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Lot 172
A Selection of Modern Costume Jewellery, including diamanté necklace, similar earrings, imitation pearl bead necklaces, ornate brooches and pins, open work panel style bracelet, with similar rings, etc, together with a hallmarked silver enamel pin/badge, "EAST MIDLAND MOTOR SERVICES LTD" "25 YEARS SERVICE", with engraving to reverse.
Lot 177
A Selection of Costume Jewellery, to include Attwood & Sawyer panda brooch, dolphin brooch, cat brooch, Irish copper cuff bangle, gilt coloured Abstract panel bracelet, enamel inset floral clip-on earrings, imitation pearl bead fringed brooch, amulet style pendant, imitation pearl bead collar necklace, pair of decorative buckles, statement stone set brooch, gilt coloured bagle, embroidered hand mirror, etc :- Two Trays
Lot 204
An Art Deco Style Enamel Ladies Wristwatch, the unsigned circular white dial with Arabic numerals, within plain case, stamped "925", to leather strap, together with another similar rolled gold ladies wristwatch, the unusual dial with arabic numerals, within plain case (worn), to gilt coloured expanding bracelet (damages). (2)
Lot 295
The rare 1814 K.C.B. neck Badge attributed to Captain Sir Thomas Lavie, Royal Navy, who was knighted for his command of H.M.S. Blanche upon the occasion when she captured the French frigate Guerriere off the Faroe Islands in July 1806The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s neck Badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks for London 1814, some loss of green enamel to wreath, one or two very minor chips to enamelled arms, otherwise good very fineProvenance:Spink, April 2023 when offered alongside other Orders, Decorations and Medals awarded to members of the Lavie family.Thomas Lavie, son of Germain Lavie and Ann Gregg, was born in Putney on 16 October 1765 and first appears in the Naval Service as a Lieutenant on the books of H.M.S. Astrea, a 32-gun frigate. During Lavie's time with this ship and under the command of Captain Lord Henry Paulet, she took the French 42-gun vessel Gloire in an hour-long engagement. Paulet was awarded a Naval Gold Medal for this action, and as Lavie was promoted Master & Commander a few months later it is possible he too served in this action.From 1796 through to 1800 Lavie was placed in command of several smaller vessels - namely the sloops H.M.S. Bittern and Seagull - before being promoted to Post Captain in January 1801. Though not appearing to remain actively employed during the Peace of Amiens (March 1802-May 1803) Lavie clearly enjoyed an element of patronage at the highest levels within the Admiralty - no other personage than Lord St. Vincent requested he be appointed to a ship despite being "low on the post list" (Selections from the Correspondence of Admiral John Markham During the Years 1801-4 and 1806-7, p. 3, Navy Records Society, 1904, refers) - a stroke of extremely good fortune in such difficult times for officers of the armed forces. Despite this, Captain Lavie appears to have next been employed as commander of the 32-gun frigate H.M.S. Iris from the autumn of 1805, before removing in June of 1806 to H.M.S. Blanche, the 38-gun frigate in which he was shortly to make his name.A Single-Ship Action, Capture, and Later LifeLavie and Blanche were patrolling off the north-eastern coast of Britain with the objective of protecting merchant ships and trade routes from attack by French raiders and privateers when they received word of an enemy squadron in the area under orders for that very purpose. Sailing north from the Shetland Islands, on 18 July 1806 the French frigate Guerriere was spotted and Lavie made all sail to close with his opponent. The resulting battle was an exceptional result for the British captain and the men under his command: Guerriere failed to prepare for action (perhaps mistakenly believing the British frigate to be French), and by the time Guerriere began to fight back Blanche had already unleashed two broadsides into their opponent's hull. French gunnery appears to have been particularly bad on this occasion, not only did Blanche suffer minimal damage with a mere four men wounded, but conversely British gunnery was excellent, with Guerriere losing her mizzenmast in addition to having over fifty of her crew killed and wounded. Brought safely back to Britain, Lavie's reward was a knighthood and Guerriere was taken into the Royal Navy as H.M.S. Guerriere; she later met her end in a single-ship action against the famous American frigate U.S.S. Constitution.Lavie (now Sir Thomas) continued in command of Blanche and saw further active service (capturing the George Washington in January 1807), but on 4 March 1807 disaster struck. Whilst en-route from Spithead to Brest to join Sir James Saumarez's blockading squadron, Blanche hit a submerged reef during a storm and swiftly began to break up. Thankfully Lavie and most of the crew survived, but were taken prisoner and spent the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars (some seven years) in French gaols.Upon Lavie's release he was court-martialled as a matter of course for the loss of his ship, but exonerated from blame due to the court concluding that a large quantity of iron used in the interior construction of the ship, along with a significant number of firearms stored near the compass, caused an unforeseen navigational error. Though free from blame, Lavie appears not to have received another active command until the end of 1821 when he was appointed to the 74-gun H.M.S. Spencer; he was, however, one of the first naval officers to be appointed a Knight Commander of the Bath upon its' expansion in January 1815. Sadly Lavie's time in command of Spencer was short-lived as he died on 1 February 1822, aged just 56, at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, and was interred at Stoke Damerel. He had married Mary Sissmore in October 1797 and it appears that at least two of their six sons followed in their father's footsteps to become officers in the Royal Navy.…
Lot 325
The rare and superb 'Operation Grapeshot' M.B.E., 'Monte Rogno' Virtuti Militi, 'Monte Cassino' Cross of Valor group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel T. Lipowski, 9th Heavy Artillery Regiment, Polish Army, whose remarkable life story includes a tragic episode during the Fall of Poland which saw him narrowly escape the fate of two of his comrades, who were arrested and murdered during the Katyn MassacreReturning to active service his extreme bravery attached to the 5th (Kresowa) Division in Italy saw him honoured on several occasions and even wounded during the Battle of Monte Cassino, being hit by shrapnel that had already passed through the lung of a brother Officer who stood besidePoland, Republic, Order of Virtuti Militari, breast Badge, 5th Class, silver and enamel, of wartime manufacture by Spink; Cross of Valor, with Second Award Bar; Cross of Merit, with swords, 2nd Type, silver-gilt; Army Medal; Monte Cassino Cross 1944, the reverse officially numbered '33078'; United Kingdom, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd Type, Military Division, Member's (M.B.E.) breast Badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Italy, Kingdom, Croce al Valore Militare, sold together with an archive including a named cigarette case, portrait and photograph album and the named document of issue for the award of the M.B.E., overall good very fine (9)Virtuti Militari awarded 30 June 1944, the original citation (translated) states:'During the operations 'Adriatyk', he distinguished himself by working in difficult conditions under strong and accurate enemy fire, especially at the Observation Point on Monte Regano. He cooperated perfectly with the infantry, conducting accurate and effective fire, not breaking off observation despite the fire. With his behaviour, he set an exemplary example for officers and privates at the Observation Points, as always. He fully deserves the decoration.'Cross of Valor awarded 6 August 1944, the original citation (translated) states:'At Cassino he organized an Observation Point and stayed there. On May 10-12, 1944, despite heavy enemy mortar and artillery fire, he remained at the Observation Point and continued his work. On May 12, 1944, despite heavy fire, he left the Observation Point to get better information and moved forward. He was wounded, but he did not want to stop his work.'Second Award Bar awarded 1945.M.B.E. London Gazette June 1945, the original recommendation states:'During the period 9th -21st April 1945, this officer worked with the maximum devotion as B.M., F.A. 5th Kresowa Division Artillery, which was in support of the Infantry in their operations against lines of Rivers Senio, Santerno, Sillaro, Gaina and Idice. Major Lipowski made a particularly great effort and showed special dexterity on 19th April and night 19th/20th, when Headquarters 5th Kresowa Division was faced with the task of co-ordinating the fire plans not only of the Divisions Artillery but also Artillery under command of the neighbouring RAK Force (Reinforced 2 Polish Armoured Brigade with 2 British Royal Horse Artillery and 3 Polish Field Regiment in SP). Rud Force (3rd and 4th Polish Infantry Brigades supported by 5th Polish Field Regiment and 7PHA) and AGPA.Major Lipowski's skillful [SIC] Staff work at HQ 5th Kresowa Division Artillery on 19th April and night 19th/20th resulted in the rapid working out and co-ordination of the Artillery fire plans which effectively helped