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Lot 295
Quantity of First World War British medals to include a medal pair comprising of 1914-15 star and 1914-19 victory medal impressed to K.11926 O.J.Dowding STO.1.R.N and a First World War British medal trio comprising 1914-15 star, 1914-18 war medal and 1914-19 victory medal impressed to 1281 Gnr.J.Bremmer R.F.A. (5)
Lot 169
Quantity of medal ribbons and cap badges to include royal Rhodesia regiment with queens crown, blues and royals, south Africa Q service corps K dienst korps, Royal army ordinance corps, Royal military academy, south African air force cap badge, ww2 France and Germany star and king George V silver jubilee medal miniature etc
Lot 346
The Second Afghan War Medal awarded to Sergeant R. Fitzgerald, 66th Foot, who was killed in action at the battle of Maiwand on 27 July 1880 Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (1615. Sergt. R. Fitzgerald. 66th Foot.) minor edge bruising, therefore very fine £2,000-£2,400 --- Richard Fitzgerald attested for the 66th Regiment of Foot and served with them in Afghanistan. He was killed in action at the battle of Maiwand on 27 July 1880, ‘one of the grandest examples of heroism in the annals of war’, where the Regiment lost its Colours and 10 officers and 275 other ranks were killed. He was buried on the battle field where he fell, and is commemorated on the ‘Maiwand Lion’ Memorial in Forbury Gardens, Reading.
Lot 260
A very fine and scarce 12-clasp M.G.S. medal awarded to Private Henry Campbell, who served with the 52nd Foot at Corunna, throughout the Peninsula war in Spain and France, and afterwards at Waterloo Military General Service 1793-1814, 12 clasps, Corunna, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse (Henry Campbell, 52nd Foot.) original ribbon, two minor edge bruises, otherwise good very fine £8,000-£10,000 --- Provenance: Sotheby, February 1921; Needes Collection 1925, sold Glendining, July 1940; Dix Noonan Webb, December 2013 and May 2019. Only 87 medals were issued with 12 clasps including 18 to the 52nd Foot. Henry Campbell was born in the Parish of Donamore, Dungannon, Co. Armagh, and enlisted into the 52nd Foot at Dublin on 10 May 1805, aged 27, a weaver by trade. He served with the 52nd Foot at Corunna, throughout the Peninsula war in Portugal, Spain and France and at the Battle of Waterloo. He was discharged at Dublin on 24 August 1821, on reduction of the establishment of the Regiment, then aged 43. After a period at ‘half time on out Pension’, he enlisted into the Second Royal Veteran Battalion at Newry on 25 December 1821, until discharged at Enniskellen, in consequence of the reduction of the Battalion, on 24 April 1826. At the time of enlisting into the 2nd R.V.B. he gave his place of birth as Tynan, Armagh, but dates of service all tie up as the same man. Having served a total of 22 years 286 days, he was subsequently resident at Londonderry and died on 18 January 1856. Sold with full research including discharge papers for the 52nd and 2nd R.V.B., with full and detailed Muster research.
Lot 198
Four: Private A. G. Armstrong, Royal Sussex Regiment British War and Victory Medals (276 Pte. A. G. Armstrong. R.E.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (6/276 Pte. A. G. Armstrong. R. Suss. R.); Defence Medal, mounted for wear in the incorrect order, the TFWM marked ‘Replacement’, very fine and better (4) £80-£100 --- Albert George Armstrong a pre-War member of the Royal Sussex Regiment, Territorial Force, served in India from 1916 during the Great War with the 2/6th (Cyclist) Battalion. He saw later service in Valdivostock and Siberia during the Russian Civil War, before returning home in February 1919. Sold with copied research.
Lot 451
Victory Medal 1914-19 (3) (J. C. Ferrier. V.A.D.; W. E. Power. V.A.D.; D. Vale. V.A.D.) nearly very fine (3) £70-£90 --- Jessie Clark Ferrier served as a Nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment during the Great War on the Western Front from 24 April 1917 to 11 June 1919. Winifred Evelyn Power was born in India in 1893, and later settled with her family in Cheltenham. She served as a Nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 November 1915 to 8 December 1915, and was noted as ‘not sufficiently useful’. She died in 1980. Daisy Vales served as a Nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 August 1918 to 24 April 1919.
Lot 199
Five: Private S. W. Yelland, Hampshire Regiment, later Devonshire Special Constabulary British War and Victory Medals (28999 Pte. W. S. [sic] Yelland. Hamps. R.); War Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Samuel W. Yelland); together with a Hampshire Regiment cap badge and a Devon Special Constable lapel badge, nearly very fine and better Pair: J. W. Hartnell, Devonshire Special Constabulary Defence Medal, with Home Office enclosure, in named card box of issue, addressed to ‘J. W. Hartnell Esq., “Cherions” Culmstock Road, Hemyock, Cullompton, Devon’; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, 1 clasp, Long Service 1953 (James W. Hartnell.) in named ‘Devonshire’ card box of issue, extremely fine Pair: Mrs Elsie D. Horrell, Civil Defence Defence Medal, with Home Office enclosure, in named card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. Elsie D. Horrell, 117 Elborough Street, Southfields, SW18’; Civil Defence Long Service Medal, E.II.R., unnamed as issued, with Home Office enclosure, in Royal Mint case of issue, extremely fine Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., Circular issue, 2nd ‘Coronation robes’ issue (Theodore Locke.); Voluntary Medical Service Medal, erased, with British Red Cross Society enclosure named to ‘Mr. Henry Walters, V.A.D. Officer, Dorset’, and dated 1. 1. 1983; together with a selection of British Red Cross Society V.A.D. lapel badges, very fine (lot) £100-£140
Lot 362
India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (71540 Br. Cr. Maker J. M. Greenway No. 1 Mtn. By R.A.) light contact marks, otherwise very fine £100-£140 --- John Mathew Greenway was born in the Parish of Doderell, near Worcester, and enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Hilsea on 16 March 1889, aged 19 years 7 months. He served in India from March 1890 to March 1896, and from February 1898 to January 1910. Having passed the Collar Maker’s course at Cawnpore in September 1893, he was appointed and promoted Bombardier Collar Maker in April 1895, and promoted to Saddler Sergeant on 31 March 1905. He was discharged at Gosport upon termination of his second period of engagement on 15 March 1910. Sold with copied discharge papers which confirm medal for North West Frontier 1897-98, and Good Conduct Medal (with Gratuity) in Army Order 242 of 1907.
