Four: Private R. Cartmell, Manchester Regiment, who was taken Prisoner of War at Dunkirk India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (3524577 Pte. R. Cartmell. Manch.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3524557 Pte. R. Cartmell. Manch.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, IGS a later issue with fixed suspension, one digit of service number double stamped on the first, the first two with minor edge nicks and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4) £200-£240 --- Reginald Cartmell was born on 28 January 1910, at Lytham. He enlisted as a Private in the Manchester Regiment on 31 July 1930. He served with the 2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment in India and Burma, transferring to 1st Battalion in 1934. He served in Palestine during the Arab Revolt, his battalion arriving in Haifa on 15 January 1938. He returned to the 2nd Battalion in January 1938. On 2 September 1939 he embarked with his battalion in the S.S. Biarritz, landing at Cherbourg to join the B.E.F.; by 21 May 1940 the Germans had captured Boulogne and encircled Calais, and Private Cartmell failed to make it back to the beaches at Dunkirk. Taken prisoner, he was reported ‘missing’ prior to 16 June 1940, and was later confirmed as a Prisoner of War by 8 July 1940. He was imprisoned at Stalag XX-A, Torun, Poland. He was reported as being back in Allied hands by 5 May 1945, and continued in service until discharged to the Army Reserve on 19 February 1946. He died at Bolton on 29 March 1983. Sold with a copy of an article in the Orders and Medals Research Society Journal, by Bob Barltrop (September 2017) which features this medal group.
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An extremely rare Silver Cross of Rhodesia group of three awarded to Colour-Sergeant J. “Jock” McKelvie, Support Commando, 1st Rhodesian Light Infantry, late Royal Marine Commandos Silver Cross of Rhodesia (727700 Sgt. J. McKelvie) officially impressed naming on reverse of cross; General Service 1962-2007, 3 clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Northern Ireland (RM. 22353 J. McKelvie. Mne. R.M.); Rhodesia General Service (727700 Sgt. McKelvie, J. (R)) note this last an official replacement stamped ‘(R)’, generally good very fine (3) £4,000-£5,000 --- Provenance: A. A. Upfill-Brown Collection, Buckland Dix & Wood, December 1991; Dix Noonan Webb, June 2008. The Silver Cross of Rhodesia was awarded on just 30 occasions, four of the recipients being members of the Rhodesian Light Infantry. The official citation for McKelvie’s award, signed by Lieutenant-General J. S. V. Hickman, Commander of the Army, in July 1977, states: ‘Sergeant McKelvie was involved in 14 contacts during the period May 1976 to February 1977. In all these contacts he displayed considerable initiative, leadership and gallantry and, together with his men, accounted for over 60 terrorists. The following contacts are particularly noteworthy: On 9 November 1976, Sergeant McKelvie and seven men were dropped by helicopter into an area in which a large group of terrorists were based. The helicopter was subsequently grounded. Despite the lack of air support, Sergeant MeKelvie and his men killed 18 terrorists in the space of three hours. Sergeant McKelvie's conduct during this contact was exemplary. The success of this contact, which was enhanced by the killing of a further five terrorists and the capture of one, was due principally to Sergeant McKelvie’s personal example, gallantry and coolness in the face of determined opposition. On the 24 November 1976, Sergeant McKelvie and seven men were dropped by helicopter into an area containing a group of terrorists. Once again, through determination, aggression and first class leadership, Sergeant McKelvie and his men, who were later joined by additional men, killed 13 and captured two wounded terrorists. Throughout these and other contacts Sergeant McKelvie has inspired confidence and aggressive spirit in his men. His gallantry, example and disregard for his personal safety have been of the highest order and his professional dedication and determination have been an inspiration to all who serve with him. While in a contact in December 1976, he was severely wounded in the thigh and leg causing him to be hospitalised for two months.’ John “Jock” McKelvie was born in Glasgow in July 1946 and joined the Royal Marines in July 1963. During his 12 years with the Marines he served with 40, 41 and 42 Commando R.M., and was present in operations in Borneo, the Malay Peninsula and Northern Ireland - his official certificate of service confirms. Having been promoted Sergeant in January 1974, he took premature voluntary release in June of the following year, and, with much experience of Commando and anti-terrorist operations under his belt, was a natural candidate for the Rhodesian Army, in which he served with distinction, winning the Silver Cross of Rhodesia. Accompanying research suggests that McKelvie left Rhodesia at short notice, as a result of which he never received his Rhodesia General Service Medal. However, as confirmed by an accompanying letter, and with Lieutenant-General John Hickman’s blessing, a replacement was obtained ‘through the official manufacturer’ and mounted for display with his original Silver Cross and General Service 1962 awards in 2001. Sold with the recipient’s original Royal Marines certificate of service, together with congratulatory letters from President Wrathall, Lieutenant-General J. S. V. Hickman, and officers of the 1st Rhodesian Light Infantry, for the award of his Silver Cross; an eye-witness account of the action fought on 9 November 1976, written by one of the helicopter pilots; three official group photographs, and several other associated photographs, letters and confirmation of provenance.
A Great War ‘St George’s Day Raid 1918’ D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Yeoman of Signals A. J. Gamby, Royal Navy, Leading Signaller aboard the Vindictive at Zeebrugge who participated in the ballot for the V.C. Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.11326 A. J. Gamby, Lg. Sig. “Vindictive.” Zeebrugge-Ostend. 22-3 Apl. 1918.); 1914-15 Star (J,11326 A. J. Gamby, Sig. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.11326 A. J. Gamby. L. Sig. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (J.11326 A. J. Gamby. C.Y.S. H.M.S. Hawkins) mounted court-style for display, first three with contact pitting from Star, otherwise nearly very fine or better (5) £2,400-£2,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.M. London Gazette 23 July 1918: ‘For services during the operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of 22nd-23rd April 1918. Ldg. Sig. Albert James Gamby, ON J.11326 (Ch.), H.M.S. Vindictive.’ One of 16 D.S.M’s awarded to the crew of the Vindictive. The Yeoman of Signals on the Vindictive, John Buckley D.S.M., was alone by himself in a special steel shelter on the bridge and by this method it was hoped to give him protection whilst he carried out his important duties. Unfortunately his shelter was hit by a shell as Vindictive approached the Mole, and he was killed. Leading Signaller Gamby was no doubt on the after platform when this happened and called to the bridge to take over the signalling duties. No other signaller from Vindictive received an award, except a posthumous mention for the Yeoman of Signals. Gamby ‘participated in ballot for V.C. granted for operations against Zeebrugge & Ostend, 22-23 April 1918 (LG 23/7/18)’ and his record of service is so stamped. Albert James Gamby was born at Barnet, Hertfordshire, on 30 April 1895. He joined the navy as a Boy 2nd Class in February 1911. By the outbreak of war he was serving as a Leading Signaller aboard H.M.S. Antrim. He was lent from H.M.S. Pembroke to join the crew of Vindictive for the Zeebrugge Raid and was awarded the D.S.M. and participated in the ballot for the V.C. He was promoted to Yeoman of Signals in April 1919 and to Chief Yeoman of Signals in December 1926, and received his L.S. & G.C. medal whilst serving in H.M.S. Hawkins in September 1928. He was Shore Pensioned on 29 April 1934, but when hostilities broke out in 1939 he re-joined the Service and for two and a half years served in the armed merchant cruiser Pretoria Castle until invalided out on 13 July 1942. Sold with copied research, including record of service and a Zeebrugge Museum Association booklet from August 1927.
Pair: Drummer J. Garside, Manchester Regiment Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (1217 Dmr. J. Garside 8/Manch. R.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, mounted court-style; light contact marks to the first, very fine (2) £100-£140 --- Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 April 1918. James Garside was born at Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester, in 1884 and in April 1909 he enlisted in 8th (Territorial) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, with the rank of Drummer. In August 1914 his battalion was mobilised and was destined for Egypt and thence to Gallipoli, landing at ‘V’ Beach on 6 May 1915 with 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. Garside was evacuated from the Peninsula in August 1915, due to sickness or wounds and was repatriated to the U.K. In early 1917 he was transferred to 5th Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, landing in France in March 1917. A few weeks later he was transferred again to the 19th (Service) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, which took part in the second and third battles of the Scarpe (April and May 1917) and the recapture of Vimy Ridge. Private Garside’s award of the Belgian Croix de Guerre was likely for this offensive. He was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order of October 1919. He also served at some point in the Labour Corps and Royal Defence Corps and is entitled to a 1914-14 trio. Sold with extensive copied research and service papers.
France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour (2), Commander’s neck badge, 82mm including ‘triple’ wreath suspension x 62mm, silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, poincon mark to base of tassel, with neck riband; Officer’s breast badge, 56mm including wreath suspension x 42mm, silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, with poincon mark to base of tassel, with rosette on riband, minor enamel damage and some ball finials slightly bent, some enamel restoration and gilding slightly rubbed on first, generally very fine (2) £100-£140
Three: Private A. Talbot, 63rd Regiment of Foot Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (... Talbot. 63rd. Ft.) contemporarily engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (3470 Ambrose Talbot 63rd Foot) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (A. Talbot. 63rd. Reg.) contemporarily engraved naming, pierced with small ring suspension, mounted court-style for display, heavy edge bruising and contact marks especially to the first, with some consequent naming loss, therefore fine; the LS&GC better (3) £300-£400 --- Ambrose Talbot was born about May 1835 at Ardington, near Wantage, Berkshire. He attested for service in the 63rd Regiment at Reading on 30 March 1854. By the August of 1854 his regiment had became part of the 2nd Brigade in the 4th Division in the Crimea. He was taken ill, probably with cholera, shortly after landing in the Crimea and he was evacuated to Scutari Hospital, and repatriated to the U.K. He subsequently saw service in Ireland, Canada, Scotland, and India and was awarded the Army Long Service Medal with £5.00 gratuity in 1872. He was discharged in 1875, stating his intended place of residence as Ardington, Berkshire. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.
Three: Private J. Pullen, Manchester Regiment Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (941 Pte. Jas. Pullen. 63rd. Regt.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (941 Pte. J. Pullen. 1/Manch: R.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, pitting from Star, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £240-£280 --- James Pullen was born in Ripley, Surrey, in 1859 and attested for service in the 16th Brigade at Aldershot on 2 December 1876, stating prior service in the 2nd Royal Surrey Volunteers. He was posted to 63rd Regiment, then serving in India. The 63rd Joined the Kandahar Field Force at Quetta towards the end of the first phase of the Afghan War remaining at Kandahar until it returned to Quetta in May 1881. Although scheduled to return to the U.K. in August 1882 the battalion was re-routed to Egypt and proceeded to Alexandria being stationed at Ras El Tin Barracks, only returning to the U.K. in November 1882. Pullen was discharged from the army on 14 September 1883. He reenlisted on 25 September 1884 and rejoined the 1st battalion of his regiment at Shorncliffe Camp, subsequently serving in Ireland. He was discharged from the army on 12 August 1890, but joined the Royal Fusiliers Militia in August 1892 at Finsbury Barracks. Sold with copied service papers and extensive research.
