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Click here to subscribeWW2 German Army water bottle flask MN42 with attachment clip. Numbered FSS-41 felt green cover with 4 press studs with light corrosion, leather straps and buckles complete with belt clip. 1 litre Aluminium flask in very good condition factory coded to throat. Bakelite screw top and aluminium cup with black paint finish.
WW1 & WW2 Australian Army Victory Medal, to 16th Battalion & Gallipoli ‘1st day lander’ F.W. Morgan, who was later commissioned & twice wounded in action at Polygon Wood & Passchendaele.British Victory Medal, impressed named LIEUT. F.W.MORGAN. A.I.F. Court mounted for display. Comes with copy service records.Frederick William Morgan was born 5/4/1894 at Broken Hill, NSW. His stated occupation was as an Assistant assayer. Enlisted 26/9/1914. Regimental #610. ‘B’ Coy 13/10/1914 Black Boy Hill. 22/12/1914 Departed Australia, on ‘C’ Coy roll. 12/4/1915. MEF Gallipoli peninsula ‘A’ Coy recorded. 31/7/15 H.S Soudan Enteritis. (Enteritis is the inflammation of your small intestine, caused by ingesting food or water that is contaminated with bacteria). 11/10/15 rejoined from Hospital. 30/12/1915 Landed Alexandria ex Murdos. On the Headquarters roll.1/1/16- 3/1/1916 21 days Field punishment No.2. (Absent from camp without leave pass). 22/3/1916 promoted Corporal. 25/7/16, promoted 2nd Lieutenant. 30/7/16 to 15 Bn Lieutenant. 6/9/17 to 16th Bn. 5/2/1917 sick to hospital - scabies and boils. 24/3/1917 returned to unit. 8/8/1917 wounded but remained on duty. 14/8/17 promoted Lieutenant. 26/9/17 wounded 2nd time gunshot wound right leg and arm (Polygon Wood Passchendaele). 1/10/17 to England. 1/8/1918 rejoined unit (16th). The battalion participated in the great allied offensive of 1918, fighting near Amiens on 8 August 1918. 5/10/1918 to England for training as Australian Flying Corps observer. 7/2/1919 granted leave with pay to attend Royal School of Mines London. 15/3/1919 placed under arrest for court martial. 13/5/1919 severely reprimanded. 28/8/1919 returned to Australia.WW2: 21/9/1940 Called up Regimental #W29129. 3/10/44 Discharged. Served 5th Garrison Battalion (POW guards). Died 30/10/1974. Perth Western Australia.
WW1 Australian Gallipoli ‘1st day lander’ medal trio to Private T.H. Whitear, 4th Battalion A.I.F. who was most likely also a 1st day wounded casualty.1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 400 PTE T.H.WHITEAR. 4 BN.AIF. Rising sun collar badge. Comes with copies Australian Army service papers, copy embarkation roll & newspaper casualty list, unit diary April 1915, Passenger list 1911. Professionally glass framed and mounted display. Frame Size 54cm x 33cm. Items can be sent without frames at buyer’s request.Thomas Henry Whitear was born in Newton Abbot, Devon, England in 1888. He emigrated to New South Wales in 1911, his occupation was recorded as a miner. He enlisted on the 31/8/1914 to the 4th Battalion A.I.F. After only two months training, the battalion was among the first Australian units to be deployed overseas. Pte Whitear embarked on H.M.A.T Euripides on the 20/10/1914, arriving in Egypt 2/12/1914. After this the battalion undertook further training and took part in the defence of the Suez Canal before landing at ANZAC Cove 25th April 1915 as part of the 2nd & 3rd wave.Pte Whitear is listed on the embarkation roll as serving with ‘E’ Coy, but ‘B’ Coy on his casualty sheet. At some stage he was wounded, possibly on the 25th and evacuated to the transport ship Derflinger. From there, evacuated 29/4/15 landing at Alexandria 1/5/1915 and sent to hospital at Ras El Tin. He returned to Australia 17/7/15 with a ‘bullet in forearm’ and discharged 9/3/1916. 4th Battalion casualties between 25 & noon 30th April: Officers 2 KIA 6 WIA. Other Ranks 26 KIA 89 WIA. 67 MIA. Total 8 officers & 182 men.During the day the medical services were overwhelmed. The suffering of the wounded was pitiful; many men died on the beach, and it is estimated that hundreds more lay in the hills out of the reach of help. Most notably, there were inadequate arrangements for the critically wounded, who could not be taken back to the ships until after all the troops and stores had been landed. It was early evening before boats became available; many of the maimed and bleeding were sent off in filthy barges. No one knows for sure how many Australians died on the first day, perhaps 650. Total casualties, including wounded, must have been about 2,000. This news trickled in to the Australian newspapers. Even a month after the landing, only 350 deaths had been acknowledged.A note from a Sgt in the 6th Manchesters about Alexandria: The Derflinger had returned from the Dardanelles the previous day with 580 wounded Australians and it is said that they were disembarked in about four hours. It is also said that two fell overboard and drowned. There were many Australians on board the Derflinger, having been in the Dardanelles, but having returned with the wounded, and they had a remarkable story to tell about what the Australians had gone through.
WW1 Australian Gallipoli ‘1st day lander’ medal trio to Private G. Fimister, 1st Bn A.I.F., who was badly wounded in action at Leanne’s Trench 30/10/1915. 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 1549 PTE G.FIMISTER. 2BN A.I.F. Australian Rising Sun collar badge. Comes with copies Australian Army service papers, embarkation roll, ‘Letter from the front’. Professionally glass framed and mounted display. Frame measure’s 33cm x 54cm. Items can be sent without frames at buyer’s request.George Fimister was born in Adelaide, South Australia on the 28/1/1880. A watchmaker by trade, he enlisted at Liverpool, Sydney on the 2/12/1914, being allotted to the 3rd reinforcements, 2nd Battalion A.I.F. He departed Sydney on the 11/2/1915 in the H.M.A.T Seang Choon. At some stage he transferred to the 1st Bn, but as A.A.M.C (probably stretcher bearer). He was badly wounded on the 30/10/15 at Leanne’s Trench with a gunshot wound to back, chest & shrapnel wound thigh. Subsequently evacuated from Gallipoli on the 2/11/15 and embarked for Australia on the 3/1/16. He was discharged permanently unfit on the 10/8/1916. He died 21/4/1955.His family were from Western Australia as per newspaper article. Both the 1st & 2nd Battalion were 1st day landers & fought at Lone Pine.
WW1 Australian Army medal pair to Private W. Gillingham, 46th Battalion A.I.F., a 41 year old enlistee, who saw some hard fighting in France.British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 2659 PTE. W. GILLINGHAM. 46. BN.A.I.F; Returned from Active Service badge; 2 x blackened Australia shoulder titles, Australian collar badge & 2 x 46th Battalion reunion badges 1936 & 1945. Comes with copies Australian Army service papers & embarkation roll. Professionally glass framed and mounted display. Frame size 54cm x 32cm. Items can be sent without frames at buyer’s request.William Gillingham was born in East Coker, Yeovil Somerset in 1874. He emigrated to Australia in 1912 with his occupation recorded as a market gardener. He enlisted on the 20/5/1916 at Geelong Victoria, being 41 years of age & was allotted to the 6th reinforcements, 46th Battalion A.I.F. He embarked on the 20/10/1916 with H.M.A.T. A17 ‘Port Lincoln’ landing at Devonport 10/1/1917. Proceeded to France 13/3/1917. 18/3/17 marched into ‘B’ Coy 46th Bn A.I.F. 31/10/1918 to England & returned to Australia on the 4/12/1918. Discharged on the 14/2/1919.A nice display mounted 46th Battalion group of items to an older soldier who saw hard fighting in France.After Pozieres, the battalion spent the period up until March 1917 alternating between duty in the trenches and training and rest behind the lines. On 11 April it took part in the attack mounted against the heavily defended village of Bullecourt - part of the formidable Hindenburg Line to which the Germans had retreated during February and March. Devoid of surprise, and dependent upon the support of unreliable tanks, the attack had little chance of success; after managing to fight through to its objectives, the 46th was forced to withdraw with heavy casualties. Later in the year, the focus of the AIF's operations switched to the Ypres sector in Belgium where the 46th took part in the battles of Messines and Passchendaele.The 46th rotated in and out of the front line throughout the winter of 1917-18. In the spring of 1918, it played a role in turning the great German offensive by defeating attacks around Dernancourt in the first days of April. During the Allied offensive that commenced in August, the 46th also played an active part, fighting in the battle of Amiens on 8 August and in the battle to secure the Hindenburg "outpost line" on 18 September. The battalion was out of the line when the war ended on 11 November, and disbanded in April 1919.
