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A good Edwardian C.B., Great War C.M.G. group of nine awarded to Hon. Brigadier-General W. L. White, Royal Artillery The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, complete with riband buckle; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G. Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, complete with riband buckle; Egypt 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Capt. W. L. White, 5/1 Sco. Div. R.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lt. Col. W. L. White, R.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. Col. W. L. White, R.A.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Brig. Gen. W. L. White, C.B.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Brig. Gen. W. L. White); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, together with Royal Artillery Institution Priza Medal, silver (Captain W. L. White, R.A., 1892), the earlier awards with contact marks but otherwise generally very fine or better (10) £1600-1800 C.B. London Gazette 24 June 1910. C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1916. William Lewis White, who was born in March 1856, was commissioned in the Royal Artillery in February 1876, and first witnessed active service as a Captain in 5/1 Scottish Division, R.A. in the Suakin operations of 1885, when he was present in the advance on 22 March in support of the Tofrek zareba, and in the advance on Tamaai (Medal & clasp; Khedive’s Star). Appointed an Instructor at the School of Gunnery in 1887, he was awarded the Royal Artillery Institution’s Duncan Prize Essay Gold Medal in the same year, and added the Institution’s Silver Medal to his accolades in 1892. Advanced to Major in the following year, he next served as Brigade-Major, R.A. at Gibraltar and, between 1898-99 as Military Attache in Madrid and Lisbon, the latter appointments gaining him the 2nd Class Spanish Order of Military Merit and the Portuguese Order of Aviz. Shortly afterwards, however, he was ordered to South Africa as a newly promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, where he was employed as a Special Service Officer, although he also served as Base Commandant at Port Elizabeth (January to February 1900) and Commandant at Naauwpoort and Zand River Camp (February to August 1900). Thereafter, until May 1902, he was actively employed in the Orange River Colony, including the action at Ladybrand (2-7 September 1900), Transvaal and Cape Colony, service that encompassed Command of a Column in the periods August 1900 to June 1901, and August 1901 to May 1902. He was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel and twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 16 April and 7 May 1901 refer), in addition to receiving the Queen’s Medal & 3 clasps and the King’s Medal & 2 clasps. Returning home at the end of hostilities, White took up appointment as D.A.Q.M.G. at Portsmouth, as D.A.A.G. at the War Office in 1903, and, in the rank of substantive Colonel, as Commandant of the School of Gunnery at Shoeburyness in 1909. Latterly an Inspector Royal Garrison Artillery, he was awarded the C.B. in 1910 and placed on the Retired List in the honorary rank of Brigadier-General in March 1913. Recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he quickly went out to France as D.A.Q.M.G., IV Corps, and remained employed in that capacity until 1916, adding five more “mentions” to his accolades (London Gazettes 17 February and 22 June 1915, 1 January and 15 June 1916, and 4 January 1917 refer), in addition to his C.M.G. The General retired to Hove, Sussex, where he died in June 1931, having in the interim added the Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John to his numerous honours.

A rare Second World War K.C.B., Great War Greek mainland operations D.S.C. group of seventeen awarded to Admiral Sir Arthur Palliser, Royal Navy: having been decorated for his command of a seamen company in a costly action in Athens in December 1916, he rose to senior command in the 1939-45 War - including service as a Chief of Staff to the C.-in-C. Far East at the time of the loss of the Prince of Wales and Repulse The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, and breast star, silver, with gold, gilt and enamel centre, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1918; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. A. F. E. Palliser, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lieut. A. F. E. Palliser, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oakleaf; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; The Netherlands, Order of Orange Nassau, Grand Officer’s set of insignia, with swords, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, and breast star, silver, with gilt and enamel centre, in its case of issue; France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1915, with bronze palm, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, and three sets of mounted tunic ribands, the centre-piece of the Orange Nassau breast star chipped, otherwise generally good very fine or better (Lot) £3500-4000 K.C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1945. D.S.C. London Gazette 23 March 1917. The original recommendation states: ‘Lieutenant A. F. E. Palliser was in charge of a detachment of Exmouth’s seamen at the Zappeion.’ Arthur Frances Eric Palliser was born in Richmond, London in July 1890 and was educated at Bradfield College, and the R.N.Cs Dartmouth and Greenwich. Appointed Sub. Lieutenant in March 1910, and advanced to Lieutenant one year later, he was commanding the destroyer H.M.S. Albacore on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Shortly thereafter, however, he came ashore to an appointment at the gunnery establishment Excellent, but he returned to sea in the flotilla leader Exmouth in February 1915, and witnessed active service in the Dardanelles. So, too, in the landing at Piraeus, Greece on 1 December 1916, when he had charge of the seaman company which came under fire from Greek troops, an incident described in detail in Blumberg’s Britain’s Sea Soldiers. On that day, an Anglo-French force comprising 3,000 seamen and marines landed at Piraeus in the early morning hours, and proceeded inland to occupy a variety of prominent defensive features - Palliser and his men were charged with taking possession of the Zappeion, about one kilometre east of the Acropolis, a task successfully accomplished in spite of intermittent fire throughout the day. Indeed local opposition proved costly, the Allied force suffering casualties of 60 officers and men killed, and 167 wounded, prior to a negotiated withdrawal back to the harbour at the end of the day. Palliser was awarded the D.S.C. and remained actively employed in the Exmouth until returning to the gunnery establishment Excellent in September 1917. His final wartime appointment was in the cruiser Comus, in which capacity he was employed from February 1918 until the end of hostilities. Gaining steady advancement between the Wars - thus to Commander in December 1924 and to Captain in June 1931 - he served as Chief of Staff to the C.-in-C. China 1936-38, and, on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, was once more serving at the gunnery establishment Excellent. Then in May 1940, he was appointed to the command of the battleship Malaya, in which capacity he witnessed extensive action in the Mediterranean, up until March of the following year, when his command was seriously damaged by a torpedo strike delivered by the U-106 - due to heavy flooding, the battleship took on a list of 7 degrees, but Palliser managed to nurse her into port in Trinidad. In the interim, the Malaya had escorted assorted Malta convoys and carried out bombardments of Italian positions at Bardia in August 1940 and of Genoa harbour in February 1941, on which latter occasion one of her 15-inch armour piercing shells hit the south-east corner of the Genoa Cathedral’s nave - luckily the relatively soft masonry failed to detonate the fuse and the shell remains on view in the nave to this day. With Malaya effectively out of action for repairs, Palliser was advanced to Rear-Admiral and appointed Chief of Staff to the C.-in-C. Far East, in which capacity he remained employed until 1942, a period encompassing the loss of the Repulse and the Prince of Wales. Much has been written about the loss of Force Z, so, too, of Palliser’s role as Chief of Staff to Admiral Sir Tom Phillips, who was flying his flag in the Prince of Wales. To all intents and purposes, it fell to Palliser to “read” the movements being made by his senior at sea, radio contact being prohibited until the enemy had been joined in battle, and to provide his senior with intelligence reports. In the circumstances, therefore, Palliser actually performed his duties adequately, and, in fairness, the fateful decision not to engage the support of the Royal Air Force rested more heavily on the shoulders of Phillips - a conclusion reached by Patrick Mahoney and Martin Middlebrook in their definitive history - Battleship: ‘It is sometimes suggested that Rear-Admiral Palliser, Phillips’s Chief of Staff at Singapore, was the one to blame for the disaster that followed, having failed to read his commander’s mind and to arrange for air patrols to be over Force Z at Kuantan that morning. We cannot agree with this view. Palliser and Phillips had been together for six weeks, and Phillips had had ample opportunity to ensure that Palliser was ‘tuned in’ to his likely movements and needs. No one in Prince of Wales has ever stated that Admiral Phillips showed any sign of disappointment that Palliser failed to provide fighters for him that morning ... ‘ Appointed to the Staff of the C.-in-C. India later that year, Palliser was awarded the Grand Officer’s grade of the Order of Orange Nassau for his services to the Dutch Navy while on detachment to the Staff of Admiral Hart, U.S.N. (London Gazette 19 January 1943); a “mention” for his good work in S.W. Pacific (London Gazette 2 February 1943), and the C.B. for his subsequent work as Flag Liaison Officer in Delhi (London Gazette 2 June 1943). Having then briefly commanded the 1st Cruiser Squadron, Palliser was advanced to Vice-Admiral in February 1944, and served as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Chief of Supplies and Transport 1944-46, work that led to his appointment to K.C.B., which insignia he received at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 8 February 1945. Latterly C.-in-C. East Indies Station, Palliser was advanced to Admiral in May 1947 and was placed on the Retired List in the following year. He died in Kensington, London in February 1956. Sold with Twelve Years’ Military Adventure, Volume I (London, 1829), with ink inscription, ‘A. F. E. Palliser, London, 1951’, together with The Order of Merit, by Stanley Martin (London, 2007), with author’s presentation inscription to Bridget Rendel.

An unusual Great War civil C.B.E. pair awarded to Colonel W. W. Grierson, Chief Engineer, Great Western Railway, late Engineer and Railway Staff Corps The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; British War Medal 1914-20 (Major W. W. Grierson), together with a Great Western Railway Pass, 1st Class(All Stations), gilt and enamel, named to ‘Mr. W. W. Grierson’, and the reverse officially numbered ‘S. 111’, the last with minor enamel chip, generally good very fine (3) £350-400 C.B.E. London Gazette 7 January 1918: ‘For services in connection with the War.’ William Wylie Grierson, who was educated at Rugby, served as Chief Engineer of the Great Western Railway 1904-23 and, in his capacity as a Major in the Engineer and Railway Staff Corps, was embarked for France in May 1917 - as confirmed by his MIC entry, he subsequently qualified for a single British War Medal 1914-20. Having attained the rank of Colonel, and been awarded his C.B.E. for his wartime services as Chief Engineer of the Great Western Railway Company, he served as President of the Institution of Civil Engineers 1929-30.

A Great War D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. Montgomery, Royal Army Service Corps, late Imperial Yeomanry Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (14245 Q.M. Sgt. T. H. Montgomery, 13th Impl: Yeo:); 1914-15 Star (Capt. T. H. Montgomery, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major T. H. Montgomery); Defence and War Medals, mounted court style as worn, nearly extremely fine (7) £1000-1200 D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918. M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January and 24 December, 1917. Thomas Hassard Montgomery served with the 13th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer war, in operations in Cape Colony and Orange River Colony (Queen’s Medal with 2 clasps). He served during the Great War with the Royal Army Service Corps, attaining the rank of Temp. Major. During the Second World War he held a Regular Army Emergency Commission, dated 3 November 1939, as Lieutenant (W.S./Capt. & T/Maj. 3 February 1940; local Lt.-Col. 4 August 1941). He resided at Cadogan House, Shrewsbury, and was a Justice of the Peace.

An important D.S.O., O.B.E. group of five awarded to Colonel E. E. `Bullfrog` Wilford, commanding 13th (Barnsley Pals) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, on 1 July 1916 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., complete with top bar; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Major E. E. Wilford, 30th Lancers); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Col. E. E. Wilford); Victory Medal 1914-19, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Maj. E. E. Wilford) mounted for display, good very fine (5) £2400-2800 D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January, 1917. O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June, 1919. M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917. Edmund Ernest Wilford was the son of Colonel Edmund Percival Wilford, late Gloucestershire Regiment. He was educated at Clifton College. He joined the East Yorkshire Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant in 1896 and transferred to the Indian Army two years later. He served as a Major and Squadron Commander, 30th Lancers (Gordon`s Horse) with the Indian Corps in France 1914. On 11 November 1915, Wilford was given command of the new raised Barnsley Pals Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. The Pals had finished their training in England and Wilford was to lead them to action in France where they were to suffer enormous casualties, especially on the first day of the battle of the Somme. He was to become respected by the men for his no-nonsense approach and his willingness to see for himself how things were going at the sharp end of operations. He was known amongst the men as `Bullfrog` and from Brigade Headquarters earned the nickname of `The Swashbuckler.` After the disaster on the Somme Lieutenant-Colonel Wilford sent the following letter back to Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Hewitt: ‘France 11th July, 1916.’ ‘ My Dear Hewitt, The 13th Y & L have covered themselves with glory, and you who raised the Battalion should indeed be pleased. They have added a page to history. The way the Regiment advanced through an intense artillery barrage and machine gun fire to the attack equals any deed done in the War. No faltering or wavering, each man pressing on to his objective as steadily as if on parade. Our casualties were very heavy, but we have the consolation they feel in the hour of victory. I would like you to let the people of Barnsley know that every lad who fought that day was a hero. The Battalion has been congratulated by many - the Corps Commander, the Divisional General, and by our Brigadier on its gallantry, and I am the proudest man in France.` Wilford was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O. in January 1917, and was wounded by an exploding shell in May of the same year. His D.S.O. was almost certainly in recognition of his services on the Somme. He saw out the last days of the war with the Royal Defence Corps in his old rank of Major, for which service he was awarded the O.B.E. in 1919.

