We found 596780 price guide item(s) matching your search

Sold by Order of a Direct DescendantThe very complete 1985 C.B.E. and 'Arctic Convoys' group of nine awarded to Sub Lieutenant J. R. S. Homan, Royal Navy, who served on the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Tracker, latterly Industrial Director of the National Economic Development OfficeThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, 2nd Type, Commander's (C.B.E.) neck Badge, silver and silver-gilt, with full and miniature neck ribbons, in case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Arctic Star, with its named box of issue; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, these five mounted as worn; together with Russia, Soviet Union, Ushakov Medal, reverse officially numbered '5182' with accompanying named certificate in case of issue; Russia, 70th and 75th Anniversary of the Great Patriotic War Medals, with accompanying named award certificates, good very fine (9)C.B.E. London Gazette 15 June 1985.John Richard Seymour Homan - or "Dick" to his friends and comrades - was born at Burley, Hampshire on 7 January 1925, the son of Captain Charles Edward Homan. He was initially educated at a pre-prep school in London then to St. Wilfrid's, Seaford in Sussex and in 1938 he attended Radley College before entering the Royal Navy in 1943 as a Midshipman. Classified as an 'Executive Special' he was posted to the Admiralty in London working in the personnel department. Requesting active service, he was posted to Tracker, an aircraft carrier, where he was given the job of plotting U-boat locations.Tracker served as an escort during 1943-1944 for North Atlantic and Arctic convoys. She originally carried Swordfish torpedo-bombers and Seafire fighters of No. 816 (Naval Air) Squadron, in January 1944, switching to the Grumman Avengers and Grumman Wildcats of No. 846 (Naval Air) Squadron. In April 1944, her aircraft, together with those from Activity were responsible for the sinking of the U-288 east of Bear Island, during convoy JW-58.On 10 June 1944, while part of the antisubmarine screen of the Western Approaches Command for the D-Day landings, she collided with a River-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy, Teme, causing damage to both ships. Tracker continued operations despite stove-in bows until 12 June 1944. Thereafter, she was repaired and partially refitted in Liverpool, until 7 September 1944. On 8 December 1944, the ship sailed to the United States to be used as an aircraft transport and spent the remainder of the war ferrying aircraft and personnel in the Pacific.Homan recounted her tenth and last convoy patrol to Murmansk in October 1944, in an interview he gave in 2020:'We escorted a Russian convoy to Murmansk. The Germans could by this time no longer use the west coast of France because of the Allied invasion, and so many U boats were sent to the Arctic. We were in a powerful convoy with three aircraft carriers, 25 other warships and about 28 merchant ships. Many of the merchant ships came from the U.S.A., carrying food and military equipment for the Russians, everything from planes, tanks, guns and ammunition down to boots.Despite the size of the convoy the U boats didn't know we were there until we got to the north of Norway, so the first part was peaceful. I say peaceful but, at that time of year, it was dark most of the day and pretty stormy and very cold. Twilight was about 1pm. We would fall back from the convoy to fly off our aircraft. The bravery of those pilots was incredible.Many were in exposed open cockpits and would have to take off from their carrier surging up and down in a rough sea. One of our aircraft got lost and had to break radio silence. That alerted Berlin who sent a wolf pack of U boats after us. We were heading due east and Berlin anticipated, quite correctly, that we would change our course to southeast, which is where the U boats went. However, London picked up Berlin's signal and instructed us to continue travelling east. The U boats missed us. It was not a complete triumph.Sending our aircraft after the U boats we were equipped with some wonderful new secret weapon, which unfortunately bounced harmlessly off the conning tower. I remember one disappointed pilot coming back and saying, "there goes my DSC". It was quite unusual that the convoy completed its journey there and back without loss of a single ship. I didn't realise until after the war that the Admiralty instruction to change from our original course was based on information from Bletchley. We had been unaware of Bletchley's existence.'U.S. Navy loan: December 1944 - July 1945Tracker left Greenock on 8 December 1944 and reached New York in time for Christmas, she was to stay there until New Year's Eve when she put to sea headed for the Panama Canal and reached San Diego on 17 January 1945. Here the ship's company received the same levels of hospitality they had enjoyed at Portland while the ship was being built. Books, magazines, music, sports kit, and more were donated to the ship for the men's 'comforts' by the Red Cross and U.S. Armed Forces Institute.After a week in San Diego, Tracker moved to San Pedro for the next five days, and opportunity was taken for the crew to experience Hollywood and film stars 'popped in' to visit the ship. By the end of January, she was full of aircraft and passengers bound for Hawaii and American bases in the Pacific. Her first voyage in the transport role took her to the Admiralty Isles and New Guinea in then back in San Diego, arriving back there on 20 March, a round trip of 13,424 miles taking two months. On the return trips Tracker carried U.S. personnel and casualties back to Pearl Harbour.Her second transport run was to Guam and Saipan in the Mariana Islands in April, during this trip the news of President Roosevelt's death reached the ship and her passengers, a memorial service was held on board. V.E. day, 8 May 8, was celebrated on the last leg from Hawaii three days out from San Diego and the end of a 13,020-mile trip.Tracker's third trip took her to the Marshal Islands and back, a shorter, 10,000 miles haul from 12 June-8 July. This was her last operation for the U.S. Navy, she had ferried 300 aircraft and 100 passengers in her three voyages and had steamed 36,000 miles across the Pacific. After storing ship Tracker was to proceed back to Britain, leaving San Diego on 13 Friday having exchanged a few crew members with her sister C.V.E. Atheling, also on transport duties; those men on Atheling who qualified for release under the recently announced 'Age & Service Release Scheme', with Tracker's 'newbies' filling their billets. She reached Norfolk, Virginia on 27 July and New York three days after.Homeward boundThis was to be Tracker's last east bound crossing, carrying on board American wives of British Naval personnel, evacuated children, and over a hundred members of the Fleet Air Arm from the Air Station in New Brunswick which was closing down. She made Greenock on 9 August and disembarked her passengers; work began almost immediately de-storing Tracker in preparation for her final voyage, her return to the U.S. Navy, her service with the Royal Navy ending.The war over, Homan read classics at Christ Church College, Oxford from 1946 graduating with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics. A keen oarsman during his time at the House was part of the team who won Head of the River in 1948. He was a lifelong member of Christ Church Boat Club.Homan joined the I.C.I. with whom he spent the bulk of his working career. He married The Hon. Mary Graham Buckley, daug…

Sold by Order of a Direct DescendantThe unique and superbly well-documented 'Far East Communication Squadron 1950' A.F.M. group of seven awarded to Master Signaller J. B. C. Browne, Royal Air Force, who was awarded his Nuclear Test Medal for the 'Christmas Airways' flights to Christmas Island during Operation GrappleBrowne's remarkable career saw him flying during the Second World War, earning his A.F.M. in the east for flights which included missions to China redacted from his service papers and flying the Royal Couple during their 1961 Royal Tour of NepalAir Force Medal, G.VI.R. (571907 Sig. I. J. B. C. Browne. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, Arabian Peninsula (571907 Sig. I.A. J. B. C. Browne. R.A.F.), the second detached in its named box of issue; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (M. Sig. J. B.C. Browne. (571907) R.A.F.); Nuclear Test Medal, unnamed as issued, the first six mounted as worn, the last in its named box of issue, sold together with a large archive including the recipient's flying log books, minor contact wear to sixth, overall good very fine (7)A.F.M. London Gazette 8 June 1950, the original recommendation states:'Signaller I Browne joined the Squadron in October, 1948, having been in Japan from October, 1947, and has been employed as a V.I.P. Signaller. He is a first class non-commissioned officer with exceptional technical ability, having consistently held an 'A' category since August, 1946. During the last six months he has completed 300 flying hours on some of the most important flights assigned to this Squadron, and he has also extended his 'A' category to cover York aircraft as well as the Dakota, the type in which he is primarily signaller and, on numerous long distance flights during his tour of duty in the Far East Communication Squadron, he has carried out his duties in an exemplary manner. He has shown ability, coolness and enthusiasm and is an outstanding non-commissioned officer.'Note the Recipient's Flying Log Book for the period of 1947-1952 is missing, it is believed to have been recalled owning to a redacted mission in China rather than misplaced or lost.John Blake Cameron Browne (who later changed his surname to Howard) was born in Kensington, London on 19 February 1922, the son of Andrew and Wilhelmina 'Billy' Browne. His father was a former professional soldier who served as a Sergeant-Major with the Essex Regiment and was seriously wounded in the leg at Gallipoli. He appears to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and left the family in 1929 leaving his wife to raise the children herself. The young Browne received only a basic education however this was enough for him to pass the entrance tests for an apprenticeship at R.A.F. Halton on 24 August 1937.He was initially posted to the Electrical and Wireless School before transferring to No. 2 Wireless School on 26 March 1938. He must have proven himself a quick learner as he was soon selected to leave Halton for Cranwell, where he specialised as a Signaller. He was still there on the outbreak of the Second World War on 3 September 1940, they spent the day dispersing the aircraft around the perimeter of the airfield in case of air raids.The Second World WarQualifying as Wireless Electrical Mechanic on 29 January 1940, Browne reached his majority the next month on 19 February and was appointed Aircraftman Class I the same day. Posted first to No. 29 Squadron and advanced Leading Aircraftman on 1 April 1940 he served with them at R.A.F. Digby. Here he was on the receiving end of several bombing raids, being promoted Corporal on 31 December 1940. The Squadron re-equipped with Bristol Beaufighters to replace their old Blenheims not long later.Transferring to R.A.F. Pembury he undertook an air gunner's course, becoming qualified on 6 January 1943 and advanced Sergeant on 7 January. Joining No. 10 Radio School Carew Cheriton, he served there until 17 February 1943 when he was posted to Coastal Command's 131 Operational Training Unit which was located on Loch Erne in Northern Ireland. There he had his first flight on a Catalina flying boat on 18 February.Having qualified, Browne was posted to the newly formed 265 Squadron based in Northern Madagascar. After a gruelling journey across Africa, he finally reached the posting in early June and began to undertake fleet escort and search and rescue missions as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. Racking up increasing Operational flying time in December he had 250 hours and was advanced Flight Sergeant on 6 January 1944.Over the next year he was to continue in this role, adding Meteorological Flights to his duties. The last of Browne's wartime flying was with 265 Squadron having undertaken 562 hours of Operational flight with them and an impressive 1076 hours in total. Posted to R.A.F. Wymeswold on 5 May 1945, he arrived on 8 May - V.E. Day - to discover the station all but deserted, the guard on the front gate informed him that everyone was celebrating in the pub.V.I.P. Flying, a Redacted Mission and a Crash LandingBrowne retrained with Douglas Dakotas and was soon posted to 147 Squadron, flying for Transport Command. This Squadron flew from Britain to Europe allowing Browne to assemble a collection of European banknotes which he stuck into his log books.Joining 24 Squadron for V.I.P. transport flights in October 1946 he was posted to the British Commonwealth Air Force in Japan the following year. The next year Browne again moved, this time to the Far East Communications Squadron. Two months after he joined them a period of one week on his service records is redacted, this combined with his missing log book covering this period is suggestive of a clandestine mission. The cataloguer must leave it to the reader to imagine the nature of this work however it occurred at a time that Browne was known to have been flying to China, then embroiled in the Civil War.Returning to Britain in April 1950 he was awarded the Air Force Medal at R.A.F. North Luffenham for his work with the Far East Communication Squadron. His work there had also entitled him to the Malaya bar for his General Service Medal however this would not be issued at the time and Browne was to receive the G.S.M. for a separate campaign. Joining 242 Operational Conversion Unit as a Trainer and he was recommended a Commission at that point however he rejected the offer, feeling that he preferred his role as a Warrant Officer.Returning to No. 24 Squadron on 6 December 1953 he rang in the new year with a promotion to Master Signaller on 31 December. One of his early flights here on 22 May 1954 was transporting Anthony Eden (then Foreign Secretary) and Lord Ismay (then Secretary General of Nato) from Geneva to Paris and thence to Britain. A further flight in July almost led to disaster as the crew lost their way between Suffield, Alberta and Britain. An S.O.S. signal was sent out and after a tense period of waiting were picked up by a passing liner which was able to give them their co-ordinates, with their available fuel they were just able to make an emergency stop at the Azores Islands.That same year he performed trips to Australia which included the transport of material and personnel involved in the developing Nuclear programme. During one routine training mission the next year out of R.A.F. Abingdon the Hastings aircraft Browne was flying in crashed on landing. Fortunately the crew were all unharmed although the aircraft itself lost a wing. The next year he transferred to No. 47 Squadron flying mostly to the Middle East, Cyprus and Malta.Christmas Island Airways and Operation GrappleBrowne had alr…

A fine 'Battle of Jutland 1916' D.S.M. group of four awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class F. Dymond, Royal Navy, who served on H.M.S. Temeraire being rewarded with both the D.S.M. and a commendation for his services and later a 'mention'Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (268895. F. Dymond, C.E.R.A.1.Cl. H.M.S. Temeraire. 31 May - 1 June 1916.); British War and Victory Medals (268895. F. Dymond. C.E.R.A. 1. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (268895 Frank Dymond, C.E.R.A.1cl., H.M.S. Suffolk.), mounted as worn, light contact marks, good very fine (4)D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1917.M.I.D. London Gazette 15 September 1916.Frank Dymond was born at Dunchideock, Devon on 24 April 1875 and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting C.E.R.A. 4th Class on 4 January 1897. After a succession of shore and sea-based appointments and advancement to C.E.R.A. 1st Class in 1909, he joined H.M.S. Temeraire on 30 September 1913 and served in her throughout the Great War. He was with her at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May to 1 June 1916, for which action he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. His service papers further note a commendation for his actions during the Battle.On 31 May 1916, Temeraire was the fifteenth ship from the head of the battle line after deployment. During the first stage of the general engagement, the ship fired five salvos from her main guns at the crippled light cruiser S.M.S. Wiesbaden from 18:34, claiming two or three hits. At 19:17, the ship fired seven salvos at the battlecruiser S.M.S. Derfflinger, but did not make any hits. About ten minutes later, Temeraire engaged several German destroyer flotillas with three salvos from her main armament without result. This was the last time that the ship fired her guns during the battle. She received no damage and fired a total of 72 twelve-inch shells (all high explosive) and 50 shells from her four-inch guns during the battle.Dymond was shore pensioned on 2 June 1919.…

Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Private George Walker H. M. 16th Lancers), fitted with contemporary ornate suspension featuring dual sabres and crown, riband buckle, very fineGeorge Walker was born in St. James, Dublin in 1810 and attested with the 16th Lancers at London on 10 July 1830 at the age of twenty, after having made his living as a labourer. Walker was to serve abroad in the East Indies for 21 years of what was to become a 23-year career in the service.Walker was promoted Corporal five years after entering the service and then to Sergeant three years later. However, he was not to retain this rank for long as he was reduced to Private in August 1843 following his sentencing by court martial for drunkenness. He was advanced Corporal once again in July 1844 and in this rank transferred to the 3rd Light Dragoons on 1 December 1845. He was made Sergeant in March 1847 before again being court martialled for drunkenness and reduced to Private just four months later in July.Despite these repeated instances of drunken behaviour, Walker again found himself promoted to Corporal in March 1850, and this time managed to hang on to the rank. He volunteered for the 9th Lancers on 1 November 1852 and served with them as Corporal for the remainder of his time with the Colours. Walker was discharged at Umballa on 30 September 1853, being found medically unfit for further service resulting from his length of service and the harsh climate. His discharge papers make note of the impressive breadth and experience of Walker's long service. He served for the whole length of the First Afghan War with the 16th Lancers, including the assault and capture of Ghuznee, and then went on to serve at Maharajpoor in December 1843. Walker was then an active participant in the Second Anglo-Sikh War as part of the 3rd Light Dragoons, and was engaged at the Battle of Ramnagar, the passage of the Chenab River, as well as the actions at Sadoolapore, Chilianwala, and Goojerat in 1848-49.Walker would have likely been further entitled to a Ghuznee Medal 1939 and a Punjab Medal 1848-49 with clasps for Goojerat and Chilianwala; sold together with copied research.…

Handsworth Volunteer Cavalry 1802 oval silver medal, 58 x 44mm, obverse with ‘GR’ within a crowned garter, engraved above ‘Handsworth Volunteer Cavalry’, reverse engraved ‘Prize for Members of the First Troop awarded to Mr W. Hill for Ball Firing Michaelmas 1802’, with fixed ring suspension, good very fineProvenance:Ex Murray collection.D.N.W., 18 May 2016, Lot 995.…

The 1916 D.C.M. group of four awarded to Corporal H. W. Lane, Grenadier Guards, later 4th Battalion, Guards Machine Gun Corps, a former footballer who served in France from the start of the war but was tragically killed in action on 30 March 1918Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (15585 Pte H. W. Lane. 1/G.Gds:); 1914 Star (15585 Pte H. W. Lane. 1/G. Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (15585 A.Cpl. H. W. Lane. G.Gds.), good very fine (4)D.C.M. London Gazette 14 November 1916, the original citation states:'For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his machine gun team forward with great courage and determination, reaching the second objective. Later, he pushed on to the third objective and accounted for large numbers of the enemy.'Henry William Lane was born at Bristol and enlisted at Cardiff and entered the war in France on 8 November 1914 with the 1st Grenadier Guards. The unit saw fighting at the First Battle of Ypres before being involved in the bloody Battle of Neuve Chappelle in March 1915, a newspaper article written at the time quotes a letter Lane wrote to his family about the engagement stating:'Gloucester Grenadier at Neuve ChapellePte. Harry Lane, 1st Grandier Guards, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Lane, Elmbridge road, Barnwood, writes under date March 15th as follows: "Well, we have been in a big action and thank God I got through all right. Sorry to say we lost heavily, but we beat the Huns, and got the position we fought for. You will have read about it by this time. The artillery fire was terrible, but the boys stuck it as they always do, and we have the devils more than they bargained for." Pte. Lane is an old footballer, and played for Barnwood and the City A Team.'A letter written by Major Christie R.A. in The Daily Mail adds:'The fighting about Ypres was of the most desperate description. It was there I saw the Guards go into action, and it was there, I may tell you, that these Regiments - the Coldstream Guards, the Grenadier Guards, and the Scots Guards - covered themselves with imperishable glory, and accomplished what I believe is held to be one of the finest military feats of the war.'Lane continued to serve with them until the formation of the Guards Machine Gun Corps on 1 March 1918. Posted to the 4th Battalion, Guards Machine Gun Corps he was stationed with them when the unit was posted to the front to try and stem the German Spring Offensive. Thrown into the Battle of Saint-Quentin on 21 March they were still engaged on 30 March 1918 when Lane was killed in action. He is buried at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux.Letter to his mother from a Lieutenant Commanding a gun team in his Company states:'I hope you will accept my heartfelt sympathy in the loss of your husband, Corporal Lane, who was in Charge of one of my guns teams when he was hit with some others in a deep dugout. He was killed instantaneously with five others by a fearfully unlucky shell which came straight down the mouth of the dugout.I am not saying it for the sake of talking but your husband was held in the highest esteem in this Company and for myself I was proud of having such a good soldier with me.'Sold together with original letters and cards, newspaper cuttings, two photographs and a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery Register with Corporal Lane's details.…

The Great War D.S.O., M.C. group of nine awarded to Hon. Brigadier T. I. Dun, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was wounded during the course of protracted service in France and Flanders, thrice 'mentioned' and served with armoured cars between the wars, authoring a book on his experienceDistinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R.; The Most Venerable Order of St. John, Officer's breast Badge, silver and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. T. I. Dun, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. I. Dun); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, enamel work slightly chipped, very fine and better (9)Provenance:Spink Numismatic Circular, May 1987.D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917.Thomas Ingram Dun was born at Kelvin, Glasgow on 1 May 1892 and studied medicine at Glasgow University and Anderson Medical School.Qualifying on the eve of the Great War, he was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps in September 1914 and went on to witness active service in France and Flanders from May 1915 to November 1918, being wounded and twice decorated. He was also advanced to the acting rank of Major and thrice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 15 June 1916, 25 May 1918 and 30 December 1918, refer).Remaining in the Regular Army between the wars, Dun specialised in obstetrics and served in India (1919-24) and Egypt (1929-35) in addition to appointments in the UK. It appears he was at one time attached to an armoured unit during his time in Egypt, or certainly one 'Thomas Ingram Dun' is the credited author of From Cairo to Siwa: Across the Libyan Desert with Armoured Cars, which was first published in Cairo in 1933.A Lieutenant-Colonel on the staff of the Louise Margaret Hospital in Chatham on the eve of hostilities, Dun was quickly embarked for India where he served as C.O. of the Combined Military Hospital in Quetta (1940-42), and as C.O. of the 35th (1942-43) and 126th (1943-45) General Hospitals. He held the acting ranks of Brigadier and Major-General in the same period, the latter while acting as Deputy Director of Medical Service in India's Eastern Command.Post-war, Dun served as Assistant Director of Medical Services, Salisbury Plain (1946-48) and as Officer in Charge of Medical Services for the A.T.S. and W.R.A.C. (1948-53). Appointed an Officer of the Order of St. John in the summer of 1952, his final post was as President of the Standing Medical Board at Aldershot, and he was placed on the Retired List in the honorary rank of Brigadier in May 1955. He died in September 1975.…

The 1918 D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. S. Hunt, 1st Dragoon Guards, late 3rd Hussars, who was twice wounded in action and twice 'mentioned' during the Great WarDistinguished Service Order, G.V.R; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Capt: R. S. Hunt, 3/Hrs:); 1914 Star, with clasp (Major R. S. Hunt. 1/D.Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. R. S. Hunt.); General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (Major R. S. Hunt.); Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed as issued, light contact marks, very fine overall (7)D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918.Ronald Seager Hunt was born on 24 February 1874, the son of Walter and Alice Hunt of Hart Hill, St. Johns, Woking, where his father worked as a barrister. Educated at Haileybury College (1888-1892), he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 25 November 1893 with the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Transferring from the Militia to the 3rd Hussars on 15 May 1897 with the same rank he was advanced Lieutenant on 13 September 1898.Prior to his service in the Boer War, Hunt was advanced Captain on 26 April 1901 and arrived in South Africa in January 1902. There he was present for operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony until 31 May 1902. Whilst there the Regiment saw notable action in an engagement on the Cornelius River in February 1902.Transferring to the 1st Dragoon Guards, Hunt was promoted Major with them on 14 July 1910. The next year he appeared upon the roll of the Delhi Durbar 1911 medal as one of three Majors with the unit.Entering the war in France on 5 November 1914 he appears to have served initially with his own unit however was soon posted to command several different Infantry Regiments, including at some stage the 4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. Hunt later commanded the 8th Battalion, Royal Lancaster Regiment from 27 October 1916, being stationed with them on 6 February 1917 when he was wounded for the first time.Wounded in action again during the Battle of Arras on 11 April 1917, he received his first 'mention' at the end of that year (London Gazette 11 December 1917). Unfortunately his age caught up with him and Hunt was posted to command the 87th Battalion, Training Reserve on 10 May 1918, receiving his second mention ten days later, likely for his final actions with the Lancaster Regiment (London Gazette 20 May 1918).Posted to command 1st County of London Yeomanry on 13 September 1919 he served for two more years but eventually retired on 17 September 1921 to Walcott-on-Sea, Norfolk. Hunt died on 1 April 1942.…

The Zulu War Medal awarded to Private H. Muldowney, Army Hospital Corps, who is understood to have been wounded in action at the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit in December 1881, during the First Boer WarSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (3891. Pte. H. Muldowney. A.H.C.), contact marks overall, nearly very fineHarry Muldowney was born St Faith, Winchester in 1860 and enlisted in the Army Hospital Corps in 1878. Having served in South Africa, he saw further active service in the Egypt & Sudan 1882-89 campaign.… SALE 25001 NOTICE:Gold match safe weighs 34g. Naming of the Aero Club of America Medal now added to the Lot.

