Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (G. L. Booker, Sto. H.M.S. Gibraltar) large impressed naming, nearly extremely fine £200-240 George Lewis Booker was born in Haslemere, Surrey on 13 September 1877. A Servant by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in August 1900. He served on the 1st class cruiser Gibraltar, March 1901-June 1904, being promoted to Stoker in June 1901. For his services aboard the ship during the Boer War he was awarded the Queen’s medal without clasp (617 awarded). Whilst serving on the Forth he was promoted to Acting Stoker Petty Officer in June 1906 and Stoker Petty Officer in October 1907. Further advancement followed, being promoted to Acting Chief Stoker at Egmont I in February 1914 and Chief Stoker at Blenheim in February 1915. Transferring then to the submarine service, he was based at Adamant and then during January-August 1916 served on submarine B.11. After a period of service at Dolphin and Titania, in June 1917 he was posted for service with the 12th Submarine Flotilla attached to the Grand Fleet. With the scout cruiser Fearless as flotilla leader, he served on the submarine K.5. Service on the infamous ‘K. Class’ submarines was a particularly hazardous occupation and Booker was fortunate that his submarine was not present at the ‘battle of May Isle’ debacle. However danger was ever present and on 31 July 1918 Chief Stoker Booker accidentally died when he was washed overboard and drowned. He was the son of James Booker of Sunny Side, Shepherd’s Hill, Haslemere and the husband of Agnes Maria Booker of 5 Klondyke Villas, Grayswood, Haslemere. His name is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Sold with copied service paper. .
We found 137169 price guide item(s) matching your search
There are 137169 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe- List
- Grid
-
137169 item(s)/page
Six: Acting Chief Petty Officer F. Stephens, Royal Navy, who was among those lost on the occasion of H.M.S. Formidable being torpedoed in the Channel on 1 January 1915 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (P.O. 2 Cl., H.M.S. Terpsichore) large impressed naming; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Jubaland (P.O. 2 Cl., H.M.S. Terpsichore); 1914-15 Star (179143 Act. C.P.O., R.N.); British War Medal 1914-20, unnamed; Victory Medal 1914-19 (179143 Act. C.P.O., R.N.); Naval Good Shooting Medal, E.VII.R. (179143 P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Formidable, 1910, 12 in. B.L.) contact marks and edge bruising, thus nearly very fine or better, the second rare (6) £600-700 Ex Captain K. J. Dougas-Morris, R.N. Collection and Barrett J Carr Collection. Frederick Stephens was born at Cocking, Sussex on 8 December 1878 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1894. Advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class in January 1901, he served on the 2nd class cruiser Terpsichore from February 1901 to February 1903, which period encompassed both of that ship’s active commissions in the Boer War, in addition to her part in the Jubaland operations of November 1900 to April 1901. He was advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class in October 1902. A total of 273 Queen’s South Africa Medals were awarded to the ship’s company of the Terpsichore, 136 of them without clasp. Just 225 Africa General Service Medals were issued to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines for ‘Jubaland ‘, 45 of them to the ship’s company of the Terpsichore. Joining the battleship Formidable in the same rate in April 1909, Stephens was awarded the Naval Good Shooting Medal in the following year and the L.S. & G.C. Medal in January 1913, but, having been appointed an Acting Chief Petty Officer, was among those lost when that ship was torpedoed by the German submarine U.24 off Portland Bill in the English Channel on 1 January 1915: ‘.. At 2.20 a.m., as the squadron was passing through a number of fishing smacks, Formidable was struck by a torpedo on the starboard side abreast her foremost funnel. She swung out of the line and began to lower her boats at the same time beginning to list to starboard. The weather had been growing steadily worse and the ship was soon listing so badly that her engines stopped and she lay helpless with her head to the sea. The night was now very dark and the launching of the boats, without the assistance of steam, was a difficult operation. In all, four were got out, but of these one barge capsized, but the other, containing 43 men, was picked up by the Topaz. The pinnace, with 60 men, managed to reach Lyme Regis, and the cutter, with 71 men, was later picked up by the Brixham smack Provident, skipper William Pillar, who by splendid seamanship gybed his small craft, despite the danger, and came alongside the cutter. This boat was overloaded and in a bad way, but all the men were safely transferred before she sank, though the Provident only carried a crew of three men and a boy. Diamond also picked up 37 officers and men. Meanwhile. the bulk of the ship’s company were still on board the battleship when, about 3.05 a.m., she was struck by another torpedo, this time on the port side, abreast the after funnel. All hope of saving her had now vanished and the men were sent to break up woodwork for saving life. During this time a large liner with lights burning passed close to the scene, but although Topaz made a signal to her to stand by, which she acknowledged, she did not comply and steamed out of sight. Topaz was then ordered by Captain Loxley to steam away as the submarine was still in the vicinity. With great reluctance Commander W. J. B. Law obeyed, endeavouring to stop another steamship on his way. At 4.45 a.m., about two and a half hours after she was first struck, Formidable turned over to starboard and sank. Of the 780 persons on board, 35 officers, including Captain Loxley, and 512 men were drowned.’ Stephens, who was the son of John and Sarah Stephens of Newhaven, Sussex, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Sold with copied service paper.
