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Lot 474
A VERY LARGE CHINESE CLOISONNE CENSER AND COVER, the censer decorated with flora and leaf pattern on dark green ground, with twin handle metal mounts and mounted to a bronze base raised on four elephant formed feet, the cover mounted with metal chilong handles and a later mounted hardwood foo dog finial, 47cm wide (handle to handle), 42cm high.
Lot 23
Oliver Messel - A silk 1953 Coronation scarf for Jaeger, designed with the centre top having a crown and the initials E R, above a coach and horses, with the four corners representing the British Isles with a red rose and bud for England, acorns and oak leaves for Ireland, thistles for Scotland and shamrock for Ireland, Oliver Messel's signature to the lower right hand corner, all in shades of crimson, bronze, blue green, sage green, grey on a palest eau de nil silk ground, with gold highlights, the edges hand rolled, 87 cm square, manufactured by Cresta Silks Ltd together with a red silk scarf depicting fans with Oriental scenes, having a black hand-rolled edgeOf Interest: The scarf in 1953 has gold tones and the reproduced scarf for the 1977 Silver Jubilee has silver tonesCondition: Good for both scarvesLocation: R2.4
Lot 259
Mixed world coinage, early 20th century and later along with mixed banknotes and tokens to include Prosperity to Old England, 1792 Coventry half penny, India House 1794 M. Lambe & Son tea-dealers & Grocers Bath, and others, mixed Roman bronze coins and a cased silver proof 1977 Jubilee crownLocation:
Lot 688
Olympics James Foad signed 6x4 colour photo Great Britain bronze medalist in Rowing mens eight at the London 2012 games. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Lot 700
Olympics Gordon Downie signed 6x4 black and white photo bronze medalist for Great Britain in the Swimming 4x200 relay at the 1976 games signature on reverse. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Lot 100
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) Cap and Collar Badges. A miscellaneous selection including a Cap Badge of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, a fine quality die struck silvered example, the format as for standard cap badge but with secondary scroll ‘1st Volr. Battn.’, reverse with two loops; Cap Badge, standard pattern (2) one in dark bronze, lacking fittings, the other in brass with slider; a pair Officer’s silver lapel badges for wear on service dress c. 1950-60; together with brass shoulder title and various other related regimental and association badges, and a Buffs silver sports medal, unnamed, generally good condition (12) £120-£160
Lot 119
A Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain J. P. Harvey, Canadian Engineers Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (45008 Sjt. J. P. Harvey. Can: Eng:); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. P. Harvey.); together with the recipient’s related miniature awards; and a Orillia Great War Tribute Medal, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘Capt. J. P. Harvey Can. Eng. 1914-19’, with top bronze riband bar, good very fine and better (5) £1,200-£1,600 --- M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917. John Percival Harvey was born in Orillia, Ontario, in 1891 and was educated at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, from 1908 to 1913, graduating in May of 1913 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Following the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted in the 3rd Field Company, Canadian Engineers at Valcartier on 23 September 1914, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 February 1915. He saw action in the Battle of Ypres from 22 April to 25 May 1915; on the first day of action Harvey’s company was at Gravenstafel where it came under a heavy gas attack. This same day the company was thrown into the line as infantry with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade. By the following day the company was at St. Julien where it was released from its infantry role leaving it free to proceed to Wieltje. On 25 April the company again went into line as infantry with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade. On 18 May 1915 Harvey was again in the front line with his company, this time at Festubert. He participated in the Battle of Festubert until 25 May, after which his company moved to Oblinghem, arriving there on 31 May. On 30 June 1915 the company arrived at Ploegsteert and remained there in relatively static positions for the winter. Harvey was commissioned second lieutenant on 12 March 1916. Assigned to the 8th Field Company, Canadian Engineers with the 3rd Canadian Division, he arrived at his new unit in time to participate in the campaigns at Fler-Courcelette, 15-22 September 1916; Thiepval, 26-28 September 1916; Ancre Heights, 1 October to 11 November 1916, including Le Transloy, 1-18 October 1916. For his gallant services during the autumn campaigns of 1916 Harvey was awarded the Military Cross. He was invested with his M.C. by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace on 14 April 1917. Throughout the spring and summer of 1917 Harvey participated in many of the larger battles on the Western Front, including Vimy, 9-14 April 1917; Scarpe, 3-4 May 1917; Hill 70, 15-25 August 1917; and Passchendaele, 26 October to 10 November 1917. Harvey was seconded for duty as a staff officer to 3rd Brigade Headquarters, Canadian Engineers, in July 1918, and saw further action with them, culminating in the Battle of Amiens, 8-11 August 1918, and the pursuit to Mons. Returning to Canada in February 1919, he was demobilised with the rank of captain on 17 May 1919. Sold with a Queen’s University, Kingston, Annual Games silver prize medallion, the reverse engraved ‘Mile. J. P. Harvey’; two small French medallets; the recipients; original parchment Certificate of Service; Buckingham Palace telegram regarding the M.C. Investiture; various photographic images of the recipient; and much copied research.
