We found 183158 price guide item(s) matching your search

Six: Leading Coder G. E. P. Moseley, Royal Navy, who was for a time a Prisoner-of-War of the ‘Vichy French’ 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, all unnamed, mounted as worn, good very fine (lot) £160-200 M.I.D. London Gazette 11 June 1946. gerald Edward Percy Moseley was born in 1917, the son of Edward William and Nellie Ida Moseley of Eton, Buckinghamshire. Educated at Eton Porny School for Boys, he later entered the Royal Navy. During the Second World War he served as a Coder on the battleship Barham - the ship being torpedoed and sunk on 25 November 1941. He then went on to serve on the destroyer Havock. On 6 April 1942 the ship ran aground off Kelibia on the Tunisian coast. Taken prisoner by the Vichy French, he was held with others from the stranded ship at the prison camp at Laghouat in Algeria. They were released in November 1942 following the allied landings in North Africa. Late in the war he was serving as a Temporary Leading Coder on the sloop Crane in the Far East and was mentioned in despatches for his services in the ‘winding up operations’ in that theatre. Postwar he was Deputy Treasurer of the Eton Urban District Council and thence the Maidenhead Borough Council and for 52 years was the Treasurer of the Eton Ex-Serviceman’s Club. He died of pneumonia at Wrexam Park Hospital, Slough, in January 2006. sold with The Book of Common Prayer, presented to him by Eton Porny School, 1930; two photographs of recipient in uniform; a ‘H.M.S. Barham’ 1942 Calender, bearing a photograph of the battleship, the calender inscribed, ‘[From] Gerald with fondest love’; ‘H.M.S. Barham’ Xmas Card, bearing a photograph of the battleship, inscribed, [From] Gerald with fondest love to you all’; H.M.S. Barham cap tally; ‘S.280’ Card; three ‘S.247a’ Identity Cards, named to Moseley as a Coder/ Leading Coder on H.M. Ships Barham, Havock and Crane; Station Card, Royal Naval Barracks, named to Moseley as an Ordinary Coder; four handwritten letters to Moseley from family and friends, 1945; Medal forwarding slip; riband bars (2); framed photograph of a destroyer; presentation wooden box, inside of lid with metal plaque inscribed (name engraved), ‘1939-1945, G. E. P. Mosely (sic) in Appreciation of your Courage and Self-Sacrifice from your Fellow Citizens of Eton and Eton Wick’; newspaper cutting bearing his photograph, announcing his death; together with copied research. for his father’s medals, see Lot 808. £160-£200

Six: Musician H. Perham, Royal Marines 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (Ch.23069 Mus., R.M.), mounted as worn, some contact marks, nearly very fine and better (6) £70-90 Henry Perham was born on 21 November 1905. He enlisted into the Royal Marines from school, on 12 October 1920. He was paid a L.S. & G.C. gratuity of £20 in November 1938. Serving in the Second World War, he died on 28 January 1940, aged 34 years. Perham was buried at Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Kent and was the husband of Dorothy Elizabeth Perham of 8 Tennyson Road, Gillingham. M.I.D. not confirmed. Sold with some copied service papers. £70-£90

Four: Petty Officer J. Kinsella, Royal Navy 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Minesweeping 1945-51 (P/KX.82725 P.O.S.M., R.N.); together with an erased Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, mounted as worn, some contact marks, very fine (5) £140-180 £140-£180

Six: An officer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration, E.II.R., rev. officially dated ‘1965’, all unnamed as issued, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (6) £100-140 £100-£140

An emotive Second World War group of three awarded to Petty Officer P. H. Kissane, who was killed in action aboard H.M.S. Glowworm during her remarkably gallant clash with the heavy cruiser Hipper off Norway on 8 April 1940: her captain, Lieutenant-Commander Gerald Roope, R.N., was subsequently awarded a posthumous V.C., while Churchill famously announced in the House of Commons ‘Glowworm’s light has been quenched’ 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed as issued, together with a Royal Life Saving Society bronze medal (P. H. Kissane, Sept. 1932), and a quantity of original documentation, as listed below, extremely fine (Lot) £600-800 patrick Henry Kissane was born in Southampton in March 1908 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in September 1923. Advanced to Ordinary Seaman in the Tiger in March 1926, to Able Seaman on the Warspite in June 1927 and to Petty Officer at the gunnery establishment Excellent in August 1938, he was serving in the cruiser Belfast at the outbreak of hostilities. A brief period ashore at Drake IV followed in the new year, and thence his appointment to the destroyer Glowworm, in which ship he was killed in action on 8 April 1940. the Glowworm, in company with Greyhound, Hyperion and Hero, was screening the battlecruiser Renown as part of operation ‘Wilfred’, a minelaying operation off Norway. After becoming separated whilst searching for a man overboard, the Glowworm made contact with two German destroyers that were carrying troops for the invasion of Norway, and quickly went into action, gaining some notable hits. Shortly afterwards, however, the German heavy cruiser Hipper appeared on the scene and began to shell Roope’s command with accurate fire. John Winton’s definitive history, The Victoria Cross at Sea, takes up the story: ‘As usual, the German initial gunnery ranging was excellent and Hipper hit Glowworm with her first salvo. The weather made escape or evasive shadowing almost impossible, so Roope sent off an enemy sighting report (his second, both of which were received by the C.-in-C.) and closed the enemy. The destroyer Glowworm, 1,345 tons and armed with four 4.7-inch guns, therefore advanced upon the 10,000-ton Admiral Hipper, armed with eight 8-inch and twelve 4.1-inch guns. Glowworm was hit again, in the Captain’s day cabin, where the doctor and his action sick-bay party were all killed or wounded. Another shell brought down part of the foremast and the wireless aerials, which fouled the siren on the funnel, and Glowworm went into action with the strange mournful banshee wailing of her steam siren. She fired a spread of five torpedoes, all of which ran wide, and was hit again, forward and in the engine-room, where a large fire broke out. Glowworm made smoke and prepared for another torpedo attack. At some time now, Roope decided to ram his enemy. Glowworm emerged from the smokescreen, crossing Hipper’s bows from port to starboard, and fired another spread of five torpedoes, four of which got away and one of which just missed Hipper by yards. Glowworm was still making about twenty knots when Roope ordered a sharp turn to starboard and headed for Hipper’s starboard side. Helmuth Heye, Hipper’s captain, alarmed by the possibility of another torpedo attack, also tried to turn to starboard and ram Glowworm, but Hipper was much slower under helm and Glowworm struck her amidships, tearing away about 100 feet of her armoured plating, damaging the starboard side torpedo tubes, killing one man at his gun and puncturing two fresh-water tanks. glowworm drew clear after her collision and although her decks were swept by a storm of fire from Hipper’s 4.1-inch and 37mm. close-range weapons, got off another salvo and hit Hipper from a range of about 400 yards. She was by then losing way, settling by the bows, with a major fire raging amidships and all steam pressure lost. Roope ordered his ship’s company to abandon ship. He stayed on the bridge, smoking a cigarette. heye chivalrously stayed for over an hour to pick up Glowworm’s survivors. Roope was seen in the water, helping men to put on their lifejackets and he actually reached Hipper’s ship’s side, where a rope was thrown to him. He caught it, but was not able to hang on. He sank back exhausted and was drowned. One officer and 30 men of Glowworm’s total ship’s company of 149 were picked up. Two men died in captivity.’ Aged 32 years, Kissane left a widow, Nora, a resident of Eastleigh, Hampshire. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. sold with a quantity of original documents, including the recipient’s Certificate of Service; R.N. Certificate for the Educational Test, Part I, to ‘Patrick H. Kissane, Boy 1st Class, O.N. J.108276’, dated 2 March 1926; Queries in Seamanship, Gunnery and Torpedo booklet, with pencil written notes; Wightman’s Arithmetical Tables booklet, inscribed, ‘P. H. Kissane’; the recipient’s H.M.S. Tiger and H.M.S. Warspite Qualification Cards; his H.M.S. Greyhound Identification Card; postcards and photographs of ships including H.M.S. Glowworm; a photograph of the recipient; newspaper cuttings mostly regarding the loss of the Glowworm; cloth badge; a metal name-plate inscribed ‘P. Kissane’ and a quantity of copied research. £600-£800

