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Lot 642
A German Second World War Hermann Goring Paratrooper Award Document. A standard A5 size citation, folded twice, punch holed for filing for the Wound Badge in silver awarded to Unteroffizier Helmut Zedernhofer of the 1./FSCH.PZ.-ART.RGT.HERMANN GORING. Three dates are entered for the date of the wounds, 30 May 1942, 5 June 1942, and 14 July 1943. Date of citation 1 June 1944 pen signed by Major and Unit Commander, obviously the first wound was never recorded and on the second wound the Silver was awarded, good condition £60-£80
Lot 650
A German Second World War Kreta Campaign 1942 Book Publication. A very good example of the book published in 1942 on the Campaign in Kreta. The cover is in the form of the splinter pattern camouflage of the German armed forces with an impression of the Paratrooper Badge moulded into the cover with a Foreword by Field Marshal Goering. The first 31 pages concentrate on the history and details regarding the battle, the remaining approximately 100 pages are absolutely packed full of either full page or half page images of scenes taken during the battle by the Luftwaffe war reporters. The details are incredible, the close-ups of German equipment very good. A must for the Kreta historian or paratrooper collector, reasonable condition £100-£140
Lot 275
A Royal Household R.V.M. group of four awarded to William George Figg, Chauffeur to Her Majesty Queen Mary Royal Household Faithful Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue, suspension dated ‘1900-1920’, with scroll bar ‘Thirty Years’ (William George Figg); Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; The Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, mounted court style as worn, nearly extremely fine (4) £1,400-£1,800 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2001 and December 2005. R.V.M. awarded 23 June 1936: William George Figg, Chauffeur. William George Figg was born at Ashenden, Buckinghamshire, on 31 May 1880. After working as a farmer’s boy in the local village, he left Ashenden and took a job in London as a Stable Boy and entered the Royal service as a Stableman at the Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace. He was promoted to the Garages in the Royal Mews when the first electric Broughams came into use. He was taught to drive the electric cars and obtained his driving licence in 1904, becoming a Deputy Chauffeur. On the appointment of Oscar Humphrey as Head Chauffeur to King George V, Figg was appointed official Chauffeur to Queen Mary. He held the position as Chauffeur to Queen Mary until the death of King George V in 1936, although he drove most members of the Royal family including the King on many occasions. He also drove the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, whilst he was courting Mrs Simpson, and was well aware of his clandestine meetings long before they became known to the public. He drove King Edward many times when the abdication crisis was reaching its peak. Figg retired in July 1936 and chose to live at Kennington on an estate belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall rather than one of the grace and favour accommodations at Hampton Court, Windsor, or Frogmore. He died at Kennington in 1966. Sold with: five original photographs, mostly including Figg with cars and members of the Royal Household, two with him chauffeuring Queen Mary; booklet of Rules and Regulations for King George V Long and Faithful Service Medal, listing the first 23 recipients, Figg being the last; Buckingham Palace letter from the Queen’s Private Secretary thanking Figg for “the fine way you drove the second car on the long trip from Balmoral”, dated 5 October 1919; R.V.M. award certificate, dated 23 June 1936; Invitations for Figg and his wife to Queen Mary’s funeral, 31 March 1953; and a letter from the Financial Secretary to The King concerning Figg’s Retirement Allowance.
Lot 641
A German Second World War Paratrooper War Service Cross Second Class with Swords Citation. A5 size citation, folded twice, punch holed for filing, some edge staining, awarded to Oberjager Werner Heidemann, dated 1 September 1944 for service during the campaign in Italy. Heidemann was a member of 3rd Battalion Fallschirmjager Regiment 11, with the pen signature of General Major and Divisional Commander Trettner, who was holder of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. First formed in Italy, the unit saw action in January 1944 at Anzio and was on continuous contact with the enemy to the end of the war, reasonable condition £70-£90
Lot 619
German Second World War Third Reich Documents. Comprising an Army Wehrpass to Erich Pohland, an NCO in an artillery unit, winner of the Winter War Medal, Iron Cross Second Class, Iron Cross First Class, Wound Badge in black, who saw service on the west front, Russia, Sicily, Casino, France, photograph in civil dress. A full English translation available to the interior of the Wehrpass. Second Army Wehrpass marked Heer to the cover, photograph of recipient in civil dress, born 1893, called to the colours in 1943, sparse details to the Wehrpass. Third Army Wehrpass in its original cover, recipient in civil dress, born 1914, page 12 showing entry of units mainly serving within a Pioneer Company, from 38 through to 43 details of weapons issued, winner of the Iron Cross Second Class, Wound Badge in black and Infantry Assault Badge, page 32 and 33 showing service on the invasion of France and subsequently the invasion of Russia. Arbeitsfront book, recipient named, many payment stamps to the interior from 1935 through to 1942, otherwise sparse details; an A5 size citation to an Army Gefreiter for the Winter Medal in the East serving on the staff of an artillery battery; and an A5 size citation, some light age foxing to a Gefreiter in Grenadier Regiment 130 for the Wound Badge in black dated 1944, folded twice; accompanied by four Great War and Second World War death notices and other photographs, generally good condition (lot) £80-£120
Lot 236
The Second War I.S.O., Great War M.B.E. group of three awarded to A. H. J. Watson, Esq., Assistant Director of Stores, Admiralty Imperial Service Order, G.VI.R., silver, gold and enamel, hallmarks for Birmingham 1941, in Elkington, London, case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type breast badge, hallmarks for London 1918, in Garrard, London, case of issue; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (3) £400-£500 --- I.S.O. London Gazette 11 June 1942: ‘Albert Harold Joseph Watson, Esq., M.B.E., Assistant Director of Stores, Admiralty.’ M.B.E. London Gazette 7 June 1918: ‘Albert Harold Joseph Watson, Esq., Naval Store Department, Admiralty For services in connection with the War.’ Albert Harold Joseph Watson was born in Kennington, London, on 8 March 1876 and joined the Civil Service as a temporary Boy Copyist on 10 September 1891. He was appointed a First Class Writer in the Naval Store Department of His Majesty’s Naval Yards on 1 November 1901, and was promoted to Assistant Examiner in the Department of the Controller of the Navy on 1 May 1909. He became an Assistant Naval Store Officer on 28 June 1912, and remained in this branch of the Admiralty for the remainder of his career, ultimately becoming Assistant Director of Stores - by the time he was awarded the Imperial Service Order he had over 50 years’ service to his name. He died on 29 August 1958. Sold together with the original named Bestowal Documents for the I.S.O., the M.B.E., and the 1937 Coronation Medal; and copied research.
Lot 269
A very rare Second War ‘Normandy’ M.M. and post-War 1946 ‘Java’ Second Award Bar group of five awarded to Corporal W. H. Bartle, Royal Army Medical Corps attached 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion: having been decorated for making repeated journeys into the open to bring in casualties at Bois de Bavent in Normandy on 18 June 1944, he added a Bar to his award for his subsequent gallantry in charge of stretcher bearers when his section was ambushed and pinned down in the open at Tembalang, Java in March 1946 Military Medal, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar (7403502 Cpl. W. H. Bartle. R.A.M.C.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the first with minor contact marks, otherwise generally good very fine and better (5) £5,000-£7,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 31 August 1944: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Normandy’. The original recommendation states: ‘At Bois de Bavent on 18 June 1944 this NCO was a stretcher bearer with a company which raided a strong enemy post. The enemy fire was heavy and accurate and several casualties were suffered. Cpl Bartle showed no regard whatsoever for his own safety and made repeated journeys into the open to bring in casualties. The CSM was killed beside him by a mortar bomb in a forward position. He was not killed instantly and hoping to save him Bartle worked his way back, got another bearer and went forward again to try and bring him back. When the raiding party returned Bartle found that two casualties had not been brought back so he immediately joined a party that was going out to bring them in. He showed the party the way out and back and left them under cover while he did the final locating of the casualties himself. His sense of duty was outstanding.’ M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 1 August 1946: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Far East.’ The following details are extracted from the report by Lt. Col. Pine-Coffin of the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion’s action at Tembalang, Java in March 1946: ‘Late in the month [March] they ran into a bit of trouble and on one of their patrol actions a section got pinned in the open as it was approaching a wood which was occupied by Indonesians. Sgt. ..., one of the veterans of the battalion who had been through all its actions with it, was killed at once and several others were wounded. Meanwhile the Independent Para Company, which was working round a flank, also ran into difficulties and suffered four fatal casualties. The extrication of the troops from this position involved the use of the artillery and some tanks and took most of the day but fortunately was carried out without further loss. Excellent work was done while the section was pinned in the open by Cpl. McCormick of the platoon and Cpl. Bartle who was in charge of the stretcher bearers, both of whom moved about freely and did very valuable work. Both were later decorated for their work; McCormick being awarded the MM and Bartle a bar to the MM which he had already won in Normandy.’ William Henry Bartle was born on 4 September 1920 at Nottingham. He served during the Second World War with the Royal Army Medical Corps and having passed the Parachute Training School long course at Ringway in September 1943 he was posted to 225 Parachute Field Ambulance. Corporal Bartle was attached to 7th Battalion Parachute Regiment and dropped with them at 00.45 hours into Normandy on ‘D-Day’ 6 June 1944. He was awarded the M.M. for gallantry in Normandy on 18 June 1944 for making repeated journeys into the open to bring in casualties. After the Japanese surrender, the 7th Battalion, as part of the 5th Parachute Brigade, was posted to the Far East, arriving in Singapore on 21 September 1945 as part of XV Corps, the island’s garrison. By 17 December the brigade was moved again, sent as reinforcements to assist the Indian division on Java. The brigade's mission was to restore law and order and disarm the Japanese military forces in the area. They were told to expect to remain in Java until relieved by units of the Royal Netherlands Army. Under the command of the 23rd Indian Infantry Division, the brigade carried out Operation Pounce, clearing Batavia and surrounding region of dissidents. In January 1946 they were moved to garrison Semarang. At the time Semarang’s population of around 210,000 was a mixture of Indonesians, Chinese, Koreans, Dutch and Japanese. During the fighting before the brigade's arrival considerable damage had been caused to the town's infrastructure which the brigade's engineers and medics were tasked to rectify. To protect the inhabitants from Indonesian nationalists whose stated aim was to "slaughter all the Dutch and Chinese", the brigade's three battalions established a defensive perimeter around the outskirts of the town. To assist with security, a Japanese battalion was rearmed and given a sector of the defences to man. Corporal Bartle was awarded a Bar to his M.M. when, on 24 March 1946, the 5th Parachute Brigade Mortar Battalion attached to a 22 Independent Parachute Company patrol was ambushed by dissident Indonesian nationalist troops outside a wood at Tembalang, near Semarang. With the section pinned down in the open and taking casualties, Bartle did excellent work in charge of stretcher bearers, moving about freely as the extrication of the troops from the position took most of the day. The 5th Brigade remained in Semarang until relieved by the Dutch 'T' Brigade Group on 26th April 1946, and then returned to Singapore. Sold with a letter from the Army Medal Office confirming that no GSM was ever issued to Bartle.
