Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Algiers, Syria (Thos. Wood.) light contact marks and suspension a little slack, otherwise very fine £1,200-£1,600 --- Thomas Wood is confirmed on the Admiralty rolls as a Landsman in Hecla at Algiers, and as an Able Seaman in Princess Charlotte for the Syrian operations. Despite a 10-year age discrepancy for this man in the muster lists of the two ships, the same Claim No. Q36 against each clasp would indicate that the clerks had satisfied themselves that this discrepancy was a simple error. One other man of this name is shown on the roll for Syria. Hecla was a Bomb of ten guns launched in July 1815 and was later used for Arctic discovery voyages between 1819 and 1827. Sold with further research.
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Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Navarino, Syria (William Harris.) light edge bruising and nicks, otherwise very fine £1,000-£1,400 --- 114 medals issued with these two clasps. William Harris is confirmed as a Private, Royal Marines, serving aboard H.M.S. Cambrian at Navarino and aboard H.M.S. Revenge at Syria. Ten other men of this name are shown on the rolls for various clasps. William Harris was born in the Parish of Trinity, Exeter city, Devon, and attested for the R.M.L.I. on 13 January 1824, aged 15, a cabinet maker by trade. He entered H.M.S. Cambrian as a Private 3rd Class while serving with the 23rd Company, Portsmouth Division, on 30 June 1826. Sold with copied Muster roll and R.M.L.I. Description Book entries.
Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Sahagun & Benevente, Orthes (J. Mountenoy, 7th Hussars.) extremely fine £1,200-£1,600 --- John Mountenoy enlisted into the 7th Light Dragoons on 25 March 1805, a recruit from the Nottingham District. He was on furlo’ from 2nd March to 1st May, 1809, during which period he was promoted to Trumpeter on 25th April. He was discharged as a Trumpeter on 15 July 1814. Sold with copied muster lists saved to CD.
Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Martinique, Guadaloupe (Joseph Norton, 90th Foot.) minor edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine £1,600-£2,000 --- Joseph Norton was born in the Parish of Pomfret, Yorkshire, and enlisted into the 90th Light Infantry at Manchester on 13 December 1806, aged 18, a cotton carder by trade. He served in the West Indies from 9 July 1808 to 20 June 1814. He was discharged at Zante on 30 January 1828, in consequence of ‘impaired constitution from repeated attacks of fever & long service in warm climates.’ He received his final discharge on 20 May 1828, intending to reside at Wakefield, Yorkshire. Sold with copied discharge papers saved to CD.
Waterloo 1815 (Roger Wadmore, 11th. Reg. Light Dragoons.) fitted with replacement silver clip but lacking suspension ring, heavy contact marks partially obscuring the naming at 3 and 9 o’clock, lacquered, good fine £700-£900 --- Roger Wadmore attested for the 11th Light Dragoons and served in Captain H. Floyd’s No. 6 Troop during the Waterloo Campaign, 16-18 June 1815.
East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Gambia 1894 (H. Court, Pte. R.M., H.M.S. Raleigh.) nearly very fine and a scarce casualty £400-£500 --- Harry Court was born at Minehead, Somerset, and was enlisted into the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Williton on 28 December 1889. He served almost continuously aboard H.M.S. Raleigh from October 1891 until February 1895, except for a short period in June-September 1893 when he was aboard Penelope. He landed with the Gambia Expedition in 1894 and received a bullet wound in the left scapula when in action at Medina Creek on 23 February 1894. He continued to serve ashore and on board a variety of ships until finally discharged on 29 December 1910, due to length of service and recommended for the Royal Fleet Reserve. Sold with copied record of service and extracts from the London Gazette and Globe and Laurel concerning the Gambia Expedition.
India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Chitral 1895 (907 Sepoy Mool Singh, 4th Kashmir Infy. I.S.T.) minor official correction to latter part of unit, minor edge bruise, cleaned, nearly extremely fine and rare £3,000-£4,000 --- Mool Singh, of the 4th (Raghunath) Regiment of Kashmir Light Infantry, Imperial Service Troops, was killed in action (gunshot) at Chitral Fort on 17 April 1895. On this day occurred an episode that particularly stands out amongst the numerous gallant actions fought by the men during the siege. The Chitralis were discovered constructing a mine by which means they were perilously close to breaching the fort with explosives, which event would have been disastrous for those inside the fort itself. Consequently a 'forlorn hope' was organised under Lieutenant Hurley with 40 men of the 14th Sikhs and 60 men of the Kashmir Infantry, with the object of destroying the mine. The party was let out of the Garden Gate of the fort just opposite the 'Summer House' at 4 p.m. 30 Pathans in the house were taken completely by surprise and after firing a few random shots they bolted down the garden wall. Two men of the Raghunath were killed in this initial attack. Work on the demolition of the mine was then started immediately while some of the Raghunaths and the Sikhs engaged the Pathans who had not withdrawn any farther than the end of the garden and were from there keeping up a continuously heavy fire on the 'Summer House'. The mine shaft was found outside the house behind the garden wall and 35 Chitralis were bayonetted in the mouth of the mine just as they rushed out in panic. Lieutenant Hurley succeeded in placing the charges and soon after 5 p.m. the mine was blown up and the fort saved in the nick of time. A total of 8 men were killed and 13 wounded in this short and daring action of which the share of the Kashmir Infantry was 5 killed, including Mool Singh, and 8 wounded.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Kimberley (Pte. R. Switzer. Kimberley Town Gd:) light contact marks, very fine £200-£240 --- Robert Edwin Switzer served during the Defence of Kimberley in No. II Section, B2 Company, No. 3 Redoubt; and also in No. III Section, C Company, Pickering’s No. 1 Redoubt. He is also recorded as having served with the Kimberly Light Horse as a Trooper, serving at the Relief of Mafeking; and later serving with Scott’s Railway Guards in the Orange Free State. An H. A. Switzer also served at the Defence of Kimberley - possibly the recipient’s brother. Sold with copy clasps form Relief of Mafeking and Orange Free State, representing the recipient’s full entitlement; and copied research.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (4543 Pte. T. Mason. 14th. Hussars.) edge bruise, light contact marks, nearly very fine £100-£140 --- Thomas Mason attested for the 14th Hussars and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War. He saw further service during the Great War, initially with the 20th Hussars on the Western Front from 22 August 1914, before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps.
1914-15 Star (2) (21594 Pte. A. Paylor, Yorks. L.I.; 21594 Pte. A. Paylor. Yorks: L.I.) nearly very fine and a scarce double issue to the same man (2) £60-£80 --- Arthur Paylor attested for the Yorkshire Light Infantry and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 26 May 1915. He was discharged Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 2 March 1919. Sold with the recipient’s two Medal Index Cards.
A superb ‘Logeast Wood’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant H. J. Trigg, Royal Marine Light Infantry, 1st R.M. Battalion, Royal Naval Division, when ‘he himself killed large numbers of the enemy with a Lewis gun’ Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (Ply-466(S) Sjt: H. J. Trigg, 1/R. Marines); 1914-15 Star (Ply. 466-S-, Pte. H. J. Trigg, R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Ply. 466-S-. Pte. H. J. Trigg, R.M.L.I.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for display, light edge bruising and contact marks, therefore nearly very fine and rare (7) £4,000-£5,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January, 1919: ‘On 21 August 1918 at Logeast Wood, during a heavy enemy counter-attack, when troops on his flank were forced to withdraw, he moved his platoon forward and attacked the advancing enemy with such resolution that the counter-attack was completely broken up. He himself killed large numbers of the enemy with a Lewis gun. Throughout the operations he displayed conspicuous gallantry and fine qualities of leadership.’ Herbert John Trigg was born in the Parish of Bampton, Oxford, on 23 October 1893, and enlisted for the Royal Marines at Liverpool on 7 October 1914. He served at Gallipoli from 25 April 1915 until 8 July 1915, when he was invalided to 17 General Hospital at Alexandria suffering from a septic foot. He was then attached to the Divisional Train at Sidi Bishr until readmitted to hospital with fever on 31 August, and again, with burns to his face, at Glymenpoule on 19 September. Invalided to England on 3 October 1915, he served with the B.E.F. in France from 27 May 1917, until again invalided on 27 August 1918, as a result of a bullet wound to his left elbow received in the action at Logeast Wood. He was finally discharged at Plymouth on 29 April 1919. In this single action during the Second Battle of the Somme, the Royal Marines were awarded one D.S.O. (Bar), five M.C.’s, four D.C.M.’s and seventeen M.M.’s. During the entire Great War there were only twenty-three D.C.M.’s to the Royal Marine Light Infantry. Sold with copied research including full record of service.
