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A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Gunner C. Palfrey, Royal Field Artillery Military Medal, G.V.R. (11580 Gnr: C. Palfrey. C.85/Bde: R.F.A.) heavy edge bruising and contact marks, good fine £160-£200 --- M.M. London Gazette 11 November 1916. Charles Palfrey attested for the Royal Field Artillery and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 26 July 1915. Awarded the Military Medal, he was discharged on 1 September 1916, and was awarded a Silver War Badge.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private J. Turnbull, Royal Field Artillery, late Cameron Highlanders Military Medal, G.V.R. (236237 Ftr: J. Turnbull. R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (S-11414 Pte. J. Turnbull. Cam’n. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (S-11414 Pte. J. Turnbull. Cam’n. Highrs.) contact marks, very fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette, 23 July 1919. M.I.D. London Gazette, 23 December 1918. James Turnbull, was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire, in 1884. He attested into the Cameron Highlanders for service during the Great War on the Western Front with the 5th Battalion from 10 May 1915. He appears to have been wounded during the Battle of Loos and subsequently transferred as a Fitter into the Royal Field Artillery, during with time he was twice decorated. He died in Hawick in 1958. Sold with copy Medal Index Card, London Gazette entries and copy research.

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Driver G. Bailey, ‘B’ 331st (East Lancashire) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Military Medal, G.V.R. (706097 Dvr: G. Wilson, B.331/Bde: R.F.A.-T.F:); British War and Victory Medals (706097 Dvr. G. Wilson. R.A.) contact marks, otherwise very fine (3) £240-£280 --- M.M. London Gazette, 1 February 1918.

Three: Private A. C. W. Stapleton, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (15628 Pte. A. C. W. Stapleton. D. of Corn. L.I.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (15628 Pte. A. C. W. Stapleton. D.C.L.I.) very fine (3) £100-£140 --- Arthur Charles William Stapleton was born at Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, on 4 April 1898 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry at London on 9 September 1914. He served with the 2nd Battalion as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force during the Great War in Salonika from 13 January 1916 (and so just missed out on qualifying for a Star) until the cessation of hostilities, and then with the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force in post-War Iraq from 23 September 1920 to 25 February 1921. He transferred to the Reserve on 9 September 1921, and was discharged on 8 September 1926, after 12 years’ service. He died in Grimston, Norfolk, on 25 July 1984. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extracts.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private T. Hunter, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, who was also Mentioned in Despatches Military Medal, G.V.R. (8150 Pte. T. Hunter. 2/S. Gds:) edge bruising, polished, nearly very fine £240-£280 --- M.M. London Gazette 27 October 1916. M.I.D. London Gazette 15 June 1916. Thomas Hunter was born in Gragemantle, Stirlingshire, in 1888 and attested for the Scots Guards at Glasgow on 19 January 1912. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 October 1914, and for his services in 1916 was both Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Military Medal. He was discharged medically unfit on 4 April 1919, and was awarded a Silver War Badge. At the time of his discharge he had no fewer than 22 charges on his record, including carelessly discharging a Very pistol, wounding a comrade. Sold with copied services papers and other research.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Acting Corporal A. T. Short, Devonshire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (45643 Pte. -A.L. Cpl.- A. T. Short. 5/Devon: R.); British War and Victory Medals (45643 A. Cpl. A. T. Short. Devon. R.) mounted as worn, very fine (3) £200-£240 --- M.M. London Gazette 11 March 1919.

A Great War M.M. pair awarded to Sergeant H. Robinson, 5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers Military Medal, G.V.R. (200087 Sjt. H. Robinson. 5/Lan: Fus.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (200087 Sjt. H. Robinson. Lan. Fus.) edge dig to first medal, staining to reverse of second medal, otherwise good fine (2) £240-£280 --- M.M. London Gazette, 11 February 1919. Sold with copy Medal Index Card and London Gazette entry.

A Great War ‘French theatre’ M.M. awarded to Private J. Worrall, 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Salford), Lancashire Fusiliers Military Medal, G.V.R. (66113 Pte. J. Worrall. 15/Lan: Fus:) edge bruising, unit officially re-impressed, nearly very fine £140-£180 --- M.M. London Gazette 23 July 1919. James Worrall served during the Great War with the 15th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers in the French theatre of war (entitled to BWM and VM).

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of six awarded to Private T. Woolley, 16th (1st City Pals) Battalion, Manchester Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (23036 Pte. T. Woolley. 16/Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals (23036 Pte. T. Woollry. Manch. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (23036 Pte. T. Woolley. Manch R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (6) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 28 September 1917. Thomas Woolley was born at Oldham on 1 June 1896, and enlisted into the 16th (Service) Battalion (1st City Pals), Manchester Regiment, which was raised at Manchester on 28 August 1914. He joined the battalion in France sometime early in 1916. In the Battalion War Diary his M.M. is shown in a list of awards for August 1917, almost certainly for the attack on 30/31 July, the battle of Pilkem. He was wounded in action on 25 November 1917. After the armistice he served with the 2nd Manchesters in Iraq, including the V.C. action at Hillah on 24 July 1920. Woolley re-enlisted for the Territorial Army on 16 November 1939, serving with the Manchesters for 281 days before transferring to the Royal Artillery (Heavy Anti Aircraft) with whom he served 4 years 293 days in the rank of Bombardier. Sold with Soldier’s Service and Pay Book, two photographs and copied research.

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Private S. Smith, 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders Military Medal, G.V.R. (S-22877 Pte. S. Smith. 1/Cam: Hdrs); British War and Victory Medals (S-22877 Pte. S. Smith. Camerons) some staining, very fine (3) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette, 23 February 1918. Sydney Smith, a credit draper from Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, attested in the Cameron Highlanders on 23 November 1915, for service during the Great War, and served with the 1st Battalion on the Western Front. Sold with copy Medal Index Card, copy London Gazette entry and copy Beeston Gazette and Echo article, with photograph of the recipient, from 9 February 1918 ‘Pte. Sydney Smith, of Hucknall, with the Cameron Highlanders, who has been awarded the Military Medal... It was last November when he won the Military Medal for rescuing wounded men under fire and digging them out...’

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private A. Stanley, Royal Munster Fusiliers, late Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 7 November 1918 Military Medal, G.V.R. (20202 Pte. A. Stanley. 2/R. Muns: Fus:) nearly extremely fine £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 14 May 1919. Albert Stanley was born at Bodicote, Oxfordshire, and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Oxford. He served initially with them during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of War from 16 October 1915, before transferring to the Royal Munster Fusiliers, and saw further service with the 2nd Battalion on the Western Front. He was killed in action on 7 November 1918, and is buried in Monceau St. Waast Communal Cemetery, France.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant G. B. Hamilton, 14th Battalion, London Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (511991 Sjt. G. B. Hamilton. 14/Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (5703 Sjt. G. B. Hamilton. 14-Lond. R.) mounted as worn, minor edge bruising, very fine (3) £240-£280 --- M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1919.

A Great War M.M. group of four awarded to Private J. Cowgill, Motor Transport, Army Service Corps Military Medal, G.V.R. (M2-021264 Pte. J. Cowgill. M.T. A.S.C.); 1914-15 Star (M2-021264 Pte. J. Cowgill. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (M2-021264 Pte. J. Cowgill. A.S.C.) extremely fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette, 15 March 1918. James Cowgill attested into the Army Service Corps for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 14 March 1915. He was awarded the Military Medal whilst serving with the 29th Divisional Train. Sold with copy Medal Index Card and London Gazette entry.

Three: Private W. C. Potter, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later Special Constable, Launceston Special Constabulary British War Medal 1914-20 (4271 Pte. W. C. Potter. D.C.L.I.); Defence Medal; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, with Long Service 1949 Second Award Bar (William C. Potter) good very fine (3) £60-£80 --- William Charles Potter was born in Stogumber, Somerset, on 11 May 1887, and served with the 2nd/4th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry during the Great War, the British War Medal being his sole entitlement for the conflict. He was sworn in as a Special Constable with the Launceston Special Constabulary on 17 October 1939, and was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal on 18 March 1943, and a Second Award Bar in 1949, shortly before relinquishing his appointment on 25 May 1949. He died in Plymouth on 21 November 1954. Sold with copied research.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private J. F. Girling, Army Service Corps Military Medal, G.V.R. (M321725 Pte. -A.L.Cpl.- J. F. Girling. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (M-321725 Pte. J. F. Girling. A.S.C.); Defence Medal; together with a Safe Driving Competition Medal, silver and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘J. F. Girling’, with top ‘1935’ riband bar and additional ‘1936’, ‘1937’, and ‘1939’ riband bars, good very fine (5) £200-£240 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 2002. M.M. London Gazette 6 August 1918. John F. Girling attested for the Army Service Corps and served during the Great War with the 218th Siege Battery, Ammunition Column, on the Western Front. Sold together with the recipient’s cap badge and shoulder title.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal H. Fraser, 5th Battalion, Canadian Engineers Military Medal, G.V.R. (500035 2 Cpl H. Fraser. Can: R.); 1914-15 Star (500035 Spr: H. Fraser. Can: Eng:); British War and Victory Medals (500035 A. Cpl. H. Fraser. C.E.) extremely fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 11 February 1919. Henry Fraser was born in Croydon, Surrey in May 1881. He served during the Great War with the 5th Battalion, Canadian Engineers.