Three: Private Christopher Lindert, 1st Hussars, King’s German Legion Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse (Christoph Lindert, 1st Hussars K.G.L.); Waterloo 1815 (Christoph Lindert, 1st Reg. Hussars [K].G.L.) naming a little weak in parts; K.G.L. Volunteer Medal 1841, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn with the last medal taking precedence, contact marks, nearly very fine or better (3) £1800-2200 Christopher Lindert is first traced on the muster rolls for the 1st Light Dragoons (later Hussars) in June 1813, serving in Spain and France. He served until 24 February 1816 when the regiment was disbanded at Hannover. Sold with copies from Waterloo Prize, Muster and Medal rolls.
Four: Quartermaster Duffadar Fazal Ahmed, Horse Transport Company, late 15th Mule Corps Tibet 1903-04, no clasp, silver issue (611 Driver Fazl Ahmed, 15th Pack Mule Corps); British War Medal (611 K-Dfdr. Fazal Ahmed, 15 Mule Cps.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (1620 Q-M-D. Fazal Ahmed, 1 Horse Transpt. Coy.); Indian Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (T.C.59469 Tr. Dfdr. Fazal Ahmed, 3 C.B.T. Coy.) nearly very fine (4) £300-350.
Four: Warrant Officer Class 2 P. K. Delaney, Royal Engineers 1914 Star , with (loose) clasp (23066 Pnr., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (23086 Cpl., R.E.); Army L.S.& G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (1854187 W.O. Cl.II, R.E.) contact marks, good fine and better (4) £120-160 Sold with framed Warrant appointing Patrick Kevin Delaney to be Warrant Officer Class II, dated 9 March 1927. Note: glass unsuitable for posting.
Three: Lieutenant R. H. Stacey, Royal Air Force, late King Edward’s Horse, Royal Sussex Regiment and Bedfordshire Yeomanry and Royal Flying Corps, who was seriously wounded in a combat over Bailleul in May 1918 1914-15 Star (1115 Pte., K. Edw. H.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.), generally good very fine (3) £300-350 Reginald Howard Stacey was born at Houghton, near Arundel, Sussex in October 1892 and was educated at Haileybury. Enlisting in the Royal Fusiliers in September 1914, he transferred to 2/King Edward’s Horse as a Trooper in the following month and served in the same capacity out in France from May 1915 to January 1916, when he returned to the U.K. and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2/4th Royal Sussex Regiment. Having then transferred to the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, he applied to the Royal Flying Corps for pilot training and qualified for his ‘Wings ‘in February 1917 (Certificate No. 4405). He subsequently served out in France in 29 and 11 Squadrons, May to August 1917, but was invalided home to hospital in the latter month. Returning to duty in the U.K. with No. 85 Squadron that November, he transferred to No. 41 Squadron, an S.E. 5a unit out in France, shortly afterwards, and must have flown numerous sorties prior to being seriously wounded in a combat over Ecquedecques in the early evening of 11 May 1918, most probably by enemy ace Leutnant Kurt Monnington of Jasta 18. Absolutely certain is the fact his wounds - caused by a brace of machine-gun bullets - resulted in the amputation of his left leg below the knee, and he was invalided out of the Royal Air Force in April 1919, following a special medical board held at Caxton Hall in London.
Four: Chief Stoker S. J. Daly, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (309697 S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (309697 Act. Ch. Sto., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (309697 Ch. Sto., H.M.S. Columbine) fine and better Four: Able Seaman S. Reynolds, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (J.20783 A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.20733 A.B., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (20783 A.B., H.M.S. Dolphin) mounted as worn, worn and better (8) £90-120 Stephen John Daly was born in Devonport on 12 October 1887. A Butcher by occupation, he enlisted in to the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 26 February 1906. He was promoted to Stoker 1st Class in January 1907 when on Argyll; Acting Leading Stoker in February 1910 and Leading Stoker in June 1910 when at Vivid II; and Stoker Petty Officer in November 1911 when on Blake. He served on the dreadnought Agincourt, August 1914-July 1916, being present on the ship during the battle of Jutland. He was advanced to Acting Chief Stoker when on Isis in March 1918 and was confirmed in that rank in March 1919 when on the battlecruiser New Zealand. He was pensioned ashore in 1928. Sold with copied service paper. Sidney Reynolds was born in Southwold, Suffolk on 8 May 1895. A Farm Labourer by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in October 1912, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in January 1913. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman when on Lancaster in May 1913 and Able Seaman in October 1914 when at Pembroke I. During the war he served on the battleship Lord Nelson, January 1915- September 1917. Postwar he served in the Submarine Service, being based at Dolphin and Cyclops, and in 1924 briefly served on the K.6 and the ‘submarine monitor’ M.3. Sold with copied service paper.
