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A HIGHLY INTRIGUING AND UNIQUE OFFICER~S MITRE CAP, MID-18TH CENTURY the stiffened front of crimson velvet bearing a lion statant guardant embroidered in silver and gold thread with silk over stump work and incorporating glass bead eyes, above it a crown in metal thread embroidery, silk and sequins, the edge bound in silver lace and embroidered back and front with foliate decoration, the front particularly bearing the National Flowers of the Rose and Thistle, small flap in black velvet (pile rubbed off) with the padded stump of a flaming grenade (silver wire missing) with cannon barrels at either side and cannon balls piled three and one, the border embroidered in silver wire with decorative curlicues and ~LIBERTY~ in gilded wire, the edge bound in silver lace, the rear band in black velvet decorated with swords, spontoons, halberds and red colours with, centrally, a silver wire flaming grenade within a scroll bearing ~MANCHESTER~, the edge embroidered with laurel leaves and bound in silver lace, the falling bag in buff velvet terminating in an elaborate gold and silver thread tassel with sequins, the unstiffened ribs, two on the inner face and three on the outer face, embroidered with laurel leaves on either side of silver laces forming the spines, the canvas lining bearing traces of a red wax seal, partially detached to allow conservation, particularly the reinforcement of the falling bag 28 cm; 11 in high Provenance The Hon David McAlpine The cap cannot be associated with any particular regiment of the Regular Army, but almost certainly dates from the 1740s. It is possible that it was made for an officer of one of the loyal Volunteer Corps that were raised during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745-46 or, given the reference to Manchester in its decoration, that it was made for an officer of the Jacobite regiment raised in that town.

AN INDIAN ARMY CARVED CIGAR BOX A good cedarwood box, the sides and top intricately carved with dragons and a King~s crown above ~XX1~ and ~PUNJABIS~, retaining two keys

˜[AP] A FINE GOLD-MOUNTED PRESENTATION SWORD TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL WATSON OF THE 14TH (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE) REGIMENT OF FOOT, DECEMBER 1813 with earlier curved single-edged blade of finely watered steel, encrusted with a gold cartouche on one face with a stylised rendition of the renowned bladesmith ~Asad Allah Isfahani~, gold hilt chiselled in low relief, comprising a pair of recurved quillons decorated with conventional foliage, a pair of acanthus leaf langets, fluted back-strap and lionhead pommel formed in the round, original knuckle-chain, and spirally-carved ivory grip, in its gold-mounted wooden scabbard covered with crimson velvet (areas of wear), the mounts chiselled with scrolling foliage on a punched ground around the borders, comprising chape and middle-band each decorated with a large central flower, locket with an elaborate trophy-of-arms front and back, the latter carrying a plaque engraved with the presentation inscription, the scabbard edges reinforced by four strips chased en suite with the mounts, and with two rings for suspension 81.5 cm; 32 1/8 in blade The inscription reads: Presented to Lieutenant General Watson of H.M. 14th Regiment, by the Officers who had the honour to serve under him whilst he commanded the Samerang Division in the island of Java as a testimony of their esteem, December 1813. General Sir James Watson, K.C.B. was the son of Major John Watson, of the Royal Invalids. He was born at Chilton, Buckinghamshire, in 1772, entered the army as an ensign, 24th June 1783, and became lieutenant, 18th April 1792. He served with the 14th Regiment on the continent, under the Duke of York, in 1793 and 1794; became captain, 11th March 1795; and was engaged at the reduction of the Islands of St. Lucia and Trinidad, in 1796 and 1797. He became major, 3rd December 1802, and lieutenant-colonel, 15th May 1806. He commanded the 14th Regt. At the capture of the Isles of France and Java, including the assault and capture of Djocjocarta; commanded the expedition that captured the piratical State of Sambas in Borneo, in 1813; was at the capture of the fort of Hattras, and in the Pindaree and Mahratta wars, and actively assisted at the reduction of the fortress of Dhomone Mundela, at which latter place he led the storming party; he was also at Gurra Kotah and Asseerghur. He became colonel 4th June 1814; and major-general, 19th July 1821. He returned to England in 1827, and in 1830 proceeded again to the East Indies as a general officer on the staff; and, during the temporary absence of Lord William Bentinck, acted as commander-in-chief at Bengal, and returned to Europe in 1837, after a service of nearly 27 years in the East Indies. He became lieutenant-general 10th January 1837; colonel of the 14th Regiment, 24th May 1837, and general, 11th November 1851. He received a medal for Java, and was created a K.C.B. in 1839. The hilt and mounts incorporate a notable weight of gold which, along with their style and execution, suggest a place of manufacture in India or South East Asia. Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

˜[AP] AN 1822 PATTERN IX LANCERS OFFICER~S SWORD of regulation type, with curved blade formed with a spear point, etched with the maker~s details ~Vernon, No. 4 Charing Cross~ on the back-edge (indistinct), gilt-brass mameluke hilt cast and chased in low relief, fitted with a pair of ivory grip-scales, in its wooden scabbard (later red velvet covering) with gilt-brass mounts en suite with the hilt, including large chape, and a pair of rings for suspension, and red and gold bullion sword knot 78.0 cm; 30 ¾ in blade W. H. Vernon & Co are recorded as Army Clothiers at 4 Charing Cross in 1835 and John Vernon at the same address in 1840. Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