the Infantry and assisted the Armour in breaking down enemy opposition, crossing the Gaina River and approaching River Quaderno.The Staff work at HQ 5th Kresowa Division Artillery had to be completed in a limited time in order to prepare the above Artillery plans and called for great effort and extreme accuracy. Major Lipowski not only directed the Staff work most efficiently but shone as an example of adroitness and devotion to duty.'Note the number of the recipient's Monte Cassino Cross is confirmed upon the roll.Tadeusz Lipowski was born on 29 March 1904, the son of two flour mill owners. His parents were forced to produce food for the German Army during the Great War, whilst the young Lipowski attended the local grammar school. Joining the Infantry Cadet School in 1926 he transferred to the Artillery Cadet School the next year and was commissioned Lieutenant in 1929.September 1939 and escaping to fight againPosted to Bendzen, Lipowski was set to work training new recruits, he was still there when the German Army invaded Poland in September 1939. His Regiment was left in an exposed position and forced to withdraw to avoid being encircled.Lipowski was interviewed post-war and the interviewer wrote a summary of his experiences, this narrative takes up the story:'The regiment was soon split up and within three days it had been officially annihilated although splinter groups had joined other regiments to continue fighting. Tade was able to join the Le Wolf East Polish soldiers on the 21st September and together they had fought their way out of danger or so they thought. Similar situations repeated themselves throughout Poland where the soldiers fought bravely on their own without the support of their planes which had been destroyed during the first day and without the aid of advanced weaponry…'Not long later the Russians invaded as well, tightening the noose around the Polish Army, communications at the time meant that many soldiers were not even aware of the Russian attack. One of these was Lipowski who awoke in a wood one morning to the sight of a Russian soldier on patrol. Unsure of whether this man was a friend or foe he remained hidden as the unsuspecting Russian passed beneath his sights, it was not until later that he discovered how close he had come to disaster.As the Polish defences were overrun, the Regiments began to splinter in small groups either seeking to withdraw to France and carry on the fight or set up resistance organisations. Lipowski, accompanied by two brother Officers, returned to the town in which he had been at school. His sister was living in the town and while they planned their next step she concealed them in her home.His brother came up with a plan to move them to a safer location by dressing the three men in his suits and putting them in the back of a wagon driven by a friendly farmer. Lipowski was forced to borrow a suit by his brother however the two Officers with him refused as the suits were expensive and they didn't want to take them. Instead, they removed their rank pips and took on the appearance of other ranks.During the journey the travellers were stopped by a Russian soldier, the farmer attempted to explain away the soldiers in his cart however this was for naught:'The Colonel could remain silent no longer and admitted to the Russian that they were in fact Officers so that the farmer would not get into trouble. Tadek said nothing but looked straight ahead. These Officers were only two of the many who were shot at Katyn by the Soviet secret police and left to rot in the mass grave, later discovered and dug up by the Germans two years later. Tadek had once again narrowly escaped death by what he called "good luck".' (Ibid)Reaching an underground resistance organisation, Lipowski was concealed by them and on 25 December 1939 dressed as a civilian he set out for southern Poland and the border. At one point he was stopped by a German soldier and asked when he was going, for one heart stopping moment it seemed that he was caught. This was not the case however, and it turned out the German was drunk and looking for someone to share a beer with - Lipowski agreed to a drink and later the soldier even waved him off on the tr…
Lot 334
The '1917' D.S.O., 'Neuve Chapelle 1915' M.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. G. Gilchrist, Royal Engineers, late attached 8th Signal Company, whose bravery under fire saw him honoured in 1915 as well as receiving a total of four 'mentions' throughout the warDistinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse engraved 'Lt. H. G. Gilchrist R.E. Neuve Chapelle March 10th-14th 1915'; 1914 Star, clasp (Lieut: H. G. Cilchrist, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Major H. G. Gilchrist.), with M.I.D. oak leaves, minor pitting, very fine (5)D.S.O. London Gazette 1 June 1917.M.C. London Gazette 27 April 1915, the original citation states:'For conspicuous gallantry in repairing telephone lines under heavy fire, from 10th to 14th March, 1915 at Neuve Chapelle.'Hector Gordon Gilchrist was born at Thornton Hall, East Kilbride, Lanark on 9 May 1889, the son of James and Janet Gilchrist. His father was an engineer with a shipbuilding company and the younger Gilchrist studied at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Later working as an engineer he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the Territorial Army and posted to the Scottish Cable Telegraph Company on 2 January 1912. Gilchrist was advanced Lieutenant with them prior to being mobilised for Great War service.On the outbreak of the war he was posted to 5th Division Signals on 5 September 1914 and entered the war in France the next day. Attached to the 8th Divisional Signal Company Gilchrist went into action with them at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in spring the next year. This was a plan to break through the German lines at the village of Neuve Chapelle to seize the Artios Ridge. The attack was successful however they were unable to follow up on the offensive, around this time Gilchrist earned a 'mention' to go with his M.C. (London Gazette 22 June 1915). Advanced Captain not long later he was serving in that role when he was 'mentioned' again the next year (London Gazette 1 January 1916). Further promoted Major on 15 March 1917 he was again 'mentioned' just two months later (London Gazette 18 May 1917) to go with a D.S.O. in July.Restored to the Territorial establishment on 18 July 1918 Gilchrist was recorded serving with Scottish Troops around this time. He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel a month after the end of the war on 12 December and again 'mentioned' for the last time then (London Gazette 23 December 1918). Appointed Chief Signal Officer of I Corps he returned to Britian on 29 January 1919 for leave only to be caught there with spanish flu.Whilst still unwell he returned to the Territorial Force on 28 June 1919 - from his hospital bed at No. 3 Scottish General Hospital, Glasgow - and returned to the rank of Lieutenant. Promoted Captain on 21 May 1920 Gilchrist was posted to 52nd Lowland Division on 12 January 1921. He was never to return to active service and instead entered the business world, joining Halley Motors Ltd. in 1921.Appointed Joint Managing Director in 1924 he became sole Director in 1926. Joining the executive committee of the north-west Engineering Trades Employers' Association in 1928 he was Director of Bowden (Holdings) Ltd. in 1939. Gilchrist later died on 27 April 1960; sold together with copied research.…
Lot 440
Sold by Order of a Direct DescendantThe mounted K.C.B. group of three miniature dress medals worn by Admiral Sir H. Smith, Royal NavyBaltic 1854-55; The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. Badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamel, with wide riband buckle; China 1842, mounted as worn on E. & E. Emanuel riband buckle, good very fine (3)For his full-size awards and a biographical note, please see Lot 296.…
Lot 403
The Baronet's Badge worn by Sir F. H. Newnes, 2nd Baronet Newnes of Wildcroft, a leading turn of the century newspaperman and Liberal politician, son of the 'Founding Father of Popular Journalism' Sir George NewnesBaronet's neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse inscribed 'Newnes of Wildcroft 1895', hallmarked for London 1929, good very fine, in its fitted case of issue[C.B.E.] London Gazette 10 June 1954.Frank Hillyard Newnes was born in Manchester, the son of Sir George Newnes and his wife Priscilla. His father was a Liberal Politician and founder of the publisher George Newnes Ltd., his periodicals Tit-bits and The Strand Magazine are considered forerunners of Modern Popular journalism. The younger Newnes attended Clare College, Cambridge and graduated with an M.A. and L.L.B. in 1897.He joined his father's publisher that same year and worked there for many years, also following him into politics to become the Liberal M.P. for Bassetlaw, North Nottinghamshire in 1906. He managed to take the seat from the Conservatives however lost it again in the next election in January 1910. The same year his father died and Newnes inherited the baronetcy as well as the publishing business.Newnes married Emmeline de Rutzen, the daughter of Sir Albert de Rutzen, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Bow Street, in 1913. After the outbreak of the Great War the next year he decided to join up, being commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1915. He did not remain in that service however, transferring to the Army and being advanced Captain with the 12th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Notably he did not see any service entitling him to Campaign medals, as such this badge is his only named entitlement.After the war Newnes became Director of a number of companies in the publishing trade, as well as Chairman of Country Life Ltd. He was the Director of his father's publication, The Westminster Gazette, a Liberal newspaper which Prime Minister Gladstone allowed to be decorated with the Party's green colours, leading to it being dubbed 'Pea-Green Incorruptible'.Outside of the political and publishing worlds, Newnes was deeply involved in matters of public health. He joined the Voluntary Hospitals Committee for London and was a member of the management committees of the Royal Free Hospital and its Medical School. He also became Chairman of the Post-Graduate Institute of Dental Surgery and the Eastern Dental Hospital, the latter being the reason for his award of the C.B.E. Furthermore, he was President of the Printers Pension Corporation and Vice President of the Periodical Proprietors Association.Newnes later died in Western Australia on 10 July 1955; sold together with copied research including a biography of Sir George Newnes (the recipient's father).…
