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Lot 18
Dr. Njoku Kenneth, "Bond", bronze sculpture, 95 x 28 x 29cm, 18kg, c. 2017. This piece presents figures of a mother and her child. Although in semi abstract forms, the dedicated mood of immeasurable love of the mother over her child is conspicuous. It still remains inexhaustibly unimaginable the mystery of the bond between a mother and her child no matter the circumstance. Shipping to the UK £750.
Lot 19
Dr. Njoku Kenneth, "Egedege", bronze sculpture, 153 x 45 x 23cm, 21kg, c. 2012. Egedege brings to fore a young dancer in ecstatic mood. It further emphasizes through body language the happiness, warmth and kindness of a people who choose to celebrate all events as a mark of thanksgiving in spite of the state of their economy. Shipping to the UK £820.
Lot 20
Dr. Njoku Kenneth, "Mma (beauty)", bronze sculpture, 117 x 26 x 30cm, 20kg, c. 2021. Mma presents an innocent-looking teenager in her prime. The artist through this piece invites all and sundry to his world of beauty. The natural endowment of the continent is without measures. The piece speaks beyond visuals concerning the inexorable beauty of Africa. Shipping to the UK £780.
Lot 21
Dr. Njoku Kenneth, "Royal kiss", bronze sculpture, 51 x 20 x 23cm, 6kg, c. 2016. This presents to us the form of a maiden in traditional royal outfit. A closer look at the face reveals an outline that is suggestive of a mask. It is a common knowledge that masks are instruments of deceit. Therefore the artist is lending his voice to the stoic and deafening silence of betrayal, deceit and conspiracy between the ruling class and the insurgents in his country. In his vision, the ongoing treachery and subsequent loss of trust and confidence among the led, against the ruling class, could pull a dangerous surprise one cold morning. Shipping to the UK £235.
Lot 23
Dr. Njoku Kenneth, "Trance", bronze sculpture, 182 x 41 x 30cm, 30kg, c. 2017. Presents a beautifully fashioned lady in simple traditional attire. Her elegant body frame is held firmly on the base by the tips of her toes. This indeed stands her tall among her supposed equals. This piece is a tribute to people who have been able to withstand life’s storms (especially women), those who have weathered the storms of life, people who have succeeded where many others failed and those who have made impact with their little ways and means. You are truly tall among equals. Shipping to the UK £1150.
Lot 2701
SKULPTUR: "Leopard", gearbeitet in Anlehnung an den Benin - Stil, Nigeria. Bronze, braun patiniert und mit goldfarbenen Akzentuierungen. Mit aufgestellten Ohren und mit durch Kreiselemente mit Spiralmuster dargestellter Fellzeichnung stilisiert gearbeiteter stehender Leopard. H. 20 x L. 37 x B. 11 cm.
Lot 2714
nach BOCCIONI, UMBERTO (Reggio Calabria 1882-1916 Verona), Skulptur: "Urform der Bewegung im Raum", Bronze, hellbraun patiniert auf Marmorpostament; posthumer, neuzeitlicher Reduktionsguss der Skulptur von 1913 (Museum of Modern Art in New York); vertieft bezeichnet "Boccioni" und mit Gießeremblem "Fonderie Au Bords De Seine". H. 18 x L. 14 x B. 5,3 cm. Der Bildhauer, Maler und Grafiker Boccioni gilt als Hauptvertreter und Theoretiker des FUTURISMUS und suchte in seinen dynamischen Arbeiten Bewegung und Geräusche darzustellen, indem er gleichzeitig verschiedene Ansichten der Gegenstände darstellte und versuchte, durch verwischte Formen und Konturen gleichzeitig mehrere aufeinanderfolgende Bewegungsmomente abzubilden, die nacheinander gelesen werden müssen, um zu einer Einheit, gewissermaßen einem Bewegungsablauf, zu verschmelzen.
Lot 2730
RHEINNOLD (BILDHAUER DES 21. JH.), Skulptur: "Affe als Denker", Bronze, hellbraun patiniert und farbig akzentuiert, auf Marmorpostament, vertieft signiert "Rheinnold" und auf Gießeremblem u. a. bezeichnet "Bronze - Austria". Neuzeitlicher Guss in Anlehnung an die Skulptur von Hugo Reinold (Oberlahnstein 1853-1900 Berlin): "Die Darwin'sche Evolutionstheorie aus der Sicht des Affen". Naturalistisch gearbeiteter Schimpanse, auf einem Stapel Bücher sitzend und einen Schädel betrachtend. H. 14 x B. 8,2 x T. 12,5 cm.
Lot 2734
DE COUX (Bildhauer des 20. Jh.), Skulptur: "Liegende Katze", Bronze, grün patiniert auf Marmorpostament, vertieft signiert "De COUX" und mit Gießeremblem "Bronze BJB Garanti" bezeichnet; 2. Hälfte 20. Jh.. Im Stile des Art déco und in Anlehnung an Arbeiten des belgischen Bildhauers Michel Decoux (Lüttich 1837-1924 ebd.) gearbeitete vollplastische Katze. H. 16,5 x L. 35 x B. 14 cm.
Lot 2749
WIENER BRONZE: "Schwein", 20. Jh., Bronze mit bewegter Oberfläche und farbig gefasst mit Kaltmalerei. Naturalistisch gearbeitetes Schwein, vertieft gemarkt mit Krugmotiv und Monogramm "BR" in Anlehnung an das Signet und die Entwürfe der Firma Bergmann; neuzeitlicher Guss. H. 13,5 x L. 19,5 x B. 7 cm.
Lot 2752
nach KAUBA, CARL (1865-1922) - SKULPTUR / WIENER BRONZE : "SPÄHENDER INDIANER", wohl 2. H. 20. Jh., patinierte Bronzeskulptur auf Natursteinpostament. Signiert "Curts"; Carl Kauba fertigte Skulpturen unter dem Pseudonym "T. Curts" an - hier jedoch nur mit "Curts" signiert. Posthumer neuzeitlicher Guss. Ferner mit Gießerstempel "Thenn / Copyright Vienna" und bezeichnet "Gesetzl. Geschützt". Detailliert gearbeitete Vollfigur eines stehenden Indianers, die rechte Hand auf ein Gewehr gestützt und die linke Hand als Blendschutz an die Stirn gelegt. Indianer zählten zu den bevorzugten Motiven Carl Kaubas. Bronze H. 22 cm; Gesamtmaße H. 27,5 x L. 17,5 x B. 11,5 cm.
Lot 2756
PITTALUGA (Bildhauer des 20. Jh.), Skulptur: "Stehender weiblicher Akt", Bronze, hellbraun patiniert mit goldfarbenen Akzentuierungen, auf dem runden Postament vertieft signiert "Pittaluga" und auf Gießeremblem "JB Deposée Facbrication Bronze Paris Garantee" bezeichnet; profilierter Marmorsockel. Im Kontrapost stehender weiblicher Akt mit erhobenem Armen, sich das Haar richtend; 2. Hälfte 20. Jh.. H. 38 cm.
Lot 2757
nach DEGAS, EDGAR (1834-1917), Skulptur: "Petite danseuse de quatorze ans" (Originaltitel; "Kleine Tänzerin von vierzehn Jahren"), Bronze auf Marmorpostament, hellbraun patiniert und farbig akzentuiert. Auf einem querrechteckigem Postament stehendes Mädchen mit hinter dem Rücken verschränkten Händen, der rechte Fuß seitlich vorgestellt; der Kopf ist leicht nach hinten geneigt, die Augen sind nahezu geschlossen. Posthumer, neuzeitlicher Guss / Reduktionskopie nach der ursprünglich in Wachs gefertigten und naturalistisch bemalten Tänzerin, die Degas als einzige seiner plastischen Arbeiten zu Lebzeiten ausstellte. Auf der Plinthe vertiefte Künstlerbezeichnung und auf Gießeremblem "Bronze AB Austria" bezeichnet. H. 38 x B. 18 x T. 13 cm.
Lot 2758
COLLINET, PIERRE (Bildhauer des 20./21. Jh.), Skulptur: "Junge Frau, auf einem Hocker sitzend", vertieft signiert "Pierre Collinet". Dunkelbraun und hellbraun patinierte Bronze mit goldenen Akzentuierungen; auf "JBJ" monogrammierter Gießerplakette bezeichnet "Bronze Garanti". Vollplastische junge Frau, gearbeitet mit Einflüssen des Jugendstils und nach Vorbildern Chiparus, der verschiedene weibliche Figuren auf nahezu identisch gestaltetem Hocker variierte. H. 29,5 cm.
Lot 266
Japanese bamboo page turner decorated with a figure in a garden, 40cm, black page turner carved "P.O.W. Boar Comp. Ceylon 1902", 25cm, another decorated with a fuschia, simulated tortoiseshell page turner decorated with a Crane and foliage, 29cm, a brass coloured Art Nouveau style letter opener stamped on reverse "Fait Main Bronze", 21cm, another with stud work, 27cm.
Lot 391
A vintage rhodium-plated and paste brooch of a swift in flight, 94mm x 58mm; a gilt metal and paste set brooch in the form of a leaping gazelle, 48mm x 89mm; a gilt metal and paste set bambi brooch, 52mm x 40mm; a small gilt bronze and paste set bambi brooch, 36mm x 22mm; a base metal and paste set stag brooch, 40mm x 35mm; a plastic fob pin in the form of a monkey on a branch, with a larger monkey suspended underneath, naturalistic colours, 85mm x 35mm; and other brooches in the form of deers and monkeys.