˜[AP] A LANCER OFFICER~S SWORD BY PROSSER, CIRCA 1835-7 with curved blade double-edged towards the point, etched with elaborate scrolling foliage, the maker~s details ~Prosser maker to the King and Royal Family, London~, the owner~s crest, coat-of-arms and motto on one face, and with further foliage, including a lancer trophy-of-arms on the other, gilt-brass continental style hilt comprising scrolling bars, quillon and back-strap rising to the pommel and banded ivory grip (small chips) bound with plaited wire, with an early knot, in its steel scabbard with two rings for suspension 78.2 cm; 30 3/4 in blade The arms are those of Taylor of Bifrons, Kent. The absence of the Royal arms on the blade and the style of the hilt suggest that this may have been carried by an officer of the British Legion that fought in Spain during the first Carlist war (1835-7). The legion was a force of 10,000 men raised with royal permission to fight in support of Queen Christina and commanded by De Lacy Evans who was granted the rank of lieutenant-general in the Spanish army. Evans and the Legion were severely criticised in the Tory press but his services were rewarded on his return to England with promotion to full colonel (June 1837) and a KCB (1838). Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] A 1908 PATTERN CAVALRY TROOPER~S SWORD, A 1912 PATTERN CAVALRY OFFICER~S SWORD AND A 1912 PATTERN CAVALRY OFFICER~S SWORD BY THE ARMY AND NAVY COOPERATIVE SOCIETY, 105 VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, NO. 13397 each of regulation type, the first with straight fullered blade etched with ~South Africa~, crowned arms and foliage on each face, sheet steel guard, chequered plastic grip, in its steel scabbard with two rings for suspension (scabbard and hilt painted brown); the second with nickel-plated steel hilt (losses) decorated with foliage on the outer face; the third with etched blade, sheet steel hilt decorated with foliage on the outer face, wire-bound fishskin-covered grip, in its field service scabbard (repaired) with frog the first: 88.7 cm; 34 7/8 in blade (3) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] OFFICERS~ CAPS, CIRCA 1902 AND LATER Three officers~ caps of the Royal Army Medical Corps including a blue forage cap with maroon band and welt, with KC badge, a field officer~s example with gold peak edging and QEC bi-metal badge, and a maroon side cap with blue flaps with a KC bi-metal badge and good QEC buttons; a blue forage cap of the Royal Marines with KC badge, cover absent and chinstrap broken; a green beret with good 2-part badge in gilt metal; four Royal Artillery caps including one with KC buttons and embroidered grenade badge (slightly stained), two similar caps (one with slight moth damage), and an OR~s forage cap with anodised QEC badge; a Royal Navy Captain or Commander~s cap with a single row of oakleaf embroidery to peak, black mohair band and embroidered badge; a blue cap of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment with a buff welt to the edging of the crown, brass buttons and white metal badge; a green cap of the King~s Royal Rifle Corps, with small white metal bugle-horn badge on a red boss; a khaki cap of the Royal Engineers with KC bronze badge; a similar cap of the Royal Fusiliers with bronze grenade badge; a sapper~s blue side cap with QEC buttons; and an assortment of berets including examples of RAMC, AAC, RMP, Para, HAC, RA, UN, etc (qty) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] TROPICAL HELMETS AND OTHER ITEMS, CIRCA 1901-39 including an officer~s khaki Colonial pattern helmet, with buff binding to peaks, cotton pagri and roan leather lining, slightly stained, otherwise in good condition; an officer~s good khaki Wolseley of the Royal Engineers by Hawkes, Savile Row, with drab cotton pagri bearing RE patch on left side and leather binding to brim; an officer~s white Wolseley by Townsends, London, with 8-fold white cotton pagri, white buff binding to brim, roan leather headband and crimson lining, moth damage to green brim lining, top button absent; an OR~s khaki Wolseley, stained; a khaki slouch hat with Australian Army badge and seven-fold pagri of pale cotton; a similar slouch hat, of the Prince of Wales~s Light Horse, by Mountcastle & Sons, Brisbane; three other slouch hats, in poor condition, and various other items (qty) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] OFFICER~S SERVICE DRESS CAPS, MID-20TH CENTURY OR LATER the first of the Royal Engineers with good QEC badge, minimal moth damage; the second a fine Royal Leicestershire example, of khaki whipcord, with bronze badge; the third of the Royal Army Medical Corps, with bronze badge; the rest of the Royal Artillery, two with bronze QEC badges and anodised chinstrap buttons, one with bronze buttons but lacking badge (6) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] INDIAN ARMY OFFICER~S MESS DRESS, EARLY 20TH CENTURY the first a drab cloth jacket of Rifles style, with drab braid edging, loops and braided olivets to front (some missing, others frayed), scarlet collar and cuffs; the second another drab cloth mess jacket, probably of the same regiment, but of later style, with scarlet roll collar, cuffs and shoulder-straps; the third a pair of drab overalls with scarlet welts in outer seams; the fourth a scarlet mess jacket with pale green roll collar, bearing badges of the 3rd Madras Regiment, cuffs and shoulder-straps (4) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] A GERMAN BREASTPLATE (SAPPENPANZER), CIRCA 1917 of regulation type, formed of a main plate with up-turned rim at the neck, pierced in the centre, perhaps in action, fitted with a pair of broad curved plates for the shoulders and the inside with a pair of slotted mounts for attaching the three plates (now missing) 37.0 cm; 14 ½ in high Another example is preserved in the Imperial War Museum (cat. No. EQU3773). Introduced to the German Sixth Army in June 1917 these breastplates could ordinarily resist rifle fire at 300 yards. The following year they were widely adopted by troops in static roles, such as machine gunners and sentries. Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] OFFICERS~ POUCH BELTS OF THE ROYAL ARTILLERY AND THE ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS the first with gold |Broken Bias| lace on blue leather, with ornate buckle, tip and slide, together with a small patent leather pouch, the flap bearing a large Gun in gilt metal (lace re-stitched and dull, gilt metal items rubbed); the second a black leather belt of the RAMC, bearing three rows of gold |passing| embroidery and gilt buckle, tip and slide (embroidery dull), together with a black leather folding pouch, the flap with VR cypher and edged with three rows of gold embroidery (2) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] AN ENAMELLED BOER WAR RECRUITING POSTER AND TWO BAKELITE WAR SAVINGS AWARDS, 1943 AND 1944 the first bearing the slogan ~Recruits Are Now Wanted For All Branches Of His Majesty~s Army. God Save The King. Apply To Any Recruiter or to the Nearest Post Office~, with ~E R~ and Edward VII arms above (damaged, areas of wear), with fixing holes; the second presented by the Air Ministry in recognition of successful achievement in Victory Week, May 1943, bearing the motto of the Royal Air Force, PER ARDUA AD ASTRA, above a winged figure fighting a three-headed serpent, with a pattern based on the Morse code for the letter V, representing Victory, below; the third presented by the War Office in recognition of successful achievement in Salute the Soldier Week, 1944, bearing the motto FOR FREEDOM above a soldier marching through the countryside the first: 66 cm x 81.5 cm; 26 in x 32 in (3) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] CAVALRY AND INFANTRY INSIGNIA, CIRCA 1952 AND LATER two boards, one containing mainly anodised badges and buttons of QEC cavalry and infantry regiments, including a large grenade of the RRF, and another with anodised badges of the HAC, Household Cavalry and Foot Guards regiments, together with boards bearing Parachute Regiment insignia, including cloth wings and Pegasus in blue on a maroon cotton square, KC badges of the Army Air Corps, a set of cap badges of the Gurkha infantry regiments and other units, metal badges of the Foot Guards, including a fine one of the Grenadiers bearing QVC cypher, and two of the Guards Machine Gun Regiment; also with a small wooden form containing a gilt metal grenade mounted with devices of the RRF in white metal (qty) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] ARMY CORPS INSIGNIA a board displaying some 47 buttons and a similar number of badges of British Army corps including Royal Signals, Chaplains, Army Service Corps, RAMC, RAOC, REME, RAPC, AVC, RAEC, RADC, R Pioneer Corps, RMP and ACC (qty) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] A .50 CALIBRE U.S. MODEL 1871 REMINGTON ROLLING BLOCK ARMY RIFLE AND A .50 CALIBRE U.S. CAVALRY CARBINE of regulation type, (the first patinated); the second with saddle ring the first: 60.0 cm; 23 5/8 in barrel (2) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

