A good Second War Pathfinder’s D.F.C. group of five awarded to Lancaster Flight Engineer, Warrant Officer H. R. Hart, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 55 operational sorties during his service with 61, 156, and 405 Squadrons, including being employed as Master Bomber and Deputy Master Bomber crew on several occasions. After the war he flew Lincolns with 617 Squadron Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as originally worn, generally very fine or better (lot) (4) £2,000-£2,400 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 20 February 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘Warrant Officer Hart is a highly efficient Flight Engineer who is now on his second tour of operations. He has participated in attacks on many heavily defended enemy targets, included amongst which are Berlin, Mannheim and Stuttgart. He has a thorough knowledge of his trade and inspires confidence by the cool and efficient manner in which he performs his duties even when strongly engaged by the enemy. Undoubtedly, the fine fighting spirit evinced by this Warrant Officer, combined with his superior technical knowledge, has done much to ensure that the fine operational record of his crew has been kept at a very high standard.’ Harold Ross Hart was born in Leicester in April 1924, and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in August 1942. After initial training as a Flight Engineer, he was posted to No. 1661 Conversion Unit, Winthorpe in July 1943. Hart was posted for operational flying with 61 Squadron (Lancasters) at Syerston in August 1943. He flew in 6 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Nuremburg (his first ‘Op’), 27 August 1943, ‘Attacked 3 Times & Shot Up By Lanc. W/Op Injured. Ailerons U/S’ (Log Book refers); Munchen Gladbach; Berlin (3) and Mannheim. Hart was posted to the Path Finder Force N.T.U. at Upwood in February 1944, and then for operational service with 156 Squadron (Lancasters) as part of No. 8 Group, Path Finder Force at Upwood in March 1944. He flew in at least 35 operational sorties with the Squadron, crewed initially with Pilot Officer W. J. Taggart (an Australian) as his pilot and then with Squadron Leader K. J. Lawson (D.S.O. and Bar, D.F.C.) from 11 July 1944, including: Stuttgart; Frankfurt; Nuremburg, 30/31 March 1944, when 95 aircraft were lost as part of Bomber Command’s biggest loss of the war; Rouen; Cologne; Dusseldorf; St. Ghislain, 1 May 1944, when the crew were employed as Deputy Master Bomber; Mont Didier (2); Bougnenais; Hasselt, 11 May 1944, when the crew were employed as the Master Bomber; Aachen; Tergnier; Tours, 11 June 1944, as Master Bomber; St. Pol, 14 June 1944, as Master Bomber; Biennais; Revigne; Cagne; Rollez; Coulen Villers; Foret de Croc; Acquet; Stuttgart (2), including 25 July 1944 when he flew with the Squadron’s Commanding Officer Wing Commander T. L. Bingham-Hall as his pilot; Battle Area, 30 July 1944; Bois de Cassan; Pauillac; St. Quentin; Eindhoven; Kiel (3); Connantre; Russelheim; Stettin; Le Havre (2); Schalven; Frankfurt, 12 September 1944, ‘Hit by Flak’ (Log Book refers); Calais and Saarbrucken. Hart transferred with his pilot, now Wing Commander Lawson, to 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, R.C.A.F. (Lancasters) at Gransden Lodge, Bedfordshire in October 1944. The Squadron was also a member of No. 8 Group, and Hart flew in 7 operational sorties with them, including: Stuttgart; Cologne (2); Warne Eickel, 9 November 1944, ‘Hit by Flak’ (Ibid); Julich; Freiburg, 27 November 1944, ‘Hole in Nose Two Bombing Runs’ (Ibid) and Karlsruhe. The latter raid marked the end of Hart’s second tour of operations. The following month Wing Commander Lawson and 4 other members of his crew were killed when they were shot down returning from a raid to Nuremburg. Hart was posted to the Empire Air Navigation School, Shawbury in February 1945, and stayed at this posting until June the following year. Subsequent postings included to 50 Squadron (Lincolns) at Waddington, December 1946 - April 1947 and 617 Squadron (Lincolns) at Binbrook, April 1947 - September 1947 (including taking part in the ‘Good Will Tour’ of the United States of America). The remainder of Hart’s service was split between 50 and 97 Squadrons, before finishing at Shawbury and No. 7 R.F.S. Desford in August 1952. He was discharged as a Warrant Officer and after the war resided at 13 Wheatley Road, Stocking Farm Estate, Leicester. Sold with the following original related items: Royal Air Force Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book (10 July 1943 - 23 September 1953); R.A.F. Service and Release Book; named Buckingham Palace enclosure for D.F.C.; Path Finder Force Badge Award Certificate, dated 8 December 1944, with named enclosure for Badge; annotated crew photograph and newspaper cuttings.
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British War Medal 1914-20 (348810. Gnr. F. H. Berry. R.C.G.A.; 446830 A. S. Sjt. P. W. Cope. 56-Can. Inf.; 2137336 A. Cpl. A. A. Stiff B.C.R.; 826715 Pte. G. S. Walker. B.C.R.; 3345365 Pte. J. R. Tucker. M.R.) last with For Honourable Service Canada badge, reverse numbered ‘22841’, generally very fine (5) £50-£70 --- F. H. Berry served with the St. Lucia Garrison, British West Indies (sole entitlement).
British War Medal 1914-20 (123065 Pte. J. Martin. 70-Can. Inf.; 690257 A. L. Cpl. W. E. Bailey 173-Can. Inf.; 648185 Pte. J. Comerford. C.F.C.; 2650682 Pte. H. E. Dick. C.M.G. Bde.; 3159437 Pte. A. Malouf. Q.R.) generally very fine (5) £50-£70 --- James Martin was born in Chatham, Ontaria, Canada in December 1876. He served during the Great War with the 70th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, and died of illness at Moore Barracks Hospital, Shorncliffe, England, 13 July 1916. Private Martin is buried in Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, Kent.
British War Medal 1914-20 (2139881 Pte F Cook B.C.R.; .... H. C. H. Cannon. 121-Can. Inf.; 48030 Pte. I. Eyles. 1-Can. Div. H.Q.; 787346 Pte J. A. Connell. 130-Can. Inf.; 1009586 A. Sjt. J. M. W. Bavin S R) 2nd partially erased, last lacking retaining rod hence good fine, remainder generally very fine (5) £40-£50 --- Frank Cook was born in Fenwick, Huron County, Ontario in June 1892. He served during the Great War with the 2nd Depot Battalion, British Columbia Regiment in the UK, and died of illness, 15 October 1918. Private Cook is buried in Efford Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon.
British War Medal 1914-20 (9947 Pte. J. D. Phillips. 3-Can. Inf.; 77084 A. Sjt. P. C. Roberts. 30-Can. Inf.; 862115 A. Sjt. S. Nixon. 180-Can. Inf.; 1000654 Pte. W. H. Simpkins. 226-Can. Inf.; 2139157 Pte. C. Simpson. B.C.R.) suspension claw loose on 3rd, otherwise generally very fine (5) £60-£80 --- John Doherty Phillips was born in Glasgow Scotland in November 1892. He served during the Great War with the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry and was taken prisoner of war at Langemarke, 24 April 1915. Private Phillips was interned at Giessen, repatriated at the end of the war, and died of illness 24 November 1918. Private Phillips is buried in Hull Northern Cemetery, Yorkshire. William Howard Simpkins was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire in April 1896. He served during the Great War with the 226th Battalion (Men of the North), Canadian Infantry in the UK, and died of illness, 26 June 1917. Private Simpkins is buried in the Bramshott (St. Mary) Churchyard, Hampshire.
