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Austria, Empire, Merit Cross 1849, by Wilhelm Kunz, silver and enamel, with crown suspension, maker’s mark to suspension ring; Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis), Franz Joseph, bronze, with crown suspension, minor enamel damage to first, otherwise very fine (2) £60-£80

Austria, Empire, Military Merit Cross 1914-18, Third Class, silver and enamel, good very fine Belgium, Kingdom, Commemorative Medal for the Great War, bronze, good very fine Italy, Kingdom, Africa Campaign Medal, bronze, with 2 engraved clasps, Adua 1890, Casssala 1894; East Africa Medal, bronze, 2 clasps, 1936, 1937, edge bruising to first, generally very fine Kuwait, Emirate, Military Service Medal, Second Class, silvered, with silver star on riband, extremely fine Netherlands, Kingdom, Cross for Important War Actions, white metal, 2 clasps, Atjeh 1873-1896, Atjeh 1896-1900, the reverse crudely numbered ‘51503’, very fine Norway, Kingdom, Medal for Freedom and Fatherland, silver, the reverse impressed ‘P. S. Floge’; together with a commemorative medal for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Narvik 1940-90, white metal; and a miniature medal for Borgerdad, Carl XIV Johan, silver, with crown and wide suspension, edge bruise to first, very fine (9) £100-£140

Belgium, Kingdom, Civil Medal, First Class (2), both gilt, one with miniature metal rosette on riband; Allied Victory Medal, bronze, very fine France, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, with clasp ‘Missions D’Assistance Exterieure’; Medal of Honour for Public Health Assistance 1932-36; together with a contemporary French tailor’s copy of the British Crimea Medal 1854-56, with fixed suspension, no clasp the edge crudely scratched ‘14r d’Infant 1854 55 56 G. Crepin’, the last cleaned, generally very fine Zimbabwe, Independence Medal 1980, officially numbered ‘64093’, very fine (7) £80-£100

The South Africa 1877-79 medal to Private W. Trowell, 1/24th Foot, who was killed in action at the battle of Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879 South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (543. Pte. W. Trowell. 1/24th Foot.) together with a 24th Foot helmet plate excavated from the battlefield at Isandhlwana, this in excavated condition, the medal polished with some scratching in obverse field, otherwise very fine £6,000-£8,000 --- William Trowell was born on 13 July 1860, and attested for the 25th Brigade as a Boy on 24 August 1874. Appointed to the 1/24th Foot he was killed in action at the battle of Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879. His effects were claimed by his brother and sister. Confirmed in The Noble 24th by Norman Holme but his Christian name incorrectly given as Edward.

France, Second Empire, China Expedition Medal 1860, by Barre, silver, with original embroidered riband, good very fine £100-£140

France, Second Empire, Mexico Expedition Medal 1862-63, by Barre, silver, with original embroidered riband, good very fine £100-£140

France, Second Empire, St. Helena Medal, bronze; Italy Campaign Medal 1859, by Barre, silver, good very fine France, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver, gilt, and enamel, with lid of card box of issue; Commemorative Medal for the Franco-Prussian War 1870-71, bronze; Tonkin Medal 1883-85, silver; Colonial Medal, silver, 2 clasps, Tunisie, de l’Atlantique a la Mer Rouge; together with three unofficial Great War Medals, two for Verdun, all bronze, generally very fine (9) £100-£140 --- Sold with a silver medallion, engraved ‘Abnégation Dévouement Epidemic 1866 à Monsieur E. Beccue la Population ouvrière Reconnaissante’, mounted in a silver band with broad suspension loop.

France, A framed display of 39 mainly French Decorations and Medals, including Croix de Guerre (7), these with various different reverses and riband emblems; Cross of Military Valour; Cross for Combatant Volunteers in the Resistance; Cross for Volunteers for Combatant Service (2); Cross for Voluntary Military Services; Commemorative Medal for the Franco-Prussian War; Commemorative Medal for the Great War; Allied Victory Medal; Commemorative Meal for the Second World War; Korea Medal; and U.N. Korea Medal (French type), all mounted in a glazed display frame, generally good very fine (39) £200-£240

France, A framed display of 20 French and French Colonial Orders, Decorations, and Medals, including Legion of Honour, Third Republic, Chevalier’s breast badge; Order of National Merit, Chevalier’s breast badge; Order of Nichan-Iftikhar, Officer’s breast badge (3), all with rosettes on riband; Order of Commercial Merit, Chevalier’s breast badge; Order of Cambodia, Chevalier’s breast badge; Order of the Academic Palms, Officer’s bade, with rosette on riband; Medaille Militaire, Third Republic issue; Free French Forces Medal; Order of Liberation; Medal of the French Family (2), silver-gilt; silver; Order of Sporting Merit; Order of Tourism Merit; Wound Star (2), military; civilian; and a group of three miniature awards, comprising the Legion of Honour, the Croix de Guerre, and the Medal of French Resistance, mounted continental style on a double braided gilt chain, all mounted in a glazed display frame, generally good very fine (23) £400-£500 --- Sold with three soft-back publications on French Orders, Decorations and Medals: ‘Guide des Orders Civils Français et Étranges’; ‘Décorations France et Colonies’; and ‘France Décorations Union Française’.

The South Africa 1877-79 medal to Trooper R. Warren, 2nd Cape Mounted Yeomanry, who was killed in action in the second assault on Morosi’s Stronghold, 5 June 1879 South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tpr. R. Warren. 2nd Cape Yeory.) lightly toned, nearly extremely fine and a rare casualty £3,000-£4,000 --- Trooper Robert Warren, 2nd Cape Mounted Yeomanry, was killed in action in the second assault on Morosi’s Stronghold, high up on Morosi’s Mountain, on 5 June 1879. Like the first assault of 8 April, it too was unsuccessful and it was not until the night assault of 19/20 November that the mountain was finally taken.

Germany, Baden, Long Service Medal, Third Class, for 9 Years’ Service, silver, good very fine Germany, Bavaria, Merit Cross, First Class, with crossed swords, gilt and enamel, very fine Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Military Merit Cross 1914, bronze, on combatant’s riband, good very fine Germany, Saxony, Friedrich August Medal, bronze, good very fine Germany, Württemberg, Military Merit Medal, Wilhelm II, silver, good very fine (5) £70-£90

Germany, Brunswick, Waterloo Medal 1815 (Friedr. Berner. 2. Lin. Bat.) fitted with original steel clip and later small ring suspension, very fine £400-£500

Germany, Hannover, Waterloo Medal 1815 (Lieutenant Claus v. Plate, Hus. Rgt. Brem[en et] Verden.) fitted with replacement silver clip and ring suspension, heavy edge bruising and polished, especially the reverse, fine £500-£700

Germany, Hannover, Waterloo Medal 1815 (Soldat Joh. Herm. Bodemann, Landw. Bat. Quackenbrueck) fitted with steel clip and small ring suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, better than good fine £400-£500

Germany, Prussia, Iron Cross 1914, Second Class breast badge, silver with iron centre; War Merit Medal 1870-71 (2), bronze; Long Service Medal, Second Class, for 12 Years’ Service, bronze; Centenary Medal 1897, bronze, good very fine Germany, Empire, Cross of Honour 1914-18, combatants’ cross with swords (2), bronze; Kyffhauser War Veterans Commemorative Medal 1914-18, bronze, good very fine (8) £100-£140 --- Sold with an uncut die-striking of the Prussian Pour le Merite; a stylised version of an Iron Cross 1813; and an unofficial Third Reich period Lappland Shield.

