A rare 1914 ‘Affair at Nery’ group of four awarded to Sergeant S. G. Roe, “L” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery 1914 Star (57021 A.Bmbr: S. G. Roe. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (57021 Sjt. S. G. Roe. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (1032311 Sjt. S. G. Roe. R.A.) mounted as worn, light contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £300-£400 --- Samuel Gibbons Roe was born in Nottingham in 1892. He married Irene E. Cross at Marylebone in 1912 and served in France from 15 August 1914 with “L” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Responsible for light, mobile guns designed to provide firepower in support of the cavalry, “L” Battery and “I” Battery formed 7th R.H.A. Brigade in support of the 1st Cavalry Brigade. Heavily engaged on 24 August 1914 in the area of Quievrain and Baisieux, the guns of “L” Battery proved devastating against waves of enemy infantry; firing shrapnel shells low and with accuracy, Major Tom Bridges of the 4th Dragoons noted ‘two British guns firing away as if they had been on the range at Okehampton.’ Having survived this engagement, Roe and his comrades joined the famous ‘Retreat from Mons’ with German forces consistently nipping at their heels. Tired from endless marching and the manoeuvring of heavy limbers along cobbled and unmade roads, “L” Battery and the 1st Cavalry Brigade selected the somewhat remote, small and ancient commune of Nery as the place to spend the night of 31 August-1 September 1914. Remarkably, the German 4th Cavalry Division had similar ideas, bivouacking a mere two miles away. Thus, as the fog lifted the following morning and each side sent reconnaissance patrols out to determine the situation, the scene was set for one of the most famous engagements of the entire Great War: the Affair at Nery. The Affair at Nery At first light on 1 September 1914 the Germans launched their attack on two flanks. Fired upon by 12 artillery pieces, supported by numerous machine guns, the men of “L” Battery awoke to a scene of utter chaos and destruction. Men and horses, mostly in the open and packed closely together, were shot down in swathes. Being closest to the enemy on the east side of the village, “L” Battery received the full weight of enemy fire from 700-800 yards; as the frightened horses plunged in their harnesses, the poles of their limbers embedded themselves in the ground and the horses were pinioned as they were blown to pieces by German shellfire. Amidst this scene of hell, the surviving Gunners rallied under the command of Captain E. K. Bradbury, initially getting three guns into the fight. Expending their ammunition to the very last, “L” Battery were eventually reduced to a single artillery piece, their gallantry decisive in ‘buying time’ for the classic cavalry charge by the Queen’s Bays which ultimately restored the situation by creating confusion amongst the enemy. The action cost the British 135 casualties, including 23 killed and 31 wounded from the Battery. It also resulted in the award of three Victoria Crosses to the men of “L” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Today, the surviving ‘Nery Gun’ is preserved in the Imperial War Museum, testament to the ‘David and Goliath’ struggle of that early autumn morning. Roe survived the Great War and never claimed the clasp to his 1914 Star. He died at Worksop, Nottinghamshire, on 5 December 1946. Sold with copied research.
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Three: Driver W. Hackman, Royal Horse Artillery, late Royal Field Artillery and Middlesex Regiment 1914 Star (6417 Dvr: W. Hackman. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (6417 Dvr. W. J. Hackman. R.A.) mounted as worn, very fine (3) £80-£100 --- William Joseph Hackman was born in Hampton, Middlesex, in 1882. A labourer by trade, he attested for the 3rd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, on 14 March 1899, but was convicted of assault on 7 May 1899 and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. He was discharged from the Regiment not long thereafter. Intent on returning to military service, Hackman joined the Royal Field Artillery on 26 March 1900. Transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery, he sailed to India on 8 December 1903 and joined “R” Battery on garrison duty at Mhow. Released from service three years later, Hackman returned home to Hampton Wick with a fair reference: ‘Is a good horseman and has knowledge of use and care of horses.’ Recalled to “R” Battery at the outbreak of the Great War, Hackman transferred to “Z” Battery and served in France from 5 November 1914. His Army Service Record notes over four years of service in France, the majority of it spent with this Battery. Sold with copied research.
Three: Private A. Spelman, South Lancashire Regiment 1914 Star (8354 Pte. A. Spelman. 2/S. Lan: R.); British War and Victory Medals (8354 Pte. A. Spelman. S. Lan. R.) nearly very fine (3) £80-£100 --- Adam Spelman attested into the South Lancashire Regiment on 21 September 1906, after earlier service with the 6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. After service in India, he transferred to the Army Reserve on 30 December 1912. Recalled for Great War service, he served with the 2nd Battalion on the Western Front from 14 August 1914 before transferring into the Cheshire Regiment on 11 August 1915.
Four: Private W. Fleming, South Wales Borderers 1914-15 Star (14510, Pte. W. Fleming, S. Wales Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (14510 Pte. W. Fleming. S. Wales Bord.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (4968 Pte. W. Fleming. S. Wales Bord:) nearly very fine (4) £80-£100 --- William Fleming attested for the South Wales Borderers and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 24 August 1915. He was discharged, Class ‘Z’, on 24 February 1919.
Four: Sergeant W. J. Lane, Royal Engineers British War and Victory Medals (492336 Sjt. W. J. Lane. R.E.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (492336 Sjt. W. J. Lane. 59/N. Mid: D.S. Coy. R.E.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Wallace James Lane) mounted court-style for display in this order, very fine and better (4) £100-£140 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 17 June 1918: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in France during the present war.’ William James Lane attested for the Royal Engineers at Melton Mowbray, and served with the 59th (North Midland Division) Divisional Signals Company, Royal Engineers, during the Great War on the Western Front.
Pair: Lieutenant O. Fawcett, Army Service Corps British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. O. Fawcett) very fine Pair: Private W. Canfield, Army Service Corps, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 3 September 1918 British War and Victory Medals (DM2-179487 Pte. W. Canfield. A.S.C.) very fine Pair: Private F. W. Higgs, Army Service Corps, who died on the Western Front on 24 July 1917 British War and Victory Medals (M2-136965 Pte. F. W. Higgs. A.S.C.) extremely fine (6) £70-£90 --- Oscar Fawcett attested into the Army Service Corps for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 1 January 1916. He was appointed Acting Warrant Officer Class I and later commissioned on 3 December 1917, for service with the Expeditionary Forces Canteen. William Luckens Canfield attested into the Army Service Corps for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front. He was killed in action, aged 36, whilst attached to 158 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, on 3 September 1918 and is buried in Maroeuil British Cemetery, France. Frederick William Higgs was born in Streatham, London, and attested into the Army Service Corps for service during the Great War. He served on the Western Front and died aged 19, whilst serving with the 61st Ammunition Sub Park, on 24 July 1917, and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Pair: Private A. C. James, Royal Army Medical Corps, who died in Mesopotamia on 29 January 1917 British War and Victory Medals (32234 Pte. A. C. James. R.A.M.C.) edge bruise to BWM, otherwise very fine Pair: Private E. Montague, Royal Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 24 March 1918 British War and Victory Medals (80322 Pte. E. Montague. R.A.M.C.) very fine Pair: Driver A. Whitehurst, Canadian Army Service Corps British War and Victory Medals (30244 Dvr. F. Whitehurst. C.A.S.C.) very fine Pair: Driver E. W. Munro, Canadian Army Service Corps British War and Victory Medals (3602 Dvr. E. W. Munro. C.A.S.C.) very fine (8) £90-£120 --- Alexander Cecil James was born in Hampstead, Middlesex, and attested into the Royal Army Medical Corps for service during the Great War. He died whilst serving with the 32nd Field Ambulance in the Mesopotamian theatre on 29 January 1917, and is buried in Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery, Iraq. Ernest Montague was born in London and attested into the Royal Army Medical Corps for service during the Great War. He died of wounds whilst serving with the 57th Field Ambulance on the Western Front on 24 March 1918 and is buried in Ardanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, France.
Six: Lieutenant-Colonel C. L. D. Hazells, Indian Army Ordnance Corps, late Dorset Regiment British War and Victory Medals (24418 Pte. C. L. Hazells. Dorset R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (5719235 Sgt. C. L. Hazells. I.A.O.C.); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, India (S-Condr. C. L. D. Hazells, I.A.O.C.) mounted for wear, very fine (6) £200-£240 --- Colin Leslie Donne Hazells was born in Lewes, Sussex, on 22 July 1896. He emigrated to Madras as a young boy and attested for the Dorset Regiment on 22 May 1917, noting previous service with the Madras Volunteer Guard. Sent to Mesopotamia, he joined the Indian Expeditionary Force at Basra, but was soon hospitalised with mumps. Returned to Rawalpindi, Hazells transferred to the Indian Army and was involved in establishing the Razmak and Wana Cantonments as part of the new ‘Forward Policy’ designed to reduce tribal uprisings. Appointed Inspector of General Stores at Cawnpore on 13 June 1935, he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal without gratuity in April 1936, and raised Assistant Commissary in July 1940. Placed in Command of the Ordnance Inspection Depot at Delhi Fort on 15 January 1943, Hazells ended his career as Lieutenant-Colonel and Deputy Inspector of Stores and Clothing in Bombay.