Family group: A Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal W. Ling, 19th Battalion (Central Ontario), Canadian Infantry Military Medal, G.V.R. (135776 Pte W. Ling. 19/Can: Inf:); British War and Victory Medals (135776 Cpl. W. Ling. 19-Can. Inf.) with M.M. riband bar, mounted for wear, generally good very fine Pair: Private A. Ling, 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia), Canadian Infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front, 15 August 1917 British War and Victory Medals (135775 Pte. A. Ling. 7-Can. Inf.) with Princess Mary Christmas 1914 Gift Tin, generally good very fine or better (5) £400-£500 --- M.M. London Gazette 9 December 1916. Walter Ling was born in London, England in September 1888. He emigrated to Canada, and served during the Great War with the 19th Battalion, Canadian Infantry on the Western Front. Ling was wounded in action at Vimy Ridge, 10 May 1917, and died in March 1947. Arthur Ling was the younger brother of the above, and was born in London in July 1891. The following extract is taken from The Toronto Star, 20 September 1917: ‘TWO BROTHERS SERVE Pte. A. Ling Was Killed in Action and His Brother Walter Wounded. Pte. Arthur Ling, who lived with his married brother George at 108 Walpole avenue, is reported killed in action August 15 [1917], according to word received from his sister in England. He was in the Q.O.R. [Queen's Own Rifles] band before the war and after joining an overseas battalion, served with a band in England until last May, when he went to France with an infantry draft. He was 26 years of age and been in Canada four years, his widowed mother dying on the voyage to Canada, and was buried at sea. His brother, Walter, age 30 years, enlisted in the same battalion, was wounded May 10, and is now waiting to undergo an operation in Epsom Hospital, England.’ Private Ling was serving with the 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia) at Hill 70 when he was killed in action. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, Pas des Calais, France, and a Memorial Tablet located at St. Barnabas Church, Danforth Avenue, Toronto. Erected by the Sons of England Benefit Society, Todmorden Lodge No. 298.

A Great War 1918 ‘Arras’ M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant J. Carson, 72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Infantry, an American national who was killed in action on the Western Front, 1 November 1918, having already been wounded in action, 23 July 1918 Military Medal, G.V.R. (1015903 Sjt: J. Carson. 72/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (1015903 Sjt: J. Carson. 72-Can. Inf.); Memorial Plaque (John Carson) last in card envelope of issue, with O.H.M.S. postal envelope addressed to ‘Mrs A. G. Sivori, 178 West 94th St., New York, U.S.A.’, toned, extremely fine (lot) £500-£700 --- M.M. London Gazette 13 March 1919. John Carson was born in New York, U.S.A. in November 1890. He was a Logger by trade, and initially served during the Great War with the 231st Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Infantry, before transferring to the 72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada). Carson advanced to Sergeant, and served with the latter in the French theatre of war from 1 August 1917. He was wounded on 23 July 1918 - with the War Diary recording a heavy gas attack which commenced at 10 p.m. on the 22 and resulted in HQ and "D" Company taking heavy casualties (85 total). Carson distinguished himself in action at Arras on 1 September 1918. Extracts for the Regimental History reveal the battalion H.Q. wanted a line of posts in advance of the main attack. No. 16 Platoon, ‘D’ company were detailed for the purpose and despite heavy casualties, No. 16 Platoon fought gallantly and the post was planted well in advance by Carson and his men. Later, ‘while ‘A’ Company was carrying out this justly famous counter- stroke, ‘D’ company had not been idle. Number 5 Platoon, under 466433 Sergeant Fildfinder, D.C.M., took full advantage of the commotion on the right, advancing due east, drove back several enemy posts and established a much needed support in the form of an additional post on the left of the one planted earlier in the day by Cpl. Carson. ‘Of the work of these two posts no laudation can be excessive. They kept an ever pressing enemy clear of our positions all through the afternoon and night of the 1st. ‘Sergeant Fildfinder and Cpl. Carson deserves special mention. These two N.C.Os with their tiny handful of men, fought practically hand to hand with the Boche for more than eighteen hours. Though Fildfinder was wounded and most of the men casualties, this heroic detachment held their positions and continued to fight until the battalion passed through on the morning of September 2nd.’ Sergeant Carson was killed in action on the Western Front on 1 November 1918. CEF Burial Registers gives: ‘Killed in Action - while standing in a house at the "jumping off" point, about noon on November 1st 1918, he was hit in the chest by shrapnel and instantly killed.’ Sergeant Carson is buried in the Valenciennes (St. Roch) Communal Cemetery, Nord, France. Sold with photograph of recipient in uniform, and copied research.

A Great War ‘French theatre’ M.M. group of three awarded to Company Sergeant Major J. E. Ross, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, who was wounded in action in the trenches near Hill 70, 15 April 1918 Military Medal, G.V.R. (441466 Sjt E. [sic] Ross. 2/Can: M.R.) unit officially corrected; British War and Victory Medals (441466 A.C.S. Mjr. J. E. Ross. 2-C.M.R.) in named card box of issue; Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (441466 A-C.S.M. J. E. Ross M.M.) last in case of issue, with Manitoba Welcome Home Watch Fob, gilt metal, reverse engraved with recipient’s initials, and 2 identity discs, test marks to fob, otherwise nearly extremely fine (lot) £500-£700 --- M.M. London Gazette 7 February 1919. John Edward Ross was born in Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada in February 1889. He served during the Great War with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles in the French theatre of war from 9 June 1916, and was wounded in action when he received a gun shot wound to the right shoulder in the trenches near Hill 70 on 15 April 1918. Ross was discharged in March 1919, and died after the war of related injuries/illness on 21 October 1925. Ross, with other returning residents, was presented with his Fob by the Presidents of Hodgson and Marble Ridge, Manitoba. Sold with copied service papers, and copy of letter referring to the issue and presentation of the Fob.

A Second War ‘North Africa’ M.M. group of five awarded to Gunner E. J. McCoy, Royal Artillery Military Medal, G.VI.R. (1472684 Gnr. E. J. McCoy. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, edge bruising and contact marks to MM, this nearly very fine, the campaign medals better (5) £700-£900 --- M.M. London Gazette 8 July 1943: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa.’ The original Recommendation, dated 6 May 1943, states: ‘On 29th April 1943, “L” Troop moved forward to go into action in the area of Cactus Farm. Owing to false information, it was believed that this farm was in our hands. It was not, and two guns of “L” troop were stopped by machine gun fire when about 300 yards from the farm. Driver McCoy was wounded by a bullet which went through his steel helmet; he lost a lot of blood and was partly stunned by the wound. Despite this when it was decided to return to battery HQ Driver McCoy refused to allow anyone else to drive. He drove the quad back through the minefield without a single mistake. Immediately the quad arrived at battery HQ, Driver McCoy had to be evacuated. His courage and determination, and quickness in obeying the troop commander’s signals who kept the vehicle zigzagging, probably saved the gun, quad and detachment.’ Edgar James McCoy, from Liverpool, was serving as a Driver with 88/14th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, 12th Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Corps when he was awarded his Military Medal.

A very rare Second War ‘Chindit operations’ M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant C. McCluskey, Black Watch, a veteran of Crete and Tobruk who was twice wounded in the act of winning his M.M. in Burma in June 1944
Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2752845 Sjt. C. Mcluskey. Black Watch.) minor official correction to last two letters of unit; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, some contact wear but generally good very fine or better (6) £4,000-£5,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 4 January 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘On 10 June 1944, Sergeant McCluskey was ordered to take two infantry sections from his platoon and carry out an offensive patrol in the valley east of the Kysenlei Pass. The patrol encountered enemy in the position in an unnamed village near Kontha and came under heavy and accurate fire, which wounded Sergeant McCluskey and caused other casualties in the patrol. In spite of his wound, however, Sergeant McCluskey retained full control of his small force and hotly engaged the enemy, and only when it became apparent that the enemy was present in considerably superior force did he start to organise a withdrawal. This he did with inspiring coolness and disregard for his personal safety going from one section to another and organising the evacuation of our wounded. While engaged on this task, Sergeant McCluskey was again severely wounded, and although in considerable pain, continued to retain full control of his force. Sergeant McCluskey had for some weeks been in command of a platoon and has on many occasions shown himself to be an outstanding leader, while his conduct on 10 June was beyond all praise. He has previously served with distinction in the Carrier Platoon in Crete and Tobruk.’ Charles McCluskey was born in Cumbernauld, Dumbarton in January 1914 and enlisted in the Black Watch in June 1932, direct from the Territorials. Originally posted to the 1st Battalion, he transferred to the 2nd sometime before the outbreak of hostilities, and saw action in the Carrier Platoon in Crete and Tobruk, prior to joining Orde Wingate’s Chindits in Burma in March 1944. The following extracts, taken from The Black Watch by Philip Howard (part of the Famous Regiments series), neatly summarise the actions and experiences shared by McCluskey and his comrades in the 2nd Battalion: Crete
‘In May 1941, after a tremendous battering by dive-bombers, the sky suddenly filled with puffs of thistle-down. There was a gasp of amazement, and a moment’s hush along the whole Black Watch position. It was the first big parachute invasion in history. The Black Watch picked off the German paratroops as they fell, like plump pigeons. But for the next ten days more and more were dropped, prudently behind the mountains now, and out of range of Heraklion. The Battalion hung on grimly by its finger-nails, in isolated pockets unable to move by daylight, except for the piper who always played Reveille around the airfield after the dawn air raid. At last London decided to evacuate the island. At midnight the Highlanders crept down to the beach to the cruisers waiting to ferry them away. They had a terrible journey to Alexandria, dive-bombed and torpedoed all the way through the narrows at the eastern end of Crete. More than 200 of the Black Watch were killed on the voyage. A year later the Commanding Officer of the first German parachute battalion dropped at Heraklion was captured in Libya. He told his interrogators: “My first surprise was when I found the position held. The second was when I discovered who the infantry were. The battle continued with great ferocity for two days. The Black Watch never surrendered. Had it been any other regiment, any other, all would have been well. I had but 80 men left of my 800, no food, little ammunition; our food was being eaten by the Jocks.”’ Tobruk
‘Next the Battalion was put into Tobruk to relieve the Australians, who had been besieged in that bull-dogged citadel for six months. The short dusty perimeter was defended by wire, mine-fields, and subterranean galleries. Dismembered vehicles and litter lay everywhere. The big German gun called “Bardia Bill” barked and boomed over the fortress. In November the Battalion broke out of Tobruk on a sortie to link up with the Eighth Army advancing from Egypt. The plan was far more complex than the things which the Black Watch had been asked to do in old-style battles of far-off forgotten wars. But for once the Highlanders had been given a generous ration of infantry tanks. In fact the tanks lost themselves in the flat, featureless desert, in which the only landmarks were tangles of wire. And there was plenty of wire around to confuse the issue. So the Black Watch had to go in alone with the bayonet, as they had been doing ever since Fontenoy. The pipers played the Battalion in with “Highland Laddie”, the regimental march, and “The Black Bear”. This last tune has a pause for a yell at intervals, and is traditionally played when a final effort is needed from tired men. Two hours later 8 officers and 60 men were left to take the final objective out of 32 officers and 600 men who set off from the Start Line. A Gunner Major wrote after the battle: “I class this attack of the Black Watch as one of the most outstanding examples of gallantry combined with high-class training that I have seen. Not one of us who was there will forget such supreme gallantry.”’ Burma and the Chindits
‘Over on the other side of the world, the 2nd Battalion had become guerillas themselves - Chindits dropped for long range penetration beyond the Chindwin. The Battalion was split into two columns, numbered, inevitably, 73 and 42. They were flown into blind green jungle in March 1944, and for the next six months skirmished, and marched, and survived the monsoon, the steaming heat, and accidents by flood and field. It was probably the most unpleasant terrain for fighting into which the Black Watch had ever been plunged, worse even than the fever-swamps of the West Indies in the eighteenth century, or the dense jungles of Kandy. They were gnawed by starvation and disease. In one month alone 70 men died of typhus. It was a dripping world where clothes were never dry, and leeches had to be stripped from bodies at night. Tracks were often waist-deep in water and mud. Leather girths rotted on mules. A 10-mile march took four days. And once it took two days to haul their tottering half-dead bodies to the top of a four-mile pass. Most of the actions were small and untidy - the general strategy of the Chindit campaign lost direction after the death of Wingate. In May, at an ambush to cover the evacuation of “White City”, 200 Black Watch scattered 1,200 Japanese. In August the last emaciated remnants charged and captured the village of Labu with the bayonet, played in on pipes specially dropped by parachute for the occasion. They were then flown back to India to recuperate.’ And of McCluskey’s individual heroism near Kontha in June 1944, The Black Watch & The King’s Enemies states:
‘There were reports, however, that the Japs were in various villages below the pass; and it was in one of these, Kontha, that the second patrol was sent. It consisted of a weak platoon under Sergeant McLuskey. Leaving at 8 a.m. on 10 June, he approached Kontha and was engaged by fire. The paddy round the village was three feet under water, but he took up his position in elephant grass and returned the fire with Bren guns and grenades from a cup discharger. As the enemy began to work round them, the patrol withdrew, having had one man killed and several wounded, but having got their information. They returned with their wounded at 6 p.m....

