THE PERSONAL FIELD BINOCULARS OF COLONEL PATRICK ANTHONY PORTEOUS, V.C. (1918-2000) Awarded the Victoria Cross, Operation Cauldron, Dieppe, August 26th 1942 whilst attached to Lord Lovett's No.4 Commando, the French & Sons brown leather case, stamped 'P.A. Porteous', containing a pair of American Bausch & Lomb 6 x 30 field glasses, bearing War Department arrow devices, thought to have been carried by Major Porteous on the raid, together with related family photographs, newspaper cuttings and ephemera.Provenance: Gifted to Patrick Porteous's close friend Flying Officer Peter Duncan Morris, Patrick being the best man at Peter's wedding in London during the Second World War, thence by descent, written clarification provided.London Gazette 2nd October 1942War Office, 2nd October 1942.The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of The VICTORIA CROSS to: -Captain (temporary Major) Patrick Anthony Porteous (73033), Royal Regiment of Artillery (Fleet, Hants.).At Dieppe on the 19th August 1942, Major Porteous was detailed to act as Liaison Officer between the two detachments whose task was to assault the heavy coast defence guns.In the initial assault Major Porteous, working with the smaller of the two detachments, was shot at close range through the hand, the bullet passing through his palm and entering his upper arm. Undaunted, Major Porteous closed with his assailant, succeeded in disarming him and killed him with his own bayonet thereby saving the life of a British Sergeant on whom the German had turned his aim.In the meantime, the larger detachment was held up, and the officer leading this detachment was killed and the Troop Sergeant-Major fell seriously wounded. Almost immediately afterwards the only other officer of the detachment was also killed.Major Porteous, without hesitation and in the face of a withering fire, dashed across the open ground to take over the command of this detachment. Rallying them, he led them in a charge which carried the German position at the point of the bayonet and was severely wounded for the second time. Though shot through the thigh he continued to the final objective where he eventually collapsed from loss of blood after the last of the guns had been destroyed.Major Porteous's most gallant conduct, his brilliant leadership and tenacious devotion to a duty which was supplementary to the role originally assigned to him, was an inspiration to the whole detachment.Operation Cauldron as the assault on Dieppe was code-named, was the biggest raid of the Second World War; the attacking force of nearly 6,000 men was drawn from the 2nd Canadian Division and three British Commandos. The aim was to see if it was possible to capture a port on the French coast prior to a full-scale invasion. In the event, the raid proved such a disaster that on D-Day two years later landings on the open beaches were preferred. No 4 Commando, in which Porteous was serving, was the only unit to capture its objective. The Canadians, in the centre of the assault, had never been in action before, and to their dismay found that their tanks were unable to negotiate the stony beach; they were cut to pieces by fire from carefully sited strongpoints that had been tunnelled out of the cliff.When the landing force withdrew, it had suffered 3,670 casualties, lost 29 tanks, 106 aircraft and a destroyer. The Germans had lost 591 men. No 4 Commando, commanded by the intrepid Lord Lovat, numbered 252 soldiers. It landed three and a half miles west of the main attack and advanced in two sections.One was to make its way up a river valley, then climb a slope, push on through a wood, overcome defended positions and demolish the six-gun German battery which had been sited at Varengeville. The other section of the Commandos was to make a slightly more direct approach on the target. Porteous, then a temporary Captain, was liaison officer between the two groups.The Commandos crept forward in the dark and destroyed barbed wire, telephone lines and some German defences, and succeeded in crossing a minefield. When daylight came they were confronted by 35 German assault troops, whom they killed, but others soon took their place and the Commandos began to lose men too.During the initial assault on the battery, Porteous found himself with the smaller of the two detachments. He was shot at close range by a German, the bullet passing through his hand and his arm. Undaunted, Porteous, using the other hand, shot his assailant dead.Next, Porteous saved the life of a sergeant by disarming his attacker and dispatching the German with his own bayonet. In the meantime, the larger detachment had been held up, its two officers killed, and the troop sergeant seriously wounded.Without hesitating, and in the face of withering fire, Porteous dashed across open ground to take charge of this section. He rallied them, and then led a bayonet charge which carried the battery. Porteous was the first to reach the guns, and as he did so was severely wounded for a second time, being shot through the thigh.He fell, but carried on to the final objective, only losing consciousness from loss of blood once he had organised the successful demolition of the battery. An elderly Frenchwoman who had witnessed part of the action presented each of the surviving Commandos with a newly laid egg, a