An extremely rare "crowned-head" D.F.M. group of six awarded to Squadron Leader R. Wright, Royal Air Force, for his part in the Chitral garrison relief operations of 1932 Distinguished Flying Medal, G.V.R., 2nd crowned bust issue (363282 Cpl. R. Wright, R.A.F.), officially impressed naming; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (363282 L.A.C., R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals, these two privately inscribed, Sqn. Ldr. R. Wright, D.F.M. and J.L.; Jubilee 1935; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (W./O., R.A.F.), generally good very fine (6) £3000-3500 Just 22 "crowned-head" D.F.Ms were issued between 1931-37, three of them for the Chitral garrison relief operations of 1932. D.F.M. London Gazette 8 September 1933: In recognition of gallant and distinguished service rendered during the operations in connection with the Chitral reliefs, September to October 1932. Roland Wright, who was born in October 1905, was decorated for his part in the operations that led to the successful biennial relief of the Chitral garrison in 1932. In previous years, the Nawab of Dir had been able to guarantee the garrisions safe passage, albeit with a small escort, but in September 1932, as a result of anti-British agitators raising small lashkars of hostile tribesmen, his forces were quickly occupied, and it was therefore decided to despatch a special mobile column of all arms to protect the garrison during its journey through Shamozair country. And in order to support that initiative, five R.A.F. squadrons (11, 20, 27, 39 and 60) were placed under the control of the G.O.C.-in-C., Northern Command, who in turn delegated control to the Commander, Peshawar District. Prior to the commencement of bombing operations, warning notices were issued, but these had little effect in demoralising the hostile tribesmen, who regularly greeted our aircraft with heavy rifle fire. Bombing operations actually commenced on 17 September and were continued on an intensive scale until the 23rd, as a result of which most of the lashkars were broken up and dispersed, but small parties of "diehards" held on in certain areas, as a result of which air operations were extended. When, at length, the relief column got safely home, the Commander, Peshawar District, relinquished control of the Royal Air Forces operational agenda, but independent sorties were flown right through until 16 October, when an agreement was struck between the hostile tribesmen and our local Political Agent. Wright added the Jubilee Medal to his accolades in 1935, while serving as a Corporal in No. 4 (Army Co-operation) Squadron (the official roll refers), and was commissioned as a probationary Flying Officer in November 1940. Granted the permanent rank of Flight Lieutenant in July 1946, he was placed on the Retired List as a Squadron Leader (Engineering Branch) in October 1954.
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A fine silver striking of the unique Gold Medal presented by the East India Company to Lieutenant and Brevet Major Herbert Edwardes, C.B., for his services in the Punjab in 1848 Honourable East India Companys Edwardes Medal 1848, by W. Wyon R.A., obv. diademed bust of Queen Victoria left; rev. inscription, From the East India Company to Lieut. & Brevt. Major H. B. Edwardes C.B., for his services in the Punjab A.D. MDCCCXLVIII, a fine silver striking of the unique gold medal, 45mm., fitted with scroll suspension, extremely fine.
Royal Geographical Society Scott Memorial Medal 1913, by F. Bowcher, obv. bareheaded uniformed bust of Captain Scott, R.N. facing, Captain R. F. Scott, C.V.O., R.N. Commander British Antarctic Expedition 1910-13; rev. five members of the expedition on skis trekking right, Presented by the Royal Geographical Society, in exergue, For Antarctic Discovery 1913, 55mm., bronze, unnamed, in case of issue, ref. B.H.M. 4101, Eimer 1933, extremely fine, rare £1000-1500 The medal was issued to commemorate the Antarctic Expedition led by Captain Scott during 1910-13. Based on the Terra Nova the expedition was part scientific and part an attempt to be the first to reach the South Pole. The journey to the Pole was begun on 3 November 1911 and on 17 January 1912, the final members of the group making the attempt - Scott, Wilson, Bowers, Oates and Evans reached the southernmost point, only to discover that a Norwegian party under Amundsen had reached it before them. The tragic and heroic return journey is well known - with Scott, Bowers and Wilson being the last to die, trapped in their tent in a blizzard just 21 miles from the relative safety of One Ton Camp. The last recorded entry in Scotts diary was dated 29 March 1912. The medal was struck in gold, silver and bronze. The medal in silver was presented to the officers of the Terra Nova and the scientific staff; the medal in bronze to the crew of the Terra Nova. A medal in gold was retained by the Royal Geographical Society.
