defeat] Hanging. Drowning. London: H. Humphreys, November 9th, 1795, etching](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/69b81347-ed36-42b1-a009-b17f00aaeca9/8df02add-9644-4321-9b14-b1ab00ab96d0/468x382.jpg)
Lot 216
* Gillray (James). [Fatal Effects of the French Defeat] Hanging. Drowning. London: H. Humphreys, November 9th, 1795, etching on wove with contemporary hand-colouring, minor closed tears to margins, small printers crease to lower margin, tape residue to top margin on verso, platemark 250 x 340 mm QTY: (1)NOTE:BM Satires 8683. ‘This print was prompted by the news of the Coalition over the French Army of the Sambre…, portraying, side-by-side, the very different reactions to the news by a Whig and a Tory.’ Jim Sherry, 2023.
Lot 496
Peterkin (A. & William Johnston). Commissioned Officers in the Medical Services of the British Army 1660-1960, 2 volumes, London: The Wellcome Historical Medical Library, 1968, original uniform blue cloth, 8vo, together with:Sturtivant (Ray & Theo Ballance), The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, 1st edition, Kent: Air-Britain, 1994, numerous monochrome illustrations, original boards, large 8vo, plusPen & Sword, publisher, Bravery Awards for Aerial Combat..., by Alan W. Cooper, 1st edition, Barnsley 2007, Dönitz and the Wolf Packs, by Bernard Edwards, reprinted, 2014, Infighting Admirals..., by Geoffrey Penn, 1st edition, 2000, all with monochrome illustrations, all original cloth in dust jackets, 8vo, and other modern military reference including publications by Conway, Greenhill, Seaforth, Sutton, mostly original cloth in dust jackets, G/VG, 8voQTY: (6 shelves)
Lot 1331
Sharpe's Scottie 10' 2 piece impregnated spinning rod, agate lined guides, suction ferrule, cork handle with screw reel fitting, missing Scottie logo, otherwise good 3/4n Army & Navy Westminster, London 11' 3 piece split cane fly rod, refinished, burgundy whipped guides, gold intermediates, sheet cork handle with nickel plate tube fitting, in MOBs. (2)
Lot 354
A collection of WWI Victory Medals, inscribed to various recipients and regiments, including South Notts Hussars, Suffolk Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, Leicestershire Regiment, Highland Light Infantry, East Kent Regiment, Army Service Corps, Royal Engineers, and others, and some additional ribbons. (13)
Lot 353
A collection of 1914-18 British War Medals, inscribed with recipient's names, various regiments, including Royal Fusiliers, North Staffordshire Regiment, Royal Engineers, Durham Light Infantry, Royal Artillery, Lancashire Fusiliers, Lincolnshire Regiment, Army Service Corps, Manchester Regiment, and others, and one inscribed Robert Pearson, some with ribbons. (21)
Lot 499
A collection of early 20th century Wills and Players cigarette cards, amongst other examples. The collection to include a full set of 50 1923 Will's Cigarettes Lucky Charms cards, 50 1924 Players Army Corps & Divisional Signs 1914-1918, 25 1917 Players Colonial & Indian Army Badges, alongside other examples. Housed within a Cigarette Card Album.
Lot 217
The First and Second War campaign group of nine awarded to Brigadier Ivan Simson, Royal Engineers, Chief Engineer and Director-General Civil Defence at the time of the fall of Singapore in February 1942, and subsequently a Japanese prisoner of war 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut, I. Simson. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Major I. Simson.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (Major I. Simson. R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, nearly very fine or better (9) £1,400-£1,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- M.I.D. London Gazette 1 August 1946. Ivan Simson was born in India in 1890 and educated at Eastbourne College and the R.M.A. Woolwich. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in July 1910. On the outbreak of war he went to France with the 8th (Railway) Company R.E. In June 1915, was put in charge of a detachment loading mine earth at Noeux les Mines, near Lens, using rail mounted steam shovels - the first time that such equipment had been used by the Royal Engineers. A very considerable output was achieved, the mine earth being used as ballast in new railway construction. He later became O.C. 279th (Railway Construction) Company R.E., raised in France from tradesmen in Infantry Battalions for work in the 1st Army area under the Chief Railway Construction Engineer. At various times he volunteered for other jobs and spent short periods with several Field Companies and Tunnelling Companies, and was wounded during the course of the war. From 1919 to 1924 he served as Staff Captain in the War Office. In 1929 he was posted to India where he became Garrison Engineer at Jhansi, and later A.C.R.E. (Works), Calcutta. From 1932 to 1933 he was C.R.E. Burma Independent District, A.H.Q., Maymyo, Burma. On returning to the U.K. he held various posts including Assistant Director Engineering at the War Office and later the Ministry of Supply. For the first five months of 1941 he was Deputy Chief Engineer (Operations) at H.Q. Scottish Command, charged with the construction of airfields and defences against sea borne and parachute attack. On promotion to Brigadier later that year he was selected to become Chief Engineer Malaya Command, and was sent out with verbal instructions, never confirmed in writing, to install the most modern type of defences throughout Malaya and Singapore Island. In his book Too Little Too Late, written after the war, Simson described the frustrating struggle to build up defences before and during the ten week offensive that led to the surrender of Singapore on 15 February 1942, and how, at the last minute, he was appointed Director-General Civil Defence, Malaya, with no resources to carry out any form of defence. He felt particularly bitter towards General Percival, G.O.C. Malaya, who persistently refused permission for the necessary arrangement for defence to be put in place, stating baldly that “I believe defences like those you are suggesting would be bad for the morale of the troops and civilians.” Simson was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore and remained captive for the duration of the war. He retired in July 1946 but was re-employed until 1951 under the Foreign Office in the Control Commission, Germany. He died on 4 February 1971.
