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Lot 499
Three: African Sergeant Dzawo, British South Africa Police War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Police L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (11147 African Sgt., B.S.A.); St. John Service Medal (8815, Rhodesia S.J.A.B., 11147, 1957), the last of bronze appearance due to worn state of silvering, contact marks, otherwise generally very fine (3) £120-150.
Lot 505
The uniquely dated ‘Discovery Investigations ‘Polar Medal in bronze awarded to Netman D. Kennedy, late Pilotage Service and afterwards Royal Navy: as a result of the hardships endured by such men - Kennedy spent six seasons in Antarctica - the international whale conservation programme was set in motion Polar Medal 1904, G.VI.R., bronze, 1 clasp, Antarctic 1929-34 (Duncan Kennedy), in its case of issue, extremely fine £2800-3200 Ex J. B. Hayward (Gazette No. 2, July 1974, Item No. 283). Duncan Kennedy, who was born in Greenock, Scotland in January 1888, served in the Pilotage Service in the Great War and was awarded the British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals. Previous to joining the Royal Research Ship Discovery II in 1929, he was a fisherman, so it seems natural that he was rated as a Netman - a Petty Officer responsible for operating the various-sized nets used to collect marine specimens - and having served through six Antarctic seasons aboard the Discovery II, he became one of just two Netman awarded the Polar Medal in bronze - and the only man to receive the clasp dated 1929-34. Kennedy and the Antarctic 1929-34 ‘Discovery Investigations ‘As early as 1917, it was recognized that whales were in danger of being hunted to extinction, as a result of which a British Government inter-departmental committee was set up to review the excesses of the whaling industry which then flourished in the Antarctic. However, it was not until 1923 that a committee with the required finances and authority was established to make ‘a serious attempt to place the whaling industry on a scientific basis’. The depletion of whale stocks could be avoided only by controlling the whaling industry, but effective control could not be planned for a painfully simple reason: not enough was known about the habits of whales, their distribution and migration, or of their main food - the shrimp known as krill. Kennedy thus became part of this historic scientific programme that spanned over a quarter of a century. Initially, Scott's old ship, the Discovery, was purchased by the newly named ‘Discovery Committee ‘. Then, in 1926, the steam vessel William Scoresby was added to the initiative, and was tasked with general oceanographic work, commercial scale trawling and whale marking experiments. However, later still, it was decided to build a new steel ship to carry out the indefinite and ambitious series of ‘Discovery Investigations ‘that beckoned, the Discovery II being the result. And in order to meet unknown conditions, her construction required careful planning and much original thought, in addition to the provision of an array of expensive scientific and other research equipment - given the international financial crisis of the early 1930s, evidence indeed of the vital importance of the project. In December 1929, as Discovery II stood ready at London's St. Katherine's Dock, she received a visit from the King of Norway, who possessed a keen knowledge of everything to do with whaling, while her actual departure for her three-year odyssey was captured by a reporter for the Oxford Mail: ‘Hundreds of People gathered to witness the departure of the vessel and after two hours' skilful manÏuvring she was steered into the Thames, where much larger crowds were watching. As the ship glided from her berth girls crowded to the windows of the factories overlooking the dock and waved good-bye to the crew. One very pretty girl, more daring than the rest, climbed out on to a ledge and shouted "A Merry Christmas next week," and the sailors responded with a cheer.’ At 234 feet long, and displacing 2,100 tons, Discovery II was only a fraction of the size of the 10-12,000 ton whaling factory ships active in Antarctic waters. Yet she was the largest research ship ever to explore the Southern Ocean and both the scientists and crew had to take time to get used to a new ship under conditions of intense cold, storm and pack ice. In addition, working the instruments and winches required constant practice, and the surveys, biological collections and hydrographic work were more comprehensive that ever before attempted in southern waters. Kennedy's nets were used for collecting sea plants and animals and were of several different sizes and mesh. The mouth of one tow net was the size of a dinner plate, while another was believed to be the largest in the world, so big that a man could stand upright inside it. Indeed long hours were dedicated to the raising and lowering of such nets in all variety of weather and seas - hard and frequently painful labour on the part of Kennedy, given the prevailing climate and temperatures. Just such conditions that turned Discovery II into a Christmas tree by a combination of gale and freezing seas that sprayed the ship's deck, bulwarks and upper works, thickly encrusting them with ice. Torches of burning waste and paraffin were sometimes necessary to thaw the blocks and sheaves over which ran the wires used to lower nets and instruments into the sea. Under such difficult conditions, a sense of humour was a valuable asset and greatly appreciated by all, and Kennedy’s ways of speech certainly played their part in keeping his fellow crew amused, or certainly according to the expedition’s official photographer, Alfred Saunders, who noted: ‘He had a persistent but unwitting habit of mispronouncing names. One of his jobs was to look after chemical and other scientific stores in the hold. To him sulphuric acid became 'sulfricated acid', hydrochloric acid became 'hydraulic acid', and formalin became 'formamint'. Once when he met a sailor who had had a violent fall on deck still walking about, he said that he thought he had 'discolated' his leg.’ In the present context it is impossible to do justice to the many achievements and adventures of Discovery II and those who served aboard her, but the drama of one particular incident during the ship's second commission (1931-33) deserves the spotlight, for she became the fourth vessel to circumnavigate Antarctica - and the first to accomplish this feat in winter. In January 1932, Discovery II was on her first voyage deep into the Weddell Sea, the first steel ship to penetrate those waters, when, near the position Shackleton had first met ice back in 1916, she became entrapped, her hull and rudder sustaining damage, including a leak in her starboard fuel tank. At one point, on 26 January, her captain wrote, ‘Scientific staff and all spare hands employed this day poling ice floes clear of rudder and propeller’, and it was only with great difficultly that the ship was extricated from her perilous situation. In spite of such danger, the surroundings never failed to make a marked impression on the senses, one crewman recalling that it was ‘impossible to describe the stillness and the quietness in the Antarctic, not a sound to be heard.’ Another notable chapter in Discovery II’s Antarctic sojourn occurred during her third commission (1933-35), when she was able to lend vital assistance to Admiral Byrd's Second Antarctic Expedition. For, on 5 February 1934, the latter was faced with a severe crisis, his only doctor being taken ill with high blood pressure, a condition that necessitated his return home on the support ship Jacob Ruppert, leaving only a medical student with the expedition. Byrd, who could not even consider keeping 95 men in the Antarctic without a doctor, later wrote, ‘I determined then to get a doctor, or else cancel the expedition.’ The previous month, he had been surprised to hear Discovery II's radio operator tapping out morse messages on the airwaves - not that far from each other, the expeditions exchanged greetings. So he now sent a radiogram to the captain of Discovery II, then at Auckland replenishing her supplies, requesting assistance, as a direct result of which Dr. Louis Potaka, a New Zealander, sailed on the ship to rendezvous with Byrd's Bear of Oa
Lot 506