Six: Corporal A. J. Woodford, King’s Royal Rifle Corps 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (6898589 Cpl., KRRC), all later issues, extremely fine (lot) £70-90 Lance-Serjeant A. J. Woodford, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, was captured whilst serving in Italy. He was held at Stalag VIIA at Moosburg, having the P.O.W. Number ‘142004’. w.W.2 medals in card box with modern forwarding slip; Efficiency Medal in card box of issue with forwarding slip dated 25 May 1978. Sold with Identity Disk, ‘C.E. Woodford 6898589’, P.O.W. Identity Disk, ‘Stalag VII/A Nr.142004’, and K.R.R.C. cap badge. With copied photograph, copied fragmentary letter to his wife at 25 Salmon Street, Kingsbury, London, N.W.9, dated November 1944, and other copied research. £70-£90

Five: Private E. Pratt, Royal Sussex Regiment and Reconnaissance Corps 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star, clasp, Rimini Line; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn; together with Royal Sussex Regiment Coronation Medal 1937 (Pte. E. Pratt 6399393), bronze; Royal Sussex Regiment Prize Medal, rev. inscribed, ‘Runner-up St. Lucia Squad, 6399393 Pte. E. Pratt’, bronze three: Corporal S. Ingham, East Lancashire Regiment defence and War Medals; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (3387503 Cpl., E. Lan. R.), mounted for display, very fine and better (11) £100-140 Medals to Pratt sold with Reconnaissance Corps cap badge and Reconnaissance Corps Comrades Association membership card - which shows service in the 44th Recce Regt. and a home address of ‘73 St. Johns Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire’. £100-£140

Four: Private R. H. Blakeman, Essex Regiment, died/killed, 6 April 1943 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (6009542 Pte., Essex R.) good very fine (4) £100-140 Private Richard Herbert Blakeman, 1/4th Battalion Essex Regiment, was killed/died, on 6 April 1943, aged 28 years. He was buried in the Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia. He was the son of Richard William and May Amelia Blakeman and husband of Ivy Henrietta Blakeman of Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Sold with photograph. £100-£140

Three: Private J. Grant, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, killed in action, 25 November 1941 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed three: Rifleman B. Parkin, Cameronians, died/killed 19 April 1942 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed, good very fine and better (6) £120-160 5949036 Private Joseph Grant, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on 25 November 1941. He was buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya. Sold with card forwarding box addressed to ‘Mr H. Grant, Laupitts Green, Wroxton, Nr. Banbury, Oxf.’ and condolence slip named to ‘5949036 Pte. J. Grant’. 3252568 Private Bertie Parkin, 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), died on 19 April 1942, aged 26 years. His name is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial. Sold with card forwarding box to ‘Mr S. Parkin, 9 Woodlands Terrace, Dipton, Newcastle on Tyne’ and condolence slip named to ‘Rfmn. Bertie Parkin Sco. Rif.’ £120-£160

Four: Guardsman C. Godsmark, Coldstream Guards, killed in action, 11 December 1940 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, unnamed pair: Private D. McKay, Warwickshire Regiment 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed, extremely fine (6) £70-90 Guardsman Charles Godsmark, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, was killed in action on 11 December 1940, aged 22 years. He was buried in the Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt. He was the son of Mary A. Godsmark of Crawley, Sussex. Sold with card forwarding box addressed to ‘Mrs M. A. Godsmark, 18 Field Rd., Crawley, Sussex’, condolence slip and Army Form B.104-82 informing Mrs Godsmark that her son had been killed in action. 5110650 Private D. McKay, Warwickshire Regiment, was a prisoner-of-war of the Germans; held at the camp at Gorlitz. Sold with card forwarding box addressed to ‘Mr D. McKay, 2 St. Andrews Close, Droitwich, Worcs., WR9 8RE’, and with forwarding slip. £70-£90

Five: Sapper F. L. McKenzie, South African Forces 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, all officially inscribed, ‘133894 F. L. McKenzie’, good very fine and better (5) £100-120 Fonnereau Lauriston McKenzie was born in September 1915 and enlisted in the South African Engineers in June 1940, with whom he served in East Africa from the following month until December 1941, and was mentioned in despatches ‘for distinguished services’ in the period February to July 1941 (London Gazette 30 December 1941 refers). Next actively employed in Madagasgar from November 1942 to July 1943, he was transferred to Egypt in early 1944 and thence to Italy, and was finally discharged in August 1945. £100-£120

Five: Corporal J. G. P. Platt, Royal Engineers 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Militia (1986420 Cpl., R.E.), mounted court style as worn, edge bruise to last, very fine (5) £50-70 £50-£70

Eight: Master Aircrewman E. F. Hughes, Royal Air Force 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya (W.O. (1320703), R.A.F.); Korea 1950-53 (1320703 F./Sgt., R.A.F.); U.N. Korea; R.A.F. L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (M. Sig. (1320703), R.A.F.), mounted as worn, together with a set of related miniature dress medals and his wife’s 1939-45 Defence & War Medals, in their card forwarding box, generally good very fine and rare (18) £400-500 Ernest Frank Hughes was born in Croydon in January 1923 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in June 1941. Having then witnessed active service in Burma, and been demobbed in June 1946, he joined the strength of Royal Air Force as an A.C. 2 (Signaller) in March 1947. Advanced to Flight Sergeant in the following year, he served in Palestine and Malaya, in addition to the Korea operations as a member of crew in Sunderlands of the Far East Flying Boat Wing (88, 205 and 209 Squadrons). Appointed a Master Aircrewman in January 1957, and awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in October 1959, hughes was finally discharged in January 1969; sold with a copy of his service record - which confirms all of the above listed Medals and clasps, including a late claim for his G.S.M. for ‘Palestine 1945-48’ & ‘Malaya’ in January 1960, together with a crew photograph and a Korean War veteran newsletter, with front page feature on the Far East Flying Boat Wing. The vendor states that Master Crewman E. F. Hughes was in the air when the first atom bomb went off on Christmas Island. mrs. Ethel Francis Hughes (nee Dixon), who married in June 1946, served in the W.A.A.F. in the 1939-45 War, but did not claim her Defence & War Medals until many years later. £400-£500

Family group: six: Private R. W. Bell, Royal Military Police 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (14790890 Pte., R.M.P.), service number corrected, good very fine general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Dhofar (AC P. W. Bell, (J8094093) RAF) late issue, in card box of issue, extremely fine (6) £160-200 Aircraftsman P. W. Bell qualified for the Dhofar clasp with his service at R.A.F. Salah in 1972. sold with copied correspondence from R.A.F. Innsworth re. the award of the medal dated September-November 1994. £160-£200

Three: Private W. G. Bowhay, Devonshire Regiment, killed in action, 11 July 1944 1939-45 Star, unnamed; France and Germany Star, rev. inscribed, ‘5630876 Pte. W. G. Bowhay, 2/Devon. R.’; War Medal 1939-45, edge inscribed, ‘5630876 Pte. W. G. Bowhay, 2/Devon. R.’, extremely fine (3) £70-90 5630878 Private William George Bowhay, 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regment, was killed in action on 11 July 1944, aged 21 years. He was buried in the Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery, Calvados, France. He was the son of George Edward and Harriet Ellen Bowhay of Milton South, Devon. Sold with card box of issue, addressed to Mrs H. E. Bowhay, Hillside, South Molton, Kingsbridge, S. Devon’ and named condolence slip. £70-£90

Five: Marine E. Hopps, Royal Marines 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1962, 1 clasp, South Arabia (RM.12606 Mne., R.M.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (RM.12606 Mne., R.M.) some contact marks, very fine and better (5) £120-160 Mounted in glass-fronted case. £120-£160

Five: Warrant Officer Class 2 W. L. Monarch, Royal Engineers and Royal Army Ordnance Corps 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (13069248 W.O. Cl.2, R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (13069248 W.O. Cl. 2, R.A.O.C.), mounted as worn, some contact marks, very fine and better (5) £100-120 £100-£120

Six: Sergeant J. H. Jones,Royal Engineers, late the Royal Regiment 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (400953 Sjt., Royals), official correction to service number; Efficiency Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (22211686 Sgt., R.E.) nearly extremely fine (6) £80-100 £80-£100

Four: Regimental Sergeant-Major Benjamin Higgs, Essex Regiment 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (2654417 W.O. Cl.2 B. Higgs, Essex.) the last rare to the regiment, good very fine (4) £250-300 benjamin Higgs originally joined the Coldstream Guards but transferred to the Essex Regiment in the early 1930s, serving with the 2nd Battalion in France 1939-40. He was promoted to Regimental Sergeant-Major (W.O.1) in 1951 but subsequently reverted to W.O.2, serving as a Company Sergeant-Major in the King’s African Rifles during the Mau Mau rebellion. He is believed to be one of only three members of the regiment to qualify for the Kenya medal. He had left the Army by 1957 and died in 1979. sold with research notes and extracts from the regimental magazine. £250-£300