WW1 Australian Somme ‘killed in action’ medal pair with Memorial Plaque, scroll and condolence slip, relating to Private K.G. Randell, 2nd Battalion A.I.F. British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 3251 PTE K.G.RANDELL. 56 BN. A.I.F.; Memorial Plaque named KENNETH GEORGE RANDELL; Memorial Scroll named to Pte Kenneth George Randell. 2nd. Bn. A.I.F.; Condolence slip; 2 x Australia brass shoulder titles, rising sun hat badge; telegram informing father of sons killed in action. Comes with copies Australian Army service papers, embarkation roll, 2nd Bn war diary October 1917 & August 1918, copy picture of Pte. Randell, C.W.G certificate and photograph of grave. Professionally glass framed and mounted display. Frame measure’s 78cm x 58cm. Items can be sent without frames at buyer’s request.Kenneth George ‘Snowy’ Randell was born in Galston, Cumberland, New South Wales on the 17/11/1897. He enlisted on the 10/4/1916 and on the 6/5/1916 assigned to the 2nd reinforcements 33rd Battalion A.I.F. On the 5/9/1916 assigned to the 4th reinforcements 33rd Bn. 2/11/1916, again transferred, this time to the 8th reinforcements 56th Bn. This was probably due to an injury as his records are stamped ‘Return to duty’ invalids’ section, Victoria Barracks. Finally embarked at Sydney on H.M.A.T. ‘Suevic’ 11/11/1916 landing at Devonport 30/1/1917. 1/2/1917 marched into 14th Infantry Bn England. 22/5/1917 to France. 22/6/17 to 56th Bn. 15/8/17 transfer to 2nd Bn to be with his brother. 4/10/19178 wounded in action with multiple shrapnel wounds right forearm, leg, chest & shoulder. 15/6/18 returned to France and the 2nd Bn. 24/8/1918 killed in action during enemy shelling, near St. Martins Wood, east of Proyart, France.A shell hit the dugout killing 4 of the 5 occupants. His brother placed a cross made by the battalion’s pioneers on his grave a week or so later. He was with ‘B’ Company 2nd Bn at the time. He had been a lewis gunner, but became a ‘B’ Coy. H.Q. Runner the day before he was killed. (Unverified source). He is buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.Another beautifully presented display to a young Australian soldier, who after being badly wounded, returned to action only to be killed within sight of the end of the war.2nd Bn at Passchendaele. After a brief period of rest, they returned to the line near Broodseinde on 1 October, taking up a position near Molenaarelsthoek, on the right of I Anzac's position for the upcoming battle. The attack went in on 4 October, and after overcoming an encounter with a German infantry regiment, the 212th, in no man's land, the Australians successfully managed to capture their objectives. During the battle, the 2nd Bn lost 10 officers and 144 other ranks killed or wounded. Some of which were suffered after an intense German mortar barrage had fallen upon the troops in their form-up point prior to the attack, killing or wounding up to one seventh of the assault force.Advance to Victory. In August, having gained the initiative, the Allies launched their own offensive commencing at Amiens on 8/8/1918, where the battalions of the 1st Brigade were attached temporarily to the 4th Division, to act as its reserve, guarding the river crossing at Cerisy. Following this they were involved in the advance through Chipilly & Lihons, remaining in reserve until 11 August. Throughout the period of the first week of the offensive, the battalion suffered three officers and 45 other ranks killed or wounded. After this, the battalion continued operations throughout August and into September.
WW1 Australian Pozières ‘killed in action’ medal pair, Memorial Plaque and condolence slip, relating to 17-year-old Sapper K.W. Delphin, 7th Field Coy A.I.F. British and War Medals, impressed named 2474 PTE K.W.DELPHIN 26 BN. A.I.F; Memorial Plaque named KENNETH WILLIAM DELPHIN; Female Relatives Badge; condolence slip; rising sun collar badge & comes with copies Australian Army service papers, embarkation roll, 7th Field Coy War Diary Aug 1916, copy photograph of Pte Delphin. C.W.G. certificate stating age 17 years. Professionally glass framed and mounted display. Frame measure’s 48cm x 58cm. Items can be sent without frames at buyer’s request.Kenneth William Delphin was born in Wellington, New Zealand. At some point, he emigrated to Tasmania, possibly as he was born out of wedlock. He enlisted at Claremont, Tasmania on the 1/7/1915 giving his age as 18- and 1-month and his occupation as a farmer. Allotted to the 5th reinforcements, 26th Battalion A.I.F. 9/9/15 he embarked at Hobart on H.M.A.T Ballarat. 5/2/1916 taken on strength 26th Bn, but transferred to the 7th Field Engineers on the 7/3/1916. 4/8/1916 killed in action at Pozières. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France. Another well-presented ‘killed in action’ group to a 17-year-old soldier.From the local newspaper:Mrs. L. Delphin, of East Devonport, whose son was killed in action early in August, has received the following sympathetic letter from Lieut J H Cartwright, 7th F. Co Engineers. 2nd Australian Division, Lieutenant Cartwright was himself wounded on the day following, and taken to the Wandsworth Hospital England, hence his delay in writing, as his letter was dated 12/9/16. He wrote: 'You have already been informed by the military authorities of the death of your son and I am taking this opportunity of expressing my regret, coupled with that of his comrades, at the untimely death of this earnest and able young soldier. My section, in which you son was serving, was detailed for certain duties on the night of August 3 in the front-line trenches, and whilst sheltering in a sap an enemy shell blew in a portion of the trench killing your son and wounding one of his comrades. Whilst under my command, your son carried out his duties conscientiously and faithfully, and he was a great favourite with the other members of my section. I wish also to state that the O.C. officers and men unite in expressing their condolence to you in your irreparable loss and the grief accruing therefrom.' The North Western Advocate 30/11/1916.KILLED IN ACTION. DELPHIN.— Killed in action in France, on Aug. 8. Sapper Ken Delphin, 7th - Field Co. Engineers, A.I.F., son of F. and L. Delphin, East Devonport, grandson of Henry Smith, West Devonport, grandnephew of Major Geo. Lennon Home, Artillery Brigade. East India Co., Delhi, India, and Lieut. T. Lennon, 9th Horse Artillery, Delhi, India; aged 17 years and 10 months. The North Western Advocate 2/9/1916
WW1 ‘casualty’ medal groups to the Logan brothers, who served Australian Army 18th Battalion & British Army 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, impressed named S-5134 PTE. P.LOGAN. GORD.HIGHRS. Comes with M.I.C., medal rolls, C.W.G.C. certificate, paperwork for medal issue to next of kin and original issue envelope.British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 4180 L-CPL J.LOGAN. 18 BN A.I.F. Comes with paperwork for medals issued next of kin. Comes with newspaper articles, casualty and pre-war soccer copied paperwork, as well as Australian Army service records, copy picture of the brothers, pictures Ormiston War Memorial with names side by side. The medals are court mounted together for display.Peter Logan was born 24/1/1895 Ormiston, East Lothian. He would have been one of the original 10th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, as part of K2 (Kitchener’s New Army). He landed in France with the 10th Bn, 9/7/1915, as part of the 44th Brigade, 15th Division. Newspaper articles report that he was wounded in action at Loos. He was transferred to the 1st Bn (probably when he had recovered from his wounds). Died of wounds, 15/7/1918, at the 7th Field Ambulance and is buried at the Sandpits, British Cemetery, Fouquereuil. John Logan, born 25/2/1889 Ormiston, East Lothian. Emigrated to Australia when he was 22. Occupation recorded ‘Miner’, resided at Thirroul NSW. Enlisted 4/12/1915, 10th reinforcements,18th Battalion. After training in UK, he landed in France 6/9/16 and joined the 18th Bn on the 16/9/1916. Killed in Action 9/4/18, (Shellfire) Villers Bretonneux sector. Buried at the Hangard Communal Cemetery.Rarely do you see casualty groups appear to brothers, this lot to brothers who had served in different allied armies of the commonwealth, being killed within 3 just months of each other.
WW1 & WW2 Australian Army group of 3 medals to Private G. Neville, 3.G.S.R. A.I.F & 29th Garrison Battalion (internment camp guards).British War Medal (sole entitlement), impressed named 62845 PTE G.NEVILLE. G.S.R. A.I.F.; War Medal 1939-45 and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, impressed named W27566. Medals court mounted for display. Comes with copies service records and basic research.George Neville was born in Manchester, England on the 5/7/1889. After emigrating to Western Australia, he owned and farmed ‘Coffee Palace’ at Dumbleyoung. Being 5ft 2 inches tall, he would have finally been able to enlist (late war reduction in enlistment height standards) on the 25/4/1918, being allotted to the 3rd General Service Reinforcements. 29/10/1918 embarked at Fremantle on H.M.A.T. A36 and sailed for England, but enroute, the ship was recalled and landed back in Australia on the 20/12/18. He was discharged 10/1/1919. WW2 Service saw him enlist in Dumbleyoung 7/2/1941, serving with the 29th Garrison Battalion. Discharged on the 7/6/1944.A nice Western Australian group to an Internment camp guard.Raised in Western Australian in 1942 the 29th Garrison Battalion staffed Internment Camp(s) in WA. In 1944, the battalion was reduced in size and thus was renamed the 29th Garrison Company. It was disbanded later in 1944.
