Boer War. A notebook containing a manuscript copy of letters received from Edward Day-Lewis (85th Co. 22nd Batt. IY Rough Riders) South Africa, 1901, detailing his experiences, 'They opened fire on us at about 800 yards, two of our horses were killed at once. I felt awful when the shots began coming over my head, we were in a donga at the time, but after a while I got used to it and began firing myself, but you could not get any aim as none of us saw a Boer; you could only blaze away at the house. After half an hour or so our Colonel calle dcease fire, we were then about 400 yards off the house, having crept up gradually, and then stood up and called to the Boers to surrender, but one man came to the door and let fly at the Colonel, but did not hit him, but killed a black interpreter near him. The black scouts then got awfully excited and fixed their bayonets, and charged at the house, some climbed on the roof and set fire to it...' (June 11, 1901), 68pp., April 5th, 1901 to February 5th, 1902
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THE WORMHOUDT MASSACRE, DUNKIRK 1940 - AN HISTORIC & IMPORTANT PAPER ARCHIVE comprising the personal research papers, notes and correspondences of the late Reverend Leslie Aitken M.B.E., author of 'On the Road to Dunkirk. Wilhelm Mohnke and the Wormhout Massacre - The Real Evidence', including original papers from the investigation team, dated 1947, unpublished hand-written letters from serving soldiers and other witness accounts, maps, diagrams and photographs; also letters to and from Jeff Rooker M.P. regarding the proposed extradition from Germany of S.S. Gruppenfuhrer Wilhelm Mohnke, thought to be responsible for ordering the massacre, on charges of war crimes. Note: Herded inside the stinking, airless cowshed, with barely room to stand upright, the 100 British soldiers, many wounded after five hours of fierce fighting, called out to their captors for water. Captain Lynn-Allen, the most senior officer, banged on the bolted door, shouting: ''For the love of God, there is no more room in here.'' Outside, in the sweltering May sunshine, a German officer laughed and told him: ''Where you are going there will be a lot of room.''At that moment Captain Lynn-Allen can have had little doubt as to what their fate would be. What remained of his men, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment - along with remnants of The Cheshire Regiment and The Royal Artillery - had been crammed into the tiny barn by an elite squad of the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler regiment, whose orders, Lynn-Allen must have realised, would have been to take no prisoners. The Geneva Convention had little meaning here.Lynn-Allen asked that his men be allowed a final smoke and, with a calm dignity, he doled out Players cigarettes to his shocked soldiers: men who had fought to the last clip of ammunition before capture. He must have known his mission, though crucial, was nigh-on impossible. When he had arrived at Wormhoudt, a small village on the road from Cassel to Dunkirk, two days before on May 26, 1940, his orders had been clear: ''Tell your men, with our backs to the wall, the division stands and fights.'' It was imperative they hold Wormhoudt, pancake-flat with a little surrounding cover so that thousands of British Expeditionary Force soldiers who were encircled by advancing German units could be evacuated from Dunkirk. The longer he kept the crack SS squads at bay, the more allied soldiers of the Royal Navy and flotilla of little ships could save.Crushed behind Lynn-Allen by the barn door, Private Bert Evans, just 19, shared his cigarette with his friend Charlie. As they drew deep, Charlie turned to him and said: ''This is it, Bert. We're finished.'' They were to be his last words. A few seconds later two grenades were lobbed into the barn and it was raked by machine-gun fire.When it stopped, only a handful of survivors, many of them hideously wounded, lay amid the bodies of their dead comrades. The barn door was yanked open and, one by one, those still alive were pulled out and shot in the back of the head. Inside, his right arm all but blown off by the blast, Bert Evans watched in horror as the bodies piled up by the door. Lynn-Allen, miraculously unscathed, saw their chance. He grabbed Pte Evans and made a run for it, dragging him behind.Lynn-Allen could have bolted alone. He could have run, literally, for his life. Instead, he stayed with his wounded and barely conscious private, refusing to leave him. It cost Lynn-Allen his life. When the pair staggered into a pond, an SS officer who had pursued them fired at his forehead from point-blank range and shot Pte Evans in the neck. As both men disappeared under the water, they were left