Five: Stoker Petty Officer C. E. McCann, Royal Navy atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (K.62081 S.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (K.62081 S.P.O., H.M.S. Havock) generally good very fine (5) £100-140 On the 6 April 1942 the destroyer, H.M.S. Havoc was bound for Gibraltar with a large number of officers and ratings as passengers, in addition to her official complement of 145. She ran ashore off Kelibia, on the coast of Tunisia, and became a total wreck, but only one rating of her entire company lost his life. The French authorities, who were not friendly to the British at the time, placed all the survivors in a prison at Laghouat, in Algeria. They were released when General Eisenhower’s forces landed in North Africa in November 1942. £100-£140

Pair: Guardsman W. Heslop, Grenadier Guards defence Medal; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (2628840 Gdsm., Gren. Gds), mounted as worn, heavy contact marks, good fine and better three: attributed to Chaplain to the Forces, The Rev. W. Parsons 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals, all unnamed as issued; together with a mounted set of three miniature dress medals, very fine (8) £30-50 William Heslop was born in 1928 and served in the Home Guard, 13 July 1943-31 December 1944. He enlisted into the Grenadier Guards at Carlisle on 5 June 1946 and was transferred to the Army Reserve on 31 July 1952. He served in Malaya, 9 September 1948-17 August 1949 and also in North Africa during 1951. He was employed as an M.T. Driver/Instructor. Sold with six photographs and copied Certificate of Service and Certificate of Transfer to the Army Reserve. the medals attributed to The Rev. Wilfred Herbert Parsons (1909-95), with newspaper cutting providing biographical details - was made a prisoner-of-war at Dunkirk. Sold with a cap badge, two collar badges and riband bar. An archive of material relating to his time as a prisoner of war is held at the Imperial War Museum. £30-£50

Four: Chaplain H. K. White, Royal Navy defence and War Medals, unnamed; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (Chapn., R.N.); U.N. Korea, unnamed, mounted as worn, very fine and better (5) £220-260 Harold Kent White was born in 1905. He gained a B.A. in Theology at Oxford in 1927 and a M.A. in 1937, White was ordained a Deacon in 1928 and Priest in 1929. He was Curate of St. George, Tredegar, 1928-37; Librarian of Pusey House, Oxford with Licence to Officiate in the Diocese of Oxford and Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Monmouth, 1937-41. He was appointed Perpetual Curate at Beeston Hill, 1941-44 and was Chaplain of the R.N.V.R., 1944-46, being based at Hasdrubal and St. Angelo. Appointed a Chaplain of the Royal Navy in 1946, he served on Goldfinch, 1946-47; Impregnable, 1947-48; R.A.F. Chaplain’s School, 1948-50; Belfast, 1950-53 - during which time he served in the Korean War; Collingwood, 1953-55; Highflyer, 1955-57; Pembroke, 1957-60. After service in the Navy, he was appointed Rector of Waldershare with Coldred, 1960-62; Curate-in-Charge of Tilmanstone, 1960-62; Vicar of St. Mary, Aldermary City, Diocese of London from 1962 and had Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Southwark, 1962-69. Sold with some copied research and a white metal ‘Coronation Medal 1937’ of Edward VIII. £220-£260

Pair: Private L. P. Fuller, Parachute Regiment war Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (23221241 Pte., Para), this officially re-impressed, mounted for display, some contact marks, very fine (2) £80-100 £80-£100

Pair: Guardsman K. Stuchbury, Coldstream Guards general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24125555 Gdsm., Coldm. Gds.); U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon, unnamed pair: Lance Bombardier A. P. Fuller, Royal Artillery general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24767931 L. Bdr., RA); U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon, unnamed pair: Private S. J. Sands, Royal Anglian Regiment general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24707798 Pte., R. Anglian), edge bruising; U.N. Medal, UNPROFOR ribbon, mounted court style as worn, good very fine (6) £120-160 £120-£160

Three: Guardsman S. C. Hayes, Grenadier Guards general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (25113498 Gdsm., Gren. Gds.); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Non-Article 5, unnamed, mounted court style as worn; European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal 2004, 1 clasp, Althea, unnamed, with riband bar in case of issue, good very fine and better (3) £60-80 £60-£80

Pair: Rifleman M. J. Brooks, Royal Green Jackets general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24085287 Rfn., R.G.J.);U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon, unnamed, first with slight contact marks, very fine and better (2) £40-60 £40-£60

Four: Private I. J. Bostock, Light Infantry general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24841266 Pte., LI); U.N. Medal, UNPROFOR ribbon; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, these three unnamed, some edge bruising, very fine and better (4) £80-100 £80-£100

Five: Sergeant A. M. Till, Royal Logistics Corps, late Army Catering Corps general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24651927 L. Cpl., ACC); U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon; U.N. Medal, UNPROFOR ribbon; Iraq 2003, 1 clasp, 19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003 (24651927 Sgt., RLC), in named card box of issue; Jubilee 2002, in named card box of issue, good very fine and better (5) £320-360 £320-£360

Six: Corporal I. D. Bennett, Prince of Wales’s Royal Regiment, late Royal Hampshire Regiment general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24714262 Pte., R. Hamps.); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia, unnamed; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, unnamed; Jubilee 2002, unnamed; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal, E.II.R. (24714262 Cpl., PWRR); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (24714262 Cpl., PWRR), mounted court style as worn, extremely fine (6) £480-520 £480-£520

Three: Private K. R. A. Martin, Parachute Regiment general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (25111958 Pte., Para) ; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, no clasp, for Macedonia, unnamed; Operational Service Medal 2000, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (25111958 Pte., Para), rosette on ribbon, mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (3) £800-1000 Notes with the lot state that Private K. R. A. Martin, 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment, served in East Tyrone, Northern Ireland, 1999 and September 2002-March 2003. He then served in Operation ‘Essential Harvest’ in Macedonia, August-September 2001, followed by service in Kabul, Afghanistan, December 2001-March 2002. Since leaving the Army he has served in Iraq as a ‘Close Protection Bodyguard’, 2005-06. £800-£1000

Three: Sergeant J. M. Emptage, Royal Artillery general Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24392838 Gnr., RA); U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon, modern striking, rev. inscribed, ‘Bdr. Emptage J, 3 RHA’; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (24392838 Sgt., RA), surname spelt ‘Emtage’ on last, mounted for display three: Private P. A. Bishop, King’s Own Border Regiment general Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24852681 Pte., Kings Own Border) edge bruise; U.N. Medal, UNPROFOR ribbon, N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia, these unnamed, mounted court style as worn, very fine and better (6) £120-160 £120-£160

Three: Lance-Corporal W. C. O. Green, Royal Engineers and Ulster Defence Regiment general Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24676515 L. Cpl. W. C. Green, RE); Accumulated Campaign Service Medal, E.II.R., with Second and Third Award Bars (24676515 Pte. W. C. O. Green, UDR), mounted court style as worn; Jubilee 2002, unnamed, in named card box of issue, extremely fine (3) £350-400 £350-£400

Pair: Private T. Bale, Royal Hampshire Regment general Service 1962, 2 clasps, Borneo, Northern Ireland (23979316 Pte., R. Hamps.); U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon, unnamed, very fine and better (2) £80-100 £80-£100

Six: Corporal R. B. Stevenson, Royal Marines general Service 1962, 2 clasps, Northern Ireland, N. Iraq & S. Turkey (Mne.1 P047675X RM); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, unnamed; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia, unnamed; Operational Service Medal 2000, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (Cpl. P047675X RM); Iraq 2003, 1 clasp, 19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003 (Cpl. P047675X RM); Jubilee 2002, unnamed, mounted as worn, first with minor contact marks, good very fine and better (6) £1000-1400 Robert Balfour Stevenson was born on 30 September 1964 and enlisted into the Royal Marines in January 1988. After Royal Marine basic and Commando training, he was awarded his green beret and was posted to 40 Commando Royal Marines. With them he served in Northern Ireland. After training to become a Royal Marines Signaller and passing as a Signaller Class 3 in 1900, he returned for a second tour in Northern Ireland, serving this time with 45 Commando Royal Marines at Crossmaglen. In 1991 he was deployed with 45 Commando R.M. to Northern Iraq and participated in the resettlement of Kurdish refugees. He then served with 45 Commando R.M. in Belize, on anti-drug smuggling operations, followed by service with the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines (FPGRM), guarding the British nuclear deterrent. After service on the island of Diego Garcia he returned home in 1995 and qualified as a Signaller Class 2 and was promoted to Corporal. Drafted into 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron as part of the Mobile Air Operation Team he then served in Bosnia. In 2000 he joined the Commando Logistic Regiment as a Signals Detachment Commander. As such he was employed in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2002 he was advanced to Acting Sergeant and was employed as the Signals Advisor within the staff of the Commander Amphibious Task Group based at R.M. Stonehouse. He then served in the Communications Squadron which was part of the United Kingdom Landing Force Command Support Group. During his military service he had qualified as a military parachutist and was arctic and jungle warfare trained. Corporal Stevenson was discharged with a pension on 9 June 2006. Sold with copied R.M. Testimonial and R.M. Certificate of Discharge. £1000-£1400