The well-documented and remarkable Second World War M.B.E., Great War M.C. and Bar, D.F.C. group of nine awarded to Wing Commander J. H. Norton, Royal Canadian Air Force, late Essex Yeomanry, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, whose published account of his experiences in the Palestine campaign 1917-18 include frequent mention of personal encounters with Lawrence of Arabia - among them the occasion he flew the great man to a desert rendezvous and his direct part in one of his classic “Train Wrecking” operations The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse privately engraved, ‘Capt. John Hamilton Norton, France 1917, Bar Palestine 1918’; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved, ‘Flight Lieut. John Hamilton Norton, Palestine 1918’; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt. J. H. Norton, R.A.F.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1105 Pte. J. H. Norton, Essex Yeo.); Defence Medal 1939-45, silver; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oakleaf, silver, generally good very fine (9) £25000-30000 M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1946. M.C. London Gazette 26 May 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He reconnoitred the enemy’s wire at the height of 300 feet, and brought back most valuable information. He has at all times displayed great courage and skill.’ Bar to M.C. London Gazette 22 April 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While he was carrying out observation for an important artillery shoot, two hostile aeroplanes endeavoured to interfere. These he at once attacked and drove off, afterwards continuing his observation for the shoot, during which two hostile emplacements were destroyed. His dash and determination contributed greatly to the success of the operation.’ D.F.C. London Gazette 8 February 1919: ‘On all occasions this officer displays gallantry and devotion to duty, notably on 29 July, when, in co-operation with our artillery, he carried out a shoot against two anti-aircraft pits. On approaching this target Captain Norton was wounded in the left foot; notwithstanding this, he continued the shoot, and succeeded in destroying both pits, thereby putting out of action two hostile guns.’ John Hamilton “Jocko” Norton was born in Southend, Essex in October 1896 and, after leaving school, was employed as an insurance broker at Lloyds of London. Enlisting in the Essex Yeomanry as a Trooper in August 1914, he was commissioned in the Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, via the Special List, that November, but remained employed in the U.K. until transferring to the Royal Flying Corps and gaining his Royal Aero Club Certificate in February 1916. France Posted to No. 12 Squadron out in France in July of the same year, he completed around 80 operational sorties before being transferred to No. 13 Squadron in March 1917, Army co-operation work that comprised bombing raids and spotting for the artillery, in addition to photography, and hazardous work, too, as evidenced by the following extracts taken from his Flying Log Book: 28 July 1916 - an attack on a bridge in the Somme region: ‘Bombs fell near railway track. A.A. very good. Lt. Watkins caught fire from direct hit. Own fuselage badly shot.’ 29 August 1916: ‘Bombed Bois de Loupart. Attacked by hostile machine - two rounds through cockpit, one through coat. Forced landing. Ran into telephone pole. Crashed machine’s wings dismantled.’ 15 September 1916: ‘Bombed Bapaume. Squadron came down to 500 feet. Tyson hit. Archie and Onions very bad. 20 hostile machines. Recrossed at 1000.’ 17 September 1916: ‘Bombed Marcoing station. Blew up large ammunition dump on railway line. Formation attacked south of Cambrai by about 40 hostile machines. Honey and Patterson lost. Four F.Es lost from escort.’ In March 1917, Norton transferred to No. 13 Squadron as a Flight Commander, which appointment quickly led to the award of his first M.C. for gallant work during the battle of Arras in the following month, namely the above cited low-level mission of which his Flying Log Book states: 7 April 1917: ‘Wire reconnaissance. Examined wire from 200-400 feet four miles behind line. Engine and machine badly hit by M.G. fire - awarded Military Cross.’ Just a couple of days later, on the 9th, his BE2e was hit by shellfire and he was compelled to make a crash-landing, though he and his Observer, Captain T. L. Tibbs, emerged unscathed from the wreckage. While on the 28th, during a contact patrol, his aircraft was attacked by five enemy machines, the resultant damage causing another rapid descent. But pilot and Observer once more emerged unscathed, Norton in fact going on to complete around 60 operational sorties before being ordered back to the U.K. to take up appointment as an instructor at the Central Flying School at Upavon in June. Palestine A brief home appointment in No. 62 Squadron having followed in August-September 1917, Norton was next posted to the Middle East, where he joined No. 113 Squadron in Palestine, a component, in common with No. 14 Squadron, of 5th Corps Wing. Moreover, his name appeared on a list of pilots attached to the following Routine Order: `The following officers are detached for special duty and will proceed immediately to headquarters of the Arab forces near Akabah. All officers upon arrival will report to Colonel T. E. Lawrence, or his representatives in Akabah, attached to the headquarters of Shereef Feisal, and will remain under their orders during forthcoming operations.` Thus ensued a memorable chapter in his active service career, a chapter described at length in a series of articles that were subsequently published in The Liberty magazine in America in 1934 - ‘I Flew Lawrence in War-Crazed Arabia, by Captain John H. Norton, as told by J. B. L. Lawrence’. As a result of lacking dates it would be difficult to corroborate these articles against his Flying Log Book, but the following extracts are illustrative of his encounters with Lawrence: On arrival at Lawrence’s Headquarters near Akabah ‘Lawrence came among us and greeted us heartily. I was to learn later that he never shook hands and hated to be touched in any way. Another amazing thing about the man that I noted from the first was that he never looked any one in the face. Instead he stared at one`s shoes intently .... I watched Lawrence carefully. His face interested me. It seemed to change with every word he spoke. It was the most mobile face I have ever seen. He couldn`t have been more than 27 or 28, yet I felt the force and strength of personality that I was to see accomplish so much later. His bluish-grey eyes, rather deeply set, reflected humour and at the same time were strangely hard. They seemed almost held in place by his unusually high cheek bones.` Under Lawrence’s watchful eye at a formal dinner with Feisal `The sheik beside me suddenly turned to me and grunted happily. Then he thrust in his fist and brought out the smoking liver. He handed it to me. I had my hands full. But a quick glance from Lawrence and a slight nod told me that I must not refuse. It was a gesture of friendliness. I took the liver and jammed it down my throat. It was no hard task - I was so hungry! Lawrence kept looking at me and signified by smacking his lips that I was to show pleasure at the gift. I smacked my lips and grunted. It pleased the sheikh so much that he offered me another bit and another ....` Piloting Lawrence and a “Train Wrecking” Mission ‘I was ready and waiting at dawn the next morning. During the night an army lorry had brought two little wooden boxes from the railway station for Lawrence, and he had thes

A Great War M.B.E. group of three awarded to Captain Thomas Greenwood, King’s African Rifles The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1917; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Nandi 1905-06 (Lieut. & Q.M., 4/K.A.R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt.) minor edge bruising, very fine (3) £500-550 M.B.E. London Gazette 18 November 1918; transferred to the ‘Military Division’, London Gazette 15 April 1919. ‘T./Capt., late E.A. Forces’. Thomas Greenwood was born on 23 October 1855. After service in the 2nd Dragoon Guards, he was appointed a Warrant Officer in the Uganda Militia for the Uganda Rifles Stores Depot, Mombassa, in January 1899. Served in Nandi, April 1899. Departed Mumia’s on operation in Unyoro in December 1899. Appointed Honorary Lieutenant in October 1900 and was Acting Paymaster, resident at Entebbe in November 1900. His commission was approved in December 1900. Appointed Quartermaster, Transport Officer, Commissariat, Resident at Military H.Q. Kampala, in May 1901. Served as Quartermaster for the 4th Battalion King’s African Rifles 1903-04. Promoted to Captain, serving at Entebbe, in February 1905. Latterly served with the Uganda Police as Quartermaster. During the war was appointed to the temporary rank of captain (London Gazette 4 April 1916). Awarded the M.B.E. for his wartime services. Captain Greenwood died on the Isle of Wight on 30 June 1936. With some copied research.

A fine Great War ‘minesweeping operations’ D.S.C. group of ten awarded to Lieutenant-Commander J. C. Bird, Royal Navy Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Awarded 1916 Lieut. Commander J. Collis Bird. Presented by H.M. George V. Aug. 1917’, hallmarks for London 1916; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Lieut. J. C. Bird, R.I.M.S. Minto); 1914 Star (Lieut. J. C. Bird, D.S.C. R.N. Transport Staff); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lt. Commr. J. C. Bird R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Royal Humane Society Medal, small, silver, successful (Lieut. James C. Bird R.N. 21st Dec. 1915) mounted for display, some edge bruising and contact marks, very fine or better, and a scarce 1914 Star (10) £1800-2200 D.S.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917. ‘In recognition of bravery and devotion to duty during minesweeping operations’. James Collis Bird entered the Royal Indian Marine as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1907 and subsequently served as a Lieutenant aboard R.I.M.S. Minto in operations in the Persian Gulf 1909-14. He was appointed a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy in September 1914. He served on the minesweepers Ravenswood and Glen Avon from July 1915. In command of the latter he was involved in a daring rescue during December 1915. The following account taken from the R.H.S. Case Book for 1916 (Case No. 42272), ‘At 3.50 pm on 21st December 1915, H.M. Minesweeper 186 (Lady Ismay) was struck by a mine and blown up about one mile N.W. of the Longsand Light Vessel. Minesweeper 185 (Glen Avon), commanded by Lieut. James C. Bird, approached as near as possible to pick up survivors, but she had lowered her boats two to three hundred yards away so that if she herself struck a mine they would be ready in the water to give help. While thus a considerable distance ahead of her boats, two men named Baines and Petterson were seen struggling and trying to hold onto small pieces of wreckage. Lieut. Bird left the bridge and diving off the forecastle head swam to the two men. A lifebelt was floating about 10 yards away, and this he secured and tied to Patterson, whom he then assisted to a larger piece of wreckage. Baines was now very much exhausted, and Lieut. Bird supported him with one hand and with the other held on to the wreckage on which Patterson was until all were picked up by the boats after being about fifteen minutes in the water’. For his services he was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Silver Medal. Later in the war he served on the gunboat Leda and paddle minesweeper Aiglon and was in command of the minesweeper Saltash from September 1918 and Cotillion from April 1919. For his services with minesweepers during the early years of the war, he was awarded the D.S.C. After the Great War he went to Australia where he was appointed a Lieutenant Commander on the Emergency List of the Permanent Naval Forces of Australia. In 1940 he left the R.A.N. and returned to the U.K. and was appointed a Temporary Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy serving on Fortitude, Clyde and Nemo. With a folder of copied research.

A most unusual Great War ‘Gallipoli’ M.C. group of eight awarded to Captain H. L. Norman, East Lancashire Regiment, late Royal Engineers Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse engraved ‘Capt. H. L. Norman, East Lancs., won in Gallipoli, 1915’; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (20270 2nd Corpl. H. L. Norman, R.E.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. H. L. Norman, E. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. H. L. Norman); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (20270 F. of W. Q.M.S. H. L. Norman, R.E.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (20270 W.O. Cl. 2. H. L. Norman, R.E.) official correction to surname; Khedive’s Star, undated, the Egypt medal nearly very fine, otherwise nearly extremely fine and a very rare combination of medals (8) £2000-2500 M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1916: ‘Manchester Regiment (Service Battalions). Temp. Capt. H. L. Norman, East Lanc. R., Spec. Res.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 6 March 1916 (General Sir Charles Munro’s despatch). Herbert Luxton Norman was born at Hatherleigh, Devon, and enlisted for the Royal Engineers on 7 September 1885, aged 19 years 2 months, having served previously with the 4th Devon Volunteer Rifles. He served on the Egyptian Frontier in 1888 and in operations on the Nile in 1889 (Medal and Bronze Star). After a period at Home, he served in Hong Kong from August 1898 until December 1902, by which time he had been promoted to Quarter-Master Sergeant Foreman of Works. The remainder of his service was spent at Home until his discharge at Fermoy on 6 September 1906. His L.S. & G.C. medal with Gratuity was announced in Army Order 67 of 1907. On the outbreak of war Norman was appointed Lieutenant & Quarter-Master in the 10th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment and was promoted to Captain on 1 December 1914. Attached to the Manchester Regiment, he entered the Gallipoli theatre of war in May 1915. With them he probably fought in the battles before Achi Baba and in the Third Battle of Krithia. In the latter, Lieutenant Foreshaw, 1/9th Manchester Regiment, won the Victoria Cross. For his bravery in the campaign, Norman was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross. Due to his age Norman was selected for transfer for garrison battalion, a move that he resisted by requesting a transfer to another unit, as evidenced in a report from his Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General V. Ormsby, who wrote: “I believe that Captain Norman habitually displayed great gallantry and good leadership in Gallipoli. His commanding officer is not however satisfied as to his general knowledge and capacity for the command of a company in open warfare. After interviewing Col. Morrogh and Captain Norman, and in view of the latter’s wish for transfer to another battalion, I recommend that this course be adopted. I know Captain Norman to be most painstaking and conscientious. Though nearly 49, he is tougher than many a much younger officer, and is very averse to performing garrison duties.” In 1918 he is recorded as being a Captain in the East Lancashire Regiment and a Musketry Instructor. Sold with a sepia photograph of the recipient in civilian clothes before the war; a pencil sketch of the recipient, inscribed, ‘Captain Norman, Esk Line Trenches, Gallipoli, in front of Achi Baba, 23.7.15 (signed) Eric English’; original M.I.D. Certificate,mounted on card with partial loss of initials, ‘Manchester Regt. [T.F.] T/Capt., E. Lan. R., S.R.’; copied m.i.c. and other research.