Lot 108
Three: Lieutenant C. A. Campbell, 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, who was killed in action near Audregnies during the Retreat from Mons on 24 August 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut C. A. Campbell, Ches. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieutenant C. A. Campbell.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Arthur Campbell); together with a Cheshire Regiment cap badge and a framed portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform, this last contained in a small bronze oval frame, plaque with small drill holes at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, otherwise extremely fine (4) £1,400-£1,800 --- Charles Arthur Campbell was born on 3 June 1891 at Paddington, London. He was the eldest son of Arthur and Annabella Campbell of Wye House, Downview Road, West Worthing, Sussex and was educated at Downside School and the Royal Military College Sandhurst where he became a Gentleman Cadet. Having entered the Cheshire Regiment as a Second Lieutenant on 11 October 1911, he was posted to the 1st Battalion in Ireland and received advancement to Lieutenant on 4 April 1914. With the onset of war, Campbell landed at Havre with his battalion on 16 August 1914 and a week later was entrenched with D Company, under Captain E. R. Jones, astride the Mons Road. Pressured into a withdrawal, on 24 August Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. Boger, in command of the battalion, deployed his companies in an unprepared defensive line in open fields between the 1st Norfolk’s positions to the north east in front of Èlouges and the 9th Lancers at Audregnies. Here then, under orders to hold up the enemy advance to allow the bulk of the 5th Division to retreat, this rearguard started to come under attack from four enemy regiments, each of three battalions, advancing from Quiévrain and Bois de Déduit to the north. Failing to receive the order to retire from his superior - Colonel Ballard of the 1st Norfolks - Boger believed his Battalion was to hold its ground at all costs, thus condemning it to virtual annihilation. D Company, positioned on the right flank straddling the railway line near Elouges and close to the Norfolks, became aware of the order to retire sooner than most however - as described in the regimental history of the Cheshire Regiment: ‘Captain Jones, with support platoons of “D” Company on the right, must have received early news of the withdrawal, either from the groups of cavalry which were retiring through his position or from the left company of the 1st Norfolks. Although it is impossible to say with any accuracy at what time the various occurrences took place - everyone was too fully occupied to glance at their watches - it seems clear that these platoons started to retire down the mineral railway about the same time as the two left platoons of “B” Company withdrew from the left flank (3 p.m.)’ Captain Jones, Lieutenant Campbell and other men from D Company are known to have retreated to the Audregnies-Elouges Road and at some point in the confusion of the afternoon they encountered Major Chetwynd-Stapleton, the senior regimental major who, recognising the dangerous position of B Company on the left and the importance of Audregnies for the security of the left flank, was trying to find Lieutenant-Colonel Boger. As he left, Chetwynd-Stapleton gave orders for Lieutenants Campbell and Matterson to reinforce Captain Shore of B Company on the left. Campbell was shot and killed shortly afterwards: ‘Matterson led the way, with Campbell about a yard behind him, and in passing an exposed gap, where the bank was low and exposed to fire, Campbell - a most popular young officer - was shot through the head by machine gun bullets. He was temporarily buried near to where he fell and a few days later removed to the cemetery at Audregnies. (The Cheshire Regiment and the Miniature Colour at Mons by F. Simpson refers) Lieutenant Matterson’s own account of the Battle at Audregnies came to light in 2015 when it was made available by his granddaughter. Written in his diary just seven days after the battle whilst he was already a prisoner at Fort Bruckenhopf, Torgau, Matterson’s account provides further valuable insight into the proceedings that day and contains the following extracts pertaining to Campbell: ‘12.30pm. At about this hour we were lying flat, trying to answer the fire, and we couldn’t see the Germans advancing, whilst thousands of shells screamed over us. Pte Corcoran, lying beside me, was hit and I took his rifle and fired with it. The order then came to retire to the sunken road, and I waited with a few men till the last, then ran back under heavy fire. When I got to the road, I found Capt Jones and Lt Campbell and men of their Coy, and I realised that I had been very lucky to get back unhit, as they were firing very wildly from a bad position and several bullets from our men barely missed us. I found that our position was more hopeless then ever – a very bad field of fire, in fact we had to kneel on the top of the bank to see at all. This I did using Corcoran’s rifle. Major Stapylton was on our left with Capts. Dyer, Jolliffe and Massy etc. I moved off to see what was going on. 1pm. I met Major Stapylton who said that he wanted the left reinforced i.e. Shore who was in or near Audregnies. I volunteered to go to the left flank with Campbell and we started to go to where Lt. Jacobs was commanding a platoon. I said, “Come on, Jock, we’ll reinforce the left”, and Campbell answering, ran after me. Two paces behind me he fell, hit through the head, and he died almost at once.’ ‘4.30pm. I then helped in looking after the wounded. I found many killed. Jolliffe was hit very badly twice and Massy once. The rest of the evening we spent tending the wounded. At sunset we buried Campbell together with Garston [sic Garstin], a subaltern of the 9th Lancers. I then went out to look for Jackson, who I heard was wounded, and found him, doing what I could for him. I got a doctor to him but I fear he died. I spent the most awful night of my life on the field, midst the dead and dying.’ At roll call that night at Les Bavay there were 6 Officers, a Warrant Officer and 199 men - a loss of 78%, most of which was caused in the withdrawal. Three Officers and 54 men were killed in action that day and a further 15 Officers and 490 other ranks reported missing, many wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel C. R. Ballard of the Norfolk Regiment later commented, ‘I had no intention of sacrificing the Cheshire - but I firmly believe now that the sacrifice saved the 5th Division. … It was due to the gallantry of these two Battalions [1st Cheshires & 1st Norfolks] that the Division was able to extricate itself.’ Campbell’s remains were later re-interred in Cement House Cemetery, Belgium.
Lot 134
Family group: Four: Captain Sir Edward A. Stewart-Richardson, Bart., 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), late Queensland Mounted Infantry, who died on 28 November 1914, from the effects of wounds received the previous month at Ypres Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Driefontein, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901, the date clasp a tailor’s copy (Capt: Sir E. A. S. Richardson. Q’land M.I.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt Sir E. A. Stewart-Richardson. Bt: R. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. Sir E. A. Stewart-Richardson. Bt.) nearly extremely fine Four: Major I. R. H. Stewart-Richardson, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, who was seriously wounded and Mentioned in Despatches for the Battle of the Campoleone Salient, Anzio, January 1944 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. Oak Leaf, with Army Council enclosure and Army Medal Office enclosure in card box of issue addressed to ‘Major Sir I. R. H. Stewart-Richardson, Lyndale, Longcross, Surrey’; together with the related four mounted miniature awards; King’s Badge in box of issue; and wartime issued smaller bronze M.I.D oak leaf emblems (2) to be worn on uniform, the last with War Office letter giving instructions for wearing, extremely fine The mounted group of six miniature dress medals attributed to Temporary Captain C. T. H. Richardson, M.C., Royal Field Artillery, who was decorated for gallantry at Tobruk, 1941 Military Cross, G.VI.R.; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (lot) £2,000-£3,000 --- Sir Edward Austin Stewart-Richardson, 15th Baronet, the eldest son of Sir James Stewart-Richardson, 14th Bart., of Pentcaitland, Pitfour Castle, Perth, was born at Edinburgh on 24 July 1872 and was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Glenalmond, Perthshire. In September 1890 he joined the 3rd Battalion, Royal Highlanders, being promoted Lieutenant in March 1892, and Captain in February 1900. From 1899 to 1902 he was A.D.C. to Lord Lamington, the Governor of Queensland. In the South African War he served with the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch and with the Queensland Mounted Infantry, taking part in the operations in the Orange River Free State, including the action at Vet River, and in the Orange River Colony, including the actions at Rhenoster River, Wittebergen, and Wittepoort, for which he received the Queen’s Medal with five clasps. On volunteering for service in the Great War, he was attached to the 1st Battalion of his old regiment, the Black Watch, arriving with them in France on 22 September 1914, and died in London on 28 November the same year, of wounds received at Gheluvelt on 27 October during the First Battle of Ypres. He had married Lady Constance Mackenzie, younger daughter of Francis, 2nd Earl of Cromartie, in 1904, and left two sons. (The Bond of Sacrifice by Col. L. A. Clutterbuck refers). Sir Ian Rorie Hay Stewart-Richardson, 16th Baronet, the eldest son of the above, was born on 25 September 1904 and was educated at the Imperial Service College, 1919-1922. Prior to the Second World War he travelled widely - adventures which are alluded to in the History of the Irish Guards in the Second World War by Major D. J. L. Fitzgerald, M.C.: ‘Then came Major Rory Stewart-Richardson. He was almost too cheerful. His large face, with sandy hair all over it, glowed, and he began to fill in the time by telling a familiar story of one of his macabre adventures in New Guinea. He had once, it seems, found a gold mine in some desolate jungle. “Unfortunately, my two companions died of fever on the way back,” it always ended, and he could never understand why everybody always laughed.’ Commissioned Second Lieutenant into the Irish Guards on 12 October 1939, he served with them during the Second World War initially in North Africa receiving promotion to War Substantive Lieutenant 12 April 1941, Temporary Captain 8 January 1942, War Substantive Captain 19 September 1942 and Temporary Major 19 September 1942. In command of No. 1 Company, 1st Battalion during Operation Shingle - the Allied amphibious landing at Anzio - his unit was among the first onto the beach on 22 January 1944. Meeting stronger than expected resistance in the attempted breakout and driven back to the beachhead, the 1st Irish Guards were involved in heavy fighting at Carroceto, 25-26 January 1944 repelling several enemy attacks and also experienced heavy casualties in the Battle of the Campoleone Salient, 30 January - 3 February 1944. Although inflicting heavy losses on the German forces, at Campoleone the 1st Irish Guards became surrounded and, confronting armour, were forced to fight their way back through to allied lines, Major Stewart-Richardson being among the wounded: ‘“When the companies got the order to withdraw,” wrote Major FitzGerald afterwards, “the situation was not very bright. We decided to take the obvious route back down the railway line. As we were quietly leaving our positions a German officer came running towards us flourishing a revolver. He was duly killed, but the shots attracted the attention of a nest of machine-gunners.” Whole belts of bullets swept across the open stretch of ground that lay between the sunken road and the nearest cutting on the railway line. Only a man who could run had any chance of surviving. The wounded were collected in the safest place, under the bridge over the sunken road. The remainder, under Major Rory Stewart-Richardson, made a dash for the embankment. “The Bren gun covering fire was not very effective, because of the long range and the number of German machine guns, and the companies received rather heavy casualties getting into the embankment. The Companies paused in the embankment while they prepared to fight their way back down the railway line. The only help they could get was smoke. Lieutenant Patrick Da Costa led off the first platoon. He was killed almost immediately and his platoon broken into small parties by a German attack. Lance-Corporal O’Brien took command of the largest fragment and brought them back to No. 4 Company by bounds. He himself, with a Bren gun, provided the covering for each bound, running the gauntlet every time to catch up with his party and cover them over the next stretch of open ground. The other platoons followed by slightly different routes. Lieutenant Stephen Preston was killed by machine-gun fire from the flank as he came out of the first railway cutting with the second platoon. Major Stewart Richardson, following behind, was wounded over the eye by a mortar fragment, but could still see enough to gather the platoon and return the Germans’ fire, while Lieutenant Bartlet, behind him, led his platoon slightly left down a gully. Lieutenant Brand, with the last platoon and Company H.Q., joined Major Stewart-Richardson and together they launched an attack down the railway line. It was a bloody little battle. Squads of Germans dotted along the railway, who had lain low during the night, now resisted savagely. The German mortars fired indiscriminately along the railway line. They did not seem to care whether or not they hit their own troops, but they must have done, and they certainly killed and wounded numbers of Guardsmen. The German 88-mm. guns by the cross-roads joined in firing air bursts. Through this turmoil of mixed fire, over the bodies of their friends who had been killed the night before, the Guardsmen attacked post after post, driving the Germans back before them into the waiting arms and muzzles of No. 4 Company. Slightly less than half of the two companies who had set out the previous night reached No. 4 Company that ...
Lot 136
An outstanding Great War 1918 ‘Battle of Epehy’ D.C.M., 1917 ‘Battle of Cambrai’ M.M. and 1918 ‘Western Front’ Second Award Bar, Belgian Croix de Guerre group of six awarded to Sergeant F. L. Livings, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, an ‘Old Contemptible’ who was bombed, bayoneted, shot and gassed during the course of his distinguished service on the Western Front Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (23186 Sjt: F. Livings. M.M. 9/Essex R.); Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (23186 Cpl.-Sjt: - F. Livings. 9/Essex R.); 1914 Star, with clasp (7433 Pte. F. Livings. 2/Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (7433 Sjt. F. Livings. Essex R.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, good very fine (6) £3,000-£4,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919, citation published 10 January 1920: ‘For most conspicuous gallantry and initiative. On 24th September, 1918, the enemy made a determined attack on our positions east of Epehy, and succeeded in entering our trench. He immediately collected a few men with bombs and a Lewis gun and rushed forward, bombing the enemy, who fled towards their own line. He thereupon seized the Lewis gun and advanced along the parapet, firing on the enemy, who left a machine gun and thirteen dead.’ M.M. London Gazette 19 March 1918. M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 12 June 1918. Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 12 July 1918. Frederick Louis Livings was born on 8 January 1888 at North Weald, Essex, and attested for the Essex Regiment on 2 January 1903 at Warley, Essex, declaring himself to be aged 18 years and 11 months. He deserted in September 1903 and, following conviction, forfeited his prior service and recommenced his service from 15 October 1903. Livings served with the 2nd Battalion in Malta from April 1904 to March 1906, where he was hospitalised with enteric and continued to be the subject of regular entries in the Regimental Defaulter Sheet, his catalogue of offences ranging from neglect of equipment and absenteeism to drunkenness and insolence. Returning home he was transferred to the Section B Reserve on 14 October 1906 having completed 3 years of qualifying service and yet still only 18 years of age. Mobilised for duty in 1914 following the outbreak of war, Livings disembarked on 24 August at Havre, France with the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment. He was appointed Acting Corporal on 4 September 1914 and Acting Sergeant on 21 October 1914 seeing action with his battalion at Le Cateau, the Marne, the Aisne and Messines during the opening months of the war. On 13 May 1915 he received bayonet wounds to the stomach and a gun-shot wound to the left thigh during the 2nd Battalion’s successful counter-attack near St. Jean on a 1000 yard frontage of front line from Shelltrap Farm to Fortuin-Weltje Road. John Burrows in his history of the 2nd Essex records how, ‘within ten minutes (8.30am) A and B Companies moved forward, the attack being splendidly carried out in quick time and marked by great dash and determination. Subjected to shrapnel and high explosive shell-fire, they reached the ridge, when heavy machine gun fire swept them, but they never faltered. Within 300 yards of the objective the men charged at the double. The counter-attack of the Essex was carried out in full view of the London Rifle Brigade, who stood up in their trenches to cheer as the Pompadours went forward. The casualties were 37 killed, 94 wounded and 49 missing.’ Hospitalised at Versailles and then repatriated via Hospital Ship to England, he was discharged to light duty with the 3rd Battalion and underwent an operation to extract shrapnel from his abdomen in November 1915. Upon recovery, Livings rejoined his regiment with the B.E.F., disembarking in Boulogne on 20 July 1917. Posted to the 9th Battalion, he proceeded to the front and joined his battalion for duty on 16 August. He was promoted Sergeant (A Company) on 11 December 1917, immediately after his battalion’s participation in the Battle of Cambrai and was awarded the Military Medal, his M.M. being published in an edition of the gazette which almost exclusively carried awards for the Cambrai operations. The battalion war diary’s report of their attack on the Hindenburgh Line on 20 November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai emphasises the difficult work carried out by A Company, of which Livings was a Platoon Sergeant, and contains the following extracts: ‘On 20 November 1917 the Battalion, in conjunction with many other troops, took part in a large attack on the Hindenburgh Line in co-operation with tanks. One company of tanks, i.e. 12 tanks, were allotted to the battalion for the operation. All 4 companies were in the first wave. Our objective was two line of trenches in front of the Hindenburgh Line known as Bleak Trench and Barrack Support. Zero was set for 6.30am. At zero-10 the tanks started and a heavy barrage was put down on all the enemy trenches and batteries. All Companies after this delay [initially some tanks became stuck] reached and consolidated their objectives. Many Boches were killed or captured and in addition a vast supply of all kinds of ammunition and stores including heavy mortar, two medium, three heavy M.G.s and two light light ones and several grenaten-werfer. The Boche made no immediate counter attack. ‘A’ Company under Captain Capper had the most difficult consolidation but this was well carried out by this officer.’ A few months later Livings received a Second Award Bar to his M.M and the Belgian Croix de Guerre; these awards are likely to have been made in connection with the 9th Battalion’s robust defence of the line at Albert, 26 March - 9 April, during the German Spring Offensive on the Somme. Severely wounded in the field on 13 July 1918, he was hospitalised for some time at Rouen and rejoined his Battalion on 9 September. On 24 September 1918, during the Battle of Epehy, Sergeant Livings repulsed a German attack on the Battalion’s trenches and was recognised with the award of the D.C.M. The uncensored post war citation revealing the date and place of the action. The Battalion war diary for the day in question adds further detail: ‘At 3am the enemy again attempted to take our front line in the vicinity of Heythorp Post and Little Preill Farm. One battalion of the 3rd Guards Division advanced on our trenches and entered them between the posts, Sgt. Livings of ‘A’ Company with 2 or 3 men ejected them causing many casualties to the enemy’. Badly wounded again on 28 September, he was admitted to a field hospital with severe bomb wounds to the head, face and right thigh. He returned to England once more on 2 October 1918 to recover and was discharged from hospital on 14 October, returning to light duty once more. Sergeant Livings was discharged on the termination of his period of engagement on 31 March 1920, his pension accounting for service aggravated deafness, abdominal gunshot wounds, gunshot wounds to left thigh, concussion, bomb wounds and shortness of breath caused by mustard gas. He died in 1976 at Poplar, London.