Lot 134
Five: Chief Petty Officer A. Marriage, Royal Navy Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (A. Marriage. A.B., H.M.S. Thetis.); 1914-15 Star (194339, A. Marriage, L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (194339 A. Marriage. P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (194339 A. Marriage, C.P.O. H.M.S. Orion.) light pitting from Star, generally very fine and better (5) £240-£280 --- Austin Marriage was born in Plaistow, Essex, on 20 September 1881, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 5 July 1897. He served in H.M.S. Thetis from 1 July 1899, being advanced Able Seaman in that ship on 1 January 1901, and was promoted Leading Seaman on 9 March 1905. He served during the Great War in H.M.S. Vindictive from the outbreak of War until 30 June 1916, and was advanced Petty Officer in H.M.S. Furious on 1 November 1918, and Chief Petty Officer in the same ship on 5 March 1919. Serving in H.M.S. Orion from 1 October 1920, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 19 May 1921, and was shore pensioned on 25 September 1921. Sold with copied service papers and other research.
Lot 116
Four: Private W. Wilson, 72nd Highlanders, later Royal Highlanders Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (58.B/339 Pte. W. Wilson. 72nd. Highrs.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (58B/339 Private W. Wilson 72nd. Highlanders); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (1506. Pte. W. Wilson. 1/R. Hrs.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, mounted for wear, pitting and light contact marks, traces of lacquer, nearly very fine (4) £700-£900 --- Sold with copied medal roll extracts.
Lot 583
Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (George Soanes. 24. March. 1898.) with integral top riband bar, and housed in Elkington leather damaged case of issue, nearly extremely fine £100-£140 --- R.H.S. Case no. 29,352: ‘On the 24th March 1898, the smack Betsey was driven on shore at Corton, near Lowestoft. Communication was opened with the rocket apparatus, but in taking the crew to land two of them were so exhausted that they fell out of the breeches buoy. Instantly Pye, Soanes and Smith sprang into the boiling surf and succeeded in taking them to shore, together with a third man who had been washed off the wreck.’
Lot 147
An Anglo-Boer War D.T.D. pair awarded to Vechtgeneraal J. N. H. Grobler, Ermelo Kommando Anglo-Boer War Decoration for Loyal Service (Dekoratie voor Troue Dienst) 1899-1902 (V. Genl. J. N. H. Grobler.); Anglo-Boer War Medal 1899-1902 (V. Genl. J. N. H. Grobler.) minor edge bruising, nearly extremely fine (2) £1,800-£2,200 --- Johannes Nicolas Hermanus Grobler was born in Lydenburg on the 27 February 1864, and having settled in Ermelo was appointed District Kommandant in 1899. Under his leadership, the Ermelo Kommando were among the first to cross the Natal Border after the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. Together with his kommando, Grobler took an active part in the battles at Dundee, Modderspruit, Colenso, Spionkop, Bosrand, and Pietershoogten, amongst many others. From Natal his kommando was sent to the Orange Free State. After the battle of Donkerhoek he was recalled to Ermelo, and after Dalmanutha he returned again to the Highveld, where the decision was made to conduct another raid on Natal. The Ermelo Kommando was also included and deployed to the south, where they were involved at Melmoth, Itala and other consecutive battles. After returning to the Ermelo district on 23 October 1901, Grobler was promoted to Vechtgeneraal. He subsequently took an active part in many smaller battles and skirmishes and had many a narrow escape. His kommando finally downed arms near Ermelo on 9 June 1902. Grobler married Gertruda Uys, with whom he had three children, including Johannes Nicolas Grobler. He died following blood poisoning to his right leg on 18 December 1913; his medals were posthumously presented to his son. Sold with two photographs, the first depicting Grobler’s Kommando; the second the remnants of his farm, the farmhouse having been destroyed under Kitchener’s ‘slash and burn’ policy; copied service papers; and other research, including a photographic image of the recipient. For the medals awarded to the recipient’s son, and other family members, see lots 187, 219, and 443.
Lot 58
The unique Great War 'Gibraltar Naval Hospital' R.R.C. and 'Plymouth Naval Hospital' Second Award Bar pair awarded to Head-Sister-in-Chief M. L. Hughes, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt, gold, and enamel; British War Medal 1914-20 (Hd. Sister M. L. Hughes. Q.A.R.N.N.S.) mounted court-style for display, with lady’s bow riband to the RRC, good very fine; the award of a Second Award Bar to the RRC unique to the QARRNS for the Great War (2) £1,400-£1,800 --- Only 8 Royal Red Crosses First Class and 1 Second Award Bar were awarded to Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service during the Great War. R.R.C. London Gazette 16 December 1916. R.R.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 9 May 1919. Miss Mildred Lloyd Hughes was born at Lampeter, Cardiganshire, on 9 March 1879, and trained at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, joining Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service on 28 December 1908. Posted initially to Haslar Hospital as a Nursing Sister on 15 September 1909, she was advanced Superintending Sister in 1911, before being posted to Gibraltar Hospital on 14 January 1913. She served in Gibraltar during the first two years of the Great War, where the hospital was, from the start of May 1915 onwards, dealing with the influx of casualties from Gallipoli. For her services dealing with both the administrative and medical needs of the wounded, she was awarded the R.R.C. Following the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula Miss Hughes was posted back to the U.K. in April 1916, and on 22 November 1916 was posted to Plymouth Naval Hospital as Head Sister. For her services at Plymouth Naval Hospital she was awarded the unprecedented Second Award Bar to the R.R.C. After the Great War she continued to serve in this position at Plymouth, being promoted Head-Sister-in-Chief on 14 March 1929. She retired on 9 March 1934 and died in Cheshire in 1962.