Six: Captain I. W. Beatty, Indian Army India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, North West Frontier 1930-31, second clasp loose on riband, as issued (2-Lt. I. W. Beatty. 31 Lancers); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, N.W. Persia (Lieut. I. W. Beatty.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal, mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted, contact marks and a little polished, otherwise very fine or better (lot) £700-£900 --- Ivan Wakefield Beatty was born in Painstown, Co. Meath in November 1895, the son of Surgeon-General T. B. Beatty, late Indian Medical Service, and a younger brother of the future Major-General G. A. H. Beatty, K.C.B., C.S.I., C.M.G., D.S.O and Bar. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in April 1918, Beatty was embarked for India in early 1919 and joined the Indian Cavalry, and was quickly employed in the Third Afghan War as a subaltern in the 31st Lancers. Of his subsequent service during the North-West Persia operations in August-December 1920, he was most probably employed on the lines of communication in the Guides Cavalry, for it was in the latter corps that he served as a Squadron Officer prior to resigning his commission as a Captain in the early 1930s. Re-employed in the 1939-45 War as a Garrison Company Commander, he died in the Seychelles in September 1969. Sold with a large quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s commission warrant for the rank of Second Lieutenant, Land Forces, Indian Army, but the vast majority of the archive appertaining to the life and times of his father, Surgeon-General T. B. Beatty, Indian Medical Service, with numerous vellum medical diplomas and certificates, among them Royal College of Surgeon appointments, commission warrants (4 - from ‘Surgeon in the Service of the East India Company’, dated in November 1851, through to that of Surgeon-Major, dated in May 1871), his official statement of services, numerous letters, etc., together with other family documentation, including further correspondence, birth, death and marriage certificates, typed family tree, wax seals, etc., and a photograph album. A most interesting archive worthy of further research. Sold also with a Second World War group of three comprising 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; and War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, together with the related miniature awards, as awarded to another member of the Beatty family; and a fine quality silver presentation key inscribed, ‘The Sir William Birdwood Ward, Datia, Opened by Major. Genl. G. A. H. Beatty, C.B., C.S.I., C.M.G., D.S.O., 1929’, 150mm. overall length. Thomas Berkeley Beatty was born in November 1827, qualified in medicine in 1851, and entered the service of the Honourable East India Company as an Assistant-Surgeon later in the same year. He does not appear to have witnessed any active service, but rose to the rank of Surgeon-General and was placed on the Retired List in March 1885. He died at Monkstown, Ireland in November 1916. Guy Archibald Hastings Beatty was born in Poona in June 1870, where his father was then serving as a Surgeon-Major, and after being educated back home at Charterhouse, was commissioned in the Royal Irish Regiment. In 1892, however, he transferred to the Indian Army, gaining an appointment in the 9th Bengal Lancers, with whom he served on the North West Frontier 1897-98 and in the Boxer Rebellion, but it was for his subsequent services as C.O. of 9th Hodson’s Horse in France 1914-17 that he won his D.S.O. & Bar. Having then commanded the Lucknow Cavalry Brigade in Egypt, he witnessed further active service in Persia and Transcaspia in 1919, and was awarded the C.M.G. and the 1st Class Order of the Golden Star of Bokhara, to which distinctions he added the C.S.I. for services in 75th Brigade in Mesopotamia in 1920-21. Next appointed Colonel Commandant of the 1st Indian Cavalry Brigade, and awarded the C.B. in 1923, Beatty was latterly Military Adviser-in-Chief, Indian State Forces 1927-31, and promoted to K.C.B. on his retirement in the latter year. He died in Devon in May 1954.
Five: Gunner S. J. Harris, Royal Horse Artillery General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (860823. Gnr. S. J. Harris. R.H.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5) £70-£90 --- Sidney John Harris attested for the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1936 and was transferred to the Army Reserve on 31 December 1948.
Four: Warrant Officer Class II R. E. Brown, Royal Artillery India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (822676 Gnr. R. E. Brown. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, good very fine (4) £100-£140 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Ronald Ernest Brown attested for the Royal Artillery at Southampton on 22 September 1932. Posted to India in February 1934, he served mostly with the 25th Mountain Battery at Quetta before returning home in February 1938 and transferring to the Army Reserve on 21 September 1938. Recalled for service following the outbreak of the Second World War, Brown was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force on 24 October 1939. He remained there for 136 days, before returning home on 9 March 1940 and spending the remainder of the War in the United Kingdom. He was finally discharged as a Warrant Officer Class II (Battery Sergeant Major) on 27 April 1945, after 12 years and 218 days’ service. Brown had two additional periods in uniform, as a member of the Army Cadet force. From 28 May 1952 he was Lieutenant (423381), The Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force. Having resigned his commission on 19 November 1958, he again served in the same capacity from 10 November 1959, until finally resigning his commission on 10 November 1962. Sold with the recipient’s three Regular Army Certificates of Service (Red Books) covering all periods of his service; Letter of Recommendation from Major P. L. Vining, Commanding 25th Mountain Battery, RA, from the R.A. Mess, Quetta, India, dated 16 May 1937; a Letter of Recommendation from unknown individual, from R.A. Mess, The Packway, Larkhill; a Letter of Recommendation from unknown individual from R.A. Mess, Quetta, India, dated 23 January 1938; a Letter of Recommendation from W. Andrew, Staff Sergeant Artificer, RA, Undated; Ministry of Labour Registration of Ex-Regular Soldiers booklet (filled in); Testimonial, from Lieutenant-Colonel W. M. M. O'D. Welsh, Commanding 9th Field Regiment, RA.; hand written letter dated 11 October, 1941, Deer Park Farm, Hog Park Pt., to Brown requesting he consider taking a commission; letter from the War Office, Stanmore, Middlesex, dated 23 February 1959, on the occasion of his resigning his commission from the Army Cadet Force, effective 19 November 1958; and various individual and group postcard photographs of the recipient.
Nine: Warrant Officer Class II H. H. Bell, Royal Norfolk Regiment India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (5771355 Pte. H. H. Bell. R. Norf. R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (5771355 W.O. Cl.2. H. H. Bell. R. Norfolk.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (5771355 W.O. Cl.2. H. H. Bell. R. Norfolk.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (5771355 W.O. Cl2. H. H. Bell. R. Norfolk.) mounted for display, minor edge bruising and contact marks, generally good very fine (9) £700-£900 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Strong Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, May 2011. Henry Harrison ‘Dinger’ Bell was born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on 16 December 1914. A Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Norfolk Regiment on 14 March 1933. With the 1st Battalion he saw service in India from January 1937 to April 1939, firstly on the N.W. Frontier and then, with the onset of war with Japan, in Burma. Appointed Acting Warrant Officer Class II in November 1945, and confirmed in this rank in August 1946, he continued his service post-War, and saw further service in East Africa from April 1948 to June 1950 and the Far East including Korea from August 1951 to October 1954. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1952, and was finally discharged on 13 March 1959. He is mentioned a number of times in the History of the Royal Norfolk Regiment 1951-1969 by Major F. A. Godfrey. Sold with copied research including various photographic images.
Five: Corporal E. Crank, Northumberland Fusiliers, later Army Catering Corps, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War in the Second World War 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (6915208 Cpl. E. Crank. A.C.C.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (6915208 Cpl. E. Crank. A.C.C.) good very fine (5) £200-£240 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- W. Crank attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers and served with them during the Second World War as part of the British Expeditionary Force. Captured and taken Prisoner of War, he was held in Stalag XX-B in Malbork, Poland. He was recalled for service in Korea and served in the Army Catering Corps, and saw later service in Cyprus.
Five: Private G. Cox, Royal Sussex Regiment, attached Gloucestershire Regiment in Korea 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (6400070 Pte. G. Cox. R. Sussex.) with unofficial ‘Imjin’ riband bar; U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; together with a United States of America Presidential Unit Citation riband bar, with one bronze oak leaf cluster emblem, nearly very fine (5) £240-£280 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- George William Cox attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment as a Drummer Boy at Chichester on 13 June 1938 and served with the 1st Battalion in Egypt from 10 November 1938. Still underage at the outbreak of the Second World War, Cox went with the 1st Battalion to join the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade on 22 November 1940, and proceeded to Abyssinia on 30 December 1940. Returning to Egypt on 30 April 1941, the Battalion then crossed into Libya for the North African Campaign, and saw further service in Cyprus from March to August 1942; in North Africa (Libya and Tunisia) from August 1942 to July 1943, and then in Palestine from September 1943. Cox returned home on 23 April 1944, and was discharged on 10 March 1950, after 11 years and 271 days’ service. Recalled for active service in Korea, he served overseas with the Gloucestershire Regiment from 1 October 1950 to 15 January 1952, ands was finally discharged on 29 February 1952. Sold with the recipient’s original Red Book Certificate of Service.
Four: Lieutenant M. B. Mathers, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who died during the fighting around Gerbini, Sicily, on 21 July 1943 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed as issued, sold together with named Army Council bestowal slip, some staining to reverse of each medal, good very fine (4) £120-£160 --- Michael Booth Mathers, from Dundee, was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for service during the Second World War and served with the 7th Battalion during the Italian Campaign. He died during the fighting around Gerbini, Sicily, on 21 July 1943 and is buried in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily, Italy. He is further commemorated on the City of Dundee Roll of Honour, 1939-45.
Family Group: Four: Corporal J. Godfrey, Royal Air Force, who was Mentioned in Despatches on 2 June 1943 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, with Under-Secretary of State for Air enclosure and named ‘ticker-tape’ section, with 3 R.A.F. lapel badges, campaign awards in named cardboard box of issue, addressed to ‘J. Godfrey Esq. 72 Radbourne Street, Derby’, extremely fine Four: E. C. Godfrey, Royal Army Service Corps 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in named card board box of issue, addressed to ‘Ernest Carlton Godfrey, 68 Radbourne Street, Derby. England. R.A.S.C. Army.’, extremely fine One: R. W. Godfrey, Auxiliary Fire Service Defence Medal, with Home Secretary enclosure, A.F.S. lapel badge, reverse numbered ‘68508’, and pair of A.F.S. sterling silver cuff links, campaign awards in named cardboard box of issue, addressed to ‘R. W. Godfrey, 68 Radbourne Street, Derby’, extremely fine (lot) (9) £280-£340 --- M.I.D. London Gazette, 2 June 1943.
