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Three: Fireman A. W. Squire, London Fire Brigade, late Imperial Yeomanry Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (39385 Pte. A. W. Squire, 32nd Bn. Imp. Yeo.); Coronation 1911, London Fire Brigade issue (Coachman A. W. Squire); London County Council / London Fire Brigade Good Service Medal, bronze (Fireman A. W. Squire), very fine and better (3) £160-180 Albert William Squire was born in Notting Hill, London and enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry in January 1902, aged 23 years. He subsequently served out in South Africa in the 145th Company, 32nd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry from May 1902 to January 1903, in which latter month he returned home and was discharged at Aldershot.

Six: Quarter-Master & Captain S. J. How, Royal Army Medical Corps, who served in the American hospital ship Maine during the Boer War and the Boxer Rebellion - and gained a "mention" from Lord Roberts Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (8223 S. Major S. J. How, R.A.M.C.); China 1900, no clasp (8223 Serjt.-Maj. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.); 1914-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. S. J. How); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (8223 S. Sjt. Mjr. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.), very fine and better (6) £800-1000 Around 10 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade received the Queens South Africa Medal, and around 15 of them the China Medal, for services in the American hospital ship Maine. But only around six members of the R.A.M.C. likewise qualified, the whole under Major James Meek and Sergeant-Major How. The Maine was originally the Atlantic Transport Line steamer Swansea, renamed in 1899 and lent to the British Government as a hospital ship for use in the Boer War and later off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fitted out as a hospital ship in London by Messrs. Fletcher & Son and Fearnall Ltd., the costs were met by the American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund who struck a special medal to help with their fund raising. Stanley James How was one of just eight members of the medical staff employed in the Maine to be mentioned in Lord Roberts despatch on 1 March 1902, he and Major Meek being the only members of the R.A.M.C. so honoured. Having been placed on retired pay in July 1914, How was recalled on the outbreak of hostilities and was appointed a Quarter-Master and Lieutenant in November 1914, and subsequently gained advancement to Q.M. & Captain in November 1917. Accompanying research further states that he was killed at the Curragh Military Hospital, Dublin in 1919.

Pair: Orderly W. Ashworth, St. John Ambulance Brigade Queens South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (1419 Ordly. W. Ashworth, St. John Amb. Bde.); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (1419 Pte. W. Ashworth, Hebden Bridge Corps), the first with re-riveted suspension claw, polished, nearly very fine (2) £250-300 Recipient served at No. 14 General Hospital and aboard the hospital ship Simla, but was not entitled to any clasps.

Pair: Fireman W. Bateman, late St. John Ambulance Brigade St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902 (1047 Pte. W. Bateman, Nelson Corps); National Fire Brigades Union Long Service, bronze, the edge officially numbered 3470 and the reverse inscribed, Fireman W. Bateman 1899-1909, good very fine (2) £250-300 Recipient was also awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with "Natal" clasp for his services as an Orderly in the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

Ten: Acting Staff Sergeant W. H. Stone, Royal Army Medical Corps, late St. John Ambulance Brigade, who served aboard the American hospital ship Maine during the Boxer Rebellion Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (127 Ordly. W. H. Stone, St. John Amb. Bde.); China 1900, no clasp (1439 Pte. W. H. Stone, St. John Amb. Bde.); 1914-15 Star (26126 Sjt. W. H. Stone, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (26126 A.S. Sjt. W. H. Stone, R.A.M.C.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1897, St. John Ambulance Brigade issue, bronze (Private W. H. Stone); Coronation 1902, St. John Ambulance Brigade issue, bronze (W. H. Stone, Cpl.); Coronation 1911, St. John Ambulance Brigade issue (Cpl. W. H. Stone); St. John Service Medal (Corporal William H. Stone, July 1911), the fifth renamed, generally very fine or better and an exceptional combination of awards (10) £600-800 William Henry Stone was one of about 15 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade to be employed aboard the American hospital ship Maine during the Boxer Rebellion. The Maine was originally the Atlantic Transport Line steamer Swansea, renamed in 1899 and lent to the British Government as a hospital ship for use in the Boer War and later off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fitted out as a hospital ship in London by Messrs. Fletcher & Son and Fearnall Ltd., the costs were met by the American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund who struck a special medal to help with their fund raising.

A good Order of St. John group of five awarded to Corps Officer T. Lamb, St. John Ambulance Brigade, late East Riding of Yorkshire Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brothers breast badge, silver and black enamel type; Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (6 Ordly. T. Lamb, St. John Amb. Bde.); St. John Medal for South Africa 1899-1902, bronze (6 Pte. T. Lamb, Hull Corps); Volunteer Force Long Service, E.VII.R.(5749 Sjt. T. Lamb, 2/E.R. of Y. R.G.A.V.); St. John Service Medal, with four Bars, one of them of the 5 Years Service variety (2394 Supt. T. Lamb, H. & B. Rly. (Springhead Loco.) Div., No. 6 Dist., 1921), the second with officially corrected unit, the third with crudely repaired suspension, the first and last very fine or better, the remainder with edge bruising and polished, fine or better (5) £300-350 Thomas Lamb joined the Hull Springhead Locomotive Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in September 1897, served in the Hull Corps in the Boer War and was promoted to Superintendent in May 1908. In the interim, he also served in the East Riding of Yorkshire Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers as a Sergeant Instructor of Stretcher-Bearers. Lamb was admitted to the Order of St. John as a Serving Brother in April 1918 and finally retired in the rank of Corps Officer in 1946. He died in August 1953.

Family group: Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1900 (Sergt. A. Burt, Langman Hospital), date on last clasp (to which the recipient was not entitled) privately altered to 1900, rank re-engraved and otherwise officially re-impressed, polished, nearly very fine Four: Acting Staff Sergeant W. H. Burt, Army Service Corps, late Langman Hospital Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Corpl. W. Burt, Langman Hospital); 1914-15 Star (S4-091005 Pte. W. H. Burt, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (S4-091005 A.-S.-Sjt. W. H. Burt, A.S.C.), the first with officially re-impressed naming, generally very fine and rare (5) £400-500 Established by Mr. John Langman, this private hospital opened its tented wards for the first time in April 1900, on the cricket ground at Bloemfontein, where, a few days later, it was inspected by Lord Roberts, V.C., who said of it in a telegram to Langman back in London, that its value to our R.A.M.C. and wounded cannot be overestimated. Indeed, under the efficient command of Langmans son, Archibald, actually a Lieutenant in the Middlesex Yeomanry, the hospital eventually treated 1211 cases, latterly at a new location in Pretoria. Of these patients, 278 returned to duty, 875 were transferred to other hospitals and 58 died. Among the handful of Surgeons employed on the 45-strong staff, 18 of whom were from the St. John Ambulance Brigade, was Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle, M.D., he of Sherlock Holmes fame, who had, from the outset, been invited by John Langman to assist in the selection of suitable personnel - it is not without interest therefore that Corporal Weston Burt was, like Conan Doyle, a resident of Southsea, a fact that suggests they may well have been local friends. Be that as it may, both men would certainly have shared in the horrific scenes caused by ever-growing numbers of enteric victims, the famous author being compelled to write: Our hospital was no worse off than the others, and as there were many of them the general condition of the town [Bloemfontein] was very bad. Coffins were out of the question, and the men were lowered in their brown blankets into shallow graves at the average of sixty a day. A sickening smell came from the stricken town. Once when I had ridden out to get an hour or two of change, and was at least six miles from the town, the wind changed and the smell was all around me. You could smell Bloemfontein long before you could see it. Even now if I felt that lowly death smell compounded of disease and disinfectants my heart would sink within me. The Hospital was eventually given as a free gift by John Langman to the Government in November 1900, complete with all its equipment, tentage and supplies - he was created a Baronet in 1906, while his son, Archibald, received prompter reward by way of a C.M.G. in 1902. Conan Doyle, too, was among the ex-Langman staff honoured, receiving a knighthood, although he later claimed this was in response to the publication of his pamphlet, The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct. Sold with an original printed letter, and an old copy thereof, from John Langman, forwarding Corporal Weston Burts Queens South Africa Medal, dated 14 November 1901, and addressed to him at 77 Castle Road, Southsea (I greatly appreciated all the good work you did in the Hospital and would have liked to have been able to tell you so personally if a presentation could have been arranged ... ); together with original portrait photographs of both brothers, the one of Weston Burt by Barkshire Brothers of 233 Albert Road, Southsea, further evidence of a direct link with Conan Doyle.

Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (392 Tpr. W. H. Langford, Canadian Scouts) very fine £80-100 William Henry Langford, who was issued with the above described Medal and clasps in April 1903, was also sent a "South Africa 1902" clasp in November 1905.

Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (39223 Tpr. J. G. White, Canadian Scouts), very fine £40-50 J. Green White also served in the C.-in-Cs Bodyguard (No. 25075) and the Cape Garrison Artillery (No. 268) and was entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal with "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State" and "Transvaal" clasps.

Pair: Trooper A. Chalke, British South Africa Police, a veteran of the Rhodesia 1896 operations who participated in the defence of Mafeking British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, no clasp (Troopr. A. Chalke, M.R.F.); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Mafeking (2408 Tpr. A. Chalke, B.S.A. Police), contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine (2) £700-900 Prior to his services in the Matabeleland Relief Force in Rhodesia, and as a member of the British South Africa Police at Mafeking, the recipient had served as a Private in the 2nd Battalion, Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment 1886-94.

Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3 Sjt. J. Middlemiss, C.C. Forces) rank corrected, re-riveted suspension claw, very fine £80-100 James Middlemiss served in D Squadron, Cape Colonial Forces and was re-issued with the above described Medal and clasps in October 1909, when his entitlement to the "South Africa 1901" clasp was confirmed.

Three: Private C. E. King, Thorneycrofts Mounted Infantry, late Cape Mounted Rifles Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (1726 Pte. C. E. King, Cape M.R.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1726 Pte. C.E. King, Cape M.R.); Cape of Good Hope L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (1726 Pte. C. E. King, Cape M.R.), very fine or better and rare (3) £800-1000 Recipient also entitled to the "Orange Free State" clasp for his services in Thorneycrofts Mounted Infantry, while the award of his L.S. & G.C. Medal was announced in the Cape of Good Hope Gazette of 23 February 1906.