A Boer War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Captain W. Shipley, Welsh Guards, late Coldstream Guards Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (7663 Q.M. Serjt., 1st Coldstream Gds.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (7663 Q.M. Sejt., Cldstm. Gds.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (7663 Qr.-Mr.-Sjt., Coldstream Guards); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (7663 Sjt. Mjr., Cldstm. Gds.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Sjt. Maj., D.C.M., C. Gds.) mounted as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (7) £2500-2800 D.C.M. London Gazette 31 October 1902. M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901; 29 July 1902. Quartermaster W. Shipley, Coldstream Guards, served in the Second Boer War, taking part in the advance on Kimberley, including the actions at Belmont and Modder River; operations in the Orange Free State, including the action at Driefontein; operations in the Transvaal, including the actions near Johannesburg and at Diamond Hill; and operations to the east of Pretoria, including the action at Belfast. For his distinguished service, he was twice mentioned in despatches, awarded the D.C.M. by Army Order 10 of 1903, awarded the Queen’s medal with six clasps and the King’s medal with two. In April 1904 he was appointed a Sergeant-Major in the Coldstream Guards. In September 1906 he was posted to the Royal Hibernian School where he was to be employed for four years regular service and over nine years pensioned service. Shipley was discharged from the Army in December 1910 but with the onset of the Great War he was appointed to the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion Welsh Guards as a Quartermaster and Lieutenant on 5 August 1915. On 5 August 1918 he was promoted to Captain and served until demobilised in February 1920. After the war he returned to the Royal Hibernian School but when the institution closed in 1924, moves were made to award Shipley with the M.B.E. but in the event, he was not so awarded. Following on from his service with the Military School he served sixteen years as Superintendent at Queen Alexandra’s Court, Wimbledon - the Officer’s Branch of the S.S.& A.F.A., retiring in 1944 at the age of 70. Together with a Royal Hibernian Military School and a Coldstream Guards cap badge; a photograph of the recipient in uniform inscribed ‘W. Shipley, Captain, Welsh Guards, 1915-1920’. With copied gazette extracts for the two Boer War ‘mentions’ and copied service papers and other research. His papers refer to him being ‘mentioned’ for a third time during the Great War.

A Boer War D.C.M. awarded to Private W. Malone, Royal Munster Fusiliers Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (6246 Pte., 1st Rl. Muns. Fus.) mostly officially re-impressed, very fine £800-1000 D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901. M.I.D. London Gazette 7 May 1901. William Malone was born in Bantry, Co. Cork. A Labourer by occupation, he attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Bantry on 8 February 1899., aged 18 years, five months. With the 1st Battalion he served in South Africa, August 1899-March 1901. Severely wounded at Rhenoster Kop, 29 November 1900. For his services he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.C.M. and the Queen’s medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. He was discharged on 20 July 1903. With copied service papers and other research.

A good Great War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Warrant Office Class 2 C. G. S. Carver, Royal West Surrey Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (200121 Sjt. C. G. S. Carner, 7/The Queen’s R.), note surname spelling; British War and Victory Medals (T-1085 W.O. Cl. 2 C. G. S. Carvey, The Queen’s R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (T-1085 Pte. C. G. S. Carver, The Queen’s R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (200121 Sjt.-A. C. S. Mjr. C. G. S. Carver, D.C.M., 4/The Queen’s R.), mounted as worn, occasional edge bruising and somewhat polished, otherwise nearly very fine (5) £1200-1400 D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919: ‘For splendid courage and good work. At Hecq, on 4 November 1918, when through the hostile shelling the only officer in the company was wounded, he rallied the men and led them forward. He exercised wonderful grip of the men, and by his masterly leadership instilled confidence into all under his command.’ Carver was from Oxted, Surrey, was awarded his T.F.E.M. in AO 148 of 1920; sold with an old fragmented copy of the Army Order announcing the award of the recipient’s D.C.M.

A Great War ‘East African operations’ King’s African Rifles D.C.M. awarded to Serjeant Ishmael, 2/2nd Battalion King’s African Rifles King’s African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1609 Sjt. Ishmael, 2/2 K.A.R.) fine £700-800 K.A.R. D.C.M. Medal issued from Woolwich, 19 December 1918. Citation: ‘Period 1st Dec. 1917-31st July 1918. For conspicuous gallantry in action and devotion to duty on all occasions. He has always shown the utmost disregard of personal danger under heavy fire, and by his example has done much to stimulate the moral of his platoon’. Ishmael, of the Attanga Tribe, from the village of Nkata Bay in the District of Chintechi, enlisted into the K.A.R. on 27 October 1915. Serving with the 2/2nd Battalion, he was promoted to Lance-Corporal in May 1917; Corporal in August 1917 and Serjeant in September 1917. He served in German and Portuguese East Africa, being present at 14 named actions between December 1916 and September 1918, being wounded at Kiwarube (?) on 9 February 1917 and Pere on 6 September 1918 for which he was granted wound gratuities. With copied service papers.

A Great War D.S.M. group of three awarded to Engine Room Artificer T. Fowler, Royal Navy Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (M13830 E.R.A. 4Cl. “Grasshopper” 1918); British War and Victory Medals (M.13830 E.R.A.3, R.N.) fine (3) £600-800 D.S.M. London Gazette 11 December 1918. ‘.... for services in other destroyers between 1st January and 30th June 1918’. Thomas Fowler was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, on 16 January 1870. An Engine Fitter by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 15 June 1915. After service at Pembroke II, he was posted to Conquest, March 1916-September 1917, being confirmed in his rank in April 1917. After a further spell at Pembroke II, he was posted to the destroyer Grasshopper and the depot ship Hecla, October 1917-May 1918 and thence on the same destroyer and the depot ship Apollo until August 1918, being advanced to E.R.A. Class 3 in May 1918. He was then posted to Pembroke but in October 1918 was sentenced at the Chester Assizes to three months imprisonment for attempted murder. Fowler was demobilised in April 1919. For his service aboard the destroyer Grasshopper, 1 January-30 June 1918, he was awarded the D.S.M. On 5 February 1918 the Grasshopper assisted in the rescue of survivors from the S.S. Tuscania. The ship was torpedoed by the UB-77 whilst carrying U.S. troops from New York to Liverpool. At the time of her loss she was carrying 2,235 persons of which 166 were lost. With copied service paper and some additional research.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer Class 1 A. Kerr, Canadian Army Service Corps and Princess Louise Dragoon Guards Military Medal, G.V.R. (30090 Dvr. A. Kerr, No. 1 Coy. 1/D.T. Can. A.S.C.); 1914-15 Star (30090 Dvr. A. Kerr, Can. A.S.C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (30090 Dvr. A. Kerr, C.A.S.C.); Victory Medal 1914-19, unnamed; Jubilee 1935 (R.S.M. (W.O.1) Alex Kerr, M.M., P.L.D.G.); Coronation 1937 (R.S.M. (W.O.1) Alex Kerr, M.M., 4th P.L.D.G.) these privately engraved; Colonial Auxiliary Force Long Service, G.V.R. (S.S.M. (W.O. Cl. II) A. Kerr, M.M., P.L.D.G.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Canada (R.S.M. (W.O. Cl. I) A. Kerr, M.M., P.L.D.G.) mounted for display, some with contact marks, nearly very fine and better (8) £550-650 M.M. London Gazette 11 April 1917. Citation reads, ‘This man after being wounded in the arm by a piece of shell on 11 April 1917, in the afternoon, and having his arm placed in a sling, resumed his place of work on the driver’s seat and drove with one hand until his work was completed, three hours afterwards. After handing over his team he was taken to the Field Ambulance and has not yet returned to duty’. Alexander Kerr was born in Glasgow on 8 June 1896. Moving with his parents to Ottawa, Canada, in 1908, he enlisted into the 1st Division Train, C.A.S.C. on 19 September 1914. Serving on the Western Front he was wounded in action on 11 April 1917. For his service in bravely carrying on his duties, he was awarded the Military Medal. He was discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 31 December 1921. On his return to civilian life in Ottawa, he enlisted into the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. Attaining the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major, he was awarded the Jubilee Medal of 1935, the Coronation Medal of 1937 and two long service medals. His obituary also states that he was a piper with the Cameron Highlanders in Ottawa. In civilian life he served for some 35 years as a member of the Treasury Branch of the Department of Transport. Retiring in June 1957, he died in April 1958. With a quantity of copied service papers and other research.

A Great War M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal J. W. Cooper, Royal Field Artillery Military Medal, G.V.R. (60955 Cpl. J. W. Cooper, R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (60955 Dvr. J. W. Cooper, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (60955 Dvr. J. W. Cooper, R.A.) very fine (4) £350-400 M.M. London Gazette 26 May 1917. M.I.D. London Gazette 18 May 1917.

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Private H. I. Lowth, 1/4th West Riding Regiment, T.F., who died of wounds in December 1917 Military Medal, G.V.R. (203188 Pte. H. Lowth, 1/4 W. Rid: R.-T.F.); British War and Victory Medals (203188 Pte. H. I. Lowth, W. Rid. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £350-400 M.M. London Gazette 18 October 1917. Harold Ivus Lowth was born at Carlton Scroop, Lincolnshire, and enlisted at Grantham. He died of wounds on 27 December 1917, and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Gunner J. Flynn, Royal Garrison Artillery Military Medal, G.V.R. (38220 Gnr., 219/Sge. By. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (38220 Gnr., R.A.) second with edge bruise, good very fine (3) £200-250 M.M. London Gazette 4 February 1918. Flynn was a native of East Cork. With gazette extracts and m.i.c.

A Great War M.M. group of four awarded to Battery Quartermaster Serjeant W. Lupton, Royal Field Artillery Military Medal, G.V.R. (786046 Sjt., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (786046 Sjt., R.A.); Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Territorial (739215 B.Q.M. Sjt., R.A.) good fine (4) £200-250 M.M. London Gazette 23 July 1919. The recipient came from Otley, West Yorkshire. With copied m.i.c. and gazette extracts.

A Great War M.M. awarded to Private J. D. Abel, 1/4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders Military Medal, G.V.R. (201447 Pte., 1/4 Gord. Highrs.) good very fine £200-240 M.M. London Gazette 7 October 1918. Private James D. Abel, 1/4th Gordon Highlanders, from Netherton, Wakefield, W. Yorkshire, entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 10 November 1915. Entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals. He was discharged on 4 March 1919. With copied m.i.c. and gazette extracts.

A Great War M.M. awarded to Corporal Ndala, 2/2nd Battalion King’s African Rifles Military Medal, G.V.R. (2173 Cpl. Ndala, 2/2 K.A.R.) nearly very fine £200-250

A fine Second World War C.B.E. and Lloyd’s Bravery Medal pair awarded to Captain Charles Fox for gallantry on the occasion of the sinking of the S.S. Orcades by the U-172 in October 1942; as Master of the ship he was the last to leave as she sank three hours after the first attack The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with full neck cravat in its Garrard & Co case of issue; Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea (Captain Charles Fox, S.S. “Orcades”, 10th October 1942) in its original gilt embossed case of issue, extremely fine (2) £1200-1500 C.B.E. London Gazette 2 March 1943: ‘For services when the ship was torpedoed and sunk.’ ‘The ship, sailing alone, was torpedoed. At the time a moderate gale was blowing and the sea was rough with a very heavy swell. Later the ship was again torpedoed, and the Master [Fox] decided to get away the passengers and the majority of the crew in the boats. Those remaining on board made valiant efforts to save the ship but they were frustrated by further attacks and she finally sank about three hours after the first attack. As the ship was sinking, the Master and the crew remaining on board abandoned her. In his determined efforts to save his ship, the Master showed great courage and leadership of a high order. He was the last to leave and assisted two men to saftey when swimming towards a raft.’ Lloyd’s War Medal Lloyd’s List & Shipping Gazette 14 October 1943: published with a condensed version of the above official citation. The S.S. Orcades, of the Orient Steam Navigation Company, was torpedoed by U-172 and sunk in the South Atlantic on 10 October 1942. The following account is given in David Masters’ In Peril on the Sea: ‘The liner Orcades with 711 passengers and 354 officers and crew was steaming alone at speed in a moderate gale with rough seas and a heavy swell when a U-boat caught her on October 10, 1942. It did not take Captain C. Fox long to find out that she was badly holed. The possibility of keeping her afloat was so uncertain that it was essential to get the passengers into the boats without delay. The order sent the crew to their boat stations at the double and the operation began to go like clockwork. It was plain from the way the men worked under the supervision of the Boatswain, J. Murphy, and the quiet orders of the Chief Officer, R. J. Craddock, that the boat drill had not been wasted on them. In the most orderly manner the passengers were passed into the boats which were quickly and safely launched upon the rough seas. The engineers still remained at their posts in the engine-room while Captain Fox sought to find out the full extent of the damage. He was keen to keep the Orcades afloat. Having embarked his passengers in safety, Captain Fox and his chosen men strove to save the liner. They had no chance. The U-boat saw to that. After striving for three hours to keep her afloat, the Master gave the order to abandon ship and the men jumped overboard to the rafts. The last to leave as she was sliding under was Captain Fox who, seeing two men in trouble as he was swimming towards a raft, helped them both to safety. Over a thousand human beings were left tossing about on rough seas in lifeboats and rafts in the middle of the ocean. They had escaped from the sinking ship, but whether they would escape with their lives was still uncertain. Signals had been sent out, but had they been received? If so, how far away was the nearest ship and could she reach them before the storm grew worse and started to take its toll of them? Those were the questions which Captain Zawarda of the Polish ship Narvik hastened to answer as he steamed to the rescue, while the Chief Officer of the Orcades did his best to keep the boats within hailing distance of each other. It was no easy task, for wind and wave are factors over which man has no control, yet his encouraging words permeated through the little fleet of lifeboats and rafts and did much to sustain the spirits of the survivors. For aught Captain Zawarda knew, he was himself steaming to destruction. If the U-boat were still in the area where she had sunk the Orcades, the German commander would certainly do his best to make the Narvik his next target. The risk was one which had to be run and Captain Zawarda accepted it without question. When the Narvik eventually came upon the first boat, the task of snatching up the survivors proved to be very long and difficult owing to the rough seas. Chief Officer Chelminski, however, who took control of the rescue operations, handled them so skilfully that he and his men succeeded in getting them on board safely. Then the search began in earnest, for by now the boats were widely separated. To and fro and round about the Narvik steamed, coming on a boat here, a raft there, stopping to pick up the survivors and succour them when they were on board. Captain Zawarda would not give up. For hour after hour he scoured the mounting seas and the number of survivors on board his ship increased from five hundred to six hundred. He now knew that all the boats had managed to get away. Unless some of them had capsized, there were others still to be accounted for. He held doggedly to his search and the survivors mounted to eight hundred. As the hours went on it crept up to nine hundred. All the time there was the risk that the U-boat which had destroyed the Orcades would come on the scene and attack the Narvik. Captain Zawarda was only too aware of it, but the mission of mercy he was carrying out far outweighed all risks and personal considerations. He would not give up. So long as he believed that any human being was adrift on that inhospitable sea, he was determined to find him. When at length, after a final look round, he was convinced that his self-imposed task was over, he set course for port. That long-sustained rescue operation which lasted twelve hours ranks among the finest rescue operations of the war. Captain Zawarda and his crew saved almost the whole complement of those on board the Orcades when she was sunk. Some of the engine-room staff who jumped into the sea at the last moment did not survive, but of the 1,065 people on board, Captain Zawarda rescued 1,021, for which fine feat he was awarded Lloyd’s War Medal, as was Captain Fox of the Orcades for getting all his passengers off the ship and making such a prolonged and plucky effort to save her.’