[AP] A .450 CALIBRE U.S. MODEL 1871 REMINGTON ROLLING-BLOCK ARMY RIFLE AND TWO FURTHER REMINGTON ROLLING-BLOCK RIFLES of regulation type (the second worn, the third worn and missing the butt, trigger-guard and elements of the action) the first: 89.2 cm; 35 1/8 in barrel (3) Property from the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Part proceeds to benefit Westminster Abbey

Records : Punk/New Wave - Superb collection of albums Tubeway Army, Velvet Underground, Zoo, Zones, Urban Dogs, Tubes etc - sleeves/vinyls conditions really good (14)

Records - Gary Numan/Tubeway Army 7" singles many picture sleeves and picture discs. (24)

Denys Watkins-Pitchford "BB": 'The Tyger Tray', London, Methuen, 1971, 1st edition, full page scraperboard illustrations plus other black & white ills. in text by BB, original cloth gilt (generally VGC), dust wrapper (slightly edge worn and usual fading to spine, else generally VGC, £1.20/24s price intact). A VG copy of this fun story of two school-boys, a mystical, magical tiger & an old ex-Indian Army Colonel

'Cavalry Training. 1912. General Staff, War Office', London, HMSO for the War Office, 1912, 375pp + 19pp adverts at front & end, 13 x 10.5cm, original cloth gilt; Edward Mogg: 'Mogg's New Picture of London', 1845, 7th edition, coloured folding frontis map + 3 folding plates/plans (including Tower of London plan & Thames Tunnel plan), 12mo, original cloth gilt; Richard Carlile: 'Manual of Freemasonry', 1853, original blindstamped cloth gilt, plus 3 others Masonic related; 'Instruction in Army Telegraphy and Telephony. Vol II. Lines', War Office, 1914, original cloth gilt (7)

A collection of boxed die cast vehicles, mainly vintage vans and buses to include Lledo, Days Gone, Dad's Army and VanguardLocation: 7:1

Britains set 145, Royal Army Medical Corps four horse Ambulance Wagon (Condition Good, two seated men missing, front pair of horses replaced with not matching figures) 1954 (5)

Britains set 146, Army Supply Corps two horse General Service Wagon fumed metal finish, collar harness, with two seated men in original box (Condition Very Good, box Good) 1920 (5)

Britains British Indian Army and Mountain Artillery, with some by other makers (Condition Very Good-Fair, some damage, and repainting) (52)

Britains Eyes Right United States Army, Marines and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Condition Very Good, a few Good or Fair, three damaged) (31)

Britains set 1335 six-wheel Army Lorry and 1433, Covered Lorry, Caterpillar type, FIRST VERSION, square nose, khaki finish, white treaded tyres with Drivers in original illustrated boxes (Condition Good, 1335 cargo floor replaced by cardboard and one mudguard dented, some perishing to tyres, boxes Good-Fair) 1940 (4)

New Toy Soldier Foot Guards Evzones and Danish Livgards, five 35mm scale Indian Army Cavalry with officer, seven 35mm Lancers with Officer, three second grade Britains mounted (one recast) a horse and a dog (Condition Very Good, three damaged) (44)

Britains Deetail set 7333, four German Mortars in original Trade Box for twelve sets (Condition Excellent, box Good-Fair), Combat Weapons with cards, British mortar (ammo stuck in barrel), US recoilless rifle and five Japanese recoilless rifles, 9784 8th Army Scout Car in original box and US Infantry on display strip (one damaged) (Condition Excellent, cards etc. Good-Fair) with some packets of ammunition (42 excluding ammunition)

Britains style New Toy Soldiers: horsedrawn Support Services full dress, Royal Engineers General Service and Limbered Wagons, Royal Army Medical Corps four horse ambulance wagon with stretcher party, Casualties, Nurses and Doctor (Condition Excellent) (25)

Britains style New Toy Soldiers: World War I British, Highlanders and six French, including Toy Army Workshop and Fusilier Miniatures (Condition Excellent, two arms loose) (49)

A reproduction Britains Army Staff Car with original or recast figures, some in plastic, some spare parts and a Crescent 13pdr gun (Condition Good-Fair, many unfinished or incomplete) (48)

Fusilier and others New Toy Soldiers British Indian Army, Black Watch Colour Parties, Survey Section and two US Army Artillerymen with four original boxes (Condition Excellent, boxes Excellent) (43)

Toy Army Workshop 6inch Howitzer Britains 155mm Gun (trail spades and ammunition missing) and 8inch Howitzer with shell case and one shell, Toy Soldier Collection boxed sets 8809 and 8960, a set of recast 9th Lancers in an early box for set 24, and set 9148 British Gun Detachment in original window box (Condition Excellent-Good, boxes Excellent-Poor) (27)

Britains set 7339, Deetail 8th Army Vickers Machine Gun, twelve in original Trade Box (Condition Excellent, box Very Good-Good, one tear in lid) (36)

Britains Deetail WWII Figures Kettenkrad, two 8th Army Vickers Machine Guns, Afrika Korps Dispatch Rider and Motor Machine Gun Combination, German and British Mortars, with German, US, British, Japanese, 8th Army and Afrika Korps Infantry (Condition Excellent with helmet stickers) (99 approx.)