British War Medal 1914-20 (700831 Pte. L. Borman. 7-Can. Inf; 133050 Pte. M. H. Gilchrist. 73-Can. Inf.; 2712005 Pte H. W. Edward. C.S.E.F.; 2203380 Pte. G. Burch. C.F.C.; L-21367 A. Sjt. F. Berezovskiy. Midd’x R.) number partially officially corrected on 2nd, generally very fine or better (5) £100-£140 --- Leonard Borman was born in Northampton, England in April 1894. He emigrated to Manitoba, Canada in 1914, and served during the Great War with the 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia), Canadian Infantry on the Western Front. Borman was wounded in the right arm during the attack on Hill 70, 15 August 1917. He was evacuated to England, and underwent surgery prior to being invalided to Canada. During his stay in hospital he took up art, and after the war Borman became a well known artist and set up a studio with his wife in Pasadena, California. He died in Canyonville, Oregon, in August 1995 - aged 101 years old. Maurice Howard Gilchrist was born in Richmond, Quebec, Canada in July 1897. He served during the Great War with the 73rd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Infantry on the Western Front. Private Gilchrist was killed in action on the Western Front, 16 August 1918, and is buried La Laiterie Military Cemetery, Belgium. Harold Willard Edwards was born in Chicago, U.S.A. in December 1897. He was a Pharmacist by profession, and resided in Wolsley,Saskatchewan. He served with the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force during the Allied Intervention in Russia, and was employed as a Gunner with the Canadian Field Artillery. George Burch was born in Arundel, Sussex in October 1872. He resided in South Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and served during the Great War with the Canadian Forestry Corps Depot in the UK during the Great War. Feodor Berezovskiy initially served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War, before serving with the Middlesex Regiment (entitled to pair) in North Russia. After the war he resided at 588 Canning Street, Montreal, Canada.
Victory Medal 1914-19 (Flt. S. Lt. E. N. Chamberlain. R.N.A.S.) nearly extremely fine £60-£80 --- Ernest Noble Chamberlain was born at Warrington, Cheshire, on 14 January 1899 and joined the Royal Naval Air Service as a Temporary Probationary Flying Officer on 29 July 1917. Posted to Crystal Palace, he transferred to R.N.A.S. Eastbourne and having attended the officers course at Cranwell was confirmed in the rank of Flight Sub Lieutenant on 19 December 1917. He graduated from Cranwell, as a qualified Airplane Pilot, with his record noted that he was ‘a Good Pilot and keen officer, recommended for Seaplanes’. He transferred to the the Royal Air Force as a founder member on 1 April 1918, and was based at R.A.F. Killingholme, being granted the rank of Temporary Lieutenant. He is noted as having flown Maurice Farman, B.E. 3 and Avro aircraft, learned to fly seaplanes, practised Aerial gunnery and bomb dropping and undertaken the roles of 2nd Pilot and Observer. Chamberlain resigned his commission in order to resume his medical studies on 17 August 1918, and was granted the rank of Lieutenant. He continued in his chosen medical profession and qualified M.B. ChB., Liverpool (1921), M.D. (1924), M.R.C.P. (1925), MSc. (1928), & F.R.C.P. (1937). He qualified as a physician at Liverpool University and later became Medical Registrar at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary. By 1925 he held a senior appointment at the Royal Southern Hospital, Liverpool, as physician to outpatients and to the cardiology department. In 1933 he returned to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary and assisted to develop the Heart Department and later became the first director of the Liverpool Regional Cardiac Centre. He was also a distinguished author of several important Medical texts. He died in Merionethshire on 9 February 1974. Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient in R.N.A.S. uniform.
Victory Medal 1914-19 (9) (2. Lieut. F. S. Dawson.; 677 Sgt. G. W. Turner. R.A.; 1348 Sjt. R. Butler. R. Lanc. R.; 307716 Pte. E. Illingworth. W. Rid. R.; 46497 Pte. J. Tallentyre. Durh. L. I.; S-10434 Pte. W. Henry. Cam’n. Highrs.; 3-5122 Pte. N. Morrison. Cam’n. Highrs.; 7989 Pte. J. Ross. Cam’n Highrs.; 1367 L-Nk. Sultan Mohd, 29 Mule Cps.; RPCD-378 Bhisty Bahadur Ali.) some edge bruises, some contact marks, a few spots of verdigris, generally very fine (9) £140-£180 --- Frank Stewart Dawson was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and served during the Great War in the Inland Water Transport section. George W. Turner attested for service in the Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 6 June 1915. He was appointed Sergeant and awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 12 September 1916). Reuben Butler attested for service with the Royal Lancaster Regiment during the Great War. Appointed Sergeant, he served on the Western Front with the 1/5th Battalion from 14 February 1915. Edward Illingworth attested for the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, on 5 December 1915 and served during the Great War with both the 1/5th and 9th Battalions. He was discharged on 26 April 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B233,368. James Tallentyre attested into the Durham Light Infantry for service during the Great War on 19 November 1917. He served with the 15th Battalion and was discharged on 24 July 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B305,317. William Henry was born in Dalkeith, Midlothian and attested at Musselburgh into the Cameron Highlanders on 25 August 1914. He served on the Western Front with the 1st Battalion from 12 November 1914 and was wounded, with a Gun Shot Wound to his face, on Christmas Day 1914. (His name is misspelt as Hendry on the 1914 Star roll). Wounded again in 1916, he was transferred to the Reserve, Class WA, before being recalled and was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 13 March 1919) for his bravery at Epehy in September 1918. Sold with copied research. Neil Morrison attested for the Cameron Highlanders on 12 November 1909, serving with B (South Uist) Company. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 May 1915 and was wounded the following year. He was discharged as a consequence of those wounds on 8 August 1917 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 236,928. Sold with copied research. James Ross, a Butcher from Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, attested, aged 18, into Cameron Highlanders on 14 August 1907. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 19 December 1914 and was discharged on 13 August 1919.
