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Click here to subscribeSeven: Captain G. Fordyce, New Zealand Forces 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; New Zealand War Service Medal; Efficiency Decoration, E.II.R., New Zealand, reverse engraved ‘Capt. G. Fordyce. R of O.’, with integral top riband bar, mounted as worn, good very fine (7) £140-£180 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 11 January 1945 (Italy).
1914-15 Star (1645 Sjt. Piper. D. Wright A. & S. Highrs.); British War Medal 1914-20 (3) (Capt. P. Rothera.; A. M. Baillie-Hamilton. B.R.C. & St. J.J.; 3969 Pte. L. Whitaker. Camerons.) last officially re-impressed; together with a large bronze medallion commemorating the Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind, 77mm, good very fine (5) £120-£160 --- Douglas Wright served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 December 1914. Sir Percy Rothera was born in 1877 and was educated at Rugby. He joined the South Indian Railway as an assistant Engineer in 1898, and served with the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force during the Great War, for which services he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 5 June 1919). He was appointed Chief Engineer of the South Indian Railway in 1925, and was knighted by the Viceroy of India on 12 February 1931 (London Gazette 31 March 1931). He died in 1940. Miss Aline Melrose Baillie-Hamilton was born in 1879, the daughter of the Rev. George Baillie-Hamilton, Vicar of Waverton, Cheshire, and served with the British Red Cross at Paris Unit No. 5 during the Great War in France from 6 October 1914. Jenny Lind (1820-87) was a Swedish opera singer. She was one of the most celebrated sopranos of the 19th century, often known as the ‘Swedish Nightingale’. Sold with copied research.
India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (138 Sowar Zaid Gul Khyber Rifles); British War Medal 1914-20 (S-M. Tor Khan. N. Waz. Mil.) small erasure between name and unit; Indian Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (2) (33 Nk. Nur Khan, 694 (M.T. Coy) R.A.S.C.; 3837 B. Lce. Naik Saida Khan. 58th. Rfls. (F.F.)) polished and worn, fine and better (4) £100-£140 --- Tor Khan served successively with the Kurram Militia, the Khyber Rifles, and the North Waziristan Militia. He was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 3rd Class, on 1 September 1897, and the Order of British India on 26 June 1908. He was awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal for service with the Waziristan Force, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches, for services on the North West Frontier of India in 1908 (London Gazette 14 August 1908); and again during the Third Afghan War (London Gazette 3 August 1920). A contemporary account of Tor Khan describes him as ‘[o]ne of the more colourful characters who served the British cause along the Northwest Frontier of India. Reputedly the offspring of a Gordon Highlander, he was admitted to the 3rd Class of the Indian Order of Merit for conspicuous gallantry during the successful defence of an outpost against greatly superior numbers of dissident tribesmen in 1897. He obtained great notoriety for this action after shooting dead a Mullah who, approaching the outpost Koran in hand, had attempted to persuade the defenders to desert. His young son was also no disappointment to his father. When no more than nine years old, he cut the throat of his seven year old cousin (this son went on to become a Subadar in the Tochi Scouts, winning first the 2nd Class and then the 1st Class IOM for gallantry on the Frontier).’ (The Frontier Scouts by C. Chenevix Trench refers) Sold with copied research.
Five: Sergeant E. Maddison, Manchester Regiment 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (3528952 Sjt. E. Maddison. Manch. R.) mounted court-style for display, good very fine and better Five: Corporal A. Cookson, Manchester Regiment 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (35233520 Cpl. A. Cookson. Manch.) mounted court-style for display, nearly extremely fine (10) £120-£160
Six: Acting Major L. T. Holmes, Manchester Regiment 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (Lt. L. T. Holmes. Manch.) mounted as worn, very fine (6) £120-£160 --- Leonard Taylor Holmes was born on 3 December 1913 at Wallasey, Liverpool. By 1939 he was a bank clerk at the Westminster Bank, residing at Cheam, Surrey. He attested for service in the Royal Regiment of Artillery (T.A.) on 24 April 1939, with service No. 1457604. He was mobilised and posted as Gunner to 312th (City of London) A.A. Battery, R.A. In July 1940 he was selected for officer training and sent to 133 A.A. Officer Cadet Training Unit. On 12 December 1940 he was posted as Second Lieutenant to the 81st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment R.A., on the Orkney and Shetland Defences. He was promoted Temporary Captain on 6 August 1943 and served in 21 A.A. Brigade in North Africa and Italy. In July 1944 he was posted to Middle East Infantry Training Depot pending transfer to the Manchester Regiment, but was posted for duty to the King’s Own Royal Regiment. He briefly held the acting rank of Major between August and October 1945. He joined the Army Emergency Reserve as an officer in the Royal Army Pay Corps as Lieutenant and Paymaster from the Manchester Regiment on 17 April 1956. He was awarded his Efficiency Medal (Territorial) in the London Gazette on 28 September 1956, and relinquished his commission in the Army Emergency Reserve on 3 December 1968. He died on 15 May 1989, his occupation noted as retired bank manager. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Private W. Gingell, 63rd Regiment of Foot, who died on the ‘Heights of Sebastopol’ on Christmas Eve 1854 Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (W. Gingell. 63rd Regt.) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, plugged and fitted with Indian Mutiny style suspension, minor edge bruising, very fine (2) £600-£800 --- William Gingell was born at Corsham, Wiltshire, in 1832 and attested as a Private in the 63rd Regiment in September 1853. The 63rd landed at Scutari on 12 August 1854 and later that month landed at Varna becoming part of the 2nd Brigade in the 4th Division. William Gingell was one of those who succumbed to the elements and died on the ‘Heights before Sebastopol’ on Christmas Eve 1854. Sold with copied research and medal roll extracts.
Three: Private W. H. Baguley, Manchester Regiment, who was taken Prisoner of War in Mesopotamia; he later served in the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps as part of the B.E.F., and died at home after the Dunkirk evacuation General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (62333 Pte. W. H. Baguley. Manch R.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, minor edge bruising to first, otherwise better than very fine (3) £140-£180 --- William Henry Baguley was born at Runcorn, Cheshire, in December 1900 and attested for service in the Manchester Regiment in January 1919. He served for a few months with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion but was posted to 2nd Battalion on 16 October 1919. His battalion was under orders for service in Mesopotamia and sailed from Tibury on 13 February 1920. His battalion served at Tikrit, Hillah and Baghdad with the ‘Manchester Column’, and Baguley was one of those taken prisoner of the Arabs at Hillah; eventually after several months of forced marches and harsh treatment at Najef, the prisoners were handed over to the British Army on 19 October 1920. Following his release he remained with his battalion and was sent to India until he returned to the U.K. ‘time expired’ on 3 December 1925. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Baguley re-enlisted into the Manchester Regiment but was posted to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, many of whom served in France with the B.E.F., including Baguley. He was posted to No. 54 Company, A.M.P.C. as acting Sergeant on 4 January 1940 and was one of those who made it to the beaches at Dunkirk and returned to the U.K. on 2 June 1940. He died in the U.K. on 3 May 1941 of ‘natural causes’, no doubt exacerbated by his time in France in the B.E.F., and is buried in Warrington Cemetery. Sold with copied service papers and extensive research.
Five: Gunner E. J. Woolley, Royal Artillery 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (5384106 Gnr. E. J. Woolley. R.A.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine 1939-45 Star; copy Air Crew Europe Star; Burma Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45, the ACE Star a copy, good very fine An unattributed group of six miniature dress medals British War and Victory Medals; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, generally very fine (16) £70-£90
A Second War Mercantile Marine O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Captain Matthew McK. Brown, late Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Indian Marine, three times sunk by enemy submarines The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) 2nd type breast badge; British War Medal (Lieut. M. McK. Brown. R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (Matthew McK. Brown); Victory Medal (Lieut. M. McK. Brown. R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine or better (8) £500-£600 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Matthew McKirdie Brown was born in 1890, and served with the Donaldson Line from 1915 to 1951. He was 4th and 3rd Mate of the S.S. Athenia, which was sunk on 16 August 1917, by a torpedo from an enemy submarine, seven miles north of Inishtrahull Island, off Co. Donegal. 15 lives were lost, but the Captain was amongst the survivors. From late 1917, Lieutenant Brown commanded the patrol vessel Hye Leong, based in Rangoon, returning in late 1919 to study for his Master’s ticket which he passed in Glasgow on 1 March 1920. Between the wars he was Chief Officer of the S.S. Corinaldo from 1921 to 1925, and then Master of the S.S. Corrientes, which was torpedoed and sunk in September 1940. He was next appointed Master of the S.S. Cortona until 11 July 1942, when this vessel was also sunk by a torpedo from an enemy submarine. The attack took place midway between the Canary Islands and Gibraltar. 30 of the crew were killed and one was wounded, but Captain Brown was again amongst the survivors. Captain Brown’s subsequent commands were S.S. Cordillera in 1942-43; S.S. Norwegian in 1943-44; S.S. Salacia (III) from 1944 to 1947; and S.S. Cortona (II) from 1947 to 1951. He was awarded the O.B.E. in January 1946 for war services and retired in 1951. Sold with the following original documentation: diary/letter book for the period December 1917 to July 1920, describing service of the patrol vessel Hye Leong out of Rangoon; Commission as Lieutenant, R.I.M. (1917); Commission as Lieutenant, R.N.R. (1918); Board of Trade Certificate of Competency (1920); Guildhall Library letter confirming service; various letters and news cuttings covering his career; The Donaldson Line history; and a pair of Captain’s gilt cuffs and O.B.E. case of issue.
