A rare ‘Shannon With Chesapeake’ 2-clasp Naval General Service Medal awarded to Private G. Morris, Royal Marines, combining the Nile, Nelson's first annihilating Fleet Victory, with the Classic American Frigate Action, a Duel the Admiralty considers to be ‘The Finest Single-Ship Action in the Age of Sail’. After a furious exchange of multiple broadsides at very close range, Shannon’s Royal Marines joined their agile but less disciplined seamen comrades to board and capture U.S.S Chesapeake, overpowering their counterparts of the U.S. Marine Corps in vicious hand-to-hand combat Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Nile, Shannon Wh Chesapeake (Griffiths Morris.) good very fine £14,000-£18,000 --- Provenance: Spink, December 1965; Turl Collection, Spink, July 2010. Approximately 42 ‘Shannon Wh. Chesapeake’ clasps issued. One of only two medals issued with this combination of clasps. The name ‘Griffiths Morris’ is unique on the N.G.S. rolls, and his presence during the actions is verified by the muster rolls of both ships. Griffiths Morris was born in Wrexham, Denbighshire, near the border of north-east Wales, in 1772/73. A carpenter by trade, he voluntarily enlisted at Warminster, Wiltshire and attested as a Private in the Marines on 24 February 1796, aged 23. Marines were all volunteers, unlike the seamen, who included in their ranks reluctant-to-serve ‘pressed’ men, orphan boys sent by the Marine Society and ‘Quota men’ often collected from goals, hospitals and workhouses. In 1802 they were awarded the honour of becoming Royal Marines, which meant for Morris a new uniform with ‘royal’ blue cuffs and collar facings. Royal Marines were equipped with a shortened ‘sea service’ musket and were divided for administrative purposes into men with less than 7 years of service, those from 7-14 years and those who had served for over 14 years. Marines were the ship’s security force. On punishment days the Marines would parade under arms in a location overlooking the proceedings, ready to intervene if the crew became mutinous; they took part in boarding, cutting-out and littoral expeditions; they performed ceremonial duties, guarded the sensitive parts of the ship such as the spirit room and the Captain’s quarters and provided extra ‘muscle’ when needed. Marines could be and often were used as crew members of a great gun or to assist in working the ship from the deck, but they could not be ordered onto the yards to work the sails. Some volunteered as topmen, becoming sailors to increase their pay, as even the least skilled seaman, rated as ‘landsman’, was paid £1 2s 6d a lunar month compared to £0 19s 3d for a Marine private. Even after 14 years of service, a private earned just £1 3s 4d per month. When ‘Beat to Quarters’ was ordered, the Marines were stationed in detachments on the Foc’sle, Quarterdeck and in the fighting tops on the masts. Marines were trained to take cover behind the bulwarks and hammock netting while reloading their weapons, and then move to a different firing position. This involved “springing sideways with Life and Spirit”. The command “Marine Firing” allowed individual Marines to pick and engage their own target, then kneel for reloading. “The best marksmen shall be picked out, and ordered to Take Aim, and Fire at the Port-Holes; Two or Three expert Men killed at a Gun may silence it for half an hour.” In a boarding action, Marines fired volleys to clear the way for the agile but less disciplined seamen who were armed with hand-to-hand weapons such as boarding axes, cutlasses and pistols. Marines would help secure the enemy ship’s upper decks, mop up with their bayonets, secure prisoners below at musket point and guard them until they could be sent off the ship. Battle of the Nile Morris served as one of the 67 Marines on board H.M.S. Audacious during Nelson's action in Aboukir Bay, 1 August 1798, as verified by the ship’s muster. Audacious was the third of five battleships to pass the head of the line of French warships anchored close in-shore and then sail down its port side, trapping each of the leading French ships in a crossfire from two British vessels. Audacious anchored between Guerriere and Conquerant, the first and second in the French line of 74s, and engaged them for forty minutes with raking fire until the latter struck her colours, then used a spring to shift its fire onto Spartiate for another two hours. Audacious suffered casualties of one killed, thirty-five (including two marines) wounded. Audacious then took part in the blockades of Malta and Genoa for the rest of 1798 and into 1799. She escorted a convoy to Britain in late 1800, and on arrival was paid off. Morris is recorded as having deserted on 30 June 1802, during the brief peace following the Treaty of Amiens and after six years of service. He re-joined 13 months later, on 28 July 1803, two months after the resumption of hostilities. It is unclear whether he returned of his own volition or was identified as a deserter and reclaimed by the Royal Marines. The desertion probably explains why he was still serving in the same rank after 16 years of service, although with the greater seniority of 2nd Class Private, Plymouth Division, in H.M.S. Shannon (38), during the historic capture of the American frigate Chesapeake (38) in Boston Bay on 1 June 1813. Shannon with Chesapeake In the 1790s the Americans had built six large, heavily armed frigates. When war broke out between Great Britain and the United States, these vessels won a series of single-ship actions; U.S.S. Constitution captured H.M.S. Guerriere and H.M.S. Java whilst U.S.S. United States overwhelmed H.M.S. Macedonian. In response, the Admiralty instituted a closer blockade of American ports. H.M.S. Shannon, commanded by Captain Philip Broke, was one of the ships patrolling the coast of the United States. During his seven years as her Captain, Broke had worked up his ship to a peak of fighting efficiency. His gun crews were trained to fire into the hull of the enemy ship to kill the crew; his Marines were skilful snipers and their government-issue muskets were supplemented with a number of rifled carbines privately purchased for them by their officers. During a long patrol off Boston, Broke sent ashore a number of verbal messages to the Americans intended to provoke a battle, and followed up with a written message to Chesapeake’s Captain: “As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I request you will do me the favour to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags...” In the early afternoon of 1 June 1813, the American frigate sailed out to challenge Shannon, accompanied by pleasure boats carrying spectators desirous of witnessing how quickly an American could 'whip' a British frigate. Chesapeake was slightly bigger and heavier, displacing 1,244 tons compared to the 951 tons for Shannon. The broadside weight of their great guns was similar at 540lbs for Shannon compared to 580lbs for Chesapeake; although the Chesapeake carried a greater weight of heavy close-quarter guns, the Shannon’s close action armament was more versatile. The key difference lay in the crews - Broke had 330 men (including 43 Marines) to Chesapeake’s 390 (including 44 US Marines). His superiority in manpower should have given the American Captain an advantage in fighting his ship, but this was blunted because both the Captain and his diverse crew (which included a significant number of Royal Navy deserters) were new on board Chesapeake and had not got used to working together. In contrast, 30...
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![Pair: Private M. Kempton, 59th Regiment of Foot Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar [see footnote] (1239, Pte. M. Kempto](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/3a48c41b-b133-40cf-b907-b0d900b341e0/5ee96b4a-26de-4ea3-a394-b0d900ba1172/468x382.jpg)
Pair: Private M. Kempton, 59th Regiment of Foot Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar [see footnote] (1239, Pte. M. Kempton, 59th. Foot); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (1239 Private Michl. Kempton 59th. Regt.) third digit of number over-struck on Star; light contact marks and wear to first, good fine and better and extremely rare to unit (2) £500-£700 --- British Battles and Medals states just 13 Afghan Medals with clasp Kandahar; and just 9 Kabul to Kandahar Stars awarded to the 59th Foot. Michael Kempton was born in Glasgow in 1850. He is recorded in the British Army, Worldwide Index 1871, as serving from 1 April 1871 to 30 June 1871 with the 59th Regiment of Foot at Mhow and Bombay, India. He later fought at the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880, and was discharged to pension on 19 June 1883. He died in Gateshead in December 1913. Note: The Kandahar clasp is not confirmed on the roll, and appears to have been added later as the top lugs are still present.
Four: Corporal M. P. Garlick, Royal Engineers Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24700161 LCpl M P Garlick RE); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24700161 LCpl M P Garlick RE); Jubilee 2002, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (24700161 Cpl M P Garlick RE) these last two with their named card boxes of issue, mounted court-style as worn, together with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait medals for the Liberation of Kuwait 1991, both in boxes of issue, nearly extremely fine (6) £200-£240 --- Martin Phillip Garlick served in the Royal Engineers from 25 April 1998 to 1 July 2009. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal on 24 October 2000. Sold with copied Certificate of Service which confirms first four medals and two copied images of the recipient in combat uniform.
A post-War B.E.M. group of three awarded to Chief Wren Charlotte G. M. Morgan, Women’s Royal Naval Service British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Ch. Wrn. Charlotte G. M. Morgan, 86. W.R.N.S.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, very fine and better (3) £140-£180 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 9 June 1949. The original Recommendation states: ‘Has served in the W.R.N.S. since 2 October, 1939, first as Quarters Assistant and subsequently as an E.V.T. Instructor. As the senior W.R.N.S. rating in H.M.S. Ganges since September, 1946, she has shown outstanding devotion to duty not only in her normal work, but by devoting most of her leisure time to the well-being of the community. This has included much time spent working at hobbies and handicrafts with Boys in Sick Quarters. She has at all times set a fine example of cheerful and loyal service; her age and seniority combined with her unselfish character have made her the ideal guide and counsellor to the W.R.N.S. ratings.’ Charlotte Gwenllian Mary Morgan lived at Stone Cottage, Holnest, Sherborne, Dorset. The Western Daily Press of 14 March 1981 notes that she died at Yeovil District Hospital on 12 March 1981. Sold with named Buckingham Palace enclosure for the BEM; Admiralty enclosure for the Second World War Medals; and named Admiralty letter announcing the award of the BEM.