Victory Medal 1914-19 (10) (1812 Bmbr. W. Ramsey. R.A.; 52260 A. W. O. Cl. 2. J. G. Kingswood. R.E.; G-72579 Pte. W. C. Morris. The Queen’s R.; GS- 86167 Pte. W. G. T. Jones. R. Fus.; 45438 Pte. W. Sharman. Linc. R.; 62148 Pte. F. Lees. W. York. R.; 64974 Pte. J. W. Garside. York. R.; 61696 Pte. E. G. Parker. Ches. R.; 20893 Pte. A. E. Boyce. Y & L. R.; 030015 Pte. J. Waters. A.O.C.) ring missing and suspension poorly replaced on Morris’ medal, ring missing on Jones’ medal, some edge bruises, contact marks and verdigris, generally very fine (10) £70-£90 --- John George Kingswood attested for the Royal Engineers on 22 September 1914 and served during the Great War on the Western Front from 24 August 1915. Appointed Warrant Officer Class 2, he was discharged due to sickness, aged 46, on 25 February 1918 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No, 333,884. William Charles Morris attested for the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment during the Great War and served with the 2/4th Battalion. Frank Lees, a Colliery Driver from Great Wyrley, Staffordshire, attested for the Royal Field Artillery on 16 January 1917 during the Great War. He transferred to the West Yorkshire Regiment and served on the Western Front with the 3rd Battalion from 1 April 1918. He received a Gun Shot Wound to his neck and arm on 29 June 1918 and was discharged on 18 February 1919. James W. Garside attested for the Yorkshire (Green Howards) Regiment during the Great War, and serving with the 6th Battalion. Ernest George Parker attested for the Cheshire Regiment on 15 January 1916 and served during the Great War. He was discharged aged 30 on 8 July 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B252325. Albert E. Boyce attested for the York and Lancaster Regiment and served during the Great War with the 6th Battalion in Egypt from 25 August 1915. He was discharged Class ‘Z’ on 28 April 1919. John Waters attested for the Army Ordnance Corps and served during the Great War. He was discharged Class ‘Z’ on 31 August 1919.
The A.F.C. awarded to Captain L. L. M. Evans, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, who was killed as a result of an engine failure whilst flying an experimental aircraft from France to England, 9 May 1919, ‘It is difficult to imagine a more tragic situation than that of those three men, uninjured and not drowned, but drifting in their life belts for hours up and down the Channel holding each other up as they died from exhaustion one after another, and were found next morning’ Air Force Cross, G.V.R., in John Pinches case of issue, this with remnants of original named label on underneath, Mint £1,000-£1,400 --- A.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1918. Llewellyn Lewis Meredith Evans was born in November 1897, and was the son of the Vicar of Brightlingsea, Essex. He was educated at St. Cuthbert’s College, Nottinghamshire, and was a Corporal in the O.T.C. Evans cut short his studies at Cambridge, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps in May 1916. He gained his ‘Wings’ in a Maurice Farman Biplane at the Military School in Birmingham, 6 July 1916, and carried out further training as a pilot at C.F.S., Upavon. Evans was employed as an Instructor and Flight Commander at various training squadrons and establishments (A.F.C.). He advanced to Temporary Captain in March 1918, and transferred to the Royal Air Force the following month. Evans was killed in a flying accident, 9 May 1919, in the English Channel near Dover while flying an experimental aircraft from France to England. The following is an extract from his college magazine, 'The Cuthbertian', September 1919 issue No 2: 'It was a great shock to all of us to read in the papers last May that Ll. L. M. Evans was one of the three airmen who were drowned so tragically in the Channel. Evans was Captain of the School during the Last Term of 1915, during which he won a History Exhibition at Magdalene College, Cambridge. The following quotation is taken from the letter of a Priest who knew him since infancy and had been a life-long friend. "In Lllewellyn Evans, S. Cuthbert's has indeed suffered the loss of one of its brightest and best. It is difficult to imagine a more tragic situation than that of those three men, uninjured and not drowned, but drifting in their life belts for hours up and down the Channel holding each other up as they died from exhaustion one after another, and were found next morning. To say exactly where his charm lay would be difficult, but it was chiefly, I think in his undisguised eagerness,and in the unaffected delight he took in everybody and everything." A few days before his death, he had announced his intention of giving up flying on the first opportunity, for he had begun to feel the tremendous strain on his nerves, and of preparing himself for holy orders which had been the ambition of his life. The School has lost one of its best sons, a standing tribute to her influence. The Church on earth has lost an ideal priest. His friends have last one whom it was a joy to have ever met. The very world is the poorer. That is to be set on the other side. His own gain, doubtless, and for us a fragrant and unsullied memory, with a lively hope of meeting him again.’ Captain Evans was buried at Springfield Holy Trinity Churchyard, Essex, and is commemorated on the Chelmsford War Memorial. Sold with the following related items and documents: a selection of items cut from recipient’s tunic including Royal Flying Corps cloth Wings, with A.F.C. horizontal striped riband underneath; 7 R.F.C. Buttons and 2 R.F.C. Collar Badges; R.A.F. Cadet Brigade bronze medal, in case of issue; War Office letter addressed to recipient at The Park, Brightlingsea, Essex, informing him of his selection for appointment as Second Lieutenant on probation in the R.F.C., dated 15 May 1916; Camp Kit List sent in conjunction with the latter letter; and 4 Photographs, including one of recipient in uniform.
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46, unnamed as issued to Indian personnel; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (534921 Pte. F. W. Allidine. 13-Hrs.); together with the planchet only of a silver Khedive’s Sudan Medal 1896-1908, silver (4890 Pte. G. Robinson. 2nd. L.F.) later engraved naming edge, with traces of brooch mounting to obverse; edge bruising, nearly very fine, the GSM better (3) £80-£100 --- Frederick Walter Allidine was born at Preston, Lancashire in 1881 and attested for the 11th Hussars at Norwich on 8 September 1900. He later transferred to the 13th Hussars, serving during both the South African War and the Great War (also entitled to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps and a 1914-15 Star trio). He was discharged in December 1920, his conduct being described as exemplary, and was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in October 1921. Sold with copied research.
A Boer War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant Major W. Marsden, Royal Field Artillery Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (5781 Serjt:- Maj: W. Marsden. R.F.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen, Transvaal (5781 S. Major. W. Marsden. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5781 S. Major. W. Marsden. R.F.A.) recently renamed; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (5781 By Q.M. Sgt: W. Marsden. R.A.) engraved naming; Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Serjt: Maj: W. Marsden. R.A.) light contact marks, generally very fine (5) £1,600-£2,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901. William Marsden was born in Sheffield in 1857 and attested for the Royal Field Artillery at Nottingham on 11 December 1877. Posted to the 3rd Brigade as a Gunner, he served with the 64th Field Battery in India from 4 February 1887 to 12 December 1888, and in South Africa during the Boer War from 6 November 1899 to 17 September 1902, with the rest of his service being at home. He was advanced Battery Quartermaster Sergeant on 1 July 1889, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 75 of 1896. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry in South Africa during the Boer War, and was discharged on 10 December 1903, after 26 years’ service. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, together with an annuity of £10, in January 1905, and saw further service during the Great War as an Army Pensioner Canteen Steward with the Territorial Forces. He died on 4 October 1918, and is buried under a C.W.G.C. headstone in Ladywell Cemetery, London. Sold with copied research.
