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Joslin, E. C., Litherland, A. R., Simpkin, B. T., British Battles and Medals, 1988 edition; Litherland, A. R. & Simpkin, B. T., Standard Catalogue of British Orders, Decorations and Medals, 1990 edition; Joslin, E. C., British Orders, Decorations and Medals, 1976 edition; Hall, D., British Orders, Decorations and Medals; Dorling, H. T., Ribbons and Medals (2), 1916 and 1944 editions; Irwin, D. H., War Medals and Decorations, 1588 to 1889, 1890 edition, original embossed cover; Carter, T., British War Medals, Military & Naval How they were Won (2), Parts 3 & 4; Purves, A. A., Orders and Decorations; McInnes, I. & Webb, J. V., A Contemptible Little Flying Corps; Johnson, S. C., The Medal Collector; Hieronymusson, P., Orders, Medals and Decorations of Great Britain and Europe in Colour; James, G. P. L., The Royal Family Orders, Badges of Office, Royal Household Medals and Souvenirs, illustrated booklet, cover torn; Army Officers Awards, Napoleonic Period, Arms & Armour Press/J. B. Hayward booklet; The London Gazette (Gulf Awards), bound copy; Boddington, J., A Medallic History of the Royal Life Saving Society, O.M.S.A. Monograph No.4; Catalogue of Life Saving Awards, from the Collection of William H. Fevyer, generally in good condition (18) £50-70

Konig, K-P. & Hugo, M., Service Handguns, A Collectors Guide; Kelvin, Dr. M., Collecting Antique Firearms; Rosa, J. G. & May, R., An Illustrated History of Guns and Small Arms; [Sotherbys, Monaco], Armes Anciennes, Collection Chaharles Draeger, 1987, handback catalogue; [Numisma], Napoleao e a Guerre Peninsular, illustrated auction catalogue; Hayward, J. F., European Armour, V.& A. Museum publication, 1951, booklet; [Horniman Museum & Library], War and Chase, ... Weapons of Savage, Barbaric, and Civilised Peoples, 1929, booklet; Hamilton, E., Colours of the Regular Army Infantry of the Line, 1881-1958, Military Historical Soc. booklet; ONeil, B. H. St.J., Castles and Cannon, A Study of Early Fortifications in England; Beresford, Rear-Admiral Lord Charles & Wilson, H. W., Nelson and His Times, illustrated, half calf, front cover inscribed, W.J.W. 1898; Hardy, T. A., Remember Nelson, Campaign and Commemorative Medals etc, 2005; Eimer, C., Medallic Portraits of the Duke of Wellington; General Description of Sir John Soanes Museum, 7th edition; Cresswell, O., A Re-Examination of a Gold Medal awarded to Major Rogers for Valorous Services in 1690, B.N.J. off-print; modern books re. Napoleonic Wars (4); other booklets (5), fairly good and better condition (23) £25-35

Walker, G. G., The Honourable Artillery Company, London, 1926, xv, 298pp.; Crooks, Major J. J., History of the Royal Irish Regiment of Artillery, 1914, viii, 367pp.; Farmer, J. S., The Regimental Records of the British Army 1660-1901, 1984 edition; Famous Regiments Series (4): The Royal Marines; The Royal Scots Greys; The Royal Fusiliers; Royal Engineers; booklets (16), includes: Kitcheners Pioneers; Rorkes Drift and the British Museum, The Life of Henry Hook, V.C.; Indian Campaigns 1778-1914, by Alex Stone; maps (2), fairly good condition (25) £35-45

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Fuentes DOnor (John Priest, 92nd Foot) good very fine £600-700 John Priest was born at Knockando, near Elgin, Morayshire, in about 1788, and enlisted into the Army on 4 August 1807. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, 92nd Highlanders, which he joined on 7 April 1808. He served with the 2nd Battalion in Ireland until June 1809, when he transferred to the 1st Battalion and accompanied it on the ill-fated Walcheren Expedition later that year. He went with the 1st Battalion to Portugal in October 1810 and was present at the battle of Fuentes DOnoro on 5 May 1811, subsequently receiving the medal and clasp for this action. According to the muster rolls he continued to serve with the battalion for the rest of the Peninsula Campaign, right through to the end in April 1814, though why he did not claim the clasps for Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, or Toulouse, remains a mystery. That he was in action during this period is beyond doubt; the muster rolls for the period November 1813 to February 1814 show him as being wounded at Cambo, presumably at Nive between 9th and 13th December, and The Examination of Invalid Soldiers on Tuesday 28th June 1853 [WO/116/61] states that he had been severely wounded in the head at Vittoria and Toulouse. Discharged from the Army on 31 October 1814, he returned to Scotland and married Elizabeth Peddie in her home town of Drainie in January 1819. They lived at Lossiemouth where he became a Ground Officer, or estate manager. They had at least one daughter, Margaret, and possibly other children some of whom may have emigrated to New Zealand as there is a note in the Elgin Courant, reporting his death from bronchitis on 10 July 1876, asking New Zealand papers to copy his obituary notice locally. Sold with full research and full muster details.

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse (D. McLachlan, 92nd Foot) minor edge bruising, otherwise about extremely fine £1200-1400 Duncan McLachlan enlisted into the Ayrshire Militia on 4 May 1812, joined the 92nd Highlanders on the 28th of the same month, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion the following month. He transferred to the 1st Battalion in February 1813, which he joined in Spain on 5 April. He was present with them at the battles of Vittoria on 21 June 1813, and during the battles of the Pyrenees in the following month. He appears to have missed the battles of Nivelle and Nive in November and December, possibly because he had been among the very heavy casualties suffered by the regiment at Maya, in the Pyrenees in July, but no mention of this is made in the muster rolls. He was next present at the battles of Orthes and Toulouse in February and April 1814, and returned to Ireland with the regiment at the end of the year. He went with the 92nd to join Wellingtons Army in Flanders in May 1815 and was present at both Quatre Bras and Waterloo. McLachlan continued to serve until 30 October 1818, when he was discharged unfit for further service. Sold with full muster details.

Military General Service 1793-1814, 5 clasps, Corunna, Fuentes DOnor, Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive (Fredk. White, 92nd Foot) lightly polished, otherwise good very fine £1400-1600 Frederick White enlisted into the 92nd on 26 November 1802, and served in the United Kingdom until 24 June 1807, during which period he probably took part in the funeral of Lord Nelson, when the 92nd lined the inner circle in St Pauls Cathedral. In June 1807 he accompanied the regiment to Denmark and was present at the battle of Kioge. In 1808 he went to Portugal and was part of the expedition under Sir John Moore, taking part in the retreat to Corunna where, after the battle fought there, the Army was evacuated to England in January 1809. He took part in abortive expedition to Walcheren later that year and returned again to the Peninsula in October 1810. He was present at Fuentes DOnoro, Arroyo del Molinos, Almaraz, Alba de Tormes and Vittoria. He appears to have missed the battle of the Pass of Maya in the Pyrenees, but was present at Nivelle and Nive, at which latter battle he was wounded. He returned to the United Kingdom with the 92nd in June 1814 but did not accompany the regiment to Flanders in May 1815, and was discharged later that year. Sold with full muster details.

Military General Service 1793-1814, 6 clasps, Egypt, Corunna, Fuentes DOnor, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Toulouse (Thos. Roy, 92nd Foot) nearly extremely fine £1600-1800 Thomas Roy was born in the Parish of Huntly, in the county of Aberdeen, and enlisted into the 92nd Highlanders on 1 December 1799, a weaver by profession, aged 34 years. After service in Egypt he returned to Ireland on board the transport Modeste, arriving in Kilkenny in February 1802. He served subsequently both in Scotland and England before taking part in the expedition to Copenhagen in June 1807. Returning to England at the end of the year, he went on furlough until 13th March. In 1808 he went to Portugal and was part of the expedition under Sir John Moore, taking part in the retreat to Corunna where, after the battle fought there, the Army was evacuated to England in January 1809, Roy being shown in the musters as being sick in the Regimental Hospital for the next two months. He took part in abortive expedition to Walcheren later that year and upon returning to England was again hospitalized in December 1809. He went back to Portugal in October 1810, taking part in the battles of Fuentes DOnoro and Vittoria. He was wounded during the battles in the Pass of Maya, 25-31 July, and spent the next three months recovering in hospital at Vittoria. He was recovered in time to participate in the final action of the campaign at Toulouse and returned to Fermoy in Ireland in July 1814. He remained with the Regimental Depot at Cork when the 92nd embarked to join Wellingtons Army in Flanders, whilst awaiting transfer to the 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion in Edinburgh which eventually took place on 12 October 1815. He was an invalid at York Hospital, Edinburgh, from March 1816, being placed on out-pension on 3 May. He was finally discharged at Edinburgh Castle on 24 May 1816, the regiment having been disbanded by order of the Prince Regent, and in consequence of a wound in the chin & slight rupture. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.

Military General Service 1793-1814, 7 clasps, Talavera, Fuentes DOnor, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (James McIntosh, 92nd Foot) minor edge bruise, otherwise good very fine and rare £1800-2200 James McIntosh was born at Clackmannon and initially joined the 14th Battalion of the Reserve on 25 October 1803, and remained with them until he was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the 92nd Highlanders on 24 March 1804. He served with the regiment in Copenhagen in 1807, but was on detachment from the battalion when the 92nd marched with Moores Army in the retreat to and eventual battle of Corunna, being afterwards evacuated to England. As a result McIntosh was left in the Peninsula and, with others of the 92nd who had been left behind in Portugal, formed the 92nd Company in the 1st Battalion of Detachments, one of two such detachments formed from odd men left behind by the various regiments of Moores Army. These two battalions of odd men, from 14 regiments in the 1st Battalion and from 13 regiments and the Staff Corps in the 2nd Battalion, accompanied Wellington on his Campaign of 1809, and were present at the Passage of the Douro and the battle of Talavera. Only these men from the 92nd were eligible to receive the clasp for Talavera and just 11 men of the regiment eventually claimed the clasp in 1848. However, of these 11 medals finally awarded, there is considerable doubt as to the eligibility of five of them. McIntosh was one of the six genuine claimants to receive this clasp. McIntosh and the others from the 92nd rejoined the 1st Battalion upon its return from the Walcheren expedition. He subsequently took part in the engagements at Fuentes DOnoro, Arroyo del Molinos, Almaraz, Vittoria, the Pass of Maya in the Pyrenees, Nivelle, St Pierre [Nive], Arriverete, Orthes, Aire, and Toulouse. He also fought with the 92nd at Waterloo and was wounded either at Quatre Bras on the 16th June or at Waterloo itself on the 18th. He was discharged on 12 November 1818, in consequence of reduction, being under size and of impaired constitution. His discharge papers also note that he was slightly wounded on the 30th July at Pampeluna in the right knee. Sold with copy discharge papers, full muster details and a copy of Nicola-Jane Hendersons article The 92nd Company of the First Battalion of Detachments and the Bar for Talavera (OMRS Journal, Winter 1984).

Waterloo 1815 (Q.-Mast. John MCombie, 1st Batt. 92nd Highlanders) fitted with steel clip and ring suspension, small letters S.T. neatly engraved after his rank to reflect that he was the Quartermaster-Sergeant not Quartermaster, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £2000-2500 John MCombie was born in the Parish of Mortlach, Banffshire, in about 1777 and enlisted there into the 100th Regiment, later the 92nd Highlanders, for unlimited service on 11 June 1795. He was posted to the battalion at Gibraltar and went with it to Ireland in 1798. From there he accompanied it to Holland and was present at the battle of Egmont-op-Zee on 2 October 1799, when he was wounded in the right leg. After taking part in the ineffective operations in Quiberon Bay in 1800, he accompanied the Regiment on the Expedition to Egypt the following year, being present at the battles of Mandora on the 13th and Alexandria on the 2st March. He was present on the March to Cairo, which culminated in the surrender of that City, and at the subsequent siege and capture of Alexandria. On his return to the United Kingdom he was promoted Corporal on the 7h December 1803, and soon after Sergeant on the 9th of April 1804. He probably took part in the funeral of Lord Nelson at St. Paul's Cathedral in January 1806. He then accompanied the Regiment on the Expedition to Copenhagen and was present at the engagement at Kioge on the 29h August 1807. In 1809 he went with the Regiment on Sir John Moore's invasion of Spain and the subsequent retreat to Corunna, after which he spent about three months sick at Portsmouth. In July of that year he took part on the ill-fated Expedition to Walchren, after which the Regiment returned to the Iberian Peninsula. From October 1810 until the end of the Peninsular War in 1814, M'Combie served with the Regiment, first as a Sergeant, and then, from Christmas Day 1812, as Quartermaster Sergeant, being present at the engagements of Fuentes d'Onoro, Arroyo del Molinos, Almaraz, Alba de Tormes, Vittoria, the fighting in the Pyrenees at the end of July 1813, Nivelle, Nive, Arriverete, Orthes and Toulouse. On the cessation of the Peninsular War in 1814, the Regiment returned to Ireland where it remained until, in May the following year, they went to Flanders to join Wellington's Army. M'Combie was present as Quartermaster-Sergeant at both Quatre Bras, on the 16th June, and Waterloo two days later. After the defeat of Napoleon, he continued to serve with the Regiment until he was discharged at Castlebar on the 7th and admitted an out pensioner of Kilmainham Hospital nine days later on the 16th December 1818, with a pension of 2/2d per diem. His conduct being shown as invariably good and has been Wounded in Action with the Enemy at the Battle of Egmont op Zee on the 2nd October 1799 in the Right Leg. John MCombie died on 2 August 1838. A manuscript Journal kept by Quartermaster-Sergeant MCombie throughout his army service is held by the Regimental HQ, The Gordon Highlanders. Whilst short on personal detail, it is, nonetheless, of great interest and provides a good record of the regiments progress through the Peninsula campaign and Waterloo. A typescript copy of his journal accompanies the medal together with full research and full muster details.

Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Sergt. J. Dickson, 92nd Foot) fitted with silver ribbon buckle, lacquered, otherwise extremely fine £200-250 M.S.M. with annuity of £10 awarded with effect from 1 April 1878. Sergeant John Dickson is recorded as Late Staff Clerk Edinburgh formerly 92nd Ft. John Dickson was born in the Parish of Earlston, near Kelso, Berwickshire, and attested for the 92nd Foot at Edinburgh on 10 May 1831, aged 19 years 8 months. He was discharged at Dublin, unfit for further service and worn out, on 24 November 1852, and was then in possession of a medal for Long & Meritorious Service. Sold with copy discharge papers.

Army L.S. & G.C., W.IV.R. (A. McDonald, Serjeant 75th Regiment Foot. 1830) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension and silver ribbon brooch, edge bruising, otherwise very fine £500-600 Alexander McDonald was born at Alvie, Inverness-shire, in about 1790. He joined the 75th from the Inverness Militia on 27 January 1808, the 75th still then being designated a Highland regiment, though only until the following year when it ceased to be so. He was promoted to Corporal in March 1815 and to Sergeant in May 1818. He served nine years and ten months in the Mediterranean, two years and three months at Gibraltar, and the remainder at home, being discharged at his own request on 16 October 1830. His L.S. & G.C. medal, though dated 1830, was not in fact issued to him until 1 December 1836, care of the Collector of Excise at Glasgow. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.

Army L.S. & G.C., W.IV.R. (George Povey, 92nd Regiment Foot. 1835) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £500-600 Ex Payne Collection 1911 when in pair with his 2-clasp M.G.S. earned with the 84th Foot. George Povey enlisted into the 84th Foot on 24 May 1809 and served with that regiment in the Peninsular at the battles of Nivelle and Nive. He afterwards formed part of the escort guard on a convict ship to New South Wales from August 1818 to December 1819. Povey was servant to Lieutenant Stewart when that officer transferred to the 92nd Highlanders, in March 1827, and moved with him. He was discharged at Chatham on 13 October 1836, receiving his L.S. & G.C. medal from the Collector of Excise at Knutsford on 29 November 1836. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 1st issue, large letter reverse (George Ritchie, 75th Regiment Foot. 1839) fitted with original steel clip and later ring suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine £200-250 George Ritchie enlisted into the 75th Foot on 16 February 1814, joining the regiment on 7 July that year. He appears to have served with the Band for most of his career but what instrument he played is not known. He served with the regiment throughout the Kaffir War of 1834-35 but did not claim his medal in 1853. He was discharged on 30 April 1839, and received his L.S. & G.C. medal from the Linlithgow Staff Officer of Pensions at Stirling on 22 December 1842. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 1st issue, large letter reverse (Patrick Flynn, Serjeant 92nd Regiment Foot. 1842) fitted with original steel clip and later ring suspension, very fine £200-250 Ex Jubilee Collection 1992. Patrick Flynn was born at Swords, Dublin, in about 1803 and was a tailor by trade. He enlisted into the 92nd Highlanders at Glasgow on 18 September 1820. He was posted to the battalion at Jamaica, where he contracted yellow fever twice. He returned to Scotland in 1827, becoming Corporal in January 1828, and Sergeant in April 1831. After 7 years in Scotland he was posted to the Mediterranean, initially at Gibraltar and later in Malta. He was invalided home in October 1840 and served the rest of his service with the Depot Company in Scotland, and was finally discharged at Chatham on 25 October 1842. He died on 27 January 1876. Sold with full muster details.

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (511 Serjt. W. Irwin, 75th Foot) brooch mounts removed from reverse, otherwise good very fine £80-100 William Irwin was born at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, and attested for the 75th Foot at Liverpool on 27 August 1858, aged 19. He served abroad in India, 3 years 250 days, China, 2 years 319 days, Cape of Good Hope, 3 years 232 days, and at Gibraltar, 1 year 170 days. He was discharged at Aldershot on 25 August 1879. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (3356 Corpl. G. McGregor, 92nd Foot) fitted with engraved floral silver ribbon buckle, very fine £100-120 Gregor McGregor attested as a Boy Drummer in 1855, but was trained as a Piper and is shown in that appointment in the Musters from November 1860 until 1876. He went with the regiment to India in March 1858 but did not take part in any of the expeditions against the rebels in 1858 or 1859. He was appointed Lance Corporal in 1876, Corporal in 1877, and Lance Sergeant in February 1880, just before his discharge on 9 March of that year. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1020 Lce. Corpl. P. Milne, 92nd Foot) lacquered, nearly very fine £100-120 Peter Milne was born in the Parish of Botrippinie, near Keith, Banffshire, and enlisted at Elgin on 4 August 1860, initially into the 93rd Highlanders from which he transferred to the 92nd Highlanders in 1863. He served with the regiment in Afghanistan earning the medal and three clasps and the Kabul to Kandahar Star (pair known to exist as recently as 1998). He was discharged at Portsmouth on 21 March 1882. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (2696 Colr. Sergt. John Connolly, 92nd Foot) very fine £100-120 John Connolly was born in the Parish of St Johns, Newfoundland, in about 1836, and enlisted into the 92nd in London on 25 October 1850, aged 14 years 1 month. He served abroad at Corfu, Gibraltar, the Crimea, but after hostiliteis had ceased, and in India, never seeing active service. He was for a while a member of the Band and also acted as Schoolmaster to a detachment at Fleetwood in 1865. He was promoted to Sergeant in July 1863 and to Colour Sergeant in May 1865. He returned to India in 1868, marrying his wife Margaret on the very day of their departure. He was appointed Quartermaster-Sergeant in February 1874 and served in that capacity until his return to the United Kingdom and final discharge on 8 June 1876. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.

The superb Army Gold Cross group to General Sir Ulysses Bagenal Burgh, G.C.B., K.T.S., Second Lord Downes, 92nd Foot, Aide de Camp and Assistant Military Secretary to the Duke of Wellington throughout the Peninsular War The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1814, makers mark IN for John Northam, and breast star in silver, gold and enamels, enamel damaged on upper reverse arm, otherwise a magnificent set; Army Gold Cross 1806-14, for Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nive, and Toulouse, 1 clasp, Nivelle (Lt. Coll. Ulysses Burgh / Aid de Camp to the / Comr. of the Forces) with additional clasp, Pyrenees, with original gold swivel-ring bar suspension, but lacking intermediary gold suspension ring and usual ribbon fitments; Field Officers Gold Medal 1808-14, for Vittoria (Lt. Coll. U. Burgh, Aid de Camp) lacking gold ribbon buckle; Military General Service 1793-1814, 6 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes DOnor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca (Lord Downes, K.C.B. Capt. 92nd Foot & A.D.C.); Portugal, Military Order of the Tower and Sword, Knight Commanders set of insignia, comprising neck badge in solid gold, and breast star by Beaugeois, Paris, silver and enamels with gold motto and central device and gold applique tower, together with engraved portrait print of Lord Downes, in uniform wearing decorations, in gilt frame surmounted by Barons Coronet, the whole displayed in an ornate gilt frame, generally good very fine or better (7) £35000-40000 Ulysses Bagenal de Burgh was born in Dublin on 15 August 1788, the only son of Thomas Burgh, Comptroller-general and Commissioner of the revenue of Ireland. After attending Trinity College, Dublin, Burgh was commissioned as Ensign into the 54th Foot on 31 March 1804, being promoted Lieutenant in the following November and Captain in October 1806. During this period he served at Gibraltar, where he was spared the ravages of yellow fever, and afterwards in the West Indies. In November 1808 he transferred, as a Captain, to the 92nd Highlanders, and went to Portugal as Aide de Camp to Sir John Craddock. On the latters recall home he stayed in Portugal as A.D.C. to Craddocks successor, Sir Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, a close friend of his fathers. Burgh was also Wellingtons Assistant Military Secretary and remained on his Staff for the remainder of the Peninsular War. Burgh was present at the battle of Talavera, was slightly wounded while at Sir Arthurs side, and was mentioned in his despatch. After the battle of Busaco he carried Wellingtons victory despatch to England and was promoted Major in March 1811. On returning to the Peninsular he took part in the actions of Fuentes DOnoro, El Boden, the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, and the battle of Salamanca. After Wellingtons triumphal entry intyo Madrid in August 1812, he again carried home a despatch to England and was consequently advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel. Once more back with Wellington, he was at the battles of Vittoria and the Pyrenees, the storming of St Sebastian, the battle of Nivelle, where he had a horse killed under him, the battles of Nive and Toulouse, where he was once again wounded. At the conclusion of hostilities in 1814, Burgh transferred, as Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel, to the 1st Foot Guards, and served briefly with his Company at Brussels. For his services in the Peninsular he was made a Knight Commander of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword and, on 2 January 1815, one of the first Knight Commanders of the Bath. He also received the Gold Cross and one clasp for Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, and Toulouse, and, once it became available in 1848, the Military General Service medal with clasps for Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes DOnor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, and Salamanca. In March 1820 he was appointed Surveyor-General of the Ordnance and an Executive Member of the Board of Ordnance, remaining in that post until 1830, when Wellingtons administration came to an end. In addition to his military duties, he served as Member of Parliament for County Carlaw from 1818-26, and for Queensborough from 1826-30. He succeded his second cousin once removed as the 2nd Baron Downes in 1826, the title formerly held by William Downes, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1803-22, and created with special remainder to Ulysses Burgh. Inheriting a substantial residence in County Kildare, he became a representative Irish peer in 1833, but was not poliotically active, although he did support Peel over repeal of the corn laws. He advanced to Major-General in January 1837, and to Lieutenant-General in November 1846. He had been appointed Colonel of the 54th Foot in April 1845, and was then Colonel of the 29th Foot from August 1850 until his death. He was married twice; firstly, in 1815 to Maria, daughter and heir of the late Walter Bagenal of Athy, County Kildare, and thereafter added Bagenal to his name; and secondly, in 1846, to Christopheria, widow of John Willis Fleming and daughter of James Buchanan. In 1848 he was authorized to take the name de Burgh in lieu of Burgh. Downes acted as pallbearer on 28 July 1855, at the funeral of Lord Raglan, Wellingtons military secretary in the Peninsula and more recently commander of British troops in the Crimea. Promoted to General in June 1854, two years later Downes received the Russian Order of St Anne, 2nd Class, and was appointed G.C.B. in May 1860. He died on 26 July 1863 at Bert House, Athy, County Kildare, and with no male heir, the peerage became extinct. Sold with some further research including an original manuscript note, signed by Downes, admitting the bearer to the Gallery of the House of Lords, dated 11 July 1862.

Pair: Corporal William King, 75th Foot Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Delhi, Relief of Lucknow (Wm. King, 75th Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1936 Corpl. Wm. King, 75th Foot) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £400-500 William King was born in the Parish of Killmore, Portadown, County Armagh, in 1824, and was a weaver by trade. He enlisted into the 75th Foot at Killmore on 13 November 1843. He was discharged at Chatham on 24 November 1863, afetr serving 21 years 12 days, including 12 years 10 months in the East Indies and one years additional service for Lucknow. He had been awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in June 1863 with a gratuity on discharge of £5. Sold with copy discharge papers and muster details.

An Afghan War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private John Dennis, 92nd Highlanders, for gallantly saving the life of his officer commanding at the battle of Kandahar during which he was dangerously wounded Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Pte. J. Dennis, 92nd Foot); Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (1163 Pte. J. Dennis, 92nd Highrs.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (1163 Prive. John Dennis 92nd Highlanders); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1163 Pte. J. Dennis, 2nd Bn. Gor. Highrs.) together with original Parchment Certificate of Discharge signed by Lieutenant-Colonel G. S. White [V.C.], contact wear and pitting, therefore good fine or better (4) £6000-7000 D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 23 November 1880 - Kandahar 1 September 1880, behaved with distinguished gallantry. The 92nd Highlanders, under the command of Colonel Parker, was one of the regiments selected to form part of the force under Sir Frederick Roberts which, in the month of August 1880, performed its memorable march from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar. In the crowning defeat of the enemy at the battle of Kandahar on the 1st September, the regiment, as one of the two leading battalions in the right attack, played a conspicuous part, being engaged in the successive captures of the villages of Gandi Mullah Sahibdad, and Pir Paimal, and finally carrying at the point of the bayonet the entrenched position on which the enemy had taken up their last stand. The casualties on this day numbered 14 non-commissioned officers and men killed 2 officers and 70 non-commissioned officers and men wounded. In the engagement Captain Menzies' life was saved by Privates Dennis and Roddick, who both received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their gallantry. The following account, is taken from The Life of a Regiment and was related to the author by Lieutenant Menzies and Drummer Roddick: Two companies of the 92nd under Major G. S. White, and two of the Gurkhas under Lieut.-Colonel A. Battye, carried the village [Gundi Mulla Sahibdad], the Highlanders and the hillmen of Nepaul rivalling each other in their efforts; the Gurkhas on the left, having the shorter distance to go, were the first within the walls. The enemy retired slowly, fighting, but a number of Ghazis stood to receive a bayonet charge of the Highlanders, while many shut themselves up in the houses and fired on our men as they passed, and some splendid hand-to-hand fighting occurred. In the melee Lieutenant Menzies found himself in a courtyard, at the end of which was an open door, and beyond it another door which was locked, but, voices being heard within, the lock was burst by a shot from the officer's pistol, and the door swung open; instantly a shot from the inside hit Menzies in the groin, and he fell. The only man near at the moment was Drummer Roddick, whom he asked not to leave him. You're all right, sir, as long as this blade lasts," replied Roddick, as with his drawn claymore he stood over his wounded officer. A number of Afghans rushed out, and the leader fired, the bullet knocking off Roddick's helmet; the man then made for him with the muzzle of his rifle, but the stalwart drummer parried the blow, and ran him through with his sword. At this moment Private Dennis came up; not liking to put the wounded man in the house, where a lot of bags of grain might conceal a foe, they laid him in the slight shade given by the wall of the court. Just as they had done so, an Afghan rushed from behind the bags, making a slash at the officer as he passed and cutting his shoulder; but, fortunately, his blade hit the wall, which broke the force of the blow, and the man was shot by Dennis. More men joined them, Roddick and Dennis carried the lieutenant to a doolie, and immediately rejoined their company. John Dennis was born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, in about 1845, and enlisted at Glasgow into the 92nd Highlanders on 31 July 1863, aged 18 years 7 months, a collier by trade. During his service he was 13 years in India and Afghanistan, and accompanied the regiment to South Africa in January 1881, where he served in the First Boer War. He was recommended for his L.S. & G.C. medal on 1 October 1881, and took his discharge at Devonport on 5 August 1884. His discharge papers note that he Specially distinguished himself by gallantly saving the life of the O/C his Company at the action of Kandahar 1st Septr. 1880. Medals and decorations, For distinguished conduct in the field in recognition of his conduct at the Battle of Kandahar on 1st Sept. 1880 - Medal (Afghan) 3 Clasps & Bronze star - Medal for Long Service & Good Conduct. Wounded, Received Sword Cuts of "Head", "Wrist" and "Knee" in action at Kandahar Afghanistan 1 Sept. 1880. Sold with copy discharge papers and full muster details.

