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Six: Sergeant S. J. Withycombe, Devonshire Regiment 1914-15 Star (10201 Pte. S. J. Withycombe. Devon: R.); British War and Victory Medals (10201 Pte. S. J. Withycombe. Devon. R.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (5608737 Sjt. S. J. Withycombe. Devon. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (5608737 Cpl. S. J. Withycombe. Devon R.) the Great War trio heavily polished and worn, therefore fair; the later awards good very fine and better (6) £240-£280 --- Sidney James Withycombe was born in Totnes, Devon in 1897. A Quarryman by occupation he enlisted into the Devonshire Regiment on 20 August 1914 and was posted to the newly formed 8th (Service) Battalion under training at Rushmoor Camp. Embarking with his battalion on 25 July 1915 for France he took part in the actions on the Somme and around Ypres during 1915-17. With the 8th Battalion he entrained for Italy on 18 November 1917 and again saw action this time on the Asiago Plateau and the crossing of the River Piave on 26 October 1918. Attesting ‘In the Field’ for a further four years’ service on 27 January 1919, he was posted to the reformed 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment and embarked for India with his battalion to serve at Quetta, Baluchistan and further extending his length of service in 1922. Posted to the Depot, Exeter in February 1927, he was shortly after posted to the 1st Battalion serving with the Shanghai Defence Force on 20 April 1927, and later in Malta. Returning to the Depot, Exeter, on 9 July 1931, he was presented with his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by the Colonel of the Regiment on 29 July 1933. Awarded the King’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935, he was discharged to pension 2 March 1936. He was awarded his Meritorious Service Medal without gratuity per Army Order 98 of December 1953. Known within his regiment as ‘Sid’ and well respected, he died at Cullompton on 6 January 1993 aged 95, his death being recorded in the Regimental Newsletter March 1993. Sold with the recipient’s original Certificate of Service (Red Book); copied service records, a copy newspaper clipping including an image of him wearing his medals, and other research.

Six: Sergeant G. Wilkinson, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later Devonshire Regiment British War and Victory Medals (202146 Pte. G. Wilkinson. D. of Corn. L.I..); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (202146 Pte. G. Wilkinson. 5-D.C.L.I.); Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Territorial, with two Additional Award Bars (5612210 Sjt. G. Wilkinson. 5-Devon R.) mounted for wear, light contact marks, good very fine and better (6) £140-£180 --- George Rodney Wilkinson was born at Torpoint, Cornwall in 1893. A Labourer by occupation, he attested for the Territorial Army on 22 March 1910 and joined ‘B’ Company, 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Embodied with his battalion as a qualified Signaller on 4 August 1914 he embarked for France on 14 February 1917. Returning to England on 31 December 1918 he was demobilised on 11 February 1919. Moving to South Brent, Devon, and employed as Builder’s Labourer, Wilkinson again attested for the Territorial Army on 1 March 1922 and was posted to the 5th (POW) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, regularly attending the annual camps during the inter-War years. Awarded his Territorial Efficiency Medal in August 1922, he was promoted Sergeant in 1934 and was awarded his Efficiency Medal in 1937. Embodied during the Second World War with the 5th Battalion he served at home during the war years before being discharged ‘Permanently Unfit’ on 4 July 1945, his two additional award bars to his Efficiency Medal being awarded in 1947. He died at South Brent on 3 January 1969, aged 75. Sold with copied service records and other research.

Pair: Acting Sergeant E. C. Price, Devonshire Regiment, who was awarded the M.S.M. for valuable services in India British War Medal 1914-20 (2603 Pte. E. C. Price. Devon. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (265962 Pte. -A. Sjt.- E. C. Price. 1/6 Devon R.) extremely fine, the MSM scarce to unit (2) £100-£140 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 3 September 1920: ‘For valuable services in India.’ Eric Charles Price was born in Ilfracombe, North Devon in 1894. A Law Clerk by occupation he enlisted in the 6th (Territorial) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, was embodied on 4 August 1914, and embarked with his battalion for India on 9 October 1914. Remaining in India for the duration of the Great War, for his services he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. This is his sole medallic entitlement; he was not entitled to either a Star or a Victory Medal. The 1921 Census records him as a Civil Servant employed by the India Office,; the 1939 Register as a Civil Servant residing in Wandsworth; and in the final record traced he is a Customs Chairman bound for St John, Newfoundland, on 24 October 1939. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient and copied research.

King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. Col. G. H. Sylvester. R.A.M.C.) engraved naming, edge nicks and minor edge bruise, good very fine £100-£140 --- George Holden Sylvester was born on 25 October 1856 and commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps on 31 July 1880. He served during the Boer War in South Africa initial as a Staff Officer to the Principal Medical Officer Army Headquarters, took part in the operations in the Orange Free State from February to May 1900 including the operations at Paardeberg, 17 to 26 February; the actions at Poplar Grove and Driefontein; operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including the actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria; and operations in the Transvaal east of Pretoria from July to November 1900. Advanced Lieutenant-Colonel on 31 July 1900, he subsequently served as Principal Medical Officer of No. 2 General Hospital from 12 February 1901. For his services in South Africa he was awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with four clasps; and the King’s South Africa Medal. He retired on 19 October 1907. Sold with copied research.

Five: Warrant Officer Class I A. Anderson, Scottish Rifles 1914-15 Star (1222 Pte. A. Anderson. Sco. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (1222 A-Sjt. A. Anderson. Sco. Rif.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (3234560 W.O. Cl.1. A. Anderson. Cameronians.) minor official correction to rank on last, mounted as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, polished and worn, nearly very fine (5) £160-£200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Alexander Anderson attested for the Scottish Rifles and served with them during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of war from 14 June 1915. He died on 26 April 1937; his medal index card states that the that an application was made for replacements to the Great War trio, but the medals in this lot appear to be those originally issued.

Six: Private A. H. Martin, Oldham Corps, St. John Ambulance Brigade, later Royal Army Medical Corps, who served on the staff at the Langman Hospital during the Boer War Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Pte. A. L [sic]. Martin, Langman Hospital) officially re-impressed naming, as typically encountered on QSAs issued to the Langman Hospital; St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (422 Pte. A. H. Martin. Oldham Corps); 1914-15 Star (43433, Pte. A. Martin. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (46433 [sic] Pte. A. Martin. R.A.M.C.); Defence Medal, nearly very fine and better (6) £500-£700 --- A. H. Martin is confirmed on the roll of the Langman Hospital, which lists 58 names, but this figure includes 12 nursing sisters who received the medal under the auspices of the R.A.M.C. 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 Langman’s 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., of Sherlock Holmes fame, who had, from the outset, been invited by John Langman to assist in the selection of suitable personnel. 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, and for his contribution to the War effort he was created a Baronet in 1906.

Four: Gunner E. G. Leach, Royal Artillery, later Police Sergeant, Devon Constabulary British War and Victory Medals (163218 Gnr. E. G. Leach. R.A.); Defence Medal; Jubilee 1935 (Sergt. E. G. Leach. Devon Constabulary.) privately engraved naming, mounted for wear, good very fine (4) £70-£90 --- Edwin George Leach was born in Cheriton Bishop, Devon in 1888. An Agricultural Labourer, he was appointed Constable 3rd Class with Collar No 212 in the Devon Constabulary on 1 October 1910. Prior to the Great War he policed at Sidmouth, Membury and Uplyme, before being released to join the Army on 31 May 1917. Enlisting into the Royal Garrison Artillery he served as a Gunner in France until being re-instated with the Devon Constabulary 5 February 1919. Post-War he policed at Tavistock and Okehampton before being promoted Sergeant on 1 August 1927 serving then at Halwell, Holsworthy and Okehampton. The Chief Constable, 2 Inspectors, 4 Sergeants (including Sergeant Leach) and 39 Constables from the Devon Constabulary attended the Royal Inspection of Police at Hyde Park to celebrate the Silver Jubilee on 20 July 1935 and this resulting in him being awarded the King’s Silver Jubilee Medal 1935. He retired on Pension after 26 years’ service on 30 September 1936. During the Second World War he served as a Police War Reserve Constable at Dawlish before again being discharged in 1944. He died at Dawlish on 6 October 1955, aged 68. Sold with copied police service records and other research.

Three: Driver Wheeler G. Fisk, Remount Department, Army Service Corps 1914 Star (TS-791 Dvr: Whlr: G. Fisk. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (TS-791 Dvr. G. Fisk. A.S.C.) very fine and an unusual rank (3) £70-£90 --- George Fisk, a Wheeler from Marylebone, London, attested, aged 40, into the Remount Department of the Army Service Corps on 13 August 1914 for service during the Great War. He served on the Western Front from 5 October 1914 to 28 December 1914 afterwards serving at Home until 31 December 1915 when he was discharged as a consequence of sickness. He was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 119591. Sold with copied Medal Index Card and copied Silver War Badge roll extract.