A rare ‘Challenger Medal ‘awarded to Dr. George Busk, a noted scientist and contemporary of Charles Darwin, who successfully nominated the latter for the Royal Society’s coveted Copley Medal Medal for the Expedition of H.M.S. Challenger 1872-76 and the subsequent scientific reports 1886-95, Neptune, left hand holding a triangle and the right arm encircling a trident and resting on a wreath, below which, the helmeted bust of Britannia left, surrounded by dolphins and mermaids, with inscription on ribbon below, ‘Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger, 1872-76’, reverse, armoured medieval knight left with gauntlet at his feet, a ribbon in part entwined around a trident bears the inscription, ‘Report on the Scientific Results of the Challenger Expedition 1886-95’ (George Busk), 75mm., bronze, good very fine £400-500 Medallic References: B.H.M. 3487 and Eimer 1797; a total of 120 such awards were issued, The Challenger Medal Roll (1895), by Glenn M. Stein, F.R.G.S., recording only eight known examples, some of which are still in family hands, while others reside in institutions - Busk's example was issued posthumously on 23 December 1895. George Busk was born in St. Petersburg in August 1807, the second son of Robert Busk, a merchant in that city. After receiving his initial education at Dr. Hartley's School, Bingley, Yorkshire, Busk studied medicine at St. Thomas's Hospital, London. Thereafter, he spent six years as an articled student with George Beaman, under the aegis of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Appointed to the Seamen's Hospital Society (S.H.S.) in 1831, having served briefly as Apothecary on the Society's first hospital ship, the Grampus, Busk joined the 104-gun ship Dreadnought as an Assistant Surgeon in the following year, aboard which ship he ‘worked out the pathology of cholera, and made important observations on scurvy’: he was to remain a Surgeon with the S.H.S. for nearly 25 years, until retiring from surgical practice in 1855, though he held the post of Consulting Surgeon from 1866 until his death 20 years later. In December 1843, Busk became one of the original 300 Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons. Besides his eventual Presidency of the same body in 1871, he subsequently occupied many influential positions in several learned scientific institutions, among them the Microscopial Society, Linnean Society, Zoological Society, and the Anthropological Institute, while in 1850 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. The Darwin connection Early in life he had established himself as a leading authority on Polyzoa, and as with all things he studied, was a patient and cautious investigator. The author of several works on varied scientific subjects, and a solid artist, he also wrote and drew about Polyzoa specimens brought back by Charles Darwin on the Beagle, the 1875-76 Arctic Expedition, and of course, Challenger. Indeed Busk was deeply involved in the debate on the theory of evolution and some sources state that he read the joint Darwin-Wallace paper at a meeting of the Linnean Society on 1 July 1858 - the paper was an important prelude to Darwin's On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection (1859) - but more recent research suggests it was the Society’s Secretary who read out the paper. Be that as it may, Busk did translate into English Professor Schaaffhausen's detailed description of a cranium discovered in the Neander Valley in 1857, two years before publication of Darwin's Origin, a translation that duly appeared in The Natural History Review for April 1861. In his related publication, The Neander Valley, Robert Silverberg states: ‘[Busk] addressed a group of English scientists that same month, displaying a plaster cast of the Neanderthal skull and a skull of a chimpanzee. He said he had "no doubt of the enormous antiquity" of the Neanderthal bones, and called attention to the way the shape of the skull approached "that of some of the higher apes." Neither Darwin nor his chief popularizer, Huxley, attended Busk's lecture, but the geologist David Lyell did, and he saw to it that the Neanderthal skull cast got to Huxley. Huxley reported, in 1863, that the skull was that of a primitive variety of man, ‘different from Homo Sapiens but not wholly distinct anatomically’, though he admitted it was the most apelike human skull yet found - Huxley added cautiously that ‘in no sense can the Neanderthal bones be regarded as the remains of a human being intermediate between men and apes’. ‘In addition, in 1863, Busk came forward with a fossilized skull found in Gibraltar in 1848, and since preserved at the Natural History Museum, London. He realized it had Neanderthal characteristics, and on the basis of the two skulls, an assistant of Lyell's christened a new species of man in 1864, Homo neanderthalensis. As a result, along with Darwin's Origin, "Neanderthal man" rapidly became the centrepiece in the contemporary evolution controversy. In fact, Darwin and Busk had a close medical, as well as scientific, relationship. Darwin was plagued nearly all his adult life with stomach problems, and on his way to Malvern Wells in 1863, he stopped in London overnight to consult Busk, whom Hooker had recommended as having ‘the most fertile brain of any man I know in regard of all such matters as your stomach’ (letter from J. D. Hooker, dated 27 August 1863, refers). Moreover, following Darwin’s failure to gain the Royal Society’s coveted Copley Medal in 1862-63, as a result of the contentious nature of his Origin, it was Busk who nominated him again in 1864, this time for his researches in geology, zoology and botanical physiology, and the ploy worked, the membership present at a meeting held that November resolving by ballot that Darwin receive said Medal. Darwin did not attend the meeting at which the award was announced, fearing the excitement would make him seriously ill, and in his absence the Medal was received on his behalf by Busk, who handed it over to Darwin's brother - a few days later the great man wrote to Busk, thanking him for proposing him for the award (Darwin’s letter, dated 4 December 1864, refers). It was around this same time that a social club was formed by eminent scientists and called the ‘X Club ‘, in order to prevent the members from drifting apart due to their various duties, and to further the cause of science. Much of the discussion at X Club meetings revolved around the affairs of the Royal Society, and in the year of the Club's founding, all except one member were Fellows, Thomas Huxley and Busk among them. Both of them were also involved in the Philosophical Club, a "think tank" within the Royal Society. Busk was awarded the Royal Medal of the Royal Society in 1871 ‘for his researches in Zoology, Physiology and Comparative Anatomy’, followed by the Lyell Medal in 1878 and the Geological Society’s Wollaston Medal in 1885. As stated above, the award of his Challenger Medal was made posthumously in December 1895 - prior to the voyage of the Challenger in 1872, a Royal Society scientific party went aboard the "floating laboratory" anchored at Sheerness, and on deck had their photograph taken, among them Busk. His ‘last labours’ were devoted to the preparation of a report on the Polyzoa collected during the expedition, the first part of the work being completed in 1884, and he was in the process of finishing the second part at the time of his death in London in August 1886 - the proofs were later corrected by his elder daughter. During his lifetime, Busk donated mainly Bryozoan material to the Natural History Museum, London, and after his death, his daughters bequeathed the rest of his collection to the Museum - which amounted to several thousand specimens - as well as some books and drawings. The Museum also holds a proof copy of Busk's Challenger work, with his corrections and annotations, and his original drawings. Dr. G. C. Cook's words perhaps
Lot 509
A scarce pair awarded to John Whelan, for the attempted rescue of two men from the sewers at Burgh Quay, Dublin, 1905 Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (unsuccessful) (John Whelan. May 6. 1905); Order of St. John Lifesaving Medal, 2nd type, bronze (Presented to John Whelan, 5th July 1905) this last with slight edge bruising, very fine (2) £500-600 ‘On the 6th May 1905, John Fleming, in the course of his employment, went down a sewer at Dublin, when he was overcome by foul gas. Patrick Sheahan, P.C., went down to try and rescue him, but was also overcome. At great risk, Colman, Rochford, Fitzpatrick, Meier, Murphy, Lambert, Stuart, Whelan, O’Hara, Rush, Kelly, Blake and Jennings went down and attempted to save the two men, but were unsuccessful’. (Ref. R.H.S. Case No.33,869). For their services, the above 13 men, were each awarded the R.H.S. Medal in Bronze. Ten bronze lifesaving medals of the Order of St. John were also awarded. An ‘In Memoriam’ Certificate was presented to the relatives of 10032 Constable Patrick Sheahan, Dublin Metropolitan Police who gave his life in trying to save Fleming. A memorial in Burgh Quay also commemorates the self-sacrifice of the constable and the bravery of the others. Sold with copied research. .
Lot 510
Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, 4th type, silver, unnamed, with silver brooch bar; Medal of the London Annual International Exhibition of Fine Arts, Industry and Inventions, obverse: Albert Edward Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), reverse dated 1874 (George Askie. Catalogue No. 6101), 51mm., bronze, unmounted, minor edge bruising, good very fine and better (2) .
Lot 511
Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, bronze (To James Porter, for Gallant Service, 2/11/34) complete with brooch bar, in case of issue, extremely fine £100-140 Sold with Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society letter providing details of the rescue: ‘Illuminated Address to Captain John Gill, Commanding the Dublin T.S.S. ‘Lady Leinster ‘, Silver Medal and Certificate to John Gallimore, Chief Officer, in charge of the lifeboat, and Bronze Medal and Certificate each to the following members of the lifeboat’s crew: A.B.’s James Potter (sic), James Finigan, George Popplewell, George McKane, Michael Purcell and Reginald Davis in recognition of gallant service rendered in rescuing the four occupants of the 76 ft. barge-built yacht ‘Thursday ‘, which sprang a leak when five miles off Point Lynas, on 2nd November 1924. Captain Gill reports that when on the passage from Dublin to Liverpool at 2.57 a.m. on the 2nd November, when about four miles North of Point Lynas, Anglesey, a flare was sighted by the officer of the watch. Working engines as required he approached within hailing distance and found the occupants of the vessel were unable to leave their own boat. The wind at this time was fresh Northerly with a nasty choppy sea, but the launching of the ‘Lady Leinster’s ‘No.1 Lifeboat was safely accomplished and under the command of Mr Gallimore successfully took off the four survivors and transferred them to the ‘Lady Leinster ‘. At this time the ‘Thursday ‘was awash forward and settling rapidly’. .
