A group of Second World War campaign medals and a British Empire medal all awarded to Mr R R E Cooper, the BEM awarded following the Norfolk floods in 1953, extract from the London Gazette dated 1st June 1953 reads "late on the night of 31 January 1953 he was required at Weybourne camp he found the overhead lines engulfed in sea spray with heaving flashing taking place. He immediately switched off the supply and climbed the nearest intersection, cut the jumpers and isolated the faulty section of the line. He then restored the supply. This he did in a furious gale at great personal risk, afterwards he stayed on duty maintaining a power supply in appalling conditions. The supply of power at this time was vital in the interests of rescue operations and the reception of refugees which was going on his devotion to duty was of the highest order". Extract from The Gazette with other related correspondence sold with the medals including an oil painting onboard of Mr Cooper and a certificate for the liberation of Norway, also awared to Mr Cooper 8th May 1945
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A quantity of medals awarded to W L Balls (see preceding lot) including a Walsingham medal 1906 in original box for John Pinches London, an RSA medal white metal awarded to W L Balls 1917/18, a Royal Geographical prize medal awarded to W L Balls, 1898, a French medal for the International Conference on genetics paris 1911 engraved by R Bernard, an Egyptian marksman medal and fruther Rifle Club medal (qty)good condition
A Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) George V enamelled medal in original Garrard & Co presentation box together with a miniature set of medals and a CMG in original Garrard box. Both medals awarded to William Lawrence Balls, CBE,CMG, FRS British Botanist (1882-1960) and author famous for his work on the cotton plant in Egypt.good condition
A quantity of mainly Egyptian medals and awards to British botanist W L Balls ( see preceding lot) including an Egyptian Institute French silver medal dated 1859, a fine enamelled silver gilt medal with green and yellow ribbon and Egyptian hallmarks for 1932/33 in orginal box, an Egyptian star shaped enamelled medal with red and purple ribbon, silver gilt the reverse marked "Lattes" and hallmarks for 1927/28, a bronze medal for the Cotton Congress Egypt 1938 with bust of King Farouq on the front and initials PM (Percy Metcalfe, engraver) with thistle signed P Turin in original leather box together with two books on cotton written by W L Balls (qty)good condition
A Regency chronology of the Sovereigns of England 1814, a circular box medal set contains sixteen engraved double-sided monochrome portrait discs William I to George III, 47mm, issued to commemorate the Centinary of the Accesion of the House of Brunswick, the container with obverse bust of the Prince Regent, left, reverse inscription with circle of emblems of The Order of the Garter, 48mm diameter
Copy Medal: Albert Medal, 1st Class, for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, a fine Museum-quality copy, silver-gilt (hallmarks for Birmingham 2008) and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Manufactured by Worcestershire Medal Services Ltd for Display Purposes only 2008’, extremely fine as produced £200-£240
Four: Private W. Smith, Suffolk Yeomanry 1914-15 Star (1557 Pte W. Smith, Suff. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (1557 Pte. W. Smith. Suff. Yeo.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (William Smith) mounted for wear, light contact marks, generally nearly very fine or better (4) £80-£100
Four: Private F. J. Buckley, 1/4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 1914 Star (416 Pte F. J. Buckley. 1/4 Suff. R.); British War and Victory Medals (416 Pte F. J. Buckley. 1/4 Suff. R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (416 Pte F. J. Buckley. 1/4 Suff: R.) generally very fine or better (4) £140-£180 --- Frederick James Buckley served during the Great War with the 1/4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment on the Western Front from 8 November 1914. He was discharged on 12 January 1916 (entitled to Silver War Badge), and awarded his T.F.E.M. in Army Order 178 of 1919.
Pair: Corporal J. Northam, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers British War and Victory Medals (9758 Cpl. J. Northam. R. Innis. Fus.) contact marks, nearly very fine Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Cyril H. Newman) very fine France, Third Republic, Medal of the Resistance, nearly extremely fine Ireland, Free State, Emergency Service Medal 1939-46, Local Defence Force issue, with one 1939-1946 clasp, bronze, unnamed, with integral top riband bar, good very fine (5) £60-£80
German Second World War Award Files signed by Goering. 4 interesting files each on the headed paper either typed or printed of the Luft Reichs Ministry with dates in and around 1937 and 1938 with a list of 102 recipients to be awarded the Luftwaffe Long Service Medal, the list contains ranks from nco to Colonels and the cover of each of the files are pencil-signed by Hermann Goering, two in red-pink, one in green and one in grey pencil. Accompanying the 4 lists there is the weekly printed sheet for the awards of the German Cross in Gold and the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe for March 1943. Some rust staining to the paper around the metallic staples, reasonable condition (lot) £300-£400
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1411. Pte. G. Taylor. 71st. Foot) impressed naming, minor edge bruise, nearly extremely fine £70-£90 --- George Taylor was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in 1837 and attested for the 22nd Regiment of Foot at Aldershot on 9 January 1858. He transferred to the 71st Highland Regiment on 26 March 1868, and was discharged on 29 April 1879, after 21 years and 35 days’ service. His Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is his sole medallic entitlement. Sold with copied service papers and a file of research.
Imperial Service Medal (7), G.V.R. (2), 1st ‘coinage head’ issue (Percival Charles Savage.); 2nd ‘Coronation robes’ issue (Thomas Potter); G.VI.R., 1st issue (3) (George Henry Burkett; Archibald Arthur James; Gertrude Mildred Anne Williams); E.II.R., 2nd issue (2) (Leonard Stanley James Farrow; Joseph Leslie Norman Bishop) last two in Royal Mint cases of issue; Civil Defence Long Service Medal, E.II.R., unnamed as issued, in Royal Mint case of issue, very fine and better (8) £90-£120 --- I.S.M. London Gazette, 24 December 1929, Savage, Percival Charles, Postman, Middleton Junction Sub-Post Office, Manchester. I.S.M. London Gazette, 9 March 1943, Burkett, George Henry, Painter, H M Dockyard, Portsmouth. I.S.M. London Gazette, 12 July 1946, Williams, Gertrude Mildred Anne, Assistant Supervisor, Class I, London Telecommunications Region. I.S.M. London Gazette, 31 July 1964, Farrow, Leonard Stanley James, Postman, London Postal Region. I.S.M. London Gazette, 1 June 1981, Bishop, Joseph Leslie Norman, Caulker/Riveter/Burner/Driller, Ministry of Defence. Sold together with bestowal documents for the Civil Defence Long Service Medal, awarded to Mr. C. H. Collins.
New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1864 to 1866 (28... Andrw. Morrison, 1st Bn 12th Regt) contact marks, good fine £300-£400 --- Andrew Morrison was born in Cork, Ireland. He served with the 43rd Foot during the Indian Mutiny (entitled to no clasp Medal). Morrison attested for the 12th Foot at Sydney, Australia in May 1866. He was discharged on 31 March 1874, having served for 21 years and 11 days. Sold with copied service papers.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Miss M. Warboys.) officially impressed but naming inverted to read from the reverse side, good fine £100-£140 --- Miss M. Warboys is confirmed on a roll of Civilian Nursing Sisters serving at No. 10 General Hospital at Norvals Pont. Locally engaged, these nurses volunteered in South Africa and were attached to the Army Nursing Service Reserve for service in military hospitals. Miss Warboys returned to Pretoria on 30 July 1900. She is also entitled to the K.S.A. without clasps and is shown on the roll as ‘Nursing Sister Warboys, M. (Civil) (now Mrs Hudson)’, having married one H. A. W. Hudson in 1902. Sold with copied medal rolls and other research.
Four: Company Quarter Master Sergeant J. W. Hatfield, 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, attached King’s African Rifles for service in East Africa, 1917-1918 British War and Victory Medals (265058 C. Sjt. J. W. Hatfield. Suff. R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (265058 C. Sjt. J. W. Hatfield. Suff. R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (265058 C.Q.M. Sjt: J. W. Hatfield. 6/(Cyc:) Bn: Suff: R.) mounted for wear, good very fine, scarce (4) £300-£400 --- James William Hatfield enlisted in the 1st (V.B.) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in September 1904. He transferred to the Essex and Suffolk Cyclist Battalion in June 1908, and as Sergeant to the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in August 1911. Hatfield was serving with them at the outbreak of the Great War, and advanced to Company Quarter Master Sergeant in October 1915. He was attached for service with the King’s African Rifles in East Africa, 20 May 1917 - December 1918 (entitled to Silver War Badge). Hatfield was posted to the Depot in Ipswich, and then subsequently the 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, from whom he was discharged in March 1919 (awarded T.F.E.M. in December 1918).