Pair: Corporal P. Mason, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment vietnam 1964 (39028 Cpl., RNZIR); South Vietnam Medal 1964, 1 clasp, 1960- (39028 P. Mason) nearly extremely fine (2) £180-220 £180-£220

Pair: E. A. O’Sullivan, Royal Australian Navy vietnam 1964 (E. A. O’Sullivan R.62299), later issue naming engraved in large capitals; South Vietnam Medal 19641 clasp, 1960- (E. A. O’Sullivan R.62299) extremely fine (2) £120-160 Edward Austin O’Sullivan was born on 4 June 1946 at Kogarth, New South Wales. He enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy in Sydney. He served aboard the destroyer H.M.A.S. Vendetta during the ship’s only tour, 15 September 1969-11 April 1970. During her Vietnam deployment she steamed 39,558 miles and fired over 13,000 shells. £120-£160

Pair: Lance-Corporal R. E. Wild, Royal Australian Signals and Australian Special Air Service vietnam 1964 (55410 R. E. Wild), Australian style impressed naming; South Vietnam Medal 1964, 1 clasp, 1960- (55410 R. E. Wild) some contact marks, good very fine (2) £400-500 With papers stating 55410 Lance Corporal Richard Eugene Wild served with 152 Signal Squadron from 19 August 1968 and with the Australian S.A.S. during 18 February 1970-18 February 1971 in Vietnam. £400-£500

Pair: Temporary Corporal A. T. Tull, Royal Australian Army Service Corps vietnam 1964 (441108 A. T. Tull); South Vietnam Medal 1964, 1 clasp, 1960- (441108 A. T. Tull), mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (2) £180-220 Allan Thomas Tull was born in South Australia on 19 June 1936. He served in South Vietnam with H.Q., 26 Company R.A.A.S.C., 4 June-27 December 1969 and 3 January-4 June 1970. £180-£220

Three: Sergeant D. P. Smith, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers rhodesia 1980 (24395317 Cpl., REME); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24395317 Sgt., REME), mounted as worn; Zimbabwe Independence Medal 1980 (13482), bronze, nearly extremely fine (4) £400-500 Sold with Rhodesia 1980 miniature dress medal, British Army Identity Card bearing the recipient’s photograph, and copied army statement of service taken from Army Form B108Y, ‘Sgt. Smith has been employed for the last 13 years on tasks associated with the maintenance of Army aircraft. He has carried out scheduled and unscheduled maintenance in a number of world wide locations, on both fixed wing and helicopters. ... During the latter part of his career he has confidently supervised a small team of both aircraft and avionic tradesman’. £400-£500

Three: Sergeant R. L. McDonald, Parachute Regiment south Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24576223 Pte., Para); U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon, unnamed; General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24576223 Sgt., Para), mounted court style as worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £1600-1800 Ex D.N.W. 18 September 1998, lot 655. robert Lee McDonald was born on 20 June 1964 and enlisted into the Parachute Regiment at Harlow on 5 August 1980. During the Falklands War he served in the Recce Platoon, ‘C’ Company, 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment. He later served in the U.S.A., March 1983 and March-April 1986; Belize, April-October 1984; Cyprus, June-November 1986; Denmark, May-June 1987; Kenya, October-December 1990, and Northern Ireland, June 1993-January 1995. He was discharged having an exemplary record of service on 24 August 1995. Sold with copied Certificate of Service and other research derived from Pegasus magazine - one article recalls that he was ‘captured’ while on manoeuvres against Danish forces. Suffering a blow to his ego, he was strapped to the bonnet of his captors landrover and paraded through the streets of a local town in a partially disrobed state! £1600-£1800

Five: Corporal E. M. C. Boyall, Royal Air Force gulf 1990-91, no clasp (Cpl. (F8233204) R.A.F.); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia; Jubilee 2002; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (Cpl. (F8233204 R.A.F.), mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (5) £280-320 A note with the medals states that Corporal Elizabeth M. C. Boyall was a paramedic with the R.A.F. £280-£320

Five: Steward 1st Class C. J. Logan, Royal Navy gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (Std., D212125D RN); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (Std 1 D212125D RN); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia; Saudi Arabia, Liberation of Kuwait 1991; Kuwait, Liberation of Kuwait 1991, 4th Grade, mounted court style for display, some edge bruising, good very fine (5) £220-260 £220-£260

Six: Lance-Corporal R. H. Ainslie, Royal Scots gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24849111 Pte., RS); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24849111 L. Cpl., RS); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, unnamed; Jubilee 2002, in named card box of issue; Saudi Arabia, Liberation of Kuwait 1991; Kuwait, Liberation of Kuwait 1991, 4th Grade Medal, extremely fine (9) £320-360 Sold with a mounted set of three full-size medals as the first three above; the ‘Gulf’ and ‘G.S.M.’ being named copies. Also with some background detail on the groups and a paper cutting from The Daily Record, 22 June 2004, which reports on the story that the entertainer and ‘Elvis’ impersonator, Rab. Ainslie, was attacked outside a bar. In it Ainslie states, ‘I served in the Gulf, Kosovo and Ireland and I can’t believe I have come home with injuries like these after a night at the local pub’. £320-£360

Three: Lance-Corporal C. P. Clarke, Royal Army Dental Corps gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24763997 L. Cpl. RADC), mounted as worn; together with a miniature dress medal; Saudi Arabia, Liberation of Kuwait 1991; Kuwait, Liberation of Kuwait 1991, 4th Grade, nearly extremely fine, scarce unit (4) £200-240 £200-£240

Three: Gunner A. M. Bradshaw, Royal Artillery gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24789046 Gnr., RA), in (damaged) named card box of issue; Saudi Arabia, Liberation of Kuwait 1991, in case of issue, in named card box; Kuwait, Liberation of Kuwait 1991, 4th Grade medal, in box of issue, extremely fine (3) £160-200 £160-£200

Pair: Lance-Corporal S. J. Barker, Light Infantry n.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, unnamed; General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24973 L. Cpl., LI), mounted court style as worn, extremely fine (2) £50-70 With named card box of issue for the G.S.M. £50-£70

Three: Senior Aircraftsman L. O’Brien, Joint Helicopter Support Unit, Royal Air Force n.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, unnamed, in (damaged) case of issue; Operational Service Medal 2000, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (SAC (S8433106) RAF), in card box of issue; Iraq 2003, 1 clasp, 19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003 (SAC (S8433106) RAF), in card box of issue, extremely fine (3) £750-850 A scarce trio of medals awarded to S.A.C. L. O’Brien of the Joint Helicopter Support Unit, R.A.F. The N.A.T.O. medal earned while serving with 18 Squadron; the O.S.M. for supporting 27 Squadron Chinooks during the early phases of Operation Veritas, and the Iraq Medal for service with 18, 27 and 32 Squadron helicopters during the invasion of Iraq. sold with original letters for the Operational Service and Iraq Medals addressed to R.A.F. Odiham; the recipient’s (D.P.M.) camouflage shirt (unnamed) bearing ‘Royal Air Force’, Union Flag and Joint Helicopter Support Unit (J.H.S.U.) badges; another loose J.H.S.U. badge, and two other cloth badges. £750-£850

Pair: Lance-Corporal J. K. Youens, Black Watch n.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, unnamed; Iraq 2003, 1 clasp, 19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003 (25086388 Pte., BW), mounted court style as worn, extremely fine (2) £260-300 Lance-Corporal J. Youens, Black Watch, left the Army on 10 March 2006 after serving 7 years, 206 days. Sold with copied Certificate of Discharge. £260-£300