The remarkable Great War D.F.C. and Second World War George Medal awarded to Gyles Mackrell, late Captain in the Royal Air Force, whose daring exploits with his team of elephants led to the rescue of hundreds of refugees fleeing the Japanese advance through Burma in 1942, the British press at the time dubbing him ‘The Elephant Man’ Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Gyles Mackrell) good very fine (2) £5000-6000 D.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919. Awarded for service in India whilst serving with 114 Squadron R.A.F. His name was brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War, London Gazette 18 May 1920, ‘for valuable services rendered in connection with the military operations on the North-West Frontier of India, in East Persia and South Persia, during the period April 1, 1917, to May 31, 1918. To be dated January 1, 1919.’ G.M. London Gazette 29 January 1943: ‘Gyles Mackrell, Messrs. Octavius Steel and Company, Calcutta.’ ‘Mr. Mackrell, while in charge of the elephant transport, heard that a number of refugees were attempting to reach Assam over the Chaukan pass. In appalling weather he led his elephants by forced marches over a route hitherto considered impracticable. At great personal risk and after several vain attempts he took them across the flooded river, the bed of which consisted of shifting boulders. He thus rescued 68 sepoys and 33 other persons who were facing starvation. Without medical assistance he fed and doctored them until they were fit to proceed. He fell ill with severe fever, but remained behind and was responsible for saving the lives of over 200 persons. Mr. Mackrell showed the highest initiative and personal courage, and risked hardships which might easily have proved fatal.’ Gyles Mackrell was born on 9 October 1888, and educated at Epsom College. Prior to the Great War, he worked as a tea planter at Sylhet, India, and served as a trooper and N.C.O. in the Surma Valley Light Horse from 23 January 1909. Granted leave from that unit for the duration of the war from 1 December 1915, he was appointed Remount Assistant (ranking 2nd Lieutenant) in charge of horses per H.T. Janus from Bombay to Suez in January 1916, and then acted as Military Quarter-Master with 600 troops from Port Said to Marseilles per S.S. Aronda. Granted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve of Officers) on 29 April 1916, he underwent basic training as a pilot and was appointed Flying Officer on 21 August 1916. He served in France with No. 11 Squadron R.F.C. from 12 September 1916 to 2 April 1917, when he was appointed a Flight Commander and returned to England for further training. He then spent 7 months on night flying duties as a Flight Commander in No. 33 Home Defence Squadron R.F.C., before being posted to No. 31 Squadron R.F.C. Elements from this squadron were used to form No. 114 Squadron in India and, in February 1918, Mackrell took over command of “B” Flight at Lahore, where he was engaged in operations on the North-West Frontier. Decorated with the D.F.C. in June 1919, Mackrell once again returned to civilian life in Assam, where he worked as an area supervisor for Steel Brothers, a firm of tea exporters. The dramatic Japanese advance through Burma in early 1942, and the subsequent British retreat from that country to the safety of India, provide the backdrop to Gyles Mackrell’s remarkable story. The events that led to the award of the George Medal began on 4 June 1942, when Mackrell, now 52 years old, received an S.O.S. from a group of refugees who had managed to cross the swollen Dapha River by making a human chain. The rest of the party left behind were short of food and in danger of starving if help could not be got to them. Mackrell offered to collect some elephants and move off as quickly as he could. The Assam/Burma border is divided by mountain ranges and numerous rivers, affording few passes which were viable as crossing points. The Chaukan Pass, over which Mackrell’s party would have to cross, had been surveyed by a party of Gurkhas earlier that year. They had concluded that while it was possible to get through in good conditions, it would be impracticable during the monsoon period which had now arrived. Undeterred by this, Mackrell, in a series of epic forced marches reached the Dapha River on 9 June and found a group of 68 soldiers, from the Burma Rifles and Burma Frontier Force, who had been stranded on an island mid-river when the waters suddenly rose. Throughout the day repeated attempts were made to get the elephants through the raging high waters but the torrents were too overwhelming and Mackrell’s party was unable to reach them. However, in the early hours of the morning, the water fell and a window of opportunity opened in which to effect a successful evacuation. In the weeks that followed Mackrell established a camp on the banks of the river, where he gave help to the steady stream of refugees that struggled out of the Burmese jungle. By mid-July, however, sickness had descended on the camp and Mackrell and many of his men were struck down with fever. Reluctantly he was forced to return to Assam to recover but vowed to return to continue his rescue work. Whilst convalescing he conducted an aerial survey of the Dapha River area and was convinced that a second expedition should be mounted using both elephants and boats. This second party arrived at the riverside camp on 21 August, when Mackrell heard news of another stranded party, under John Rowland, a railway engineer who had left his party in order to seek help and had come across Mackrell’s camp in his absense. Several attempts had already been made to reach Rowland’s party but these had failed through a lack of supplies. Mackrell determined that it was still possible to get through to them and he pushed forward with his boats and elephants. On 4 September they came across some more of the party who had also left the camp in search of help. They carried urgent messages informing that food supplies were now reduced to little more than a week and that help must come immediately if disaster was to be averted. At the same time Mackrell received two letters from British authorities in Assam ordering him to immediately desist from any further attempts to rescue this party. However, deciding that it was impossible to withdraw in the existing circumstances, Mackrell decided to pushed on once more. Progress was becoming so slow that on 7 September Mackrell sent forward a striking party of his best elephants and fittest men with a supply of rations in a last desperate attempt to reach the camp. On 10 September, a team he had earlier despatched by boat now arrived and Mackrell was able to make further progress, but still he could not get close enough. The striking party was now the only hope that remained and all he could do was wait for news. On 20 September, by which time they had all but given up hope, a runner from the striking party arrived in camp with news of their success and, later that evening, the elephants arrived in camp bearing their weak and emaciated cargo of refugees. By the end of September 1942, when operations finally ceased, about 200 people had been saved. When considering Mackrell for a suitable award, Sir E. R. Knox, of the Treasury’s Honours Committee, in determining the percentage risk of death stated that it “could be put, very roughly, at George Medal: 50 to 80%.” In January 1943 the award of the George Medal to Gyles Mackrell was duly announced in the London Gazette. The British press immediately picked up on his amazing story they dubbed him “The Elephant Man”. The press frenzy soon died down, however, as the war continued and his story became forgotten amidst the greater tragedy that was unfolding around Britain’s “Forgotten Army

A fine Second World War B.E.F. 1940 D.C.M. group of five awarded to Lieutenant W. Harrison, Pioneer Corps, late Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (5945343 W.O. Cl. 2 W. Harrison, Bedfs. & Herts.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (5945343 Sjt. W. Harrison, Bedfs. & Herts.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, minor official correction to unit on the first, generally good very fine (5) £2500-3000 D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1940. The original recommendation states: ‘The enemy were shelling ‘B’ Company’s forward position at Avelghem when P.S.M. Warren was reported as seriously injured and unable to move in front. C.S.M. Harrison immediately called for a volunteer and with Private Peakes went out, still under shell and rifle fire, and with no regard to his own safety brought back the wounded Warrant Officer. During the withdrawal through La Panne his Company Commander was seriously wounded. He arranged for him to be assisted to the beach and then took charge of the Company. He obtained a motor cycle and under heavy shelling found an alternative route to the beaches in order to minimise losses to the Company. He thereby managed to bring about 75 percent of the Company to the beaches where he had them under complete control. Throughout the Flanders withdrawal, C.S.M. Harrison by displaying consistent courage and leadership was a fine example to those around him.’ Of events at the time the recipient’s Company Commander was mortally wounded on the beach at La Panne, regimental sources state: ‘It was here that we learnt, with deep regret, of the death of Captain G. H. Onslow. Onslow had reached La Panne, bringing up the rear of his Company, when he was badly wounded in the face and head by a shell. He was assisted on the beach by C.S.M. Harrison and others, but it was obvious that he was badly wounded. Soon afterwards a machine-gun attack by an enemy aircraft killed him. So we lost a great comrade who had so successfully commanded Carriers, battle patrols (with which he did so well on the Saar front) and ‘B’ Company. He would have been pleased to know that his Company’s work was well appreciated and that the three D.C.Ms were awarded had all gone to Warrant Officers of ‘B’ Company.’ Following his gallant deeds in Flanders, Wilfred Harrison was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Pioneer Corps in December 1942, but was dismissed from the Service by sentence of a Field General Court Martial on 8 June 1944 (London Gazette 9 June 1944 refers). Sold with a wartime photograph of three officers, including the recipient, the reverse captioned, ‘As Officer Commanding Special Training Wing (all African), Quassasin, Middle East, promoted T./Capt. 25.8.43, myself with 2 i/c and Adjutant’, and a post card format photograph of officers, again including the recipient, taken at ‘Chindit H.Q.’ India; together with copied research from the regimental history and journal, in which Harrison is mentioned.

