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Click here to subscribeA mixed lot of ceramics to include a Salisbury china tea and coffee set with rose decoration and light blue glazed ground, Royal Worcester, Satsuma and other cups and saucers, Victorian Gaudy Welsh jug, Wedgwood and Crown Staffordshire ceramics, and other items, along with a Minton Haddon Hall Monteith Location:
A mixed lot to include vintage cameras, including a Zenit B, and a Polaroid, a Sci-Mart electric microscope with slides, and a Etekcity Shiatsu neck and shoulder massager, along with boxed glassware to include two Wedgwood glass beer mugs commemorating ITN twenty fifth anniversary, and various other electricals to include a cinema light box Location:
Two Boxed Corgi Toys Fire Chief Cars, 439 Chevrolet Impala, red body, white stripe/doors ‘Fire Department’ round labels (not matching) aerial, roof light loose, spun wheels and 482 Chevrolet Impala red over white body, cast wheel hubs, round decals, blue lamp, aerial, chrome strip has been repainted silver, original illustrated boxes are good to excellent. (2 items)
Rare Corgi Toys Colour Trial 464 Commer Police Van, military olive drab green body ‘Police’ cast into sides, painted white, blue roof light, red interior, spun wheel hubs, in excellent original condition, operating instructions leaflet, with an excellent original yellow and blue illustrated card box, sample room sticker to end flap.
Quantity of Playworn Military Dinky Toys and others, including: Boxed 601 Mini Moke, unboxed: 25s Covered wagon (repainted-missing tin tilt) 2 x 151a Medium Tank, 152a light tank, 161b Anti-Aircraft gun on trailer,162a Light Dragon Tractor, 601 Mini Moke (missing hood) 621 Bedford Army wagon,622 Foden 10 Ton Army truck, 626 Military ambulance,641 1 Ton Cargo truck, 642 RAF pressure refueller, 651 Centurion Tank,660 Tank Transporter, 2 x 661 Recovery tractor,670 Scout car, 673 Scout car,686-25pdr gun,688 Field Artillery tractor, 689 Medium Artillery Tractor,692 -Medium Gun, 693 Howitzer,735 Gloster Javelin, Johillco Renault Tank, Britains boxed 1731 Spotting chair with observer (man missing arm) Searchlight, AA gun on trailer and Bren Gun Carrier, all in poor to fair/good condition. (Approx. 30 items)
Two Boxed Dinky Toys Racing Cars,133 Cunningham C-5R Le Mans Road Racer, white body, tan interior, dark blue stripes, no ‘31’ mid blue wheel hubs, light blue driver and 236 Connaught Racing Car, pale green body/wheel hubs, white driver racing number ‘32’ In 1956 the Connaught came 4th in the British Grand Prix. Models are in very good to excellent original condition, boxes are in good original condition.(2 items)
Two Boxed Dinky Toys Cars, 162 Ford Zephyr Saloon, cream upper body/wheel hubs, dark green lower body and 172 Studebaker Land Cruiser, light green body, mid green wheel hubs, models are in excellent to near mint original condition, boxes are in good to excellent original condition, with correct colour spots to end flaps. (2 items)
Dinky Toys 925 Leyland Dump Truck with Tilt Cab, white tilting cab and chassis, blue cab roof, orange tipper, white plastic tailgate ‘Sand Ballast Gravel’ light blue interior, mid blue plastic wheel hubs, in near mint original condition, with original 2nd issue illustrated card box, with end flaps, in excellent original condition.
Dinky Toys 982 Bedford Pullmore Car Transporter with 994 detachable loading ramp, ‘Dinky Toys Delivery Service’ dark blue cab/wheel hubs, light blue back in near mint original condition, slight decal loss to 20 decal on rear, complete with two scarce inner card packing pieces, 994 boxed tin plate loading ramp, with a good blue/white stripe lidded box, some age/edge wear to lid.
Six Boxed Matchbox Lesney Regular Wheels Models, including: 33b Ford Zephyr 6, sea green, blk plastic wheels in E3R box, 35c Snow-Trac, red body, white rubber tracks decals, in E1 box, 38c Honda Motorcyle & Trailer,orange trailer, metallic blue bike in E4R box,41c Ford G.T. Racing car, white body, red interior, yellow plastic wheel hubs, slight decal loss to fron of model, in E1 box, 42b Studebaker Station Wagon, blue body, light blue slider (missing figure & dog) in E2 box and 44c GMC Refrigerator van, red/turquoise body, in E4R box, models are in near mint original condition, some slight chipping to 35c, boxes are good to excellent, some biro graffiti to 33b box. (6 items)
Five Boxed Matchbox Lesney Regular Wheels Models, including: 55c Ford Galaxie Police Car, white body,red roof light in E4 box, 57c Land Rover Fire Truck Kent Fire Brigade, red body, decals, blk plastic wheels, 58b Drott Excavator, orange body/base, black plastic rollers, one rubber track has perished in D2 box, 59c Ford Galaxie Fire Chief Car, red body, blue roof light in E3 box and 62b Commer TV Service Van, cream body ‘Rentaset’ blk plastic wheels, ladder aerial and two TV’s in D2 box, models are in near mint original condition, boxes are good to excellent.(5 items)
Three Boxed Matchbox Superfast Models, 30d Beach Buggy, 52c Dodge Charger, metallic purple, with white paper label strip, 75c Alfa Carabao, metallic light pink, yellow base,, models are in mint original condition, boxes are very good except for 75c thate has some Sellotape to one end, plus K-16 Dodge Tractor with twin tipper train ‘Dodge Trucks, model is in excellent original condition, with outer window box only which is fair, Y-5 Models of Yesteryear Bentley in pink & yellow window box, mint box and unboxed Corgi Juniors Triumph TR7 (6 items).
Tekno Military Models,814 Willy Military Jeep, with driver & 814 Kanon, 951 Covered wagon, drab green body, cloth canopy tilt, steering roof light, 954 Radar truck, drab green body, steering roof light plus R.W. Model West Germany Jeep (missing windscreen) models are in good original condition.(5 items)
Tekno/Vilmer Military Diecast Models, including: Tekno 950 Army Rocket Truck, complete with three plastic rockets, with steering roof light, Vilmer Dodge Searchlight lorry, with steering roof light, Dodge Radar Vehicle, with steering roof machine gun, Dodge Anti-Aircraft Gun, with steering roof spare wheel, Dodge Anti-Aircraft Gun, with steering roof machine gun and a Chevrolet missile launcher, all in very good original unboxed condition, except for Chevrolet missile launcher which is poor. (6 items)
Quantity of Military models including: two boxed Dragon Tanks: Jagdtiger Porsche version, Firefly VC, 4 x HM 1:48 models, German staff car VW, Schwimmwagen Type 166, German Kubel wagon, US Willys Jeep, five Eagle Moss boxed military models, Sd.Kfz Puma, Universal Carrier Mk.II, Tiger Tank AMD 35 Panhard 178 and Somua S-35, all in mint boxed condition plus unboxed Solido Somua, Oxford diecast fuel wagon and a Renault FT17 French light tank (unknown maker). (14 items)
Vintage Kenner Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back X Wing Fighter, Cat. No 38030, in very good original condition, complete with cockpit canopy, 4 x laser cannons, laser light working, not the space sound, stickers have been applied, No 38030-instruction leaflet, original inner packing card, outer box is fair, edge/age wear and creases.
Palitoy Vintage Boxed Star Wars ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ AT-AT All Terrain Armoured Transport, Cat.No 33354 complete with battery compartment door, 2 chin guns (clear) head canopy, light bulb and cover, side door and two side guns, in good original condition, missing leaflet, decals have been applied. Complete in its original The Empire Strikes Back illustrated box, in fair condition.
