A WW2 campaign medal group together with two 'Caterpillar club' pins, to 152932 Flying Officer Edward Harold Ruston RAF, verso of both pins engraved 'F/O E.H. RUSTON'; the first example, an early issue with red glass cabochon 'eyes'', hinged under the head, clasp under the tail, unhallmarked but tests as 9ct gold; the second and later example with red enamel flat 'eyes', hinged under the tail, clasp under the head and with rank engraved above the name, presented together with a bar mounted campaign medal group comprising 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal with associated bar mounted dress set (replica), along with the Bomber Command medal and the Allied Prisoner of War medal, a single RAF coat button and three cushion embroidered RAF aircrew navigator's 'half brevet' cloth badges (16)Provenance: By direct descent from the recipientFootnote: The 57 Squadron Operational Record Book states that Flying Officer Ruston from Cambridgeshire was posted on to 57 Squadron on 27 June 1944. The squadron was based at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire at that time and during the war flew 5151 operational sorties with the loss of 172 aircraft. Avro Lancaster III JB318 DX-L At 22.56hrs on Tuesday 18th July 1944, 20 Lancaster bombers from 57 squadron took off from East Kirkby. They joined a formation of 89 more aircraft, and their mission was to destroy the Aulnoye railway junction at Revigny-sur-Ornain in France. Included in the 57 squadron group was Lancaster III 'L for leather', serial number JB318, identification DX-L, and its crew of 7 flown by Flt Lt J.A. 'The Bull' Bulcraig DFM. Also aboard was flight engineer Flt Sgt N.L.E. 'Windy' Gale DFM, navigator F/O E.H. 'Rusty' Ruston, wireless operator/air gunner Sgt T. Loughlin, air bomber F/O E.C. 'Robbie' Robson, mid upper gunner Sgt L.E.S. Manning and rear gunner Sgt F.J.D. 'Bert' Taylor. Soon after crossing the French coast - a little after 1am - they were picked out by German searchlights. Bulcraig put the Lancaster into a steep dive, but during this evasive action they lost the protection of the bomber stream and made themselves vulnerable to attack from enemy aircraft. A German JU88 night fighter approached from below, out of view of Lancaster’s gunners, and shot the plane down, killing four of the crew. Ruston, Taylor and Manning all bailed out, and the plane crashed in flames and blew up in a field near Bassevelle, between Paris and Reims. Manning, helped by the local French Resistance, went into hiding in a small café in La Trétoire (despite it being frequented by the Germans) until he was liberated by advancing American forces. Taylor went into hiding on a farm in Bussières and evaded capture until he too was liberated by the Allies. Ruston was captured by the Germans at Nanteuil-Sur-Marne on Sunday 23rd July and was imprisoned in the West Compound at Stalag Luft 1 prisoner of war camp in northern Germany. He remained there as prisoner 4967 until the camp was liberated by the Russians on 30th April 1945. The raid was a success, but the cost in men and aircraft was heavy - 24 aircraft and 129 lives were lost. East Kirkby lost 5 Lancasters (including DX-L) and 19 airmen. Today there is a permanent stone memorial to the crew of DX-L in the field on the crash site, built by the local residents. "...A brass plate fastened to a tree On it seven names stare out at me I press my fingers to the plate Thinking back to that night of fate That night of flame and naked fear When a stricken bomber crashed right here..." (Photograph of 57 Squadron at East Kirby, 1944, reproduced with kind permission of the 57 & 630 Squadrons’ Association. Credit for images of the memorial site at Bassevelle and map: Jacques Bodécot / Pierre Pécastaingts at Aérostèles) The Caterpillar club, formed in 1922, is an exclusive international association for people who have successfully used a parachute to save their lives by bailing out of a disabled aircraft. It was known as ‘The Elite Club that no one wanted to join, and whose members joined by accident”. Those who intentionally jump from aircraft, such as skydivers, are not accepted, and there are very strict conditions that need to be met. Potential members are required to apply with evidence of their descent. Following authentication, production of satisfactory evidence and independent corroboration of the event, applicants receive a certificate and a distinctive lapel pin modelled as a silkworm (as silk was originally used in the manufacture of parachutes). Each pin is individually engraved with the recipient’s name before presentation. Pins are not available for purchase by friends, colleagues or collectors, and the only other opportunity to obtain a genuine pin is on the very rare occasion when a previously issued example appears for sale, as in this case. The early versions were gold and had ‘ruby red’ glass eyes with the recipient's name and rank engraved in one line on the reverse. The later versions were silver gilt and had red enamel eyes with the recipient's name engraved on the reverse underneath their rank. This lot includes one of each variety. The early versions are particularly rare and extremely collectable. Members of the club included such famous names as Charles Lindbergh, WW2 flying ace Sir Douglas Bader and astronaut John Glenn.
