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Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (3904 Pte. I. Gleeson. 33rd. Foot.) Hunt & Roskell engraved naming, backstrap of clasp broken with evidence of earlier repair, very fine £200-£240 --- James Gleeson was born in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, around 1834. A labourer, he attested at Fermoy for the 33rd Regiment of Foot on 4 January 1855 and was present at the siege of Sebastopol from 11 September 1854 to 9 September 1855. Despite being only a young man, his Army Service Record notes discharge due to infirmity in 1857: ‘Private James Gleeson suffers from malformation of feet and chest and tending to disease of heart which render him unable to perform the duties of a soldier.’

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1983 Sgt Drmr: L. G. Orbell, Suffolk Regt) good very fine £80-£100 --- George Orbell served with the Suffolk Regiment in India (entitled to I.S.G. 1854-95, with ‘Hazara 1888’ clasp), and during the Second Boer War (entitled to Q.S.A. with ‘Cape Colony’, ‘Orange Free State’, ‘Transvaal’ and ‘S. Africa 1901’ clasps). He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. in April 1901, and died of disease at Pretoria on 7 July 1901. Sold with copied research.

Three: Lieutenant C. F. Verrall, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who was killed in action in the trenches at Epinette, near La Bassée, on 22 December 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut. C. F. Verrall. R. Suss. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. C. F. Verrall.) mounted for display, extremely fine (3) £400-£500 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Christopher Francis Verrall, Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, was born at Brighton on 5 February, 1889, the son of Thomas Jenner Verrall, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Hon. LL.D., Aberdeen. He was educated at the school of the Rev. C. E. Williams, D.D., Summer Fields, Oxford; at Wellington College; and at Trinity College, Cambridge. A keen athlete, he represented the university in swimming. He joined the Army as a university candidate in October 1911, his commission being ante-dated to October 1910, and became Lieutenant in November 1912. Lieutenant Verrall was killed in the trenches at Epinette, near La Bassée, on 22 December 1914. He was mentioned in Sir John French’s despatch of 14 February 1915. Lieutenant Verrall is commemorated by name on the Le Touret Memorial. Sold with copied Medal Index Card, War Diary extracts and other research.

Salvation Army Long and Faithful Service Medal, silver and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Mrs. Major Florence Dead, April 1915’, in case of issue; together with a R.A.O.B. Jewel, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Bro. Derrick Heardman Raised 21-7-58 Enterprise Lodge 8629’, with integral top ‘Primo’ Buffalo riband bar; and a N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, bi-lingual issue, 1 clasp, Ex-Yougoslavie, in case of issue, nearly extremely fine (3) £50-£70

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Johannesburg (3904 Pte. F. Arthurton, 16th. Lancers) toned, nearly extremely fine £60-£80 --- Francis Arthurton was born in Southwark, London, around 1872. A traveller, he attested at Canterbury for the 16th Lancers on 9 October 1894, witnessing four years in India, and a little under a year in South Africa during the Boer War. Discharged from the Dublin District on 20 April 1901, in consequence of being no longer physically fit, his Army Service Record adds: ‘good officer’s servant.’

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, South Africa 1901 (717 Cpl. A. Poole, R.A.M.C. Mil:) rank officially corrected, good very fine, rare to unit £140-£180 --- A. Poole served during the Boer War with the Militia Medical Staff, Royal Army Medical Corps. The roll taken at Newcastle on 26 August 1901 lists five personnel serving at No. 14 General Hospital, the recipient’s entry adding: ‘To S/S ‘Montrose’ for duty 20.4.01.’

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Belmont (8998 Pte. W. Mc‘Clair, Scots Gds:) nearly extremely fine £240-£280 --- William McClair attested at Glasgow for the Scots Guards on 22 May 1891. A bridge builder, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion and served until the expiration of his engagement on 21 May 1898. Recalled for service under Special Army Order of 7 October 1899, he served during the Boer War with the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards, and died at Winberg Hospital on 8 December 1899 of wounds received at Belmont on 23 November 1899. According to records held by the Scots Guards at Wellington Barracks, the recipient’s medal was sent to his widow, Mrs. Martha Jane McClair, who was at that time living at Railway Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire.

Pair: Private A. McGeorge, Royal Highlanders Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 5 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1884, El-Teb_Tamaai, The Nile 1884-85, Kirbekan (701 Pte. A. Mc.George. 1/R.Hrs.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, replacement ring suspension to Star, light contact marks, very fine (2) £700-£900 --- Andrew McGeorge attested for the British Army on 26 October 1881 and saw considerable action in Egypt and the Sudan with the 1st Battalion, Royal Highlanders. Serving as part of the Highland Brigade, he was present at the night attack on Tel El Kebir when the Highlanders advanced, bayonets fixed, and carried a series of trenches and redoubts with the sounds of the pipes spurring them on. Further engagements followed including the Battles of El Teb and Tamai, contemporary accounts describing ‘fresh bodies of the enemy pouring out of a ravine and swarming down to the troops who met them with a steady fire’. Resisting waves of Mahdi warriors, the Highlanders suffered 90 casualties, with Private Thomas Edwards of the 1st Battalion winning the V.C. on 13 March 1884 for displaying conspicuous bravery in defence of a gun of the Naval Brigade; he received a spear wound in the process. Returned briefly to Suakim, McGeorge was next engaged in the expedition of January 1885 to Berber, commencing with a boat journey along the Nile and then a long advance across hostile terrain towards enemy entrenchments near the Shu Kuk Pass - a ring of razor backed hills commanding a fortified gorge with an entrance blocked by loopholed walls. The passage proved fraught with danger and it took the Highlanders four days to work their way through just one whitewater rapid, seven miles long, labouring from dawn to dusk and losing one man drowned and two whaleboats in the process. Advancing over rocks and broken ground the men succeeded in defeating the enemy at the point of the bayonet at Kirbekan, but nature played its part in the return journey and more lives were lost to drowning and accidents. Likely exhausted from the experience, McGeorge took his discharge from the Royal Highlanders on 13 September 1886. Sold with copied research.

Three: Private A. Phillips, Army Service Corps 1914 Star (MI-08008 Pte. A. Phillips. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (MI-08008 Pte. A. Phillips. A.S.C.) cleaned, nearly very fine (3) £60-£80 --- Alfred Phillips attested for the Army Service Corps and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 28 October 1914.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (1020 Pte. A. Rogers. W. Riding Regt.) surname partially officially corrected, very fine £50-£70 --- Arthur Rogers was born in Bradford around 1866. A moulder, he attested at Halifax for the West Riding Regiment on 22 June 1886, his Army Service Record noting a spell in prison in 1889, ‘with one additional year to serve’, repeated again in 1891, with another ‘additional year to serve.’

Three: Lieutenant G. N. Burdett, Indian Ordnance Department British War Medal 1914-20 (11449 S-Sgt. G. N. Burdett. R.A.); Defence Medal; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (S-Condr. G. N. Burdett, I.O.D.) nearly extremely fine (3) £100-£140 --- George Norfolk Burdett was born in the parish of Kilnasoolagh, Newmarket, County Clare, Ireland, on 9 March 1883. A labourer, he attested at London for the Royal Garrison Artillery on 9 June 1902, passing a gun laying course at Sheerness in February 1908. Posted to India, he served at Allahabad with 60th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery, before transferring as Sergeant to the Indian Ordnance Department at Ferozepore Arsenal in November 1911. He remained in India throughout the Great War, before going to Aden from 28 February 1919 to 16 December 1921. Returned to India and the Rawalpindi Arsenal as Sub Conductor, he later transferred to the Rangoon and Quetta Arsenals before being placed on retirement pay in the 1939 Indian Army List, his rank noted as Lieutenant (Assistant Commissary), Indian Army Ordnance Corps. Sold with the original card box of transmittal for the Defence Medal, addressed to: ‘Mr. G. N. Burdett, 24 Cokeham Road, Sompting, Nr. Worthing, Sussex; together with the recipient’s National Registration Identity Card, noting service as Head Warden at Sompting, dated 29 July 1943.

A post-War ‘Northern Ireland’ B.E.M. group of four awarded to Corporal W. P. J. Lord, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding), whose military career was cut short after being hit by a brick on the Falls Road, West Belfast British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (23732587 Cpl. W. P. J. Lord. DWR.); U.N. Medal, on UNFICYP riband, unnamed as issued; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (23732587 Pte. W. P. J. Lord DWR); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (23732587 Cpl W P J Lord DWR) minor scratch to obverse of GSM, good very fine (4) £600-£800 --- B.E.M. (Military) London Gazette 20 March 1978: ‘In recognition of Meritorious Service in Northern Ireland during the period 1st August 1977 to 31st October 1977.’ William Peter John Lord was born in 1942 and baptised at Ramsey on the Isle of Man. Married at Halifax in 1963, he served in Londonderry in the autumn of 1977 with the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. This coincided with a two-day visit to Northern Ireland by the Queen as part of her Silver Jubilee celebrations of 9 and 10 August 1977, and a period of high tension caused by the murder of Margaret Hearst, a 24 year-old member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, who was shot by the I.R.A. in her parent’s home, near Tynan, County Armagh. The award of the B.E.M. to Lord and one other soldier of the regiment, was recorded in The Iron Duke, which states: ‘Finally, on a sad note, our sympathies are conveyed to Cpl. Lord, BEM, who is being medically discharged due to a serious eye injury which was received when he was hit by a brick whilst travelling in a vehicle on the Falls Road.’ Sold with copied research.