Tipp & Co (Germany) Tinplate 6-wheeled Army Lorry with Searchlight, camouflage body, searchlight to rear (missing light bulb) tinplate balloon tyres with steerable front wheels, opening cab door, working clock-work mechanism, missing key, two composition British seated infantrymen, in excellent original condition L 10 ” (25 cms).
A scarce Great War ‘Warrant Officer’s’ M.C. group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer Class I W. H. Tilbury, 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who later served as an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Assam and was a member of the Surma Volunteer Light Horse, Auxiliary Force India Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5369 Pte. W. Tilbury. Rl: Berks: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5369 Serjt: W. Tilbury. Rl: Berks: Regt.); 1914-15 Star (16689 Sjt. W. Tilbury. R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (16689 W.O. Cl.1. W. Tilbury. R. Berks. R.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Pte. W. H. Tilbury. Surma V.L.H. A.F.I.); Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, with bronze A.I.R. palm on riband, contact marks and minor edge bruising, generally nearly very fine and better (8) £1,400-£1,800 --- M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919. M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917. Belgian Order of Leopold II, Chevalier, with palms London Gazette 5 April 1919. William Harry Tilbury was born at Burchetts Green, Berkshire, on 5 November 1881 and attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment aged 15 years and 6 months. He served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, and with the 5th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 28 July 1915. Advanced Warrant Officer Class I, he was awarded the Military Cross; the following account appeared in the Berkshire Chronicle: ‘The Germans were making a rush for the guns which they had almost surrounded when the party I have spoken of together with the other Berkshire men and the Guards thwarted the desperate attempts which the Boches made to capture them... In regard to the saving of the guns I should like to say that splendid work was performed by our signalling officer, whose name I cannot remember, and Regimental Sergeant Major Tilbury.’ Subsequently commissioned Captain, post-War Tilbury served with the Assam Civil Service as an Extra Assistant Commissioner of Police, with the rank of Major, and whilst in India served with the Surma Volunteer Light Horse, Auxiliary Force India. He died of Malaria on 15 December 1932.
A Victorian C.B. group of three awarded to Colonel T. W. R. Boisragon, 30th Bengal Native Infantry, Indian Army The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 18ct gold and enamel, hallmarks for London 1879, with integral gold riband buckle; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lieut. T. W. R. Boisragon, Nusseeree Batn.); Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Col. T. W. R. Boisragon. 30th. Ben; N.I.) light contact marks, very fine and better (3) £3,000-£4,000 --- C.B. London Gazette 1 March 1881. Theodore Walter Ross Boisragon was born in India on 19 May 1830 and was commissioned into the Indian Army on 2 September 1846. He first saw service with the Nusseeree Battalion during the Great Sepoy Mutiny (Medal), before he was appointed Commandant of the 30th Bengal Native Infantry on 16 August 1861, and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 2 September 1872, and Colonel on 2 September 1877. He saw further service during the Second Afghan War (Medal), and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. He retired with the rank of Major-General on 2 September 1881, and died in Bedford on 21 September 1882.
Three: Private E. Day, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal for saving the life of a man from drowning at Roodevval Spruit, Orange River Colony, on 16 September 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (4838 Pte. W. Day, 2: R: Berks: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4838 Pte. W. Day. Rl: Berks: Regt.) number officially corrected; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (J. Day. 2nd. Bttn: Berks: Regt, Sep. 16 1900.) with integral top bronze riband buckle, light contact marks, generally good very fine (3) £240-£280 --- R.H.S. Case no. 30,977: ‘On 16 September 1900, J. J. Le Roux, the son of a local burgher, by holding on to the tail of a horse, was carried out some 25 yards from the bank in a pond at Roodevval Spruit, Orange River Colony. Seeing his danger, Privates Jones and Day, both 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who were bathing near, at once swam out, and at great risk rescued him.’
A Boer War C.B. group of four awarded to Colonel The Honourable R. T. Lawley, 7th Hussars, who commanded his regiment in South Africa and was later 4th Baron Wenlock The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s, breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with swivel-ring bar suspension and ribbon buckle; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Lieut: Hon: R. T. Lawley, 7/Husrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt: Col: Hon R. T. Lawley, C.B., 7/Hrs:); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style for display, the second with contact pitting from star, otherwise nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine (4) £2,600-£3,000 --- Richard Thompson Lawley, 4th Baron Wenlock, was born on 21 August 1856, second son of Beilby Richard, 2nd Baron Wenlock of Escrick Park, Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, and Colonel of the Yorkshire Hussars, by his wife Lady Elizabeth Grosvenor, daughter of 2nd Marquess of Westminster. He was brother of Sir Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock, Governor of Madras (1891-96), whom he succeeded in 1912 as the 4th Baron Wenlock. He was educated at Eton (1870-74) in the Rev. William Wayte’s House where, although not academically gifted, he was a successful cox. He entered the army in 1875, serving throughout with the 7th Hussars, retiring as Colonel of the Regiment in 1904. He served throughout the Nile Expedition of 1884-85 with the Light Camel Regiment, in which the 7th Hussars detachment comprised three officers and 44 other ranks, and took part in the operations of the Desert Column including the engagement at Abu Klea Wells, 16 and 17 February 1885. After service in Egypt, Lawley served in the Boer War, sailing for the Cape on board the S.S. Templemore, and commanded the 7th Hussars in South Africa from 20 December 1901 to 22 January 1902, after which he commanded a column composed of the Queen’s Bays, 7th Hussars, two guns and a pom-pom from 39th R.F.A., formed at Winburg and operating towards Senekal from 23 January to 31 May 1902, to clear the country in that district of cattle and provisions. He was present during operations in the Transvaal from March to 31 May 1902; Orange River Colony from January to March, and May 1902; Cape Colony from December 1901 to January 1902. He was mentioned in despatches London Gazette 17 June 1902, and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath ‘in recognition of services during operations in South Africa’, London Gazette 26 June 1902. Following a posting at Aldershot, he retired on 2 November 1904. He was married in 1909 to Rhoda Edith, a daughter of Canon Knox-Little. He succeeded his brother as 4th Baron Wenlock in 1912, and died at Hestercombe, Devon, on 25 July 1918. Sold with full research including various copied photographs together with medal roll and gazette entries saved to CD.