An outstanding and rare Second War ‘Dieppe Raid’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Corporal C. H. Blunden, No. 4 Commando (The Rifle Brigade) who, in the final assault on the “Hess” Battery, despite being wounded, ‘continued to destroy the enemy until there were no Germans left alive.’ Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6905806 Cpl. C. H. Buunden. Rif. Brig.) note spelling of surname; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (5349 Pte. C. H. Blunden. Rif. Brig.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; France, Croix de Guerre, reverse dated 1939, mounted as worn, nearly very fine or better (7) £8,000-£12,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 2 October 1942: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the combined attack on Dieppe.’ The original recommendation submitted by Lt. Col. Lord Lovat states: ‘6905806 Corporal Blunden, No. 4 Commando. OPERATION JUBILEE, DIEPPE AREA, 19th August 1942. Cpl. Blunden was the Section Leader in Captain Webb’s Troop which played a conspicuous part in the final assault on the Battery. Cpl. Blunden set a high standard of leadership and showed a great example in house-to-house, and hand-to-hand fighting through the Battery buildings. He was wounded, but refused to receive medical attention and continued to destroy the enemy until there were no Germans left alive.’ Orange Beach, the Plan 1. No. 4 Commando, under the command of Lt. Col. The Lord Lovat, were charged with disabling Batterie 813, otherwise known as Hess Battery. Its six 150mm guns were sighted to 8,500 yards and capable of firing 36 rounds at a time, making them very effective for coastal defence. These guns actually had a maximum range of up to 17 miles. They were surrounded by a minefield, anti-aircraft guns and light machine guns and manned by about 100 men. 2. 265 officers and men of No. 4 Commando plus a few US Rangers and Free French troops would attack Hess Battery from the front and rear in two groups. 3. Major Derek Mills-Roberts' team would land on Orange I beach at Vasterival, clear the area of defensive positions and then provide covering fire for the other team. 4. Lord Lovat's group were to land at Orange II beach at Quiberville. He and 164 men then assault Hess and enable accompanying engineers to demolish Hess using explosives. 5. Both teams would then withdraw to the beaches and safety. The Assault Orange I: Mills-Roberts' 88 men landed at the right place only 3 minutes behind schedule. Using 2 Bangalore torpedoes, a path was blown through the barbed wire up the gully through the cliffs. When they heard Hess's guns start firing on a convoy of ships out to sea, Team 1 decided to abandon the defence-clearing part of the mission and make their way straight towards the target, the Battery itself. On reaching the Battery, Team 1 took cover in a nearby barn and started sniping at the Germans using rifle and mortar fire. One lucky shot landed in one gun's ammunition dump and destroyed the gun. Despite having lost radio contact with Lord Lovat, Team 1 was softening up the target in preparation for Team 2's assault. Orange ll: Lovat and his men were spotted as they landed but were able to disembark safely being shielded from the air by 3 Spitfires who kept the German defenders pinned down. They had also landed at exactly the right place and time. Despite a handful of light casualties, Lovat's men knocked out the machine guns in pill-boxes on the cliff-tops and broke out from the beachhead through the barbed wire. Trooper Finney would win a Military Medal for bravery as a result of his part in the cutting of telephone wires which successfully sabotaged German communications. Consequently, the Germans were unable to organise themselves properly and mount a decent counter-attack. On the way to Hess Battery, Team 2 became confused in a smokescreen and some 'Friendly Fire' casualties were sustained. Once radio communications were restored, this problem was quickly solved. No. 4 Commando then mounted a bayonet charge on the Battery's defences, during which a number of individual acts of heroism occurred. Major Pat Porteous, despite being wounded in the hand and arm, disarmed and bayoneted a German who was about to kill a comrade. Sgt. Major Stockdale continued to lead his men in a charge under heavy fire despite having part of his foot blown away. Wounded Corporal Blunden led his men in difficult hand-to-hand fighting in surrounding buildings and refused medical attention until the job was complete. For these actions, Porteous would go on to be awarded a Victoria Cross (V.C.); Stockdale won a Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.); and Blunden a Military Medal (M.M.). Hess Battery was captured and the guns were destroyed as planned under a defiant Union Jack flag that had been raised. Then, carrying the wounded, No. 4 Commando withdrew using well-practised 'fire and manoeuvre' drill and re-boarded their landing craft. They took with them several German prisoners. Their casualties were: 2 dead and 3 wounded officers; 9 dead, 13 missing and 19 wounded other ranks. Charles Harold Blunden was born in 1899 and enlisted into the Rifle Brigade at Portsmouth on 15 January 1914, a school-boy musician. He served in the U.K. until January 1919 when he went to France for four months before returning to the U.K. He then served in Iraq from 15 September 1919 to 11 January 1921, and afterwards in India until 20 November 1925. He was discharged at Winchester on 14 January 1926, on termination of his 12-year engagement with the Colours. Blunden re-enlisted into the Rifle Brigade on 5 February 1940, and joined No. 4 Commando at its inception on 4 March 1941. Sold with the following original documents: i. Signed letter of congratulations on award of M.M. from Louis Mountbatten, Combined Operations Headquarters, 2nd October 1942. ii. Printed extract from 4 Commando Regimental Orders listing ‘Awards for gallantry on the Dieppe Raid’ viz one V.C., one D.S.O., one Bar to M.C., two M.C.’s, one D.C.M., seven M.M.’s, and five Mentions; also giving dress instructions for the Investiture at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, 27th October ‘42, including ‘Green Berets with the appropriate Regimental Badge, and No 4 Commando shoulder titles which will be new or spotlessly clean.’ iii. Letter from Captain & Adjutant No. 4 Commando to Mrs Blunden enclosing a third class return Railway Warrant in order to attend investiture, together with Buckingham Palace admission ticket. iv. Farewell letter of thanks from French H.Q., No. 4 Commando on behalf of the French troops who joined No. 4 Commando before D Day, thereby taking their part in the landing in the Normandy campaign and the liberation of France, dated 18 June 1945. v. Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Dawson, O.C. No. 4 Commando, enclosing a testimonial for Corporal Blunden, dated Recklinghausen 10 Oct 45. vi. Testimonial on Headquarters No. 4 Commando headed paper, from Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson as referred to above, dated 11 Oct 45. vi. Letter from French Naval Attache enclosing Croix de Guerre with Star, ‘in acknowledgement of your gallant part in the events which led to the liberation of France and Europe’, dated 20 May 1952.