Pair: Major-General R. Ranken, 35th Madras Native Infantry, whose combination of awards is unique to the regimentIndia General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Captmn. Robt. Ranken. 35th. Regt. M.N.I.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Capt. R. Ranken, 35th. N.I. S.A.C.G.) both with decorative silver top riband bars, light contact marks, nearly extremely fine (2)Note a unique combination to the 35th Madras Native Infantry.Robert Ranken was born in Brechin, Forfar on 30 October 1822 and was educated at Perth Academy. Nominated as a cadet for the Honourable East India Company's Madras Infantry by Company Director John Shepherd at the recommendation of the Earl of Stair, and was commissioned Ensign on 12 June 1841, joining the 35th Madras Native Infantry.Seeing little action for the first decade of service Ranken was promoted Lieutenant on 1 May 1844, and Captain on 29 November 1849. Still serving with the Regiment during the start of the Second Anglo-Burmese War he was with them at the capture of Ilangonn and Rangoon in April 1852. Later in the year the unit was involved in the hunt for the fugitive Governor of Rangoon and finally the capture of Prome in October 1852. Ranken saw further fighting in the country during the capture of Meeaday in January 1853 and several other minor actions.Still serving as a Captain on the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny some five years later Ranken was stationed with the Sauger Field Force as Executive Commissariat Officer under General Whitlock. This was swiftly followed on with the appointment of Assistant to the General Superintendent of Operations for the suppression of the Thuggee and Dacoity groups operating in the Jubbulpore District on 8 June 1860.Transferring to the Madras Staff Corps on 18 February 1861, he was advanced Major on 12 June of that year and passed his examinations as an interpreter in Hindustani and Persian by 1865. Further appointed Superintendent of the Jubbulpore Central Jail in May 1866 and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 12 June 1867 and further advanced Colonel on 12 June 1872.He retired to Mortlake, Surrey with the honorary rank of Major General on 9 June 1877, and died at his home in Upper Norwood on 8 March 1895, aged 83; sold together with copied research.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax. 

The 2nd Battalion, 4th 'King's Own Royal' RegimentThe unit received orders at the North Camp, Aldershot, in the first week of December 1878 to proceed to Natal on active service. Embarked in the transports Dunrobin Castle and Teuton on 10 and 13 December respectively, the Battalion arrived at Cape Town in early January 1879. United once again after a long voyage, the men marched to Pietermaritzburg, and from there, upon receipt of the news of the disaster at Isandhlwana, on to Helpmakaar.The companies of the Battalion were subsequently distributed in reserve over a wide area of country, including the Utrecht district, Potgreter's Farm, Luneberg, Balte's Spruit and Conference Hill. Following the Battle of Ulundi, the men were relieved by those of the 24th Regiment, and proceeded to the Transvaal; on 8 September, Colonel Bray, with three companies of the regiment, assisted by the Frontier Light Horse and a detachment of Engineers, blew up the caves known as Umbellini's, in the neighbourhood of the Intombi River. Manyanyoba, the independent chief who had long given great trouble, then surrendered.On 8 February 1880, the Battalion embarked for Bombay, leaving two companies behind to assist with the defence of the frontier.999 Medals were issued to 2/4th Regiment, 971 of them with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (421. Pte. D. Sullivan. 2/4th. Foot), very fineDaniel Sullivan was born at Tosist, Kinmaine, County Kerry in 1855 and enlisted at Cork in October 1874. Having served in South Africa, he transferred to the Army Reserve at Lancaster in October 1880. Sullivan re-enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Portsmouth in December 1880 and served in India from November 1882-March 1889 and would see further active service in the Third Burmese War (Medal & clasp). He was released for the second time in April 1889; sold together with copied research.…

The fascinating Victorian inkwell with a V.C. connection, fashioned from a Crimean cannonball and commissioned by Major-General Viscount R. Frankfort De Montmorency, who was recommended for the Victoria Cross at the Redan Redoubt, and whose son won the award with the 21st Lancers at OmdurmanRound Shot, 2.7 inches diameter, hollowed out, with an ornate silver cap atop, hallmarks for London 1857, the shot set on the obverse with a Crimea Medal and on the reverse with a plate engraved with the cypher of Viscount Frankfort De Montmorency, three grape-shot 'legs' 0.9 inches diameter affixed beneath, with - but not affixed to - its original wooden stand, somewhat dented in places but overall very fineRaymond Harvey de Montmorency, 3rd Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency, was born at Theydon Bower, Essex on 21 September 1835; the only son of Viscount Lodge Raymond de Montmorency, 2nd Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency and Georgina Frederica de Montmorency, the daughter of Peter Fitzgibbon Henchy Q.C. of Dublin. The young De Montmorency was educated at Eton before entering the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, being commissioned Ensign with the 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot on 18 August 1854. Further promoted Lieutenant on 12 January 1855 he was serving in that rank on the outbreak of the Crimean War. De Montmorency entered the war in the trenches of Sevastopol and was present for the storming of the Great Redan on 8 September 1855 (Medal and clasp). His gallantry during the attack, which cost the British dearly, he was recommended for the Victoria Cross - although the recommendation was not successful. Instead, his reward was an independent command and he was sent to India for the suppression of the Indian Mutiny and placed in command of a detachment in Central India (Medal and clasp).Promoted Captain on 29 March 1861, he exchanged into the 32nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and served as Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Edward Brooke from 6 December 1861 until 31 December 1864. During this time Brooke was commanding troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands. Following this De Montmorency moved on to become Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) Sir John Michel commanding the British Forces in North America during the 1866 Fenian Raids (Medal and clasp). Doubtless the logistical difficulties of organising a defence against the raids kept him busy, however he did find time to get married on 25 April 1866 to General Michel's eldest daughter Rachel in Montreal.De Montmorency also found the opportunity to travel and was in Abyssinia at the time of Napier's expedition; he volunteered privately to take part and was with the Army up to the gates of Magdala (Medal). Promoted Major on 28 September 1869 and further advanced Lieutenant-Colonel on 14 June 1876, he served with the British Forces in Egypt and the Sudan from 1886-7. De Montmorency was given the local rank of Major-General in 1887 and commanded the troops at Alexandria before directing a British field column during operations on the Nile for which he received a 'mention'. Promoted Major-General in the British Army on 30 November 1889, he succeeded to the peerage on 25 December of that year upon the death of his father.Posted to India, the now-Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency was given command of a first-class district in Bengal (1890-1895) and later Dublin District from 1895-1897, retiring on 21 September 1897. The next year, his son Lieutenant Raymond de Montmorency, 21st Lancers, went on to serve at the Battle of Omdurman on 2 September 1898. During the fighting he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in attempting to rescue Lieutenant Grenfell who had been unhorsed. Driving away the Dervishes around him he found the Lieutenant already dead, rescuing the body and placing it upon a horse; with the assistance of two other men he cut his way free. Promoted Captain on 2 August 1899, the young De Montmorency raised his own company - Montmorency's Scouts - for the Boer War but was killed in action at the Battle of Stormberg. His father died on 7 May 1902 of apoplexy at Bury Street, London and was buried at Dewlish, Dorsetshire. The titles passed to his younger son Willoughby John Horace de Montmorency; sold together with copied research including a biography of the 3rd Viscount de Montmorency and his entry in the Dictionary of National Biography, 2nd Supplement, Volume I.…

Pair: Private E. B. Fisher, 9th LancersPunjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Goojerat, Chilianwala (E. B. Fisher, 9th Lancers); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 3 clasps, Delhi, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (E. B. Fisher, 9th Lancers), minor contact wear and edge nicks, otherwise overall good very fine (2)Edward Bird Fisher was born at St. Michael, Beccles on 5 December 1821 and attested for the 9th Lancers in London on 1 December 1845. His service papers note that during the Punjab Campaign he was present for the Passage of the Chenab on 4 December 1848 and the Battles of Chillianwala and Goojerat. In the former they were one of the Regiments that did not break and instead managed to prevent the Sikh forces from turning General Gough's flank.Fisher was still with the Regiment on the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny, serving in Captain Drysdale's 'B' Troop. Their first action was the Battle of Badli-ki-Serai on 5 June 1857, which helped to clear the way to Delhi. They were present throughout the siege itself and were present for the capture of the city on 14 September.Fisher saw further action at Boolundshuhur, Alligurh and Agara as well as actions at Kanoge and Mariagung. The Regiment later joined the Army under General Sir Colin Campbell being assembled to retake Lucknow, and were present for the destruction in of the Gwalior Contingent at Cawnpore and Seria Ghat in December.They started the next year with action at Shumshabad in January 1858 during the advance on Lucknow. The 9th were present for the final recapture of Lucknow in March, as well as actions at Allegunge, Bareilly, Shahkehanpore and Mahomadee. They closed out the war with service in the Central India Campaign being present at the passage of the Gogra, the affair at Mulchlegaon and Kumb-da-Kote between 1858-59.Fisher was finally discharged on 29 February 1860 after seeing 13 years and 6 months service in India. He joined the Metropolitan Police on 11 June 1860, serving with the Holborn Division until 10 July 1878 and died on 15 March 1879; sold together with copied service papers.…

The superb posthumous 'Amiens 1918' M.M. awarded to Corporal W. H. Bowen, 19th Battalion, Australian Infantry, who saw service at Gallipoli, was four times wounded, and finally killed in action at the time of earning his decorationMilitary Medal, G.V.R. (1149 Cpl H. W.Bowen. 19/Aust.Inf.), very fineHerbert William Bowen was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1888 and enlisted on 10 March 1915 with the Australian Imperial Force. Posted to the 19th Battalion Bowen embarked with them on 25 June 1915 for Gallipoli where they formed part of the first wave of reinforcements after the initial landings. The unit landed on 21 August and were immediately thrown into the Battle of Hill 60, Bowen appears to have passed through this unscathed however he was wounded on 1 September 1915. A telegraph sent to his wife confirming this notes that it was not reported to be a serious wound.Joining the evacuation of the Peninsula the Battalion was posted to the B.E.F. in France on 18 March 1916. They were soon in action during the Battle of the Somme at the bloodily contested front of Pozières, here the Australian 1st Division suffered over 5,000 casualties before eventually being relieved. Bowen was wounded here suffering multiple gunshot wounds on 28 July and being treated at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station before hospitalization.Rejoining his unit on 9 April 1917 after an extended rehabilitation in England he served without incident for the rest of the year during which time the Battalion saw action at Bullecourt and Passchendaele. In the effort to resist the German Spring Offensive however he was again on the frontline and was gassed on 28 May 1918, necessitating another recovery process.Finally returning to his unit on 13 July 1918 Bowen joined the action on 11 August 1918 during the Battle of Amiens. After his act of gallantry he was again wounded in action, the witness statement of Private H. S. Doohan, quoted in his service papers gives further details, stating:'I saw Cpl. Bowen. D. Company. after he was wounded (think arm) at Framerville about 5 or 6 a.m. I was a runner and was going up to the position when I saw him. He called out as he passed me on his way back to R.A.P. He was a walking case. I did not see anything more of him. He had to go through the orchard to get to the Aid post and the shelling was very heavy. Bowen was big, broad, fair, reddish complexion, about 33 years.'Bowen is commemorated upon the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial; sold together with copied research.…

A fine Second World War Coastal Command D.F.C., D-Day airborne operations A.F.C. group of nine awarded to Wing Commander C. J. Mackenzie, Royal Air Force, late Auxiliary Air ForceHaving been credited with the destruction of a U-Boat in the Western Approaches piloting a Hudson of No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron in April 1942, he transferred to glider towing duties in Dakotas of No. 233 Squadron, in which he participated in Operations 'Tonga' & 'Market Garden'Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1942'; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1944'; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (Act. Sqn. Ldr. C. J. Mackenzie, R.A.F.); Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, together with embroidered R.A.F. uniform 'Wings', very fine or better (9)D.F.C. London Gazette 28 July 1942, the original recommendation states:'Flying Officer Mackenzie has been employed in an operational squadron since the outbreak of war and has completed over 400 hours operational flying in Anson, Blenheim, and Hudson aircraft, mainly on patrols to the enemy coast. He has at all times shown courage, determination, and devotion to duty of the highest order in carrying out any task allotted to him.On the 28 April 1942, he was captain and pilot of Hudson aircraft K/500 carrying out an A./S. patrol at 4,400 feet in the Western Approaches, when he sighted a U-boat on the surface eight miles away. He made full use of all available cloud cover and sun, and made a dive-bombing attack, pulling out at 60 to 70 feet and releasing four depth charges across the forward part of the still surfaced U-boat. The attack was almost certainly a successful one, the second charge exploding within 10 feet of the hull. The depth-charge attack was followed by a front and rear gun attack, the U-boat then disappearing from sight stern first, leaving a very large patch of frothy brown disturbed water behind.Flight Lieutenant Mackenzie exploited his sighting to the maximum and made a complete surprise attack. An award to this officer is recommended in the strongest terms, both for general good work since the outbreak of war and for this excellent attack on an enemy undersea raider.'A.F.C. London Gazette 1 September 1944, the original recommendation states:'Acting Squadron Leader Mackenzie has displayed exemplary zeal and devotion to duty as a flight commander. His untiring efforts, initiative and exceptional ability have been an inspiration to all with whom he has come into contact, and enabled the flight to reach the high standard of efficiency which led to the carrying out of its airborne operations on D-Day with unqualified success.'Charles John Mackenzie, born in India on 25 May 1915, was a pre-war member of the Auxiliary Air Force who was called up in August 1939 when he joined No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron at R.A.F. Detling in the acting rank of Pilot Officer. Initially equipped with Ansons, the squadron converted to Blenheims in April 1941, and thence to Hudsons in November 1941.In March 1942, the squadron moved to R.A.F. Stornoway for patrols over the Atlantic and the approaches to the Clyde and the Irish Sea. On 28 April, whilst the captain and pilot of a Hudson, Mackenzie convincingly attacked an enemy U-boat in the Western Approaches, approximately 350 miles due west of the Outer Hebrides, an act of skill and gallantry which resulted in the award of his Distinguished Flying Cross.Operation 'Tonga'Advanced to Squadron Leader, Mackenzie next transferred to Transport Command and was posted to No. 233 Squadron at R.A.F. Blakehill Farm. And it was from here that he was charged with glider-towing operations for Operation 'Tonga' between 5-7 June 1944, delivering paratroopers and equipment for the 6th Airborne Division. According to the squadron's Operation Record Book (O.R.B.), it was 'given the envious choice of Drop Zone 'K' - the furthest inland.'Taking off at 23:14 hours on 5 June 1944, the squadron successfully dropped 407 paratroopers complete with kit bags and containers in an area north-west of Toufreville. The O.R.B. noted much light flak being encountered along the French coast and two Dakotas failed to return to base. Mackenzie's aircraft was among those damaged the following night, when he returned to Normandy for Operation 'Rob Roy One'. But the squadron's good work had not been in vain, for on the morning of 7 June it received the following message from Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory:'Will you please convey my heartiest congratulations to 46 Group on their magnificent performance in carrying over the 6th Airborne Division in the initial operation. The fact that so successful and difficult an operation has been carried out with such complete success in so short a time after the formation of the squadrons reflects highest credit on all concerned.'For his services as a flight commander in the run-up to the Normandy Landings, and for his work on D-Day itself, Mackenzie was recommended for and received the A.F.C.Operation 'Market Garden'The squadron's next mission was Operation 'Market Garden', when in order to facilitate the Second Army's advance through Holland, the 1st Airborne Division was to be landed at several landing zones in the vicinity of Arnhem to secure bridges over the River Rhine. On 17 September, with Mackenzie piloting one of 22 squadron Dakotas, No. 233 successfully released gliders that contained 309 troops, 18 handcarts, 15 motor cycles, 10 Jeeps, 11 trailers, 5 wireless set, 11 cycles, and 1 6-pounder anti-tank gun, without any loss. On the second day they repeated this feat, with 17 aircraft from the squadron towing gliders containing 84 troops, 15 Jeeps, 7 trailers, 8 6-pounder anti-tank guns, and 3 machine-guns, but the re-supply missions were less fortunate, and the squadron lost 5 aircraft over the next three days, losses recalled by the posthumous award of the V.C. to David Lord, another Dakota pilot.The R.A.F. Memorial Flight's C-47 Dakota is currently painted up to represent a No. 233 Squadron aircraft, as flown by the likes of Charles Mackenzie over Arnhem.With the war in Europe over, Mackenzie remained in the Royal Air Force, going out to South-East Asia later in the year. He was promoted Wing Commander in July 1954 and, having settled in Eastbourne on his retirement, died in February 1970.Sold with his original 'Notice of Calling Out', dated 23 August 1939, together with his original commission warrant for the rank of Pilot Officer, dated 17 May 1940, and several photographs.For his corresponding dress miniatures please see lot: 447.…

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (W. Cook, 20th Foot.), traces of lacquer, very fine, mounted as wornProvenance:Glendining's, September 1987.William Cook was born at Totham, Essex circa 1785 and was a labourer also serving in the West Essex Militia upon his enlisting in the 20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot (Lancashire Fusiliers) at Haslar under a bounty of £5-5-3; a vast sum in that period. At that time he was described as having dark eyes, dark hair and a 'brown' complexion, perhaps being of West Indian heritage whose parents had made it to England.Cook was wounded by gunshot at Orthes. A fine account is offered by Colonel John Hogge, K.H., who commanded the Light Company:'I embrace the first moment I had to spare since the battle of the 27th to let you know I have again escaped one of the most murderous battles that ever I believe the old 20th witnessed. I had three most wonderful escapes, three balls struck me, one entering the glass you bought me in London, when in the act of looking at the troops opposed to us, the ball still remains in but has entirely destroyed the glass. Another entered my jacket near the right breast, was turned by striking a button, passed along my waistcoat, came out and badly wounded a man of my company. A grape shot struck the top of my shoulder, carried away the bugle and most of my right wing but did no other injury except a slight bruise. You will say my dear brother I am a fortunate fellow, I think to myself, for I believe no man ever had narrower escapes, the jacket and spyglass I shall preserve and one day I hope to show you them. I shall now begin to relate what passed on that eventful day confining myself to that part of the tragedy our Brigade acted.The Light Companies of the 23rd, 7th, 20th, and a company of Rifles were in advance about 2 miles, when we came in contact with the advance post of the enemy, we immediately engaged them and drove them about a mile into a village where they had posted, unbeknown to us, a number of men in every part. We attacked it three times but did not succeed, soon after two companies of the 7th reinforced us and we quickly drove them out, took possession and retained it till the Brigade came up, we lost in this affair two Captains and about 60 men out of the light companies of the Brigade, eleven of my company were killed and wounded. It was here I had two escapes. We were then ordered to join our Regts. I found mine just in rear of the village.Soon after an order came to us to advance and support our Portuguese Brigade, as they had just given way about half a mile in front of us. The great bone of contention was a small town [St Böes] and a range of hills just in the van of it, upon which a strong column of French were posted with 6 pieces of Artillery. The main road ran directly through the town, and the heights and all the Artillery commanded it, we fixed bayonets and there the bloody scene commenced. I passed the Portuguese and actually carried the town under a most dreadful fire of grape shot and musquetry, that ever a regiment was exposed to, out of 291, all we had, 126 men and nine officers were killed and wounded. We had two other officers wounded but they were not returned so, being slightly hit. The enemy attempted again to take it from us, they got into the town but we managed to drive them out again. They carried away about 25 of our men and Captain Tovey, they surrounded them. The 7th Division soon came up and the French retreated in all directions. We followed till darkness put an end to the contest.Genl. Moss was wounded but not badly before we took the town. Major Bent who nobly commanded us had first his horse shot and was immediately afterwards killed himself. Three balls entered him. One Captain killed and three badly wounded. Capt Russell commands what few of us are left, he certainly gets the Brevet. Col Ellis, who commands the Brigade, rode into the town after we had taken it and declared that there never was a more gallant thing done by any Regt, and his Lordship sent in soon after to know what Regt it was that had taken the town. It is certain that they had in it double our numbers, posted so as to rake every part of the road leading through the town. Had we not succeeded we should have been cut to atoms, the only chance we had was to charge through it instantly, and after driving them out get under cover of the houses. It was impossible for our men to have stood it for five minutes longer, the grape from the Artillery on the hills cut us down by the dozens at a time. I got off most fortunately with the loss only of a strap. We mustered on parade next day only 144 men and nine officers. Soult may now say he annihilated us.’Cook was in fair shape to share in the action at Toulouse and was discharged on 31 January 1816. …

A Second World War D.F.M. awarded to Flight Lieutenant W. Woodhouse, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was decorated for his gallantry as a Navigator in No. 57 Squadron, his operational tour including the famous daylight raid on Le Creusot in October 1942 and four trips to the 'Big City'Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1166133 F./Sgt. W. Woodhouse, R.A.F.), good very fineD.F.M. London Gazette 11 June 1943.Wilfred Woodhouse was educated at Raddlebarn School, Maple College and Birmingham University, and attended a course at Ruskin College of Art in 1937-38. Having also attended several civil defence courses in the interim, he joined the Royal Air Force in June 1940 and was trained as a navigator.He subsequently joined No. 57 Squadron at R.A.F. Scampton as a Flight Sergeant in August 1942 and flew his first sortie - against Cologne - on the night of 15-16 October 1942. Next up was Operation 'Robertson', the daylight raid against Le Creusot on the 17th, when 94 Lancasters from No. 5 Group were assigned to attack the Schneider works, the whole under Wing Commander L. C. Slee, the C.O. of No. 49 Squadron.Woodhouse flew in one of several 57 Squadron aircraft allocated to the force, he and his crew having undertaken special low-level flying exercises over Lincolnshire in the interim. Despite the obvious risks, the raid turned out to be a great success, just one Lancaster becoming a cropper after hitting a roof top. Others suffered damage from bird strikes, as the force raced over 300 miles of French countryside at tree-top height, but all returned home, having delivered their attack in just seven minutes. Even the likes of Guy Gibson, who led six aircraft against the nearby transformer station at Montchanin, appeared to be satisfied with the results.'Bomber' Harris was also impressed and ordered another daylight raid, this time against Milan, in which Woodhouse participated on the 24th. In fact, he was to make three further trips to Italy over the next month or so, namely two sorties to Turin and another to Genoa. These besides sorties to Duisburg, Stuttgart and Weismar. And in mid-January 1943, he flew his first sortie to the 'Big City', one of four such trips undertaken by him at the height of Bomber Command's battle of Berlin.Two further trips to Cologne - and other heavily defended targets such as Essen, Hamburg and Munich - made up the remainder of his operational tour and he was recommended for his D.F.M. in April 1943. Subsequently commissioned, he was demobilised as a Flight Lieutenant in October 1945.Post-war, Woodhouse qualified as a teacher and was employed by the City of Birmingham Education Department, including a stint as headmaster of Leigh School; sold with copied career correspondence.…