A rare inter-War North-West Frontier ‘V.C. Action’ D.S.O. group of three awarded to Lieutenant G. J. Hamilton, 5th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides), for his gallant conduct on 29 September 1935 when he advanced under heavy fire across a narrow Col in an attempt to support two platoons of Guides Infantry under the command of Captain G. Meynell that occupied a summit point and were in grave danger of being overwhelmed; having secured his own objective he realised the small supporting force of HQ Wing and two platoons of Guides Infantry were pinned down on an adjacent peak and unable to offer support. On his own initiative Hamilton then led a gallant charge across a narrow ridge linking the two peaks, but fell severely wounded at the head of his men, the ground being swept by fire from all sides. With the tribesmen above and around the flanks of Meynell and his few remaining men, the gallant Captain Meynell was overwhelmed and died fighting to the last in fierce hand-to-hand combat. For the ‘fine example Meynell set to his men, coupled with his determination to hold the position to the last, maintain the traditions of the Army, and reflect the highest credit on his fallen comrades’, Meynell was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. Hamilton’s position was now critical. Attacked by overwhelming numbers, severely wounded and hardly able to move, he organised a defensive position to cover the withdrawal of the supporting troops, remaining in position for over three hours, during which ‘he emphatically refused to be evacuated until a final retirement was ordered’ Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, in Garrard, London, case of issue; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. G. J. Hamilton, 5-12 F F R); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (Lt. G. J. Hamilton, 5-12 F F R) minor edge bruise to IGS08, otherwise nearly extremely fine (3) £4,000-£5,000 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 24 December 1935: ‘For gallant and distinguished service in action in connection with the recent Mohmand operations, North West Frontier of India, 1935’. The official Recommendation, published in The Times on 26 October 1935 states: ‘Lieutenant Hamilton led two Platoons in support of forward companies attacked by overwhelming numbers. Severely wounded and hardly able to move, he organised a defensive position to cover the withdrawal, holding it for three hours, during which he emphatically refused to be evacuated until a final retirement was ordered. It was entirely through the action of this gallant officer that the enemy were held in check and the wounded evacuated.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 May 1936: 'For distinguished services rendered in the field in connection with the Mohmand Operations, North West Frontier of India, during the period 15/16 August to 15/16 October 1935.’ Godfrey John Hamilton was born on 31 March 1912, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Hamilton, O.B.E., and was educated at Radley and the Royal Military College Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Unattached List, Indian Army, on 1 September 1932, and was posted to Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides the following year, being promoted Lieutenant on 1 December 1934. He served with the 5th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment in the operations against the Mohmand tribesmen on the North West Frontier in 1935, and was severely wounded and awarded the D.S.O. for his gallantry in the action at Point 4080 on 29 September 1935, for which Captain Godfrey Meynell was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. The Attack on Point 4080, 29 September 1935 Documents at the India Office Library make reference to the following code names given to prominent rocky features used in official narratives; (i) high ground at Point 318367 - ‘Teeth’; (ii) rocky pinnacle East of Point 4080 - ‘Nipple’; (iii) small rocky feature about three hundred yards West of ‘Nipple’ - ‘Pimple’. The purpose of the operation was ‘clean up sniping parties which came from the head of the Wucha Jawar Valley, the direction of Muzi Kor and Zanawar China, and inflict the maximum possible loss on these elements’. The plan was for the Guides to seize and hold Teeth and from there to capture Point 4080, the object being to catch the enemy flushed from Muzi Kor and the Wucha Jawar in enfilade fire. The advance to Point 4080 was carried out in four phases; (i) the approach march from camp to the foot of the spur; (ii) Capture of ‘Teeth’ by Hamilton; (iii) Capture of ‘Nipple’ by Rendall; (iv) Capture of Point 4080. The Guides left Wucha Jawar camp at 0200 hours and strength of the force was as follows; ‘A’ Company (Lieutenant A. P. S. Rendall), 3 Indian officers and 76 Indian other ranks; ‘B’ Company (Lieutenant G. J. Hamilton), 3 Indian officers and 86 Indian other ranks; ‘C’ Company (Honorary Lieutenant Shadi Khan), 2 Indian officers and 82 Indian other ranks; HQ Wing (Major S. Good) with Captain G. Meynall Adjutant, Doherty Medical Officer, 2 Indian officers and 86 Indian other ranks; the total force consisting of 4 British officers, 1 British MO, 10 Indian officers and 330 Indian other ranks. The first phase was completed by 0400 hours, with Hamilton occupying ‘Teeth’ by 0520 hours. The third phase began with ‘C’ Company acting as advanced guard moving up a spur leading to ‘Nipple’ which was occupied at 0545 hours. The final phase then began with Shadi Khan leading two platoons from ‘C’ Company, with Rendall in close support bringing up two platoons of ‘A’ Company plus an advanced HQ party which included Meynell. The remainder of the small attacking force under Good remained on Nipple. The approach to 4080 was along a long and narrow Col which restricted the advance to single file. With daylight approaching and the tribesmen now fully alerted and in far greater numbers than anticipated, the two platoons under Shadi Khan became pinned down by heavy fire after covering a distance of two hundred yards. Having reached a position where the Col broadened out slightly, Shadi Khan formed a fire position from which the final assault could be made. At this point, Rendall and Meynell came forward, and ordering Shadi Khan to remain in his present position to give covering fire, led the final assault with two platoons from ‘A’ Company and two sections from ‘C’ Company. Despite the growing hostile fire and the difficult nature of the ground, Rendall reached one of the points of 4080, which is best described as a coxcomb being made up of several small peaks, with the two platoons of ‘A’. Battalion HQ had now established themselves across the Col and on the east face of 4080. But it was now broad daylight and in the face of such heavy fire, the supporting sections of ‘C’ were unable to scale the cliff face, with the result that Rendall and Meynell were left isolated. Major Good now realised the seriousness of the situation but was unable to communicate with the 3rd Light Battery for covering fire as the Forward Observation Officer had been wounded and the telephone lost. However a helio message was sent to Hamilton who was ordered up with two platoons, at which point the signaller was shot dead. Hamilton then advanced in an attempt to reach Rendall and Meynell but fell severely wounded at the head of his men having reached the rocky outcrop codenamed Pimple, from which point no further advance was possible, the...
Pair: Private A. Harper, Royal Berkshire Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5042 Pte. A. Harper, 2nd. Rl: Berks: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5042 Pte. A. Harper, Rl: Berks: Regt.) mounted as worn, light contact marks, very fine (2) £140-£180 --- Provenance: Lovell Collection, Sotheby’s, November 1978.
An inter-War M.B.E., Great War ‘1916’ M.S.M. group of eleven awarded to Colonel (Quartermaster) F. W. Price, Royal Army Service Corps The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914 Star, with clasp (S-21925 Sjt. F. W. Price. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (S-21925 W.O. Cl.1. F. W. Price. A.S.C.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (S-1010 S. Sjt. F. W. Price. R.A.S.C.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (S-21925 Sjt: F. W. Price. A.S.C.); France, Third Republic, Medal of Honour, Gold Medal, with swords and laurel wreath, silver-gilt, silver mark to edge, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn and housed in a glazed display case, light contact marks, good very fine and extremely rare to rank (11) £800-£1,000 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 3 July 1926. M.S.M. London Gazette 11 November 1916. M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916. French Medal of Honour London Gazette 29 January 1919. Frederick Walter Price attested for the Army Service Corps at York, and served during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 August 1914, and subsequently as a Staff Sergeant-Major on the Quartermaster-General’s Staff. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1926 Birthday Honours’ List, and was commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) in the Royal Army Service Corps on 14 January 1931. He was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel in 1943, and retired on 12 March 1947, being granted the honorary rank of Colonel, the first Quartermaster of the Royal Army Service Corps to be so honoured. Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.
