British War Medal 1914-20 (Major T. G. Gibson.) nearly extremely fine £60-£80 --- C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1949. Thomas George Gibson was born in Harrogate, Yorkshire, on 10 March 1887, the son of Dr. Charles Gibson, and was educated at Epsom College, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps and Rifle Volunteer Corps, and Pembroke College, Cambridge. On leaving university he was articled to a firm of solicitors and after qualifying became prosecuting solicitor for H.M. Customs in Leeds. When the Great War broke out he was a member of Leeds University O.T.C., and because of this and his academic background was offered a commission into the ‘Pals’ as temporary Captain on 25 September 1914, in command of ‘D’ Company, 15th (1st Leeds Pals) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. Gibson served in the Egyptian theatre of War from 22 December 1915 to 7 March 1916, helping to defend the Suez Canal where his Company was split between two locations, his being 13 and 14 Platoons based at ’50.8 POST’ about 31 miles from Port Said. On 10 February 1916, whilst in Egypt with the battalion, he was made Second in Command of ‘B’ Company. The Regiment later moved to Kantara before embarking for France on H.M.T. Ascania on 1 March 1916. In May 1916, he was given command of ‘B’ Company when its commander Major L. P. Baker was invalided home because of his head wounds, and he saw significant action with his Battalion on the Somme from 1 July 1916 onwards, being slightly wounded at Festubert on 26 August 1916, when a German sniper’s bullet grazed his nose as he ‘peered over the parapet’ (Battalion War Diary refers). Gibson was appointed Second in Command of the Battalion from 16 October 1916 and was promoted acting Major on 7 December 1916 and temporary Major from 3 March 1917. On 2 January 1917 he assumed temporary command of the 15th Battalion in the absence of Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Taylor, who re-assumed command on the 31 January. He again commanded the Battalion in late February, before proceeding on leave in March 1917; on 8 May 1917 he again held command during the battle of Arras where he commanded ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies in the support line on the Gavrelle Road). For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 18 December 1917). Gibson remained with the Battalion when it amalgamated with the 17th Battalion to form the 15th/17th Battalion in December 1917. During the first half of 1918 he assumed command of the 15th/17th Battalion several times and one of his proudest moments must have been when he presented Sergeant Albert Mountain with the riband of the Victoria Cross at a Battalion parade on 10 June 1918. As a temporary Major on the General List he was appointed Commandant of 5th Division Reception Camp on 15 July 1918 a position he held until the end of the year. Having served with the ‘Pals’ throughout their stay in Colsterdale, Egypt, France and Belgium, he was still serving with the Battalion when the war ended, after which he returned to the legal profession. He was present at the unveiling and dedication ceremony of the memorial cairn at Colsterdale on 28 September 1935, and remained a prominent member of The Leeds ‘Pals’ association and a committee member until his death. For his services as an Assistant Solicitor to the Board of Customs and Excise, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1949 Birthday Honours’ List.
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Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (F.55035 Pte. H. MacKinnon) very fine £60-£80 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Harold MacKinnon was born at Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada, on 21 April 1916, and attested there for the Cape Breton Highlanders on 27 March 1940. He drowned whilst on a leave pass at Barrie, Ontario, on 30 August 1941; accompanied by Private T. W. Burke, they rented a canoe and paddle over to the beach near Clark’s Tannery; a short distance from the shore the canoe listed suddenly, and filled with water. Private Burke hung onto the upset canoe and was subsequently rescued, whilst MacKinnon made for the shore, but suddenly disappeared beneath the water and drowned. His body was recovered and he is buried in his home town. Note: The first 5,000 or so Canadian Memorial Crosses issued to Canadian personnel who died during the Second World War were from residual Great War stock, bearing George V’s cypher ‘GRI’; subsequent issues bore George VI’s cypher ‘GviR’.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, silver and enamel, reverse officially numbered ‘913210’, with Monetny Dvor mint mark to reverse and screw-back suspension; Order of the Badge of Honour, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘305656’, with Monetny Dvor mint mark and riband suspension; Medal for Bravery, 2nd type, silver and enamel (2), reverses officially numbered ‘1351563’ and ‘3559615’, both with riband suspensions; Medal for Combat Service, 2nd type, silver and enamel (2), both unnumbered, both with riband suspensions, generally very fine (6) £80-£100 --- Sold with Red award booklets for the Order of the Badge of Honour and one of the Medal for Combat Service (these both awarded to the same recipient, the first awarded in 1958, the latter in 1965); a Red award booklet for the second Medal of Bravery (this awarded in 1954); and a photograph of a Red Army soldier.
A Great War ‘Passchendaele’ M.M. group of three awarded to Private E. Edgerton, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Hargicourt on the first day of the German Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918 Military Medal, G.V.R. (201278 Pte. E. Edgerton. 3/5 Lanc: Fus: -T.F.); British War and Victory Medals (201278 Pte. E.Edgerton. Lan. Fus.) good very fine (3) £260-£300 --- M.M. London Gazette 14 January 1918. Ernest Edgerton was born in Heywood, Lancashire, in 1880 and attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers (Territorial Force). He served initially with the 3/5th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 1917; the battalion saw heavy fighting at Passchendaele, for which Edgerton was awarded the Military Medal, but due to the significant casualties involved the battalion was soon after disbanded. Transferring to the 2/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, he was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Hargicourt on 21 March 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive. Repatriated following the cessation of hostilities, he was discharged on 16 February 1919. He married his fiancée Bertha Delon (who he had elected to be his next-of-kin during the Great War) in 1920, and died in Bury on 30 July 1941. Sold with a USB stick with extensive research. Note: A lot of contemporary documents relating to the recipient, including Field Service and Red Cross postcards sent to his fiancée both before and after his capture, and various official letters regarding his statues, first as Missing, and then as a P.O.W., is known to exist and was sold by an online dealer in 2012.
A scarce post-War ‘Civil Division’ O.B.E. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel T. Steers, Royal Engineers and General List, a Chartered Surveyor who was one of the last non-combatant troops to leave the Canal Zone in December 1957 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, General Service 1918-62, 3 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Near East, Canal Zone, unofficial retaining rod between first and second clasps, the third clasp loose on riband as issued (Major T. Steers. R.E.), the first five mounted as worn, the last loose, gilding slightly rubbed on first, minor edge bruise to GSM, good very fine (6) £200-£240 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1958: Tom Steers, Esq., Senior Lands Officer, War Office. Tom Steers was born on 22 November 1912 and was educated at Elland Grammar School, before becoming a Professional Associate of the Chartered Surveyors’ Institution in 1937. He originally attested for the Royal Artillery in the ranks with enlistment number 973987 in 1939 and then transferred to the Royal Engineers 25 January 1941, before undertaking officer training with the 142nd O.C.T.U., based in Aldershot, on 19 February 1941. Commissioned Second Lieutenant on 10 August 1941, he was demobilised with the rank of honorary Major on 1 October 1946. Appointed on the staff of the Hirings Directorate, Middle East, as a Senior Valuation Officer, Steers was given a Senior Grade appointment in the War Department Lands Branch of the Civil Service and posted as Command land agent to Headquarters British Troops in Cairo, Egypt (B.T.E.), then transferred to Moarscar, near Ismallia. It was here he showed Andrew Nutting, Minister of State, around the new flats that had been built in the area. Re-commissioned Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 28 January 1952, Steers was responsible for the rundown in Egypt under the 1954 Anglo-Egyptian Agreement: this involving the relinquishing of over 500 building hirings and over 600 land hirings; the hand-over of nearly 40 installations to the Egyptian and Suez Base contractors, including finding accommodation for contractors and their families; and the disposal of surplus army camos, the proceeds from which realised nearly a million pounds. Relinquished his commission on completion of service, he was re-granted the honorary rank of Major, before being re-commissioned Lieutenant on 6 November 1956 to command the Claims and Hirings contingent during the Anglo-French occupation of Port Said. Finally relinquished his commission on completion of service 31 December 1956 he was re-granted the honorary rank of Major. Steers then remained in Egypt in a Civilian capacity as a Senior Lands Officer in the War Office, finally leaving Egypt on 21 December 1957, being granted a scarce O.B.E. from the War Office for this department. He died in Worthing, Sussex, on 11 October 1998.
A Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Sergeant W. Gill, 178th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, late East Lancashire Regiment, who was wounded by shrapnel in March 1916 Military Medal, G.V.R. (147518 Sjt: W. Gill. 178/T´lg: Coy R.E.) edge bruising, very fine £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 14 December 1916. William Gill, a native of Burnley, Lancashire, attested originally for the East Lancashire Regiment and served with the Mounted Infantry Company in South Africa during the Boer War (entitled to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Johannesburg, and Driefonten; and the King’s South Africa Medals with the usual two date clasps). Re-enlisting in the East Lancashire Regiment on 9 September 1914, he served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 2 May 1915, and was wounded by shrapnel to the right arm in March 1916. Recovering, he was posted to the newly formed 178th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, the Company being in action in the Fricourt sector on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916: ‘At 6.25am the intensive bombardment of the enemy’s front system was begun, and between 7.15 and 7.25am in order to mislead the enemy, what remained of the gas was released from the centre of the corps front from which no assault was at first to be delivered. At 7.22am a hurricane bombardment by Stokes mortars on the whole front of attack took place. At 7.26am smoke discharges were launched by the 4th Mortar Company of No 5 Battalion, Special Brigade R.E., in order to create barrages to screen the inner flanks of the attacking wings of the 7th and 21st Divisions, also to form a cloud on the German support line opposite the 7th Division, to mask the direct assault. At 7.28am three mines of 25,000lbs., 15,000lbs. and 9,000lbs., placed by the 178th Tunnelling Company R.E., were fired under the German line opposite the salient known as “The Tambour”, facing Fricourt, against which no assault was to be made. The purpose of the mines was to distract the enemy’s attention and form craters which block enfilade fire against the 21st Division from the northern face of “The German Tambour” (just south of Tambour). Bulgar Point, a heavily wired strongpoint jutting out into No Man’s Land (south of the south-east corner of Mametz) was completely destroyed by a 2,000lbs. mine, and a sap west of it by one of 200lbs. Four small mines of 500lbs. each were also exploded under the German line south of Hidden Wood, where much mining had already taken place.’ (Official History of the War, Military Operations, France and Belgium, refers). As the advance progressed in July 1916, the 178th Tunnelling Company moved up to try to mine enemy positions in the High Wood area, in particular on 3 September: ‘The 1/Black Watch attacking the German Front line in High Wood, had the help of blazing oil drums, “pipe-pushers”, and flame throwers, the objective being too close for artillery bombardment; in addition, a mine was exploded (The 178th Tunnelling Company R.E. used a charge of 3,000lbs. of ammonal) under the German strongpoint at the eastern corner of High Wood 30 seconds before zero hour. The mine crater was seized by the right company of the Black Watch, consolidation began with the assistance of a section of the 23rd Field Company R.E., and bombers worked some distance westward along the German front trench. Unfortunately the “pipe-pushers” in the wood had blown back, and a Stokes mortar, firing short, had ignited the oil drums prematurely, so that considerable confusion prevailed when the other companies of the Black Watch began to advance.’ (ibid). Awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry on the Somme, Gill was discharged due to sickness on 25 August 1917, and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 242332.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, date clasp block loose on riband (5743 Pte. A. Isherwood. R. Lanc. Regt.) first digit of number officially corrected, polished, very fine £100-£140 --- Note: The medal roll indicates that the recipient was entitled to a King’s South Africa Medal, rather than the two date clasps on the QSA.
