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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three: Private J. G. Wilkinson, Light Infantry General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (25007756 Pte J G Wilkinson LI); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 2002, unnamed as issued, the first two mounted court-style as worn; the last in Royal Mint card box of issue, first two with contact marks to the edge at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions respectively, otherwise nearly extremely fine and better (3) £100-£140

Eight: Lieutenant and Quartermaster E. Simmonds, Royal Durban Light Infantry, late Army Service Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (100 Pte. E. Simmonds. A.S.C.); Natal 1906, 1 clasp, 1906 (Sgt: E. Simmonds, Durban Light Infantry.); 1914-15 Star (Sjt. E. Simmonds 1st Infantry.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Sjt. E. Simmonds 1st Infantry.); Jubilee 1935 (44581 W.O. II. E. Simmonds. R.D.L.I.) contemporarily engraved naming; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, G.V.R. (No. F.2353. Sgt. E. Simmonds. 1st. Infy. (D.L.I.)); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., the reverse engraved ‘Lieut. & Q.Mr. E. Simmonds, 2 R.D.L.I.’, with integral top riband bar, mounted for wear in this order, traces of lacquer, light contact marks, very fine and better (8) £600-£800 --- Provenance: City Coins, September 2003. Ernest Simmonds was awarded his Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal in February 1921 and the corresponding Officer’s Decoration in mid-1938. He is included in a group photograph illustrated in the official unit history ‘The Durban Light Infantry’ by A. C. Martin.

Four: Captain J. H. Luxton, Royal Army Ordnance Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3362. Corpl J. H. Luxton. A.O.C.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3362 Serjt: J. H. Luxton. A.O.C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. J. H. Luxton); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (3362 Condr. . J. H. Luxton A.O.C.) contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (4) £240-£280 --- John Henry Luxton attested for the Army Ordnance Corps, and served with them in the South Africa during the Boer War. Advanced Conductor, he served during the Great War in Malta from the outbreak of War, and was commissioned Assistant Commissaries of Ordnance, with the honorary rank of Lieutenant, on 31 October 1914. Advanced Acting Captain, the British War Medal was his sole medallic entitlement for the Great War.

Three: Orderly T. Driver, Clitheroe Division, St John Ambulance Brigade Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (692 Ordly: T. Driver, St John Amb: Bde:); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (692. Pte. T. Driver. Clitheroe Div.); Clitheroe Tribute Medal, South Africa 1899-1901, silver (Ordly. Thomas Driver.) dark toned, good very fine, the last rare (3) £600-£800 --- Clitheroe Tribute Medal Ref Hibbard A8, only a few examples known. Served in South Africa with No. 10 General Hospital.

Seven: Sergeant J. Diamond, Royal Army Medical Corps, late Colne Division, St John Ambulance Brigade Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (589 Ordly: J. Diamond, St John Amb: Bde:); 1914-15 Star (61493. Cpl. J. Diamond. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (61493 Sjt. J. Diamond. R.A.M.C.); Jubilee 1897, St. John Ambulance Brigade (Private J. Diamond); Service Medal of the Order of St John, silver, straight bar suspension with ‘5 Years Service’ bar (Sergt. John Diamond (Colne Div. S.J.A.B.) 1913); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (589. Pte. J. Diamond. Colne Div.) earlier medals with contact marks and polished, good fine, otherwise very fine and better (7) £500-£700 --- Served in South Africa at Green Point, Cape Town.

Pair: Orderly G. Wesley, Northampton Corps, St John Ambulance Brigade Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (360 Ordly: G. Wesley, St John Amb: Bde:); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (360. Pte. G. Wesley Northampton Corps.) very fine (2) £300-£400 --- Served in South Africa with No. 8 General Hospital.

Pair: Orderly E. A. Caborn, Oundle Division, St John Ambulance Brigade Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (844 Ordly: E. A. Caborn, St John Amb: Bde:); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (844. Pte. E. A. Caborn. Oundle Div.) good very fine (2) £300-£400 --- Served in South Africa with No. 6 General Hospital.

Pair: Sergeant W. Stewart, Cape Town Highlanders Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (1113 Corpl: W. Stewart, Cape Town Highrs:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1113 Serjt: W. Stewart. C.T. Highrs:) the first with official corrections and an edge bruise, contact marks, otherwise very fine (2) £120-£160 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 2003. Sold with copy medal roll extracts.