Four: Sergeant W. Webster, Cape Mounted Rifles Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Basutoland (Pte. W. Webster, C.M. Rifn.); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (105 Serjt. W. Webster, Cape M.R.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (105 Serjt. W. Webster, Cape M.R.); Cape of Good Hope L.S. & G.C., V.R. (3/Cl. Sgt. W. Webster, C.M. Rifles), generally good very fine and rare (4) £600-800 The award of the recipients L.S. & G.C. Medal was announced in the Cape of Good Hope Gazette of 26 January 1900 and he was discharged in May 1902.

Nine: Captain J. H. Howell, South African Forces, late Hartigans Horse and South African Police, a veteran of the defence of Kimberley - in which he was wounded - who died in September 1943 while serving in the Essential Services Protection Corps Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Defence of Kimberley, Orange Free State (1773 Pte. J. H. Howell, Cape P.D. 1); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1773 Pte. J. H. Howell, C.P. Dist. 1); 1914-15 Star (Cpl. J. H. Howell, Hartigans Hse.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Cpl. J. H. Howell, Hartigans Hse.); War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these two officially inscribed, 702308J. H. Howell; South African Police Good Service Medal, 1st type (No. 592 (M.) 1/C. Sergeant J. H. Howell); Mayor of Kimberleys Star, hallmark letter a, the reverse privately inscribed, J. H. Howell, Cape Police, the first two somewhat polished, nearly very fine, the remainder very fine and better (9) £600-700 James Henry Howell, who enlisted in the Police at Kings William Town in August 1898, was actively engaged as a Private in the Cape Police (District 1) from October 1899 to May 1902, in which period he was wounded in the defence of Kimberley. Having then witnessed further action in Hartigans Horse in 1915, he returned to his police duties and retired, aged 50 years, as a Head Constable, in February 1930. However, the advent of hostilities in 1939 witnessed his return to uniform, this time as a Captain in the Essential Services Protection Corps, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his death on 4 September 1943, aged 63 years. He left a widow resident at Port Elizabeth, where he was buried in the South End Cemetery. Sold with the recipients original South African Police certificate of discharge, dated at Pretoria, 13 February 1930, together with a related forwarding letter from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (I shall be glad if you will kindly convey to Head Constable Howell the Commissioners and my appreciation of his services and excellent record whilst serving in the Force ... ); and official communications addressed to his widow regarding his entitlement to the 1939-45 War and Africa Service Medals, these dated 10 December 1945 and 7 November 1947.

Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, South Africa 1901 (25021 Tpr. A. E. Smith, S.A. Lt. Horse), a later impressed issue, cast copy suspension bar, very fine £60-80 Albert Edward Smith served variously in the South African Light Horse, in Q Squadron, Cape Colonial Forces (No. 479 Sergeant) and in the Peninsular Horse (No. 1325 Trooper), and was entitled to the "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Transvaal", "South Africa 1901" and "South Africa 1902" clasps; his Medal was returned to the A.D.O.S. in March 1906 and another issued to him in April 1909, this last via applications made from the Cape Colonial Forces and Peninsular Horse rolls.

Pair: Private P. Paine, Namaqualand Town Guard, who was wounded in the defence of Ookiep on 8 April 1902 Queens South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (49 Pte. P. Paine, Namqlnd. T.G.); Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of Ookiep, bronze issue (P. Paine), the last with attempted erasure of naming but details still clearly visible, severe edge bruising, otherwise good fine or better and scarce (2) £400-500 Ex Brian Kieran collection; see his Defence of Ookiep for another illustration and further details.

Anglo-Boer Oorlog Medal 1899-1902 (Burger C. Maartens), slightly bent suspension bar, edge nicks, otherwise very fine £40-60 Coert Maartens served in the Johannesburg Politie.

Anglo-Boer Oorlog Medal 1899-1902 (Burger S. W. Neethling), good very fine £60-80 Schalk Willem Neethling served in the Middelburg Commando.

Family group: Anglo-Boer Oorlog Medal 1899-1902 (Burger J. H. Labuschagne), good very fine Six: Lance-Sergeant J. H. Labuschagne, South African Police, late Heidelberg Commando 1914-15 Star (Pte. J. H. Labuschagne, Heidelberg Cdo.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Const. J. H. Labuschagne, 2nd M.C.); Bilingual Victory Medal 1914-19 (Pte. J. H. Labuschagne, Heidelberg Cdo.); War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these two officially inscribed, 254060 J. H. Labuschagne; South African Police Good Service Medal, 3rd type (No. 160 Konst. J. H. Labuschagne, S.W.A.P), generally good very fine (7) £250-300 Jan Harm Labuschagne, who was born at Middelburg in February 1893, served in the Heidelberg Commando from January to August 1915, prior to joining the 2nd Regiment of the Military Constabulary at the end of the same year. Transferring to the newly established S.W.A.P. at Middelburg in January 1920, he remained in the Police until his retirement as a Lance-Sergeant in February 1951, other than an appointment in 2nd Division H.Q., Union Defence Forces from November 1940 to April 1941, when he served as a driver on the Staff of Major-General I. P. de Villiers; there are several recipients of the Anglo-Boer Oorlog Medal 1899-1902 with the initials and surname J. H. Labuschagne on the roll, but given Jan Harms date of birth it is improbable that he is one of them - more likely his father.

A rare Anglo-Boer War D.T.D. group of five awarded to Lieutenant G. H. J. Kruger, Staatsartillerie, afterwards 4th South African Mounted Rifles Anglo-Boer War Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst 1899-1902 (Luit. G. H. Kruger); Anglo-Boer Oorlog Medal 1899-1902 (Luit. G. H. Kruger); 1914-15 Star (Lt. G. H. J. Kruger, 4th S.A.M.R.); British War and Bi-lingual Victory Medal (Lt. G. H. J. Kruger), together with a small 9ct. gold medal, obverse with arms and Eendragt Maakt Magt, reverse numbered 239, double loop suspension, green riband, and top brooch-bar inscribed Z.A.R., and makers mark R.M.P., contact marks, edge bruising and polished, nearly very fine or better (6) £1000-1200 Gerhardus Hendrik J. Kruger, who served in the Staatsartillerie, was also entitled to wear the Lint Voor Winden (L.V.W.) wound riband. During the Great War he served as a Trooper in the 8th South African Mounted Rifles (Steynsburg Troop) from February to May 1915, prior to gaining a commission in the 4th Mounted Rifles; his 1914-15 Trio was issued to him in 1931.

Birmingham Tribute Medal, gilt white metal, 38mm., unnamed, pierced with ring suspension, complete with original but slightly embroidered riband and 1899 1902 brooch bar; together with a Souvenir Medal 1899-1900, silvered base metal, 38mm., obverse, Union Flag flanked by a Bluejacket and Infantryman and The Queen God Bless Her in exergue, reverse, Coats of Arms within wreath and inscriptions of a similar nature, good very fine (2) £40-60 Reference: Hibbard A4.

Mayor of Kimberleys Medal 1899-1900, unnamed as issued, lacquered, very fine and rare £400-500 Reference: Hibbard E1.

Toronto Tribute Medal 1900, silver, 38mm., obverse, returning soldier welcomed by a woman and a dog, reverse, a sword with wreath and dove, and Canadas Brave Boys, South Africa 1900, Welcome Home, unnamed, complete with original brooch bar, Toronto Welcomes Her Sons, attached by twin chains, edge bruising, very fine and scarce £100-150 Reference: Hibbard H1.

An extremely rare Victorian M.S.M. pair awarded to Sergeant-Major J. Gillies, Royal Artillery, almost certainly the last enlisted man to wear his Waterloo Medal in uniform at the time of his discharge, aged 67 years, in 1854 Waterloo 1815 (John Gillis, Bombardier, Royal Foot Artillery), with old replacement clip and ring suspension; Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Serjt. Major John Gillies, Royal Artillery), officially impressed naming, both fitted with decorative riband buckles, naming details worn in places as a result of edge bruising, the first with heavy contact marks and polished, fine, the second rather better (2) £3000-3500 John Gillies was born in Campbeltown, Argyll in 1787 and enlisted in the Royal Artillery in April 1808, when he joined Major Lloyds Company in the Foot Artillery. Having witnessed active service in the disastrous Walcheren operations in the following year, and been advanced to Bombardier, he was present at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, where Lloyds Company formed part of Halketts 5th Brigade and won an "honour title". Whenever his guns appeared to be in danger of capture, Major Lloyd - who was eventually killed - ordered his men to remove one of the wheels of each piece, and roll them back into the protection of an infantry square, thereby preventing the enemy cavalry from dragging them off. Gillies gained advancement to Sergeant in the 1820s but was never awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal, even though he became eligible for a William IV-issue in 1830. He was, however, advanced to Sergeant-Major in 1842 and was awarded one of nine annuity M.S.Ms issued to the Royal Artillery on 18 April 1848 - these were in fact the first such awards to the Regiment as they claimed none in the previous year. Latterly the Repository Sergeant-Major at Woolwich, Gillies was discharged in 1854, aged 67 years, when almost certainly the last enlisted man to wear his Waterloo Medal in uniform (The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, by Ian McInnes, refers). He died in March 1858, when the second most senior R.A. annuitant.