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Mr: J. Ball. S.C.A.) officially impressed naming, toned, good very fine £400-£500 --- Mr. J. Ball was one of approximately 24 men of the Soldiers’ Christian Association who were entitled to the Queen’s South Africa Medal.
A description of their services is contained in a report written by Mr. A. H. Wheeler, General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A.:
‘When the war clouds began to gather in South Africa, knowing the great value of the tent work carried on by the Young Men’s Christian Associations of America in the late war with Spain, the Soldiers’ Christian Association took steps through its Council to send suitably equipped tents and qualified workers to the front. The results, at first, were disappointing. Nothing daunted, the Council made preparation to carry out the object they had in view, applying to the authorities at the Cape for the necessary permission, and before the first band of workers was ready to start they received the following gratifying cablegram: “Permission granted; send tents at once.” Messrs. Hinde and Fleming sailed from Southampton for the Cape on Saturday, November 11th [1899], and already, on the previous Thursday, the following notice had been published in Orders for the day, issued from the Castle, Cape Town: “Permission has been given to the Soldiers’ Christian Association to send out tents and writing material for the troops. Facilities are to be accorded to the Association to put up tents at fixed stations as far as military requirements will permit.” Tents were set up wherever British troops were gathered in numbers and were sometimes used as hospitals, shelters for refugees and as overnight marquees. The tent in Bloemfontein was opened by Lord Roberts. The role of the S.C.A. tent was described in The Friend, the Bloemfontein newspaper edited by Rudyard Kipling and other war correspondents: ‘A prominent feature of camp life at Bloemfontein is the erection by the Soldiers’ Christian Association of large marquees for the use of our troops, for the purpose of writing, reading and recreation. Within a week of British occupation, the first of these was pitched within the Highland Brigade’s lines, and since then another has been established in the 1st Division. Field Marshal Lord Roberts has at all times taken an active personal interest in the work of the Association, and has already inspected the marquees, and expressed his cordial approval of the work which is being done in them. It may be of interest to mention that within three days of erection of the first tent five thousand sheets of note-paper and envelopes had been supplied (gratis) for the use of letter writing. The marquees are brilliantly lighted after dark, and short bright religious services are held there. The informal character of these gatherings and the hearty singing of well-known old hymns and choruses attract a nightly crowd of men, with which the accommodation provided is inadequate to cope’ ’ (Year Book of the English Union of Young Men’s Christian Association 1900-01 refers). Sold with copied medal roll entry and further details of the S.C.A.s work in South Africa.
A fine Boer War ‘Modder River’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Bombardier A. Bentley, 75th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, later Conductor, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, who received a gunshot wound to the face during the battle, 28 November 1899, and was also Mentioned in Despatches Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (20498 A. Bomb: A. Bentley. R.F.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 unofficial rivets between date and state clasps (20498 Bomb: A. Bentley, 75th Bty: R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (34805 Condr. A. Bentley. C.O.C.); Permanent Forces of the Empire L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (Pte. A. Bentley. D.C.M. R.C.D.); with Silver War Badge (C49413) and Tug of War prize medal in silver (hallmarks for Birmingham 1915) with ‘A.B.’ engraved on obverse and ‘Tug of War, Ashford, 1916’ engraved on reverse, generally nearly very fine or better, scarce combination (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901. M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901. Alfred Bentley was born in Leeds, Yorkshire in January 1877. He served with the West Yorkshire Volunteer Artillery prior to attesting for the Royal Artillery at Dewesbury in June 1897. Bentley served with the 75th Battery, Royal Field Artillery in South Africa, from September 1899 to November 1901 (wounded in action [gunshot wound to the face] at Modder River, 28 November 1899). He advanced to Bombardier in November 1901, and to Corporal in May 1905. Bentley transferred to the Army Reserve in February 1908, and was discharged, 9 June 1909 after 12 years service. He emigrated to Canada and resided with his wife at 232 Britain Street, St. John, New Brunswick. Bentley joined the Permanent Staff of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps and advanced to Staff Sergeant. He served during the Great War with the Canadian Ordnance Corps in the UK from 1914, and in France from 8 May 1916. Bentley was hit on the head by an aeroplane propeller in June 1917, which affected his memory, and he returned to Canada in May 1918. Bentley was discharged at Halifax in May 1919, only to re-enlist in the Canadian Dragoons in February 1922 (awarded Permanent Forces of the Empire L.S. & G.C. in December 1922). He was discharged to Pension in April 1931, and died in May 1948. Sold with a large file of original documents and copied research, including: original Parchment Certificate of Service; various Canadian Certificates of Military Instruction; Character Certificate on Discharge; Permanent Force Discharge Certificate, other ephemera and photographic images of recipient in uniform.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Lieut: E. de Kleen. S.A. “Morgen Bladen”) officially engraved naming, name of publication officially corrected, very fine and very rare £400-£500 --- Erland de Kleen was a Lieutenant in the Swedish Artillery who, apart from his presence in an official military capacity, was also a correspondent for the Swedish publication “Morganbladen”. Sold with copied medal roll which gives his initial as “C”; and extracts from Twice Captured. A record of adventure during the Boer War by the Earl of Rosslyn: ‘Captain Wester [Swedish military attaché], too, found a friend and fellow-countryman going down, Lieut. Erland de Kleen, an officer in the Swedish artillery, who had also come out for military purposes.’
Six: Major D. W. R. Anderson, 1st (City of London) Battalion London Regiment, late 2/7th Battalion London Regiment 1914-15 Star (2-Lieut. D. W. R. Anderson. 1/Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. D. W. R. Anderson); Jubilee 1935, unnamed; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, 1914-1916, bronze, with bronze star on ribbon, good very fine (6) £180-£220 --- David William Rennie Anderson was born in Islington on 2 January 1895, and was educated at the Higher Grade School, Wood Green. He was a Shipping Clerk by occupation. On 11 May 1915 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st City of London Battalion London Regiment from Lance-Corporal in the 2nd/7th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment. To France, 2 November 1915. Briefly in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers from 5 April 1917. Assistant Commandant and Adjutant of a Concentration Camp from 5 April 1919, relinquished the temporary rank of Major on ceasing to be employed as Commandant of a Concentration Camp on 26 January 1920. Address on m.i.c. ‘Berea, 97 Muswell Avenue, Muswell Hill, N10’. Moved to Nova Scotia, Canada appearing on the 1935 Silver Jubilee Medal roll as ‘Anderson, Major David, Springhill, NS’. He travelled to and from the U.K. and Canada up to the mid 1950’s, address given in the U.K. as ‘234B Station Road, Edgware, Middlesex’. Sold with some copied research; neither Croix de Guerre confirmed.