An outstanding Second World War Greek operations C.G.M. group of six awarded to Leading Seaman G. R. Fuller, Royal Navy, who, though badly wounded, fought his gun to the last aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Wryneck - nor did he ever complain about his stomach and thigh wounds during the 48-hour open-boat voyage that ensued Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (C/JX. 138699 G. R. Fuller, L. Smn., H.M.S. Wryneck); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (6) £8000-10000 C.G.M. London Gazette 11 November 1941: ‘For gallantry and distinguished services in operations in Greek Waters.’ Under which heading, and the award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, appears the name of Leading Seaman G. R. Fuller: ‘Though badly wounded, fought his gun to the last, and when his ship was sunk, heartened the survivors by his courage and cheerfulness.’ George Robert Fuller was decorated for his gallantry on the occasion of the loss of the destroyer H.M.S. Wryneck on 27 April 1941, a day that cost the Navy dearly - H.M.S. Diamond and the transport Slamat being sunk on the same occasion, all three ships having come under sustained enemy air attack while conveying British troops from Greece to Suda Bay: Crete 1941 - The Battle at Sea, by David A. Thomas, takes up the story: ‘The Wryneck, in company with the Diamond, was attacked simultaneously and the pattern of attack upon her closely resembled that made upon the Diamond. Firstly came a raking of the decks with machine-gun and cannon fire, killing and wounding many of the guns’ crews in exposed positions. Secondly, there came the bombing attacks. The first bomb burst near the ship and was followed almost immediately by another explosion close alongside. The destroyer heeled over to port. The stokers’ messdeck forward was shattered and the casualties among the soldiers and the ship’s company were heavy. The Wryneck, like her consort, was also struck in the engine room and she was brought to a standstill, clearly doomed. She filled with water rapidly while the ship was abandoned. In fifteen minutes the destruction was complete. Both destroyers had gone. The Gulf of Nauplia became a scene littered with the grisly flotsam of war at sea.’ As quoted in Greek Tragedy, by Anthony Heckstall-Smith, D.S.C., and Vice-Admiral H. T. Baillie-Grohman, C.B., D.S.O., O.B.E., Fuller was among the few gunners who managed to respond to the enemy attack: ‘Like Diamond, Wryneck’s crew were fooled by the friendly markings on the wings of the fighter that came gliding down out of the sun to sweep her decks with cannon and machine-gun fire. In fact, they were taken so completely by surprise that her 4-inch guns never had a chance to come into action because their crews were all killed or wounded in a matter of seconds. But some of her close-range guns opened up before the alarm sounded on the bridge. And one of them was manned by Leading Seaman Fuller, who after being shot through the belly and thigh, kept on firing until the ship sank under him ... ‘ The Wryneck carried a complement of about 120, of whom seven were officers, including Commander R. H. D. Lane, R.N., and 98 ratings were lost in addition to the soldiers, bringing the total to approximately 950 for both ships. Only around 50 of all services were saved, in itself another chapter of courage and endurance - Greek Tragedy continues: ‘Mr. Waldron [Wryneck’s Warrant Engineer], after floating in his lifebelt for half an hour, was hauled on to a raft. Later, he was taken into Wryneck’s whaler which had been lowered soon after she was hit. Two Carley floats were taken in tow, and the whaler continued on its slow search amongst the debris and the dead and living. Its crew paddled around until both rafts were fully laden and until she had 23 men on board, including a Troop Sergeant-Major of the Gunners and Leading Seaman Fuller. That night, when darkness fell, Waldron, Fuller and Gordine and 49 sailors, together with eight soldiers were all who had survived the three ships ... Wryneck’s whaler leaked badly. For a time, the men in her took it in turns to sit on the holes made by the bomb splinters and the machine-gun bullets, while others baled her out with a tin hat. But when they had finished their search for survivors, Mr. Waldron set them to work patching the holes with a half a bar of soap and some scraps of wood. Throughout the whole afternoon of Sunday, 27 April, those who had strength enough pulled slowly on the four oars. Paddling and drifting, with the two Carley floats laden with men in tow, the whaler made its way roughly eastwards. Only very roughly, for the compass had been smashed by a cannon shell. It was hot, thirsty work rowing the heavy, water-logged boat, but there was only a damaged keg half filled with contaminated water for the 23 men. There were also two tins of biscuits, a case of bully beef, a box of Verey pistols and cartridges, and a boat’s ensign. The wind freshened considerably towards dusk and the sea rose with the wind. And as it rose, it kept picking up the Carley floats and hurling them against the whaler so that they were in danger of wrecking one another. Just before dark, Mr. Waldron was forced to cast the floats adrift for they were threatening to sink the whaler. At 2.30 the next morning, the two rafts with their 50 men were picked up by Griffin, which had been sent out from Suda in search of them. But the Griffin did not find the whaler. During the night, the wind blew hard from the west, and since there was no material from which to make a sea anchor, Waldron turned her stern to sea. The weary sailors kept enough way on her with the oars to prevent her broaching to. Then, Waldron picked a suitable star down wind, and managed to steer by it. But the weather worsened and she shipped so much water that the men worked in shifts baling her out. They were soaked to the skin and bitterly cold for most of them were wearing only their singlets and trousers. Waldron kept waking them up to take turns on the oars. Between times, they huddled together and slapped one another to keep their circulation going. For most of the night Waldron sat at the tiller or beside the coxswain with the seas and spray breaking over him as he conned the whaler by the stars. And all the time he kept Fuller warm by the heat of his own body, for Fuller had lost a lot of blood from the wounds in his belly and thigh, and was trembling with the cold. When the dawn broke, Waldron thought he recognised the hump of Milos Island against the pale sky. Although he reckoned it must be 30 miles away, he shaped course for it. Some time after sunrise, they sighted an Ajax class cruiser heading south at full speed in company with a destroyer. They fired Verey lights, flashed the lid of a tin in the sun, and waved the ensign. But the ships did not see them, and their disappointment was bitter as they watched the two ships disappear over the horizon. Later, they saw two more destroyers and three Blenheims, but they, too, failed to see the signals. Fortunately for them, several Stukas and Ju. 88s were equally unsuccessful at spotting them. During the morning, they were cheered a little when they retrieved an orange from the sea. Dividing it, they shared it amongst them to augment their meagre ration of bad water. At noon, the whaler appeared to be closing a small rocky island. And since it needed by a slight alteration of course to steer directly for it, Waldron told his men that he had made up his mind to make for it. They were all nearing the point of exhaustion, and, although he never complained, Fuller had grown so weak that Waldron doubted that he would survive another night at sea. As the whaler approached a small cove in the island at about four o’clock, they saw a caique lying at anchor, and a little group of people, standing on a narro

A fine North-West Europe M.M. group of six awarded to Pioneer Sergeant W. J. P. Evans, 4th (Llanelli) Battalion, The Welch Regiment Military Medal, G.VI.R. (3958804 A/Sjt. W. J. P. Evans, Welch. R.) official correction to middle initial; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R., with additional service bar (3958804 Cpl. W. J. P. Evans, M.M. Welch) mounted as worn, very fine (6) £2000-2500 M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1946. The recommendation states: ‘Sergeant W. J. P. Evans has been a Pioneer Sergeant of the Pioneer Platoon, 4th Bn. The Welch Regiment, since the battalion’s arrival in Normandy. Throughout the campaign Sergeant Evans has set his platoon a high example of cool courage and fearless determination in successfully carrying out numerous hazardous tasks in connection with the laying of mines, and the lifting of enemy mines, neutralizing enemy booby traps and demolitions and generally dealing with explosives. Many of the tasks undertaken by him were carried out under circumstances of great personal danger and when in charge of assault parties detailed for these jobs, he infused in them a spirit of cheerful courageousness by himself undertaking the most difficult and most dangerous part of the job. His devotion to duty was outstanding, particularly on one occasion in REUSEL, Holland when an R.E. party had been badly injured by drawing a minefield, without hestitation Sergeant Evans took his assault section forward under heavy spandau and mortar fire, cleared the remaining minefield so that unit trucks were able to go forward. This leadership and personal bravery and disregard to danger was a magnificent example to the remainder of the platoon and was undoubtedly largely responsible for the successes which they have had throughout the campaign.’ William John Phillip Evans was born in Llanelli in 1907, when his parents lived in Andrew Street. In June 1946 the Llanelli Star reported that Llanelli’s two fighting units, the 484th S.L. Battery R.A. and the 4th Battalion The Welch Regiment, were to be represented in the Victory March in London by Sergeant William Evans, M.M., and Sergeant B. Browning, of the Welch Regiment, together with Battery Sergeant-Major W. R. Basil Evans, R.A. Sold with a copy of Images of Wales - Around Llanelli, by Brian Davies, in which Sergeant William Evans is mentioned.

A Second World War North Africa operations M.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant A. D. Miller, Black Watch Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2754210 Sjt. A. D. Miller, Black Watch); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (2754210 Pte. A. Millar, Black Watch), note spelling of surname; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, together with a Black Watch Association lapel badge, the second with minor official correction to surname, generally extremely fine (8) £1200-1400 M.M. London Gazette 14 October 1943: ‘For gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East.’

A good Second World War B.E.M. group of eight awarded to Master at Arms R. Calvert, Royal Navy, a veteran of the 1915 Konigsberg operations off East Africa who went on to serve as M.A.A. of the submarine depot ship Cyclops with ‘ruthless efficiency’ in the Second World War British Empire Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Military (M.A.A. Robert Calvert, C./M. 36386); 1914-15 Star (K. 20773 Sto. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K. 20773 S.P.O., R.N.); Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (M. 36386 R.P.O., H.M.S. Hawkins); Coronation 1953, unnamed, very fine and better (8) £350-400 B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1945. The recommendation states: ‘He has served as Master at Arms of H.M.S. Cyclops since she commissioned nearly five years ago in September 1939. Utterly reliable, and infallible in his knowledge of the King’s Regulations and Service Routine, he is a stickler for discipline and ruthlessly efficient. He has devoted himself entirely to the good of the ship and with complete loyalty to his superiors, and has run the Regulating Department of the depot ship with tireless energy and drive. Although aged 51 he exacts a high standard from himself, and will always be found on duty from early morning till last thing at night.’ Robert Calvert was born in York in December 1892 and entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in December 1910. A Stoker 1st Class by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, which found him serving in the cruiser H.M.S. Pyramus, he went on to serve in the same ship off East Africa in 1915. Pyramus arrived from New Zealand off the Rufigi Delta in January 1915, her eight 4-inch guns being a welcome addition to the watch against the Konigsberg. And those same guns went into action on 6 February, when she sunk the Adjutant, which had earlier that day fallen into enemy hands - ‘a conflagration broke forth and the prize was still burning next dawn’. Three days later, in company with the Pioneer and Weymouth, Pyramus returned to try and finish off the job, but, as it transpired, the Germans were eventually able to refloat her. And on the day that the monitors Severn and Mersey so famously engaged and sank the Konigsberg in July 1915, the Pyramus was employed immediately off Rufigi Delta, with the intention of closing the Kikunja mouth so as to engage any guns or entrenchments on the banks. As it transpired, as a result of the high water, the Pyramus was able to get inside the river proper, and ‘fairly deluged both shores’ with her eight 4-inch guns, a bombardment not lost on the ill-fated crew of the Konigsberg. Retuning to home waters, and following a period ashore at Vivid II in late 1916, Calvert joined the cruiser Doris, and was still aboard her at the end of the War, in the rank of Stoker Petty Officer. A Master at Arms by the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, Calvert was appointed to the submarine depot ship Cyclops, which establishment was based at Rothesay in the Clyde Estuary. Here he served until the end of the War, a period that saw the depot serving the needs of the 7th Submarine Flotilla, in addition to running a variety of training courses - candidates for the latter included the first intake of X-Craft personnel, shortly to win numerous decorations for their famous strike against the Tirpitz. The only Robert Calvert on the Coronation 1953 roll is the Senior Custodian of the Lord Great Chamberlain’s Office. With copied research.

A rare Second World War B.E.M. group of eight to Company Sergeant-Major P. T. Benson-Ryal, Worcestershire Regiment and Intelligence Corps, awarded for his services with the British Military Mission to the Egyptian Army British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (6340681 C.S.M. Patrick T. Ryal); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6340681 Cpl. P. Ryal, Worc. R.) surname officially corrected; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, unofficial ‘8’ emblem on ribbon; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (6340681 Sjt. P. T. Benson-Ryal B.E.M., Int. Corps); note variation in surname, together with a mounted set of eight miniature dress medals, very fine and better (lot) £350-450 B.E.M. London Gazette 6 January 1944. Recommendation states: ‘During his three years service with the British Military Mission to the Egyptian Army, C.S.M. Ryal has shown outstanding zeal and devotion to duty. His work throughout has been characterised by great keenness, efficiency, smartness and reliability. Through the exercise of unbounded tact and ability he has rendered exceptional service in fostering good relations between Egyptians, both military and civil, and their British colleagues, and has done much towards instilling confidence in British intentions. In addition to his military duties, he has rendered, under the direction of the Embassy immeasurable service in the political sphere. He has toured the whole area round Asuit constantly and has, to all practical purposes, transformed a potential Anti-British group of towns and villages into a peaceful area in which British ideas are accepted with confidence. He is in my opinion worthy of the award for which he is recommended both for his military and his civil services which are of outstanding merit.’ Company Sergeant Major Patrick Thomas Benson-Ryal, B.E.M., enlisted into the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment in 1928 at the age of nineteen. He served with the Worcestershire Regiment 1937-48, Cheshire Regiment 1948-49 and the Intelligence Corps 1950-52. On the termination of his colour service engagement in June 1952 his Commanding Officer described his conduct as ‘exemplary’; in his testimonial to Benson-Ryal’s service, he writes ‘Sergeant Benson-Ryal has been in the canal zone of Egypt since June 1950. During the whole of this time he has been employed on civil security duties. He has always been very hard working, intelligent, honest and of sober habits. A very smart clean trustworthy N.C.O. who has a wide knowledge of Egyptian affairs. He also has a working knowledge of Arabic, police and customs, popular with everyone he has come into contact, and has done sterling work in the Middle East.’ Benson Ryal was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the Territorial Army in 1961 and in the Essex Cadet Regiment in 1963. Sold with a quantity of related items, including: Prize Medals (3) named; cap badges (6); Regular Army Certificate of Service Booklet; Record of Service Card; Buckingham Palace forwarding slip for the B.E.M. named to ‘Company Sergeant-Major Patrick T. Ryal, B.E.M., The Worcester Regiment’; Commission Document appointing him a 2nd Lieutenant in the T.A., 1961; Essex Army Cadet Force Identity Card; notebooks (2); letters (3); many photographs - mostly annotated.

A Second World War civil B.E.M. awarded to Mr Herbert C. Downs, Merchant Navy British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Herbert C. Downs) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine £140-180 B.E.M. London Gazette 9 January 1946. An extract from the Grimsby Evening Telegraph, of 11 January 1946, lists Grimsby Fishermen honoured for their wartime services, states: ‘A coloured man, a native of Barbados, Mr H. C. Downs, aged 61, of 84 Nelson-street, Grimsby, has given continuous service during the war as trimmer, deck-hand or third hand. He has been continuously employed by Sir Thomas Robinson and Son, Ltd. for 25 years and sailed for them during the whole of the 1914-18 war. He was in the Iranian and the Median when they were attacked and damaged by enemy aircraft.’