A scarce ‘Korea’ Fleet Air Arm Firefly Observer’s D.S.C. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant Commander J. G. C. Harvey, Fleet Air Arm and Royal Navy, who having served in Swordfish with 813 Squadron in North Africa during the Second War, went on to distinguish himself with 812 Squadron off Korea on many operational sorties carried out from H.M. Carrier Glory Distinguished Service Cross, E.II.R., reverse officially dated ‘1952’, hallmarks for London 1952, with Spink & Son maker’s mark; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (Lieut. J. G. C. Harvey, D.S.C. R.N.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, lacquered, generally nearly very fine or better (8) £3,000-£4,000 --- D.S.C. London Gazette 30 September 1952: ‘For distinguished service in operations in Korean Waters.’ John Gabriel Cavendish Harvey was born in 1922, and was appointed Sub Lieutenant (A), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in October 1942. Having passed through H.M.S. St. Vincent for aircrew selection, he was subsequently posted as an Observer to 813 Squadron at H.M.S. Cormorant. Harvey was posted for operational service with the Squadron, November 1942 - August 1943. Including in Swordfish on torpedo spotter reconnaissance as part of ‘Y’ Flight based at Tafaraoui, Algeria. He continued to be employed with 826 Squadron in the same area. Harvey advanced to Lieutenant (A) in August 1944, and served as an Observer with 711 Squadron based at H.M.S. Jackdaw. By July 1946 he was confirmed as a Lieutenant (A) in the regular Royal Navy, and in 1948 was serving in the Compass Department of the Admiralty. Harvey served as 812 Squadron’s Senior Observer during the Korean War. Operating in Fireflies from the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Glory. On 23 April 1951 H.M.S. Glory arrived in Korean waters to start her first of three operational tours, taking over from H.M.S. Theseus. Her arrival coincided with the Chinese Spring Offensive and the two squadrons operating from Glory, 804 Squadron flying Sea Furies, and 812 Squadron flying Fireflies, were immediately in action. Harvey received his award of the D.S.C. for his service in many offensive operations during H.M.S. Glory’s Second Tour of operations in Korean Waters from 27 January - 5 May 1952. On one day, 17 March, the aircraft from Glory launched a record 105 sorties. Harvey would have recorded a large number of sorties, armed reconnaissances, close air support, strafing attacks, strikes on enemy positions, as well as escort and spotting flights over the course of the 5 month tour. An illustration of the Squadron’s work can be found on the Memoriam to Lieutenant John Harry Sharp also of Harvey’s Squadron. He was killed in action on 28 June 1951, during Glory’s first tour: ‘Glory’s second patrol started on 11th May, the Sea Furies were soon busy on AR details, attacking targets of opportunity, and on the 13th May, ox-carts became legitimate targets, as the enemy began using them to transport ammunition. On 14th, the ship replenished, and a stoker fell overboard, quickly rescued by the helicopter doing a photo-shoot. H.M.S. Nootka caused some consternation, when she was caught North, when daylight came, and had to have a CAP, until she reached the safety of the fleet. A simulated assault from the sea, was launched in the area of Cho-do, to relieve some of the Communist pressure on the army. While aircraft provided CAP for the diversionary force, led by Kenya and Ceylon, other aircraft spotted for the cruisers’ shore bombardments. In the last three days of the patrol, variable weather affected flying, but 155 sorties were flown. A defective stern gland restricted Glory's speed on her journey to Sasebo, limiting her to 19 knots. The ship replenished and refitted at Sasebo, and the stern gland was fixed, while the hull was scraped. On 3rd June, Glory sailed for her Third Patrol, she relieved U.S.S. Bataan, and flying started on 4th June, with the Furies going into action against junks, at Hanchon and Kumsan-ni. Sorties continued throughout the patrol, Pilot 3 S.W.E. Ford, was forced to ditch his Firefly, after it took some damage, and the aircraft pitched forward and sank almost immediately, the pilot being unable to escape. The attack rules were changed, as a result of increasing aircraft returning with light flak and small arms fire damage, and general debris being picked up from low-passes over targets…’ For H.M.S. Glory’s second and third tours in Korean Waters, six Observer officers and Ratings were recognised for their distinguished service in air operations. Five were Mentioned in Despatches and Harvey was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross. He was presented with his award at an investiture on 10 March 1953. Harvey was appointed to 703 Squadron in March 1952 serving at H.M.S. Peregrine, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander (A) in August 1952. Subsequent service included at H.M.S. Gannet and with H.M.S. Ark Royal. Lieutenant Commander Harvey retired in 1958, and resided in later life at Crowborough, East Sussex. He died in March 2008. Harvey’s Distinguished Service Cross is of the rare first Queen Elizabeth type, as executed by the London firm of silversmiths Spink and Son. After Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne in January 1952 Spink & Son were awarded the contract to design and manufacture the new obverse die for the D.S.C. with the EIIR Royal Cypher and to strike the first batch of crosses. A very small number of these were awarded before the contract to manufacture these reverted to the Royal Mint. Sold with copied research.
A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Second Lieutenant A. McKendrick, Highland Light Infantry, attached Royal Scots Fusiliers, late Queen’s Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (1686 Sjt. A. Mc Kendrick. Q.O.R. Glasgow Y.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. A. Mc.Kendrick.) good very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919. Alexander McKendrick attested for the Queen’s Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry and served with them during the Great War in the Egyptian theatre of war from 22 June 1915, before being commissioned into the Highland Light Infantry on 7 March 1918. Attached to the 12th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, for his service with the latter unit on the Western Front he was awarded the Military Cross. Sold with copied research
A Great War M.C. group of three awarded to Captain G. E. Henderson, 102nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C. E. Henderson.) light contact marks, good very fine (3) £600-£800 --- M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919: Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Charles Ernest Henderson, 102nd Canadian Infantry, 2nd Central Ontario Regiment.
Four: Lance-Corporal A. Hewitt, Royal Berkshire Regiment 1914 Star, with copy clasp (9588 L. Cpl. A. Hewitt. 2/R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals (9588 Pte. A. Hewitt. R. Berks. R.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Arthur Hewitt) light contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £100-£140 --- Arthur Hewitt attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 6 November 1914.
The unique ‘Gedid operations 1899’ D.C.M. group to three awarded to Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor (later Captain) S. W. McConnell, Army Gymnastic Staff, attached XIII Sudanese Battalion, Egyptian Army, late Durham Light Infantry Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (St-Sjt: S. W. M’Connell. A. Gym: Staff.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Q.M. Sjt: Instr. S. W. McConnell. A. Gym: St.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 3 clasps, Gedaref, Gedid, Sudan 1899, unnamed as issued, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (3) £5,000-£7,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2018. D.C.M.: London Gazette 13 March 1900: ‘Final pursuit and defeat of the Khalifa, Soudan, November 1899.’ A unique pre-Great War award to the Army Gymnastic Staff. The original recommendation by Major Doran, Royal Irish Regiment, attached 9th Sudanese Battalion, states:
‘For his excellent instruction in fire discipline which has improved the Bn [9th Sudanese] so very much - and for his steadying effect on the men in the face of the enemy.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 30 January 1900 (Colonel F. R. Wingate, Battle of Gedid). Samuel W. McConnell was born in Sunderland, County Durham, and attested for the Durham Light Infantry at Redcar in June 1893 aged 18. Trade given as labourer. Declared service in the Militia. He was promoted to Corporal in June 1896, and transferred as a Sergeant to the Army Gymnastic Staff in December 1897. McConnell was appointed Drill Instructor to the Egyptian Army in August 1898, and served with them in the Sudan from that month until March 1900. McConnell is listed as attached to the 13th Sudanese Battalion, Egyptian Army, but he served with the 9th Sudanese Battalion, Egyptian Army, during the Gedaref operations and at the battle of Gedid, 22 November 1899. At Gedid, the Khalifa and Ahmed Fedil were both killed, and the reconquest of the Sudan was complete. The part played in the battle by the 9th Sudanese under Major Doran, is recorded in the despatch of Colonel Sir Reginald Wingate: ‘Major Maxse (Coldstream Guards), Brevet Major Doran (Royal Irish Regiment) and Brevet Major Gorringe (Royal Engineers) commanded the 13th, 9th, and Irregular Sudanese Battalion’s respectively, and I cannot speak too highly of the excellent behaviour on the line of march, and the gallant conduct in action of every officer, non-commissioned officer, and man composing this infantry brigade. Such results can only be obtained by constant drill and attention to discipline, and the gallant and able commanders of the 9th and 13th deserve special commendation for the high state of efficiency of their battalions. It was in front of the 9th that the Khalifa met his death... Immediately in front of the line of advance of the 9th Sudanese, and only a few hundred yards from our original position on the rising ground, a large number of the enemy were seen lying dead, huddled together in a comparatively small space; on examination these proved to be the bodies of the Khalifa Abdulla et Taaishi, the Khalifa Ali Wad Helu, Ahmed-el-Fedil, the Khalifa’s two brothers, Sennousi Ahmed and Hamed Mohammed, the Mahdi’s son, Es-Sadek, and a number of other well-known leaders. At a short distance behind them lay their dead horses, and, from the few men still alive - amongst whom was the Emir Yunis Eddekein - we learnt that the Khalifa, having failed in his attempt to reach the rising ground where we had forestalled him, had then endeavoured to make a turning movement, which had been crushed by our fire. Seeing his followers retiring, he made an ineffectual attempt to rally them, but recognising that the day was lost, he called on his Emirs to dismount from their horses, and seating himself on his ‘furwa’ or sheepskin - as is the custom of Arab chiefs, who disdain surrender - he had placed Khalifa Ali Wad Helu on his right and Ahmed Fedil on his left, whilst the remaining Emirs seated themselves round him, with their body-guard in line some 20 paces to the front, and in this position they had unflinchingly met their death... The Khalifa’s death was the signal for the wholesale surrender, and by the afternoon we had collected upwards of 3,000 men and 6,000 women and children, besides quantities of rifles, swords, spears, cattle, etc.’ McConnell advanced to 1st Class Sergeant Instructor in November 1902, and was promoted to Quarter Master Sergeant Instructor in October 1912. He was discharged as Quarter Master Sergeant Instructor on 12 June 1914, having served for 21 years. McConnell was commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant, Educational and Training Gymnasia, in August 1915. He advanced to Temporary Captain, without pay and allowances whilst employed on Gymnastic Staff in September the following year. In October 1917, ‘a party of officers and 19 A.G.S. instructors proceeded to the U.S. [El Paso, Texas] to assist in training their newly raised armies. The officers included Capt. McConnell. The part deserves much credit. Their work and spirit appealed to the American temperament and wherever they went they won excellent opinions. Many of the American divisions refused to part with their British instructors when ordered to France and took them with them.’ (Extract from the History of the A.P.T.C. refers). McConnell was not one of those who went to France, and indeed given his unpaid capacity it would appear that he was not entitled to any Great War Medals. Long Service Medal awarded in AO 99 of 1914. Sold with copied research including Wingate’s despatch saved to C.D.