A scarce Royal Marines M.S.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant Joseph Hetheridge, Royal Marine Artillery, a Crimean veteran who received his award in 1919 Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; Royal Marines Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., Field Marshal’s bust (Joseph Hetheridge, Sergt. 6th Company. R.M.A.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, neatly plugged at 12 o’clock and fitted with later straight bar suspension, good very fine (3) £600-£800 --- M.S.M. announced in GO 42 of 1919 and awarded on 24 May 1919. One of 35 award issued with G.V.R. Field Marshal’s bust. Joseph Hetheridge was born in Portsmouth in 1839 and enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery in May 1854, aged 15. He was posted to the new screw steamer Royal Albert, soon to be flagship of the British fleet operating in the Black Sea. Royal Albert was a fine, new warship, launched in 1854; she was a three-decker mounting 121 guns and the largest and most powerful warship at that time. She must have been a very impressive ‘first appointment’ for a 15 year old! Royal Albert led the powerful fleet of 60 British and French warships (with 18,000 soldiers) to seize the Straits of Kertch in May 1855 - the precursor of the campaign in the Sea of Azoff. Hetheridge, however, may have escaped even minimal sea-going duties. Since he was later awarded the Crimea medal with clasp Sebastopol he was presumably part of the Royal Marine contingent landed from the fleet to serve ashore as early as September 1854 - only two weeks after the allied expeditionary force landed in Kalamita Bay. The initial R.M. contribution was 25 Officers and 988 Royal Marines, landed on 29 September, followed a few days later by another 10 Officers and 212 men. Eventually, a force of 2,400 sailors and 2,000 Royal Marines was landed at Balaklava, the Marines formed in to R.M. battalions. Most of the Marines were positioned in a cordon around Balaklava, taking in the village of Kadikoi, and constructed defensive lines of trenches, gun positions etc. (known as "Marine Heights") forming a peripheral defence for the British port. Apart from these positions, some of the Marine Artillery manned the naval guns mounted as part of the artillery force bombarding the city and served throughout the siege; it is presumably this force in which Hetheridge served and earned the Sebastopol clasp. After more than a year ashore, the Naval and R.M. contingents returned to their ships on 11 September 1855, the day after Sebastopol was entered by the allies following the last assault on 9 September. On the 17, amidst great cheering, flag-waving and the sound of regimental bands, they embarked at Balaklava and left the land theatre, having received the ‘hearty thanks’ of the Commander in Chief, General Simpson. Of the approximately 4,500 R.N. and R.M. personnel who had landed, 8 officers and 95 men were killed, and 38 officers and 437 men wounded. Hetheridge was presumably back aboard Royal Albert for her last significant action during the war - the Allied attack on the forts on the spit at Kinburn, to the west of the Crimea, guarding the estuary of the Dnieper. Some of the men of Royal Albert went ashore with rescue parties to put out fires in the damaged forts and rescue stores. This, a month after the fall of Sebastopol, was the last major action of the Russian War in the Black Sea. It is recorded that when Royal Albert returned to Constantinople after the campaign, Hetheridge was one of the ship's Guard of Honour formed to welcome a visit by the Sultan. This ended Hetheridge's first and last taste of war. All this had taken place at the beginning of his career - he was only 16 when it ended - and he went on to serve in the R.M.A. until 1878, including service on H.M.S. Warrior, finally being discharged as a Sergeant after 24 years' total service, of which 21 were ‘of age’. Clearly a man for whom the Marines were a significant part of his life, Hetheridge did not stray far when he ‘retired’ in 1878 for, in 1881, he got a job as a nurse at the R.M.A. hospital in Portsmouth and stayed for 18 years, finally leaving in 1899. Strangely, there is no trace of an award to him of the Naval L.S. & G.C. medal, though fully 43 years after he retired from the R.M.A., he was to receive in 1919 the Royal Marines Meritorious Service Medal. But the Crimean War was to linger. For some unknown reason, although Hetheridge received his British medal and clasp for the Crimea, his Turkish medal never arrived. It may have rankled with him and he must have made representations in later years to try to get the medal he was entitled to. Eventually, in July 1913, his local M.P., Bertram Falle (later Lord Portsea), not unsurprisingly took a great interest in naval matters, and took up the case, arranging with the Ottoman authorities for the presentation of this long-delayed award. Hetheridge, then aged 74, was taken to the Turkish Embassy in London, under the patronage of the M.P., and was presented with his Turkish Crimea medal by the Ottoman Ambassador, H.H. Prince Tewfik. The old man was then given a tour of the House of Commons and afternoon tea. A photograph from circa 1920 shows Hetheridge wearing all three of his medals. Hetheridge lived in the same house in Southsea for over 50 years and died there on 31 March 1931, buried in the Highland Road Cemetery. It was widely reported in the local press and elsewhere that he was the last survivor of the Royal Marine force which had served ‘before Sebastopol’ 76 years earlier. Sold with copied research including obituary with photograph from The Globe and Laurel, 1931 (reproduced from Portsmouth Evening News), various medal roll extracts and service details, mostly copied to disc.
An Iron Cross First Class 1939 in its Late War LDO Presentation Case. The Iron Cross is probably an earlier War production, the pin stamped ‘L/52’ [C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim], probably unissued. The case is of smaller dimensions than the standard Iron Cross First Class one, and is covered in black paper artificial leather, without a silver outline of the Cross printed on the flat lid. Inside it is lined on the lower section in cream felt, and white artificial silk printed with the LDO logo in the top section. Inside there is also an LDO printed slip, on the back of which is a L/54 stamp and the date ‘Sep.1943’, both printed in blue, good very fine and a scarce casing, especially with the LDO slip still inside £260-£300
Three: Private Richard Leaver, 10th Foot Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846, no clasp (Richd. Lever 10th Regt.); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Richd. Lever. 10th Foot.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (R. Lever, 1st Batn. 10th Regt.) the first two with edge bruising and contact marks, better than good fine, the third with heavy scratch behind Queen’s head, otherwise better than very fine (3) £800-£1,000 --- Private Richard Lever died on 22 September 1858. Sold with copied medal roll entries.
Six: Subaltern E. Askham, Auxiliary Territorial Service 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial, with one Additional Award Bar (Sub. E. Askham. A.T.S.) the first to fifth privately named ‘Sub E. Askham ATS.’, good very fine and better (6) £80-£100
A rare and early Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. and ‘First Day of the Somme’ Second Award Bar group of five awarded to Acting Sergeant W. K. Palmer, 15th Field Company, Royal Engineers Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (17739 Cpl. W. K. Palmer. 15/Fd: Co: R.E.); 1914 Star, with clasp (17739 2. Cpl. W. K. Palmer. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with modern M.I.D. oak leaves (17739 A. Sjt. W. K. Palmer. R.E.) ; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (17739 W.O. Cl. II. W. K. Palmer. M.M. R.E.) mounted on card for display, light contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- M.M. London Gazette 3 June 1916: the first list of awards of the newly instituted Military Medal . M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 1 September 1916: just two such awards listed including Palmer. Prior to this gazette, 10 Bars to the M.M. had been awarded, in the gazettes of 10 August 1916 (2 awards) and 23 August 1916 (7 awards), thus making Palmer’s award one of the first 12 Bars awarded. M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916. The 15th Field Company War Diary records the presentation of the M.M. to Palmer by the G.O.C. at Henencourt on 27 June 1916, and later the award of his second M.M. [Bar] ‘for conspicuous gallantry on the nights of 1st July and 17th’. The 15th Field Company was at Ovillers Post, near La Boiselle, on 1 July and in action there and on the night of 17-18 were involved in a night operation to consolidate a mine crater under heavy fire near the front line at Beuvry, but were shelled out. Sold with copied research including War Diary extracts.
‘Terrible trials were averted by those brave airmen, who rose from fog-enveloped aerodromes with little prospect of ever reaching earth again alive. Many a time the report “nothing seen” would be rendered; but seeing nothing themselves they were frequently seen by their prey and so frustrated many a raider. If the list of unknown heroes were being compiled these would assuredly figure amongst the first.’ (The German Air Raids on Great Britain, by Captain J. Morris refers) An early and rare Great War ‘Defence of Great Britain’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain R. C. L. Holme, Royal Flying Corps, late Somerset Light Infantry, who distinguished himself in the fight against raiding Zeppelins with 39 (Home Defence) Squadron, alongside such pilots as ‘Bomber’ Harris and William Leefe-Robinson. Transferring to 33 Squadron, Holme crashed on take-off whilst attempting to intercept one of the 16 airships intent on raiding London - one of which, SL11, was shot down by Leefe-Robinson during his V.C. winning exploits on 2-3 September 1916. Holme suffered badly both physically and mentally as a result of his crash - having to be removed from underneath his burning aircraft. Despite these setbacks, he went on to be posted to France as a Flight Commander with 29 Squadron and gained ‘Ace’ status in SE.5a single seater fighters during 1918. Holme survived the War, only to tragically die as a result of injuries and burns sustained as a passenger in a Vickers Vernon which crashed in Baghdad in October 1922 Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. R. C. L. Holme. Som. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. R. C. L. Holme. R.A.F.) generally very fine or better (4) £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2000. M.C. London Gazette 24 January 1917 (Home Honours): ‘For valuable services rendered in connection with the War.’ One of a handful of known ‘Home Defence’ gallantry awards for the Air Defence of Great Britain during the Great War, five of which were awarded in respect of gallantry during 1916 and 1917 - these including a V.C., a D.S.O., a Second Award Bar to the M.C., and 2 M.C.’s (the latter including Holme’s award). These early awards were for actions against Zeppelins, whilst the remainder were primarily for actions against Giants and Gothas in 1918. M.I.D. London Gazette 25 January 1917: ‘For distinguished services rendered in connection with the War.’ Robert Charles Lyon Holme was born in Reading, Berkshire, in November 1896, and in his youth resided in Norton-sub-Hampden, Somerset, and Barnes, London. He was educated at Repton and Sandhurst, and was commissioned into Prince Albert’s Somerset Light Infantry 11 November 1914, the day after his 18th birthday. Holme served with the Regiment in France from December 1914 to March 1915. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps later that year, and despite being initially seconded as an Observer to 16 Squadron, Holme qualified on a Maurice Farman for Aviator’s Certificate No. 1665 at the British Flying School, Le Crotoy, on 28 August 1915. He had already been in combat with 16 Squadron, with Second Lieutenant H.M. Goode as his pilot, on 17 June 1915. On this date the pair carried out a reconnaissance in a BE.2a over Seclin, armed only with an automatic rifle, when they engaged an Aviatik bi-plane: 'The German machine was first seen going south over Gondecourt, where upon we changed our course in order to get within range – when within about 200 yards we made a sharp turn heading north and opened fire, we followed him as far as Loos firing all the time. By then he had increased his lead to some 1,000 yards and was losing height rapidly, we then turned and continued our reconnaissance. During the later point of the combat we were in range of the Lille anti-aircraft guns which had opened an ineffective fire.' (Combat Report refers) A ‘Dash’ with ‘Bomber’ Harris Holme was officially seconded as a Flying Officer (Observer) in the Royal Flying Corps in September 1915, and left 16 Squadron the same month. He was posted for Home Defence duties, for the defence of Great Britain, in December 1915. Holme carried out further training as a pilot, and served with 39 (Home Defence) Squadron (BE.2cs) at Sutton’s Farm and Hainault Farm, Hounslow. By the start of the new year, he was up in the air trying to intercept Zeppelins: ‘On the night of 25/26 April 1916, one of Holme’s squadron colleagues, Captain A. T. Harris, became the first to use the new and still experimental Brock explosive bullets against a raiding Zeppelin (LZ97). (Harris would gain undying fame in the Second World War as ‘Bomber’ Harris). Soon after closing with LZ97, Harris’ Lewis gun jammed and whilst he was clearing it, the Zeppelin slipped away into the surrounding gloom. Holme and another colleague spied the same Zeppelin in the distance, coned in the light of searchlights, but it was too far away to be caught.’ (The Military Cross to Flying Personnel of Great Britain and the Empire 1914-1919, by H. Giblin and N. Franks refers) Holme, Harris and one Lieutenant W. Leefe-Robinson (later V.C.) had attempted an attack on one of five raiding Zeppelins that night. Both Harris and Leefe-Robinson were unsuccessful, and Holme took up the pursuit. However, he encountered a fuel problem and was forced to make a dead-stick landing at Chingford. Hunting Zeppelins with Leefe-Robinson Holme advanced to Temporary Captain, and transferred as a Flight Commander to 33 Squadron (BE.2cs) at Bramham Moor. The Squadron was engaged on Home Defence duties, protecting the Midlands and the North against Zeppelin raids. On the night of 28-29 July 1916, the Squadron received information from the Humber Garrison Commander that hostile airships (six Imperial Navy Zeppelins) had been sighted 40 miles east of the mouth of the Humber proceeding due west. At this time, however, a thick fog in the vicinity of the aerodrome precluded any attempt being made to despatch aeroplanes. At 2 a.m. a further report was received of a Zeppelin proceeding from Driffield towards Hull. The weather being slightly clearer by this time, Lieutenant Holme was the only pilot to ascend from Bramham Moor, but at 3,500 feet above the aerodrome could barely see the landing flares and as the fog was becoming thicker he was forced to descend. So bad was the weather that he was forced to abandon his attempt to stalk Kapitanleutnant Koch’s L24, which had been reported in the Hull area. On the night of 2-3 August 1916, six Zeppelins raided England, whilst the Squadron was operating from Beverley. Although the German force confined their raid to the eastern counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, 33 Squadron sent out a protective patrol over Hull and the Humber. Holme took off at 2.25 am and patrolled towards Driffield, then turning south he circled round Hull at 10,000 feet. Visibility was bad and he could see nothing on his own level, so descending to 8,000 feet he went out over Hedon to the coast and followed it north to Atwick, where Holmes stated: 'I now saw a searchlight at Beverley giving me the pre-arranged signal that all was over, accordingly I throttled to come down. My lights had gone out and wishing to keep my headlamp until near the ground I came down without it to 4,000 feet. When trying my engine I got into a mild nose dive but came out of it all right and landed without damage at 3.35 am.’ Exactly one month later, on the night of Leefe-Robinson’s V.C. victory over SL11, Holme crashed on take-off in BE.2c 2661 at one o&rsqu...
