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Italy, Messina Earthquake Merit Medal, 1908, type III, in bronze, 35mm; Messina Earthquake Medal, 1908, in silver, by L. Giorgi, 31.5mm, the first good extremely fine, and scarce, other nearly very fine (2)

Italy, Campaign Medals (11), Italo-Turkish War Medal, 1911-1912 (4), one clasp 1911, by L Giorgi, no clasp (3), by Johnson and unsigned (2); 1st Battalion of Grenadiers Commemorative, 1911-1912, by Johnson; Libya Campaign Medal, 1912-1931 (6), 2 clasps, 1913-14 and 1914, by L. Giorgi; one clasp 1913-1914, unsigned; 1 clasp 1918-19 by L. Giorgi, 1 clasp 1926, unsigned; no clasp, by CFML, unofficial type with bust left, 1 clasp 1930, very fine or better (11)

Italy, Miscellaneous Great War Period Medals, comprising: Italian-Austrian War Medal, 1915-1918, 4 clasps, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918; Allied Victory Medal (8), official types 1, 2, 3 and 4; re-issue types 2 and 3; and unofficial types 1 and 5; Great War in Europe commemorative; Medal of National Gratitude; Liberator of Piave Medal, 1918Unification of Italy Medals (5), 1848-1918 (3), 1848-1922 (2), Red Cross Merit Medal (2), in silver and bronze; Medal for War Volunteers, 1915-1918, in bronze; Order of Vittorio Veneto; Fiume Medal, 1919, other miscellaneous WWI commemoratives (5), and two loose clasps, 1913 silver and 1918 bronze, mostly very fine or better (27)

Italy, Miscellaneous Aeronautical Decorations, comprising: Al Valore Aeronautico (6), Fascist period, type I (3), in silver, and in bronze (2); type II (3), in gilt-metal, silvered-metal, and bronze; Air Force Long Service Medal, Aerial Navigation Medal,; Republic, Army Long Command Merit Medal, (3), in gilt-metal, silvered-metal, and bronze; Medal of Honour for Distance Navigation (2), two types one in bronze-gilt, other bronze; good very fine or better, some of later or unofficial manufacture (13)

Italy, Fascist Period, Miscellaneous Medals (20) comprising: March on Rome 1922, in bronze, by Lorioli & Castelli; Medal for Social Redemption, in bronze; Fascist Campaign Merit 1923, in bronze; Italian Schools Abroad, type IIg, in bronze; Colonial Combatant’s Rally in Napoli, 1934; Ministry of War Shooting Medal, 1935, by Petri, in hallmarked silver; East Africa 1935-1940 (3), two gladius clasp; East Africa Volunteers 1935-1936; Spain Campaign Commemorative Cross, 1936 (3), one a copy; Spain Campaign Commemorative Medal, 1936 (3); Spanish Volunteers (3) various types,;20th Anniversary of the Anti-Fascist Resistance; Fascist Gathering 1933, , generally extremely fine (20)

Italy, World War Two Period Medals (19), comprising: Albania Campaign Medal, 1939 (3), various types; Albanian Expedition Medal, 1939 (2); Reconquest of Africa 1889-1939; WWII Service 1940-1945 (6),various types; Italian Resistance Garibaldi Brigade Star, 1943-45; Volunteer Medals (3), in bronze, two with clasps VL; Russian Expedition Commemorative Cross, 1941-1942, type I, and two other contemporary medals generally extremely fine, some scarce (19)

Naval General Service, 1793-1840, single clasp, Trafalgar (Mark Sweny. Actg. Lieut.), erased and engraved in contemporary upright capitals, lightly toned, a few small spots and hairlines, very fine. NOTE: Captain Mark Halpen Sweny (1783-1865) was born in Dublin, the second son of Eugene Sweny, a druggist from Mary Street, Dublin, Ireland, and Elizabeth Halpen. He joined the Royal Navy in 1798 as a 1st Class Volunteer, and rose to the rank of Midshipman the following year aboard H.M.S. Castor. Whilst aboard this vessel, an explosion of powder mutilated both of his hands and blinded him temporarily. Later in his career he joined H.M.S. Colossus in 1805 as Acting Lieutenant, and during this famous battle he was also severely wounded. Sweny was promoted to Lieutenant on the 22nd of January 1806 and served aboard HMS Africa in 1808 where he was wounded again during the subsequent action against the Danish flotilla in the Malmö Channel. It is said that he lost one or two fingers in the action off Malmö, and when seen in combination with his earlier wounds, he came to be called ‘Three Finger Jack’. Sweny left the Africa, and took part in an action in China on the St. Alban’s in 1809, under Capt. F. W. Austen (Jane’s brother) with whom he became friends, and did have occasion to meet Jane later in life. In 1815 he served as First Lieutenant aboard HMS Northumberland he accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte to St Helena, and the United Services Gazette dated the 2nd of December, 1865, records the following: ‘Napoleon several times played chess with Lieutenant Sweny, and on one occasion remarked to him that he could not but think he had seen him previously in military attire. On explanation it appeared that Lieutenant Sweny’s brother, a Captain in the King’s Dragoon Guards, had, when desperately wounded at Waterloo, been taken prisoner, and carried before Napoleon, who questioned him on several points and, observing that he was faint from loss of blood, ordered his own surgeon to attend him; curiously enough, this was the first intimation Lieutenant Sweny had of his brother’s life having been placed in jeopardy in that battle. Napoleon added: “Telles sont les vicissitudes de la vie; votre frère était mon prisonnier, et je suis maintenant la votre”. This is an additional example of Napoleon’s remarkable memory for physiognomy, Lieutenant Sweny and his brother being very much alike.’ Sweny is also mentioned in ‘Diaries of a Lady of Quality’ (1797-1844) by Miss Frances Williams Wynn, who had met him at a ball in Hastings in 1822. She calls him Captain Sweeney, so she was probably writing from her notes after 1838, when he had been promoted. He gave her an account of another encounter with the famous prisoner during his long voyage. She reports one exchange Sweny had with Napoleon: ‘One day he was sitting on deck in rain such as I am told can scarcely be conceived by those who have not felt tropical rains: Bertrand, Montholon, and Lascasas were all standing round him bareheaded. My informant spoke to them, and especially to Lascasas, who has very delicate health, telling them they would make themselves ill if they did not put on their hats: they did not answer, and Buonaparte gave him a very angry look, but said nothing. He then said, ‘General, you had better send for a cloak; you’ll be wetted to the skin’. He very sternly replied, ‘I am not made of sugar or salt.’ In 1816 he was awarded a pension for his wounds of £91.5s annually. Sweny was promoted to Commander in 1821, and in 1838 he was promoted to captain, receiving a pension for his wounds, and he ended his days as a Resident Captain (Governor) in Greenwich Hospital. He died in 1865 and the inscription on his gravestone at Greenwich Pleasaunce reads: ‘Mark Halpen Sweny, Captain Royal Navy, Served in H.M.S. “Colossus” at Trafalgar, Died 25th. Novr 1865, Aged 82 Years’. Another medal to the same recipient, but officially impressed, was sold with a matching portrait painting at Spink on the 16th of July, 1996 (lot 204).

The D.S.O. Group of 7 awarded to Brigadier-General William Frederick Sweny, C.M.G., Royal Fusiliers, who was attached to the Egyptian Army as ‘El Kaimakam’ between 1902 and 1906 and commanded the Arab Battalion as Senior Inspector during the Bahr-el-Ghazal incident. He also served in the Great War as Commander of the 72nd Infantry Brigade, B.E.F. in 1914, being wounded three times and awarded the D.S.O., as well as the French Legion d’Honneur and Croix de Guerre, comprising: Distinguished Service Order, GVR, silver-gilt, 1914 Star with clasp ‘5th Aug. – 22nd Nov. 1914’ (Major W. F. Sweny. R. Fus.), British War and Victory Medals (Brig. Gen. W. F. Sweny.) the latter with bronze M.i.D. spray of oak leaves, Khedive’s Sudan, 1896-1908, no clasp (El Khaimakhan. W. F. Sweny Bey.), France, Legion d’Honneur, Officer’s breast badge in silver-gilt and enamels, with upper wreath suspension and rosette to ribbon, France, Croix de Guerre, 1918, in bronze, group swing-mounted on bar with reverse pin for wear, lightly toned, extremely fine (7) NOTE: D.S.O.: London Gazette New Year’s Honours 1917; M.i.D.: London Gazette: 11 December 1917; C.M.G.: London Gazette Birthday Honours 1919. Brigadier General William Frederick Sweny (d. 1950), son of Lt. Col. George Augustus Sweny, served in the Egyptian Army between 1902 and 1906 and received the Khedive’s Sudan medal for the Bahr el Ghazal incident in 1906, when Belgian Congolese troops refused to vacate this area following the lease reverting back to the Anglo-Egyptian government. In the Great War he served as Brigadier General with the Royal Fusiliers, and commanded the 72nd Infantry Brigade, B.E.F.

