Pair: Gunner E. C. Snelgar, Hampshire Royal Garrison Artillery Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (168 Gnr: E. C. Snelgar. Hants. R.G.A.) minor edge bruise to C11, otherwise nearly extremely fine; severe edge bruising and contact marks to TFEM, with number partially double-stuck, therefore good fine (2) £80-£100 --- Ernest Charles Snelgar enlisted in the Hampshire Royal Garrison Artillery on 4 May 1908 and was part of the unit’s four man detachment (comprising Colonel J. H. Harrison-Hogge; Major J. E. Dawe; Quartermaster Sergeant F. W. Drew; and Gunner Snelgar) that was present at the Coronation of H.M. King George V. He was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 120 of April 1913, and saw service during the Great War (entitled to British War and Victory Medals). He was discharged on 10 July 1918, and was awarded a Silver War Badge no. 415,972. Sold with copied research.
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Pair: Company Sergeant Major H. C. Newton, Hampshire (Fortress) Royal Engineers Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, E.VII.R., with Second Award Bar (41 C.S. Mjr: H. C. Newton. Hants: (Ftrs.) R.E.) edge nicks, good very fine (2) £120-£160 --- Henry C. Newton enlisted in the Hampshire (Fortress) Royal Engineers and was part of the unit’s five man detachment (comprising Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Bevis; Major E. North; Quartermaster W. Pearce; Company Sergeant Major Newton; and Sapper J. J. Dumper) that was present at the Coronation of H.M. King George V. He was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 7 of January 1909, and was awarded a Second Award Bar per Army Order 507 of November 1920. He saw service during the Great War with the rank of Warrant Officer Class II (entitled to British War and Victory Medals and Territorial Force War Medal). Sold with copied research.
Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (340462 E. F. Barrett, Armourer, H.M.S. Hampshire.) light scratches to obverse field, good very fine £50-£70 --- Ernest Frederick Barrett was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on 14 June 1874 and joined the Royal Navy as Armourer’s Crew on 30 November 1894. Advanced Armourer on 28 February 1904, he served in H.M.S. Hampshire from 10 August 1909 to 3 April 1911, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 6 December 1909. He served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, and was finally shore demobilised on 19 March 1919. Sold with copied record of service.
Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (C18299 F/O W. J. Bassett); together with the recipient’s silver identity bracelet ‘W. J. Bassett, R87503’, the reverse engraved ‘“Good Luck” P.M.O’s, Jan. 1942’, edge bruising to reverse rim, otherwise about extremely fine £50-£70 --- William John Bassett was born in Redruth, Cornwall, on 6 December 1906 and having emigrated to Canada attested for Lord Strathcona’s Horse at Winnipeg, Manitoba, on 4 June 1927. Discharged by purchase on 4 June 1928, he next attested for the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps at Winnipeg on 5 June 1929, and having been advanced Staff Sergeant on 15 April 1939 transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force on 15 November 1940. He served overseas with the R.C.A.F. Medical Service from 1942 to 1944, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 30 August 1946. He retied on 1949. Sold with copied research.
Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, V.R. (1st. Vol. Battn. Hants Regt. + 28- Battn. Qr. Mr. Sergt. W. H. Jacob + 1859- ) engraved naming, edge bruise, good very fine £100-£140 --- William Henry Jacob was born in Winchester on 2 October 1829 and volunteered for the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, on 28 September 1859, one of the very first Volunteers in the county. He was advanced Quartermaster Sergeant in 1866, and retired on 1 November 1897, after 38 years’ service to the Battalion, of which the last 31 years were as Quartermaster Sergeant. He was Mayor of Winchester in 1890. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient wearing his mayoral chain of Office.
Pair: Lieutenant A. Mackay, 5th (The Sutherland and Caithness Highland) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, late 1st Caithness Volunteer Artillery Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, V.R. (2nd. Lieut. A. McKay [sic]. 1/Caithness. V.A.) engraved naming; Territorial Decoration, E.VII.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1909, the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Lieut. Andrew Mackay, 5th. Suth & Caithness Highland Batt. Seaforth High’s (Rosshire Buffs)’, with integral top riband bar, extremely fine (2) £200-£240 --- Andrew Mackay (also recorded as McKay and MacKay) was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Caithness Volunteer Artillery on 16 November 1898 and was awarded his Volunteer Force Long Service Medal in October 1901. He transferred as a Lieutenant to the 5th (The Sutherland and Caithness Highland) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany’s) on the formation of the Territorial Force on 1 April 1908, and was awarded his Territorial Decoration in January 1910 (London Gazette 4 January 1910). He resigned his commission on 27 April 1912. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Sergeant W. J. Doswell, Hampshire Regiment Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, E.VII.R. (5 Sjt: W. J. Doswell. 4/Hants: Regt.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue, 1 clasp, The Great War 1914-18 (William J. Doswell) nearly extremely fine (2) £100-£140 --- William J. Doswell was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 7 of January 1909.
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (81 L. Sjt: J. Mitchener. Hants: Yeo:) edge bruise, nearly extremely fine £80-£100 --- John Mitchener enlisted in the Hampshire Yeomanry on 27 April 1908 and was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 8 of January 1914. He served at home during the Great War and was discharged on account of age (52 years) on 4 October 1915, being awarded a Silver War Badge no. 238,689. Sold with copied research.
Seven: Private J. Green, The Buffs General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6281965. Pte. J. Green. The Buffs.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (6281965 Pte. J. Green. The Buffs.) nearly extremely fine (7) £140-£180 --- J. Green enlisted in 1923 and served the campaign in Burma 1930-32 for which he is entitled to the Medal with Clasp. He was appointed Bandsman H.Q. Coy. in May 1935. Sold with details of various entries from The Dragon 1923-35.
Royal Observer Corps Medal, E.II.R., 1st issue (Observer Officer H. L. Eley) in named card box of issue, nearly extremely fine £100-£140 --- H. L. Eley served with both No. 20 Group and No. 23 Group, Royal Observer Corps, and qualified for a First Class Proficiency Certificate on 3 March 1968. Sold with the recipient’s named First Class Proficiency Certificate, and accompanying letter.
