Pair: Private P. Coyle, 92nd Highlanders, later 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, who was wounded at Majuba Hill during the last major engagement of the First Boer War on 27 February 1881 Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (B/98 Pte. P. Coyle. 92nd. Highrs.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (56/98 Private P. Coyle 92nd. Highlanders) edge bruise to first, very fine and better (2) £700-£900 --- Peter Coyle was wounded in the action at Majuba Hill on 27 February 1881, the final and decisive battle of the First Boer War, that resulted in a resounding victory for the Boers. Having occupied Majuba Hill on the night of 26-27 February, Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley’s force of some 405 men, comprising 171 men of the 58th Regiment of Foot, 141 men of the 92nd Highlanders, as well as a small naval brigade from H.M.S. Dido, were not properly dug in, and were unable to withstand the three Boer storming parties the following morning. Colley himself was was killed by a Boer marksman, and total British casualties were 92 killed, 134 wounded, and 59 captured. The 92nd Highlanders suffered 34 all ranks killed in action; 12 subsequently dying of wounds; and 52 all ranks wounded. Sold with copied medal roll extract.
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“You were the only person who ever succeeded in teaching me mathematics or indeed - let me add - in making me work at anything that did not excite my interest. I regard my work at mathematics under your care as the most salutary mental discipline I ever received.” (Winston Churchill, October 1906) An interesting personal letter written in October 1906 by Winston Churchill whilst he was serving in his first ministerial post as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies - The letter written to his old mathematics teacher at Harrow, Charles Mayo The whole letter handwritten in black ink by Winston Churchill on folded four-sided official Colonial Office letter-headed paper and signed: “Winston Churchill”, contained in the original Colonial Office sending envelope, with sender’s and receiver’s stamps, again addressed in Churchill’s own hand: “Personal - C. M. P. Mayo, Esq., Harrow School, Harrow on the Hill” and signed “W. Churchill” to lower left corner, good condition £6,000-£8,000 --- The full text of the letter reads as follows: “Private 18 Oct 1906 My Dear Mr Mayo, I am much pleased to get your kind letter and to know that you were interested in my life of my father [Lord Randolph Churchill, published 1906]. It was a labour of love to me & I am glad to think that it has been so well received upon all sides. Let me thank you for your kind expressions about my political work. You were the only person who ever succeeded in teaching me mathematics or indeed - let me add - in making me work at anything that did not excite my interest. I regard my work at mathematics under your care as the most salutary mental discipline I ever received. It is a detestable subject & I rejoice to think I have never since had the occasion to pursue it further than the simplest forms of addition & subtraction. But while I have often found it easy to assimilate ideas & group them in new combinations, upon subjects which commanded my interest & pleased my mind, I do not remember ever having to face such a dead uphill pull as I had to under your instruction for my Sandhurst examinations. Certainly that effort was wholly successful & although the knowledge is gone, the faculty no doubt remains in a greater power of appreciation than I should otherwise have developed. The memory of those exertions & of your kindness & care, makes your praise & interest especially valuable to me. Yours sincerely Winston Churchill” Charles Henry Powell Mayo (1859-1929) was Winston Churchill’s mathematics master for his last year at Harrow and in just six months managed to teach him enough to pass his exam. At his first attempt, out of 2,500 marks, Churchill obtained a score of 500. At his second attempt he scored nearly 2,000, which remarkable improvement Churchill attributed to: “the very kindly interest taken by the much respected Harrow master, Mr. C.H.P. Mayo, who convinced me that mathematics was not a hopeless bog of nonsense, and there were meanings and rhythms behind the comical hieroglyphics.” Few lives have been documented in such detail as Winston Churchill and it is also fortunate that Charles Mayo published his own detailed autobiography, Reminiscences of a Harrow Master, in 1928 shortly before he died. In his book he writes glowingly of the young Churchill and gives his insight into life at Harrow, including his views on ‘fagging’ , the common system of the day at public schools whereby younger boys carried out duties for the seniors, to which Churchill was himself subjected in his time at Harrow. Mayo endorsed the practice in the following terms: "Those who hope to rule must first learn to obey... to learn to obey as a fag is part of the routine that is the essence of the English Public School system... the wonder of other countries”. Winston Churchill maintained a deep affection for Harrow throughout his life and often referred to his time there and his gratitude to his mathematics teacher Charles Mayo who helped him pass his exams for Sandhurst. Charles Mayo was amongst the guests at Winston Churchill's wedding in 1908. In 1941 Churchill delivered one of his most famous speeches of the Second World War in the familiar surroundings of his old school, when he uttered the immortal line: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.”
Pair: Sepoy Teja Singh, 4th/16th Punjabis India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935 (9815 Sepoy Teja Singh, 4-16 Punjab R.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (9815 Sepoy Teja Singh, 4-16 Punjab R.) minor edge bruising to first, good very fine (2) £70-£90
Poland, Republic, Cross of Valour 1920, bronze; Roman Catholic Army Chaplain’s Medal, gilt and enamel; People’s Republic, Order of Polonia Restituta, Fifth Class breast badge, gilt and enamel; Order of Virtuti Militari, Fifth Class breast badge, silvered and enamel; Cross of Merit, First Class badge, gilt and enamel; Cross of Valour 1944, bronze; Cross for the Wielkopolski Uprising, bronze and enamel; Cross for the Silesian Uprising, silvered and enamel; Cross for Prisoners of the Concentration Camps (Auschwitz Cross), silvered and enamel; Medal of Merit for Safeguarding National Monuments, silvered and enamel, very fine and better (10) £140-£180
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of eleven awarded to Sergeant, later Major, G. C. Waghorn, Canadian Army Service Corps, who saw further service during the Second World War, and was Recommended for the M.B.E. Military Medal, G.V.R. (36249 Sjt. G. C. Weghorn [sic]. Can: A.S.C. Pool.); 1914-15 Star (36249 Sjt. G. C. Weghorn [sic]. Can: A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (36249 Sjt. G. C. Weghorn [sic]. C.A.S.C.); Defence Medal, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Permanent Forces of the Empire L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (C.S.M. (W.O. Cl.2) G. C. Waghorn. M.M. R.C.A.S.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (WO1 G. C. Waghorn RCASC); Canadian Forces Decoration, G.VI.R. (Major G. C. Waghorn) mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted and both housed in a Birks fitted case; together with four gold prize medals (all 10ct., total weight 34.38g), the reverses engraved ‘Camp Bordern 1925 1st Throwing the Hammer Sgt. Major C. [sic] C. Waghorn M.M. R.C.A.S.C.’; ‘Camp Borden 1925 1st Shot Put Sgt. Major I. I. [sic]. Waghorn M.M. R.C.A.S.C.’; ‘C.S.M. Geo. Weghorn [sic] M.M. 1925 Champion Camp Borden Golf Club’; and ‘Champions Fort Osborne Bks Wpeg. Man. 1927-28 G. E. Weghorn [sic]’, the mounted group lacquered, very fine and better (15) £1,000-£1,400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Jeffrey Hoare, April 2012. M.M. London Gazette 20 August 1919. Charles George Waghorn (also recorded as Weghorn) was born in Coburg, Ontario, on 13 August 1894 and served with the 1st Divisional Supply Column, Canadian Army Service Corps (Motor Transport Section) during the Great War. Remaining in Permanent Fore, R.C.A.S.C. in the inter-War years, he saw further service during the Second World War, and for his services was recommended for the award of the M.B.E., the original Recommendation stating: ‘This Officer has served under my Command, with the exception of a few months, since 1 October 1940. During that period he has served faithfully and efficiently. He was in charge of the First Canadian Corps Maintenance School, teaching maintenance to all Senior Officers. He was instrumental in raising the general standard of maintenance and was complimented by many senior officers who attended this school. His ability in technical M.T. has been a great asset to the Units which he has served and to the R.C.A.S.C. in general. At this particular Unit he was instrumental in creating a Trades Pool and his interests and efforts in up-grading and salvaging tradesmen in the months gone by when there was a shortage, demanded a tremendous amount of effort and ingenuity. The fact that this Officer has been personally requested for a number of Exercise Checkers, carried out on Canadian General Hospitals prior to moves Overseas, is an indication of the regard in which he is hold by higher authority. The C.M.H.Q. Inspectorate has personally thanked Commanding Officer 1 C.A.S.C. R.U. for the services of this Officer and has given him the highest recommendations for his services in this connection. His ability in man-management, control and understanding of men, is outstanding. I highly recommend this officer for the award for his outstanding ability, untiring efforts and devotion to duty.’
Six: Corporal J. G. Burn, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, late Royal Air Force British War and Victory Medals (403201. 2.A.M. J. G. Burn. R.A.F.); Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (2067249 Cpl. J. G. Burn. R.E.M.E.) minor official correction to first letter of unit, mounted for wear, good very fine (6) £80-£100
A fine Second War 1945 ‘Burma Operations’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Jemadar Padamlal Rai, 1/7th Gurkha Rifles, 17th Indian Division, Indian Army, who took on ‘fanatical’ Japanese resistance when making a night reconnaissance of an enemy-held village - the information gleaned and the neutralisation of three enemy snipers prevented heavy losses the following day and enabled the deployment of valuable resources elsewhere Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated 1946; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Capt. Padamlal Rai. 7. G.R.) naming re-impressed; Indian Independence Medal 1947 (388515 Sub. Padamlal Rai. M.C. GR.) minor official correction, generally very fine (7) £800-£1,200 --- M.C. London Gazette 6 June 1946. The original recommendation states: ‘From the crossing of the Irrawaddy River up to the capture of Meiktila this Officer commanded the Commando Platoon. Throughout this period his leadership was outstanding, his resource and coolness in danger was a byword in the Battalion. Time and again this Officer’s Platoon was called upon to carry out the most hazardous tasks usually behind the enemy lines, and every time the task was well done. He has built for himself a reputation for sterling courage, first class leadership, and cool daring in the face of danger which has been equally by only a few men of this Battalion. The following incidents illustrate some of the hazardous tasks his Commando Platoon was called upon to carry out during the recent operations, and the results that his leadership achieved. At Kandaung on 2 April 1945 the enemy had been offering fanatical resistance to the attack of another Battalion of this Brigade, with the result that the attack did not penetrate their position. Accordingly, Jemadar Padamlal was ordered to take his Platoon into the enemy held village during the night and find out the strength of the enemy. All night long he probed fighting strong outpost positions thrown out by the Japs. At early dawn he succeeded in pushing a Section into the village which killed three snipers and found that the main body of the enemy had withdrawn. The information gained by his Platoon in time resulted in the cancellation of a Battalion attack supported by Air, Artiller, and Tanks laid on for the next day.’ Padamlal Rai enlisted into the Indian Army on 21 November 1932. Appointed to a commission as Jemadar on 19 May 1944, he was awarded the Military Cross whilst serving with the 1/7th Gurkha Rifles in Burma; heavily engaged since the start of the campaign, the 1/7th Gurkha Rifles fought with distinction in the Moulmein area at the opening of the Japanese offensive in January 1942. Carrying honours for Sittang 1942, the unit also had the satisfaction of being recognised with further honours for Sittang 1945, where it presided over the final Japanese defeat. Raised Subedar on 1 January 1948, Padamlal Rai went on to serve two tours of duty in Malaya, the latter culminating in his sudden death on 30 September 1952 at the British Military Hospital in Kamunting, a consequence of internal bleeding. Such an affliction was likely caused by a bleeding ulcer, itself precipitated by a bacterial infection associated with the humid climate and primitive conditions. Padamlal Rai was later buried at the 1/6 Gurkha Regiment Hindu Cemetery at Sungei Patani in Kedah State. Sold with copied research.