J. B. Charcot French Polar Expeditions Medal, by Paul Richer & E. Lindauer, obv. bust of Charcot right, J. B. Charcot; rev. the ship Pourquoi Pas? moored in the ice, Expeditions Polaires Franaises, in exergue, Pourquoi Pas?, 68mm., bronze, unnamed, edge stamped bronze, minor edge bruising, good very fine £150-200 Jean Baptiste Charcot (1867-1936), French scientist and polar explorer. Charcot led two French expeditions to Antarctica, on the Franais, 1904-05 and the Pourquoi Pas?, 1908-10. In the latter, he successfully mapped and surveyed some 1,250 miles of coastline and territory of Graham Land, and his maps were still in use twenty-five years later. The scientific data collected on the expedition was to fill 28 volumes. Edwin Swift Balch wrote that Charcotss explorations, occupy a place in the front rank of the most important Antarctic expeditions. No one has surpassed him and few have equaled him as a leader and as a scientific observer. Captain Scott, with whom he trained for their respective polar expeditions, referred to him as the gentleman of the Pole. During 1915 in the Great War, Charcot commanded the British Q-Boat whaler Meg (Z.1). Because of his local knowledge his original brief was to watch the neutral Faeroe Islands but he was eventually based at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. His command was somewhat anomalous - a Frenchman commanding a British ship, under British Admiralty authority, with a largely French crew and flying the tricolour! He was spoken of by the Royal Navy as a would-be Corsair. By the end of the year Charcot resumed command of the Pourquoi Pas? For his services he was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross. Between 1920-36, Charcot was engaged in scientific cruises along the coasts of France, North Atlantic and the Arctic. On 15 September 1936, on an expedition to Greenland, his ship, the Pourquoi Pas?, foundered off the coast of Iceland and Charcot and all but one of his crew drowned. This medal must have been executed before 1933, the year Paul Richer died.
Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Pipe Mr. Duncan McPhail, 92nd Highlanders) marks to Queens bust, otherwise about very fine and extremely rare £800-1000 Duncan McPhail was bom in Oban on 2 July 1826, the son of Neil M'Phale [sic] and his wife Ann M'Phale, nee M'Martin. He enlisted into the 92d Highlanders at Glasgow on the 20th January 1849, aged 23 years 6 months, his trade being given as Labourer. He served with the 92nd at Clonmel and Kilkenny in Ireland and then went with them to Corfu in the Ionian Islands, where he served for two years. On 1 January 1853 he was appointed Sergeant and Drum Major. It should be noted that at this time Pipers were not recognized by the Horse Guards, and in Scottish regiments they were often listed on the books as Drummers, to enable them to receive the additional pay annexed to that appointment - Pipers being considered as far superior to mere Drummers! Whether he was also trained as a Drummer, or merely held the appointment of Drum Major to enable him to receive the additional pay of 1/10d per diem, is not known. However, on the eventual recognition of Pipers by the Horse Guards, just over a year later, McPhail was appointed the 92nd's first official Pipe Major on 1 April 1854. After Corfu, he served at Gibraltar from April 1853 until the Regiment's posting to the Crimea in 1855, where they arrived just too late to qualify for the Crimea medal. In June 1856 they returned to Gibraltar and remained there until they were sent to India, where they arrived in March 1858, to reinforce the troops there during the suppression of the Mutiny. Whilst in India, the 92nd provided contingents to go out with the various Field Forces which were employed in mopping up operations against the rebels. McPhail accompanied the Mhow Field Force which, under the Command of Major General John Michel, went in pursuit of the rebel leader Tantia Topee, who McPhail described as . . . a most ubiquitous character. . .. During these operations the Force was engaged in actions against the enemy at Rajghur, Mongrowlee, Sindwaho and Kurrai. In May 1859 he was admitted to hospital and in April the following year he embarked for home. He appears to have been sent, on his return, to the 2nd Invalid Depot in September, where he is shown as a Sergeant, but his time there was very short as he was discharged, Time Expired on the 26 September 1860. Sold with full muster details.
