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Lot 167
Britains set 1335 six-wheel Army Lorry and 1433, Covered Lorry, Caterpillar type, FIRST VERSION, square nose, khaki finish, white treaded tyres with Drivers in original illustrated boxes (Condition Good, 1335 cargo floor replaced by cardboard and one mudguard dented, some perishing to tyres, boxes Good-Fair) 1940 (4)
Lot 168
Britains set 1730, Gunners carrying Shells, set 1725, 4.5in Howitzer RARE FIRST VERSION with set screw elevating gear, set 1717 2pdr AA Gun on Chassis with tray only of original box, set 1201, Royal Artillery 18pdr Gun, set 1715, 2pdr AA Gun, Astra Anti-Tank Gun with two original boxes and a papier mache gun emplacement (Condition Good-Fair, three Britains guns damaged, boxes Fair, some damage) 1940 (14)
Lot 176
The full range of Britains Mounties, set 214 North West Mounted Police, winter dress, at the slope (Condition Good-Fair, not matching, bayonets or arms missing), set 1349, mounted with Officer, from set 1554 on foot, FIRST VERSION, boy scout heads, six not matching, SECOND VERSION, scoutmaster heads and yellow lanyards, eight not matching, white lanyards and brown gloves, ten not matching, and Picture Packs 591B (two), 1267B (two), 1373B (two) and 1374B (three) (Condition Very Good-Good) (46)
Lot 7
Britains set 144, Royal Field Artillery Gun Team FIRST VERSION six horse team, fumed metal finish to gun and limber, two seated men (replaced), twisted wire traces, gun drilled for bucket seats (missing) (Condition Good-Fair, gun trail repaired, drivers helmet balls and officer missing) 1918 (10)
Lot 149
Taxidermy: A Cased Reproduction Pair of Extinct New Zealand Huia Birds (†Heteralocha acutirostris), modern, a pair of composed full mount Huia birds, the female perched upon a dry cork tree stump, the male below upon soil covered groundwork, amidst a natural setting of ferns, grasses and fauna, set against a pale blue and pink painted back drop, the beaks have been reproduced from actual beaks of specimens shot in the Gollans Valley, York Bay, New Zealand circa 1890, mounted upon substitute donor bodies, enclosed within a period style ebonised three-glass display case, 71cm by 30.5cm by 56cm, bearing ivorine label to interior lower right "Taxidermy by Frankenstein".The Huia birds extinction had two primary causes. The first was rampant overhunting to procure huia skins for mounted specimens and their tail feathers for hat decorations. The second major cause was the widespread deforestation of the lowlands of the North Island by European settlers to create pasture for agriculture. Most of these forests were ancient, ecologically complex primary forests, and huia were unable to survive in regenerating secondary forests.It was already a rare bird before the arrival of Europeans, confined to the Ruahine, Tararua, Rimutaka and Kaimanawa mountain ranges in the south-east of the North Island. It was remarkable for having the most pronounced sexual dimorphism in bill shape of any bird species in the world. The female's beak was long, thin and arched downward, while the male's was short and stout, like that of a crow. Males were 45 cm (18 in) long, while females were larger at 48 cm (19 in). The sexes were otherwise similar, with orange wattles and deep metallic, bluish-black plumage with a greenish iridescence on the upper surface, especially about the head. The tail feathers were unique among New Zealand birds in having a broad white band across the tips.
Lot 249
Natural History: A Very Rare Collection of World Seashells, by repute collected by HMS Challenger, 1872-1876, an interesting and rare to find collection outside of any institution and or museum, a large collection of various World seashells collected by the crew of H.M.S. Challenger while circumnavigating the globe between 1872-1876, housed within a period double door collectors cabinet, the doors opening to reveal eight various sized drawers with indexed individual compartments, all shells with attached data labels, including a small handwritten ledger documenting specimens in full, with locations noted, cabinet size 66.5cm by 37.5cm by 68cmWe know more about the surface of the moon than about the ocean floor. Scientists estimate that 91 percent of life under the sea hasn’t been discovered yet and more than 80 percent of the ocean has never been explored. What we do know about the ocean makes it almost more mysterious. It’s an alien landscape, complete with undersea mountain ranges and trenches deeper than Mount Everest is tall, home to a glorious nightmare carnival of weird, often glowing animals. And most of what we know has only come to light in the last 150 years, starting with the expedition of HMS Challenger. From 1872 to 1876, the 200-foot-long warship was repurposed as a floating lab for the world’s first large-scale oceanographic expedition, circumnavigating the globe and dredging up samples of never-before-seen creatures from the ocean floor. The Challenger explorers brought to light thousands of new species and revealed the oceans to be a place of startling depths and untold wonders. Scientists today still rely on the Challenger findings to study everything from seashells to climate change.Condition report: There is a 31 page documented book which states specimens and locations collected, i have added as many images as possible but unfortunately all cannot be uploaded due to file space, if required please contact me via email and i will where possible forward via email request.
Lot 154
A Great War ‘Battle of Epehy’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Acting Warrant Officer Class II F. S. Blamire, 1st/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (331037 Sjt: F. S. Blamire 1/1 Camb: R.); British War and Victory Medals (331037 A.W.O. Cl. 2. F. S. Blamire. Camb. R.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, 1 clasp, Long Service 1939, unnamed, slight dig to obverse field of DCM, minor edge bruising, otherwise good very fine (4) £1,600-£2,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 12 March 1919; citation published 2 December 1919: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership at Epehy on the 18-19 September 1918. When his platoon was held up by a strong machine-gun nest, he went across the open to a tank and directed it to the machine-gun nest. He then followed with his platoon, and sent back as a result several prisoners. On 19 September, in command of his company, he led them ably and gained his objective.’ Frederick Stanley Blamire was born at Ellel, near Calgae, Lancaster, on 9 May 1878, and prior to the Great War was employed first as an assistant master at an Elementary School in Bury St. Edmunds, and then as the School Attendance Officer for the Cockfield area of Suffolk. Following the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted as part of the Derby Scheme but his call up was deferred due to his occupation, and it was not until January 1917 that he was finally mobilised, being posted to the Cambridgeshire Regiment. He served during the Great War on the Western Front in the rank of Sergeant (acting Warrant Officer Class II) - for a time he was attached to the 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, but he reverted to the Cambridgeshire Regiment when the 7th Suffolks was disbanded in May 1918. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry at Epehy in September 1918, and was demobilised following the cessation of hostilities. In later life he lived in both London and Somerset, and died in Croydon in 1962. Sold together with a photographic image of the recipient, and copied research.
Lot 155
A superb Great War ‘Palestine’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Warrant Officer Class II S. N. Seager, 20th (Blackheath and Woolwich) Battalion, London Regiment, for his gallantry at Tel Bileibil during the crossing of the River Jordan on 30 April 1918; he had previously been wounded on the Western Front in 1916 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (630585 Sjt. S. N. Seager, 2/20 Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2127 A.W.O.Cl. 2. S. N. Seager. 20-Lond. R.); Defence Medal, good very fine or better (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2008. D.C.M. London Gazette 30 October 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. When the leading line had been held up by machine-gun fire he collected seven men and led them along a ridge. All seven were wounded, so he walked back and fetched more men, whom he led forward. Again every man was hit. He walked back again and asked if he should take more men and make a third attempt.’ Original citation additionally annotated ‘Tel Bileilbil’. A total of nine D.C.M.s were awarded to the 2/20th Battalion, London Regiment. Stanley Noah Seager was born at Penge, Surrey, in October 1887, and attested for the 20th (Blackheath and Woolwich) Battalion, London Regiment. He was promoted Sergeant on 13 June 1916 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 25 June 1916, being wounded in action on 17 October 1916. He saw further service with the Battalion in Salonika from 8 December 1916 to 15 June 1917; in Egypt and Palestine from 18 June 1917 to 23 June 1918 and again on the Western Front from 30 June 1918 to the cessation of hostilities. For his services during the Palestine Campaign he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, specifically for his gallantry during the attack on Tel Bileibil on 30 April 1918. In early March 1918 the Battalion took part in reconnaissance missions looking for potential crossings of the River Jordan. A raid across the Jordan was planned and advancing towards Makhadet Hajlah on 20 March, the 180th Brigade planned to force a crossing of the Jordan there. A crossing was established and at midnight the Battalion advanced to the attack on a line of foothills, to broaden and secure the bridgehead. The attack met with little opposition. The advance was continued on 24 March, but 180th Brigade including the 2/20th Battalion went into Divisional Reserve, before covering a withdrawal from Amman, which had been the scene of heavy fighting during the raid. The Battalion had a brief return to rest in Jerusalem and on 27 April 1918 left the city for a second raid across the River Jordan towards Es Salt, to be carried out by 179th and 180th Brigades and the Australian Mounted Division. During the night of 28-29 April, the two Brigades were concentrated within the jungle east of the Jordan in the Ghoraniyeh bridgehead. At 10:00 p.m. on 29 April the Battalion left its bivouack and marched to its assembly position. Proceeding through scrub towards their objective on Tel Bileibel, the advance commenced at 2:00 a.m. on 30 April, meeting with little opposition until the edge of the first crest. Here the trenches were captured in a bayonet charge and the advance continued until it was checked by a strong enemy counter attack from the left. This was in turn repulsed capturing over 100 prisoners and by 3:00 a.m. the first objectives had been taken. The enemy had by now reorganised a strong defensive position and further advance was stopped by heavy machine gun fire which enfiladed both flanks. When the Turks brought up artillery support, the line had to be withdrawn to the first crest and 2/20th were relieved by the London lrish that evening. The Battalion suffered total casualties of 204 killed, wounded and missing in this engagement and it was here that Seager earned his D.C.M. This proved to be the Battalion’s final engagement in Palestine. The award of Seager’s D.C.M. was noted in the Battalion War Diary on 23 May 1918, one of two D.C.M.s and three M.M.s given for this action. Seager was advanced Warrant Officer Class II on 29 December 1918, and was demobilised on 12 March 1919. He saw further service during the Second World War with “A” Company, 54th London Battalion, Home Guard, based in Lewisham, London, for which he was awarded the Defence Medal. He died in Beckenham, Kent, on 23 December 1955. Sold together with the recipient’s Warrant Document, appointing him a Warrant Officer, dated 29 December 1918; and copied research.
Lot 231
New Zealand 1845-66, reverse undated (Assist. Purveyor J. Forrest, Staff) ‘P’ of Purveyor impressed over an ‘S’, toned, good very fine and scarce £500-£600 --- Joseph Forrest was first appointed as a Clerk into the Purveyor’s Department on 24 December 1860, becoming Assistant Purveyor on 3 February 1866; appointed to the Control Department in the same rank, 12 February 1870, and as Deputy Commissary in the Commissariat and Transport Department, 29 June 1878, and is still shown on the retired list of that department in 1906. He received the New Zealand Medal for service there in 1863-64.
