We found 183841 price guide item(s) matching your search
There are 183841 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe- List
- Grid
-
183841 item(s)/page
Lot 94
A cased Victorian scent bottle, cylindrical with hinged cover, engraved with foliage, in fitted case, Chester 1884, together with a Victorian card case, Birmingham 1872, a Georgian fluted caddy spoon, London 1791, a pill box, a match box cover, a nail buffer, a French medal and three modern silver photograph frames
Lot 328
Tajikistan, Miscellaneous Medals (7), 15th Anniversary of the Armed Forces 2008; 5th Anniversary of the Presidential Guard 2000; 80th Anniversary of the Militia 2005; 85th Anniversary of the Militia 2010; 80th Anniversary of the Tajik Republic; 75th Anniversary of Peacekeeping Forces; Bashkortostan, MVD badge; Chechen Republic, Medal of Glory and Honour; Medal of Merit of the Chechen Republic; Yakutia, Police Merit Medal (2), generally extremely fine (12)
Lot 259
Russia, Copies: Miscellaneous Imperial Campaign medals (30), comprising Kunersdorf 1757, silver; Ochakov Water 1788 (2); Ochakov Soldiers Medal; Peace with Sweden 1790; Ismail Cross 1790; Prague Cross 1794; Prague Medal 1794; Capture of Gandzha Fortress 1804; Circumnavigation of the Globe 1806; Passage into the Swedish Coast 1809; Bazardzhik Cross 1810; Patriotic War 1812, in bronze; For Success in Education of Youth 1834; Odessa Plague 1837; Capture of Akhulgo 1839; Gheok-Teppe 1881 (2), in silver and bronze; Campaigns in Central Asia 1895 (2), in silver and bronze; Centeneary of the Birth of Nicholas I 1896, in silver; China 1900-01 (4), silver (2) and bronze (2); Varyag and Koreets 1904 (2); 50TH Anniversary of the Defence of Sebastopol 1905; Russo-Japanese War 1904-05, in bronze; Rozhestvensky Far East Expedition 1904-05, silver, and modern copies of military badges (7), many fine, offered as copies (37)
Lot 195
Poland, WW2 Period Medals, including WW2 Army Service Medals (2); Volunteer War Medals (2); Polish Resistance in France Medal; Monte Cassino Medal, reverse numbered ’23 352’; 10 Year Long Service Medal; Volunteer War Cross; Jan Krasicki Cross; and a large quantity of other related medals and commemoratives, very fine to extremely fine (41) Please note there are 41 items in the lot, not 42 as previously stated.
Lot 339
United Nations Korea Medal, 1950-1953, Amharic / Ethiopian Issue, with original ribbon and reverse pin fitting; and Ethiopia, Korea Campaign Medal, silvered metal, with double-struck maker’s mark to rim at 6 o’clock ‘C. C. SPORRONG & Co SWEDEN’; toned, generally very fine with a few small marks in places, and scarce (2)
Lot 64
Czechoslovakia, Badge for Dedication in Business, type 3, with pin back suspension, obverse stamped 5 and 800, good very fine and rare; Miscellaneous Medals (15) Construction Merit (2), including early type numbered 1304; Outstanding Labour (2); Jan Evangelista Comenius Decoration; Jan Amos Keminsky Decoration; Brotherhood in Arms, Second class; Prison Service (3), First, Second and Third classes; Devotion to Socialism; Model Student badge; Vitezi Society Competition 1955; Motherhood silver clasp; Czech Political Prisoner’s Cross 1939-45; 25 Years of Socialist Agriculture; all but the last in cases of issue, generally extremely fine; together with Czech Republic (post 1991) miscellaneous medals (10), Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence (3), First, Second and Third class; Medal of the Army of the Czech Republic (4), First class, Second class and Third class (2); IFOR 1996 (2); SFOR 1997; Balkan Peacekeeping 1999, last two in boxes of issue, extremely fine (28)
Lot 568
An Intriguing WW2 ‘Warsaw Uprising’ and S.O.E. interest Group of Ten attributed to Major Jerzy Feliks Szymanski, Polish ‘Home Army’ (A.K.) and member of the Intelligence division of the elite ‘Cichociemny’ or ‘Silent Unseen’ paratroop force. Wounded and taken P.O.W. by German forces at the Battle of Tomaszow Lubelski, he later escaped to Paris, and then to Britain. Having received S.O.E. training in Scotland, Szymanski returned to occupied Poland where he operated under the name ‘Doctor Borkowski’ and other pseudonyms, and played a role in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 as Operations Officer in the Podobwodu District. Supporting documentation shows that he was known to Major General Sir Colin Gubbins, the wartime head of S.O.E., who later assisted with his application for British citizenship in 1965, comprising: Poland, Silver Merit Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari, unnumbered, in silver, with gilt and enamel centre; Cross of Valour, dated 1920, with two bars; Cross of Merit, 2nd Class with swords, in silver and enamel; Medal for the War of 1939; Warsaw Uprising Cross, 1944; Great Britain, King’s Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom; 1939-1945 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Original riband bar as worn, and an unrelated Belgian Congo, Bronze Service Medal, Leopold III issue (1935-53); Also offered with a quantity of documentation, including an original letter, signed by Major-General Sir Colin Gubbins, war-time head of the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) regarding