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (1271. Pte. W. Brassington. 7/Dn. Gds.) edge bruising, otherwise good very fine £600-£800 --- William Brassington was killed in action by a gunshot wound to the chest at the battle of Kassassin on 28 August 1882, taking part in the “Moonlight Charge” of the 7th Dragoon Guards and the Household Cavalry Brigade. ‘On the morning of the 28 August the Egyptians threatened the advanced troops at Kassassin, and the Household Squadrons and the 7th Dragoon Guards, at Mahsamah, were ordered forward. All day, in burning sun and parched with thirst, they remained out in the desert. As all was apparently quiet, Drury Lowe returned at 4.30 p.m. to Mahsamah to feed. Many a time has one seen horses mad with thirst, but surely never so mad as on that day, for no sooner was the canal in sight than the horses took charge of their riders, and rushing down the muddy banks, plunged into the water girth-high, and drank as if they had never drunk before. Before the Brigade got back to camp guns were heard again, and immediately the order came to turnout. It was now dark and the 7th Dragoon Guards, leading, directed the advance by the evening star. A mile or two further on the flashes of the Egyptian guns, as they bombarded the camp at Kassassin, gave a more tangible objective. Drury Lowe, having received orders to attack the enemy's left, made a wide sweep to the north. At this time the 7th were in the first line, the guns of N Battery, R. H. A., behind, and the Household Troops in support. Suddenly the Brigade came under fire from Infantry and Artillery, and the 7th were ordered to wheel outwards to uncover the guns, and then to form up in support of the Household Squadrons. By this time the moon had risen. Squadrons showed up black, and flash answered flash as the opposing guns opened one on the other. The order now came to charge, and away went the Household Squadrons led by the gallant Ewart. Into the Egyptian Infantry and up to the guns thev went, the 7th following as a solid reserve in hand, but a little of this work was enough for the enemy, and they evaporated in all directions. It was now about 9 p.m., and, the firing having, ceased, all returned to camp. The losses of the Regiment on this occasion were: Lieutenant Gribble, 3rd Dragoon Guards, attached, killed, and three men wounded.’ (The Seventh (Princess Royal’s) Dragoon Guards, The Story of the Regiment, refers).
The Q.S.A. awarded posthumously to Private J. Boyle, Royal Marine Light Infantry, killed during the Naval Brigade’s epic action at Graspan in November 1899 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Belmont (8034 Pte. J. Boyle, R:M:L:I: H.M.S. Doris) minor edge bruise, otherwise nearly extremely fine £1,200-£1,600 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Private John Boyle was killed in action at Graspan (Enslin) on 25 November 1899. Four officers and 12 men of the Royal Naval Brigade were killed at Graspan, and one man died of wounds. At 7am on 25 November 1899, at Graspan, the infantry began to work forward under the cover of artillery fire. The Naval Brigade led the storming force, extended in a single line, each man six paces apart from his neighbour. As they began the ascent, advancing by brief rushes in very open order, the hill suddenly appeared to swarm with enemies; from the crest, from behind every boulder poured a murderous fire. The naval officers of the Brigade still carried swords and could be readily distinguished; they were the target of every Boer rifle. Major Plumbe of the Marines, who was gallantly leading in front of his men, closely followed into the storm of battle by his little terrier, staggered, shouting to his soldiers, not to mind him, but to advance. He never rose again. Colonel Verner, who survived the action, afterwards stated that ‘no better kept line ever went forward to death or glory’. However, so terrible was the fire and so annihilating it’s effects upon the Brigade, that the order had to be given to retire upon the last cover. For a moment it seemed as though the attack had failed. But the artillery poured its fire upon the crest of the ridge with more vehemence than ever; and up the slopes in very open order, firing and cheering, came the Yorkshire Light Infantry to the support of the hard pressed Naval Brigade, while the Loyal North Lancashire’s and Northumberland’s too, were sweeping forward upon the line of heights held by the Boers. Once more the Seamen and Marines pressed upward at an order from the wounded Captain Prothero ‘Men of the Naval Brigade, advance at the double; take that Kopje and be hanged to it.’ The men responded magnificently. For the last few yards of the advance the Boers could no longer fire with safety at their assailants. Their very position became disadvantageous as the slopes were so steep that they had to stand up to see their assailants, and in the deluge of shrapnel and rifle bullets which beat upon the summit, this meant almost certain death. Lieutenant Taylor of the Navy and Lieutenant Jones of the Marines, the last in spite of a bullet in his thigh, were the first into the Boer entrenchments at the top. They were closely followed by their men, and the Kopje was won. ‘I shall never forget the faces of some of those who had fallen in the final rush,’ said Colonel Verner, of the dead of the Naval Brigade. ‘They lay about in every attitude, many with their rifles, with bayonets fixed, tightly clutched in their hands, and in some cases still held at the charge. These were the same hard featured, clean cut faces, which but a short time before I had watched laboriously skirmishing across the veldt, now pale in death, but with the same set expression of being in terrible earnest to see the business through.’
Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Ply.12260. Pte. A. Tait, R.M.L.I. H.M.S. Perseus.) good very fine £160-£200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Alexander Tait was born in Glasgow on 7 December 1883 and enlisted into the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry in Liverpool on 15 July 1903. He served in H.M.S. Perseus from 24 February to 19 September 1913, and during the first year of the Great War in H.M.S. Active. He was discharged on 1 January 1920, his character rated ‘Fair’. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extract.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between second and third clasps (Capt. S. W. Dixon. Manch: R:) engraved naming, suspension claw sometime tightened, nearly very fine £200-£240 --- O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 12 December 1919. Sidney Wentworth Dixon was bon on 6 March 1868 in Marylebone. He volunteered for service in 1888 and served for ten years in the ranks of the 20th Artists Rifle Volunteers rising to Sergeant. He was a keen sportsman and competed in the one-mile cycle race in the Royal Military Exhibition (R.M.E.) in 1890, he was also in the London Rowing Club VIII against Oxford University in 1895 and again in 1901. He was commissioned Captain in 3rd & 4th Battalions the Manchester Regiment from 20th Middlesex (Artist’s) Volunteer Rifle Corps on 2 March 1898. He served in the South African War with 5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, being invalided home with dysentery and jaundice. He resigned his commission in March 1903, and took up a position with The Gramophone Company as assistant manager and Company Secretary. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Dixon was commissioned Captain in the Army Service Corps from 31 August 1914, and was posted to the Horse Transport Depot, Deptford. He appears in a group photograph of the officers of the First Reserve Horse Transport (A.S.C.). During the War he suffered from failing health and contracted tuberculosis being discharged by a Medical Board in 1919, retaining the rank of Major. His service papers record that he landed in France in on 1 December 1914, but was invalided home by the 30 of the same month. He appears entitled to medals for his Great War service in France in 1914, but has not been traced in the medal rolls, so may never have applied for their issue, due perhaps to his premature death at the age of 54 on 10 April 1922. His service in the Great War was recognised by the award of the O.B.E. Sold with the recipient’s miniature medal group consisting of O.B.E. (Military) 1st type, Queens South Africa medal with matching clasps, and 1914-15 trio; five prize medals, three from the 20th Artists Rifle Volunteers, School of Arms, one in un-hallmarked white metal (1888-9 Quarter Staff S. W. Dixon), two in bronze both named, with two additional prize medals, one in white metal and another bronze named (R.M.E. Sergt. S. W. Dixon, 1890) and the other (R.M.E. Dixon 1890); together with copied research including a copied photographic image of the recipient.
![Three: Private T. Hoare, Royal Marines Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (... Hoar [sic]. R.M. H.M.S. Diamond.) privately](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/a74f7fc2-42c7-4b1d-b8f4-b0d900c409eb/f25a14aa-cf42-409b-8775-b15e010c788d/468x382.jpg)
Three: Private T. Hoare, Royal Marines Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (... Hoar [sic]. R.M. H.M.S. Diamond.) privately impressed naming; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Ts. Hoare Pte. R.M. H.M.S. Pembroke) engraved naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, crudely plugged with consequent heat damage and fitted with an Indian Mutiny-style suspension, mounted court-style for display, the two Crimean awards both fitted with contemporary top silver riband buckles, contact marks and edge bruising to first and third, these good fine; the LS&GC with minor edge nick, otherwise good very fine (3) £300-£400
Five: Major R. E. W. Cole, Manchester Regiment General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Lt. R. E. W. Cole. Manch.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; Indian Independence Medal 1947 (Major R. E. W. Cole. Manch. R) officially impressed naming, mounted court-style as worn, contact marks and minor edge bruising to the first,otherwise very fine, the last scarce to unit (5) £160-£200 --- Ronald Edward William Cole was born on 24 November 1916, at Portsmouth, Hampshire. He was commissioned from the Royal Military College, into the Manchester Regiment on 27 August 1936, and promoted Lieutenant on 27 August 1939, Captain on 27 August 1944, and Major 27 August 1949. He served in Palestine with the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment. He resigned his commission on 4 March 1958, transferring to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, retiring on attaining the age limit on 24 November 1966. He died on 27 January 1999, at Lee on Solent, his occupation described as Scientific Officer, Ministry of Defence (retired).
Three: Private W. Staveley, Manchester Regiment 1914-15 Star (16805 Pte. W. Staveley. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (16805 Pte. W. E. Staveley. Manch. R.) mounted court-style for display, small verdigris spot to 1914-15 Star, otherwise nearly extremely fine Four: Corporal T. Hughes, Manchester Regiment British War and Victory Medals (19414 Cpl. T. Hughes. Manch. R.); Defence Medal; Civil Defence Long Service Medal, E.II.R., unnamed as issued, mounted court-style for display, a couple of small contact marks to the first two, otherwise better than very fine (7) £100-£140 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 15 August 1917 (Mesopotamia). William Staveley was born in Swinton, Lancashire, in 1880 and following the outbreak of the Great War he volunteered to join the army for ‘the duration of the war’, at the age of 34. After an initial posting to the 3rd Reserve Battalion he was transferred to 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment for service in France later in 1915. He joined his battalion in time for the advance of Neuve Chapelle. Later that year his battalion took part in the Battle of Loos, but by December 1915 his battalion entrained for the south of France and thence by ship to Basrah, Iraq, reaching there in January 1916. Staveley would have participated in General Maude’s Offensive along the banks of the Tigris River in December 1916, and by early March 1917 Baghdad was liberated. Having been Mentioned in Despatches, Staveley returned to the U.K. on leave on 4 July 1918. He was discharged from the army on 28 March 1919. Thomas Hughes was born at Pendleton, Manchester, in September 1885 and following the outbreak of the Great War and the creation of the 6th City Battalion of the Manchester Regiment (6th Manchester Pals) he enlisted on 23 November 1914. His battalion was later designated the 21 Battalion Manchester Regiment and on 9 November 1915 his battalion entrained for Folkestone and joined 143rd Infantry Brigade at Couin, France on 27 November (also entitled to a 1914-15 Star). For the next two years his battalion remained on the Western Front, until in November 1917 his battalion was sent to the Italian Front. Hughes returned to the U.K. in March 1918 and was transferred to the 4th Battalion on the Humber Garrison. Sold with copied service papers and other research.
Three: Able Seaman J. Hepple, Drake Battalion, R.N.D., who was killed in action on the first day of the battle of the Ancre in November 1916 1914-15 Star (TZ. 4153, J. Hepple, A.B. R.N.V.R.); British War and Victory Medals (T.Z.4153 J. Hepple. A.B. R.N.V.R.) together with Memorial Plaque (Jacob Hepple) in card envelope, nearly extremely fine (4) £180-£220 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Able Seaman Jacob Hepple, from Handsworth, Birmingham, was killed in action on 13 November 1916, on the first day of the Battle of the Ancre. He is commemorated by name on the Thiepval Memorial.