A scarce Great War ‘Battle of Jerusalem 1917’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Company Sergeant-Major W. C. Windows, 5th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (240116 C.S. Mjr: W. C. Windows. 1/5 Som: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (240116 W.O. Cl. 1 W. C. Windows. Som. L.I.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1246 C. Sjt. W. C. Windows. Som. L.I.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (1246 Sjt. W. C. Windows. 5/Som: L.I.) mounted on card for display, toned, good very fine (5) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 1 May 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He took command of his company and led his men right up to his objective. Remaining in this position under heavy fire throughout the day he, on the withdrawal being ordered, collected his remaining men and brought them back with great ability and coolness.’ William Charles Windows was born at Redcliffe, near Bristol, on 14 January 1875. A cooper by trade, he joined the Royal Navy as a 2nd Cooper on 25 May 1898, aged 23, for 12 years continuous service. However, following the death of both his father and younger brother in March 1901, he purchased his discharge from the Navy on 2 May 1901. He subsequently joined the 5th (Territorial) Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry and served overseas with the 1/5th Battalion during the Palestine campaign in 1917-18. His D.C.M. was awarded for the attack on El Jib by the 1/5th Battalion on 23 November 1917, during the battle of Jerusalem, as described in the regimental history: ‘But the fighting was not yet over. After a bitterly cold night (it was the end of November, some 3,000 feet above sea-level and the men wearing khaki-drill shorts and tunics, with no blankets or greatcoats), the troops awoke on 23 November to the knowledge that El Jib was still to be taken. The 1/5th Somersets were detailed for the attack, and at dawn the Commanding Officer went forward with the Brigadier to obtain a view of the objective. Seen from the west, El Jib presented a formidable aspect. A natural stronghold, it stood upon a hill, about a mile to the east, with steep rocky terraces affording natural facilities for defence by enfilading machine-gun fire. The approach to the village was through a valley some 700 yards wide, with Nebi Samwil on the right, and, on the left, high ground and ridges leading forward from Beit Izza. The Mosque on the lofty slopes of Nebi Samwil, which stood out in relief against the surrounding country, was occupied by the 3/3rd Gurkhas, who held on to their position most gallantly after desperate hand-to-hand fighting, in which even boulders were used by the defenders of the Mosque, in almost mediæval fashion. This, then, was the position which the Somersets were asked to assault, with no other support than the light guns of a mountain battery, with its limited supply of ammunition, and a detachment of the Brigade Machine-Gun Company. The Battalion was now reduced to an effective strength of about 400 men, and, apart from the C.O., the second-in-command, and the adjutant, there were only four subalterns left to go into action with the companies; No. 3 Company, having no officers at all, was commanded by C.S.M. W. C. Windows. (For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty C.S.M. W. C. Windows was awarded the D.C.M.) At 8 a.m. the Battalion left the bivouacs it had occupied overnight and moved up to the place of deployment where the Commanding Officer detailed the plan of attack to his Company Commanders. The general plan was that the 1/5th Somersets should capture and hold El Jib, after which the 2/3rd Gurkhas were to push on and take Bir Nebala, thus clearing the way for the advance to Bireh. The enemy were already busy, at this stage, shelling the northern slopes of Nebi Samwil from the direction of the Nablus-Jerusalem road, and as soon as the deployed lines of the Somersets came under observation, the Turks concentrated a heavy fire of shrapnel and high-explosive upon them. As the 75th Divisional Artillery had been unable to reach Biddu, there was no means of keeping down this well-directed and deadly fire. The attacking lines, however, moved forward with great coolness and precision, in spite of the intense machine-gun fire which opened on them as they came within range. No attack could live long under that fire. As one of the officers with the attack described it, “every other man seemed to be falling... it was terrible... the lines just melted away.” The machine-gun fire was coming not only from the El Jib position, where it was to be expected, but a particularly galling fire was also raking the attacking lines in enfilade from the northern slopes of Nebi Samwil on the right flank. Nothing daunted, what remained of the attacking lines pressed forward under intense and continuous fire. The fourth company, which had been held in reserve, was now thrown into the attack, together with any of the Battalion Headquarters who could be spared. Captain A. O. Major, who went forward with this company, was first wounded, and then killed outright by a shell. The leading waves had now reached the foot of the rocky hill on which stood El Jib. Here they were faced by steep and almost unscaleable terraces which they endeavoured to climb. Three Lewis-gun sections managed to scale the terraces with their guns, and small parties of men actually reached the village itself. This was, perhaps, the most gallant feat of arms throughout the whole of the two-days operation, but, unhappily, it was a forlorn attempt, and none of these brave fellows were seen again. When El Jib was ultimately captured by the 74th Division, identity discs of 27 men of the Somersets were recovered on the position, which seemed to suggest that the men were shot down as they reached the upper terraces.’ Sold with copied research including Medal Index Card and medal roll entries.