Lot 512
R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal, bronze (P.C. Adams-1937) complete with ‘For Humanity’ brooch bar, on incorrect ‘silver medal’ ribbon, in case of issue, extremely fine £120-160 1430 Police Constable Frank Adams was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal in Bronze ‘For rescuing a dog from a disused quarry at Keighley, Yorkshire’. Frank Adams was born in Worcester on 19 June 1904. Employed as a Police Constable, in 1941 he was living at 5 Wheatcroft Avenue, Batley. Sold with the recipient’s National Registration Identity Card, dated 1940, which bears a photograph of the recipient.
Lot 520
U.S.A., Allied Theatrical Interests and Neptune Association Medal to the Crew of S.S. President Roosevelt 1926, 32mm., bronze, reverse inscribed (name engraved), ‘Presented to C. Heldewig in recognition of Gallantry and Humanity in connection with the rescue of the S.S. Antinoe Feb. 19 1926’, nearly extremely fine £100-150 The New Egypt & Levant Steamship Company freighter Antinoe, 3,747 tons, was en-route from New York to Queenstown, with a cargo of grain, under the command of Captain Harry Tose with a crew of 25. On 23 January 1926 having run into a heavy gale, she was struck by an extremely large wave. The wave burst upon the vessel damaging the steering gear and engine, and carried away the dingy. Becoming unmanageable and developing a list an S.O.S. message was broadcast. The call was received by Newfoundland and relayed, being picked up by the R.M.S. Aquitania which passed it on to the President Roosevelt of the United States Line, under the command of Captain Fried. The President Roosevelt made contact with the Antinoe at 12.30 on 24 January. After pumping oil into the sea she attempted to launch a boat. This ended in tragedy as the boat was smashed against the sides of the ship and two of the crew were drowned. At 9 p.m. the weather worsened, and in violent snow squalls, the two ships lost touch. Over 18 hours later through the skill and perseverance of Captain Fried the President Roosevelt regained contact with the Antinoe. In the interim, the situation of the ship had deteriorated, with a derrick breaking loose and causing damage and the engines completely stopped. In this perilous situation Captain Tose decided to abandon ship. Five successive attempts were made by the President Roosevelt to drift lifeboats down to the Antinoe attached to a line, each without success. Similarly, attempts to send a line by rocket also failed. On 27 June, the weather having improved slightly, a boat from the President Roosevelt at last managed to take off some of the crew of the Antinoe. In the early hours of the next day a second boat took off Captain Tose and the remaining crew and the Antinoe was abandoned and left to sink. The Captain and crew of the President Roosevelt were the recipients of the thanks of the British Government and the congratulations of the Admiralty. A letter of thanks was also sent by King George V to President Coolidge. The owners of the Antinoe made a presentation to Captain Fried and his men. (Dictionary of Disaster at Sea refers). Captain Fried was also awarded the Navy Cross for this action. .
Lot 539
Scottish Horse Tribute Medal 1900, bronze oval-shaped award, with outer laurel wreath and superimposed Cross of St. Andrew, plain reverse, integral loop and ring suspension, 28mm. by 38mm., in its fitted red leather case of issue with gilt ‘Scottish Horse’ title to lid, extremely fine £60-80.
Lot 540
Engraved coins (7) British Florin, Victoria, old head, reverse erased and inscribed, ‘Mafeking Relief Medal, Gwelo Sports, 17/5/1900’, within an ornate border; Belgian 5 Francs, 1870, obverse erased and inscribed, ‘In Remembrance of the Great War 1914-191. S. Petersen. F. Petersen. C. Petersen. F. Petersen. I. Petersen’; German East African 1 Rupie (4), reverse erased and inscribed, ‘512 P. B. Nelson, 1st S.A.H., E.A. 1915-1916’, edge damaged; another, reverse erased and lightly inscribed [indecipherable]; another dated 1897, obverse erased and crudely inscribed, ‘C. G. Glass, M.T.C. 745 M.D.R.’; another dated 1901, obverse erased and inscribed, ‘CSM H. L. Weddell 1634 S.A.S.C.M.T. B.E.A. 1916-17-18’, drilled in two places - these all silver; another, a bronze coin, erased both sides and crudely inscribed, ‘2447 Gnr. C. Steele A Bty SAFA, C of E’, fine and better (7) £30-50.
Lot 545
Hythe Peace Medal 1919, bronze; Dunkirk War Veterans’ Medal; Pair: Defence Medal, unnamed; St. John Service Medal, 1 silver clasp (43314 Pte. W. J. L. Deag, London S.J.A.B. 1949), silver base metal, mounted as worn; Pair: National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal (2), bronze, with ‘Ten Years’ brooch bar (8182 Ernest A. Pearson); another, silver, 2 clasps, Twenty Years, Five Years (4677 Ernest A. Pearson); Lyon Fire Brigade Medallions 1908 (2), one silver-gilt; another, silver, in card boxes of issue; Three: 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed; School Attendance Medal, G.V.R., 1 clasp, 1919-20 (W. Usher), with brooch bar; War Medal 1939-45 (114839 D. R. Rooke); Pair: War and Africa Service Medals (N67364 I. Moss); Malta Command Sports Medal, ‘Company Water Polo Knock-out 1932’, silver; Small Silver Dish, inscribed, ‘For Freedom 1939-1945 W. G. Verney, R. Berks. R. from Boxford’, 88mm. diameter, hallmarks for London 1944, nearly very fine and better (15) £ 80-100 W.W.2 medals to Usher in card forwarding box, with slip, addressed to ‘Mr W. R. Usher, 36 Regal Way, Preston Rd., Harrow, Middx.’.
Lot 610
Albania, Principality, Accession Medal 1914, bronze; Montenegro, Medal for Zeal, Nicholas I, gilt base metal, ball and ring suspension, nearly extremely fine (2) £100-140 Commemorates the accession of Prince Wilhelm of Wied to the Principality of Albania. The Prince was formerly appointed on 7 March 1914 but his tenure as Prince of Albania was shortlived. Following a revolt in May 1914 he left Albania, never to return on 3 September 1914, though still retaining his claim to the throne.
Lot 612
Austria, Empire, Slovenian Medal for Horsemanship, bust of Franz Joseph by Tautenhayn, 40mm., silver-gilt; Austria, Steiermark, 40 Years L.S. Medal, white metal; Bulgaria, Long Service Cross, Ferdinand I cypher, silver; Czechoslovakia, Dobrovolcu Congress Medal 1918-19, bronze; Hungary, St. John Merit Medal, bronze, very fine (5) £100-140.
Lot 613
Belgium, War Volunteer Medal 1952, 1 clasp, Pugnator; Overseas Operations Medal 1951 (2), no clasp; another, 1 clasp, Coree-Korea; U.N. Korea 1950-54, Belgian issue France, ‘Korea War’ group of five Croix de Guerre, T.O.E.; Wound Medal, bronze-gilt and enamel, slight enamel damage; Korea Campaign Medal 1951; U.N. Korea 1950-54, French issue; South Korea, War Service Medal, mounted as worn, good very fine and better except where stated (9) £80-100.
Lot 618
France, First Empire, A Rare Ceremonial Baton, probably for a high civil office, the faded purple velvet-covered wooden staff embellished with 30 bronze-gilt Imperial Bees surmounted by bronze-gilt Crown finial, 763mm overall, 32mm diameter, the velvet worn but the metalwork in excellent condition for age, very rare £1000-1500.
