An important collection of autographs – a ring binder album with plastic pockets containing a wide variety of autographs of aristocrats, politicians and actors mainly mid-19th to mid-20th centuries, including, aristocrats & soldiers: Admiral 1st Earl Beatty, 8th Duke of Beaufort, letter from Badminton 7/12/1862; [George] William Bentinck MP (1803-1886) dated 24/7/1863 (commons pass); V/Adml. Gordon Campbell VC DSO** (1886-1953) flyleaf of ‘My Mystery Ship’ (1928); 1st Earl of Camperdown (1785-1859) of 1835; Lady Diana Cooper, Viscountess Norwich (1892-1986) letter in pencil from Schloss Wasserleonburg, Austria 1937; John 3rd Marquess of Ely dated 17/7/1851 (Lords pass); Revd. Stephen Edward Gladstone, rector of Hawarden (1844-1920) 2nd son of Prime Minister Gladstone, letter 9/11/1902; Archibald, 2nd Earl of Gosford, GCB, PC (1776-1849) dated 30/4/18132, and with son 3rd Earl, KP on reverse of two pasted on photographs with painted armorials; Field Marshall Sir Claud Jacob GCB, GCSI, KCMG (1863-1948), dated 19/8/1836; General 1st Lord Lynedoch (1748-1843) letter 12/10/1829; Sir Richard Lyons, GCMG PC 1st Lord Lyons latter to (?Katharine) Countess of Clarendon 21/5/1865; Edward Dudley (Fruity) Metcalfe MVO, MC (1887-1957) latter dated 14/6/1937; Sir George Murray GCB, GCH, FRS (1772-1846); William 5th Earl of Radnor (1841-1900) letter from Longford Castle (Wilts.) 27/3/1896; 5th Earl Spencer (1835-1910) black border letter from Althorp 8/7/1896 John, 7th Marquess of Waterford (1901-1934) dated 4/9/[19]17; Hall Wellesley; William, 3rd Lord Wynford (1826-1899) dated 2/3/1874; actors/literary/musical: Patrick John Barr (1908-1985), actor, letter from Theatre Royal, Birmingham 12/5/1949; Ian [John] Hay Beith CBE, MC (1876-1952) playwright, dated 6/9/1927; Henry Charles Brewer (1866-1950) artist; Frances Blogg Chesterton (1869-1938) poet and wife of G. K. Chesterton; [Cdr. Chambré] George [William Penn] Curzon [RN] (1898-1976) film actor, dated 20/4/1949; John Galsworthy (1867-1933) author & dramatist; Sydney Grundy (1848-1914) dramatist; dated 18/12/1894; [Sir] Thomas Duffus Hardy (1804-1878) archivist and antiquary; [Sir] Henry A Lytton (1865-1936) actor & comedian, with nine printed photographs in character; Sir Henry Newbolt, CH (1862-1938) poet, dated 8/9/1927; ‘Romany’ [Revd. George Bramwell Evens] (1884-1943), Methodist minister and pioneer natural history broadcaster; R. Kennerley Rumford (1870-1957) singer; Halliwell Sutcliffe (1870-1932) novelist, dated 6/1904; Tom Taylor (1817-1880) editor of Punch, dated 5/1861; Arthur Trickett FRCO (1851-1914) with printed memorabilia; politicians: Rt. Hon. Anthony, Lord Barber of Wentbridge TD PC DL (1920-2005), House of Lords Christmas Card 1990s; Philip Snowden [1st Viscount Snowden] PC (1864-1937) chancellor of the Exchequer 1929-31, note, from 11 Downing St. 7/10/1929; Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur Ramsay-Steel-Maitland, 1st Bt. Pc (1`876-1935) Minister for Labour 1924-1929, letter on Ministry impressed paper but from home address, 18/3/1925. (qty)
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Atlases. Johnston (A. K.), Handy Royal Atlas of Modern Geography, Edinburgh, 1883, frontispiece of a double-page map of the North Pole, title, dedication, preface, 45 (complete as list) double-page colour lithographic maps, index bound at rear, all edges gilt, publisher's half morocco with gilt title to the upper siding, worn, rubbed and stained, folio, together with Blackie (W. G.). The Comprehensive Atlas of the World, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin, 1883, title, preface and contents, 10 chromolithographs of the 'Races of Mankind' and 67 double-page colour lithographic maps, the map of the world torn with small hole, index bound at rear, publisher's half morocco gilt, worn, rubbed and stained, folio, with another five atlases similar, including examples by or after Drioux & Leroy, Letts, Werner, Bartholomew and Barclay, various sizes and conditionQTY: (7)NOTE:Sold as a collection of maps, not subject to return.
Du Maurier (Daphne). My Cousin Rachel, 1st edition, London: Victor Gollancz, 1951, some minor spotting, original cloth in dust jacket, 8vo, together with other 19th to mid-20th Century literature & author reference, including works by Graham Greene, William Morris, William le Queux, Rudyard Kipling, Robert Graves, G. K. Chesteron, mostly original cloth, some in dust jackets, some paperback editions, G/VG, 8voQTY: (6 shelves)
Grange (Ernest L. et al, editors). Lincolnshire Notes & Queries, a quarterly journal, volume 1-13, 1st editions, Horncastle: W. K. Morton, 1889-1915, bookplates to the front pastedowns, extensive pencil & ink annotations to the front endpaper of volume 1, some minor toning, top edges gilt, contemporary uniform gilt decorated full vellum, some boards & spines very lightly rubbed & marked, 8vo, together with:White (Walter), Eastern England, from the Thames to the Humber, 2 volumes, 1st edition, London: Chapman and Hall, 1865, cracked gutters, blindstamps to the front endpapers, some light marginal toning, original uniform embossed green cloth, spines slightly faded & rubbed to head & foot, 8vo, plusHissy (James John), Over Fen and Wold, 1st edition, London: Macmillan and Co., 1898, 14 monochrome illustrations plus a map, bookplates to the front pastedown,front & rear endpapers detached, later inscription to the front endpaper, some light marginal toning, original gilt decorated brown cloth, boards & spine slightly rubbed to head & foot, 8vo, and other mostly 19th Century Lincolnshire & related history & topography reference, mostly original cloth, some re-bindnings, overall condition is generally good to very good, 8vo/4toQTY: (3 shelves)
* Lord Nelson. Earlom (Richard), The Right Honourable Lord Nelson K. B. Rear Admiral of the Blue &c. &c. &c..., published by B. B. Evans Decr. 17th 1798, uncoloured half-length mezzotint portrait after F. Abbott, trimmed to the image on three margins, some mottling to the printed image, 495 x 340 mm, framed and glazedQTY: (1)