Szymanski’s application for British Citizenship. It is addressed to S. Grocholski, Veritas Foundation, dated 7 May, 1965; also included are various hand-annotated copied photographs, and other copied letters; first with chipped enamel, King’s Medal for Courage with Royal Mint case of issue, generally good very fine (12). Major Jerzy Feliks Szymanski was born on 27 September 1909 at Wloclawek, Poland, and served in the Polish Army prior to WW2 as a cavalry officer between 1934 and 1939. He served in the 1st Mounted Rifles at the Battle of Tomaszow-Lubelski during the invasion of Poland, where he was wounded in action on 25 September 1939 and was captured by Nazi forces there. Managing to make a quick escape, he first travelled to Paris, where he became a personal emissary for General Sikorski, and then during the fall of France, he moved onward to Britain. There, he assisted the S.O.E. with the training of select Polish officers and soldiers in Biggar, Scotland in 1940, creating a new, elite paratrooper & espionage force called the ‘Cichociemny’ or ‘Silent Unseen’. Szymanski appears to have been an Intelligence instructor at this time. Those who passed the various examinations were then air-dropped back into occupied Poland to support the Home Army. After some work in Cairo and in Iraq, Szymanski made his return to Poland, and research suggests that he was in joint-command of the downtown Podobwodu District of Warsaw during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, where despite some impressive initial success, the Polish forces were slowly crushed whilst Soviet forces halted outside the city and failed to assist them. For his role in the uprising it appears he was awarded the Silver Merit Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari. He was taken prisoner of war once again, and having been moved around various POW camps (including one unsuccessful escape attempt), he did eventually escape from a small camp called Licterfelde near Berlin in March 1945. He reached the Polish Legation in Stockholm on 22 April 1945. Some years after the war he applied for British citizenship – his application supported by letters of recommendation (one original of which is included with the otherwise unnamed medals) written by Major-General Sir Colin Gubbins, the wartime head of S.O.E., who wrote: “He did great service during the War and we as a Nation are indebted to him, as so many other Poles for their gallantry and comradeship which was in so many cases so ill-rewarded by our country.” Major Szymanski eventually settled in Ealing, London, where he worked for Securicor, amongst other roles, and appears to have continued in further intelligence roles reporting ‘anti-Polish exile activities in London’. His name appears in numerous Polish-language books concerning the ‘Cichociemny’ force and he also penned the book ‘Losy Skoczka’ which appears to relate to the same elite paratroop force. He died in 1995. Ex Sotheby’s, 10-12 November, 1997, lot 91.
Lot 390
U.S.A., City of Philadelphia’s Testimonial Bronze Medal, 1854, reverse legend testimonial to captains crighton, low and stouffer of the ships three bells, kilby, and antarctic… …for their gallantry in rescuing the passengers from the wreck of the steamer san francisco january 1854., 75mm, light handling marks, extremely fine
Lot 292
Soviet Union, Mother Heroine’s badge (85514) (McDaniel variation 2); Order of Maternal Glory First class (584539), Second class (1573572), Third class (215997); Motherhood Medals, First and Second class; together with miscellaneous medals and badges (59) including, Combat Service, type 2, unnumbered; Medal for Valiant Labour, type 2, unnumbered; Medal for Distinguished Labour, type 2, unnumbered; Centenary of Lenin’s birth 1970 (2), Civil and Military; 20th, 30th (3), 40th (4) Anniversary of Victory in the Patriotic War; Distinguished Military Service (2), First and Second class; Veteran of Labour; Veteran of the Armed Forces; Strengthening Military Cooperation; 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th and 70th Anniversary of the Soviet Armed Forces; 50th Anniversary of the Soviet Militia; 800th Anniversary of Moscow; 250th Anniversary of Leningrad; 1500th Anniversary of Kiev; Irreproachable Service Medals (12), for 20 (4), 14 and 10 years and award documents (8), very fine or better (lot)
Lot 512
A Second World War Group of Nine, all unnamed, 1939-45, Africa Star, Defence and War Medal, last with oak leaf, Coronation 1953, Army Emergency Reserve Decoration, Elizabeth II, rev. dated 1953, with two additional clasps, Albert I Cross, European Veteran’s cross, Dunkirk commemorative 1960, mounted for wearing, with related miniatures of the first six medals, good very fine (15)
Lot 37
*Italy, China Campaign Medal, 1900-01, in bronze, S. J. type, dated reverse, 32.5mm, and China Campaign Occupation Service Medal, 1901-1903, in bronze, Regia Zecca type, undated reverse, 32.5mm, the first lustrous extremely fine, and scarce, probably a late striking, the second toned, edge bump at obverse 9 o’clock and one or two other tiny rim nicks and hairlines, otherwise good very fine, a later striking (2)
Lot 497