Lot 136
A Great War ‘Mesopotamia’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant H. H. Tayler, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, attached 1st/66th Punjabis, who was badly wounded at Ctesiphon on 22 November 1915, and was Mentioned in Despatches for his services in Mesopotamia Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. H. Tayler 1/66th. Punjabis); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. H. H. Tylor [sic].); Victory Medal 1914-19, naming erased; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Pte. H. H. Tayler, Hyderabad Rif., A.F.I.) generally very fine and better (7) £1,200-£1,600 --- M.C. London Gazette 10 June 1920: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Field.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 13 July 1916. Henry Holroyd Tayler was born in Bhagalpur, Bengal, India, on 9 November 1884, the son of Henry Graham Tayler, of the Indian Civil Service, and, following in his father’s footsteps, joined the Civil Department in the Central Provinces on 23 December 1903. Serving on the Andaman Commission, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers on 4 November 1910. Promoted Lieutenant on 13 September 1914, he was attached to the 1st/66th Punjabis depot at Jhelum on 12 October 1914. The 66th Punjabis were mobilised in March 1915 for service in Mesopotamia and landed in Basra on 20 March. Tayler joined the battalion at Basra on 16 September 1915 where it was undertaking garrison duties. On 24 October 1915 the 66th Punjabis joined Major-General C. Townsend’s 6th (Poona) Division for the advance on Baghdad; on 22 November the first major engagement on the advance to Baghdad took place at Ctesiphon. The 66th Punjabis were heavily engaged in the attack on the Turkish positions and suffered a total of 242 casualties. This included all 10 of the British officers with the battalion who were either killed or wounded, including Tayler. Only two of the wounded British officers were available for duty. Tayler was then evacuated with the other wounded soldiers and so avoided the later siege and fall of Kut-al-Amara. For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches. Tayler was Gazetted with a Military Cross in 1920, and it is most likely that he was awarded the M.C. for his actions at Ctesiphon. The reason for the delay in the award was because it was awarded under the new provisions allowed for in Army Order 193 of 1919. Recognising that many acts of gallantry and devotion to duty during the Great War had previously gone unrecognised, because they were unwitnessed, or because those who had witnessed them were prisoners of war, it allowed rewards for these services in the Field, and in many cases (such as Tayler’s) they were for acts of gallantry that had been performed some years previously. Lieutenant Tayler died at Staines, Middlesex, on 26 April 1944, aged 59.
Lot 263
The Victory Medal awarded to Naval Chaplain the Reverend H. D. Dixon-Wright, M.V.O., Royal Navy, who was mortally wounded in H.M.S. Barham at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 and died the following day, 1 June 1916, one of nine Chaplains who died at Jutland Victory Medal 1914-19 (Chapn. H. D. Dixon-Wright. R.N.) extremely fine £140-£180 --- Note: The recipient’s other medals, comprising Royal Victorian Order (Fourth Class); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-20; and Delhi Durbar Medal 1911; together with his Memorial Plaque and a Presentation Bible personally inscribed by H.M. King George V, were sold at auction at Reeman Dansie, Colchester, in March 2005. The Reverend Henry Dixon Dixon-Wright was born Henry Dixon Wright in Upper Holloway, London, on 25 April 1870, and was educated at Highgate School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He trained for the priesthood at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and was ordained Deacon in 1893, and Priest in 1894. He was appointed an Anglican Chaplain in the Royal Navy on 10 November 1899, and after serving in various ships was appointed Chaplain at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, in 1907. In 1911 he changed his surname to Dixon-Wright. Whilst at Dartmouth Dixon-Wright was responsible for preparing both the Prince of Wales and the Prince Albert (the future Kings Edward VIII and George VI) for confirmation, and in 1911 acted as Chaplain to H.M. King George V on his journey to and from India for the Delhi Durbar, for which service he was created a Member Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order, and was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal. Following the outbreak of the Great War Dixon-Wright was posted first to the pre-dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Albemarle, and then in October 1915 was appointed Chaplain to the newly-commissioned battleship H.M.S. Barham. He served in her at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 where Barham acted as flagship of the 5th Battle Squadron. She was heavily engaged with Hipper’s battle cruisers, scoring hits on the Lutzow, Derfflinger and Seydlitz, but also getting badly mauled in the process, several hits causing her serious casualties, among them four officers and 22 ratings killed. Dixon-Wright was mortally wounded at Jutland, a biographical note on Royal Navy Chaplains recording that ‘as he lay severely wounded with a shattered spine and leg, he was praying for victory.’ He was brought back to Orkney and died the day after he battle, on 1 June 1916, one of nine Chaplains who died as a result of the Battle. He is buried at Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery, Orkney. Sold with copied research.
Lot 72
Four: Petty Officer Steward B. W. Cranshaw, Royal Navy British War and Victory Medals (L.10055 B. W. Cranshaw. O.S.3. R.N.) abrasions to ‘3’ of rate on both; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (L.10055 B. W. Cranshaw. P.O. Stwd. H.M.S. Victory.) mounted as worn, polished, nearly very fine (4) £70-£90 --- Benjamin William Cranshaw was born in East Ham, London, on 7 June 1898 and joined the Royal Navy as an Officer’s Steward Third Class on 8 February 1917. He served during the latter stages of the Great War in a variety of ships, including H.M.S. Dido, H.M.S. Nimrod, and H.M.S. Shakespeare, and was promoted Officer’s Steward Second Class on 25 January 1919, and First Class on 1 July of that year. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 17 February 1932 and was advanced Chief Petty Officer Steward on 24 June 1934. He was awarded the 1937 Coronation Medal whilst serving in H.M.S. Glorious, and was shore pensioned on 7 February 1939.
Lot 201
Three: Private K. H. S. Heading, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (5933168 Pte. K. Heading. D.C.L.I.) in named card box of issue, extremely fine (3) £70-£90 --- Kenneth Herbert Saville Heading, a native of Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, served with a large number of different units over a comparatively short space of time, first attesting for the Suffolk Regiment on 22 February 1939, before transferring to the Cambridgeshire Regiment in March of that year; and then to the Royal Engineers in December of that year. He served during the Second World War at home in various searchlight and Anti-Aircraft units, before transferring to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 12 October 1944. He was seconded to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 3 January 1945, and then to the Worcestershire Regiment on 6 June 1945, and served post-War with the 1st Battalion in North-West Europe from 28 December 1945 to 9 May 1946. Returning to his parent unit he was awarded his Efficiency Medal per Army Order 85 of July 1947, and was discharged on 10 February 1954. Sold with copied service papers and other research.
Lot 229
Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Henry Coles 3rd Lt. Dragns.) minor contact wear and lightly polished, otherwise very fine £600-£800 --- Henry Coles enlisted into the 3rd Light Dragoons in January 1839 and embarked for India before the end of that year. He saw action in the First Sikh War and was wounded at Moodkee on 18 December 1845, afterwards taking part in the battles of Ferozeshuhur and Sobraon (Medal with 2 clasps). He subsequently took part in the Second Sikh War and was present at the battle of Chilianwala (Medal with clasp). Regimental musters record that he died at Landour, Punjab, on 6 September 1849. Sold with copied muster rolls and other research.
Lot 137
A fine and regimentally scarce ‘Malaya’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Major O. J. Mirylees, Royal Leicestershire Regiment, attached 3rd Battalion, The Malay Regiment. A successful ambush tactician, he regularly proved his ability over 12 months in the jungles of Malaya - accounting for 6 terrorists killed, and 1 captured. He was severely wounded leading his men in a night ambush in October 1955, having already been mentioned in despatches for his work in the jungles of Burma during the Second World War Military Cross, E.II.R., reverse officially dated ‘1957’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (Major O. J. Mirylees. R. Leicesters.) mounted as originally worn, very fine (7) £3,000-£4,000 --- M.C. London Gazette 28 May 1957: ‘For vigourous leadership and gallantry in the Malayan jungle whilst in command of a Company of the 3rd Battalion, The Malay Regiment. Although severely wounded and in great pain he continued to conduct the operation for over an hour until action was completed.’ The original recommendation states: ‘Major O. J. Mirylees had just taken over Command of ‘B’ Company, 3rd Bn The Malay Regiment when the Battalion began operations in the Batu Gajah area in March 1955. Since then his enthusiasm, his vigorous leadership and gallant example in several engagements have inspired all under his command and turned his Company into an outstanding jungle fighting team. In October 1955, when in command of a small night ambush near Tronoh Town Major Mirylees was severely wounded in the thigh in one of the first exchanges of fire. Given first aid by a Sergeant he then refused to be evacuated and maintained his position, regardless of great pain, for over an hour until satisfied there was no further C.T. movement. Next morning a wounded C.T. was captured. In December 1955, before he had really recovered Major Mirylees personally went out and sited a nine man ambush, which on the following day killed all the three C.T.’s who appeared. In two further contacts in October 1956 ‘B’ Company patrols killed three more C.T.’s. These six kills and one capture, in the last twelve months in an acknowledged difficult area are directly attributed to the zeal, drive and dogged determination which Major Mirylees has displayed throughout to a degree far beyond the normal call of duty. It were most fitting were this officer’s outstanding services to be recognised.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 19 September 1946 (Burma). Oswald James Mirylees was born in November 1920, and commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Leicestershire Regiment in December 1939. He advanced to Temporary Captain in January 1941, to Captain in July 1946, and to Major December 1952. Mirylees was Specially Employed with the Federation of Malaya Military Forces, and was attached for service with the 3rd Battalion, The Malay Regiment, October 1954 - February 1958. He rejoined the 1st Battalion, The Royal Leicestershire Regiment at the end of February 1958, and was appointed to the command of ‘C’ Company. Mirylees retired in April 1960, and in later life resided in Bognor Regis. Major Mirylees died in March 2007. 1 of 2 M.C.’s to the Regiment for service in Malaya, the other for service whilst on attachment with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment. Mirylees is mentioned in Marching With The Tigers by M. Goldschmidt, included in which there is a photographic image of him.
Lot 318
Victoria Cross, an official Hancocks & Co, London, replica, the reverse engraved ‘Hancocks 90’, in fitted leather case of issue, extremely fine £300-£400 --- The Victoria Cross was instituted on 29 January 1856, with the first awards backdated to 1854, and in the first 150 years of its existence was awarded on 1,355 occasions (1,352 Crosses and 3 Second Award Bars). To mark the 150th Anniversary, the London jewellers Hancocks, who have manufactured every Victoria Cross ever awarded, issued a limited edition replica, the replicas all individually numbered on the reverse, with the edition limited to 1,352 replica crosses. Sold together with Hancocks Numbered Certificate of authenticity.
Lot 258
The British War Medal awarded to Wireless Operator A. H. Jeffries, Mercantile Marine, who was killed when the R.M.S. Leinster was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-123 off Dublin Bay on 10 October 1918 with the loss of over 500 lives British War Medal 1914-20 (Arthur H. Jeffries) good very fine £70-£90 --- Arthur Henry Jeffries was born in Chesterton, Cambridgeshire, in 1891, and after training at the British School of Telegraphy in London qualified as a Marconi Radio operator. He served during the Great War as the radio operator in the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company’s vessels R.M.S. Ulster and R.M.S. Leinster, and was killed when the Leinster was torpedoed by the German submarine U-123 just outside Dublin Bay in the Irish Sea, en route from Dublin to Holyhead, on 10 October 1918 - his last radio message was ‘S.O.S. S.O.S. S.O.S. Torpedoed Torpedoed Torpedoed.’ Two torpedoes struck the ship, the first exploding near the bows where 22 Post Office officials were engaged in sorting the mail. Of these men 21 were killed instantly. The second torpedo penetrated her engine room and killed and injured many persons. The weather was bad, with a very heavy sea; nevertheless an attempt was made to take the steamship in tow. In response to Jeffries’ S.O.S. message a destroyer came on the scene in time to rescue 33 persons, but too late to assist the Leinster, which had foundered in the meantime. At the time of the attack many passengers were lying in their berths owing to the rough sea, and there was much confusion when they rushed on deck. Several of the boats were got out too hurriedly and capsized, and in total over 500 lives were lost, many being service personnel who were returning from leave. Jeffries’ body was recovered from the sea and he was buried in the family grave at Deansgrange Cemetery, Dublin. Sold with copied research.