A well-documented Second World War German 1940 ‘Battle of Britain’ Iron Cross group of four awarded to Luftwaffe Ju.88 Radio Operator - Air Gunner Sergeant L. Ottmann, who during the course of the Second World War flew a total of 135 combat missions, including the great raid on Coventry (Moonlight Serenade), and further 22 raids on London; transferring to the Eastern Front, he then took part in Operation Barbarossa Germany, Third Reich, Iron Cross 1939 (2), First Class breast badge, silver with iron centre, retaining pin stamped ‘113’; Second Class breast badge, silver with iron centre, unmarked; War Merit Cross 1939, Second Class, with swords, bronze; Winter War Medal 1941-42, zinc, nearly extremely fine (4) £600-£800 --- Leonhard Ottman began his aircrew training with a flight in a Junkers JU 52 transport aircraft on 13 June 1939. He went on to fly in the Dornier Do17, Heinkel HE111, Junkers JU88 and other similar size aircraft, qualifying as an aircraft radio operator. On completion of his training, he was posted to Kampfgeschwader (Totenkopf Geschwader) Stab II/KG54 as a radio operator on Junkers JU88 twin engine multi-role light bombers. He became part of the regular crew of Lieutenant Mally, with who he remained until his last flight in August 1944. He was to go on to complete 421 flights, from bases in Germany, France, Poland and Italy. Of these flights, 135 were classed as combat missions. Ottman’s war began with his first posting - to KG54 at St. Andre, in Southern France (IV. Fliegerkorps) where he began his flying duties on 8 August 1940. His first combat mission came on 29 August with a feint attack against the English coast. This was during the height of the ‘Battle of Britain’ and no doubt intended to draw the RAF fighters away from their airfields so they could be attacked by other Luftwaffe units. KG54 then began to play its part in the period known as ‘The Blitz’, when English and Welsh cities (especially London) and ports were targeted. Ottmann’s 42 combat missions from St. Andre included 17 raids on London, over the period 23 September to 29 November, and Operation Mondscheinserenade Korn (Moonlight Serenade Corn) on Coventry on 15 November 1940, which was at the time the largest and most devastating aerial attack to date anywhere, when the city was attacked by 449 bombers from Luftflote II and III which dropped 503 tonnes of mixed bombs. Many factories destroyed, and the medieval heart of the city devastated. The night’s bombing cost the city 554 killed, and 865 seriously injured. On 14 April 1941, Kampfgeschwader 54 moved to Bretigny, still in France (remaining part of IV. Fliegerkorps), from where Ottmann took part in a further 17 combat missions, mainly against English cities and airfields, including London (five times), Plymouth (twice), Liverpool (three times), and Exeter (three times). Ottmann’s final sortie to England took place on 20 May 1941, when his aircraft attacked the port of Plymouth: ‘We attacked the target from 150 metres and dropped our bombs directly onto the port but because of the strong anti-aircraft fire it was not possible to assess the effects of the bombing. By low flying we were able to get away from the massive artillery fire.’ On 17 June 1941, Kampfgeschwader 54 moved to Swidnik, near Lublin, in Poland; now with V. Fliegerkorps. There they took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia, which began on 22 June 1941. Over the next month Ottmann took part in 35 Attacks made against targets in Eastern Poland and Russia, including the airfield at Schepatoka in Russia on 1 July 1941: ‘Our mission was to dive bomb in group formation the airfield in Schepatoka in Russia. We proceeded in groups but shortly before the target our group broke up owing to heavy weather and was blasted by heavy resistance. After that we attacked the airfield individually. We flew across the field at low level and just in front of the hangars the pilot pulled up the plane and released our bombs. Shortly after we heard a loud noise in the plane. We had been badly hit by both the flak and by the pieces of bombed hangar thrown up high into the air. Result: By means of a direct hit we were able to completely destroy the hangar including its foundation wall.’ Two day later, on 3 July Ottman and his crew ‘Were ordered to attack the railway line at Konotop with splinter bombs equipped with Shockwave devices. The remaining bombs were meant for the trains. We carried 1 splinter bomb, and 35 D250. We arrived at low level attacking the designated railway line, and after finding a suitable spot, we dropped the splinter bomb which landed directly between the railway tracks. A bit further on we used the remaining bombs to attack a fuel train in a siding. The bombs dropped a bit to the right of the fuel train so that it only got hit by shrapnel. We then made several further attacks on the train using the other weapons on board until the petrol laden train burst into flames. After crash landing (back at base) we established that the ground fire had shot right through the fuselage steering gear.’ Further attacks on rail installations followed, on 5, 11, and 15 July: ‘We were ordered to dive bomb the retreating columns to the east of Berditschof with 45 x D250. We approached from a height of 2000 - 2500 metres and discovered a moving train loaded with war materials, so we dive bombed it. We released our bombs at 400 - 500 metres and all 4 bombs landed directly on target with the result that the transport train was immediately thrown up into the air after the attack and was ablaze... Six days later we were given the mission to attack the railway station at Kasatin using 25. C 250 and 25 D 250. Just before reaching the target we encountered very heavy flak but nevertheless we attacked and dive bombed the station releasing our bombs at 400 metres. After that we attacked the flak emplacement using on board weapons and silenced it. Result: direct hit on the station causing extensive fires. During this raid our plane received 14 hits, 3 of which went through the cabin area... On 15 July 1941 we were ordered to attack the railway station in Korsum, using 45. C. 250. We dive bombed, releasing our bombs at 600 metres and the bombs hit the target. As we were returning, we spotted a Russian fighter below and ahead of us. We attacked the fighter from behind and the observer fired a round of M.A. Trommel (Trommel + drum). We avoided the fighter by banking left over him and facilitating the rear gunner letting off a full round. I saw the pilot being hit and falling forward causing the plane to crash to the ground in flames. During this raid we encountered heavy flak defences.’ It seems that KG54 was shortly after rotated back to Germany, as his next flights were all in a non-combat role, and flown from bases in Germany. Possibly they were refitting or training, as he flew with a variety of pilots, his usual one being Lieutenant Mally. In December 1941, the crew were posted to Italy as part of Kampfgruppe 806, which was re-designated Stab III/KG54 on 1 September 1942. Moving then onto Sicily, he flew in support of the Afrika Corps in Tunisia from November 1942, and such operations continued during the early months of 1943, culminating with a raid on a Royal Navy convoy on 1 May 1943: ‘We were instructed to locate a British convoy which had been sighted at midday in the Mediterranean. After a clear reconnaissance flight we discovered the enemy convoy near the coast of Bengasi, consisting of 25 - 30 large and medium ships. The convoy was well guarded by combat vessels as well as air defence weapons. At low level we remained with the convoy for 3 - 4 hours to maintain contact with the enemy ships, sending r...

Germany, Third Reich, Iron Cross 1939, First Class breast badge, silver with iron centre, reverse stamped ‘L/11’ for Wilhelm Deumer, Ludenachied, backplate showing signs of having previously been adapted for wear by an Artilleryman, and now with rather crude replacement pin and hook suspension; War Merit Cross 1939, Second Class, with swords, bronze; Winter War Medal 1941-42, zinc, nearly very fine (3) £80-£100

Germany, Third Reich, Iron Cross 1939, Second Class breast badge, silver with iron centre, suspension ring marked ‘128’; together with a British-made Great War ‘propaganda’ Iron Cross, for Antwerp, Dinant, Ghent, Rheims, Louvain, and Amiens 1914, good very fine Japan, Empire, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Eighth Class breast badge, 37mm, silver, good very fine Lebanon, Republic, National Order of the Cedar, Chevalier’s breast badge, 55mm including wreath suspension x 37mm, silvered and enamel, unmarked, very fine Poland, Republic, Cross of Valour 1920, bronze, good very fine Poland, People’s Republic, Order of the Standard of Labour, First Class breast badge, gilt and enamel, very fine Romania, Kingdom, Medal for Bravery and Loyalty, Third Class, with crossed swords and integral laurel wreath suspension, bronze; Cross of Military Virtue, Second Class, bronze; Commemorative War Cross 1916-1918, bronze, good very fine (lot) £100-£140 --- Sold together with various other miscellaneous medals, including two Chinese War Lord badges and a Red Cross Badge.

Iraq, Kingdom, Active Service Medal, 1 clasp (in Arabic) South Kurdistan 1930-31, bronze, unnamed as issued, good very fine £100-£140

Ireland, Republic, 1921-71 ‘Survivors’ Medal, bronze, unnamed, with integral top riband bar, nearly extremely fine £120-£160

Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Knight’s breast badge, 36mm, gold and enamel, good very fine Vatican, Holy See, Bene Merenti Medal, Pius XII (1939-58), gilt, with Papal tiara and crossed keys suspension; together with a 1933 Medal commemorating the 1900th Anniversary of the Resurrection, silver, Pius Xi to obverse, good very fine (3) £80-£100

An unattributed Nepalese group of eight Nepal, Kingdom, King Birendra Silver Jubilee Medal 1997; Birendra Aishwarya Service Medal 2001; Himalayan Service Medal; Overseas Service Medal; Army Long Service Star, for 25 Years’ Service, gilt and enamel; Army Long Service Medal, for 10 Years’ Service, bronze; Earthquake Medal 1988; U.N. Medal, on MONUC riband, mounted court-style as worn, the medals all of local manufacture, nearly very fine An unattributed Nepalese group of eight Nepal, Kingdom, Birendra Aishwarya Service Medal 2001; Himalayan Service Medal; Overseas Service Medal; Army Long Service Star, for 25 Years’ Service, gilt and enamel; Army Long Service Medal, for 10 Years’ Service, bronze; Earthquake Medal 1988; U.N. Medal, on MONUC riband; U.N. Medal, on UNOMIG riband, mounted court-style as worn, the medals all of local manufacture, nearly very fine An unattributed Nepalese group of seven Nepal, Kingdom, Himalayan Service Medal; Overseas Service Medal; Army Long Service Star, for 25 Years’ Service, gilt and enamel; Army Long Service Medal, for 10 Years’ Service, bronze; Earthquake Medal 1988; U.N. Medal, on UNMINURCAT riband; U.N. Medal, on UNOMIG riband, mounted court-style as worn, the medals all of local manufacture, nearly very fine (23) £200-£240