Lot 141
A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Lance-Corporal Harold Willicombe, 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, who was killed in action on 4 April 1918 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (B-2444 L. Cpl. H. Willicombe. 8/Rif: Bde:); 1914-15 Star (B-2444 Pte. H. Willicombe. Rif: Brig:); British War and Victory Medals (B-2444 Pte. H. Willicombe. Rof. Brig.); Belgium, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Harold Willicombe) in its card envelope, medals mounted court-style, extremely fine (6) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 1 January 1918; citation published 17 April 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty since early in the campaign. He invariably displayed the greatest courage and coolness in carrying the wounded under the heaviest fire and in the performance of any dangerous duty.’ Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 12 July 1918. Harold Willicombe was a native of Camberwell and served in France with the 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, from 20 May 1915. He was killed in action in France on 4 April 1918 and is commemorated by name on the Pozières Memorial. Sold with original award certificate for Belgian Croix de Guerre and some copied research.
Lot 161
A Sea Gallantry Medal group of three awarded to Chief Officer Seaward Sydenham, S.S. Alleghany, Mercantile Marine, who was awarded all three life saving medals for the rescue of his brother in the North Atlantic on 16 November 1906 Sea Gallantry Medal, E.VII.R., small 2nd issue, silver (Seaward Sydenham, “Alleghany” 16th November 1906); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Seaward Sydenham, Nov. 16 1906) with integral bronze riband buckle; Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, silver (Seaward Sydenham “Alleghany” 16 Novr. 1906) mounted for wear, good very fine and better (3) £1,200-£1,600 --- Provenance: Edrington Collection, 1980; W. H. Fevyer Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2008. Seaward Sydenham, Chief Officer of the S.S. Alleghany, of West Hartlepool, was born in Hull on 11 June 1877 and was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver for the rescue of his brother from the North Atlantic on 16 November 1906. The official recommendation states: ‘The Carpenter, H. Sydenham fell overboard and his brother the Chief Officer sprang after him with a lifebuoy. Rescuer swam half a mile and only reached his brother as he was getting exhausted. Both rescued by boat from ship. There was considerable risk and a westerly gale with high sea. Rescue took place in North Atlantic on 16 November 1906.’ For this action Sydenham also received the Royal Humane Society Medal in Bronze and the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea in Silver, the respective citations reading: R.H.S. Case no. 35,102: ‘On 16 November, 1906, H. Sydenham was swept overboard from the S.S. Alleghany at sea, there being a heavy gale blowing at the time. S. Sydenham, Chief Officer of the steamer, took a lifebuoy, and jumping in kept him afloat for half an hour when they were picked up by a boat’. ‘On 16 November 1906 the British steamer Alleghany encountered a severe gale whilst on a voyage from Liverpool to Newport News. The Carpenter, who was walking along the deck, was thrown overboard when the ship gave a tremendous lurch. Fortunately the incident had been witnessed and the engines were immediately stopped. The Chief Officer, who was the Carpenter's brother, hearing the cry of “Man Overboard” hurried on deck. On learning that it was his brother in the sea he seized a lifebelt and dived to the rescue. After a severe struggle he succeeded in reaching the drowning man, and held him up until the arrival of one of the ship’s lifeboats. The two men were in an exhausted condition, but subsequently recovered.’ Sold with copied research.