Lot 144
An important 1914 ‘Le Cateau’ D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-General Sir B. F. Burnett-Hitchcock K.C.B., Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), who, whilst a Captain on the Staff of the 4th Division, was decorated for gallantry in rallying disordered troops and leading them against the enemy at Haucourt, 26 August 1914 - seven times Mentioned in Despatches for the Great War, he subsequently rose to command the 55th (West Lancs) Division and the Deccan District (4th Indian Division) Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (Capt. B. F. Burnett-Hitchcock, Derby: Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt: B. Burnett-Hitchcock Notts: & Derby: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Brig. Gen. B. F. Burnett Hitchcock.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, chip to white enamel; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus, Officer’s breast badge, gold, silver-gilt, and enamel, slight enamel damage; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze palm, nearly extremely fine unless stated (8) £5,000-£7,000 --- Provenance: Sotheby’s, July 1975 (when sold together with K.C.B. Knight Commander’s badge and breast star). K.C.B. (Military) London Gazette 3 June 1932. C.B. (Military) London Gazette 1 January 1918: ‘For services rendered in connection with the war’ D.S.O. London Gazette 9 December 1914: ‘On 26th August, at Haucourt, France, for gallantry in rallying troops in disorder and leading them against the enemy, thereby ensuring an orderly evacuation of the village.’ French Legion of Honour London Gazette 3 November 1914: ‘For gallantry during the Operations between 21st and 30th August 1914’ Italian Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus London Gazette 1 April 1919. French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 9 April 1920. M.I.D. London Gazettes 19 October 1914; 17 February 1915; 1 January 1916; 15 June 1916; 4 January 1917; 15 May 1917; 12 February 1918 Basil Ferguson Burnett-Hitchcock was born on 3 March 1877, at Chatham, son of the late Colonel T. Burnett-Hitchcock, of Week Manor, Winchester, Hants, and Amelia Burnett-Hitchcock. Educated at Harrow and Sandhurst (Sword of Honour, Anson Memorial Sword, 1st passing out), he made two first-class appearances for Hampshire in the 1896 Country Championship before being commissioned Second Lieutenant into the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on 20 February 1897. Promoted Lieutenant on 12 April 1898, he served during the Boer War in South Africa, 1899-1901, with the 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, Mounted Infantry, and on the Staff, taking part in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May, 1900; in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900; also in Cape Colony 1899-1900; again during operations in Orange River Colony and Cape Colony 30 November 1900 to February 1901 (Queen’s Medal with three clasps). Advanced Captain 12 March, 1901, he attended Staff College, 1903-4 and was was Staff Captain, Eastern Command, 1905-9; General Staff Officer, 2nd Grade, Bermuda, 1910-12 and Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General, 4th Division, Eastern Command in 1912. Great War - The 4th Division at the Battle of Le Cateau On the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Burnett-Hitchcock, whilst still a Captain in the 2nd Sherwood Foresters, was Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General on the Staff of General T. D’O. Snow’s 4th Division. Although initially held back in England to counter any German landing, the division was soon despatched to France, arriving just in time to play a valuable part in the retreat from Mons. At Le Havre, the 4th Division (10th, 11th and 12th Brigades with light artillery) entrained for Le Cateau from where, on 25th August, it marched to Solesmes to cover the retirement of II Corps after the Battle of Mons. Having arrived at Solesmes amid chaotic scenes of retreating British soldiers and long lines of civilian refugees, the wet and weary 4th Division fell back through the villages of Briastre and Le Coquelet before coming under the command of II Corps just as General Smith-Dorrien decided to make his stand in the rolling country around Le Caudry, to the west of Le Cateau - Smith Dorrien declaring, ‘"Very well, gentlemen, we will fight, and I will ask General Snow to act under me as well." Smith-Dorrien’s decision to fight this important delaying rearguard action may well have saved the British from destruction by the massive German onslaught during the general Allied retreat following sustained German successes at the four Battles of the Frontiers. The location, a long ridge running west-east with Le Cateau at its eastern end, was far from ideal. The ground was soft, so easy for the troops to dig in, but it lacked cover, was dominated by a German-held ridge to the north and, worst of all, both flanks were open. The situation on the right flank, the hills around the Le Cateau valley, was perilous from the start, as the Germans infiltrated during the night. The west, held by 4th Division, was absolutely vulnerable to flanking movements designed to encircle II Corps. Snow now set up his Division HQ at the village of Haucourt with 12th Brigade further forward on the left near Esnes and Longsart and 11th Brigade forward to the right in front of Ligny. 10th Brigade remained in reserve around Haucourt. Wilson's 12th Brigade was attacked in force early on 26 August and suffered heavy casualties, but managed to rally and held the extreme left of the British line until the B.E.F. was able to retreat. The 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment suffered in particular. Surprised just as breakfast was being served, they came under heavy machine gun and artillery fire. The battalion was nearly destroyed as a fighting unit, the commanding officer and many others being killed, with many more wounded or taken prisoner of war. Meanwhile, Hunter-Weston’s 11th Brigade spent most of the day desperately holding the position in front of Ligny while coming under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. A feature of the fighting being the greater respect shown by the Germans for British rifle prowess than at Mons where they had suffered heavy casualties. One unfortunate consequence of 4th Division’s rapid deployment to France was that it lacked a Signal Company (as well as cavalry, cyclists and Royal Engineers) to provide its commander and his brigadiers with the information necessary to control their units. Burnett-Hitchcock’s employment as a messenger for General Snow during the early part of the Battle is documented in a statement published by Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Mainwaring, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 10th Infantry Brigade at Le Cateau (Mainwaring and Lieut. Col. Elkington, 1st Royal Warwickshires were notoriously cashiered out of the service for cowardice at St. Quentin just days after Le Cateau.): ‘During the first part of the action I received two messages from the divisional staff, both verbal, and sent the one already referred to above to the 10th Brigade, in which I described our positions. The first was delivered by the A.D.C. to the G.O.C. IV Division. Captain Allfrey said to me, “The General says he wishes you to hold on here to the end.” Then, turning in his saddle, he added, “General Snow told me to say that this is a personal me...
Lot 151
Family Group: Three: Private C. Coyne, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who died of wounds whilst a prisoner of war on 24 November 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (3-9783 Pte. C. Coyne. 1/North’n R.); British War and Victory Medals (3-9783 Pte. C. Coyne. North’n. R.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Coyne); Memorial Scroll (Private Charles Coyne, Northamptonshire Regt.) in OHMS transmission tube, addressed to ‘Mrs Coyne, 287 Walpole St., Peterborough.’ nearly extremely fine Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (John Coyne, 9th October 1883. (Duplicate.)) with integral top riband buckle, good very fine (6) £300-£400 --- Charles Coyne was born in 1895 in March, Cambridgeshire. Originally enlisted into the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, he was called to the colours on the outbreak of war in August 1914 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 September 1914. He died of wounds on 24 November 1914, aged 19 years, whilst being held as a prisoner of war. His heavily depleted Battalion had witnessed fierce fighting during First Ypres at Pilckem Ridge, Bodmin Copse and Shrewsbury Forest, and came out of the line on 15th November with 350 ranks and five officers commanded by a Special Reserve Subaltern. He was the son of John and Louisa Coyne of 287 Walpole Street, New England, Peterborough and is buried in Tourcoing (Pont-Neuville) Communal Cemetery, France. Sold together with Army Form B. 104-82, informing the recipient’s father of the death of his son, dated 24 April 1915. John Coyne, father of the above, was born in March, Cambridgeshire in 1865. He was employed as an 18 year old Parcel Postman at the time of the award of his Royal Humane Society Medal: ‘R.H.S. Case No. 22176: ‘John Coyne, at great personal risk, rescued Mrs Vanson from drowning in the river March, Cambridge, on 9 October 1883. Bronze medal.’ The rescue of Mrs Vanson, aged 73, took place at noon when an omnibus in which the old lady was travelling had backed into the river due to restlessness of the horses. A duplicate medal was issued to Coyne on repayment as his original medal was lost.
