JAMES B. A. 'JIMMY': (1915-2008) British Squadron Leader with the Royal Air Force. A Prisoner of War from 1940-45, James made numerous efforts to escape from various POW and Concentration Camps, most famously from Stalag Luft III in March 1944 as part of the 'Great Escape'. An extensive, complete archive of manuscripts, typescripts, notes, correspondence and research material relating to James's unpublished novel Wheel of Fire (or Teutonic Night) including many pages of manuscript and typed notes with various ideas, framework and structure plans, dating from the mid-1980s onwards, including James's notes on the inspiration behind the novel, 'What I'm trying to write is a novel based on a remarkable character I met in Sussex…..He styled himself Baron Waldemar Teck von Hohenstein from a 30,000 acre estate in East Prussia - was a Maj. Gen. on E. Front during war. He'd come to England immediately after the war, married an English actress, well known on the W. End stage pre-war…..My wife & I were living quite near him…..he liked company & seemed to like us so we went round quite often. He was then about 87 but as sharp as razor & as strong as an ox & he told us a fantastic story…..', typed biographical details ('Although Waldemar was on the fringes of the military resistance against Hitler he was never actively involved, although Count von Stauffenberg who planted the bomb on 20th July in the bunker at Rastenburg was his first cousin…..'), a few letters between James and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the Baron's identity, as well as with the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry (whom the Baron had claimed to have been related to, the Duke responding to James that neither he or his mother have any recollection of the Baron, remarking 'if he had been my Godfather he must have been a fairly useless one!'), newspaper articles etc., various manuscript and typed versions of the novel, with extensive corrections, some in the hand of James's wife, Madge, including a final typed draft of over 200 pages as submitted to a publishing house, and a small file of correspondence between James and various agents and publishers including Curtis Brown Group Ltd., Faber & Faber Ltd., Harper Collins etc., each of them declining to publish the work, although some offering constructive advice, 'I passed your manuscript through to a colleague…..He was impressed with your historical knowledge and research but decided in the end that the book reads more like non-fiction than a novel……to succeed as a novel it would need to have more dramatic tension and narrative shape, showing the reader what is happening in the story rather than telling him…..'. The archive also includes a few unrelated manuscripts of short stories etc. by James, written whilst a member of a writer's group in Abergavenny, and the majority of James's notes and manuscripts are written on the back of large envelopes and miscellaneous correspondence to James. G to about VG, Qty Baron Waldemar Teck von Hohenstein (1899-1989) is buried in St. Saviour's Churchyard in the parish of Colgate and Roffey, Sussex. Although Jimmy James finally came to consider the Baron as a 'phoney' his life and experiences loosely formed the basis for the character of Gustav von Schwarzenburg in Wheel of Fire. 'The build up of German Forces on the Soviet Frontier in the Spring of 1941 was known to British Prisoers [sic] of War in Poland. Almost every day reports were smuggled into one Camp by the Polish Underground. These indicated tens of thousands of soldiers and vast quantities of weapons moving east…..Huge armies on the move with only one purpose. “Impossible” said the Senior British Officer to his Intelligence Officer, “They won't attack. How about the Nazi-Soviet non aggression pact?” “That was a cynical ploy by Hitler to gai[n] time, Sir”…..From this source and others the impending Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union became known in the West, and Churchill was able to warn Stalin quite well in advance……On 21 June 1941 Gustav's Regiment had received their orders and Gustave [sic] was giving his final briefing to his tank commanders outlining the vast scale of BARBAROSSA…..' (extract from the final typescript of Chapter VIII of Wheel of Fire)
