British War Medal 1914-20 (9) (Pte. M. C. Clark. S.A.M.C.; S/Sjt. H. W. Foot. S.A.M.C.; Pte. W. J. Hayward. S.A.M.C.; Pte. W. D. Petty. S.A.M.C.; Sjt. D. A. Robertson. S.A.M.C.; Pte. E. Smith. S.A.M.C.; Pte. G. J. Van Driel. S.A.M.C.; A/1st C/W.O. T. Sheehan. S.A.P.B.; Pte. L. Case. S.A.V.C.) generally very fine or better (9) £100-£140 --- Thomas Sheehan was born in Ireland and enlisted in Johannesburg, aged 44, on 26 March 1917 for service during the Great War with the South African Pioneer Corps, stating previous military service of 10 years with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He served in East Africa from 17 October 1917 and was appointed acting regimental sergeant major on 1 February 1918. He contracted malaria and was returned to South Africa on 28 August 1918 and was discharged permanently unfit for General War Service on 12 November 1918.
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Victory Medal 1914-19 (9) (Ply-19137 Pte. C. G. Newland. R.M.L.I.; 606 Pte. R. A. Andrews. A.I. Force.; 54 Pte. W. Carroll. 42. Bn. A.I.F.; 24572 Dvr. L. Claudius. 3 D.A.C. A.I.F.; 10330 Dvr. M. Coghlan. 2 F.A.B. A.I.F.; 431 Pte. F. E. Cox. 44 Bn. A.I.F.; 3341 Pte. L. O. Fletcher. 1. Pnr. Bn. A.I.F.; 38477 Pte. E. G. Anderson. N.Z.E.F.; 15987 Rflm. H. T. Smith. N.Z.E.F.) generally very fine (9) £80-£100
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (14838753 Pte. E. G. Brice. Buffs.) retaining rod re-affixed, good very fine £60-£80 --- Approximately 16 Officers and 125 other ranks from the Buffs awarded the S.E. Asia clasp; given the fact that the retaining rod has been re-affixed it is possible that this medal was originally issued with a more common clasp.
Three: Corporal W. Richardson, Kent Cyclist Battalion British War Medal 1914-20 (100 A. Cpl. W. Richardson. Kent Cyc. Bn.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (100 A. Cpl. W. Richardson. Kent Cyc. Bn.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (100 Cpl. W. Richardson. Kent Cyc: Bn:) nearly extremely fine (3) £300-£400
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Arabian Peninsula (2/Lt. C. Rainbow. Y. & L.) good very fine, scarce to unit £260-£300 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 2014. Christopher Rainbow was born at Sidcup, Kent, on 27 January 1938 and was educated at King’s School, Taunton, and Wadham College, Oxford. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the York and Lancaster Regiment on 1 June 1957, and served in the Arabian Peninsula from April 1958, in Nukeiras, Aden Town and Am Nuam. He was promoted Lieutenant on 25 January 1959. This was the last campaign medal awarded to the unit before it was disbanded on 7 December 1968. Sold with copied research including numerous copied pages from The Tiger & Rose regimental journal.
1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45 (3), one in Air Ministry card box of issue addressed to ‘Miss T. G. E. Buttle, 10 Addison Road, Wanstead, London, E.11’, with Air Council enclosure; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; together with two groups of miniature awards, the first group comprising the 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; and Coronation Medal 1953; the second group comprising the above six medals and additionally the Australia Service Medal, good very fine and better (lot) £60-£80 --- Sold with a Royal Air Force cloth satchel; various sergeant’s stripes; and two National Registration Identity Cards, the first to Theresia G. K. Buttle, and the second to Emily A Mills, both of 10 Addison Road, Wanstead, E.11; together with two ‘Egyptian’ designed leather wallets.
The Defence Medal awarded to L. Fennell, Gloucestershire Home Guard Defence Medal, with Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. L. Fennell, 15 Priory Road, Shirehampton, Bristol’, extremely fine £30-£40 --- Sold with the recipient’s Home Guard Certificate of Service, named to ‘Leslie Fennell’, and dated 14 June 1940 to 31 December 1944, mounted in a glazed display frame; and a Gloucestershire T.A. and A.F. Association letter.