Five: attributed to Squadron Leader A. S. MacIntyre, Southern Rhodesia Air Force and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action in a Typhoon of No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron during a cross-Channel sweep in August 1943 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, this officially engraved, as issued posthumously to Rhodesians, ‘S./Ldr. A. S. McIntyre, 266 Sqdn.’; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, generally extremely fine (5) £250-300 Alexander Stewart ‘Sandy ‘MacIntyre, who was born in Maseru in December 1918, originally joined the 1st Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment in October 1938, but transferred to the Southern Rhodesia Air Force in the following month and was commissioned on gaining his ‘Wings ‘in November 1939. Posted to East Africa, and thence to North Africa, he flew operationally in No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron before being embarked for the U.K. in August 1942, a period that witnessed him claiming at least one Italian Caproni bomber in a raid on Kassala, where the flak was so thick ‘that one could put wheels down and taxi over it’ - an accompanying typed history of No. 237 in North Africa refers. As stated, MacIntyre was embarked for the U.K. in August 1942, where he remained on an operational footing as a Flight Lieutenant in No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron, a Typhoon unit. Sadly, however, he was posted missing, presumed killed, following a sortie on 15 August 1943, when the Squadron’s aircraft, operating out of Exeter, with a detachment at Warmwell, were ‘jumped ‘by FW. 190s over the Channel - two fellow pilots, ‘Johnny ‘Small and Brian Biddulph, were lost on the same occasion. MacIntyre, who had been advanced to Squadron Leader on assuming command of No. 266 in the previous month, is buried in Le Folgoet Communal Cemetery, north-east of Brest, France; sold with two original wartime photographs, via ex-266 Squadron member, K. M. Rogers, and a file of related research.
Five: S. Mentoor, South African Forces 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal, all officially named (C286861 C. Mentoor) Five: W. Johnson, South African Forces Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal, all officially named (C301948 W. Johnson) Four: A. L. Davies, South African Forces 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War and Africa Service Medals, all officially named (209793 A. L. Davies) Pair: S. Kirkland, South African Forces War and Africa Service Medals, both officially named (105843 S. Kirkland) very fine and better (16) £60-80. #60-80 1100. Seven: Major J. K. Irvine, Rhodesian Forces, attached South African Forces, who was wounded in action in October 1944 while serving in the 1/6th Field Regiment, S.A.A. 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal 1939-45 (S.R. 598437); Efficiency Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue, Southern Rhodesia (1039 Major), the sixth with attempted erasure of initials and surname, very fine and better and rare (7) £250-300 John Kenneth Irvine was born in Bulawayo in April 1917, and moved to Salisbury in March 1926. A merchant by profession, he enlisted in the Southern Rhodesia Light Battery (S.R.L.B.) in September 1939, was transferred to 4th Battery, Royal Horse Artillery in the Western Desert in April 1940, back to the S.R.L.B. in August 1942, when he was commissioned, and to the 1/6th Field Regiment, South African Artillery in March 1943, in which latter unit he remained employed until the end of hostilities and was wounded in action in Italy on 13 October 1944 - ‘Bomb wounds, scalp’. Irvine, who was released in the rank of Lieutenant in June 1946, was awarded his Efficiency Medal in October 1953; sold with copied service record.
Six: Field Reservist D. K. H. Thorpe, Rhodesian Forces, late Kenya Police Rhodesian General Service Medal (21152Q. F./R. Thorp, D. K. H.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Defence and War Medals; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (I.P. I. D. K. H. Thorpe), generally good very fine or better and an unusual combination of awards (6) £80-100.
Pair: Private K. B. Walton, Royal Australian Regiment Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (2/400923 K. B. Walton); U.N. Korea (2/400923 K. B. Walton) nearly extremely fine (2) £120-160 Kevin Bruce Walton was born in Matraville, N.S.W. on 25 July 1929. A Builders Labourer by occupation he enlisted into the Australian Army on 28 December 1951. He served in Korea with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 22 August 1952-March 1953. Accidently injured with a fractured pelvis and lacerated wound to the scalp, he was sent to the 60th Indian Field Ambulance, 20 October-2 December 1952 and thence to the British Convalescence General Hospital, Japan, 4-6 March 1953. Returning to Australia he was discharged at his own request on 23 June 1953. Sold with copied service details.
Pair: Trooper G. N. K. Wilkinson, 11th Hussars General Service 1962, 1 clasp, South Arabia (23493967 Tpr., 11 H.); U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon, mounted as worn, good very fine (2) £60-80 Scarce ‘South Arabia’ clasp to the regiment who did not serve in that theatre. The U.N. Cyrus probably from the period 1970-71 when individual squadrons were detatched from the then amalgamated The Royal Hussars (PWO).
Four: Sergeant K. A. Spencer, The Parachute Regiment, who served with 2 Para at Goose Green in 1982 General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24128865 Pte. K. A. Spencer, Para); U.N. Cyprus; South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24128865 Sgt K A Spencer Para); Regular Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (24128865 Sgt K A Spencer Para) mounted as worn, very fine or better (4) £1200-1500 Keith Andrew Spencer was born on 26 July 1952. Sold with a file of copied information taken from Pegasus which confirms that he gained his parachute wings in February 1970; was a Sergeant with 2 Para in September 1982; JATE March 1983; AWO2, I Para, April 1990; and WO2, Depot Para, April 1992. He received his G.S.M. Northern Ireland in April 1974 and his L.S. & G.C. medal in January 1985.
