Pair: Corporal J. Wadhams, 1st Royal DragoonsMilitary General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Fuentues D'Onor, Vittoria, Toulouse (J. Wadhams, Corporal, 1st Royal Dragoons.); Waterloo 1815, replacement silver straight-bar suspension (Joseph Wadhams, 1st or Royal Dragoons.), very fine (2)Purchased Spink Numismatic Circular September 1980, Item 7809.Joseph Wadhams was born circa 1788 at Birmingham and joined the 1st Royal Dragoons at Stafford in September 1805 for unlimited service.They joined the Peninsular War in 1809, disembarking at Lisbon to join General Slade, and first saw action at the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro on 5 May 1811, where they participated in a charge of the French cavalry to cover the Light Division's retreat.After the battle, the unit moved south to join General Hill and were heavily involved in the Battle of Maguilla in June 1812, where Slade led them in an eight-mile pursuit of General Lallemand's cavalry. However, French reserve troops were waiting for them at the end of the chase and the resulting French counter attack was disastrous enough to be called 'the unluckiest combat that was ever fought by the British cavalry during the Peninsular War'. Slade was ordered home afterwards, his ill-fated charge prompting the then Viscount of Wellington to comment 'it is occasioned entirely by the trick our officers of cavalry have acquired, of galloping at everything - and then galloping back as fast as they galloped on the enemy'.The Regiment was present at both the Battle of Vittoria in June 1813 and the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814 but did not extensively participate in either engagement. They returned to England at an unknown point before coming back to the continent in May 1815, disembarking at Ostend and joining Major-General William Ponsonby's Union Brigade. At the Battle of Waterloo, they were positioned just east of the Brussels-Genappe road and charged and routed the 1st Cuirassiers after an attack on the British left flank. The Brigade later rode to Napoleon's Grand Battery where they were met with heavy fire and suffered a 50% casualty rate, Wadhams being confirmed with Captain Methuen's No. 7 or 'D' Troop.Discharged in Ireland in November 1818 on reduction of the unit, Wadhams was recommended for a Bounty of the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham and joined the 3rd Veteran Regiment in June 1821. Settling in Hockley, Birmingham, Wadhams worked as a cabinet maker and died in May 1874.…
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Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Sahagun & Benevente (C. Schultze, 3rd Hussars K.G.L.), a couple of very light edge bruises and minor contact marks, otherwise very fine to good very fineProvenance:Sotheby's, June 1984.A total of 96 medals were given to the regiment.Christian Schultze is confirmed on the roll compiled by C. Message, not confirmed on Mullen roll.…
Royal Durban Rifles94 Medals issued to this unit, all without clasp.The rare campaign pair awarded to Surgeon J. Shulz, Royal Durban RiflesSouth Africa 1877-79, no clasp (Surgn. J. Shulz. M.D. Rl. Dn. Rifles.); Germany, Prussia, 1848-49 Medal, good very fine (2)Julius Shulz (sometimes Shultz) was born on 6 July 1823 at Berlin, Germany and was a son of Dr Johann Heinrich Schulz. He studied medicine at the Royal Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin from 1845-49 and qualified as a Doctor of Medicine. He first served in the Army as a Volunteer Sub-Doctor of the 4th Company, Emperor Franz Grenadier Regiment from April 1849-April 1850 and in 1855 was appointed Surgeon to the 2nd Light Dragoons of the British German Legion. He emigrated to Natal in 1857 as Regimental Surgeon to the British German Legion of settlers and was licensed to practice as physician, surgeon, surgeon-accoucheur and surgeon-apothecary in the Colony in February 1858. Initially he practiced on his farm at Westville, near Durban, but struggled to make a living. Later he moved to Smith Street, Durban, became police surgeon and health officer to the town (1874-91) and developed a successful practice. He was in medical charge of the Royal Durban Rifles when it was established in 1873 and commenced ambulance classes later that year.In the early eighteen-eighties he was a member of the Port Natal Masonic Lodge. Because hospital facilities were limited he often performed operations at his home, assisted by his wife. They had four sons. The first two learned a great deal about medicine from their father before qualifying as medical doctors in Berlin.Schulz played an active role in several societies that flourished in Durban during the latter half of the nineteenth century. During the first year of the short-lived Natural History Association of Natal (1868-71), he was scheduled to read a paper, On the physiology of the mind, in September. When the Durban Medico-chirurgical Society was formed in 1871 he was one of its eight foundation members. In 1881 he served on the council of the Natal Society. In 1879 he became one of the founding members of the Natal Microscopical Society (1878-85) and was elected its President for the first two years. On 22 October 1878 he read a paper before its members on Results of microscopic examination of water of Little Umhlanga.The good Doctor died at Durban on 10 March 1891 (Biographical Database of Southern African Science, refers).…
An Escaper's M.M. group of six awarded to Lance Corporal R. Holtby, Green Howards, who - with remarkable persistence - attempted to escape no less than three times, finally succeeding on the final runHaving joined underage Holtby was to see action in France 1940, the Dunkirk evacuation and the War in the Desert before his capture; his exploits in Italy make for exiting reading as he filed open the train door and leapt from the back of speeding trucks to make his final successful bid for freedomMilitary Medal, G.VI.R. (4391447 L. Cpl. R. Holtby. Green. Howards.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (4391447 Pte. R. Holtby. Green. Howards.), light contact wear, overall very fine (6)Provenance:Glendinning's, June 1889.M.M. London Gazette 12 September 1944, the original recommendation states:'On 9 Sep 43, before the general evacuation of Camp 54, Holtby left with eleven other prisoners and went with them to Monte Flavia, from where he set off alone to cross the lines. He had only reached Settefratti when he was recaptured by Germans. About the end of October he was entrained for Germany, but after travelling for about 2 hours succeeded in escaping and reaching Sora before he was taken ill with pneumonia. Upon his recovery he decided to make for the Anzio beachhead, but at Borgo Grappa he was again arrested by Germans. Five days later, as he was being transferred to Gisterno, he jumped off the truck and travelled to San Silvanion, where he stayed two months. After the Allied attack on Terracina he met an American patrol on 23 May 44.'Roy Holtby was born at Beverley, Yorkshire on 8 August 1921, the son of Francis and Edith Holtby. Joining the Territorial Army at Beverley before the war, his obituary notes that he joined underage - his 18th birthday was in August 1939. He was serving with the 5th Battalion in France in 1940 where they took part in the Battle of Arras and later the Dunkirk evacuation.Returning to Britian the Battalion was not linger there for long before they were posted to the desert for serving in the Middle East. Their first engagement there was to be the Battle of Gazala in which the 50th Division - to which the Battalion was attached - suffered heavy losses during the Defence of the Knightsbridge box. Either during the attack or retreat Holtby was taken prisoner of war and from North Africa was transported to Italy, finding himself at Camp 54, Fara Nel Sabina in 1943.News of the Armistice with Italy arrived on 8 September 1943 and three days later the prisoners were told they would need to make their own escapes. Formed into two parties they set out, Holtby made a more determined attempt than many of his comrades, carrying on alone where they others stopped however he was soon recaptured.Put on a train in October to be transported he seized the opportunity and filed the lock on the carriage door open. Jumping from the train he was able to escape again, this did not last long before he was recaptured for the final time. Not to be discouraged he waited until he was again being transported and leapt from the back of the truck carrying him, after so much time on the run the Allies had advanced well into Italy and Holtby was able to contact the American forces not long later.Returning to Britain after the war he was awarded his Efficiency Medal in April 1946 and settled at 71 Beaver Road, Beverley. He died at Hull on 15 June 1989.After his death an obituary was posted in the local newspaper which states:'A Modest Beverly war hero has died at the age of 67.Former soldier Mr Roy Holtby who won the Military Medal, escaped three times from prisoner-of-war camps during World War Two.On the last occasion [SIC] he helped others to safety when he filed open the carriage door of a train carrying troops.Mr Holtby, who was under age when he joined up, was among those evacuated from Dunkirk.After the War, he set up in busines [SIC] as a builder in his home town of Beverley, retiring six years ago because of ill-health.'The Green Howards Gazette of September 1989 further states:'The death took place on 16th June, 1898 of Mr Roy Holtby MM. He had suffered a heart condition for a few years. Roy joined the TA in Beverely prior to the war and served with the 5th Battalion, serving in France 1940 and was evacuated from Dunkirk. He served in the Middle East throughout the Desert Campaign until he was taken prisoner at Gazala ad was sent to Italy. He escaped twice from captivity [SIC] and on one occasion he was awarded the Military Medal. He eventually escaped to Switzerland [SIC] and eventually to England and stayed in England until demobilisation. He was a builder by trade and was very well known and respected by all his many friends.'Sold together with copied research.…
A rare campaign group of four awarded to Engine Room Artificer Class I H. T. Johnson, Royal Navy, who was taken prisoner of war with H.M.S. Seal, the only British submarine surrendered to the enemy during the Second World WarInterned at Marlag Camp he joined several others - including 'Tubby' Lister of Colditz fame - in digging an escape tunnel: Johnson actually made it out of the camp but was re-captured soon after1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (M.36487 H.T. Johnson. E.A.1. H.M.S. Pembroke.), some polishing and contact marks, overall very fine (4)Henry Thomas Johnson was born at Sheerness on 4 May 1900, the son of Thomas and Florence Johnson of 67 Richmond Street, Marine Town, Sheerness. Joining the Royal Air Force as a Flying Cadet on 15 July 1918 he received no medal entitlement with them. Instead he enlisted with the Royal Navy on 4 May 1923 as Engine Room Artificer Class IV with his R.A.F. service of 176 days being carried towards his pension.Joining at Vernon on 4 May 1922 his first service afloat was with the light cruiser H.M.S. Dunedin on 19 May 1922. Appointed Engine Room Artificer Class II with Cumberland on 4 May 1928 and further advanced Engine Room Artificer Class I whilst ashore on 4 May 1933. Johnson transferred to submarine service with Dolphine on 9 June and served with a number of vessels throughout the late 30s.He was posted to the crew of Seal on 1 January 1939 not long after she was launched. This Grampus-class mine-laying submarine carried a compliment of 60 men and 50 mines as well as torpedoes and a 4-inch deck gun. When the Second World War broke out Seal was enroute to China however she was detained at Aden and launched several patrols in the area.Returning to Britain they were patrolling Norwegian waters when Germany invaded and infiltrated Stavangerfjord entering the port of Stavanger. Despite the boldness of the operation it produced few results as the harbour contained no German craft with a deep enough draft to attack with torpedoes. She returned to Britain for a brief refit before setting off back to Norway to undertake Operation DF 7.They set out of for the Kattegat Sea between Norway, Denmark and Sweden, on 29 April 1940. She had a narrow escape from a Heinkel seaplane but reached the area of operations in good time and completed her mission. As they turned for home they discovered a flotilla of anti-submarine patrol ships ahead of them, with armed trawlers behind them as well. Diving to avoid the enemy the submarine was unable to run deep owning to the shallow depth of the Kattegat Sea, instead they undertook a zig-zag pattern before settling at the bottom of the sea.Tragically they had entered a minefield and the cable from one of the mines had become caught on one of Seal's hydroplanes. The mine was pulled into the ship and detonated against the hull, causing serious damage. When the dust had settled the situation was grim, the boat had shifted ten degrees upwards due to the amount of water they had taken on, however the enemy warships had failed to notice the explosion and they left the area.Repeated attempts were made to surface as soon as it was safe however all failed, eventually they dropped their 'drop keel', making it impossible for them to dive again if they made the surface. The pressure of the situation, combined with the worsening quality of the air caused a great deal of pressure all around, Johnson however was not one to be put out by stress, as is made clear in Will Not We Fear which states:'Throughout the boat men were apathetically accepting the inevitability of death. There really seemed to be nothing left, no other possibility to be worth while trying. And in these circumstances there could be recourse only to humour and to idiosyncrasy and to routine.The petty officers' mess was the scene of a surprising amount of activity. Electrical Artificer Johnstone [SIC] began removing first the sleeves and then the trousers of his overall suit. "What the hell are you doing, Johnno?" he was asked. "Changing into my Number Ones," he replied. And as soon as he had laboriously dressed himself in his best suit he hoisted himself into his bunk and relaxed… and wait'Eventually after over a day beneath the waves they managed to refloat Seal, the crew were exhausted and light headed after the stress and oxygen depravation of the day. Making for Swedish waters the submarine came under attack by German aircraft, at this moment one of their engines failed, leaving them becalmed. The two Lewis guns they brought to the deck for protection both jammed and- under increasingly accurate fire- they were forced to surrender.Seal was the only British Submarine to strike her colours during the war, her crew were taken initially to Stalag XXA, Thorn. Soon afterwards a new camp was completed for Naval personnel called Marlag XB, attached to Stalag 10B. From there they were transferred again to Marlag und Milag Nord, here Johnson was involved in an escape attempt, as outlined in Fatal Ascent:'Lister and Johnson, Seal ratings, with Hammond of the submarine Shark and eleven others, including Lt. Trevor Beet, participated in a tunnel escape from Marlag at Sandbostel. Once they were on the outside, everybody split up, but they did not get very far before they were nabbed by guards.'His two companions, Lister and Hammond, were taken to Colditz as a result of their attempt however Johnson seems to have remained at Marlag und Milag Nord.'"After Tubby Lister and his pal Johnson got caught," commented Mickey Reynolds, "there was hell to pay, but we didn't mind, as we knew we were doing our little bit to keep Jerry occupied." Usually, the escapers and helpers were put in solitary confinement with bread and water for a few days following the Geneva Convention.'(IBID)Johnson was repatriated on 19 May 1945 and discharged to the reserve that same year. He served in the Sheerness Dockyard Smithy and lived at "Dunedin", 9 Century Road, Rainham. Johnson died at Kent County Hospital, Chatham in 1976; sold together with a copy of Fatal Ascent and Will Not We Fear along with copied service papers.…
A 'Mesopotamia 1917' D.C.M. group of four to Private A. H. Price, North Staffordshire Regiment,Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8586 Pte A. H. Price. 7/N. Staff: R.); 1914-15 Star (11575 Pte A. H. Price. N. Staff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11575 Pte. A. H. Price. N. Staff. R.), mounted as worn, light contact marks and polishing, otherwise very fine (4)D.C.M. London Gazette 29 August 1917, the original recommendation states:'For conspicuous gallantry in action. Being the only man left of a gun team except the No.1, he kept the gun supplied with ammunition all day. He was the last to leave the enemy's trench, bringing back the gun and tripod.'Albert H. Price is noted upon his M.I.C. as entering the war at Gallipoli prior to 1 January 1916, serving with the 7th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment. This unit left Avonmouth on 19 June 1915 first landing in Alexandria before moving to Mudros.They landed on Cape Helles between 6-16 July 1915 to relieve the 29th Division, returning to Mudros at the end of July. The entire Division landed at ANZAC Cove between 3-5 August 1915 and were in action at the Battle of Sari Bair, Russell's Top and Hill 60. Soon afterwards they transferred from ANZAC to Suvla Bay, remaining there until the sector was evacuated on 19-20 December 1915. They moved to the Helles bridgehead having been rested for a week. They were then in action during the last Turkish attacks at Helles on 7 January 1916 and were evacuated between 8-9 January.The Division concentrated at Port Said, holding forward posts in the Suez Canal defences. Posted to Mesopotamia on 12 February 1916, they joined the force being assembled near Sheikh Sa'ad for the relief of the besieged garrison at Kut al Amara. Joining Tigris Corps on 27 March they were in action in the unsuccessful attempts to relieve Kut and the Battle of Kut al Amara. They saw further fighting at the capture of the Hai Salient, the capture of Dahra Bend and the Passage of the Diyala, in the pursuit of the enemy towards Baghdad.Units of the Division were the first troops to enter Baghdad when it fell on 11 March 1917; it was around this time that Price received his award. The Division then joined 'Marshall's Column' and pushed north across Iraq, fighting at Delli Abbas, Duqma, Nahr Kalis, crossing the Adhaim on 18 April and engaging again at Shatt al Adhaim. Later in the year they were twice action at Jabal Hamrin and at Tuz Khurmatli the following April. By 28 May 1918 the Divisional Headquarters had moved to Dawalib and remained there until the end of the war, enduring extreme summer temperatures. The 39th Brigade was detached and joined the North Persia Force in July 1918 which was in Transcaspia, Russia by October 1918.Sold together with a card mounted studio photograph of him in uniform with two other colleagues - his D.C.M. riband clearly visible - the photograph taken by a studio 'George' in Baku, the reverse of this marked in coloured pencil 'From Albert To Mrs E. Price, 80 Copland St, Stoke, Staff, England'; together with a further photograph of him with young recruits c.1922/24 wearing the mounted group sold here.…
A rare ‘Edward VIII’ inter-War M.V.O., post War Order of St. John group of six awarded to Quartermaster and Captain W. R. Lines, 5th Lancers, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, who was 'mentioned' during the Great War, and was one of only 10 people awarded the M.V.O. 5th Class by King Edward VIIIThe Royal Victorian Order, Member's (M.V.O.) breast Badge, silver and enamel, the reverse officially numbered '488'; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast Badge, skeletal issue, silver; 1945-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. W. R. Lines. 5.Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Capt. W. R. Lines.), with M.I.D. oak leaves; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3871 Sjt: W. Lines. 5/Lrs.), mounted court-style as worn, light pitting, overall good very fine (6)One of only 10 M.V.O. 5th Class awards made during the reign of Edward VIII, of which 5 were for the Funeral of King George V.M.V.O. London Gazette 23 June 1936:'Walter Reuben Lines, Honorary Secretary, Windsor Branch, British Legion.'Serving Brother of the Order of St. John London Gazette 28 May 1948.Walter Reuben Lines was born at Canterbury, Kent on 29 April 1872, the son of William and Mary Lines of St. Mary's, Northgate, Canterbury. Attesting with the 5th Lancers in 1890 he served with them for 23 years and 330 days before being commissioned Quartermaster & Lieutenant on 25 August 1914.Lines entered the war in France on 12 July 1915, joining his Regiment which was already there as part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd (Cavalry) Division. They had seen heavy action prior to his arrival however after he joined them they were not part of any major engagements for some time. Receiving his 'mention' in early 1917 (London Gazette 4 January 1917) it was not until the First Battle of the Scarpe in April 1917 that the Regiment engaged again.Not long after this action Lines was promoted Honorary Captain, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, on 25 August 1917 and subsequently served as an Assistant Inspector with the Quartermaster General's Service. Placed on half-pay on account of ill health on 3 October 1923 he retired and settled at Windsor, living at 121 Clarence Road, Windsor.Appointed a Member 5th Class of the Royal Victorian Order for his services as Honorary Secretary of the Windsor Branch, British Legion, in June 1936, Lines one of the very few number of appointments to the Royal Victorian Order made by Edward VIII. He was later appointed a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John. Lines was still living at Clarence Road when he died in Upton Hospital on 26 January 1960; sold together with copied research.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax.