Two Dinky toys set 603 “Army personal-private” (seated) boxed, both sets come in original box and inside packing, models are in excellent condition, box are in good condition, one has graffiti to front and back, one has graffiti to back, plus some unboxed dinky signs (3 items)

Selection of Unboxed Dinky toys Military models, including dinky super toys 660 tank transporter, in very good condition, dinky toys 651 centurion tank in very good condition, No. 622 10-ton army truck, in very good condition, No. 670 armoured car, very good condition, No. 673 scout car, plus three other military diecast models, all models are bit dusty, (8 items)

Collection of Loose Dinky toys Military vehicles models, including, 670 Armoured car, 641 army 1 ton cargo truck, 688 field artillery tractor, 622 10 Ton army truck, 623 army wagon, 660 thornycroft mighty antar, with 18 more modern dinky models, three corgi toys models, plus blue box toys 1/6 scale figure “British Royal Marine” appears to be complete, all models are in fair to good play worn condition, (26 items)

Mixed Military related Plastic models kits and 1/6 scale Figure, including kits by, Tamiya 1/35 scale, U.S Medium tank M3 lee Mk1, U.S Tank M41 walker bulldog, British Army Saladin Mk2 armoured car, U.S Light tank M3 “stuart”, Bandai 1/48 scale, U.S M4A1 Sherman, U.S M4A3 Sherman, PanzerKampfwagen V Panther-G, British infantry Tank Mk2, 1/35 ussr tank model kit, 1:25 supermarine paper model kit, with 1/6 scale boxed Elite Brigade WW2 Japanese infantry man, all kits appear to be complete but unchecked, figure is in near mint boxed condition,(11 items)

Cavalry and Infantry of the 18th Century and Restoration, early days of the British Army, including eight Cavalry (Condition Excellent) (33)

Tradition, Ducal, Caberforth and other New Toy Soldier types of the British Indian Army with ten WELL DETAILED models (Condition Excellent-Very Good) (50)

Britains 9611 Hughes 300C Police Helicopter 9761 Hughes 300C Army Medevac Helicopter (both damaged), two 9594 Safari short wheelbase Land Rovers with crews, 9650 Speedway (damaged), 9521 Volvo Tractor and 9567 Chafer Sprayer in original boxes, two 9555 eight wheel trailers in one original box with three additional tractors, nine accessories, seventeen hurdles, seven animals and twenty motorbikes for despatch riders (Condition Excellent-Good, boxes Good-Poor) (77)

A split cane fishing rod, a green heart fly fishing rod, a green heart coarse fishing rod, an Army and Navy stores reel, and a 19th century mahogany reel

A Great War ‘Mesopotamia’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant H. H. Tayler, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, attached 1st/66th Punjabis, who was badly wounded at Ctesiphon on 22 November 1915, and was Mentioned in Despatches for his services in Mesopotamia Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. H. Tayler 1/66th. Punjabis); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. H. H. Tylor [sic].); Victory Medal 1914-19, naming erased; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Pte. H. H. Tayler, Hyderabad Rif., A.F.I.) generally very fine and better (7) £1,200-£1,600 --- M.C. London Gazette 10 June 1920: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Field.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 13 July 1916. Henry Holroyd Tayler was born in Bhagalpur, Bengal, India, on 9 November 1884, the son of Henry Graham Tayler, of the Indian Civil Service, and, following in his father’s footsteps, joined the Civil Department in the Central Provinces on 23 December 1903. Serving on the Andaman Commission, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers on 4 November 1910. Promoted Lieutenant on 13 September 1914, he was attached to the 1st/66th Punjabis depot at Jhelum on 12 October 1914. The 66th Punjabis were mobilised in March 1915 for service in Mesopotamia and landed in Basra on 20 March. Tayler joined the battalion at Basra on 16 September 1915 where it was undertaking garrison duties. On 24 October 1915 the 66th Punjabis joined Major-General C. Townsend’s 6th (Poona) Division for the advance on Baghdad; on 22 November the first major engagement on the advance to Baghdad took place at Ctesiphon. The 66th Punjabis were heavily engaged in the attack on the Turkish positions and suffered a total of 242 casualties. This included all 10 of the British officers with the battalion who were either killed or wounded, including Tayler. Only two of the wounded British officers were available for duty. Tayler was then evacuated with the other wounded soldiers and so avoided the later siege and fall of Kut-al-Amara. For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches. Tayler was Gazetted with a Military Cross in 1920, and it is most likely that he was awarded the M.C. for his actions at Ctesiphon. The reason for the delay in the award was because it was awarded under the new provisions allowed for in Army Order 193 of 1919. Recognising that many acts of gallantry and devotion to duty during the Great War had previously gone unrecognised, because they were unwitnessed, or because those who had witnessed them were prisoners of war, it allowed rewards for these services in the Field, and in many cases (such as Tayler’s) they were for acts of gallantry that had been performed some years previously. Lieutenant Tayler died at Staines, Middlesex, on 26 April 1944, aged 59.

United States of America, Navy Cross; Distinguished Service Cross; Army Distinguished Service Medal (2); Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, in case of issue; Silver Star; Legion of Merit, Legionnaire’s Badge; Distinguished Flying Cross (2); Navy/Marine Corps Medal; Soldier’s Medal (2), one in case of issue; Airman’s Medal (2), one with ‘V’ riband device, in case of issue; Bronze Star (3), one in case of issue; Purple Heart (2); Meritorious Service Medal, in case of issue, all unnamed as issued, generally good very fine (20) £140-£180

Eight: Warrant Officer Class II P. J. Smith, Royal Engineers 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, Cyprus, G.VI.R., unofficial retaining rod between clasps (14193818 Cpl. P. J. Smith. R.E.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, South Arabia (14193818 W.O. Cl.2. P. J. Smith. RE.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (14193818 W.O. Cl.2. P. J. Smith. RE) good very fine (8) £180-£220

Three: Private K. H. S. Heading, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (5933168 Pte. K. Heading. D.C.L.I.) in named card box of issue, extremely fine (3) £70-£90 --- Kenneth Herbert Saville Heading, a native of Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, served with a large number of different units over a comparatively short space of time, first attesting for the Suffolk Regiment on 22 February 1939, before transferring to the Cambridgeshire Regiment in March of that year; and then to the Royal Engineers in December of that year. He served during the Second World War at home in various searchlight and Anti-Aircraft units, before transferring to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 12 October 1944. He was seconded to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 3 January 1945, and then to the Worcestershire Regiment on 6 June 1945, and served post-War with the 1st Battalion in North-West Europe from 28 December 1945 to 9 May 1946. Returning to his parent unit he was awarded his Efficiency Medal per Army Order 85 of July 1947, and was discharged on 10 February 1954. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