Lot 166
The important Great War D.S.O., D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Summers, Royal Marine Brigade, Royal Naval Air Service, and Tank Corps (Heavy Branch M.G.C.), who led the first tanks to be used in War on the Somme 1916 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., the reverse hallmarked London 1915 and engraved ‘Captain F. Summers D.S.C.’; British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893, no clasp (Troopr. F. Summers, Victoria Column.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen (Lieut. F. Summers. 53 Co. Impl. Yeo.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Temp. Lieut. F. Summers, R.M. Brigade); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. F. Summers.) mounted as worn, light contact marks to the earlier medals, otherwise very fine and better (7) £5,000-£7,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917: ‘Temporary Major, Machine Gun Corps.’ D.S.C. London Gazette 1 January 1916: ‘Temporary Captain, Royal Marines. For services with the Royal Naval Division Motor Transport Company in France.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916 and 4 January 1917. Frank Summers served as a Trooper in the B.S.A. Company’s Police during the Matabele Rebellion of 1893, and also acted as a Correspondent for Reuters whilst attached to the Victoria Column. He served during the Boer War as a Lieutenant in the Royal East Kent Yeomanry and was mentioned in despatches. In 1914 Summers volunteered himself and his motor car for service with the Royal Naval Division in Belgium and France, there being a chronic shortage of transport at this time. He was Adjutant of the Royal Marine Motor Transport Company which was formed in September 1914 and disbanded in August 1915. They were employed in transporting troops in every direction as the great move to cover the Channel ports was taking place, and they were very active during the 1st and 2nd battles of Ypres, at Aubers Ridge and at Festubert. Two of its officers were decorated, Captain H. M. Leaf, R.M., with the D.S.O., and Captain Frank Summers with the D.S.C. After serving in France, Summers went to the Dardanelles with the Royal Naval Air Service, probably in armoured cars. His Royal Marine commission was terminated on 27 March 1916, when he transferred to the Army as a Major in the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps, cover name for the first tank unit, and which later became known as the Tank Corps. He trained and led the original “D” Company of tanks in the attack on Flers-Courcelette on the Somme, 15 September 1916, the first ‘official’ occasion on which tanks were used in the War. However, one of Summers’ “D” Tanks had carried out a lone reconnaissance on the day before, so there can be no doubt that it was one of his tanks that was the first ever to go into action. On 19 November he was in command of three tank companies in the attack on Cambrai. Although the award of his D.S.O. in January 1917 does not carry a citation, there can be little doubt that it was made in recognition of his services on the Somme. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the Tank Corps in November 1916 and commanded the 6th Tank Battalion from January to December 1917. Later in the War he served with the British Military Mission in Washington and lecturing at the War College on tank tactics. Whilst in Washington he met with the young Dwight D. Eisenhower, also a tank specialist and destined to become 34th President of the U.S.A.