A rare Victorian campaign service and M.S.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant A. McKerrow, 90th Regiment, who was wounded in the attack on the Great Redan in September 1855 and hit by a Tulwar blow in the Indian Mutiny - but the gentleman who gave it never gave another as I had the good luck to drop him with a shot through the chest: and this just one of many fascinating observations to be found in McKerrows memoirs, published in the regimental journal shortly before his death in 1927 Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (90th Regt.), officially impressed naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow (90th Lt. Infy.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (3914 Sergt., 90th Foot); Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Sejt., 90 Foot), officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British die, unnamed, the Mutiny Medal with refixed suspension claw, the first two with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus fine, the remainder very fine and better Together with: Army Temperance Association: India, A.T.A.I.14 (The Association Medal), with 'For Merit' top bar; A.T.A.I.7 (7 Year Medal); A.T.A.I.6 (6 Year Medal); A.T.A.I.5 (5 Year Medal); A.T.A.I.3, with 'Excelsior' top bar (4 Year Award); A.T.A.I.1.5 (Victoria Commemorative Medal); A.T.A.I.2 (1 Year Medal); Army Temperance Association: Home, A.T.A.H.2, with 'Fidelity' top bar (2 Year Award); A.T.A.I.1, silvered (6 Month Medal); 'Grand Lodge, India' Cross, these added by Ian McInnes to replace the McKerrow family Temperance Medals which accompanied his official awards when first auctioned in London, generally very fine (Lot) £1800-2200 Alexander McKerrow was, by his own account, born at Springkell, Dumfriesshire on 29 September 1833, although his enlistment papers state the year 1835 and a family bible 1836. More certain is the fact he enlisted in the 90th Regiment at Westminster in January 1855, aged 20 years, and, as confirmed by his memoirs, quickly saw action in the Crimea, not least in the attack on the Great Redan on 8 September 1855, when he witnessed Sergeant Andrew Moynihan winning his V.C.: I took part in trench work until the final assault on the Great Redan, when the Regiment formed part of the scaling ladder party, and then I knew what it was to be a soldier of the Queen. In reality, as I was making my way into the Great Redan, and squeezing myself through the embrasure of a heavy gun, a Russian gunner took it into his head to prevent me, so he quietly despatched me into the trench 30 feet deep by giving me a blow in the right thigh with a rammer of gun-sponger. I remained there until found the next morning with the dead and wounded. McKerrow, who was also wounded in the head by a musket ball, appears to have been admitted to Scutari, for in later years he would talk about his gratitude to Florence Nightingale - he christened one of his daughters after her. Having then briefly returned to the U.K., he was quickly back on the campaign trail, for the 90th were landed at Calcutta at the onset of the Indian Mutiny: When we crossed the bridge of boats at Cawnpore, the Regiment had its first engagement with the rebels - I think the name of the place was Mungawar. Here the Regiment was extended into skirmishing order, and commenced operations, driving the rebels before them and scattering them in all directions. Sir James Outram accompanied us on his fly-bitten charger, and Sir Henry Havelock remained with the main body on the Grand Trunk Road. Things went all right until the Baggage Guard was attacked by overwhelming numbers, and we had to form rallies and squares. I received a hit in the left foot with a Tulwar, but the gentleman who gave it never gave another, as I had the good luck to drop him with a shot through the chest. And of the subsequent operations at Lucknow: On our way out our Adjutant, Lieutenant Rennie, was riding along, and happened to find out a byway. He was officious in these matters and he took it into his head to have a look, and found to his surprise two guns in the rebels hands. He shouted out "H Company" (which was my company) "right about turn, follow me at the double." We did so, and found him engaged with the gunners. Seeing us join him the rebels let go one of their guns. It swept the road and took a number of my company, amongst whom was Lieutenant Nicol Graham, who was related to the Graham who raised the Regiment. By his death we lost as brave as officer as ever drew a sword for his countrys cause. I well remember him saying, as we put him in a dooley, "Ah, McKerrow, I have seen many a man fall, but I never expected to fall so soon myself." He died of his wounds that evening and the Regiment mourned his loss. He was a soldier of the front rank. The Adjutant [Rennie] received the V.C. for his work, which he well deserved, and I was recommended for a medal for distinguished conduct. McKerrow, who married Elizabeth Moore in 1868 (who had been a child at the defence of Lucknow), saw no further action and was discharged in the rank of Sergeant in July 1875. But he retained his military links by finding employment as a Sergeant in Barrack Department of the Commissariat, first in Mauritius, and then in Malta, from 1883 to 1890, in which latter year he chose to settle there with with his family. But he was to be called out on parade one more time, for in AO 156 of 1900 he was awarded the M.S.M., which distinction was presented to him by His Excellency the Governor in an investiture held at Palace Square, the Daily Malta Chronicle reporting that he was an old soldier well known in Malta and highly respected and that Colonel Hughes Hallett, the Assistant Adjutant-General, read aloud to the spectators Mr. McKerrows record of war services, a record of which any man may well be proud of. Following the death of his wife, McKerrow returned to Scotland in 1915, and settled with one of his daughters at Glasgow Road, Perth, but not before being given a rousing send-off from Malta, his "Benefit Concert" at Valetta attracting the patronage of Field Marshal Lord Methuen, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.M.G. and Vice-Admiral A. H. Limpus, C.B. Back in Scotland, in the late 1920s, he wrote his memoirs for publication in the Covenanter, the regimental journal of the Cameronians (the new title of the old 90th), the editor then describing him as the oldest living member of the Regiment - undoubtedly, too, he was one of the last surviving Crimea & Mutiny veterans when he died in October 1927; for further extracts from his memoirs, and other career details, see The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, by Ian McInnes, in particular Appendix I).

The rare and outstanding Gordon Relief Expedition D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Regimental Corporal-Major A. White, Royal Horse Guards, attached Heavy Camel Regiment, and afterwards a Yeoman of the Guard: decorated for his perfect coolness under fire ... notably at Abu Klea when he rendered material assistance when the Arabs got into the square, he received his decoration from the hands of the Queen at Windsor Castle in February 1886: his was the very first D.C.M. awarded to the Royal Horse Guards and remains one of about 10 won by the regiment to date - a rare distinction indeed in company with his M.S.M., one of the first non-annuity awards ever presented to the Yeomen of the Guard Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (561 Tp. Cor[pl. Maj.] A. White, Rl. Hse. Gds., 17th Jan. & 13th Feb. 85); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (561 Corpl. of Hse., Rl. H. Gds.); Jubilee 1897, bronze; Coronation 1902, bronze; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (R. Corpl.-Maj., Rl. Horse Guards); Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Rgtl. Cpl. Major, Rl. Horse Gds.); Khedives Star 1882, the first with partially obscured rank details due to edge bruising and contact marks, the earlier awards good fine or better, the remainder very fine and better (7) £8000-10000 D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 4 February 1886, relevant details being published in The Times of 24 February 1886: T.C.M. (now R.C.M.) Alfred White, Royal Horse Guards, acted as Corporal-Major of the R.H.G. detachment of the Heavy Camel Regiment; was present at every engagement, and on all occasions showed perfect coolness under fire, and set an excellent example. Notably at Abu Klea he rendered material assistance when the Arabs got into the square, and at the attack on the convoy on 13 February, displayed great coolness in assisting the wounded into the sick square. He also served in the Egyptian Campaign of 1882. Alfred White was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire in August 1851 and enlisted in the Royal Horse Guards at Regents Park in October 1870. An imposing figure for the age - standing six feet tall - he completed the advanced military equitation course and was advanced to Corporal of Horse in 1875. Active service followed in Egypt and the Sudan from May to October 1882, when he joined the composite regiment made up of the 1st & 2nd Life Guards, the 7th Dragoon Guards and the Royal Horse Guards, and participated in the "Moonlight Charge" at Kassassin on 28 August - when the cavalry squadrons swept down at sunset around a high sand ridge, taking the enemy completely by surprise - and at Tel-el-Kebir in the following month; so, too, in the Gordon Relief Expedition 1884-85, when he won his D.C.M. for bravery as a Troop Corporal-Major in the Heavy Camel Regiment at Abu Klea on 17 January 1885 and in the attack on his convoy a few weeks later. At Abu Klea, his unit flanked the Naval Brigade in the rear of the square, where, famously, the Arabs took the advantage after the exposed Gardner gun jammed, a failure compounded by a wheeling movement ordered by another six-footer from the "Blues", the colourful Colonel "Fred" Burnaby. He was slain, in addition to eight other officers and 65 men, while the wounded totalled nine officers and 85 men - many of these later dying of their injuries. Having received his D.C.M. from the hands of the Queen at Windsor Castle on 23 February 1886, White next went overseas in November 1889, as a member of a delegation to the British South Africa Companys territory in Matabeleland, when he accompanied his Adjutant, Captain V. J. F. Ferguson, Surgeon Colonel H. F. L. Melladew and batman Trooper Ross to Chief Lobengulas kraal at Bulawayo - all of them had their documents endorsed with an appreciation of their services by H.R.H. the C.-in-C. on their return in May 1890. In October 1890, White was recommended for the M.S.M. and annuity by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Kilmarnock, an earlier submission in December 1888 having been refused, and on this occasion, since he had also been noted for the Yeomen of the Guard, it was concluded if successful for one, he will not be eligible for the other. Discharged to a pension in October 1891, a vacancy in the Guard finally occurred in February 1895, and White was subsequently present at the inspections made by Queen Victoria in 1897, and by Edward VII in June 1901, when 93 Yeomen were on parade. But he never saw the M.S.M. that had eluded him in life, for he died in February 1907, shortly before the award was announced in AO 99 of May 1907, one of the first ever granted to a Yeoman of the Guard without annuity (see The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, and The Yeomen of the Guard 1823-1903, both by Ian McInnes, for further details).