Victory Medal 1914-19 (3) (115545. Pte. 2 E. Darby. R.A.F.; 32879. 1.A.M. T. T. Copley. R.A.F.; 12767. 1.A.M. G V. Strudwick. R.A.F.) very fine Royal Air Force Aircrew Flying Log Book, pertaining to H. Watts, a Parachutist, covering the period 6 to 26 August 1984; together with a copy Royal Air Force L.S. & GC., E.II.R., 2nd issue (Sgt. H. Watts. (M4732879) RAF.) well annotated and very good condition (5) £80-£100 --- H. Watts underwent acrobatic parachute training in August 1984. His log book entries imply that training was still very much a work in progress when the entries came to an abrupt end after his 30th jump on 26 August 1984: ‘broke both legs’.
St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (1768. Pte. T. Jones, Radcliffe Div.) good very fine £160-£200 --- Private T. Jones, Radcliffe Division, St John Ambulance Brigade, served in South Africa with No. 3 General Hospital at Rondebosch, Kroonstadt, and entitled to the Q.S.A., 1 clasp, Cape Colony.
India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (6660 Sep. Rahim Dad. 6-13 F.F. Rif.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (21131141 Rfn. Meharsing Gurung. 2.G.R.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (TB-61093 Driver Hari Singh. R.I.A.S.C. (A. Tpt.); Pakistan Independence Medal 1947 (6780905 A/Sep Amir Khan P.A.M.C.) nearly very fine or better (4) £100-£140
Six: Petty Officer G. E. Vosper, Royal Navy 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue (JX. 152087 G. E. Vosper. P.O. H.M.S. Diamond.) mounted as worn, good very fine 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine (11) £70-£90
Royal Humane Society, large bronze medal (successful) (Edward Cleary Seaman Vit. Ob. Serv. D.D. Soc. Reg. Hvm. 5th Octr 1864) fitted with ring suspension, light contact marks, very fine £140-£180 --- The following extract is taken from The Englishman, 8 October 1864: ‘The Destructive Cyclone at Calcutta 5th October 1864. The cyclone of 1842 was terrible indeed, owing to the length of time it lasted, but the damages done were not half so great; as that of 1852, which only continued for two hours, was nothing compared to those of 1842 and 1864. In 1864 the shipping suffered considerably. Off the 200 ships in harbour, only 8 or 9 have escaped without suffering any material damage, and of the remaining vessels, as far as can be ascertained at present, 12 have foundered. The Lady Franklin is supposed to have foundered with all her crew on board, and the Govindpore, off the Bankshall, also went down. They were nine men on board the latter vessel, including the captain, and were it not for the singular gallantry and courage displayed by a seaman named Edward Cleary they might probably have all met with a watery grave. Mr J. B. Roberts was at the ghat with some of the police, endeavouring to pass on a rope to the ship, which was near the middle of the stream, but could not get a single man among the large number that was there to venture out into the river, though he offered a reward of 100 rupees to anyone who would do so. To swim out to the ship in such a gale was hopeless. Despite the danger, Cleary, who had just come up, without even knowing anything about a reward being offered, volunteered to swim over to the ship with a cable. He tied the rope around his waist, dashed into the water like a true Briton, and succeeded in reaching the ship fastening one of the ends to her bow, and returned amid tremendous cheering ashore. The nine men safely came ashore by means of the rope, the captain being the last man who left her. Cleary has had his hundred rupees, and will, no doubt, get many more for his exemplary conduct.’
Three: Lance-Corporal A. R. Currell, Middlesex Regiment 1914-15 Star (4689 L. Cpl. A. R. Currell. Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (G.4689 L. Cpl. A. R. Currell. 13. Middx. Regt.) all somewhat later issues, lacquered, very fine Pair: Private R. E. Hall, Army Service Corps, late British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John 1914-15 Star (R. E. Hall. B.R.C. & St. J.J.); British War Medal 1914-20 (M2-121681 Pte. R. E. Hall. A.S.C.) very fine Pair: H. Buckingham, Mercantile Marine British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (H. Buckingham) good very fine Pair: Private W. J. Forsbrey, Royal Air Force British War and Victory Medals (82058. Pte.1. W. J. Forsbrey. R.A.F.) nearly extremely fine (9) £100-£140 --- Arthur Reginald Currell was born at Romford, Essex, on 15 July 1894 and attested for the Middlesex Regiment on 9 September 1914. He served with the 13th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 September 1915, including at Delville Wood during the Somme campaign, and was three times admitted to hospital. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 29 August 1917, and then to the Royal Air Force. He died in 1953. W. J. Forsbrey joined the Royal Flying Corps in May 1917. Sold with a Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve cap badge; and a Territorial Army Nursing Service lapel badge.
Three: Private A. C. Johnston, Manchester Regiment, who was killed in action in the retreat to Dunkirk on 29 May 1940 General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3525750 Pte. A. C. Johnston. Manch. R.) minor official correction; 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, good very fine (3) £140-£180 --- Archibald Carson Johnston was a pre-War regular soldier serving in the Manchester Regiment and saw service in Palestine during the Arab Revolt. He was discharged to the Army Reserve in in June 1939, but recalled to the army on the outbreak of War. He served in 2nd Battalion the Manchester Regiment in the B.E.F. and was killed in action on 29 May 1940, in the retreat to Dunkirk. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Supply Officer W. Blundell, Blackpool Division, St John Ambulance Brigade Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal, loose on ribbon (988 Sply: Offcr: W. Blundell, St. John Amb: Bde:); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (988. Sergt. W. Bundell, Blackpool Div.) note spelling of name, together with Blackpool Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, silver, unnamed, good very fine (3) £300-£400
Pair: Sergeant Isaac Hunt, 61st Foot, who was wounded at Chilianwala in January 1849, and died of cholera in Mauritius in February 1860 Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Isaac Hunt, 61st Foot.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (I, Hunt. 61st Regt.) the first with a few marks, nearly very fine, the second good very fine (2) £700-£900 --- Isaac Hunt was born at Ditton, Lancashire, and originally enlisted into the 81st Foot at Ormskirk on 10 May 1843, aged 19 years 9 months, a toolmaker by trade. He transferred to the 61st Foot (No. 2290) on 1 July 1844, and sailed with the regiment for India in the summer of 1845. He took part in the Second Sikh War and was wounded at Chilianwala on 13 January 1849, although he was clearly fit enough to take part in the action at Goojerat five weeks later. He is, however, shown as ‘sick’ in the following two quarterly musters. Promoted to Corporal in July 1850, he was placed in confinement on 28 February 1852 and reduced to Private. Upon the outbreak of the Mutiny he was serving with the wing left at Ferozepore until joining the H.Q. wing at Delhi, where he took part in the great assault on 14 September 1857. He was promoted to Corporal once again in January 1858 and accompanied the 61st on their 800-mile march to Bombay, leaving Delhi in April 1859, and then on to Poona where cholera broke out. Returning to Bombay the regiment sailed for Mauritius, cholera breaking out again on the voyage. Hunt was promoted to Sergeant on 22 January 1860, but died of cholera on 20 February 1860, at Port Louis, Mauritius. His Punjab medal was forwarded with his accounts to his father, Peter, of Farnworth, Lancashire. Note: Another Isaac Hunt of the 61st (No. 1850) received these two medals but he was not present at Chilianwala. He was discharged in October 1860 and died in Wiltshire in 1902. A Mutiny medal on its own graded as nearly very fine sold by Spink in March 1977, making the above pair better attributable to Isaac Hunt (No. 2290). Sold with copied research including muster details, pay lists, &c.