Lot 2
Three: Ordinary Seaman Joseph Douglas, Royal Navy India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Josh. Douglas. Boy “Hastings”); Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Josh. Douglas. Ord.) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed, fitted with contemporary swivel bar suspension, each medal individually suspended from a contemporary pin bar, hinge defective on pin, suspension and back-strap of clasp bent on the first, light contact marks, otherwise very fine (3) £500-£600 --- Joseph Douglas was born at Saffron Walden, Essex, on 18 June 1836, and joined the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Hastings on 1 September 1851, advancing to Boy 1st Class on 25 October 1852. He joined H.M.S. London in the same rate on 6 May 1853, was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 25 October 1854, and served in London until 26 January 1856, when he moved to Cormorant.
Lot 40
Four: Chief Painter G. A. E. Potter, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (M.4741, G. A. E. Potter, Ptr. 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.4741 G. A. E. Potter. Ptr. 1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (M.4751 G. A. E. Potter. Ch. Ptr. H.M.S. Victory.) light contact marks, very fine (4) £100-£140 --- George Ambrose Edward Potter was born in Bristol on 24 August 1891 and joined the Royal Navy as a Painter Second Class on 2 February 1910. Promoted Painter First Class on 30 September 1914, he served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst holding the rate of Chief Painter in 1925. He was shore pensioned on 12 January 1932.
Lot 122
A well documented Northern Ireland campaign group of three awarded to Platoon Sergeant M. E. L. Hamilton, Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment, who enlisted in the U.D.R in October 1973 among the very first group of women to be fully integrated into the infantry of the British Army and went on to complete 20 years of service during the ‘Troubles’. General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (F/448167 Sgt M E L Hamilton UDR); Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994, E.II.R., with Additional Award Bar (FO448167 Sgt M E L Hamilton UDR); Ulster Defence Regiment Medal, E.II.R. (F448167 Sgt M E L Hamilton UDR) court mounted together with brooch bar for wearing, nearly extremely fine (3) £600-£800 --- M. E. L. Hamilton was born in 1949 and enlisted in the Ulster Defence Regiment as a part-time member on 22 October 1973, less than 3 months after Royal Assent had been given to the U.D.R. Bill (allowing women to enlist) - a development that the Army quartermaster’s stores were not fully prepared for: ‘Unfortunately our uniforms were not available, so we trained in ‘civvies’. When we eventually received a uniform it consisted of ATS skirts (surplus WW2), dark green jumper, green beret, tie, cravat in battalion colour, black gloves, blacked laced shoes, khaki shirt and black knee length boots for winter and a jacket. We did not have our own flakjackets and had to wear men’s. It was a rush to get to the stores to get the smaller flakjackets when going out on duty. You can imagine how uncomfortable they were. Years later we were issued with lightweight denim trousers, puttees and boots.’ (Recipient’s notes.) The Ulster Defence Regiment was the first infantry regiment in the British Army to fully integrate women into its structure. At its height there were 11 battalions in Northern Ireland. Known as Greenfinches, they were the vanguard for women today to integrate into all the military forces in the United Kingdom. Hamilton served with the 10th (City of Belfast) Battalion, U.D.R., based at Abbotscroft, Newtownabbey from 1973 until 1984 in Greenfinch platoon, receiving her Accumulated Campaign Service Medal on 31 January 1981 and attaining the rank of F/Sgt. in 1978. She was then posted Platoon Sergeant, Greenfinch Platoon, 7/10th (City of Belfast) Battalion at Girdwood Park, receiving the 1st Clasp to her ACSM on 30 April 1984. In 1989 she was posted again with the 7/10th to Malone HQ, Belfast where she served as Platoon Sergeant, Part Time Signals Platoon until 1992. She joined the newly formed Royal Irish Regiment on 1 July 1992, on its creation following the merger of the U.D.R. and the Royal Irish Rangers. Serving until discharged on 21 October 1993 on completion of her engagement, Hamilton completed exactly 20 years of service. Sold with the following items and ephemera: (i) Certificates (4). a) Greenfinches Ulster Defence Regiment 1973-1988 (record of appreciation for faithful and valuable service rendered voluntarily for 15 years since the formation of the Greenfinches as part of the U.D.R. on 1st August 1973). b) The 365 Club 10th (City of Belfast) Battalion (Cpl Hamilton MEL joined the Regiment on 22 October 1973 and has on 1 October 1977 completed 365 days operational duty, for which devotion to the cause of restoring peace to the Province is appointed a member of the 365 Club - dated 23 November 1977.) c) Certificate of Service - The U.D.R. (Certificate is issued as a record of appreciation for faithful and valuable service rendered voluntarily as a member of the U.D.R. F0448167 Sgt. Hamilton MEL has served in the U.D.R. with loyalty and devotion for eighteen years and eight months. Dated 30 June 1992.) d) Certificate of Discharge including Certificate of Service. (ii) Recipient’s miniature awards, mounted for wear with one additional miniature GSM with Northern Ireland clasp. (iii) Named card boxes of issue for A.C.S.M. and U.D.R. medal. (iv) U.D.R. women’s stable belt - very good condition. (v) U.D.R. / Royal Irish Regiment beret badges (2) one in black, one in gold; U.D.R. / Royal Irish Regiment lapel badge; Royal Irish Regiment shoulder title. (vi) Metal U.D.R. stripes (3) lance corporal, corporal, sergeant. (vii) Cloth epaulets for 10 UDR and 7/10 UDR; cloth Signals badge; cloth R.I.R. chevrons. (viii) Medal riband bar; Greenfinches 40th Anniversary metal and enamel badge; UDR remembrance metal and enamel badge. (ix) Metal medallions with UDR badge to the obverse (3) - the 1st inscribed to the reverse ‘GF skills 1983 winning team’; the second inscribed to the reverse ‘10 UDR SAAM 84 winners WUDR match’; the third blank to the reverse. (x) Wooden heraldic shield with hand painted crest of the UDR together with Greenfinch symbol, the dates 1973-1983 on scroll beneath, height 17.3cm. (xi) Photographs of the recipient in uniform (2). The first at Hillsborough Castle, June 1980, with the Duchess of Kent; the second at a UDR medal presentation ceremony. All the above items expertly and neatly categorised and boxed.
Lot 343
A Second War Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal group of six awarded to Major Orlando Cartford Asper, a B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ pilot United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze, slot brooch, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; Air Medal, bronze, with 3 clusters on riband, wrap brooch, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; American Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue; Victory Medal 1945, bronze, slot brooch, in box of issue; Army Occupation medal, bronze, crimp brooch; Distinguished Unit Citation badge, generally very fine or better (7) £400-£500 --- Orlando “Ole” Cartford Asper was born in Kikungshan, Henan Province, China on 13 June 1917, to Lutheran Missionary parents. Having returned to the United States, he attended Pacific Lutheran High School Division, Pacific Lutheran College, Parkland. Having joined the Army Air Corps Cadet Programme at Army Air Forces Advance Flying School, Stockton Field, California on 26 January 1942, qualifying as a pilot in November 1942, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Force. From May 1943, he served as a Captain (pilot), flying B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of 96th Bomb Group, 45th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force, from Snetterton Heath, England. Between May and October 1942, Asper was pilot of a B-17 named "Kipling's Error", flying at least 25 Missions over target in occupied France and Germany. On 13 August 1943, he was awarded his first Air Medal for 5 combat missions, three more were to follow. He was also awarded the 8th Air Force Certificate of Valour by General Eaker for 25 combat missions. After completing his tour, in October 1943, he returned to the U.S.A. as a Pilot Instructor, before returning to Europe as 1st Lieutenant, piloting twin engine aircraft passenger flights for European Air Transport Service. He also served as Administrative Officer for 8 months in 1946-7, duties including meeting and greeting dignitaries at Rhein Main Airfield, Germany. Appointed a Captain in the U.S.A.F. Reserve on 1 April 1948, he rejoined U.S.A.F. 7th Division Strategic Air Command as an Admin Officer in January 1951 and retired on 30 September 1965. In civilian life, ‘Ole’ taught biology and science in York High School, Nebraska, and also taught at the University of Washington in Seattle. He later worked as an engineer for Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle, where he worked on numerous projects, including hovercraft and hydroplanes; he also worked as a nuclear waste engineer for Westinghouse at Hanford Nuclear Plant in Richland, WA. He died on 3 April 1986, in Seattle, King county, Washington. Sold with original 1942 Graduation book, Aviation Cadet Class 42-K. Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School, Stockton Field, California, 8th Air Force Certificate of Valour for 25 combat missions signed by General Ira Eaker, portrait photo, very extensive & detailed official copy of service record, personnel reports, and other original papers.