Pair: Warrant Officer Class 2 K. Drelingcourt, The Highlanders, late Gordon Highlanders General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24347720 L/Cpl., Gordons); Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994 (24347720 WO2, Hldrs.) mounted court style as worn, good very fine (2) £300-350 The Highlanders were formed in 1994 from an amalgamation of the Gordon Highlanders and Queen’s Own Highlanders.
Pair: Guardsman K. T. Davies, Welsh Guards South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24418996 Gdsm., WG); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24418996 LCpl., WG) mounted court style as worn, extremely fine (2) £700-900 Kelvin Thomas Davies enlisted into the Welsh Guards at Bangor on 30 October 1979. He served in the South Atlantic attached to the Mortar Platoon. He was one of a very few specialist arms attached to the Scots Guards after his own regiment had become disorganised as a result of the bombing of the Sir Galahad. Sold with copied Certificate of Service. .
An unusual M.B.E. group of five awarded to Chief Engineer B. K. Finnimore, M.I.C.E., Public Works Department, Bengal, later County Quartermaster, Surrey Special Constabulary The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type breast badge; Tibet 1903-04, no clasp (B. K. Finnimore Esq. Supdg. Engr. P.W.D.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Coronation 1937, privately named (B. K. Finnemore, Co. Qtrmr. S.S.C.); Special Constabulary Medal, G.V.R., coinage head (Co. Qmr. Benjamin K. Finnimore) together with named card box of issue for the last, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (5) £500-600 Benjamin Kington Finnimore trained at the Royal Indian Engineering College and was appointed to the Public Works Department as assistant engineer on 23 September 1881, and posted to Bengal. Appointed executive engineer in August 1893, he was under-secretary to the government of Bengal, railway and civil works, April to August 1902, and November 1902 to January 1904, during which time he served with the Tibet Field Force. He was appointed superintending engineer in April 1905, and chief engineer and secretary to the government of Bengal, in the Public Works Department, January 1911.He was appointed Chairman of the Calcutta Improvement Trust in July 1913, retired in September 1914, and was awarded the M.B.E. in January 1918. Benjamin Finnimore was later County Quartermaster of the Surrey Special Constabulary.
A well-documented and exceptional Second World War immediate D.S.O., two tour D.F.C. group of eight awarded to Squadron Leader J. B. Starky, Royal Air Force, late Royal New Zealand Air Force: in what was undoubtedly one of the great ‘epics ‘of the last war, he flew home his crippled Lancaster after two crew had baled out and two others lay seriously wounded - but Starky was no stranger to perilous flight, having already survived a crash-landing in the desert and coaxed back another Lancaster minus six feet of its starboard wing Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse of the suspension bar undated, an official replacement in its Garrard, London case of issue; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’, an official replacement in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-45, the first two virtually as issued, the remainder very fine or better (8) £2500-3000 D.S.O. London Gazette 28 September 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘At 20.11 hours on the night of 5-6 September 1943, Lancaster Y-DS 682 took off for Mannheim. The Captain, Acting Squadron Leader J. B. Starky, was on his forty-seventh trip; the remainder of the crew had about 20 sorties each to their credit. At 01.50 hours the aircraft, with starboard elevator almost completely shot away, the Navigator and Wireless Operator missing, and two more of the crew wounded, forced landed successfully at Ford. What follows is the story of events in between: The trip was uneventful until some 20 miles short of the target. The weather was clear and the aircraft was flying at 19,000 feet. Suddenly without any previous warning, a night fighter dived in a head-on attack. Our aircraft was badly hit, the cockpit was filled with smoke and a bright light gave the impression of a fire. It then went into a violent spiral - the central column rocking violently - and being unable to regain control the Captain gave the order to abandon by parachute. The Mid-Upper Gunner, Sergeant K. Tugwell, called out that the Rear-Gunner was stuck in his turret and the Captain made a desperate effort to regain control. The stick became a little easier, due to the dinghy which had been jammed in the tail unit blowing free, and the Captain regained control. The night fighter - a Ju. 88 - then attacked again from the rear. Both tail and Mid-Upper Gunners held their fire, and shot it down in flames. Squadron Leader Starky then attempted to take stock. He found that both Wireless Operator and Navigator had jumped by parachute, that his Flight Engineer was wounded in the shoulder and the 2nd Pilot wounded in the arm and head. The Bomb Aimer, Flying Officer B. A. W. Beer, had attempted to jump from the front exit, but had been unable to jettison the escape hatch. When he was finally half way out of the aircraft, he heard the Captain say ‘Hold on! ‘as he had the aircraft back under control. The Rear-Gunner was now manning the mid-upper turret, while the Mid-Upper Gunner and Bomb Aimer attended the wounded. The Captain then attempted the most difficult task of bringing his badly damaged aircraft back to base without the assistance of a Wireless Operator or Navigator. He set an approachable course for base and carried on this for over 30 minutes. By this time the Bomb Aimer had gone back to do the navigation, but as the navigators log had gone he had no plot and gave the Captain an amended course for base. On their way across France they were repeatedly fired at by A.A. batteries and as his inter-com had now gone, the Captain was compelled to take evasive action only from the judgment of the gun flashes. On one occasion the Bomb Aimer had to go through