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 3 clasps, 1 June 1794, 14 March 1795, 23 June 1795 (Wm. Truncheon.) good very fine £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Colin Message Collection. According to the Admiralty claims list, William Truncheon served under the alias of John Smith as Able Seaman on Russell at the actions of 1 June 1794, and 23 June 1795. Truncheon’s claim for the 23rd June clasp was recorded, with a few others, under 14 March 1795 in error, but Russell was not at that action, nor was it possible to be there and at the 23rd June. This no doubt accounts for the presence of three clasps on this medal. William Truncheon, alias John Jones, was born at Croydon, Surrey, and was a volunteer from the holding ship Enterprise and rated as Landsman, aged 22 when he joined Russell in March 1793. He must have had some seafaring experience as he was rated Able Seaman on 1 April 1794. The battle of 1 June 1794, the first major fleet action against the French Revolutionaries resulted in the enemy losing one ship-of-the-line and six more captured. Russell had 8 killed and 26 wounded. At ‘Bridport’s action’ on 23 June 1795, a French fleet was again defeated and three more ships-of-the-line captured. There were 3 killed and 10 wounded aboard Russell. Sold with research notes compiled by Colin Message
Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Guadaloupe (Michl. Madding, 63rd Foot.) extremely fine £1,000-£1,400 --- Provenance: Hyde Greg Collection 1887; Dix Noonan Webb, June 2000. 39 clasps for Guadaloupe to the 63rd Foot, but only 12 as single clasp medals. Michael Madding appears on the medal roll as Michael Madding (in Captain Wynn’s Company) but all other records, musters, soldiers documents and pension papers show his surname as Maddin or Madden. He was born at Klintharl, Co. Galway, about 1787 and attested for the 63rd Foot as a volunteer from the Armagh Militia on a lifetime engagement on 27 October 1897. He is recorded as serving in the West Indies at Martinique, Barbados, and in 1813 served as an acting marine in the Army Schooner Maria. He was discharged on 5 January 1816 as a consequence of a fractured thigh while serving in the West Indies and was awarded a Chelsea disability pension on 9d per diem. Sold with extensive copied research.
Pair: Major-General W. M. B. Walton, who commanded “G” Battery, “B” Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery at Tel-el-Kebir, being mentioned in despatches and made a Companion of the Bath Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (Lt. Col. W. M. B. Walton, G/B. Bde. R.H.A.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, light pitting from star, otherwise very fine (2) £800-£1,000 --- Provenance: Jack Webb Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008 (Egypt medal only). William Morritt Barnaby Walton was born on 6 December 1836, and joined the Royal Artillery as a Lieutenant on 7 April 1856. He became Lieutenant-Colonel on 16 January 1882 and commanded “G” Battery, “B” Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery at the battle of Tel-El-Kebir (despatches London Gazette 2 November 1882; C.B.; 3rd Class Medjidie; Medal with clasp; bronze star). He was promoted to Colonel in January 1886, retired as Hon. Major-General in November 1887, and died on 15 March 1888.
A scarce ‘double issue’ General Service Medal for Malaya awarded to Temporary Inspector Ali Bin Majid, Federation of Malaya Police and Royal Military Police General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (2), G.VI.R. (Mya/18019421 Pte Ali B. Majid. RMP.); E.II.R. (T/Insp. Ali B Majid. F. of M. Pol.) very fine (2) £80-£100
China 1900, no clasp (M. S. Dias, Top. 1Cl., R.I.M.S. Clive.) nearly extremely fine £200-£240 --- M. S. Dias is confirmed on the roll as one of 185 men of the Royal Indian Marine entitled to the China 1900 Medal, no clasp, for service aboard the Troopship R.I.M.S. Clive during the Boxer Rebellion.
A Great War ‘Ministry of Munitions’ M.B.E. group of four awarded to Major C. Leese, Army Service Corps, who flourished as a winter sportsman in the Alpine climate of Switzerland but whose health suffered in the damp and exposed conditions of the Western Front A gifted amateur golfer, he repeatedly showed his prowess in the Amateur Championship but was often thwarted by Joyce Wethered and her equally successful brother Roger The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1917; 1914 Star (2. Lieut: C. Leese. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. C. Leese.) nearly extremely fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 1 January 1918. Clive Leese was born in Woking on 24 April 1885, the fourth son of Sir Joseph Francis Leese, K.C., M.P., 1st Baron Leese, of Send Holme, near Guildford. As Queen’s Council and Member of Parliament for Accrington from 1892 to 1910, his father was a hugely influential figure who was known in particular as a keen advocate for women’s suffrage. His mother was similarly exalted as a sportswoman; according to The Lancashire Daily Post of 28 January 1907, the only thing that could hold Lady Mary Constance Leese back from the ski slopes of Davos was ‘a severe case of influenza’. Clive Leese proved just as talented - at least his mother’s equal in winter sports - most notably in winning a third place finish in the English Figure Skate Bowl in 1905 and victory at Davos in 1907. The outbreak of the Great War saw Leese appointed Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps in the London Gazette of 19 September 1914. Posted to France from 5 October 1914, he witnessed early service at the Advanced Motorised Transport Depot. Evacuated home with an attack of pleurisy, the Proceedings of a Medical Board held at Caxton Hall on 4 February 1915 noted: ‘suffered from cold & exposure on active service with Expeditionary Force’. Raised Acting Major on 9 November 1916, Leese was seconded to the Ministry of Munitions. His name was later brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for ‘valuable services rendered in connection with the war’ and he was awarded the M.B.E. (Military). Demobilised on 22 February 1919, Leese took employment as a solicitor in the family firm of Fairfield, Leese and Munns of 31, Old Jewry, London. He further dedicated his free time to amateur golf and became firm friends with some of the leading exponents of the game, most notably Joyce and Roger Wethered, the former being recognised as perhaps the greatest ‘lady golfer’ of her generation. Having initially dipped his toes at the 1905 Amateur Championship at Prestwick, Leese made it to the last 16 at St. Andrews in 1907. In 1921 he made short shrift of a Cambridge Varsity singles opponent, and in 1923 he and Mr. G. D. Forrester inflicted a ‘crushing defeat’ upon an Oxford and Cambridge Society pairing. Representing Woking Golf Club, Leese later lost a mere 2 and 1 to the Wethereds; a lucky escape given that Joyce and Roger were later described as ‘cruel’ to a Kentish brother and sister pair. Even the great Bobby Jones of Augusta National fame was keen to note of Joyce: ‘I have not played golf with anyone, man or woman, amateur or professional, who made me feel so utterly outclassed’. The following year, Leese once again reached the last 16 of the Amateur Championship, but received an utter drubbing (7 and 6) at the hands of Roger Wethered over the Old Course. According to Sketch on 4 June 1924: ‘Out in a grand score of 33 strokes, magnificent play by Wethered left Leese looking to the heavens, likely wondering what on earth he could do to alleviate the pain.’ Leese spent the 1920s as a regular Surrey County golfer and won the prestigious Royal Mid-Surrey Scratch Medal in 1928. He later served as Chairman of the Chiswick Sports Association, but his life was cut short on the operating table in November 1932. The Leese Baronetcy subsequently passed to his eldest brother and thence to Sir Oliver William Hargreaves Leese, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O.; for the next decade the Leese name remained in the press, but instead of filling the sporting back pages in the footsteps of Clive and his mother, Sir Oliver garnered headlines as Commander of XXX Corps in North Africa and Sicily, before taking over the reins of Eighth Army in succession to Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery of Alamein.
Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Major T. W. Ashworth. 5 VB. Manch: Rgt.) officially engraved naming, minor edge bruising, good very fine £80-£100 --- Thomas Wilding Ashworth was born on 18 September 1866 and was educated at Rossall School, where he joined the Rossall School Cadet Corps, rising to Colour Sergeant (’H’ Company, 1st V.B. Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment); he was also captain of the Rossall School shooting team. In March 1885 he was appointed Lieutenant in the 20th Lancashire Volunteers (2nd Manchester Regiment) before he had even left school. He was promoted Captain in July 1888, and on 2 April 1898 he joined the 5th (Ardwick) Volunteer Battalion, being appointed Major, and by 1902 had been appointed Adjutant. He was awarded the Volunteer Force Long Service Medal in 1904 and resigned his commission in December 1904. Having retired to Bath, Somerset, he died there in 1939 at the age of 74. Sold with copied research.