The remarkable Delhi Durbar 1911 R.V.M. group of 15 awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel P. H. Watson, Indian Army, late Bedfordshire Regiment, whose career of 40 or so years with the Colours encompassed active service in India, China, Tibet, Iraq and N.W. Persia, in addition to the Great War, when he was awarded an immediate M.S.M. for services in Mesopotamia India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (6039 Pte., 1st Bedford Regt.); China 1900, no clasp (6039 Corpl., S. & T. Corps), initials H. P.; Tibet 1903-04, 1 clasp, Gyantse (Sergt., 7th Mule Corps); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Sub. Condr., S. & T. Corps); 1914 Star (S.-Condr., S. & T.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt., S. & T.C.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Iraq, N.W. Persia, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, coinage bust, privately inscribed, S./Cdr. P. H. Watson, S. & T. Corps; Delhi Durbar 1911, privately inscribed, S./Cdr. P. H. Watson; Jubilee 1935, privately inscribed, Lt. Col. P. H. Watson; Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, Lt. Col. P. H. Watson; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Condr., S. & T. Corps); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Condr., S. & T. Corps), the first with officially corrected unit and the second with corrected initial, occasional edge bruising, generally very fine or better (14) £2000-2500 Percy Hamilton Watson was in Hampstead, London in 1875, but later joined his father out in India, at Simla, where in 1895 he enlisted in the Punjab Volunteer Rifles. Then in June 1897 he joined the ranks of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, which unit had been out in India for several years, but was attached to the Supply & Transport Corps, Indian Army, for service with the Tirah Expeditionary Force in the Punjab operations of 1897-98 (WO/100/84 refers). Back with the Bedfordshires, he was advanced to Lance-Corporal in November 1898 and to Corporal in June 1900, but was sufficiently unhappy about an earlier reprimand for neglect of duty, twice being absent from his office and for making an inappropriate remark to Sergeant Markham that he elected to transfer to the Punjab Unattached List for employment with the Supply & Transport Corps. He was immediately advanced to Sergeant and embarked for China in September 1900, where he appears to have served in a shipping capacity, work that won him a favourable endorsement on his service record. Back in India, he was employed at Delhi in connection with the Durbar arrangements from September 1902 until February 1903 (his service papers refer), but he does not appear on the relevant medal roll. Advanced to the acting rank of Sub. Conductor in the 7th Mule Corps, Northern Command, shortly afterwards, he was employed in the Tibet Expedition 1903-04, when he was present at the capture of Gyantse. And then in 1908, having been appointed substantive Sub. Conductor, he served in the 7th Mule Corps in the North West Frontier operations, firstly in the Bazaar Valley and later in Mohmand country. In February 1910, Watson was appointed a Sub. Division Commander in the 4th Mule Corps (Cavalry Brigade) at Lahore, while in the following year he was on duty for the Delhi Durbar, gaining the Royal Victorian Medal on the same occasion (official listing in respect of H.M. visit to India and the Durbar, dated 2 June 1912, refers). In mid-August 1914, he was embarked for France with the 3rd Mule Cadre (Cavalry Brigade), but in April 1915 was re-embarked for Egypt in the rank of Conductor. Further active service ensued in Mesopotamia from February 1916 to April 1918, initially with the 9th Mule Corps of the 3rd Lahore Division, a period that also witnessed his appointment to a commission as a Commissary & Hon. Lieutenant in January 1916, and the award of his L.S. & G.C. Medal (IAO 728 of 1917 refers). So, too, the award of his immediate M.S.M. (London Gazette 17 October 1917), and a "mention" from General Sir F. S. Maude (London Gazette 12 March 1918). Yet further active service was to follow, however, firstly in the Iraq operations, and secondly in the N.W. Persia operations of August to December 1920, when the final withdrawal of our troops was accomplished by the likes of Watson, with little motor transport and in freezing conditions. Indeed he did not depart this theatre of war until March 1923, in which year he was again mentioned in despatches. Advanced to Deputy Commissary & Captain back in India in February 1926, his service record continued to attract favourable comment, an extremely capable officer and universally popular being typical of his assessments at this time. Unsurprisingly, therefore, he was promoted to Commissary & Major in July 1928 - with seniority back dated to January 1922 - and in January 1930, on the eve of his retirement, to Lieutenant-Colonel. But Watsons career was quickly rekindled, for in the following year he was appointed Inspector of Messing in the Quarter-Master Generals Department, H.Q. India, in which capacity he was also appointed a half-Colonel in the Indian Army Service Corps - thus his verified Jubilee 1935 and Coronation 1937 Medals. He retired for a final time in 1938, when his extensive service record was sent to Army H.Q. Simla, for filing - but which today resides in the India Records Office (nearly 200 pp. in L/Mil/14/30463).