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WALLIS BARNES: (1887-1979) English Scientist & Inventor of the bouncing bomb used in Operation Chastise (The Dambusters Raid), 16th May 1943. Blue ink signature ('Barnes Wallis') and date, 28th July 1956, in his hand on a small 12mo ruled piece, neatly laid down to a page contained within an autograph album beneath an inferior reproduction image of the scientist. The album also includes a few other signatures comprising Philip Slessor (presenter of Variety Bandbox), Brian Rix & Max Bygraves and Reginald Foort, each on pieces etc. laid down to pages. About VG
Mixed Photographic Ephemera – British WWII. Group of RAF photos attributed to W Hasselstöm 1059694 – 10” x 6” group photo (damaged) dated 26 Apr 1941, 3 small group photos annotated after receiving their sergeant stripes training in Canada, 2 unmarked off duty photos in Far East(?), an embroidered RAF handkerchief; 5” x 7” RAF portrait by Avro Anson or similar dated August 1943; framed 5” x 7” portrait of RAF member of Volunteer Reserve; mounted 6” x 8” photo of Commando-esque soldier in snowy scene; fine 5 ¾” x 7 ¾” mounted portrait of an officer from the Somerset Light Infantry, photo signed and annotated Colchester, Oscar Way FRSA; wooden framed 9 ½” x 7 ½” photo Naval grouping in Battle Dress with a Royal Marine officer; 11 ½“ x 6” group outside a Metropole hotel, France 1940 by uniforms; fine 3” x 5“ portrait of soldier from Royal West Surrey Regiment, dated April 1941; single page from an album annotated Tripoli with Victory Parade street scene and two photos of knocked out German armour; 3” x 5“ portrait of soldier marked on reverse H Michel 781 Bomb Sqd; three 3 ½” x 5 ¼” portrait photos, two with inscriptions to Mother and Father from Ron; a 3” x 4 ½“ portrait of a sergeant; two large format 42” x 10” school photos from St Edward’s School, Oxford, one date May 1936 (damaged), the other May 1940 – undoubtedly including men who went on to serve during WWII; 9 assorted group/individual snapshots.
Tri-ang 00 Gauge early NATO 'Battlespace' Rolling Stock, comprising R128 Helicopter Cars (3, one with grey base), R239 Bomb Transporter (2, one in incorrect box), R249 Exploding Car, R343 4-Missile Rocket Launcher, all in original window boxes and R216 Rocket Launching wagon, in original card box, VG-E, boxes F-VG (8)
A PERSONAL ARCHIVE TO A SOLDIER WHO SERVED WITH THE GRENADIER GUARDS, to include Red Army Service Book, dated 1953, showing Service in Malaya, various later paperwork and ephemera, Frederick Norman RAN was enlisted on 4th December, 1945, he was from Newport, Isle of Wight, also present is his members card for the Coldstream Guards, two original red shoulder patches, two exploding bomb collar dogs and his brass locker/bed plate
A BRITISH WWI ERA 'MILLS BOMB' GRENADE, mounted on a wooden plinth, all complete and inert, nice example display or desk paperweight, together with a number of WWII era First Aid items, Field dressings, all sealed and dated, tins of antiseptic ointments, cigarette lighter, military patch and a blue 'Raid Spotters' notebook
A WWII 'LONDON 1951 BOMBED BURNED BUT UNBEATABLE' Ashtray. Extract from BBC History of the World: On 10/11th May 1941, German bombers destroyed the House of Commons Chamber. My father, crippled in an accident and so unfit for military service, was in charge of demolishing the ruin. Sir Winston Churchill asked my father to carefully dismantle the archway from the Members' Lobby to the Chamber, badly scarred by bomb fragments, so it could be rebuilt later just as it was, as a reminder of the event. My father personally did this & the archway was later put back in its place, known from then on as the Churchill arch. The rubble, burnt wood & lead from the roof (which had melted & formed random lumps on the floor) was trucked off to a site somewhere in Essex. BUT, some of the stone & lead was made into ashtrays, which were widely advertised for sale, in particular in America, the proceeds going to a charity for victims of the war & some, I believe, towards the rebuilding of the Chamber. It was reopened in 1950. Sir Winston gave one of the ashtrays to my father & I inherited it from him. It reminds me of the horror & waste of war but also of my father, who was in charge of the demolition of dozens of war damaged churches & other historic buildings all over the UK, especially London.