A rare and poignant Our Dumb Friends League Medal pair to Army deserter and career-criminal Mr. E. Netley, who sustained serious injuries whilst out on the prowl one evening at West Croydon railway station, when he attempted to rescue a dog which had strayed onto the tracks. Found unconscious alongside the body of a cream coloured Alsatian which was described in contemporary accounts as a ‘blackened mass’ lying across the live rail, Netley was fortunate to escape with his life Our Dumb Friends League Medal, heart-shaped, silver (Awarded to Mr. Edward Netley. For the courageous rescue of a Dog from a railway track. August 1929.) hallmarks for Birmingham 1927; together with a privately commissioned bronze medal by Vaughton, Birmingham, unnamed as issued, swing mounted, pawnbroker marks to edge of first, scratches to reverse of both, very fine (2) £700-£900 --- Edward Netley was born in Brighton around 1893. A labourer of no fixed abode, he attested for the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment around his eighteenth birthday (10047 Pte. E. Netley) and was soon the subject of a Court Martial at Warley Camp on 22 May 1911, in consequence of desertion. Found guilty, he was released from service. Familiar with dwellings along the London to Brighton railway line, Netley soon caught the attention of the Croydon Borough Bench when charged with stealing furniture from Mr. Arthur Winter who had known him just a few weeks. Out of compassion and seeing Netley with no home and no work, Winter had provided him with lodging and partial board, but was soon dismayed to hear that his goods had been sold in Portobello Road, the shop proprietor believing them to have originated from Netley’s ‘late mother’. The following year, Netley was back before the courts after breaking into his mother’s house at 3, Holland Road, South Norwood. Very much alive, she saw to it that he was sentenced to three month’s hard labour for theft. The outbreak of the Great War saw little change in Netley’s behaviour. Attesting for the 6th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment (18676 Pte. E. Netley), he served in Egypt from 16 November 1915 but was soon in trouble for desertion alongside a pal when back home in England. Wearing the stripes of a Corporal, he pretended to be an escort to his friend when challenged by a policeman. The ruse failed and Netley was transferred to the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment (64025 Pte. E. Netley). A while later, Netley was charged with obtaining money by false pretences. Appearing in the dock at Croydon Borough Police Court, he described himself as a ‘wounded Private’ of the 3rd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. Wearing the ribbon of the Military Medal, his largesse went further. The Croydon Times of 16 November 1918, adds: ‘Netley told the Bench that he had won the Military Medal and had been wounded four times. He wanted to retrieve his character and would pay back the money. He had been in the army four years. The father said he was sorry his son had not better sense, and hoped the magistrates would deal leniently with him. In reply to Ald. Fox. defendant said he won the Military Medal for capturing a machine gun and seven prisoners.’ Remarkably, Alderman Fox offered Netley ‘one more chance,’ much to the chagrin of his mother. Analysis of Netley’s Army Service Records show that he was indeed wounded, suffering a slight wound in France whilst with the 7th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, and another slight wound to the left hand whilst with the West Yorkshire Regiment. No trace of the award of the MM can be found. Discharged from the Army on 12 September 1919 and issued a Silver War Badge in consequence of disability, Netley forfeited his Great War medals on 23 December 1920 following further convictions for theft and fraud. Remaining in South London for the next nine years, Netley finally caught the attention of the local press for all the right reasons on a summer evening in 1929. Crossing the bridge at West Croydon Railway Station, he ‘heard the cries of a dog’ and leapt over an 8-foot wire security fence, falling 30 feet down the embankment. He then attempted to move the animal by hand, but was electrocuted and knocked unconscious, being found soon thereafter atop the clinker and wooden sleepers. Initially described as an ‘unknown hero’ by the contemporary press on account of Netley carrying no identification about his body, he was later identified at Croydon General Hospital and received considerable praise. Discharged, he travelled south to Brighton and was immediately caught stealing a bicycle. According to the Derby Daily Telegraph, 30 August 1929: ‘In recognition of this act of bravery the justices only sentenced Netley to three months’ hard labour. But for this act the sentence would have been much greater as he had a bad record.’ Awarded the Our Dumb Friends League Medal, it appears that the recipient’s life of poverty and cycle of petty theft continued unabated. Possibly pawned by the recipient, Netley was later admitted to the Kensington and Chelsea workhouse. In 1939, he was further charged at Brentford for having absconded from Isleworth Casual Ward, and fined 5 shillings. Having burned all his bridges with friends and family alike, it appears that his life ended in abject poverty. An article published in The Guardian newspaper describes the life of one man in a London workhouse at this time: ‘I found myself in a small room with other casuals. There were old men and young men; men who smiled and men who sneered; men who stared fixatedly before them and men who talked in low, toneless voices... But they were all men with one thing in common - hunger.’ Sold with copied research.

Four: Sergeant E. W. J. Tribe, Royal Artillery 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (1411182 Sjt. E. W. J. Tribe. R.A.) mounted as worn, the reverse of the medal bar stamped ‘E. W. J. T.’, very fine (4) £50-£70 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---

Pair: Private W. G. Harman, 19th Hussars Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Cape Colony, unofficial retaining rod between fourth and fifth clasps (3927. Pte. W. G. Harman. 19/Hrs.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3927. Pte. W. G. Harman. 19th. Hussars:) edge bruising and contact marks, polished and worn, therefore fine (2) £160-£200 --- William Godfrey Harman was in the parish of St. Clement’s Dane, London, in 1870 and attested for the 19th Hussars on 3 January 1893. He served with them in South Africa during the Boer War from 8 October 1899 to 3 August 1902, and transferred to the Army Reserve on 11 March 1903. He was discharged on 2 January 1905, after 12 years’ service. Sold with copied service papers.

A United States of America ‘Korean War’ Bronze Star and Purple Heart Pair awarded to Private First Class W. L. Beach, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, United States Army United States of America, Bronze Star, unnamed; Purple Heart, the reverse engraved ‘William L. Beach’; together two cloth patches and a Korean cigarette lighter, nearly extremely fine (2) £70-£90 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- William L. Beach, a native of South Carolina, served with the United States Forces from 12 May 1949 to 24 December 1954, and was twice wounded in action in Korea. Awarded the Bronze Star for his gallantry, the official citation states: ‘Private First Class William L. Beach, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, distinguished himself by heroic achievement on 5 September 1950 in the vicinity of Changnyong, Korea. On that date his unit was defending Hill 208 against an attack by a determined and numerically superior enemy. Private Beach's platoon prepared to withdraw under heavy enemy pressure. During this attack he encountered six of the enemy, but beat them back with hand grenades, wounding three and causing the others to withdraw a short distance. When two additional enemy joined the three, he again forced them back with his last hand grenade. Only when the rest of his platoon had completed their withdrawal did he withdraw. The heroism displayed by Private Beach reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.’ Sold with copied research.

Four: Lieutenant P. B. Tester, Royal Artillery War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, E.II.R., Brunei (1157558 W.O. Cl. 2. P. Tester. RA.); General Service 1962-2007, 2 clasps, Borneo, Northern Ireland (1157558 W.O. Cl. 2. P. B. Tester. RA.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (Lt. P. B. Tester RA.) mounted as worn, very fine (4) £240-£280 --- Peter Bernard Tester was born on 5 February 1931. He served in the ranks for 21 years 157 days, and was made R.S.M. on 11 October 1965, and Captain (Quartermaster) on 11 October 1968. Sold with some brief service notes.

A scarce Army Meritorious Service Medal for Gallantry awarded to Corporal, later Sergeant, J. W. Ricketts, 30th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps, in recognition of a lifesaving exploit in France on 12 September 1916 Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (T3-028055 Cpl. J. W. Ricketts. 30/D.T. A.S.C.) good very fine and rare £180-£220 --- 435 awards of the M.S.M. were made for gallantry between 1916 and 1928, a period when changes to the warrant allowed for its use other than to recognise particularly long and exemplary service. Corporal Ricketts’ name was included in the first batch of gallantry awards published; he was also the first of 22 members of his Corps to be so recognised. M.S.M. London Gazette 12 March 1917. ‘... for gallantry in the performance of military duty.’ The original recommendation form survives within the recipient’s service papers, the text repeated on the reverse of his M.S.M. card: ‘On 12 September, 1916, an alarm was raised that a man was drowning in the La Bassee canal, Corporal Ricketts ran to the canal bank 60 yards distant removed his coat and dived in and with great difficulty rescued the man, who had already sunk twice and could not swim. Deed performed “in the Field” France.’ James W. Ricketts was born at Lichfield, Staffordshire in 1887, and grew up at Worcester. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman in 1903 and served until 1907, when he was dismissed the service for striking an officer. At the outbreak of the Great War he was working as a drayman, and in November 1914 volunteered for horse transport duties with the Army Service Corps. He served in France with 30th Divisional Train from 4 September 1915 until the end of the war, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his lifesaving gallantry in 1916. Latterly he returned to Worcester, where he died in 1961.