The remarkable Great War D.S.O., 'Attack on Pomereuil' Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Major D. Murray, 21nd Battalion (6th City), Manchester Regiment, who was wounded in action at High Wood during the Battle of the Somme and further 'mentioned' three timesDistinguished Service Order, with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. D. Murray. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major D. Murray.), mounted court style for wear, sold together with an Exeter College Boat Club Medal engraved 'Meade Fours 1885', light enamel damage to first, overall good very fine (4)D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.Second Award Bar London Gazette 2 April 1919, the original citation states:'In the absence of his commanding officer he commanded his battalion throughout the operations from 22nd October to 28th October, 1918. In the attack on Pommereuil on 23rd October, when, owing to darkness and mist, units had lost direction and became intermixed, he went forward and reorganised the attack, which was then entirely successful. He showed great courage and ability to command.'Donald Murray born at Stoke Newington on 10 March 1880, the son of Robert and Ellen Murray of Hackney. His father was an agent in the sale of cotton and wool, acting on his own account, a position which Robert had joined by 1911. One the outbreak of the Great War he applied for a commission and succeeded, being Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 25 January 1915 with the 22nd Battalion (7th City), Manchester Regiment, a Pals Battalion.Promoted Lieutenant on 1 March 1915 and further advanced Captain on 1 April, he entered the war on 11 November 1915 in command of 'B' Company. It is indicative of the style in which the Pals Battalions were run that Murray served with his brother David Stanley Murray during the Battle of the Somme.Remarkably he survived the carnage of the First Day of the Somme which saw 18 officers of the Regiment become casualties - including ten killed. Unfortunately that battle was just the start of the carnage and when the Battalion was posted to High Wood in support of the South Staffordshire Regiment on 15 July Murray was wounded in action. He was evacuated to Britain and did not re-join his Battalion until July 1917.Murray re-joined the Battalion when they were transferred to the Italian front in November. At some stage he was transferred to the 21st Battalion (6th City), Manchester Regiment as Second-in-Command. They saw heavy action there but returned to France on 13 September 1918, joining the 25th Division near Canchy.The Officer Commanding the Battalion was not present for some time between September and October during the which time Murray commanded the unit. His narrative of Operations from 19-24 October includes the action for which he won the D.S.O., it states:'Advanced commenced at zero hour. Owing to heavy enemy gas shelling and ground mist great difficulty was experienced in keeping touch and direction, with the result that the progress of the attack was for a long time uncertain.(Captain J. R. Miller M.C.) on Right) reported attack held up owning to a large amount of wite and very heavy enemy machine gun fire.Objective reported taken with assistance of a tank. This report was found to be an error as line was subsequently discovered to be from 200-300 yards short of objective. Consolidation took place on this line.Patrols sent out to obtain touch on left and right.Touch obtained with 6th Division on Right. Orders received to form defensive flank-right Divisions boundary L.33.d.5.3. to L.28.d.3.2.Defensive flank completed.Orders received to withdraw troops to Pomereuil'.'Murray died in October 1951 at Marylebone, his brother also survived the war, dying in 1941; sold together with copied research.…
The Pilot's Flying Log Book to Leading Aircraftman C. A. Pinches, Royal Air Force, who flew on Hampden Bombers with No. 50 Squadron and who on one occasion crash landed at R.A.F. Scampton on the return from a raid on Hamburg on 15 September 1941Log Book named to '1153655 LAC C. A. Pinches', some water damage to the cover and a couple of pages, otherwise in good overall conditionC. A. Pinches started his flying training on 9 September 1940 on Tiger Moths based at the de Havilland School of Flying at White Waltham, later switching to Airspeed Oxfords and Hampdens. After completing his training he was transferred to No. 50 Squadron based at R.A.F. Swinderby, Lincolnshire.Pinches's first Op was to Frankfurt on 29 August 1941, followed on 2 September 1941 with Berlin, his Log Book notes 'Landed Woolfey'. Carrying out 'Gardening' on 11 September he then undertook an Op to Hamburg on 15 September 1941, suffering a crash at Scampton upon return. He followed this up with a further raid on Hamburg on 29 September (this is logged before his entry of 15 September).Launching an Op to Cologne on 13 October 1941, Pinches set out again on 23 August to Kiel and followed with Ops to Hamburg on 29 October and to Schipol on 31 October. His final Op was on 7 November 1941 entitled 'Search Light Belt'. He then returned to No. 2 School of Air Navigation flying Ansons.For the D.F.C. and Bar group of five awarded to his brother, please see Lot 390.…
Waterloo 1815 (John Yeoman, 23rd. Regiment Foot, R.W.F.), fitted with steel clip and ring suspension, a couple of light edge bruises and contact marks, otherwise good very fineJohn Yeoman/Yeomans was born in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, and attested for the 23rd Foot at Derby on 20 January 1813. Recorded as being with the Regiment at Kingsbridge and Berry Head (Brixham), he transferred to the 1st Battalion on 24 September 1813. Yeoman was with the Regiment at Winchester between March-June 1814 (transferred to No. 6 Company, 25 April).He further served with the Regiment at the Isle of Wight and Gosport between June and October 1814 and was with the Regiment on board ship 23-24 March 1815. Seeing service in Flanders between March - June 1815 (Served No.1 Company 25 April 1815) he was stationed with No.4 Company under Major Brown at the Battle of Waterloo. During the Battle the Regiment saw heavy fighting in the British centre, being one of those repel Nay's cavalry from their square, such was the intensity of the fighting that Colonel Ellis was mortally wounded leading them.Yeoman continued his service in France between September 1815 - September 1816 before being transferred to the Regimental Depot at Deal on 27 October 1816 and was discharged on 18 November 1816; sold together with research from Peter Gaston.…
The impressive C.B.E., M.V.O., M.S.M. group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-Commander A. W. Stone, Royal Navy, who served at the Battle of Heligoland Blight, was twice 'mentioned' during the First World War, later Royal Household Assistant Secretary and Chief Accountant of the Privy Purse, Sergeant-at-Arms to King Geroge VI and Queen Elizabeth II, who carried the mace at Her Majesty's Coronation in 1953The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, 2nd Type Commander's (C.B.E.) neck Badge, by Garrard & Co., silver-gilt and enamel, on length of neck riband, in its case of issue; The Royal Victorian Order, 4th Class Member's (M.V.O.) breast Badge, by Collingwood Jewellers, reverse numbered '1526'; 1914-15 Star (346080, A. W. Stone, Wr. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaves (346080 A. W. Stone Ch. Wr. R.N.); Defence Medal; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (346080. A. W. Stone. Ch. Wtr. H.M.S. Cormorant.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (346080. A. W. Stone, Ch. Wtr. "Curaco" Services During War.), mounted together as worn excluding C.B.E., some contact marks and a few lightly polished, otherwise very fine overall (11)M.S.M. London Gazette 24 June 1919.M.I.D. London Gazette 23 October 1914; 11 August 1917.Albert William Stone was born on 20 June 1888 in Gosport, Hampshire, the third of four children born to Private Albert Stone and his wife Rebecca. Albert Stone Senior was a Private in the Portsmouth Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, later dying in the service at Portsea in 1892 after having taken part in the Witu Expedition in East Africa.The younger Stone received a naval education and attended the Royal Hospital School at Greenwich, a school for the sons of poor sailors, where he learned navigation and seamanship skills. The school was known as the 'cradle of the Navy' for producing notable officers and personnel. He later enlisted into the Royal Navy in May 1903, when he was fifteen years old, as a Boy Writer with the H.M.S. Duke of Wellington naval barracks. Stone enjoyed a number of postings, including aboard Majestic, Caesar, Firequeen, Victory, Hecla, Forward, and Skirmisher as he moved through the clerical ranks. Upon the outbreak of the First World War, he was serving as a Writer 1st Class aboard H.M.S. Amethyst. Stone was likely a member of Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt's personal staff as he followed him nearly exactly from ship to ship, thus serving with a wide variety of Harwich Force cruisers during the War.The Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914 - the first naval battle of the War between the British and the Germans - saw Stone mentioned in dispatches for service during the action whilst aboard the light cruiser H.M.S. Arethusa. Arethusa was Tyrwhitt's flagship during the battle, and played an active role in the naval engagement. She helped to sink two German torpedo boats early that morning, and was badly damaged by the German defence. By the end of the day Britain scored a decisive victory, losing just 35 men to Germany's 1,500. Stone was still serving aboard Arethusa when she was mined off the coast of Felixstowe two years later on 11 February 1916, eventually running aground and breaking up. He next served aboard H.M.S. Cleopatra while she served in the raid on the German naval airship base at Tondern, also sinking German destroyer G-194, before colliding with fellow naval ship Undaunted in March 1919. After repairs, she took part in operations against the German naval bombardment of Lowestoft in April 1916 and numbered one of Tyrwhitt's force that found the German cruisers carrying out the raid. Stone thereafter joined the Harwich Force cruiser H.M.S. Carysfort in May 1916 when she was patrolling the North Sea and the Strait of Dover. This was but a brief appointment, and he was then with Centaur that September, also in the Harwich Force, and then on to her sister-ship H.M.S. Concord in February 1917. He was with her that June when she sank the German torpedo boat S20 in the North Sea. During this time, Stone was mentioned in despatches for the second time. His final wartime posting was aboard H.M.S. Curacao, the flagship of the 5th cruiser squadron in the Harwich Force, where he earned his M.S.M. for war time services. After the close of the First World War, Stone joined H.M.S. Cormorant with whom he received his L.S. & G.C.. He was finally advanced to Chief Petty Officer Writer while serving with Victory II in 1924, and was later promoted Warrant Writer on 5 December 1927 upon his retirement from the service. The exact date Stone was appointed to the Royal Household is not known, but he served in the office of the Privy Purse until his well-deserved retirement at age 69 in July 1957. He was appointed to the 5th Class of the Royal Victorian Order in January 1938 and was later promoted to the 4th Class in 1947, with the insignia being presented to him personally by King George VI. Stone was Chief Accountant but also acted as Serjeant-at-Arms under King George from 1947, and later for Queen Elizabeth II as well. He attended the Queen's Coronation in 1953, for which he carried the Mace as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's escort. He can be seen in the famous newsreel film of the event, as well as numerous photographs. Throughout his tenure with the Royal Household, Stone was awarded various foreign decorations from state visits and in January 1954 received his C.B.E..His long and illustrious career in the Royal Navy was supplemented by an equally illustrious career for the Royal Household. Stone finally retired in 1957, and later died in Durham on 27 August 1974 at Woodside House, the home of his niece with whom he was residing.Sold together with an original archive comprising:i)The recipient's dress miniatures: 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaves; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R.; M.S.M., G.V.R.; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, and Coronation 1953, mounted individually as worn, very fine (8) with some extra ribandsii)Fitted case for 4th Class M.V.O., by Collingwood Jewellersiii)Photo of Queen Elizabeth II with facsimile message and signature presented to Royal Household staff upon the occasion of her Coronation, framed but missing glassiv)The Illustrated London News, Coronation 1953 magazine with colour platesv)Booklet 'Statutes on the Order of the British Empire 1948'vi)Official Warrant for the appointment of 'Albert William Stone Esquire' to be Commander of the Order of the British Empire, signed by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philipvii)Binder of comprehensive copied research and photographs, including a newspaper cutting of a photograph of Stone holding the Mace on the St. James's Palace Balcony as part of the Coronation ceremony, wearing his medals…
Pair: Major A. C. Anderson, Royal Army Pay Corps, late 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Lt. A. C. Anderson 13/18 H.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (Major A. C. Anderson RAPC.), mounted court-style as worn, good very fine and an unusual combination (2)Angus Campbell Anderson was born on 31 August 1930 and served in the ranks for some 212 days, before being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the Royal Armoured Corps on 21 January 1954 having had joined the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) in October 1953. He served with this unit on active service in Malaya and then as Adjutant from 1959-63, having been made Captain - and counted on the books of the Pay Corps- in October 1959, also having had a spell at the Portuguese Cavalry School in September 1959. Advanced Major in December 1966, Anderson was Staff Paymaster 2 HQ Scotland in April 1972 and was also involved in assisting the Norwegian Contingent at the Edinburgh Tattoo that same year.Having seen further active service in Northern Ireland, the good Major died on 20 November 2011 in Woking, his final unit being listed as The Light Dragoons; sold together with engraved plaques from the Portuguese Cavalry School, 1956, HPCCD RE Officers Mess, February 1976 & HQ RCT Sgts Mess, May 1985, besides inscribed Norwegian book for the 1972 Tattoo and copied research.…
A very fine Korean War M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal A. Talbot, 1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light InfantryA Regular soldier who shared in 'every action' in which his unit shared - including Operation 'Commando' in October 1951 - he won his M.M. for his gallantry during a fighting patrol when his Officer was severely wounded in the act of destroying an enemy bunker; Talbot sprung to action and assumed command of the Cover Party, saving the life of the stricken Subaltern by dressing his wounds and bringing down effective artillery fire to allow their coming out under a heavy hail of fire - he would go up to Buckingham Palace in March 1953 to receive his M.M. from the hands of The QueenMilitary Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (19043240 A. Cpl. A. Talbot. K.S.L.I.), minor official correction to surname; Korea 1950-53 (19043240 Cpl. A. Talbot. K.S.L.I.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, good very fine (3)M.M. London Gazette 10 October 1952. The original recommendation - from Lieutenant-Colonel Barlow D.S.O., O.B.E., CO 1KSLI and dated 6 June 1952 - states:'Cpl Talbot has been a Rifle Section Commander in "B" Company 1 KSLI for the past thirteen months.Throughout this period he has demonstrated the highest qualities of a junior NCO. Loyal, sturdy in action, and determined to carry out his orders, he has participated in every action in which the Battalion has been involved.In particular on the night of the 29th January, Cpl Talbot was second in command of a fighting patrol, which was ordered to destroy an enemy occupied bunker.The bunker was located approximately 1,200 yards from the Company position. The patrol commander, 2/Lt Whybrow, dropped off a covering party 200 yards from his objective. Cpl Talbot was left in command of the covering party, consisting of himself, a wireless operator, and a bren group. On entering the bunker, 2/Lt Whybrow was seriously wounded and he ordered his patrol to leave him and return to the Company positions. Cpl Talbot then took command of the patrol and acted with great coolness. He passed an accurate account of the situation to Company HQ, which enabled artillery fire to be brought down to cover the withdrawal of the patrol. He then proceeded forward to the objective and moved 2/Lt Whybrow into dead ground, where he dressed his wounds and stopped him bleeding. He then ordered the party, carrying 2/Lt Whybrow back across no mans land, to the foot of the Company position. He moved his party back by bounds and kept Company HQ informed of his movements thus enabling artillery fire to be placed. This undoubtedly stopped the enemy from following up the patrol. 2/Lt Whybrow's life was saved and further casualties were inflicted on this patrol.This young NCO has over a long period commanded his section with skill and bravery and his devotion to duty merits recognition.'Alfred Talbot was born in November 1922 and was a native of East Garforth, near Leeds, West Yorkshire. Having been exempted from service during the Second World War as he was a farm labourer at Manor Farm, Garforth, he joined the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry as a Regular in 1947. He was transferred to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry at Hong Kong for the Korean War. The Battalion was then sent to Korea on 13 May to take over from the Middlesex Regiment.Operation CommandoThe object was for the K.O.S.B. to capture Point 355, with the K.S.L.I. supporting the left flank, with Centurion tanks from A Squadron, 8 Hussars being available as and when required. Early on 3 October 1951, D Company attacked and occupied Point 208. B Company - with Talbot to the fore - then passed through to occupy the next hill, incurring six wounded. C Company pushed through and attacked a spur; supported by fire from B Company they captured the position with two killed and seven more wounded.These positions were consolidated and held overnight. As dawn broke on 4 October, D Company went forward with tanks following on behind. The Company was to attack Point 210. As they moved forward they came under sustained fire from a heavy Chinese Machine Gun (M.G.). A Bren was sent to a suitable feature and engage the M.G., with the words "go and find it and get rid of it." With four magazines in his pouches, Lance-Corporal Norton (who won an M.M.) set off on the right flank looking for the enemy position. As he was getting into cover he was wounded by a ricochet in his left thigh. Ignoring his wound he engaged the M.G. and successfully knocked it out; it was later found to have been manned by three Chinese. This gun is now on display at the K.S.L.I. Museum. Whybrow noted the part he and Talbot would have played:''D' Company passed through with tank support and Andrew and I tackled the twin features comprising Pt 210. A bayonet charge in true story book style resulted in 10 Chinese dead and 12 Prisoners. Three of my chaps were hit. Platoon displayed guts and determination.'The following months saw the unit throw off numerous 'human wave' attacks from the enemy in order to hold their ground. It was to be that 'Hill 227' was added to the Battle Honours, much like 'Hill 355 ' for the K.O.S.B.Fighting patrol - M.M.The events which saw Talbot take his M.M., along with Whybrow losing his leg below the knee - and an M.C. for his troubles - are well described in the official citation. However, Dawney Bancroft wrote to the family of Whybrow after the events:'Pte Tearney was the man who endeavoured to cover John into the bunker. The entrance being so narrow this proved impossible. When John was hit, he pulled him out and threw him clear of further bullets. Tearney then sent [one of the brew-up group] to Cpl. Talbot, who was covering them with a machine gun [Bren at Bd. 3].Pte Bennett, the wireless operator, then got straight on to me and gave me exact details of the situation. His coolness and prompt action enabled me to take charge and cover the patrol back by boxing off the area with fire from various weapons.This probably prevented the enemy from following up. Cpl Talbot took charge of the withdrawal, which he did magnificently. Once they got him [John] into dead ground, he placed first field dressings on his wounds, which stopped the flow of blood and then wasted no time in getting him back to me. I couldn't have wished fora better conducted withdrawal. They worked as a first class patrol should do.Most praise must go to Cpl Talbot, and to Ptes Bennet and Teamey. (...) You will be glad to hear that John's old platoon hit back [later] with good measure to the score of 7-0. It has done their morale an enormous lot of good as they were a sad-faced lot for some days after John left.'Talbot would sail home in September 1952 and was to be re-united with Whybrow in March 1953 in order to be presented his richly-deserved G.VI.R. M.M. from the hands of The Queen at Buckingham Palace. It is fitting it bears his effigy, having been earned on 29 January 1952, just a few days before the passing of King George VI at Sandringham on 6 February 1952.Talbot was married for the first time at Garforth in August 1953. He died, having re-married, in Lincolnshire in January 1997; sold together with copied research, newspaper cuttings including portrait photograph and John Whybrow's Korea 1951-52 - Some personal impressions.…