Lot 455
India General Service 1895-1902 (2), 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (1106 Sepoy Dasaunda Singh Nabha I.S. Infy.); another, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Malakand 1897 (2319 Sepoy Ghulam Husain 31st. Bl. Infy.) both partially officially corrected, edge bruising to first, this good fine, the second very fine (2) £100-£140
Lot 271
A Second War 1942 ‘North Africa’ M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant R. Miller, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, who was decorated for multiple acts of gallantry during the Western Desert Campaign in June and July 1942 and was subsequently taken P.O.W. following Operation Agreement - the amphibious raid on Tobruk, September 1942 Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4342485 Cpl. R. Miller. R. North’d Fus.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (4342485 Fsr. R. Miller. R. North’d Fus.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine and better (5) £2,000-£2,600 --- M.M. London Gazette 24 September 1942: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.’ The original recommendation states: ‘Throughout the whole of the period during which his team has been in action this N.C.O. has shown a complete disregard for personal safety. At Sollum, during the rearguard action, four enemy tanks appeared at 2000 yards. Cpl. Miller immediately engaged them with his section, and during the firing stood high on the parapet the better to observe the results and the strike of his bullets, destroying their carrier observation post before the tanks withdrew. Later that day the position was shelled and mortared for a period of nearly two hours; Corporal Miller’s cheerful bearing and nonchalant attitude towards the shelling did much to maintain the confidence and morale of his Section. At Garawla, on 28 June 1942, a column pushed out on a destructive raid and was halted by a heavy enemy barrage. His machine-gun section immediately went into action, and for a period of roughly half an hour was subject to heavy machine-gun and shell fire. Corporal Miller immediately told his No. 1 to get down from the gun, which was mounted on a truck, and himself took over the firing. He maintained his fire despite this heavy fire until ordered to stop by the O.C. Column. Later investigation proved that his truck had been hit four times during this action. Again, during the action west of Barrel Hill, a large enemy gun was spotted at a range of 1800 yards. The Section immediately took this on frontally - thus allowing the other Section to get into action on the flank. Heavy enemy fire, both Breda and Anti-tank, were returned on Corporal Miller’s Section. Here again this N.C.O., with complete disregard of personal safety stood high up to observe the results of his fire. When the return fire became extremely fierce, Corporal Miller took over the job of No. 1 until ordered to cease firing. On 18 July 1942, on Hill 64, the enemy subjected that area to several hours shelling. During the whole of that time Corporal Miller’s cheerful courage was reflected in his Section.’ Richard Miller served with the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers in Palestine during the Arab Revolt, 1936-39 (medal and clasp) and subsequently in North Africa during the Second World War with the 1st Battalion. He was wounded in Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya) on 24 November 1941 during Operation Crusader following which his battalion spent some time refitting in Egypt. As the Axis launched their new offensive at Gazala in late May 1942, the 1st Battalion was ordered back to the desert only to be driven back over the following weeks from Tobruk into Egypt with the rest of the British and Commonwealth forces. Corporal Miller distinguished himself during the retreat firstly at Sollum in late June where Miller’s Z Company remained as a rearguard following the withdrawal of the rest of his battalion to Mersa Matruh. After 24 hours this force also evacuated to rejoin the battalion. Then, on 28 June at Garawla, just east of Mersa Matruh, the 151st Infantry Brigade, with Z Company, 1st R.N.F., under command, was ordered out into the desert to the south to ‘smash the enemy’s Lines of Communication’ as they were rapidly by-passing the defences. Here Miller again displayed great bravery with his machine-gun section in a prolonged fire fight. The following month, during the first Battle of El Alamein, Miller distinguished himself twice more under heavy fire, at Barrel Hill and at Hill 64. Shortly after Miller’s M.M. recommendation was approved on 18 August 1942, his unit - 14 Platoon, Z Company, 1st Royal Northumberland Fusiliers - was selected to participate in Operation Agreement together with a combined force of S.A.S., Long Range Desert Group, Royal Marines and the Palestinian Special Interrogation Group (in German uniform) also supplemented by one company of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The main objective was the destruction of the oil storage facility on the south side of Tobruk Harbour. Although Miller was among the few men who got ashore, the raid itself was a disaster with losses in both personnel and equipment amounting to three warships, seven M.T.B.s, a few dozen other small craft and several hundred soldiers and Royal Marines killed or taken prisoner. The regimental history takes up the story of these ill-fated events with respect to Miller’s machine-gun platoon: ‘The raiding party left Alexandria in motor torpedo boats on 11 September and arrived off Tobruk on 13 September after two very unpleasant days at sea. Surprise, essential to the success of the operation, was not effected. As a result Sergeant Miller’s section alone succeeded in landing. After evading capture for a considerable time, all but one of its members contracted dysentery and were compelled to surrender. The one man to escape, Corporal Wilson, after many adventurous experiences in and around Tobruk, regained the British lines two months later after the Battle of El Alamein. The remainder of the Platoon had no alternative to returning to Alexandria, which, despite being heavily dive- bombed en route, they reached safely.’ (The History of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in the Second World War by Brigadier C. N. Barclay C.B.E., D.S.O.). Besides being named in the Regimental History, Miller is also mentioned in the books ‘Tobruk Commando’ by Gordon Landsrough and ‘Massacre at Tobruk’ by Peter C. Smith. Having gone into the bag at Tobruk, Sergeant Miller was transported to Italy where he was initially held prisoner of war at No. 70 Camp, Monturano, Parma. He was subsequently transferred to Stalag IV-B at Mülberg, Germany for the remainder of the war. Sold together with a copy of Corporal Wilson’s escape report from National Archives file WO201/740 describing the Tobruk raid his subsequent evasion, and the Buckingham Palace forwarding letter for the recipient’s M.M., named to ‘4342485 Cpl. R. Miller, M.M., The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.’
Lot 240
A ‘Korea’ M.B.E. group of nine awarded to Regimental Sergeant Major and Quartermaster, later Major and Quartermaster, L. W. ‘Uncle Len’ Green, 5th (Royal Inniskilling) Dragoon Guards The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type, breast badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (7883963 W.O. Cl. 2. L. W. Green. 5 D.G.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, South Arabia (Major L. W. Green. M.B.E. 5 Innis. DG.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (7885963 W.O. Cl. 2. L. W. Green, M.B.E. 5 D.G.) mounted as originally worn, housed in a leather Spink & Son Ltd case, remnants of lacquer, generally very fine (9) £400-£500 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 24 April 1953: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Korea during the period 1st July to 31st December, 1952.’ The original recommendation states: ‘This Warrant Officer has served as RQMS for three years the last one of which has been in Korea. The high reputation achieved by the Regiment has been due in great part to the work of this Warrant Officer. At no time during the service of the Regiment in the Commonwealth Division has any man gone short of equipment or necessary which it is the Quartermaster’s responsibility to provide. His skill and enthusiasm have been outstanding and his personal example of hard work has been reflected in the efficiency of his department. He is an exceptionally loyal man and under all circumstances and conditions he has always placed his duty beyond any thought of personal discomfort or hardship. Throughout his service with the Regiment he has always maintained the highest standards of military conduct and efficiency and he has made a big contribution in preparing the administrative staff of the Regiment for war and on active service in maintaining it as far as is in his power at full operational efficiency.’ Leonard William Green was born in October 1916, and ‘was known throughout the Regiment as Uncle Len and particularly for his geniality. Many owe him a debt of gratitude for his ability to sort out a loss or for arranging with a local contractor to supply such luxury items as soft bread rolls! These were items on the troops’ menu never seen in any past years. He joined the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Tank Corps in 1937 and rapidly established himself as an outstanding boxer, footballer, basketball and rugger player. He became the Light Heavyweight Champion of the Army by 1939. Throughout the war he served wit a TA Tank Regiment in Europe with the 79th Armoured Division, (Hobbarts Funnies). At the end of hostility in Europe, all TA Regiments were disbanded and regular soldiers with time to serve were transferred to a regular regiment. It was to the benefit of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards that he was posted as SQMS to our A Squadron, then in York Barracks, Münster, for the first time. By 1949 he had been promoted to RQMS and formed a very highly professional sporting duo with the Quartermaster, the late Major Maurice Peters. Together they organised our athletics team to win the BAOR Championship in 1950. Len served as RQMS in Paderborn, Korea and Egypt and was awarded the M.B.E. for those services. In 1954 when the Regiment took up the Training Regiment Role in Catterick he was promoted RSM and Quartermaster in 1957. Throughout his career he was always to the fore of football and held the appointment of OIC Football until he retired in 1967. Perhaps his ability to organise Regiment social events will remain as another of his outstanding services. He was a perfectionist, demanding the highest standard of decoration and buffet and there had always to be a theme. He was the ‘Len will fix it’, of the Regiment. After service in Benghazi he retired but was soon back in Germany as Housing Commandant of the Soest Garrison...’ (Regimental Journal refers) Green served 12 years and 49 days in the ranks. He was commissioned Lieutenant and Quartermaster in January 1957, and advanced to Major and Quartermaster in November 1965. Green retired in March 1968, and died in October 2005. Sold with a copy of 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, Change and Challenge 1928-1978, in which the recipient is mentioned and photographed. 1 of 3 M.B.E.’s awarded to the Regiment for service in Korea.