The Dam Busters, No. 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force. 44th Anniversary of the Dams raid. Cover design shows a Lancaster's approach to the Dam and dropping the bouncing bomb (purple/dark green cover). Dam Busters postmark cancelled Woodhall Spa, Lincs, 17 May 1987. Signed by Richard Todd (Actor: Role of Guy Gibson in the film The Dam Busters). Good Condition. All signed pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.99, EU from £5.99, Rest of World from £7.99.
Photographs / Ephemera, approx 200 b/w photos of family and military life during and after WW2 showing wireless operator, holidays, caravanning, bomb damage, vehicles, shop front etc, together with 1939 George VI New Testament, map of Hampshire photographs of the 1950's group 'The Coronets' (one annotated), also 2 books entitled 'Air Navigation Some Problems and Their Solution' by MJ Hearley and 'Astronomical Navigation Tables' vol M (mostly gd) (200+)
Postcards, Essex, a small selection of social history interest, Pitsea Post Office with 2 horse-drawn delivery carts, house fire ruin's at Debden, High St & Empire Theatre Grays, Sunday party in Epping Forest, Air Raid April 16th bomb hole at Reydon, (left corner missing) Troops marching through village, & 'Herd of Goats', all RP's, (6 gen gd, 1 fair) (7)
Six: Corporal T. G. Hurley, South African Heavy Artillery, late Royal Horse Artillery, who served with 'Q' Battery at Sanna's PostQueen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (18070 Bomb. T. G. Hurley, Q, B., R.H.A.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (18070 Gnr: T. G. Hurley. R.H.A.); 1914-15 Star (Pte. T. G. Hurley 7th. Infantry.); British War and bi-lingual Victory Medals (Cpl. T. G. Hurley. S.A.H.A.); Defence Medal 1939-45, light contact marks, nearly very fine and better (6). Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
A fine Second World War 'G.C. action' B.E.M. pair awarded to War Reserve Constable R. V. 'Sandy' Holyhead, 'B' (Chelsea) Division, Metropolitan Police, for his gallantry in the following a devastating flying bomb attack on the King's Road, Chelsea, 23 February 1944British Empire Medal (Civil) G.VI.R (Rodney Victor Holyhead); Defence Medal 1939-45, good very fine, with original investiture pin and riband for the B.E.M. (2). Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
The unique King David Hotel Bomb George Medal group of four awarded to Sergeant E. A. 'Ted' Smith, Palestine Police, it was he who rushed to the scene of the attack immediately after the bomb exploded, rescuing 3 trapped soldiers after 6 hours of relentless, dangerous tunelling work - his rescues ammounted to half of those who were saved in the aftermathGeorge Medal, G.VI.R. (Sgt. Edward S. [sic] Smith, Palestine Police); General Service 1918-62, G.VI.R., 2 clasps, Palestine, Palestine 1945-48 (1316 Const. E. A. Smith. Pal. Police); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as originally worn, generally very fine (4). Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
A Mk.I mortar bomb plotter, the upper dial stamped 'Scale Graphical Firing 81mm Mortar Mk.2 Bomb Charge and Elevation', 57 x 57cm, also an Air Ministry issued Mk.II course and speed calculator further stamped 'H.T.A (1928) Ltd' and no. 6B/125 (2).Additional InformationDamage to lower right, upper laminated surface has been lost, further split lower left, general wear and tear throughout.
A clear nose cone/bomb sight from a De Havilland Mosquito plane, length approx 85cm (af), sold with a coloured print depicting a De Havilland Mosquito with this section visible (2). Additional InformationDamage throughout, central pane broken with only sections of the glass remaining, numerous splits throughout the body, general heavy surface wear, dirt etc, sold as seen.