Four: Lance-Corporal J. J. Taylor, Light Infantry N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia, unnamed as issued; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, unnamed as issued; Operational Service Medal 2000, for Sierra Leone, without rosette (25086025 Pte J J Taylor LI); Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (25086025 LCpl J J Taylor LI) the first two mounted court-style as worn, the last two loose, extremely fine (4) £400-£500

Pair: Drummer W. Sutherland, Seaforth Highlanders Queen’s Mediterranean 1899-1902 (3276 Dmr: W. Sutherland. Seaforth Highrs:); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3276 Dmr: W. Sutherland. Seaforth Hdrs.) minor edge bruise to latter, good very fine and better (2) £360-£440 --- William Sutherland was born in Haddington in 1871 and attested for the Seaforth Highlanders at Leith on 22 April 1890, having previously served in the 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Scots. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he was appointed Bandsman on 7 June 1894, and served with the Regiment in Egypt from 14 February 1900 to 10 June 1901. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, together with a gratuity of £5, he was discharged on 25 September 1908, after 18 years and 157 days’ service. He saw further service at home during the Great War from 17 December 1914 to 2 October 1918, before being posted to the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, on 3 October 1918, to service in France. He was discharged on 21 February 1919, and died in Inverness on 17 April 1950. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

Four: Burger J. van Jaarsveldt, Brands Vry Staat Skutters Anglo-Boer War Medal 1899-1902 (Burger J. van Jaarsveldt.); 1914-15 Star (Burg. J. van Jaarsveldt Brands V.S.S.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Burg. J. van Jaarsveldt Brands V.S.S.) very fine and better (4) £240-£280 --- Johannes van Jaarsveldt was captured at Fouriesburg on 30 July 1900 and was held as a Prisoner of War in Ceylon. Sold with copied research.

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel M. R. Pocock, D.S.O., 28th Punjabis, who was killed in action in Mesopotamia in November 1917 Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Somaliland 1902-04, Jidballi (Lieut: M. R. Pocock. 27th Punjabis.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Captn. M. R. Pocock, 28th Panjabis) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (2) £400-£500 --- Malcolm Robertson Pocock was born on 17 May 1876. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 22 January 1896; Lieutenant, Indian Army, on 4 July 1898; Captain on 22 January 1905; and Major (A/Lt.-Col.) on 22 January 1914. Pocock served in East Africa 1903-05 (Medal and two Clasps), and on the North West Frontier in 1908 (Despatches, Medal and Clasp). He was killed in action on 5 November 1917, when the Allied Forces engaged the Turkish Army, which had fallen back over the Diala River towards Kifri and along the Tigris River. The announcement of the D.S.O. appeared in the London Gazette on 7 February 1917, ‘in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Mesopotamia.’ He is commemorated by name on the Basra Memorial.

Pair: Bugle Major Jamal Khan, 107th Pioneers Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (3132 Bglr. Jamal Khan. 107th Pioneers.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, contact marks and polishing to first medal, nearly very fine (2) £240-£280 --- Sold with copy medal roll extracts.

Three: Corporal P. W. Swatton, 5th Dragoon Guards 1914 Star, with copy clasp (264 Cpl. R. P. W. [sic] Swatton. 5/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (264 Cpl. P. W. Swatton. 5/D. Gds.) contact marks, very fine (3) £120-£160 --- Phillip William Swatton was born in Amesbury, Wiltshire on 12 July 1887. He attested in the the 5th Dragoon Guards for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 15 August 1914. He saw later service with the Labour Corps. He later died in Christchurch, Hampshire in 1974. Sold with copy Medal Index Cards and Medal Roll extracts.

Three: Private J. W. Wood, Royal Fusiliers 1914 Star, with copy clasp (L-12961 Pte. J. W. Wood. 1/R.Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (L-12961 Pte. J. W. Wood. R. Fus.) suspension ring broken on Star, contact marks, otherwise very fine (3) £80-£100 --- James Watson Wood attested into the Royal Fusiliers and served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion on the Western Front from 17 September 1914. He was discharged, according to the medal roll extract for his 1914 Star, on 17 September 1916. The clasp on his 1914 Star is unconfirmed.

Four: Private J. H. Wild, Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was taken Prisoner of War 1914 Star, with copy clasp (7709 Pte. J. Wild. R. Muns: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (7709 Pte. J. Wild. R. Mun. Fus.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (James Henry Wild) light contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £160-£200 --- James Henry Wild attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914, being taken Prisoner of War.

Five: Temporary Sergeant H. Cairns, Army Service Corps 1914 Star, with copy clasp (S-27105 Pte. H. Cairns. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (S-27105 T. Sjt. H. Cairns. A.S.C.); Defence Medal; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (S-27105 Pte - A. Cpl. H. Cairns. A.S.C.) contact marks, very fine (5) £180-£220 --- M.S.M. London Gazette, 17 June 1918. Harry Cairns attested into the Army Service Corps for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 17 August 1914. Sold together with an original smaller ARP button lapel badge, copy Medal Index Card, and copy London Gazette entry.