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Lt. G. L. W. Watson. R.E.M.E.) nearly extremely fine £70-£90 --- Geoffrey Lloyd Wheatley Watson was commissioned Lieutenant in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry on 8 September 1947, having previously held a commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and transferred to the Royal Artillery on 20 December of that year. He transferred again, this time to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, on 1 July 1949, and was promoted Captain on 28 September 1952.
A rare Great War ‘Gallipoli Mining Operations’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private Thomas Wilkinson, 4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1381 Pte. T. Wilkinson. 4/E. Lanc.: Regt.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (1381 Pte. T. Wilkinson. E. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (20014 Pte. T. Wilkinson, E. Lan. R.)medals unmounted, light contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (4) £2,000-£2,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 16 November 1915: ‘For conspicuous bravery on the 14th September, 1915, on the Gallipoli Peninsula. During mining operations, Private Wilkinson remained at his post in a mine gallery where the enemy’s shaft was expected to break through. When they succeeded in doing so, he shot the first Turk who appeared, and then assisted a Non-Commissioned Officer to lay and fire the charge, so destroying the enemy’s gallery. This was done at great personal risk’. Thomas Wilkinson landed with the 4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (T.F.) at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 9 May 1915, and went into the line to the south-west of Krithia. There followed a period of routine trench warfare before the Battalion took part in the battle of Krithia on 4 June, suffering 212 casualties in killed, wounded and missing. During 6-13 August the battalion took part in the battle of Krithia Vineyard, suffering further heavy casualties before being withdrawn to re-organize. Much like the Western Front, Gallipoli saw mining and counter-mining operations by both sides and the 42nd Division formed a Mining Company, to which Private Wilkinson volunteered, being granted extra pay for this duty. September 1915 was a particularly active month for mining operations, with the Turks exploding mines on the 3rd, 15th, 18th, 21st, 22nd and 29th, all opposite an area of trenches on the Division’s right known as the ‘Gridiron’. On the left, at Fusilier Bluff, the Mining Company successfully put out protective galleries which negated the Turkish miners. Wilkinson was awarded the D.C.M. for services during these mining operations, possibly the only Gallipoli D.C.M. award to the the 4th Battalion. The battalion was withdrawn to Mudros on 17 October, returning to the Peninsula on 2 November, landing at W Beach and taking up positions at Y Ravine. The battalion remained on the Peninsula until the evacuations on 29 December, when they embarked on the Princess Alberta. They went on to serve in Egypt and Palestine in 1916, taking part in the battle of Romani, before moving, along with the rest of the 42nd Division, to the Western Front in March 1916, where they served for the remainder of the war. Sold with brass shoulder title and copied research.
A Great War ‘Capture of St Pierre Divion’ November 1916 D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant E. Freeman, 16th (Service) Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (Chatsworth Rifles) Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (26771 Sjt: E. Freeman, 16/N. & D.R.); British War and Victory Medals (26771 Sjt. E. Freeman. Notts. & Derby. R.) light contact marks, otherwise very fine (3) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 26 January 1917: ‘He pushed on rapidly, secured the entrances to the further dugouts, thereby preventing the escape of the garrison, and was instrumental in the capture of a large number of prisoners.’ Annotated Gazette states: ‘St Pierre Divion, 13 November 1916’. Ernest Freeman enlisted into the 12th Battalion, Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment in 1915 and served in France with the 16th Battalion from March 1916. He was twice wounded, on 10th April and on 11th December, 1916, when he was shot through the left arm and repatriated to hospital in Scotland. The following extracts are taken from the Battalion War Diary for 13 November 1916: ‘On November 13th the Battalion was ordered to make a subsidiary attack from the South up the River Ancre in conjunction with a main attack by the 118th Infantry Brigade. The objective of the Battalion was a line running East from the Summer House and short of St Pierre Divion... A tank was to co-operate on our right. The Battalion successfully entered the German First Line trench, but here met with a certain amount of opposition and the right was held up. At 6.30 a.m. the reserve Company was sent up to reinforce the right. Their arrival helped to clear the situation and the Battalion advanced bombing & driving the enemy before them into their dugouts. The objective allotted to the Battalion was secured but nothing could stop our men, who advanced with the greatest dash and finally secured the whole of St Pierre Divion including the German Battalion Headquarters and the famous tunnel dugouts... 13 officers including the Battalion Commander and 720 Other Ranks were taken prisoners... White Star bombs (poison gas) were used for the first time and were found most effective in dealing with dugouts from which the enemy had been sniping or bombing... A large amount of booty fell into our hands but it was not possible to enumerate it.’ Sold with copied research including Gazette entries, War Diary extracts and Medal Index Card.
A fine Great War ‘Neuve Eglise’ April 1918 D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant A. Wood, 9th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Highlanders) Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (330243 Sjt: A. Wood. 9/High: L.I.); 1914 Star (1784 Pte. A. Wood. 9/High: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (1784 Sjt. A. Wood. H.L.I.); Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (3299930 Sjt. A. Wood. 9-H.L.I.) mounted on card for display, nearly very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 October 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He set a magnificent example, inspiring the men with him to hold on at all costs though both flanks had gone, and to keep on shooting down the enemy. One night he led a patrol which encountered an enemy patrol, whom they dispersed, killing eight and taking four prisoners.’ Annotated Gazette states: ‘Neuve Eglise, 12-18 April 1918.’ T.E.M. Army Order August 1923. Sold with copied research including gazette entries, Medal Index Card, War Diary extracts, and a detailed report describing the bitter fighting during the operations of 11-18 April 1918 by the Glasgow Highlanders, in which they suffered total casualties of 20 Officers and 387 Other ranks.
Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (65133 Sjt: V. Burke. 24/Can: Inf:) polished, therefore nearly very fine £100-£140 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 17 June 1918 (France). Victor James Donaghan Burke was born in West Silvertown, Essex in September 1888. He served during the Great War with the 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles), Canadian Infantry on the Western Front, and was attached to the 5th Canadian Light Trench Mortar Battery for the time of the award of his M.S.M.. In later life Burke resided at 90 Alton Avenue, Toronto, Canada.
A Great War 1915 ‘Battle of Festubert’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Captain H. T. Cameron, Canadian Army Medical Corps Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (33303 Pte. H. T. Cameron. No. 3. F.A. 1/Can: Div:); 1914-15 Star (33303 Sjt. H. T. Cameron. Can: A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Hon. Capt. H. T. Cameron.) ‘Hon’ unofficially re-engraved; Coronation 1937 (Capt. H. T. Cameron) contemporarily impressed naming; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, mounted court-style for display in this order, light contact marks, generally good very fine and better (7) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 6 September 1915: ‘For great bravery and devotion to duty on the night of 20-21 May 1915 at Festubert. He was the first to volunteer to assist in collecting the wounded at the orchard captured from the enemy, and which was still under a very heavy fire. The task was one of great difficulty and danger and of the party of eight men who undertook it, four were severely wounded.’ Herbert Thomas Cameron was born in Dundee, Scotland, on 24 May 1884 and having emigrated to Canada attested for the Field Ambulance Corps, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 22 September 1914, having previously served for three years and six months in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served with No. 3 Field Ambulance during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 February 1915, and for his gallantry at Festubert in May 1915 was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was advanced Staff Sergeant on 21 February 1916, and Sergeant Major on 4 August 1916, and was granted an honorary commission in the Canadian Army Medical Corps on 11 October 1917. Cameron was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937 (confirmed in letter from the Canadian Chancellery), and following the outbreak of the Second World War was appointed Captain in No. 10 District Depot as Canadian Provost Corps, being seconded for duty as Quartermaster of Internment Camp ‘X’ on 16 December 1940. He later transferred to Internment camp ‘R’, again as Quartermaster, and was released from service on 16 August 1941. Sold with a large quantity of copied research.