Pair: Private A. W. P. Jones, East India Railway Volunteer Rifles, later East India Railway Regiment, Auxiliary Forces of India Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Voltr. A. W. Jones E.I. Ry. Voltr Rfls.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, India (Pte. A. W. P. Jones. 1-E.I Ry. R. A.F.I.) edge bruise to first, generally very fine (2) £80-£100 --- Arthur William Palmer Jones was born in Jemalpur, Bengal, in 1883. Recorded as a boilermaker in the employment of the Indian Railways, he married Margaret Shepherd at Wellesley Square Church, Calcutta, on 5 December 1905, and later witnessed extensive service with the Volunteer Rifles and Indian Defence Force. He was awarded his Volunteer Force Long Service Medal in March 1915, and Efficiency Medal in June 1937.
1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. F. B. Moncreiff. R. Scots.) nearly extremely fine £80-£100 --- Francis Beresford Moncreiff was born in Edinburgh on 18 June 1883, the son of The Honourable Francis Jeffery Moncreiff and grandson of James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff of Tulliebole. His father at that time was well-known as an Edinburgh Academicals rugby union player and Scotland’s first International Captain. Educated at Fettes College, Moncreiff was appointed to a commission in the Royal Scots and crossed to France on 8 July 1915. A year later he was recorded as wounded in action in The Civil and Military Gazette of 8 August 1916. At this time the Royal Scots were deployed on repeated attempts to capture and hold the village of Guillemont and the strongly defended Delville Wood, Mametz Wood and High Wood; the latter was later described by the military historian Richard Holmes as ‘ghastly by day, ghostly by night, the rottenest place on the Somme.’ Casualties proved so great that the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, left the sector on 23 August 1916 and played no further major role in the Battle of the Somme. Evacuated home, Moncreiff never recovered from his injuries and he died 12 years later on 18 December 1928, and is buried at All Saint’s Church, Little Wenham, Suffolk, his gravestone reading ‘In Proud Remembrance of Francis Beresford Moncreiff, severely wounded on the Somme, 23rd July 1916, he died on the 18th Dec. 1928 after great suffering very nobly endured.’
A scarce 1914 'Battle of Ypres’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Driver T. Wells, Army Service Corps, attached 5th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, who served in the same bearer company as Lieutenant A. Martin-Leake V.C., and was awarded the D.C.M. for his gallantry on one of the occasions recorded in the official recommendation for the award of Martin-Leake's (then unique) Second Award Bar to his Victoria Cross, both men being noted for their conspicuous gallantry near Zonnebeke on the 12 November 1914 when their advanced dressing station, known as the 'White House', was heavily shelled, during which Wells was noted for his gallant conduct in assisting to remove wounded men from the building whilst under heavy fire Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (T.22849. Dvr: T. Wells. A.S.C.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (T.22849. Dvr. T. Wells. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (T.22849. Dvr. T. Wells. A.S.C.) mounted court-style, pitting and contact marks, heavily polished and worn, fair to fine (4) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 1 January 1915; citation published 16 January 1915: ‘For gallant conduct on 12th November at Zonnebeke when he assisted to remove wounded men from a building into safety during a heavy bombardment, and subsequently performed a similarly gallant act’. Thomas John Wells was born at Landport, Portsmouth, on 28 February 1887, and attested for the Army Service Corps at Winchester on 24 February 1905, having previously served with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Posted to No. 26 Company, A.S.C., with the rank of Driver, Wells was allocated a ‘T’ Prefix to his service number which confirms service with the Horse Transport Branch. Following completion of his first period of service, he was transferred to Class ‘A’ Army Reserve on 23 February 1907. Recalled from the Army Reserve on the outbreak of war, Wells reported for service at Aldershot on 5 August 1914. As part of the Army Service Corps’ commitment to supply drivers and horse drawn ambulance wagons to the Royal Army Medical Corps, he was amongst a draft of one sergeant and 40 other ranks who were attached for service with the 5th Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. with effect from 6 August 1914; this unit forming part of the medical support units to the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. The unit entrained for Southampton on 18 August and embarked the same day in two groups aboard the transports SS Welshman and SS Achlibster, arriving at Boulogne on 19 August. The 1st Army Corps was not heavily engaged at Mons but in order to conform with 2nd Corps retirement, commenced its retreat on 24 August. The previous day, 5th Infantry Brigade of 2nd Division had been despatched to Frameries in support of the hard pressed right flank of 3rd Division, and as such saw more fighting than any other unit of the 2nd Division, losing 73 all ranks in casualties. During the early days of the retreat, the 5th Field Ambulance War Diary notes that the ambulance wagons were sent to the rear to pick up stragglers. Service with Lieutenant A. Martin-Leake, V.C. On 6 September 1914, Lieutenant Arthur Martin-Leake, V.C., joined the ambulance, and would almost certainly have worked alongside Driver Wells throughout the Battles of the Aisne and the First Battle of Ypres. By 1 November 1914, the 5th Field Ambulance had been moved out of Ypres to a position along the road to Vlamertinge. The War Diary notes that one bearer party was located at Zonnebeke and two at Wulvestraate, and it is clear from the following events that Martin-Leake’s and Wells' party were at Zonnebeke, a few miles east of St Jean. The advanced dressing station of this party was located in a large house known as the ‘White House’, at a junction of two lanes about 500 yards from the front line trenches. Severe cases were treated at this advanced dressing station until nightfall when they were sent by horse ambulance to the principal dressing station some five miles away. On 12 November 1914, as on two previous occasions, the 'White House' was heavily shelled, and the names of both Lieutenant Martin-Leake and Driver Thomas Wells were brought to notice for their gallant conduct in removing wounded men from the building whilst under heavy fire. Martin-Leake was subsequently awarded a bar to the Victoria Cross he had been in South Africa, and Wells the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their gallant conduct on this occasion. Although Martin-Leake’s official citation for the Second Award Bar to his Victoria Cross defines the period of his gallant conduct as between 29 October and 8 November 1914, the Military Secretary, War Office MS3, had originally recorded the dates as between 5 and 12 November 1914, these being the dates quoted in the original recommendation, submitted to HQ by Major General C. C. Munro, Officer Commanding 2nd Division, dated 26 November 1914, as follows: ‘This officer has shown such conspicuous gallantry that I recommend his case be favourably considered, and that he be granted a bar to the Victoria Cross that he already holds. At Zonnebeke, when he was with the Bearer Division of the 5th Field Ambulance, in a most exposed position, he went out continually over the ground in between the English and German positions in search of wounded, and although always fired at, and often having to crawl on hands and knees, he was able to get away large numbers of wounded men... His behaviour on three occasions when the dressing station was heavily shelled on the 5th November, 9th November and 12th November, was such as to inspire confidence both with the wounded and the Staff...’ Wells' D.C.M. was only the second to be awarded to an Army Service Corps Driver during the Great War. He returned to England on 11 March 1918, on account of a fractured thumb received when he was dragged by a runaway horses at Cambrai on 11 February 1918. Initially posted to 665 Company A.S.C., he joined 572 Company AS.S.C. on 27 August 1918, and was transferred to Class 'Z' Army Reserve on 9 March 1919. He was discharged at Woolwich on 31 March 1920, his character reference stating: 'Very good, a good groom and driver, willing and hardworking and gave satisfaction. He is honest, sober and reliable.' Following his discharge, Wells ran a cycle shop in Landport for many years. He is recorded in the 1939 Register, residing at 62 Hertford Street, Portsmouth, where his occupation is given as 'General Dealer'. He died at Portsmouth in 1962, aged 75.