Lot 620
A fine ‘Napoleonic Wars’ group of six awarded to Paul Lambert Van den Maesen France, First Empire, Legion of Honour, 3rd type, Chevalier’s breast badge, 56 x 36mm., silver, gold and enamel, lacks reverse centre, severe enamel damage, points bruised; Reign of Louis Philippe, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, 65 x 44mm., silver, gold and enamel, enamel damage; St. Helena Medal, bronze; ‘Veterans Cross’, 41 x 41mm., silver-gilt cross surmounted by crossed sabres, obverse centre with ‘N’ with military hat above, reverse centre bearing the cypher, ‘PVDM’; Emperor Napoleon I Funeral Commemorative Medal 1840, 41mm., bronze, unnamed, edge bruise; Netherlands, ‘St. Barbara Gilde Medal’, 55mm., silver, with ornate suspension, obverse inscribed, ‘Ste. Barbara Gilde aan P. L. Vandermaesen, Ridder van het Eerelegioen’, reverse engraved with crossed riffles and the inscription, ‘Ter gelegenheid van Zijn Vijftigjarig lidmaatschap 1827-1877 (?)’; pair of miniature dress medals: France, St. Helena Medal, bronze; Legion of Honour, First Empire, 4th type, silver, gold and enamel, enamel damage, mounted as worn from a gold brooch bar; Daguerreotype, of the recipient within a gilt oval frame, the clarity of the image is poor; fine and better (9) £600-800 The above mounted on an old pad by Gontier, Brussels, with damaged gilt frame surmounted by an imperial eagle. A label on the pad reverse reads, ‘Paul Lambert Van den Maesen, 1791-1881’.
Lot 622
Eleven: Chef de Bataillin Achille LŽonard Boniface Villermain, French Army France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, 5th Class, silver, gold and enamel, severe enamel damage; Order of Agricultural Merit, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Croix de Guerre 1914-1917, bronze star on ribbon; Colonial Medal 1893, 1 clasp, Tunisie; War Commemorative Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-18, official type; French Society of War Wounded Medal 1864-66, silver; ‘U.N.C.’ Medal; Belgium, Order of Leopold I, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; Order of the Crown, Officer’s breast badge, gilt base metal and enamel; Romania, War Commemorative Cross 1916-18, no clasps, generally good very fine except where stated (11) £180-220 Achille LŽonard Boniface Villermain was born in Antibes, Alpes Maritimes, on 14 February 1848. He volunteered for military service in Paris on 5 February 1866. He attained the rank of Sergeant-Major in 1869 and in the following year was commissioned Adjutant and Sous Lieutenant. Promoted to Captain in 1883, he subsequently served as Acting Major and latterly attained the rank of Chef de Bataillon of Infantry. Sold with a quantity of original documents and papers, approximately 36, including: Service Book, recording Villermain originally in the 3rd Regiment de Voltigeurs, Garde ImpŽriale; Wound Certificate 1886; notification of the award of the Legion of Honour, dated 1890; Colonial Medal award document, dated 1894; commission documents; military certificates.
Lot 627
Greece, Kingdom, Psara Massacre Commemorative Medal, obverse: the island of Psara, the exploding magazines atop the strong point above the town, the Turkish fleet in the background, 37mm., bronze, good very fine £50-70 In the Greek War of Independence, 1821-29, the island of Psara (N.W. of Chios in the Aegean Sea) was amongst the first to rebel against their Turkish overlords. In 1823 the Psarians raided the coast of Asia Minor. In revenge the Turks under Hosref Pasha attacked the island from Mylilene in June 1824. Refugees from neighbouring islands and the mainland had swelled the population of the island to 20,000. The Turkish fleet silenced the batteries of Kanalos on the north side of the island and then on 24 June 1824 stormed ashore with 14,000 Janissaries. Some of the population had managed to escape the island but those that had not were either sold into slavery or slaughtered by the rampaging troops. Seeing the massacre below, the islanders in a last act of defiance blew up their magazines at Ftelia and Palaiokastro. Some 15,000 Greeks were killed in the massacre.
Lot 629
Greece, ‘Korea War’ group of three Distinguished Conduct Medal 1950; U.N. Korea 1950-54, Greek issue; South Korea, War Service Medal, mounted as worn U.N. Korea 1950-54 (3), Greek issues (2); Ethiopian issue (1), good very fine (6) £100-140. #100-140 630. Indian States, Bahawalpur, Victory Star 1939-45 (22), bronze, unnamed, with ribbon, good very fine and better (22) £120-160.
Lot 654
Italy, Victory Souvenir Medal 1939-45, obverse: the figure of ‘Victory’ sheathing her sword, ‘Freedom for the Whole World’, bronze, extremely fine £60-80 The medal was available as a souvenir targeted at Anglo-American servicemen in the Milan area. Sold with a ‘Certificato al Patriota’, number ‘168786’, named to ‘Ravera Germano di Michele’, issued by Field Marshal Alexander as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Central Mediterranean Forces. Awarded to Italian partisans for their support of the Allies. The document is torn and repaired, scarce.
Lot 696
The Army Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star group of five awarded to Major-General Philip Bradley Peyton, 61st Infantry Regiment, 5th Division Army Distinguished Service Medal, edge officially numbered ‘397’, bronze and enamel; Silver Star, edge officially numbered ‘4055’, reverse inscribed ‘Philip B. Peyton’; Victory Medal 1918, 3 clasps, Defensive Sector, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, official type 2 medal; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, blue enamel with some damage and repair; Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with bronze star on ribbon and with lanyard complete with gilt fitting, generally good very fine (13) £1200-1500 Distinguished Service Medal citation: ‘For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. He took command of a regiment which had undergone six days of shell fire and commanded it with such unusual skill as to enable the regiment to capture Aincreville, Bois de Babiemont, Doulcon, and, after crossing the Meuse, to capture Hill 292, Dun-sur-Meuse, Milly-devant-Dun, Lion-devant-Dun, Cote St. Germain, Chateau Charmois, and Mouzey, thereby displaying the highest order of leadership and exhibiting the masterful qualities of a commander’. Silver Star, cited by Divisional Commander; Cunel and Bois-de-la-Poultiere. Citation: ‘For exceptional devotion to duty, energy and zeal. In the attack on Cunel and the Bois-de-la-Poultiere, 14th October 1918, by his presence, coolness, personal bravery, and excellent example under intense artillery and machine-gun fire, after not only the officers, but also the non-commissioned personnel of his Battalion had been decimated in this particular attack by seventy-five per cent, inspired the members of his command to advance against an enemy strongly fortified in the jungle of underbrush and trenches. He repeatedly disregarded his own safety in making personal reconnaissance ahead of his forces when they were held up by enemy fire’. Philip Bradley Peyton was born in Nashville, Tennessee on 22 January 1881, son of A. Newman Peyton. He was educated at the Virginia Military Institute and following his graduation in 1901, served as an Instructor in the Institute during 1901-03. During his second year at the Institute, he was a room mate of George C. Marshall - who was later, at various times, Army Chief of Staff, General of the Army, Secretary of State and Secretary of Defence. Peyton was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry in 1904 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1911, Captain in 1916, Temporary Major, August 1917-August 1918 and Major in 1920. Serving in France with the 61st Infantry during the Great War, he was awarded the American Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star and the French Legion of Honour and Croix de Guerre. As Commanding Officer of the 61st Infantry Peyton was decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal by General Pershing on 30 April 1919. Postwar he graduated from the Infantry School in 1925, the Command and General Staff School in 1926, the Army War College in 1931 and Tank School in 1932 - being promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1927, Colonel in 1935, Brigadier-General in 1937 and Major-General in 1941. He served as Commanding Officer, 12th Brigade, 1937-38; Commanding Officer, Hawaiian Separate Coast Artillery Brigade, 1938; Commanding Officer, 21st Brigade, 1939; Commandant of the Army War College, 1939-40; Commanding General, 8th Infantry Division, June-December 1940, and Commanding General I Corps, 1941-42. Following a heart attack, Peyton retired from the Army on 28 February 1942. Residing in Charlottesville, Virginia, he died on 23 June 1949 and was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. Sold with a riband bar and seven metal uniform badges, a copied photograph of the recipient and copied research.
Lot 699
U.S.A., Occupation Service Medal, 1 clasp, Asia; National Defense Medal; Korea Medal, three bronze stars on ribbon; Meritorious Service Medal (3) South Korea, War Service Medal (4), one unofficial; Unit Citation Riband Bar; Philippines, Korea Service Medal; Thailand, Korean Campaign Medal, complete with brooch bar; U.N. Korea 1950-54 (4), English (2), Korean and Thai issues, good very fine and better (17) £120-160.