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Vittoria, Toulouse, with ornate silver clasp to ribbon (G. Burgess, 15th Light Dragns.), dark, slightly uneven tone, extremely fine. NOTE: Ex Sotheby’s, 17 December 1990, lot 173; offered with copied medal roll entry confirming entitlement.

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Sahagun, Toulouse (G. C. Carpenter, Capt. 15th Hussars), lightly polished with a few light marks, tiny edge graze & nicks, nearly very fine and rare. NOTE: Captain George Charles Carpenter (born c.1792), of Ford Cottage, Northumberland, was appointed Cornet in the 15th Hussars on the 18th of July, 1805, and attained the rank of Lieutenant on the 12th of October, 1808, and Captain on the 16th of July, 1812. He served in the Peninsula during the Corunna campaign between November 1808 and January 1809, and then again between March and April 1814. He is mentioned by name a number of times in the ‘History of the Fifteenth Hussars’, and was summed up a touch unfairly therein by his friend Dr Gibney, mentioning Carpenter as being of a rather sensible and sober disposition: ‘Writing of Captain Carpenter, with whom he had struck up a great friendship, Dr. Gibney says that he “had been a long time in the service, and had seen some hard fighting, and as a man was a general favourite, but not thought of much as an officer, being too fidgety and too quiet. He never neglected his duties, not was in any way deficient of knowledge of his profession; but he cared not for excitement, which, with the routine of duties, constituted the very essence of army life among officers of those days. He neither hunted, shot, gambled, nor drank wine freely, and was very ignorant on the good points of a horse. He was beyond the general run of officers in accomplishments, knowing the classics well, and several foreign languages, though not a University man; good looking.” Elsewhere Gibney tells us that Carpenter played the flute!’ Captain Carpenter retired by sale of his commission on the 7th of August, 1823, and was not present at Waterloo. Sold with copied medal roll entry confirming this entitlement, details as presented in the Challis Roll, where he is recorded as having died at Milan on the 8th of April, 1861 (aged 69), and copied extracts from the regimental history. Ex Glendining’s, March 1969 and Sotheby’s, 8 July 1982, lot 35.

A Crimean War Medal attributed to Sir William Howard Russell, Special Correspondent for The Times: Crimea, 1854-56, single clasp, Sebastopol (W. H. Russell), erased and renamed in contemporary and attractive upright capitals, lightly toned, contact marks and scrape to neck of portrait, good fine.. NOTE: Private Charles Burgess enlisted for service in the Royal Scots Greys in 1808, and was present in action at the Battle of Waterloo as part of Captain Edward Cheney’s Troop. The Scots Greys (or 2nd Royal North British Dragoons) played a central role in the famous charge of the Second or ‘Union’ Brigade at Waterloo, led by Major General the Hon. Sir William Ponsonby. Alongside the 1st Royal Dragoons and the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, they charged D’Erlon’s infantry columns to great effect, where Sergeant Charles Ewart of the Scots Greys successfully captured the French regimental eagle of the French 45th Line Regiment (which remains in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum to this day). The Scots Greys charge was fierce that afterwards on their blown horses, they were unable to hear the signals calling them to return to their lines, and as a consequence they suffered heavy casualties in the French counterattacks. The above recipient is recorded in ‘Greys Ghosts’ by Stuart Mellor as having been severely wounded at Waterloo, and most likely in the context of this charge. It may be further noted that the fact that a M.G.S. to another recipient named Burgess is included in this sale is purely coincidental and there is no known family connection. Considered by many to be the founding father of military journalism, Russell wrote in situ from his own personal experiences. His brutally-honest reports brought home to the British public the woeful conditions and inadequate leadership experienced during the Crimean campaign and he famously witnessed the Charge of the Light Brigade at first hand. A trio attributed to Sir William Howard Russell (1821-1907) and including an unnamed four-clasp Crimea was sold in the past at an auction (description included in the lot) where the other medals were described as an engraved India Mutiny with two clasps and a South Africa 1879 without clasp. It has been suggested that that the Crimea Medal in the trio may have been a replacement for the medal offered here, thought likely to be the original as worn by the recipient. Although not officially entitled to the Crimea medal, vide Atkins, J.B., The Life of Sir William Howard Russell, vol. II, p. 393, where a full and detailed list of his various British and foreign medals and Orders is given, specific mention is made there of a Crimea Medal with a single clasp for Sebastopol. Moreover Russell was portrayed in his later years wearing a medal fitting this same description, rather than a four-bar example.

A Great War Jutland Group of 6 awarded to Vice-Admiral John Douglas Edwards, C.B., Royal Navy, who commanded the Cruiser H.M.S. Falmouth at Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank, and during the Battle of Jutland, and was for a time Brigadier-General with the R.A.F. whilst serving with the Air Ministry, comprising: 1914-15 Star (Capt. J. D. Edwards, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. D. Edwards, R.N.); France, Legion d’Honneur, Officer’s breast badge with rosette, in silver-gilt and enamels; Czechoslovakia, Croix de Guerre, breast badge, in bronze; and Italy, Messina Earthquake Medal, 1908, in silver, eng. in upright capitals (Commdr. J. D. Edwards. H.M.S. Sutlej), group court-mounted, toned, a few light hairlines and small chip to enamel of Légion d’Honneur, otherwise good very fine (6) NOTE: C.B.: London Gazette, 15 September 1916: ‘commanded and fought in the Falmouth with great skill and gallantry’. France, Legion d’Honneur: London Gazette, 15 September 1916; Russia, Order of St Anne: London Gazette, 5 October 1917; Czechoslovakia, Croix de Guerre: London Gazette, 26 August 1921. John Douglas Edwards was born on the 29th of September, 1871, as Port Louis, Mauritius. He entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in 1887, and progressed steadily through the Officer ranks. During WWI, as Captain he commanded H.M.S. Falmouth of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron, with a complement of 376. She took part in the Battle of Jutland as part of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron, where she was hit by a German shell, but survived the battle. For his rôle as Captain, Edwards was awarded the C.B. In a smaller and lesser-known action on the 19th of August, 1916, Falmouth engaged two Zeppelins which were shadowing the British ships, when she ran across the line of fire of the German submarine U-66 which discharged two torpedoes at less than 1,000 yards range, both striking Falmouth on the starboard side. The ship did not sink for many hours and throughout the following night proceeded under her own steam until the early morning, when she was taken in tow. Quite unsuspected by the British, the Germans had established a line of submarines running out from Flamborough Head to intercept shipping approaching the Humber. As Falmouth approached, U-63 got home two torpedoes which, surprisingly enough, did not sink the vessel, though she had now been hit four times. She remained afloat for another eight hours and eventually sank five miles south of Flamborough Head. All the crew were taken off by the escorting destroyers and there was no loss of life, but one stoker died from his injuries later. Offered with copied service papers, which also confirm the award of his Messina Earthquake medal for service aboard H.M.S. Sutlej, and that Edwards died on 30th March, 1952.

New Zealand and Canadian Great War Casualty Medals, comprising: a Pair awarded to Private David Albert Kilburn, 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F., British War and Victory Medals (12/3701 Pte. D. A. Kilburn. N.Z.E.F.); British War Medal (33021 Pte. A. Harvey. N.Z.E.F.); and a Pair awarded to Private William Gordon. 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, British War and Victory Medals (426829 Pte. W. Gordon. 16-Can. Inf.), toned, generally extremely fine (5) NOTE: David Albert Kilburn (1895-1917) was the eldest son of Herbert and Lillie Kilburn, of 29 Burnley Terrance, Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand. He was killed in action of the 4th of October 1917 during the 4th Infantry Brigade’s attack on Broodseinde Ridge. Alfred Harvey (d.15.06.1917) was the husband of Mrs A Harvey of 232 St Asaph Street, Christchurch, New Zealand, was killed in action on the 15th of June 1917 whilst serving in the 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. William Gordon (1889-1916) was killed in action between the 4th and 7th of September, 1916.