‘Come on back now. There is no time to lose. We can cover you from the knoll.’ The last recorded words, shortly before he was killed in action, of Lieutenant Victor Hughes, to the dangerously exposed Winston Churchill, with the Malakand Field Force in the Mamund Valley, 16 September 1897 The historically important campaign group of three awarded to Lieutenant V. Hughes, 35th Sikhs, Indian Army, who was killed in action at Shahi-Tang, high in the Mamund Valley, on 16 September 1897 whilst leading a rear-guard action to prevent the dangerously exposed Winston Churchill from being overrun and killed by the Pathan tribesmen. Hacked to death by the leading tribesman, Hughes’ death was personally avenged by the future Premier: ‘I forgot everything else at this moment except a desire to kill this man. I pulled out my revolver, took, as I thought, most careful aim, and fired’ Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Lieut: V. Hughes, 35: Sikh B. Inft:) impressed naming; India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Malakand 1897 (Lieut. V. Hughes. 35th. Sikhs.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, no clasp (Lieut: V. Hughes. 35th. Bl. Infy.) engraved naming, good very fine and better (3) £8,000-£10,000 --- Provenance: Bought Baldwins, November 1955 (£3 10s.) Victor Hughes was born on 8 April 1866 and was first commissioned into the Lincolnshire Regiment on 9 May 1888. He transferred to the Indian Army Staff Corps on 4 January 1890, and was posted as Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 35th Sikhs, Bengal Infantry, on 15 January 1891. He served with them as part of the Sudan Field Force in 1896, returning to Peshawar in December 1896, and then saw further service with the Malakand Field Force the following year. With Winston Churchill in the Mamund Valley In the summer of 1897, following a series of disturbances on the North West Frontier of India, a large punitive force, the Malakand Field Force, was assembled under General Sir Bindon Blood. News of this proposed expedition reached Winston Churchill, then a young subaltern with the 4th Hussars on leave in England, whilst he was a spectator at Goodwood Races. Having previously extracted from Blood a promise that he would be accommodated on his Staff if ever the opportunity arose, Churchill immediately proceeding to India, and at length joined the Force as a War Correspondent. The Malakand Field Force proper consisted of three Brigades, with the 2nd Brigade, under the command of Brigadier-General Jeffreys, composed of the 1st Battalion, East Kent Regiment; the 35th Sikhs; the 38th Dogras; and the Guides Infantry. Proceeding up Malakand Country, by the night of 15-16 September 1897 the 2nd Brigade, including both Hughes and Churchill, was camped at the mouth of the Mamand Valley Churchill sets the scene in The Story of the Malakand Field Force:
‘The story has now reached a point which I cannot help regarding as its climax. The action of the Mamund Valley is recalled to me by so many vivid incidents and enduring memories that it assumes an importance, which is perhaps beyond its true historic proportions. Throughout the reader must make allowances for what I have called the personal perspective. Throughout he must remember how small is the scale of operations. The panorama is not filled with masses of troops. He will not hear the thunder of a hundred guns. No cavalry brigades whirl by with flashing swords. No infantry divisions are applied at critical points. The looker-on will see only the hillside, and may, if he watches with care, distinguish a few brown-clad men moving slowly about it, dwarfed almost to invisibility by the size of the landscape. I hope to take him close enough to see what these men are doing and suffering; what their conduct is and what their fortunes are. But I would ask him to observe that, in what is written, I rigidly adhere to my role of a spectator. If by any phrase or sentence I am found to depart from this, I shall submit to whatever evil things the ingenuity of malice may suggest. On the morning of 16th September, in pursuance of Sir Bindon Blood's orders, Brigadier-General Jeffreys moved out of his entrenched camp at Inayat Kila, and entered the Mamund Valley. His intentions were to chastise the tribesmen by burning and blowing up all defensible villages within reach of the troops. It was hoped that this might be accomplished in a single day, and that the brigade, having asserted its strength, would be able to march on the 17th to Nawagai and take part in the attack on the Bedmanai Pass, which had been fixed for the 18th. Events proved this hope to be vain, but it must be remembered that up to this time no serious opposition had been offered by the tribesmen to the columns, and that no news of any gathering had been reported to the General. The valley appeared deserted. The villages looked insignificant and defenceless. It was everywhere asserted that the enemy would not stand. Reveille sounded at half-past five, and at six o'clock the brigade marched out. In order to deal with the whole valley at once the force was divided into three columns ... ’ But as coming events would shortly confirm, the assertion that the enemy would not stand was woefully inaccurate. Churchill continues the story in his autobiography, My Early Life: ‘We got to the head of the valley without a shot being fired. Here we dismounted, perhaps fifteen carbines in all, and opened fire at seven hundred yards’ range. Instantly the whole hill became spotted with white puffs of smoke, and bullets began to whistle through our little grove. This enjoyable skirmish crackled away for nearly an hour, and meanwhile the infantry toiled nearer and nearer to us across the plain. When they arrived, it was settled that the leading company of the 35th Sikhs should attack the conical hill and two more companies should proceed up a long spur to the left of it. The cavalry meanwhile would guard the plain and keep connection with the reserve of our force. I decided to go with the second party up the long spur towards the village [of Shahi-Tang]. I gave my pony to a native and began to toil up the hillside with the Infantry. It was frightfully hot. The sun, nearing the meridian, beat upon one's shoulders. We plodded and stumbled upwards for nearly an hour. As we ascended, the whole oval pan of the Mamund Valley spread out behind us, and pausing to mop my brow, I sat on a rock and surveyed it. It was already nearly eleven o'clock. The first thing that struck me was that there were no troops to be seen. Where was our Army? It occurred to me for the first time that we were a very small party: five British officers including myself, and probably eighty-five Sikhs. That was absolutely all; and here we were at the very head of the redoubtable Mamund Valley, scrambling up to punish its farthest village. I was fresh enough from Sandhurst to remember the warnings about “dispersion of forces”, and certainly it seemed that the contrast between the precautions which our strong force had taken moving out of camp in the morning, and the present position of our handful of men, was remarkable. However, like most young fools I was looking for trouble, and only hoped that something exciting would happen. It did! At last we reached the few mud houses of the village [of Shahi-Tang]. A quarter of an hour passed and nothing happened. Then the Captain of the company arrived. “We are going to withdraw”, he said to the subaltern. “You stay here and cover our retirement till we take up a fresh position on that knoll below the village.” He added, “The Colonel thinks we are rather in the air here”. It struck me this was a sound observation. Suddenly the mountain-s...

The 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot was raised in 1741 and saw extensive service in North America during the latter half of the 18th Century and early 19th Century, including in the Caribbean, and subsequently took part in the Crimean War. It amalgamated with the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot in 1881 to become the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, and saw further service in the Egyptian campaign and in South Africa during the Boer War, as well as extensive service in both the Great War and the Second World War. Following the Second World War the Regiment amalgamated successively with the Somerset Light Infantry to form the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry in 1959; with the Durham Light Infantry, the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, and the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry to form the Light Infantry in 1968; and then with the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire Light Infantry, and the Royal Green Jackets to form The Rifles in 2007. A Second War ‘North Africa’ M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Spiers, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, who experienced a meteoric rise through the ranks during the Second World War; was present at the evacuation from Dunkirk; Commanded Troops in Rome; and was twice Mentioned in Despatches The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (Lieut. (Q.M.) J. H. Spiers. D.C.L.I.) mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted, good very fine (7) £360-£440 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 13 December 1945. The original Recommendation states: ‘During the period under review, in fact from the first day he joined the Administrative Staff of this Headquarters early in November 1942, this officer has been outstanding in his devotion to duty. Joining originally as the Quartermaster he was soon made an assistant Camp Commandant in which capacity he has worked since May 1943. His services throughout have been of an exceptionally high degree of merit, and it can be truly said that on numerous occasions he has undertaken special duties superior to his rank and ordinary work, and has performed them brilliantly. During the move to North Africa from the U.K., the hectic days of settling down in Algiers, the move to Italy in July 1944, and ever since, he has played a major part in the local administration of the British section of A.F.H.Q. Possessing a remarkable knowledge of man-management, a capacity for hard work day in and out without easing up, this officer’s boundless energy, tact, cheerfulness, and contagious enthusiasm for the job in hand has been an inspiration to all around and there is no doubt whatever that he has had a very considerable share in the smooth running of the local administration, and he has earned the respect and friendship of all ranks, both British and American, with whom he has had to deal. The general well-being of the 4,000 British Officers and Men here at A.F.H.Q. has always been his particular concern, and the high standard of messing, accommodation, and general welfare of the other ranks has been ever of the highest priority with him. His exemplary conduct and efficiency throughout the two and a half years he has been with this Headquarters is worthy of special recognition.’ M.I.D. London Gazettes 11 November 1943 and 20 February 1945. John Henry Spiers was born in Guildford, Surrey, on 24 July 1906 and attested for the Somerset Light Infantry at Winchester on 26 May 1925, transferring to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry the same day. He was advanced Colour Sergeant and appointed Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 7 April 1937, and was promoted Warrant Officer Class III on 1 October 1938, and Warrant Officer Class II on 15 November 1938. He served with the British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War in France from 30 September 1939 until being evacuated from Dunkirk on 1 June 1940; given the fact that he was a Platoon Sergeant Major at the time, it is more than likely that Spiers played a key role in the Battalion’s successful evacuation from Dunkirk in H.M.S. Kingfisher on the evening of 1 June 1940, whilst still an effectively formed body with high morale. Promoted Warrant Officer Class I on 29 September 1940, Spiers experienced a meteoric rise during the War, being commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) on 9 December 1941, and posted to the 7th Battalion. He subsequently served as Second in Command to the Camp Commandant of General Headquarters, North Africa, and would thus have got to know well all the great and good of Allied High Command (see M.B.E. Recommendation), before seeing further service in Italy, and was promoted Captain on 9 December 1944; temporary Major on 24 February 1945; and temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 November 1947. For his services during the Second World War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He relinquished his commission on 20 October 1948, being granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and died on 29 January 1953. Sold with copied research.