Lot 782
Seven: Petty Officer 1st Class S. G. Reed, Royal Navy, killed in action aboard H.M.S. Defence at the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Ord., H.M.S. Monarch) small impressed naming; 1914-15 Star (193627 P.O.1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (193627 P.O.1, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (193627 P.O., H.M.S. Vivid); Royal Humane Society Medal, small, bronze, successful (Sydney G. Reed. R.N. Nov. 10 1900); Royal Life Saving Society Medal, bronze (P.O.1 S. G. Reed, Oct. 1906) slight edge bruising and contact marks, R.H.S. Medal fine; others very fine and better (7) £450-550 Sydney George Reed was born in Devon on 22 June 1881. An Errand Boy by occupation, he entered into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1897, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in March 1898. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman and Gym Instructor 2nd Class on the Benbow in June 1899. As Ordinary Seaman and Gym Instructor 1st Class he served on the battleship Monarch, November-December 1899, during which time he qualified for the Q.S.A. Medal with clasp for Cape Colony (41 single clasp ‘Cape Colony’ to ship). He then transferred to the cruiser Tartar, January 1900-September 1901, which was also on duty off the coast of Africa. On the ship he was ranked as Staff Gym Instructor and was advanced to Able Seaman in July 1900. On 10 November 1900 he performed a rescue for which he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze. The citation (R.H.S. Case No. 31153) reads, ‘On the 10th November, 1900, a man belonging to the Royal Marine Light Infantry fell overboard from H.M.S. Tartar at the entrance to the Bonny River, West Africa. There was a strong tide, and the locality abounds with sharks. At great risk, Reed jumped in and supported him till they were picked up by a boat’. Further advancement followed,being promoted to Leading Seaman (Physical Training Instructor 1st Class) in October 1901 when at Vivid, Petty Officer 2nd Class in September 1904 when on Russell and Petty Officer 1st Class when on the same ship in January 1905. Based at Vivid I at the start of the Great War, he was transferred to the armoured cruiser Defence in July 1915. Still with the ship, he was killed in action at the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, when the ship, coming under fire from German battlecruisers, blew up with the loss of all on board - 54 officers, 845 ratings and four civilians. Petty Officer Reed was the son of Harry and Emily Reed of Plymouth and the husband of Eliza Jane Reed of 92 Hotham Place, Millbridge, Stoke, Devonport. His name is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.Sold with copied service paper.
Lot 784
Four: Fleet Paymaster J. S. Place, one of four officers from H.M.S. Barham to be killed in action at the Battle of Jutland Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Ast. Payr., R.N., H.M.S. Monarch) engraved naming; 1914-15 Star (Ft. Payr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Ft. Payr., R.N.), together with 2nd Cruiser Squadron (South Africa and South America) 1908 Medal, 8 clasps, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Simonstown, Capetown, St. Helena, Rio de Janeiro, Monte Video, bronze, unnamed; Jutland Commemorative Medal, by Spink, London, small silver, 22mm., this last with loop and brooch-bar for wearing; another 44mm., white metal, unmounted, last two with edge bruising, good very fine or better (7) £800-1000 Ex Barrett J. Carr Collection. John Spencer Place was born in February 1897 and entered the Royal Navy as an Assistant Clerk in January 1892. He subsequently served in the battleship Monarch as an Assistant Paymaster from January 1897 to October 1900, latterly off South Africa, and was advanced to Paymaster in December 1904. Having been promoted to Fleet Paymaster in December 1912, he was serving aboard the Southampton on the outbreak of hostilities, in which cruiser he was present in the actions at Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914 and Dogger Bank on 24 January 1915. Appointed to the battleship Barham in July 1915, he was subsequently killed in action at the Battle of Jutland in the following year. Barham, the flagship of the 5th Battle Squadron, was heavily engaged with Hipper’s battle cruisers, scoring hits on the Lutzow, Derfflinger and Seydlitz, but she was badly mauled in the process, several hits causing her serious casualties, among them four officers and 22 ratings killed. Paymaster Place, who was 41 years of age and left a widow, Clara Winifred Place, a resident of Warrender Park Terrace, Edinburgh, is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Sold with copied service paper, copied photograph and other research.
Lot 869
Three: George Smith, Ship’s Cook, Royal Navy Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (Geo. Smith); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., Anchor obverse (George Smith, Ships Cook, H.M.S. Excellent. 26 Years); St Jean d’Acre 1840, bronze, this with traces of having been sometime silvered, very fine (3) £1400-1600 Nine men of this name on the roll for Syria, any one of whom could have become a ship’s cook later in their career. Long Service medal confirmed on Douglas-Morris’s roll as having been issued on 26 June 1847, and as being entitled to medal for Syria.
Lot 951
Four: Acting Corporal F. A. Tooze, Worcestershire Regiment 1914 Star , with clasp (10140 L. Cpl., 2/Worc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (10140 A. Cpl., Worc. R.) B.W.M. suspension a little slack; National Fire Brigades Association L.S. Medal, 1 clasp, Ten Years (11120 Frederick A. Tooze), bronze, fine and better (4) £160-200 Frederick Arthur Tooze was born in Worcester. A General Labourer by occupation and a member of the 5th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment (Militia), he attested for the Worcestershire Regiment on 10 September 1906, aged 18 years, 1 month. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in 1912. Mobilized in August 1914 he was taken onto the strength of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and entered into the France/Flanders theatre of war on 12 August 1914. He was invalided back to England on 27 January 1915 having contracted certain illnesses. He was discharged because of sickness on 7 May 1917 and was awarded the Silver War Badge. In 1922 he joined the Worcester Fire Brigade and was awarded the N.F.A. Long Service Medal in 1934. Sold with copied service papers, medical papers and m.i.c.
Lot 973
Family group: Pair: Able Seaman C. W. Uzell, Benbow Battalion, Royal Naval Division 1914 Star (234692 A.B., Benbow Bttn., R.N.D.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (234692 (CH.B.13908) A.B., R.F.R.); together with related (damaged) bronze sweetheart brooch Three: Lance-Corporal E. F. Uzell, Lincolnshire Regiment, who died of wounds on 6 May 1915 1914-15 Star (1465 Pte., Linc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1465 Pte., Linc. R.) generally very fine or better (6) £200-240 Charles William Uzzell was born in Wantage, Berkshire on 12 November 1889. A Van Boy by occupation, he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 5 September 1905 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in March 1906. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman when on the Albermarle in November 1907 and Able Seaman when on St. George in June 1912. With the onset of war he was posted to the Benbow Battalion Royal Naval Division. Serving with the battalion in Belgium, he ended up being interned in the Netherlands for the duration of the war. Postwar he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in December 1919 and was demobilized in June 1921. Sold with copied service paper. Able Seaman C. W. Uzell was entitled to the clasp to his 1914 Star. Ernest Frederick Uzell was born at Wantage, Berkshire in 1893, and lived at West Wickham, Kent. He died of wounds in France and Flanders on 6 May 1915 whilst serving with the 5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment and is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, France. In an obituary in the Beckenham and District Times, several letters from his officers and N.C.O. were reprinted. That from Sergeant J. T. Ely read: ‘I deeply regret to tell you that your son Fred is dead. On the night of May 5th a party of us had to put up some wire entanglements between our lines and the Germans. We had not been at it long when Fred was hit with a bullet in the head. We got him and attended to him at once, but it was of no use, and by what I can learn he only lived about twelve hours. The dear lad had a decent burial, and was laid to rest by the side of some of his comrades in the cemetery .. ‘The above were brothers, sons of Stephen Uzzell of 3 Hope Cottages, West Wickham, formerly of Southlands Road, Bromley Common. Both with copied research.
Lot 985
Five: Private H. E. Turney, 11th Battalion London Regiment 1914-15 Star (3091 Pte., 11-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (3091 Pte., 11-Lond. R.); Special Constabulary Long Service, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Harold E. Turney); Serbia, Oblitch Bravery Medal, 30mm., bronze-gilt, unnamed as issued, mounted for wear, good very fine (5) £220-260 Serbia ‘Gold Medal’ London Gazette 15 February 1917. ‘3091 Rifleman Harold Edward Turney, London Regiment’. Private Turney landed at Sulva Bay, Gallipoli with the 1/11th Battalion London Regiment on 10 August 1915. Still with the Londons in January 1917 when he was given a new service number - 451018 - from the Finsbury Rifles allocated number block. At a later date he was transferred to the Royal Engineers (Service No. 549857) and remained with them until discharged to the ‘Z’ Reserve on 14 July 1919. Sold with copied service details and gazette extract.