Eight: Able Seaman W. S. Elsdon, Royal Navy Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901 (W. S. Elsdon, Ord., H.M.S. Naid.) clasps neatly added to reflect entitlement; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (W.S. Elsdon, A.B., H.M.S. Naiad); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (205093 W. S. Elsdon, A.B. H.M.S. Fox); 1914-15 Star (205093, W. S. Elsdon, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (205093 W. S. Elsdon. A.B. R.N.); Defence Medal; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (205093. W. S. Elsdon, A.B. H.M.S. Victory) mounted for wear, last with officially corrected number, the first two with contact marks and edge bruising, about very fine, the remainder good very fine (8) £800-£1,000 --- Walter Samuel Elsdon was born in Lambeth in 1883 and enlisted as a Boy 2nd Class in 1899 and served in the usual range of warships and shore stations until discharged ‘time expired’ in 1913. During this time he served in South Africa with a naval party of some 117 men landed from H.M.S. Naiad at Saldhana Bay, Western Cape, for service against Boer commandos said to be operating in the Vredenburg area. He was then deployed in operations off Somaliland in the same ship, 1902-04, and then aboard H.M.S. Fox for the anti-gun-running operations in the Persian Gulf, serving on the station 1910-12. Recalled for service in the Great War, ex R.F.R., Elsdon spent most of that period aboard the 2nd Class Cruiser H.M.S. Venus, which service included Atlantic Patrols off Western Ireland, extensive service in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, Dutch East Indies, Colombo, Singapore and Hong Kong. He is one of a group noted in the ship’s logs as leaving the ship in April 1918 at Colombo for return to the U.K. He served as a qualified Diver from at least 1905 to 1916, and was discharged from H.M.S. Victory in June 1921. Sold with copied research.
A fine ‘Victorian’ R.R.C. group of four awarded to Matron Lenora Maxwell St. John, Indian Army Nursing Service, later British Committee of the French Red Cross and Serbian Relief Fund Royal Red Cross, 1st Class, V.R., silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, on lady’s bow riband; British War and Victory Medals (L. Maxwell St. John.); Serbia, Kingdom, Order of St. Sava, Fifth Class, lady’s shoulder badge, silver-gilt and enamel, Bishop in green robes, minor contact marks and edge nick to BWM, very fine and better (4) £800-£1,000 --- R.R.C. London Gazette 25 July 1899. The Register of the Royal Red Cross, 1883-1994, notes: ‘In recognition of her special devotion and competency in the discharge of her duties and the care bestowed in training British soldiers and Army Hospital Corps attendants in nursing duties.’ Leonora Maxwell St. John (née Muller) was born in Glasgow on 3 July 1862. She was first appointed to the Temporary Army Nursing Service on 12 March 1885 as a replacement for nurses going to Egypt. Admitted to the Permanent Service on 3 July 1887, she later took appointment as Nursing Sister in the Indian Army Nursing Service on 21 February 1888. Promoted Acting Superintendent 21 August 1890, and Lady Superintendent 1 April 1893, she completed two terms of service with the I.A.N.S., ending on 16 March 1899, and was decorated by the Queen at Osborn House on 24 August 1899. In 1903 she married Captain Arthur St. John of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and took the surname Maxwell-St. John. She then served from 1904 to 1914 as a member of the India Office Nursing Board, interviewing candidates for appointment to the I.A.N.S. in London. From 1914 to 1915 she served under the British Committee of the French Red Cross, firstly as Matron of The Auxiliary Military Hospital No. 307, better known as the Anglo-French-American Homeopathic Hospital. Established at Neuilly in a villa on the Boulevard Victor-Hugo in February 1915, it had 40-75 beds and was mostly British staffed. It closed in March, 1916. Maxwell St. John subsequently served with the Serbian Relief Fund in Corfu from 3 June 1916 to 13 September 1916, before crossing to Serbia and witnessing a further year of nursing as Matron of the Serbian Relief Fund Hospital. This latter work was formally recognised by His Majesty The King of Serbia with the award of the Order of St. Sava 5th Class on 31 October 1917: ‘in recognition of services rendered to the Serbian people.’ Sold with extensive copied research including an interesting letter written by the recipient on 12 February 1916 to the Under Secretary of State for India, stating the loss of her R.R.C. decoration during an official hospital visit in France: ‘There was a crush, my cross was wrenched off - probably unintentionally’. She was later informed that a duplicate award could be supplied, on payment of £3. 16s. 6d. Consequently, the R.R.C. decoration in this lot may well be that official replacement.
A Great War ‘First Day of the German Spring Offensive’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant C. Stewart, 1/6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, who subsequently died of wounds in October 1918 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (265603 Cpl. C. Stewart. 1/6 Gord: Highrs:); 1914 Star (10842 Pte. C. Stewart. 1/6 Gord: Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (10842 Sjt. C. Stewart. Gordons.) together with Memorial Plaque (Charles Stewart), medals unmounted, toned, good very fine (5) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion, when the enemy had penetrated our support line, this non-commissioned officer, at once grasping the situation, fearlessly advanced and held them until a block had been established, setting a fine example of initiative and disregard of personal safety to the men under his command. Subsequently he brought back valuable information to battalion headquarters, through heavy machine-gun fire, on two different occasions, and throughout the fighting he commanded his section with great gallantry and determination, offering a stubborn resistance to the advance of the enemy, on whom he inflicted heavy losses.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘East of Bapaume, 21 March 1918.’ Charles Stewart was born at Midmar, Aberdeenshire, and enlisted at Keith into the Gordon Highlanders. He served in France and Flanders with the 1/6th Battalion from 10 November 1914, and was a Sergeant serving with the 6/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, when he died of wounds on 27 October 1918, aged 24. The son of Charles and Margaret Stewart, of Newton Croft, Midmar, he is buried in Ramillies British Cemetery, Cambrai Road. Sold with copied research including War Diary account of the ‘operations commencing near Boursies on 21st March, 1918, and lasting till 26th March, 1918.’
Three: Private A. E. Packer, 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916 - of the 650 other ranks from the Battalion that went over the top that day, just 50 ably answered the roll call that evening 1914 Star (6-555 Pte. A. E. Packer. 2/Middx: R.); British War and Victory Medals (G-555 Pte. A. E. Packer. Midd’x R.) the Star gilded, traces of verdigris, very fine (3) £300-£400 --- Arthur Ernest Packer was born on 16 December 1877, and served with the Plymouth Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry, from 4 June 1896 to September 1898. Subsequently attesting for the Middlesex Regiment, he served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 November 1914, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. On this date the Battalion, as part of the 23rd Brigade, 8th Division, was on the right of the Brigade’s attack up Mash Valley towards Ovillers. Only 1 of the 23 officers that moved forward at zero hour returned un-wounded and among the 650 other ranks that went over the top, just 50 ably answered the roll call that evening. Packer was amongst those killed; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (Js. Spraggs. Commd. Btmn. H.M. Coast Gd. 33 Yrs.) engraved naming, minor edge bruising to last, generally very fine £500-£600 --- Provenance: J. Deacon Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2002. 1 of just 42 awards of the wide suspension L.S. & G.C. variety issued to the Coast Guard.
 James Spraggs first joined the Coast Guard as a Boatman on 12 June 1850, having previous time as a Mariner with the Revenue Cruizer Service in H.M.S. Wellington between January 1841 and April 1843, and in H.M.S. Harriet between April 1843 and June 1850. He served a sea once again as an Able Seaman in H.M.S. Caesar from 8 March 1854 until 29 April 1856, when he returned to Coast Guard service. During his time in Caesar he qualified for the Baltic medal. He was promoted to Commissioned Boatman on 22 May 1860, and served until 30 April 1874, completing 33 years 106 days service, as reflected on the edge of his medal which had received on 8 April.