Lot 60
The 4-clasp Naval General Service medal awarded to Admiral Barrington Reynolds, G.C.B., Royal Navy, who entered the Navy at the age of 9 in the Druid with his father Captain R. C. Reynolds, who he followed into the Amazon and witnessed the action, in company with Sir Edward Pellew in the Indefatigable, with the French 74 Droits de L’Homme in January 1797, being briefly taken prisoner; he served in the boats of the squadron at the cutting out of the Guepe in August 1800 being promoted to Lieutenant. Reynolds was afterwards distinguished at the capture of Java, and commanded the Ganges in the Syria operations in 1840 Naval General Service 1793-1840, 4 clasps, Amazon 13 Jany 1797, 29 Aug Boat Service 1800, Java, Syria (B. Reynolds, Capt. R.N.) some light hairlines, otherwise nearly extremely fine £24,000-£28,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Confirmed on the rolls as Midshipman aboard H.M.S. Amazon for her action with the French 74 Droits de L’Homme on 13 January 1797; in the same rank aboard H.M.S. Impetueux and the boat service action on 29 August 1800; as Commander of H.M.S. Hesper at the capture of Java; and as Captain of H.M.S. Ganges at Syria. Only 6 clasps issued for ‘Amazon 13 Jany 1797’ and 25 for ‘29 Aug Boat Service 1800’. The Amazon clasp is not held by either the National Maritime Museum or the Royal Naval Museum. Reynolds’ service at Java is not to be overlooked. The naval operations were carried out by Captain Sayer, R.N. (Army Gold Medal for Java - Patiala Collection, Sheesh Mahal Museum, India) assisted by Captains Festing (who got a Military G.S. medal for Java), Stopford (N.G.S. 6 clasps in the National Maritime Museum), Maunsell (did not live to claim) and Reynolds. These officers manned the batteries consisting of twenty 18-pounders, with 500 seamen under their direction, which silenced the enemy’s heavy guns at the assault of Meester Cornelis which led to the surrender of the island. Reynolds’ Java clasp is therefore the highest rank available on a Naval General Service medal. Barrington Reynolds was born in 1786 at Penair, near Truro, the second son of Rear Admiral Robert Carthew Reynolds, who died in 1811. He entered the navy in in 1795, on board the Druid, with his father, whom he followed into the Amazon. On 13 December 1797, the Amazon 32, Captain R. C. Reynolds, and the Indefatigable 44, Captain Sir Edward Pellew, about fifty leagues south west of Ushant, discovered a large ship steering towards the coast of France. This was the Droits de l’Homme 74, Commodore J. La Crosse, which had formed one of the French fleet in the expedition to Ireland, and after the failure at Bantry Bay, was now returning home, with about seven hundred trroops on board. The weather was thick and hazy, and the wind blew hard from the westward. Soon after the French ship had been sighted and found to be an enemy, a squall carried away her fore and main top-masts, and the sea ran so high that she was unable to open her lower deck ports. Shortly before 6 p.m. the Indefatigable brought the Droits de l’Homme to action, and in about an hour after, the Amazon came up and took part in the engagement; the enemy making several ineffectual attempts to board, and keeping up an active fire of cannon and musketry. In a little time the British frigates shot ahead, the Amazon to reduce her sail, and the Indefatigable to repair the damage to her rigging. About half-past eight, the frigates renewed the action, attacking their opponent first on the bow, and then on the quarter, often within pistol shot. The contest lasted till twenty minutes past four a.m. when when the sudden appearance of the land, and breakers close ahead, caused all the ships to end an engagement which had lasted ten hours, and make efforts top haul off. The Indefatigable at once bore to the southwards, with four feet of water in her hold, all her masts much damaged, and her crew almost worn out with fatigue. The Droits de l’Homme in attempting to tack, lost her fore mast and bowsprit, and struck on a sand bank in Audierne Bay. The main mast went by the board, and she then fell on her broadside, with a tremendous surf beating over her. The Amazon seeing the danger, also wore, with three feet of water in her hold, but with her mizzen top-mast shot away, and her masts and rigging almost cut to pieces, was unable to haul off, and went on shore about the same time. Her crew with the exception of six, who were drowned, saved themselves on rafts, but on landing were all made prisoners by a body of French soldiers. In the action three men were killed and fifteen wounded. Through the stormy state of the weather the crew of the Droits de l’Homme spent four nights on the wreck without succour, the waves constantly breaking over them, till more than half of them were drowned, or perished from cold and hunger. Her crew with the soldiers ammounted to one thousand three hundred and fifty men, two hundred and fifty of whom were killed and wounded in the engagement with the British frigates. On regaining his liberty in January 1798, Barrington Reynolds again served with his father in the Pomone, and was present in a stiff action which ended in the capture of Le Cheri French privateer of 26 guns and 230 men. He shortly afterwards moved to the Indefatigable, with Sir Edward Pellew, and on 8 August 1798 contributed to the capture of La Vaillante corvette of 20 guns and 175 men. Following Pellew into the Impetueux 74, he sailed in that ship with a squadron sent in June 1800, to co-operate with the French royalists and Chouans in Quiberon Bay and the Morbihan. He assisted, 4 June 1800, while detached in a boat, in silencing the forts at the south west end of Quiberon, where several vessels were brought off and some scuttled. On 6 August he was employed in the boats under Lieutenant John Pilfold, at the capture, in the