Sold by Order of a Direct DescendantAn outstanding 1873 K.C.B. group of three awarded to Admiral Sir H. Smith, Royal Navy - who was rewarded with a C.B. for his capture of Aden in 1839, the first colonial acquisition under the reign of Queen VictoriaSmith latterly played a prominent and central role during the First Opium War in the Volage and Druid; he took the honour of firing the first shots of the conflict and was to the fore in every major engagementThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Knight Commander's (K.C.B.) set of Insignia, by R. & S. Garrard, London, comprising neck Badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks rather rubbed, with full neck riband and gold clasp; breast Star, gold centre, silver and enamel, gold retaining pin, reverse cartouche with maker's details, in slightly damaged case of issue; China 1842 (Henry Smith, Captain. H.M.S. Druid.), suspension replaced with dual loop, swivel and straight silver bar; Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued, good very fine (3)K.C.B. London Gazette 24 May 1873.[C.B.] London Gazette 13 August 1840.Henry Smith was born circa 1803 and joined the Royal Navy at the tender age of eleven in 1814, being made a Lieutenant in July 1821. He joined the Genoa on the Lisbon Station in April 1823 and then as First Lieutenant to Captain Courtenay in the Fairy, who went out to the West Indies in May 1827. The following year, Smith took command of the brig Ferret, before advancing as Acting-Captain of the Magnificent in September 1829. It was in 1831 that he was officially promoted.Aden - C.B.Removed to Volage in November 1837, it was in this vessel that he first wrote his name into history. In January 1838, the Sultanate of Lahej agreed to transfer a number of its possessions, including the town of Aden to Britain but later decided against this and opened fire on the sloop-of-war H.C.S. Coote. Smith was given command of an expedition, comprising Volage, the brig Cruizer, Coote, the schooner H.C.S. Mahé and three transports to secure Aden. Smith and his small expedition arrived at Aden on 16 January 1839 and in the morning of 18 January Volage, Cruizer, and Mahé sailed to the front of the town from where they were fired upon.At 0930hrs, the rest of the expedition arrived and the warships sailed in close to Aden's batteries to bombard them. By 1100hrs the gunnery of the ships had demolished Aden's lower batteries and destroyed a large tower, while landing parties ordered by Smith had cleared out the remaining enemy musket men in the rubble. At this point Smith ordered the main two landings of troops to take place, which were completed successfully with two naval casualties and sixteen from the army, with the defending garrison of 1,000 men suffering around fifty casualties. (The Royal Navy, a History from the Earliest Times to the Present William Clowes, refers).So it was that Smith had captured the first Colonial acquisition for Great Britain and her new sovereign, Queen Victoria. He was rewarded with an immediate C.B. and the thanks of the George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, the Governor General of India.Opium War - further firstsThe cataloguer turns to Clowes again for further details of these important events:'Provocation and outrage continued; and when, on August 30th, Volage, 22, Captain Henry Smith, reached Macao, and at once proceeded to Hong Kong, her arrival was extremely welcome. On September 4th, the refusal of the Chinese at Kowloon to permit the transit of provisions across the harbour obliged Captain Smith, in concert with Mr. James Douglas (afterwards Sir James Douglas), of the Cambridge (the Cambridge was purchased by the Chinese government after regular hostilities began), formerly of the H.E.I. Co.'s marine, to employ his boats to drive off a squadron of war-junks, and so to open a passage for the supplies. Further outrageous action induced Elliot to call upon Smith to proclaim a blockade of the port of Canton as from September 11th.Negotiations were subsequently entered into; but Elliot displayed such unwise weakness that the Chinese were only encouraged to persist in their implacable attitude. At length, the Hyacinth, 18, Commander William Warren, having joined the Volage, Elliot stiffened himself so far as to inform the Chinese, on October 28th, that if the British shipping lying below the Bogue were subjected to more of certain annoyances which had become intolerable, retaliatory measures would be adopted. The Chinese admiral, Kwan, returned first a temporising and then an insulting answer, and on November 3rd got under way with twenty-nine junks, evidently intending to attack. Smith made a further fruitless attempt to negotiate, and then, with the Volage and Hyacinth, opened fire, and in a short time won a success which would have been much more complete than it was, but for the interference of Elliot, who, when three junks had been sunk and as many more driven ashore, procured a cessation of the firing, alleging his desire to spare the lives of the Chinese. Kwan, on returning to Canton, was thus able to boast that he had been victorious; and he was rewarded accordingly.'It had been on 4 September 1839 at around 1400hrs that Smith fired the first shots, sending several in anger in the direction of some war junks in the Chinese squadron.On 30 June 1840 Smith was given command of another frigate, Druid (to which his Medal is named), in which he continued to blockade, taking eight merchant ships as prize by 10 July as Senior Naval Officer on the south of the Chinese coast. On 6 August, the missionary Vincent John Stanton was captured by the Chinese while swimming in Casilha Bay near Macao. Smith took a small avenge this, these being Druid, the sloops Larne and Hyacinth, and two smaller vessels. On 19 August Smith with 120 Royal Marines, 80 seamen, and 180 local volunteers, successfully fought the Battle of the Barrier in which he attacked the Chinese works and barracks at Portas do Cerco, including destroying seventeen guns and two junks; casualties were light, with four of the British wounded. By 1900hrs, the entire force had re-embarked on the ships and left the area ablaze, with so many cannonballs having been fired by the ships that they picked up their used shot to recycle it before leaving. It was said of Smith's actions at the battle that 'seldom has a more signal service been rendered in so short a space of time'. Druid continued after this to protect British trade and hunt down pirates, at one point having several men of a boarding party killed when the junk they were investigating blew up.Smith was again to the fore at the Second Battle of Chuenpi on 8 January 1841. With joint attacks going in on the forts at Tycocktow and Chuenpi, guarding the entrance to Canton. Smith was to attack the former and having anchored some 200 yards off, they set to their work. The firing quickly created a breach in the fort which was attacked by boats manned by the crews of the ships and quickly taken. Twenty-five cannons were destroyed and the casualties of the Chinese were suggested to be 'very severe'. Smith was praised by Commodore Bremer for his conduct during the action. The opening to Canton was now complete.During the Battle of the Bogue, on 25 February Smith took Druid in with a portion of Bremer's force to attack the Chinese batteries on the south, south-wes…
An Escaper's campaign group of four awarded to Sergeant W. H. Price, 1st Battalion, Border Regiment, later Military Provost Staff Corps, who was wounded and went 'in the bag' at Tournai in May 1940 only to escape from Stalag VIII-BGeneral Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3653478. Pte. W. H. Price. Bord. R.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., Regular Army, E.II.R. (3653478 Sgt. W. H. Price. M.P.S.C.), mounted as worn, the retaining pin missing, light pitting and contact wear, very fine (4)William Herbert Price was born on 15 June 1919, the son of Isaac Price and a native of St. Luke's Avenue, Lowton, Golborne. Enlisting with the Border Regiment on 3 October 1936 he was stationed with the 1st Battalion when they in Palestine prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, returning to Britain in April 1939.Posted to France in December 1939 they were stationed on the frontline during the Phoney War and were at the front of the British advance into Belgium prior to the Ardennes Offensive in May 1940. As such they were still in Belgium when they engaged the German advance at Tournai on 20 May. They held out for that day and into 21 May however lost some ground on the second day, which is the day that Price is listed as slightly wounded and taken prisoner of war. His service papers note details of his interrogation after his capture in response to the question was, he interrogated he states:'Yes. In a wood S Tournai, May 1940 […] soup with promise of good meal & cigarettes.'It seems that Price was the subject of a gentle interrogation then despite this he was unfortunate to be taken when he was. The next day reinforcements in the shape of 1/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers retook the lost ground whilst the Borderers were pulled back and eventually evacuated.Price was taken initially to Marienburg and later Thorn like most British prisoners from France he was transferred to Stalag 11-B in April 1941 and from there to Stalag VIII-B at Lamsdorf. Whilst there he worked in a saw mill it was from here that he attempted his escape, noting that he and two comrades -Corporal W. B. Wren and Private Kennel- slipped out at night from the shoemakers in the camp.Unfortunately, there were retaken '…by German police man assisted by German Pole', apparently at the time Price was unfit, suggesting that they had struggled with life on the run. He also noted attempted sabotage during the attempt, they tried to damage some railway signalling equipment however this seems to have been unsuccessful.A newspaper article of the time notes that his father believed him dead in France and had held a memorial service for him. Fortunately before a planned memorial could be erected the British Red Cross informed him that his son may be alive. Price remained in the Military after the war, going on to join the Military Provost Staff Corps, responsible for staffing British Military Prisons; sold together with copied research.…
Pair: Naik K. Din, 27th Baluch Light InfantryEast and Central Africa 1897-99, 1 clasp, 1898 (No 1219 Private Kamar Din 27th Baluch Light Infantry); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (1219 Naik Kamar Din. 127th/Baluch L.I.), mounted for wear, light contact marks, very fine (2)…
Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Trooper J. W. Orr. C. Lt. Horse), officially engraved naming, good very fineProvenance:Baldwins, April 2003.John Williams Orr was born on 21 January 1867 at Calcutta, son of John and Lucy Orr. His father was a solicitor and young Orr followed his father into that profession, coming back to England to sit his examinations in 1884. He then returned to Calcutta to join his father's firm Orr, Johnson & Robertson of Old Post Office Street.It was in 1895 that he joined the Calcutta Light Horse, one of the most fêted Indian Volunteer units. He was an active member and in August 1897 came second in their tent pegging competition, second in the April 1898 quarterly Wapenshaw Shooting competition and won the 1901-02 tent pegging challenge bowl, at that time recorded as a Troop Sergeant-Major. Orr married Ada Howlett at Godalming and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in November 1906, being admitted in January 1907. Joining the Bengal Civil Service in January 1908, Orr is noted as a Trooper on the Calcutta Light Horse roll of August 1914 and was awarded his Medal as per Indian Army Order 625 of November 1914. Deputy Superintendent & Remembrancer of Legal Affairs at the Bengal High Court in 1915, he retired to Braunton, Barnstaple, Devon and died in January 1947.…
The Naval General Service Medal awarded to Caulker’s Mate P. Pike, Royal Navy, whose clasps were earned some sixteen years apartNaval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Java, Navarino (Peter Pike.), light edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise good very fineProvenance:Needes Collection, Glendining’s, June 1940.John Goddard Collection, DNW, November 2015.8 Java clasps were issued to the crew of Hecate and 192 Navarino clasps to the men of Albion.This combination was issued to one officer and six other ranks overall and is unique to Hecate.Peter Pike was born in Portsmouth and joined the Hecate as Carpenter’s Crew on 1 October 1809, aged 35 years, and was advanced to Carpenter’s Mate on 2 June 1811. He joined the Albion on 13 June 1825, as Caulker’s Mate, his place of birth being given as Pagham, Sussex, and age as 47 years. Sold with copied muster rolls.…
The 'Trench Raid' 1916 M.M. group of five awarded to Private C. Murray, 19th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, a Gallipoli veteranWounded in the neck during the second attempt on the Maze trench in November 1916, he survived and went on to become a famous artist in AustraliaMilitary Medal, G.V.R. (1073 Pte. C. Murray. 19/Aust:Inf:Bn:); 1914-15 Star (1073 Pte C. Murray. 19/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (1073 Pte C. Murray. 19 Bn. A.I.F.); Gallipoli Star 1914-15, marked to the reverse 'Collector's Item' and thus an unofficial award, light pitting and contact wear overall, very fine (5)M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1916, the original recommendation states:'For conspicuous bravery during period 25/28 July, 1916. During 48 hours intense bombardment of Pozieres, Pte Murray displayed great gallantry and ability in attending to wounded and carrying them in by night and day. For him to do this it was necessary from him to move outside the front line on the parados and also to bring his wounded men across open ground. He carried out his work with the utmost coolness under shell fire'Originally recommended for the D.C.M.Christopher William Murray was born at Geelong, Victoria on 8 September 1885, the son of John and Jane Murray, both native of Ireland. The young Murray's parents both died before he was ten leaving himself and his older brother as orphans. Made a ward of a state as a result he was placed at St. Augustine's Orphanage in Geelong where he learned the trade of boot making. He was also a member of the famous St. Augustine's band, discovering a love for music and art which would remain with him for the rest of his life. He studied art firstly at Geelong before joining the Melbourne Art Gallery and finally the Slade School of Art in London.Enlisting on 28 May 1915 in New South Wales, Murray stated his trade as 'Artist' and was initially posted to 7/1st Battalion, A.I.F. However Murray's musical flare came to the fore and he applied to join the Band of 'C' Company, 19th Battalion. Joining them on 15 June 1915 he embarked upon the Ceramic and travelled to Egypt before entering the war at Gallipoli on 21 August 1915.On the first day in the field the Battalion entered the Battle of Hill 60, they were later also engaged at Pope's Hill. 19th Battalion finally withdrew during the evacuation in January 1916 and returned to Egypt for a turn on the Suez Canal Defences. Once they had re-organised, they proceeded to France on 18 March 1916.Not long after they arrived in France Murray was one of a small group who volunteered to undertake a trench raid near Pozieres where they would shortly go into action in the Battle of the Somme. Just 6 officers and 65 other ranks took part, the raid was considered extremely dangerous and in recognition of their gallantry in undertaking it each man who took part had a note of recognition made in their service papers.It was during the Battle of Pozieres the following month that Murray was to earn his laurels. However, his luck ran out and he was seriously wounded by a gunshot in the neck near Guedecourt, North Flers on 5 November 1916. At the time the Battalion was engaged in a major attack against the Maze feature, and he was successfully recovered from the battlefield and taken to hospital.The severity of the wound required some years of recuperation after which Murray was detached to No. 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 17 February 1918. He remained serving there until the end of the war, not long after his detachment he was granted leave to study figure painting at the Slade School of Art in London. Murray returned to Australia on 22 August 1919 and was discharged on 7 December 1919, becoming a well-known artist in Australia as stated in his obituary, written on 2 January 1959:"He was a painter known to the Melbourne Art Club, and praised by some critics, as 'artist's artist'. He was a musician who built himself a "cello" of Australian wood and he was a bootmaker. Born at Geelong 73 years ago, he became an orphan early in life. At the orphanage he learned the trade of boatmaking, and was a member of the famous St. Augustine's band which, under the direction of the well-known band leader, travelled all over Australia. He studied painting at Geelong, the Melbourne Art Gallery and the Slade School of Art in London.He served in the 1st world war as a stretcher bearer, and won the Military Medal for gallantry in the trenches of France. After the war he made his living as a musician. He loved to work with his hands and occupied the last years of his life making the thousands of bricks of his home and studio at Emerald."Murray died at Emerald, Queensland in January 1959; sold together with copied research.…
Army of India 1799-1826, 2 clasps, Assye, Argaum (N. McQueen, 78th Foot), short-hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, edge bruising, polished and worn with pride, good fineNeil McQueen was one of just 17 European recipients of the Medal with these 2 clasps. Ten others were awarded to men of his regiment, three to the 19th Light Dragoons, one to the 74th Foot and two to H.E.I.C. men.…
A fine 'Battle of Jutland 1916' D.S.M. group of four awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class F. Dymond, Royal Navy, who served on H.M.S. Temeraire being rewarded with both the D.S.M. and a commendation for his services and later a 'mention'Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (268895. F. Dymond, C.E.R.A.1.Cl. H.M.S. Temeraire. 31 May - 1 June 1916.); British War and Victory Medals (268895. F. Dymond. C.E.R.A. 1. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (268895 Frank Dymond, C.E.R.A.1cl., H.M.S. Suffolk.), mounted as worn, light contact marks, good very fine (4)D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1917.M.I.D. London Gazette 15 September 1916.Frank Dymond was born at Dunchideock, Devon on 24 April 1875 and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting C.E.R.A. 4th Class on 4 January 1897. After a succession of shore and sea-based appointments and advancement to C.E.R.A. 1st Class in 1909, he joined H.M.S. Temeraire on 30 September 1913 and served in her throughout the Great War. He was with her at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May to 1 June 1916, for which action he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. His service papers further note a commendation for his actions during the Battle.On 31 May 1916, Temeraire was the fifteenth ship from the head of the battle line after deployment. During the first stage of the general engagement, the ship fired five salvos from her main guns at the crippled light cruiser S.M.S. Wiesbaden from 18:34, claiming two or three hits. At 19:17, the ship fired seven salvos at the battlecruiser S.M.S. Derfflinger, but did not make any hits. About ten minutes later, Temeraire engaged several German destroyer flotillas with three salvos from her main armament without result. This was the last time that the ship fired her guns during the battle. She received no damage and fired a total of 72 twelve-inch shells (all high explosive) and 50 shells from her four-inch guns during the battle.Dymond was shore pensioned on 2 June 1919.…
Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Private George Walker H. M. 16th Lancers), fitted with contemporary ornate suspension featuring dual sabres and crown, riband buckle, very fineGeorge Walker was born in St. James, Dublin in 1810 and attested with the 16th Lancers at London on 10 July 1830 at the age of twenty, after having made his living as a labourer. Walker was to serve abroad in the East Indies for 21 years of what was to become a 23-year career in the service.Walker was promoted Corporal five years after entering the service and then to Sergeant three years later. However, he was not to retain this rank for long as he was reduced to Private in August 1843 following his sentencing by court martial for drunkenness. He was advanced Corporal once again in July 1844 and in this rank transferred to the 3rd Light Dragoons on 1 December 1845. He was made Sergeant in March 1847 before again being court martialled for drunkenness and reduced to Private just four months later in July.Despite these repeated instances of drunken behaviour, Walker again found himself promoted to Corporal in March 1850, and this time managed to hang on to the rank. He volunteered for the 9th Lancers on 1 November 1852 and served with them as Corporal for the remainder of his time with the Colours. Walker was discharged at Umballa on 30 September 1853, being found medically unfit for further service resulting from his length of service and the harsh climate. His discharge papers make note of the impressive breadth and experience of Walker's long service. He served for the whole length of the First Afghan War with the 16th Lancers, including the assault and capture of Ghuznee, and then went on to serve at Maharajpoor in December 1843. Walker was then an active participant in the Second Anglo-Sikh War as part of the 3rd Light Dragoons, and was engaged at the Battle of Ramnagar, the passage of the Chenab River, as well as the actions at Sadoolapore, Chilianwala, and Goojerat in 1848-49.Walker would have likely been further entitled to a Ghuznee Medal 1939 and a Punjab Medal 1848-49 with clasps for Goojerat and Chilianwala; sold together with copied research.…
Berlin Volunteers CavalryOriginally numbering 43 all ranks and some 55 long sniders under Captain Bowker, he went on to form Bowker's Rovers, with Captain Vincent taking on the Volunteers. Exchanging their sniders for carbines over time, this small unit was disbanded in June 1880. Approximately 81 Medals to the Berlin Volunteers & Berlin Light Infantry, 72 of them with clasp '1877-8'.South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (Sergt. W. Ninnemann. Berlin. Vols.), suspension re-affixed, nearly very fineEntitled to Medal and clasp '1877-8'.…
The 1918 D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. S. Hunt, 1st Dragoon Guards, late 3rd Hussars, who was twice wounded in action and twice 'mentioned' during the Great WarDistinguished Service Order, G.V.R; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Capt: R. S. Hunt, 3/Hrs:); 1914 Star, with clasp (Major R. S. Hunt. 1/D.Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. R. S. Hunt.); General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (Major R. S. Hunt.); Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed as issued, light contact marks, very fine overall (7)D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918.Ronald Seager Hunt was born on 24 February 1874, the son of Walter and Alice Hunt of Hart Hill, St. Johns, Woking, where his father worked as a barrister. Educated at Haileybury College (1888-1892), he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 25 November 1893 with the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Transferring from the Militia to the 3rd Hussars on 15 May 1897 with the same rank he was advanced Lieutenant on 13 September 1898.Prior to his service in the Boer War, Hunt was advanced Captain on 26 April 1901 and arrived in South Africa in January 1902. There he was present for operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony until 31 May 1902. Whilst there the Regiment saw notable action in an engagement on the Cornelius River in February 1902.Transferring to the 1st Dragoon Guards, Hunt was promoted Major with them on 14 July 1910. The next year he appeared upon the roll of the Delhi Durbar 1911 medal as one of three Majors with the unit.Entering the war in France on 5 November 1914 he appears to have served initially with his own unit however was soon posted to command several different Infantry Regiments, including at some stage the 4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. Hunt later commanded the 8th Battalion, Royal Lancaster Regiment from 27 October 1916, being stationed with them on 6 February 1917 when he was wounded for the first time.Wounded in action again during the Battle of Arras on 11 April 1917, he received his first 'mention' at the end of that year (London Gazette 11 December 1917). Unfortunately his age caught up with him and Hunt was posted to command the 87th Battalion, Training Reserve on 10 May 1918, receiving his second mention ten days later, likely for his final actions with the Lancaster Regiment (London Gazette 20 May 1918).Posted to command 1st County of London Yeomanry on 13 September 1919 he served for two more years but eventually retired on 17 September 1921 to Walcott-on-Sea, Norfolk. Hunt died on 1 April 1942.…
THE COLONIALSAlbany RangersThe Albany and Grahamstown men are amongst the earliest volunteers under the British regime. In 1860, the Rangers - or Grahamstown Light Horse - had a dismounted detachment and a total strength of 150 men. The mounted men served in the War of 1877, under Captain Minto and on 11 March 1878 engaged the enemy, inflicting loses of 9 Gaikas killed.52 Medals were awarded to the Albany Rangers, 47 of them with the '1877-8' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8 (Corpl. S. Wood. Albany Rangers), good very fineSamuel Wood remained with the Rangers and was a Sergeant by the time the Medal roll was compiled in October 1880. As he was still serving, he would have shared in the Basuto Gun War of 1880-81.…
Pair: Major-General R. Ranken, 35th Madras Native Infantry, whose combination of awards is unique to the regimentIndia General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Captmn. Robt. Ranken. 35th. Regt. M.N.I.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Capt. R. Ranken, 35th. N.I. S.A.C.G.) both with decorative silver top riband bars, light contact marks, nearly extremely fine (2)Note a unique combination to the 35th Madras Native Infantry.Robert Ranken was born in Brechin, Forfar on 30 October 1822 and was educated at Perth Academy. Nominated as a cadet for the Honourable East India Company's Madras Infantry by Company Director John Shepherd at the recommendation of the Earl of Stair, and was commissioned Ensign on 12 June 1841, joining the 35th Madras Native Infantry.Seeing little action for the first decade of service Ranken was promoted Lieutenant on 1 May 1844, and Captain on 29 November 1849. Still serving with the Regiment during the start of the Second Anglo-Burmese War he was with them at the capture of Ilangonn and Rangoon in April 1852. Later in the year the unit was involved in the hunt for the fugitive Governor of Rangoon and finally the capture of Prome in October 1852. Ranken saw further fighting in the country during the capture of Meeaday in January 1853 and several other minor actions.Still serving as a Captain on the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny some five years later Ranken was stationed with the Sauger Field Force as Executive Commissariat Officer under General Whitlock. This was swiftly followed on with the appointment of Assistant to the General Superintendent of Operations for the suppression of the Thuggee and Dacoity groups operating in the Jubbulpore District on 8 June 1860.Transferring to the Madras Staff Corps on 18 February 1861, he was advanced Major on 12 June of that year and passed his examinations as an interpreter in Hindustani and Persian by 1865. Further appointed Superintendent of the Jubbulpore Central Jail in May 1866 and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 12 June 1867 and further advanced Colonel on 12 June 1872.He retired to Mortlake, Surrey with the honorary rank of Major General on 9 June 1877, and died at his home in Upper Norwood on 8 March 1895, aged 83; sold together with copied research.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax.