Miscellaneous Great War Medals (13), British War and Victory Medal pair (1105 A. Cpl. H. T. Northcott. R.A.M.C.), 1914-15 Stars (3- 133096 Pnr. G. Evans. R.E. / 100346 Dvr. W.E. Harris. R.F.A. / erased), British War Medals (3- 2-Lieut. D.A. Bell / 1105 A. Cpl. H.T. Northcott R.A.M.C. / 206926 Cpl. S.L. Smallwood R.A.F.); Victory Medals (4- 48506 Pte. A. Hill, 1-7-R. Warwick R. / Lieut. H.D.A. Hunter / 1552 Dvr. Mohd. Shafi / 110801 Gnr. F.P. Simpson. R.A.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Foster), fine and better; with Silver Jubilee 1935 and Coronation 1937 pair to John Chaston, with forwarding letters for both medals, Coronation 1953, in case of issue, with lady’s bow and forwarding letter to Jane May Roach; Civil Defence Long Service, pre 1968 type, with fire watching exemption certificate to Miss E.B.M. Clifford, Warden, Swindon Area Civil Defence Service; Bomber Command and National Service commemoratives, both in cases of issue; Birmingham 1902 Coronation medal, in case of issue; L.C.C. King’s medal for school attendance, with related ribbon and bars, and Masonic Million Fund medal, cased, mostly extremely fine (lot)

Medals awarded to three generations of the Wright Family, comprising: (i) Four to Officer’s Cook George William Wright, Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary, 1914-15 Star (G. W. Wright, Off. Ck., M.F.A.) British War Medal (G. W. Wright. Ck. M.F.A), Mercantile Marine War Medal (George. W. Wright), Victory Medal (G. W. Wright. Ck. M.F.A); (ii) Pair to Radio Electrical Mechanic 1st Class Kenneth Wright, Royal Navy, Korea 1950-53 (D/SMX.871771 K. Wright R.E.M.1. R.N.), U.N. Korea, 1950-54, unnamed as issued, mounted on bar for wear; and(iii) Imperial Service Medal, EiiR (Allan Noel Wright), generally extremely fine (7) NOTE: ISM London Gazette 24.01.1967 – WRIGHT, Allan Noel, Technician, Class I, Liverpool’. Sold with some copied research.

A WW2 Dunkirk Evacuee’s Group of 4 awarded to Corporal Cyril Crawforth, R.E.M.E., late R.A.S.C., comprising 1939-1945 Star, Defence and War Medals, and Efficiency Medal, GVIR, Territorial Clasp (81342 Cfn. C. Crawforth. R.E.M.E.), court mounted for wear; together with Dunkirk Medal, FRVRA cross, and two I.D. ‘dog-tag’ discs, nearly extremely fine (8) NOTE: Sold with original ‘Calling out Notice’ to Driver C. Crawforth, 50 (NI Div) R.A.S.C., Dunkirk Veterans’ Association paperwork [Crawforth appears to have been Treasurer for a time], other documentation confirming his address in Hull, record of service, Reckitt & Colman Ltd (Hull) 1939-1945 Remembrance booklet with roll of honour, original Féderation Royale des Vétérans du Roi’ named scroll, and La Ville de Dunkerque scroll.

A WW2 P.o.W. Trio awarded to Private Frederick Raymond John Tanner, 4th Battalion, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, taken prisoner of war at Watou near Cassel Nord on the 29th – 30th of May, 1940, comprising: 1939-1945 Star, War Medal, and Efficiency Medal, GVIR, Territorial Clasp (5384129 Pte. F R J Tanner Oxf Bucks), group court mounted on board for display; with Dunkirk Medal, Allied Cross with clasps Dunkirk and Cassell, cap badge, Dunkirk Veterans’ enamelled badge, and FRVRA cross, toned, good very fine (8) NOTE: The 4th Ox & Bucks L.I. were encircled and overwhelmed by German forces near Watou, having taken part in the Defence of Cassel for three days, with many casualties and P.O.W.s taken. This battle helped to buy time for the beleaguered troops at Dunkirk to conduct their evacuation. Pte Tanner was held at Stalag 344, at Lambinowice, Poland. Sold with copied P.O.W. information, 4 original photos and (2) stamped P.O.W. postcards addressed to Mrs J H Tanner, 1 The Terrace, Iffley, Oxford, as well as an original ‘Federation Royale Les Veterans du Roi’ named scroll, and a mixed selection of other medals and awards.

A WW2 P.o.W. Trio awarded to Trooper William Todd Tunnah, Royal Tank Regiment, late 1st Battalion, Lothian And Border Yeomanry, taken prisoner of war at St Valery on the 12th of June, 1940, comprising: 1939-1945 Star, War Medal, and Efficiency Medal, EIIR, Territorial Clasp (7886671 Tpr. W. T. Tunnah. R. Tks.), group court mounted on board for display, good very fine (3) NOTE: William Tunnah was born in Edinburgh in the 17th of August 1916, had previously worked as a Labourer living at 89 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, and died in Leeds in November 1990, aged 74. He was taken prisoner at St Valery on the 12th of June, 1940, where only 3 Officers and 17 Other Ranks manage to escape; the remainder being taken into captivity in Eastern Germany. He was held at Stalag VIII-B in Germany from the 17th of July 1940 to the 23rd of July 1940, and then from the 1st of August 1940 he was moved to work at camps at Hindenberg and Beuthen and at Milowitz (Poland). Sold with copied documentation, including his entry on the ‘British Prisoner of War 1939-1945’ roll which states that he was serving in the Reconnaissance Corps. His photo is also included online on the ‘1st Lothians and Border Yeomanry’ website.

A WW2 P.o.W. Trio awarded to Private Arthur William Sidney Spokes, 4th Battalion, Oxford and Buckingham-shire Light Infantry, taken prisoner of war at Watou near Cassel Nord on the 29th – 30th of May, 1940, comprising: 1939-1945 Star, War Medal, and Efficiency Medal, GVIR, Territorial Clasp (5384129 Pte. F R J Tanner Oxf Bucks), court mounted on board for display, light hairlines, marks and edge nicks to last, about very fine (3) NOTE: The 4th Ox & Bucks L.I. were encircled and overwhelmed by German forces near Watou, having taken part in the Defence of Cassel for three days, with many casualties and P.O.W.s taken. This battle helped to buy time for the beleaguered troops at Dunkirk to conduct their evacuation. Pte Spokes was held at Stalag 344, at Lambinowice, Poland. Sold with copied P.O.W. information, birth and marriage certificates, showing the recipient as being a resident of Thame, born on the 2nd of October 1920, died June 1993, and other useful research.

New Zealand Memorial Cross, officially impressed (NZ411103 Sjt. M. Swann), in case of issue, with original forwarding slip (this slightly waterstained), good very fine NOTE: Serjeant Murray Swann, a native of Dunedin, joined 101 Squadron as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner 11 July 1942. He completed 9 raids before being killed in action during the Nuremburg raid 28/29 August 1942 (also entitled to 1939-45, Air Crew Europe stars, Defence and War medals, New Zealand War Service medal).

Order of St. John, breast star, in gilt and white enamel, 50mm; Officer’s breast badge, in silver and white enamel; Membership medal, in silver (14808 W.J. Martin Northern Heights Div. No 1 Dis, S.J.A.B. 1935); Imperial Service Medal, George VI type 2 (Edward Charles Barnes), good very fine or better; and a Khan Sahib badge, George V, reverse erased (5)

Battle of Copenhagen (?), Nelson Badge bearing the date of the Battle aprl  2 1801, cast in silver, oval portrait of Nelson with title adml. lord nelson of the nile. around and with date below, aprl 2 1801, having integrally-cast suspension ring and trophy-of-arms garniture including a fouled anchor, the smoothed reverse with contemporary engraving tonnant 80 g below a pair of crossed ship’s spars, 47mm x 45mm (cf Hardy 26; MH 492), very fine, suspended on a short silver watch-chain loop, extremely rare NOTE: Ex Morton & Eden 53, 1 December 2011, lot 1388. The evidently-struck copper-gilt badge used as the prototype for this and other cast badges is illustrated by Sim Comfort in his article The Naval Copenhagen Badge (in MCA Advisory vol. 4, no. 8, pp. 8-14). The piece discussed is surrounded by an elaborate contoured mount with the inscription in memory of the battle of copenhagen, only the lower part of which (without the inscription) is reproduced on the cast badges. Comfort proceeds to list the six examples of the cast badge in the National Maritime Museum, pointing out that two of them (engraved Orion 74 and Mars 74) are, like the present lot, inscribed with the names of ships which were not present at Copenhagen. Contrastingly, one of the gilt metal badges (object ID MEC 1170) is named on the reverse to Captain J. Rose of the 24-gun Jamaica which was present at Copenhagen; similarly the gold piece described by Milford Haven is to Captain George Murray of the Edgar, the ship which led Nelson’s squadron into battle at Copenhagen. Comfort’s own conclusions regarding these various cast medals remain controversial. Admiral The Marquess of Milford Haven (writing in 1919) listed and illustrated the gold specimen to Captain Murray, from the Payne Collection, and was moved to speculate that the badges may have represented a special award for Copenhagen sponsored by Nelson’s prize agent Alexander Davison, made in the face of a general failure by the authorities to render official recognition of individual contributions at the Battle. Whilst contemporary Press reports indicate that Davison was actively considering a Copenhagen medal in the wake of his successful Battle of the Nile awards, examination of the extensive Davison papers has so far yielded no evidence that this ever occurred. In addition to the NMM’s six examples a silver badge is held at the National Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth as part of the Lily Lambert Collection, bearing the ship’s name Donegal 74, and a further specimen is in the Royal Greenjackets’ Museum (officers of the Rifle Corps were present at Copenhagen as sharpshooters). The present lot, however, appears to be the only specimen to have been offered for public sale in recent times.