The 'Post-War' R.R.C. group of six awarded to Matron E. Prescott, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, who was further 'mentioned' for her services in Sicily in March 1944Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially dated '1949', mounted for wear upon a lady's bow riband in its fitted Garrard & Co. box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-42; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, sold together with original material including the R.R.C. slip of issue named 'Matron E. Prescott, R.R.C.' and the envelope of issue named to the same, overall nearly extremely fine (6)R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1949.Ethel Prescott was born at Lund near Driffield, East Riding, Yorkshire on 22 October 1893, the daughter of Thomas and Jane Prescott. She was educated at Dame Chatterton's School for Young Ladies, North Dalton and after a brief spell as a housekeeper she went to train as a nurse with the Royal London Hospital.Qualifying as a state registered nurse and midwife she joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service on 15 August 1927 at Shorncliff, Kent as a Staff Nurse. Posted to India, Prescott was stationed at Rawalpindi in 1928 and saw a further six years of service on the subcontinent with postings at Murree, Peshawar, Nowshera and Quetta.Returning to service as a Sister on 30 May 1941, her first wartime posting was the Hospital Ship H.M.H.S. Aba. Later posted to South Africa she served at Pietermaritzburg in 1943 before being transferred to service in Italy. It was here that Prescott was 'mentioned' (London Gazette 23 March 1944, refers) before being posted to New York with the rank of Matron swiftly following.She remained in North America and Britain between 1944-45 before finally returning to the front in Germany in 1945. Prescott served in Burma in 1946 and finally at Wheatley in a hospital well known for its treatment of head injuries.After the war Prescott went on to serve as Matron at Dulverton Hall, Scarborough, a home for retired clergymen. Her medals were sent to her on 31 August 1948 at The Woods, Beckingham, Doncaster and she retired from Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service on 22 October 1948 with the rank of Honorary Principle Matron. She was admitted into the Royal Red Cross the next year, her award was sent to her at 72 Greengate, Malton, Yorkshire.Sold together with copied research and an original archive comprising a named slip of issue for the R.R.C., photograph of the recipient in uniform, newspaper cutting announcing the award, box and addressed envelope of issue and corresponding riband bar for the campaign medals.…

The unique and outstanding post-war M.B.E., Second World War North-West Europe operations immediate M.M., 'Japan B.E.M.' mounted group of twelve miniature dress medals awarded to Major (Q.M.) A. P. 'Bobby' Joyce, Welsh GuardsIn a remarkable career - spanning active service in Normandy in 1944 to Northern Ireland in the 1970s, the whole with the Welsh Guards - he first came to prominence for his M.M.-winning deeds in March 1945, deeds that reached a wider audience on the front and back pages of The Victor some 30 years later: the comic's colourful depiction of his gallant actions included a scene of him lobbing a grenade into a Spandau position - "Share that with your mates, Fritz"Whether he shared such sentiments with Rudolph Hess remains unknown, but he commanded the former Nazi leader's 'Old Guard' at Spandau Prison in the early 50s, a far cry from his subsequent duties in South Arabia and Northern IrelandThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Member's (M.B.E.) Badge, silver; Military Medal, G.VI.R.; British Empire Medal (Military), G.VI.R.; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48; General Service 1962-2007, 2 clasps, South Arabia, Northern Ireland; U.N. Korea 1950-54; Coronation 1953, mounted court-style as worn, very fine or better (12)His full-size awards were sold in these rooms in April 2019.M.B.E. London Gazette 2 June 1973.The lengthy original recommendation speaks of valuable service as a Staff, Transport and Messing Officer at the Guards Depot in 1972-73, home to some 2,500 soldiers. It concludes:'His devotion to duty and his constant pre-occupation with the well being of the men under his command have earned the respect and regard of every soldier at Pirbright.'M.M. London Gazette 12 July 1945. The original recommendation - for an immediate award - states:'Lance-Sergeant Joyce was in command of the leading section of No. 7 Platoon, the left forward platoon during a Company / Squadron attack on the village of Bonninghardt on 7 March 1945. During the attack his section came under fire from a Spandau dug-in by the side of a farmhouse and another opened up from the house itself, directed at No. 8 Platoon on his right flank.Lance-Sergeant Joyce, realising he was caught in the open, dashed forward with his section and got them under cover close up by the house. His quickness in appreciating the situation, and his determined action in carrying on, caused the enemy gunner to withdraw behind the house. He then single-handed ran across to the house, leaving his section to give him covering fire, and got up to the window where the Spandau was firing, enfilading the platoon to the right. He got up under the window and shot the enemy firer and, after hurling a grenade through the window, he dashed back and brought up his section to consolidate the area of the house.His action enabled the platoon to seize the farm and surrounding buildings, capturing 26 Germans from 22 Para Regiment and enabling his platoon to carry on with the attack in which they consolidated on their objective. The speed, resourcefulness and determination of Lance-Sergeant Joyce's action undoubtedly saved the Company many casualties and largely contributed to the success of the attack.'B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1952:'In recognition of non-operational services in Japan in connection with operations in Korea.'The original recommendation - for an M.B.E. - states:'Company Sergeant-Major Joyce has been C.S.M. of a Reinforcement Company in Japan since the formation of 'J' Reinforcement Unit supplying drafts and replacements to the Commonwealth Division in Korea.Throughout his service with the unit, he has devoted himself whole-heartedly to this new task. The well being of his Company has been his constant care and he has shown unabated vigour and achieved outstanding success and follow on from the original. His sound judgment, knowledge of his men, drive and loyalty have been of the greatest assistance to his Company Commander and these qualities have contributed in large measure not only to the smooth working of the Company but also to the efficiency and morale of drafts passing through his hands.'Austin Peter Joyce was born at Wakefield, Yorkshire in November 1923 and originally enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment in March 1942. It seems probable that it was in this capacity that he was served in the Pacific theatre of war, prior to transferring to the Welsh Guards in October 1943.Posted to the 1st Battalion - and the subject of rapid promotion - he came ashore as a 19-year-old N.C.O. at Normandy in June 1944. Here, then, the commencement of his part in the Battalion's hard-fought contribution to the campaign in North-West Europe, in which he was advanced to Company Sergeant-Major and won his M.M. He returned to the U.K. in late March 1945 and was embarked for Palestine at the year's end, where he served until April 1948 (Medal & clasp).Having then been awarded the B.E.M. for his valuable services in Japan - in support of the operations in Korea - in the period September 1950 to June 1952, he served in Germany in the following year, with command of the 'Old Guard' to Rudolf Hess at Spandau Prison.Active service resumed with a tour in South Arabia in the period 1956-60 (Medal & clasp) and he was commissioned Lieutenant (Q.M.) in May 1963. Of his subsequent part in the Northern Ireland operations little is known (clasp), but he attained the rank of Major (Q.M.) and was awarded the M.B.E. for his valuable service to the Guards Depot at Pirbright. Having been sent his M.M. and B.E.M., Joyce finally enjoyed the experience of an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 7 November 1973.…

An outstanding 'Trench Raid' M.C. group of eight awarded to 2nd Lieutenant J. F. Thoburn, 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, later Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Army Service CorpsThoburn was photographed alongside his comrades before going into action and also wrote at length regarding the action which won his decorationMilitary Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. F. Thoburn.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, Territorial, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1947', good very fine (8)M.C. London Gazette 11 January 1919:'When the enemy, in a determined counter-attack, gained a footing in our trenches this Officer led his men over the top and attacked those who had got through the wire, killing several, dispersing the remainder, and capturing a machine-gun and trench mortar. The confidence inspired in his men by his example restored a critical situation.'Jack Fancourt Thoburn enlisted into the Honourable Artillery Company on 17 April 1916 and served in France with the 3rd Company, 2nd Battalion (as No. 7455) from 18 November 1916. Sharing in the action at Bucquoy in February 1917, he was wounded in action. Thoburn was subsequently commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the Rifle Brigade, serving with the 13th Battalion in France from March 1918. He earned his outstanding M.C. for his actions on 12-13 September, when a Trench Raid captured the enemy positions around Havrincourt Wood. Poison shells were sent down and a heavy counter came the following evening. Thoburn was photographed with his comrades before going into action and also wrote of his experiences:'I am off in an hour's time to the line, Captain Jenkins and Wallis are going with me for which I am awfully glad. We three are great chums. You know that since I have been a soldier I have passed through some awfully rough times and most trying experiences, especially in the earlier stages of the war, and I am by now pretty used to being knocked about : but going again into the thick of the fighting gives one a strange sensation - an indescribable feeling - going up to face death, but one must not think of that, the same Mighty Power that kept me all through those awful Somme battles, can still keep me. I'm just going to do my duty to the very best of my ability - my safety lies in Higher Hands. God knows what I have done in the last few days. I must tell you a little of what I have been doing, in myself I am quite fit, but very tired. My hands are cut up with innumerable cuts, my feet are shooting with pain from not taking my boots off for so long, but we are all in the same boat and are feeling quite happy. It is a lovely sunny day and quite warm, all our company officers are squatting outside our little dugout writing home.Now as some time has elapsed since these episodes, I think I can give you a few details of my adventures without in any way falling foul of my duties as a censor. One comes to my mind - We were leading the Company up, preparatory to "going over the top". Wood (the Coy Commander) and myself were trying to find our way in a wood, it was pitch dark. Wood went first and he suddenly disappeared, the next moment I followed him, falling about twenty feet through bushes, thorns and brambles. At the bottom I stumbled to my feet, breathless with the fall and choked with the gas from the shells that the Boches were firing around us. I heard Wood's voice for a moment and then I lost him - I got caught among the barbed wire - round and round I ploughed until I heard to my immense relief Davis' voice. We lay there together, our men just behind us waiting for the moment. Just like a cyclone it came, with one terrific roar our barrage breaks - then clear and distinct above the rumble of the guns came the sharp crack of the Machine guns - then over we went, and did some quick work. The prisoners came trooping up in groups. I came upon a party of young boys, they were terror stricken - up went their hands the moment they saw me and actually cried like babies. Two of our officers were killed, it was awfully hard luck, they were both such jolly good chaps, one of them was married. In consequence of their death, Hunter and I went to their company to help them and which meant we were very unfortunate, because we had to do the work of both companies. When "C" Coy was in, we were, and when "D" Coy was in, we were also, getting no respite from fighting.I enclose two ribbons - the black and white is the Iron Cross, the other ribbon is foreign, probably Turkish. I cut them from the tunic of a Boche Machine gunner - with his gun he held me up for some time doing a good deal of damage. He it was who killed our two officers, anyhow he was dead when I got up to him and these ribbons were his decorations; he was an intelligent looking fellow and looked quite peaceful in death.In one of the captured trenches we had a meal off German bread and sausage, the bread was damp, heavy and nearly black - the sausage reminded me of the German Mail and their uncooked dainties. Some tried the Boche wine, but the general verdict was that it was like methylated spirits. We found some good cigars and it was really amusing to see all our men swaggering about with cigars in their mouths. But there was more serious work ahead. The afternoon of the attack I had come off duty in the advance line and was lying down at Coy Headquarters - when there was a cry, "the Boches are coming", I sprang up and rushing along by a way that I know, gained the front line. There I found Hunter with some men retiring down the trench and some twenty yards away the Germans were coming down toward us. Our men were a bit windy, but Hunter and I made them make a stand and fetch bombs. Hunter is a fine bomber, so he threw the bombs, while I carried on with a borrowed rifle and my revolver. We retired very slowly - the Boches were chucking their bombs. These bombs of theirs make an awful row, but don't do much damage unless you get too close to one. Unfortunately they had also got some of ours, which are of a different calibre. I was bringing up the rear as we retired, and was having quite a pretty little duel with the Hun Serg. Major who was leading their attack - he evidently wanted me as a prisoner, for every time we faced each other round a traverse he signed and shouted to me to put my hands up. Of course my only answer was revolver ammunition, it was not likely that I was going to put my hands up to a Boche. Well at last we got to a fair stock of bombs, so we made a halt and bombed steadily. Hunter stands 6 ft 4 in and throws bombs magnificently. This went on for about twenty minutes, and then we found that we were not being answered, so we decided to advance. First of the party came myself with my revolver - then came Hunter with bombs and one or two men. We went round two traverses then we came upon two Huns. The first was the Serg. Major - dead, the next was a young lad, he had been hit in the hand and had a nasty gash in his head. As this poor lad saw me he tried to collect himself but he was far too gone, I can see his bloodshot eyes now as he tried to raise his head - on the other side of the trench was a Boche officer, dead, As we advanced we found quite a number of dead, we had done better than anticipated - we made a rush and took six machine guns, one Minnen-werfer and coil of telephone wire. So we had managed to stop rather a large counter attack. The "D" Company Commander sent in a very good report to Battalion Headquarters about our work, which was encouraging. The Corporal and two men who backed us up have been recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal. I have written but bald facts, of course there is much more but I must not tell just yet.The German Planes a…

The 1944 D.F.C. group of four awarded to Flight Lieutenant L. C. Ainsley, Royal Air Force, who ploughed on through heavy flak despite taking a total of four hits and successfully bombed the target: making it back to Britain he crash landed without any casualties and little damage to the aircraftDistinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated '1944'; 1939-45 Star (P/O L. C. Ainsley R.A.F.); France and Germany Star (F/O L. C. Ainsley No. 51. Sqd. R.A.F.; War Medal 1939-45 (F/O. L. C. Ainsley. D.F.C. R.AF.), all campaign awards privately in the same style, mounted court style as worn, sold together with a Buckingham Palace slip of issue named to the recipient and a related telegram, good very fine (4)D.F.C. London Gazette 31 October 1944, the original citation states:'This officer is a most competent pilot and a first-class captain of aircraft. One night in September 1944, he was detailed for an attack on a synthetic oil plant at Nordstefn. When nearing the target area the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and the starboard inner engine was rendered unserviceable. Shortly afterwards the aircraft was hit in the port aileron; making it difficult to steer correctly. In spite of this, Flying Officer Ainsley continued to the target and bombed it. On the turn for home the bomber was hit once more. The port engine was affected and the hydraulic system was put out of action. After crossing the-English coast the defective port engine became useless. Flight Lieutenant Ainsley thereupon headed for the nearest airfield where he made a safe landing with the undercarriage retracted. This officer set a fine example of skill, courage and tenacity.'Lawrence Cuthbert Ainsley enlisted with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 19 June 1941 and was commissioned Pilot Officer with the General Branch on 21 April 1944. Initially posted to No. 41 base, Marston Moor, Yorkshire on 21 April he later joined No. 51 Squadron on 30 July. His first raid as a Captain of Aircraft occurred on 3 August 1944 in a Halifax III over Bors-de Cassan.Three further raids that month saw good results and Ainsley was present for an attack over Le Havre on 10 September. It was for the raid the next day, 11 September 1944, that he was awarded the D.F.C, the Squadron Record book provides details for that day stating:'This aircraft sustained flak damage over the target, causing on [SIC] engine to be feathered. On arriving over this country another engine had to be feathered, and the aircraft was landed safely away from base on two engines. No members of the crew were injured. The aircraft landed away from base.'The initial recommendation for the award expands upon this, stating:'On 11th September 1944 this officer was the captain of an aircraft detailed to attack the synthetic oil plant at Nordstorn. When about fifteen miles distant from the target and at 18,000 feet, his aircraft was hit by heavy flak which rendered the starboard inner engine unserviceable, but he continued one his course and shortly afterwards the aircraft was hit again, causing damage to the port aileron and making it difficult to handle. Flying Officer Ainsley still continued on his course, however, and although he was hit yet again and had lost height to 14,000 feet, he pressed home his attack and bombed the target. Then as he was turning away and was about to leave the defended area, the aircraft was hit by a fourth burst. This time the wireless operator was slightly wounded in the head, the hydraulics were hit and the port inner engine was destroyed.After clearing the Ruhr defences he set course for Woodbridge, but on crossing the English coast the port inner engine finally stopped and a crash landing had to be made at the nearest aerodrome. Without hydraulics to operate the undercarriage and flaps, he landed the aircraft without appreciable damage or any injury to the crew.Flying Officer Ainsley's devotion to duty in continuing to bomb the target in spite of serious damage to his aircraft and in the face of intense flak, and his skill in bringing his aircraft back and landing it without more serious consequences, deserves the highest praise and his courage and determination are an example to all.Flying Officer Ainsley had now carried out nine sorties against the enemy, and has proved himself to be a most competent pilot and a good captain and leader. He is recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.'The station Commander commanding R.A.F. Snaith added his own recommendation stating:'This officer undoubtedly showed courage and determination in pressing home his attack in the face of what appears to have been very accurate predicted flak, and a high degree of skill in bringing home his badly-damaged aircraft back to this country and landing it with so little damage and without injury to his crew.He also displayed great coolness and presence of mind, and proved himself to be an excellent operational captain. He is strongly recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.'This is back up by an exciting account in the Sunday Sun (Newcastle) on 29 October 1944 which states:'A young man called L. C. Ainsley born in Carlise in 1916, was working on a television research bench in America when the war began, but he was determined not to miss it. So he "jumped" an oil tanker and worked his way to England. To-day he is Flying Officer Ainsley and has just gained the immediate award of the D.F.C. for fine work during the bombing of the oil works at Nordstern. His Halifax was thrice hit before reaching the target - but it got there. One more it was hit after the bomb load had gone - but it got home with a crash-landing near a drome. Now he thinks he will stay on this side of the Atlantic and make the R.A.F. a career. He has married a Scots Girl.'Ainsley was advanced Flying Officer on 21 October 1944 and continued to fly, seeing a total of seventeen successful sorties. Transferred to R.A.F. Tangmere on 15 May 1945 he was posted to the Administrative and Special Duties Branch on 26 April 1945 and then transferred to Andrews Field on 27 July.Several more transfers occurred to sites such as R.A.F. West Malling on 5 September, Castle Camps on 27 September and R.A.F. Duxford on 10 December. However he was to leave the R.A.F. under a cloud, being dismissed by sentence of a Court Marshal on 6 August 1946.…

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant'After some delay...a letter was received on Tuesday from Sir George explaining that the claim of the old Peninsular veteran had been doubly recognised; with the sanction of H.R.H, the Queen has been informed through Sir Henry Ponsonby of Captain Gammell's case, and Her Majesty was so interested in it that she decided to present to the veteran her Jubilee medal, in addition to the Peninsular medal...Those who know what a staunch supporter of the Throne and Constitution he has always been, as well as a brave officer in his younger days, will heartily congratulate him on the double honours he has received, especially his kind recognition by the Queen' (Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette, Thursday 28 September 1893, refers)The historically fascinating and unique Peninsular War and Queen Victoria Jubilee pair awarded to Captain J. Gammell, late 59th, 92nd and 61st regiments of Foot, who was almost certainly the last surviving British Officer of the Peninsular War and who claimed his campaign Medal in 1889 - an astonishing 75 years after the battle in which he participated and such a remarkable circumstance that The Queen herself then commanded that he should also be awarded her Jubilee MedalMilitary General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Nive (Ensign, James Gammell. 59th Foot.), this officially named in the style of the Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89; Jubilee 1887, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted together upon a silver bar for wear, on their original ribands and contained within a bespoke fitted leather case by Mallett, Goldsmith, Bath, the top lid tooled in gilded letters stating: Presented by Command of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to Capt. James Gammell, late 92nd, 61st and 59th Regiments, when in his 93rd year, 9 March 1889., traces of old lacquer, otherwise about extremely fine (2)James Gammell, second son of Lieutenant-General Andrew Gammell and Martha Stageldoir, was born in London on 3 January 1797. Scion of an old Scottish family, his father enjoyed a long (if undistinguished) military career and appears to have been a personal friend of H.R.H. the Duke of York; it is he who may have been responsible for the elder Gammell's appointment to the socially-prestigious 1st Foot Guards in September 1803.On 29 September 1813, young James Gammell was commissioned Ensign (without purchase) in the 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot (London Gazette, 2 October 1813, refers). The 2nd Battalion of the 59th had already seen its fair share of active service during the Napoleonic Wars, having been in Spain in 1808 and 1809 before being re-deployed on the disastrous Walcheren Campaign. Returning home, in 1812 the unit was sent back to the Iberian Peninsula where they participated in most of the final battles of that campaign including Vittoria (June 1813); Nivelle (November 1813) and the Nive (December 1813). Gammell clearly must have joined his regiment in the summer or autumn of that year, as his single-clasp Medal attests; for his first (and indeed only) major battle he must have seen a significant amount of fighting as the 59th suffered casualties of some 159 men killed and wounded. The regiment returned home at the conclusion of hostilities, and Gammell is next noted as being promoted into the Sicilian Regiment on 27 April 1815 (London Gazette, 6 May 1815, refers).Remaining in the peacetime Army, like many young junior officers Gammell moved through several different units over the next few years. The Sicilian Regiment may have offered the chance for some interesting soldiering, but it is unlikely he ever spent time with them as on 1 June the same year he transferred (still as Lieutenant) into the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot. Likely with them on garrison duty in Jamaica from 1816-22 on 21 August 1823 he moved again, this time to the 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot - but again still as a Lieutenant. In 1825 he was promoted to Captain in the 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) by purchase (London Gazette, 14 May 1825, refers) - but yet again he was not destined to remain long in his regiment as a mere five months later the London Gazette carries another entry (dated 22 October) stating that he had retired on 6 October that year.It is quite likely that, in reality, Gammell had no need to be a soldier as he was an independently wealthy man. In 1816, soon after his father's death, his grandfather purchased an agricultural estate for him and, though the two were later to fall out over the subject of Gammell's marriage to a Miss Sydney Holmes, the estate ensured he was to receive a steady source of income for him and his family for the rest of his life. Marrying Miss Holmes on 21 September 1825, the couple went on to have no less than ten children and in 1834 the Gammell family moved to Edinburgh before relocating to Bath in 1856-57 and taking up residence at 16 Grosvenor Place. Here Gammell was to remain until his death on 23 September 1893 at the remarkable age of 96, which makes him quite likely the last surviving British officer to have participated in the Peninsular War - a fact supported by several primary and secondary sources, the latter including a reference in the Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society (March 2009) and the book Wellington's Men Remembered: A Register of Memorials to Soldiers who Fought in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. He was interred at Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, and the occasion included his coffin being conveyed to the site in a closed hearse, covered in a Union Jack, and a wreath stating: 'In kindly remembrance of the last of the Peninsular officers.'However, his story does not end here, as just a few years previously he became the subject of a remarkable tale which led to the award of two medals - the first of which he had earned as a 17-year-old Ensign in the 59th Foot all those years ago. The 'Bath Chronicle' takes up the story:'Captain James Gammell, the only surviving officer of the British Army which fought in the Peninsular War, died on Saturday last at 16, Grosvenor Place, Bath, where he had resided for many years...By his death the work of charity in the neighbourhood of Larkhall loses a generous friend, the Conservative cause one of its most ardent supporters, and the Queen one of the most loyal and devoted of her subjects. His loyalty and attachment to her Majesty was one of the dominant features of Captain Gammell's character and his enthusiasm was evidenced during the celebration of the Royal Jubilee in 1887. Flags were liberally displayed at his residence, and the letters "V.R." in gas jets, with a shield bearing the Royal arms, and the motto "Tria in juncta uno - Quis separabit." ...In March, 1889, the Bath Chronicle thus described how Captain Gammell received the Peninsular medal and the Queen's Jubilee medal: -A curious and gratifying incident has just occurred, which for the credit of all concerned is worth recording. At the latter end of December Colonel Balguy happened to be at the National Provincial Bank, and a casual remark made by him led a venerable gentleman near to say that it was just 75 years ago that he donned the red coat. Surprised at the communication, Colonel Balguy rejoined "You must have been in the Peninsula." "I was at Bayonne in 1814, when the French made their sortie," replied the stranger. "Then you have a medal?" He explained that he never had one nor had he applied for one, and in reply to further questions, stated that he was an Ensign in the 59th Regiment, and retired as a Captain from the Gordon Highlanders in 1825. The conversation again turned upon the medal, and after some hesitation he accepted Colonel Balguy's o…