Pair: Private P. Carter, Imperial Yeomanry Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between third and fourth clasps (12206 Pte. P. Carter. 66th. Coy. Impl: Yeo:); Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal 1900-1902, 66th Company, South Africa 1900-1901 (12206 P. Carter) good very fine and better (2) £300-£400 --- Percy Carter was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, around 1876. A plumber, he attested at Wakefield for the Imperial Yeomanry on 2 January 1900, serving in South Africa with the 66th (Yorkshire) Company, 16th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, from 13 March 1900 to 5 May 1901. Recorded upon his Army Service Record as present at Prinsloo’s Surrender and at Warm Baths, Carter was discharged at his own request on 13 June 1901.

A fine Great War ‘Gallipoli Operations’ M.M. awarded to Battery Quartermaster Sergeant F. A. Granados, Royal Field Artillery, who was wounded in action on the peninsula and later suffered from nervous debility Military Medal, G.V.R. (10019 By: Q.M. Sjt: F. A. Granados. 368/By: R.F.A.) mounted with a hallmarked silver ‘1915’ riband bar, light contact marks, very fine £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 11 November 1916: ‘Gallipoli, 1915. - For excellent work in charge of the wagon line, supplying ammunition and looking after the horses.’ Francisco Antonio Granados was born on Portsea Island, Hampshire, in 1886, the son of Antonio and Emma Granados. Of Italian ancestry, Granados attested for the Royal Field Artillery around fifteen years of age and served in Egypt from 1 April 1915. Posted to Gallipoli with 368th Battery, 147th Field Artillery Brigade, 29th Division, he was wounded in action on 6 June 1915 and awarded the Military Medal alongside Sergeant H. Mackenzie, Corporal J. E. Hughes and Bombardier W. Rayner for bravery displayed in the field between May and August 1915. Evacuated home, it remains unclear whether he served again. Awarded a Silver War Badge, he was admitted to hospital on 26 April 1919 suffering from nervous debility – more commonly known today as shell shock. Transferred to Gateshead, he is later recorded at the War Hospital, St. Mary’s Asylum (Stannington), before being discharged permanently unfit from the Army on 28 May 1919.

‘Unless we can start a special war for him so that he can be posted on active service, his condition will rapidly deteriorate.’ The recipient’s Psychologist’s Report, dated November 1972, refers The remarkable campaign group of six awarded to Corporal R. Roberts, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, late Royal Marines, attached King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and Durham Light Infantry, who later served with the French Foreign Legion in North Africa and French Somaliland, and with the Royal Australian Air Force in Vietnam 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (21182353. Cpl. R. Roberts. D.C.L.I.); Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (21182353 Pte. R. Roberts. D.L.I.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style for display purposes, contact marks and minor edge bruising, generally very fine, the GSM scarce to unit (6) £600-£800 --- Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, July 1995. Roy Frederick Thacker Roberts (who also served at various points under the aliases Roberson and Dixon) attested for the Royal Marines on 21 July 1942 and served with them for the remainder of the Second World War. He transferred to the Army (General Service Corps) on 18 December 1947, and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 1 April 1948. He served with them in East Africa from 25 September 1948 to 3 August 19149 (during which, on a four week trek through Ethiopia, some bandits stole all his gear); in Malaya from 20 October 1950, attached to the 1st Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry; and then in Korea from 15 March to 25 October 1953, attached to the Durham Light Infantry. He saw further service in Bermuda, Jamaica, and Belize, and was discharged from the British Army in the rank of Corporal on 29 May 1957. Remarkably, Roberts’ time with the British Forces was only a minor part of his career. After a year on civvy street he went to Paris and joined the French Foreign Legion, under the assumed name of Roberson, stating Dutch nationality. He was machine gunner and rifleman and fought against the Arabs in Algeria and in French Somaliland. He was with the Legion for 8 years qualifying after three years as Legionnaire First Class. He lived in the desert on combat rations and in the meantime learned to speak French and German. He left the Legion on 19 August 1966 on completion of his contract and ‘did a couple of trips as a dishwasher on the liner Iberia on the England to Australia run.’ (article in RAAF News refers). On 23 April 1968, while in Perth, Western Australia, Roberts enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force, this time under the assumed name of Dixon, his express reason being that he wished to serve in Vietnam. After overcoming various bureaucratic hurdles he finally received an operational posting to 2 Squadron, and served with them in Vietnam for 16 months, from 18 March 1969 to 19 March 1970, and again from 3 March to 30 June 1971, where, amongst other adventures, ‘he hitched lifts in helicopters so he could act as door gunner.’ But by now age was catching up with him, and after a year on non-active duties, and following some ‘odd’ behaviour, he was interviewed by a R.A.A.F. Psychologist. Their report, dated 23 November 1972, makes interesting reading: ‘After a long history of Military association, he has always been proud of the uniform he has worn; always seeking active service ands engaging in a good deal of fantasy about “engaging the enemy”. He has definite levels of aspirations which are not commensurate with his ability, and this sort of situation is ideal for reinforcing his tendency to reminisce and fantasise. I believe that he as reached a point in this his life when he can no longer fantasise successfully. There is now a crack in is defences and he is thus forced with realities. His is 48 and realises that his chances of active service are less than nil. He has always shown odd behaviour, restlessness, and a need for novelty, change, and excitement. However, he now realises that the R.A.A.F. can no longer provide the environment he seek and (unless we can start a special war for him so that he can be posted on active service) his condition will rapidly deteriorate. I recommend that his is discharged “temperamentally unsuited to Service life”.’ Roberts was finally discharged out of the Royal Australian Air Force, and service life, on 16 November 1973. In addition to the medals in this lot he also received the Vietnam Medal 1964-73; the Republic of Vietnam Medal with clasp 1960-; and the French Médaille Commémorative des Opérations de Sécurité et de Maintien de l’Ordre en Afrique du Nord, with clasp Algérie; as well as the United States of America Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Unit Citation Medal and Gallantry Cross with palm. Sold with extensive copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.

Family Group: Pair: Private D. Smith, Imperial Yeomanry, who died of wounds at Rheboksfontein on 1 August 1901 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (28004 Pte. D. Smith. 11th. Coy. Imp: Yeo:); Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal 1900-1902, 3rd Battalion, South Africa 1901-1902 (28004 Pte. D. Smith.) very fine Three: Private B. Smith, Army Service Corps 1914-15 Star (M2-046048 Pte. B. Smith. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (M2-046048 Pte. B. Smith. A.S.C.) minor staining to VM, very fine (5) £400-£500 --- Daniel Smith was born in Bingley, Yorkshire, around 1878. A blacksmith’s striker, he attested at Doncaster for the Imperial Yeomanry on 12 February 1901, serving in South Africa with the 11th (Yorkshire Dragoons) Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, from 14 March 1901. He died on wounds on 1 August 1901, one of three men from Bingley to die during the campaign, and his name is commemorated upon a marble tablet in the Bingley Parish Church. Benjamin Smith, the only child of the above, was born in Bingley, Yorkshire, around 1897. He served in France with the Army Service Corps from 19 May 1915 and was discharged to the Army Reserve on 15 June 1919. Sold with considerable copied research by the current vendor, including an extract from With the 11th Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, 1901-1902, which describes a surprise night attack on an enemy laager near Rheboksfontein on 31 July 1901; the engagement resulted in 37 Boers killed, a larger number captured and 8 casualties amongst the British column - likely including Private D. Smith.

Montenegro, Kingdom, Military Bravery Medal, silver (2); Medal for Heroism 1862, silver; Nikola I Golden Jubilee Medal 1910, bronze (2); Commemorative Medal for the War with Macedonia 1915-16, abrasively cleaned, generally nearly very fine Yugoslavia, Social Federal Republic, Medal for Military Merit, silvered; Medal of Labour, bronze-gilt; Medal for the 30th Anniversary of Victory over Fascism 1975, bronze-gilt; Medal for the 50th Anniversary of the People’s Army 1991, bronze-gilt, extremely fine (10) £140-£180

Four: Private H. Pike, Suffolk Regiment 1914-15 Star (4625 Pte. H. Pike. Suff. R.); British War and Victory Medals (4625 Pte. H. Pike. Suff. R.) BWM numbered ‘4525’; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (4625 Bndsmn: H. Pike. Suff: R.) generally very fine Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (5819260 Cpl. A. J. Norman. Suff. R.) edge bruise, nearly very fine (5) £70-£90 --- Herbert Pike enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment in June 1897. He served during the Great War with the Suffolk Regiment in the French theatre of War from 16 January 1915. Pike transferred to the Labour Corps, and was discharged 16 May 1918 (entitled to Silver War Badge).

Three: Private J. Poundsberry, Royal Sussex Regiment Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (1064 Pte. J. Poundsberry, 1/Rl. Suss. R.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Hazara 1888 (1064 Pte. J. Poundsberry. 2d Bn. R. Suss. R.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, first two with light pitting from star, otherwise generally good very fine (3) £800-£1,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Payne Collection; Dix Noonan Webb, April 2001 and December 2013. Eight officers and 247 other ranks of the 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, were present at Abu Klea. James Poundberry was born in Brighton in 1860 and attested there for the Royal Sussex Regiment on 5 August 1882. He served with the 1st battalion in Egypt and the Sudan from 16 January 1883 to 17 December 1885; and then with the 2nd Battalion in India from 18 December 1885 to 7 February 1890. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 16 February 1890, and was discharged on 4 August 1894, after 12 years’ service. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extracts.

