There are 596780 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribeQuantity of mixed militaria to include pair of size three RAF blue canvas gaiters, British army issue wrist compass with canvas straps stamped with crow’s foot arrow ref No. 6B/2593 serial number 11537B/58, pair of Karl Zeiss Jena binoculars in crows arrow stamped leather case, together with a First World War trench lamp made by MAW London stamped with crows foot WD arrow.
First World War British medal trio to include 1914-15 star, 1914-18 British war medal and 1914-19 victory medal all impressed to R.M.A 10921 GR. H.W. Shearing. Together with another First World War pair of 1914-18 war medal and 1914-19 victory medal impressed to 26608 Pte. W. Shearing, Royal Lancaster Regiment (5)
First world war British medal pair to include 1914-18 war medal and victory medal impressed to 77158 Air mechanic 2nd class T.B. Taylor RAF, 2nd battalion aircraft park, transferred into RAF from R.N.A.S. or R.F.C.- Rank:- Air Mechanic 2nd Class, Trade:- Driver (Mechancial Transport). They transferred into the Royal Flying Corps between March and May 1917. Together with further 1914-19 victory medal impressed to Gallipoli casualty 674 Pte William Talbot Barron Australian infantry A.I.F 6th Battalion killed 10/08/1915 aged 51 (3)
Quantity of Second World War Polish insignia, cap badges and buttons to include silver bullion ‘Poland’ red shoulder titles, 2nd Polish corps silver bullion divisional patch, private first class epaulette slips, silver bullion British 8th army divisional patch, second Polish corps screw back bap badge with black felt backing stamped 041177 to reverse, Polish screw back officers eagle cap badge marked: Guzpol B.M to reverse, Badge of the Security Corps of the Krakow District of the Home Army, number 279, together with further Military adaptation of the Foresters screw back badge stamped 1262 to reverse, and 14 Polish military buttons dated 1937-8 (24)
First World War British 1914-18 war medal impressed to R.5831 H. Jacobs A.B Royal Navy Volunteer reserves, together with British Red Cross Society medal for war service 1914-18, silver Royal Tournament medallion engraved ‘1939 Tug Of War, 110 stone, army, R.A.S.C, Feltham, Dvr J. White, ARP silver badge, H.M Customs preventive service shoulder title, Lovat scouts enamelled badge and various other cap badges etc. varying dates, crowns, manufactures and conditions
First World War British casualty medal trio and death memorial plaque comprising of 1914-15 star, 1914-18 war medal and 1914-19 victory medal impressed to 11996 cpl Samuel Jackson, A company 7th battalion, East Yorkshire regiment who died on the 12th may 1916 aged 22 years old and is buried and commemorated at BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY VIII. A. 111. France. together with pair of brass East Yorkshire regiment shoulder titles and cap badge.
Quantity of First World War British medals to include a medal pair comprising of 1914-15 star and 1914-19 victory medal impressed to K.11926 O.J.Dowding STO.1.R.N and a First World War British medal trio comprising 1914-15 star, 1914-18 war medal and 1914-19 victory medal impressed to 1281 Gnr.J.Bremmer R.F.A. (5)
A trio of Reggae/Dub LPs to include; Tommy McCook & The Agravators - King Tubby Meets The Agrovators At Dub Station (1975 UK 1st Press, Front of sleeve laminated); King Tubby, Prince Jammy And Scientist - First, Second And Third Generation Of Dub (1981 UK, Green Label Press); Scientist - The Best Dub Album In The World (1980 UK 1st Press); All conditions from Very Good to Excellent with Very Good to Very Good Plus including sleeves.
Folk Rock - A Group of LPs to include Strawbs - Dragonfly (AMLS 970) - 1970 UK re-issue with lyric insert - Very Good Plus in Very Good textured sleeve; Tom Gilfellon - Loving Mad Tom (LER 2079) - 1972 UK release - Very Good in Good Plus sleeve; Richard & Linda Thompson - First Light (CHR 1177) - 1978 UK release - Good Plus to Very Good in Very Good sleeve; Alan Hull - Pipedream (CAS 1069) - UK re-issue without booklet, small Mad Hatter label - Very Good including gatefold sleeve plus others including albums by Bread, Steeleye Span, Lindisfarne and Kevin Coyne - conditions are generally Very Good in Good Plus to Very Good sleeves. (20)
1st Staffordshire Militia Officer’s Waist Belt Clasp 1855-78. A standard pattern silver example, the circlet ‘Kings Own First Staffordshire Militia‘, to the centre crowned Staffordshire Knot on a stippled ground; together with a gilded metal 1st Staffordshire Militia glengarry badge, loops to the rear, very good condition (2) £140-£180
Pair: Second Lieutenant J. L. Gow, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, late Royal Army Medical Corps, who was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916 British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. L. Gow.) good very fine (2) £300-£400 --- James Lightfoot Gow attested for the Royal Army Medical Corps and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 25 January 1916. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers on 10 April 1915, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916, whilst attached to the 1st Battalion; on this date the battalion, involved in the attack in front of Beaumont-Hamel, suffered 552 casualties. Gow is buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart, Somme, France.