Special Constabulary Long Service Medal (7), G.V.R. (3), 1st issue (2), (Edward J. Likeman; Ernest Brooks) second with ‘The Great War 1914-18’ clasp; 2nd issue (Thomas Snowden); G.VI.R., 1st issue (4) (Edward J. R. Carpenter; John L. Warrington; Alexander S. Wilson; Inspr. Harry W. Taylor) last with ‘Long Service 1945’ clasp, generally very fine (7) £70-£90
Service Medal of the Order of St John (3) (661 Pte. A. Williams Victoria Dist. Australia S.J.A.B.O. 1927; 2331B. A/Sis. H. Caisley. No. 6 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1941.) first medal planchet only; with ‘5 Years Service’ clasp (2nd. Nursg. Offr. Aurelia E. Hume. July 1911); Voluntary Medical Service Medal (3) (L. R. Foster; Mrs. Helena A. M. Hendry; Miss J. Renton); Women’s Voluntary Service Medal (2), one in case of issue with ‘Long Service’ clasp, both unnamed as issued, generally nearly very fine and better (8) £60-£80
Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, G.IV.R., silver, the outer silver rim engraved (Henry Kennedy Esq., Voted Jan. 30. 1839.) fitted with small ring and wide straight bar suspension, contact marks, nearly very fine £400-£500 --- Henry Kennedy, a yacht owner, was awarded the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck’s Silver Medal for his gallantry on two separate occasions: 23 May 1838: A pilot boat was upset at night in a heavy squall in Belfast Lough, near Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, Ireland. Mr. Kennedy launched his boat and saved one man. 24 May 1838: Another boat was upset in Belfast Lough, and Mr. Kennedy saved a man although four others drowned.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Sir William Hillary, silver (Colin H. Bryant, Voted 18th. January 1940.) with uniface ‘double dolphin’ suspension, on original investiture pin, in case of issue, extremely fine £800-£1,000 --- Colin H. Bryant was born in Farnham, Surrey, on 1 September 1890 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 20 March 1907. He served as Coxswain of the Dover Motor Lifeboat from 1930 to 1940, and was awarded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Silver Medal ‘in recognition of his courage and seamanship when the lifeboat under his command rescued the crew of sixteen of H.M. Trawler Blackburn Rovers, which was in distress off Dover in a whole W.S.W. gale with a very heavy sea on 26 November 1939.’ ‘While H.M. Trawler Blackburn Rovers, with 16 men on board, was on an anti-submarine patrol near Dover, in rough seas and a south westerly gale, a wire fouled her propeller. The crew let go the anchor, but this failed to hold and the boat began drifting towards a mine field. The Dover lifeboat men were summoned and the 64 ft. ‘Special' lifeboat Sir William Hillary left harbour at 10 a.m., taking with her Lieutenant Richard Walker, R.N.R., the Assistant King’s Harbour Master, who had a chart showing the minefields in the area. In the heavy seas, it took nearly one and a quarter hours for the lifeboat to reach the disabled trawler, by which time she was right on the edge of a deep minefield. Although the boat herself could drift through this area without touching a mine, there was a grave danger that her anchor cable would come into contact with a mine. There was then the added problem that even if she passed through this particular minefield safely, the trawler would then enter a shallow minefield. Coxswain Bryant took the lifeboat alongside, and Lieutenant Walker instructed the trawler’s crew to collect all the ship’s papers together and as much of her secret gear as they could and to pass them all over to the lifeboat and, before they abandoned ship, they were to scuttle the vessel. The trawler was rolling violently in the heavy seas, which by that time were breaking clean over her, and she offered no lee at all for the lifeboat. Coxswain Bryant had to use all his skill to hold the lifeboat in position while the papers and gear were transferred, and his two Mechanics had great difficulty in remaining at the engine controls, so violent was the motion of the lifeboat. By that time, they were all well aware that they were right in the middle of the minefield, but still the work went on of transferring the gear. At any moment, the trawler’s anchor cable could have fouled a mine blowing them up. It took over an hour to get all the gear on board the lifeboat before the crew of 16 were rescued. Coxswain Bryant turned the lifeboat round and set course for home. They then had to face the full fury of the storm and speed had to be reduced to 6 knots. Coxswain Bryant had only recently recovered from a very serious illness, consequently he handed over the wheel to the Second Coxswain during the journey back. Huge seas repeatedly crashed over the lifeboat and it took them 3 hours to reach Dover Harbour, arriving there at 3.30 p.m.’ (Lifeboat Gallantry, by Barry Cox refers). For this action Bryant was awarded the R.N.L.I. Silver Medal; and Lieutenant Richard Walker, R.N.R.; Second Coxswain Sidney Hills; Mechanic Wilfred Cook; and Second Mechanic Christian Stock, were all awarded the R.N.L.I. Bronze Medal. Bryant died on 13 March 1941. Sold with the recipient’s R.N.L.I. Silver Medal Certificate, dated 18 January 1940; and R.N.L.I. Certificate of Service, dated 17 April 1941, these both mounted in glazed display frames; and copied research.
An exceptional Posthumous Bronze Star group of four awarded to Captain H. McL. “Diamond Jim” Stacey, 141st (The Buffs) Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, 31st Armoured Brigade, who was killed in action in March 1945 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; United States of America, Bronze Star, together with card box of issue for the first three addressed to his mother, and named condolence slip, extremely fine (4) £400-£500 --- Provenance: The Robert F. Brett Collection of Medals to the Buffs, Dix Noonan Webb, September 1999. Bronze Star London Gazette 17 October 1946: ‘Capt. Hugh McLaren Stacey, 324582, The Buffs (since died).’ The following recommendation for the Posthumous Award of the Bronze Star is taken from official records: ‘Lieut. Hugh McLaren Stacey has distinguished himself by heroic achievement not involving participation in aerial flight. At Geilenkirchen on 20th November, 1944, when “A” Squadron 141 R.A.C. (The Buffs) was in support of 333 Infantry Regiment (84 United States Infantry Division) Lieut. H. M. Stacey was acting as Liaison Officer between the flame throwing tanks and the Infantry. During the course of the action in the direction of Suggerath, Lieut. H. M. Stacey was constantly up with the Infantry who were under very heavy mortar and shell fire. One platoon, having lost its commander and N.C.Os, was personally reorganised by Lieut. H. M. Stacey, and later did excellent work in the clearing of some pillboxes. At one point during the battle, a party of 12 to 15 United States infantrymen all became casualties. Lieut. H. M. Stacey, who was on the spot, realising that these men were out of contact with their own troops, dashed back and organised a stretcher party. He personally led this party to the wounded men, regardless of the heavy mortar and machine gun fire which was ranged on this area. Throughout the evacuation of these casualties, Lieut. H. M. Stacey was a fine source of inspiration and encouragement to all around him. Two days later, Lieut. H. M. Stacey led a party of United States Engineers well forward of our forward troops, for the purpose of setting explosive charges upon secret equipment which had been disabled by the enemy the previous day. Again Lieut. H. M. Stacey distinguished himself by heroic achievement in that he performed his task in full view of the enemy and under heavy fire. All of these actions were highly commended by the local commanders.’ The 141st (The Buffs) Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps in North West Europe The Buffs was one of several infantry regiments which had one or more battalions converted to tanks in 1941. 7th Battalion, The Buffs became known as 141st (The Buffs) Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps. As a Churchill Tank Regiment in 31st Army Tank Brigade in February 1944 they were selected as the first to convert to operate Crocodile flame-throwers. They continued to wear the Buffs Dragon cap-badge and two Troops landed on the Normandy Beaches on ‘D’ Day, 6 June 1944, the remainder following shortly after. During the landing and the breakout from Normandy 141st Regiment suffered 117 casualties from an overall strength of 600. The Crocodile was a flame-throwing variant of the British Churchill Tank developed under Major General Sir Percy Hobart and was produced from October 1943. The Crocodile had a flame projector which replaced the front mounted Besa machine gun which was connected to an armoured trailer via an armoured pipe mounted along the underside of the tank. The armoured trailer weighed 6 ½ tons and carried 1,800 litres of fuel as well as a compressed propellant which was enough for 80 one seconds blasts. The conversion kit was designed so that R.E.M.E. workshops in the field could convert any available Church Mk VII into a flame throwing Crocodile tank. The design of the conversion kit allowed the tank to retain its main turret mounted 75mm gun. Furthermore, the armoured trailers could be jettisoned if it was hit, or once empty to give the tank greater freedom of movement; the trailers were additionally fitted with towbars so they could be collected after the action by unit transport. ‘The the first three Crocodiles of No. 15 Troop, ‘C’ Squadron, landed in France at Le Hammel shortly after ‘H’ Hour on ‘D’ Day. Shall we rather say they "parted company" with the L.C.T's. For with a delicious little gurgle of delight one subsided into the sea, one sat stolidly and comfortably down in a crater on the beach and the third creature, carried on by some unknown stamina right across the beach straightaway collapsed with broken tracks. Meanwhile some miles away, Lieutenant Shearman, of No. 13 Troop, also of ‘C’ Squadron, managed in a rough sea to pressure up two Crocodiles and clear the tanks for action supporting the 7th Battalion Green Howards in the cold grey light of 5:00 a.m. By 8:30 a.m. the two surviving Crocodiles represented the only armour up with the forward companies and as such their popularity with the Green Howards was absolutely sky-high. For them these two great hulking Crocodiles clattered amiably along, bearing sometimes up to as many as forty Infantry, and pausing here and there to pepper with Besa or high explosives the fleeting Hun backsides fast disappearing over the skyline. A picturesque cavalcade paralleled only by Hannibal's passage of the Alps. On through Crepon they went and still on. Nothing now separated Shearman from Rommel, but a few German Infantry and Panzer Divisions. Not until Tierceville crossroads did he yield pride of place to the speedier Sherman Tanks, by which time some several hundred prisoners-of-war had already given themselves up. The next port of call was Villiers-le-Sec where everybody came under long distance shelling from tanks on the high around south west of Creully. The Shermans were out of it in a flash but 13 Troop, with its cumbersome trailers, had time whilst, negotiating the corners, to indulge a little hopefully, in an armoured gun duel with no loss to either side - Thence to Creully where for four hours the Crocodiles manned the western approaches in “Hull Downs” against a threatened Panzer attack. The day's peregrinations, however, were not over yet. Later the Troop was to go to Cowlombs where the Infantry Commanding Officer released the Crocodiles, which again returned to Creully. Here Lieutenant Shearman met a Squadron Commander of the Westminster Dragoons and it was decided to go into close laager together just south of Crepon. Dawn at Crepon on 7 June 1944 was a rude awakening in the shape of a salvo from about 100 yards in rear of the laager. The two Crocodiles covered the withdrawal of the thin-skinned Flails and succeeded in keeping the enemy guns quiet by an area shoot of 75 mm. But as he followed out in the wake of the Flails Shearman caught sight of a whole array of artillery and transport in the growing light, breakfasting in gay abandon and all unwitting of the target they presented to the Boche guns behind. Whereupon artillery and Royal Corps of Signals personnel were organised to act as infantry with grenades to follow in the wake of the Crocodiles assault. This was to be a great moment in Crocodile history-their first use of flame against a real live German. Supported by the fire of two flails the Crocodiles assaulted. Some eight shots of flame and the position was white with flags- 50 prisoners-of-war walked out and a party went in to deal with the killed and wounded. This then was the baptism of Crocodile flame and a very successful one too. After a few days rest in Erecy, on 11 June the two Crocodiles moved on southwest to support the Hampshires of 231 Brigade through the woods from ...