The rare and outstanding Second Afghan War D.C.M. group of nine awarded to Colour-Sergeant W. McDonald, 72nd Highlanders, afterwards Norfolk Regiment and a Yeoman of the Guard: decorated for his bravery in the actions at Bala-Hissar and Takht-i-Shah on 12 December 1879, he received his decoration from the hands of the Queen in a ceremony on the Isle of Wight, but was shortly afterwards severely wounded by a gunshot to his left arm at Tel-el-Kebir - he survived however to be awarded one of the first non-annuity M.S.Ms ever presented to the Yeomen of the Guard Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Cr. Sergt. W. MacDonald, 72nd Foot, 12th Decr. 1879); Afghanistan 1878-80, 4 clasps, Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (1415 Cr. Sgt., 72nd Highrs.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (1415 Col. Sergt., 72nd Highlanders); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-el-Kebir (1415 Cr. Sergt., 1/Sea. Highrs.); Coronation 1902, bronze; Coronation 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (1150 Cr. Sgt., Norf. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Clr. Serjt., 1/Seaforth Hdrs.); Khedives Star 1882, the reverse inscribed, 1415 Cr. St. W. MacDonald, 1/Sea. Hrs., surname officially corrected on the fourth, suspension bar bent on the M.S.M., contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus good fine or better (9) £8000-10000 D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 12 October 1881, relevant details having earlier been published in the London Gazette of 4 May 1880: On the occasion of the attack on the Bala-Hissar position and the subsequent counter-attack on the Takht-i-Shah, three non-commissioned officers - Colour-Sergeant W. MacDonald, Sergeants W. Cox and R. McIlveen, all of the 72nd Highlanders - greatly distinguished themselves, especially Colour-Sergeant MacDonald, by the cool and intelligent manner in which he superintended the construction of a breastwork under a very heavy fire. William McDonald was born at Cockpen in Midlothian in June 1850 and enlisted in the 72nd Highlanders in June 1868. Advanced to Corporal in January 1871, shortly before being embarked for India, he received rapid promotion thereafter, attaining the rank of Colour-Sergeant in January 1875, with only six and half years service and still aged only 23 years. But it would not be until the Second Afghan War that he witnessed active service, and in so far as the Seaforths were concerned it was action of the hottest kind - not least in four days of bitter fighting round Kabul in December 1879. Indeed it was in the course of these operations that McDonald won his D.C.M., namely for his cool and intelligent handling of the defences on Bila-Hissar hill during three determined enemy attacks in the early morning hours of the 12th, and for his subsequent part in the counter-attack launched against the Takht-i-Shah later that day. Of the terrain and defences of the latter place, which was persistently and most gallantly attacked by McDonald and his comrades, Lord Roberts later wrote, The slopes leading up to it were covered by huge masses of jagged rock, intersected by perpendicular cliffs, and its natural strength was increased by breastworks and stockades thrown up at differing points (Forty-One Years in India refers). His D.C.M., the only known dated issue from the Second Afghan War, and quite possibly the first ever to be so inscribed, was formally approved by Queen Victoria on 12 October 1881, the relevant document citing his gallant conduct on the occasion of the attack on the Bala-Hissar and Takht-i-Shah, near Kabul, on 12 October 1879, and in the following year, with five of his comrades from the 72nd Highlanders, in a special ceremony on the Isle of Wight, he received his award from the hands of the Queen - see Major P. E. Abbotts Recipients of the D.C.M. (2nd edition, Plate No. 2), for a photograph of these men taken at Parkhurst shortly afterwards. Following this encounter with the Queen, McDonald was embarked for Egypt, where he was among four casualties sustained by the Seaforths at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir in September 1882 - in his case by a severe gunshot wound in the left arm. In early 1885, he transferred to the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, as a Colour-Sergeant Instructor, and attended courses at the School of Musketry at Hythe, and the Small Arms School at Birmingham. Latterly serving as an Acting Sergeant-Major of the 3rd Battalion, he was finally discharged in November 1895, after 27 years with the Colours. Settling in Swaffham, Norfolk, McDonald became a member of the Norfolk Patriotic Association, and an out-pensioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, as a result of which he was among those presented to H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales, in a visit to the hospital in 1899 - he was among a group of veterans photographed for a subsequent feature published in the Navy and Army Illustrated, 27 May 1899. In January of the following year, he joined the Yeomen of the Guard, in which capacity he served until his death in October 1913, aged 63 years. In the interim, he was present at the funeral cortege of Queen Victoria on 25 June 1901, when King Edward VII made his first inspection of his Guard - 93 Yeomen were on parade, McDonald in the Fourth Division, and in July 1905 was recommended for the M.S.M. by the O.C. Eastern Group Reservists, the O.C. of the Norfolk Regiment depot, and the O.C. Highland Group Regimental District - the relevant documents revealed that McDonald had eight entries in the Regimental Defaulters Book, one for drunkenness in 1880 and the remainder for absence. Be that as it may, in AO 99 of May 1907, his award was formally announced, one of the first ever granted to a Yeoman of the Guard without annuity (see The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, and The Yeomen of the Guard 1823-1903, both by Ian McInnes, for further details).

The remarkable Delhi Durbar 1911 R.V.M. group of 15 awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel P. H. Watson, Indian Army, late Bedfordshire Regiment, whose career of 40 or so years with the Colours encompassed active service in India, China, Tibet, Iraq and N.W. Persia, in addition to the Great War, when he was awarded an immediate M.S.M. for services in Mesopotamia India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (6039 Pte., 1st Bedford Regt.); China 1900, no clasp (6039 Corpl., S. & T. Corps), initials H. P.; Tibet 1903-04, 1 clasp, Gyantse (Sergt., 7th Mule Corps); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Sub. Condr., S. & T. Corps); 1914 Star (S.-Condr., S. & T.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt., S. & T.C.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Iraq, N.W. Persia, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, coinage bust, privately inscribed, S./Cdr. P. H. Watson, S. & T. Corps; Delhi Durbar 1911, privately inscribed, S./Cdr. P. H. Watson; Jubilee 1935, privately inscribed, Lt. Col. P. H. Watson; Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, Lt. Col. P. H. Watson; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Condr., S. & T. Corps); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Condr., S. & T. Corps), the first with officially corrected unit and the second with corrected initial, occasional edge bruising, generally very fine or better (14) £2000-2500 Percy Hamilton Watson was in Hampstead, London in 1875, but later joined his father out in India, at Simla, where in 1895 he enlisted in the Punjab Volunteer Rifles. Then in June 1897 he joined the ranks of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, which unit had been out in India for several years, but was attached to the Supply & Transport Corps, Indian Army, for service with the Tirah Expeditionary Force in the Punjab operations of 1897-98 (WO/100/84 refers). Back with the Bedfordshires, he was advanced to Lance-Corporal in November 1898 and to Corporal in June 1900, but was sufficiently unhappy about an earlier reprimand for neglect of duty, twice being absent from his office and for making an inappropriate remark to Sergeant Markham that he elected to transfer to the Punjab Unattached List for employment with the Supply & Transport Corps. He was immediately advanced to Sergeant and embarked for China in September 1900, where he appears to have served in a shipping capacity, work that won him a favourable endorsement on his service record. Back in India, he was employed at Delhi in connection with the Durbar arrangements from September 1902 until February 1903 (his service papers refer), but he does not appear on the relevant medal roll. Advanced to the acting rank of Sub. Conductor in the 7th Mule Corps, Northern Command, shortly afterwards, he was employed in the Tibet Expedition 1903-04, when he was present at the capture of Gyantse. And then in 1908, having been appointed substantive Sub. Conductor, he served in the 7th Mule Corps in the North West Frontier operations, firstly in the Bazaar Valley and later in Mohmand country. In February 1910, Watson was appointed a Sub. Division Commander in the 4th Mule Corps (Cavalry Brigade) at Lahore, while in the following year he was on duty for the Delhi Durbar, gaining the Royal Victorian Medal on the same occasion (official listing in respect of H.M. visit to India and the Durbar, dated 2 June 1912, refers). In mid-August 1914, he was embarked for France with the 3rd Mule Cadre (Cavalry Brigade), but in April 1915 was re-embarked for Egypt in the rank of Conductor. Further active service ensued in Mesopotamia from February 1916 to April 1918, initially with the 9th Mule Corps of the 3rd Lahore Division, a period that also witnessed his appointment to a commission as a Commissary & Hon. Lieutenant in January 1916, and the award of his L.S. & G.C. Medal (IAO 728 of 1917 refers). So, too, the award of his immediate M.S.M. (London Gazette 17 October 1917), and a "mention" from General Sir F. S. Maude (London Gazette 12 March 1918). Yet further active service was to follow, however, firstly in the Iraq operations, and secondly in the N.W. Persia operations of August to December 1920, when the final withdrawal of our troops was accomplished by the likes of Watson, with little motor transport and in freezing conditions. Indeed he did not depart this theatre of war until March 1923, in which year he was again mentioned in despatches. Advanced to Deputy Commissary & Captain back in India in February 1926, his service record continued to attract favourable comment, an extremely capable officer and universally popular being typical of his assessments at this time. Unsurprisingly, therefore, he was promoted to Commissary & Major in July 1928 - with seniority back dated to January 1922 - and in January 1930, on the eve of his retirement, to Lieutenant-Colonel. But Watsons career was quickly rekindled, for in the following year he was appointed Inspector of Messing in the Quarter-Master Generals Department, H.Q. India, in which capacity he was also appointed a half-Colonel in the Indian Army Service Corps - thus his verified Jubilee 1935 and Coronation 1937 Medals. He retired for a final time in 1938, when his extensive service record was sent to Army H.Q. Simla, for filing - but which today resides in the India Records Office (nearly 200 pp. in L/Mil/14/30463).

An impressive inter-war M.B.E. group of twelve awarded to Commissary & Major E. W. Newman, Indian Army, late Dorset Regiment, who was awarded an immediate M.S.M. in 1917 and thrice mentioned in despatches during his long and distinguished career (1895-1944): one of the latter distinctions was for the South Persia operations 1918-19, though he was suffering from an old wound obtained in France The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Members 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1932; India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4639 Drmr., 1/Dorset Regt.), single initial E.; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Sergt., S. & T. Corps), single initial E.; 1914 Star (S./Sergt., S. & T. Corps); British War Medal 1914-20 (Condr., S. & T. Corps). single initial E.; Victory Medal 1914-19 (Condr., S. & T.C.), single initial E.; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. Persia (Condr., S. & T. Corps); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (S./Sergt., S. & T. Corps); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (S. Sjt., S. & T.C.), together with official duplicate issue 1914 Star (4639 S. Sjt., Dorset R.) and British War Medal 1914-20 (4639 C. Sjt., Dorset R.), the second and third renamed in small impressed capitals, generally very fine or better (14) £800-1000 M.B.E. London Gazette 4 June 1934. Eugene William Newman was born in Oatacomand, India in December 1881 and enlisted in the Dorset Regiment as a boy recruit in January 1895. Standing a little over five feet, he was appointed a Drummer in the 1st Battalion and quickly witnessed active service in the Punjab Frontier operations of 1897-98, when his battalion formed part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division in the Tirah Expeditionary Force. Clearly a gifted linguist, Newman went on to pass at the higher standards in Tamil and Hindustani, as well as the lower standard of Persian, 1900-03, and gained advancement to Lance-Corporal in February 1904. Shortly afterwards, in a deliberate career move, he transferred to the Supply & Transport Corps on the Punjab-Bengal Unattached List and was advanced to Staff Sergeant in November 1905. Further active service followed in the Zakka Khel operations of 1908, when he won a "mention" from the G.O.C., Mohmand Field Force, and in 1911, having passed the Warrant Officers examination, he was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal, his C.O. in the 2nd Rawalpindi Division reporting that he did exceedingly good work at the Durbar Coronation deserving of special notice - the award of his L.S. & G.C. was announced in IAO 85 of 1913. Then in early November 1914, as a Staff Sergeant, he was embarked for service in France and Flanders, where he was attached to the Lucknow Cavalry Brigade and was wounded on 26 May 1915, his C.O. noting in an official report submitted in the following year, Recommended for a Commission. One of the best N.C.Os in the Army. Little else is known about his time on the Western Front, other than the fact he served as an Acting Conductor - he was advanced to substantive Sub. Conductor in July 1917 - and was awarded an immediate Meritorious Service Medal In recognition of services rendered with the Armies in the Field during the present War (London Gazette 9 July 1917 refers), in addition to another "mention" which appeared in the Gazette of India on 27 March 1920; as a result of the fact he was "on the books" of the Dorset Regiment, he was also erroneously issued with a brace of 1914 Star trios (his MIC entries refer). Newman, who returned to India in November 1917, was posted to Persia in June 1918, where he served as Acting Commandant of 145 Supply Tally Section, Bushire Field Force, from February until June 1919, and was brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services during the period April 1918 to March 1919 (London Gazette 3 February 1920 refers). This latter "mention" undoubtedly stemmed from an official report submitted by his C.O., which stated that Newman had proved invaluable at the Base Supply Depot though suffering from an old wound obtained in France. Having then enjoyed extended leave back in the U.K., he returned to India, where he held a string of appointments in the 1920s and 1930s at such locations as Calcutta, Jalapahar, Barrackpore, Bannu and Bombay. Commissioned as an Assistant Commmissary & Lieutenant in May 1928, he was advanced to Deputy Commissary & Captain in May 1931 and to Commissary & Major in May 1934, in which latter year he was awarded the M.B.E. and placed on the Retired List. Recalled in his original rank on the renewal of hostilities, Newman served as the O.C. of a supply company at Karachi until October 1941, when he assumed similar duties at a P.O.W. camp at Bangalaore. Here he remained actively employed until August 1944, when he reverted to the Retired List, thereby adding the 1939-45 War and India Service Medals to the India General Service Medal he had earned nearly 50 years earlier.