Lot 345
A B-17 Flying Fortress pilot’s Distinguished Service Cross group of six awarded to Major Sidney Hantman, of 322 Squadron who was badly wounded when cannon-shell from a German fighter blew off his arm during an attack on the Arado Fleugenwerke in October 1943 - at the time he was ‘filling in’ for a sick rear gunner having already completed his own tour of operations as a pilot - he continued his duty until he passed out from loss of blood United States of America, Distinguished Service Cross, bronze, numbered ‘13747’, wrap brooch; in case of issue (cover distressed), with miniature Distinguished Service Cross, with brooch mount; Air Medal, bronze, numbered 16441, wrap brooch; Purple Heart, gilt and enamel, slot brooch, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; Army Commendation Medal; American Defense Service Medal, bronze, slot brooch, in box of issue; Victory Medal 1945, slot brooch, in box of issue, generally very fine or better (6) £800-£1,000 --- Distinguished Service Cross Citation: ‘The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sidney Hantman, First Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Tail Gunner and Observer in a B-17 Heavy Bomber of the 322nd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), EIGHTH Air Force, during a bombardment mission over Germany on 9 October 1943. Although he had completed his missions as a pilot and was serving as squadron Operations Officer, First Lieutenant Hantman volunteered to fill a crew vacancy by occupying the tail gunner observer position. Before arriving at the target area, his aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters and he was struck by an explosive shell which blew off his right arm at the shoulder, and caused a compound fracture of his right leg and inflicted extensive wounds to his right thigh. In total disregard of the pain of his wounds and without regard for the preservation of his life, Lieutenant Hantman remained at his post without first aid or assistance and continued to discharge his duties under enemy attack until he was on the verge of unconsciousness. He then began to work his way forward to obtain someone to take over his post at which time he collapsed from shock and loss of blood. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Hantman on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces. Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 15 (1944).’ Sidney Hantman was born on 23 April 1916, in Springfield. In 1943, he was serving as an Assistant operations officer, flying in B17 Flying Fortress’s of 322 Squadron, part of 91st Bomb Group. On 9 October 1943, as part of the crew of B-17 #604 (42-5804) "Hell’s Hallo”, Hantman took part in a raid on the Arado Fleugenwerke, in Anklam, Germany. However just before reaching their target, the aircraft was hit by a 20mm cannon round. A Squadron report stated that: ‘1st Lt. Sidney Hantman (Ass't operations officer of this squadron) while riding in the tail position of A/C 604 piloted by Lt. Everett and Major Donald Sheeler, was struck by a 20 mm. It cut his right arm off close to the shoulder, penetrated his thigh and went on through his leg. Hantman was hit just before the formation reached the target at about *** hours. Tourniquet could not be applied as arm was sheared off too close to body. S/Sgt . W. S. French, right waist gunner on A/C 804, was struck by flak or bullet in hand. Injury not serious although French was hospitalized. S/Sgt A. K. Baker, radio operator on A/C 511, struck in forehead by flak.’ A further Squadron report of the raid stated: ‘A/A Fire: No fire at target, meager to moderate fire from Madergale, Rostock, Warnestrude, Fehasian Island and Bad Sulms. All inaccurate. We were out of their range. Enemy Opposition: Up to 300 E/ A were encountered, mostly twin engine craft, some single engines - FW190, ME109, ME110, He111, Do217, JU87, JU88, FW189. First met E/A at 1032 hours and not until our remaining planes of the formation were well offshore at 1035 did the E/A cease their attacks. Enemy employed rockets which were fired by the Me110, Ju88 and FW190. Although fighter support was to have met us at point in the North Sea, our formation did not see them.’ 1st Lieutenant Hantman and Staff Sergeant French were taken to the 49th Station Hospital before moving to a hospital in or near Cambridge. He was later taken back to America and sent to Water Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. He met his wife-to-be at Walter Reed and had one or more children. Promoted Major, in later life Hantman was a life member of The Legion of Valor, serving as National Commander 1968-1969. He resided in Maryland and died at home at Silver Spring on 17 March 1973. Sold with medal riband bar, mounted as worn in photographs, Major’s rank insignia, leather flying jacket name label, large 322nd Bombardment Squadron and smaller Army Air Force cloth flying jacket patches; Legion of Valor banner and National Commander forage cap, U.S. Air Force sweetheart cushion cover; paperwork, including service record, original citation and certificate for Army Commendation; period file with detailed commendations, menu from dinner honouring Hantman in 1957, Hartman’s Armed Forces of the United States card, with photo and left fingerprint, noting his right ‘Amputated’, giving his rank of Major, dated June 1950; Legion of Valor membership card, Governor of Kentucky Order of Kentucky Colonels membership, 1973, 91st Bomb Group Memorial Association membership, 1973; together with a large quantity of photographs, including one of the attack where he lost his arm, of large portrait (wearing medal ribands), damaged aircraft, veteran shots, also meeting with President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Lot 350
A scarce Korean War South African, 2 Squadron ‘Flying Cheetahs’, P51 ‘Mustang’ fighter pilot’s gallantry group of six awarded to Captain, later Kommandant, Sydney Grey de la Harpe, who was awarded the United States Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals (for 80 missions) for his distinguished service and valour during the Korean war South Africa, Korea 1950-53 (Lt. S. G. De La Harpe) officially impressed naming; South African Good Conduct Medal, edge officially numbered ‘613’; United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze, impressed (SYDNEY G. DE LA HARPE); United States of America, Air Medal, bronze, with three oak leaf clusters emblem on riband; U.N. Korea (Lt. S. G. De La Harpe) officially impressed naming; South Korea, Korea Medal, very fine and better (6) £1,200-£1,600 --- United States of America, D.F.C. citation: ‘Lieutenant Sydney Grey de la Harpe, South African Air Force, did distinguish himself by extraordinary achievement whilst participating in aerial flight on 24 June 1951. He led a flight of F-51 type aircraft on interdiction of Sariwon Airfield, North Korea. Second Lieutenant R. L. Staats flew in the position of wing man in this three-ship mission carrying 500 lb. bombs as well as rockets and .50 ammunition. Although anti-aircraft fire was continuous and intense over the airfield, Lieutenant de la Harpe personally directed successive attacks showing leadership and valor far above and beyond that normally expected. He directed the attacks with such outstanding success that four direct hits were obtained on the runway and two gun positions were destroyed. He did not leave the area until he was positive that the optimum damage had been inflicted. By his devotion to duty and his confident direction of the attacks, Lieutenant de la Harpe has caused the greatest possible damage to the enemy potential. His act has brought the highest credit on himself, his Unit, and the South African Air Force.’ Sydney Grey de la Harpe was born on 17 April 1929, at his father’s farm Taungs, Middleburg, Cape Province. After matriculation from school, fluent in English and Afrikaans, he attested as a Cadet in the S.A. Military College on 1 April 1947. He qualified on 31 March 1949 and was posted to Central Flying School, Migel, on 2 April 1949, additionally being appointed 2nd Lieutenant for flying duties. Posted to 2 (Flying Cheetahs) Squadron, with the original contingent of 49 officers and 157 men, he left Durban for Tokyo, Japan en route to Korea on 26 September 1950. Arriving at Johnson Air Base on 5 November, the squadron spent the next 10 days converting to F-51 Mustangs. Here the Americans tried to treat them like complete novices, whereas most had flown the Mustang previously, some during the Second War. It took a serious demonstration in acrobatic flying to show the Americans the error of their ways. By 12 November, the conversion was complete and the first pilots were on their way to Korea. On 16 November a further 13 officers and 21 other ranks left for K9 airfield at Pusan. The squadron was attached to the American 18th Fighter Bomber Wing, with whom they remained for the rest of the war. On 19 November, the advance detachment moved to K24 near the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, flying their first combat mission the same day. De La Harpe’s first mission was on 30 December 1950, an attack on an enemy occupied village and by the end of January 1951, he had completed a further 11 missions against enemy ground targets, on one mission his aircraft being damaged by anti-aircraft fire during an attack on an enemy Command Post. During the following five months, he took part in a further 71 combat missions, the majority against ground targets, with his last mission being flown on 24 June, for a total of 83 missions flown. Two weeks after his last mission, de La Harpe’s tour was over and on 11 July he was on his way home. For his service in Korea, he was awarded the United States Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals for 80 combat missions. On his return home, he filled many senior positions in the South African Air Force before finally retiring in 1969 after 22 years’ service to take up a position as a sales representative (flying) with a Johannesburg aviation company. He died on 10 August 2010. Sold with official photos from S.A.A.F., including one of de la Harpe receiving the U.S. D.F.C. Also, a large amount of copied research, including service record, copies of his 83 combat mission reports. Together with ‘The American DFC to UK and Commonwealth Forces for Korea’ by W. Westlake (contains de la Harpe’s citation) and a DVD produced by ‘The Friends of the SAAF Museum’, being two informal Q&A sessions with S.A.A.F. veterans who were pilots in North Africa during WWII and Korea, including de la Harpe.
Lot 102
Seven: Plumber First Class A. J. J. Brown, Royal Navy 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (MX.45170 A. J. J. Brown. Pbr. 1, H.M.S. Pembroke) minor official correction to name of ship on last, nearly extremely fine (7) £60-£80
Lot 14
Five: Petty Officer M. J. Frayne, Royal Navy Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (M. J. Frayne, P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Perseus.); 1914-15 Star (174621, M. J. Frayne, C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (147621 M. J. Frayne. C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (174621 M. J. Frayne, P.O., H.M.S. Gagnes.), contact marks, very fine (5) £200-£240 --- Martin Joseph Frayne was born in Wigan, Lancashire, on 11 February 1877 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 2 August 1893. Promoted Petty Officer First Class on 8 June 1901, he served in H.M.S. Perseus from 22 October 1903 to 8 May 1906, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 22 February 1910. Promoted Chief Petty Officer on 19 September 1912, he served during the Great War in H.M. Ships Euryalus and Northbrook, and was shore demobilised on 8 January 1920.
Lot 127
The important M.B.E. and K.P.F.S.M. group of four awarded to Mr Horace Sampson Lyne, Chief Fire Officer for Newport, Monmouth, for 50 years, a Welsh International Rugby player and referee who played an important role as a founder member of the International Rugby Board (I.R.B.), serving for 51 years, and as President of the Welsh Rugby Union (W.R.U.) for 41 years The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1933; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer‘s breast badge, silver and enamel, with heraldic beasts in angles; King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue, for Distinguished Service (Horace Sampson Lyne M.B.E. Chief of Newport (Mons.) Fire Brigade); Jubilee 1935, very fine (4) £500-£600 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 7 January 1918. The above badge added to complete group. K.P.F.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1932. Officer St. John London Gazette 26 June 1934 Horace Sampson Lyne was born at Newport on 31 December 1860, the son of Charles Lyne, mayor of the town in 1856 and 1884. He was educated in Plymouth and at the Royal Naval College, Keyham, and by profession he was a solicitor. At aged 18, he played as full back for Newport rugby club, but it was as a skilful forward that he found success, as the captain of the club in 1883-84, being capped five times for Wales, 1883-85. In 1885 he refereed the England vs. Ireland Rugby International. In 1886-87, he was one of the founders of the International Rugby Board, as a representative of the game in Wales, and he served the Board without a break from 1887 to 1938 (51 years). He served as the respected President of the Welsh Rugby Union for 41 years, longer than anyone else, and steered the rugby affairs of Wales throughout the first half of the 20th century. He was Chief Officer, Newport Reserve Constabulary 1914-18, when Newport had no Chief Constable (M.B.E.), Chairman of Newport Athletic Club 1894-1949, and Newport’s Chief Fire Officer for 50 years (K.P.F.S.M.). Newport Fire Brigade, by the Secretary C. Hallett: ‘Up to the year 1884, the duties appertaining to the extinguishing of fires were carried out by the Police of the town. In that year, however, the Mayor (Councillor J. W. Jones, J.P.) called a public meeting of the Burgesses, at which meeting it was resolved unanimously to form a Volunteer Fire Brigade. The Mayor became Honorary Captain, and continued in that office, for many years. Mr. R. J. Whitehall, a gentleman who had had some previous experience of fire brigade work, was appointed Captain and there were two Lieutenants, viz. Messrs. Horace S. Lyne and F. W. Cross, and twenty Firemen. A subscription list was opened for providing uniforms, etc., and the Corporation made a grant of £50 and handed over such appliances as they had. Most of these seem to have been very old and in a bad condition. They included two manual pumps, a hose reel and a quantity of leather hose. One of the manuals is still in existence, having been retained for its sentimental and historic value. The first Fire Station (a very inadequate building), was opposite the Police Office in Dock Street. The building is still in existence and is now used as a garage for the Police patrol cars. The records of the Brigade show that there were many difficulties to contend with in those days. Such hydrants as were in the town were of varying patterns and a lot of delay was occasioned in getting the standpipes and hose to fit. Delay also often arose in getting horses to draw the appliances to the scene of a fire. It was the custom then to have detachments of firemen on special duty on November 5th and on the nights of Parliamentary Elections. For some years the firemen were called to fires by the Police going round the men's houses. Nowadays each fireman's dwelling is connected to the Central Fire Station by an electric call bell or a telephone. In 1886, Mr. Horace Lyne was appointed Captain of the Brigade and continued as Chief Officer until his retirement in 1934, on the completion of 50 years' service. Mr. Lyne's services are still at the disposal of the Brigade in an advisory capacity, and he now holds the rank of Honorary Chief Officer. The first steam fire engine was purchased in 1885, a second steamer was obtained in 1900, and in the latter year the first professional fireman was appointed. In 1896, a new Fire Station, built on the site of the present premises, was opened, and three horses were purchased and kept at stables there. This appears to be the commencement of the period when the Brigade had its own horses, and those who are in a position to remember still speak in admiration of the perfect training of the horses and the way in which they took up positions to be turned out when an alarm of fire was raised. In 1912, the Brigade had its first motor fire engine, and two years later all the horses were dispensed with and two motor pumps purchased. The Central Fire Station was enlarged to its present extent in 1915 and re-opened by the then Lord Tredegar.’ Lyne was very prominent in the public affairs of Newport and was granted the Freedom of the town in 1934, and made an officer of the Order of St. John in the same year. In 1938, he was appointed Chancellor of the See of Monmouth, and he was a member of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales. He died on 1 May 1949 in Newport. He is a holder of the National Fire brigades Association Honorary life member medal. Much detail of Lyne’s services to Welsh rugby can be found in ‘Fields of Praise’ by David Smith and Gareth Williams (1980), the Official History of the W.R.U. Sold with a copy of ‘Fields of Praise’ by David Smith and Gareth Williams (1980), and ‘Newport Athletic Club 1875-1975’, together with a comprehensive file of copied research.