Lot 163
A rare Second War ‘London Blitz’ B.E.M. group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel G. J. A. Bartlett, General List, late Sub-Divisional Inspector, Metropolitan Police, and Royal Navy, who was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Silver Medal for rescuing ‘Roger’, a frightened Collie dog from a bombed out house in Battersea on 28 September 1940 British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Gilbert James Alexander Bartlett); 1914-15 Star (J.25293 G. J. A. Bartlett. L. Tel. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.25293 G. J. A. Bartlett. L. Tel. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; United States of America, Medal of Freedom, bronze; R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal, silver (Sub. Div. Insp. Bartlett. 1940.) with integral top ‘For Humanity’ riband bar, mounted for wear, generally good very fine and better (11) £800-£1,000 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 26 September 1941: Gilbert James Alexander Bartlett, Sub-Divisional Inspector, “L” Division, Metropolitan Police [in a joint citation with John Searle, Leader, Civil Defence Rescue Party, Battersea; and George Edward Thomas Smith, Leader, Stretcher Party, Civil Defence Casualty Service, Battersea] ‘Bombs demolished several houses under which people were sheltering. Inspector Bartlett made a tunnel ten feet long into the mass of unstable debris and found two injured women. He rendered first aid and then pulled them slowly out. Renewing his search he discovered more casualties whose injuries were such that under the direction of a doctor he administered morphia. He was joined by Leaders Searle and Smith. Owing to the confined space it was necessary for the three men to work lying down and while so doing debris and masonry were continually falling on them. After four hours’ strenuous effort six persons were released. Bartlett, Searle and Smith showed great courage and endurance.’ United States of America Medal of Freedom London Gazette 16 November 1948: Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) Gilbert James Alexander Bartlett, B.E.M., General List ‘In recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies.’ The official citation states: ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert J. A. Bartlett, British Army, performed meritorious service during August 1943 with the Allied Military Government in Sicily. Reports had arrived that there existed an epidemic of typhus on the island of Favignana, about 12 miles off the coast of Sicily. Colonel Bartlett volunteered to investigate. Accompanied by one soldier, he made his way through the heavily mined waters to this island where he found most of the population living in caves, under extremely bad sanitary condition and with an epidemic of typhoid fever. Colonel Bartlett so reorganized and improved conditions on the island that it no longer constituted any problem in Civil Affairs Administration. By his efforts on this hazardous mission he contributed materially to the success of allied Military Government in Sicily.’ Gilbert James Alexander Bartlett was born in Brighton on 31 October 1897 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 24 June 1913. He served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, predominately H.M.S. Dreadnought from 27 June 1914 to 21 April 1916 and again from 3 June 1916 to 31 March 1917, and was advanced Leading Telegraphist on 31 October 1916. He was shore discharged on 20 December 1919. During the Second World War Bartlett served initially with the Metropolitan Police in Battersea, and was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Silver Life Saving Medal for his gallantry in rescuing ‘Roger’, a Collie dog, from a bombed out house, along with Police Constable E. P. Kerrison, and War Reserve Police Constable J. Entwistle, on 28 September 1940. This was part of a larger rescue mission, which contributed to the award of the George Medal to P.C. Kerrison, as detailed in the London Gazette of 15 November 1940: ‘On another occasion some premises were completely demolished by an H.E. bomb. Several persons were trapped under debris, two of whom were dead. P.C. Kerrison accompanied by an Inspector [Bartlett] and a War Reserve [Entwistle] entered the basement, the balustrade and steps of which were in danger of collapsing and the passage blocked by debris. They succeeded in rescuing a baby and two women through the side of the demolished shelter. The coping stones at the side of the steps collapsed whilst they were carrying a woman out of the basement. It was then discovered that another woman was on the top floor, all the rooms of which were exposed, the back and side walls being demolished and the front partially demolished. The P.C. obtained an old decayed ladder and climbed and entered the room rescuing the woman. Shortly after the rescue, further parts of the exposed floorings, and the frontage of the house fell away.’ During this rescue the three men carried ‘Roger’ to safety before the building collapsed. Roger, frightened by the bombing, had initially attacked his rescuers. Bartlett was awarded the British Empire Medal for his gallantry in Battersea on 10 May 1941; he had earlier shown great gallantry on 16 April 1940 in rescuing various persons from a bombed and flooded house in the same vicinity. Subsequently commissioned onto the General List, he was ultimately advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient alongside Kerrison and Entwistle after they had rescued Roger; and copied research, including various eyewitness statements relating to his B.E.M.-winning exploits.
Lot 195
Six: Squadron Sergeant-Major Rough Rider H. Colman, 5th Dragoon Guards, later Lieutenant, Army Service Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3200 Sq. S. Major. R.R. H. Coleman [sic], 5th. Dragoon Guards.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3200 S. Serjt:- Maj: H. Colman. 5th. Drgn: Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. H. Colman.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Sq-S. Mjr. R.R. H. Colman. 5-D. Gds.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3200 S. Sjt. Mjr. R. Rider H. Coleman [sic]. 5/Dgn. Gds.) heavy contact marks to the Boer War pair, these nearly very fine; the rest good very fine and better (8) £600-£800 --- Harry Colman was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in October 1906; and his Meritorious Service Medal per Army Order 49 of 1939. He served as a Lieutenant with the Army Service Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 February 1917. Sold with two bronze Royal Naval and Military Tournament prize medals, the reverses engraved ‘1st. S.V.L. Curragh 1912, S.S.M.R.R. Colman 5.D.G.’ and ‘1st. S.V.S. Curragh 1912, S.S.M.R.R. Colman 5.D.G.’