Lot 996
An unusual and interesting group of nineteen awarded to Alexander Gault MacGowan, an accredited War Correspondent in the 1939-45 War, whose extraordinary career commenced with service as a subaltern in the Manchester Regiment and as an R.A.F. Observer in the Great War: having been wounded in North Africa in 1943, he was captured by the Germans in France in 1944, but escaped ‘through a series of adventures that would make a Hollywood scenarist bite his nails with envy’ - and briefly fought alongside the Maquis 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; France, Croix de Guerre 1939-1940, with bronze star on ribbon; Academic Palms, Officer’s breast badge, gilt metal and enamel, with rosette on riband; War Commemorative Medal 1914-18; Somme Commemorative Medal; Colonial Medal, 2 clasps, Algerie, Maroc; War Commemorative Medal 1939-45, 1 clasp, Liberation; Medal of Liberated France 1947; Morocco, Order of Ouissam Alaouite Cherifien, Officer’s breast badge, gilt metal and enamel, with rosette on riband; Portugal, Republic, Military Order of Christ, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; U.S.A., Purple Heart, gilt metal and enamel, the Legion of Honour severely chipped in places and the Portuguese piece less so, otherwise generally good very fine (19) £3000-3500 Ex Sotheby’s 6 March 1986. Alexander Gault MacGowan, who ‘crammed more dangerous adventures into his lifetime than most men would care to experience’, was born February 1894 and was educated at Manchester Grammar School. Mobilised as a pre-war member of the Cheshire Yeomanry on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was commissioned into the 24th (Oldham) Battalion, Manchester Regiment in October 1915 and is believed to have been wounded by rifle-grenade fragments in the head and legs on the Somme in July 1916. Declared as ‘unfit for anything other than mounted duty’, he transferred to the Royal Air Force and went on to serve as an Observer on the Italian front in 1918. Commencing his career as a journalist in 1922, when he worked as a correspondent for the Associated Press out in India (where MacGowan also held a commission on the Indian Army Reserve of Officers), he moved to a new appointment in Mesopotamia in the following year. Indeed for much of the 1920s and 1930s he travelled extensively, working variously for The Times and Daily Express, and others newspapers, and was credited with discovering a new pass into Little Tibet, for which he received the thanks of the Survey of India, in addition to participating in the first flight over the Orinoco Delta and the Venezuelan Ilanos, between Trinidad and Maracay, and the first flight between Trinidad and British Guiana. Added to which he had further adventures during an epic motor car trip across the desert from Kurdistan and Mosul to Syria, the first of its kind. He later reported, ‘Hold ups were frequent, and an officer who tried it after me was stripped of everything and had to walk naked into the Lebanons! ‘In 1934 MacGowan joined the New York Sun, for whom he reported on the Spanish Civil War and produced two controversial features entitled ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel of Spain ‘and ‘The Red Vultures of the Pyrenees ‘, for he had no time for the Spanish loyalists and their left-wing sympathisers. He also had an assignment with the French Foreign Legion out in Algeria and Morocco in 1937, in addition to covering the coronation of George VI in the same year. In fact, MacGowan was still working in London on the renewal of hostilities, and accordingly he was assigned to cover the events of the Battle of Britain, in addition to acting as ‘Press Observer with the Commandos in the raid on Dieppe’. As an accredited War Correspondent with the American forces, he next travelled to North Africa and was with the French when they attacked Jabel Mansour in April 1943, when he was ‘wounded in the leg .. and was awarded the Purple Heart by special order of President Roosevelt. For the same incident he was cited for bravery and awarded the Croix de Guerre by General Henri Giraud.’ Both awards were announced in the New York Times. In the following year he reported on the Allied landings in Normandy and was attached to General Omar Bradley’s forces, riding in the jeep of the first American to reach the historic island of Mont Saint Michel. But, as subsequently confirmed by German radio, such scoops were shortly thereafter curtailed, for he was captured at Chatres on 15 August 1944: ‘MacGowan’s experience, following his capture, was unusual. Upon arrival at Chalons-sur-Marne with Makin [another correspondent who had been mortally wounded when their jeep was originally fired upon by two German armoured cars], he was placed in the temporary custody of a group of German war correspondents of the Presse-kompanie. They treated him well, but eventually delivered him to a prisoner of war camp on the line of the German retreat. From there he was started on a journey eastward aboard a train, en route to Germany. At 2 a.m., after six hours in the slow-moving train, and as the guards drowsed, MacGowan opened the compartment door and jumped from the car, fell and ran, with bullets flying about him. Still in France, he was fortunate in reaching a group of Maquis, or French resistance forces. Once he had established his identity, they hid him until the U.S. forces had advanced to the area in September. Interviewed for the World’s Press News after his return to England, the publication described British-born MacGowan as the only ‘British correspondent ‘ever known to have escaped after capture, with the exception of Winston Churchill in his escape from the Boers during the South African War in 1899’ (Europe Made Free: Invasion 1944 refers). Having ‘lived a life like Robin Hood’s’ with the Maquis, and accompanied them with the advancing Americans at the capture of a local town, MacGowan duly reported to the bar of the Paris hotel that served as a press H.Q. - the rest of his colleagues almost dropped their glasses, ‘for the usually immaculate MacGowan was dressed in borrowed French civilian clothes that fitted him like Europe fits Hitler - too big in some places, too tight in others’. In October he returned to the Sun’s offices in New York, for the first time in five years, where he was hailed as a conquering hero, ‘trim and fit in his war correspondent’s uniform, with a chest full of campaign ribbons and decorations from two World Wars.’ Returning to N.W.Europe in the Spring of 1945, MacGowan accompanied General Patton’s forces and visited the scene of Hitler’s ‘Eagle’s Nest ‘at Berchtesgaden at the War’s end. He subsequently reported on the ‘Big Three ‘Potsdam conference. MacGowan - a ‘tall, dark-haired man, with a ‘devil-may-care ‘look in his eyes ‘‘ - was European Manager of the New York Sun 1946-50, during which period he reported on U.N.O. and N.A.T.O. forces, and latterly editor and publisher of European Life. In so far as his foreign Honours and Awards are concerned, it would be impossible to ascertain the validity of his entitlement to the French War Comemmorative Medal 1914-18 and Colonial Medal, although given his Great War services were purely with the British, the former seems unlikely. However, relevant editions of Who’s Who do verify the following: ‘Officier de l’Instruction Publique, 1930 [a.k.a. Palms Academic]; Officer of Military Order of Christ, Portugal, 1933; Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, 1934; Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite, Morocco, 1938; Croix de Guerre, 1943; Medaille de la France Liberee, 1949’, together with mention of his Purple Heart. Sold with an extensive file of research, including correspondence with MacGo
Lot 1053
Four: Company Quartermaster-Sergeant J. A. Eley, 23rd Battalion London Regiment British War and Victory Medals (3160 C. Sjt., 23-Lond. R.); Jubilee 1897, bronze, unnamed, in Wyon, London case of issue; France, Medal of Honour, with swords, bronze, unnamed, in case of issue, extremely fine (4) £180-220 France, Medal of Honour, with swords, bronze London Gazette 15 December 1919. ‘700805 Company Quartermaster-Sergeant John Arthur Eley, 2/23rd Battalion London Regiment (Clapham Junction)’. J. E. Eley enlisted on 26 September 1914. He was discharged from the 23rd Battalion London Regiment on 7 December 1919 due to sickness and was awarded the Silver War Badge. Sold with original forwarding slip from the Infantry Record Office, London, for the French Medal of Honour; also with copied m.i.c. and gazette and roll extracts. Jubilee 1897 not confirmed. .