WW1 Australian military & post war civil and masonic medal group to Malcolm Lorne Cameron.WW1 British War Medal impressed named 16403 T-CPL M.L.CAMERON. 21 D.U.S. A.I.F.; QEII Coronation Medal, un named as issued; Masonic Charity ‘The Life Governor’s Jewel” (The first in the series), chiselled named to rear ‘Pres to WOR.BRO. MALCOLM LORNE CAMERON. LIFE GOVENOR by the ABERLEIGH LODGE NO233’. Clasp QUEENSLAND. (has tested for gold, most likely 9ct, but not marked); Queensland Masonic Long service medal for 50 years, clasp 1967. Engraved to rear ‘PRES. TO. WOR.BRO M L CAMERON. ABERLEIGH LODGE NO 1133 S.C. INITIATED 27-11-1917’. In box of issue & comes with copy AIF enlistment papers and Coronation roll.Malcolm Lorne Cameron was born in Maryborough, Queensland on the 8/9/1895. He enlisted to Australian Army Service Corps on the 30/7/1917, his occupation recorded as ‘Civil Servant Clerk’. 17/7/1918 departed Australia. 27/9/1918 to the A.A.S.C Training Depot. 1/2/19 joined 5th DCL from reinforcements. 7/5/1919 to hospital with influenza & returned to Australia 20/7/1919.The War medal is his sole medal entitlement. The coronation roll gives his occupation as ‘General Manager Agricultural Bank of Queensland’
WW2 Australian Army El Alamein ‘killed in action’ group of 5 medals to Private F.F. Chaney, who served ‘B Coy’, 2/32nd Battalion. 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, with clasp ‘8th ARMY, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Australian Service Medal 1939-45. All named WX10881 F.F.CHANEY, first 2 medals pantographed style naming, the rest impressed. Court mounted for display & comes with copy service records, C.W.G certificate. Medals come direct from the family.Francis Frederick Chaney was born in Perth Western Australia on 3/10/1920. He enlisted at Claremont on the 28/1/41 giving his occupation as junior mail officer and was initially posted to the Army Postal Service. 16/4/1941 he departed Fremantle and on the 3/5/41 arrived Middle East to 9th Division Postal Unit. 6/10/1942 Transferred to 2/32 Bn. 31/10/42 He was reported ‘missing believed to be P.O.W.’ but on the 1/11/42 reported K.I.A. He was buried at the El Alamein box cemetery on the 2/11/41.The 2/32nd Battalion and the Battle of El Alamein. Field Marshall Montgomery, Commander of the British Eighth Army, originally planned his break out operation, 'Super-charge', for the night of 31 October-1 November 1942. However, to ensure that it was adequately planned and prepared, the attack was postponed until the night of 1-2 November. During this planning stage it was vital that the pressure remained on the enemy and the 9th Australian Division launched an ambitious attack with two brigades on the night of 31 October-1 November. The 2/32nd Battalion's role was to capture the enemy's position at the main road at Barrel Hill. Forming defensive flanks to the north, northwest and west, they would form a screen for the 2/48th and the 2/24th Battalions to advance. In the last stage of the attack, the 2/32nd would provide the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion with anti-tank gun and machine-gun support.On the night of 30 October 1942, the 2/32nd Bn under Lieutenant-Colonel Balfe assembled for its attack due to begin at 10 pm. A German sniper shot at two of the battalion's officers who were reconnoitring before the attack, killing one of the officers. Casualties increased during their advance on the railway line. Despite their increasing casualties, the Australians captured the vital bridgehead known as the 'saucer', the 1-kilometre area which included the German medical post, the Blockhouse, Barrel Hill and a crossing in the railway embankment. During the next day the Australians struggled to hold the area as together with British troops they fought a furious battle against the counter-attack by German tanks. By the evening of 1 November, the exhausted and depleted Australian units were still holding their positions at the 'saucer'. The Eighth Army launched 'Operation Supercharge' at 1.05 am on 2 November.
A cracking WW2 Australian Army ‘died of wounds’ medals & ephemera group to Private J. Stone, 2/28th Battalion, who was twice wounded in action, having served in the Middle East & the Pacific, who copped a late war gunshot wound to spine, whilst landing on ‘Brown Beach" Labuan Island, finally succumbing to his wounds 8 months later. 1939 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 39-45 & Australian Service Medal 1939-45, all impressed named WX 21286 J. STONE; court mounted for display with sewn in dog tag (this is his full entitlement of campaign medals as awarded). The Australian Soldiers Pocket Book; Egyptian watch fob; pocket watch; 2 x dice; waterproof wallet with Jacks name on cover containing large quantity Japanese occupation money; cloth Japanese rank badge; 4 rings on leather thong (these look to be souvenir kill rings); small pornographic booklet; 3 x Tobruk 2/28th Bn unit shoulder flashes; 2 x Australia shoulder titles; company sized group photograph (possibly D Coy) autographed on rear by members; 2/28th 1944 Christmas card autographed by D Coy members; 2/28th souvenir program 17/7/1943; Australian Red Cross Society (Rockingham QLD branch) cloth hospital bag; aluminium spoon and fork; large quantity period newspaper articles & casualty lists 2/28; paperwork from Palestine bus tickets wine labels etc; broached silver ½ crown. With research. Group direct from the family and comprises of one of the best ‘fighting’ groups, with a full list of original associated items & paperwork which we have come across in many years.* See lot #496 for the slouch hat belonging to Private Stone.Jack Stone was born in Dumbleyung, Western Australia on the 18/12/1922. He enlisted at Claremont on the 20/3/1942, giving his occupation as a transport assistant. 12/8/1942 posted to 16th reinforcements, 2/28th Battalion & departed Australia on the 13/8/42 for the Middle East. 8/10/42 disembarked. 1/1/43 marched in to the 2/28 Bn., departed Middle East 24/1/43, arriving Fremantle 18/2/43. 4/8/43 embarked Cairns on the Van Der Lijn and disembarked Milne Bay 4/8/43.Wounded in action 18/10/43 & evacuated Australia G.S.W. mouth, face and tongue. On recovering he was returned to New Guinea and suffered with several bouts of malaria requiring trips to and from hospital. Back with 2/28th Bn on the 15/1/1944. W.I.A. 10/6/45 with G.S.W. stomach. He was evacuated to Perth, Western Australia to Hollywood Hospital, but on the 13/2/1946 he was removed from serious injury list to Di(?) list GSW spine. 18/2/1946, died Hollywood Hospital and buried Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth 20/2/1946.1st wounding New Guinea: The counter-attack came on 16 October, around Jivevaneng Finschhafen and the coast. The 24th Brigade was heavily involved in the fighting, eventually repelling the Japanese attack. 2nd and eventually fatal wounding: Landed on "Brown Beach" on Labuan Island on 10 June 1945.It is rare these days to get such a complete collection not only of medals, service-related items, period news clippings (by a family member) & souvenir from Palestine etc. What clearly stands out was that Jack was a true hard playing and fighting Aussie Digger. He has several charges for A.W.O.L. and his personal effects includes dice, Japanese money to play with & of course - pornography.
WW2 Australian Army ‘P.O.W.’ group of medals to Private T.W. Humpage, 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, who taken prisoner by the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies in 1942.1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 & Australian Service Medal 1939-45. Period swing mounted and comes with copy service records, P.O.W. lists & extensive records, including those relating to the Fairbridge Farm scheme.Ex. D.N.W. Auctions, December 2008Thomas William Humpage was born in Ellesmere, England on the 1/7/1916. Due to him being born out of wedlock, he was subsequently sent to Australia at 9 years of age, being sent under the Fairbridge Farm project, along with another 13 boys. (A large collection of records about Thomas from this scheme are included). He enlisted at Northam, Western Australia on the 15/6/1940 and was posted to the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion. His occupation was given as a farm hand. Embarked on the 16/4/1941 and arrived Middle East 14/5/41. 31/1/42 embarked M.E. & disembarked 18/2/1942 at Batavia. 27/4/1942 he was reported ‘missing in action’ & on the 30/7/1943 ‘P.O.W.’ confirmed. Pte Humpage is recorded on the P.O.W. lists as being in Hiroshima #9 Ohama P.OW. Camp. 15/9/45 he embarked at Japan for Australia to discharge on the 23/3/1946. Died 29/12/1979.Thomas William Humpage had a hard-unfortunate life. Sent to Australia at 9 years of age. Further research on the Fairbridge Farm project and the Child Emigration Society will show that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. This then followed on with 3 years as a Japanese POW. An excellent regimental history ‘From Snow to Jungle’ has been published and is still available.The 2/3rd M.G. Bn formed 1940, served Egypt, Syria, the Netherlands, the East Indies & New Guinea. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Blackburn, the battalion was primarily a South Australian unit, although it had subunits: B Company in Victoria, C Company in Tasmania and D Company in Western Australia.In April 1941, the battalion embarked for the Middle East. In June and July, it saw action against Vichy French forces in Syria with the 7th division. Following Japan's entry into the war, Australian troops from the Middle East were transferred to the Pacific region. In early 1942, the Japanese advanced through the Netherlands East Indies. Four days after the fall of Singapore, and on the day Darwin was bombed, Australian troops disembarked in Java from the troopship Orcades, having been diverted on their return journey to Australia.These units and others already on the island became known as Black Force. On the night of 28 February, when the Japanese began landing, Tasmania C Coy was at the forefront of the action. It resulted in the loss of seven members killed and 28 wounded, but afterwards they found that they had killed no fewer than 200 Japanese. However, Black Force was ordered to surrender on 9 March, following the Dutch capitulation the day before. Members of Black Force unit spent captivity in a wide range of locations, including Thailand, Japan and Singapore. One hundred and thirty-nine from the 2nd/3rd MG Battalion died as prisoners. Ohama Camp No 9B was built on the southwest side of a peninsula that jutted out from the western tip of Honshu Island into the Inland Sea 15 miles from Shimonoseki and 10 miles west of Ube. The hamlet of Ohama and the camp were perched on the side of a hill that sloped down to the water’s edge. Men from the 2/3rd and 2/4th MG Battalion formed part of the Australian contingent at Ohama. The men worked on the nearby coalmine, a drift mine which meant that the seams of coal ran close to the surface whereby the coal was excavated by means of long sloping tunnels, or ‘drifts’ that ran out beneath the sea bed.
WW2 Australian group of medals to Bombardier J.A. McCann, 2/3rd Anti-tank Regiment, who finished the war as a Tobruk, El Alamein & New Guinea veteran. 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, with clasp 8th ARMY, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Australian Service Medal 1939-45, all named NX 45228 J.A.MCCANN, 1980’s naming style to stars, medals impressed. Full sized medals court mounted & come with a complete miniature swing mounted set, both as worn. Comes with copy service record, with these having come direct from the family.James McCann was born in Newcastle, New South Wales on the 20/9/1919. He enlisted at that location on the 19/6/1940 with his occupation shown as a dairy farmer. 29/7/1940 he was posted to the 2/3rd Anti-Tank Regiment and on the 14/11/40 departed Australia for the Middle East, landing on the 18/12/40. 19/11/41 sent back to the Depot as ‘under age’. 25/9/42 he was transferred to the 3rd AT/Reg. 29/1/43 the unit returned to Australia and from there landed at Morotai 19/4/45. 3/11/45 embarked for Australia and discharged on the 8/12/45. Bombardier McCann has a long and varied charge sheet covering several country’s as well as at sea. He was under age when he first went into action until found out and returned to the depot, only to re-join again when of age.2/3rd AT Regiment was formed in July 1940, and was assigned to the 8th Division, but was later reassigned to the 9th Division. The regiment took part in the Siege of Tobruk in 1941 and then the First and Second Battles of El Alamein in 1942. After returning to Australia in early 1943, the regiment became a corps-assigned unit, and its individual batteries served in New Guinea in 1943–1944, and then Borneo against the Japanese in 1945.