Lot 253
A Great War 1917 ‘Second Battle of Gaza’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Company Sergeant Major J. A. Bateup, 1/4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment (T.F.), late 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (201318 Sjt: J. A. Bateup. 1/4 Nth’n: R.-T.F.); 1914 Star (8919 Pte J. A. Bateup. 1/Leic: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves, loose (1-8919 Sjt. J. A. Bateup. Leic. R.) mounted as originally worn, generally very fine or better (4) £800-£1,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1917; citation published 26 January 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When all the officers of his company were casualties he handled his men with great coolness and skill during severe fighting, and maintained an advanced position until dusk. Since that occasion he has also done excellent service in reorganising his company, setting a fine example to all those under him.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 12 January 1918 (Egypt). James Alfred Bateup was born in Horsmonden, Kent, one of fifteen siblings. He initially served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment in the French theatre of war from 9 September 1914. Bateup advanced to Sergeant, and transferred to the 1/4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment (T.F.). Bateup served with the Battalion in the Egyptian theatre of war, and distinguished himself during the Second Battle of Gaza, 17 - 19 April 1917. Bateup was awarded his D.C.M. for gallantry on 19 April, when the Battalion advanced towards the Beersheba Road. The latter was the first objective, and the terrain was undulating but devoid of any cover. The Turks were strongly entrenched, and despite the attack reaching the edge of the trenches the 1/4th Battalion had suffered 80% casualties. At dusk the survivors, including Bateup, withdrew having suffered losses of 386 killed, wounded or missing - only 1 officer was left unscathed. Bateup advanced to Acting Company Sergeant Major, and resided in Leicestershire after the war. He died in 1962. Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of recipient in uniform.
Lot 272
A fine Second War 1943 ‘Tunisia Campaign’ M.M. group of six awarded to Regimental Sergeant Major F. G. Findlay, Royal Army Service Corps, attached No. 6 Commando, who was decorated for his actions at the assault on Djebel Azag, 6 January 1943 Military Medal, G.VI.R. (T/5041667 W.O. Cl.3. F. G. Findley. R.A.S.C.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (6) £3,000-£3,600 --- M.M. London Gazette 23 September 1943: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa’. The original recommendation states: ‘During the withdrawal from Djebel Azag on 6 January 1943, T.S.M. Findley repeatedly showed complete disregard for his own safety by covering his section by advancing under fire and throwing grenades. I consider that T.S.M. Findley’s actions were responsible for numerous men reaching safety. Throughout the action he showed a most excellent example to his men. He is over 40 years of age and put up a remarkable performance.’ Frederick George Findley was born in Attleborough, Warwickshire, on 24 August 1902 and attested for the North Staffordshire Regiment at Lichfield in May 1921, seeing service in Gibraltar, Turkey and India before transferring to the Army Reserve in 1928. During the Second World War, Findley served in the Royal Army Service Corps attached to 6 Commando and was decorated for his actions at Djebel Azag where an attempt was made by the British 36th Brigade Group to capture the feature known to the British as Green Hill, on 5 to 7 January 1943. Commanding the Sedjanane to Mateur road in Northern Tunisia, Green Hill was held by men from Fallschirmjäger Regiment Barenthin (German Parachute Infantry) and Witzig’s Parachute Engineers who had fortified the hill with concrete machine gun emplacements, barbed wire and mines. In his report on the ‘Attack on Djebel Azag’, Captain J. A. D. Mayne, Som. L.I., describes how ‘Mand Force’ from No. 6 Commando, comprising Force HQ, No. 1 Troop (complete), 1 Section from No. 2 Troop and one partial section from No. 5 Troop (commanded by Findley) were tasked with the following objectives: i) To capture and hold “Djebel Azag.” ii) To assist, by supporting fire, the attack on “Greenhill” and “Si Ayed”. iii) To establish an Observation Post for a Forward Observation Officer to cover targets on and behind ‘Greenhill” area. Hilary St. George Saunders’ narrative of this action in the Green Beret describes the struggle between No. 6 Commando and the elite German paratroops dug in on the hill: ‘On the 5th January they took part in yet another attack on Green Hill, carried out by the 36th Brigade. Headquarters with one and a half Troops occupied Point 277 to the north-west, the object being to protect the Brigade’s left flank and to harass the enemy’s rear; while a detachment made up of two Troops under Captain Mayne seized Djebel Azag, a height which commanded the main position. To do this they made a ten mile approach march over sodden country, the men carrying heavy loads of ammunition and food for forty-eight hours. They reached their positions soon after dawn and then dug in on the summit as deeply as the rocky ground would allow. Soon after midday the enemy made two attempts to attack them, but were beaten off at long range by accurate and well-sustained small arms fire. The Germans then resorted to mortars, in the handling of which they were exceptionally proficient, and the Commando began to suffer casualties but held on. During the afternoon Mayne observed that the enemy were forming up to deliver a counter-stroke against the brigade then engaged upon the main assault of Green Hill. His messages brought artillery fire on them and the attack did not develop. At dusk his small force, which had not been reinforced, was concentrated on the summit of the hill. At dawn Mayne’s position soon became serious, for as Lieutenant Cowper and his section were moving to their daylight positions, they were attacked at close range by Germans who had crawled up during the night. Cowper was soon engaging about two companies of the enemy strongly supported by mortars which fired a very accurate barrage. The remainder of the force was now under equally severe pressure and almost completely surrounded. Captain Davies was ordered by Mayne to withdraw headquarters and then cover a general retreat of the force, a manoeuvre which he ‘carried out extremely well.’ That evening they were all back in the tunnel near Sedjenane, the men very tired but cheerful, ‘having done magnificently.’ With a loss of thirty-five of their number they had held a key position for forty eight hours against ‘first-class troops who had been put in as stiffening.’ Though the attack on Green Hill had failed, the small action fought by Mand Force, as Mayne’s detachment was called, provides a good example of what men can accomplish who have passed through Commando training. They had been isolated for two days, in a most exposed position, and subject to galling mortar fire; but they had occupied the attention of four or five times their number who might very well have been employed elsewhere.’ Findley was a parachutist, who during his para course, landed in the top of another soldier’s parachute during a training decent which caused an injury to Findley’s back (a copy of his course report is included with the papers). Post-War he was a member of the Commando Association whose records state that his last rank attained was Regimental Sergeant Major and that he also served in No. 12 Commando. He died in 1960 in Hessingford, Cornwall. Sold with the recipient’s Soldiers’ Service and Pay Book inside which is a hand traced map of Floro, Norway with important sites and German positions marked. This map is suggestive of Findley’s participation in Operation Kitbag, a raid by British Commandos of No. 6 Commando and No. 12 Commando on the town of Floro in Norway during the Second World War - ‘Kitbag’ embarked from Scapa Flow on H.M.S. Prince Charles on 9 December 1941 but after navigational difficulties the raid was eventually called off; the recipient’s Old Comrades Association of the Special Service Brigade membership booklet, signed by the recipient and dated 9 July 1943; Pay Form No. 48 for the recipient’s Military Medal Gratuity of £20; the recipient’s Service and Casualty Form (Part I) dated 9 October 1928.
Lot 378
Five: Chief Ordnance Artificer W. H. Stockdale, Royal Navy 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (M.37938 W. H. Stockdale. A/C.O.A. H.M.S. Cornwall.) nearly extremely fine (5) £120-£160 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 30 January 1945: ‘For courage, leadership, and skill in H.M.S. Belona in the destruction of an enemy convoy off the coast of Norway.’ William Harry Stockdale served as a Chief Ordnance Artificer during the Second World War, and was Mentioned in Despatches for his gallantry in Operation Counterblast, a spectacular night action off Norway on the night of 12-13 November 1944 when nine enemy ships were destroyed, an action described in the following terms in Gordon Holman’s The King’s Cruisers: ‘The luck came shortly after 11 p.m. as they were off Egersund Fjord. It was very dark, but there was good visibility and a calm sea, and keen eyes that had got used to the darkness had no difficulty in making out an enemy convoy steaming north. With the escort, which included “M” class minesweepers, it stretched over a distance of several miles, and was directly in the path of the British warships. For a few tense minutes, Admiral McGrigor allowed his force to close the enemy, the guns ranging all the time. Then, at about two miles range, the Kent fired her first 8-inch broadside. The shells fell like a sledgehammer blow among the vessels of the convoy. One leading escort ship was hit straight away and began to sink. The Bellona and the destroyers had opened fire, too, and other enemy ships were hit. One, probably filled with ammunition, blew up, lighting the whole scene with a vivid red flash. Tracer shells weaved an odd pattern in the darkness, and some of the German vessels sent up distress signals. The convoy had scattered and, probably not knowing the strength of the opposition, survivors of the escort were attempting to fight back. One approached firing hard, but was hit aft and then lost in the darkness. Shore batteries designed to protect these convoys joined in the action, but in the words of the Admiralty communique, “their fire, although spectacular, was ineffective and none of H.M. ships sustained any material damage”. It was estimated that at one time our cruisers and destroyers were engaged within two and a half miles of the Norwegian coast. After 20 minutes there was a lull, but when several vessels were seen drawing away, Admiral McGrigor sent in the destroyers. They delivered the final attack by the light of starshells and well under the German shore guns. Of 11 ships in the convoy, nine were either blown up or sunk and one was driven ashore. In the whole of our force the casualties were two killed and less than a dozen wounded. Summing up afterwards, Admiral McGrigor said, “We caught the Hun in his nightshirt”.’