Eight: Warrant Officer Class II D. G. Bennett, Royal Army Ordnance Corps Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (22847192 Sgt. D. G. Bennett. R.A.O.C.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Malay Peninsula (22847192 W.O. Cl. 2. D. G. Bennett. RAOC.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (22847192 W.O. Cl. 2. D. G. Bennett. RAOC.); Oman, Sultanate, Peace Medal; General Service Medal, 1 clasp, Dhofar; As-Samood Medal, mounted court-style as worn, lacquered, good very fine (8) £240-£280 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Sold with the recipient’s riband bar and an original German ID pass, presumably used when serving with BAOR.
Pair: Corporal D. Armstrong, Royal Army Medical Corps General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Dhofar (23210854 L/Cpl. D. Armstrong RAMC.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (23210854 Cpl D Armstrong RAMC) mounted as worn, edge bruise to LS&GC, otherwise nearly extremely fine, the first rare to unit (2) £240-£280 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- David Armstrong, a State Enrolled Nurse, attested for the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1956 and served with 55 Field Surgical Team in Dhofar from 1 August to 22 November 1972. The Teams were very small in number and were comprised of 12 officers and NCOs, each with a specialist roll. The new 55 Field Surgical Team arrived in Dhofar on 1 August 1971 and soon got used to the heat and sound of gun fire. The Team was commanded by Major D. G. Stock, R.A.M.C., a General Surgeon with one Anaesthetist (Major), one Transfusion Officer (Major), four Operating Theatre Technicians (NCOs), one Sergeant in charge of the ward, one Sergeant Radiographer, one Sergeant Pathology Laboratory Technician, one State Enrolled Nurse (Lance Corporal D Armstrong) and one Clerk (Lance Corporal), total 12 officers and NCOs. Straight into treating casualties in August alone they completed 70 operations of which 51 were due to gun shot wounds. The Team made R.A.M.C. history when, following a limited mutiny by the Oman Artillery who walked out leaving the 25 pounder guns unmanned, they helped to man the guns for 48 hours with their Geneva Convention cards firmly in their back pockets. Sold with copied research.
An interesting Waterloo Medal awarded to Captain and Brevet Major August Kuckuck, 3rd Line Battalion, King’s German Legion, later a Major-General in the Hannoverian service Waterloo 1815 (Capt. & Bre. Maj. A. Kuckuck, 3rd Line Batt.) fitted with original steel clip and small ring suspension, nearly extremely fine £6,000-£8,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2008. Johann Augustin Julius Kuckuck (known simply while in British service as August Kuckuck) was born at Steyerburg, Lower Saxony, on 18 October 1767, to a family with a long military tradition. He was married at Einbeck on 18 August 1788, and subsequently had five children, three of whom also fought at Waterloo in the 3rd Line Battalion, two of them being wounded. In 1784, aged 17, he enlisted into the 2nd Hannoverian Infantry Regiment, with whom he fought in Flanders under the Duke of York in 1793 and 1794, this being the campaign that gave rise to the old nursery rhyme, ‘Oh, the Grand Old Duke of York’. Flanders with the 2nd Hanoverian Grenadier Battalion In a skirmish following the coalition defeat by the French at the Battle of Hondschoote in September 1793, Quartermaster Sergeant Kuckuck joined a company in a bayonet charge against the French who were trying to storm the Esquelbeck Castle on the northern French border, during the Dunkirk operations. His actions left a good impression on the officers of the regiment. The Duke of York had won several notable engagements, such as the Siege of Valenciennes in July 1793, but was defeated at the Battle of Hondschoote in September 1793. During the following retreat Kuckuck helped defend a transport column of wounded. Finally, at the end of December 1793, the much-delayed promotion request was finally forwarded, and he was promoted to Ensign, whilst retaining his post as regimental paymaster. As an educated man he fitted well into the officer’s mess, and was quickly accepted as one of them. Kuckuck asked his commanding officer to certify the promise the late commander had made to promote him, but it would seem that little was done. Obviously somewhat frustrated, Kuckuck took matters into his own hands and made a personal approach to the commanding general, the Reichsgraf von Wallmoden. The General having heard him out said that “What a Battalion commander has promised in his life has also to be kept when dead, so tell your new commander to send in the request for your promotion”. In addition to the promise of the late commander, no doubt it was also Kuckuck’s bravery at Esquelbeck which helped his case. Kuckuck joined the newly formed King’s German Legion on 15 September 1804, being appointed, as Captain of a Company, to the 3rd Line Battalion and served in the expedition to Hannover from 1805 to 1806. In 1807 he took part in the expedition to the Baltic and Copenhagen, and from 1808 to 1814 he was stationed on the island of Sicily in the Mediterranean. Promoted to Brevet Major in the 3rd Line Battalion in June 1814, he was stationed in the Netherlands during the latter part of that year, and took part in the campaign of 1815 and the battle of Waterloo. Kuckuck was promoted to substantive Major in the 5th Line Battalion in September 1815, but did not serve with his new regiment as he was sent to take command of the provisory Hedemann’schen Field Battalion, near Paris. Soon thereafter he was ordered to take command of the Hannoverian General Hospital at Courbevoie, which contained around 1600 sick and wounded. He was placed on half-pay on 25 April 1816, upon the reduction of the King’s German Legion, retaining his rank of Major in the British Army. Returning to Hannover he was re-commissioned into the Hannoverian army as Lieutenant-Colonel on 9 March 1816, and the following year appointed commander of the Münden Landwehr (Militia) Battalion at Hildesheim. In 1821 his request to be discharged was declined, and instead he was placed in the command structure of of the city of Hildesheim, a large and important city in Lower Saxony, where he served for another 20 years. He was promoted Colonel in January 1831, and appointed Platzkommandant (military commander) of the city of Hildesheim in May 1832. On 6 June 1838 he was promoted to Major-General, and now turned his mind to more civilian matters. In 1829, having raised a large amount of money and having gained the support of the King, Ernest Augustus, and his friend the Duke of Cambridge, Kuckuck founded the Taubstummenanstalt (Deaf and Dumb Institute) in Hildesheim and became its Managing Director. In recognition of his philanthropic work he was made the very first honorary citizen of the cities of Hildesheim and Münden in December 1834. The following year he was made a Knight of the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle and, in 1837, he was awarded the Wilhelm Gold Cross for 25 years’ exemplary service. Major-General Kuckuck died at Hildesheim on 18 July 1841, aged 78. Sold with a fine oval miniature portrait in oils of the recipient in uniform wearing his Waterloo medal, contained in a contemporary red leather case; a copy of Peacock’s Polite Repository or Pocket Companion for 1818, with hand-written eulogy to the K.G.L. with reference to their services at Waterloo given by the Duke of Cambridge, bound in red leather; a wax impression of his official seal as commandant of Hildesheim; a group photograph of officers at Hildesheim, the reverse inscription identifying ‘Grandfather Kuckuck-Walden’ (this surname having been adopted by royal assent by his descendants in 1852). Also a modern copy Order of the Red Eagle, representative of his entitlement, and detailed copied research.
Ghuznee 1839 (Qr. Mr. Serjt. Jn. Terry. 4th. Troop Boy. H.B.) naming engraved on edge, original suspension but ‘hinge’ now fixed with solder, nearly very fine £400-£500 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2013. John Terry was born in 1810 and resided in Liverpool. A stationer, he attested for the Army of the Honourable East India Company on 27 October 1830, embarking for India aboard the Marquess of Huntley on 21 January 1831. Posted to the Bombay Artillery, he was transferred to the 4th Troop, Bombay Horse Artillery, rising through the ranks from Corporal to Riding Master Sergeant. Originally raised in Poona, India, No. 4 Troop served in Afghanistan under the command of Captain T. E. Cotgrave, taking part in 177 marches encompassing a total distance of 2,194 miles. An excellent diary account of these marches and the ensuing battles and skirmishes can be found in the Narrative of the March and Operations of the Army of the Indus. Recorded on the muster of 1 October 1844 as Quarter Master Sergeant at Camp Poona, Terry re-enlisted for a further 5 years on 27 October 1847, at the end of which he was pensioned at his own request, following 21 years and 4 months of service. He received 2 rupees, 12 annas, and 1 paise in prize money for Ghuznee, returning home aboard Earl of Hardwicke on 26 June 1852. With civilian life in England proving unappealing, Terry joined the Ambulance Corps at the start of the Crimean Campaign. Sent initially to Turkey, he died at Varna, Bulgaria, on 7 July 1854, most likely from sickness associated with polluted water and unsanitary conditions. Sold with copied research.
Hyderabad 1843 (Asst. Apoty. Peter Cameron 1st. T.H.A.) fitted with original silver clip and straight bar suspension, edge nicks, very fine and rare to rank £700-£900 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2013. Peter Cameron was born in Bombay on 19 January 1817, the son of Duncan Cameron, proprietor of the Bombay Hotel and Tavern. Baptised on 16 February 1817 by the Reverend N. Wade, the absence of his mother’s name in the register indicates she was likely of Indian heritage - a not uncommon oversight at that time. Joining the Army around 1832, it appears that Cameron took advantage of the formal scheme to train apothecaries, largely borne of boys from the Upper and Lower Orphan Schools, designed to raise a staff of Compounders, Dressers, Apothecaries and Sub Surgeons in the Medical Departments of the Presidency. Qualifying Assistant Apothecary on 11 September 1838, Cameron served a short while with the Scinde Frontier Force, before transferring to the 2nd Bombay European Regiment in 1840. Subsequently attached to the 1st Troop, Bombay Horse Artillery, he accompanied the Troop during the First Afghan War of 1842 and was present at the Battle of Hyderabad on 24 March 1843 in the Scinde War. Here, crossing the nullahs with sweeping discharges, the Horse Artillery created fearful havoc amongst the dense masses of the Beloochee army. Such was the proximity of the gunners to the enemy that a Beloochee standard was taken by the 1st Troop, Bombay Horse Artillery, most gallantly captured by Trumpeter Martin Phelan just as the Battery was coming into action. Promoted Steward on 18 February 1843, Cameron returned to the European Regiment and was raised Apothecary on 2 May 1846 with H.M.s 28th Regiment of Foot. He served in 1850 with the 22nd Regiment of Foot and in 1851 with the 86th Regiment of Foot. In 1853, Cameron was appointed Medical in Charge H.C. (Honourable Company) Agency in the Dominions of His Highness the Imaum of Muscat, Oman. He followed this role with a position tending to the needs of the 83rd Regiment. Retired on 1 May 1857, Cameron outlived both his wife and young child. He is shown on the pension roll as permitted to reside in Poona. Sold with copied research.
![Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Gunner Thomas Lucus [sic] 2d. Troop 3d. Brigade Horse Artillery) with adapted silver hinged ball and s](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/a65fb3d8-f8b4-438f-abec-afe401067efb/d9061b6a-0811-4693-a002-b0a10111fe6d/468x382.jpg)
Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Gunner Thomas Lucus [sic] 2d. Troop 3d. Brigade Horse Artillery) with adapted silver hinged ball and straight bar suspension, nearly very fine £300-£400 --- Thomas Lucas was born in the Parish of Drumcliff, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, around 1819. A tailor by profession, he enlisted at Limerick for unlimited service with the Army of the Honourable East India Company on 20 June 1839, sailing for India aboard Repulse shortly thereafter. Lucas was present at the Battles of Maharajpoor, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and Sobraon, the Passage of Chenab and Ramnagar on 3-4 December 1848, Chilianwala and Goojerat - he also further served in the Rohilcund campaign. This included the action at Bugawalla, the capture and destruction of Najibabad, the Battle of Nagina, the relief of Moradabad, and the relief of the garrison at Shahjehanpore. Raised Farrier Sergeant, Lucas was discharged at Woolwich from 4th Division Royal Artillery Depot Brigade on 23 April 1863. In possession of five good conduct badges, the recipient’s Army Service Record notes a pension of 2 shillings per day and his intended place of residence as 5, Bellvue, Grand Canal, Dublin. Sold with copied research.
Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Rough Rider T. Pape, 1st. Tp. 2nd. Bde. H. Arty.) minor edge bruising, toned, good very fine £300-£400 --- Thomas Pape was born around 1816 and attested at Liverpool for the Army of the Honourable East India Company on 8 May 1836. A grocer by trade, he sailed to Calcutta aboard the Repulse on 9 October 1836, and witnessed extensive service with the 1st Troop, 2nd Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery, during the Second Sikh War. Present at Chilianwala and Goojerat, his Troop also encountered a sharp little engagement at Sadalapur where the Sikh cavalry were driven off by carefully judged bursts of gunfire. Promoted Rough Rider, and later, Farrier Sergeant, Pape’s medal was sent to him in India on 20 February 1852. He died intestate at Meean Meer on 21 August 1853, leaving a sum of 108 rupees, 13 annas. Sold with copied research.
Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Farrier J. Yeomans. 3rd. Troop. 2nd. Bde. H.Arty.) nearly very fine £300-£400 --- John Yeomans was born near Margate, Kent, around 1823. A butcher, he attested at Westminster for the Army of the Honourable East India Company on 16 October 1845, leaving for India aboard the Royal Alice not long thereafter. Appointed Farrier in the 3/2nd Bengal Horse Artillery, Yeomans witnessed extensive action during the Punjab Campaign, including the lesser-known engagement at Sadalapur on 3 December 1848. At Chilianwala, casualties amongst the Horse Artillery numbered 50 men, whilst disease and accidents involving heavy limbers and hostile terrain accounted for many more. Discharged by purchase on 30 August 1850, Yeomans returned to England and set up home with a young wife in Winchester. The couple later worked as publicans of the Winton Ale House located at 60, Middlebrook Street, before Yeomans died of hepatitis exhaustion on 5 May 1877. Sold with copied research.
Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Inkermann, Sebastopol (R. Downes. Driver. Rl. Horse Arty.) officially impressed naming, polished, minor edge bruising, nearly very fine £300-£400 --- Robert Downes joined “I” Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, in the Crimea on 30 October 1854, likely as a replacement for those killed or wounded at Alma or Balaklava. He took part in the actions at Sebastopol and Inkermann, and survived the great storm of November 1854 which laid waste to 21 ships bearing stores destined for the Army over the winter of 1854-55. The resultant supply problems caused much suffering, the Inkermann roll stating Downes’ death on 12 January 1855, most likely from disease, starvation or cold.
India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Gunr. John Bailey. Horse Arty.) obverse cleaned and polished, attractive lustre to rim and reverse, nearly very fine and better £140-£180 --- John Bailey was born in Tiverton, Devon, in 1828. He attested at Southampton for the Madras Horse Artillery on 7 July 1849, and sailed to India aboard the Castle Eden not long thereafter. Sent to Burma with “C” Troop, the only Madras Horse Artillery present at Pegu, he survived terrible jungle terrain, monsoon rainfall, cholera, and stiff fighting against Burmese forces, especially around Rangoon and the Shwe Dagon Pagoda. Bailey continued to serve in Madras during the Indian Mutiny, volunteering for the Royal Horse Artillery on 13 May 1861. He was discharged at his own request at Aldershot in 1868, his Army Service Record noting twice tried by Court Martial, thus ruling out a L.S.G.C. Medal. Sold with copied research.
A most interesting Indian Mutiny medal awarded to William Green, Medical Staff Corps, who nursed Florence Nightingale at Scutari when taken with fever, and latterly was with the Shannon's Naval Brigade at Lucknow where he states he was wounded by a ‘slug’ in the arm Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (1st Class Ordy. Wm. Green, Med. Staff Corps) fitted with contemporary T. B. Bailey Coventry silver ribbon brooch, suspension claw re-affixed, polished overall, otherwise nearly very fine £1,200-£1,600 --- William Green was born at St. Luke, Islington, London, circa 1838, the son of James Green. He attested into the Medical Staff Corps in September 1855 with the service number 316. The Medical Staff Corps was improvised in haste to alleviate the dire medical facilities that existed during the Crimea campaign. In August 1856, Judge Advocate General Charles Pelham Villiers declared the Corps illegal and inadmissible, as the word ‘Corps’ was not in the statutes raised by Parliament, and that all M.S.C. ranks were not recognised. The medical services were revised under a new Royal Warrant and named the Army Hospital Corps, although the M.S.C. continued in various guises until 1860. The Muster Rolls for the Medical Staff Corps [WO 12/19010-19015] confirm that Green sailed on the steam vessel Thames with the second draft of the M.S.C. which left Chatham on 24 October and arrived at Scutari on 12 November 1855. It consisted of 1 steward, 4 assistant stewards, 8 assistant ward-masters and 147 orderlies. On arrival at Scutari, Green served under Florence Nightingale before going to the Balaklava hospital on 27 November where he transported the sick and wounded. He was placed in charge of the Recruit hospital on the front line as a First Class Assistant, before returning to Scutari where he nursed Florence Nightingale when she taken ill with fever, then remaining there for the duration of the war. Green was not entitled to the Crimean medals, arriving too late for qualification. Intriguingly, the Florence Nightingale Museum holds a letter from Florence Nightingale to William Green dated 4 December 1899, although it is neither written nor signed in Florence Nightingale's hand. The Collection's Manager states that in later life Florence Nightingale was bedridden, being afflicted by blindness and depression and relied on several assistants to whom she dictated a response to the many letters she received. The museum confirms the letter to be genuine and is one of those hastily dictated replies, later rewritten by her assistants in a more legible hand, with the original dictated letter filed in their collection. It reads: ‘My poor brave friend, We feel so sorry for you and we grieve with you. But it is giving glory to God, as I know you feel, to suffer as you do for him. He is bearing your burden for you... and blessing you,’ and continues that she plans to send him a book or two which she thinks he will like, ending with ‘Your sincere friend, Full of respect – F. Nightingale’. Green returned to England and served short periods in Ireland and Aldershot before being sent out to India during the first quarter of 1858. He was firstly sent up country with that ‘memorable party of sailors who volunteered for land service under Captain Peel of the Shannon who dragged their guns many a hundred miles by forced marches both day and night.’ His work of mercy then took him to Delhi, and his later experiences with the gallant sailors brought him hard work and dreadful sights at Lucknow. Green also had to do his time in the trenches and once, while dressing wounds in the field before Lucknow, received a ‘slug’ in the arm [not found in casualty lists]. On another occasion the rebel cavalry came near to cutting off the medical staff, but he managed to escape. He speaks with considerable passion of the hardness before Lucknow. On one occasion, three men of the M.S.C. had to deal with 90 casualties described as ‘mostly blown up cases’. The work lasted day and night with no sleep and little food, so little wonder that men fell out with sunstroke, fatigue and ‘shear wear-out’. His medal roll shows him attached to the field hospital at Lucknow as a 1st Class Orderly. An accompanying newspaper cutting under the heading, ‘Her father nursed Lady with lamp’ reads: ‘after the Indian Mutiny Mr Green married a Calcutta hospital matron and returned with his wife to England and made his home in Stafford.’ The Indian archives confirm Green married the widow Charlotte Carter, née Pratt (daughter of Benjamin Pratt), on 17 October 1859 at Colaba, Bombay. William Green left India on 22 June 1860, at which time he was discharged from the service. He became a fish dealer in Stafford and also acquired or managed a thriving public-house. Charlotte died on 18 January 1884 and the couple left no issue. On 9 March 1886, he re-married to 17 year-old Hannah, née Spilsbury. William Green died after a long and painful illness in January 1904. Sold with a notebook entitled The Domestick Medical Table by an Eminent Physician. William Green, his book, No. 316, Medical Staff Corps, Chatham. It lists diseases and cures for 70 ailments, from ague to chilblains, to be treated by unguents, lotions, powders and poultices using morphia, dandelions, tartarised antimony, caraway seeds, and the frequent use of leeches; together with a fine portrait photograph of William Green in later life wearing his mutiny medal; contemporary copies of his obituaries; a small Holy Bible; and several related press cuttings. William Green's story was collated from his obituary in the Lichfield Mercury of February 1904, and his war reminiscences from the Staffordshire Chronicle's ‘Old Stafford Heroes’ of 1892. The Florence Nightingale Museum confirms that they hold a letter from Miss Nightingale to William Green.
Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 3 clasps, Delhi, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Farrier T, Powner. 1st. Bde. Bengal H.Art.) RoL clasp facing slightly worn, very fine £300-£400 --- Thomas Powner was born in the Parish of St. Luke’s, Islington, London, in 1821. He attested at Westminster for the Army of the Honourable East India Company on 30 September 1845, embarking for India aboard Royal Alice in March 1846. Having arrived safely, Powner was posted to 1st Troop, 1st Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery - nicknamed ‘The Red Men’ by the Afghan population on account of the great red horsehair mane which hung from their brass mounted helmets. Reformed at Meerut in February 1842 following defeat in the First Afghan War, the Bengal Horse Artillery were at Jullundur as part of the Sirhind Division at the start of the Mutiny. They were involved in the early operations in the Punjab from May to September 1857, the disarming of the mutineers at Jullundur, the Siege of Delhi, the actions at Nagafghur, Bulandshahr and Agra, the Second Relief of Lucknow, the Defence of Alambagh and the Second Battle of Cawnpore. Furthermore, the Bengal Horse Artillery assisted with the pursuit of the mutineers and action at Seri Ghat, the action at Shamshabad, the Siege of Lucknow, the action at Kursi, and the capture of the fort of Omeriah on 3 December 1858. The roll of the officers and men of the 1st Troop, 1st Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery, taken at Camp Nawabgunge on 7 October 1858, lists Powner as one of three Farriers entitled to the Medal with 3 clasps for the suppression of the Mutiny in India. Sold with copied research.
Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Lt. E. P. Hocker, R.N, H.M.S. Victor. Eml. 73-74) nearly extremely fine £300-£400 --- Edward Padwick Hocker was born on 25 June 1848, at Woolwich, the son of Lt.-Colonel Edward Hocker, C.B., Royal Marines. In 1861, at the age of 12, he was a Naval Cadet studying at Britannia Naval College. He was appointed Sub Lieutenant on 25 June 1867, and promoted to Lieutenant on 29 December 1876. He was serving as Lieutenant on H.M.S. Victor Emmanuel during the Ashantee War of 1873-74. In November 1873, the ship was at Portsmouth fitting for service as a hospital ship to support the operations on the Gold Coast during the Ashantee War. Heavy wooden stanchions were erected around the deck to enable an awning to be erected six feet clear of the deck, so as to allow a good current of air to pass beneath. Orders were given for an ice machine and steam washing and drying machines to be fitted onboard. The ship embarked a medical team of 48, of whom 10 were officers and non-commissioned officers and men who belonged to the army medical corps, acting as clerks, dispensers and nurses. On 20 November, Captain George H. Parkin was appointed to command and Victor Emmanuel steamed out of Portsmouth on 1 December 1873, and, via Scilly and Cape Verde arrived at Cape Coast Castle on 25 February 1874, and anchored two miles off shore. The ship sailed with severely wounded, plus serious fever and dysentery cases, from the Ashantee campaign from 15 to 21 March 1874, and arrived at Southampton and anchored off Netley to discharge patients to the Royal Victoria Hospital on 16 April. Queen Victoria visited the hospital and patients from Osborne, and as the yachts passed Victor Emanuel the crew gave the Queen three hearty cheers. The ship was stripped of hospital fittings, fitted out for accommodation for men and recommissioned by Captain Parkin to take on new crews and vessels for service in the Far East, as receiving and depot ship in Hong Kong. Lieutenant Hocker retired from the Navy on 1 June 1876, and died at Worthing, Sussex, on 23 February 1916, aged 65. Sold with copied research.
Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (2629. Lce. Serjt. H. Gauntlett. A.S.C. 1873-4) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £160-£200 --- Harry Gauntlett was born in the Parish of Symington, near Southampton, and attested for the Army Service Corps on 25 November 1870, aged 22 years 3 months, a clerk by trade. He served on the West Coast of Africa from December 1873 to March 1874, where he was based at Mounsey during the Ashantee campaign for which he subsequently received the medal without clasp. He was discharged on 1 December 1874, upon payment of £10. Sold with copied discharge papers and medal roll extract.
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (1187. Sergt. F. Orchard. 7th Co. C & T.C.) contact marks and polished, therefore good fine or better £100-£140 --- The following details were published in the Journal of the Royal Army Service Corps in 1936, upon Mr Orchard joining the Regimental Association at Portsmouth (No. 1 Branch): ‘Mr Orchard is still quite active and looks much younger than his actual age. He was born at Hoxton in 1855, and joined the Commissariat and Transport Corps on 12th December, 1874, as a butcher, his regimental number being 1187C. He served 11 years 159 days in the Corps, and purchased his discharge in May 1886, while holding the rank of Sergeant. During his service with the Corps, Sergt. Orchard was stationed at Aldershot for five years, and in Dublin three and a half years, during which time the Irish boycott riots took place. He was also stationed in Edinburgh for two years. He served in the Egyptian campaign of 1885, and saw much service in General Sir J. McNiell’s zareba campaign from Suakin. In November 1887, he joined the East Surrey Militia, from which he purchased his discharge in April 1889. He could not, however, keep away from soldiering, so he joined the Middlesex Rifle Volunteers in 1890 and served with them until 1900. At the age of 46 he joined the Duke of Cambridge’s Own 21st Coy., Cheshire Imperial Yeomanry, and proceeded to South Africa in January 1901, being invalided home in March 1902. In 1906 he went to Canada, where he joined the Imperial Army and Navy Veteran’s Corps, in which he served for twenty years. He volunteered for service in the Great War, although he was then 60 years of age. He was accepted, but, being unable to pay his fare home, was enrolled for Imperial Defence in Canada. He returned to England in November 1934. Mr Orchard possesses the Egyptian Medal and Star with clasp “Suakin 1885,” and the South African Queen’s and King’s Medals with several clasps.’ Sold with copied extract as above and medal roll extract for Suakin.
India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (93129. Gunr. C. H. Weatherley, “F” By. R.H.A.) very fine £140-£180 --- Charles Henry Weatherley was born in Holborn, London, in 1874. He attested at London for the Royal Artillery on 27 September 1892, and served in India from 17 September 1895 to 21 December 1902. His Army Service Record notes a wound of the head on 26 April 1895 and a further injury to the left knee on 4 November 1901. Sold with copied research.
A fine Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Driver J. Smith, Royal Horse Artillery, who was severely wounded whilst fighting with “Q” Battery in the ‘V.C. Action’ at Sanna’s Post Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (76198 Dr. J. Smith. Q,B., R.H.A.) extremely fine £400-£500 --- Jacob Smith was born in East Hendred, near Wantage, Berkshire, on 6 December 1869. A labourer by trade, he attested at Woolwich for the Royal Artillery on 21 December 1889, serving at “A” Depot, Royal Horse Artillery, from 2 January 1890. Transferred to “L” Battery, Smith served in India from 23 September 1892 to 21 January 1898, before being recalled home. Recalled to service under Special Army Order of 7 October 1899, Smith joined “Q” Battery on 27 November 1899 and sailed for South Africa aboard the Manchester Corporation in December 1899. In action at Klip Drift on 15 February 1900, “Q”, “T” and “U” Batteries faced heavy shrapnel fire with approximately 21 officers and men killed or wounded. Situation restored by cavalry charge, Smith and the Gunners of “Q” Battery accompanied Brigadier General Broadwood to Thabanchu, but were ambushed at Sanna’s Post on 30 March 1900 in one of the most famous engagements of the conflict. Having behaved with great gallantry, and managing to save four of its guns from an apparently hopeless situation, the conduct of the battery was praised by Brigadier-General Broadwood in his report on the action. As a result of this report, Lord Roberts took the unusual step of ordering the battery to ballot for the Victoria Cross, to choose one officer, one non-commissioned officer, one gunner and one driver to receive the coveted award, there being no other fair way to choose four from so many who performed with such heroism on that day. As a result, Major Edmund John Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant Charles Edward Haydon Parker, Gunner Isaac Lodge, and Driver Horace Henry Glasock were each awarded the Victoria Cross. Smith’s name would have been in the ballot for the Victoria Cross to the ‘Driver’. Severely wounded during the action, Smith was invalided home on 22 June 1900, and was discharged from the Colours on 19 December 1901. In total, the British suffered 155 men killed or wounded at Sanna’s Post, with a further 428 men, 7 artillery pieces and 117 wagons captured. The Boers in comparison suffered 3 killed and five wounded, testament to the potency of ambush from well-concealed positions and the quality of Boer marksmanship. Sold with copied research.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (91341 Gnr; W. Harrison, R.H.A.) nearly extremely fine £70-£90 --- William Harrison was born in Liverpool in 1868. A ship’s steward, he attested at Seaforth for the Royal Artillery on 16 July 1892, being posted to “B” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, not long thereafter. Sent to India on 11 March 1893, he was imprisoned on 11 May 1893. Released, his Army Service Record notes a series of scrapes around this time, including a fracture of the ribs, wound to the scalp and sprain to the ankle, all whilst off duty. Posted to South Africa from 12 March 1900, Harrison served with “M” Battery from 18 June 1901, likely acting as a replacement for those Gunners killed in the V.C. action at Sanna’s Post. Discharged on 13 July 1913, his Army Service Record adds: ‘Character, indifferent. Has been addicted to drink.’ Sold with copied research.