Lot 212
Four: Warrant Officer Class I G. W. King, Hampshire Regiment, attached King’s African Rifles, who was wounded on the Western Front in October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (8772 Cpl. G. W. King. 1/Hamps: R.); British War and Victory Medals (8772 W.O. Cl. 1. G. W. King. Hamps. R.); Italy, Kingdom, Al Valore Militare, bronze, mounted court-style, polished, nearly very fine (4) £200-£240 --- Italian Medal for Military Valour, bronze London Gazette 31 August 1917: 8772 Regimental Serjeant-Major George William King (Lance-Serjeant, The Hampshire Regiment), King’s African Rifles. George William King attested for the Hampshire Regiment and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 August 1914. He was wounded in the early stages of the War, and is recorded as being in hospital in France on 16 October 1914. He was subsequently seconded to the King’s African Rifles. Sold with copied research.
Lot 226
Five: Petty Officer Mechanic C. Sutton, Royal Naval Air Service 1914-15 Star (F.9283. C. Sutton. P.O.M., R.N.A.S.) officially re-impressed; British War and Victory Medals (F.9283 C. Sutton. P.O.M. R.N.A.S.); Romania, Kingdom, War Cross 1916-1918, bronze; Loyal Service Medal, First Class, gilt, mounted as worn, very fine (5) £400-£500 --- Romanian Loyal Service Medal, First Class London Gazette 7 September 1920: ‘For distinguished services rendered during the War.’ Charles Sutton enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service on 18 November 1915. Sold with the original named Bestowal Document for the Romanian Loyal Service Medal; and copied research regarding the role of the Royal Naval Air Service in Romania.
Lot 244
An unusual campaign group of eight awarded to Captain, later Flight Lieutenant, S. Hooper, 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (T.F.), Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force Volunteer, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze for saving the life of his observer when their aircraft came down into the sea off Folkestone, 26 February 1917. He was mentioned in despatches during the Second World War, and died aged 62 whilst still in service in December 1945 British War and Victory Medals (Capt. S. Hooper. R.A.F.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Capt. S. Hooper. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Flt. Lt. S. Hooper. R.A.F.V.R.) mounted on card for display, generally good very fine or better (8) £360-£440 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1943. Royal Humane Society Case no. 43942 (bronze, successful): ‘On 26 February 1917 at sea off Folkestone at 1pm - An aeroplane with the two men (Sgt G. C. Powell, RFC and Hooper) came down in the sea about half a mile from shore: both had heavy clothing on. Sgt. Powell became exhausted and Captain Hooper swam with him nearly to land when a boat reached them.’ Stanley Hooper was born in Upton Park, London in July 1883. He served as a Trooper with the 1st City of London Yeomanry prior to being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force) in June 1913. Hooper advanced to Lieutenant in August 1914, and to Temporary Captain in May 1915. He served in the French theatre of war from June 1915 (he tried to claim a 1914-15 Star, but his MIC correctly gives him as ‘Ineligible’, and he was awarded the TWFM in June 1922). Hooper advanced to Captain in June the following year, and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in October 1916. Hooper initially trained as a pilot, and was stationed at the Auxiliary School of Aerial Gunnery when his aircraft came down into the sea off Folkestone, 26 February 1917. He lost his aircrew medical category, 24 April 1918, and was classified as ‘fit for general service ground duties only.’ Hooper was reclassified as a Technical Officer for the remainder of the war, and it was in this specialisation that he went out to the Middle East and India in August 1918. Hooper left the R.A.F. in June 1919, and joined the R.A.F.V.R. as a Pilot Officer on probation in May 1939 (aged 56). He advanced to Flight Lieutenant, and died aged 62 whilst still in service, at Harrow Hospital, Middlesex in December 1945. Flight Lieutenant Hooper’s Air Effiency Award was issued to his next of kin in January 1950. He is buried in Harrow Cemetery, Middlesex. Sold with copied research.
Lot 245
Six: Warrant Officer Class II A. E. Piper, Hampshire Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers British War and Victory Medals (352001 W.O. Cl. 2 A. E. Piper. R.A.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (352001 W.O. Cl. 2. A. E. Piper. R.A.); Coronation 1902, bronze, unnamed as issued; Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (1170 C.S. Mjr. A. Piper. 1/Hants: R.G.A.V.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (352001 W.O. Cl.II. A. E. Piper. R.G.A.) light contact marks, the C02 somewhat polished and worn, therefore fine, the rest good very fine and better (6) £400-£500 --- Arthur E. Piper was awarded the 1902 Coronation Medal by virtue of being the senior N.C.O. of the 1st Hampshire Volunteer Artillery, and was awarded the Volunteer Long Service Medal per Army Order 100 of May 1907; and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per army Order 507 of November 1920. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient c.1905; and copied medal roll extracts.