The Second World War C.B.E. group of eight awarded to Brigadier J. J. M. Soutar, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Director of Veterinary Services in India, 1940-44 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commanders 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, lacking correct suspension ring and eyelet; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut., A.V.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); Defence and War Medals, unnamed; Khedives Sudan 1910-21, 2nd issue, 1 clasp, Garjak Nuer (Capt., R.A.V.C.), officially impressed naming; Egypt, Order of the Nile, badge, 63mm., silver, silver-gilt and enamel, replacement ring suspension, mounted court style for display, good very fine and better (8) £1600-2000 Ex A. A. Upfill-Brown Collection, D.N.W. 4 December 1991, lot 213. C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1943. O.B.E. London Gazette 17 June 1921. In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations against the Garjak Nuers, Sudan. M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915, 5 January 1919, 17 June 1921. Egypt, Order of the Nile, not confirmed. John James McFarlane Soutar was born in Edinburgh on 23 January 1889. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh. He entered the Army Veterinary Corps as a Lieutenant in 1910 and was advanced to Captain in 1915, Major in 1925, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in 1934 and Colonel and Temporary Brigadier in 1940. Serving in the Great War, he was seconded to the Egyptian Army and was twice mentioned in despatches. Postwar he served in the Sudan campaign and the operations of Garjak Nuer, December 1919-April 1920, for which he was again mentioned in despatches and awarded the O.B.E. In total he served ten years with the Egyptian Army and Sudan Government and three years with the Iraqi Army. He was the Senior Instructor at the R.A.V. School, 1922-26; A.D.V.S. India, 1931-35 and Director of Veterinary Services in India, 1940-44. For his services during the Second World War he was awarded the C.B.E. Latterly living at St. Andrews, Fife; he died on 16 December 1956.

An O.B.E. group of six attributed to Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. R. Orlebar, Norfolk Regiment and Equitorial Corps, Sudan Defence Force The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officers 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Egypt, Order of the Nile, 4th Class breast badge by Lattes, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon, slight enamel damage, all unnamed, mounted as worn; together with a corresponding mounted set of six miniature dress medals, very fine and better (14) £200-250 O.B.E. London Gazette 24 April 1953. M.I.D. London Gazette 1 April 1941, 13 January 1944. Egypt, Order of the Nile London Gazette 8 June 1945. John Hatton Rolt Orlebar was born on 19 February 1907, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Rouse Boughton Orlebar, D.L., J.P., of Hinwick House, Bedford. Educated at Malvern and the Royal Military College, he entered the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Norfolk Regiment in 1926. Attached to the Sudan Defence Force, 1933-45. He was promoted to Lieutenant, 1929; Captain 1937; Acting Major, January-April 1942; Temporary Major, April-November 1942; War Substantive Major, November 1942; Major 1943; Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, August-November 1942; Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, November 1942-December 1944; Lieutenant-Colonel, 1950; Temporary Colonel, 1948-51 and 1953-54; Colonel, February 1954, and local Brigadier, June 1948-May 1951. He was employed as G.S.O.2, January-August 1942; A.A.G., August 1942-March 1943; A.M.S., H.Q., B.A.O.R., September 1946-March 1947; Military Attache at Baghdad, June 1948-March 1951; A.Q.M.G. with the rank of Colonel at the War Office, September 1953-August 1956. He was appointed Commandant of the School of Infantry, Small Arms Wing in 1956. Sold with a S.D.F. button and a S.D.F. pin-backed badge and some copied research.

A Second World War East African B.E.M. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant and Quartermaster M. Reat, Royal Signals, attached Sudan Defence Force British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (2312307 R.Q.M.S. Malcolm Reat); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (2312307 Sgln., R. Signals); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (2312307 W.O.Cl.2, B.E.M., R. Sigs.), mounted court style for display, very fine and better (7) £500-600 B.E.M. London Gazette 16 April 1942. ... in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period July, 1941, to October, 1941 ... No.3212307 Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant (acting Warrant Officer Class II (Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant) Malcolm Reat, Royal Corps of Signals (attached Sudan Defence Force) (Stockton-on-Tees). B.E.M. recommendation states: During the past year this N.C.O., the senior British N.C.O. in the unit, has been entirely responsible for the M.T. and Technical stores, there being no regular Quartermaster. His task has been rendered more laborious through having to deal with the S.D.F. Ordnance Depot as well as the British. By virtue of his technical trade qualifications and shortage of personnel he has also frequently been called upon to supervise and help in the Instrument Mechanics and Battery Charging Shops. Throughout the whole period he has worked very long hours and by his conscientious devotion to his duty has ensured the smooth flow of stores to sections operating in Eritrea, Abyssinia and Kufra. In particular in the last few months, in addition to his normal work, he has been called upon to produce new War Equipment tables on the reorganisation of this unit. Malcolm Reat was commissioned a Lieutenant and Quartermaster on 8 August 1945 (London Gazette 8 February 1946).

Five: Private T. Little, Seaforth Highlanders India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (4118 Pte., Seaforth Highrs.); Queens Sudan 1896-98 (4118 Pte., 1/Sea. Hrs.), correction to service number; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4118 Pte., 2 Sea. Highrs.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (4118 Pte., Seaforth Highrs.); Khedives Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum (4118 Pte., 1st Sea. Highrs.) slight edge bruising and contact marks, very fine (5) £600-650 Thomas Little was born in Bermondsey, London. A Printers Cutter by occupation, and a member of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion West Surrey Regiment, he attested for the Seaforth Highlanders at Fort George on 10 November 1891, aged 19 years, 3 months. With the Seaforth Highlanders he served in India, December 1893-January 1897, serving in the Relief of Chitral 1895; Malta, January-March 1897; the occupation of Crete, March-November 1897; Egypt and Sudan, November 1897-May 1900, serving in the Sudan campaign 1896-98; South Africa, May 1900-September 1902. Little was transferred to the Army Reserve in May 1903 and was finally discharged on 9 November 1903. Sold with copied service papers and roll extracts.

A rare Sudan group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Persse, 2nd Dragoon Guards, attached Egyptian Army Queens Sudan 1896-98 (Capt., 2/D. Gds.), official correction to unit; British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col.); Khedives Sudan 1896-1908, 6 clasps, Firket, Hafir, Sudan 1897, The Atbara, Khartoum, Jerok, unnamed, very fine (4) £1800-2200 The group, less the British War and Victory Medals but with an Order of the Medjidie 3rd Class appeared in D.N.W. 25 February 1999, lot 499. William Horsley Persse was born on 16 October 1863, and educated at Wellington College. He was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment in March 1883 and, in May 1885, received a regular army commission in the Hampshire Regiment. Two months later he transferred to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queens Bays) and served in India from 1886 to 1895, when the regiment was ordered to Egypt. In March 1895, Persse was promoted to Captain and, in the following year, seconded on special service to the Egyptian Army. Appointed as a Squadron Commander in the Egyptian Cavalry, he was present in the Expedition to Dongola in 1896, and took part in the battles of Firket on 7th June and Hafir on 19th-26th September. For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 3 November 1896) and awarded the Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class, in addition to the Queens medal and the Khedives medal with two clasps. Persse next took part in the Nile Expedition 1897, in command of the 1st Squadron, 1st Egyptian Cavalry, engaged in railway protection duties (clasp to Egyptian medal). In the Nile Expedition of 1898, he took part in the reconnaissance of the Atbara River on 21st March, for which he gained his second mention in despatches (London Gazette 24 May 1898), "for gallantry in which his Squadron of Egyptian Cavalry dislodged a superior force from a wooded area along the Atbara River." In the sharp engagement during the reconnaissance of 4th April, near Abadar, Persse was severely wounded in the forearm while directing the fire of his men (London Gazette 24 May 1898), but appears to have been sufficiently recovered to take part in the battle of Atbara River on 8th April (clasp to Egyptian medal). The long hot summer that followed the operations of the Spring, culminated in the battle of Omdurman and capture of Khartoum in the early days of September. For his part in the action at Omdurman, Persse was again mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 30 September 1898), and received his fifth clasp to the Egyptian medal. After the reconquest of the Sudan, Major Persse continued on active service with the Egyptian Army and, in March 1901, he was placed in command of the Egyptian Cavalry with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In the following year he was elevated to the 3rd class of the Order of the Medjidie (London Gazette 23 September 1902). He took part in the operations in Southern Sennar, in the south-eastern Sudan, January to March 1904, against the slave trader Ibrahim Wad Mahmud, during which he commanded the cavalry of the force under Miralai Gorringe Bey, C.M.G., D.S.O., in the attack on Jebel Jerok on 11th February. After three days of fighting, the town of Jebel Jerok was captured, large numbers of slaves released, and the greater part of Mahmuds followers annihilated. Mahmud himself escaped but was finally captured and hanged on the 3rd March (6th clasp to Egyptian medal). Persse returned to service with the 2nd Dragoon Guards in 1906 and retired after 28 years of active service, on 25 February 1911. He was recalled to active service in August 1914 and placed in command of the 2nd Reserve Regiment of Cavalry. He served in France with the 5th Division from March 1917 to September 1918. Lieutenant-Colonel Persse died in 1959, aged 96 years. Sold with a quantity of copied research.

Three: Private S. Coombe, Army Service Corps British War and Victory Medals (M2-183101 Pte. S. Coombe, A.S.C.); Khedives Sudan 1910-21, 2nd issue, 1 clasp, Darfur 1916 (M2-183801 Pte. S. Coomb, A.S.C.), officially impressed naming, note different spelling of surname, good very fine (3) £450-550 Sold with copied m.i.c. which confirms medals and clasp, together with some copied details of the Darfur campaign.

Seven: Captain W. H. Lowder, Duke of Wellingtons Regiment and Superintendent of the Mechanical Transport Service, Sudan Defence Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (4602256 W.O. Cl. II, D.W.R.); Egypt, Order of the Nile, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel, mounted for display, last with Bichai case and card box of issue, generally nearly extremely fine (7) £300-350 2nd Lieutenant W. H. Lowder, Duke of Wellingtons Regiment, was appointed a War Substantive Lieutenant and Honorary Captain on 11 February 1943. Sold with original bestowal document for the Order of the Nile (in Arabic), with envelope; original Permission to Wear dated 7 April 1942; W.W.2 medal forwarding slip and British Forces Identification Card, dated 1944 and bearing the recipients photograph. The medals and papers contained in a modern case.

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, El-Teb-Tamaai (1720 Pte. J. Pilbeam, 1/York & Lanc. R.) minor scratches to obv., good very fine £800-900 Ex D.N.W. 2 July 2003, lot 534. 1720 Private John Pilbeam, 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, was killed in action at the battle of Tamaai, 13 March 1884. Pilbeam was posthumously mentioned in the despatches of General Graham, V.C. as one of the men who gave their lives in trying to stem the Sudanese attack on the broken British square. The 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment formed part of the 2nd Brigade of General Grahams army. The Brigade whilst advancing in a square at Tamaai was suddenly attacked by the forces of Osman Digna. The rush of the attack was so great that the square was broken. On the right front face of the square, some 30 or 40 men of the York and Lancaster Regiment made a desperate and detirmined stand before having to give way, loosing sixteen men, including Private Pilbeam, in the process. At length order was restored and the square reformed. By the end of the day the regiment had suffered one officer and 31 men killed and two officers and 22 men wounded. British casualties for the day totalled 217 officers and men killed and wounded. Sold with copied roll extract and other research.

Queens Sudan 1896-98 (3492 Pte. W. Mooney, 21/L/crs.) contact marks, nearly very fine £1400-1800 William Mooney was born in the Parish of St. Pauls, Dublin. A Surveyor by occupation, he attested for service with the 21st Hussars at Canterbury on 6 October 1892, aged 19 years. With the Hussars (becoming Lancers in 1897), he served in India, September 1893-October 1896, and Egypt and Sudan, October 1896-June 1899. In the Sudan he served in "B" Squadron of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman. Private Mooney was discharged from the Army on 7 May 1907, having been found medically unfit for further service. Sold with copied attestation and discharge papers and other research.

