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Lot 36
Five: Major C. A. E. Miller, Royal Garrison Artillery Militia Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: C. A. E. Miller, R.G.A. Mil:); British War and Victory Medals (Major C. A. E. Miller.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, unnamed, mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £240-£280 --- Cecil Aubrey Erskine Miller was born in Cork in 1880 and was commissioned into the Cork R.G.A. in 1900. He served with the R.G.A. in South Africa and also with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment in 1902. He was promoted to Captain in 195 and resigned his commission in 1912. He emigrated to Canada but returned in 1916 and served in Ireland, Egypt and Palestine with 440 Siege Battery, becoming Major in 1918. Sold with a photographic image of Major Miller.
Lot 29
Five: Sergeant B. G. Miller, Royal Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (84104 Gnr: B. G. Miller, 6th E.D., R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (84104 Gnr: B. G. Miller. R.G.A.) first initial possibly re-impressed; British War and Victory Medals (SR-6943 Sjt. B. G. Miller. R.A.); Belgium, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., good very fine (5) £160-£200 --- Croix de Guerre not confirmed.
Lot 11
Five: Captain A. Williams, Royal Field Artillery, who was three times Mentioned in Despatches Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (99848 Sgt. A. Williams, 65th Bty: R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. Williams. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. A. Williams.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (99848 B.Q.M. Sjt: A. Williams R.F.A.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (5) £120-£160 --- Amos Williams was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery on 15 December 1914, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 August 1915. For his services he was three times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 18 May 1917; 21 May 1918; and 7 July 1919).
Lot 101
Four: Colonel H. R. Milvain, 12th Lancers, who received a ‘bullet through his neck, which came out through his jaw’, during the charge of the 12th Lancers at the Battle of Diamond Hill, 11 June 1900. He later served with the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment during the Irish Rebellion of 1916, and served in France as Horse Master to the Royal Field Artillery. Milvain commanded the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Home Guard during the Second World War Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Lieut: H. R. Milvain, 12: R: Lancers) impressed naming, edge bruise; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major H. R. Milvain.); Defence Medal, mounted for wear, otherwise generally good very fine (4) £800-£1,200 --- Henry Roland Milvain was born in London in January 1880. He was the son of Thomas Milvain, Q.C., of Eglingham Hall, Chancellor of the County Palatine of Durham, Recorder of Bradford, and later Judge Advocate General. Milvain’s obituary, which appeared in 9/12 Lancer’s Regimental Journal, gives the following: ‘Roley Milvain joined the 12th Royal Lancers in 1899 from Sandhurst and served in the Regiment during the South African War, when he was badly wounded. As soon as he had recovered, he rejoined the Regiment in India, and subsequently served as Adjutant. He was seconded, in 1907, to become Adjutant of the Northumberland Hussars, and in 1911 he left the 12th Lancers and joined that Regiment. At the start of the 1914 war, he rejoined the 12th Lancers, being posted as Adjutant to the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment (5th and 12th Lancers) who were stationed, first at Marlborough Barracks Dublin, and afterwards in the Gunner Barracks at Kildare, where he was at the time of the 1916 Irish Rebellion. When the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment was disbanded after the Rebellion, Roley joined the B.E.F. in France as a horse master to the Royal Field Artillery. He was demobilized early in 1919. During the 1939-45 war he joined the Home Guard and commanded a Battalion. Roley Milvain was a great foxhunter. Whilst still at Eton, he was master of the Beagles. For the season of 1898, and again in 1910, when he was Adjutant of the Northumberland Hussars, he took over the Mastership of the Percy Foxhounds, hunting hounds himself until 1921, with the exception of the War Years, when his wife hunted hounds for him. In 1921 he retired from the Percy, and formed his private pack of hounds ‘The Milvain’. He hunted these hounds himself, without subscription, until he retired in 1955 at the age of 75. His was one of the last packs of foxhounds to be hunted without a subscription, in Great Britain. During the forty-five years that Roley hunted hounds, he showed most excellent sport, and there were few better judges of hounds on the flags. He took great interest in racing, and rode and trained many winners. He died on 17th August, 1960, in his 81st year. A very great sportsman who will be sadly missed in the County of Northumberland, where he lived.’ The wound that the obituary refers to, was suffered by Milvain during the charge of the 12th Lancers at the Battle of Diamond Hill, 11 June 1900. He received a ‘bullet through his neck, which came out through his jaw.’ The regiment fought conspicuously at Diamond Hill, where they charged to save the guns of “Q” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. It was ‘in this action that the aristocratic and gallant Lord Airlie, commanding the 12th Lancers, was killed just after leading his men in a boot-to-boot charge. The Times History recorded that his last words were an order: “Troops about wheel!” Churchill reported the order as “Files about!” but according to Conan Doyle his last words were addressed to a cursing sergeant: “Pray moderate your language.” (The Great Boer War by B. Farwell refers) Of the 60 men that Lord Airlie led to clear the guns, one other officer apart from himself was killed, one was captured, and Milvain and six other ranks were wounded. He was presented with his Q.S.A. by the King, 29 July 1901. Having survived the Great War, Milvain commanded the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Home Guard until their stand down in December 1944. M.I.D. Unconfirmed. Sold with copied research, and several photographic images of recipient in uniform.