Defence Medal (NX33200 J. E. K. Tate); War Medal 1939-45 (11) (Major T. C. F. Rolls; Rev N. H. Bland.; 241586 H. V. Dolman; C166731 J. J. Fransch; N56989 A. Majiyezi; VK 35338 E. P. Blake; NX6798 G A Prendiville; NK23101 A. Cook; R.N. H.M.S. Cey/184023 Alexander Sailor; William J. Seymour; S. Wait) the first eight officially impressed, the last three privately engraved, generally nearly very fine and better (12) £60-£80
A Great War Western Front ‘Rieux, October 1918’ D.C.M. and ‘Somme 1916’ M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant W. J. Nicholl, 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (15868 Cpl. W. J. Nicholl. M.M. 1/R. Fus:); Military Medal, G.V.R. (L-15868 L. Cpl. W. J. Nicholl. 1/R. Fus:); 1914 Star, with clasp (L-15868 Pte. W. J. Nicholl. 1/R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (L-15868 Sjt. W. J. Nicholl. R.Fus.) mounted as worn, contact marks and polished, good fine or better (5) £2,000-£2,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 12 March 1919; citation published 2 December 1919: ‘Early in the attack east of Rieux on 11th October, 1918, he assumed command of a platoon after the officer had become a casualty, and handled his men with great gallantry, coolness and initiative under very heavy machine-gun fire. By his able leadership he facilitated the advance of another unit which had been held up on the flank. Although his platoon suffered heavy casualties he held his ground and managed to establish a post which was of great assistance to the general advance.’ M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1916. Most probably an award for the Somme. William J. Nicholl hailed from Battersea, London, and served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in France and Flanders from 7 September 1914. The battalion was part of the 17th Brigade, 6th Division until October 1915, and thereafter part of the 24th Division. His M.M. was most likely an award for the Somme in 1916, and his D.C.M. a fine award for one of the battalion’s darkest days of the war. The battalion War Diary contains the following short and terse entry for 11 October 1918: ‘Rieux 11/10/18. Battalion went through a heavy barrage at Rieux when assembling for attack at 4 am. The intention was to pass through the 73rd Brigade. The Battalion was held up by enemy Machine Guns before reaching the first objective. Casualties were very heavy. It was impossible to advance against such fire owing to the nature of the country. Had there been artillery co-operation or a single tank the 3rd objective could easily have been gained. During the morning and whilst the 73rd Brigade were actually being relieved the enemy sent 1 tank forward which fired a burst of Machine Gun fire and a few shrapnel and immediately returned. During the night patrols were pushed out and the enemy having retired, posts were established on high ground west of Villers en Cauchies (sic) and St Aubert.’ Casualties: 4 Officers and 40 O.R. killed, 6 Officers and 181 O.R. wounded.’ Sold with copied research including War Diary extracts, gazette notices and Medal Index Card.
A Great War ‘Ypres, October 1917’ D.C.M. and M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant T. F. Johnson, 22nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (20999 Sjt: T. F. Johnson. 22/Manch: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (20999 Cpl. T. F. Johnson. 22/Manch: R.); 1914-15 Star (20999 Pte. F. Johnson. Manch: R.) note single initial; British War and Victory Medals (20999 Sjt. T. F. Johnson. Manch. R.) medals unmounted, toned, nearly extremely fine (5) £2,200-£2,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 20 November 1917; citation published 6 February 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a difficult situation. He reorganised the men of his platoon under heavy sniping and machine gun fire, and was slightly wounded.’ Annotated Gazette states: ‘East of Ypres, 4 October 1917’. M.M. London Gazette 26 May 1917. Thomas Frederick Johnson was a native of Craven Arms, Shropshire, and served with the 22nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment in France from 12 November 1915. He was discharged to a commission on 5 March 1919. Sold with a splendid large portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform wearing his two decorations, approx. 38x35cm, together with copied research including Medal cards, gazette entries and War Diary extract.
Imperial Service Medal, E.VII.R., Lady’s badge with wreath (Johanna Phelan) mounted on original lady’s bow riband with Elkington pin brooch, good very fine and rare to a female Irish recipient £400-£500 --- I.S.M. London Gazette 14 October 1910: ‘Johanna Phelan, Assistant Supervisor, Post Office, Dublin.’
Three: Sergeant J. Newbery, Hampshire Regiment, and a Plumber, H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., Circular issue, 1st ‘coinage head’ issue (John Newbery.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (6047 L. Sjt:: J. Newbery. 3rd. V.B. Hampshire R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (380329 Sjt. J. Newbery. 17/Hamps: R.) unit officially corrected on last, good very fine (3) £140-£180 --- John Newbery was awarded his Volunteer Force Long Service Medal in October 1903, and his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 148 of April 1920. In civilian life he was employed as a Plumber Chargeman at H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth, and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement (London Gazette 11 July 1924). Sold with copied research.
Imperial Service Medal (4), G.VI.R., 1st issue (2) (Fred Calvert, David MacKenzie); E.II.R. 2nd issue (2) (Cyril Frank Hayman, Margaret Thomson) three in Royal Mint cases of issue; Fire Brigade L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (Ldg. Fireman Henry G. Blandford) nearly extremely fine (5) £80-£100 --- Fred Calvert, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, Barrow-in-Furness. I.S.M. London Gazette 10 March 1944. David McKenzie, Postman, Inverness. I.S.M. London Gazette 31 October 1950. Cyril Frank Hayman, Technician, Class II (B), Exeter. I.S.M. London Gazette 1 July 1966. Margaret Thomson, Telephonist, Glasgow. I.S.M. London Gazette 29 November 1960.
Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (84695 Sjt. C. Burdett. R.E.) contact marks, good very fine £60-£80 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 30 May 1919 Cecil Burdett, a native of Norwich, attested for the Royal Engineers and served with the 208th Field Company during the Great War on the Western Front.
Canada Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (30372 W.O.2. S. Beard C.A.S.C.) second digit of number double-struck, polished and slightly worn, minor edge bruise, nearly very fine and scarce £400-£500 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919. Sidney Beard was born in London, England, in April 1882, and having emigrated to Canada attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Valcartier on 23 September 1914. Posted to the Canadian Army Service Corps, 1st Divisional Train, he served with them during the Great War on the Western Front, and was advanced Company Quarter Master Sergeant on 9 May 1917. For his services during the Great War he was awarded the Colonial Meritorious Service Medal; he also received a Silver War Badge. Demobilised in May 1919, he subsequently settled in London, Ontario, and died there in October 1960. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Sergeant Trumpeter J. Davies, Royal Horse Artillery Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1400. Tptr. J. Davies. R.H.A.) engraved naming; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (Sjt. Tpr. J. Davies. R.H.A.) good very fine (2) £200-£240 --- John Davies was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, in 1857 and attested for the Royal Horse Artillery at Woolwich on 22 October 1878. He served with the Artillery in India from 29 September 1879 to 7 November 1889, with the rest of his service at home, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, with Gratuity, per Army Order 43 of April 1897. He was promoted Sergeant Trumpeter on 13 January 1899, and was discharged on 17 July 1906, after 27 years and 269 days’ service. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, with gratuity, per Army Order 166 of 1928. This is his entire medallic entitlement. Sold with copied record of service and other research.
A Scarce Great War ‘Western Front 1918’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Acting Sergeant Montis Watts, North Somerset Yeomanry, one of only five such awards identified to this unit, he single-handedly rushed and captured an enemy machine-gun detachment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (165463 A. Sjt: M. Watts. 1/1 N. Som: Yeo:); 1914-15 Star (1240 L. Cpl. M. M. Watts, N. Som. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (1240 Pte. M. Watts. N. Som. Yeo.) mounted on card for display, contact pitting from Star, otherwise very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1918; citation published 21 October 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This non-commissioned officer when in advance of a patrol fell in with an enemy machine-gun detachment. Without the slightest hesitation he rushed them alone, capturing both gun and team. He is at all times keen and courageous.’ Montis M. Watts hailed from Queen Camel but was born nearby at Sparkford, Somerset, younger son of Frank and Ethel Watts. He served in France with 1/1 North Somerset Yeomanry from 30 May 1915, winning one of just five D.C.M.s identified as having been awarded to the regiment during the Great War. The regiment formed part of the 6th Cavalry Division but was disembodied in April 1918. His elder brother Clement won the M.M. and Italian War Cross as a Corporal in the 3rd Devons. Sold with copied research including gazette entries, D.C.M. Card and Medal Index Card.