South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1878 (1888. Pte. T. Young. 80th. Foot.) very fine £500-£700 --- Thomas Young is confirmed on the South Africa Medal roll as entitled to Medal and clasp for 1878. According to The South African Campaign of 1879, the 80th Regiment of Foot ‘performed distinguished service in the first Sekukuni campaign.
A rare ‘Borneo operations’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Rifleman (Local Lance-Corporal) Hindupal Rai, 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles, for his gallantry near the Sarawak border on 25 March 1966, when he ‘personally silenced five of the enemy during a jungle ambush and dominated the action on the right flank of his Platoon during a fierce engagement at point-blank range’ - the last D.C.M. awarded to a Gurkha Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.II.R., 1st issue (21140375 L/L/Cpl. Hindupal Rai. 10 GR.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (G.21140375 Rfn Hindupal Rai 1/10 G R); General Service 1962-2007, 2 clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, unofficial retaining rod between clasps (21140375 Rfn. Hindupal Rai. 1/10 GR.) mounted as worn, light contact marks and minor edge bruising, good very fine and better (3) £4,000-£5,000 --- Only 4 D.C.M.s awarded for the Borneo Campaign, this being the last example awarded to the 10th Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles. D.C.M. London Gazette 13 December 1966. The original recommendation states: ‘On 25th March 1966, Lance Corporal Hindupal Rai was commanding a section of 10 Platoon D Company 1st Battalion 10th Princess Mary’s own Gurkha Rifles near the Sarawak border covering a complex of tracks to prevent the withdrawal of an enemy incursion party. Visibility was about three to ten yards. At 1030 hours, approximately 25 regular Indonesian troops approached 10 Platoon’s position, seven of them passing Lance Corporal Hindupal’s post from right to left at a range of three yards. Coolly he allowed them to pass towards Platoon Headquarters and a general purpose machine gun on his left. As the machine gun opened fire Lance Corporal Hindupal and his rifle group engaged three enemy to their front killing two. Within seconds, two more enemy advanced towards Lance Corporal Hindupal’s position firing bursts. He shot them both dead at point blank range. Heavy automatic fire was now directed towards Lance Corporal Hindupal’s section and a fierce fire fight ensued. By shouted fire orders, personal example and by crawling to the various groups of his section Lance Corporal Hindupal was able to prevent the enemy’s approach to the platoon position from along the main track. The order was then given to break off the engagement. He ordered his light machine gun group to move first while he covered them. The sound of this movement attracted further well-directed automatic fire which wounded the light machine gun Number 1. Lance Corporal Hindupal at once engaged the enemy, silencing them temporarily and continued to cover the withdrawal of the light machine gun party. Now ordering the rifle group to withdraw, first one and then a second Rifleman were killed within a few yards of him as they moved to the rear. He again took on the enemy single handed and so ensured the safe withdrawal of the remainder of his men. He was the last man to leave the position and was in the act of changing his magazine when an enemy advanced towards him firing an automatic weapon. Lance Corporal Hindupal shot him dead at two yards’ range. He now withdrew to the Company rendezvous, and reported that since he had been forced to leave two of his dead in the ambush position while extricating the rest of his section, he wanted to go back to get them. In spite of the now confused situation and continued enemy fire aimed at the ambush area, he personally led two sections of his platoon back to his post to recover the bodies. It seemed at the time, and in retrospect still does, that this act called for the greatest courage of all. In the action 13 enemy were killed; D Company lost 4 killed and two wounded. Lance Corporal Hindupal personally killed 5 enemy and dominated the action on the right flank of his platoon. His leadership, control, personal example, coolness and, above all, his courage throughout a fierce engagement at point blank range were outstanding.’ Hindupal Rai was decorated for gallantry by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace in March 1967. The event was later detailed in the Reading Evening Post on 7 March 1967: ‘The Queen decorated for gallantry four members of the 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles for operations in Sarawak. The DSO went to Major Christopher Pike for “great personal courage, leadership and outstanding coolness under fire as a company commander; and the DCM to Lance-Corporal Hindupal Rai for “outstanding gallantry” as sector commander of a platoon. The Military Medal was awarded to Corporal Asmani Rai who showed “inspired leadership” in command of a section of a reconnaissance platoon, and to Lance-Corporal Jagatbahadur Limbu, who showed “complete disregard for his own safety” in his desire to get to grips with the enemy.’ Both Battalions of the Regiment made truly outstanding contributions to the success of the Borneo campaign in the mid-1960s, as did the Brigade of Gurkhas as a whole. In terms of enemy accounted for, gallantry awards won, and sheer professional accomplishment, the Regiment’s record was second to none; just six months earlier, in similar conditions on a jungle hill near Serikin, a fellow Gurkha, Lance Corporal Rambahadur Limbu of the 2nd Battalion, also found himself at the forefront of the action, faced intense machine gun fire concentrated upon him personally and carried out his leadership duties with persistence and bravery. He was awarded the Victoria Cross.
A ‘North Russia 1919 Operations’ D.S.O., Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of nine awarded to Major W. O. 'Snapper' White, Royal Canadian Regiment, late 2nd (Eastern Ontario Regiment) Battalion, Canadian Infantry Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, lacking integral top riband bar, with obverse centre slightly depressed; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (8592 R.S. Mjr. W. O. White, 2/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Maj. W. O. White) both officially re-impressed; Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; Russia, Empire, Order of St. Anne, Second Class neck Badge, with Swords, gilt and enamel, with neck riband; Order of St. Anne, Third Class breast Badge, with Swords, gilt and enamel; Order of St. Stanislas, Second Class neck Badge, with Swords, gilt and enamel, with neck badge, the Russian awards all base metal copies of Western European manufacture, the breast awards mounted court-style for wear, the mounted group all heavily lacquered, very fine and better (9) £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.O. London Gazette 3 February 1920: ‘For distinguished service in connection with military operations in Archangel, North Russia, dated 11 November 1919.’ M.C. London Gazette 14 November 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He set a fine example throughout a very heavy bombardment, dressed the wounds of several men, and dug-out others who had been buried by shell fire. As Adjutant, he has always been of the greatest assistance to his C.O. and has displayed great coolness and courage.’ Wilfred Ormonde White was born in Milton, Ontario, on 13 December 1887, and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Regiment July 1905, in which capacity, as a Sergeant, he accompanied the regiment’s Coronation Contingent to England in 1911. Mobilised on the outbreak of hostilities, he enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Valcartier in September 1914 and was appointed the first Regimental Sergeant-Major in the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Embarked for France in February 1915, White was commissioned as a Lieutenant that September, and was advanced to Captain and appointed Adjutant of the Battalion in June 1916, shortly after which, on 29 July, he was slightly wounded in the left leg and was awarded the Military Cross. Having then served back in England, he returned to France as a Staff Officer in 5th Canadian Division in early 1917, and was appointed Brigade Major to the 14th Canadian Infantry Brigade that March. Once more, however, he returned to England, in order to attend a Staff College Course at Cambridge, following which he went back to France as a Staff Captain in the 10th Infantry Brigade in September 1918 and was similarly employed at the cessation of hostilities. Seconded to the North Russian Expeditionary Force in March 1919, for his services in Archangel White was appointed a companion of the Distinguished Order, as well as being awarded the Russian Orders of St. Anne and St. Stanislas (Russian Army (Northern Region) Command Orders of September 1919 refer). Subsequently appointed to the Royal Canadian Regiment, White was finally discharged from the C.E.F. in May 1920, and later settled in South Africa. Sold with an embroidered Staff cap badge on red band.
Royal Humane Society, proficiency in swimming medallion, silver (2), the obverse exergue of first engraved ‘Highgate School, 1925’ and the edge engraved ‘N. Leitch’, in case of issue; he obverse exergue of second engraved ‘Oxford Military College 1889’ and the edge engraved ‘William Henry Luttman Johnson’, first extremely fine, last edge bruising, good fine (2) £80-£100 --- Neil Leitch (MA, BM, BCH, DTM&H, DPH, DIH) died ‘suddenly in La Palma, Canary Islands, on 17 June [1977]. He was only 67. He had served with distinction in the Colonial Medical Service in Nigeria and Mauritius, and more recently in the Department of Health and Social Security until his retirement. Neil Leitch was the son of a medical family: both his father and his mother were doctors. He took his arts degree from Merton College, Oxford, where he also got a half-blue for swimming for the university. After studying medicine at the Middlesex Hospital, he qualified in 1935 and then spent some time in the USA before the outbreak of the second world war. He saw service in troopships and later went to India with the West African Frontier Force and was in action with the Chindits in Burma, where he was mentioned is dispatches. This service with West Africans determined his decision to work in Nigeria after the war. He eventually became adviser on health to the Government of Northern Nigeria after serving as deputy to Sir Samuel Manuwa, inspector-general of the Federal Medical Service. After the end of his service in Northern Nigeria he was adviser to the Department of Health of Mauritius for some years. In 1966 he settled in England again and joined the staff of the Ministry of Health, where he worked mainly on subjects related to hospital building. In 1975 he retired in the rank of senior medical officer to settle in the Canaries.’ (British Medical Journal, 16 July 1977 refers) William Henry Luttman-Johnson was born in Northchapel, Sussex, in August 1872. He was educated at the Oxford Military College, where he represented the school at swimming and football (a photographic image of recipient as part of the Football XI included with the lot). Luttman-Johnson was commissioned from the 3rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment into the York and Lancaster Regiment in December 1895. He was posted for service with the Regiment in the East Indies in February 1897, and died of disease at the Station Hospital, Agra, 25 March 1897. Luttman-Johnson was buried in the Cantonement Cemetery, Agra. Sold with copied research.
Renamed and Defective Medals (2): Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Wm. H. Tull, I Troop. R.H.A.) engraved naming, suspension claw re-affixed, with significant traces of brooch mounting to obverse; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Northwest Frontier (2821. Driver W. Weavers. “D” Battery F. Bde. R. H.A.) renamed; the first fine; the second very fine (2) £100-£140 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- William Henry Tull attested for the Royal Horse Artillery 11 April 1854 and served with ‘I’ Troop in the Crimea from July 1855. He subsequently served in India during the Great Sepoy Mutiny from 8 November 1857 (entitled to an Indian Mutiny Medal with clasp Lucknow), and was discharged on 24 July 1866, after 12 years and 105 days’ service. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extracts.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902 (2), 2 clasps, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (76788 Dvr: J. Symonds. R.F.A.); 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (65882 Gnr: F. Yeomans. R.F.A.) heavy contact marks and wear to second, this good fine, the first better (2) £80-£100 --- Frank Yeomans was born in Manchester in 1870 and attested for the Royal Artillery at Preston on 28 January 1888. His Army Service Record confirms passing a Wheeler’s course in July 1890 and adds: ‘Scalp wound 1.6.95 (not on duty)’.