Lot 18
Family group: Four: Sergeant T. C. Owen, 18th (Queen Mary’s Own) Hussars, who served with his regiment during the Great War from the Battle of Mons and subsequent rearguard actions in August 1914 through to his death from wounds on the Western Front on 16 April 1918 1914 Star, with copy clasp (6585 Tptr: T. C. Owen. 18/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (6585 Sjt. T. C. Owen. 18-Hrs.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R, bronze; Memorial Plaque (Thomas Charles Owen) in card envelope and outer OHMS envelope (torn) addressed to ‘Mrs C. Ray, 130 Southam St., N. Kensington, London.’ together with a ‘crossed bugles’ cloth arm badge, nearly extremely fine Three: Private A. Ray, 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), who was discharged in 1917 due to shell shock and contusions caused by active service on the Western Front in September 1916 1914-15 Star (11780 Pte. A. Ray. W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11780 Pte. A. Ray. W. York. R.) together with Silver War Badge, numbered ‘B239569’, edge bruise to second, otherwise nearly extremely fine (9) £300-£400 --- Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 April 1918 Thomas Charles Owen served with the 18th Hussars during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914, initially in the rank of Trumpeter. During the retreat from Mons on the 24th August 1914, on the extreme left of the British line, the 14th and 15th Brigades of the 5th Division were threatened by a German outflanking move and were forced to call for help from the cavalry. The 2nd Cavalry Brigade (including 18th Hussars), along with the 119th Battery RFA and L Battery RHA, were sent to their aid. Dismounting, the cavalry and the two artillery batteries, screened the withdrawal of the 14th and 15th Brigades during four hours of intense fighting. At Audregnies/Elouges, the cavalry charge of the 4th Dragoon Guards and the 9th Lancers and the heroic stand of 1st Cheshires and the 1st Norfolks are well documented, but the 18th Hussars were also also heavily involved and bore the brunt of the early German attacks and made a charge of their own. The Commanding Officer’s (Lieutenant-Colonel Burnett) report of the action makes apparent that the 18th Hussars were still in position along the mineral railway line between the sugar refinery and Elouges Railway Station until after the cavalry charge of the 4th D.G. and 9th Lancers had been broken up: ‘On the left 2 troops A Sqn in a sugar refinery, the centre 2 troops A Sqn on a mound about 300 yards S of the level crossing which lay about half a mile W of Elouges, the right B Sqn a little retired in a large cutting on a mineral line which led from the sugar refinery to Elouges station. C Sqn and machine gun in support near the western end of the same line. The whole position lay just S of the word Elouges. The Regiment was shelled a little during its retirement. We waited here for some time and then received orders to retire through Audregnies on Angres with the Regiment acting as rear guard to the Brigade. Two Sqns A and B were kept at the top of the rise above Audregnies, while C Sqn was sent to the ridge beyond that village. The two rear Sqns were preparing to follow C when all the Brigade was ordered back to the 2nd Position we had taken up during the retirement. The Sqns were sent to the same positions they had occupied before but B Sqn advanced too far beyond their original position and for a time lost touch. I went to find them but could see nothing of them and as rifle fire had broken out on the left and part of C and A Sqns were in action I came back to C Sqn and found a hostile attack developing in front of them and in front of A. The enemy’s guns opened on both these Sqns from the direction of Quievrechain and from north of the main Mons-Valenciennes Road. At that moment the remainder of the Brigade came over the skyline immediately in rear of us and the 9th Lancers in column of troops galloped across our front from left to right passing round the sugar refinery and the mound where A Sqn were on. They were quickly followed by the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards in a similar formation. Both Regiments were heavily shelled and fired on from their left flank, as they executed this manoeuvre. Their ranks were broken and they sought refuge in ever increasing numbers behind these two localities, and in the cutting further to our right rear where B Sqn ought to have been. The enemy kept up an intense shell fire, concentrating it chiefly on the factory and on the mount, and their rifle fire was also very severe. Many more horses than the ground could accommodate were now massed together, and the fierce fire they were subjected to caused a good number to stampede. I went to the factory where A Sqn were and ordered Maj Stewart to retire when he could do so in safety, I then went to the mound and gave the same orders to Lt Lawrence and Lt Gorelangton’s troops who were holding that position. I then again went to try to find B Sqn but could see nothing of them. I rode almost up to the Mons-Valenciennes Road. I then rode back to see if A Sqn had retired and found they had gone back to a colliery close to Elouges Station where the majority of the Sqn rallied. C Sqn in the meantime had retired along the mineral line to the S of Elouges. The Regiment was now very much broken up, owing to the stampede of led horses and the mixture of units caused by the rallying of the remnants of the 9th Lancers and the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards in rear of our line. We succeeded in rallying a good proportion of the Regiment at Elouges close to Elouges Station and just S of the town.’ Known correspondence from one member of the 18th Hussars confirms that his regiment had also charged the enemy at Elouges on 24 August 1914: ‘We had a fight last Sunday and Monday with the Germans. After we charged them, the regiment got split up into two parties one went one way, and the other the other. I went with one of them and stayed until Tuesday afternoon, when we had orders to go and join the other party, and take a message to them, so that we could reform the regiment as strong as possible. A Sergeant and eight of us had a tough job to get through to the remainder, but managed to join up at six o’clock Saturday morning. It is now Sunday morning, and we have just had a depatch rider landed to tell us that the party I left lost nearly all the men in a skirmish, so I think I am extremely lucky.’ (Private Archie Stephenson, 18th Hussars, letter written on 30 August 1914 to his father, published in the Hull Daily Mail, 11 September 1914) The 18th Hussars fought with the 1st Cavalry Division in both a mounted and dismounted role throughout the remainder of the Great War, winning many more battle honours, including Le Cateau, the Marne and First Ypres in 1914, Second Ypres in 1915, the Somme in 1916, Arras and Cambrai in 1917, and Amiens and Albert in 1918. Owen was promoted Sergeant and awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre prior to dying of wounds in France on 16 April 1918. He was the husband of Charlotte Ray (formerly Owen) and is buried in St. Server Cemetery Extension, Rouen. Alfred Ray was born in Walworth, Surrey in 1888 and attested for the West Yorkshire Regiment at St. Pancras on 31 August 1914. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 July 1915 and was discharged on 3 July 1917 due to shell-shock and contusions caused by active service overseas in France and was awarded a Silver War Badge. He was the second husband of Charlotte Ray (widow of the above).
Lot 180
Family group: Four: Private W. Brown, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, who died on 30 October 1914 from wounds received on 26 October near Fauquissart during the Battle of La Bassée 1914 Star, with copy clasp (758 Pte. W. Brown. 1/ Gord: Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (758 Pte. W. Brown. Gord. Highrs.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R, bronze, with palm emblem on riband, together with a Gordon Highlander’s cap badge and the recipient’s riband bar with rosette and palm emblem, traces of verdigris to CdeG, otherwise nearly extremely fine Pair: Corporal J. Brown, 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, late 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders British War and Victory Medals (12041 Pte. J. Brown. H.L.I.); together with 3 Gordon Highlanders boxing medals, silver, one with obverse, ‘2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders’ and reverse, ‘Presented to Pte. Brown, Battalion Feather Weight Champion 1909’; another with obverse featuring two pugilists within a wreath and the words, ‘2nd Bn The Gordon Highlanders India’ and reverse, ‘Won by Pte J. Brown Gordon Hrs. Feather Weight Champion Boxer of Cawnpore June 1910’; and the third with Gordon Highlanders badge obverse and on the reverse, ‘Company Championship “E” Company’, 1 clasp, ‘1912’, the edge inscribed, ‘No. 10354 Pte. J. Brown’; together with the recipient’s riband bar and miniature Great War awards, Imperial Service Brooch; Gordon Highlanders cap badge and a Gordon Highlanders cloth badge, good very fine (lot) £260-£300 --- William Brown was born in 1894 at Barony, Lanarkshire and attested for the Gordon Highlanders in 1911 at Glasgow. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914 and would have been present at the Battle of Mons and also at Le Cateau where the order to retire reached the Gordons some hours late by which time the main body of the British Expeditionary Force were some distance away. The Gordons, with two companies of 2nd Royal Irish, then attempted to follow, but ran into a strong German force on the outskirts of Bertry and after an hour’s fierce fighting many men became casualties and large numbers were forced to surrender. The Battalion as part of the 8th Brigade, in the the 3rd Division of Smith-Dorrien’s II Corps, was also engaged at the Battle of La Bassée, during which, on the 24th October, it was holding a defensive line at Fauquissart when the Germans attacked, breaking through the 1st Gordon’s line. Cyril Falls in his regimental history notes that the assault was carried out with great determination, the Gordons being driven through the orchards of Fauquissart onto the Neuve Chapelle - Armentières road. A portion of the 4th Middlesex came up later and together with the 1st Gordons in support managed to regain the lost trenches. In this period of fighting, the Battalion’s casualties of 7 Officers and 197 other ranks included Brown who was wounded on 26 October 1914. He died of his wounds three days later on 30 October 1914. He was the son of Robert Moore Brown and Isabella Ross Brown of Dromore, County Down, Northern Ireland and is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Note: Belgian Croix de Guerre unconfirmed. John Brown, older brother of the above, was born at Glasgow, Lanarkshire around 1887 and attested for the Gordon Highlanders in 1907. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served in India, 1908-1912, where the battalion garrisoned Calcutta, February 1908 to December 1909 and Cawnpore, January 1910 to November 1911. He attested for the Highland Light Infantry in January 1913 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War.
Lot 19
Four: Sergeant J. R. Cornall, 19th (Queen Alexandra’s Own Royal) Hussars 1914 Star, with clasp (172 Pte. J. R. Cornall. 19/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (172 Cpl. J. R. Cornell. 19-Hrs.); Panama, Republic, Solidarity Medal 1917-18, Third Class, bronze, contact marks, traces of lacquer, nearly very fine or better, the last rare (4) £300-£400 --- Panama Medal of Solidarity 3rd Class London Gazette 17 February 1920 . John Robert Cornall was born in 1889 at Bintree, Norfolk. A Horse Breaker by trade, he attested for the 19th Hussars on 26 February 1907 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 September 1914. He enlisted in the Royal Tank Corps on 21 January 1919 and he died in 1924 whilst in the rank of Sergeant. Note: The Panama Medal of Solidarity was instituted in 1918 and although Panama played no active part in the Great War, they did award this medal in solidarity to the allies, Panama having previously declared war on Germany on 7 April 1917. The award was issued in three grades: Gold (silver gilt) to commanders in chief; Silver with a rosette to Generals and senior officers; and Bronze to officers and other ranks. Michael Maton’s Honour the Recipients of Foreign Awards identifies from the London Gazette 61 Panama Solidarity Medals in bronze, 5 in silver and 1 in gold.