The Naval General Service Medal awarded to Rear-Admiral E. R. P. Mainwaring, who saw a remarkable forty-two years of active service and commanded the boats during the capture of the American letter-of-marque Rapid in 1814Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Egypt (E. R. Mainwaring.), note absence of third initial, good very fineEdward Reeves Philip Mainwaring was born on 16 June 1788 at Prince Edward Island, Canada. Scion of a great 'fighting' family of Whitmore, Staffordshire and with lineage stretching back to the Norman Conquest, his father fought during the American War of Independence and all four brothers also entered either the Army or Royal Navy - one, Benjamin, was an officer aboard 'The Fighting Temeraire' at Trafalgar and another, Frederick, fought at Waterloo as a Lieutenant in the 51st Regiment of Foot.Young Edward entered the Navy in the summer of 1799 as a First-Class Volunteer and was appointed to the 44-gun H.M.S. Roebuck which acted as a troopship between March and September 1801 for British operations during the Egyptian campaign. In November 1801 he was appointed Midshipman in the 64-gun H.M.S. Haarlem and, as was usual for the time, continued to receive appointments to other vessels when required. He was advanced to Acting-Lieutenant in 1806 aboard the 18-gun sloop H.M.S. Espoir but shortly afterward was promoted Lieutenant (11 June 1807) and removed to the 74-gun H.M.S. Plantagenet, with which vessel he saw out the rest of the Napoleonic Wars.It was with this ship that Mainwaring appears to have experienced the most exciting days of his active service. After a deployment to the Baltic Plantagenet and her crew were next assigned to the North American and West India stations. Consequently seeing much action during the War of 1812, Mainwaring must have been aboard in July 1813 when U.S. Navy Sailing Master Elijah Mix tried to destroy Plantagenet with torpedoes designed by inventor and engineer Robert Fulton. Mix made the attempt no less than seven times; the first six all missed, and the seventh prematurely exploded. The 'Yankey Torpedo' was a known threat to officers and men of the Royal Navy, and one wonders what Mainwaring thought about being on the receiving end of such an 'ungentlemanly' way of warfare.Returning to more traditional ways of engaging with the enemy, in 1814 Plantagenet was pursuing the American latter-of-marque Rapid when both vessels were becalmed when the wind died away. Mainwaring was ordered to take command of the ship's boats and, after rowing for an astonishing 11 hours, came up with the Rapid, boarded and captured her notwithstanding a spirited defence by her crew of 40 men. For this action, Mainwaring was publicly thanked by the Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station, Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren.Despite the vast reductions in manpower and ships in the aftermath of the conflict, after a mercifully short period on half-pay (1815-18) Mainwaring was fortunate to be employed at sea once again and for the following eight years served aboard the 74-gun Ramillies and the 84-gun Ganges; in the latter vessel on the West India and Brazilian stations as well as at home. Promoted Commander on 27 May 1826, perhaps a desire to somewhat settle-down led to both an appointment with the Coast Guard service and his marriage to Miss Eliza Hill, daughter of the Reverend Hill, Rector of Snailwell in Cambridgeshire. He was employed by the Coast Guard until 1835 and four years later was given command of the 18-gun sloop H.M.S. Electra on the South America Station, returning home in 1841 on promotion to Captain. Slowly but steadily rising up the seniority list to be promoted Rear-Admiral (Retired) on 12 April 1862, Admiral Mainwaring died at Brighton on 5 October 1865 at the age of 77, with his death being noted in many local newspapers and journals - all of which specifically state that he was actively employed for more than 40 years; an impressive feat indeed during the age of sail and many years of peace in Europe.…

Three: Private M. Wabanoose, 52nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, who died of wounds sustained in action on 31 August 1917, shortly after the Battle for Hill 60 - he was a First Nations Canadian from Wiikwemkong on Manitoulin IslandBritish War and Victory Medals (754976 Pte. M. Wabanoose. 52-Can. Inf.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Michael Wabanoose), good very fine (3)Michael Wabanoose was born on 5 July 1895 at Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island, Ontaria, son of Antoine Wabanosse. Today, these lands remain a reserve of First Nations Canadians and is occupied by Ojibwa, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples under the Council of Three Fires. A farmer by trade upon his joining the Canadian Forces in March 1916, his complexion was described as 'swarthy', he served initially with the 119th (Algoma) Battalion, who were based at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and took a number of the 'Manitoulin Boys' into their ranks. Sailing from Halifax on 8 August 1916, he joined the 52nd Battalion in the field in France on 4 December 1916. Wabanoose went into action in the Third Battle of Ypres and would have shared in the Battle for Hill 60. He was mortally wounded - with gunshot wounds to his arms and legs - on 26 August 1917, was admitted to 22nd Casualty Clearing Station but died on 31 August 1917. Wabanoose is buried in the Bruay Communal Cemetery Extension.…

A very fine Gold Al Valore Militare awarded to Vice-Commander of the Bologna Partisan Division A. Cucchi, who served in the field under the code name JacopoItaly, Republic, Al Valore Militare, Gold issue, silver-gilt, marked 'A-800' (Cucchi Aldo - Imola-Bologna - 9-9-943 - 21-4-45.), good very fineCitation states:'Founder, organizer and commander of the partisan units in the Imola area, he stood out from the first days for his sagacity in organization and his courage in action. These qualities shone later in Bologna where, in command of a GAP, he carried out actions against Nazi headquarters and units, actions that had a wide resonance encouraging the people of Bologna to resist Nazi oppression.Arrested by the SS and managing to escape, he worked as a doctor and fighter in a Brigade operating behind the German deployment on the Gothic Line.During a tough battle, seeing his commander fall, he picked up his body and rushed with a few men into the midst of the advancing enemy. He then re-established the seriously compromised situation, dragging the partisans in the wake of his courage. Commander of a Brigade and deputy commander of the "Bologna" Division, he was recognised and remembered as one of the clearest figures of the partisan movement in Emilia and as one of the major architects of the heroic recovery of that region.'Aldo Cucchi was born on 27 December 1911. A graduate in medicine and surgery, Cucchi had secretely joined the Communist Party in 1938. He took part in the Second World War as a Medical Lieutenant on the Greek-Albanian front and was transferred in 1942 to the hospital in Bologna with the rank of Lieutenant. After the armistice of 8 September 1943, he actively participated in the resistance movements with the battle name of Jacopo, becoming Vice-Commander of the Bologna Partisan Division in 1945. After the war, he worked as a forensic doctor but turned to politics. In 1948 he was elected as Deputy of the Italian Communist Party and ventured to the Soviet Union in 1950, writing about his experiences in a 1952 book entitled Una delegazione italiana in Russia. With various factions and changes to the party in Italy, he ended his career in the ranks of the Italian Democratic Socialist Party. An Honorary Citizen of Bologna, Cucchi died on 8 May 1983.…

An 'Arnhem P.O.W.' group of five awarded to Corporal R. S. Telford, 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who went 'in the bag' on 23 September during a fierce tank attack on the Battalion's perimeter1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Cadet Forces, E.II.R. (WO. R. S. Telford. A.T.C.), sold together with the recipient's dog tags and soldier's release book, light pitting and contact marks, very fine (5)Robert Smith Telford was born on 13 June 1919, a native of Dumfriesshire and enlisted on 1 September 1939 with the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Joining the 7th (Galloway) Battalion he was with them in Scotland during the Fall of France, indeed the Battalion was not to leave Britain for some time. They transferred to the 1st Air Landing Brigade in 1943 and continued to train with them until the D-Day Landings.7th Battalion took off on 17 September 1944 for Operation Market Garden, landing in the Ede area in 1944 and initially all went well. The next day however they came under attack by several parties of German troops with armoured vehicles in support, a situation which would become increasingly familiar over the next week of fighting.Moving off they fought a sharp action at Johanna Hoeve farm but managed to repel a German attack and continue on towards Arnhem. Arriving at Oosterbeek, some 5 kilometeres west of Arnhem on 19 September they dug in there to assume their corner of the perimeter. The enemy started to probe their lines not long later, and by 09:00 on 20 September they had established the Battalion's positions allowing the battle to begin in earnest. Some of the ferocity of the fighting can be ascertained from the war diary which notes the first armoured 'kill' made by the unit:'The first "kill" was an armoured car which was blown up and set on fire by the atk gun covering the NORTH face. Later another atk gun under Lt HANNAH, and escorted by a Pl of B Coy, went out to watch the rd leading SOUTH from the rd and rly crossing at 699791. Soon after it was in posn a TIGER tk, towing a flame-throwing apparatus, appeared and a spirited action took place. As a result of the courageous behaviour of our atk gun crew, and of Cpl WATSON and Pte McWHIRTER in particular, the TIGER tk was completely knocked out and the crew killed.'Through that day and the next, 7th Battalion halted the enemy advance, unable to withdraw due to constant pressure and concern over losing their limited equipment in the dark. A break in the attacks on 22 September allowed them the chance to reform and prepare their positions for another attack, however they could not have been prepared for the forces ranged against them.A heavy barrage opened the day and at around 11:00 'B' Company came under heavy attack by a force of tanks with infantry and artillery support. Their anti-tank gun was knocked out, forcing them back from a line of buildings, however they gamely held on to their slit trenches and bunkers, fighting for every yard. Their partial withdrawal allowed the German infantry to push onto the flank of 'C' company who also came under attack from Armoured cars to their front.Soon the action became an attempt by the Germans to consolidate a piece of their hard won gains in the face of heavy fire and counter-attacks by the Battalion. They were able to prepare machine gun positions in the wood between 'B' and 'C' companies, thus keeping that gap open and completing their objective.The only option was a counter-attack which was carried out by 'C' Company, who despite several losses managed to retake the wood and capture a number of the enemy. The line re-established they managed to hold off further attacks for the rest of the day, taking a tally of German tanks, damaged or destroyed in the process. It was noted in the war diary that the Regimental Aid Post was full to bursting as the Medical Aid Post had fallen into enemy hands, suggesting that some areas of the perimeter were still occupied by the enemy.Telford is listed as being taken prisoner of war during the days fighting, it is likely he was a victim of the morning offensive which almost saw the line break. Taken to Stalag 11B at Fallingbostel he remained there until being repatriated at the end of the war. Upon his return to the British Army he was posted to a Holding Regiment, Royal Artillery but saw no service with them instead being demobilised on 11 April 1946. Later joining the Cadet Forces he was awarded the Cadet Forces medal with them. Telford died in Dumfries on 8 December 1898 and is buried at Lockerbie; sold together with copied research, a set of original dog tags and an original soldier's release book named to the recipient.…

France, First Empire, Legion of Honour, 3rd Type (1806-08) breast Badge, 58mm including crown suspension x 38mm, silver, gold centres and enamel, silver mark to loop, enamel chipping, very fine…

The 3rd East Kent RegimentDuring the summer of 1878, the Headquarters and five companies of the 3rd Regiment "The Buffs", which had previously been stationed at Pietermaritzburg, were scattered over a wide area at various strategically important positions in Natal. Reinforced by further companies of the regiment from Mauritius, their first orders resulted in the construction of the earthwork which was subsequently known as Fort Pearson.By January 1879 the regiment numbered over 800 men, and from the 4th to the 12th they assisted the Naval Brigade in completing the arrangements made for the crossing of the Tugela by Pearson's Column, of which the regiment now formed part. Under the command of Colonel Parnell, two companies of the Buffs destroyed the military kraal at Ginghilovo and then engaged the enemy in the neighbourhood of the Inyezane River. Two men of the regiment were killed and five wounded.Following the disaster at Isandhlwana, the regiment found itself on defensive duties forming part of the garrisons at Fort Tenedos and Etshowe; six companies at the latter held strong against an enemy siege, but not without loss; two popular officers and seven N.C.O.s and men died during the blockade and no fewer than one officer and 35 N.C.O.s and men were returned on the sick-list issued on 1 April 1879.Eventually relieved, the regiment took part in the Battle of Ginghilovo and then, as part of Crealock's Division, embarked on a series of varied 'harassing duties'. Throughout the succeeding months, the men further suffered heavily from sickness. In late July, orders were received to return to Natal and in November the Battalion was embarked at Durban for the Straits Settlement.1011 Medals were issued to 2/3rd Regiment, 37 of them with the clasp '1878-9'.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (2221. Pte. R. Dawkins. 2/3rd. Foot.), clasp replaced, contact marks and scratches over naming, nearly very fineRecipient confirmed on roll as entitled to the scarce '1878-9' clasp.…

StaffSome 48 Medals issued to the Staff, 3 of these to Interpreters and all with clasp '1879'.'The Border Horse now began to fire at the distant snipers, and Wood waited to see what effect the shots might have. A Zulu suddenly popped up from a rock a scant fifty yards away and fired. Wood noted that the shot seemed low, but Lloyd fell back, exclaiming, "I'm hit - badly! My back is broken!" Wood and Campbell caught him and carried him down to the stone kraal. Wood then started back up, leading his horse, but a shot struck it and killed it, and when he regained the kraal he found that Lloyd had died. Wood now ordered Weatherley to take the Border Horse up to clear the trail, but the men balked again. Campbell then picked up Lysons and four privates from Wood's escort and started up the trail in single file, making for a cave from which several Zulus were firing. The narrow passage was only two feet wide between towering rock walls, and as Campbell plunged into the mouth of the cave, a Zulu fired a shot straight into his forehead, killing him instantly. Undaunted, Lysons and Private Edmun Fowler sprang over his body, driving the Zulus into the recesses of the mountain. Lysons then held the mouth of the cave while the others dragged Campbell's body back to the kraal…'High drama on Hlobane Mountain on 29 March 1879; The Washing of the Spears by Donald R. Morris, refersThe outstanding South Africa Medal awarded to Mr. L. Lloyd, Evelyn's Wood's interpreter, who - in one of the most contentious episodes of the conflict - was mortally wounded in the disastrous action at Hlobane on 29 March 1879South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (L. Lloyd, Esq., Interpreter), suspension claw tightened, minor contact wear, very fineLlewelyn Lloyd was a prominent casualty in the disastrous action fought at Hlobane Mountain on 28 March 1879, his death being indelibly linked to that of Captain Hon. R. G. E. Campbell of the Coldstream Guards, as outlined in Colonel Evelyn Wood's much quoted despatch to Lord Chelmsford. It was an episode in which incompetence played its role, amidst charges of cowardice, and has accordingly remained the subject of ongoing debate.In fact, no history of the Zulu War would be complete without mention of this contentious chapter, some historians claiming that Wood (later Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.M.G.) momentarily lost the plot.An excellent account of events may be found in John Young's Horror at the Devil's Pass - The Battle of Hlobane, 28 March 1879, from which the following extract has been taken:'…Dawn broke and a new horror became apparent. The Zulus were behind prepared barricades and concealed within caves that riddled the mountain, awaiting the assault. From behind their positions, the Zulus opened fire on the scaling troops. Two officers of the Frontier Light Horse, Lieutenants Otto von Stietencron and George Williams, fell dead, two troopers also fell to the fire.Wood and his escort rode to the sound of the firing. Just below the summit of the mountain plateau they chanced upon Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Augustus Weatherley and his Border Lancers. Weatherley's unit should have been with Buller, but during the storm they had become separated and now lagged behind. Wood spied a Zulu rifleman level his gun in his direction and he expressed his contempt of the Zulu marksmanship. The Zulu fired, and his bullet found its mark, shattering the spine of Mr. Llewelyn Lloyd, Wood's Political Assistant and his interpreter, who was at Wood's side. Wood attempted to lift the mortally wounded man, but stumbled under the weight. Captain the Honourable Ronald Campbell, Coldstream Guards, Wood's chief staff officer, came to his aid and carried the dying Lloyd out of the line of fire. Again a Zulu fired at Wood, killing his lead mount. The horse fell against Wood, and caused him to stumble.A gasp went up from his men, fearing their commander wounded. Wood shouted a reassurance that he was not hit, and picking himself up, he made his way downhill to the troops' position. Angered at being pinned-down, Wood ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherley to assault the position from where the fire was coming. Weatherley in turn, addressed his men, ordering them forward, but only Lieutenant J. Pool and Sub-Lieutenant H. W. Parminter responded to the command. The remainder of the Border Horse refused to assault the position, saying that it was unassailable. Captain Campbell was horrified; this was tantamount to mutiny - if not cowardice.Campbell was of ennobled birth, the son of the 2nd Earl Cawdor. Such behaviour was unheard of within the class to which he belonged. Uttering his contempt of the fainthearted volunteers, he sprang forward towards the foe, supported by Second-Lieutenant Henry Lysons, 90th Light Infantry and four mounted infantrymen of Wood's personal escort, also drawn from the 90th. The small party advanced in a determined manner, clambering over boulders and through crevices, which led to the Zulu position. The path was so narrow that the advance could only be made in single file. Campbell gained the mouth of the cave first, only to be shot in the head at point-blank. Undeterred, Lysons and Private Edmund Fowler carried the position, forcing the Zulus to withdraw into a series of subterranean passages and, with Lysons and Fowler in pursuit, they killed all those who offered resistance, and put the others to flight.With Lysons covering the cave mouth, Campbell's body was brought down and placed alongside Lloyd, who had succumbed to his wound. Fearful of the bodies being mutilated, Wood decided to bury them on the field. Being the son of a clergyman, he wished to conduct a proper burial service, only to realise that his service book was still in the wallets of his saddle on his dead mount. He ordered his bugler, Alexander Walkinshaw, to recover the prayer book. Walkinshaw, whom Wood described as "one of the bravest men in the Army," calmly strode up, under heavy fire and recovered not only the prayer book but also the entire saddle.Wood had the two bodies removed some three hundred yards downhill, to where the soil was less rocky and the Zulus of Wood's escort dug the grave with their spears, under the watchful eye of Prince Mthonga. Their task completed, Wood committed the two bodies to the ground, reading an abridged version of the burial service from a prayer book which belonged to Captain Campbell's wife, who was the daughter of the Bishop of Rochester, Kent…'Lieutenant Henry Lysons and Private Edmund Fowler, both of the 90th Regiment, were awarded the Victoria Cross.PostscriptOn 21 May 1880, Mrs. Campbell was taken to Hlobane where a headstone was placed on the grave of her husband and Llewelyn Lloyd. Some of the party, including Empress Eugenie, actually climbed up the Devil's Pass to the summit. Finally, they reached the site where the Prince Imperial was killed. Another memorial stone was laid and the empress planted cuttings of a tree she had brought from the family estate at Camden Place in Chislehurst. The grief-stricken party returned to England by the end of July.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Clasp an old tailors copy, naming details as described. The estimate is revised to £6,000-8,000.

China 1842 (E. Pitman, Lieutenant, 55th Regiment Foot.), fitted with replacement silver clip and swivel suspension, pitting, very fineEdmund Pitman was born circa 1820, the son of Major Pitman of Dunchideock House, Devon. Young Pitman joined the 55th as an Ensign in January 1837, he served as a Lieutenant in the First Opium War with the 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot, who saw a great deal of action in that campaign. Deployed to China in 1841, they participated in the Battle of Amoy in August of that year and were the first to land from the boats at the disembarkation and subsequent capture of Chusan that October. During this action, the 55th assaulted Guards Hill under heavy fire but successfully took the position before going on to capture the heights above Tinghai; they then planted their Regimental Colours on the walls of the city.On 10 October the regiment participated in the Battle of Chinhai, forming the garrison of that city until the following year when they played yet another active part in the battles of Chapu and Chinkiang - remaining in garrison of the latter until the Treaty of Nanking was signed on 29 August 1842. The 55th subsequently received the battle honour "China" and a dragon badge was added to their Regimental Colour.Pitman was presented to Queen Victoria by Colonel Sir J. H. Schoedde in May 1845 and was promoted Captain. Latterly serving as Adjutant of the 1st Devon Militia, he died at Heavitree, Exeter in January 1882.…

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Java (Samuel Whittle, 22nd Light Dragoons.), traces of brooch mounting at 3 and 9 o'clock respectively, suspension sometime re-affixed, some edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fineWhittle is one of only 54 members of the cavalry with entitlement to a clasp for Java.Samuel Whittle was born in Whitley, Chester circa 1778 and made his living as a hatter prior to his enlistment with the 22nd Regiment of Light Dragoons on 1 July 1795 upon reaching eighteen years of age. Whittle was to embark on what would be a twenty-four-year career with the Colours, twenty-one of which were to be spent serving abroad in the East Indies.The 22nd Light Dragoons were renumbered from the 25th Dragoons in 1794, which had been raised by Francis Edward Gwyn that same year for service in India. Whittle, therefore, joined the Regiment whilst it was still in its infancy and was likely first embarked to India with the rest of his unit to serve in the Anglo-Mysore War in 1799. Whittle would remain in the region for the next two decades. The conflict in Mysore saw the 22nd Light Dragoons fight with distinction at the Battle of Seringapatam, which was awarded to them as a battle honour.During the Napoleonic Wars, Whittle and his Regiment took an active role in the British effort to seize Java from Franco-Dutch forces in 1811. They landed on 4 August and the next day a small number escorted Colonel Robert Gillespie to the capital of Batavia. They reached the undefended city on 8 August, which immediately surrendered to Gillespie and his men. They next advanced on Dutch General Janssens stronghold at Weltervreeden, which fell to a British attack on 10 August. The British sustained under 100 losses while the enemy lost over 300 men. The nature of the island made the deployment of cavalry difficult, however after the action at Weltervreeden the 22nd were utilised in their traditional role of pursuing the retreating enemy. Some of the Regiment may have taken part in the fighting dismounted, as Gillespie's Brigade Orders refer to:'I have also to thank Captain Gall of the Body-guard, Lieutenant Dudley of the dismounted dragoons twenty-second regiment, and Captains Smithwayte and M'Craith of the Madras pioneers, for their support in the affair.'Lieutenant Dudley's Dragoons also participated in the siege of Fort Cornelis which took place later that month. The column was guided into position by a Franco-Dutch deserter who rode at their head with Serjeant Smith of the 22nd, capturing two enemy redoubts in the surprise attack after a fierce battle, at which the critical moment Gillespie led the mounted detachment of the 22nd after the fleeing enemy. The Batavians rallied several more times prolonging the conflict, however in the end most of the force was cut off and the British seized the fort on 25 August. The British sustained 630 casualties, with the 22nd suffering 6 dead and 17 wounded. The wounded included the commander of the dismounted detachment, Lieutenant Dudley, who was again 'mentioned' although this time by the Adjutant General. The Battle of Cornelis ended effective resistance in Java, though the stubborn resistance of General Janssens carried on into September.The 22nd remained in Java until 1813, after which Muster Lists indicate that they served in Bangalore, India. British occupation of the island came to an end in 1814 when Java was returned to the newly independent Netherlands. Whittle was promoted Corporal in India on 22 February 1814 and served in this capacity with John Floyd Patterson's troop. The Regiment remained there and as such did not fight at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.Whittle was at some stage advanced Serjeant, and served as such at the Battle of Maheidpoor in Captain Vernon's troop on 21 December 1817. This battle saw a decisive British victory over the Marathas, resulting in the conclusion of the Anglo-Maratha War and the cession of much territory to the British, which were incorporated into the British Raj. It was just a few years after the engagement at Maheidpoor that Whittle's time in the service finally came to an end. He was discharged in India in consequence of 'being worn out by length of service & unable to ride' on 25 August 1819. While this poor state of health is certainly understandable given his twenty years in the harsh Indian climate, one wonders if his discharge might have been influenced by his Regiment being disbanded the following year.Whittle is further entitled to an Army of India 1799-1824 Medal with a clasp for Maheidpoor, being one of only 167 Europeans with entitlement to the clasp, 28 of which were awarded to the 22nd Light Dragoons; sold together with copied research including medal rolls.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax. 