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1973 Colr. Serjt. Jas. Whittaker. 1st Bn 7th Foot) edge bruise and light contact marks, very fine £80-£100 --- James Whittaker was born in 1822 at Leeds, Yorkshire, and attested for service in the 59th Foot in April 1841, transferring to the 7th Foot (Royal Fusiliers) in November 1845. He was promoted Corporal in September 1849, and to Sergeant in June 1857. He was wounded at the battle of the Alma on 20 September 1854 by a musket ball through calf of left leg, and was entitled to the Crimea Medal with clasps for Alma and Inkermann and the Turkish War Medal. He was discharged at Chatham in June 1862, being ‘worn out’ and unfit for further service. Sold with copied record of service.
Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (Wm. Brazier. Pte. 8th. Co. R.M.L.I.) very fine £100-£140 --- William Brazier was born at Coseley, Bilston, Staffordshire, and enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Wolverhampton on 10 October 1861, aged 19 years and 8 months. He served in 8th Company, Portsmouth Division, R.M.L.I., and in H.M.S. Duncan, H.M.S. Warrior and H.M.S. Hector, for a total of 21 years and 241 days, seven years of which were spent afloat. He took his discharge on 21 July 1883, from the Royal Marine Depot at Walmer. Sold with copied research.
A rare Second War ‘Norwegian Coast 1940’ C.G.M. group of six awarded to Able Seaman R. H. Wellard, Royal Navy, whose gallantry when H.M.S. Pelican was dive bombed by enemy Ju-88s and severely damaged undoubtedly saved many lives and possibly the ship itself Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (S.SX. 22441 R. H. Wellard. A.B. H.M.S. Pelican) officially impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Ronal H. Wellard) mounted for display, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (6) £8,000-£12,000 --- C.G.M. London Gazette 25 June 1940: ‘For courage and resource in operations on the Norwegian Coast.’:- Able Seaman Ronald Harry Wellard, C/SSX 22441, H.M.S. Pelican.’ He received his decoration at an investiture on 18 March 1941. In his official report dated 29 April 1940 (ADM 199/476) Commander Lennox Boswell, D.S.O., R.N., stated: ‘I wish particularly to mention the work of Able Seaman Ronald Wellard C/SSX.22441, who at considerable risk to himself, took a firehose down below the burning remains of “Y” gun and put out a fire in the flat below. Several live rounds of 4” ammunition were lying in the wreckage, which could only be approached over the wrecked open end of the ship, and was hidden by smoke and steam. The condition of “Y” magazine (directly below the fire) was unknown at the time.’ H.M.S. Pelican was attacked and dive bombed by enemy Junker 88 aircraft on 22 April 1940, and severely damaged. This ship and her crew suffered perhaps the most serious damage and casualties of any Royal Navy ship that survived and then returned, after repair, to war service. An official Norwegian war history even describes her as bombed, split in two and sunk. The official Admiralty Restricted Book of Reference 1886 (2) on “H.M. Ships Damaged or Sunk by Enemy Action 3rd Sept. 1939 to 2nd Sept. 1945” describes the damage: ‘(i) One Direct Hit 250 lbs. delay action fused Bomb (ii) Two Near Miss 250 lbs. direct action fused Bombs. Time out of action: 7 months. Brief Account of Damage and Lessons Learned: Pelican was attacked by aircraft whilst proceeding off the Norwegian coast. The direct hit burst on impact with the quarter deck and exploded a number of depth charges stowed in the rails. As a result of the explosion the whole of the ship abaft ‘X’ mounting was destroyed. The near miss bombs caused severe splinter damage over a large area. Pelican was flooded from the plummer block compartments aft. Fighting Efficiency: Severely impaired. The vessel was immobilised and unseaworthy in rough weather. Half the ships armament was out of action.’ Further details of the crippling damage and casualties can be found in Commander Boswell’s report: Damage Caused: 38. Four bombs were released simultaneously. One burst 100 feet Green from ‘X’ gun, splinters causing casualties to Upper Deck personnel from ‘B’ gun aft, and riddling the ship’s side. 39. Another bomb seems to have burst on the depth charges in one set of rails; there were 11 in one and 12 in the other touching side by side, besides the usual 8 standing by the throwers close by. All depth charges had primers inserted with pistols set to “safe”. 40. The explosion of the depth charges created a pressure wave, which disintegrated the ship abaft station 114, and worked forward until it met the strong structure of “Y” gun support and the gland space; here it seems to have blown away both sides and the bottom of the ship. Meanwhile the quarterdeck forward of station 114 was curled up over “Y” and “X” guns, the curl starting about station 95. The after bulkhead of the plummer block compartment was sound (station 94 below the Lower Deck), and the after bulkhead of the Ward Room (station 92 above the lower deck). There were no splinter marks visible on the turned up portion of the Quarter Deck. 41. Both propellor shafts were bent down, the starboard some 14 feet, and the port some 9 feet. He confirms that “one quarter of the ship’s company had been killed, and there were a large number of badly wounded”. After commending the admirable behaviour of the survivors, he specifically mentions the gallantry of Able Seaman Ronald Wellard, as already quoted above. Ronald Harry Wellard was born at Dover, Kent, on 30 August 1918. He volunteered for a 12 year period in the Royal Navy on 13 September 1937, joining H.M.S. Pembroke on that date and advancing to Able Seaman on 13 February 1939. He joined H.M.S. Pelican on 17 June 1939, and continued in her until 21 February 1941. After the end of the Second World War, on 10 November 1945, Able Seaman Ronald Wellard, C.G.M. was released under Class A and enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve in which he served until March 1954. He also served as a Special Constable and received the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, and as a uniformed guard at a National Trust property in Kent. Sold with original photograph of Wellard holding his medals, original Certificate of Service and Gunnery History Sheet; together with copied research including full Admiralty report.
A rare 1914 ‘Bombardment of Scarborough’ Boy Scouts Association Gallantry Cross First Class in Bronze group of three awarded to Patrol Leader P. Robertshaw, 3rd Scarborough Troop, later Private, Royal Army Medical Corps British War and Victory Medals (101998 Pte. P. Robertshaw, R.A.M.C.); Boy Scouts Association Gallantry Cross, 1st Class, 1st issue, bronze, the reverse inscribed, ‘Percy Robertshaw, Scarboro., 16-12-14’, with ring suspension and integral top riband bar, in its original J. A. Wyllie, London, red leather case of issue, generally very fine or better (3) £1,000-£1,400 --- The Boy Scouts’ Headquarters Gazette of March 1915 confirms that Robertshaw received his Bronze Cross for stopping a runaway horse. He appears to have received his award, ‘the highest of the Association for gallantry’, in February 1915. Although not mentioned in the official citation, the date on the cross provides ample reason for any horse to gallop away in a panic. In the early morning of 16 December 1914 the German battlecruisers Derfflinger and Von der Tann emerged from the mist off Scarborough and bombarded the North Yorkshire seaside town, whilst the accompanying light cruiser Kolberg laid mines. Some 500 shells were fired at the castle barracks and town, killing 17, injuring 80 and causing damage to property and to British prestige (and upsetting at least one horse!). At the same time, the battlecruisers Seydlitz and Moltke and heavy cruiser Bluecher bombarded the port of Hartlepool; later still the seaside town of Whitby was shelled by the squadron.