*A Scarce Indian Mutiny and Indian Army MSM awarded to Sergeant-Major William Wilson, Madras Artillery, late 19th Madras Native Infantry, comprising: Indian Mutiny, 1857-58, single clasp, Central India, with top bar (Serjt Major W, Wilson, 19th Madras N.I.); Indian Army Meritorious Service Medal, 1848 type, with top bar and brooch pin to reverse (Serjt W. Wilson Eur: Vets.); light marks, once cleaned with one or two small nicks, very fine or better, and scarce (2). William Wilson (c. 1816-1881), of Peckham, Surrey, attested for service in the East India Company’s Artillery at London on 12/13 September 1836, having previously worked as a Plasterer. On arrival to India he was posted as a Gunner in the Horse Brigade, Madras Artillery. He reached the rank of Sergeant in 1854, and served as Sergeant-Major during the Indian Mutiny with the 19th Native Infantry under Major-General Whitlock. He was then remanded back to the Madras Artillery, having failed to qualify for the rank of Sergeant-Major, and then transferred to the Madras European Veterans. He died at Pallaveram (now a suburb in Chennai), India, 15 July 1881. Offered with copied roll entry confirming his Central India clasp, copied death certificate, and other research.
Lot 463
*Alexander Davison’s (?) medal for the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805, in white metal, similar, by Thomas Halliday, starboard view of HMS Victory; THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR – EXODUS C. 15. V 3 etc, rev., bust of Nelson over shield and motto of the Order of the Bath with inscriptions around, 53mm (BHM 585; Eimer 959; Hardy 42; MH 498), framed as usual within a gilt-brass ring with suspension loop and ring suspension, with even overall wear, good fine
Lot 283
Soviet Union, Various Orders and Medals (7): Order of the Red Banner of Labour, no. 1026210, type 6 variation 2; Order of the Badge of Honour, no. 669725, type 4 variation 1; Order of Glory, Second Class, no. 27698 and Third Class, no. 240911, both engraved with rotary tool; For Bravery medal, unnumbered, type 2 variation 3; Medal for Combat Service (2), early suspension type with impressed no. 404913 (McDaniel type 1 variation 3) and 5-sided suspension type, no. 1443124; fine to good extremely fine; together with an altered Order Book (with photograph) in the name of Ivan Stepanovich Yaronenko (lot)
Lot 539
Cases for British Orders and Decorations: K.C.B. Military case by Garrard & Co Ltd; M.B.E. cases (2), Military (Garrard) & Civil (Royal Mint); large red Knight Bachelor case (Royal Mint); Baronet’s Badge case; Royal Red Cross 2nd Class Case (Garrard); EIIR Jubilee Medal (Ladies’), red box; EIIR Coast Guard Auxiliary Long Service medal case (Royal Mint); Indian Volunteer Forces Officer’s Decoration case (H.M. Mint Calcutta), and two further cases which appear to be for the Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (Garrard and Royal Mint), and two others by Garrard, and Toye Kenning and Spencer, generally good condition but R.R.C. a little worn at edges, offered not subject to return (13)
Lot 141
Italy, Messina Earthquake Commemorative 1908, by Giorgi, in silvered bronze; Allied Victory Medal, Overseas Labour Decoration and Military Valour Cross 1942, very fine or better, third scarce; together with Copy Italian Submariner’s badges (3), First Second and Third class, offered as copies (7)
Lot 243
Russia, Miscellaneous Nicholas I-Alexander II medals (11), Capture of Warsaw 1831; Virtuti Militari Medal 5th Class 1831; Pacification of Hungary and Transylvania 1849; Crimea War 1853-56 in bronze (5); Crimea War 1853-56 Chaplain’s Cross; Pacification of the Polish Rebellion 1863-64 (2), in light and dark bronze, mostly fine (11)
Lot 67
Denmark, Medal of Merit, Frederik IX, in silver, rim engraved in capitals (Otto Ernst Holst), extremely fine; together with Red Cross Decoration, in silver, with enamelled centre, better than very fine; County Town Fire Brigade Long Service Medal, in silver, suspension detached, good very fine (3)
Lot 43
China, People’s Republic, A large Collection of medals and awards, c.1948-2001, including an Order of Liberation Medal, reverse numbered ‘51053’ with similarly numbered envelope; Order of Independence and Freedom Medal, reverse numbered ‘022622’ with similarly numbered envelope; a cased breast star dated 2001; +and others, some numbered; with various Mao Tse-tung badges of various styles and sizes; some possibly of later manufacture, a mixed lot, viewing recommended (75)
Lot 489
*Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, with original ribbon, first three clasps attached as one, Salamanca clasp probably added as an official late claim with official rivet (Thos Hughes, 32nd Foot.), small edge bump at roughly 7 o’clock and one or two minor edge bruises, otherwise extremely fine. Two men of this name appear on the medal roll for the 32nd, the first as a 3 clasp, the second as a 4 clasp, of the same entitlement. It is suggested that there was in fact only one man, and that he returned his original medal for the official addition of his fourth clasp. This hypothesis is supported by another medal roll which states ‘One man WO 120 5th Veteran Bn. July 1814 “Disbandment and injured leg. From Denbigh.’”