The 2nd Battalion, 4th 'King's Own Royal' RegimentThe unit received orders at the North Camp, Aldershot, in the first week of December 1878 to proceed to Natal on active service. Embarked in the transports Dunrobin Castle and Teuton on 10 and 13 December respectively, the Battalion arrived at Cape Town in early January 1879. United once again after a long voyage, the men marched to Pietermaritzburg, and from there, upon receipt of the news of the disaster at Isandhlwana, on to Helpmakaar.The companies of the Battalion were subsequently distributed in reserve over a wide area of country, including the Utrecht district, Potgreter's Farm, Luneberg, Balte's Spruit and Conference Hill. Following the Battle of Ulundi, the men were relieved by those of the 24th Regiment, and proceeded to the Transvaal; on 8 September, Colonel Bray, with three companies of the regiment, assisted by the Frontier Light Horse and a detachment of Engineers, blew up the caves known as Umbellini's, in the neighbourhood of the Intombi River. Manyanyoba, the independent chief who had long given great trouble, then surrendered.On 8 February 1880, the Battalion embarked for Bombay, leaving two companies behind to assist with the defence of the frontier.999 Medals were issued to 2/4th Regiment, 971 of them with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (421. Pte. D. Sullivan. 2/4th. Foot), very fineDaniel Sullivan was born at Tosist, Kinmaine, County Kerry in 1855 and enlisted at Cork in October 1874. Having served in South Africa, he transferred to the Army Reserve at Lancaster in October 1880. Sullivan re-enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Portsmouth in December 1880 and served in India from November 1882-March 1889 and would see further active service in the Third Burmese War (Medal & clasp). He was released for the second time in April 1889; sold together with copied research.…
The fascinating Victorian inkwell with a V.C. connection, fashioned from a Crimean cannonball and commissioned by Major-General Viscount R. Frankfort De Montmorency, who was recommended for the Victoria Cross at the Redan Redoubt, and whose son won the award with the 21st Lancers at OmdurmanRound Shot, 2.7 inches diameter, hollowed out, with an ornate silver cap atop, hallmarks for London 1857, the shot set on the obverse with a Crimea Medal and on the reverse with a plate engraved with the cypher of Viscount Frankfort De Montmorency, three grape-shot 'legs' 0.9 inches diameter affixed beneath, with - but not affixed to - its original wooden stand, somewhat dented in places but overall very fineRaymond Harvey de Montmorency, 3rd Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency, was born at Theydon Bower, Essex on 21 September 1835; the only son of Viscount Lodge Raymond de Montmorency, 2nd Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency and Georgina Frederica de Montmorency, the daughter of Peter Fitzgibbon Henchy Q.C. of Dublin. The young De Montmorency was educated at Eton before entering the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, being commissioned Ensign with the 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot on 18 August 1854. Further promoted Lieutenant on 12 January 1855 he was serving in that rank on the outbreak of the Crimean War. De Montmorency entered the war in the trenches of Sevastopol and was present for the storming of the Great Redan on 8 September 1855 (Medal and clasp). His gallantry during the attack, which cost the British dearly, he was recommended for the Victoria Cross - although the recommendation was not successful. Instead, his reward was an independent command and he was sent to India for the suppression of the Indian Mutiny and placed in command of a detachment in Central India (Medal and clasp).Promoted Captain on 29 March 1861, he exchanged into the 32nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and served as Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Edward Brooke from 6 December 1861 until 31 December 1864. During this time Brooke was commanding troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands. Following this De Montmorency moved on to become Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) Sir John Michel commanding the British Forces in North America during the 1866 Fenian Raids (Medal and clasp). Doubtless the logistical difficulties of organising a defence against the raids kept him busy, however he did find time to get married on 25 April 1866 to General Michel's eldest daughter Rachel in Montreal.De Montmorency also found the opportunity to travel and was in Abyssinia at the time of Napier's expedition; he volunteered privately to take part and was with the Army up to the gates of Magdala (Medal). Promoted Major on 28 September 1869 and further advanced Lieutenant-Colonel on 14 June 1876, he served with the British Forces in Egypt and the Sudan from 1886-7. De Montmorency was given the local rank of Major-General in 1887 and commanded the troops at Alexandria before directing a British field column during operations on the Nile for which he received a 'mention'. Promoted Major-General in the British Army on 30 November 1889, he succeeded to the peerage on 25 December of that year upon the death of his father.Posted to India, the now-Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency was given command of a first-class district in Bengal (1890-1895) and later Dublin District from 1895-1897, retiring on 21 September 1897. The next year, his son Lieutenant Raymond de Montmorency, 21st Lancers, went on to serve at the Battle of Omdurman on 2 September 1898. During the fighting he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in attempting to rescue Lieutenant Grenfell who had been unhorsed. Driving away the Dervishes around him he found the Lieutenant already dead, rescuing the body and placing it upon a horse; with the assistance of two other men he cut his way free. Promoted Captain on 2 August 1899, the young De Montmorency raised his own company - Montmorency's Scouts - for the Boer War but was killed in action at the Battle of Stormberg. His father died on 7 May 1902 of apoplexy at Bury Street, London and was buried at Dewlish, Dorsetshire. The titles passed to his younger son Willoughby John Horace de Montmorency; sold together with copied research including a biography of the 3rd Viscount de Montmorency and his entry in the Dictionary of National Biography, 2nd Supplement, Volume I.…
A scarce Boer War Militia Officer's D.S.O. group of four awarded to Major M. A. Foster, 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, who was further twice 'mentioned'Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Jubilee 1897, silver, unnamed as issued; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Capt. & Adjt. M. A. Foster, D.S.O., Som. L.I.), unit officially corrected to include post-nominals; King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Maj. & Adjt. M. A. Foster. D.S.O., Som. L.I.), the last three mounted as worn in this order, minor enamel damage to D.S.O. and contact wear overall, very fine (4)Provenance:Noonans, June 2012.Spink, July 2018; April 2023.D.S.O. London Gazette 27 September 1901.M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901, 29 July 1902.Montagu Amos Foster was born on 19 March 1861, the son of William Foster of Wilbury Road, Brighton, Sussex. Foster was privately educated and became a notable linguist over the course of his life. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Second East Norfolk (Militia) on 10 December 1879, he was gazetted to a regular commission with the Somerset Light Infantry on 28 January 1882, with the rank of Lieutenant. Promoted Captain in September 1887, he served as an Adjutant in the Militia from May 1899 until February 1904.Foster also returned to the Militia, serving as Captain and Adjutant with the 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. It was with this role that he appears upon the roll for the Jubilee Medal. Later entering the Boer War, with the Battalion sailing on the Kildonan Castle in Spring 1900, upon arrival they were split up with the majority of the unit divided along the lines of communication between East London and Queenstown, Cape Colony, while some officers were detached to the Staff. Foster's role would likely have been with one of the mobile columns that operated in the region hunting down the Boer Commandos - a role for which he was further 'mentioned' twice on 10 September 1901 and 29 July 1902.Foster certainly came home to receive his D.S.O. in an investiture on 29 October 1901, however, he returned to South Africa, being promoted Major in April 1902 and is listed as stationed there until 13 May. Seeing further service in the East Indies between 1902 and April 1904, Foster returned to Britain on 16 April and served at home until March 1909 when he was placed upon the retired list. Foster had married Ida Frances, the daughter of Brigadier-General W. G. Thompson, C.M.G., D.S.O. and had two children with her, Mary and Cecil William Foster; sold together with copied research comprising a C.D. containing research and photographs, a copied caricature and career summery as well as a Record of Service, medal rolls and extracts from the London Gazette and West Somerset Free Press.…
Waterloo 1815 (William Clerk, 2nd Batt. Coldstream Gds.), fitted with steel clip and replacement ring suspension and a J. Lazeruck riband brooch for wear, a couple of light edge bruises and light scratching, otherwise very fineWilliam Clerk is confirmed on the Royal Mint roll (entry 614) and appears as William Clarke on the typed roll, serving in Lieutenant-Colonel H. R. Pakenham's Company.The Battalion formed part of Major-General Sir John Byng's 2nd Guards Brigade, and was ordered to recapture Bossu Wood from Jérôme's Division at the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June. French voltigeurs (skirmishers), wearing dark blue and green, picked off the scarlet British guardsmen as they struggled through the undergrowth and scrub. When eventually the Guards emerged from the wood and reformed into line, they were forced back by Piré's 6th Lancers and 1st Chasseurs. A costly stalemate, Quatre Bras at least bought Wellington time to extract his forces and re-deploy on the ridge of Mont St. Jean, just nine miles south of Brussels, Napoleon's objective.At the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815, the whole of 2nd Battalion was committed to the defence of Hougoumont, a vast farmhouse complex guarding Wellington's right flank. Initially, only Lieutenant-Colonel MacDonnell's Light Company was at Hougoumont, the other Companies being positioned on the ridge. At 2.30 p.m., following the repulse of D'Erlon's Corps, the other Companies marched down to reinforce MacDonnell, defending Hougoumont vigorously over the next six hours.Hougoumont was pivotal to Wellington's strategy. Whereas he never committed more than 5% of his infantry to its defence, around 23% of Napoleon's infantry made futile attempts to capture it. Had these infantrymen been available to Marshal Ney at La Haye Sainte at 6 p.m., Ney could easily have smashed through Wellington's beleaguered centre, changing the course of the battle.…
A fine Second World War Coastal Command D.F.C., D-Day airborne operations A.F.C. group of nine awarded to Wing Commander C. J. Mackenzie, Royal Air Force, late Auxiliary Air ForceHaving been credited with the destruction of a U-Boat in the Western Approaches piloting a Hudson of No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron in April 1942, he transferred to glider towing duties in Dakotas of No. 233 Squadron, in which he participated in Operations 'Tonga' & 'Market Garden'Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1942'; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1944'; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (Act. Sqn. Ldr. C. J. Mackenzie, R.A.F.); Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, together with embroidered R.A.F. uniform 'Wings', very fine or better (9)D.F.C. London Gazette 28 July 1942, the original recommendation states:'Flying Officer Mackenzie has been employed in an operational squadron since the outbreak of war and has completed over 400 hours operational flying in Anson, Blenheim, and Hudson aircraft, mainly on patrols to the enemy coast. He has at all times shown courage, determination, and devotion to duty of the highest order in carrying out any task allotted to him.On the 28 April 1942, he was captain and pilot of Hudson aircraft K/500 carrying out an A./S. patrol at 4,400 feet in the Western Approaches, when he sighted a U-boat on the surface eight miles away. He made full use of all available cloud cover and sun, and made a dive-bombing attack, pulling out at 60 to 70 feet and releasing four depth charges across the forward part of the still surfaced U-boat. The attack was almost certainly a successful one, the second charge exploding within 10 feet of the hull. The depth-charge attack was followed by a front and rear gun attack, the U-boat then disappearing from sight stern first, leaving a very large patch of frothy brown disturbed water behind.Flight Lieutenant Mackenzie exploited his sighting to the maximum and made a complete surprise attack. An award to this officer is recommended in the strongest terms, both for general good work since the outbreak of war and for this excellent attack on an enemy undersea raider.'A.F.C. London Gazette 1 September 1944, the original recommendation states:'Acting Squadron Leader Mackenzie has displayed exemplary zeal and devotion to duty as a flight commander. His untiring efforts, initiative and exceptional ability have been an inspiration to all with whom he has come into contact, and enabled the flight to reach the high standard of efficiency which led to the carrying out of its airborne operations on D-Day with unqualified success.'Charles John Mackenzie, born in India on 25 May 1915, was a pre-war member of the Auxiliary Air Force who was called up in August 1939 when he joined No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron at R.A.F. Detling in the acting rank of Pilot Officer. Initially equipped with Ansons, the squadron converted to Blenheims in April 1941, and thence to Hudsons in November 1941.In March 1942, the squadron moved to R.A.F. Stornoway for patrols over the Atlantic and the approaches to the Clyde and the Irish Sea. On 28 April, whilst the captain and pilot of a Hudson, Mackenzie convincingly attacked an enemy U-boat in the Western Approaches, approximately 350 miles due west of the Outer Hebrides, an act of skill and gallantry which resulted in the award of his Distinguished Flying Cross.Operation 'Tonga'Advanced to Squadron Leader, Mackenzie next transferred to Transport Command and was posted to No. 233 Squadron at R.A.F. Blakehill Farm. And it was from here that he was charged with glider-towing operations for Operation 'Tonga' between 5-7 June 1944, delivering paratroopers and equipment for the 6th Airborne Division. According to the squadron's Operation Record Book (O.R.B.), it was 'given the envious choice of Drop Zone 'K' - the furthest inland.'Taking off at 23:14 hours on 5 June 1944, the squadron successfully dropped 407 paratroopers complete with kit bags and containers in an area north-west of Toufreville. The O.R.B. noted much light flak being encountered along the French coast and two Dakotas failed to return to base. Mackenzie's aircraft was among those damaged the following night, when he returned to Normandy for Operation 'Rob Roy One'. But the squadron's good work had not been in vain, for on the morning of 7 June it received the following message from Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory:'Will you please convey my heartiest congratulations to 46 Group on their magnificent performance in carrying over the 6th Airborne Division in the initial operation. The fact that so successful and difficult an operation has been carried out with such complete success in so short a time after the formation of the squadrons reflects highest credit on all concerned.'For his services as a flight commander in the run-up to the Normandy Landings, and for his work on D-Day itself, Mackenzie was recommended for and received the A.F.C.Operation 'Market Garden'The squadron's next mission was Operation 'Market Garden', when in order to facilitate the Second Army's advance through Holland, the 1st Airborne Division was to be landed at several landing zones in the vicinity of Arnhem to secure bridges over the River Rhine. On 17 September, with Mackenzie piloting one of 22 squadron Dakotas, No. 233 successfully released gliders that contained 309 troops, 18 handcarts, 15 motor cycles, 10 Jeeps, 11 trailers, 5 wireless set, 11 cycles, and 1 6-pounder anti-tank gun, without any loss. On the second day they repeated this feat, with 17 aircraft from the squadron towing gliders containing 84 troops, 15 Jeeps, 7 trailers, 8 6-pounder anti-tank guns, and 3 machine-guns, but the re-supply missions were less fortunate, and the squadron lost 5 aircraft over the next three days, losses recalled by the posthumous award of the V.C. to David Lord, another Dakota pilot.The R.A.F. Memorial Flight's C-47 Dakota is currently painted up to represent a No. 233 Squadron aircraft, as flown by the likes of Charles Mackenzie over Arnhem.With the war in Europe over, Mackenzie remained in the Royal Air Force, going out to South-East Asia later in the year. He was promoted Wing Commander in July 1954 and, having settled in Eastbourne on his retirement, died in February 1970.Sold with his original 'Notice of Calling Out', dated 23 August 1939, together with his original commission warrant for the rank of Pilot Officer, dated 17 May 1940, and several photographs.For his corresponding dress miniatures please see lot: 447.…
Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (W. Cook, 20th Foot.), traces of lacquer, very fine, mounted as wornProvenance:Glendining's, September 1987.William Cook was born at Totham, Essex circa 1785 and was a labourer also serving in the West Essex Militia upon his enlisting in the 20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot (Lancashire Fusiliers) at Haslar under a bounty of £5-5-3; a vast sum in that period. At that time he was described as having dark eyes, dark hair and a 'brown' complexion, perhaps being of West Indian heritage whose parents had made it to England.Cook was wounded by gunshot at Orthes. A fine account is offered by Colonel John Hogge, K.H., who commanded the Light Company:'I embrace the first moment I had to spare since the battle of the 27th to let you know I have again escaped one of the most murderous battles that ever I believe the old 20th witnessed. I had three most wonderful escapes, three balls struck me, one entering the glass you bought me in London, when in the act of looking at the troops opposed to us, the ball still remains in but has entirely destroyed the glass. Another entered my jacket near the right breast, was turned by striking a button, passed along my waistcoat, came out and badly wounded a man of my company. A grape shot struck the top of my shoulder, carried away the bugle and most of my right wing but did no other injury except a slight bruise. You will say my dear brother I am a fortunate fellow, I think to myself, for I believe no man ever had narrower escapes, the jacket and spyglass I shall preserve and one day I hope to show you them. I shall now begin to relate what passed on that eventful day confining myself to that part of the tragedy our Brigade acted.The Light Companies of the 23rd, 7th, 20th, and a company of Rifles were in advance about 2 miles, when we came in contact with the advance post of the enemy, we immediately engaged them and drove them about a mile into a village where they had posted, unbeknown to us, a number of men in every part. We attacked it three times but did not succeed, soon after two companies of the 7th reinforced us and we quickly drove them out, took possession and retained it till the Brigade came up, we lost in this affair two Captains and about 60 men out of the light companies of the Brigade, eleven of my company were killed and wounded. It was here I had two escapes. We were then ordered to join our Regts. I found mine just in rear of the village.Soon after an order came to us to advance and support our Portuguese Brigade, as they had just given way about half a mile in front of us. The great bone of contention was a small town [St Böes] and a range of hills just in the van of it, upon which a strong column of French were posted with 6 pieces of Artillery. The main road ran directly through the town, and the heights and all the Artillery commanded it, we fixed bayonets and there the bloody scene commenced. I passed the Portuguese and actually carried the town under a most dreadful fire of grape shot and musquetry, that ever a regiment was exposed to, out of 291, all we had, 126 men and nine officers were killed and wounded. We had two other officers wounded but they were not returned so, being slightly hit. The enemy attempted again to take it from us, they got into the town but we managed to drive them out again. They carried away about 25 of our men and Captain Tovey, they surrounded them. The 7th Division soon came up and the French retreated in all directions. We followed till darkness put an end to the contest.Genl. Moss was wounded but not badly before we took the town. Major Bent who nobly commanded us had first his horse shot and was immediately afterwards killed himself. Three balls entered him. One Captain killed and three badly wounded. Capt Russell commands what few of us are left, he certainly gets the Brevet. Col Ellis, who commands the Brigade, rode into the town after we had taken it and declared that there never was a more gallant thing done by any Regt, and his Lordship sent in soon after to know what Regt it was that had taken the town. It is certain that they had in it double our numbers, posted so as to rake every part of the road leading through the town. Had we not succeeded we should have been cut to atoms, the only chance we had was to charge through it instantly, and after driving them out get under cover of the houses. It was impossible for our men to have stood it for five minutes longer, the grape from the Artillery on the hills cut us down by the dozens at a time. I got off most fortunately with the loss only of a strap. We mustered on parade next day only 144 men and nine officers. Soult may now say he annihilated us.’Cook was in fair shape to share in the action at Toulouse and was discharged on 31 January 1816. …