Four: Gunner S. Tudball, Royal Garrison Artillery 1914-15 Star (3674 Gnr. S. Tudball. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (37674 Gnr. S. Tudball. R.A.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1919-21 (37674 Gnr. S. Tudball. R.A.) light contact marks, very find and better (4) £100-£140 --- Samuel Tudball attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery, and is shown on his Medal Index Card as serving during the Great War initially in the Frontier Regions of India theatre from 14 April 1915; however, the Medal Roll for the British War and Victory Medals lists him as serving with the 6th Siege Battery, R.G.A. (which served during the Great War on the Western Front - presumably this is a clerical error, and should read ‘6th Mountain Battery’, which served throughout the Great War in India). Tudball saw further service in India during the Waziristan campaign with the 6th Mountain Battery, and was transferred to Section ‘B’ Army Reserve on 15 January 1921. Sold with copied research.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (4515 Pte. D. Hyde. Glouc: Regt.) edge bruising, generally very fine £160-£200 --- Daniel Hyde was born in Northleach, Gloucestershire, around 1877. A labourer, he attested for the Gloucestershire Regiment on 11 January 1895, serving with the 1st Battalion in South Africa from 20 September 1899 to 22 April 1900. His Army Service Record notes wounded in action at Farquhar’s Farm on 30 October 1899, the British losing 317 men killed and wounded when hit by a determined right-flank attack by Boers forces under General Joubert.

Pair: Sergeant W. Rust, Devonshire Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (3560 Cpl. W. Rust, Devon: Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3560 Sjt; W. Rust. Devon: Regt.) edge bruising and contact marks, the QSA polished, this fine; the LS&GC nearly very fine (2) £100-£140 --- William Rust served during the Boer War with the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. The medal roll confirms entitlement to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasp Natal, adding: ‘Invalided 14/7/00.’

Pair: Acting Sergeant S. Aukett, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later Royal Army Medical Corps, who was Mentioned in Despatches for Salonika 1914-15 Star (13400 Pte. S. Aukett. D. of Corn. L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (13400 A.Sjt. S. Aukett. D.C.L.I.); together with an erased Victory Medal, with M.I.D. oak leaves, good very fine Pair: Private T. Cole, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, who was conscripted into the Light Infantry despite only having one eye British War and Victory Medals (26698 Pte. T. Cole. D. of Corn. L.I.) good very fine Pair: Private W. R. Edmonds, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (38058 Pte. W. R. Edmonds. D. of Corn. L.I.) good very fine (7) £90-£120 --- Stanley Aukett was born in Leytonstone, Essex, in 1890 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry at Stratford, Essex, on 3 September 1914. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 26 January 1915, before transferring to the Army Service Corps on 22 July 1918, and was Mentioned in Despatches for Salonika (London Gazette 30 January 1919). He was discharged, Class ‘Z’, on 30 May 1919, and died in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, on 2 July 1959. Thomas Cole was conscripted into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 11 March 1916, despite only having one eye! He transferred to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 27 March 1916 served with the 12th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 May 1916. William Robert Edmonds attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War. Sold with copied research.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg (1370 Pte. A. Holcombe, Cldstm: Gds:) light contact marks and wear to unit, nearly very fine £240-£280 --- Alfred Holcombe was born in Reigate, Surrey, in 1880. A labourer, he attested at Guildford for the Coldstream Guards on 22 January 1898, and served in South Africa during the Boer War from 26 October 1899 to 20 July 1902. The recipient’s Army Service Record adds: ‘Severely wounded at Pretoria, 6.6.1900.’

Five: Warrant Officer Class II R. F. Burrett, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (5435289 W.O. Cl.2 R. F. Burrett. D.C.L.I.) nearly extremely fine (5) £60-£80 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2015 (LS&GC only). Reginald Frederick Burrett was born in Norwich on 27 November 1908 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 27 May 1930. He was promoted Corporal on 2 February 1940; Sergeant on 19 September 1940; and Colour Sergeant on 7 April 1941. He transferred to the Reserve on 27 March 1951, and was discharged in the rank of Warrant Officer Class II on 3 May 1954, after 24 years and 38 days’ service. He died in Westminster on 5 January 1974, after being hit by a cab whilst crossing the road. Sold with copied record of service and other research.

Army L.S. & G.C. (2), V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (9th. Bde. 610. Corpl. D. Walker, 33rd. Foot); G.VI.R., 2nd issue (4612024 Cpl. W. G. Ellis. D.W.R.) suspension claw re-affixed and traces of brooch mounting to first, edge bruising, nearly very fine (2) £70-£90 --- David Walker was invalided from the 33rd (The Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment of Foot on 7 March 1881 after 22 years with the Colours.

Family Group: Three: Private L. R. Lawrence, East Kent Regiment 1914-15 Star (G-871 Pte. L. R. Lawrence. E. Kent. R.); British War and Victory Medals (G-871 Pte. L. R. Lawrence. E. Kent. R.) very fine General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (S/6851828 S/Sjt. L. R. Lawrence. R.A.S.C.) nearly extremely fine (4) £80-£100 --- Leslie Richard Lawrence served in France from 23 February 1915. Discharged to Army Reserve on 22 February 1919, his Pension Ledger and Index Card notes his home address as 28 Trossaels Road, East Dulwich, London. A few years later, on 13 March 1925, his name caught the attention of the Southwark and Bermondsey Recorder and South London Gazette: ‘Alleged Sacrilege Leslie Richard Lawrence (32), a clerk, of Trossaels Road, East Dulwich, was charged, before Mr. F. Mead, at Lambeth Police Court, with attempting to break and enter the East Dulwich Grove Congregational Church with intent to commit a felony. P.C. Stephenson stated that at one o’clock on Sunday morning he was in East Dulwich Grove, when he heard the sound of breaking glass... He found the prisoner standing outside a window which had been broken. When asked what he was doing there the prisoner replied: “I was only walking round.” he examined the prisoner’s hands, and found they were bleeding. When charged, the prisoner replied: “I understand.”

Pair: Colonel E. Balfe, Indian Staff Corps, Indian Army, late 27th and 49th Regiments of Foot, who was twice ‘Mentioned’ for his administrative prowess in hostile environments, and subsequently served as Judge Advocate of India India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Hazara 1891 (Major E. Balfe S.C.); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Lieutt.-Coll: E. Balfe. I.S.C.) good very fine (2) £500-£700 --- Edmund Balfe was born on 10 June 1846 and was appointed Ensign in the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot on 30 June 1869. Transferred to the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s) Regiment of Foot 27 April 1870, he was raised Lieutenant 28 October 1871 and posted to the Bombay Staff Corps in October 1872. Promoted Captain, Balfe passed Staff College in December 1882, his reference noting his intelligence, steadiness, and skill as a draughtsman and surveyor, adding: ‘He is a good rider, but does not seem to care about out-door sports, nor does he mix much in general society, in consequence of which his manner is somewhat unformed and peculiar.’ In consequence of the recommendations, Balfe was appointed to Staff as Deputy Judge Advocate for Bombay from 22 June 1883 to 31 March 1888. Transferred to Bengal as Assistant Judge Advocate General, he took part in the Hazara Expedition of 1891 and was mentioned in the despatch of Major-General W. K. Elles on 20 October 1891. The London Gazette adds: ‘Major E. Balfe’s duties as Provost-Marshal were light in respect to the administration of discipline. In the matter of sanitation they were more arduous. I am indebted to him for acting as my Judge-Advocate and legal advisor.’ Appointed Deputy Judge Advocate General for Madras in 1894, Balfe passed final examination at Staff College, Sandhurst, and served from 1897 until 1898 as Principal Provost Marshal with the Tirah Expeditionary Force; he was further mentioned in despatches by General Sir W. S. A. Lockhart in the London Gazette of 5 April 1898. Appointed wing officer to the 12th Bombay Native Infantry, Balfe was raised Colonel and appointed Judge Advocate of India from 1899 to 1903, being further entitled to the Delhi Durbar 1903 Medal. Sold with extensive copied research.

A rare ‘Casualty’ Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Private W. MacKay, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany’s), a Piper spared by Boer troops during a massacre in camp, who then had the temerity to escape at daybreak and continue with his regiment in the pursuit of De Wet across the Transvaal Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, Wittebergen (5692 Pte. W. Mc’Kay [sic], 2:Sea: Highrs:) contact marks, nearly very fine £300-£400 --- William MacKay was born at North Calder, Lanarkshire, and educated in the small village of Bower, located at the very north-eastern tip of the Scottish mainland. Attesting for the Seaforth Highlanders in 1896, he transferred from the 1st to the 2nd Battalion and embarked for South Africa aboard the S.S. Mongolian on 21 October 1899. Arriving at Cape Town, his life from this time is carefully recorded on pages 516-517 of Sword from the North: ‘Proceeded to De Aar, the Orange River, Enslin, and the Modder River. At the Battle of Magersfontein, Piper Mackay was wounded in the right leg. Later he went to Koodoosberg under General Sir Hector Macdonald. On 2 February 1900, under Lord Roberts, he started for the Relief of Kimberley. He next went to Paardeberg, where the Seaforths took part in one of their greatest battles, having very heavy casualties; but the result was the unconditional surrender of General Cronje and 3,912 of the Boer Army. The Seaforths then went to Doorfontein, and were engaged successfully at Bloemfontein on 15 March; at Sanna’s Post on 31 March; and at Winburg-Lindley, Heilbron, Frankfort and Bethlehem. At Bethlehem the engagement resulted in the biggest capture of the South African War, General Prinsloo on 30 July surrendering with over 4,000 men. The Seaforths were next back at Heilbron, and then went on to a succession of places, including Bethulia, Rouxville, and Jagersfontein. Piper MacKay and thirteen others were in camp when the Boers coming upon them killed eleven of them, only MacKay and two comrades escaping death. MacKay was taken prisoner but escaped at daybreak. After this the Seaforths were “all over the place” in pursuit of De Wet. On 21 March 1901, they were sent to Pretoria. Later, they went to Bethulie Bridge to erect block-houses; and on 20 January 1902, to Kroonstadt; and on 29 March to Klerksdorp. Here the Peace Delegates came in on 9 April, the 2nd Seaforths furnishing an Officer’s Guard over the Orange Free State Delegates, William MacKay being Piper to the Guard... Piper MacKay holds the Queen’s South Africa Medal with five bars, and the King’s South Africa Medal with two bars.’ MacKay returned home via Dublin, and later served during the Great War with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders; of a distinguished musical family, his brother John became Piper to King Edward VII. Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient, titled: ‘William MacKay, Piper, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders’, the service number upon the QSA Medal further corresponding with that offered by Sword from the North.