East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Lake Nyassa 1893 (J. Coghlan, A.B., H.M.S. Adventure.) very fine and rare £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. Only 28 clasps were awarded to naval European officers and men who manned the boats Adventure and Pioneer. These ships were built at Jarrow-on-Tyne, sent out to Africa in sections, and hauled over two hundred miles through virgin country and jungle to the edge of the lake where they were assembled. This remarkable undertaking, reflected in the appropriate names given to the ships, was in many ways the precursor, or even the inspiration, of the Naval Expedition to Lake Tanganyika in 1915. John Coghlan was born in Preston, Lancashire, in November 1870. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in October 1896 aboard the Boy Training Establishment H.M.S. Impregnable. Rated Boy 1st Class in November 1887, he joined his first ship H.M.S. Royal Adelaide in November 1887. He was transferred to Defence in September 1888, and it was in this ship that Coghlan was advanced to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class on 10 November 1888. He returned to Royal Adelaide for a short period before joining Mariner in December 1888. Whilst in this ship he advanced to Ordinary Seaman 1st Class in July 1889, and to Able Seaman in July 1891. Coghlan next served aboard the following Ships Victory I (March 1891), Excellent (May 1892), Victory I (April 1893), Raleigh (June 1893), and Adventure (August 1893). In this ship he took part in the action on Lake Nyassa in November 1893. Coghlan returned to Victory I in January 1894 and next joined Active in May 1895. He advanced to Leading Seaman but was disrated to Able Seaman in April 1896. In this rank Coghlan served in the following ships: Victory I (May 1896), Anson (October 1896), again being advanced to Leading Seaman in May 1898, Hibernia (April 1899), Anson (June 1899), Duke of Wellington (February 1900), and Alexandra (April 1900). He joined the Coastguard Service in May 1900 with rank of Boatman and served in the stations at St Mary's, Brixham and Torquay. Coghlan was pensioned ashore in June 1911 and joined Portsmouth R.F.R. He was recalled on 2 August 1914 to H.M.S. Vernon, but released on 19 October to take up a shore appointment in the dockyard. Coghlan’s short active service did not qualify him for the British War Medal.
India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (26285 Trumpeter J. Ward, No. 3 By. 1st Bde. Sc. Dn. R.A.) minor official correction to surname, good very fine £120-£160 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2006. Joseph Ward was born in Brighton. A musician by occupation, he attested for the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 21 December 1882, aged 15 years, 3 days. With the Scottish Division Royal Artillery he served in India from 15 September 1883 to 20 December 1894, gaining the medal for service in Burma 1885-87. He received a gunshot wound to the left hand on 27 October 1889 as a result of an off-duty sporting accident. He was discharged after completing his period of service on 20 December 1894. Sold with copied service papers.
Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Patk. Phelan, 10th. Foot.) edge bruising and contact marks, the obverse slightly worn, therefore nearly very fine, the reverse better £400-£500 --- Patrick Phelan attested for the 10th Regiment of Foot, and served with the 1st Battalion in India, seeing active service during the Second Sikh War, and later during the Great Sepoy Mutiny (Medal with claps Lucknow). He was dangerously wounded at Lucknow on 14 March 1858, and died of his wounds two days later, on 16 March 1858. Sold with copied medal roll extracts and other research.
The Victory Medal awarded to Pioneer A. Jones, 236th Light Railway Company, Royal Engineers, late Northamptonshire Regiment, who died on 18 December 1918 Victory Medal 1914-19 (24160 Pte. A. Jones. North’n R.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Jones); Memorial Scroll ‘Pioneer Arthur Jones, Royal Engineers’, staining to obverse of VM, this good fine; the plaque and scroll better (3) £100-£140 --- Arthur Jones was born in 1894 in London, the son of Frederick Jones of Homerton and husband of Lilian Jones of 649, Green Lanes, Haringay. He initially served on the Western Front with the Northamptonshire Regiment, but died post-Armistice and is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery. Sold with a named Northamptonshire Territorial Force Association Illuminated Card, commemorating the sacrifice of ‘No. 201851 Pte. A. Jones, 4th Bn. Northamptonshire Regt.’, this torn; and a contemporary photograph of the recipient in military uniform.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Relief of Ladysmith, Belfast (3340 Pte. J. Kilcoyne. Manch: Regt.) edge bruising, polished, good fine £80-£100 --- John Kilcoyne was born at Hulme, Manchester, and attested for service in the Manchester Regiment at Kinsale on 17 September 1891, at the age of 23, giving his occupation as ‘striker’. He had several entries in the Regimental Conduct Book, for being absent from cookhouse duties, absent from parade, and breaking out of barracks ‘improperly dressed’, insubordination and drunkenness among other misdemeanours. He served in the South African War with 1st Battalion the Manchester Regiment and received the Queen’s Medal with two clasps and the King’s Medal with two clasps; the medal roll is noted that he also served with 4th Provisional Battalion. During the Great War he served at Home in the U.K. initially with the East Lancashire Regiment, Training Reserve and latterly in 626 and 625 Home Service Employment Companies, Labour Corps. Sold with copied service papers and other research.
A Great War Western Front ‘Trench Raid’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private T. McLean, Manchester Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (275935 Pte. T. Mc Lean. 1/7 Manch: R. - T.F.); 1914-15 Star (3245 Pte. T. Mc Lean. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (275935 Pte. T. Mc Lean. Manch. R.) mounted as worn, the 1914-15 Star an officially issued replacement marked ‘Duplicate’, good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917. Thomas McLean was born at Bradford, Yorkshire, on 29 August 1894. He enlisted ‘for the duration of the war’ into 7th (Territorial) Battalion the Manchester Regiment on 1 December 1914 and served with his battalion in the Gallipoli campaign, landing at ‘V’ Beach on 7 May 1915. He was evacuated to Mudros on 26 October 1915, suffering from dysentery, but rejoined his unit on 20 November 1915. In March 1917 his battalion moved to France and the Western Front. In April 1917 the battalion was at Havrincourt, where they occupied ‘Manchester Trench’ and ‘Cheetham Hill’. A trench raid had been carefully planned for 3 July 1917, on ‘Wigan Copse’, and the raiding party ‘leaped out and rushed into the copse like howling dervishes’; three prisoners were taken, at least eight Germans were shot or bayonetted, and the raiding party returned to the British lines without a single casualty. Second Lieutenant Hodge was awarded the Military Cross for the raid and Sergeant McHugh and Privates Thomas McLean and Braithwaite received Military Medals, these were the first decorations to the battalion on the Western Front. McLean was invalided home after an accident whilst playing football, transferred to the 8th (Reserve) Battalion, and was discharged from the army on 8 November 1918. He died in 1973. Sold with extensive copied research.
Pair: Orderly F. G. Leader, G.E.R. Corps, St John Ambulance Brigade Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (721 Ordly: F. G. Leader, St. John Amb: Bde:); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (721 Pte. G. Leader. G.E.R. Corps.) nearly extremely fine (2) £400-£500 --- Private F. G. Leader served as an Orderly at No. 21 Field Hospital and died of disease at Winburg, Orange Free State, on 5 July 1900.
Family Group: Three: Private J. T. Gleave, Manchester Regiment 1914-15 Star (2386 Pte. J. T. Gleave. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2386 Pte. J. T. Gleave. Manch. R.) contact marks, nearly very fine Five: Private J. E. Gleave, Manchester Regiment 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (3523380. Pte. J. E. Gleave. Manch.) good very fine (8) £100-£140 --- John Thomas Gleave was born in 1888. He served during the Great War in 8th Battalion the Manchester Regiment, 1st Battalion the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment and the Royal Defence Corps, landing in the Balkan theatre of War on 25 September 1914. He subsequently suffered from shell shock and was in receipt of an army pension. His home address was at Varley Street, Newton, Manchester. J. E. Gleave was awarded the Efficiency Medal (Territorial) in Army Order No. 20 of January 1946. Sold with copied research.
The mounted group of eight miniature dress medals attributed to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry C. Carden, Bt., 17th/21st Lancers The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, G.VI.R., no clasp; Coronation 1953; Sweden, Kingdom, Order of the Sword, Commander’s badge, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted as worn, generally very fine and better (8) £70-£90 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 21 June 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.’ The original Recommendation states: ‘As Second in Command, 2 Armoured Replacement Group forming on the War Establishment, and later as Officer Commanding, 2 Armoured Delivery Regiment, Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Carden had a very great deal to do with the formation and reorganisation of Armoured Replacement Group onto a serviceable basis. His energy, enthusiasm, organising and administrative ability, and powers of leadership have contributed very largely to the supply of AFVs throughout the campaign.’ Sir Henry Christopher Carden, Bt., was born on 16 October 1908, the son of Major Sir Frederick Carden, 3rd Baronet, and was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst. Commissioned into the 17th/21st Lancers in 1928, he served with them in Egypt and India from 1930 to 1939, before attending the Staff College in 1941. He commanded 2 Armoured Delivery Regiment during the Second World War in France post-D-Day, and was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel. After further service as Commanding Officer of the 17th/21st Lancers in Greece and Palestine from 1947 to 1948 (General Service Medal with clasp Palestine 1945-48), he joined the War Office in 1948, and was appointed Military Attaché in Stockholm in 1951, for which services he was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Sword in 1954. He retired in 1956. Sir Henry succeeded to the Baronetcy upon the death of his father on 22 September 1966, and in 1970 sold the family seat, Stargrove House near Newbury, to the singer and songwriter Mick Jagger, of the rock band the Rolling Stones (an apocryphal story has it that Jagger was high on LSD when he unwittingly bought the house). Sir Henry died on 4 February 1993, being succeeded to the Baronetcy by his only son. For the recipient’s related full-sized awards, see Lot 169.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Natal, Belfast (7159 Pte. H. Dunn. Vol. Coy. Manch: Regt.) minor edge bruise otherwise good very fine £80-£100 --- Herbert Dunn was born at Crumpsall, Manchester, in 1875, and at some point he enlisted in the 5th (Ardwick) Volunteer Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. On the outbreak of the South African War he was one of those who volunteered for active service and was selected for service in the 1st Volunteer Service Company, though he was initially held in reserve. In June 1900 the reserve section joined the first contingent near Ladysmith, and were engaged with the enemy near Amersfoort. The 1st Volunteer Service Company thereafter performed convoy escort and garrison duties. The 1st V.S.C. embarked from Durban on 26 April 1901, returning to Southampton on 22 May, and Dunn was discharged on 29 May 1901. Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extracts which confirms that he was additionally entitled to the South Africa 1901 clasp.