Lot 338
Three: Private J. A. Thornton, Essex Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (2627 Pte. J. A. Thornton, 1st. Essex Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2627 Pte. W. [sic] Thornton. Essex Regt.) contact marks and some slight file marks to edge, nearly very fine (2) £120-£160
Lot 37
Five: Battery Quarter-Master Sergeant T. H. Page, Canadian Field Artillery, late Royal Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (18419 Gnr: T. H. Page 2nd W.D., R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (18419 Bombr: T. H. Page. R.G.A.); 1914-15 Star (84175 Gunr: T. H. Page. Can: Fd: Art:); British War and Victory Medals (84175 B.Q.M. Sjt. T. H. Page. C.F.A.) very fine (5) £180-£220
Lot 34
Five: Gunner C. W. Smith, Royal Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (10295 Gnr: C. W. Smith, 36th S.D., R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (10295 Gnr: C. W. Smith. R.G.A.); 1914-15 Star (3022, Bmbr: C. W. Smith. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (3022 Gnr. C. W. Smith. R.A.) together with two related L.C.C. school attendance bronze medals both named (M. Smith), edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (7) £160-£200
Lot 325
Three: Lieutenant D. McFarlane, Vryburg Volunteers, later 12th Citizens Battery and 10th South African Infantry Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Bechuanaland (Lt. D. Mc.Farlane. Vryburg Volunteers.) officially re-impressed naming, suspension claw rivet filed down, and traces of brooch mounting to reverse; 1914-15 Star (Gnr. D. Mc.Farlane 12th Cit. Batt.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Pte. D. Mc.Farlane. 10th S.A.I.) contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine 1914-15 Star (Pte. C. Weber 5th Infantry.) nearly very fine (4) £140-£180
Lot 103
The outstanding and extremely rare ‘double long service’ group of three awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major E. Morel, Royal Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry, late Life Guards Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (100 Q.M. Sgt. E. Morel, 1st Impl: Yeo:); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (714. Tp. Cpl. Maj: E. Morel. 2nd Life Gds.); Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (232 R.S. Maj: E. Morel. R. Wilts: I.Y.) mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (3) £800-£1,200 --- Approximately 38 Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C. Medals awarded to Royal Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry. Edward Morel was born in 1854 at East Grinstead, West Sussex, the son of Alfred Morel and Ellen Tate. By family repute his father was the illegitimate child of the union between a Madame Morel of France and William, 3rd Baron de Blaquiere, of Ardkill in the County of Londonderry, who later committed suicide at Norwood in consequence of failing health associated with lithropic disease and smallpox. The 1881 England Census records Morel as married to Sarah Ann and living at the barracks of the Life Guards in Regents Park whilst serving as corporal of horse in the 2nd Battalion. A decade later he is noted as R.M. of 'G' Troop at Rood Ashton (The Annals of the Yeomanry of Wiltshire, refers) and the 1911 Census records the couple living at West Ashton, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire, his occupation described as ‘Army pensioner and storage agent’. He is also father to a 20 year old daughter named Nora. Affectionately known as ‘The Sergeant Major’ in his village and known for his bluff and hearty manner and burly structure and build, Morel died in 1933 having struggled with failing health for two years. His obituary, which was published in The Parade (Trowbridge) Newspaper, adds a little more detail regarding his career: His was an interesting and varied career. As a young man he served for two years in the St. George’s Volunteers, London - for he was a Londoner and in all his years in Wilts never quite lost the accent of the Metropolis. After this he joined the Life Guards, and served in this famous regiment for 15 years, qualifying for the Long Service Medal. On leaving the regular army at the expiration of this period he became attached to the permanent staff of the Royal Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry, with the rank of sergeant-major, and served the county’s cavalry regiment for twenty-two years, qualifying for another long service medal - a very rare distinction - and retiring with the rank of regimental sergeant major in 1908. He was made the recipient at the annual camp, of a handsome cheque and piece of plate from his comrades of the Yeomanry, Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Palmer making the presentation. When the two companies of the Royal Wilts Imperial Yeomanry were raised at Trowbridge in 1900 for service in the South African War, Sergt.-Major Morel did splendid work in recruiting and training the men, and himself went to the front with them, with the rank of quartermaster sergeant. Though when the Great War came in 1914 he had long passed the age for active service, his heart was always with the forces, and many were the ways in which he served the country’s cause at home. It will be recalled that it was Mr. Morel who provided Trowbridge with its first “Roll of Honour” board, which hung outside the Town Hall until the list became too long to be shown thereon, and a larger one became necessary. After his military service had concluded he settled at West Ashton, carrying on the business as a forage merchant, but finding time for many public duties.’ This was in fact not the first time that details of Morel had appeared in the local press. He regularly wrote home to his wife during his service in South Africa, and details from these letters featured in the Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser. He also provided details of the service of the 1st Wiltshire Yeomanry during the war, which appeared in the Devizes & Wiltshire Gazette, 14 March 1901: ‘The Battalion reached Bloemfontein on 1st May and expected to join Lord Roberts in his advanced to Pretoria. They were turned to the right and sent to Thaba Nchu when they joined General Rubdle’s (8th) Division. They were practically the only cavalry of the Division, and their business was to round up all those commandos who were coming away over the Free State border for Natal. In this Rundle was successful Prinsloo surrendered with 6,000 Boers, although De Wet got away. Then they went to Harrismith anticipating they would soon go home, but instead of that they were sent away for two months trek to round up cattle. With the headquarters it was not thought the 1st Company would see any fighting, but it turned out that they fell in for a lot of sniping and small actions, and were the defenders of Ladybrand. Only a portion of the Wiltshire Yeomanry entered the Transvaal that was when they went to Standerton for supplies. Summing up the work of the Wiltshire Yeomanry, Quarter Master Sergeant Morel thinks they had the maximum of work and hardships and the minimum of glory. They had come in for a lot of sniping and had a number of deaths in that manner but they had not been in a general action, except when Prinsloo surrendered, and the 1st Company in the Defence of Ladybrand.’ Morel suffered from bouts of Enteric Fever, and was invalided home. He died in February 1927: ‘In Morel we found the finest characteristics of an Englishman: Brave as a lion, generous to a degree, and that unselfish and unfailing virtue of always being able to smile, and above all to encourage others to smile, in the face of serious adversity. His glorious record of service to his King and Country is known to all Wiltshire men. In our hearts we may store the one consolation - that were indeed the richer for his friendship, and the poorer for his passing.’ (Obituary refers). Sold with copied research, including several photographic images of recipient in uniform.
Lot 425
Pair: Acting Captain C. G. Hards, East African Labour Corps British War and Victory Medals (A. Capt. C. G. Hards.) edge bruising, very fine Pair: Lieutenant C. E. Dobbs, Canadian Forces British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. C. E. Dobbs.) suspension ring missing from VM, otherwise very fine Pair: Lieutenant P. C. Marsh, Canadian Forces British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. P. C. Marsh.) edge bruise to BWM, otherwise generally very fine (6) £80-£100 --- Cuthbert Gordon Hards was born in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa on 28 June 1891 and served with the East African Labour Corps during the Great War. He died in Salisbury, Rhodesia, on 24 April 1943. Conway Edward Dobbs was born on 20 October 1895 and attested for service with the Remount Depot, Canadian Expeditionary Force on 13 April 1915, and served on the Western Front from 5 June 1915. After various spells in hospital due to venereal disease, he returned to duty and was commissioned into the 6th Reserve Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force on 28 April 1917. Returning to France, he received a fracture to his leg caused by an accident with a gun wheel carriage, which exacerbated his illness. Returning to Canada, he was struck from the strength on 3 December 1917. Percy Clark Marsh was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 20 November 1894 and attested for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 7 July 1915. Sold with copied service papers.
Lot 262
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, top lugs removed (6365 Spr. A. G. Wilson. 17/Fd: Coy R.E.) a somewhat later issue, heavy contact marks, nearly very fine £70-£90 --- Alexander George Wilson attested for the Royal Engineers and served during the Boer War, when he met and married a Boer woman, deserting his unit in the process. He later applied for the King’s mercy and, having been pardoned, his medal was issued on 24 December 1919.
Lot 259
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Rhodesia, South Africa 1901, Orange Free State, top clasp loose on riband (12796 Trp F Elston Imp Yeo) a somewhat later issued duplicate medal with fixed suspension, extremely fine £120-£160 --- Fred Elston, a butcher from Credition, Devon, attested for service with the Imperial Yeomanry at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, on 15 February 1900, and served during the Boer War in South Africa from 6 April 1900 to 8 June 1901 with the 71st Company, 18th (Sharphooters) Battalion. He was discharged on 13 June 1901. Sold with copy service papers and copy medal roll extracts, confirming all clasps. The medal roll notes the existence of this duplicate medal.