The Memorial Plaque to Lieutenant E. W. Ruse, 128th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who was killed during an accidental explosion, when eight charges went off at a stores depot which backed on to an Advanced Dressing Station, 31 December 1915. A number of casualties were suffered amongst the Sappers, the Field Ambulance Unit, and a nearby works party from the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment Memorial Plaque (Edward Wallace Ruse) in card envelope of issue, with Buckingham Palace enclosure; with National Rifle Association, Cadet Trophy Prize Medal, bronze, by G.G. Adams for Elkington & Co, ancient bowman and rifle volunteer standing side by side, rev. wreath, reverse engraved ‘Sapper E. W. Ruse Elizabeth College Guernsey O.T.C. 1910’ , 57mm, in original blue fitted case, extremely fine (2) £100-£140 --- Edward Wallace Ruse was the son of Captain F. Ruse of 25 Wentworth Avenue, Bournemouth. He was educated at Elisabeth College, Guernsey, and served as a Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers during the Great War on the Western Front from August 1914. Lieutenant Ruse was accidentally killed by the explosion of gun cotton, 31 December 1915, whilst preparing material for the accompaniment to a raid. The circumstances surrounding his death are as follows: ‘Lieut. Ruse, two N.C.O.s and seven Sappers were told off to accompany a raiding party into the German lines. The party was struck off all other duties and trained with the remainder of the troops, told off for the raid, in the duties which would be required of them. The R.E. were required to take over explosives and destroy any machine gun emplacements, mine shafts and as much of the parapet as possible and also to block the two flanks of a certain portion of the enemy’s line. It was decided to make up and take over eight charges of gun cotton of 20lbs each. Three similar charges were fired against a parapet similar to that which it was intended to attack during the training of the detachment. Lieut. Ruse selected one Corporal and three Sappers and specially trained them in making up of the charges. On the afternoon of 31.12.15 the charges were apparently made up by the above party and about 6pm they were working, apparently on the cases containing them in the advanced store of the 128th Field Coy. R.E. where the explosion occurred. Lieut. Ruse, the Corporal and three Sappers were all killed and four Sappers who were loading stores in the yard as well as a number of Infantry and R.A.M.C. who were also in the yard were injured. From the appearance of the locality I am of the opinion that the whole of the eight charges were fired. There is no direct evidence as to what the party was actually doing at the time. Lieut. Ruse was a very efficient officer and had a knowledge of explosives and the handling of them much above the average. He was very cool headed and was not likely to have been nervous or excited.’ (Report of Lieutenant Colonel A. G. Bremner, R.E., C.R.E. 23rd Division refers) The above took place at the brasserie at Chappelle D’Armentiers, where the field company had a stores depot, and the building was shared with the 70th Field Ambulance Advanced Dressing Station. Ruse was killed along with Sappers R. Brown, F. Churchill, J. F. Fleming and W. C. Howes, with 4 others members of 128th Field Company being wounded. A further man was killed and 10 wounded at the dressing station, whilst a work party from the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment also suffered one man killed and 8 wounded. Lieutenant Ruse is buried in Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension, France. For the medals awarded to Sapper W. C. Howes, see Lot 192.
19th Light Dragoons Reward of Merit, engraved silver circular medal with raised rim and integral suspension ring, 62 mm, obv. an elephant with howdah standing on plinth inscribed ‘XIX’, all within ribbon scroll inscribed ‘Assaye’ ‘Light Dragoons’ ‘Niagara’; rev. inscribed ‘The Reward of Merit & Soldierly Conduct. The Gift of the Officers. Awarded to J. Murry 1818’, good very fine and rare £400-£500 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2007. Not recorded in Balmer.
Dartmoor Autumn Manœuvres Medal 1873, by Upton & Hussey, 22 St. James’s Street’, 37mm, silver, the obverse depicting Deputy Controller Strickland, C.B.; the reverse depicting a tent in the pouring rain, 6 clasps, Princes Town, Roborough, Black Tor, Haxary, Ringmoor, Cadover Bridge, with top silver riband buckle, maker’s name engraved to edge, suspension claw slightly loose, nearly extremely fine, rare £300-£400 --- The Dartmoor Autumn Manoeuvres of 1873 was a major Army exercise that took place in August 1873 when the 1st and 2nd Divisions, consisting of over 12,000 men and 2,000 horses, carried out formation training in the Ringmoor, Roborough, and Yennadon Downs area. During the exercise blank cartridges were used for the first rime by the artillery and infantry. The exercise had to be called off early because of atrocious weather, and a special medal was struck to celebrate surviving the rainstorms. Overall command was held by Deputy Controller Strickland, C.B., of the Commissary General’s Department.
Upper Canada Preserved, ‘For Merit Presented by a Grateful Country’, a silver medal by T. Wyon Jr, 51mm, lion and beaver face American eagle across panorama of the St Lawrence river, rev. legends in and around wreath, edge stamped ‘9’, contained in fitted case, good very fine and scarce £400-£500 --- These medals were originally struck for the Loyal and Patriotic Society of Upper Canada as a reward for gallant service during the War of 1812-14 but were never issued as such. The above example is one of the numbered run struck by Wyon to commemorate the centenary of the War of 1812.
Five: Sergeant D. H. Day, The Buffs 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (6459747 Sjt. D. H. Day. Buffs.) with Burma Star Association enamelled lapel pin, good very fine (5) £80-£100 --- D. H. Day enlisted into the Buffs T.A. on 27 April 1939, and was embodied as a Regular on 2 September 1939. He served in the 1st and 2nd Battalions and was discharged from Reserve on 19 February 1954.
Temperance Medals. Royal Naval Temperance Society Membership Medal, silvered and enamel One Year Medal (RNTS.3), with ‘Fidelity’ top riband bar; Army Temperance Association India One Year Medal, silver (ATAI.2), with ‘Fidelity’ top riband bar, Army Temperance Association India Five Year Medal, silver and enamel (ATAI.5), Church Lads Brigade medal with Bar ‘1908’, some enamel damage, generally very fine (4) £50-£70
A Boer War Watch Fob attributed to Major-General C. D. Cooper, C.B., Royal Dublin Fusiliers An attractive and unusual watch fob, fashioned entirely in gold, unmarked, in the form of a medal riband with five clasps, ‘Transvaal’, ‘Laing’s Nek’, ‘Pieters’, ‘Tugela Heights’, and ‘Colenso’, with brooch pin to the reverse, extremely fine £400-£500 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1998 (in the same sale as the recipient’s full-sized medals). For the recipient’s full-sized awards, see Lot 102.