Imperial Service Medal (4), G.V.R., Circular issue, 1st ‘coinage head’ issue (Alfred Millar.); G.VI.R., 1st issue (James Prior, M.M.) officially re-impressed; E.II.R., 1st issue (Alfred John Critcher); E.II.R., 2nd issue (Robert Sydney Granger) all in Royal Mint cases of issue; Fire Brigade L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (2) (Sub Officer Edward R Hurren; Stat Offr Martin D Davies) first in Royal Mint case of issue, the second in Birmingham Mint case of issue; Corps of Commissionaire’s Badge, silver and enamel, reverse engraved ‘W. S. Graver’, generally good very fine (7) £100-£140
Germany, Third Reich, Iron Cross 1939, First Class breast badge, silver with iron centre, maker marked number ‘6’ to the wide tapering pin, with original pin, hook, and hinge; War Service Cross, First Class, without swords, silver, maker marked number ‘15’ to the wide tapering pin, with original pin, hook, and hinge, finish on both somewhat lacking, nearly very fine (2) £160-£200
An Eastern People’s Gold Award First Class in its Presentation Case. Standard type with concave back and wide pin. Very good unissued condition, apart from some slight fading to the star. The case is covered in black artificial leather, with a gold image of the star printed on the flat lid. Inside it is lined on the lower section in black velvet, and white artificial silk in the top section. Case is in mint condition, extremely good condition £100-£140
A fine Great War R.R.C. group of seven awarded to Chief Principal Matron Emily V. Forrest, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, on lady’s bow riband; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s (Sister’s) breast badge in frosted silver (1926-36), on lady’s bow riband; 1914 Star (Sister E. V. Forrest. Q.A.I.M.N.S.); British War and Victory Medals (A. Matron E. V. Forrest.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, the first lacking top wearing pin, good very fine and better (7) £600-£800 --- R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919. Emily Vaughan Forrest was born in Brockley, Kent, on 15 July 1882, the daughter of a Superintendent at the Board of Trade. Educated at the Royal Naval School in Twickenham, she trained as a nurse at the Poplar Hospital in East London from March 1905 to March 1908. Appointed to the Q.A.I.M.N.S. as Staff Nurse on 4 August 1908, she went on to witness pre-War service at Woolwich, York and London. Sent to France on 17 August 1914, Forrest was raised Sister on 18 May 1917 and Acting Matron from 3 November 1918 to 29 March 1919. She was awarded the A.R.R.C. on 1 January 1917 and promoted to R.R.C. for service in France. The latter award was conferred by the King at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace on 2 November 1920. Remaining in the service of the Q.A.I.M.N.S., Forrest was posted to Hong Kong from 1922 to 1924, and then enjoyed a series of postings in India from 1930 to 1938, including Poona, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Simla. Promoted Chief Principal Matron in India on 24 June 1934, she was admitted as an Officer Sister of the Order of St. John on 20 July 1934 upon appointment as Chief of the Nursing Corps and Divisions, Empire of India, St. John Ambulance Brigade, the honour published in the London Gazette of 1 January 1935. Entitled to both the Jubilee and Coronation Medals, Forrest died on 6 January 1964. A much admired personality, her obituary adds: ‘She was very popular, kind, but firm when required and she certainly brought out the best in her staff... She had a great understanding and a very great charm of manner. Her sense of humour was infectious; it was always a pleasure to see her smile often break into laughter at some amusing incident on or off duty.’ Sold with the recipient’s silver cape badge, hallmarked Birmingham 1917.
Three: Sergeant E. M. O’Conor, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Corps British War and Victory Medals (E. M. O’Conor F.A.N.Y.C.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze star on riband; together with the recipient’s First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Medal, bronze, very fine and better (4) £100-£140 --- Sold with a copied press photograph showing Unit 7 of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry during the Great War, the recipient identified. French Croix de Guerre unconfirmed.
A fine post-War M.B.E., Great War A.R.R.C. group of six awarded to Sister Anne E. Musson, Territorial Force Nursing Service, later Matron of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, who displayed ‘outstanding work’ in France The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type lady’s shoulder badge, silver, on lady’s bow riband; Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver and enamel, on lady’s bow riband, in Garrard & Co. fitted case of issue; 1914 Star (Miss A. E. Musson. T.F.N.S.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Sister A. E. Musson.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued, on lady’s bow riband, nearly extremely fine (6) £600-£800 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 9 June 1949: ‘For services to the nursing profession in Northern Ireland.’ A.R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918. M.I.D. London Gazette 29 May 1917. Anne Elizabeth Musson was born in West Bridgford, Nottingham, in 1881, and trained in nursing at the Nottingham General Hospital from 1904 to 1907. An experienced practitioner, she joined the staff of the 3rd Western Hospital of the T.F.N.S. and served in France from 22 October 1914. Posted to dressing stations and base hospitals, and placed in charge of ambulance trains full of wounded men, she received the A.R.R.C. whilst on the staff of No. 6 General Hospital at Rouen. Impressed by her abilities, she was later invited by Mr. Andrew Fullerton to take up the post of Assistant Matron at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Promoted Matron in 1922, she remained at this hospital until retirement on 1 May 1946. An article published in the Nursing Journal around that time, adds: ‘She was awarded the MBE on her retirement. She was regarded as rather aloof, though an excellent and fair matron. She had artistic gifts, being a frequent exhibitor at the Ulster Academy of Arts.’ An original member of the Joint Nursing and Midwives Council, Musson was heavily involved in drafting the rules and regulations governing the training, examination and registration of qualified nurses. For 18 years she represented the Joint Council on the Northern Ireland executive committee of the Queen’s Institute of District Nurses, whilst she also served as a founder member of the Belfast branch of the Royal College of Nurses. She was also instrumental in forming the first Irish unit of the Student Nurses’ Association at the Royal Victoria Hospital. She died on 3 February 1958. Sold with the recipient’s original T.F.N.S. cape badge, newspaper clippings and copied research.
Pair: Lieutenant George Cleaveland, Royal Navy, who served as Mate aboard H.M.S. Princess Royal in the varioue operations of the Syrian campaign Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (George Cleaveland.); St. Jean d’Acre 1840, silver, unnamed as issued, good very fine £800-£1,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- George Cleaveland was born on 9 September 1818, and is nephew of Captain Sir Robert Oliver, R.N., K.H. This officer entered the Navy on 25 June 1832, as First-Class Volunteer, on board the Dee steam-vessel, commanded by his uncle, Captain Robert Oliver, in the North Sea; became Midshipman, 27 June 1834, of the Britannia 120, flag-ship of Sir Pulteney Malcolm, in the Mediterranean; and, until July, 1841, continued to serve, on the latter station, on board the Medea steamer, Captain Horatio Thomas Austin, Malabar 74, Captain Sir William Augustus Montagu, and, the last three years as Mate, on board the Princess Charlotte 104, bearing the flag of Sir Robert Stopford, under whom he shared, including the bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre, in the various operations of the Syrian campaign. He then joined, at Portsmouth, the Queen 110, fitting for the flag of Sir Edward W. C. R. Owen; and, on 7 February 1842, obtained his commission. His appointments have since been – 18 March 1842, to the Styx steam-vessel, Captain Alexander Thomas Emeric Vidal, employed in surveying the Azores – 8 February 1843, and 28 March 1844, to the Tartarus and Hecate steam surveying-vessels, commanded on the coast of Ireland by Captains Frederick Bullock and James Paterson Bower – and, 4 March 1845, to the Hibernia 104, now flag-ship of Sir William Parker in the Mediterranean. He died on 8 January 1855, at Bromley, Kent, aged 36.
A War Service Cross First Class with Swords in its Presentation Case and with the Matching Maker’s Outer Cardboard Box, by Friedrich Orth. A superb example in mint as new unissued condition, retaining all original bright factory finish. The pin maker stamped ‘L/14’ [Friedrich Orth, Wien]. The case is also mint, and is covered in black artificial leather, with a detailed image in silver of the cross printed on the slightly domed lid. Inside it is lined on the lower section in black velvet, and white artificial silk in the top. The outer pale orange cardboard box is also about mint and has printed on the top ‘Kriegs Verdienstkreux 1. Klasse mit Schwerter 1939’ and below that ‘Nur vom Empfanger zu offnen’. On the side is printed the maker’s name ‘Friedrich Orth Wien 56’, extremely fine £300-£400
Three: Private H. Jenkins, 21st (Yeoman Rifles) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action on the Western Front on the First Day of the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Third Battle of Ypres, on 20 September 1917 1914-15 Star (Y-372 Pte. H. Jenkins. K.R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals (Y-372 Pte. H. Jenkins. K.R. Rif. C.) all in crushed named card boxes of issue; Memorial Plaque (Harry Jenkins) nearly extremely fine (4) £180-£220 --- Harry Jenkins was born in Birmingham in 1898 and attested for the King's Royal Rifle Corps in Winchester on 30 August 1914. He served with the 13th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 30 July 1915, and received a gun shot wound to the head on 12 April 1917. He transferred to the 21st (Yeoman Rifles) Battalion on 13 August 1917, and was killed in action on 20 September 1917, the First Day of the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Third Battle of Ypres. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Memorial Plaque (Edward Castell) pierced at 12 o’clock, very fine £60-£80 --- Edward Castell was born in Henbury, Gloucestershire, in 1887, and attested for the Gloucestershire Regiment. In 1909, as a Corporal he received a Court Martial for drunkenness and was reduced down to Private. He served with ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion, during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 August 1914, and was posted missing, presumed killed in action, on 1 November 1914, on which date the Battalion was in action during the First Battle of the Aisne - by the end of the battle, the Battalion was down to just two officers and a hundred other ranks. Castell has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
A Great War A.R.R.C. group of four awarded to Ward Sister Ada A. M. Gibson, Territorial Force Nursing Service Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver and enamel, on lady’s bow riband; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Sister A. A. M. Gibson.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (S. Nurse A. A. M. Gibson. T.F.N.S.) nearly extremely fine (4) £500-£700 --- A.R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919. M.I.D. London Gazette 25 May 1918. Ada Alice Maud Gibson was born in Holloway, London, in 1878, and trained in the Norfolk and Norwich General Hospital from 1899 to 1902. She enrolled as Staff Nurse in the 2nd London General Hospital Unit of the T.F.N.S. on 9 May 1909, and was mobilised on 17 August 1914. Remaining in England for the first few years of the Great War, she finally crossed the Channel to France with No. 53 British General Hospital on 23 April 1917. Raised Sister on 12 August 1918, Gibson was sent to No. 20 Casualty Clearing Station on 6 November 1918, but her time with this unit proved short owing to the Armistice and ill health. Repatriated home aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel, she was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital for Officers at Marylebone on 11 March 1919. Recovered, she resumed her civilian nursing career, being recorded in 1921 as a hospital-trained Ward Sister employed at the Jewish Maternity Hospital in Whitechapel. Registering as SRN No. 2946 on 21 April 1922, she finally resigned from the T.F.N.S. on 19 February 1931. Sold with the recipient’s T.F.N.S. cape badge.