Lot 319
The Boer War C.M.G. group awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Swan, who commanded the 3rd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment during the South African War and was one of Lincolnshire's most popular landlords of the timeThe Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Companion's (C.M.G.) neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (Lt: Col: C. A. Swan, C.M.G, Linc: Rgt:); Coronation 1902, silver, in Elkington & Co. Ltd. embossed case of issue, enamel damage to the C.M.G. with some less than sympathetic restoration, minor edge bruising, otherwise good very fine (3)Provenance:Noonans, July 2019.C.M.G. London Gazette 26 June 1902.Charles Arthur Swan was born on 3 October 1854 at Spilsby, Lincolnshire, the son of the Rev. Charles Trollope Swan, J.P. and resided at Sausthorpe Hall in Lincolnshire. Educated at Eton College and later at Magdalen College, Oxford, he married Ethel Conway Gordon in 1885 and together the couple had 3 children: 2 daughters and a son, Major Charles Francis Trollope Swan M.C.. He was a Justice of the Peace in Lincolnshire for 55 years and served as High Sheriff in 1895.As Lieutenant-Colonel he commanded the 3rd Battalion (The Royal North Lincolnshire Militia) 1900-09 and was Honorary Colonel of that Battalion from 17 February 1909. He served in the South African War, where he commanded the 3rd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment from 11 April 1902 to 31 May 1902 and was awarded the C.M.G. for his services.Swan generously paid for and donated Sausthorpe Village Hall to the village as well as making several philanthropic donations upon his death. Swan died at Spilsby on 9 January 1941.His obituary which appears in the Lincolnshire Echo of 11 January 1941 recalls:'Colonel Charles Arthur Swan who has died at his home Sausthorpe Old Hall, Spilsby, at the age of 86 was one of the county's most popular great landlords and until a few years ago took a very active part in public life in East Lincolnshire. He had been a Justice of the peace for 55 years and Chairman of the Spilsby Bench from 1919 to 1936. After leaving Oxford he commenced to study for the bar, but in 1882 he joined the Royal North Lincolnshire militia. This later became the 3rd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment which he commanded for a time and of which he later became honorary Colonel. The Battalion saw active service in the Boer War and in recognition of its share in the activities its Colonel received the C.M.G.In the last war, Colonel Swan was too old for active service, but he did valuable work for recruiting and for the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association.'…
Lot 326
The 'Indian Defence Force 1919' C.I.E. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. N. Moberly, Bombay Volunteer Rifles, later 15th Bombay Battalion, Indian Defence Force and Chief A.R.P. Warden, A.R.P. FelixstoweThe Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Companion's (C.I.E. ) neck Badge, gold and enamel; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Col. C. N. Moberly.); Defence 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911; Indian Volunteer Forces Officers' Decoration, G.V.R. (Maj. C. N. Moberly 15th Bombay Bn I.D.F.); Jubilee 1935, the third and sixth loose, otherwise mounted as worn, good very fine (6)C.I.E. London Gazette 12 September 1919.Charles Noel Moberly was born at Clapham, London on 24 December 1880, the son of George and Sarah Moberly. Attending Rugby School between 1894-1898 he matriculated to study at Yorkshire College, Leeds between 1900-1902. During this time he specialised in electrical engineering, being listed as working with the British Electrical Engineering Company in 1898 and again later 1900-1903.Becoming an Associate Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in February 1903 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment on 2 April 1904. Advanced Lieutenant very soon afterwards on 18 August 1904, Moberly joined the Bombay Electrical Supply Company as an Assistant Engineer while living at 81 Hornby Road, Bombay in 1906.Transferring to 5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment on 1 April 1908 he married Kate Fottrell in Bombay on 8 August 1908. Moberly resigned his commission on 1 October 1908 and joined the Bombay Volunteer Rifles as a Captain the same day. In this role he attended the Delhi Durbar as Honorary Major in 1911, being confirmed upon the role as receiving his medal from the allotment of the Adjutant General.Serving with the 1st Bombay Battalion, Indian Defence Force during the Great War the medal roll notes that Moberly was involved with 'Army Instruction (India)', he was advanced Major on 1 April 1917 whilst undertaking that task. Further promoted Lieutenant Colonel on 8 April 1919, the date was initially misprinted in the London Gazette as 8 April 1920 but later corrected. He was finally posted to the 15th Battalion, Bombay Battalion on 30 September 1920.Leaving India Moberly settled in Felixstowe in 1939 where he appears on the census listed as Chief A.R.P. Warden, Felixstowe. His son George Edward Moberly was an R.A.F. pilot during the Battle of Britain with three kills, two during the Battle, but was shot down and killed over the channel on 26 August 1940. Moberly himself died on 1 January 1969 and Teddars Lees House, Etchinghill, Kent.…
Lot 322
A rare ‘Edward VIII’ inter-War M.V.O., post War Order of St. John group of six awarded to Quartermaster and Captain W. R. Lines, 5th Lancers, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, who was 'mentioned' during the Great War, and was one of only 10 people awarded the M.V.O. 5th Class by King Edward VIIIThe Royal Victorian Order, Member's (M.V.O.) breast Badge, silver and enamel, the reverse officially numbered '488'; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast Badge, skeletal issue, silver; 1945-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. W. R. Lines. 5.Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Capt. W. R. Lines.), with M.I.D. oak leaves; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3871 Sjt: W. Lines. 5/Lrs.), mounted court-style as worn, light pitting, overall good very fine (6)One of only 10 M.V.O. 5th Class awards made during the reign of Edward VIII, of which 5 were for the Funeral of King George V.M.V.O. London Gazette 23 June 1936:'Walter Reuben Lines, Honorary Secretary, Windsor Branch, British Legion.'Serving Brother of the Order of St. John London Gazette 28 May 1948.Walter Reuben Lines was born at Canterbury, Kent on 29 April 1872, the son of William and Mary Lines of St. Mary's, Northgate, Canterbury. Attesting with the 5th Lancers in 1890 he served with them for 23 years and 330 days before being commissioned Quartermaster & Lieutenant on 25 August 1914.Lines entered the war in France on 12 July 1915, joining his Regiment which was already there as part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd (Cavalry) Division. They had seen heavy action prior to his arrival however after he joined them they were not part of any major engagements for some time. Receiving his 'mention' in early 1917 (London Gazette 4 January 1917) it was not until the First Battle of the Scarpe in April 1917 that the Regiment engaged again.Not long after this action Lines was promoted Honorary Captain, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, on 25 August 1917 and subsequently served as an Assistant Inspector with the Quartermaster General's Service. Placed on half-pay on account of ill health on 3 October 1923 he retired and settled at Windsor, living at 121 Clarence Road, Windsor.Appointed a Member 5th Class of the Royal Victorian Order for his services as Honorary Secretary of the Windsor Branch, British Legion, in June 1936, Lines one of the very few number of appointments to the Royal Victorian Order made by Edward VIII. He was later appointed a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John. Lines was still living at Clarence Road when he died in Upton Hospital on 26 January 1960; sold together with copied research.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax.