Bates (Henry Walter). The Naturalist on the River Amazons, 2nd edition, London: John Murray, 1864, frontispiece, wood-engraved plates (full-page and in-text), armorial bookplate of Frederic Silva to both pastedowns (rear upside down), text block detached from backstrip, a few preliminary leaves loose (including frontispiece), original green pictorial cloth gilt, rear joint split, head and tail of spine frayed, some marks, 8vo, together with:Trevor-Battye (Aubyn). Ice-Bound on Kolguev, a chapter in the exploration of Arctic Europe to which is added a record of the natural history of the island, 1st edition, London: Archibald Constable and Company, 1895, 24 full-page plates, 3 folding maps at rear, rear hinge cracked, occasional spotting, top edge gilt, remainder untrimmed, original brown buckram-backed cloth lettered in gilt, rubbed, 8vo, withWheelwright (Horace William). A Spring and Summer in Lapland, 2nd edition, London: Groombridge and Sons, 1871, 6 hand-coloured lithographs, neat contemporary ownership inscription to front free endpaper, front free endpaper and frontispiece loose, front hinge cracked, all edges gilt, original purple cloth gilt, backstrip faded, head of upper joint split, 8vo, plusMitchell (K. W. S.). Tales From Some Eastern Jungles, 1st edition, London: Cecil Palmer, 1928, colour illustrations throughout, rear hinge split, original green cloth, backstrip faded, marked, 4toQTY: (4)
![Pigna (Giovanni Battista). Historia de Principi di Este..., primo volume [all published] nel quale si contengono congiuntamen](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/69b81347-ed36-42b1-a009-b17f00aaeca9/d2a497b5-b1a3-4c07-b868-b1ab00abc5c5/468x382.jpg)
Pigna (Giovanni Battista). Historia de Principi di Este..., primo volume [all published] nel quale si contengono congiuntamente le cose principali dalla rivolutione del Romano Imp. in fino al M. CCCC. LXXVI, 1st edition, Ferrara, Francesco Rossi, 1570, [maltese cross]⁴ A-4I⁴ K⁶ a-p⁴, title with large woodcut device of the arms of the Este family within a figurative frame with the names and arms of individual family members, 'primo volume' in title scored-through in brown ink, early 18th-century full calf, upper joint cracked (with board loosening), some wear, title label mostly lacking, folio (34 x 22 cm)QTY: (1)NOTE:STC Italian Books 1465-1600, page 519; Adams P1204; EDIT 16 CNCE 38347; Gamba 1580; Lozzi 1716.The first edition of Pigna's history of the Este family. A second volume was to be written by Pigna's successor, the poet Torquato Tasso, but never came to fruition.
5x Various Reels featuring 3x Strike Right reels examples include 3 1/8", 3 5/8" and 3 7/8" made in Britain all twin handle, appear with signs of wear, come with maker's card boxes, t/w 2x K Dowling and Sons 3 7/8" centrepin reels in black finish, twin handle, line guide, quick release spool - general condition appears G overall
Collection of Period Fishing books, to include examples Of Introduction To Angling Eric Tavener, Modern Salmon Fishing Anthony Bridges 1947, Bank Fishing For Reservoir Trout Jim Calver 1972 (end page has been removed), Trout In Troubled Waters F E Tudor 1955, Billy Lane's Encyclopaedia of Float Fishing 1971, Tackle Making For Anglers L Vernon Bates 1953, Fly Fishing For Duffers R D Pecck 1934, Thrifty Salmon Fishing N K Robertson 1st, Come Fish With Me J Gettings Johnson 1st, The Sport of Fishing John Maceachran undated, The Pike Fisherman's Handbook John Marlow 1966, Fly Fishing Tactics on Still Water Geoffrey Bucknall 1966, Floating The Line To A Salmon Major R C Simpson The Life Story of The Fish Brian Curtis 1951, all H/b with D/j in F-G (box of 14)
Ten Fishing Books - From the Bivvy 1994 Tim Paisley, The Angler's Week-End Book 1935 Eric Taverner & John Moore, How to Fish 2006 Chris Yates, Game Fishing Methods and Memories 1978 C W K Mundle, Caught by the River 2009 Jeff Barrett, The Secret Carp and the Lost Lake Revisited 1992 Chris Yates, Reeling In Arthur Oglesby, Falling In Again 2007 Chris Yates, Saltwater Flyfishing 1998 Paul Morgan, A Passion for Angling 1993 Chris Yates, Bob James, Hugh Miles - mixed condition
Ten Fishing Books - The Second Angling Times Book 1962 Peter Tombleson and Jack Thorndike, 200 Rod Building Tips 1982 K. Ketting, Trout Fishing from All Angles 1929, The Third Angling Times Book 1963, The Fourth Angling Times Book 1965, The Angling Times Book 1955 Bernard Venables & Howard Marshall, Fisherman's Companion 1991 Bob Church, Angler's Mail Annual 1975, Fishing Forays 1994 David Birley and Tom Lawrence, The New Compleat Angler 1984 Stephen Downes Martin Knowelden - mixed condition
Ten Fishing Books - Rhymes of Flood & Field 1931 Patrick Chalmers, Game Fishing Around London 1968 K E Whitehead, Travelling Naturalist 1948 Anthony Buxton, Rod, Horn and Gun 1942 Maurice Headlam, The Practical Guide to Successful Fishing 2009 Tony Miles, Martin Ford Peter Gathercole, The Fisherman's Library 1995 Arthur Ransome, A Plank Bridge by a Pool 1978 Norman Thelwell, The Compleat Angler 1975 Izaak Walton, Rod & Line 1993 Arthur Ramsome in slipcase L/E, A Guide to Aquatic Trout Food 1994 Dave Whitlock - mixed condition
A collection of 4 fixed spool spinning reels, as follows: Abu 505 closed face reel, light use, runs very well. J W Young Ambidex Mk7 reel with spare spool, good bail, spool tensioner, light wear, runs smoothly. K P Morritts Elite reel with spare spool, good bail, runs well, in plastic box. Silstar CPR Series 50 reel with spare spool, good bail, rear tensioner, light use. (4)