1914-15 Star (4) (15816 Pte. A. Jones. S. W. Bord:; 15199 Pte. E. Toulcher. S. Wales Bord.; M2- 105259 Pte. O. R. Gent. A.S.C.; No. 1362 Sepy Pir Baksh 1/69/Punjabis.); Burma Star (5); Italy Star (5), the Second War stars all later issues, very fine and better (14) £80-£100 --- Albert Jones, from Neath, attested into the Welsh Regiment for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front with the 8th Battalion from 5 September 1915. He saw further service with the 1st Battalion and was discharged Class ‘Z’ on 17 January 1919. Ernest Toulcher attested into the Welsh Regiment for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front with the 8th Battalion from 6 September 1915 and saw further service with Royal Engineers. Oswald Rushton Gent, from Middlesborough, attested into the Army Service Corps for service during the Great War and served in Egypt from 20 November 1915. He saw later service in the Balkans with the 597th Mechanical Transport Company, where he died, aged 31, on 6 November 1918. He is buried in Sturma Military Cemetery, Greece.
A poignant 1914-15 Star awarded to Lieutenant J. Le Roy Mavety, Canadian Militia, later Royal Army Medical Corps, who died from acute poisoning on the Western Front in December 1915 1914-15 Star (Lieut. J. Le R. Mavety. R.A.M.C.) good very fine £120-£160 --- John Le Roy Mavety was born in Kingston, Ontario, on 22 August 1887, the son of the Reverend John Edward Mavety. Educated at McGill University, Montreal, he graduated B.A. 1909, M.D. 1911, passing his Medical Council certification in the province of Ontario around 1912. Rendering brief service with the Canadian Militia, he transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps as Temporary Lieutenant in June 1915 and was soon in the thick of the action with the 46th Division on the Western Front. Arriving in time for the Battle of Loos, Mavety witnessed the devastating attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13 October 1915, where, in a matter of minutes, the 46th Division suffered 3,763 casualties. This undoubtedly placed considerable strain upon the medical services, especially the front-line doctors such as Mavety who were frequently coming up against the extreme facial and torso injuries caused by mechanised warfare for the first time. According to online sources, Mavety died on 13 December 1915 in consequence of poisoning. At that time, the most common form of poisoning involved the drug morphine; a most potent analgesic, morphine sulphate was heavily employed during the Great War to take the severely wounded into a state of relief - and into the possession of Morpheus, the Greek god of sleep. Aged 29 years at his time of death, he is buried in St. Venant Communal Cemetery, France.
A scarce 'underage Casualty' sole entitlement British War Medal awarded to Sapper A. J. Crockett, 1/3rd Kent Fortress Company, Royal Engineers, who lost his life, aged 17, when H.M.S. Hythe was almost cut in two by the much larger troopship Sarnia which accidentally rammed her at speed and in pitch-black conditions off the Gallipoli Peninsula on 28 October 1915 British War Medal 1914-20 (2564 Spr. A. J. Crockett R.E.) in damaged named card box of issue, extremely fine £120-£160 --- Alfred James Crockett was born in Gravesend in 1898, the eldest son of James and Eliza Crockett of 19 Prospect Place, Gravesend. His father worked as a steamship seaman, but rather than follow in his maritime footsteps, Alfred attested at Gillingham for the Corps of Royal Engineers and was posted to the 1/3rd Kent Fortress Company. This unit was effectively a 'Pals' Battalion in all senses, dominated by men - often pre-war friends - from Tunbridge Wells, Southborough and the surrounding villages in and around the Ashdown Forest. The men were commanded by the popular Captain David R. H. P. Salomons, sole heir to Sir David Lionel Salomons of Broomhill, a magistrate and former mayor of Tunbridge Wells and Honorary Colonel of the Kent Royal Engineers. Completing his training at Sheffield Hall, Draper Street, Southborough, Crockett and his comrades travelled from Devonport to Malta and on to Mudros Island (Limnos Bay) aboard H.M.T. Scotian. Here, 5 officers and 213 men of the 1/3rd transferred to the waiting 509-tonne former cross-Channel steamer Hythe, commanded by the Admiralty to work on troop movements in the Dardanelles. A small vessel, it was believed that her size and shallow draught would present a smaller target for enemy torpedoes. Leaving Mudros at 1600hrs on 28 October 1915 for the 50-mile journey to Cape Helles, it appears that Hythe was heavily overladen with both men and equipment; as an engineer unit tasked with improving the perilous duckboards and infrastructure on the peninsula, it would be logical that the vessel was packed tight with tools and resources. The dangers were further heightened by blackout conditions in the latter stages to avoid enemy detection. Clive Maier, author of a full account of events published on the Southborough Memorial website, notes: ‘Men were packed on the decks, many huddling under an awning that had been rigged to give a little relief from rain and spray. At about 20:00, as they neared their destination, men donned their kit, drivers went to their vehicles and the Hythe doused all lights. Within minutes the lightless Sarnia [almost triple the gross tonnage of Hythe] was spotted, steaming back empty to Mudros Bay from Cape Helles and on a collision course.’ Desperate to avoid contact, both vessels attempted to change course but it was too late: ‘The Sarnia struck the port side of the Hythe with such force that its bows cut halfway through the ship. That brought Hythe to a dead stop and caused its mast to collapse on top of the awning. Many were killed instantly by the bow and mast, but the others fared little better because the immense damage caused the Hythe to sink rapidly... It was all over in as little as 10 minutes.’ The subsequent enquiry found considerable issue with the sheer numbers of men on board, the lack of life jackets and the inability of many to swim. Many of the survivors - rescued by a lone lifeboat from the (holed) Sarnia - had simply survived by clinging on to floating debris, their fate determined by luck rather than anything else. The tragedy cost the lives of the C.O. and 128 men of the 1/3rd Fortress Company, along with 15 further army personnel and 11 of Hythe's crew. Only 103 members of the 1/3rd survived. The impact of the disaster on the people of Kent, and Tunbridge Wells in particular, is hard to quantify. Much as the forthcoming slaughter on the Somme would prove devastating to vast swathes of industrial England - all 'Pals' who had met the call of Lord Kitchener - the loss of so many Kent men in such circumstances, before they even had the chance to fight, proved particularly upsetting; several pairs of brothers were lost on the Hythe, a father and son drowned together, and some 99 children were left fatherless. For many years afterwards the local people of Southborough held a 'Hythe Sunday' church service to remember loved ones. His body lost to the sea, Crockett is commemorated upon the Helles Memorial, Turkey, one of the youngest servicemen to die during the campaign. As he did not officially enter a theatre of War, he was not entitled to either a 1914-15 Star or a Victory Medal. Sold with a Royal Engineers brass cap badge.
An interesting British War Medal awarded to Private J. Rother, Middlesex Regiment, later Labour Corps, a British National by birth but of Prussian-English parentage, who likely faced extensive 'Germanophobia', making subtle adjustments to his forename in consequence British War Medal 1914-20 (3133 Pte. J. Rother. Midd’x R.) good very fine £60-£80 --- Juleus Rother was born on 8 February 1897 in the parish of Westminster, London, the son of Julius Rother and Edith Emily Merrett. His father was born around 1869 at Lauben (Oberallgau), near Bayern, and emigrated as a young man to England where he met and married Gloucestershire-born Edith at a church in Hampstead on 12 December 1889. Setting up home in the parish of St. Marylebone, Middlesex, the couple went on to raise a family of four sons and a daughter, Juleus being the second child. By 1911 the family are shown living at 41 College Place in Camden Town with Julius senior employed as a waiter, one of nearly 60,000 overseas nationals working in the UK hospitality industry at this time. Appreciated for working long hours and taking advantage of Londoners’ growing tastes for foreign cuisine, it is said that nearly 10% of all waiters in the City at this time were of German heritage - indeed Julius senior was clear to state on the 1911 Census for England that he was a 'Prussian resident' and of Prussian nationality. The same document records Julius junior as a 14 year-old office boy living alongside four boarders in the family home: Karl Mety, a 20 year-old waiter; William Koegimaur, an 18 year-old Munich-born waiter; Edward Hausler, a Bohemian-born barman; and Rudolf Milty, a 19 year-old Viennese waiter. The outbreak of the Great War likely had a significant impact upon the finances and life of the Rother family, especially with the children still being young and at school. It is almost certain that income dried up from letting rooms, and any tenants that remained had likely been earmarked for internment on the Isle of Man. With newspapers extolling the horrors meted out by the Imperial German Army in Belgium, British society soon became gripped with spy fever and suggestions that many of those who had worked in the UK for decades were now working in the interests of the 'Fatherland'. On 14 October 1914 the Daily Mail published an editorial titled 'The Spy Danger and the New Order' which complained about 'the multitude of Germans employed in our British hotels, who also have singular opportunities of learning all that is happening... found at the centres of naval and political intelligence'. Even before the sinking of the liner Lusitania in 1915 and the corresponding anti-German riots in London, it was clear that employment as a waiter or 'enemy in our midst' according to the contemporary press, was no longer a viable option for Julius senior. Family research displayed online notes Julius senior travelling to New York aboard Franconia on 26 December 1914, where he was immediately held by US immigration for special enquiry - almost certainly on account of his nationality. He appears to have been deported from the east coast after barely three weeks ashore. Upon reaching the age of 18, Juleus junior attested for the Middlesex Regiment and was soon posted to the 7th Battalion. He served in the Balkans from 29 August 1915 and was discharged on 24 February 1919. Little is known about his military service, but it is interesting how his MIC notes the spelling of his forename as Juleus, whilst in the medal rolls it becomes Julius and finally the Index of Wills entry for 1962 makes plain his desire to be known as Julian.
1939-45 Star (2); Atlantic Star; Burma Star; Defence Medal (5); War Medal 1939-45 (9), one of the War Medals with ‘ticker tape’ entitlement slip, in named card box of issue addressed to ‘Miss D. E. Rangoon, 61 Reigate Rd., Downham Estate, Bromley, Kent’, generally good very fine and better (18) £60-£80 --- Sold with two unnamed (non-casualty) Army Council enclosure slips.