The stretcher-bearer's D.C.M., 'Great War' M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal W. J. Barltrop, 17th (British Empire League) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle CorpsDistinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (C-3553 L.Cpl W. J. Barltropp. 17/K.R.R.C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (C-3553 L.Cpl W. J. Barltrop. 17/K.R.R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (C-3553 Cpl. W. J. Barltrop. K.R.Rif.C.), some light edge wear, minor contact marks, overall very fine (4)D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1917, the original citation states:'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as stretcher bearer. He worked untiringly for six days, dressing the wounded under fire with admirable skill and disregard of personal danger. During this time he carried a wounded man, who was in need of immediate medical treatment, over ground which was swept by enemy snipers; they had already that day accounted for four runners who were using the same road. No praise can be too great for his courage and devotion.'M.M. London Gazette 6 January 1917.William James Barltrop, sometimes spelled Barltropp, was born near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire around 1886. He appears on the 1901 census living at Henham Hall Cottages, near Stansted, Saffron Walden. Enlisting with the 17th (British Empire League) Battalion Barltrop entered the war in France with them at some stage after 1916.The Battalion entered the war in April 1916 and saw action during the Somme Offensive starting at Ancre in September before moving to support the attack on the Schwaben Redoubt in October. Given the date of Gazette for Barltrop's M.M. it is quite likely that his medal was related to these actions.The 17th Battalion saw out a gruelling Christmas and New Year in the Ypres Salient suffering a constant attritional stream of losses. They were back in the action proper at the start of the Third Battle of Ypres at Pilckem Ridge and saw continual fighting through July, August and into September. It was very likely during the early engagements of that Offensive that Barltrop won his D.C.M.The Regiment was seriously mauled during the German Spring Offensive of early 1918 and as such they were amalgamated into a composite Brigade. After the Offensive was halted they went into the reserve as a training cadre. Barltrop appears to have taken his pension from April 1919, his death was registered in 1925; sold together with copied research.…
Cheshunt Volunteers 1802 oval silver medal, 54mm x 42mm, hallmarks for London 1801, obverse engraved with regimental title above an image of a Volunteer between trophies and scroll inscribed 'Best Shot', reverse engraved 'Mr Newdick from Captn Sir G. Prescot. Bart. 2d May 1802.', fitted with loop suspension, a couple of very light edge bruises, otherwise very fineProvenance:Spink, 20 July 2006, Lot 111.…
An 'Arnhem P.O.W.' group of five awarded to Corporal R. S. Telford, 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who went 'in the bag' on 23 September during a fierce tank attack on the Battalion's perimeter1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Cadet Forces, E.II.R. (WO. R. S. Telford. A.T.C.), sold together with the recipient's dog tags and soldier's release book, light pitting and contact marks, very fine (5)Robert Smith Telford was born on 13 June 1919, a native of Dumfriesshire and enlisted on 1 September 1939 with the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Joining the 7th (Galloway) Battalion he was with them in Scotland during the Fall of France, indeed the Battalion was not to leave Britain for some time. They transferred to the 1st Air Landing Brigade in 1943 and continued to train with them until the D-Day Landings.7th Battalion took off on 17 September 1944 for Operation Market Garden, landing in the Ede area in 1944 and initially all went well. The next day however they came under attack by several parties of German troops with armoured vehicles in support, a situation which would become increasingly familiar over the next week of fighting.Moving off they fought a sharp action at Johanna Hoeve farm but managed to repel a German attack and continue on towards Arnhem. Arriving at Oosterbeek, some 5 kilometeres west of Arnhem on 19 September they dug in there to assume their corner of the perimeter. The enemy started to probe their lines not long later, and by 09:00 on 20 September they had established the Battalion's positions allowing the battle to begin in earnest. Some of the ferocity of the fighting can be ascertained from the war diary which notes the first armoured 'kill' made by the unit:'The first "kill" was an armoured car which was blown up and set on fire by the atk gun covering the NORTH face. Later another atk gun under Lt HANNAH, and escorted by a Pl of B Coy, went out to watch the rd leading SOUTH from the rd and rly crossing at 699791. Soon after it was in posn a TIGER tk, towing a flame-throwing apparatus, appeared and a spirited action took place. As a result of the courageous behaviour of our atk gun crew, and of Cpl WATSON and Pte McWHIRTER in particular, the TIGER tk was completely knocked out and the crew killed.'Through that day and the next, 7th Battalion halted the enemy advance, unable to withdraw due to constant pressure and concern over losing their limited equipment in the dark. A break in the attacks on 22 September allowed them the chance to reform and prepare their positions for another attack, however they could not have been prepared for the forces ranged against them.A heavy barrage opened the day and at around 11:00 'B' Company came under heavy attack by a force of tanks with infantry and artillery support. Their anti-tank gun was knocked out, forcing them back from a line of buildings, however they gamely held on to their slit trenches and bunkers, fighting for every yard. Their partial withdrawal allowed the German infantry to push onto the flank of 'C' company who also came under attack from Armoured cars to their front.Soon the action became an attempt by the Germans to consolidate a piece of their hard won gains in the face of heavy fire and counter-attacks by the Battalion. They were able to prepare machine gun positions in the wood between 'B' and 'C' companies, thus keeping that gap open and completing their objective.The only option was a counter-attack which was carried out by 'C' Company, who despite several losses managed to retake the wood and capture a number of the enemy. The line re-established they managed to hold off further attacks for the rest of the day, taking a tally of German tanks, damaged or destroyed in the process. It was noted in the war diary that the Regimental Aid Post was full to bursting as the Medical Aid Post had fallen into enemy hands, suggesting that some areas of the perimeter were still occupied by the enemy.Telford is listed as being taken prisoner of war during the days fighting, it is likely he was a victim of the morning offensive which almost saw the line break. Taken to Stalag 11B at Fallingbostel he remained there until being repatriated at the end of the war. Upon his return to the British Army he was posted to a Holding Regiment, Royal Artillery but saw no service with them instead being demobilised on 11 April 1946. Later joining the Cadet Forces he was awarded the Cadet Forces medal with them. Telford died in Dumfries on 8 December 1898 and is buried at Lockerbie; sold together with copied research, a set of original dog tags and an original soldier's release book named to the recipient.…
The Zulu War Medal awarded to Captain G. K. Torry, 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal Tower Hamlets Light Infantry (Militia)South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Lieut: G. K. Torry. 2/Tower Hamlet Mil:), officially impressed late issue, good very fineJust 2 Medals to the 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal Tower Hamlets Light Infantry (Militia).Provenance:Ex-Major Tylden Collection.Medal issued in July 1919.Gewase K. Torry served attached to the 80th Foot during the Zulu Campaign and was certified as having been present at the Battle of Ulundi. Both Battalions of his unusual militia unit were eventually absorbed into the Rifle Brigade.Torry himself was advanced Captain into the 4th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers in June 1880 and appointed to the Army Reserve in November 1882. He was removed from the Reserve on account of his age in April 1899, but returned to the fold for a Staff posting at home during the Great War (no Medal entitlement).…
StaffSome 48 Medals issued to the Staff, 3 of these to Interpreters and all with clasp '1879'.'The Border Horse now began to fire at the distant snipers, and Wood waited to see what effect the shots might have. A Zulu suddenly popped up from a rock a scant fifty yards away and fired. Wood noted that the shot seemed low, but Lloyd fell back, exclaiming, "I'm hit - badly! My back is broken!" Wood and Campbell caught him and carried him down to the stone kraal. Wood then started back up, leading his horse, but a shot struck it and killed it, and when he regained the kraal he found that Lloyd had died. Wood now ordered Weatherley to take the Border Horse up to clear the trail, but the men balked again. Campbell then picked up Lysons and four privates from Wood's escort and started up the trail in single file, making for a cave from which several Zulus were firing. The narrow passage was only two feet wide between towering rock walls, and as Campbell plunged into the mouth of the cave, a Zulu fired a shot straight into his forehead, killing him instantly. Undaunted, Lysons and Private Edmun Fowler sprang over his body, driving the Zulus into the recesses of the mountain. Lysons then held the mouth of the cave while the others dragged Campbell's body back to the kraal…'High drama on Hlobane Mountain on 29 March 1879; The Washing of the Spears by Donald R. Morris, refersThe outstanding South Africa Medal awarded to Mr. L. Lloyd, Evelyn's Wood's interpreter, who - in one of the most contentious episodes of the conflict - was mortally wounded in the disastrous action at Hlobane on 29 March 1879South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (L. Lloyd, Esq., Interpreter), suspension claw tightened, minor contact wear, very fineLlewelyn Lloyd was a prominent casualty in the disastrous action fought at Hlobane Mountain on 28 March 1879, his death being indelibly linked to that of Captain Hon. R. G. E. Campbell of the Coldstream Guards, as outlined in Colonel Evelyn Wood's much quoted despatch to Lord Chelmsford. It was an episode in which incompetence played its role, amidst charges of cowardice, and has accordingly remained the subject of ongoing debate.In fact, no history of the Zulu War would be complete without mention of this contentious chapter, some historians claiming that Wood (later Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.M.G.) momentarily lost the plot.An excellent account of events may be found in John Young's Horror at the Devil's Pass - The Battle of Hlobane, 28 March 1879, from which the following extract has been taken:'…Dawn broke and a new horror became apparent. The Zulus were behind prepared barricades and concealed within caves that riddled the mountain, awaiting the assault. From behind their positions, the Zulus opened fire on the scaling troops. Two officers of the Frontier Light Horse, Lieutenants Otto von Stietencron and George Williams, fell dead, two troopers also fell to the fire.Wood and his escort rode to the sound of the firing. Just below the summit of the mountain plateau they chanced upon Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Augustus Weatherley and his Border Lancers. Weatherley's unit should have been with Buller, but during the storm they had become separated and now lagged behind. Wood spied a Zulu rifleman level his gun in his direction and he expressed his contempt of the Zulu marksmanship. The Zulu fired, and his bullet found its mark, shattering the spine of Mr. Llewelyn Lloyd, Wood's Political Assistant and his interpreter, who was at Wood's side. Wood attempted to lift the mortally wounded man, but stumbled under the weight. Captain the Honourable Ronald Campbell, Coldstream Guards, Wood's chief staff officer, came to his aid and carried the dying Lloyd out of the line of fire. Again a Zulu fired at Wood, killing his lead mount. The horse fell against Wood, and caused him to stumble.A gasp went up from his men, fearing their commander wounded. Wood shouted a reassurance that he was not hit, and picking himself up, he made his way downhill to the troops' position. Angered at being pinned-down, Wood ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherley to assault the position from where the fire was coming. Weatherley in turn, addressed his men, ordering them forward, but only Lieutenant J. Pool and Sub-Lieutenant H. W. Parminter responded to the command. The remainder of the Border Horse refused to assault the position, saying that it was unassailable. Captain Campbell was horrified; this was tantamount to mutiny - if not cowardice.Campbell was of ennobled birth, the son of the 2nd Earl Cawdor. Such behaviour was unheard of within the class to which he belonged. Uttering his contempt of the fainthearted volunteers, he sprang forward towards the foe, supported by Second-Lieutenant Henry Lysons, 90th Light Infantry and four mounted infantrymen of Wood's personal escort, also drawn from the 90th. The small party advanced in a determined manner, clambering over boulders and through crevices, which led to the Zulu position. The path was so narrow that the advance could only be made in single file. Campbell gained the mouth of the cave first, only to be shot in the head at point-blank. Undeterred, Lysons and Private Edmund Fowler carried the position, forcing the Zulus to withdraw into a series of subterranean passages and, with Lysons and Fowler in pursuit, they killed all those who offered resistance, and put the others to flight.With Lysons covering the cave mouth, Campbell's body was brought down and placed alongside Lloyd, who had succumbed to his wound. Fearful of the bodies being mutilated, Wood decided to bury them on the field. Being the son of a clergyman, he wished to conduct a proper burial service, only to realise that his service book was still in the wallets of his saddle on his dead mount. He ordered his bugler, Alexander Walkinshaw, to recover the prayer book. Walkinshaw, whom Wood described as "one of the bravest men in the Army," calmly strode up, under heavy fire and recovered not only the prayer book but also the entire saddle.Wood had the two bodies removed some three hundred yards downhill, to where the soil was less rocky and the Zulus of Wood's escort dug the grave with their spears, under the watchful eye of Prince Mthonga. Their task completed, Wood committed the two bodies to the ground, reading an abridged version of the burial service from a prayer book which belonged to Captain Campbell's wife, who was the daughter of the Bishop of Rochester, Kent…'Lieutenant Henry Lysons and Private Edmund Fowler, both of the 90th Regiment, were awarded the Victoria Cross.PostscriptOn 21 May 1880, Mrs. Campbell was taken to Hlobane where a headstone was placed on the grave of her husband and Llewelyn Lloyd. Some of the party, including Empress Eugenie, actually climbed up the Devil's Pass to the summit. Finally, they reached the site where the Prince Imperial was killed. Another memorial stone was laid and the empress planted cuttings of a tree she had brought from the family estate at Camden Place in Chislehurst. The grief-stricken party returned to England by the end of July.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Clasp an old tailors copy, naming details as described. The estimate is revised to £6,000-8,000.
A good 'Air Gunner's' D.F.M. group of five awarded to Flight Sergeant A. Massey, No. 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who served in multiple air combats, certainly downing an Me109Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (649458 F/Sgt. A. Massey. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, light contact marks, very fine (5)D.F.M. London Gazette 13 October 1944, the original recommendation states:'Flight Sergeant Massey has completed 29 sorties against the enemy, 21 of these against heavily defended targets in Germany. On several occasions, his aircraft has suffered damage and at all times his coolness and courage in the face of the enemy fire has been an inspiration to his crew. He has had several combats with enemy fighters and on one occasion destroyed an ME109. His devotion to duty at all times set a good example to his fellow gunners and as a crew member, he inspire[d] great confidence. This NCO is recommended for the award of the DFM.'Allan Massey was serving with No. 51 Squadron in 1943, operating out of R.A.F. Snaith as part of No. 4 Group. He was with them on 27 August when his aircraft was attacked by a JU88, they managed to lose him in the clouds but were hit by flak on the return journey. Another dramatic incident occurred in early August 1943 when the rear turret gunner collapsed and had to be returned to base for medical treatment.The mission for which Norcross was awarded his D.F.C. occurred on 30 August, in an attack over Muchen-Gladback. The Squadron Operations Book adds further details:'10 miles NNE Antwerp. Mid Upper gunner saw twin engine aircraft on port side coming in towards Halifax. Mid Upper Gunner fired about 25 rounds, and enemy aircraft dived to starboard and was lost to sight.'His station commander added his recommendation for the award of the D.F.M., stating:'Flight Sergeant Massey is a thoroughly competent and reliable Air Gunner and by his skill and determination has contributed to the success of his crew and to the safe completion of an operational tour. His ability and spirit have been a fine example to his unit. Strongly recommended for the award of the D.F.M.'…
Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Java (Samuel Whittle, 22nd Light Dragoons.), traces of brooch mounting at 3 and 9 o'clock respectively, suspension sometime re-affixed, some edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fineWhittle is one of only 54 members of the cavalry with entitlement to a clasp for Java.Samuel Whittle was born in Whitley, Chester circa 1778 and made his living as a hatter prior to his enlistment with the 22nd Regiment of Light Dragoons on 1 July 1795 upon reaching eighteen years of age. Whittle was to embark on what would be a twenty-four-year career with the Colours, twenty-one of which were to be spent serving abroad in the East Indies.The 22nd Light Dragoons were renumbered from the 25th Dragoons in 1794, which had been raised by Francis Edward Gwyn that same year for service in India. Whittle, therefore, joined the Regiment whilst it was still in its infancy and was likely first embarked to India with the rest of his unit to serve in the Anglo-Mysore War in 1799. Whittle would remain in the region for the next two decades. The conflict in Mysore saw the 22nd Light Dragoons fight with distinction at the Battle of Seringapatam, which was awarded to them as a battle honour.During the Napoleonic Wars, Whittle and his Regiment took an active role in the British effort to seize Java from Franco-Dutch forces in 1811. They landed on 4 August and the next day a small number escorted Colonel Robert Gillespie to the capital of Batavia. They reached the undefended city on 8 August, which immediately surrendered to Gillespie and his men. They next advanced on Dutch General Janssens stronghold at Weltervreeden, which fell to a British attack on 10 August. The British sustained under 100 losses while the enemy lost over 300 men. The nature of the island made the deployment of cavalry difficult, however after the action at Weltervreeden the 22nd were utilised in their traditional role of pursuing the retreating enemy. Some of the Regiment may have taken part in the fighting dismounted, as Gillespie's Brigade Orders refer to:'I have also to thank Captain Gall of the Body-guard, Lieutenant Dudley of the dismounted dragoons twenty-second regiment, and Captains Smithwayte and M'Craith of the Madras pioneers, for their support in the affair.'Lieutenant Dudley's Dragoons also participated in the siege of Fort Cornelis which took place later that month. The column was guided into position by a Franco-Dutch deserter who rode at their head with Serjeant Smith of the 22nd, capturing two enemy redoubts in the surprise attack after a fierce battle, at which the critical moment Gillespie led the mounted detachment of the 22nd after the fleeing enemy. The Batavians rallied several more times prolonging the conflict, however in the end most of the force was cut off and the British seized the fort on 25 August. The British sustained 630 casualties, with the 22nd suffering 6 dead and 17 wounded. The wounded included the commander of the dismounted detachment, Lieutenant Dudley, who was again 'mentioned' although this time by the Adjutant General. The Battle of Cornelis ended effective resistance in Java, though the stubborn resistance of General Janssens carried on into September.The 22nd remained in Java until 1813, after which Muster Lists indicate that they served in Bangalore, India. British occupation of the island came to an end in 1814 when Java was returned to the newly independent Netherlands. Whittle was promoted Corporal in India on 22 February 1814 and served in this capacity with John Floyd Patterson's troop. The Regiment remained there and as such did not fight at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.Whittle was at some stage advanced Serjeant, and served as such at the Battle of Maheidpoor in Captain Vernon's troop on 21 December 1817. This battle saw a decisive British victory over the Marathas, resulting in the conclusion of the Anglo-Maratha War and the cession of much territory to the British, which were incorporated into the British Raj. It was just a few years after the engagement at Maheidpoor that Whittle's time in the service finally came to an end. He was discharged in India in consequence of 'being worn out by length of service & unable to ride' on 25 August 1819. While this poor state of health is certainly understandable given his twenty years in the harsh Indian climate, one wonders if his discharge might have been influenced by his Regiment being disbanded the following year.Whittle is further entitled to an Army of India 1799-1824 Medal with a clasp for Maheidpoor, being one of only 167 Europeans with entitlement to the clasp, 28 of which were awarded to the 22nd Light Dragoons; sold together with copied research including medal rolls.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax.