An exceptional and particularly early Great War M.C. group of nine awarded to Quarter-Master & Captain H. Dugdale, Royal Army Medical Corps, a veteran of the Suakin 1885 and Ashanti 1896 operations who was awarded the M.S.M. in 1936, aged 75 years Military Cross, G.V.R.; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (3931 Sergt., M.S. Corps); Ashanti Star 1896; 1914 Star (Hon. Lieut. & Q.M., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Q.M. & Lieut.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3931 S. Sjt., R.A.M.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., coinage bust (S. Sjt., M.C., R.A.M.C.); Khedives Star 1884-6, the earlier awards with contact marks, but generally very fine and quite possibly a unique combination of awards (9) £2000-2500 M.C. London Gazette 23 June 1915. Herbert Dugdale was born in Salford in April 1860 and enlisted in the Medical Staff Corps in 1878. Advanced to Lance-Corporal while stationed at Gibraltar in 1881, he served in Egypt and the Sudan 1883-85 and 1885-86, latterly as a Sergeant in the Suakin operations, and on the west coast of Africa 1895-96, during the Ashanti operations. He was discharged as a Staff Sergeant in November 1908, having been awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in the previous year (AO 242 refers). Commissioned as an Honorary Lieutenant & Quarter-Master in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he went out to France with No. 18 Field Ambulance in the following month, but would appear to have been awarded his M.C. for services in the No. 3 East Lancashire Field Ambulance, which distinction was one of very first to be gazetted. He was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 June 1915 refers) before returning to the U.K. in December 1915. Dugdale, who relinquished his commission in April 1924, was awarded his M.S.M. in AO 237 of 1936, and was still living in the 1950s; Ian McInnes estimates around 10 medical veterans of the Suakin 1885 operations later received M.S.Ms, but with the addition of his M.C. and Ashanti Star this group must surely be unique.
