A group of five Japanese Meiji Period three tone polished bronze vases, comprising a slender slightly ovoid example decorated with a chicken on a branch, height 22cm, a similarly decorated smaller pair, height 18cm, and a small pair decorated with bamboo, height 12cm, all five signed.Provenance: private collection in Surrey.Additional InformationThe two smaller vases have several dents around the base and also some small dents to the bodies and light surface scratches. The second pair, one has a bruise towards the top of the shoulder and a couple of tiny pin head sized dents, the other one has a single small dent approx. 3mm to the body and general surface wear throughout. The taller single vase has light surface wear, light scratches but otherwise OK.
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An early bronze figure of a female on circular socle base, possibly Roman, height 17.25cm.Provenance: private collection, North Yorkshire. Additional InformationThe figure is currently detached from the base and you can see the mark where it has slightly sheared on the left foot, general green patination throughout. Some natural pitting and some surface wear. A small loss of patina to her stomach.
A late 19th/20th century Chinese bronze model of a kylin, the mythical beast modelled recumbent with its head with ferocious expression, sharply turning to face the rear, Qianlong six character mark to base and later in period, length 18.5cm.Provenance: private collection UK. Purchased Messrs Christie's, sale 24/01/2012, lot 281.
A large and rare Chinese bronze censer with simple loop handles, three tapering supports and Xuande Reign mark to base, diameter 20.5cm, approx. 3876g, sold with associated modern stand, 17th/18th century.Provenance: private collection in Surrey. Additional InformationWe believe the censer to be 17th/18th century rather than of the period. It has an even brown tone with some rubbing in parts revealing a darker colour, noticeably around the bellied section. The interior shows signs of heavy use.
An 18th century Chinese bronze figure of standing Buddha modelled with the Mudra 'Freedom from Fear', raised on a lotus leaf base to hexagonal foot, height 53cm.Provenance: private collection in Surrey. Purchased from the Chin Hua Galleries, Sydney, Australia 24th June 1981 and sold with original receipt.
A 17th century Chinese bronze Hu vase with twin handles and band of incised decoration, unmarked, height 20cm, approx. 1698g.The item stands well. It is unknown if the toning and tarnishing will clean up. Provenance: private collection in Surrey. Purchased from China Curios Ceutre in Honk Kong November 1st 1971 and sold with original receipt. Additional InformationThere is a dent to the body around one of the 'corners', has a very pitted finish throughout. There is a small hole to the base and another area of degradation to the base. it is of a dark colour throughout with heavy surface wear. There is also just to the side of one of the handles at the shoulder of the vase, a knock or bruise where there are losses to the bronze.
A Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) bronze twin handled tripod vessel, height 21cm, width 23cm.Provenance: private collection, North Yorkshire. Additional InformationWeight is approx 2913g. Heavy tarnishing, crusting and verdigris throughout. Some small knocks / chips to the edge of two feet, the third foot much more so.
A Chinese Studio Pottery footed bowl, decorated with splashes of iron red on a celadon ground, diameter 20cm, together with a Chinese celadon glaze bowl with incised carved detail, also a Chinese cloisonne on bronze footed bowl, etc (5).Additional InformationLarge footed bowl sounds flat, crazing throughout, darker crack (hairline terminating from the rim into the body), chip to foot rim. Celadon bowl with glaze crazing throughout, large open crack to rim.
Five: Captain E. Lloyd, East African Mounted Rifles, late Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, Orange Free State (33920 Corpl. E. Lloyd. 89th Coy. Imp: Yeo:) last clasp with unofficial rivets, engraved correction to rank; 1914-15 Star (97 Sjt. E. Lloyd, E. Afr. M. Rif.) ‘Maj.’ privately engraved above ‘Sjt.’; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. E. Lloyd.); Montgomeryshire Tribute Medal, South African Campaign 1901, bronze, unnamed as issued, fitted with small ring suspension, this slack, light edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine (5) £500-£700 --- Edwin Lloyd was born in the Parish of Bodfari, Denbighshire, and enlisted into the Imperial Yeomanry 18 March 1901, aged 27, giving his occupation as farmer and with previous service in 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He served in South Africa from 7 April 1901 until 27 August 1902, and was discharged on 3 September 1902. He served during the Great War as a Sergeant in the East African Mounted Rifles in East Africa from 8 August 1914. He was promoted to Lieutenant, and later to Captain. He also served afterwards in the East African Labour Corps. Sold with copied research.
Four: Gunner L. Eggett, Royal Horse Artillery 1914 Star (53960 Gnr. L. Eggett. R.A.); British War and Victory Medals (53960 Gnr. L. Eggett. R.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (53960 Gnr: L. Eggett. R.H.A.) mounted as worn together with an unnamed bronze Rob Roy Prize Medallion, nearly extremely fine (5) £240-£280 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 18 January 1919: ‘In recognition of valuable service rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders.’ Leonard Eggett was born in Kingston, Surrey, and attested for the Royal Horse Artillery in 1908. He served in ‘X’ Battery during the Great War on the Western Front from 26 April 1914, and was discharged on 18 August 1919. Sold with copied research.