much-appreciated gift, eggs being scarce in England at that time.If the battery at Varengeville had not been destroyed, casualties among shipping and the main attacking force would have been even greater than they were. The battery was stubbornly defended by 250 Germans, behind concrete, wire, landmines, mortars and concealed machine gun posts. One hundred and fifty Germans were killed.Luck played its part. As the Commandos secured their objective, a squadron of Messerschmitt's swept in low overhead - but took the Commandos for Germans. The British waved cheerfully at them and were relieved to receive a wave back from the squadron leader. Porteous received news of his award from his mother while in hospital.The citation for Porteous's VC stated: "Captain Porteous's most gallant conduct, his brilliant leadership and tenacious devotion to duty . . . was an inspiration to the whole detachment." He was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George VI on October 28, 1942. £400-500 (Plus 23.4% Buyer’s Premium inc. VAT)
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![[OO GAUGE]. A HORNBY NO.R1119, THE GOLDEN ARROW TRAIN SET comprising a B.R. West Country Class 4-6-2 tender locomotive 'Bosc](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/17027f4e-eb1d-443c-adf4-a8d6011b5be7/9fee64af-1dd0-4823-b883-245b0fa96abd/468x382.jpg)
![[OO GAUGE]. SEVEN HORNBY GOLDEN ARROW BLUE PULLMAN COACHES comprising four composite, one brake, two buffet, and six sleeper](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/17027f4e-eb1d-443c-adf4-a8d6011b5be7/c7c23ddf-82d2-4361-a111-91607fe92b86/468x382.jpg)
EINSTEIN ALBERT: (1879-1955) German-born Theoretical Physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1921. An exceptionally rare document, A.N.S., `A. Einstein´, including a sketch in the hand of Albert Einstein, being the only known self-portrait sketch, one page, to a postcard, written during his only visit to Palestine, February 1923, to Arthur Ruppin, in German. Einstein states in part `..We are having unforgettable days in Palestine. With the sun shining. In cheerful company. Your wife is standing next to me and looking at what I am writing about her…´ Above Einstein´s written text Ruppin´s wife Hanna also adds an A.N.S., `Hanna´, to her husband, saying in part `..A pleasant tour of the city. Included is a picture of Prof. Einstein..´ Hanna Ruppin refers to the sketches drawn by Einstein to the front of the postcard, showing Albert Einstein´s small self-portrait sketch, writing below `Einstein´, and above `Jerusalem´, also drawing alongside a sketch showing an elegant Hanna Ruppin, adding `Frau Ruppin´, and above `Heiligenschein´ (`Halo´) adding an arrow pointing to his sketch image. The postcard shows to the front a painting of the Red Star Line steamer Belgenland. Einstein´s comical figure sketch stands in contrast to the elegantly-dressed Hanna Ruppin with a stylish hat, shapely figure and umbrella. Very small overall, minor age wear, otherwise VG £20000-30000Arthur Ruppin (1876-1943) Zionist Leader.
Early 19th Century gold trinket in the form of a cannon, the spring mechanism opening to reveal a figure of Cupid emerging from the barrel, the body decorated in three colour gold foliage and with turquoise cabochons at points, the mouth of the cannon enamelled with the motto 'Gare la Bombe' (Beware the Bomb), approximately 2.4cm long, approximately 7.4g gross Condition: Button on back opens the hinged cover an dejects the hidden cupid with his bow and arrow, stamped to the lower border, probably French mark, motto slightly faded, but white enamel intact, one cabochon loose from the setting - **General condition consistent with age
Two African Luba/Hemba wands/staffs, also a twisted iron arrow, the largest measures 145cm high. Please note VAT is to be paid on top of the hammer price as well as the buyer's premium for all the Tribal African figures in this sale. This is due to the whole collection being sold by a VAT registered storage company. For more information please contact the Peter Wilson Fine Art Auctioneers saleroom.
A pearl and diamond set bar broochmodelled as an arrow with applied heart motif, set throughout with rose cut diamonds and central half pearl, unmarkedLength: 57mmThis brooch can be seen worn by the sitter in a portrait of Miss Isla Martin, by Harrington Mann R.P, R.E, which will feature in our Scottish Paintings and Sculpture auction on 7th June 2018.
A BRONZE VIRABHADRA PLAQUE, DECCAN, SOUTHERN INDIA, CIRCA 18TH CENTURYof waisted rectangular form, the four-armed manifestation of Siva, stepping to his left, wearing tall sandals, wielding sword, shield, bow and arrow within an architectural niche with kirtimukha above, flanked by diminutive figures of Daksha and Sati, large carrying handle at the back27.5 x 18 x 7cm approximatelyDaksha offended Siva by not inviting him to attend a sacrifice following an earlier occasion when Siva had slighted him. Sati who was Daksha s daughter as well as being Siva’s wife was present and felt so insulted that she threw herself on the pyre. Then Siva appeared as Virabhadra and cut off Daksha’s head to avenge his wife. Other gods pleaded for Daksha’s life but although Siva decided to spare him his severed head could not be found so the head of a goat was substituted instead.