Pair: Private G. H. Lord, 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, when the Battalion was virtually wiped out British War and Victory Medals (20-434 Pte. G. H. Lord. North’d Fus.) nearly extremely fine (2) £240-£280 --- George Henry Lord was born in Breamside, Northumberland, and attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers. He served with the 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 1916, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. The Battalion advanced together with the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd (2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tyneside Scottish) Battalions up Mash Valley north of La Boisselle, across the widest part of No Man’s Land, and were almost completely destroyed within minutes of leaving their start positions. Of the 80 officers that went into action from the 4 battalions only 10 returned, and of the men some 80% became casualties. There were 940 all ranks killed and some 1,500 wounded, with the 20th Battalion losing every Officer and Sergeant. Lord has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Three: Private H. Blake, 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, on which date the Battalion suffered over 400 casualties 1914-15 Star (15835 Pte. H Blake. R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals (15835 Pte. H Blake. R. Berks. R.) light contact marks, very fine and better (3) £300-£400 --- Henry Blake attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 24 February 1915. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. On this date the Battalion, as part of the 25th Brigade, 8th Division, was involved in the attack on Ovillers. Very early in the assault the leading waves met tremendous machine gun and rifle fire, and by 9:00 a.m. over half the battalion had been lost, with the battalion suffering total casualties that day of 437. Blake was amongst those killed; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Germany, Third Reich, Iron Cross 1939, First Class breast badge, silver with iron centre, maker marked number ‘4’ to the wide tapering pin for Steinhauer & Luck, Ludenscheid, with original pin, hook and hinge, in rather tired and scuffed presentation case of issue, the push button missing, good very fine £160-£200
A scarce K.P.M. and Bar group of three awarded to Assistant Inspector-General M. F. Cleary, Indian Police, the first Bar awarded with the new laurel design King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue, with laurel design Second Award Bar (Michael FrancisCleary. Indian Police Service); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, these last two unnamed as issued, good very fine (3) £1,000-£1,400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1930: ‘Mr M. F. Cleary, Superintendent of Police, Intelligence Bureau, Home Department, Government of India. For valuable services.’ K.P.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 8 May 1934: ‘Michael Francis Cleary, Superintendent of Police, Chittagong, in recognition of his gallant conduct in frustrating an attempted outrage by terrorists on the 7th January last, by the foresight, courage and presence of mind which he displayed in apprehending two armed suspects.’ This was the first Bar awarded with the laurel design. The following citation was published in The Gazette of India 8 May 1934: ‘On the 7th January, 1934 Mr. Cleary, who had just witnessed a cricket match, was returning in his car to his bungalow when, on arriving at a point behind a tent where some 40 or 50 spectators and players were gathered, he noticed two suspicious youths on the road. He ordered his guard Constable and driver to search them but, not satisfied that the search was being conducted efficiently, he himself left the car and ordered his driver to strip the youths to the waist. One youth thereupon hurled a bomb which exploded at Mr. Cleary's feet but did him no injury. He immediately tackled the youth and called upon his orderly to shoot. The orderly did so, but missed the youth and hit Mr. Cleary's hand. He however continued the struggle on the ground until the Constable shot the youth dead. Meanwhile the other youth ran away but was pursued and eventually wounded and captured; a bomb was found in his possession. The foresight, courage and presence of mind displayed by Mr. Cleary were the main factors in the frustration of an attempted outrage by terrorists which might otherwise have been disastrously successful.' Sold with copied research.
An outstanding Great War D.S.M. group of three awarded to 2nd Hand W. W. Cowell, Gunlayer of the six-pounder aboard H.M. Drifter I.F.S. who destroyed a German seaplane in the Straits of Dover in June 1917 Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (D.A.4513. W. W. Cowell, 2nd Hd. R.N.R. H.M. Dr. I.F.S. Straits of Dover. 11. June. 1917.); British War and Victory Medals (4513D.A. W. W. Cowell. 2 Hd. R.N.R.) mounted for display together with an erased 1914-15 Star, good very fine (4) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.S.M. London Gazette 20 July 1917. The original recommendation states: ‘H.M. Drifter “I.F.S.”. Destruction of enemy seaplane Straits of Dover 11 June 1917. Gunlayer. At 4.50am five enemy machines seen flying low firing at barrage buoys. The gun was manned and loaded with tracer shell, but held fire until planes came closer. Opened fire at 1,500 yards. First and second shots fell directly under machines. Increased range to 2,000 yards and third shot hit the middle aeroplane which exploded. A second enemy machine landed close to the machine hit, almost immediately. Fired two more shells at machine on the water and three at the remaining machines which were circling overhead. Firing pin now broke and had to be changed. With new firing pin fired three rounds at machines still in the air and drove them off and five more rounds at machine on the water which stopped. Passed over wreckage of machine which had been destroyed in the air, but H.M.Y. Diane got to the one on the water first and took the two aviators prisoner. It is submitted that this action reflects great credit on I.F.S. and gunlayer 2nd Hand Walter William Cowell. (ADM 137/3238/257 refers). An account of this episode is told in The Dover Patrol, by Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon: ‘During the winter the drifters on the cross-Channel barrage had a bad time. They were cheered on three occasions by most suspicious damage to the nets, but in the strong tide diving, for examination purposes, was impossible, and therefore the loss of enemy vessels could only be assumed. The drifter Protect was lost in March 1917 in weighing a fleet of nets: a heavy explosion occurred, doubtless owing to a mine having drifted in the net. Only three hands were saved. On April 9th six German sea-planes attacked the mine-net division guarding the North Goodwin Nets. One of these machines endeavoured to torpedo a drifter, by a torpedo dropped from below the body of the machine; the torpedo missed the drifter astern by about twelve yards. The drifters engaged with their guns, but without result. This is an example of how the Germans wasted a new idea. Instead of trying to sink a large liner, they gave away the system in an attack on a little drifter. The German aircraft did not, however, always get off so easily, for on one occasion, when Lieutenant H. B. Bell-Irving, R.N.V.R., arrived early on his patrol-station, he heard sounds of machine-gun fire, and saw five enemy machines flying low in line ahead, firing at each buoy as they passed it. The drifter manned her gun and loaded with tracer shell, and waited the enemy's approach. She opened fire at 1,500 yards. The first and second shots fell directly under the machine. She promptly increased her range to 2,000 yards, and the third shot hit the enemy machine amidships, causing it to explode, and bringing it down. A second enemy machine almost immediately landed close to the first one, and the drifter fired two more rounds at the machine which had landed, whose pilot was endeavouring to pick up his damaged comrade, and three rounds at the machines which were circling overhead. The drifter proceeded to chase the machine which was on the water, and which was taxing to the eastward. This craft was in trouble as it could not go straight, one of the floats having been hit by the drifter's fire. The firing-pin of the drifter's gun had broken; the gun-layer changed it; fired three more rounds at the machines in the air, which cleared out, and five more rounds at the machine in the water, which stopped. The yacht Diane, which had come on the scene, took the two aviators prisoner, and endeavoured to tow the damaged machine, but unfortunately the machine broke and was not got into the harbour. The gun-layer of the drifter was a fisherman named Walter Cowell, second hand, and I venture to think his hitting two sea-planes, direct hits, with a six-pounder in this way was remarkable - as difficult an operation as shooting rocketing pheasants with a .303 rifle. For this service Lieutenant Bell-Irving received the D.S.C. and the gun-layer the D.S.M. Lieutenant Bell-Irving subsequently received a bar to his D.S.C. for gallant conduct in connection with an attempt to salve the Redcar after she was mined. He was in her when she sank, but jumped into the water just in time to clear the vessel.’ Sold with copied research including accounts from various newspapers and books.
A 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross First Class 1914. Screw-back, by Deumer. 2nd pattern with straight edges to the ‘1939’ box. Unmarked. Circular rear plate is the multi-fluted type [Wilhelm Deumer, Ludenscheid] on back. About mint condition, retaining almost all bright factory finish, extremely fine £400-£500
Four: Private M. Clarke, Auxiliary Territorial Service 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, all privately engraved ‘W.211146 Pte. M. Clarke.’, nearly extremely fine Four: Corporal D. E. Fuller, Women’s Auxiliary Air Force 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, nearly extremely fine 1939-45 Star, the reverse privately engraved ‘Sister F. M. Bruce-Taylor’; Women’s Voluntary Service Medal, unnamed as issued, good very fine (10) £60-£80 --- M. Clarke served with the Auxiliary Territorial Service at Whitchurch, Redhill and Bushey Park from 1943 to 1944. She is later believed to have served with S.H.A.F.E. at the Hotel Trianon in Versailles, and as part of the Army of Occupation at Westphalia. For her services during the Second World War she was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 2 August 1945). Sold with an original photograph of the recipient in military uniform and a War Office letter of notification regarding the M.I.D., to Pte. M. Clarke, No. W/211146 A.T.S. Dorothy Edith Fuller was born on 30 September 1916 and enlisted into the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force on 23 February 1942. Trained as a Nursing Orderly, she was posted to France on 13 November 1944 and later served as part of the British Army of the Rhine. Demobilised on 3 February 1946, her papers list her home at that time as Tottenham in London. Sold with the original R.A.F. Airwoman Service and Release Book to Cpl. D. E. Fuller, No. 2029096, which contains the following reference: ‘This nursing orderly has worked with me for over a year, for the last 4/12 being in charge of a ten bedded Sick Quarters or small hospital and she has proved herself very efficient at her work using a considerable amount of general nursing and also first aid work. She always got on with her colleagues and subordinates, and can be tactful.’
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. and Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Sergeant T. Wilson, Royal Field Artillery, who was twice wounded in action Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (103989 Cpl. -A. Sjt:- T. Wilson. D162/Bde: R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (103989. Dvr. T. Wilson, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (103989 Sjt. T. Wilson. R.A.) light contact marks, very fine (4) £700-£900 --- M.M. London Gazette 23 February 1918. M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 20 August 1919. Thomas Wilson was born in Eyemouth, Berwickshire, on 30 April 1891, and having emigrated to Canada in 1908, when 18 years old, he returned to Britain and worked as a baker in North Berwick. Following the outbreak of the Great War he volunteered for service on 24 August 1915 and served during the Great War with 'D' Company,162nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, part of the 33rd Division. The Company embarked from Southampton landing in France on 13 December 1915. The 162nd Brigade first went into action on 13 February 1916 and were involved in major actions in the Battles of the Somme including the Battle of Albert (1-13 July), the Battle of Bazentin (14-17 July), and the attacks on High Wood (22 July - 7 August). Promoted Corporal on 19 February 1917, Wilson saw further action in the Arras Offensive (9-24 April), the Hindenburg Line (12 September - 12 October) and Operation Hush on the Flanders Coast. The Brigade also saw action in the 3rd Battles of Ypres (31 July - 10 November). The first award of the Military Medal to Wilson was for actions in the 3rd Battles of Ypres whilst a member of D (Howitzer) Battery. On 22 September Wilson was wounded by gas on 22 September 1917, and was awarded his first Military Medal on 4 October 1917 which was gazetted the following February. He was promoted Sergeant, and was awarded the Second Award Bar to the Military Medal for ‘Operations on the Western Front’ between October and December 1917 year. He was also awarded a Divisional Certificate for distinguished services on the 25 April 1918, during the retreat from Kemmel Ridge. He was wounded again on 2 May 1918. In May 1921, Wilson returned to Canada and settled in South Porcupine. He was awarded the British Empire Service League Canadian Legion Medal '1937-40', and remained in Ontario for the rest of his life before his death, aged 73, on 26 June 1964. He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. His son, Thomas Peter Wilson, served during the Second World War with 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in December 1944. Sold with the recipient’s British Empire Service League Canadian Legion Medal, the reverse engraved ‘Tho’s Wilson, S. Porcupine, Br #287. 1937-40’, with top ‘Past President Branch’ riband bar; and copied research which states that Wilson requested that his Military Medal be personally presented to him by H.M. the King (although it is not clear whether this request was granted).
A fine post-War 1952 B.E.M. group of four awarded to Woman Chief Inspector Lily Dawes, Metropolitan Police British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Miss Lily Dawes); Defence Medal; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Police L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (Ch. Inspr. Lily Dawes) in named card box of issue, good very fine (4) £200-£240 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 30 May 1952: ‘Miss Lily Dawes, Lately Woman Police Inspector, Metropolitan Police Force. (Tooting S.W.17)’ Lily Dawes was among 194 United Kingdom recipients of the British Empire Medal in the first ‘Queen’s Birthday Honours’ list of 1952. Her strength of character as a young policewoman was detailed some 27 years earlier by The Daily Herald on 15 August 1925: ‘Policewoman No. 1: Arrested by a constable at the insistence of Miss Lily Dawes, “Woman Police Constable No.1,” Harry Durant, a florist, of Shepherd’s Bush, was sentenced at Marylebone yesterday to two months hard labour for grossly insulting Miss Dawes while she was on duty.’