‘In 1963, Australian Army Captain Barry Petersen was sent to Vietnam. It was one of the most tightly held secrets of the Vietnam War: long before combat troops set foot there and under the command of the C.I.A., Petersen was ordered to train and lead guerilla squads of Montagnard tribesmen against the Viet Cong in the remote Central Highlands. Petersen successfully formed a fearsome militia, named the ‘Tiger Men’. A canny leader, he was courageous in battle, and his bravery saw him awarded the coveted Military Cross and worshipped by the hill tribes. But his success created enemies, not just within the Viet Cong. Like Marlon Brando’s character in Apocalypse Now, some in the C.I.A. saw Petersen as having gone native. His refusal, when asked, to turn his Tiger Men into assassins as part of the notorious C.I.A. Phoenix Program only strengthened that belief. The C.I.A. strongly resented anyone who stood in their way. Some in U.S. Intelligence were determined Petersen had to go. He was lucky to make it out of the mountains alive.’ The Tiger Man of Vietnam, by Frank Walker (Hachette, Australia, 2009), refers. The highly important and incredible Vietnam M.C. group of thirteen awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. B. “Barry” Petersen, a guerilla warfare expert and member of the Australian Special Forces “Army Training Team Vietnam”, who was dubbed by the media as “Lawrence of the Highlands” following his extraordinary leadership of a highly motivated force of Montagnard tribesmen - respectfully known by the Viet Cong as “Tiger Men” - in numerous hit and run missions in Darlac Province, a role originally sponsored by the C.I.A. but subsequently abandoned amidst claims of him having developed a ‘personality cult’ in a scenario reminiscent of the fictional character Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now: but as recounted by Petersen in his compelling memoir, Tiger Men, An Australian Soldier’s Secret War in Vietnam, the Montagnard remained loyal to him to the end, bestowing on him the title Dam San, after a legendary warrior, and making him a Paramount Tribal Chief Military Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1965’; Australian Active Service Medal, 3 clasps, Vietnam, Malaysia, Malaya (13668 A. B. Petersen); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (1/3668 A. B. Petersen); Campaign Service 1962, 2 clasps, South Vietnam, Borneo (13668 A. B. Petersen); Vietnam Medal 1964-73, with M.I.D. oak leaf (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian Service Medal 1945-75, 1 clasp, Thai-Malay (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian Defence Force Service Medal, clasp, E.II.R. (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian National Medal, with Bar (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian Defence Medal (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian Anniversary of National Service 1951-72 (1708727 A. B. Petersen); South Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with two Silver Stars; South Vietnam Medal 1964, with ‘1960’ clasp (13668 A. B. Petersen); Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal (13668 A. B. Petersen), mounted as worn, together with unit commendation riband bar, Infantry Combat Badge and “Tiger Men” beret badge, generally good very fine (16) £60000-80000 M.C. London Gazette 29 October 1965: ‘Captain Petersen graduated from the Officer Cadet School at Portsea on 17 December 1954. Since his graduation, Captain Petersen has served as a Platoon Commander with National Service Trainees and as a Platoon Commander with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Captain Petersen’s service with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment included three years service in Malaya from 1959 to 1961. Captain Petersen was a Company Second-in-Command with the First Recruit Training Battalion at Kapooka until his assignment to the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in August 1963. Captain Petersen’s assignment as a member of the Australian Training Team Vietnam involves advice on the administration, training and operational employment of Montagnard personnel in Darlac Province. He was so occupied when the Montagnard Revolt of September 1964 broke out. During this revolt, in which several thousand heavily armed Montagnard soldiers were deployed against the provincial capital of Ban Me Thuot, Captain Petersen was required to prepare for the initial contact with the rebel tribesmen. On the afternoon of 20 September 1964, the first day of the revolt, he conducted a small party of intermediaries to the hamlet of Boun Enao. This involved passing through a prepared ambush. Having detected this, he dismounted from his vehicle, located the ambush commander, and persuaded him to permit the party’s onward movement. He was then required to approach the rebel stronghold and obtain admittance for the party. This he did, in gathering darkness and under conditions of extreme sensitivity involving a high degree of personal risk. Having gained admittance, by his own powers of persuasion he brought together the local leaders for talks with the intermediaries. The talks were successful, and paved the way for the eventual peaceful return of the Montagnard personnel to their proper duties. This most fortunate outcome is substantially attributable to the personnel influence of Captain Petersen, and to the high degree of courage displayed by him in effecting the necessary contacts.’ Citation for the South Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star: ‘Captain Petersen served as Senior Advisor to the Darlac Sector Truong Son Force in the period August 1963 to August 1965. During this period Captain Petersen rendered an outstanding service to the Government of Vietnam by giving sound advice on the organisation, training and operations of the Truong Son Force. The outstanding success which the Truong Son Force has attained in combat actions against the Viet Cong is attributed to his vast knowledge of military operations and his wealth of military experience. Captain Petersen has on numerous occasions accompanied the Truong Son Force on combat operations and, without exception, the influence of his presence, advice and leadership, ensured complete and total success of these operations. The Truong Son Force has attained one of the best combat records in Vietnam by inflicting heavy casualties and equipment losses on the Viet Cong while sustaining minimum of friendly losses. Captain Petersen’s great contribution has been and will continue to be an inspiration to the people of Vietnam in their struggle to remain a free nation. In view of his outstanding service to the Republic of South Vietnam, Captain Petersen is awarded the Cross of Gallantry, with Silver Star.’ Citation for the Second Silver Star to the South Vietnam Cross of Gallantry: ‘Major Petersen arrived in Vietnam on 29 April 1970 as Officer Commanding, ‘C’ Company, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. Since his arrival in this country, Major Petersen has commanded ‘C’ Company continuously on operations. During its service so far in Phuoc Tuy Province, ‘C’ Company has killed 21 Viet Cong and captured four prisoners. In October 1970, ‘C’ Company located the tracks of 120 men of the Viet Cong Chau Duc District Headquarters and the Chi (Local Force) Company which were followed for 15,000 metres through difficult secondary jungle until contact was made. In the ensuing actions, the enemy were scattered and prevented from re-organising. Major Petersen’s aggressive leadership and skilful handling of his Company were largely responsible for the disruption and withdrawal of the enemy force for re-organisation and re-training from the area normally used by it. His knowledge of the enemy’s methods, and his own tactical knowledge, have contributed greatly to the success of his Company in operations.’ Arthur Barry Petersen joined the Australian Army in July 1954, gr

Sold by Order of the Recipient’s Direct Descendants Robert Mugabe: “Why are your men trying to kill me?” Lieutenant-General Peter Walls: “If they were my men you would be dead.” The highly important Malaya Emergency and Rhodesia “Bush War” group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-General Peter Walls, G.L.M., D.C.D., M.B.E., arguably one of the greatest counter-insurgency leaders of modern times, who, having commanded ‘C’ Squadron, 22 Special Air Service Regiment in Malaya, rose to the command of the Rhodesian Army under Ian Smith during the U.D.I. and briefly of the Zimbabwe Armed Forces under Robert Mugabe on independence in 1980 - at one time he had 45,000 men under his command and his protracted defence of Rhodesia must surely rank as one of the finest military achievements of all time Zimbabwe Independence Medal 1980, in silver, officially numbered ‘0110’, with its case of issue; Rhodesian Grand Officer of the Legion of Merit (G.L.M.), neck badge and breast star, in silver, gilt and enamel, the latter fitted with four loops to reverse for wearing and in its case of issue; Rhodesian Officer of the Legion of Merit (O.L.M.), breast badge, gilt and enamel, in its case of issue; Rhodesian Defence Cross for Distinguished Service (D.C.D.) (Lt. Gen. G. P. Walls), with its case of issue; Rhodesian General Service Medal (Brig. G. P. Walls); Rhodesian Exemplary Service Medal, with Bar (Brig. G. P. Walls); The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Major C. P. Walls, S. Rhod. Mil. F.), note first initial; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn where applicable, together with a set of uniform tunic ribands, minor official correction to unit on the G.S.M., otherwise generally good very fine (11) £30000-40000 M.B.E. London Gazette 1 May 1953. The original recommendation states: ‘Major Walls has commanded the Rhodesian Squadron in the 22 S.A.S. since its arrival in Malaya in 1951. Although he is young and has no previous experience of commanding a unit of this size, his work had been quite outstanding; the Squadron has been absorbed into a British Army unit most successfully. The success of the scheme initiated by the Southern Rhodesian Government, whereby Southern Rhodesians were made available to fight against the communists in the Far East, is, in the case of the present Squadron, due to a great extent to the untiring efforts of Major Walls. He has set a very high standard of conduct, determination and courage throughout his tour with the Regiment, and his qualities of leadership are such that the Squadron has developed into a first rate fighting unit.’ George Peter Walls was born in Southern Rhodesia in July 1926, the son of one of the colony’s pioneer pilots, George Walls, who had served in the Royal Naval Air Service in the Great War. Educated at Plumtree School, Peter, as he was known, entered Sandhurst towards the end of the 1939-45 War, and was commissioned in the Black Watch, but, on learning that he was to be transferred to another regiment, chose to resign and ‘return to my beloved Rhodesia rather than serve in any regiment other than the Black Watch.’ With the S.A.S. in Malaya 1951-53 Commissioned into the Northern Rhodesia Regiment on his return, he was just 24 years of age when in early 1951 he was given command the Southern Rhodesia Far East Volunteer Unit (S.R.F.E.V.U.), afterwards designated ‘C’ Squadron, Malayan Scouts (S.A.S.), an unusual appointment for one so young, as recalled by Trooper Geoff Turner-Dauncey in S.A.S. Rhodesia, by Jonathan Pittaway and Craig Fourie: ‘S.R.F.E.V.U. was placed under the command of Lieutenant Peter Walls, a young Staff Corps officer who had served in the British Army with the Black Watch. He was appointed Temporary Captain to signify his position as the senior officer in the unit. As a Squadron Commander’s rank is that of Major, he was then appointed Acting Major. The intention was that on arrival in Malaya, a British Major would be appointed Squadron Commander of ‘C’ Squadron, and Major Walls would revert to the rank of Temporary Captain. This never happened, so the young Lieutenant, Temporary Captain, Acting Major Walls still in his twenties had the responsibility of being an operational commander for the complete duration of his Far East tour. I have no doubt that this experience stood him in good stead during the years that followed and in due course enabled him to become the supreme commander of the Rhodesian Forces.’ ‘C’ (Rhodesia) Squadron, Malayan Scouts (S.A.S.), arrived in the Far East in March 1951, where it was once more re-designated, this time as ‘C’ (Rhodesia) Squadron, 22 S.A.S. Regiment, and Walls quickly set to work in training his men in readiness for the jungle warfare ahead, himself being an early member of the team which carried out experimental “tree-jumping” as a means of entry into the deep jungle terrain. Mick Coetzee, another contributor to S.A.S. Rhodesia, takes up the story: ‘The answer was to drop directly into the jungle and since clearings were almost non-existent, dropping into trees was the only way. A member of ‘C’ Squadron was tasked with studying tree-jumping. The first experiment was conducted in a rubber plantation. Another experiment was to drop from a helicopter and this was actually tried over water. The difficulty was that there was no slipstream to assist in the development of the chute. Using helicopters was also expensive. The biggest helicopter in service was the S55 which had a ten-man capacity. Getting down to the ground from the tree was a problem. A hand-over-hand descent using knotted rope was successful but the physical effort required left the soldier almost exhausted on the reaching the ground. The hobby of the Regiment’s Medical Officer at the time was climbing in the Swiss Alps and he came up with the idea of the abseiling technique for making the tree-to-ground descent. For training purposes a scaffold was erected in camp and individuals were taught the technique. An experiment with the technique in the jungle proved successful. Unfortunately Peter Walls was wounded in the lower jaw at the moment the helicopter touched down on the helipad. It was speculated that the pieces of metal extracted from his jaw and lower face had come from the helicopter rotor which broke on touchdown.’ By January 1952, Walls - recovered from his injuries - was ready to take ‘C’ Squadron into action from a new base at Sungei Besi camp in Kuala Lumpur. In fact, the Rhodesians mounted no less than four operations in the months ahead, namely “Helsby” in Perak, “League” in Pahang, “Copley” in Kelantan and “Hive” in Negri Sembilan. In Rhodesia S.A.S., Trooper Geoff Turner-Dauncey describes the type of conditions the Squadron faced on such operations: ‘From the moment we stepped into the jungle until we returned to base we got soaked, and stayed wet, from the humidity, crossing rivers and swamps, and the soaking vegetation caused by monsoon rains. In that humidity, one has to learn to cope with impetigo skin diseases including ringworm, leeches and other ailments. Insect and leech bites began to fester, and ringworm, many forms of eczema, and athlete’s foot resulted in widespread ulceration of the skin. Ointments only aggravated rotting fleah, so where possible penicillin wound powder was applied to open sores. With our operational dress torn and rotting, and stinking of sweat, rifle oil and decaying vegetation, it was common practice to burn our clothes on returning to base. For a while troops returning to base from operations looked rather like clowns: wearing just P.T. shorts, sandal

The mounted group of miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant-General Peter Walls, G.L.M., D.C.D., M.B.E., Rhodesian Army, late Special Air Service Regiment, comprising: Zimbabwe Independence Medal 1980, silver type; Rhodesian Legion of Merit (G.L.M.); Rhodesian Legion of Merit (O.L.M.); Rhodesian Defence Cross for Distinguished Service (D.C.D.); Rhodesian General Service Medal; Rhodesian Exemplary Service Medal; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military), type 2; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R.; Coronation 1953, together with a set of related uniform tunic ribands, all but the third mounted as worn, generally very fine and better (10) £200-300