Lot 395
*U.S.A., Treasury Gold Life Saving Medal, awarded in 1983, engraved on reverse Douglas Peace 11/10/83, with wreathed eagle’s head swivelling suspension, 37.5mm, with matt finish as issued, minor marks from handling, otherwise extremely fine; with a relating miniature as awarded, extremely fine (2). The Medal is offered with a copy newspaper feature and notes, including a copy of the official citation for the award dated 9 October 1984 as follows: The Secretary of Transportation takes pleasure in presenting the GOLD LIFESAVING MEDAL to DOUGLAS PEACE for acts as set forth in the following CITATION: “For extraordinary and heroic action in the early morning hours of 10 November 1983, when he attempted the rescue of a survivor from the capsized offshore supply vessels, M/V LAVERNE HERBERT, nine miles offshore from Matagorda Island, Texas. LAVERNE HERBERT capsized in the Gulf of Mexico during heavy seas and high winds on the evening of 9 November 1983. Mr. Douglas Peace was a crewmember aboard the M/V CASEY CHOUEST, the first vessel to arrive at the scene of the casualty. Upon the vessel’s arrival, a man was observed clinging from the jackstaff of the LAVERNE HERBERT. As the CASEY CHOUEST approached, the survivor dropped from the jackstaff and began swimming toward the rescue vessel. Suddenly the survivor ceased swimming and began to slip beneath the surface. Mr. Peace, with total disregard for his own safety, dove from the bow of the CASEY CHOUEST in a valiant attempt to rescue the man in the water, struggling against enormous seas and blinded by the wind and spray. As one particularly large sea passed Mr. Peace, he saw the survivor on the face of the next wave, unable to swim any farther, knocked beneath the surface by sea action. In a desperate and valiant move, Mr. Peace dove beneath the storm-tossed waves, grasped the survivor, and struggled back to the surface. Demonstrating great courage, he began towing the survivor toward the CASEY CHOUEST. Then, just as the two men were about to be pulled from the water, the CASEY CHOUEST was hammered by successive large beam seas. This action drove the two men beneath the surface and under the chine of the vessel. The survivor was literally torn from Mr. Peace’s grasp as the pitching and rolling vessel struck Mr. Peace violently, causing numerous injuries. Risking further additional injuries, Mr. Peace dove repeatedly beneath the surface in frustrating and unsuccessful attempts to locate the submerged victim. Suffering from injuries, exhaustion, and hypothermia, he was finally forced to abandon his efforts and was pulled aboard the CASEY CHOUEST by his shipmates. Mr. Douglas Peace’s heroic attempts, unselfish actions, exceptional fortitude, and utter disregard for his own life, despite imminent danger reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the humanitarian service”. Sincerely, J. S. GRACEY Admiral, U. S. Coast Guard Commandant.’