An unusual Second War ‘1944’ D.S.O., ‘1943’ A.F.C., United States of America Bronze Star group of nine awarded to Group Captain D. C. R. MacDonald, Royal Air Force, a Hawker Hind and Baltimore pilot, who served with 613 Squadron in 1939 and commanded 211 and 52 Squadrons in the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa. He also commanded the Mediterranean Air Transport Service, December 1944 - May 1945 Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated ‘1944, with integral top riband bar; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; United States of America, Bronze Star, reverse engraved ‘D. C. R. MacDonald’, mounted for display, generally very fine or better (9) £2,800-£3,200 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 9 June 1944. The original recommendation states: ‘Group Captain (Wing Commander) MacDonald took over the command of 52 Squadron in March 1943, whilst rearming with Baltimores for use as bombers in the Middle East. In June the Squadron was transferred to this Command for reconnaissance. Later the Squadron was employed in the protection of shipping running between Sicily and Salerno from enemy submarines. These changes in role, though considerable, were made efficiently and quickly. Credit for this is due to Group Captain MacDonald. Since the arrival of the Squadron in North Africa, Group Captain MacDonald has flown a considerable number of hours on active operations. During the last six months, for example, he has flown 150 operational hours. These figures are high for a Squadron Commander, but the Squadron was without previous experience of sea reconnaissance and anti-submarine work and had to learn as it went along. It is in this respect that Group Captain MacDonald has shown outstanding leadership in the face of the enemy as he never hesitated to do the more hazardous sorties himself first of all and to pass on his experience to his squadron. The Squadron arrived in North Africa at a time when it was vital shipping be stopped between Italy and Sicily. This shipping travelled close inshore and under fighter protection. Much of this reconnaissance was carried out by 52 Squadron and on sighting reports being made shipping torpedo strikes were made by Beaufighters or Wellingtons in North Africa, and also by bombers of the Strategic Air Force. Shipping reconnaissances were also necessary to stop traffic between Sardinia and Corsica and Italy during the period of the evacuation of these islands by the enemy. Many of the successful strikes on shipping were made as a result of reconnaissance by 52 Squadron. Much of this sea reconnaissance was very hazardous. Many of the sightings of enemy shipping made by Group Captain MacDonald, despite the fact that the shipping was covered by enemy fighters, resulted in sinkings by the shipping strikes. I attribute the excellent work done by 52 Squadron in sea reconnaissance to the personal example and courageous and gallant leadership of Group Captain MacDonald, who set a very high standard of achievement to the rest of the Squadron.’ A.F.C. London Gazette 2 June 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘Since the formation of this unit [No. 72 Operational Training Unit], this officer has been engaged as chief instructor. He has produced consistently good results during the period. The school has become an exceptionally efficient training unit and Wing Commander MacDonald has set a fine example.’ United States of America Bronze Star. The official citation, dated 24 October 1945, states: ‘Group Captain D. C. R. MacDonald, Royal Air Force, first as Commander and later as Deputy Commander, Mediterranean Air Transport Service, from December 1944 to May 1945, assumed his duties at the time of departure of the American commander of the theatre. With unusual ability he applied himself to the difficult and complex task of operating an allied airline in a combat zone. His changes in operation control, and his diplomacy and tact in transactions with the associated carriers, materially increased the efficiency of the command. His enthusiastic and loyal support of the later American commander not only inspired members of the organisation but paved the way for future allied co-operation. Group Captain MacDonald’s outstanding services in the Mediterranean Air Transport Service contributed greatly to the execution of the allied war effort.’ Duncan Charles Ruthven MacDonald was born in Woolwich in 1913, and educated at home and University College, London. He joined the Royal Air Force as Acting Pilot Officer on probation in September 1934, and was posted to No. 5 F.T.S., Sealand for pilot training. Having qualified as a pilot, subsequent postings included to 4 and 614 Squadrons. MacDonald advanced to Flying Officer in March 1937, and was posted to 613 Squadron (Auxiliary Air Force) as the Regular Officer Adjutant and Instructor with the rank of Flight Lieutenant in March 1939. The Squadron was an army co-operation unit, and at the outbreak of the war was allocated to the Air Component, British Expeditionary Force in support of troops in France. Flying Hawker Hinds, they also carried out raids on German installations. MacDonald advanced to Squadron Leader in September 1940, and to Wing Commander in February 1941. He appears to have spent the remainder of the war in flying appointments in the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa, including as the Commanding Officer of 211 Squadron, July - November 1941. At this latter date an element of the squadron formed No. 72 O.T.U. (See A.F.C.). MacDonald was appointed to the command of 52 Squadron (Baltimores), Egypt, in March 1943. He moved with the Sqaudron to Tunisia in June, from where they carried out shipping reconnaissance and convoy escort duties before moving to Italy in November 1943. MacDonald advanced to Group Captain, and commanded No. 328 Wing prior to commanding the Mediterranean Air Transport Service, December 1944 - May 1945. By the end of the war he had flown over 2,000 hours, and at least 63 operational sorties. Group Captain MacDonald was presented with is D.S.O. and A.F.C. by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace in December 1946), and retired in September 1958. Sold with Bestowal Document for the D.S.O., dated 9 June 1944, and official photograph of recipient being awarded the Bronze Star. Also with copied research.
