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Lot 303
A collection of fifteen Brocklehurst-Whiston silk pictures including "Old Macclesfield", "The Hanging Gate", "The Sailing of the Mayflower", etc, three Langley printed silk pictures of hunting, a book "Macclesfield Woven Silk Pictures" by Lewis Cowen, and a small watercolour of St Peter's Church, Hale, all framed and glazed (20).
Lot 846
ARTHUR DELANEY (1927-1987); oil on board "Church Gate, Stockport", signed, inscribed in artist's own hand verso "Church Gate leading from the market place and St. Mary's and to Offerton. This scene has changed very little except the large Victorian house on the left of my painting are now gone, demolished in the 1980s so I think the scene is well worth recording before progress decides to take the rest", signed by the artist beneath, 27.5 x 38cm, framed and glazed. (D) CONDITION REPORT: This lot qualifies for Artist Resale Rights. For further information, please visit http://www.dacs.org.uk
Lot 675
FIVE PAGES OF WATERCOLOUR SKETCHES AND PHOTOGRAPHS from a Victorian album with Grubb family connections relating to Military actions in New Zealand by the 68th and 43rd Light Infantry regiments and Maori Culture circa 1860. Side 1 2 photographs of soldiers on parade possibly the 68th and 43rd Light Infantry, 17 x 22.5cm and 10 x 15cm Side 2 A watercolour view of Rangitoto and North Shore Entrance to Auckland Harbour A pen and ink sketch of Pukehniahina Redoubt at 'Gate PA' at Tauranga with key A watercolour sketch with text verso Interior of 'Gate PA' Redoubt. Commanding Officer Captain Tucker (68th Reg) dated Jan 17 1865 Two Birmese Tattooing Figures Jan 1st 1865 A photograph entitled 'Maoris with Flax Mats', 7 x 7.8cm Side 3 A watercolour sketch of 'Cabbage Tree' A photograph of 'Alexander Grubb saved from the wreck of the Colombo' A watercolour sketch of 'Freemans Bay near Auckland' A watercolour sketch View of Auckland Harbour from Public Gardens A watercolour sketch Auckland Harbour from Wynyard House Verandah A pen and ink sketch of a Tattooed Maori Side 4 A watercolour sketch of The Officers Mess at Maketu Redoubt signed with initials A.G. A watercolour sketch of Flax Drying in Matapulu (?) PA Side 5 A watercolour sketch Strelitzia Regina in Blossom in Domain-Parnell - NZ dated Jan 23rd A watercolour sketch Common Tree Fern signed A.G. and dated 24/3/65 A watercolour sketch 'View from the rifle pits at Te Manga (?) Side 6 A watercolour sketch inscribed verso A Maori Tomb, the end of a Canoe' Side 7 A watercolour sketch inscribed verso 'Interior of Matapihi PA Tauranga N.Z. not a fighting PA' dated 1860 A pen and ink sketch entitled 'Maori Weapons' with key dated 1860
Lot 573
*The Indian Mutiny ‘Secundra Bagh’ Victoria Cross awarded to Private John Smith, 1st Battalion Madras (European) Fusiliers, awarded for his gallant conduct in action as one of the first soldiers to enter the fray inside the Secundra Bagh on 16 November, 1857. With ‘bullets raining in every direction’ and despite being severely wounded, Private Smith led an attack inside the gates with three other Fusiliers and ‘bayonetted every sword-bearing Ghazi who resisted’, comprising: Victoria Cross, suspension bar engraved to reverse Private J. Smith, 1st Madras Fusrs, centre of cross engraved to reverse with the date ‘16 Nov. 1857’, about extremely fine and with a superb fighting citation. Victoria Cross: London Gazette, 24.12.1858: ‘For having been one of the first to try and enter the gateway on the north side of Secundra Bagh. On the gateway being burst open, he was one of the first to enter, and was surrounded by the enemy. He received a sword cut on the head, a bayonet wound on the left side, and a contusion from the butt end of a musket on the right shoulder, notwithstanding he fought his way out, and continued to perform his duties for the rest of the day. Elected by private soldiers of the detachment, 1st Madras Fusiliers.’ (Date of Act of Bravery: 16th November, 1857). Previously noted scant details of the recipient, used in combination with new genealogical research, suggest that he was John Thomas Smith, born in the Parish of St Luke’s (Islington), near Old Street, London on 16 January 1822, being baptized on 28 July 1822. He enlisted for service in the 1st Madras Fusiliers (later the Royal Dublin Fusiliers) in 1841. Commanded by the eccentric, brave and often ruthless Lieutenant-Colonel James Neil (nicknamed ‘the Avenger’), the 1st Madras Fusiliers were formed of tough European soldiers from varied backgrounds. Known as ‘Neill’s Blue Caps’ in reference to their distinctive uniform, this battalion served in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny from May 1857 until November 1858. At the outbreak of the rebellion they swiftly left Madras for Benares and then marched to Allahabad to assist the besieged Europeans, as well as to join the forces commanded by Brigadier-General Henry Havelock. Continuing onwards, this combined force then advanced upon Cawnpore, already aware that they were now too late to save the doomed European civilians from slaughter. They marched 126 miles in 9 days despite the incredible heat, during which time they won four pitched battles against Nana Sahib’s forces, captured 23 guns, and inflicted severe losses upon the enemy. On 15 and 16 July at Aong and the approach