An Anglo-Boer War D.T.D. pair awarded to Vechtgeneraal J. N. H. Grobler, Ermelo Kommando Anglo-Boer War Decoration for Loyal Service (Dekoratie voor Troue Dienst) 1899-1902 (V. Genl. J. N. H. Grobler.); Anglo-Boer War Medal 1899-1902 (V. Genl. J. N. H. Grobler.) minor edge bruising, nearly extremely fine (2) £1,800-£2,200 --- Johannes Nicolas Hermanus Grobler was born in Lydenburg on the 27 February 1864, and having settled in Ermelo was appointed District Kommandant in 1899. Under his leadership, the Ermelo Kommando were among the first to cross the Natal Border after the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. Together with his kommando, Grobler took an active part in the battles at Dundee, Modderspruit, Colenso, Spionkop, Bosrand, and Pietershoogten, amongst many others. From Natal his kommando was sent to the Orange Free State. After the battle of Donkerhoek he was recalled to Ermelo, and after Dalmanutha he returned again to the Highveld, where the decision was made to conduct another raid on Natal. The Ermelo Kommando was also included and deployed to the south, where they were involved at Melmoth, Itala and other consecutive battles. After returning to the Ermelo district on 23 October 1901, Grobler was promoted to Vechtgeneraal. He subsequently took an active part in many smaller battles and skirmishes and had many a narrow escape. His kommando finally downed arms near Ermelo on 9 June 1902. Grobler married Gertruda Uys, with whom he had three children, including Johannes Nicolas Grobler. He died following blood poisoning to his right leg on 18 December 1913; his medals were posthumously presented to his son. Sold with two photographs, the first depicting Grobler’s Kommando; the second the remnants of his farm, the farmhouse having been destroyed under Kitchener’s ‘slash and burn’ policy; copied service papers; and other research, including a photographic image of the recipient. For the medals awarded to the recipient’s son, and other family members, see lots 187, 219, and 443.
The unique Great War 'Gibraltar Naval Hospital' R.R.C. and 'Plymouth Naval Hospital' Second Award Bar pair awarded to Head-Sister-in-Chief M. L. Hughes, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt, gold, and enamel; British War Medal 1914-20 (Hd. Sister M. L. Hughes. Q.A.R.N.N.S.) mounted court-style for display, with lady’s bow riband to the RRC, good very fine; the award of a Second Award Bar to the RRC unique to the QARRNS for the Great War (2) £1,400-£1,800 --- Only 8 Royal Red Crosses First Class and 1 Second Award Bar were awarded to Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service during the Great War. R.R.C. London Gazette 16 December 1916. R.R.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 9 May 1919. Miss Mildred Lloyd Hughes was born at Lampeter, Cardiganshire, on 9 March 1879, and trained at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, joining Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service on 28 December 1908. Posted initially to Haslar Hospital as a Nursing Sister on 15 September 1909, she was advanced Superintending Sister in 1911, before being posted to Gibraltar Hospital on 14 January 1913. She served in Gibraltar during the first two years of the Great War, where the hospital was, from the start of May 1915 onwards, dealing with the influx of casualties from Gallipoli. For her services dealing with both the administrative and medical needs of the wounded, she was awarded the R.R.C. Following the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula Miss Hughes was posted back to the U.K. in April 1916, and on 22 November 1916 was posted to Plymouth Naval Hospital as Head Sister. For her services at Plymouth Naval Hospital she was awarded the unprecedented Second Award Bar to the R.R.C. After the Great War she continued to serve in this position at Plymouth, being promoted Head-Sister-in-Chief on 14 March 1929. She retired on 9 March 1934 and died in Cheshire in 1962.