A Civil C.B. group of four awarded to the Hon. E. W. K. Gully, Secretary to the Speaker, House of Commons, who served as an Admiralty Despatch Bearer with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the Great War The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companion’s breast badge, converted for neck wear, silver-gilt (hallmarks for London 1901), with neck riband, in Garrard, London case of issue; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. the Hon. E .W. K. Gully. R.N.V.R.); Coronation 1902, silver, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, the C.B. badge in 18 carat gold, these similarly mounted and all housed in a Spink, London, case, extremely fine (4) £500-£700 --- C.B. London Gazette 10 July 1903. The Hon. Edward Walford Karslake Gully was born in Liverpool on 21 October 1870, the second son of William Gully M.P., who served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1895 and 1905, and was raised to the peerage as Viscount Selby upon his retirement. Edward Gully served as Secretary to the Speaker from his father’s appointment in 1895, being appointed a C.B. for his services in 1903, and continued as Secretary to the Speaker during the subsequent Speakership of James Lowther. He latterly served as Examiner of Private Bills and Taxing Office, House of Commons, from 1911 to 1927. Gully was commissioned temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 12 May 1915, and served during the Great War one special service as an Admiralty Despatch Bearer from this date before resigning his commission on medical grounds on 22 October 1917. The British War Medal was his sole medallic entitlement for the Great War. He died at Bournemouth, Hampshire, on 8 November 1931. Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient as part of the Speaker’s Procession.

A Rhodesian M.S.M. group of five awarded to Warrant Officer Class I J. L. G. Stephens Rhodesia, Meritorious Service Medal (Civil) (Mr. J. L. G. Stephens); Great Britain, 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, these all privately engraved ‘J. L. G. Stephens’; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Southern Rhodesia (CR2601 A/W.O.1. John L. G. Stephens) mounted as worn, generally very fine and better (5) £300-£400

Five: Sergeant Mutandwa, Rhodesian Police, late British South Africa Police Rhodesia, General Service Medal (11528 Sgt. Mutandwa); Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C. (11528 Sgt. Mutandwa), edge stamped ‘(R.)’ for replacement; Great Britain, War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Police L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (11528 African Const., Mutandwa B.S.A. Police) ‘ice’ of ‘Police’ privately engraved; Service Medal of the Order of St. John, unnamed, generally good very fine (5) £300-£400 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 2008. Mutandwa was born at Gutu in Southern Rhodesia in June 1924 and, having worked at the Iscor Steel Works on the outskirts of Pretoria, returned home and enlisted in British South Africa Police in June 1945. Thereafter, in a long career spanning nearly 30 years, he held assorted appointments in Salisbury, Gwelo, Selukwe and Bulawayo, among them Court Orderly and Interpreter, Licence Inspector and “Sudden Death Dockets” Compiler. Awarded the St. John Service Medal in 1960 and his Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C. in January 1972, he retired in December of the following year and became a lay preacher in the Dutch Reform Church. Sold with three original St. John Ambulance certificates, dated March 1949, December 1958 and October 1960, together with the recipient’s B.S.A.P. certificate of service, dated December 1973, these in generally worn damaged and stained but very scarce surviving documents to an African recipient.

Russia, Empire, Medal of St. George, Fourth Class, silver, the reverse officially numbered ‘103789’; Medal for the Crimean War 1853-56, bronze, nearly very fine (2) £100-£140

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Order of the Red Star, 2nd type, silver and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘1185899’, with Monetny Dvor mint mark to reverse; Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, silver and enamel, reverse officially numbered 6910887, with Monetny Dvor mint mark to reverse; Jubilee Medal for the 20th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1945-65; Jubilee Medal for the 30th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1945-75; Jubilee Medal for the 40th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1945-85; Jubilee Medal for the 70th Anniversary of the Armed Forces of the U.S.S.R. 1918-88, generally very fine and better (6) £70-£90

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, A selection of Soviet Decorations and Medals including Medal for Military Merit in Battle, unnumbered; Distinguished Labour Medal; Medal for Personal Courage, the reverse officially numbered ‘000501’; Medal for a Partisan of the Great Patriotic War, First Class; Medal for Valiant Labour during the Great Patriotic War; Medals for the 20th, 30th (2), and 70th Anniversaries of the Soviet Armed Forces 1918; Medals for the 20th, 40th (3), 50th (5), 60th, and 65th Anniversaries of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1945; Medal for the 1500th Anniversary of the Founding of Kiev (2), some copies, generally very fine and better (lot) £80-£100

United States of America, Air Combat Readiness Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army issue; Mexican Border Service Medal; China Service Medal, Navy issue; Women’s Army Corps Service Medal; Army of Occupation Medal, 1 clasp, Japan, all unnamed as issued; together with a South Vietnam Campaign Medal, 1 clasp, 1960-, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (7) £40-£50

United States of America, State of New Jersey Victory Medal 1917-18, bronze, unnamed, with top ‘New Jersey’ riband bar, very fine A run of all 19 Navy clasps for the United States Allied Victory Medal, comprising Armed Guard, Asiatic, Atlantic Fleet, Aviation, Destroyer, Escort, Grand Fleet, Mine Laying, Mine Sweeping, Mobile Base, Naval Battery, Overseas, Patrol, Salvage, Subchaser, Submarine, Transport, West Indies, White Sea, some reproductions, generally good very fine A run of all 14 Army Battle clasps for the United States Allied Victory Medal, comprising Aisne, Aisne-Marne, Cambrai, Champagne-Marne, Defensive Sector, Lys, Meuse-Argonne, Montdidier-Noyon, Oise-Aisne, Somme Defensive, Somme Offensive, St. Mihiel, Vittorio-Veneto, Ypres-Lys, some reproductions, generally good very fine Allied Victory Medals: Belgium; Cuba; Japan; Poland (2), of different designs, these both unofficial issues; Portugal; Thailand, all copies except for the Belgian award, generally very fine (lot) £200-£240

U.N. Medal for Korea 1950-54, South Korean issue, unnamed as issued; South Vietnam Campaign Medal, without clasp, the reverse officially named ‘215101 O. J. Rayfield.’, nearly extremely fine (2) £70-£90

The Naval General Service Medal Roll 1793-1840. Compiled by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris, standard edition, privately printed, 403pp, bound in cloth covers, very good condition Naval Medals 1793-1856. Compiled by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris, privately printed, London, 1988, xvi, 542pp, original blue boards in slip case, very good condition Naval Medals 1857-1880. Compiled by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris, privately printed, London, 1994, xxii, 435pp, original blue boards in slip case, very good condition (3) £80-£100 --- Sold with a folder containing copy pages from the book ‘Lloyd’s Medals 1836-1989’, by Jim Gawler, including a complete alphabetical index of recipient’s of the various Lloyd’s Medals.