WW2 1941 H.M. Slater & Stirling British & Australian clasp knives (2). Feature British Army black hatched grips with belt ring and 2 multi use sharpened blades, 41 dated and broad arrow stamped, surface age darkened and light pitting, 15.5cm fully locked. 2nd knife, bright steel with Australian military acceptance stamp, blades showing little use but opener has point damage, good marlin knot spike and belt rope. Both knives have good strong folding action.
British Army Napoleonic War, Military General Service Medal 1793-1814 to G. Fletcher, 3rd Dragoon Guards. Military General Service Medal (1793-1814), 2 clasps VITTORIA & TOULOUSE. Period naming to rim, G.FLETCHER, 3RD DRAGN GUARDS.Comes with copy medal roll, showing he served with Maunsell Coy. Provenance Baldwin’s Auctions 1937.
British Army Queen’s Sudan Medal 1899 to Private Welsman, 1st Seaforth Highlanders, who further served in the occupation of Crete & Nile Expedition.Queen’s Sudan Medal, regimentally impressed 5224 PTE O. WELSMAN. 1 SEA : HRS :. Suspender has been loosely re fitted. Comes with copies service papers, medal roll, 1911 census.Oswald Hartley Welsman was born in 1875 Hoxton Middlesex. Enlisted 1st Dragoon Guards, regimental #3847 15/3/1895. Occupation listed as military embroidery repairer. Transferred to 1st Seaforth Highlanders 31/5/95 regimental #5224. 13/3/96 Court martialled 28 days imprisonment for disobeying a lawful command. 8/6/02 to 2nd Battalion Seaforth. 1/7/02 Army Reserve. Discharged 12/3/07. Died February 1927, Hackney, London. Service history: Home 13/3/95 – 25/1/97. Malta 26/1/97 -21/3/97. Crete 22/3/97 – 24/11/97. Malta25/11/97 – 4/1/98. Egypt 5/1/98 – 22/6/02. Home 23/6/02 – 12/3/07.He is further entitled to the Khedive's Sudan Medal 1897, with clasp The Atbara.
WW1 British Army ‘Gallipoli/Krithia casualty’ 1914-15 Star to Private Stock, 1/6th Battalion,Lancashire Fusiliers. 1914-15 Star, impressed named 9524 PTE. A. STOCK. LAN. FUS. Comes with copies medal rolls, M.I.C., C.W.G. certificate, soldiers’ effects book & research.Albert Stock would have joined early September 1914 at Rochdale, Lancashire with the 1/6th Battalion. The 1911 census Albert Stock born Oct 1876 Rochdale, occupation ‘Water works labourer for Council. Landed Cape Helles, Gallipoli 5/5/1915 and straight to the front line between Gully Ravine and the sea on the night of 5th/6th May. The second battle of Krithia commenced on the 6/5/15. Pte Stock was killed during this battle and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Helles memorial. Due to the chaos he is recorded as K.I.A. on different dates on his paperwork (M.I.C & 14-15 Star roll 7/6/15, soldiers effects list 11/8/15 & 8/5/15. C.W.G 8/5/15. He was probably killed on the 7/5 when his unit made two attempts to advance, one at 10 a.m. and the other at 4p.m. They were met with heavy shrapnel and machine-gun fire and their most strenuous efforts could take them no more than a score of yards forward.
Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to former ‘Old Contemptable’ & Coldstream Guardsman Sergeant Flatman, who was awarded a WW2 M.B.E. Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (G.V.), impressed named 337263. SGT. A. FLATMAN. R.A.F. Comes with copy Army pension records, charge sheet, M.I.C., medal roll, London Gazette 1941.Arthur Flatman was born Booton, Norfolk in 1896. Enlisted Coldstream Guards 28/3/1914, with occupation listed as footman or valet. Landed France 1/11/1914, (probably with the 3rd Battalion), 22/11/1914 to hospital ‘frostbite’ and evacuated England Jan 1915. France Sept 1915 – Dec 1918. 12/1/1919 hospital ‘Influenza’. To reserve. Later enlisted R.A.F. 1/1/1941 awarded M.B.E. as R.A.F. Warrant Officer
India General Service Medal 1936-39, to Subedar (Captain) Khan, motor transport section of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps. 2 clasp, 1936-1939 2 clasps North West Frontier 1937-39 & North West Frontier 1937-39. Impressed named SUBDR, SHER MOHD. KHAN, R.I.A.S.C. (M.T.).The rank of Subedar is the equivalent of a Captain in the Indian Army.
Victorian British Army medal group of 3 to Private G. Warburton, 16th Lancers. Ghuznee Medal 1839, impressed on the rim GEORGE WARBURTON. H.M. 16TH LANCERS; Gwalior Star (Maharajpoor 1843) with original clip backing, engraved named Private George Warburton H.M16th Lancers; & Sutlej Medal 1846 with clasp ‘SOBRAON’ impressed named GEO: WARBURTON 16TH LANCERS.George Warburton regimental #847 appears on the 16th Lancers Sutlej Medal roll with note ‘transferred to 3rd Light Dragoons’.A very nice group of medals to a soldier who saw hard fighting against the Afghanis and the Sikh’s, earning a scarce combination of 3 campaign medals as result.
Victorian British Army 1st Anglo-Afghan War Ghuznee Medal to Private R. Middleton, 16th Lancers, who fought at Sobraon & Aliwal.Ghuznee Medal 1839, correctly inscribed to NO 1178 Richard Middleton 16th Lancers. Period fitted with a replacement straight bar suspension. Usual contact marks.Richard Middleton is recorded on the 16th Lancers Sutlej Medal Roll records as entitled to Sutlej Medal 1846, with clasp ‘SOBRAON’, noted as having transferred to 3rd Light Dragoons.
Victorian British Army medal group of 3 to Serjeant G. Snook, 16th Lancers.Gwalior Star (Maharajpoor 1843), engraved named Private George Snook H.M 16th Lancers, with bar suspension & backing mounting plate, polished to face; Sutlej Medal 1846 with clasp ‘SOBRAON’, impressed named CORPL GEORGE SNOOK 16TH LANCERS, contact marks and polished; Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Queen Victoria, post 1874, fourth version, with smaller lettering on the reverse and with the underline to the inscription now two spear blades separated by three separate balls.) impressed named 1334 SERGT GEOE SNOOK 16TH LANCERS. Medals mounted for display & come with copied service papers and research. Note: the Sutlej medal ribbon and suspension bar are unusual, in that they are the same width as the ribbon and bar for the Star.George Snook was born in 1816 Somerset. Enlisted Salford 21/5/1839 with 16th Lancers. Promoted Cpl 16/2/46, Sergeant 13/6/1854, Troop Sargent Major 10/9/1857. Discharged 12/6/1863 after 24 years and 41 days, having served 6 ½ Years India. He is shown on the medal roll for Sobraon & Aliwal 16th Lancers.
Victorian British Army Gwalior Star to Private J. Fincher 16th Lancers, who took part in the actions at Aliwal & Sobraon.Gwalior Star (Maharajpoor 1843) with period straight bar swing suspension, engraved named Private James Fincher H.M. 16th Lancers. Comes with copy service papers.James Fincher was born in 1816 St. Martins, London. Served 16th Lancers 21/2/1838 -28/2/1846, 3rd Light Dragoons 1/3/1846 – 3/4/1848, imprisoned 4/4/1848 – 23/4/1848, 3rd Light Dragoons 24/4/48 – 31/10/52 & 15th Hussars 1/11/1852 – 6/3/57. Discharged ‘no longer fit due to service’, having served Bengal, Bangalore & East Indies, with a total of 14 years 11 months overseas. 1861 census records him as a pensioner living in Devon. He is shown on the medal roll for Sobraon & Aliwal 16th Lancers, incorrectly named as James Fricker same regimental number, with note transferred to 3rd Light Dragoons.
Victorian British Army Sutlej Medal to Private W. Coveney, 16th Lancers who took part in the actions at Aliwal & Sobraon.Sutlej Medal 1846, with clasp ‘SOBRAON’, impressed named WILLIAM COVENEY 16TH LANCERS. Medal mounted for display & comes with copied service papers and research.William Coveney was born St. Pancras, London in 1817. He enlisted 16th Lancers at Queen’s Square, London in 1837. He gave his occupation as a labourer. He served in India from November 1838 to 1/4/1846 & transferred to the 3rd Light Dragoons to stay in India, when the 16th returned to England. Transferred to 16th Lancers 1/7/53 in Britain. Discharged Kilkenny Ireland 17/3/1857 having served 19 years, with 14 years in India. Discharged as a result of being ‘no longer fit due to attacks of dysentery and liver complaints attributed to service in India’. He is shown on the medal roll for Sobraon & Aliwal, 16th Lancers, with note transferred to 3rd Light Dragoons. He is further entitled to the Gwalior (Maharajpoor) Star & Punjab Medal with clasp Goojerat.