The Great War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain R. L’E. M. Rede, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant command of the flotilla leader Botha in a night action off Dunkirk in March 1918, when at 27 knots he rammed and ‘cut in two pieces’ an enemy torpedo boat: as Sir Roger Keyes put it, ‘the gift of rapid decision, initiative and readiness to accept responsibility was given to few’, but Rede ‘displayed all of these excellent qualities’ and was also advanced to post-rank on the Admiral’s personal recommendation Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Commr. R. L’E. M. Rede, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R.L.E.M. Rede, R.N.); France, 3rd Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamels, with rosette; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus, breast badge, gold and enamels, mounted as worn but some ribbons rather distressed, the first with loose centres and minor enamel damage, otherwise generally good very fine (6) £2,600-£3,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: R. C. Witte Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2007. D.S.O. London Gazette 21 June 1918: ‘For services in the action with enemy destroyers off the Belgian coast on 21 March 1918 ... Commander Rede of the Botha took his ship through a heavy barrage of gunfire and, without waiting to ascertain that the rest of his division were following, proceeded to engage the enemy with ram, torpedo and gunfire. He rammed and cut in two pieces an enemy torpedo boat. The success of the action was undoubtedly due to his gallant leadership and initiative.’ Legion of Honour London Gazette 7 August 1918. Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus London Gazette 11 August 1917. Roger L’Estrange Murray Rede was born at Toonah, Victoria, in August 1878, the son of a clergyman, and entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in Britannia in January 1893. Appointed a Midshipman in the cruiser Orlando on the Pacific Station in December 1895, he was advanced to Lieutenant in October 1901 and to Lieutenant-Commander in December 1909, and on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, as a recently promoted Commander, he took over torpedo boat destroyer T.B. 23. Removing to the battleship Albermarle in the following year, he won a commendation from his captain on the occasion their ship was damaged in an incident in Pentland Firth on 7 November 1915 and, on taking command of the destroyer Martin in September 1916, the appreciation of Their Lordships ‘for the promptness with which an attack against an enemy submarine was carried out on 7 August 1917’. But it was for his subsequent command of the Dover Patrol flotilla leader Botha in an action off Dunkirk on 21 March 1918, that he won his D.S.O. Commander P. K. Kemp’s H.M. Destroyers takes up the story: ‘As they lay in wait off Dunkirk, ready to slip their cables at the first sign of enemy activity, they heard firing off the coast and saw gun flashes. It was the enemy squadron from Zeebrugge bombarding Allied positions ashore off La Panne. The mixed squadron set off at full speed, sighted a line of ships in the darkness and, receiving the wrong reply to the challenge, opened fire. Rede, leading the line in the Botha, fired two torpedoes at the enemy and then turned to ram. Travelling at a speed of 27 knots, the Botha cut clean through one of the enemy without damaging her bows, the two ends dropping apart either side of her. As soon as she was through she turned in order to repeat the process, but a shell through her main steam pipe cut down her speed so much that she just failed. However, she passed through the line so close to another of the enemy that her guns set her on fire and completely wrecked her. Her next experience was somewhat less happy. One of the French destroyers, mistaking her for an enemy, fired a torpedo which hit amidships and exploded with terrific force, blowing a large hole in her port side. Orders were given to abandon the ship, but a few minutes later were cancelled when it was found that the Botha still had a chance of survival. Although she had taken a lot of water on board and her engines and boilers were wrecked, her sturdy construction was holding up to the strain. One of the French destroyers was also in trouble. In working up to full speed one of her boilers exploded, which she reported somewhat dramatically in a plain language signal: “Can go no more. Boiler go bang.” With the coming of daylight the only sign of the enemy was the ship set on fire by the Botha’s guns. All the remainder had made off in the night. She was soon finished off by the Morris, which then took the Botha in tow and just managed to reach Dunkirk with her. The two German ships sunk were the torpedo boats A-7 and A-19.’ Rede transferred to another flotilla leader, the Douglas, in July 1918, and remained in her until the end of hostilities, a period that witnessed him conveying Sir Douglas Haig and Sir Roger Keyes across the Channel on at least one occasion: ‘we crossed at over 30 knots in a cloud of spray’ (The Admiral’s memoirs refer). As it transpired, Keyes was busy pushing Rede forward for advancement to post-rank, an intention which was eventually fulfilled: ‘When I found that Roger Rede, who displayed such initiative in the action off Dunkirk in March, was not to be promoted - as I had been practically promised - I appealed to Admiral Wemyss, and reminded him of the great moral value of Rede’s action; apart from the destruction of two enemy vessels, plucked from a superior force. It was so hard that he should lose the promotion he so thoroughly deserved, because in the meantime more spectacular actions had taken place. The Service was full of gallant officers, who would face great odds without hesitation when led, but the gift of rapid decision, initiative and readiness to accept responsibility was given to few, and Rede displayed all these excellent qualities. Admiral Wemyss’ letter, in reply to mine, is amongst those I prize, and Rede was promoted the following December.’ Post-war, Rede commanded the flotilla leader Nimrod 1919-21, and was employed at the Admiralty, his final seagoing appointment being in the battleship Resolution, aboard which he died suddenly on 3 March 1930 and was buried at sea.
A fine contemporary miniature N.G.S. attributed to Captain Sir Thomas Mansell, K.C.H., Royal Navy A very fine contemporary miniature Naval General Service 1793-1840, fitted with wide suspension and an unusual arrangement of 4 engagement clasps for ‘Crescent 20th Octr. 1793’, ‘23rd June 1795’, ‘St. Vincent’, ‘Nile’, unnamed but attributable by way of the unique combination of clasps, a couple of bruises, otherwise very fine and rare £2,000-£3,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- A very similar miniature with one clasp for Amazon 1806 was sold by DNW in June 1991 as part of the collection of miniature medals formed by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris, together with an MGS for Martinique (£350). It is believed that this style was used by the firm of Hunt & Roskell circa 1850.