Lot 353
Khedive’s Star, dated 1884, unnamed as issued; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, the four Second War awards in a Register General of Shipping and Seamen card box of issue addressed to ‘Mr. S. A. Hill, 184 Manningside Road, Liverpool’; Oman, Sultanate, Peace Medal, bronze; 15th Anniversary Medal, bronze, both unnamed as issued and both in card boxes of issue, the Khedive’s Star very fine, the rest extremely fine (7) £70-£90
Lot 486
Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Sir William Hillary, silver (Colin H. Bryant, Voted 18th. January 1940.) with uniface ‘double dolphin’ suspension, on original investiture pin, in case of issue, extremely fine £800-£1,000 --- Colin H. Bryant was born in Farnham, Surrey, on 1 September 1890 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 20 March 1907. He served as Coxswain of the Dover Motor Lifeboat from 1930 to 1940, and was awarded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Silver Medal ‘in recognition of his courage and seamanship when the lifeboat under his command rescued the crew of sixteen of H.M. Trawler Blackburn Rovers, which was in distress off Dover in a whole W.S.W. gale with a very heavy sea on 26 November 1939.’ ‘While H.M. Trawler Blackburn Rovers, with 16 men on board, was on an anti-submarine patrol near Dover, in rough seas and a south westerly gale, a wire fouled her propeller. The crew let go the anchor, but this failed to hold and the boat began drifting towards a mine field. The Dover lifeboat men were summoned and the 64 ft. ‘Special' lifeboat Sir William Hillary left harbour at 10 a.m., taking with her Lieutenant Richard Walker, R.N.R., the Assistant King’s Harbour Master, who had a chart showing the minefields in the area. In the heavy seas, it took nearly one and a quarter hours for the lifeboat to reach the disabled trawler, by which time she was right on the edge of a deep minefield. Although the boat herself could drift through this area without touching a mine, there was a grave danger that her anchor cable would come into contact with a mine. There was then the added problem that even if she passed through this particular minefield safely, the trawler would then enter a shallow minefield. Coxswain Bryant took the lifeboat alongside, and Lieutenant Walker instructed the trawler’s crew to collect all the ship’s papers together and as much of her secret gear as they could and to pass them all over to the lifeboat and, before they abandoned ship, they were to scuttle the vessel. The trawler was rolling violently in the heavy seas, which by that time were breaking clean over her, and she offered no lee at all for the lifeboat. Coxswain Bryant had to use all his skill to hold the lifeboat in position while the papers and gear were transferred, and his two Mechanics had great difficulty in remaining at the engine controls, so violent was the motion of the lifeboat. By that time, they were all well aware that they were right in the middle of the minefield, but still the work went on of transferring the gear. At any moment, the trawler’s anchor cable could have fouled a mine blowing them up. It took over an hour to get all the gear on board the lifeboat before the crew of 16 were rescued. Coxswain Bryant turned the lifeboat round and set course for home. They then had to face the full fury of the storm and speed had to be reduced to 6 knots. Coxswain Bryant had only recently recovered from a very serious illness, consequently he handed over the wheel to the Second Coxswain during the journey back. Huge seas repeatedly crashed over the lifeboat and it took them 3 hours to reach Dover Harbour, arriving there at 3.30 p.m.’ (Lifeboat Gallantry, by Barry Cox refers). For this action Bryant was awarded the R.N.L.I. Silver Medal; and Lieutenant Richard Walker, R.N.R.; Second Coxswain Sidney Hills; Mechanic Wilfred Cook; and Second Mechanic Christian Stock, were all awarded the R.N.L.I. Bronze Medal. Bryant died on 13 March 1941. Sold with the recipient’s R.N.L.I. Silver Medal Certificate, dated 18 January 1940; and R.N.L.I. Certificate of Service, dated 17 April 1941, these both mounted in glazed display frames; and copied research.