Eight: Sick Berth Petty Officer A. Bennison, Royal Navy, who served with the British Naval Mission to Serbia 1915-16 1914-15 Star (M.4003, A. Bennison, S.B.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.4003 A. Bennison. 2 S.B.S., R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (M.4003 A. Bennison. S.B.P.O. H.M.S. Revenge); Serbia, Kingdom, Medal for Zeal, silvered bronze, most silvering lost from obverse; Medal for the Retreat from Albania 1915, bronze, mounted as worn, some edge bruising, fine or better and a rare group (8) £1,000-£1,400 --- Alan Bennison was born in Dulwich, London on 13 January 1894. A Mechanic by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy on 22 January 1912 as a Provisional Sick Berth Attendant. He was confirmed at that rank in October 1912 when based at Haslar Hospital. During the war he served at Malta Hospital, June 1914-February 1915; Egmont (Malta), February 1915-February 1916; from Malta Bennison was sent out with the British Naval Mission to Serbia under Rear-Admiral Troubridge in 1915. It consisted of a torpedo and mining party and eight 4.7” guns. Each gun had 3 seaman gunners in the crew to train the Serbians. The unit also had a picket boat which was used to attack Austrian Monitors. Peter Singlehurst records that the crew of the picket boat all received Serbian awards (OMRS Journal 2000 p60 refers). He returned to Haslar Hospital, February 1916-November 1917; and the repair ship Assistance, November 1917-September 1920, being advanced to 2nd Class Sick Berth Steward in January 1918 and Leading Sick Berth Attendant in August 1920. For his services during the defence of Belgrade he was awarded the Serbian Medal for Zeal in silver. He was promoted to Sick Berth Petty Officer whilst on the battleship Revenge in October 1924 and was awarded the Long Service Medal whilst on the same vessel in 1927. Sold with copied record of service which confirms Serbian Medal for Zeal.
Five: Sick Berth Attendant G. J. Grieve, Royal Navy, who was severely wounded in action at Athens in December 1916, being mentioned in despatches and awarded both the French Medaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre 1914-15 Star (M.4417. G. J. Grieve, S.B.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (M.4417 G. J. Grieve. S.B.A. R.N.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914-16, with bronze palmes; Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted for display, enamel chipped on reverse centre of last, otherwise good very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 23 March 1917. Croix de Guerre with Palme London Gazette 23 March 1917. Medaille Militaire London Gazette 12 May 1917. George Johnson Grieve was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, on 24 May 1893. He enlisted into the Royal Navy on 6 May 1912, at Devonport, was rated as a probationary Sick Berth Attendant and served in this rate until May 1913 when he was rated Sick Berth Attendant having completed his training at the R.N. hospital Plymouth. He joined H.M.S. Exmouth as S.B.A. on 30 July 1914. Exmouth was sent to Gallipoli as flag ship to Admiral Nicholson and remained off the beaches even after the torpedoing of the Goliath, Majestic and Triumph. Grieve was landed ashore with the Allied Naval Brigade at Athens in December 1916, in which operations he was severely wounded, as described in Blumberg’s History of the Royal Marines: ‘During the fighting Surgeon Lt. John Desmond Milligan of the Exmouth continued to attend to the wounded on the crest of a hill all through the first period of the fighting, although fully exposed to the Greek fire, and was assisted by Sick Berth Attendant Grieve, who was wounded three times in the arm.’ Following his wounding in Greece, Grieve spent several months in hospital before re joining Exmouth which ship he left on 31 August 1917, returning to duties at R.N. Hospital, Plymouth. Unfortunately, Grieve developed epilepsy and was invalided out of the Navy on 12 December 1917. He died of tuberculosis in November 1929. Sold with the following archive: i) A fine studio portrait photograph of the recipient ii) The recipient’s Mentioned in Despatches Certificate, dated 23 Marcy 1917. iii) Admiralty Telegram to Mrs Grieve informing her that he son had been severely wounded. iv) Certificate of discharge from Hospital. v) Vellum parchment certificate for Medaille Militaire. vi) Borough of Tenby certificate admitting Grieve as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough. vii) Obituary notice from a Tenby newspaper. viii) Certified Copy of Birth Certificate.
Family Group: Pair: Gunner G. Bate, Royal Artillery British War and Victory Medals (171605 Gnr. G. Bate. R.A.); together with a small generic bronze 1919 peace medal, nearly extremely fine Four: Trooper F. Bate, 3rd Carabiniers, Royal Armoured Corps 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with Army Council enclosure, in card box of issued addressed to ‘Mr. F. Bate, 186 Slazebrook Lane, Slazebrook, Nr. Manchester’, nearly extremely fine (6) £70-£90 --- Sold with Frank Bate’s Burma Star Association Lapel Badge; and several original documents including birth certificate, driving licence and Embarkation Certificate issued by 33 Indian Corps, Army Service Book; Certificate of Transfer to the Reserve; and Soldiers Release Book.
Six: Corporal A. E. Smith, Hampshire Regiment, who was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his services with the British Forces in Siberia during the Russian Intervention British War and Victory Medals (355107 Pte. A. E. Smith. Hamps. R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (217 Pte. A. E. Smith. Hamps. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (355107 Cpl. A. E. Smith. 9/Hamps. R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (355107 Cpl. A. E. Smith. 9/Hamps: R.); Italy, Kingdom, War Cross, bronze, minor edge nicks, nearly very fine and better (6) £500-£700 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 22 January 1920: ‘For valuable service rendered with the British Forces in Siberia.’ Italian War Cross London Gazette 7 May 1920. Albert Edwin Smith attested for the Hampshire Regiment at Bournemouth and served with the 9th Battalion during the Russian Intervention in Siberia. For his services in Russia he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and also received the Italian War Cross. He was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 23 of February 1920. Sold with copied Medal Index Cards.
Three: Private W. W. Goulding, South African Forces British War Medal 1914-20 (Pte. W. W. Goulding C.C.S.); Bilingual Victory Medal 1914-19 (Pte. W. W. Goulding 2nd S.A.H.); together with a Pretoria Citizen’ Great War Tribute Medal 1914-19, bronze, unnamed, some staining to VM, nearly very fine (3) £50-£70
Four: Leading Aircraftman J. Gordon, Royal Air Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with Air Council enclosure and ticker tape confirming rank and number, in named card box of issue addressed to ‘J. Gordon Esq., c/o Cruickshank, 403 Bilsland Drive, Ruchill, Glasgow, N.W.’; together with the recipient’s riband bar; and a Published Services Guide to Alexandria, Fourth Edition, as issued free to British Forces in North Africa, good very fine Four: Attributed to B. Lane, Royal Air Force 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1939, with silver star emblem on riband; together with a matching mounted miniature medal group; riband bar for the Croix de Guerre; R.A.F. shoulder embroidered eagle badge; R.A.F. cap badge; and two sets of named card identity tags to B. Lane, with service numbers 1672182 and 10596201, good very fine (8) £100-£140 --- French Croix de Guerre unconfirmed.