A fine Second War submariner’s D.S.O. and D.S.C. group of eleven awarded to Captain Dudley Norman, Royal Navy, who won the D.S.C. when in command of H.M. Submarine H.44 for sinking shipping off the coast of Norway in 1940, and the D.S.O. when in command of H.M. Submarine Upright for sinking the Italian cruiser Armando Diaz in February 1941; he was afterwards the first Commodore of the Malaysian Navy Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated 1941, with integral top ribbon bar; Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1941, hallmarks for London 1940; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1953; Jubilee 1977; Malaysia, Pingat Khidmat Berbakti; Denmark, silver medal for Galathea Deep Sea Expedition 1950-1952; Netherlands, Red Cross Decoration, silver-gilt and enamels, and Red Cross Medal of Merit, silver, medals unmounted, together with mounted group of eight miniature dress medals and a loose Jubilee 1977, generally good very fine (12) £4,000-£5,000 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 23 September 1941. Seedie’s Submarine roll confirms award ‘For sinking the Italian Cruiser Armando Diaz off Kerkenah Bank in the Mediterranean on 25 February 1941, and a supply ship.’ D.S.C. London Gazette 1 January 1941. Edward Dudley Norman was born on 2 August 1910, and went to Dartmouth in 1924. He joined the Submarine service in 1932 and served in submarines at Devonport, Gosport and Portland before undergoing the Submarine C.O.’s Qualifying Course in 1940. His first submarine command in March 1940 was the 1920-vintage H.44, in which he carried out several patrols in the North Sea, sank enemy shipping off the Norwegian coast, and was awarded the D.S.C. In December 1940, Norman went out to the Mediterranean to take command of Upright in the Malta-based flotilla, later dubbed ‘The Fighting Tenth’. Sailing for his second patrol in February 1941, Upright had to encounter a new hazard: Italian acoustic mines laid in the harbour approaches. Upright’s sailors detonated them by firing machine gun bullets into the water about 100 yards ahead of the boat. On 21 February, Norman took Upright inside the Tunisian harbour of Sfax to look for targets, but found none. “As we were then scraping along the bottom at periscope depth,” he said, “it seemed prudent to reverse course and retire to the open sea.” Four nights later, Upright was on the surface off Sfax, charging main batteries, when the officer of the watch sighted “a cruiser or a very large destroyer, escorted by two destroyers, one on each bow”. Norman estimated the target’s course and speed, fired four torpedoes, and then dived. “As I got below,” he said, “the periscope was going up. I got it on the right bearing in time to see the first torpedo hit, in the light of which I considered the target was probably a cruiser.” He had, in fact, sunk the 5,000 ton Italian cruiser Armando Diaz and was awarded the D.S.O. Invalided home from Malta with dysentery in July 1941, he took command, in October, of the German U-boat U.570, which had surrendered to an R.A.F. Hudson aircraft south of Iceland in August, and was renamed H.M.S. Graph. U.570’s cryptographic material had been ditched and many instruments smashed, but in a year’s trials under Norman, Graph gave the Allies priceless information about the construction, performance and weaponry of the standard Type VII U-boat. After Graph, Norman commanded Tuna and Alcide, one of the first of the long-range A Class patrol submarines intended for the Pacific. Norman left the Submarine Service in 1947 and had appointments in the Admiralty, with Nato, as Executive Officer of H.M.S. Heron, the naval air station at Yeovilton, where he learned to fly, and in command of the sloop Nereide on the South African Station. The Royal Malaysian Navy, which formed on independence in 1957, began modestly with the purchase of a handful of ex-Royal Navy minesweepers. But as its first Commodore, Norman laid the foundations of a small but efficient force which played a full part in the confrontation with Indonesia in the 1960s. When Norman retired in 1960, he was awarded the Malaysian decoration, the Pingat Khidmat Berbakti. In retirement, Norman was secretary of the Royal Malta Yacht Club, and he played an influential role in establishing the first Whitbread Round the World Race. He died in 1998, aged 87. Sold with original warrant and statutes for D.S.O., award certificates for Coronation Medal and Netherlands Red Cross Decoration (16 January 1959), various correspondence, and an original photograph album compiled by Norman with 16 large black and white photographs of the captured U.570 on later trials as H.M.S. Graph, some captioned and dated 15 October 1941, showing interior images and various detailing around her, together with four larger loose photographs of the submarine.

A Great War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel The Reverend A. F. Inglis, Gurkha Rifles, Kashmiri Infantry and Gilgit Scouts, late South Lancashire Regiment, who having taken Holy Orders served as Chaplain to the North West Railway Battalion, Auxiliary Forces India The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major A. F. Inglis. 1 Kashmir I.S. Infy.); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal; Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Indian States, Jummoo and Kashmir, War Medal 1914-18, 42mm, silver, the obverse with the heraldic crest of Jummoo and Kashmir with supporters, the reverse inscribed ‘1919 A.D. Awarded for services rendered during the Great War 1914 - 1918,’ unnamed as issued, the last scarce in silver, generally very fine and better, the last scarce in silver (8) £600-£800 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 3 July 1919. The Reverend Alexander Francis Inglis was born at Murree, India, in 1881, the son of Colonel David William Inglis, 35th Sikhs, and was educated at Bedford School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the South Lancashire Regiment in September 1901, he proceed to India and served attached to the 82nd Regiment. He transferred to the Indian Staff Corps the following year, and thence to the 17th Bengal Infantry, attached King George’s Own Gurkha Rifles at Dharmansala, Punjab, in 1904. He was present at the Coronation in 1911 with the Indian Contingent and accompanied the Battalion at the Delhi Durbar, 1911. During the Grear War he served in Chitral and Gilgit as Military Assistant and Commandant Scouts 1914-17., before proceeding to Egypt as Senior Special Service Officer, 1st Kashmir Imperial Service Infantry, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and commanded the battalion in the line in Palestine. He participated in the final attack on Nablus with the 30th Brigade, and for his services he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 5 June 1919) and created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Following the war Inglis took up a staff appointment as Commanding Officer at Dharamsala, in the Jullundur Brigade Area of Lahore, and retired on ill health grounds in 1922, being granted the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He trained for the clergy and attended the Bishop’s College, Cheshunt and was ordained, becoming deacon in 1932, and priest in 1933. He was Chaplain to St. Andrew and St. Oswald, Lahore, and Military Chaplain of St. Martin, Delhi Encampments, and was Chaplain, North West Railway Battalion, A.F.I. in 1937, until 1944. He was confirmed as Honorary Chaplain to the Forces 1946.

A Second War ‘Italy operations’ M.B.E. group of nine awarded to Major A. J. Hill, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who commanded the 8th Army Recovery Company during the advance through Italy and was Mentioned in Despatches, receiving a further ‘Mention’ for his services in Malaya The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R., with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major L. A. J. Hill. M.B.E. R.E.M.E.); Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (Lieut. L. A. J. Hill. R.E.M.E.) good very fine and better (9) £400-£500 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 20 September 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’ The original Recommendation states: ‘Major Hill has commanded the Army Recovery Company since November 1944. During this period, and especially in the early months of 1945, exceptionally severe recovery conditions were encountered, but all difficulties were successfully overcome due to the outstanding leadership and ability of this officer. Eighth Army maintenance routes during the winter of 1944/5 included long stretches of precipitous winding roads through the Appennine Mountains. When these were subjected to ice and snow conditions, the problem of ensuring prompt recovery to avoid road blocks became a very difficult one. Owing to distances and interruption of communications, Major Hill was frequently left to act on his own initiative, and his readiness to turn out under appalling weather conditions in order personally to supervise the most awkward jobs, had an inspiring effect on the morale of recovery crews. The maintenance of constantly clear traffic routes under these circumstances constituted a remarkable achievement. A further example of Major Hill’s exceptional service during this period is the quick improvisation of a special workshop formed out of recovery sections for the purpose of repairing vehicles handed in by formations leaving the Eighth Army. By this means over 120 ‘B’ vehicles were made fit for re-issue in the Army area, which would otherwise had to be evacuated to the base with all the transportation difficulties thus involved. This officer’s outstanding initiative and ability have achieved remarkable results, and his powers of leadership have inspired all those working under his command to give cheerfully of their best under very trying conditions.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 13 January 1944: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 27 April 1951: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya.’ Leslie Arthur John Hill was born on 20 June 1910 and served in the ranks for over fourteen years, and as Warrant Officer for over four years, before being commissioned Second Lieutenant on 20 December 1942. He was advanced Acting Captain on 3 December 1943, and Acting Major on 21 November 1944, being confirmed in the rank of Major on 19 February 1954. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1948 and retired on 11 October 1960.

Family Group: A Second War M.B.E. group of five awarded to Warrant Officer E. H. Robbins, Royal Air Force The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; the M.B.E. accompanied by Buckingham Palace enclosure named to Warrant Officer Edward H. Robbins, M.B.E., R.A.F.; the campaign medals in Air Ministry card box of issue addressed to 215630 W/O Robbins, E. H. Sgt’s Mess, R.A.F., Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, and accompanied by Air Ministry medal issue slip and two part ‘ticker tape’, nearly extremely fine Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Edward William Robbins) in Royal Mint case of issue, nearly extremely fine (6) £200-£240 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1946. M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1945. Edward Henry Robbins served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and was discharged on 31 March 1949. Edward William Robbins, lately Telephonist, London Telecommunications Region, received the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement in 1973 (London Gazette 13 November 1973).