The Second War North Russian Convoy ‘PQ 17’ D.S.M. group of eleven awarded to Chief Mechanician S. J. Hughes, H.M.S. Dianella, previously taken prisoner at Antwerp 1914 Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C/K.21108 Chief Mechanician S. J. Hughes.) impressed naming; 1914 Star, with clasp (K.21108 S. Hughes, Sto. 1Cl. Benbow Battn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (K.21108 S. J. Hughes, Sto. 2, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last five privately named (S. J. Hughes Warrant Mechanician R.N.); Jubilee 1935, named; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., Admiral’s bust, 2nd issue (K.21108 S. J. Hughes, Mech., H.M.S. Cumberland) mounted as worn, the Great War medals good fine, otherwise good very fine (11) £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997. D.S.M. London Gazette 26 January 1943: ‘For Bravery and Resolution in H.M. Ships while taking a convoy to North Russia in the face of relentless attacks by enemy aircraft and submarines.’ The following recommendation was extracted from Admiralty records: ‘Samuel James Hughes, Chief Mechanician, H.M.S. Dianella. For efficient performance of his duties in full charge of the engines throughout an arduous period in North Russia from July to September 1942 and particularly as part of the escort of PQ.17 and for fine example shown when carrying 61 survivors in the ship for 8 days, and his sound bearing during repeated air attacks.’ PQ 17, consisting of 36 merchant ships, left Reykjavik on 27 July 1942, bound for North Russia and carrying arms and supplies at a critical phase of the War in Russia. The importance attributed to this convoy may be judged by the size of the close escort which comprised: the Destroyers Keppel, Offa, Fury, Leamington, Ledbury and Wilton; Corvettes Lotus, Poppy, Dianella and La Malouine; Minesweepers Brittomart, Halcyon and Salamander; Trawlers Lord Austin, Ayrshire, Northern Gem and Lord Middleton; AA Ships Palomares and Pozarica; and the Submarines P614 and P615. The close covering force consisted of the Cruisers London, Norfolk, Tuscaloosa (USA) and Wichita (USA), and Destroyers Somali, Rowan and Wainwright. The distant covering force consisted of the Battleships Duke of York and Washington, the Aircraft Career Victorious, the Cruisers Cumberland and Nigeria, and 14 Destroyers. The total number of major and minor war ships involved in the escort and support groups was greater than the vessels they were to protect. Yet, with such protection, the Convoy suffered losses of nearly 70%. On 30 June the German Force I put to sea comprising the Battleships Tirpitz, the Cruiser Admiral Hipper, and the Destroyers Karl Galster, Friedrich Ihn, Hans Lody, Thedor Riedel and the Torpedo Boats T7 and T15. On 3 July, Force II put to sea comprising the pocket battleships Lutzow and Admiral Scheer and the Destroyers Z24, Z27, Z28, Z29, Z30 and Richard Beitzen, the intention being to join up with Force I. Relentless air attacks by bombers flying from German airbases in northern Norway, coupled with incendiary attacks by submarines operating in Wolf packs, began to take a heavy toll on the merchant ships with losses increasing daily. On 4 July the First Sea Lord Admiral Pound, expecting a German surface attack in superior strength on the close support group, ordered the cruisers and escort destroyers to turn back to the west and instructed the convoy to scatter. Between 4 and 6 July, 18 freighters were sunk by surface ships, submarines and land-based aircraft. On 7 July three further ships were torpedoed by submarines. On 10 July three ships were bombed and sunk by aircraft. Only when the surviving ships of the convoy began to straggle onto Archangel did it become apparent that the convoy had suffered catastrophic loses. Nine ships of 56,611 tons were sunk by U-Boats; eight ships of 40,376 tons were sunk by the Luftwaffe; and eight ships which were damaged during air attacks were finished off by U-Boats. A total of 24 ships totalling 143,977 tons were lost, along with 3,350 military vehicles, 430 tanks, 210 aircraft and 99,316 tons of war supplies. Samuel James Hughes was born in Poplar, London, on 5 June 1894. After earning his living as a porter in a jam factory, he joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class at H.M.S. Pembroke, Chatham, on 24 October 1913. He was drafted to the Royal Naval Division on 17 September 1914 joining the Benbow Battalion and was subsequently sent to Antwerp, where he was captured and interned as a Prisoner of War at H.M.S. Timbertown, Gronigen, Holland, for the remainder of the War. He had been advanced to Stoker 1st class on 23 October 1914, and to Acting Leading Stoker on 5 February 1921. Whilst serving aboard H.M.S. Cyclops (1923-26) he was made a Stoker Petty Officer on 15 December 1923, and after passing the Mechanician's Course (1924-26) was rated Mechanician aboard H.M.S. Benbow on 21 November 1927. He subsequently served at sea aboard Cumberland (1927-29), Valiant (1930-32), Kent (1932-34) - where he was advanced to Acting Chief Mechanician 2nd Class in march 1933 - and Suffolk, prior to being pensioned on 23 October 1935. During 1933 when serving aboard Kent, he served part of his time as chauffeur Mechanic to the Commander in Chief, China Station. He was awarded the King's Jubilee Medal on 26 June 1935. Recalled for service in the Second World War on 27 August 1939, he served aboard Lucifer (1939-40) and Ferret (for Dianella) (December 1940 to 18 October 1942), when he was promoted to Temporary Acting Warrant Mechanician, a rank and original seniority date which was confirmed on 15 December 1942. He was released from the service on 26 September 1945. The Corvette H.M.S. Dianella formed part of the escort for Convoy PQ 17. When the convoy scattered and the destroyers of the escort were withdrawn on 4 July 1942, the corvettes, trawlers and rescue ships continued to North Russia and did excellent work in rounding up and taking charge of the scattered ships. He received his D.S.M. at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 16 February 1943. Sold with original parchment Certificate of Service, certificate for Jubilee Medal, Investiture ticket, numerous naval forms and papers and a quantity of photographs including several of Hughes.
An extremely rare Arctic M.S.M. pair awarded to Quarter Master John Davis, H.M.S. Investigator Arctic 1818-55, unnamed as issued; Arctic Meritorious Service Medal, Arctic Expedition 1854 (John Davis, Qr. Mr., H.M.S. Investigator) fitted with scroll suspension, very fine and better (2) £10,000-£14,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Captain Douglas-Morris who owned both known examples. One of only four Arctic Meritorious Service Medals awarded, with all recipients belonging to the Investigator on its historic voyage of 1850-53 which resulted in the discovery of the North West Passage. The Arctic Meritorious Service Medal is the first officially awarded medal for service in the Arctic and paved the way for the Arctic Medal 1818-55 which was instituted in May 1857 (vide Naval Medals 1793-1856 by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris). John Davis/Davies, born at Teignmouth, Devon, joined the Navy aboard H.M.S. Poictiers in September 1842 as an Ordinary Seaman at the age of 21. He was advanced to the rate of Quarter Master on 15 April 1853, aboard the ice-bound Investigator in Mercy Bay - a few days after the crew had been visited by Lieutenant Pim from H.M.S. Resolute bringing news of their impending rescue. A medical survey was carried out on the Investigator’s crew a month later, revealing that John Davies ‘… has been 93 days under treatment for scurvy, 55 days in 1853 and 38 days in 1852. The gums are now tumid, livid and supporating …’ On 17 October 1854, soon after John Davies had returned home to England aboard H.M.S. North Star, he left the Navy after serving some 12 years. His advancement to Petty Officer status in the latter part of Investigator’s Commission caused a small problem when the apportionment of the £5,000 Parliamentary gratuity were being calculated. The Accountant General requested instructions from the Admiralty Board as to whether John Davies should share in the Parliamentary Grant as an A.B. or Quartermaster. The decision was minuted in customary laconic style ‘… to share as an A.B. …’, dated 7 November 1855. Thus his share was reduced from that due to a Q.M. of £87-8-4 to that for an A.B. of £29-1-5. If John Davies had left the navy with the expectation of receiving a small fortune, he must have been disappointed indeed.