General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, South Vietnam, an unnamed specimen, extremely fine £300-£400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Only 68 South Vietnam clasps to the General Service Medal 1962-2007 were awarded, all to members of the Australian Army Training Team, for the period from 24 December 1962 to 29 May 1964.
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (122 Driver W. Carrod B.Bde. R.H.A.) very fine £60-£80 --- William Carrod was born at Stanwell, near Staines, Middlesex, in 1835. He attested at Woolwich for the Royal Horse Artillery on 20 January 1853, witnessing five months’ service in Turkey, and nearly four years in India, including operations in central India with “D” Battery under Major-General Sir J. Michael during the Great Sepoy Mutiny. Distinguished in marching as much as fighting, “D” Battery were heavily engaged in ‘clear up’ operations, notably the pursuit of a band of mutineers on New Year’s Day of 1859, one of the last actions of the war. Discharged at Woolwich on 22 April 1874, Carrod’s Army Service Record notes a number of indiscretions including two days in the cells and eight entries in the Regimental Defaulter’s book. Four times recommended for the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal between 1872 and 1875, it was finally approved on 1 January 1876. Sold with copied research.
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (4051. Driv: J. Pearce. I/B.Bde. R.H.A.) good very fine £60-£80 --- John Pearce was born in Rotherhithe, Southwark, on 2 April 1848 and attested for the Royal Artillery on 6 February 1865. Sent to Meerut with “A” Brigade on 31 July 1866, his service was repeatedly interrupted by bouts of ill-health, notably eczema and malaria. Returned home after over 10 years overseas, Pearce suffered a shoulder injury and concussion in consequence of a fall from a horse in 1878. He spent a further 69 days in hospital the following year with concussion of the brain and a damaged shoulder, likely as a result of the same accident. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, his sole medallic entitlement, on 1 November 1883, he transferred to “A” Battery and was discharged at Aldershot on 23 February 1886. Sold with copied record of service and other research.
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (6 Cr. Sergt. Jas. Anderson, 2nd Bn. 11th Foot) suspension slack, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise about nearly very fine £60-£80 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- James Anderson was born in the Parish of Adair, County Limerick, and attested for the 11th Foot at Limerick on 20 February 1851, aged 18. He served abroad at the Cape of Good Hope for 5 years 11 months, in China for 6 months, and in Japan for 9 months. He was appointed Colour-Sergeant in June 1858 and was granted the L.S. & G.C. medal with gratuity of £15 in 1869, this being his sole entitlement. He was discharged at Curragh Camp, Ireland, on 12 March 1872. Sold with copied discharge papers and detailed summary of his career.
A large quantity of United States of America Bestowal documents, comprising: i) 1980s and 1990s award certificates in official booklets awarded to a husband and wife: Sergeant Jose A. Perez; 1199th Signal Battalion, Army Commendation, dated 11 June 1992, Army Achievement, dated 29 June 1989; Honourable Discharge, dated 3 September 1990. Specialist Michelle Omes Perez, Army Achievement, dated 18 May 1989; Certificate of Achievement, dated 4 September 1990 ii) Second War Bronze Star document group awarded to Major Lloyd W. Lawrence, Coast Artillery Corps. His citation as an Anti-Aircraft intelligence Staff officer responsible for the defence of Leyte Island in the Philippines between 20 October 1944 and to 20 August 1945. Sold with a large number of other documents and papers relating to his service. Further entitled to the Asiatic Pacific, American Defense, Victory 1945, Philippines liberation and American theatre medals iii) Second War Bronze Star citation document group awarded to Colonel T. J. Desmond, United States Army. His citation for the Bronze Star ‘in connection with military operations against the enemy in Holland and Germany from 8 November 1944 to 7 May 1945.’ Sold with a large number of official documents, including official retirement (separation) certificates, Service records, photographs, newspaper cuttings &c. iv) Second War Honorable Discharge and Certificate of Service documents to Corporal, later Captain Mack G, Crosby, Air Corps. Entitled to Asiatic Pacific campaign, American campaign, Army Commendation and Victory 1945 medals v) Second War Bronze Star citation notification document awarded to Staff Sergeant Harold G. Park and original Armoured Force School certificate. Citation for Bronze Star for actions in Italy between 12 September 1944 and 2 May 1945 in an armoured unit. vi) Second War Pacific Theatre Bronze Star document group to Commander Alfred T. White, United States Navy, Air Combat Intelligence Officer U.S.S. Hancock Aircraft Carrier. Official citation as Air Combat Intelligence Officer U.S.S. Hancock Aircraft Carrier Group 3 and a large file of official documents regarding combat operations, crew Photographs, various certificates, Service papers etc. Also a copy of the scarce book The Fighting Hannah: A war history of the USS Hancock CV-19. Also entitled to Asiatic Pacific theatre, Philippines liberation, American theatre and 1945 Victory medals. vii) Second War Archive of assorted Army personal papers relating to Elton D. Teel and family. Large file of papers, photographs, original newspapers and cuttings, risqué drawings, letters in envelopes, McArthur’s Philippine’s proclamations etc. One cutting lists his medal entitlement, generally good condition (lot) £80-£100 --- The Citation for Commander Alfred T. White’s Bronze Star states: ‘For distinguishing himself by meritorious achievement as Air Combat Intelligence Officer attached to a carrier based torpedo squadron in Western Pacific waters from 24 September 1944 to 22 January 1945. During this period his squadron participated in operations against Okinawa Shima, Formosa, the Philippine Islands, the Japanese Fleet, French Indo-China, and China. His alertness and professional skill and devotion to duty contributed materially to the success and achievement by the pilots of the squadron and at all times were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.’
United States of America Bestowal documents, comprising: i) Second War Honorable Discharge certificate for Engineer Technician 5th Grade Robert C Booth, Company A, 335 Engineers, US Army. Sold with photograph of recipient ii) Vietnam War Purple Heart; Honorable Discharge and Certificate of Appreciation, awarded to Specialist 4th Class Samuel Edmund Strange, United States Army, awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in Vietnam on 12 October 1971. With recipient’s dog tags iii) Vietnam War Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal documents awarded to Specialist 4th Class Howard E. Noblitt, 101st Airborne Division, awarded the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam between May 1970 and March 1971. He was further awarded the Army Commendation Medal for service in Vietnam between June and October 1970. Documents in official folder iv) Second War Bronze Star recommendation and Honorable Discharge document group to Private First Class Joseph Anthony Vingiello, 399 Infantry Regiment U.S. Army. Entitled to Bronze Star, Eastern Campaign Medal, Victory Medal 1945 and Army Good Conduct Medal. Sold with letter regarding bringing home enemy equipment, dated 1946, Motor Operators Permit, dated 1945 and rations book v) Second War Honorable Discharge and veterans compensation letter for Private First Class John R Cantlon, Military Police, who served with the 443rd Military Police Prisoner of War Processing Company. Enlisting on 6 November 1942, he was discharged from the Army on 23 October 1945. Entitled to the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 bronze Stars and the Army Good Conduct Medal vi) Second War official casualty notification form for Staff Sergeant Raymond P. Ruhling, 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, who was killed in action at Bastogne, Belgium, 10 January 1945. The 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion initially landed on Utah Beach on D-Day aboard the Liberty ship, John S Mosby. During Operation Market Garden, on 19 September 1944, the 321st took off from Welford in WACO GC-4A gliders, and landed in the vicinity of Eindhoven, Holland. In January 1945, they were present at the Defence of Bastogne, during the Battle of the Bulge, where the recipient was killed. A surveyor with the field artillery and in charge of maps, he was part of the forces of General McAuliffe, who won renown by his terse "Nuts!" to the Germans’ demand for surrender of the encircled forces at Bastogne. Sold with the recipient’s metal parachutist badge, generally good condition (lot) £80-£100 --- The Recommendation for Joseph A. Vingiello’s Bronze Star states: ‘Joseph A. Vingiello, Private First Class, 42064034, 399th Infantry Regiment, for heroic achievement in action on 18 April 1945, in the vicinity of Unterheinreit, Germany. Private Vingiello, driver in a heavy machine gun platoon, was a member of a motorised patrol when it entered Unterheinreit and became involved in a fierce fire fight with a large enemy force. During the action he was instrumental in the capture of 16 Germans and when towards the end of the engagement observed and enemy officer trying to escape, he ran after him and succeeded in wounding the German and making him prisoner. It was later learned the officer intended to warn the German garrison in the next town and therefore, by his alertness, Private Vingiello’s unit was able to capture this town by surprise the following day. Entered military service from Brooklyn, New York.’
A fine set of contemporary miniature medals representative of the entitlement of Farrier Sergeant Thomas Lucas, Bengal Horse Artillery Maharajpoor Star 1843; Sutlej 1845-46, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon; Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Goojerat, Chilianwala; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse, all unnamed, minor scratches and wear to Punjab medal, nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine and better (5) £200-£240 --- Thomas Lucas was born in the Parish of Drumcliff, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, around 1819. A tailor by profession, he enlisted at Limerick for unlimited service with the Army of the Honourable East India Company on 20 June 1839, sailing for India aboard Repulse shortly thereafter. Present at the Battles of Maharajpoor, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and Sobraon, the Passage of Chenab and Ramnagar 3-4 December 1848, Chilianwala and Goojerat, Lucas further served in the Rohilcund campaign. This included the action at Bugawalla, the capture and destruction of Najibabad, the Battle of Nagina, the relief of Moradabad and the relief of the garrison at Shahjehanpore. Raised Farrier Sergeant, Lucas was discharged at Woolwich from 4th Division Royal Artillery Depot Brigade on 23 April 1863. In possession of five good conduct badges, the recipient’s Army Service Record notes a pension of 2 shillings per day and his intended place of residence as 5, Bellvue, Grand Canal, Dublin. For the recipient’s full-sized Maharajpoor Star, see Lot 588.