An outstanding Second War ‘Burma operations - Rajput Hill’ Immediate M.M. awarded to Company Havildar-Major Naurang Ram, 5th Battalion (Napier’s) 6th Rajputana Rifles Military Medal, G.VI.R. (16143 Hav. Naurang Ram, 6 Raj. Rif.) officially engraved naming, good very fine £800-£1,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 5 October 1944: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma:- No. 16143 Company Havildar-Major Naurang Ram, 6th Rajputana Rifles, Indian Army.’ The recommendation (for an Immediate I.D.S.M.) states: ‘C.H.M. Naurang Ram, 5th Bn. (Napier’s) 6th Rajputana Rifles. On 25 June 44 at about 1430 hrs during an engagement with the enemy on the feature known as RAJPUT HILL, PALEL-TAMU Rd C.H.M. NAURANG RAM and a party of men were engaged in combing the perimeter for any signs of enemy. Suddenly he saw a Japanese crawl from a fox hole below the perimeter, he fired two shots at the man from a distance of 30 yds., then, risking the fire of numerous Japanese snipers he rushed forward to take the man prisoner who, however, snatched a grenade and holding it to his chest prepared to throw it at C.H.M. NAURANG RAM; he, without hesitation closed on the Jap, wrested the grenade from him, and hurled it down the slope where it immediately exploded. Then covered by his Pln C.H.M. NAURANG RAM safely brought back his prisoner. This N.C.O. showed great presence of mind in realising the value of a prisoner for identification purposes and a complete disregard for personal safety when he snatched the grenade from the Japanese.’ Naurang Ram was a Hindu Jat from the village of Bhirr in the district of Taipur. He served with the 5/6th Rajputana Rifles as part of the 37th Indian Infantry Brigade in the 23rd Indian Division of 4 Corps. Sold with copied gazette notice and recommendation.

A rare and well-documented Second War evader’s D.F.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant W. R. Laws, Royal Air Force, who took to his parachute over Belgium after his Halifax was attacked by night fighters returning from Pilsen in April 1943
Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (745880 Sgt. W. R. Laws, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted court-style, good very fine (5) £3,000-£4,000 --- D.F.M. London Gazette 16 July 1943. The original recommendation states:
‘Sergeant Laws was the Wireless Operator of the crew of a Halifax aircraft of No. 102 Squadron which was detailed to bomb the Skoda Works at Pilsen on 16 April 1943.
On the return journey the aircraft was attacked by fighters and set on fire over Belgium and the Captain gave the order to bale out. Sergeant Laws landed in a wood north of Montbliart, about 20 k.m. S.E. of Maubeuge. He was uninjured and, after burying his parachute and mae west in the undergrowth, he decided to walk south and get as far away as he could from the aircraft. He evaded capture and eventually arrived back safely in this country.
For the courage and determination shown by this N.C.O., in effecting his escape, I recommend the immediate award of the D.F.M.’

William Robert Laws, a native of Henley-on-Thames who was born in September 1918, enlisted in the Royal Air Force in November 1939. Having then attended No. 2 Signal School at Yatesbury, and No. 8 Air Gunnery School at Evanton, in addition to conversion and operational training units, he joined No. 102 Squadron, a Halifax unit, at Pocklington, in October 1942.

Initially joining Flying Officer Milnes’ crew, he completed four sorties in November-December, namely raids on Stuttgart, Mannheim and Turin (twice), one of the named trips resulting in serious flak damage.

‘The story of ‘J’ of 102 Squadron was an epic. The aircraft was hit by a burst of heavy flak at 17,000 feet, shortly after crossing the Alps, having been coned by searchlights. The starboard outer engine was put out of action and the aircraft spun down to 13,000 feet. Bombs were jettisoned and the aircraft headed for home. At 5,000 feet near Amiens the aircraft was again coned and hit by flak. Both port engines failed and the aircraft lost height to 2,000 feet. At this point the port inner picked up and the aircraft was able to limp home to Bradwell Bay on two engines. From S.E. of Paris until leaving the French coast the aircraft was followed by enemy fighters which, however, made no attack, probably expecting the Halifax to be forced to land. As ‘J’ was leaving the French coast she was illuminated again and a burst of flak blew out the port outer engine. The crash-landing was made at Bradwell Bay with no hydraulics, the captain expressing the greatest appreciation of the help he was given by that station. The Flight Engineer was injured but the rest of the crew only sustained minor cuts. The aircraft unfortunately swung into an Army hut after landing and casualties were sustained by Army personnel.’ (Official records refers).

A ‘Gardening’ trip and a raid on Dusseldorf having followed in January 1943, Laws participated in strikes on Cologne, Lorient and Nuremburg in February, and Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Essen in April - the latter trip once more proving to be of the hair-raising kind, his Flying Log Book noting: ‘Held in searchlights cone for ten minutes and heavily shelled - hit in many places.’ As it transpired, his very next sortie, against the Skoda Works at Pilsen on the night of 16/17, with Squadron Leader Lashbrook, D.F.M., as his pilot, was to prove his last, Halifax HF. 663 falling to the guns of Major Wilhelm Herget of I/NJG/4. Laws’ experiences on that night, and subsequent evasion, are neatly summarised in Valley of the Shadow of Death: The Bomber Command Campaign, March-July 1943, by J. Alwyn Phillips:

‘Halifax HF. 663 of 102 Squadron, 4 Group, captained by Squadron Leader W. I. Lashbrook, D.F.M., was one of the aircraft shot down by night fighter, which obviously had a field day in the nigh perfect weather conditions, when the bombers could be spotted so easily. Fortunately for this bomber crew the underground movement played an important role in helping shot down aircrew evade capture. It was on the return flight at about 04.00 hours, six hours after they had left their base at Pocklington, that the Halifax was attacked by a fighter over Belgium. The bomber immediately caught fire and the order to bale out was passed along, as the intercomm had failed. Sergeant W. R. Laws the wireless operator was the third out after the navigator, Flying Officer K. J. Bolton and the bomb aimer, Pilot Officer Martin with Flight Sergeant Knight, the flight engineer and the pilot immediately behind. Sergeant Laws in his report did not think that the gunners had a chance to get the bale out message. On his parachute descent he saw his aircraft break in two and fall in flames. He landed uninjured in a wood, and like all airmen buried his ‘chute and Mae West straight away and walked quickly south to get away from the crash site.

He rolled down his trousers to cover his conspicuous flying boots, then using his escape compass, he walked through a village. He saw a signpost identifying it as Montbliart. Here he left the road and walked across country, through some woods for about two hours, before stopping in a field to eat some chocolate and Horlicks tablets from his kit. After it became light he studied his map but he was unable to make out his position at Montbliart and did not know whether he was in France or Belgium. At nightfall on the 17th, he continued walking south and used his water bottle to acquire some water from a brook, making sure to put in the purifying tablets before drinking and taking a benzadrine tablet to stay awake. Walking on he passed through the villages of Seloignes and Villers La Tour before he lay up for a rest.

On the morning of the 18th he removed his badges from uniform before continuing on. Eventually he came to an isolated chateau, where a man who looked as if he might be the game keeper, came up to him and spoke in French. Luckily Sergeant Laws could speak French fairly fluently and explained to the man that he was an English airman and wanted to know where he was. The man stated that he was a Pole and was caretaker of the chateau which was unoccupied. He also said the chateau was in Belgium, near Les Taillettes, about 7 kilometres from the French frontier. The man took him onto the chateau and allowed him to shave with his razor and later gave him an old blue mackintosh. In return Sergeant Laws gave him 500 Francs from his escape pack. The caretaker, however, was quite scared to have the airman about the place and advised him to carry on and keep to the woods and walk south to France.

About midnight on the 18th-19th, he again set out and at daybreak crossed the French frontier north of Watigny. He then sheltered in a bombed out house where he ate some of the bread and cheese he had been given by the Pole and went to sleep. When he awoke he set off again walking along the road to Fligny, which he reached at 14.00 hours and continued on to Auge. It was here that a bad storm broke, with exceptionally heavy rain, so soaking wet he approached an isolated farmhouse and sheltered under its front porch. A girl of about 24 opened the door and spoke to him then invited him into the house to shelter from the storm. As Sergeant Laws replied in French, the girl did not know who he was, but when inside he had explained he was an R.A.F. airman. She and her family became very frightened when they found he had no identity discs to show and his ability to speak French so fluently made them even more suspicious of him, but they did give him some food and allowe...

Five: Warrant Officer Class II T. J. Barnes, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, who was wounded by gun shot on Hill 112 in Normandy, July 1944 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (778613 W.O. Cl.2 T. J. Barnes. D.C.L.I.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (5) £140-£180 --- Thomas John Barnes was born in Penzance, Cornwall, on 18 December 1910, and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 12 January 1929, having previously served in the Royal Artillery (Cornwall), Territorial Army. He was promoted Sergeant on 28 July 1939, and served during the Second World War in North West Europe as an Acting Warrant Officer Class II from 19 June 1944, suffering a gun shot wound to his right shoulder on Hill 112 in Normandy in July 1944. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 19 of 1948, and subsequently reverted to the permanent staff of the Territorial Force, still serving in 1961. He died in Truro on 7 June 1971. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

An unusual and scarce Indian Police Medal awarded for gallantry to Fireman Kaley Khan, New Delhi Fire Brigade Indian Police Medal, G.VI.R., for Distinguished Conduct (Kaley Khan, Fireman, Fire Bgde., New Delhi.) nearly very fine and scarce £300-£400 --- Indian Police Medal Government Notification No. 57-H, New Delhi, 11 April 1942:- His Excellency the Viceroy has been pleased to award the Indian Police Medal to the following officer: ‘Kaley Khan, Fireman, New Delhi Fire Brigade. On the afternoon of the 24th September 1941 five coolies working on a sewage excavation in Curzon Road in New Delhi were buried by the subsidence of a wall. On the accident being reported to the police a call for help was made to the New Delhi Fire Brigade and after several hours of work the buried persons were safely dug out. In this operation Fireman Kaley Khan took a leading part, working on his hands and knees for an hour and a half with great courage and determination, though fully aware of his danger, in a position where he was exposed to a grave risk of being buried himself by a further subsidence. This award is made for gallantry under regulation (d) (i) of the regulations governing the grant of the Indian Police Medal and consequently carries with it the special allowance admissible to officers of and below the rank of Inspector of Police.’