The 'St. Pancras bombing 1941' B.E.M. awarded to Constable H. J. Smith, Police War Reserve, 'N' Division, Metropolitan Police who, whilst off duty, saw a women trapped in her home by a parachute mineFinding a ladder he climbed the crumbling, bomb damaged building, dug her free and pulled her to safety, all while the bombs continued around him, his original recommendation was for the George Medal, later downgradedBritish Empire Medal, Civil Division, G.VI.R. (Henry John Smith), officially engraved naming on a pre-prepared background, light edge wear, very fineB.E.M. London Gazette 12 September 1941, the original citation states:'A bomb damaged a building, the remains of which were liable to collapse. War Reserve Constable Smith obtained a ladder, climbed to the top of it and then hauled himself on to a balcony which went round to the first floor. He climbed through a window and entered a room where he found a woman buried up to the neck in rubble. He began to dig with his hands although debris was falling and further bombs were dropped in the neighbourhood. Smith eventually released the victim and carried her to safety.'Henry John Smith worked as a packer in civilian life and was living at 41 Goldington Buildings, St. Pancras during the Second World War. He volunteered for the Police War Reserve and was posted to 'N' Division, Metropolitan Police. The original recommendation for his award was for the George Medal however it was downgraded to the B.E.M., the text goes into further detail on the events of 17 April 1941:'On 17th April 1941 at about 3.15 a.m. a parachute mine fell in Pancras Square, Platt Street, N.W.1., causing widespread devastation to the surrounding property including a very large block of flats and the "Star" P.H. at the corner of Platt Street and Goldington Street.War Reserve Smith, who was off duty but lived in the vicinity had returned from assisting at another incident at St. Pancras Hospital when he saw a parachute mine descending in the vicinity of Somers Town Police Station. He immediately went towards Pancras Square and while on his way the mine exploded. On arriving at the scene he rendered assistance, in the course of which he rescued a pregnant woman, and then heard cries for help coming from the first floor of the public house.This building appeared to be in imminent danger of collapse and part of it had to be pulled down next day, but War Reserve obtained a ladder (which was too short) climbed to the top of it and then hauled himself on to a balcony which went round the first floor. He climbed through a window and entered a room where he found a woman buried up to the neck in rubble and debris. He began to extricate the woman with his hands although pieces of ceilings and brickwork were falling and further bombs were still coming down in the neighbourhood.The woman was eventually released and carried to the window. War Reserve Smith then shouted to another police officer to fetch a longer ladder and when this arrived he put the woman over his shoulder and descended to the ground. She had by this time fainted.With the assistance of the woman's brother-in-law he took her to a Rest Centre and then returned to the scene of the incident and rendered what further assistance he could until 5.15 a.m. when he returned home, cleaned himself and reported for duty at 5.45 a.m. at Somers Town Police Station.Although War Reserve Smith was due to parade for duty at 5.45 a.m. the same morning he voluntarily rendered assistance at various incidents during the night. He attended a major incident at St. Pancras Hospital and then generally assisted at Pancras Square, in the course of which he rescued the two women. It is likely that had it not been for the efforts of this War Reserve the second women would have been buried by debris.The conduct of War Reserve Smith, who was off duty, was meritorious and his conduct was of a very high order.The acting Superintendent of the Division recommends War Reserve Smith for an award or mention in the London Gazette. The Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the District considers his conduct worthy of high award and recommends the award of the George Medal.'Whilst impressive this recommendation does little to underline the danger of the situation and can be better outlined by the testimony of the witnesses, firstly the victim of the bomb, Mrs. Constance E Keevil, who states:'My house partially collapsed, and as I attempted to leave my office the door collapsed on me, pinning me in the corner with the door, by this time the ceiling and walls were collapsing on me, burying me in the debris up to my shoulders. I was completely helpless, and shouted for help; this was answered by a man's voice, telling me to wait; shortly afterwards a policeman entered my office through the balcony window, he started to clear the debris off me with his hands, repeatedly telling me to keep calm. All the time he was doing this masonry was falling in patches and was dangerous to us both. He eventually cleared me of the debris, took me to the window and shouted for someone to bring a longer ladder, still doing his best to keep me calm, which I might say was a great effort on his part. The raid was still very heavy; the next I remember was being thrown over the P.C.'s shoulder and carried down the ladder when I completely collapsed.'P.C. Richardson adds his verdict:'The air raid was still in progress and of a severe character; the public house was in a very bad condition and liable to collapse further.In my opinion The War Reserve acted with great promptitude and courage, and at great personal danger considering all the circumstances of the night.'Sold together with copied research.…
A scarce 'Saboteurs' campaign group of five awarded to Sergeant F. Tibbets, 4/1 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, who was taken prisoner of war during the Fall of Kos and was later punished for sabotaging Focke-Wulf engines during his work detail1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53 (1438983 Sgt. F. Tibbets. R.A.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, light pitting, very fine (5)Frank Tibbets was a native of Birmingham, born on 26 February 1918 and enlisted in March 1939, listing his address as 3 Stewart Road, Blackheath, Birmingham. Seeing service in North Africa he notably received training from his section officer on escape, evasion and how to behave after capture. Later Tibbets was part of the British forces posted to the Island of Kos in October 1943 when their Italian Garrisons joined the Allies.Unfortunately for the British Garrison there the Germans were able to respond quickly, they hammered the British airfields, preventing them from resupplying. Paratroopers were landed in bulk and, unable to resupply, the British were pushed back to the town of Kos itself, eventually being forced to surrender.Tibbetts went in the bag on 7 October 1943, being initially held at Mooseburg before being transferred to Mullberg in November. From there he joined a work camp at Zwickau and was set to coal mining later being set to paper making at Crossen in March 1944. Returning to Zwickau after this he gained access to a number of Focke Wolfe Engines in August 1944, his Liberation Questionnaire goes into detail stating:'At Zwickau, during the month of August 1944 I pushed into the river Mulde [Zwickauer Mulde] 28 twenty eight [SIC] Focke Wolfe 190 aeroplane engines and lots of spares for same.'He notes for this that he was punished with 14 days of detention and was repatriated, eventually being posted to the Reserve in July 1946. Re-joining in September 1950 he embarked for Korea on 11 October 1950 with 8/11 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery. Posted to a Depot on 11 December 1951, this was the last active service Tibbets was to see; sold together with copied research.Further entitled to an Italy Star, as commonly seen with groups to men stationed in the Aegean.…
The Crimea Medal awarded to Private Joseph Phillips, 4th Light Dragoons, who was mortally wounded in the Charge of the Light BrigadeCrimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann (Joseph Phillips. 4th Lt. Dragns.), officially impressed naming, minor edge bruising and a few surface marks, very fineProvenance:Sotheby's, July 1926.Spink, March 1996, Tooze collection of Crimea Medals (Lot 704).Joseph Phillips was born in Buckinghamshire circa 1832. A chair maker by trade he enlisted into the 4th Light Dragoons (4th Hussars) on 11 January 1849, and served with the regiment in the Crimea in 1854. He was mortally wounded in the charge at Balaklava and died in the Regimental Camp on 9 December 1854.…
The superb 'mine-clearance 1943' M.M. group of seven awarded to Lance-Sergeant W. F. T. Beet, Royal Engineers, who cleared 70 mines over a period of 48 hours under heavy fire without rest in North AfricaMilitary Medal, G.VI.R. (1858429 L. Sjt. W. F. T. Beet. R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (1858429 Spr. W. F. T. Beet. R.E.), mounted court style for wear, light contact marks, very fine (7)M.M. London Gazette 23 September 1943, the original recommendation states:'This Sgt. was attached to my Bn. from 23rd. Fld. Coy., R.E. for the attack on Pt. 134 and GRICHEL OUED on 23rd April. During the period of consolidation when it was necessary to find and clear a German minefield on the track leading to GRICHEL OUED, this Sgt. behaved with great efficiency and devotion to duty and did all and more than was demanded of him and his sub-section with complete disregard for his personal safety.The above minefield was the first German field met with by any member of 23rd Field Company R.E.When he had completed his task of gapping and marking the field, L/Sgt. Beet had been leading his sub-sec. for 48 hours without sleep, and for a large proportion of this time he was under fire. He had actually lifted 70 mines of which 26 were "booby trapped" and 16 A. Pers. Mines.On 30th April L/Sgt. Beet was in charge of a minefield gapping party near the GABGAB gap. The party was under intermittent fire, and a mortar shell eventually wounded four of his party including himself. He refused to leave the site until the other three wounded had been attended to and he received a direct order from Officer i.c work to go.'William Frederick Taylor Beet enlisted on 5 May 1921 with the Royal Engineers as a Boy. He reached his majority on 10 June 1924, being advanced Sapper and posted to 'D' Company, T.B. Royal Engineers. Seeing service over the next decade he was posted to 23rd Field Company on 14 September 1939, this formation saw action during the Fall of France in 1940.Embarking with them for North Africa on 26 March 1943 Beet was to earn his award just the next month, under the most trying circumstances imaginable. He was later to serve with the unit in Italy from December 1943 however did not join them in Palestine in 1945.…
The India General Service Medal awarded to Private G. H. Green, 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment of Foot, one of only 5 men of his Regiment to earn the Northwest Frontier claspIndia General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Northwest Frontier (941 Pte. G. H. Green. 1/7 Foot), light contact marks, very fineOnly 5 members of the Regiment received this clasp while the majority were awarded the Umbeyla clasp; sold together with a copied medal roll.…
The campaign group of seven awarded to Major J. G. Forbes, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, who took the Hong Kong Plague Medal in gold when forming part of 'The Whitewash Brigade', being called out against the 'Black Death' during 1894; Forbes was no stranger to the risks posed by this deadly disease and acted as pall-bearer to brother officer Captain Vesey, who lost his life to the bubonic plagueQueen's South Africa 1899-1901, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (Capt. J. G. Forbes. 2/Shrops. L.I.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. J. G. Forbes. Shrop. L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Major J. G. Forbes. Shrops. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Major J. G. Forbes.); 1911 Coronation (Major J. G. Forbes), privately engraved naming; Hong Kong Plague 1894, gold issue, unmounted (Captain J. G. Forbes, S.L.I.), in red leather Wyon, Regent St, London case, the first six mounted as worn, good very fine (7)Provenance:Spink, September 1963 & August 1986.John George Forbes was born on 2 February at Melbourne, Victoria, the son of John G. Forbes, a barrister. By 1881 the family were living in Cheltenham, with young Forbes a scholar, likely at Cheltenham College. He then went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Shropshire Light Infantry in June 1886. Joining the station at Hong Kong, being a keen horseman, he was a member of the Hong Kong Polo Club by 1893 and Adjutant of his unit.Whitewash BrigadeA virulent epidemic of bubonic plague broke out in Hong Kong in early May 1894. Recognising the danger, the Governor, Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., gathered all the resources available to him, both military and civil, to combat the threat. Special bye-laws were quickly passed and implemented, and temporary plague hospitals were opened. The task of finding, isolating, disinfecting and cleansing infected households was directed by Mr F. H. May, the Captain Superintendent of Police and supervised by Mr J. H. Crook the Sanitary Surveyor. To supplement the local authorities and native labour, Officers and men of the Shropshire Light Infantry and Royal Engineers were drawn in to help with the cleansing operations, and Volunteers for house-to-house visitations were sought amongst the civil population. The population in infected areas were removed and infected houses were rigorously cleansed - floors disinfected, walls, woodwork and furniture thoroughly lime-washed, and bedding, old clothing, old woodwork and general rubbish burnt. Elsewhere, doctors, nurses and ancillary staff worked heroically amongst the sick and dying.Forbes volunteered and went out on plague duties to relieve other officers as a house-to-house visitor, and doubtless would have followed the official guidelines in helping to combat the spread of the Plague:'1. Keep separate clothes for working in, which should be changed on returning off duty and kept hung up in the air and sun when not in use.2. On returning off duty wash the hands in water and Jeyes’ fluid (1 in 20), and if possible take a bath of the same solution.3. Also rinse the mouth out with Condy’s fluid and water (one teaspoonful to one quart of water).4. Saturate the handkerchief with Eucalyptus oil when going on duty and apply it frequently to the nose if in an infected house.5. Smoke.’Despite all the precautions taken, over 2,500 people, mainly Chinese, contracted the plague, with 2,317 deaths attributed to the disease, a fatality rate of over 90%. That saw a brother officer of the unit, Captain Vesey pass of the plague. Forbes was a pall bearer at his funeral on 5 June when he was buried in the Happy Valley Cemetery.The plague subsided with the arrival of cold weather, and restrictions were lifted in early September. On 28 September 1894 a public meeting was held at City Hall for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to recognise the services rendered by the community in combating the plague, and ultimately it was decided that a medal should be awarded, in both gold and silver. His name was one of approximately 13 officers who would take the medal in gold.He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Boer War in South Africa (Queen's Medal & 4 clasps, King's Medal & 2 clasps) and by 1907 was in command of the Depot Troops at Shrewsbury.With the outbreak of the Great War, Forbes would see himself proceed overseas as Second-in-Command of the 5th Battalion. They had been formed at Shrewsbury in August 1914 as part of K1 and came under orders of 42nd Brigade in 14th (Light) Division. Moved initially to Aldershot, and then went on to Chiddingfold in March 1915, they landed on 20 May 1915 at Boulogne. Forbes would remain in the front lines with his men until removed to England, having celebrated his fiftieth birthday at the start of that year. In the following years his name appears as having been involved in the prosecution of Military Court Martial proceedings at home. He was further involved in the compilation, publication and distribution of the Regimental History of the Great War. The good Major, who later lived at 51a Jermyn Street, died on 12 October 1937 as is commemorated upon a marble memorial at St Chad's, Shrewsbury.The Plague Medal - how many?No complete medal roll for the Hong Kong Plague Medal is known to exist, with much of the Colony’s archival material having been destroyed during the Second World War; consequently, the number of medals awarded is a matter of conjecture. Mr. F. Pridmore, in an article for the Spink Numismatic Circular, August 1954, states that 137 gold medals were awarded to civilians, together with 13 being awarded to the officers of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry; Jerome Platt, Maurice Jones, and Arleen Platt in The Whitewash Brigade again estimate that 137 gold medals were awarded to civilians, and increase the number awarded to the military garrison to 46, as well as giving a total of 636 silver medals awarded. It is the opinion of the cataloguer that the figure slightly shy of fifty was the total amount of awards struck and issued in gold, not in excess of one hundred.It is however the result of an incorrect transposition in a previous newspaper article that these figures have been calculated. On reflection, it would also surely have been impractical - and unlikely given the amount of individuals who would possibly qualify - for such a large distribution in gold. Many have likely to have been scrapped for the value of the gold content by now, but around 20 known extant awards in gold have been recorded over the years.Given that the medal, as the gift of a Colonial Government and not one proceeding (or depicting) the monarch, was not authorised for wear. It could be accepted and retained, but as a commemorative/gift, could not be worn in uniform and thus most gold medals remained unmounted, much like this very example; sold together with two cap badges and images of the recipient.…
The mounted K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G. group of twelve miniature dress medals worn by Brigadier-General Sir W. C. Ross of Cromarty, 1st Highland Brigade, late Durham Light InfantryThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Knight Commander's (K.B.E.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion's (C.B.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St, George, Companion's (C.M.G.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Afghanistan 1878-80; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeburg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaves; Coronation 1902; Greece, Kingdom, Order of the Redeemer, gilt and enamel, with rosette; Romania, Kingdom, Order of the Star, gilt and enamel, with rosette; Greece, Kingdom, Medal of Military Merit 1916-17, with silver wreath on riband, mounted court-style by Spink & Son as worn, very fine and better (12)K.B.E. London Gazette 14 October 1919.C.B. London Gazette 19 April 1901.C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918. Sir Walter Charteris Ross of Cromarty was born on 5 August 1857, the third son of Colonel George William Holmes Ross of Cromarty. His military career began at the age of twenty when he was commissioned Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry on 29 September 1877. He served with his unit abroad in Afghanistan and India, where he served as a Staff Officer, before returning home on leave in 1887 shortly after his brother's death and his own subsequent succession to the Cromarty estate.While at home, Ross was married to May Stewart (daughter of General Sir Donald Stewart) at St. Stephen's Church in South Kensington on 8 June. They had issue of one daughter prior to May's death in India in June 1891. He found a second wife in Gertrude May Gathorne, whom he married in August 1897 and the couple went on to have two sons and three daughters.Ross was badly wounded while on active service in South Africa during the Boer War, where he was serving as a Major in Major-General Hector MacDonald's Highland Brigade. During a suprise attack at Bothaville on 6 November 1900 whilst in command of the 8th Mounted Infantry Ross recieved a bullet to the face, destroying part of his lower jaw and nearly killing him. Following a period of recovery he was given command of training units and later retired as a Colonel in November 1908.Upon the outbreak of the Great War, Ross was brought out of retirement at the age of 57 to command the 1st Highland Brigade at the Western Front, including at Festubert and Givenchy. He was replaced on the eve of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and went on to command the 228th Brigade at Salonika for the remainder of the war. Ross returned to Cromarty after the war where he served as Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace. He died there aged 70 on 9 February 1928 and was interred at Cromarty Cemetery with a commemorative plaque on the wall of the church; sold together with copied research including London Gazette entries.…