Lot 548
Miniature Medals: Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902 (7), 1 clasp (5), Defence of Kimberley (3), one with top silver riband buckle; Def. of Ladysmith; Defence of Mafeking; 5 clasps (2) Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, all of contemporary manufacture, generally very fine (7) £100-£140
Lot 344
Six: Private A. Benge, Frontier Light Horse Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (1165 Pte. A. Benge. Frontier Lt. Horse); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1165. Pte. A. Benge. Frontier Lt. Horse.) renamed; British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (No. 35. A. Benge. Special Police.) both renamed; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, both officially impressed ‘213788 A. V. Benge’, the KSA, BWM and VM all renamed; nearly very fine (6) £120-£160
Lot 10
Five: Colonel G. R. T. Rundle, C.B., Royal Field Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Major G. R. T. Rundle. 43/Bty., R.G.A.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Major G. R. T. Rundle. R.F.A.) engraved naming; 1914-15 Star (Bt. Col. G. R. T. Rundle. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Bt. Col. G. R. T. Rundle.) mounted as worn and housed in a contemporary fitted case, good very fine (5) £400-£500 --- C.B. London Gazette 3 June 1915. George Richard Tyrrell Rundle was born on 12 July 1860 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in 1879. He served in South Africa during the Boer War where he performed the duties of Commandant, Rouxville and Comassie Brigade, from 19 October 1900, and was afterwards Commandant at Edenburg from 3 April to 21 December 1901. For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901). He saw further service during the Great War as Commanding Officer of 146 Brigade, R.F.A., on the Western Front from 4 January 1915, and for his services was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 2 June 1915) and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. He died on 12 December 1947. Sold with the named Bestowal Document for the C.B.
Lot 31
Four: Gunner A. Hunt, Royal Garrison Artillery, later Labour Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (6734 Gnr. A. Hunt. 16th S.D., R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6734 Gnr: A. Hunt. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (127811 Pte. A. Hunt. Labour Corps.) good very fine (4) £120-£160
Lot 248
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902 (2), 1 clasp, Cape Colony (348 Tpr: W. Slatem. Brabant’s Horse) traces of brooch mounting to backstrap of clasp; 3 clasps, Natal, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (2007 Tpr: C. Hennessy. Natal Police.) edge bruising and contact marks to both, about fine (2) £80-£100 --- Sold with a cropped photographic image of Hennessey in Natal Police uniform.
Lot 105
The important ‘Nyasaland 1915’ campaign group of seven awarded to Major C. ‘Champagne Charlie’ Thorburn, late Royal Scots Fusiliers, who commanded the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve from August 1914, including on raids into German East Africa and on Lake Nyasa. Mentioned in Despatches multiple times, including for service during the Chilembwe Rebellion of 1915, he was a larger than life character - ‘known from Johannesburg to Nairobi as Champagne Charlie, Nyasaland’s tobacco king; and everyone loved him’ Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut: C. Thorburn, R. Scots Fus:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: C. Thorburn. Rl: Scots Fus:); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Nyasaland 1915 (Capt: C. Thorburn. Depot Coy. 1/K.A.R.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. C. Thorburn. Nyasaland F.F.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major C. Thorburn.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, 5th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, last with enamel damage, otherwise generally fine or better (7) £1,800-£2,200 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 3 August 1916, 25 September 1917 and 5 June 1919. Charles Thorburn was born at Kerfield in 1881, and was the twin the son of Sir Walter Thorburn, M.P. of Peebleshire. He ‘took up a military career on completing his education at Blairlodge. He served throughout the South African War with the Royal Scots Fusiliers, in which he held the rank of captain, and took part in the relief of Mafeking. At the end of the Boer War he took up business pursuits in Central Africa. On the outbreak of the Great War his offer of service was accepted, and for some time he was in charge of defences with the King’s African Rifles. When the war ended he took up residence in Peebles, holding the rank of major on the Retired List of Officers.... In his youth Major Thorburn was a keen sportsman. He played rugby for Edinburgh Wanderers and Selkirk, and was secretary and a playing member of Peebles County Cricket Club. He engaged in big game hunting while in India and Africa, and presented of his trophies to the Peebles Museum.’ (Obituary refers) Thorburn was appointed to the command of the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve, 4 August 1914, and carried out operations with them in German East Africa, and Lake Nyasa: ‘The Adventure under her captain, Volunteer Leonard John Boardman, accompanied by Major Thorburn of the N.V.R., sailed into Spinxhaven in October [1914] to find it deserted. They took the opportunity to destroy a German workshop there and to inflict further damage to the Wissman [German Lake Steamer]. Sadly, shortly after this, on the night of 28-29 October the Adventure hit a rock at Muluka on the Portuguese East African coast, was wrecked, abandoned and sank.... The N.V.R. unit sent to Karonga has been reported of consisting of either 53 or 56 Volunteers including two officers. The officers might have been Thorburn, J. M. Purves, their transport officer, and/or J. C. Casson, their supply officer, making 55 to 56 in all. Fewer than 100 men of the N.V.R. qualified for the 1914-15 Star and about two thirds of these awards would have been made to those who were engaged in the actions at Karonga and Kasoa...’ (Cinderella’s Soldiers (The Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve) by P. Charlton refers) Thorburn was mentioned in the despatch of Lieutenant-Colonel G. M. P. Hawthorn, dated Zomba 11 October 1915: ‘Lieutenant, Temporary Captain C. Thorburn, Reserve of Officers. Has commanded the base and lines of communications from the commencement of the war. He has performed his duties very industriously, and arranged most satisfactorily for transport of troops and supplies from the sea coast to the lake.’ Thorburn’s time, and reputation, in Nyasaland is recalled by R. Tremlett in The Road to Ophir: “Could you wire my boss in Nyasaland for fare? I’m sure he will pay it.” “Yes, I’ll do that. Who is he?” When I mentioned the name the Consul laughed. “Champagne Charlie Thorburn? Well, you’ll surely have a time with him! Yes, I’ll wire him right away... How on earth did you get in touch with Champagne Charlie? “It was on the ship from England to South Africa,” I replied. “I had just left Cambourne School of Mines, in Cornwall, where I had done a course in assaying and mine surveying; and was on the way to my father, who had fixed a mining job for me. But I preferred to go with Thorburn to Nyasaland, and here I am.” I did not tell him all the details of that momentous trip.... At Southampton, where I had joined the ship, I was told that I should be sharing a cabin with a Major Thorburn; and as soon as we met I realised that our cabin was to be a lively place. He weighed eighteen stones and had the clear blue eyes and rosy complexion of a schoolboy.... Although his luggage was as yet unpacked, a bottle of champagne stood in an ice bucket in the cabin; and the room was filled with friends who had come to say good-bye. Some years before, one of them told me, Charlie had resigned his commission in the regular army to settle in Nyasaland, then the Cinderella of Central Africa; for the way to it was long and intricate, and transport charges high. In a few years he had risen to create from the jungle vast tobacco and cotton estates; and to make, in prosperous years, ten thousand pounds. He was known from Johannesburg to Nairobi as Champagne Charlie, Nyasaland’s tobacco king; and everyone loved him. At night I sat in the smoking-room and listened to the tales he told; stories of wild barbarism in Central Africa; of lions and strange native customs; and, in particular, of the carefree life where excitement beckoned from every tropical mountain top....’ During 1915, Thorburn had also been involved in the proceedings of the Chilembwe Commission of Inquiry after the John Chilembwe Rebellion of that year. He was mentioned in the despatch of the Governor of Nyasaland London Gazette 3 August 1916: ‘I have been much in contact with the work of Captain Thorburn. In addition to his duties connected with the Base and Lines of Communication, he has rendered important services as Commanding Officer of the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve, and I was able to mention him specially in connection with the native rising in January, 1915. I feel that I cannot speak too highly of the valuable assistance he has rendered in many directions, and of his cheerfulness and indefatigability at all times.’ Major Thorburn returned to Peebles, and died there in September 1938. Sold with copied research, including a photographic of image of recipient.