An exceptional and particularly early Great War M.C. group of nine awarded to Quarter-Master & Captain H. Dugdale, Royal Army Medical Corps, a veteran of the Suakin 1885 and Ashanti 1896 operations who was awarded the M.S.M. in 1936, aged 75 years Military Cross, G.V.R.; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (3931 Sergt., M.S. Corps); Ashanti Star 1896; 1914 Star (Hon. Lieut. & Q.M., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Q.M. & Lieut.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3931 S. Sjt., R.A.M.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., coinage bust (S. Sjt., M.C., R.A.M.C.); Khedives Star 1884-6, the earlier awards with contact marks, but generally very fine and quite possibly a unique combination of awards (9) £2000-2500 M.C. London Gazette 23 June 1915. Herbert Dugdale was born in Salford in April 1860 and enlisted in the Medical Staff Corps in 1878. Advanced to Lance-Corporal while stationed at Gibraltar in 1881, he served in Egypt and the Sudan 1883-85 and 1885-86, latterly as a Sergeant in the Suakin operations, and on the west coast of Africa 1895-96, during the Ashanti operations. He was discharged as a Staff Sergeant in November 1908, having been awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in the previous year (AO 242 refers). Commissioned as an Honorary Lieutenant & Quarter-Master in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he went out to France with No. 18 Field Ambulance in the following month, but would appear to have been awarded his M.C. for services in the No. 3 East Lancashire Field Ambulance, which distinction was one of very first to be gazetted. He was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 June 1915 refers) before returning to the U.K. in December 1915. Dugdale, who relinquished his commission in April 1924, was awarded his M.S.M. in AO 237 of 1936, and was still living in the 1950s; Ian McInnes estimates around 10 medical veterans of the Suakin 1885 operations later received M.S.Ms, but with the addition of his M.C. and Ashanti Star this group must surely be unique.

An exceptional Great War M.C., Boer War D.C.M. group of nine awarded to Warrant Officer Class 1 A. F. Watts, Royal Artillery, who was awarded the M.S.M. in 1953, aged 70 years Military Cross, G.V.R..; Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (87933 Sjt. A. F. Watts, 68th(sic) Bty. R.F.A.); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (87933 Sgt. A. F. Watts, 88th Bty. R.F.A.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (87933 Serjt., R.F.A.); 1914 Star, with clasp (87933 R.S. Mjr., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (87933 W.O. Cl. 1, R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (87933 B.S. Mjr., R.F.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (87933 W.O. Cl. 1, R.A.), this last with officially corrected surname, somewhat polished, thus nearly very fine or better (9) £2500-3000 M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916. D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901. Arthur Frank Watts was born in November 1873 and enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery at Birmingham in December 1891. Appointed an Acting Bombardier in May 1893, he passed the Rough Riders course at Woolwich and was advanced Corporal in 1896 and to Sergeant in August 1898. Subsequently awarded the D.C.M. for his services in South Africa in 88th Battery, R.F.A. (AO 15 of 1902), where he served from January 1900 until his return home in October 1902, following two months in hospital at De Aar with fever in ague, he was advanced to Battery Sergeant-Major in April 1903 and awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in AO 73 of 1910. Watts was embarked for France as Regimental Sergeant-Major in XXVII Brigade, R.F.A. (comprising 119, 120 and 121 Batteries, and 37 Howitzer Battery) on 17 August 1914, and would therefore have witnessed the famous action fought by his units guns near Elouges on the 24th (a.k.a. "Shrapnel Monday"). The C.O. of 119 Battery, Major E. W. Alexander, was awarded the V.C., so, too, Captain F. O. Grenfell, 9th Lancers, who, having emerged from the regiments charge at nearby Audregnies, assisted in the evacuation of 119s guns. For his own part, Watts was gazetted for the M.C. in January 1916, and returned to the U.K. in December of the same year. Re-deployed to the Italian front in April 1918, he was finallly discharged on his return to the U.K. in the following year, but went on to receive the M.S.M. in 1953, when aged 70 years (AO 98 of that year refers), a distinction which is believed to be one of just five such awards granted to ex-Boer War D.C.M/Great War M.C. recipients; see The Annuity Meritorious Service Medal 1847-1953, by Ian McInnes, for further biographical information.

An impressive and early Great War D.C.M. group of twelve awarded to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel and Quarter-Master F. Snow, Manchester Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (888 C.S. Mjr. F. Snow, 2/Manch. R.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (888 Sjt., 2/Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (888 W.O. Cl. 1, Manch. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (888 W.O. Cl. 1, Manch. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (Lieut., D.C.M., Manch. R.); Defence and War Medals; Jubilee 1935, privately inscribed, Lieut. F. Snow, D.C.M., Manch. Regiment; Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, Capt. F. Snow, D.C.M., Manch. R.; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (3512219 W.O. Cl. 1, (D.C.M.), Manch. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (888 C.S. Mjr., A.R.S. Mjr., D.C.M., 2 Manch. R.), the earlier awards with contact wear, edge bruising and polished, good fine, the remainder generally very fine or better (12) £1800-2200 Ex Fevyer Collection (Spink, November 1998, Lot 1192). D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He, with great bravery and determination, carried a wounded man to a place of safety under heavy shell fire. Frederick Snow, who was born in Dumfries in March 1888, originally enlisted in the Scots Guards, but transferred to the Manchester Regiment in 1913. Posted to the 2nd Battalion that October, in the rank of Lance-Sergeant, he was embarked for France on 15 August 1914, where he fought in the retreat from Mons - the 2nd Manchesters sustained around 225 casualties at Les Trois Maisons on 20 October and fought with distinction at Festubert on the 29th, winning two Victoria Crosses. For his own part, Snow was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 17 February 1915 and 22 June 1915), in addition to adding the D.C.M. to his accolades for rescuing a wounded comrade under fire later in the same year. Indeed he remained on active service in France and Flanders for the remainder of the War, sharing in the Battalions many battle honours - the "Somme 1916" and "St. Quentin Canal 1918" among them - and was advanced to Company Sergeant-Major in March 1915 and to Regimental Sergeant-Major in June 1918. An immediate M.S.M. followed, about the time the Battalion was based in Tipperary, sparring with the Sinn Feiners (London Gazette 18 January 1919 refers). The 2nd Manchesters were next ordered to Iraq, where, on 20 July 1920, near Hillah, they suffered serious casualties - namely four officers and 137 men killed, 60 wounded and 76 taken prisoner by the Arabs. The Battlion also added another V.C. to its accolades, namely the posthumous award granted to Captain G. S. Henderson, D.S.O., who led three bayonet charges on the same occasion. In December 1920, the Battalion was embarked for India, where it remained stationed for the next 12 years, a period that witnessed it being sent to Nagpur on two occasions in aid of the Civil Power and participating in the Burma operations of 1930-32. In the interim, Snow won assorted revolver championship cups and was commissioned as a Lieutenant and Quarter-Master in June 1927. Having risen to Major and Quarter-Master by the eve of hostilities in 1939, Snow served at the Regimental Depot at Ashton under Lyne until November 1944, when he was placed on the Retired List in the rank of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel. He died in 1961.

A rare Second World War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Chater, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, who, having passed a bomb disposal course in London in early 1941, was attached to the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, participated in the Walcheren landings in November 1944 and was awarded the Order of Orange Nassau: then in 1955 he added a "Canada M.S.M." to his accolades - one of just 29 E.II.R. issues ever granted The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Members 2nd type breast badge; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45, silver; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, silver; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., robed bust, Canada (2nd Cl. Mr. Gr. (W.O. Cl. 1, R.C.H.A.); Army Meritorious Service, E.II.R., Canada reverse (P8236 Mr. Gr. (W.O. 1), R.C.A.); The Netherlands, Order of Orange-Nassau, Officers breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with swords, rosette on riband, mounted as worn, together with an R.C.H.A. badge, the sixth with officially corrected rank and the last with chipped enamel work and one slightly damaged arm point, otherwise generally good very fine (8) £1000-1200 O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1946. Hartley Ernest Chater was born in Toronto in February 1903 and enlisted underage in the Permanent Forces of Canada in June 1919, aged 16 years, his attestation papers noting apparently aged 19. Posted to the Canadian Horse Artillery, he gained steady promotion over the coming years, rising to Battery Sergeant-Major in 1932 and to Quarter-Master Sergeant in the following year, when he was employed on the staff of the Royal Military Academy. Having then been awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in June 1937, he attended a special Master Gunners course in the U.K., and was appointed Master Gunner 1st Class in the following year. The advent of hostilities found him employed as a Regimental Sergeant-Major and he was embarked for England in January 1940, where he was commissioned in the 1st Medium Regiment, R.C.A. that September. Having then passed a bomb disposal course at Regents Park in the New Year, he was advanced to Captain and attached to the 1st Canadian Division Ammunition Column. Again promoted in 1942, to Major, he was in fact a Lieutenant-Colonel (Ordnance Officer 2nd Class) by the time of the North West Europe operations 1944-45, which theatre of operations he visited on several occasions, but never for a sufficient length of time to qualify for the 1939-45 Star. Be that as it may, he was present in the Walcheren operations in November 1944, when he was attached as an Ordnance Officer to 112 L.A.A. Battery, R.C.A. - a rocket unit - and afterwards on secondment to the Hague. He was awarded the O.B.E. and the Order of Orange-Nassau, the latter by Royal Warrant dated 11 November 1946. Finally released back at Montreal in September 1947, Chater returned to the U.K. and settled in Dartford, Kent, where he died in April 1983. In the interim, however, by letter of notification from the Department of National Defence at Ottawa dated 21 July 1955, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal - one of just 29 E.II.R. "Canada M.S.Ms" and the only such example yet noted on the market by Ian McInnes. Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipients O.B.E. warrant, in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, R.C.O.C., the borders trimmed, and related forwarding letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs at Ottawa; his warrant of appointment to the Order of Oranage-Nassau, dated 11 November 1946; and his M.S.M. letter of notification from the Department of National Defence at Ottawa, dated 21 July 1955; together with large file of research compiled from Canadian archives and family sources.