Victorian British Army Sutlej Medal to Private C. Roberts, 16th Lancers who fought in the 1st Anglo-Afghan War, 1st Sikh War & Battle of Aliwal & Sobraon.Sutlej Medal 1846, with clasp ‘SOBRAON’, impressed named CHAS ROBERTS 16TH LANCERS. Mounted for display & comes with copies service papers and research.Charles Roberts was born in Beading, Sussex 1816, enlisted 13/1/1825 at Chichester as a 16-year-old Labourer into the 59th Regiment of Foot (2nd Nottinghamshire), 17/12/1827 voluntary transferred to the 16th Lancers and served until 31/3/1846, transferred to the 3rd Light Dragoons & discharged 11/9/1848 ‘no longer fit due to 2 instances of horses falling on him during his service’. He is shown on the medal roll for Sobraon & Aliwal 16th Lancers, with note transferred to 3rd Light Dragoons. Also entitles to Ghuznee Medal & Maharajpoor Star 1843.The regiment was sent to India in 1822, It saw action at the capture of Ghuznee in July 1839 during the First Anglo-Afghan War and at the Battle of Maharajpore in December 1843 during the Gwalior Campaign. It also took part in the Battle of Aliwal in January 1846, and also fought at the Battle of Sobraon in February 1846 during the First Anglo-Sikh War.Another cracking medal to the 16th Lancers, who saw hard fighting against the Afghanis and Sikhs.
WW1 British Army Distinguished Conduct Medal & 1914 Star, awarded to Sergeant C.H. Thompson, Royal EngineersG.V.R.Distinguished Conduct Medal, impressed named 15754 A.SJT:C.H.THOMPSON. R.E. & 1914 Star with copy August/Nov clasp, impressed named 15754 2.CPL C.H.THOMPSON. R.E. Medals court mounted for display & come with copy medal rolls, DCM citation, M.I.C. London Gazette & hospital record 1917.Charles. H. Thompsons enlisted about 1906. Landed Zeebrugge 4/10/1914 with the 7th Division Signal Coy as a 2nd Corporal. At some stage prior to 13/10/1917, he was transferred to the Guards Division Signal Coy as an Acting Sergeant. He was wounded in action 13/10/17 ‘Gas Shell’.Distinguished Conduct Medal gazetted 4/6/1917 ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has consistently done good work on all parts of the front in which he has been engaged and set a splendid example to his men’.
WW1 British Army 1916 Military Medal group to Private W. Bridge,who was an ‘Old Contemptable’ of the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, his M.M. most likely a 1st day of the Battle of the Somme award.Military Medal, G.V.R., impressed named 9548 PTE F.W.BRIDGE.1/SOM:L.I.; 1914 Star with clasp, impressed named 9548 PTE F.W.BRIDGE. 1/SOML.I; British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 9548. PTE.E.F.BRIDGE. SOM.L.I.; Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R. impressed named Freddy William Bridge M.M. Medals court mounted for display & come with copies of M.I.C., medal rolls, census, London Gazettes and 1st S.L.I. Battalion war diary 1st July 1916. Scarce.Private Frederick William Bridge’s joined the army in February 1913 with the regimental #9548. He served with the 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry for his entire service. He landed France 21/8/1914. (M.M. Gazetted 11/11/1916). It is highly probable that this was an award for the 1st day of the Somme (Ref: Great War Medal Collectors Companion by Howard Williamson). Discharged 12/2/1920. 1939 senses occupation listed as postman in Deal. I.S.M. London Gazette 23 January 1953, Postman, Deal. Died 12/2/1973. Frederick was lucky to survive the war, given the casualties for the 1st Bn in 1914 alone were 36 officers and 1,153 other ranks, even worse on 1st July 1916 (1st Day Battle of the Somme) the unit lost a total of 463 men killed, missing or wounded.The 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry went straight into the thick of the action on landing on the continent. The Battle of Le Cateau, Battle of the Marne, Battle of the Aisne, Battle of Armentières 1914. The Bn took part in the famous 1914 Christmas 'truce', whilst entrenched around Ploegsteert Wood. The 1914 operations cost the 1st Battalion some 36 officers and 1,153 other ranks as casualties.1st Day of the Somme: War Diary states: 'Z day. Fine and warm. After a very intense bombardment, at 7.20 am a large mine was exploded under the Hawthorn Redoubt. Practically no casualties were suffered while in Assembly trenches. At 7.30 am the attack was launched. The 11th Brigade advanced in magnificent style. The advance was carried out excellently to start with, and a severe barrage was not encountered. Shortly after heavy rifle fire was opened and machine guns from both flanks…The battalion had to ease off to the left owing to the ridge which it should have crossed, being swept by machine guns.The diary of Lance-Corporal Arthur Henry Cook illustrates the fighting: It is a lovely morning and the birds are singing…The bombardment is now terrific the German lines are one cloud of smoke, that it seems to be impossible for anyone to live in such a hell…We were able to stand on the parapet to get a better view, there is not a sign of life in front and no response from the German Artillery…Our men were timed to advance 10 minutes after the Rifle Brigade, but so eager were they to get on, that they left soon after…and consequently were caught in the open by these guns…I led the platoon in to the German first line, and after a breather went in to the German second line, here I lost control owing to the men rushing from one shell hole to another in their advance. The ground is littered with our dead…The clearing parties are not doing their work properly in clearing the trenches of all Germans, as here and there parties of Jerrys are popping up and throwing grenades at us from all angles…It is impossible to get any further…the shell holes are full of wounded and no hopes of getting them back…The Germans were now trying to force us out of their trenches, we got together what was left of us now and by collecting bombs from the dead and what Jerry left behind we managed to hold on…then the supply of bombs gave out and no more could be got, the Germans then gradually drove us back inch by inch through their superior supply of bombs…We are a very small number here now and men are being killed and wounded in all directions…I have a terrible thirst caused by the fumes from the shells, the wounded are also crying out for water, but none is available…Our troops are gradually retiring leaving a very small garrison to hold the trench…This is getting pretty hot here now but our orders are to hang on to what we have until midnight, when we are being relieved…The enemy artillery has now started and are dropping shells thick and fast all around us…We held on until relieved about 11 pm, an officer then said we may go back, we didn’t need telling again, we had had our belly full.
WW1 & WW2 British/Rhodesian father and son (Prisoner of War) medal groups, including a 1917 ‘Passchendaele’ Military Medal group to Sergeant T.J. Beauchamp, Royal Engineers (Guards Signals Coy), awarded for actions during the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Group 1: Military Medal G.V.R., impressed named 64762 L.CPL T.J.BEAUCHAMP. 2/GDS:BDE: SIG:SEC:R.E.; 1914-15 Star, impressed 64762 SPR:T.J BEAUCHAMP. R.E.; British War & Victory Medals, impressed ANAMED 64762 SJT.T.J.BEAUCHAMP.R.E. Medals period swing mounted & include a Royal Engineers cap badge. Included are copies service papers, medal rolls, M.I.C. passenger lists & Copy photograph.Group 2: Zimbabwe Independence Medal, numbered 52442; Rhodesian General Service Medal, impressed named 22336 SP/R T.G.BEAUCHAMP; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; 1939-45 War Medal; Africa Service Medal, these all impressed named 108848 T.G.BEAUCHAMP. Comes with copies Rhodesian medal list, South Africa Death Notice. Period swing mounted & come with matching miniature medals.Thomas John Beauchamp was born 1/10/1882, in Bethnal Green, London. Enlisted 15/7/1901 Bodmin, Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry. Regimental #6554. Occupation listed as a baker. Posted 5 PB. Promoted L/Cpl 11/12/01. Reverted Pte ‘misconduct’ 27/6/02. Posted 1st Batt 8/11/02. Deserted 3/3/06. Arrested 24/11/06 & charged ‘desertion and loss of equipment’ - 7/1/07 convicted and imprisoned. 7/2/07 transferred 2nd Batt Yorkshire Regt. Regimental #8860. 19/8/07 purchased discharge. Service: Home 15/7/01-7/11/02. South Africa 8/11/02-29/8/07. Discharged and lived in South Africa. 31/10/1914 returned to England on the steamship Balmoral Castle. 3/1/1915eEnlisted at Tottenham into the Royal Engineers, regimental # 64762. Listing his occupation as a wireman. Posted to 14th Signal Coy, as a linesman (Guards Div. Sig Coy). Landed France 16/8/1915. Promoted Cpl 7/7/1916. Sgt 31/7/1917. 25/9/1917 M.M. London Gazette. Discharged 9/6/1919. Returned to South Africa, June 1920. Died Cape Town 5/12/1953.M.M. London Gazette 28/9/1917. 2nd Guards Brigade, Signals Section. 102985 Schedule. Schedule #102,000-104,9999. Mostly for Ypres July 1917. Dates covered by this gazette 17/7/1917-4/8/1917. (Probably for the battle of Pilkem 31/7/17-2/8/17). Thomas Gilbert Beauchamp. Served with the South African Army during WW2 & listed on the Prisoner of War records as a Gunner, most likely taken at Tobruk, being held in P.G. 85 Tuturano Transit camp (Italy) & Stalag VIII-C (near Sagan, Germany). Rhodesian service medal rolls show that he served with the B.S.A.P. 22336 Special Reservist Beauchamp. T.G., with him staying on in Rhodesia post-independence.