Seven: Squadron Quarter-Master Sergeant F. Naylor, 1st Dragoon Guards Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4433 Cpl. Naylor, Regt. of Dragoons), no initial given; 1914 Star (4433 Sjt. F. Naylor, 1/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (1DG-4433 Sq. Q.M. Sjt. F. Naylor, 1-D. Gds.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (D-19461 Sq. Q.M. Sjt. F. Naylor 1/D. Gds.); French Croix de Guerre 1914-1915, with gilt palm and star riband fitments, the first and third with minor official corrections, generally very fine and better (7) £300-350 Frank Naylor, a confirmed recipient of the Delhi Durbar Medal 1911, first entered the French theatre of war in November 1914, at which point he most probably "ditched" the Austrian Diamond Jubilee Medal he had been awarded in 1908 (regimental records refer). Judging by the early reverse dates on his ungazetted Croix de Guerre, he went on to serve with distinction in the trenches at Festubert in 1915, or indeed in his regiments gallant stand at Hooge a month or two later.

Five: Temporary Warrant Officer Class 1 P. Tweddle, Royal Field Artillery India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (5174 Gunr. P. Tweddle, 9th Fd. By. R.A.); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (51741 Serjt. P. Tweddle, 9th Bty. R.F.A.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (51741 Serjt. P. Tweddle, R.F.A.); British War Medal 1914-20 (49508 T.-W.O. Cl. 1 P. Tweedale, R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (51741 Serjt. P. Tweddle, R.F.A.), together with Army Temperance Association (India), silver and enamel Medal for 5 Years Fidelity, the first with corrected surname, contact marks, generally very fine (6) £300-350 Recipient was severely wounded at Bacdown Camp on 14 January 1902.

Three: Gunner G. Prince, Royal Garrison Artillery Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, Orange Free State (78781 Gnr. G. Prince, 15th Coy. S.D., R.G.A.); China 1900, no clasp (78781 Gr. G. Prince, No. 91 Co. R.G.A.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (78781 Gnr. G. Prince, R.G.A.), together with R.A. / R.G.A. badge (3), rivets sewn on the last two clasps of the first, nearly very fine or better and a rare Boer War/China combination of awards (6) £400-500 Just 35 men of the British Army received the Queens South Africa, China 1900 and Kings South Africa Medals, all of them members of the Royal Garrison Artillery; see the article A Slow Boat to China - and Back Again, and related roll, by Lt. Col. A. M. Macfarlane (O.M.R.S. Journal, Autumn 1993, pp. 198-200). George Prince was born in the parish of Bright-Walton, Wantage, Berkshire, in March 1872 and enlisted in the Royal Artillery in April 1890. Having then served at assorted U.K. posts in the intervening period, he was transferred to the Army Reserve in April 1897, but with the advent of hostilities in South Africa he was recalled and posted to 15th (Seige Train) Company, R.G.A. Subsequently engaged against the Boers at Paardeberg and Driefontein, he also qualified for the "Orange Free State" clasp for services with the 14th Company, Western Division, R.G.A. Then in July 1900 he was embarked for China where he served in No. 91 Company, R.G.A. but, with the Boxer Rebellion drawing to a close, he was sent back to South Africa in March 1901, where he again served with the 15th Company and qualified for his Kings South Africa Medal with two clasps. Prince returned to the U.K. in August 1902 and was discharged the following month.

Three: Gunner C. Chapman, Royal Garrison Artillery Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (75352 Gnr. C. Chapman, 15th W.D. R.G.A.); China 1900, no clasp (75352 Gnr. C. Chapman, R.G.A.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (75252 Gnr. C. Chapman, R.G.A.), contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus generally good fine, and a rare Boer War/China combination of awards (3) £400-500 Just 35 men of the British Army received the Queens South Africa, China 1900 and Kings South Africa Medals, all of them members of the Royal Garrison Artillery; see the article A Slow Boat to China - and Back Again, and related roll, by Lt. Col. A. M. Macfarlane (O.M.R.S. Journal, Autumn 1993, pp. 198-200). Charles Chapman was born in Pulborough, Sussex in December 1865 and enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Worthing in October 1889. Having then served at assorted U.K. stations in the intervening period, he was transferred to the Army Reserve in October 1896, but with the advent of hostilities in South Africa he was recalled and posted to 15th (Seige Train) Company, R.G.A., in which unit he served from November 1899 until April 1901, including a period of employment in the China operations in the right half of his Company from July 1900 to March 1901. He was then posted to 14th Company and thence to No. 68 Company, with whom he qualified for the Kings South Africa Medal and two clasps, prior to being discharged back home in August 1902; a 1914-15 Trio is known to the same recipient, who died in January 1945.

Three: Gunner J. Suttie, Royal Garrison Artillery Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (86714 Gnr. J. Suttie, 15th Coy S.D. R.G.A.); China 1900, no clasp (86714 Gr. J. Suttie, No. 91 Co. R.G.A.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (86714 Gnr. J. Suttie, R.G.A.), file mark immediately following unit on the first and surname officially corrected on the second, generally very fine or better and a rare Boer War/China combination of awards (3) £400-500 Just 35 men of the British Army received the Queens South Africa, China 1900 and Kings South Africa Medals, all of them members of the Royal Garrison Artillery; see the article A Slow Boat to China - and Back Again, and related roll, by Lt. Col. A. M. Macfarlane (O.M.R.S. Journal, Autumn 1993, pp. 198-200); recipient also entitled to the "Transvaal" clasp.

Six: Private C. Player, Army Service Corps, late Royal Garrison Artillery Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (77191 Gnr. C. Player, 15th Coy. S.D. R.G.A.), last clasp loose on riband; China 1900, no clasp (77191 Gr. C. Player, No. 91 Co. R.G.A.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (79191 Gnr. C. Player, R.G.A.); 1914-15 Star (SS-16537 Pte. C. Player, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (16537 Pte. C. Player, A.S.C.), the earlier awards with contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine, the last three rather better and a rare Boer War/China combination of awards (6) £400-500 Just 35 men of the British Army received the Queens South Africa, China 1900 and Kings South Africa Medals, all of them members of the Royal Garrison Artillery; see the article A Slow Boat to China - and Back Again, and related roll, by Lt. Col. A. M. Macfarlane (O.M.R.S. Journal, Autumn 1993, pp. 198-200).

A Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Major R. T. C. Cream, Royal Garrison Artillery Military Cross, G.V.R.; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. R. T. C. Cream, R.G.A. (M.)); 1914-15 Star (Capt. & Adjt. R. T. C. Cream, R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major R. T. C. Cream); French Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with star riband fitment, generally very fine and better (6) £800-1000 M.C. London Gazette 27 October 1917: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed great courage in removing cartridges from a burning building at the battery position under shell fire, and finally succeeded in getting the fire under control. Robert Temple Chevallier Cream, who was born in September 1882, appears to have served in the Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia) during the latter stages of the Boer War, in Cape Colony in May 1902. Appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the R.G.A. (Regular Army) in June 1903, he was advanced to Captain in June 1906 and served in Hong Kong and China 1907-1910. Returning to the U.K., he was appointed Adjutant of the Sheerness Garrison Company in September 1912, in which capacity he was serving on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Cream was wounded in the Great War and, in addition to his M.C., was thrice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 1 January 1916; 4 January 1917 and 14 December 1917 refer), and awarded the French Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 29 November 1918 refers).

An impressive Great War M.M. group of nine awarded to Squadron Sergeant-Major A. Sharp, Military Mounted Police, late Royal Field Artillery and a veteran of the defence of Ladysmith Military Medal, G.V.R. (609 T.S.S. Mjr. A. Sharp, M.M.P.); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Laings Nek, Belfast (7514 Cpl. A. Sharp, 21st Bty., R.F.A.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (7514 Corpl. A. Sharp. R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (609 Sjt. A. Sharpe, M.M.P.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (609 Sjt. A. Sharpe, M.M.P.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (609 Cpl. A. Sharp, M.M.P.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (609 Sjt. A. Sharp, M.M.P.); Belgium Croix de Guerre 1914-18, contact marks and edge bruising, particularly to the Boer War awards, otherwise generally nearly very fine and better (9) £600-800 M.M. London Gazette 20 August 1919. M.S.M. London Gazette 18 October 1916. Mention in despatches London Gazette 31 October 1915. Arthur Sharp, who was born in Clapham, London in 1875, enlisted in the Royal Artillery in December 1894. Having served in Bombay from October 1896 until September 1899, he was embarked for South Africa, where he was present at the defence of Ladysmith as a member of 21st Battery, R.F.A. Advanced to Corporal in April 1900, he returned to the U.K. in October 1902 and is thought to have been discharged around 1906, at the end of his original period of engagement. As evidenced by the above listed accolades, however, he went on to serve with distinction in the Great War as a member of the Military Mounted Police, and was discharged for a final time in the rank of Squadron Sergeant-Major in October 1919. Sold with the recipients original Account Book (or Pocket Ledger), with contemporary tie-round leather covers, and his Great War Discharge Certificate - which confirm all of his Honours & Awards, including his Belgian Croix de Guerre.

Eight: Warrant Officer Class 1 A. Collie, Royal Engineers, who was awarded the M.S.M. and French Medaille Militaire prior to his death through wounds in June 1918 while serving on the R.Es Railway Transportation Establishment Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Orange Free State (1644 L./Corpl. A. Collie, R.E.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1644 Serjt. A. Collie, R.E.); 1914 Star (1644 Q.M. Sjt. A. Collie, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (1644 W.O. Cl. 1 A. Collie, R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1644 E.C.Q.M. Sjt. A. Collie, R.E.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (1644 Supt. Cl. A. Collie, G.H.Q. R.E.); French Medaille Militaire, the first two with contact marks and the last with chipped obverse enamel, otherwise very fine and better (8) £500-600 Alexander Collie, who was born in Portsmouth and enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Aldershot, served in 7th Field Company, R.E. during the Boer War, and was present in operations in the Orange Free State and at Belmont and Modder River. Next actively engaged in the Great War, he went out to France in August 1914 as a Quarter-Master Sergeant on the R.Es Railway Transportation Establishment, in which capacity he served up until his death through wounds on 3 June 1918, aged 42 years. He had been awarded the French Medaille Militaire in the rank of Engineer Clerk Quarter-Master Sergeant (London Gazette 24 February 1916 refers), and the M.S.M. as a Superintending Clerk at G.H.Q., R.E. (London Gazette 1 January 1917 refers), in the interim. Collie is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France; sold with three original R.E. Record Office / War Office communications addressed to his widow, 1919-21, two regarding the issue of his 1914 Star, Army L.S. & G.C. and Meritorious Service Medals, and the other forwarding the Diploma for French Medaille Militaire, this dated 11 May 1921.

A Great War Egypt operations M.B.E. group of six awarded to Captain H. S. Smith, Royal Engineers, earlier the recipient of one of only three known "raised dates" Queens South Africa Medals to the British Army The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Members 1st type breast badge, hallmarks for London 1919; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, reverse with raised dates 1899-1900, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg (19467 Q.M.S. H. S. Smith, R.E.); 1914 Star, with clasp (19467 Supdt.-Clk. H. S. Smith, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. H. S. Smith); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (19467 Qr. Mr. Serjt. H. T.(sic) Smith, R.E.), the first with repaired suspension claw, occasional surface scratches, otherwise very fine and a unique "raised dates" group (6) £1800-2200 One of only three "raised dates" Queens South Africa Medals known to members of the British Army, the majority of course having been issued to Lord Strathconas Horse. M.B.E. London Gazette 12 December 1919: In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in Egypt and Palestine. Henry Surridge Smith, who was born in April 1868, served for a little over 23 years in the ranks of the Royal Engineers, in which period he qualified for his 3-clasp Queens South Africa Medal prior to being invalided back home in October 1900 - reason indeed to issue him with an 1899-1900 raised dates award. Having then added the L.S. & G.C. Medal to his accolades in October 1901, and been appointed Superintending Clerk (Warrant Officer Class II) in March 1907, he was commissioned as a Temporary Captain in July 1915, while serving in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. In addition to his subsequent award of the M.B.E., he won a "mention" from General A. J. Murray, Egyptian Expeditonary Force, For gallant and distinguished services in the Field (London Gazette 11 January 1918 refers).

Five: Driver J. Mead, Army Service Corps Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (11146 Dr. J. Mead, A.S.C.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (11146 Dvr. J. Mead, A.S.C.); 1914 Star, with clasp (T-11146 Dvr. J. Mead, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (T-11146 Dvr. J. Mead, A.S.C.), together with London Council Drivers Medals (2), with various dated clasps for the period 1919 to 1924, both inscribed to J. Mead, and a Comrades of the Great War lapel badge, the first two with contact marks, nearly very fine, the remainder rather better (8) £180-220 John Mead was employed as a Tram Driver by London County Council.