Family Group: An outstanding Great War ‘Dewdrop Trench 1916’ D.C.M. and ‘Sensee River 1917’ M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal C. E. Read, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who died of wounds in December 1917 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (10444 L. Cpl. C. E. Read. 1/Middx: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (10444 Cpl. C. E. Read. 1/Midd’x: R.); 1914-15 Star (G-10444. Pte. C. E. Read, Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (G.10444 Cpl. C. E. Read. Midd’x R.) together with Memorial Plaque (Charles Edward Read) contact marks and polished, otherwise nearly very fine Three: Private George Read, 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who killed in action at Thiepval in September 1916 1914-15 Star (G-3232 Pte. G. Read. Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (G-3232 Pte. G. Read. Midd’x R.) together with Memorial Plaque (George Read) good very fine Four: Ernest J. Read, 1/8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who was invalided home with gas poisoning at Ypres April 1915, and later rejoined in the Labour Corps 1914-15 Star (2362 Pte. E. J. Read, Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2362 Pte. E. J. Read. Midd’x R.); Defence Medal, unnamed, nearly very fine (14) £2,800-£3,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 21 December 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action at DEWDROP TRENCH on the 28th October 1916. He showed marked courage and skill in the capture of a strong point, which contained a machine gun and was causing many casualties.’ M.M. London Gazette 18 June 1917: ‘West of the SENSEE River on 23rd April, the 33rd Division took part in a general attack at 4.45 a.m. only the flank portions of its line reached their objectives. The centre of the Division was met with most determined resistance. After several hours fighting, our centre was driven back to its starting point. The troops on our left did not appear. Our flank troops, who had gained the objective, consisted of officers and men of the 1st Middlesex Regt., and the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at first about 170 strong. They were completely isolated, about 1200 yards from our original line, and about the same distance from our right flank in the HINDENBURG LINE. When the enemy found nothing to the left of our left, he sent strong forces behind them, and attacked these companies from flank and rear - he also reinforced his original centre - “We were taking prisoners in front and being attacked from behind” as one wounded man described it. A hurried attack was made by the Division from the original line at 6 p.m. without much immediate success. The artillery barrage for this attack passed over our isolated troops, of whom no news had been received. Fighting continued during the night all along our lines, but the enemy was evidently very unsettled, for he retired in haste about 4 a.m., 24-4-1917, leaving rifles, ammunition, mine warfare and equipment in large quantities. Our centre at once advanced and found our isolated groups holding their positions stoutly. The gallant conduct of this man, together with others, directly influenced the retirement of the enemy.’ (Official account of action for which M.M. was awarded provided by the War Office to his next of kin in August 1920 refers) Charles Edward Read attested for the 1st Middlesex Regiment on 10 May 1915, at Hounslow and landed in France on 30 September 1915. He won the D.C.M. for his actions during the capture of Dewdrop Trench when the 1st Battalion suffered 208 casualties in killed, wounded and missing. He won the M.M. for his actions during the battle of Arras on 23 April 1917. Lance-Corporal Read died of wounds on 7 December 1917, aged 20, and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, south west of Poperinghe. Sold with 33rd Division Gallantry Cards for both awards, these dated 28 October 1916 and 23 April 1917 respectively, together with War Office copies of the ‘official account of the deeds for which the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal were awarded to the late Lance-Corporal C. E. Read, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment’, dated 13 August 1920, together with two news cuttings and copied research. George Read served in France from 25 July 1915, and was killed in action in the attack on Thiepval Ridge on 26 September 1916. He is commemorated by name on the Thiepval Memorial. Sold with copied research. Ernest J. Read served in France from 9 March 1915, until invalided home with gas poisoning during the second battle of Ypres, 24 April 1915. He later returned to France and served with the Labour Corps. During the Second War he served as a Civil Defence Warden. Sold with named transmission card for Defence Medal ribbon and CD cloth Warden’s badges, together with a white metal Silver Jubilee Medal issued by Middlesex County Council and copied research.
Five: Colour Sergeant E. A. J. Searl, Royal Marines, later Royal Marines Police, who was Mentioned in Despatches for Cyrenaica operations aboard H.M.S. Terror, and later survived the loss of this ship when she was sunk by enemy aircraft in the Mediterranean in 1941 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (Ply. 22711 E. A. J. Searl. Sgt. R.M.) mounted as worn on original ribands, pawn broker’s mark to obverse of last, generally very fine (5) £160-£200 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 19 August 1941. Ernest Amos John Searl was born in Plymouth on 5 March 1907 and joined the Royal Marines at Deal on 26 August 1925. Posted to the Plymouth Division, he served aboard Valiant, Queen Elizabeth and Renown, before transferring to H.M.S. Devonshire on 3 November 1936. Raised Sergeant 14 February 1937, he joined the monitor H.M.S. Terror from the Plymouth Division 8 September 1937 and was aboard this ship when she faced repeated attacks by Axis aircraft off the port city of Derna, Eastern Libya, between 20-22 February 1941. Official extracts from the detailed sinking report of Terror, set the scene: ‘20 Feb. 1941 towards the end of the air raid a Heinkel approached Terror from the port bow at 6000 feet. It was engaged by Terror’s 4-inch and Breda guns who made very good shooting, it disintegrated bursting into flames and fell about 300 yards outside the Western breakwater. At 0701, 22 Feb 1941 three dive bombers attacked Terror from astern, bombs from the first two were wide, but a stick of three heavy bombs landed just clear of the port bulge and seemed to lift the whole ship about a foot, shake it and drop it. The damage was extensive. At 1910 Terror was again attacked by three dive bombers... at 1832 five bombers with three fighters were seen approaching and Terror opened controlled fire immediately at the centre machine, and was attacked by four.’ Having faced repeated near misses, this final engagement resulted in a devastating explosion beneath the ship; with her back broken and with efforts to tow Terror into shallow water proving impossible, orders were given at 2330 to abandon ship as she began to sink. Returned home to England, Searl was promoted Colour Sergeant 3 September 1941 and spent the remainder of hostilities at Deal and Plymouth with the RM Training Group, 27th Battalion, Royal Marines. Discharged to pension 25 August 1946, he joined the Royal Marines Police on 31 October 1946; sold with extensive copied research.
A ‘Balcombe Street Siege’ terrorist incident Q.G.M. awarded to Constable B. C. Court, Metropolitan Police, for his bravery in attempting to apprehend four IRA gunmen running amok through the streets of London on 6 December 1975. The six-day siege that ensued gripped the nation ‘with marksmen on rooftops, in adjoining flats and outside the building, both sides prepared for a long battle of nerves. Television and radio crews set up their camps. One reporter who was covering the events for radio was Jon Snow, now a Channel 4 newsreader. “I think we all fell victim to Balcombe Street fever,” he recalled.’ The IRA men, upon surrender and trial, received unprecedented sentences, and the Metropolitan Police who ended their terror spree were recognised with the award of 3 George Medals, and 5 Queen’s Gallantry Medals Queen’s Gallantry Medal (Barry Charles Court) remnants of adhesive to reverse, good very fine £7,000-£9,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Q.G.M. London Gazette 18 October 1977 (jointly listed with Inspector H. Dowswell, Sergeant M. P. McVeigh, Inspector J. F. Purnell all of the Metropolitan Police and all for the award of the George Medal; and with Constables A. S. Claiden, R. Fenton, S. P. Knight and Sergeant P. W. Mansfield all of the Metropolitan Police and all for the award of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal): ‘On 6th December 1975, several shots were fired from a passing car into a restaurant and Inspector Purnell and Sergeant McVeigh, who were unarmed and on plain clothes duty in the vicinity, went quickly towards the scene. They saw the suspect car and as Sergeant McVeigh broadcast a report, Inspector Purnell hailed a passing taxi and asked the driver to follow the vehicle. A chase followed and as the taxi got close to the car it turned into a side turning, began to slow and then stopped. The Inspector told the taxi driver to stop about 20 yards from the car and both officers got out. The driver saw four men running away pursued by the two officers; he heard shots and stopped his cab to broadcast a description of what was taking place to police through the cab radio system. After leaving the taxi the officers had seen the men first walk and then run up the road. As the men ran they fired shots at both the officers who pursued them for some distance. At one point the gunmen dropped a bag and as Inspector Purnell ran past the bag he saw that it contained weapons. Police cars then began to appear; the men fired at them and then turned round and ran back towards Inspector Purnell and Sergeant McVeigh. The gunmen split into two pairs and as they approached, Inspector Purnell armed himself with a gun barrel from the bag; both officers then had to take cover as the men were shooting as they ran. Three men were seen to run down some steps into a side street and the fourth took another direction. Having instructed Sergeant McVeigh to broadcast details over his radio, Inspector Purnell followed the direction which the single running man had taken. He chased the man for some way but he eluded him, managed to join up with the other three gunners and they entered a block of flats where they forced their way into a flat and held the occupants hostage. Meanwhile the first police vehicle to arrive at the scene was a transit van driven by Constable Court with Constable Knight and Claiden amongst the passengers. They had been alerted by radio of the incident and saw the suspects running along the road pursued by Inspector Purnell and Sergeant McVeigh. Constable Court drove his vehicle past the men, stopping about 5 yards in front of them to cut off their escape. As soon as the van stopped Constable Court heard a bang and knew that one of the men was shooting at him. At the same time Constables Knight and Claiden, who were armed, left the van and began to return fire. Constable Court realised that bullets were entering his van and for the safety of the remaining unarmed officers who were still in the vehicle and had taken cover on the floor he began to move away to avoid injury to them; as he did this he could see the men running away, but firing their weapons at Constables Knight and Claiden who were pursuing them. As they gave chase the two officers saw the gunmen fire on a second police vehicle when it arrived at the scene. In the second vehicle were Inspector Dowswell, Sergeant Mansfield and Constable Fenton who were in plain clothes and unarmed. They had received a radio message of the incident and heard shots being fired as they approached. When they arrived they saw the four men standing by a gate. The siren of the police car was sounding and the men broke up into two pairs, ran past the car firing at it as they went. Inspector Dowswell, Sergeant Mansfield and Constable Fenton all left the car and pursued the men until they reached the top of the steps where the gunmen had turned off, one of the gunmen deliberately stopped and fired a shot at them. Inspector Dowswell then ran on and with Constable Knight continued to follow three of the men until they entered the block of flats. All the officers involved in this incident displayed outstanding bravery and devotion to duty when they faced these armed and ruthless terrorists who did not hesitate to use their weapons.’ The above incident describes the drive-by shooting at Scott’s Restaurant in Mayfair by an IRA unit, leading to their pursuit by the police and ultimately the ‘Balcombe Street Siege’. The following article which appeared in The Daily Express in December 2015 sketches the necessary details of an event that was televised and gripped the nation at the time: ‘It was just before 10pm on Saturday December 6, 1975. John and Sheila Matthews, a married couple in their 50s, were watching an episode of the US detective series Kojak in their council flat in Balcombe Street, Marylebone, London. Little did they know but they would soon be involved in their very own crime drama. As shots rang out on screen there was a bang on the front door. John went to open it and four armed men barged in. The siege of Balcombe Street had begun. For the next six days Britain held its breath. The men who had so violently disturbed the Matthews that night 40 years ago were part of a six-strong group of highly trained and ruthless IRA gunmen, a so-called “active service unit” who had been carrying out a string of attacks in England since the autumn of 1974, including the deadly Guildford pub bombings, for which the authorities later arrested and convicted the wrong men. Joe O’Connell, Hugh Doherty, Edward Butler and Harry Duggan believed a terror campaign would help bring about the withdrawal of British troops from Ulster and lead to a united Ireland. After a six-month ceasefire the gunmen recommenced their attacks in August 1975 by bombing another pub frequented by soldiers in Caterham, Surrey. A month later two people were killed when the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane was bombed. Then on November 12 the men threw a bomb into Scott’s Oyster Bar in Mayfair, killing one. Overall the gang launched more than 40 attacks in and around London. “These bomb attacks are becoming so familiar as to seem almost commonplace. Police believe the public are going to have to be more vigilant than ever,” the BBC reported. In October the IRA men attempted to kill Sir Hugh Fraser, a Tory MP who had made a speech denouncing them. They placed a bomb under his car but the plot didn’t go according to plan and instead Gordon Hamilton Fairley, Britain’s number one cancer specialist, was killed ...