WW1 British Army 1918 Military Medal group to Sergeant G. Richardson, 6th Bn. Cameronians & Machine Gun Corps, who was a Scottish American who not only played for Brechin City F.C. pre-war, but also raced back to the U.K. from the U.S.A. in October 1914 to join the army.Military Medal G.V.R., impressed named 23257 SJT G.RICHARDSON.42/M.G.C. 1914-15 Star, impressed named 2485 PTE.G.RICHARDSON. SEA.HIGHRS. British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 2485 SJT.G.RICHARDSON. SCO.RIF. Medals court mounted for display & come with copy M.I.C., medal roll, service papers, Edinburgh Gazette & newspaper articles.George Richardson was born in 1885 in Brechin, Scotland. Richardson had played for Brechin Hearts, Brechin Rovers & Brechin City in 1907-08. He played 17 games for City that season, and was selected for both the Forfarshire XI & the Northern League XI. He returned to Junior football with Brechin Rovers, before emigrating to the U.S.A. At the outbreak of the war, he enlisted at the British Consul in New York and was given passage to England, arriving in Oct 1914. On arrival, no one knew why he had arrived home, so he enlisted again on the 27/10/1914 with the 6th Battalion, Scottish Rifles.27/10/14 – 16/8/16 served 6th Bn S.R. 8/5/15 embarked Southampton, landed France same day. 8/10/15 -25/10/15 attached M.G. School. 14/1/16 attached 154th M.G. Coy. 17/8/16 discharged and re-enlisted into M.G.C. as Cpl. R#23257. 17/8/16 – 20/4/17 France then home (wounded?), admitted to Hospital 12/3/17 Knee L. 24/9/17 posted to Left Wing M.G. School Grantham. 20/10/17 posted to C3 Service Battalion, Grantham. 14/1/18 France with 268th Coy M.G.C. 8/3/18 42nd Bn. 19 -20/10/18 M.M. citation;‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Solesmes, on the night of 19th/20th October 1918. Owing to the failure of a bridge across the river Selle, he was isolated with a party of men. He collected them and with much initiative brought them forward through the heavy shelling to re-join the main body. On the morning of the 20th when the attacking infantry were held up by deadly M.G. fire, in assisting to get his section into action, he exposed himself with the utmost gallantry and disregard for his personal safety to the M.G and shellfire which swept the neighbourhood of his positions. He was invaluable in assisting to lay the guns, and his conduct through the whole operation was worthy of the highest praise’.21/10/18 W.I.A. G.S.W. thigh. 10/2/19 Disembodied. 26/5/19 Passage back to USA.He has 2 medal index cards, with his 1914/15 Star noted as 2485. 6th Seaforth Listed Seaforth on one MIC and Cameronions on the other. 6th Bn S.R. is the correct unit as per enlistment papers and war and victory medal roll.
A British Army Heavy Brigade ‘probable charger’ Crimean War medal group to Private J. Buckley, 5th Dragoon Guards, who during his career was noted as having no less than 48 entries against him in the Regimental Defaulters Book, as well as facing 6 courts martial.Crimea Medal 1854-56, 3 clasps, BALAKLAVA, INKERMAN & SEBASTOPOL Regimentally impressed naming JAS BUICKLEY 5TH D, showing the usual contact marks, heavy edge knocks to 9 o’clock on the reverse, lightly polished, with erasure to rim through after 5th D--); Turkish Crimea Medal 1855, contemporarily engraved NO 637. PT. JAS. BUCKLEY. 5TH DRAGOON GDS. Comes with copy service papers, medal roll and research.James Buckley was born in Kinderton, near Chester & enlisted into the 5th Dragoon Guards at Warrington, April 1839, aged 24 years. In his subsequent career of 24 years with the Colours, his record shows he served for two years in the Crimea and was entitled to the Medal with clasps for ‘Balaklava’, ‘Inkermann’ and ‘Sebastopol’, in addition to the Turkish Medal.At the time of his discharge in January 1864, Buckley’s conduct was assessed as ‘Good’, although his papers reveal a number of terms of imprisonment as a result of six appearances before a Court-Martial and 48 entries in the Regimental Defaulters Book. He next appears in the 1881 census as an unmarried, 65-year-old ‘Government pensioner’, resident at the Workhouse in London Road, Leftwich, Chester, to which he was still an inmate at the time of his death, in April 1882.The 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales) Dragoon Guards received orders to deploy on March 17th but were short of full establishment. The 5th, like the 7th, were stationed in Ireland and, as a result, the 7th Dragoon Guards were ordered to provide volunteers for service with the 5th Dragoon Guards. 15 volunteers from the 7th who were selected, transferring to the 5th Dragoon Guards on April 1, 1854. The 5th Dragoon Guards left Queenstown on the 27th of May with a strength of 19 officers, 295 other ranks, and 295 horses.The 5th Dragoon Guards arrived in Varna on June 12th and settled into camp at Devna. Cholera broke out on about the 20th of July and the 5th Dragoon Guards suffered heavily, with several dozen men succumbing to the disease. A much-reduced regiment departed for the Crimea on the 24th of September, landing on the 1st of October. They immediately proceeded to their camp on the plain of Balaklava as part of the Heavy Brigade. The 5th Dragoon Guards were still there when the most famous events of the war occurred.On the morning of October 25th, the Russians attacked the Turkish outposts stationed on the south ridge of the plain, driving them off to the west. The Heavy Brigade, consisting of about 720 swords, was ordered to advance but quickly returned when it was realized that the Turkish positions were already lost despite a gallant defence by the 93rd Highlanders (the famous "Thin Red Line"). It was at this time that a large mass of Russian cavalry (estimated to number about 2,000) were observed coming over the summit of the north ridge. The numerically inferior Heavy Brigade was ordered to charge and soon engaged the Russian cavalry in mounted combat. The 5th Dragoon Guards were in the thick of the melee, yet despite the close quarters fighting, casualties on both sides were relatively light. Even many of those who were wounded were only slightly so and the poor quality of the swords used by both sides were later blamed. Still, the assault had the desired effect, and the Russians soon withdrew. It was after this successful Charge of the Heavy Brigade" that the more famous "Charge of the Light Brigade" occurred, during which the Light Brigade suffered appalling casualties. The Charge of the Light Brigade was supported by the Heavy Brigade, and it has been suggested that the Heavy Brigade sustained greater losses during this supporting action than they suffered during their own charge.Cholera had taken its toll on the 5th Dragoon Guards before the battle. Of the 314 officers and men who were sent out with the regiment, only 188 were present to receive the clasp for Balaklava. Total regimental losses during the day’s events were three killed and 11 wounded.On November 5th, the 5th Dragoon Guards participated in the Battle of Inkermann. The British cavalry was not heavily engaged, primarily being deployed to check the Russian cavalry, who were too intimidated by the events of the month before to press their attack.After the war the 5th Dragoon Guards landed in Portsmouth on June 24, 1856, proceeding on to Aldershot. Queen Victoria reviewed the troops at Aldershot on July 8th, thanking them for their efforts.This group is from the collection of the late John Darwent, 2004 D.N.W. Auction.
British Army Crimean War medal pair to Private P. O’Brian, 7th Regiment of Foot (Royal Fusiliers).Crimea Medal 1854-56, 3 clasps ALMA, INKERMAN & SEBASTOPOL, contemporarily engraved, PTE PHP O’BRIEN. 7TH FOOT.; Turkish Crimea Medal 1855 un named as issued. Comes with copy medal roll, enlistment papers and (PDF research file available on request) “7th Royal Fusiliers in the Crimea by JP Kelleher.Philip O’Brien was born Buttertown, Dublin in 1817. Enlisted into the 7th Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) 12/3/1839. Discharged 30/4/1855, after 16 years and 50 days service on medical grounds due to ‘chronic ophthalmia’ (inflammation of the eye) contracted in America in 1849. His service records are poor, giving only the barest details. The medal rolls show he is positively entitled to clasps Alma & Inkerman, but it will be noted the rolls were intermittently made up and clasps cannot be always accurately recorded. A good Crimean War medal pair to a soldier who saw (perhaps not with his eyesight problems) some hard fighting.
British Army Egypt & Boer War campaign group of 3 medals to Private W. Vallance, Kings own Scottish Borderers.Egypt Medal undated, with clasp GEMAIZAH 1886, regimentally impressed 2694 Pte W.VALLANCE. 2/K.O.SCO:BORD:; Queens South Africa Medal, with 3 clasps, CAPE COLONY, PAARDEBERG & JOHANNESBURG, impressed named 2694 PTE W.VALLANCE. K.O.SCOTT: BORD: & Khedive's Star undated, un named as issued. Comes with copies of medal rolls & service papers. Court mounted for display.William Vallance was born Dumfries, 1870 and was already serving with the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, K.O.S.B when he joined the 2nd Battalion (regulars) in 1888 Regimental #2694. Employment stated as a mill hand. Transferred to the Army Reserve 7/1/1896, recalled to the colours 18/12/1899 to 1st Battalion K.O.S.B., being discharged 30/1/1901. Service history: Home 31/1/1888 – 18/7/88, Egypt 19/7/88 – 1/1/90, East Indies 2/1/90 – 3/1/96, Home 4/1/96 – 4/1/00, South Africa 0/1/00 – 3/1/01 & Home 4/1/01 – 30/1/01.
British Army Boer War medal pair to Driver G. Fear, Army Service Corps, who subsequently served during the First World War.Queen's South Africa Medal, 1899-1902, 6 clasps, RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY, PAARDEBERG, DRIEFONTEIN, JOHANNWESBURG, DIAMOND HILL & WITTEBERGEN, impressed named 14422 DR: G.FEAR. A.S.C.; & King's South Africa Medal 1901-02, 2 clasps, SOUTH AFRICA 1901 & SOUTH AFRICA 1902, impressed named 14422 DVR.N G.FEAR. A.S.C. medals court mounted for display & come with copies of medal rolls, silver war badge roll and service papers.George Fear was born in 1881 in Twerton, Somerset. Enlisted Army Service Corps 4/3/1899, giving his occupation as a blacksmith. Served: Home 4/3/1899-20/10/99, South Africa 21/10/99-19/2/03 & Home 20/2/03-3/3/11. This completed his 12 years, to which he re enlisted for WW1 service on the 10/3/1915, with his occupation listed as a shoeing smith, stating also that for the last 2 years he had been farming in Canada. Home 10/3/1915-27/4/1915, France 28/4/1915-9/12/1916 (with 28 Remount Squadron), Home 10/12/1916-28/7/1917 & discharged ‘no longer physically fit for war work’, whilst serving with the A.S.C Remount section.