to Cawnpore, Neill’s Blue Caps took part in the defeat and indeed rout of the Nana’s Army of 10,000 soldiers before the great city, amid the now-famous shouts of ‘Remember Cawnpore’. Despite this success, the 1st Madras Fusiliers’ casualties were such that a time of recuperation and barrack duties was necessary. Returning to active service in September that year, the 1st Madras Fusiliers rejoined Havelock’s column, and left their sick and wounded behind at Cawnpore. This column, supplemented by the arrival of Sir James Outram’s Division, moved toward Lucknow, where 9 days later Havelock entered the city with the first relief force. The second relief force under Sir Colin Campbell, which included a detachment of Madras Fusiliers, moved to assist the beleaguered British troops besieged inside the Lucknow Residency on 9 November. During the morning of 16 November, as they neared their objective, Colonel Neil was shot in the head by a sniper and died in the last street approaching the Residency. Soon after, this second force began to come under tremendous fire from the fortified enclosure of the Secundra Bagh, which had become a stronghold and focal point for the besieging enemy forces. Recognizing it strategic importance Sir Colin ordered for guns to be brought up to breach the wall – just two hundred years ahead. Within as little as 15 seconds a team of Blue Caps had hauled one gun into position upon a raised mound, and put it to immediate use whilst ‘bullets rained like hail on the metal’. Roughly half an hour later, men from the 93rd Highlanders and 4th Punjab Infantry were ordered to enter the breach; this only large enough for one man to enter at a time, and meanwhile a detachment of Madras Fusiliers was sent to force entry through the gates at the north wall facing the River Gomti. Inside the walls was an impressive garden with a colonnaded pavillion at its centre which the defenders used for their last stand, and which later formed the backdrop to Felice Beato’s famously macabre photo of the interior taken soon afterwards - complete with skulls and remains in the forefront. In any case, it seems that at least two; the South (see cover) and North, were simultaneously attacked and forced in addition to the action taking place at the breach in the South East bastion of the outer wall. The northern gate mentioned in the citation for John Smith’s V.C. was well-covered by two loopholes for enemy snipers, and initially the Blue Caps struggled to force the gate, which moved only slightly with their efforts, and calls for a gun were sent out. Moments later, however, one of the detachment (and possibly John Smith) ‘placed his Enfield against what seemed to be the rivet of the obstructing bar of the gate and blew it away in a moment.’ As the party of 14 men from the 93rd Highlanders and 4th Punjab Infantry set to work cutting down the defenders inside the breach, Smith charged through the gate into the main courtyard, where ‘bullets were raining in every direction and these soon made the gateway a kind of target for the enemy who were now in the further turrets.’ Smith then led the attack, encouraging three other Blue Caps with him, where they ‘bayonetted every sword-bearing and shield-carrying Ghazi who resisted’ and all the defenders were slaughtered to a man. As mentioned in the citation to his V.C., Private John Smith received three separate wounds in the process of this attack on the Secundra Bagh, from sword, bayonet and musket stock, but he held fast and possessed sufficient strength to also take part in the fighting near the Shah Nujjef Mosque that very same day. An officer is recorded as having returned to the Secundra Bagh later that evening to assess the enemy casualties, arriving at a figure of 1800 men killed. Later figures based upon subsequent burials reach a figure of approximately 2500. Upon the departure of the 1st Madras Fusiliers from Calcutta, Lord Canning gave a speech in recognition of their achievements in April 1859, and said: “Yours was the first British regiment which took assistance to the Central Provinces, and gave safety to the important posts of Benares and Allahabad. You were part of that brave band which pushed forward to Cawnpore, and forced its way to Lucknow…From that time you have, with little intermission, been in the front of danger. You are now returning to your presidency, your ranks thinned by war and sickness, but you return covered with honour…When you reach Madras, tell your comrades in the Madras Army that the name of the 1st Fusiliers will never be forgotten on this side of India.” Smith was eventually discharged to pension in 1861, and died of ‘asphyxia’ on 6 May 1866 at Taujore, Trichinopoly, India, where he is buried in an unmarked grave in Taujore Cemetery. In addition to his Victoria Cross (one of 8 awarded for this action), Smith was entitled to the Indian Mutiny Medal with 2 clasps Relief of Lucknow and Lucknow, which does not appear to have been offered on the market to date. It may be noted in this regard that the name is unique on the Indian Mutiny roll for the 1st Madras Fusiliers and that the V.C. has only been known as a ‘single’ since its first known sale in 1924. Ex Glendining, 29 May 1924, Sotheby’s, 26 January 1977, lot 131 and Spink, 8 November 1994, lot 296.
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