A Second War R.R.C. group of six awarded to Principal Matron Kathleen M. Cooper, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service, late British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, who rose from Pantry Maid to Principal Matron in a nursing career spanning more than 30 years Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, reverse dated ‘1944’; The Order of St John of Jerusalem, Serving Sister’s shoulder badge, 1st type (1892-1939), silver and enamel, circular badge with white enamel cross with heraldic beasts in angles raised above the background, on lady’s bow riband; 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, the second with minor white enamel loss, very fine (6) --- R.R.C. London Gazette 8 June 1944. The original recommendation from the Officer Commanding, R.N. Auxiliary Hospital, Seaforth, states: ‘The above-mentioned Acting Matron, Q.A.R.N.N.S., joined this hospital before the complement of Nursing Sisters and V.A.D.’s was completed. She has organised the nursing of patients in the hospital with the greatest efficiency and zeal, and has opened Quarters for the Nursing Sisters and a hostel for V.A.D. Members. She has so arranged these that the Sisters and V.A.D.’s are contented and happy, thereby increasing the efficiency of the work carried out by those members of the staff. She has also organised the duties and Quarters with the Superintending Sister at R.N.A.H. Woolton with equally satisfactory results. The hostel for the V.A.D.’s at Woolton is not yet ready, but they have been as contented and happy as it has been possible to make them in the hospital itself. I am most impressed with the standard of nursing efficiency reached by the V.A.D. nursing members who have received the greater part of their nursing instruction and practical experience in this hospital. She has been available, first as the Senior Superintending Sister and later as Acting Matron, for advice to all establishments in the Port of Liverpool in which Sisters Q.A.R.N.N.S. are carried, and in this also she has been of the greatest assistance.’ Kathleen Margaret Cooper served from 11 October 1917 with the British Red Cross Society as an Ordinary Member of the 4th Hampshire Voluntary Aid Detachment. Appointed to Pantry Maid and Nurse duties at Highfield Hall in Southampton, she later undertook her nursing studies at Birmingham General Hospital, qualifying SRN on 19 March 1926. Entering Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service as Nursing Sister on 2 July 1928, she served at Plymouth and on the island of Malta from 1932 to 1935. Advanced Superintending Sister on 8 February 1941, she was awarded the A.R.R.C. in the London Gazette of 1 July 1941 and posted to the Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital at Seaforth on 5 June 1942. Transferred to Chatham in 1950, she ended her service as Principal Matron and died at Castle Cary, Somerset, on 21 April 1982. Sold with the recipient’s original General Nursing Council for England and Wales silver and enamel badge, engraved to reverse ‘K. M. Cooper S.R.N. 42349 19.3.26’; Royal Life Saving Society bronze medal, awarded to ‘K. Cooper Aug. 1934’; Silver and enamel badge of the G. H. B. League; B.R.C.S. ‘For Service’ badge, No. 24747; with two original group photographs of the recipient.
Iron Crosses Second Class 1939. Two examples, the first by Hammer and Sohne in Presentation Packet. Standard Cross in factory mint condition, retaining all original finish. Blue paper packet, front printed in Gothic script ‘Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1939’, and on the back ‘J.E. Hammer and Sohne Gerfingswalde’; the second by AHP, Hanau in Presentation Packet. Standard Cross in almost factory mint condition, retaining all original finish, but slight tarnishing. Ring stamped ‘24’. Smaller brown paper packet, front printed in Gothic script ‘Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1939’, and on the back ‘Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Hanauer Plakettennersteller’, both good very fine and both scarce makers (2) £150-£200
A fine Life Saving group of three awarded to Petty Officer F. Lamport, Royal Navy, who served for nearly 20 years with the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert, and whose Royal Humane Society Medal in Bronze with a Second Award Bar represents 40 years in between gallant rescue attempts - the last being carried out on the River Thames in 1916, at the age of 63 British War Medal 1914-20 (72584 F. Lamport. P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Fk. Lamport, A.B. (Rigger) H.M.Y. Victoria & Albert.) impressed naming; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Fredk. Lamport A.B. H.M.S. “Excellent”, 4th May 1876) with Second Award Bar, dated ‘2nd Aug. 1916’, lacking integral top bronze riband buckle, mounted for display, good very fine (3) £500-£700 --- R.H.S. Case no. 19,867: ‘At 1.30pm 4th May 1876 the sea at Spithead, 8 fathoms of water, Frederick W. Lamport, AB., HMS Excellent, jumped overboard from the gun-boat Skylark, going 6 knots under steam, swam to the man, A. McQuire, AB and supported him until picked up. Bronze Medal awarded.’ R.H.S. Case no. 42,616: ‘At 9.10pm on the 2nd August 1916, a boy accidentally fell into the Thames at Lambeth in a dangerous position between a barge and the quay. Frederick Lamport, 1st Class P.O., Anti-Aircraft Corps, aged 64 jumped in but failed to find him. Bronze Clasp awarded.’ Frederick Lamport was born in Fareham, Hampshire, in October 1852. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in June 1867, and subsequently served with H.M. Ships Hercules and Glasgow before being posted to H.M.S. Excellent (Whale Island, Portsmouth) in July 1875. Although serving at H.M.S. Excellent it was during gunnery practice on H.M.S. Skylark, that Lamport carried out his rescue attempt, for which he was to be awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in Bronze. The Skylark’s Log for 4 May 1876 records that there was a premature explosion of the N0 4 after Breech Loarder, which blew 3 seamen (including McQuire) into the sea. All of the three seamen were rescued, and then taken to Haslar Hospital for treatment. Lamport advanced to Able Seaman (Rigger) and was posted to the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert in March 1877. He served with the Royal Yacht for the next 18 years, and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. in January 1890. Lamport was Shore Pensioned in March 1903, after 36 years’ continuos service. He volunteered for service for ‘Hostilities only’ in February 1915, and was posted as a Petty Officer to H.M.S. President B. During the latter Lamport served as part of the Anti-Aircraft Corps stationed on the Thames. From here he carried out his second attempted rescue, some forty years after his first. Lamport was discharged in June 1918, age 65, and having served for 39 years with the Royal Navy. Sold with copied service papers and research - the group featuring in an article included in The Life Saving Awards Research Society Journal (No. 49).
Four: Driver Celia Meade, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Corps, late No. 24 (Cornwall) Voluntary Aid Detachment British War and Victory Medals (C. Meade F.A.N.Y.C.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, the reverse dated 1914-1917; Belgium, Kingdom, Medaille de la Reine Elisabeth, bronze and red enamel; together with the recipient’s First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Medal, bronze, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (5) £400-£500 --- Celia Meade was born in St. Ives, Cornwall, on 24 November 1892, the daughter of artist Arthur Meade. A keen performer, she played a musician in the town’s performance of Aladdin and is noted in the St. Ives Weekly Summary of 2 January 1909 as one of the lead characters in the annual pantomine, Cinderella. Meade attested for her local V.A.D. detachment on 29 November 1915 and was soon employed as a chauffeuse. Transferred with permission to the F.A.N.Y. on 24 January 1916, she crossed the Channel and served in France with the Calais Convoy from February 1916 to May 1917. For her services as a motor ambulance driver, she was awarded the French Croix de Guerre on 16 September 1918 under General Order No. 336. Her citation states: ‘During the War operations from 10 August to 10 September 1918, she drove by medical car day and night, to the most perilous posts to ensure the transport of the wounded.’ Further recognised with the award of the Medaille de la Reine Elisabeth on 22 April 1919, Meade resigned from the F.A.N.Y. in 1919 and likely returned home to ‘Godrevy’, St. Ives. Sold with copied research including V.A.D. service record, a fine French identity card portrait, and two others of the recipient alongside her ambulance, and photocopies of the certificates relating to both foreign decorations.
War Service Crosses Second Class with Swords in their 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. The ring is not marked. The light brown packet is also mint, and has printed on the front ‘Kriegs-Verdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwerten’ in black Gothic type. On the reverse is printed ‘Rudolf Souval Wien VII/62’; 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 has slight wear, and has printed on the front ‘Kriegs-Verdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwerten’ in black Gothic type. On the reverse is printed ‘Gebr. Gengensbach and Co. G.m.b.H. Pforzheim Poststrasse 5’, good very fine, the second scarce by this small maker (2) £100-£140
Four: Head Naval Nursing Auxiliary Mary E. Handel, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service and British Red Cross Society Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (0083 M. E. Handel. H.N.N.A. H.M.S. Ariel.); Voluntary Medical Service Medal, silver (Miss Mary E. Handel); together with the recipient’s British Red Cross Society Medal (012931 M. E. Handel) with top ‘Proficiency in Red Cross First Aid’ riband bar, nearly extremely fine (5) £120-£160 --- Mary Eileen Handel enrolled in the British Red Cross on 8 July 1941, serving with No. 212 (East Grinstead) Voluntary Aid Detachment. Transferring to the Royal Navy on 27 September 1944, she served at Haslar and H.M.S. Vernon, before moving from nursing to clerical duties at Chatham Naval Hospital on 24 March 1948. Posted to Malta, she qualified for her Voluntary Medical Service Medal on 8 July 1957. Three years later, all remaining V.A.D.s in the Royal Navy were taken into service with Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service - Handel was allocated number 83. As regular personnel, all those who had served the requisite 15 years were awarded the L.S.G.C. Medal, the recipient receiving hers on 17 May 1961. Sold with the original forwarding document for Voluntary Medical Service Medal, and B.R.C.S. proficiency notification slip confirming entitlement to last, dated 13 August 1942.