The important Ghuznee Medal awarded to Major-General George Mein, 13th Light Infantry, who was severely wounded in Afghanistan during the operations in the Kurd Kabul Pass, before leaving Kabul with General Elphinstone’s Force during the notorious ‘retreat from Kabul’ in January 1842 - captured by the Afghans at Tazeen on 8 January, he remained as one of the ‘Kabul Captives’ until freed in September 1842, on which occasion he tried to save the life of the wounded Lieutenant Sturt, by dragging him the last few miles from captivity into Jellalabad, being mentioned by Sir Robert Peel in the House of Commons, and being voted a pension for his gallantry Ghuznee 1839, unnamed as issued, with contemporary ‘Officer’s variety’ silver split ring and straight bar suspension, good very fine £3,000-£4,000 --- George Mein was born in 1817, son of Colonel J. A. Mein, late 74th Foot. He entered the 13th Light Infantry as an Ensign in June 1835, becoming Lieutenant in April 1839, and served with them through the rigours of the Afghan War of 1839-42. He was present with the 13th at the siege and storming of Ghuznee in July 1839 - for which he received his only campaign medal. However, his military career was far more interesting than his single medal might imply. After serving in a number of engagements with the 13th, Lieutenant Mein was wounded in action in the Kurd Kabul pass on 12 October 1841, when he was struck in the middle of the forehead by a bullet. Since he could not proceed with his regiment, he was sent to hospital in Kabul where it was confidently expected that he would die from the effects of what was an appalling head wound. Instead, he survived to become caught up in the epic and disastrous 'Retreat from Kabul' in January 1842. The story of that catastrophe - one of the greatest defeats a British army has ever suffered - has been recounted many times. George Mein was one of the lucky few who were actually taken alive by the Afghans, in his case at Tezeen on 8 January, and he became one of the small and celebrated band of British prisoners who endured a long and fraught captivity before being released in September 1842. It is recorded that George Mein escorted Lady Sale back to the fortress of Jellalabad, where her husband, Sir Robert, had conducted a gallant defence, and that for the last few miles of the journey, George had dragged the severely wounded Lieutenant Sturt in a blanket. Unfortunately, Sturt died of his injuries, but George Mein was personally commended in a speech in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, and was awarded a special pension for his bravery. George Mein's later career saw no further excitement on this scale; he rose steadily in rank to become a Colonel in 1870 and a Major General in 1878, but much of his later career was spent as the commander of various Depots and was for a time Deputy Judge Advocate at Manchester. George Mein died at his home in St Leonard's-on-Sea in 1896. Sold with the following archive: i) Three original letters, two from Kabul in 1840 written to his brother then serving in Burma, closely cross-written in the style of the time, and being extremely rare surviving artefacts from the British occupation of Kabul. ii) A small pocket notebook kept by Mein as a captive of the Afghans, with fine drawings of the leading figures in the affair &c. iii) A leather telescope or map case that belonged to Mein in India. iv) An original contemporary length of Ghuznee medal riband. v) A transcript of Mein’s diary that he kept whilst in captivity; together with a copy of the book Lady Sale by Patrick Macrory; a copy of the book On Service in India: The Mein Family Photographs 1870-1901, edited by Peter Duckers; and copied research.
The important Indian Mutiny medal awarded to John W. Sherer, C.S.I., Bengal Civil Service, attached to General Havelock’s force in the advance on Cawnpore in 1857, of which town he was appointed the first Magistrate, and claimed that he and Bews were among the first to see the well of Cawnpore, and that he had the well filled in; appointed one of the first Companions of the Order of the Star of India upon enlargement of the Order in 1866, he was a successful author of both historical and fictional works Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (John W. Sherer,) dark toned, good very fine £2,000-£3,000 --- John Walter Sherer was born on 31 December 1832, at Snenton Manor, Nottinghamshire, son of John Walter Sherer, B.C.S., and Mary (née Corrie). He was educated at Rugby School and Haileybury College, and entered the Bengal Civil Service in 1846. He was appointed Assistant Secretary and joint Magistrate to the Government, North West Provinces, in 1850, and in 1856-57 was selected as Assistant secretary to the Government of N.W.F. Provinces to report on efflorescence of the West Jumna Canal. Upon the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, he was Magistrate at Fatehpur and was attached to General Havelock’s force in the advance on Cawnpore, where he claimed that he and Bews were among the first to see the well of Cawnpore and that he had the well filled in. He was shortly afterwards appointed the first magistrate of Cawnpore, and proceeded to forward information and supplies to assist the relief and then the capture of Lucknow, for which he received a letter of cordial thanks from Sir James Outram. In 1864 he was chosen as Commissioner to examine claims against the ex-King of Oudh and, in May 1866, he was appointed one of the first Companions of the newly enlarged Order of the Star of India. From 1870-77 he was appointed successively Judge of Allahabad, Azimgarh and Mirzapore. He was for sometime a Fellow of Calcutta University, and retired from the service in 1877. In 1853 he married firstly Louisa, daughter of Sir Henry Byng Harington (d. 1865), and secondly in 1867, Annie, youngest daughter of Colonel Edward Watson, of the Bengal Army, by whom he had four sons and five daughters. He was the author of Daily Life during the Indian Mutiny; Havelock’s March on Cawnpore; and, in conjunction with Colonel F. C. Maude, C.B., V.C., Memoirs of the Mutiny, besides several novels. Sherer afterwards retired to Somerset and died in Bath on 30 December 1911, aged 87.
A very rare ‘casualty’ Tibet Medal awarded to Lance-Corporal H. Prentice, Royal Fusiliers, who was wounded in action during the storming of Gyantse Jong 6 July 1904, one of just three British soldiers wounded in action during the campaign Tibet 1903-04, 1 clasp, Gyantse (7931 LCpl. H. Prentice 1st. Bn. Ryl. Fuslrs.) good very fine and a rare casualty £1,400-£1,800 --- During the Tibet Expedition, the bulk of the casualties (202) were to Native units. Several British Officers were killed and wounded but no British NCO’s or men were killed. However, three were wounded - all three, including Prentice, being so at the Gyantse Yong on 6 July 1904. A further eight were injured in the explosion at Gyantse the following day. Henry Prentice, an 18 year old Greengrocer’s Assistant from Lambeth, London, enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers on 12 March 1900, having previously served for three years with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment. He served in South Africa with the 4th Battalion’s Mounted Infantry Company from 16 March 1901 until 21 October 1902 (Queen’s South Africa Medal and 5 clasps). Promoted Lance Corporal on 19 February 1903, he further served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers during the Tibet expedition of 1904, during which he was wounded in action during the assault on the fortress at Gyantse Yong on 6 July 1904. Reverting to Private on 10 August 1905, Prentice was awarded a gratuity for service with the Tibet Mission escort and transferred to the Army Reserve on 11 March 1908. His service papers note him having passed the Mounted Infantry course on 16 March 1901 and Mounted Infantry (maxim gun) course on 1 January 1907, and confirms service during the Boer War 1901-02 and on the Sikkim-Tibet Expedition 1904; present at the action of Niani (28 June 1904); operations at and around Gyantse; and the march to Lhassa. They also confirm he was wounded in the scalp at Gyantse Yong on 6 July 1904.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (Mr. G. T. Byrnell. S.F.S.) naming officially re-impressed, nearly very fine and very rare £200-£300 --- Soldiers’ Friend Society. Confirmed on roll of ‘Army Scripture Readers & Soldiers Friend Society, 112 St Martins Lane W.C.’ This roll contains 6 names only, including Byrnell who is shown as an Army Scripture Reader attached to the 10th Royal Hussars. Sold with copied medal roll.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Miss A. B. Cleghorn.) officially re-impressed naming, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare £200-£300 --- Miss A. B. Cleghorne served as a Staff Worker at Camp Soldier’s Homes under Mr and Mrs Osborne Howe, well known in South Africa for their devoted work. Sold with copied medal roll for ‘Staff Workers, Camp Soldier’s Homes’ which lists Mr and Mrs Osborne Howe, together with 11 male and 4 female Staff Workers.
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. Persia, with M.I.D. oak leaves (200744 A-Sjt. C. T. Ward, R.W. Kent R.) edge bruise, very fine, rare £400-£500 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2014. One of only 16 S. Persia clasps awarded to the Regiment. M.I.D. London Gazette 30 January 1920: ‘For distinguished services with the British Forces in Persia during the period 1 April 1918 to 31 March 1919.’ Charles Thomas Ward attested for the Royal West Kent Regiment at Tonbridge, Kent, and served with the 1st/4th Battalion throughout the Great War in India (entitled to a British War Medal only), and then attached to the Military Staff Clerks, Bushire, under Major-General J. A. Douglas in South Persia from 27 November 1918 to 27 November 1919. He was discharged on 26 December 1919, his home address being ‘Mouse Hall, Kingsnoth, Ashford, Kent.’ Sold with copied service papers, medal roll extracts, and other research.
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1279. Pte. W. Taylor. Oxf: L.I.) engraved naming, edge bruising, very fine £70-£90 --- William Taylor was born in Chatham, Kent, in 1856 and attested for the 43rd Regiment of Foot 8 October 1870, aged 14. He served with the Regiment in India from 28 September 1872 to 8 February 1887, and was discharged on 30 January 1892, after 21 years and 115 days’ service. His Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is his sole medallic entitlement. Sold with copied service papers and a file of research.