A most unusual Great War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain (Retired-Admiral, R.N.) T. P. Walker, Royal Naval Reserve, who was in command of H.M. Armed Yacht Aegusa when she was sunk by a mine in the Mediterranean in April 1916 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R. silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (T. P. Walker. Midn. R.N. H.M.S. “Modeste”); 1914-15 Star (Capt. T. P. Walker, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. T. P. Walker. R.N.R.); Italy, Kingdon, War Cross, mounted as worn, minor chips to wreaths on the first, otherwise early extremely fine (6) £2,400-£2,800 --- 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 June 1918: ‘In recognition of services in the prosecution of the war. Thomas Philip Walker, R.N.R. (Admiral, Retired).’ Italian War Cross London Gazette 22 January 1922. Thomas Philip Walker was born in Bedford on 16 September 1858, and entered the Training Ship Britannia in January 1872. He was appointed Midshipman in Modeste in December 1873 and served with the Laroot Field Force during the operations against the Malays in 1875-76 (Perak Medal and Clasp). He served as Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert in 1879, was a Member of the Naval Intelligence Department from April 1896 to March 1899, and Assistant to the Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves from April 1906 to March 1908. Walker was appointed A.D.C. to the King from February 1907 to 22 March 1908, when he was promoted to Rear-Admiral. He retired in September 1911, advancing to Vice-Admiral (Retired) in May 1913, and to Admiral (Retired) in April 1917. Following his retirement in 1911, Walker was appointed an Assessor under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act to attend Admiralty Appeals in the House of Lords. Admiral Walker was granted a temporary commission as a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve in 1914, and saw active service afloat in command of H.M. Armed Yacht Aegusa, which arrived in the Mediterranean at the end of 1915. On 13 April 1916, Walker received a wireless intercepted message that a submarine had been sighted at 8 a.m., and proceeded towards the reported position. Before arriving there, he received news that the enemy had apparently gone towards the Adriatic, and accordingly altered course, hoping to catch her before sunset. At 5.35 p.m. a steamer was observed about five miles off, and almost immediately afterwards a submarine was seen coming away from the steamer. The submarine fired a torpedo which caused the ship to heel over and sink. In the meantime the Aegusa had opened a deliberate fire at 8,000 yards. The enemy was making off at full speed on the surface in an easterly direction, and soon submerged, thus escaping. A fortnight later the Aegusa was lost off Malta when she was sunk by a mine. There was happily no loss of life and Walker went on to get the D.S.O. as a Retired Admiral in his sixtieth year. He was the author of Seamanship Examination Questions of the Training Squadron, 1891; Editor of Captain Alston’s Seamanship, third edition revised and enlarged; and also of Nare’s Seamanship. Admiral Walker died on 27 August 1932. Sold with copied research including record of service.
India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-21, unofficial retaining rods between clasps (Lt. A. Williams, 2/41/Dogras.) very fine £100-£140 --- Provenance: Bertram Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2004. A. Williams was first commissioned on the Indian Army Reserve of Officers in August 1917 and was appointed a Company Officer in the 2/41st Dogras in April 1918.
King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2), (... Pte. G. Armand. 16th Lancers; Lieut. G. Kemsley. C.C. Forces.) the first with attempted obliteration of naming, regimental number illegible, the second with badly bent suspension bar, otherwise better than very fine (2) £100-£140 --- Gustave Armand was born in Marylebone, London, in 1873 and attested for the 16th Lancers on 16 April 1894. He served in India from 13 September 1894 to 21 January 1900, and then in South Africa during the Boer War from 22 January 1900 to 23 August 1902. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 20 January 1902, and was discharged on 15 April 1906, after 12 years’ service. He later became an Out Pensioner of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
Pair: Quartermaster Sergeant H. C. Dumler, Manchester Regiment Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (78559. Sjt: H. C. Dumler. 2nd V.B. Manch: Regt.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (400401 Q.M. Sjt. H. C. Dumler. 6/Manch: R.) mounted court-style for display, small edge bruise to first, otherwise nearly extremely fine (2) £100-£140 --- Henry Charles Dumler, of German ancestry, was born in Manchester in 1868, and enlisted in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Manchester Regiment about 1888, which on the creation of the Territorial Force became 6th (Territorial) Battalion. He was awarded the Volunteer Long Service Medal as Sergeant per Army Order 206 of 1 November 1905. During the Great War he served ‘at Home’, possibly due to his German heritage, as Quartermaster Sergeant at the Regimental Depot and was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order No. 148 of April 1920. He died in Manchester, aged 79, in 1948. Sold with copied research.
Three: Second Lieutenant R. C. Hadfield, Manchester Regiment, later Commandant and Section Officer Auxiliary Fire Service British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. R. C. Hadfield.); Civil Defence Long Service Medal, E.II.R., unnamed as issued, the first two mounted as worn, the last loose in Royal Mint case of issue, the Great War awards polished, these very fine, the last better Three: Private J. Lydon, Manchester Regiment Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (22546603 Pte. J. Lydon. Manch.) mounted for wear in the incorrect order, generally very fine and better (6) £120-£160 --- Reginald Charles Hadfield was born at Ashton on Mersey on 20 April 1898 and entered No. 16 Officer Cadet Battalion from Manchester Grammar School O.T.C. in 1916. On 28 March 1917 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant and was attached to the Manchester Regiment. He landed in France to join the 21st Battalion, Manchester Regiment at Courcelles on 26 May 1917, as Company Machine Gun Officer, later moving to Belgium. On 3 October the battalion moved into the line to the West of Polygon Wood, and the following day was in action at Broodseinde Ridge in an attempt to complete the capture of the Gheluveldt plateau. Hadfield was wounded on 4 October 1917 and taken out of the line, being evacuated to England. He was promoted temporary Lieutenant on 28 September 1918 and relinquished his commission on 13 February 1920, stating his full time employment as Commandant and Auxiliary Fireman, Hale and Bowdon Joint Fire and Ambulance Committee, Hale, Cheshire. In the 1939 Register he is shown as residing at Altrincham and as Section Officer, Auxiliary Fire Brigade, which would explain the presence of the Civil Defence / Auxiliary Fire Services Medal. He died in 1975. Sold with copied service papers and other research.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant J. Ellis, 6th Battalion, Connaught Rangers, later Royal Engineers, for his gallantry during the ‘Tunnel Trench’ attack at Bullecourt on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, 20 November 1917 Military Medal, G.V.R. (855 Sjt. J. Ellis. 6/Conn: Rang:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6783 Boy 1. Ellis. Connaught Rang:); 1914-15 Star (855 Sjt. J. Ellis. Conn: Rang:); British War and Victory Medals (855 Sjt. J. Ellis. Conn. Rang.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (2021994 Sjt. J. Ellis. R.E.) mounted as worn, nearly very fine and better (6) £500-£700 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- M.M. London Gazette 13 March 1918. James Ellis attested for the Connaught Rangers as a Musician, aged 14 years and 2 months, and served as a Boy soldier with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer Ear. Advanced Sergeant, he saw further service during the Great War, initially in the Gallipoli theatre of war from 21 July 1915, and then with the 6th Battalion on the Western Front. He was awarded an Irish Brigade Certificate for gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on 20 November 1917, on which date the Battalion was involved in an attack on ‘Tunnel Trench’ at Bullecourt, on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, and it was almost certainly for this action that he was awarded his Military Medal. He was discharged Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 28 February 1919, and subsequently served with the Royal Engineers (Territorial Force). Sold with the recipient’s original Irish Brigade Certificate, signed by Major-General Sir William Hickie; a 1916 penny; and copied research.
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (Josep.. Fernie.) attempt to obliterate ‘h’ of first name, edge bruising, nearly very fine £500-£700 --- Provenance: Glendining, June 1910. Joseph Fernie served as an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. Benbow during the operations on and off the coast of Syria in 1840.
Four: Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. Holland, 13th (Irish) Imperial Yeomanry, second-in-command of the battalion when taken prisoner at Lindley on 31 May 1900; late 15th Hussars, the detachment of which regiment he commanded on the Nile Expedition in 1884-85 Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lieut. A. G. Holland, 15th Hussrs.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Capt: A. G. Holland. 15/Husrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lt. Colonel A. G. Holland. 13/Impl. Yeo.) officially engraved naming; Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, contact marks and polished but generally nearly very fine (4) £1,600-£2,000 --- Arthur Gambier Holland was born on 10 September 1848, at Springfield, St. Helens, Ryde, Isle of Wight. The son of George Henry and Charlotte Holland, he was first appointed Cornet in 1869, and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 24 July 1869, spending 27 years with the regiment. He was raised Lieutenant on 18 October 1871; Captain on 29 April 1879; Major on 12 June 1889; and Lieutenant-Colonel (half pay) on 10 September 1896. Holland first served in Afghanistan with the Quetta and Kandahar Field Forces, taking part in the advance on and occupation of Kandahar and Khelat-i-Ghilzai; operations in Yarkistan; action near Takht-i-Pul (with the Thul Chottiali Field Force), gaining a Mention in Despatches at Takht-i-Pul, when his squadron, on 4 January 1879, surprised and defeated a superior force of some 400 enemy cavalry (Despatches 7 November 1879); and the relief of Kandahar. During the second part of the campaign, he served with the 15th Hussars in General Phayre's Division. Subsequently, he saw service in the Transvaal campaign during the first Boer War of 1881, for which no medal was ever issued. During the Nile expedition of 1884-5, Captain Holland commanded the detachment of 2 Officers and 42 men of the 15th Hussars which formed part of the Light Camel Regiment, taking part in the operations with the Desert Column, including the engagement at Abu Klea Wells on 16-17 February 1885. However, he and his men were not entitled to the clasp for the action at Abu Klea on 17 January as they were just outside the area of operations for which the clasp was awarded. Holland came out of retirement and volunteered for Boer War service, being appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, 13th Imperial Yeomanry on 21 February 1900. The 13th Battalion consisted of 45th (Dublin Hunt), 46th (Belfast), 47th (Duke of Cambridge's Own or Lord Donoughmore's) and 54th (Belfast) Companies. The Battalion was known by Roberts as the 'Irish Yeomanry’; however, the 47th Company, formed by Lord Donoughmore, who had been Commander-in-Chief of the Army for 39 years to 1895, was made up of 'men of gentle birth and wealth', who, in order to join the Company, had been required to pay £130 towards the cost of a horse, their own equipment and passage to South Africa, and to donate their pay to the Imperial War Fund for the Widows and Orphans of Soldiers. The 13th Battalion embarked for South Africa in February 1900 and was ordered to join Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Colville's 9th Division at Ventersburg as mounted infantry reinforcements. However, the unit was delayed waiting for forage and Colville left Ventersburg on 24 May 1900 without them. The Battalion was then ordered to Kroonstad and later redirected to Lindley, where on arrival on 27 May 1900, was soon engaged, coming under fire from parties of Boers around the town. Colonel Spragge, the Commanding Officer, withdrew a short distance from Lindley to the point at which he had left his baggage, established a defensive position atop a group of hills and immediately sent a messenger to Colville, requesting assistance. Colville, considering that his force was too weak to be divided, pressed on with his advance and ordered Colonel Spragge to retire to Kroonstad. Colonel Spragge had also sent requests for assistance to Lieutenant General Rundle, some 40 miles south of Lindley, and he immediately set about relieving the pressure on Spragge's force, but was held up at Senekal. Meanwhile, on 28 May 1900, the Boers began their assault on Spragge's position and for the next two days the 13th Battalion concentrated on maintaining its ground. However, on the evening of 29 May 1900, Piet de Wet arrived with reinforcements, bringing the Boer force surrounding the 13th Battalion up to some 2,500 men and most importantly, also brought with him four artillery guns, which were to effectively seal the fate of the Yeomanry Battalion. Colonel Spragge, finding that the grazing for his horses was becoming restricted, ordered Lieutenant Hugh Montgomery and 16 men of the 46th Belfast Company to seize a kopje 2,000 yards to the west of their position, from which Boer marksmen were causing problems. The sortie was a failure and Lieutenant Montgomery and his men were taken prisoner. The next morning, Lord Longford and 40 men of the 45th Dublin Company were sent to take the same kopje and following a bayonet charge, they succeeded. At this point, however, the Boers brought their artillery into action and Colonel Spragge's position began to deteriorate. On 31 May 1900, the Boers attacked the kopje and the Yeomanry began to fall back. Colonel Spragge sent reinforcements to this line, but stated that ‘an irresponsible Corporal raised a white flag and in the confusion the kopje fell’. On seeing the white flag Captain Robin ordered a cease-fire, and as the Yeomanry position was now overlooked and their Colt gun had been put out of action, Colonel Sprage decided to surrender to avoid unnecessary loss of life. Roberts in the meantime had ordered Methuen and Colville to relieve the Yeomanry, but they arrived two days too late on 2 June 1900. Colonel Spragge, Lieutenant-Colonel Holland and the surviving members of the 13th Battalion were taken Prisoner of War; the casualties suffered by the Battalion at Lindley amounted to one officer and 15 men killed in action, 5 officers and 37 men wounded, and 21 officers and 440 men taken Prisoner of War. Holland was second in command of the battalion under Colonel B. Spragge, who was subsequently cleared of blame at the enquiry which followed some months later at Barberton on 25 September 1900. Lieutenant-Colonel Holland, who had been released from captivity, went on half pay on 21 October 1900. Lord Roberts said of the disaster: ‘I consider General Colville mainly responsible for the surrender of the Irish Yeomanry and would not let him retain his command.’ Subsequently, in December 1900, Broderick, the new Secretary of State for War, announced that he agreed with Roberts that Colville was ultimately responsible for the surrender at Lindley. Colville was consequently removed from command at Gibraltar and when he would not retire he was made to do so. Sold with research including copies of rolls, details of the enquiry, original copy of Holland's Birth Certificate and war services.