Lot 215
A Great War ‘French Resistance’ Allied Subjects’ Medal and Croix de Guerre pair awarded to Madame Jeanne Cleve, who ‘hid 150 British prisoners of war in an attic and guided them to the coast right under enemy noses’ Allied Subjects’ Medal, bronze, unnamed as issued; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, the reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze star emblem on riband, together with the recipient’s riband bar, good very fine (2) £600-£800 --- Jeanne White née Cleve was born in Maroilles, France in 1885. Her wartime exploits are summarised in the following article, published in the Thurrock Gazette in 1971: ‘Jeanne White, 86, can be pardoned for drifting into daydreams as she does occasionally, for as a French Resistance fighter, playing a perilous game of cat and mouse in the First World War, she has more than most to remember. Jeanne married a British soldier and came to live in Rosedale Road, Grays, in 1926. The soldier was Alfred White one of 150 British prisoners of war who Jeanne hid in an attic and then guided to the coast right under enemy noses. She lived with her mother and sister in a large rambling farmhouse at Lille. When her father was killed in the Resistance while blowing up a bridge, and she saw her beloved France “shaking under the enemy’s boots” she joined the hundreds of French, members of the underground movement, who devoted their lives to sabotage. “I did it for revenge,” she added, banging a small wrinkled fist on the arm of the chair. Jeanne is a delightful old lady with flashing blue eyes undulled by age, a penchant for cognac and an impressive flow of French invective. She is independent in the extreme and longs for the day she can leave Thurrock Hospital and go back to her home. She has been hospital-bound for a year now because of a fractured hip. She felt she could not kill or handle a gun but suggested to her mother that the farmhouse, which had a huge attic running its entire length, was an ideal place to hide British PoWs while they waited for a boat to cross the Channel to safety. Her mother agreed and soon they had the first group of men hidden and were busy sorting through the clothes that would turn the men into French peasants for their dangerous journey. The clothes were taken along to the farmhouse at night, as was the extra bread which Jeanne persuaded the mayor to give her. “I would accompany the man as wife or sister because most of them could not speak French,” said Jeanne. “We never had any trouble on the journey, although a soldier had to kill two Germans who searched the farmhouse because they found him hiding in the attic.” Of the 150 soldiers Jeanne helped to safety not one of them was caught. “I heard from them all once after the war,” she said. “But that’s all.” “Alfred was one of the last to go,’ she added. “He wanted me to go with him to England - but I was too frightened because I couldn’t speak a word of English - imagine that.” So Jeanne the resistance fighter waited seven years to pluck up enough courage to come to Grays and marry her soldier sweetheart in Grays Parish Church.’ Sold together with wooden glazed framed certificate from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs informing the recipient - ‘Madamoiselle Jeanne Cleve’ - of the award of her Bronze Medal, ‘specially instituted by His Majesty’ - ‘with appreciation of the valued services which you have rendered to British Prisoners of War in the course of the Great War’ ... ‘for the timely help which you gave to our distressed comrades’ ... ‘in recognition of the signal services which you have thus given’ ... ‘as a token of gratitude for such assistance to his subjects’. Also sold with two (identical) portrait photographs of the recipient as a young lady and two more taken in later life; the recipient’s Republique Francaise Passeport a l’Étranger with photograph, dated September 1923; Republique Francaise Sauf Conduit document authorising the recipient to travel from Rouen to Paris on 5 July 1918; the recipient’s marriage certificate, dated 8 May 1926; the recipient’s husband’s birth certificate, dated 27 April 1893; and a newspaper cutting.
Lot 216
The ‘mine rescue’ George Cross (exchange Edward Medal) awarded to Sydney Blackburn, a Shotfirer at the Barnsley Main Colliery, Yorkshire, who guided survivors to safety and gave assistance to injured men after an explosion occurred at the mine in May 1947, killing 9 men and injuring 23 George Cross (Sydney Blackburn 1947) mounted on original investiture pin and in its Royal Mint case of issue; Jubilee 1977, unnamed as issued in its Royal Mint card box of issue; together with St John Ambulance Association re-examination medal (A156023 Sidney Blackburn) with 7 dated bars 1954-62, all named, and The Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, certificate on vellum ‘Presented by the Trustees to Sidney Blackburn, Worsborough Bridge, near Barnsley, in recognition of Heroic Endeavour to Save Human Life on 7th May 1947’, extremely fine (2) £10,000-£12,000 --- Edward Medal London Gazette 21 November 1947: ‘The King has been pleased to award the Edward Medal to Harry Crummack and Sydney Blackburn in recognition of their gallantry in the following circumstances:- An explosion occurred at Barnsley Main Colliery at about 12.15 p.m. on Wednesday the 7th May last. Harry Crummack, Chargeman Filler, and Sydney Blackburn, Shotfirer, were at the end of the face away from the resulting flame; Crummack was blown over by a great gust of wind caused by the explosion but quickly recovered and with Blackburn, despite fumes and dust, assembled men who had scrambled from the face and led them to a place of safety. Returning they found a number of injured men to whom they gave assistance and then proceeded through fumes and clouds of dust in search of others. Both men, while taking every reasonable precaution, continued to disregard their own personal safety in their efforts to ensure that none of the victims were left unattended in the danger area.’ Harry Crummack and Sydney Blackburn were both decorated with the Edward Medal by King George VI and an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on 16 December 1947. Only Sydney Blackburn lived long enough for his Medal to be converted to the George Cross, which took place at an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on 8 November 1972, when he received the G.C. from the Queen. Sydney Blackburn was born on 15 July 1908, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, one of ten children of Samuel and Lucy Blackburn (née Ashmore). Sadly three of the children died as infants, two during the 1926 Miner’s Strike. The surviving children other than Sydney, were Annie, Edna, Samuel, Cyril, Arthur and Olive. Syd, as he preferred to be known, attended St Thomas’ Church School in Worsbrough Dale. At the age of 14, he left school to begin work in the pits, as a tramer for his father at Barrow Colliery. He received no wages for his job, only a small sum from his father, and this enabled him to earn more as he was paid by the tram load. Syd married Norah Jagger in 1932, and they had a daughter, Wendy. Syd soon moved on from Barrow Colliery, and began work at Barnsley Main Colliery as a shotfirer, and it was there that on 7 May 1947, his gallantry action would take place. On 21 November 1947, the London Gazette announced the award of Edward Medals in Bronze to Harry Crummack and Sydney Blackburn. He received his medal alongside Harry at Buckingham Palace in December 1947. Syd returned down the pits at Barnsley Main soon after the incident, and remained in the occupation until an accident left him with a broken neck and lucky to be alive. He had recently become a Deputy and was part of the NACODS Trade Union, and decided that having cheated death, it was time to retire. In 1971, following the change of the Royal Warrant, Syd elected to exchange his Edward Medal for a George Cross. He donated the Edward Medal to Leeds City Museum. In retirement, he enjoyed gardening and spending time with his brothers Sam and Cyril at Barrow Working Men’s Club. Syd passed away on 15 December 1991, in Barnsley and was cremated at Barnsley Crematorium. His ashes were scattered in the North Glade. Sold with a quantity of original documents including named award certificate for Jubilee Medal; Home Office letters advising of award of E.M. and investiture for same; National Coal Board letter of congratulations on award of E.M.; Investiture admission pass; Home Office letter of 11 April 1969, advising of entitlement to a tax-free annual gratuity of £100; Home Office letter of 17 November 1972, advising Blackburn that his Edward Medal, in exchange for the George Cross, has been presented to the Leeds City Museum in accordance with his wishes; 13 contemporary news cuttings concerning the award of the “Miners’ V.C. for Barnsley Main men” and two later ones of him receiving the exchange G.C. in 1972; 23 photographs covering the original investiture, the visit of King George and Queen Elizabeth to Yorkshire in September 1948, on which occasion Blackburn was presented to them both, as well as others of the later investiture in 1972 and various V.C. and G.C. Association ceremonies; a good quantity of Christmas Cards and invitations from the V.C. and G.C. Association to various receptions, reunion dinners, services of remembrance and re-dedication, etc.; together with a signed copy of Allan Stanistreet’s ‘Gainst All Disaster with in excess of 50 V.C. and G.C. autographs.
Lot 226
A Second War ‘Burma operations’ A.R.R.C. group of five attributed to Sister Annie Dogherty, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver and enamel, the reverse of the lower arm officially dated ‘1946’, on lady’s bow riband, in Garrard, London case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5) £200-£240 --- A.R.R.C. London Gazette 17 January 1946: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma.’ Sold together with a photographic image of the recipient, and various other ephemera, including the recipient’s riband bar and a Royal Medico-Psychological Association medal for proficiency in mental nursing, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘E. Dougherty [sic].’
Lot 229
A Great War D.S.M. pair awarded to Trimmer Christopher Pratt, Royal Naval Reserve, for services aboard H.M. Trawler Scott which was sunk by a mine in the outer Thames Estuary on 22 October 1915 Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (T.S.3680. C. Pratt, Trimr. R.N.R. H.M. Tr. Scott.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1917, this added for display purposes, light pitting from Star, otherwise very fine (2) £600-£800 --- D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1916: ‘For bravery and devotion to duty during mine-sweeping and mine-laying operations.’ French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 19 December 1917. Christopher Pratt enrolled on 31 May 1915 and joined Actaeon on 17 June 1915. This was the Auxiliary Patrol Base and Torpedo School at Sheerness at which, presumably, H.M. Trawler Scott was based. He was discharged from Actaeon to the Naval Hospital at Chatham on 23 February 1916, “Invalided”, but no other reason given. The fact that he was awarded the D.S.M. only weeks before this, might indicate an injury sustained when the trawler Scott was sunk by a mine on 22 October 1915, off the Tongue in the outer Thames Estuary. Sold with copied research.