Army of India 1799-1826, 2 clasps, Capture of Deig, Nepaul (S. Dobson, 8th Lt. Dragns.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, some edge bruising, otherwise very fine and a rare combination of clasps £3,000-£3,600 --- Provenance: Glendining’s, December 1969 and December 1984. Only 4 medals issued with these two clasps, three to the 8th Light Dragoons and one to an H.E.I.C. officer. Stephen Dobson was born in the Parish of St John’s, Manchester, and enlisted there into the 8th Light Dragoons on 25 September 1801, aged 16 years, for unlimited service. He served a total of 21 years 137 days after the age of eighteen, including service in the East Indies from 20 October 1803 to 4 May 1823. He was discharged on 24 June 1823, in consequence of long service and being worn out. Sold with copied discharge papers.

Pair: Private A. W. Hayes, Army Service Corps British War and Victory Medals (M2-077941 Pte. A. W. Hayes. A.S.C.); together with the recipient’s Trallwn, Pontypridd Great War Tribute Medal, silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1916, the obverse depicting Britannia presenting a laurel wreath to a returning infantryman, with the King and Queen looking on, ‘To commemorate the splendid devotion & as a tribute to the nation’s gratitude to those who enlisted & fought in the Great War’ around, the reverse depicting the Welsh dragon and both the Old and Victoria Bridges across the River Taff, ‘Pte. A. W. Hayes’ engraved in centre, ‘Presented to the Men of Trallwn Pontypridd who served in the Great War’ around, with silver ring suspension and top ‘1914-1917’ riband bar, nearly extremely fine (3) £100-£140 --- Alfred W. Hayes attested for the Army Service Corps and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 2 May 1915. He was discharged on 15 February 1919, and was awarded a Silver War Badge.

United States of America, Victory Medal 1918, bronze, 3 clasps, Defensive Sector, Ypres-Lys, Somme Offensive; American Defense Service Medal, bronze; Victory Medal 1945, bronze; Armed Forces Reserve Medal, with 2 service emblems; United Kingdom, British War Medal 1914-18, name erased; Belgium, Kingdom, Commemorative Medal for the Great War, bronze, together with corresponding set of miniatures, mounted as worn, generally very fine (7) £60-£80 --- Group attributed to Lieutenant Colonel Michael Lawler, United States Army.

The Navy and Army Illustrated. A Complete Set of Volumes I to XV (1895-1903), edited by Commander Charles N. Robinson, published by George Newnes, all 15 Volumes uniformly bound in original green cloth covered boards with gilt illustrations to front boards, heavy scuffing to covers and damage to extremities of spines, therefore fair condition (15) £80-£100 --- Please note that this lot is not suitable for shipping, but can be hand delivered within mainland Britain by prior arrangement with Christopher Mellor-Hill.

A well documented Northern Ireland campaign group of three awarded to Platoon Sergeant M. E. L. Hamilton, Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment, who enlisted in the U.D.R in October 1973 among the very first group of women to be fully integrated into the infantry of the British Army and went on to complete 20 years of service during the ‘Troubles’. General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (F/448167 Sgt M E L Hamilton UDR); Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994, E.II.R., with Additional Award Bar (FO448167 Sgt M E L Hamilton UDR); Ulster Defence Regiment Medal, E.II.R. (F448167 Sgt M E L Hamilton UDR) court mounted together with brooch bar for wearing, nearly extremely fine (3) £600-£800 --- M. E. L. Hamilton was born in 1949 and enlisted in the Ulster Defence Regiment as a part-time member on 22 October 1973, less than 3 months after Royal Assent had been given to the U.D.R. Bill (allowing women to enlist) - a development that the Army quartermaster’s stores were not fully prepared for: ‘Unfortunately our uniforms were not available, so we trained in ‘civvies’. When we eventually received a uniform it consisted of ATS skirts (surplus WW2), dark green jumper, green beret, tie, cravat in battalion colour, black gloves, blacked laced shoes, khaki shirt and black knee length boots for winter and a jacket. We did not have our own flakjackets and had to wear men’s. It was a rush to get to the stores to get the smaller flakjackets when going out on duty. You can imagine how uncomfortable they were. Years later we were issued with lightweight denim trousers, puttees and boots.’ (Recipient’s notes.) The Ulster Defence Regiment was the first infantry regiment in the British Army to fully integrate women into its structure. At its height there were 11 battalions in Northern Ireland. Known as Greenfinches, they were the vanguard for women today to integrate into all the military forces in the United Kingdom. Hamilton served with the 10th (City of Belfast) Battalion, U.D.R., based at Abbotscroft, Newtownabbey from 1973 until 1984 in Greenfinch platoon, receiving her Accumulated Campaign Service Medal on 31 January 1981 and attaining the rank of F/Sgt. in 1978. She was then posted Platoon Sergeant, Greenfinch Platoon, 7/10th (City of Belfast) Battalion at Girdwood Park, receiving the 1st Clasp to her ACSM on 30 April 1984. In 1989 she was posted again with the 7/10th to Malone HQ, Belfast where she served as Platoon Sergeant, Part Time Signals Platoon until 1992. She joined the newly formed Royal Irish Regiment on 1 July 1992, on its creation following the merger of the U.D.R. and the Royal Irish Rangers. Serving until discharged on 21 October 1993 on completion of her engagement, Hamilton completed exactly 20 years of service. Sold with the following items and ephemera: (i) Certificates (4). a) Greenfinches Ulster Defence Regiment 1973-1988 (record of appreciation for faithful and valuable service rendered voluntarily for 15 years since the formation of the Greenfinches as part of the U.D.R. on 1st August 1973). b) The 365 Club 10th (City of Belfast) Battalion (Cpl Hamilton MEL joined the Regiment on 22 October 1973 and has on 1 October 1977 completed 365 days operational duty, for which devotion to the cause of restoring peace to the Province is appointed a member of the 365 Club - dated 23 November 1977.) c) Certificate of Service - The U.D.R. (Certificate is issued as a record of appreciation for faithful and valuable service rendered voluntarily as a member of the U.D.R. F0448167 Sgt. Hamilton MEL has served in the U.D.R. with loyalty and devotion for eighteen years and eight months. Dated 30 June 1992.) d) Certificate of Discharge including Certificate of Service. (ii) Recipient’s miniature awards, mounted for wear with one additional miniature GSM with Northern Ireland clasp. (iii) Named card boxes of issue for A.C.S.M. and U.D.R. medal. (iv) U.D.R. women’s stable belt - very good condition. (v) U.D.R. / Royal Irish Regiment beret badges (2) one in black, one in gold; U.D.R. / Royal Irish Regiment lapel badge; Royal Irish Regiment shoulder title. (vi) Metal U.D.R. stripes (3) lance corporal, corporal, sergeant. (vii) Cloth epaulets for 10 UDR and 7/10 UDR; cloth Signals badge; cloth R.I.R. chevrons. (viii) Medal riband bar; Greenfinches 40th Anniversary metal and enamel badge; UDR remembrance metal and enamel badge. (ix) Metal medallions with UDR badge to the obverse (3) - the 1st inscribed to the reverse ‘GF skills 1983 winning team’; the second inscribed to the reverse ‘10 UDR SAAM 84 winners WUDR match’; the third blank to the reverse. (x) Wooden heraldic shield with hand painted crest of the UDR together with Greenfinch symbol, the dates 1973-1983 on scroll beneath, height 17.3cm. (xi) Photographs of the recipient in uniform (2). The first at Hillsborough Castle, June 1980, with the Duchess of Kent; the second at a UDR medal presentation ceremony. All the above items expertly and neatly categorised and boxed.