Nelson Testimonial Medal, 1844, in white metal, by E. Avern, bust of Nelson left within garter bearing england expects etc, rev., Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column; inscribed to commemorate the opening of the nelson testimonial trafalgar sque – 21 october 1844, 61mm (BHM -; Eimer -; Hardy 97; MH 531), pierced, about extremely fine and very rare NOTE: Testimonial Medals such as this were presented to 357 Greenwich Pensioners who had served at one of Nelson’s four major actions, those of St Vincent (39), Nile (35), Copenhagen (45) and Trafalgar (238), together with a gratuity of ten shillings, at a ceremony held at the Royal Greenwich Hospital on 2nd April 1845. The awards were funded by the Testimonial Committee of the parishioners of St Martin-in-the-Fields. For more details see Captain Douglas-Morris, Naval Medals, 1793-1856, pp. 49-53. He knew of fewer than ten surviving medals, one of which was paired with an NGS medal.

South Africa, The British Empire Medal, 1901, bronze medal by F. Bowcher, crowned bust of Edward VII left, flanked by the standing figures of Justice, Peace and Industry either side, rev., Lord Roberts on horseback with troops behind, winged figures of Fame and Victory above, 104mm, edge marked ‘Bronze No.34’ of 150 made (BHM 3735; CM ZAR 66), in original case of issue, toned, tiny bruise to rim and one or two marks, otherwise extremely fine

The Royal Geographical Society’s Victoria Medal awarded to Colonel Sidney Gerald Burrard, K.C.S.I., Royal Engineers, Surveyor of India, for his work on the Topography of the Himalayas (including Everest) in 1913 and who was considered ‘the eminent, member of the Community of Surveyors of the Empire’, together with his Baronet’s Badge, comprising: (i) Royal Geographical Society, Victoria Medal, in gold, by W. Wyon, young head of Queen Victoria, rev. the draped figure of Athena standing holding a wreath and map, at her feet a globe and sextant (Colonel S.G. Burrard, C.S.I., R.E., F.R.S. 1913), 55.5mm, 131g all in, glazed with gold rim, in original fitted Wyon case of issue (Eimer 1229); (ii) Baronet’s Badge, United Kingdom type, in silver-gilt and enamels (Burrard of Walhampton 3 April 1769), hallmarked London, 1935, in original Royal Mint case of issue, two tiny marks to glass near edge of the first, extremely fine (2) NOTE: C.S.I.: London Gazette, 12 December 1911: ‘Coronation Honours’; K.S.C.I.: London Gazette, 22 June 1914: ‘Royal Engineers, Surveyor-General in India’; 1913: S. G. Burrard Indian Survey - ‘For his distinguished contributions to geography and geodesy.’ Colonel Sidney Gerald Burrard (1860-1943) was born at Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, and was the eldest son of Lieutenant Colonel Sidney Burrard of the Grenadier Guards. After being educated at Uppingham and at Wellington College he was sent to Woolwich to join the Royal Engineers. He was a talented Cadet, particularly in Mathematics, receiving his first commission in April 1879. He sailed for India in 1882, and spent two years at Roorkee at the Head Quarters of the Bengal Sappers and Miners, before joining the Survey of India in September 1884. In this role he performed important work in accurately calculating and revising longitudes in India, and establishing tidal observatories at either end of the Suez canal, but it was in his work as Superintendent of the Trigonometrical Survey in Calcutta from 1899 onwards that he performed much of his greatest work. Written in collaboration with Sir Henry Hayden, Director of the Geological Survey of India, he wrote the book ‘A Sketch of the Geography and Geology of the Himalayan Mountains and Tibet.’ This work published a mine of hitherto unknown information regarding the Himalayas, including names, heights of peaks, classification into ranges, rivers, glaciers, lakes etc. In 1911, Burrard was made Surveyor-General of India in 1911, and was made C.S.I. at the Durbar in Delhi. In 1907 he had become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and in 1913 he was awarded the Victoria Medal. The President of the Society, Lord Curzon, commented at the presentation: “There is not a scientific explorer of our time who has not consulted and in some measure been guided by Colonel Burrard, and there has not been a Surveyor-General of equal scientific attainments since the days of Everest.” He was later made K.S.C.I. in 1914, and continued an extended tenure as Surveyor-General until the end of WWI, retiring in 1919.

A B.E.M. and Lloyds Gallantry Medal Pair awarded to Fireman George Stanley Bird, of the S.S. ‘Empire Gladstone’ for saving the lives of two of his fellow crewmembers when they had been overcome by fumes and vapours on the 20th of July, 1945, comprising: British Empire Medal, Civil Division, GVR ‘GRI’ type (George S. Bird), with reverse pin for wear, in Royal Mint box of issue, and Lloyds Gallantry Medal (Fireman G. S. Bird, S.S. “Empire Gladstone.” 20th July, 1945.), with reverse pin for wear, in fitted case of issue, toned and lustrous, good extremely fine (2) NOTE: B.E.M. (Civil Division): London Gazette, 5 February 1946: ‘The Fourth Engineer Officer and the Chief Steward were found unconscious on the floor of the refrigerator machine-room of the S.S “Empire Gladstone.” A dense vapour was escaping from the pipeline of the refrigerating plant and Bird volunteered to descend to the machine-room with a line attached to his body. He succeeded in making a line fast round the Chief Steward, who was hauled up unconscious on to the deck. Bird again descended into the machine-room and, after much difficulty, succeeded in making a line fast round the Fourth Engineer, who was then also hauled up. At one time Bird was overcome by the vapour and had to be assisted out of the machine-room, but he returned to the rescue work as soon as he recovered. Bird ran considerable risk in going to the help of his shipmates single-handed and he showed courage without thought for his own safety.’ George Stanley Bird was born on the 19th of January, 1926 in London, and later lived in Dagenham, enrolling for service in WW2 as a Fireman on the 17th of September, 1944. Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including: an original issue of the second supplement to the London Gazette of the 1st of February, 1946; Buckingham Palace award slip; cash advance clip showing later service aboard the S.S. “Empire Gannet”; Member’s Contribution Book; letter of congratulations from James Chambers & Co.; Argentine immigration document and ID card including photograph, dated the 10th of September 1945; and discharge book.

The D.S.O. Group of 6 awarded to Major John Keily Gordon, who won the D.S.O. whilst commanding ‘S’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, in Mesopotamia. He later reached the rank of Brigadier, as Commander R.A. of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division in 1936-37, comprising: Distinguished Service Order, GVR, in silver-gilt and enamels; British War and Victory Medals, the latter with bronze M.i.D. spray of oak leaves (Major J.K. Gordon.); Delhi Durbar Medal, 1911, Jubilee Medal, 1935, Coronation Medal, 1937, all unnamed as issued, uneven reverse tone, BWM & Victory well-polished, light marks and hairlines, nearly very fine (6) NOTE: M.i.D.: London Gazette, 27 August 1918; D.S.O.: London Gazette, 11 January 1919: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He commanded his battery with marked skill and ability when subjected to heavy enemy shelling. The good shooting of his of his battery, and its steadiness in action, were largely due to his coolness and personal influence.’ John Keily Gordon was born on the 31st of March, 1883, and was educated at Wellington College. Having passed out as a Gentleman Cadet from the Royal Military Academy, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on the 21st of December, 1901, and joined the Royal Artillery. Early on in the Great War he was promoted to the rank of Captain on the 30th of October 1914, and then to Major on the 27th of January 1916. ‘S’ Battery (6 guns) had been based in Bangalore in India until 1915 when it was moved to Mesopotamia, and attached to the 6th Indian Cavalry Brigade of the 7th (Meerut) Division. He was awarded the D.S.O. for commanding his Battery in action in Mesopotamia. He later served as Commanding Officer of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Cairo in 1935 when his unit became mechanised, then as Commander, R.A. in the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division in 1936-37. He also appears to have played a role in the creation of 4 Survey Company. He retired with the honorary rank of Brigadier on the 30th of September, 1941. Sold with a set of matching dress miniatures, copied Gazette entries and further research. For the awards to his son, Captain John Lionel Hugh Gordon, M.C., Royal Artillery, see lot 936.