A rare Second World War prisoner of wars M.M. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer 1st Class R. "Ronnie the One" MacDonald, Australian Regular Army, late Cameron Highlanders: having been taken P.O.W. near Abbeville in June 1940, he proved uncompromising in his attitude to his captors and was regularly incarcerated in the "cooler" for persistent escape attempts - he displayed a similar attitude towards the recruits he had to train after joining the Australian Army in the 1950s, a fact confirmed by Clive James in his Unreliable Memoirs - and was awarded the Commonwealth of Australia M.S.M. for his troubles Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2927087 W.O. Cl. 2 R. MacDonald, Camerons); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal, M.I.D. oak leaf; U.N. Korea; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (2927087 W.O. Cl. 1, M.M., Camerons); Commonwealth of Australia Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R. (24767 W.O. 1, A.R.A.), the sixth with officially corrected number, contact marks, very fine and better (7) £2000-2500 M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1945. The original recommendation states: Captured at St. Valery on 12 June 1940, Company Sergeant-Major MacDonald first attempted to escape while on the march to Germany. He slipped away from the column unobserved and hid in an empty building. Later the same evening the Germans made a search of the premises and he was discovered. In April 1942, whilst imprisoned in a working camp at Sernberg, he and a companion escaped by cutting the bars of the hut bathroom. They had made maps and compasses and planned to make their way to Greece and thence to Turkey. Eight days later, on the outskirts of Bratislava, they were arrested by German police. For three years MacDonald was in charge of the other ranks at Oflag IX A/Z and did valuable work for the Escape Committee. He has been highly commended for this work by the Senior British Officer and two other officers. Ronald MacDonald was born at Aird, North Uist in March 1912 and enlisted in the 4th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders (Territorials) in March 1930, prior to transferring to the Regular Army in June of the following year. Having gained advancement to Company Sergeant-Major by the outbreak of hostilities, he went out to France in B (Islands) Company of the 4th Camerons in 1940, and was taken P.O.W. at "Hedgehog Ridge", Abbeville that June: The Germans, by unlucky coincidence, had also mounted an attack for the morning of the 4th, and on their left - our right - their infantry moved out a few minutes before our barrage opened. When B Company of the 4th Camerons advanced upwards towards the "Hedgehog", they encountered, in a field of rye well in front of the hill, a German battalion quite unscathed by gunfire. There was stern fighting there. The Germans had sited numerous machine-guns in the corn, and B Company had many casualties ... Among those killed was B Companys C.O., Captain the Viscount Fincastle, and in his ensuing years in captivity MacDonald kept his late C.O.s clan kilt, eventually returning it to the officers widow at Dalness, North Argyll, at the end of the War. Latterly held at Oflag 9A at Spagenburg, MacDonald was completely uncompromising in his attitude to the Germans and his resistance earned him six months in solitary confinement ... He was liberated before the end of the War and is believed to have served in N.W. Europe, this qualifying him for the France and Germany Star (accompanying regimental letter refers). He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 28 February 1946), and received his M.M. from the hands of General Auchinleck at a special parade held in January 1946. After the War, MacDonald was R.S.M. of the 1st Battalion in India and Japan, 1946-47, and again from 1949-50, in which latter year he retired. But his military career was not yet over, for having emigrated to Australia he joined the Regular Australian Army and was quickly back in harnass as a Regimental Sergeant-Major, this time at Duntroon Military Academy and other training establishments, where he gained a reputation for being a disciplinarian and the sobriquet "Ronnie the One". No better illustration of this chapter in his career may be recommended than Clive James Unreliable Memoirs, in which he makes frequent reference to MacDonalds ferocious temperament (When Ronnie was really annoyed his face swelled up and turned purple like the rear of an amorous baboon). His orders, too, were delivered in a high-pitched almost supersonic scream, the more terrifying ones ending in a verb, but he led by example - His brass gleamed like gold and his leather like mahogany. On one occasion, after a young recruit had put a live mortar round upside down in the barrel, everyone was seen to scatter for cover - some tried to dig themselves into the earth. Some started climbing trees. But most of us ran. But not "Ronnie the One", who picked up the mortar, base plate included, shook out the live round and promptly ordered the offending recruit to go back through the motions - The mortar coughed. There was a crackle in the sky and a blast on the hill. Then we all marched thoughtfully back to camp. MacDonald, who was awarded the M.S.M. (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 30 August 1962, refers), settled in Adelaide and died there in October 1993; sold with a large file of research.

A Great War Western Front M.M. pair awarded to Serjeant J. Nicholls, Worcestershire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (5157 Sjt., 4/Worc. R.); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (5157 Corpl., Worcester. Regt.) second with edge bruising and contact marks, good fine; first good very fine (2) £300-350 M.M. London Gazette 11 November 1916. Joseph Nicholls was born in Dudley, Worcestershire and enlisted into the Worcestershire Regiment in March 1893 and was to remain with them for the rest of his life. He served in South Africa where he gained the QSA and two clasps. In 1903 the Battalion went to Malta, in 1905 to India and in 1909 to Burma. Nicholls was present when the 4th Battalion was stationed at Bareilly, and took part in the Grand Parade in Delhi to mark the visit of King George V. For this participation he was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal. After the tour in Burma the Battalion returned to England on 1 February 1915 ready for action in the First World War. The 4th Battalion left Avonmouth on 21 March 1915 as part of 88th Brigade, 29th Division. After passing through Egypt the Battalion, including Nicholls, arrived at Gallipoli on 24 April 1915 and went ashore under heavy fire. The battalion at that time consisted of 29 officers and 931 other ranks. Part of X Company reached the River Clyde and attempted to land at V Beach, but most were killed or wounded. The remainder of the Battalion landed on W Beach and formed up with Z and Y Companies in front, and X and Y Companies in support. They then moved forward using the bayonet to clear the enemy from Hill 138. In the advance towards Krithia, the Battalion again launched a bayonet charge and by the end of April had suffered 35 killed, 199 wounded and 74 missing. During May the Battalion continuously fought along the firing line between the Krithia Nullah and Gully Ravine and by the end of the month their strength was reduced to 11 officers and 483 other ranks. In June and July the Battalion took part in the Third Battle of Krithia and during this time Lieutenant H. James earned his VC for outstanding courage in defence and leading attacks. From July to December the Battalion was rarely out of action. In September they suffered heavily at Sulva Bay and amongst those killed was Lieutenant James shot by a sniper. In October all 20 officers in the Battalion were Second Lieutenants and it was not till the 26th that Captain Kerans took command of the Battalion. On the night of 7/8 January 1916 the Battalion embarked from W Beach and sailed back to Egypt. They had been in action from the beginning of the campaign to the very end and had lost 64 officers and 1550 other ranks killed, wounded or died from other causes. A total of 1614 dead. From Egypt the Battalion was posted to France, arriving at Marseilles on 20 March 1916, still part of 88 Brigade, 29th Division. In France/Flanders they fought in every major battle until the 11th November 1918, including the Somme from 1 July to the 18 November 1916, then at Albert, Le Transloy, Arras, Scarpe, Ypres 1917, Langemarck, Polcappelle, Cambrai, Estaires, Lys, Bailleul, Kemmel, Ypres 1918 and finally at Courtrai in October 1918. For his services in France, Nicholls was awarded the Military Medal. Company Sergeant-Major Joseph Nicholls died on 30 January 1919, aged 38 years, and was buried at the Holy Trinity Church, Amblecote. He was the son of Mrs May Nicolls who lived at 36 High Street, Amblecote. Sold with copied research.

Three: Private E. J. Bird, 1st South African Infantry, late South African Constabulary and Field Intelligence Department Queens South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal (399 Sergt. E. J. Bird, S.A.C.); Kings South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Guide E. J. Bird, F.I.D.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Pte. E. Bird, 1st S.A.I.), note initials, suspension slack on last, good very fine (3) £100-140

Five: Private T. Martin, Royal Irish Rifles, latterly a Constable in the Ulster Special Constabulary 1914-15 Star (124 Pte., R. Ir. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (124 Pte., R. Ir. Rif.); Special Constabulary Long Service, E.II.R., Ulster reverse (Thomas Martin); France, Somme Medal, bronze, unnamed, mounted as worn, fine and better (5) £140-180 Private Thomas Martin, 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Co. Down) (Pioneers) Royal Irish Rifles, entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 2 October 1915. Later transferred to the Labour Corps, he was discharged sick on 22 November 1918 and was entitled to a Silver War Badge (Number B/208503 on the S.W.B. list). Sold with copied m.i.c. and other research.

Pair: Lieutenant J. Hackett, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (Lieut., R.N.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Lieut., R.N.) extremely fine (2) £80-100 John Hackett was born on 3 March 1893, the son of Rev. John Hackett, D.D., Chaplain to the Forces. On 15 September 1905 he entered Dartmouth, aged 12 years and on 15 May 1910 was commissioned a Midshipman. His first ship was the Prince of Wales, after which he served on the Argyll, Centurion and Invincible. He was promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 15 September 1912, Sub-Lieutenant on 15 May 1913 and attained the rank of Lieutenant on 15 October 1914. The advent of war saw him serving aboard the battleship Britannia, January-October 1914, followed by services on the armoured cruiser Leviathan, October 1914-December 1915; the dreadnought battleship Royal Sovereign, April 1916-January 1917, and finally the destroyer leader Nimrod on which he served from January 1917. Lieutenant Hackett died from Pneumonia following on from Influenza on 10 October 1918. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Candida and Holy Cross at Whitchurch Canonicorum. Sold with copied service paper and other research.