An outstanding and rare Great War ‘Gallipoli’ C.G.M. group of five awarded to Acting Leading Seaman W. J. Pierce, Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, later Defensively Armed Merchant Ships and a veteran of the Battle of Antwerp in October 1914, for his great gallantry during the Third Battle of Krithia, in which his Battalion suffered over 80% casualties; one of only a handful of men who reached and held the Turkish front-line trench, when a withdrawal was ordered, Pierce, though badly wounded himself, stayed behind to cover the retreat of other wounded men and then carried back a wounded comrade over open ground, completely exposed to enemy fire Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R. (SX.3.226 W. J. Pierce, A.B. R.N.V.R. Howe Bn. R.N. Div.); 1914 Star, with clasp (SX3/226 W. J. Pierce, A.B. R.N.V.R. Howe Bttn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (S.3-226 W. J. Pierce. Act. L.S. R.N.V.R.); Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (3/226 W. J. Pierce, A.B. R.N.V.R. Sussex Divn.) minor edge nick to CGM, light contact marks, nearly extremely fine (5) £15,000-£20,000 --- Provenance: Exhibited in the Royal Marines Barracks, Walmer, Deal when the School of Music was destroyed and heavy casualties inflicted by an IRA bomb on 22 September 1989. Dix Noonan Webb, September 2009. Only 13 C.G.M.s ever issued to Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve; the combination with both a 1914 Star and a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is excessively rare. C.G.M. London Gazette 13 September 1915: ‘Showed great gallantry on the 4th June in remaining in the enemy’s trench and continuing firing, although wounded, to cover the retirement of other wounded men, and finally in carrying in a wounded man under heavy fire.’ The original recommendation was submitted by Commodore Oliver Backhouse to General Sir Ian Hamilton on 8 June: ‘I desire to bring to your notice the following officers and men of the 2nd R.N. Brigade who performed special meritorious service during the operations on 4th June. In illustration of the fighting I would mention that out of the 36 officers and 911 men who formed the 1st line of advance in the assault of the enemy’s trenches only 6 officers and 279 men escaped injury. The 2nd and 3rd lines of advance consisted of 28 officers and 850 men of whom 3 officers and 493 men were unwounded.’ Hamilton forwarded the list to London, stating that ‘The powers granted to me by His Majesty the King to confer decorations in the field do not extend to this Division which is under the control of the Admiralty, and which is therefore at a disadvantage in this respect compared with the other troops alongside whom they are fighting.’ William James Pierce was born at 7 Fort Road, New Willingdon, Eastbourne on 13 September 1893, one of seven children of a journeyman house decorator (four of his siblings died from TB in childhood). A butcher’s assistant by trade, and a keen footballer, Pierce enrolled in the Eastbourne (No 3) Company, Sussex Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 14 January 1911. He claimed a date of birth one year earlier than was truly the case. Aged 17, he was 5’ 7” with fair hair, blue eyes and “fairly good” physique (32” chest). The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Goes to War The Admiralty War Plan called for the creation of an ‘Advanced Base Force’ to seize or protect naval bases and key harbours that might be necessary to support expeditionary warfare. This concept was inspired by the example of the successful seizure and fortification of Guantanamo Bay in Cuba by the US Marine Corps during the 1898 Spanish-American War. The A.B.F. was to be created by expanding the Royal Marines. As the mobilisation of July 1914 got underway, a Royal Marine Brigade capable of fighting on land was formed by using reservists to expand existing R.M. units. By August the Fleet and shore establishments had been manned to maximum capacity and the Admiralty found it had a surplus of reservists still available, especially men (like William Pierce) who had enrolled in the pre-war Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves. It was expected that these reservists, who already had some naval training, would be needed at sea over time to replace casualties and ‘natural wastage’, but in the short term the most obvious way to keep them still available to the Admiralty was to expand the Advanced Base Force. Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, issued the necessary orders on 16 August, and by 22 August Pierce and his fellow R.N.V.R.s were mobilised and concentrated at Betteshanger, near Deal. They bought with them their ‘long pattern’ 50-inch barrel Lee-Enfields (rather than the ‘short’ 44.5-inch model used by the Army). R.N.V.R. units were not issued with any machine-guns. In late August 1914 Ostend was threatened by German cavalry and on 26 August the Marine Brigade was sent to strengthen its defences. On 8 September it was agreed that the First Naval Brigade (comprising the Benbow, Collingwood, Hawke and Drake battalions) and the Second Naval Brigade (comprising the battalions of Howe, Hood, Anson and Nelson) plus the Marine Brigade would be equipped and trained as an Infantry Division (the Royal Naval Division) reporting to the Admiralty. Two important innovations were made. Generally, Divisions are ad hoc organisations to which units are assigned and reassigned as military needs change, so there is not necessarily in the minds of soldiers a lasting identification with a specific division. The naval battalions fought together throughout the War, and were supported by a single Divisional Depot instead of multiple regimental ones (the R.N. Division is the only Divisional formation ever to have been included in the inscriptions on medals). Second, civilians were commissioned from the outset, with a preference for those aged 25-35, who would prove to be more experienced, resilient and talented as leaders than those who formed the majority of junior officers in army units. They were collectively described by Churchill as ‘salamanders born in the furnace’ (WSC’s Introduction to Jerrold’s The Royal Naval Division refers). The Division attracted many well-connected talents, including men such as Arthur Asquith (the Prime Minister’s son), Bernard Freyberg and Rupert Brooke. The R.N.V.R., which provided the majority of officers and men for the original eight naval battalions, had a strong naval esprit de corps and was determined to adopt only the essentials of infantry techniques. Naval terms and traditions were rigorously followed and the naval units never sought to become ‘smart soldiers’. They bowed to superior ability more readily than to superior rank. They were always more difficult (and rewarding) men to command. Antwerp By mid-September the German thrust into France had been defeated, but the Allied attack on the German defences along the River Aisne had ended and the “Race to the Sea” was getting underway. In Belgium, a separate German force had been tasked to defeat the Belgian army, capture the key port of Antwerp and then occupy the entire country. Antwerp was defended by two lines of forts, and on 2 October the Germans broke through the outer line. The Admiralty undertook to send its three brigades to reinforce the defences of the inner line of forts. By 4 October the Royal Marine Brigade had deployed in Antwerp. That day the two Naval Brigades marched to Dover and embarked in transports so overcrowded that it was standing room only for Pierce and the Howe Battalion. At Dunkirk they were issued with 120 rounds of ammunition (mostly to be carried in pock...
A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Battery Quartermaster Sergeant W. Benson, Canadian Field Artillery Military Medal, G.V.R. (128 Sjt: W. Benson. Can: F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (128 A.B.Q.M. Sjt. W. Benson. C.F.A.); together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, the reverse officially numbered ‘C106121’, light contact marks, good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 11 February 1919. William Benson was born in Lambeth, London, on 25 May 1890 and having emigrated to Canada attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Kingston, Ontario, on 10 August 1915. He served with the 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery during the Great War on the Western Front, and was awarded the Military Medal.