United States of America, Soldier’s Medal, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘Winston F. C. Guest 037718 U.S.M.C.’, with riband bar and lapel device, in case of issue, nearly extremely fine £70-£90 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Winston Frederick Churchill Guest was born in New York on 20 May 1906, the son of the British Liberal politician Freddie Guest and his American wife Amy Phipps. His maternal grandfather was Henry Phipps, the philanthropist and former business partner of the industrial magnate Andrew Carnegie, whilst his great-grandfather was John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough; consequently, he was the first cousin once removed of Winston Churchill. A noted international polo player (his father having won an Olympic bronze medal for polo), he won the Intercollegiate Championship whilst at Yale in 1926, and won the U.S. Open three times, and the Argentine Open once. Ranked at 10 goals (the highest ranking a polo player can attain) both indoors and outdoors, he regularly played throughout the 1930s in England with the Duke of York (later H.M. King George VI). In 1936 he stood unsuccessfully for the United States Senate as a Republican for his home state of New York. Guest served as a Captain with the United States Marine Corps during the Second World War, and was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for braving a heavily mined airfield at Canton to land an Allied humanitarian aid team on 19 August 1945, before the Japanese had officially surrendered. He died in New York on 25 October 1982. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient; and copied research.
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (2) (23197. Gunr. W. Dowsing. 3rd. Div: Cst. Bde. R.A.; 12533 Sgt. G. Gardiner, R.G.A.) minor official correction to surname on first, good very fine (2) £60-£80 --- Walter Dowsing was born in Witnesham, Ipswich, in 1850, and attested for the Royal Artillery on 21 September 1870. He served overseas in Malta, Bermuda and Barbados and was awarded the L.S.G.C. Medal with gratuity in 1889. George Gardiner was born in Windsor in 1863 and attested for the Royal Artillery at Aldershot on 1 March 1882. Posted to the Durham Artillery Militia, he was discharged in 1907, his Army Service Record adding: ‘a good accountant and clerk.’
Five: Painter First Class A. H. Stephens, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Melita during the Dongolla campaign in 1896, and in H.M.S. Centurion at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916 1914-15 Star (340155. A. H. Stephens. Ptr.1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (340155 A. H. Stephens. Ptr. 1. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (340155. A. H. Stephens, Painter 1Cl, H.M.S. Leviathan.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, no clasp (A. H. Stephens Pntr. 2nd. Cl. H.M.S. Melita. 1896.) contemporarily engraved naming, light contact marks, especially to LS&GC, generally good very fine (5) £400-£500 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- For the Military operations in connection with the re-conquest of the Sudan, only two of Her Majesty’s Ships - Scout and Melita - were ordered into the operational zone. Their ships’ companies earned the Khedive’s Sudan Medal, without clasp, after at first being refused it, 139 medals being given to H.M.S. Melita, and 149 to H.M.S. Scout. Medals to Melita were awarded unnamed; those to H.M.S. Scout were named up on the initiative of Scout’s Captain. Albert Henry Stephens was born in Plymouth on 20 September 1869 and joined the Royal Nay as a Painter Second Class on 6 June 1894. He served in H.M.S. Melita from 1 October 1895 to 14 October 1898, seeing active service during the Dongolla campaign. Advanced Painter First Class on 29 August 1900, Stephens was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 7 July 1909, and served during the Great War in H.M.S. Centurion from the outbreak of War to 26 June 1917, and was present at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. He was shore invalided suffering from heart disease on 13 February 1918 and was awarded a Silver War Badge. Sold with copied record of service and other research.
India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (2169 Sergt. I.M. E. P. Rice 2nd. Bn. R. Muns. Fus) first initial officially corrected (see footnote), cleaned, nearly very fine £140-£180 --- Edgar S. Rice served as Sergeant Instructor of Musketry, and died of enteric fever at Mandalay on 15 April 1887, aged 30. The burial register shows his as ‘G. S. Rice’; presumably his medal was also originally erroneously engraved ‘G. S. Rice’, hence the correction to the first initial.
Five: Chief Petty Officer H. G. Vaile, Royal Navy East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, Brass River 1895, Benin 1897, unofficial rivets between clasps (142683 H. G. Vaile. H.M.S. St. George. M.wele 1895); 1914-15 Star (142683, H. G. Vaile, P.O.1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (142683 H. G. Vaile. C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (142683 H. G. Vaile. C.P.O. H.M.S. Vernon.) the first and last both somewhat later issues, generally very fine (5) £360-£440 --- Harry George Vaile was born in Wimbledon, Surrey, on 23 April 1872 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 3 October 1887. Advanced Able Seaman on 15 February 1892, he served in H.M.S. St. George from 25 October 1894 to 18 February 1898, and was advanced Acting Chief Petty Officer on 15 March 1912, being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal that same year. Shore pensioned on 6 November 1912, he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 12 November 1912, and was recalled for Great War service on 2 August 1914. He served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, and was demobilised on 24 March 1919. He died in Saltash, Cornwall, on 14 July 1940. Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extracts, the latter noting that both the East and West Africa Medal and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal were issued on 3 May 1923.
An unusual ‘double issue’ General Service Medal for Malaya awarded to Sapper Bombahadur Gurung, Corps of Royal Engineers (Gurkha) General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (2) (21136757 Spr Bombahadur Gurung R.E Gur; 21136757 Spr. Bombahadur. Gurung, R.E Gur) both struck on slightly thinner flans, disc officially narrowed to second at 6 o’clock, most likely to accommodate re-impressed forename, nearly very fine and scarce to unit (2) £100-£140 --- Gurkhas were first enlisted into the Corps of Royal Engineers in September 1948 when a Gurkha Training Squadron (Royal Engineers) was formed at Kluang, Malaya. No. 67 Field Squadron was raised in 1949, No. 68 Field Squadron in 1950 and the Regimental Headquarters of the 50th Field Regiment, Royal Engineers, followed in 1951. The Regiment later became part of the Brigade of Gurkhas and was renamed the ‘Gurkha Engineers’ by Royal Warrant on 28 September 1955; based at Sungei Best near Kuala Lumpur from 1955 to 1961, the unit witnessed extensive service during the Malayan Emergency, most notably repairing railway lines, bridges and infrastructure which was a soft target for communist insurgents.
A rare Great War Silver S.G.M. awarded to Private W. Munday, 7th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, for his services in helping to extinguish the fires that burned for several days on H.M. Transport Caronia in May 1917 Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (William Munday. H.M.T. “Caronia” May 1917) suspension claw slightly loose, good very fine and rare to the Army £600-£800 --- 27 Silver and 10 Bronze Sea Gallantry Medals were awarded to the British Army 1857 to 1923, 19 of which were for this action. William Munday was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver for his gallantry aboard H.M. Transport Caronia which caught fire in May 1917 whilst at sea, the original Recommendation stating:
‘In May 1917 while HM Transport Caronia was at sea, a series of fires occurred in her bunkers. The crew endeavoured for over five days to extinguish the fire, the Master was obliged to ask for the assistance of the troops on board and a number of them volunteered to go into the bunkers, where they rendered valuable assistance in extinguishing the outbreak. The services of non-commissioned officers and men are reported as deserving of special recognition. Very considerable risk was incurred in rendering the services. Frequent explosions occurred and a number of men were seriously injured.’ The Ship’s Log gives further details, and records that the first fire was reported on 20 May, and it took 11 days before they were all extinguished:
‘On 20th May 1917 at 0300 whilst sailing from Durban to Tunghi Bay No 2 Coal Bunker was discovered to be on fire, every effort was made to extinguish the flames. On 24th May at 2100 No 3 port Coal Bunker discovered to be on fire, steps taken immediately to extinguish the fire. On 25th May at 1430, Robert Jones Leading Fireman, Henry Foulkes and Henry Gilfoyle Trimmers received extensive burns as a result of an explosion in bunkers, treated in Ship’s Hospital, at 1900 William Clarke, Boilermaker was gassed the result of an explosion in Coal Bunker and treated in Ship’s Hospital. At 0630 on 26th May George Pattison, 4th Engineer was gassed, the result of an explosion in a Coal Bunker and treated in Ship’s Hospital, at 1300 two further crew members were admitted to the Ship’s Hospital one with injuries, one gassed, at 1400 and 1500 two crewmen were gassed from an explosion. On 27th May at 1000 William Penny 4th Engineer was gassed the result of an explosion, at 1030 two more crew were gassed in an explosion, at 1930 a Trimmer was injured by an explosion. At 1500 on 28th May two crewmen were transferred to another ship for onward passage to hospital at Durban. On 31st May at 1900 the Chief Engineer reported all fires now extinguished.’ Sold with copied research.
A good ‘1914’ D.C.M., Russian Medal of St George for Bravery 3rd Class group of five awarded to Corporal A. A. Irish, 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, who was later killed in action during the Second Battle of Ypres, 13 May 1915 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6890 L. Cpl. A. A. Irish. 1/Hants: Regt.); 1914 Star (6890 L. Cpl. A. A. Irish. 1/Hamps: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6890 A. Cpl. A. A. Irish. Hamps. R.); Russia, Empire, Medal of St George for Bravery, 3rd Class, silver, the reverse officially numbered ‘No 22181’, and edge impressed (6890 Actg. Cpl. A. A. Irish 1/Hamp. R.) generally good very fine or better (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1915 (citation appearing in the gazette of 1 April 1915): ‘For gallantry on 19th December, 1914, in reconnoitring in daylight the ground over which an advance had to be made.’ Russian Medal of St. George, 3rd Class, London Gazette 25 August 1915. Alfred Alexander Irish served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment on the Western Front from 23 August 1914. The Battalion were in positions near Le Gheer, Ploegsteert, in early December 1914. The War Diary records for the period 1-18 December 'practically no fighting' and flooded trenches in constant need of repair. Casualties amounted to 11 killed and 27 wounded. On 19 December the 1/Hampshire's assisted 1/Somerset Light Infantry and 1/Rifle Brigade in attack on 'German House' and 'The Birdcage'. The following report in the Regimental Journal summarises the action: ‘On the morning of December 19th, five weeks after we first occupied these trenches, our howitzers and guns, siege and field, opened a heavy fire on the German trenches and batteries, which was kept up for about five hours. The actual assault was timed for 2.30 p.m., but in the last half hour of the bombardment, when it attained its greatest violence, part of our forward trench was destroyed by our own heavy shells, and some of the troops drawn up for the assault were knocked out by our own shrapnel. In spite of this, the troops went forward with vigour, but the right assault was badly shaken and delayed. The distance to be covered was not more than 300 yards anywhere, but in spite of all the violence of the bombardment, many of the enemy stood their ground, and the machine guns were well served as ever. Casualties were very heavy, but in places the assaulting troops reached the obstacles in front of the German trench. The ruined houses in their salient were gallantly carried by the 1st Rifle Brigade, the Somersets pushed over on their left, and a platoon from our D company got forward with the Rifle Brigade. But our particular task was to cover this advance by fire and make good the ground won. But to entrench in the horrid, miry swamp into which our men had penetrated was impossible, and after dark orders were issued to fall back to our original line. This was no easy operation. The rain had been falling all day, it got worse after nightfall, and it was pitch dark. It took time and care to get in touch with the various attacking detachments lying down in close proximity to the enemy, and to organise their withdrawal. Morning found us in our old positions, but the enemy had not ventured out of their main line again, and our patrols occupied the ground we had gained, and still do so. The results seemed insignificant for such heavy casualties.’ The Hampshires suffered losses of one officer and 12 men killed, and one officer and 25 men wounded for the action. Irish advanced to Corporal, and was serving with ‘D’ Company, 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment when he was killed in action on the Western Front on 13 May 1915. On the latter date the Battalion were occupying front line positions between Canadian Farm and Hampshire Farm as part of the Second Battle of Ypres. They came under heavy German attack, and suffered approximately 90 casualties. Corporal Irish is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Pair: Private H. Bentley, 98th (Prince of Wales’s) Regiment of Foot Punjab 1848-49, no clasp (Henry Bentley, 98th. Foot.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (H. Bentley No. 2967 98th Foot) privately engraved, suspension claw re-soldered, minor contact marks and polishing, good fine and better (2) £160-£200 --- Henry Bentley served in the Punjab between 7 September 1848 and 14 March 1849 in operations against the Sikh Army of Sher Singh. From here the regiment was one of the first British units to serve on the North West Frontier, spending 1849 through to 1851 in and around the Kohat Pass. Engaged in a series of punitive raids against Pathan tribesmen, the men suffered greatly from disease with almost 200 invalided home. Bentley is later recorded in 1861 as stationed at the 98th Foot Depot at Canterbury, Kent.