Pair: Ship’s Corporal First Class G. Kenley, Royal Navy, later Royal Fleet Reserve, who was serving aboard the ironclad H.M.S. Alexandra when the quick actions of Gunner Harding prevented a detonation above her magazine - his valour was later recognised with the V.C. Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (G. Kenley A.B. H.M.S. “Alexandra.”); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, light contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £140-£180 --- George Kenley was born in Aberdeen on 17 August 1861 and joined the Royal Navy at Portsmouth as Boy 2nd Class on 17 January 1878. Posted to Alexandra (affectionately known by the crew as ‘Old Alex’) on 10 August 1880, he witnessed the bombardment of Alexandria on 11 July 1882 by a fleet of 15 Royal Navy ships; during the action Alexandra was struck by a 10-inch shell which passed through her side and lodged in the main deck. Gunner Israel Harding, hearing a warning shout, rushed up from below, picked it up and flung it into a tub of water, thus saving countless lives. He was later presented with the Victoria Cross by the Prince of Wales upon returning to England. Raised Able Seaman 1 September 1881 and Ship’s Corporal 1st Class 9 November 1893, Kenley was shore pensioned at Portsmouth on 25 August 1899. He served a further seven years with the Royal Fleet Reserve and was discharged on his 50th birthday.
Pair: Private W. E. Donohoe, 26th (3rd Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916 British War and Victory Medals (26-17 Pte. W. E. Donohoe, North’d Fus.) extremely fine (2) £180-£220 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- William Edward Donohoe was born in Ashington, Northumberland, and attested there for the Northumberland Fusiliers, serving with the 26th (3rd Tyneside Irish) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 1916. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, on which date the Battalion, alongside the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Tyneside Irish Battalions, as part of the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division, was tasked with attacking the German positions at La Boisselle. Advancing at 7:45 a.m. the Battalion came under heavy fire from the moment the assembly trenches were left, but ‘advanced as if on parade under heavy machine gun and shell fire’, with small parties holding out in shell holes in No Man’s Land. The other Tyneside Irish Battalions fared no better: the 1st Tyneside Irish came under intense machine gun fire, and only one officer with a handful of men reached the objective before being forced to retire; the 2nd Tyneside Irish maintained the advance until ‘only a few scattered soldiers were left standing, the discipline and courage of all ranks being remarkable’; and the 4th Tyneside Irish managed to reach the objective, before being forced to retire, having suffered over 70% casualties. In total the tremendous casualties inflicted upon the four Tyneside Irish battalions were among the worst ever recorded on the Somme, with the 2nd Tyneside Irish suffering 489 casualties, and the four Battalions in total suffering well over 2,000 casualties. Donohoe was amongst those killed. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Sold with a Tyneside Irish cap badge; and copied medal index card and other research.
Eight: Lieutenant (Quartermaster) T. G. Milner, Manchester Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (4591 Pte. T. G. Milner. Manchester Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4591 Serjt: G. [sic] Milner. Manch: Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. T. G. Milner.); Defence Medal; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (No. 4591 Cr. Sgt. T. G. Milner. Manch. Rgt.) contemporarily engraved in the usual regimental style; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (4591 W.O. Cl. 1 T. G. Milner. Manch. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (4591 C. Sjt: T. G. Milner. Manch: Regt.) mounted court-style for display; together with two silver regimental prize medals, the first engraved ‘Laver Hockey Tournament 1908 - Col. Sergt. Milner 1st Manchester Regt’, and the second ‘S.A.F.L. 1904 - Band & Drums Won By Band Sergt, Milner 1st Manchester Regt. Under Singapore Association Football League’; contact marks overall, the Boer War pair polished and worn, generally good fine or better (10) £500-£700 --- Thomas George Milner was born in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, and attested for the Manchester Regiment aged 15 at Preston in May 1895. He served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, and was promoted Corporal in November 1900; Sergeant Drummer in April 1906; and Colour Sergeant in February 1908, serving with the Regiment in India from 1904 until 1913. Milner served during the Great War as Acting Regimental Sergeant Major with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Manchester Regiment. He was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant and Quarter Master in the 16th (Service) Battalion, Manchester Regiment (1st City), on 18 April 1918, and served with them on the Western Front from 24 April 1918. He was demobilised to reside in Devizes, Wiltshire, in September 1921, later moving to Cleethorpes and Grimsby, and served as an air raid warden for Grimsby Corporation during the Second World War. Sold with copied service papers and other research including a copied photographic image of the recipient in later life.
A post-War B.E.M. group of four awarded to Acting Warrant Officer Class II T. J. Harris, Royal Regiment of Wales, late Welch Regiment, who was wounded in action in Korea on 10 December 1951 British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (22339963 Act. W/O. II. Terence J. Harris, R.R.W.) edge prepared prior to naming, with Royal Mint case of issue and outer named card box; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22359963 Pte. T J. Harris. Welch.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (22359963 Sgt. T. Harris. Welch.) mounted court-style for display; together with the related miniature awards (the Korea Medal a 2nd issue type), these mounted court-style for wear, light contact marks, generally good very fine (4) £700-£900 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 3 June 1972. The original Recommendation, dated 7 February 1972, states: ‘Sergeant (Acting Warrant Officer Class II) Harris has been a Permanent Staff Instructor with this Battalion since 20 June 1969. His first 21 months with the Battalion, at that time designated The Welsh Volunteers, were spent with B Company at Newport where he was the senior Permanent Staff Instructor and as such did exceptionally good work. In April 1971, however, when the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve expanded, the Welsh Volunteers were disbanded and used to form a nucleus for two new Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve Battalions. At this stage Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris was transferred to Abertillery where a completely new Company was to be formed as part of the new 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales. Throughout his Army career Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris has always been noted for his energy and drive. At no time, however, have these qualities been more apparent and more profitably directed that in the last ten months. As the only Permanent Staff Instructor and regular soldier in the new Company, the main burden and responsibility for recruiting men for this new sub-unit devolved on Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris. He willingly and enthusiastically accepted the challenge. In the succeeding ten months, by his quiet determination, exceptional zeal and remarkable resourcefulness Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris has raised over 60% of his full establishment and is still drawing in fresh recruits. In itself this is a commendable effort but is not rested there. Using his forceful personality and dynamic drive he has forged this raw material into a thoroughly effective and happy company. No man has or could have worked harder to make this new Company a success. Their keenness, efficiency and cheerful 'esprit de corps' reflect the inspired leadership high standards and dedication of Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris. It is typical of his unassuming character that he disclaim all credit for this. Nevertheless he alone, by his tireless effort and selfless devotion - far above the normal call of duty - and his superb personal example has accomplished this notable success. Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris is due to leave the Army in September 1972 and official recognition now of his many years of loyal service, and his recent magnificent contribution to the effectiveness, standing and sense of purpose of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve and this Battalion would be justly deserved and warmly welcomed by his regiment.’ Terence James Harris was born in 1931 and attested for the Welch Brigade at Brecon on 6 September 1950. He served with the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment in Korea from 10 October 1951 to 28 January 1952, and again from 13 February to 8 November 1952; he was wounded in action on 10 December 1951, sustaining gun shot wounds to his left leg and right thigh. He saw further active service in Cyprus from 17 December 1957 to 12 December 1958. He was discharged on the completion of his engagement with the rank of Staff Sergeant (Acting Warrant Officer Class II) on 5 September 1972, after 22 years’ service. Sold with the recipient’s Certificate of Service Red Book; original Telegram to the recipient’s mother stating he was wounded in action on 10 December 1951, with original letter from his Platoon Commander to his mother stating her son was wounded by a Chinese ‘burp’ gun in the legs during a Chinese attack; original letter from the Infantry Record Office confirming the telegram stating he had been wounded but had no further details as yet; and original letter from the Infantry Record Office stating her son had sustained Gun Shot wounds to his left leg and right thigh; 4 original letters congratulating the recipient on the award of his BEM; three photographs; an ‘Images of Wales’ history of the Welch Regiment book; and a Welch Regiment cap badge and Welch Regiment medallion.
Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (1604 Pte. Sl. Barthorpe. 63rd. Regt.) minor edge bruise otherwise nearly extremely fine £80-£100 --- Samuel Barthorpe was born at Ragnall, Nottinghamshire, in 1849 and attested for service in 50th (Queen’s Own) Regiment at Mansfield on 9 December 1869, before transferring to the 63rd Regiment, at Cork, Ireland, on 20 June 1870. His regiment embarked for Alexandria on 7 October 1870, and thence to Bombay, serving in Gwalior and Umballa. His regiment served in the closing stages of the first phase of the Afghan War, joining the Kandahar Field Force at Quetta. Barthorpe remained at Jullundur with the ‘service companies’ of his regiment and was posted to Kala Abdulla, before returning to Bombay where he embarked for England on 10 November 1881. He left the army shortly after his return to the U.K., and by 1911 he was the inn keeper at the Butcher’s Arms, Laneham, Lincolnshhire. He died at Retford, Nottinghamshire, in 1932. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Private T. Mountford, Manchester Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Relief of Ladysmith, Belfast (3414 Pte. T. Mountford. Manchester Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3414 Pte. T. Mountford. Manch: Regt.) mounted court-style for display, minor edge bruising, good very fine (2) £160-£200 --- Thomas Mountford was born at Nantwich, Cheshire, in 1868 and attested at Ashton Under Lyne for service in the Manchester Regiment on 29 October 1891. He served in Ireland with 1st Battalion until he transferred to 2nd Battalion, serving in India at Dinapur and then to Bombay. He returned to the U.K. and was discharged to the Army Reserve ‘time expired’ on 6 December 1898. On the outbreak of the South African War he rejoined 1st Battalion and embarked for South Africa on 30 November 1899, joining the Ladysmith Relief Column. He remained in South Africa until he was selected as one of the small party to represent the regiment at the Coronation of King Edward VII, which was however postponed due to the illness of the King. He was demobilised on 1 July 1902, reverting to the Army Reserve. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Mountford enlisted in the Special Reserve and initially served in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, but transferred to the 1st Battalion, landing in France on 24 November 1914 serving at the Front in the First Battle of Ypres. Later in the War he transferred to the Labour Corps and to the Royal Engineers; for his war services in the Great War he received the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals. Sold with copied research.