Lot 49
An exceptional Posthumous Bronze Star group of four awarded to Captain H. McL. “Diamond Jim” Stacey, 141st (The Buffs) Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, 31st Armoured Brigade, who was killed in action in March 1945 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; United States of America, Bronze Star, together with card box of issue for the first three addressed to his mother, and named condolence slip, extremely fine (4) £400-£500 --- Provenance: The Robert F. Brett Collection of Medals to the Buffs, Dix Noonan Webb, September 1999. Bronze Star London Gazette 17 October 1946: ‘Capt. Hugh McLaren Stacey, 324582, The Buffs (since died).’ The following recommendation for the Posthumous Award of the Bronze Star is taken from official records: ‘Lieut. Hugh McLaren Stacey has distinguished himself by heroic achievement not involving participation in aerial flight. At Geilenkirchen on 20th November, 1944, when “A” Squadron 141 R.A.C. (The Buffs) was in support of 333 Infantry Regiment (84 United States Infantry Division) Lieut. H. M. Stacey was acting as Liaison Officer between the flame throwing tanks and the Infantry. During the course of the action in the direction of Suggerath, Lieut. H. M. Stacey was constantly up with the Infantry who were under very heavy mortar and shell fire. One platoon, having lost its commander and N.C.Os, was personally reorganised by Lieut. H. M. Stacey, and later did excellent work in the clearing of some pillboxes. At one point during the battle, a party of 12 to 15 United States infantrymen all became casualties. Lieut. H. M. Stacey, who was on the spot, realising that these men were out of contact with their own troops, dashed back and organised a stretcher party. He personally led this party to the wounded men, regardless of the heavy mortar and machine gun fire which was ranged on this area. Throughout the evacuation of these casualties, Lieut. H. M. Stacey was a fine source of inspiration and encouragement to all around him. Two days later, Lieut. H. M. Stacey led a party of United States Engineers well forward of our forward troops, for the purpose of setting explosive charges upon secret equipment which had been disabled by the enemy the previous day. Again Lieut. H. M. Stacey distinguished himself by heroic achievement in that he performed his task in full view of the enemy and under heavy fire. All of these actions were highly commended by the local commanders.’ The 141st (The Buffs) Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps in North West Europe The Buffs was one of several infantry regiments which had one or more battalions converted to tanks in 1941. 7th Battalion, The Buffs became known as 141st (The Buffs) Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps. As a Churchill Tank Regiment in 31st Army Tank Brigade in February 1944 they were selected as the first to convert to operate Crocodile flame-throwers. They continued to wear the Buffs Dragon cap-badge and two Troops landed on the Normandy Beaches on ‘D’ Day, 6 June 1944, the remainder following shortly after. During the landing and the breakout from Normandy 141st Regiment suffered 117 casualties from an overall strength of 600. The Crocodile was a flame-throwing variant of the British Churchill Tank developed under Major General Sir Percy Hobart and was produced from October 1943. The Crocodile had a flame projector which replaced the front mounted Besa machine gun which was connected to an armoured trailer via an armoured pipe mounted along the underside of the tank. The armoured trailer weighed 6 ½ tons and carried 1,800 litres of fuel as well as a compressed propellant which was enough for 80 one seconds blasts. The conversion kit was designed so that R.E.M.E. workshops in the field could convert any available Church Mk VII into a flame throwing Crocodile tank. The design of the conversion kit allowed the tank to retain its main turret mounted 75mm gun. Furthermore, the armoured trailers could be jettisoned if it was hit, or once empty to give the tank greater freedom of movement; the trailers were additionally fitted with towbars so they could be collected after the action by unit transport. ‘The the first three Crocodiles of No. 15 Troop, ‘C’ Squadron, landed in France at Le Hammel shortly after ‘H’ Hour on ‘D’ Day. Shall we rather say they "parted company" with the L.C.T's. For with a delicious little gurgle of delight one subsided into the sea, one sat stolidly and comfortably down in a crater on the beach and the third creature, carried on by some unknown stamina right across the beach straightaway collapsed with broken tracks. Meanwhile some miles away, Lieutenant Shearman, of No. 13 Troop, also of ‘C’ Squadron, managed in a rough sea to pressure up two Crocodiles and clear the tanks for action supporting the 7th Battalion Green Howards in the cold grey light of 5:00 a.m. By 8:30 a.m. the two surviving Crocodiles represented the only armour up with the forward companies and as such their popularity with the Green Howards was absolutely sky-high. For them these two great hulking Crocodiles clattered amiably along, bearing sometimes up to as many as forty Infantry, and pausing here and there to pepper with Besa or high explosives the fleeting Hun backsides fast disappearing over the skyline. A picturesque cavalcade paralleled only by Hannibal's passage of the Alps. On through Crepon they went and still on. Nothing now separated Shearman from Rommel, but a few German Infantry and Panzer Divisions. Not until Tierceville crossroads did he yield pride of place to the speedier Sherman Tanks, by which time some several hundred prisoners-of-war had already given themselves up. The next port of call was Villiers-le-Sec where everybody came under long distance shelling from tanks on the high around south west of Creully. The Shermans were out of it in a flash but 13 Troop, with its cumbersome trailers, had time whilst, negotiating the corners, to indulge a little hopefully, in an armoured gun duel with no loss to either side - Thence to Creully where for four hours the Crocodiles manned the western approaches in “Hull Downs” against a threatened Panzer attack. The day's peregrinations, however, were not over yet. Later the Troop was to go to Cowlombs where the Infantry Commanding Officer released the Crocodiles, which again returned to Creully. Here Lieutenant Shearman met a Squadron Commander of the Westminster Dragoons and it was decided to go into close laager together just south of Crepon. Dawn at Crepon on 7 June 1944 was a rude awakening in the shape of a salvo from about 100 yards in rear of the laager. The two Crocodiles covered the withdrawal of the thin-skinned Flails and succeeded in keeping the enemy guns quiet by an area shoot of 75 mm. But as he followed out in the wake of the Flails Shearman caught sight of a whole array of artillery and transport in the growing light, breakfasting in gay abandon and all unwitting of the target they presented to the Boche guns behind. Whereupon artillery and Royal Corps of Signals personnel were organised to act as infantry with grenades to follow in the wake of the Crocodiles assault. This was to be a great moment in Crocodile history-their first use of flame against a real live German. Supported by the fire of two flails the Crocodiles assaulted. Some eight shots of flame and the position was white with flags- 50 prisoners-of-war walked out and a party went in to deal with the killed and wounded. This then was the baptism of Crocodile flame and a very successful one too. After a few days rest in Erecy, on 11 June the two Crocodiles moved on southwest to support the Hampshires of 231 Brigade through the woods from ...