A Collection of Victoria Cross Autographs. An Autograph book, compiled by Constance Mary Graves-Sawle, containing a large quantity of autographs from various balls, country house parties, and other social and formal events (many of them in Cornwall), including the following Victoria Cross recipients: William Dick-Cunyngham, V.C., Gordon Highlanders (Afghanistan, 1879) Alan Hill, V.C., 48th Regiment of Foot (Laing’s Nek, South Africa, 1881) Israel Harding, V.C., Royal Navy (Alexandria, Egypt, 1882) Frederick Corbett, V.C., King’s Royal Rifle Corps (Kafr Dowar, Egypt, 1882) William Edwards, V.C., Highland Light Infantry (Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt, 1882) Arthur Wilson, V.C., Royal Navy (El Teb, Egypt, 1884) Percival Marling, V.C., King’s Royal Rifle Corps (Sudan, 1884) William Malliard, V.C., Royal Navy (Crete, 1898) The Hon. Raymond de Montmorency, V.C., 21st Lancers (Battle of Omdurman, Sudan, 1898) John Norwood, V.C., 5th Dragoons (Ladysmith, South Africa, 1899) Edmund Phipps-Hornby, V.C., ‘Q’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery (South Africa, 1900) Llewellyn Price-Davies, V.C., King’s Royal Rifle Corps (South Africa, 1901) John Gough, V.C., Rifle Brigade (Somaliland, 1903). Together with an invitation to Lady Constance Graves-Sawle on the occasion of the dedication of the Sandhurst Royal Military College Memorial Chapel 1937; along with the commemorative book for the service of dedication. A glazed and framed photograph of Lieutenant R. C. Graves-Sawle, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, the son of Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Graves-Sawle and Constance Graves-Sawle, who was killed in action at Ypres on 2 November 1914, along with the recipient’s Memorial Scroll, named to ‘Lt. Richard Charles Graves-Sawle, Coldstream Guards’; and a photograph of the recipient’s memorial tablet. A glazed and framed engraving of Admiral of the White Thomas Graves, who served as Second in Command to Admiral Howe at the Battle of the Glorious First of June 1794; along with a pair of Vice Admiral’s rank slides, generally good condition (lot) £300-£400
Canadian Memorial Cross (3), G.V.R. (A.49519 A/Sgt. J. Hyde); G.VI.R. (A.107085 Cfn. H. N. MacKinnon; 37461 Pte. W. G. Thomson) last with pin-back suspension, very fine (3) £100-£140 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- John Hyde, Kent Regiment, R.C.I.C., died at home on 11 January 1941, aged 27, and is buried in Chatham (Maple Leaf) Cemetery, Ontario, Canada. Hugh Neil MacKinnon, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, died at home on 16 July 1945, aged 19, and is buried in Windsor (St. Alphonsus) Roman Catholic Cemetery, Ontario, Canada. Note: The first 5,000 or so Canadian Memorial Crosses issued to Canadian personnel who died during the Second World War were from residual Great War stock, bearing George V’s cypher ‘GRI’; subsequent issues bore George VI’s cypher ‘GviR’.
Four: Lieutenant J. Holmes, Royal Navy Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, Cape Colony, clasps mounted in this order, with unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (J. H. Holmes, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Terpsichore.) impressed naming; 1914-15 Star (Gnr. J. H. Holmes. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. Gnr. J. H. Holmes. R.N.) with crushed named card boxes of issue for both the QSA ansd the 1914-15 Star, good very fine and better (4) £300-£400 --- James Herbert Holmes was born at Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, on 15 October 1875 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 9 July 1891. Advanced Petty Officer First Class on 21 December 1900, he served in H.M.S. Terpsichore from 7 February 1901 to 14 March 1902, and served ashore with the Naval Brigade during the Boer War in South Africa. Promoted Acting Gunner on 14 July 1903, he was confirmed in that rank on 12 July 1904, and served during the Great War in H.M.S. Lancaster. He was promoted Chief Gunner on 14 July 1918, and Lieutenant on 12 August 1922, and having been placed on the Retired List, medically unfit, on 4 April 1925, died in Colchester on 27 June 1925. Sold with copied records of service and medal roll extracts.
Three: Corporal R. G. Gill, Cape Mounted Rifles Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Bechuanaland (2812 Cpl. R. G. Gill. C.M. Rif.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (2821 Cpl. R. G. Gill. Cape M.R.) rank unofficially re-engraved; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 )2821 Corpl: R. G. Gill. Cape M.R.) clasp facing slightly bent on first, light contact marks, good very fine (3) £700-£900 --- Sold with the recipient’s riband bar; and copied research confirming all the clasps.
A Great War M.M. awarded to Pioneer B. T. Hird, 231st ‘Doncaster's Own’ Company, Royal Engineers, who was the first man raised by the Corporation to be decorated for gallantry after attempting to help a severely wounded soldier trapped in the debris of a shelled cafe Military Medal, G.V.R. (99253 Pnr: B. T. Hird. 231/Fd: Co: R.E.) very fine £200-£240 --- M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1916. The Eckington, Woodhouse & Staveley Express of 5 October 1935, states: ‘On August 16th, 1916, a shell burst on an estaminet. Pioneer Hird ran to the spot and saw a soldier, who was badly wounded, partially hanging through the first floor window frame. Pioneer Hird obtained a plank and propped it against the side of the building which was leaning towards the road and tottering. He climbed the plank and helped the wounded man. On reaching the man Hird found he was bound fast by the leg on the inside of the building. Hird made the man as comfortable as he possibly could and helped him until assistance arrived from inside the wrecked building. A second shell burst quite close whilst Pioneer Hird was on the plank and half an hour later the whole structure collapsed. Unfortunately, the wounded man died later that night.’ Ben Thompson Hird was born in Skipton in 1869 and is recorded in 1901 as a married man with three sons, and employed at a wagon works in Doncaster. Affectionately known at the time as 'Dare Devil' Hird on account of his robust tactics and fearless play on the field for the Doncaster Rugby Football Club, he was one of over 1,500 local men to answer the call of the Doncaster Corporation and Northern Command and sign up for the 224th, 229th and 231st Companies of the Royal Engineers. Sent to Bordon Camp for training, these volunteers crossed in May 1916 from Southampton to Havre, going into the line at Colonne just weeks before the opening exchanges of the Battle of the Somme. Described by the Leeds Mercury of 2 September 1916 as 'well over military age', Hird soon distinguished himself on the Western Front and was feted back home by the Mayor of Doncaster (Councillor S. Balmforth) upon news of the M.M.: ‘He is the first man of the “Doncaster's Own” to receive any distinction of this kind, and I can assure you it was well-merited!’ Transferred to Dormart-en-Ponthien, then the Racour Sector to the north of Peronne, the 231st Company was forced to dig in during the winter of 1916-17 and was then heavily engaged in holding the line from Headecourt, through Villers Gouzlan and Villers Pluich until mid-October 1917. Placed in forward positions prior to the attack on Cambrai on 20 November 1917, the 231st fought at Bourlon Wood, Flesquiers, Grandecourt and Havrincourt; on 26 November 1917 they lost their O.C., Major Frederick Henry Johnson, V.C., shot dead by a sniper whilst on reconnaissance. The Sheffield Daily Telegraph later noted the 231st being relieved on 6 December 1917, 'having gone through a terrible strain'. Withdrawn to St. Leger and Ervillers for the purpose of support, the survivors were flung into the fray on 21 March 1918 as infantry in a desperate attempt to plug the line on the opening day of the German Spring Offensive; few answered roll call just days later. Discharged on 1 February 1919, Hird returned home to Abel Street in Doncaster and took employment at Silverwood Colliery. Incapacitated by an accident at work on 30 July 1928, he later died of a heart attack in October 1935 whilst playing dominoes at the Unemployment Hut, Thrybergh.
Three: Trooper J. Harding, Kimberley Light Horse, later Botha’s Mounted Rifles and 4th South African Infantry Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Relief of Mafeking, Defence of Kimberley, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (477 Tpr. J. Harding. Kimberley. L.H.) this a slightly later issue with fixed suspension; 1914-15 Star (Pte. J. S. Harding Bothas M.R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Pte. J. S. Harding. 4th S.A.I.) minor edge bruise to first, good very fine (3) £140-£180 --- John Harding served with the Kimberley Town Guard at No. 2 Schmidt’s Breastwork during the Defence of Kimberley, and also served in the Christiana Scouts. He served in the Kimberly Light Horse from 6 November 1900, and saw further service during the Great War with Botha’s Mounted Rifles and the 4th South African Infantry. Sold with copied medal roll extracts that states that his QSA was re-issued in 1908.