The outstanding Second War North Russian Convoy ‘PQ 17’ D.S.O. and Lloyd’s Bravery Medal group of eight awarded to Captain Augustus Banning, Merchant Navy, Master of the Rescue Ship Rathlin which, during the course of the War, escorted 60 convoys and rescued over 600 survivors Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated 1942, with integral top riband bar; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. Banning. R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (Augustus Banning); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea (Captain Augustus Banning, S.S. “Rathlin” 27th June 1942) mounted for wear, extremely fine (8) £3,600-£4,400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.O. London Gazette 29 September 1942: ‘For services during North Russian Convoy PQ17 in July 1942.’ Lloyd’s Medal for Bravery at Sea Lloyd’s List & Shipping Gazette 31 August 1943: ‘Captain Augustus Banning, Master, R.S. Rathlin, and Captain Owen Charles Morris, Master, R.S. Zamalek. These two vessels were in a North Russian convoy. Throughout numerous attacks by enemy aircraft with bombs and torpedoes the fortitude, courage and seamanship of these Masters were of the highest order, and it was due to them that both ships were brought safely through. The guns were used to such good purpose that three of the enemy were destroyed, and between them the two ships rescued over 200 survivors from other vessels.’ In the opening years of the 1939-45 war thousands of merchant seamen lost their lives through enemy action. Hospital ships could not accompany convoys as such ships had to be lighted at night, and would have betrayed the convoy positions. The solution was Rescue Ships, Merchant Navy vessels of about 1,500 gross tons, mostly from coastal trade. Their low freeboard enabled them to get men more easily over the side. They could steam at 11 or 12 knots and so work astern of a convoy and regain station afterwards. These small ships were commanded and manned by Merchant Navy personnel; each carried a naval medical officer and a sickberth attendant, and was fitted with a hospital and operating theatre. The life-saving equipment included rescue boats, Carley floats, float nets, scrambling nets, booms grab hooks and hoists. Twenty-nine Rescue Ships were commissioned during the war. Nothing deterred them from their hazardous duty; U-boat packs, enemy aircraft and surface ships, or the worst gales, ice and snow storms of the North Atlantic and the ‘Murmansk Run’. Six of them were lost or sunk. They escorted 757 convoys and rescued 4,194. Of the many awards to the brave men of the Rescue Ships, there were only two D.S.O.’s - those awarded to Captains Banning and Morris, both for the infamous North Russian convoy PQ17. It was to convoy PQ17, a designation that was to become world famous, that the first Rescue Ships were allocated. They were the Rathlin (Capt. A. Banning), Zaafaran (Capt. C. K. McGowan), and Zamalek (Capt. O. C. Morris), and the inclusion of three such ships in one convoy was evidence of the Admiralty’s concern for the safety of the personnel of the 35 merchant ships which it was intended should sail in it. Augustus Banning, born at Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, was a Lowlander, and being of medium build and height was known to his friends as ‘Wee Banning’. Besides being a fine seaman, he was an authority on the life and works of Robert Burns. He had been for many years with the Clyde Shipping Company, and had gained his Extra Master’s Certificate. He was in command of the company’s ship Beachy when she was bombed and sunk on 11th January 1941. He was rescued by a trawler, and could only be given first-aid for a broken leg, so he suffered thereafter from a limp. On 1st July the convoy was sighted by a German reconnaissance aircraft and over the next two days the convoy was subjected to sporadic, but unsuccessful, attacks. On the 4th July a lone Heinkel torpedo bomber dived out of the clouds and torpedoed the U.S. ship Christopher Newport. The Zamalek was quickly on the scene and rescued 47 members of her crew of fifty, three men being killed when the torpedoes hit. All day long aircraft circled the convoy, keeping the defenders on the alert, and in the evening they struck. Doctor Wilkins was standing on the deck of the Rathlin at the time. ‘At about 1800 hours the circling German planes were suddenly joined by between thirty and forty Heinkel torpedo bombers which approached at tremendous speed a few feet above the sea on the starboard quarter. All our guns went into action and a terrific barrage was put up by the convoy, which forced the aircraft to turn to port, but did not prevent them from firing their torpedoes into the heart of the convoy. The leader pressed home the attack in a very gallant manner, passing straight down the lines of the convoy and being shot down in flames. Two torpedoes passed ahead of us, one actually under our bows, and three astern.’ Despite the determined way in which the attack was delivered, only three ships were hit. These were the British Navarino, the American William Hooper, and the Russian tanker Azerbaijan. The Zaafaran picked up thirty survivors from the Navarino, while the Rathlin recovered forty-four from the William Hooper and nineteen from the Navarino. Eleven more of the William Hooper’s crew were rescued by the Zamalek. Without the presence of the Rescue Ships there can be no doubt that all of these men would have perished in the freezing Arctic seas. It was late that evening, just as the three Rescue Ships were rejoining the convoy on completion of their work, when a signal was received from the Admiralty ordering the convoy to scatter. The receipt of the order came as a terrible shock to the morale of the crews of the merchantmen, and especially to those in the Rescue Ships loaded with survivors. They saw the cruisers and destroyer section of their escort disappearing at high speed over the western horizon without being aware of the reasons which had prompted such drastic action. Chief among these, it later transpired, was the presence in the area of the German battleship Turpitz. Without their Royal Navy escort the convoy had no option but to scatter and throw themselves at the mercy of marauding U-boats, as well as attacks from the surface and the air. Thus, PQ17 which on the evening of 4th July had been a coherent body of ships steaming eastward in orderly array, became thirty independent vessels engaged in what was to prove a hopeless and costly sauve qui peut. In accordance with the instructions laid down for such an emergency, the Rathlin headed north towards the ice-barrier at her best speed, while the other ships of the convoy followed the divergent courses laid down for them, before resuming the course which would take them to Archangel. On the 6th July Rathlin encountered the United States freighter Bellingham, and the two proceeded in company, many times having to alter course to avoid running into ice. The following day the two ships encountered large formations of ice barring their path to the southward, and they were obliged to take a course which inevitably took them back into the danger area. All day long distress signals from ships and boats’ radio sets were intercepted, many from vessels sunk several hundred miles from the nearest land. It was not long before the Rathlin and her big escort were sighted by a patrolling Focke-Wolf Condor, and it attempted to bomb them. ‘The pilot must have felt sure he could deal with us himself’...