A War Service Cross First Class with Swords in its Presentation Case. A superb example in mint as new unissued condition, retaining all original bright factory finish. The pin is maker stamped ‘1’ [Deschler and Sohn, Munchen]. 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. It is the late type, without a metal hinge or closing button. Inside it is lined on the lower section in black velvet, and white artificial silk in the top, extremely fine £200-£240
An Eastern People’s Silver Award First Class with Swords for Bravery. This is the extremely rare variation having a deep concave back and wide pin, but with the pin stamped ‘100 [Rudolf Wachter & Lange, Mittwaida’ ]. Silver plating worn on part of right side, good condition and extremely rare for this maker £100-£140
A scarce Great War casualty M.M. group of three awarded to Unit Administrator Mrs. Margaret A. C. Gibson, Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps, who used all her leadership experience to prevent serious loss of life during a German air raid on her camp in Abbeville Military Medal, G.V.R. (Unit-Admtr: Mrs. M. A. C. Gibson. Q.M.A.A.C.) unit partially officially corrected - see footnote; British War and Victory Medals (U.Adtr. M. A. C. Gibson. Q.M.A.A.C.) extremely fine (3) £1,800-£2,200 --- M.M. London Gazette 8 July 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air-raid when in charge of a Q.M.W.A.A.C. [sic] camp which was completely demolished by enemy bombs, one of which fell within a few feet of the trench in which the women were sheltering. During the raid Unit-Administrator Gibson showed a splendid example. Her courage and energy sustained the women under most trying circumstances, and undoubtedly prevented serious loss of life.’ The error to the initials of the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps was corrected in the London Gazette of 29 August 1918, and undoubtedly accounts for the official correction to the naming of the unit on the MM. Margaret Annabella Campbell Gibson was born on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, the elder daughter of The Honourable Thomas Elliott, Auditor-General of Mauritius. Educated at Cheltenham Ladies College, the Glasgow Herald and Dundee Courier newspapers announced her marriage to John MacDougall Gibson, Substitute Procureur and Advocate-General, at St. Paul’s Church, Vacoa, Mauritius, in February 1883. The marriage was brief, Gibson being widowed not long thereafter. Emigrating to South Africa, Gibson was placed in charge of the Princess Christian Hostel at Bloemfontein from 1907 to 1910. Appointed Warden of the Governesses’ Institution, Darbishire House, Manchester, in 1913, she attested for the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in July 1917 and went to France two months later as Unit Administrator in charge of the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps camp at Abbeville. At this time military ranks among the Q.M.A.A.C. were more commensurate with factories than army units, with ‘Workers’, ‘Forewomen’ and two grades of ‘Officials’ or ‘Administrators’ replacing private soldiers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Officers. In consequence, it fell to Gibson as senior rank to tutor and chaperone the young women under her command, oversee their living arrangements, and supervise their behaviour. Gibson later detailed these days in letters to her sister, May. Offering very personal insights, she requested everything from woolly socks and snow shoes, to glass for her office windows and pieces of linoleum to cover the cracks on the floors. Clearly fond and proud of her ‘girls’, she was keen to advocate that the popular fantasies at home about promiscuity and adventure had very little foundation; the most glamorous moments came via games of tennis between her lady motor drivers and the somewhat elderly soldiers stationed behind the lines. The German Spring Offensive of 21 March 1918 changed everything for Gibson and her charges. Recognising the importance of communications and administrative centres, the German High Command directed repeated air attacks on Abbeville which was essentially a ‘hub’ through which Allied resources and orders flowed. Further bombing sorties targeted hospitals and important infrastructure, the women of the Q.M.A.A.C. remaining at their posts to the surprise of many back home; the First Chief Controller Helen Gwyyne-Vaughan further stated to the contemporary press that since her members were replacing soldiers, then they must expect to be shot at! These terrible experiences were later said to confirm the women’s right to wear khaki, the bombing redrawing the line separating combatants and non combatants and, by extension, redefining the rights of women who now possessed de facto, combatant status. On the night of 29-30 May 1918, the unthinkable happened at Abbeville when a bomb fell into a protection trench. Eight Workers died in the blast and a ninth died later of her wounds, their average age being just 22 years. With her camp destroyed, Gibson was transferred to Dieppe and was later awarded the Military Medal, the first Q.M.A.A.C. Administrator to receive such an honour. Sadly, she did not live long enough to receive the decoration; sent to the American Hospital at Le Treport, she died of dysentery on 17 September 1918. Sold with the original letter of transmittal for the Great War pair, named to ‘U.A. Mrs. M. A. C. Gibson, Q.M.A.A.C.’, and copied research.
A Selection of Books on the Victoria Cross. The Story of the Victoria Cross 1856-1963, by Brigadier Sir John Smyth, Bt., V.C., Frederick Muller, 1963, 596pp, with photographic plates and index, hard-back, with dust jacket, reasonable condition For Valour - The Victoria Cross, Courage in action, by John Percival, Thames Methuen, 1985, 257pp, with photographic plates and index, hard-back, with dust jacket, reasonable condition The Bronze Cross, by Gordon Roe, P. R. Gawthorn Ltd., London, 1945, 124pp, with numerous photographs and index, hard-back, with torn dust-jacket, reasonable condition Valiant Men, Canada’s V.C. and G.C. Winners, by John Swettenham, Hakkert Toronto, 1973, 234pp, with index and photographs, hard-back, with dust-jacket, good condition They Dared Mightily, by Lionel Wigmore, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963, 317pp, with index and b/w plates, hard-back, with dust jacket, good condition The Victoria Cross, Centenary Exhibition Brochure 1956. The stories of the winning of the Victoria Crosses which were represented in the Centenary Exhibition, Marlborough House, June to July 1956, First Edition, 143pp, with index, paper covers; together with the index of exhibits, very good condition Illustrated Handbook of the Victoria Cross and George Cross, Imperial War Museum 1970, 40pp, with numerous plates, soft-back, good condition For Conspicuous Gallantry, a brief history of the recipients of the V.C. from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, by Nigel McCrery, J. H. Hall & Sons, Derby, 1990, 87pp, with index, soft-back; together with a booklet o nthe four V.C.s awarded to the 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, good condition Together with a set of illustrated pictures depicting ‘Heroes of the Victoria Cross’; a facsimile copy of Guy Gibson’s Pilot’s Flying Log Book, including his entry for the Dam’s Raid; and three other books on non-V.C. related matters, good condition (lot) £60-£80
A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.S.O. group of five awarded to Major T. H. H. Carter, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, for gallantry at Mauquissart, near Neuve Chapelle Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major T. H. H. Carter.); Defence Medal; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, 1 clasp, Long Service, 1947 (Thomas H. H. Carter) small chip to wreath on the first, otherwise good very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 22 September 1916: ‘awarded for services at Mauquissart.’ ‘Carter, Thomas Healy Hunton, Capt. (Temporary), Royal Warwickshire Regt. For conspicuous gallantry. When the explosion of an enemy mine wrecked a portion of the defences, Capt. Carter, though dazed by the explosion, rallied the survivors under heavy shell fire and beat off a strong enemy attack. He has constantly shown great courage.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917. Thomas Healy Hunton Carter was appointed Captain in the 5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 16 November 1914 (late Captain, 1st Volunteer Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry). He served in France with the 5th Battalion from 21 May 1916, was Mentioned in Despatches in 1917, and is entitled to the Silver War Badge. Sold with original documents including Warrant for D.S.O. and M.I.D. Certificate (Haig, 13 November 1916), together with copied research.
An impressive Order of St. John pair awarded to Sister Flora K. Fitzmaurice, Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve, who risked her own life to save others during a serious typhus outbreak in 1897 The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Sister’s shoulder badge, 1st type (1892-1939), silver and enamel, circular badge with white enamel cross with heraldic beasts in angles raised above the background, on lady’s bow riband, the reverse privately engraved ‘Flora Kathleen Fitz Maurice Inniskea Augt. 1897. Conferred Augt. 1898.’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Sister F. K. Fitzmaurice. I.Y. H.P. Staff.) good very fine (2) £300-£400 --- Flora Kathleen Fitzmaurice trained as a nurse at the City of Dublin Nursing Institution and was one of 11 nurses selected from that hospital to nurse the victims of a typhus outbreak on the remote west coast island of Inniskea. Located off the coast of the Belmullet peninsula in County Mayo, the island offered extremely primitive working conditions. An extract from the British Journal of Nursing offers a vivid description: ‘The nurses who first went to the island had to cook both for the patients and for themselves, to wash their own clothes and to do everything that was possible under the circumstances for the patients also. The food was scant and of very bad quality. There were no beds, and when the nurses had done a hard day’s work in all the filth and misery prevailing among the people, they were often unable to cook any food for their own use, and had to go without... They had at one time forty-eight cases of typhus to nurse in the separate huts, and had to visit all of these patients two or three times a day. They made no complaint, but worked on until they both broke down, and both took typhus fever from those whom they were attending.’ Contracting typhus herself, Fitzmaurice was fortunate to survive. She was later decorated with the Order of St John of Jerusalem, the bestowal by the Countess Cadogan at the Vice-regal Lodge offering public recognition to both the individual nurses and the Order of St John, the group citation noting: ‘in recognition of very conspicuous and devoted conduct in the month of June, during an outbreak of virulent typhus fever on the Island of Inniskea on a very wild and barren part of the west coast of Ireland.’ Making a good recovery, Fitzmaurice enrolled in Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve on 2 July 1900, and served on the Staff of the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital at Dreelfontein during the Boer War. Sold with private research and a copied group photograph of the 11 nurses decorated by the Countess Cadogan, the recipient being among their ranks.
Three: Sergeant G. F. W. Walker, St. John Ambulance Brigade Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, clasps loose on riband (969 Ordly: G. F. W. Walker, St. John Amb: Bde); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (969. Pte. G. F. W. Walker. Dudley Corps.); Service Medal of the Order of St John, silver, straight bar suspension (2628. Sgt. G. F. W. Walker (Birmingham ‘C’ Div. No.3 Dist. S.J.A.B. 1922.) edge bruise to first, light contact marks, generally very fine (3) £400-£500 --- George Frederick William Walker was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, around 1882. He is confirmed on the QSA roll as serving during the Boer War with St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, the entry noting the Orange Free State clasp issued on 1 June 1907 and the Natal clasp issued off roll. Initially posted as Orderly to No. 7 General Hospital in Pretoria, Walker later transferred to Harrismith, before returning home to the West Midlands and forging a successful career with the S.J.A.B. in his home town.
India General Service 1908-35 (2), 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (200 Dvr. Sant Singh 23rd Peswr. Mtn. By.); 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1930-31, Mohmand 1933 (34060 Gnr. Mohd. Abdullah, 1 Mtn. Bty.) the first with slack suspension, polished, good fine, the second very fine (2) £50-£70
Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Captn. J. Brandon, 46th N.I.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, toned, good very fine £900-£1,200 --- John Brandon was born in London on 4 January 1787. A Cadet in the 1805 season, he arrived in India on 11 July 1806. He was raised Lieutenant on 25 November 1807; Captain on 13 May 1825; Major on 1 December 1836, retiring on the same day; and Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel on 28 November 1854. He served at Barasat C.C. for 10 months. He was then posted as Ensign to 23rd N.I. Interpreter and Quartermaster, 2/23rd N.I., on 27 October 1814, in which position he served until 1819. Brandon also served in the 3rd Mahratta War as Lieutenant, 2/23 N.I. On furlough from December 1819 until June 1823, he was transferred as Captain to 46th N.I. (late 2/23rd N.I.) on 1 May 1824. During the First Burma War, he was at Chittagong in 1824, and at Ramu as Captain 46th N.I. (India medal). He was transferred as Captain to newly raised 1st Extra Regiment (became 69th N.I. in 1828) on 13 May 1825. Lieutenant-Colonel Brandon died in Cheltenham on 24 August 1866, and is buried in Holy Trinity Church, Portland Street, Cheltenham.