A scarce Defence of Ookiep pair awarded to Private J. Thomas, Namaqualand Town Guard
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (32 Pte. J. Thomas, Namaqualand T.G.) official correction to one letter of unit; Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of Ookiep, bronze issue (J. Thomas) first with edge bruise, otherwise very fine or better (2) £2,800-£3,400 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2011. Confirmed on the roll of the Namaqualand Town Guard as having engaged the enemy at Ookiep. His home address was ‘5 Kirby Grove, Shotton, Flintshire.
Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (William Pearce. Stoker. H.M.S. Iron Duke.) engraved naming, edge nicks, good very fine £120-£160 --- William Pearce was born at Devonport on 14 January 1826 and first entered the Royal Navy in H.M.S. Imperieuse on 28 December 1852, serving in her during the Baltic campaign. He saw further service in H.M.S. Iron Duke from 1 December 1874 to 3 May 1875, and again from 1 November 1875 to 20 January 1877, being shore pensioned on the latter date. Sold with copied record of service.
Spain, Franco Period, Order of Military Merit (3), Third Class Star, 63mm, silver, gilt, and enamel, with white enamel cross with red stripes, with retaining pin and two additional support hooks; breast badge (2), both gilt and enamel, the first with red enamel cross, with integral top slide bar; the second uniface with white enamel cross with red stripes, generally very fine (3) £70-£90
Three: Leading Cook’s Mate C. W. Wooding, Royal Navy, who lost a limb when H.M.S. Lightning was severed in two at the eastern gateway of the Thames Estuary on 30 June 1915 1914-15 Star (M.1684, C. W. Wooding, L.Ck.Mte., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.1684 C. W. Wooding. L.Ck.Mte. R.N.) good very fine and better (3) £100-£140 --- Charles William Wooding was born in Maidstone on 13 November 1889 and joined the Royal Navy as Probationary 2nd Cook’s Mate on 31 March 1910. Raised Leading Cook’s Mate on 1 September 1914, he was present aboard H.M.S. Lightning on 30 June 1915 when she struck a floating mine laid by the German submarine UC-1 off the Kentish Knock Lightvessel. The detonation killed 15 of her crew, the majority of whom were in the bow of the ship which sank quickly. The survivors took refuge in the engine room bulkhead which remained afloat long enough to be towed to Sheerness where it was later broken up. Having lost an arm or a leg, Wooding was transferred to the books of Pembroke I and invalided to Roehampton House on 23 February 1916; at the embryonic forefront of artificial limb fitting, Roehampton House (later renamed The Queen Mary Convalescent Auxiliary Hospital at Roehampton) bore witness to the new form of industrial warfare, an eyewitness account stating: ‘Lots of men without legs at all wheeling themselves about on chairs - many without feet - two with the forehalves of both feet gone - two men without hands - lots with one leg missing - lots with one arm missing - many going about on artificial legs... somewhat awkwardly.’ Roehampton House later came under the patronage of Mrs Mary Eleanor ‘Gwynne’ Holford, Lady Falmouth and Mr. Charles Kenderdine; deeply saddened by a visit to the wards of the Millbank Military Hospital in 1915, the former was particularly taken by the words of Private Frank Chapman who had lost both arms as Ypres: ‘On the table in front of him rested two leather sockets with hooks attached... “Is this all my Country can do for me?” asked the Private’. Following a similar pathway to the blinded servicemen of St Dunstan’s, Wooding and his comrades gradually learned how to rebuild their lives and forge new careers in 24 separate trades. As one of the first entrants, he likely came under the wing of the famed designer J. F. Rowley of Chicago who was clear to point out the virtues of his new prosthetic designs, arguing, ‘The legs are built under the man. No two are alike!’ Wooding married Helen Pearcy Calder in 1925 and the couple are later recorded as living in Southall in 1939, his occupation recorded as shoemaker. He died on 17 May 1949, one of approximately 41,000 serviceman who lost one or more limbs in the Great War.
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, by Jocelyn Perkins, published by Pitman & Sons, London, 1913, 260pp, with 23 plates, hard-back, reasonable condition The History of the Order of the Bath and its Insignia, by James C. Risk, published by Spink, London 1972, 150pp, with 28 plates, and index, hard-back, with dust jacket, good condition Statutes of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Re-printed by Samuel Bentley, London, 1840, bound in Moroccan covers, back cover detached but present, fair condition Awards of Honour, The Orders, Decorations, Medals and Awards of Great Britain and the Commonwealth from Edward III to Elizabeth II, by Captain Arthur Jocelyn, C.V.O., published by A. & C. Black, London, 1956, 276pp, with 20 colour plates of ribands, and index, hard-back, with dust jacket, reasonable condition The Orders Decorations and Medals of the World, The British Empire, by Captain Arthur Jocelyn, published by Ivor Nicholson & Watson, London, 1934, 94pp, with 14 colour plates of ribands, hard-back, reasonable condition The Collar of SS, by the Very Revd. Arthur P. Purey-Cust, published by Richard Jackson, Leeds, 1910, 98pp, with 16 plates, and index, hard-back, fair condition The Standard Catalogue of British Orders, Decorations and Medal, with Valuations, First Edition, by E. C. Joslin, published by Spink, London, 1969, 114pp, with numerous plates and index, soft-back; together with a 1970 Price Supplement, good condition The Standard Catalogue of British Orders, Decorations and Medal, with Valuations, Second Edition, by E. C. Joslin, published by Spink, London, 1972, 115pp, with numerous plates and index, hard-back, with dust jacket, good condition The Standard Catalogue of British Orders, Decorations and Medal, with Valuations, Third Edition, by E. C. Joslin, published by Spink, London, 1976, 108pp, with numerous colour and b/w plates and index, hard-back, with dust jacket; together with a 1977 Price Supplement, good condition Spink’s Catalogue of British and associated Orders, Decorations and Medal, with Valuations, by E. C. Joslin, published by Webb & Bower, Exeter, 1983, 191pp, illustrated throughout, with index, hard-back, with dust jacket, good condition (10) £60-£80
Imperial Service Medal, E.VII.R., Star issue (George C. Hillman) cleaned; together with Imperial Service Medal (3), G.V.R., Circular issue, 1st ‘coinage head’ issue (Alexander Smith); G.VI.R., 1st issue (George Frederick Barker.); E.II.R., 1st issue (Frederick Burns Bowden) first very fine, remainder good very fine (4) £90-£120 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
Six: First Radio Officer P. J. Darwin, Mercantile Marine, who was Commended for Brave Conduct when the S.S. Fort Norman was attacked by enemy U-boat 596 on route to Algiers, 9 March 1943 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted for wear, and housed in a hinged wooden and glazed display case, very fine (lot) £280-£340 --- King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct London Gazette 4 April 1944: ‘Those named below have been Commended for brave conduct when their ships encountered enemy ships, submarines, aircraft or mines.’ Philip John Darwin was born in London in February 1919, the son of Philip E. Darwin. He resided at 93 Powerscroft Road, Clapton Park, London, E5. Darwin joined the Merchant Navy as a Radio Officer in November 1939, and served throughout the War, including with the S.S. Fort Norman from 7 January to 17 August 1943. During this time, Fort Norman took part in convoy KMS-10, travelling between Faslane to Algiers. She suffered damage from a torpedo fired by the German U-boat 596 on 9 March 1943. It was for this action that Darwin received his Commendation. He was discharged from the Merchant Navy on 25 October 1946. Sold with the following related documents: Commendation for Brave Conduct Certificate, dated 4 April 1944, this framed and glazed with a portrait photograph of recipient in Merchant Navy uniform; Continuous Certificate of Discharge; Certificate of Proficiency in Radiotelegraphy issued by the Postmaster-General, Second Class, dated 11 Ocotber 1939; Ministry of Transport campaign medal enclosure; Letter of congratulation from the Director General, Ministry of War Transport, dated 3 April 1944; Letter of congratulation from the Deputy Managing Director of The Marconi International Marine Communication Company Limited, dated 7 April 1944; Certificate of Discharge from Merchant Navy Service; Campaign Medal Enclosure from the General Register and Record Office of Shipping and Seamen, dated 6 December 1946, and other ephemera. For the recipient’s father’s medals, see Lot 102.