A rare Second World War tunneller's 'Gibraltar Key' group of seven awarded to Major D. Taylor, Royal Canadian Engineers, who was subsequently killed in action in Italy in September 19441939-45 Star; Italy Star; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, silver, in their boxes of issue, together with Canadian Memorial Crosses, G.VI.R. (2), silver, both officially inscribed 'Major D. Taylor' and in their cases of issue, and Royal Canadian Engineers' Gibraltar Key award 1941-42, for use as a watch fob, the reverse officially engraved, 'Major D. Taylor', silver, by B. M. & Co., in its case of issue, extremely fine (8)Around 325 Gibraltar Key awards were issued to Canadian Engineers for their drilling and tunnelling work on the Rock during the last war, few of which appear to have survived. Struck in silver by the Wartime Mining Association in Canada - and based on a design by Sapper R. J. Cunningham, No. 2 Tunnelling Company, R.C.E. - the first awards were presented by General A. G. L. McNaughton, a fellow Canadian, at a special ceremony held on 27 March 1943.David Taylor was born in Surbiton, Surrey on 28 October 1911 but was working as a bank teller in Canada by the outbreak of hostilities. Enlisting in the Royal Canadian Engineers in Toronto in January 1940, direct from an appointment in the Militia, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and embarked for the U.K.The RockIn November 1940, at the head of No. 1 Tunnelling Company, R.C.E. - a detachment of four officers and 99 men - Taylor arrived for duties in Gibraltar, the first Canadian troops to ever be stationed on the Rock. His sappers were to use their special skills in diamond drilling and hard-rock mining in close co-operation with the Royal Engineers, to develop and perfect the subterranean works required to bolster the Rock's defences. They arrived with 219 cases of equipment and were soon at work, the arrival of No. 2 Tunnelling Company in March 1941 adding to the valuable work undertaken by the Canadians.That work is described at length in Major George F. G. Stanley's article Canadian Tunnellers at Gibraltar, which was published in the Canadian Geographical Journal in June 1944, and a copy of which is included. But by way of eye-opening statistics, it is said that excavation work in Gibraltar in the last war amounted to shifting 1,087,905 cubic yards of rock and rubble.ItalyTaylor finally departed Gibraltar for the U.K. in early 1942, where he was posted to the Shetlands to carry out work on an old iron mine near Sollum. Having then been advanced to Major at the year's end, and taken command of No. 1 Tunnelling Company, he was embarked for Naples, Italy in January 1944.The unit then moved to Bianchi to help construct an underground Command Centre, where it was re-titled No. 1 Drilling Company, R.C.E., followed by further construction work at Taranto, Cassino and elsewhere. Tragically, however, as related in the pages of The History of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, Taylor met his end in the course of subsequent operations:'On 1 September [1944] Major D. Taylor was killed while making too early a reconnaissance in Pesaro, on the Polish front. Company Sergeant-Major S. Dempster lost his life at the same time. Captain J. M. Thompson was driving their jeep; while he turned it around, Taylor and Dempster went to make a last check of the area before returning to camp and ran into an ambush. Thompson managed to avoid capture and escaped to take over command as Major. It had been understood that the town was clear of enemy and they had passed through the Polish troops on the outskirts without receiving any information to the contrary.'Taylor, who left a widow, was buried in Ancona Military Cemetery; sold with copied research, including a statement of services that credits him with a mention in despatches.…

The 'St. Pancras bombing 1941' B.E.M. awarded to Constable H. J. Smith, Police War Reserve, 'N' Division, Metropolitan Police who, whilst off duty, saw a women trapped in her home by a parachute mineFinding a ladder he climbed the crumbling, bomb damaged building, dug her free and pulled her to safety, all while the bombs continued around him, his original recommendation was for the George Medal, later downgradedBritish Empire Medal, Civil Division, G.VI.R. (Henry John Smith), officially engraved naming on a pre-prepared background, light edge wear, very fineB.E.M. London Gazette 12 September 1941, the original citation states:'A bomb damaged a building, the remains of which were liable to collapse. War Reserve Constable Smith obtained a ladder, climbed to the top of it and then hauled himself on to a balcony which went round to the first floor. He climbed through a window and entered a room where he found a woman buried up to the neck in rubble. He began to dig with his hands although debris was falling and further bombs were dropped in the neighbourhood. Smith eventually released the victim and carried her to safety.'Henry John Smith worked as a packer in civilian life and was living at 41 Goldington Buildings, St. Pancras during the Second World War. He volunteered for the Police War Reserve and was posted to 'N' Division, Metropolitan Police. The original recommendation for his award was for the George Medal however it was downgraded to the B.E.M., the text goes into further detail on the events of 17 April 1941:'On 17th April 1941 at about 3.15 a.m. a parachute mine fell in Pancras Square, Platt Street, N.W.1., causing widespread devastation to the surrounding property including a very large block of flats and the "Star" P.H. at the corner of Platt Street and Goldington Street.War Reserve Smith, who was off duty but lived in the vicinity had returned from assisting at another incident at St. Pancras Hospital when he saw a parachute mine descending in the vicinity of Somers Town Police Station. He immediately went towards Pancras Square and while on his way the mine exploded. On arriving at the scene he rendered assistance, in the course of which he rescued a pregnant woman, and then heard cries for help coming from the first floor of the public house.This building appeared to be in imminent danger of collapse and part of it had to be pulled down next day, but War Reserve obtained a ladder (which was too short) climbed to the top of it and then hauled himself on to a balcony which went round the first floor. He climbed through a window and entered a room where he found a woman buried up to the neck in rubble and debris. He began to extricate the woman with his hands although pieces of ceilings and brickwork were falling and further bombs were still coming down in the neighbourhood.The woman was eventually released and carried to the window. War Reserve Smith then shouted to another police officer to fetch a longer ladder and when this arrived he put the woman over his shoulder and descended to the ground. She had by this time fainted.With the assistance of the woman's brother-in-law he took her to a Rest Centre and then returned to the scene of the incident and rendered what further assistance he could until 5.15 a.m. when he returned home, cleaned himself and reported for duty at 5.45 a.m. at Somers Town Police Station.Although War Reserve Smith was due to parade for duty at 5.45 a.m. the same morning he voluntarily rendered assistance at various incidents during the night. He attended a major incident at St. Pancras Hospital and then generally assisted at Pancras Square, in the course of which he rescued the two women. It is likely that had it not been for the efforts of this War Reserve the second women would have been buried by debris.The conduct of War Reserve Smith, who was off duty, was meritorious and his conduct was of a very high order.The acting Superintendent of the Division recommends War Reserve Smith for an award or mention in the London Gazette. The Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the District considers his conduct worthy of high award and recommends the award of the George Medal.'Whilst impressive this recommendation does little to underline the danger of the situation and can be better outlined by the testimony of the witnesses, firstly the victim of the bomb, Mrs. Constance E Keevil, who states:'My house partially collapsed, and as I attempted to leave my office the door collapsed on me, pinning me in the corner with the door, by this time the ceiling and walls were collapsing on me, burying me in the debris up to my shoulders. I was completely helpless, and shouted for help; this was answered by a man's voice, telling me to wait; shortly afterwards a policeman entered my office through the balcony window, he started to clear the debris off me with his hands, repeatedly telling me to keep calm. All the time he was doing this masonry was falling in patches and was dangerous to us both. He eventually cleared me of the debris, took me to the window and shouted for someone to bring a longer ladder, still doing his best to keep me calm, which I might say was a great effort on his part. The raid was still very heavy; the next I remember was being thrown over the P.C.'s shoulder and carried down the ladder when I completely collapsed.'P.C. Richardson adds his verdict:'The air raid was still in progress and of a severe character; the public house was in a very bad condition and liable to collapse further.In my opinion The War Reserve acted with great promptitude and courage, and at great personal danger considering all the circumstances of the night.'Sold together with copied research.…

The 80th RegimentThe 80th Regiment - 'Staffordshire Volunteers' - were scattered over a wide extent of territory in the Transvaal and Natal in 1878. According to The South African Campaign of 1879, they 'performed distinguished service in the first Sekukuni campaign.'1239 Medals issued to the 80th Regiment, 294 of them with the '1878' clasp and 626 of them with the '1878-9' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1878 (684. Pte. J. Smallman. 80th Foot.), very fine…

The 2-clasp Naval General Service Medal awarded to Admiral Alexander Montgomerie, Royal Navy, who served at sea for almost twenty years and participated in a number of fiercly-fought actions, not least at Barque island; the subsequent capture of Guadeloupe; and at Rugen island where he successfully defended a fort against French infantry assaultsNaval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Anse La Barque 18 Decr 1809, Guadaloupe (Alexr. Montgomerie, Lieut. R.N.), good very fineProvenance:Sotheby's, March 1995.Colin Message Collection, August 1999.Jason Pilalas Collection, July 2024.Alexander Montgomerie, of an old Scottish family, was born at Dreghorn, Ayrshire, Scotland on 30 July 1790. Joining the Royal Navy at the tender age of 12 on 27 June 1802, he was initially appointed a First-Class Volunteer aboard the 16-gun sloop H.M.S. Hazard, with which he saw brief service in the English Channel before spending the next six years with both the 44-gun frigate H.M.S. Argo and the 74-gun H.M.S. Tigre, as a member of their Midshipman's berth. With Argo (under the command of Captain Benjamin Hallowell) young Montgomerie saw his first taste of action, as this vessel participated in the captures of St. Lucia and Tobago - the former earned Hallowell and his men a very favourable 'Mention', with Admiral Hood stating: 'To Captain Hallowell's Merit it is impossible for me to give additional Encomium, as it is so generally known; but I must beg Leave to say, on this expedition, his Activity could not be exceeded; and by his friendly Advice I have obtained the most effectual Aid to this Service, for which he has been a Volunteer, and, after the final Disembarkation, proceeded on with the Seamen to co-operate with the Army.' (London Gazette, 26 July 1803, refers).When Hallowell was appointed to command the Tigre, Montgomerie followed him and this ship was part of Admiral Lord Nelson's fleet in the great hunt for the combined Franco-Spanish fleet prior to the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. Tigre, unfortunately, missed the battle due to being away at Gibraltar to take on water and escort convoys, but subsequently participated in the operations off Egypt in 1807: Montgomerie must have been aboard when Tigre captured two Ottoman frigates (the Uri Bahar and Uri Nasard) and his subsequent biography states he was then employed with 'much boat service' on Lake Mareotis - scene of British landings against French, Ottoman, and Albanian troops.In September 1809, Midshipman Montgomerie passed his Lieutenant's examination and was thence sent (though still as Midshipman) to the 36-gun frigate H.M.S. Orpheus, before shortly afterwards removing to the 74-gun H.M.S. Sceptre - the ship with which he was to earn the clasps to his Medal. Sceptre, commanded by Captain Samuel James Ballard, was part of a force ordered to capture the French-held island of Guadeloupe. On 18 December 1809, a British squadron (including Sceptre) attacked two French ships (the Loire and Seine, variously described as 'frigates' or 'flutes') anchored at Anse a la Barque and protected by batteries of artillery ashore. Notwithstanding a spirited defence, in fairly short order both French vessels had been dismasted and surrendered - though they were subsequently abandoned, caught fire, and blew up. The attack was under the overall command of Captain Hugh Cameron of H.M.S. Hazard, and after destroying the Loire and Seine the British force next landed ashore to silence the batteries: this objective was also achieved but in the moment of victory Cameron was killed, one report stating that after personally hauling down the French tricolour he wrapped it around his body before being accidentally shot by a British sailor who mistook him for the enemy. It seems likely that Montgomerie played a very active part in this action, as the very next day he was appointed Acting Lieutenant of H.M.S. Freija/Freya, which was confirmed by official commission on 4 May 1810, and during the intervening time also appears to have been equally active in the ships' boats in minor actions against further French shore batteries around Guadeloupe.Returning home, after three months in command of H.M.S. Magnanime on 28 January 1811 he was appointed Lieutenant aboard the 32-gun frigate H.M.S. Aquilon, with which vessel he served until 1814, concluding his time aboard her as First Lieutenant. This period of his career also saw much active service - but rather than the tropical Caribbean, this time in the distinctly cooler North Sea and Baltic in the supression of enemy trade and coastal traffic, and the escorting of British and allied convoys. Though little further information appears immediately available, his service biography states that: 'When in the Baltic in 1812, and engaged with the boats under his orders in an attempt to bring some vessels off from the island of Rugen, he greatly distinguished himself by his conduct in capturing a temporary fort occupied by a superior number of troops, whom, on their being reinforced and endeavouring to recover their loss, he several times repulsed.' (A Naval Biographical Dictionary - Montgomerie, Alexander, W.R. O'Byrne, p.774, refers).Promoted Commander on 7 June 1814 on his return from the South America station, despite theoretical appointment to H.M.S. Racoon she was off the coast of Brazil and he never joined her. With the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars Montgomerie had to wait until 21 March 1818 for his next command - the 18-gun brig-sloop H.M.S. Confiance, which position he held for two years until moving in July 1820 to the 26-gun H.M.S. Sapphire as Acting-Captain. This was a fortuitous change as, two years later, Confiance was wrecked off Ireland with the loss of the entire crew. Returning home in September 1821, he does not appear to have received another seagoing appointment but nevertheless remained on the Active List until his official (and well-earned) retirement on 1 October 1856.By virtue of longevity, Montgomerie moved slowly up the seniority list; promoted Rear-Admiral in 1852, then Vice-Admiral in 1857, he reached the rank of Admiral on 27 April 1863. Admiral Alexander Montgomerie appears to have remained a bachelor throughout his life and died in January 1864 at Skelmorlie, Ayrshire, not far from where he was born 73 years earlier.Sold together with a small quantity of copied research.…

A fine 1953 A.F.C. and wartime pilot's group of seven awarded to Squadron Leader L. K. Grzybowski, Royal Air Force, late Polish Air ForceA a Pilot in No. 131 Polish Fighter Squadron, he quickly saw action in September 1939 when he was credited with the destruction of two German aircraft, actions for which he was later awarded the Virtuti Militari, 5th ClassSubsequently taken P.O.W. by the Russians, he was released for service in the Polish Army in Russia and the Middle East, prior to reaching the U.K. and undertaking a protracted tour of 56 sorties of a 'Ramrod' nature in Mustangs of No. 306 Squadron in 1944-45, gallant work that won him the Cross of Valour and BarAir Force Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated '1953'; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Poland, Virtuti Militari, 5th Class, GR Tech type as issued in late 1944-45; Poland, Cross of Valour, with Bar, mounted as worn, together with his Polish Pilot's Badge, by J. R. Gaunt, embroidered R.A.F. uniform wings and Flying Log Books, generally very fine or better (9)A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1953.King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air London Gazette 1 January 1952.Leszek Kazimierz Grzybowski was born in Dabrowa Gornicza, Kielce, Poland on 20 December 1915 and entered the Polish Air Force College in August 1935.Duly qualified as a pilot, he joined No. 131 Polish (Fighter) Squadron at Poznan in October 1938 and was likewise employed at the outbreak of hostilities. As cited, he was quickly credited with the destruction of two German aircraft, namely a share in a He111 on 3 September and a Me110 on 9 September. He may also have contributed to the destruction of a Ju86. More certain, however, is the fact he was taken P.O.W. by the advancing Russian Army in the same month and remained behind wire until April 1942, when he was released for service in the Polish Army in Russia and the Middle East.Having then reached the U.K. in February 1943, he undertook a succession of training courses and joined No. 306 (Polish) Squadron in August 1944. Here, then the commencement of a protracted operational tour in which he flew 56 sorties in the unit's Mustangs over Austria, Belgium, Germany and Holland, the majority being of a 'Ramrod' nature and including numerous outings to the Ruhr and one to Arnhem in support of 'Market Garden' in September 1944. But he also flew several 'anti-diver' (V-weapon) sorties off the English coast in March 1945, And his final sortie, flown on 25 April 1945, was a trip to the Nazi playground of Berchtesgaden, home to Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest'.According to records held by the Sikorski Museum, he was awarded the Polish Cross of Valour in April 1945, a Bar in August 1945, and the Virtuti Militari, 5th Class on 25 July 1945, 'for actions in the Polish campaign in 1939, when serving in 131 Fighter Squadron'. He also appears to have been entitled to the Polish Air Medal and 2 Bars.Post-warGrzybowski retained his commission in the R.A.F. after the war and remained on the strength of 306 Squadron until January 1947, when he was posted to the Polish Re-settlement Corps in Framlingham, Suffolk. Several months later he joined a communications unit at R.A.F. Tangmere, about which time he was married to Joan Fleming at Carshalton Beeches, Surrey.Two further stints with the Re-settlement Corps having followed, he joined an instructor's course at South Cerney in early 1949, thereby shaping the future of his R.A.F. career and adding to his laurels the A.F.C. and King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air for services in the Central Flying School 'Refresher Squadron' at R.A.F. South Cerney.He continued to fly after his retirement from the R.A.F. in December 1970 and died in Tadcaster, Yorkshire in August 1992.Sold with a quantity of original documentation and photographs, comprising:i)The recipient's R.A.F. Pilot's Flying Log Books (4), covering the periods September 1943 to December 1950, January 1951 to December 1957, January 1958 to November 1970, and June 1971 to January1976, the first with ink endorsement regarding missing Polish Air Force log book and some 500 hours.ii)A small selection of career photographs, including a studio portrait in uniform and a card-mounted group photograph of 'B Flight, No. 4 Squadron' in June 1943, with multiple signatures to reverse.iii)A large selection of wartime and later correspondence, mainly in Polish, and including Red Cross communications from a Polish P.O.W., exchanges with fellow pilots in the U.K., and a reference from a former C.O. at R.A.F. Coltishall, dated 20 May 1947.…

Four: Private J. Wright, Seaforth Highlanders and Imperial Yeomanry, who managed to re-enlist despite having been discharged unfitIndia General Service 1895-1908, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (3647 Pte. J. Wright 2nd Bn. Seaforth Highld.); Queen's Sudan 1896-98 (3647. Pte. J. Wright. 1/Sea:Hrs.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (32976 Pte. J. Wright. 71st Coy. Imp:Yeo:); Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (3647 Pte. J. Wright 1st Sea. Highrs.), contact marks, some edge bruising, nearly very fine (4)James Wright was born in London around 1874 and worked as a labourer prior to enlisting with the Seaforth Highlanders in London on 25 June 1891, just one month after his eighteenth birthday. After serving for the first few years at home, Wright was posted to the East Indies in December 1893 with the 2nd Battalion. There, he participated in the Relief of Chitral in India where he continued to serve for a number of years before being stationed directly to Malta in January 1897. After a few months in Malta, Wright was sent to Crete in April to participate in the occupation of the island. He remained there until November, when he was again posted to Malta and served there until March 1898, when he was sent to Egypt with the 1st Battalion. After serving in the Nile expedition of 1898, Wright finally returned home to England in July 1899 after his several years of service abroad. Back home, Wright was medically examined at Fort George and found to be unfit for active service in South Africa and was subsequently discharged from the Seaforth Highlanders on 16 February 1900. Details as to his condition are not given, however, his medical record notes several ongoing bouts of ague and gonorrhoea, caused by the climate and contagion. It is possible that these illnesses contributed to his deteriorated condition. Wright appears to have returned to London and worked as a fitter following his discharge, though he was not away from the Army for long. Now 26 years of age, he enlisted for service with the Imperial Yeomanry at Cockspur Street, London, on 11 March 1901. His attestation papers reflect that Wright did reveal his eight years of service with the Seaforth Highlanders, though citing 'time expired' as the reason for discharge. He was posted to the 71st Company and shipped to South Africa, where he served until his discharge on 14 July 1902 at Elandsfontein in South Africa. He was apparently discharged at his own request to take up a civil engagement in Cape Colony, where he intended to reside thereafter. Wright does not appear to have attempted to re-enlist for third time; sold together with copied service records.…

The superb 'mine-clearance 1943' M.M. group of seven awarded to Lance-Sergeant W. F. T. Beet, Royal Engineers, who cleared 70 mines over a period of 48 hours under heavy fire without rest in North AfricaMilitary Medal, G.VI.R. (1858429 L. Sjt. W. F. T. Beet. R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (1858429 Spr. W. F. T. Beet. R.E.), mounted court style for wear, light contact marks, very fine (7)M.M. London Gazette 23 September 1943, the original recommendation states:'This Sgt. was attached to my Bn. from 23rd. Fld. Coy., R.E. for the attack on Pt. 134 and GRICHEL OUED on 23rd April. During the period of consolidation when it was necessary to find and clear a German minefield on the track leading to GRICHEL OUED, this Sgt. behaved with great efficiency and devotion to duty and did all and more than was demanded of him and his sub-section with complete disregard for his personal safety.The above minefield was the first German field met with by any member of 23rd Field Company R.E.When he had completed his task of gapping and marking the field, L/Sgt. Beet had been leading his sub-sec. for 48 hours without sleep, and for a large proportion of this time he was under fire. He had actually lifted 70 mines of which 26 were "booby trapped" and 16 A. Pers. Mines.On 30th April L/Sgt. Beet was in charge of a minefield gapping party near the GABGAB gap. The party was under intermittent fire, and a mortar shell eventually wounded four of his party including himself. He refused to leave the site until the other three wounded had been attended to and he received a direct order from Officer i.c work to go.'William Frederick Taylor Beet enlisted on 5 May 1921 with the Royal Engineers as a Boy. He reached his majority on 10 June 1924, being advanced Sapper and posted to 'D' Company, T.B. Royal Engineers. Seeing service over the next decade he was posted to 23rd Field Company on 14 September 1939, this formation saw action during the Fall of France in 1940.Embarking with them for North Africa on 26 March 1943 Beet was to earn his award just the next month, under the most trying circumstances imaginable. He was later to serve with the unit in Italy from December 1943 however did not join them in Palestine in 1945.…

An extremely rare Edward VII gallantry K.P.M. awarded to Senior Constable J. C. Gates, New South Wales Police Force, the first Australian police officer to be so honoured and one of just four to receive the Edwardian issueIn his gallant pursuit of an armed burglar in North Sydney in April 1909, he exchanged fire until the latter ran out of ammunition, following which he closed with him to make an arrest: in the ensuing struggle, Gates was severely beaten about the head with the burglar's empty revolver, his wounds requiring 23 stitchesKing's Police Medal, E.VII.R., on gallantry riband (J. C. Gates, Sen. Const., N.S. Wales P.), minor edge bruises, good very fineK.P.M. London Gazette 14 January 1910.James Charles Gates was born in Christchurch, New Zealand on 28 February 1885, the son of a distiller. Opting for a new life in Australia when a teenager, he was working as a blacksmith when he enlisted in the New South Wales Police as a Constable.By the time of his K.P.M.-winning exploits in North Sydney, Gates had been advanced to Constable 1st Class but, as reported in various newspapers, he was about to receive accelerated promotion to Senior Constable.The incident in question commenced in Carabella Street, on the heights overlooking Neutral Bay, when an armed burglar broke into the house of Mr. Russell Sinclair in the early morning hours of 1 April 1909. Alerted by a lodger to the burglar's presence, Sinclair gave chase and a violent struggle ensued, in which he was twice shot in the groin. The burglar then made off down the street. Here, then, the moment at which Gates arrived on the scene. A newspaper report takes up the story:'It was after his escape into the streets that the fugitive waged another fight, this time with the constable who arrested him. When Constables McDonald and J. C. Gates, having been informed of that had occurred, proceeded to the locality, Gates saw a man near Milson's Point ferry. He watched the man, and at last he accosted him near Jeffrey Street. The man, who kept his right hand in his pocket, replied that he was on his way to visit someone in Carabella Street. The constable asked him why he kept his hand in his pocket, whereupon the man drew a revolver, fired, and then bolted. The shot missed Gates, who started off after the man, who, while he ran, turned and fired again twice, but still without effect. Constable Gates then fired, and an exchange of shots was kept up. The policeman was not hit but it was afterwards shown that one of his bullets grazed the fugitive's neck, causing a slight flesh wound. Gates, still in pursuit, reached his quarry near Livingstone Lane, and a hand-to-hand fight ensued.The man hit Gates a blow with the butt end of his revolver, and partially stunned him, but the Constable never allowed his prisoner to elude him, and was all the time endeavouring to hand cuff him. The Constable was furiously attacked, blow after blow being delivered about his head with the butt end of the revolver, and at length the man actually got free, but Gates, gallantly refusing to be beaten off, followed him and was joined by a civilian who had been alarmed by the noise of the conflict. Finding the chase hot, the fugitive dashed down some steps into an area in Fitzroy Street, and here he was finally captured, the Constable getting the hand cuffs on him.'The gallant Gates was duly awarded the K.P.M. as well as being advanced to Senior Constable. He was also presented with a Testimonial by the Mayor of North Sydney. His assailant - James Frederick Crook - was sentenced to death, a sentence later commuted to life.Gates died at Ghatswood in the northern district of Sydney in July 1955; sold with copied service record and newspaper reports.…