Family group: the inter-war C.M.G., O.B.E. group of three awarded to H. M. G. Jackson, Chief Native Commissioner for Southern Rhodesia, late Lieutenant, Gifford’s Horse the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; British South Africa Company’s Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, no clasp (Lieut. H. M. G. Jackson, Gifford’s Horse), enamel slightly chipped on motto on first, otherwise generally good very fine the Great War campaign service pair awarded to Private H. G. Jackson, Rhodesian Regiment, attached 1st South African Infantry Brigade, who was taken P.O.W. in March 1918 british War and Victory Medals, bi-lingual issue (Pte. H. G. Jackson, Rhodns. 1st S.A.I. Bgde.), officially impressed later issues, extremely fine the post-war M.B.E. awarded to Miss Natalie Jackson, Southern Rhodesia Civil Service the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil), Member’s 2nd type breast badge, on Lady’s riband bow in its Royal Mint case of issue, extremely fine (6) £1700-1900 Ex A. A. Upfill-Brown collection, 4 December 1991 (Lot 208). c.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1930. o.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1924. hugh Marrison Gower Jackson was born in Natal in September 1870, the son of John Otter Jackson, a J.P. and Regional Magistrate, and was educated at Ardingly College, Sussex. Returning to South Africa, he joined the Natal Native Department, becoming conversant with the language and cultural customs of the Zulu nation and earning himself the nickname ‘Matshayisikoba’ - The Owl Slayer. In 1895, at the invitation of the newly appointed Chief Native Commissioner in Rhodesia, Jackson became Assistant Native Commissioner at Umzingwane in Matabeleland, making his way to Bulawayo via Port Shepstone and Pretoria in the famous ‘Zeederburg Coach’. soon after his arrival in Matabeleland, he was warned by a former warrior, Sikwaba, a survivor of the Imbizo Regiment, which body had been corporately sentenced to death for disobedience by King Lobengula, that he had had a vision in which the latter unleashed ‘supernatural forces’ on the European settlers - a vision that found credence by way of the rebellion that erupted a few months later. Jackson and a small party were cut off deep in the Matabele stronghold, the Matopos Hills, when the rebellion broke out, and, in the absence of any news, it was reported that he had been killed - luckily, as it transpired, he made good his escape and reached Bulawayo. quickly enlisting in Gifford’s Horse, he was appointed a Lieutenant in ‘B’ Troop, commanded by Captain H. P. Flynn, a fellow Native Commissioner, and boasting among its number a future Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, Howard Moffat. The unit had been raised by the Rt. Hon. Captain (afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel) Maurice Gifford, who was severely wounded in the action at Fonseca’s Farm on 6 April 1896, wounds that resulted in the amputation of his right arm. Nonetheless, Gifford’s Horse continued to lend valuable service with regular patrol work until a peace settlement was negotiated by Cecil Rhodes that August. having in 1900 been appointed a J.P., Jackson enjoyed a spate of appointments over the coming years, among them Assistant Magistrate for the Bulawayo District, as Superintendent of Gwelo, Selukwe, Insiza and Belingwe, and, in 1908, as a Native Commissioner and Additional Magistrate at Gwelo. Then in 1913, he became Native Commissioner and Superintendent of Natives for Bulawayo District, while in 1921 he was appointed Acting Chief Native Commissioner in Salisbury. awarded the O.B.E. in 1924, in which year he was advanced to Assistant Chief Native Commissioner, Jackson was given the portfolio of Chief Native Commissioner and Head of the Southern Rhodesia Native Department in 1928, on the retirement of Sir Herbert Taylor. And in 1930, the year of his own retirement, he also served as Chairman of the Native Affairs Committee and as Government Representative on the Board of the Native Labour Bureau. He was appointed C.M.G. jackson, who retained the ‘keenest interest in all matters affecting natives and native welfare’, and who was blessed with a ‘fantastic sense of humour’, died at his residence in Borrowdale in November 1934; sold with a large file of related research and several evocative (copy) photographs from his time as a young officer in Gifford’s Horse, so, too, with a long list of archive references to articles he published in his lifetime. hugh Gower Jackson was born in August 1898, soon after his father had returned to his duties as a Native Commissioner following service in Gifford’s Horse. Educated at Lancing College in Sussex, young Hugh returned home and enlisted in the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers in June 1916, aged 17 years. Standing a little under six feet, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment, and attached to the 1st South African Infantry Brigade in France, where he was taken P.O.W. in March 1918. According to one family source, he was very badly treated during captivity, as a result of which his health suffered terribly, and he died in July 1944; sold with further details. natalie Kate Jackson was born in February 1900, about the time her father was appointed a J.P., and, having obtained a degree at Cape Town University, joined the Southern Rhodesia Civil Service in 1923. And she remained employed in a similar capacity until her retirement in 1955, the year in which she was awarded her M.B.E., and by which stage she had risen to the office of Women Inspector and Senior Women Officer on the Public Services Board. She died in December 1992; sold with portrait photographs and a file of related research. £1700-£1900

An important Rhodesian pioneer’s C.M.G. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Marshall Hole, onetime Private Secretary to Dr. Leander Jameson, and a friend of Cecil Rhodes, who described him ‘as one of the best and most loyal servants the Charter has had the good fortune to employ’: an acclaimed author, too, he wrote a definitive history of the ‘Jameson Raid’ in addition to his classic - The Making of Rhodesia the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, converted from breast wear, silver-gilt and enamel; British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, no clasp (Lieut. & Adjt. H. Marshall Hole, S.F.F.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Rhodesia (Lieut. H. Marshall-Hole, S. Rhoda. Vol.); Coronation 1902, silver, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise generally very fine (4) £3000-3500 ex A. A. Upfill-Brown collection, December 1991. c.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1924. hugh Marshall Hole was born in Tiverton, Devon in May 1865 and was educated at Blundell’s School and Balliol College, Oxford. Having then failed to gain entry to the Chinese Consular Service, he sailed for South Africa, where, in 1889, he found employment in a Kimberley law firm. As it transpired, the same firm represented Cecil Rhodes and Dr. Leander Jameson, and, in the following year, on gaining their confidence, he became the first member of clerical staff to be appointed to the newly formed British South Africa Company. moving from the Cape to the company’s Mashonaland office in Salisbury in 1891, he was appointed Private Secretary to Jameson, while in 1893 he achieved another ‘first’ when he became a Civil Commissioner and Justice of the Peace for Salisbury District. However, on news of the Matabele raid on Victoria in July of the latter year, Jameson refused Hole permission to accompany the Mashonaland Horse, of which he was a member, instead insisting that he remain in Salisbury as Magistrate. But as Hole would later recall in his unpublished memoirs, this latter post actually led to his own chapter of ‘active service’: ‘Then came the Wilson disaster at Shangani. Just before Christmas 1893, the natives in Lomagunda District became troublesome, and had a fracas with some white men, in which one - Arthur Stanford - was fatally wounded. As Magistrate I was sent out to investigate, and in view of the disturbed condition of the country a detachment of 25 men, under Lieutenant Randolph Nesbitt (Now Major Nesbitt, V.C.), with a maxim gun, was sent as my escort. The wet season was on, and the country was in a fearful condition. I outstripped my escort and had finished my enquiry - including the dying deposition of young Stanford - before they joined me ... We were returning when we got information of the Shangani fight, and orders to proceed towards the Zambesi, in which direction it was thought that King Lobengula was fleeing with Wilson in pursuit. Nesbitt and I picked out 10 or 12 of the best mounted men in the escort and turned back. We spent many days in fruitless search, and among the Lomagunda natives, all of whom were panicky, and who gave us a lot of false information to get rid of us. The weather was awful, and for two weeks we could get nothing but kaffir food, and marched through, and slept, in mud. We had to swim rivers. Eventually, I got back to Salisbury, after three weeks of the roughest experience I have ever endured. I left on Christmas Eve and returned on 17 January. I gained nothing except a bad dose of fever; but I made a life-long chum in Randolph Nesbitt.’ Following his experiences in the troubles of 1893, and a period back in the U.K. to recover from his fever, Hole remained actively employed in Salisbury in the period leading up to, and including, the ill-fated ‘Jameson Raid’ of December 1895, a period about which, as a result of his first hand knowledge, he later wrote his much acclaimed history - as he put it in his private memoirs, ‘Rhodes was constantly in and out of our offices, and Jameson was there in the intervals between his rapid trips to the North.’ It was, however, in the following year, that he himself officially witnessed military service, for in March 1896, on the outbreak of rebellion, he attested for the Salisbury Field Force (S.F.F.): ‘On the outbreak of the rebellion, I was at once promoted from Trooper to Lieutenant in the Rhodesia Horse, and shortly afterwards, when the Salisbury Field Force was formed, I was made Adjutant of the left wing. I took part in a good many patrols at the outset and had my first experience of being under fire ... I remember one little expedition in which Colonel Alderson, my wife Ethel (mounted on one of his horses), the Judge and I went to visit some rebel villages about eight miles out ... Alderson’s action in allowing a lady to go beyond the town limits were severely criticised in the local press!’ Following further leave back in England, Hole was appointed Secretary of the company’s offices in Bulawayo in 1898, while in August of the following year he joined the newly formed Southern Rhodesia Volunteers (S.R.V.). And with the advent of hostilities a few weeks later, he departed with two S.R.V. squadrons and some B.S.A.P. to the Bechuanaland line to guard the border. Struck down by dysentery at the end of the year, he was invalided back to Bulawayo, but afterwards served as a Transport Officer for Carrington’s Field Force (The Bushmen Corps), before returning to civilian employ as Government Secretary for Matabeleland in the course of 1900. residing in Bulawayo, it was his responsibility to find a way around the great currency shortage then being experienced as a result of the war. Holding large stocks of postage stamps, he introduced his now famous ‘Money Cards’, bearing on one side his signature and the stamp of the Administrator’s Office, and on the other side a B.S.A. postage stamp of varying denominations - sold with this lot is an original example of a one shilling card. another of his duties in the Boer War was to administer native labour, and to that end he was invited to carry out talks with the new Transvaal Government at Johannesburg, in order to establish a mutual arrangement for recruitment: ‘Johannesburg was in military occupation and the war was at its height. At Wolve Hoek we were held up in the train for some hours, and were eye-witness of a big drive intended to round up General de Wet, but although a large number of Boers were captured, de Wet was not among them. Lord Kitchener was there and seemed much annoyed. Our journey to and from Johannesburg took a fearful time owing to the numerous stoppages and delays due to military operations. At one time near Mafeking, our train was shelled by Boers but they were turned by fire from the armoured train which escorted us.’ In April 1901, at Kimberley, Hole had one of his last meetings with Cecil Rhodes: ‘I was a good deal shocked at his appearance, which had altered for the worse since I had last seen him, shortly after the relief of Mafeking. Dr. Jameson was staying with him and also General Pretyman. I had some long talks with Rhodes, about the native labour question in Rhodesia mainly. We played bridge every evening and I lost £5 to Rhodes, at which he was greatly pleased, though it didn’t amuse me so much!’ Rhodes died in early 1902, following Hole’s trip to Aden, at Rhodes’ behest, in order to bring back 200 Arab coolies: ‘I was placed in charge of the arrangements for the national funeral in the Matopo Hills, and had a good deal of responsibility. For this duty I received the thanks of the Administrator, the Chartered Company and the Rhodes Trustees.’ Returning to the U.K. on leave, Hole was offered a place in the Rhodesian Coronation Contingent: ‘At once I went to the Colonial Camp at Alexandra Palace. The Contingent was composed of the B.S.A.P. and the same number of my own regiment