An Interesting Great War Q-Ship D.S.M. group of four to Petty Officer R. E. Hunt, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his conduct in the Q-ship Baralong at the time of her alleged war crimes against German submariners; he later survived the sinking of Q-15 and for his conduct on that occasion was mentioned in despatches Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.9250. R. E. Hunt, A.B. H.M.S. Baralong.); 1914-15 Star (J.9250, R. E. Hunt, D.S.M., A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. Oakleaf (J.9250 R. E. Hunt. L.S. R.N.) mounted as worn contact wear and polished, good fine or better (4) £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Spink, November 1998. D.S.M. London Gazette 13 September 1915. ‘H.M.S. Baralong Sinking of German submarine U27 19 August 1915.’ One of three men recommended for the D.S.M. for this action. M.I.D. London Gazette 18 September 1917. ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ ‘Their Lordships appreciation of this man’s conduct on the occasion of the loss of H.M.S. Salvia [Q-15] on 20/6/17. He will be mentioned in the London Gazette’ (record of service refers). Robert Ernest Hunt was born in Hoxton Old Town, London, in November 1894 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in November 1912. Advanced to Able Seaman in late 1913, the outbreak of hostilities found him serving in the Battle Cruiser H.M.S. Indomitable, but shortly afterwards he joined the Antwerp, the ex-G.E.R. Passenger Steamer Vienna, only the second Q-Ship to be commissioned by the Admiralty. He subsequently participated in the first Q-Ship/U-Boat encounter of the War, when in March 1915, the Antwerp went to the rescue of three Merchantmen which had been sunk by the U-29. Although a bloodless encounter, it did persuade the Admiralty that smaller, less well-known ships were going to be required if German U-Boat Commanders were going to be tempted into action. Accordingly, the Antwerp was relegated to transport duties and her guns transferred to the newly acquired Tramp Steamer Baralong. With the guns went Able Seaman Hunt, who would shortly witness the destruction of the U-27 and the suspicious demise of half a dozen German Submariners in circumstances which would quickly attract allegations of war crimes. The ‘Baralong incidents’ Baralong was taken up for service as a Q-ship on 2 August 1914, and in the Spring of 1915 was armed with 3 concealed 12-pdr guns and went out looking for enemy submarines in the busy shipping lanes where they were wreaking havoc. Baralong had gone as quickly as possible to the scene in the Irish Sea off the Old Head of Kinsale after the Cunard liner Lusitania had been torpedoed and sunk without warning by the German submarine U-20 on 7 May 1915, with the loss of 1,198 lives, but the submarine was well clear of the area when she arrived. This caused outrage in the U.K. and in the neutral world and when next in port, Baralong’s Captain was told verbally by the Admiralty that it “was most undesirable to take any enemy submarine prisoners”. This statement may well have led to the subsequent ‘Baralong incidents.’ On 19 August 1915, the German submarine U-24 torpedoed and sank the unarmed White Star liner Arabic with the loss of another 44 lives and while Baralong was again heading at full speed towards that position off the Old Head of Kinsale, she came across yet another German submarine, the U-27 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wegener, in the act of shelling the Leyland liner Nicosian which was on passage from the U.S.A. with a cargo of mules and carrying American muleteers. Baralong, flying the (neutral) American flag and with the American flag painted on shields on her sides, was manoeuvred into a favourable position about 2.5 miles away and when the submarine emerged from behind the liner to investigate this stranger, Baralong opened fire and sank the submarine in a couple of minutes with accurate gunfire. The German survivors jumped into the water and ten of them were shot dead whilst either swimming or else clinging to ropes hanging from the Nicosian. During a lull in the action, the Nicosian’s Master was taken on board Baralong and he reported that there were an unknown number of German survivors from the submarine aboard the liner. Baralong then went alongside the liner and her embarked Royal Marines lead by Sergeant Collins leapt across, spread out and, on the orders of Baralong’s Captain, despatched the four enemy boarders that they encountered on the spot. The U-boat Commander, who had also survived the sinking of his boat, was also shot dead in the water whilst apparently holding his hands up in surrender. A total of thirty-seven men, including the U-Boat Commander lost their lives altogether. When the liner subsequently reached Avonmouth, myriad stories abounded about what had happened, some of which were pure sensationalism, but nonetheless reached the American press and Germany demanded the arraignment of Baralong’s Captain and crew on charges of murder! This was naturally turned down, especially after Germany was asked to put one of her own destroyer Captain’s on trial at the same time for being responsible for the murder of the crew of a British submarine which had run aground in enemy waters and Germany refused to do so! The Captain of the Baralong, Lieutenant Godfrey Herbert, Royal Navy, was awarded the D.S.O. for his actions in sinking the U-27. As a Q-ship, Baralong operated under the name Wyandra and later accounted for a further German submarine on 24 September 1915, this time it was the turn of U-41 which was despatched in the Western Approaches to the English Channel with the loss of thirty-five men, although there were two survivors. These two unfortunate men clambered aboard an abandoned boat after Wyandra left the scene, only to return three hours later and deliberately ran the boat down. After this, German fury knew no bounds. For her own safety, and the safety of her Captain and crew, Baralong was transferred to the Mediterranean and was subsequently paid off from naval service on 22 October 1916. In order to protect her identity, the Admiralty came up with an elaborate deception scheme and it was decided to delete all references to Baralong - this even included the entry in Lloyd’s Register. This was done and the ship herself was renamed Manica and even assumed her sister’s Official Number of 112782 to complete the disguise. Now if this original Baralong were to fall into enemy hands her Captain and crew would not be arraigned as murderers. Nicosian also had her name changed to Nevisian for the same reason, although the references to her as Nicosian were not deleted from the Registers. This now posed a problem for the Admiralty as the original R.F.A. Manica was released from Naval service in 1917 and obviously could not return home as Manica as well. The Admiralty therefore conveniently purchased her; cylindrical tanks were built into her holds and she arrived at Hong Kong as the oiler Huntball, under the management of Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd. Her Managers purchased her in 1920 and renamed her Phorus in 1922, and she served them as an oil tanker until 12 August 1930, when she arrived at Singapore to be laid up. She was sold for scrap the following year and proceeded to Miri to load a final cargo of oil, departing there for Osaka, where she arrived on 3 July 1931. After discharging her final cargo, she was broken up. The ‘other’ Manica (ex-Baralong) was sold by her original owners in 1922 to Japanese owners who renamed h...
India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (138 Sowar Zaid Gul Khyber Rifles); British War Medal 1914-20 (S-M. Tor Khan. N. Waz. Mil.) small erasure between name and unit; Indian Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (2) (33 Nk. Nur Khan, 694 (M.T. Coy) R.A.S.C.; 3837 B. Lce. Naik Saida Khan. 58th. Rfls. (F.F.)) polished and worn, fine and better (4) £100-£140 --- Tor Khan served successively with the Kurram Militia, the Khyber Rifles, and the North Waziristan Militia. He was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 3rd Class, on 1 September 1897, and the Order of British India on 26 June 1908. He was awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal for service with the Waziristan Force, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches, for services on the North West Frontier of India in 1908 (London Gazette 14 August 1908); and again during the Third Afghan War (London Gazette 3 August 1920). A contemporary account of Tor Khan describes him as ‘[o]ne of the more colourful characters who served the British cause along the Northwest Frontier of India. Reputedly the offspring of a Gordon Highlander, he was admitted to the 3rd Class of the Indian Order of Merit for conspicuous gallantry during the successful defence of an outpost against greatly superior numbers of dissident tribesmen in 1897. He obtained great notoriety for this action after shooting dead a Mullah who, approaching the outpost Koran in hand, had attempted to persuade the defenders to desert. His young son was also no disappointment to his father. When no more than nine years old, he cut the throat of his seven year old cousin (this son went on to become a Subadar in the Tochi Scouts, winning first the 2nd Class and then the 1st Class IOM for gallantry on the Frontier).’ (The Frontier Scouts by C. Chenevix Trench refers) Sold with copied research.
Three: Private W. H. Baguley, Manchester Regiment, who was taken Prisoner of War in Mesopotamia; he later served in the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps as part of the B.E.F., and died at home after the Dunkirk evacuation General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (62333 Pte. W. H. Baguley. Manch R.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, minor edge bruising to first, otherwise better than very fine (3) £140-£180 --- William Henry Baguley was born at Runcorn, Cheshire, in December 1900 and attested for service in the Manchester Regiment in January 1919. He served for a few months with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion but was posted to 2nd Battalion on 16 October 1919. His battalion was under orders for service in Mesopotamia and sailed from Tibury on 13 February 1920. His battalion served at Tikrit, Hillah and Baghdad with the ‘Manchester Column’, and Baguley was one of those taken prisoner of the Arabs at Hillah; eventually after several months of forced marches and harsh treatment at Najef, the prisoners were handed over to the British Army on 19 October 1920. Following his release he remained with his battalion and was sent to India until he returned to the U.K. ‘time expired’ on 3 December 1925. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Baguley re-enlisted into the Manchester Regiment but was posted to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, many of whom served in France with the B.E.F., including Baguley. He was posted to No. 54 Company, A.M.P.C. as acting Sergeant on 4 January 1940 and was one of those who made it to the beaches at Dunkirk and returned to the U.K. on 2 June 1940. He died in the U.K. on 3 May 1941 of ‘natural causes’, no doubt exacerbated by his time in France in the B.E.F., and is buried in Warrington Cemetery. Sold with copied service papers and extensive research.
Pair: Sergeant Isaac Hunt, 61st Foot, who was wounded at Chilianwala in January 1849, and died of cholera in Mauritius in February 1860 Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Isaac Hunt, 61st Foot.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (I, Hunt. 61st Regt.) the first with a few marks, nearly very fine, the second good very fine (2) £700-£900 --- Isaac Hunt was born at Ditton, Lancashire, and originally enlisted into the 81st Foot at Ormskirk on 10 May 1843, aged 19 years 9 months, a toolmaker by trade. He transferred to the 61st Foot (No. 2290) on 1 July 1844, and sailed with the regiment for India in the summer of 1845. He took part in the Second Sikh War and was wounded at Chilianwala on 13 January 1849, although he was clearly fit enough to take part in the action at Goojerat five weeks later. He is, however, shown as ‘sick’ in the following two quarterly musters. Promoted to Corporal in July 1850, he was placed in confinement on 28 February 1852 and reduced to Private. Upon the outbreak of the Mutiny he was serving with the wing left at Ferozepore until joining the H.Q. wing at Delhi, where he took part in the great assault on 14 September 1857. He was promoted to Corporal once again in January 1858 and accompanied the 61st on their 800-mile march to Bombay, leaving Delhi in April 1859, and then on to Poona where cholera broke out. Returning to Bombay the regiment sailed for Mauritius, cholera breaking out again on the voyage. Hunt was promoted to Sergeant on 22 January 1860, but died of cholera on 20 February 1860, at Port Louis, Mauritius. His Punjab medal was forwarded with his accounts to his father, Peter, of Farnworth, Lancashire. Note: Another Isaac Hunt of the 61st (No. 1850) received these two medals but he was not present at Chilianwala. He was discharged in October 1860 and died in Wiltshire in 1902. A Mutiny medal on its own graded as nearly very fine sold by Spink in March 1977, making the above pair better attributable to Isaac Hunt (No. 2290). Sold with copied research including muster details, pay lists, &c.