Seven: Warrant Officer 1st Class F. G. Perkes, Royal Army Service Corps Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (17753 Pte. F. Perkes, A.S.C.); 1914 Star (S-17753 S.Q.M. Sjt. F. G. Perkes, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (S-17753 W.O. Cl. 1 F. G. Perkes, A.S.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (S/17753 S.S. Mjr. F. G. Perkes, R.A.S.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (OAS-17753 S.S. Mjr. F. G. Perkes, A.S.C.); French Medal of Honour, with swords, bronze, initials officially corrected on the fifth, generally very fine or better (7) £300-350 Frederick George Perkes was born in Worcester in 1879, where he enlisted in the Army Service Corps in January 1901, direct from the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Embarked for South Africa that May, he remained stationed there until returning home in May 1906, which period witnessed his participation in the Boer War and advancement to Lance-Corporal in October 1902 and to Corporal in November 1903. Service in Crete and Malta followed in 1908-13 and, having been promoted to Sergeant in June 1906 and to Staff Sergeant in October 1910, he was advanced to Warrant Officer 2nd Class on the outbreak of hostilities. Thereafter, with the exception of a fortnights home leave, he served continuously in France and Belgium from August 1914 until October 1920, was advanced to Warrant Officer 1st Class in March 1915 and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 24 December 1917 refers). In addition, he was awarded the M.S.M. In recognition of valuable services rendered with the forces in France during the present war (London Gazette 17 June 1918 refers), and the French Medal of Honour (London Gazette 8 March 1920 refers); although the latter was gazetted as a silver issue, his Regular Army Certificate of Discharge states that he was in possession of a bronze issue - in addition to confirming all of his other Honours & Awards. Discharged in January 1926, Perkes joined the R.A.S.C. (Territorials) as a Company Quarter-Master Sergeant, but was again discharged, at his own request, a few months later; sold with his original Soldiers Service and Pay Book, and his Regular Army Certificate of Discharge.

Five: Major J. A. Douglas, Army Service Corps, late Imperial Yeomanry, who was awarded the Serbian Order of St. Sava for his work as a Railway Transport Officer 1915-16 Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut. J. A. Douglas, Imp. Yeo.); 1914 Star (Capt. J. A. Douglas, R.T.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Major J. A. Douglas); Serbian Order of St. Sava, 4th class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, the first with edge bruising and the last with one or two slightly bent and chipped arm points, and lower obverse centre, otherwise generally very fine (5) £400-500 James Archibald Douglas, who attended Merton College, Oxford, and was onetime a member of the Agra Volunteer Rifes, served as a Lieutenant in the Imperial Yeomanry in the Orange River Colony and in the Mafeking and Vryburg Districts of Cape Colony, prior to being appointed a Railway Staff Officer in July 1901. Thereafter, until January 1902, he was employed variously at Pretoria, Standerton and Kometi Poort. Returning to uniform as a Captain, Temporary Major, on the Special List, in September 1914, Douglas was employed out in France in the Railway Transport Establishment from November 1914, but afterwards joined the British Mission to the Serbian Army, as a Train Conducting Officer, and was awarded the Serbian 4th Class Order of St. Sava (London Gazette 9 March 1917 refers). Latterly employed at the War Office, he resigned his commission in September 1919.

Four: Leading Stoker F. Coller, Royal Navy, late Imperial Yeomanry Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (34736 Pte. F. Coller, 29th Coy. Imp. Yeo.); 1914-15 Star (K. 1279 F. Coller, Act. L. Sto., R.N.); British War amnd Victory Medal (K. 1279 F. Coller, L. Sto., R.N.), the first with re-riveted suspension claw, contact marks and one or two edge cuts, thus fine, the remainder nearly very fine or better (4) £140-160 Frank Coller was born in Lymington, Hampshire in November 1877 and served in the 29th (Denbighshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, during the Boer War, a fact further confirmed by an endorsement on his Naval service record, Can count 1 year and 198 days Army service towards Naval pension. Commencing his career at sea as a Stoker 1st Class in H.M.S. Minotaur in April 1908, he was serving as an Acting Leading Stoker aboard the battleship Magnificent on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. His subsequent wartime appointments comprised the sloop Daffodil (June to November 1915), the receiving ship Colleen at Queenstown, Ireland (November 1915 to October 1917), the depot ship Hecla (October 1917 to April 1918), and the cruiser Gibraltar (April to November 1918). Having gained advancement to substantive Leading Stoker back in January 1916, Coller was pensioned ashore in February 1926.

Six: Quarter-Master & Captain S. J. How, Royal Army Medical Corps, who served in the American hospital ship Maine during the Boer War and the Boxer Rebellion - and gained a "mention" from Lord Roberts Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (8223 S. Major S. J. How, R.A.M.C.); China 1900, no clasp (8223 Serjt.-Maj. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.); 1914-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. S. J. How); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (8223 S. Sjt. Mjr. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.), very fine and better (6) £800-1000 Around 10 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade received the Queens South Africa Medal, and around 15 of them the China Medal, for services in the American hospital ship Maine. But only around six members of the R.A.M.C. likewise qualified, the whole under Major James Meek and Sergeant-Major How. The Maine was originally the Atlantic Transport Line steamer Swansea, renamed in 1899 and lent to the British Government as a hospital ship for use in the Boer War and later off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fitted out as a hospital ship in London by Messrs. Fletcher & Son and Fearnall Ltd., the costs were met by the American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund who struck a special medal to help with their fund raising. Stanley James How was one of just eight members of the medical staff employed in the Maine to be mentioned in Lord Roberts despatch on 1 March 1902, he and Major Meek being the only members of the R.A.M.C. so honoured. Having been placed on retired pay in July 1914, How was recalled on the outbreak of hostilities and was appointed a Quarter-Master and Lieutenant in November 1914, and subsequently gained advancement to Q.M. & Captain in November 1917. Accompanying research further states that he was killed at the Curragh Military Hospital, Dublin in 1919.

Ten: Acting Staff Sergeant W. H. Stone, Royal Army Medical Corps, late St. John Ambulance Brigade, who served aboard the American hospital ship Maine during the Boxer Rebellion Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (127 Ordly. W. H. Stone, St. John Amb. Bde.); China 1900, no clasp (1439 Pte. W. H. Stone, St. John Amb. Bde.); 1914-15 Star (26126 Sjt. W. H. Stone, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (26126 A.S. Sjt. W. H. Stone, R.A.M.C.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1897, St. John Ambulance Brigade issue, bronze (Private W. H. Stone); Coronation 1902, St. John Ambulance Brigade issue, bronze (W. H. Stone, Cpl.); Coronation 1911, St. John Ambulance Brigade issue (Cpl. W. H. Stone); St. John Service Medal (Corporal William H. Stone, July 1911), the fifth renamed, generally very fine or better and an exceptional combination of awards (10) £600-800 William Henry Stone was one of about 15 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade to be employed aboard the American hospital ship Maine during the Boxer Rebellion. The Maine was originally the Atlantic Transport Line steamer Swansea, renamed in 1899 and lent to the British Government as a hospital ship for use in the Boer War and later off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fitted out as a hospital ship in London by Messrs. Fletcher & Son and Fearnall Ltd., the costs were met by the American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund who struck a special medal to help with their fund raising.

Family group: Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1900 (Sergt. A. Burt, Langman Hospital), date on last clasp (to which the recipient was not entitled) privately altered to 1900, rank re-engraved and otherwise officially re-impressed, polished, nearly very fine Four: Acting Staff Sergeant W. H. Burt, Army Service Corps, late Langman Hospital Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Corpl. W. Burt, Langman Hospital); 1914-15 Star (S4-091005 Pte. W. H. Burt, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (S4-091005 A.-S.-Sjt. W. H. Burt, A.S.C.), the first with officially re-impressed naming, generally very fine and rare (5) £400-500 Established by Mr. John Langman, this private hospital opened its tented wards for the first time in April 1900, on the cricket ground at Bloemfontein, where, a few days later, it was inspected by Lord Roberts, V.C., who said of it in a telegram to Langman back in London, that its value to our R.A.M.C. and wounded cannot be overestimated. Indeed, under the efficient command of Langmans son, Archibald, actually a Lieutenant in the Middlesex Yeomanry, the hospital eventually treated 1211 cases, latterly at a new location in Pretoria. Of these patients, 278 returned to duty, 875 were transferred to other hospitals and 58 died. Among the handful of Surgeons employed on the 45-strong staff, 18 of whom were from the St. John Ambulance Brigade, was Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle, M.D., he of Sherlock Holmes fame, who had, from the outset, been invited by John Langman to assist in the selection of suitable personnel - it is not without interest therefore that Corporal Weston Burt was, like Conan Doyle, a resident of Southsea, a fact that suggests they may well have been local friends. Be that as it may, both men would certainly have shared in the horrific scenes caused by ever-growing numbers of enteric victims, the famous author being compelled to write: Our hospital was no worse off than the others, and as there were many of them the general condition of the town [Bloemfontein] was very bad. Coffins were out of the question, and the men were lowered in their brown blankets into shallow graves at the average of sixty a day. A sickening smell came from the stricken town. Once when I had ridden out to get an hour or two of change, and was at least six miles from the town, the wind changed and the smell was all around me. You could smell Bloemfontein long before you could see it. Even now if I felt that lowly death smell compounded of disease and disinfectants my heart would sink within me. The Hospital was eventually given as a free gift by John Langman to the Government in November 1900, complete with all its equipment, tentage and supplies - he was created a Baronet in 1906, while his son, Archibald, received prompter reward by way of a C.M.G. in 1902. Conan Doyle, too, was among the ex-Langman staff honoured, receiving a knighthood, although he later claimed this was in response to the publication of his pamphlet, The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct. Sold with an original printed letter, and an old copy thereof, from John Langman, forwarding Corporal Weston Burts Queens South Africa Medal, dated 14 November 1901, and addressed to him at 77 Castle Road, Southsea (I greatly appreciated all the good work you did in the Hospital and would have liked to have been able to tell you so personally if a presentation could have been arranged ... ); together with original portrait photographs of both brothers, the one of Weston Burt by Barkshire Brothers of 233 Albert Road, Southsea, further evidence of a direct link with Conan Doyle.

An extremely rare Victorian M.S.M. pair awarded to Sergeant-Major J. Gillies, Royal Artillery, almost certainly the last enlisted man to wear his Waterloo Medal in uniform at the time of his discharge, aged 67 years, in 1854 Waterloo 1815 (John Gillis, Bombardier, Royal Foot Artillery), with old replacement clip and ring suspension; Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Serjt. Major John Gillies, Royal Artillery), officially impressed naming, both fitted with decorative riband buckles, naming details worn in places as a result of edge bruising, the first with heavy contact marks and polished, fine, the second rather better (2) £3000-3500 John Gillies was born in Campbeltown, Argyll in 1787 and enlisted in the Royal Artillery in April 1808, when he joined Major Lloyds Company in the Foot Artillery. Having witnessed active service in the disastrous Walcheren operations in the following year, and been advanced to Bombardier, he was present at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, where Lloyds Company formed part of Halketts 5th Brigade and won an "honour title". Whenever his guns appeared to be in danger of capture, Major Lloyd - who was eventually killed - ordered his men to remove one of the wheels of each piece, and roll them back into the protection of an infantry square, thereby preventing the enemy cavalry from dragging them off. Gillies gained advancement to Sergeant in the 1820s but was never awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal, even though he became eligible for a William IV-issue in 1830. He was, however, advanced to Sergeant-Major in 1842 and was awarded one of nine annuity M.S.Ms issued to the Royal Artillery on 18 April 1848 - these were in fact the first such awards to the Regiment as they claimed none in the previous year. Latterly the Repository Sergeant-Major at Woolwich, Gillies was discharged in 1854, aged 67 years, when almost certainly the last enlisted man to wear his Waterloo Medal in uniform (The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, by Ian McInnes, refers). He died in March 1858, when the second most senior R.A. annuitant.