Germany, Prussia, Iron Cross 1914, Second Class breast badge (2), silver with iron centre, one lacking suspension ring; Cross of Honour 1914-18, combatant’s issue with swords, unmarked; together with two Hanovarian Veterans Medals; and a selection of mixed medal riband bars, generally very fine (lot) £70-£90
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Rt: Rev: H. McSherry,) officially re-engraved naming, very fine £300-£400 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 29 July 1902: ‘Civilians: Right Rev. H. McSherry, D.D., Roman Catholic Bishop of Cape Town.’ Sold with copied medal roll entry which also notes: ‘Bishop McSherry’s train was attacked by the Boers, when he was returning from duty, viz the funeral service of the Rev. Peter Fox. This happened between Rosemead Junction and Port Elizabeth. Bp. McSherry was mentioned in despatches for his services.’ The Right Rev. Dr. Hugh McSherry, Vicar-Apostolic of the Eastern Districts of Cape Province, was born on Armagh, Ireland, on 1 February 1852. Educated St Patrick’s College, Armagh, he began a Theological course at Coll. des Irlandais, Paris, in 1871, and two years afterwards took Minor Orders. He was ordained as Priest in 1875, and appointed to Curacy of Clogherhead, County Louth. In 1882, he transferred to Tallanstown, and to Ardee in 1888; he was appointed Administrator, Dundalk, in 1893; and consecrated Bishop in 1896. McSherry became a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute in 1902, and Assistant at the Pontifical Throne in 1926. McSherry resided at St Augustine’s, Port Elizabeth, and Bishop’s House, 87, Beaufort Street, Grahamstown.
Six: Lieutenant F. S. Maxwell, 30 Squadron, Royal Air Force, one of a handful of pilots to qualify for the General Service Medal 1918-62 with ‘S. Persia’ clasp, and who subsequently went on to serve in Kurdistan and then as a Major with the South African Forces during the Second War; for which he was awarded the Protea Emblem - a unique combination of awards to the Royal Air Force British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. F. S. Maxwell. R.A.F.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, S. Persia, Kurdistan (Lieut. F. S. Maxwell. R.A.F.); War Medal 1939-45 (86175 F. S. Maxwell.); Africa Service Medal, with Protea Emblem (86175 F. S. Maxwell) officially re-impressed ; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Union of South Africa, the reverse engraved ‘T/Maj. F. S. Maxwell G.S.C.’, mounted for wear, lacking reverse pin, generally very fine or better (6) £2,000-£3,000 --- Approximately 30 General Service Medals for ‘S. Persia’ were awarded to Royal Air Force personnel, just five aircraft of No. 30 Squadron being present in the qualifying period November 1918 to June 1919. Francis Severn Maxwell was born in Natal, South Africa in December 1898. He was employed as a mechanic prior to attesting as a Driver in the S.A.S.C. at Pretoria in December 1915. Maxwell was discharged for service with the Royal Flying Corps in May 1917, and posted to Egypt for pilot training. He qualified as a pilot and advanced to Flying Officer in November 1917. Maxwell was posted for operational flying with 72 Squadron at Basrah, but he was subsequently transferred for service with 30 Squadron in March 1918. The following extracts from The History of No. 30 Squadron, Royal Air Force by Major J. Everidge, R.A.F., published in 1919, give a flavour of Maxwell’s operational flying against Turkish forces from March 1918 - March 1919: ‘Period March 17th to 23rd, inclusive... Reconnaissances - Fourteen, of which eight were photographic, have been carried out. A reconnaissance was carried out on the 18th by Lieut. Maxwell (Pilot) and Lieut. Lindop, M.C. (Observer), over Khaan Baghdadi, Hadithah, Anah. No change in camps and no new digging was observed.... On the 26th [April] three machines, with Lieuts. Anson, Campbell and Maxwell as pilots, dropped 20 25-pounders on scattered troops and transport on Kara Tepe - Kifri Road. The raid did not produce excellent results as the targets were too small. Lieut. Anson got two bombs in the camps at Talishan..... General - Orders have been received for one Flight to move immediately to North Persia. The disposition of the Squadron is now as follows: Headquarters and ‘C’ Flight, Baqubah; ‘B’ Flight and half Flight of ‘A’, Kifri; half Flight of ‘A’, Hamadan..... Period September 22nd to 28th, 1918, inclusive.... Reconnaissances - On the 27th inst. a reconnaissance over the Halaba area was done as under by detached Flight at Kifri. Lieut. Maxwell (Pilot), Lieut. Kinghorn (Observer), escorted by Lieut. Jenoure (Pilot) and Lieut. Yeates (Observer) report: - Reference map T.C. 230. Maidan, no movement and neither tents or shelters. Maidan Bani - Khalian Road. Nothing seen. Sheik Maidan, nothing seen. Halabja - What appeared to be about 12 shelters (rather less than the size of an E.P. tent) were seen on west side of town, and three white tents about half mile further out. No movement. Time taken, 2 hours 15 minutes..... On the 12th [October] over the Taza area by Lieut. Maxwell (Pilot) and Lieut. Yeates (Observer) escorted by Lieut. Jenoure (Pilot) and Lieut. McNab (Observer) reported the Tauq Bridge intact. 11 small tents were seen south of the town. At Tazah 18 large shelters were seen, also 10 small tents and 150 men. No movement of transport was observed on any roads. Time taken, 2 hours..... Five reconnaissances were carried out on the 25th and 26th [October]... Lieuts. Maxwell and McNab landed on Kirkuk Aerodrome one day too soon [it was captured by the British the following day] and were greeted by a hot fire from troops holding it. They were lucky enough to take off again, but not before the enemy had scored a large number of hits in their machine.... Bushire, January 9th to 25th, 1919.... On the 15th Major Everidge, with Corpl. Helps arrived. Lieuts. Fielden and Maxwell were detained at Ahwaz owing to the latter’s machine having magneto trouble. Lieuts. Fielden and Maxwell arrived with Corpls. Cagliari and Tidmarsh on the 16th... Bombing - On the 27th [January] five machines bombed Robatak. On arrival the machines were fired on by tribesmen from the village. Several large tents were seen pitched in the serais of the town. Twenty-nine Coopers 20 lb bombs were dropped, 17 direct hits being obtained in the village, the inhabitants ran out of the village and took cover in neighbouring hills and nullahs.... Information received that Nasir Diwan’s son was very badly wounded during the first bomb raid. Pilots on each occasion were Major Everidge, Capt. Adams, Lieuts. Hawkins, Maxwell and Carryer.... Resume of ‘C’ Flight, Bushire, March 2nd to 8th, 1919.... Whilst machine-gunning at a low height, Capt. Adams was seen to crash very badly. Lieut. Bull went down to help him and touched the ground 12 yards from the other machine. The ground was found very rough and impossible to land on and he was obliged to take off again. He was very heavily fired on by a number of Persians at point blank range and his machine was badly shot about. He reported the engine of Capt. Adam’s machine was buried in the ground and the under carriage and left planes were wiped off, and also that there was no possibility of Capt. Adams being alive. March 7th - Lieuts. Hawkins and Maxwell, with A/Ms. Porter and Judge, flew over the crash taking photos of it and saw the dead body of Capt. Adams lying close by it.’ After the cessation of air operations in Persia, Maxwell returned to Basrah, Mesopotamia and went on to take part in the Kurdistan operations. He later served with 63 Squadron in Iraq before travelling to the UK in July 1919 in order to be repatriated to South Africa. Maxwell transferred to the Unemployed List in December 1919, and volunteered for service with the outbreak of the Second World War. He was employed on recruiting duties, November 1939 - September 1945, having advanced to Temporary Major in November 1940 (the King’s Commendation Protea Emblem was authorised in the Government Gazette 31 December 1943, his Efficiency Decoration having been authorised in April of the same year). Sold with copied service papers.