German Second World War Citations. Comprising a large size promotion certificate in the old Imperial style dated ‘1936’ promoting SA Sturmbannfuhrer Karl Wicklmayr from SA Sturmbannfuhrer to Reich Commissioner Police Director in Bavaria. One ink stain to the top left hand corner; together with his large size award for the War Service Cross Second Class dated ‘1942’ with facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler; and his large size citation for the Luftschutz Medal Second Class dated ‘August 41’, one ink stain to the top left hand corner, reasonable condition (3) £100-£140

A Second War ‘Civil Division’ M.B.E. pair awarded to Observer Lieutenant J. L. Waugh, Royal Observer Corps The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver, in Royal Mint case of issue, ands outer card box, with named Buckingham Palace enclosure; Defence Medal, extremely fine (2) £100-£140 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 9 January 1946.

A German Second World War General Assault Badge. Comprising a nice solid construction General Assault Badge in silver, slight loss of silvered finish to the left hand wing of the eagle, with original pin, hook and hinge; together with a Third Reich DRL badge in bronze, maker marked on the reverse side; and an Eastern Front Medal with its original ribbon, generally good condition (3) £80-£100

Miscellaneous German Second World War Awards. Comprising a War Merit Medal with its ribbon; a West Wall Medal with its ribbon, all finish remaining; a copy of the Spanish Cross for next of kin and a good copy of the NSDAP Blood Order; two early nickel panzer skulls, plus an army white metal breast eagle with its pin, hook and hinge for fitting to the officer’s white summer tunic; and a Hitler Youth lapel pin, black swastika on silver lozenge laid on blue enamel, RZM marked with lapel pin fixing, some copies, overall good condition (lot) £140-£180

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain Lord Mowbray, 8th Hussars, later Grenadier Guards and Premier Baron of England Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Hon. W. M. Stourton 8th. Hussars Morcourt. 27.3.18’; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. Hon. W. M. Stourton.); Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these including a Defence Medal, generally very fine (4) £1,200-£1,600 --- M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918: ‘When on patrol he came under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, but remained in touch with the enemy all day, displaying great coolness and initiative, and sending back most valuable information. It was due to his gallantry that a trooper whose horse had been shot was able to rejoin the patrol.’ William Marmaduke Stourton, 25th Baron Mowbray, 26th Baron Segrave, and 22nd Baron Stourton was born on 31 August 1895, the son of Charles Stourton, 24th Baron Mowbray &c., and a direct descendant of of Geoffrey de Mowbray, an adviser to William the Conqueror, and also of William de Mowbray, one of the 25 Barons who forced King John to sign the Magna Carta. Educated at Downside School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 8th Hussars on 23 December 1914 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 3 January 1916, being promoted Lieutenant on 1 July 1917. For his gallantry at Morcourt on 27 March 1918 during the first week of the German Spring Offensive he was awarded the Military Cross. Stourton transferred to the Grenadier Guards on 11 August 1918, and was promoted Captain on 13 October 1923, before resigning his commission in 1928. He succeeded to the Baronies of Mowbray, Segrave, and Stourton upon the death of his father on 29 July 1936, and saw further service as a Captain with the Grenadier Guards during the Second World War, before being discharged from the Reserve of Officers having reached the upper age limit on 10 November 1945. He died at Claro, Yorkshire, on 7 May 1965, and was succeeded to the baronies by his son. Sold with copied research. For the medals awarded to the recipient’s son, see Lot 68.

A Great War A.R.R.C. group of four awarded to Sister E. L. Earle, Territorial Force Nursing Service Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver and enamel; British War and Victory Medals (Sister E. L. Earle.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Sister E. L. Earle. T.F.N.S.) mounted for display, generally good very fine or better (4) £700-£900 --- A.R.R.C. London Gazette 24 October 1917: Sister, 5th Southern General Hospital. Ellen Louisa Earle was born in Hursley, Hampshire. She enrolled in the T.F.N.S. in March 1909, and was mobilised in August 1914. Earle initially served during the Great War as a nurse at the 5th Southern General Hospital (T.F.) Southsea from 1914. She advanced to Sister and served in the French theatre of war from 4 May 1917, including in No. 58 Casualty Clearing Station where she was in charge of Acute and Minor Surgery Wards. After the war she resided at Basing House, Devizes Road, Salisbury, and died in Plymouth, Devon in December 1946. Sold with copied service papers.

An Order of St. John group of three awarded to Henry E. R. Taylor, British Red Cross Society The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s breast badge, silver and enamel; British War and Victory Medals (H. E. R. Taylor. B.R.C. & St. J.J.) good very fine (3) £100-£140 --- Henry Edward Russell Taylor served in Italy with the British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of Jerusalem from 17 November 1916. Sold with copied Medal Index Card and medal roll.

An Order of St. John group of three awarded to Miss Mary C. Coulcher, C.B.E., Lady District Superintendent, St. John Ambulance Association, and Vice-President, Suffolk Branch, British Red Cross Society The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s (Sister’s) shoulder badge, silver, with heraldic beasts in angles, on lady’s bow riband; Coronation 1911, St. John Ambulance Brigade (Lady Supt. M. C. Coulcher.); Service Medal of the Order of St John, with two additional ‘5 Years Service’ bars (Lady Supt. Miss M. C. Coulcher. Ipswich Corps. 1909) contact marks to last, generally very fine (3) £300-£400 --- C.B.E. London Gazette 30 March 1920: Miss Mary Caroline Coulcher, O.B.E., Lady District Superintendent, St. John Ambulance Association, and Vice-President, Suffolk Branch, British Red Cross Society. O.B.E. London Gazette 7 January 1918: Miss Mary Caroline Coulcher, Vice-President and Lady District Superintendent, St. John Ambulance Brigade; Commandant, Broadwater Auxiliary Hospital, Suffolk. Miss Mary Caroline Coulcher was born in Lynn Regis, Suffolk, in 1852, the daughter of the The Reverend George Coulcher, and moved to Ipswich in 1870. She was one of the initial members of the St. John Ambulance Association movement in Ipswich, becoming Hon. Local Secretary of the Ipswich Centre, S.J.A.A., in January 1880, and was appointed to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in 1902. Appointed a Lady Supervisor, St. John Ambulance Brigade, in 1904, she served as a town councillor from 1909 to 1912, and during the Great War was Commandant, Voluntary Aid Detachment, Suffolk 22; Commandant of Broadwater Auxiliary Hospital, Ipswich, from 21 October 1914 to 12 February 1919, and also Commandant of Gippeswych (Isolation) Hospital, Ipswich, from 20 March to 6 September 1915. It was her enthusiasm and financial support that led to the town’s first motorised ambulance. She was also a Vice-President of the British Red Cross Society for Ipswich, and a member of the East Suffolk War Relief Committee Executive. For her services during the Great War she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1918, and was advanced a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1920. She died in Ipswich on 15 June 1925. Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient; and also details of the publicity behind the play Dread Zeppelin, for which she was one of the inspirations, and in which she features.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M., M.M. group of five awarded to Company Sergeant-Major J. H. Rubery, 1/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (243115 A.C.S. Mjr: J. H. Rubery. 1/6 R. War: R.-T.F.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (243115 Sjt: J. H. Rubery. 1/6 R. War: R.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (1547 L. Cpl. J. H. Rubery. R. War: R.); British War and Victory Medals (243115 W.O. Cl. 2. J. H. Rubery. R. War. R.) medals unmounted, light contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (5) £1,800-£2,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 26 November 1917; citation published 8 February 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his officers became casualties during an advance he took command of all the men in the neighbourhood and led them forward to the company’s objective, which he consolidated, capturing a large number of prisoners and several machine guns. His leadership and example were of the greatest value.’ M.M. London Gazette 26 May 1917. Immediate Reward, announced in Routine Orders by General Sir H. S. Rawlinson, Bart., K.C.B., K.C.V.O., Commanding Fourth Army, 27th April 1917. John Henry Rubery was born on 2 August 1895, in Birmingham and served with the 1/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, in France from 22 March 1915, and was demobilized on 29 March 1919. He died in Birmingham on 14 November 1979. Sold with three original photographs of the recipient with his wife and family, original copy of Routine Orders of April 1917, cutting from Birmingham Daily Mail announcing D.C.M. with citation, and certificate of Disembodiment on Demobilisation confirming both awards; together with copied research including gazette notices, D.C.M., M.M. and Medal Index Cards.