Lot 490
The Memorial Plaque to Lieutenant E. W. Ruse, 128th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who was killed during an accidental explosion, when eight charges went off at a stores depot which backed on to an Advanced Dressing Station, 31 December 1915. A number of casualties were suffered amongst the Sappers, the Field Ambulance Unit, and a nearby works party from the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment Memorial Plaque (Edward Wallace Ruse) in card envelope of issue, with Buckingham Palace enclosure; with National Rifle Association, Cadet Trophy Prize Medal, bronze, by G.G. Adams for Elkington & Co, ancient bowman and rifle volunteer standing side by side, rev. wreath, reverse engraved ‘Sapper E. W. Ruse Elizabeth College Guernsey O.T.C. 1910’ , 57mm, in original blue fitted case, extremely fine (2) £100-£140 --- Edward Wallace Ruse was the son of Captain F. Ruse of 25 Wentworth Avenue, Bournemouth. He was educated at Elisabeth College, Guernsey, and served as a Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers during the Great War on the Western Front from August 1914. Lieutenant Ruse was accidentally killed by the explosion of gun cotton, 31 December 1915, whilst preparing material for the accompaniment to a raid. The circumstances surrounding his death are as follows: ‘Lieut. Ruse, two N.C.O.s and seven Sappers were told off to accompany a raiding party into the German lines. The party was struck off all other duties and trained with the remainder of the troops, told off for the raid, in the duties which would be required of them. The R.E. were required to take over explosives and destroy any machine gun emplacements, mine shafts and as much of the parapet as possible and also to block the two flanks of a certain portion of the enemy’s line. It was decided to make up and take over eight charges of gun cotton of 20lbs each. Three similar charges were fired against a parapet similar to that which it was intended to attack during the training of the detachment. Lieut. Ruse selected one Corporal and three Sappers and specially trained them in making up of the charges. On the afternoon of 31.12.15 the charges were apparently made up by the above party and about 6pm they were working, apparently on the cases containing them in the advanced store of the 128th Field Coy. R.E. where the explosion occurred. Lieut. Ruse, the Corporal and three Sappers were all killed and four Sappers who were loading stores in the yard as well as a number of Infantry and R.A.M.C. who were also in the yard were injured. From the appearance of the locality I am of the opinion that the whole of the eight charges were fired. There is no direct evidence as to what the party was actually doing at the time. Lieut. Ruse was a very efficient officer and had a knowledge of explosives and the handling of them much above the average. He was very cool headed and was not likely to have been nervous or excited.’ (Report of Lieutenant Colonel A. G. Bremner, R.E., C.R.E. 23rd Division refers) The above took place at the brasserie at Chappelle D’Armentiers, where the field company had a stores depot, and the building was shared with the 70th Field Ambulance Advanced Dressing Station. Ruse was killed along with Sappers R. Brown, F. Churchill, J. F. Fleming and W. C. Howes, with 4 others members of 128th Field Company being wounded. A further man was killed and 10 wounded at the dressing station, whilst a work party from the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment also suffered one man killed and 8 wounded. Lieutenant Ruse is buried in Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension, France. For the medals awarded to Sapper W. C. Howes, see Lot 192.
Lot 494
A.N.Z.A.C. Commemorative Medallion, bronze, 75mm x 50mm, the obverse scene depicting Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, 3rd Field Ambulance, A.I.F., with donkey, with the legend ‘1915 ANZAC’, the reverse with an outline of Australia and New Zealand, with the ‘Southern Cross’ constellation, officially engraved ‘M. J. Wright’, extremely fine £100-£140 --- Sold with Government of Australia enclosure.