A scarce Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Captain and Company Commander W. W. Stanley-Clarke, 2nd Company, 1st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, who was killed in action at Brandwater Basin on 24 August 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen (Capt. Stanley-Clarke. 2/Co 1/Imp. Yeo.) engraved naming, note lack of initials which were never added, extremely fine £1,600-£2,000 --- William Willoughby Stanley-Clarke was born in 1868, the eldest son of the late Colonel Stanley Clarke, 21st Hussars, and was educated at Cheltenham College. At the outbreak of the Boer War he was engaged in tea-planting in Ceylon, but volunteered for active service; his services were accepted and he was granted the rank of Captain in the army from 10 March 1900, and joined the Imperial Yeomanry from the 6th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, in which he had served as a Captain from August 1894. Captain Stanley-Clarke commanded No. 2 Company, 1st Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry from the forming of the battalion. The battalion consisting of 1st (Wiltshire) Company; 2nd (Wiltshire) Company, commanded by Captain Stanley Clarke; 3rd (Gloucestershire) Company; 4th (Glamorganshire) Company; and 63rd (Wiltshire) Company. The Battalion arrived at Cape Town on 23 and 30 March 1900 and were immediately sent up to the Imperial Yeomanry Base Camp at McKenzie Farm. On the 16 April orders were given for the battalions to move ‘up country’, with Captain Stanley Clarke’s No. 2 Company being ordered to Springfontien. They were joined several days later by HQ and the balance of the Wiltshire’s. For the next few weeks, the Yeomanry were employed on escort and patrol duties, before joining General Rundle’s 8th Division on 4 May. At this time General Rundle was involved in preliminary movements by which he intended to surround Boer forces operating in the Eastern corner of the Free State, driving them briefly into the Brandwater Basin. On 5 May, No. 4 and No. 2 Company went into action for the first time, luckily having no casualties. Patrols continued for the next few weeks but on 25 May, elements of No. 2 Company were involved in an action at Senekal in which Major Dalbiac and a number of men from the Middlesex Yeomanry were killed and wounded. Men of No. 2 Company captured a Boer flag. By June, operations commenced to surround the Boer forces of 10,000 men under Generals De Wet, Prinsloo and Olivier, with the 1st Imperial Yeomanry being part of General Rundle’s own force which occupied a line between Ficksburg and Sekekal. According to the regimental history, ‘From this date until 25 July, the 1st Imperial Yeomanry was employed in escort and reconnaissance duty with the 8th Division, being daily under enemy fire, for the whole country was alive with scattered bands of the enemy.’ Small actions were taking place all along the lines, and during the months of June and July the Boers were being pushed back, though De Wet and his force managed to slip through the cordon. However, on 30 July 1900, General Martinus Prinsloo surrendered at Surrender Hill in the Brandwater Basin, and for the Yeomanry, the next month consisted of mopping up patrols and expeditions. On 24 August 1900, Captain Clarke went out on patrol with part of his company into the Brandwater Basin, where many of the Boers that escaped the surrender of Prinsloo were hiding out. The company formed part of a larger force of Leicester Imperial Yeomanry and Port Elizabeth Guards, under Captain Harrison of the Leicesters (all told around 200 men). Captain Clarke was sent off with a detachment to try and capture a force of Boers who had been reported to be at a farm in the mountains. At daybreak on 26 August, the farm was surrounded, but it was discovered that several more Boers were held up in a nearby cave. Captain Clarke and Lieutenant Barclay, with a number of men, attempted to enter the cave, but Captain Clarke was shot and killed and Lieutenant Barclay and a Private were wounded. On hearing the firing, Captain Harrison came up with the Leicesters, but in the confusion caused by the loss of the two Officers, most of the Boers managed to escape, leaving 1 dead and 17 captured. ‘The Last Post’ states Stanley Clarke was killed at Harrismith, which was under British control at the time, but the regimental history makes it clear that it was during the search for Boer stragglers in the Brandwater Basin (in which 1st Imperial Yeomanry were heavy involved) that the action took place. Captain Stanley Clarke’s name is inscribed on the Eleanor Cross War Memorial at Cheltenham College. ‘The Annals of the Yeomanry Cavalry of Wiltshire’ Vol 2 1893 – 1908, gives a detailed account of the formation of the raising of the Wiltshire companies, Imperial Yeomanry for service in the Boer War and their service during the War itself.
The mounted group of ten miniature dress medals worn by Deputy Commissioner F. W. Syer, Tripolitinia Police Force, late Nigeria Police and Palestine Police, and Second Lieutenant, Royal Air Force The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type badge, silver-gilt; King’s Police and Fire Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue; British War and Victory Medals; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Palestine 1945-48; 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Colonial Police Forces Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (10) £100-£140 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 10 June 1954: Frederick William Syer, Esq., Deputy Commissioner, Tripolitania Police Force. K.P.F.S.M. London Gazette 8 June 1944: Frederick William Syer, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Palestine. C.P.M. London Gazette 13 June 1946: Frederick William Syer, Assistant Inspector General, Palestine Police Force. For the recipient’s full-sized awards, see Lot 206.
Five: Band-Sergeant W. Reynolds, King’s Royal Rifle Corps India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (4001 Lce. Corpl. W. Reynolds 1st Bn. K.R. Rifle Corps.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (4001 Band-Serjt: W. F. Reynolds. K.R.R.C.) clasps mounted in this order with unofficial rivets between 4th and 5th clasps; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4001 Band-Serjt: W. F. Reynolds. K.R.R.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (4001 Band-Sjt: W. Reynolds. K.R.R.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (4001 Sjt. W. Reynolds. K.R.R.C.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine or better (5) £600-£800
A Great War ‘Egypt’ I.D.S.M. awarded to Subadar-Major Janas Khan, 54th Sikhs (Frontier Force) Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Subadar-Major Janas Khan, 1st Bn. 54th Sikhs (F.F).) contact wear, otherwise nearly very fine £300-£400 --- I.D.S.M. G.G.O. 362 of 15 February 1919. M.I.D. G.G.O. 2461 of 1919. Janas Khan served in Tibet 1903-04 and took part in the Action of Niani, 26 June 1904; operations at and around Gyantse, and between 5 May and 6 July 1904; and the march to Lhasa, 14 July to 3 August 1904. He subsequently served on the N.W. Frontier of India 1908 and saw action during the operations in the Mohmand country. He took part in the Great War during operations against the Mahsuds, 6 May 1917 to 10 August 1917; operations with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, 1 March 1918 to 31 October 1918; ands then in Russia, 12 May 1920 to 27 May 1920. For his services during the Great War he was awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal and was Mentioned in Despatches (India Gazettes 15 February 1919 and 18 July 1919).
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp, bronze issue (805. Ward Swpr. Anthony Army Hosp. C.) officially impressed naming, edge bruises and suspension a little bent, otherwise nearly very fine and rare £200-£300 --- Sold with copied medal roll for Army Hospital Corps, Madras Command, confirming 805 Ward Sweeper 2nd Grade Anthony, bronze medal only, with clasps for Belfast, Orange Free State, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, and Laing’s Nek crossed through. The full roll (not present) gives a total of 34 silver and 12 bronze medals to this unit and notes ‘no clasps authorised for issue with the silver medals’, most recipients being shown for the same clasps.