A R.V.M. ‘Royal Funeral’ group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Commander A. H. Pryce, Royal Navy Royal Victorian Medal, E.VII.R., bronze, unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Gnr. A. H. Pryce. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. A. H. Pryce. R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (Commd. Gnr. A. H. Pryce. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued, the RVM polished and worn, with repaired suspension, therefore nearly very fine; the rest better (9) £300-£400 --- Atkins Henry Pryce was born in Hackney, London, on 15 February 1885 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 2 October 1900. He served in H.M.S. Excellent from 15 March to 21 November 1910, and was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal for his services as part of the gun carriage team at the funeral of H.M. King Edward VII. Advanced Petty Officer on 1 January 1914, he was commissioned Gunner on 1 October 1914, and served throughout both the Great War and the Second World War, finally transferring to the Retired List in the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 26 December 1945. Sold with Royal Navy Rifle Shooting Medal, bronze, with top riband bar ‘Navy VIII. 1922’ and additional award bar ‘Navy VIII 1923’, the reverse engraved ‘Gnr. Pryce.’; and three Portsmouth United Service Rifle Meeting medals, two silver, the third silvered, all unnamed, the first with top riband bar ‘Tipnor 1926’ and additional bars for ‘Portsmouth Shield’, ‘R.M.L.I. Cup’, and ‘General’s Cup’; the second with top riband bar ‘Tipnor 1927’ and additional bars for ‘Sartorius Cup 2nd’, ‘R.M.A. Cup’, and ‘General’s Cup’; and the last with undated top riband bar and additional bar for ‘Sartorius Cup’.

A Great War Medal of the Order of the British Empire awarded to Miss Margaret Waller Medal of the Order of the British Empire, (Civil), privately engraved ‘Margaret Waller’, extremely fine £240-£280 --- Medal of the Order of the British Empire London Gazette 15 January 1919: ‘For courage in helping the injured on the occasion of a serious explosion in a filling factory. She was severely cut by falling glass, but remained at work until she had to be taken to hospital.’ A portrait of the recipient is held in the Imperial War Museum’s ‘Women’s Work Collection.’

Family Group: A Second War B.E.M. group of nine awarded to Shipwright First Class A. S. Copeman, Royal Navy British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Shpt. 1Cl. Arthur S. Copeman. D/M.6472); British War and Victory Medals (M.6472 A. S. Copeman. Shpt. 5 R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star, 1 clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (M.6472 A. S. Copeman. Shpt 2. H.M.S. Cockchafer.) the GVR awards polished and worn, therefore fine; the Second War awards nearly extremely fine Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., Circular issue, 1st ‘coinage head’ issue (Edwin Arnold Copeman) on original mounting pin, nearly extremely fine (10) £240-£280 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1944. Arthur Stanley Copeman was born in Neyland, Pembrokeshire, on 25 March 1898 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Shipwright on 23 July 1913. He served during the Great War in H.M.S. Talbot from 18 June 1918, his previous service all being in shore based establishments, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 12 April 1931. Advanced Shipwright First Class on 17 April 1931, he was shore pensioned on 24 March 1938, but was recalled for further service during the Second World War, and was awarded the British Empire Medal whilst serving in H.M.S. Renown.

A Second War ‘North West Europe’ B.E.M. group of five awarded to Corporal W. A. Robertson, Royal Army Service Corps British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (3599248 Cpl. William A. Robertson. R.A.S.C.) on original mounting pin; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (T/3599248. Cpl. W. A. Robertson. R.A.S.C.), nearly extremely fine (5) £200-£240 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 24 January 1946: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.’ The original Recommendation states: ‘This N.C.O. was a member of the HQ since its formation. From the earliest days it was realised that the maintenance of the transport of this HQ was an exceptionally arduous task and one which normally would not have been left to a junior N.C.O. However, the Camp Commandant was already fully occupied and the maintenance of transport had to be left entirely in the hands of this N.C.O. As the Lines of Communication increased and staff officers had to travel long distances daily, the strain on transport grew to danger level. This N.C.O., by ceaseless work and organisation and great devotion to duty has managed to keep all vehicles in serviceable condition over a long period and, due to his care, no staff officer at this HQ has ever been refused transport at any time. This has meant continual and continuous working of very long hours with little opportunity for time off or relaxation. No-one in these Headquarters has worked harder or more cheerfully than Corporal Robertson, and the high standard that he has set for himself and demanded from others has been a true source of inspiration not only to those working under him, but to his superiors as well.’ William Alexander Robertson was serving with Headquarters, 11 Lines of Communication Area, Royal Army Service Corps when he was awarded his British Empire Medal.

A Second War ‘Civil Division’ B.E.M. awarded to Mr. J. Edis-Blewitt, Planer-machinist, Arthur Pattison Ltd. British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (James Edis-Blewitt); together with a 1937 Coronation Medal, in card box of issue, extremely fine (2) £100-£140 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 4 June 1943: James Edis-Blewitt, Planer-machinist, Arthur Pattison Ltd.

A Second War B.E.M awarded to Mrs. Violet B. Webb, Manageress, War Office Luncheon Club British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Violet Beatrice, Mrs. Webb.) on lady’s bow riband; together with the related miniature award, good very fine £120-£160 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 24 June 1946: Violet Beatrice, Mrs. Webb, Manageress, War Office Luncheon Club.

A post-War B.E.M. awarded to Foreman Millwright C. E. Sinclair British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Charles E. Sinclair) good very fine £140-£180 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 8 June 1950: ‘Mr Charles Edward Sinclair, Foreman Millwright, George Clark Ltd.’

A post-War B.E.M. group of four awarded to Acting Sergeant V. Gray, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (ER/6982824 A/Sgt. Victor Gray. R. Innisks.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (LS/6982824 Cpl. V. Gray. B.E.M. R. Innisks.) mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1957. The original Recommendation, dated 19 July 1956, states: ‘Sergeant Gray has served at Mons Officer Cadet School since October 1952. Although he is an infantry sergeant he has been employed since that date as a Sergeant Chief Clerk in the Cadets Section of the School HQ, a vacancy normally reserved for an RASC Class I tradesman clerk. He has always given the greatest possible assistance and the utmost loyalty to his commanding officers. His office has been responsible for the clerical progression and documentation of some 8,500 officer cadets since October 1952. He has since been personally responsible for the commissioning documentation of some 3,000 RAC and RA cadets. His office has always run at the peak of efficiency due in no small part to his personal example and excellent memory, and his tireless devotion to his work has been an inspiration not only to his own staff, but to the whole School. At times of great pressure he has repeatedly worked late at night entirely of his own volition. Since the period under review [October 1952 to July 1956] he has taken only 38 days’ leave, feeling that to have taken more would not have been in the interests of his office or of the Service. He has become known to thousands of young officers as an example, the memory of which they can carry with them throughout their service, as a yardstick by which they can judge their own staff. He retires in January 1958, at the age of 57, after 17 years and 10 months service, and being too old to continue in the Service does not qualify, and has not the opportunity of qualifying, for a pension.’

A post-War ‘Ulster’ B.E.M. group of three awarded to Sub-District Commandant J. Menary, Ulster Special Constabulary British Empire Medal, (Civil) E.II.R. (John Menary); Defence Medal; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, E.II.R., ‘Ulster’ reverse (S.D.C. John Menary) nearly extremely fine (3) £400-£500 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1963: John Menary, Sub-District Commandant, Ulster Special Constabulary (Killyleagh Co. Armagh).

Five: Company Quartermaster Sergeant R. A. W. Vincent, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, who was wounded in the retreat from France in May 1940 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (5435191 C. Sjt. R. A .W. Vincent. D.C.L.I.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (5435191 C. Sjt. R. A .W. Vincent. D.C.L.I.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (5) £200-£240 --- Ralph Alfred William Vincent was born in Wells, Somerset, on 22 August 1910, and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry at Taunton on 5 March 1930. He served with the Regiment prior to the Second Word War at home or in Gibraltar, and was advanced Sergeant on 1 October 1938. He served with the British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War from 27 September 1939 to 31 May 1940, and is recorded in the Western Morning News of 18 July 1940 as having been wounded, presumably in the retreat from Dunkirk. Vincent was appointed Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 31 January 1941, and was confirmed in this appointment on 30 July 1941. He spent the rest of the Second World War at home, before serving in Palestine from 5 December 1945 to 30 December 1948, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, with gratuity, per Army Order 15 of 1949. He served briefly with the B.O.A.R. in 1950, before transferring to the Reserve on 5 March 1952, after 22 years’ service. Sold with copied service papers; a poor quality photographic image of the recipient; and other research, including extracts from the Regimental Journal, in which it is recorded that Vincent twice ‘won’ the Regimental Wooden Spoon for the ‘Worst Shot in the Sergeant’s Mess’.

A post-War ‘Civil Division’ B.E.M. awarded to Mr. Ben Salter, Foreman Warp Twister, Beaumont and Smith Ltd. British Empire Medal, (Civil) E.II.R. (Ben Salter) in Royal Mint case of issue, extremely fine £100-£140 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1958: Ben Salter, Foreman Warp Twister, Beaumont and Smith Ltd. Paisley. Sold with named Buckingham Palace enclosure, in envelope; named Central Chancery letter; 10 Downing Street letter informing the recipient of the award, dated 27 December 1957; a Board of Trade letter congratulating the recipient on the award, dated 1 January 1958; and a photograph of the recipient in a circular frame.