Lot 587
Germany, Third Reich, War Service Cross (2), First Class, with Swords, maker marked 65 to retaining pin, in original embossed case of issue, maker marked Klein & Quenzer AG to the upper inner lid silk; Second Class, with Swords, in original maker marked paper packet, some corrosion to second, nearly very fine (2) £80-£120
Lot 569
Victoria Cross, an official Hancocks & Co, London, replica, the reverse engraved ‘Hancocks 77’, 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 348
Three: Private J. Jones, Somerset Light Infantry, who killed in action on the Western Front on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915 1914-15 Star (16999 Pte. J. Jones. Som. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (16999 Pte. J. Jones. Som. L.I.) very fine (3) £70-£90 --- James Jones was born at Resolven, Glamorgan, and attested for the Somerset Light Infantry at Neath. He served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 September 1915, and was posted missing, presumed killed in action, only a few weeks later on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915, at the age of 20. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
Lot 221
The Great War M.C. and Second Award Bar awarded to Major J. Doherty, 7th Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, who died of illness on 26 February 1919 Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Major. J. Doherty 7th F.A. Bde. A.I.F.’, in case of issue, with replacement copy suspension, otherwise extremely fine £2,000-£2,600 --- M.C. London Gazette 16 August 1918. The original Recommendation, dated 14 January 1918, states: ‘This officer during the temporary absence of his Battery Commander was in charge of his Batter on Wyschaete Ridge. On 14 January 1918, during a series, a premature occurred in one of his guns completely wrecking the piece, putting the entire detachment out of action (3 wounded, 2 dangerously) and setting the charges and pit on fire. Captain Doherty was quickly on the spot, ands regardless of the fact that High Explosive and Lethal Gas shells were stored in the fiercely blazing pit, entered alone and attempted to extinguish the flames. He then organised a chain of fire buckets, himself remaining in the pit, and personally got the fire under control. His action was most prompt and courageous, and undoubtedly saved much damage and probable loss of life.’ M.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 16 September 1918. The original Recommendation, dated 16 May 1918, states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the night of 28-29 April, at Le Heuplier near Caestre when the 102nd Battery Wagon Lines were subjected to a sudden burst of shell fire. A large tree near which some men were sleeping was hit and fell on four of the men. This officer organised a rescue party ands was successful in extricating them, tow of whom were killed. The further shelling set fire to a dump of ammunition which spread to the stables. Captain Doherty then turned his attention to the extinguishing of this fire, and the withdrawal of the horses from the stable. By his courage ands ability he set a splendid example to the party of men he organised and in addition to the rescue of the men referred to ,was instrumental in saving valuable government property.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 1 June 1917. The original Recommendation, dated 7 March 1917, states: ‘For general good service and devotion to duty. He is a most capable and energetic officer, and had done excellent work, both as a subaltern officer, and since acting as Battery Commander of the 102nd Battery.’ James Doherty was born in Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales on 6 March 1888 and was educated at Sydney University. He served with the 102nd (Howitzer) Battery, 2nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Australian Division during the Great War on the Western Front, was wounded near Ypres on 31 July 1917, ands for his gallantry was awarded the Military Cross and a Second Award Bar. On gaining his first distinction, General Birdwood wrote as follows: ‘I write to convoy to you my heartiest congratulations on the Military Cross, which has been awarded to you in recognition of the conspicuous bravery which you displayed when in charge of your battery. Thank you so much for your prompt and gallant action, which undoubtedly saved much damage and loss of life.’ Subsequently transferring to the 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, Doherty died of broncho pnumonia on 26 February 1919, and is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Sold with copied research, no original documents accompany this lot.
Lot 76
The 1914-15 Star awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. G. H. Hughes, who served as Commanding Officer of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry from 1904 to 1907, and later commanded the 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers during the Great War 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col. R. G. H. Hughes.) very fine £100-£140 --- Reginald George Hutton Hughes was born on 22 November 1860 and was educated at Rugby School, Brasenose College, Oxford, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned Lieutenant in the Oxfordshire Light Infantry on 9 September, 1882 and joined the 52nd at Limerick, two months later. He served in Gibraltar, in 1884 and went to India in 1886, becoming a Special Service Officer in Burma, for which he was awarded the medal with clasp. He was promoted Captain on 27 February 1892 and was Station Staff Officer at Naini Tal 1893-95, being appointed Adjutant of the 4th Battalion (Oxfordshire Militia) 1896-1901. He was promoted Major on 7 July 1900, and was appointed to be Second in Command of the 43rd, which he commanded on the voyage to India in 1903. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 2 September 1904, and was for three years in command of the 52nd at Chatham and Tidworth, until he retired on retired pay in 1907. In September 1914 he was appointed to command the new 7th (Service) Battalion of the regiment. In 1914 he took command of the newly formed 7th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. On the 21st of January 1915 he resigned the command of the Battalion owing to ‘Ill health’. He returned to service as a Draft Conducting Officer, first landing in France on 23 December 1915. He would later take command of the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers and accompany them into action for the remainder of the war. At the time of his death on 9th September 1935, he was residing at The Barn House, Watlington, Oxford. Sold together with a photographic image of the recipient.
Lot 375
Six: Sergeant N. D. Dale, Lincolnshire Regiment, who was wounded in action during the retreat to Dunkirk General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (4799432 Pte. N. D. Dale. Linc. R.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Norman Dennis Dale) edge nick to first, otherwise good very fine and better (6) £100-£140 --- Norman Dennis Dale was born in East Retford, Lincolnshire, on 26 September 1915 and served with the 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment during the Second World War as part of the British Expeditionary Force. He was wounded during the Dunkirk evacuations, with one source stating the date to be 17 May 1940 (although this date is unconfirmed), and saw further service during the Italian Campaign. He died at Crowborough on 5 February 2000. Sold together with a small silver fob, named to ‘D. Dale’ and the reverse engraved ‘H.Q. Wing. Sports. 1933’; and copied research.
Lot 270
A Second War 1945 ‘Arakan operations’ M.M. group of five awarded to Gunner S. A. Roast, Royal Artillery, attached No. 1 Commando, for the bloody battle of Hill 170 near Kangaw after which ‘the bodies of 340 of the enemy lay in an area no more than 100 yards square’: his M.M. recommendation contains many similarities to that for the V.C. awarded for the same action to his mortally wounded Troop commander Lieutenant G. A. Knowland Military Medal, G.VI.R. (11268880 Gnr. S. A. Roast. R. A.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, very fine and better (5) £4,000-£5,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 19 April 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘On the 31 January 45 at Hill 170 near Kangaw, Gunner Roast was No. 1 on the Bren gun in the foremost weapon pit of his position which was constantly being rushed and grenaded. His No. 2 on the gun was wounded early in the action, and two other men who subsequently came in to act as No. 2 were either killed or wounded. Gunner Roast carried on firing on his own in spite of being on the forward slope by himself with a Japanese Medium Machine Gun facing him only 20 yards away. He only withdrew when the battle had finished and his position was taken over by relieving troops. He had fired over seventy magazines. It was largely due to his high sense of duty that the position was not over-run.’ Stanley Albert Roast, from Maryport, Cumberland, served in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War. He was attached to No. 1 Commando unit from 23 July 1943 and served with them as part of 3 Commando Brigade, 15 Corps, at the time of the above engagement at Kangaw. The Battle for Hill 170 at Kangaw, for which Roast was awarded the M.M. and Lieutenant Knowland was awarded the Victoria Cross, has been described as one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The Japanese in fact later admitted that it was their heaviest action of the Burmese Campaign. On the last day, 31 January 1945, the Japanese made a determined attempt to capture the Hill, starting their attacks at 6am and not ending until 6pm. Troops from other Commandos came and fought side by side with No. 1 Commando and the Brigade succeeded in holding the Hill at the heavy cost of 45 killed, and 90 wounded. A comparison of Roast’s M.M. recommendation and Knowland’s stirring V.C. citation - published in the London Gazette on 12 April 1945 just a few days before Roast’s M.M., - makes it clear that both men were fighting in close proximity in the foremost areas of the action that day. Further testimony to the ferocity and point blank nature of the engagement is to be found in The Green Beret by Hilary St. George Saunders: ‘So the battle raged all day, the Japanese alternating fits of frenzied digging with massed counter-attacks. Lieutenant G. A. Knowland (Royal Norfolk Regiment), an officer of No. 4 Troop of No. 1 Commando, was conspicuous in the defence. At the head of twenty four men he beat off the first attack delivered by, it was estimated, three hundred Japanese. He moved from trench to trench with ammunition for those who needed it, firing his rifle and throwing grenades. Discovering that the crew of one of his Bren guns had all been killed or wounded, he maintained the gun in action until a fresh crew could arrive, and in order to obtain a better field of fire, stood on top of the trench and fired it from the hip. The diversion thus created enabled stretcher-bearers to bring back the wounded, and these included the new Bren gun team who were all hit before they could reach the position. Lieutenant Knowland therefore continued to keep the gun in action alone. A new attack developed. To meet it he changed his weapon for a 2-inch mortar, and firing this, like the Bren gun, from the hip, killed six Japanese with his first bomb. Having used up all his ammunition he withdrew a short distance, laid hold of a rifle and continued to engage the enemy. The Japanese made a final desperate charge. Knowland flung away the rifle, picked up a Tommy gun and sprayed the attackers with it from a range of ten yards. A bullet struck him and he fell mortally wounded. His action saved the day. The Japanese made no further progress and were soon checked by counter-attacks and by fire from the guns of the landing craft at the beach. Knowland was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Nevertheless they remained upon part of the hill, nor could No. 3 Troop of No. 1 Commando, and ‘X’ Troop of No. 42 (Royal Marine) Commando dislodge them. The Japanese maintained three machine guns in position and with these beat off another attack by No. 6 Troop of No. 1 Commando, which lost half its men. The Bren guns were manned unceasingly, casualties being replaced as they occurred. At one gun twelve men were shot down one after the other. ‘It came to a point,’ says Private L. J. Greenslade, who was there, ‘where a man who was climbing up the hill with ammunition or supplies was the next minute being brought down on a stretcher.’ The one Sherman tank left, one of its periscopes shot away, rumbled down the hill to replenish its ammunition and petrol. It returned and opened fire on the Japanese at the north end of the hill, where its shells, bursting about fifty yards ahead of the exhausted remnants of No. 4 Troop of No. 1 Commando, checked the enemy. So the battle raged until darkness fell upon white men and yellow, both alike utterly spent, each clinging to their part of the blood-soaked hill. In the short tropic twilight Thunderbolts attacked and inflicted heavy casualties. This was the end. The Japanese had shot their bolt. That night they withdrew and on the next day No. 5 Commando was able to clear the hill. The bodies of three hundred and forty of the enemy lay in an area no more than a hundred yards square. Among the Japanese corpses was one with a green beret on its head, and two mules, their hooves shod with rubber pads. Presumably they had been used for carrying heavy weapons over the chaung at night. The three Commandos had lost heavily; five officers and forty other ranks had been killed, and six officers and eighty-four other ranks wounded. Immediately after the battle Lieutenant-General Christison, commanding the 15th Indian Corps, of which the 3rd Commando Brigade formed part, issued a special order of the day. The reputation of the brigade, he said, ‘for indifference to personal danger, for ruthless pursuit in success, and for resourceful determination in adversity’ had been an inspiration to all their comrades in arms. ‘The battle of Kangaw,’ he finished, ‘has been the decisive battle of the whole Arakan campaign, and that it was won was due very largely to your magnificent courage on Hill 170.’