Lot 133
A rare campaign service group of nine awarded to Paymaster Captain J. M. L. Cusack, Royal Navy, who was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Russian Order of St. Anne for his services in H.M.S. Yarmouth at the Battle of Jutland, in addition to receiving the Czech War Cross Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Clerk J. M. L. Cusack, H.M.S. Doris); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Jubaland (J. M. L. Cusack, Clerk, R.N., H.M.S. Magicienne); 1914-15 Star (Payr. J. M. L. Cussack, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Payr. Lt. Cr. J. M. L. Cusack, R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Russia, Order of St. Anne, 3rd Class breast badge, with swords, by Eduard, St. Petersburg, 36 x 36mm., gold and enamels, with manufacturer’s name on the reverse, ‘56’ gold mark on eyelet and kokoshnik mark on sword hilts; Czechoslovakia, War Cross, mounted as worn, together with a mounted set of related miniature dress medals, the St Anne in gold but with damage to reverse, and two ribbon bars, all contained in a leather carrying case, generally good very fine (9) £2,000-£2,400 --- James Meade Loughnan Cusack was born in Kilkenny in September 1880 and entered the Royal Navy as an Assistant Clerk in January 1898. Joining H.M.S. Doris a few months later, and having passing his Clerk’s examination, he witnessed active service off South Africa in the Boer War, including time ashore in Cape Colony (Medal & clasp). Next joining the Magicienne, he added a rare Africa General Service Medal for Jubaland to his accolades, and was advanced to Assistant Paymaster in September 1901. By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Cusack was serving as a Paymaster in the cruiser Yarmouth, in which capacity he was present at the battle of Jutland. As part of the Third Light Cruiser Squadron, and in the company of her consort Falmouth, she fought several duels, scoring some hits on the Lutzow and Derfflinger, and possibly the Seydlitz too; one of these, according to an officer on the bridge, making ‘a topping target and it was very pleasant to see salvo after salvo of our 6-inch hitting her’. Indeed so enthusiastic was the Yarmouth’s gunnery department that new ‘ammunition was sent up the hoists with so much energy as to accumulate a dangerous amount at the top’. In Jellicoe’s subsequent despatch (London Gazette 15 September 1916, refers), Cusack was cited for good services in action and recommended for early promotion. He was duly appointed Staff Paymaster and, later still, awarded his 3rd Class Russian Order of St. Anne ‘for distinguished service rendered at the Battle of Jutland’ (London Gazette 5 June 1917). Moreover, he was awarded the Czechoslovakian War Cross (London Gazette 26 August 1921), an extremely rare accolade in terms of British recipients, let alone an R.N. officer. Cusack ended the Great War as a Paymaster Commander in the cruiser Suffolk. Having then served on the China Station in the gunboat Bee in the mid-1920s, he was placed on the Retired List as a Paymaster Captain in September 1930. Recalled on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, he served at the R.N.H. Chatham and in H.M.S. Flora, a parent ship at Invergordon. He died in Honiton, Devon in September 1961, aged 80 years. Sold with copied research.
Lot 496
Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, in card box of issue; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, in card box of issue; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal (4), G.V.R., 2nd issue (James Bradbury); G.VI.R., 1st issue (2) (William J. Griffith; Ernest N. Ward); E.II.R., 2nd issue (John W. Metcalfe) good very fine (6) £80-£100
Lot 608
London & North Western Railway St. John Ambulance Association First Aid Examination Medal, English Division, silver and enamel, for 12 Years’ Service (2) ‘G. Hughes 1923; William Sumner 1923’; North Eastern Railway Centre St. John Ambulance Association Cross for Meritorious First Aid Service, bronze, unnamed; British Railways 15 Years’ First Aid Efficiency Medal (2), 1st type, silver and enamel ‘William D. Payne 1952 N.288’; 2nd type, skeletal silver badge ‘N.E.263 William Blyth 1964’, in card box of issue, good very fine (5) £80-£100
Lot 615
A Selection of Medal Clasps. A small miscellaneous selection, comprising: Inkermann, Sebastopol Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (2 - one slightly damaged), Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (2), Tirah 1897-98, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (2), Diamond Hill, Waziristan 1919-21, Mahsud 1919-20, North West Frontier 1930-31, Iraq; together with copy Mooltan and Goojerat; and four top silver riband bars, generally in used condition, with some of the clasps mounted in blocks (lot) £100-£140
Lot 334
Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (Ens. A. J. Goldie, 30/Regt.) officially engraved naming, lightly polished, otherwise nearly extremely fine £600-£800 --- 99 medals for 1866 issued to the 30th Regiment, including 17 Officers and 4 late issues. Alexander John Goldie was born on 17 May 1846. He was commissioned Ensign by purchase on 20 June 1865, and Lieutenant by purchase on 14 October 1868. Appointed Instructor of Musketry on 10 August 1872, whilst stationed at Fort Widley (Canada), he was then promoted to Captain on 21 August 1878, and later appointed Adjutant (Captain) Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, and Adjutant (Major), 3rd Lancashire Rifle Volunteers on 1 June 1885. In 1892 Goldie was District Inspector of Musketry at Cork, and retired on half-pay at Lieutenant-Colonel, 30th Regiment, on 17 May 1894. He was made Substantive Lieutenant-Colonel (reserve of officers list) on 23 May 1894. Sold with copied medal roll for the 30th Regiment.
Lot 452
Victory Medal 1914-19 (E. E. F. Tennant) very fine £50-£70 --- Eleonora Elisa Fiaschi Tennant was born in Sydney, Australia, on 18 December 1893. In 1911 she married a merchant banker, Ernest Tennant. She served during the Great War with the French Red Cross and post-War became politically active, unsuccessfully contesting the Silvertown constituency as the Conservative Party candidate at both the 1931 and 1935 general elections. Together with her husband, she formed a friendship with the German ambassador to the U.K., Joachim von Ribbontropp, with her politics becoming increasingly far-right and anti-Semitic; she also became a supporter of General Franco after a visit to Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Post-War, and after a contentious divorce, she returned to Australia where she made a living from farming, before returning to the U.K. She died in Kettering, aged 69, on 11 September 1963.
Lot 620
Renamed Medal: Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 copy clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Kirbekan (Lieut: H. W. Boyce. 19th. Husrs.) renamed; together with a Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs ‘Bell Medal’, bronze, unnamed, light pitting, nearly very fine (2) £60-£80 --- Hugh Wollcombe Boyce was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on 22 March 1861 and was was commissioned Second Lieutenant from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, into the 19th Hussars on 14 January 1880. Promoted Lieutenant on 1 July 1881, he served with the Regiment in Egypt and the Sudan during the Nile Expedition in 1885, before transferring to the 6th Dragoon Guards as a Captain. He fell whilst riding ‘Lady Ava’ in the Free Hunters Steeplechase at Sandown Racecourse on 28 February 1890; kicked in the temple by another horse, he suffered a fracture of the skull, and died of his injuries that night. Sold with copied research.