The superb Great War 'successful escapers' M.M. group of four awarded to Private H. Wilson, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, who was taken Prisoner of War at the First Battle of Ypres in 1914 and whose remarkable escape is summarised in the archive of the Coldstream GuardsMilitary Medal, G.V.R. (8617 Pte. A.Cpl - H. Wilson. 1/C.Gds.); 1914 Star (8617 Pte H. Wilson. C.Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (8617 A - Cpl. H. Wilson. C.Gds.), mounted as worn, light pitting, very fine (4)Henry Wilson was born in 1890, a native of Hull and enlisted on 25 February 1910, his initial service proved uneventful however he did earn an Army swimming certificate in 1911. Joining the Army Reserve he returned to Hull and joined the Police Force there. Wilson was still there when he was mobilised on 6 August 1914 for service in the Great War.Entering the war in France on 13 August 1914, he was appointed Lance Corporal after the Retreat to the Marne and took part in the Battle of the Aisne. They were stationed near Langmark when the First Battle of Ypres began and saw heavy fighting before being moved to the Menin Road on 26 October. Three days later a major German attack began in that direction, they drove back the other units in the area and, by the time reinforcements came up, the 1st Battalion had effectively ceased to exist.Wilson was wounded in the left side and taken prisoner of war, being taken to the camp of Schneidemuhl. Unfortunately, the conditions at the camp were not much better than in the trenches with typhoid rampant and the chief medical officer attempting to curb it by starving the prisoners. The only food they received came from the Red Cross via the Swiss city of Bern.Fortunately, Wilson was able to survive the camp long enough to be sent to Krehendberg camp where he was ordered to join the work parties on the local farms. He escaped one of these parties on 27 July 1917 and made his way through the mountainous area to the south of the Black Forest. After a two-day trek Wilson reached the Rhine, across the river lay neutral Switzerland and the prospect of freedom, however the river bank was patrolled and the river itself was a difficult prospect.Waiting until nightfall he removed his jacket and boots and began the swim, a strong current swept him along downriver. Wilson managed to struggle out of his trousers and thus unencumbered began to make progress, when he eventually made the Swiss bank he was two miles downriver from his start point. Encountering a Swiss civilian he was taken to a Police Station where he explained who he was and made contact with the British Legation.While there awaiting repatriation Wilson wrote a letter to the Honorary Secretary of the Coldstream Guards Prisoners Fund stating:'Dear Hon SecJust a few lines thanking you for the parcels I received from you while I was in Germany & to let you know that I shall not require any more as I have escaped from Germany. I ran away from work at 4:00pm July 27th swam across the Rhine & landed in Switzerland about 12.30 am July 30th. I am now in Bern & have to remain here for a few days at least. I hope to return to England shortly.'He was repatriated and saw Home Service for the rest of the war; sold together with copied research.The papers of Corporal Henry Wilson are available as part of the Liddle collection at the Brotherton Library, University of Leeds. A typed summary of their contents was prepared by the archive of the Coldstream Guards.…
United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Interior, Long and Distinguished Service Medal, 2nd Class, silvered and enamel, with riband bar, in its case of issue; Police and Security Forces Amalgamation Medal, gilt and silvered with pearls, with riband bar, in its case of issue; Medal of Cooperative Security, 1st Class, gilt and enamel, with riband bar, in its case of issue; Badge of Appreciation, gilt, all by Fattorini, very fine and better (4)The Ministry of Interior Long and Distinguished Service Medal is in the shape of a stylised seven-pointed star in a traditional Islamic design, with the central medallion featuring an antique tower surrounded by red enamel detail. The reverse bears the badge of the Ministry of Interior. This Medal is awarded to members of the Ministry who have served faithfully and honestly for at least twenty years. The 2nd Class is given to non-commissioned Officers and individuals. The Police and Security Forces Amalgamation Medal is a seven-pointed star with a scallop rim and a pearl between each of the rays. The silvered centre displays the Ministry badge, while the reverse bears an inscription of the award's title. The Medal was awarded to those who were serving when the Police and Security forces merged on 5 December 1975. The Medal of Cooperative Security is circular containing a seven-pointed star the centre of which is the Ministry badge. The three lower rays of the star display the all-seeing eye, clasped hands, and a quill. Behind the four upper rays are the colours of the U.A.E. flag in enamel. The Medal is awarded to members of the Police and Security force for distinguished security work, with the 1st Class award given to Officers and equivalent civilian ranks.The Appreciation Badge is a stylised seven-pointed star with the central medallion featuring an open book bearing the Ministry badge under the rays of the sun, symbolic of knowledge, light, and science. This is awarded to members of the Police and Security force who display exceptional studies or training courses, and to members of the community who demonstrate remarkable cooperation with the police. The 1st Class Medal may be earned by Officers or civilians of equivalent rank.…
1/13th Prince Albert's (Somerset) Light Infantry RegimentPrior to the outbreak of the Zulu War, the 1st Battalion, 13th Prince Albert's Light Infantry, was engaged in operations against Sekukuni on the Transvaal border but, as war became imminent, it was moved south and formed part of Wood's Column, with which it remained throughout all operations.On 2 January 1879 the Column left Utrecht and reached the Blood River two days later. Having left two companies of men under Major Leet at the fortified outpost of Balte's Spruit, the Column crossed into enemy territory and constructed a fort at Tinta's Drift on the White Umvolosi; two further companies were left to garrison under Major Moysey, and the Battalion then moved on towards Zunguin Nek. It was here that the enemy was met in force on the 24th and defeated with loss.On 27 March a patrol of mounted men and natives were sent out towards Zlobane, the Native Irregulars under the command of Major Leet; such was the latter's gallantry in the retreat which ensued after the encounter with the enemy that he was awarded the Victoria Cross and promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel.At the Battle of Kambula the 13th gallantly checked the enemy at the right rear of the laager. According to The South African Campaign of 1879, 'Captains Evans and Fowne's companies were posted in Leet's redoubt, the fire from which made great havoc throughout the engagement. When the attack slackened, two companies of the 13th, under Captains Thurlow and Waddy, moving to the right front of the cattle laager, did great execution amongst the retreating Zulus, who were closely followed up and cut to pieces by the Mounted Corps.' During this engagement, two officers were severely wounded, six men of the regiment were killed and nineteen more were wounded.Not long after, at the Battle of Ulundi, the 13th occupied the right of the square, within 30 yards of which numbers of the enemy's dead were subsequently found. As before, casualties were significant, with Lieutenant Pardoe killed, together with two ranks, and eleven more wounded.After a wet and trying march, the Battalion arrived at Durban and embarked for England aboard H.M.S. Euphrates, arriving home on 18 September, after 4 years and 9 months of service in South Africa.1033 Medals were issued to the 1/13th Regiment, 688 of them with the '1878-9' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1878-9 (1680. Pte. T. Dickerson. 1/13th. Foot.), good very fine…
Sold by Order of a Direct DescendantAn impressive German group of eight attributed to Oberleutnant E. O. G. ClausenGermany, Prussia, Iron Cross 1914, silver with iron centre, with riband; Wurttemberg, Wilhelms Cross 1915, bronze, with riband; Prussia, riband only for Hindenburg Cross 1914-18; Wurttemberg, Friedrich Order, 1st Class Knight's Cross, gilt and enamel; Prussia, Order of the Red Eagle, 4th Class Badge, silver and enamel, 'FP' maker's mark between rays, with riband; Wurttemberg, Silver Wedding Medal 1911; Red Cross Medal, with riband; Hungary, Commemorative War Medal 1914-18, marked 'bronz', with riband; Russia, Order of St. Anne, 3rd Class Badge, gold [56 zolotniki] and enamel, maker's initals and court mark to reverse under enamel, with riband, light crack to Iron Cross, centre of Order of the Red Eagle slightly loose, small enamel chip to lower arm of St. Anne, otherwise overall very fine and better (8)Eugen Otto Gaston Clausen is further entitled to the Hindenburg Cross 1914-18.Sold together with archive including:(i)Original and copied photographs of Clausen, including some in which he is in uniform and wearing his medals(ii)Two warrants of commission with seals(iii)Copied documents including family tree, birth register of his son, and death register of his wife.(iv)Typed and signed list of his medals and decorations.For documents and militaria belonging to his father, Lieutenant General Otto Wilhelm von Clausen, please see Lot 487.…
The campaign group of four awarded to Captain D. J. R. Simson, Royal Navy, who was killed by a German sniper on 23 May 1940 while serving aboard H.M.S. Keith at Boulogne when the port was infiltrated by German troops; he also received a posthumous 'mention'Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (Capt. D. J. R. Simson. R.N.); 1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, these in box of issue and with named Condolence slip, extremely fine (4)M.I.D. London Gazette 27 August 1940.David James Robert Simson was born on 7 September 1892, later studying at Osborne and then Dartmouth, taking the King's Medal. He was promoted Midshipman on 15 January 1910 and served aboard Russell and Lancaster in the Mediterranean and with Lion during her first commission. Later being further advanced Sub-Lieutenant on 15 April 1913, during the Great War he served on the destroyer Acasta and battleship King George V at the Battle of Jutland.From March 1918 he first held command on Usk. Simson was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander on 15 January 1923, Commander on 30 June 1928, and between 1929-30 was the Executive Officer at the boys' training establishment at Shotley. After this time he returned to serving aboard destroyers and commanded, among other vessels, Vanquisher in the Mediterranean, Valorous in the Home Fleet, and between 1934-35 the cruiser Cumberland in China. During the Naval Review in 1935 Simson commanded Thanet before commanding Vivien and Winchelsea and from May 1936 the new destroyer Grenville. He was promoted Captain on 30 June 1936 and was later placed in command of Codrington from 24 August 1939 until 26 November and was then in charge of Keith from 15 February 1940.On 10 May 1940, the Germans launched their invasion of France and the Low Countries. That day Keith and her sister Boreas escorted the light cruisers Arethusa and Galatea as they carried bullion from the Dutch port of Ijmuiden to the United Kingdom for safe keeping. On 12 May, she returned to the Hook of Holland in the Netherlands to evacuate Allied troops. After the destroyer Whitley had to be run aground on 19 May when she was damaged by German aircraft, she was scuttled by Keith. Keith was one of three destroyers on 21 May that evacuated 468 civilians from France. Two days later she was in Boulogne-sur-Mer, loading British troops at the Gare Maritime to be evacuated and was attacked by German troops who had infiltrated the port area. Simson was shot by a sniper and several crew members and a dozen soldiers were also killed.He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Keith sailed for the UK immediately afterwards and was later active during Operation Dynamo. She was sunk off Dunkirk by German air attacks on the morning of 31 May 1940.Brigadier W. A. Fox-Pitt, who served as commander of the 20th Guards Brigade to defend Boulogne and was subsequently awarded a D.S.O., wrote to Simson's brother, Lieutenant-Colonel A. M. Simson on 20 August 1946:'My only means of communication with England during the battle was through H.M. Ships so that if there was no destroyer in, I was completely out of touch. The last destroyers left Boulogne during the night of the 23/24th and I was out of touch with England until H.M.S. Keith came in about 3p.m. By this time I had ordered a withdrawal into a closer perimeter round the Harbour in order to prevent the Germans getting round my northerly flank and cutting us off.I went aboard the Keith and had a conference with Simson and discussed the situation and sent off certain signals explaining the progress of the battle. I also had a very welcome cup of tea and gave one of the officers a letter to post for me in England. We were both pretty certain then that it was a waste of life to continue to hold Boulogne as my casualties were mounting pretty rapidly.However, a signal arrived while I was on board from the Prime Minister saying "You will evacuate all non military personnel (Pioneer Corps etc), the 20th Guards Brigade will fight it out". I then left the Keith and went and saw my Battalion Commanders and gave further orders for holding the town. I was away about two hours and then returned to the Keith, for further orders. While on board I received the signal telling to evacuate. As it was getting late I went ashore immediately to get my orders out and understood that the destroyers would put out and come back again after dark for the evacuation. I had only just left the ship when the air attack started and during the attack Simson was killed. The destroyers left the port as soon as they could and I continued with my arrangements for evacuation. I did not know that Simson had been killed until the destroyers came in later. Condor of the Whitshed, was then left in command of the Flotilla. Just before dark the destroyers came in again and I was told that I must evacuate immediately. This meant putting my plan in motion very quickly, but eventually all the troops were evacuated by about 2 a.m. on the 25th.My recollections of your brother are pretty vivid. I found him most helpful in concocting signals to England. He was at all times thoroughly calm and collected and very quick to grasp the situation on shore. He realised the importance of the destroyers as my only link with Dover, and I fear it may have been for this reason that he stayed in the port so long, as the destroyers were a very tempting target. I don't remember the Germans being within small arms range of the Keith at the time of the air attack, but the aircraft were machine gunning as well as dropping bombs. The real battle between the destroyers and the land targets took place later when the destroyers completely silenced the Germans for the rest of the night and I saw a German tank knocked out by one of their guns myself.'Sold together with the following archive comprising:i)The handwritten letter to Mrs Simson from Admiral Sir B. H. Ramsay, dated 25 May, written from Dover expressing his deepest sympathy upon his death.ii)Officer's bicorn hat, epaulettes and sword belt in named tin, together with Greatcoat Epaulettes.iii)Two sets of his pre-Second World War miniature medals, with riband bars.iv)Silver Oar rowing prize for the VIIIth Flotilla Officers Race 1925 H.M.S. Venturous, silver napkin ring and silver clothes brush.v)Letter to his wife and that to his brother from Fox-Pitt, besides photographs and assorted calling cards (5), newspaper cutting, Blue Lists (2), The List 1940, black armbands (2), besides a four leaf clover and lucky heather.…
A rare Borneo and Vietnam War Special Forces group of three awarded to Sergeant W. H. 'Bill' Roods, Australian Special Air Service (S.A.S.), a gallant and skilful patrol leader who implemented telling Claymore mine detonations against Viet Cong insurgentsGeneral Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (15340 W. H. Roods); Vietnam 1967 (15340 W. H. Roods); South Vietnam campaign service, clasp, '1960-', the reverse officially inscribed, '15340 W. H. Roods', the second with a scratch over service number and the last with slightly chipped obverse enamel, otherwise good very fine (3)William Henry Roods was born in Wauchope, New South Wales on 6 November 1939 and enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in Brisbane in August 1959. Having then served in the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment, he won selection for the Australian Special Air Service in the summer of 1961, when he joined the 1st S.A.S. Company and qualified for his parachute badge.Having then served in Papua New Guinea and passed a 'Recondo' course, in addition to roping, signal and canoe/small craft handlers' courses, he was deployed to the Borneo operations as a Corporal and Patrol Leader in 2 Squadron S.A.S. in January-August 1966. In late April/early May he led a patrol to explore whether the enemy had re-established a base but could find no evidence to support that suspicion; he appears in TV footage of another S.A.S. patrol held by the Australian War Memorial.Advanced to Sergeant, he was next emplaned for operations with 1 Squadron S.A.S. in South Vietnam, in which theatre of war he remained actively employed from March 1967 to February 1968. 'Actively' being the operative word, as confirmed in Phantoms of the Jungle:'These initial ambushed had been initiated by rifle fire and had been markedly more successful than the earlier reconnaissance patrols. However, the squadron had obtained a quantity of Claymore mines and, influenced by the experience of the ex-2 Squadron men who had used mines in Sarawak, it was decided to use the Claymores in S.A.S. ambushes. At first some of the patrols had no more than two Claymores, but the increasing effectiveness of the ambushes was startling.Between 26 and 30 April [1967] five patrols (Roods, Stevenson, Farley, Hindson and Shaw) were deployed on ambush missions in an arc stretching from the north west to north east of Nui Dat out to a distance of from ten to fifteen kilometres. The first to gain success was Sergeant Bill (Chester) Roods whose five man patrol was inserted ten kilometres north west of Binh Ba. On 29 April they fired two Claymores at three Viet Cong walking along the track, killing two and wounding a third. A few seconds later more Viet Cong moved into the killing area and the third Claymore, facing down the track, was fired. The patrol quickly withdrew and was credited with five enemy killed and one wounded.'In his own patrol report, Roods described the victims thus:'The five men killed were dressed in black. Two were wearing straw hats. At least three were carrying large packs on their backs, one of which was a flower bag. One was seen to be carrying a small unidentified S.M.G., with no woodwork visible. All men were armed but their weapons were not identified. Weapons hear returning fire were of a light calibre, firing single shots.As the patrol withdrew, at least three men were heard to follow for a short distance. It isn't possible to accurately access the strength of the party, but it was probably about 10-12 including the five killed.'Accompanying copied reports testify to around a dozen more patrols led by Roods. Infiltration and extraction were by helicopter and the patrols tended to last for two or three days, invariably in harsh jungle conditions. In his report for the above firefight with the Viet Cong, Roods noted the terrain thus:'Secondary jungle thick with vines and scattered patches of bamboo. Only water was in the main creek. A few leeches were found in the area and the mosquitoes were prevalent at last light.'It is clear, too, that clandestine surveillance was the primary objective of such patrols, a case in point being the five-man team Roods commanded in the Xuyen Moc sector on 16-19 June 1967. On that occasion he was able to send a detailed report of a large Viet Cong force, including women and children. The men wore blue uniforms and were equipped with a variety of Soviet arms, arms which were brought to bear on an attacking helicopter gunship. The patrol had to be withdrawn early 'as V.C. prevented it from reaching water.'But Roods also participated in some larger scale offensive patrols, of which he was second-in-command under an officer or senior N.C.O. One such took place on 11-12 December 1967, when his team ambushed a party of Viet Cong with Claymore mines, killing seven of them - 'Patrol searched the bodies then withdrew to LZ and was extracted.'Roods took his discharge in Brisbane in August 1968 and settled in Broadwater, Western Australia. He subsequently became eligible for the Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75, with 'Malaysia' and 'Vietnam' clasps, the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with 'PNG' clasp, the Australian Defence Medal and the Anniversary of National Service Medal 1951-72; sold with a file of copied research, including his service record and course reports, in addition to a copy of Roods' reports for 'Patrol 13, 1 S.A.S. Squadron, during its tour of South Vietnam between 1967-68'.…
'A charming & handsome old man with one arm.So wrote the niece of the gallant Colonel KnoxAn outstanding campaign pair awarded to Colonel K. Barrett, 13th Regiment of Foot (1st Somersetshire) (Prince Albert's Regiment of Light Infantry), a long-served and most gallant officer who served on campaign in the Caribbean, Upper Canada and Burma - having his arm blown off in the attack on the Great Pagoda in July 1825 in the lastMilitary General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Martinique, Guadaloupe (Knox Barrett, Ensn. 13th Foot.); Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Bt. Captn. K. Barrett, 13th Foot.), short-hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, heavy edge bruising, very fine (2)Knox Barrett was born circa 1783, the son of William Barrett, High Sheriff of Sligo, of Culleenamore House. The Sligo Independant of July 1882 gives more detail:' He joined in 1805 from the North Mayo Militia, obtaining an ensigncy in the gallant 13th Regiment of Foot. This regiment, when in India saw much service, and Colonel Barrett, then a Lieutenant, showed much pluck and coolness on the battle field. At Rangoon, when the English army under General Dale fought well and bravely, Colonel Barrett led his Company in the thickest of the fight, and had his right arm shot off. He was specially mentioned by his Colonel, afterwards the great and good General Havelock as being a brave officer. Of course, the loss of his arm obliged him to retire from the Army, and General Havelock, whose friend and companion he was, parted from him with regret. He possessed medals and claps for Ava, Guadeloupe, Martinique, India etc. Since he left the army, he came to reside in Sligo.'Barrett has a remarkable record of service in the Caribbean, North America and in India. Having shared in the actions at Martinique in October 1809, he was present at the capture of Guadaloupe and was then subsequently posted to Upper Canada with his unit. Their Light Company was stationed at le Aux Noix and a detachment went to the blockhouse of Lacolle Mills - when they shared in the famous defence of that place in March 1814.Furthermore, Barrett would have been with his unit when they crossed Lake Champlain to attack Plattsburgh in New York, sharing in the final acts of the War of 1812. They departed the scene in July 1815. He would then share in the events in India, being unfortunate to have his '...arm blown off' during the attack on the Great Pagoda in the First Anglo-Burmese War. On 5 July 1825 the unit also suffered one man killed and seventeen other ranks wounded in action besides Barrett.Retired on account of his wounds, he was provided with a pension of £70 for his wounds. Returned to his native Sligo, he took up various posts, including as Justice of the Peace, Superintendent of the gaol, a member of the Sligo Harbor Commission and sat on the Dispensary Commission. Having married Anne Rice in 1827, the pair had no children but were always known for their generosity to their numerous nephews and nieces. The good Colonel died on 10 July 1882 and is buried in the family tomb at St John's Churchyard. His obituary notice gives the final word:'Our obituary notices of to-day announce the death of this gentleman who lived to a patriarchal age, being nearly a century old when he breathed his last at his residence, Rathanna, near this town. It may be well said that by his death a link connecting the present generation with the past – the long past – a severed, for when many grandfathers of today were leading strings Colonel Barrett was fighting for his King and country on the burning plains of India...In private life he was distinguished for his mildness of disposition and goodness of heart.'…