Lot 396
Five: Chief Engineman R. Urquhart, Royal Naval Reserve 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (436 E.U., R. Urquhart. Ch. Engn. R.N.R.) nearly extremely fine Five: Stoker First Class H. E. Hartles, Royal Fleet Reserve 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (S.S.120802 (Ch.B. 18597) H. E. Hartles. Sto.1. R.F.R.) nearly extremely fine (10) £120-£160
Lot 232
‘The whole business was horrible, as one never knew who was for or against you. An innocent looking civilian would walk past the barracks, see our position and then go to a house and snipe. The fighting in France I think was infinitely preferable to this and in this others concur.’ (Personal memoir of the Easter Rising by Major G. A. Harris, Dublin University O.T.C.) ‘I do not know how I should have got on without him, he did everything, and was always cheerful and active and never seemed to get tired, though the strain was great. He organised the defence most efficiently...’ (Colonel F. W. Shaw, Commanding 2nd (H.S.) Gn. Bn. R. Irish Regt.) The important and unique inter-War C.B.E. (Civil), 1916 ‘Easter Rising - Defence of Beggars Bush Barracks’ D.S.O., Great War O.B.E. (Military) group of eight awarded to Major and Adjutant G. A. Harris, Dublin University Officer Training Corps, Territorial Force, who led his poorly armed column of above age military reservists - ‘The Gorgeous Wrecks’ - in a week long defence of Beggars Bush Barracks during the 1916 Easter Rising: arranging his veteran volunteers to the best possible advantage and by keeping up a constant fire on all surrounding houses occupied by the rebels, Harris prevented them from making an attack, and ‘bluffed them into thinking the garrison was much larger than it really was.’ Sold with an important archive of related material including the recipient’s unpublished diary of the Defence, written during the siege on ‘Beggars Bush, Dublin’ headed writing paper. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; British War Medal 1914-20 (Major G. A. Harris.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Major G. A. Harris); Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1919, with integral top riband bar, last seven mounted as worn, minor green enamel damage to wreath on DSO, otherwise nearly extremely fine (8) £8,000-£12,000 --- C.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 3 June 1927: ‘Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Northern Ireland.’ D.S.O. London Gazette 24 January 1917: General citation but awarded in connection with services rendered during the Sinn Fein Rebellion, Dublin, April 1916. O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 3 June 1919: ‘For valuable services rendered in connection with the War.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 25 January 1917: general citation but in connection with services rendered during the Sinn Fein Rebellion, Dublin, April 1916. George Arthur Harris was born in 1879 at Longford, Ireland, into a family with successful business interests and long Ulster associations. He won a scholarship to Trinity College Dublin, where he gained a gold medal in mathematics, played rugby for the 1st XV and assisted in the foundation of the Dublin University Officers’ Training Corps before graduating via open competition to an appointment as a first-class clerk at the Admiralty in London in 1903. The following year he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Prince of Wales’s Own (Civil Service) Rifle Volunteer Corps but, having chosen to return to Dublin, in 1910 he was appointed an officer of the Dublin University Officer Training Corps. Appointed to the command of the Infantry Unit in 1911 and promoted to Major in February 1913, it was in this capacity that Harris was serving on the outbreak of war in 1914. Additionally appointed to the command of the 1st Dublin Battalion Volunteer Training Corps from August 1915, Harris was leading a party of these veteran volunteers on military manoeuvres in the Dublin Hills on 24 April 1916 when he received news that Sinn Fein had risen in Dublin. Easter Rising Following the armed insurrection of around 1800 Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army in Dublin on Monday 24 April 1916, the VTC were ordered to return to Beggars Bush Barracks at once. Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Browning, the senior officer present, split the volunteers into two columns placing the larger party under Harris. These part time reservists, many of them lawyers, doctors and other professional men were mostly above military age - the Irish Rugby Union also had its own contingent. Unofficially termed the ‘Gorgeous Wrecks’, they wore civilian clothes with an armband emblazoned ‘GR’ - Georgius Rex. As a Volunteer Force they had no ammunition and many of their rifles were dummies for training purposes only. Unarmed and militarily ineffective then, this body of men was led back by Harris who recorded his experiences over the following days in his contemporary personal diary of the Easter Rising written on Beggars Bush Dublin headed note paper. Of the journey back to the Barracks, Harris notes: ‘I immediately collected them and marched back via Anglesea Road having a protective screen in front. All went well until I arrived at the corner of Lansdowne Road and Shelbourne Road where I heard from civilians that they heard that the Sinn Feiners were sniping at the Barracks. I sent on two motor cyclists for information and they brought back word from the Barracks that the road was fairly clear. So I ordered the GRs to go up in small parties of four or five. I went on horseback with the foremost parties. As I rode up Haddington Road several shots were fired at me and one man was hit at the Barrack Gate. All the rest of the party got in without further casualty. The wounded man was carried in by Elie and Stranthers of the VTC who displayed great gallantry. The wounded man (Clery) unfortunately died during the night.’ (Harris’ diary refers) Meanwhile, Browning’s smaller party, taking a different route, had run into a rebel ambush at the corner of Haddington and Northumberland Road. Fourteen men were hit, five of them fatally. One of these casualties was Browning, mortally wounded at the head of the column. He was rushed into the Barracks where he died two days later. Major Harris meanwhile had already arrived to find it garrisoned by around twenty seven men of the Catering Corps. He set about organising the defence of the barracks immediately: ‘On getting into Barracks I found that I was senior Officer and took over command. I discovered that there were only about 15 rifles in the Barracks with a lot of disabled and convalescent soldiers, in addition to women and children. The troops with me - about 80 - had only unserviceable rifles for which no ammunition was available. There were large stores of ammunition and it was of the utmost importance to hold the Barracks, as it formed the first link between the city and troops coming from England. I arranged the troops round the wall to the best possible advantage, and by keeping up a constant fire on all surrounding houses occupied by the rebels prevented them from making an attack, and bluffed them into thinking the garrison was much larger than it really was.’ Harris had all the bricked up portholes opened and strategically had the ammunition, food etc. stored in the central block which he proposed to hold as a final post. Sniping continued from houses all around: ‘During the night Colonel Sir Frederick Shaw arrived and took over command, but I was ordered by the Irish Command Headquarters to remain and assist him. The night passed wearily in expectation of attack. All next day we h...
Lot 103
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Algiers (T. S. Beauchant, 1st Lieut. R.M.) very neat engraved correction to ‘ant, 1st’, otherwise lightly toned, extremely fine £3,000-£4,000 --- Theophilus Samuel Beauchant was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Marines on 9 November 1805, and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 22 September 1810. He served as a 1st Lieutenant Royal Marines aboard H.M.S. Impregnable at the battle of Algiers in 1816, although the medal rolls incorrectly give his rank as 2nd Lieutenant in which rank it was originally issued. Originally assigned to 137 Company in the Plymouth Division, Beauchant transferred to 3 Royal Marine Artillery Company, Plymouth Division, on 1 February 1806. He was present at the second battle of Copenhagen, 2-7 September 1807, and received an injury there which left him deaf for life. Individual ships and stations are not recorded in the Navy lists at this time so it is not possible to say which particular vessel he was serving in at Copenhagen. However, R.M.A. parties were present in H.M. Ships Fury, Zebra, Aetna, Thunder and Vesuvius. Sometime in 1809, he was ‘employed on Special Service propaganda work on the French coast, under instructions from Commodore Owen of the Clyde frigate.’ He had been engaged, as he himself mentions in a personal statement of services sent into the Admiralty [now filed among the Secretary’s “In-Letters” at The National Archives] ‘for two months as a Volunteer in assisting to disseminate a knowledge of the affairs of Spain in France...’ Beauchant commanded the R.M.A. detachment of H.M.S. Hound in the Scheldt expedition of July-December 1809, and was afterwards sent to Cadiz with H.M.S. Hound to assist in the defence of that city, arriving there on 4 April 1810. He took part in the shelling of Forts San José and San Luis, 12-21 April, and was also present at the attack on the French fleet lying off Point St Mary on 23 November 1810. A ‘Boat Service’ clasp was authorised for this latter action but Beauchant had died before he was able to claim it. He was in action again on 2, 11, 13 and 31 of December 1810, and 5-6 March 1811. H.M.S. Hound remained at Cadiz until September 1812. He was placed in charge of training a detachment of R.M.A. from Chatham, at Woolwich in April-August 1813. In April 1814 he sailed to America in command of the R.M.A. detachment aboard H.M.S. Erebus, and while she was at Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was lent to H.M.S. Superb as a gunnery instructor. Beauchant was later to publish a book titled The Naval Gunner, essentially a highly technical account about ‘conducting the rocket service afloat, remarks on bomb vessels, fire ships etc.’, but with occasional reference to his personal services: ‘Nor must it be supposed that the author formed his opinion on theory alone. On the coast of America, the crew of the Superb 74, under the flag of Sir Henry Hotham, was brought to such a state of perfection in gunnery by the author, as few or none of His Majesty’s ships could boast of; and its apparent effect on the sailors was confidence in themselves, and an anxious wish to try their skill upon the enemy.’ He returned to Erebus in time to take part in the Potomac expedition of 17 August to 4 September 1814, and was present at the capture of Fort Washington on 28 August 1814, and also at the action at Baltimore on 13 September 1814. He would also have been entitled to the clasp for ‘The Potomac’ had he not died before being able to claim for it. In January 1816 he was placed in command of the R.M.A. detachment aboard H.M.S. Impregnable for the expedition to Algiers. In the battle on 27 August 1816, Impregnable suffered the greatest number of casualties of all the British ships present. A contemporary account of the hellish scenes in the ‘tween decks was penned a few days after the bombardment by Lieutenant John Whinyates, Royal Engineers, who was present throughout the day on the poop-deck of the Impregnable. In the early hours of the morning of 28 August, with the ship anchored out at sea and the night sky torn by the roar and flash of the storm, he chose to carry the lantern for Lieutenant Thophilus Beauchant, Royal Marine Artillery, who was making a round of the ship: ‘The horror of the spectacle is difficult to describe. On the middle deck the first thing we saw was eight men lying between two guns, each in the convulsed attitude in which he had expired. One man had one arm extended, the other close to his breast, both fists clenched in a boxing attitude, whilst his right leg lay by his side, having been cut in two by a cannon-ball close to the hip. Near him was another poor fellow extended on his belly, his face downwards, with his back exposed: between his shoulders was buried an 18-pound shot. Legs, arms, blood, brains and mangled bodies were strewn about in all directions. You could scarcely keep your feet from the slipperiness of the decks, wet with blood.’ (Gunfire in Barbary refers). Beauchant was placed on ‘reserved half pay’ on 3 May 1817, and afterwards settled in Falmouth, Cornwall, where he served as Burgess of the Borough of Falmouth in September 1822-23; Alderman in August 1825; Mayor 1827-29; and Justice October 1829-30. Two entries in ‘Officers who have held the position of Mayor’ state: ‘29 Sept 1827. Mr T. S. Beauchant an officer on half pay of the marines artillery, holding a commission of lieutenant in the Cornwall militia, and latterly a wholesale brewer. 29 Sept 1828. The majority being absent, Mr Beauchant held over. He has since quitted Falmouth for America.’ Of his departure to America, as stated above, little is known. His book, The Naval Gunner Containing A Correct Method Of Disparting Any Piece Of Ordnance ... Tables Of Ranges ... Remarks On Bomb Vessels, Fire Ships ... &c, was published by Devonport & Longmans & Co., London, in 1828. At some later point Beauchant moved to St Aubin, St Brelade, Jersey, and gives this address in his last Will and Testament, dated 20 September 1849. He died at Falmouth on 14 October 1849, the following obituary notice appearing in The West Britain & Cornwall Advertiser on 26 October: ‘Lately of Jersey Theophilus Beauchant, Esq, of Royal Marines Artillery was for many years first magistrate of Falmouth. During this period of office he materially improved acquirements; also the inhabitants are wholly indebted for the projecting of the classical school in that town, that by mismanagement, unfortunately frustrated the expectations he had nobly entertained of it being a public good. Mr Beauchant has left a widow and several children to lament their loss.’