for dead.''And that's how he died. That's how my captain died. Saving my life,'' Bert says, nodding his head slowly. ''Charlie knew. When he said we were finished, I knew too? But my captain died saving my life. He was a fine man and a fine soldier. There isn't a day that I don't thank God for it. And thank God too that we did our duty. Those men who died in that shed. They gave their lives so that the men could be taken off the beaches of Dunkirk. They did it because it was their duty. And they did it for their comrades. You fight for your King. You fight for your country. But most of all you fight for your brothers. The men who stand shoulder to shoulder.''Today Bert, the sole survivor of the Wormhoudt massacre, is 89. His cornflower-blue eyes are clouded with cataracts and he isn't as steady on his feet as he once was. But each year, on May 28, as the nation salutes the evacuation of Dunkirk during which 340,000 British and allied soldiers were plucked from the beaches, Bert's thoughts are with the brothers in arms he lost that day.In recent years the French authorities and British veteran associations have restored the barn at Wormhoudt, and today it is a shrine to the men murdered inside. It stands in the middle of open fields: a small, thatched building, its flimsy walls festooned with wreaths, crosses and faded photographs, testimony that it was the site of one of the most horrific massacres of the War.£200-300 (Plus 23.4% Buyer’s Premium inc. VAT)
An early 20th Century mahogany bedroom suite comprising single door wardrobe, a dressing chest with mirrored super structure and marble topped wash stand, together with a pair of cream upholstered Victorian dining chairs and a pine marble topped wash stand and a mahogany cane seated bedroom chair
A collection of furniture comprising a mahogany two door cupboard with pigeon hole interior, a Victorian walnut bookcase with adjustable shelving, a PYE walnut stereogram and a circa 1900 American spindle back armchair and an M A F "A mill next to a river surrounded by trees" and "A bridge over water with trees", oil on canvas, both initialled bottom right, together with an oak arm chair with adjustable back
A pitch pine two door wardrobe CONDITION REPORTS Very rickety, leaning backwards at an alarming angle. So far unable to unlock the doors even with the key so needs replacement lock. A drawer to the top. Suspect various legs are off and in generally poor condition. Various scratches, scuffs, marks, signs of mould and in need of a fair amount of attention and work. Height 176 cm x width 113 cm x depth 47 cm approx
A Victorian mahogany dwarf specimen cabinet, the single door enclosing two banks of ten short drawers over five long drawers on a plinth base CONDITION REPORTS Height approx 73.5 cm x width approx 47 cm x approx 41.5 cm. Cabinet has numerous surface scratches, dents, gouges, loss to the varnish, some splitting to the wood, some losses and splitting to the veneer on the door. Discolouration, stains and fading throughout. There is no key. General wear and tear commensurate with age and use - see images for details
DELAGE TYPE D6 OLMPIQUE TWO DOOR SALOON 1939 the body by Letourner et Marchand in maroon with tan leather interior; by 1963 the car was in the ownership of Gabriel Chereau, who replaced its original engine ( 51873 ) with the similar engine 51906 taken from a D6 75 car completed in May 1940 .Chassis No 51873Engine No 51906Cylinder (cc) 3000
CHARLES VIII OF FRANCE: (1470-1498) King of France 1483-98. He succeeded his father Louis XI at the age of thirteen. Charles died at the early age of 27, after accidentally striking his head on the lintel of a door, leaving no male heir. Rare L.S., `Charles´, a good and bold signature example, one page, 7.5 x 11.5, Angers, 6th September, [1491/1492], to Laurent I Alleman, Bishop of Grenoble, in old French. The King states in part `..You must remember the important lawsuits and petitions that had been made to us, soon after our coronation by your cousin,… the Sir Sassenage who we held out our Hand to the Holy Father, in respect to the diocese of Grenoble, whose last holder was our very dear and great Sir..´ Countersigned by Thomas Bohier (1460-1524) Secretary of the King. The letter has been professionally affixed to a slightly larger sheet of 9.5 x 13.5. Professionally repaired to the upper right corner, not affecting the signature, with very small, minor age wear, otherwise G £600-900Laurent I Alleman (?-1520) had been displaced in 1479 by King Louis XI from Grenoble to Orange, and appointed Jost of Silenen (?-1498). But in 1483, Charles VIII under the pressure of the nobility of the Dauphiné, led by Jacques de Sassenage, reinstalled Alleman in Grenoble, and Silenen appointed in Sion.