Morbihan, of two brigs, two sloops, two gun-vessels, and about 100 Frenchmen, and the destruction of L’Insolente 16-gun brig, some smaller vessels, a fort and a magazine. On the night of 29 August 1800, he fought in the boats of a squadron, 20 in number, commanded by Lieutenant Henry Burke, at the cutting out, close to the batteries in Vigo Bay, of La Guêpe privateer of 18 guns and 161 men, which vessel was boarded and carried in fifteen minutes. For his services on this occasion he was made Lieutenant into the Courageux 74. In June 1802 he was appointed to the Hussar 28, and from August 1803 to September 1809 was in the Niobe 40, for the greater part with Captain John Wentworth Loring on the coast of France. On the night of 28 March 1806 he skilfully gained full possession, whilst in command of two boats dropped from the Niobe, of the French corvette La Néarque of 16 guns and 97 men, the rearmost of a French squadron comprising of a further three frigates. He was afterwards in the Russell 74, in the East Indies, and in December 1809 was appointed acting Commander of the Arrogant hulk. In February 1811 he was appointed to the Hesper 18, part of the force employed in the expedition against Java, where he assisted at the bombardment and storming of Fort Cornelis and served on shore with a party of seamen throughout all the operations. After the reduction of the town of Cheribon, Reynolds was appointed temporary commander of that place, and on the final subjugation of the island of Java he was, in acknowledgement of his conduct, appointed Acting Captain of the Sir Francis Drake frigate. On 22 January 1812, he was promoted Captain, independently, by the Admiralty, probably as a mark of their high appreciation of the services of his father, who had perished ...
Lot 211
The unique Second War ‘Maritime R.A.’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Gunner F. J. Carus, 6th Maritime Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery, who, though wounded in several places, continued to engage enemy aircraft as his ship broke up and sank beneath him Military Medal, G.VI.R. (Gnr. F. J. Carus. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp France and Germany; Africa Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last six privately inscribed ‘3717702 Gunr. F. J. Carus, M.M., Maritime R.A.’, mounted as worn, extremely fine and unique (7) £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Only six M.Ms were awarded for actions at sea in the Second World War, prior to Admiralty Orders in Council of July 1942 and November 1942 extending the award of the D.S.M. and D.S.C. to Army personnel. In consequence, Carus was the first and only Maritime R.A. gunner to be awarded the M.M. in the last war. M. M. London Gazette 21 October 1941: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.’ The original recommendation states: ‘On 25 May 1941, Gunner Carus was a member of an A.A. protection party on the tanker Helka. His Sergeant in charge reports as follows: “Just outside Tobruk we were attacked by 27 bombers, according to the warning issued from TOBRUK. Gunner Carus, though hit in several places, and although the ship had been blown in two pieces, continued firing his gun until he was pulled away and told to get in his boat.’ Francis Joseph Carus was born in Liverpool, Merseyside on 25 May 1911 and originally served in the King’s Own Royal Regiment. Of subsequent events off Tobruk in the tanker Helka in May 1941, the following action report was submitted by Bombardier T. Russell, a fellow member of 6th Maritime A.A. Battery, R.A.: ‘I was 2nd N.C.O.-in-Charge of the Troop on board the S.S. Helka proceeding to Tobruk from Alexandria. We were attacked by 27 Dive Bombers (German markings). We and our Escort opened fire, our Escort being H.M. Sloop Grimsby and an Armed Trawler the Southern Maid. All guns were in action and our ship received a direct hit with a bomb and split in two parts. We carried on firing to the last. The Grimsby had already been hit and was sinking. Owing to the flurry and excitement caused, the accuracy of our fire was indefinite although some of the planes left rather hurriedly damaged. The Officer-in-Charge gave orders to abandon ship and men dived overboard to swim to the only lifeboat which was freed and floating away from the ship. Gunner Carus was still firing the gun of the aft deck although badly wounded. I and an Australian Sergeant went aft and had to use physical force to get Gunner Carus away from the gun, in order that we could get him off the ship before she exploded - her cargo was bensine (sic) spirit. The total number of survivors I do not know. We were picked up by the Armed Trawler and a Roll Call was made. Gunner Cunliffe was missing - the last anyone saw of him, he was on the for’ead part of the ship that was being taken away by the current. Gunner Gilbert was admitted to hospital at Almaza Camp, Cairo with sun-fly fever. I might add that all the Troop acted in a most efficient manner and their conduct was exemplary and no man ever thought of himself first.’ The recommendation for Carus’s M.M. was endorsed by General Auchinleck, C.-in-C. Middle East and he received his award at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 20 July 1943. His recently released D.E.M.S. gunner’s service record reveals that he also served in the tanker Athel Monarch (December 1941-September 1942); the steamship Sirsa (September-December 1942); the steamship City of Barcelona (December 1942-June 1943); the corrugated ship Colytto (November 1943-May 1944); the Isle of Wight shore establishment Vectis (June-July 1944); Sam Austral (July 1944-December 1944), and the steamship Obsidian (January-May 1945). He died back in Liverpool in December 1978. Sold with his original investiture admittance ticket and copied ‘Secret’ action report
Lot 107