Mattel Hot Wheels Shelby Turbina, Hot Heap, Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, Dedra, Lotus Turbina, Brabham F1, Volkswagen Beach Bomb, Python and Chapparral (generally F); Corgi Rockets 007 Ford Escort, Aston Martin DB6, Carabo Bertone, Jaguar XJ6, Mercedes 280SL, Morgan Plus 8 and Todd Sweeney (generally F-G); Corgi Pininfarina Modulo (G-E) (17)
Modern album of WW1 & WW2 postcards and memorial cards including soldiers marching and groups, Bamforth song cards, embroidered silks, bomb damage etc, and two other albums containing British and foreign topographical etc (3) Condition Report Click here for further images, condition, auction times & delivery costs
World War Two 24x33 framed and mounted print titled "Gathering Storm " limited edition 103/1250 by the artist Robert Taylor signed in pencil by the artist and Luftwaffe veterans Heinz LANGE, Fritz LOSIGKEIT, Gunther SCHACK and Hugo BROCH. Focke-Wulf 190 Fighters climb out over Theville to intercept B-17 Fortresses en-route to bomb submarine pens at Lorient. Good Condition. All signed pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.99, EU from £5.99, Rest of World from £7.99.
Frederick Edward McWilliam RA (1909-1992)Leg Figure (1977)Bronze, 25.5 x 22cm (10 x 8.75)Signed with initials and numbered 1/5Provenance: Private Collection, Dublin.After ‘Women of Belfast’ and ‘Woman in a Bomb-blast’ and the Banners series, McWilliam began his series of Legs in 1977. It must have been a relief for the sculptor to turn from the deeply emotional subject matter of the Troubles to the beauty and playfulness of women’s Legs. In fact, McWilliam had begun ‘One pair of Legs’ and ‘Two pairs of Legs’ in 1971, before he began ‘Women of Belfast’ and these legs informed his women caught in a bomb-blast and thrown off balance. Legs allowed McWilliam the freedom to model legs and attach these to different bodies and heads, such as a fish head resulting in the surrealist figure ‘Lady into Fish’ and ‘Magrittes Mermaid’ or ‘Legs with fig-leaf’. One of this series was ‘Leg Figure D’ which was included in the Tate retrospective exhibition of 1989. Patrick Heron wrote to McWilliam after visiting the Tate retrospective of his friends work: I was fascinated by the hands and feet in all those 70s figures. Nobody else in this country has been able to do hands and feet like yours. McWilliam had countless drawings of women’s feet and legs and collected large advertising posters for women’s stockings, which hung on his studio wall. The sculptor can achieve such expression and feeling in splayed toes and outstretched legs, as in ‘Leg Figure D’ which resulted in Herons admiring observation. The Leg series continued from 1977 until 1981, ending with Ms Orissa which combined ‘Legs Upended’ with a clothed head and shoulders, again masking identification. This series resulted in two large sculptures ‘Umbilicus’, FE McWilliam Gallery and the large sculpture of the ‘Judo Players’, Derry City Council. Dr Denise Ferran
Brooklet VC. Card No. 30 Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC. signed on the reverse by William Horace Taylor GC. William Horace Taylor, GC, MBE (28 October 1908 - 16 January 1999) was an officer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who was awarded the George Cross for the gallantry he displayed in bomb disposal work in September and October 1940 during the Second World War. Good condition Est.
WW2 Propaganda Leaflets, interesting propaganda leaflet dropped by the German Luftwaffe regarding the V1 bomb, shows Londoners running from the burning capital. Accompanied by a damaged RAF propaganda leaflet dropped on German soldiers, safe conduct pass, Eighth Army printed message from Montgomery, plus other. All show wear and some damaged. (5 items)
Mixed Militaria, consisting of Orilux Trench torch housed in the original brown leather field cover; reproduction Imperial German naval officers peaked cap; grouping of WW1 period photographs; large piece of shrapnel with label stating “250KG German Bomb Splinter From Near Rail Line Pixham Dorking Surrey 24 May 1941”; large and heavy piece of shrapnel with label written “Shell Fragment From German Cross Channel Gun WWII Dover. Fell Through The Greenhouse”.