Four: Private F. Parrott, 80th Regiment Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Drumr. Frederick Parrott, 80th Regt.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Dr. Fredk. Parrott, 80th Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Fredk. Parrett, 80th Regt.) note spelling of surname; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1526 Fredk. Parrott, 80th Regt.) attempted erasure of rank on the first two, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and better (4) £2,400-£2,800 --- Frederick Parrott was an Army “Brat” who became a Drummer in the 80th Foot, aged 14, on the death of his father, Sergeant Ambrose Parrott of the West Kent Militia, who died suddenly on 14 October 1838, at the age of 44, leaving his wife to care for their children, which led to the decision for Frederick should join the Army. This he did, and two weeks later, on 29 October - aged 14 years and 4 months - he travelled from Maidstone to Rochester to enlist. At that time the 80th Foot, later the South Staffordshire Regiment, was stationed at nearby Chatham; this was the Regiment he joined as a Boy Drummer. His enlistment must have been a great relief to his mother, since the year before, in July 1837, Frederick’s elder brother Edwin, then 17, had been convicted and transported as a convict to New South Wales, Australia. Frederick Parrott was to serve for 21 years in the 80th Foot; was never court-martialled; was five times entered in the Regimental Defaulters Book; earned five good conduct badges; and qualified for four medals. He travelled all over the world, taking part in four major and bloody battles in which the 80th Foot earned Battle Honours to display with pride on their colours and drums. By a strange coincidence, his first overseas posting was to join his Regiment in Australia, where they had gone to escort convicts and were stationed in Windsor, New South Wales. Their duties at this time were, as the Regimental History puts it, ‘[e]ngaged in the not very congenial task of suppressing convict riots’. In 1840 he left Australia and went with his Regiment to New Zealand where he served until 1845 when, suddenly, the 80th were posted to Agra in India to take part in the Sikh War. His first action was at the Battle of Moodkee. It was a bloody bayonet battle in which two of his fellow drummers were killed and two wounded, one so severely he had to be invalided back to England. At the next battle, Ferozashah, the 80th were at the head of the advancing British column when they were stopped by artillery fire. The Commander in Chief rode up and spoke to them: ‘My lads we will have no sleep until we have those guns’. The 80th fixed bayonets charged and captured the guns. Then with good discipline reformed at the head of the Column and marched past the Commander in Chief who commented, ‘Plucky dogs, we cannot but win with such men as these’. In the final battle of the war, at Sobraon, the 80th were part of Sir Robert Dick’s Division tasked to secure the entrenchments. It was another fierce affair using the bayonet, in which Sir Robert Dick was killed and the British suffered 2,500 casualties. For the part they played in the war, the 80th added three Battle Honours to the Colours of the Regiment. After a period stationed in India, the 80th were off again, called to arms and posted to take part in the developing war in Burma. Under command of Lieutenant-Colonel G. Hutchinson, they took part in the storming and capture of the Grand Dragon Pagoda in Rangoon, which meant crossing 800 yards of open ground under heavy fire and clearing the gunners manning the walls using the bayonet. The 80th then boarded H.M.S. Enterprise and sailed up river to take part in the capture of Prome. It was another battle where the 80th advanced with their bayonets and, as their Commanding General, General Goodwin, later said, ‘Most gallantly drove the enemy out of their position’. After further engagements, including at Dinebaw, the Regiment was posted back first to Calcutta and then in 1854 on home to Chatham having been granted another battle honour for their bravery in Burma - ‘Pegu’. Their stay in the UK was again brief; a short period in Canterbury, then to Fort George in Scotland and then, in 1855, to Portsmouth. However, the 80th were soon called upon to go overseas for another impending war. This time it was to South Africa in preparation for the Kaffir War. On 10 July 1856 they sailed to Cape Colony in South Africa, and were based at Fort Beaufort. But it was to be a short stay; the Mutiny had broken out in India, and in November 1857 the Regiment was despatched to Calcutta. Throughout the suppression of the Mutiny, the 80th were in constant action against bands of rebel soldiers. At the battle of Fort Simree, they again advanced with the bayonet and, in the General Officers Report it is stated: ‘The advance of the 80th under Captain Young excited my warmest approbation’. They fought bitter actions at Dhana and the Campaign in the Oude, and finally finished at the scene of the notorious massacre at Cawnpore. The 80th Regiment gained the Battle Honour ‘Central India’ and Frederick Parrott gained the Medal without clasp. Parrott remained in India with his Regiment stationed at Saugor in the Central Province in 1860, and then in Jhansi in 1861. On 30 November 1861 he was recommended for the Long Service and Good Conduct medal and this was approved by the Commander in Chief, India on 19 October 1862, granting him an annuity of five pounds. Frederick now sailed back to England and on 4 August 1863, after 20 years and 348 days abroad, he was finally discharged from the Depot in Maidstone. He had been in the Army for 21 years 37 days but, as he had joined under age, his pension was only for 15 years and 125 days. Sold with copied discharge papers and other copied research.
Three: Captain R. C. C. Smart, Royal Navy, in command of Q-Ship Saros British War and Victory Medals (Commr. R. C. C. Smart. R.N.); War Medal 1939-45, unnamed, mounted as worn, good very fine (3) £140-£180 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1998. Robert Charles Cator Smart was born in September 1882 and joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman on 15 June 1899. In September 1914, Brigadier General Sir George Aston, R.M.A. brought to notice the excellent services rendered by Lieutenant Smart, who acted as Senior Embarkation Officer and Beach Master on the occasion of the embarkation of the Marine Force at Ostend. From October 1914 to October 1915, he was second in command of the Armed Merchant Cruiser Laurentic, including service off East Africa. From November 1915 he was in command of the Q-Ship Saros, and was commended by the Admiralty for actions with enemy submarines on 30 October and 2 November, 1916. On each occasion Saros drove away U-Boats which had opened fire, the latter action being with U-21 which missed with a torpedo. On 19 March 1917, Saros and another U-Boat exchanged fire, during which exchange Saros was holed but managed to make it safely back to Malta. On 16 August 1917, off San Remo, Italy, the Austrian submarine U-28 torpedoed and sank Saros, the entire crew being rescued by a French trawler. Smart was subsequently second in command of H.M.S. Challenger form November 1917 to May 1919, in East Africa. He was promoted Captain in 1927, having retired in 1922, and returned to active duty on shore during WWII. Sold with extracts from various books concerning his Q-Ship adventures and a copy of his service record. Also entitled to the 1914-15 Star.
A Great War ‘Gallipoli’ M.M. group of five awarded to Private J. Pearson, Manchester Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Gallipoli in early June 1915 Military Medal, G.V.R. (275420 Pte. J. Pearson. 7/Manch. R.); 1914-15 Star (1822 Pte. J. Pearson. Manch: R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (275420 Pte. J. Pearson. Manch. R.); Victory Medal 1914-19, this neatly erased; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R. 1st issue (John Pearson) with named ‘Lancs.’ card box of issue, mounted court-style for display; together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, numbered 484083; and an Old Contemptibles Association lapel badge, light contact marks, very fine and better (5) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette: 30 January 1920 (’The Prisoner of War Gazette’). Awarded under the Terms of Army Order 193 of 1919. John Pearson was born at Harpurhey, Manchester, on 2 May 1894 and enlisted as a Private in the 7th (Territorial) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment on 29 May 1913. Following mobilisation his battalion sailed from Southampton on 10 September 1914, destined for Egypt as part of the first Territorial Division to leave England on active service; the 7th Battalion landed at ‘V’ Beach, Gallipoli, on 7 May 1915. On 4 June 1915 his battalion attacked the Turkish trenches; John Pearson, serving in ‘B’ Company, was reported as missing in action and it was not until October 1915 that he was confirmed a prisoner in Turkish hands. He was one of four men of the 1/7th Battalion Manchester Regiment who were taken prisoner by the Turkish Forces at Gallipoli. In February 1916 the Foreign Office confirmed that he was one of the wounded P.O.W.s interned at Kiangeri camp, moved to Bozanti, and later transferred to Afion Kara Hissar. He remained in the hands of the Turks until he was repatriated to the U.K. and disembodied on 4 April 1919, being awarded a Silver War Badge No. 484,083. Sold with extensive copied research.