War Service Crosses 2nd Class in Large Presentation Packets. Two examples, the first an early War issue of excellent quality in bronze, and in mint as new unissued condition, retaining all original bright factory finish, and is wrapped in its original tissue paper. The ring is not marked. The light brown packet is almost mint, and has printed on the front ‘Kriegs-Verdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ohne Schwerten’ and on the reverse ‘Werner Rado Saarlauten’; the second an early War issue of excellent quality in bronze, and in mint as new unissued condition, retaining all original bright factory finish. The ring is not marked. The light brown packet is in good condition, and has printed on the front ‘Kriegs-Verdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ohne Schwerten’ and on the reverse ‘Jak. Bengel Oberstein’, both nearly extremely fine and both scarce by these manufacturers, and in the large packets (2) £80-£100
London & North Western Railway St. John Ambulance Association First Aid Examination Medal, English Division, silver and enamel, for 12 Years’ Service (2) ‘G. Hughes 1923; William Sumner 1923’; North Eastern Railway Centre St. John Ambulance Association Cross for Meritorious First Aid Service, bronze, unnamed; British Railways 15 Years’ First Aid Efficiency Medal (2), 1st type, silver and enamel ‘William D. Payne 1952 N.288’; 2nd type, skeletal silver badge ‘N.E.263 William Blyth 1964’, in card box of issue, good very fine (5) £80-£100
Pair: Gunner W. Fenn, Royal Field Artillery Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (14498. Gunr. W. Fenn. F/1. B..... A.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, the reverse impressed in the centre and on three points of star (14498 Gunr. W. Fenn 1:2 R.A. 1882) the first with heavy contact pitting from star and naming weak in parts, fine or better (2) £100-£140
Italian/German Africa Medals. Two examples, the first the Italian-made 1st type in bronze. Designer’s and maker’s names on reverse, with safety pin through top of the riband for wearing; the second the German-made 2nd type in blue grey zinc. Designer’s and maker’s names not on reverse, in factory new condition, retaining all original finish, extremely fine (2) £80-£100
Seven: Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Stewart, 7th and 13th Rajputs, Indian Army India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (Lieutt. J. A. Stewart, 7th Bl. Infy.); China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (Captn: J. A. Stewart, 7th Rajput.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-14 (Major J. Stewart, I.A. H.M.S. Perseus.); 1914-15 Star (Maj. J. A. Stewart. 13/Rajputs); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt-Col. J. A. Stewart); Delhi Durbar 1911 (Major J. A. Stewart, 7th D.C.O. Rajputs 12-12-1911.) mounted as worn, generally very fine and rare (7) £2,600-£3,000 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 30 June 1916. John Alexander Stewart was born on 5 June 1868, and was first commissioned into the Manchester Regiment on 22 August 1888. He transferred to the Indian Army on 1 June 1893, and was appointed to the 7th Rajputs, with whom he served in the relief of Chitral 1895 (Medal with clasp), the relief of Pekin 1900 (Medal with clasp), and in the operations on the North West Frontier in the Mohmand country 1908 (Medal with clasp). He served aboard H.M.S. Perseus in command of a detachment of 7th Rajputs during the anti-gun running operations in the Persian Gulf from 1909 to 1914, and was thus one of only 17 Army and police officers to receive this Naval medal. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the 13th Rajputs on 22 August 1914, and commanded the regiment from 17 November 1916 to 5 June 1920, when he retired on attaining 52 years of age. Note: Stewart is also entitled to the medal for ‘North West Frontier 1908’. Sold with an article from the O.M.R.S. Journal on the background to the award of the N.G.S. ‘Persian Gulf’ to certain army and police officers (17 medals awarded) by Major M. C. Spurrier. He confirms Major Stewart as having been borne in H.M.S. Perseus in 1912 and being shown in the Indian army lists of April and July 1912 as being ‘at Jask’.
The C.B. and Naval General Service Medal pair awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Plenderleath, 49th Foot, a Captain in H.M.S. Ardent under Nelson at Copenhagen in 1801 and in command of his Regiment at Stoney Creek and Chrystler’s Farm in 1813 The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamel, hallmarked London 1815, maker’s mark ‘IN’, complete with wide swivel-ring suspension and gold ribbon buckle; Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Copenhagen 1801 (Chas. Plenderleath) the first with minor damage to a few petals of green enamel wreath and a small blemish to one reverse arm, the second lightly lacquered, otherwise extremely fine and very rare (2) £12,000-£16,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Glendining, February 1953 (Lots 133 and 134). The small Army Gold Medal awarded to Plenderleath for the battle of Chrystler’s Farm was formerly in the David Spink Collection and now resides in the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa; Dix Noonan Webb, December 2004. Twenty-three medals were issued to the 49th Foot for Copenhagen, together with two to the Rifles and one to the Artillery. The 49th Foot, under Colonel Brock, together with two companies of the Rifle Corps, and a detachment of Artillery, were embarked aboard various ships of the fleet, under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, with Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson as second-in-command. It was during this engagement that Nelson famously ignored Parker’s signal of recall when, with his glass to his blind eye, he said, ‘I have a right to be blind sometimes... I really do not see the signal.’ Charles Plenderleath served as a Captain in the 49th Foot on board the Ardent 64 at Copenhagen, in which battle she formed one of the squadron under the orders of Lord Nelson, and compelled four of the Danish flotilla, one of which was the Jutland of 60 guns, to surrender. The Ardent received considerable damage, and sustained a loss of 29 men killed and 64 wounded, not counting about 40 others who were rendered hors de combat but who were not included in the casualty returns. Early on the following morning, Lord Nelson went on board the Ardent to thank her commander, Captain Thomas Bertie, officers, and people, for their conduct and exertions on the preceding day. In the American war of 1812-14, Plenderleith for the most part had command of the 49th Foot, including the actions of Stoney Creek and Chrystler’s Farm, in both of which actions he was wounded. The following extracts are taken from an account of Stoney Creek given by Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon, 49th Foot, in a private letter, dated 7 June 1813, to the Rev. James Somerville, of Montreal: ‘Major Plenderleath came immediately after to that portion of the line which I had quitted, and, with the men I had left in charge of a sergeant, and a few others, he rushed forward against the guns and took four of them - two and a tumbril were brought away. The others could not be, our men having bayonetted the horses. Major Plenderleath pushed on with about 20 men, following the main road, the men stabbing every man and horse they met with... This handful of men with Major Plenderleath took at this dash, besides the two generals [Chandler and Winder], five field officers and captains, and above 100 prisoners, and brought them off.’ ‘I am of opinion that, had not Major Plenderleath made the dash he did, the Americans would have kept their ground and our ruin would have been inevitable, but finding our people so far advanced in their centre, they broke and fled in every direction and their fire ceased at a time when our line was, as it were, entirely routed.’ Although the Americans claimed Stoney Creek as a victory, their defeat at Chrystler’s Farm was complete. Plenderleath again commanded the 49th and was again wounded. Five Lieutenants of the 49th were also wounded, as well as five men killed and three sergeants and thirty-four men wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Plenderleath subsequently received a C.B. and the Field Officers’ Gold Medal for the action at Chrystler’s Farm. Lieutenant-Colonel Plenderleath was placed on the Half Pay of the 49th shortly afterwards and saw no further active service. He died in 1854.