A fine Great War ‘Western Front’ V.C., D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant A. Loosemore, 8th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), for his great gallantry south of Langemarck on 11 August 1917: after two members of his section had been killed beside him, he fought with every means at his disposal - machine-gun, bomb, rifle and revolver - to thwart a determined counterattack which appeared to many as though it must succeed, and accounted for about twenty of the enemy as well as a number of snipers, before returning to his original post with a wounded comrade under heavy fire. Remarkably, Loosemore’s V.C.-winning exploits came the day after he was reputed to have shot down with his Lewis gun a German fighter that was engaged in a ‘dog-fight’ with a British aircraft, this saving the British pilot’s life. Subsequently awarded the D.C.M. for his gallantry with the 1st/4th Battalion at Zillebeke during a raid on 20 June 1918 - ‘a highly successful operation, 11 prisoners and one Machine Gun being captured and numerous casualties being inflicted on the enemy’ - Loosemore was severely wounded by machine gun fire at Villers-en-Cauchies on 11 October 1918, resulting in his left leg being amputated. He never fully recovered from his war wounds, and died as a result of tuberculosis in 1924 Victoria Cross, reverse of suspension bar engraved ‘No. 15805 Pte. A. Loosemore. 8th. Bn. West Riding R.’, reverse of Cross engraved ‘11. Aug. 1917.’; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (15805 Sjt: A. Loosemore. V.C. 1/4 W. Rid: R.); 1914-15 Star (15805. Pte. A. Loosemore. W. Rid. R.); British War and Victory Medals (15805 Sjt. A. Loosemore. W. Rid. R.) recently re-mounted, but together with the original court-mounted riband bar, and housed in a contemporary Hunt & Roskell, London, case, traces of lacquer, light pitting and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (5) £180,000-£220,000 --- Provenance: Sotheby’s, May 1969 (when sold by the recipient’s son). 32 men received both the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Conduct Medal during the Great War; of these, the vast majority (unlike Loosemore) received the D.C.M. prior to the V.C.; consequently Loosemore’s D.C.M. is just one of a handful to be named with the post-nominal letters ‘V.C.’ V.C. London Gazette 14 September 1917: ‘For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the attack on a strongly-held enemy position. His platoon having been checked by heavy machine-gun fire, he crawled through partially cut wire, dragging his Lewis gun with him, and single-handed dealt with a strong party of the enemy, killing about twenty of them, and thus covering the consolidation of the position taken up by his platoon. Immediately afterwards his Lewis gun was blown up by bomb, and three enemy rushed for him, but he shot them all with his revolver. Later he shot several enemy snipers, exposing himself to heavy fire each time. On returning to the original post he also brought back a wounded comrade under heavy fire at the risk of his own life. He displayed throughout an utter disregard of danger.’ D.C.M. London Gazette 3 October 1918: ‘When out with a fighting patrol he displayed conspicuous gallantry and powers of leadership when his officer was wounded and the platoon scattered by hostile bombs. He rallied the men and brought them back in order, with all the wounded, to our lines. On a subsequent occasion he handled his platoon with great skill and complete disregard of his own danger under heavy machine-gun fire, and it was owing to his determination and powers of leadership that the platoon eventually captured the enemy post which they were attacking.’ Arnold Loosemore was born in Sharrow, Sheffield, on 7 June 1896, the son of George Loosemore, a gardener at the Sheffield Central Cemetery, and his wife Selina, and the sixth of seven brothers, all of whom served during the Great War. Educated at Clifford School in Sheffield, he was employed as a farm-worker at Fulwood, Yorkshire when War was declared in 1914, and immediately volunteered. Turned down for enlistment owing to his frail physique, he took a job with a coal merchant in order to build up his strength, and successfully attested for the York and Lancaster Regiment on 2 January 1915. He transferred to the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) on 10 March 1915, and served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of War from 11 September 1915. Departing Turkey in December 1915, Loosemore returned to England, before being posted to France, arriving on the Western Front on 3 July 1916 as a Lewis machine-gunner. V.C. Action - Langemarck, 11 August 1917 On the night of 7 August 1917, the 8th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s - as part of the 32nd Brigade - entered the front line north of Ypres at Steenbeek, just south of Langemarck. Their route to the front, via Poperinghe, Elverdinghe, and Flamatinghe, had provided a harsh initiation with torrential rain and enemy shells marking their every step. After four days ‘holding the line’, on 11 August 1917 the battalion was tasked to mount an attack on German Positions on the east bank of the Steenbeek, in preparation for the next British attack on Langemarck. The battalion’s contribution was a minor one, but was memorable for the exceptional courage and great gallantry displayed by a 21 year-old private soldier. Loosemore, a Lewis gunner in No. 12 Platoon, was one of fifty men from “Y” Company assigned the task of capturing a German blockhouse known, appropriately, as Wellington Farm. The attack went in at daybreak, after a night spent sheltering in shell-holes, up to their knees in mud. Company Sergeant Major Miles described it thus: ‘We advanced on the farm in extended order, but went too far ahead and had to retire to keep in touch with the company on our left and right. It was then that a very brave act was committed by a Lewis gunner of ours named Loosemore; he certainly saved a very awkward situation. He stayed in a shell-hole and covered our retirement with a Lewis gun. Well, this gun got put out to action, but Loosemore hung on and kept the advancing Germans at bay with this revolver. When that gave out, he threw his disabled gun at the remaining Germans and came back to where we had consolidated, a truly brave act.’ Miles reported the young soldier's gallantry to his company officer, Second Lieutenant E. Wood, who gathered eyewitness statements to support the V.C. recommendation. Included among them was the testimony of Sergeant Ridgeway, another member of 12 Platoon, who described how Loosemore held off ‘a great number’ of the enemy, enabling the company to consolidate ‘in front of the Boche wire’: ‘He displayed great courage when attacked by a party of German bombers who put his Lewis gun out of action. He then threw two German stick bombs at the said bombers and using his revolver, he killed four Germans and when he came in to where our company had dug in under heavy machine [gun] fire, he brought out a wounded comrade. During the day, while we still held to our new position, he sniped off five of the enemy.’ Writing to Loosemore’s parents, Second Lieutenant Wood described their son as the ‘bravest lad I have ever seen’ and said ‘his magnificent gallantry undoubtedly saved the whole of the company.’ Such claims were not exaggerated. After two members of this section had been killed beside him, Loosemore had fought with every means at his disposal - machine-gun, bomb, rifle and revolver - to thwart a determined counterattack which ap...
Four: Captain T. R. Bacon, Suffolk Regiment, late Squadron Sergeant Major, Norfolk Yeomanry British War and Victory Medals (Capt. T. R. Bacon.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (2. Lieut. T. R. Bacon. Suff. R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (140003 Sq. S. Mjr: T. R. Bacon. Norf: Yeo:) mounted for wear, generally good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- Thomas Robert Bacon was educated at Norwich High School, and served as Squadron Sergeant Major with the Norfolk Yeomanry prior to being commissioned in the Suffolk Regiment.
A Great War 1918 ‘Mediterranean theatre’ D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain C. A. G. Roberts, Royal Naval Reserve Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top ribbon bar; Transport 1899-1902, 1 clasp, S. Africa 1899-1902 (C. A. G. Roberts.); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. C. A. G. Roberts, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr. C. A. G. Roberts. R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1911, good very fine (6) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 17 May 1918: ‘For Service on the Mediterranean Station.’ The original Recommendation states: ‘Mediterranean during period ending 31st December 1917 ... Ship Isonzo ... For initiative and resource displayed in the important duties which his ship has been employed’ Cyril Arthur Graeme Roberts was born in Belvedere, Kent on 6 February 1879. His papers show service in the Merchant Navy from 23 April 1895, aboard Zealandia though he may well have joined earlier as he had already joined the Royal Naval Reserve as a Midshipman on 5 April of that year. He joined the White Star Line’s Teutonic on 27 July 1896, being promoted Second Mate on 21 September 1897. On 1 October 1897 he was Fourth Officer aboard Mawana, serving aboard Umata from 4 December 1899, and Sirdhana from 31 May 1900, both of which were employed as transport vessels during the Boar War (Transport Medal). Roberts was promoted 1st Mate on 17 May 1900, and was promoted Acting Sub Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, on 6 May 1901. He continued in service with the Merchant Navy for the next 14 years, being promoted Officer Commanding on 3 October 1902. During this time, he continued his service with the Royal Naval Reserve, being promoted Lieutenant on 15 January 1904 and Lieutenant-Commander on 23 January 1912. On the outbreak of the Great War, Roberts was called up for Active Service and appointed to H.M.S. Prince George on 9 August 1914. He served aboard this battleship until 3 April 1916, thereby seeing service during the Dardanelles campaign of 1915, where H.M.S. Prince George provided support for the Gallipoli landings in April 1915. However on 5 May 1915, she was damaged by a shell and had to return to Malta for repairs, though returned in time to provide support during the evacuation of the Peninsula. On 4 April 1916, Roberts was appointed to the Fleet Auxiliary ship H.M.S. Isonzo, a requisitioned Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. passenger and mail ship, originally named Isis. Roberts would see out the rest of the War in Command of H.M.S. Isonzo which served as a despatch ship and fleet messenger, having been promoted Commander on 30 June 1917, and was awarded the D.S.O for his services aboard it. Following the cessation of hostilities Roberts went back to the Merchant Navy, serving on numerous ships, including the Cutty Sark. He was retired from the Royal Naval Reserve on 6 February 1929, with the rank of Captain, but seems to have continued service at sea, even seeking employment at a lower rank during the Second World War.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (T. B. Ireland, Boy 1 Cl., H.M.S. Forte) large impressed naming, very fine £200-£240 --- Thomas Barry Ireland was born in St. Mary’s, Scilly Isles on 2 May 1885. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 11 October 1900 and was advanced to Boy First Class in June 1901. Serving in the 2nd class cruiser H.M.S. Forte, April 1902-February 1905, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in May 1903 and Able Seaman in April 1904. Whilst on the ship he qualified for the Queen’s medal without clasp for his service during the Boer War. Further advancement followed, becoming a Leading Seaman when based at Victory I in February 1909 and Petty Officer when in H.M.S. Blake in May 1911. He was posted to the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Monmouth in August 1914 and on 9 September 1914 was ranked as Acting Boatswain. Ireland was killed in action at the battle of Coronel, 1 November 1914, when the armoured cruisers H.M.S. Good Hope and H.M.S. Monmouth were sunk with all hands by the ships of Von Spee’s East Asiatic Squadron. His name is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Sold with copied service papers and with a copied extract from The Ilfracombe Chronicle, 21 November 1914 which reprinted his last letter to his mother, ‘My dear Mother, Just a line to let you know I am safe and well. We have been at sea ever since we left England, only just going to harbour to coal and out again. We are having a very rough time of it, and the food we are having is just enough to keep us alive. There are five men-of-war around here somewhere, and we’ve got to try and finish them off. I hope we meet them shortly, as it is sickening away at sea all the time. Have not time to say any more, hoping all at home is well. From your loving son, Tom’.