British Army Boer War medal pair to Gunner T. Patterson, Royal Artillery.Queen's South Africa Medal, 1899-1902, with pronounced ghost dates & 3 clasps, CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE & TRANSVAAL, impressed named 80856 GNR: T.PATTERSON. R.F.A. & King's South Africa Medal, 1901-02, 2 clasps, SOUTH AFRICA 1901 & SOUTH AFRICA 1902, impressed named 80856 GNR: T.PATTERSON. R.F.A. Comes with copies medal rolls, service records.Thomas Patterson was born Colverstown, Kildare, Ireland in 1871. Enlisted Royal Artillery 4/10/1890 in Liverpool, occupation stated as a labourer. Posted 1/8/1891 10th Mountain Battery & 7th Mountain Battery 29/9/1891. Served: Home 4/10/1890 – 28/9/91, India 29/9/1891 – 30/10/98, awaiting trial 6/6/1898. (19 Days), tried and imprisoned 25/6/1898 (84 days). Home 31/10/98 to 13/11/99, South Africa: Recalled to service 7/10/1899 posted 73rd Battery 4/8/00. Posted 39th Battery 1/1/02. Depot 7/8/02 & Home 30/8/02, being discharged 3/10/1902.Gunner Patterson is further entitled to the India General Service Medal 1895, with clasp PUNJAB FRONTIER 1897-98. It is probable that he is also entitled to the India General Service Medal (1854-1895) with clasp CHIN HILLS 1892-93, as this is recorded on his service papers. In 1889 that mountain artillery was established as a separate branch of the Royal Artillery with ten permanently established batteries. Of the original ten mountain batteries, all but two were garrisoned in India from the time of their formation and saw much action on the North West Frontier. These were the “screw guns” of Kipling’s poem.
WW1 British Army medal group to Private A.O. Addicott, a France & Salonica veteran who served with the 8th Battalion Kings’ Shropshire Light Infantry & 66th Machine Gun Company.1914-15 Star, impressed named 13671 PTE A.O.ADDICOTT. SHROPS: L.I. & British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 13671 PTE A.O.ADDICOTT. SHROPS. L.I. Naming has been partially removed on War & Victory medal but still readable. Comes with copy M.I.C, medal rolls, hospital admission book.Private Arthur Owen Addicott enlisted in Sept/1914 to the 8th Bn K.S.L.I with a regimental #13671. He landed in France on the 6/9/1915 with the Bn. The unit was then sent to Salonica landing there on the 6/11/1915 and remained in that theatre. At one stage he was seconded to the 66th MG Coy which was still part of the same brigade but returned to the 8th Bn. He survived the war and was discharged on the 9/1/1919. 11/7/16 hospital records show B Coy 8th Bn K.S.L.I. and was admitted for a ‘Debility”.This group was rescued from a “fantasy” medal group which could explain the attempt to remove the naming. A good group non the less from the Salonika Campaign.
WW1 South African/British Army medal group to Reverend Captain H.S.P. Coster,who served in both allied armies, seeing service in German South -West Africa & France, post war serving as the Canon of Bloemfontein & in WW2 as a police inspector with the Laxton Special Constabulary.1914-15 Star CAPT. REVD. H..S.P.COSTER 3RD S.A.M.R.; British War Medal officially renamed REV.H.S.P.COSTER, as per M.I.C. & Victory Medal, impressed named REV.H.S.P.COSTER;, with South African cap badge. The medals are period swing mounted and come with copies of service papers, medal roll, M.I.C., London Gazette, passenger list, 1939 register & newspaper article.Herbert Stanley Porter Coster was born 1881, in Hackney, London. In 1907 he was a professional photographer, at Garfield Studios, Paignton. He joined the Freemasons in 1910 & emigrated to South Africa, with his wife Laura Elizabeth Alice Campion, who was a trained nurse. He was ordained as an Anglican priest & served with the South Africa Union Defence Force from 3/3/1915, serving as Chaplain to the 6th Mounted Brigade, in German South West Africa, resigning his commission in the U.D.F. on the 28/7/1915.He returned to England in 1918 for service with the British Army, serving within the Royal Field Artillery as a Chaplain. His wife joined the Q.A.I.M.N.S.R and was stationed at the Central Military Hospital, Eastbourne. He served from July 1918 -Sept 18 in the U.K., France from September 1918 – November 1918, again in the UK from November 1918 - February 1919, having contracted influenza. Post war he returned to South Africa & in 1926 took the position of the Canon of Bloemfontein. The Coster’s returned to England sometime later and in 1939 he was listed as the Vicar of Laxton, as well as shown as a special constable. By 1945, he was shown as an Inspector with the Special Constabulary, dying in July 1950, in Howden, Yorkshire. His son, Arthur William Coster, who was working as a stockman in Australia enlisted & served with the 29th Battalion A.I.F. and was wounded in action in 1916.
WW1 British Army medal group attributed to Lieutenant G.H. Cross, of the Machine Gun Corps & Yorkshire Regiment, who served post war in Kurdistan & Iraq & in the South African Army during WW2.British War and Victory Medals; General Service Medal (1918-1962), with 2 clasps KURDISTAN & IRAQ, being impressed named, LIEUT G.H.CROSSE. Medals court mounted for display and come with copies M.I.C., medal rolls, 1911 census, hospital admission record 1916, London Gazette, Army Lists, passenger list & school magazine ‘The ANTUARIAN’.George Hallewell Crosse was born in Kent, England on the 23/2/1896. He was the son of the Reverend T. G. Crosse, Vicar of Faversham, Kent. He attended The Kings School, Canterbury January 1910; 6th Form, September 1913; Monitor, Sept., 1914; 1st XV., 1913-14- 15; 1st IV., 1914; sports colours, 1914 gaining a number of academic and sports distinctions. Admitted to Royal Military College, Sandhurst by examination & gazetted as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant 23/10/1914. Landed France 25/4/1916 with Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire Regiment).From the school magazine, it states that ‘G. H. Crosse has been undergoing a 16 days' machine-gun course at Strensall, York. As he expressively puts it "we work all day long and write notes all night long." He expects to be appointed as instructor in this course for about two months, and then to go to France. His two brothers, T. L. and R. G. Crosse are already at the front. We arrived out here on April 23rd and came straight up here. It is great sport being in these Bde. Machine Gun Coys. I am second in command and so I stay behind at Headquarters and work out strafes for the Hun to be done at a safe distance. About three or four times a week I go all round the trenches and work out the best scheme of defence’.He was serving with the Yorkshire Regiment, when he was awarded his G.S.M. and was still serving with them in 1922 (Army List). In August 1923, he emigrated to South Africa.The school magazine shows his WW2 service: WAR RECORD No. 14- MARCH, 1944 G.H, CROSSE to Captain, Tank Training Corps, S.A.F. G. H. Crosse (1910- 14) is now O.C. of a Gunnery School in South Africa. Died 27/11/1949, Scottburgh KwaZulu-Natal South Africa.Of the 4 Crosse brothers who served during WW1, George was wounded in Action 21/9/1916, whilst serving with the M.G.C., gunshot wound to right foot, two were killed (Thomas Latymer Crosse K.I.A. 3/7/1917 & Robert Grant Crosse D.O.W. 14/7/1916), the fourth brother, Brigadier Edward Neufville Crosse, finished the war as Acting Captain M.C. and bar, M.I.D. He served as Commander, Corps Royal Artillery, 21st Army Group from 14/3/1945 to 21/6/1945, appointed C.B.E. 29/3/1945, K.C. Order of Orange Nassau with Swords of the Netherlands 23 May 1947 & Aide-de-Camp to the King, 3/11/1948.
WW1 British Army group of medals to Corporal D. Collins, who served in Salonika, late R.A.M.C & 12th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 92274 CPL. D.COLLINS. R.A.M.C.; Efficiency Medal (G.V.), impressed named 7337037 PTE D.COLLINS. R.A.M.C. & French Croix De Guerre (dated 1914-1918), swing mounted as worn. Comes with copied service record, medal roll, M.I.C. & S.W.B. roll & research.C.D.G. is most likely a Battalion award, rather than individual award, with the official correspondence making amusing reading. Donald Collins was born 24/1/1890, in Cowcaddens, Scotland. Enlisted Territorial Army 15/9/1914, 9th Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. 16/3/1917 transferred to Regular Army R.A.M.C. Served Home 15/9/1914 – 8/6/1917, Salonika 9/6/17 – 29/12/1918, 13/4/1918 to 12th Bn, A & SH. Gunshot wound left wrist/arm 19/9/1918, with scars both legs and wrists as a result of shrapnel. Home 13/1/19 - 19/5/1919 & discharged 19/5/1919. Re-enlisted R.A.M.C. 22/2/1921 – 22/2/1922, serving with the 2nd Lowland Field Ambulance.Corporal Collins, serving with the 12th Bn, A & SH, would have been wounded during the attack at Dojran, Salonika, as part of the Battalions attack on the Bulgarian trenches, in which 50% casualties were sustained in the 77th Bde. Two weeks later, saw the surrender of the Bulgarian forces in Salonika on the 30th September.