Arctic Medal 1875-76 (V. Domines. Cook. 1. Cl. H.M.S. Alert.) light marks, otherwise good very fine and scarce £5,000-£7,000 --- 62 Arctic 1875-76 medals issued to the officers and crew of Alert. Vincent Domines was born in Gibraltar on 8 August 1841. His Service Certificate from 1 January 1873, shows that he was in Teazer then as a Ship's Cook but also that he already had a Good Conduct Badge so must have joined the Navy some years earlier - he was already 31 years old. He had been a boiler-maker before joining the Navy and 5'4" tall with black hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion. He had no wounds marks or scars. To trace his earlier career, Teazer's Description Book was enormously helpful. This showed (Ship's Book No 16) that he had joined the ship on 23 November 1869, that he was a Roman Catholic, had been vaccinated and was single. More importantly it listed all his previous ships. He joined the Navy on 12 September 1861, as Gunroom Steward in Recruit. This occurred as this ship was returning from Malta to U.K. having left the former in late August and was in Woolwich by 11 October. He was paid off there on 11 October but continued his service by joining Devastation on 15 December 1861, as the Engineer's Servant, remaining in this post for just over a year until 19 January 1863. He then went to Topaze as Ship's Cook from 20 January 1863 to 23 June 1863, followed by Sutlej from 24 June 1863 to 6 December 1866. During the next two years he had short stints in the following - Malacca, Zealous, Chanticleer, Malacca (again), Topaze (again) and Mutine, before joining Thistle on 14 March 1869, for 8 months before finally ending up in Teazer for the following 4 years and 9 months - longer than any previous ship. He was discharged from Teazer on 26 August 1874 and, after a few months in Naval Barracks and Duke of Wellington, he joined Alert on 17 April 1875 for 20 months service in the Arctic. When he joined the Navy his forename was recorded as "Vicente St", and in some early documents this is reversed to "St Vicente". This seems to have proved difficult for ships' clerks (and doubtless his messmates) so he became "Vincent". From 1863 until 1875 he was described as a Ship's Cook and a listing of ratings in 1869 shows that this was ranked as a Chief Petty Officer. The day before he joined Alert he was re-rated as Cook 1st Class and at the same time took a 10 year Continuous Service engagement (o/n. 73026). The following day he joined Alert and on 1 May 1875, received his 2nd Good Conduct Badge, but was deprived of this on 16 September 1875 (no reason given, but it cannot have been too serious as his character at the end of the year was still ‘Very Good’). This badge was restored on 15 December 1876, 10 days after he was paid off from Alert. He seems to have been the only cook on board so did not, therefore, go on any of the sledging trips. He received a 3rd Good Conduct Badge on 15 December 1878, when he was in Penelope, but was deprived of two GCBs on 20 December 1880, when he was in Inconstant. The reason is again not given but it appears that he was reduced to Cook's Mate 1st Class on 5 February 1881, at which point he seems to have lost all his badges as "Not entitled to badges as Cook's Mate". On 1 July 1881, when in Flora, however, he was re-advanced to Cook 1st Class and had two badges restored "on regaining his former rating". He received a 3rd GCB on 1 January 1882, and finally left the Navy with a pension on 16 April 1885, at the age of nearly 44. There is no mention, though, of "tracing" him for a Long Service & Good Conduct Medal - which is not entirely surprising. He died on 23 February 1908 at home in Washbrook in Suffolk from "stomatitis and septicaemia" aged 66 and was described as a Petty Officer Royal Navy (Pensioner). Sold with copied research.
Arctic Medal 1875-76 (G. Stone. Py. Offr. 2. Cl. H.M.S. Discovery) a little polished and some light scratches, otherwise very fine and scarce £6,000-£8,000 --- 60 Arctic 1875-76 medals issued to the officers and crew of Discovery. George Stone was born in London on 22 September 1845. He entered the Navy on 14 April 1860, as a Boy 2nd class and took a 10 year engagement (CS no 9695A) on his 18th birthday, though still a Boy 1st class. Advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 6 March 1864, and to Able Seaman on 4 February 1866, he served in Columbine from October 1862 to January 1868. On his 28th birthday in 1873) he extended for a further 10 years (his new Official no being 64294), and was advanced to Leading Seaman on 2 October 1873. He was advanced to Petty Officer 2nd class and joined Discovery from Duke of Wellington on 17 April 1875, all on the same day. He was then a "trained man" with 2 GCBs. He transferred to Alert on 26 August 1875 and returned to Discovery on 1 June 1876, remaining in her until 5 December 1876. So, for the winter period he was actually in Alert, one of only nine persons to have served in both ships during the expedition. In the Autumn of 1875 he was one of the crew of the sledge ‘Discovery’ with Lieutenant Wyatt Rawson when attempting to communicate with Discovery, and in the following Spring did a pioneer reconnaissance across the Robeson Channel for a week, before exploring the north coast of Greenland with the party under Lieutenant Beaumont, being away for 131 days. On 19 January 1877, he transferred to the Coastguard, nominally on the books of Penelope, but stationed variously at first at East Swale and being rated Boatman on 21 January 1877. Later he was stationed at Whitstable, Clift Creek and Clacton-on Sea, so definitely a Thames Estuary man. He was advanced to Commissioned Boatman on 1 November 1880, and was finally discharged ‘Shore' and pensioned on 10 October 1885, at the age of just over 40 and after a total of over 25 years service. He received his third Good Conduct Badge on 6 March 1877, but never received a L.S. & G.C. medal. On 20 October 1885, he joined the Corps of Commissionaires (Corps No. 1176) and the 1891 census shows him to be living in Erith, Kent as a Commissionaire (Port). He died at Horsehay, Dawley, in Shropshire from "cerebral thrombosis" on 18 January 1924, aged 78. Sold with copied research including record of service and details of sledging parties.