Lot 535
An unattributed pair of miniature dress medals Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp, light pitting; Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, mounted for wear, nearly very fine An unattributed pair of miniature dress medals Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine An unattributed group of three miniature dress medals Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp; British War and Victory Medals, mounted for wear, good very fine An unattributed group of three miniature dress medals Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill; British War and Victory Medals, mounted for wear, generally very fine (10) £80-£100
Lot 171
A scarce Great War ‘Salonika’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private E. S. D. Moore, Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, for his gallantry and coolness when sent out as a lone decoy to lure into an ambush a patrol of Germany cavalry on 17 April 1916; Moore was mounted on a specially chosen Charger in order to outpace the enemy should an attempt have been made to capture him Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (989 Pte. E. S. D. Moore. Notts: Yeo:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (735 Pte. E. S. D. Moore. 10th. Notts Coy. Imp: Yeo:); 1914-15 Star (989 Pte. E. S. A. [sic] Moore. Sher. Rang.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (989 Pte. E. S. A. [sic] Moore. Notts. Yeo.) generally good very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 14 November 1916: ‘For gallantry and coolness when sent out to try and lure a party of the enemy into an ambush. He behaved in a remarkably plucky manner when in very close touch with the enemy.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 25 September 1916 (Salonika). Edmund Schneider Dodwell Moore was born at Honington, Lincolnshire, on 22 April 1874, the son of the Reverend Henry Dodwell Moore, Vicar of St Wilfrid’s, Honington, and following the outbreak of the Boer War attested for the Imperial Yeomanry at Retford, Nottinghamshire, on 10 January 1900. He served with the 10th (Sherwood Rangers) Company, 3rd Battalion in South Africa from 29 January 1900 to 9 July 1901, and was present at the actions at Lindley and Heartebeestefontein. He was discharged at his own request on 8 August 1901. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Moore re-joined his old unit, the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry; the Sherwood Rangers, along with the South Nottinghamshire Hussars and the Derbyshire Yeomanry formed the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade and embarked for Egypt in April 1915, first entering the Balkan theatre of War on 8 August 1915. Moore served with them in Gallipoli from August to October 1915 (dismounted), before returning with the unit to Egypt where they were reunited with their horses. They then went to Macedonia (Salonika) in February 1916 where the brigade was re-designated as the 7th Mounted Brigade. It was whilst serving in Salonika that Moore was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallant conduct and coolness on 17 April 1917 when he volunteered to act as a lone decoy to lure into an ambush a patrol of German cavalry that had been observed in nearby woods. An accomplished rider, his charger had been specially chosen to outpace the enemy in the event an attempt was made to capture him. In further recognition of his gallant conduct, Moore’s name was brought to notice in General A. J. Murray’s Despatch dated 13 July 1916. The following account of the action was later published in ‘The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in the Great War 1914-1918’ by Major H. Tallents: ‘At 5 a.m. on 17 April 1916, three Squadrons of German Cavalry came round the end of Lake Doiran towards Pateros, supported by a considerable force of infantry; one of their squadrons came on towards Gola, their right flank patrol passing within a few yards of Sergeant Hethershaw and his troop who were lying concealed in some scrub and had been told not to fire, and approached the position where B Squadron were concealed. We disclosed only a small patrol with Private Moore as its point riding a specially selected horse which would be difficult for the Germans to overtake. The Germans were very cautious and approached our patrol very slowly, while Moore waited for them in the hopes that some at least of the Germans would chase him and be led into the trap; unfortunately they would not do this though they were within speaking distance of him, so after a little conversation with them during which they told him to “go away, you bloody fool” (his remarks to them are not recorded), he rode slowly away to one side leaving the front of B Squadron unmasked. The Germans stood in a bunch looking towards B Squadron’s position and then turned to retire; the moment they did so it was evident that they would not be caught in the trap so B Squadron and the machine-guns opened fire. Unfortunately both the machine-guns - which were about 12 years old - jammed after a few rounds and consequently we only succeeded in wounding seven of their men and seven horses, according to the enemy intelligence reports obtained later’. Following the Armistice Moore returned to farming. A keen huntsman he followed both the Belvoir and Blankney Hunts and latterly maintained several fox coverts. He is recorded in the 1939 Register residing at Brant Broughton where he is described as a retired farmer and ‘Air Raid Warden ARP’ having been appointed Chief ARP Warden, Brandt Broughton. He died in Newark District Hospital following a cycling accident on 27 April 1949. Sold with copied research.
Lot 18
Five: Corporal G. Phillips, Royal Field Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (74933 Gr. G. Phillips, 84th Batt. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (74933 Gnr: G. Phillips. R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (36927 Gnr. G. Phillips. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (36927 Cpl. G. Phillips. R.A.) mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £180-£220 --- George Phillips was born in the Parish of Bishops Combe, near Sherborne, Dorset, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Sherborne on 16 September 1889, aged 19. He served with the Royal Field Artillery in South Africa in 1899 and was discharged at Weedon on 21 August 1902, on completion of his first period of service. He re-enlisted on 7 September 1914, for the Royal Field Artillery and also served in the Wiltshire Regiment and Labour Corps. He was transferred to ‘Z’ Reserve on 15 March 1919. Sold with parchment certificates of discharge (1902), transfers to Army Reserve (1897 and 1902), and certificate on transfer to ‘Z’ Reserve on Demobilization (1919), together with named card box of issue for 1914-15 Star.
Lot 330
Pair: Surgeon Captain J. H. Wright, Imperial Yeomanry Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (Capt: J. H. Wright, M,D, Imp: Yeo:) engraved naming; Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, V.R. (Corpl. J. H. Wright. B.M.R. 1895.) engraved naming, mounted for wear, light contact marks, very fine (2) £300-£400 --- John Henderson Wright was born in Kelso, Roxburghshire, on 11 December 1854. A founding member of the 1st Roxburgh (The Border) Horse, he served during the Boer War as a Surgeon Captain attached to the 27th (Devonshire) Company, Imperial Yeomanry.