A Great War ‘Ypres-Menin Road’ September 1917 D.C.M. and ‘Hindenburg Line’ May 1917 M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant J. Ellis, 1st (attached 4th) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (9637 Sjt: J. Ellis. 1/L’pool: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (9637 Sjt: J. Ellis. 1/L’pool: R.); 1914 Star (9637 Pte. T. Ellis. 1/L’pool R.) note initial; British War and Victory Medals (9637 Sjt. J. Ellis. L’pool R.) mounted for display, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (5) £2,000-£2,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 26 November 1917; citation published 6 February 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was largely responsible for the steadiness with which the men of his company met and repulsed a strong enemy counter-attack. His great courage, resource and initiative were an inspiring example to the men at a critical time.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘Ypres-Menin Road, 27 September 1917’. The War Diary for this date describes the attacks during operations in the Reutelbeer Sector, 25-28th September 1917. M.M. London Gazette 28 July 1917. Probably an award for the 33rd Division attack on the Hindenburg Line on 20 May 1917. John Ellis went to France with the 1st Battalion, Liverpool Regiment on 12 August 1914 (initial shown as ‘T’ on Medal Index Card). He was subsequently attached to the 4th Battalion and won both of his awards with the 4th. Sold with copied research including gazette entries, D.C.M., M.M. and Medal Index Cards, and War Diary extracts.

A Great War ‘Ravelsberg, April 1918’ D.C.M. and ‘Cuinchy, June 1916’ M.M. group of five awarded to Bugler A. Johnstone, 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (330103 Pte. A. Johnstone. M.M. 9/High: L.I.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (1480 Bglr: A. Johnstone. 9/H.L.I.-T.F.); 1914 Star (1480 Pte. A. Johnstone. 9/High: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (1480 Pte. A. Johnstone. H.L.I.) medals unmounted, together with British War and Victory Medals awarded to his brother (51527 Pte. J. P. Johnstone. R. Scots.) good very fine (7) £1,800-£2,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 October 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when acting as runner. No amount of fire stopped him getting his message through, and his high spirits were an inspiration to all who saw him. He gained valuable information when taking part in two daylight patrols, and took a leading part in repelling enemy attacks. His conduct throughout was worthy of the highest praise.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘Nr. Ravelsberg, 15-18 April 1918’. M.M. London Gazette 10 August 1916. The Battalion War Diary entry for 27 June 1916 describes ‘Front line at Cuinchy - raid on Mad Point, and that for 7 July 1916 ‘the ceremony of presenting British and French medals in Grande Place this afternoon... Battalion was warmly congratulated by the GOC 1st Army (Gen Charles Munro) who said he was “proud of the men”. The following NCOs of the Battn were presented with the Military Medal [ten including Bugler A. Johnstone], all in connection with recent Raid.’ Andrew Johnstone was a native of Glasgow and served with the 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion, H.L.I., in France and Flanders from 5 November 1914. Sold with original ‘Headquarters, Second Army’ certificate of congratulations upon award of D.C.M., dated 25 June 1918, together with copied research including gazette notices, D.C.M., M.M. and Medal Index Cards, and War Diary entries for D.C.M. and M.M. actions.

A rare Great War April 1917 D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private H. W. Green, 10th Hussars, for the notable cavalry V.C.-action at Monchy-le-Preux on 11 April when, with the Essex Yeomanry, they suffered heavy casualties in their heroic defence of the village over several days Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11558 Pte. H. W. Green. 10/Hrs:); 1914-15 Star (11558 Pte. H. W. Green. 10th Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (11558 Pte. H. W. Green. 10-Hrs.) medals unmounted, good very fine (4) £1,600-£2,000. --- D.C.M. London Gazette 18 June 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He formed a dressing station in a dug-out and got a large number of wounded into it, and for several days continued to render assistance to wounded men, exposing himself continuously.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘Monchy, 11 April 1917.’ On 9 April 1917 the British and Canadians began an attack which would become known as the Battle of Arras. The opening day was a spectacular success with the Canadians capturing Vimy Ridge but the British cavalry was held back too far behind the lines to exploit the temporary disarray in the German defences. At dawn on the 11th of April, elements of the 15th (Scottish) and 37th Divisions were holding positions in and around the village of Monchy-le-Preux. The 10th (Prince of Wales’ Own Royal) Hussars, along with other regiments from their Brigade, were ordered to circle round the village and advance to a position between Monchy and the River Scarpe. At 8.30am, in a blizzard, the Hussars began their advance along with the Essex Yeomanry and, as they crossed the southern slope of Orange Hill to the north of Monchy, they came under shell and machine gun fire which caused a number of casualties and forced the survivors to take shelter in the streets of Monchy itself. Here they became trapped under heavy shell fire for over three days, engaged in heavy fighting with the streets being strewn with the bodies of troopers and their horses. One eyewitness recounted that: ‘The main street of Monchy was indeed a terrible sight, and the horrors are not being exaggerated when it is described as being littered with dead men and horses. In one place the horses were lying so thick that it was necessary to climb over them in order to pass along the street.’ The Hussars lost 27 men killed during the attack and 157 wounded, and between themselves and the Yeomanry, around 900 horses are thought to have become casualties. Lance-Corporal Harold Mugford, Machine Gun Corps, attached Essex Yeomanry, was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action. Harold W. Green served with the 10th Hussars in France from 18 October 1915. His was one of only 10 D.C.M.’s won by the 10th Hussars during the Great War, two of which were awarded for Monchy-le-Preux.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ 1916 D.C.M. awarded to Acting Corporal W. Pateman, 28 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (46819 A. Cpl. W. Pateman. 28/Bde: R.F.A.) nearly extremely fine £500-£700 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 20 October 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry during operations. When all the lines were cut he acted as runner to Brigade Headquarters. On another occasion a shell burst so near him, when he was repairing a line, that he was picked up in the crater, but he refused to go back till ordered to do so, having spent twelve hours trying to maintain communications.’ William Pateman served in France with 28th Brigade R.F.A. from 19 August 1914. He transferred to the Royal Engineers on 28 May 1917. Sold with copied D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards.

A Great War ‘Western Front 1915’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Lance-Corporal J. J. Ingram, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, who was killed in action in July 1915 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (4641 L. Cpl. J. J. Ingram. 3/C.G.); 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (4641 Pte. J. J. Ingram. C. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (4641 Pte. J. J. Ingram. C. Gds.) mounted for display, together with a Coldstream cap badge, nearly extremely fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 23 June 1915: ‘For acts of gallantry and devotion to duty while serving with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders.’; citation published 30 June 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in the trenches. He has set a fine example of devotion to duty.’ John Joseph Ingram landed in France and Flanders with the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, on 21 August 1914, and was killed in action on 12 July 1915. The Battalion War Diary entries for that month are particularly light but the 3rd Battalion was occupying trenches in the vicinity of Cuinchy and Cambrin. He is buried in Cambrin Churchyard Extension. Sold with copied research including gazette notices, War Diary extract, D.C.M. and Medal Index Card, the latter annotated ‘K in A”.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. awarded to Company Sergeant Major J. Douglas, 16th Battalion, Royal Scots, late Scottish Rifles, who was also Mentioned in Despatches Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (43723 Sjt: J. Douglas. 16/R. Scots.) edge bruising and light pitting, nearly very fine £600-£800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as platoon commander and during a counter-attack, when he rallied the scattered units of several battalions, led them forward, and reached the desired objective. At a time when the shortage of officers was being severely felt, his services were invaluable, and his example inspired the greatest confidence.’ John Douglas attested for the Scottish Rifles at Motherwell, and served with the 6th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 March 1915. Transferring to the 16th Battalion, Royal Scots, he was advanced Company Sergeant Major, and in addition to being awarded the D.C.M. was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 18 December 1917). He was disembodied on 19 February 1919. Sold with copied research.