A Selection of Medals and Watch Fobs. A miscellaneous selection including a Brooch mounted Victorian Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, unnamed; an Army Rifle Association India Medal; a Royal Scots watch fob engraved at the rear ‘Gen Moncrief Cup 1905, Pte H. Grittle’; a silvered watch chain and fob for the Liverpool Scottish; a Worcestershire Yeomanry Brooch; and sundry masonic and other items, generally good condition (lot) £80-£100
Four: Corporal W. B. Murphy, The Buffs, who was taken Prisoner of War in France and was released in 1945 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (22290651 Cpl. W. B. Murphy. 4/5 Buffs.) good very fine (4) £80-£100 --- Vendor states recipient P.O.W. France/Poland, released 1945.
An original Crimea War letter from Lieutenant Clement Heneage, 8th Hussars, who survived the Charge of the Light Brigade and went on to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny The letter in ink, four sides on a single folded sheet of blue paper, dated ‘Balaclava, Aug. 13th’, and reading: My dearest Mimsy I was very much surprised to hear of Clutterbuck's approaching marriage, which was about the least probable event in his life, according to what we knew of him - no one in the regiment has heard from him lately, so he is most likely shy about announcing the event. I don’t think he will stay in the corps one day after the ceremony has been performed - The detachments of the Lt. Brigade which have been out at Baidar for the last 3 weeks, all came in this morning, as they are not much use in that direction, the Russians being almost totally invisible - in fact all the soldiers they have in the Crimea, are close to Sebastopol & the Belbek. This morning a general action was confidently expected, & the whole Cavalry Division was out in the plain before 3 o'clock, but nothing came off, so I suppose the Russians will try some other day. The English cavalry are now an immense force - this morning we were between three & four thousand strong, a most imposing mass of men & horses - & if we had had a go at the Russians, I think they would have been sorry for it. Michael is very well & flourishing, he was here two days ago, & we meet constantly in some part of the camps. There seems to be a great row about the merits of G. Paget, & his good service pension - he certainly does not deserve it near so much as heaps of other Colonels do, particularly as he is such a noted bad soldier - If he writes any answer to those letters in the Times, which he most likely has done by this time, it will be great sport - as that facetious paper will probably favour him with an article written in their best & most severe style - Love to all at Compton. Believe me dearest Mimsy Yr. most affecte. Clement’ With related envelope addressed to his ‘Mrs. Heneage, Compton Basset, Calne, Wiltshire’, this with notation ‘England via Marseilles’ and three official stamps to reverse, including British Army Post Office ‘AU 18 1855’, good overall condition £240-£280 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2014. Clement Walker Heneage was born at Compton Basset, Wiltshire, in March 1831, the son of George Walker Heneage, the M.P. for Devizes. Appointed a Cornet in the 8th Hussars in August 1851, he was advanced to Lieutenant in September 1854, and rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, in addition to being present at Alma, Inkermann and the operations before Sebastopol (Medal and 4 clasps; Turkish Medal). Having then returned to England, the 8th Hussars were embarked for India in October 1857, and it was June of the following year that Heneage, now a Captain, won the V.C. for his part in an action at Gwalior, three other members of the regiment sharing the same distinction on the same occasion: ‘Selected for the Victoria Cross by their companions. In the gallant charge made by a squadron of the regiment at Gwalior on 17 June 1858, when, supported by a division of the Bombay Horse Artillery, and H.M’s 95th Regiment, they routed the enemy, who were advancing against Brigadier Smith’s position, charged through the rebel camp into two batteries, capturing and brining into their camp two of the enemy’s guns, under a heavy and converging fire from the fort of the town’ (London Gazette 26 January 1859). Also given the Brevet of Major, and awarded the Indian Mutiny Medal with ‘Central India’ clasp, Heneage attained the substantive rank of Major in November 1860, and retired in 1868. A High Sheriff for Wiltshire, he died at Compton House, Compton Basset, in December 1901.
Documents: Joint Committee of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England Certificate in recognition of valuable services rendered during the War 1914-19 (3), named to ‘Mr. Cradoc Davies; Miss Angela Gilbey; Miss Annie Saunderson’, name on first subsequently touched-up; Order of St. John of Jerusalem Bestowal Document, appointing ‘Alice Haigh’ a Serving Sister, dated 19 February 1958’; together with a Diary of Staff Nurse Mary Beatrice Heffernan, R.R.C., Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve; a St. John Ambulance Association Re-Examination Cross, bronze, the reverse neatly engraved ‘No. 16435 The Honble. Constance Hamilton-Russell.’; a Canadian General Service Medal, 1 clasp, ISAF (David Lower) in card box of issue with named card sleeve; an ‘Old Bill’ postcard; and two lantern slides, one of the slides broken, otherwise generally good condition (lot) £70-£90 --- Mary Beatrice Heffernan served as a staff nurse with the Civil Hospital Reserve at No. 3 General Hospital during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 August 1914. Subsequently transferring to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, for her services during the Great War she was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class (London Gazette 31 July 1919). Sold with a photograph believed to be of Miss Gilbey; and copied research.
Three: attributed to Private R. Rayner, The Buffs, who was killed in action at El Alamein on 24/25 October 1942 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed as issued, extremely fine Four: attributed to Private L. W. H. Smith, The Buffs, who died of wounds at Jebel Aboid, Tunisia, on 30 March 1943 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; Defence and War Medals, all unnamed as issued, extremely fine (7) £50-£70 --- 6294351 Private Robert Rayner, 1st Battalion, The Buffs, was killed in action at El Alamein on 24/25 October 1942. Son of Henry and Mary Rayner, of Morden, Surrey, he is buried in El Alamein War Cemetery. 6287727 Private Lancelot William Henry Smith, 5th Battalion, The Buffs, died of wounds at Jebel Aboid, Tunisia, on 30 March 1943, aged 23. Son of Sarah A. Smith, of Wealdstone, Middlesex, he is buried in Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery. Sold with some copied research but no original documentation.
Cases of Issue (4): The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) neck badge, by Garrard, London; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (2), C.B.E., by Garrard, London; M.B.E. (Ladies) by Royal Mint; Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class, by Garrard, London; together with a privately manufactured fitted leather case by Franklin & Hare, Taunton, designed to hold a group of four comprising a Royal Red Cross Decoration followed by three circular medals (presumably a British War Medal, Victory Medal, and Territorial Force War Medal, as awarded to a member of the Territorial Force Nursing Service), the lid embossed ‘1914-1918’, generally good condition (5) £100-£140
Miscellaneous Medal Ribands and Emblems. A selection of medal ribands and emblems, including, ribands for the Distinguished Service Order, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Force Cross, the Distinguished Flying Medal, and the Air Force Medal; together with 2x Victoria Cross medal riband emblems and sundry silvered rose emblems, good condition (lot) £100-£140
Defective Medal: Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (10.B/1311. Corpl. W Robson. 2nd. Bn. 14th. Regt.) correctly impressed naming, the reverse filed down and replaced with a painted colour representation of the reverse of the medal, edge bruising, generally good fine and an interesting memento £60-£80
The mounted group of twelve miniature dress medals worn by Colonel Allan ‘Jiggy’ Spowers, C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C., Commanding 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion, who was taken prisoner at El Alamein in July 1942 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, these last two by K. C. Luke, Melbourne; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australia Service Medal; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1953, mounted court-style by Ince Bros., Tailors, Melbourne, very fine (12) £300-£400 --- Sold with a Great War period portrait miniature of the recipient as a second lieutenant, in hinged standing display case; and a small silver tea caddy, hallmarked Birmingham 1913, maker’s mark ‘C.E.T.’, the front face inscribed, ‘Presented to Mrs Allan Spowers, from The Argus and The Australasian Staffs, 4th Imperial Press Conference. London. 1930.’ For the recipient’s full-sized awards, see Lot 103.
Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R., with top Hunt & Roskell silver riband buckle; Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R., with top silver riband buckle with gold pin; Royal Marines Meritorious Service Medal, V.R., with top silver riband buckle; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., reverse engraved, with top Hunt & Roskell silver riband buckle; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, reverse engraved, with top E. and E. Emanuel, Portsmouth, silver riband buckle; Volunteer Officers’ Decoration, V.R.I. cypher, with integral top riband bar; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, V.R., with integral top riband bar, good very fine (7) £180-£220
Royal Humane Society, bronze medal, with Second Award Bar, the edge contemporarily engraved ‘Frederick John Davis’, with top bronze riband buckle, good very fine £200-£240 --- R.H.S. Case no. 21,620: ‘At the Royal Albert Dock, London, at 4:30 p.m. on 15 May 1882, Abdulla, a Lascar, was holding a truck on which a piston was resting, when the lad slipped off, the truck handles flew back, struck the man, and knocked him into the dock. Mr. Frederick John Davis, 4th Officer of the Peninsula and Oriental Steamship Rome, jumped from a height of 10 feet, and brought the man to the surface of the water. Davis did not wait to divest himself of his clothes, and the water is sad to be in a polluted state.’ R.H.S. Case no. 22,382: ‘At the Royal Albert Dock, London, at 4:00 p.m. on 15 July 1884, W. H. Pring, a 14 year old Dock Messenger from Palistow, Essex, fell into the dock between the barge and the landing stage, and sank at once. Mr. Frederick John Davis, 2nd Officer of the Peninsula and Oriental Steamship Poonah, jumped off the stage, caught hold of the boy just below the surface of the water, and fastened a rope around his body, by which he was drawn up. Davis was subsequently under medical treatment in consequence of the impurity of the water.’ Both cases were successful. Sold with copied research.
A Second War Belgian group of five attributed to Mr. J. P. Vanderauwera, who served as an Intelligence Agent with the Belgian Resistance, and died in Esterwegen Concentration Camp on 23 April 1944 Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, with silver palm on riband; Croix de Guerre, L.III.R., bronze, with bronze palm on riband; Political Prisoner’s Cross, silver and enamel, with riband bar with 4 Stars and black ‘next of kin’ riband bar; Resistance Medal 1940-45, with bronze lightening bolt device on riband; War Medal 1940-45, bronze, good very fine and better (5) £100-£140 --- Jean P. Vanderauwera was born in Liege, on 3 May 1893 and served as an Intelligence Agent in the Belgian Resistance with the rank of Adjutant from 1 August 1942, as a member of the Boule and Luc-Marc intelligence networks. An engine driver for the Belgian railway company on her international trains, his job allowed him to gather information and to act as courier bringing back information gathered by the labourers in Germany. He headed a section of the Boule resistance-network and took part in sabotage actions and theft of arms and ammunitions; Boule was the only Belgian network that could operate within Germany, and among other things it provided information on the Peenemünde rocket base, the V1 and V2 rockets, and about the nature and importance of the Möhne and Eder dams. Vanderauwera was arrested on 23 February 1943 and was held as a political prisoner for the next year. He died in Esterwegen Concentration Camp on 23 April 1944. Sold with the recipient’s original ‘Carte des états de services de guerre du combattant 1940-45’ (1940-45 War Services Card) which contains a portrait photograph of the recipient.
Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold, Civil Division, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gilt, and enamel, French motto, unmarked, in Wolfers, Brussels, case of issue, minor enamel damage and one tip of lower arm somewhat bent, nearly very fine France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, significant white enamel damage and some poor quality restoration; Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, both with enamel damage to mottos around central medallions, the first fair, the second better Germany, Bavaria, Military Merit Cross, Third Class breast badge, bronze, with crown and crossed swords suspension, unmarked, good very fine United States of America, Allied Victory Medal, 2 clasps, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, bronze, very fine (5) £80-£100
France, Third Republic, Madagascar Medal 1895, by O. Roty, as issued for the Second Expedition, silver, with 1895 oak and laurel leaves clasp, good very fine £50-£70 --- Sold with the original Bestowal Document for the Madagascar Medal, named to Monsieur Edouard Jacques Fines, Lieutenant d’Infantie de Marine, and dated 2 July 1896.
France, Republic, Medal of Honour (5), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, silver (2) (Mle. M. J. M. Redureau 1912; A. Waterlot 1946); Ministry of Work and Social Security, silver (L. Carre 1960), in case of issue; Ministry Ministry of Work, silver (Mme. J. Serieys 1977), in case of issue; for Honour and Work, silver (M. L. Thurette); Medal des Cheminots, silver (M. Dubois 1943); together with a French Art Medal 1811 in white metal; and a Swedish Kustflottan Sports Medal, silver, the reverse dated ‘15.6.1931’, generally very fine (8) £50-£70
The Peninsula War Medal awarded to Lieutenant R. Blake, 3rd Foot, who was severely wounded and lost a leg at St Pierre in December 1813 when in command of the Light Company of the 57th; he later assumed the additional name of Humfrey and left a hand-written journal ‘A brief Chronological History of my Life’, R. Blake-Humfrey, 1872 Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Nivelle, Nive (R. Blake Humfrey, Lieut. 3rd Foot) toned, extremely fine £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: Charles Lusted (List No. 78) June/July 1970. Robert Blake (afterwards Blake-Humfrey) was born on 23 November 1795, at Horstead, Norfolk, second son of Thomas Blake, Barrister at Law, J.P., and Theodora Colombine. He was gazetted Ensign, by purchase, into the 3rd Foot (Buffs) on 30 April 1812, with the influence of General Leigh, the Colonel. Promoted to Lieutenant on 23 September 1813, he served in the Peninsula from September 1813 to March 1814, being present at Nivelle and Nive, being severely wounded at St Pierre on 13 December 1813, where his left leg was amputated. He was placed on Half-pay in December 1816, having been ‘Rendered incapable of Duty by my wounds, and removed to the 9th Royal Veterans Battalion in January 1820, ‘Incapable of service by the loss of my leg and other severe wounds.’ He was awarded £100 pension per annum for the loss of his leg, commencing from 14 December 1813. Robert Blake married Charlotte, daughter of Colonel Harvey, of Thorpe, at Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk, on 4 August 1838, with whom he had seven children. He assumed the name Blake-Humfrey by Royal Licence on 10 August 1847. He later became Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk and Justice of the Peace, and lived at Wroxham Hall, Norfolk, where he died, aged 90, on 15 October 1886. There is a memorial tablet to him in the church of St Mary the Virgin at Wroxham, Norfolk. The following narrative, including extracts from Blake’s hand-written journal “A brief Chronological History of my Life” (R. Blake-Humfrey, 1872), was published in Charles Lusted’s List No. 78 in June/July 1970; Lusted clearly had access to the original journal which was then in possession of the family but made it very clear that the journal was not for sale. The present whereabouts of the journal are not known. ‘Departed for the Peninsula, July 1813 to join the lst Bn in Spain. During some very rough weather between Portsmouth & Plymouth, a mutiny among a large part of both soldiers and sailors broke out aboard ship (on account of some regulations relative to the issue, and drinking, of the grog served out to the men), the men refused to serve the ship, and some soldiers set their officers at defiance, and a party of American seamen, engaged at Liverpool, proposed "to take the ship into Boston!". Lieutenant Blake Humfrey was sent, with a small party, to the escort Frigate of the convoy, through a heavy sea, and an armed crew from the Frigate arrested the chief sailor mutineers. Landed in Spain Aug 28th, 1813, near St. Sebastian (which was then under siege), and the detachment was ordered to march to join the Regiment. They were attacked en route, and several of the men were wounded. “Lord Wellington and his Staff passed by and stopped to enquire who we were? I saw him thus, for the first time, by flashes of lighting, in heavy rain - enveloped in his large cloak, and cocked hat covered with oil-silk - as represented in the pictures.” Aug 30th 1813 - Joined the Ist Bn The Buffs encamped in the mountains near the Pass of St. Jean Pier de Porte, under command Colonel Bunbury (Sir John Byng’s Bde), 2nd Division (Lord Hill). Appointed Lieutenant (London Gazette 28th Sept, 1813), and attached to Light Company (Capt. Cameron). At that time the Light Co’s of every Regt in the Bde were formed into one Company of which Capt. Cameron has sole command. Nov 10th - took part in the attack and capture of the heavily fortified French positions on the Heights of Ainhoue (beyond the River Nivelle); November - crossed the River Nive, and “the Buffs, wading up to their chests, the stream running strong, succeeded in crossing the river, with the loss of a few men by enemy fire, and a young officer and a private or two, carried away by the current, which they were too feeble to stem.” December, 13th - “Cameron directed me to take command of a company of the 57th, attached to the Light Companies, all the officers of which had been wounded. About four o’clock in the afternoon, while doing duty with this Company, and exposed to a severe fire of artillery, I fell to the ground, badly wounded in both legs above the knee, either by grape-shot, or part of a shell.” “Lord Wellington having, early in the morning, received intelligence, from Sir Rowland Hill, of the strong attack made on his, the right wing of the Army, came from St. Jean de Luz some 20 miles, to learn the result. He galloped up close by my party, and seeing me severely wounded, supposed I was an officer of high rank, for he sent his A.D.C. to enquire who I was. Upon being informed, he remarked that my wounds seemed to require immediate attention, and ordered his A.D.C. to send a surgeon to the farm house close by. I had the satisfaction of meeting the Assistant Surgeon of my own Regt coming out to meet me, by Lord W’s orders!” His left leg was amputated (at the age of 18 years). “Sir Rowland Hill and Sir John Byng called upon me, and sent English roast beef, in tin cases, then a novelty.” Lieutenant Blake was then returned to England, and in due course was discharged on medical grounds: “my wounds entitled me to a year’s pay for each leg, and a pension for the loss of my left leg - which was made £100 - that of a Captain, in consideration of my being in command of a company when wounded.” May 1815 - “I went to Bradford in. Yorkshire to have an artificial leg made by Mr. Mann, then of great fame as a mechanician in that way.” July 1815 - “On returning to Bradford, I found a Russian officer, Colonel Christzoffs, who had lost his leg at Leipzig, and hearing of the fame of Mr. Mann, had come from Paris to have a leg made.” August 1815 - “Though so soon after the loss of his leg at Waterloo, the Marquis of Anglesea also arrived, for a like purpose. He invited Colonel Christzoffs, myself, and several other officers, to dinner at his hotel - all at table being one-legged-men, except his son Lord Uxbridge!” The last entry in the Journal reads: “Dec 1882, returned home - by train.”