A Second War Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal group of six awarded to Major Orlando Cartford Asper, a B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ pilot United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze, slot brooch, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; Air Medal, bronze, with 3 clusters on riband, wrap brooch, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; American Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue; Victory Medal 1945, bronze, slot brooch, in box of issue; Army Occupation medal, bronze, crimp brooch; Distinguished Unit Citation badge, generally very fine or better (7) £400-£500 --- Orlando “Ole” Cartford Asper was born in Kikungshan, Henan Province, China on 13 June 1917, to Lutheran Missionary parents. Having returned to the United States, he attended Pacific Lutheran High School Division, Pacific Lutheran College, Parkland. Having joined the Army Air Corps Cadet Programme at Army Air Forces Advance Flying School, Stockton Field, California on 26 January 1942, qualifying as a pilot in November 1942, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Force. From May 1943, he served as a Captain (pilot), flying B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of 96th Bomb Group, 45th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force, from Snetterton Heath, England. Between May and October 1942, Asper was pilot of a B-17 named "Kipling's Error", flying at least 25 Missions over target in occupied France and Germany. On 13 August 1943, he was awarded his first Air Medal for 5 combat missions, three more were to follow. He was also awarded the 8th Air Force Certificate of Valour by General Eaker for 25 combat missions. After completing his tour, in October 1943, he returned to the U.S.A. as a Pilot Instructor, before returning to Europe as 1st Lieutenant, piloting twin engine aircraft passenger flights for European Air Transport Service. He also served as Administrative Officer for 8 months in 1946-7, duties including meeting and greeting dignitaries at Rhein Main Airfield, Germany. Appointed a Captain in the U.S.A.F. Reserve on 1 April 1948, he rejoined U.S.A.F. 7th Division Strategic Air Command as an Admin Officer in January 1951 and retired on 30 September 1965. In civilian life, ‘Ole’ taught biology and science in York High School, Nebraska, and also taught at the University of Washington in Seattle. He later worked as an engineer for Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle, where he worked on numerous projects, including hovercraft and hydroplanes; he also worked as a nuclear waste engineer for Westinghouse at Hanford Nuclear Plant in Richland, WA. He died on 3 April 1986, in Seattle, King county, Washington. Sold with original 1942 Graduation book, Aviation Cadet Class 42-K. Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School, Stockton Field, California, 8th Air Force Certificate of Valour for 25 combat missions signed by General Ira Eaker, portrait photo, very extensive & detailed official copy of service record, personnel reports, and other original papers.