A rare Victorian campaign service and M.S.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant A. McKerrow, 90th Regiment, who was wounded in the attack on the Great Redan in September 1855 and hit by a Tulwar blow in the Indian Mutiny - but the gentleman who gave it never gave another as I had the good luck to drop him with a shot through the chest: and this just one of many fascinating observations to be found in McKerrows memoirs, published in the regimental journal shortly before his death in 1927 Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (90th Regt.), officially impressed naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow (90th Lt. Infy.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (3914 Sergt., 90th Foot); Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Sejt., 90 Foot), officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British die, unnamed, the Mutiny Medal with refixed suspension claw, the first two with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus fine, the remainder very fine and better Together with: Army Temperance Association: India, A.T.A.I.14 (The Association Medal), with 'For Merit' top bar; A.T.A.I.7 (7 Year Medal); A.T.A.I.6 (6 Year Medal); A.T.A.I.5 (5 Year Medal); A.T.A.I.3, with 'Excelsior' top bar (4 Year Award); A.T.A.I.1.5 (Victoria Commemorative Medal); A.T.A.I.2 (1 Year Medal); Army Temperance Association: Home, A.T.A.H.2, with 'Fidelity' top bar (2 Year Award); A.T.A.I.1, silvered (6 Month Medal); 'Grand Lodge, India' Cross, these added by Ian McInnes to replace the McKerrow family Temperance Medals which accompanied his official awards when first auctioned in London, generally very fine (Lot) £1800-2200 Alexander McKerrow was, by his own account, born at Springkell, Dumfriesshire on 29 September 1833, although his enlistment papers state the year 1835 and a family bible 1836. More certain is the fact he enlisted in the 90th Regiment at Westminster in January 1855, aged 20 years, and, as confirmed by his memoirs, quickly saw action in the Crimea, not least in the attack on the Great Redan on 8 September 1855, when he witnessed Sergeant Andrew Moynihan winning his V.C.: I took part in trench work until the final assault on the Great Redan, when the Regiment formed part of the scaling ladder party, and then I knew what it was to be a soldier of the Queen. In reality, as I was making my way into the Great Redan, and squeezing myself through the embrasure of a heavy gun, a Russian gunner took it into his head to prevent me, so he quietly despatched me into the trench 30 feet deep by giving me a blow in the right thigh with a rammer of gun-sponger. I remained there until found the next morning with the dead and wounded. McKerrow, who was also wounded in the head by a musket ball, appears to have been admitted to Scutari, for in later years he would talk about his gratitude to Florence Nightingale - he christened one of his daughters after her. Having then briefly returned to the U.K., he was quickly back on the campaign trail, for the 90th were landed at Calcutta at the onset of the Indian Mutiny: When we crossed the bridge of boats at Cawnpore, the Regiment had its first engagement with the rebels - I think the name of the place was Mungawar. Here the Regiment was extended into skirmishing order, and commenced operations, driving the rebels before them and scattering them in all directions. Sir James Outram accompanied us on his fly-bitten charger, and Sir Henry Havelock remained with the main body on the Grand Trunk Road. Things went all right until the Baggage Guard was attacked by overwhelming numbers, and we had to form rallies and squares. I received a hit in the left foot with a Tulwar, but the gentleman who gave it never gave another, as I had the good luck to drop him with a shot through the chest. And of the subsequent operations at Lucknow: On our way out our Adjutant, Lieutenant Rennie, was riding along, and happened to find out a byway. He was officious in these matters and he took it into his head to have a look, and found to his surprise two guns in the rebels hands. He shouted out "H Company" (which was my company) "right about turn, follow me at the double." We did so, and found him engaged with the gunners. Seeing us join him the rebels let go one of their guns. It swept the road and took a number of my company, amongst whom was Lieutenant Nicol Graham, who was related to the Graham who raised the Regiment. By his death we lost as brave as officer as ever drew a sword for his countrys cause. I well remember him saying, as we put him in a dooley, "Ah, McKerrow, I have seen many a man fall, but I never expected to fall so soon myself." He died of his wounds that evening and the Regiment mourned his loss. He was a soldier of the front rank. The Adjutant [Rennie] received the V.C. for his work, which he well deserved, and I was recommended for a medal for distinguished conduct. McKerrow, who married Elizabeth Moore in 1868 (who had been a child at the defence of Lucknow), saw no further action and was discharged in the rank of Sergeant in July 1875. But he retained his military links by finding employment as a Sergeant in Barrack Department of the Commissariat, first in Mauritius, and then in Malta, from 1883 to 1890, in which latter year he chose to settle there with with his family. But he was to be called out on parade one more time, for in AO 156 of 1900 he was awarded the M.S.M., which distinction was presented to him by His Excellency the Governor in an investiture held at Palace Square, the Daily Malta Chronicle reporting that he was an old soldier well known in Malta and highly respected and that Colonel Hughes Hallett, the Assistant Adjutant-General, read aloud to the spectators Mr. McKerrows record of war services, a record of which any man may well be proud of. Following the death of his wife, McKerrow returned to Scotland in 1915, and settled with one of his daughters at Glasgow Road, Perth, but not before being given a rousing send-off from Malta, his "Benefit Concert" at Valetta attracting the patronage of Field Marshal Lord Methuen, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.M.G. and Vice-Admiral A. H. Limpus, C.B. Back in Scotland, in the late 1920s, he wrote his memoirs for publication in the Covenanter, the regimental journal of the Cameronians (the new title of the old 90th), the editor then describing him as the oldest living member of the Regiment - undoubtedly, too, he was one of the last surviving Crimea & Mutiny veterans when he died in October 1927; for further extracts from his memoirs, and other career details, see The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, by Ian McInnes, in particular Appendix I).

The rare and outstanding Gordon Relief Expedition D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Regimental Corporal-Major A. White, Royal Horse Guards, attached Heavy Camel Regiment, and afterwards a Yeoman of the Guard: decorated for his perfect coolness under fire ... notably at Abu Klea when he rendered material assistance when the Arabs got into the square, he received his decoration from the hands of the Queen at Windsor Castle in February 1886: his was the very first D.C.M. awarded to the Royal Horse Guards and remains one of about 10 won by the regiment to date - a rare distinction indeed in company with his M.S.M., one of the first non-annuity awards ever presented to the Yeomen of the Guard Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (561 Tp. Cor[pl. Maj.] A. White, Rl. Hse. Gds., 17th Jan. & 13th Feb. 85); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (561 Corpl. of Hse., Rl. H. Gds.); Jubilee 1897, bronze; Coronation 1902, bronze; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (R. Corpl.-Maj., Rl. Horse Guards); Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Rgtl. Cpl. Major, Rl. Horse Gds.); Khedives Star 1882, the first with partially obscured rank details due to edge bruising and contact marks, the earlier awards good fine or better, the remainder very fine and better (7) £8000-10000 D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 4 February 1886, relevant details being published in The Times of 24 February 1886: T.C.M. (now R.C.M.) Alfred White, Royal Horse Guards, acted as Corporal-Major of the R.H.G. detachment of the Heavy Camel Regiment; was present at every engagement, and on all occasions showed perfect coolness under fire, and set an excellent example. Notably at Abu Klea he rendered material assistance when the Arabs got into the square, and at the attack on the convoy on 13 February, displayed great coolness in assisting the wounded into the sick square. He also served in the Egyptian Campaign of 1882. Alfred White was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire in August 1851 and enlisted in the Royal Horse Guards at Regents Park in October 1870. An imposing figure for the age - standing six feet tall - he completed the advanced military equitation course and was advanced to Corporal of Horse in 1875. Active service followed in Egypt and the Sudan from May to October 1882, when he joined the composite regiment made up of the 1st & 2nd Life Guards, the 7th Dragoon Guards and the Royal Horse Guards, and participated in the "Moonlight Charge" at Kassassin on 28 August - when the cavalry squadrons swept down at sunset around a high sand ridge, taking the enemy completely by surprise - and at Tel-el-Kebir in the following month; so, too, in the Gordon Relief Expedition 1884-85, when he won his D.C.M. for bravery as a Troop Corporal-Major in the Heavy Camel Regiment at Abu Klea on 17 January 1885 and in the attack on his convoy a few weeks later. At Abu Klea, his unit flanked the Naval Brigade in the rear of the square, where, famously, the Arabs took the advantage after the exposed Gardner gun jammed, a failure compounded by a wheeling movement ordered by another six-footer from the "Blues", the colourful Colonel "Fred" Burnaby. He was slain, in addition to eight other officers and 65 men, while the wounded totalled nine officers and 85 men - many of these later dying of their injuries. Having received his D.C.M. from the hands of the Queen at Windsor Castle on 23 February 1886, White next went overseas in November 1889, as a member of a delegation to the British South Africa Companys territory in Matabeleland, when he accompanied his Adjutant, Captain V. J. F. Ferguson, Surgeon Colonel H. F. L. Melladew and batman Trooper Ross to Chief Lobengulas kraal at Bulawayo - all of them had their documents endorsed with an appreciation of their services by H.R.H. the C.-in-C. on their return in May 1890. In October 1890, White was recommended for the M.S.M. and annuity by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Kilmarnock, an earlier submission in December 1888 having been refused, and on this occasion, since he had also been noted for the Yeomen of the Guard, it was concluded if successful for one, he will not be eligible for the other. Discharged to a pension in October 1891, a vacancy in the Guard finally occurred in February 1895, and White was subsequently present at the inspections made by Queen Victoria in 1897, and by Edward VII in June 1901, when 93 Yeomen were on parade. But he never saw the M.S.M. that had eluded him in life, for he died in February 1907, shortly before the award was announced in AO 99 of May 1907, one of the first ever granted to a Yeoman of the Guard without annuity (see The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, and The Yeomen of the Guard 1823-1903, both by Ian McInnes, for further details).

The rare and outstanding Second Afghan War D.C.M. group of nine awarded to Colour-Sergeant W. McDonald, 72nd Highlanders, afterwards Norfolk Regiment and a Yeoman of the Guard: decorated for his bravery in the actions at Bala-Hissar and Takht-i-Shah on 12 December 1879, he received his decoration from the hands of the Queen in a ceremony on the Isle of Wight, but was shortly afterwards severely wounded by a gunshot to his left arm at Tel-el-Kebir - he survived however to be awarded one of the first non-annuity M.S.Ms ever presented to the Yeomen of the Guard Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Cr. Sergt. W. MacDonald, 72nd Foot, 12th Decr. 1879); Afghanistan 1878-80, 4 clasps, Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (1415 Cr. Sgt., 72nd Highrs.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (1415 Col. Sergt., 72nd Highlanders); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-el-Kebir (1415 Cr. Sergt., 1/Sea. Highrs.); Coronation 1902, bronze; Coronation 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (1150 Cr. Sgt., Norf. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Clr. Serjt., 1/Seaforth Hdrs.); Khedives Star 1882, the reverse inscribed, 1415 Cr. St. W. MacDonald, 1/Sea. Hrs., surname officially corrected on the fourth, suspension bar bent on the M.S.M., contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus good fine or better (9) £8000-10000 D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 12 October 1881, relevant details having earlier been published in the London Gazette of 4 May 1880: On the occasion of the attack on the Bala-Hissar position and the subsequent counter-attack on the Takht-i-Shah, three non-commissioned officers - Colour-Sergeant W. MacDonald, Sergeants W. Cox and R. McIlveen, all of the 72nd Highlanders - greatly distinguished themselves, especially Colour-Sergeant MacDonald, by the cool and intelligent manner in which he superintended the construction of a breastwork under a very heavy fire. William McDonald was born at Cockpen in Midlothian in June 1850 and enlisted in the 72nd Highlanders in June 1868. Advanced to Corporal in January 1871, shortly before being embarked for India, he received rapid promotion thereafter, attaining the rank of Colour-Sergeant in January 1875, with only six and half years service and still aged only 23 years. But it would not be until the Second Afghan War that he witnessed active service, and in so far as the Seaforths were concerned it was action of the hottest kind - not least in four days of bitter fighting round Kabul in December 1879. Indeed it was in the course of these operations that McDonald won his D.C.M., namely for his cool and intelligent handling of the defences on Bila-Hissar hill during three determined enemy attacks in the early morning hours of the 12th, and for his subsequent part in the counter-attack launched against the Takht-i-Shah later that day. Of the terrain and defences of the latter place, which was persistently and most gallantly attacked by McDonald and his comrades, Lord Roberts later wrote, The slopes leading up to it were covered by huge masses of jagged rock, intersected by perpendicular cliffs, and its natural strength was increased by breastworks and stockades thrown up at differing points (Forty-One Years in India refers). His D.C.M., the only known dated issue from the Second Afghan War, and quite possibly the first ever to be so inscribed, was formally approved by Queen Victoria on 12 October 1881, the relevant document citing his gallant conduct on the occasion of the attack on the Bala-Hissar and Takht-i-Shah, near Kabul, on 12 October 1879, and in the following year, with five of his comrades from the 72nd Highlanders, in a special ceremony on the Isle of Wight, he received his award from the hands of the Queen - see Major P. E. Abbotts Recipients of the D.C.M. (2nd edition, Plate No. 2), for a photograph of these men taken at Parkhurst shortly afterwards. Following this encounter with the Queen, McDonald was embarked for Egypt, where he was among four casualties sustained by the Seaforths at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir in September 1882 - in his case by a severe gunshot wound in the left arm. In early 1885, he transferred to the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, as a Colour-Sergeant Instructor, and attended courses at the School of Musketry at Hythe, and the Small Arms School at Birmingham. Latterly serving as an Acting Sergeant-Major of the 3rd Battalion, he was finally discharged in November 1895, after 27 years with the Colours. Settling in Swaffham, Norfolk, McDonald became a member of the Norfolk Patriotic Association, and an out-pensioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, as a result of which he was among those presented to H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales, in a visit to the hospital in 1899 - he was among a group of veterans photographed for a subsequent feature published in the Navy and Army Illustrated, 27 May 1899. In January of the following year, he joined the Yeomen of the Guard, in which capacity he served until his death in October 1913, aged 63 years. In the interim, he was present at the funeral cortege of Queen Victoria on 25 June 1901, when King Edward VII made his first inspection of his Guard - 93 Yeomen were on parade, McDonald in the Fourth Division, and in July 1905 was recommended for the M.S.M. by the O.C. Eastern Group Reservists, the O.C. of the Norfolk Regiment depot, and the O.C. Highland Group Regimental District - the relevant documents revealed that McDonald had eight entries in the Regimental Defaulters Book, one for drunkenness in 1880 and the remainder for absence. Be that as it may, in AO 99 of May 1907, his award was formally announced, one of the first ever granted to a Yeoman of the Guard without annuity (see The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, and The Yeomen of the Guard 1823-1903, both by Ian McInnes, for further details).