A Second War D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Leading Seaman E. R. Pitt, Royal Naval Reserve, late 9th Battalion, London Regiment, who was wounded in the Great War, and took part in H.M.S. Ayrshire’s epic voyage to Archangel in the Second World War Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (L.5704 D., E. R. Pitt. L.Smn. R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (6739 Pte. E. R. Pitt. 9-Lond. R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, with Second Award Bar (5704D. E. R. Pitt. Smn. R.N.R.) mounted as worn; together with the recipient’s Great War Silver War Badge, good very fine (8) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.S.M. London Gazette 11 June 1942. M.I.D. London Gazette 1 July 1941. Edward Robert Pitt was born in Wivenhoe, Essex, on 30 January 1899. During the Great War he served with the 9th Battalion London Regiment, but was severely wounded in 1917 and was discharged from the Army, being awarded a Silver War Badge. Enlisting in the Royal Naval Reserve, he served during the Second World War in H.M.S. Gavotte from 1940 to 1941, and H.M.S. Ayrshire from 1941 to 1945, both armed trawlers that served on the incredibly arduous and dangerous convoy duties in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. During this time the convoys were under constant threat and attack from German U-boats, surface ships, and air attack. Adding to this, the atrocious weather conditions to contend with, all on a relatively lightly armed and small ship, it really must have been as Churchill said; ‘the worst journey in the world’. The following is an extract account of his life and service as taken from documents held by his family: ‘He ran away from home at the age of 15 and joined the army going into the Rifle Brigade, but was found to be underage and was bought out by his grandmother. When he became of age he re-enlisted into the 9th London Regiment. His re-enlistment came at the time when some of the bloodiest battles of the Great War were being fought and he was severely wounded during one of these in 1917. He was then discharged from the Army. After the Great War he joined the Merchant Navy and travelled the World over... At the outbreak of the Second World War he was recalled to active service and served in the Royal Navy and became Leading Seaman on H.M.S. Gavotte, a converted trawler, this ship on convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic. He was Mentioned in Despatches in 1941. Between 1941 and 1945 he served in H.M.S. Ayrshire, this also being an armed trawler working on convoy duties between Scotland and Murmansk. He finished the War as a Chief Petty Officer, being awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.’ A photograph within the group shows Pitt manning an anti aircraft gun aboard a trawler which would suggest this was one of his duties aboard ship. Given his previous Army service, this is quite likely. H.M.S. Ayrshire ‘In June 1942 Lieutenant Leo Gradwell was in command of the H.M.S. Ayrshire, a small (roughly 500 tons) converted fishing trawler forming part of the anti-submarine screening force for Admiralty convoy PQ-17 departing for Archangel in the Soviet Union with much needed war supplies on 27 June 1942. Arctic convoys at this time had to be concerned not only with Luftwaffe and U boat attacks but also the attentions of major German surface units, including the Tirpitz. The convoy therefore had a heavy escort force following it in addition to a light close escort of destroyers, corvettes and trawlers such as the Ayrshire. However, the heavy escort fell behind just as luck would have it, that air reconnaissance of German bases was prevented by bad weather. On 3 July, a reconnaissance plane finally made it to Trondheim, home of the Tirpitz, and found to the Admiralty's horror that the Tirpitz had gone, as well as her cruiser screen. With a large raiding force at sea, and unable to know precisely were it was, and with the heavy escort force too far away to reach the convoy in time, an order was given to scatter the convoy. What followed was largely a disaster: the Tirpitz never showed up; the Germans having thought the convoy was bait for a trap and turned away; and the scattered merchant ships were easy prey for both bombers and U boats. This is where the remarkable story of H.M.S. Ayrshire begins. With the convoy ordered to scatter Gradwell decided to head directly north towards the pack ice east of Svalbard, and persuaded three of the scattering freighters to follow him: the Panamanian registered Troubador, the Ironclad, and the United states registered Silver Swor. None of the three ships or their tiny escort had charts for this area, since it was well off the planned convoy route, and so Gradwell had to navigate their course using only a Sextant and a copy of The Times World Geographic Pocket Book. On reaching the pack ice, the unlikely flotilla became stuck fast in the ice unable to move. Gradwell took overall command as the senior naval officer present and organised the ships to defend themselves. Taking stock it was discovered that the Troubadour was carrying a cargo of bunkering coal and white paint. Gradwell ordered the paint supplies opened and soon all four vessels were painted white, with white sheets over the decks to camouflage them from Luftwaffe bombers. He also ordered the freighters to move around their deck cargo of Sherman tanks into defensive rings pointing outwards with their main guns loaded turning them into improvised gun turrets. After several days stuck fast the camouflage proved effective, in that they were never spotted or attacked. Finally, upon breaking free of the ice, Gradwell lead his three merchant ships across the Barents sea to the Matochkin Straight where they were met by a force of Soviet navy corvettes who accompanied the rag tag convoy to the port of Archangel, arriving on 25 July 1942.’ Sold with the recipient’s riband bars, cap badges, and identity tags; Mentioned in Despatches Certificate; photographs of the recipient, including one of him outside Buckingham Palace having been invested with his D.S.M.; a large amount of research including accounts of Pitt’s service; and other ephemera.
Arctic Medal 1875-76 (G. Smithers. Captns. Coxn. Pandora.) a little polished and some light marks, otherwise very fine and very scarce £5,000-£7,000 --- Only 60 Arctic 1875-76 medals issued to the officers and crew of Pandora. It is almost certain that this man is the same as the George William Smithers who was born at Southsea, Hampshire, on 17 September 1849. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in Boscawen on 22 September 1863, at the age of 14, having been at sea before this. On attaining 18 years he took a Continuous Service engagement for ten years. There is no record of his early career but, on 15 September 1871, he had left Duke of Wellington ‘for passage’, joined Repulse on 23 July 1872 and been transferred to Tenedos 27 November 1872, also ‘for passage’ to Boxer. He left Tenedos on 9 January 1873 to join Boxer ‘stationed at Vancouver Island’. He was advanced to Leading Seaman on 9 January 1874 and received a second GCB on 17 September 1875, but then obtained his discharge by purchase on 8 October 1875, at a cost of £12. George Smithers joined Pandora seven months later on 16 May 1876, as Able Seaman and Captain’s Coxswain, and probably left her in early November 1876 after her return to Portsmouth on 3 November. Interestingly, Nares had been Captain of Boscawen when Smithers had been under training in her. Pandora was a private yacht owned and commanded by Commander Allen Young R.N.R. who wrote an account of his voyages The Two Voyages of the Pandora in 1875 and 1875 (London 1879), some extracts from which accompany this medal, together with other copied research.
The Memorial Plaque to Second Lieutenant H. C. Hurst, Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 28 September 1916 Memorial Plaque (Henry Cubbin Hurst) very fine £100-£140 --- Henry Cubbin Hurst attested during the Great War for the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and having been appointed Acting Corporal was commissioned into the Yorkshire Regiment. Serving with the 6th Battalion, he was killed in action on 28 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Memorial Plaque (William Sydney Fitzpatrick) polished, light traces of verdigris, very fine £100-£140 --- M.M. London Gazette 17 April 1917. The original Recommendation, dated 10 February 1917, states: ‘In the attack on enemy trenches East of Gueudecourt on the night of 4-5 February 1917, Sergeant Fitzpatrick’s Platoon being without an Officer, he led it to the assault with great dash and resolution. Throughout a number of counter-attacks and until his Company was relieved on the night of 9-10 February, he was constantly at his post, always on the alert. On one occasion he went out into No-Man’s Land to reconnoitre and seeing one of the enemy, chased him and brought him in at the point of the revolver. His work has been uniformly good throughout.’ William Sydney Fitzpatrick attested for the Australian Imperial Force, and served with the 13th Infantry Battalion during the Great War, embarking from Melbourne on 22 December 1914. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, he was killed in action on the Western Front on 11 June 1917, and is buried in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of six awarded to Corporal T. Rogers, Royal Welch Fusiliers Military Medal, G.V.R. (10515 Cpl. T. Rogers. 14/R.W. Fus.); 1914 Star, with clasp (10515 Pte. T. Rogers. 2/R.W. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (10515 Cpl. T. Rogers. R.W. Fus.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24 (4178963 Pte. T. Rogers. R.W. Fus.; Defence Medal, unnamed as issued, mounted on card for display, light contact marks, very fine or better (6) £500-£700 --- M.M. London Gazette 23 July 1919. Thomas Rogers was a native of Swindon and served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers in France from 13 August 1914. He was attached to the 14th Battalion at the time of winning his M.M., and served with the 1st battalion in the Waziristan operations of 1919-24. Sold with copied Medal Index Card which confirms I.G.S.