Three: Private W. Coulson, 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Etreux during the Battalion’s epic rearguard acting during the retreat from Mons on 27 August 1914 1914 Star, with copy clasp (7989 Pte. W. Coulson. R. Muns: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (7989 Pte. W. Coulson. R. Mun. Fus.) nearly very fine (3) £500-£700 --- William Coulson attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, landing at Havre on 14 August 1914 and moving forward to Mons where the battalion was held in reserve for the fighting on 24 August. During the retreat, the 2nd Munsters occupied the position of honour as rearguard to the 1st Guards Brigade which, in turn, acted as rearguard for the 1st Division commanded by Major General Lomax. On the morning of Thursday 27 August 1914, the Irishmen, supported by two 18-pounders of the 118th Battery R.F.A. and a troop of the 15th Hussars, held the villages of Fesmy and Bergues, together with two important road junctions in that immediate area. Approaching them in an arc from North to East was an entire German Army Corps preceded by masses of cavalry and backed by an impressive array of artillery. Early in the afternoon, having inflicted savage casualties on 12 battalions of the German 2nd Guards’ Reserve Division which had attacked Fesmy, the Munsters began to withdraw to the South to the village of Oisy, and on to Etreux. At 5.30pm the battalion was located at a crossroads just east of Oisy. Jordan’s “B” Company, however, was missing and the retreat was held up. The company reappeared at about 6.30pm but the delay, according to Captain McCance’s regimental history, proved ‘fatal to the battalion’. Approaching the village of Oisy, the battalion came under heavy fire from the houses on the northern outskirts, followed by salvoes from eight German field guns positioned south-east of the village. Now, for the first time, the Irishmen began to fall thick and fast and although the one remaining 18-pounder promptly came into action, its ammunition was nearly exhausted. After a series of desperate bayonet attacks, and with the artillerymen all dead and wounded about their gun, the gallant Munsters fell back to an orchard on the west of the road. Despite a further bayonet charge, at odds of fifty to one, which had temporarily held the enemy, the orchard was now ringed by Germans against whom the survivors, lining the four sides of the orchard, made every shot count. Ultimately, due to appalling casualties, lack of ammunition and the overwhelming superiority of enemy numbers, the survivors of the Battalion were compelled to surrender around 9pm. They had been fighting for 12 hours and their senior surviving officer was a Lieutenant but their sacrifice had ensured that Haig’s 1 Corps could continue unharassed on its way. Coulson was amongst those taken Prisoner of War at Etreux on 27 August 1914 and was held at Giessen P.O.W. camp. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Private Michael Maher, 72nd Highlanders Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (2843. Michael Maher. 72. Highlanders) regimentally impressed naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Michl. Maher, 72nd Highlanders) both fitted with contemporary silver ribbon buckles, the first nearly very fine, the second good very fine (2) £400-£500
Three: Stoker First Class T. C. Ashcroft, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Warrior was struck by concentrated German shellfire at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 1914-15 Star (K.22511. T. Ashcroft. Sto.1. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.22511 T. C. Ashcroft. Sto.1. R.N.) nearly extremely fine (3) £240-£280 --- Thomas Chalinor Ashcroft was born in Sheffield on 19 March 1895 and joined the Royal Navy as Stoker 2nd Class on 19 May 1914. Posted to the armoured cruiser Warrior on 9 October 1914, he initially served as part of the 1st Cruiser Squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Keith-Arbuthnot. Placed in front of the Grand Fleet at Jutland, Defence and Warrior spotted the German 2nd Scouting Group and opened fire with their 9.2-inch armament; their shells fell short and the two ships turned to port in pursuit, narrowly avoiding a collision with the battlecruiser Lion. Heavily engaged by the SMS Derfflinger, the Defence blew up with the loss of all hands at 6.20 p.m. The Germans then concentrated their attentions on Warrior which was struck by at least 15 11-inch shells and six 5.9-inch shells. With fires raging and heavy flooding of the bulkheads, Warrior was forced to withdraw to the west, later being taken in tow by the seaplane tender Engadine who took off the surviving crew of 743 men. Warrior was subsequently abandoned in a rising sea the following morning, her upper deck at that time just 1.2 metres above the waves. She foundered not long thereafter. Ashcroft is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Pair: Officers’ Steward First Class C. Moore, Royal Navy Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (C. Moore. Comdrs. Svt. H.M.S. “Seahorse.”); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, good very fine (2) £120-£160 --- Charles Moore was born in London on 25 July 1865 and joined the Royal Navy as a Domestic Third Class on 19 June 1882. Posted to H.M.S. Seahorse from that date until 3 February 1886, he served as a Commander’s Servant during the Egyptian campaign. He saw further service in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 7 October 1897, and was advanced Domestic First Class on 1 April 1900. He saw further service during the Great War as an Officers’ Steward First Class, and was invalided out of the service on 16 May 1918. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extract.
Three: Private J. Collins, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915 1914-15 Star (14535 Pte. J. Collins. R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals (14535 Pte. J. Collins. R. Berks. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £80-£100 --- James Collins was born in Brimpton, Berkshire, and attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment at Reading. He served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 August 1915, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, the Battalion’s first action of the War. The battalion’s actions in that battle have been well-documented but a fair summary is given in a letter that Colonel Walton, who commanded the Battalion, wrote to his wife on 28 September:
‘Thank God I have been spared without a scratch after taking part in the greatest fight in history. Since Saturday 25th at 5.30 A.M. I have been in the firing line - at the very forefront and am of course dog tired as they ought to have relieved us earlier, but I was quite happy in my Regiment which did grandly and earned high praise - The losses very severe - I took in 20 officers + about 900 men + the remaining effective strength when I left them at 9 A.M. today was myself + 2 other officers + 200 men - All the rest were killed, wounded or missing - I hope many may still turn up.’ Collins was amongst those killed; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Private M. Thwaites, Border Regiment, who witnessed heavy casualties at the Battle of Colenso on 15 December 1899 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Kimberley, Transvaal, unofficial rivets between first and second clasps (5320 Pte. M. Thwaites, 1: Bord: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5320 Pte. M. Thwaites. Border Regt.) minor edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and better (2) £140-£180 --- Marshall Thwaites was born in Leasonthorn, Durham, around 1878. A groom by profession, he attested for the Border Regiment at Penrith on 11 January 1897 and was raised Corporal 22 February 1898 whilst stationed on the island of Malta. Posted to South Africa from 27 September 1899 to 28 September 1902, his Army Service Record confirms entitlement and notes a reduction in the ranks for misconduct in April 1900. The Cumberland & Westmoreland Herald of 20 January 1900 adds a little more information regarding the recipient’s experiences at around this time: ‘Lance-Corpl. M. Thwaites, of the 1st Border, writing home to his father and mother at Old London-road, Penrith, from Frere, says: “Just a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living. We had another big fight on the 15th at the Tugela River, near Colenso. We went out early in the morning, and the first shot was fired at 6-15 a.m. We were on the left, and it was reported that there was none of the enemy near our flank, but we soon found out they were strongly entrenched and had big guns - Maxims, Nordenfeldt, and Hotchkiss. When we got about 800 yards from their position we had a heavy fire poured into us... There was a perfect hail of bullets. It was like a hailstorm on an iron roof... The Boers robbed our dead. Our regiment lost eight killed, four died of wounds, and 42 wounded, including Major Heygate (both legs broken by shell), Captain Probyn (shot in calf of leg), and Lieut. Marsh (shot in left shoulder). Some of our killed had their heads knocked off”.’ Thwaites later went on to witness further action at Estcourt. Returned home to Army Reserve he was discharged upon termination of first period of engagement on 10 January 1909.
Four: Staff Sergeant J. Muddle, Staff of the Army (Royal Military College), late Royal West Kent Regiment Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse (788, Sgt J. Muddle, 1/R.W. Kent R); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (131 S.Sgt: J. Muddle. R. Mil: College.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (S.Sjt. J. Muddle. St. of Army.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issue, heavy contact marks to first partially obscuring naming, fine to good fine, the remainder nearly very fine and better (4) £200-£240 --- John Muddle was born in Maidstone in 1860 and attested for the 50th Regiment of Foot in his home town on 4 March 1878. Raised Lance Corporal at Edinburgh on 3 August 1878, he transferred as Corporal to Colchester the following year and was raised Sergeant on 1 April 1881. Sent to Egypt from 3 August 1882 to 11 October 1882, he returned home via Cyprus and was appointed to the Royal Military College on 8 January 1891. Raised Staff Sergeant that same day, Muddle’s valuable work with the Staff of the Army was later recognised with the award of the M.S.M.; he died at the age of 92 of myocardial degeneration in the sub-district of Frimley and Egham in 1952. Sold with copied research.
Six: Major H. N. Bousfield, East Surrey Regiment, who as a Lance-Sergeant was Mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 20 November 1914 for services at the Battle of La Basse; Commissioned in March 1915 ‘for services in the Field’, he was wounded on 1 April 1915, and was later attached to the 1/69th Punjab Infantry, Indian Army. After service during the Irish Civil War, he saw further service with the British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, and was killed in action at Le Panne on 31 May 1940 1914 Star, with clasp (L-10498 Pte. H. Bousfield. 1/E. Surr: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. H. Bousfield.); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1919-21, Mahsud 1919-20, second and third clasps both tailor’s copies, affixed to a different sized clasp carriage (Capt. H. N. Bousfield. E. Surrey Regt.) re-impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, verdigris to Star and VM, scratches and contact marks, about nearly very fine; the Second War awards nearly extremely fine (6) £400-£500 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915 ‘For gallant and distinguished services in the field (to be dated 20 November 1914)’. Hambleton Edwin Neville Bousfield was born at South Norwood, Surrey on 27 March 1893; his maternal grandfather was General W. N. Custance who had served before Delhi during the Indian Mutiny and at one time commanded the 6th Dragoon Guards. He attested for the Honourable Artillery Company on 8 May 1911, before transferring to the Regular Army for service with the East Surrey Regiment on 27 July 1912. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he is shown in a group photograph, dated January 1914 captioned ‘On the Liffey Dublin’ where he is noted as serving in ‘B’ Company. On the outbreak of the Great War, the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment was still stationed at Dublin, having been previously assigned to the 14th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. The battalion disembarked at Le Havre on 15 August 1914, and Bousfield is confirmed as having entered the France and Flanders theatre of war with his unit, on 16 August 1914. In recognition of his gallant and distinguished services during the First Battle of Ypres, his name was brought to notice in Sir John French’s Despatch of 20 November 1914. Bousfield was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the East Surrey Regiment on 14 March 1915 in recognition of ‘his distinguished services in the Field’, and two weeks later the Battalion War Diary notes that he was admitted to hospital on 31 March 1915, being recorded as having received a bullet wound to the right arm. Promoted Lieutenant on 25 June 1916, and Acting Captain on 10 July 1917, he was seconded to the Indian Army on 20 February 1918, and served firstly as a Staff Officer and later on attachment to the 1/69th Punjabis, seeing active service on the North West Frontier. Returning to his parent regiment, he served in Dublin during the Irish Civil War on counter-insurgency operations, being included in a group photograph dated 24 September 1921. Appointed Adjutant and Quartermaster, Army Vocational Training Centre, Hounslow, on 3 October 1934, he retired with the rank of Major on 3 September 1938. Recalled on the outbreak of the Second World War, Bousfield re-joined the East Surrey Regiment and proceeded to France with the 1st Battalion, which had been assigned to the 5th Infantry Division, British Expeditionary Force. In May 1940, the 1st Battalion advanced into Belgium, where it briefly defended the line of the River Escaut until compelled to carry out a fighting withdrawal. On their last night in Belgium, the 1st Battalion was ordered to Nieuport to counter-attack in support of the 1/6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment. The counter attack stabilised the situation and both battalions were able to hold the position until ordered to withdraw to the beaches prior to embarkation. Bousfield was killed in action on 31 May 1940, during the retreat to Dunkirk, the circumstances of his death being recounted by Robert Lloyd, a former member of the Battalion: ‘The British Expeditionary force was now contained in a perimeter some 30 miles long It ran from the mouth of the Yser to Nieuport. Inside this narrow perimeter which was held by weary but determined men. The British Expeditionary force waited patiently to embark on the gallant Armada of ships. During the night of 30 May 1940, orders came that the first Surreys were to embark to England at 12.00 noon the next day. We marched to a pre-arranged lying in area at Coxyde Bains. We got there at 6.00 am the following morning where we ate breakfast with the prospect of home before us, but it was not yet to be. A message came that the Battalion was to move at once to Nieuport where the 10th Infantry Brigade were holding the perimeter. The battalion was moved in its own transport which we had refused to jettison. The 1/6th Surreys were under attack and desperately holding part of the Brickworks. A counter attack was launched with ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies and ‘A’ and ‘C’ for some support the attack was successful with about 30 men. At midnight we were ordered back to the Beach near Le Panne to await embarkation at dawn. On 1 June the orders came that we were to embark at Dunkirk as Le Panne was being heavily shelled and was on fire. The battalion managed to get through with only a few casualties. The C.O.’s car was caught in heavy fire outside the town and both Major Bousfield and his driver were wounded. The majority managed to reach the beaches at Bray Dune safely, and what a sight we encountered. The beaches were crowded with men waiting their turn to be taken to the ships laying off shore. The sea was full of small boats ferrying them. Enemy aircraft dive bombed and machine gunned us and the men in the boats fired defiantly and an RAF Fighter dispersed fifteen bombers and shot one down. We, the Surreys kept together and dug slit trenches around a large sand dune which we named Surrey Hill. After a long wait we formed up on orders and marched of in parties at intervals of five minutes along the beach towards Dunkirk where we embarked on various craft. Some were killed on the beaches and on the way to the ships, others were drowned when boats sunk. The medical officer got aboard a ship that was severely damaged and could not leave harbour, so Lieutenant Bird gallantly went back to the beach and devoted himself to attending the injured men. He was never heard of again and was presumed dead. The last casualty of the 1st Surreys was Lieutenant Hayfield who was mortally wounded during a bombing attack on his rescue ship, he failed by a few minutes to reach England alive’. (BBC ‘WW2 People’s War’ Website: ‘I Was There: East Surrey Regiment at Dunkirk 1940 by Robert Lloyd refers). Bousfield was amongst those listed as wounded and missing; he was later confirmed as having been killed in action, with the date of his death (notwithstanding the eyewitness account above) officially recorded as 31 May 1940. His body was later identified, and he is buried in De Panne Communal Cemetery, Belgium. Sold with the recipient’s riband bar for the first four awards.