Four: Captain L. C. Saville, Royal West African Frontier Force and Gold Coast Defence Force War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Mr L. C. Saville) ‘Mr’ possibly added later; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Gold Coast, with ‘E.II.R.’ Second Award Bar, unnamed, with integral top riband bar, mounted court style for wear; together with a mounted set of four miniature dress medals similar to the above (except E.D. is a ‘G.VI.R.’ first issue, has the ‘Territorial’ top riband bar, and is without the Second Award Bar), good very fine (4) £400-£500 --- Provenance: John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2009. Leonard Charles Saville was born in Deptford on 8 September 1903. On 17 March 1919 he joined the Post Office and was engaged as a Clerk in the Accountant-General’s Department of the G.P.O., London. On 22 June 1927 he was appointed an Assistant Accountant in the Posts and Telegraph Department of the Gold Coast and he arrived to assume his duties there on 6 July 1927. Promoted Accountant in 1938, and on 30 September 1938 he was appointed Assistant Controller of Posts, having previously served for a time as Acting Chief Accountant and Acting Senior Assistant Controller of Posts. In 1943 he moved to Palestine and was appointed Chief Accountant, Posts and Telegraphs. He remained there until 1947 and for his services in latter years was awarded the General Service Medal. On 17 October 1947 he was appointed Assistant Postmaster General and Chief Accountant of the General Post Office in Hong Kong. He served as Postmaster General from 1950 until retiring in 1958. Saville was appointed a Cadet in the Gold Coast Defence Force on 6 June 1928. He was appointed a Second Lieutenant on 1 April 1930 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 6 June 1931 and Captain on 16 September 1935. During the Second World War he served with the Royal West African Frontier Force; he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (Gold Coast) in 1942, this announced in the Gold Coast Gazette of 14 November 1942. He was awarded a clasp notified in the gazette of 29 May 1954. Sold with copied research.
An Order of St. John Serving Sister’s group of three awarded to Sister E. M. King, St. John Ambulance Brigade The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Sister’s badge, silver and enamel; Defence Medal; Service Medal of the Order of St. John, with 5 Additional Award Bars (28637 A/Sis. E. M. King, No. 1 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1944) re-engraved naming, mounted court style for wear, white enamel damage to first, nearly very fine and better (3) £40-£50 --- Provenance: Eric Smith Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, November 2009.
A fine Second War ‘Tobruk’ Brigade Major’s D.S.O., Order of St. John, group of eight awarded to Major G. Bestford, 6th South African Infantry Brigade Headquarters, 2nd South African Division, a veteran of the Great War who was wounded in action whilst serving in the ranks of the 20th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish) on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme. Subsequently commissioned in to the 25th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Irish), Bestford joined the South African Police after the Great War. He was mobilised for service during the Second War, and was taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Tobruk on 21 June 1942. Bestford returned to the South African Police after the War, rose to District Commandant of Durban, and played a prominent role during the Royal Visit to South Africa in 1947 Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated ‘1946’, with integral top riband bar; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s, breast badge, silver and enamels; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. G. Bestford.) severe edge bruise to BWM; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal, Second War campaign awards all officially impressed (SAP195478 G. Bestford) mounted as originally worn, and subsequently additionally mounted on card for display, generally nearly very fine or better (8) £2,800-£3,200 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 19 December 1946: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services at Tobruk in 1942.’ The original recommendation, given by Brigadier F. W. Cooper, O.C. 6 SA Bde, states: ‘From 10 Jan 42 to 21 Jun 42 Major Bestford was my [Brigadier F. W. Cooper, O.C. 6 SA Bde] Brigade Major. During that period he carried out his duties with entire disregard for his own comfort under what at times were very trying and dangerous conditions. He was mentioned in despatches for his work during operations at Sollum and Halfaya in Jan 42. During the period the brigade was attached to 1 S.A. Div. at Gazala - Mar - Apr 42 and during the period prior to the fall of Tobruk - Apr - Jun 42 his conduct was an example to all the work he put in over the six months, especially during the two vital days prior to the surrender, entitles him, in my opinion, to a D.S.O. for which I recommend him.’ Order of St John, Serving Brother London Gazette 2 January 1953. M.I.D. London Gazette 15 December 1942: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November, 1941, to April, 1942.’ George Bestford was one of six sons born to Thomas Bestford, and was born in Gateshead, County Durham, in October 1897. He was educated at the local Higher Grade Secondary School, and at the age of 17 falsified his age to enlist in the 20th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish) on 26 October 1914. Bestford advanced to Sergeant, and served with the Battalion in the French theatre of War from 9 January 1916. The Battalion served as part of the 102nd Infantry Brigade on the Somme, and Bestford was wounded in action on 1 July 1916. On the latter date the Battalion were fighting in tandem with the 4th Tyneside Scottish: ‘Owing to the artillery barrage and the intense machine gun fire and the distance (800 yds) of no man’s land to be traversed, the two battalions were almost wiped out, though the positions of the dead showed that they pushed on to the enemy’s second line of trenches before they were annihilated.’ (Battalion War Diary refers) On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 20th Battalion suffered casualties of 16 officers and 337 other ranks killed, and 10 officers and 268 other ranks wounded. Bestford was amongst the latter, and was evacuated back to the UK. His South African Police service files show that he subsequently received a G.O.C.’s Divisional Commendation in recognition of his gallantry on 1 July 1916. Whilst recuperating from his wounds, Bestford would have received news that his brother William had been killed in action whilst serving with the Royal Engineers on 21 July 1916. The following month, Bestford transferred as Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant to the 29th (Reserve) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was subsequently posted to the 3rd Battalion, and then attached to the 84th Training Reserve Battalion at Hornsea. Major A. E. Ken recommended Bestford for a commission in March 1917: ‘This N.C.O. came very much under my observations, while at Home he attended several Courses of Instruction and on each one did very well indeed, on one occasion he came under the notice of the Brigadier who complimented him through his C.O. on his success... On Service he was even better, as a leader of men he is a success, I never knew him to shirk any danger or fatigues, and his coolness under Shell and Rifle fire is splendid. I regret to say his C.O. [Lieutenant Colonel C. Sillery] was killed as I knew that he had marked Sgt. Bestford out for distinction and no officers being left (All either killed or wounded) there was no one to put the recommendation forward. I think with a little training at a Cadet School he will make a very good Officer.’ After the requisite time with an Officer Cadet Battalion, Bestford was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers in October 1917. He tragically lost another sibling when his eldest brother, Robert, was killed in action serving with the Durham Light Infantry on 1 December 1917. He was then posted to France for service with the 25th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Irish). After the War, he was attached as a Signalling Officer to the 2/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service in Syria and Egypt. Bestford advanced to Lieutenant in May 1919, and relinquished his commission in March of the following year. He sailed for Natal, South Africa, in April 1921, and joined the South African Police in June 1921, and advanced from Constable to Captain, District Officer and Station Officer by June 1940. He was appointed Captain, 1st South African Police Battalion, Union Defence Force later that month, and was appointed to the Staff Headquarters, 6th Infantry (Police) Brigade. He embarked with the 2nd South African Division, and arrived in Egypt in June 1941. Serving across North Africa, at the Battles of Sollum and Halfaya, he was promoted Major in February 1942. Bestford served as Brigade Major, 6th South African Infantry Brigade Headquarters, and under constant attack from Rommel’s Afrika Korps, the Allied Forces retreated from the Gazala Line throughout May and June 1942. The Garrison at Tobruk became isolated and the majority of the 2nd South African Division was captured there en masse as Prisoners of War on 21 June following General Orders to surrender. Unable to escape, Bestford was taken prisoner by the Italians and interned at Campo 75 (Bari). He was subsequently transferred to Germany, and interned in Stalag VII-A, Stalag V-C, and finally at Oflag XII-B at Hadamar. Repatriated in April 1945, he was recommended retrospectively for the D.S.O. Bestford afterward returned to South Africa, and there resumed his employment with the South African Police. He was appointed Commanding Officer, Police Training Depot, Pretoria. During the Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to South Africa in 1947, he had the honour of commanding the mounted escort and the Guard of Honour on special occasions throughout the tour. He was presented with his D.S.O. by the King at Voortrekkerhoogte, ...
General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (23686254 Cpl. H. Mc.Quaid. A & SH.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Pte. L. D. Rebeiro, A.B. Ry. Bn., A.F.I.) impressed naming; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (1468622. Sjt. J. K. Dott. D.L.I.) in named card box of issue, number officially corrected on first, slight edge bruising to second, generally good very fine (3) £80-£100 --- D. L. Rebeiro served with the Assam-Bengal Railway Battalion (Auxiliary Force, India).