A Second War ‘Pacific Operations’ D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander A. C. K. Yates, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve: decorated for his gallantry and skill in ministering to the wounded of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Indefatigable during Japanese “kamikaze” attacks in 1945, he went on to win the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Marine Medal while serving as Ship’s Surgeon in the R.M.S. Queen Mary in 1955 - one newspaper declaring the latter incident to be ‘one of the most daring rescues ever carried out by a giant liner’s crew’ Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45; Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Marine Medal, bronze (To Arthur K. Yates for Gallant Service, 30/1/55), mounted as worn, good very fine or better (7) £3,600-£4,400 --- D.S.C. London Gazette 23 October 1945: ‘For gallantry, skill and great devotion to duty during operations performed in collaboration with the United States Pacific Fleet in the capture of Okinawa and the Nansei Shoto area, over the period 26 March to 20 April 1945.’ Arthur Charles Kingsgate Yates qualified in medicine at Sydney University in 1922, and served as an Honorary Assistant Gynaecologist at the Royal South Sydney Hospital before coming to the U.K. in 1925, where he was appointed a F.R.C.S. (Edinburgh). Later on, however, he journeyed South to take up an appointment as a Clinical Assistant at the Great Ormonde Street Hospital for Sick Children in London. The War Years Joining the “Wavy Navy” as a Surgeon Lieutenant in November 1939, Yates was serving as a Temporary Acting Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander in the cruiser H.M.S. Hermione by March 1941, in time, therefore, for her part in the Bismarck episode later that year and, indeed, for the action in which she rammed and sank the Italian submarine Tambien off Tunis that August. In fact, as a component of “Force H”, the Hermione went on to see extensive action in the Mediterranean right up until her loss on 16 June 1942, when she was torpedoed north of Sollum by the U-202 - she went down stern first with eight officers and 79 ratings out of her complement of about 450 men. It is probable that Yates was present on the same occasion, for he is still listed as her Surgeon in the Navy List of February 1942. Having then returned to the U.K., where he enjoyed a long posting ashore at President, Yates joined the aircraft carrier Indefatigable. And by early 1945, her F.A.A. aircraft were hotly engaged against assorted Japanese targets in “Operation Iceberg”, when she lent support to the U.S. landings at Okinawa. It was at the commencement of the latter operation, on 1 April 1945, that Indefatigable became the first British victim of a kamikaze aircraft, being hit on the flight deck above her “island” superstructure, the detonation of the Zero’s 500lb. bomb wrecking both flight deck barriers and the briefing room. Moreover, in so far as Yates was concerned, it also wrecked the flight deck sick bay - eight men were killed instantly, and the final casualty total was four officers and ten ratings killed, and 16 wounded. Nor were these the only casualties with which Yates had to contend, F.A.A. aircrew sometimes returning wounded from operations. A case in point would be Sub. Lieutenant D. M. James, R.N.V.R., an Avenger pilot, who was seriously wounded in the thigh by 13mm. shellfire on 17 May 1945 - he carried out an emergency landing on Indefatigable’s flight deck and was taken below to Yates but sadly died of his wounds later that day. Following repairs at Sydney, the Indefatigable returned to an operational footing, and her aircraft were in action right up until 15 August 1945, on which date they fought the last air-to-air combat of the War. Throughout this period she remained under threat from further kamikaze attacks. Most probably, however, the catalyst behind the award of Yates’ D.S.C. dated back to Indefatigable’s first painful experience of “The Divine Wind” on 1 April 1945. High drama in the North Atlantic As evidenced by Yates’ subsequent award of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Marine Medal, his post-war career also took him to sea, and his part in the rescue of two injured seamen from the S.S. Liberator in the North Atlantic on 30 January 1955, was certainly one of high drama - all the more remarkable then that the Queen Mary’s captain later reported that his surgeon ‘looked as fresh and smiling as if he was just going in to bat for his home team in Sydney, Australia’. The Society’s records state: ‘At 15.40 hours on 29 January 1955, the Queen Mary received a radio message from the S.S. Liberator asking for medical aid for two members of crew who were seriously injured. A reply was dispatched immediately informing the Master that the Queen Mary would proceed towards Liberator. A rendezvous was made and the Liberator was reached at 0.30 hours on 30 January. At 2.01 hours the Queen Mary lowered No. 1 sea boat in charge of Mr. L. K. Goodier, Senior 1st Officer, which took across the Ship’s Surgeon, Dr. A. C. K. Yates, and the ship’s Second Dispenser Mr. A. J. Chapman. The Liberator’s gunwale was about 30 feet from the water line and she was rolling heavily. With the ship’s roll and the high sea the boat, when alongside the Liberator was rising and falling approximately 25 feet up and down the ship’s side, against which it was being thrown heavily. When the boat first arrived there was a ladder over the Liberator’s lee side, but so far aft that the boat could not approach it owing to the danger of getting water under the counter, or of going on to the propeller which was half above water. The ladder was eventually moved to amidships, but because of the language difficulties it was decided to put a seaman on board to assist the surgeon and to convey the 1st Officer’s requirements as to boat ropes and lowering lines. Able Seaman Marrington jumped on to the ladder when the boat was on top of a sea - the next sea brought the boat higher up the ship’s side and but for his agility he would have been crushed between the ship and boat. When Marrington got on board he had a line lowered for the Surgeon and Dispenser, who were hoisted up clear of the boat and on to the ladder. From the time the boat left the Queen Mary the wind and sea had been increasing in force to a fresh gale, high sea and heavy confused swell with fierce rain squalls. After getting the Surgeon and Dispenser on board the 1st Officer considered it was too dangerous to lie alongside, or in the lee of the Liberator while the surgeon was examining the injured men, so he returned to lie in the lee of the Queen Mary.’ At this juncture, it was decided to hoist the No. 1 sea boat back aboard the Queen Mary, the latter’s captain remaining convinced that the prevailing conditions would make it near impossible to return to collect Yates and colleagues. He was, therefore, very surprised to receive a radio message reporting that he did indeed intend to return to the Queen Mary with the two injured men. The Society’s records continue: ‘At 3.33 the boat was again lowered and sent away with a different volunteer crew in charge of Mr. P. A. Read, Chief Officer, and reached the Liberator at 03.48 hours. They then took aboard Dr. Yates, the Dispenser and the seamen from the Queen Mary and the two injured seamen from the Liberator and returned to the Queen Mary at 04.27 hours. The second boat’s crew experien...