Indian Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R. (2) (10346 Sqn. Dfdr. Maj. Gurdit Singh. R. Deccan Horse.; 1058 Dfdr. Hansraj. Probyn’s Horse. I.A.C.) minor edge bruising to first, very fine and better (2) £80-£100 --- Sold with a painted image on wood of Squadron Duffadur Major Gurdit Singh in military uniform standing alongside his mount, labelled ‘Sqn. Dfdr. Maj. Gurdit Singh. Deccan Horse’, approx. 36cm x 27cm.
English, Welsh, and Scottish Other Ranks Militia Buttons 1855-81.
Two card displays containing seventy two large size different examples, mainly white metal, some are tinned pewter (open back) and black composition for the Rifle regiments, not all regiments are represented but include West York Rifles, North York Rifles, Durham Fusiliers, First Derby Militia, S, Royal Warwickshire Militia, West Kent Light Infantry, Royal Monmouthshire Militia and Royal Cumberland Militia. The Royal 2nd Lancashire example is a coatee button, generally very good overall condition (73) £300-£400
A Second War ‘Bomber Command’ D.F.M. group of five awarded to Rear Gunner Flight Sergeant D. G. Lucking, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 28 operational sorties with 90 Squadron, including Operation Hydra, the Peenemunde Raid, on 17-18 August 1943 Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1254747. F/Sgt. D. G. Lucking. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.F.M. London Gazette 23 May 1944. The original Recommendation, dated 19 February 1944, states: ‘This N.C.O. has been an Air Gunner on 28 sorties against heavily defended targets. He has at all times been alert and has warded off all attacks with vigour and determination. He has continuously been willing and eager to encourage and train less experienced crews in the squadron and I recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’ Dennis Gilbert Lucking enlisted in the Royal Air Force and was posted as a Rear Gunner to 90 Squadron in June 1943, flying Stirling IIIs. His first operational sortie was a raid on Essen on 25-26 July 1943; further targets over the next six months included Hamburg; Nuremberg (twice); Turin (twice); Peenemunde (Operation Hydra, the attack on the the V-1 and V-2 rocket facility of Peenemunde on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom on 17-18 August 1943); Berlin (twice); Munchen Gladbach; Mannheim (three times); the Dunlop Works at Montlucan; Modane; Hannover (twice); Kassell; Bremen; and Leverkusen. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, Lucking was, along with his crew, posted out from the Squadron to Conversion Unit No. 1653 on 4 March 1944, and was promoted Flight Sergeant. Sold with copied Squadron Operational Records giving details of the recipient’s operational sorties, and other research.
An Order of St John group of five awarded to Lady Superintendent B. Bourke, Children’s Home Division and 1st (Stoke Newington) Nursing Division, St John Ambulance Brigade, who was one of the first eight women to be awarded the Service Medal of the Order The Order of St John of Jerusalem, Serving Sister’s shoulder badge, silver and enamel, on lady’s bow riband, white enamel repair to two arms; Jubilee 1897, St. John Ambulance Brigade (Lady Treasr. Miss. B. Bourke.); Coronation 1902, St. John Ambulance Brigade, bronze (B. Bourke. Lady Supt.); Coronation 1911, St. John Ambulance Brigade (Lady Supt. B. Bourke.); Service Medal of the Order of St John, with three Additional Award Bars (Lady Supt. Blye. Bourke. 1906.) mounted for display, minor contact marks, generally very fine and better (5) £240-£280 --- Blye Bourke was born in Islington around 1850 and is recorded as an unmarried draper’s assistant living in Hastings in 1881. Returning to Hackney to live with her widowed father, she devoted her life to the work of the St John Ambulance Brigade in London and became Honorary Serving Sister of the Order of St John of Jerusalem on 24 June 1893. As one of the first eight women to be awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Bourke later served from 20 October 1914 at the Roseneath Voluntary Hospital, Winchmore Hill, in the rank of Commandant. Released from nursing duties upon the cessation of hostilities, she returned home to ‘Chateaudun’, 166 Osbaldson Road, N.16, and was soon mentioned in the Bayswater Chronicle on 29 September 1923 for her continued work with St John Ambulance and her appointment as Lady of Grace. She died in 1931, one of the great Lady ‘stalwarts’ of the Brigade.
Four: Captain F. C. Currie, 79th Highlanders Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Captn. F. C. Currie, 79th. Highlanders); Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidieh, Fifth Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel, of Bazaar manufacture, unmarked, the suspension ring forming part of the gold Star and Crescent suspension; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, a contemporary tailor’s copy by ‘J.B.’, first second and fourth mounted from a contemporary top Hunt & Roskell silver riband buckle, the Medjidieh mounted separately from a contemporary top Hunt & Roskell silver riband buckle with gold retaining pin, light edge nicks and contact marks, good very fine (4) £800-£1,000 --- Francis Gore Currie was born on 20 June 1835 and was educated at Harrow. He was commissioned Ensign in the 1st Regiment of Foot on 3 March 1854, and transferred to the 79th Highlanders on 10 March 1854. Promoted Lieutenant on 22 August 1854, he served with the 79th in the Crimea, and was present at the Battles of the Alma and Balaclava; the siege and fall of Sebastopol, the assaults of 18 June and 8 September 1855; and the Expedition to Kertch and Yenikale. According to the Regimental History, ‘It is believed that he carried the Queen’s Colour at the battle of the Alma, 20 September 1854.’ For his services in the Crimea he was awarded the Fifth Class of the Order of the Medjidieh (London Gazette 2 March 1858). Promoted Captain on 17 February 1857, Currie embarked for India on 31 July 1857 and served during the Great Sepoy Mutiny, being present at the siege and capture of Lucknow, and during the Rohilcund and Oude Campaigns. He returned from India in Decemebr 1859, and relinquished his commission on 9 April 1861. He died in Spain on 17 August 1890. Sold with copied medal roll extracts and other research.