Lot 247
The British South Africa Company’s Medal to Trooper F. L. Vogel, Salisbury Horse, formerly Assistant Secretary to Dr. L. S. Jameson and a member of Major Wilson’s heroic patrol, killed in action at Shangani River on 4 December 1893 British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893, no clasp (Troopr. F. L. Vogel, Salisbury Horse) extremely fine and a rare casualty £6,000-£8,000 --- Provenance: A. A. Upfill-Brown Collection, Buckland, Dix and Wood, 4 December 1991 (Lot 63); Dix Noonan Webb, June 2009 (Lot 888). Frank Leon Vogel was born in Auckland in October 1870, the second son of the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., the famous early Jewish Prime Minister of New Zealand. After being educated at Charterhouse young Frank joined the London Office of the British South Africa Company in 1890. In April of the following year, however, he departed for South Africa and enlisted in the Mashonaland Mounted Police as a Trooper at Fort Tuli - he appears in a group photograph taken at Rhodes Drift on the Limpopo River in August 1891, The Men Who Made Rhodesia stating that he appears as a ‘young fellow in his early twenties, long-faced and rather sad looking, with a thin moustache. He wears a smasher hat, dark tunic and breeches, top-boots and bandolier, and holds a Martini-Henry rifle.’ Following the disbandment of his unit, Vogel joined the Survey Department at Salisbury, and subsequently became Acting Assistant-Secretary to Dr. L. S. Jameson. But with the advent of the Matabele Rebellion in 1893, he enrolled in ‘B’ Troop of the Salisbury Horse under Captain Borrow, and during the campaign served the Maxim gun attached to his Troop, under Lieutenant Llewellyn. He left Salisbury with the column, but returned alone two or three weeks afterwards on business. Rejoining his Troop two or three days after they left Fort Charter, he marched with the column, and was in all the engagements on the way to Bulawayo, serving the Maxim gun, besides volunteering for special scouting expeditions. He was one of the small party sent out in search of Captain G. Williams, and also one of the expedition on which Captain Campbell was killed, in addition to which he served the Maxim at the engagement on the Shangani River on the 25 October, and also at Imbembesi on 1 November, where he had a narrow escape, one bullet passing through his hat. Reaching Bulawayo safe and sound in early November, on the 10th he wrote his last letter to his relatives, being then evidently in high spirits, and regarding the campaign as over. He departed Bulawayo on the 14th and remained with Major Forbes throughout the patrol which ended at Shiloh; thence again, as a volunteer, he accompanied the force under Major Forbes to the Shangani River, where under Captain Borrow, he joined Major Wilson’s ill-fated patrol. Shangani River Frederick Burnham, the American scout, later Chief of Scouts under Lord Roberts, was the last man to leave the beleaguered patrol before their final stand at Shangani River. In his book Scouting on Two Continents, he describes his last meeting with Major Wilson and his officers, and the fate that befell his patrol: ‘It had now stopped raining. Captains Judd, Kirton, Fitzgerald, Greenfield and Brown gathered with us round Wilson. The first three were experienced colonials, and Wilson asked each what he thought to be the best move. Kirton, with a bitter smile, said: "There is no best move." Fitzgerald said: "We are in a hell of a fix. There is only one thing to do, cut our way out.” Judd said: "This is the end.” Picking up the threads of the grim story, we are told by Majors Forbes and Sir John Willoughby that, after crossing the river and following the king's spoor, Major Wilson and his men reached a series of scherms, or temporary encampments protected by felled bush or trees. These scherms were filled with Matabele, who, however, offered no resistance, probably because they did not know the strength of the whites, or believed them to be but the advance guard of a larger body. So the Patrol rode on till they reached the royal scherm, within which the king's wagons were dimly visible in the gathering gloom. Here a halt was called, and Lobengula summoned to surrender. The reply was an ominous rattle of arms within the reed fence, while parties of Matabele, rifle in hand, came hurrying up from the rear. With so small a force nothing could be done, and the Patrol withdrew into the bush, Captain Napier and Troopers Robertson and Mayne being sent for reinforcements. These in due time appeared in the form of Captain Borrow with eighteen mounted men. A miserable night was passed under arms in the drenching rain, and when day at length dawned, Major Wilson decided to make one more dash for the king, with the tragic result, which will not soon be forgotten in South Africa. From the start the Patrol was outnumbered, and almost as soon as the attack began, Ingram, Burnham, and Gooding had to be sent to cross the river, if that were possible, to ask for further support. That support, however, never arrived, and Burnham's first breathless remark to Major Forbes, after reaching the main body, was “I think I may say we are the sole survivors of that party.” The Shangani had risen in flood, added to which Major Forbes was himself attacked in force on the way down to the river. Either of these circumstances was enough to prevent the arrival of succour in time to save the doomed men to whom the last chance of escape was lost. To the end, however, there was no thought of surrender, no request for quarter. They resolved to show the Matabele that the white man could play a losing as well as a winning game. Taking cover behind the dead bodies of their horses, with an iron calmness they fought on for two long hours, pouring a destructive fire into their encircling foes, and coolly singling out the Indunas for their aim. One by one, however, they sank under the heavy fire from the bush, but many of the wounded continued, so the natives say, to re-load and pass their rifles to their uninjured comrades. Again and again the Matabele would issue from their cover to attempt a conclusive charge, but again and again were repulsed with a well-directed fire; upon which Wilson and his men would wake the echoes with an undismayed, defiant cheer. But at last the end came. Of the thirty-four valiant men whose hearts beat high with hope and courage as they rode behind their leader in the early dawn that morning, only one remained erect; the rest lay prone, dead or dying, upon that field of honour. The name of the one man who stood at bay against an army of Matabele will never be known; his remains could not be identified. But the natives tell that, picking up several rifles and bandoliers, this hero amongst heroes made his way to an ant-heap some twenty yards from where the rest lay stretched upon the earth. From that point of vantage he checked, single-handed, several rushes of the Matabele with a cool and deadly fire. At length, shot through the hips, he sank on his knees, but continued to load and fire until he succumbed to his wounds. Then, and not till then, the Matabele came out from the bush, but on reaching the hallowed circle where the Patrol lay side by side, were fired upon by several of the unconquerable wounded who were still alive. So great had been the terror and demoralisation inspired by the desperate bravery of the Patrol, that when the revolvers rang out the natives turned and fled precipitately into the bush; and it was not till several hours later - ‘when the sun was right overhead' - as the Matabele tell the tale - that they again ventured to leave their cover. But by this time death had mercifully come to the wounded, and as the native war...
Lot 257
The 1914-15 Star awarded to Private William Trebble, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, who was wounded on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, near Beaumont-Hamel 1914-15 Star (18 Pte. W. Trebble. R. Newf’d R.) very fine £400-£500 --- William Trebble, a fireman from 11 Knight Street, St John's enlisted in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment as one of the famous ‘first 500’ on 7 September 1914. He was wounded in action on the first day of the battle of the Somme, one of nearly 700 casualties suffered within 40 minutes of the Newfoundlanders going over the top. After seeing action in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey from September 1915 to January 1916, the regiment was withdrawn and the Newfoundlanders sent to the Western Front in France in the spring of 1916. It was on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, near the village of Beaumont-Hamel in northern France, that the Newfoundland Regiment entered the action. No better summary of the massacre of the Newfoundlanders can be found than in Martin Middlebrook’s definitive account The First Day of the Somme (Allen Lane, 1971): ‘In his H.Q. dug-out, Lieutenant-Colonel Hadow, the English officer commanding the battalion, received his orders by phone from the brigade commander. These were simple. The Newfoundlanders were to leave their position as soon as possible and advance to the German front line. The 1st Essex, on their right, would also attack. Hadow asked questions: Were the German trenches held by British or Germans? He was told that the situation was uncertain. Was he to move independently of the Essex? Yes. Colonel Hadow must have been unhappy, but he had been given a direct order. He gave out his own orders and in a few minutes the battalion was ready. The Newfoundlanders had to go 300 yards before reaching the British front line and then a similar distance across No Man’s Land. In view of the urgency of their orders they went straight over the top from the reserve trench, instead of going to the front line by way of congested communication trenches. As soon as they appeared in the open, the German machine-gunners spotted them and opened fire. No artillery bombardment kept the Germans’ heads down; no other targets distracted them, for the Essex had not appeared. They concentrated their fire on the 752 Newfoundlanders advancing over the open ground less than half a mile away. Before the men could even get into No Man’s Land they had to pass through several belts of British barbed wire. As the Newfoundlanders bunched together to get through the narrow gaps in this wire, the German machine-gunners found their best killing ground. Dead and wounded men soon blocked every gap, but those still not hit struggled on, having to walk over their comrades’ bodies. More experienced or less resolute men might have given up and sought shelter in such impossible conditions, but not the Newfoundlanders. Those who survived to reach No Man’s Land continued towards the German trenches, but they had no chance. A few dozen men could not cross No Man’s Land without any support in broad daylight and, inevitably, the German fire cut these down. The attack was watched by a survivor of an earlier attack from a nearby shell hole: ‘On came the Newfoundlanders, a great body of men, but the fire intensified and they were wiped out in front of my eyes. I cursed the generals for their useless slaughter, they seemed to have no idea what was going on’ (Private F. H. Cameron, 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers). Only a handful of Newfoundlanders reached the German wire. There they were shot. The attack had lasted forty minutes. Rarely can a battalion have been so completely smashed in such a short time. Of those who had attacked, ninety-one per cent had become casualties - twenty-six officers and 658 men. Every officer who had left the trenches had been killed or wounded, even some who had no right to be there at all: the quartermaster, a captain, whose normal duties kept him behind lines, was one of the wounded.’ After the War, the Newfoundland government purchased the land at Beaumont Hamel that had witnessed their gallant countrymen’s sacrifice and established the Newfoundland Memorial Park. As Martin Middlebrook notes, ‘for many years the barbed-wire defences were also preserved but these had to be be removed as too many sheep were trapped in the wire’, but numerous iron picket bars that originally supported the wire remain in place. In fact, the park constitutes the best preserved trench system to be found on the Somme today, the whole overlooked by a spectacular bronze caribou, atop a mound of granite, the official memorial to Newfoundland’s fallen. The losses sustained by the Newfoundland Regiment at Beaumont-Hamel on 1 July 1916, were staggering. Of the some 752 Newfoundlanders who went into battle that morning, only 68 were able to answer the roll call the next day. The dead included 14 sets of brothers, including four lieutenants from the Ayre family of St John's. The Newfoundlanders' sacrifice did not go unnoticed on the front lines. The commander of the 29th British Division said of the actions of the Newfoundland Regiment on that July morning: “It was a magnificent display of trained and disciplined valour, and its assault only failed of success because dead men can advance no further.” William Trebble was discharged at St John’s on 19 October 1917, being medically unfit due to wounds of right shoulder and left ankle received in action on 1 July 1916. He died at St John’s on 13 November 1922. Trebble Place in St John’s was named after William Trebble in 2003. Sold with copied Attestation and Discharge papers.