A rare Great War East Africa operations C.M.G. group of nine awarded to Colonel C. U. Price, Indian Army, C.O. of Jacob’s Rifles and a successful Column Commander whose forces captured Dar-es-Salaam in September 1916 the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; East and Central Africa 1897-99, 1 clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (Lieut., 3/Baluch L.I.); China 1900, no clasp (Captain, 30/Baluch L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col., 1/130 Baluchis); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Col.); Delhi Durbar 1903, impressed naming, ‘Colonel C. V. Price, 130th Baluchis’; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed as issued; Russian Order of St. Anne, 3rd class breast badge, with swords, by Osipov, St. Petersburg, gold and enamel, manufacturer’s initials on reverse, ‘56’ zolotnik mark for 1909-17 on eyelet, and other stamp marks on sword hilts, generally good very fine (9) £3500-4000 c.M.G. London Gazette 26 June 1916. mention in despatches London Gazette 30 June 1916, 7 March 1918 and 6 August 1918 (all East Africa). russian Order of St. Anne London Gazette 15 February 1917. charles Uvedale Price was born in May 1868 and was educated at the United Services College, Westward Ho! and the R.M.C., Sandhurst. Originally commissioned into the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in February 1888, he transferred to the Indian Army in January 1890 and served in the Zhob Valley on the North West Frontier in the same year, afterwards gaining an appointment as a Wing Officer in the 30th Regiment of Bombay Infantry (3rd Baluchis). in January 1897, however, he was attached to the 27th Bombay Infantry (1st Baluchis) as Adjutant, and went on to win his first campaign medal with them in the Uganda operations of 1897-98. During this latter campaign he was engaged against the Sudanese mutineers, including the operations at Jeruba and Kijangute, and in Budda and Ankoli, gaining a mention in despatches. shortly afterwards he sailed for China, and served as a Captain in the course of the Boxer Rebellion. Then in 1903, back in India, Price attended the Delhi Durbar, attached as a Political Officer to His Highness the Mir of Khairpur. He was advanced to Major in February 1906. appointed a Double Company Commander in the 130th K.G.O. Baluchis (Jacob’s Rifles) in October 1911, Price assumed command of the regiment in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1915, and went on to serve with distinction in the operations in East Africa. in July 1915, in the fighting in the Mbuyuni region, he was appointed to the command of the flanking column, comprising Jacob’s Rifles, the 4th K.A.R. and Cole’s Scouts, sent by Brigadier-General Malleson to envelop the enemy’s left. Carrying out a well timed circuitous night march, Price attacked at daybreak on the 14th, but by 8 a.m. his force was checked by strong enemy resistance, and it became necessary to await more positive news from the main attacking force to the Germans’ front. This initiative, however, also lost momentum, and by the time Malleson’s order to call off the assault reached Price, his force had been under a lively hostile fire for at least an hour. Unperturbed, Price disengaged and ‘brought away his force in a steady and well-executed withdrawal, with slight loss’ (Official history refers). in early July 1916, as C.O. of a 500-strong force, comprising the 5th Light Infantry and a company of the 101st Grenadiers, Price was given the task of capturing Tanga. Carrying out a successful landing on the southern shore of Manza Bay on the 5th, he moved his force inland towards Amboni, ‘which was reached next day after disposing of some slight resistance on the way’. And on the 7th, he and his men crossed the Zigi River, the final natural barrier between them and their goal. Tanga, however, was found to have been deserted by the enemy, although some had remained behind in the surrounding bush from where they sniped at the British with good effect. Flushing out such opposition by means of frequent patrolling, Price moved on to Kange on the 17th. then in early August, he was given overall command of two columns, numbering in total some 1400 men, to secure the crossings of the Wami River. This he successfully accomplished in little more than a week, thereby assisting in opening up the way forward to attack Dar-es-Salaam. For the final advance on the seat of government and principal port of German East Africa, Price’s force was bolstered in strength by some 500 men and equipped with 20 machine-guns. The whole was assembled at Bagamoyo at the end of the month, and on the 31st, in two columns, it advanced on Dar-es-Salaam, while two smaller parties penetrated north to secure the railway line and some important bridges. Just four days later, having encountered little opposition, Price’s main force was assembled on the heights near Mabibo, from which the port could be seen less than three miles away. And early on that morning, after the Royal Navy had despatched a delegation aboard the Echo with a formal summons to surrender, the 129th Baluchis, which had acted as Price’s advanced guard throughout the operation, entered and took over the town. Once again, the Germans had made a hasty retreat, leaving behind 80 hospital patients and 370 non-combatants. for his part in some of the above related operations in German East Africa, Price was awarded the C.M.G and mentioned in despatches, in addition to gaining appointment to the Russian Order of St Anne. And in the later operations of that theatre of war between 1917-18, he again distinguished himself and was twice more the recipient of a ‘mention’. The Colonel, who retired to South Africa, died in May 1956. £3500-£4000

A post-war C.B.E. group of six awarded to Lionel Powys-Jones, Chief Native Commissioner of Southern Rhodesia, late Rhodesia Regiment and King’s Royal Rifle Corps, in which latter regiment he was wounded as a young subaltern in the Great War the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. L. Powys-Jones); Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953, surname officially corrected on the third, generally good very fine (6) £600-800 ex A. A. Upfill-Brown collection. c.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1954. lionel Powys-Jones was born in July 1894, the son of Llewellyn Powys-Jones, a Resident Magistrate in Bulawayo, and was educated at Blundell’s School, Tiverton, Victoria College, Jersey and Oriel College, Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Returning home to Rhodesia, he joined the Native Affairs Department, and in 1916 enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment. Subsequently commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, he was wounded in 1918. back in the service of the Native Affairs Department by 1919, he went on to enjoy a long and distinguished career, ultimately gaining appointment as Secretary for Native Affairs and Chief Native Commissioner in 1947. he had, meanwhile, joined the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers, and attended assorted musketry courses in the period leading upto the 1939-45 War. Placed on the Reserve of Officers in March 1940, he served in a Concession Platoon from August of that year until April 1942, and is a verified recipient of the Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service, the relevant roll stating, ‘Jones, L., X8610, Army’, which corresponds with his Q. & R. card in the archives in Harare; this award has accordingly been added to his Honours and Awards for display purposes. powys-Jones finally retired in 1954, in which year he was awarded his C.B.E. A keen tennis player who onetime represented Rhodesia, he settled in Somerset West, Cape Province, where he died in November 1966. £600-£800