An Interesting M.B.E. and ‘Passchendaele’ M.C. group of Four awarded to Captain Robert Launcelot Busby, 2/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, taken P.o.W. in 1918, who afterwards rose to prominence in Manchester and Salford as Director of the local racecourse and as a local politician, and later served as Commandant of the Salford “Specials” during the Blitz, comprising: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, Member’s second type breast badge, in silver; Military Cross, GVR, the reverse privately engraved (Captain R. L. Busby); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. L. Busby) the latter with M.i.D., mounted on bar with reverse pin for wear, lightly toned, good very fine, offered with an extensive file of copied research, including his MIC entry which confirms his BWM & Victory Medals were issued in 1928. (4) NOTE: M.C.: London Gazette, 06 April 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On his Commanding Officer becoming a casualty, he took charge of the situation, communicated with the forward troops, and sent messages to Brigade Headquarters under difficulties. He collected men from various units scattered about in shell holes and sent them forward under a responsible leader. The men though tired out, were everywhere inspired by his coolness and tact.’ M.i.D.: London Gazette, 23 May 1918: ‘For the March Retreat in 1918 where he was captured and spent the remainder of the war as a POW’ M.B.E.: London Gazette, 09 June 1938: ‘For political and public services in Manchester and Salford.’ Robert Lancelot Busby was born in Hampstead, London, in 1880, and lived with his uncle Charles Frail, following the death of his parents. Frail was a respected figure in horse racing, and in 1898 he acquired 132 acres of land beside the River Irwell in Salford where the foundation stone of the Club Stand for Manchester Racecourse was laid three years later. Robert was appointed Secretary of the new racecourse in 1904. At the outbreak of war he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers as 2nd Lieutenant in the 2/8th Battalion in August 1915, but his battalion did not proceed to France until early 1917, when Busby had reached the rank of Captain and Adjutant. As Adjutant, he was responsible for the unit’s war diary, and one entry of his written on the eve of an attack at Passchendaele on 9 October 1917 reads as follows: ‘Conditions were almost indescribable. The night was inky and the track led over ground covered with innumerable shell-holes full of mud and water. This march would normally take about one and a half hours. It took the Battalion eleven and a half hours.’ The regimental history further describes how the men were often up to their waists in water so ‘several drowned through sinking down in the water from the weight of their equipment and sheer exhaustion.’ The C.O. of the 2/8th was wounded on the morning of 9 October, where Busby assumed command of the Battalion H.Q. and went forward to rally the men: according to the regimental history they ‘responded cheerfully to the inspiration of his coolness and tact.’ Eventually the Battalion’s objective was reached but they suffered casualties of 13 officers and 374 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. In another war diary entry dated 31 October 1917 Busby listed those decorated for their part in the attack, with his own name listed amongst those awarded the MC. In March 1918, his Battalion was positioned near Peronne where it faced ‘head on’ the ‘German Spring Offensive’ with heavy bombardments of gas and artillery which was swiftly followed by large-scale infantry attacks. Some 500 of its ranks were killed, wounded or taken prisoner in this attack, and Busby himself was interned at the Citadel Queists POW Camp in Germany before being repatriated to England at the end of November. Post-war, Busby returned as a Director at Manchester Racecourse, and ‘as much at ease with a groundsman as with a member of the Jockey Club’ he gained a reputation as one of the best racecourse organisers in the country. He was awarded the M.B.E. in June 1938, and on the outbreak of hostilities Busby was appointed Commandant of the ‘Salford Special’ Constabulary, in which role he worked tirelessly despite the devastation caused during German air-raids over Manchester in 1940. On two nights in December around 8,000 homes in Salford were destroyed and Busby’s office was also wrecked - and a direct hit on the racecourse resulted in the cancellation of the New Year meeting. Having worked himself to near-exhaustion, he was persuaded that he should take recuperative leave, and Busby retreated to Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales but tragically on the 18th of August 1941, he took his own life. Ex Dr Alan Stott collection, D.N.W., 25 March 1997, lot 111. Full details of his career and tragic death appeared in a biographical article in Medal News in February 2012 - “A Study in Fortitude”.

The Korean War ‘Third Battle of the Hook’ M.C. Group of 8 awarded to Captain John Lionel Hugh Gordon, Royal Artillery, awarded the Military Cross for his role as Forward Observation Post Officer at ‘the Hook’, where, in direct support of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, he directed the fire of the British artillery and acted as a ‘tower of strength’ for a period of ten days in the face of repeated and enemy attacks, on the 28th-29th of May, 1953. During this battle, the supporting artillery created ‘greater concentrations of artillery...on a 1000 yard front than at any time since 1918’, comprising: Military Cross, EiiR, reverse engraved 1953; 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence and War Medals, unnamed as issued; Korea Medal (Capt. J. L. H. Gordon. M.C. R.A.); UN Korea Medal; General Service Medal, 1918-1962, EiiR, 2 clasps, Malaya, Cyprus (Major J. L. H. Gordon. M.C. R.A.), mounted for display, uneven reverse tone, a few light contact marks, otherwise extremely fine (8) NOTE: M.C.: London Gazette, 7 June 1953: ‘Captain Gordon was forward Observation Post Officer on “The Hook” feature, in direct support of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, throughout the build-up for and the battle of “The Hook”, which reached its climax on the night of 28th/29th May, 1953. Because the build-up was so obvious, Captain Gordon insisted on staying on “The Hook” when one Infantry Company was relieved by another, although he was due for relief himself. He contended that he knew the local situation better than anyone else. For about ten days, the relatively small area of “The Hook”, which is well known to the enemy, was subjected to heavy and accurate shell and mortar fire, the intensity of which increased daily. By night, the enemy’s patrols continually probed “The Hook” defences. It was a period of very great tension. Captain Gordon seemed to be on duty at all times, in the Observation Post by day directing our artillery fire with accuracy, moving about under enemy fire with unassuming courage, and constantly alert in the company command post by night. He snatched his rest at odd hours and always appeared fresh and wonderfully cheerful. His example had a most stimulating effect on his own Observation Post party and on many others as well. When the enemy launched his attack with great fury, subjecting the command post area to very heavy fire indeed and over-running the forward platoon and Observation Post, Captain Gordon was at his post with the Infantry Company Commander. Throughout the night, his cool and balanced situation reports and his efficient calls for fire were of the utmost value in helping first to stop the enemy and then to defeat and drive him from the position. There is no doubt that the correct employment of the guns had a major effect on the outcome of the battle. Captain Gordon’s contribution to this was notable. In the words of the Infantry Company Commander, “He was a tower of strength”. His indomitable spirit during the softening-up and his conduct during the action richly deserve recognition.’ John Lionel Hugh Gordon was born in 1922, the son of Brigadier John Kelly Gordon, D.S.O., R.A., and Beatrice Mary Gordon (née White). He was educated at Wellington College, and served in the Royal Artillery in WW2, receiving his emergency commission in October 1941, and then subsequently in the Korean War. He was recommended for an ‘Immediate’ award of the M.C. for his actions at the Third Battle of the Hook – this the third and final occasion upon which the strategic crescent-shaped position in the Commonwealth sector was attacked and defended, since it held part of the intended enemy approach route toward Seoul. On the 28th of May, 1953, the 1st Bn Duke of Wellington’s Regiment relieved the 1st Bn Black Watch and took up a defensive position with the 1st Bn King’s Regiment on ‘The Hook’ just prior to the launch of a new Chinese offensive that day. With the Royal Artillery in direct support, the position was successfully held despite the severity of the Chinese shelling and infantry attacks. In return, a reported 37,000 artillery shells were fired in 24-hoursThe book ‘Fortune Favours the Brave’ by A J Barker states that: ‘…on the night of 28/29 May, 1953…greater concentrations of artillery were brought to bear on a 1000- yard front than at any time since 1918’. It also mentions Captain Gordon by name, and gives a flavour of the scene that night, as follows: ‘In ‘D’ Company’s command post the occupants were trying to pierce the metaphorical fog of war. Behind the smoke-blackened entrance curtain the dug-out was filled to overflowing. Two signallers, a couple of orderlies, Captain John Gordon, the gunner FOO, Captain Tony Sherratt, the second-in-command, a spare subaltern, Lieutenant Jim Newton, two tables and the usual hotch-potch of equipment and personal kit, and of course, Emmett [Captain Edward Emmett], were all crammed in this tiny bunker. Smoke, an incessant chatter from the two wirelesses and the reverberations from outside all contributed to the Journey’s End atmosphere.’ Captain Gordon later served in the Malaya Campaign as Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General with the 28th Commonwealth Brigade in 1960, and retired with the rank of Major on the 2nd of April, 1975. Sold with original embossed copy of his full citation for the M.C., a set of matching dress miniatures, and other copied research. For the awards to his father, Brigadier John Keily Gordon, D.S.O., Royal Artillery, see lot 931.