A United States of America Second War Army Good Conduct medal awarded to Private First Class Arthur F. Perry, 103rd Infantry Regiment, who was killed in action 15 January 1945, during the battle for Luzon Island United States of America, Army Good Conduct Medal, slot brooch ‘Arthur F. Perry’; together with a later Philippines Liberation Medal, slot brooch, very fine (2) £40-£50 --- 36170413 Private First Class Arthur F. Perry, from White Cloud, Newaygo County, Michigan, served with the 103rd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division. He died on 15 January 1945 and is buried at Manila American Cemetery. ‘The 103rd Infantry Regiment landed on the island of Luzon (Philippines) on 9 January 1945 and was one of the leading elements during the Battle of Luzon. As the left wing of the invasion force, they pushed inland, encountering stiff opposition from fanatical Japanese enemies. The 103d Infantry went ashore at 0700, with the 152nd following at 1300 to set up firing positions on the beach. The landing was unopposed and the regiment moved inland by column of battalions, with 3rd in the lead, followed by 2nd, and 1st in support. As the day went on, Japanese resistance began to increase. Using 75mm guns, the Japanese would initiate long-range ambushes on the 103rd, retreating when approached by riflemen. This delaying tactic did not inflict many casualties, but it did slow the regiment’s advance. The next day saw the 103rd making good time but it was still slowed by harassing enemy attacks. Riflemen, acting in conjunction with artillery fire, steadily advanced and destroyed several of the Japanese guns. Everything changed on the morning of 11 January, when 2-103 Infantry began the assault on Hill 200. It was a heavily fortified position, with caves, tunnels, and trenches dug into the hillside for both infantry and artillery. It took five days of brutal fighting to take the hill, characterised by heavy supporting fire from the 152nd FAB, the 105mm howitzers in the 103rd’s Cannon Company, and the 103rd’s organic mortars. The rest of the battalion worked on securing the perimeters around the hill with aggressive patrolling, which sparked intense fighting. By 16 January, Hill 200 and its environs were in U.S. hands. An enemy armoured counterattack in the vicinity of barrio Potpot resulted in a long night for the men of 3-103rd Infantry, as they fought off the attack and destroyed eleven Japanese tanks.’
United States of America Vietnam War Air Medal group of four awarded to Sergeant First Class F. C. Goodin, 25th Aviation Battalion United States of America, Air Medal, bronze, the reverse officially named ‘Frankie C Goodin’; National Defense Medal, bronze; Vietnam Service Medal, bronze, with two bronze stars on riband; South Vietnam Medal 1964, gilt and enamel, 1 clasp, 1960-; together with a Valorous Unit Award and Meritorious Unit Commendation riband bars, nearly extremely fine (4) £60-£80 --- Frankie Cecil Goodin was born on 5 March 1937 and served with ‘A’ Company, 25th Aviation Battalion during the Vietnam War. He died on 9 September 2004. Sold with various original insignia; photographic images; and copied research.
Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (H. Cross. 3rd Regt.) officially impressed naming, edge bruising and lightly polished, otherwise very fine £200-£240 --- Henry Cross (No. 3059) is confirmed on the roll of those men of the 3rd Foot who landed in the Crimea in the 1st and 3rd May 1855, entitled to the Medal (roll marked ‘WO’ indicating that it would be officially impressed and that he had likely died on service in the Crimea). None of the rolls for the 3rd Foot show any clasp entitlement so the Sebastopol clasp remains unconfirmed. Sold with copied medal roll extract.
A scarce Massachusetts Minuteman casualty medal awarded to Corporal Henry M. Fales, 57th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, late 3rd Rifles, who was killed in action during the Battle of the Wilderness 6 May 1864, his regiment suffering almost 50% casualties during one of the most fearful battles of the Civil War Massachusetts Minuteman Medal (Henry M. Fales, Prvt. B. 3d Btn. Rfn.) extremely fine £400-£500 --- Henry M. Fales, a 20 year old butcher from Holden, Massachusetts, enlisted in Co. B, Massachusetts 3rd Rifles Battalion on 19 May 1861. Mustering out of this regiment on 3 August, on the 30 September that year, he mustered into Co B of the newly formed 51st Massachusetts Infantry. On 25 November 1862, the regiment proceeded by rail to Boston, where it immediately embarked on the transport Merrimac bound for North Carolina and was assigned to Amory’s Brigade. On 11 December, the 51st was assigned to the Goldsboro expedition. On 17 January 1863, seven companies took part in an expedition to Pollocksville, five of them proceeding as far as Young’s Cross Roads, and having a skirmish with the enemy at White Oak Creek. In late June, the regiment was assigned to emergency duty until the Confederate army under General Lee should be driven back from Pennsylvania, and it was immediately transferred to Baltimore, Maryland, where it remained from July 1 to July 6, searching houses for concealed arms, guarding prisoners from Gettysburg, etc. Later joining 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac, the regiment was sent back to Massachusetts in mid July and were mustered out of the service 27 July 1863. Having mustered out of service with the 51st, on 10 March 1864, Fales mustered into Co G, of the newly formed 57th Massachusetts Infantry, a regiment formed from veteran soldiers with at least 9 months service in other units. Fales was promoted Corporal 20 days later and, on 18 April 1864, the regiment started for the seat of war, forming part of Carruth’s (1st) Brigade, Stevenson’s (1st) Division, Burnside’s (9th) Corps. On the 27 April, the corps started for the Rappahannock River and remained in bivouac until the morning of the 6 May, the ears of the men being deafened with the continuous roar of the battle which was already in progress. This battle, known as the Wilderness, was fought on 5-6 May 1864, about 15 miles west of Fredericksburg, Virginia and would be one of the bloodiest battles of the war, fought in the most confusing of countryside for troops to fight over. On the morning of the 6th, Stevenson’s Division was sent to the support of Hancock’s (2d) Corps on the Plank road, and in the bloodbath which followed, of the 550 officers and men the 57th took into battle, they lost near half their number; 47 killed, 161 wounded, and 43 missing. This was 5th highest number of casualties of any Union regiment present during the battle. Corporal Fales was one of those killed, dying of a gunshot wound. The Massachusetts Minuteman Medal In 1902 the State of Massachusetts authorised the production of the Minuteman medal to be awarded to all ‘3 month’ Militiamen who answered Lincoln’s ‘first call’ for troops in April of 1861. The medals themselves were issued with officially impressed naming, giving the name rank and unit of the soldier, in a similar style to British Campaign medals. Approximately 3,800 veterans were eligible to claim this medal; however, as they were only awarded on application, many remained unissued. Overall, approximately 159,000 men from this State fought for the Union, thus only a fraction actually received a medal. Of the men that were in these original Militia units, the majority went on to serve in other units during the War. Of the States that fought for the Union, only West Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut issued officially named or numbered medals to its servicemen in significant numbers. Even then, bar to soldiers in West Virginian service, this was to a small number of men that actually served in each State during the War and a fraction of the over two million servicemen who fought for the Union. Connecticut, Pennsylvania and others issued medals to their ‘first call’ militia but numbers were lower than 800.