NISSKY, GEORGY(1903-1987)En Route, signed with initials.Oil on canvas, 55.5 by 42.5 cm.Provenance: Acquired by the previous owner in Moscow in the 1980s. Thence by descent. Private collection, France. Georgy Nissky’s painting En Route, offered for auction, is indisputably one of his best works created in the 1950s. Its broad perspective, the uncluttered elegance of its composition and its monumental rhythm put it on a par with the artist’s most famous works from that period, now housed in museum collections. En Route displays what the critics consider the two main features of Nissky’s oeuvre. Firstly, his artistic quest to capture vast expanses of land intellectually, sensually and visually. Secondly, the artist’s ability to tease out the most important traits in his surroundings whilst eschewing the trap of the “minutiae of daily life” (T. Semionova, Na prostorakh Rodiny, Moscow, Sovetskii khudozhnik, 1959). To emphasise the boundless expanse of the imaginary space beyond the visible landscape, the artist here employs his favourite motif — a road that cuts across the composition and disappears over the horizon. However, unlike Moscow Suburbs in February (1957, State Tretyakov Gallery), a picture with a very similar subject, in which the ribbon of the road occupies the centre of the composition, as if to lure the viewer along, in the present work En Route the road, shooting ahead like an arrow along the edge of the composition concedes the central role to a vast snowy expanse, almost deserted but for a solitary human figure by the roadside. The “rhythms of energy”– the high, slender trunks of the pines on the right of the canvas, and the train speeding along its left-hand edge — only accentuate the tranquillity and stillness of the surrounding landscape — the sort of calmness that is ripe with anticipation of human intervention.
A red lacquered bracket clock, probably HAC, circa 1920, with German gong striking movement, the silvered Arabic numeral dial with crossed arrow mark, the case in the form of a pagoda and decorated with typical Chinoiserie figures, 32cm high including carrying handle Provenance: Property of a Lady, removed from a house in Holland Park
Jaeger le Coultre; a British military issue stainless steel backed, manual-wind wristwatch, the black dial set with Arabic numerals, diameter 3cm, stamped to case with broad arrow and numbered 6B-346-2102/48, on expanding 'Fixo-Flex' bracelet. CONDITION REPORT Glass cracked, losses and wear to face, surface wear and scratches, bracelet af. Appears to be over-wound, does not run, hands move for adjustment.
A good "Brown Bess" flintlock musket, circa 1790 (1801 issue), 39ins plain steeled barrel bearing proof marks, crown over CP and crown over crossed swords, plain steel lock stamped "Tower" and crown over GR, swan neck hammer and scrolled back trigger, walnut stock stamped broad arrow over 80, and crown over 1881, brass butt plate stamped "CW2777", brass trigger guard, ramrod present, 55ins overall
A cast and turned bell metal fire bell bearing the broad arrow, 10.75ins diameter x 11ins high, and another similar, 10.5ins diameter x 11in high Provenance: Acquired by the vendors uncle, Frederick Hayward, known as Ginger, from Chatham Dockyard where he worked as Boatswain until his retirement in March 1984. Note: This lot is being sold in the name of Demelza Hospice Care of Children
Mid 20th Century steel cased Omega wristwatch having silvered dial, with Arabic numerals and subsidiary seconds, the back marked with an arrow numbered 498, with later leather strap, anti-magnetic sea watch (at fault), gentleman's Tissot wristwatch and various other watches and a stop watch
1941 British Army Other Ranks Boots, in black leather, complete with the original soles. Stamped to the inside with broad arrow stamp, size and date 1941. Accompanied by a pair of dispatch riders breaches and a British officers khaki service dress peaked cap.Boots size marked 10 L and wit broad arrow stamp
Vintage 1980's stainless steel Parker International Classic Flighter ballpen with gold plated trim, made in USA (boxed) and a vintage 1980's brushed stainless steel Parker Arrow Flighter fountain pen and ballpoint pen with gold filled trim, engraved name on both (C Macray - fountain pen and Christian - ballpoint pen), (boxed)
War and Western collection + (1950s). Battle 1, Battle Ground n.n., Battle Squadron n.n., Commander Battle and the Atomic Sub n.n., Biggles 4, Crack Action 3, Marines in Action n.n., Moby Dick n.n., Authentic Police Cases n.n. [gd-], Classics Illustrated 149, Dell Movie Classics 1148, Kona 7, Marked For Murder 2, 3, 5, 6, 3-D Dolly 1 (with Magic Specs), Toka Jungle King 7, Crack Western n.n., Hopalong Cassidy 58, 59, 61, 62, Indian Fighter n.n., Pirates n.n., Roy Roger's Trigger 1, 2, Straight Arrow 2 (clear taped spine), Tex Ritter 52, Tom Mix 61, Western War Comic 6, Wild Bill Hickock 14. A few issues [gd], balance [vg/fn] (32)
![Hooded Rider (1950s) 11, 21, 22, 26. With Gunsmoke Western 6, 7, 23 and Straight Arrow 14 [vg-/fn-] (8)](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/7c3bd04d-a052-4030-bfaa-a8dd00acd8d2/24e1840c-1548-4345-bf10-b3a78c2b99b9/468x382.jpg)
A rare Chelsea Derby Neo-Classical figure of Cupid holding a bow and arrow and raised on a plinth along with a Derby figure of a boy with one arm outstretched holding a bunch of flowers c.1760-65, largest 14cm. Condition Report. To be used as a guide only. Some professional repair to Cupid. The boy with repair to his outstretched arm.
A Derby allegorical figure representing America and coloured in enamels. Modelled as a native American Indian with a feathered headdress, with a bow and arrow and raised on a naturalistic base surmounted with an alligator. Patch marks c.1765, 15cm. Condition Report. To be used as a guide only. Loss to the feathers on the headdress.
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32197 item(s)/page