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 3 clasps, 1 June 1794, 14 March 1795, 23 June 1795 (Wm. Truncheon.) good very fine £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Colin Message Collection. According to the Admiralty claims list, William Truncheon served under the alias of John Smith as Able Seaman on Russell at the actions of 1 June 1794, and 23 June 1795. Truncheon’s claim for the 23rd June clasp was recorded, with a few others, under 14 March 1795 in error, but Russell was not at that action, nor was it possible to be there and at the 23rd June. This no doubt accounts for the presence of three clasps on this medal. William Truncheon, alias John Jones, was born at Croydon, Surrey, and was a volunteer from the holding ship Enterprise and rated as Landsman, aged 22 when he joined Russell in March 1793. He must have had some seafaring experience as he was rated Able Seaman on 1 April 1794. The battle of 1 June 1794, the first major fleet action against the French Revolutionaries resulted in the enemy losing one ship-of-the-line and six more captured. Russell had 8 killed and 26 wounded. At ‘Bridport’s action’ on 23 June 1795, a French fleet was again defeated and three more ships-of-the-line captured. There were 3 killed and 10 wounded aboard Russell. Sold with research notes compiled by Colin Message
East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Lake Nyassa 1893 (J. Coghlan, A.B., H.M.S. Adventure.) very fine and rare £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. Only 28 clasps were awarded to naval European officers and men who manned the boats Adventure and Pioneer. These ships were built at Jarrow-on-Tyne, sent out to Africa in sections, and hauled over two hundred miles through virgin country and jungle to the edge of the lake where they were assembled. This remarkable undertaking, reflected in the appropriate names given to the ships, was in many ways the precursor, or even the inspiration, of the Naval Expedition to Lake Tanganyika in 1915. John Coghlan was born in Preston, Lancashire, in November 1870. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in October 1896 aboard the Boy Training Establishment H.M.S. Impregnable. Rated Boy 1st Class in November 1887, he joined his first ship H.M.S. Royal Adelaide in November 1887. He was transferred to Defence in September 1888, and it was in this ship that Coghlan was advanced to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class on 10 November 1888. He returned to Royal Adelaide for a short period before joining Mariner in December 1888. Whilst in this ship he advanced to Ordinary Seaman 1st Class in July 1889, and to Able Seaman in July 1891. Coghlan next served aboard the following Ships Victory I (March 1891), Excellent (May 1892), Victory I (April 1893), Raleigh (June 1893), and Adventure (August 1893). In this ship he took part in the action on Lake Nyassa in November 1893. Coghlan returned to Victory I in January 1894 and next joined Active in May 1895. He advanced to Leading Seaman but was disrated to Able Seaman in April 1896. In this rank Coghlan served in the following ships: Victory I (May 1896), Anson (October 1896), again being advanced to Leading Seaman in May 1898, Hibernia (April 1899), Anson (June 1899), Duke of Wellington (February 1900), and Alexandra (April 1900). He joined the Coastguard Service in May 1900 with rank of Boatman and served in the stations at St Mary's, Brixham and Torquay. Coghlan was pensioned ashore in June 1911 and joined Portsmouth R.F.R. He was recalled on 2 August 1914 to H.M.S. Vernon, but released on 19 October to take up a shore appointment in the dockyard. Coghlan’s short active service did not qualify him for the British War Medal.
A Great War Western Front ‘Trench Raid’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private T. McLean, Manchester Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (275935 Pte. T. Mc Lean. 1/7 Manch: R. - T.F.); 1914-15 Star (3245 Pte. T. Mc Lean. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (275935 Pte. T. Mc Lean. Manch. R.) mounted as worn, the 1914-15 Star an officially issued replacement marked ‘Duplicate’, good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917. Thomas McLean was born at Bradford, Yorkshire, on 29 August 1894. He enlisted ‘for the duration of the war’ into 7th (Territorial) Battalion the Manchester Regiment on 1 December 1914 and served with his battalion in the Gallipoli campaign, landing at ‘V’ Beach on 7 May 1915. He was evacuated to Mudros on 26 October 1915, suffering from dysentery, but rejoined his unit on 20 November 1915. In March 1917 his battalion moved to France and the Western Front. In April 1917 the battalion was at Havrincourt, where they occupied ‘Manchester Trench’ and ‘Cheetham Hill’. A trench raid had been carefully planned for 3 July 1917, on ‘Wigan Copse’, and the raiding party ‘leaped out and rushed into the copse like howling dervishes’; three prisoners were taken, at least eight Germans were shot or bayonetted, and the raiding party returned to the British lines without a single casualty. Second Lieutenant Hodge was awarded the Military Cross for the raid and Sergeant McHugh and Privates Thomas McLean and Braithwaite received Military Medals, these were the first decorations to the battalion on the Western Front. McLean was invalided home after an accident whilst playing football, transferred to the 8th (Reserve) Battalion, and was discharged from the army on 8 November 1918. He died in 1973. Sold with extensive copied research.
A fine ‘Officer Casualty’ 1914-15 Star awarded to Lieutenant H. W. T. R. Seymour, Royal Navy, who was commended by the Australian Authorities in 1909, but was killed in action in 1916 when H.M.S. Russell struck two mines near the entrance to the Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. W. T. R. Seymour. R.N.) nearly extremely fine £80-£100 --- Hobart William Theodore Rudolph Seymour was born in Florence on 7 February 1887, the son of Edward Roe Seymour, Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. He spent his childhood at Osborne House, Tunbridge Wells, and joined the Royal Navy on 15 January 1902; posted to the training ship Britannia, Seymour was later awarded the Ryder Memorial Prize and graduated from the Royal Naval College at Greenwich in 1906, his professors repeatedly noting a talent for French and German. Appointed Sub Lieutenant on 15 September 1906 and Lieutenant on 1 April 1909, his Service Record subsequently notes ‘appreciation expressed’ by the Government of Victoria for his advice at the time of the search for the S.S. Waratah which disappeared in July 1909 with 211 passengers and crew en route from Durban to Cape Town; no trace of her was ever found and her fate remains unconfirmed. Promoted Captain of Torpedo Boat 38, Seymour spent the next three years on the China Station (Hong Kong) from 23 December 1911 to 9 May 1914, but was recalled to England and transferred to the pre-dreadnought battleship Russell on 6 March 1915. Sent to the Mediterranean to support the Dardanelles campaign, Russell joined the Cape Helles evacuation from 7 to 9 January 1916 and was the last battleship of the British Dardanelles Squadron to leave the area. Steaming off Malta on the morning of 27 April 1916, Russell soon foundered after striking two mines in quick succession laid by German submarine U-73. The devastating explosions and subsequent fire led to the loss of 27 officers and 98 ratings, a notable survivor being Lieutenant-Commander John H. D. Cunningham, later First Sea Lord from May 1946. Aged 29 years, Seymour is commemorated upon the Memorial Tablet in the Church of St. James, Royal Tunbridge Wells.
An unusual Diplomatic Service group of four awarded to Sir Edward Henry Goschen, 2nd Baronet, who served in the Boer War with the 47th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Company, 13th (Irish) Imperial Yeomanry and was taken prisoner when the entire 13th Battalion was surrounded and captured en masse at Lindley on 31 May 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (14182 Tpr: E. H. Goschen, 47th Coy. 13th Impl: Yeo:) fitted with silver ribbon brooch; Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, 4th Class breast badge with rosette, gold and enamels, blue enamel chipped in obverse centre; Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 3rd Class neck badge, silver, gold and enamels, with full neck cravat; Egypt, Sultanate, Order of the Nile, 3rd Class neck badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, with full neck cravat, white enamel flaked on lower arm, the first toned, extremely fine, otherwise very fine or better (4) £600-£800 --- Edward Henry Goschen was born on 9 March 1876, the eldest son of the Right Honourable Sir William Goschen, who became the British Ambassador to Berlin, and was in that appointment on the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. Goschen was also the great-grandson of George Joachim Goschen, the famous publisher of Leipzig, and a grandson of William Henry Goschen, who founded the banking firm of Fruhling and Goschen in London in 1815. He was nephew of the first Viscount Goschen, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and a first cousin of Sir Harry Goschen, Baronet, of Goschens and Cunliffe. Edward Henry Goschen was educated at Eton, which he joined in 1889 as a member of Mr R. A. H. Mitchell’s House, where he acquired his lifelong love of cricket. He then followed his father into the Diplomatic Service, and in 1897 was appointed an honorary attaché to the Embassy in Saint Petersburg. However, when the Boer War in South Africa broke out, he then volunteered his services and attested for one year’s service as a Trooper (No. 22) with the Special Corps of Imperial Yeomanry on 7 February 1900, before his unit was retitled, and he then continued in the service as a Trooper (No. 14182) with the 47th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Company, a unit of the 13th Battalion of Imperial Yeomanry, bound for service in South Africa, and as such embarking on 17 February 1900. He was then present on operations in the Cape Colony, the Orange Free State, and the Transvaal, being one of 140 men of his company present on operations. The Battalion to which the 47th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Company joined out in South Africa, the 13th Battalion, was, as one writer put it, ‘the Imperial Yeomanry dream’; Wyndham, the creator of the Yeomanry, had wanted it to represent the cream of British manhood and the ‘13th Battalion took his scheme to its ultimate extreme’. The 45th Company from Dublin had Masters of Foxhounds and the sons of much of Ireland’s legal establishment in its ranks. The 47th Company, as mentioned, came from some of England’s wealthiest families, and the 46th and 54th from Belfast represented Ulster Unionism’s commitment to the Imperial cause. The battalion’s officers included Lord Longford, Lord Ennismore, the Earl of Leitrim, James Craig, later Lord Craigavon, and Sir John Power of the Irish whiskey distilling family. Politics, money, patriotism and class, the combination was irresistible to the press and public, some of whom dubbed the battalion the ‘Millionaires’ Own’. On arrival in South Africa, the 47th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Company, well connected as well as well heeled, only spent a week in the unpleasant surroundings of the Imperial Yeomanry camp at Maitland. Admittedly their reward was weeks of training on the edge of the Karoo Desert north of Cape Town, but life there was eased by the arrival of the Dublin men to keep them company and of a spectacular array of food, drink and other luxuries which had been sent out from England. On 15 May the two companies arrived in Bloemfontein to meet the Ulstermen, who had come straight from Maitland, and just a week later the newly assembled battalion was given its first orders for active service. The 13th Battalion then joined General Colvile’s 9th Division, which was short of mounted troops, and as such the yeomanry was detailed to link up with Colvile at Ventersburg, south of Kroonstad. But, because they were delayed waiting for forage, they did not arrive in time, and Colvile had by then begun his march east to Lindley and then north to Heilbron, taking the right flank during Robert’s march on Johannesburg. The 13th Battalion Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Basil Spragge, was an experienced regular infantry officer, and he was then handed a telegram, the origins of which are still a mystery. The telegram essentially ordered Spragge to join Colvile at Lindley. Colvile later denied all knowledge of this telegram, and there is speculation that the Boers had tapped the telegraph lines and sent a bogus message to lure the yeomanry to destruction. It was still a risky deception, as Colvile himself was heading to Lindley with the 9th Division, and if he had done so, and then lingered long enough, the yeomanry would have caught up with him, providing much needed strength to the 9th Division. Colvile’s intelligence officer later confirmed that Colvile did not give this order, but despite the speculation it does not seem likely that the Boers did send the order, and more than likely it was just down to bad staff work at British headquarters who had issued the orders to Spragge, and failed to inform Colvile. Nevertheless it played right into the hands of the Boers. The 13th Battalion marched for Lindley at daybreak on 26 May, and that afternoon met a party of armed Boers who claimed to be going to Kroonstad to surrender, and Spragge naively disarmed them, invited them to lunch and then allowed them to go. The Boers promptly returned to Lindley with much valuable information. As Private Maurice Fitzgibbon of the Dublin company, son of one of Ireland’s most senior judges, recalled: ‘The scouts of the Boer commandos at Lindley had been permitted to enter our lines to find out our numbers, our armaments and the amount of our supplies, had even had lunch with us and all this information and hospitality at the expense of a few out-of-date rifles and a few perjured oaths.’ The Boers now knew of the yeomanry’s approach, but Colvile did not. When the yeomanry rode into Lindley the following afternoon, it quickly became apparent that all was not well. Colvile was gone, and no letter or message of any sort left, the town being ominously deserted and the people too frightened to give any information. Within an hour of the yeomanry’s arrival, the Boers opened fire from some of the houses, and the yeomanry were ordered to evacuate the town, which was commanded by hills and difficult to defend, and then retreat to where they had left their baggage some three miles to the west on the Kroonstad Road. After fighting a rear guard action they regrouped on the northern bank of the Valsh River. Spragge now made the most crucial decision of the entire Lindley affair. He could either make a run for it, or set up his defences and send for help. His decision to do the latter was later heavily criticised, but in reality Spragge could not have ordered a move that night, although there was a window of opportunity, albeit a brief and highly risky one, the following morning. By the time the entire Battalion had regrouped outside Lindley it was 5pm; the men were tired, and so were the horses, which had come 87 miles in three days. If Spragge had abandoned the b...