An interesting Massachusetts Minuteman casualty medal awarded to Private William H. O’Neil, 19th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, late 3rd Rifles, who was severely wounded during a raid by J. E. B. Stuart’s cavalry in June 1862 Massachusetts Minuteman Medal (William H. O’Neil, Prvt. D. 3d Btn. Rfn.) extremely fine £300-£400 --- William Henry O’Neil, a 19 year old butcher from Boston, enlisted in Co. D, Massachusetts 3rd Rifles Battalion on 19 May 1861. Mustering out of this regiment on 3 August that year, on the 28th of that month, he mustered into Co. K, 19th Massachusetts Infantry. Assigned to Gen. Lander’s Brigade, Gen. Stone’s Corps of Observation, the Regiment picketed the Potomac during the fall of 1861, advancing to Harrison’s Island October 21 and covering the retreat of the troops from Ball’s Bluff. The winter of 1861-62 was spent at Muddy Branch guarding the Potomac in front of Darnestown and Rockville. In March, 1862, the regiment, now in Dana’s Brigade, Sedgwick’s Division, was sent to the Shenandoah, but shortly afterward the entire division was ordered to the Peninsula where it arrived 30 March, and was attached to Sumner’s (2d) Corps. It took part in the siege of Yorktown in April, however Private O’Neil was wounded at Whitehouse on 13 June 1862, where he suffered a severe wound in right arm, which was subsequently amputated, the Musters stating: ‘Loss of arm from gunshot wound received June 13/62 during an attack of cavalry made upon a detachment which was being conveyed by cars from Fair Oaks station to White House Landing, VA.’ A further note on his discharge states: ‘Was wounded in the raid made by Stuart’s Cavalry June 13th ’62 on the railroad from Fair Oaks Station to White House Landing. Ball entered the upper third of right arm – the limb was amputated near the shoulder on board the hospital transport [undecipherable] City lying at White House Va, on the evening of the day that his injury was received.’ Early in June 1862, Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart had sent John Singleton Mosby on a mission to scout along the rear of the Union Armies supply line from White House Landing onto the Pamunkey River. Mosby identified a gap in the Union line that made the supply base at White House Landing a potential target. It was during a raid on this place by Stuart, that O’Neil was wounded. Much can be found in books and online regarding this raid. After spending the next 8 months recovering at Lexington General Hospital, New York, O’Neil was discharged from service due to disability on 14 March, 1863.
A scarce Massachusetts Minuteman casualty medal awarded to Private Nicholas H. F. Richardson, 18th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, late 4th Regiment, who took part in the 2nd Battle of Bull Run where his Regiment sustained heavy casualties and lost its Colours; he was later severely wounded at the assault on Marye’s Heights during the battle of Fredericksburg on 13 December 1862, the 18th loosing a further 134 officers and men Massachusetts Minuteman Medal (Nicholas H. F. Richardson, Prvt. F. 4th. Reg.) extremely fine £340-£400 --- Nicholas H. F. Richardson, aged 20, a Hostler from Walpole, Massachusetts, mustered into Company ‘F’ of the 4th Massachusetts (Militia) Infantry on 22 April 1861. He mustered out on 22 July 1861 after their 3 months’ service was over. On 24 August 1861 he further mustered into Company ‘F’ 18th Massachusetts Infantry and was severely wounded in the thigh at the battle of Fredericksburg on 13 December 1862. Richardson finally mustered out on 2 September 1864. A member of GAR Post # 47 (Major Howe) in Haverhill Massachusetts, he died on 24 January 1920. The 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia “Minute Men” had the honour of being the first regiment to leave the State and formed a part of the Garrison of Fort Monroe. It took part in the battle of Big Bethel, the first battle of the Civil War. The 18th Massachusetts Infantry was present at the siege of Yorktown, and the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, when it participated in the attack of Porter’s Corps on Jackson’s position at the railroad embankment, where it lost 169 officers and men and its States Colours. It was in reserve at Antietam but after the battle it crossed the Potomac in pursuit of the retreating Confederates and was driven back with loss. At Fredericksburg on 13 December 1862, the 18th took part in the assault on Marye’s Heights, losing another 134 officers and men. Every member of the Colour Guard was wounded during the battle, so severe was the fire upon the Colours; but it is worthy of note that not a member of the regiment was missing from his place save the killed and wounded. Although Richardson is noted as still in the regiment until mustering out in September 1864, his wounds kept him in hospital the entire time. Interestingly, despite his musters showing him as a Private his rank on his casualty papers is given as Colour Corporal or Colour Sergeant.
An Ohio Civil War medal awarded to Private Patrick Newton, a Veteran soldier of the 61st Ohio Infantry Regiment who served between February 1862 and July 1865, during which period the regiment saw service at the battles of 2nd Bull Run, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg State of Ohio Veteran Civil War Medal (P. Newton Co G 61st Regt Inft) good very fine £300-£400 --- Patrick Newton, aged 30, mustered into service as a Private in Company ‘G’, 61st Ohio Infantry Regiment on 2 February 1862. At the end of his term of service in 1864, he reenlisted as a veteran soldier and was transferred to Company ‘G’, 82nd Ohio Infantry Regiment when the 61st was consolidated with the 82nd on 31 March 1865. Newton was finally mustered out of service on 5 July 1865 at Camp Dennison, Ohio. The 61st Ohio Infantry Regiment was organised in the State at large in March, April and May, 1862, to serve for three years. It left for the field in Western Virginia on May 27, and at Freeman’s ford had its first fight with the enemy, a part of Longstreet’s corps. It took part in the second battle of Bull Run and covered the retreat of the Federal forces on the Centerville turnpike toward Washington. In the battle it lost 25 men killed and wounded. At Stafford Court House it established winter quarters and remained there until April, 1863. It was engaged throughout the entire battle of Chancellorsville and lost 4 officers wounded, besides a large number of men wounded and 5 killed. At Gettysburg it opened the battle, being thrown out as skirmishers, and was so roughly handled that it was compelled to fall back to Cemetery Hill. In this action the regiment lost heavily in killed, wounded and prisoners. In September it was transported to the Army of the Cumberland and was engaged in a fierce fight at Wauhatchie, Tennessee, defeating and driving the Confederates across Lookout Creek. In this fight 3 were killed and a number wounded. It was in the assault on Missionary Ridge moving round to the extreme left of the Federal lines to prevent a flanking movement on the part of the enemy. In March, 1864, it re-enlisted, was furloughed home, and then returned for the Atlanta campaign. It participated in the bloody action at Resaca, losing several men, and performed its part nobly during all of the succeeding campaign. The regiment lay at Atlanta until it started with General Sherman’s army on its ‘march to the sea’. It then marched up through the Carolinas and at Goldsboro, North Carolina, on 31 March 1865, was consolidated with the 82nd Ohio, the combined regiment taking the name of the latter organisation. The State of Ohio Civil War Medal The State of Ohio authorised Tiffany & Company of New York to provide 20,000 medals to recognise those soldiers from Ohio who re-enlisted from the State under War Department General Orders, No. 191, which called for “Veteran Volunteers”. These were soldiers who completed their three-year tour of duty and then signed up for further duty as a Veteran Volunteer. The medals were distributed in the summer of 1866 and are officially engraved with the name and unit to the reverse field of the medal. Based on the British Crimea medal, the suspension was attractively but poorly designed, resulting more often than not in only the disc surviving. Approximately 319,000 men from this State fought for the Union, with less 6.5% being awarded this medal. Of the States that fought for the Union, only West Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut, issued officially named or numbered medals to its servicemen in significant numbers. Even then, bar to soldiers in West Virginian service, this was to a small number of men that actually served in each State during the War and a fraction of the over two million servicemen who fought for the Union.