The ‘Yonnie Expedition 1887’ gold D.S.O. group of three awarded to Lieutenant Francis A. Valentine, Royal Navy, who commanded the Naval Brigade attached to the military expedition, one of three such awards for this expedition but unique to the Navy Distinguished Service Order, V.R., gold and enamels, with integral top riband bar; South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (Sub: Lieut: F. A. Valentine, R.N, H.M.S. “Boadicea”); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1887-8 (Lieut. F. A. Valentine R.N., H.M.S. Acorn.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £8,000-£10,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. D.S.O. London Gazette 9 March 1888. One of three awards of the D.S.O. for this expedition, the other two going to Army officers. Lieutenant Valentine commanded the Naval Brigade attached to the military expedition against the Yonnies in 1887 under Colonel Sir Francis De Winton, being Gazetted with praise and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Only 38 medals with clasp ‘1887-8’ awarded to the Royal Navy. Francis Alfrid Valentine was born on 25 March 1858, at Whixley Vicarage, York. He was the only son of the Reverend William Valentine, Vicar of Whixley. He entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet aboard the Training Ship Britannia on 15 July 1871, when aged 13 years. On passing out of Britannia in 1873 he was awarded a 1st Class Certificate and gained 12 months' seniority and was immediately promoted to Midshipman. On 19 July 1873 he was appointed to H.M.S. Northumberland and served in this vessel until he was transferred to Narcissus on 9 June 1875. Subsequently appointed to the receiving ship Duke of Wellington on 23 May 1877. On promotion to Sub Lieutenant on 18 July 1877 he joined Excellent for a Gunnery Course and College Examinations. On passing out of College he obtained a 2nd Class Certificate in Gunnery and 3rd Class Certificates in Seamanship and Navigation. Following his appointment to Boadicea on 13 September 1878, he saw service in the Zulu war and was awarded the Zulu Medal without clasp. Whilst serving a three and a half year commission aboard Boadicea he was promoted to Acting Lieutenant, during the period 3 March to 13 May 1881 and 18 September 1881 to 3 February 1882, whilst deployed on detached service during anti slave running patrols off the East African coast whilst in Command of Boadicea’s cutter. He was praised by Captain F. W. Richards for his share in the expedition for the destruction of Batanga villages on 22 March 1880. On paying off from Boadicea he was confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant on 15 February 1882, and appointed to Thalia on 11 April 1882. He joined Duke of Wellington on 25 March 1882, followed by Osprey on 19 September 1882. In the latter vessel he was to continue his previous service in the suppression of the slave trade. During nearly four years spent in this vessel he spent a considerable time on detached service in Command of Osprey’s various small boats and was deployed far and wide. His patrol areas included the Red Sea, Zanzibar, the Maffic Channel in the Common Islands, and off the east cost of Arabia. On paying off from Osprey he returned to England for a period of well earned paid leave followed by three months on half-pay. He was next appointed to Shannon on 7 August 1886, and to Acorn as 1st Lieutenant on 22 February 1887. During a four and a half year commission aboard Acorn he was landed in charge of a small Naval Brigade from H.M. Ships Acorn, Icarus and Rifleman, which was attached to the military expedition under Colonel Sir Travvers de Winton sent to punish the Yonnies, a tribe of people living in the hinterland of Serira Leone. This service was extremely arduous owing to the density of the forest which had to be traversed and the continual fusillade which was kept up by the concealed enemy from their muzzle loaders which fired rough bits of iron and small shot. During the campaign the Yonnies showed much skill in devising ambush stockades and other obstacles so as to bring the troops to a standstill under their fire. Robari, the Yonnie stronghold, was eventually reached, shelled, set on fire by rockets, and taken. The rebellious chiefs then submitted and the expedition returned to the coast. For his services on the expedition Valentine was specially recommended by Colonel Sir F. De Winton and Rear-Admiral Sir W. J. Hunt Grubbe and in consequence their Lordships awarded him the Distinguished Service Order. He also received their Lordships' expression of satisfaction for the services he had rendered to the military expedition. When Acorn was paid off on her return to England he was appointed to Wildfire whilst he took three months' full pay leave, followed by a further three months' on shore at half-pay. His next appointment was to Audacious which he joined on 23 December 1891. He was then returned ashore on half-pay on 18 September 1892. He next joined President for Transport Duties on 10 February 1893, then again was placed on shore with half-pay on 27 June 1893. He rejoined President for Transport Duties on 24 June 1893 and then retumed to shore on half-pay until appointed to Victory on 14 July 1894. Whilst in this posting he was placed in charge of reliefs for Nyassa and for Special Service Gunboats on 25 September 1894. He was next appointed to Excellent on 1 December 1894, for Instructional Duties on the Acting Sub Lieutenant's Course. Whilst in this posting he became ill and was discharged to Haslar Hospital on 21 August 1897, and died from heart failure on the following day, at the comparatively young age of 39 years. His funeral took place on 24 August 1897, and he was buried in the 'New' Haslar Cemetery in Clayall Road, Portsmouth, the burial service being conducted by Chaplain J. Black of H.M.S. Excellent.