Six: Private A. J. Oxby, Gordon Highlanders, who was wounded in North-West Europe post D-Day 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all privately engraved ‘Pte. A. J. Oxby. 3250906. Gdn. Hlds.’, mounted as worn, very fine Four: Private F. Ashworth, Highland Light Infantry, who was killed in action in North-West Europe on 23 September 1944 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue addressed to Mr. H. Ashworth, 78 Greenwood St., Oldham, Lancs’, extremely fine (10) £120-£160 --- Alfred J. Oxby was born on 28 June 1917 and attested for the Gordon Highlanders, serving with the 51st Division in North Africa, Italy, and in North-West Europe. He is recorded as having been wounded in North West Europe, although the date is not recorded. A note with the lots states that he ‘fought at the Second Battle of El Alamenin, in Italy, and took part in the Normandy Landings, and was taken Prisoner of War in June 1944, in the immediate aftermath of D-Day’, although this information remains unconfirmed, and Oxby’s name does not appear in the latest published transcript of Prisoners of War of the British Army held in Germany. Frank Ashworth was born on 15 May 1920, the son of Mr. Harry Ashworth, of Oldham, Lancashire, and served with the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry during the Second World War. He was killed in action on 23 September 1944 during the Battalion’s advance into Holland, and is buried in Valkenswaard War Cemetery, Holland. Valkenswaard was the first village to be liberated on the main line of the British advanced into Holland in September 1944.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Natal, Belfast (7159 Pte. H. Dunn. Vol. Coy. Manch: Regt.) minor edge bruise otherwise good very fine £80-£100 --- Herbert Dunn was born at Crumpsall, Manchester, in 1875, and at some point he enlisted in the 5th (Ardwick) Volunteer Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. On the outbreak of the South African War he was one of those who volunteered for active service and was selected for service in the 1st Volunteer Service Company, though he was initially held in reserve. In June 1900 the reserve section joined the first contingent near Ladysmith, and were engaged with the enemy near Amersfoort. The 1st Volunteer Service Company thereafter performed convoy escort and garrison duties. The 1st V.S.C. embarked from Durban on 26 April 1901, returning to Southampton on 22 May, and Dunn was discharged on 29 May 1901. Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extracts which confirms that he was additionally entitled to the South Africa 1901 clasp.
Four: Private F. Parrott, 80th Regiment Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Drumr. Frederick Parrott, 80th Regt.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Dr. Fredk. Parrott, 80th Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Fredk. Parrett, 80th Regt.) note spelling of surname; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1526 Fredk. Parrott, 80th Regt.) attempted erasure of rank on the first two, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and better (4) £2,400-£2,800 --- Frederick Parrott was an Army “Brat” who became a Drummer in the 80th Foot, aged 14, on the death of his father, Sergeant Ambrose Parrott of the West Kent Militia, who died suddenly on 14 October 1838, at the age of 44, leaving his wife to care for their children, which led to the decision for Frederick should join the Army. This he did, and two weeks later, on 29 October - aged 14 years and 4 months - he travelled from Maidstone to Rochester to enlist. At that time the 80th Foot, later the South Staffordshire Regiment, was stationed at nearby Chatham; this was the Regiment he joined as a Boy Drummer. His enlistment must have been a great relief to his mother, since the year before, in July 1837, Frederick’s elder brother Edwin, then 17, had been convicted and transported as a convict to New South Wales, Australia. Frederick Parrott was to serve for 21 years in the 80th Foot; was never court-martialled; was five times entered in the Regimental Defaulters Book; earned five good conduct badges; and qualified for four medals. He travelled all over the world, taking part in four major and bloody battles in which the 80th Foot earned Battle Honours to display with pride on their colours and drums. By a strange coincidence, his first overseas posting was to join his Regiment in Australia, where they had gone to escort convicts and were stationed in Windsor, New South Wales. Their duties at this time were, as the Regimental History puts it, ‘[e]ngaged in the not very congenial task of suppressing convict riots’. In 1840 he left Australia and went with his Regiment to New Zealand where he served until 1845 when, suddenly, the 80th were posted to Agra in India to take part in the Sikh War. His first action was at the Battle of Moodkee. It was a bloody bayonet battle in which two of his fellow drummers were killed and two wounded, one so severely he had to be invalided back to England. At the next battle, Ferozashah, the 80th were at the head of the advancing British column when they were stopped by artillery fire. The Commander in Chief rode up and spoke to them: ‘My lads we will have no sleep until we have those guns’. The 80th fixed bayonets charged and captured the guns. Then with good discipline reformed at the head of the Column and marched past the Commander in Chief who commented, ‘Plucky dogs, we cannot but win with such men as these’. In the final battle of the war, at Sobraon, the 80th were part of Sir Robert Dick’s Division tasked to secure the entrenchments. It was another fierce affair using the bayonet, in which Sir Robert Dick was killed and the British suffered 2,500 casualties. For the part they played in the war, the 80th added three Battle Honours to the Colours of the Regiment. After a period stationed in India, the 80th were off again, called to arms and posted to take part in the developing war in Burma. Under command of Lieutenant-Colonel G. Hutchinson, they took part in the storming and capture of the Grand Dragon Pagoda in Rangoon, which meant crossing 800 yards of open ground under heavy fire and clearing the gunners manning the walls using the bayonet. The 80th then boarded H.M.S. Enterprise and sailed up river to take part in the capture of Prome. It was another battle where the 80th advanced with their bayonets and, as their Commanding General, General Goodwin, later said, ‘Most gallantly drove the enemy out of their position’. After further engagements, including at Dinebaw, the Regiment was posted back first to Calcutta and then in 1854 on home to Chatham having been granted another battle honour for their bravery in Burma - ‘Pegu’. Their stay in the UK was again brief; a short period in Canterbury, then to Fort George in Scotland and then, in 1855, to Portsmouth. However, the 80th were soon called upon to go overseas for another impending war. This time it was to South Africa in preparation for the Kaffir War. On 10 July 1856 they sailed to Cape Colony in South Africa, and were based at Fort Beaufort. But it was to be a short stay; the Mutiny had broken out in India, and in November 1857 the Regiment was despatched to Calcutta. Throughout the suppression of the Mutiny, the 80th were in constant action against bands of rebel soldiers. At the battle of Fort Simree, they again advanced with the bayonet and, in the General Officers Report it is stated: ‘The advance of the 80th under Captain Young excited my warmest approbation’. They fought bitter actions at Dhana and the Campaign in the Oude, and finally finished at the scene of the notorious massacre at Cawnpore. The 80th Regiment gained the Battle Honour ‘Central India’ and Frederick Parrott gained the Medal without clasp. Parrott remained in India with his Regiment stationed at Saugor in the Central Province in 1860, and then in Jhansi in 1861. On 30 November 1861 he was recommended for the Long Service and Good Conduct medal and this was approved by the Commander in Chief, India on 19 October 1862, granting him an annuity of five pounds. Frederick now sailed back to England and on 4 August 1863, after 20 years and 348 days abroad, he was finally discharged from the Depot in Maidstone. He had been in the Army for 21 years 37 days but, as he had joined under age, his pension was only for 15 years and 125 days. Sold with copied discharge papers and other copied research.
A Great War ‘Gallipoli’ M.M. group of five awarded to Private J. Pearson, Manchester Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Gallipoli in early June 1915 Military Medal, G.V.R. (275420 Pte. J. Pearson. 7/Manch. R.); 1914-15 Star (1822 Pte. J. Pearson. Manch: R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (275420 Pte. J. Pearson. Manch. R.); Victory Medal 1914-19, this neatly erased; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R. 1st issue (John Pearson) with named ‘Lancs.’ card box of issue, mounted court-style for display; together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, numbered 484083; and an Old Contemptibles Association lapel badge, light contact marks, very fine and better (5) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette: 30 January 1920 (’The Prisoner of War Gazette’). Awarded under the Terms of Army Order 193 of 1919. John Pearson was born at Harpurhey, Manchester, on 2 May 1894 and enlisted as a Private in the 7th (Territorial) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment on 29 May 1913. Following mobilisation his battalion sailed from Southampton on 10 September 1914, destined for Egypt as part of the first Territorial Division to leave England on active service; the 7th Battalion landed at ‘V’ Beach, Gallipoli, on 7 May 1915. On 4 June 1915 his battalion attacked the Turkish trenches; John Pearson, serving in ‘B’ Company, was reported as missing in action and it was not until October 1915 that he was confirmed a prisoner in Turkish hands. He was one of four men of the 1/7th Battalion Manchester Regiment who were taken prisoner by the Turkish Forces at Gallipoli. In February 1916 the Foreign Office confirmed that he was one of the wounded P.O.W.s interned at Kiangeri camp, moved to Bozanti, and later transferred to Afion Kara Hissar. He remained in the hands of the Turks until he was repatriated to the U.K. and disembodied on 4 April 1919, being awarded a Silver War Badge No. 484,083. Sold with extensive copied research.
A Great War 1918 ‘Second Battle of Sambre’ M.C. group of four awarded to Acting Captain G. H. Potts, Lancashire Fusiliers, for his gallantry during the crossing of the Oise-Sambre Canal on 4 November 1918, during the last set-piece battle fought by the B.E.F. on the Western Front: the battle resulted in the award of 7 Victoria Crosses and, notably amongst the casualties, the death of the poet Wilfred Owen Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (17607 L. Cpl. G. H. Potts. Lan: Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. G. H. Potts.) nearly very fine (4) £800-£1,000 --- M.C. London Gazette 10 December 1919: T/2nd Lt. George Henry Potts, Lanc. Fus., attd. 16th Bn. ‘During the attack on the Oise-Sambre Canal on 4th November, 1918, he was one of the first to attempt to make the crossing, under heavy fire, of the bridge constructed by the R.E.’s When the advance was continued on the enemy’s side of the canal, he led his company with great skill and courage, capturing all his objectives.’ George Henry Potts attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers on 1 March 1915 and served with the 19th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 November 1915. Appointed Lance-Corporal and afterwards promoted to Acting Sergeant, he returned to England and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers on 25 June 1918. He saw further service during the Great War on the Western Front attached to the 16th Battalion from 18 August 1918, and was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry during the crossing of the Oise-Sambre Canal, during the Second Battle of Sambre, on 4 November 1918. This was the last set-piece battle fought by the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front during the Great War, when 13 Divisions attacked the German positions over a 20-mile front, resulting in the award of seven Victoria Crosses and, notably amongst the casualties, the death of the poet Wilfred Owen. Potts ended the War in the rank of Acting Captain. Sold with copied research.
Cabul 1842 (Arthur McCoy. 13th Regt) contemporary engraved naming in serif capitals, fitted with original steel clip and bar suspension, edge bruising, very fine £400-£500 --- Arthur McCoy was born in Co. Louth, Ireland, and attested for the 13th Foot in July 1839. He served with the regiment during the First Afghan War and was additionally entitled to a Defence of Jellalabad 1842, Mural Crown medal (he suffered as seizure which led to partial paralysis ‘whilst at work on the ramparts of Jellalabad 18th November 1841’, service papers refer) . McCoy returned to England in July 1844, and was out-pensioned the following month.
Three: Sergeant E. Rushton, Royal Artillery Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Inkermann, Sebastopol, unofficial rivets between clasps (Bombdr. E. Rushton 12th. Battln. Royl. Arty.) contemporarily engraved naming in predominately large serif capital; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (458. Serjt. E. Rushton, 12th. Brigade. RA); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, plugged and fitted with a Crimea-style suspension, minor edge bruise to first, generally good very fine (3) £240-£280
Capture of Louisbourg 1758, silver medal by Thomas Pingo, 44mm, small metallurgical imperfections in obverse field, otherwise better than very fine and rare £3,000-£4,000 --- As part of a multiple offensive during the later French and Indian wars, a British expedition commanded by General Jeffrey Amherst with about 9000 British regular troops and 500 Colonials, supported by 40 ships under Admiral Edward Boscawen, invested the French fortress of Louisbourg. The expedition landed under heavy fire on 8 June 1758, and besieged the garrison which, after intense fighting, surrendered on 27 July. The young Brigadier-General James Wolfe distinguished himself in the fighting, resulting in the first major victory of the war. Wolfe’s subsequent victory at Quebec the following year established British supremacy in Canada.