A rare Second World War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Chater, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, who, having passed a bomb disposal course in London in early 1941, was attached to the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, participated in the Walcheren landings in November 1944 and was awarded the Order of Orange Nassau: then in 1955 he added a "Canada M.S.M." to his accolades - one of just 29 E.II.R. issues ever granted The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Members 2nd type breast badge; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45, silver; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, silver; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., robed bust, Canada (2nd Cl. Mr. Gr. (W.O. Cl. 1, R.C.H.A.); Army Meritorious Service, E.II.R., Canada reverse (P8236 Mr. Gr. (W.O. 1), R.C.A.); The Netherlands, Order of Orange-Nassau, Officers breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with swords, rosette on riband, mounted as worn, together with an R.C.H.A. badge, the sixth with officially corrected rank and the last with chipped enamel work and one slightly damaged arm point, otherwise generally good very fine (8) £1000-1200 O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1946. Hartley Ernest Chater was born in Toronto in February 1903 and enlisted underage in the Permanent Forces of Canada in June 1919, aged 16 years, his attestation papers noting apparently aged 19. Posted to the Canadian Horse Artillery, he gained steady promotion over the coming years, rising to Battery Sergeant-Major in 1932 and to Quarter-Master Sergeant in the following year, when he was employed on the staff of the Royal Military Academy. Having then been awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in June 1937, he attended a special Master Gunners course in the U.K., and was appointed Master Gunner 1st Class in the following year. The advent of hostilities found him employed as a Regimental Sergeant-Major and he was embarked for England in January 1940, where he was commissioned in the 1st Medium Regiment, R.C.A. that September. Having then passed a bomb disposal course at Regents Park in the New Year, he was advanced to Captain and attached to the 1st Canadian Division Ammunition Column. Again promoted in 1942, to Major, he was in fact a Lieutenant-Colonel (Ordnance Officer 2nd Class) by the time of the North West Europe operations 1944-45, which theatre of operations he visited on several occasions, but never for a sufficient length of time to qualify for the 1939-45 Star. Be that as it may, he was present in the Walcheren operations in November 1944, when he was attached as an Ordnance Officer to 112 L.A.A. Battery, R.C.A. - a rocket unit - and afterwards on secondment to the Hague. He was awarded the O.B.E. and the Order of Orange-Nassau, the latter by Royal Warrant dated 11 November 1946. Finally released back at Montreal in September 1947, Chater returned to the U.K. and settled in Dartford, Kent, where he died in April 1983. In the interim, however, by letter of notification from the Department of National Defence at Ottawa dated 21 July 1955, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal - one of just 29 E.II.R. "Canada M.S.Ms" and the only such example yet noted on the market by Ian McInnes. Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipients O.B.E. warrant, in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, R.C.O.C., the borders trimmed, and related forwarding letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs at Ottawa; his warrant of appointment to the Order of Oranage-Nassau, dated 11 November 1946; and his M.S.M. letter of notification from the Department of National Defence at Ottawa, dated 21 July 1955; together with large file of research compiled from Canadian archives and family sources.
French Napoleon I Commemorative Medal, obv. bust of Bonaparte in uniform facing left, by E-H. Becker, rev. eagle upon a branch of oak, Waterloo inscribed below, 26mm., silver, ring suspension, c.1900; Nelson and Foudroyant Medallion 1897, bronze, ref. Eimer 1813; Prussian, Rosbach Commemorative Medallion, bronze, worn; Identity Disk, oval, 23 x 21mm., silver, pierced for a ring suspension, inscribed, T. S. Gildea Esq., 72nd Highlanders, very fine and better except where stated (4) £50-70 Thomas Stanhope Gildea was commissioned by purchase into the 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders) on 22 December 1863, was promoted Lieutenant by purchase on 27 November 1867 and became an "Instructor of Musketry" on 18 August 1869. He was advanced to Captain on 7 March 1876, Major on 1 July 1881 and Lieutenant Colonel on 14 February 1891. He served with the 72nd Highlanders from the commencement of the Afghan War in 1878 until August 1879 with the Koorum Field Force and was present at the attack and capture of the Peiwar Kotal where he was Mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the Medal with clasp. In 1894, after 31 years regular service, he was Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders serving in India. On 14 February 1895 he was placed on Half Pay with the rank of Colonel.
A pair of continental pottery plates painted with flowers, circa 1800, painted in colours, with shaped and gilt rims, 23.5cm diameter, an English miniature bisque porcelain bust of an Admiral on fluted column and octagonal plinth base, 18cm high, and a clear glass mug, circa 1760, of waisted form with applied handle and flower shaped base, 11cm high, (4)
UK 19th CENTURY COPPER TOKENS (4) BRITISH COPPER COMPANY WALTHAMSTOW 1812 DAVIS 8 VG, UNION COPPER COMPANY BIRMINGHAM 1812 DAVIS 67 GOOD FINE WITH EDGE KNOCK, BRITISH NAVAL HALFPENNY 1812 WITH BUST OF NELSON, DAVIS 150, VF TRACES OF LUSTRE & EDGE KNOCK, AND STIVER TOKEN "TRADE AND NAVIGATION"/"PURE COPPER PREFERABLE TO PAPER" 1838 NEAR FINE
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