The Zulu War Medal awarded to Private R. Ayres, 94th Regiment of Foot, later 2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers, who was killed in action at Bronkhorstspruit on 20 December 1880 South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (1553. Pte. R. Ayres. 94th. Foot.) good very fine £800-£1,000 --- Richard Ayres served with the 94th Regiment of Foot (later 2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers) in South Africa from February 1879, including operations against the Zulu and Sekukini, and in the Transvaal during the First Boer War, where the regiment was heavily involved at the sieges of Lydenburg and Standerton. Ayres was killed in action at Bronkhorstspruit on 20 December 1880. On this date, ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Anstruther of the 94th Regiment with 9 officers and 254 other ranks was marching from Lydenburg to Pretoria when he was ambushed 37 miles from his objective at Bronkhorst Spruit. He had been informed of the Boer rising and warned against being surprised, but even so the Boers’ tactics were of doubtful fairness since it was by no means certain that a state of war existed. The straggling columns of wagons was halted by a few Boers in an exposed spot, the Colonel was handed a proclamation ordering him to turn back; he was given only two minutes to reply, and when he refused fire was opened at once. The Boer leader, Joubert, had concealed about a thousand men in excellent firing positions, clearly expecting a refusal. The action lasted less than half an hour and amounted to a massacre.’ (Victorian Military Campaigns refers). The 94th Foot suffered 54 killed in action, 21 died of wounds and 77 wounded in this action, as well as many taken prisoner. Sold with copied medal roll extract.

The Waterloo Medal awarded to Lieutenant John Sperling, Royal Engineers, one of eleven engineer officers present at the battle, he had previously distinguished himself in leading the ‘Forlorn Hope’ at Bergen-op-Zoom in 1814 Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. John Sperling, Engineer, R. Artillery.) fitted with original steel clip and silver bar suspension, minor edge bruising, otherwise good very fine and very rare £6,000-£8,000 --- The Royal Engineers were an all-officer corps and part of the Board of Ordnance together with the Royal Artillery. Most, but not all, of the Waterloo medals issued to these few engineers are named with the designation ‘Engineer, R. Artillery’. Of the known surviving medals, four are named in this manner whilst those to Lieutenants Head and Gilbert are known to be named ‘Royal Engineers’. John Sperling, was born at Tottenham on 4 November 1793, son of Henry Piper Sperling of Park Place, Henley-on-Thames, and afterwards of Norbury Park, Surrey. After passing through the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, and spending some time in the ordnance survey of Great Britain, Sperling received a commission as second lieutenant in the royal engineers on 14 December 1811. He joined his corps at Chatham in March 1812, and was promoted to be first lieutenant on 1 July 1812. In December 1813, Sperling embarked at Ramsgate with the expedition under Sir Thomas Graham (afterwards Lord Lynedoch), to assist the Dutch against the French, whose garrisons had been recently much reduced in strength. He was one of nine officers of royal engineers under the commanding royal engineer Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards Lieutenant-General Sir) James Carmichael Smyth. They landed at Williamstadt on 18 December. On 31 December, Sperling was at Staandaarhuyten making a bridge of boats, and in the early part of January 1814 he restored a tête-de-pont which protected the passage of the river. On 11 January 1814, Sperling, with his sappers, was attached to a column sent to assist the Prussians in dislodging the French from Hoogstraaten. Sperling went to Breda on 21 January to arrange for accommodating a store depôt for the bombardment of Antwerp. On 2 February he advanced his engineer stores to Merxem, and during the night commenced the construction of a mortar battery, which was armed and opened fire on Antwerp on the afternoon of the 3rd. He did duty in the trenches until the 6th, when the siege was raised. The British troops went into cantonments, and Sperling, after taking his engineer stores to Breda, was sent to Tholen, in the neighbourhood of Bergen-op-Zoom, to report on the fortifications there. On 8 March an attempt was made to storm Bergen-op-Zoom with four columns. Headed by Sperling, No. 1 storming column effected an entrance by surprise at the watergate and seized the guard, the French officer surrendering his sword to Sperling, who kept it as a trophy. The party then swept the ramparts for some way, but not being supported by the main body of their own, and encountering a large force of the enemy, it was obliged to fall back after the death of its two commanders, Carleton and Gore. In the course of this operation it came across the second column under Major-General Cooke, and together they made a stand for the night. When the day dawned it should have been possible to take Bergen-op-Zoom; but, instead of support, came an order to retire. The master-general of the board of ordnance conveyed to Sperling ‘a particular approbation of the gallantry and ability shown by him while attached to the advanced party which entered the fortress.’ On 23 March Sperling was appointed adjutant and quartermaster of the sappers and miners, and he accordingly joined headquarters at Calmthout. But on 11 April news arrived of the entrance of the allies into Paris, and of the change of government, upon which hostilities at once ceased. Sperling moved with army headquarters to St. Graven Wesel on 18 April, and during May was employed in preparations for taking possession of the fortresses assigned to British occupation by the convention. He also visited all the Scheldt defences. As soon as Antwerp was handed over, British headquarters were moved thither. On 7 June Sperling was sent to London to lay before the board of ordnance plans and reports of the fortresses. He returned to Antwerp on 8 July. In August he made a survey and plan of Liège citadel for Lord Lynedoch, who was vacating the command, the Prince of Orange succeeding him. On 10 September he removed with headquarters to Brussels, and in October reconnoitred ground which the Prince of Orange considered a good position for an army in advance of Brussels. When the news of Napoleon's escape from Elba arrived (9 March 1815), Sperling's work became very heavy. In April he visited Ghent in regard to the defence works for the permanent bridge over the Scheldt. On the 21 and 22 of this month he dined with Wellington, who, after a tour of inspection of the fortresses, expressed himself well satisfied with Sperling's preparations. On 1 May Sperling reported on the bridge of boats constructed at Boom, and then accompanied Colonel Carmichael Smyth on a tour of inspection of the works at Ghent, Oudenarde, Tournay, the pontoon bridge over the Scheldt at Escanaffles, with its tête-de-pont at Ath. A sketch which he made of the position at Hal for defence against an invading army was laid before Wellington on the 17th, who at once sent him to Antwerp to meet Sir David Dundas and conduct him over Bergen-op-Zoom. On 15 June the French crossed the frontier, and on the 16, all the troops in Brussels were in motion. Sperling joined Colonel Carmichael Smyth on the 17th, and found the British army falling back after the battle of Quatre Bras. Next day Sperling and Carmichael Smyth accompanied the Duke during the early part of the battle of Waterloo, and after, owing to the various evolutions, they separated from Wellington, they remained until the great engagement ended, for the most part on the hill near the artillery, occasionally taking refuge in the infantry squares. On 19 June Sperling returned with Smyth to Brussels, and arrived on 24 June at Le Cateau. He then moved with headquarters towards Paris. On 2 July he visited Argenteuil, Bezons, and Carrières, to report on their comparative eligibility for bridging the Seine. Argenteuil was selected, and the bridge was in progress the following day. On 7 July Sperling entered Paris with the headquarters staff. He remained in Paris until 27 January 1816, when he was moved to Cambrai. Sperling returned to England in November 1818, and retired on permanent half-pay on 24 January 1824. He resided first at Great Doods, near Reigate, Surrey, and afterwards in a house which he built for himself in Palace Gardens, Kensington, London. He died at Kensington on 13 February 1877. Sperling was the author of Letters of an Officer of the Corps of Royal Engineers, from the British Army in Holland, Belgium, and France, to his Father, from the latter end of 1813 to 1816, London, 1872 [now available in The Waterloo Archive, Volume VI: British sources, edited by Gareth Glover].
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (2) (3068. By. Q.M. Sgt: C. Skirving. R.H.A.; 2840. Serg. W. J. Hodge. H/B. R.H.A.) minor official correction to unit on first, good very fine (2) £100-£140 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
Family group: Three: Stoker First Class D. Burrows, Royal Navy, who was killed in action whilst serving with H.M.S. Amethyst in the Dardanelles on 14 March 1915 1914-15 Star (K.20453 D. Burrows, Sto., 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.20454 D. Burrows. Sto. 1. R.N.); Memorial Plaque (Daniel Burrows) last in card envelope of issue, generally good very fine Four: Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class W. T. Burrows, Royal Navy, who served with H.M.S. Monarch during the Battle of Jutland 1914-15 Star (272359, W. T. Burrows, E.R.A. 2., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (272359 W. T. Burrows. C.E.R.A. 2. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (272359 W. T. Burrows. C.E.R.A. 2. H.M.S. Vernon.) mounted as originally worn, generally very fine or better (7) £240-£280 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Daniel Burrows was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in March 1895. He was the son of William and Margaret J. Burrows, of 63, Union St., Portsea, Portsmouth. He joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in September 1913, and advanced to Stoker 1st Class in January 1915. Burrows served with H.M.S. Amethyst from 28 January to 14 March 1915, and was killed in action on the latter date. The Amethyst took part in the covering operation for the minesweeping effort in the Dardanelles and during the action on 1 March and 4 March 1915 she exchanged fire with Turkish forts. On the evening of 4 March she took on board injured personnel of the landing party and discharged them the next day into Soudan and SS Braemar Castle. During the hours of darkness between 6 and 11 March she took part in operations in the Dardanelles against mines, and was frequently in action against field artillery, forts and searchlights. On 14 March at 04:10 she was hit by field artillery and lost 22 men killed. A further 38 men were wounded, of whom 4 later died. Stoker 1st Class Burrows is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. William Thomas Burrows was born in Portsea, Hampshire, in October 1884. He joined the Royal Navy as Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class in March 1907, and advanced to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class in January 1923. His service included with H.M.S. Monarch (battleship) from April 1914 to December 1917 (during which time she participated in the Battle of Jutland); H.M.S. Barham (battleship) from December 1917 to January 1921; and H.M.S. Vernon from January 1924 to October 1925.