The remarkable Delhi Durbar 1911 R.V.M. group of 15 awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel P. H. Watson, Indian Army, late Bedfordshire Regiment, whose career of 40 or so years with the Colours encompassed active service in India, China, Tibet, Iraq and N.W. Persia, in addition to the Great War, when he was awarded an immediate M.S.M. for services in Mesopotamia India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (6039 Pte., 1st Bedford Regt.); China 1900, no clasp (6039 Corpl., S. & T. Corps), initials H. P.; Tibet 1903-04, 1 clasp, Gyantse (Sergt., 7th Mule Corps); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Sub. Condr., S. & T. Corps); 1914 Star (S.-Condr., S. & T.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt., S. & T.C.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Iraq, N.W. Persia, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, coinage bust, privately inscribed, S./Cdr. P. H. Watson, S. & T. Corps; Delhi Durbar 1911, privately inscribed, S./Cdr. P. H. Watson; Jubilee 1935, privately inscribed, Lt. Col. P. H. Watson; Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, Lt. Col. P. H. Watson; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Condr., S. & T. Corps); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Condr., S. & T. Corps), the first with officially corrected unit and the second with corrected initial, occasional edge bruising, generally very fine or better (14) £2000-2500 Percy Hamilton Watson was in Hampstead, London in 1875, but later joined his father out in India, at Simla, where in 1895 he enlisted in the Punjab Volunteer Rifles. Then in June 1897 he joined the ranks of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, which unit had been out in India for several years, but was attached to the Supply & Transport Corps, Indian Army, for service with the Tirah Expeditionary Force in the Punjab operations of 1897-98 (WO/100/84 refers). Back with the Bedfordshires, he was advanced to Lance-Corporal in November 1898 and to Corporal in June 1900, but was sufficiently unhappy about an earlier reprimand for neglect of duty, twice being absent from his office and for making an inappropriate remark to Sergeant Markham that he elected to transfer to the Punjab Unattached List for employment with the Supply & Transport Corps. He was immediately advanced to Sergeant and embarked for China in September 1900, where he appears to have served in a shipping capacity, work that won him a favourable endorsement on his service record. Back in India, he was employed at Delhi in connection with the Durbar arrangements from September 1902 until February 1903 (his service papers refer), but he does not appear on the relevant medal roll. Advanced to the acting rank of Sub. Conductor in the 7th Mule Corps, Northern Command, shortly afterwards, he was employed in the Tibet Expedition 1903-04, when he was present at the capture of Gyantse. And then in 1908, having been appointed substantive Sub. Conductor, he served in the 7th Mule Corps in the North West Frontier operations, firstly in the Bazaar Valley and later in Mohmand country. In February 1910, Watson was appointed a Sub. Division Commander in the 4th Mule Corps (Cavalry Brigade) at Lahore, while in the following year he was on duty for the Delhi Durbar, gaining the Royal Victorian Medal on the same occasion (official listing in respect of H.M. visit to India and the Durbar, dated 2 June 1912, refers). In mid-August 1914, he was embarked for France with the 3rd Mule Cadre (Cavalry Brigade), but in April 1915 was re-embarked for Egypt in the rank of Conductor. Further active service ensued in Mesopotamia from February 1916 to April 1918, initially with the 9th Mule Corps of the 3rd Lahore Division, a period that also witnessed his appointment to a commission as a Commissary & Hon. Lieutenant in January 1916, and the award of his L.S. & G.C. Medal (IAO 728 of 1917 refers). So, too, the award of his immediate M.S.M. (London Gazette 17 October 1917), and a "mention" from General Sir F. S. Maude (London Gazette 12 March 1918). Yet further active service was to follow, however, firstly in the Iraq operations, and secondly in the N.W. Persia operations of August to December 1920, when the final withdrawal of our troops was accomplished by the likes of Watson, with little motor transport and in freezing conditions. Indeed he did not depart this theatre of war until March 1923, in which year he was again mentioned in despatches. Advanced to Deputy Commissary & Captain back in India in February 1926, his service record continued to attract favourable comment, an extremely capable officer and universally popular being typical of his assessments at this time. Unsurprisingly, therefore, he was promoted to Commissary & Major in July 1928 - with seniority back dated to January 1922 - and in January 1930, on the eve of his retirement, to Lieutenant-Colonel. But Watsons career was quickly rekindled, for in the following year he was appointed Inspector of Messing in the Quarter-Master Generals Department, H.Q. India, in which capacity he was also appointed a half-Colonel in the Indian Army Service Corps - thus his verified Jubilee 1935 and Coronation 1937 Medals. He retired for a final time in 1938, when his extensive service record was sent to Army H.Q. Simla, for filing - but which today resides in the India Records Office (nearly 200 pp. in L/Mil/14/30463).

An impressive inter-war M.B.E. group of twelve awarded to Commissary & Major E. W. Newman, Indian Army, late Dorset Regiment, who was awarded an immediate M.S.M. in 1917 and thrice mentioned in despatches during his long and distinguished career (1895-1944): one of the latter distinctions was for the South Persia operations 1918-19, though he was suffering from an old wound obtained in France The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Members 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1932; India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4639 Drmr., 1/Dorset Regt.), single initial E.; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Sergt., S. & T. Corps), single initial E.; 1914 Star (S./Sergt., S. & T. Corps); British War Medal 1914-20 (Condr., S. & T. Corps). single initial E.; Victory Medal 1914-19 (Condr., S. & T.C.), single initial E.; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. Persia (Condr., S. & T. Corps); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (S./Sergt., S. & T. Corps); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (S. Sjt., S. & T.C.), together with official duplicate issue 1914 Star (4639 S. Sjt., Dorset R.) and British War Medal 1914-20 (4639 C. Sjt., Dorset R.), the second and third renamed in small impressed capitals, generally very fine or better (14) £800-1000 M.B.E. London Gazette 4 June 1934. Eugene William Newman was born in Oatacomand, India in December 1881 and enlisted in the Dorset Regiment as a boy recruit in January 1895. Standing a little over five feet, he was appointed a Drummer in the 1st Battalion and quickly witnessed active service in the Punjab Frontier operations of 1897-98, when his battalion formed part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division in the Tirah Expeditionary Force. Clearly a gifted linguist, Newman went on to pass at the higher standards in Tamil and Hindustani, as well as the lower standard of Persian, 1900-03, and gained advancement to Lance-Corporal in February 1904. Shortly afterwards, in a deliberate career move, he transferred to the Supply & Transport Corps on the Punjab-Bengal Unattached List and was advanced to Staff Sergeant in November 1905. Further active service followed in the Zakka Khel operations of 1908, when he won a "mention" from the G.O.C., Mohmand Field Force, and in 1911, having passed the Warrant Officers examination, he was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal, his C.O. in the 2nd Rawalpindi Division reporting that he did exceedingly good work at the Durbar Coronation deserving of special notice - the award of his L.S. & G.C. was announced in IAO 85 of 1913. Then in early November 1914, as a Staff Sergeant, he was embarked for service in France and Flanders, where he was attached to the Lucknow Cavalry Brigade and was wounded on 26 May 1915, his C.O. noting in an official report submitted in the following year, Recommended for a Commission. One of the best N.C.Os in the Army. Little else is known about his time on the Western Front, other than the fact he served as an Acting Conductor - he was advanced to substantive Sub. Conductor in July 1917 - and was awarded an immediate Meritorious Service Medal In recognition of services rendered with the Armies in the Field during the present War (London Gazette 9 July 1917 refers), in addition to another "mention" which appeared in the Gazette of India on 27 March 1920; as a result of the fact he was "on the books" of the Dorset Regiment, he was also erroneously issued with a brace of 1914 Star trios (his MIC entries refer). Newman, who returned to India in November 1917, was posted to Persia in June 1918, where he served as Acting Commandant of 145 Supply Tally Section, Bushire Field Force, from February until June 1919, and was brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services during the period April 1918 to March 1919 (London Gazette 3 February 1920 refers). This latter "mention" undoubtedly stemmed from an official report submitted by his C.O., which stated that Newman had proved invaluable at the Base Supply Depot though suffering from an old wound obtained in France. Having then enjoyed extended leave back in the U.K., he returned to India, where he held a string of appointments in the 1920s and 1930s at such locations as Calcutta, Jalapahar, Barrackpore, Bannu and Bombay. Commissioned as an Assistant Commmissary & Lieutenant in May 1928, he was advanced to Deputy Commissary & Captain in May 1931 and to Commissary & Major in May 1934, in which latter year he was awarded the M.B.E. and placed on the Retired List. Recalled in his original rank on the renewal of hostilities, Newman served as the O.C. of a supply company at Karachi until October 1941, when he assumed similar duties at a P.O.W. camp at Bangalaore. Here he remained actively employed until August 1944, when he reverted to the Retired List, thereby adding the 1939-45 War and India Service Medals to the India General Service Medal he had earned nearly 50 years earlier.

An exceptional and particularly early Great War M.C. group of nine awarded to Quarter-Master & Captain H. Dugdale, Royal Army Medical Corps, a veteran of the Suakin 1885 and Ashanti 1896 operations who was awarded the M.S.M. in 1936, aged 75 years Military Cross, G.V.R.; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (3931 Sergt., M.S. Corps); Ashanti Star 1896; 1914 Star (Hon. Lieut. & Q.M., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Q.M. & Lieut.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3931 S. Sjt., R.A.M.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., coinage bust (S. Sjt., M.C., R.A.M.C.); Khedives Star 1884-6, the earlier awards with contact marks, but generally very fine and quite possibly a unique combination of awards (9) £2000-2500 M.C. London Gazette 23 June 1915. Herbert Dugdale was born in Salford in April 1860 and enlisted in the Medical Staff Corps in 1878. Advanced to Lance-Corporal while stationed at Gibraltar in 1881, he served in Egypt and the Sudan 1883-85 and 1885-86, latterly as a Sergeant in the Suakin operations, and on the west coast of Africa 1895-96, during the Ashanti operations. He was discharged as a Staff Sergeant in November 1908, having been awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in the previous year (AO 242 refers). Commissioned as an Honorary Lieutenant & Quarter-Master in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he went out to France with No. 18 Field Ambulance in the following month, but would appear to have been awarded his M.C. for services in the No. 3 East Lancashire Field Ambulance, which distinction was one of very first to be gazetted. He was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 June 1915 refers) before returning to the U.K. in December 1915. Dugdale, who relinquished his commission in April 1924, was awarded his M.S.M. in AO 237 of 1936, and was still living in the 1950s; Ian McInnes estimates around 10 medical veterans of the Suakin 1885 operations later received M.S.Ms, but with the addition of his M.C. and Ashanti Star this group must surely be unique.

An exceptional Great War M.C., Boer War D.C.M. group of nine awarded to Warrant Officer Class 1 A. F. Watts, Royal Artillery, who was awarded the M.S.M. in 1953, aged 70 years Military Cross, G.V.R..; Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (87933 Sjt. A. F. Watts, 68th(sic) Bty. R.F.A.); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (87933 Sgt. A. F. Watts, 88th Bty. R.F.A.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (87933 Serjt., R.F.A.); 1914 Star, with clasp (87933 R.S. Mjr., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (87933 W.O. Cl. 1, R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (87933 B.S. Mjr., R.F.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (87933 W.O. Cl. 1, R.A.), this last with officially corrected surname, somewhat polished, thus nearly very fine or better (9) £2500-3000 M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916. D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901. Arthur Frank Watts was born in November 1873 and enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery at Birmingham in December 1891. Appointed an Acting Bombardier in May 1893, he passed the Rough Riders course at Woolwich and was advanced Corporal in 1896 and to Sergeant in August 1898. Subsequently awarded the D.C.M. for his services in South Africa in 88th Battery, R.F.A. (AO 15 of 1902), where he served from January 1900 until his return home in October 1902, following two months in hospital at De Aar with fever in ague, he was advanced to Battery Sergeant-Major in April 1903 and awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in AO 73 of 1910. Watts was embarked for France as Regimental Sergeant-Major in XXVII Brigade, R.F.A. (comprising 119, 120 and 121 Batteries, and 37 Howitzer Battery) on 17 August 1914, and would therefore have witnessed the famous action fought by his units guns near Elouges on the 24th (a.k.a. "Shrapnel Monday"). The C.O. of 119 Battery, Major E. W. Alexander, was awarded the V.C., so, too, Captain F. O. Grenfell, 9th Lancers, who, having emerged from the regiments charge at nearby Audregnies, assisted in the evacuation of 119s guns. For his own part, Watts was gazetted for the M.C. in January 1916, and returned to the U.K. in December of the same year. Re-deployed to the Italian front in April 1918, he was finallly discharged on his return to the U.K. in the following year, but went on to receive the M.S.M. in 1953, when aged 70 years (AO 98 of that year refers), a distinction which is believed to be one of just five such awards granted to ex-Boer War D.C.M/Great War M.C. recipients; see The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, by Ian McInnes, for further biographical information.

An impressive and early Great War D.C.M. group of twelve awarded to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel and Quarter-Master F. Snow, Manchester Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (888 C.S. Mjr. F. Snow, 2/Manch. R.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (888 Sjt., 2/Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (888 W.O. Cl. 1, Manch. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (888 W.O. Cl. 1, Manch. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (Lieut., D.C.M., Manch. R.); Defence and War Medals; Jubilee 1935, privately inscribed, Lieut. F. Snow, D.C.M., Manch. Regiment; Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, Capt. F. Snow, D.C.M., Manch. R.; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (3512219 W.O. Cl. 1, (D.C.M.), Manch. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (888 C.S. Mjr., A.R.S. Mjr., D.C.M., 2 Manch. R.), the earlier awards with contact wear, edge bruising and polished, good fine, the remainder generally very fine or better (12) £1800-2200 Ex Fevyer Collection (Spink, November 1998, Lot 1192). D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He, with great bravery and determination, carried a wounded man to a place of safety under heavy shell fire. Frederick Snow, who was born in Dumfries in March 1888, originally enlisted in the Scots Guards, but transferred to the Manchester Regiment in 1913. Posted to the 2nd Battalion that October, in the rank of Lance-Sergeant, he was embarked for France on 15 August 1914, where he fought in the retreat from Mons - the 2nd Manchesters sustained around 225 casualties at Les Trois Maisons on 20 October and fought with distinction at Festubert on the 29th, winning two Victoria Crosses. For his own part, Snow was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 17 February 1915 and 22 June 1915), in addition to adding the D.C.M. to his accolades for rescuing a wounded comrade under fire later in the same year. Indeed he remained on active service in France and Flanders for the remainder of the War, sharing in the Battalions many battle honours - the "Somme 1916" and "St. Quentin Canal 1918" among them - and was advanced to Company Sergeant-Major in March 1915 and to Regimental Sergeant-Major in June 1918. An immediate M.S.M. followed, about the time the Battalion was based in Tipperary, sparring with the Sinn Feiners (London Gazette 18 January 1919 refers). The 2nd Manchesters were next ordered to Iraq, where, on 20 July 1920, near Hillah, they suffered serious casualties - namely four officers and 137 men killed, 60 wounded and 76 taken prisoner by the Arabs. The Battlion also added another V.C. to its accolades, namely the posthumous award granted to Captain G. S. Henderson, D.S.O., who led three bayonet charges on the same occasion. In December 1920, the Battalion was embarked for India, where it remained stationed for the next 12 years, a period that witnessed it being sent to Nagpur on two occasions in aid of the Civil Power and participating in the Burma operations of 1930-32. In the interim, Snow won assorted revolver championship cups and was commissioned as a Lieutenant and Quarter-Master in June 1927. Having risen to Major and Quarter-Master by the eve of hostilities in 1939, Snow served at the Regimental Depot at Ashton under Lyne until November 1944, when he was placed on the Retired List in the rank of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel. He died in 1961.