Lot 1061
Three: Stoker W. Ellis, Royal Naval Reserve British War and Victory Medals (3134T Sto., R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (1219V Sto., R.N.R.) edge bruising Four: Corporal J. H. Shann, Royal West Kent Regiment 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, all unnamed, mounted as worn Three: Aircraftsman P. Grove, Royal Air Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal, all unnamed, extremely fine Family group: Four: Flight Lieutenant N. A. Simpson, Royal Air Force 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, all unnamed Pair: J. Herold, Women’s Auxiliary Air Force War and Africa Service Medals (F46788 J.Herold) good very fine and better (22) £120-160 John Henry Shan was born on 2 February 1920 and enlisted at London on 9 May 1938. During the Second World War he served in Malta, 1 August 1939-9 April 1944, and thereafter was based in the U.K. He was discharged on 14 November 1944 due to ‘ceasing to fulfil Army Physical Requirements’. Sold with Regular Army Certificate of Service; Soldier’s Service and Pay Book; postcard photograph of the recipient and another group photograph; and Ministry of Pensions papers. Medals to Grove in card forwarding box addressed to ‘P. Grove Esq, 15, Westward Road, Broughton Heath, Chester’. Also with R.A.F. Certificate of Discharge - showing service in the R.A.F. from 10 June 1940 and discharge on 29 June 1943 due to Physical Unfitness. Medals to Husband and wife. Those to Simpson sold with a bronze sports medal (Inter Squadron Runners-up 1939-40); Identity Disk (2) on chain, one named (162451 Simpson N. A., R.A.F., R.C.), the other (R.C. 162451 R.A.F.); R.A.F. Pass Card, named to N. A. Simpson at St. Athan 32 M.U. Medals to Herold with riband bar; Identity Disk (2) (46788 J. Herold, W.A.A.F., C.E.), and medal forwarding slip. Also with eagle badge.
Lot 1162
Sold by Order of the Family The outstanding Gallipoli V.C., Western Front M.C. group of seven awarded to Major H. James, Worcestershire Regiment, who was thrice wounded - twice in Gallipoli and again on the Somme in July 1916: his V.C. - the first such distinction won by his regiment - was awarded for extraordinary acts of bravery in June-July 1915, the last of them amounting to a protracted one man stand in an enemy sap near Gully Ravine throughout which, amidst mounds of dead and dying, he was exposed to ‘a murderous fire’ and ‘a shower of bombs’ Victoria Cross (Lieut. H. James, 4th Bn. Worcestershire Regt; 28 June & 3 July 1915); Military Cross, G.V.R. unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Worc. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); French Croix de Guerre 1914-1916, with palm, the reverse of the upper and lower arms privately engraved, ‘Lt. H. James, V.C., 1st Bn. Worc. Regt.’ and the reverse centre ‘July 7th’; Panama, Medal de la Solidaridad 1917, bronze, generally good very fine (7) £160,000-180,000 V.C. London Gazette 1 September 1915: ‘For most conspicuous bravery during the operations in the southern zone of the Gallipoli Peninsula. On 28 June 1915, when a portion of a regiment had been checked owing to all the officers being put out of action, 2nd Lieutenant James, who belonged to a neighbouring unit, entirely on his own initiative, gathered together a body of men and led them forward under heavy shell and rifle fire. He then returned, organized a second party, and again advanced. His gallant example put fresh life into the attack. On 3 July 1915, in the same locality, 2nd Lieutenant James headed a party of bomb-throwers up a Turkish communication trench, and after nearly all his bomb-throwers had been killed or wounded, he remained alone at the head of the trench and kept back the enemy single-handed till a barrier had been built behind him and the trench secured. He was throughout exposed to a murderous fire.’ M.C. London Gazette 15 October 1918: ‘During an attack, he rode forward when the situation was obscure under heavy fire, and brought back most valuable information. He then reorganised and led forward parties of men from other units and skilfully formed a defensive flank where a gap had occurred, exposing himself for many hours to a very heavy fire. By his gallantry, coolness, and utter disregard of personal safety, he set a splendid example to all ranks.’ Herbert James was born in Ladywood, Birmingham in November 1887, where his father ran a jewellery engraving business. According to his sister, it was decided that he should enter the teaching profession after his education at Smethwick Central School, and certainly he was employed as a teacher’s assistant and later primary teacher at the Bearwood Road and Brasshouse Lane Schools, but, ‘being of a roving disposition’, he wanted to go abroad, and, in April 1909, against his father’s wishes, he enlisted in the 21st Lancers, in which regiment he was appointed a Trooper and embarked for Egypt. Gallipoli By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, James was serving as a Lance-Corporal in India, but he was quickly appointed to a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment and, in March 1915, embarked for the Dardanelles. Landing at ‘W’ Beach, Cape Helles on 24 April, James received a serious head wound in the severe fighting of the 25th-26th, and was evacuated to Malta. About two months later he rejoined the 4th Battalion, in time for a newly planned attack up Gully Ravine. The following account of his exploits on 28 June was taken from The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War, by Captain H. F. Stacke, M.C.: ‘All was ready and at 9 a.m. that morning the British guns opened fire, and at 10 a.m. the attacking troops advanced. The Worcestershires were not involved in that attack, their role being confined to holding the Brigade line further to the right, but the Battalion came in for heavy gun fire while the struggle on their left swayed to and fro. On the left flank the Turkish defences along the sea cliffs were taken with comparative ease; but in the Gully Ravine itself the fire of two strong redoubts held up the attack and drove the Lowland Battalions back into our lines. That evening the 5th Royal Scots renewed the attack on these two redoubts, only to fail in their turn. The 5th Royal Scots in particular were heavily punished and most of their Company Officers were killed or wounded. Orders had been given that the 4th Worcestershires further to the right were to keep touch with the Scotsmen and to be ready to exploit any success. For that purpose Lieutenant James had been sent into the trenches of the Royal Scots to act as a Liaison Officer. When affairs became critical, he went up to the front line, at the request of the Royal Scots’ C.O., to assist in the attack. All the Scots officers in his vicinity had fallen, so Lieutenant James took command of the disorganised troops around him, restored order and established a satisfactory position. Then he went back and brought up reinforcements, only to find on his return that a renewed counter-attack by the enemy had shattered the defence. Once again, Lieutenant James re-established the line and maintained the defence until darkness fell.’ In point of fact, as verified by the citation for his subsequent award of the V.C., James led two counter-attacks himself, an extraordinary feat given the losses suffered during earlier attempts made by the Lowland Battalions - by way of illustrating the ferocious nature of the enemy’s response to such initiatives, it is worth noting that one of them, the 8th Scottish Rifles, lost 25 of its 26 officers and 448 men - all of them in the space of five minutes. And the slope up which he led his men was bereft of cover except for bushes and scrub. Over the next two or three days the fighting surged back and forth until, by 1 July, the Turks had been pushed back each side of the Ravine, but not to its immediate front, where their positions formed a salient. And it was in the attack launched on that salient by the Worcestershires and Hampshires on the 2 July - not the 3rd as cited in the London Gazette - that James rounded-off the deeds that would result in the award of his V.C. The regimental history continues: ‘After due consideration it was decided that, in view of the increasing shortage of gun ammunition, a bombing attack up the existing saps would be preferable to a big attack over the top. Two saps in the centre of the hostile line were assigned to the Worcestershires; other saps further to the left were allotted to the Hampshires. At 9 a.m. on 2 July the attack began. The attacking parties climbed out of our own sapheads, dashed across the open, rushed the sapheads of the enemy and made their way forward up the trenches. The two Turkish sapheads assigned to the 4th Worcestershires were each attacked by a party of about 30 men, those on the right being led by Lieutenant Mould and those on the left by Lieutenant James. At first all went well. The enemy, surprised by the unusual hour of attack, fell back along the trench and Lieutenant James’ party were able to make their way up the saphead. Their advance was difficult for the winding trench was full of dead bodies. Since 4 June fight after fight had raged along it and soldiers of all ranks, including even a dead General, a Brigadier of the Lowland Division, were now heaped in the trench, some half-buried by fallen sand, others but newly killed. The bombers advanced up the saphead to the trench junction at its further end. There the enemy were in waiting, and a furious bombing fight ensued. The enemy were well provided with bombs (in Gallipoli the British forces had at that date only ‘jam-tin ‘bombs. The Turks were supplied with spherical bombs of archaic appearance, but of much greater effect). and in rapid succession
Lot 1169