The A.F.C. awarded to Captain L. L. M. Evans, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, who was killed as a result of an engine failure whilst flying an experimental aircraft from France to England, 9 May 1919, ‘It is difficult to imagine a more tragic situation than that of those three men, uninjured and not drowned, but drifting in their life belts for hours up and down the Channel holding each other up as they died from exhaustion one after another, and were found next morning’ Air Force Cross, G.V.R., in John Pinches case of issue, this with remnants of original named label on underneath, Mint £1,000-£1,400 --- A.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1918. Llewellyn Lewis Meredith Evans was born in November 1897, and was the son of the Vicar of Brightlingsea, Essex. He was educated at St. Cuthbert’s College, Nottinghamshire, and was a Corporal in the O.T.C. Evans cut short his studies at Cambridge, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps in May 1916. He gained his ‘Wings’ in a Maurice Farman Biplane at the Military School in Birmingham, 6 July 1916, and carried out further training as a pilot at C.F.S., Upavon. Evans was employed as an Instructor and Flight Commander at various training squadrons and establishments (A.F.C.). He advanced to Temporary Captain in March 1918, and transferred to the Royal Air Force the following month. Evans was killed in a flying accident, 9 May 1919, in the English Channel near Dover while flying an experimental aircraft from France to England. The following is an extract from his college magazine, 'The Cuthbertian', September 1919 issue No 2: 'It was a great shock to all of us to read in the papers last May that Ll. L. M. Evans was one of the three airmen who were drowned so tragically in the Channel. Evans was Captain of the School during the Last Term of 1915, during which he won a History Exhibition at Magdalene College, Cambridge. The following quotation is taken from the letter of a Priest who knew him since infancy and had been a life-long friend. "In Lllewellyn Evans, S. Cuthbert's has indeed suffered the loss of one of its brightest and best. It is difficult to imagine a more tragic situation than that of those three men, uninjured and not drowned, but drifting in their life belts for hours up and down the Channel holding each other up as they died from exhaustion one after another, and were found next morning. To say exactly where his charm lay would be difficult, but it was chiefly, I think in his undisguised eagerness,and in the unaffected delight he took in everybody and everything." A few days before his death, he had announced his intention of giving up flying on the first opportunity, for he had begun to feel the tremendous strain on his nerves, and of preparing himself for holy orders which had been the ambition of his life. The School has lost one of its best sons, a standing tribute to her influence. The Church on earth has lost an ideal priest. His friends have last one whom it was a joy to have ever met. The very world is the poorer. That is to be set on the other side. His own gain, doubtless, and for us a fragrant and unsullied memory, with a lively hope of meeting him again.’ Captain Evans was buried at Springfield Holy Trinity Churchyard, Essex, and is commemorated on the Chelmsford War Memorial. Sold with the following related items and documents: a selection of items cut from recipient’s tunic including Royal Flying Corps cloth Wings, with A.F.C. horizontal striped riband underneath; 7 R.F.C. Buttons and 2 R.F.C. Collar Badges; R.A.F. Cadet Brigade bronze medal, in case of issue; War Office letter addressed to recipient at The Park, Brightlingsea, Essex, informing him of his selection for appointment as Second Lieutenant on probation in the R.F.C., dated 15 May 1916; Camp Kit List sent in conjunction with the latter letter; and 4 Photographs, including one of recipient in uniform.