The campaign group of seven awarded to Major J. G. Forbes, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, who took the Hong Kong Plague Medal in gold when forming part of 'The Whitewash Brigade', being called out against the 'Black Death' during 1894; Forbes was no stranger to the risks posed by this deadly disease and acted as pall-bearer to brother officer Captain Vesey, who lost his life to the bubonic plagueQueen's South Africa 1899-1901, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (Capt. J. G. Forbes. 2/Shrops. L.I.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. J. G. Forbes. Shrop. L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Major J. G. Forbes. Shrops. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Major J. G. Forbes.); 1911 Coronation (Major J. G. Forbes), privately engraved naming; Hong Kong Plague 1894, gold issue, unmounted (Captain J. G. Forbes, S.L.I.), in red leather Wyon, Regent St, London case, the first six mounted as worn, good very fine (7)Provenance:Spink, September 1963 & August 1986.John George Forbes was born on 2 February at Melbourne, Victoria, the son of John G. Forbes, a barrister. By 1881 the family were living in Cheltenham, with young Forbes a scholar, likely at Cheltenham College. He then went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Shropshire Light Infantry in June 1886. Joining the station at Hong Kong, being a keen horseman, he was a member of the Hong Kong Polo Club by 1893 and Adjutant of his unit.Whitewash BrigadeA virulent epidemic of bubonic plague broke out in Hong Kong in early May 1894. Recognising the danger, the Governor, Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., gathered all the resources available to him, both military and civil, to combat the threat. Special bye-laws were quickly passed and implemented, and temporary plague hospitals were opened. The task of finding, isolating, disinfecting and cleansing infected households was directed by Mr F. H. May, the Captain Superintendent of Police and supervised by Mr J. H. Crook the Sanitary Surveyor. To supplement the local authorities and native labour, Officers and men of the Shropshire Light Infantry and Royal Engineers were drawn in to help with the cleansing operations, and Volunteers for house-to-house visitations were sought amongst the civil population. The population in infected areas were removed and infected houses were rigorously cleansed - floors disinfected, walls, woodwork and furniture thoroughly lime-washed, and bedding, old clothing, old woodwork and general rubbish burnt. Elsewhere, doctors, nurses and ancillary staff worked heroically amongst the sick and dying.Forbes volunteered and went out on plague duties to relieve other officers as a house-to-house visitor, and doubtless would have followed the official guidelines in helping to combat the spread of the Plague:'1. Keep separate clothes for working in, which should be changed on returning off duty and kept hung up in the air and sun when not in use.2. On returning off duty wash the hands in water and Jeyes’ fluid (1 in 20), and if possible take a bath of the same solution.3. Also rinse the mouth out with Condy’s fluid and water (one teaspoonful to one quart of water).4. Saturate the handkerchief with Eucalyptus oil when going on duty and apply it frequently to the nose if in an infected house.5. Smoke.’Despite all the precautions taken, over 2,500 people, mainly Chinese, contracted the plague, with 2,317 deaths attributed to the disease, a fatality rate of over 90%. That saw a brother officer of the unit, Captain Vesey pass of the plague. Forbes was a pall bearer at his funeral on 5 June when he was buried in the Happy Valley Cemetery.The plague subsided with the arrival of cold weather, and restrictions were lifted in early September. On 28 September 1894 a public meeting was held at City Hall for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to recognise the services rendered by the community in combating the plague, and ultimately it was decided that a medal should be awarded, in both gold and silver. His name was one of approximately 13 officers who would take the medal in gold.He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Boer War in South Africa (Queen's Medal & 4 clasps, King's Medal & 2 clasps) and by 1907 was in command of the Depot Troops at Shrewsbury.With the outbreak of the Great War, Forbes would see himself proceed overseas as Second-in-Command of the 5th Battalion. They had been formed at Shrewsbury in August 1914 as part of K1 and came under orders of 42nd Brigade in 14th (Light) Division. Moved initially to Aldershot, and then went on to Chiddingfold in March 1915, they landed on 20 May 1915 at Boulogne. Forbes would remain in the front lines with his men until removed to England, having celebrated his fiftieth birthday at the start of that year. In the following years his name appears as having been involved in the prosecution of Military Court Martial proceedings at home. He was further involved in the compilation, publication and distribution of the Regimental History of the Great War. The good Major, who later lived at 51a Jermyn Street, died on 12 October 1937 as is commemorated upon a marble memorial at St Chad's, Shrewsbury.The Plague Medal - how many?No complete medal roll for the Hong Kong Plague Medal is known to exist, with much of the Colony’s archival material having been destroyed during the Second World War; consequently, the number of medals awarded is a matter of conjecture. Mr. F. Pridmore, in an article for the Spink Numismatic Circular, August 1954, states that 137 gold medals were awarded to civilians, together with 13 being awarded to the officers of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry; Jerome Platt, Maurice Jones, and Arleen Platt in The Whitewash Brigade again estimate that 137 gold medals were awarded to civilians, and increase the number awarded to the military garrison to 46, as well as giving a total of 636 silver medals awarded. It is the opinion of the cataloguer that the figure slightly shy of fifty was the total amount of awards struck and issued in gold, not in excess of one hundred.It is however the result of an incorrect transposition in a previous newspaper article that these figures have been calculated. On reflection, it would also surely have been impractical - and unlikely given the amount of individuals who would possibly qualify - for such a large distribution in gold. Many have likely to have been scrapped for the value of the gold content by now, but around 20 known extant awards in gold have been recorded over the years.Given that the medal, as the gift of a Colonial Government and not one proceeding (or depicting) the monarch, was not authorised for wear. It could be accepted and retained, but as a commemorative/gift, could not be worn in uniform and thus most gold medals remained unmounted, much like this very example; sold together with two cap badges and images of the recipient.…

The outstanding lifesaving group of five awarded to Stephen Renforth, who is said to have rescued 62 lives from the Tyne, the Clyde and in North America - he was coined 'A Gateshead Hero'Royal Humane Society, small bronze Medal (successful), with Second and Third Award clasps, 26th Jany. 1895, 13 June 1899, complete with bronze brooch bar (Stephen Renforth, 5th August 1890); Tynemouth Extension Medal, silver, rev. inscribed, ‘Presented to Stephen Renforth on the 7th August 1895 for saving life from drowning’, with semi-circular attachment allowing the medal to be rotated, this attached to an ornamental scroll, with clasp inscribed, ‘Presented by Jos. Cowen, Aug. 2 1895’; Life Saving Medal, circular, engraved, obv. Gateshead coat-of-arms; rev. inscribed, ‘Presented to Stephen B. Renforth of Gateshead by numerous subscribers, for his Heroic Conduct in Saving Twelve Lives, July 1890, John Lucas, Mayor of Gateshead’, 44mm., silver; Life Saving Medal, ‘shield-shaped’ surmounted by a lion, engraved, obv. with the cypher ‘S.R.’; rev. inscribed, ‘Presented to S. Renford (sic) by Joseph Cowen, M.P. for saving E. Dixon from drowning , and a purse of £10.0.0, 1895’, 49 x 32mm., silver; Life Saving Medal, cross, engraved, obv. inscribed, ‘Presented to S. Renforth by the Mayor of Gateshead, Mr P. Finn’; rev. inscribed, ‘For saving the life of a boy named Fisher, 15th Aug. 1899’, 41 x 36mm., silver and gold, hallmarks for Birmingham 1903, with silver brooch bars, good very fineR.H.S. Bronze Medal awarded in 1890 (R.H.S. Case No. 25070), Renforth performed a successful rescue at Gateshead on 5 August 1890.1st Clasp awarded in 1895 (R.H.S. Case No. 27537):‘At great personal risk, rescued P. Burke from drowning in the Tyne, at Gateshead, on 26th January 1895’.2nd Clasp awarded in 1899 (R.H.S. Case No. 30122):‘On the 13th June 1899, a child fell into the Tyne at Newcastle, the depth at the time being 12 feet. Renforth, who was in bad health at the time, plunged in from the quay and, at great risk, supported it till a boat came. When the boat came it was pulled right over Renforth, cutting his head open, and he was taken from the water in an exhausted state’.Stephen Renforth was born in Gateshead, Tyneside in 1852. During his life as a waterman, he gained the enviable reputation as a lifesaver and was reputed to have saved 62 lives, 46 of which were from the Tyne. It was at the age of 12 that he rescued the first of many; jumping into the Tyne and rescuing a boy who had fallen in near the Redheugh Bridge. He received the Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze in 1890 for a rescue at Gateshead and was to receive two clasps to the Medal for rescues at Gateshead and Newcastle in 1895 and 1899 respectively. At the first presentation of the Tynemouth Medals made on 7 August 1895 by the Mayor of Newcastle, Alderman W. Stephenson and Joseph Cowen, M.P., three medals were presented and the names of the recipients, numbered in order, were entered in the “Book of Heroes” - that of Stephen Renforth was the second name entered. In his latter years Renforth became blind and the Newcastle Temperance Society and some friends presented him with an organ with the object of providing him a livelihood by playing in the streets. This he played on the streets of Newcastle until his death in 1910. In addition to the above, Renforth was awarded three Royal Humane Society Certificates.…

'Now, gentlemen, let us do something today which the world may talk of hereafter!Thus spoke Rear-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood from the deck of his flagship, H.M.S. Royal Sovereign, prior to the Battle of TrafalgarThe Naval General Service Medal awarded to Able Seaman E. Kendall, Royal NavyNaval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Trafalgar (Edward Kendall.), good very fineProvenance:Seaby, June 1953.Spink, December 1972.Edward Kendall was born in London around 1778 and was 27 years old when he served as an Able Seaman aboard the H.M.S. Royal Sovereign during the Battle of Trafalgar.Royal Sovereign was a 100-gun first rate ship of line and was launched at Plymouth in 1786, over a decade after she was laid down in 1774, and was the only ship built to her specific design. Reportedly slow and difficult to manoeuvre, she was nicknamed the 'West Country Wagon' by her crew.Prior to serving at the famed Battle of Trafalgar, Royal Sovereign enjoyed an active role during the French Revolutionary Wars. She served as part of Admiral Richard Howe's fleet during the Glorious First of June, the first fleet action of the War, where she was the flagship of Admiral Thomas Graves' vanguard squadron. This resounding tactical victory saw Admiral Howe issue the unorthodox order for his ships to turn and breach the French line, rake the enemy ships and engage them directly. Royal Sovereign pulled too far into the line and suffered a heavy pounding from enemy ship Terrible, with Admiral Graves mortally wounded and dying during the course of the battle. Terrible fell out of the line and Royal Sovereign next engaged Montagne. Seven enemy ships were sunk or captured but the British lost none.Now the flagship of Vice-Admiral William Cornwallis, Royal Sovereign was further engaged in the conflict known as 'Cornwallis' Retreat'. In June 1795, a French fleet of twelve ships of the line and eleven frigates gave chase to Cornwallis' squadron of five ships of the line and two frigates. After a day's chase the rearguard came within range of the enemy, and rather than abandon part of his squadron Cornwallis stood his ground to counterattack with all his might. The Vice-Admiral steered Royal Sovereign in between the French and British forces, meeting the enemy with a raking fire. The Battle ended when French Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse mistakenly believed the British Channel Fleet was approaching and subsequently ordered his fleet to withdraw, thus allowing Cornwallis to escape.Royal Sovereign was further involved in a notable altercation on 17 March 1796 when the transport ship Bellisarius collided with her while en route to the West Indies and sank almost instantly. The Battle of TrafalgarH.M.S. Royal Sovereign held the distinction of being flagship of Vice-Admiral Collingwood, Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson's second-in-command at that famous sea battle off the coast of Trafalgar, Spain on 21 October 1805. She led one column of warships during the conflict while Nelson led the other, and was the first ship of the fleet to enter the action.Recently re-coppered, Royal Sovereign was faster than the other ships present and was the first to break the enemy line in accordance with Nelson's unorthodox plan to approach the allied line with his fleet arranged in two columns, which would cut the allied line and force one-on-one fighting.As Royal Sovereign gallantly sailed alone towards the enemy and made to engage the massive Spanish three decker Santa Ana, Collingwood remarked to his Captain, Edward Rotheram, "What would Nelson give to be here?". At roughly the same time, his friend Nelson reportedly pointed to her and exclaimed, "See how that noble fellow Collingwood carries his ship into action!".Collingwood's well-trained crew aboard Royal Sovereign fired such a rapid volley at Santa Ana that four allied ships quickly came to her aid, with Royal Sovereign first receiving fire from Fougueux before being joined by Indomptable, San Justo, and San Leandro. Despite this assistance, Santa Ana suffered nearly 240 casualties and struck her colours to Royal Sovereign at 2:20 that afternoon.Hemmed in at all sides by the enemy, Royal Sovereign suffered significant damage before she could be relieved by the remainder of the British fleet. She had lost her mizzen and main masts, most of her rigging, and suffered damage to her foremast and was no longer manoeuvrable. Even so, she continued to fire at the enemy from her port-side guns. Collingwood himself also suffered a wound to his leg whilst on deck, but was lucky in that he was only one of three officers on her quarterdeck who lived to see the end of the Battle.Following the death of Nelson at around 4:30pm, Collingwood assumed command of the fleet as commander-in-chief. Collingwood removed to H.M.S. Euryalus as a consequence of Royal Sovereign being, in his words, "perfectly unmanageable" after sustaining too much damage to continue as flagship. While Nelson's final command prior to his death had been for the fleet to anchor in advance of an oncoming gale, Collingwood disagreed and focused on those vessels still able to anchor and survive the storm. He had Royal Sovereign towed away while she was still able to stay afloat. She sustained 141 casualties over the course of the Battle.After TrafalgarFollowing the battle, missing her mizzen and mainmasts and most of her rigging, Royal Sovereign returned to Plymouth to be repaired and refitted. She thereafter returned to duty as part of the Mediterranean Fleet and participated in the ongoing blockade of Toulon. In November 1811 she was ordered to join the Channel Fleet, later being converted to harbour service as a receiving ship. Renamed Captain in 1825, she was eventually broken up at Plymouth in 1841. Four of her cannons were incorporated into the Collingwood Memorial in Tynemouth, where they may be seen to this day.Little is known about the fate of Kendall aside from his service at Trafalgar, only that he is confirmed on the roll as serving with Royal Sovereign during the battle and that he lived to claim his medal; sold together with copied medal roll.…

The superb Great War 'successful escapers' M.M. group of four awarded to Private H. Wilson, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, who was taken Prisoner of War at the First Battle of Ypres in 1914 and whose remarkable escape is summarised in the archive of the Coldstream GuardsMilitary Medal, G.V.R. (8617 Pte. A.Cpl - H. Wilson. 1/C.Gds.); 1914 Star (8617 Pte H. Wilson. C.Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (8617 A - Cpl. H. Wilson. C.Gds.), mounted as worn, light pitting, very fine (4)Henry Wilson was born in 1890, a native of Hull and enlisted on 25 February 1910, his initial service proved uneventful however he did earn an Army swimming certificate in 1911. Joining the Army Reserve he returned to Hull and joined the Police Force there. Wilson was still there when he was mobilised on 6 August 1914 for service in the Great War.Entering the war in France on 13 August 1914, he was appointed Lance Corporal after the Retreat to the Marne and took part in the Battle of the Aisne. They were stationed near Langmark when the First Battle of Ypres began and saw heavy fighting before being moved to the Menin Road on 26 October. Three days later a major German attack began in that direction, they drove back the other units in the area and, by the time reinforcements came up, the 1st Battalion had effectively ceased to exist.Wilson was wounded in the left side and taken prisoner of war, being taken to the camp of Schneidemuhl. Unfortunately, the conditions at the camp were not much better than in the trenches with typhoid rampant and the chief medical officer attempting to curb it by starving the prisoners. The only food they received came from the Red Cross via the Swiss city of Bern.Fortunately, Wilson was able to survive the camp long enough to be sent to Krehendberg camp where he was ordered to join the work parties on the local farms. He escaped one of these parties on 27 July 1917 and made his way through the mountainous area to the south of the Black Forest. After a two-day trek Wilson reached the Rhine, across the river lay neutral Switzerland and the prospect of freedom, however the river bank was patrolled and the river itself was a difficult prospect.Waiting until nightfall he removed his jacket and boots and began the swim, a strong current swept him along downriver. Wilson managed to struggle out of his trousers and thus unencumbered began to make progress, when he eventually made the Swiss bank he was two miles downriver from his start point. Encountering a Swiss civilian he was taken to a Police Station where he explained who he was and made contact with the British Legation.While there awaiting repatriation Wilson wrote a letter to the Honorary Secretary of the Coldstream Guards Prisoners Fund stating:'Dear Hon SecJust a few lines thanking you for the parcels I received from you while I was in Germany & to let you know that I shall not require any more as I have escaped from Germany. I ran away from work at 4:00pm July 27th swam across the Rhine & landed in Switzerland about 12.30 am July 30th. I am now in Bern & have to remain here for a few days at least. I hope to return to England shortly.'He was repatriated and saw Home Service for the rest of the war; sold together with copied research.The papers of Corporal Henry Wilson are available as part of the Liddle collection at the Brotherton Library, University of Leeds. A typed summary of their contents was prepared by the archive of the Coldstream Guards.…

The exceptional 3-clasp Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Colonel J. Goldie, 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers, who was mentioned in dispatches and recommended for the V.C. for his exemplary leadership of a squadron at Shumshabad on 27 January 1858Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 3 clasps, Lucknow, Relief of Lucknow, Delhi (Lieut. Jas. Goldie, 9th Lancers), edge bruising, very fineJames Goldie was born at Calcutta on 5 November 1836, the first son of Colonel Alexander Goldie of the 69th Bengal Native Infantry. Colonel Goldie was an experienced officer who had served in India since the Mahratta Wars, and when he retired he took his family to England, taking up residence at Walthamstow House, Essex. In 1853 he wrote to Viscount Hardinge, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, in the following terms:'My Lord, my only two sons are bent on following their father's profession, and I have educated them accordingly; the late General Caulfield, an East India Director, gave me hopes of appointing them Cadets, but since his death, my applications to other Directors have not been successful; in any strait I write to Your Lordship to whom I already owe so much, with an earnest request that they be allowed to purchase a Commission in His Majesty's service - either Cavalry, or Infantry - for my eldest son James Goldie who is now seventeen years of age, and is supported by Dr. Grieg of Walthamstow by whom he is being educated, to be fully prepared to pass the Engineer's examination at Addiscombe: Your Lordship knows well the difficulty we often experience in providing for our sons in the Company's service.'On 18 July 1854 young James duly paid £840 (£94,000 in today's money) for a Cornetcy in the 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers, a Cornetcy which Viscount Hardinge directly facilitated. His father wrote again to Hardinge:'I request you will do me the favour to confess to the Right Honourable the Commander in Chief my most respectful and sincere thanks for His Lordship's sanction to the purchase of a Cornetcy for my eldest son; the purchase money is lodged with Messrs. Coutts & Co., Bankers of the Strand.'Personal tragedy and an accolade withheldGoldie joined the Regiment at Umballa, India on 15 January 1855. His father and sisters (no doubt part of the 'Fishing Fleet') travelled to India with him. The 9th Lancers had already been in India for twelve years, and were to serve with great distinction during the Indian Mutiny. Goldie was present at the Battle of Bundlekeserai on 8 June 1857, when General Sir Hope Grant led an audacious charge which evicted the rebels from their entrenchments and cleared the way to Delhi. Goldie is mentioned in Brevet-Major Anson's Letters as having volunteered to work in the advanced batteries, under heavy fire, for several days during the Siege. He was joined in this dangerous mission by Lieutenant 'Bashi' Evans (see Lot 327). After Delhi fell, Goldie fought in the actions of Bolundshuhur (28 September), Allyghur (5 October), Agra (10 October) and Kanouge (23 October).He then took part in Lord Clyde's Second Relief of Lucknow, which was followed by the Third Battle of Cawnpore on 6 December and the action at Serai Ghat three days later. Goldie commanded a Squadron at Shumshabad on 27 January 1858. The following is extracted from The Ninth (Queen's Royal) Lancers by F. H. Reynard:'On the 27th (January 1828) two squadrons of the regiment were engaged at the action of Shumshabad, and with Hodson's Cavalry pursued the enemy eight or nine miles capturing four guns, Goldie's squadron charged into 1500 of the enemy and killed 300. Lieutenant Goldie (whose father and two sisters were murdered at Furtigarh when the Mutiny broke out) was recommended for the V.C.'For his exceptional bravery and example at Shumshabad, Goldie was indeed recommended for the Victoria Cross in a letter sent to Horse Guards by Lord Clyde on 7 June 1859. This letter was itself based on the findings of an independent Board of Officers, but the Secretary of State for War never permitted the award, his Under Secretary writing the parsimonious comment: 'It does not appear that Lieut. Goldie did more than gallantly lead the squadron of his Regt. to which he was attached… might it not be proper before the Distinction is awarded, that some more particular information respecting the service should be obtained?'Goldie was at least mentioned in the Right Honble. Adrian Hope's dispatch to Lord Clyde, dated 27 January 1858 and published on 16 April 1860:'Brought to notice for having "done his duty in a very gallant and praiseworthy manner" when charging a very superior force of the enemy with a detached squadron at the action near Shumshabad.'This 'mention' also appears on Goldie's service papers. Goldie went on to serve during the summer campaign in Oudh and Rohilcund, including the capture of Bareilly on 5 May, the action at Shajehanpure, and the pursuit to Mahomdee. These events are covered in some detail in Sergeant Fuller's journal (The medals sold in these rooms in December 2020). Hostilities ended with the passage of the Gogra at Fyzabad and the affair at Kumdakoti. In all, the 9th Lancers had spent 13 months in the field, winning twelve Victoria Crosses.Goldie purchased his Captaincy on 21 February 1860, transferring to the 17th Lancers on 17 April that year, and the 16th Lancers on 25 July 1865. While on furlough he married Magdalene Agnes Goldie at St. James's Church, Piccadilly on 5 August 1865. He held several Staff appointments, including that of Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at Madras from 10 July 1868. He was appointed a Major in the 6th Dragoon Guards on 3 July 1877, rising to become its Colonel in 1885; sold with a file of copied research. Recommended reading:Anson, H. S., With H.M. 9th Lancers during the Indian Mutiny, the Letters of Brevet-Major O.H.S.G. Anson (Naval & Military Press, 2004).…

China 1856-60, 4 clasps, China 1842, Fatshan 1857, Canton 1857, Taku Forts 1858 (11 Co. Willm. Goss. R.M.), contemporarily engraved naming, pawnbroker's mark to obverse, claw a little loose, first clasp with neat repairs to carriage, nearly very fineProvenance:DNW, March 2002.William Goss was born at Plymouth in February 1821 and given his age could have served in the First Opium War (not upon the roll by Captain Douglas Morris, although this is not an exhaustive list). He is noted upon Amethyst in 1854, serving with No. 11 (Plymouth) Company during the latter campaign.…