Lot 519
Volunteer Long Service Medal and Shooting Prize Group of Twenty awarded to Sergeant Bugler C. Hill, Rifle Brigade, Volunteer Long Service, Victoria (2209 Sergt. Bugler C. Hill 5th V.B.R.B), metal prize medals (12), N.R.A Rifle Club 1880; E Company Champion badge (rev. eng. Presented by Col. Sergt. D.E. McClary and Pt W. Wayland Jany. 1883 Henry E. Millar Captain); NRA Grand Aggregate 1891; E Company Marksman’s badges (2) 1894 and 1895 (both eng. Sergt. Bugler C. Hill; NRA 2nd Prize Grand Aggregate 1906; Central Rifle Club 1912 Championship (C. Hill); CHRC Monthly Medal (C. Hill 1912); English County Club Champion; City Rifle Club; BRSC; uncertain in whitle enamel with black target and cross rifles below: cloth prize badge; City Rifle Club 1889; NRA Bisley 1891; Bedford Cup Competition (5), 1882, 1886, 1896, 1903, 1906, very fine or better (20)
Lot 72
Estonia, Order of the Eagle Cross, type 1, Gold Cross, in silver and gilt, with blue-enamelled arms, width 46mm, good very fine; Order of the White Star, Bronze Merit Medal; Red Cross Medal; Latvia, Home Guard Medal Zeal Medal 1939; Lithuania, Army Founders Medal 1918-20, very fine or better; together with Latvian Republic (post 1990) Diver’s badges (5), in gilt and enamels, extremely fine (10)
Lot 392
*U.S.A., Presidential Gold Life Saving Medal, engraved “TO J. HENDERSON of the Newcastle Volunteer Life-Saving Crew, in recognition of his heroic services in effecting the rescue, Sept. 27” 1909, of the Captain and his wife and the crew of the American schooner ALPENA.” Reverse of suspension clasp and edge of medal marked ’22 Ct.; light hairlines and small surface grazes behind head and to neck of portrait, otherwise extremely fine. The wreck of the Alpena on 25 September 1909, off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, is described in detail in the article ‘Two Brave Italians’ by Paul Street (LSARS Journal No.57). The four-masted schooner Alpena was en route from Melbourne to Newcastle to collect a shipment of coal when it was hit by a very severe gale near ‘Nobbys’. In her attempt to make port with the help of the tug Levert, a squall parted the line between them, leaving her stranded. A pilot steamer, Ajax, under Captain Richard Page, then towed out the Newcastle lifeboat Victoria, under Coxswain Antonio Costa, to assist in saving the lives of the greatly endangered crew. First saving the life of the Captain’s wife, with some difficulty, the lifeboat was towed back to save the crew. Bringing 23 crew on board, the lifeboat was capsized twice by huge waves, throwing 20 of the 23 back into the water. From this, the lifeboat recovered 13 people, and the Ajax a further 6. For their efforts, some 14 Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medals were awarded to the lifesaving crews by President William Taft, including J Henderson, whose name is confirmed in the article. Rescue crew members later described this event as the worst night of their lives. This lot offered with copied research, including the above article in full.
![*Battle of Copenhagen, 2nd April 1801 [Danish medal], in silver, by D.F. Loos, Justice seated and handing a sword to a Roman](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/bb33bd6f-47db-41c6-ba19-a6200100e133/4ba71396-e1de-4496-a95b-a254c54f2967/468x382.jpg)
Lot 456
*Battle of Copenhagen, 2nd April 1801 [Danish medal], in silver, by D.F. Loos, Justice seated and handing a sword to a Roman warrior, rev., the same warrior fighting a five-headed sea monster, 39mm (BHM -; Eimer - ;Hardy 28; Milford Haven, vol. II, 374; Bergsøe 32), toned, a few tiny surface marks, extremely fine, with some lustre
Lot 530
A Great War Tribute Medal to J.C. Beecroft, in 9 carat gold, by Fattorini & Sons, Bradford, bearing hallmarks for Birmingham dated 1921, ‘In Appreciation of War Services 1914-1918’, rev., engraved ‘Presented to J.C. Beecroft. By The Inhabitants Of The Washburn Valley. 1921.’, 28mm width, extremely fine. A John C. Beecroft served in the Great War as a Corporal in Household Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Offered with copied MIC. Ex Dix, Noonan & Webb, 19 March 2008, lot 726.