Liverpool City Police Good Service Medal, silver, reverse engraved ‘Presented by Watch Committee to Con. 199D. J. B. Jones 19-8-44’, with top silver riband bar; Association of Professional Fire Brigade Officers Long Service Medal, silver, 1 clasp, 10 Years (Supt. J. F. Collins. 1913.); National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal, bronze, 1 clasp, Ten Years, the edge officially impressed ‘10559’ and engraved ‘Sidney Fennell’, the reverse engraved ‘Gellygaer’; National Fire Brigades Union Long Service Medal, silver, 1 clasp, Five Years, with top ‘Twenty Years’ riband bar, the edge officially impressed ‘1141’, and the reverse engraved ‘Presented to C. H. Chinnery, Woodford Fire Brigade, 1914’; together with a Professional Fire Brigade Association lapel bade, generally very fine (5) £80-£100
Pair: Private W. E. Berry, 20th Middlesex (Euston Square) Rifle Volunteer Corps, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in Bronze for saving life at Great Yarmouth in August 1880 Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (2504 Pte. W. E. Berry. 20 / Midd’x. V.R.C.) engraved naming; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (William Ed. Berry. Aug. 26, 1880. Duplicate) with integral top riband buckle, the RHS Medal a Duplicate, light scratches to first and suspension claw crudely re-affixed on latter, nearly very fine (2) £80-£100 --- William Edward Berry was born on 1857 at Brompton, Middlesex. He was a commercial traveller, and at the age of 21, was commended for an award for saving life at Great Yarmouth and was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal (R.H.S. Case No. 21079). The Norwich Mercury of 6 November 1880 reported, under the heading ‘Reward for Bravery’, that: ‘Mr. W. Berry son of Inspector Berry of Gravesend, and late Inspector of the Great Yarmouth Police Force, has been awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze medal for rescuing a young man named Bartram, who was nearly drowned while bathing on the beach last summer.’ In the 1911 Census he is recorded as a commercial traveller for a galvanised iron manufacturer and was residing at Brownhill Rdoad, Catford. Sold with copied research.
A Royal Humane Society group of three awarded to Private J. T. Young, Rifle Brigade, for his gallantry in saving life at West Cowes, Isle of Wight in November 1892 British War and Victory Medals (1036 Pte. J. Young. Rif. Brig.); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (James Thomas Young, 26th. November 1892.) with integral top bronze riband buckle, minor edge bruising, the last polished, nearly very fine (3) £200-£240 --- R.H.S. Case No. 26,259: ‘Whilst sculling a boat between 11 and 12 a.m. on 26 November 1892 at West Cowes, Isle of Wight, Sidney Peach, aged 18, slipped and fell into the water 20 yards from shore. James Thomas Young, a shipwright from West Cowes, jumped from the pier and swam 20 yards, and with great difficulty caught Peach and brought him safely to shore.’ Sold with a photographic image of the recipient in uniform, wearing the Royal Humane Society riband.
Guild of St. George Life Saving Medal, 33mm, silver, the obverse depicting the Pistrucci design of St. George slaying the dragon, the reverse showing Christ and his disciples in a boat during a gale (see Mark, Ch.4, vv.35-41), the edge engraved ‘From T. E. Harvey, Esq., M.P., to H. Alexander for saving life 21.4.1912’, with loop ands ring suspension; together with three related medals, in gilt, silver, and bronze, all unnamed, generally very fine (4) £60-£80 --- Thomas Edmund Harvey (1875-1951) served as Member of Parliament for West Leeds from 1910 to 1918, and was Master of the Guild of St. George from 1934 to 1951.
Shipping Federation Medal for Meritorious Service, 1st (1910) type, silver (A. Hellman 12th. January 1922) unmounted, small test-mark to edge, nearly extremely fine, rare £300-£400 --- Arthur Hellman, an Able Seaman in the S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was, along with Second Officer Robert Spencer; Boatswain Martin Wennerburg; Able Seaman Arthur Edward Clerk; and Donkeyman Henry Fudge, all of the Dalton, awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Bronze; the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society Medal in silver; and the Shipping Federation Medal for Meritorious Service. ‘On the 12th January 1922, the S.S. Tidal of Cardiff, laden with coal, was in distress about 8 miles off the Corton Lightship, near Lowestoft, the vessel having shipped tremendous seas, which caused her to take a heavy and increasing list. In response to signals of distress the S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne came to her assistance, and although the weather conditions were very bad the master of the Dalton decided to try to launch a boat. Volunteers were called for, and after the Dalton had been manoeuvred about 50 yards to the windward of the Tidal a life-boat, in charge of Mr Robert Spencer and manned by the seamen mentioned, was launched and succeeded in rescuing the crew and passengers consisting of ten men, two women, and three children, and safely transferred them to the Dalton. The rescuing boat had only gone some 30 yards on the return journey when the Tidal foundered.’ (The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scrlett refers). A piece of Plate (Salver) value £15 was awarded by the Board of Trade to James J. Shaw, Master of the Dalton, and a pair of Binoculars value £8.2.6 to Robert Spencer, Second Officer. Henry Fudge was subsequently selected for the ‘Emile Robin’ award for 1922.
Royal Life Saving Society Award of Merit, silver (T. E. Harvey 1932); Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Cross (3) (A. Watson July 1954; T. Hawkins; H. Collins 1974); the first with five date bars for 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959, and with top R.L.S.S. riband bar; Royal Life Saving Society Proficiency Medal, bronze (A. Watson June 1953), with four date bars for 1955, 1956, 1957, and 1958, and with top R.L.S.S. riband bar; together with five R.N.L.I. badges, including those for the President of the R.N.L.I. Ladies’ Life-Boat Guild; and the Chairman of the R.N.L.I., generally very fine (10) £70-£90
French Life Saving Society of the Oise, silver medal, 32mm, the reverse engraved ‘L. J. Dubois 2 Février 1868’; French Life Saving Society of the Seine, silver medal, 31mm, the reverse engraved ‘E. L. A. M. Roussel Mbre. Honre. 1885’; French Life Saving Society of the Aisne, silver medal, 40mm, the reverse embossed ‘Prix Arthur Lacroix’; together with a French General Society of Life-Savers bronze medallion, the edge numbered ‘170’; a French Medal for Hygiene, bronze-gilt, the reverse inscribed ‘Eugéne Pétel, Paris 1902’; a French Ministry of Social Affairs Medal of Honour, silver-gilt, ‘Mme. E. Petel 1970’; and a Dutch National Union of Royal Societies Medal for those decorated with life-saving awards, bronze, generally very fine (7) £100-£140 --- Louis Jules Dubois was a member of the fire brigade of 29 years, and was awarded the Life Saving Society of the Oise silver medal for saving the life of the mayor’s wife who dell into the Canal of Ourcy, and also the life of a child who had fallen into a well.