Lot 124
Seven: Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Stewart, 7th and 13th Rajputs, Indian Army India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (Lieutt. J. A. Stewart, 7th Bl. Infy.); China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (Captn: J. A. Stewart, 7th Rajput.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-14 (Major J. Stewart, I.A. H.M.S. Perseus.); 1914-15 Star (Maj. J. A. Stewart. 13/Rajputs); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt-Col. J. A. Stewart); Delhi Durbar 1911 (Major J. A. Stewart, 7th D.C.O. Rajputs 12-12-1911.) mounted as worn, generally very fine and rare (7) £2,600-£3,000 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 30 June 1916. John Alexander Stewart was born on 5 June 1868, and was first commissioned into the Manchester Regiment on 22 August 1888. He transferred to the Indian Army on 1 June 1893, and was appointed to the 7th Rajputs, with whom he served in the relief of Chitral 1895 (Medal with clasp), the relief of Pekin 1900 (Medal with clasp), and in the operations on the North West Frontier in the Mohmand country 1908 (Medal with clasp). He served aboard H.M.S. Perseus in command of a detachment of 7th Rajputs during the anti-gun running operations in the Persian Gulf from 1909 to 1914, and was thus one of only 17 Army and police officers to receive this Naval medal. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the 13th Rajputs on 22 August 1914, and commanded the regiment from 17 November 1916 to 5 June 1920, when he retired on attaining 52 years of age. Note: Stewart is also entitled to the medal for ‘North West Frontier 1908’. Sold with an article from the O.M.R.S. Journal on the background to the award of the N.G.S. ‘Persian Gulf’ to certain army and police officers (17 medals awarded) by Major M. C. Spurrier. He confirms Major Stewart as having been borne in H.M.S. Perseus in 1912 and being shown in the Indian army lists of April and July 1912 as being ‘at Jask’.
Lot 627
An Australian Forces pair awarded to Warrant Officer K. H. W. Willert, Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps Australia, Defence Force Service Medal, with clasp (213321 Willert K. H. W.); National Medal (213321 K. H. W. Willert) mounted court style as worn, extremely fine (2) £140-£180 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2009. Kevin Henry Walter Willert was born on 18 September 1942. He enlisted into the Australian Regular Army on 28 September 1959, based at the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka, and Infantry Centre, Ingleburn, being allocated to the Australian Infantry Corps. As a Sergeant he was an Instructor at the 1st Recruit Training Centre and attended the Tropical Warfare Advisor’s Course, at Canungra, between May and July 1967. Latterly with the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps at Bandiana. He was discharged on 27 September 1980.
Lot 88
A Second War B.E.M. awarded to Sergeant Issaka Moshi, West African Artillery British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (GC.12601 Sgt. Issaka Moshi. W.A.A.) edge bruise, otherwise good very fine £100-£140 --- B.E.M. (Military) London Gazette 8 February 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma and on the Eastern Frontier of India.’
Lot 51
The C.B. and Naval General Service Medal pair awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Plenderleath, 49th Foot, a Captain in H.M.S. Ardent under Nelson at Copenhagen in 1801 and in command of his Regiment at Stoney Creek and Chrystler’s Farm in 1813 The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamel, hallmarked London 1815, maker’s mark ‘IN’, complete with wide swivel-ring suspension and gold ribbon buckle; Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Copenhagen 1801 (Chas. Plenderleath) the first with minor damage to a few petals of green enamel wreath and a small blemish to one reverse arm, the second lightly lacquered, otherwise extremely fine and very rare (2) £12,000-£16,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Glendining, February 1953 (Lots 133 and 134). The small Army Gold Medal awarded to Plenderleath for the battle of Chrystler’s Farm was formerly in the David Spink Collection and now resides in the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa; Dix Noonan Webb, December 2004. Twenty-three medals were issued to the 49th Foot for Copenhagen, together with two to the Rifles and one to the Artillery. The 49th Foot, under Colonel Brock, together with two companies of the Rifle Corps, and a detachment of Artillery, were embarked aboard various ships of the fleet, under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, with Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson as second-in-command. It was during this engagement that Nelson famously ignored Parker’s signal of recall when, with his glass to his blind eye, he said, ‘I have a right to be blind sometimes... I really do not see the signal.’ Charles Plenderleath served as a Captain in the 49th Foot on board the Ardent 64 at Copenhagen, in which battle she formed one of the squadron under the orders of Lord Nelson, and compelled four of the Danish flotilla, one of which was the Jutland of 60 guns, to surrender. The Ardent received considerable damage, and sustained a loss of 29 men killed and 64 wounded, not counting about 40 others who were rendered hors de combat but who were not included in the casualty returns. Early on the following morning, Lord Nelson went on board the Ardent to thank her commander, Captain Thomas Bertie, officers, and people, for their conduct and exertions on the preceding day. In the American war of 1812-14, Plenderleith for the most part had command of the 49th Foot, including the actions of Stoney Creek and Chrystler’s Farm, in both of which actions he was wounded. The following extracts are taken from an account of Stoney Creek given by Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon, 49th Foot, in a private letter, dated 7 June 1813, to the Rev. James Somerville, of Montreal: ‘Major Plenderleath came immediately after to that portion of the line which I had quitted, and, with the men I had left in charge of a sergeant, and a few others, he rushed forward against the guns and took four of them - two and a tumbril were brought away. The others could not be, our men having bayonetted the horses. Major Plenderleath pushed on with about 20 men, following the main road, the men stabbing every man and horse they met with... This handful of men with Major Plenderleath took at this dash, besides the two generals [Chandler and Winder], five field officers and captains, and above 100 prisoners, and brought them off.’ ‘I am of opinion that, had not Major Plenderleath made the dash he did, the Americans would have kept their ground and our ruin would have been inevitable, but finding our people so far advanced in their centre, they broke and fled in every direction and their fire ceased at a time when our line was, as it were, entirely routed.’ Although the Americans claimed Stoney Creek as a victory, their defeat at Chrystler’s Farm was complete. Plenderleath again commanded the 49th and was again wounded. Five Lieutenants of the 49th were also wounded, as well as five men killed and three sergeants and thirty-four men wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Plenderleath subsequently received a C.B. and the Field Officers’ Gold Medal for the action at Chrystler’s Farm. Lieutenant-Colonel Plenderleath was placed on the Half Pay of the 49th shortly afterwards and saw no further active service. He died in 1854.