Lot 366
Yugoslav People’s Republic, Miscellaneous Orders Medals and Decorations (34), Order of Military Merit, First class badge, in silver, gilt and enamels; in damaged case of issue; Second class badge and Third class, both in silver, gilt and red enamels and medal in silvered metal, Third class in case of issue; Order of Bravery (67831) and Bravery Medals (2), in gilt metal; Order of the Republic, Second class, in silver-gilt and enamels, in case of issue, with related ribbon bar; Order of National Merit, First (2) (both screwback 1094 and 114110), Second (2) (screwback 40355, pinback 52515) and Third class badge in silver and gilt (pinback unnumbered) and medal in gilt metal; Order of Brotherhood and Unity with Silver wreath (7708); Order of Labour, First class badge, in silver gilt and enamels; Second class and Third class badges, in silver and gilt and medal in gilt metal; Partisan Commemoratives, type 1 (2), in bronze and red enamel, one silvered and with incorrect back plate; Bravery Medal in gilt metal (2); Distinguished Marksman Medals (2), in bronze-gilt silvered bronze; 10th, 20th, 30th 40th and 50th Anniversary of the Yugoslav Army; 30th Anniversary of the Victory over Fascism; Tito commemorative, in silvered bronze and a Yugoslav Army office’s cap badge; together with a copy screwback Order of National Liberation, with reverse silvered and engraved number 147; last offered as a copy, very fine or better (34)
Lot 518
Miscellaneous: M.B.E. type 2 (Civil); I.S.M., George V type 2 (Herbert George Brennan); 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 1st Army clasp, Burma Star, Defence and War Medal, last with oak leaf; Knights Templar breast star, in silver, with enamelled centre; and a WW2 miniature group of 5, mostly very fine or better (13)
Lot 564
*A Great War and Third Afghan War M.C. Group of Eight awarded to Colonel G.G. ‘Georgie’ Rogers, 1st Gurkha Rifles, awarded the M.C. for his command of the reconnaissance piquets at Khurd Kyber Pass, where his company met and repelled some 2,000 Afghan tribesmen from two hillside positions with rifle, grenade and kukri. A renowned expert in Gurkha dialects and customs and the scion of an established family of Gurkha Officers, he later became an expert advisor for the 1945 film ‘Johnny Gurkha’, comprising: Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lt. G. G. Rogers, 2/1 Gurkha Rfls.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G. G. Rogers); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24 (Capt. G. G. Rogers, 2-1 Grks.); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, court-mounted on board for display, toned, generally good very fine or better (8). M.C.: London Gazette, 3 August 1920: ‘For distinguished service in the Field in the Afghan War, 1919.’ George Gordon Rogers was born on 9 April 1893, at Dharamsala, India. His father, Colonel G. W. Rogers, D.S.O. of the 4th Gurkha Rifles, had originally raised the 2nd Battalion, 1st Gurkha Rifles in 1886 and both his paternal and maternal grandfathers were Major-Generals in the Indian Army (The latter, J.S. Rawlins, had commanded the 1st Battalion). George (or “Georgie”) was educated at Bedford College and at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, being commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in January 1912. He joined the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Gurkha Rifles in Chitral in early 1913 and served during the operations against rebellious tribesmen in the Swat Valley in August 1915. Soon after he was transferred to the Nepalese Contingent, whose soldiers were sent to help maintain order in India, whilst most of the Indian Army was in France and Mesopotamia. During this period he also served as Staff Officer at the Mountain Warfare School at Kakul, near Abbottabad, for which he was rewarded with an appointment to the Order of the Star of Nepal (this order not present with group). Rogers rejoined his regiment in early 1919, when, having been promoted to Captain, he was given command of ‘D’ Company. Three days after war was declared against Afghanistan in May 1919, his battalion left by train from Nowshera for the Khyber Pass area. They arrived at Ali Masjid on the 10th, and marched the following morning to Landi Kotal where they formed the reserve for an attack on the Afghan positions at Bagh. Hearing the sound of heavy gunfire, the Battalion made a forced march to Loe Dakka on the 17th and found that a Sikh regiment had just captured Sikh Hill. ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies were sent to occupy it but lacking adequate food or water, and being laden with ammunition and entrenching tools on a very hot day, the had a very tough time of it. That night an Afghan battalion attacked their position on the hill, but was successfully driven off. On 14 June, Rogers provided the piquets and advanced guard for a force sent out to intercept a tribal raiding party (“lashkar”). Surprisingly no opposition was encountered, but two Afghan envoys presented themselves under a white flag, carrying sealed letters from the Amir, and they were duly escorted to Headquarters. On the evening of the 16th Rogers was in command of No. 5 piquet when, at roughly 9.30 p.m., it came under attack from about 80 tribesmen. The attack was driven off with accurate Lewis-gun fire, and on the 27th, Rogers and ‘D’ Company established two new piquets on Conical Hill and West Ridge to protect the Kabul Road, which passed between the two features. On the morning of 13 July, ‘D’ Company under Rogers went to furnish the piquets on the Khurd Khyber Pass for the cavalry reconnaissance, and was so strongly opposed by some 2000 tribesmen that another company had to be called up before the piquets could be set up. Fortunately, Rogers had taken the initiative to set up piquets on two hills about 1,000 yards south-west of the pass which had never before been occupied. The tribesmen had hoped to find the hills again unoccupied, intending to use them to harass the reconnaissance from the flank, but they were foiled by Rogers’ forward thinking. Fierce combat ensued, with the Gurkhas holding one side of the hill and the enemy the other; at times resorting to hand-to-hand fighting with kukris drawn. The orderly withdrawal of the piquets was covered by machine guns and howitzers which inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. The