The scarce ‘between the wars’ Submariner’s B.E.M. group of nine awarded to Chief Petty Officer F. J. Jolly, Royal Navy, whose bravery contributed in no small part to saving the life of his crew, when L12 collided with H47 off Milford Haven, 9 July 1929. In an accident that cost 24 lives, Jolly was conspicuous for ‘his action with the Coxswain in closing the lower Conning Tower hatch and for his subsequent behaviour... whilst the submarine was cleared of chlorine, in which work he persisted until practically unconscious.’ He re-engaged for the Second War, and was twice mentioned in despatches for services with the minelayer H.M.S. Teviot Bank British Empire Medal, (Military) G.V.R. (J.7719 C.P.O. Frederick John Jolly. R.N.); 1914-15 Star (J.7719. F. J. Jolly. L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.7719 F. J. Jolly. P.O. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. Oak Leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.7719 F. J. Jolly. P.O. H.M.S. Cyclops.) mounted court-style as worn, Great War awards slightly worn, therefore generally nearly very fine (9) £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- B.E.M. London Gazette 3 June 1930: ‘Chief Petty Officer Jolly. To be considered for “Gallantry” Medal and failing that noted for Meritorious Medal. For his action with the Coxswain in closing lower Conning Tower hatch [of Submarine L12] and for his subsequent behaviour and example to the crew whilst the submarine was cleared of chlorine, in which work he persisted until practically unconscious.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 14 January 1941 and 1 July 1941. The above B.E.M. award was given for Jolly’s gallant conduct when his submarine L12 catastrophically collided with another British submarine, H47, on 9 July 1929. The details are taken from ADM1/8746, which provides the official report on the collision written by Lieutenant-Commander H. K. Oram, L12’s commanding officer. An article written on Oram, gives the following on the tragic episode: ‘On July 9, 1929, L12 together with L14 sailed from Lamblash on a training exercise bound for St. Ives Bay. They were accompanied by the depot ship Alecto. At the same time, the submarine H47 was heading for the Irish sea to continue a series of independent exercises. Shortly before 8 am, Joe Oram left the bridge to have his breakfast and passed over the watch to Sub Lieutenant J. A. S. Wise with H47 about 2 miles away. Sub Lieutenant Wise kept taking bearings of H47 and drew the conclusion that both submarines were on a collision course. He was about to summon the captain when Lieutenant R. S. G. Green, RNR arrived on the bridge. Lieutenant Keen passed word down to his captain that H47 was attempting to cross their bows, and not receiving a reply altered course. Lieutenant R. J. Gardner, commanding officer of H47, seeing L12 swinging to starboard and believing that a collision was imminent, ordered an immediate alteration in course and sounded several blasts on H47’s whistle. With L12’s bow overlapping H47, Lieutenant Keen ordered motors full astern. Joe Oram, hearing two blasts on L12’s whistle and feeling the motors going astern, hurried to the bridge and about 20 seconds later the bows of L12 sliced into H47 at right angles on the port side just above the foremost control room bulkhead.’ With the two submarines locked together, Oram’s report offers further details of the crew’s plight: ‘The Conning Tower upper and lower hatches were open and a flexible Sperry repeater compass lead was led up to the Tower. In the Gun Tower the starboard hatch was properly shut but the port upper hatch, though closed down, was not clipped. The submarine then took up an alarming angle of approximately 50 degrees down by the bow and the crew were left hanging from overhead valves or thrown to the foremost ends of the compartments. All moveable gear broke away, and, in the Engine Room, a big end brass fell the length of the compartment. The impression in the minds of all was that the submarine was diving at great speed. In spite of the extreme angle Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class H. J. R. Hoggett unlocked and actually succeeded in freeing the drop keel. Chief Petty Officer W. F. A. Betty, the Coxswain, and Chief Petty Officer F. J. Jolly, one of the instructional staff, got the lower Conning Tower hatch closed on to the Sperry lead, but before they managed to do this a great deal of water came into the Control Room. Water continued to spurt in past the Sperry lead, at apparently great pressure. Chief Petty Officer Betty was jambed against the W/T Cabinet by the hatch lever pressing on his chest and was in considerable pain until he was released.’ Oram and the rest of the bridge party were at that point swept into the sea, and it was only the quick reactions of a crew member in closing the bridge hatch that prevented an even greater tragedy occurring. Both submarines plunged beneath the waves, and at about 40 feet L12’s buoyancy pulled her free and she quickly started to rise to the surface. None of this was apparent below deck, as the remaining crew of L12 battled on: ‘The First Lieutenant and four or five others were standing on the closed water-tight door at the forward end of the Crew space, and could see an avalanche of water pouring in from the Control Room. The lights continued to burn but several blow outs were noticed as the water reached the switchboards. After an unknown interval of time the submarine gave a slight lurch and quickly settled on an even keel. In the opinion of everyone she was on the bottom. This illusion was understandable in the Control Room, as water was still spurting in from the Conning Tower as it drained. Thinking they were on the bottom the Engine Room remained shut off. The First Lieutenant with the particular assistance of Hoggett, Jolly, King and Fry successfully blew Z internal and put the fore hydroplanes “Hard to rise.” He was just going to order the motors “Ahead” when Chief Petty Officer Jolly noticed that the depth gauge was registering 5 feet only. Not believing this the First Lieutenant opened up the deep depth gauge. Leading Seaman Reynolds had by now discovered that the Gun Tower was out of water and passed the news to the Control Room. All men forward, with the exception of about 5 hands who remained with the First Lieutenant, were ordered on to the upper deck. Several switchboard fires had broken out and an attempt to put these out with Pyrenes failed. Eventually the First Lieutenant put out the fires by breaking the Selector switch. This put the submarine in complete darkness as the Police light resistances had already blown out.’ The vast majority of the crew by this point had been ordered to the upper deck, with the exception of the First Lieutenant and a small band of others including Jolly. Chlorine was by now very strong in the Crew space and Control Room, and gas masks were donned by those attempting to disperse the gas. It was at this juncture, with L14 now in attendance along with H.M.S. Alecto, that Jolly succumbed to the effects of the gas. Surgeon Panckridge, the medical officer for H.M.S. Alecto, submitted the following report on Jolly: ‘This rating was seen by me on the bridge of L12 at 11.45 on the 9th July. He was cyanosed, coughing and vomiting. He was suffering from chlorine gas poisoning. He was removed from L12 at 12.30 and taken on board H.M.S. Alecto, when he continued to v...