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (2) (Serjt. Jacob Clayton, Staff; 17799 Sgt. A. Fincher, R.E.) traces of brooch mounting to reverse of first, with copy suspension; the second a somewhat later issue, nearly very fine (2) £60-£80 --- Joseph Clayton was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1862 on the recommendation of the Barrack Manager at Cottonera, Malta. He was at the time Superior Barracks Sergeant, and had prior service with 1/23rd Foot. Alan Fincher was born in 1874 at Ashperton, Herefordshire. He enlisted as a Sapper into the Royal Engineers at Hereford in December 1882, and was promoted Corporal in November 1891, Sergeant in April 1896, and Company Sergeant Major in February 1902. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1901, and was discharged in December 1903.
Army L.S. & G.C., (2); V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (17197 Q.M. Sejt. A. Murray. R.E.); G.VI.R, 1st issue, Regular Army (2870578 Gnr. W. Will. R.A.) suspension loose and contact marks on first, otherwise both nearly extremely fine (2) £120-£160 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901 Alexander Murray, a Joiner from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, and a member of the 1st Peterhead Artillery, attested for the Royal Engineers at Aberdeen on 1 November 1881. Appointed Quartermaster Sergeant on 1 January 1895, he served in South Africa during the Boer War from 11 November 1899 to 28 October 1902, during which time he was awarded his LSGC under Army Order 156 of 1900, and appointed Sergeant Major on 29 November 1900. Awarded a QSA (CC, OFS, Tvl) and a KSA with the two usual date clasps, he was Mentioned in Despatches in Lord Robert’s despatch, in the London Gazette of 10 September 1901. He was discharged at his own request, on 1 November 1907. Sold together with an Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes medal named to “Bro. William Will. Raised 1-5-70, Pinhoe Lodge, 6931’.
Militia L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (8994 Pte. G. Cleverley. Hamp: Regt. Mil.) about extremely fine £400-£500 --- One of only 8 Militia Long Service and Good Conduct Medals awarded to the Hampshire Regiment. George Cleverley was born in Portsmouth and attested there for the Hampshire Regiment Militia 19 February 1881. He was awarded his Militia Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 138 of July 1905. Sold with copied Attestation papers.
Pair: Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant E. J. Dewey, Hampshire (Carabiniers) Imperial Yeomanry Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (163 S.Q.M. Sjt: E. J. Dewey. Hamp: Cbnrs: I.Y.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (100001W.O. Cl.II. E. J. Dewey. Hamps. Yeo.) minor official correction to unit on latter, nearly extremely fine (2) £400-£500 --- Ernest J. Dewey was born in Portsmouth in 1868. He entered the family coal business which he later took over when his father died. This he managed, with the assistance of his wife during his Service days, until he retired at the age of 79. He joined the Hampshire Carabiniers Yeomanry in 1888. With them he won many prizes and trophies for shooting and horsemanship. During his period of service he was amongst those who went over to the Isle of Wight to ride in Queen Victoria’s funeral procession. During the Boer War he remained in England employed as an Instructor. During the Great War he was transferred to the Royal Regiment of Dragoons. He was awarded the Imperial Yeomanry Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 27 of 1905 and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 65 of 1921. Sold with copied research including a copied group photograph which includes Dewey.
A rare Great War Posthumous D.C.M. group of four to Sapper A. W. Kay, 57th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who was decorated for endeavouring to rescue a wounded man under very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, at Kemmel, near Ypres on 12 March 1915; Sapper Kay was killed in the attempt and so was the wounded man he went out to save Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (23921 Sapr. A. W. Kay. 57/F. Co. R.E.); 1914 Star, with clasp (23921 Sapr: A. W. Kay. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (23921 Sapr. A. W. Kay. R.E.) together with Memorial Plaque (Arthur William Kay) in its card envelope with Buckingham Palace enclosure and outer O.H.M.S. transmission envelope addressed to his father, and named Memorial Scroll (Sapr. Arthur William Kay, D.C.M. Royal Engineers) extremely fine (4) £2,000-£3,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in endeavouring to rescue a wounded man under very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Sapper Kay was killed in the attempt and so was the wounded man he went out to save.’ Arthur William Kay was born in Birmingham and joined the army before the war. He landed in France on 16 August 1914, with the 57th Field Company, Royal Engineers, as part of the original British Expeditionary Force. He was killed in action on 12 March 1915, whilst attempting to rescue a wounded comrade, 23356 Sapper H. S. Regan, who unfortunately also died. The War Diary for 57th Field Company R.E. indicates that from March 7th to March 13th the unit involved in laying out and supervising the digging of new trenches near Kemmel. During that period five other men were reported as being wounded but Kay and Regan were the only two fatalities. Both men are commemorated in Wytschaete Military Cemetery, their graves originally known to have been in the R.E. (Beaver) Farm cemetery but could not be found when these small cemeteries were amalgamated after the armistice. The cemetery is located about 7k south of Ypres. Kay was aged about 20 when he died and was the son of Mr & Mrs A. E. Kay of 49 Cartland Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham. Sold with copied research including photographs of the headstones of both men buried close to each other.
Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (914711 Gnr. C. R. Cambridge. R.A.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Walter Dew); National Fire Brigades Union Long Service Medal, silver, edge officially numbered ‘1791’, with 20 Years top riband bar, and three Additional Five Years award Bars, unnamed as issued, generally very fine (3) £60-£80 --- Charles Robert Cambridge was discharged to the Territorial Army Reserve on 6 June 1946, and probably had Second World War Service. Walter Dew is noted, in research accompanying the medal, as the son of Detective Chief Inspector Walter Dew, who was involved in the hunt for both Jack the Ripper and Dr. Crippen, and arrested Dr. Crippen in Canada.
Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Canada, with Second Award Bar (Pte. A. Tremblay Rl. 22e R.) suspension slack, nearly very fine £60-£80 --- Adrien Tremblay was born in Quebec City, Canada in May 1908. He served with the Voltigeurs de Québec, April 1934 - January 1940, before transferring to the Royal 22ième Regiment. Tremblay served during the Second War (entitled to C.V.S.M. and War Medal), and advanced to Company Sergeant Major (awarded Efficiency Medal in 1944, and Second Award Bar in 1950). He subsequently served as Acting Company Quarter Master Sergeant with the Royal Canadian Engineers, and died at Ste. Foy Hospital in June 1956. Sold with copied service papers.
Special Reserve L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3167 Cpl. J. Davison. D.C.O. Hants & I. of W. R.F.R.A.) first digit of number slightly double-struck, good very fine, scarce to unit £400-£500 --- One of only 3 Special Reserve L.S. & G.C. Medals awarded to the Duke of Connaught’s Own Hampshire and Isle of Wight Royal Field Reserve Artillery. J. Davison was awarded his Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 6 of January 1909.