Four: Private T. Green, Manchester Regiment, late Manchester Company, Volunteer Medical Staff Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, clasp block loose on riband (13110 Pte. T. Green. R.A.M.C.) with contemporary silver brooch bar; British War and Victory Medals (36540 Pte. T. Green. Manch. R.); together with a silver and enamel ‘God Speed’, fob medal from Manchester Harriers Club 1898, finely engraved to the reverse ‘To Tom Green - A Memento from his Clubmates on his leaving for South Africa Feb. 13th 1900 ‘God Speed’’, mounted court-style for display, edge bruising, minor enamel damage to last, generally very fine (4) £140-£180 --- Tom Green was born in Liverpool in 1877 and at some time he joined the Manchester Volunteer Medical Staff Corps, a volunteer unit set up in 1888. Green was one of those volunteers who were selected for one year’s voluntary service in the South African War and attested for service in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He and the Manchester Company of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps sailed for South Africa on 24 February 1900; most of his company served in No. 5 General Hospital at Cape Town. He returned to the U.K. in August 1901. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Green attested for service in December 1915, but was not called up until May 1916, when he was posted to 13th (Service) Battalion, Manchester Regiment. He joined his battalion in Salonika in the Spring of 1916 and served as a machine gunner. In June 1918 he transferred to 9th Battalion the South Lancashire Regiment. He was discharged to Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 21 April 1919. Sold with copied service papers and other research.
Eight: Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic G. C. Allen, Royal Fleet Reserve 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (KX.86621 G. C. Allen. Dev. B. 20609 P.O.S.M. R.F.R.) mounted court-style for display, very fine (8) £80-£100
A rare Great War ‘Gallipoli Landings’ D.S.M. group of four awarded to Able Seaman D. S. Kerr, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Ribble Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (239816. D. S. Kerr. A.B. H.M.S. Ribble); 1914-15 Star (239816, D. S. Kerr, D.S.M., A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (239816 D. S. Kerr. L.S. R.N.) contact marks, therefore nearly very fine (4) £1,400-£1,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1915: ‘In recognition of services as mentioned in the foregoing despatch - from Vice-Admiral John M. de Robeck, reporting the landing of the Army on the Gallipoli Peninsula, 25th-26th April, 1915:- Able Seaman David S. Kerr, O.N.239816, H.M.S. Ribble.’ Of the 311 D.S.Ms awarded for Gallipoli, only 24 awards were made for the original landings of 25th-26th April, this award being unique to the destroyer H.M.S. Ribble for the landing at Gaba Tepe. ‘The Ribble, Lt Cdr R. W. Wilkinson (the northernmost destroyer), Usk, and Chelmer attempted a landing on the broad and open beach beside Fisherman’s Hut, standing almost in front of the perpendicular and strangely shaped cliff afterwards called the “Sphinx”. Here they suffered serious losses. This beach, afterwards known as Ocean beach, gradually broadens out until it merges into the open marshy plain which extends to Suvla and the Salt Lake... The Turks were ready to oppose a landing. For days afterwards we could see stranded boats left full of dead.’ (‘Gallipoli’ by Eric Wheeler Bush, DSO**, DSC refers). David Sim Kerr was born at Walthamstow, London, on 27 January 1891, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in H.M.S. Impregnable on 17 October 1907, Boy 1st Class from May 1908. He advanced to Ordinary Seaman aboard Cressy in January 1909, and to Able Seaman whilst in Natal in December 1910. Shortly after the outbreak of the war he was placed on the books of Blenheim for service in the destroyer Ribble, from 2 December 1914 until 30 September 1916. During this period he took part in the Gallipoli operations including the initial landing on 25th-26th April 1915, for which he received the D.S.M. Upon his return to the U.K. he volunteered for the submarine service, joining Dolphin in December 1916, and Maidstone in January 1917, for service in H.M. Submarines E31 and C23 up to 14 June 1918, having meanwhile advanced to Leading Seaman in the previous September. After the war he continued in submarines, serving in H.M. Submarine H32 continuously from 4 July 1919 to 20 October 1921, and as Petty Officer from September 1921. He was invalided to Shore with ‘defective vision’ on 8 March 1922. Sold with copied record of service and gazette notices.
Five: Captain (Quartermaster) A. G. Wynne, Manchester Regiment 1914-15 Star (2 Q.M. Sjt. A. G. Wynne. Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Capt. A. G. Wynne.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (5422 Q.M. Sjt: A. G. Wynne. 6/V.B. Manch: Regt.); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, with integral top riband bar, pin removed to assist mounting, mounted court-style for display, light contact marks, very fine (5) £240-£280 --- Arthur Gilbert Wynne was born in the cavalry barracks in Toronto, Canada, on 17 September 1868, the son of Thomas Wynne, a Trumpet Major in the 13th Hussars. Arthur Wynne returned to the U.K. and resided with an uncle while he attended Leeds University and Teacher Training College. In 1887 he joined the 7th (Volunteer) Battalion of The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment. Having married and moved to Oldham he transferred to the 6th (Volunteer) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment on 9 May 1898 as a Sergeant. He was promoted to Colour Sergeant on 9 September 1899 and to Quarter Master Sergeant on 9 March 1904. In 1908, following the creation of the Territorial Force, Wynne signed up again to the new 10th (Territorial) Battalion the Manchester Regiment and was allotted service number ‘2’. During the Great War he served overseas with his battalion, proceeding with them to Egypt in September 1914. In January 1915 he was promoted to Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant and on 10 June, to Lieutenant and Quarter Master. He was invalided from Gallipoli in October 1915, suffering from dysentery and jaundice, but rejoined the battalion at Ashton Post on the Sinai Peninsula in March 1916. In March 1917 the battalion landed at Marseilles, bound for the Western Front, taking part in the 3rd Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele. He returned to the U.K. on 16 August 1918, having been continuously on active service since September 1914. For the remainder of the War he served ‘at Home’ at Kinmel Camp, from which he was discharged on 21 March 1919, having been promoted Quartermaster and Captain on 16 January 1919. Shortly after being demobilised, Wynne wrote a short history of the 10th Battalion in the Great War, which was serialised in the Oldham Chronicle in 1919. He was obliged to resign his commission on age grounds on 17 September 1925, at the age of 57. During the Second World War he served in the local Home Guard. He died at Oldham on 28 July 1945. He was universally respected and admired by all the officers and other ranks and was affectionately known as ‘Daddy Wynne’. Sold with extensive copied research including service papers, extracts from the Regimental Journal, copies of the serialised short History of 10th Battalion and copied photograph from the Manchester Regiment Gazette.