The Second War G.M. group of four awarded to Able Seaman M. H. Woods, Royal Navy, who served as a diver in ‘P’ Party 1571 during many weeks of extremely hazardous mine clearance operations in the ‘liberated ports’ George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (A.B. Maurice H. Woods, P/JX. 519951 R.N.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (4) £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Sotheby’s, December 1990; Ron Penhall Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2006. G.M. London Gazette 15 May 1945: ‘For exceptional gallantry, skill and great devotion to duty, often in close proximity to the enemy, during mine-searching and clearance operations in the ports of Normandy and of the Low countries.’ The original recommendation states: ‘For gallantry and devotion to duty during mine-searching and clearance operations in the liberated ports of Cherbourg, Dieppe, Le Havre, Rouen and Antwerp. And particularly for carrying out the removal of very dangerous mines from the quayside at Rouen where the risk of accident was higher than usual.’ For the record, it would also be appropriate to include the following covering statement submitted to the Admiralty’s Honours and Awards Committee: ‘The time factor was always pressing and, consequently, large risks were run continuously, and willingly, so that clearance should be quick. Much diving of arduous and dangerous kinds has always been involved, first to discover mines, booby traps and other devices left by the enemy, and then to render them safe. That the ports were cleared with such speed and that supplies to the Army were, at no point in the swift advance from Normandy, in serious danger of outrunning supply until the fight had ranged far inland, is to the credit of the ‘P’ Parties and their sustained courage.’ Maurice Henry Woods was born in Birmingham in January 1925 and joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman in June 1943. Having then completed a divers’ course, he was posted to the appropriately titled bomb and mine clearance unit Firework in April 1944, and thence to Odyssey, at which establishments he completed his training for ‘P’ Party 1571, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander J. L. Harries, G.M., R.C.N.V.R., in readiness for the coming operations off Normandy. Ron Penhall takes up the story in his associated article published in N.H.C. & R.A. Review (Autumn, 2002): ‘Very early in July 1944, Woods ‘struck pay dirt’. Alongside the Quai Hornet was a large flooded drydock which the Germans had deliberately jammed and in consequence the U.S. authorities were unable to pump it dry. Woods, now a very experienced diver, was ‘first up to bat’ to solve the problem. As the ‘P’ Parties experience increased they had abandoned life lines attached to the diver and were using a buoyant rubber float tied to the diver to mark his position below. Woods position was closely monitored by his mates on the surface, a series of jerks on the line keeping them informed of what was going on down below. Suddenly the rubber float stopped moving. They gave one jerk which meant ‘Are you O.K.?’ No reply. Twice more they gave single jerks and now presumed Woods had blacked out and were therefore astonished some minutes later when he popped up some yards away. Woods explained to them that he was sure he had found their first mine and to make sure it would not get lost, he had with his practical determination, cast off his float line and attached it to the mine. The contraption was later identified as a K- type mine known to the mine sweeping service as a “Katy”. It consisted of an explosive charge set in a concrete block surmounted by a tripod of steel tubing. A greenish coloured snag line floated just below the surface. Vessels passing overhead would foul the line with their propellers and trigger the mine. Lieutenant-Commander Harries dived on the mine, rendered it safe and it was brought ashore.’ As stated in the above recommendation, however, Woods displayed further acts of bravery in the clearance of other ports, and by way of illustrating the scale of the task facing the ‘P’ Parties, the following statistics from the Cherbourg operation are quoted from Ron Penhall’s article: ‘On 14 August 1944, the port of Cherbourg was officially declared free of mines and obstacles and safe to receive ships. During the six weeks that ‘P’ Parties 1570 and 1571 had spent clearing the docks, they had searched 1,708,150 square feet of seabed. To achieve this feat they had spent 299 hours and 46 minutes underwater, a tremendous effort for such a small body of men. The following is a non-exhaustive list of mines and other ordances recovered and rendered safe by Woods’ ‘P’ Party 1571: 1 C-type mine rendered safe underwater. 4 K-type mines rendered safe underwater. Rendered safe - large numbers of C and E-type mines found in the dock area and in railway trucks. Rendered safe - large numbers of unexploded bombs, shells, gas cylinders, mortar bombs and grenades, dumped in the dock area. Recovered and rendered safe - large quantities of munitions, including rifles and guns that had been dumped in the various docks. On 20 July 1944 Winston Churchill visited Cherbourg and was taken round the harbour to see the extent of the devastation caused by the retreating enemy. In the course of his tour of the docks he noticed ‘P’ Party members hard at work in their quiet, unspectacular way. Writing of this tour of Cherbourg in volume six of his History of the Second World War, Churchill did not forget his brief encounter with the “human minesweepers”. He wrote: ‘A handful of devoted British divers were hard at work day and night clearing the mines and other underwater obstacles. They richly deserved the warm tributes paid to them by their American comrades.’ Woods received the G.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 4 November 1945. He was demobilised in November 1946, but enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve as an Able Seaman in late 1948, on the strength of which service he served until March 1957. Sold with the recipient’s original certificate of service, ‘Gunnery History Sheet’ and H.M.S. Vernon certificate of proficiency for diving to depths of 120 feet, together with a copy of Open The Ports - The Exciting Story of Human Minesweepers, by Grosvenor and Bates.
The impressive Victorian G.C.B. group of nine awarded to Admiral Sir William Dowell, Royal Navy, an active participant in the First and Second China Wars, against slavers in South America, with the Naval Brigade in the Crimea, where he was wounded, in action against the Japanese batteries in the Straits of Simonoseki, for which he was awarded the C.B. and Legion of Honour, and finally as Vice-Admiral during the operations in Egypt in 1882 for which he was rewarded with a K.C.B. and the thanks of Parliament The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross, set of insignia, comprising sash badge, silver-gilt and enamels, hallmarked London 1894, and breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with sash in its Garrard & Co., London case of issue; China 1842, 2 clasps, China 1842, Canton 1857 (W. M. Dowell, Midshipman, H.M.S. Druid.) original suspension, the clasps loose on ribbon as issued; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (W. M. Dowell. Comr. H.M.S. Albion.) officially engraved naming; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Vice. Adml. W. M. Dowell. C.B.); France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, 4th Class, breast badge, gold and enamels; Ottoman Empire, Order of Osmanieh, 2nd Class neck badge and breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, numerous small chips and flakes to enamel; Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class, breast badge, silver, gold and enamels; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, light contact marks to the campaign medals, generally very fine or better (11) £8,000-£10,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. William Montague Dowell entered the Navy as First-Class Volunteer on board the Druid 44, Captains. Lord Henry John Spencer Churchill and Henry Smith. Uniting in the operations on the Coast of China, he served in the boats in the attack upon the enemy’s works and barracks near the Macao Barrier in August 1840, and was present in the early part of 1841 at the destruction of the Bogue forts. He also, as Midshipman of the Blenheim 72, Captain Thomas Herbert - to which ship he was lent from May 41 until June 1842 - assisted in the boats at the capture of Canton, on board at the reduction of Amoy, and on shore with the small-arm men at the second capture of Chusan, and the storming of Chinghae and Ningpo. On the paying off of the Druid Dowell became attached, in the spring of 1843, to the Racer 16, on the coast of Brazil, where he was frequently engaged on boat service against slavers. He passed his examination 2 July 1845, and in the course of the following month was appointed Mate of the Eagle 50, Captain George Bohun Martin, also on the South American station. He had charge of the Eagle’s launch at the capture of Colonia; and with the small-arm men of that ship under his orders, he formed part of the garrison of Monte Video during the latter part of 1845 and for twelve months up to July 1847 was Governor and Commandant of an island in the harbour. For these services he was promoted to Lieutenant in October 1847. When Eagle was paid off in March 1848, he was appointed to Excellent from which, after a severe course of study extending over two years, he was appointed in May 1850 Gunnery Lieutenant of Albion, going out to the Mediterranean where the ship was when the war with Russia broke out. After some service with the Naval Brigade in course of which he was wounded, Dowell was promoted to Commander in November 1854. In the following year he married his first cousin, Caroline Johanna, daughter of Captain John Pyke, R.N. and in January 1856 he was appointed to Rodney with Captain George Knyvett Wilson, and in her went to the Crimea to bring home troops. In August 1857 he commissioned Hornet in which he arrived in China in time to take an effective part in the reduction of Canton, when he united with Captain W. K. Hall, R.N., and Captain Mann, R.E., in placing in position, on the Dutch Folly, a battery of 2 13-inch and 2 10-inch sea-service mortars, and 2 24-pounder rockets, under the direction of Major Schomberg, R.M., the fire from which played on Magazine Hill, the City heights, and Gough’s fort, and on the other forts to the northward of the city outside the walls. In the course of the same day, at the head of his small-arm men, Captain Dowell was engaged, under Hon. Captain Cochrane of the Niger, in dislodging a large body of Chinese from two important joss-houses, and in driving them back from ridge to ridge until they reached their main force. “The gallant conduct of Commander Dowell,” observes Sir Michael Seymour in his despatch, “and of the officers and men generally in the face of greatly superior numbers, has been brought to my notice.” At the storming of the Canton, on the 29th, Captain Dowell was attached to the 3rd division of the Naval Brigade under Sir Robert M’Clure. As a reward for these services he was promoted to the rank of Captain in February 1858. In September 1862 he commissioned the Barrosa again for the China Station and in September 1864 was specially mentioned for his gallantry and conduct in action with the batteries in the Straits of Simonoseki. On 12 September he was appointed Flag Captain to Admiral Sir Augustus Kuper in Euryalus, and on 30 November was nominated a C.B., and at the same time was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour. Euryalus returned and was paid off in the Summer of 1865, and from 1867 to 1871 Dowell, as Commodore of the Second Class, was Commander in Chief on the West Africa Station. In 1870 he was appointed one of the Queen's Naval Aides de Camp. He became a Rear-Admiral in December 1875 and Senior Officer on the coast of Ireland 1878-80. He became Vice-Admiral in January 1880 and Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet in 1882-83, during part of which time in 1882 the Fleet was temporarily attached to the Mediterranean Command for service on the coast of Egypt, for which he was awarded the K.C.B., and the Order of Osmanieh of the Second Class, and received the thanks of Parliament. In 1884-85 he was Commander-in-Chief in China, vacating the office on his promotion to the rank of Admiral in July 1885. In 1886 he was President of a Committee for the Revision of Naval Signals, and in 1888 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Devonport, until August 1890 when he retired under the age limit. In 1891 he was awarded a Good Service Pension, and in the Summer of that year was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Naval Exhibition held at Chelsea, the success of which was largely due to his zealous attention. On 25 May 1895 he was created a G.C.B. Dowell, who during his retirement lived for the most part at Ford, took an active part in the affairs of Bideford, and was a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of Devon. In 1904 when the freedom of Bideford was bestowed on him, he said 'I came into the Navy at a time when wars little and big were going on, and I was just at the age to benefit by them. I became a young Lieutenant, young Commander, young Captain, and a young Admiral. I had many commands, and fortunately, unlike so many of my brother officers who entered the service earlier or later than myself, had many chances of distinguishing myself.’
Roxy Music / Solo CDs, approximately seventy albums by Roxy Music and Solo Members with titles including Valentine, The High Road, Viva, Heart Still Beating, Psalm, Firebird VII, Guitarissimo, One World, 50 Minutes Later, Bitter Suite, 6pm, Southern Cross, Taxi, The Bride Stripped Bare, Bete Noire, Manzanera and Mackay, In Search Of Eddie Riff, Vozero, K Scope, 801 Latino, Primitive Guitars, Mamouna and more - mainly all in EX+ condition
DRESS RING. A late 19th century rose coloured metal ring, set a vivid green rectangular-cut stone, in a closed back setting. (Metal unstamped). Size J/K. Condition Report: Generally good, although top table of stone has one or two minor chips on two of the edges. Please note that all items in this auction are previously owned & are offered on behalf of private vendors. If detail on condition is required on any lot(s) PLEASE ASK FOR A CONDITION REPORT BEFORE BIDDING. The absence of a condition report does not imply the lot is perfect.WE CAN SHIP THIS LOT, but NOT if part of a large, multiple lots purchase.
SOLITAIRE RING. A 9ct. gold solitaire diamond ring. Approx. 1.8g. Size K. Condition Report: Please request a condition report. Please note that all items in this auction are previously owned & are offered on behalf of private vendors. If detail on condition is required on any lot(s) PLEASE ASK FOR A CONDITION REPORT BEFORE BIDDING. The absence of a condition report does not imply the lot is perfect.WE CAN SHIP THIS LOT, but NOT if part of a large, multiple lots purchase.
COCKTAIL RING. An opal & ruby-set domed cocktail ring, in yellow metal mount. Unstamped. Size J/K. Approx. 4.9g. Condition Report: No missing or damaged stones, The shank has clearly been re-sized, probably losing the hallmarks in the process. Please note that all items in this auction are previously owned & are offered on behalf of private vendors. If detail on condition is required on any lot(s) PLEASE ASK FOR A CONDITION REPORT BEFORE BIDDING. The absence of a condition report does not imply the lot is perfect.WE CAN SHIP THIS LOT, but NOT if part of a large, multiple lots purchase.
SAPPHIRE RING. A 9ct. gold, sapphire & diamond cluster ring. Size K. Condition Report: Shank has worn a little thin. All stones intact. Please note that all items in this auction are previously owned & are offered on behalf of private vendors. If detail on condition is required on any lot(s) PLEASE ASK FOR A CONDITION REPORT BEFORE BIDDING. The absence of a condition report does not imply the lot is perfect.WE CAN SHIP THIS LOT, but NOT if part of a large, multiple lots purchase.
DIAMOND RING. A hand made yellow metal (assessed as gold), five stone, emerald-cut diamond ring, with stamped marks. Size K/L. Approx. 4.8g. Note: This ring was handmade in Hong Kong, where our vendor purchased from a Chinese vendor, the five emerald cut stones. Condition Report: Total diamond weight 0.7cts. approx. Please note that all items in this auction are previously owned & are offered on behalf of private vendors. If detail on condition is required on any lot(s) PLEASE ASK FOR A CONDITION REPORT BEFORE BIDDING. The absence of a condition report does not imply the lot is perfect.WE CAN SHIP THIS LOT, but NOT if part of a large, multiple lots purchase.
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