WW1 Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force medal pair to Lieutenant J.A Rutherford, a U.S. born British citizen, who served 54th Bn, Canadian Infantry, 1916 commissioned Royal Artillery, further serving as Flying Officer in Egypt, Palestine & South Russia, where he was most likely wounded in action.British War and Victory medals, impressed named LIEUT. J.A.RUTHERFORD. R.A.F. Comes with medal roll, M.I.C., Canadian service papers, British service papers & copy group photograph.John Allan Rutherford, born 4/4/1893, Spokane River, Washington, U.S.A. His father was from Scotland and he was subsequently educated in Glasgow and qualified as a Land Surveyor. He was employed in this occupation in 1910, and subsequently worked in B.C, Canada. He enlisted 3/8/1915 at camp Vernon, & allotted to the 54th Battalion (Kooteney).Embarked with the 54th for Britain 22/11/1915. He applied for a British Army commission 20/3/1916, with the Special Reserve of Officers (Artillery), whilst serving as a Corporal. Accepted ‘B’ Reserve, Brigade R.H.A. 14/4/1916. Commissioned 11/8/1916. Flying officer, R.F.C. 5/8/1917. 22 R.S. Aboukir 30/09/17. School of Aerial Fighting Heliopolis/ME 7/12/17, injured [A8529 Avro] ‘stalled on turn and nosedived’. 2 Lt J.D.F. West, injured Casualty Card 284452 20976. 196 TS, Heliopolis Aerial Fighting School 30.12.17. Medical board 30/1/1918 ‘unfit for flying duties’. 10/4/1918, ‘permanently unfit for flying duties’. Recommended to be E.O. (Equipment officer), with his last unit unreadable, but location S. Russia. 23/9/1919, being awarded wound gratuity. Demobilised 20/6/1920. Deceased 15/2/1954.Included is a copy of a photograph from a thread in the Great War Forum, posted 9/11/2006, that is possibly 47 Squadron R.F.C. which records on the reverse the names of the pilots. E C Pratt. I Gullen. J A Rutherford. J D F West. C H Nic… G E Todd. P P.... A G Forsyth. J K T.in April 1919, the squadron was sent to Southern Russia to help General Denikin's White Russian forces in their fight against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War. While the RAF's ostensible mission was purely to provide training to Denikin's forces, No. 47 Squadron was included in the mission in order to carry out operational sorties. It was equipped with a mixture of aircraft, with flights equipped with Airco DH.9 and DH.9A bombers and Sopwith Camel fighters. The squadron's flights operated independently, carrying out bombing and strafing missions against Bolshevik forces.As Lt. Rutherford’s last unit was based in South Russia and he was awarded a pension for wounds, it raises further lines of research. His photo album is held at University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections (Reference code UVICSP SC108) Album of photographs, taken while Rutherford served in Egypt and Palestine. The photographs are mostly scenic ones of Egypt, but also includes some pictures of the war zone in Palestine and a few pictures of WWI aeroplanes and his fellow flying corps members. Also included in the fonds, are loose scenic postcards of Ismailia.
WW1 British Army ‘killed in action’ pair to Drummer G.W.H. Taylor, 1/2nd Battalion London Regiment. KIA 13/10/1918, who, owing to his cemetery headstone, may well have been a Jewish soldier.British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 232553 PTE G.W.TAYLOR. 2-LOND.R. Court mounted for display & come with copy M.I.C, medal roll, C.W.G.C. certificate, marriage certificate, registry of soldiers effects & extract war diary October 1918.George William Henry Taylor was from St Pancras, London & served with the 2nd Bn, London Regiment. His St. James marriage certificate 22/3/1915 records his occupation as a bugler. Fathers occupation Jeweller. Previously served 3rd Bn London Regiment. Landed France post 1/1/1916 and was killed in action 13/10/1918 as a result of action in the attack at Ledeghem. He was aged 23 when killed, just 4 weeks short of the end of the war. He is buried at Auberchicourt British Cemetry, with the inscription on his headstone reading ‘Forever fondly remembered by his loving wife and father. Mizpah’ (Hebrew for 'watchtower' & 'emotional bond').
WW1 & WW2 Officers group of 7 medals to Lt. Colonel Welsford, a pre war London Barrister, who served with the 5th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corp & Royal Signals and was wounded in action in 1917.WW1 British War and Victory Medals, impressed named LIEUT. M.WELSFORD; 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Efficiency Decoration, with 3 additional service bars all dated 1952 & integral TERRITORIAL ribbon bar, dated 1943 on reverse. Comes with 2 copy photographs, London Gazettes x 10, M.I.C, medal roll, 1911 census, Barrister professional listings. Medals and a set of miniatures swing mounted as worn with display ribbon bar.Guy Mills Welsford was born in 1897, in Hampstead, London. He was a student at Winchester College 1909 – 1915. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant 14/8/1915 (on probation), 5th Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Seconded Royal Engineers, as Brigade Signalling Officer 1/9/1916. 21/2/1917 landed France, wounded in action with (16th?) K.R.R.C. admitted hospital 14/7/1917 gunshot wounds of the lower extremities (buttocks IX), with contusion or fracture of long bones VIII. Gunshot wounds of the upper extremities, resulting in 72 days treatment. 22/6/1918 seconded for duty with Army Signal Service. 30/9/1920 resigned commission 5th K.R.R.C. 1/5/1931 Royal Corps of Signals Lt to be Capt. 1/1/1936 to be Major. 19/8/41 awarded Efficiency Decoration Major. 22/8/1952 awarded 3rd Bar to Efficiency Decoration (Retired). 1925 Address London, occupation Barrister & died 4/6/1982.
An Indian Army cavalry & British Army Ghurkha officers pre and post WW2 group of 7 medals to Acting Lt Colonel R.F. TYERS.India General Service Medal 1936-39, 2 clasps, NORTH WEST FRONTIER 1936-37 & NORTH WEST FRONTIER 1937-39, impressed named 2-LTR.F.T.TYERS. SCINDE HORSE.; 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, these all un named as issued, General Service Medal 1918-62, 2 clasps S.E.ASIA 1945-46 & MALAYA, impressed named L.T.COL R.F.TYERS. I.A Swing mounted as worn and come with copy medal roll S.E.ASIA 1945-46 and London Gazette 1936-1966 promotions.Ronald Francis Tyers was born 11/11/1916. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Indian Army, August 1936. Served with the Scinde Horse in the North West Frontier campaigns. During WW2 it is unknown which unit(s) he served with in North Africa and Italy, but most likely the 14/20th Hussars. Promoted Captain 27/8/1944 & transferred to the British Army, gazetted Major 27/8/1949 (14/20th Hussars). 18/3/52 gazetted 7th Gurkha Regiment & 13/5/58 gazetted 7th G.R. as Lt. Colonel & 11/11/1966 gazetted 7th G.R. to retire having reached the age limit.His G.S.M. with clasp S.E. Asia 1945–46 roll shows him as belonging to the 14th/20th Kings Hussars, attached to HQ 23rd Indian Division as Acting Lt Colonel. Clasp Malaya 16 June 1948 to 31 July 1960, when he would have been serving with the 7th Gurkha’s.A very interesting ‘end of empire’ medal group, to an officer who would have witnessed not only technical, but also massive political change during his long and interesting career (e.g. The 14th P.O.W.O. (Scinde Horse), were the first Cavalry unit in the British Indian Army to get mechanized in 1938). He would have been at the forefront of the tensions amongst the local Indians at the start of the war in 1939, with tensions rising to boiling point in India during the Japanese invasion of Burma in 1942. Further, he would have been somewhat of an outcast as an Indian Army officer, being drafted into the British Army in 1944, later being given ‘mopping up’ duties in South East Asia after the Japanese surrender and later service during the communist uprising in Malaya with the 7th Gurkhas.
An unusual WW2 British Italian/Yugoslavia Partisan medal group, relating to the Island of Vis.1939-45 Star, Italy Star, British Defence Medal, 1939-45 British War Medal, Commemorative Medal 20th anniversary of the Vis General Staff; 1946-1986, Partisan 40th anniversary Medal of the Italian Republic. All unnamed as issued and court mounted as worn. Comes with research notes on Vis.The Commemorative Medal 20th anniversary of the Vis General Staff relates to the island where Tito executed orders and commanded the army. Founded in 1965 and awarded to celebrate all live participant events & 1946-1986, 40th Anniversary Medal Italian Republic - ANPI, the National Association of Partisans of Italy.The allies delivered agents and supplies to Yugoslavia in two ways—by air or by sea. By air, it was initially by parachute drops, although increasingly rough airstrips were built, first for small planes and then for two-engine transports. The majority of supplies came in by boat, despite the Germans’ control of the coastline and patrol of the seacoast. Seaborne ferrying was actually performed by many men from Special Operations. The trip was 150 due north from Bari to the island of Vis, the OSS/SOE base nearly 50 miles from the Yugoslavian coast and was made in fishing boats and small schooners in an overnight run from Bari.Vis was at one point the site of the general headquarters of Marshal Josip Broz Tito, the leader of the Yugoslav Partisan resistance movement. It was occupied by Italy between 1941 and 1943, then was liberated by the Partisans and assisted by the British held.It is highly likely that this British medal group, with rare Partisan medals belonged to an S.O.E. agent or one of the Special Forces units stationed with Tito on Vis.
WW2 British Army Royal Engineers officer’s group, attributed to Captain W.H. Ponton.1939-45 Star, Defence Medal & War Medal 1939-45 all un named as issued, swing mounted as worn. Comes with 3 photographs, Old Comrades Association life membership dated 1943 booklet & assorted ephemera.William Henry Ponton was a pre-war territorial serving with the London Divisional Royal Engineers. He applied for a commission & was given an officer cadetship 1/1/43. Released from service as a Captain 20/12/1945. Served with the 759th A.W. Coy & 220th F.O. Coy
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