A Great War ‘Gallipoli’ D.S.O. group of four awarded to Surgeon Captain A. F. Fleming, Royal Navy, commanding 1st Field Ambulance, R.N.D., at Anzac Cove Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Staff Surg. A. F. Fleming. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Surg. Lt. Commr. A. F. Fleming. R.N.) minor chips to the wreaths of the first, otherwise good very fine (4) £1,400-£1,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2000. D.S.O. London Gazette 6 September 1916: ‘In recognition of services with the Royal Naval Division in the Gallipoli Peninsula.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 5 November 1915. Aloysius Francis Fleming was born in Ireland in 1876, and educated at Queen’s College, Cork, and Clongowes (L.R.C.P. and S.Edin., L.R.F.P.S.Glas.). He was appointed Surgeon in the Royal Navy in May 1903. In December 1914 the Medical Unit of the Royal Naval Division was first put into training at Crystal Palace and from them, the complements of three Field Ambulances were selected, command of the 1st Field Ambulance being given to Staff Surgeon Fleming. He accompanied the 1st Field Ambulance, Royal Naval Division, to the Dardanelles, and landed with the Marine Brigade of the R.N.D. at Anzac Cove on the evening of the 28th April, 1915. He was mentioned in General Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch, dated 22nd September, 1915, and awarded the D.S.O. He became Surgeon Commander in 1919 and retired with the rank of Surgeon Captain. He died in St Mary’s Hospital on 7 July 1944.
A rare Great War campaign group of three awarded to Captain A. W. A. Davies, Royal Army Medical Corps, late Uganda Railway Volunteers, Mombasa Marine Defence, who served as a Dresser, H.M. Hospital Ship Goorkha, attached Indian Medical Service, was wounded, and was awarded a Silver War Badge 1914-15 Star (Dresser A. W. A. Davies.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. W. A. Davies.) nearly extremely fine, the first rare to rank (3) £300-£400 --- Albert William Abell Davies was born in Aldsworth, Gloucestershire, on 20 May 1890 and was educated at the University of London, before completing his medical training at Guy’s Hospital. A member of the Uganda Railway Volunteers, Mombasa Marine Defence, he served during the Great War initially as a Dresser in H.M. Hospital Ship Goorkha as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 19 May 1915, before being commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 24 November 1916. Promoted Captain on 24 November 1917, he was subsequently wounded (University of London O.T.C. Roll refers), and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 451,961. He died in Sanderstead, Surrey, on 23 July 1960. Sold with copied research, including the 1914-15 Star roll extract for H.S. Goorkha, in which the recipient is one of only two Dressers listed.
Pair: Private Edward Broadley, 53rd Foot Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846, 1 clasp, Sobraon (Edwd. Brodley 53rd Regt.) note spelling of surname [as medal roll]; Punjab 1848-49, 1 clasp, Goojerat (Edwd. Broadley, 53rd Foot.) minor marks, otherwise good very fine (2) £600-£800 --- Edward Broadley was born at Glasgow and enlisted into the 91st Foot on 27 February 1844, and joined the regiment at Parkhurst Barracks, Isle of Wight, on 22 March. He volunteered to H.M.’s 53rd Regiment on 1 July 1844, and embarked for India on 24 August 1844. He took part in the first and second Sikh wars, being present at the battles of Aliwal, Sobraon and Goojerat, for which he received two medals and two clasps. During his time in India he served at Cawnpore, Delhi, Umballa, Ferozepore, Lahore, Goojerat, Rawalpindi, and at Peshawur. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 February 1851, but died at Peshawur on 23 August 1853. Sold with copied research including full muster details, medal roll extracts, and a history of the 53rd Regiment in India by Peter Duckers for the Shropshire Regimental Museum.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (Tpr. J. Burdon. Murray’s Horse) two small edge bruises, otherwise good very fine and rare £300-£400 --- This irregular corps was raised in Natal, mostly in Pietermartizburg district, during the last week in October 1899, and took the field in the Anglo-Boer War early in November, about 80 strong, under the Hon. Thomas Keir Murray, ex-Colonial Secretary of Natal, who held the rank of Commandant. Within a week the strength had risen to 150. No military rank was held by members, they being purely civilians who had volunteered to assist, in a military capacity, the military forces in any possible way in face of the invasion of Natal by the enemy forces early in the war, their rapid advance down country, and the investment of Ladysmith. The members provided themselves with everything - horse, arms, equipment, uniforms and other necessaries at their own cost, and they served without any pay or allowances, except rations and ammunition. Their particular efficiency lay in their value as scouts, guides, interpreters and intelligence work. Many of the members had an intimate knowledge of the districts operated in, were good Zulu and Afrikaans linguists, and full of veld craft. This force was really a commando, with an organisation, or absence of any, similar to the system of Boer commandos, but with military discipline. The first and urgent duties of the corps were that of patrolling the districts south of the Tugela River, and putting up at big a show of force as possible during the critical fortnight following the retirement of the British forces across the Tugela River, closely beset by the enemy in strength, pending the arrival of reinforcements from Cape Town and overseas, being hurried northwards to stem the tide of invasion. These duties Murray's Horse carried out with great determination and efficiency. Thereafter a portion of the force was released from their military duties, but Commandant T. K. Murray, and the bulk of the unit, now known as Murray's Scouts, remained on active service with the Natal Field Force until the relief of the beleaguered Ladysmith on 28th February 1900, when they, too, were released from military service and returned home. (A Short History Of The Volunteer Regiments Of Natal And East Griqualand, Past and Present, compiled by Colonel Godfrey T Hurst refers.)
Three: Sergeant J. Prince, Manchester Regiment, later Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (89981 Pte. J. Prince. Manch. R.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45 mounted court-style for display, minor edge bruising to first, otherwise very fine and better (3) £100-£140 --- John Vincent Prince was born on 28 September 1900 in Crumpsall, Salford, Lancashire, and enlisted into the Regular Army at Shoreham on Sea on 31 January 1919. He was posted to 2nd Battalion the Manchester Regiment with service number 89981, but was later re-numbered 3514031. His battalion sailed for Mesopotamia (Iraq) on H.M.T. Macedonia on 13 February 1920 and reached Baghdad in April, being stationed at Tekrit. It is likely that he served with his regiment in the so called ‘Manchester Column’ at the disastrous ambush and Battle of Hillah on 24 July. He was discharged from the army in February 1923, his ‘services no longer required’. Prince re-enlisted following the outbreak of the Second World War on 26 October 1939 and was posted to 18th Labour Company Royal Army Ordnance Corps at their Cardiff Depot. Now a Sergeant, he was posted to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps and served in France with the B.E.F., landing there to join 39th Labour Company. His company formed part of the improvised brigade formed by Lieutenant Colonel J. B. H. Diggle, known as ‘Digforce’ part of the Beauman Division fighting in the defence of the Andelle and Bethune rivers on 8 June 1940 against the 5th and 7th Panzer Divisions. His unit was evacuated as part of ‘Operation Ariel’, and was embarked in H.M.T. Lancastria when it was sunk off St. Nazaire on 17 June 1940; it is possible, but unconfirmed, that Prince was on board the Lancastria when it was sunk, and it is recorded in his service papers that he returned to the U.K. a few days later. In September of the same year he was tried by Field General Court Martial for ‘Desertion and absence without leave’, and being found guilty of the latter charge was reduced to Private. He was again charged with being a deserter in June 1941, and was again found guilty of being Absent Without Leave and of ‘losing his clothing and necessaries’. He was discharged in 1942 and was described as ‘permanently unfit for any form of military service’. He died on 19 May 1962 at Salford. Sold with copied research.
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Amazon 13 March 1806, 6 Jan Boat Service 1813 (Joseph Payne.) good very fine £8,000-£10,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Glendining’s, October 1911; Fergus Gowans Collection (1947-71); Christie’s, November 1985; Colin Message Collection. 30 clasps issued for Amazon’s action, and 25 for the Boat Service action. Joseph Payne is confirmed on the rolls as a Landsman at the first action and as an Ordinary Seaman in the boats of Bacchante at the latter. It is a unique name and a unique clasp combination. Payne, born in London and with a stated age of 22, was a Landsman on the Amazon 38 (turned over from Victory), at the former action and an ordinary seaman in the boats of Bacchante at the latter. His surname is given as ‘Paine’ (no. 362) in the Amazon's books (ADM 36/16336). He appears as Joseph Payne (no. 217) on Bacchante's and like most of the crew had joined directly from the Amazon. His age on commissioning in November 1811 is given as 28. A Joseph Payne was baptised on 4 December 1785 in St Saviour's, Southwark, who is very likely to be this man. Two French ships, the Marengo 80 and Belle Poule 40 were returning to their home port from the East Indies, when they were spotted by the Foudroyant, Amazon and London. Amazon (Captain William Parker) pursued the Belle Poule and London, the Marengo. Both the French ships were brought to action off Brest and forced to surrender. The Boat Service clasp was awarded to crews of boats from Bacchante and Weazle who attacked French gunboats in Otranto harbour and captured five of them. Sold with research notes compiled by Colin Message.
A Great War D.S.O. group of five awarded to Captain W. F. Pollard, Royal Naval Reserve, commanding the Mine Sweeping Base at Malta from 1917-18 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the lower suspension bar inscribed ‘February 22, 1918’, with integral top riband bar, the reverse engraved ‘W. F. Pollard’; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. W. F. Pollard, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr. W. F. Pollard. R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., the reverse hallmarked London 1911, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine --- 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 22 February 1918: ‘William Faulkner Pollard, R.D., Lieutenant-Commander (Acting Commander), Royal Naval Reserve. In recognition of his services in mine-sweeping operations abroad during the period June 1916 to June 1917.’ William Faulkner Pollard was born in London in 1871, and served in H.M.S. Worcester from 1885 to 1888, before going to sea in the sailing vessel British Merchant. In 1894, he transferred to steam as Second Mate of the cargo ship Aldgate, after which he saw service with the China Mutual Company. Captain Pollard subsequently joined the old Red Star Line as a junior officer, and served in all the famous ships of that Company, both as Officer and Master before and after the First World War, as well as in the ships of its equally well-known associated Company, the Atlantic Transport Line. Captain Pollard was a real Western Ocean sailor, coming from an old sea-faring family of many generations, and was one of the best known Captains sailing in and out of the ports on the eastern seaboard of the U.S.A. His last command before retirement in the middle 30’s was the Atlantic Transport Line’s last ship in service, the S.S. Maryland, which he finally handed over to the ship-breakers before stepping ashore for the last time. Called up as a Lieutenant-Commander in 1914, he served as ‘Number One’ in H.M.S. Macedonia at the battle of the Falkland Islands, before being sent out to Malta in 1916 as Commander in charge of Minesweepers and Auxiliary Patrols, for which work he was awarded the D.S.O. After the Armistice, he was appointed Mine Clearance Officer, and was three times officially thanked by the Admiralty. He was promoted Captain, R.N.R., in 1925, and died in 1959. The group is sold with a quantity of original documents, including Warrant for D.S.O., three Commission documents, two Board of Trade Continuous Certificates of Discharge, and two Admiralty letters of thanks for services whilst at Malta.
India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (1221 Rfm. Tejbir Thapa, 1-1 G.R.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (3844 Rfn. Sherbahadur Gurung, 1-4 G.R.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (21134536 Rfn. Jagarsing Thapa. 2/6 GR.) small test cut to edge of first, minor edge nicks, very fine and better (3) £100-£140 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 20 December 1957: 21134536 Rfn. Jagarsing Thapa, 6th Gurkha Rifles ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished conduct in operations in Malaya during the period ending 30 August 1957.’
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