Pair: Captain A. Campbell-Irons, Highland Light Infantry, killed in action, during the attempted relief of Kut, 8 March 1916 1914-15 Star (Lieut., High. L.I.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt.) extremely fine (2) £80-100 Arthur Campbell-Irons was born in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, on 11 October 1890, the son of James P. and Kate Irons. After being educated at Blundells School and St. Dunstans College he became a banker, and at the time of his enlistment, lived at 3 Lombard Street, London. On 15 February 1909 he joined the 14th (County of London) Regiment (London Scottish) as 1046 Private A. C. Irons. He served in this T.A. regiment until 12 September 1914 but became a 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) in the 3rd Battalion (Reserve) Highland Light Infantry on 14 August 1914. On 1 April 1915 he went to France and joined the 2nd Battalion H.L.I. who, as part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division, were heavily involved in the action at Givenchy and Festubert. On 3 May 1915 Lieutenant-Campbell-Irons fell ill with Measles and on 13 May was evacuated to England. On his recovery he was posted to the 1st Battalion H.L I. and went with them to Mesopotamia, leaving Marseilles on 12 December 1915 and arriving at Basra on 23 January 1916. The 1st Battalion H.L.I. formed part of the 9th Brigade 3rd (Lahore) Division that was detailed the task of relieving the besieged garrison at Kut. On 8 March 1916, order to break through, the British launched a major attack, firstly on the Dujaila Redoubt and then on the Sinn Abtar Redoubt. The advance on the former was halted; that on the latter which involved the 3rd Division, succeeded in entering the redoubt but were promptly forced out when the Turks counter-attacked. Of the 37,000 men involved, some 4,000 were killed, wounded and missing. Amongst the dead was Captain Arthur Campbell-Irons. He was buried in an unmarked grave at Es Sinn and, as his body was never recovered, his name was recorded on the Basra Memorial. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

Four: attributed to Captain S. W. Ingle, Royal Engineers 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed Pakistan Independence and Republic Day Medal pairs (2) (Ali Akbar F.C. 854; Fazal Ellahi F.C.165) very fine and better (8) £25-35 Samuel William Ingle, B.A. was born on 12 October 1908. He entered the Territorial Army in London on 25 November 1938 and was posted to the 8th Anti-Aircraft Brigade R.A. (T.A.). He was promoted to a War Substantive Lieutenant on 24 August 1939. Wishing to transfer to the Engineers, he was posted to the Staff of the Chief Engineer, London District; his trensfer to the Royal Engineers being confirmed on 18 June 1941. He was promoted Temporary Captain on 25 November 1942. Ingle served in North Africa, then after a period in England was posted in February 1945 to India. Returning to England in October 1945, he was demobilised in November. In civilian life he was a Civil Servant and continued to be a Territorial Reserve Officer until October 1958. Samuel Ingle died at Welton, Lincoln in 1968. Sold with some copied service details.

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. R. Appleyard) nearly extremely fine £60-80 Lieutenant R. Appleyard, 14th, attached 11th Battalion Sherwood Forresters, was killed in action, France/Flanders, on 4 August 1916. He was buried in Peake Wood Cemetery, Fricourt.

British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. T. B. Chatteris) nearly extremely fine £60-80 Tom Brodie Chatteris was born in London on 9 March 1881 and educated at Sherborne, the 4th son of Charles C. Chatteris of Nicholls and Chatteris, Chartered Accountants, and his wife, Edith Coralie Chatteris. He was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Sherwood Foresters, on 1 February 1900 and promoted to Lieutenant on 19 March 1902. With them he served in the Boer War and was awarded the Queens medal with one clasp. Soon after, he retired from the Army with the rank of Honorary Lieutenant in the Army and joined the Special Reserve of Officers. He was then employed by the British Borneo Company, engaged in forestry work in Siam. With the outbreak of war he returned to England and in December 1914 rejoined the Sherwood Foresters. Chatteris entered France on 14 May 1915 and was gazetted a Temporary Captain in June. He was killed in action serving with the 3rd Battalion at Hooge on 9 August 1915. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. At the time of his death, his mother was living at The Little House, Chalford, Gloucestershire. With original copy of the recipients handwritten Will, dated 8 August 1915, and signed by Captain Chatteris, Lieutenant G. P. Walsh and Lieutenant J. W. Colin Taylor, all 3rd Battalion Sherwood Forresters - all of whom were to be killed in action the next day. With additional copied service papers and research.

British War Medal 1914-20 (2 Lieut. E. E. Craig) slight edge bruise, good very fine £60-80 2nd Lieutenant Eric Erichsen Craig, 20th, attached 10th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on 30 August 1916, aged 21 years. The son of James and Tillie S. Craig of 2 Carlisle Terrace, Londonderry; he was buried in St. Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Belgium.

British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. T. B. Jack) nearly extremely fine £50-70 Thomas Barclay Jack was born in Seaford, England on 30 December 1894. He was educated at London House School, Seaford, Wellington College, Brighton Technical School, Hamilton C.I. and University of Toronto. Prior to joining the British Army, he had served as a Private in the Wellington College O.T.C. and in the University of Toronto O.T.C. In May 1915 he was gazetted in to the Army Service Corps and was advanced to Lieutenant in September and Captain in November the same year. He was attached to the 2nd/10th Battalion London (Queens Westminster) Regiment in May 1918, and on 24 August 1918, he died of wounds, having received a gunshot wound to the chest. He was buried in the Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He was the son of Arthur and Barbara Jack, of The Moorings, Seaford, Sussex. Sold with some original paperwork re. the death and burial of Captain Jack, together with some copied service papers.

British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. G. B. B. Johnson) good very fine £30-40 Captain G. B. B. Johnson was commissioned a Temporary Captain on 7 March 1917 and served in the Army Stationary Service. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 30 December 1918).

British War Medal 1914-20 (2-Lt. S. Lukis); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. T. S. Lukis) extremely fine (2) £60-80 Theodore Stewart Lukis, was the second son of Surgeon-General Sir Charles Pardey Lukis, Director General of the Indian Medical Service. He was born in Cawnpore, India and was educated at Tonbridge School and St. Bartholemews Hospital, gaining a B.S., M.D. London, 1912 and M.R.C.P. London 1913. After qualifying, he was an Assistant Physician, Queens Hospital for Children in 1913 and some time House Physician, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. In his spare time he was active in social work at Toynbee Hall, the Oxford Settlement in Whitechapel and the Boy Scout Movement at Hoxton. With the outbreak of war on 20 August 1914 he enlisted into the ranks of the 13th Battalion London Regiment (Kensingtons). He was gazetted a Lieutenant in the regiment on 15 December 1914 and Captain, 13 March 1915. Lukis entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 10 February 1915. He was severely wounded at Port Arthur, Neuve Chapelle, on 12 March 1915, and died at No.7 Base Hospital at Boulogne on 15 March, aged 29 years. He was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery. Sold with copied papers. 2nd Lieutenant Sydney Lukis is believed to be the brother of Theodore. He served with the 1st Battalion Railway Regiment, A.F.I. (Indian Army) - the British War Medal was his only medal for the Great War.

Victory Medal 1914-19 (2 Lieut. F. B. Burr) good very fine £40-60 Frederick Bonham Burr was born in Hastings on 2 August 1887, the eldest son of the Rev. & Mrs G. F. Burr of Highfields Park, Halesowen, Worcestershire. He was educated at Sandroyd, Cobham; Denstone College and Keble College, Oxford, where he took a M.A. degree. He had been studying for the Church at Cuddesdon but had previously joined the Reserve of Officers in January 1913 after being in the O.T.C. On the outbreak of war, he volunteered for active service and on 23 September 1914 he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. He was mortally wounded on 12 March 1915 in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt at Spanbroekmolenin. He died the same day in the hospital at Lindenhoek and was buried in the Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium. Sold with copied research.

Vietnam 1964 (57011 R. A. Grey) extremely fine £300-400 The recipients South Vietnam Medal 1964 was sold by D.N.W. 27 June 2007, lot 118. D.S.O. London Gazette 21 December 1971; Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 16 December 1971. M.I.D. London Gazette 13 December 1966. Ronald Alwyn Grey was born in Perth, Western Australia on 2 July 1930. Entering the Australian Army with the service number 57011, he served in the Korea War as a Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 13 June-23 July 1952 and 14 August 1952-12 June 1953. In 1962 he attended the Staff College at Camberley. As a Major in the Army Service Corps he served in the Borneo confrontation and was mentioned in despatches. During the Vietnam War he was a Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment in Phuc Tuy Province, February 1970-March 1971, for which services he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. In 1973 he was appointed Australian Army Representative in Australia House, The Strand, London. He retired from the Australian Army as a Major-General. In 1988 Major-General Grey was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive review of the rescue services in New South Wales. The recommendations of the study were implemented by the N.S.W. Government in 1989. The medal was a gift to the recipient who received two named examples.

Army Rifle Association Medal, rev. inscribed, 2nd Battn. The East Surrey Regt. Best Shot of Sergts, & Corpls. 1921, won by Sergt. T. Crowley, silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1920, edge bruise, otherwise very fine £80-100 6133250 Thomas Crowley enlisted into the East Surrey Regiment in March 1916 and served for thirty years in the same Regiment. In January 1921 the Battalion was posted to Ireland, mainly based in Dublin but with two companies on detachment at Drogheda. On 1 June 1921 Crowley was wounded when a lightly armoured Ford car in which he was patrolling was ambushed and bombed by Irish rebels in Dorset Street, Dublin. The car was manned by Major J. Gurdon, M.C., three other members of the Battalion and two R.A.S.C. drivers. Gurdon, who was in command, extricated his men but Private Bucker was killed and Sergeant Crowley and two R.A.S.C. drivers were wounded. In the same year Crowley won his shooting medal and also trained the successful East Surrey Regimental Tug of War Team. He subsequently became R.S.M. of the 6th Battalion. In the Second World War he rose to the rank of Major in the Home Guard and commanded the 64th Surrey (Kingston) Battalion Home Guard. He died at his home in Kingston-on-Thames on the 10th October 1950 and was buried in Brookwood Cemetery. Sold with a copied photograph of the recipient as R.S.M. of the 6th Battalion wearing medals Note: Included is a photo and negative of Thomas Crowley in uniform when he was RSM of the 6th Battalion wearing his medals.