Two German Second World War Iron Crosses First Class. A superb example, flat construction, all original black finish to the central core, nice degree of frosting remaining to the frame, flat straight pin, original hook and hinge. Fitted into its domed case, slight staining to the flock base and light markings to the upper imitation silk to the lid, fading to the image of the Iron Cross on the exterior lid and some light scuffing. Accompanied by another example, flat construction, 800 silver marked plus the maker of L54 to the pin, all of the black central core finish remaining, good finish to the frame. Complete with its original hook and hinge, in its flat top presentation case with a good clear outline of the Iron Cross to the exterior. All of the imitation paper leather to the box itself superb with good bright finish to the flock base and the imitation silk to the upper inner lid, extremely good condition (2) £240-£280
A German Second World War Iron Cross First Class and War Service Cross First Class. A good clean flat constructed Iron Cross First Class, maker marked 15 to the wide tapering pin, all black finish remaining to the central iron core with some light spidering to the paint, a good degree of frosting to the outer frame, all fitted in its domed style box with a clear outline in silver of the Iron Cross to the domed exterior lid, the upper inner imitation silk to the lid all intact but the cardboard behind is loose, some minor staining to the flock of the base of the box, some scuffing to the exterior. Accompanied by a War Service Cross 1st Class without swords, maker marked 4, some frosting remaining to the frame, in its flat type box with a good clear outline of the War Service Cross to the exterior lid, remainder of the box is excellent, upper inner imitation silk to the lid slightly toned, good condition (2) £200-£240
A German Second World War Bar to the Great War Iron Cross, with accompanying Entry into Austria Medal. A nicely cased 25mm wingspan Bar to the Iron Cross Second Class of the Great War on its official ribbon with its twin pin fixing, in its original LDO presentation case. The case is marked L54 on the base. Some light scuffing to the edge. Accompanied by a 13th March 1938 Medal for Entry into Austria, with its ribbon, good finish, pin back fixing attached to the ribbon in its presentation case with a gilt outline of the Third Reich eagle and swastika. Slight scuffing to the edges, good condition (2) £120-£160
A Second War 1945 ‘Burma Operations’ M.M. group of six awarded to Gunner H. G. Simpson, 9th Field Reigment, Royal Artillery, for repeated gallantry in the face of artillery shelling and sniper fire whilst employed at artillery observation posts - one of which being a church spire, which he occupied during the heavy fighting around the Japanese bunker positions at Nabet in February 1945. Subsequently, on two separate occasions, he went out into open group to rescue wounded men - one of which being his observation post officer, whom he carried back to safety under sniper fire Military Medal, G.VI.R. (876352 Gnr. H. G. Simpson. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (Inspr. H. G. Simpson.) light contact marks overall, very fine (6) £1,000-£1,400 --- M.M. London Gazette 15 January 1946: ‘For continuously gallant service. During the period from 16th February 1945 to 15th May 1945, Gunner (Driver Mechanic) Simpson H. G. was employed as observation post assistant, always doing far more that his fair share of work under arduous conditions in close contact with the enemy. At all times he showed great devotion to duty and acted with great coolness under fire with outstanding bravery. During the four days fighting round Nabet from 4th February 1945 to 7th February 1945 the enemy, realising that the church spire was the only observation post in the area from which they could be observed, harassed the church with artillery fire gaining a fair percentage of hits. Except for meals, Gunner (Driver Mechanic) Simpson H. G. insisted on manning the church spire continuously throughout the hours of daylight. His complete disregard for his own safety whilst being shelled enabled him to observe enemy gun flashes and so fix their location. His unremitting observation of the area resulted in many worthwhile targets being engaged, and no movement of the enemy or chance of inflicting casualties on him being missed. Again he was on the gun position near Talngon on 6th March, 1945 when it was heavily shelled. Without hesitation he went out into the open and helped carry in wounded men and then returned still under fire to fetch in some equipment. On another occasion near Sigaung on 11th March, 1945 his observation post officer was wounded whilst crossing an open field, Gunner Simpson immediately went to his aid and though himself under continuous sniping fire carried him back to safety. Throughout this period Gunner Simpson continuously thrust himself forward volunteering for extra work and taking upon himself responsibilities well beyond his rank. He at all times showed devotion to duty of a very high order and was continually exposing himself to enemy fire with complete disregard for his own safety and with the greatest courage. His complete lack of thought for himself, his dash and intrepid example was an inspiration throughout the whole period to all who came into contact with him and worthy of the highest praise.’ Huntly Gordon Simpson was a native of Penrhiw, Bala, Wales. Sold with a family photograph of the recipient.
A Second War M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant F. Boothman, 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, who at the capture of Kervenheim, Germany, went to the aid of casualties despite extremely intense gun-fire and succeeded in bringing in the wounded men at great risk to himself, 1 March 1945 Military Medal G.VI.R. (4348892 Sjt. F. Boothman. Linc. R.) with named Buckingham Palace enclosure, and card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, about extremely fine (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- M.M. London Gazette 21 June 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.’ The original Recommendation, for an immediate award, states: ‘On March 1st 1945 this NCO, normally a Carrier Platoon NCO, was attached to “A” Company 2 Lincolns as an additional stretcher bearer NCO for the operation connected with the capture of Kervenheim, in conjunction with 1 Royal Norfolks. During the advance to the village one platoon of the Company suffered several casualties from German machine gun fire whilst crossing an exposed length of road. Sjt Boothman with his fellow Stretcher Bearers went to the aid of these casualties immediately, although the machine gun fire was extremely intense, and he had previously been told to wait until the firing thinned. At great risk to himself, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he succeeded in bringing in the wounded men. For his bravery coolness and fine example to his fellow Stretcher Bearers I strongly recommend this NCO be granted an immediate award of the Military Medal.’ From the withdrawal of the BEF in France and Belgium in 1940 (which saw around 75% of the battalion captured at Poperinge) and the evacuation at Dunkirk, to the 1944 Normandy landings, Caen, the Normandy Bocage and the campaign through Belgium and Holland, the 2nd Battalion The Lincolnshire Regiment had, by early 1945, seen more fighting in the Second World War than most British Army battalions. Crossing from Holland into Germany, the 2nd Lincolns were to be next engaged in Operation Veritable, the clean up of the last remaining pockets of German resistance in the area west of the Rhine. On 1 March 1945, with other infantry, the 2nd Lincolns took part in the night capture of the village of Kervenheim; it was here on this day that Pte. J. Stokes, 2nd KSLI, won a posthumous Victoria Cross for his conspicuous gallantry in launching three consecutive attacks on German strongpoints until brought down by his wounds. The 2nd Lincolns suffered several casualties of their own and had little time for rest or food before, just the following afternoon, they were ordered into attack again, the objective this time being the village of Winnekendonk, about 2 miles south of Kervenheim, which they famously took with a frontal attack across open country. It was two successful battles within the space of 24 hours for the battalion and the regimental history appears not to distinguish between them as regards the awarding of honours. The History of the 10th Foot 1919-1950 by Major-General J. A. A. Griffin D.S.O. recounts the assault on Winnekendonk and concludes by attributing Boothman’s M.M. award also to this action: ‘Immediately the Battalion emerged from the cover of the woods, which had screened the start line, it met heavy machine-gun fire from the right flank, combined with considerable mortar and shell-fire. Anti-tank guns of varying calibres concentrated on the tanks, and the battle was on. One Churchill was knocked out, another had its turret blown off. A third accounted for the S.P. gun causing the damage. Two German Mark IV tanks were also destroyed. Twelve hundred yards of open ground had to be crossed before the cover of buildings was reached, and the Battalion surged forward under pitiless fire. Many fell including Major P. H. W. Clarke, M.C., killed by a grenade as he moved from platoon to platoon cheering on his men, but the remainder did not waiver. By twenty minutes past six the road junction at the near approach to the village had been reached. But still the parachutists fought back grimly. Snipers fired from first floor windows, and Spandaus shot through loopholes made in the walls at ground level. Now the light was going fast, and the infantry and tanks went into the village in billows of smoke, punctuated by orange flashes of the enemy 88’s, and criss-crossed in all directions by red lines of tracer. It was a great and terrible spectacle. By this time the Battalion had really got its teeth in and was not to be denied, and while Battalion Headquarters itself was fighting its way into a house, the leading company had reached the centre of the town. “C” Company headquarters, with Major G. C. A. Gilbert, M.C., in charge, found a Boche bazooka team stalking through the back gardens towards them. They held their fire until the leading man was only five yards away and then let fly. Eight Germans met sudden death. Savage fighting continued until the parachutists had had enough. It is reckoned that thirty were killed and fifty wounded; eighty surrendered, and the following morning, when the village was finally cleared, seventy more gave themselves up. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Firbank, received a bar to his D.S.O. for this action, and Captain P. Smith, who was twice wounded during the battle and was evacuated, much to his disgust, the second time, was awarded an M.C. Sergeant Nicholson of “B” Company, Sergeant Boothman of “S” Company, Corporal Spye of “D” Company and Private Connor of “C” Company were all awarded the M.M.’