Lot 70
The rare ‘Ashanti 1900’ C.M.G. group of four awarded to H. B. W. Russell, Private Secretary to Colonel Sir James Willcocks, Commanding Ashanti Field Force, whose actions during the course of the campaign to relieve Kumassi went above and beyond the conventional duties of a private secretary - often acting as a guide, and being involved in the fighting, despite being present in a civilian capacity The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with ribbon buckle; Coronation 1902, bronze; Ashanti 1900, 1 clasp, Kumassi, high relief bust (H. B. W. Russell, C.M.G., A.F. Fce:); Colonial Auxiliary Forces L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (Capt. H. B. W. Russell, C.M.G.) mounted as worn but lacking pin; together with original Warrant and Statutes for C.M.G. and contemporary portrait photograph of recipient in uniform, rank partially officially corrected on last, generally good very fine (4) £2,600-£3,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2014. Henry Blythe Westrap Russell was born in Toronto, Canada, on 3 August 1868. He was educated at the Liverpool Institute and at Freiburg in the German State of Baden. He travelled extensively in West Africa and in the 1880s founded the firm of H. B. W. Russell and Co., merchants on the Gold Coast, Southern Nigeria. The company later had offices at Kumassi, Accra, Lagos and Liverpool. Whilst at Cape Coast in June 1900, Russell volunteered his services as private secretary to Colonel J. Willcocks, then assembling his staff for the Ashanti Field Force that he was to lead to the relief of Kumassi. Russell receives several mentions in From Kabul to Kumassi by Brigadier General Sir James Willcocks: ‘On this same day a gentleman at Cape Castle, Mr H. Russell, a trader of whom I had heard a good deal, and who had considerable experience of the Gold Coast, came and offered his service to me in any capacity. I was only too glad to accept them, and offered him the post of Private Secretary, an appointment which was at once approved by the Secretary of State; he proved most valuable. His knowledge of the country and language and his untiring energy were godsends in those days, and he accompanied me to Kumassi. For his services he received the C.M.G. at the close of the campaign, and it was well deserved.’ Further into the campaign, Russell was to prove considerably more hands on than a normal private secretary acting as a guide and indeed taking part in the fighting (despite being there in a civilian capacity): ‘Mr Russell, my Private Secretary, whom I had sent with this column, owing to his knowledge of the people, rendered very useful service, not only in a political sense, but by more than once accompanying the scouts and joining in the fighting.’ (Ibid) Some ‘spoils of war’ brought back to the UK by Russell have appeared on the market in recent years, but not his gift from Willcocks: ‘Among the souvenirs given to me by the officers was a fine donkey from Berekum. I took it down to the coast when I left, and gave it as a Christmas present to my Private Secretary, Mr Russell.’ (Ibid) Russell’s all action approach is further recorded by the Morning Post, 4 October 1900: ‘Operations from Kumassi - Punitive Measures. Hardships of the Campaign: On the following day a fighting column of 900 men with three guns and five Maxims under the command of Colonel Brake, who had with him as staff officers Captains Bryan and Reeve, and as political officer [sic] Mr Russell, a merchant on the West Coast left Bekwai with orders to attack Ejesu, where Queen Ashantuah was supposed to have concentrated a large force, and to have massed a quantity of loot. Advance on Ejesu: Our scouts, who were under the command of Lieutenant McKinnon, and with whom were the guides in charge of Mr Russell, were suddenly fired on by the enemy, who were lying snugly hidden behind a stockade on the bank of a river bed which crossed the road obliquely. Mr Russell went back and reported the situation personally to Colonel Brake, who hurried to the front with two 75 millimetre guns under the Hon. Lieutenant Halfpenny, of the 3rd West African Frontier Force.’ Russell was mentioned in the despatch of Colonel J. Willcocks, Commanding Ashanti Field Force, London Gazette 4 December, 1900: ‘Mr H. B. W. Russell, Private Secretary. - This gentleman volunteered his services at Cape Coast, and I was most fortunate in getting him; he has worked incessantly ever since I landed, and I strongly recommend him, especially as his chief object in coming was in order to have an opportunity of doing some service to the State.’ Russell was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, London Gazette 9 November 1901 ‘in recognition of his services while employed with the Ashanti Field Force.’ This is believed to be 1 of only 2 such awards for the Ashanti campaign. In 1906 Russell was appointed Consul of the Netherlands at Cape Coast Castle, for the Gold Coast, Lagos and Nigeria, Togoland and Dahomey. In the same year he was appointed a captain in the Gold Coast Volunteers. Russell was honourably discharged in 1912, at his own request, upon his departure from the Gold Coast for England. He died in a motoring accident, when his car collided with a pony trap driven by man under the influence of alcohol. The accident occurred outside of Chester, 24 July 1912, and the other driver was put on trial for manslaughter. Russell resided at Brock House, Tattenhall at the time. Sold with copied research.
Lot 345
Three: Private J. A. Smith, Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Volunteer Rifles Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, the two date clasps both tailors copies (2556 Pte. J. A. Smith. D. of E. Own V.R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Cpl. J. A. Smith. S.A.P.B.); Bilingual Victory Medal 1914-19 (Pnr. J. A. Smith. S.A.P.B.) very fine (3) £100-£140
Lot 99
The Boer War pair to Sergeant J. Glen, 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys), who was taken prisoner at Uitval Nek in July 1900, and killed in action at Klippan in February 1902 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg (4225 Corpl: J. Glen. 2nd Dragoons); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4225 Serjt: J. Glen. 2nd Drgns:) toned, nearly extremely fine, and very rare with a K.S.A. to a casualty (2) £600-£800 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2005. J. Glenn was taken prisoner at Uitval Nek, along with the rest of his squadron under Captain J. Maxwell, 11 July 1900, all being subsequently released. Glen was killed in action at Klippan, 18 February 1902, in a fight mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s final despatch of 8 March 1902: ‘On the 18th February General Gilbert Hamilton was sharply engaged at Klippan, twenty miles south-east of Springs, with a body of Boers which was estimated to number about 500. Upon this occasion, I regret to say, a portion of a squadron of the Scots Greys detached to one flank was cut off, surrounded, and partially captured. Our casualties were Major Fielden and Captain Ussher mortally wounded, Lieutenant Rhodes and 2 men killed, and 6 wounded. The Boers were reported to have 8 men killed and wounded.’ The above was sketched in the Illustrated London News, 5 April 1902, and titled “The Mishap To The 2nd Royal Dragoons At Klippan.’ Sold with copied research, including the above mentioned image.
Lot 106
Pair: Major W. E. Beamish, Bedfordshire Regiment, Munster Fusiliers and North Nigeria Regiment, who having served during the Boer War, saw extensive patrol duty in the bush of North Nigeria pre and during the Great War. He was subsequently attached to the Egyptian Government and served as Political and Intelligence Officer in charge of the Western Desert Province, Red Sea, May 1918 - February 1920 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: W. E. Beamish. Bedford: Rgt:); British War Medal 1914-20 (Major W. E. Beamish) nearly extremely fine (2) £400-£500 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 2014. Warburton Edward Beamish was commissioned second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and his Officers File WO 339/8285 gives the following: ‘4th Bedfordshire Regiment. 5th Munster Fusiliers 1900. Served in South Africa in Mounted Infantry. Lagos Battalion West African Field Force took part in Kwali Ishan operations 1905-06. Commanded the Ivede Patrol 1907, served with the 2nd Nigeria Regiment during the last war in the Cameroon Expedition. Commanded Northern Okegeri operations in 1915. Assistant Keeper of Gaols Nigeria 1916. Commanded Oweri Nqurn patrol 1917. Was Officer Commanding troops Oweri Province 1916-17. Resigned my battalion August 1917 proceeded to E.E.F. and was attached for duty to Egyptian Government afterwards and was Political and Intelligence Officer in charge of the Western Desert Province Red Sea from May 1918 to February 1920.’ Beamish advanced to captain in September 1906, and to major in March 1918 (MIC gives ‘Theatre of War Africa August 1914 - medal issued 31 October 1922’, confirming sole entitlement to BWM). Reports for some of Beamish’s patrols are held, and details of one in particular for the Nguru Patrol which left Oweri, 18 November 1916, is revealing of his service: ‘On 20 November I [Beamish] took 20 Rank & File and one machine gun and proceeded to Afor Market which market the Onicha people had recently opened against the Government orders. On the way the column was fired on by Onicha people and the Political Officer then handed over to the Military: I immediately replied to their fire, but could not ascertain if there were any casualties owing to the thick under-bush and that they were running. On 25th November I left Camp at 4am with 40 Rank & File and a machine gun, going on information received that the Onicha people had a bush camp where they had all their stock collected. Got to the quarter just before dawn and found people there, but they evidently had scouts in the trees to give the warning, however I got into them and killed two. On 28 November I went out with 30 Rank & File to bush-camps of Onicha people who were reported to be in hiding, after an hours march I got into them and they fired on the troops and then ran. We returned fire and killed 17, several being hit, we got away. Total amount of ammunition expended to date is 524 rounds; number killed 20, but I feel sure that several more were hit in the bush but it is impossible to find them....’ Beamish was demobilised in June 1921, and resided in Perranporth, Cornwall. He died in Newton Abbot in September 1961. Sold with copied research, including photographic image of recipient in later life.