Family group: a Civil O.B.E. and Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private J. Parrish, Scottish Rifles the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1932, in Garrard, London case of issue; Military Medal, G.V.R. (241082 Pte., 5/6 Sco. Rif.) edge bruise; British War and Victory Medals (241882 Pte., Sco. Rif.); Silver War Badge (290622); together with a mounted pair of British War and Victory miniature dress medals, these in a Spink, London leather case six: Driver W. H. Parrish, Royal Artillery british War and Victory Medals (806096 Dvr., R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine except where stated (13) £400-460 O.B.E. London Gazette, not confirmed. m.M. London Gazette 29 August 1918. private J. Parrish, Scottish Rifles, came from Hanley. Silver War Badge to Parrish not confirmed. group to W. H. Parrish sold with an unnamed ‘Air Council’ medal forwarding slip for the four Second World War Medals. £400-£460

An inter-war ‘Chemical Warfare School’ M.B.E., Great War D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer T. O’Brien, Royal Engineers the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for 1927; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (16171 Sjt.-A.C.S. Mjr., 15/F. Coy. R.E.); 1914 Star, with clasp (16171 2 Cpl., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (16171 A.W.O. Cl. 2, R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1852065 W.O.Cl. II, D.C.M., R.E.); France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, small bronze palm on ribbon, mounted for wear, last with dented reverse, very fine (7) £1000-1200 M.B.E. London Gazette 4 June 1928. ‘’No.1852065 Warrant Officer Class II, Company Sergeant-Major, Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major, Thomas Coulthard O’Brien, D.C.M., Royal Engineers, Chemical Warfare School, Porton’. d.C.M. London Gazette 3 October 1918. ‘16171 Serjt. (A./C.S.M.) T. O’Brien, R.E. (Ealing, W.)’ ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in supervising the work of demolishing bridges over river and canal, and in organising parties to defend the canal bank. At one time he held a position with four men, in spite of heavy fire, and prevented the enemy from repairing one of the demolished bridges. He set a fine example of coolness and resource’. croix de Guerre London Gazette 7 January 1919. corporal Thomas Coulthard O’Brien, 2 Field Company R.E., entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 5 November 1914. Sold with copied m.i.c. and gazette details. £1000-£1200

The Second World War ‘N.W. Europe’ M.B.E. group of ten awarded to Captain W. M. Wilkins, Royal Artillery, late Rifle Brigade the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; British War and Victory Medals (5707 Pte., Rif. Brig.), extremely worn; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (..05993 Sjt., Rif. Brig.), worn; Efficiency Decoration, E.II.R., Territorial, rev. dated ‘1960’; Cadet Forces Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Capt., M.B.E., TD., CCF.), mounted as worn, very fine except where stated (20) £350-400 M.B.E. London Gazette 24 January 1946. ‘Captain (Quartermaster), Royal Regiment of Artillery’. recommendation states: ‘This officer has shown outstanding devotion to duty and his untiring efforts on behalf of the unit during the early stages of the campaign in obtaining all the requirements of the Regt under exceedingly difficult conditions and at a very critical time, were of immense value to the fighting efficiency of the Regt. His efforts were a major factor in keeping all the guns and complex Radar equipment in action in defence of vital installations in the beachhead. Since the Regt moved forward into Germany this officer has on more than one occasion been responsible for uncovering illegal activities by Germans and has shewn initiative, energy and keenness of a high order which have been an inspiration to all with whom he has come into contact’. during the Great War and a period thereafter William M. Wilkins served in the Rifle Brigade. In the Second World War he was awarded the M.B.E. for his services with the 146th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A., part of 80 A.A. Brigade, during the period following the Normandy landings and the later campaign into Germany. Postwar he was appointed to the Brighton Grammar School Contingent of the Junior Training Corps (London Gazette 8 January 1946). In 1947 he was granted the honorary rank of Captain (Quartermaster) in place of the same War Substantive rank which he held (London Gazette 21 February 1947). He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration in 1960 (London Gazette 19 January 1960). He retired from his post with the Brighton Grammar School Combined Cadet Force in 1970 (London Gazette 13 January 1970). Sold with copied gazette extracts, recommendation and other research. Also with ten prize medallions/medals for shooting, athletics and sports - two enamelled, some named. £350-£400

A Second World War M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Purser V. A. Luff, Merchant Navy the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, in its Royal Mint case of issue; British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (Victor A. Luff); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star, clasp, Burma; War Medal 1939-45, the 1939-45 issues in their addressed card forwarding box with Minister of Transport forwarding slip, generally extremely fine (7) £300-350 M.B.E. London Gazette 15 June 1945. victor Alfred Luff, who was born in London in May 1900 and served in the Mercantile Marine in the Great War, was also entitled to the above described 1939-45 War campaign awards and ‘Burma’ clasp - official records refer and confirm service as a Purser in the S.S. Umgeni, a vessel of Bullard King & Company Ltd. from at least 1942. And he was serving in a similar capacity at the time of receiving his M.B.E., finally coming ashore in late 1959; sold with original M.B.E. warrant, framed and glazed. £300-£350

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.S.O., M.C. and Second World War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Major H. D. Denison-Pender, 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with top bar; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut., 2/Dns.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Bt-Major), War Medal with minor correction to surname; Jubilee 1935, unnamed; Coronation 1953, unnamed, mounted court style as worn, in fitted wooden glass-fronted case good very fine (8) £2800-3200 d.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918. o.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1942. ‘Major, D.S.O., M.C., J.P.’ ‘Deputy Chief Censor, Telegraph Censorship Branch, Ministry of Information’. m.C. London Gazette 18 February 1915. ‘Lieutenant (temporary Captain), 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)’. m.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915; 4 January 1917; 11 December 1917. Henry Denison Denison-Pender was born on 2 April 1884, the 2nd son of Sir John Denison-Pender, G.B.E., K.C.M.G. He was educated at Eton and was commissioned into the 15th Hussars in May 1907, transferring to the Royal Scots Greys in June the same year. Promoted to Lieutenant in April 1911, he served in the Scottish Cavalry Depot at Dunbar, 1913-14. During the Great War he served in France/Flanders, August-November 1914 and May 1915-March 1918. Appointed a Temporary Captain in November 1914, he was promoted to that rank in May 1915. Denison-Pender was appointed G.S.O.3 with the 6th Division in December 1915; Brigade Major with the 6th Infantry Brigade in June 1916; G.S.O.2 with the 33rd Division in July 1917, and G.S.O.2 with the 51st Division in January 1919. For his wartime services he was three times mentioned in despatches, was awarded the D.S.O. and M.C., and in November 1917 was granted the brevet of Major. He retired from the Army in 1919 (London Gazette 1 July 1919). Postwar he was Director of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Co. Ltd., 1921-59. He was appointed J.P. for Dorset in 1929 and High Sheriff of Dorsetshire in 1935. During the Second World War he was employed as Deputy Chief Telegraph Censor at the Central Telegraph Office, 1939-42, for which he was awarded the O.B.E. He was in addition, Chairman of the Sturminster Rural District Council, 1949-53; Member of Council of the Bath and West Agricultural Society, 1929-50; Member of Council of the Royal Agricultural Society, 1943-53; President of the Yeovil Agricultural Society, 1936-37; Life Honorary Member of the Hunters Improvement and Light Horse Breeding Society, 1953; and Master of the Portman Hunt. He was married in 1913 to Doris Louise Sydney, the eldest daughter of Sydney Fisher of Amington Hall, Tamworth, Staffordshire, with whom he had three daughters. Latterly living at Hartletts in Hook, Hampshire; he died on 16 February 1967. £2800-£3200