Pair: Commander E. T. Inman, Royal Navy, a distinguished Destroyer Captain who was killed in action on 22 January 1917 China 1900, no clasp (Lieut. E. T. Inman, R.N., H.M.S. Dido) rank and first initial officially corrected; British War Medal 1914-18 (Commr. E. T. Inman, R.N.) minor edge bruising, generally very fine and better (2) £400-£500 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2006. Edward Tyrell Inman, who was appointed a Naval Cadet in July 1892, served aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Dido from May 1899 to November 1902, a period that witnessed his advancement to Lieutenant and active service off China during the Boxer Rebellion - He added the Royal Humane Society’s Certificate on Vellum to his accolades in September 1905, for rescuing a boy from the military moat at Cosham. A Commander by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Inman initially served in the battleship Dreadnought, aboard which ship he was present at the ramming of the U-29 on 18 March 1915. But shortly afterwards, as recounted by his friend. Lieutenant Lionel Dawson, R.N., he was appointed to the command of the torpedo boat destroyer Mentor at Harwich: ‘Poor “Ted” Inman! It was his great desire to serve in destroyers, and he often discussed it with me. A very shy and reserved man, he unbent with difficulty, was not universally popular, and knew it. I saw a lot of him at Harwich during the ensuing eighteen months, and he was killed on his bridge during a night action soon after I left there. We had always got on together in the Dreadnought, and became intimate friends when he came to destroyers. He loved the life, and brought to his new experience all the throughness and conscientiousness towards his duty that had marked him as a gunnery and executive officer. I know that in him I lost a good friend and the Service an able officer. Like many who fell, I do not think that he had any great confidence in his survival of the War.’ One of Inman’s more notable destroyer actions - a contretemps in the Heligoland Bight on the night of 17-18 August 1915 - is described in Endless Story: ‘The senior officer of the escorting destroyers was Commander E. T. Inman, in the Mentor, and when darkness came the divisions had been disposed on each quarter of the Princess Margaret, a minelayer. It was a very dark night, calm but heavily overcast. Shortly before reaching the area to be mined, the force sighted a division of hostile destroyers, which at once fired torpedoes and then made off at full speed in the darkness. They had fired at the Princess Margaret, which, with her huge hull and three funnels, was a conspicuous and tempting target. The torpedoes luckily missed her; but one unfortunately hit the Mentor, the resulting explosion completely blowing away her bows under water ... The Mentor, meanwhile, seemed to be completely disabled, and found herself quite alone within a few miles of the enemy coast, and in water which generally teemed with German patrol vessels. The lower portion of her bows had been completely blown away, until the deck of the forecastle, from about the foremost gun, hung vertically down towards the water with the stem-head submerged. Realising the danger of capture, Inman destoyed his confidential books. Then, with his guns and torpedoes ready for instant action, he set the rest of his men to work to shore up bulkheads, place collision mats, and do all in their power to make the ship tolerably seaworthy for the 360-mile passage home. Luckily the weather was fine, and showed every prospect of remaining so. While this work was still in progress, Inman sighted some ships in the darkness and wished to ask them to stand by him. To his great annoyance, the smashing of lights and lamps made communications impossible, and the vessels steamed on and vanished in the darkness. It was not until some days later that he blessed the failure of his lights. Those ships were German cruisers. They passed him within a few hundred yards. Had he shown a solitary gleam he would have been sunk outright. Her temporary repairs finished, the Mentor made her tracks for home, gradually working up to 10 knots. At this speed, in the words of her captain, “she pushed the whole ocean in front of her.” The fine weather held, and she duly arrived at Harwich, where we watched her coming up the harbour, an extraordinary sight.’ Inman’s final action, in the Flanders Bight on the night of 22 January 1917, by which stage he was in command of the Simoom, is similarly described: ‘A torpedo exploded under the bow of his ship with such a terrific force that the forepart of the destoyer was blown clean over the foremost funnel. The Captain of the Simoom, Commander Inman, and his First Lieutenant were both killed, but notwithstanding that fact, and indifferent to the damage done to their boat, the after-gun crew fought their gun until the ice-cold sea water reached their knees, and the guns blazed forth in defiance for the last time only when the men were swept off their feet as their ship sank from under them. The miracle is that even 57 of her crew were saved that dark, bitterly cold night.’ Inman is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
1914-15 Star (2) (M. E. Ninnes. B.R.C. & St. J.J.; E. M. Bristowe. B.R.C. & St. J.J.) glue residue to reverse of first, some staining,nearly very fine (2) £60-£80 --- Ethel May Bristowe, a member of the British Red Cross, or Order of St. John of Jerusalem, served during the Great War as a Nursing Sister on the Western Front. Maude Elsie Ninnes, a member of the British Red Cross, or Order of St. John of Jerusalem, served during the Great War as a Nursing Sister on the Western Front. She is also recorded as having nursed wounded Belgian soldiers.
A War Service Cross First Class in Presentation Case and with Matching Maker’s Outer Cardboard Box. The Cross is in mint as new unissued condition, retaining all original bright factory finish. The pin is maker stamped ‘4’ [Steinhauer and Luck, Ludenscheid]. The case is also mint, and is covered in black artificial leather, with a solid image in silver of the Cross printed on the flat lid. Inside it is lined on the lower section in black velvet, and white artificial silk in the top. The outer pale cream cardboard box is somewhat worn and has printed on the top ‘Kriegs Verdienstkreux 1. Klasse’. On the side is printed the maker’s name ‘Steinhauer and Luck, Ludenscheid’, extremely fine £300-£400
Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., Anchor obverse, ‘Inverted’ reverse (Emanuel Joblin Late Gunners Yeoman, H.M.S. Blanche. 28 Years) pierced as issued with small silver ring and larger secondary steel split ring for suspension, and fitted with a contemporary top silver brooch bar, minor edge bruising, good very fine and a rare ‘Inverted’ reverse example £800-£1,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Emanuel Joblin was born at Godshill, Isle of Wight, and is first recorded on the ship’s musters as serving in H.M.S. Leda from November 1809 (with the notation, later Royal Sovereign yacht). He joined H.M.S. Minden at Trincomalee, Ceylon, on 24 June 1815, and is further recorded as serving in H.M. Ships Tartar, Ramillies, Doris and Blanche, entering the latter ship as a Gunners Yeoman on 10 March 1830, aged 47. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 28 October 1833, and was discharged to pension at Portsmouth in November 1833. Sold with copied research.