Family Group: British War Medal 1914-20 (2. Lieut. J. E. Griffiths) contained in an unrelated velvet lined leatherette case; together with silver plated photograph frame with studio portrait of Second Lieutenant Jack Griffiths, in uniform, frame with applied silver plated Gloucestershire Regiment cap badge (frame size 110mm x 204mm); together with a matching silver plated photograph frame, with studio portrait in uniform, of his brother Second Lieutenant William George Griffiths, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, with applied silver plated Royal Welsh Fusiliers cap badge, some polishing loss to silver plating on photo frames, otherwise good very fine (lot) £100-£140 --- John ‘Jack’ Enos Griffiths was born in 1893, the second son of John Griffiths, a ship owner and coal exporter who lived at Gnoll Park Road, Neath. Educated at Taunton School along with his younger brother William, he was a talented sportsman and captained the school cricket XI in both 1912 and 1913. After returning to Neath to join the family business he played rugby for the Y.M.C.A. and represented Neath R.F.C. at full back at least once in the 1913-14 season. He also turned out regularly for the Neath Cricket Club. He attested for service on the same day as his younger brother in December 1915, and after training in the Inns of Court O.T.C., in November 1917 he was commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment. Posted o the 2/5th Battalion, on 23 April 1918 his battalion launched a successful attack on a position called Bacquerolles Farm. The German retaliatory bombardment caused a number of casualties and Jack was one of four officers killed. He is buried in the St Venant Robecq Road British Cemetery, France. Sold with a silver mounted presentation cricket ball, silver band (no hallmarks) engraved: ‘Taunton School 1910. Average Ball won by Jack Griffiths who also won the average Bat’; and an original photographic image of Jack at Taunton School. William George Griffiths was born in 1896, the youngest of three sons to John Griffiths. Along with his older brother ‘Jack’ he was educated at Taunton School where, like his older brother, he excelled at sport. He spent a year in the school’s Officer Training Corps and after leaving studied mining engineering, with the intention of following his father into the coal exporting trade. He attested for military service alongside his brother in December 1915 and after a brief period in the Reserve and the Inns of Court O.T.C., was accepted for a temporary commission in the army. In July 1917 he landed at Alexandria to join 5th Battalion the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in the 53rd Welsh Division, Egyptian Expeditionary Force. On 9 March 1918 his battalion was ordered to capture a position on Cairn Hill, adjacent to Tell ‘Asur. William was the only officer of 5th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers to be killed in the assault. He is buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery. Both brothers are commemorated on the Taunton School War Memorial and the Neath Town War Memorial. Sold with a Great War period British Officer’s Marching Compass by Sinclair, London (lacking leather case) but contained in retailers box of Sir John Bennett, 65 Cheapside; vintage ‘sports kit’ comprised of white sports shorts and ‘Sportsman’ brand cricket jumper, with dark and pale blue banding, retailed by A. Calder of Cardiff, with sewn in name label ‘Griffiths’.

Five: Major (Quartermaster) W. A. Wight, Royal Army Medical Corps General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (7249688. W.O. Cl.2. W. A. Wight. R.A.M.C.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the Second War awards all privately engraved ‘128581 Major and Qr. Mr. W. A. Wight. R.A.M.C.’, with Army Council enclosure, in named card box of issue addressed to ‘Major W. A. Wight, 45 Thurston Road, Glasgow SW2, Scotland’, nearly extremely fine (5) £80-£100 --- William Arthur Wight was born in Edinburgh on 15 October 1900, and was commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 17 April 1940. He died in Ayrshire on 17 November 1991. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient.

An Order of St. John group of seven awarded to Corporal W. J. Foster, Preston Corps, St. John Ambulance Brigade, later Sergeant, Royal Army Medical Corps The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, silver and enamel; St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (529 Pte. W. J. Foster. Preston Corps.); 1914-15 Star (42522, Sjt. W. J. Foster. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (42522 Sjt. W. J. Foster. R.A.M.C.); Coronation 1911, St. John Ambulance Brigade (Cpl. W. J. Foster.); Service Medal of the Order of St John, with three Additional Award Bars, and a ‘5 Years Service’ clasp (Corp. Walter James Foster. (Hdqrs. Div: Preston Corps S.J.A.B.) 1914) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (7) £300-£400 --- Walter J. Foster served with the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 December 1914.

Six: Captain W. C. Aumayer, Devonshire Regiment, attached King’s Own Malta Regiment 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (5612495 W.O. Cl. 2. W. C. Aumayer. Devon.) unit officially corrected on last, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (6) £160-£200 --- William Charles Aumayer was born in Kennington, London in 1903. A Labourer by occupation he attested for the Regular Army on 12 June 1922 and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment at Devonport on 29 September 1922. Transferring to the 2nd Battalion, he served with them in India from 25 January 1923, before returning home with his battalion via Aden in 1927. A keen sportsman he successfully completed several courses of instruction before embarking with the 2nd Battalion for Malta on 16 July 1938 and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in October 1940. Appointed to an Emergency Commission whilst in Malta as a Lieutenant on 5 December 1940, Aumayer was attached as Acting Captain to the King’s Own Malta Regiment in September 1941, and serving with them during the Siege of Malta. Returning home on 21 October 1943 he was medically boarded before being placed on sick leave; a period of various hospital admissions followed before he relinquished his commission on account of disability with the rank of Captain on 24 February 1945. He died at Plymouth on 26 May 1956, aged 53. Sold with the recipient’s riband bars; various related badges including an officer’s King’s Own Malta Regiment cap badge; and a pewter presentation tankard, engraved ‘Open Obstacle Race 1932 Winner L/Sgrt. Aumayer 2nd Devon Regt.’; with two photographic images of the recipient, copied service records, and other research. Note: The official records with the lot clearly indicate that the recipient was not entitled to the Italy Star; given that this medal group was acquired by the present vendor directly from the recipient’s family, presumably the Italy Star was self-awarded.

Pair: Corporal D. Taylor, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was Mentioned in Despatches Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (6992 Pte. D. Taylor. R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6992 Cpl. D. Taylor. R.A.M.C.) contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £200-£240 --- D. Taylor served with both the 10th Brigade Field Hospital and 18th General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps in South Africa during the Boer War, and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 8 February 1901).

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (248. Pte. J. Hitch, 4th Rifle Bde.) nearly very fine £80-£100 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (2) (22 Sub-Condr: T. Wilson. A.S.C.; Sub-Condr: W. Southall. A.S.C.) latter showing signs of having at some point been held in a circular mount, nearly very fine and better (2) £80-£100 --- T. Wilson served as a Sub-Conductor with No. 3 ‘L’ Company, Army Service Corps. W. Southall served as a Sub-Conductor with the Local Transport Department, Army Service Corps. Sold with copied medal roll extract.

Four: Sergeant A. W. Kay, Scots Guards and Guards Machine Gun Regiment 1914-15 Star (5511 Pte. A. W. Kay. S. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (5511 Sjt. A. W. Kay. S. Gds.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (856 Sjt. A. W. Kay. 4/Gds. M.G. Regt:) mounted as worn, generally very fine, the MSM scarce to unit (4) £500-£700 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 18 January 1919: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders.’ Alexander W. Kay attested for the Scots Guards and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 January 1915. Subsequently posted to the Guards Machine Gun Regiment, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Private A. Simpson, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, later Lancashire Fusiliers, who was awarded the D.C.M. for his conspicuous gallantry near Gheluwe on 1 October 1918, when he went out alone over ground swept by machine gun fire to discover the exact position of a German machine gun ’pill-box’ post which was firing at his platoon: crawling round to its flank, he shot both sentries and on his return, stalked and shot an enemy sniper who had been ‘annoying his platoon’ Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (634 Pte. A. Simpson, K.R.R.C.) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine £200-£240 --- Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, May 1992 (when sold alongside the recipient’s other campaign medals and an unnamed DCM) D.C.M. London Gazette 12 March 1919 (citation published 2 December 1919):
‘On 1st October, 1918, near Gheluwe, he went out alone to reconnoitre the position of an enemy Machine Gun which was firing at his platoon. He worked forward over ground traversed by machine-gun fire, shot two sentries, thoroughly reconnoitred the enemy position, and on his way back shot a sniper who had been harassing his platoon. He showed great courage and initiative, and rendered excellent service.’ Arthur Simpson attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Second Boer War, being attached to the Mounted Infantry Company. Whilst in South Africa, he transferred to the 4th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and subsequently served, alongside 103 other men from the K.R.R.C., with the British Mounted Infantry as part of the Somaliland Field Force during the 1902-04 campaign against the ‘Mad Mullah’, where he was present at the engagement at Jidballi on 10 January 1904. Discharged to the Army Reserve, Simpson returned to his native Rochdale, but on the outbreak of war, he re-enlisted for service with the 1/6th Territorial (Rochdale) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, with whom he sailed for Alexandria aboard the SS Saturnia on 9 December 1914. The battalion formed part of the Lancashire Fusilier Brigade, 42nd East Lancashire Division, and remained in Cairo until early May 1915 from where it sailed for Gallipoli, landing on 5 August 1915. Transferring to the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, Simpson served in ‘A’ Company under the command of Captain C. Wedgwood, and was present at Gheluwe on 1 October 1918, when his company distinguished itself in penetrating strongly held enemy positions that were holding up the advance. The Regimental History provides the following description of the events leading up to the award of Simpson’s D.C.M.: ‘On the other flank, ‘A’ Company, passing through ‘B’ at dawn, succeeded in fighting its way forward about four hundred yards, with its flank just beyond the Gheluwe-Dadizeele road. Wedgwood was conspicuous for his skill, driving the enemy out of three strongholds and inflicting many casualties without any loss to his company, which in fact suffered only sixteen casualties throughout the four days of fighting. In his company was Private A. Simpson, who during this day’s operations went out alone to discover the exact position of a German machine gun which was firing at his platoon. He found the offending ‘pill-box’, crawled round to its flank, shot its two sentries, thoroughly reconnoitred the position and on his way back shot a sniper who had also been annoying his platoon’. Note: Simpson’s other campaign medals, comprising a King’s South Africa Medals with both date clasps; an Africa General Service Medal with clasps for Somaliland 1902-04 and Jidballi; and a 1914-15 Star trio; together with his Territorial Efficiency Medal, were sold in these rooms in December 2018.