The emotive and extremely well-documented P.D.S.A. Dickin Medal for Gallantry - “The Animals’ V.C.” - and R.S.P.C.A. Red Collar for Valour awarded to War Dog Rob, for his gallantry and outstanding service during the Second World War, during which he undertook 20 parachute descents while serving with Infantry in North Africa and the 2nd S.A.S. Regiment in Italy People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals Dickin Medal for Gallantry, bronze, the reverse inscribed ‘“ROB” War Dog No. 471/322 Attached 2nd. S.A.S. Regt. February 1945 A.F.M.C. No. 998 11’, pierced with ring suspension, and attached by riband to the recipient’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Red Collar For Valour leather collar, this complete with integral R.S.P.C.A. For Valour medallion, with accompanying campaign ribands for the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star and Italy Star, good very fine (lot) £20,000-£30,000 --- Instituted by Maria Dickin, C.B.E., the founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, in 1943, the Dickin Medal has since been awarded on 71 occasions - 32 of them going to pigeons, 34 to dogs, 4 to horses, and 1 to a cat. The vast majority (and all those awards to pigeons) were granted in respect of acts of bravery in the Second World War, but more recently a number of awards have been made to Arms and Explosives Search Dogs of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps for their gallantry in Iraq and Afghanistan. P.D.S.A. Dickin Medal for Gallantry awarded 8 February 1945. The accompanying P.D.S.A. (The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) and A.F.M.C. (Allied Forces Mascot Club) certificate states: ‘This is to certify that Rob, War Dog No 471/322 has been awarded the Dickin Medal for Gallantry for outstanding service including 20 parachute descents while serving with Infantry in North Africa and SAS Regiment in Italy. Signed M. E. Dickin (Founder). Inscription to the reverse reads: ‘War Dog No 471/322 “Rob” took part in the landings in the North African campaign with an Infantry unit. Since September 1943, he has served with a Special Air Force Regiment and took part in operations with that Unit in Italy, most of which were of an unpleasant nature. He was used as patrol and guard over small parties who were lying up in enemy occupied territory. There is no doubt that his presence with these parties saved many of them from being discovered, and thereby captured or killed. The Dog has made over 20 parachute descents.’ Rob, a black-and-white collie-retriever, was bought as a puppy in 1939 for 5 shillings, and lived his early years with the Bayne family of Tetchill, Ellesmere, Shropshire, as their farm dog and pet. When Rob was still a small puppy, he went on an exploration beyond the boundaries of Tetchill and was brought home by John Brunt, then a schoolboy at Ellesmere College. John became a frequent visitor, taking Rob for walks when time allowed. After leaving college John joined the army and led a distinguished career until he was killed in action. On the day that Rob received the ‘animal V.C.’, it was announced that John had been posthumously awarded the V.C., a strange but sad coincidence that the boy and a dog who roamed the Shropshire fields together should both have received the highest honour. At the time of receiving the award, his owner, Edward Bayne, told the Oban Times how caring he had been as a farm dog: ‘He used to help settle the chicks in their houses at night, picking them up in his mouth when they had strayed away - he had a wonderful mouth - and tucking them in under their mothers.’ The Baynes’ son, Basil, had learnt to walk by holding onto Rob’s tail or clutching his coat, and if the child was crying Rob put his front paws up on the pram, soothed him and made him laugh. Rob’s owners volunteered him as a War Dog in 1942 and he was signed up on 19 May of that year. Following action in the North Africa campaign, from September 1943 Rob served with the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), the first war dog to do so. With the regiment, he took part in operations in Italy, parachuting in on sabotage missions. According to official War Office records, Rob completed more than 20 parachute descents, 3 of them operational. An account included with the lot gives further details of his war-time exploits: ‘At nearby Sousse, the 2nd S.A.S., then virtually unknown, had their training base. Captain Burt was a very worried man. The commanding officer was away ill and stores were disappearing in a most disconcerting way. Captain Burt asked the holding section for 2 dogs. One developed skin disease and was returned - the other was Rob, who proved more than equal to the task. He soon became race conscious and pilfering Arabs became honest men over night! It was from there that the 2nd S.A.S. practised their parachute drops and one day the men smuggled Rob up in the plane for a ride. It was all they could do to prevent him from jumping out after the men. So they borrowed a harness from a nearby American base who were trying to train dogs to jump and on the next flight up, again took Rob with them. This time Rob jumped and on landing the men ran to him to release him from the parachute. He had made a perfect drop, falling silently without panic through the air. It was only at this point that the commanding officer was informed of the fact that Rob had been airborne and from then on his training began in earnest.’ The account tells how Rob later completed three separate sabotage missions behind enemy lines. A letter from Jennifer Hodges, daughter of Victor (Sam) Redhead, Rob’s S.A.S. handler, confirms Redhead’s account of how Rob would ‘eagerly parachute ahead of my father and his S.A.S. group and then bring them together as soon as possible after they had landed’. The letter continues: ‘While the soldiers were sleeping Rob would patrol round them and lick their faces to bring them to instant wakefulness at the slightest sound. On one mission, he went missing for five weeks but in that time he rounded up all the widely scattered members of his 2nd S.A.S. patrol and they returned home safely’. (letter included with lot refers). Rob was the first War Dog attached to the S.A.S. to be awarded the ‘animal V.C.’, and was reportedly the only War Dog to have been nominated for the Dickin Medal by the War Office. He was presented with his Dickin Medal by Major the Hon. W. P. Sidney V.C. M.P. (later Viscount de L’Isle, V.C., K.G., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O.), the Anzio beachhead hero, at a ceremony at the Prisoner of War Funds Exhibition in London on 8 February 1945. Demobilised on 27 November 1945, Rob led the Wembley Parade of 32 war dogs on 16 July 1947 in front of 10,000 spectators, being the only dog present to hold both the Dickin Medal and the R.S.P.C.A. Red Collar and Medallion for Valour. Following his wartime exploits, Rob was returned to the Baynes and settled back into family life on the farm, occasionally making public appearances to help raise funds for returning Prisoners of War and their families. In February 1948 he disappeared for five days with his companion, the Baynes’ other dog, Judy, a spaniel. Extensive press coverage accompanied the disappearance, with some papers expressing the fear that Rob might have been kidnapped, The Daily Graphic describing him as ‘the no. 1 canine hero of the war’. Five days later he was found by a neighbouring farmer, his face gashed and suffering from exhaustion, with Judy standing guard over him, his collar and ribbon missing. It appeared that he had been caught in a rabbit hole. His damaged collar, now missing its buckle, was later recovered, an...