‘Almost a single-handed endeavour of extremely bold pattern, one day these exploits will be disclosed, and they will read stranger than fiction.’ Admiral Christie, Commander of the United States Pacific Submarine Operations, on the success of Operation Jaywick. The historic and important Second War ‘Operation Jaywick’ M.M., ‘Special Operations Executive - Orient Mission’ B.E.M. group of nine awarded to Acting Sergeant, later Major R. G. Morris, Royal Army Medical Corps, attached S.O.E. and Special Operations Australia, who was awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry and distinguished service as Medical Orderly in the MV Krait during her hazardous and highly audacious 48-day 4,000 mile round trip Commando raid, under the Command of Major Ivan Lyon, Gordon Highlanders, on Japanese occupied Singapore Harbour in September 1943, resulting in the sinking and destruction of seven enemy ships totalling 37,000 tons - the deepest surface waterborne penetration behind enemy lines undertaken by special forces in the Second World War. With no uniforms, no identity tags, and flying the Japanese flag, there would only have been one outcome for the crew if they were captured - failure was not an option. Remarkably, Morris had previously been awarded the B.E.M. for his services in the South-West Pacific, almost certainly for his devotion to duty during the Fall of Singapore when, having helped establish an escape route through Sumatra, and with his medical skills to the fore, he tended to the hundreds who came ashore at Durian during the exodus from Singapore in February 1942, before finally evacuating the island with Ivan Lyon in a tale of daring-do, first by sail to Sumatra, then by car across the mountains, before securing passage on the last ship out of Padang Military Medal, G.VI.R. (7264507 A/Sjt. R. G. Morris. R.A.M.C.); British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (7264507 Pte. Ronald George Morris); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (7264507 Sjt. R. G. Morris. M.M. B.E.M. R.A.M.C.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (Lt. R. G. Morris. M.M. B.E.M. RAMC.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (7264507 W.O. Cl.2. R. G. Morris. B.E.M. M.M. R.A.M.C.) mounted court-style as worn, cleaned and lacquered, light contact marks, generally very fine and better (9) £60,000-£80,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 19 September 1946: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field (to be dated 23 November 1944).’ The Operation Jaywick File at the PRO (ADM 1-16678 gives the following Recommendation: ‘Corporal R. G. Morris, R.A.M.C., and Corporal A. Crilly, A.I.F. These two men were members of the ship’s crew, Corporal Morris the Medical Orderly, and Corporal Crilly as cook. Both performed their duties with great cheerfulness and their bearing throughout was of the highest standard in most trying and hazardous conditions. I recommend that if awards to the above men are approved, their published citation should only state that these awards are for outstanding conduct in the presence of the enemy, but that no fuller citation can be published for reasons of military secrecy.’ Morris’ Military Medal was approved by H.M. the King on 17 May 1944, on the Secret List, with the instruction that it was not to be published in the London Gazette until it had been taken off the Secret List. B.E.M. London Gazette 4 May 1943: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the South West Pacific.’ Ronald George ‘Taffy’ Morris was born at Pentre, in the Rhondda Valley, on Christmas Day 1918, and after leaving school at the age of 14 was employed as a miner. After five years in the South Wales pits he attested for the Royal Army Medical Corps on 30 May 1938, and after Japan entered the War he was recruited as a Medical Orderly to join the Special Operations Executive, Orient Mission, arriving in Singapore on 19 April 1941. Here he met fellow S.O.E. Operative, the charismatic old Harrovian Captain Ivan Lyon, Gordon Highlanders. The pair of them were soon part of an unorthodox group undertaking clandestine missions, training up local groups in the art of sabotage to be undertaken behind enemy lines, as well as establishing an escape route through Sumatra, should the unthinkable happen, and Singapore fall to the Japanese. In early February 1942, Lyon and Morris, together with a handful of other operatives, were ordered to leave Singapore to establish a base on Pulau Durian, one of the handful of small islands between Singapore and Sumatra. Here they acted as a makeshift staging post for the mass exodus out of Singapore, with Morris’ medical skills to the fore, as many who came ashore had severe injuries from Japanese bombing raids. ‘He set about making splints, setting broken bones, stemming bleeding, suturing gashes, and removing shrapnel embedded in flesh. all without anaesthetic.’ (The Tiger’s Revenge, by the recipient’s son, Evan Morris, refers). The work undertaken by the various S.O.E. teams saved hundreds stranded on the islands during this period, and on Durian Lyon and Morris worked tirelessly for days without a break. Then, on 17 February, two small ships arrived at Durian with the bad news. Singapore had fallen. The last of the survivors from Singapore having been evacuated, Morris and Lyon then left themselves in a small sailing vessel, and made their way by boat to the mouth of the Indragiri River, up the river to Rengat, and then across the Sumatran mountains by car, to Padang. Here, Morris, owing to his medical skills, was ordered onto what was the last ship to leave the island, on board the Dutch steamer the S.S. Palopo, bound for Ceylon. Against all odds, the ship made it to Ceylon on 11 March, from where Morris was posted to No. 55 Combined Military Hospital in Colombo. He was advanced Acting Sergeant on 10 July 1942 and, for his gallant and distinguished services in the South West Pacific, was awarded the British Empire Medal. Understandably, given the secretive nature of his work, no citation exists. Lyon, meanwhile, had also made it, via an extraordinary 1,000 mile journey in a fishing ketch, to Ceylon, from where he proceeded by steamer to Bombay. It was from here that he, along with Major Jock Campbell, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, and a 61 year old Australian civilian, Bill Reynolds, conceived an enterprising idea to have their revenge upon the Japanese in Singapore. Operation Jaywick Under the plans hatched by Lyon, Campbell, and Reynolds in Bombay, commandos would travel to Singapore harbour in a vessel disguised as an Asian fishing boat. They would then use collapsible canoes (folboats) to attach limpet mines to Japanese ships. General Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, known for his enthusiasm for unconventional warfare, approved the plan. However, given the necessary secrecy required for the operation, and the fact that India was known to harbour an extensive network of Japanese spies, to embark from the sub-Continent was out of the question. Instead, another embarkation point was require, and in July 1942, Lyon set off for Australia to organise the operation. But first he had to secure the services of a key member of his team - Ronald Morris. Flying to Colombo, Lyon attempted to secure Morris’ release from his hospital duties, but his meeting with the Commanding Officer of No. 55 Combined Military Hospital in Colombo for once did not go to plan, and the C.O. refused to agree to Morris’ release. Undaunted, Lyon then flew back to Delhi and, having obtained an official order sanctioning Morris’ release,...
A fine Second War R.R.C. group of seven awarded to Matron Dora G. Grayson, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, late Civil Hospital Reserve Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, reverse dated ‘1942’, on lady’s bow riband; 1914 Star (Miss D. G. Grayson. Civ: Hosp: Res.); British War and Victory Medals (Sister. D. G. Grayson.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, very fine and better (7) £800-£1,000 --- Provenance: Glendinings, September 1988. R.R.C. London Gazette 11 June 1942. Dora Granville Grayson was born in Kendal, Westmorland, on 16 March 1884, the daughter of wine and spirit merchant Oscar Granville Grayson. Educated at the Cheltenham Ladies’ College, she took her nursing studies at The London Hospital from 27 July 1910 to 28 July 1914 and then joined the Civil Hospital Reserve. This unit represented a group of trained nurses from throughout the United Kingdom who were vetted and recommended by their civil hospital matrons, each one willing and able to mobilise with the military nursing services in case of a future war; Grayson was promptly called up and disembarked in France on 8 August 1914, a member of the first party of 38 Civil Hospital Reserve nurses. Initially sent to No. 3 General Hospital at Rouen, Grayson transferred to the Q.A.I.M.N.S. Reserve on 8 November 1914 and was later accepted for the regular service as Staff Nurse in June 1916. Awarded the A.R.R.C. on 1 January 1918, she received her decoration at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace on 11 September 1918. Raised Sister, she continued to serve in France until the Armistice, latterly at No. 47 General Hospital. Sent to Hong Kong, Aldershot and York, Grayson finally resigned her appointment with effect from 4 July 1924. She returned to nursing during the Second World War and was awarded the R.R.C. as an Assistant Matron. She died on 16 April 1963. Sold with the recipient’s Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. cape badge by J. R. Gaunt, London; Badge of the London Hospital, white metal and enamel, engraved to reverse ‘Dora G. Grayson May 1910-July 1912, July 1914’ by J. Pinches, London; General Nursing Council Registration Badge, silver, engraved to reverse ‘D. G. Grayson S.R.N. 23300 19.10.23.’ by Thomas Fattorini.
Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Inkermann, Sebastopol (R. Downes. Driver. Rl. Horse Arty.) officially impressed naming, polished, minor edge bruising, nearly very fine £300-£400 --- Sold with copied medal roll extracts that lists a ‘2175 Driver Robert Downes’ as being entitled to the Inkermann clasp, and a ‘2175 Driver George Downs [sic]’ as being entitled to the Sebastopol clasp, the latter roll annotated ‘died 18 June 1855’. However, Down(e)s is not listed on the casualty list for the first assault on the Grand Redan, and so the date of his death, likely from disease, is presumably mere coincidence.
An Eastern People’s Gold Award First Class with Swords for Bravery, in its Presentation Case. Unissued condition, and is almost mint apart from some slight fading to the back of the Star. This is the type with recessed ‘concave’ back and wide pin. The case is covered in black artificial leather, with a gold image of the star printed on the domed lid. Inside it is lined on the lower section in black velvet, and white artificial silk in the top section. Case is in excellent condition, extremely good condition £100-£140
Pair: A. E. Duncan, British Red Cross Society Defence Medal; Voluntary Medical Service Medal, silver, with one Additional Award Bar and top V.A.D. riband bar (A. E. Duncan); together with the recipient’s British Red Cross Society Medal for Proficiency in Red Cross First Aid, with five clasps, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1936, 1938 (07496 A. Duncan); British Red Cross Society Medal for Proficiency in Red Cross Nursing, with four clasps, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1937 (03947 A. Duncan); British Red Cross Society Medal for Proficiency in First Aid in Chemical Warfare, with two clasps, 1936, 1939 (203. A. Duncan); British Red Cross Society Medal for Proficiency in Red Cross Administration & Organisation (94. A. Duncan); Red Cross ‘For Merit’ badge, with three clasps, 1932, 1934, 1936 (884. A. Duncan) generally very fine and better (7) £60-£80 --- Sold with a B.R.C.S. City of Edinburgh enamel badge; B.R.C.S. 3 years’ service badges (4); Associate badge and shoulder ‘pips’ (6).
Family Group: A Great War M.B.E. group of three awarded to Mrs. Jane S. Henry, British Red Cross Society The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type, lady’s shoulder badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1916, the reverse privately engraved ‘J. S. Henry March 1917’, on lady’s bow riband; British Red Cross Society Medal for War Service, unnamed as issued, lacking integral top riband bar; Belgium, Kingdom, Queen Elisabeth Medal, bronze, the last two mounted as worn, good very fine Three: Private R. A. Henry, Royal Air Force, later A.R.P. Post Warden, Harrow British War and Victory Medals (36690. Pte. 1. R. A. Henry. R.A.F.); Defence Medal, the first two mounted as worn, the last loose; together with the recipient’s riband bar, contact marks, traces of lacquer, very fine and better (6) £160-£200 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 7 January 1918: Mrs. Jane Selina Henry. ‘For services in connection with the War.’ Mrs. Jane Selina Henry (née Sherwood), was the mother of Robert Alexander Henry.
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