Three: Private A. Mackay, 14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish), London Regiment 1914 Star (1750 Pte. A. Mackay. 14/Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (1750 Pte. A. Mackay. 14-Lond. R.) good very fine (3) £70-£90 --- Angus Mackay attested for the 14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish), London Regiment, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 September 1914. He subsequently transferred to the Army Service Corps.

General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Arabian Peninsula, unofficial retaining rod between clasps (14118881 Pte. N. Braviner. A.A.C.) struck on a slightly thinner flan, extremely fine £140-£180 --- N. Braviner served with the 1st (Guards) Parachute Battalion, Army Air Corps in post-War Palestine, and then is believed to have served with the Parachute Regiment in the Arabian Peninsula.

Four: Supply Officer F. R. Cooper, Preston Corps, St. John Ambulance Brigade, later Royal Army Medical Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (1364 Sply: Ofcr: F. R. Cooper. St. John Amb: Bde:); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (1364. Sergt. F. R. Cooper. Preston Corps) minor official correction to rank; British War and Victory Medals (79328 Pte. F. R. Cooper. R.A.M.C.); together with a St. Jon Ambulance Association silver prize medal, the reverse engraved ‘N.E.L. County Corps Ambulance Review Preston June 17th. 1899 Cup Winners F. R. Cooper.’; a St. John Ambulance Brigade silver fob medal; and the recipient’s St. Jon Ambulance Association Re-examination Cross, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘No. Frank R. Cooper 71263’, nearly very fine and better (7) £300-£400

Pair: Private W. J. V. Inigh, Army Air Corps War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (14820811 Pte. W. J. V. Inigh, A.A.C.) mounted as worn, good very fine (2) £120-£160 --- Sold with copied medal roll extract.

A British Expeditionary Force casualty group of three awarded to Warrant Officer Class III E. Royle, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch), who was killed in action on 9 June 1940 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (2744989 Cpl. E. Royle. Black Watch) the first two nearly extremely fine, as issued posthumously, the last mounted for wear and polished, with edge bruising and contact marks, hence good fine (3) £220-£260 --- Edward Royle, a Band Boy from Salford, Manchester, was born on 27 October 1901. He attested into the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) on 6 February 1917 and served in France with the 1st Battalion after the cessation of hostilities on 16 December 1918. Awarded his L.S.G.C. in 1935, whilst serving as a Corporal, he served during the Second War in France with the 1st Battalion and was advanced Warrant Officer Class III on 18 November 1939. He was reported missing on 16 June 1940 and later information was received from the American embassy that he had died at St. Pierre, Vigy, on 9 June 1940. He is buried in Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France. Sold with copied service papers and copied research.

1914-15 Star (Pte. J. Vipond Rand. Rfls) traces of adhesive to reverse, good very fine £70-£90 --- M.M. London Gazette 30 January 1920: ‘In recognition of gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity, which services have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919.’ Joseph Vipond was born in Cleator Moor, Cumberland, around 1897, and attested for the 3rd South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 19 August 1915. Captured at Delville Wood 19 July 1916, his service papers state that he was reported Prisoner of War on 22 August 1916 and was sent to camps at Dulmen, Munster and Minden. They add: ‘Escaped from Germany to Holland 13.3.18., Escaped to Holland 18.3.18., Arrived in the United Kingdom 23.4.18.’ Sold with copied service record.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. awarded to Captain A. G. W. Compton, Royal Army Medical Corps Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Captain A. G. W. Compton. Royal Army Medical Corps. 9 May 1915.’, in Royal Mint case of issue, very fine £500-£700 --- M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916. Albert George William Compton was commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Special Reserve on 6 August 1914, and served during the Great War on the Western Front attached to the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards from 9 October 1914. Wounded in action, he was awarded the Military Cross, and subsequently received a Silver War Badge.

Pair: Private E. H. Sugden, Keighley Corps, St. John Ambulance Brigade, and Royal Army Medical Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (15994 Pte. E. H. Sugden. R.A.M.C.) officially re-impressed naming; St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (15994. Pte. E. H. Sugden Keighley Corps.) good very fine (2) £260-£300

Six: Colonel E. Roseveare, Devonshire Regiment, who served with the St John Ambulance Brigade during the South Africa War 1899-1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 copy clasps, Cape Colony, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (191 Sply: Ofcr. E. Roseveare. St. John Amb: Bde:); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. E. Roseveare.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Capt. E. Roseveare. Devon. R.); Defence Medal; Territorial Decoration G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, with integral top riband bar, mounted court-style as worn; together with a Devonshire Regiment Old Comrades label badge and an ARP silver label badge, edge bruise to QSA, light contact marks, generally very fine and better (6) £500-£700 --- Provenance: Glendining’s, March 1994. M.I.D. London Gazette 18 May 1918: ‘For operations against the Mahsuds, March-August 1917’ Edwin Roseveare was born in Plymouth in 1873 and was educated at Queen’s College, Taunton. As a Sergeant in the Newton Abbot Division St. John Ambulance Brigade, attached 20th Field Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps, he volunteered for service in South Africa and served as a Supply Officer in 1900. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 2nd (Prince of Wales’s) Volunteer Battalion, Devonshire Regiment on 29 January 1902, he was appointed Captain of the 5th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment on the formation of the Territorial Army on 1 April 1908. Embodied for Great War service with the 5th Battalion, Roseveare embarked for India on the Staff of Wessex Division and was appointed Railway Transport Officer at Lahore on 14 February 1916. Appointed Assistant Director Railway Transport, Waziristan Field Force, on 13 June 1917, for his valuable services rendered in Waziristan and on the North West Frontier he was Mentioned in Despatches. Awarded the Territorial Decoration the following year (London Gazette 15 July 1919), he was disembodied in London on 13 April 1920 and was restored to the establishment of the 5th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Appointed Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 5th Battalion on 1 September 1921, Roseveare relinquished command on 1 September 1925 and was promoted Brevet Colonel on transfer to the Reserve of Officers. During the Second World War he was appointed Divisional Warden ARP, Division 4, Millbay, Plymouth, serving in the heart of Plymouth Docks during the blitz. Subsequently President of the 5th Devons Old Comrades Association, he died at Plymouth on 30 May 1957, aged 84. Sold with a two handled silver presentation cup (100mm diameter x 90mm height), engraved ‘5th (P.O.W.) Devon Regt. Rifle Club Officers Cup 1911 Won By Capt. E. Roseveare’; and copied service records and other research.

Four: Trooper A. T. Duffield, Royal Horse Guards, who served as Orderly to H.M. King George V Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (304475 Tpr. A. T. Duffield. R.H.G.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (4) £80-£100 --- Sold with copied Jubilee 1935 medal roll extract.