The campaign group of four awarded to Captain D. J. R. Simson, Royal Navy, who was killed by a German sniper on 23 May 1940 while serving aboard H.M.S. Keith at Boulogne when the port was infiltrated by German troops; he also received a posthumous 'mention'Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (Capt. D. J. R. Simson. R.N.); 1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, these in box of issue and with named Condolence slip, extremely fine (4)M.I.D. London Gazette 27 August 1940.David James Robert Simson was born on 7 September 1892, later studying at Osborne and then Dartmouth, taking the King's Medal. He was promoted Midshipman on 15 January 1910 and served aboard Russell and Lancaster in the Mediterranean and with Lion during her first commission. Later being further advanced Sub-Lieutenant on 15 April 1913, during the Great War he served on the destroyer Acasta and battleship King George V at the Battle of Jutland.From March 1918 he first held command on Usk. Simson was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander on 15 January 1923, Commander on 30 June 1928, and between 1929-30 was the Executive Officer at the boys' training establishment at Shotley. After this time he returned to serving aboard destroyers and commanded, among other vessels, Vanquisher in the Mediterranean, Valorous in the Home Fleet, and between 1934-35 the cruiser Cumberland in China. During the Naval Review in 1935 Simson commanded Thanet before commanding Vivien and Winchelsea and from May 1936 the new destroyer Grenville. He was promoted Captain on 30 June 1936 and was later placed in command of Codrington from 24 August 1939 until 26 November and was then in charge of Keith from 15 February 1940.On 10 May 1940, the Germans launched their invasion of France and the Low Countries. That day Keith and her sister Boreas escorted the light cruisers Arethusa and Galatea as they carried bullion from the Dutch port of Ijmuiden to the United Kingdom for safe keeping. On 12 May, she returned to the Hook of Holland in the Netherlands to evacuate Allied troops. After the destroyer Whitley had to be run aground on 19 May when she was damaged by German aircraft, she was scuttled by Keith. Keith was one of three destroyers on 21 May that evacuated 468 civilians from France. Two days later she was in Boulogne-sur-Mer, loading British troops at the Gare Maritime to be evacuated and was attacked by German troops who had infiltrated the port area. Simson was shot by a sniper and several crew members and a dozen soldiers were also killed.He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Keith sailed for the UK immediately afterwards and was later active during Operation Dynamo. She was sunk off Dunkirk by German air attacks on the morning of 31 May 1940.Brigadier W. A. Fox-Pitt, who served as commander of the 20th Guards Brigade to defend Boulogne and was subsequently awarded a D.S.O., wrote to Simson's brother, Lieutenant-Colonel A. M. Simson on 20 August 1946:'My only means of communication with England during the battle was through H.M. Ships so that if there was no destroyer in, I was completely out of touch. The last destroyers left Boulogne during the night of the 23/24th and I was out of touch with England until H.M.S. Keith came in about 3p.m. By this time I had ordered a withdrawal into a closer perimeter round the Harbour in order to prevent the Germans getting round my northerly flank and cutting us off.I went aboard the Keith and had a conference with Simson and discussed the situation and sent off certain signals explaining the progress of the battle. I also had a very welcome cup of tea and gave one of the officers a letter to post for me in England. We were both pretty certain then that it was a waste of life to continue to hold Boulogne as my casualties were mounting pretty rapidly.However, a signal arrived while I was on board from the Prime Minister saying "You will evacuate all non military personnel (Pioneer Corps etc), the 20th Guards Brigade will fight it out". I then left the Keith and went and saw my Battalion Commanders and gave further orders for holding the town. I was away about two hours and then returned to the Keith, for further orders. While on board I received the signal telling to evacuate. As it was getting late I went ashore immediately to get my orders out and understood that the destroyers would put out and come back again after dark for the evacuation. I had only just left the ship when the air attack started and during the attack Simson was killed. The destroyers left the port as soon as they could and I continued with my arrangements for evacuation. I did not know that Simson had been killed until the destroyers came in later. Condor of the Whitshed, was then left in command of the Flotilla. Just before dark the destroyers came in again and I was told that I must evacuate immediately. This meant putting my plan in motion very quickly, but eventually all the troops were evacuated by about 2 a.m. on the 25th.My recollections of your brother are pretty vivid. I found him most helpful in concocting signals to England. He was at all times thoroughly calm and collected and very quick to grasp the situation on shore. He realised the importance of the destroyers as my only link with Dover, and I fear it may have been for this reason that he stayed in the port so long, as the destroyers were a very tempting target. I don't remember the Germans being within small arms range of the Keith at the time of the air attack, but the aircraft were machine gunning as well as dropping bombs. The real battle between the destroyers and the land targets took place later when the destroyers completely silenced the Germans for the rest of the night and I saw a German tank knocked out by one of their guns myself.'Sold together with the following archive comprising:i)The handwritten letter to Mrs Simson from Admiral Sir B. H. Ramsay, dated 25 May, written from Dover expressing his deepest sympathy upon his death.ii)Officer's bicorn hat, epaulettes and sword belt in named tin, together with Greatcoat Epaulettes.iii)Two sets of his pre-Second World War miniature medals, with riband bars.iv)Silver Oar rowing prize for the VIIIth Flotilla Officers Race 1925 H.M.S. Venturous, silver napkin ring and silver clothes brush.v)Letter to his wife and that to his brother from Fox-Pitt, besides photographs and assorted calling cards (5), newspaper cutting, Blue Lists (2), The List 1940, black armbands (2), besides a four leaf clover and lucky heather.…

The Bronze Star group of ten to Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman) W. J. Scovil, 2nd Battalion 8th Cavalry who served as part of 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)United States of America, Bronze Star with V emblem (William J. Scovil) engraved; Purple Heart; Air Medal, bronze (William J. Scovil) engraved; Commendation Medal with V and oak leaf emblems (William J. Scovil) engraved; Good Conduct Medal (William J. Scovil) engraved; National Defence Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960- clasp; Vietnam, Campaign Star; Vietnam, Cross of Gallantry with Palm; Vietnam, Civil Action Honour Medal, mounted on a framed display, very fine (10)William James Scovil studied at Ullman High School, Birmingham, Alabama, he received a Diploma and completed his studies in 1968.Joining the United States Army at Montgomery, Alabama, on 8 April 1969 he served at 2nd Battalion 5th Advanced Infantry Training (A.I.T.) Brigade at Fort Polk, Louisiana from 15 June 1969.Posted to United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) on 16 August 1969 he saw service in Vietnam from 6 September 1969 as part of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in the role of an Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman) with the 2nd Battalion 8th Cavalry Regiment (Airmobile).1st Air Cavalry Division 1969 -1970In late 1968, the Division moved and set up operations in III Corps at the other end of South Vietnam in late 1968. They were still there when Operation Cheyenne Sabre began in areas northeast of Bien Hoa in February 1969. Their actions here were to prove decisive and by the end of the year the enemy's domination of the northern areas of III Corps had been smashed - thoroughly.When Operation Rock Crusher was launched on 1 May 1970, the First Team was "First into Cambodia" hitting what was previously a Communist sanctuary. President Nixon having given the go-ahead for the surprise mission. They pushed into the 'Fish Hook' region of the border and occupied the towns of Mimot and Snoul whilst troopers scattered the enemy forces, depriving them of much needed supplies and ammunition.The men of the 2nd Brigade found an enemy munitions base that they dubbed 'Rock Island East' on 8 May. The Mission to Cambodia, ending on 30 June, far exceeded all expectations and proved to be one of the most successful operations of the First Team. All aspects of ground and air combat had been utilised and the enemy had lost enough men to yield three NVA divisions and enough weapons to equip two divisions. Further successes included a year's supply of rice and corn seized, uncommonly large quantities of ammunition taken, including 1.5 million rounds for small arms, 200,000 anti-aircraft rounds and 143,000 rockets, mortar rounds and recoilless rifle rounds. As well as 300 trucks, a Porsche sports car and a plush Mercedes Benz sedan.The campaign was to have severe political repercussions in the United States for the Nixon Administration however and pressure was mounting to remove America's fighting men from the Vietnam War. Although there would be further assault operations, the war was beginning to wind down for many troopers.Posted away from Vietnam on 5 September 1970 Scovil began his return to the U.S.A. on 22 September 1970 and on 11 October he was an Indirect Fire Crewman with the 6th Battalion of 32nd Armour based at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he completed his Army service on 8 April 1971.Sold together an original archive comprising:(i)Combat Infantryman Badge(ii)Air Assault Badge(iii)Valorous Unit Award 1st May - 29th May 1970 for "Fish Hook" region Cambodia(iv)Dress Cap Badge(v)Specialist 4th Class patch (2)(vi)Riband bar for uniform(vii)1st Air Cavalry Division patch(viii)8th Cavalry patch(ix)8th Cavalry cap badge(x)Assorted copied research which shows various service details including medal entitlement.(xi)Safe Conduct Pass(xii)A further set of uniform medal ribands…

A rare Borneo and Vietnam War Special Forces group of three awarded to Sergeant W. H. 'Bill' Roods, Australian Special Air Service (S.A.S.), a gallant and skilful patrol leader who implemented telling Claymore mine detonations against Viet Cong insurgentsGeneral Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (15340 W. H. Roods); Vietnam 1967 (15340 W. H. Roods); South Vietnam campaign service, clasp, '1960-', the reverse officially inscribed, '15340 W. H. Roods', the second with a scratch over service number and the last with slightly chipped obverse enamel, otherwise good very fine (3)William Henry Roods was born in Wauchope, New South Wales on 6 November 1939 and enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in Brisbane in August 1959. Having then served in the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment, he won selection for the Australian Special Air Service in the summer of 1961, when he joined the 1st S.A.S. Company and qualified for his parachute badge.Having then served in Papua New Guinea and passed a 'Recondo' course, in addition to roping, signal and canoe/small craft handlers' courses, he was deployed to the Borneo operations as a Corporal and Patrol Leader in 2 Squadron S.A.S. in January-August 1966. In late April/early May he led a patrol to explore whether the enemy had re-established a base but could find no evidence to support that suspicion; he appears in TV footage of another S.A.S. patrol held by the Australian War Memorial.Advanced to Sergeant, he was next emplaned for operations with 1 Squadron S.A.S. in South Vietnam, in which theatre of war he remained actively employed from March 1967 to February 1968. 'Actively' being the operative word, as confirmed in Phantoms of the Jungle:'These initial ambushed had been initiated by rifle fire and had been markedly more successful than the earlier reconnaissance patrols. However, the squadron had obtained a quantity of Claymore mines and, influenced by the experience of the ex-2 Squadron men who had used mines in Sarawak, it was decided to use the Claymores in S.A.S. ambushes. At first some of the patrols had no more than two Claymores, but the increasing effectiveness of the ambushes was startling.Between 26 and 30 April [1967] five patrols (Roods, Stevenson, Farley, Hindson and Shaw) were deployed on ambush missions in an arc stretching from the north west to north east of Nui Dat out to a distance of from ten to fifteen kilometres. The first to gain success was Sergeant Bill (Chester) Roods whose five man patrol was inserted ten kilometres north west of Binh Ba. On 29 April they fired two Claymores at three Viet Cong walking along the track, killing two and wounding a third. A few seconds later more Viet Cong moved into the killing area and the third Claymore, facing down the track, was fired. The patrol quickly withdrew and was credited with five enemy killed and one wounded.'In his own patrol report, Roods described the victims thus:'The five men killed were dressed in black. Two were wearing straw hats. At least three were carrying large packs on their backs, one of which was a flower bag. One was seen to be carrying a small unidentified S.M.G., with no woodwork visible. All men were armed but their weapons were not identified. Weapons hear returning fire were of a light calibre, firing single shots.As the patrol withdrew, at least three men were heard to follow for a short distance. It isn't possible to accurately access the strength of the party, but it was probably about 10-12 including the five killed.'Accompanying copied reports testify to around a dozen more patrols led by Roods. Infiltration and extraction were by helicopter and the patrols tended to last for two or three days, invariably in harsh jungle conditions. In his report for the above firefight with the Viet Cong, Roods noted the terrain thus:'Secondary jungle thick with vines and scattered patches of bamboo. Only water was in the main creek. A few leeches were found in the area and the mosquitoes were prevalent at last light.'It is clear, too, that clandestine surveillance was the primary objective of such patrols, a case in point being the five-man team Roods commanded in the Xuyen Moc sector on 16-19 June 1967. On that occasion he was able to send a detailed report of a large Viet Cong force, including women and children. The men wore blue uniforms and were equipped with a variety of Soviet arms, arms which were brought to bear on an attacking helicopter gunship. The patrol had to be withdrawn early 'as V.C. prevented it from reaching water.'But Roods also participated in some larger scale offensive patrols, of which he was second-in-command under an officer or senior N.C.O. One such took place on 11-12 December 1967, when his team ambushed a party of Viet Cong with Claymore mines, killing seven of them - 'Patrol searched the bodies then withdrew to LZ and was extracted.'Roods took his discharge in Brisbane in August 1968 and settled in Broadwater, Western Australia. He subsequently became eligible for the Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75, with 'Malaysia' and 'Vietnam' clasps, the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with 'PNG' clasp, the Australian Defence Medal and the Anniversary of National Service Medal 1951-72; sold with a file of copied research, including his service record and course reports, in addition to a copy of Roods' reports for 'Patrol 13, 1 S.A.S. Squadron, during its tour of South Vietnam between 1967-68'.…

'A charming & handsome old man with one arm.So wrote the niece of the gallant Colonel KnoxAn outstanding campaign pair awarded to Colonel K. Barrett, 13th Regiment of Foot (1st Somersetshire) (Prince Albert's Regiment of Light Infantry), a long-served and most gallant officer who served on campaign in the Caribbean, Upper Canada and Burma - having his arm blown off in the attack on the Great Pagoda in July 1825 in the lastMilitary General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Martinique, Guadaloupe (Knox Barrett, Ensn. 13th Foot.); Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Bt. Captn. K. Barrett, 13th Foot.), short-hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, heavy edge bruising, very fine (2)Knox Barrett was born circa 1783, the son of William Barrett, High Sheriff of Sligo, of Culleenamore House. The Sligo Independant of July 1882 gives more detail:' He joined in 1805 from the North Mayo Militia, obtaining an ensigncy in the gallant 13th Regiment of Foot. This regiment, when in India saw much service, and Colonel Barrett, then a Lieutenant, showed much pluck and coolness on the battle field. At Rangoon, when the English army under General Dale fought well and bravely, Colonel Barrett led his Company in the thickest of the fight, and had his right arm shot off. He was specially mentioned by his Colonel, afterwards the great and good General Havelock as being a brave officer. Of course, the loss of his arm obliged him to retire from the Army, and General Havelock, whose friend and companion he was, parted from him with regret. He possessed medals and claps for Ava, Guadeloupe, Martinique, India etc. Since he left the army, he came to reside in Sligo.'Barrett has a remarkable record of service in the Caribbean, North America and in India. Having shared in the actions at Martinique in October 1809, he was present at the capture of Guadaloupe and was then subsequently posted to Upper Canada with his unit. Their Light Company was stationed at le Aux Noix and a detachment went to the blockhouse of Lacolle Mills - when they shared in the famous defence of that place in March 1814.Furthermore, Barrett would have been with his unit when they crossed Lake Champlain to attack Plattsburgh in New York, sharing in the final acts of the War of 1812. They departed the scene in July 1815. He would then share in the events in India, being unfortunate to have his '...arm blown off' during the attack on the Great Pagoda in the First Anglo-Burmese War. On 5 July 1825 the unit also suffered one man killed and seventeen other ranks wounded in action besides Barrett.Retired on account of his wounds, he was provided with a pension of £70 for his wounds. Returned to his native Sligo, he took up various posts, including as Justice of the Peace, Superintendent of the gaol, a member of the Sligo Harbor Commission and sat on the Dispensary Commission. Having married Anne Rice in 1827, the pair had no children but were always known for their generosity to their numerous nephews and nieces. The good Colonel died on 10 July 1882 and is buried in the family tomb at St John's Churchyard. His obituary notice gives the final word:'Our obituary notices of to-day announce the death of this gentleman who lived to a patriarchal age, being nearly a century old when he breathed his last at his residence, Rathanna, near this town. It may be well said that by his death a link connecting the present generation with the past – the long past – a severed, for when many grandfathers of today were leading strings Colonel Barrett was fighting for his King and country on the burning plains of India...In private life he was distinguished for his mildness of disposition and goodness of heart.'…

Six: Leading Seaman W. H. Harris, Royal Navy who was awarded the Russian Medal for Zeal whilst aboard the Jupiter on her epic icebreaking mission to Archangel in 1915; he served with the Metropolitan Police either side of the Great War and latterly with 'X' Division1914-15 Star (12366 W. H. Harris. L.S. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (12366 W. H. Harris. L.S. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (212366 (Dev.B 1735) W. H. Harris L.S. R.F.R); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police issue (P.C., W. Harris.); Russia, Imperial, Medal for Zeal (212366 W.H. Harris Lg.Sea. H.M.S. Jupiter), impressed naming, claw and ring suspension to this last, very fine (6)William Henry Harris was born on 2 June 1884 at Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire. On enlistment into the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class, he was allocated to the Devonport Division and joined Impregnable, the Boys Training establishment, then moored in the River Tamar at Devonport. Harris spent eighteen months aboard Impregnable before being sent to Agincourt, an old cruiser that was then operating as a sea going training ship for boys. Agincourt was based at Portland and mostly spent time in the English Channel. On leaving Agincourt, Harris was rated an Ordinary Seaman and drafted to Vivid, the depot ship at Devonport. While at Devonport Harris spent time at Cambridge, the gunnery school and Defiance, the Torpedo school, being rated an Able Seaman during 1903.On 1 March 1904, Harris received his first sea going draft being posted to Andromeda, an 11000-ton cruiser that was commissioned for the China station. After serving aboard for a full commission, Harris on returning to Devonport purchased his discharge from the Royal Navy.He joined the Metropolitan Police Force on 25 February 1907, serving in 'X' Division (Warrant No. 94257). With the outbreak of the Great War, Harris was recalled for service and rated as Leading Seaman joining Talbot, part of the 12th Cruiser Squadron operating in the Western Channel. Harris only spent a short period of time aboard but might have still been aboard when Talbot captured a German merchant ship during September. Harris was next drafted to Jupiter. In January 1915 the Admiralty received a request for assistance from the Russian Government, as their icebreaker used to keep open the passage to Archangel in the White Sea had broken down. In response the Royal Navy sent out Jupiter, an old Majestic-class battleship. She departed for Archangel in February 1915, freeing en route a number of vessels stuck in the ice, occasionally by using explosive charges. She, too, sometimes became icebound, but still managed to make a major impression on the problem, improving the safe passage of numerous vessels, many of them laden with highly important war materials, among them the S.S. Thracia. The latter was taken in tow after the use of explosive charges to free her.Throughout these operations it was not unusual for the temperature to fall as low as minus 20 degrees, a hard test indeed on the morale and wellbeing of the Jupiter's crew. Her mission completed by May 1915, the Tsar expressed his gratitude by the presentation of a variety of Russian Honours and Awards to her crew, including Harris.After spending the remainder of 1915 at Devonport he was drafted to Marksman, allocated to the 12th Destroyer Flotilla which was serving with the Grand Fleet. Marksman, with Harris aboard, took an active part in the Battle of Jutland. During the battle Marksman picked up the captain of the destroyer Ardent that had been sunk taking part in the last skirmish of the battle. The following day Marksman came across the crippled destroyer Sparrowhawk, which had had her stern blown off. Marksman initially tried to tow Sparrowhawk, but the strain was too much, and the crew were taken off and the destroyer sunk.During late 1917 and early 1918 Marksman served with the Dover Patrol before returning to the Grand Fleet. The Great War over, Harris was demobilised on 19 February 1919 and returned to the Police Force, being pensioned on 29 February 1932.In the 1939 Register Harris is recorded as living at Homefield Harris Lane, Shenley, Hertfordshire, with his wife, Ellen. According to the splendid The Metropolitan Police, the men and their Medals, Volume 1 by Jim Kemp, Harris served as a Reserve Officer during the Second World War. It is possible he is entitled to a Defence Medal. 'X' Division suffered several casualties when a bomb exploded in Kilburn on 6 November 1940.…

The rare and remarkable 'Tiddim Defence of Point 6052' M.C. and 'Battle of Imphal' Second Award Bar group of five awarded to Captain C. F. V. Martin, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light InfantryMilitary Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated '1944', with Second Award Bar dated 1944; 1939-1945 Star; Burma Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, sold together with the named Buckingham Palace forwarding slip for the Military Cross and Second Award Bar and a further archive, good very fine (5)M.C. London Gazette 18 May 1944, the original recommendation states:'While in command of a company on pt. 6052 on the 26th of January 1944, the enemy put in a persistent attack from 1745 hours to 1830 hours, which was repulsed with heavy losses. At 2300 hours the enemy again attacked with even more determination but was again driven back. During both these attacks, Captain Martin ran from post to post in the open, directing the fire and encouraging the men, regardless of his personal safety. Throughout the 27th and the 28th, the enemy sent frequent harassing parties to wear down our defences and to prevent our men from sleeping. On the 29th of January, our position was again very heavily attacked, this time by two enemy companies, from 0530 hours to 1030 hours. Although the position was thinly held, our casualties equivalent to one platoon, and the men tired through three sleepless nights, the enemy was driven back time and again with very heavy losses estimated at 200 killed and wounded. Although completely without sleep during these four days, Captain Martin went from trench to trench, encouraging the men and urging them to hold on, despite close range grenade, small arms and very heavy mortar fire. When the enemy broke through the wire and threatened to swamp the defences, he personally organised and led a counterattack which, by determined hand to hand fighting wiped out all the enemy who had broken in. Captain Martin's splendid example of personal gallantry and leadership in the face of heavy odds, his spirit of endurance and determination to hold out, inspired all ranks to resist at all costs, over a period of four days, a persistent enemy attempt to capture a position of extreme tactical significance'Second Award Bar London Gazette 5 October 1944, the original recommendation states:'On the morning of the 26th of May 1944, Captain Martin was leading a Company taking part in the attack on Red Hill RK 224488.In the initial stages of this attack Captain Martin was wounded leading his Company under heavy MMG fire on to the objective, but ignoring his wounds this officer personally led a grenade throwing party to wipe out a Japanese Bunker, which was holding up the advance of his company. With complete disregard for his own safety and despite his wounds this officer approached the bunker, the occupants of which had been catching our grenades and throwing them back, and by waiting 3 seconds after the cap of the grenade had been struck before he threw it, succeeded in wiping out the bunker and thereby clearing the way for the advance. In doing this Captain Martin was again wounded, but continued to lead his Company forward until he collapsed from loss of blood.This magnificent example of gallantry and selfless devotion to duty under heavy fire was not only a supreme inspiration to every man in the Company, but a vital contributory factor in the success of the attack.'Clifford Frederick Victor Martin was born in Oxfordshire on 17 July 1919, the son of Captain Victor and Rose Martin. Granted a Regular Army Emergency Commission and gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant with the number 113619, he joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 16 January 1940.Martin then saw service out in India and Burma when on attachment to the Indian Army and serving with the 7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment. He likely received his attachment to the 7th Battalion in the aftermath of the retreat from Burma in 1942, during which the Battalion had formed part of the 46th Indian Brigade in the 17th Indian Division. After withdrawing from Burma, the 17th Division then found itself stationed in Assam.They were not part of the failed First Arakan Offensive of late 1942 into the spring of 1943, but instead undertook intensive training to learn from the mistakes of the previous year in readiness to take the offensive against the Japanese in 1944 and 1945.The Defence of Point 6052Their first major operation occurred in January 1944, and it was Martin - then commanding a composite formation of 'A' and 'C' companies - who bore the brunt of it. It was for this period while serving as a temporary Captain that he was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry during the defence of Point 6052.Martin's composite company was established on Point 6052, seven miles south of Tiddim, to form a patrol base. They launched several patrols to engage and identify the Japanese in the area and the perimeter of the base was at one point attacked but the company was able to hold on. This attack occurred on 26 January 1944, the day Martin earned his first Military Cross.It was estimated that the 7/10th Baluch killed more than 200 Japanese in the area, while themselves suffering only 3 killed and 10 wounded over the course of the month. The positions were dug in all round defences on ground of the 7/10th Baluch's choosing. This enabled them to repel the Japanese attacks, unlike at Pa-an in 1942, and showed that the retraining of the past 18 months had paid dividends.In the aftermath of his honour, Martin received a personal letter from General Slim, commander of the 14th Army, stating: 'I am very pleased to hear that your gallant action has been rewarded, and sent you my warmest congratulations on a well deserved honour.'The Battalion continued to send out patrols in the areas in front of and around Point 6052 in February and March, with the men and officers gaining valuable experience in operating as light infantry during this period. The Battalion, along with the 4/12th Frontier Force Rifles, withdrew along the Tiddim Road on 4 April in the face of increasing pressure during the Japanese advances and the repositioning in readiness for the Battle of Imphal.ImphalHaving retreated onto the Imphal Plain, they were sent to protect the Panel airstrip. The Battalion took over positions in the 'Catfish Box' area on 5 April, also at this point receiving reinforcements to create a fourth company and bring it up to strength as an ordinary infantry unit.A Company, under the command of now acting-Major Martin, was sent to Point 5846 on the Bishenpur-Silchar Road while the rest of the Battalion took the opportunity to re-organise and to incorporate the new company. The 7/10th Baluch moved to the 17th Divisional Box at Chingphu, north of Bishenpur, in mid-May as a response to increased Japanese pressure on the entrance to the Imphal Plain from the Bishenpur region.Red Hill PimpleThey began to dig in immediately upon arrival in their capacity as a protection of the divisional HQ. A series of patrols were sent out around the area as reports arrived of Japanese forces coming from the west, and a major clash ensued on 20 May involving one platoon on a ridge overlooking the divisional area. This force managed to hold out for more than 8 hours and successfully held up a major Japanese group. On 25th May, the Battalion was ordered to carry out an attack on Point 2926, 'Red Hill Pimple'. That evening, 3 Companies - A, B and C, respectively - moved to their jumping off positions, which included the ridge itself, without being heard or noticed by the Japanese.The A and C Companies were to attack the Japan…