Lot 14
The magnificent and unique C.B., K.H. Napoleonic War group of five awarded to Colonel Sir John Morillyon Wilson, 1st Foot, later Major of Chelsea Hospital, thirteen times wounded during his service in the Royal Navy and the Army, in the Peninsula and in North America where he was desperately wounded at the battle of Chippewa and his life saved by a native American woman before he was taken prisoner The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) breast badge in 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1815, maker’s mark ‘IE’ for John Edwards, complete with original swivel-ring wide suspension and gold ribbon buckle; The Royal Guelphic Order, K.H. (Military) Knight’s breast badge with swords, gold and enamels, complete with gold ribbon buckle; Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Egypt (J. M. Wilson, Midshipman.); Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor (Sir J. M. Wilson, Capt. 1st Foot); Sultan’s Gold Medal for Egypt 1801, 3rd class gold medal, 43 mm, fitted with contemporary straight gold bar suspension and gold ribbon buckle, minor enal chips to wreaths on the first two, otherwise generally good very fine or better and an exceptional group (5) £24,000-£28,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, November 1996. John Morillyon Wilson served as a Midshipman in the Navy for nearly six years. He was employed on the coast of Ireland during the Rebellion in 1798, as well as in the expedition to the Helder in 1799 and Egypt in 1801, where he received a medal from the Captain Pasha for having saved the lives of a boat’s crew belonging to a Turkish man-of-war. He received three wounds whilst as a Midshipman, the last being a severe wound to the head causing total deafness, in consequence of which he was invalided, and quitted the Navy in 1803. His health being restored, Wilson joined the 40th Foot in 1804, before moving to the 63rd Foot in January 1807. Later that year he was a Captain in the 1st Foot (Royals), serving with the 3rd Battalion at Walcheren in 1809, where he was again wounded twice leading the grenadier company during the assault on Flushing. In 1810, he was brought before court martial for using language ‘subversive to discipline, and disrespectful to the character of Colonel Barnes,’ his commanding officer. Although acquitted of conduct unbecoming of a gentlemen, he was found guilty of using language that was disrespectful and sentenced to a public reprimand. He afterwards served in the Peninsula, and was in the battles of Busaco, the retreat to the lines of Torres Vedras, and at the actions of Pombal, Redinha, Condeixa, Casal Nova, Foz d’Arouce, and Sabugal, the blockade of Almeida, and battle of Fuentes D’Onor. In 1812 he joined the 2nd Battalion Royals in Canada, and was in the attack made on Sackett’s Harbour and Great Sodus, where he received a severe bayonet wound. He was also in the actions at Fort Niagara, Black Rock, Buffalo, and the battle of Chippewa. The battle of Chippewa was the first major engagement between Major-General Jacob Brown’s Left Division of the United States Army and the Right Division of Upper Canada led by Major-General Phineas Riall. Both commanders committed a brigade onto the plain of Chippewa during the afternoon of 5 July 1814. The three British units included the 1/1st Foot, 1/8th Foot and 100th Foot. The 1st Foot formed the centre of the British line, and its pre-battle reported strength was 500 all ranks under Lieutenant-Colonel John Gordon. Heavily engaged during the battle, the Royals suffered one officer and 77 other ranks killed, and 8 officers and 144 other ranks wounded. Two officers were taken prisoner and 77 soldiers were reported as missing. Captain John Morillyon Wilson was one of the two severely wounded officers that were taken prisoner. He had been wounded seven times and left for dead on the battlefield. A native armed with a knife then attacked him, but Wilson killed his attacker and was then kept alive by a native woman from a nearby village before being taken prisoner. He was exchanged in February 1815. During his career in the two professions he received 13 wounds, and it is said carried two balls lodged in his body to the grave. The Brevet rank of Major, and that of Lieutenant Colonel, was conferred on him for his conduct at Buffalo and Chippewa. He was placed on half pay in 1822, promoted Colonel in January 1837, and created a Companion of the Bath on 19 July 1838. Colonel Wilson was Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber for nearly 20 years to Queen Adelaide. He was appointed Adjutant of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea on 16 November 1822, and Major of the same establishment on 14 July 1855, which position he held until his death there in 1868.