The British War Medal awarded to Lieutenant E. T. Smart, Royal Garrison Artillery, attached Royal Flying Corps, who died on the Western Front on 17 March 1918, when he failed to return from a bombing raid on enemy lines British War Medal 1914-20 (2. Lieut. E. T. Smart) very fine £100-£140 --- Edward Treloar Smart, the son of Rev. John Smart of Hythe, Kent, was born around 1898 in Monkton Combe, Somerset. He attended Tonbridge School and was afterwards a pupil in the Traffic Department of the South Eastern Railway at London Bridge before being commissioned into the Special Reserve of the Royal Garrison Artillery on 13 October 1915, for service during the Great War. He served at home with Anti Aircraft Batteries in Scotland until 27 March 1917 when he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps. Gazetted Flying Officer on 14 July 1917, he served on the Western Front from 25 August 1917 as a Pilot to No. 2 Artillery Observation Squadron. Smart was advanced Lieutenant in October 1917; on 27 March 1918, during the German spring offensive, he failed to return from a bombing raid in the Bray-Roye Sector, East of Amiens. The Second in Command of No. 2 Squadron wrote: ‘By the notification as missing of E. T. Smart a link with the Squadron and, more particularly, with B Flight, as we knew it, is snapped. His cheery personality and never-failing good humour under trying circumstances went far to render the Flight such a happy crowd. His work at first was patrol, later artillery registrations, and subsequently, as he gained experience, photography, both vertical and oblique. The Squadron photographic records show many examples of his good work done under bad conditions. When he was sent in his early days to interview an enraged battery commander, whose guns had refused to answer to the corrections sent from the air, he poured oil on the troubled waters in his own inimitable way, and quickly restored cordial relations. One could multiply instances of this gift of his, but one further example will suffice. Once, owing to engine failure, he perched on the roof of a house in his machine. He climbed down through the breach and met the astounded occupants on the stairs. His entry took some explaining, but he was quickly on good terms with his hosts. It was not his turn for the last trip that he made, but he was so eager to take his share in the big battle that he prevailed on another pilot to let him take his place.’ He is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, France. Sold together with a copy of his Medal Index Card, confirming the issue of his Great War medals in the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902 (2), no clasp (17826 Gnr: J. Love. 2nd. E.D. R.G.A.); 1 clasp, South Africa 1901 (Mr: Gnr. D. Langston, 2/E.D., R.G.A.) first impressed, second engraved, scratch to obverse of first, otherwise good very fine (2) £140-£180 --- James Love was born in Canning Town, London, in 1878, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Dover on 4 January 1897. He served on the island of St. Helena from 28 April 1898 to 30 March 1902, almost certainly guarding Boer Prisoners of War, before transferring to St. Lucia and South Africa. D. Langston appears in Hart’s Annual Army List of 1903 as Lieutenant at Depot, Newport, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Pair: Wheeler Quartermaster Sergeant H. Shephard, Royal Field Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (68096 Whlr: Sjt: H. Shephard, R.F.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (68096 Whlr: S.Sjt: H. Shephard. R.F.A.) edge nicks to first, nearly very fine and better (2) £120-£160 --- Harry Shephard was born in Portsmouth in 1868 and attested for the Royal Artillery on 26 July 1888. Posted to the R.F.A. Ammunition Column as Corporal Wheeler 12 October 1899, he served in South Africa from 4 November 1899 to 4 July 1901. His Army Service Record notes the award of the L.S.G.C. Medal with gratuity in 1907 and states that he fractured his left fibula that same year.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Colonel I. D. Guthrie, 17th Cavalry, Indian Army, later 10th Hussars and Commanding Officer, 4th/5th Battalion, Black Watch (Territorial Army) Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lt. I. D. Guthrie, 17/Cavy); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. I. D. Guthrie. 17/Cavy) the BWM and VM both officially re-impressed and issued in India, mounted court-style, light contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4) £600-£800 --- M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918. M.I.D. London Gazette 15 May 1917. Ivan Douglas Guthrie of Guthrie, 20th of that Ilk, was born on 6 August 1886, the eldest son of John Guthrie of Guthrie, 19th of that Ilk, and was first commissioned in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, on 22 May 1908. Granted a permanent commission in the Royal Scots five days later, he transferred to the Indian Army on 22 March 1911, and was promoted Lieutenant on 27 August 1910. Posted to the 17th Cavalry as Officiating Squadron Officer on 8 October 1911, he proceeded to France in charge of the Lucknow Cavalry Brigade Ammunition Column on 11 November 1914, receiving a regimentally rare 1914 Star. Promoted Captain on 1 September 1915, he returned to India in July 1917 and was attached as Second in Command of the 2-25th Punjabis with the rank of Major. For his services during the Great War Guthrie was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Military Cross. Post-War, Guthrie transferred to the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons on 10 February 1922, and then to the 10th Hussars on 8 November 1922. He transferred to the Retired List with the rank of Major on 12 September 1925, and was appointed Commanding Officer of the 4th/5th Battalion, Black Watch (Territorial Army), with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, on 3 October 1930. Promoted Brevet Colonel on 3 October 1934, he retired on completion of the period of his command on 3 October 1935. A keen polo-player and a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland, Guthrie succeeded his father to the clan title upon the death of his father on 17 January 1928, and subsequently served as a a Deputy Lieutenant of Forfarshire. He died on 4 July 1964, and was succeeded to the clan title by his eldest daughter; he was the last Clan Chief to live at Guthrie Castle. Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient. For the medals awarded to the recipient’s father, see Lot 184.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, Orange Free State, unofficial rivets between fourth and fifth clasps (318 Serjt: Far: J. Shrighley. Bethune’s M.I.) edge nick, good very fine £100-£140 --- Sold with copied medal roll extract for the first four clasps, which states that the recipient was discharged from Bethune’s Mounted Infantry on 13 November 1900.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Belfast, Cape Colony, clasps mounted in this order, with unofficial rivets between third and fourth clasps (1824 Serjt: J. Pitt. S.A.L.H.) officially re-impressed naming, polished, nearly very fine £100-£140 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- J. Pitt served with the South African Light Horse (with whom he qualified for the first three clasps), and subsequently with Scott’s Railway Guards (as part of the Special Cape Police Contingent, with whom he qualified for the Cape Colony clasp, and also the South Africa 1901 clasp). He was severely wounded near Dry Harts, a station on the railway from Kimberley northwards in the Cape Colony, on 15 June 1901 whilst serving with Scott’s Railway Guards; on this date the Corps engaged the enemy and captured some prisoners, stock, and ammunition. Sold with copied medal roll extracts and other research.
A superb ‘Borneo operations’ M.M. group of three awarded to Rifleman (Local Lance-Corporal) Jagatbahadur Limbu, 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles, for his gallantry near the Sarawak border on 5 March 1966 - ‘running at the enemy firing his general purpose machine gun from the hip, it was largely thanks to his courage and aggressive spirit that at least 28 enemy troops were killed in a highly successful riverboat ambush’ Military Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (21148768 L/L/Cpl. Jagatbahadur Limbu. 10 GR.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (21148768 Rfn. Jagatbahadur Limbu. 10th. G.R.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (21148768 Rfn. Jagatbahadur Limbu. 1/10 GR.) mounted as worn, minor edge bruising and polishing to high relief, very fine (3) £3,000-£4,000 --- 1 of 35 M.M.’s awarded for the Borneo campaign. M.M. London Gazette 13 December 1966. The original recommendation states: ‘On 5th March 1966, Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur Limbu was the general purpose machine gun gunner in 11 Platoon, D Company, 1st Battalion 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles and played a prominent part in a highly successful ambush near the Sarawak border following an incursion by regular Indonesian troops. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur with his general purpose machine gun was placed on the left flank of his platoon ambush position and it was from the left that an enemy party, some 35 strong, approached. The leading group, bunched and unsuspecting, passed him and at a range of twenty yards he opened fire devastatingly, enfilading them and causing many casualties. Reloading, he then moved round behind the troops on his right into the centre of the position and raked the ambush area again, this time from some ten to fifteen yards range. As the enemy now tried to move out of the ambush area, he again ran down the position towards the right flank in full view of the enemy to engage them, firing his machine gun from the hip into a group at point blank range until there were no targets in sight. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur fired some 400 rounds from his machine gun, of a total of not less than 28 enemy killed in the ambush there is little doubt that he was personally responsible for killing more than 50 percent. The enemy from a nearby position now opened fire on our troops in ambush using automatics and mortars, and 11 Platoon was ordered to move back to their rendezvous. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur remained with his platoon commander giving covering fire until the last of our men were clear of the area. During the action, lasting ten minutes, Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur displayed complete disregard for his own safety in his determination to get to grips with the enemy. The success of the operation was due in large measure to his courage and aggressive spirit.’ Jagatbahadur Limbu was decorated for gallantry by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace in March 1967. A firsthand account of the action was later given by company commander Major C. J. Pike, D.S.O., in Volume II of Bugle & Kukri: The Story of the 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles: ‘On 27 February D Company, carrying 10 days’ rations, were lifted by helicopter to LZ 1693 from where I sent patrols hastening south to recce a suitable night base on which the company closed by late afternoon. Further patrols went south and SW to check the route for the following day’s move to a second firm base, on 28 February. Five four-man patrols then went further south, one of which observed a 16-man enemy patrol on a track near the Sungei Koemba and clearly heard motor boat engines from the river. By 1300 hrs on 1 March, we had established a third firm base 1000 yards from the junction of the Koemba and Separan Rivers and for the next three days, set about detailed reconnaissance of the area, no easy task due to swamp, jungle and thick lalang (secondary jungle), the proximity of the enemy patrols, and civilian noise and movement in the area. Civilians were often seen, but skilfully avoided. By 4 March, I and Captain Templer, the FOO, had recced, and found empty, the old enemy base on the north bank of the Koemba/Separan junction, and located, by ear at least, an enemy base under construction on the south bank of the Koemba. From first light on 4 March, 11 Platoon watched the Koemba for every movement. The remainder of the company moved through swamp (to avoid leaving tracks) and clipped our way out onto some dry ground 300 yards from the river junction. Here the undergrowth was at times less than head height, so we tunnelled out a firm base beneath the fern. The noise of people shouting and singing could at times be heard clearly from the south bank. During the afternoon, 11 Platoon reported ten enemy in two small boats on the river and at 1030 hrs on 5 March saw a large diesel engined boat carrying stores and a few soldiers. We seemed in luck. All three platoons were finally in ambush positions by 1200 hrs that morning. At 1300 hrs a landing craft type vessel carrying 35 enemy moved downstream towards 11 Platoon, who engaged it at 10-15 yards range with two GPMGs, 94 grenades, and all platoon small arms. The result was devastating. Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur Rai [sic], the GPMG gunner, fired a 200 round belt down into the midst of the troops sitting in the boat, reloaded and ran along the bank firing from the hip as he went. The 94 grenades registered two hits at point-blank range. As the boat passed out of the ambush it canted over to port, the engine stopped, and it slewed into the bank 30 yards downstream. Complete silence reigned, not a scream nor groan was heard... Lance Corporal Jagatbahadur Rai [sic] was awarded the Military Medal for his aggressive action in this ambush operation.’ Sold with copied research - Major Pike having clearly made an error recalling the recipient’s surname, all other details correctly tally to the event.