A Scarce D.S.M. and B.E.M. Minelaying & Minesweeping Group of 6 awarded to Chief Armourer Telford Anthony, H.M.S. Princess Margaret, Royal Navy, who also took part aboard this vessel during the ‘Riga Incident’, comprising: Distinguished Service Medal, GVR (342614. T. Anthony, Ch. Armr H.M.S. Princess Margaret.); British Empire Medal, Civil Division, Meritorious Service type (Telford Anthony. DSM.); 1914-15 Star (342614 T. Anthony Ch. Amr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (342614 T. Anthony. Ch. Arm. R.N.); Royal Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, GVR (342614 Telford Anthony, Chief Armourer., H.M.S. Naiad.), mounted for wear, lightly polished, very fine (6) NOTE: D.S.M.: London Gazette, 1 January 1916: ‘for bravery and devotion to duty during mine-sweeping and mine-laying operations’; B.E.M. (Civil): London Gazette, 15 June 1945‘Telford Anthony, D.S.M., Laboratory Mechanic, Admiralty Outstation’. Telford Anthony was born on the 23rd of December, 1880, at Gosport, Hampshire, and he attested for Royal Naval service as Armourer’s Crew on the 1st of March 1899. At the outbreak of hostilities in the Great War he had reached the rank of Chief Armourer, first aboard H.M.S. Naiad, and then aboard H.M.S. Princess Margaret. The minelayer H.M.S. Princess Margaret was originally intended to be a passenger liner for the Canadian Pacific Railroad Co. when nearing its completion it was requisitioned by the Admiralty. She was armed with two 4-inch and two 3-inch guns, and was capable of carrying up to 400 mines, which she repeatedly laid to good effect off the German coast. The Princess Margaret survived the War (unlike her sister vessel the Princess Irene) having participated in Force C’s light forces raid in the Kattegat in April 1918. She also took part in the ‘Riga Incident’ in mid-late December 1918, where she received on board and evacuated various British subjects and a number of White Russian refugees who were fleeing the advancing Bolshevik forces. A commemorative medal for this occasion to the crew of H.M.S. Princess Margaret was made by Spink & Son in white metal, on behalf of the grateful evacuees. He appears to have worked post-war and in WW2 in a military research facility, for which he was awarded the B.E.M. in 1945. Sold with copied service papers.

The Exceptionally Rare D.S.M. and two bars (both for North Russia) Group of 6 awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class James Paterson, Royal Navy, present aboard H.M.-25 during the attack upon Ostend, and also later in the various actions which took place on the Dvina River near Archangel in North Russia, where H.M.-25 engaged and sank the enemy gunboat Boguchi and attacked a number of batteries near Tulgas, prior to her eventual scuttling with the Allied withdrawal, this one of only two D.S.M. with two bar awards made in the Great War, comprising: Distinguished Service Medal, GVR, 2 clasps (269167. J. Paterson. C. E. R. A. 1Cl. H.M. Monitor, 25.); 1914-15 Star (269167 J. Paterson. C.E.R.A. 1., R. N.); British War and Victory Medals (269167 J. Paterson C.E.R.A. 1 R.N.), the latter with M.i.D.; Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (James Paterson, C.E.R.A. 2CL H.M.S. Seahorse.), and Russia, Cross of St George, 4th Class, in silver, numbered 248446, medals court-mounted for wear, lightly polished with a few contact marks, good very fine (6) NOTE: D.S.M.: London Gazette, 12 January 1916: ‘Belgian Coast operations’; D.S.M. (Bar): London Gazette, 12 December 1918: ‘White Sea Operations, Dvina & Vaga Rivers’; D.S.M. (2nd Bar): London Gazette, 12 December 1919: ‘for services in Russia, 1918, 1919’. Concerning the first D.S.M. award, Paterson and his vessel H.M.-25 are specially mentioned in Vice Admiral Reginald H S Bacon’s despatch of the 3rd of December, 1915, as follows: “On the 6th September I attacked Ostende with five monitors including General Craufurd (Commander E Altham R.N.) and “M.25” (Lieutenant-Commander B. H. Ramsay, R.N.), and damage was done to submarine workshops and harbour works. The enemy returned our fire with heavy guns of calibre probably larger than our own, and with considerable accuracy. Again the shooting on the part of our vessels was remarkably good, and the assistance rendered by the Auxiliary Craft most valuable.” Having taken part in these important operations on the Belgian coast, which also included an attack upon Zeebrugge, C.E.R.A. 1st Cl. Paterson was also involved in the action of the Dvina River near Archangel in North Russia . She was one of 5 such vessels used in this action, and using her 7.5-inch naval gun she quickly engaged and repelled the Bolshevik gun boats which had thus far hindered progress of the ground troops near the Dvina on the 26th and 28th of August, 1919. M-25 also was of much assistance in an attack upon enemy batteries near Tulgas, despite suffering some damage from a single direct hit and a number of casualties amongst her gun team, and she successfully sank the large gunboat Moguchi with two well-placed shells, as detailed in ‘Big Gun Monitors’ by Ian Buxton. Due to the falling level of the river soon after, both M-25 and M-27 returned to Archangel and scuttled on the 16th of September 1919, to prevent them falling into the hands of the Bolshevik forces. The original recommendation for Paterson’s first bar to the D.S.M. reads as follows: ‘In charge of Engine Room Department – kept machine in highest state of efficiency in Dvina River for 45 days during which time the ship was almost constantly at half an hours’ notice, & no opportunity for boiler cleaning. In every case, when negotiating the more difficult parts of the River Channel, [the] ship had to be steered by the screws, the rudder being useless in the basin (?). The slightest mistake in the handling of the engine would have entailed the loss of the monitor and the entire expedition.’ Paterson was later awarded another bar to his D.S.M. for services in White Russia, making his one of only two DSM & 2-bar awards were made during the entire Great War, the other being awarded to Deckhand L. Findlay, R.N.R. Paterson’s 2nd Bar recommendation reads as follows: ‘Was C.E.R.A. in charge of machinery of M.”25” during the winter and opening of the River Campaign in May 1919 – Relieved at the end of May 1919. He received a bar to his D.S.M. decoration for service in River Dwina, August to October 1918. Very much above average in ability and always ready with his machinery for any service. Looked after his machinery and department in the most efficient manner possible during winter. In action at River Front during May 1919. Very strongly recommended.’

A Rare D.S.M. Group of 6 awarded to W.O. Class II John Harrison, Machine Gun Corps (Motors), late Royal Naval Air Service, awarded the D.S.M. for his services at the action in Galicia at Brzezany on the 1st of July, 1917, and two Russian decorations for his service with the RN Armoured Car Division, comprising: Distinguished Service Medal, GVR (F.2893. J. Harrison, P.O. Mech. R.N. Armd Cars. Austria. 1st July. 1917.); 1914-15 Star (F.2893, J. Harrison, P.O.M., R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (80263 W.O. Cl. 2. J. Harrison M.G.C.); Russia, Cross of St George, 4th Class, in silver, numbered 131302; and Russia, Medal for Bravery, 4th Class, in silver, No.1032302, court-mounted, polished, good very fine and rare (6) NOTE: D.S.M.: London Gazette, 30 November 1917: for miscellaneous services’. John Harrison was born on the 11th of December, 1895 in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and he enlisted for service with the Royal Navy on the 30th of December 1914 as a Petty Officer Mechanic. Whilst on attachment with the Royal Naval Air Service, he joined the Armoured Cars Division with whom he saw action at Brzezany, Russia (in what is now Western Ukraine). W.O. Class II John Harrison is mentioned by name in the despatch of Commander Locker-Lampson for this action, who wrote: ‘I would also venture to bring to the notice of their Lordships the work of the following Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers: C.P.O. John MacFarlane (killed) F.2863; P.O.M. John Harrison F.2893; George Gardner, F.9891; John Marshall McEwan (wounded) F.10029. These were volunteers who assisted Lieut.-Commr. Smiles to repair the roads under very heavy fire during the attack on Brzezany’. In ‘The Czar’s British Squadron’ by Perrett and Lord, the action at Brzezany on the 1st of July 1917 is described as follows: ‘The cars were due to cross their start line at 09.55 and the infantry to go over the top five minutes later. Watched by Kerensky from a forward observation post, Wells Hood led out his squadron in the Rolls armoured. The cars gathered speed in a cutting and then burst out onto the wastes of No Man’s Land, Shells burst alongside the road ... bullets clanged off the armour, but within minutes they were level with the first line of enemy trenches and were enfilading them with their fire. ... While the Russian infantry came up Wells Hood protected the Corps’ left flank from interference, and then pressed on down the road to Brzezany until he found it blocked by a barbed wire and sandbag barricade. Smiles called for volunteers to go forward with him and remove the obstruction. He was joined by Chief Petty Officer MacFarlane, Leading Petty Officer Harrison and Petty Officers Gardner and McEwan, and together they crawled up the roadside ditch to the barricade, which was now under such shellfire that Locker Lampson wondered how any of them survived. Dodging shell-bursts, they were able at length to dismantle the structure piece by piece, but in the process MacFarlane was killed and McEwan badly wounded. The cars passed through ...’ He later joined the Machine Gun Corps (Motors) on the 26th of March 1918. Sold with copied Royal Navy and Army service papers, showing his home address as 6 Ashville, Shegoneil Avenue, Belfast.