Pair: Surgeon-General Sir William D. C. Williams, K.C.M.G., C.B., Army Medical Corps, who served as Principal Medical Officer of the New South Wales Contingent to the Sudan in 1885, and subsequently as Principal Medical Officer of the Australian and New Zealand Contingents in the Boer War, being twice Mentioned in Despatches Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Surgn. Maj: W. D. C. Williams. (P.M.O.) N.S.W. Contgt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, clasp block loose on riband (Colonel W. D. C. Williams. N.S.W., A.M.C.) edge bruise, pitting and contact marks to first, this nearly very fine; the QSA nearly extremely fine, rare to unit (2) £1,800-£2,200 --- K.C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1916: ‘For services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field.’ C.B. London Gazette 19 April 1901: ‘In recognition of his services in connection with the Campaign in South Africa 1899-1900’. Knight of Grace, Order of St. John London Gazette 4 March 1904. Sir William Daniel Campbell Williams was born in Sydney on 30 July 1856 and was educated at Sydney Grammar School, before studying medicine at University College, London. Appointed Staff Surgeon to the New South Wales Permanent Artillery on 1 October 1883, he was advanced Major in 1884 and served a Principal Medical Officer to the New South Wales Sudan Contingent in 1885, being mentioned in a special despatch. Returning home to Sydney, Williams was appointed Principal Medical Officer of the New South Wales Forces, and during the period 1888–91 he reorganised the army medical services, introducing a well-trained permanent Medical Staff Corps. The Corps was equipped with improved light ambulance wagons of Williams’s own design, lightweight stretchers, mounted stretcher bearers and an intensive training program for Corps members. Following the outbreak of the Boer War in 1899, Williams mobilised two contingents of the New South Wales Army Medical Corps, and as their Colonel led the first contingent to South Africa. His highly mobile medical units, which could keep up with the forward troops, provided an excellent service, and he was consequently appointed by Lord Roberts as Principal Medical Officer of the Australian and New Zealand Contingents on 11 January 1900. Williams saw subsequent service during the Boer War as Principal Medical Officer to Sir Ian Hamilton’s Mounted Infantry Division; and later as Principal Medical Officer to Sir Archibald Hunter’s Field Force, and took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, Transvaal, Orange River Colony, and Cape Colony; and in the actions at Johannesburg, Pretoria, Diamond Hill, Bethlehem, Wittebergen, and Wittepoort. A British war correspondent described Williams as 'the first man I have met who seems to be a master of Army medical work in the field'. For his services in South Africa he was promoted to Surgeon General; was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 16 April 1901); and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. He was also appointed a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. In 1902 Williams was appointed as the Australian Army’s inaugural Director General of Medical Services, in which role he drew together the disparate former colonial military medical services into the Australian Army Medical Service and oversaw the establishment of the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1903. Following the outbreak of the Great War he was appointed Director of Medical Services, Australian Imperial Force, for service overseas. However, by now aged 58, greatly overweight and physically unfit, he was in poor shape for the rigours of the campaigns ahead, and upon arrival in Egypt was immediately sent on to London, where he did useful work procuring motor ambulances, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical supplies for the Australian Imperial Force’s medical units. Subsequently attached to the Australian High Commission on war work, he returned home in failing health in 1916; was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 21 June 1916); and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in that year’s Birthday Honours’ List. He retired from the Army in 1917, and died of heart disease in Melbourne in May 1919, being buried with full military honours.

An highly unusual Boer War pair awarded to Conductor R. W. Manley, Army Service Corps, late Driscoll’s Scouts Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (416 Serjt. R. W. Manley. Driscoll’s Scouts.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, no clasp (Condr. R. W. Manley. A.S.C.) good very fine (2) £400-£500 --- R. W. Manley attested into Driscoll’s Scouts on 19 March 1900 and served during the Boer War as a Transport Sergeant. He was discharged on 30 November 1901 and reenlisted into the Army Service Corps, serving as a Conductor. Sold with copied medal roll extracts confirming all clasps on his Queen’s South Africa Medal together with further entitlement to a ‘South Africa 1901’ clasp, and confirmation of the award of a no clasp King’s South Africa medal. Highly unusual.

Three: Sergeant A. J. Cook, Army Catering Corps General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24267668 Sgt A J Cook ACC); Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24267668 Sgt A J Cook ACC); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (24267668 Sgt A J Cook ACC); together with the recipient’s Kuwaiti Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait, about extremely fine (4) £200-£240 --- Adrian John Cook was born in Gloucester on 23 July 1957 and attested as an Army Apprentice with the College of Catering in 1972, aged 15. for the Army Catering Corps in 1972. He served with the 3rd Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, part of the 7th Armoured Brigade, during the First Gulf War, and was reputedly with a patrol which was attacked by two American aircraft in a friendly fire attack; several men were killed and wounded, although Cook was not wounded. He was demobilised in 1992. Sold with two photographs of the recipient; and a hand-written account of the recipient’s postings.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. and French Medaille Militaire group of five awarded to Company Sergeant Major, later Lieutenant, A. E. Whitty, Devonshire Regiment, who was four times wounded in action and was later injured in an aeroplane accident whilst training to be a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps Military Medal, G.V.R. (9607 Sjt. A. E. Whitty. 1/Devon: R.); 1914 Star (9707 L. Cpl.. A. E. Whitty. 1/Devon: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (9707 W.O. Cl. II. A. E. Whitty. Devon. R.); France, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, with trophy of arms suspension, in case of issue, good very fine and better (5) £400-£500 --- M.M. London Gazette 18 July 1917. French Medaille Militaire London Gazette 24 February 1916. Albert Edward Whitty was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire in 1893. A Gardener by occupation he attested for the Special Reserve in June 1912 before attesting for the Devonshire Regiment on 12 October 1912. At the outbreak of the Great War he was serving with the 1st Battalion stationed at St Helier, Jersey. The battalion embarked for France and joined the British Expeditionary Force at Le Havre on 21 August 1914. Whitty was first wounded in action at Givenchy in the right shoulder whilst acting as a Scout in ‘D’ Company on 17 October 1914. Promoted to Acting Sergeant, he received a gun shot wound to the right forearm at Wulverghem on the Ypres Salient on 18 November 1914. Presented with his Medaille Militaire at Acheux by the Army Commander on 7 November 1915, he was Mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatche of 30 November 1915 (London Gazette 1 January 1916). Whilst in action at Leuze Wood on 4 September 1916 he was wounded again this time in the left shoulder. Re-joining the 1st Battalion in the field on 15 March 1917 he received his fourth wound at La Coulotte, Arras on 23 April 1917, this time in the left leg and right arm; it is likely this was the action for which he was subsequently to be awarded the Military Medal. Promoted to Company Sergeant Major, Whitty returned to England to be posted to No. 16 Officer Cadet Battalion at Rhyl on 6 July 1917. Receiving a permanent commission as Second Lieutenant in the Devonshire Regiment on 28 August 1917 he was next posted to the Royal Flying Corps for training as a pilot only to be injured in the face and nose in an aeroplane accident on 29 May 1918. Found to be unfit for further instruction he was struck off the strength the Royal Air Force and re-joined the Devonshire Regiment at Devonport on 14 November 1918. He was appointed Officer in Charge of the Devonshire Regiment party (1 officer and 12 men) at the Victory Parade March in London 19 July 1919. He retired as Lieutenant with a gratuity on 6 August 1920. Subsequently changing his name by Deed Poll from Whitty to Whitley on 23 March 1925 he was employed by the Ministry of Labour at Plymouth. He was called up for service at Exeter on 1 September 1939 but rejected by the Army Medical Board due to his disability following gun shot wounds and nasal injury sustained in the Great War. He died at Exeter on 19 January 1968, aged 78. Sold with photographic images of the recipient, copied service records and other research.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Belfast (17214 Bomb: F. Costello. U Bty., R.H.A.) good very fine £240-£280 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901. Thomas Lysaght, alias Francis Costello, was born in Killenora, co. Clare, Ireland, in 1874 and attested for the Royal Munster Fusilier at Ennis on 25 May 1893. He deserted on 11 December 1896, and attested for the Royal Horse Artillery under the alias of Costello on 19 November 1896. He served with ‘U’ Battery in South Africa during the Boer War from 21 December 1899 to 26 June 1902, and was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Sannah’s Post on 31 March 1900. For his services in South Africa during the Boer War he was Mentioned in Lord Roberts’ Despatch (London Gazette 10 September 1901), and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry at Blakfontein. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 26 April 1903. Sold with copied service papers, medal roll extracts, and other research.

A Great War ‘Salonika operations’ M.B.E. group of six awarded to Captain and Quartermaster R. Ashton, Royal Army Medical Corps The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919, with Garrard, London, case of issue; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, unofficial rivets between first and second clasps (11303 Cpl. R. Ashton. R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (11303 Serjt: R. Ashton. R.A.M.C.); 1914 Star (11303 S.Mjr. R. Ashton. R.A.M.C.); British War Medal 1914-19 (Q.M & Capt. R. Ashton); Victory Medal 1914-19, erased, mounted court-style for display purposes, light contact marks to Boer war medals, generally very fine (6) £260-£300 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 12 December 1919. Robert Ashton initially served during the Boer War as a Corporal at No. 15 Stationary Hospital at Heidelberg. Equipped with 150 beds, it operated from 13 July 1900 to 31 May 1902, one of 42 Stationary Hospitals which proved instrumental in saving the lives of wounded men and those suffering from disease. Advanced Sergeant Major on 10 August 1914, he served during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 August 1914 and was appointed to a commission as Honorary Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the R.A.M.C. on 5 June 1915. Advanced Captain and Quartermaster, for his valuable service as part of the British Salonica Force he was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. Sold with copied research.