Lot 338
The remarkable Great War D.S.O., 'Attack on Pomereuil' Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Major D. Murray, 21nd Battalion (6th City), Manchester Regiment, who was wounded in action at High Wood during the Battle of the Somme and further 'mentioned' three timesDistinguished Service Order, with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. D. Murray. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major D. Murray.), mounted court style for wear, sold together with an Exeter College Boat Club Medal engraved 'Meade Fours 1885', light enamel damage to first, overall good very fine (4)D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.Second Award Bar London Gazette 2 April 1919, the original citation states:'In the absence of his commanding officer he commanded his battalion throughout the operations from 22nd October to 28th October, 1918. In the attack on Pommereuil on 23rd October, when, owing to darkness and mist, units had lost direction and became intermixed, he went forward and reorganised the attack, which was then entirely successful. He showed great courage and ability to command.'Donald Murray born at Stoke Newington on 10 March 1880, the son of Robert and Ellen Murray of Hackney. His father was an agent in the sale of cotton and wool, acting on his own account, a position which Robert had joined by 1911. One the outbreak of the Great War he applied for a commission and succeeded, being Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 25 January 1915 with the 22nd Battalion (7th City), Manchester Regiment, a Pals Battalion.Promoted Lieutenant on 1 March 1915 and further advanced Captain on 1 April, he entered the war on 11 November 1915 in command of 'B' Company. It is indicative of the style in which the Pals Battalions were run that Murray served with his brother David Stanley Murray during the Battle of the Somme.Remarkably he survived the carnage of the First Day of the Somme which saw 18 officers of the Regiment become casualties - including ten killed. Unfortunately that battle was just the start of the carnage and when the Battalion was posted to High Wood in support of the South Staffordshire Regiment on 15 July Murray was wounded in action. He was evacuated to Britain and did not re-join his Battalion until July 1917.Murray re-joined the Battalion when they were transferred to the Italian front in November. At some stage he was transferred to the 21st Battalion (6th City), Manchester Regiment as Second-in-Command. They saw heavy action there but returned to France on 13 September 1918, joining the 25th Division near Canchy.The Officer Commanding the Battalion was not present for some time between September and October during the which time Murray commanded the unit. His narrative of Operations from 19-24 October includes the action for which he won the D.S.O., it states:'Advanced commenced at zero hour. Owing to heavy enemy gas shelling and ground mist great difficulty was experienced in keeping touch and direction, with the result that the progress of the attack was for a long time uncertain.(Captain J. R. Miller M.C.) on Right) reported attack held up owning to a large amount of wite and very heavy enemy machine gun fire.Objective reported taken with assistance of a tank. This report was found to be an error as line was subsequently discovered to be from 200-300 yards short of objective. Consolidation took place on this line.Patrols sent out to obtain touch on left and right.Touch obtained with 6th Division on Right. Orders received to form defensive flank-right Divisions boundary L.33.d.5.3. to L.28.d.3.2.Defensive flank completed.Orders received to withdraw troops to Pomereuil'.'Murray died in October 1951 at Marylebone, his brother also survived the war, dying in 1941; sold together with copied research.…
Lot 471
France, Legion of Honour, Commander's neck Badge, 90mm including crown with strawberry leaves x 62mm, gold and enamel, poincon mark to downward tassle, obverse centre with left-facing Napoleon and inscription 'NAPOLEON EMP. DES FRANCAIS' and the reverse centre with left-facing Eagle and inscription 'HONNEUR ET PATRIE', suspension neatly re-affixed and thus perhaps an earlier modified Badge following regime changes, very fine, with neck riband…
Lot 442
The mounted miniature M.V.O., M.B.E. group of three worn by Miss A. David, whose career in the Foreign Office spanned decadesRoyal Victorian Order, Member’s (M.V.O.) Badge, silver and enamel; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s Badge, silver; Persia, Empire, Order of the Crown (Taj), 4th Class Badge, silver-gilt, mounted by Spink & Son, 5 King’s St. as worn, very fine overall (3)For her full-size awards and a biographical note, please see Lot 368.…
Lot 321
The unusual and impressive 'Inter-War' K.C.V.O., 'County of London' K.B., 'Great War' C.B.E., O. St. J., Legion of Honour group of eight awarded to Sir C. B. Levita, Royal Horse Artillery, who earned a further 'mention' during the Boer War and commanded the Royal Horse Artillery detachment during the funeral of Queen Victoria, marching alongside the Royal coffinHis remarkable career was overshadowed when he was dragged into a slander case regarding the supposed haunting of the Dalby Farmhouse - a bizarre episode recently brought to film in Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose- Levita was successfully sued for expressing his forthright opinion about the supposed hauntingThe Royal Victorian Order, Knight Commander’s (K.C.V.O.) set of Insignia, comprising neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘K543’; breast Star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, with gold pin, the reverse officially numbered, ‘543’; Knight Bachelor’s Badge, 2nd Type breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1933, enamel damaged and gilding worn; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Commander’s (C.B.E.), 1st Type neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse contemporarily engraved 'Liet Colonel Cecil B. Levita 1919', with neck cravat in Garrard, London case of issue, which is lacking internal pad; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Commander’s neck Badge, silver and enamel, in fitted case of issue; British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, no clasp (Lieut. C. B. Levita, R.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (Major C. B. Levita, M.V.O., R.F.A.); Jubilee 1897, silver (Lieut. C. B. Levita, R.H.A.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Commander’s neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck cravat, minor contact marks and enamel damage, overall very fine (8)One of only 2 B.S.A.C. medals for Rhodesia issued to the Royal Artillery.K.C.V.O. London Gazette 1 January 1932.K.B. London Gazette 1 March 1929.C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.O. St. J. London Gazette 24 June 1930.Cecil Bingham Levita was born in Manchester on 18 January 1867, the son of Emile and Catherine Levita. He came from a prestigious family of Jewish bankers and scholars related to Elijah Levita, author of Bovo-Bukh. Levita's father was a German-born Banker who emigrated to Manchester whose remarkable career saw him become Director of The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, later the Standard Chartered Bank. His mother was the relative of Admiral James Plumridge and was herself a member of the Ree family, a Danish-Jewish family who had created an important shipping business in Denmark.Service in Africa and Queen Victoria's FuneralThe young Levita studied at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and was commissioned Lieutenant on 24 July 1886. Serving in the Matabele conflict in 1896 with that rank, he was one of only two members of the Royal Artillery to be entitled to the Rhodesia 1896 reverse medal for that war.Levita was later appointed to the Staff of Lieutenant-General Sir Baker Russell as an Aide-de-Camp and Special Service Officer. In this position he was part of the Relief of Ladysmith, including action at Colenso, the operations of 17-24 January 1900, and engagement at Spion Kop, as well as the actions of 5-7 February 1900, the engagement at Vaal Krantz, fighting on the Tugela Heights, and the action at Pieter's Hill. Levita was appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for