The rare First Burma and First Afghan Wars group of five awarded to Quartermaster-Sergeant J. N. Heseltine, 13th Prince Albert’s Light Infantry, an exemplary fighting soldier, who was wounded at the storm of Ghuznee and distinguished for his Gallantry during the Battle of Gundamuck, near Jellalabad and the Khyber Pass, on 11 November 1841; after leaving the army, he stayed on in India as ‘a man of property’ who owned several hotels Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Josh. N. Heseldine [sic], 13th. Ft.) short hyphen reverse, officially engraved naming in upper and lower case as issued in India; Ghuznee 1839 (*Qr. Mr. Serjt. J. N. Heseltine No. 268. 13th. or P.A. Lt. Infantry.*) contemporarily engraved naming, with hinged silver straight bar suspension; Defence of Jellalabad 1842, 2nd Flying Victory type (Josh. N. Heseldine [sic] 13th. Ft.) contemporarily engraved naming in upper and lower case as before, with original steel clip and straight bar suspension; Cabul 1842 (Qr. Mr. Serjt J. N. Heseltine No. 268. 13th. or P.A. Lt. Infantry.) contemporarily engraved naming, with original steel clip and bar suspension; 13th Light Infantry Regimental Merit Medal for 14 Years’ Good Conduct, hollow silver, chased, the edge inscribed ‘Josh. N. Heseldine [sic] 13th. Ft.’, light contact marks otherwise good very fine or better, the Defence of Jellalabad Medal one of the few (believed to be fewer than fifty) exchanged by men who remained in India when the regiment returned to England (5) £4,000-£5,000 --- Army of India Medal confirmed in Gould’s roll. Joseph Nelson Heseltine was born in Doncaster on 3 October 1803. A labourer by trade, he enlisted in the 58th Foot in 1822 and transferred to the 13th Foot later that year. In September 1822, the 13th Foot was moved from Ireland to Chatham in Kent, where it was brought up to strength for service in India - it is likely that Heseltine joined at that time. At Chatham it was reconstituted as a light infantry unit in December 1822 and re-titled as the 13th (1st Somersetshire) Regiment (Light Infantry). Ava The 13th Light Infantry arrived in Calcutta in May/June 1823. Soon after its arrival, Burmese forces attacked Cachar, a territory in Assam that was under British protection. War was declared against the kingdom of Ava on 5 March 1824. It was decided that the war would mainly be fought via amphibious attacks, with a key objective of conquering the port town of Rangoon, on the north bank of the Irrawaddy. The expeditionary force was organised at Port Cornwallis in the Andaman Islands under the joint control of Brigadier-General Archibald Campbell and Commodore Grant. The 13th Light Infantry, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel ‘Fighting Bob’ Sale, formed part of the 11,000 strong infantry component. The first task assigned to 13th Light Infantry was to seize and occupy the island of Cheduba, near Ramree on the Arakan Coast, astride the coastal trade route between Rangoon and Calcutta. Three companies were detailed to make this attack, whilst the remainder of the regiment proceeded to Rangoon. The attack on Rangoon passed off smoothly and the town was soon converted to a defensive stronghold. However, 50,000 Burmese men armed with muskets, swords and spears, all familiar with jungle fighting, dug in around Rangoon. During the 1824-25 campaigning season, Brigadier Campbell went on to the offensive. It was hard fought - artillery had to be man-handled through the jungle, soldiers were falling thick and fast due to disease and each town and fortified stockade was heavily defended. By February 1826 the Anglo-Indian army had advanced three hundred miles north to the town of Yandaboo and the Burmese capital was just four miles away. The advance on the capital began on 9 February 1826 with the 13th Light Infantry leading a night attack, which caused the enemy to flee. The capital was reached two weeks later. The King of Ava agreed to pay an indemnity and surrender a considerable part of his western and southern territories. Garrison Duties in India The 13th Light Infantry returned to garrison duty in India. From May 1826 to 1838, they were successively stationed in Baharampur, Dinapur, Agra and finally Karnal. Inspection Reports mention the newly-instituted regimental reward system of a gold medal to be awarded for 20 years Good Conduct and regimental service, and silver medals for 7 and 14 years of Good Conduct and service. The Reports also mention the frequency of courts martial. Heseltine was court-martialed in 1826 for ‘Signing his Captain’s name to a Pass from Evening Parade’. He was advanced to Corporal in 1831, Sergeant in 1833 and appointed Colour Sergeant in February 1837. The Inspection Reports suggest that the 13th Light Infantry’s rank and file comprised three main groups. At one extreme were the hard cases, habitual drunks who were repeatedly court-martialed. At the other extreme were ‘Havelock’s Saints’, who attended the all-ranks bible study classes established by the austerely religious Captain Henry Havelock, were Chapel-going Baptists and members of the regimental Temperance Society, which had 274 members in 1837. Heseltine’s record suggests that he was neither a drunkard nor a saint but part of the middle group, for which a separate Church of England chapel was built. Sergeant Heseltine married in Agra on 15 April 1833. He chose the traditional formality of banns rather than marrying ‘by permission of Commanding Officer’, the other route that serving soldiers could opt for. His age is given as 29, his wife was 19. She is named only as C. Sandison and was given away by Mr and Mrs Harding (Mrs Harding was illiterate). The Invasion of Afghanistan and the winter retreat In 1838 the 13th Light Infantry formed part of the 1st Brigade of the Army of the Indus, leaving Karnal for Ferozepore and crossing the Indus, marching through Scinde and Baluchistan to the Bolan Pass, then on to Kandahar. Heseltine was wounded in the left foot during the storming of Ghuznee on 23 July 1839, when Captain Vigor’s company was part of the Forlorn Hope. The rest of the 13th Light Infantry fought their way into the town after the Kabul Gate was blasted open to reveal a tunnel 150 yards long by 20 wide, where a desperate hand-to-hand struggle took place. The 13th Light Infantry then moved on to Kabul itself. One of Heseltine’s comrades, Sergeant George Godfrey, recorded that: ‘The country abounds with hills and valleys; the former are generally barren, the latter very fertile and well-watered in many parts, in some places very much reminding us of our own country... The Regiment lay in the Bala Hissar during the winter in temporary barracks and in the spring [1840] we went out to camp again. Afterwards a small force was formed and marched into Kohistan, a few marches from Cabool. We were engaged at a village called Tootum Durra and very soon succeeded in clearing the orchards and places round it. We routed the enemy and destroyed the village with very little loss on our part. They retreated across a small river at the back, into the hills. The next place we attacked was a small mud fort called Julgar [3 October 1840]. After cannonading it for some time a breach was made and an assault was undertaken, which did not prove so effectual as was expected, on account of the scaling ladders being too short, and not exactly of the right kind, as they were made of doolie poles. Fourteen of our men belonging to the storming-party were killed, one of whom was our sergeant-major, an excellent non-commissioned officer who stood very fair for a commission. After dusk the enemy made their escape, although closely watched, on account of the faithlessness of some...
Pair: Private W. Freeland, Royal Military Train Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (No. 101. Willm. Freeland. 5th. Battn. Royal My. Tn.) contemporarily engraved naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, pierced as issued with small ring suspension, edge bruising and light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (2) £260-£300
Pair: Lance-Corporal A. Shipman, Gordon Highlanders Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 4 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1884, El-Teb_Tamaai, The Nile 1884-85 (2101. Lce. Cpl. A. Shipman. 1/Gord: Highrs.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, light pitting and contact marks, very fine (2) £400-£500 --- Arthur Shipman was born in Leicester in 1857 and attested for the Gordon Highlanders on 23 October 1880. Appointed Lance-Corporal on 18 April 1882, he served with the 1st Battalion in Egypt and the Sudan from 2 August 1882 to 8 September 1885, seeing active service in Egypt, Eastern Sudan, and on the Nile Expedition. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 21 November 1886, and was discharged on 22 October 1892, after 12 years’ service. Sold with copied record of service and other research.
Pair: Sepoy Amian Singh, 1st Sikh Infantry India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (154 Sepoy Amia Singh 1st. Sikh Infy.); China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (154 Sepoy Amian Singh 1st Sikh Infy) edge nicks and light contact marks, very fine (2) £240-£280 --- Sold with copied research.
Six: Chief Shipwright Frank James, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Naval M.S.M. for services aboard H.M.S. Caledon during the battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November 1917 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (F. James, Ldg: Car: Cr: H.M.S. Fearless); 1914-15 Star (341996, F. James, Ch. Shpt., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (341996 F. James. Ch. Shpt., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (341996 Frank James, Shipt., 1Cl., H.M.S. Imperieuse); Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (341996 F. James, Ch. Shipwt. 2Cl. “Caledon” Services During War) together with a small silver medal for Their Majesties Visit to India 1911-12, very fine and better (7) £800-£1,000 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 27 June 1919. The original recommendation states: ‘The Carpenter being on leave this Chief Petty Officer, in charge of the Carpenter ratings, did splendid and intelligent service in shoring up the large hole made by a 12-inch shell, through which a dangerous quantity of water would otherwise have entered, likely to impair the ship’s further fighting efficiency.’ The same gazette announced the award of four D.S.O.s and one D.S.C. to Officers of H.M.S. Caledon, all for the battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November, 1917. H.M.S. Caledon was Commodore Walter Cowan’s Flagship and part of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron in what was the last ‘big-ship’ engagement of the Great War. Caledon was hit amid ships by a large calibre German shell killing and wounding most of the crew of one of her guns. Seaman J. H. Carless, although mortally wounded, continued to serve his gun before finally succumbing to his wounds. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. Frank James was born in the Parish of Boscombe, near Christchurch, on 11 January 1878, and was a carpenter by trade when he joined the Royal Navy as Carpenter’s Crew on 11 March 1898. He served as Leading Carpenter’s Crew aboard H.M.S. Fearless from June 1899 to November 1900, including service off the coast of South Africa (Medal). Advancing to Shipwright in January 1902 and to Leading Shipwright in April 1904, he became Carpenter’s Mate in May 1910. He joined H.M.S. Medina on 10 October 1911, which ship conveyed the King and Queen to India for the Delhi Durbar. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal while serving in Imperieuse in March 1913 and, come the outbreak of war in 1914, Frank James was a Shipwright 1st Class aboard H.M.S. Leviathan, advancing to Chief Shipwright in the same ship in April 1915. He served briefly in Fisgard from August to November 1916, next joining Victory II before joining Caledon in March 1917. He advanced to Chief Shipwright in Caledon in October 1918 and remained in her until 31 December 1919, when he went to Victory III and was demobilised on 28 April 1920. Sold with copied record of service.