A Scarce ‘Operation Kronstadt’ D.S.M. Trio awarded to Chief Motor Mechanic William Eric Whyte, Royal Navy, who took part in the second raid upon Kronstadt Harbour on the 18th of August, 1919 [for which two VCs were awarded]; he was subsequently taken prisoner when his motor torpedo boat CMB.24, under the command of Commander L.E.S. Napier, was sunk after receiving critical shell damage during the attack on her target the Russian destroyer Gavriil, comprising: Distinguished Service Medal, GVR (M.B. 3006. W.E. Whyte, Ch. M. M. R.N.V.R. “C.M.B.24” Cronstadt Harbour 18. Aug. 1919.); British War and Victory Medals (M.B. 3006 W.E. Whyte. M.M. R.N.V.R.), toned, about extremely fine (3) NOTE: D.S.M.: London Gazette, 04 May 1920 [which includes three of the last 5 D.S.M.s awarded during the Great War, all three being to R.N.V.R. recipients who took part in Motor-Torpedo Boats during the attack on Kronstadt Harbour, and presumably given at this late date upon their return from being held as P.O.W.). William Eric Whyte was born on the 1st of January, 1897 at Portsmouth Hants, and he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a Motor Mechanic on the 20th of June 1918. On the 30th of August 1918 he began working in CMB motor boats, and soon found himself in action. In 1919 a secret base was established at Terrioki in Finland from which 8 coastal motor boats (C.M.B.) were used to land and collect British secret agents operating in Bolshevik Russia. However, on the 17th June 1919, a more aggressive course of action was decided upon, where a C.M.B. under the command of Lieutenant Augustus Agar (later V.C.) mounted a torpedo attack on the Bolshevik cruiser Oleg in Kronstadt harbour. The cruiser was sunk and furthermore, Agar brought his vessel C.M.B. 4 safely back to base. After this initial success, a second, larger attack on Kronstadt was made on the 18th of August. Agar chose to take C.M.B. 7 into Kronstadt once more, acting as guide to a flotilla of seven other larger 55’ C.M.B.s. The attack itself was led by Commander Claude Dobson, who split the flotilla into two groups. Group 1 included C.M.B. 79A (Bremner), C.M.B. 31BD (Dobson) and C.M.B. 88BD (“Mossy” Dayrell-Reed), and Group 2 included C.M.B. 62BD (Brade), C.M.B. 86 (Howard) and C.M.B. 72 (Bodley) in group 2. C.M.B. 24A (Napier) was to operate independently, but had the specific task of neutralising the Russian destroyer Gavriil, which was acting as guard beyond the harbour entrance. As recorded in ‘Operation Kronstadt’ by Harry Ferguson, C.M.B.-24 was sunk during its headlong attack upon the Gavriil, where despite firing its torpedoes, which either malfunctioned or missed their target, it received heavy shellfire very close to its hull, to the extent that the vessel split along its bow and threw Napier and much of the crew into the water. The crew, as follows, were all taken prisoner: Lt Laurence E S Napier RN, Lt Osman C H Giddy RN (wounded by shell slinters to the back), Chief Motor Mechanic William Eric White, LS Herbert J Bowles, AB Charles A Harvey (wounded, right arm). The remaining C.M.B.s attacked with some success, with one torpedo striking home against the Gavriil, and one hitting the dockside. For their roles in leading and pressing home their attacks upon the Russian battleships Andrei Pervozsvanny and Petropavlovsk with their torpedoes, Commander Dobson and Lieutenant Steele were later awarded the Victoria Cross. Sold with copied service papers, which note: ‘taken Prisoner of War by Bolsheviks during attack on 18 Aug 1919 on Kronstadt’ and ‘released March 1920 repatriated…to R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth on 3rd April 1920.’

The M.M. Group of 3 awarded to Lance-Sergeant Albert Edward Pilkington, ‘B’ Company, 16th (1st City Battalion, Manchester ‘Pals’) Battalion, Manchester Regiment, late 19th Battalion, his M.M. believed to have been awarded for bravery at the time of his battalion’s heroic but ultimately doomed defence of ‘Manchester Hill’ near St Quentin , where Lieutenant Colonel Wilfrith Elstob won the posthumous V.C. on 21 March 1918. As one of only a handful of men from the 16th Battalion to survive this battle, Lance-Sergeant Pilkington was taken Prisoner-of-War at Spoil Bank on the 26th on the 26th of April, 1918, comprising: Military Medal, GVR (11910 Cpl – L. Sjt: A. E. Pilkington. 16/ Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11910 Cpl. A. E. Pilkington. Manch. R.); court-mounted, light hairlines and tiny marks, good very fine (3) NOTE: M.M.: London Gazette, 16 July 1918: ‘11910 Cpl (L.Sjt.) A. E. Pilkington, Manch. R. (Moss Side)’. On the 18th of March, 1915, the 16th Battalion based themselves in strong positions in and around the high ground of ‘Manchester Hill’ or ‘Redoubt’ in anticipation of a large German offensive. Colonel Elstob briefed his men in detail about the defence of their position, pointing towards the Headquarters with the now famously words “Here we fight, here we die”. The night of 20-21st was quiet for a time, but soon the peace was shattered, as described in the Battalion History: “At 6.30am, the roar of innumerable guns broke the uncanny calm. High explosives, shrapnel, and worst of all, gas shells shrieked through the air. The sky was lit up with great flashes. The much talked-of bombardment had begun. But still no enemy movement could be perceived and that for good reason - a fog had succeeded the clear and placid night - a fog made increasingly dense by the smoke of bursting shell. Nothing could have been more disastrous.” At around 8.00AM communication between HQ and the companies was lost, and after 30 minutes then a runner informed H.Q. that “A” Company was under heavy attack and was nearly overrun. A few minutes later, similar news came from “B” Company. The Germans had taken full advantage of the fog, and the first news that the attack was underway was hearing the terrible sounds of hand-to-hand combat and of men being bayoneted. It took the German forces a further half hour to reach the entrenched men of “C” Company but they were soon engaged in close quarter fighting too. At about 11.30A.M., it could be seen that the German storm-troops were advancing round the flanks of the redoubt, and that they were surrounded. Colonel Elstob and his dwindling number of troops continued to fight on into the afternoon, and when communications were temporarily restored, Elstob was able to report to Brigade at about 2.00P.M., that most of his men were now killed or wounded, including Elstob himself. He told the Brigadier that “The Manchester Regiment will hold Manchester Hill to the last man”. At 3.30P.M., he gain spoke to Brigade saying very few were now left. Just after this, the enemy, now only 20 yards away, called for him to surrender. Elstob replied “Never” and was soon after shot dead. With the loss of their leader, and with only a reported 15 men not dead or wounded, the remnants of the Manchesters surrendered. Research appears to show that Albert Pilkingon’s M.M. was won in the same action, where Elstob was later awarded the Victoria Cross. Having survived this battle, research taken from the Manchester Regiment’s website shows that Pilkington was taken Prisoner of War some weeks later on the 26th of April 1918, at Spoil Bank, and research shows his home address was 20 Winsford St, Moss Side, Manchester. Sold with copied M.I.C. (showing his entitlement to an additional 1914-15 Star), M.M. card, and other useful research.

The Well Documented Kut-al-Amara Indian Distinguished Service Group of Six awarded to Subadar Akbar Khan, 1st Battalion 66th Punjabis, who was wounded during the siege and one of approximately a quarter of the men of the 66th to survive the privations of Turkish imprisonment, comprising: Indian Distinguished Service Medal, George V (Subdr. Akbar Khan 1/66 Pjbs); India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1901-2 (3925 Sepoy 27th Pjb. Infy.); 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals (Subdr. 1/66 Pjbs); and India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp Afghanistan N.W.F.1919 (Subdr. 1/66 Pjbs); all toned, the first two somewhat unevenly, with some somewhat frayed original ribbons and original (detached) mounting bar, generally very fine or slightly better (6) Subadar Akbar Khan was listed as wounded before Kut-al-Amara, The Times, 14 March 1916. The lot is offered with the following original documentation and related uniform and artefacts: Bilingual warrant of appointment to Jemadar, 1 May 1909, foxed and part of Urdu version holed; Bilingual Buckingham Palace letter to Returned Prisoners-of-War, Urdu translation with recipient’s name written above in English; Two original notebooks, both with recipient’s name on covers with various annotations mostly in Urdu; Group photograph of two British and three Indian Officers, Subadar Khan standing centre back [illustrated]; Original kit bag with inked name of recipient in English and Urdu, with regimental details in English; khaki shoulder bag, interior stamped ‘1656’; post 1922 Officer’s khaki tunic with brass regimental buttons, Officer’s rank insignia and 1st Punjabi metal regimental shoulder badges; swagger stick with metal regimental crest; Army cap and khaki skull cap; waist and shoulder belt; bullet maker; Officer’s whistle, Birmingham-made; vesta box holder; tobacco tin with cigarette maker; ink stamp for number 8108456, handle lacking

Indian Police Medal, George VI, for Meritorious Service (V.G. Kanetkar, I.P, Dist Supdt of Police, Bombay), suspension slightly bent, about very fine