Six: Lance-Corporal C. F. May, Devonshire Regiment, later Lieutenant, 25th Battalion (Ilfracombe) Devon Home Guard British War and Victory Medals (1416 Pte. C. F. May. Devon. R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1416 Pte. C. F. May. Devon. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (265170 L/Cpl. C. F. May. Devon R.); Defence Medal; Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (265170 Pte-L/Cpl. C.F. May. 6-Devon. R.) mounted for wear, light contact marks, good very fine (6) £300-£400 --- Charles Faulkes May was born in Ramsgate, Kent in 1895. A Carpenter by occupation now living in Braunton, North Devon, he enlisted into the 6th (Territorial) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in April 1911. Embodied as a Drummer with ‘B’ Company he embarked with his battalion for India on 9 October 1914. Following intensive training in India the 1/6th Battalion disembarked at Basra, Mesopotamia on 6 January 1916 and then commenced a 230 miles march on foot up the banks of the River Tigris to El Orah. The battalion took part in the attempted relief of Kut during the action at Es Sinn Dujailah Redoubt on 8 March 1916. Returning to India in 1919, May took part in the Third Afghan War attached to 1st Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment between May and September 1919. Disembodied on 22 November 1919 he was awarded his Territorial Efficiency Medal in November 1921. Returning to his employment as a carpenter in Braunton he enrolled for the Local Defence Volunteers on 29 May 1940 and was appointed Assistant Section Commander 25th Battalion (Ilfracombe) Devon Home Guard. Commissioned Second Lieutenant on 28 February 1944 and promoted Lieutenant the following October, he was discharged on disbandment of the Home Guard 31 December 1945. He subsequently served as a Lieutenant with the Devon Army Cadet Force, relinquishing his commission in September 1949. He died in Braunton on 12 June 1968, aged 75. Sold with photographic images of the recipient and other research. For the recipient’s Great War Wolseley Pattern Helmet, see the following lot.

Abyssinia 1867 (Sub: Condr. C. Tyler Bombay Army) good very fine £200-£240 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---

Five: Private Isaac Death, Seaforth Highlanders Afghanistan 1878-80, 4 clasps, Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (1828 Pte I. Death. 1/Sea: Hdrs.) later naming impressed in small capitals; Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (No. 1828 Private Isaac Death 72nd Highlanders) later engraved naming; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (1828 Pte I. Death. 1/Sea: Hdrs.) later naming impressed in small capitals; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1828 Pte I. Death. 1/Sea: Hdrs.) later naming impressed in small capitals; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882 (1828 Pte. I. Death 72nd Hdrs.) later naming impressed in small capitals, all duplicate medals issued in 1917, good very fine (5) £400-£500 --- Isaac Death was born in the Parish of Edwardston, Sudbury, Suffolk, and attested for the 20th Foor at Colchester on 22 November 1869, aged 22 years 10 months, a labourer by trade. He served with the 2/20th Foot intil August 1870 when he transferred to the 72nd Foot. He reengaged to complete 21 years in January 1878, was permitted to continue in the service beyong 21 years, November 1890, and was discharged on 22 April 1891. During his time in India he suffered greatly from malaria, despite which he lived into old age. Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extracts which confirm duplicates issued on 19 July 1917, and sent c/o Hon. Secretary Scottish Naval and Military Veterans Residence, Whitford House, Edinburgh; together with copy bonnet badge and unattributed locket with husband and wife photographs.

Nine: Flight Lieutenant W. F. Diggins, Royal Air Force, late Middlesex Regiment and East Surrey Regiment, a recipient of the scarce clasp for Southern Desert, Iraq, who was subsequently Mentioned in Despatches for his services in Burma British War and Victory Medals (240465 Sjt. W. F. Diggins. Midd’x R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (2776 Pte. W. F. Diggins. Midd’x R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Southern Desert, Iraq (358877. Cpl. W. F. Diggins. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, this with reverse pin; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (358877. F/Sgt. W. F. Diggins. R.A.F.) all housed in a glazed display frame, polished, minor edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (9) £1,200-£1,600 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 14 January 1944: ‘For gallant and distinguished services in Burma.’ Walter Frederick Diggins was born in Paddington, London, on 31 October 1890, and attested for the Middlesex Regiment (Territorial Force) on 22 January 1909. Mobilised on the outbreak of the Great War, he initially served with the 2/8th Battalion, and was stationed in Gibraltar from September 1914 to March 1915. Advanced Sergeant on 10 July 1915, he transferred to the 7th Battalion on 19 July 1917, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 October 1917. Four days later he transferred as a Sergeant to the East Surrey Regiment, and was posted to the 1st Battalion. It was during the Third Battle of Ypres on 6 November 1917 that Diggins was wounded in action, receiving a gunshot wound to the left leg, that necessitated his evacuation for treatment via No. 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station to No. 22 General Base Hospital, and then to England with Cambridge Hospital at Aldershot. Diggins did not see any further active service during the war, but was reduced to Corporal after being found guilty by a District Court Martial for absence without leave on two occasions, the first time from 21 to 27 December 1917, when he then admitted himself for treatment to the Hounslow Military Hospital, and for the second time between 5 and 23 January 1918, being reduced to Corporal on 13 February 1918. He was disembodied on demobilisation on 20 March 1919. Diggins subsequently re-enlisted as a Corporal in the Army Reserve on 2 September 1922, and remained as such until he enlisted as an Aircraftman 2nd Class into the Royal Air Force on 17 November 1924. Posted from the Depot to the Armament and Gunnery School on 26 February 1925, he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 31 December 1925, and then joined 99 Bomber Squadron on 6 January 1926, before being posted to the School of Technical Training on 13 July 1926, and then to ‘M’ Depot Squadron from 5 November 1926. Posted out to Iraq on 7 December 1926, he joined No. 4 Armoured Car Company on 27 December 1926. Having transferred to the Armoured Car Wing in Iraq on 1 April 1927, and been promoted to Corporal on 1 March 1928, he rejoined No. 4 Armoured Car Company on 3 April 1928, and was at some staged attached to No. 5 Armoured Car Company. 1i 1928 he saw service in the operations against the Akhwan in the Southern Desert of Iraq, service which qualified him for the General Service Medal 1918-1962, with the rare clasp for Southern Desert, Iraq. Posted back to the Armoured Car Wing on 24 October 1928, Diggins was posted to Headquarters Middle East on 14 November 1928, and then to No. 2 Armoured Car Company on 13 November 1928. Promoted Sergeant on 1 December 1932, he was posted home on 26 April 1934. After a period of leave, and also a spell in hospital, he was posted to the Air Armaments School on 28 August 1934, and was then posted back out to the Middle East on 9 April 1935, where he joined 45 Bomber Squadron on 20 April 1935. After service in Egypt, where he was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 1 February 1937, he was posted back to the home establishment on 1 April 1937. Posted to No. 1 Air Armaments School at Eastchurch on 22 April 1938, he moved with the unit to Manby on 15 August 1938, where he was serving on the outbreak of the Second World War, being promoted to temporary Warrant Officer on 23 September 1939, his award of the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was announced on 7 November 1939. Diggins was posted to 263 Squadron on 4 November 1939, a fighter unit equipped with Gloster Gladiators which then operated out of R.A.F. Filton near Bristol. Germany invaded Norway on 9 April 1940 and 263 Squadron was soon instructed to prepare for a move. On 20 April, the aircraft were flown, via R.A.F. Sealand, to Scapa Flow, where Fleet Air Arm pilots landed them on the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Glorious and 18 Gladiators sailed for Norway. On 24 April, after two days sailing, the Squadron flew its aircraft off the carrier to a landing strip on the frozen lake Lesjaskogsvatnet in Oppland in central southern Norway. Unfortunately for the enterprise, the squadron was extremely short of ground staff and equipment and few of its Gladiators had been prepared for combat, when the Luftwaffe struck with Heinkel 111s shortly after daybreak on 25 April. By the end of 26 April, although 263 Squadron had managed to destroy two Heinkels, all of its aircraft had been destroyed or rendered unserviceable and by the end of the month the squadron was ordered home. The re-equipped squadron returned to the far north of Norway on 21 May, flying from Bardufoss airfield, near Narvik, reinforced by 46 Squadron whose Hurricanes arrived a few days later, using an airstrip at Skånland. Due to unsuitable ground at Skånland, 46 Squadron moved so that both were operating from Bardufoss by 27 May. The squadrons had been ordered to defend the fleet anchorage at Skånland and the military base at Harstad on the island of Hinnoya. Action was short but intense before the squadrons were instructed on 2 June to prepare for evacuation; 263 Squadron had flown 249 sorties and claimed 26 enemy aircraft destroyed. 263's ten surviving Gladiators were landed on H.M.S. Glorious on 7 June. Glorious sailed but was intercepted by the German battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst. She was sunk and along with the aircraft from four squadrons. 263 Squadron lost its CO, S/Ldr John W Donaldson, F/Lt Alvin T Williams and P.O. Sidney Robert McNamara along with seven other pilots. Posted to another fighter unit, 79 Squadron, on 2 March 1942, Diggins then moved with the squadron to India, arriving there in May 1942, where the squadron flew primarily ground attack missions, initially with later mark cannon armed Hurricanes. It was for his services whilst still a Warrant Officer that Diggins was Mentioned in Despatches. Commissioned Flying Officer on 10 August 1943, and posted to the Technical Branch, he saw service out in Burma, and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 10 August 1946. He transferred to the Retired List on 6 March 1947. Sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. Certificate; and copied research.