Lot 98
Three: Private W. E. Roberts, 3rd Dragoon Guards, later South Lancashire Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3662 Pte W. E. Roberts, 3rd Dgn: Gds:) last two clasps loose on riband as issued; British War and Victory Medals (32116 Pte. W. E. Roberts. S. Lan. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £120-£160 --- William ‘Bill’ Roberts was born in London, and resided in Wandsworth. In between service during the Boer War and the Great War, Roberts was employed at Young’s Brewery, Wandsworth. He is believed to have been invalided out of service due to frostbite (entitled to Silver War Badge), and returned to employment at the brewery. Roberts died in 1953. Sold with copied research.
Lot 24
Four: Driver W. Geary, Royal Field Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, South Africa 1901 (67167 Dvr: W. Geary, 86th Bty: R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (24036 Dvr. W. Geary. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (24036 Dvr. W. Geary. R.A.) very fine (4) £100-£140
Lot 12
Seven: Lieutenant (Quartermaster) J. Golden, Royal Field Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (8679 Sgt. Clerk J. Golden. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (8679 Serjt: J. Golden. R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (8679. Q.M. Sjt. - A.S. Mjr. - A.C - J. Golden, R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Q.M. & Lieut. J. Golden.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (8679 Q.M. Sjt: J. Golden. R.G.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (8679 Q.M. Sjt: J. Golden. 30/Div: H.Q. R.A.) contact marks to the Boer War pair, these nearly very fine; the GVR awards nearly extremely fine (7) £400-£500
Lot 82
The important and scarce ‘North Nigeria’ campaign group of four awarded to Colonel W. H. O’Neill, Royal Artillery and West Africa Frontier Force, who commanded the operations against the forces of Bida and Kontagora, July - December 1900, culminating in leading a brave but reckless attack which ‘advanced right up to the walls of Bida, entered the town with a few men and fought the Emir Adudekeri in a hand to hand fight. O’Neill was badly wounded and only escaped through the timely arrival of his men.’ The rescue was carried out by Lieutenant H. A. ‘Bertie’ Porter, 19th Hussars, ‘a thruster who has been noted in the Gazette for a brevet on obtaining his troop for a mad show at Bida when his C.O. got the sack for singeing the Emir’s whiskers. He nearly got hacked to pieces, but Porter got him out. Porter should have got a V.C. and he might have, had not the whole thing been contrary to orders. But it put an end to the insolence on the part of the Emir.’ Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (Lieut: W. H. O’Neill. F/1. B.. R.A.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, N. Nigeria (Major W. H. O’Neill, R.F.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut: Col: W. H. O’Neill, 62/Bty., R.F.A.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, light contact marks overall, generally very fine (4) £1,800-£2,200 --- William Heremon O’Neill was ‘born in Auckland and was the fourth son of the late Hon. James O’Neill, who was a member of the old Auckland Provincial Council, and later sat in the first Parliament of New Zealand as a member for Auckland City in 1854-55, and member for the northern division of Auckland from 1861 to 1868.’ (New Zealand Herald, 9 June 1925 refers) O’Neill was commissioned into the Royal Artillery, and a letter he wrote to a relation in Lincoln was published in the Lincolnshire Chronicle, 22 September 1882, and gives the following: ‘Ismailia, Sept. 8, 1882 - We start for Kassassin tomorrow, and expect to attack Tel-El-Kebir on Tuesday or Wednesday. After Tel-El-Kebir is taken we go on to Cairo in all probability. I hope Arabi won’t sack Cairo before we arrive. This climate is not half bad, although they tell me it is a good deal worse at the front; however, it agrees with me very well, and I am not likely to knock under. The ammunition, too, is always put in a safe place, so it is a sort of picnic with me. I regret to say that our horses are dying by the dozen. Ismailia is filled with representatives of every nation under the sun. The natives are coming back by degrees; they all bolted when we took the place. I have lots to do, as one of my two junior subalterns is seedy.’ O’Neill was promoted captain in 1885, and advanced to major in October 1893. He was seconded for service with the West African Field Force in September 1899. O’Neill was placed in command of a force for operations against the forces of Bida and Kontagora (North Nigeria), July - December 1900: ‘In July, Lugard [Sir Frederick, High Commissioner] received information that the Sarkin Sudan Emir of Kontagora, and the Etsu Nupe, Emir of Bida, were planning to massacre the small garrison that he had left at Wushishi, the site of his projected new capital of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. The bulk of the West African Frontier Force was away on active service in Ashanti, but Lugard in person at once hurried up to Wushishi from Jebba, bringing reinforcements under Major O’Neill, Royal Artillery. The situation was indeed serious. The village heads of Wushishi had been assassinated and the West African Frontier Force soldiers were being attacked virtually on the threshold of their camp. Ngwamachi, the notorious Emir of Kontagora, and the Emir of Bida, had sent messengers to Ilorin, urging the Emir to join in a rising and expel the white man whose troops, it was rumoured, had been exterminated in Ashanti. O’Neill, with Lieutenant [H. A. ‘Bertie’] Porter [whose medals were offered for sale in these rooms as part of the A. A. Upfill-Brown Collection in December 1991] as his second-in-command, patrolled the countryside for some 20 miles round Wushishi, keeping the Nupe and Kontagora cavalry at their distance by a series of masterly skirmishes. A number of small military forts, such as those at Wushishi, Wuya and Maraba, were erected as soon as the rains ceased. In November O’Neill’s force defeated a band of Kontagora levies at Dabb in Egbake district, north of Kutigi, and, crossing the Kaduna, they routed the Bida horsemen. With immense gallantry O’Neill entered Bida town, accompanied by a mere handful of troopers, on December 19th, and endeavoured to kidnap the Emir. Badly wounded, O’Neill escaped only by the greatest of luck.’ (The Second Battle of Bida article by A. H. M. Kirke-Greene refers) Lugard’s despatch for the operations, praises both the gallantry of O’Neill and Porter but stresses that the former had exceeded his orders and was fortunate to escape with his life: ‘On the 19th December Sergeant H. Edwards defeated with heavy loss a force estimated at 100 horse and 700 foot. On the 15th and 16th Major W. H. O’Neill, Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant H. A. Porter, 19th Hussars attacked and defeated the Bida raiders, who are said to have lost 50 killed at least. On the night of the 17th he marched on the hostile forces again and surprised them at dawn. He estimated the enemy at 500 horse and 1,000 foot, and states that they suffered at least 200 casualties. His own force consisted of himself, Lieutenant Porter, Sergeant Edwards, eight mounted and fifty dismounted men. Again on December 18th he advanced towards Bida with Lieutenant Porter and 13 mounted and 25 dismounted men, driving parties of enemy before him. These he pursued up to the walls of Bida and actually entered the town with his handful of men and endeavoured to seize the Emir with his own hand. In a desperate hand to hand encounter he was badly wounded, but the opportune arrival of some of his men [under Porter, for which he was promoted.] enabled him to put the Fulanis to flight and to effect a retirement, during which his party was much harassed. The other casualties, besides Major O’Neill himself, being one man severely and two slightly wounded. Major O’Neill had received distinct and positive orders not to approach too close to Bida, still less to enter it, and I consider that a grave disaster was only averted partly by good fortune and partly by the resource and ability shown by Lieutenant Porter.... There is no doubt that this most adventurous exploit created an immense impression on the people of Bida.’ In 1902 O’Neill was appointed to the ‘command of the 18th Imperial Yeomanry at Ficksburg, Orange River Colony, at present with Col. Ternan’s column. The men do not belong to any particular county, but are picked men and called “Sharp Shooters.” (Lincolnshire Chronicle, 7 March 1902 refers). He subsequently retired, and died as a result of an accident whilst staying at the Mansion House, Kawau Island, in June 1925: ‘When war broke out in 1914 he went Home and offered his services to the Imperial Army, being accepted for home service. In recent years he has resided at Tauranga and Devenport.’ (Obituary refers) Colonel O’Neill is buried in O’Neill’s Point Cemetery, Auckland. Sold with copied research.