Pair: Private T. Hides, Imperial Yeomanry Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (24166 Pte. T. Hides. 9th. Coy. Imp: Yeo:); Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal 1900-1902, 3rd Battalion, South Africa 1901-1902 (24166 Pte. T. Hides.) contact marks and polishing, about nearly very fine (2) £300-£400 --- Thomas Hides was born in the Parish of Brightside, Sheffield, in 1879. A green grocer, he attested at Doncaster for the Imperial Yeomanry on 6 February 1901, serving in South Africa with the 9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, from 16 March 1901 to 28 April 1902. Severely wounded at Klipfontein 22 January 1902, the recipient’s Army Service Record notes: ‘Gunshot wound, right leg.’ He was discharged medically unfit at Shorncliffe on 30 June 1902, the injury resulting in a limp.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (F. Penny, Surgeon) engraved naming, lacquered, nearly extremely fine £240-£280 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Francis Penny, ‘formerly House Surgeon at the North Devon Infirmary, has received speedy promotion since he took the appointment of civil surgeon in the South African Field Force twelve months ago. In a letter to a friend at Barnstaple, Mr. Penny says: “I was coming home this month but have now been taken on as senior medical officer of Steinaeker’s Horse, so shall not be home for a year or so, as I hear it is to be a permanent corps, even after the War is over. I am to rig up in all the trappings and decorations of a captain in His Majesty’s Army, with the special tabs of the Medical Corps.” Captain Penny has latterly been stationed at Kaapsche Hoop (where, he says, he dug up enough gold to make a ring), but is now transferred to Komati Poort.’ (The North Devon Journal, 6 February 1902 refers).

Pair: Worker Mary E. Neal, Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps British War and Victory Medals (39481 Wkr. M. E. Neal. Q.M.A.A.C.) good very fine Pair: Worker Agnes E. Payn, Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps British War and Victory Medals (2808 Wkr. A. E. Payn. Q.M.A.A.C.) good very fine (4) £100-£140 --- Miss Agnes Elizabeth Payn enrolled in Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps on 14 August 1917, and was discharged, medically unfit, on 3 January 1919, being entitled to a Silver War Badge, No. B.89313. Sold with copied research.

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (unsuccessful), (Qr. Mr. Sergt. W. H. Sidwell, 30th Nov. 1896.) lacking ribbon buckle, extremely fine £100-£140 --- R.H.S. Case No. 29240: ‘At great personal risk, gallantly attempted to rescue R. Tailford, who was unfortunately drowned at Tynemouth, 30th November, 1897.’ Quartermaster-Sergeant Sidwell, Army Ordnance Corps, and Bombardier J. Law, R.A., at great personal risk, gallantly attempted to rescue R. Tailford, who was drowned at Tynemouth on 30 November 1896. The recipient was aged 36 at the time. Tailford was seen struggling in the sea off Tynemouth at 9.30 a.m.; he was about 100 yards out in 10 feet of water. A heavy sea was running and the water was very cold. Both men went down a steep cliff and swam out to him; however owing to the rough sea they could not effect the rescue and returned to the shore in an exhausted state. The case was sent to the Royal Humane Society by the O.C. at Tynemouth.’

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Hazara 1888 (1839 Pte. M. Brennan 2d. Bn. R. Ir. R.) very fine £180-£220 --- Michael Brennan was born in Powerstown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, in 1862 and attested for the Royal Irish Regiment at Clonmel on 4 April 1884, having previously served in the Regiment’s 4th (Militia) Battalion. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India from 8 March 1885 to 14 November 1891, and saw active service in the Hazara Campaign 1888. Returning home, he transferred to the Army Reserve on 20 November 1891, and was discharged on 3 April 1896, after 12 years’ service. Following the outbreak of the Boer War, Brennan re-attested for the Royal Irish Regiment and served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa from 15 December 1899 to 3 February 1901 (entitled to a Queen’s South Africa medal with clasps Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen and South Africa 1901). He was finally discharged on 26 March 1906, ‘character indifferent owing to frequent acts of drunkenness’, after a further 6 years and 111 days’ service. Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extracts.

Pair: Sergeant F. Thorley, Royal Artillery India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (18172 Sergt. F. Thorley 9 M.B.R.A.) unofficial connections between clasps; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (18172 Sergt. F. Thorley R.A.) last with official correction to service number, contact marks, very fine and better (2) £160-£200 --- Frank Thorley was born at Manchester and attested for the Royal Artillery at Liverpool on 9 November 1876, aged 20, a labourer by trade. He served overseas in India from November 1878 to March 1880; Afghanistan from March 1880 to May 1881; India from May 1881 to May 1889, and again from December 1890 to March 1898. For his service in the Afghan War he was awarded the Afghanistan Medal with clasp for Kandahar and the Kabul to Kandahar Star. In addition to the medals above, Thorley was also awarded the India General Service with clasps for Burma 1885-7, Sikkim 1888 and Hazara 1891, for his service in: the Zhob Valley in 1884; Burma Field Force in 1886-87; Sikkim Field Force in 1888-89; Hazara in 1891; Isazai in 1892; and the Tirah Field Force in 1897-98. Sold with copied discharge papers.

Iraq 2003-11, 1 clasp, 19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003 (MA1 R W D Price D244244R RN) mounted as worn, extremely fine £200-£300 --- Ray Price, Medical Assistant 1st class, attached Commando Logistics Regiment, Royal Marines. ‘MA Price joined Medical Squadron prior to its deployment to the Gulf... His main role being the treatment of all primary care patients. He was also responsible for the daily checks of medical equipment and was on hand to assist staff on the trauma bays. His Medical Section was attached to 42 Cdo RM RAP, during the Commando raids on Al Faw and Basra. During this time he coped well with the arduous field conditions and he employed sound clinical skills when dealing with casualties’ (Extract from CDO LOG REGT RM Appraisal Report for period 29 January to 30 April, 2003, refers). The following extracts are taken from a letter written by Ray Price in February 2007, when selling his medal and uniform top: “Joined the Royal Navy on 4 January 1999 initially as a Weapons Engineer on Submarines but failed the Medical required for submarine service. From the choice of Chef, Steward, Writer, Stores Accountant or Medical Assistant, I chose Medical Assistant as it was my second choice. Began Medical Assistant training in September 1999 at Keogh Barrack and successfully completed in June 2000. I then joined HMS YORK (Type 42 Destroyer) and completed a deployment in the Mediterranean with the NATO fleet. Spent several years in a couple of Medical Centres including HMS COLLINGWOOD, RNAS Yeovilton. In January 2003 I was drafted to Royal Hospital Haslar but a few weeks later received a late notice draft to the Medical Squadron in the Commando Logistics Regiment to deploy to Iraq with them. The Medical Squadron is situated not far behind the Frontline and is highly mobile dealing with Emergencies which require Damage Control Surgery, before the casualties are evacuated to a Field Hospital, with surgeons, nurses and medics who are specially trained to deal with Battlefield casualties. My job in the Unit was to go and pick up the casualties from the frontline and take them to the Medical Squadron which is why I was attached to 42 Commando. Approximately 50% of the time we were under fire when picking up the wounded, many of whom were civilians, including children, who were unable to get treatment from the Iraqi hospitals as they were closed due to the war. In May 2003 I returned to Royal Hospital Haslar doing an administrative job until April 2004 where I was promoted to Leading Medical Assistant (equivalent to corporal in the Army). I created the Military Patient Administration Centre in Queen Alexandra Hospital which earned me an excellent report and finally my own Ship in February 2005 where I was the only Medic running a sickbay onboard HMS KENT (Type 23 Frigate). I joined KENT during refit and after a year and a half of work-up training we deployed to the Gulf in June 2006 where we spent six months patrolling the oil rigs near Iraq. I left the Royal Navy in early 2007.” Sold with the recipient’s Number 1 uniform jacket, complete with named label, rank insignia and medal ribbon, together with more than 10 copied Appraisal Reports covering the period February 1999 to December 2005, and other research, including a CD of photographs covering his service in the Iraq war and aboard HMS KENT in the Gulf.