Royal Observer Corps Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue, with Second Award Bar (Chief Observer P. A. Elsom.); together with two R.O.C. lapel badges, good very fine £100-£140 --- P. A. Elsom was awarded his Royal Observer Corps Medal in 1955, and the Second Award Bar in 1968 while serving with No. 3 Group.
The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s badge, 1st type (1892-1939), circular badge with white enamel cross with heraldic beasts in angles raised above the background; Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Thomas Charles Miller); Police L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (Const. James F. Kivlahan); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue, 2 clasps, The Great War 1914-18, Long Service 1929 (Inspr. Alfred H. Hawkes); Fire Brigade L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (Fireman John F. Nelson); Service Medal of the Order of St. John, unnamed as issued; Voluntary Medical Service Medal (Lilla G. Greenwood); Women’s Voluntary Service Medal, unnamed as issued, generally good very fine (8) £100-£140
A Great War ‘Mesopotamia 1917’ D.C.M. and M.S.M. group of six awarded to Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major Samuel Gibson, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, late Manchester Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7755 A.R.S. Mjr: S. Gibson. 6/R. Lanc: R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6648 Pte. S. Gibson, Manch: Regt.); 1914-15 Star (7755 C.Q.M. Sjt. S. Gibson. R. Lanc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7755 W.O. Cl.1. S. Gibson. R. Lanc. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (7755 A.R.S. Mjr: S. Gibson. 6/R. Lanc: R.) mounted for display, the 1914-15 Star sometime gilded, light contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (6) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 29 August 1917: ‘For gallantry and devotion to duty. He has done consistent good work under fire, and has set a fine example of duty to those under him.’ M.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917 (Mesopotamia). Samuel Gibson was born in Manchester and enlisted into the Manchester Regiment on 14 March 1901, aged 19 years 8 months. He served with the Manchester Regiment in South Africa from 9 November 1901 to 8 April 1903 (Queen’s medal with 3 Clasps). He transferred to the Royal Lancaster Regiment on 26 February 1903, and served in India from February 1904 for nearly five years, returning home to the U.K. on 7 January 1909, when he transferred to the Army Reserve as a Lance-Sergeant. He was appointed paid Lance-Sergeant upon mobilisation into the 6th King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment on 13 August 1914, and promoted to Sergeant nine days later. He was appointed Company Quarter-Master Sergeant in February 1915 and proceeded overseas with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 13 June 1915. Promoted W.O. 2 and appointed Company Sergeant-Major in August 1915, he was appointed Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major the following month and served in that capacity with the 6th Battalion in Mesopotamia from 13 February 1916, until August 1918. He was finally discharged on 17 November 1919. Sold with copied research including discharge papers, 6th Battalion War Diary for 1917 in Mesopotamia, and a copied photographic image of the recipient in uniform with his wife and infant child.
Liverpool City Police Good Service Medal, silver, reverse engraved ‘Presented by Watch Committee to Con. 199D. J. B. Jones 19-8-44’, with top silver riband bar; Association of Professional Fire Brigade Officers Long Service Medal, silver, 1 clasp, 10 Years (Supt. J. F. Collins. 1913.); National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal, bronze, 1 clasp, Ten Years, the edge officially impressed ‘10559’ and engraved ‘Sidney Fennell’, the reverse engraved ‘Gellygaer’; National Fire Brigades Union Long Service Medal, silver, 1 clasp, Five Years, with top ‘Twenty Years’ riband bar, the edge officially impressed ‘1141’, and the reverse engraved ‘Presented to C. H. Chinnery, Woodford Fire Brigade, 1914’; together with a Professional Fire Brigade Association lapel bade, generally very fine (5) £80-£100
Pair: Private W. E. Berry, 20th Middlesex (Euston Square) Rifle Volunteer Corps, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in Bronze for saving life at Great Yarmouth in August 1880 Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (2504 Pte. W. E. Berry. 20 / Midd’x. V.R.C.) engraved naming; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (William Ed. Berry. Aug. 26, 1880. Duplicate) with integral top riband buckle, the RHS Medal a Duplicate, light scratches to first and suspension claw crudely re-affixed on latter, nearly very fine (2) £80-£100 --- William Edward Berry was born on 1857 at Brompton, Middlesex. He was a commercial traveller, and at the age of 21, was commended for an award for saving life at Great Yarmouth and was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal (R.H.S. Case No. 21079). The Norwich Mercury of 6 November 1880 reported, under the heading ‘Reward for Bravery’, that: ‘Mr. W. Berry son of Inspector Berry of Gravesend, and late Inspector of the Great Yarmouth Police Force, has been awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze medal for rescuing a young man named Bartram, who was nearly drowned while bathing on the beach last summer.’ In the 1911 Census he is recorded as a commercial traveller for a galvanised iron manufacturer and was residing at Brownhill Rdoad, Catford. Sold with copied research.
A Royal Humane Society group of three awarded to Private J. T. Young, Rifle Brigade, for his gallantry in saving life at West Cowes, Isle of Wight in November 1892 British War and Victory Medals (1036 Pte. J. Young. Rif. Brig.); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (James Thomas Young, 26th. November 1892.) with integral top bronze riband buckle, minor edge bruising, the last polished, nearly very fine (3) £200-£240 --- R.H.S. Case No. 26,259: ‘Whilst sculling a boat between 11 and 12 a.m. on 26 November 1892 at West Cowes, Isle of Wight, Sidney Peach, aged 18, slipped and fell into the water 20 yards from shore. James Thomas Young, a shipwright from West Cowes, jumped from the pier and swam 20 yards, and with great difficulty caught Peach and brought him safely to shore.’ Sold with a photographic image of the recipient in uniform, wearing the Royal Humane Society riband.
Guild of St. George Life Saving Medal, 33mm, silver, the obverse depicting the Pistrucci design of St. George slaying the dragon, the reverse showing Christ and his disciples in a boat during a gale (see Mark, Ch.4, vv.35-41), the edge engraved ‘From T. E. Harvey, Esq., M.P., to H. Alexander for saving life 21.4.1912’, with loop ands ring suspension; together with three related medals, in gilt, silver, and bronze, all unnamed, generally very fine (4) £60-£80 --- Thomas Edmund Harvey (1875-1951) served as Member of Parliament for West Leeds from 1910 to 1918, and was Master of the Guild of St. George from 1934 to 1951.