A good Great War D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Colonel A. N. R. McNeill, Royal Army Medical Corps distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914 Star (Capt., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (Col., D.S.O., R.A.M.C.); War Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1937, generally good very fine (7) £1600-1800 d.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918. mention in despatches London Gazette 25 May 1918. arthur Norman Roy McNeill, was born in Glasgow in April 1886, was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps in August 1908, and was advanced to Captain in February 1912, while stationed in Mauritius. Back in the U.K. by the outbreak of hostilities, he first entered the French theatre of War in October 1914, and remained actively employed there until the end of hostilities, latterly as an Acting Lieutenant-Colonel and C.O. of No. 7 Cavalry Field Ambulance. Subsequently employed out in Ind a 1923-28, in Malaya 1930-31, and again out in India from 1936-41, he commanded the British Military Hospitals at Mhow and Rawalpindi, in addition to a posting as A.D.M.S. H.Q., 1 Division, Waziristan in 1937, thereby gaining entitlement to his India General Service Medal. Having then been advanced to full Colonel, and served as A.D.M.S. H.Q. Bombay, he returned to the U.K. in 1941 and was A.D.M.S. H.Q. Devon and Cornwall, until that June, when he was placed on the Retired List. He died in London in February 1947. £1600-£1800

An extremely rare Second World War Malta convoys D.S.O., M.B.E. group of nine awarded to Captain G. B. Pinkney, Merchant Navy: decorated for his services as Chief Officer and then Master of the Port Chalmers in operations ‘Halberd’ and Pedestal’, his D.S.O. was among the first gazetted to a Merchant Officer following a change of policy by the Admiralty’s Honours & Awards Committee distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1942’; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; British War and Mercantile Marine Medals 1914-18 (Henry G. B. Pinkney); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, the fourth with officially re-impressed naming, good very fine or better (9) £4000-5000 d.S.O. London Gazette 10 November 1942: ‘For bravery and dauntless resolution when an important convoy was fought through to Malta in the face of relentless attacks by day and night from enemy submarines, aircraft and surface forces.’ M.B.E. London Gazette 9 June 1942. Joint citation with his Master and Chief Engineer: ‘The ship was frequently attacked by enemy aircraft. The Master showed courage and good seamanship and it was due to his handling of the vessel that she was brought safely to port. The Chief Officer’s organisation of the defences was outstanding and the Chief Engineer proved equal to all demands made on his department.’ Henry George Bacon Pinkney, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand in November 1898, passed his examination for 2nd Mate in October 1919, shortly after active service in the Mercantile Marine in the Great War, latterly in the S.S. Port Lincoln. Gaining his 1st Mate’s certificate in February 1922, and qualifying as a Master (Steamships) in November 1926, he was employed by the Port Line on the Australia run between the Wars, and joined the Port Fairy shortly after the renewal of hostilities. removing to the Port Chalmers in March 1941, as Chief Officer, he found himself rapidly employed on the Malta run, initially in operation ‘Substance’ that July, but it was for his subsequent deeds in ‘Halberd’ in September, when his ship, and the City of Pretoria, made the passage from Malta to Gibraltar unescorted, that he was awarded the M.B.E. The official report submitted by the Flag Officer Commanding Force ‘H’ states: ‘Port Chalmers and the City of Pretoria were reported by Italian aircraft at 1200 hours on the 27th, shortly after leaving Malta. No enemy surface craft or aircraft were seen until 2320, when what was believed to be an E-Boat was sighted by Port Chalmers, who was following in the wake of the City of Pretoria. he enemy craft first sighted by Port Chalmers was lying stopped 3-400 yards on the port beam of City of Pretoria, who saw nothing except gunfire from her consort. Port Chalmers sheered off to starboard and 10 minutes after the first sighting heard E-Boat engines approaching from the port quarter; she turned to starboard to bring the enemy astern, and opened fire with her 4-inch gun at the enemy’s bow wave. The enemy opened fire at Port Chalmers with her machine-guns, but scored no hits, and after Port Chalmers had fired six rounds of 4-inch, the enemy crossed astern and made off. Port Chalmers then resumed her station astern of City of Pretoria. This action took place 15 miles S.S.W. of Pantellaria.’ Here then evidence of Pinkney’s outstanding organisation of his ship’s defences, which was just as well for Port Chalmers was regularly visited by enemy aircraft during the same trip. As it is, Gibraltar was reached on the 30th, his Master and Chief Engineer receiving O.B.Es and himself the M.B.E. ‘Pedestal’ But a far greater challenge awaited him in August 1942, by which stage he had been appointed Master of the Port Chalmers - namely the most important Malta convoy of them all - operation ‘Pedestal’: of the 14 merchantmen that set out, nine were sunk and three damaged, while the Senior Service lost an aircraft carrier, two cruisers and one destroyer, as well as having another half a dozen ships damaged. given such grim statistics, it is rare to be able to relate that the Port Chalmers was one of four merchantmen to reach Malta, and one of just two that arrived undamaged, testament indeed to the seamanship of her Master - also aboard was Commander A. J. Venables, R.N. (Retd.), the Convoy’s Commodore, who later reported that the ship’s company ‘deserved the highest praise for their magnificent conduct and coolness under most trying circumstances, as the continual air bombing, always most accurate, was a great test for high morale, especially when the enemy had the sky to himself. The evening of the 12th was a severe trial to all, as the escort afloat had completely vanished at a critical moment after the disaster at the entrance to Skerki Channel ... ‘ A view shared by Pinkney, who, in recommending his Chief Enginer and 2nd Officer for decorations, stated, ‘Enemy action commenced on the 11th August and was almost continuous until noon on the 13th ... by submarine, bombing and torpedo bombing’. And so it was, from the moment the convoy arrived in the Straits of Gibraltar, an early victim to torpedo attack being the aircraft carrier Eagle - she went down in 15 minutes. And then as related by Venables, further disaster struck at the entrance of the Skerki Channel - Port Chalmers was following the cruiser Cairo, and very nearly rammed her when she slowed after a torpedo hit, Pinkney just managing to get enough power astern before sliding past. While on the 13th, ‘Port Chalmers experienced extraordinary good fortune in just missing the bombs time after time’, so too a torpedo: ‘Pathfinder’s vigorous and spirited action had thrown the Italian pilots completely out of their stride and most of their torpedoes missed the ships well clear. Only one was accurate and this became entangled by its fin in the starboard paravane of Port Chalmers’ minesweeping gear. This left Captain Pinkney in an unenviable position with the live torpedo tied close to his side and threatening to swing in and detonate against her thin plates at any moment. Somewhat at a loss at this unexpected situation, Pinkney flashed the nearest escorts for advice. Commander Gibbs suggested that he should cut the paravane wire and swing the helm hard over. In the end the clump of chain for’ard was unshackled and let go and the derrick was then let go. Their dangerous companion then sank quickly as the Port Chalmers drew clear. Some minutes later it exploded on the bottom - in about 400 fathoms - and although the ship was well clear Captain Pinkney described the uplift of the explosion as tremendous.’ Pinkney was awarded an immediate D.S.O. and, in addition to D.S.Cs to his Chief Engineer and 2nd Officer, his crew also won seven D.S.Ms and three ‘mentions’. In May 1943, he removed to the Port Campbell, aboard which ship he served for the remainder of the War, and he retired from the service in May 1953; sold with his original D.S.O. warrant. £4000-£5000

An extremely early Second World War D.S.C. group of nine awarded to Skipper Lieutenant H. C. Gue, Royal Naval Reserve distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1939’ and privately engraved, Chief Skipper H. C. Gue, D.S.C.’, hallmarks for London 1939; British War Medal 1914-20 (15376 D.A. L.D.H., R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Henry C. Gue); Victory Medal 1914-19 (15376 D.A. L.D.H., R.N.R.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (Ch. Skpr., D.S.C., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1939’, generally good very fine (9) £1200-1500 d.S.C. London Gazette 1 January 1940: ‘For unfailing courage, endurance and resource in H.M. Trawlers, Drifters and Minesweepers in their hard and perilous task of sweeping the seas clear of enemy mines and combating submarines.’ Henry Charles Gue was in London in May 1894 and entered the Royal Naval Reserve as a Deck Hand in March 1917. Demobilised in the rate of Leading Deck Hand in March 1919, he was appointed a Skipper in October 1924 and advanced to Chief Skipper in October 1934, and it was in the latter rank that he volunteered for service in the Red Sea, in support of anti-smuggling operations off Palestine in the late 1930s, most probably in a trawler converted for inshore patrol work. appointed to the requisitioned trawler Cape Spartel in November 1939, he went on to win his D.S.C. in a matter of weeks, thereby becoming just the 26th recipient of the decoration to be listed in the London Gazette for the 1939-45 War, ahead even of the River Plate awards - he received his award at an investiture held on 5 March 1940. gue removed to another trawler, the Pitsman, in April 1941, and to the Athenian as C.O. and Skipper Lieutenant, in March 1944, in which latter vessel he served in support of the Normandy landings prior to being placed on the Retired List at the end of the year. His R.N.R. Decoration was announced in the London Gazette in February 1945. £1200-£1500