Lot 340
Pair: Lieutenant Colonel Arthur T. Eaker, United States Army United States of America, Allied Victory Medal, bronze; France, Croix de Guerre with bronze star, together with miniatures of the above but including the Mexican Border Medal, these mounted as worn, very fine (2) £60-£80 --- Arthur T. Eaker was born 31 July 1896 in Muncy PA and enlisted into the U.S. Army on 24 April 1916, as Private. He saw his first service during the Mexican Border Crisis 1916, before going on to join 18th Infantry, 1st Division in the A.E.F., serving in France between 14 June 1917 and 29 July 1919. Eaker was Commissioned on 13 May 1918. Attached to the 252nd French infantry, he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre on 5 April 1918. He again served in the Second World War, becoming an honorary member of the Free French Forces and then went on to complete 3 tours in Korea, before retiring on 1 October 1953. He remained on the Reserve until finally retiring on 31 July 1956, to live in Muncy, Pennsylvania, where he died in November 1987. Sold with original Statement of Pensionable Service, dated 13 November 1958, and a Department of the Army letter about his Armed Forces Reserve Medal, dated 16 February 1952. Eaker was additionally entitled to the Mexican Border Medal, Second War service medals, Korean War service medals, Army Commendation Medal with 2nd award cluster, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and Free French Forces insignia (No.17371).
Lot 12
Five: Petty Officer A. J. Hayden, Royal Navy China 1900, no clasp (A. J. Hayden, A.B. H.M.S. Wallaroo.); 1914-15 Star (175471, A. J. Hayden, P.O.1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (175471 A. J. Hayden. P.O. 1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (17541 A. J. Hayden, P.O.2 Cl. H.M.S. Minotaur.) light contact marks to first, very fine (5) £300-£400 --- Alfred James Hayden was born in Portsea, Hampshire, on 27 May 1878 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 1 August 1893. He was promoted Able Seaman on 8 January 1898 and served in H.M.S. Wallaroo from 14 March 1900 to 7 December 1903. Advanced Petty Officer Second Class on 1 July 1907, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 2 October 1911, and was promoted Petty Officer First Class on 11 July 1912. He served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, and was shore demobilised on 4 March 1919.
Lot 48
Four: Master at Arms F. Butler, Royal Navy 1915-15 Star (211251 F. Butler, Sh. Cpl. 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (211251 F. Butler. M.A.A. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (211251 F. Butler. Sh. Corpl. H.M.S. Neptune.) very fine (4) £100-£140 --- Frederick Butler was born in Christchurch, Hampshire, on 7 November 1884 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 9 August 1900. He was advanced Ships Corporal First Class on 28 March 1913, and served throughout the Great War in H.M.S. Neptune, being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 17 November 1917, and being promoted Master at Arms on 5 August 1918. He was shore pensioned on 6 November 1924.
Lot 149
A Great War 1918 ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Acting Company Sergeant-Major A. W. Currie, Royal Fusiliers, who was twice wounded during the War Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (G/2689 Sjt. A. W. Currie. 11/R. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (GS-2689 L. Cpl. A. W. Currie. R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (GS-2689 Sjt. A. W. Currie. R. Fus.) light contact marks, good very fine (4) £700-£900 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January 1919: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty south of Albert, on 22 August 1918. After crossing the marshes, the company of which he was acting Company Sergeant-Major, became disorganised, and he walked up and down in the open, under intense machine-gun fire, re-organising and encouraging the men to push forward close up to the barrage. Later in the day, when touch with the right flank was lost, he went across the open under heavy fire and obtained liaison. His energetic conduct throughout was admirable.’ Arthur W. Currie attested for the Royal Fusiliers at Chiswick, London in September 1914, and served with the 11th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 June 1915. Promoted Corporal on 29 October 1915, and Sergeant on 7 July 1916, he was wounded by gun shot to the left forearm on 7 November 1916 and evacuated to England. Returning to the Front in February 1918 Currie was appointed Acting Company Sergeant-Major, and was awarded his Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry at the Railway embankment south of Albert on 22 August 1918- the Battalion War Diary gives the following extract: ‘At 1:00 a.m. the Battalion attacked in conjunction with the 6th Northants, on our right, enemy’s position east of the Ancre. The crossing of the Ancre was carried out under extreme difficulty owing to the marshy state of the ground on either side of the river. We carried the first objective and reorganised. Belleve Farm was captured at about 11:00 a.m. and our final objective reached at about 1:00 p.m. During the operation we inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy besides taking 300 prisoners and several machine guns.’ The Battalion War Diary records two officers and approximately 20 other ranks killed, and five officers and approximately 115 other ranks wounded in this operation. Currie was wounded for a second time, by gun shot to the right shoulder and chest, on 1 September 1918, and was again evacuated to England. He transferred to Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 12 March 1919. Sold with copied research.
Lot 278
Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (3) (222074 Michael Hanby, P.O. H.M.S. Colleen; 300770. R. W. C. Roberts, Ch. Sto. H.M.S. Erin.; 176633. J. J. Richards, Ldg. Stoker. H.M.Y. Victoria & Albert.) the first with crudely re-affixed non-swivel suspension, nearly very fine or better (3) £100-£140
Lot 348
A Second War Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal group of six awarded to Major George Raymond Barker, U.S.A.F., a B-29 Superfortress pilot who flew ‘the Hump’ from India to China and the far East, attacking Japanese targets all over the far East; he then flew the long haul from Tinian Island in the Pacific on the first heavy bomber raid on Japan, completing 35 combat missions with 468th Bombardment Group, 8 of which were by night United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze, slot brooch; Air Medal, bronze, with oak leaf cluster emblem on riband, wrap brooch; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze, with one silver and two bronze star emblems on riband, crimp brooch; Victory Medal 1945, bronze, crimp brooch; Philippines Liberation medal, bronze and enamel, crimp brooch; Presidential Unit Citation riband bar, very fine or better (6) £400-£500 --- George Raymond Barker was born on 18 May 1917, at Butte, Montana and enlisted into the U.S. Army as a Private on 3 August 1937. Discharged on 3 November 1940, he immediately re-enlisted as an Aviation Cadet. Promoted Sergeant, 3 November 1941 and Master Sergeant, 23 June 1942, he began flying training in February 1942, and by December he was piloting the B-17 heavy bomber. He was Honourably Discharged from training on 22 June 1942, and immediately commissioned wartime 2 Lieutenant. Promoted Lieutenant on 18 February 1943 and Captain, 3 April 1944, Barker was assigned to 795th Squadron, 468th Bomb Group (The Billy Mitchell Bomb Group), 58th Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force, in June 1944. Equipped with B-29's the group moved, via Africa, to Kharagpur, India in June 1944. Barker flew combat missions flying over “the Hump” to carry supplies from India to staging fields in China, before entering combat with an attack on railroad shops at Bangkok, Thailand, on 5 June 1944. From bases in India, China, and Ceylon, he mined shipping lanes near Saigon, French Indochina, and Shanghai, China, and struck Japanese installations in Burma, Thailand, French Indochina, Indonesia, Formosa, China and Japan. Targets included iron works, aircraft factories, transportation centres and naval installations. Barker’s regular B-29 aircraft (42-24734) named “Miss Lead” crashed at Tinian on return from a mission on 8 June, but was repaired. On 20 August 1944, as part of the 468th Bomb Group, Barker took part in the first US air raid on Japan since the “Doolittle Raid” in April 1942. 64 B-29 Superfortresses took part in this daylight raid on the iron and steel works at Yawata, Japan. For this raid the 468th received a Distinguished Unit Citation as follows: ‘The 468th Bombardment Group (VH), XX Bomber Command, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 20 August 1944. The group dispatched 29 B-29 type aircraft to its forward bases and all aircraft were airborne on D-day as a part of the XX Bomber Command. Fighter opposition was successfully overcome on the way to the target. Despite a steady hail of intense and accurate flak concentrations which accounted for the destruction of one airplane, and damage to a second, causing it to crash on the return to the mainland of China, and despite continuous enemy fighter attacks employing suicide ramming tactics which accounted for the destruction of two or more of their aircraft, the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) succeeded in destroying the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata on the Jap mainland. In the accomplishment of its primary mission, 15 enemy aircraft were damaged or destroyed. The success of its part of the mission by the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) was especially outstanding in that the method of attack used called for the utmost in daring and skill. The first daylight raid over the Japanese home islands since the historic raid of Tokyo in April 1942 proved the real effectiveness of daylight precision bombing by B-29s. The hazards of mechanical failure, fighter opposition, flak, and barrage balloons on the mission of over 3,000 miles were all overcome by the valor and high professional ability of all members of the 468th Bombardment Group, XX Bomber Command, and by their courage, cooperative spirit, and tireless energy the individuals of the group have reflected great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.’ The Group evacuated the advanced bases in China in January 1945 but continued operations from India, bombing storage areas in Rangoon, Burma, a railroad bridge at Bangkok, Thailand, railroad shops at Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, and the dry dock in Singapore harbour. Barker flew further missions against Japan after the Bomb Group repositioned to Tinian Island in the Marianas group in February 1945. They also took part in mining operations, incendiary raids on area targets, and high-altitude missions against strategic objectives. The group dropped incendiaries on Tokyo and Yokohama in late May 1945, being awarded a second Distinguished Unit Citation for the attacks as follows: ‘The 468th Bombardment Group (VH) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy. During the period of 23-29 May 1945 the destruction of the militarily important industrial areas of Tokyo and Yokohama was completed, despite the fierce enemy anti-aircraft fire from these most heavily defended points of the Japanese mainland. On 23 and 25 May 1945, the heroic efforts of all personnel of the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) contributed materially to the destruction of an additional 22.1 square miles of vital industrial area in Tokyo, bringing to 56.3 square miles the total area devastated within that city, the center of Japan’s war industry. Before the Japanese had time to recover from this staggering blow to their morale and war potential, this group participated in a daring daylight strike on 29 May 1945 against the city of Yokohama, a single attack in great force, which reduced to rubble 6.9 square miles of the city’s most important industrial area. The success of this series of missions, flown as they were in rapid succession and over vast expanses of open sea, despite dangerous tropical weather conditions and intense enemy opposition, is a reflection of the exemplary devotion to duty demonstrated by the ground personnel and of the great professional skill, tenacity, and courage of aircrews. The achievements of the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) during this period of sustained effort reflect great honor on themselves and the armed forces of the United States.’ The group received another Distinguished Unit Citation for a daylight strike on an aircraft plant at Takarazuka, Japan, in July 1945, citation as follows: ‘The 468th Bombardment Group (VH) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy. On 24 July 1945, this group and one other group of the 58th Bombardment Wing were ordered to knock out the Kawanishi aircraft plant at Takarazuka in a daylight precision bombing attack. This mission was of utmost strategic importance because the plant was known to manufacture components of a dangerous Japanese navy fighter. Inspired by the importance of the mission, both air and ground personnel worked tirelessly to insure maximum success of the strike. As a result, 42 airplanes of the group reached the target area. At the assembly point, the aircraft encountered continuously pointed fire that continued all the way into the target. The fire was so accurate and concentrated that twenty-three of the forty-two B-29s were damaged. Despite this savage fire the 468th Bombardment Group (VH) calmly and heroically held the compact formation necessary for maximum bombing accuracy and dropped 245 tons of explosives on the aircraft factory. When the group retired from the target area, the Kawanishi plant was 85% dest...