Lot 518
Documents: Joint Committee of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England Certificate in recognition of valuable services rendered during the War 1914-19 (3), named to ‘Mr. Cradoc Davies; Miss Angela Gilbey; Miss Annie Saunderson’, name on first subsequently touched-up; Order of St. John of Jerusalem Bestowal Document, appointing ‘Alice Haigh’ a Serving Sister, dated 19 February 1958’; together with a Diary of Staff Nurse Mary Beatrice Heffernan, R.R.C., Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve; a St. John Ambulance Association Re-Examination Cross, bronze, the reverse neatly engraved ‘No. 16435 The Honble. Constance Hamilton-Russell.’; a Canadian General Service Medal, 1 clasp, ISAF (David Lower) in card box of issue with named card sleeve; an ‘Old Bill’ postcard; and two lantern slides, one of the slides broken, otherwise generally good condition (lot) £70-£90 --- Mary Beatrice Heffernan served as a staff nurse with the Civil Hospital Reserve at No. 3 General Hospital during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 August 1914. Subsequently transferring to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, for her services during the Great War she was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class (London Gazette 31 July 1919). Sold with a photograph believed to be of Miss Gilbey; and copied research.
Lot 538
Royal Humane Society, bronze medal, with Second Award Bar, the edge contemporarily engraved ‘Frederick John Davis’, with top bronze riband buckle, good very fine £200-£240 --- R.H.S. Case no. 21,620: ‘At the Royal Albert Dock, London, at 4:30 p.m. on 15 May 1882, Abdulla, a Lascar, was holding a truck on which a piston was resting, when the lad slipped off, the truck handles flew back, struck the man, and knocked him into the dock. Mr. Frederick John Davis, 4th Officer of the Peninsula and Oriental Steamship Rome, jumped from a height of 10 feet, and brought the man to the surface of the water. Davis did not wait to divest himself of his clothes, and the water is sad to be in a polluted state.’ R.H.S. Case no. 22,382: ‘At the Royal Albert Dock, London, at 4:00 p.m. on 15 July 1884, W. H. Pring, a 14 year old Dock Messenger from Palistow, Essex, fell into the dock between the barge and the landing stage, and sank at once. Mr. Frederick John Davis, 2nd Officer of the Peninsula and Oriental Steamship Poonah, jumped off the stage, caught hold of the boy just below the surface of the water, and fastened a rope around his body, by which he was drawn up. Davis was subsequently under medical treatment in consequence of the impurity of the water.’ Both cases were successful. Sold with copied research.
Lot 542
A Second War Belgian group of five attributed to Mr. J. P. Vanderauwera, who served as an Intelligence Agent with the Belgian Resistance, and died in Esterwegen Concentration Camp on 23 April 1944 Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, with silver palm on riband; Croix de Guerre, L.III.R., bronze, with bronze palm on riband; Political Prisoner’s Cross, silver and enamel, with riband bar with 4 Stars and black ‘next of kin’ riband bar; Resistance Medal 1940-45, with bronze lightening bolt device on riband; War Medal 1940-45, bronze, good very fine and better (5) £100-£140 --- Jean P. Vanderauwera was born in Liege, on 3 May 1893 and served as an Intelligence Agent in the Belgian Resistance with the rank of Adjutant from 1 August 1942, as a member of the Boule and Luc-Marc intelligence networks. An engine driver for the Belgian railway company on her international trains, his job allowed him to gather information and to act as courier bringing back information gathered by the labourers in Germany. He headed a section of the Boule resistance-network and took part in sabotage actions and theft of arms and ammunitions; Boule was the only Belgian network that could operate within Germany, and among other things it provided information on the Peenemünde rocket base, the V1 and V2 rockets, and about the nature and importance of the Möhne and Eder dams. Vanderauwera was arrested on 23 February 1943 and was held as a political prisoner for the next year. He died in Esterwegen Concentration Camp on 23 April 1944. Sold with the recipient’s original ‘Carte des états de services de guerre du combattant 1940-45’ (1940-45 War Services Card) which contains a portrait photograph of the recipient.
Lot 543
Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold, Civil Division, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gilt, and enamel, French motto, unmarked, in Wolfers, Brussels, case of issue, minor enamel damage and one tip of lower arm somewhat bent, nearly very fine France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, significant white enamel damage and some poor quality restoration; Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, both with enamel damage to mottos around central medallions, the first fair, the second better Germany, Bavaria, Military Merit Cross, Third Class breast badge, bronze, with crown and crossed swords suspension, unmarked, good very fine United States of America, Allied Victory Medal, 2 clasps, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, bronze, very fine (5) £80-£100
Lot 569
United States of America Vietnam War Air Medal group of four awarded to Sergeant First Class F. C. Goodin, 25th Aviation Battalion United States of America, Air Medal, bronze, the reverse officially named ‘Frankie C Goodin’; National Defense Medal, bronze; Vietnam Service Medal, bronze, with two bronze stars on riband; South Vietnam Medal 1964, gilt and enamel, 1 clasp, 1960-; together with a Valorous Unit Award and Meritorious Unit Commendation riband bars, nearly extremely fine (4) £60-£80 --- Frankie Cecil Goodin was born on 5 March 1937 and served with ‘A’ Company, 25th Aviation Battalion during the Vietnam War. He died on 9 September 2004. Sold with various original insignia; photographic images; and copied research.
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