Lot 546
The Memorial Plaque to Captain A. G. Fox, Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 9 May 1915 Memorial Plaque (Alan Geoffrey Fox) extremely fine £400-£500 --- Alan Geoffrey Fox was born in London on 6 November 1887, and was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, before being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. Promoted Lieutenant in July 19190, he soon entered the Air Service, joining the Balloon School in February 1910, before being posted to the Air Battalion, Royal Engineers. He received his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate No. 176 at Larkhill, Salisbury Plain, on 30 January 1912, reputedly one of the first five officers of the Army taught to fly, and in May of that year joined the Royal Flying Corps. He was appointed a Flight Commander, with the temporary rank of Captain, in November 1912. Fox served with 3 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from 9 August 1914, and was killed in action over Cambrin on 9 May 1915, whilst attempting to bomb a canal bridge behind enemy lines. The report into his death states: ‘Captain Fox started at 3:00 a.m. on 9 May on a bombing expedition. He attempted to cross the lines, but was brought down by German fire and was killed between the lines. His body was recovered that night by the French.’ He is buried in Cambrin Military Cemetery, France. Sold with a large file of copied research, including various photographic images.
Lot 255
A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Lance-Sergeant T. Dickson, 15th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7878 L.Sjt: T. Dickson. 15/High: L.I.); 1914-15 Star (7878 Pte. T. Dickson. High: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (7878 Cpl. T. Dickson. High. L.I.) nearly very fine (4) £700-£900 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. He went forward with one man to reconnoitre the enemy strong point which was holding up the attack, and then led his platoon with great dash and skill, mopping up the post and capturing three machine guns and fourteen prisoners. Throughout the advance he set a fine example of initiative and courage.’ Additionally annotated: ‘Ayette 2-3.4.18.’ Thomas Dickson attested for the Highland Light Infantry and served with the 1st Battalion, a regular army battalion based in India prior to the war, during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 January 1915. The battalion was part of the Sirhind Brigade, Lahore Division, and took part in the Battles of Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge, Festubert and Loos in 1915 before transferring to Mesopotamia to fight against the Ottoman Empire, arriving in January 1916. At some point Dickson transferred to 15th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, a new army battalion, which served with 14th Brigade, 32nd Division. Landing at Boulogne on 3 January 1916, the battalion served the remainder of the war on the Western Front and at the time of the Armistice was east of Avesnes. It was while serving with this battalion that Dickson, by then a Lance-Sergeant, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions at the capture of Ayette, during the German Spring Offensive, on 2-3 April 1918. The Battalion War Diary gives the following account: ‘2 April 1918: Preparations for the attack of Ayette were then hastened and Operations Order No 17 was issued. The CO held a conference of company commanders at 9am at Bn HQrs in Douchy and the details of the arrangements were thoroughly gone into. The enemy displayed little activity during the day and the preparatory work proceeded smoothly, all ranks displaying great energy and determination. The arrangements for artillery and M.G. support were most carefully made by 14th Inf Bde and these arrangements made known to all ranks. Orders were received that after completion of operations, the frontage held by D and B Coys of the 15th H.L.I. would be taken over by the 5/6th Royal Scots. Operational Order No 18 was issued. 3 April 1918: The operation was carried through in the most enthusiastic and determined fashion, all ranks being inspired with the greatest dash and gallantry and the village captured despite the large number of the enemy found to be in it. It was subsequently discovered that a Battalion and a M.G. Battn of the enemy were in the village. The Battalion commander and Adjutant being amongst the prisoners. Owing to the length of time taken to mop up the enemy cellars and dug outs in the village the relief of D and C Coys by the 5/6th Royal Scots had to be carried out during the fighting and this was successfully done, thanks to the fine spirit shown by the relieving troops. Our casualties were slightly heavier than at first thought, 5 officers and 180 OR’s killed wounded or missing.’ The appendix report in the War Diary on the action makes particular mention of the difficulties caused by enemy machine guns / strong points and the gallantry of the men in successfully tackling these. Sold with copied research.
Lot 502
Jubilee 1887, City of London Police (PS, 14. F. Johnson.) very fine £70-£90 --- Frederick Johnson was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 3 December 1847 and joined the City of London Police on 24 June 1869, having previously been employed as a labourer in the Woolwich Arsenal from January 1865. He was promoted Second Class Sergeant on 15 May 1879, and First Class Sergeant on 9 December 1886, and resigned to pension on 27 June 1895. He died on 1 April 1904. Sold with an original torn Family Register Certificate; and copied research.
Lot 194
The Peninsula War medal awarded to Sergeant John Regan, 28th Foot, a veteran of the battle of Waterloo who settled in Australia following his service there with the 28th Foot and ultimate discharge at Parramatta in February 1838 Military General Service 1793-1814, 8 clasps, Busaco, Albuhera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (John Regan, Serjt. 28th Foot) minor edge bruising, hairlines and surface marks, otherwise very fine £2,600-£3,000 --- Provenance: Noble Numismatics Sale 101, November 2012. John Regan was born in the Parish of Donneraile, County Cork, and attested for the 28th Foot at Limerick on 22 January 1807, aged 15 years. He was promoted to Corporal on 12 June 1811, and to Sergeant on 13 December 1813, but was reduced to Private for two months in March 1815 before being restored to Sergeant on 21 May 1815, in which rank he served for the remainder of his Army service. He served ‘Six years in the Peninsula, nine months in Belgium and France, twelve years in the Ionian Islands, two years and four months in New South Wales, and the remainder at Home. Was a Corporal One Year and One hundred and Eighty Four days, a Serjeant Twenty Four Years and Seventeen days.’ He was a Sergeant in Captain Charles Cadell’s Company at Waterloo for which he received 2 years additional service. Sergeant Regan embarked with the 28th Foot for Australia aboard the Aurora which left London on 4 June 1835, and arrived in Sydney on 3 November 1835. He was discharged at Parramatta on 16 February 1838, with character ‘most excellent’. His M.G.S. medal with 8 clasps was sent to him at ‘South Head Road, Sydney’ and, shortly after receipt of the medal, in November 1849 he wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald describing his newly issued medal (which he believed to be the very first received by any non commissioned officer or private in the colony) and encouraging others to apply if eligible. In 1858, he is listed in Sands Directory as a ‘Dealer in Colonial Produce’, at 156 South Head Road, Sydney. His place and date of death has not yet been established due to other men of this name being in the Sydney area. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.
Lot 316
Three: Private D. Evans, Royal Marine Light Infantry Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1884 (D. Evans. Pte. R.M. H.M.S. “Orion”); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin River 1894 (D. Evans. Pte. R.M. H.M.S. Phœbe.); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued, light pitting and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (3) £500-£700 --- David Evans was born at Neath, Glamorgan on 21 February 1857, and enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Neath, on 21 September 1875, at the age of 18, being numbered Ch.915. He first served at the R.M. recruiting depot at Walmer, and subsequently in H.M.S. Royal Adelaide and H.M.S. Shannon from 1877 to 1881. He served in H.M.S. Orion from June 1882 until June 1883; in H.M.S. Dryad from December 1883 until November 1884; and in H.M.S. Kingfisher from November 1884 until May 1888. He subsequently served at Chatham, and then in H.M.S. Phoebe from December 1892 until January 1896, and H.M.S. Sappho from January 1896 to April of the same year. He was discharged from the Chatham Division, on completion of service in September 1896. He had been appointed Lance Corporal in 1894, and Acting Corporal in 1895, but had reverted to Private by the time of his discharge. His service record shows entitlement to prize money for vessels captured by H.M.S. Kingfisher, whilst undertaking anti slavery and piracy patrols off East Africa and Zanzibar, and also confirms that he was employed in the operations at Benin River, and had served in the Naval Brigade in operations against Chief Nibaruk, in British East Africa. Sold together with the recipient’s original parchment certificates of service, in two parts (Admiralty Forms R-138 and R-138A).