The rare and remarkable 'Tiddim Defence of Point 6052' M.C. and 'Battle of Imphal' Second Award Bar group of five awarded to Captain C. F. V. Martin, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light InfantryMilitary Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated '1944', with Second Award Bar dated 1944; 1939-1945 Star; Burma Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, sold together with the named Buckingham Palace forwarding slip for the Military Cross and Second Award Bar and a further archive, good very fine (5)M.C. London Gazette 18 May 1944, the original recommendation states:'While in command of a company on pt. 6052 on the 26th of January 1944, the enemy put in a persistent attack from 1745 hours to 1830 hours, which was repulsed with heavy losses. At 2300 hours the enemy again attacked with even more determination but was again driven back. During both these attacks, Captain Martin ran from post to post in the open, directing the fire and encouraging the men, regardless of his personal safety. Throughout the 27th and the 28th, the enemy sent frequent harassing parties to wear down our defences and to prevent our men from sleeping. On the 29th of January, our position was again very heavily attacked, this time by two enemy companies, from 0530 hours to 1030 hours. Although the position was thinly held, our casualties equivalent to one platoon, and the men tired through three sleepless nights, the enemy was driven back time and again with very heavy losses estimated at 200 killed and wounded. Although completely without sleep during these four days, Captain Martin went from trench to trench, encouraging the men and urging them to hold on, despite close range grenade, small arms and very heavy mortar fire. When the enemy broke through the wire and threatened to swamp the defences, he personally organised and led a counterattack which, by determined hand to hand fighting wiped out all the enemy who had broken in. Captain Martin's splendid example of personal gallantry and leadership in the face of heavy odds, his spirit of endurance and determination to hold out, inspired all ranks to resist at all costs, over a period of four days, a persistent enemy attempt to capture a position of extreme tactical significance'Second Award Bar London Gazette 5 October 1944, the original recommendation states:'On the morning of the 26th of May 1944, Captain Martin was leading a Company taking part in the attack on Red Hill RK 224488.In the initial stages of this attack Captain Martin was wounded leading his Company under heavy MMG fire on to the objective, but ignoring his wounds this officer personally led a grenade throwing party to wipe out a Japanese Bunker, which was holding up the advance of his company. With complete disregard for his own safety and despite his wounds this officer approached the bunker, the occupants of which had been catching our grenades and throwing them back, and by waiting 3 seconds after the cap of the grenade had been struck before he threw it, succeeded in wiping out the bunker and thereby clearing the way for the advance. In doing this Captain Martin was again wounded, but continued to lead his Company forward until he collapsed from loss of blood.This magnificent example of gallantry and selfless devotion to duty under heavy fire was not only a supreme inspiration to every man in the Company, but a vital contributory factor in the success of the attack.'Clifford Frederick Victor Martin was born in Oxfordshire on 17 July 1919, the son of Captain Victor and Rose Martin. Granted a Regular Army Emergency Commission and gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant with the number 113619, he joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 16 January 1940.Martin then saw service out in India and Burma when on attachment to the Indian Army and serving with the 7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment. He likely received his attachment to the 7th Battalion in the aftermath of the retreat from Burma in 1942, during which the Battalion had formed part of the 46th Indian Brigade in the 17th Indian Division. After withdrawing from Burma, the 17th Division then found itself stationed in Assam.They were not part of the failed First Arakan Offensive of late 1942 into the spring of 1943, but instead undertook intensive training to learn from the mistakes of the previous year in readiness to take the offensive against the Japanese in 1944 and 1945.The Defence of Point 6052Their first major operation occurred in January 1944, and it was Martin - then commanding a composite formation of 'A' and 'C' companies - who bore the brunt of it. It was for this period while serving as a temporary Captain that he was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry during the defence of Point 6052.Martin's composite company was established on Point 6052, seven miles south of Tiddim, to form a patrol base. They launched several patrols to engage and identify the Japanese in the area and the perimeter of the base was at one point attacked but the company was able to hold on. This attack occurred on 26 January 1944, the day Martin earned his first Military Cross.It was estimated that the 7/10th Baluch killed more than 200 Japanese in the area, while themselves suffering only 3 killed and 10 wounded over the course of the month. The positions were dug in all round defences on ground of the 7/10th Baluch's choosing. This enabled them to repel the Japanese attacks, unlike at Pa-an in 1942, and showed that the retraining of the past 18 months had paid dividends.In the aftermath of his honour, Martin received a personal letter from General Slim, commander of the 14th Army, stating: 'I am very pleased to hear that your gallant action has been rewarded, and sent you my warmest congratulations on a well deserved honour.'The Battalion continued to send out patrols in the areas in front of and around Point 6052 in February and March, with the men and officers gaining valuable experience in operating as light infantry during this period. The Battalion, along with the 4/12th Frontier Force Rifles, withdrew along the Tiddim Road on 4 April in the face of increasing pressure during the Japanese advances and the repositioning in readiness for the Battle of Imphal.ImphalHaving retreated onto the Imphal Plain, they were sent to protect the Panel airstrip. The Battalion took over positions in the 'Catfish Box' area on 5 April, also at this point receiving reinforcements to create a fourth company and bring it up to strength as an ordinary infantry unit.A Company, under the command of now acting-Major Martin, was sent to Point 5846 on the Bishenpur-Silchar Road while the rest of the Battalion took the opportunity to re-organise and to incorporate the new company. The 7/10th Baluch moved to the 17th Divisional Box at Chingphu, north of Bishenpur, in mid-May as a response to increased Japanese pressure on the entrance to the Imphal Plain from the Bishenpur region.Red Hill PimpleThey began to dig in immediately upon arrival in their capacity as a protection of the divisional HQ. A series of patrols were sent out around the area as reports arrived of Japanese forces coming from the west, and a major clash ensued on 20 May involving one platoon on a ridge overlooking the divisional area. This force managed to hold out for more than 8 hours and successfully held up a major Japanese group. On 25th May, the Battalion was ordered to carry out an attack on Point 2926, 'Red Hill Pimple'. That evening, 3 Companies - A, B and C, respectively - moved to their jumping off positions, which included the ridge itself, without being heard or noticed by the Japanese.The A and C Companies were to attack the Japan…
Newcastle & Northumberland Volunteer Corps Medal, silver, 47mm, with raised leaf wreath, obverse engraved with coat of arms of a division of the Bell family, reverse engraved 'Presented by Lieut. Col. Bell. M.P. of the N.N.V.C. for the Second best Ball Practice at the Target won by Corporal Bugle Josh Ransom. 5 Oct. 1839.', fitted with straight bar suspension, last two letters of the christian name heavily scratched, otherwise with light toning very fineA similar example was sold by Corbitts (Sale 32, Lot 2) given to a Henry Ransom.…
THE WATCHES & ARCHIVE OF SHEILA SCOTT O.B.E. (1922-88), 'BRITAIN'S QUEEN OF THE AIR'Given all that could be written about this remarkable aviatrix, the cataloguer turns firstly to Encyclopedia Britannica:'Sheila Scott was born on 27 April 1922 at Worcester, Worcestershire and was a British aviator who broke more than 100 light-aircraft records between 1965 and 1972 and was the first British pilot to fly solo around the world.After attending a Worcester boarding school, Scott became a trainee nurse at Haslar Naval Hospital (1944), where she tended the wounded during World War II. In London she appeared in small roles for theatre, film, and television and worked as a model (1945–59). In 1960 she earned her pilot’s license, bought an old biplane from the Royal Air Force, and won several races, capturing the De Havilland and Jean Lennox Bird trophies for that year. To pay for her flying, she became a demonstrator for Cessna and Piper aircraft.Scott first flew around the world in 1966, covering about 31,000 miles (50,000 km) in 189 flying hours. She set world records when she flew between London and Cape Town (1967) and across the North Atlantic Ocean (1967), the South Atlantic Ocean (1969), and from the Equator to the Equator over the North Pole (1971). After her record polar flight, she made a third around-the-world solo flight, earning her 100th world-class record. She wrote I Must Fly (1968) and On Top of the World (1973; U.S. title Barefoot in the Sky, 1974). Scott was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE; 1968), and she received the Royal Aero Club’s Gold Medal (1972). She died at London on 20 October 1988.'Further notice should be made the fact that Scott was likely the inspiration to Ian Fleming for the alluring 'Pussy Galore' in Goldfinger, played by Honor Blackman in the 1964 movie.Her flights with NASA in 1971 are also worth mention:'Sheila Scott is pictured here with her Piper Aztec 'Mythre', in which she made her world and a half flight in 1971. On this flight, she became the first person to fly over the North Pole in a single engine plane. She carried special NASA equipment for a communications experiment testing the Interrogation Recording and Location System (IRLS) of the Nimbus polar orbiting satellite. The IRLS equipment, a Balloon Interrogation package, transmitted data on Scott’s location during the 34,000 mile (~55,000 kilometer) flight to the Nimbus satellite, which relayed it to NASA’s ground station at Fairbanks, Alaska and then to a computer center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Sheila Scott’s record-making, historic flight confirmed the satellite’s ability to collect location data from remote computerized and human-operated stations with a unique “mobile platform” location test.'She was Roy Plomley's castaway on Desert Island Discs in January 1967, her luxury being tobacco seeds to ensure a never-ending supply of smokes. Scott was always seen as a somewhat quirky individual and flew barefoot, claiming she could feel the controls better. She always signed of 'Happy Landings!' and we hope these treasures will find much the same.Sheila Scott's famous Rolex GMT-Master 'Pepsi' stainless steel automatic dual time wristwatch, first worn on her famous 1966 record-breaking long-distance flightRolex, stainless steel automatic dual time wristwatch with date and leather bracelet, this rather worn, Ref. 1675, GMT-Master 'Pepsi', with bakelite bezel, stainless steel Oyster case, screw-down crown and back the reverse engraved 'SHEILA SCOTT', blue and red 24-hour calibrated bezel, No. 1255812, the applied triangular and dot indexes upon the face 'factory' luminated with radium marker, 40mm, in running condition at time of cataloguing but would likely benefit from a service, a most historic object, very fineProvenance:Philips, December 1989 (Sold by Order of Sheila Scott O.B.E.).Scott wore this very watch on her famous flights. Her image - and this watch - was the first to ever market sports watches for wear by women. Scott commented that it was '...a marvelous watch.'It is no surprise that 'Pussy Galore' also wore a 'Pepsi' in Goldfinger.…
The 'Gallipoli Evacuation 1916' D.S.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant H. J. Carnduff, Royal Navy who also added a 'mention' for his service during the evacuation of Suvla BayA talented rugby player, he was selected for the Royal Navy's team in a number of national games after the war, before tragically drowning under unusual circumstances whilst aboard ValiantDistinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1915; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. J. Carnduff. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. H. J. Carnduff. R.N.), very fine (4)D.S.C. London Gazette 14 March 1916, the original citation states:'For meritorious service in H.M.S. Swiftsure in operations in the Dardanelles. Lieutenant Carnduff performed good service during the evacuation of Sulva and Helles, being specially selected for the evacuation from Helles in view of his good service during the evacuation of Sulva 'M.I.D. London Gazette 14 March 1916.Herbert Julian Carnduff was born on 13 July 1892, the son of Sir Herbert Carnduff, C.I.E, a High Court judge in India. Educated at Danesbury Prep School, Bengeo, Hertford he entered the Royal Navy as a cadet on 15 January 1905, passing out as Midshipman on 15 September 1909. He served on a number of shore bases and vessels prior to the Great War; elevated to Lieutenant he was appointed to Swiftsure on 2 February 1914.During the Great War, Swiftsure escorted Indian troop convoys from Bombay to Aden from September-November 1914, when the destruction of the German light cruiser S.M.S. Emden, which had been raiding in the Indian Ocean, made this escort duty unnecessary. She was then transferred to the Suez Canal Patrol on 1 December to help defend the Canal, although she remained East Indies Station flagship while at Suez. From 27 January-4 February 1915 the ship helped to defend the Canal near Kantara during the First Suez Offensive by Ottoman forces.Swiftsure was relieved as East Indies Station flagship by the armoured cruiser Euryalus later in February 1915 and transferred to the Dardanelles for service in the Dardanelles Campaign. She joined the Dardanelles Squadron on 28 February 1915 and took part in the attack on Fort Dardanos on 2 March. She and Triumph were detached from the Dardanelles on 5 March for operations against forts at Smyrna, returning to the Dardanelles on 9 March. She participated in the main attack on the Narrows forts on 18 March and supported the main landings at West Beach at Cape Helles on 25 April and subsequent landings, including the attack on Achi Baba on 4 June. On 18 September, a German submarine unsuccessfully attacked her while she was on a voyage from Mudros to Suvla Bay. She took part in the bombardment of Dedeagatch on 18 January 1916. Swiftsure left the Dardanelles in February 1916.Carnduff left Swiftsure on 13 January 1916, joining Ribble for a two-month appointment followed by Mosquito for the next four months ending 13 July. A number of shore-based appointments followed after which he was posted to command the patrol boat P59 from 19 February 1917 until 7 September followed by command of P45. The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, considered Carnduff 'much to blame' in a grounding of P45 and Carnduff was cautioned to be more careful in future.He was next appointed to command the destroyer Lucifer on 28 January 1918 serving aboard her until the end of the war. Carnduff married Nina Iris Grahame Chambers in 1918, sister of Pansy Chambers, a Great War poet. Nina was credited with launching the fashion trend of adorning a lady's arm with a fancy-coloured butterfly tattoo in 1919; quite risqué at the time!Appointed to Valiant on 1 September 1921, Carnduff drowned at Plymouth 'under mysterious circumstances' on 13 April 1922. He had gone ashore to play rugby, and was seen in Plymouth at 11.20pm, 'sober and normal'. His body was found the next day off Bull Point. It was thought that he might have fallen into the water while trying to find a boat that could take him back to the battleship.Carnduff's brother, Captain K.M. Carnduff, was killed in action on 12 January 1916 whilst serving with the 2nd Field Squadron, Royal Engineers; sold together with an extensive archive of copied research.…
A 'Last Stand at Cassell 1940' P.OW. group of three awarded to Trooper A. E. Kettener, 1st East Riding Yeomanry1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (7889318 Tpr. A. E. Kettener. E. Riding Yeo.), the first three numbers officially corrected, sold together with his service and pay book, light contact marks, very fine (3)Alfred Edward Kettener was born on 15 May 1919 and worked as a Railway Messenger with L.N.E.R. when he enlisted on 14 February 1938 with the Territorial Army. The next year the East Riding Yeomanry was reconstituted as a result of the threat of war and formed into an armoured unit. Kettener was posted to them and entered the war with the formation in France on 2 March 1940.Ordered to joined 145th Brigade they moved through the town of Cassel in late May 1940, meeting the first German thrust outside the town. Holding there alongside the 140th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery they were forced back on 28 May to the town of Cassell itself. They came under repeated and heavy attack there over the next day with their vehicles being targeted, slowing their capacity to manoeuvre as well as their headquarters being hit by a shell.It was concluded by 29 March that a withdrawal was going to be necessary so the Regiment mounted up and at 21:30 commenced the breakout from Cassell. Progress was slow to start with due to the congestion on the roads and they were further delayed by the troops on foot failing to reach their positions in time. As a result they were not clear of Cassell until after midnight and were not underway properly until 01:00 on 30 March.This delay proved fatal as the Germans reached the village of Drogland ahead of the British, colliding with the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Word went back that the enemy were ahead of them and the Yeomanry separated with 'A' Squadron pushing north towards Herzeele with the O.C. Unfortunately the rest of the column was under heavy attack and needed to reform which they did under the 2 i/c, leading the 'A' Squadron becoming separated from the rest of the unit.At Herzeele they found themselves facing a large force of German infantry with armoured support which soon mopped up the exhausted and strung out Yeomanry formation. Those few members of 'A' Squadron that escaped were armed only with rifles and pistols with a few hand grenades, they scattered and attempted to make for the coast.Meanwhile 'B' Squadron came under attack by German tanks, they gave good account of themselves but were unable to rejoin 'A' Squadron. Pushing first North and later East they made for the town of Watou, reported to be in British hands. The Regimental Headquarters Tank Valient was knocked out by an anti-tank gun near the town which proved to be occupied by the Germans, they had taken it on 28 May.'C' Squadron, was the last in line pushed directly East towards Watou, taking heavy losses all the while including Major Radcliffe their commander. Near the town they encountered other British troops who confirmed that it had been taken however by this stage the Squadron was down to three armoured carriers. They attempted to push north but all the vehicles were soon put out of action, from this point they ceased to exist as a coherent unit.Initially taken to Stalag XXA, Thorn, with most of the British troops taken in France Kettener was moved to Marienburg in September 1940 and set to work at Mewe Barracks. In December his role changed to road construction and finally in September 1941 he was set to farm work which continued for the rest of the war. As the Allies closed in in 1945 he was moved to Greidswald and finally liberated at Barth.Remaining with the Yeomanry he was awarded his efficiency medal the next year in 1946 and his campaign awards in 1948 at 145 Ella Street, Newland Avenue, Hull; sold together with copied research and the recipient's original service and pay book.…
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