Action off Tory Island Medal 1798, 38mm, copper, the obverse showing the uniformed bust of Sir John Warren Bt. facing, the reverse depicting British and French ships engaged in battle; The Wreck of H.M.S. Foudroyant Medal 1897, 38mm, copper, the obverse showing the uniformed bust of Lord Nelson facing, the reverse depicting the Foudroyant; Jutland Commemorative Medal 1916 (2), both 45mm, the first in bronze, the second in white metal; together with a cast copy of the Sinking of the S.S. Lusitania Medal 1915, 55mm, bronze, nearly extremely fine (5) £100-£140 --- The first referenced in British Historical Medals 456 and Eimer 896; the second referenced in British Historical Medals 3613 and Eimer 1813.
Northumberland Fusiliers Merit Medal 1836 (2), 34mm, silver, for 14 years’ service, the obverse featuring St. George slaying the Dragon, ‘Quo Fata Vocant’ on scroll above, the reverse inscribed ‘V Northumberland Fusiliers Merit March 10th. 1767’ within wreath, unnamed; 34mm, bronze, for 7 years’ service, inscribed as above, unnamed with loose bronze clip and ring suspension, the first crudely pierced twice for ring suspension, edge bruising, polished, therefore good fine (2) £60-£80
A selection of miscellaneous medals, including a St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association medal for service in the St. Andrew’s Ambulance Corps (W. Bannoche.); a New South Wales Ambulance Transport Service Board Long Service Medal (T. Ryan 1926.); a St. John Ambulance Association Re-Examination Cross, bronze ‘162465 Willis H. Norkett’; Irish Association of Knights of the Sovereign and Military Order of Malta Ambulance Corps Medal ‘Anthony Morrissey K.M. 1973’; an Order of St. John and British Red Cross Society Services Rendered Medal ‘Geoffret Dawson Jan. 1919’; a St. John Ambulance War Service Medallion, with ‘Dublin’ suspension bar, unnamed; a Royal Hospital School Medal, unnamed; and an Irish War Hospital Supply Depot lapel badge, generally very fine (lot) £60-£80
A selection of miscellaneous medals, including a Medallion to commemorate the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Ireland in 1868, this in poor condition; a Great War Tribute Medal from the Citizens of Lidcombe 1918, silver (Cpl. W. E. Simpson); a Great War Silver War Badge ‘132571’, with brass wound stripe; a London County Council ‘King’s Medal’ for good attendance, silver, 1 clasp, 1911-12 (F. Kitchen.), with an undated second clasp, and ‘L.C.C.’ top riband bar; a London County Council ‘King’s Medal’ for good attendance, bronze, 1 clasp, 1911-12 (M. Chatfield.), with ‘L.C.C.’ top riband bar; two Association of Conservative Clubs Distinguished Service Medals, bronze and enamel, the first with two ‘Five Years’ clasps, ‘M. J. Blades 1904’; the second with three ‘Five Years’ clasps, ‘H. Edmunds 1957’, both with top ‘Distinguished Service’ riband bars; a Salvation Army Long and Faithful Service Medal, silver and enamel, ‘Major George W. P. Read. 1917’; three Safe Driving Competition Badges, the first the War substitute for the Gold Medal, ‘E. A. Owen’, with top 1941 riband bar; the second a 5 years Driver Award, ‘E. A. Owen’, with top 1936 riband bar; the third a bronze medal for 25 Years, 1926-1950, ‘G. P. Lucking’, with additional clasps for 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954, and top 1950 25 [Years] riband bar; a British Securicor Medal for Long Service, silver, unnamed; three National Saving Bank Long Service Badges, for 7 Years, 15 Years, and 20 Years; a Royal Irish Rangers 1689-1989 Commemorative Medal, unnamed; a Gordon Highlanders Glengarry cap badge; a Canadian lapel badge; a Yachtsman lapel badge; a George IV pendant with five miscellaneous tokens; a Royal Dublin Society silver oval medallion, ‘Spring Show 1939, Long Service Award, Edward Farrelly, 42 Years Service’; a U.S.S. Constellation Commissioning Medallion 1961, bronze; and a Pakistan Republic Medal 1956, generally very fine (lot) £100-£140
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