A Great War ‘Battle of the Somme’ D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant J. B. Hammond, 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, for gallantry during a very heavy bombardment and in the subsequent assault on the enemy trenches at Ovillers on 7 July 1916, on which occasion he was killed in action Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6271 Sjt: J. B. Hammond. 9/R.Fus:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (40745. Tpr: J. Hammond. Imp: Yeo:) contemporarily re-engraved naming (see footnote); 1914-15 Star (6271 L.Cpl. J. B. Hammond. R. Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (GS-6271 Sjt. J. B. Hammond. R. Fus.); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police (P.C., J. Hammond.) medals unmounted, toned, very fine or better (6) £1,000-£1,400 --- Note: Although Hammond is listed in Kevin Asplin’s Imperial Yeomanry Q.S.A. roll as a Trooper in the 36th Battalion, he notes ‘No Q.S.A. entitlement on I.Y. rolls’, this Battalion having arrived in South Africa too late to qualify for the medal. D.C.M. London Gazette 22 September 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry to duty during a heavy bombardment of our trenches before an attack. In a subsequent assault he was among the first to arrive in the enemy trenches, and by his coolness and bravery he gave the greatest encouragement to all ranks with him.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘Ovillers, 7 July 1916’. The Battalion War Diary for 7 July 1916, ‘In front of Ovillers’, states: ‘4.30 a.m. Our bombardment commenced & became intense at 5.30 a.m. at which time the Coys took up their positions in the front line ready for the assault. “A” on left & “D” on right were to form the 1st line & to be followed immediately by “B” & “C” Coys respectively. The enemy retaliated almost as soon as our bombardment commenced & our trenches were heavily shelled by guns of big calibre. There were no dug-outs available & our casualties were very heavy. “C” Coy suffered most heavily being reduced to about 40. It was then decided that “C” Coy should go over with “D”. At 8.30 a.m., the time fixed for the assault, “A” & “D” & the remainder of “C” left our trenches. “A” Coy was decimated by M.G. fire & the same fate met 2 platoons of “B” which followed. The remaining platoons of “B” Coy were ordered to remain in the trench as it was seen to be useless to send them across at the same place. “D” & “C” on the left were more successful & although greatly weakened managed to reach the German trenches which they carried by assault. The enemy’s fire & support trenches were captured & consolidated. Two M.G’s were put out of action & 50 prisoners were captured, continuous bombing attacks were beaten off with loss to the enemy. About 5.30 p.m. the remaining platoons of “B” Coy managed to get across & & brought with them a large supply of bombs. It was raining heavily during the day.’ Joseph Barnard Hammond was born in Birmingham and enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers at Ealing, then being a member of the Metropolitan Police at Wapping. He had previously volunteered for service with the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War but his Battalion arrived too late in 1902 to qualify for a medal. He went to France with the 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, on 1 June 1915, and was killed in action on the Somme at Ovillers on 7 July 1916. He was aged 36, the son of Joseph Patrick and Clara Hammond, of Birmingham, and is commemorated by name on the Thiepval Memorial. Sold with copied research including gazette notices, D.C.M. card and Medal Index Card, this annotated ‘K. in A. 7/7/16.’

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. awarded to Corporal T. Foley, 1st Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, for his gallantry at Cuinchy on 25 September 1915 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (9838 Cpl. T. Foley. 1/L’pool Regt.) minor edge bruise, good very fine £600-£800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916; citation published 11 March 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry. Seeing Captain Kerr, R.A.M.C., struggling in with a very severely wounded man, he went over the parapet to his assistance. There was absolutely no cover from the enemy, who were firing from a commanding position barely 70 yards away.’ For his gallantry on the same day, Captain Frank Robinson Kerr, R.A.M.C. was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 4 November 1915), his citation giving further details: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and splendid devotion to duty at Cuinchy on 25 September 1915. After an unsuccessful attack on the enemy’s trenches, this officer crawled over our parapet and brought in a wounded man from about a dozen yards outside, in full view of the enemy, at a range of only 70 yards. He then went out again for 30 yards, and rescued a man whose thigh had been broken, being fired at the whole time.’ Thomas Foley (alias Thomas McCabe) was born in 1887 and attested for the Liverpool Regiment on 16 February 1907. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 August 1914, and for his gallantry at Cuinchy on 25 September 1915 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was wounded by gun shot to the right arm, and was discharged on 21 March 1917, being awarded a Silver War Badge, no. 199,143. He died on 3 May 1927.

A Great War ‘Advance on Jerusalem 1917’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Corporal A. Dunning, 1/8th Battalion, Scottish Rifles, for gallantry in the fighting at Burkah on 12 November 1917 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (290843 Pte.-A.L. Cpl. - A. Dunning. Sco: Rif:) ; British War and Victory Medals (636 Cpl. A. Dunning. Sco. Rif.) medals unmounted, very fine (3) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 1 May 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the flank of his company became exposed during the attack on the final objective he, on his own initiative, brought his gun into action in order to cover this exposed flank, and succeeded in dispersing a hostile concentration, thus enabling a counter-attack on the flank to be anticipated. He handled his gun team with great boldness and resource.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘Egypt, 12 November 1917’. Alexander Dunning was awarded the D.C.M. while serving with the 1/8th Battalion, Scottish Rifles, for his actions at Burkah (Burqa) on 12 November 1917, during the advance on Jerusalem in Palestine. In 1916 the 1/8th Scottish Rifles joined the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, initially engaged in the defence of the Suez Canal. They were engaged at Dueidar and then at the battle of Romani in August 1916, which cleared the Ottomans from the Sinai. By 1917 they were part of the force invading Palestine, taking part in the First, Second and Third battles of Gaza, Wadi el Hesi, Burqa, El Maghar, capture of Junction Station, the battles of Nabi Samweil, and the Battle of Jaffa. The campaign culminated in the capture of Jerusalem in December 1917. In March 1918, together with the rest of the Division, the Battalion was transferred to the Western Front following the German Spring Offensive. On 23 June 1918 the Battalion left 52nd Division and were transferred to 103rd Brigade of the 34th Division. On the Western Front, they took part in the battles of the Soissonais and of the Ourcq (July 1918 ), and the capture of Baigneux Ridge during the Battle of the Marne and the final advance in Flanders, ending the war in at Halluin in France. Sold with copied research including gazette entries, D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, campaign medal roll, and War Diary extracts for 1/8 Scottish Rifles.

A fine Great War ‘Palestine Campaign’ stretcher-bearer’s D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private W. Penlerick, 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, for ‘great gallantry and endurance in collecting wounded under fire consecutively for thirty-six hours’ during the battle of Nebi Samwil, 21-22 November 1917 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (200998 Pte. W. Penlerick. 1/4 D.C.L.I.-T.F.); British War and Victory Medals(2857 Pte. W. Penlerrick. D. of Corn. L.I.) note spelling of surname, medals unmounted, some minor edge bruises, otherwise very fine and scarce to regiment (3) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 11 April 1918; citation published 1 May 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He, as stretcher-bearer, showed great gallantry and endurance in collecting wounded under fire consecutively for thirty-six hours. On one occasion he volunteered to proceed from a post to the front line under an extremely intense fire over an area in which several of his comrades had been wounded, but was recalled by order of his medical officer in the interests of the unit. His courage and utter indifference to danger were beyond praise.’ The Regimental History notes: ‘Under extraordinary difficulties the stretcher bearers carried out their work: at all times they deserved the highest praise. The following were conspicuous for their bravery and devotion to the wounded: Privates Ward, Kitchen, Pedlar, W. Penlerick, Warren, Holman and Rashleigh. Corporal Cattran, Aid-Post-Corporal, worked for many hours at a stretch and his faithful devotion undoubtedly saved many lives. The rocky sides of the hill upon which stand the village and mosque of Nebi Samwil made the carrying of the wounded an extremely arduous task, but in addition to the physical difficulty the hill side was swept by violent shell fire. All through this fire, the stretcher bearers worked with the greatest bravery. Private Ward and Private Kitchen were wounded, the former dying three days later. Pemlerick was awarded the D.C.M.’ 78 D.C.M.s and 1 Bar awarded to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry during the Great War. William Penlerick was from Helston, Cornwall, and originally served with the 2/4th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, with whom he went to India in 1914. He transferred to the 1/4th Battalion at Aden, then in Egypt before serving in the Palestine campaign. He was awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry during the battle of Nebi Samwil on 21/22 November 1917, during the advance of the E.E.F. on Jerusalem. His obituary was published in The Light Bob, October 1960: ‘Penlerick. On the 26th July 1960, at St Lawrence’s Hospital, Bodmin, William Penlerick D.C.M. Mr Penlerick served in the 2/4th D.C.L.I. and went to India with them in 1914. He transferred to the 1/4th D.C.L.I. and served with them in Aden and won the D.C.M. at Nabulus in Palestine in 1917 where he was wounded.’ Sold with copied research including gazette notices, War Diary for 1/4 D.C.L.I. for November 1917, D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, the latter annotated ‘Correct surname “Penlerick”.’