to tell the Captain that shells were bursting dangerously near the tail. In this precarious state the damaged Lancaster made its way back through the enemy fighter belt. The Mid-Upper Gunner manned the wireless set and succeeded in getting acknowledgment to a laborious S.O.S. The Bomb Aimer tried unsuccessfully to work GEE. Eventually the Channel was reached and as they drew near the coast the Captain and Bomb Aimer flashed S.O.S. on their lights. As they crossed the shore an immediate green was received and Squadron Leader Starky effected a masterly landing of his now uncontrollable aircraft, bringing it in at an air speed of 140 m.p.h. The story of this flight is an epic, and the return of the aircraft to this country must be considered due firstly and primarily to the superb airmanship and captaincy of Squadron Leader Starky, and actually to the magnificent co-operation of the rest of the crew. Squadron Leader Starky has already been recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross for his really magnificent work during two tours of operations, and I consider that his latest achievement is worthy of the immediate award of the Distiguished Service Order.’ D.F.C. London Gazette 10 September 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘This officer is now on a second tour of operations. In 1941-42 he carried out a most successful tour on Wellingtons in the U.K. against targets in Germany and German occupied Europe - finishing in the Middle East with attacks against objectives in the Mediterranean. Flight Lieutenant Starky has now completed 42 sorties and has attacked many highly defended targets, including Essen, Benghazi and Pireaus, and has recently been actively engaged in the Battle of the Ruhr. On one occasion recently he collided with another aircraft over enemy territory and lost a large piece of his starboard wing, but succeeded by superb airmanship in bringing his badly damaged aircraft back to base. This officer has at all times shown resolution, courage and ability of the highest order in his attacks on enemy targets. His cheerful contempt for danger and his keenness for operational flying, have set a fine example to the other aircrew of this squadron.’ Mention in despatches London Gazette 11 June 1942. James Bayntun ‘Jim ‘Starky, who was born in Gisborne, New Zealand in November 1916, enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in July 1940 and commenced pilot training at No. 1 E.F.T.S., Taieri, near Dunedin that August. Following further training at Wigram, Christchurch, he was embarked for the U.K., where he attended No. 20 O.T.U. at Lossiemouth in Scotland and converted to Wellingtons prior to going operational as a 2nd Pilot in No. 149 Squadron at Mildenhall, Suffolk in June 1941. Quickly participating in nine operational sorties over the next few weeks, Dusseldorf, Bremen, Essen, Mannheim and Munster among the chosen targets, in addition to a brace of trips to Brest to attack the Prinz Eugen and Scharnhorst, he was ordered to the Middle East in September 1941, the same month in which he was appointed Flight Sergeant. Posted to No. 148 Squadron on his arrival - another Wellington unit, operating out of Kabrit - his aircraft was hit by flak on his very first sortie to Benghazi on 5 November. Appointed 1st Pilot in the same month, he had his work cut out for him on the night of the 25th while en route to another target, for local Arabs had exchanged a landing ground’s fuel supply for water - his engines cut out shortly after take-off and although by means of pressing his head against the canopy windscreen to peer into the darkness he managed to effect a full glide angle crash-landing, two members of crew were killed outright and others seriously injured - had he not managed to jettison the bomb load none would have survived. Having been knocked out and injured himself, Starky nonetheless set off into the desert to find help, walking 12 miles over rough terrain until staggering into Landing Ground 60 covered in blood - he then guided an ambulance to the crash site. In due course mentioned in despatches for his gallantry and l
A good Second World War Mediterranean operations D.S.M. group of six awarded to Leading Seaman C. D. Jacobs, Royal Navy, for a brilliant night action off Cape Spartivento in June 1943 Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (SSX. 25221 C. D. Jacobs, L. Smn.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, extremely fine (6) £800-1000 D.S.M. London Gazette 20 August 1943: ‘For courage, resolution and skill in successful attacks on an enemy convoy whilst serving in H.M.S. Jervis.’ The original recommendation states: ‘On the occasion when H.M.S. Jervis and H.H.M.S. Queen Olga destroyed an enemy convoy off the Italian coast, Leading Seaman Jacobs was captain of No. 1 mounting during the action. This rating controlled the gun’s crew with most commendable skill and efficiency in spite of the noise and confusion of a close range night engagement.’ Cecil Dennis Jacobs, a pre-war regular and a native of Woodbridge, Suffolk, was decorated for his services on the night of 1-2 June 1943, when the destroyer Jervis, under the command of Captain J. S. Crawford, D.S.O., and in the company of the Greek destroyer Queen Olga, sunk the Italian torpedo boat Castore in a brilliant action off Cape Spartivento - the enemy convoy was engaged from 2,000 yards with the assistance of flares dropped by Allied aircraft, and two merchantmen were also damaged in the ensuing action. An indication of just how busy Jacobs and his fellow gunners were kept may be derived from the fact that the Jervis expended 142 rounds of 4.7-inch, 138 rounds of 2-pounder H.E. and tracer, and 90 rounds from her 20mm. Oerlikon. Jacobs, who received his award at an investiture held in March 1945, was probably still aboard the Jervis on the occasion she was damaged by a German glider-bomb off Anzio - see The Kelly’s, British J, K & N Class Destoyers of World War II, by Christopher Langtree for further details; sold with a photocopy of a local wartime newspaper cutting, including a portrait photograph of the recipient.