French Napoleon I Commemorative Medal, obv. bust of Bonaparte in uniform facing left, by E-H. Becker, rev. eagle upon a branch of oak, Waterloo inscribed below, 26mm., silver, ring suspension, c.1900; Nelson and Foudroyant Medallion 1897, bronze, ref. Eimer 1813; Prussian, Rosbach Commemorative Medallion, bronze, worn; Identity Disk, oval, 23 x 21mm., silver, pierced for a ring suspension, inscribed, T. S. Gildea Esq., 72nd Highlanders, very fine and better except where stated (4) £50-70 Thomas Stanhope Gildea was commissioned by purchase into the 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders) on 22 December 1863, was promoted Lieutenant by purchase on 27 November 1867 and became an "Instructor of Musketry" on 18 August 1869. He was advanced to Captain on 7 March 1876, Major on 1 July 1881 and Lieutenant Colonel on 14 February 1891. He served with the 72nd Highlanders from the commencement of the Afghan War in 1878 until August 1879 with the Koorum Field Force and was present at the attack and capture of the Peiwar Kotal where he was Mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the Medal with clasp. In 1894, after 31 years regular service, he was Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders serving in India. On 14 February 1895 he was placed on Half Pay with the rank of Colonel.

A Great War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Corporal H. Holcroft, South Lancashire Regiment, originally recommended for the Victoria Cross, for gallantry at Festubert on 10 April 1918 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (241694 Pte., 1/5 S. Lan. R.); 1914-15 Star (4152 Pte., S. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (4152 Cpl., S. Lan. R.); France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, bronze star on ribbon, good very fine (5) £1400-1800 D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918, 241694 Pte. (A./Cpl.) H. Holcroft, S. Lanc. R. (nr. Wigan). For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While a platoon of his company was moving forward to counter-attack a party of the enemy on the right flank this man rushed out of a trench on his own initiative and single-handed attacked a machine gun and its crew which was checking the advance. He killed two, capturing the gun and four prisoners. He afterwards went out several times under heavy fire bringing in wounded. Croix de Guerre London Gazette 14 July 1919. Harry Mad Ginger Holcroft was born in Crawford Village, near Rainford. A miner by occupation, he volunteered for service in the Army at the outbreak of the Great War, giving a false date of birth, being 17 years of age at the time. He joined the 5th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 28 October 1915. He was recommended for the Victoria Cross and awarded the D.C.M. for his gallantry at Festubert on 10 April 1918. The original recommendation states: Rfn. Holcroft. H. is strongly recommended for reward for excellent work and devotion to duty throughout the last tour of duty in the line and particularly for his epic gallantry when during an enemy attack on Loisne Central Keep on 10th inst. he attacked single handed and on his own initiative an enemy machine gun and crew which was holding up and inflicting losses on our counter attacking platoon. He killed two and captured four others and the machine gun thereby facilitating the operations of the counter attack. Afterwards he repeatedly patrolled up to the enemy trench clearing our own dead and wounded and securing documents and identifications from the enemy dead. Also at great personal risk, locating the body of Lt. Dymond who was killed on the enemy wire whilst exploiting the success of the counter attack and securing from his person very valuable company documents. A further recommendation continues: On the night of the 19 /20 June/18 while taking part in a raid on the enemy lines, the above (Holcroft) showed a great example to his comrades by his magnificent bearing throughout the operation. He also helped to get the wounded back to a place of safety under very heavy machine gun fire. Prior to the raid this man did good patrol work & brought back very useful information about the enemy ... For the above actions he was additionally awarded the French Croix de Guerre. Holcroft was discharged on 30 January 1919 and was awarded the Silver War Badge. After the war he was for some time the landlord of the Colliers Arms at Kings Moss, and was for a number of years employed by Pilkington Glass. He died in St. Helens, Lancashire, at the age of 92 years. Sold with a folder of copied research including a photocopied photograph of the recipient; copied m.i.c., copied handwritten reports of his gallantry by his commanding officers; copied recommendations; copied gazette extracts; photographs of the recipient in later life and newspaper cuttings with his obituary.

A Great War Western Front D.C.M. group of four awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 T. Dearden, South Lancashire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (240533 C.S. Mjr., 1/5 S. Lan. R.); 1914-15 Star (2327 Pte., S. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2327 W.O. Cl.2, S. Lan. R.), mounted for wear, good very fine (4) £1200-1400 D.C.M. London Gazette 11 March 1920. 240533 C.S.M. T. Dearden, 1/5th Bn. S. Lan. R., T.F. (St. Helens) For gallantry in action on many occasions. In September, 1916, at Delville Wood, when in command of a bombing section, he enabled his section to establish an advanced bombing block in a trench occupied by the enemy. It was due to him that the block was held through five hours continuous fighting. Sold with two copied recommendations: (a) For consistent gallantry and devotion to duty in the field since February 1915. This Acting Warrant Officer has invariably shewn a fine fighting spirit and marked gallantry in many engagements. His keeness, energy, and disregard of personal danger, have at all times been of the highest value to his Company. He has been wounded twice, on one occasion remaining at duty. (b) For gallantry in action on many occasions. In September 1916 at Delville Wood when acting N.C.O. i/c Bombing Section this W.O. by his gallantry and resourcefulness enabled his section to establish an advanced Bombing Block in a trench held by the enemy. It was due to his gallantry and initiative that the block was held through five hours continuous fighting, and he did not leave his post till the battalion was relieved six days later when the position was handed over firmly established. On the 9th of April near La Bassee after the first shock of the enemy attack this N.C.O. who was then commanding a platoon was sent up to hold a forward trench. For four days he held the trench under constant and heavy shell fire and during this time his example and gallantry inspired his platoon to maintain a stubborn resistance and offensive spirit. This W.O. has acted as C.S.M. for five months and has always proved himself resourceful and set a fine example to the men of his Company. He has not previously been decorated, though recommended for rewards on at least two occasions. Also with copied m.i.c. and other research and with three original postcards - one inscribed, postmarked Dartford 28 June 1915, in which he writes from hospital to his mother at 116 Peter Street, St. Helens, Lancashire.

A Great War Western Front D.C.M. group of three awarded to Serjeant J. Martin, South Lancashire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (12313 Cpl.-A. Sjt., 1/5 S. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (12313 Sjt., S. Lan. R.) some edge bruising, contact marks, fine (3) £700-900 D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January 1919. 12313 Cpl. (A./Sjt.) J. Martin, 1/5th Bn., S. Lan. R. (T.F.) (Warrington). For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near La Bassee on the 20th September, 1918. When the enemy attempted to work round the right flank of his company, this N.C.O. led two sections from a pill-box they were holding to a position commanding the approaches from the right flank. This movement was carried out under heavy fire, several of his men being killed or wounded. Handling a Lewis gun with great skill, he inflicted great loss on the enemy and frustrated the attempt to outflank his company. On several occasions he has carried out cool and daring reconnaissances. Private James Martin entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 18 July 1915 and was entitled to a 1914-15 Star. He was placed in Class Z Reserve on 13 February 1919. Sold with copied m.i.c. and copy of citation.

A Great War Western Front M.M. group of ten awarded to Serjeant E. Carr, South Lancashire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (3325 L. Cpl., 1/5 S. Lanc. R.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (3325 Pte., S. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (3325 Sjt., S. Lan. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, slight contact marks, generally very fine (10) £400-450 M.M. London Gazette 16 November 1916. Edward Carr was born in St. Helens, Lancashire. A Miner by occupation, he enlisted into the 5th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment at St. Helens on 9 November 1914, aged 19 years 10 months. With the 1/5th Battalion he served in France, 6 May 1915-3 August 1917. He was promoted to Lance-Corporal in September 1915 and Corporal in August 1916. For his bravery in action, he was awarded the Military Medal in November 1916. Carr gained the rank of Acting Serjeant in December 1916 and was confirmed in that rank on 23 July 1917. He received a gunshot wound to the right shoulder on 31 July 1917 for which he was evacuated to England. He was discharged on 6 January 1919 and was a recipient of the Silver War Badge. Sold with a quantity of copied service papers.

A Great War Western Front M.M. group of four awarded to Lance-Corporal R. Price, South Lancashire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (240303 L. Cpl., 1/5 S. Lanc. R.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (1901 Pte., S. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1901 Pte., S. Lan. R.) good very fine (4) £350-400 M.M. London Gazette 28 September 1917.

Family group: A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Private W. H. Wilson, South Lancashire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (43882 Pte.-L. Cpl, 5/S. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (43882 Pte., S. Lan. R.) Three: Able Seaman T. Wilson, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (J.36503 Boy, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.36503 A.B., R.N.), first group good very fine; second group with contact marks, fine (6) £320-360 M.M. London Gazette 17 June 1919. William Hawman Wilson came from Whitby, North Yorkshire.

A Great War Western Front M.M. awarded to Corporal J. H. Clarke, South Lancashire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (2514 Cpl., 1/5 S. Lanc. R.-T.F.) slight contact marks, very fine £200-240 M.M. London Gazette 27 October 1916. Private James H. Clarke, South Lancashire Regiment, entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 13 February 1915. He later served in the Royal Engineers and was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.

A Great War Western Front M.M. awarded to Private P. Gill, South Lancashire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (240626 Pte., 1/5 S. Lanc. R.-T.F.) edge bruising, good fine £160-200 M.M. London Gazette 18 October 1917. Percy Gill came from Widnes, Lancashire.

A Great War Western Front M.M. awarded to Private W. Kelly, South Lancashire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (241205 Pte., 1/5 S. Lanc. R.-T.F.) some edge bruising and contact marks, good fine £160-200 M.M. London Gazette 28 September 1917. William Kelly came from St. Helens. With the South Lancashire Regiment he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 8 August 1915. Entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.

A Pair of Medals for the South African War, comprising Queen's South Africa Medal with bars Cape Colony, Laing's Nek, Transvaal, Relief of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, and Tugela Heights, and King's South Africa Medal with bars South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, the former named to 2832 Private B Lane 2/Dorset Rgt, together with service documents, chocolate tin, cap badge and portrait photograph See illustration