Lot 25
Pair: Colonel E. J. K. Priestley, Royal Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Colonel E. J. K. Priestley. R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. Col. E. J. K. Priestley. R.G.A.) note rank, toned, nearly extremely fine (2) £200-£240 --- Edward John Kenworthy Priestley was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 29 April 1873; Captain, 1 October 1882; Major, 25 April 1890; Lieutenant-Colonel, 13 July 1899; Colonel, 13 July 1903. Colonel Priestley served in the South African war as Commandant at Port Elizabeth; afterwards Commandant of Aberdeen District; subsequently Officer Commanding Royal Artillery, Cape Colony, and later at Karachi.
Lot 342
Pair: Captain M. E. McKenzie, Nesbitt’s Horse, late Frontier Light Horse Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Lieut: M. E. MacKenzie. Mackenzie. Frontier L.H.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Captain & Adjt. M. E. McKenzie. Nesbitt’s H.) minor edge bruising, very fine (2) £200-£240
Lot 19
Pair: Bombardier F. Turvey, Royal Field Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Belfast (8996 A. Br. F. Turvey, 20th Batt. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (8996 Bomb: F. Turvey. R.F.A.) toned, nearly extremely fine (2) £140-£180 --- Sold with copied Death Certificate which shows that Bombardier Frederick Turvey died from ‘wound of throat (suicide)’ at Middelburg, Cape Colony, on 16 August 1904, aged 28 years 1 month.
Lot 128
The fine Ashantee 1873-74 medal awarded to Captain A. W. Baker, known as “Baker of the Bobbies”, who distinguished himself as Commissioner of Armed Police, Cape Coast Castle and Inspector-Commandant of Police in Trinidad Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (Capt: Baker, Commr. Of Police, Cape Coast Castle, 73-74) very fine and a rare award to a Special Service Officer £800-£1,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2003 and September 2006. Arthur Wybrow Baker was the son of the Reverend John Durand Baker of Bishop’s Tawton, Barnstaple, and the brother of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Durand Baker, K.C.B. (whose medals were sold in these rooms in March 2005). Baker was educated at Rugby, originally commissioned into the 66th Regiment in July 1862, and was advanced to lieutenant in August 1865. Sometime thereafter, having obtained a captaincy, he resigned his commission and travelled to Africa, where, as the following letter to Downing Street from Major-General Wolseley reveals, he volunteered his services to the British cause in 1873: ‘I cannot over state the importance of having this post [Inspector-General of Police] filled at the present moment by an able organizer, and by a man full of energy and of great physical health and strength. No one but a military man would be fit for it, as the efficiency of this police force will depend largely upon the manner in which strict discipline is maintained in it. The management of bodies of armed men is an art that few possess intuitively, and is one that can only be acquired by military service. I have therefore selected Captain A. W. Baker, late of the 66th Regiment, who, having left the army, is one of the many similarly circumstanced who have recently come to the coast at their own expense to join the force under my command. He is no relation of mine and I never heard of him until quite recently, but I have selected him for what I consider to be his especial fitness for the post of Inspector-General of Police. The force at present numbers 438 men, but its efficiency is by no means what it ought to be. It has been hurriedly collected and time has not admitted its organization and the selection of men enlisted being properly attended to: much remains to be done before it can really be a thoroughly efficient force. Captain Baker assumed command of it today [16 December 1873] as explained to your Lordship in my despatch previously alluded to ...’ As evidenced by Wolesley’s subsequent despatch regarding the Coomassie operations, dated 7 February 1874, Baker quickly knocked his police force into shape: ‘The police duties in connection with the recent military operations have been most effectively performed by Captain Baker, Inspector-General of Police. He has rendered the force under my command most valuable service and his zeal and energy mark him out as peculiarly suited for the post he occupies ...’ After his success in Africa, Baker went on to be employed as part of the Police Service in Trinidad. He was appointed Inspector Commandant of Police in 1877, Inspector Commandant & Inspector of Weights & Measures in 1881, and as Inspector of Prisons in 1904. The following is given in The Years of Revolt, Trinidad 1881-1888 by Fr. A. de Verteuil, with regards to this period of his career: ‘Baker, the Chief of Police, Arthur Wybrow Baker was a man’s man. At this period he was over forty, but still a fine figure of a man, over six feet tall and broad in proportion, with dark black hair and moustache and striking eyes. He was a “broth of a boy” as the Irish say, with a loving wife and children. Keen on athletic sports, and well mannered on top of that, he was the clean type of man that everyone in that Victorian age could look up to. Even the French creoles who hated the English officials admired him; “With the exception of Captain Baker”, one wrote, “there is not a single one (of the English officials) that any man with the slightest pretension to respectability would introduce to his family or his club.” As a macho man he appealed to the lower class blacks who could measure his worth even on the purely physical level. As Inspector Commandant - Chief of Police - Baker had been an immediate success. A man of integrity and energy, of coolness in action and firmness in decision, possessing a close sense of identification with most of his men, he won their respect and the respect of all. Even “the very rowdies whom he kept down with a strong hand, admired him for his courage and fearlessness in tackling them”. As head of the Voluntary Fire Brigade, he graced their social functions, with his wife and was in the forefront to put out the frequent fires. When Carter’s Races (on 1st August, Emancipation Day) fell into decline, Captain Baker instituted athletic sports which afforded lots of sport to the police, soldiers and the general public for many years. Before his arrival in Trinidad, he had spent three years in the 66th Regiment in India, and was in command of the Houssas on the West Coast of Africa; and by 1884 he had been in command of the police in Trinidad for eight years. After he had been some years in Trinidad, he relaxed the reins a little and let his subordinate officers have more of a free hand. This was regrettable, as some of them at the very least, lacked sound judgement, and gave the police and Baker a bad name. As a man of colonial experience, he fitted in well with the circle of British officials in Trinidad and particularly with the commander of troops at the St. James Barracks. And so - “He was a man, take him for all in all”. But marred, fatally marred by the stamp of one defect. As a typical British official of the time, he looked down on all non-English mortals, and this in an age of growing Trinidad nationalism. In three years in India he had not acquired a word of Hindustani. So he bravely bore alone “the white man’s burden” to the end for better - or perhaps worse. A strong man, in more ways than one, his impact on Trinidad went beyond the police to politics.’ Sold with a photographic imaged of recipient in uniform, and copied research.