Lot 23
A very rare ‘August 1918’ American D.S.C. group of four awarded to Gunner E. W. R. Auty, Royal Field Artillery 1914-15 Star (17106 Gnr: E. W. R. Auty. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (17106 Gnr. E. W. R. Auty. R.A.); United States of America, Distinguished Service Cross, bronze, the edge officially numbered ‘6278’, in case with gold debossed lettering ‘D.S.C.’, together with badly damaged box of issue, officially numbered ‘6278’ with spare brooch bar, good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- United States of America D.S.C. London Gazette 17 August 1920: ‘For distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign’ Edward William Robert Auty was born on 20 January 1894 at Poplar, London and attested there for the Royal Artillery on 9 November 1914. Posted to the B/109 Brigade on 27 November 1914 he served with them as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France from 30 August 1915 (B/109 Brigade became D/108 Brigade on 21 June 1916). He was gassed whilst serving with 338th Battery on 13 July 1917 and invalided to England on the Hospital Ship St. Patrick on 5 August 1917. Returning to France on 21 March 1918, he was posted to 112 Battery, 24 Brigade on 6 April 1918. Gunner Auty was awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry at Vierstraat, Belgium in August 1918 with Lieutenant W. T. J. Munday, also of 112th Battery, 24th Brigade, R.F.A. The citation for Lieutenant Munday’s award is as follows: ‘For extraordinary heroism in action near Vierstraat, Belgium, August 30, 1918. While in command of an accompanying gun, Lieut. Munday advanced in close support of the attack of the 106th American Infantry. With a signaller, he made a daring reconnaissance in advance of our lines, and returned with valuable information. In an encounter with an enemy patrol, near Rosignol Wood two of the enemy were captured.’ Just 24 British servicemen were awarded the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Service Cross, which was only ever awarded for extraordinary heroism in the face of the enemy. A list of all 24 awards is contained in Decorations United States Army 1862 – 1926 - an official U.S. Government publication. The following descriptions of the awards to Auty and Munday are extracted from this list and show identical units, places and dates: 17106 Signaler Edward W. R. Auty, 112th Battery, 24th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, British Expeditionary Force. Near Vierstraat, Belgium, 30 & 31 August 1918. D.S.C. number unknown. Awarded in War Department General Order No. 60, 1920. Lieut. William Thomas John Mundy, 112th Battery., 24th Brigade., Royal Field Artillery, B.E.F. Near Vierstraat, Belgium, 30 & 31 August 1918. D.S.C. number unknown. Awarded in W.D.G.O. No. 60, 1920. Sold together with a letter to Auty, from the Colonel in charge of R.F.A. records, regarding the award of his American D.S.C., dated 27 October 1920.
Lot 24
Three: Gunner F. E. Boulter, Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force), who was awarded an ‘Immediate’ M.S.M. and French Medal of Honour for his services on the Western Front British War and Victory Medals (196179 Gnr. F. E. Boulter. R.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (196179 Gnr: F. E. Boulter, R.F.A.); mounted as worn together with the riband and bronze crossed swords suspension of French Medal of Honour, planchet missing; and together with a St. George’s Corps Meritorious Service Medal with Imperial Service top brooch bar, reverse inscribed, ‘Staff Sergt. F. E. Boulter. 1909.’, generally good very fine (4) £100-£140 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 18 January 1919: ‘For valuable services rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders.’ France, Medal of Honour, bronze, with crossed swords London Gazette 29 January 1919 Frank Ewart Boulter was born in 1892 at Eastbourne, Sussex and served during the Great War as a Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force). He died in 1951 at Eastbourne.
Lot 254
The unique Red River 1879 and Afghanistan campaign group awarded to Major H. S. Marsham, 60th King’s Royal Rifle Corps Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Red River 1870 (Lt. H. S. Marsham. 1/60. K.O.R.); Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar (Captain. Hy. S. Marsham, 2/60th Foot) mounted for display purposes with an erased Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880, the second with light pitting from star, otherwise very fine, the first nearly extremely fine and very rare (3) £5,000-£7,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 2001, the first two only, the erased Kabul to Kandahar Star since added for display purposes. Only 28 medals issued to British officers with the ‘Red River 1870’ clasp. This clasp in combination with the medal for the Afghanistan campaign occurs only twice, without clasp to Ensign Riddell (pair in the Rifles Museum) and with two clasps to Captain Marsham. Henry Savill Marsham was born in Norfolk on 19 January 1847, eldest son of Henry P. Marsham of Rippon Hall, Hevingham. He was educated at Eton and joined the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in December 1865. He served as Adjutant with the 1st Battalion in the Red River Expedition in 1870 (Medal with Clasp); with the 2nd Battalion in the Afghan war from October 1878 to November 1880, took part in the advance on and occupation of Kandahar and Kelat-I-Ghilzie, and was present in the engagements at Ahmed Khel and Urzoo near Ghuznee; accompanied Sir Frederick Roberts in the march to Kandahar, and was present at the battle of Kandahar; and served in the Marri Expedition under Brigadier General MacGregor in October 1880 (mentioned in despatches London Gazette 3 December 1880, Medal with two Clasps, and Bronze Decoration). In January 1881, Marsham embarked with the battalion at Bombay for Natal, South Africa, for service against the Boers of the Transvaal in 1881. He was promoted to Major in December 1882, and retired from the Army in December 1888. He was subsequently a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of Norfolk, Lord of the Manor of Cats-cum-Cricketots, and patron of the livings of Stratton Strawless, Brampton, and Wramplingham. He was for forty years a magistrate, occupying for many years the chairmanship of the Aylsham Bench. He died, shortly after his 91st birthday, in April 1937. Sold with copied research including news cuttings describing ‘A Grand Old Man of Norfolk’ on the occasion of his 91st birthday, and three obituary notices.
Lot 269
Pair: Private G. Polhill, 4th Hussars Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (1769 Pte. G. Polhill, 4th Hussars); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued; together with City of Pretoria commemorative coronation medal 1911, bronze, with bronze and enamel top suspension, the first pitted, good fine or better, very rare (3) £300-£400 --- Only 6 medals with clasp for Tel-el-Kebir issued to the 4th Hussars.