A fine wardrobe of uniform as worn by Lieutenant-General Peter Walls, comprising Black Watch officer’s khaki tunic, by Wm. Anderson, Edinburgh, label named and dated January 1946, with buttons and single War Medal 1939-45 riband, together with two related kilts in the regimental tartan; Rhodesian Army dark green tunics (2), one with General Officer’s rank insignia, and both with buttons, Airborne Wings and medal ribands, together with one pair of related trousers; Rhodesian Army full-dress dark blue tunic, lacking rank insignia but with buttons, Airborne Wings and medal ribands, and a pair of related trousers; scarlet evening dress jackets (2), with rank insignia and buttons, complete with a related waistcoat, pair of trousers and dress shirt; camouflage jacket, with General Officer’s rank insignia and Airborne Wings, and name label ‘Walls’, and related pair of trousers; short-sleeve camouflage tops (4), two with Airborne Wings and all with name label ‘Walls’; a parachute smock; one light, and one dark green shirt; a quantity of military ties; two pairs of spurs, and a large quantity of khaki webbing, including water bottle and revolver cases, generally in excellent condition (Lot) £500-1000

The M.B.E. group of five awarded to Sergeant R. W. Walls, British South Africa Police, late Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; British War and Victory Medals (P. Flt. Offr. R. W. Walls, R.N.A.S.); War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., crowned bust, Southern Rhodesia (32 Sgt. Mjr. R. W. Walls), together with a set of related uniform tunic ribands, mounted as worn, the earlier awards a little polished, but otherwise generally very fine or better (5) £400-500 Reginald William Walls, Lieutenant-General Peter Walls’ father, was born in Crowthorne, Berkshire in October 1899 and served aboard the training ship Worcester from April 1915 to April 1917. Subsequently appointed a Temporary Probationary Flying Officer in the Royal Naval Air Service in September of the latter year, he went on to pilot a variety of aircraft, including Curtiss, Avro, B.E. 2c and D.H. 4 types, and was transferred to the Unemployed List in April 1919, having latterly held the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the newly established Royal Air Force. Sometime thereafter he settled in Salisbury, Rhodesia, where at the time of his son’s birth in July 1926, he was serving as a Sergeant in the British South Africa Police, but further research is required to establish his final rank and the date of award for his M.B.E. Sold with a a fine quality B.S.A.P gilt-metal cap badge, and an old B.S.A.P. crest wall plaque; a Christmas 1914 Queen Mary Tobacco Box, with “bullet pencil”; old embroidered R.A.F. uniform Wings, and R.N.A.S. and R.A.F. crest wall plaques, and other miscellaneous pieces, including a wristwatch and compass.

The Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. and post war O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant Colonel K. G. Menzies, Welsh Guards, who served with the 2nd Life Guards in France in 1914 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with clasp (2. Lieut., 2/Life Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); War Medal 1939-45 (Colonel K. G. Menzies, O.B.E. M.C.); French Croix de Guerre, reverse dated 1914-1917, good very fine (7) £1200-1500 O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1946 (Lieutenant Colonel (Temporary), Welsh Guards). M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918 (Lieutenant, Welsh Guards) ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the troops on the flank were seen to be retiring, he took a message through an intense barrage to warn the supporting companies. In subsequent operations he has displayed great courage and initiative. (Boyelles, 28-30 March 1918)’ Croix de Guerre London Gazette 6 November 1918 (Lieutenant, Welsh Guards). Lieutenant Colonel Keith Graham Menzies served as a subaltern with the 2nd Life Guards in France and Flanders from 8 October 1914, transferring to the Welsh Guards the following year. He was present in the action at Hohenzollern on the night of 15 October 1915 when 25 Welsh Guards bombers under his command and 25 men from the 4th Grenadier Guards were rushed up to help a battalion of the Sherwood Foresters who had lost all their bombers. In July 1917 he was in command of No. 3 Company during the attack on Boesingh Chateau where he commanded the first assault wave and in July 1919 the honour fell to him and one other officer to parade the 2nd Welsh Guards Colours through Paris at the Victory March. He was promoted to the rank of Major in July 1926 and Lieutenant Colonel in August 1945. Regimental History refers.

Three: Private Richard Weeks, 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) 1914 Star, with clasp (4290 Pte., 2/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (D-4290 Pte., 2-d. Gds.); together with a named Corps of Commissionaires Long Service Medal, some minor contact wear and edge bruising to trio, therefore nearly very fine or better (3) £120-150 Richard Weeks served with the B.E.F. in France and Flanders from 16 August 1914 and was discharged unfit on 10 January 1915.

Four: Private (Musician) John Pearce, 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s) Dragoon Guards, later Scots Guards 1914 Star, with clasp (5085 Pte., 5/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (14461 Pte., S. Gds.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (2688176 Musician, S. Gds.) generally nearly very fine or better (4) £180-220 John Pearce served with the B.E.F. in France and Flanders from 15 August 1914. Sold with copy m.i.c. which confirms that he was originally erroneously issued with two British War and Victory Medal pairs, one of which was returned by the recipient at the time. The M.I.D. is not confirmed.

The Great War M.C. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant Colonel T. B. Olive, 3rd (King’s Own) Hussars Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed ‘Capt. T. B. Olive, 3rd Hussars’; 1914 Star, with clasp (Captain, 3/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major); Serbia, Order of the White Eagle, 2nd type, 5th Class breast badge with swords, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; Greece, War Cross 1916-17, 3rd Class, silvered bronze, plain ribbon; Medal of Military Merit 1916, 3rd Class, with bronze laurel wreath on ribbon; Royal Order of the Redeemer, Commander’s neck badge, 74 x 46mm., silver-gilt and enamel, last with enamel damage, nearly very fine and better (8) £800-1000 M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916. Despatches twice London Gazette 1 January 1916 (France and Flanders) and 21 July 1917 (Salonika). Serbian Order of The White Eagle, 4th Class with swords London Gazette 16 January 1920. Greek War Cross, 3rd Class London Gazette 26 November 1919. Greek Medal of Military Merit London Gazette 2 March 1923. Greek Order of The Redeemer London Gazette 29 June 1923. Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Bertram Olive served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 16 August 1914 as second-in-command of ‘B’ Squadron, 3rd Hussars and then as a Staff Officer up until 9 July 1916. He subsequently served in Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, European Turkey and the Islands of the Aegean from 2 September 1916 to 11 November 1918 during the majority of which time he held various senior staff posts within the Cavalry Brigade. The published regimental history, The 3rd (King’s Own) Hussars in The Great War 1914-1919, by Lieut. Col. W. T. Wilcox, CMG credits Olive with the following honours: ‘M.C., Brevet Major, Serbian Order White Eagle (3rd Class), 3 Greek Orders, American Bronze Medal, Despatches. With H.Q. Cavalry Corps and British Salonika Force.’

Three: Private Sidney Faggetter, 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars, who was wounded in October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (1229 Pte., 4/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (1229 Pte., 4-Hrs.) file mark to edge of victory medal which does not affect naming and with some other minor contact wear, otherwise very fine (3) £120-150 Sidney Faggetter served with the 4th Hussars in France and Flanders from 15 August 1914 and was wounded in action on 30 October 1914, subsequently transferring to the Machine Gun Squadron (Cavalry). The regimental history confirms the fact that he was wounded. Sold with copy m.i.c.

Four: Sergeant F. E. Saunders, 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, later 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) 1914 Star, with clasp (2487 L. Cpl., 5/Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (L-2487 Sjt., 5-Lrs.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 2 (311954 Sjt., The Bays); together with an Army Rifle Association named bronze prize medal, contact wear and a little polished, therefore nearly very fine (5) £180-220 Frederick E. Saunders served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 15 August 1914. Sold with copy m.i.c.

The superb Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. and Bar, D.C.M. group of nine awarded to Major Richard Carr, 16th (The Queen’s) Lancers, later Royal Lancaster Regiment, who served throughout the entire war and was awarded all three of his gallantry medals for specific acts of bravery as well as being mentioned in General French’s Despatch of 8 October 1914 Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, unnamed as issued; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1869 L. Sjt., 16/Lrs.); 1914 Star, with clasp (1869L Sjt., 16/Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, generally good very fine or better (9) £5000-6000 M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918 (2nd Lieut., Ryl. Lanc Rgt.) ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the enemy broke into the sap heads and trenches, he rallied his company and formed counter bombing parties. By his resource and pluck he drove the enemy completely out, pushing him back beyond his original line. His prompt action at a critical time prevented a much bigger attack from developing (North of Fampoux on 2 April 1918).’ Bar to M.C. London Gazette 7 November 1918 (2nd Lieut. (Acting Captain), Ryl. Lanc. Rgt.) ‘For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership. He led his company forward with the greatest coolness and ability, personally supervising the advance of each post under heavy fire from machine guns and snipers, and greatly assisting the outpost company commanders in pushing forward the post lines. He showed a complete disregard of danger and set a fine example to his men (Near Paucaul Wood, 6-12 August 1918.’ D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1915 (Lance Sergt., 16th Lancers) ‘For gallant conduct in bringing into cover several wounded French soldiers under heavy rifle fire.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 October 1914 (Lance Sergt., 16th Lancers). Major Richard Carr was born in February 1889 and served in the ranks of the 16th Lancers for eight years, including as a Lance sergeant in France and Flanders from 17 August 1914, before receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Lancaster Regiment in May 1917. He was promoted to the rank of Acting Captain from May 1918 and was employed with the Nigeria Regiment, West African Frontier Force from April 1919 to April 1925. The Army Lists confirm that he served in France and Belgium from 14 August 1914 to 11 November 1918 and that he was wounded. He was promoted to local Major in August 1939 at which time he is still shown as serving with the Nigeria Regiment.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Second Lieutenant (formerly Squadron Sergeant Major) Bertram Bear, 18th (Queen Mary’s Own) Hussars, later East Yorkshire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (4855 Sjt., 18/Hrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4855 /L. Corpl., 18th Hussars) suspension claw re-pinned; 1914 Star, with clasp (4855 Sjt., 18/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (4855 Sq. S. Mjr., 18/Hrs.) some contact wear and edge bruising, therefore generally nearly very fine (7) £500-600 M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1916 (Sjt. (now Sqdn. Sergt. Mjr.), Hussars). Bertram Bear served in France and Flanders with the 18th Hussars from 15 August 1914, before receiving his commission into the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment in June 1916 and was subsequently employed with the Machine Gun Corps from 24 February 1918. The Army List for 1920 confirms that he served in France and Belgium from August 1914 to 25 March 1918 and that he was wounded.

An early Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. and Russian Gold Medal of St George group of seven awarded to Squadron Sergeant Major E. W. Hall, 19th (Queen Alexandra’s Own Royal) Hussars, later Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (50741 C. S. Mjr., 9/M.G. Sqn. M.G.C.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5068 Pte., 19th Hussars); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (5068 Sjt., 19/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (5068 W.O.Cl.2., 19-Hrs.); Army L.S. & G.C., type 1 (50741 Sq. S. Mjr., M.G.C.) second initial given as ‘W’ on this medal; Russian St George Medal for Bravery, 2nd Class, in gold, reverse inscribed ‘No.2874’, the edge with officially impressed naming ‘5068 Sgt. E. W. Hall, 19th Hus.’, some contact wear and edge bruising, therefore generally nearly very fine or better (7) £3000-3500 D.C.M. London Gazette 17 April 1918 ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On several occasions, when officers were not available, he carried out the duties of subsection commander with extreme ability and his courage and coolness in action have frequently been brought to notice (Hollebeke 1914 and Loos).’ M.I.D. London Gazette 22 June 1915 (Sergt, 19th Hussars, attached 16th Lancers). Russian St George Medal for Bravery, 2nd Class London Gazette 25 August 1915 (Sergt., 19th Hussars) Ernest Walter Hall a native of Norwich served with the 19th Hussars in France and Flanders from 23 August 1914, transferring to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) in October 1915. Sold with copy m.i.c.

Six: Squadron Sergeant Major (Rough Rider) Albert Quick, 19th Hussars and Leicestershire Yeomanry Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, South Africa 1901 3962 Corpl., 19/Hrs.); 1914 Star, with clasp (3962 Sq. S. Mjr., Leic. Yeo.); British War Medal 1914-20 (3962 W.O.Cl.II, 19-Hrs.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (3962 W.O.Cl.2., 19-Hrs.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (3962 Sq. S. Mjr. R.R., 19/Hrs.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (3962 W.O.Cl.1., 19.H.) some contact wear, otherwise generally very fine or better (6) £350-400 M.S.M. awarded in Army Order 98 of 1953. Albert Quick enlisted into the 19th Hussars in October 1893, aged 18 and saw service with this regiment during the Boer War. He served in France and Flanders with the Leicestershire Yeomanry from 2 November 1914, subsequently serving the remainder of his time back with the 19th Hussars, before being discharged on 8 October 1917 as a result of being no longer fit for war service. Sold with copy m.i.c. which states that a replacement British War Medal was issued on 15 March 1927.