Lot 342
A Second War Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star group of fifteen awarded to Colonel John F. Coonan, U.S.A.F., a P-40 ‘Lightning’ and P-52 ‘Mustang’ fighter pilot credited with one Japanese ‘Zero’ fighter and a probable ‘Helen’ bomber, then three German aircraft over Europe, also flying in support of ground troops during operation ‘Market Garden’, later being shot down by a member of his own squadron and taken prisoner, he went on to serve for a further 31 years, commanding a flying F-100D Super Sabre squadron and became the first foreigner to command a R.A.A.F. squadron United States of America, Legion of Merit, Legionnaire’s badge, gilt and enamel, crimp brooch; Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze, slot brooch, in case of issue; Bronze Star, with 2 cluster emblems on ribbon, slot brooch, in case of issue; Air Medal, bronze, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; Air Force Commendation Medal, bronze, with 2 oak leaf cluster emblems on riband, crimp brooch; American Defense Service Medal, bronze, slot brooch, in box of issue; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze; with two bronze star emblems on riband, crimp brooch, in box of issue; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, bronze, slot brooch; Victory Medal 1945, bronze, slot brooch, in box of issue; National Defense Service Medal, bronze star on ribbon; National Defense Service Medal, crimp brooch, in box of issue; Armed Forces Expeditionary Forces medal, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue: Armed Forces Reserve medal, bronze, with two emblems, slot brooch; Vietnam Service Medal, bronze, crimp brooch; South Vietnam, Service Medal, 1 clasp, 1960, generally very fine or better (15) £1,000-£1,400 --- John F. Coonan was born in Boise, Idaho, on 24 April 1918, and entered the Air Service in 1941 as an aviation cadet. He flew P-40 (Lightning) fighters with 26th Fighter Squadron in the CBI (China-Burma-India) Theatre, being credited with shooting down one Japanese Zero aircraft on 25 February 1943, also claiming a “Helen” bomber as a probable. Transitioning to P-51s in the 38th Fighter Squadron and moving to Europe, Coonan brought down three German aircraft, on 13 September and 2 November, 1944, and 3 January 1945. On this latter day, which was his 34th combat mission, Coonan was leading a flight of eight when he was shot down by another member of his squadron, 1st Lieutenant Dudley Amoss, by accident, spending the rest of the war as a prisoner of War. Of the sortie, 2nd Lieutenant Jones reported: ‘Capt. Coonan was leading a flight of 8 Mustangs approx. 10-20 miles south of Ulm, Germany. (He was flying P-51D aircraft CG-P s/n 44-14358 “Portland Rose”). Several German trainer planes were spotted flying formation a few thousand feet below us. Captain Coonan led the attack and shot down one enemy plane. Several seconds later he said that he had been hit. At low altitude he passed over a small town and belly landed on a snow-covered field adjacent to this town. I took several camera shots of the airplane which seemed to be in good condition, and while doing this I did not observe the pilot's presence in or around the plane. The remaining seven planes then proceeded towards home.’ German J 2735, reported the capture of Captain Coonan at 1300 on 3 January 1945, at Gutensell, near Laupheim. The aircraft was reported 12 to 15 percent damaged. The report further stated that Captain Coonan was shot down by ‘friendly aircraft, Mustang!’ The letters on the aircraft were CG-P. The report, which was addressed to Evaluation Centre West, Oberursel, also contained the names of 16 pilots, (the entire 38th fighter Squadron), with their corresponding plane identification letters and pilot's name that had flown on that mission! This was one of the many reasons Hanns Scharff, the interrogator at Oberursel, could name familiar members of the prisoner's squadron to him. While in prison camp, at Stalag Luft I, Coonan was quoted as saying that if he ‘caught that son-of-a-bitch (in his flight) who shot him down he'd kill him!’ Lieutenant Dudley Amoss recalls: ‘While at Stalag Luft I, I ran into Jack Coonan. He told me that his wingman had shot him down. I had to level with him and tell him that it was me who shot him down! I explained that I saw what appeared to be a lone Me-109 flying low on the deck, heading into Germany. It was a long, long, shot. I gave him a lot of lead and fired. He crash-landed. Much to my horror, as I passed over him, I recognized the plane as a P-51. Jack didn’t get angry. He just grimaced and shook his head.’ He stayed in the Air Force, serving in Greenland, England, Morocco, Iran, Vietnam, Burma, Pakistan and the Philippines. Additionally, during one assignment, he exchanged with an officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, being the first foreigner to command a R.A.A.F. squadron; 75 Squadron flying CAC Sabres. He also commanded the 1st T.F.S. flying F-100D Super Sabres. He received the Legion of Merit for planning U.S. air operations during the invasion of the Dominican Republic in 1965 and 2 clusters plus 3 Bronze Stars while serving in Vietnam. He retired has a Colonel (O-6) in 1975. Sold with, Coonan’s medal riband bar, mounted for wear on uniform as pictured in portrait photograph, Senior pilots wings; pair of Colonels shoulder rank badges; Tactical Air Command patch. A large selection of original paperwork relating to Coonan’s service, including; flight log, service papers and some copied service papers, casualty reports etc, these housed in official Aircrew Standardization/Evaluations Records folder. Original newspaper cuttings, 2 x POW postcards from German camps; a quantity of original photographs taken throughout his career, some large including portraits in uniform wearing medal bar. Original award Certificates for Bronze star and Legion of Merit, along with the original citations to accompany the Bronze star, First Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit First Oak Leaf Cluster, Certificate of training, Air-Ground Operations School Diploma, crossing the equator certificate and Mach Busters Club certificate, the latter for exceeding the speed of sound in a U.S.A.F. F-100 Super Sabre.
Lot 299
Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Camp and Villaverde Medal for Saving Life at Sea, bronze, edge laser engraved ‘Specimen’, in original fitted case with integral top brooch bar, extremely fine £240-£280 --- The Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Camp & Villaverde Medal was instituted in 1873 ‘to be awarded to those who were instrumental in saving life at sea’, and the first award was made to Mr. Rawson Post, mate of the George Hurlbut, for rescuing the crew of the barque Olive in a gale in the Atlantic on 12 April 1873. In total 37 silver and 8 bronze medals have been awarded, with the last award made in 1944. Sold with a letter from the Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society, dated 5 November 2021, authenticating and explaining that this is one of four unnamed medals discovered in their archive and is now being sold to raise funds for the Society. Each of the four medals has been marked ‘Specimen’ and will be sold by Dix Noonan Webb in future sales.
Lot 152
A Great War ‘Battle of Es Sinn’ Mesopotamia D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant W. Cole, 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his services during the advance from Qurna to Kut-al-Amara Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7728 Pte. W. Cole. 2/Dorset: Regt.); 1914-15 Star (7728 Pte. W. Cole. Dorset: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (7728 Pte. W. Cole. Dorset. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (5718090 Sjt. W. Cole. D.C.M., Dorset. R.) number partially officially corrected on last, light contact marks, nearly very fine and better (5) £800-£1,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 22 January 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry at Kut-al-Amara (Mespotamia), on 28 September 1915, in bringing up ammunition to the firing line at least three times under heavy fire.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 5 April 1916. William Cole was born in Blandford, Dorset, in 1885 and attested for the Dorsetshire Regiment. He served pre-War with the 2nd Battalion in India, and following the outbreak of the Great War landed with the Battalion at Fao on the Persian Gulf, for service in Mesopotamia, on 6 November 1914, as part of the 16th Brigade of the Poona Division. He served with the Battalion throughout the Great War in Mesopotamia, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his services at the Battle of Es Sinn on 28 September 1915. Battle of Es Sinn On 27 September 1915, General Townshend’s forces approached the Ottoman positions at the Es Sinn. Over the previous days, air and cavalry reconnaissance had scouted the area and located the camouflaged Ottoman defences as best they could. Scouts had discovered that the area between the Ataba and Suwaikiya Marshes, north of the Ottoman lines, was passable for a heavy formation. Rather than attacking the position head on, Townshend opted for a plan to envelop the Nureddin's forces. Shifting the bulk of his forces across to the left bank of the Tigris, he then split his remaining troops into three elements. Two columns were to march around the marshes and attack the Ottoman positions from the rear. Column A, composed of the 2nd Dorsets, 117th Mahrattas, and a company of sappers, under the command of General Delamain, was given the job of clearing the Ottoman positions between the Suwada and Ataba marshes. Column B, under the command of Brigadier General Hoghton, were assigned to strike at the rear trench line of the Ottoman positions. The third element, the 18th (Belgaum) Brigade under Brigadier General Fry, would make a demonstration along the Ottoman front, fixing the defenders in position. Brigadier General Delamain would oversee the flanking manoeuvre. The Cavalry Brigade would circle around and set up astride the anticipated lines of retreat on the left side of the river. However, all of this would hinge upon the Anglo-Indian forces executing a night march across the desert and around the marshes. Starting out at 2:00 a.m. on 28 September 1915, the two columns advanced in the darkness trying to arrive at their destinations in time to be supported by a bombardment at dawn. However, things went wrong. Houghton’s column became lost and entered the Suwaikiya marsh. Attempts by Delamain to warn him of this failed and Column B spending an hour retracing its steps before getting back on track. By about 8:45 a.m., almost three hours after the initial start time for the attack, Delamain still had no word that Houghton was any closer to clearing the marshes. Rather than wait any longer, he ordered his column to attack the Ottoman positions. However, without Houghton’s support, Delamain’s force was now supposed to attack more of the Ottoman positions than envisioned. Attacking the northern end of the Ottoman defences, the 117th Maharattas and 22 Company of the Bombay Sappers and Miners, suffering heavy casualties. The Maharattas lost all of their British officers, leaving the battalion under the command of its Viceroy Commissioned Officers. As the Maharattas and sappers attacked the northern end of the line, 2nd Dorsets struck at the centre and southern end of the line, encountering stiff resistance. Unknown to Delamain, Houghton’s column had already been engaged, stumbling into a previously undiscovered Ottoman redoubt near the marsh. When Houghton’s column finally arrived at the battle, he immediately committed his battalions to support the attacks on the redoubts. Eventually, the entire network of trenches and redoubts were cleared at bayonet point. Receiving news of the success along the northern set of Ottoman defences, Brigadier General Fry attempted to convert his feint into a full assault on the Ottoman positions between the river and Suwada marsh. However, the Ottoman defenders put up a stiff resistance, and despite the enfilading fire from the gunboats along the river, Fry’s forces could not break through the Ottoman defenders. At this point Nureddin’s reinforcements began to arrive from their position upriver. Four battalions of Ottoman infantry, supported by two cavalry brigades and artillery, were racing to try to recapture the Ottoman lines. Elements of Columns A and B, both under Delamain’s control now, spotted the Ottoman units first and took them under fire. Once they had stopped the Ottoman advance, Delamain ordered a bayonet charge that threw Ottoman reserves into retreat. By the end of the day, the British and Indian troops had captured most of the northern trench network on the left bank of the Tigris, and the Ottomans were in retreat. Cole’s D.C.M. was one of 8 awarded to the Battalion for this battle. He subsequently served during the capture of Kut-al-Amara but does not appear to have been one of the 350 men of the Battalion captured by the Turks at the Siege of Kut in April 1916 (of whom only 70 survived their captivity). He was also Mentioned in Despatches for his services during the advance from Qurna to Kut.