Lot 279
Six: Private J. T. Monk, King’s Royal Rifle Corps India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, N.E. Frontier 1891 (5143 Pte. J. T. Monk. 4th. Bn. K.R. Rif. C.) surname officially corrected; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (5143 Pte. J. T. Monk. 1st. Bn. K.R. Rifle Corps); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, unofficial rivets between fourth and fifth clasps (5143 Pte. J. T. Monk, K.R.R.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5143 Pte. J. Monk. K.R.R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (R-13988 Pte. J. T. Monck [sic]. K.R.R.C.) first four mounted as worn from a top silver riband bar, the last two loose; together with five London County Council School Attendance Medal, awarded to the recipient’s family, to ‘M. Monk’ for the years 1902, 1908, and 1910; to L. Monk for the year 1906; and to H. Monk for the year 1912, the first four in white metal, the last in bronze, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (11) £400-£500
Lot 28
A Great War 1918 Italian Theatre ‘Piave Operations’ M.M. group of three awarded to Private C. S. Gavin, Honourable Artillery Company, who was decorated for his gallantry at the capture of the Island of Papadopoli, 25-26 October 1918 Military Medal, G.V.R. (10754 Pte. C. S. Gavin. 1/H.A.C. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (10754 Pte. C. S. Gavin. H.A.C. - Inf.) together with a small Bronze medallion ‘Presented by the Italian government to all members of the 2nd Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company for the Crossing of the Piave, October 1918’, good very fine (4) £400-£500 --- M.M. London Gazette 29 March 1919 Crichton Strachan Gavin was born in 1884 at Gillingham, Dorset. A bank clerk by profession, he attested for the Honourable Artillery Company at Armoury House on 8 December 1915 and joined the Army Reserve. Mobilized to the H.A.C. Infantry on 27 April 1917, he was posted to the 1st Battalion on 17 July 1917 and to the 2nd Battalion with the British Expeditionary Force in France on 10 August 1917. Having been admitted to hospital with fever in October, he rejoined the 2nd Battalion, since moved to Italy, on 18 February 1918 and was awarded the Military Medal for his services with “A” Company during the capture of the Island of Papadopoli, or the ‘Grave di Papadopoli.’ The Capture of the Grave di Papadopoli In late October 1918, in order to facilitate a full scale assault on the east bank of the Piave River, Lord Cavan, O.C. 10th Army, set out to capture Papadopoli, a large island at the chosen crossing point. The History of the Seventh Division, 1914-18 by C. T. Atkinson explains the difficulties faced: ‘This island, about three miles in length and over a mile wide at its broadest, was the largest of the many shoals and islands in the river bed, separated by channels sometimes fordable, sometimes quite deep, through which the stream ran extremely rapidly, as fast as eight miles an hour. What doubled the hazards of the crossing was the incessant and excessive rains had swollen the river into a high flood, submerging completely the tops of the shoals which usually gave some idea where the channels ran.’ The task of capturing the island was given to six companies of the 22nd Brigade of the 7th Division (three from the 2nd Battalion, H.A.C. and three from the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers) together with a half a machine gun company, all commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel O’Connor. The main assault battalion was to be the 2nd H.A.C. After some reconnoitring, the crossing began with A Company in the vanguard, as described by Canon E. C. Cross in ‘The Defeat of Austria’: ‘Shortly after eight o’clock the first two platoons of “A” Company 2nd H.A.C., under the charge of 2nd-Lt. S. E. L. Foster, started to cross the river. As the companies were bound to arrive somewhat disorganised on the far bank, these two platoons were instructed to push forward some 200 or 300 yards along the front trench immediately they landed in order to secure the crossing for the main party. Absolute silence was to be observed in this operation, and the bayonet alone was to be used to overcome resistance. The passage of the river was safely accomplished, except by two boats, which were swept down stream. The loss of these was serious, as it diminished by fourteen the number of the advance party. The remainder pressed on immediately they set foot on the island. Small posts of the enemy were soon encountered manning the trench. The resistance offered by these was not very formidable, and within fifteen minutes from the time the advance party landed, twelve Austrian prisoners were on their way to the beach, the remainder of the garrison having all been bayoneted. It was a good start and a fitting augury for the fighting which was to follow The island was defended by two main lines of trenches dug as deep as the soil would allow, which, in most cases, was three to four feet, with a plentiful supply of low hutches in the background, which formed the dug-outs for the garrison. The front line ran along the south-western extremity of the island, and the support line roughly across the centre. Numerous machine-gun positions and trench-mortar emplacements combined to make it a very strong defensive position, whilst in places there were quite formid- able belts of barbed wire,’ It was decided then that the 2nd H.A.C. should attack both lines of trenches simultaneously from the flank, with an attacking front of two companies. The role of the right attacking company was assigned to “A” Company (Captain E. B. Woollan, M.C.), who were to cross first. On the right “A” Company, now seriously reduced in numbers by casualties and the loss of the two boats at the beginning of the operations, moved along the main trench encountering occasional opposition from small posts which were either bayoneted or taken prisoners, till about 1 a.m. they judged that they had reached their final objective and halted, throwing out a covering party in front. Touch was shortly gained with a company of the 1st R.W.F., who in accordance with the scheme of operations ” mopped up ” in rear, whilst manning the trench as the H.A.C. advanced.’ The History of the Seventh Division, 1914-18 by C. T. Atkinson describes “A” Company’s pivotal role in the attack thus: ‘Starting with “A” Company on the right, ”D” on the left, and “C” with Battalion Headquarters following in second line, the H.A.C. swept rapidly forward. The Austrians were in force and in places fought stoutly enough, but the H.A.C. had them at a disadvantage through taking them in flank and within two hours “A” Company had established itself on its objective a little below Salettuol’ The operation which was successfully brought to a conclusion around 5am is put in perspective by Major G. Goold Walker D.S.O. in The Honourable Artillery Company in the Great War 1914-1919: ‘The capture of the island being now complete, it was justifiable to look back on the operation with considerable satisfaction. A position strongly defended both by nature and art had been captured by two night operations, which owed their success to the determination of all ranks to secure their final objectives at all costs, and the careful training they had received in the use of the Lewis-gun. No barrage had been available, owing to the fact that our artillery were ordered not to fire before the attack on the mainland. In addition to this, the troops on the island had been subjected to shell-fire for some sixty hours, and heavy rain before the second attack started. In all some 600 prisoners had been taken, and careful estimates of the number of enemy dead made it pretty certain that they were over 100. All this had been taken at the slight cost of about 120 casualties. In the 2nd H.A.C. one officer and sixteen other ranks were killed. The only similar operation in the previous annals of British military history was probably the celebrated passage of the St. Lawrence and the storming of the Heights of Abraham by Gen. Wolfe in front of Quebec, and though we would not for one moment attempt to decide which of the two tasks offered the more formidable difficulties, we are convinced that history will assign no insignificant part in the final chapter of this war to the capture of the island of Papadopoli on the two nights of October 23rd/24th and 25th/26th, 1918.’ The Times referred to the work of the 2nd Battalion in the battle as "a notable feat of arms," and as "perhaps the finest feat of many" by London Territorial soldiers. Private...
Lot 299
Three: Trooper E. S. Collingwood, Shanghai Volunteer Corps and Shanghai Light Horse China 1900, no clasp (Tpr: E. S. Collingwood. Shanghai Vols.); China, Republic, Order of the Golden Grain, Fifth Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, suspension re-affixed; Shanghai Municipal Council Emergency Medal 1937, bronze, unnamed as issued; together with a Shanghai Volunteer Corps cap badge and button, nearly very fine and scarce (3) £1,000-£1,400
Lot 311
Three: Assistant Matron Miss Florence Winterborne, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve 1914 Star (Miss F. Winterborne. Q.A.I.M.N.S.R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Asst. Matron F. Winterborne.) mounted as worn; together with the recipient’s Gravesend Hospital for Nursing Award of Merit bronze medal, the reverse engraved ‘Florence Winterbourne [sic].’, with integral suspension bar, in Elkington, London, fitted case, good very fine (4) £240-£280 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 15 June 1916. Miss Florence Winterborne was born in Belper, Derbyshire, on 6 December 1880 and trained at Gravesend Hospital from 1903-06. She enrolled in Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve in 1912 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 August 1914. For her services during the Great War she was Mentioned in Despatches.
Lot 339
Four: Chief Stoker W. T. Wills, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (K.481, W. T. Wills, L.Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.481 W. T. Wills S.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (K.481 W. T. Wills. S.P.O. H.M.S. Caradoc.); together with a Church Lads Brigade Cross, bronze, with suspension bar and clasp dated 1909, unnamed as issued, contact marks and light edge bruising, nearly very fine (5) £100-£140 --- William Thomas Wills was born on 1 November 1899, at Strete, Devon, and commenced naval service on 16 March 1908, as a Stoker Second Class in H.M.S. Vivid II. He was appointed Acting Leading Stoker, H.M.S. Vivid II, on 27 December 1913, and Leading Stoker, H.M.S. St. George, 20 December 1914. Appointed Stoker Petty Officer, H.M.S. Victory II, on 1 March 1917, he appears to have spent much of his naval service in patrol boats or torpedo boats, and was paid a war gratuity to H.M.S. Apollo. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in April 1923. Promoted Chief Stoker in August 1929, he was shore pensioned from H.M.S. Vivid on 15 March 1930. He was recalled for service in H.M.S. Drake II, on 25 August 1939, and served on Boom Defence vessels during the Second World War, in H.M.S. Cochrane and H.M.S. Proserpine. He was released from service in November 1944.
Lot 34
Three: Sapper S. H. Dunster, Railway Operating Division, Royal Engineers British War and Victory Medals (322739 Spr. S. H. Dunster. R.E.); Service Medal of the Order of St. John, with additional award bar (5983 Pte. S. Dunster. Chatham Div. No. 11 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1927); together with the recipient’s St. John Re-Examination Cross, silver, the reverse engraved ‘168418 Sydney Dunster’ with an uninterrupted run of 23 dated Year Bars, 1914-1936, all inscribed ‘168418’ on reverse; South Eastern & Chatham Railway Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association Medal, bronze, awarded to ‘Sidney Dunster’ in ‘1917’ for passing 7 annual examinations in succession; South Eastern & Chatham Railway Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association Medal, silver, awarded to ‘Sidney Dunster’ in ‘1924’ for passing 14 annual examinations in succession; Southern Railway St. John Ambulance Association Medal, with 21 years top brooch bar, reverse inscribed ‘Sidney Dunster 1931’; National Fire Brigades Union Long Service Medal, with ‘Ten Years’ brooch bar (3908) bronze; France, Third Republic, Customs Honour Medal; together with 2 Auxiliary Fire Service lapel badges; National Union of Railwaymen 30 Years Membership badge, silver and enamel; 3 enamelled railway badges; and 2 bowling club medals, silver and enamel, generally very fine and better (lot) £200-£240 --- Sydney Hollingsbee Dunster was born in 1892 in Sittingbourne, Kent and died in 1985 in the Registration District of Swale, Kent.
Lot 388
Five: Corporal H. J. Stiff, Military Foot Police and City of London Police, who won an Olympic Gold Medal for Great Britain in Tug of War at the 1920 Olympics 1914-15 Star (P.1412. L-Cpl. H. J. Stiff, M.F.P.); British War and Victory Medals (P-1412 Cpl. H. J. Stiff, M.F.P.); Coronation 1902, City of London Police, bronze (P.C. H. J. Stiff); Coronation 1911, City of London Police (P.C., H. J. Stiff.) nearly very fine and better (5) £500-£700 --- Harold Joseph Stiff was born on 23 October 1881 and attested for the City of London Police. He served with the Military Foot Police during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 September 1915, before returning to the City of London Police following the cessation of hostilities. A member of the City of London Police Tug of War team, he represented Great Britain at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, and was part of the Gold Medal winning Tug of War team. He died on 17 April 1939.
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