Three: Private R. G. Moat, The Buffs, who was killed in action at La Heliere, France, on 20 May 1940 India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (6283863 Pte. R. G. Moat. The Buffs.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Robert George Moat, 2nd Battalion, The Buffs, was killed in action at La Heliere, France, on 27 May 1940, aged 30. He is buried in Merris Communal Cemetery.
Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24195364 Cpl M G Darlow R Signals); together with Saudi Arabia, Kingdom, Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait 1991, with riband bar, in case of issue; Kuwait, Emirate, Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait 1991, 4th Grade, with riband bar, in case of issue, extremely fine (3) £140-£180
The First Gulf War medal awarded to ITN Cameraman Nigel Thomson, O.B.E., who in an eventful career covering conflicts all over the world was kidnapped in Beirut in 1982; was bombed by MIG fighters in Ethiopia; was wounded by shrapnel during the Siege of Dubrovnik in 1991; and was injured by mortar fire in Kabul in 1992 Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (N Thomson ITN); together with Saudi Arabia, Kingdom, Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait 1991, with riband bar; Kuwait, Emirate, Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait 1991, 4th Grade, with riband bar, extremely fine (3) £1,000-£1,400 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1993: Nigel Thomson, Cameraman, Independent Television News Nigel Thomson joined Independent Television News as a sound recordist in 1976 and became a cameraman in 1982. Over the course of an award-winning career he covered numerous assignments all over the world, including conflicts in Beirut, Ethiopia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Northern Ireland, The Gulf, Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan. In 1982, whilst covering the hostilities in Beirut, he was kidnapped along with ITN reporter Des Hamill, but fortunately both were released unharmed. Later, whilst trekking through the Ethiopian desert to cover the civil war there, he survived being bombed by MIG fighter planes. In 1984 he was awarded the Royal Television Society Cameraman of the Year Award for his coverage of the Brighton Bombing and the Belfast Riots. In 1990-91 Thomson spent six months with ITN reporter Paul Davies covering the events leading up to the First Gulf War, and the then the War itself, during which they were on the front line with the Fourth Armoured Brigade, for which both men received the Gulf Medal. Later that year Thomson and Davies spent several weeks in Dubrovnik covering the Yugoslav civil war: they were the only television crew to remain in the beleaguered city during the week-long onslaught by shells, missiles, and snipers, and Thomson was hit by shrapnel during the bombardment. For his camera work that year he was awarded the Royal Television Society Cameraman of the Year Award. In 1992 Thomson travelled twice to Afghanistan, again with Davies, to cover the battle for Kabul being fought between the Mujahideen and the Government forces, and on his second trip he was injured by mortar fire whilst filming an attack on Kabul Airport. For their front-line footage from war zones both he and Davies were awarded the O.B.E. in the 1993 New Year’s Honours’ List. Sold with copied research including a photograph of the recipient with his then wife, the ITN newsreader Carol Barnes, after he had been presented with his O.B.E.
Imperial Service Medal (5), G.V.R., circular issue, 1st ‘coinage head’ issue (4) (Mary Louisa Abraham; Jane Maclean Black; William Hughes; William Murphy) first in case of issue; G.VI.R., 2nd issue (John Joseph Cottam Kitto); Coronation 1953 (3), all unnamed as issued, the last with a small replacement suspension ring, generally very fine (8) £80-£100 --- Mary Louisa Abraham Assistant Supervisor, Class II, Home Civil Service, Exeter. I.S.M. London Gazette 11 November 1921. Jane Maclean Black Telegraphist, Central Telegraph Office. I.S.M. London Gazette 16 September 1930. William Hughes possibly Postman, Warrington. I.S.M. London Gazette 12 March 1929. John Joseph Cottam Kitto Skilled Labourer, H.M. Dockyard, Chatham. I.S.M. London Gazette 15 June 1951. Sold together with silver unmarked Skinner & Co. cased Buchanan School Medal named ‘Jane M. Black 1899’; a Coronation 1902 silver commemorative medallion; and copied research.
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.
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.
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