Shipping Federation Medal for Meritorious Service, 1st (1910) type, silver (A. Hellman 12th. January 1922) unmounted, small test-mark to edge, nearly extremely fine, rare £300-£400 --- Arthur Hellman, an Able Seaman in the S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was, along with Second Officer Robert Spencer; Boatswain Martin Wennerburg; Able Seaman Arthur Edward Clerk; and Donkeyman Henry Fudge, all of the Dalton, awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Bronze; the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society Medal in silver; and the Shipping Federation Medal for Meritorious Service. ‘On the 12th January 1922, the S.S. Tidal of Cardiff, laden with coal, was in distress about 8 miles off the Corton Lightship, near Lowestoft, the vessel having shipped tremendous seas, which caused her to take a heavy and increasing list. In response to signals of distress the S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne came to her assistance, and although the weather conditions were very bad the master of the Dalton decided to try to launch a boat. Volunteers were called for, and after the Dalton had been manoeuvred about 50 yards to the windward of the Tidal a life-boat, in charge of Mr Robert Spencer and manned by the seamen mentioned, was launched and succeeded in rescuing the crew and passengers consisting of ten men, two women, and three children, and safely transferred them to the Dalton. The rescuing boat had only gone some 30 yards on the return journey when the Tidal foundered.’ (The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scrlett refers). A piece of Plate (Salver) value £15 was awarded by the Board of Trade to James J. Shaw, Master of the Dalton, and a pair of Binoculars value £8.2.6 to Robert Spencer, Second Officer. Henry Fudge was subsequently selected for the ‘Emile Robin’ award for 1922.
Royal Life Saving Society Award of Merit, silver (T. E. Harvey 1932); Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Cross (3) (A. Watson July 1954; T. Hawkins; H. Collins 1974); the first with five date bars for 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959, and with top R.L.S.S. riband bar; Royal Life Saving Society Proficiency Medal, bronze (A. Watson June 1953), with four date bars for 1955, 1956, 1957, and 1958, and with top R.L.S.S. riband bar; together with five R.N.L.I. badges, including those for the President of the R.N.L.I. Ladies’ Life-Boat Guild; and the Chairman of the R.N.L.I., generally very fine (10) £70-£90
Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Swimming Proficiency Medal, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1929), the reverse inscribed ‘Presented by the Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society to Doris M. Parkes, Garston Ch. of E. School, for proficiency in swimming exercises with the object of Saving Life, 1/10/30’, with top floreate silver riband bar, in fitted case of issue, good very fine £40-£50
French Life Saving Society of the Oise, silver medal, 32mm, the reverse engraved ‘L. J. Dubois 2 Février 1868’; French Life Saving Society of the Seine, silver medal, 31mm, the reverse engraved ‘E. L. A. M. Roussel Mbre. Honre. 1885’; French Life Saving Society of the Aisne, silver medal, 40mm, the reverse embossed ‘Prix Arthur Lacroix’; together with a French General Society of Life-Savers bronze medallion, the edge numbered ‘170’; a French Medal for Hygiene, bronze-gilt, the reverse inscribed ‘Eugéne Pétel, Paris 1902’; a French Ministry of Social Affairs Medal of Honour, silver-gilt, ‘Mme. E. Petel 1970’; and a Dutch National Union of Royal Societies Medal for those decorated with life-saving awards, bronze, generally very fine (7) £100-£140 --- Louis Jules Dubois was a member of the fire brigade of 29 years, and was awarded the Life Saving Society of the Oise silver medal for saving the life of the mayor’s wife who dell into the Canal of Ourcy, and also the life of a child who had fallen into a well.
French Medal of Honour for Saving Life, Ministry of the Marine and the Colonies, small silver medal, 8th issue, by Barre, 33mm, Marianne on obverse; 6th model reverse inscribed ‘A Wolter Walford Matelot Anglais, Courage et Devouement 1874.’ on cartouche flanked by supporters, with ball and ring suspension, silver mark to edge, pawn-broker’s mark to obverse, suspension re-affixed, otherwise nearly extremely fine £80-£100 --- Wolter Walford and five other fishermen from Colchester saved the crew of the French three-master Lion off Harwich on the night of 29-30 November 1874.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Acting-Sergeant J. Firth, 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in action in Flanders on 4 June 1916 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7522 Cpl. J. Firth. 1/W. York: R.); 1914 Star (7522 Pte. J. Firth. 1/W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7522 A-Sjt. J. Firth. W. York. R.) medals unmounted, the Victory Medal with some verdigris, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1916; citation published 21 June 1916: ‘For consistent gallantry and good work throughout, notably when he carried messages at a critical time under heavy fire.’ John Firth entered the French theatre of war as a Private in the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, on 8 September 1914. He was killed in action as an Acting-Sergeant in an attack to capture and hold ‘Old British Trench’, near Ypres, on the night of 3rd/4th June 1916. He was aged 30 years, the son of Squire and Martha Firth, of Liversedge, West Yorkshire, and is buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. It was in this cemetery that Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian Army Medical Corps wrote the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ in May 1915. Sold with copied research including Medal Index Card, gazette notices, War Diary extracts covering his last action and photographs of his gravestone and cemetery.
French Humane and Shipwreck Society Medal, 41mm, silver, the obverse portraying Humanity protecting a woman and child, with a shipwreck and lighthouse in the background, the reverse engraved ‘A M. John Donavan pour sauvetage 11 Septembre 1885 Boulogne sur Mer’, silver mark to edge, with claw and small ring suspension, edge bruising, very fine £60-£80
The ‘life-saving’ group of thirty-one miniature dress medals attributed to Colonel R. A. Munro, Royal Canadian Air Force, and a Canadian ‘Adventurer Extraordinaire’ Order of Canada, Member’s badge; Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s badge; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with Overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45; Canadian Centennial Medal 1967; Jubilee 1977; Canadian 125th Anniversary Meal 1992; Poland, Republic, Order of Virtuti Militari, Fifth Class; Polish Cross of Bravery; International, Canadian Order of Icarus Senior Companion’s badge; Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem Knight Grand Cross badge; Japanese Red Cross Society Gold Order of Merit badge; Nobility Order of the Niadh Nask of Ireland Member’s badge; Companionate of Merit of St. Lazarus Knight Commander’s badge; Membership Medal of the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, with three rosettes on riband; Companion of the Order of Flight (Edmonton); Member of the Order of Polaris (Yukon Territory), with clasp; French Liberation Medal; European Combatant Cross; Japanese Red Cross Society Member’s Medal; Commemorative ‘Castello Lanzun’ Inauguration Medal; Life Saving, Royal Life Saving Society Recognition Badge, with top ‘R.L.S.S.’ riband bar; Royal Life Saving Society of Canada (Alberta and North West Territories Branch) Meritorious Service Medal; Royal Life Saving Society of Canada (Alberta and North West Territories Branch) Benefactor’s Medal, with clasp; Royal Life Saving Society of Canada (Alberta and North West Territories Branch) Diamond Jubilee Medal 1984; Portuguese Life Saving Society ‘Protector Benfeitor’ Medal; Imperial Japanese Sea Disaster Rescue Society Medal of Merit; Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Member’s badge, all mounted for display purposes; together with the recipient’s full-sized Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York Medal, silvered, the reverse engraved ‘Colonel R. A. Munro’, with ‘December 1971’ suspension bar; and a St. John Ambulance Priory of Canada Centennial Commemorative Medallion 1993, generally nearly extremely fine (33) £400-£500 --- Raymond Alan Munro was born in Montreal, Quebec, on 14 July 1921, and was educated in Canada and the United States. He commenced flying at Toronto, Ontario, in 1937 and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940. He was posted to 145 Squadron, R.A.F., and became a Spitfire pilot. He survived three major crashes and was returned to Canada and medically discharged in March of 1942. He subsequently became a commercial pilot, law student, investor, balloonist, and parachutist. his name appears in the Guinness Book of World Records twice, firstly for the most northerly parachute descent (landing on the North Pole in 1969), and secondly for piloting the first hot air balloon across the Irish Sea in 1971. He was admitted to Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973, and was appointed to the Order of Canada the following year. Munro was awarded the Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York’s Medal for saving human life in peril in December 1971. Whilst slying an amphibious aircraft alone in bad weather, he spotted an overturned boat in Pelham Bay, New York, some one and a half miles from shore. He landed in rough water, dived in, and brought one man to the aircraft and revived hi. He then attended to another man and laid him across the float of the aircraft and taxied to shore and safety. The recipient of numerous honours, awards, and life saving medals, Munro died on 26 May 1994. His full-sized medals are housed in Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. Sold with extensive copied research.