Sold by Order of the Recipient A rare and outstanding ‘Special Forces’ Northern Ireland Q.G.M., Falklands M.I.D. group of four awarded to Warrant Officer K. M. James, Royal Marines, a long-served and gallant member of the Special Boat Service, who was decorated for rescuing a wounded comrade in an undercover operation in October 1978 whilst serving with 14 Intelligence Company, and subsequently mentioned in despatches for his leadership of an S.B.S. team landed on enemy occupied East Falkland Island prior to the arrival of the British Task Force in May 1982 Queen’s Gallantry Medal, E.II.R. (Cpl. Kevin M. James, PO25432M, R.M.); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (PO25432M K. M. James, Cpl., R.M.); South Atlantic 1982, with M.I.D. oak leaf and rosette (Sgt. K. M. James, PO25432M, R.M.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (Sgt. K. M. James, PO25432M, R.M.), mounted as worn, generally good very fine (4) £25,000-30,000 Q.G.M. London Gazette 27 March 1979: ‘In recognition of service in Northern Ireland during the period 1 August 1978 to 31 October 1978.’ Under the pseudonym ‘Luke ‘, the full story of James’s extraordinary deeds as an undercover operative in Dungannon one night in October 1978 appear in Duncan Falconer’s First into Action (first published by Little, Brown and Company, 1998): ‘When several shots rang out, interrupting the cold stillness that had shrouded Dungannon all that week, no one knew where they had come from. A couple of operators reported it, but they were quickly told to leave the net free in case there was an emergency. A radio then opened up and we could hear the sound of gurgling mixed in with a few inaudible words. The Det commander tried to contact each of the operatives to eliminate them as sources, but whoever was gurgling on the net was holding down the send button preventing all transmission. Luke [James] felt certain the shots had come from the Bear Cage area and decided not to wait until the comms cleared to inform ops. He leapt out of the car and tore up the hill, gun in hand, towards the car park. The rest of us could do nothing until we found out what was going on. Some operatives suspected it might be one of ours parked up by the lake and quickly drove there, but the operative was fine. We were all unaware of Luke tearing through the town alone and in great personal danger from a number of sources. If he had encountered an Army or police patrol they would shoot him without hesitation - a man in civvies running with a gun in his hand was a legitimate target, and they would never expect him to be a British undercover operative. Then there were the gunmen themselves - they could still be around and waiting for such a reaction. Luke felt certain it was Noddy who had been hit, but he had no idea from what direction. He saw the car at the far end of the car park in the shadows and sprinted to it. When he got there he found Noddy lying slumped in his seat. The driver’s window had been shattered by bullets. Blood seeped from holes in Noddy’s face, torso and legs, but he was alive, just. Luke’s only option was to get Noddy to the hospital as soon as possible. He manhandled him over the handbrake and gear lever and into the passenger seat. There was no time to be gentle, he was oozing blood. The threat of gunmen was still at the forefront of Luke’s mind. As he sat in the driver’s seat to start the car, he could feel the pints of warm blood soaking into the arse of his trousers. He screeched out of the car park, passed the pub where O’Dilly had been standing and sped up the road. By now the RUC had sent patrol cars to investigate the shooting and the Scots Guards, the local Army unit, were also heading towards the area. As Luke made a sharp turn out of the car park an RUC patrol car appeared in his rear. They flicked on their flashing lights and pursued him. As if matters could not get any worse the RUC assumed Luke was escaping from the shooting and was, therefore, the gunman. Suddenly Luke heard shots. The RUC were trying to shoot out his tyres. A bullet hit the car. Luke was an excellent driver and although he was scared shitless, as he endlessly reminded us afterwards, he never lost control. He was driving for his friend’s life. He could not stop to surrender and explain the situation because by the time the RUC had got through their arrest procedure, Noddy would probably have been dead. Luke had no choice but to lose them. We all knew the town like the backs of our hands, and perhaps better than the police. The RUC could not compete with his driving skills, nor did they have the incentive, and in less than a minute he gave them the slip. Other police patrol cars were reacting, but they assumed he was trying to make his way out of town and so coordinated themselves on the outskirts to stop him. That was just fine by Luke because he was headed for the hospital in the centre of town. Noddy rolled around in the passenger seat while Luke continuously talked to reassure him. Suddenly, Luke’s car came under fire again, this time from the Scots Guards, and then, a few streets later, from the UDR. This was becoming ridiculous. Luke eventually screeched into the hospital car park and came to a halt outside the main entrance. He dived out of the car, gun in hand, and