Six: Corporal J. Briggs, Royal Berkshire Regiment 1914 Star (7634 Pte. J. Briggs. 2/R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7634 Pte. J. Briggs. R. Berks. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, N.W. Persia (5328115 Pte. J. Briggs R. Berks. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (5328115 Cpl. J. Briggs. R. Berks. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (5328115 Pte. J. Briggs. R. Berks. R.) traces of adhesive to reverses, light contact marks, generally very fine (6) £200-£240 --- James Briggs attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 8 March 1903 and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 6 November 1914.
Five: Stoker Petty Officer A. A. Wills, Royal Navy, late Royal Marine Light Infantry Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (A. A. Wills, Sto., H.M.S. Pelorus); 1914-15 Star (288556, A. A. Wills, S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (288556 A. A. Wills. S.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (288556 A. A. Wills, Ldg. Sto., H.M.S. Vivid) mounted on card for display, very fine or better (5) £280-£340 --- Archibald Algernon Wills was born on 30 December 1869, at Stoke Climsland, Launceston. In November 1891 he joined the Royal Marines at Plymouth, and served at sea on the Empress of India from May 1894 until December 1895, when he joined Magnificent until June 1897. In July 1897 he purchased his discharge and had a short time as a civilian before he joined the Royal Navy on 2 May 1898. His first draft was to the Pelorus in January 1899. 1907 saw him promoted to Leading Stoker and the award of his Long Service Medal. He was promoted to Stoker Petty Officer in January 1910. His Great War service was in a range of ships, including Martin, Primrose, Colleen and Apollo. He was demobilised in March 1919 and received his pension in September 1920. Sold with copied record of service.
Five: Private H. C. Pugh, Imperial Yeomanry, later Gunner, Royal Horse Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (38158 Pte. H. C. Pugh. 127th. Coy. Imp: Yeo:); 1914 Star (126 Gnr: H. C. Pugh. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (126 Gnr. H. C. Pugh. R.A.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (126 Gnr: H. C. Pugh. War: R.H.A.) edge bruise to QSA, light contact marks, nearly very fine (5) £300-£400 --- Henry C. Pugh served with the 127th (Westminster Dragoons) Company, 28th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa during the Boer War, and, having been awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 11 of January 1913, served with the 1st/1st Warwickshire Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery during the Great War on the Western Front from 31 October 1914.
Family group: Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (7553 Pte. J. Beddall, Shrops. Lt. Infy.) nearly extremely fine Three: Private A. Beddall, Royal Marines 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; in named card box of issue addressed to ‘Mr. A. Beddall, 8 Williamson Crescent, Whaley Bridge, Stockport, Cheshire’, with service number PO/X 118544 inscribed on the side; together with original grey fibre identity tag (A. Beddall CE PO X 18544) on white metal neck chain; two rather frayed woven Royal Marines shoulder titles; a Royal Marines brass cap badge; a crude Royal Marines sweetheart badge, and other ephemera, nearly extremely fine (4) £120-£160 --- John Beddall served in the 1st Volunteer Battalion, The King’s (Shropshire Light Infantry) in South Africa during the Boer War, attached to the 2nd Battalion, and was additionally entitled to the date clasp South Africa 1901. He died of enteric fever at Middleburg on 4 June 1901 and is commemorated on a plaque at the church of St Mary and St Andrew, Condover, Shropshire, and on the Memorial Statue to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, St Chad's Terrace, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
Five: Private W. Chappell, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, later Royal Sussex Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (7323 Pte. W. T. Chappell, K.R.R.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (7323 Pte. W. T. Chappell. K.R.R.C.); 1914-15 Star (GSSR-18 Pte. W. Chappell. R. Suss: R.); British War and Victory Medals (GSSR-18 Pte. W. Chappell. R. Suss. R.) clasp carriages on both Boer War medals ‘flattened’ to facilitate mounting, edge bruising to Boer War pair, light contact marks, generally very fine (5) £200-£240 --- William Chappell attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, and with the Royal Sussex Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 24 January 1915. He was discharged Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 12 February 1919.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M., M.M. and Second Award Bar pair awarded to Company Sergeant Major C. E. Minchin, 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who earned all three gallantry awards during a six month period in 1917 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (5374 Sjt: C. E. Minchin. 5/R. Berks: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (5374 Cpl: C. E. Minchin. 5/R. Berks: R.) minor edge bruising and light contact marks, very fine (2) £1,000-£1,400 --- Provenance: Sotheby’s, November 1988. D.C.M. London Gazette 26 November 1917; citation published 6 February 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a raid. His officer was wounded in the leg, and told him to leave him. He, however, bound up his wound, sent a man back to report, and with the help of the remaining man succeeded in carrying the officer out of danger, after being under shell fire for four hours.’ M.M. London Gazette 18 July 1917. M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 17 September 1917. Charles E. Minchin, from Dublin, attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served with the 5th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 30 May 1915. He was awarded his Military Medal for gallantry near Monchy on 28 April 1917, and was awarded a Second Award Bar for supervising the erection of a wire entanglement only 40 yards from the enemy front of Hook Trench at Monchy on 21-22 July 1917. He was additionally awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bringing in, under heavy fire, Second Lieutenant Beattie on the night of 15-16 October 1917, making it three gallantry awards won in the space of under six months. Returning to England, Minchin was presented with both his M.M. and the Second Award Bar by Lieutenant-General Sir H. C. Sclater, Commander-in-Chief, Southern Command, at Oxford on 11 December 1917. Advanced Company Sergeant Major (acting Warrant Officer Class I), he subsequently transferred to the Liverpool Regiment, but did not serve overseas with them. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient and copied research.
Three: Lieutenant E. J. N. L. Sandbach, East Kent Regiment, late 14th (London Scottish) Battalion, London Regiment, who was one of the ‘Originals’ of the first Territorial Battalion ever to go into action, on Messines Ridge on 31 October 1914; subsequently wounded on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915, he was later commissioned into The Buffs 1914 Star, with clasp (2096 Pte. E. J. N. L. Sandbach. 14/Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. E. N. L. Sandbach.) light pitting from Star, otherwise very fine (3) £300-£400 --- Edward James Napier Linnell Sandbach was born in Fulham, London, in 1896 and attested for the 14th (London Scottish) Battalion, London Regiment, on 6 July 1914. He served with the Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 September 1914, and was one of the ‘originals’ of the first Territorial Battalion ever to go into action, on Messines Ridge on 31 October 1914, and subsequently on the Menin Road, 6-15 November 1914, during which two actions the Battalion suffered over 700 casualties. Sandbach was admitted to hospital in December 1914 to January 1915, and having recovered was severely wounded in the chest on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the East Kent Regiment on 27 January 1916, he saw further service on the Western Front with the 2nd/5th Battalion from 28 February 1916, and was promoted Lieutenant on 27 July 1917. He transferred to the Territorial Force Reserve (Infantry) on 3 February 1921, and resigned his commission on 20 September 1921. Sold with copied attestation papers and other research.
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