India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4475 Pte. E. Gallier 1st. Bn. Gord: Highrs.) good very fine £200-£240 --- Enoch Gallier was born in Shropshire in 1874 and attested for the Gordon Highlanders at Birmingham on 23 August 1892. He served with the 1st Battalion in India from 3 February 1894 to 22 September 1899, and then in South Africa during the Boer War from 23 September 1899 to 5 September 1902. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 4 March 1903, and was discharged on 22 August 1904, after 12 years’ service. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extracts.

Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1465. Pte. J. Taylor. Suff: R.) darkly toned, good very fine £70-£90

Three: Gunner G. Nelson, Royal Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Kimberley (9088 Gnr: G. Nelson. 23rd. W.D., R.G.A.); China 1900, no clasp (9088 Gr. G. Nelson No. 91 Co. R.G.A.); Mayor of Kimberley’s Star 1899-1900, reverse hallmark with date letter ‘a’, the reverse privately engraved ‘Gunner G. Nelson. 23 Compy. W.D. R.G.A.’ lacking integral top riband bar, mounted for wear, scratch across Monarch’s cheek to first, otherwise nearly extremely fine (3) £500-£700 --- George Nelson was born in the Parish of Gosforth, Newcastle, around 1877. A groom, he attested at South Shields for the Royal Artillery on 2 April 1895, serving in St. Lucia from 15 December 1896 to 6 November 1897; South Africa from 7 November 1897 to 17 July 1900; China from 18 July 1900 to 12 August 1901; and India from 13 August 1901 to 22 December 1902 - an unusual sequence of postings representative of five years’ continuous overseas service. Returned home to England, Nelson was transferred to the Army Reserve on Christmas Eve 1902, before final discharge in the rank of Gunner on 1 April 1907. His Army Service Record adds: ‘contusion, right great toe 23-4-98.’

Pair: Private T. White, Imperial Yeomanry Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (32496 Pte. T. White. 109th. Coy. Imp: Yeo:); Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal 1900-1902, 3rd Battalion, South Africa 1901-1902 (32496 Pte. T. White.); together with the related miniature award for the latter medal, suspension claw re-riveted on QSA, very fine (2) £300-£400 --- Thomas White was born in Doncaster in 1880. A hostler (groom or stableman), he attested at Doncaster for the Imperial Yeomanry on 6 March 1901, serving in South Africa with the 109th (Yorkshire) Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, from 23 March 1901 to 23 August 1902. Discharged at Aldershot on 30 August 1902, the recipient’s Army Service Record states ‘very good with horses’ and notes his intended place of residence as 82, Wheatley Lane, Doncaster, Yorkshire.

Five: Private A. H. Rowe, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and Machine Gun Corps, later Corps of Military Police British War Medal 1914-20 (4245 Pte. A. H. Rowe. D.C.L.I.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (4245 Pte. A. H. Rowe. D.C.L.I.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn, the Great War pair heavily polished and worn, therefore fair; the rest better (5) £200-£240 --- Albert Henry Rowe was born in Bude, Cornwall, on 27 June 1895 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 2 March 1914, serving with the 5th Battalion during the Great War in India (not entitled to a Victory Medal). Discharged on 20 June 1919, he attested for the Machine Gun Corps the following day, and later the Devonshire Regiment (Territorial Army), before reverting to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Regular Army) on 9 September 1924, and appears on the Roll for the 1937 Jubilee Medal as ‘7815537, Private, 2nd Battalion, D.C.L.I.’ He saw further service at home during the Second World War, transferring to the Corps of Military Police on 24 August 1942, and after transferring to the Reserve on 5 November 1945, was finally discharged on 7 April 1951, after over 37 years’ service, a decade of which was spent soldiering in India. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

‘This officer was wounded in the face by a machine gun bullet; many bullet splinters entered the eyes and are lodged there now. Sight is completely destroyed.' The Proceedings of a Medical Board assembled by order of D.D.M.S. London District. An inspirational Great War Casualty pair awarded to Tank Commander Lieutenant W. G. T. Pemberton, Royal West Surrey Regiment, attached 1st Tank Battalion, Tank Corps, who was blinded in both eyes on the opening day of the Battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918, when over 500 Allied tanks finally demonstrated that superior tactics, equipment and greater material strength could 'win' the war - despite his complete loss of sight Pemberton resumed his civilian business career with extraordinary success British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W. G. T. Pemberton.); together with the recipient’s braille pocket watch, 50mm, base metal, marked to dial ‘Presented by the National Association of Goldsmiths, 1918.’, as gifted by Sir Arthur Pearson, the medals nearly extremely fine, the watch no longer in obvious working condition (2) £500-£700 --- Warwick Geoffrey Travers Pemberton was born in Whitley, Warwickshire, on 3 May 1885. Educated at Christ’s Hospital, he took pre-war employment as a chartered accountant with Rowley Pemberton & Co., and was married at Kensington on 21 March 1912. The young couple soon set up home at the prestigious address of 67, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, becoming parents to a little girl not long thereafter. The outbreak of the Great War witnessed Pemberton leaving civilian employment and attesting on the Euston Road for the 28th Battalion, London Regiment (The Artist’s Rifles). Initially appointed Private, he was sent to Richmond Park for training before transfer to the Inns of Court O.T.C. and appointment to a commission with the 3/5th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment on 28 September 1915. Raised Lieutenant, Pemberton’s Officer Service Record notes secondment to duty with the Tank Corps on 27 August 1917, a month to the day after the Corps had formed from the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps and just as the new Mark IV tanks were beginning to experience excessive monthly rainfall at Passchendaele: ‘Sadly, the tanks deployment in the Third Battle of Ypres (July-November 1917) proved to be another slog through deep mud. The area became a tank graveyard as machine after machine ditched in deep trenches and shell holes, sank, stuck and was shelled. Morale in the Tank Corps was low and confidence in the rest of the Army destroyed.’ In consequence, it fell to a new cohort of Second Lieutenants and Lieutenants to lead - men such as Pemberton - and it wasn’t long before a fresh generation of tank crews began to show their mettle; on 20 November 1917 the British Third Army launched a tactically radical attack at Cambrai where chalk ground conditions were far more favourable than any of the clay footings seen to date. Following a surprise hurricane artillery bombardment, 374 mark IV tanks smashed through the Hindenburg Line positions and created the longed for 'rupture' in the German lines offering a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough. In this instance insufficient mobile reserves managed to exploit the gap, but Cambrai proved to be a key learning experience for the tank crews and British High Command. Further successes followed for the Tank Corps in an extraordinary counter-attack at Villers-Bretonneux on 24-25 April 1918 (where they faced for the first time the few German tanks ever produced, plus a number of captured British tanks), and again at Le Hamel on 4 July 1918. On 8 August 1918, the British commenced the opening phase of the Allied offensive which ultimately led to the end of the First World War. The Battle of Amiens began in dense fog at 4.20 a.m. when the British III Corps attacked north of the Somme. Taken by surprise, author A. Kearsley notes in Amiens, 1918 that a number of enemy officers and divisional staff were ‘captured whilst eating breakfast’. However, for the British, not everything went to plan, largely in consequence of terrain and having just a single tank battalion in support; gaining their first objectives, they were soon held up short of the Chipilly Spur. It was at around this time that Pemberton was wounded in the face. Based upon the recipient’s medical records, Pemberton was wounded either by bullet fragments ‘pinging’ off the virtually impenetrable plate armour when reconnoitring outside his tank, or by ‘spall’ created when a machine gun bullet or rifle round strikes a tank at close range and peppers the men within. According to Armour Plate by author Hugh Chisholm, this type of injury was becoming increasingly common due to the German adoption of blunt-nosed ‘reversed’ bullets which transferred their kinetic power to the steel plate upon impact, rather than attempting to penetrate the target. They also resulted in the adoption, from late 1917 onwards, of steel and leather splinter masks by tank crews, designed to protect the eyes and face. Evacuated from Boulogne to Dover on 4 September 1918, Pemberton was sent to the 2nd London General Hospital at St. Mark’s College, Chelsea, and thence to St. Dunstan’s on 14 January 1919. Noted as present at their Regent’s Park accommodation on 1 April 1919, Pemberton relinquished his commission in consequence of ill health caused by wounds on 14 May 1919 and set about ‘getting on’ with a new life - one Pemberton believed he would need to ‘re-build’, until he was interviewed (as all new entrants were) by Sir Arthur Pearson, the founder and inspiration behind St. Dunstan’s. In common with all men at this first meeting, Pemberton was presented with a braille pocket watch; a generous gift, and also a ‘first step’ and confidence booster in being able to tell the time by one’s self. Lord Fraser, a former Chairman of St. Dunstan’s explains: ‘I well remember talking over his future with Sir Arthur Pearson. This was one of those cases where Sir Arthur showed his imagination and determination and thereby set a pattern which we have followed ever since. Sir Arthur said to Geoffrey Pemberton: Why not go back to your profession?’ In Pemberton's own words: 'When I went to St. Dunstan's it never occurred to me that I might go back to my old business as a chartered accountant. But with you I saw that many had taken up their former work with extraordinary success. Encouraged by this and your optimism I determined to try myself. I have been back at work for six months, but though that is a very short time, I think that there is no doubt that all is well... All my old clients say they are absolutely satisfied; they are business men and I don't think overly sentimental.'  By devoting himself to those aspects of the work of the accountancy office, such as interviewing clients, getting business, discussing principles and reconstructions, taxation problems and so on, leaving the pure accountancy work to others, Pemberton succeeded in a full partnership and played a leading part at his employers. His knowledge was facilitated by a great interest in the Talking Book, together with a brief spell in local politics. In 1927, whilst at a function at St Dunstan's, he also caught the attention of the Prince of Wales - the future Edward VIII - who showed a 'keen interest in his war service and professional life', almost certainly a reflection of how unusual and uncommon Pemberton's post-War pathway had been. Sold with a copied image of the recipient.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal A. Lee, West Riding Regiment, later York and Lancaster Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (24189 Pte. A. Lee. 10/W. Rid: R.); British War and Victory Medals (24189 Cpl. A. Lee. W. Rid. R.); Defence Medal, in named card box of issued, addressed to ‘Mr. A. Lee, 18 Benn Crescent, Lidget Green, Bradford, Yorks.’, nearly extremely fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917. Arthur Lee was born in Bradford in 1892 and lived at 49, Naseby Street, Bradford. A dyer’s labourer, he attested for the West Riding Regiment in June 1916 and was posted initially to the 3/6th Battalion as Private. Transferred to the 1/6th and 10th Battalions, his Army Service Record notes that he was raised Lance Corporal on 15 June 1917, and Corporal on 6 October 1917. Awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field, Lee transferred to the York and Lancaster Regiment on 19 February 1919, but was soon in trouble after going A.W.O.L. for a period of 77 days; ‘Owing to lack of sufficient evidence to bring the case forward to trial by D.C.M., case dismissed 21-7-1919.’ Sold with cap badges for both regiments and a pair of Duke of Wellington’s Shoulder Titles.