A Sea Gallantry Medal and Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea pair awarded to Captain F. M. Burke, Lloyd’s Agent at Algiers, for the attempted rescue of the steamship Arbib Brothers, 7-8 January 1891 Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, V.R., large, silver (F. M. Burke, casualty to the “Arbib Brothers” on the 8th January 1891) fitted with a straight bar suspension; Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 1st type silver medallion, 73mm, fitted with a silver band inscribed, ‘Fredric Mollison Burke Lloyd’s Agent at Algiers 7th January 1891’, the obverse with glazed lunette, edge bruise and some contact marks to first, lunette lacking from reverse of latter, otherwise good very fine and better (2) £600-£800 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2013. On a passage from Tripoli, the steamship Arbib Brothers encountered a gale during the night of January 7, 1891, off Cape Cacine and broke off her tailshaft. The vessel drifted into Algiers Bay where she signalled for assistance. Captain Burke, Lloyd’s Agent at Algiers, went out in a small local launch to assist but was forced to return due to the violence of the wind and sea. Later the French steamer Kleber and the trawler Grondin succeeded in passing a tow rope to the stricken vessel and brought her safely into Algiers. Sold with copied Board of Trade papers and other research.
Pair: Private H. Allen, Royal Warwickshire Regiment Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (6142 P’te H. Allen. 1/R. War: R.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (6142 Private F. Allen. 1st. Roy. Warwickshire. Regt.) re-impressed naming done by an hand punch, with numerous double strikings, edge bruising, the first polished, nearly very fine (2) £260-£300
Pair: Private J. Holling, 32nd Foot, late 50th Foot, who was wounded at Moodkee on 18 December 1845 Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846, no clasp (John Holling 50th Regt.) surname erased and extremely neatly re-engraved in a matching style - see footnote for explanation; Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (John Holling, 32nd Foot.) contact marks, very fine (2) £500-£700 --- John Holling attested at Leeds into the 50th Regiment of Foot on 21 May 1841, joining the depot company at Chatham the following month before embarking for India on 7 July. Later arriving in Cawnpore on 1 April 1842, it is unclear whether he served with his regiment at Punniar, but he saw active service during the First Sikh War, and is noted on the Sutlej Medal roll as having been wounded on 18 December 1845, the date of the Battle of Moodkee, and being entitled to the Sutlej Medal with the ‘Moodkee 1845’ reverse. He transferred into the 32nd Foot at Meerut on 1 February 1847 and later served during the Second Sikh War, being present at both Mooltan and Goojerat. Sold with copied medal roll extracts; copied muster roll extract confirming his transfer from the 50th to the 32nd Foot; and a copy of an extensive article published in the Orders and Medals Research Society Journal explaining the journey to reunite these medals with the theory behind a suggestion that the Aliwal reverse Sutlej medal had been awarded to Private John Farmer, 50th Regt., who was killed in a building collapse during a storm at Loodianah on 20 May 1846, and that it had been ‘regimentally recycled’ after Holling had lost his original medal during the course of his service.
Victoria Cross, an official Hancocks & Co, London, replica, the reverse engraved ‘Hancocks 463’, in fitted leather case of issue, extremely fine £400-£500 --- The Victoria Cross was instituted on 29 January 1856, with the first awards backdated to 1854, and in the first 150 years of its existence was awarded on 1,355 occasions (1,352 Crosses and 3 Second Award Bars). To mark the 150th anniversary of the award, the London jewellers Hancocks, who have manufactured every Victoria Cross ever awarded, issued a limited edition replica, the replicas all individually numbered on the reverse, with the edition limited to 1,352 replica crosses.
Pair: Private G. Robertson, 4th South African Infantry, who suffered gas poisoning at Delville Wood, Somme, on 20 July 1916, and was wounded and taken Prisoner of War at the famous last stand at Marriéres Wood on 24 March 1918 British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte G. Robertson. 4th S.A.I.) mounted for display, edge bruising, otherwise good very fine (2) £300-£400 --- George Robertson was born in Wandsworth, London, with his next of kin being listed as his sister - residing at Jeppestown, Johannesburg, South Africa. Robertson enlisted for the 4th South African Infantry at Potchefstroom in August 1915, and embarked for the UK on 29 September 1915. He served in the French theatre of War from 21 April 1916, and suffered gas poisoning whilst serving with ‘E’ Company at Delville Wood, Somme, on 20 July 1916. After recuperation in the UK, Robertson returned to France on 13 July 1917, and was wounded in action and taken Prisoner of War at Marriéres Wood on 24 March 1918. Possibly the most impressive feat of arms by the South African forces in the War took place in March 1918, when the Germans attacked in Operation Michael. The brigade fought a staunch defence on the first morning of the attack - 21 March 1918 - at Gauche Wood, near Villers Guislain. By 24 March they had carried out a fighting withdrawal to Marriéres Wood near Bouchavesnes and there held on, completely unsupported. They fought on until only some 100 men were left, yet it was only when ammunition ran out that the remainder, many of whom were wounded, surrendered. The following additional details are provided in an article entitled ‘Marriéres Wood 24 March 1918,’ by Andre Crozier, which was published in Military History Journal Vol 18 No 2 - June 2018, of The South African Military History Society: ‘The German Spring Offensive On 21 March 1918 General Ludendorff launched his massive Spring Offensive, Operation Michael, against the British 3rd and 5th Armies in a desperate attempt to win the war before the Americans arrived in force. The South African 1st Infantry Brigade, which formed part of the Scottish 9th Division and of the British 5th Army, held the line at Gauche Wood on the boundary between the 3rd and 5th British Armies. Aided by mist and complete surprise, the offensive started with a tremendous artillery barrage firing gas shells into the rear areas to disrupt the artillery and supply lines. Sixty-five divisions attacked over a 100 km front. The South Africans held on at Gauche Wood but had to withdraw in the afternoon as the division on their southern flank had been pushed back. Everywhere the front was collapsing, with 21 000 British soldiers being taken prisoner on the first day. It looked like Ludendorff had won the war. The South Africans conducted a fighting retreat over three days under the most difficult circumstances, as the units to their flanks kept falling back. Eventually they were ordered to hold 'at all costs' a line at the village of Bouchvesnes on the strategic Peronne - Bapaume road. The brave stand at Marriéres Wood Major-General Dawson was in command, and he conveyed the orders to the South African Brigade, by then reduced to only 500 men. There would be no further retreat. They would stand and fight to the last. Dawson decided to defend a line to the north-west of Marriéres Wood astride a minor road leading from Bouchvesnes to Combles and utilising some old trenches. The battle started at 09.00 on Sunday, 24 March 1918. The South Africans had no artillery support nor support on either flank and were soon surrounded. They were pounded all day by artillery fire and their position was swept with machine gun fire. Their ammunition was rationed and yet they managed to beat off repeated attacks. Eventually, at 16.00, surrounded, with no ammunition and with only about 100 men left, General Dawson decided to surrender. Some men tried to flee, but they were mowed down as the ground to the west was open with no cover.’ Robertson was repatriated from Germany on 26 December 1918. He returned to South Africa in in December the following year, and was discharged in January 1920. Sold with copied service papers.
Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (3) (1391. Dr. E. Hanmer, I/C. R.H.A.; 535 Gr. J. W. Clowes. D/A Bde. R.H.A.; 1912 Gr. M. Wilkes. H/C. Bde. R.H.A.) suspensions crudely re-affixed and replaced on all three, the first with traces of brooch mounting to obverse and surname officially corrected; the second and third both plugged at 6 o’clock, generally very fine (3) £120-£160 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
A Great War Medal of the Order of the British Empire pair awarded to Leading Mechanic H. Tilley Royal Naval Air Service Medal of the Order of the British Empire, (Military) (L/M. Harry Tilley. R.N.A.S.) privately engraved; France, Third Republic, Medal of Honour, bronze, unnamed, mounted for wear, minor edge bruise to first, good very fine (2) £240-£280 --- Medal of the Order of the British Empire London Gazette 11 June 1918: ‘For courage and presence of mind in preventing an explosion at great personal risk.’ Harry Tilley was originally recommended for the Edward Medal by the Admiralty, though the Home Office argued that he did not appear to fall within the terms of that decoration’s warrant and they would instead put him forward for the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (For God and the Empire, by Roger Willoughby refers).
Six: Gunner C. Elliott, Royal Artillery, later Royal Engineers, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his services in Italy India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1930-31, Mohmand 1933, unofficial retaining rod between clasps (778708 Gnr. C. Elliott. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, edge bruise to first, nearly extremely fine (6) £120-£160 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- M.I.D. London Gazette 11 January 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’ C. Elliott was born on 28 August 1909 and attested for the Royal Artillery on 10 February 1928. He served with the 58th Field Battery during the operations on the North West Frontier in 1930-31, and saw further service in Mohmand in 1933, the medal rolls stating that his India General Service medal was re-issued in May 1935. He transferred to the Royal Engineers on 12 December 1939, and served with them during the Second World War in North Africa and Italy, being Mentioned in Despatches. He was released to the Reserve on 15 December 1945. Sold with copied medal roll extracts and other research.
![Pair: Private First Class W. I. Rodger, Royal Air Force British War and Victory Medals (68748 Pte. 1. W. T. [sic] Rodger. R.A](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/75feb709-2815-42a4-9a90-b0d900c42a90/6ff9d0d9-30b2-4d06-a44a-b18500b5f08a/468x382.jpg)
Pair: Private First Class W. I. Rodger, Royal Air Force British War and Victory Medals (68748 Pte. 1. W. T. [sic] Rodger. R.A.F.); together with red card identity disc ‘W. I. Rodger. R.F.C. 68748’, very fine Pair: Air Mechanic First Class S. E. Slaven, Royal Air Force British War and Victory Medals (218294 1. A.M. S. E. Slaven. R.A.F.) mounted court-style for display; together with silver and enamel RAF sweetheart brooch, very fine (4) £80-£100
Pair: Private C. Southgate, Royal Artillery Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, one unofficial contemporarily engraved clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (5364 Driv: C. Southgate. C/3 Bde. R.A.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, suspension claw re-affixed on first, heavy pitting and contact marks, good fine (2) £120-£160
British War Medal 1914-20 (4) (84510 Pte. H. Follows. R.F.C.; 56504 Pte. F. A. Frank. R.F.C.; 94489 Pte. F. H. Haddrell. R.F.C.; 75461 2. A.M. T. Melling. R.F.C.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (57683 Pte. G. Peak. R.F.C.) scratch to end of surname on first medal, some edge digs, otherwise generally very fine (5) £120-£160 --- Frank Alexander Frank attested into the Royal Flying Corps for service during the Great War and was killed in action on 30 December 1917, when H.M.T. Aragon was torpedoed and sunk by UC-34 off Alexandria, Egypt, with the loss of 610 lives. He is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt.