Japan, Order of the Golden Kite, Seventh Class breast badge, in silver and gilt; Order of the Sacred Treasure, Sixth Class breast badge; Russo-Japanese War Medal 1905 (3); China Incident Medal 1939; 2,600th National Anniversary Commemorative 1940; Manchukuo, National Foundation Medal 1933, all in case of boxes of issue, extremely fine (8)

Japan, Medals of Honour (3), Blue Ribbon, bar unengraved, suspension detached, this fine; Dark Navy Medal (2) each with bar, one dated 18 May Showa 19 (1944), 17 February Showa 40 (1965), both extremely fine (3)

Japan, Medal of Honour with Dark Blue Ribbon, with 2 bars, first dated 21 September Showa 14 (1939), Second, narrower bar dated 22 September Showa 18 (1943), in lacquer box of issue, with related fitting, virtually as issued

Japan, Red Cross Merit Decoration (4), in silver and enamels; Silver Membership medals (3), in silver (2) and white metal, War Commemorative medal (2), in bronze, one with 1904-05 suspension, generally good very fine or better (9)

Japan, Korean Annexation Medal, August 29 Meiji 43 (1910), in gilt bronze, 31mm, good very fine, scarce

Lithuania, Order of Grand Duke Gediminas, Gold Merit medal, in bronze-gilt, Silver Merit medal, in silvered bronze and Bronze Merit medal, generally extremely fine (3)

Luxembourg, Miscellaneous Orders, Medals and Decorations (5), comprising: Order of the Oaken Crown, Officer’s breast badge, in silver-gilt and enamels; Order of Adolph of Nassau, Civil Division, Officer’s Breast badge with Crown, in silver-gilt and enamels, Gold Merit Cross, in silver gilt, reverse dated; Croix de Guerre, type II, with laurel wreath reverse; Red Cross Medal, 1964-2005 issue, in bronze and enamels, first chipped, generally good very fine (5)

Manchukuo, Order of the Auspicious Clouds, Seventh Class breast badge, in silver-gilt; Eighth Class breast star, in silver; Order of the Pillars of State, Sixth-Eighth Class breast badge without clasp(s); together with miscellaneous medals (14) comprising National Foundation Merit 1933 (2), Enthronement 1934, Imperial Visit to Japan 1935, Border Incident 1940 (3-thin dove variety (2)), National Shrine 1940, National Census 1940; Red Cross Membership (5), Life (2), in silver and silvered bronze (0ne with related fitting) and Regular (3), in silvered bronze and white metal, together with Imperial Visit to Japan 1935, bronze table medal, very fine or better (18)

Manchukuo,Red Cross Special Supporting Membership Medal, in bronze-gilt, 30.5mm, about extremely fine

Monaco, Miscellaneous Decorations and Medals (4), comprising: Silver Medal of Honour, Albert I issue(1894-1925); Silver Labour Medal of Honour,; Coronation Rainier III Coronation 1949; Silver National Merit Medal for Blood Donors, minor loss of gilding to third, generally good very fine, with original ribbons (4)

Mongolia, Hero of Labour of the Mongolian People’s Republic, Gold Soyombo Medal, reverse engraved 177, in gold and blue enamels, width 34mm, with enamelled ribbon and screw-back suspension, good very fine

Mongolia, Military Combat Medal, type 1 with screwback suspension, in silver and enamels, reverse numbered 7819, with related ribbon bar; Honorary Labour Medal (3), in silver and enamels, type 1 with Mongol letters and screwback suspension, reverse numbered No 1207, type 2 with Russian letters and screwback suspension, reverse numbered 16806, type 3 similar to the last but with pin suspension, reverse numbered 21953; Order of Mother Heroine (3), all in gilt and enamels, First Degree, type 1 with screwback suspension, reverse numbered 44111, type 2 with pin suspension, reverse numbered 57266, Second Degree, type 2, reverse numbered 157904, very fine or better (7)

Mongolia, Khalkingol Medal, type 1 with screwback suspension, in gilt and enamels; together with miscellaneous medals and decorations (26), Selflessness Medals (2) type 1, reverse numbered 249, type 2, unnumbered; Friendship Medal, reverse numbered 6237; Medal for Virgin Lands type 1, reverse numbered 0555; Victory Medal 1945, reverse numbered 32451, with related ribbon bar; 25th Anniversary of the Mongolian Republic 1946, reverse numbered 13383, 40th Anniversary of the Mongolian Republic 1961, reverse numbered 06808; 30th Anniversary Kalkhingol 1969; 50th Anniversary of the Mongolian Republic and related badge; 50th Anniversary of the Mongolian State Police, 1971; 50th Anniversary of the Mongolian People Party 1971; 50th Anniversary of the Mongolian State Security 1972; 30th Anniversary of Victory over Japan 1975; 40th Anniversary of Khalkingol 1979; 60th Anniversary of the Republic 1981; 60th Anniversary of the Mongolian People’s Armed Forces 1981; 50th Anniversary of Khalkingol 1989; Medal of Brotherhood in Arms; Mounted Group of Five, Thirtieth Anniversary of Victory over Japan 1979, 40th and 50th Anniversaries of Khalkingol 1979 and 1989, 50th Anniversary of State Police 1971, 60th Anniversary of the Mongolian Republic 1981; other Mongolian medals and badges (8), mainly post 1980, including Order of Military Merit, reverse numbered 1150 and Military Merit Medal, and a Mongolian Army warrant book attributed to Ivan Grigory Sveshnikov (lot)

Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, National Foundation Medal 1939, extremely fine; together with Military Merit Decoration, in silver-gilt and red enamel, 46.5mm, this probably of later manufacture, extremely fine (2)

A WWI group of six medals to 11493 S. Sjt. E. B. Leahy R.F.A. comprising 1914/15 star; British War medal; Victory medal; India General Service plus bar Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (as M.W.S.); Army Meritorious Service medal (Mil. Wks. Serv.); Long Service Good Conduct medal (M.W.S.) to/w miniatures and three white metal medallions - one to Edmund Leahy 1898 for St Josephs Seminary, Nainital (India); 1902 & 1903 billiards to Gr.Leahy R.F.A. Kirklee (7)

A WWI casualty pair and memorial plaque to 1203 Pte. C. U. Leahy Seaforth Highlanders comprising 1914/18 British War medal; Victory medal; Commemorative plaque in original card envelope (3) Clement Urban Leahy, 1st Battalion, killed 7/11/1914 France, M-I-D by Lord French as l/cpl, posthumously awarded the D.C.M., entry in London Gazette 1 April 1915 / Edinburgh Gazette 6 April - 'For gallant conduct, coolness and presence of mind in an emergency. By his prompt action at a time when the trench was being rushed by the enemy, he prevented the line being penetrated by them' Condition Report Original/unpolished, unmounted

George V India General Service medal, bars NW Frontier 1936/37 and 1937/39 to S-Condr. J. Leahy. I. A. O. C. to/w a George V coronation medal (2)

A WWI pair to 31789 Pte. C. Newbury Wiltshire Regt. comprising 1914/18 Britsh War medal; Victory medal to/w three Victory medals to Lieut. W.D. Smith, Lieut. E.W. Ford and 2 Lieut. L.G. Russell and wound badge to B279720 (6)

A WWI trio to 16-973 Pte. J.G. Bell, Northumberland Fusiliers comprising 1914/15 star; 1914/18 British War medal; Victory medal to/w a boxed R.M.S Lusitania medal and a 1935 jubilee medallion (5)

A George V Meritorious Service medal to 540822 Sapper Act. Cpl. G.A. Gainsford, 'D' C.S. Coy. R.E.

A Victorian India medal, bar Punjab Frontier 1897/98, privately engraved to 4020 Pte. W. Haines to/w a Queens South Africa medal, bars Transvaal, Orange Free State, Cape Colony to 7525 Pte. J. Flight, Hampshire Regiment, a WWI Military Medal to 11250 Cpl. A. Furnell 6/Wilts Regt, a Hampshire Regiment badge (4)

A WWI / II BEM group of eight to C E R A EF Sayer RN - British Empire Medal; 1914/18 war medal; Victory medal; 1939/45 star; Atlantic star; Defence medal; 1939/45 war medal, M-I-D oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S.G.C. medal (8) Notes: L.S.G.C medal awarded 20/03/32 as E.R.A. 1st Class H.M.S. Medway; M-I-D 11/06/42 London Gazette 35586 H.M.S. Tyne; B.E.M. awarded 01/01/43 London Gazette 35841 H.M.S. Tyne

World War II medal group of five - 1939/45 star; Atlantic star; Africa star; Pacific star; 1939/45 war medal, mounted as worn

WWI casualty pair and death plaque to Z-2618 Pte EG MacAlister, Rifle Brigade comprising 1914 star, Victory medal and bronze death plaque within buff card envelope, all loose/unmounted (3) Notes: Private Ernest George MacAlister K-I-A 13/7/1914, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Condition Report Death plaque as issued/unpolished within original card case, medals unmounted and loose