the 5th Division, Natal Field Force and was 'mentioned' for his work in this role (London Gazette 8 February 1901 refers).Promoted to Captain on 1 November 1900 and given command of 'N' Battery Royal Horse Artillery, he was an officer commanding the Royal Horse Artillery at the funeral of Queen Victoria. We know the details of this last service due to a letter he wrote to The Times in 1936. Levita mentions posting his battery to the Long Walk for the 81-gun salute and preparing the carriage for the procession, however a disaster occurred at the final moment, his states:'When the Royal coffin, weighing about 9cwt., had been placed on the carriage, drums began muffled rolls, which reverberated under the station roof, and the cortege started. Actually, when the horses took the weight, the eyelet hole on the splinter bar, to which the off-wheel trace was hooked, broke. The point of the trace struck the wheeler with some violence inside the hock, and naturally the horse plunged. A very short time would have been required to improvise an attachment to the gun-carriage. However, when the wheelers were unhooked the naval detachment promptly and gallantly seized drag ropes and started off with the load. The "gun-carriage" had been specially provided from Woolwich and was fitted with rubber tyres and other gadgets. This was due to Queen Victoria's instructions after seeing a veritable gun-carriage in use at the Duke of Albany's funeral, as also was the prohibition of the use of black horses. On February 4, in compliance with the command of King Edward, I conveyed the royal coffin, on another carriage, from Windsor to the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore by means of the same detachment of men and horses. I may add that a few days later King Edward told me that no blame for the contretemps attached to the Royal Horse Artillery by reason of the faulty material that had been supplied to them.'The Great WarAppointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order for his service during the funeral Levita was further promoted Major on 5 January 1902. He remained in service for some time but retired in October 1909, standing for Parliament the next year for St. Ives, Cornwall in 1910 but was unsuccessful. The next year, however, he was successfully elected to the London County Council as a Municipal Reformer, later returning to military service with the Reserve of Officers on the outbreak of the Great War. Appointed an embarkation officer in 1914 he was later transferred to become General Staff Officer Grade III on 22 February 1915.Levita was advanced G.S.O. Grade II on 22 September 1915 and the next month Grade I on 22 October. Promoted Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 March 1917, his M.I.C. makes no note of any medals being issued for this service. However, it does state that he was serving at 'Port: No 1 Southampton'. After the end of the war Levita was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire as a reward for his services.Politics, Libel and a Talking MongooseLevita once again returned to politics, being appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the County of London and a J.P. in 1924, a role he would hold for some years. Later sitting as chairman on the housing committee and later as chairman of the London County Council from 1928-1929, his appointment as a Knight Batchelor derived from this role. The award of the French Legion of Honour also followed in 1929. One of his main areas of interest was the idea of film being used for educational uses, he was also the driving force behind the foundation of the King George Hospital, Ilford, this last being the reason for his advancement to the K.C.V.O.His interest in film proved to be his downfall however due to a forthright statement made in 1936 about Richard Stanton Lambert, who was working alongside Levita's wife in the British Film Institute. Lambert was the founding editor of The Listener, published by the B.B.C. and an influential man in the world of British broadcasting. Over a lunch with the Assistant Controller of Programmes at th…
Lot 297
The impressive C.B.E., M.V.O., M.S.M. group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-Commander A. W. Stone, Royal Navy, who served at the Battle of Heligoland Blight, was twice 'mentioned' during the First World War, later Royal Household Assistant Secretary and Chief Accountant of the Privy Purse, Sergeant-at-Arms to King Geroge VI and Queen Elizabeth II, who carried the mace at Her Majesty's Coronation in 1953The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, 2nd Type Commander's (C.B.E.) neck Badge, by Garrard & Co., silver-gilt and enamel, on length of neck riband, in its case of issue; The Royal Victorian Order, 4th Class Member's (M.V.O.) breast Badge, by Collingwood Jewellers, reverse numbered '1526'; 1914-15 Star (346080, A. W. Stone, Wr. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaves (346080 A. W. Stone Ch. Wr. R.N.); Defence Medal; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (346080. A. W. Stone. Ch. Wtr. H.M.S. Cormorant.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (346080. A. W. Stone, Ch. Wtr. "Curaco" Services During War.), mounted together as worn excluding C.B.E., some contact marks and a few lightly polished, otherwise very fine overall (11)M.S.M. London Gazette 24 June 1919.M.I.D. London Gazette 23 October 1914; 11 August 1917.Albert William Stone was born on 20 June 1888 in Gosport, Hampshire, the third of four children born to Private Albert Stone and his wife Rebecca. Albert Stone Senior was a Private in the Portsmouth Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, later dying in the service at Portsea in 1892 after having taken part in the Witu Expedition in East Africa.The younger Stone received a naval education and attended the Royal Hospital School at Greenwich, a school for the sons of poor sailors, where he learned navigation and seamanship skills. The school was known as the 'cradle of the Navy' for producing notable officers and personnel. He later enlisted into the Royal Navy in May 1903, when he was fifteen years old, as a Boy Writer with the H.M.S. Duke of Wellington naval barracks. Stone enjoyed a number of postings, including aboard Majestic, Caesar, Firequeen, Victory, Hecla, Forward, and Skirmisher as he moved through the clerical ranks. Upon the outbreak of the First World War, he was serving as a Writer 1st Class aboard H.M.S. Amethyst. Stone was likely a member of Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt's personal staff as he followed him nearly exactly from ship to ship, thus serving with a wide variety of Harwich Force cruisers during the War.The Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914 - the first naval battle of the War between the British and the Germans - saw Stone mentioned in dispatches for service during the action whilst aboard the light cruiser H.M.S. Arethusa. Arethusa was Tyrwhitt's flagship during the battle, and played an active role in the naval engagement. She helped to sink two German torpedo boats early that morning, and was badly damaged by the German defence. By the end of the day Britain scored a decisive victory, losing just 35 men to Germany's 1,500. Stone was still serving aboard Arethusa when she was mined off the coast of Felixstowe two years later on 11 February 1916, eventually running aground and breaking up. He next served aboard H.M.S. Cleopatra while she served in the raid on the German naval airship base at Tondern, also sinking German destroyer G-194, before colliding with fellow naval ship Undaunted in March 1919. After repairs, she took part in operations against the German naval bombardment of Lowestoft in April 1916 and numbered one of Tyrwhitt's force that found the German cruisers carrying out the raid. Stone thereafter joined the Harwich Force cruiser H.M.S. Carysfort in May 1916 when she was patrolling the North Sea and the Strait of Dover. This was but a brief appointment, and he was then with Centaur that September, also in the Harwich Force, and then on to her sister-ship H.M.S. Concord in February 1917. He was with her that June when she sank the German torpedo boat S20 in the North Sea. During this time, Stone was mentioned in despatches for the second time. His final wartime posting was aboard