Pair: Major-General Albert Goldsmid, 12th Light Dragoons, one of the first Jewish officers to serve in the British Army Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive (A. Goldsmid, Cornet 12th Lt. Dgns.); Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. Albert Goldsmid. 12th Light Dragoons) contemporarily re-engraved naming in upright serif capitals, fitted with replacement ring suspension, this with contact pitting and edge bruising, fine, both dark toned, suspension post on first in need of re-affixing, otherwise good very fine (2) £3,000-£4,000 --- Albert Goldsmid was born in 1794, the son of Benjamin Goldsmid, who, with his brother, occupied an important financial position in the City of London at the end of the eighteenth century. Albert and his brother, Lionel Prager Goldsmid, established a new tradition in the family by entering the Army, an example which was followed later by other members of the family. Albert entered the army on 30 April 1811, as a Cornet in the 12th Light Dragoons, aged 17, his commission purchased, as indeed were all his subsequent positions up to the rank of Major, either ‘by purchase’ or ‘by paying the difference’. Promoted to Lieutenant in the regiment on 20 February 1812, he went on active duty in Spain in May, where he continued to serve until the close of the war in April 1814. He was present at the cavalry affairs of Castrajon, Quintare de Puerta, and Monasterio, and at the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle, and Nive, and was awarded the silver medal and four clasps. Throughout the Peninsula the 12th Light Dragoons served with distinction under Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. F. C. Ponsonby. At Castrajon, the 12th safeguarded Wellington from a French attack. Goldsmid lost two horses during the campaign, and was present at the siege of St Sebastian but did not qualify for that clasp. The 12th was known for consistently volunteering for outpost duty and had the honour of being the advance guard of the Army on its entry into Bordeaux. “The 12th can boast of never losing a man by surprise nor a man deserted it tried by court martial, a magnificent record”, wrote Vandeleur. With the escape of Napoleon from Elba, the regiment was ordered to France in April 1815, and quartered at Oudenarde as part of Major-General Vandeleur’s Brigade along with the 11th and 16th Light Dragoons. On 8 May the Brigade moved to Denderwinde and was in place at Enghien on 16 June. On 18 June at Waterloo, Ponsonby had orders to act on his own discretion and he led a charge of the 12th Light Dragoons against a body of French infantry to relieve the Union Brigade. Whilst the charge of the 12th L.D. was successful in achieving its objective, they were in turn attacked by French Lancers during which Colonel Ponsonby was severely wounded and a considerable number of men were killed or wounded, almost a squadron. It was an expensive affair, though Wellington called it ‘beautiful’. Captain Barton’s squadron, in which Goldsmid served, charged again towards the end of the day, sabreing and capturing a sizeable body of enemy infantry. At Waterloo the 12th had three officers and 43 other ranks killed, and two officers and 58 other ranks wounded or missing. Goldsmid was briefly placed on the half-pay of the 72nd Foot in 1816, but was able to obtain a Captaincy in his old regiment on 22 February 1816, by paying the difference, and in the following year the 12th was converted to a lancer regiment, becoming the 12th (or Prince of Wales’s) Royal Regiment of Lancers. He was again placed on half-pay on 26 October 1820, this time to the 60th Regiment, but transferred to the 34th Regiment on 22 December 1825, and finally retired as a Major unattached on 10 January 1826. He was gazetted Lieutenant-Colonel on 23 November 1841; Colonel, 20 June 1854; and Major-General, 26 October 1858. Major-General Albert Goldsmid, one of the first Jewish officers in the British Army, died in London on 6 January 1861. Sold with copied research including colour portrait of an oil painting of Captain Goldsmid in Light Dragoon uniform wearing his Waterloo medal, circa 1816-17, originally published in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research (Vol. 22, 1943-44).
A very fine and rare Waterloo Medal and ‘Salamanca operations’ Guelphic Medal pair awarded to Sergeant Henry Erdfelder, 2nd Regiment Light Dragoons, King’s German Legion Waterloo 1815 (Serj. Henry Erdfelder, 2nd Reg. Light Drag. K.G.L.) fitted with matching Guelphic Medal style silver bar suspension; Guelphic Medal for Bravery 1815 (*Heinr. Erdfelder. vorm Quartiermstr im Leib-Cuir. Regt.*) officially engraved naming, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (2) £3,000-£4,000 --- Guelphic Medal, extract from Guelphic Archives No. 203 of 1819, attested by Captain A. Poten: ‘Serjeant Erdfelder, 2d Dragoons. On the 20th of July 1812, the third squadron of the second dragoons covered the retreat of the allied army from the Duero upon Salamanca; several Portuguese infantry soldiers were taken by the enemy, and Erdfelder begged for four men, in order that he might liberate them, which he effected with the greatest bravery’ (Ref History of the King’s German Legion, by North Ludlow Beamish, p511).
Four: Colour-Sergeant Thomas Smith, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who received a gun shot wound at the attack on D’Jebail on 12 September 1840 Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (Thomas Smith.); Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (T. Smith. Color. Serjt. R.M. 22 Yrs,.); St. Jean d’Acre 1840, silvered bronze, unnamed as issued, light contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £1,800-£2,200 --- Thomas Smith was born in the Parish of ‘Burbeigh’ [Burbage], near Marlborough, Wiltshire, on 20 November 1820, and attested for the Royal Marines at Portsmouth on 31 December 1838, having been enlisted two days earlier by ‘Sergeant Major Johnson Royal Marines’ two days earlier for a Bounty of three pounds. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 October 1844, and to Sergeant on 16 March 1849 (whilst on board Trincomalee but not confirmed) until 16 August 1850, when he reverted to Corporal until 26 August 1851, when he was promoted to Colour Sergeant. During this period his Attestation papers record that he ‘served during the operations on the Coast of Syria in 1840 in 1840 and has the War Medal for that service with Syria Clasp and Turkish Medal [Private R.M., H.M.S. Hastings (Z/466)] - received a gun shot wound at the attack on D’Jebail on the 12 Sept. 1840 - Served in the Baltic during the Ruffian War and has the medal for that service - also served with the Provl. Batt. in China and present at the Capture of Canton in 1857 and destruction of the Chinese junks in Fatshan Creek. Served on board H.M.S. Cruizer & present at the attack of the Taku Forts in 1858, 1859 & 1860. 101 Co. Thomas Smith, Color Sergt. R.M.L.I. is entitled to reckon five Good Conduct Badges or five pence a day towards increase of Pension. 3 Medals & 1 Clasp.’ During his period of service Thomas Smith served afloat aboard Hastings, 27 May 1839 to 28 May 1842 [Syria operations]; Pique & Dee, 17 June 1842 to 9 April 1844; Trincomalee, 12 August 1847 to 16 August 1850; Duke of Wellington & Neptune, 20 October 1853 to 8 September 1855 [Baltic operations]; and Cruiser, 16 August 1856 to 1 May 1861 [China operations]. He was discharged from R.M. barracks at Forton, Gosport, on 11 May 1867, with a total service, including 8 years in the United Kingdom, of 22 Years 37 days and would have received his L.S. & G.C. medal at this time [roll for R.M. recipients is incomplete and his name is not amongst those found but is clearly so entitled; he is also entitled to the China medals with clasp for Canton 1857]. Note that the ‘3 Medals & 1 Clasp’ mentioned in his statement of service would not be including his L.S. & G.C. medal which he received after his discharge. Sold with copied Attestation papers and confirmation for all medals.