A mounted display of British Red Cross Society medals and badges, comprising British Red Cross Society Medal for War Service 1914-18 (2), one with Mentioned in Despatches emblem affixed; white embroidered Red Cross uniform badges (2); V.A.D. Detachment embroidered uniform badge; Red Cross and Order of St John, small white metal ‘Penny a Week Fund’ lapel badge (2); Red Cross County of Surrey pin badge, engraved to reverse ‘18862 V. M. Morris’; British Red Cross Society hat or cap badge with enamelled centre (2), one modern bright gilt finish, lacking pin fitting, the other older aged brass lacking one blade fixing; cap ribbon cockade with affixed pin back brass and enamel cap badge; silvered and enamel Junior Red Cross Proficiency badge engraved to reverse ‘O587 Hygiene 8.8.52.’; 4 black bakelite / plastic buttons, two large and two small; 1942 Red Cross qualification clasp, gilt and enamel; brass shoulder title; small 1914-15 lapel stick pin badge, hallmarked silver and enamel; Boy’s Life Brigade Semi Jubilee Fund 1925, gilt and enamel lapel badge with red cross to centre; Junior Red Cross ‘Serve One Another’ lapel pin badge; Boys Brigade First Aid Proficiency badge with red cross to centre; British Red Cross Society gilt and enamelled pin back lapel badge; Proficiency in Red Cross Nursing Medal, engraved to reverse ‘35904 R. S. Bowerman’, generally very fine (lot) £60-£80 --- The British Red Cross Society Medals for War Service 1914-18, have hand-written attributions to ‘D. J. Newell, Mentioned in Despatches’, and ‘Y. M. V. Russell’.
The Zulu War Medal awarded to Private G. Bull, 60th King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action at Ingogo River on 8 February 1881 South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (3079. Pte. G. Bull. 3/60th. Foot.) fitted with an elaborate engraved rifle inscribed ‘Bull, G.W.’, and an elaborate engraved top riband brooch bar inscribed ‘Died in the Battle of Ingogo South Africa Feby. 8th. 1881’, a couple of minor scratches to obverse field, otherwise nearly extremely fine £1,400-£1,800 --- George Bull served with the 3rd Battalion, 60th Rifles (King’s Royal Rifle Corps) in South Africa, and was killed in action at Ingogo River on 8 February 1881, during the First Boer War. The following extract is taken from Rifleman and Hussar by Colonel Sir Percival Marling, V.C., C.B.: ‘About 2.30 p.m. Sir George Colley sent Captain McGregor, R.E., to Colonel Ashburnham with a message that he was to send a company of the 60th Rifles out to the left, as he thought the Boers were going to rush the position. Colonel Ashburnham pointed out to the Staff Officer that ‘I’ Company were the only reserve he had, and asked would not half a company be sufficient. The Staff Officer replied “My orders are, sir, from the General, that you are to send a company, and if you will let me have them I will show you where to go.” This company, ‘I’, was commanded by Lieutenant Garrett, the other subaltern being Lieutenant Beaumont. The Staff Officer, Captain McGregor, went out with them, mounted. There is no doubt that he took them farther than he should have done. Captain McGregor, R.E., was himself killed. It was inevitable, considering the mark he presented. ‘I’ Company and the Boers were now only about 50 yards apart. Garrett was killed quite early, and every man in the company except 9 was either killed or wounded. Nothing could have been more gallant than their behaviour, many of them being quite young soldiers.’ Casualties in the 3/60th at Ingogo River amounted to 4 officers and 61 other ranks killed or died of wounds, a few of whom were drowned. A further 2 officers and 53 other ranks were wounded. Sold with copied medal roll extract.
The unique Second Mahratta War medal awarded to Major-General Sir Archibald Galloway, K.C.B., Bengal Infantry, one of only five European recipients of the clasp for the Defence of Delhi. Desperately wounded in the windpipe whilst leading the Pioneers at the second sanguinary assault on the fortress of Bhurtpore in January 1805, he was later Director and Chairman of the Honourable East India Company
 Army of India 1799-1826, 2 clasps, Defence of Delhi, Capture of Deig (Lieut. Archd. Galloway, 14th N.I.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, very fine and of the highest rarity £18,000-£22,000 --- Provenance: Christie’s, November 1988; Brian Ritchie Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2005. There were only five European recipients of the Defence of Delhi clasp, all with unique clasp combinations: Sergeant J. Brown, Bengal Artillery - 5 clasps, Allighur, Laswarree, Defence of Delhi, Battle of Deig, Capture of Deig. Riding Master C. J. Davis, 4th Light Cavalry - 4 clasps, Allighur, Defence of Delhi, Battle of Deig, Capture of Deig. Lieutenant (later Major-General Sir, K.C.B.) Archibald Galloway, 14th N.I. - 2 clasps, Defence of Delhi, Capture of Deig. Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-General Sir, K.C.B.) John Rose, 14th N.I. - 3 clasps, Allighur, Battle of Delhi, Defence of Delhi. Major (later General, C.B.) Edmund F. Waters, 17th N.I., later commanding Dingapore Battalion - 5 clasps, Allighur, Battle of Delhi, Defence of Delhi, Nepaul, Ava. Archibald Galloway was the son of James Galloway of Perth and Margaret, née Forester, and was baptised on 12 February 1780 at Blairgowrie. He became a Cadet on the Bengal Establishment in 1799 and was appointed Ensign in the 14th Native Infantry on 29 October 1800. He arrived in India aboard the Lady Jane Dundas on 8 December of that year and was promoted Lieutenant on 18 May 1802. His first field service was as a volunteer with the 2/4th N.I. during the ‘Mud War’ in the Jumna Doab where he participated in the actions at Sansi, Bijaigarh and Kachaura. In September 1804, during the Second Mahratta War, Galloway was present with his parent regiment, the 2/14 Bengal N.I., at Delhi when it was unsuccessfully besieged by Holkar of Indore whose forces outnumbered the defenders by more than ten to one. There were no British regiments present. On 14 September, the seventh day of the investment, Holkar, fearing the approach of the Grand Army under Lord Lake, made a final effort to take the city. ‘They opened a tremendous fire from their artillery, upon the whole extent of the walls, upon the gates and breach, and about sun-rise their infantry were seen advancing in large bodies, in various directions, with scaling ladders. They were repulsed in every quarter, and after some ineffectual attempts of their leaders to get them back to the assault, they retreated, leaving their scaling ladders behind. The remainder of this day they were remarkably quiet, and it was suspected that another attempt would be made in the afternoon. As soon as it was dark, however, they commenced silently sending off their heavy guns, and in the course of the night got off with the whole of their baggage, and by keeping their pickets as usual close under the walls till a little before day-break, completely prevented the garrison from having any suspicion of their movement. As soon as it was ascertained, a party was sent out to harass their rear, but they had too much start, and nothing could be done against them.’ Lake arrived three days later and Galloway joined the Reserve in the pursuit of Holkar. At the end of October he marched with Lake to the relief of a detachment under Colonel Burn and his Major of Brigade, John Rose, who had been cut off by 20,000 Mahratta horse at Shamli, and at length took part in the deliverance of the detachment from its ‘extreme distress.’ From 11 December until Christmas morning 1804, when the fortress fell and the Union flag was planted on the walls, Galloway was engaged in the Siege of Deig. In early January 1805, he arrived with the Grand Army before Bhurtpoor, which the fierce and obstinate Lake, flushed with his string of recent successes, believed would fall in short order despite his deficiency of artillery and lack of sufficiently long scaling ladders. Galloway commanded the Corps of Pioneers (which performed the duty of Sappers) at the siege of Bhurtpore; ‘and led that Corps at the head of two of the most sanguinary assaults of that fortress’. The first assault, made on 9 January, set the tone of the seven-week siege and was beaten back. After further ineffectual cannonading, a second assault was planned for the 21 January, and in this attack Galloway, leading the Corps of Pioneers, and ‘whilst attempting to cross the ditch [...] was desperately wounded in the windpipe.’ After two more unsuccessful assaults, Lake conceded defeat on 23 February and marched off the next day. Events in Europe meant that Britain could ill afford to be at war with anyone but the French, and a peace was arranged soon after with the Rajah of Bhurtpoor and later with Holkar. In 1807 Galloway was appointed Adjutant and Quartermaster of the 14th N.I. In 1811 he became an examiner in Arabic and Persian at the Company’s short-lived College at Fort William. He was promoted Captain on 19 December 1812, and from 1813 to 1821 held the post of agent for the manufacture of gunpowder at Allahabad. He was afterwards the agent for gunpowder at Ichapur until 1829. Having been made Major in 1824, he was transferred to the 29th N.I. (late 2/14 N.I.) and was posted as Lieutenant-Colonel to the 2nd N.I. in 1826. In 1830, during the enlightened Governor-Generalship of Lord William Bentinck, Galloway was appointed a Member of the Military Board. He retired in 1835 and was gazetted Colonel of the 58th N.I. on 22 September 1836. In 1838 he was appointed a Director of the Honourable East India Company and created a Companion of the Bath, on the occasion of the Queen’s Coronation. Galloway, who was made Major-General in 1841, was the author of a variety of books on Indian subjects. His Work on the Law and Constitution of India was considered ‘a judicious, manly, learned treatise, meriting unqualified praise.’ Most notably he produced Notes on the Siege of Delhi in 1804 and On Sieges of India. The latter became the standard work issued to the Army on the orders of the Marquis of Hastings and was used widely in the Company’s military colleges. In 1848 Galloway was made a K.C.B. and the following year became Chairman of the Honourable East India Company, probably the last holder of this appointment. Sir Archibald, who was thanked for his many and varied services to the Indian Government by ‘commanders-in-chief in India on nine different occasions, and by the supreme government of India, or the court of directors, and superior authorities in England on upwards of thirty occasions’, died in Upper Harley Street on 6 April 1850 at the age of 70. As the Army of India medal was not authorised until 1851, an exception must have been made in his case for the issue of a medal.