Lot 146
The superb Great War C.B.E., Gallipoli ‘Y’ Beach D.S.O. group of six awarded to Commander A. St. V. Keyes, Royal Navy: the brother of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes, his other claims to fame included service as a pioneer submariner in the Edwardian era, command of the Royal Canadian Navy’s first ever submarine flotilla in 1914, and the successful beaching of the ‘Q’ ship Mavis after she had been torpedoed in June 1917 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. A. St. V. Keyes, D.S.O. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. St. V. Keyes. R.N.); Coronation 1911, good very fine and better (6) £9,000-£12,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2004. C.B.E. London Gazette 11 June 1919. D.S.O. London Gazette 16 August 1915: ‘In recognition of services as mentioned in the foregoing despatch.’ The despatch referred to was that of Vice-Admiral Sir John de Robeck, describing the landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25-26 April 1915, and included General Sir Ian Hamilton’s report, which stated that ‘Lieutenant-Commander Keyes showed great coolness, gallantry and ability. The success of the landing on ‘Y’ Beach was largely due to his good service. When circumstances compelled the force landed there to re-embark, this officer showed exceptional resource and leadership in successfully conducting that difficult operation.’ Adrian St. Vincent Keyes was born in Secunderabad, India in December 1882, the son of General Sir Charles Keyes, G.C.B., and was appointed a Midshipman in May 1898 on passing out of the R.N. College Britannia. Advanced to Sub. Lieutenant in December 1901, and to Lieutenant in the following year, he joined the Royal Navy’s fledgling submarine branch in May 1903, in which trade he served more or less continuously until 1909, latterly with his own command - although his service record does note that he incurred their Lordships displeasure at the end of 1905 for some damage caused to the engine of H.M. submarine B3. Having survived this undoubtedly hazardous stint of “underwater service”, young Keyes returned to more regular seagoing duties, and in 1910, the year in which he was advanced to Lieutenant-Commander, he was appointed captain of the destroyer H.M.S. Fawn. According to a contemporary, although blessed with a ‘quick and brilliant brain’, Keyes was fortunate to squeeze through his destroyer C.O’s course - worse for wear as the result of a bad hangover, he bought a copy of The Daily Mail on his way to his final examination, and quickly memorised ‘the time of moon-rise, sunrise, high-water at Tower Bridge, and any other meteorological data the paper propounded’, thereby impressing their Lordships with his remarkably up-to-date knowledge. Interestingly, it was about this time that his brother, Roger, then a Captain, R.N., became senior officer of the submarine branch, an appointment that would act as the springboard to his rapid advancement in the Great War. For his own part, after another seagoing command, the Basilisk, Adrian Keyes was placed on the Retired List in June 1912. The outbreak of hostilities in 1914 found him out in Canada, where he was quickly appointed to the command of the Royal Canadian Navy’s first submarine flotilla, at Shearwater Island, in the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, the force comprising a brace of Holland-type submarines that had just been purchased by the somewhat eccentric Sir Richard McBride, K.C.M.G., the conservative premier of British Columbia - they had originally been built for the Chilean Navy in 1913. Duly christened the CC1 and CC2, Keyes took command of the former, while the latter went to another retired R.N. Officer, Lieutenant Bertram Jones. They were interesting days, not least since all of the labels and instructions in the two submarines were in Spanish. But Keyes and Jones showed great ingenuity in the face of adversity, even making some wooden torpedoes for battle practice until some real ones could be delivered from Toronto. Their respective crews, meanwhile, were packed off to Victoria public baths to practice underwater escape methods. In fact such rapid progress was made with the flotilla’s training programme that Keyes was in a position to sanction its first patrol, a 24-hour run down the Strait of Juan de Fuca, by the end of September 1914. Realistically, however, he realised that his chances of seeing combat in the immediate future were slim, so in January 1915, he successfully applied for an appointment in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Before his departure, however, he was presented with a splendid gold pocket watch by the CC1’s crew. Happily, as luck would have it, he joined his brother Roger - by now Chief of Staff to Vice-Admiral Sir John de Robeck - in H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, the Admiral’s flagship, as ‘additional for disembarkation duties’, Roger noting in his memoirs how delighted he was to hear of the appointment. Indeed he would also describe in his memoir the events that took place at ‘Y’ Beach on 25-26 April 1915, and the subsequent deeds of his brother, Adrian: ‘There was to be another subsidiary landing on the western flank of the Peninsula at ‘Y’ beach by the Scottish Borderers, the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines - borrowed from the Naval Division - and a company of the South Wales Borderers ... This landing was to be conducted by my brother Adrian, who had trained the troops to a high state of efficiency in boat work and speedy silent landing ...’ Although the ‘landing proceeded exactly as planned’, subsequent Turkish assaults penetrated the British line, and, at length, the military commanders offshore ordered that the beach be evacuated. Roger Keyes continues: ‘The captain of the destroyer Wolverine was killed on the morning of the 28th; she was a sister ship to the Basilisk, which my brother Adrian had commanded just before he retired, so the Admiral gave him the vacancy. Adrian could not be found until the following day, as after his ‘Y’ Beach had been given up, he attached himself to the troops which were to assault Achi Baba, where he was to establish a naval observation station directly it was captured. He came aboard to report himself on the 29th. I think his feelings were mixed; he said he could hardly bear to tear himself away from the Army. We could get very little out of him, except his intense admiration for the 29th Division and his sorrow at seeing most of the officers of the Scottish Borderers, with whom he had made great friends, killed alongside him. We gathered from him that Brigadier-General Marshall, who was wounded on the 25th but remained in action, like the two Brigadiers of the Division, was always in the thick of every action. I think my brother’s condition was typical of that of the 29th Division - dead dog-tired. He had been fighting incessantly since the 25th, and had hardly slept since the night of the 23rd. His new ship was undergoing repairs, half of her bridge having been shot away, when her captain was killed, so I made him lie on my bed, where he lay like a log for several hours ...’ Adrian Keyes was duly decorated for his work with the Army, three senior military commanders remarking how glad they were to hear of his D.S.O. And he went on to perform ster...
Lot 116
A rare Sudan campaign group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Humphrey Oldfield, Royal Marine Artillery, mentioned in despatches for services in the Sudan where he became the first R.M. officer to command a warship Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Capt: H. Oldfield. R.M.A.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Col. H. Oldfield RMA,) naming re-impressed; Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class breast badge, silver gold and enamels; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 3 clasps, Hafir, Sudan 1897, Khartoum, unnamed as issued, mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (4) £3,200-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class, London Gazette 12 May 1899. Only 27 Queen's Sudan Medals issued officers and men of the Royal Marines; Khedive's Sudan medal unique to a Royal Marines officer with these clasps. Humphrey Oldfield was born on 2 July 1867, the son of Colonel R. Oldfield, Royal Artillery, and entered the Royal Marine Artillery as a Lieutenant in 1884. Following extensive service afloat and on shore in the Mediterranean, he was promoted to Captain in 1895. In 1896 he was seconded for service with the Egyptian Army, in charge of a party of ten Royal Marine Artillery N.C.O.'s sent to act as Gunnery Instructors aboard the Nile Gunboats. During this posting he became the first Marine officer to command a warship, when he was given command of the gunboats Matemmeh and later Hafir, serving with the Nile Flotilla commanded by Commander the Honourable Stanley Colville, R.N. He was present at the bombardment of the dervish batteries at Hafir, when he was exposed to a heavy fire and subsequently took part in the bombardment of Dongola. Having previously done excellent service in connection with the passage of the cataracts, and the building of the new gunboat, he was favourably mentioned in Despatches. In 1898 he was appointed Staff Officer to the Governor of Dongola province; and also held the position of Military Commandant at Nagh Humadi, the terminus of the railway from Cairo. In the Sudan campaign of 1898 he served on the Nile as water transport officer, and successfully navigated the gunboat El-Hafir during the passage up the 4th Cataract. He later Commanded the Kailor, a post boat; and was employed on Water Transport during the advance on, and battle of Omdurman. In 1899 he was appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at headquarters and was present during subsequent operations against the Kalifa. His services were recognised by the award of the British Sudan Medal, the Medjidie 4th Class and the Khedive's Sudan Medal with clasps ‘Hafir', 'Sudan 1897' and 'Khartoum', this combination of medals and clasps being unique to a Royal Marine officer. On his return from the Sudan in 1899 he became an Instructor of Musketry, and was later awarded a Special Certificate on passing the Arsenal Course at Woolwich. He next served afloat aboard Irresistible, Mediterranean Fleet 1904, Majestic Home Fleet 1907, and Albermarle, Atlantic Fleet 1908. Promoted Major in 1908, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in 1912, and Lieutenant Colonel in 1917, he served throughout World War I as a Barrack Master. At his own request he was placed on the Retired List in 1920. Lieutenant-Colonel Oldfield died at Gosport on 12 April 1953, aged 85. Sold with copied record of service and other research.
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