The 'Trench Raid 1918' D.C.M., 'Asiago Plateau August 1918' Al Valore group of five awarded to Company Sergeant-Major H. Loughman, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, who rushed and cleared two machine gun posts during a raid in 1918Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6445 C.S.Mjr: H. Loughman. 2/Bord:R.); 1914-15 Star (6445 Sjt. H. Loughman. Bord. R.); British War and Victory Medals (6445 W.O.Cl.2. H. Loughman. Bord. R.); Italy, Kingdom, Al Valore Militare, silver issue (Altipiano D'Asiago H. Loughman 8-9 Agosto 1918), good very fine (5)D.C.M. London Gazette 15 November 1918, the original citation states:'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a raid. He was with the leading platoon, and when the first lines of his company were held up by hidden wire and very heavy machine-gun fire, he dashed forwardwith a few men and rushed two machine guns one after another, killing or capturing the teams. This action enabled his company to reform and successfully rush the objective. He showed magnificent courage and rendered most valuable service.'Al Valore Militare London Gazette 29 November 1918.Herbert Loughman entered the war in France on 22 March 1915 with the 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment. The unit saw action at the battles of Neuve Chappelle, Aubers Ridge and Festubert, Loughman was noted as wounded in action in the Lancashire Evening Post casualty list of 15 October 1915. They saw heavy action on the Somme and at Passchendaele before being posted to Italy in 1918.There they were present for the Second Battle of the Piave River and later the fighting on the Asiago Plateau. It was there that Loughman won his Al Valore and likely also the D.C.M. The Whitehaven Advertiser and Cleator Moor and Egremont Observer in October 1918 states that he was awarded the D.C.M. and Al Valore for services in Italy. The Battalion was later in action at Vittorio Veneto and finished the war in Italy.Loughman was demobilised and appears in the newspapers not long after the war being fined for keeping a machine pistol as a souvenir, possibly something he picked up on a trench raid; sold together with copied research.…

THE WATCHES & ARCHIVE OF SHEILA SCOTT O.B.E. (1922-88), 'BRITAIN'S QUEEN OF THE AIR'Given all that could be written about this remarkable aviatrix, the cataloguer turns firstly to Encyclopedia Britannica:'Sheila Scott was born on 27 April 1922 at Worcester, Worcestershire and was a British aviator who broke more than 100 light-aircraft records between 1965 and 1972 and was the first British pilot to fly solo around the world.After attending a Worcester boarding school, Scott became a trainee nurse at Haslar Naval Hospital (1944), where she tended the wounded during World War II. In London she appeared in small roles for theatre, film, and television and worked as a model (1945–59). In 1960 she earned her pilot’s license, bought an old biplane from the Royal Air Force, and won several races, capturing the De Havilland and Jean Lennox Bird trophies for that year. To pay for her flying, she became a demonstrator for Cessna and Piper aircraft.Scott first flew around the world in 1966, covering about 31,000 miles (50,000 km) in 189 flying hours. She set world records when she flew between London and Cape Town (1967) and across the North Atlantic Ocean (1967), the South Atlantic Ocean (1969), and from the Equator to the Equator over the North Pole (1971). After her record polar flight, she made a third around-the-world solo flight, earning her 100th world-class record. She wrote I Must Fly (1968) and On Top of the World (1973; U.S. title Barefoot in the Sky, 1974). Scott was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE; 1968), and she received the Royal Aero Club’s Gold Medal (1972). She died at London on 20 October 1988.'Further notice should be made the fact that Scott was likely the inspiration to Ian Fleming for the alluring 'Pussy Galore' in Goldfinger, played by Honor Blackman in the 1964 movie.Her flights with NASA in 1971 are also worth mention:'Sheila Scott is pictured here with her Piper Aztec 'Mythre', in which she made her world and a half flight in 1971. On this flight, she became the first person to fly over the North Pole in a single engine plane. She carried special NASA equipment for a communications experiment testing the Interrogation Recording and Location System (IRLS) of the Nimbus polar orbiting satellite. The IRLS equipment, a Balloon Interrogation package, transmitted data on Scott’s location during the 34,000 mile (~55,000 kilometer) flight to the Nimbus satellite, which relayed it to NASA’s ground station at Fairbanks, Alaska and then to a computer center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Sheila Scott’s record-making, historic flight confirmed the satellite’s ability to collect location data from remote computerized and human-operated stations with a unique “mobile platform” location test.'She was Roy Plomley's castaway on Desert Island Discs in January 1967, her luxury being tobacco seeds to ensure a never-ending supply of smokes. Scott was always seen as a somewhat quirky individual and flew barefoot, claiming she could feel the controls better. She always signed of 'Happy Landings!' and we hope these treasures will find much the same.Sheila Scott's famous Rolex GMT-Master 'Pepsi' stainless steel automatic dual time wristwatch, first worn on her famous 1966 record-breaking long-distance flightRolex, stainless steel automatic dual time wristwatch with date and leather bracelet, this rather worn, Ref. 1675, GMT-Master 'Pepsi', with bakelite bezel, stainless steel Oyster case, screw-down crown and back the reverse engraved 'SHEILA SCOTT', blue and red 24-hour calibrated bezel, No. 1255812, the applied triangular and dot indexes upon the face 'factory' luminated with radium marker, 40mm, in running condition at time of cataloguing but would likely benefit from a service, a most historic object, very fineProvenance:Philips, December 1989 (Sold by Order of Sheila Scott O.B.E.).Scott wore this very watch on her famous flights. Her image - and this watch - was the first to ever market sports watches for wear by women. Scott commented that it was '...a marvelous watch.'It is no surprise that 'Pussy Galore' also wore a 'Pepsi' in Goldfinger.…

A very fine 1917 D.C.M., 1916 M.M. group of five awarded to Acting Warrant Officer Class II C. E. Nicol, 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (T.F.), later 150th Company, Machine Gun Corps, who was further 'mentioned' for his services in 1916 before being tragically killed in action during the Spring Offensive in 1918Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (23495 Sjt. C. Nicol. 150/Coy M.G.C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (2028 Sjt: C. Nichol. 4/York: R.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (2028 Pte. C. Nicol, York. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2028 A. W. O. Cl. II. C. E. Nicol. York. R.), mounted court style for wear, sometime lacquered, overall good very fine (5)D.C.M. London Gazette 18 July 1917, the original citation states:'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He covered the withdrawal of an exposed flank until his ammunition was all used. On the same day he volunteered and took up one gun to the threatened flank under heavy barrage, and remained there until relieved next day.'M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1916.M.I.D. London Gazette 15 June 1916.Charles Edward Nicol was born in 1892, the son of James and Fanny Nicol of Hornby Castle Gardens, Bedale, Yorkshire. Enlisting at Richmond, Yorkshire he entered the war on 17 April 1915, they went into action less than a week later when the German Army struck a surprise blow at the Second Battle of Ypres. They suffered heavy casualties around Armagh Wood and Hill 60 between February-March 1916 when a mine was detonated beneath it in February and their C.O. was killed in action by a sniper the next month.The Battalion was stationed at Kemmel when the Somme Offensive began and it was there that Nicols was 'mentioned', possibly for good service at the start of the year around Hill 60. They joined the Battle at Flers-Courcelettes in September, advancing alongside tanks for the first time towards Martinpuich. Unfortunately they found their flanks exposed to heavy fire from the German positions in High Wood and suffered severe losses to heavy shell fire from that position. Despite this, they stuck to the advance and managed to take Martinpuich, with High Wood falling several hours later. Nicol's M.M. was awarded the next month, likely as a result of his service at Kemmel rather than the Somme given the dates involved. However, the exact reason for the award is unknown.Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in late 1916, Nicol was serving with 150 Company when his D.C.M. was awarded. 150 Company was the Brigade Company for 150th (York and Lancaster) Brigade so he was serving alongside his old Battalion at the time, either in the latter stages of the Somme Offensive or early in the Battle of Arras. The formation was amalgamated in March 1918 to form part of the 50th Machine Gun Battalion, serving the entire Division rather than a single Brigade.Nicol was posted as missing on 10 April 1918, shortly after the opening blows of the Battle of Lys. His death was officially accepted on 27 May 1918 and he is commemorated upon the Ploegstreet Memorial.…

The 'Gallipoli Evacuation 1916' D.S.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant H. J. Carnduff, Royal Navy who also added a 'mention' for his service during the evacuation of Suvla BayA talented rugby player, he was selected for the Royal Navy's team in a number of national games after the war, before tragically drowning under unusual circumstances whilst aboard ValiantDistinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1915; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. J. Carnduff. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. H. J. Carnduff. R.N.), very fine (4)D.S.C. London Gazette 14 March 1916, the original citation states:'For meritorious service in H.M.S. Swiftsure in operations in the Dardanelles. Lieutenant Carnduff performed good service during the evacuation of Sulva and Helles, being specially selected for the evacuation from Helles in view of his good service during the evacuation of Sulva 'M.I.D. London Gazette 14 March 1916.Herbert Julian Carnduff was born on 13 July 1892, the son of Sir Herbert Carnduff, C.I.E, a High Court judge in India. Educated at Danesbury Prep School, Bengeo, Hertford he entered the Royal Navy as a cadet on 15 January 1905, passing out as Midshipman on 15 September 1909. He served on a number of shore bases and vessels prior to the Great War; elevated to Lieutenant he was appointed to Swiftsure on 2 February 1914.During the Great War, Swiftsure escorted Indian troop convoys from Bombay to Aden from September-November 1914, when the destruction of the German light cruiser S.M.S. Emden, which had been raiding in the Indian Ocean, made this escort duty unnecessary. She was then transferred to the Suez Canal Patrol on 1 December to help defend the Canal, although she remained East Indies Station flagship while at Suez. From 27 January-4 February 1915 the ship helped to defend the Canal near Kantara during the First Suez Offensive by Ottoman forces.Swiftsure was relieved as East Indies Station flagship by the armoured cruiser Euryalus later in February 1915 and transferred to the Dardanelles for service in the Dardanelles Campaign. She joined the Dardanelles Squadron on 28 February 1915 and took part in the attack on Fort Dardanos on 2 March. She and Triumph were detached from the Dardanelles on 5 March for operations against forts at Smyrna, returning to the Dardanelles on 9 March. She participated in the main attack on the Narrows forts on 18 March and supported the main landings at West Beach at Cape Helles on 25 April and subsequent landings, including the attack on Achi Baba on 4 June. On 18 September, a German submarine unsuccessfully attacked her while she was on a voyage from Mudros to Suvla Bay. She took part in the bombardment of Dedeagatch on 18 January 1916. Swiftsure left the Dardanelles in February 1916.Carnduff left Swiftsure on 13 January 1916, joining Ribble for a two-month appointment followed by Mosquito for the next four months ending 13 July. A number of shore-based appointments followed after which he was posted to command the patrol boat P59 from 19 February 1917 until 7 September followed by command of P45. The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, considered Carnduff 'much to blame' in a grounding of P45 and Carnduff was cautioned to be more careful in future.He was next appointed to command the destroyer Lucifer on 28 January 1918 serving aboard her until the end of the war. Carnduff married Nina Iris Grahame Chambers in 1918, sister of Pansy Chambers, a Great War poet. Nina was credited with launching the fashion trend of adorning a lady's arm with a fancy-coloured butterfly tattoo in 1919; quite risqué at the time!Appointed to Valiant on 1 September 1921, Carnduff drowned at Plymouth 'under mysterious circumstances' on 13 April 1922. He had gone ashore to play rugby, and was seen in Plymouth at 11.20pm, 'sober and normal'. His body was found the next day off Bull Point. It was thought that he might have fallen into the water while trying to find a boat that could take him back to the battleship.Carnduff's brother, Captain K.M. Carnduff, was killed in action on 12 January 1916 whilst serving with the 2nd Field Squadron, Royal Engineers; sold together with an extensive archive of copied research.…

An archive of items related to Sheila Scott's work with NASAThe archive including a model of the Nimbus satellite, rather damaged, with label stating 'Nimus meterological satellite built by General Electric for National Aeronautics & Space Administration', four NASA patches (Apollo 11, First Lunar Landing of Mankind, and two NASA patches), besides various official photographs and a group of small 'slide' photographs of the Nimbus programme, very fine (Lot)…

'The C.O., Michael, and John had each destroyed an Me. 110, while Mac [McArthur] shot down two Junkers 87 dive-bombers. He would have got an Me. 110 also and got his sights on it, but nothing happened when he pressed his trigger. His ammunition was finished. So a very lucky Me. 110 lived to fight another day. Mac was very pleased about this fight, and certainly a bag of two for one's first action is very good. But it made him rather over-confident, and for the next few days he regarded the German Air Force rather as an organization which provided him with a little target practice and general harmless amusement. He soon learnt better!'One of numerous references to J. H. G. 'Butch' McArthur in David Crooks's wartime account of No. 609 Squadron in the Battle of Britain; Spitfire Pilot, refers.The outstanding Battle of Britain ace's immediate D.F.C. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander J. H. G. 'Butch' McArthur, Royal Canadian Air Force, late Royal Air ForceA superb airman, who had honed his flying skills in the Experimental Section of the Royal Aircraft Establishment in the lead up to hostilities, he claimed 8 confirmed 'kills' and 3 'probables' as a Flight Commander in Spitfires of No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron at the height of the Battle, on one occasion closing the range to just 10-20 yardsHis numerous combats, and those of his fellow pilots in 609 Squadron, are vividly recounted in the pages Flight Lieutenant D. M. Crook's famous wartime publication Spitfire PilotPost-war, and having served in the Royal Canadian Air Force at the time of the Korean conflict, his remarkable flying career ended in tragedy during a pleasure flight over Las Vegas in May 1961: both he and his passenger - a croupier from the famous Horseshoe Club - were killed when their aircraft inexplicably dived into the groundDistinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1940'; 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; U.N. Korea 1950-54 (30386 McArthur J. H. G.), officially inscribed Canadian issue; Canadian Forces Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, the reverse of the suspension bar officially inscribed 'F/L J. H. G. McArthur', mounted as worn, good very fine (7)Provenance:Sotheby's, 6 March 1986 (Lot 628), when sold by the recipient's sister.D.F.C. London Gazette 22 October 1940:'This officer has led his flight and squadron with skill and determination. His brilliant leadership has been reflected in the high standard of morale in the flight. He has destroyed at least seven aircraft.'The original recommendation, for an immediate award which was approved by Dowding, states:'This officer has been a great asset to the Squadron since he joined it on 1 August 1940. His flying has been of the highest standard and he always leads his flight with skill and determination. On the occasions that he has led the Squadron he has displayed a sound sense of leadership and initiative. Individually he has always been keen and energetic in his desire to engage the enemy.To date he has destroyed 7 (confirmed) and 2 (unconfirmed) enemy aircraft and has severely damaged 2 others.'Covering remarks:'An outstanding fighter pilot who has now destroyed 8 enemy aircraft (confirmed) and 3 others probably, besides damaging a further 2.His brilliant and inspiring leadership has raised the morale of his flight to a very high standard since he took it over.'James Henry Gordon McArthur - or "Butch" to his friends and comrades - was born in Tynemouth on 12 February 1913 and was educated at West Jesmond Council School and Rutherford College, prior to attending the Marine School in South Shields. He subsequently found employment with the Marconi Company as a seagoing Radio Officer, in addition to obtaining certificates for Aircraft Radio Operation and Navigation.The latter qualifications led to his participation in the England to Australia 'MacRobertson Air Race' in 1934, when he flew with Captain Neville Stack, A.F.C., as his Radio-Navigator but their attempt ended in Athens - under controversial circumstances.On his return home, McArthur qualified for his Aero Certificate (No. 12614) at Redhill Aero Club in March 1935 and then teamed up with Captain T. Campbell-Black for an attempt on the London to Cape Town return record. Having flown non-stop from Hatfield to Cairo in their De Havilland Comet G-ADEF 'Boomerang', they took off for another refuelling stop in Kenya but, due to a problem with the aircraft, they were compelled to bale out north of Khartoum. Both landed safely in the desert and, on being rescued, gained membership of the famous Caterpillar Club, McArthur then being the youngest member.Brief employment as a First Officer in British Continental Airways having followed, McArthur was granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force in May 1936. Confirmed in the rank of Pilot Officer after attending a course at R.A.F. Thornaby, he was posted to the Station Flight at Aldergrove and thence, in May 1938 to the Experimental Section at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough as a Flying Officer and test pilot.McArthur was likewise employed on the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939 and, on being advanced to Flight Lieutenant, attended a refresher course at No. 7 O.T.U., Hawarden in July 1940. A subsequent posting to No. 238 Squadron was short-lived, however, for he was called back to Farnborough. But he continued to press for an operational posting.Battle of BritainThat wish was granted on 1 August 1940, when McArthur joined No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron, an Auxiliary Air Force unit, as a Flight Commander at Middle Wallop. Commanded by Squadron Leader H. S. Darley, D.S.O., 609 was largely manned by a pre-war class of weekend gentlemen fliers, among them Noel "Aggy" Agazarian and John Dundas; the latter's brother, Hugh, flew as wingman to Douglas Bader throughout the Battle.Over the coming weeks, on being 'scrambled' out of Middle Wallop and the satellite airfield at Warmwell, McArthur's 'brilliant leadership' of his flight - and on occasion the squadron - undoubtedly left its mark on such men. In writing to his mother in October 1940, John Dundas reported with pride that 609 was finally gaining recognition, listing McArthur's award of the D.F.C. as a case in point. He also noted that he had been given command of 'B' Flight, owing to McArthur being in hospital. More on that, later.Meanwhile, McArthur opened his operational account on 8 August 1940, when he destroyed a brace of Ju. 87s in a dogfight over the Isle of Wight-Weymouth sector. His combat report takes up the story:'…I dived on the outside of the Ju. 87 from just over 5,000 feet, fired a 7 second burst and saw him turn on his back and go into the sea. The formation then split up and I regained 4,000 feet very quickly. Height of Ju. was about 100 feet. I then dived again and gave a long burst of 10 seconds on another Ju. 87 which started to emit black smoke and dive into the sea. I then found the Me. 110. I climbed up a bit and was coming in at him from the port side and slightly above him. I turned quickly away from him and after a turn or two found myself quickly on his tail. I then found I had no more ammunition so pulled the override and hurried home … 'In Spitfire Pilot, David Crook recalls the squadron's 'bag' thus:'The C.O., Michael, and John had each destroyed an Me. 110, while Mac [McArthur] shot down two Junkers 87 dive-bombers. He would have got an Me. 110 also and got his sights on it, but nothing happened when he pressed his trigger. His ammunition was finished. So a very lucky Me. …

A 'Last Stand at Cassell 1940' P.OW. group of three awarded to Trooper A. E. Kettener, 1st East Riding Yeomanry1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (7889318 Tpr. A. E. Kettener. E. Riding Yeo.), the first three numbers officially corrected, sold together with his service and pay book, light contact marks, very fine (3)Alfred Edward Kettener was born on 15 May 1919 and worked as a Railway Messenger with L.N.E.R. when he enlisted on 14 February 1938 with the Territorial Army. The next year the East Riding Yeomanry was reconstituted as a result of the threat of war and formed into an armoured unit. Kettener was posted to them and entered the war with the formation in France on 2 March 1940.Ordered to joined 145th Brigade they moved through the town of Cassel in late May 1940, meeting the first German thrust outside the town. Holding there alongside the 140th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery they were forced back on 28 May to the town of Cassell itself. They came under repeated and heavy attack there over the next day with their vehicles being targeted, slowing their capacity to manoeuvre as well as their headquarters being hit by a shell.It was concluded by 29 March that a withdrawal was going to be necessary so the Regiment mounted up and at 21:30 commenced the breakout from Cassell. Progress was slow to start with due to the congestion on the roads and they were further delayed by the troops on foot failing to reach their positions in time. As a result they were not clear of Cassell until after midnight and were not underway properly until 01:00 on 30 March.This delay proved fatal as the Germans reached the village of Drogland ahead of the British, colliding with the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Word went back that the enemy were ahead of them and the Yeomanry separated with 'A' Squadron pushing north towards Herzeele with the O.C. Unfortunately the rest of the column was under heavy attack and needed to reform which they did under the 2 i/c, leading the 'A' Squadron becoming separated from the rest of the unit.At Herzeele they found themselves facing a large force of German infantry with armoured support which soon mopped up the exhausted and strung out Yeomanry formation. Those few members of 'A' Squadron that escaped were armed only with rifles and pistols with a few hand grenades, they scattered and attempted to make for the coast.Meanwhile 'B' Squadron came under attack by German tanks, they gave good account of themselves but were unable to rejoin 'A' Squadron. Pushing first North and later East they made for the town of Watou, reported to be in British hands. The Regimental Headquarters Tank Valient was knocked out by an anti-tank gun near the town which proved to be occupied by the Germans, they had taken it on 28 May.'C' Squadron, was the last in line pushed directly East towards Watou, taking heavy losses all the while including Major Radcliffe their commander. Near the town they encountered other British troops who confirmed that it had been taken however by this stage the Squadron was down to three armoured carriers. They attempted to push north but all the vehicles were soon put out of action, from this point they ceased to exist as a coherent unit.Initially taken to Stalag XXA, Thorn, with most of the British troops taken in France Kettener was moved to Marienburg in September 1940 and set to work at Mewe Barracks. In December his role changed to road construction and finally in September 1941 he was set to farm work which continued for the rest of the war. As the Allies closed in in 1945 he was moved to Greidswald and finally liberated at Barth.Remaining with the Yeomanry he was awarded his efficiency medal the next year in 1946 and his campaign awards in 1948 at 145 Ella Street, Newland Avenue, Hull; sold together with copied research and the recipient's original service and pay book.…

Pair: Corporal W. Stone, Royal EngineersSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (13558, Sapper, W. Stone. R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (13558. Corpl. W. Stone. R.E.), official correction to initial on first, very fine (2)Served in 30th Company.…

Four: Major C. E. H. Heyman, Royal Artillery who was mentioned in despatches as a Staff Officer for Boer War prisonersEgypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (Lieut: C. E. H. Heyman. A/1....); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Major C. E. H. Heyman. R.A.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Major C. E. H. Heyman. R.G.A.); Khedive's Star, dated 1882, the first with edge bruising and pitting from star and some loss to unit, fine, otherwise good very fine (4)M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901.Charles Edward Hamilton Heyman was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in June 1877, seeing action not long later at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir in 1882. Further advanced Captain in December 1885 he was appointed a Military Instructor at Woolwich in 1888. Promoted Major in May 1895 he served in South Africa during the Anglo Boer War as a Staff Officer with responsibility for Prisoners of War. It was for this latter duty that he was 'mentioned'.…