Renamed and Defective Medals (2): Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (Joseph Norman, 7 Com. 12. Batt. R.A.) re-engraved naming, fitted with a silver straight bar suspension; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (605: 3rd. Cl. Hospt. Asst. D. A. De. Souza No. 2 Mountain Batty.) re-impressed naming in small serif capitals, the first polished and worn, thus fine; the second nearly very fine (2) £60-£80
A fine S.G.M. group of eleven awarded to Captain W. A. F. Maltby, a Trinity House Pilot who for many years was ‘choice’ pilot for the Orient Line: he was appointed an Assistant Officer in the Royal Naval Minewatching Service following his retirement as Senior Pilot at Dover between the Wars, and was awarded the Danish Order of the Dannebrog for piloting the Danish ship Kronprincess Ingrid to the port on the occasion of the State Visit by King Frederick and Queen Ingrid Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (William A. F. Maltby, Wreck of the Blengfell, 17th Oct. 1898) an official ‘exchange issue’ from the original large type; British War Medal and Mercantile Marine War Medals (William A. F. Maltby); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; Denmark, Kingdom, Order of Dannebrog, F.IX.R., Knight’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Danish Household Medal, F.IX.R., with crown, gilt, mounted as worn, generally good very fine (11) £1,400-£1,800 --- Provenance: Spink, June 1989; Dix Noonan Webb, December 2005. William Alfred Flower Maltby was born in Homerton, London on 4 November 1881 and first went to sea as a deck boy in 1895. Serving as a Seaman in the tug Simla, of London, he was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal for his gallantry in rescuing the survivors of the iron barque Blengfell, of Liverpool, which whilst on passage from New York to London with a cargo of 329,300 gallons of naptha blew up off North Foreland, Margate; the Simla ran alongside and at great risk took off the survivors of her crew. Nine of the crew of the Blengfell, including her Captain, J. Johnson, were drowned; the recipient’s obituary notice in the Lloyd’s Shipping Gazette on 6 January 1956 states that Maltby ‘dived among the burning wreckage of a sinking ship.’ Maltby was licensed as a Trinity House pilot in June 1914; the following article appeared upon his retirement 37 years later: ‘After 57 years at sea, 37 of them as a Trinity House Pilot, Captain W. A. F. Maltby, popular Senior Pilot, who lived in Dover for many years, retires at the end of this month. Captain Maltby, who is seventy, now lives at “Orion”, Beach Street, Deal, and during his long service to the sea has served in practically every type of vessel from sailing ship to modern ocean-going liner. Last year he succeeded Captain Douglas Magub as Senior Pilot at Dover, and in May was responsible for piloting the Danish ship Kronprincess Ingrid to the port on the occasion of the State Visit by King Frederick and Queen Ingrid. He has been “choice” pilot for the Orient Line for a number of years and he recently completed his last mission for the Line when he took the Orion - after which he has named his house - from Brixham to Tilbury at the end of her voyage from the Far East. Up to the end of last year Captain Maltby had piloted 3332 ships into port. The vessels had an aggregate tonnage of well over eight million, and he had taken them 213,637 miles. At the recent trials of the liners Orcades and Oronsay, he was in attendance, and spent 36 hours on the bridge of the Oronsay without a break. In addition to the service medals which he holds, Captain Maltby was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in 1901 [sic] for his rescue of a man off Margate after a ship laden with naptha blew up. Last year he was decorated by the Danish King after he had piloted the Kronprincess Ingrid through the Channel. For many years, while he lived in Dover, Captain Maltby occupied Belgrave House, 165 Folkestone Road. Captain Maltby will not go into complete retirement, for he has just been appointed an Assistant Officer for the recently reformed Royal Naval Minewatching Service.’ Maltby died at Deal in January 1956. Sold with copied research.
![Pair: Private R. McCrossan, 60th Rifles South Africa 1834-53 (R. Mc.Crossin [sic]. 2nd. Bn. 60th. Rifles.); Indian Mutiny 18](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/75feb709-2815-42a4-9a90-b0d900c42a90/b65e8288-196f-4ab3-a160-b18500bb1c98/468x382.jpg)
Pair: Private R. McCrossan, 60th Rifles South Africa 1834-53 (R. Mc.Crossin [sic]. 2nd. Bn. 60th. Rifles.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Robt. Mc.Crossan, 2nd. Batn. 60th. Ryl. Rifles) edge bruising and heavy contact marks, the first good fine, the second nearly very fine (2) £300-£400 --- Robert McCrossan attested for the 60th Rifles and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Third Kaffir War 1850-53; in India during the Great Sepoy Mutiny; and in China during the Second China War (entitled to medal with clasps Taku Forts 1860 and Pekin 1860).
A rare First Boer War ‘Laing’s Nek’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private C. Godfrey, 58th Regiment of Foot, later 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, for his gallant conduct in saving the life of a wounded officer on 28 January 1881. Subsequently employed as a Ganger with the Natal Government Railways, Godfrey was present during the celebrated Armoured Train affair at Chieveley on 15 November 1899, in which Winston Churchill, at the time a reporter for the Morning Post, was captured by the Boers Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (1727. Pte. C. Godfrey. 58th. Regt. 28th. Jany. 1881); South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (29/1727. Pte. C. Godfrey. 58th. Foot.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Mr. C. Godfrey. Natal Govt: Rlys:) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £7,000-£9,000 --- D.C.M. Recommendation submitted to the Queen 10 January 1883. The original Recommendation states: ‘Remained with Major Hingeston when that Officer was wounded and not withstanding the heavy fire refused to leave him till he had been carried down the hill and taken to the ambulance.’ A fuller account was published in the Natal Mercury: ‘In the engagement at Laing’s Nek on 28 January 1881, when the Regiment reached the most advanced position to which it was able to attain, many of the officers were shot down. Amongst the number was Major Hingeston, who was mortally wounded. This officer was lying several yards in front of he line exposed to a heavy fire from the Boers, as well as our own line. Private Godfrey, seeing this crept to the front on his hands and knees, took up Major Hingeston in his arms, and carried him through the ranks to the rear. At this time the Regiment was ordered to retire, but Private Godfrey remained with Major Hingeston under fire, refusing to leave him until the engagement was over, and he had conveyed him to the hospital in the rear.’ The Battle of Laing’s Nek On 28 January 1881 Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley’s Natal Field Force, comprising 1,400 men, an 80-strong Naval brigade, artillery and Gatling guns, advanced on the strategic pass in the hills on the Natal-Transvaal border called Laing’s Nek, the aim being, through a series of cavalry and infantry charges, to break through the Boer positions on the Drakensberg mountain range to relieve their garrisons. The British were repelled with heavy losses by the Boers under the command of Piet Joubert; of the 480 British troops who made the charges, 150 never returned. Furthermore, sharp-shooting Boers had killed or wounded many senior officers. Total British casualties were 84 killed and 113 wounded, with the bulk of these suffered by the 58th Regiment of Foot, who lost 74 killed and 101 wounded, around a third of their total strength. Boer losses were 14 killed and 27 wounded. For his gallantry in bringing casualties down from the hillside, Lieutenant Alan Hill, 58th Foot, was awarded the Victoria Cross. This was also the last occasion that a British regiment took its Colours into action; with heavy casualties, four officers in succession were shot down whilst carrying both the Regimental and the Queen’s Colour. The Armoured Train Affair, Chieveley, 15 November 1899 Godfrey was discharged from the Army and remaining in South Africa was subsequently employed as a Ganger by the Natal Government Railways. He saw further service during the Second Boer War, and was one of those railwaymen involved in the Armoured Train affair at Chieveley on 15 November 1899, when an armoured train which had been sent out on patrol was intercepted by the Boers and three carriages were thrown off the line. These vehicles lay between the rest of the train and the track over which it must travel on its homeward journey, and until they were removed the train, the engine and its escort - about 150 men - were exposed to a severe converging fire of rifles and artillery from the surrounding hills. The sole means by which the line could be cleared was the engine, which moving to and fro butted at the wreckage until after about 50 minutes' work it was heaved and pushed off the track. The heroic deeds of the driver of the engine, Charles Wagner, and by the fireman, Alexander James Stewart, were ultimately recognised with the award of the Albert Medal, ‘and other railwaymen involved in the affair included C. Godfrey, A. Branley, W. Yallup, and J. Welsh’. When the engine and tender arrived back at Estcourt with the survivors and examination of the engine showed that it had been hit three times by shell, and the tender had 63 bullet marks. The whole affair was famously presided over by the young Winston Churchill, who was at the time a reporter for the Morning Post - Churchill himself showed great gallantry in this action, following which he was captured by the Boers, ensuring his popular fame six weeks later when he made good his escape. Details of the whole affair were subsequently published in Churchill’s autobiography, My Early Life. Sold with copied medal roll extracts (the QSA Meal roll specifically mentioning ‘Chieveley’ in the Remarks column); and other research.
Pair: Lieutenant and Quartermaster F. K. Tull, Army Service Corps, who was slightly wounded in the neck at Potchefstroom on 26 December 1880, and was Mentioned in Despatches South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (C/1562. Corpl. F. K. Tull. A.S. Corps); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Natal, Transvaal (Lieut: & Q.M. F. K. Tull. A.S.C.) engraved naming, good very fine (2) £800-£1,000 --- Frank Kellow Tull was born in 1858 and attested for the Army Service Corps, serving with them in South Africa during both the Zulu War and the First Boer War. Present at the Defence of Potchefstroom, he was wounded in the neck by gunfire at daybreak on 26 December 1880, and was mentioned in a despatch by the Deputy Assistant Commissary-General at Potchefstroom, W. A. Dunne, to the Commissary-General, South Africa, on 28 March 1881: ‘I wish to especially mentioned Sergeant A. H. Freeman and Corporal F. K. Tull. I cannot speak too highly of these two non-commissioned officers... Corporal Tull I have always found to be excellent in his conduct, expert at his work, and most painstaking in the performance of his duties. He has been of great assistance to me. I beg to recommend these two non-commissioned officers to our favourable notice.’ Tull served in the ranks for 13 years and 289 days, and as a Warrant Officer for 8 years and 59 days, before being commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) on 25 May 1898. He saw further service in South Africa during the Second Boer War, and was present during operations in Natal in 1899 to 1900, and then in the Transvaal, from January 1901 to 31 May 1902 (also entitled to a King’s South Africa Medal with both date clasps). He retired with the rank of Captain.
Eleven: Captain A. G. Magee, Royal Canadian Regiment, who was awarded both the United States of America’s Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals for his services as an Observer during the Korea War, during the course of which he flew 162 sorties United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, unnamed as issued; Air Medal, unnamed as issued; Great Britain, 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star, 1 clasp, Atlantic; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, both Canadian issues in silver, the Second War awards all contemporarily engraved ‘ZB4012 Lt. A. G. Magee.’; Korea 1950-53, Canadian issue, silver (ZB 4012 A. G. Magee.); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea, unnamed; U.N. Korea 1950-54 (ZB 4012 A. G. Magee.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (Lt. A. G. Magee); Canadian Forces Decoration, E.II.R. (Capt. A. G. Magee) mounted court-style for wear in this order, heavily lacquered, good very fine (11) £400-£500 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Arthur G. Magee, a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, was awarded the United States Distinguished Flying Cross for his gallantry during the Korean War (Canada Gazette 13 February 1954), the official citation stating: ‘Lieutenant Arthur G. Magee, serving on temporary duty with this unit from the First Battalion of the Canadian Army, distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as observer in an unarmed T-6 aircraft on 8 October 1952. While attached to the 6147th Tactical Control Group, Fifth Air Force, on a special mission near Kaesong, Korea, Lieutenant Magee and his pilot directed three flights of fighter-bomber aircraft in a series of attacks on enemy installations by marking these installations with smoke rockets. As his pilot circled the target area at low altitude in the face of intense small arms and automatic weapons fire, Lieutenant Magee directed the fighter-bombers in their attack runs. The strikes resulted in the destruction of five personnel shelters, four automatic weapon positions, two houses, one bunker, and one command post. In addition, one secondary explosion was observed and twelve enemy troops were counted killed. His high personal courage and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Magee has brought great credit upon himself, the Canadian Army, and the United States Air Force.’ Sold with copied research.
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