Pair: Sergeant Major H. J. Cave, New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers and East Coast Mounted Rifle Volunteers New Zealand Volunteer Service Medal, E.VII.R., 2nd issue (No. 304 Sergt-Major Henry J. Cave, No. 1 Co. N.Z. Gar. Arty. Vols. (1904)); New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal (No. 174 Pvt. H. J. Cave. East Coast Mtd. Rifle Vols (1908)) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £300-£400
An outstanding Second War D.S.M. group of five awarded to Assistant Steward W. Barnett, for his part in Captain Fogarty Fegen’s Victoria Cross action in H.M.S. Jervis Bay against the Admiral Scheer in 1940 Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (W. Barnett, Asst. Std. H.M.S. Jervis Bay.) impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (5) £2,000-£3,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. D.S.M. London Gazette 11 March 1941: ‘For courage and devotion to duty when H.M.S. Jervis Bay defending a large convoy was sunk by a powerful German warship.’ One of seven D.S.M’s awarded for this action. The following recommendation is taken from the official report on the loss of the Jervis Bay: ‘W. Barnett, Assistant Steward, T.124. This man was stationed in the foremost shell room, when things went wrong and the lights went out Barnett stuck to his post endeavouring to get the emergency lighting to work. He would not leave his post until he received definite orders to do so although he could serve no useful purpose by remaining below.’ William Barnett was one of many Merchant Navy men who volunteered to serve aboard his ship when it was taken up and converted to a war ship. These ‘T.124’ men were borne as naval ratings rather than merchantmen during the period of their service with the Royal Navy. Early in November 1940, the liner H.M.S. Jervis Bay (14,164 tons), serving as an armed auxiliary cruiser, was escorting a convoy of 38 ships across the Atlantic to British ports. The ship was under the command of Captain E. S. Fogarty Fegen, R.N., the convoy being under the command of Rear Admiral H. B. Maltby, R.N., who flew his flag on the Cornish City. On 5 November at about 5p.m. the convoy was attacked by the German pocket battle ship Admiral Scheer (10,000 tons, main armament six 11-inch guns) at a position some 1,000 miles east of Newfoundland. The enemy opened fire at a range of ten miles and the Jervis Bay steamed to engage although her 6-inch guns were outranged by the enemy's heavy 11-inch weapons. The action which ensued lasted for about an hour, the Jervis Bay sustaining the full weight of the enemy’s fire and effectively preventing him from concentrating on the convoy. At the end of that time the auxiliary cruiser was heavily on fire with every gun out of action, but night was coming on and the convoy, having concealed its movements by throwing over smoke floats, had scattered over a wide area. The Jervis Bay, though badly mauled, still continued to float, but two hours after the action ceased she sank with colours flying. Captain Fogarty Fegen, to whom a posthumous award of the Victoria Cross was made, lost an arm during the action and went down with his ship. The number of crew saved was 65, including a few Officers. The final number lost was 33 Officers and 147 Ratings killed, 13 of the latter being Canadians, with one Officer and nine Ratings later dying of wounds. A Swedish vessel, the Stureholm, which was sailing with the convoy turned back in a very gallant manner and her Commander, Sven Olander, lowered his boats and picked up the survivors. From the evidence of these men it was established that the steering gear of the Jervis Bay was smashed early in the action. Although the heroic delaying action of the Jervis Bay enabled the convoy to scatter over a wide area the speed of the Admiral Scheer enabled her to locate, overhaul, and sink, six of the ships. The remaining 32 ships in the convoy reached port safely. The following ships were sunk: Beaverford (10,042 tons), Maiden (7,908 tons), Mopoan (5,389 tons), Fresno City (4,955 tons), Kenbane Head (5,299 tons), and the Trewellard (5,201 tons). Including the Jervis Bay the tonnage of British ships lost in this action totalled 52,558 tons. 357 Officers and men were lost and 68 Officers and men were taken Prisoners of War. Although a major hunt was immediately instigated by the Admiralty, the Admiral Scheer managed to elude the allied forces and return in safety to Germany. Assistant Steward Barnett was one of the fortunate survivors of the Jervis Bay, but lost some of his upper teeth in the action, for which he was treated aboard H.M.S. Cormorin. In addition to the posthumous Victoria Cross granted to Captain Fogarty Fegan, one D.S.O., one D.S.C., one C.G.M., and seven D.S.M.s were awarded for this action. When the survivors reached safety and recounted their experiences, the story of the Jervis Bay thrilled the free world. It became one of the most famous naval sagas of all time, told and retold, commemorated in song, verse and film. ‘If ever a ship deserved a V.C.,’ said The Times, ‘that ship is surely the Jervis Bay.’ As Captain Olander of the Stureholm put it, ‘There she rode like a hero’. Sold with copied Admiralty ‘Secret’ report on the loss of H.M.S. Jervis Bay with recommendations for all awards, list of survivors and report of Fogarty Fegen’s posthumous V.C.
A Great War ‘La Bassée February 1915’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant J. F. Le Cras, Manchester Regiment, late Guernsey Royal Artillery Militia, who was briefly taken Prisoner of War at Givenchy in 1914, before escaping, and was later wounded at Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1787 [sic] Cpl. J. Le Cras. 1/Manch: R.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (787 Pte. J. Le Cras. Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals (787 Sjt. J. Le Cras. Manch. R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (No. 787 Pte. J. Le Cras. Manch. Rgt.) contemporarily engraved naming, mounted court-style for wear, sometime lacquered, contact marks and minor edge bruising, very fine and better (7) £2,000-£2,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 5 June 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and ability on 19th and 21st February, 1915, near the La Bassée road, in voluntarily reconnoitring the enemy’s position from a distance of only 20 yards and obtaining most useful information on both days.’ John Frederick Le Cras was born on 3 September 1881, in St Saviours, Guernsey, Channel Islands. At the age of 14 he ran away to sea, but returned to Guernsey some time between 1898 and 1900 and joined the Guernsey Royal Artillery Militia. In 1905 he attested for service in 2nd Battalion the Manchester Regiment at St. Peter Port, serving in the Guernsey and Alderney garrisons. He served in India with his battalion arriving at Trimulgherry in December 1906. His battalion was on duty at the 1911 Delhi Durbar, and his name appears on the medal roll. Le Cras served in France with the B.E.F., landing with the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment on 27 August 1914. He was briefly taken prisoner at Givenchy but managed to escape and earned the D.C.M. at La Bassée. He was wounded at Neuve Chapelle on or around 10 March 1915, and was repatriated to England. After recuperating he was posted as an instructor to the Machine Gun Corps, but was then posted to the Railway Depot Royal Engineers at Longmoor in November 1917. He was promoted to Sergeant, Railway Operations Head Quarters at Cherbourg, where he remained for the rest of his war service. He was demobilised and transferred to Class ‘Z’ Army Reserve on 25 August 1919. In August 1939 Le Cras joined the Kesteven and Grantham National Defence Company, later Home Guard, and was sent to guard Spitalgate Aerodrome, near Grantham. He later transferred as a Private in ‘B’ Company, 3rd Kesteven Home Guard, and was later Range Warden and Sergeant at Honnington Range. On the stand down of the Home Guard he received a Certificate of Good Service from the Battalion Commander and ‘the Order of Merit, Northern Command, Home Guard’. He was discharged from the Home Guard in 1945, and died in 1968 aged 77. Sold with extensive copied research including a 14-page copy of a typed memoir My Life Story by John Frederick Le Cras, D.C.M., dated March 1960.
Three: Lieutenant-Commander John Martin, Royal Naval Reserve, Commander of sailing Q-Ships Dargle and Fresh Hope British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr. J. Martin. R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (John Martin) mounted as worn, very fine (3) £300-£360 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1998. John Martin was temporary Lieutenant in August 1915, and temporary Lieutenant-Commander in April 1919. The Admiral Commanding Orkney and Shetland, Admiral F. E. Brock, complained to the Commander in Chief, Grand Fleet about the commander of the sailing Q-Ship H.M.S. Dargle, Lieutenant J. Martin, saying that Martin was of ‘an excitable temperament which is most undesirable... He is constantly using his motors and does not appear to realise the importance of making his vessel look like a peaceful merchant ship... He is constantly making complaints about his ship.’ Martin resigned from his command on the grounds of ill health, but Captain James Startin, Senior Naval Officer, Granton, who felt that he was a very capable officer ‘but certainly difficult as regards naval etiquette and discipline’, had him transferred to another vessel. A year later, as commander of Fresh Hope, another sailing Q-Ship, Martin justified this good opinion by bringing the fore-and-aft schooner into an encounter with a U-Boat on which he scored four direct hits. After the War, Martin was engaged in mine sweeping duties in the East Indies in command of H.M.S. Ban-What-Him.
A Great War ‘Western Front, August 1918’ D.C.M. and M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant Leslie Symons, 18th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (C-7504 Sjt: L. Symons. M.M. 18/K.R. Rif: C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (C-7504 Sjt: L. Symons. 18/K.R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals (C-7504 Sjt. L. Symons. K.R. Rif. C.) mounted on card for display, very fine (4) £1,800-£2,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 30 October 1918: ‘C/7504 Sjt. L. Symons, M.M., K.R.R.C. (Penzance). For conspicuous gallantry during an attack which was heavily pressed by the enemy, some of whom actually succeeded in entering the trench of his post. He eventually beat off the enemy. He was gassed and wounded, but continued firing at a machine gun that was enfilading his post. He set a splendid example to his men.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘N. Kemmel. 11 August 1918.’ M.M. London Gazette 13 November 1918. War Diary confirms award also for August 1918. Leslie Symons was a native of Penzance, Cornwall. The following report was published in the Cornishman & Cornish Telegraph on 20 November 1918: ‘West Cornwall News - Penzance Sergt. L. Symons, King’s Royal Rifles (son of Mr J. F. Symons of 24 Leskinnick Terrace, Penzance) who was awarded the D.C.M. and M.M. has received the following letter from the Colonel of the battalion to which he was attached prior to proceeding overseas: “I have only just heard that you have won both the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. It is a record to be proud of and I congratulate you on the gallant conduct which well deserved this recognition. I always admired your repeated attempts to get to France while under age; and am very glad that you have so fully justified the belief that you would be a credit to your regiment overseas. I hope your wound is better and that you will soon be restored to health to enjoy the peace you have helped us win.”’ Sold with copied research including gazette notices, D.C.M., M.M. and Medal Index Cards, and extracts form the Battalion War Diary for August 1918.