Five: Private T. J. Platt, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, who was wounded in Normandy on 8-9 July 1944 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (5438020. Pte. T. J. Platt. D.C.L.I.) first letter of surname officially corrected on last, nearly extremely fine (5) £80-£100 --- Thomas John Platt was born in Plymouth on 7 July 1918 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Territorial Army) at Saltash on 26 April 1939. Posted to the 5th Battalion, he served with them as a Lance-Corporal during the Second World War in North West Europe from 19 June 1944, and was wounded in action in the area of Verson/Fontaine Etoupefour on 8-9 July 1944. Evacuated to the U.K., he saw further service with the B.O.A.R., before transferring to Class Z Reserve on 10 April 1946 being awarded his Efficiency Medal that same year. He was discharged on 1 March 1950, but subsequently re-enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps (Territorial Army) the following day, and was finally discharged on 11 January 1961. Sold with copied service papers from both enlistments; and other research.

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, silver and enamel (2); Service Medal of the Order of St John, silvered base metal, with two Additional Award Bars (C327. E.L.Pinch. S.J.A.B. 1953) enamel damage to one Serving Brother’s badge, otherwise nearly very fine (3) £60-£80 --- Sold together with a St. John Ambulance re-examination badge with nine dated bars awarded to Bernard Howitt, and a J. R. Gaunt and Son enamelled St. John Ambulance lapel badge.

Pair: Private W. Howey, 51st Light Infantry Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Corunna, Salamanca, Vittoria, Orthes (William Howey, 51st. Foot.); Waterloo 1815 (William Howey, 51st Reg. Light Infantry.) with original steel clip and split ring suspension, light contact marks, very fine (2) £2,800-£3,400 --- Provenance: Sotheby’s, April 1910 and November 1979. William Howey, a native of Loughall, Co. Armagh, attested for the 51st Light Infantry, and served in Captain James Ross’s Company during the Waterloo Campaign of 16-18 June 1815. He died on 26 June 1871. Sold with copied medal roll extracts.

Seven: Colour Sergeant James Byrne, 13th or Prince Albert’s Light Infantry Cabul 1842 (Pt. Byrnes J. Byrne 13th P.A.L.I.) ‘Pt. Byrnes’ regimentally impressed, otherwise engraved, fitted with contemporary silver bar suspension; Defence of Jellalabad 1842, Mural Crown (Pt. James Byrne P. A.) regimentally impressed naming with some loss to unit, fitted with contemporary silver bar suspension; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Cr. Sergt. James Burnes (sic) 13th or P.A. Lt. Inf.) clasp loose on ribbon as issued; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Color Sergt. J. Byrne. 1st Bn. 13th Lt. Infy.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (Cl. Serjt. Jas. Byrne, 13th Lt. Infy.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Color Serjt. James Byrne 1st Battn. 13th Regt.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (1207 C. Sergt. James Byrne. 13th L.I.) regimentally impressed naming, fitted with contemporary silver bar suspension, campaign medals with edge bruising and contact marks, good fine or better, L.S. & G.C. very fine, M.S.M. good very fine, a rare group (7) £3,000-£4,000 --- James Byrne was born in the Parish of St Catherine’s, Dublin, in July 1820. He attested for the 13th Light Infantry in Dublin in July 1839, aged 19, a labourer by trade. Byrne was one of the detachment of 90 men of the 13th under Ensign Stapylton who left Gravesend on 8 November 1839 to sail via the Cape and land at Calcutta on 21 July 1840. The detachment then proceeded by boat to Cawnpore, and from there marched to Kabul via Meerut, Ferozepore, Peshawar and Jellalabad, arriving in Kabul on 21 April 1841, a journey of 17 months. Following the campaign in Afghanistan, Byrne received promotion to Corporal in October 1843, embarked for Bombay in December 1844, from where they set off for England in the H.E.I.C. steamers Pluto and Sesostris in March 1845, arriving at the end of July and early August. Byrne was promoted to Sergeant in October 1845 and was subsequently stationed in Ireland until April 1850, when the regiment moved to Fort George, and in May 1851 to Gibraltar. There they were employed on garrison duty until June 1855 when they embarked for the Crimea, Byrne having been appointed Colour Sergeant the previous month. Byrne spent 11 months in the Crimea, after which he served with the regiment at the Cape until August 1857, when orders were received to proceed to India following the outbreak of the mutiny. He was awarded his L.S. & G.C. medal in September 1858 and continued to serve in India until 7 August 1859, when he was invalided and eventually returned home in August 1860. He was discharged at Fermoy on 28 August 1861, having completed his period of engagement. He was then ‘in possession of six medals and one clasp viz a medal for the defence of Jellalabad, a medal for the recapture of Cabul, a medal for the Crimea with clasp for Sebastopol, the Turkish Crimea medal, a medal for the suppression of the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58 and of the medal for Good Conduct and Long Service with a gratuity of £15.’ He was awarded the M.S.M. together with an annuity of £20 in 1867, a vacancy presumably having become available. Colour Sergeant Byrne was able to enjoy his annuity for a remarkably long time before he died on 13 May 1897. Sold with comprehensive research.

A rare First China War and ‘Franklin Search’ Arctic Medal pair awarded to Captain William Chimmo, Royal Navy, F.R.G.S., F.L.S., F.R.A.S., F.M.S., an energetic hydrogapher and explorer for many years China 1842 (W. Chimmo, Clerk’s Asst, H.M.S. Cornwallis.) original suspension neatly re-affixed; Arctic Medal 1818-55, unnamed as issued, each fitted with contemporary brooch pin, the first with some obverse pitting from tunic buttons, otherwise good very fine (2) £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: Purchased Baldwin’s, December 1980, together with related ‘miniature’ awards. William Chimmo was born in Cork, Ireland, on 23 April 1826, and entered the Royal Navy as Clerk’s Assistant in 1841. He served in the Cornwallis 72, flagship of Sir William Parkes, and Modeste 18, Captain Rundle Burges Watson, during the operations on the coast of China, where he was present at the capture of Woosung, Chapoo, and Chin-Kiang-Foo (Medal). Promoted to Midshipman in 1844, he passed his examination for seamanship in January 1848, and served as Acting-Mate and, from October 1850, Acting-Lieutenant of the Herald 22, surveying vessel, under Captain Henry Kellett, in the Pacific during 1845-51, whence he returned home and was paid off. During that period Herald worked around south and central America, up to the Kamchatka peninsula and then back down to the west coast of central and south America again for the winter. She went north again in March 1849 and returned to Mazatlan, on the west coast of Mexico, in November. By mid-July 1850 she was in Kotzbue Sound and in “Arctic Seas” for the musters of 28 July to 25 August 1850. She was at Honolulu at the end of October whence she returned to the U.K. via Hong Kong and Cape of Good Hope, reaching Sheerness in early June 1851 to pay off. (Arctic Medal). In February 1852, he was appointed to the command of the Torch, tender to his former ship Herald, in Australia, where he rescued the crew of the Ning-po, 15 in number, who had been shipwrecked on the D’Entrecasteaux reef in 1854. In January 1855, Chimmo was sent in Torch to the Percy Islands in search of the Government Geologist, Frederick Strange, and his party who, with the exception of the botanist Walter Hill had been murdered by Aboriginals. The Torch returned to Sydney having captured nine Aboriginals who subsequently appeared in court charged with murder. See Chimmo’s Report of the Proceedings of H.M. Steam Vessel “Torch” in Search of Mr. Strange and his Companions, 12 March 1855, in New South Wales, Search by H.M.S. “Torch” for the Survivors of the ‘Ningpo’, and for the Remains of the Late Mr. Strange and his Companions. [Sydney]: Legislative Council 1855. As additional Lieutenant of Juno, January to December 1856, he led the successful searching party for the lost expedition of Mr. Gregory and party in Torres Straits. Chimmo was Secretary to the Hydrogapher of the Admiralty, 1856-58, and during this period assisted in the magnetic observations of the Royal Charter to Australia, He commanded Seagull, May 1858 to January 1862, in the survey of the West Coast of Scotland; was additional Lieutenant in Fisgard commanded by Commodore Frederick Nicolson, surveying from January 1862 to March 1865, and as additional Commander in that vessel from January 1864. In July 1865 he was appointed Commander in Gannet in the West Indies, engaged in the survey of Trinidad and the exploration of Labrador, until paid off in October 1868. He was next appointed as Commander of Nassau, April 1870 to April 1873, engaged in surveying work in China, and in the exploration of the Sulu Islands where he was attacked by pirates in an episode described by Clowes in his History of the Royal Navy: ‘In May 1872, while the Nassau, 4, screw surveying vessel, Commander William Chimmo, was engaged in the performance of her duties in the Sulu Sea, she had occasion to land a boat’s crew on the north-east end of Sulu Island, where it was desired to take bearings. The party was attacked on May 11th by forty or fifty Illanoon pirates, and had to retreat fighting, several people, including Navigating Lieutenant Francis John Gray, being wounded. Attempts were made to secure satisfaction, it being at first supposed that the natives had mistaken the British for Spaniards; but, as the enemy, during prolonged negotiations, displayed a truculent attitude, the Nassau eventually shelled and destroyed their village, Carang-Carang. During the operations about 190 of the pirates were believed to have been killed.’ In March 1873 Nassau returned to Malta, and Chimmo retired from active employment with the rank of Captain in October 1873. Chimmo retired to Weymouth where he spent most of his declining years as Hon. Secretary of the Weymouth and County Club. He was the author of several varied works and reports, including, The voyage of H.M.S. Torch from Sydney to the Gulf of Carpentaria and Batavia, 1857; Bed of the Atlantic; from one sounding of 12,000 feet deep in the Atlantic Ocean, in latitude 47 north, longitude 23 west, are taken upwards of one hundred minute organisms, 1870; and The natural history of the Euplectella aspergillum (Venus’s flower-basket) from the Philippine Islands, 1878. Captain William Chimmo died at Westdown Lodge, Wyke Regis, Dorset, on 30 October 1891. Sold with a copy of The White Ribbon by Neville Poulsom which contains mention of Chimmo. For the related ‘miniature’ medals worn by Captain Chimmo, see Lot 716.