Lot 346
A Second War Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal group of eleven awarded to Major Charles Duane Mellinger, U.S.A.F., a B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ pilot of 385th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, who won the D.F.C. for commanding his formation in attacks against Regensburg, Bremen and Berlin, July to October 1944; he was later killed when a KC-97 Strato-tanker he was piloting crashed in the Adriondack mountains after suffering mechanical failure United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze, slot brooch, engraved ‘Charles D. Mellinger’, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; Air Medal, bronze, with 3 clusters on riband, wrap brooch, engraved ‘Charles D. Mellinger’, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; American Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, bronze, one silver and one bronze star on Riband, crimp brooch, in box of issue; Victory Medal 1945, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue; Army Good Conduct Medal, Bronze, engraved ‘C D Mellinger’, slot brooch, with top of box of issue; Korean Service medal, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue; U.N. Korea Medal, in box of issue; Armed Forces Reserve medal, bronze slot brooch, in box of issue; National Defense Service Medal, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue; Distinguished Unit Citation badge, with second award cluster, generally very fine or better (11) £1,000-£1,400 --- Air medal awarded 22 September 1944, 333 B. Squadron, 94th Bomb Group: ‘For meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombardment missions in the air offensive against the enemy over continental Europe. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by these officers and enlisted men on these occasions reflect great credit upon themselves and the Armed Forces of the United States.’ Air Medal, first cluster, 16 February 1945; 2nd cluster, 17 April 1945; third cluster, 29 May 1945, all for 385th Bomb Group and all the same standard citation. Distinguished Flying Cross, 26 April 1945 (385th Bomb Group) for: ‘Extraordinary achievement while serving as commander in the air of group and squadron formations on heavy bombardment missions against the enemy. Captain Mellinger demonstrated outstanding airmanship while commanding his formations on successful attacks against Regensburg, Germany, 21 July 1944, against Bremen, Germany 26 September 1944, and against Berlin, Germany 6 October 1944, despite heavy accurate concentrations of anti-aircraft fire on each mission. The brilliant exercise of command displayed that Captain Mellinger was largely responsible for the success of these missions. His actions reflect the highest credit on himself and the Army Air Force.’ Charles Duane Mellinger was born on 16 November 1916, in Tacoma, Washington. He enlisted on 7 July 1942, becoming an Aviation Cadet on 19 December and after completing his training as a heavy bomber pilot, was commissioned on 3 November 1943. From June 1944, as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot, he initially served with 333 Bombing Squadron, 94th Bomb Group and then 385th Bomb Group (H), 8th Air Force, flying from Great Ashfield, Suffolk, England. Returning to the U.S.A. in July 1944, he retired as a Major in 1946. Joining the reserve, he served until 4 June 1951, when he returned to active duty as a Supply Officer. On 14 June 1955 he resumed flight status as a pilot with 384 AREFS, WAFB, Mass. On 12 July 1956, he became Wing Logistics Officer, 4050 AREFWG, (Air Refuelling Wing) until killed in a flying accident on 22 January 1957, when the KC-97 Strato-tanker he was in crashed, near Griffith AFB , New York. All crewmen were lost. Sold with an original letter, dated April 1957, from U.S.A.F. to his wife confirming entitlement to all above awards, which will be sent to her. Original award documents for the Distinguished Flying Medal and Air Medal with three clusters, both dated 1 February 1957; photograph of Air Medal presentation, the medal being pinned on to Mellinger’s breast, together with partial copy of service record and other copied research.
Lot 347
A Second War Purple Heart and Air Medal group of five awarded to 2nd Lieutenant Earl M. Richardson, U.S.A.A.F., a B-24 Bombardier and aircraft commander who was killed in action on 20 June 1944, when 856th squadron lost 11 out of 12 aircraft during an attack on oil refineries at Politz, Germany United States of America, Purple Heart, gilt and enamel, slot brooch, engraved ‘Earl M. Richardson’, in case of issue; Air Medal, bronze, with two oak leaf cluster emblem on riband, slot brooch, in case of issue; American Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze, crimp brooch, with lower portion of box of issue; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, bronze, in box of issue; Victory Medal 1945, bronze, in box of issue, very fine or better (5) £300-£400 --- Earl M. Richardson, from New Mexico, initially joined the U.S. Army Air Forces, for basic training at Alamogordo, New Mexico. From there he was sent to 330th Combat Crew Training school in Biggs, Texas, training as a B-24 Liberator bombardier and joining crew #1637. On 3 Mar 1944, the crew was transferred to 856th Bomber Squadron, 492nd Bomber Group (Heavy) where it was re-designated crew #610 (pilot 1st Lieutenant John R. Curtis). The squadron left for England on 1 April 1944, and would be stationed at North Pickenham, Curtis Crew’s B-24J being given the name, “The Mary Ellen”. Flying their first mission, an attack on an oil refinery at Zeitz, Germany on 12 May, Richardson would take part in a further 14 missions over targets in France and Germany between then and 18 June 1944. On the morning of 20 June 1944, 35 aircraft of 492nd Group, led by Major Losee, 856th Squadron’s Commander, took off for an attack on an oil refinery at Politz, Germany. As protection, the bombers were to be covered by fighters from 14th and 2nd Wings, however, while on route to the target, an error with timing a switchover left the Bombers exposed for a short time. The Luftwaffe took advantage of the situation, German fighters swooping in for the attack, randomly targeting the left side of the Group flown by the 856th Squadron. Within minutes, 856th Squadron alone lost 9 of its 12 aircraft and by the time the Group reached the target, the 856th only had 2 planes left while the other two squadrons had not lost any. Despite heavy flak and fighter attacks, the bombers were able to hit their targets and head for home, but the cost had been heavy and the mission would become the Bomb Group's worst day of the war. The Group had lost 14 crews, with the 856th squadron being almost completely wiped out, as 11 of the lost crews were their’s. “The Mary Ellen” was one of the aircraft that was lost, 2nd Lieutenant Richardson being killed along with the rest of the crew. It was his 16th combat mission. Sold with copied research.
Lot 230
Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Lieut. R: C: Taylor 48th Regt. N:I:) some light marks, otherwise good very fine £800-£1,000 --- Provenance: Payne Collection 1911. Richard Curtis Taylor was born on 28 May 1823, the son of Rev. Henry Taylor and Maria Louisa, of Phillimore Place, Kensington. His father was Rector of Stoke, near Colsterworth, Lincolnshire. Nominated as a Cadet for the East India Company by Martin Tucker Smith, one of its Directors, at the recommendation of Mrs Turner, Richard Curtis Taylor was appointed to the Bengal Infantry on 21 August 1840. He arrived at Fort William on 17 February 1841, was posted to the 48th Native Infantry and ordered to Allygurgh. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 November 1842, and was subsequently appointed Adjutant of the 48th N.I. He served in the First Sikh War of 1845-46, and was present at the battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur, and Sobraon, being slightly wounded at Ferozeshuhur. Lieutenant R. C. Taylor, Adjutant of the 48th Native Infantry, died at Benares on 2 July 1849, accidentally by a fall from his horse whilst on parade. Sold with copied Cadet Nomination papers and other research.
Lot 144
A good Great War 1918 ‘Battle of Amiens’ Cavalry D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Sergeant H. R. Smith, 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s) Dragoon Guards, who with the help of another Trooper captured 20 Prisoners and 2 motor lorries on the first day of the Battle, 8 August 1918 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (9502 Pte. H. R. Smith. 5/D. Gds:); 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (9502 Pte. H. R. Smith. 5/D.Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (D-9502 Pte. H. R. Smith. 5-D. Gds.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (D-9502 A.Sjt. H. R. Smith. 1-D. Gds.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, contact marks throughout, nearly very fine or better (8) £1,600-£2,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 30 October 1918: ‘For exceptional gallantry during an attack. He was sent out with another man to reconnoitre a village. This reconnaissance was carried out with the greatest dash, the two entering the village and capturing twenty prisoners and two motor lorries. He displayed fine courage and enterprise.’ Original citation additionally annotated ‘Vauvillers 8.8.18’. One of only eighteen D.C.M.s awarded to the 5th Dragoon Guards for the Great War. Henry R. Smith attested for the 5th Dragoon Guards and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 26 August 1914. In July 1918 the regiment moved to Autieule (3 kilometres east of Doullens), and were attached to the Third Army. On 5 August the 5th Dragoon Guards started moving by night on Amiens, for planned operations in that area. Three days later, in the early hours of the morning of 8 August, the regiment arrived at the divisional concentration area, east of Longeau. As part of the 1st Cavalry Brigade they initially moved into position to the south-east corner of the Bois d’Aquerre (south-west of Villers Bretonneux) before progressing along the northern side of the Amiens - Chaulnes railway. By 9:45 a.m. the brigade, less the advanced-guard which was formed by the Queen’s Bays on this occasion, had reached a point 1,000 yards south of Bayonvillers. At approximately the same time the infantry (Australian troops) had nearly reached one of their objectives for the attack - a line running north and south through the eastern outskirts of Morcourt and 500 yards west of Harbonnieres. ‘The 5th Dragoon Guards were ordered to pass through the infantry and advance between Harbonnieres and the wood 1,200 yards north of it to gain the third objective (the old Amiens defence line), if not too strongly resisted. The line Framerville-Vauvillers was to be the limit of their advance. At 10:00 a.m. the regiment (less one troop C Squadron, liaison with 9th Cavalry Brigade) moved off at a trot in double echelon of squadrons, A Squadron (Captain A. D. Winterbottom) leading, B Squadron (Captain L. F. Mitchell) on the left, C Squadron (Captain H. O. Wiley, M.C.) on the right; headquarters with C Squadron: objective, the line Framerville-Vauvillers. The regiment passed through the leading infantry 1,000 yards west of the second objective, and advanced to a point 1,000 yards past the second objective without opposition ... From this point the operations of squadrons were as follows: A squadron [Smith’s squadron] was shot at by machine-guns from Harbonnieres, but went straight on, and reached the old Amiens defence-line, and found it unoccupied. After crossing the trench-line the squadron was fired on from a train on the railway running from Proyart to the east of Harbonnieres. The train was trying to steam away, but was hit by a bomb from an aeroplane and set on fire. Continuing its advance the squadron overran the train, and the men in the train (most of whom had just returned from leave) tried to get away towards Framerville, but were all killed or captured, some by this squadron and some by B Squadron. Still advancing, the squadron was enfiladed by machine-gun fire from the cemetery at the western outskirts of Vauvillers, but reached its objective, the Framerville-Vauvillers road, where it came into dismounted action against the retreating enemy. Some infantry, transport, and two motor-lorries [see Smith’s citation] coming out of Vauvillers were captured, and the walking wounded and personnel of a casualty clearing station at the Moulin de Vauvillers, numbering about 180 men in all, were captured; two anti-aircraft guns, two field-guns, and one 5.9 howitzer were captured, and the personnel either killed or captured. The squadron remained in dismounted action till joined by B Squadron, when both squadrons, being much depleted, owing to casualties and escorts to prisoners, and as no reinforcements appeared to be coming up, retired to the Amiens defence line, north-east of Harbonnieres.’ (Regimental History of the 5th Princess Charlotte of Wales’ Dragoon Guards, by Major the Hon. Ralph Legge Pomeroy, refers). At 1:30 p.m. the regiment withdrew to west of Harbonnieres, having captured 20 enemy officers, 740 other ranks, 50 horses and 5 transport wagons. The 5th Dragon Guards suffered 1 officer killed, and 1 wounded, 6 other ranks killed, and 42 other ranks wounded, with 122 horses killed, wounded, or missing. The regiment received congratulations from the King of the Belgians on 13 August, and from the Commander-in-Chief, Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig the following day, when he carried out an inspection. For their gallant attack on 8 August the 5th Dragoon Guards received 2 D.S.O.s, 5 M.C.s, 5 D.C.M.s, and 17 M.M.s. The other man mentioned in Smith’s D.C.M. citation was Private R. W. Short, who also received the same award for this action. Smith later transferred for service with the 1st Dragoon Guards as part of 18 Division, 7th Cavalry Brigade in Iraq, 1919-20, and saw further service during the Second World War. Note: It has not been possible to confirm entitlement to the M.I.D., Delhi Durbar, Defence and War Medals.
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