Lot 237
Four: Captain L. C. Saville, Royal West African Frontier Force and Gold Coast Defence Force War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Mr L. C. Saville) ‘Mr’ possibly added later; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Gold Coast, with ‘E.II.R.’ Second Award Bar, unnamed, with integral top riband bar, mounted court style for wear; together with a mounted set of four miniature dress medals similar to the above (except E.D. is a ‘G.VI.R.’ first issue, has the ‘Territorial’ top riband bar, and is without the Second Award Bar), good very fine (4) £400-£500 --- Provenance: John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2009. Leonard Charles Saville was born in Deptford on 8 September 1903. On 17 March 1919 he joined the Post Office and was engaged as a Clerk in the Accountant-General’s Department of the G.P.O., London. On 22 June 1927 he was appointed an Assistant Accountant in the Posts and Telegraph Department of the Gold Coast and he arrived to assume his duties there on 6 July 1927. Promoted Accountant in 1938, and on 30 September 1938 he was appointed Assistant Controller of Posts, having previously served for a time as Acting Chief Accountant and Acting Senior Assistant Controller of Posts. In 1943 he moved to Palestine and was appointed Chief Accountant, Posts and Telegraphs. He remained there until 1947 and for his services in latter years was awarded the General Service Medal. On 17 October 1947 he was appointed Assistant Postmaster General and Chief Accountant of the General Post Office in Hong Kong. He served as Postmaster General from 1950 until retiring in 1958. Saville was appointed a Cadet in the Gold Coast Defence Force on 6 June 1928. He was appointed a Second Lieutenant on 1 April 1930 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 6 June 1931 and Captain on 16 September 1935. During the Second World War he served with the Royal West African Frontier Force; he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (Gold Coast) in 1942, this announced in the Gold Coast Gazette of 14 November 1942. He was awarded a clasp notified in the gazette of 29 May 1954. Sold with copied research.
Lot 67
An Order of St. John Serving Sister’s group of three awarded to Sister E. M. King, St. John Ambulance Brigade The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Sister’s badge, silver and enamel; Defence Medal; Service Medal of the Order of St. John, with 5 Additional Award Bars (28637 A/Sis. E. M. King, No. 1 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1944) re-engraved naming, mounted court style for wear, white enamel damage to first, nearly very fine and better (3) £40-£50 --- Provenance: Eric Smith Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, November 2009.
Lot 501
Imperial Service Medal (3), E.VII.R., Star issue (W. Soper) in Elkington, London, case of issue; G.VI.R., 1st issue (John Wotherspoon) in Royal Mint case of issue; E.II.R., 2nd issue (Cecil Elwyn Jones) in Royal Mint case of issue; Civil Defence Long Service Medal, E.II.R., unnamed as issued, in Royal Mint case of issue, nearly extremely fine (4) £120-£160 --- I.S.M. London Gazette, 9 November 1904: Soper W., Boilermaker, Portsmouth.
Lot 56
A fine Second War ‘Tobruk’ Brigade Major’s D.S.O., Order of St. John, group of eight awarded to Major G. Bestford, 6th South African Infantry Brigade Headquarters, 2nd South African Division, a veteran of the Great War who was wounded in action whilst serving in the ranks of the 20th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish) on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme. Subsequently commissioned in to the 25th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Irish), Bestford joined the South African Police after the Great War. He was mobilised for service during the Second War, and was taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Tobruk on 21 June 1942. Bestford returned to the South African Police after the War, rose to District Commandant of Durban, and played a prominent role during the Royal Visit to South Africa in 1947 Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated ‘1946’, with integral top riband bar; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s, breast badge, silver and enamels; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. G. Bestford.) severe edge bruise to BWM; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal, Second War campaign awards all officially impressed (SAP195478 G. Bestford) mounted as originally worn, and subsequently additionally mounted on card for display, generally nearly very fine or better (8) £2,800-£3,200 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 19 December 1946: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services at Tobruk in 1942.’ The original recommendation, given by Brigadier F. W. Cooper, O.C. 6 SA Bde, states: ‘From 10 Jan 42 to 21 Jun 42 Major Bestford was my [Brigadier F. W. Cooper, O.C. 6 SA Bde] Brigade Major. During that period he carried out his duties with entire disregard for his own comfort under what at times were very trying and dangerous conditions. He was mentioned in despatches for his work during operations at Sollum and Halfaya in Jan 42. During the period the brigade was attached to 1 S.A. Div. at Gazala - Mar - Apr 42 and during the period prior to the fall of Tobruk - Apr - Jun 42 his conduct was an example to all the work he put in over the six months, especially during the two vital days prior to the surrender, entitles him, in my opinion, to a D.S.O. for which I recommend him.’ Order of St John, Serving Brother London Gazette 2 January 1953. M.I.D. London Gazette 15 December 1942: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November, 1941, to April, 1942.’ George Bestford was one of six sons born to Thomas Bestford, and was born in Gateshead, County Durham, in October 1897. He was educated at the local Higher Grade Secondary School, and at the age of 17 falsified his age to enlist in the 20th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish) on 26 October 1914. Bestford advanced to Sergeant, and served with the Battalion in the French theatre of War from 9 January 1916. The Battalion served as part of the 102nd Infantry Brigade on the Somme, and Bestford was wounded in action on 1 July 1916. On the latter date the Battalion were fighting in tandem with the 4th Tyneside Scottish: ‘Owing to the artillery barrage and the intense machine gun fire and the distance (800 yds) of no man’s land to be traversed, the two battalions were almost wiped out, though the positions of the dead showed that they pushed on to the enemy’s second line of trenches before they were annihilated.’ (Battalion War Diary refers) On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 20th Battalion suffered casualties of 16 officers and 337 other ranks killed, and 10 officers and 268 other ranks wounded. Bestford was amongst the latter, and was evacuated back to the UK. His South African Police service files show that he subsequently received a G.O.C.’s Divisional Commendation in recognition of his gallantry on 1 July 1916. Whilst recuperating from his wounds, Bestford would have received news that his brother William had been killed in action whilst serving with the Royal Engineers on 21 July 1916. The following month, Bestford transferred as Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant to the 29th (Reserve) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was subsequently posted to the 3rd Battalion, and then attached to the 84th Training Reserve Battalion at Hornsea. Major A. E. Ken recommended Bestford for a commission in March 1917: ‘This N.C.O. came very much under my observations, while at Home he attended several Courses of Instruction and on each one did very well indeed, on one occasion he came under the notice of the Brigadier who complimented him through his C.O. on his success... On Service he was even better, as a leader of men he is a success, I never knew him to shirk any danger or fatigues, and his coolness under Shell and Rifle fire is splendid. I regret to say his C.O. [Lieutenant Colonel C. Sillery] was killed as I knew that he had marked Sgt. Bestford out for distinction and no officers being left (All either killed or wounded) there was no one to put the recommendation forward. I think with a little training at a Cadet School he will make a very good Officer.’ After the requisite time with an Officer Cadet Battalion, Bestford was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers in October 1917. He tragically lost another sibling when his eldest brother, Robert, was killed in action serving with the Durham Light Infantry on 1 December 1917. He was then posted to France for service with the 25th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Irish). After the War, he was attached as a Signalling Officer to the 2/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service in Syria and Egypt. Bestford advanced to Lieutenant in May 1919, and relinquished his commission in March of the following year. He sailed for Natal, South Africa, in April 1921, and joined the South African Police in June 1921, and advanced from Constable to Captain, District Officer and Station Officer by June 1940. He was appointed Captain, 1st South African Police Battalion, Union Defence Force later that month, and was appointed to the Staff Headquarters, 6th Infantry (Police) Brigade. He embarked with the 2nd South African Division, and arrived in Egypt in June 1941. Serving across North Africa, at the Battles of Sollum and Halfaya, he was promoted Major in February 1942. Bestford served as Brigade Major, 6th South African Infantry Brigade Headquarters, and under constant attack from Rommel’s Afrika Korps, the Allied Forces retreated from the Gazala Line throughout May and June 1942. The Garrison at Tobruk became isolated and the majority of the 2nd South African Division was captured there en masse as Prisoners of War on 21 June following General Orders to surrender. Unable to escape, Bestford was taken prisoner by the Italians and interned at Campo 75 (Bari). He was subsequently transferred to Germany, and interned in Stalag VII-A, Stalag V-C, and finally at Oflag XII-B at Hadamar. Repatriated in April 1945, he was recommended retrospectively for the D.S.O. Bestford afterward returned to South Africa, and there resumed his employment with the South African Police. He was appointed Commanding Officer, Police Training Depot, Pretoria. During the Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to South Africa in 1947, he had the honour of commanding the mounted escort and the Guard of Honour on special occasions throughout the tour. He was presented with his D.S.O. by the King at Voortrekkerhoogte, ...
Lot 183
Pair: Second Lieutenant F. G. Notton, Welsh Regiment, late 20th (County of London) Battalion (Blackheath and Woolwich), London Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 27 August 1917 1914-15 Star (1495 Pte. F. G. Notton. 20-Lond. R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (2 Lieut. F. G. Notton.) extremely fine (2) £80-£100 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2008. Frank Gwyn Notton was born in Aberdare, Glamorgan on 12 January 1894. He attested for service with the 20th Battalion London Regiment on 7 November 1913, aged 19 years, 9 months, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 9 March 1915. He was wounded in action on 22 May 1916, suffering a shell wound to the right wrist. Notton was discharged to a commission on 29 October 1916, appointed a Second Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion Welsh Regiment. He was killed in action on 27 August 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Sold with copied service papers, m.i.c., newspaper extracts and other research.
Lot 49
The outstanding Great War Tigris Flotilla operations posthumous V.C., Euphrates Flotilla operations D.S.O. awarded to Lieutenant-Commander E. C. Cookson, Royal Navy: severely wounded in winning the latter distinction for extricating the armed launch Shushan out of an Arab ambush in May 1915, he paid the ultimate price for his gallantry in the river gunboat Comet four months later, when, under a storm of point-blank fire, he leapt aboard a Turkish dhow brandishing an axe - a fellow officer later observed ‘there were more bullet holes in him than they cared to count’ Victoria Cross, reverse of suspension bar engraved ‘Lt.-Comdr. E. C. Cookson, D.S.O., Royal Navy’, reverse of Cross dated ‘28 Sep. 1915’, with an old fitted case, the lid gilt inscribed ‘V.C.’; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, both housed in a old fitted glazed display case, loose centre on the last, otherwise extremely fine (2) £180,000-£220,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Sotheby’s, January 1977, when sold by Cookson’s direct descendants. V.C. London Gazette 21 January 1916: ‘The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant-Commander Edgar Christopher Cookson, D.S.O., R.N., in recognition of the following act of most conspicuous gallantry during the advance on Kut-el-Amara: On 28 September 1915, the river gunboat Comet had been ordered with other gunboats to examine, and if possible destroy, an obstruction placed across the river by the Turks. When the gunboats were approaching the obstruction, a very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire was opened on them from both banks. An attempt to sink the centre dhow of the obstruction by gunfire having failed, Lieutenant-Commander Cookson ordered the Comet to be placed alongside, and himself jumped on to the dhow with an axe and tried to cut the wire hawsers connecting it with the two other craft forming the obstruction. He was immediately shot in several places and died within a few minutes.’ D.S.O. London Gazette 13 September 1915: ‘Lieutenant-Commander Cookson was conducting a reconnaissance up a creek of the Euphrates, west of Qurnah, in the armed launch Shushan on 9 May 1915, when he was heavily attacked by Arabs concealed in the reeds. Although severely wounded early in the action, he resumed command after his wounds had been temporarily dressed, and succeeded in most ably extricating the vessel from a most perilous position under heavy rifle fire.’ Edgar Christopher Cookson was born at Cavendish Park, Tranmere, Cheshire, in December 1883, the younger son of Captain William Edgar de Crackenthorpe Cookson, R.N. Receiving his early education at Hazelhurst, Frant, he entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in Britannia in September 1897, where, according to his official service record, he quickly came to the notice of his superiors: ‘Tried by the Portsmouth Magistrates for creating a disturbance at a music hall and using obscene language in the streets: he should not have been out of the college, being confined to college at the time. Deprived of three months time and Their Lordships severe displeasure expressed. To be reported on the end of three months.’ Here, then, early signs of an adventurous character whose youthful transgressions were quickly brought to heel by his seniors, and he duly passed out as a Midshipman with an appointment in H.M.S. Jupiter in the Channel Squadron. Removing to the Dido in early 1900, he witnessed active service off China during the Boxer Rebellion (Medal), and was advanced to Sub. Lieutenant in February 1903. And by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was serving as a recently promoted Lieutenant-Commander in the sloop Clio in the Far East. Immediate D.S.O. Ordered to Basra to reinforce the Navy’s small flotilla operating on the Euphrates and Tigris in Mesopotamia in early 1915, the Clio and her consort, Espiegle, were largely incapacitated from further operations owing to the shallowness of the waters that had to be navigated, and, in their place, a remarkable ‘gallimaufry of vessels’ was formed, a flotilla best described by Colonel Sir Mark Sykes: ‘There are paddle steamers which once plied with passengers and now waddle along with a barge on either side, one perhaps containing a portable wireless station and the other bullocks for heavy guns ashore; there are once respectable tugs which stagger along under the weight of boiler plating - to protect them from the enemy’s fire - and are armed with guns of varying calibre; there is a launch which pants indignantly between batteries of 4.7s, looking like a sardine between two cigarette-boxes; there is a steamer with a Christmas-tree growing amidships, in the branches of which its officers fondly imagine they are invisible to friend or foe. There is also a ship which is said to have started life as an aeroplane in Singapore, but shed its wings, kept its propeller, took to water, and became a hospital. And this great fleet is the cavalry screen, advance guard, rear guard, flank guard, railway, general headquarters, heavy artillery, line of communication, supply depot, police force, field ambulance, aerial hangar and base of supply of the Mesopotamian Expedition.’ Among this ‘great fleet’ was the newly commissioned stern-wheel river launch Shushan and, in April, Cookson was appointed to her command. Nor did it take long for him to make his mark - Deeds That Thrill the Empire takes up the story: ‘It was in the early days of the advance on Kut-el-Amara, when the advanced sections of our forces had reached the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates; and before pushing on along the valley of the former river, it was necessary to ascertain whether any considerable body of enemy troops had withdrawn up the Euphrates with the intention of coming down upon our lines of communication after the main force had passed on. The task of carrying out the reconnaissance fell to Lieutenant-Commander Cookson and his armed launch, the Shushan. The little steamer plugged her way up the Euphrates for some distance, a sharp look-out being kept on either side; but no sign of the enemy was discovered. Presently Cookson came to a tributary branching off to the left, and, impelled more by instinct than anything else, slackened the speed of the lumbering launch and steered her out of the main stream between the closer banks of the creek. On either side the tributary was flanked by a dense growth of rushes, which gently swayed in the wash of a passing vessel. For some distance the Shushan pushed on, the men on deck scanning every yard of the banks as they passed, still without finding a trace of a living soul. The Lieutenant-Commander was about to give up this particular part of his search as useless, and had already given orders preparatory to putting the vessel about for the return journey, when suddenly from among the rushes on both sides of the creek there burst forth a furious fusillade of rifle-fire. The Arabs, lying concealed amidst and behind the dense-growing rushes, could not be seen; but the guns, machine guns and rifles on board the Shushan instantly got to work and rained a steady stream of bullets along the banks. With all possible haste, but still all too slowly, the cumbersome Shushan was turned round in mid-stream, and off she set at the best of her poor speed to break out of the hornet’s nest into which she had stumbled. The enemy had disposed themselves well, but fortunately the launch had been well fitted up for the work she had to do,...
Lot 71
A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private H. Grundy, Royal Engineers, late Royal Artillery Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (443934 Sapr: H. Grundy. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (2113 Gnr. H. Grundy. R.A.) good very fine (3) £600-£800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette, 3 June 1919; citation published 11 March 1920: ‘For consistent gallantry and devotion to duty while acting as signaller, particularly during the period 17 September to 11 November 1918. The splendid example he set his comrades by his fearlessness in always volunteering for dangerous work in the communications between brigade headquarters and batteries under the heaviest shell fire and most trying conditions was most praiseworthy.’ Harry Grundy attested into the Royal Artillery for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front initially with them, before transferring to the Royal Engineers and serving with the 42nd East Lancashire Divisional Signalling Company. Sold with copied research.
Lot 476
General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (23686254 Cpl. H. Mc.Quaid. A & SH.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Pte. L. D. Rebeiro, A.B. Ry. Bn., A.F.I.) impressed naming; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (1468622. Sjt. J. K. Dott. D.L.I.) in named card box of issue, number officially corrected on first, slight edge bruising to second, generally good very fine (3) £80-£100 --- D. L. Rebeiro served with the Assam-Bengal Railway Battalion (Auxiliary Force, India).