Five: Private W. F. Boswell, 4th Dragoon Guards, later Union Defence Force 1914 Star (6979 Pte. W. F. Boswell. 4/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (D-6979 Pte. W. F. Boswell. 4-D. Gds.); War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, these both officially impressed ‘176711 W. F. Boswell’, mounted as worn with a rosette on the 1914 Star riband, polished and worn, good fine and better (5) £100-£140 --- William F. Boswell attested for the 4th Dragoon Guards and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 November 1914 (entitled to a clasp to his 1914 Star). He was discharged on 13 June 1916.

Five: Chief Engine Room Artificer First Class J. A. Hampton, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Russian Medal of St. George Fourth Class 1914-15 Star (270456. J. A. Hampton. Act. Ch. E.R.A.2. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (270456 J. A. Hampton. C.E.R.A.2 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (270456. J. A. Hampton. Act. Ch. E.R.A. 2Cl. H.M.S. Woolwich.); Russia, Empire, Medal of St George, 4th Class, silver, reverse officially numbered ‘1272843’, very fine (5) £240-£280 --- James Alexander Hampton was born in Hayle, Cornwall, on 8 March 1880 and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class on 30 May 1901. He served during the Great War afloat in H.M.S. Nicator from 6 April 1916 to 23 April 1918, and was present in her at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and it was presumably for this action that he was awarded the Russian Medal of St. George. Hampton was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 20 June 1916 and was advanced Chief Engine Room Artificer First Class on 1 October 1921. He was shore pensioned on 29 May 1923.

Four: Chief Petty Officer R. F. Body, Royal Navy, who was twice mentioned in despatches during the Second World War, and was killed in action when H.M.S. Welshman was torpedoed and sunk off Tobruk on 1 February 1943 1914-15 Star (J.26209. R. F. Body. Tel. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.26209. R. F. Body. L.Tel. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.26209. R. F. Body. P.O. Tel. H.M.S. Pembroke.) mounted for wear, edge bruises, contact marks, polished, fair (4) £100-£140 --- M.I.D. London Gazettes 1 January 1943 and 11 May 1943. Robert Frederick Body, a clerk from Mile End, London, was born on 10 December 1895. He attested as a Boy into the Royal Navy on 13 August 1913 and saw service afloat during the Great War in H.M.S. Latuna, H.M.S. Caroline, H.M.S. Cyclops, H.M.S. Antrim and H.M.S. Thuster. Serving post-War, he was advanced Petty Officer on 7 July 1923 and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 18 January 1929, whilst aboard H.M.S. Pembroke. Further advanced Chief Petty Officer on 1 June 1934, he was discharged to pension on 9 December 1935. Recalled for Second World War service, Body was twice mentioned in despatches, but was killed whilst serving in H.M.S. Welshman when she was sunk after being torpedoed off Tobruk by U-617 on 1 February 1943. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Sold together with cloth cap badge, cloth trade badge, medal ribbon bar and copied research.

Three: Petty Officer W. Belderson, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Nottingham at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and survived her subsequent torpedoing and sinking by U-52 on 19 August 1916 by clinging to an upturned table for two hours; he later died of burns received following an explosion in H.M.S. Sepoy on 8 April 1930 1914-15 Star (J.29333. W. Belderson Boy.1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.29333 W. Belderson. A.B. R.N.); Marine Society Reward of Merit, silver (W. Belderson 6 July 1920) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (4) £120-£160 --- Walter Belderson was born in Tressingfield, Suffolk, on 27 September 1898 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 13 January 1914. He served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore-based establishments, including H.M.S. Nottingham from 9 January 1915 to 26 August 1916, and was thus present in her at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-52 on 19 August 1916; according to a later newspaper report, Belderson survived the sinking by clinging to an upturned table for two hours. Advanced Able Seaman on 5 April 1917, and Leading Seaman on 6 December 1918, Belderson was awarded his Marine Society Silver Medal in 1920, and was further promoted Petty Officer on 1 August 1921. Posted to H.M.S. Sepoy on 10 August 1929, he died from burns received as a result of an accidental explosion of a depth charge onboard H.M.S. Sepoy whilst on exercises in Hong Kong Harbour, on 8 April 1930, one of six men who were killed or died as a result of the explosion. He is buried in Happy Valley Cemetery, Hong Kong. Sold with copied record of service and other research, including a photographic image of the recipient as part of a memorial to the six men who died in the explosion; and a postcard photograph of H.M.S. Nottingham.