A West Virginia Civil War medal awarded to Second Lieutenant William H. Murphy of the famed 1st West Virginia Cavalry, who was injured at the Battle of Port Republic June 1862. Previous to enlistment he was a printer and established a newspaper ‘The American Citizen’ in 1855 West Virginia Civil War Medal, ‘Honorably Discharged’ type (Wilm H. Murphy. Co H 1st Cav Vols. Sergt) nearly extremely fine £300-£400 --- Medal named with rank of Sergeant as this was his later rank. William H Murphy, aged 32, a printer from Uniontown, Pennsylvania, who had established a newspaper ‘The American Citizen’ in 1855, enlisted as Second Lieutenant into Company ‘E’ 1st Virginia Cavalry on 16 June 1861. On 4 July 1862 resigned his commission due to health - his service papers noting he had contracted disease of the lungs during the winter of 1861-2 and that he had been severely injured falling from his horse while in action during the Battle of Port Republic on 8 June 1862, suffering internal injuries. They also contain a letter from his Colonel regretting his loss to the regiment. Murphy further reenlisted as a 1st Sergeant, Company “H” 1st West Virginia Cavalry on 27 February 1864. The 1st Virginia Cavalry was his old regiment that had been officially renamed West Virginia Cavalry when the Unionist State of West Virginia was officially admitted to the Union in 1863. Musters show that Murphy spent much of the time between mid September and December 1864 in hospital and from January 1865, variously on duty, detached service and hospital. He was finally discharged on 30 May 1865 and died on 30 October 1866. 1st West Virginia Cavalry Service The regiment was recruited from the western counties of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and western Virginia, at a time when the Government was not organising cavalry regiments. It was composed of superior material, mostly young men from the farms, experienced horsemen and marksmen, who could break and tame the wildest colt, or pierce the head of a squirrel in the top of the tallest hickory with a rife bullet. When the regiment entered the field mounted and equipped, with its complement of field, staff and line officers, and led by Prof. Carl Colby’s famous silver cornet band, all mounted on milk white horses, the regiment well caparisoned, with jingling and flapping trappings, the riders all young and handsome, it was a beautiful and inspiring an organisation as ever graced the armies of the United States. This the citizens of Clarksburg, Cumberland, Martinsburg and Winchester will no doubt cordially admit, though the uniforms may not have been their favourite colour. Its first active service was in the mountains of West Virginia, by detachments, scouting and doing picket and outpost duty to the various infantry commands holding the mountain passes and guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. These duties in the wild, mountainous region, infested with Confederate scouts, guerrillas and bushwhackers, soon developed in the officers and men that individuality, courage and daring which distinguished them throughout the period of their service. In the spring of 1862, it was brigaded with other cavalry regiments, under the command of General Hatch, and participated in the operations in the valley of the Shenandoah and its neighbourhood under General Shields, Banks, McDowell, Schenck and Fremont, though some of the companies were separated. Capt. C. C. Krepps, with a company of the regiment, put the enemy’s cavalry, panic stricken, to flight, and gained possession of the bridge at Port Republic, and but for orders to the contrary, would have destroyed it, thereby cutting off the retreat of Stonewall Jackson. In the darkness of night preceding the battle of Cedar Mountain, Captains Steele and C. C. Krepps, with two companies, rode through General Jackson’s camps, creating great apprehension and confusion, at the same time capturing a number of prisoners. The State of West Virginia Civil War Medal In 1866, the state of West Virginia authorised the minting of 26,000 medals to honour its Union Civil War soldiers. Unlike other Union States, medals were issued to every soldier who served in a West Virginian unit. Three different dies were produced for the medals, each with a different suspension clasp: 1) “Honourably Discharged” for the officers and soldiers of the volunteer army who have been or may be honourably discharged from the service. This is the most common variant. 2) “Killed in Battle” for the officers and soldiers who have been killed in battle. Not more than 800 of this variant were produced. 3) “For Liberty” for the officers and soldiers who have died from wounds received in battle and for those who died from diseases contracted in the service. 3,200 of this variant were produced. Each medal was officially impressed with the soldier’s name, rank and unit on the rim, in a similar style to British Campaign medals. To this day, over 4,000 medals remain unclaimed. Of the States that fought for the Union, only West Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut, issued officially named or numbered medals to its servicemen in significant numbers. Even then, bar to soldiers in West Virginian service, this was to a small number of men that actually served in each State during the War and a fraction of the over two million servicemen who fought for the Union. Connecticut, Pennsylvania and others issued medals to their ‘first call’ militia but numbers were lower than 800. Sold with copy detailed pensions file and musters.
A fascinating West Virginia Civil War medal awarded to Private Samuel S. Hague, Captain Gilmore’s Company, Pennsylvania Dragoons, attached to the 1st Loyal Virginia Cavalry, then the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, who served as mounted orderly to a 98th Ohio Infantry Colonel and then at HQ of the ex-French Cavalry Officer Brigadier-General Duffie West Virginia Civil War Medal, ‘Honorably Discharged’ type (Saml S. Hague. Co L 2nd Reg Cav Vols) good very fine £300-£400 --- Samuel S. Hague, aged 19, a farmer from Virginia, originally enlisted into Captain Gilmore’s Company Pennsylvania Dragoons on 23 July 1861. Being attached to the 1st Regt Virginia Mounted Volunteers, the company later became Company ‘L’ of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry. Captain Gilmore’s Company was formed as the Pennsylvania Dragoons became a company in the First (West) Virginia Cavalry. In November 1861, Captain Gilmore’s Company were again transferred, becoming Company “L” 2nd West Virginia Cavalry – though possibly only for muster/pay purposes. The ‘History of the Second Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers’ states: ‘George Washington Gilmore formed a company of cavalry independently at the request of General George B. McClellan and Gilmore was its captain. Gilmore’s company was originally called the Pennsylvania Dragoons and was formed July 1861 with men from Fayette County Pennsylvania. An example of it fighting detached is the Wytheville Raid, where it fought with an additional company from the 1st West Virginia Cavalry, an infantry regiment, and another cavalry regiment. Beginning 14 July 1863, Gilmore’s Company served with the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, and finished its service as Company L of that regiment.’ However, Hague’s musters for the 2nd WV are a little confusing regarding the actually designation of Captain Gilmore’s Company from November 1861. Whilst his muster sheet is for ‘L’, 2nd WV Cavalry, the actual details say the company was still designated 1st V Cavalry in 1863 (as above). This is probably due to the independent nature of Gilmore’s company and the fact that West Virginia itself didn’t officially join the Union until 1863 – after this there were various name changes. Several pages of Captain Gilmore’s musters confirm this. In his Jan/Feb Muster, Gilmore puts in an official protest to being officially transferred to the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry: From January 1863 Hague was detached from his regiment and serving as orderly to Colonel Van Vorhes of the 92nd Ohio Infantry. Colonel Van Vorhes resigned his commission on 22 March; however, Hague is noted as orderly service, brigade headquarters from July 1863 until February 1864 when he returned to Gilmore’s company. During this time, the brigade was under the command of Brigadier General Alfred Napoléon Alexander Duffié, an ex-French cavalry officer who had fought in the Crimean and Austrian Wars. He was mustered out of service in November 1864.
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