THATCHER MARGARET: (1925-2013) British Prime Minister 1979-90. Signed book `Margaret Thatcher´, being a 6.5 x 9.5 hardback edition of Thatcher The Downing Street Years, published by HarperCollins Publishers, New York. Signed in bold blue ink by Thatcher to a card showing a sketch of Downing Street entrance door, affixed to the front free endpaper. The 915 pages book contains over 80 images showing Thatcher over her Prime Minister era. Bound in blue with gilt title to the spine. Dust jacket is still present and in very fine condition. EX £100-120
Early 20th Century mahogany cased chiming grandmother clock, having an 8.25 break arched brass dial, the silvered chapter ring with Roman hours and Arabic minutes framing foliate engraved centre within mask spandrels and beneath silvered Tempus Fugit boss, the three train movement chiming and striking on eight gong rods, the case having a break arched hood over boxwood strung long trunk door and circular panelled base, 176.5cm high Condition: Minor tarnishing to boss and chapter ring, movement not tested - We do not guarantee the movement or accuracy of clocks - Please see extra images and TELEPHONE department if you require further information
Early George III oak cased brass dial eight day longcase clock, Robert Ward of London, the 12 break arched brass dial having Roman hours and Arabic minutes framing a matted centre with subsidiary seconds and terrestrial calendar dials, the latter signed within 'Rob't Ward London', the arch with Strike/Silent ring, the knopped five pillar movement rack-striking on a bell, the break arched case with brass ball and spire finials over brass capitals and turned columns, long trunk door, plain base and plinth, 202cm high Condition: Dial and movement appear sound, although one corner knop of one pillar has been shaved to accommodate arm of hammer striking bell, case has one finial detached but present, minor warping to long trunk door and to case over trunk arch, otherwise appears sound - We do not guarantee the movement or accuracy of clocks - Please see extra images and TELEPHONE department if you require further information
19th Century mahogany cased circular wall clock, having a 12 cream painted convex Roman dial, the gut-driven single fusee movement with wheels of four crossings, the shouldered back plate engraved John Palmer, Gt. Marylebone St., 35cm diameter Condition: Minor flaking to dial where dial feet have pushed through, further minor scraping to cream dial, minor loss to side door and veneer loss beside base door - We do not guarantee the movement or accuracy of clocks - Please see extra images and TELEPHONE department if you require further information
Early 18th Century brass lantern timepiece of small proportions, George Wentworth, Oxon, the 4.25 break arch brass dial having a silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals framing inner quarter hour track and single hand, with Arabic alarm dial, the verge and crownwheel escapement striking on a bell surmount, the clock operating on two weighted pulleys, one with chain, one with rope, in a contemporary oak longcase with cavetto-moulded cornice over square hood door, long trunk door and plain base with plinth, 182cm high overall Condition: Dial in good condition but probably cleaned/restored, movement appears clean and sound, however we suspect conversion from verge to anchor and back to verge, case is missing finials to the tops of the four pillars, case is contemporary but maybe associated as clock may have stood simply upon a shelf, bell is likely to be of later date, case has replacement roof boards, losses to right corner of trunk, some vertical splits/patching beneath trunk door, sold with two period weights - We do not guarantee the movement or accuracy of clocks - Please see extra images and TELEPHONE department if you require further information
Late 19th Century carved walnut and mahogany mantel clock, the 7.5 white Roman dial with trefoil hour hand, with single-chain fusee movement, in rope carved drum head casing on carved scroll supports, plinth base and block feet, 45cm wide x 33.5cm high Condition: Dial appears to have been professionally repainted, case has been French polished and has a slightly ‘sticky’ appearance in places, movement appears clean but is untested, fabric lining to silk door has been renewed, overall decent restored condition - We do not guarantee the movement or accuracy of clocks - Please see extra images and TELEPHONE department if you require further information