H.M.S. Curacao, the flagship of the 5th cruiser squadron in the Harwich Force, where he earned his M.S.M. for war time services. After the close of the First World War, Stone joined H.M.S. Cormorant with whom he received his L.S. & G.C.. He was finally advanced to Chief Petty Officer Writer while serving with Victory II in 1924, and was later promoted Warrant Writer on 5 December 1927 upon his retirement from the service. The exact date Stone was appointed to the Royal Household is not known, but he served in the office of the Privy Purse until his well-deserved retirement at age 69 in July 1957. He was appointed to the 5th Class of the Royal Victorian Order in January 1938 and was later promoted to the 4th Class in 1947, with the insignia being presented to him personally by King George VI. Stone was Chief Accountant but also acted as Serjeant-at-Arms under King George from 1947, and later for Queen Elizabeth II as well. He attended the Queen's Coronation in 1953, for which he carried the Mace as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's escort. He can be seen in the famous newsreel film of the event, as well as numerous photographs. Throughout his tenure with the Royal Household, Stone was awarded various foreign decorations from state visits and in January 1954 received his C.B.E..His long and illustrious career in the Royal Navy was supplemented by an equally illustrious career for the Royal Household. Stone finally retired in 1957, and later died in Durham on 27 August 1974 at Woodside House, the home of his niece with whom he was residing.Sold together with an original archive comprising:i)The recipient's dress miniatures: 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaves; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R.; M.S.M., G.V.R.; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, and Coronation 1953, mounted individually as worn, very fine (8) with some extra ribandsii)Fitted case for 4th Class M.V.O., by Collingwood Jewellersiii)Photo of Queen Elizabeth II with facsimile message and signature presented to Royal Household staff upon the occasion of her Coronation, framed but missing glassiv)The Illustrated London News, Coronation 1953 magazine with colour platesv)Booklet 'Statutes on the Order of the British Empire 1948'vi)Official Warrant for the appointment of 'Albert William Stone Esquire' to be Commander of the Order of the British Empire, signed by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philipvii)Binder of comprehensive copied research and photographs, including a newspaper cutting of a photograph of Stone holding the Mace on the St. James's Palace Balcony as part of the Coronation ceremony, wearing his medals…
Lot 500
Latvia, Republic, Order of Viesturs, Civil Division, 5th Class Knight's breast Badge, 62mm including coat of arms suspension x 43mm, silver and enamel, by V. Millers, Riga, hallmarks and maker's mark to reverse of coat of arms suspension, enamel cracks on one reverse arm, otherwise good very fine, scarce…
Lot 400
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Civil Division, Knight Commander's (K.C.B.) breast Star, silver gold and enamel, reverse engraved 'R & S Garrard & Co, Goldsmiths & Jewellers to the Crown, 25 Haymarket London', small neat pawnbroker's mark on edge of maker's cartouche to reverse, extremely fineR. & S. Garrard operated out of premises at 25 Haymarket in London from the early 1860s until 1911.…
Lot 296
Sold by Order of a Direct DescendantAn outstanding 1873 K.C.B. group of three awarded to Admiral Sir H. Smith, Royal Navy - who was rewarded with a C.B. for his capture of Aden in 1839, the first colonial acquisition under the reign of Queen VictoriaSmith latterly played a prominent and central role during the First Opium War in the Volage and Druid; he took the honour of firing the first shots of the conflict and was to the fore in every major engagementThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Knight Commander's (K.C.B.) set of Insignia, by R. & S. Garrard, London, comprising neck Badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks rather rubbed, with full neck riband and gold clasp; breast Star, gold centre, silver and enamel, gold retaining pin, reverse cartouche with maker's details, in slightly damaged case of issue; China 1842 (Henry Smith, Captain. H.M.S. Druid.), suspension replaced with dual loop, swivel and straight silver bar; Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued, good very fine (3)K.C.B. London Gazette 24 May 1873.[C.B.] London Gazette 13 August 1840.Henry Smith was born circa 1803 and joined the Royal Navy at the tender age of eleven in 1814, being made a Lieutenant in July 1821. He joined the Genoa on the Lisbon Station in April 1823 and then as First Lieutenant to Captain Courtenay in the Fairy, who went out to the West Indies in May 1827. The following year, Smith took command of the brig Ferret, before advancing as Acting-Captain of the Magnificent in September 1829. It was in 1831 that he was officially promoted.Aden - C.B.Removed to Volage in November 1837, it was in this vessel that he first wrote his name into history. In January 1838, the Sultanate of Lahej agreed to transfer a number of its possessions, including the town of Aden to Britain but later decided against this and opened fire on the sloop-of-war H.C.S. Coote. Smith was given command of an expedition, comprising Volage, the brig Cruizer, Coote, the schooner H.C.S. Mahé and three transports to secure Aden. Smith and his small expedition arrived at Aden on 16 January 1839 and in the morning of 18 January Volage, Cruizer, and Mahé sailed to the front of the town from where they were fired upon.At 0930hrs, the rest of the expedition arrived and the warships sailed in close to Aden's batteries to bombard them. By 1100hrs the gunnery of the ships had demolished Aden's lower batteries and destroyed a large tower, while landing parties ordered by Smith had cleared out the remaining enemy musket men in the rubble. At this point Smith ordered the main two landings of troops to take place, which were completed successfully with two naval casualties and sixteen from the army, with the defending garrison of 1,000 men suffering around fifty casualties. (The Royal Navy, a History from the Earliest Times to the Present William Clowes, refers).So it was that Smith had captured the first Colonial acquisition for Great Britain and her new sovereign, Queen Victoria. He was rewarded with an immediate C.B. and the thanks of the George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, the Governor General of India.Opium War - further firstsThe cataloguer turns to Clowes again for further details of these important events:'Provocation and outrage continued; and when, on August 30th, Volage, 22, Captain Henry Smith, reached Macao, and at once proceeded to Hong Kong, her arrival was extremely welcome. On September 4th, the refusal of the Chinese at Kowloon to permit the transit of provisions across the harbour obliged Captain Smith, in concert with Mr. James Douglas (afterwards Sir James Douglas), of the Cambridge (the Cambridge was purchased by the Chinese government after regular hostilities began), formerly of the H.E.I. Co.'s marine, to employ his boats to drive off a squadron of war-junks, and so to open a passage for the supplies. Further outrageous action induced Elliot to call upon Smith to proclaim a blockade of the port of Canton as from September 11th.Negotiations were subsequently entered into; but Elliot displayed such unwise weakness that the Chinese were only encouraged to persist in their implacable attitude. At length, the Hyacinth, 18, Commander William Warren, having joined the Volage, Elliot stiffened himself so far as to inform the Chinese, on October 28th, that if the British shipping lying below the Bogue were subjected to more of certain annoyances which had become intolerable, retaliatory measures would be adopted. The Chinese admiral, Kwan, returned first a temporising and then an insulting answer, and on November 3rd got under way with twenty-nine junks, evidently intending to attack. Smith made a further fruitless attempt to negotiate, and then, with the Volage and Hyacinth, opened fire, and in a short time won a success which would have been much more complete than it was, but for the interference of