Lot 224
Four: Petty Officer A. L. Pearson, Royal Fleet Reserve 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (JX.166515 (Ch.B.25024) A. L. Pearson, P.O.B.D.S.), this last with edge bruising, worn, the remainder good very fine Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (SS.117490 (Po.B.13401) J. Hamilton. Sto.1. R.F.R.) good very fine (5) £60-£80
Lot 642
India, Republic, a miscellaneous selection of medals, including Paschimi Star (2); General Service Medal, 1 clasp, Naga Hills (3); Raksha Medal; Sangram Medal; Samanya Seva Medal, 1 clasp (3), Kutch Khargil 1965; Manipur (2); Sainya Seva Medal, 1 clasp, Jammu and Kashmir (2); Special Service Medal, 1 clasp, Shrilanka; 20 Years Long Service Medal; 9 Years Long Service Medal (2), all named as issued to a variety of different units, generally nearly very fine and better (lot) £80-£100 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
Lot 223
Five: Stoker L. Ricards, Royal Navy 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Minesweeping 1945-51 (KX148423 L Ricards Sto RN) with named card box of issue, mounted as worn, the last a somewhat later issue, nearly extremely fine (5) £140-£180
Lot 148
Pair: Commander E. T. Inman, Royal Navy, a distinguished Destroyer Captain who was killed in action on 22 January 1917 China 1900, no clasp (Lieut. E. T. Inman, R.N., H.M.S. Dido) rank and first initial officially corrected; British War Medal 1914-18 (Commr. E. T. Inman, R.N.) minor edge bruising, generally very fine and better (2) £400-£500 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2006. Edward Tyrell Inman, who was appointed a Naval Cadet in July 1892, served aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Dido from May 1899 to November 1902, a period that witnessed his advancement to Lieutenant and active service off China during the Boxer Rebellion - He added the Royal Humane Society’s Certificate on Vellum to his accolades in September 1905, for rescuing a boy from the military moat at Cosham. A Commander by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Inman initially served in the battleship Dreadnought, aboard which ship he was present at the ramming of the U-29 on 18 March 1915. But shortly afterwards, as recounted by his friend. Lieutenant Lionel Dawson, R.N., he was appointed to the command of the torpedo boat destroyer Mentor at Harwich: ‘Poor “Ted” Inman! It was his great desire to serve in destroyers, and he often discussed it with me. A very shy and reserved man, he unbent with difficulty, was not universally popular, and knew it. I saw a lot of him at Harwich during the ensuing eighteen months, and he was killed on his bridge during a night action soon after I left there. We had always got on together in the Dreadnought, and became intimate friends when he came to destroyers. He loved the life, and brought to his new experience all the throughness and conscientiousness towards his duty that had marked him as a gunnery and executive officer. I know that in him I lost a good friend and the Service an able officer. Like many who fell, I do not think that he had any great confidence in his survival of the War.’ One of Inman’s more notable destroyer actions - a contretemps in the Heligoland Bight on the night of 17-18 August 1915 - is described in Endless Story: ‘The senior officer of the escorting destroyers was Commander E. T. Inman, in the Mentor, and when darkness came the divisions had been disposed on each quarter of the Princess Margaret, a minelayer. It was a very dark night, calm but heavily overcast. Shortly before reaching the area to be mined, the force sighted a division of hostile destroyers, which at once fired torpedoes and then made off at full speed in the darkness. They had fired at the Princess Margaret, which, with her huge hull and three funnels, was a conspicuous and tempting target. The torpedoes luckily missed her; but one unfortunately hit the Mentor, the resulting explosion completely blowing away her bows under water ... The Mentor, meanwhile, seemed to be completely disabled, and found herself quite alone within a few miles of the enemy coast, and in water which generally teemed with German patrol vessels. The lower portion of her bows had been completely blown away, until the deck of the forecastle, from about the foremost gun, hung vertically down towards the water with the stem-head submerged. Realising the danger of capture, Inman destoyed his confidential books. Then, with his guns and torpedoes ready for instant action, he set the rest of his men to work to shore up bulkheads, place collision mats, and do all in their power to make the ship tolerably seaworthy for the 360-mile passage home. Luckily the weather was fine, and showed every prospect of remaining so. While this work was still in progress, Inman sighted some ships in the darkness and wished to ask them to stand by him. To his great annoyance, the smashing of lights and lamps made communications impossible, and the vessels steamed on and vanished in the darkness. It was not until some days later that he blessed the failure of his lights. Those ships were German cruisers. They passed him within a few hundred yards. Had he shown a solitary gleam he would have been sunk outright. Her temporary repairs finished, the Mentor made her tracks for home, gradually working up to 10 knots. At this speed, in the words of her captain, “she pushed the whole ocean in front of her.” The fine weather held, and she duly arrived at Harwich, where we watched her coming up the harbour, an extraordinary sight.’ Inman’s final action, in the Flanders Bight on the night of 22 January 1917, by which stage he was in command of the Simoom, is similarly described: ‘A torpedo exploded under the bow of his ship with such a terrific force that the forepart of the destoyer was blown clean over the foremost funnel. The Captain of the Simoom, Commander Inman, and his First Lieutenant were both killed, but notwithstanding that fact, and indifferent to the damage done to their boat, the after-gun crew fought their gun until the ice-cold sea water reached their knees, and the guns blazed forth in defiance for the last time only when the men were swept off their feet as their ship sank from under them. The miracle is that even 57 of her crew were saved that dark, bitterly cold night.’ Inman is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Lot 495
Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Jeffrey Fountain); Pakistan Independence Medal 1947 (3269 Hav Sakhi Mohd RPA.) verdigris spot to reverse; Service Medal of the Order of St John, with one Additional Award Bar, silvered base metal, unnamed, generally good very fine Three: Mr. A. Pithers Defence Medal; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, 2 clasps, Long Service 1949, Long Service 1957 (Alfred Pithers) very fine (8) £100-£140
Lot 617
Renamed and Defective Medals (6): Crimea 1854-56, no clasp, naming erased; India General Service 1854-95, no clasp (Samuel Wheeler. 1st Madras Fusrs.) traces of brooch mounting to obverse, and fitted with a non-swivel suspension; Canada General Service 1866-70, no clasp, naming erased; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (3430 Cpl. W. Ockham, 44 Sig. Coy.) renamed except for unit; Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18, naming erased; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse, (17411. Sergt. W. Barratt. Rl. Engrs.) renamed; some heavy edge bruising, generally fine or better (9) £220-£260
Lot 535
Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Josh. Crook. Navl. Schoolmr. H.M.S. Ganges.) engraved naming, good very fine £200-£240 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Joseph Crook was born in Bolton, Lancashire, on 9 November 1845, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 15 January 1862, serving in H.M.S. Majestic. Noted as a ‘Pupil teacher’ whilst serving in H.M.S. Impregnable, he was sent to the training college at Exeter on 16 December 1866, and was appointed a Naval Schoolmaster on 1 January 1867. He subsequently served in H.M.S. Cossack, Ganges, Royal Adelaide, and Ruby, before transferring back to H.M.S. Ganges on 21 September 1880, and was awarded his Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 2 October of that year. Promoted to Head Schoolmaster on his return to H.M.S. Impregnable on 2 February 1885, he remained in Impregnable until his retirement from the Royal Navy in December 1900 aged 55. Sold with copied research.
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