battalion suffered casualties of just three killed and seven wounded in this action, and it was for this operation that Rogers was awarded the M.C. At this time Rogers also played a key role in forming the ‘Gurkhas Scouts’, formed of picked men from the Gurkha regiments nearby. This detachment would lie up after dark in likely approaches and deal with snipers and intruders with hand grenades or kukris, leading to several successful ambushes and providing a strong deterrent. At the end of 1920 Rogers was attached to the 2nd / 6th Gurkha Rifles and deployed to southern Waziristan. According to the regimental history, ‘The men were fresh from the rigours of the Great War and were in no mood to adopt kid-glove methods with the Mahsud tribesmen. This did not fit in with the policy envisaged by the political authorities and so the Battalion was moved (from Kotkai camp) to a quieter area to Manzai where it was thought “incidents” were less likely to occur.’ However in April 1921, the Mahsuds devastated two Punjabi regiments by ambushing a convoy, and thereafter the Battalion spent more time on road-protection duties. After returning to his own regiment, Rogers was then attached to the 1st / 4th Gurkha Rifles, from May 1923 to March 1924, and served with them during the disturbances in the Sikh state of Mabha. Through his upbringing and service, Rogers became a master of Nepalese dialects, mastering both Gurung and Magar, as well as the court language of Kathmandu. He was an expert in Gurkha songs and dances and, as one colleague reported, ‘He was usually found in the centre of a fascinated group of men who hung on his word ... it was in these inter-war years in Dharmsala and the N.W. Frontier that we got to know Georgie well, accompanied him on shooting trips, attended his nautches, and learnt something of our men and their language.’ In January 1929, Rogers was promoted to Major and from 1934 he was senior Major - in effect the second-in-command. He was placed on the Supplementary Unemployed List in 1936, and settled for a time in South Africa, before being recalled in June 1940. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Temporary) and, in November 1940, appointed to be Commandant of the Regimental Centre at Dharmsala. During this time, when the decision had been taken to double the size of the Gurkha regiments, the 1st Gurkha Rifles faced the challenge of raising an extra battalion to replace the 2nd Battalion, which had been lost when Malaya was over-run. The Regimental Centre was thus responsible for both recruitment and specialist training, and Rogers oversaw the enormous expansion of the Centre - at one time commanding some 5000 men. He was promoted to Colonel in May 1943. An officer who trained at the Centre late in 1942 described Rogers as ‘a tall, remote and austere figure. His knowledge of Gurkhas, their languages and dialects was legendary ... the depth and width of his linguistic knowledge was thought to be unmatched among his contemporaries either in the 1st or other Gurkha regiments.’ He died in Maidenhead in May 1966, and was buried at Hampton Cemetery, Middlesex. Offered with a large file of copied research, including several picture post cards, and a photo of the Officers of the 2nd / 1st Gurkha Rifles, 1933, with Rogers shown wearing his M.C. and group. The foregoing catalogue notes are largely adapted from Rogers’ formal obituary by Pat O’ Ferrall.
Lot 209
Romania, Kingdom, Order of the Star, Military Division, type 1 Knight’s breast badge, with crossed swords in angles, in silver and enamels; Order of the Crown, Military Division, type 1, Officer’s breast badge, with cross swords in angles, in silver-gilt and enamels; Civil Division, type 2, Commander’s neck badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, last in Mihai I case of issue, very fine or better; Medal for the Defenders of Freedom; together with Copy Orders (5), Order of the Star, type 2, Grand Cross breast stars (2), Military and Civil, Grand Officer’s breast stars (2), Civil and Military, all silvered bronze, gilt and enamels; Order of Michael the Brave, 1916, Third class breast badge and Copy medals and decorations (12), very fine or better, all but the first four offered as copies (19)
Lot 440
*Dress Miniatures: Great Britain, A Victorian & WWI Period CMG, KCB and DSO Group of Seven, Order of St Michael & St George, CMG breast badge, marked in 18ct gold, Order of the Bath, KCB breast badge, with straight bar and clasp on ribbon Distinguished Service Order, VR, gilt, Afghanistan Medal, 1878-1880, no clasp, Queen’s South Africa Medal, 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, British War Medal, Coronation Medal, 1911, court-mounted on bar, with reverse brooch pin, extremely fine and toned (7)
Lot 205
Portugal, Maria II Loyalty Medal, 1833, by Barre, (3) lot including examples in bronze (without suspension), brass (with suspension), brass (without suspension), 36.5mm, and miniature in bronze with ribbon, 25.5mm, also, a later commemorative medalet, in white metal, for her death in 1853, 28mm, generally extremely fine (5)
Lot 506
British War and Victory Medal Pairs (3- 86296 Pte. P. T. Hughes. L’Pool R. / 208681 Gnr. A. Sheppard. R.A. / 87129 Dvr. T. A. White. R.E.), the last pair in original paper envelopes, with ribbons unattached; and a white metal GVR Silver Jubilee commemorative medal, generally about extremely fine (7)
Lot 536
Miscellaneous British Nursing and Medical and Awards, comprising: QAIMNS Cape Badge, in silver; QAIMNS(R) Cape Badge, in silver, by Carrington & Co of London, bearing hallmarks for Birmingham dated 1915; Yarrow Military Hospital Medal, 1914-16, bronze, reverse engraved ‘Presented to A. Beach’, with brooch pin fitting by Spink & Son; and a number of other Red Cross and SJAB medals and badges; generally very fine to extremely fine (16)
Lot 515
Air Efficiency Trio awarded to 537 Acting Station Officer H.E. Collett, Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, comprising Defence Medal, War Medal with oak leaf for MiD, Air Efficiency Award, George VI type 1 (Act. Stn. Off. H.E. Collett. W.A.A.F.), WW2 medals in named box of issue with forwarding slip, Air Efficiency also in named box of issue, with forwarding letter and with a piece of ribbon attached (3). M.i.D.: New Year’s Honours 1945; Air Efficiency Medal awarded 5 May 1948 (N87 1948).