Greene, Graham The Comedians. Bodley Head, 1966. 8vo, org. cloth in unclipped dj (25s). First ed. idem Travels with my Aunt. Bodley Head, 1969. 8vo, org. cloth in unclipped dj (30s). First ed. idem Doctor Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party. Bodley Head, 1980. 8vo, org. cloth in unclipped dj (£4.50). First ed. with Fleming, Ian You Only Live Twice. Jonathan Cape, 1964. 8vo, org. cloth in unclipped dj (16s). First ed, second state (March 1964 publication date). idem Octopussy and the Living Daylights. Jonathan Cape, 1966. 8vo, org. cloth in dj (second state with adjusted price sticker).. Greene all with varying shelf-wear to jackets (Aunt with tape repair reverse top upper panel, not visible from front), v. slight bumping/marking to boards, but generally clean internally. Fischer jacket with edge wear and very slight marking but else near fine. Fleming internally clean, boards with very little wear, Twice jacket with splits to head of spine, toned; Octopussy bright and clean.
Wilson, Mary Selected Poems. Hutchinson of London, 1970. 8vo, org. green boards in unclipped dj (12s). First edition. At one time Baroness Wilson was amongst the best-selling poets in the country, perhaps (as with many a celebrity) more from name than talent. The poems are mostly typical fare, but amongst the pleasant pastorals there are some which display a political bent (including ones for Aberfan and the Durham Miners' Gala) and amongst the Christian elements a mocking tale of the post-bomb landscape in which Lucifer laughs to see the works of '…Man/Who was made in the image of God!' Whatever the literary merit of her oeuvre, the special interest in this copy is the many signatures of Labour party luminaries and Peers, including Roy Jenkins, Barbara Castle, Dennis Healey, Tony Benn and Alice Bacon, along with those of Harold and Mary.. Slight edge wear to jacket, boards a little bumped, slight foxing to edges and occasionally inside but very good.
Dinky Toys Boxed 100 Lady Penelope’s FAB 1 From TV series ‘Thunderbirds’ pink body, early issue with pink flashes on plastic sliding roof, spun wheels, with Lady Penelope and Parker figures, front number plate only, missing flying lady motif to front, in very good to excellent original condition, missing rear harpoons, with one front rocket, original inner card display box is fair, outer box is very good, with all end flaps, 101 Thunderbird 2 & 4 (1st Issue) green body, yellow legs, red/chrome rear thrusters, complete with detachable pod containing Thunderbird 4, rivetted base, in very good original condition, , with very good original card illustrated inner display stand, outer original card picture box is poor to fair, plus unboxed, 719 Spitfire MKII aeroplane, missing aerial, 721 Junkers JU 87B (missing bomb) and Triumph TR7 Leyland Rally car, all in good original condition (5 items).
HIP HOP/GANGSTA/CONSCIOUS LPs. All killer and none of the filler with this mega collection of 47 x LPs. Artists/titles include Check Out The Flavour (Rapture 6-001-1), Street Sounds - Hip Hop Electro 14, Crucial Electro 3 and Electro 1, Red Fox - As A Matter Of Fox, Ultra Magnetic MC's - New York What Is Funky, Beat Street Volume 2, Justin Warfield - My Field Trip To Planet 9, Bomb The Bass, Criminal Nation, Grand Daddy I.U., Davy D, M.C. Rell & The Houserockers, Prince Akeem, Tone Loc - Loc'ed After Dark, King Just - Mystics Of The God, Waiwan - Distraction, Ice-T inc. Home Invasion, New Sector Movements, Eric B, Chapter & The Verse, O.C. - Jewelz and Shyne. Condition is generally VG to Ex though please note that some can vary.
ASSORTED POP/ROCK DISPLAYS. Six promotional card displays, artists to include Debbie Harry on Chrysalis, Neil Pye of The Young Ones, Squeeze (x2) Babylon And On... and 45'S And Under, The The- Mind Bomb and Big Audio Dynamite. Smallest to measure 24X24", largest to measure 29X39". Condition varies but generally VF.
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7095 item(s)/page