A Great War French Medaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre pair awarded to Assistant Sergeant A. J. M.Thienpont, 1st Regiment of Carabiniers France, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt, ands enamel, with trophy of arms suspension, minor blue enamel damage to reverse; Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze star emblem on riband; together with the recipient’s original Citation of the Order of the Day Certificate, this mounted on card, very fine (2) £70-£90 --- The Citation of the Order of the Day states (in French): ‘Assistant Sergeant Antoine Joseph Marie Thienpont, 11th Company, 1st Regiment of Carabiniers, 6th Division of Infantry, 3rd Division of the Army, is a very courageous non-commissioned Officer. He commanded several dangerous reconnaissances. He particularly distinguished himself during a raid carried out on an enemy post on the night of 8-9 April 1918 deign the course of which he remained remarkably calm and composed. Signed, at the Front, on 25 May 1918 by Colonel A. E. M. Bremer, Commanding Officer.’ Sold with a contemporary photograph of 50mm Tank-destroying gun.
Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown (2), Commander’s neck badge, 51mm, gold and enamel, unmarked, with replacement large riband loop, and neck riband; Knight’s breast badge, 35mm, gold and enamel, unmarked, mounted for wear on a German-style riband; together with an unofficial 11th Army Commemorative cross, gilt and enamel, good very fine (3) £100-£140
A United States of America Second War D.F.C. group of five awarded to J. White United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze; Bronze Star, bronze; Air Medal, bronze; Army Commendation Medal, bronze; Army Good Conduct Medal, bronze, with five knot bar, all unofficially engraved ‘J. White’; together with a ‘sterling’ silver pilot’s wings, good very fine (6) £60-£80
A United States of America Bronze Star and Purple Heart group of three awarded to Private First Class K. N. McConnell, 258th Infantry Regiment United States of America, Bronze Star, bronze (Kenneth N. McConnell) engraved; Purple Heart, gilt and enamel (Kenneth N. McConnell) engraved; Army Good Conduct Medal, bronze (Kenneth N. McConnell) engraved, nearly extremely fine (3) £80-£100 --- Kenneth N. McConnell, Company K, 358th Infantry Regiment, was born in Kalkaska County, Michigan on 28 January 1928 and enlisted in December 1942. He served in the Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns, his Purple Heart being awarded for service on 21 March 1945: ‘On 20 March the entire Battalion crossed the Nahe, moving forward behind the 1st and 2nd Battalions. At 1410, I and K Companies relieved Task Force Speiss about 750m short of Bretzenheim. It was here that an enemy raiding patrol of 50 men destroyed one of our tanks and generally raised all kinds of hell until T/5 Garret of the Battalion AT platoon hopped on a jeep and turned loose with a .50 cal. Machine gun, effectively dispersing the patrol. The attack against Bretzenheim was launched at 0550 on 21 March with I and K Companies in the assault. Enemy resistance was very determined and included heavy artillery, mortar and 20 mm AA gun fire. The town was finally secured by 1800 but only after the Battalion had suffered 36 casualties (including McConnell) and fought for almost every house. Mines and booby traps were also something to guard against. A total of 165 prisoners were taken on this day. From here the Battalion attacked Mainz at 0600 the next morning. By noon K and L companies had cleared 60 square blocks, taken 240 prisoners and once again reached the Rhine river. The city of Mainz was mostly rubble due to repeated air attacks and there was hardly a single building left intact. Numerous road blocks, mines and debris created a big problem as almost all the streets were so filled with rubble that vehicles could not pass. Following a final mop-up of the city on the morning of 23 March, the 1st Battalion relieved us and the Companies assembled in Bretzenheim as Regimental reserve.’ (90th Division History refers). McConnell died at Fife Lake, Michigan, on 21 June 1984. Sold with the recipient’s identity tags; riband bar; a religious medallion said to have been carried by the recipient during the war; and several wartime army documents.
A United States of America ‘Korean War’ Bronze Star and Purple Heart group of six awarded to Corporal G. C. Salay United States of America, Bronze Star, bronze, unnamed, with ‘V’ and oakleaf cluster emblems on riband; Purple Heart, gilt and enamel (Gene Salay) engraved naming, in case of issue; Army Good Conduct Medal, bronze; Korea Service Medal, bronze, with two bronze stars on riband; National Defense Service Medal, bronze; U.N. Korea Medal 1950-54, unnamed as issued; together with the recipient’s Combat Infantryman Badge, good very fine (6) £100-£140 --- Gene Salay was wounded in Korea on 13 July 1953. Sold with award certificate for the Purple Heart (this laminated); an image believed to be of the recipient; and the recipient’s riband bar. Note: The ‘V’ device on the recipient’s Bronze Star is worn solely to denote ‘participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy.’
A United States of America Second War Purple Heart pair awarded to R. F. Foss United States of America, Purple Heart, gilt and enamel, unnamed, in case of issue; Army Good Conduct Medal (Ray F. Foss) engraved naming; together with the recipient’s unit and rank insignia, good very fine A United States of America Second War Purple Heart pair awarded to A. Bella United States of America, Purple Heart, gilt and enamel (Aldo Bella) engraved naming, in case of issue; Army Good Conduct Medal, bronze, unnamed; together with the recipient’s Combat Infantryman badge, this missing attachment clips, good very fine United States of America, Purple Heart, gilt and enamel (2) (Rensey Perry; Robert J Giles) both with engraved, the second in case of issue, nearly extremely fine (6) £100-£140 --- Aldo Bella served as a Private in the 313th Infantry Regiment was wounded in action (two gunshot wounds) in Normandy in July 1944. He was entitled to the Victory Medal 1945, American Campaign Medal 1941-45, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and Combat Infantryman badge. Sold with copy discharge papers. Rensey Perry served as a Private in the 254th Infantry regiment, 63rd Division, and was killed in action at Orlach, Germany on 16 April 1945. Sold with copy detailed Individual Deceased Personnel File, which included documents relating to the handling and reburial of his body at East Bank, West Virginia.
A United States of America Second War Navy group of four awarded to G. L. Long United States of America, Navy Good Conduct Medal (Guy Leroy Long 1943); American Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, bronze; Navy Occupation Service Medal, bronze, mounted as worn together with the riband for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 1941-45, extremely fine A United States of America Second War Navy group of six awarded to R. E. Miller United States of America, American Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, bronze; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, bronze; American Defense Service Medal, bronze, with Base clasp; Victory Medal 1945, bronze; Navy Good Conduct Medal (Raymond Earl Miller 1945) the first four all in card boxes of issue, extremely fine United States of America, Navy Good Conduct Medal (Frank Albert Gilmore 1938) engraved naming; together with the recipient’s rank badge and pre-Second War Navy continuous service certificates giving full details of his naval service between 1934 and 1946; Army Good Conduct Medal (David T Parker) engraved naming, good very fine (12) £70-£90
Reference Catalogue of Orders, Medals ands Decorations of the World. By Borna Barac, Four Volumes, 1901pp., being a standard catalogue of virtually every Order, Decoration, and Medal instituted prior to 1945, colour illustrations throughout, with current prices, hardback, extremely good condition (4) £80-£100 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Sold with a modern reprint of the Book ‘Instructions for British Servicemen in Germany 1944’; a copy of the booklet ‘The Victoria Crosses and George Crosses of the Honourable East India Company & Indian Army 1856-1945’; and a copy of the booklet ‘My Life Story’ by Rambahadur Limbu, V.C.
An Officers 1897 Pattern George V Presentation Sword by J. R. Gaunt, London. The 82cm blade with scrolled design and etched inscription ‘Presented by the Harborne Volunteer Training Corps to the their Commandant D J MacCarthy on receiving his commission in his Majesty’s Army June 1915’, standard pattern basket hilt with wired fish skin grip, together with leather covered scabbard and sword belt frog, very good condition £300-£400 --- This is an age restricted lot: the successful buyer will be required to either collect in person, or arrange specialist shipping.
Imperial German Shoulder Boards. 12 coloured examples, comprising Train Battalion 5. Train Battalion 6. Jager Battalion 89. Dragoon Regiment 16. field Artillery 606. Commando Headquarters blue on white. Foot Artillery 45. Field Artillery 35. Army Fire Service 6. Infantry Regiment 104. Saxon Infantry Regiment 140. Army Medical Centre 11, good condition (12) £240-£280
German Army Officers Shoulder Boards. Six matching pairs, comprising Oberstleutnant of Ordnance with crossed cannon motifs, red underlay, stitch-on. Panzer Leutnant’s pair with slip-on tabs, some light moth to the pink underlay. A well used set of stitch-in Infantry Reserve Hauptmann’s shoulder boards with moth damage to the light blue transport underlay cloth. Army Infantry Majors well-worn shoulder boards removed from a tunic with gilt regimental 109 to each board. Infantry Regiment No.73 well worn shoulder boards with gilt missing from three of the four numbers, stitch-in. An extremely well worn set of apple green Panzer Grenadier Hauptmann’s shoulder boards, one with slip-on tab missing, overall good condition (12) £240-£280
German Army Officers Shoulder Boards. Six matching pairs, comprising Cavalry rank of Leutnant, yellow underlay, slip-on, slight wear. Army Artillery Reserve Major’s stitch-on boards with gilt number 76 to each board, gilt good. Mountain troops Oberstleutnant stitch-on shoulder boards with glue on the reverse side where adhered to a collector’s display board, nice condition. Medical Major slip-on boards well worn, Transport Majors stitch-in with gilt letter ‘S’ to each board. Army Engineer slip-on well-worn Leutnants with an unusual letter ‘Z’ motif in stamped brass fitted to the centre of each board, overall good condition (12) £240-£280
German Second World War Army Buckles. Four buckles, comprising an unusual one-piece stamped steel Penal Battalion buckle, maker marked ‘B & N 43’. One-piece stamped steel army buckle in black. Two-piece aluminium buckle, possibly for the parade belt, mint, eagle’s head turning to the left. Two-piece aluminium buckle, possibly for the parade belt with eagle’s head turning to the right, very good condition (4) £140-£180
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