Lot 259
A fine ‘Birmingham Blitz’ George Medal pair awarded to John Hadley, Member of an A.R.P. Rescue Party on the occasion of the devastating raid on the B.S.A. Works at Small Heath on the night of 19-20 November 1940 - the original recommendation concludes with the statement that ‘the Regional Commissioner considers that Hadley’s actions deserve the George Cross.’ George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (John Hadley); Defence Medal, mounted as worn, good very fine (2) £3,000-£4,000 --- G.M. London Gazette 11 April 1941: ‘John Hadley, Member, A.R.P. Rescue Party, Birmingham. As a result of aerial bombardment a four storey building collapsed. A man and a girl, who had taken shelter under a bench on the ground floor, were buried under the wreckage. Hadley, after three hours of effort with an oxy-acetylene apparatus, succeeded in cutting a way to the trapped couple, and rescued them. The precarious nature and weight of the debris made any form of propping or support for a tunnel impossible. The building was burning and work was suspended several times so that water could be directed into the tunnel. Hadley displayed great courage and determination in the face of grave danger.’ Lord Dudley, the Regional Commissioner, made a recommendation for the award of the George Cross to Hadley but this was refused on the basis that a works electrician, A. F. Stevens, had been gazetted for the George Medal in January 1941 for the same incident and for a similar act of gallantry. The night of 19th-20th November 1940 saw the first major aerial raid launched on Birmingham as part of a campaign by the German Luftwaffe designed to break the Brummie spirit. Coming five days after the destruction of Coventry, Birmingham fell prey to the most severe attack during the course of the Second World War. Lasting nearly all night the nine hours’ of intense bombing by 440 bombers killed 450 people and badly injured 540 others. Around 400 tonnes of high explosives were dropped during the raid – Hitler’s retaliation for British raids on Hamburg, Bremen and Kiel. Factories damaged in the raid included Lucas Industries and G.E.C. works and the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) factory was also badly damaged – 53 employees were killed as they took shelter behind blast walls, 89 were injured, 30 of them seriously, and rifle production was said to have been halted for three months as a result. Sold with research including copied ‘Secret’ and confidential reports on the B.S.A. works raid and Selection Committee recommendation for the George Medal which concludes with the statement that ‘the Regional Commissioner considers that Hadley’s actions deserve the George Cross.’
Lot 168
Three: Sergeant J. Kemp, Royal Marines Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Balaklava, Sebastopol (J. K ergt. R.M. H.M.S. Agamem ) Agamemnon style impressed naming, suspension crudely re-affixed and no longer swivels, unofficial replacement rivets; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (J. Kemp. Sergt. R.M. 24th Coy. 21 Yrs.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (Sergt. J. Kemp. 84 Co. R.M.L.I.) plugged and fitted with Crimea type suspension, the first with heavy edge bruising and contact marks and some loss to naming, the second with light contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine, the last better (3) £600-£700
Lot 563
Army Temperance Association Home Medals. Army Temperance Association Home Award of Merit Medal, silver (ATAH.12), the reverse contemporarily impressed ‘Sergt F. Batten 39th Regt District 1904’, with top riband bar; Award of Merit Medal, silver (ATAH.12(a)), with top riband bar; Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal, silver (ATAH.13), unnamed as issued except where stated, generally very fine, the first two scarce (3) £60-£80
Lot 337
Four: Chief Engine Room Artificer First Class M. O. Wicken, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Queen Mary was sunk during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 1914-15 Star (268967, M.O. Wicken, C.ERA. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (268967M. O. Wicken. C.E.R.A. 1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (268967. M. O. Wicken. C.E.R.A. 2Cl. H.M.S. Vernon.) good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- Maurice Oscar Wicken was born in Southwark, London, on 16 January 1876 and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class on 18 February 1897. Advanced Chief Engine Room Artificer Second Class on 11 June 1910, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 23 February 1913, and joined H.M.S. Queen Mary on 4 September 1913. He served from the outbreak of the Great War in Queen Mary, and was promoted Chief Engine Room Artificer First Class on 11 June 1915. He was present at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, when, under the command of Captain C. I. Prowse, Queen Mary engaged the German ships SMS Seydlitz and SMS Derfflinger during the opening phase of the Battle. One of Derfflinger’s shells scored a direct hit on Queen Mary’s ‘Q’ turret detonating the magazines and breaking the ship in two. She was sunk with the loss of 1,266 crew and only 18 survivors. Wicken was amongst those killed, and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Lot 171
Four: Jack Nimrod, a West African Krooman, later Tindall (Head Seedie) in the Royal Navy, afterwards Churchwarden of Zanzibar Cathedral Abyssinia 1867 (J. Nimrod Krooman. H.M.S. Daphne) suspension ring flattened; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (Jack Nimrod, Tindal, H.M.S. Briton); Khedive’s Star 1884, the group mounted in a small glazed display case with label which reads “Medals of John Nimrod, West African, Krooman who was 24 years in the Royal Navy and served in fourteen ships 1867-1891. He was afterwards Churchwarden of Zanzibar Cathedral. He died January 28th 1908 leaving all his possessions and these medals to the Mission”, generally very fine and rare (4) £2,600-£3,000 --- Provenance: As stated above; Douglas Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. Jack Nimrod saw service in the Royal Navy for the first time as a Krooman with seven others aboard H.M.S. Daphne, joining her at Freetown, Sierra Leone on 6 September 1867, the day after she had arrived from Maderia on her voyage to East African waters. Jack Nimrod along with the other Kroomen were signed aboard as members of Daphne’s ship's company, not as supernumeraries. Of these eight Kroomen joining Daphne, six were later to receive the Abyssinian medal. After his discharge from the Daphne in February 1870 where he earned the Abyssinia medal, he remained continuously at sea in various H.M. Ships until placed ashore at Trincomalee from H.M.S. Columbine in November 1872. He was taken up by the Daphne again on 19 April 1873, at Mahe, Seychelles, whilst she was sailing to more southerly waters from Aden, but Jack Nimrod was now rated as a “Seedie”, as if he had changed his birthplace from West to East Africa! The reason must have been a much disliked Admiralty order issued during 1870 which forbade Kroomen from West Africa to serve aboard H.M. Ships on the East Coast of Africa. On 1 August 1873, he was drafted to H.M.S. Shearwater where, upon joining, he was advanced to Tindal (Head Seedie) and was subsequently to serve aboard H.M. Ships Flying Fish (1875-77), Vulture (1877-79), Philomel (1881-83) and Briton, at Zanzibar on 14 June 1883 until 14 July 1887, earning both the Egypt medal and his LS & GC award. He continued his service afloat aboard H.M. Ships Gannet (1887-90) and Marathon (1890-91) until pensioned on 27 June 1891, having earned 3 Good Conduct Badges, and with a character assessment throughout his career of ‘Very Good’ or ‘Exemplary’.
Lot 412
Pair: Captain P. S. Carter, Derbyshire Yeomanry, who served during the Second World War as Aide-de-Camp to Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy and Governor-General of India Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with Army Council enclosure, in named card box of issue, addressed to ‘Capt. P. G. Carter, 29 Eaton Place, London, SW1’, extremely fine The Victory Medal awarded to Sapper F. W. Priest, 175th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 9 February 1916 Victory Medal 1914-19 (96829 Spr. F. W. Priest. R.E.); together with an erased Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue, good very fine (4) £60-£80 --- Peter George Carter was born in India on 21 October 1912, the son of a tea broker, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Derbyshire Yeomanry on 12 August 1939. Presumably because of his experience in India, and other family connections, he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Marquess of Linlithgow, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, and sailed for Bombay on the S.S. Madura in January 1941; also on that voyage was another of Linlithgow’s Aides-de-Camp, the Hon. Andrew Elphinstone, the nephew of Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) and the first cousin of Princess Elizabeth (H.M. Queen Elizabeth II). Carter was promoted Lieutenant on 12 February 1941, and served on Linlithgow’s staff until the Viceroy returned to England in 1943. Subsequently transferring to the Unemployed List, he later returned to India as a tea broker, and died in Dublin in 1980. Frederick William Priest was born in Glascote, Tamworth, Warwickshire, in 1870. A coal miner by occupation, he enlisted in the Miner’s Section of the Royal Engineers on 26 May 1915, and served with 175th Tunnelling Company during the Great War on the Western Front form 1 June 1915. He was killed in action on 9 February 1916; he has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.
Lot 279
Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Sahagun & Benevente, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (T. Partington, 18th Lt. Dragns.) nearly extremely fine £1,800-£2,200 --- Provenance: Glendining’s, November 1939; Baldwin 1966. Thomas Partington first enlisted at Chipping Norton on 5 April 1799, and the service returns of 1806 show that he deserted from 20 July 1803 to 14 May 1805. This period of absence was deducted from his total service time but no further information is given on the incident. He is shown ‘on passage to Portugal’ during 1808 and continues on all musters until January 1813, at which point he disappears fro te musters until early in 1814. The reason for his absence is unknown but it is interesting to note that some time at some time in 1813 a Horse Transport ship, the Canada, carrying a detachment of the 18th Hussars and some other troops was captured by an American privateer and ransomed some time later; perhaps Partington was one of this detachment. The musters show that Thomas Partington was discharged on 25 August 1814,on reduction of the establishment. Sold with some research.
Lot 496
General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24373503 Fus. K. J. Henry RWF.) nearly extremely fine £60-£80 --- Ken Henry served in ‘D’ Company, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Sold with copied research, including transcripts from the internet’s Royal Welch Forum, which states that at the end of May 2005 (presumably after having sold his medal) the recipient and his partner won over £12.8 million on the National Lottery - one of the first items on his shopping list after his lottery win was an executive box at Anfield in order to watch the European Champions.
Lot 237
An inter-War M.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel S. J. Templeton, Royal Engineers, who died in service on 26 February 1947 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1927; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. S. J. Templeton. S.R.E.S.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. S. J. Templeton.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, the first seven mounted court-style for display, the last loose, generally good very fine (8) £400-£500 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 1 June 1928. Stanley James Templeton was appointed temporary Inspector of Works, with the honorary rank of Lieutenant, on the Staff for Royal Engineer Services on 10 February 1915, ands served with the S.R.E.S. during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 February 1915. Subsequently appointed Surveyor of Works, with the honorary rank of Major, he saw further service during the Second World War. He was due to be placed on retired pay, with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, on 28 February 1947, but in the meantime had died in service just two days previously. He is buried under a C.W.G.C. Headstone in Southampton Crematorium. Sold together with the recipient’s Second War Memorial Scroll, ‘Lieutenant-Colonel S. J. Templeton, M.B.E., Corps of Royal Engineers’; Bestowal Document for the M.B.E.; and named Bestowal Certificates for the Jubilee and Coronation Medals.