Elliot, who, when three junks had been sunk and as many more driven ashore, procured a cessation of the firing, alleging his desire to spare the lives of the Chinese. Kwan, on returning to Canton, was thus able to boast that he had been victorious; and he was rewarded accordingly.'It had been on 4 September 1839 at around 1400hrs that Smith fired the first shots, sending several in anger in the direction of some war junks in the Chinese squadron.On 30 June 1840 Smith was given command of another frigate, Druid (to which his Medal is named), in which he continued to blockade, taking eight merchant ships as prize by 10 July as Senior Naval Officer on the south of the Chinese coast. On 6 August, the missionary Vincent John Stanton was captured by the Chinese while swimming in Casilha Bay near Macao. Smith took a small avenge this, these being Druid, the sloops Larne and Hyacinth, and two smaller vessels. On 19 August Smith with 120 Royal Marines, 80 seamen, and 180 local volunteers, successfully fought the Battle of the Barrier in which he attacked the Chinese works and barracks at Portas do Cerco, including destroying seventeen guns and two junks; casualties were light, with four of the British wounded. By 1900hrs, the entire force had re-embarked on the ships and left the area ablaze, with so many cannonballs having been fired by the ships that they picked up their used shot to recycle it before leaving. It was said of Smith's actions at the battle that 'seldom has a more signal service been rendered in so short a space of time'. Druid continued after this to protect British trade and hunt down pirates, at one point having several men of a boarding party killed when the junk they were investigating blew up.Smith was again to the fore at the Second Battle of Chuenpi on 8 January 1841. With joint attacks going in on the forts at Tycocktow and Chuenpi, guarding the entrance to Canton. Smith was to attack the former and having anchored some 200 yards off, they set to their work. The firing quickly created a breach in the fort which was attacked by boats manned by the crews of the ships and quickly taken. Twenty-five cannons were destroyed and the casualties of the Chinese were suggested to be 'very severe'. Smith was praised by Commodore Bremer for his conduct during the action. The opening to Canton was now complete.During the Battle of the Bogue, on 25 February Smith took Druid in with a portion of Bremer's force to attack the Chinese batteries on the south, south-wes…
Lot 520
An extremely rare trial Collar Chain of the Order of Unity of the United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates, Order of Unity, 2nd Type, Collar Chain, trial, silver-gilt with paste stones; breast Star, trial, silver-gilt and enamel with paste stones, both pieces by Spink & Son, some toning, one roundel with slightly loose centre, otherwise very fine, extremely rare and likely unique trial pieces (2)Spink XRF testing on the collar chain detected:Ag 82.81%Au 10.42%Cu 5.27%The Order of Unity was originally created to be the United Arab Emirates' highest civil honour, but was subsequently superseded in precedence by the Order of Zayed.The collar chain of the Order of Unity consists of fourteen links, with the largest central medallion in the shape of a seven-pointed star, representing the seven Emirates, with each ray containing either an emerald or ruby (in the case of this trial piece, all paste stones). The centre of the star features the falcon emblem of the U.A.E. encircled by a wreath of green laurel leaves, which is in turn encircled a ring of diamonds.The rearmost centre link features a traditional fort which is surrounded by a ring of diamonds beyond which are ten emeralds set within the heptagonal rays of the roundel.Within an issued set, the remaining fourteen roundels each contain a symbol of the history, culture, or values of the U.A.E. along with inset stones. For this trial piece, only the foremost two sets of roundels contain images and stones. The front pair, which are slightly larger than the rest, feature a dallah - a traditional coffee pot - surrounded by diamonds and ten rubies. The dallah roundel to the right is slightly loose on this trial. The next pair of roundels contain a date palm tree, an important tree in the heritage of the nation. The palms are encircled by a ring of diamonds and ten emeralds, of which two are missing on the left roundel.The breast Star features a central traditional Islamic star design containing red and green enamel tiles, referencing the colours of the U.A.E. flag. The star is made up of seven points and the tip of each holds a diamond. The rays of the star are separated from the central medallion by a ring of diamonds.…
Lot 130
Sold by Order of a Direct DescendantThe early Order of the White Elephant bestowed upon Major J. F. A. McNair, Royal ArtilleryThailand, Kingdom, Order of the White Elephant, a very early Commander's neck Badge, 83mm including large suspension loop x 40mm, gold (40.7g) and enamel, enamel chipping from wear, very fine, a most handsome Badge, housed within an attractive lacquered and mother of pearl case (Lot)Gold tests as 97.8% purity.Major McNair undertook several expeditions to Siam (Thailand) in 1868, 1874, 1875 and 1878, forging a keen friendship with The King.…
Lot 460
Belgium, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Grand Cross set of Insignia, by P. De Greef, comprising sash Badge, 75mm x 55mm, silver-gilt and enamel, silver mark to loop, on full sash as worn; breast Star, 96mm, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, maker's cartouche to reverse, Badge with a slightly loose centre, otherwise both good very fine, in P. De Greef, Brussels case of issue with boutonniere (2)…
Lot 441
The outstanding Second World War C.B., 'Southern Desert, Iraq' O.B.E., Great War Fighter "Aces" D.F.C. mounted group of fourteen miniature dress medals worn by Dolphin Pilot Air Commodore F. Woolley, Royal Air ForceCredited with 4 victories, but possibly as many as 8 from July to November 1918, he served as a Special Service Officer with Air Staff Intelligence in Iraq where he spent three years in the desert with Bedouin tribesmen collating intelligenceDuring the Second War he served as Chief Intelligence Officer, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied Air Forces 1943-45The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion's (C.B.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Officer's (O.B.E.) Badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals 1914-18; General Service 1918-62, G.V.R., 1 clasp, Southern Desert, Iraq; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star with rose on riband; Pacific Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; United States of America, Legion of Merit, gilt and enamel, with miniature Star on riband; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, mounted as worn, slight wear to enamel on Order of the Bath, overall very fine (14)His full-size medals sold in these rooms in April 2014.C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1946.O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1931. The original recommendation reads:'This Officer has been a Special Service Officer in Iraq since March 1928. Although occupying the most lonely and isolated post in the whole Command, he has consistently displayed, under extremely trying conditions, a tact, patience, and perseverance which are worthy of the highest praise.'D.