A B-17 Flying Fortress pilot’s Distinguished Service Cross group of six awarded to Major Sidney Hantman, of 322 Squadron who was badly wounded when cannon-shell from a German fighter blew off his arm during an attack on the Arado Fleugenwerke in October 1943 - at the time he was ‘filling in’ for a sick rear gunner having already completed his own tour of operations as a pilot - he continued his duty until he passed out from loss of blood United States of America, Distinguished Service Cross, bronze, numbered ‘13747’, wrap brooch; in case of issue (cover distressed), with miniature Distinguished Service Cross, with brooch mount; Air Medal, bronze, numbered 16441, wrap brooch; Purple Heart, gilt and enamel, slot brooch, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; Army Commendation Medal; American Defense Service Medal, bronze, slot brooch, in box of issue; Victory Medal 1945, slot brooch, in box of issue, generally very fine or better (6) £800-£1,000 --- Distinguished Service Cross Citation: ‘The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sidney Hantman, First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Tail Gunner and Observer in a B-17 Heavy Bomber of the 322nd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), EIGHTH Air Force, during a bombardment mission over Germany on 9 October 1943. Although he had completed his missions as a pilot and was serving as squadron Operations Officer, First Lieutenant Hantman volunteered to fill a crew vacancy by occupying the tail gunner observer position. Before arriving at the target area, his aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters and he was struck by an explosive shell which blew off his right arm at the shoulder, and caused a compound fracture of his right leg and inflicted extensive wounds to his right thigh. In total disregard of the pain of his wounds and without regard for the preservation of his life, Lieutenant Hantman remained at his post without first aid or assistance and continued to discharge his duties under enemy attack until he was on the verge of unconsciousness. He then began to work his way forward to obtain someone to take over his post at which time he collapsed from shock and loss of blood. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Hantman on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces. Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 15 (1944).’ Sidney Hantman was born on 23 April 1916, in Springfield. In 1943, he was serving as an Assistant operations officer, flying in B17 Flying Fortress’s of 322 Squadron, part of 91st Bomb Group. On 9 October 1943, as part of the crew of B-17 #604 (42-5804) "Hell’s Hallo”, Hantman took part in a raid on the Arado Fleugenwerke, in Anklam, Germany. However just before reaching their target, the aircraft was hit by a 20mm cannon round. A Squadron report stated that: ‘1st Lt. Sidney Hantman (Ass't operations officer of this squadron) while riding in the tail position of A/C 604 piloted by Lt. Everett and Major Donald Sheeler, was struck by a 20 mm.  It cut his right arm off close to the shoulder, penetrated his thigh and went on through his leg. Hantman was hit just before the formation reached the target at about *** hours. Tourniquet could not be applied as arm was sheared off too close to body. S/Sgt . W. S. French, right waist gunner on A/C 804, was struck by flak or bullet in hand. Injury not serious although French was hospitalized. S/Sgt A. K. Baker, radio operator on A/C 511, struck in forehead by flak.’ A further Squadron report of the raid stated: ‘A/A Fire: No fire at target, meager to moderate fire from Madergale, Rostock, Warnestrude, Fehasian Island and Bad Sulms. All inaccurate. We were out of their range. Enemy Opposition:  Up to 300 E/ A were encountered, mostly twin engine craft, some single engines - FW190, ME109, ME110, He111, Do217, JU87, JU88, FW189.  First met E/A at 1032 hours and not until our remaining planes of the formation were well offshore at 1035 did the E/A cease their attacks. Enemy employed rockets which were fired by the Me110, Ju88 and FW190. Although fighter support was to have met us at point in the North Sea, our formation did not see them.’ 1st Lieutenant Hantman and Staff Sergeant French were taken to the 49th Station Hospital before moving to a hospital in or near Cambridge. He was later taken back to America and sent to Water Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. He met his wife-to-be at Walter Reed and had one or more children. Promoted Major, in later life Hantman was a life member of The Legion of Valor, serving as National Commander 1968-1969. He resided in Maryland and died at home at Silver Spring on 17 March 1973. Sold with medal riband bar, mounted as worn in photographs, Major’s rank insignia, leather flying jacket name label, large 322nd Bombardment Squadron and smaller Army Air Force cloth flying jacket patches; Legion of Valor banner and National Commander forage cap, U.S. Air Force sweetheart cushion cover; paperwork, including service record, original citation and certificate for Army Commendation; period file with detailed commendations, menu from dinner honouring Hantman in 1957, Hartman’s Armed Forces of the United States card, with photo and left fingerprint, noting his right ‘Amputated’, giving his rank of Major, dated June 1950; Legion of Valor membership card, Governor of Kentucky Order of Kentucky Colonels membership, 1973, 91st Bomb Group Memorial Association membership, 1973; together with a large quantity of photographs, including one of the attack where he lost his arm, of large portrait (wearing medal ribands), damaged aircraft, veteran shots, also meeting with President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (J. Bailey, 14th Foot) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, fitted with silver ribbon buckle, small obverse edge nick, otherwise good very fine £800-£1,000 --- Provenance: Sotheby, March 1911; Glendining’s, May 1912. Joseph Baile [as shown on roll] was born in the Parish of Woodside Carrington, Hertfordshire, and enlisted into the 14th Foot at Hertford on 22 June 1813, aged 16 years, a farmer’s servant by trade. He served in the East Indies for 15 years 359 days, from 20 June 1815, and was present in the Deccan campaign and at the taking of Hattrass, and was present at the siege and capture of Bhurtpore. He was finally discharged on 13 March 1832, after 24 years 307 days service, in consequence of ‘general bad health, especially in breathing on using much exertion. He intended to reside and draw his pension at Lewton, Bedfordshire. Sold with copied discharge papers.

Army of India 1799-1826, 3 clasps, Allighur, Laswarree, Capture of Deig (G. Hunter, 29th Lt. Dragns.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, edge bruising and contact marks, very small dent to lower border of top clasp, otherwise very fine and rare £10,000-£12,000 --- Provenance: J. B. Hayward & Son, July 1974; Dix Noonan Webb, March 2008. Only 14 medals issued to this regiment, and only 8 issued with this combination of clasps - 6 to the 29th Light Dragoons including one officer, and 2 to H.E.I.C. recipients. Approximately 66 clasps for Allighur, 100 clasps for Laswarree, and 103 clasps for the Capture of Deig were issued to European recipients. George Hunter was born in the Parish of Rescobie, Forfar, and enlisted into the 29th Light Dragoons (re-designated 25th Light Dragoons in 1802) at London on 15 July 1801, aged 17 years, for unlimited service. He served for 17 years 125 days after the age of eighteen, including 16 years 286 days in the East Indies, and was discharged at Arcot cantonment, India on 16 November 1818, in consequence of being ‘worn out from length of service and injury of loins from Field Service.’ Invalided to England, he received his final discharge on 4 July 1820. Sold with copied discharge papers.

Six: Major H. Railston, Indian Army Ordnance Corps, late Mercantile Marine, who commanded the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company’s vessel Mysore during the Second World War, and was Mentioned in Despatches British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (Harry Railston); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, nearly very fine and better (6) £100-£140 --- Harry Railston was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 3 June 1897 and served during the Great War in the Mercantile Marine. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War he was in command the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company’s vessel Mysore; following the Japanese invasion he scuttled his ship and made his way to Calcutta, where he was commissioned Ordnance Mechanical Engineer (with the rank of Second Lieutenant) in the Indian Army Ordnance Corps on 28 June 1942, and was advanced Major. For his services during the Second World War he was Mentioned in Despatches. Sold with a number of photographs taken out in Burma, mainly of steamers on the Irrawaddy; a copy of the National Maritime Museum’s Monograph on The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, in which the recipient is mentioned several times; a large map of Rangoon; various letters regarding the recipient’s medal entitlement; and other research, including a postcard photograph of the recipient. Note: No traces of the recipient’s M.I.D. has been found in the London Gazette, but the award is confirmed in a letter to the recipient confirming his Second World War medal entitlement.