19th Century ebonised and red buhl side cabinet, the later grey veined black marble top over cast acanthus frieze, the buhl work decorated door enclosing plush lined interior of three shelves between buhl pilasters on wavy apron with cast mounts, 79cm wide x 40cm deep x 112cm high Condition: Marble top is a later replacement, vertical splits to right side panel, brass line inlay to both side panels is largely missing, cut brass scroll work to door is missing top left scroll entirely, full restoration SOLD AS SEEN - Please see extra images and TELEPHONE department if you require further information
Large 20th Century Eastern brass framed hanging lantern of octagonal form with domed surmount over bevelled glazed panels, 89cm high excluding octagonal ceiling fitting and chain Condition: Some of the glass panels are loose but all are present, panels in the door have damage to the edges which can be seen inside the frame, door does not shut properly - **General condition consistent with age
Late 19th Century walnut and marquetry side cabinet, the rectangular top over frieze inlaid with a panel of musical trophies, the hinged door similarly inlaid with an urn of flowers enclosing shelf between cast foliate mounts on wavy apron, 82cm wide x 31cm deep x 108cm high Condition: Minor veneer loss to frieze, some fading and staining, apron missing veneer to front corners and feet, would benefit from a was re-polish - Please see extra images and TELEPHONE department if you require further information
Early Victorian rosewood chiffonier by Holland & Sons, London, the superstructure having a gilt metal gallery over shelf on turned supports with mirror back, the breakfront top with dentil edge over carved frieze, central glazed door enclosing shelf between pilasters, between further doors with pleated green silk backing, to the left enclosing a single shelf, to the right enclosing four drawers, the uppermost stamped 9938 to top edge and with ink stamp Holland & Sons 19 Marylebone Street, St James, London, on plinth base, 160cm wide x 48cm deep x 136cm high Condition: Superficial scratching to top, pleated silk panel doors may have had lattice work previously - Please see extra images and TELEPHONE department if you require further information
A mid 19th century oak longcase clock by James Topham, Nantwich. With flattened caddy-top pediment and fluted columns framing the dial and door, on box base. Dial has painted floral spandrels, Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds dial and date aperture. Eight-day, two-train movement. 202 x 57cm. Unfortunately we are not doing condition reports for this sale.
19th century mahogany cased longcase clock by J Turner, London, the arched moulded cornice mounted by brass finial, enamelled circular dial, Roman numerals, subsidiary date and seconds dial over brass fretwork, chamfered trunk, stepped panelled base, shaped apron raised on bracket feet, anchor escapement,striking bell and silence. CONDITION REPORT: Door slightly warped. Dial has losses and scuffed areas, see images. Base 51cm wide. The dial is flat. Hood is 44cm wide. Pendulum and brass cased weights present. The base has a double plinth.
An upright grand piano by Clementi, London, circa 1809 The mahogany case with a moulded plinth, above a single inlaid and cross-banded panelled door with silk backing, raised on a frame stand with four turned and reeded legs. The curved fall board, with its interior veneered in satinwood, cross-banded in rosewood and inlaid with lines. Curved gilt metal mouldings on the cheek edges. The satinwood veneered nameboard, cross-banded with rosewood and inlaid with ebony and boxwood lines. Painted with Turk's cap lilies, primulas, sweet peas, roses and auricula. Inscribed on a black painted oval plaque beneath a foliate garland: Muzio Clementi & Co, Cheapside, London. The five and a half octave keyboard FF-c4 with ivory naturals and ebony accidentals. English upright grand action with two pedal controlling keyboard shift and dampers, divided bridge. Serial numbers 830 and 8144 Width 109cm, depth 57cm, case height 257cm. Literature: The Colt Clavier Collection Golden Jubilee 1944-1981, p. 31, (112) U420C. C. F. Colt with Anthony Miall, Early Piano, p. 60.
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235302 item(s)/page