Four: Admiral R. P. Cator, Royal Navy, the only R.N. officer to receive an officially impressed medal for Azoff Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Azoff, Sebastopol (Lieut. R. P. Cator, R.N.) officially impressed naming, but with engraved correction to second initial [from ‘I’]; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Canton 1857, Taku Forts 1858, unnamed as issued; Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 5th class, silver, gold and enamels; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, contemporary tailor’s copy by ‘J.B.’, dark toned, light contact marks and chips to red enamel, otherwise good very fine (4) £2,000-£2,400 --- Ralph Peter Cator was born on 19 May 1829, at Bangalore in the Kingdom of Mysore, India, eldest son of Peter Cator, of Beckenham, Kent, Barrister-at-Law, who was for thirteen years Registrar of the Supreme Court of Madras. He was nephew of Major-General William Cator, C.B., Director-General of Artillery, and of Vice-Admiral B. C. Cator; and first cousin of J. B. Cator, R.N. He entered the Royal Navy on 22 May 1843, on board the Castor, in which frigate he was employed for four and a half years, chiefly on the China and New Zealand stations (also entitled to New Zealand medal dated 1845-46 - his name is shown on the medal roll but this medal is never mentioned in his services in the Navy List right up to his death and has never been seen on the market. The Admiral is, however, depicted wearing a New Zealand medal in a portrait held in the collection of the Defence Academy of the U.K.). He served off the coast of Africa, where, in 1850 whilst in command of the pinnace of Philomel, he made prize of the Brazilian brigantine Condor off the river Louisa Loanga, for which he was mentioned for his judgement and gallantry. In January 1853 he was appointed to the Rodney, and, in August 1854, to the command of the Danube, steam tender to the ship last named, and in September 1855 to the Rodney again. In command of the Danube he performed much valuable service. He assisted in landing the army in the Crimea, and in embarking the wounded after the battle of the Alma; he was in attendance on the allied fleets during the attack on the forts of Sebastopol, 17 October 1854; and in April 1855, he aided in embarking the Turkish troops under Omar Pasha at Eupatoria. He also accompanied the expedition to Kertch, where he was again employed in landing troops; and entering the Sea of Azoff with the flotilla under the orders of Captain Edmund Moubray Lyons, he contributed to the destruction of a vast accumulation of stores belonging to the Russian Government at Taganrog, Marioupol, and Gheisk, 3, 5 and 6 June; rendering, at Taganrog, good service with a 24-pounder howitzer and rockets, and evincing merit, which was mentioned with praise in the despatches of the senior officer. On the night of 16 June, prior to the unsuccessful attack on Malakhoff and Redan, the Danube was engaged in pouring a shower of rockets on the sea defences and town of Sebastopol. As First-Lieutenant of the Furious he was attached to the Naval Brigade at the storming of the city of Canton in December 1857, on which occasion he assisted Captain Osborn in burning the houses in the vicinity of the North Gate, a service executed under sharp fire and with considerable difficulty, the houses containing little or no inflammable matter. His conduct during the operations against Canton was brought to the notice of the Commander-in-Chief, by whom he was mentioned for his services on shore (while belonging to the Calcutta) as Senior Lieutenant of the 2nd division of small-arm men at the destruction of the Chinese fortifications at the entrance of the Peiho River, 20 May 1858. He was rewarded with the rank of Commander in September 1858, and advanced to Captain in 1866, to Rear-Admiral in 1882, and to Vice-Admiral in 1888. He was A.D.C. to the Queen from December 1879 to December 1882, and the inventor of a “fog alarm buoy” which was approved by the Admiralty and issued to the Fleet. He was advanced to full Admiral in May 1894. Admiral Cator died in Chelsea, London, on 30 July 1903 and is buried in Northwood Cemetery. Cator’s officially impressed Crimea medal is the only such example issued to an R.N. officer with the clasp for Azoff. Rodney was one of the four ships to which officially impressed medals were issued but Cator was the only officer to be detached for service in the Sea of Azoff from any of those ships. Sold with copied research and Liverpool Medal Company catalogue entry offering these four medals for sale circa 1980-85.
Four: Private J. Peters, 79th Cameron Highlanders Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (3894. John. Peters. 79. Cameron. Highlanders) regimentally impressed naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (John Peters, 79th. Highlanders); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1510. Pte. J. Peters, 79th. Foot.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (3894. John. Peters. 79th. Cameron. Highlanders.) regimentally impressed naming, plugged and fitted with a Crimea-style suspension, edge bruising and light contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £700-£900 --- John Peters was born in Aberdeen in 1836 and attested there for the 79th Cameron Highlanders on 2 November 1854, with the service number 3894. He served with the Regiment in the Crimea for 1 year, and then in India for 7 years and 11 months, and was discharged at Aberdeen on 6 July 1865, after 10 years and 247 days’ service. He re-engaged a year later, on 6 July 1866, with the new service number 1510, and served for the next 10 years for pension, being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 13 February 1876. He was finally discharged on 28 November 1876, after 21 years and 28 days’ service. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extracts.
LAURENCE STEPHEN LOWRY RBA RA (1887-1976); a set of three pencil signed limited edition prints, 'The Lowry's', self portrait, the artist's father, the artist's mother, each framed and glazed, with folder with edition number 76/300.Additional InformationLacking the bronze plaque. The self portrait is blue. The artist's mother is slightly blue. Light wear. the frames with scratches and scuffs. This lot qualifies for Artist Resale Rights. For further information, please visit http://www.dacs.org.uk or http://artistscollectingsociety.org
BANKSY; giclée print on 308GSM museum quality Hahnemuhle Fine Art paper, 'Post Modern Vandal/Girl with Heart-Shaped Float (Blue) (2021)', published by Post Modern Vandal (USA), embossed stamp signature and hand numbered 47/85, sheet size 43 x 33cm, with certificate of authenticity, unframed. (D) Provenance: from a private Cheshire collector.Additional InformationVery light wear but overall in good condition. This lot qualifies for Artist Resale Rights. For further information, please visit http://www.dacs.org.uk or http://artistscollectingsociety.org
CHARLES FREDERICK TUNNICLIFFE (1901-1979); etching, ‘The Herdsman’, signed in pencil lower right, 22 x 29cm, framed and glazed. (D) Provenance: sold by descent of Charles Tunnicliffe’s family.Additional InformationPaper is slightly undulated and perhaps with light toning around the edge close to the mount. Frame with very slight wear. This lot qualifies for Artist Resale Rights. For further information, please visit http://www.dacs.org.uk or http://artistscollectingsociety.org
JOHN YARDLEY RI (born 1933); watercolour, 'Showery Day, Venice', signed lower right, bears Richard Hagen Gallery label verso, 35 x 24.5cm, framed and glazed. (D)Additional InformationThe image is strong, in good condition. The frame with light wear. This lot qualifies for Artist Resale Rights. For further information, please visit http://www.dacs.org.uk or http://artistscollectingsociety.org
JOHN YARDLEY RI (born 1933); watercolour, 'Gathering Storm, Woodbridge', signed lower right, bears Richard Hagen Gallery label verso, 23.5 x 33.5cm, framed and glazed. (D)Additional InformationThe image is good with strong colours. Light wear and scuffs to the frame. This lot qualifies for Artist Resale Rights. For further information, please visit http://www.dacs.org.uk or http://artistscollectingsociety.org
G. JOHN BLOCKLEY; watercolour, cottages in landscape scene, signed lower left , 23 x 34cm, framed and glazed. (D)Additional InformationImage is good. Frame with light wear and scuffs. This lot qualifies for Artist Resale Rights. For further information, please visit http://www.dacs.org.uk or http://artistscollectingsociety.org
JULIAN DYSON (1936-2003); pencil drawing, study of two figures, signed and numbered 898 lower left, 24.5 x 19cm, framed and glazed. (D)Additional InformationOn the right edge of the paper there appears to be a faint line running from top to bottom where an adhesive strip or residue of glue has perhaps been used, indicating that the paper may have been stuck in or formed part of a folder. Image generally clean and bright with just a few light specks to the surface. The frame with some scuffs and wear. To the back of the drawing is supposedly another part sketch by the artist of a camel, a photographic image of this scene has been stuck down to the back board. This lot qualifies for Artist Resale Rights. For further information, please visit http://www.dacs.org.uk or http://artistscollectingsociety.org
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