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.M.I.D. London Gazette 2 June 1943.United States, Legion of Merit London Gazette 27 November 1945. The original recommendation reads:'Air Commodore Frank Woolley, Royal Air Force, as Chief Intelligence Officer, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied Air Forces from February 1943 to May 1945, displayed wise judgment and unqualified devotion to duty in the successful fulfilment of his assignment. Called upon to furnish a synthesis of all intelligence information regarding conduct of operations and to integrate the Anglo-American intelligence structure of the headquarters, he overcame many obstacles to provide source information of high value and veracity and at the same time achieved a smoothly functioning, closely knit intelligence organization. Commodore Woolley's exceptional ability was of great benefit to the conduct of air operations.'Belgium, Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 July 1919.Frank Woolley was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire in 1899 and was educated at the County Secondary School. He joined the Army straight from his school O.T.C. on his 18th birthday, and was accepted for a Commission in the Territorial Forces Association. Posted to the 7th Training Reserve Battalion at Rugeley, he subsequently applied to join the Royal Flying Corps, and after initial tutoring at Denham was Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the R.F.C. on 7 November 1917.Woolley went to France in July 1918 where he was posted to No.1 Aero Supply Depot before receiving his first operational posting on 14 July with No. 79 Fighter Squadron (Sopwith Dolphins), based at St. Marie Cappel east of St. Omer, with whom he fought and flew for the rest of the War. He was without doubt heavily engaged with the enemy for the next four months, '...and the local papers in his home town of Ilkeston credited him with eight victories, and recorded that he himself had been shot or forced down no fewer than three times, evidence of an exciting four months' flying.' (Winged Warriors, Derbyshire Fighter Pilots in World War I, by Barry Marsden refers).His first victory occurred on 27 September, when, according to an account that appeared in the Ilkeston Advertiser, 'he was on readiness at his home base when word was received that an enemy two seater was busy on a reconnaissance over the British front line. He was ordered to intercept the hostile aircraft, and, piloting a Dolphin, sighted it below him somewhere north-west of Armentieres. The first burst from his twin Vickers killed the enemy observer, and the subsequent running battle took both warplanes over the town, where the observation machine suddenly dived away to smash through the roof of a building. When Frank landed back at his home airfield his delighted CO praised his "splendid effort", and promised that "the facts would be reported to the proper quarter".' (ibid). Woolley's own account of the action confirms this: 'I was at 2,000 feet among the clouds South West of Armentieres when I saw a hostile 2-seater, probably an Albatros, about 1,000 feet below me. On being engaged the enemy aircraft dived towards Armentieres. I dived after him and fired two bursts into him at close range. The enemy aircraft spun and crashed into a house in Armentieres.' (recipient's combat report refers).The following day Woolley shot down another aircraft: 'I saw 10 Fokker Biplanes attacking a Bristol Fighter. I climbed into a cloud at 6,000 feet whilst Lieutenant McNeaney attacked the enemy machines. A dog fight ensued in which I saw two Fokkers go down after which Lieutenant McNeaney went down, followed by a Fokker. I attacked this enemy aircraft and fired a short burst at point blank range, and saw him go down and crash.' (Ibid).A month later on 26 October, Woolley despatched an L.V.G. two-seater at 3,000 feet south-east of Renaix before recording his final confirmed victory on 4 November, when 'at 9,000 feet I spotted a Halberstadt two-seater working over Renaix. I flew north and then east and so got east of him and in the sun. I then dived on the enemy aircraft who turned west and then north. I fired a burst at very close range. The enemy aircraft went into a vertical dive and crashed in a gulley between Sulsique and Renaix.' (Ibid).After the Armistice Woolley took up adjutant duties with the Squadron and became a Flight Commander, the Squadron became part of the Allied Occupation Force in December and moved to Cologne. Here he accepted the opportunity to fly numerous surrendered German aircraft, including Fokker DVIIs, Rumplers, and Halberstadts. Whilst stationed in Germany he learnt of the award of his D.F.C. and also received the Belgian Croix de Guerre, having the latter pinned on his chest by King Albert himself. He transferred to the unemployed list in October 1919, but was recalled to a short-service Commission the following June and served at R.A.F. Lee-on-Solent and Calshot. Qualifying as a pilot flying seaplanes and multi-engined flying boats, he fell in love with the Solent area, and wrote to tell his fiancée: 'I am sure that you will love this place too, and if I live long enough to retire this is where we shall live.'Southern Desert, Iraq - With the BedouinIn July 1927 Woolley was appointed to a permanent Commission in the General Duties branch of the Royal Air Force and, having been promoted Flight Lieutenant in January 1928, he embarked upon a course in Arabic at the School of Oriental Studies in London. After completing the course in March he was immediately posted to HQ Iraq as a Special Service Officer with Air Staff Intelligence, and for the next three years was responsible for the collection of intelligence in the vast unmapped desert west of Basra, spending the time living with the Bedouin tribesmen, 'sharing the hardships of their primitive, nomadic lifestyle, enduring searing heat, frequent dust and sandstorms, plagues of flies, and living off revolting food and foul water.' (Win…
Lot 337
The Great War D.S.O., M.C. group of nine awarded to Hon. Brigadier T. I. Dun, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was wounded during the course of protracted service in France and Flanders, thrice 'mentioned' and served with armoured cars between the wars, authoring a book on his experienceDistinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R.; The Most Venerable Order of St. John, Officer's breast Badge, silver and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. T. I. Dun, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. I. Dun); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, enamel work slightly chipped, very fine and better (9)Provenance:Spink Numismatic Circular, May 1987.D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917.Thomas Ingram Dun was born at Kelvin, Glasgow on 1 May 1892 and studied medicine at Glasgow University and Anderson Medical School.Qualifying on the eve of the Great War, he was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps in September 1914 and went on to witness active service in France and Flanders from May 1915 to November 1918, being wounded and twice decorated. He was also advanced to the acting rank of Major and thrice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 15 June 1916, 25 May 1918 and 30 December 1918, refer).Remaining in the Regular Army between the wars, Dun specialised in obstetrics and served in India (1919-24) and Egypt (1929-35) in addition to appointments in the UK. It appears he was at one time attached to an armoured unit during his time in Egypt, or certainly one 'Thomas Ingram Dun' is the credited author of From Cairo to Siwa: Across the Libyan Desert with Armoured Cars, which was first published in Cairo in 1933.A Lieutenant-Colonel on the staff of the Louise Margaret Hospital in Chatham on the eve of hostilities, Dun was quickly embarked for India where he served as C.O. of the Combined Military Hospital in Quetta (1940-42), and as C.O. of the 35th (1942-43) and 126th (1943-45) General Hospitals. He held the acting ranks of Brigadier and Major-General in the same period, the latter while acting as Deputy Director of Medical Service in India's Eastern Command.Post-war, Dun served as Assistant Director of Medical Services, Salisbury Plain (1946-48) and as Officer in Charge of Medical Services for the A.T.S. and W.R.A.C. (1948-53). Appointed an Officer of the Order of St. John in the summer of 1952, his final post was as President of the Standing Medical Board at Aldershot, and he was placed on the Retired List in the honorary rank of Brigadier in May 1955. He died in September 1975.…
Lot 522
United Arab Emirates, Emirates Military Order, 5th Class breast Badge, by Spink & Son, 45mm, gilt and enamel, maker's backplate to reverse, slight enamel chip to one tip, centre slightly loose, missing suspension loop, otherwise very fineThe Emirates Military Order was established in 1987 and is awarded to members of the military for distinguished service and to those captured or lost while in service. The 5th Class award is bestowed upon Officer Cadets, other ranks, and equivalent ranking civilians.…
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