Seven: Sergeant C. H. Upperton, Army Air Corps, late Royal Sussex Regiment India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (6395606 Pte. C. H. Upperton. R. Suss. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (6395606 Sjt. C. H. Upperton. A.A.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (6395606 Pte. C. H. Upperton. A.A.C.) minor edge nicks, nearly extremely fine (7) £240-£280 --- Charles Henry Upperton was born on 4 March 1909 and attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester on 13 January 1928. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India, and subsequently as a Drummer with the British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, being wounded in France on 22 May 1940. Recovering from his wounds he saw further service in Africa and was present at the Battle of El Alamein. He volunteered for the Airborne forces when the 2nd Suffolks became the 10th Battalion, Parachute Regiment. Transferring to the Army Air Corps he saw further service in post-War Palestine, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged in January 1949. Sold with copied medal roll extracts and other research.

A most unusual Second War British Expeditionary Force 1940 operations D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant J. T. Carr, 2nd Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery, who was decorated for his gallantry below deck in the destroyer H.M.S. Grafton when she was torpedoed off Dunkirk in May 1940 Distinguished Conduct Medal (1052363 Sjt. J. T. Carr, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (1052363 Sjt. J. T. Carr, R.A.) mounted as worn, naming on the first and last scratched and worn, contact marks and polished, nearly very fine or better (5) £3,000-£4,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette, 27 October 1940. The original recommendation states: ‘This N.C.O. was in H.M.S. Grafton on 29 May 1940, when the ship was struck by a torpedo in Dunkirk harbour. He was among a party of troops of various units between the decks. When the torpedo struck there was a rush for the nearest exit. Sergeant Carr immediately took charge and by his cool behaviour stopped the panic and kept the men quiet between decks until the order was given to embark on the rescue ship. Sergeant Carr then assisted the wounded men and did all in his power to help the evacuation of the ship. His final act before leaving the Grafton was to go back below decks and rescue a wounded man who had been forgotten.’ In the early morning of 29 May 1940, H.M.S. Grafton, under Commander Cecil Robinson, R.N., was returning to Dover with troops rescued from Dunkirk and came upon the sinking British destroyer H.M.S. Wakeful, which had been hit by a German E-Boat. Also at the scene were the drifters Comfort and Nautilus as well as the minesweeper Lydd. Grafton went alongside and began taking men aboard when she was torpedoed by the U-62 - the torpedo hit her stern, and then a second hitherto unexplained explosion occurred in the bridge area, killing the Captain and three other officers - here then the moment Carr got to work evacuating the troops below deck. The torpedo had blown the destroyer’s stern off but she remained afloat and on an even keel. At this juncture, the drifter Comfort, having been swamped by the torpedo detonation and forced to cast off from Wakeful, was sighted by the Lydd and mistaken for an E-boat - engaged by the stricken Grafton and rammed by the Lydd, she went down with only five survivors. After taking off as many men as possible from the Grafton, Lydd returned to Dover. Later in the day the destroyer Ivanhoe arrived at the scene and, after an attempt at taking the stricken ship in tow failed, and in consideration of the danger posed by remaining in the area, Ivanhoe's Captain ordered that the Grafton be finished off by torpedo. Sold with detailed copied research.

Honourable East India Company Medal for Egypt 1801, gold, 53.6g, an extremely rare original striking, fitted with contemporary post loop suspension, very fine £9,000-£12,000 --- Provenance: Upfill-Brown Collection, December 1991; Brian Ritchie Collection, September 2004. The Honourable East India Company’s Medal for Egypt 1801 was awarded in gold to just 16 Commissioned Officers of the Bengal Army.

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (250814 Pte. J. Perry. 6-A. & S.H.) good very fine £70-£90 --- John Perry served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 May 1915 (entitled to a 1914-15 Star trio, and was disembodied on 4 March 1919. He was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 507 of 1 November 1920.

Four: Driver J. S. Hughes, Army Service Corps 1914-15 Star (W-T4-037128. Dvr. J. S. Hughes. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (WT4-037128. Dvr. J. S. Hughes. A.S.C.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (John Hughes) mounted court-style for display purposes; together with a Glamorgan Special Constabulary lapel badge, good very fine (4) £70-£90 --- John S. Hughes attested for the Army Service Corps and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 4 December 1915 attached to the 130th (St. John’s Ambulance) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. Sold with copied service record and other research.

1914 Star (CHT-285 Wgnr: F. Cooper. A.S.C.) very fine and a scarce rank £80-£100 --- Frank Cooper, a Farm Labourer from Barmby Moor, East Riding of Yorkshire, was born in 1887. He attested into the ‘Wold’s Wagoners’ Special Reserve on 13 July 1913, and reengaged for a further year on 2nd July 1914. Mobilised for service during the Great War on 6 August 1914, he served on the Western Front from 20 August 1914 as a Wagoner in the Army Service Corps and later saw further service with the Supply Division Army Service Corps, He was discharged after the cessation of hostilities in June 1919. Sold with copied Medal Index Card.

Army Rifle Association Prize Medal, 58mm, silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1925, the obverse featuring a prowling lion, ‘The Army Rifle Association’ above, the reverse with laurel wreath, and engraved ‘Bisley 1926 Class “B” L.G. 1st Cpl. H. Male “B” Coy. 1/Devons’, in unrelated Elkington, London, case, extremely fine £50-£70 --- Hubert Cecil Male was born in Kingsbury Episcopi, Somerset in 1904. A Porter employed by the Great Western Railway he attested at Bristol for the Devonshire Regiment on 23 June 1922 and was posted to the 1st Battalion firstly at Devonport and later Aldershot. He was with his battalion when new Colours were presented by H.M. King George V at Aldershot on 11 June 1924. Promoted Corporal on 18 February 1925 he represented his regiment in 1926 at Bisley winning the Army Rifle Association, Prize Medal with the Lewis Gun. Male embarked with his battalion at Southampton on 28 January 1927 for Shanghai via Hong Kong to form part of the Shanghai Defence Force. Posted next to Malta the battalion was stationed at St George’s barracks on 12 October 1927. Awarded his 1st Class certificate of Education and appointed Lance Sergeant he was posted to the Depot, Exeter before being transferred to the Reserve on 2 January 1930 and was finally discharged on 22 June 1934. In the 1939 Register he is recorded living in Avonmouth, Bristol, a Senior A.R.P. Warden for Avonmouth Docks; in this role he will have doubtless experienced the height of the Blitz on Avonmouth Docks during the Second World War, and in the Bristol A.R.P. Minute Book for 1945 he is shown as the Depot Superintendent, Avonmouth. He died at Avonmouth on 19 April 1988 aged 84. His record of army service indicates that he did not receive any medallic recognition for his military service. Sold with copied service records and other research.

Three: Private L. St. H. Turner, Royal Army Medical Corps 1914 Star, with clasp (7633 Pte. L. St. H. Turner. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (7663 Pte. L. St. H. Turner. R.A.M.C.) mounted for wear, very fine (3) £80-£100 --- L. Turner attested for the Royal Army Medical Corps in March 1914 and served with the 4th Ambulance Train during the Great War on the Western Front from August 1914. He was admitted to No. 2 General Hospital suffering from appendicitis on 2 September 1915, and was repatriated home on the Hospital Ship St. David on 11 September 1915.

Six: Warrant Officer Class II R. Muston, Royal Engineers 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (14499915 W.O. Cl. 2. R. Muston. R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (14499915 W.O. Cl. 2. R. Muston R.E.) mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £140-£180

Four: Corporal S. H. Ulrich, Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry 1914-15 Star (1502 Cpl. S. H. Ulrich. Bucks. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (1502 Cpl. S. H. Bucks. Yeo.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (132 Cpl. L. [sic]. H. Ulrich. Bucks: Yeo:) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (4) £200-£240 --- Sydney Herbert Ulrich was born in Wandsworth, Surrey in 1886. A Stock Broker’s Clerk by occupation he enlisted in the Buckinghamshire Imperial Yeomanry on 31 January 1904. On the formation of the Territorial Army he enlisted in the Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry at Stowe Park on 12 May 1908. Awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal in July 1914 he was embodied for Great War service on 5 August 1914 and embarked for Egypt on 8 April 1915. Admitted to hospital in Cairo suffering from typhoid he was invalided to England on 8 March 1916 and demobilised on 8 March 1919. Returning to his civil occupation as a Stock Exchange Clerk he died at Wood Green, Middlesex on 25 June 1960, aged 74. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient, copied service records and other research.

Three: Private P. J. Auburn, Army Service Corps 1914-15 Star (1171 Dvr. P. J. Auburn. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (1171 Pte. P. J. Auburn. A.S.C.) mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted, very fine Pair: Lieutenant J. W. Gunning, Wiltshire Regiment, who was killed in action at Bapaume on 24 March 1918 British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. W. Gunning) good very fine (5) £70-£90 --- Percy J. Auburn attested for the Army Service Corps and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 March 1915. He was discharged, Class ‘Z’, on 10 July 1919. John Walter Gunning, a native of Fareham, Hampshire, was born on 6 August 1897 and was educated at Sherborne School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Wiltshire Regiment on 16 August 1916 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 September 1916. Slightly wounded in November 1916 and invalided home, he rejoined his Battalion in January 1918. Promoted Lieutenant, he was killed in action at the battle of Bapaume on 24 March 1918, during the German Spring Offensive. His Colonel wrote of him: ‘I am most sorry to lose so smart and brave an officer. He was always anxious to help me in every way, and was as keen as could be on his company and the battalion. I know all ranks will miss him very much, as he was so popular. His company did the most magnificent work in the front lines, repulsing several attacks, and I ascribe their success to the splendid officers, such as your son, who were in the company.’ Gunning has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.