Pair: Corporal J. Hebden, 16th Lancers Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Private John Hebden H.M. 16th. Lancers.) original hook suspension altered and adapted with later large ring suspension; Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846, 1 clasp, Sobraon (Corpl. John Hebden 16th. Lancers.) suspension re-affixed, heavy pitting from Star, therefore fine (2) £800-£1,000 --- Sold together with a somewhat smaller cast copy of the Candahar Ghuznee Cabul Medal 1842, with silver straight bar suspension, and top riband buckle.

Pair: Private R. D. Mandley, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later Army Cadet Force General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (19059473 Pte. R. D. Mandley. D.C.L.I.); Cadet Forces Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue, with Second Award Bar (S.M.I. R. D. Mandley. ACF.) mounted as worn, minor edge bruising to first, good very fine and better (2) £140-£180 --- Ronald D. Mandley was born in Williton, Somerset, on 26 July 1928, and served with the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in post-War Palestine. He died in Spain on 2 November 2012. Sold with copied medal roll extract and other research.

Pair: Major-General W. C. Hamilton, 2nd Bengal European Regiment Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Lieut. W. C. Hamilton, 2nd Eur. Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lieut. W. C. Hamilton.) unit neatly erased but probably ‘Civil Service’, mounted on a modern buckle bar, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine (2) £500-£700 --- William Conrad Hamilton was commissioned Ensign in the 2nd Bengal European Regiment on 5 January 1845; Lieutenant on 21 July 1845; appointed Assistant Commissioner Saugor and Nerbudda Territories on 11 October 1856, and Officiating Deputy Commissioner of Seonee on 4 December 1856; Captain on 16 December 1859; Major on 5 January 1865; Lieutenant-Colonel on 5 January 1871; Colonel on 5 January 1876; and Major-General on 30 November 1878. Major-General Hamilton served on the Staff of his Regiment throughout the Punjab Campaign, and was present at the actions of Ramnuggur, Chilianwala, and Goojerat, in which last action his turban was shot through, and his horse killed under him; also with Sir W. R. Gilbert’s Force in pursuit of the Sikhs and Afghans to Peshawur (Medal and 2 Clasps). Served as a volunteer against the rebels in the Saugor district in 1857, and led an advance party of the 31st Native Infantry when attacked by the Patun rebels on 19 July 1857, when one of Shagurh Rajah’s guns was captured (Medal).

Three: Major-General O. H. A. Nicolls, Royal Artillery Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (Major O. H. A. Nicolls. 9th By. 2nd Bde. R.A.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, mounted on modern buckle bar, the Crimea pair with later ribbon slide buckles, nearly very fine or better --- Oliver Henry Atkins Nicolls was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 21 December 1853; Lieutenant on 20 June 1854; Captain on 1 April 1860; Major on 5 July 1872; Lieutenant-Colonel on 19 July 1876; Colonel on 1 July 1881; Major-General on 27 August 1890; and Commanding Royal Artillery, Malta, on 1 May 1891. Major-General Nicolls served in the Crimean campaign of 1854 until October of that year. He also served the campaign of 1855 from September, including the siege and fall of Sebastopol (Medal with Clasp, and Turkish Medal). Nicolls was in command of the Royal Artillery throughout the operations in Perak in 1875-77 under Major-General the Hon. Sir F. Colborne, including the advance on and capture of Kinta in December 1875 (Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, Medal with Clasp).

Five: Sergeant Farrier S. Stoot, Royal Artillery South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (5419 Sg. Smith. S. Stoot. 6th. Bde. R.A.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (5368 Farr. Sgt. S. Stoot. C/3 Bde. R.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Serjt: Farr: S. Stoot. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (5368. Sgt. Farr. S. Stoot. C/3 Bde. R.A.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘5368 F. Sgt. S. Stoot. C/3. Bde. R.A.’, edge bruising and pitting from Star, therefore good fine and better (5) £800-£1,000 --- S. Stoot was awarded his Meritorious Service Medal, together with an annuity of £10, on 1 January 1905.

Pair: Corporal M. G. Spink, Light Infantry General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24402675 Pte M G Spink LI); U.N. Medal, on UNFICYP riband, unnamed as issued, in card box of issue, light contact marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine (2) £60-£80 --- Malcolm G. Spink was born in Leeds in 1958 and served with the Light Infantry from 1974 to 1982, retiring with the rank of Corporal. Sold with some contemporary (mainly Nationalist) literature; and copied research.

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel R. J. R. Brown, 1st Bengal Infantry, later 74 Punjabis India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (Lieutt. R. J. R. Brown 1st Bl. Infy.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (Lt. Col. R. J. R. Brown, 74 Punjabis) mounted on modern buckle bar, very fine (2) £180-£220 --- Robert James Reid Brown was born on 24 April 1863, and was first commissioned into the Royal Sussex Regiment on 10 March 1883. He was appointed to the Indian Army on 7 June 1886, and served with the Burmese Expedition in 1885-89 (Mentioned in despatches, Medal with two Clasps). He was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commanding 74th Punjabis on 13 November 1908.

Eight: Warrant Officer E. A. Etheridge, Army Service Corps, late Grenadier Guards Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (5441 Pte. E. Etheridge. 1/Gren: Gds:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Belfast (5441 Pte. E. A. Etherage, Gren: Gds:); 1914-15 Star (19849 Pte. E. A. Etheridge. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (19849 W.O.Cl.2. E. A. Etheridge. A.S.C.); Coronation 1902, Metropolitan Police, bronze (P.C. A. Etherage. N. Div.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (SS-19849 A. Sjt: E. Etheridge. A.S.C.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (Pte. E. Etherage. Gren. Gds.) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (8) £300-£400 --- Ernest Arthur Etherage/Etheridge was born at Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire, and enlisted into the Grenadier Guards at Bristol on 19 August 1895, aged 19 years 6 months, a labourer by trade. He served abroad at Gibraltar from September 1897 to July 1898, then in Egypt until October 1898, and in South Africa from October 1899 to January 1901, including the Nile Expedition of 1898 and the war in South Africa 1899-1901. He was discharged medically unfit for further service on 31 December 1903, although in the period 1901-03 he also served as a Police Constable in the Metropolitan Police. The outbreak of war in 1914 saw him registered as a Class 2 National Reservist with the Gloucester Territorial Force Association. He rejoined the army on 13 October 1915, as a Private in the Army Service Corps, proceeding to France on 7 November 1915. As a ‘Supply Specials and Labour’ recruit he was attached to 23rd Company Labour Corps, becoming an Acting Sergeant and awarded the M.S.M. for services in France (London Gazette 1 January 1918 refers). He was discharged on 9 March 1919. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.

Pair: Private W. Preece, North Staffordshire Regiment Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4517. Pte. W. Preece. 1/N. Staff: R; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Hafir (4157. [sic] Pte. W. Preece. 1. N. Staff. R.) contact marks, very fine (2) £360-£440 --- Walter Preece was born in Shifnal, Shropshire in 1876. He attested into the North Staffordshire Regiment on 13 June 1894, and served in the Sudan during the 1896 Dongola expedition. After later service in the East Indies, he was discharged on 30 January 1906. Entitlement to Hafir clasp not confirmed. Sold together with copy service papers and medal roll extract.

Three: Corporal R. Strick, Light Infantry General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (25053193 LCpl R Strick LI); Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (25053193 Cpl R Strick LI); Jubilee 2002, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style as worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £180-£220 --- Ross Strick was born in Penzance, Cornwall, in 1979 and enlisted in the the Light Infantry in 1996. His Iraq Medal was almost certainly awarded for service in Operation Telic VIII, in 2006.