A Great War ‘Noreuil Valley 1918’ D.C.M. and ‘Somme 1916’ M.M. group of five awarded to Company Sergeant-Major J. Moffatt, 6/7th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (10145 C.S. Mjr: J. Moffat. M.M. 6/7 R. Sc: Fus:) official correction to unit; Military Medal, G.V.R. (10145 Sjt: J. Moffat. 6/7 R. Sco: Fus:); 1914 Star, with clasp (10145 Pte. J. Moffatt. 2/R. Sc: Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (10145 W.O. Cl. 2. J. Moffatt. R. S. Fus.) mounted for display, light contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (5) £1,800-£2,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This Warrant Officer, seeing part of his company disorganised by heavy shell and machine-gun fire, and without a leader, immediately took charge and reorganised a new line of defence, which he held for two hours, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy as they advanced. He withdrew only when he found himself outflanked both on the right and left.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘Noreuil Valley, 21 March 1918.’ M.M. London Gazette 14 September 1916. John Moffat/Moffatt served in France and Flanders with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, from 6 October 1914. He afterwards transferred to the 6/7th Battalion, winning both the M.M. and D.C.M. with this battalion as a Sergeant and Company Sergeant-Major respectively. Sold with copied research including London Gazette entries, Medal Index Card, and battalion war diary extracts for March 1918.
Family group: A Great War ‘Salonika operations’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant R. J. Wildman, 9th Battalion, Royal Lancaster Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (9-16247 Sjt: R. J. Wildman. 9/R. Lanc: R.); 1914-15 Star (16247 Pte. R. J. Wildman. R. Lanc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (16247 Sjt. R. J. Wildman. R. Lanc. R.) medals unmounted, together with two ribbon bars, good very fine Three: Able Seaman Richard Wildman, Royal Navy, who was lost in H.M. Submarine Urge when she was lost with all hands after striking a mine off Malta in April 1942 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Admiralty enclosure in card box of issued addressed to his father Mr R. J. Wildman, nearly extremely fine (7) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 1 January 1919; citation published 3 September 1919: ‘He has been with his coy. since since its formation, and has done consistent good work. He has taken part in three raids and several patrol encounters, and has been three times wounded. He has shown most consistent gallantry, devotion to duty, and determination at all times. He has previously been brought to notice for distinguished conduct. The cheerful and determined way in which he tackles a difficult and dangerous task has inspired his men with absolute confidence in him.’ Richard John Wildman was born on 9 May 1892, in Guildford, Surrey, to his parents John and Jane (née Albury). At the turn of the century he was living in Lancaster with his grandfather. In April 1914, he married Mary Alice Peel while still living in Lancaster. He enlisted in the army after the outbreak of the war, answering Kitchener’s appeal for troops, and joined 9th Battalion, Royal Lancaster Regiment. He landed in France on 4 September 1915, where they formed part of the 65th Brigade, 22nd Division. The Division stayed briefly in France, proceeding to Marseille in October from where they sailed for Salonika, arriving in November and December. The Division remained in Salonika for the duration of the war, taking part in the Battles of Horseshoe Hill (10-18 August 1916), Machukovo (13-14 September 1916), the First Battle of Doiran (24-25 April, 8-9 May 1917), and the Second Battle of Doiran (8-18 September 1918). Wildman stayed in Lancaster after the war and died on 13 May 1958. Richard Wildman, son of Richard John Wildman, was killed during the Second War as an Able Seaman aboard the submarine Urge, a British U-class submarine, of the second group of that class, built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 30 October 1939, and was commissioned on 12 December 1940. From 1941-42 she formed part of the 10th Submarine Flotilla based in Malta and is the only Royal Navy ship to have borne the name. Urge spent most of her career operating in the Mediterranean, where she damaged or sank a number of mostly Italian warships and merchant vessels and took part in special operations. She was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Edward P. Tomkinson, D.S.O., R.N., and was was lost with all hands on 27 April 1942, after striking a naval mine off Malta. She failed to arrive at Alexandria on 6 May 1942, and was reported overdue on that day. Wildman is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Sold with copied research.
Four: Private G. C. Goodin, 1/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (T.F.) 1914-15 Star (1579 Pte. G. C. Goodin. Suff. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1579 Pte. G. C. Goodin. Suff. R.); Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (240183 Pte. G. C. Goodin. 5-Suff. R.) minor edge bruising, nearly very fine or better (4) £80-£100 --- George Clifford Goodin served during the Great War with the 1/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (T.F.) in Gallipoli from 10 August 1915 (entitled to Silver War Badge). He was subsequently attached to the 163rd Company Machine Gun Corps.
Five: Lance Corporal C. Youngman, Suffolk Yeomanry, later 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment British War and Victory Medals (2389 Pte. C. Youngman. Suff. Yeo.); Defence Medal; Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Charles Youngman); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Charles Youngman) mounted as originally worn, very fine (5) £80-£100 --- Charles Youngman enlisted in the Suffolk Yeomanry in February 1915. He advanced to Lance Corporal, and transferred to the 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (entitled to Silver War Badge).
Three: Paymaster A. W. Davidson, Royal Navy East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Witu August 1893 (A. W. Davidson. Ship’s Std., H.M.S. Swallow.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Cd. V.O. A. W. Davidson. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (A. W. Davidson. Sh. Stewd., H.M.S. Victorious) mounted court-style for display, light contact marks to the VR awards, very fine and better (3) £600-£800 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2012. Alfred William Davidson was born in Brixham, Devon, on 9 May 1868 and joined the Royal Navy as a Ship’s Steward Boy on 27 May 1883. Advanced Ship’s Steward on 13 March 1893, he served in H.M.S. Swallow from 14 April 1893 to 1 August 1896, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 4 June 1901. He was appointed Warrant Steward on 1 January 1910, and served during the Great War as a Commissioned Victualling Officer in H.M.S. Pembroke. He was advanced Commissioned Steward on 14 April 1917, and Paymaster on 7 August 1918. Sold with copied record of service, medal roll extracts, and other research.