ran inside. He was literally covered in blood and the few people in the foyer stopped and stared with gaping mouths. A couple of civilian security guards saw him from the other side of the entrance and made their way towards him. He ignored them, grabbed a wheelchair and pushed it outside to the car. He dragged Noddy out of the passenger side and into the chair. Noddy was still alive but slipping in and out of consciousness. Luke charged up the ramp with the wheel chair and burst in through the entrance doors once again. He was just in time, because now the Scots Guards and UDR were surrounding the hospital and moving in, convinced he was a terrorist. He levelled his gun at the security guards in the foyer, who immediately backed off - they were unarmed. Luke was filled with adrenaline and shaking. The hospital was not safe ground. The majority of the staff and patients were catholics and not to be trusted. ‘Where’s a doctor? ‘Luke shouted. A couple of nurses stepped into the foyer, but froze in horror along with everyone else at the sight of these two men covered in blood, one pushing a wheelchair, wild-eyed and pointing a gun. Luke didn’t wait for an answer and charged on, pushing Noddy through swing doors and along the corridor as blood dripped from the wheelchair, leaving a trail. He paused outside every door to kick it open, gun levelled, in search of a doctor. He scared the hell out of patients and nurses as he made his way through the hospital. He finally burst into a room where two doctors were tending to a patient. Luke could not care less about anyone else. His buddy was dying. He pointed his shaking gun at them and yelled, ‘Fix him. Fix him or I’ll fucking kill you! ‘A security guard burst in and Luke aimed at him like lightning. ‘Move and I’lll fucking kill you too. ‘The guard froze in his tracks and threw his arms up. ‘I’ll kill all of you! ‘Luke left Noddy and grabbed one of the doctors and pulled him over to the chair. ‘If he dies, you die! I fucking swear it! ‘The doctors were initially frozen with fear themselves, but they pulled themselves together, their professionalism kicked in and they set to work on Noddy. The doors suddenly burst open once again and a tough-looking matron stepped in. Luke levelled the gun at her as she stood beside the security guard with his arms in the air. But this woman seemed fearless. She looked at Luke and said, ‘Put the gun down, please. ‘ ‘I’m a British soldier! ‘Luke shouted. ‘And this is a hospital. Put the gun down. ‘There was something about her calm, assertive manner that Luke latched on to. But he kept his gun aimed as she passed him
1914 Star (13033 Pte. F. Cheeseman, 4/R. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (K.4535 D. J. Lakey, L. Sto., R.N.); British War Medal 1914-20 (52125 Pte. F. E. R. Andrews, R. Fus.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (202643 Pte. V. Russell, R. War. R.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (K.58028 F. Callard, Sto.1, H.M.S. Eagle); Belgium, War Commemorative Medal 1914-18; Germany, Third Reich, Iron Cross 1939, 2nd Class; German Defences Medal, generally very fine and better (10) £140-180 Private F. Cheeseman, 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 13 August 1914. He was captured by the Germans on 23 August 1914 in the first major engagement of the war. The 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers were awarded two Victoria Crosses (Dease - K.I.A., and Godley - P.O.W.) for this action. Sold with copied m.i.c. and war diary extracts. K.58028 Leading Stoker Francis Callard, Royal Navy, was killed in action on 12 November 1942 when the depot ship Hecla was torpedoed by a German submarine west of the Straits of Gibraltar. The ship sank with the loss of 13 officers and 266 ratings. Francis Callard, aged 47 at the time of his death, was the son of William George and Mary Ann Callard of Ford, Plymouth. His name is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. .
1914-15 Star (5) (233485 L.J. Booth, Y.S., R.N.; SS.116322 A. J. Williams, Sto.1, R.N.; M2-033051 Cpl. R. J. Chappell, A.S.C.; S4-084814 Pte. W. H. Davey, A.S.C.; 37385 Pte. J. A. Quinless, R.A.M.C.) first gilt; British War Medal 1914-20 (2/Lt. H. K. Lewis); Victory Medal 1914-19 (23348 Pte. G. Howes, The Queen’s R.); Special Constabulary Long Service, G.VI.R., 1st issue (William E. Wills) in card box of issue, very fine and better (8) £80-100 Lionel James Booth was born in Tamar, Devon on 7 October 1889. He entered the Royal Navy as a Signaller Boy on 31 March 1905. He was advanced to Ordinary Signaller when on Suffolk in October 1907 and Signaller on Leviathan in October 1908. Based at Blake from December 1913, he was advanced to Yeoman of Signals in October 1915 when serving on the destroyer Alarm with the 2nd Destroyer Squadron at Scapa. He was posted to the light cruiser Castor in August 1916 and served for a short period on the aircraft carrier Campania, July-August 1917, before being posted to officers’ school. Booth was promoted to Acting Warrant Officer 2nd Grade on 18 August 1917. Sold with copied service paper and roll extracts. Medal to Lewis with photograph and lid to card box of issue, named to ‘2/Lt. No. 549 H. K. Lewis’. Lieutenant Lewis served with the South African Heavy Artillery.