The British South Africa Company’s Medal to Trooper F. L. Vogel, Salisbury Horse, formerly Assistant Secretary to Dr. L. S. Jameson and a member of Major Wilson’s heroic patrol, killed in action at Shangani River on 4 December 1893 British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893, no clasp (Troopr. F. L. Vogel, Salisbury Horse) extremely fine and a rare casualty £6,000-£8,000 --- Provenance: A. A. Upfill-Brown Collection, Buckland, Dix and Wood, 4 December 1991 (Lot 63); Dix Noonan Webb, June 2009 (Lot 888). Frank Leon Vogel was born in Auckland in October 1870, the second son of the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., the famous early Jewish Prime Minister of New Zealand. After being educated at Charterhouse young Frank joined the London Office of the British South Africa Company in 1890. In April of the following year, however, he departed for South Africa and enlisted in the Mashonaland Mounted Police as a Trooper at Fort Tuli - he appears in a group photograph taken at Rhodes Drift on the Limpopo River in August 1891, The Men Who Made Rhodesia stating that he appears as a ‘young fellow in his early twenties, long-faced and rather sad looking, with a thin moustache. He wears a smasher hat, dark tunic and breeches, top-boots and bandolier, and holds a Martini-Henry rifle.’ Following the disbandment of his unit, Vogel joined the Survey Department at Salisbury, and subsequently became Acting Assistant-Secretary to Dr. L. S. Jameson. But with the advent of the Matabele Rebellion in 1893, he enrolled in ‘B’ Troop of the Salisbury Horse under Captain Borrow, and during the campaign served the Maxim gun attached to his Troop, under Lieutenant Llewellyn. He left Salisbury with the column, but returned alone two or three weeks afterwards on business. Rejoining his Troop two or three days after they left Fort Charter, he marched with the column, and was in all the engagements on the way to Bulawayo, serving the Maxim gun, besides volunteering for special scouting expeditions. He was one of the small party sent out in search of Captain G. Williams, and also one of the expedition on which Captain Campbell was killed, in addition to which he served the Maxim at the engagement on the Shangani River on the 25 October, and also at Imbembesi on 1 November, where he had a narrow escape, one bullet passing through his hat. Reaching Bulawayo safe and sound in early November, on the 10th he wrote his last letter to his relatives, being then evidently in high spirits, and regarding the campaign as over. He departed Bulawayo on the 14th and remained with Major Forbes throughout the patrol which ended at Shiloh; thence again, as a volunteer, he accompanied the force under Major Forbes to the Shangani River, where under Captain Borrow, he joined Major Wilson’s ill-fated patrol. Shangani River Frederick Burnham, the American scout, later Chief of Scouts under Lord Roberts, was the last man to leave the beleaguered patrol before their final stand at Shangani River. In his book Scouting on Two Continents, he describes his last meeting with Major Wilson and his officers, and the fate that befell his patrol: ‘It had now stopped raining. Captains Judd, Kirton, Fitzgerald, Greenfield and Brown gathered with us round Wilson. The first three were experienced colonials, and Wilson asked each what he thought to be the best move. Kirton, with a bitter smile, said: "There is no best move." Fitzgerald said: "We are in a hell of a fix. There is only one thing to do, cut our way out.” Judd said: "This is the end.” Picking up the threads of the grim story, we are told by Majors Forbes and Sir John Willoughby that, after crossing the river and following the king's spoor, Major Wilson and his men reached a series of scherms, or temporary encampments protected by felled bush or trees. These scherms were filled with Matabele, who, however, offered no resistance, probably because they did not know the strength of the whites, or believed them to be but the advance guard of a larger body. So the Patrol rode on till they reached the royal scherm, within which the king's wagons were dimly visible in the gathering gloom. Here a halt was called, and Lobengula summoned to surrender. The reply was an ominous rattle of arms within the reed fence, while parties of Matabele, rifle in hand, came hurrying up from the rear. With so small a force nothing could be done, and the Patrol withdrew into the bush, Captain Napier and Troopers Robertson and Mayne being sent for reinforcements. These in due time appeared in the form of Captain Borrow with eighteen mounted men. A miserable night was passed under arms in the drenching rain, and when day at length dawned, Major Wilson decided to make one more dash for the king, with the tragic result, which will not soon be forgotten in South Africa. From the start the Patrol was outnumbered, and almost as soon as the attack began, Ingram, Burnham, and Gooding had to be sent to cross the river, if that were possible, to ask for further support. That support, however, never arrived, and Burnham's first breathless remark to Major Forbes, after reaching the main body, was “I think I may say we are the sole survivors of that party.” The Shangani had risen in flood, added to which Major Forbes was himself attacked in force on the way down to the river. Either of these circumstances was enough to prevent the arrival of succour in time to save the doomed men to whom the last chance of escape was lost. To the end, however, there was no thought of surrender, no request for quarter. They resolved to show the Matabele that the white man could play a losing as well as a winning game. Taking cover behind the dead bodies of their horses, with an iron calmness they fought on for two long hours, pouring a destructive fire into their encircling foes, and coolly singling out the Indunas for their aim. One by one, however, they sank under the heavy fire from the bush, but many of the wounded continued, so the natives say, to re-load and pass their rifles to their uninjured comrades. Again and again the Matabele would issue from their cover to attempt a conclusive charge, but again and again were repulsed with a well-directed fire; upon which Wilson and his men would wake the echoes with an undismayed, defiant cheer. But at last the end came. Of the thirty-four valiant men whose hearts beat high with hope and courage as they rode behind their leader in the early dawn that morning, only one remained erect; the rest lay prone, dead or dying, upon that field of honour. The name of the one man who stood at bay against an army of Matabele will never be known; his remains could not be identified. But the natives tell that, picking up several rifles and bandoliers, this hero amongst heroes made his way to an ant-heap some twenty yards from where the rest lay stretched upon the earth. From that point of vantage he checked, single-handed, several rushes of the Matabele with a cool and deadly fire. At length, shot through the hips, he sank on his knees, but continued to load and fire until he succumbed to his wounds. Then, and not till then, the Matabele came out from the bush, but on reaching the hallowed circle where the Patrol lay side by side, were fired upon by several of the unconquerable wounded who were still alive. So great had been the terror and demoralisation inspired by the desperate bravery of the Patrol, that when the revolvers rang out the natives turned and fled precipitately into the bush; and it was not till several hours later - ‘when the sun was right overhead' - as the Matabele tell the tale - that they again ventured to leave their cover. But by this time death had mercifully come to the wounded, and as the native war...

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (20 Sapr. G. W. Wheatley. Tyne E.E. R.E.) very fine £60-£80 --- George William Wheatley was born in Easington, co. Durham, in 1878 and served with the Tyne Electrical Engineers, Royal Engineers (Territorial Force), being awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 107 on 1 April 1912. He served during the Great War at home, and was promoted Sergeant on 23 August 1915. Sold with copied research.