Seven: Sub-Lieutenant E. A. Clifford, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action at Gallipoli in the Third Battle of Krithia, 4 June 1915, whilst serving in the Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (148384 P-O: E. A. Clifford, H:M:S Forte) large impressed naming, number officially corrected; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (148384 E. A. Clifford. C.P.O. H.M.S. Highflyer.); 1914 Star (148384 E. A. Clifford, C.P.O. Howe Battn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (S. Lt. E. A. Clifford. R.N.V.R.; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (148384 E. A. Clifford, C.P.O. H.M.S. Juno.) the Delhi Durbar medal loose, otherwise mounted as worn together with an officially issued 1914-15 Star officially named as a Sub Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R., light contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (8) £400-£500 --- Ernest Alfred Clifford was born in Farnham, Buckinghamshire, on 17 October 1873. Prior to joining the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Boscawen as a Boy 2nd Class on 3 April 1889, he had worked as a gardener. Following advancement to Boy 1st Class on 8 March he joined H.M.S. Vernon in March 1891, Duke of Wellington in May 1891, and H.M.S. Active in June 1891. During service in the latter vessel he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 17 October 1891. He next joined H.M.S. Victory 1 in October 1891 and then H.M.S. Amphion in January 1902 where on 11 August 1892, he was advanced to Able Seaman. In this rate he joined H.M.S. Pembroke 1 in March 1892 and H.M.S. Wildfire in April 1895, where he was advanced to Leading Seaman on 24 April 1895, and somewhat unusually straight to Petty Officer 1st Class on 18 November 1896, having achieved this status after only five years adult service at the very young age of 23 years. As a Petty Officer during the next three years he served aboard H.M. Ships Mersey, Jupiter, Pembroke and Forte. During service in the latter vessel he was landed as part of the ship’s Naval Brigade for service in the Boer War. He served with the Natal Field Force from October 1899 to May 1900 and was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasp ‘Natal’. Whilst serving in Forte he was advanced to Acting Chief Petty Officer in February 1901 and confirmed in the rank on 6 February 1902, after only ten years adult service. In this senior rate he served aboard H.M. Ships Pembroke, Wildfire, Argonaut and Juno. Whilst serving in Juno he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 24 October 1906. During the following five years he served in H.M. Ships Wildfire, Pembroke, and Highflyer. During service in the latter vessel, Flag Ship of the East Indies Squadron (Rear Admiral Sir E. J. W. Slade, K.C.I.E., M.V.O.) he was loaned to a number of the smaller vessels conducting inshore patrols to stop the trafficking of arms and thus became entitled to the Naval General Service Medal (1915-62) with clasp ‘Persian Gulf 1909-1914’. He was landed in December 1911 at Bombay, India, in connection with the visit of King George V, and the Delhi Durbar Coronation celebrations, and as the senior non-commissioned officer landed from H.M.S. Highflyer he became entitled to the 1911 Delhi Durbar Medal. A total of 173 Royal Navy officers and men were awarded the medal. He next joined H.M.S. Pembroke in June 1913 and H.M.S. President in August 1913 from which ship he was seconded to the Sussex Division of the R.N.V.R. on 6 August 1914. Shortly after the declaration of war with Germany in August 1914, he was posted as one of the senior non-commissioned officers of the Royal Navy to the Howe Battalion of the newly formed Royal Naval Division. He took part in various operations in Belgium, including the Defence of Antwerp in October 1914 and thus became entitled to the 1914 Star. On returning to England he remained with the Howe Battalion and saw service as part of the Royal Naval Division during the Gallipoli landings in April 1915. He was present during the heavy fighting on shore in April and May 1915, when the Howe Battalion suffered considerable officer casualties. On 11 May 1915 he was promoted to Temporary Sub Lieutenant R.N.V.R. for service with ‘A’ Company, Howe Battalion, R.N.D. The Third Battle of Krithia was launched on 4 June 1915, and was the last in a series of Allied attacks aimed at capturing the original objectives of 25 April. Sub Lieutenant Clifford was killed on the opening day of the battle. He was 41 years of age and is commemorated by name on the Cape Helles Memorial, which is situated on the extreme south western point of the Gallipoli Peninsula and contains the names of 1,373 officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who fell during the fighting and have no known grave. His group of medals contains both a 1914 Star and a 1914-15 Star, the first issued to him as a Royal Navy rating and the second issued to him as a R.N.V.R. officer. This is a rare oversight by the Admiralty Medal Office where the records of officers and men of the Royal Navy and its various reserves are each filed separately and his dual service was not connected. Sold with copied research including record of service.

Seven: Sick Berth Steward H. T. N. Rose, Royal Navy Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve and Ramsgate Corps, St John Ambulance Brigade Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, Transvaal (268 Ordly: H. Rose, St John Amb: Bde:) contemporary copy clasps; 1914-15 Star (M.9840, H. T. N. Rose, S.R.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.9840 H. T. N. Rose. S.R.A.) Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (37. H. T. N. Rose, S.B.S. 2Cl. R.N.A.S.B.R.); Service Medal of the Order of St John, silver, straight bar suspension with two additional service bars (Cpl. Harry T. N. Rose (Ramsgate Town Div. S.J.A.B.) 1916); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (268 Pte. H. T. N. Rose. Ramsgate Corps.) nearly very fine (7) £400-£500 --- Served in South Africa with No. 6 General Hospital.

Four: Private H. S. Horsham, 20th Hussars Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3927 Pte. H. S. Horsham. 20th Hussars.); 1914-15 Star (12874 Pte. H. Horsham, 20th. Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (12874 Pte. H. Horsham. 20-Hrs.) edge knocks, contact marks, otherwise very fine (4) £180-£220 --- Harry Stuart Horsham was born in Sidbury, Devon, on 3 May 1874. He attested into the 20th Hussars and served in South Africa during the Boer War. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 6 July 1915 and was discharged on 16 November 1917. Awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 283,859, he later died in Bournemouth, Hampshire, in 1937. Sold with copy Medal Index Card, Medal Roll extract, and copy research.

Pair: Private C. Langdale, 59th (Oxfordshire) Company, 15th Imperial Yeomanry and Special Constabulary Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (8096 Pte. C. Langdale, 59th Coy 15th Imp: Yeo:); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Charles Langdale) some staining, otherwise very fine (2) £90-£120

A superb Great War ‘Western Front’ posthumous D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private C. Ponder, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, for his gallantry in rescuing a wounded officer at St. Eloi on 15 February 1915. Killed in action later on the same day, Ponder’s D.C.M. was the Battalion’s first gallantry award of the Great War: reputedly the original recommendation, made by Lieutenant E. H. Carkeet-James, the wounded officer in question, was for the Victoria Cross Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8959 Pte. C. Ponder. 2/D.C.L.I.); 1914-15 Star (8959 Pte. C. Ponder. D. of Corn: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (8959 Pte. C. Ponder. D. of Corn. L.I.) extremely fine (4) £1,800-£2,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 1 April 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry near St Eloi on 15th February 1915, when he rushed forward at great risk under heavy fire and dragged back to his trench a seriously wounded Officer.’ Charles Ponder was born in Stoke in 1889 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry at Warwick on 20 April 1908. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 21 December 1914, and by February 1915 the Battalion were in the trenches near St Eloi. This was a period of extremely cold weather and the troops spent only two days in the line with one in support and two in reserve. Mud and water caused many problems and the enemy was active with rifle grenades and shell fire. There was also the ever present threat of snipers. On 14 February 1915, during a period out of line, the 2nd Battalion D.C.L.I. was ordered forward to counter attack after the Germans had launched a strong assault on the trenches occupied by the Leinsters. The assault was to take place at 4:00 a.m. the following morning, on 15 February 1915. The attack went forward after a short Artillery bombardment, and was a qualified success, although heavy casualties were sustained, amongst them Lieutenant E. H. Carkeet-James, who was leading ‘C’ Company, and was seriously wounded. Realising that he was hit, Carkeet-James turned and attempted to return to the trench. Seeing that his officer was hit, Ponder leapt from the trench and rushed forward under heavy fire, being heard to shout ‘Come on Jimmy Sir, you can’t stay there’. The officer’s reply was ‘Go back, or you’ll get hit’, to which Ponder replied ‘I’m not going back without you Sir’, and he managed to drag his wounded officer to safety. Despite the severity of his wound (the lower bone in his left arm was shattered and the artery severed, and amputation was ultimately necessary), Carkeet-James then remained in the trench, being the only surviving officer, and refused to be moved even when four bearers and a stretcher came. It was only after he had been evacuated to hospital that he recommend Ponder for, if contemporary accounts are correct, the ‘Victoria Cross.’ However, tragically, events were to overtake the recommendation. For the rest of 15 February 1915, the 2nd Battalion, D.C.L.I. came under repeated enemy sniper fire, and further casualties were sustained. Amongst these were Private Ponder, who was killed in action. He was 26 years old. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Posthumously awarded the D.C.M. for rescuing the wounded Lieutenant Carkeet-James, in what was the Battalion’s first attack upon enemy trenches, his was the first gallantry award the Battalion received during the Great War. For his conduct that day Carkeet-James was awarded the Military Cross, and later commanded the 2nd Battalion D.C.L.I. during the 1930s. Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient, and copies of the Battalion War Diary for the action. Note: Under the statutes in force at the time, the Distinguished Conduct Medal could not be awarded posthumously, although in cases of exceptional gallantry which just fell short of the requirement for the Victoria Cross this was often overlooked, especially if it could be claimed (as in this case) that the act of gallantry had finished prior to the recipient’s death.

Three: Lance Corporal K. J. Burden, Light Infantry General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (25084544 Pte K J Burden LI); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo; Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (25084544 LCpl K J Burden LI) mounted court-style as worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £160-£200 --- K. J. Burden served with the 2nd Battalion, Light Infantry in Iraq during Operation Telic 2 from August to November 2003. Sold with copied research, including a group photographic image in which the recipient is identified.

Family Group: Four: Acting Regimental Sergeant Major G. H. Harley, Oxfordshire Light Infantry Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, unofficial rivets between top two clasps (3201 Sgt, G. H. Harley, Oxford Lt Inf); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3201 Sergt: G. Harley Oxford: L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (9289 A.W.O. Cl. 1. G. H. Harley. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., Circular issue, 2nd ‘Coronation robes’ issue, in box of issue, first three mounted for wear, the BWM a somewhat later issue, contact marks, very fine Pair: Private G. J. Harley, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (37834 Pte. G. J. Harley. D. of Corn. L.I.) very fine (6) £260-£300 --- I.S.M. London Gazette, 23 September 1932, Head Porter, London Postal Section. George Henry Harley was born in Bermondsey, Surrey in 1870. He attested into the Oxfordshire Light Infantry on 7 June 1889, and was appointed Corporal on 1 May 1896. Transferring to the Army Reserve on 5 February 1897, he was recalled to the Colours and served in South Africa with the 1st Battalion during the Boer War. Advanced Sergeant on 4 April 1900, he was discharged ‘having been found medically unfit for further service’ on 6 June 1902. He re-enlisted into his old regiment on 11 September 1914 for service during the Great War, and served at Home on training duties. He was appointed Acting Regimental Sergeant Major on 16 September 1918, before reverting to the permanent rank of Company Sergeant Major. Post-War, he returned to his employment as a porter with the Post Office. His British War Medal (his sole Great War entitlement) was issued in 1934. George James Harley, son of the above, attested into the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry for service during the Great War. Sold with copied research.

Pair: Private E. Guy, Mounted Infantry, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (4955 Pte. E. Guy 1: L.N. Lanc: Regt. M.I.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4955 Pte. E. Guy. L.N. Lanc: Regt.) very fine (2) £140-£180 --- E. Guy appears on the Queen’s South Africa Medal roll for No. 1 Malta Company, 9th Battalion, Mounted Infantry. Sold with copy medal roll extracts.