Five: Sergeant R. D. Cooper, Royal Horse Artillery, late Royal Field Artillery and Punjab Police 1914 Star (11584 Cpl. R. D. Cooper. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (11584 Sjt. R. D. Cooper. R.A.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (Sergt. R. D. Cooper. Punjab Police); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (11584 Sjt. R. D. Cooper. R.H.A.) traces of lacquer to Delhi Durbar and LSGC medals, light contact marks, generally very fine (5) £240-£280 --- Richard Dunne Cooper was born in Bangalore, India, on 5 July 1887, the son of Pioneer Sergeant Thomas Cooper of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry. He attested at Aldershot for the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 14 July 1900, serving in South Africa from 1903 to 1908, and with No.3 Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, at Ambala, India, from 1908 until 1912. Recorded in 1911 as Bombardier, he was awarded the Delhi Durbar medal for service with the Punjab Police whilst afforded the local rank of Police Sergeant. Returned briefly to Aldershot in 1912, Cooper mobilised with 83rd Battery, 11th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, on 31 August 1914. Arriving in Marseilles on 7 November 1914 with the Lahore Division of the Indian Corps, he moved up to Orleans, Abbeville, and then Busnes in freezing cold conditions. The War Diary entries at around this time show that conditions were little short of appalling in the southern Ypres sector. Promoted Sergeant, Cooper moved with his Battery to billets at Riel du Vinage from 1 to 5 March 1915, before marching to a position near Croix Barbee on 6 March 1915. Just a few days later he received a shell wound to the left arm, likely retaliation for the pounding of German machine gunners on the edge of Bois du Biez. He was evacuated soon thereafter, alongside six other men wounded in the same incident. Suitably recovered in England, Cooper spent the remainder of the war at Weedon Depot in Northamptonshire which housed a Troop of Artillery and the horses required to pull the guns. Designated an Army Equestrian School in 1922, Cooper took the opportunity to qualify rough rider before discharge on 13 January 1925. Building upon his short time with the Punjab Police, he is recorded in 1939 as living at Thurrock, Essex, and serving as a Sergeant in the War Office Constabulary. Sold with an attractive painted portrait photograph of the recipient astride his mount, circa 1913, in full dress R.F.A. uniform wearing his Delhi Durbar medal on his tunic, with the insignia of a gun layer above his Corporal’s stripes; and copied research.

Pair: Staff Sergeant D. Dent, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24203122 Pte. D. Dent DWR.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (24203122 S Sgt D Dent DWR) mounted court-style as worn, extremely fine (2) £70-£90 --- Sold with a small gilt medallion to the Yorkshire Volunteers, 44mm, the reverse engraved ‘S. Sgt D Dent D. W. Regt.’, in box of issue; and a small regimental badge.

Netherlands, Kingdom, War Commemorative Cross, bronze (2), no clasp; 1 clasp, Krijg ter Zee 1940-1945, both mounted for wear by ‘Fa. A. Tack, Breda’; together with the Commemorative Medal for the Veterans of the French 7th Army in Holland 1940, bronze, nearly extremely fine (3) £100-£140

United States of America, Purple Heart (Mervin G. Bush, 8th Air Force WWII); together with an ‘Air Force’ ring, believed to be associated with the recipient, the inside inscribed ‘E. C. 12.25.13’, extremely fine £60-£80 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- A published article with the lot states: ‘Mervin Bush, who flew as a tail gunner with the 92nd Bomb Group and spent nearly three years with the Eighth Air Force, claims a rare string of World War II achievements, including: The first airman to be awarded the Air Medal in the European theater, for shooting down two FW-190s over Lille, France October 9, 1942; The first American serviceman to get married to a British woman, Joan Bigmall from the Bovington area, April 3, 1943; The first American to father a child in England, daughter Marilyn, born by his wife Joan January 25, 1944. Bush said his marriage was so early in the war, "there weren't even regulations to cover such a thing." He said he was granted a short leave and the rest of his crew was shot down while he was on his honeymoon. He claims that when he was awarded his first Air Medal, for gallantry as a tail-gunner on a combat mission over enemy-occupied continental Europe on 9 October 1942, Major-General Ira C. Eaker, who made the presentation, said to him “You are the first to receive the Air Medal”. Bush, originally from Philadelphia and now living in Hatboro, PA, arrived in England with the first contingents of the 92nd in August, 1942, having joined the Army Air Corps February 9, 1942 and trained at MacDill, FL. His first assignment at MacDill was as a photographer "because they hadn't installed in the tail or ball turrets of the B-17s we were flying”. After 14 missions, Bush was pulled out of combat to work full time training others. He spent his entire time in England at Alconbury and mostly Bovingdon, where he served as an instructor in power and gun sights until war's end. He received a second Air Medal for shooting down an ME-109 on April 5, 1943. Bush left the Army Air Corps after World War II but has pursued a life-long hobby of collecting military insignia and other artifacts that include: Every medal issued by the United States, dating back to George Washington's command. Models of every airplane used in World War II. A vast collection of military insignia, guns and pictures. The medals and insignia are housed in 70 frames measuring 18 by 24 inches each. Bush values the collection at "more than $300,000”.’

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private A. H. Coles, 27th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps Military Medal, G.V.R. (1722 ... A. H. Coles. R.A.M.C.) rank erased, otherwise nearly extremely fine £140-£180 --- M.M. London Gazette 14 May 1919.

Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (5445533 Cpl. S. J. T. Nicholas. SCLI.) struck on a slightly thinner flan, extremely fine £70-£90 --- Sold with copied research which implies that this is the recipient’s sole medallic entitlement.

A Second War ‘Italian campaign’ M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major Robert Webster, 47 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (1455716 W.O. Cl. 1. R. Webster M.B.E. R.A.) good very fine (7) £240-£280 --- M.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 24 August 1944: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’ The recommendation states: ‘During the Italian campaign this W.O.1. has been called upon to perform exceptional duties in organising Italian personnel operating Italian Searchlights and 20 m.m. guns in control of Lt. A.A. Harbour and Directional barrages. Largely as a result of his ability and tact the Italian personnel reached a high state of efficiency and morale. His management of a Brigade Rest Centre has resulted in the satisfaction of some 2500 O.Rs who have passed through. During the 2 years he has held his rank he has set a high standard of discipline among all N.C.Os. with whom he has come in contact by his personal example and inspiration.’

A Silver R.V.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant-Major J. H. P. Standford, Royal Horse Artillery, later Yeoman State Porter at Buckingham Palace Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul (823. Actg. Bomr. J. Standford. F/A. R.H.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (1341 S. Major J. Standford, R.H.A.); Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R. Silver, unnamed; Coronation 1902, bronze; Coronation 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1341. B.Q.M. Sgt. J. Standford. R.H.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (S. Mjr. J. Standford. R.H.A.) naming largely officially re-impressed, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (7) £500-£700 --- R.V.M. (Silver) 3 June 1925: Yeoman State Porter, Buckingham Palace. M.S.M. Army Order 166 of 1928, with Annuity. Medal issued in the name of ‘Stanford’ and returned for amendment and re-issue (M.S.M. Card refers). James (Henry Prescott) Standford was born at Aldershot, Hampshire, on 2 February 1857, and attested for the Royal Horse Artillery at Westminster on 28 November 1874, aged 18, a storekeeper by trade. He served in Afghanistan between 1878 and 1880, and in South Africa from 1899 until 1901, and was discharged in the rank of Sergeant-Major at Woolwich on 3 January 1902, aged 45 years 1 month, ‘having reached the age for discharge’. He was appointed Yeoman State Porter at Buckingham Palace on 1 April 1902, and retired on 1 April 1928. Sold with copied discharge papers and M.S.M. Card, together with information from The Royal Archives.

Pair: Worker Nellie M. Pykett, Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps British War and Victory Medals (37371 Wkr. N. M. Pykett. Q.M.A.A.C.) nearly extremely fine Pair: Worker Daisy Sylvester, Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps British War and Victory Medals (37243 Wkr. D. Sylvester. Q.M.A.A.C.) nearly extremely fine (4) £100-£140