Manchester and Salford Volunteers Medal 1802, 36mm, bronze, laureated bust of George III facing right, ‘G.R.’ in the field, enclosed by a chain of hands and hearts, the reverse inscribed in raised letters, ‘A testimony of gratitude from his fellow townsmen for spirited and patriotic services 1802, Manchester & Salford Volunteers’, unnamed, with steel clip and small split ring suspension, very fine, scarce £100-£140 --- Referenced in Balmer, V605.
Guadalupe Surrenders Medal, 1759, 40mm, silver, the obverse depicting kneeling native with sugar cane taking hand of upright Britannia, ‘Guadalupe Surrenders’ around, ‘May I MDCCLIX’ in exergue, the reverse depicting the standing figure of Pallas with trident and standard, with ‘Moore’ to left nasd ‘Barrington’ to right, with ‘Soc. Prom. Arts and Commerce’ in exergue, edge plain, unmounted, very fine £300-£400 --- Referenced in Betts, 417. The Society for the Promotion of Arts and Commerce, established in London in 1754, offered prizes for the best designs of medals that promoted British victories around the globe. The dies for this medal were prepared by Thomas Pingo under the direction of Thomas Hollis.
Pair: Private E. Schofield, York and Lancaster Regiment, who was killed in action on 7 July 1916 1914-15 Star (240462 Pte. E. Schofield. York: & Lanc: R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (240462 Pte. E. Schofield. Y. & L.R.); Memorial Plaque (Ernest Schofield); Memorial Scroll ‘L/Cpl. Ernest Schofield York and Lancaster Regt.’, generally good very fine (4) £120-£160 --- Ernest Schofield enlisted at Barnsley and served in France from 19 April 1915 with the 1/5th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. During the Battle of the Somme, eight battalions of the York and Lancaster Regiment went ‘over the top’ on 1 July 1916, suffering huge casualties. 11 Battalions of the regiment later fought during the Somme offensive, the sheer weight of loss resulting in large numbers of men being unaccounted for in the confusion of war; recorded ‘presumed dead’, Schofield was later confirmed killed in action on 7 July 1916 and is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, France.
A Korean War B.E.M. pair awarded to Lance-Corporal W. N. S. Lawson, Royal Engineers British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (22844618 L/Cpl. William N. S. Lawson, R.E.) edge prepared prior to naming, and both ‘4’s in the recipient’s number overstamped over a ‘3’, on original mounting pin, in Royal Mint case of issue and outer card box; U.N. Korea 1950-54 I22644618 L/Cpl Lawson W. N. R.E.) extremely fine (2) £200-£240 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 9 June 1955: ‘In recognition of services in Korea during the period 1 August 1954 to 31 January 1955.’ The original Recommendation, dated 1 February 1955, states: ‘Sapper (Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal) William Norritt Stewart Lawson, 28 Field Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, is a fitter who has been employed during the greater part of he period in question at the Divisional water point at Cobalt. He has been responsible for the efficient functioning of the machinery, on which the water supply of the division has depended, and has shown great skill and devotion to duty at this isolated task. Weather conditions have varied from flood to intense cold, and Sapper Lawson has worked all hours of the day and night, with judgement and determination, to keep the equipment in order. No day has passed without the division being able to draw water, and many of our neighbouring allies whose water points had failed under the extreme climate, were supplied from this source.’
A fine and interesting Great War D.C.M., M.M. pair awarded to Sergeant J. Curran, 19th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, who after a distinguished wartime career, deserted and was convicted by the civil authorities of aggravated assault and house breaking, these crimes resulting in a period of imprisonment and the forfeiture of his Great War campaign medals Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (38544 Sjt: J. Curran. M.M. 19/Manch: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (38544 L. Cpl. J. Curran. 19/Manch: R.); together with British War and Victory Medals, both with naming erased, mounted court-style for display, several heavy edge bruises, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 October 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward with two men and surprised and captured an enemy post of one officer and six men in broad daylight. Later, he assumed command of his platoon, and under a very heavy barrage held an isolated position until relieved. His conduct throughout was splendid, and inspired his men.’ Annotated Gazette states: ‘Nr Ridge, 8 May 1918.’ M.M. London Gazette 28 September 1917. Fortunately Sergeant Curran’s correspondence file survives at the National Archives, from which the following information is sourced: 24 June 1920: Awarded 14 days’ detention for absence from 22:00, 12 June 1920 to 00:50, 13 June 1920, resisting an escort, and stating a falsehood to his C.O. 7 July 1920: Declared a deserter by Court of Inquiry held at Kinnel Park. 4 August 1920: Arrested by G.P. at Manchester and rejoined at Kinnel Park on 5 August 1920. 7 August 1920: The military authorities now discover that Curran had been awarded three months hard labour on 19 June 1920 at Chester Castle Sessions for aggravated assault on a female. He is arrested at Kinnel Park and committed to Liverpool Prison to serve sentence. 4 October 1920: Discharged from the Army having been convicted by a Civil Power, his character at the time being given as ‘bad’. A statement made by Curran in relation to his health states: ‘I am always coughing and spitting phlegm and short of breath. I consider this is the result of hardships in the trenches and being gassed on several dates, 31 July 1916 at Ypres, 1 May 1918 at Ypres, and 15 May 1918 at Ypres. 25 May 1927: John Curran (a.k.a. John Ryan) held at Albany Police Station awaiting trial. The following letter to the O.C., 17th Manchester Regiment from a Police Sergeant sheds some light on this: ‘I beg to report that the above named ex-soldier, John Ryan [name at top of sheet given as John Curran] is awaiting sentence at County of London Sessions commencing 14 June 1927 on a charge of house-breaking. When arrested on 2 May 1927, prisoner refused to give any particulars of himself. He now states that he served in the 17th Manchesters under Colonel MacDonald from 5 March 1916 till the end of the war when he was discharged as a Sergeant. He also states that he was awarded the D.C.M. and M.M., and that his Army character was very good...’ A letter written by Curran from Brixton Prison two weeks later requesting details of his service states: ‘Dear Sir, I am in some trouble and should thank you ever so mutch [sic] if you can kindly let me have the deeds that I got my D.C.M. and M.M. for.’ In relation to the forfeiture of his medals, it is clear that he was originally destined to lose his gallantry awards as well as his campaign medals. However, on 22 April 1922 a letter from the War Office cleared the whole issue up: ‘I am commanded to inform you that the Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded to No. 90232, Private J. Curran, Manchester Regiment, for service as No. 38544 Sergeant J. Curran, M.M., 19th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, vide the London Gazette dated 3 October 1918, and forfeited by him in consequence of his discharge on the 4th October 1920 (on conviction by the Civil Power) under Article 1236 of the Royal Warrant for pay, etc., of the Army which was in force on that date has been restored by the Army Council under Article 1240 of the above mentioned Royal Warrant. The Army Council have also decided under the power delegated to them by the terms of the 9th Ordinance of the Royal Warrant dated 24 March 1919, governing the award of the Military Medal, that this decoration awarded to the above named man for service as No. 38544 Private, Manchester Regiment, vide the London Gazette dated the 28th September 1917, shall not be forfeited... I am further to state that as the above mentioned decorations have not been returned to this Department it is presumed that they have been previously issued to Private Curran and are now in his possession. I am to add however that the commemorative war medals earned by this man are forfeited under Article 1236(b) of the Royal Warrant.’ World War I medal roll confirms ‘B.W.M. and V.M. returned, forfeited, 4.10.20.’ Sold with copies of his National Archives correspondence file and other research.
Six: G. E. Aitchison, Union Defence Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘2138 G. E. Aitchison’, mounted as worn, good very fine Six: A. M. Dumas, Union Defence Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘144851 A. M. Dumas’, good very fine Four: F. W. Dickinson, Union Defence Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘90740 F. M. Dickinson’, mounted as worn, good very fine Pair: J. L. Hodges, Union Defence Force War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, both officially impressed ‘39151 J. L. Hodges’, good very fine Pair: C. A. Schoute-Vanneck, Union Defence Force War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, both officially impressed ‘70763 C. A. Schoute-Vanneck’, mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted, good very fine (20) £140-£180 --- C. A. Schoute-Vanneck was a post-War Scientist in the Department of Physics, University of Natal, Durban, who wrote the following academic papers: 'Magnetospheric Propogation of VLF Waves from France to South Africa' (Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestial Physics, 1959); 'The Electron Density, Distribtion in the Magnetosphere Derived from Whistling Data' (Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestial Physics, 1963); '27kHz Radio Transmissions Observed and Sunrise and Sunet in South Africa' (Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestial Physics, 1968); and 'VFL Radio Transmission ay Sunrise' (US Journal of Geophysical Research, 1974).
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