The emotive and extremely well-documented P.D.S.A. Dickin Medal for Gallantry - “The Animals’ V.C.” - and R.S.P.C.A. Red Collar for Valour awarded to War Dog Rob, for his gallantry and outstanding service during the Second World War, during which he undertook 20 parachute descents while serving with Infantry in North Africa and the 2nd S.A.S. Regiment in Italy People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals Dickin Medal for Gallantry, bronze, the reverse inscribed ‘“ROB” War Dog No. 471/322 Attached 2nd. S.A.S. Regt. February 1945 A.F.M.C. No. 998 11’, pierced with ring suspension, and attached by riband to the recipient’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Red Collar For Valour leather collar, this complete with integral R.S.P.C.A. For Valour medallion, with accompanying campaign ribands for the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star and Italy Star, good very fine (lot) £20,000-£30,000 --- Instituted by Maria Dickin, C.B.E., the founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, in 1943, the Dickin Medal has since been awarded on 71 occasions - 32 of them going to pigeons, 34 to dogs, 4 to horses, and 1 to a cat. The vast majority (and all those awards to pigeons) were granted in respect of acts of bravery in the Second World War, but more recently a number of awards have been made to Arms and Explosives Search Dogs of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps for their gallantry in Iraq and Afghanistan. P.D.S.A. Dickin Medal for Gallantry awarded 8 February 1945. The accompanying P.D.S.A. (The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) and A.F.M.C. (Allied Forces Mascot Club) certificate states: ‘This is to certify that Rob, War Dog No 471/322 has been awarded the Dickin Medal for Gallantry for outstanding service including 20 parachute descents while serving with Infantry in North Africa and SAS Regiment in Italy. Signed M. E. Dickin (Founder). Inscription to the reverse reads: ‘War Dog No 471/322 “Rob” took part in the landings in the North African campaign with an Infantry unit. Since September 1943, he has served with a Special Air Force Regiment and took part in operations with that Unit in Italy, most of which were of an unpleasant nature. He was used as patrol and guard over small parties who were lying up in enemy occupied territory. There is no doubt that his presence with these parties saved many of them from being discovered, and thereby captured or killed. The Dog has made over 20 parachute descents.’ Rob, a black-and-white collie-retriever, was bought as a puppy in 1939 for 5 shillings, and lived his early years with the Bayne family of Tetchill, Ellesmere, Shropshire, as their farm dog and pet. When Rob was still a small puppy, he went on an exploration beyond the boundaries of Tetchill and was brought home by John Brunt, then a schoolboy at Ellesmere College. John became a frequent visitor, taking Rob for walks when time allowed. After leaving college John joined the army and led a distinguished career until he was killed in action. On the day that Rob received the ‘animal V.C.’, it was announced that John had been posthumously awarded the V.C., a strange but sad coincidence that the boy and a dog who roamed the Shropshire fields together should both have received the highest honour. At the time of receiving the award, his owner, Edward Bayne, told the Oban Times how caring he had been as a farm dog: ‘He used to help settle the chicks in their houses at night, picking them up in his mouth when they had strayed away - he had a wonderful mouth - and tucking them in under their mothers.’ The Baynes’ son, Basil, had learnt to walk by holding onto Rob’s tail or clutching his coat, and if the child was crying Rob put his front paws up on the pram, soothed him and made him laugh. Rob’s owners volunteered him as a War Dog in 1942 and he was signed up on 19 May of that year. Following action in the North Africa campaign, from September 1943 Rob served with the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), the first war dog to do so. With the regiment, he took part in operations in Italy, parachuting in on sabotage missions. According to official War Office records, Rob completed more than 20 parachute descents, 3 of them operational. An account included with the lot gives further details of his war-time exploits: ‘At nearby Sousse, the 2nd S.A.S., then virtually unknown, had their training base. Captain Burt was a very worried man. The commanding officer was away ill and stores were disappearing in a most disconcerting way. Captain Burt asked the holding section for 2 dogs. One developed skin disease and was returned - the other was Rob, who proved more than equal to the task. He soon became race conscious and pilfering Arabs became honest men over night! It was from there that the 2nd S.A.S. practised their parachute drops and one day the men smuggled Rob up in the plane for a ride. It was all they could do to prevent him from jumping out after the men. So they borrowed a harness from a nearby American base who were trying to train dogs to jump and on the next flight up, again took Rob with them. This time Rob jumped and on landing the men ran to him to release him from the parachute. He had made a perfect drop, falling silently without panic through the air. It was only at this point that the commanding officer was informed of the fact that Rob had been airborne and from then on his training began in earnest.’ The account tells how Rob later completed three separate sabotage missions behind enemy lines. A letter from Jennifer Hodges, daughter of Victor (Sam) Redhead, Rob’s S.A.S. handler, confirms Redhead’s account of how Rob would ‘eagerly parachute ahead of my father and his S.A.S. group and then bring them together as soon as possible after they had landed’. The letter continues: ‘While the soldiers were sleeping Rob would patrol round them and lick their faces to bring them to instant wakefulness at the slightest sound. On one mission, he went missing for five weeks but in that time he rounded up all the widely scattered members of his 2nd S.A.S. patrol and they returned home safely’. (letter included with lot refers). Rob was the first War Dog attached to the S.A.S. to be awarded the ‘animal V.C.’, and was reportedly the only War Dog to have been nominated for the Dickin Medal by the War Office. He was presented with his Dickin Medal by Major the Hon. W. P. Sidney V.C. M.P. (later Viscount de L’Isle, V.C., K.G., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O.), the Anzio beachhead hero, at a ceremony at the Prisoner of War Funds Exhibition in London on 8 February 1945. Demobilised on 27 November 1945, Rob led the Wembley Parade of 32 war dogs on 16 July 1947 in front of 10,000 spectators, being the only dog present to hold both the Dickin Medal and the R.S.P.C.A. Red Collar and Medallion for Valour. Following his wartime exploits, Rob was returned to the Baynes and settled back into family life on the farm, occasionally making public appearances to help raise funds for returning Prisoners of War and their families. In February 1948 he disappeared for five days with his companion, the Baynes’ other dog, Judy, a spaniel. Extensive press coverage accompanied the disappearance, with some papers expressing the fear that Rob might have been kidnapped, The Daily Graphic describing him as ‘the no. 1 canine hero of the war’. Five days later he was found by a neighbouring farmer, his face gashed and suffering from exhaustion, with Judy standing guard over him, his collar and ribbon missing. It appeared that he had been caught in a rabbit hole. His damaged collar, now missing its buckle, was later recovered, an...
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