Efficiency Medal (3), G.VI.R., 1st issue, Militia (2557166 Sgln. F. Brown. R. Signals.); E.II.R., 2nd issue (2), Territorial (22271672 Pte. G. W. White. Cheshire), in named card box of issue; T. & A.V.R. (23234635 LCpl R Carson RCT) very fine (3) £100-£140 --- F. Brown was awarded the Efficiency Medal in Army Order 190 of 1938, and a first clasp in Army Order 26/47 of 1947.
Iron Crosses Second Class 1939 in Original Presentation Packets. Two examples, the first by AHP, Hanau in Presentation Packet. Standard Cross in almost factory mint condition, retaining all original finish, but slight tarnishing. Ring stamped ‘25’. Blue paper packet, front printed in Gothic script ‘Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse 1939’, and on the back ‘Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Graveur Gold ud Silberschmeide-Innungen Hanau’, and containing a folded length of riband; the second by Rudolf Souval, in Presentation Packet retaining almost all original bright factory finish, but slightly tarnished. Not maker-marked. Blue paper packet, front printed in Gothic script ‘Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse 1939’, and on the back ‘Rudolf Souval Wien 62/VII.’, and containing a folded length of riband, extremely fine, the first scarce for manufacturer (2) £140-£180
A Second World War 1941 ‘civil division’ B.E.M. awarded to F. W. Clarke, who was employed as a Porter by London Midland and Scottish Railway, and saved the life of a colleague from a signal box which had been destroyed by a bomb during a German raid British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Francis William Clarke) mounted on investiture pin, good very fine £300-£400 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 14 November 1941 [Francis William Clarke, Parcels Porter, London Midland and Scottish Railway]: ‘During a period of heavy enemy air activity a signal box was demolished by a high explosive bomb, the Signalman being injured and buried beneath the debris which was on fire. He managed to extricate himself and his cries for help were heard by Porter Clarke. Although Clarke is only 5 ft. 3 ins. in height he got the Signalman on his back and carried him towards the Station. In the darkness Clarke got entangled with some wires and fell down with the casualty on top of him. He recovered and started out again but was knocked down by a blast of a H.E. bomb which exploded nearby. Although almost exhausted Clarke struggled on and got the injured man to a first aid post. He displayed courage and determination and was responsible for saving the life of the Signalman.’ Francis William Clarke was born in June 1886, and was employed as a Porter by London and South Western Railways from June 1902. Over the next 20 years he was employed as a Porter and a Signalman at Ilfracombe, Sidmouth and Exeter. Clarke was subsequently employed by London Midland and Scottish Railways. Sold with copied research.
The rare and particularly fine Second War 1944 ‘Photo Reconnaissance Unit’ D.F.C., ‘Malta 1940-41’ D.F.M. group of eight awarded to Maryland and Mosquito navigator, Flight Lieutenant J. H. Spires, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, a Blenheim veteran of the Battle of Britain, who went on to distinguish himself flying with some of the most important Reconnaissance Pilots of the Second World War. Spires was posted to No. 431 (General Reconnaissance) Flight on Malta immediately after the Battle of Britain, and here he crewed up with the soon-to-become-legendary ‘Six-medal Warburton’ - who was later described as ‘the most important pilot in the R.A.F.’ by Air Marshal Tedder. Together they were to fly ‘in Maryland AR.713 affectionately known as the “Sardine Tin”... shot up in the air, holed by bomb splinters on the ground, in flight it played “Whistlers Mother.”’ Spires and Warburton provided vital reconnaissance for the Taranto Raid - plotting the positions of the Italian battleships mere hours before the Fleet Air Arm carried out their famous Swordfish attack. Warburton made three sweeps over the fleet at 500 feet and lower, even though ‘the weather was so bad that the birds were walking and the fish were at anchor..... we flew around the harbour twice and plotted the ships... when all hell let lose - Flack, tracer the kitchen sink - the lot.... We went in hugging the water, and the “Ities” were ready and tracer bullets poured towards us, I thought how in the hell can they miss us, but they did and we counted the battleships together, one, two, three, four, five.’ This was not the last of Spires’ adventures with Warburton, as the flight were tasked with carrying out the reconnaissance for Operation Colossus - the first British airborne operation of the Second World War. Warburton and crew took photographs of the Tragino viaduct near Calitri in southern Italy, which was to be the target for ‘X’ Troop, from the near-suicidal height of 25 feet! Having left Malta, Spires then converted to the blue Mosquitos of the P.R.U. and saw out the remainder of the War in the skies above North West Europe. His swan song came when flying with arguably the finest Mosquito and P.R.U. pilot of them all - Wing Commander J. R. H. Merifield, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar - when the pair achieved two Atlantic flying records and a trans-Canadian record, flying Mosquito PR34 RG241 'K' in October 1945 Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1944’; Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (751252 Sgt. J. H. Spires. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star, 1 clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Flt. Lt. J. H. Spires. R.A.F.V.R.) mounted as worn, cleaned, very fine (lot) £10,000-£15,000 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 7 November 1944. The original recommendation states: ‘This officer has an outstanding record as an operational navigator. Since the award of the D.F.M. he has completed many more operational sorties. He has flown on photographic reconnaissance’s over some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany and occupied Europe and has secured much valuable information. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Spires has displayed skill, determination and great courage.’ D.F.M. London Gazette 17 June 1941. The original recommendation states: ‘While serving in Blenheims with 235 Squadron in the United Kingdom, Sergeant Spires took part in 55 operational flights which included reconnaissance flights over enemy occupied territory and escort duty. On four occasions, the aircraft met with opposition from German fighters. These flights amounted to a total of 157 hours operational flying. He was then posted to 69 Squadron based at Malta and between 1st November, 1940 and 12th February, 1941, has taken part in 38 reconnaissance flights, 28 of these flights were photographic reconnaissance of enemy territory. On seven occasions, the aircraft met with opposition from Italian fighters. He was also the Observer of the aircraft which successfully carried out the special Air Ministry reconnaissance of Southern Italy on 9th February, 1941 [the Tragino Aqueduct near Calitri, Southern Italy - prior to Operation Colossus being carried out by ‘X’ Troop, 10-11 February 1941, the latter being the first British airborne operation of the War], and again on 12th February, 1941. These flights amounted to a total of 160 hours operational flying. His total operational flying from the United Kingdom and Malta amounts to 317 hours. Without exception, the Captains of the aircraft in which Sergeant Spires has flown have the greatest faith in his abilities, which are definitely above the average. 27th May, 1941.’ John Henry Spires was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, in September 1920, and resided at 13 Montrose Avenue, Luton. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Observer Section) at Luton in May 1939. Spires was mobilised in September 1939, and carried out training at No. 6 Air Observers Navigation School, Cheltenham, and at No. 4 B. & G.S., West Freugh. Spires was posted for operational flying with 235 Squadron (Blenheims) as part of Coastal Command on 9 March 1940. The Squadron was tasked with fighter-reconnaissance duties, flying out of Detling and Bircham Newton. When the German invasion of the Low Countries began in May 1940, the squadron flew patrols over Holland and during the Battle of Britain was engaged in convoy protection and reconnaissance missions over the North Sea. In an interview given after the War, Spires commented on this period: ‘The emotion was unmistakable as John Spires spoke of the many friends who didn’t come home. “We would all go to the pub after a mission and then someone would say ‘Where’s old Charlie?’ “Someone else would say ‘He never made it today’. You would think ‘that could have been me.’ “I lost a lot of fine friends..... At the time I don’t think it registered. Survival was everything and King and Country meant everything. We were young, inexperienced and didn’t fully realise the danger,” he said. During the Battle of Britain, Mr Spires was a navigator in a Blenheim 5 used as a bomber/fighter. “We had to intercept enemy planes when they were flying back to Europe from England. But you needed a fair amount of luck and if your gunners were killed you were in trouble,” said the man who was shot down three times. “But it was the ground crew who kept us going,” he said. “We just did what we had to do throughout the war.” Spires was flying with Pilot Officer E. H. McHardy (of 248 Squadron) and L.A.C. Heaviside as gunner, when they shot down a Me110 three miles off Blankenberge, Belgium 18 May 1940. However, it was subsequently claimed that this may have been a French Potez 631.’ After the “Battle”, new friends in Malta - ‘Warby’ Warburton Spires continued to serve with the Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain, before being posted to No. 431 (General Reconnaissance) Flight on Malta at the end of October 1940. The latter was equipped with three Martin 167F Maryland light bombers, which were to provide the island with a reconnaissance facility able to operate over defended areas. Spires soon found himself in the ‘mix’ with the Australian pilot and C/O ‘Tich’ Whiteley, and the soon-to-become-legendary ‘Warby’ Warburton (later dubbed ‘the most important pilot in the RAF’ by...
Iron Crosses Second Class 1939 in Original Presentation Packets. Two examples, the first by Klein and Quenzer, in Presentation Packet, retaining almost all original bright factory finish, but slightly tarnished. Ring stamped ‘65’. Blue paper packet, front printed in Gothic script ‘Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse 1939’, and on the back ‘Klein and Quenzer Oberstein.’, and containing a folded length of riband; the second of French manufacture when under German occupation, retaining most original bright factory finish. Ring stamped ‘333’. Blue paper packet, front printed in Gothic script ‘Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse 1939’, no markings on the back, and containing a folded length of riband, extremely fine (2) £140-£180
Loading...