Pair: Lieutenant G. J. Willdigg, Royal Naval Reserve, who served in H.M.S. Otranto at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November 1914 British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. G. J. Willdigg. R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1922; together with a small silvered medalet commemorating the visit of H.M.S. Antrim to Antwerp in 1906, nearly extremely fine (3) £120-£160 --- George James Willdigg was born in Coventry in March 1884 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Navy Reserve, on 7 August 1914. He served during the Great War in the armed merchant cruiser H.M.S. Otranto, and was present at the Battle of Coronel off the Chilean Coast on 1 November 1914. Advanced Lieutenant-Commander, he was awarded the Royal Naval Reserve Officers’ Decoration in 1924 (London Gazette 29 February 1924). Sold with copied research.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Modder River, Orange Free State (H. Andrews. Church Army Vols:) officially impressed naming, good very fine and very rare £400-£500 --- Sold with copied medal roll for ‘Church Army Volunteers’ originally with just with 3 names, including Andrews, and four further names added later, the clasp for Modder River being unique to this unit.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Civ: Surg: F. J. Engelbach.) officially engraved naming, note incorrect second initial, nearly extremely fine and a very rare casualty £2,000-£2,400 --- Civil Surgeon Frederick George Engelbach, attached to the Volunteer Ambulance, was killed in action at Nooitgedacht on 13 December 1900, shot through the forehead whilst bravely tending to the wounded under a hail of the enemy’s bullets. ‘Dr F. G. Engelbach Local Doctor Frederick George Engelbach qualified as Doctor and Surgeon at St Bartholomew's in London in 1866, then came to Moretonhampstead. He lived at Cookshayes in Court Street, and practised first independently, then with Dr Collyns in Cross Street, then as senior partner with Dr J. S. F. Clark. At that time he was also Medical Attendant to the Convalescent Home and to the Birch Tor and Vitifer mines. In 1898 he moved to London. Captain of Volunteers He entered very thoroughly into the life of the town and was instrumental in brightening the lives of the workers in many ways. In 1896 he raised the local company for the Volunteer Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment and was appointed Captain. Always throwing himself heart and soul into whatever he undertook, he spent his hard-earned holiday at Southsea, in order to pass the school of instruction and thoroughly fit himself for his position. Army Surgeon When the Boer War broke out he volunteered for service and was appointed Civil Surgeon by the War Office. He arrived in time to accompany General French in his famous ride to Kimberley. Always close to the front, he then accompanied the army in its march to Bloemfontein and then to Pretoria. He also went to Foundeberg at the time of the surrender of Prinsloo and was present at the battle of Diamond Hill. His last letters stated that he was at Riefontein and that a Boer attack was not improbable. The death of Surgeon Engelbach of the Yeomanry hospital was a typically brave one. Tending the wounded under heavy fire he was shot through the palm of the left hand and had just made a grim joke about now being handicapped in his work when, in standing up to dress his wound, he was killed by a bullet through the forehead. At Nooitgedacht he met the death he would have wished, killed while assisting his wounded under a hail of the enemy’s bullets.’ (From obituaries in The Lancet [1901, I, 211] and The British Medical Journal [1901, I, 311]). Dr Engelbach has a memorial in St Andrew’s Church, where there is also an episcopal chair that he himself made. The following inscriptions are in St Andrew's Church, Moretonhampstead, Devon: ‘To the glory of God and in memory of FREDERICK GEORGE ENGELBACH for 10 years Medical Practitioner in this town and first Commanding Officer of G. Co. (Moretonhampstead) 5th V.B.D.R. who was killed whilst succouring the wounded at the battle of Nooitgedacht, South Africa, Dec. 13th 1900. Erected by the inhabitants and other friends, December 1901.’ ‘This chair was carved and presented to the Parish Church of Moretonhampstead, Sth. Devon, by Dr. F. G. ENGELBACH who for 10 years practised in the district and worshipped in this church, finally laying down his life in South Africa whilst attending the wounded under fire on 13th December 1900.’ Sold with copied research including medal roll entry [F. G. Engelbach on roll but initials F. J. on Memorial to Men of Devon, Exeter Cathedral] which notes in the remarks column, ‘Original Unit 2nd Cavalry Brigade. Killed in action at Nooitgedacht Dec: 13th 1900.’ He was attached to the Volunteer Ambulance when killed and was mentioned in despatches by Field-Marshal Earl Roberts (London Gazette 10 September 1901) for his services.
An outstanding sniper’s ‘Battle of Loos 1915’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private J. Ryan, 5th Battalion (formerly 2nd Battalion), Rifle Brigade, who emigrated to Canada after the War, and ‘changed his target from Huns to moose’ Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (2546 Pte. J. Ryan. 5-Rif. Brig.); 1914 Star, with clasp (2546 Pte. J. Ryan. Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (2546 Pte. J. Ryan. Rif. Brig.); War Medal 1939-45, mounted for display, the Great War awards all named in a Canadian style and therefore possibly a replacement or duplicate set, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (5) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916; citation published 11 March 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and very good work, as a sniper. No work of this kind was too dangerous for him. While carrying out a duel with an enemy sniper in front of our parapets he was wounded, this being the third time he had been wounded during the year. His services have been most valuable and his devotion very marked.’ Joseph Ryan enlisted into the Army on 20 December 1907, aged 17. He landed at Havre on 7 November 1914, with the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade and was awarded the D.C.M. for his work as a sniper, principally as Bois Grenier during the Battle of Loos. He was wounded three times during 1915. By 1916 he was serving with the 5th Battalion and his award was both gazetted and named to this battalion. At some later date, presumably no longer fit for front line service, he was transferred to the Labour Corps and subsequently discharged from the service due to his wounds on 11 December 1917. The Regimental History records that Ryan’s D.C.M. was for the attack at Bois Grenier on 25 September 1915, and that it was one of four such awards for this action. The Rifle Brigade Chronicle of 1924 included a picture of Ryan, taken in Canada where he was then living, together with an ex-Rifleman who had served in Canada in 1866. After describing Ryan’s D.C.M. winning exploits, the note ends ‘From a letter recently received from J. Ryan he appears to still keep up his sniping, but has changed his target from Huns to moose, deer, etc.’ Sold with copied research including extracts from the Regimental History with account of the Bois Grenier action, and war diary extracts for 1914 and 1915. Note: Another group of medals to this man is known to exist, and given the fact that the 1914 Star in this lot omits the Battalion number, and the fact that the medals are all named in a style typically seen on Canadian-issued awards, it is likely that the medals in this lot are a replacement set issued in Canada.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (4088 Pte H. Charles. Suffolk Regt) very fine £60-£80 --- Harry Charles was born in Histon, Cambridgeshire. He attested for the Suffolk Regiment at Bury St. Edmunds in December 1894, and served with the Regiment in South Africa from February to September 1902 (service papers erroneously give additional clasp entitled to ‘Cape Colony’, but this at variance with medal roll and medal). Charles was discharged on 3 December 1906, having served 12 years with the Colours. Sold with copied service papers.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private J. P. Willis, 38th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who was thrice wounded on the Western Front Military Medal, G.V.R. (41037 Pte J. P. Willis. 38/Can: Inf:) loose replacement suspender, edge bruises, some polishing, good fine £200-£240 --- M.M. London Gazette 17 September 1917. The original citation states: ‘For conspicuous bravery during the attack on Avion trench, in front of Avion, on 28 June 1917. This man assisted in the attack on the German machine gun emplacement which was located between the flanks of our ‘A’ and ‘B’ Coys. He assisted Cpl. Knapp and Cpl. Barr in their attack and capture of the gun and crew by his accurate bombing and vigourous assault.’ John Patrick Willis, a Farmer from Ontario, was born in London, U.K., on 4 March 1894. Having emigrated to Canada, he attested at Ontario into the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force for service during the Great War on 26 February 1915. He served on the Western Front with the 38th Battalion from 13 August 1916, and received a gun shot wound to his right arm on 30 October 1916, and another in his right forearm on 2 November 1916. Awarded the Military Medal, he received a further gunshot wound to his left forearm on 6 November 1917. Appointed Lance Corporal on 13 April 1919, he was discharged in Canada on 6 June 1919. Sold with copy service records and citation.
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1478. Sergt. W. F. Frith, 1-9th. Foot) impressed naming, heavy edge bruising, therefore fine £60-£80 --- William Francis Frith was born in Deansgate, Manchester, in 1830 and attested for the 5th Foot on 24 December 1857. He was promoted Sergeant on 6 September 1864, and transferred to the 9th Foot on 31 August 1868. He was discharged at Colchester on 15 April 1879, after 21 years and 7 days’ service, his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal being his sole medallic entitlement, and died in Colchester on 26 October 1891. Sold with copied service papers and a file of research.
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