Lot 565
*A Great War M.M. and Long Service Group of 4 awarded to C.Q.M.S. George Augustus Ives, ‘C’ Company, 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, late 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, thrice wounded in action and taken P.o.W. at Gernicourt on 26 May 1918, having behaved with ‘great gallantry’ –for which he was presumably recommended for the Military Medal, comprising: Military Medal, GVR (30214 Sjt: G. A. Ives. 2/E. Lan: R.); British War & Victory Medals (30214 Sjt: G. A. Ives. E. Lan: R.); Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, GVR (3378033 C. Sjt. G. A. Ives. M.M., E. Lan. R.); Medals mounted on board for display, with cap badge above and small plaque below, minor edge nicks and bumps, polished about very fine (4) M.M.: London Gazette, 16.07.1918: ‘for bravery in the field’. George Augustus Ives was born in Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk c.1891 and attested for service with the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment on 29 December 1910, having previously worked as a Hairdresser. Serving in the Great War as a Corporal, he later transferred to the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment on 24 June 1917 and was promoted to Sergeant. He is mentioned in the Regimental History of the East Lancashire Regiment during the attack at Guyencourt on 26 May 1918: ‘…the company [‘C’] took part in the heavy fighting in the battle zone. According to Lieutenant Davies’ account the fighting in this zone continued for some considerable time…Lieutenant Davies was wounded and got away, but he mentions the Acting Company Sergeant-Major, Sergeant Ives, as behaving with great gallantry, being thrice wounded before he was taken to the first aid post where he was afterwards taken prisoner.’ He was reported P.o.W. the next day on 27 May 1918 and spent nearly 6 months interned as a Prisoner-of-War. He was then repatriated to Leith on 13 December 1918, whereupon he continued to serve, completing 8 years’ service prior to re-enlistment, which latterly took him to Jamaica in late 1921, Bermuda in 1922, Malta between 1923-25, and India as C.Q.M.S. between 1925-28. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in May 1929, and was discharged upon completion of a further 12 years with the colours in 1931. He is believed to have died in Belfast in 1973. Offered with a quantity of useful research, copied service papers, and a copied portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform.
Lot 514
*A Canadian WW2 and Korean War Group of 7 awarded to Petty Officer 1st Class Josephy Slusarenko, Gunnery Armourer, Royal Canadian Navy, comprising: Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; Korea Medal, 1950-53 (J. Slusarenko 5512 ‘H’); UN Korea Medal; U.N.E.F. Medal; Coronation Medal, 1953; Canadian Forces Decoration (PO 1/C J Slusarenko), medals swing-mounted on bar with brooch pin, some surface marks, very fine (7). Petty Officer Slusarenko was featured in ‘Crowsnest’, the journal of the Royal Canadian Navy (Vol 7, January 1955), as follows: ‘ARMOURER NAMED SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR. PO Joseph Slusarenko, a husky Polish-born gunnery armourer from Winnipeg, was named ‘Sportsman of the Year’ in the Quebec near the end of her South American cruise. Since he joined the training cruiser in February 1953, PO Slusarenko has taken part in every sport...he has played hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, with softball his favourite… Born on November 30, 1926, in Tloumach, Poland, he was brought to Canada four years later by his family who settled in Winnipeg. He left the technical high school there to join the Navy in January, 1946, as an ordinary seaman. He served successfully in the Uganda, Ontario, Cayuga and Swansea, transferring to the ordnance branch in mid-1950. Since then he has served in the Portage, in Korea with the Nootka and now is concerned with the maintenance of secondary and close range armament in the Quebec.’
Loading...-
183841 item(s)/page