Five: Colour Sergeant H. J. Dovell, Devonshire Regiment who, having completed the Commando Training Course at Lochailort, was posted to the 10th Battalion, Nigerian Regiment and took part in the 3rd Arakan Campaign in Burma, 1944-45 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (5616950 [sic] Sjt. H. J. Dovell. Devon) mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine (5) £70-£90 --- Herbert John Dovell was born in Combe Martin, North Devon in 1920. A Carpenter by trade he attested for the 6th (Territorial) Battalion Devonshire Regiment 4 June 1936, with service no. 5618950. Having attended each of the pre-Second World War annual training camps and been promoted to Corporal he was embodied in the newly formed 9th Battalion on 2 September 1939. Further promoted to Sergeant he successfully completed the Commando Special Training Course at Lochailort, Scotland in February 1942. Posted to the Lagos District Training Centre on 6 January 1943 he joined the 10th Battalion, Nigerian Regiment on 19 March 1943. Embarking with his battalion for Bombay on 10 July 1944 they formed part of 4th (West Africa) Infantry Brigade, 82nd West African Division, and embarked for the 3rd Arakan Campaign in December 1944, taking part in much keen fighting in Burma over the next three months. Released from his duties with the Nigerian Regiment he returned home on 15 February 1946 and transferred to the Army Reserve on 20 May 1946. He was awarded the Efficiency Medal in August 1946. He returned to his civilian occupation as a carpenter in Combe Martin and died at Barnstaple on 16 July 1991, aged 71. Sold with copied service records and other research.

A rare ‘Waziristan’ 1924 ‘immediate’ M.S.M. group of ten awarded to Captain A. Greenhalgh, Royal Engineers, attached Madras Sappers and Miners, Indian Army General Service, 2 clasps, Kurdistan, Iraq (314075 A. Sjt. A. Greenhalgh. R.E.); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24, Burma 1930-32 (1854281 C.S.M. A. Greenhalgh. R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (1854281 W.O. Cl.1. A. Greenhalgh. R.E.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (1854281 Cpl. A. Greenhalgh. R.E.); Indian Independence Medal 1947, unnamed as issued, nearly very fine or better (10) £700-£900 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Peter Duckers Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, July 2019. M.S.M. London Gazette 23 March 1925: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Waziristan, 21st April 1923 to 31st March 1924’ Arthur Greenhalgh was born in Sheffield in 1899. He re-attested for the Royal Engineers at Conway on 1 February 1919 having already attested for ‘qualifying service’ on 29 April 1918 in Sheffield. His Great War medal index card shows the award of British War and Victory Medals subsequently crossed out and the medal roll similarly marks his awards as ineligible and returned. He was initially assigned to the Inland Water Transport Section and later in 1919 he was posted to India, as acting Sergeant, attached to the 13th Company, Madras Sappers and Miners, serving in this capacity in Iraq and Kurdistan, 1919-20 and Waziristan 1919-24. He was awarded an immediate M.S.M. for service in Waziristan (Corporal, acting C.S.M.), one of only 94 M.S.M.s awarded for Waziristan in the period 1920-28 and one of the last ‘immediate’ awards. Greenhalgh subsequently served in the Madras Sappers and Miners in Burma 1930-32 and in the Second World War, having been promoted Warrant Officer Class I in 1934 and Sergeant Major Instructor in 1936. He was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major, Madras Sappers and Miners, in March 1939 and was authorised to serve beyond 21 years in 1940. Appointed Lieutenant and Quartermaster, Madras Sappers and Miners, in September 1940 he was advanced to War Substantive Captain in September 1943, serving as Staff Captain, Adjutant General’s Staff, H.Q. from that date. Sold with copied research.

Four: Gunner J. Mulholland, Royal Field Artillery, late South African Constabulary Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Rhodesia, Relief of Mafeking, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial retaining rod between state and date clasps (192 1st. Cl: Tpr: J. Mulholland. S.A.C.); 1914 Star (7948 Gnr: J. Mulholland. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (RFRA-7948 Gnr. J. Mulholland. R.A.) traces of verdigris to Star and VM, minor edge bruising, very fine and better (4) £300-£400 --- James Mulholland, a brick layer, was born in Glasgow around 1874 and originally served during the Boer War with the South African Constabulary, being one of a very small number of men in his unit entitled to the clasp Relief of Mafeking. The QSA medal roll adds: ‘Discharged time expired, 19.12.01’ and notes further time spent as a Trooper in the Rhodesian Regiment. Returning to civilian employment, Mulholland enlisted in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) at Budden Camp on 6 July 1908. Appointed Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, he was present at annual training from 1909 to 1914 and served during the Great War as part of the British Expeditionary Force from 14 September 1914. Transferred to the Mediterranean theatre of operations on 14 January 1916, he was discharged from further military service in June 1917. Sold with copied service record and medal roll confirming entitlement.

Three: Sergeant F. G. Copeman, Royal Signals General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (22771404 Sgtr. F. G. Copeman R. Signals); U.N. Medal, on UNFICYP riband; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (22771404 Sgt. F. G. Copeman. R. Signals.) mounted as worn, good very fine (3) £80-£100

Three: Staff Sergeant R. J. Mogg, Royal Engineers General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Near East (21128723 Cpl. R. J. Mogg. R.E.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, South Arabia (21128723 S. Sgt. R. J. Mogg. RE.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (21128723 S. Sgt. R. J. Mogg. R.E.) mounted as worn, minor edge nicks, nearly extremely fine (3) £180-£220

The unique ‘Aden operations 1903-04’ D.C.M. awarded to Lance-Corporal, later Company Quartermaster Sergeant, C. E. Dicker, Hampshire Regiment, who was subsequently wounded at Gallipoli in June 1915 Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (4715. Lce. Corpl. C. E. Dicker, 1st. Bn. Hamps. Regt.) officially engraved in running script, cleaned, nearly very fine, and a scarce instance of a gallantry award being awarded for an action where there was no corresponding campaign medal £1,200-£1,600 --- Five gallantry awards were awarded for services during the operations in connection with the protection of the Aden Boundary Commission, 1903-4: Four Distinguished Service Orders; and a single Distinguished Conduct Medal (to Dicker). D.C.M. London Gazette 14 April 1905: ‘In recognition of his gallant conduct during the operations in connection with the protection of the Aden Boundary Commission, 1903-4.’ Charles Edwin Dicker was born in Fareham, Hampshire, in 1875 and attested for the Hampshire Regiment at Winchester on 8 November 1895. He served with the 1st Battalion in India from 25 February 1898 to 13 January 1903, before proceeding to Aden in January 1903. The Hampshire Regiment in Aden 1903-04 ‘Britain first occupied Aden in 1839 and over the following decades extended its authority over the coastal tribes from Sheik Saad at the entrance to the Red Sea eastwards. Turkish influence also extended into Southern Arabia, and in 1872 the Turks occupied the Yemen, bringing them to the ill-defined border of the British sphere of influence. In an attempt to regularise the situation an Anglo-Turkish Boundary Commission was set up in 1902, but made little progress. The Turks then occupied Jalela and other villages on the British side of the boundary while, at the same time, tribesmen in the Aden hinterland became increasingly turbulent, intercepting mail and generally causing trouble. To counter these threats, three companies of the 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment under Major Lewis Munro were sent from India to Aden in January 1903. Headquarters and two further companies followed at the end of the month. By early February all five companies had been dispatched 70 miles inland from the port of Aden to Dtahala, the major town in the disputed area. As the British advanced the Turks withdrew into their own territory, and for a time it seemed no fighting would occur. Two Hampshire companies were sent to occupy Darrakan, west of Dthala, but the place proved to be rife with malaria and several men died before the units withdrew. Meanwhile, Arab unrest intensified, fuelled by a dislike of foreign troops on their soil. Tribesmen raided small convoys and sniped at the army camps, prompting the British to instigate punitive operations. These took the form of small columns sent out to destroy the offending Arab villages and to exact retribution. However, the columns found themselves operating in desolate country with little water and the Hampshire men were relieved when most moved back to Aden in May 1903. Aden, too, proved intolerably hot and officers who kept ponies had to pay for their water. Meanwhile, men who chose to bathe to keep cool had to beware of sharks. Those troops that remained in the Aden hinterland were occupied mainly in building roads and escorting surveying parties. However, they were also involved in further fierce skirmishes with Arab tribesmen which inevitably led to more punitive expeditions. The most serious fighting, against the particularly troublesome Kotaibis, took place in October 1903. A 1,500-strong Kotaibi force attacked a British post at Sulaiq, held by a small party of some British Indian soldiers. Two companies of the 1st Hampshire plus the headquarters were on their way from Aden to Dthala when the attack on Sulaiq took place and 100 men under Captain Arthur Beckwith were detached to join the relief column. This force successfully dislodged the Kotaibis around Sulaiq. Beckwith’s party, brought up to 250 rifles by the arrival of another detachment under Lieutenant Peter Connellan, then joined a mobile column which pursued the Kotaibis into the hills, capturing the village of Kariati in a night attack on 2nd November. The column then spent several days in punitive operations, mainly blowing up towers, and over the following week inflicted a series of defeats on the Kotaibis. Several more villages were destroyed, but the Kotaibis, by now wary of engaging the British at close quarters, confined themselves to long distance sniping. Battalion headquarters remained at Dthala until the end of December when it shifted to El Mileh and from there in January to Musemir, a fever-stricken village of mud huts in Wadi Tiba. Malaria was rife and, despite daily doses of quinine, nearly everyone there contracted the disease. By the time the Hampshires returned to the coast again in February malaria had cost the battalion 30 men. In May 1904, when the battalion was medically inspected and the Medical Officer walked between the ranks and fell out men suffering from malaria, many were actually shaking with it as they stood. So it was without regret when, on 29 May 1904, the battalion’s five companies, ten officers and 424 other ranks left Aden for home.’ (The 1st Hampshire in Aden and Somaliland, 1903, Royal Hampshire Regiment refers). Appointed Lance-Corporal on 29 February 1904, for his services in Aden Dicker was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Promoted Corporal on 23 February 1907, he saw further service with the 2nd Battalion overseas in South Africa from 31 December 1908 to 6 December 1911; in Mauritius from 7 December 1911 to 6 December 1913; and in India from 7 December 1913 to 23 December 1914. Promoted Sergeant on 10 December 1910, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity per Army Order 99 of 1914. Appointed Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 4 May 1915, Dicker served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War in Gallipoli from the first day of the Gallipoli campaign, 25 April 1915, and was wounded by a gun shot wound to the left thigh at Gallipoli on 19 June 1915. Further suffering shell shock at Gallipoli on 8 January 1916, he was hospitalised and, having returned home on 22 February 1916, was posted to the 3rd Battalion as Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 31 March 1916. He was discharged, no longer physically fit for war service, on 21 November 1917, after 22 years and 14 days’ service, and was awarded a Silver War Badge, no. 271977. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