A Great War M.C. group of nine awarded to Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant (later Lieutenant) W. R. White, Northamptonshire Yeomanry, formerly Royal Dragoons, later Army Service Corps Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse neatly inscribed to centre ‘R.Q.M.S. William R. White, Northamptonshire Yeomanry’ and to top and bottom arms of cross respectively ‘Jany. 14th 1916’ and ‘May 27th 1916’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (2813 Qr. Mr. Sjt., 1/R.D.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (2813 R. Qr. Mr. Sjt., Rl. Dragoons); 1914 Star, with clasp (566 R.Q.M. Sjt., 1/1 North’n. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut.); Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (566 W.O.Cl.II, M.C., North’n. Yeo.); Special Constabulary Long Service, G.V.R., type 1 (Inspr.); Voluntary Medical Services Medal, with additional service bar (W. R. White) some contact wear overall, therefore nearly very fine or better (9) £1000-1200 M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916 (R.Q.M.S., Northamptonshire Yeomanry). M.I.D. London Gazette 27 May 1916. William Richard White was born in Portland, Dorset in 1873. He served in France and Flanders with the Northamptonshire Yeomanry from 6 November 1914 and was commissioned into the Army Service Corps in the rank of Second Lieutenant on 14 August 1916, subsequently being promoted to Lieutenant on 14 February 1918. Sold with copy service papers which confirm additional entitlement to ‘German Medal of The Order of Military Merit.’

Seven: Warrant Officer Charles Phillips, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, formerly Derbyshire Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (7536 Pte., Vol. Coy. Derby Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (12425 O.R. Sjt., 1/G. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (12425 A.W.O.Cl.2., G. Gds.) initial erroneously given as ‘G’ on B.W.M.; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (2604090 W.O. Cl. II, G.Gds.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., type 1 (12425 T.S. Mjr., 1/G. Gds.); Belgian Croix de Guerre, first medal polished and with contact wear overall, therefore nearly very fine, otherwise generally good very fine or better (7) £400-500 M.I.D. London Gazette 11 December 1917. M.S.M. London Gazette 17 June 1918. Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 12 April 1918. Charles Phillips served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 19 October 1914.

The superb Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C., D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant Major Joseph Littler, 2nd Battalion, later 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards, who formed part of the Bearer Company at the funeral of King Edward VII for which he was awarded the R.V.M. Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse contemporarily engraved ‘8380 Sgt. Major J. Littler, 4th Bn. Gren Gds’; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8380 Drill Sjt., 2/G.G.); 1914 Star, with clasp (8380 Dr. Sjt., 2/G. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (8380 W.O.Cl.I., G. Gds.); Royal Victorian Medal, E.VII.R., in bronze (8380 Sgt., 1st Bn. Gren. Gds. Bearer Party); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (8380 S. Mjr., G. Gds.) first two with some contact wear, obverse of R.V.M. with old repair to suspension and a little polished, therefore generally nearly very fine or better (7) £2500-3000 M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1918 Sergeant Major, 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards). D.C.M. London Gazette 30 June 1915 (Drill Sergeant, now Warrant Officer II, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards) ‘For conspicuous gallantry throughout the campaign. He has rendered invaluable service on all occasions and has never failed in any duty allotted to him however dangerous.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 22 May 1917 (Sergeant Major, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards). R.V.M. London Gazette 7 June 1910 (Colour Sergeant, King’s Company (Bearer Company), 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards). Joseph Littler was born in Runcorn, Cheshire and enlisted into the Grenadier Guards in 1899 aged 23, at which time he gave his profession as being a rock miner. He first served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 13 August 1914 and was promoted to the rank of Drill Sergeant ‘in the field’ with the 2nd Battalion before being transferred to the 4th Battalion in May 1918 with the rank of Sergeant Major. He was discharged on 30 October 1920 on the termination of his second period of engagement.

Six: Colour Sergeant (Sergeant Drummer) Alfred Douglass, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards 1914 Star, with clasp (10376 Sjt. Dmr., C. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (10376 C. Sjt., C. Gds.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (2646779 C. Sjt., C. Gds.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., type 1 (10376 Sjt. Dmr., 1/C. Gds.); together with recipient’s brass bed plate, suspension with old silver-solder repair to last medal which no longer swivels, some contact wear overall, otherwise generally nearly very fine or better (7) £200-250 M.S.M. London Gazette 18 January 1919 (Sergeant Drummer, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards). Alfred Douglas served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 12 August 1914.

Four: Private Frederick Newell, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards 1914 Star, with clasp (6974 Pte., C. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (6974 Pte., C. Gds.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Frederick George Newell) last medal with officially re-impressed naming, good very fine (4) £140-160 I.S.M. London Gazette 16 May 1947 (Postman, London Postal Region). Frederick George Newell served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 12 August 1914. Sold with copy m.i.c.

A good Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M., M.M. group of nine awarded to Warrant Officer Ernest Chidgey, Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers, formerly Somerset Light Infantry, who also received an M.I.D. for gallant and distinguished services in 1914 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (23115 A.C.S. Mjr., 35/D.S. Coy. R.E.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (23115 Sjt., 1/D.S. Co. R.E.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5821 Pte., Somerset Lt. Infy.) initial erroneously given as ‘C’ on this medal; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (5821 Corpl., Somerset L.I.); 1914 Star, with clasp (23115 Sjt., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (23115 A.W.O.Cl.2., R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (23115 Sjt., D.C.M., M.M. R.E.); French Medaille Militaire, enamel damage to last, some contact wear and edge bruising, generally nearly very fine and better (9) £2000-2500 D.C.M. London Gazette 17 April 1918 ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has constantly displayed the greatest energy and determination at his work, and by his initiative and skill has set an excellent example to his company.’ M.M. London Gazette 14 September 1916. Despatches twice London Gazette 20 October 1914 and 15 June 1916. Ernest Chidgey, a native of North Petherton served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 17 August 1914. The book, The Old Contemptibles Honours & Awards confirms the Medaille Militaire to Sergeant ‘Chidney’. Sold with copy m.i.c.

An early Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Company Sergeant Major Arthur Brown, 1st Battalion, East Kent Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8021 C.S. Mjr., 1/E. Kent Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (L-8021 Sjt., 1/E. Kent R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-8021 W.O.Cl.1., E. Kent R.) contact wear, therefore about nearly very fine (3) £800-1000 D.C.M. London Gazette 30 June 1915 ‘For conspicuous zeal and devotion to duty. By his untiring energy and his example throughout the campaign Company Sergeant Major Brown has done much to keep up the spirit of the men of his company. He was severely wounded while repairing a breach made by shells in the parapet.’ Arthur Brown served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 7 September 1914. Sold with copy m.i.c.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal John Hall, 1st Battalion, Royal Lancaster Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (8914 Pte. L. Cpl., 1/R. Lanc. R.); 1914 Star, with clasp (8919 Pte., R. Lanc. R.) note variation of first digit of regimental number; British War and Victory Medals (8914 Cpl., R. Lanc. R.); Delhi Durbar 1911, contemporarily inscribed ‘8914 Private J. hall, 1st Bn., The King’s Own Regt.’, generally good very fine (5) £400-500 M.M. London Gazette 11 February 1919. John Hall served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 23 August 1914. Sold with copy m.i.c.

A very good Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M., M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant G. H. Pye, 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, an early M.M. recipient, he was subsequently awarded a D.C.M. for gallantry at Guillemont on 21 August 1916 and taken prisoner of war Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8654 Sjt., 1/R. Fus.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (8654 Sjt., 1/R. Fus.); 1914 Star, with clasp (L-8654 Cpl., 1/R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (L-8654 Sjt., R. Fus.) minor contact wear, generally very fine or better (5) £1800-2200 D.C.M. London Gazette 20 October 1916 ‘For conspicuous gallantry in attack. Although wounded he twice attempted to take a message back under heavy fire. Being unable to do this he crawled back to the new position, and whilst his men were consolidating he effectually supported them with fire.’ M.M. London Gazette 3 June 1916. George H. Pye served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 7 September 1914 and was taken prisoner of war on 31 October 1916. Sold with copy of m.i.c. which confirms. The following in relation to Sergeant Pye’s D.C.M. winning exploits is extracted from The Royal Fusiliers in The Great War, by H. C. O’Neill, OBE: ‘At Guillemont on 21 August 1916 the 1st Battalion had on this occasion two companies, A and D engaged with the 3rd Rifle Brigade on the left and the 8th Queen’s on the right. The Fusiliers advanced at 3:30pm. ‘Hill Street’ and ‘Brompton Road’ were the objectives. The 1st Battalion got away with great dash, and after a strenuous fight drove the enemy out of the trench in front of Hill Street; but the flanking battalions were both held up, and, although the Fusiliers pushed well ahead, it was necessary to withdraw to the trench already mentioned... The headquarters bombers did good service, and Sergeant Pye though wounded, volunteered to take a message to his company commander. He was wounded again as he returned.’

A Great War 1914 ‘Battle of The Aisne’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Company Sergeant Major Martin Swanick, 1st Battalion, Liverpool Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6915 C. S. Mjr., 1/L’pool. Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6915 Pte., L’pool. Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (6915 C. S. Mjr., 1/L’pool. R.); British War Medal 1914-20 6915 W.O.Cl.2., L’pool. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (6915 C. S. Mjr., D.C.M., L’pool. R.); together with an erased Victory Medal, with M.I.D. oak leaf, the Q.S.A. with some minor edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine (6) £800-1000 D.C.M. London Gazette 17 December 1914 ‘For conspicuous gallantry in conveying messages to his Commanding Officer under heavy fire, although at the time badly wounded.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 October 1914. The following amusing anecdote in relation to C.S.M. Swanick’s ‘strict disciplinarian’ style is extracted from The History of The King’s Liverpool Regiment 1914-1919, by Everard Wyrall: ‘Colonel T. W. S. Graham says “Possibly one amusing incident during the action at Villers Cotterets on 1 September 1914 may be worth referring to as illustrating a point of view.” - My Company ‘D’ was in the wood just behind the guns when the latter were brought out under very severe shell fire by the gallantry of one of the teams. The South Staffords, who were, many of them, lying in ditches on each side of the road down which the guns galloped, set up a rather shrill hysterical cheer. Never, I should say, was a cheer better deserved, but my Colour Sergeant - Swanick, a strict disciplinarian, made a trumpet of his hands and roared indignantly into my ear through the roar of the shelling, “Ark at them loafers on the road!”

Four: Private A. J. W. Palmer, 1/4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 1914 Star (418 Pte., 1/4 Suff. R.); British War and Victory Medals (418 Pte., Suff. R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, E.VII.R. (418 Pte., 4/Suffolk Regt.) very fine (4) £160-180 Alfred Jason William Palmer served in France and Flanders with the 1/4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment from 8 November 1914 and was discharged on 26 April 1916. Sold with copy m.i.c. which shows entitlement to Silver War Badge (due to wounds).

A fine Great War 1914 ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant J. D. Burton, 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (9694 L. Cpl., 1/E. York. Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (9694 L. Cpl., 1/E. York. R.) first initial given as ‘T’ on this medal; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (9694 Sjt., E. York. R.) good very fine (4) £1200-1500 D.C.M. London Gazette 10 March 1915 ‘For coolness and resource near Vieux Berquin on 14 October 1914. When carrying orders, he succeeded in avoiding a German cavalry patrol. On the 19th October he was brought to notice for gallantry in carrying messages on several occasions under fire.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915. John Diggesson Burton served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 8 September 1914. Sold with copy m.i.c. which shows entitlement to Silver War Badge (9 January 1919, aged 25).

Three: Private John Ward, 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment 1914 Star, with clasp (7500 Pte., 1/Leic. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1-7500 Pte., Leic. R.) last medal with severe edge bruising, otherwise very fine (3) £100-120 John Ward served in France and Flanders with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment from 20 September 1914, subsequently transferring to the Royal Defence Corps.

Nine: Warrant Officer Frederick Byford, 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was wounded and taken prisoner of war in the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914 Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (3019 Cpl., 2/Lan. Fus.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (3019 Pte., Lanc. Fus.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (3019 Clr. Serjt., Lanc. Fus.); 1914 Star, with clasp (3019 C. S. Mjr., 2/Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (3019 W.O.Cl.2., Lan. Fus.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3019 C. Sjt., Lanc. Fus.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., type 3 (3019 C./Sjt., L.F.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (3019 Corpl., 2nd L.F.) first three medals a little polished, therefore nearly very fine and better (9) £800-1000 M.S.M. awarded in Army Order 98 of 1953 without annuity. Frederick Byford was born in Poplar, London in 1874 and enlisted into the Lancashire Fusiliers in June 1889, aged 14 years 11 months, at which time he gave his trade as a musician. He landed in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. on 22 August 1914 and was wounded by a gunshot to the right ankle and taken prisoner four days later in the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914. He was held at Friedrichsfeld, Bei Wesel prisoner of war camp in Germany, finally being repatriated on 13 July 1917 after nearly three years as a prisoner of war. He served the remainder of his time at home and received his discharge from the army in January 1920.

A good Great War 1914 ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private J. M. Walton, 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (10002 Pte., 1/R. Sco. Fus.); 1914 Star, with clasp (10002 Pte., 1/R. Sc. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (10002 Pte., R. S. Fus.) very fine (4) £1200-1500 D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1915. ‘For conspicuous gallantry on 14th December 1914. During the bombardment preceding our attack on the German position, the telephone communication became broken and Private Walton voluntarily undertook the task of finding the break, covering a distance of nearly 500 yards under severe fire. He subsequently showed the utmost gallantry in conveying messages under fire.’ John M. Walton served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 14 August 1914. Sold with copy m.i.c. which shows entitlement to Silver War Badge (2 May 1918, aged 28).