A Great War ‘Beaumont Hamel, January 1917’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Corporal Frank Cox, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, late Bedfordshire Regiment, for gallantry during the attack on ‘Leave Avenue’ and ‘Muck Trench’ when he fought his machine-gun for five hours under very heavy fire despite having been wounded Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (21055 L. Cpl. F. Cox. 2/Bord: R.); 1914-15 Star (13185 Pte. F. Cox. Bedf. R.); British War and Victory Medals (13185 Cpl. F. Cox. Bedf. R.) medals unmounted, some light verdigris, otherwise good very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 March 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. Although wounded he constructed an emplacement in the captured enemy line, and remained in action with his machine-gun for five hours under very heavy fire.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘Leave Avenue, 10 January 1917’. In early January 1917, the 2nd Border Regiment were in billets at Mailly-Mallet, near Beaumont Hamel, practising attack patrols and night patrols to reconnoitre the ground prior to a night attack on Leave Avenue and Muck Trench set for the early morning of 10 January. The Battalion War Diary takes up the story: ‘Zero Hour was 2 am. At Zero Hour, on 10th January 1917 our field guns placed a barrage on No Mans Land. The attacking troops had by this time formed up and commenced to move. At 2-30 am the attacking troops occupied enemy positions, capturing 2 Machine Guns, 1 Automatic Rifle, and 3 Officers and 142 Other Ranks prisoner. The captured positions were consolidated immediately. The going in No Mans Land was very bad and numbers of men were stuck in the mud and had to be dug out. Telephone lines were run out to the Strong Points immediately objectives were taken. Our Casualties were slight, and occurred chiefly owing to the fact that our troops followed up the barrage so closely, suffering casualties from our own guns, but preventing the enemy getting out of his dug-outs in time with his machine guns. At 6 am a few of the enemy attempted to approach Point 63 but were driven back by our bombers... The Battalion remained in the captured positions which were heavily shelled by the enemy throughout the day. The Battalion was relieved by 1st Battn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers at night and proceeded to billets at Mailly-Maillet.’ Three Officers and one N.C.O. were awarded the Military Cross for this action, the D.C.M. went to Lance-Corporal Cox, and four men won the M.M. Frank Cox was born at Watford, Hertfordshire, and attested there for the Bedfordshire Regiment, on 31 August 1914. He proceeded to France with the 1st Bedfords on 25 March 1915, and transferred to the Border Regiment on 9 November 1915. He was appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal in July 1916 and promoted to Corporal in October 1916. In June 1918 he transferred to the Royal Defence Corps and was demobilised on 19 June 1919. Sold with copied research including service papers, gazette notices, War Diary extracts and Medal Index Card.

A Battle of Omdurman D.C.M. awarded to Sergeant F. A. Titterell, Army Service Corps Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Sergt. F. A. Titterell. A.S.C. (2nd Sept: 1898)) some minor official corrections, good very fine £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. Army Order 153 of September 1899, awarded for Omdurman, 2 September 1898. Also awarded L.S. & G.C. medal in April 1906 and Annuity M.S.M. as Staff Sergeant in Army Order 87 of 1950.

A Great War ‘Western Front 1917’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private E. D. Chambers, 2/5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (202830 Pte. E. Chambers. 2/5 N. Staff: R.-T.F.); British War and Victory Medals 202830 Pte. E. Chambers. N. Staff: R.); Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Eric Donald Chambers) mounted court style for display, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (4) £800-£1,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 1 January 1918; citation published 17 April 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in lengthy operations, when, on many occasions, he volunteered to go out and cut hostile wire under heavy fire, and also to search for missing men in No Man’s Land.’ I.S.M. London Gazette 23 October 1962: Awarded for services as a Batman at the War Office. Eric Donald Chambers was a native of Camberley, Surrey. He was latterly employed as a Batman at the War Office and was awarded the I.S.M. upon his retirement in 1962. He died at Farnham on 28 January 1966. Sold with copied research including a photocopied photograph of Chambers with his brother in uniform.

A Great War ‘Battle of Loos 1915’ D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Sergeant (later Major) Neil Morrison, 5th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders, late R.S.M. West India Regiment, one of eight brothers to have been on active service Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7058 Sjt: N. Morrison.. 5/Cam: Hdrs.); 1914-15 Star (7058 Sjt. N. Morrison, Cam’n Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (7058 W.O. Cl. 2. N. Morrison. Cam’n Highrs.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45 (Major N. Morrison. D.C.M. Cameron Highlanders.) these two privately engraved; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (7428 W.O. Cl. 1. N. Morrison. D.C.M. W.I.R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (2921067 W.O. Cl. 1 N. Morrison. D.C.M. W.I.R.) regimental number officially corrected on this, mounted as worn, together with corresponding court-mounted group of eight miniature dress medals, the Great War medals polished, therefore good fine, otherwise very fine or better (9) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916; citation published 11 March 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and good work in the performance of the duties of signalling officer for several months. He displayed exceptional bravery in laying wires between the trenches, under very heavy fire, and eventually was wounded.’ M.S.M. awarded under the terms of Army Order 98 of 1953 without annuity, one of 16 such awards to the West India Regiment in the period 1852-1953. At the time of the award he was Major (retired), Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. Neil Morrison was born in Inverness in 1887 and enlisted into the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in 1904. He served in India, South Africa, Hong Kong, and North China. He proceeded to France with the 5th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders on 10 May 1915, and won the D.C.M. at the battle of Loos later in that year. He was wounded and invalided home in 1916, and was afterwards R.S.M. in the West India Regiment, 1921-27. He was appointed Lieutenant Territorial Army Reserve of Officers in August 1939 and served in the Home Guard, becoming a Major. After the war he worked for the British Legion and lived in Park Road, Inverness. He died on 8 April 1955, aged 68. The following announcement was published in the Inverness Courier on 18 January 1916: ‘Sergt. Neil Morrison, 5th Cameron Highlanders, who has been awarded the D.C.M., was a Cameron reservist, and was employed as a postman at Watten, Caithness, when called up for duty on the declaration of war. He was attached to the 5th Battalion to train recruits, and he went to the front with that battalion under Lochiel. He is one of eight brothers who have been on active service. The others are - James, who is in the 2nd Camerons; Hugh, 1st Cameron Highlanders (missing since the Battle of the Aisne) [killed]; William, Glasgow Highlanders; Donald, captain in the Legion of Frontiersmen, India; Alister, dispatch rider with Indian troops in Egypt; John, in Australian Navy; and Thomas, in the Red Cross Corps in Egypt. They are sons of the late Mr Morrison, tailor, Inverness.’ Sold with copied extracts from the Highland Times for January and May 1916 with details and portraits of Neil Morrison and his brothers, together with copied gazette notices, D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards.

A Great War ‘Western Front, November 1918’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Lance-Corporal T. Fitzpatrick, 33rd Battalion, London Regiment, late West Yorkshire Regiment and Royal Engineers Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (860522 Pte. T. Fitzpatrick. 33/Lond: R.); 1914-15 Star (1049 Pte. T. Fitzpatrick. W. York. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1049 Spr. T. Fitzgerald. R.E.) mounted court-style for display, contact pitting, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 12 March 1919; citation published 2 December 1919: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At Helchin, on night 4/5th November 1918, he was in charge of a Lewis gun team and engaged an enemy post. He shot personally two enemy at point blank range and took eleven prisoners. He established his post, and remained there the next day under the most trying conditions. On the following evening, after a heavy bombardment, he succeeded in again beating off an enemy attack.’ Thomas Fitzpatrick was born in from Batley, Yorkshire, and was a coal miner when he attested for the West Yorkshire Regiment at Leeds on 9 January 1915. Although service papers have been found for Private Fitzpatrick, their legibility is poor and there is some confusion surrounding his many changes of regiment. He was posted to the 17th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, a bantam battalion raised in Leeds, and given the regimental number 1049. He was then transferred to the Royal Engineers Tunnelling Company as a Sapper and given the number 82751 which, given his size and occupation, is not surprising. He landed in France with the R.E. on 8 March 1915, but on 18 April 1915, he requested to be returned to the 17th West Yorkshires, which he appears to have done on 4 May 1915. On 31 January 1916 he embarked once more for France, landing on 2 February 1916, with the 17th West Yorkshires. During 1916 he was twice admitted to hospital suffering from scabies and his service papers note that he served in France until 4 January 1917, when he was returned to England, being admitted to the Military Hospital in York suffering from ‘debility - general weakness, headache and dizziness’. The next period of his service may not be entirely accurate but it appears that he was transferred to 2/6 Battalion, Durham Light Infantry on 26 April 1918, and given the regimental number 100150. This battalion served as a garrison battalion, landing at Calais on 6 May 1918 and became the 28th Battalion D.L.I. Ftizpatrick returned to France on 3 July 1918. Appointed Lance-Corporal, he was then transferred to the 33rd Battalion, The London Regiment for the final months of the war, with the regimental number 860522. Whilst serving with 33rd Londons he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions in the very last days of the war. At the war’s conclusion he was granted early release because of the demand for his trade as a coal miner, being discharged in December 1918 and transferred to Class Z Army Reserve in January 1919. Sold with an original certificate of congratulation from the General Commanding 5th Army, and copied research including service papers, D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, gazette notices and War Diary extracts for D.C.M. action.