Four: Sergeant H. S. Bolt, Devonshire Regiment 1914 Star (9604 L. Cpl. H. S. Bolt. 1/Devon: R.); British War and Victory Medals (9604 Cpl. H. S. Bolt. Devon. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (5608181 Sjt. H. S. Bolt. Devon. R.) with flattened named card box of issue for the LS&GC, contact marks, nearly very fine and better; the LS&GC extremely fine (4) £120-£160 --- Harry Slee Bolt was born in Lydford, North Devon in 1885. A Labourer by occupation he attested for the Royal North Devon Hussars at Tavistock on 24 March 1909 and served for 3 years and 182 days in the Territorial Force before attesting for the Devonshire Regiment on 23 September 1912. At the outbreak of the Great War he was serving with the 1st Battalion stationed at St Helier, Jersey. The battalion embarked for France and joined the British Expeditionary Force at Le Havre on 22 August 1914. Quickly promoted to Acting Sergeant he served in the early actions of the Great War before being returned to England suffering from Rheumatic Fever on 26 June 1915. On recovery he was posted to the 8th Battalion in France only to be returned to England this time with a fractured right leg 18 December 1915. Remaining then in England until the end of hostilities he was posted to the 1st Battalion and in 1920 stationed at Waterford during the Irish Troubles. Still with the 1st Battalion he arrived in Shanghai for service with the Shanghai Defence Force on 26 March 1927. Serving later in Malta and India and being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal he returned to England to be finally discharged as physically unfit on 3 July 1931. He died at Devonport on 22 February 1932, aged 47. Sold with original letter enclosing the recipient’s L.S. & G.C.; and copied service records and other research.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private T. Cleugh, 1/1st Northumbrian Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) Military Medal, G.V.R. (386337 Pte. T. Cleugh. R.A.M.C.) good very fine £160-£200 --- M.M. London Gazette 23 July 1919. For service in France. Thomas Cleugh attested for the Royal Army Medical Corps and served with the 1/1st Northumbrian Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. (Territorial Force) during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 April 1915. He was demobilised on 4 February 1919.

Four: Corporal of Horse C. Tewkesbury, Royal Horse Guards and Guards Machine Gun Regiment 1914 Star, with copy clasp (1302 Tpr. G [sic]. Tewkesbury. R.H. Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (1302 C. of H. C. Tewkesbury. R.H. Gds.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (5981 Cpl. of H. C. Tewkesbury. Gds: M.G.R.) mounted court-style for display, light contact marks, good very fine, the MSM scarce to unit (4) £600-£800 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders.’ Charles Tewkesbury attested for the Royal Horse Guards in 1908 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914. Subsequently posted to the Guards Machine Gun Regiment he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. He was discharged on 14 January 1920, after 11 years and 65 days with the Colours. Sold with the recipient’s original character certificate; a letter written to the recipient in 1930; and two photographic images of the recipient.

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (2207 Pte. Charles Brand 1st. Bn. Devon: Regt.) suspension slightly loose, nearly extremely fine, rare to unit £300-£400 --- 2 Officer and 16 Men from Devonshire Regiment served with the Maxim Gun Detachment during the Relief of Chitral 1895 and received this clasp. This was the second occasion on which the machine gun was used in action by the British Army. A further 9 officers and men from the Devonshire Regiment received the clasp for their involvement elsewhere in the Relief. Charles Brand attested for the Devonshire Regiment and served with ‘G’ Company, 1st Battalion during the Relief of Chitral campaign as a member of the Maxim Gun Detachment, comprising 2 officers and 16 men. He contracted enteric fever and died at Dostar, Chitral on 11 June 1895, aged 25. Sold with copied research.

An unattributed group of eight miniature dress medals 1914 Star, with clasp; British War and Victory Medals; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue; Russia, Empire, Order of St. Anne, Military Division, silver-gilt and enamel; Order of St. Vladimir, Military Division, silver-gilt and enamel; Serbia, Kingdom, Medal for Zealous Service, gilt; Greece, Kingdom, War Cross 1916-17, silver, mounted for wear, nearly very fine and better (8) £100-£140

The Burmese War medal to Major-General A. B. Dyce, Madras N.I. and Brigade Major in the Arracan Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Lieut. A. B. Dyce, Brig. Major) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, nearly extremely fine £1,200-£1,600 --- Provenance: B. Ritchie collection, Dix, Noonan Webb, September 2005. Archibald Brown Dyce, a younger son of Lieutenant-General Alexander Dyce, was born at Trichinopoly, Madras, on 1 October 1800. Originally intended for the Artillery he transferred as a Cadet to the Infantry and joined the 4th Madras N.I. in June 1817. He became Adjutant of the 1/4th in 1821, and in 1824 was appointed Major of Brigade to the 5th Brigade and served in this capacity under Brigadier Morrison in the Arracan during First Burma War. Promoted Captain in 1827 and Major in 1831, he returned to regimental duty with the 19th and 6th Madras N.I. He commanded the latter unit during service with the Field Force employed in Goomsoor in 1837, and the following year he commanded the Chicasole Light Infantry with the force under Major-General Wilson at Adoni. In 1839, he was appointed to the command of a force under the special orders of the Political Commissioner and was instructed ‘to secure the person of the Nawab of Kurnool’. Dyce’s Statement of Service records ‘While the Governor in Council laments that the humane efforts of Lieut. Col. Dyce to prevent bloodshed have been defeated by the infatuations of the Nabob of Kurnool’s followers, he states that he “cannot refrain from expressing the high sense he entertains of the gallantry and soldierlike conduct displayed by Lt. Col. Dyce, the Officers and men of the Detachments in the attack upon the Durzah at Zorapore.”’ After this affair on 18 October 1839, Dyce’s officers presented him with the ‘ex-nawab’s’ sword. During the First China War of 1840-42, Dyce, then commanding the 14th Madras N.I., served in the Garrison at Hong Kong, following its capture in February 1841, and having transferred to the command of the 41st Madras N.I., was then ‘Directed to assume as senior officer the charge of Madras troops under the orders of Major-General Lord Saltoun, Comg. in China’. In 1847, while commanding the Northern Division of the Army in Madras as Brigadier, Dyce led the expedition to suppress the rising in Goomsoor and was vested with the full political authority in the disturbed districts. On the suppression of the outbreak he received the thanks of the Government. Appointed Major-General in June 1854, he was Colonel of H.M’s 105th (Madras Light Infantry) Regiment from 1862 until his death on 9 March 1866 at Grosvenor House, Southampton. Refs: Hodson Index (NAM); Modern English Biography (Boase); IOL L/MIL/11/39; Hart’s Army List 1866.