![Pair: Private G. B. Alexander, 1st Canadian Infantry, who died of wounds on 22 June 1915 1914-15 Star (18613 Pte. P. [sic] B.](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/01dfdb88-8fcb-46d3-a5b0-af65010dddf7/87e5092d-43ab-449d-a8de-afb4000dfe9b/468x382.jpg)
Lot 403
Pair: Private G. B. Alexander, 1st Canadian Infantry, who died of wounds on 22 June 1915 1914-15 Star (18613 Pte. P. [sic] B. Alexander. 1/Can: Inf.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (18613 Pte. G. B. Alexander. 1-Can. Inf.) very fine Pair: Private A. Buchanan, 3rd Canadian Infantry 1914-15 Star (18319 Pte. A. Buchanan. 3/Can. Inf:); British War Medal 1914-20 (19319 Pte. A. Buchanan 3-Can. Inf.) very fine Pair: Private J. A. Kidd, 5th Canadian Infantry 1914-15 Star (424168 Pte. J. A. Kidd. 5/Can: Inf:); Victory Medal 1914-19 (424168 Pte. J. A. Kidd. 5-Can. Inf.) very fine Pair: Private W. J. Hodson, 19th Canadian Infantry, who was killed in action on 5 June 1916 1914-15 Star (55859 Pte. W. J. Hodson. 19/Can: Inf:); Victory Medal 1914-19 (55859 Pte. W. J. Hodson. 19-Can. Inf.) very fine Pair: Private E. Robitaille, Canadian Army Medical Corps 1914-15 Star (32899 Pte. E. Robitaille. Can: A.M.C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (32899 Pte. E. Robitaille. C.A.M.C.) some polishing, otherwise good very fine (10) £120-£160 --- George Bertram Alexander was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 9 September 1872. He attested for service during the Great War on 23 September 1914, declaring previous military service with the Cape Mounted Rifles from 1886-89. He served on the Western Front with the 1st Canadian Infantry from 26 April 1915 and died of wounds on 22 June 1915. He is buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France. William James Hodson was born in Bolton, Lancashire. A Boer War veteran who served previously with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, he attested in Toronto, for the 19th Canadian Infantry, on 11 November 1914, for service during the Great War. He served on the Western Front from 14 September 1915 and was killed in action on 14 June 1916 in the trenches at The Bluff, Ypres. He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium. Sold with copied service records.
Lot 6
Six: Bombardier H. Wood, Royal Field Artillery, who served with the Pom Poms Section during the Boer War Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (90699 Dvr. H. Woods. R.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (90699 Br: H. Wood, R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (90699 Bomb: H. Wood. Pom Poms Sec: R.A.); British War and Victory Medals (44048 Bmbr. H. Wood. R.A.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (90699 Driver H. Wood. 32 F.B. R.A.) contemporarily impressed naming, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (6) £400-£500 --- 32 Field Battery R.A. was equipped with 15-pdr rifled muzzle-loading guns and was positioned in the centre of the Zariba at Omdurman with the 8000 strong British Division. It was the first unit to open fire against the Dervishes at 6.25am on the morning of the battle, at a range of 2,700 yards. Bombardier Wood served in “H” Section Pom Poms R.F.A. during the Boer War, attached from 1st Divisional Ammunition Column.
Lot 16
Four: Sergeant A. Bright, Royal Field Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (33592 Gnr: A. Bright, 88th Bty., R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (33592 Gnr: A. Bright. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (121037 Sjt. A. Bright. R.A.) mounted for display, nearly very fine (4) £100-£140 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919 (Egypt).
Lot 113
Three: Chaplain General F. H. Beaven, Rhodesia Forces, latterly Bishop of Southern Rhodesia, who was described by men of the 2nd Rhodesia Regiment thus - ‘Bishop Beaven had appealed to our spiritual fundamentals, exhorted us to be material and cold blooded, and rubbed in the righteous war with the big “R” and the Red, White & Blue until we didn’t know whether he was a parson or soldier’ Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Rev. F. H. Beaven. C to F.); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. Gen. F. H. Beaven.) nearly extremely fine (3) £400-£500 --- Frederic Hicks Beaven was born in Rodwell, Caine, Wiltshire on 11 April 1855, the eldest son of Christopher Beaven. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wimborne and University College, Durham. Was Curate of St. Martin’s, Brighton, 1878. Beaven served as Vicar of Newborough, Staffordshire, 1881-85; Vicar of St. Chad’s, Stafford, 1885-87 and Vicar of St. Paul’s, Burton-on-Trent, 1887-1901. He served as acting chaplain to the forces in South Africa, 1900, and was appointed Archdeacon of Matabeleland in 1903. Beaven was appointed Dean of Salisbury (Rhodesia) in 1908, and served as Bishop of Southern Rhodesia, 1910-25. He served as Chaplain General of the Rhodesian Forces during the Great War, and retiring from his bishopric, he then served as Rector of Thelnetham, Suffolk, 1925-26. The following extracts from Church & Settler in Colonial Zimbabwe by P. Wood, and The Church in Southern Rhodesia by H. St. T. Evans, give insight into Beaven’s time in Africa: ‘In the middle of 1904, the diocese was honoured with a visit from Archbishop West Jones and Mrs West Jones. The visit of the Metropolitan is best described in his own words. “The first three weeks of July were spent in Rhodesia. I visited first the Matopo Hills, where Cecil Rhodes’ body lies beneath a single flat stone, and within sight of that grave I conducted, with the Archdeacon of Matabeleland, the Ven. F. H. Beaven, the religious service at the unveiling of the granite monument to the memory of Wilson and his heroic men who fell fighting at Shangani [1893]. It was a most impressive sight.” To Beaven, the men of the patrol were heroes, splendid examples of duty honoured and death willingly undertaken for their country....’ ‘Powell was succeeded by a man already on the staff of Mashonaland, Frederic Hicks Beaven, the man whom he had brought to Salisbury as Dean in 1908 in order to free himself to concentrate on missions. Beaven had been Vicar-General since Powell’s departure for England in late 1909. He was an Englishman from a military family and a man of private means, but, like Gaul, was neither a public school nor a “University” man. He had trained for the ministry at St. Bee’s a non-theological college in the North of England and as a non-graduate briefly at Durham University. These facts alone would have prevented him rising to high office in the ‘home’ church, since non-graduates and St. Bee’s were not held in high regard. Beaven, had, however been a highly successful parish priest at Stafford in the diocese of Lichfield, before going out to South Africa as a chaplain to the Imperial troops in 1901. He had then stayed on to do district work in the Cape Town Diocese, became Archbishop of Matabeleland in 1903 and was responsible for beginning and sustaining church work in North-Western Rhodesia. He was the choice of the laity in the elective assembly of the diocese, who made it clear that they wanted no one else. He believed that the British Empire which the settlers represented was the world’s greatest secular agency for good and among the personal heroes he listed at his enthronement sermon was Cecil Rhodes, in company with King Alfred, St. Augustine, David Livingstone, Bishop Grey (first bishop of Cape Town) and the seventeenth century Anglican divine William Law. So great was Beaven’s admiration for Rhodes that, when the Dean of Salisbury was raising funds for a cathedral, he proposed that one of its chapels be dedicated as a memorial to Rhodes alone, as founder of the country. St. George’s Chapel was eventually built as a memorial both to him and those others who had laid down their lives in the pioneer work of occupation.’ The Right Reverend Frederic Hicks Beaven died in January 1941. Sold with copied research, including photographic images of the recipient.
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