India Service Medal 1939-45 (3); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; Africa Service Medal (299551 P. J. Uys); Australia Service Medal (2) (P.A.1981 K. J. Coombs), the other unnamed; New Zealand Service Medal (2); U.N. Medal, ONUC ribbon, some with edge bruising, contact marks, very fine and better (10) £60-80.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve L.S. & G.C. (2), G.V.R., 1st issue (L.6-2397 J. Power, A.B., R.N.V.R.); another, G.VI.R., 1st issue (L D/X.1820 R. W. Clamp, P.O. Wtr., R.N.V.R.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C. (3), G.V.R., 1st issue (K.2631 (Ch.B.19526) A. E. Sheppard, Sto. 1, R.F.R.); another, G.V.R., 2nd issue (SS.119341 (Ch.B.18172) J. Higgins, Sto. 1, R.F.R.); another, G.VI.R., 1st issue (SS.122396 (Ch.B.18564) O. Atterbury, Sto. 1, R.F.R.) good very fine and better (5) £100-140.
Efficiency Medal (6), G.V.R., Territorial (5488867 W.O. Cl.II J. White, 4-Hamps. R.); G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (4526594 Sjt. K. Wilkinson, R. Fus.; 5492575 Sjt. P. C. Edwards, 5-7 Hamps. R.; 5499581 Gnr. E. J. Helm, R.A.); G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (2086275 Sjt. A. V. Newberry, R.E.M.E.); E.II.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (22824322 Gnr. J. J. Anns, RA) good very fine (6) £120-160.
Brandwood (Geoffrey K.) Temple Moore, An Architect of the Late Gothic Revival, 1997, presentation copy, dust wrapper; Zigrosser (Carl) My Own Shall Come to Me, 1971, signed ltd. edition, cloth; Langton (Edward) Essentials of Demonology, 1949, dust wrapper; Cranworth (Lord) A Colony in the Making-Sport and Profit in British East Africa, 1912, folding map, cloth; with a quantity of others (qty)
A STEEL-HILTED SMALL-SWORD, CIRCA 1800 with hollow-triangular blade etched and gilt with scrolling foliage and a garland on a blued panel at the forte and signed with the bladesmith's initials 'H K', steel hilt including oval dish-guard with notched rim, the inner face decorated with concentric bands of faceted beads and a scalloped washer in the centre (the arms shortened), knuckle-guard and flattened ovoid pommel decorated en suite and swelling spirally fluted grip decorated with further arrangements of beadwork 83.3cm; 32 3/4in blade
CHRISTOPHER FEARE: THE STARLING, 1984, 1st edn, orig cl d/w + PETER CONDER: THE WHEATEAR, 1989, 1st edn, orig cl d/w + D W SNOW: A STUDY OF BLACKBIRDS, 1958, 1st edn, orig cl d/w + P E BROWN AND M G DAVIES: REED-WARBLER’S, 1949, 1st edn, orig cl + K G SPENCER: THE LAPWING IN BRITAIN, 1953, 1st edn, orig cl + J K STANFORD: THE AWL-BIRDS, NY, 1949, orig cl gt d/w + DAVID BOAG: THE KINGFISHER, 1982, 1st edn, orig cl d/w + IAN WYLLIE: THE CUCKOO, 1981, 1st edn, orig cl, d/w (8)
W B TEGETMEIER: PHEASANTS THEIR NATURAL HISTORY AND PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT, 1911, 5TH edn, enlarged, orig cl gt + DAVID HILL AND PETER ROBERTSON: THE PHEASANT ECOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION, 1988, 1st edn, orig cl d/w + G R POTTS: THE PARTRIDGE PESTICIDES PREDATION AND CONSERVATION, 1986, 1st edn, orig cl, d/w + PETER HUDSON: RED GROUSE THE BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF A WILD GAME BIRD, The Game Conservancy Trust, 1986, 1st edn, orig cl gilt, d/w + COLIN WILOCK: THE BOOK OF THE WOOD PIGEON, 1995, 1st edn, orig cl gt, d/w + M K COLQUHOUN: THE WOOD PIGEON IN BRITAIN, H M S O, 1951, Agricultural Research Council Report Series No 10, orig wraps, (6)
CRAWFORD H GREENE WALT: HUMMINGBIRDS, The American Museum of Natural History, 1960, 4to, orig cl d/w + ESTHER QUESADA TYRREL: HUMMINGBIRDS THEIR LIFE AND BEHAVIOUR A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES, NY, 1985, 4to, orig cl d/w + PAUL A JOHNSGARD: ARENA BIRDS SEXUAL SELECTION AND BEHAVIOR, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994, orig cl d/w + DOUGLAS F STOTZ, JOHN W FITZPATRICK, THEODORE A PARKER AND DEBRA K MOSKOVITS: NEOTROPICAL BIRDS ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION, University of Chicago Press, 1996, 4to orig pict wraps + PETER R GRANT: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF DARWIN’S FINCHES, Princetown University Press, 1986, orig pict wraps + W JOHN SMITH: COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE GENUS TYRANNUS, Cambridge Massachusetts, 1966, 1st edn, orig cl, (6)
Loading...-
137169 item(s)/page