A rare Second World War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Chater, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, who, having passed a bomb disposal course in London in early 1941, was attached to the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, participated in the Walcheren landings in November 1944 and was awarded the Order of Orange Nassau: then in 1955 he added a "Canada M.S.M." to his accolades - one of just 29 E.II.R. issues ever granted The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Members 2nd type breast badge; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45, silver; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, silver; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., robed bust, Canada (2nd Cl. Mr. Gr. (W.O. Cl. 1, R.C.H.A.); Army Meritorious Service, E.II.R., Canada reverse (P8236 Mr. Gr. (W.O. 1), R.C.A.); The Netherlands, Order of Orange-Nassau, Officers breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with swords, rosette on riband, mounted as worn, together with an R.C.H.A. badge, the sixth with officially corrected rank and the last with chipped enamel work and one slightly damaged arm point, otherwise generally good very fine (8) £1000-1200 O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1946. Hartley Ernest Chater was born in Toronto in February 1903 and enlisted underage in the Permanent Forces of Canada in June 1919, aged 16 years, his attestation papers noting apparently aged 19. Posted to the Canadian Horse Artillery, he gained steady promotion over the coming years, rising to Battery Sergeant-Major in 1932 and to Quarter-Master Sergeant in the following year, when he was employed on the staff of the Royal Military Academy. Having then been awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in June 1937, he attended a special Master Gunners course in the U.K., and was appointed Master Gunner 1st Class in the following year. The advent of hostilities found him employed as a Regimental Sergeant-Major and he was embarked for England in January 1940, where he was commissioned in the 1st Medium Regiment, R.C.A. that September. Having then passed a bomb disposal course at Regents Park in the New Year, he was advanced to Captain and attached to the 1st Canadian Division Ammunition Column. Again promoted in 1942, to Major, he was in fact a Lieutenant-Colonel (Ordnance Officer 2nd Class) by the time of the North West Europe operations 1944-45, which theatre of operations he visited on several occasions, but never for a sufficient length of time to qualify for the 1939-45 Star. Be that as it may, he was present in the Walcheren operations in November 1944, when he was attached as an Ordnance Officer to 112 L.A.A. Battery, R.C.A. - a rocket unit - and afterwards on secondment to the Hague. He was awarded the O.B.E. and the Order of Orange-Nassau, the latter by Royal Warrant dated 11 November 1946. Finally released back at Montreal in September 1947, Chater returned to the U.K. and settled in Dartford, Kent, where he died in April 1983. In the interim, however, by letter of notification from the Department of National Defence at Ottawa dated 21 July 1955, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal - one of just 29 E.II.R. "Canada M.S.Ms" and the only such example yet noted on the market by Ian McInnes. Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipients O.B.E. warrant, in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, R.C.O.C., the borders trimmed, and related forwarding letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs at Ottawa; his warrant of appointment to the Order of Oranage-Nassau, dated 11 November 1946; and his M.S.M. letter of notification from the Department of National Defence at Ottawa, dated 21 July 1955; together with large file of research compiled from Canadian archives and family sources.

A rare Second World War prisoner of wars M.M. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer 1st Class R. "Ronnie the One" MacDonald, Australian Regular Army, late Cameron Highlanders: having been taken P.O.W. near Abbeville in June 1940, he proved uncompromising in his attitude to his captors and was regularly incarcerated in the "cooler" for persistent escape attempts - he displayed a similar attitude towards the recruits he had to train after joining the Australian Army in the 1950s, a fact confirmed by Clive James in his Unreliable Memoirs - and was awarded the Commonwealth of Australia M.S.M. for his troubles Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2927087 W.O. Cl. 2 R. MacDonald, Camerons); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal, M.I.D. oak leaf; U.N. Korea; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (2927087 W.O. Cl. 1, M.M., Camerons); Commonwealth of Australia Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R. (24767 W.O. 1, A.R.A.), the sixth with officially corrected number, contact marks, very fine and better (7) £2000-2500 M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1945. The original recommendation states: Captured at St. Valery on 12 June 1940, Company Sergeant-Major MacDonald first attempted to escape while on the march to Germany. He slipped away from the column unobserved and hid in an empty building. Later the same evening the Germans made a search of the premises and he was discovered. In April 1942, whilst imprisoned in a working camp at Sernberg, he and a companion escaped by cutting the bars of the hut bathroom. They had made maps and compasses and planned to make their way to Greece and thence to Turkey. Eight days later, on the outskirts of Bratislava, they were arrested by German police. For three years MacDonald was in charge of the other ranks at Oflag IX A/Z and did valuable work for the Escape Committee. He has been highly commended for this work by the Senior British Officer and two other officers. Ronald MacDonald was born at Aird, North Uist in March 1912 and enlisted in the 4th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders (Territorials) in March 1930, prior to transferring to the Regular Army in June of the following year. Having gained advancement to Company Sergeant-Major by the outbreak of hostilities, he went out to France in B (Islands) Company of the 4th Camerons in 1940, and was taken P.O.W. at "Hedgehog Ridge", Abbeville that June: The Germans, by unlucky coincidence, had also mounted an attack for the morning of the 4th, and on their left - our right - their infantry moved out a few minutes before our barrage opened. When B Company of the 4th Camerons advanced upwards towards the "Hedgehog", they encountered, in a field of rye well in front of the hill, a German battalion quite unscathed by gunfire. There was stern fighting there. The Germans had sited numerous machine-guns in the corn, and B Company had many casualties ... Among those killed was B Companys C.O., Captain the Viscount Fincastle, and in his ensuing years in captivity MacDonald kept his late C.O.s clan kilt, eventually returning it to the officers widow at Dalness, North Argyll, at the end of the War. Latterly held at Oflag 9A at Spagenburg, MacDonald was completely uncompromising in his attitude to the Germans and his resistance earned him six months in solitary confinement ... He was liberated before the end of the War and is believed to have served in N.W. Europe, this qualifying him for the France and Germany Star (accompanying regimental letter refers). He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 28 February 1946), and received his M.M. from the hands of General Auchinleck at a special parade held in January 1946. After the War, MacDonald was R.S.M. of the 1st Battalion in India and Japan, 1946-47, and again from 1949-50, in which latter year he retired. But his military career was not yet over, for having emigrated to Australia he joined the Regular Australian Army and was quickly back in harnass as a Regimental Sergeant-Major, this time at Duntroon Military Academy and other training establishments, where he gained a reputation for being a disciplinarian and the sobriquet "Ronnie the One". No better illustration of this chapter in his career may be recommended than Clive James Unreliable Memoirs, in which he makes frequent reference to MacDonalds ferocious temperament (When Ronnie was really annoyed his face swelled up and turned purple like the rear of an amorous baboon). His orders, too, were delivered in a high-pitched almost supersonic scream, the more terrifying ones ending in a verb, but he led by example - His brass gleamed like gold and his leather like mahogany. On one occasion, after a young recruit had put a live mortar round upside down in the barrel, everyone was seen to scatter for cover - some tried to dig themselves into the earth. Some started climbing trees. But most of us ran. But not "Ronnie the One", who picked up the mortar, base plate included, shook out the live round and promptly ordered the offending recruit to go back through the motions - The mortar coughed. There was a crackle in the sky and a blast on the hill. Then we all marched thoughtfully back to camp. MacDonald, who was awarded the M.S.M. (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 30 August 1962, refers), settled in Adelaide and died there in October 1993; sold with a large file of research.

Five: Corporal G. Cox, East Yorkshire Regiment, promoted a Kings Corporal for Gallantry in the Field, 19 October 1901; killed in action at Tekke Tepe, Suvla Bay, 9 August 1915 Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4340 Pte., 2 E. York. Regt.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (4340 Corpl., E. York. Regt.); 1914-15 Star (3-6811 Cpl., E. York. R.); British War and Victory Medals (3-6811 Cpl., E. York. R.), first two with edge bruising and contact marks, very fine and better (5) £300-400 George Cox was born in Walsall, Staffordshire. A Labourer by occupation he attested for service in the East Yorkshire Regiment on 9 August 1893, whilst still serving in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment. Serving with the 2nd Battalion he landed in South Africa on 3 April 1900. On 19 December 1901 in a sharp action at Hollands Farm near Standerton (at Kaffirspruit in service papers), Cox with three others held a drift to cover the retirement of 20 other soldiers. After they had been successfully withdrawn, Cox noticed a wounded officer lying to the front, and so led a horse back to where he lay and, under severe fire rescued Lieutenant B. A. W. C. Moeller of the 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment. For this rescue, Cox was promoted Corporal for Gallantry in the Field. Lieutenant Moeller died of his wounds on 23 December 1901. George Cox was thereafter known in the regiment as Kings Corporal Cox. The appointment of a Kings Corporal for Gallantry in the Field was only used during the South African War. The tradition amongst the soldiers of the period was that a Kings Corporal could only be reduced in rank by the King himself! Kings Corporal Cox retired from the Army on 21 August 1905 at the termination of his period of engagement and then served four years in the Army Reserve. His Discharge Certificate states that his trade at this time was a Porter and that his intended place of residence was to be 75 Alica Street, Hull. In 1914 with the outbreak of war, Cox volunteered for the Army but at 44 years of age was deemed too old. He therefore falsified his age to gain entry and was successful in returning to the Depot of the East Yorkshire Regiment at York. On arrival however an officer recognised him, he was marched in front of his C.O. and promptly ordered to put back the two stripes he had won in the Boer War. With the 6th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) East Yorkshire Regiment, he was posted to Gallipoli. Sailing on the Franconia, the regiment arrived there on 7 August 1915, landing from H.M.S. Theseus at C Beach at Suvla Bay and digging in on the S.E. slopes of Lala Baba. During the next day the battalion moved forward through dense scrub under heavy shellfire and perpetual sniping. On 9 August 1915 Corporal Cox was killed in action in the attack upon Tekke Tepe: About midnight on the 8th although utterly exhausted the Battalion was ordered into another attack. Colonel Moore gathered up one company and together with his Battalion HQ fought their way to the summit of Tekke Tepe. A position farther east on the heights above Suvla Bay than any other British troops. But these few men were surrounded and Colonel Moore had no choice but to surrender. As he sat down a Turkish soldier treacherously ran him through the back with a bayonet. By dawn on the 9th after a "Brilliant feat of arms, the East Yorks had penetrated to the key position - Tekke Tepe." But they were not supported, and after suffering terrible casualties had to withdraw. The other companies had moved forward in the dark to a nullah but as they entered open ground "They were met by a withering fire and to make matters worse they were enfiladed badly up the nullah from a range of hills. Men and officers dropped fast." The Turks then brought up two divisions to face this attack and "swarmed in thousands" from the foot of Tekke Tepe. The 6th Battalion held their ground but the battle for the high ground was lost. As the Regimental History states "Sufficient to say that the 6th East Yorkshire did their duty with all the strength that was in them. They alone had penetrated to the key position, with them alone lies that honour". That night the remnants of the 6th Battalion bivouacked on Beach A near the "Cut". At roll call it was found that out of 26 officers and about 800 other ranks, only 7 officers and about 300 men remained. Later many men rejoined having remained in the firing line with other units - but amongst the dead was Corporal George Cox. George Cox was the husband of Christina Cox of 3 Vallance Place, Blanket Row, Hull. His name is commemorated on the Hellas Memorial. Sold with Parchment Certificate of Discharge, dated York, 20 August 1909. On it his two Boer War medals are listed and it further states, Promoted Corporal for gallantry in the Field 19.10.1901; South Africa Army Orders of 8.1.1902. Also with a copied photograph of the recipient, copied service papers and copied research.

Pair: Captain P. F. B. Hawes, Border Regiment Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut., 1/Border Rgt.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Capt., Bord. Rgt.) very fine (2) £240-280 Percy Frederick Brunel Hawes was born on 8 October 1871. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Border Regiment on 21 January 1893 and promoted to Lieutenant on 16 January 1896. He served in the Boer War with the 1st Battalion and took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, April-May 1900; Transvaal, June 1900; the Transvaal east of Pretoria, July 1900; the Transvaal east of Pretoria, July-November 1900, and in other operations in Transvaal from December 1900. On 15 July 1902 he was advanced to Captain. Post-war he qualified on the Linguist Course and Ordnance Course and was attached to the Army Ordnance Department. Placed on Half Pay on 21 July 1908, he retired from the Army as a Captain on 14 August 1914. A contemporary Border Regiment Diary from South Africa describes him as An exceptional character. Brought up in France he was nicknamed "Johnnie". He had a stock of French songs and anecdotes and was good at "al fresco" singsongs. Sold with some copied research.