Four: Stoker First Class L. Holland, Royal Navy, who survived the loss of H.M.S. Gossamer in Arctic waters in 1942 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (K.66999 L. Holland. Sto.1. H.M.S. Resource.) good very fine (4) £140-£180 --- Luther Holland was born in Bangor on 30 May 1902 and attested for the Royal Navy at Portsmouth as Stoker 2nd Class on 5 December 1920. Raised Stoker 1st Class aboard the cruiser Dublin 11 April 1922, he witnessed early service with the 6th Squadron at the Africa Station before serving aboard a host of ships and stone frigates including Weymouth, Lucia, Champion, Courageous and London. Posted to the repair ship Resource 19 September 1934, he was granted a hurt certificate a few months later when a piece of flying metal from a drilling machine imbedded in the cornea of his right eye. Transferred from the minesweeper Leda to her sister ship Gossamer on 4 October 1940, Holland was soon heavily engaged in minesweeping and escort operations as part of the 6th Minesweeping Flotilla, Nore Command. In 1941, the 6th Flotilla joined Orkney & Shetland Command and the Western Approaches Command, and in October 1941 Gossamer formed a key part of the defensive shield protecting North Russian convoy PQ1, docking in Archangel on 11 October 1941. On 30 April 1942, Gossamer left Murmansk to assist H.M.S. Edinburgh which had been torpedoed whilst escorting convoy QP11; harried by German destroyers the following day, it fell to Gossamer to rescue 440 survivors from the stricken cruiser. Remaining in North Russian waters, Gossamer’s luck ran out on 24 June 1942 when she was sunk by the Luftwaffe while at anchor in the Kola Inlet. Three officers and 20 ratings died. The subsequent report on her loss held in ADM/12285 describes the circumstances: ‘One (or two) bombs struck the ship slightly on the starboard side of the centre line between the minesweeping winch and the wardroom. The whole of the stern portion of the ship abaft the wardroom was practically severed from the remainder of the ship and the ship began to settle by her stern. Hussar was signalled to stand by. The port whaler was lowered to the upper deck and the wounded were put in a boat. Such floats and rafts as remained were got over the side. The order was then passed to abandon ship, but, almost immediately, the ship began to turn over slowly to starboard. The order was then passed ‘every man for himself, get clear of the ship!’ The ship turned over at 0921, or eight minutes after being hit.’ It was later estimated that fifteen men died in the explosion, with the remainder lost when she turned over and sank. The survivors - including Holland - were promptly rescued by four Russian power boats and one rowing boat, who delivered the crew to Hussar. Returned home to the south coast of England, Holland was released Class ‘A’ on 9 November 1945. Sold with the recipient’s original card dog tag, Royal Navy parchment Certificate of Service and reference whilst attached H.M.S. Kilbride, this dated 31 December 1944: ‘Excellent worker, has good power of command’; National Registration Identity Card and Medical Card, with a large photograph of the recipient in naval uniform and contemporary group photographs; Third Class Certificate of Education and photograph relating to his elder brother, 3902514 Pte. F. Holland, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers; together with an attractive prize-winning pair of silver rowing oars, the first engraved ‘Mediterranean Fleet Fleet Cup Races 1933. L. Holland. Stokers Cutters. Renown Cup Winners’, the second engraved ‘Mediterranean Fleet Cruiser Regatta 1933. L. Holland. Stokers Cutters Winners.’, approx. 20cm long each, hallmarked Birmingham 1933.
A Second War ‘Burma operations’ M.M. awarded to Sepoy Sher Ali, 4-14 Punjab Regiment, Indian Army, for his gallantry at Letse on 23 March 1945, when he single-handedly attacked a Japanese machine gun post, personally accounting for five of the enemy Military Medal, G.VI.R. (23245 Sep Sher Ali Punjab R) light contact marks, very fine £500-£700 --- M.M. London Gazette 20 September 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma.’ The original Recommendation (originally for an Immediate I.D.S.M.) states: ‘At Letse on 23rd March 45 this Sepoy took part in his company’s attack on Pt.534, a strongly held Jap position. This Sepoy’s Platoon was ordered to work its way round on the flank of the enemy position and it became held up by very intense L.M.G. & G.D. fire from a Jap post. The leading section was unable to extricate itself owing to the accuracy of the fire and was suffering casualties. Sepoy Sher Ali, with complete disregard for his own safety, stood up and immediately became the target for the concentrated fire of the Jap post, and firing his L.M.G. from the hip, emptied a full magazine into the post. This did not silence the L.M.G. and Sepoy Sher Ali then crawled forward underneath a stream of L.M.G. fire and grenades from other positions & lobbed three grenades into the post. The occupants then endeavoured to run away. This Sepoy was wounded in the stomach whilst crawling up to the post, but although in great pain he again stood up and with his L.M.G. killed all five of the Japs endeavouring to escape, thus enabling the Platoon to advance and capture its first objective. By his complete disregard for his own safety, courage, and tenacity this Sepoy succeeded in removing a serious obstacle to the advance of his Platoon and heartened and inspired his comrades at a time when they were suffering casualties, and unable to advance.’ Sher Ali, a native of Dhok Bhattian, Cambellpore, Punjab, attested for the 4/14th Battalion, Punjab Regiment, and was awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry in Burma, when he single-handedly attacked a Japanese machine gun post, personally accounting for five of the enemy. Sold with copied research.
Five: Stoker First Class R. Keegan, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (SS.109218, R. Keegan, Sto. 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (S.S.109218 R. Keegan. Sto. 1. R.N.; Defence Medal; National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal, Bronze (13323 Richard Keegan.) contact marks, some staining, polished, good fine and better Three: Lieutenant D. E. Erlbach, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. D. E. Erlbach. R.N.V.R.); Defence Medal, mounted for wear, some staining, very fine Pair: Sapper R. A. Warren, Royal Engineers British War and Victory Medals (298790 Spr. R. A. Warren. R.E.) very fine (10) £120-£160 --- Richard Keegan, from Liverpool, was born on 31 January 1891. He attested into the Royal Navy on 7 September 1909 and served during the Great War in H.M.S. Natal and survived its sinking following an explosion due to faulty cordite in one of her magazines on 30 December 1915, with the loss of 421 lives. He afterwards served ashore and was demobilised on 22 February 1919. Afterwards joining the Dorchester Fire Service, he served during the Second War after he had been awarded his National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal in February 1939. Sold with a gilded silver H.M.S. Natal tribute medal, copy photographs of the recipient in uniform, and copied research. Donald Eustace Erlbach, a shipbroker from Islington, London, was born on 4 January 1883. After being rejected from joining the army due to his age, he attested into the Royal Navy on 6 February 1915 for service during the Great War and was Advanced Chief Petty Officer just 20 days later on 26 February 1915. He was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 10 April 1916 and served afloat in Motor Launches ML148 and ML186. Advanced Lieutenant on 10 April 1917, he was demobilised on 11 February 1919. Post-War, he became a Director of the Baltic Exchange, and served there on Fire Watching duties during the Second War. After the Second War, he was elected as a Common Councilman for Aldgate ward, appointed a Lieutenant of the City of London on 2 May 1958 and an honorary member of the Baltic Exchange, receiving a vellum award from the Chairman, Lord Kilmarnock, in June 1965. He died, aged 79, in Eastbourne, Sussex, on 17 April 1970. Sold with detailed copied research. Robert Andrew Warren, from Hereford, was born on 3 May 1885. He attested as a Boy into the Royal Navy on 26 March 1903. Advanced Able Seaman on 10 December 1905, he was discharged to shore on 6 February 1908. He later attested into the Royal Engineers for service during the Great War and served with the Inland Water Transport and Docks service. Sold with copied service papers.
An interesting group of three awarded to Lord Strathcarron, the ‘moustachioed motorcycling peer’ who served with the Royal Air Force from 1941 to 1947 and later spoke with authority on all things involving the motorcar and motorcycle; aided by the fact that he owned so many and had unparalleled first hand experience Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953 (Lord Strathcarron) privately engraved naming, mounted as worn with an Armed Forces Veteran badge attached to riband; together with the recipient’s related miniature awards, these similary mounted; the recipient’s Institute of Road Transport Engineers large President’s Medal, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarked London 1972, on full-length neck riband, unnamed; and the recipient’s Institute of Freight Forwarders Ltd. Past President’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, privately engraved to reverse ‘The Rt. Hon. The Lord Strathcarron President 1974’, good very fine and better (5) £300-£400 --- David William Anthony Blyth Macpherson, 2nd Baron Strathcarron, was born on 23 January 1924 and was educated at Eton. He inherited the Barony upon his father’s death in 1937 and flew with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, reputedly serving with Coastal Command on reconnaissance and search-and-rescue missions over the Atlantic Ocean at the height of the U-Boat campaign. Demobilised in 1947, he continued to hold a private pilot license until the 1980’s. As a young man Strathcarron was fascinated with and in awe of the motor car; bought a Morgan Super Sport for his sixteenth birthday, he took up motor racing after leaving the R.A.F., driving vintage cars from his own collection including Alfa Romeo’s, Austin Healey’s, Bentley’s, Jenson’s and Riley’s. Appointed Motoring Correspondent of The Field, he founded an automotive supplies business in 1960 and three years later wrote a fine account of his experiences in motor racing, titled Motoring for Pleasure. He later won the Lord’s versus Commons motor race at Brands Hatch in 2000, aged 76 years, further adding to his accolades by bagging the fastest lap. During his time in the House of Lords, Strathcarron took an active interest in many motoring issues. As Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Motorcycling Group he took great pride in working with the Motor Cycle Industry Association to create a system of compulsory basic training for learner motorists, introduced in December 1990. It was further said that he usually voted with the Conservative Party, but barely spoke about politics. Outside of Parliament, Strathcarron busied himself as President of the Guild of Motoring Writers and was involved in the British Racing Drivers’ Club. He died on 31 August 2006, seven weeks after a motorcycling accident involving a dustcart; the Daily Telegraph later fondly described Strathcarron as: ‘an engaging amalgam of Mr Punch, Bertie Wooster and Mr Toad.’ Sold with copied research and a hardback copy of Motoring for Pleasure, the inside page bearing Strathcarron’s signature and adding: ‘Beaulieu 1993., Written 1963.’
An Order of St. John group of three awarded to C. E. Hannah The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, silver and enamel, the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘C. E. Hannah. 26.7.46’, with miniature emblem on riband; South Africa Medal for War Service (Charles Edward Hannah) contemporarily engraved naming; Service Medal of the Order of St John, with Second Award Bar (2581. C. E. Hannah. S.A.R. & H. Dist. S. Africa. S.J.A.B.O. 1938.) edge bruising to first, very fine and better (3) £80-£100
DAVID BOWIE - 1972 SUKITA first meeting Photographs.2 x Large 42 x 30 cm black and white photographs taken by Masayoshi Sukita. stamped on the reverse c Photo by SUKITA. One of the photos entitled ` Our true story began at the Rainbow Theatre`.Before having even heard his music, Sukita saw a striking poster of David Bowie promoting a concert and felt he had to go, purely on the strength of the poster. Sukita admired Bowie’s innovative performance style and related to his cinematic influences, and secured a meeting to present his portfolio to Bowie’s former manager. This was no mean feat, considering his English was very limited. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and a portrait session with Bowie was arranged. This photo-shoot, in the summer of 1972, began a 40-plus-year collaboration between the two artists.Purchased by the Vendor in 1991 in Brisol - Housed in two large folders the photographs have been split according to the era of David Bowies Career into an impressive 21 lots of Photographs.
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