A well-documented inter-war O.B.E. group of six awarded to Senior Assistant Secretary F. N. Smith, a long served staff member of the Home Office and Admiralty, late Lieutenant & Observer in the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1927, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953, these last three in their card boxes of issue, together with a Ministry of Pensions’ bronze-gilt football prize medal, dated 1924, and a rather unusual presentation ‘miniature light house ‘, gilt, in its fitted case of issue, and a set of related miniature dress medals, the second and third with official corrections, good very fine and better (14) £300-350 O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1931. Frank Nevill Smith, who was born in June 1896 and educated at Wyggeston School, transferred into the newly established Royal Air Force from the Royal Naval Air Service in the rank of Lieutenant & Observer in April 1918, having, it is believed, seen service in seaplanes. Following his demobilisation, and a brief appointment at the Admiralty, Smith joined the Ministry of Pensions, in which capacity he served as Private Secretary to Sir George Crystal, the Rt. Hon. F. O. Roberts and Major the Rt. Hon. G. C. Tryon, the latter during the Baldwin Government, services that resulted in the award of his O.B.E. in 1931, which insignia he received at a Buckingham Palace investiture held in February of that year. Next employed as a representative at the British Ministry of Pensions in Ottawa, Canada, he returned home to a take up a new appointment in the Ministry of Health in 1935. Two years later, he transferred to the Home Office, and served as Principal Private Secretary in the Fire Service Department for much of the Second World War, ‘when he shared the perils of the firefighters during the 1940-41 blitzes, at the stations and on the fireground’. Shortly before the end of hostilities, however, Smith gained another appointment in the Admiralty, and served as Secretary to the British Admiralty Technical Mission in Ottawa 1944-46, and as Civil Adviser to the British Admiralty Delegation in Washington 1946-47. Indeed he remained employed by Their Lordships until his retirement in 1957, latterly having served back in the U.K. as Head of Department in the Admiralty’s Labour Branch. And as evidenced by accompanying documentation, he came into regular contact with influential civil servants, politicians and senior naval staff throughout this period, among the latter being Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Mountbatten. Sold with a large file of original documentation and photographs, the latter including several pages from an old album with approximately 25 images of Great War aircraft and other subject matter, and around 20 later images, largely relating to his time with the Admiralty in the 1940s and 50s; together with Central Chancery O.B.E. investiture letter, dated 6 February 1931; assorted correspondence, including letters to Smith from Lord Hailsham, Sir John Lang, G.C.B., Secretary of the Admiralty, Sir Richard Powell, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., a Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, congratulating him on his handling of the ‘Malta Arbitration case ‘in 1949, and the Rt. Hon. Frederick Roberts; two old carbon copies of letters written by senior courtier Sir Alan Lascelles, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., C.M.G., M.C., the first regarding the death of King George V and the second the abdication of Edward VIII, the latter with no punches pulled, and presumably retained by Smith while employed at the Home Office; formal invitations and menus (12), one or two of the latter bearing signatures of fellow guests, and including a table plan of an evening at Forte’s Restaurant, when Smith was seated next to Mountbatten, in addition to a Trafalgar Night Dinner at Greenwich in the presence of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, 21 October 1955; and assorted career newspaper cuttings.
Lot 1183
A Civil M.B.E. group of six awarded to Sister M. A. Redwood, Territorial Army Nursing Service The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf, all unnamed, mounted as worn; Swansea General and Eye Hospital Badge, bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘3 Mary A. Redwood’, with brooch bar, good very fine (6) £200-240 M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1958. ‘Miss Mary Ann Redwood, Health Visitor, Monmouthshire County Council’. M.I.D. London Gazette 8 November 1945. ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe’. Sold with three letters re. the award of the M.B.E.; War Office notification of the mention in despatches; medal and M.I.D. forwarding slips; case and bow riband for the M.B.E.; a statutes booklet for the Order of the British Empire; a photograph of Mary Redwood outside Buckingham Palace having been awarded the M.B.E., and a souvenir Programme to mark the Visit of the Prince of Wales to Ebbw Vale, 4 July 1969. The recipient’s address given on several of the papers is ‘Holmlea, Eureka Place, Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire’. Also with an autograph book of Nursing Sister N? Redwood dating from the Great War, which contains verse and sketches; together with eight embroidered cards dating from the same period.
Lot 1204
A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Captain F. Ward, Scots Guards Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, bronze star on ribbon, mounted for wear, fine and better (4) £700-900 M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919. M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917. Croix de Guerre London Gazette 14 July 1917. Notes with the lot indicate that Captain Francis Ward, 1st Battalion Scots Guards was wounded in action in an artillery bombardment at Hooge on 30 March 1916. Note: Other men with this name, initial and rank appear in the 1918 Army List.
Lot 1215
A rare King’s African Rifles D.C.M. group of four awarded to Lance-Corporal Misesa, 2/2 King’s African Rifles King’s African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (2571 L. Cpl. Misesa, 2/2 K.A.R.); British War and Victory Medals (2571 L/C Misesa, 2/KAR) all but regimental details erased from the B.W.M.; Nyassaland Badge of Certificate of Honour, G.VI.R., bronze with ring suspension, this nearly very fine, otherwise severely polished and worn (4) £800-1000 K.A.R. D.C.M., G.R.O. 24 February 1919, one of two approved by O.C. 2/2 King’s African Rifles on 3 January 1919, ‘as Prompt Awards’: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This N.C.O. has always shown great initiative and disregard of danger in the employment of his Lewis Gun, and on more than one occasion, has, by his intelligent use of support fire, enabled his company to press forward. He has always shown a fine example to the men of his team.’ Badge of Certificate of Honour, Nyassaland Government Gazette 10 June 1948. Sold with copy service papers.
Lot 1226
A fine Coastal Forces D.S.M. group of six awarded to Acting Chief Motor Mechanic Ronald Bone, H.M. Motor Gun Boat 327, for great courage in saving his ship when fire broke out in the petrol compartment during an action with E-Boats off the Dutch coast in September 1942 Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (MX.92401 F. Bone, A/Ch. Mtr. Mech.) impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp France and Germany; Defence and War Medals; National Fire Brigades Association L.S., 1 clasp, Ten Years, bronze (13380 Ronald Bone) the first five mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £1200-1500 D.S.M. London Gazette 10 November 1942 ‘For bravery in action against the Enemy, while serving in H.M. Motor Gun Boats.’ The following details are taken from the original recommendation for the award of the D.S.M. ‘M.G.B. 327 was hit early in the action in the petrol compartment by an incendiary bullet and fire immediately broke out. The automatic fire fighting devices were put into action from the bridge but as these did not extinguish the fire, Acting Chief Motor Mechanic Bone with complete disregard of his own safety, entered the petrol compartment with a fire extinguisher and succeeded in putting out the fire. Subsequent inspection of the petrol compartment tanks has shown, that so serious was the fire, that it was only his prompt action that saved the ship.’ The above action took place on the 10th/11th September 1942, when a division of four ships led by Lieutenant E. M. Thorpe in M.G.B. 334, engaged 11 or 12 German E-Boats off the Dutch coast. In the ensuing action M.G.B. 335 was lost, but the survivors of her crew, most of whom were wounded, were taken off by M.G.B. 334. Thorpe was awarded the D.S.O. for this action. The three boats that returned to harbour were all badly damaged, none more so than Bone’s M.G.B. 327 which had eight holes in the hull, three petrol tanks holed and extensive damage to the wheelhouse and bridge. The Coxwain of M.G.B. 335 was awarded the C.G.M. for assisting in removing the wounded to M.G.B. 334, though wounded twice himself. The group is sold with copies of the official action report.
Lot 138
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (6460 Pte. J. Day, S. Lanc. Regt. ) good very fine (3) £90-110 Sold with British Empire Service League Canadian Legion Badge, bronze-gilt and enamel, reverse inscribed, ‘James S. Day, Salmon Arm (B.C.52) 1941-5’, with Past President - Branch’ brooch bar; also with South African War 60th Anniversary Badge 1962, with paper insert named to ‘James T. Day’, complete with ribbon. With copied roll extract.
Lot 156
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (1528 Tpr. E. Sanderson, S.A.C.) nearly extremely fine (2) £140-180 1528 Trooper E. Sanderson, ‘A ‘Division, South African Constabulary, was slightly wounded at Klip River, 13 June 1901. He died of disease at Kalabasfontein, 8 November 1901. Sold with a South African War Memorial Medal 1902, 44mm., bronze, unnamed, with brooch fitting.
Lot 201
Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of Ookiep, bronze issue (E. Tappe) extremely fine and scarce thus £1000-1200 772 Private E. Tappe is confirmed on the roll of the Namaqualand Town Guard as having been engaged with the enemy at O’okiep. He would also have been entitled to the Queen’s South Africa medal named to that unit.
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