Lot 617
German Second World War Insignia. Comprising an SA Sports Badge, maker marked on the reverse side, marked Berg & Nolte; Army Drivers Badge in bronze, which has lost its finish, on its field grey backing; and a DRA Sports Badge, hook broken, pre Third Reich period; accompanied by a January 1944 dated miniature L18 marked Iron Crosses First and Second Class and Winter War Medal, generally good condition (lot) £40-£60
Lot 244
A scarce and poignant Second War A.F.C. and Second Award Bar group of five awarded to Wing Commander S. R. Hinks, Royal Air Force, who initially flew Hudsons with Coastal Command, prior to being employed as an Instructor in Canada. Hinks served with 24 Squadron (King’s Flight), and flew a number of VIP’s during the war, including Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, and the Royal Family. After the war Hinks was employed as a civil pilot in Argentina, and flew Eva Peron for the entirety of her tour of Europe in 1947. He was subsequently employed by El-Al Airlines operating out of Israel - and flying a Lockheed 049 Constellation from London to Tel Aviv, via Vienna and Istanbul, strayed into Bulgarian airspace at the height of the Cold War. The passenger aircraft, with a crew of 7 and a passenger list of 51 (including Hinks’ fiancée), was intercepted and shot down by two Bulgarian MiG fighters, 27 July 1955. All of the crew and passengers lost their lives, in what became a major international incident Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’, with Second Award Bar, reverse officially dated ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as originally worn together with an Eva Peron Medal, gold (18ct) and enamel medal, naming embossed in raised letters ‘A L Cap. Stanley R. Hinks’, generally very fine or better, last rare (6) £2,400-£2,800 --- Provenance: Christie’s, November 1982. A.F.C. London Gazette 16 April 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘This officer, an excellent Flying Instructor, has set a very good example to both staff pilots and pupils and has maintained a high standard of flying in his flight. The success of this unit depends to a large extent on successful Hudson conversion training. Flight Lieutenant Hinks, by his outstanding zeal and energy in the performance of his duties, has, to a large degree, been responsible for the high standard of training obtained. In a period of nineteen months this officer has completed 860 flying instructional hours on Hudson conversion training.’ A.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 3 April 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘Since joining this Squadron [24 Squadron] as a Flight Commander in July 1944 this officer has completed 191 hrs. flying which includes thirteen overseas flights. He is a most reliable and dependable Flight Commander. In the performance of his duties he has not only proved himself to be most efficient, but also a very capable leader. His interest in, and knowledge of administration has been invaluable to the Squadron. Total flying time in R.A.F.: 2,882,00 hrs. Total last 6 months: 191.15 hrs.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 11 August 1940. Stanley Reginald Hinks was born in North Devon in February 1920, and educated at King Edward VII School, King’s Lynn. He was commissioned in to the Royal Air Force in 1938, and served in Hudsons with Coastal Command, 1939-1941 (M.I.D.). Hinks was posted as an instructor to the first flying training school in Canada, and was based at No. 31 O.T.U., Nova Scotia until 1943. He was subsequently posted to 24 Squadron (King’s Flight), and flew VIP’s in Dakotas: ‘With the King and Princess Elizabeth standing chatting beside him, Squadron Leader Reginald Hinks, of 18, Temple Drive, Nuthall, yesterday [17 July 1945] piloted the Royal plane - a silver Dakota - escorted by two squadrons of Mustangs, to Long Kesh, R.A.F. Station near Belfast, where the King and Queen began their tour of Northern Ireland. Pilot for many V.I.P.s during the war, including Mr Churchill, Mr Attlee, and Field Marshal Sir Alan BrookE - Squadron Leader Hinks took off from Northolt yesterday afternoon at 4.30 with the King and Queen and Princess Elizabeth aboard. The journey took two hours and one minute. It was the second occasion within a month that he has piloted the King and Queen - he flew them home from the Channel Islands in June. “We had a lovely flight,” the Queen told the Duke of Abercorn, Governor of Northern Ireland, who greeted the Royal trio on the airfield. Squadron Leader Hinks actually made history, for it was the first time that a sovereign has travelled to Northern Ireland by air. He was also piloting Princess Elizabeth on her first flight.’ (Newspaper cutting included with lot refers). After the war Hinks was employed as a civil pilot for F.A.M.A., the Argentine airline. As a civil pilot, Hinks flew Eva Peron round Europe on her tour in 1947, and when they reached Buenos Aires on returning, she gave him a present of £150, and presented him to President Peron. Hinks was next employed as a pilot by El-Al Airlines. On 27 July 1955 an El Al Airlines Lockheed 049 Constellation (4X-AKC, flight 426, flying from London to Tel Aviv, via Vienna and Istanbul, strayed into Bulgarian airspace, likely due to strong winds in very bad weather. The crew of the aircraft was Hinks as pilot, First Officer Pini Ben-Porat, Flight Engineer Sidney Chalmers and Radio Operator Raphael Goldman. The aircraft was intercepted in the early morning darkness at 17,500 feet by Bulgarian MiG-15 Fagot fighters, and was shot down near Petrich, Bulgaria. The aircraft crashed near the Strumitza River, close to the Yugoslav and Greek borders in south-western Bulgaria. All fifty-one passengers and seven crew were killed. It caused an international incident at the height of the Cold War, and whilst lost in diplomacy lead to a number of conspiracy theories even to this day. The victims’ remains were transported back to Israel, and buried in a communal grave. A memorial to them was built at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery, Tel Aviv. Sold with the following original documents: M.I.D. Certificate, dated 11 August 1940; photograph of recipient in uniform with Winston Churchill; a newspaper cutting and copied research. Note: Although it is not known exactly how many ‘Peron Medals’ were issued, the fact that the recipient’s name is embossed in raised letters, rather than engraved, would have necessitated a separate die for each medal, and consequently it can be assumed that the medal was sparingly presented.
Lot 217
Four: Corporal of Horse K. J. Thompson, Life Guards U.N. Medal, on UNPROFOR ribbon; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia, with second tour emblem; Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (25005144 LCPL K J Thompson LG); Jubilee 2002, with named card box of issue, the group mounted court-style, very fine or better (4) £800-£1,000 --- Sold together with two named NATO award certificates for service in Former Yugoslavia in the periods August 1996-February 1997 and June-December 1969; Mounted Dutyman’s Course certificate; MOD Drivers Permit; a presentation pocket watch inscribed ‘WOs & NCOs Mess HCR 2003 LCPL Thompson 44’; two metal identity discs, various LG badges and several photographs, including two large glazed and framed photographs, the first showing the recipient taking part in the Funeral Procession of H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, The Tilt Yard, Whitehall, 5 April 2002; and the second a group photograph of the entire Household Cavalry Regiment on the occasion of the visit of H.M. the Colonel-in-Chief, Windsor, 12 May 1997, with the recipient identified in both.
Lot 265
A Great War ‘Battle of the Aisne’ M.M. and ‘2nd Battle of the Somme’ Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Sergeant T. P. Nicholson, Durham Light Infantry Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (300168 L. Cpl. T. Nicholson. 1/8 Durh: L.I.); 1914-15 Star 2076 Pte. T. Nicholson. Durh: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2076 Sjt. T. Nicholson. Durh. L.I.) some light contact pitting, otherwise very fine and better (4) £800-£1,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1918. One of seven awards to the 1/8th Battalion in the March Offensive at the Battle of the Aisne, 27 May-6 June 1918. M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 20 August 1919. Awarded for service with the 15th Battalion D.L.I. during the 2nd Battle of the Somme, 23 August 1918. Thomas Pringle Nicholson was born at Haswell, county Durham, on 14 July 1894. A coal miner by trade, he attested for the Durham Light Infantry on 1 April 1913, aged 18 years 9 months. He served initially with the 8th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 April 1915, and later transferred to the 15th Battalion, being awarded the Military Medal with the first unit, and the Second Award Bar with the latter Battalion. He was discharged in the rank of Sergeant on 11 January 1919, with gun shot wound in neck and right thigh and shell gas poisoning, and died at Durham during the first quarter of 1971. Sold with copied research.
Lot 175
Signed Book Churchill's Bunker by Richard Holmes Hardback Book First Edition 2009 published by Profile Books good condition. Sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Cancer Charity. We combine shipping on all lots from 4.99 in UK, 6.99 Europe and 8.99 ROW. We can ship a 20kg box in UK for 12 pounds.
Lot 148
Signed Book The Letters of Bernard Berenson & Kenneth Clark 1925 1959 Hardback Book Edited and Annotated by Robert Cumming & Signed by Robert Cumming dated 2015 First Edition published by Yale University Press good condition. Sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Cancer Charity. We combine shipping on all lots from 4.99 in UK, 6.99 Europe and 8.99 ROW. We can ship a 20kg box in UK for 12 pounds.
Lot 139
Crowning the King The History, Symbolism and Meaning of the Coronation Ceremony by Allied Newspapers Ltd published by Syndicate Publishing Co Ltd date unknown some foxing on first page wear to spine good condition. Sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Cancer Charity. We combine shipping on all lots from 4.99 in UK, 6.99 Europe and 8.99 ROW. We can ship a 20kg box in UK for 12 pounds.
Lot 195
The Americans in Panama by William R Scott Hardback Book First Edition 1912 published by The Statler Publishing Co with unknown signature on Title page dated May 1913 some ageing good condition. Sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Cancer Charity. We combine shipping on all lots from 4.99 in UK, 6.99 Europe and 8.99 ROW. We can ship a 20kg box in UK for 12 pounds.
Lot 293
The Mythology of Ancient Britain and Ireland by Charles Squire First Edition 1906 Hardback Book published by Archibald Constable & Co Ltd some ageing good condition. Sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Cancer Charity. We combine shipping on all lots from 4.99 in UK, 6.99 Europe and 8.99 ROW. We can ship a 20kg box in UK for 12 pounds.
Lot 46
The Death of a President Nov 20 Nov 25, 1963, by William Manchester 1963 First Edition Hardback Book published by Michael Joseph Ltd outer dust cover is torn and tired good condition. Sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Cancer Charity. We combine shipping on all lots from 4.99 in UK, 6.99 Europe and 8.99 ROW. We can ship a 20kg box in UK for 12 pounds.
Lot 45
Winds of Change 1914 1939 by Harold Macmillan First Edition 1966 Hardback Book published by Macmillan & Co Ltd some fading to outer dust cover good condition. Sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Cancer Charity. We combine shipping on all lots from 4.99 in UK, 6.99 Europe and 8.99 ROW. We can ship a 20kg box in UK for 12 pounds.
Lot 131
Back from the Brink 1000 Days at Number 11 by Alistair Darling First Edition 2011 Hardback Book published by Atlantic Books Ltd good condition. Sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Cancer Charity. We combine shipping on all lots from 4.99 in UK, 6.99 Europe and 8.99 ROW. We can ship a 20kg box in UK for 12 pounds.
Lot 166
Flashman & The Angel of the Lord edited by George MacDonald Fraser First Edition Hardback Book 1994 published by Harvill (Harper Collins Publishers) good condition. Sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Cancer Charity. We combine shipping on all lots from 4.99 in UK, 6.99 Europe and 8.99 ROW. We can ship a 20kg box in UK for 12 pounds.
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