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An early 20th century French metalwares silver three-piece café au lait set, mark of Tétard Frères, export marked, 950/1000 standard silver, the coffee pot of squat baluster form with reeded rim, marked and hinged slightly domed cover with foliate finial, foliate scrolled handle with cream-coloured insulators and decorated spout, two handled sucrier and cream jug, both with gilded interiors to match, each piece monogrammed, 15.9oztFootnote: Edmond Tétard was a talented craftsman based in Paris in the mid-19th century. He exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1889 where he was awarded a gold medal for his outstanding designs and fine quality silverware, much of which was influenced by Rococo style. Têtard’s pieces were highly sought after by a discerning clientele, and he became a favourite of the French aristocracy. After Tétard’s death the firm passed to his three sons Henri, Jacques and Georges. It was renamed Tétard Frères and the brothers retired their father’s maker’s mark and registered their own in February 1903. The firm went on to become one of the leading European silversmiths of the early 20th century.
A 20th century silver presentation salver, mark of Garrard & Co, London 1962, of 'Chippendale' style, the field engraved, 'Presented to Air Vice Marshal J.E. Johnson CB CBE DSO DFC RAF by the Officers of Air Forces Middle East on the occasion of his retirement from the Royal Air Force', raised on four hoof feet, signed to the underside, 37cm in diameter, 40oztProvenance: By direct descent to the current ownerFootnote: Air Vice Marshal James Edgar ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, CB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, DFC & Bar, DL was the highest scoring Western Allied pilot against the German Luftwaffe and was the Royal Air Force's officially recognised top-scoring fighter pilot of the Second World War. Prior to the outbreak of War, Johnson tried on several occasions to join the RAF, but was rejected due to a collarbone injury from his rugby days as a teenager. He was finally accepted in August 1939 at the age of 24, but his injury dogged him throughout his early training and flying career. In 1940 he had an operation to reset his collarbone, resulting in him missing the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain; he was still recovering from surgery. In the Autumn of 1940 he began flying spitfires regularly under Flying Ace Group Captain Douglas Bader. He took part in the offensive sweeps over German-occupied Europe from 1941 to 1944, almost without rest. Bader was shot down in August 1941 and Johnson received his own squadron command in 1942. He was one of a very small group of pilots given permission to use their own initials instead of the traditional squadron and aircraft identification letters on the side of his aircraft - J.E.J. Johnson's combat tour included participation in the Dieppe Raid, Combined Bomber Offensive, Battle of Normandy, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and the Western Allied invasion of Germany. In total he flew over 700 sorties and engaged the enemy on 57 occasions. His wartime record was 34 aircraft claimed destroyed with a further seven shared destroyed, three probable destroyed, 10 damaged, and one shared, destroyed on the ground. All of his kills were fighters including the formidable Focker-Wolf Fw190 and Messerschmitt Me 109 rather than the slower and more vulnerable bombers. His own aircraft was never shot down. His medal collection was impressive; he was made Companion of the Order of the Bath and Commander of the Order of the British Empire in addition to winning the Distinguished Service Order three times, the Distinguished Flying cross twice, The US Distinguished Flying cross and Air Medal, the Belgian Croix de Guerre, Officer of the Order of Leopold with Palms and the French Commander of the Legion of Honour. The medal group sold for £241,000 when they appeared at auction in 2001. Johnson continued his career in the RAF after the war, and served in the Korean War before retiring in 1965 with the rank of Air Vice Marshal. This salver was presented to him on the occasion of his retirement. He died on 30th January 2001 at the age of 85. (Photographs: Johnson in front of his Spitfire MK IX EN398 JE - J., in the cockpit and meeting with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Normandy 1944, reproduced with kind permission of the family)
A quantity of UK silver content coins, comprising a Victorian crown, Geo V crown, Geo VI South African 5 shillings, 7 x half crowns, 27 x florins/2 shillings, 15 x shillings, 21 x sixpence and 11 x threepence, together with a German 1874 funf marks, and 1913 drei marks, a 1939 Belgian 5 francs, a 1967 half dollar, King Geo V & Queen mary commemoratives, a silver polytechnic sports medal, Geo III, Victorian and later pennies, half pennies and other coinsQty: Qty
A British Historical Medal - The Death of Nelson 1805, the obverse with bust of Nelson, left and legend H.VICECOM. NELSON, rev: H.VICECOM.NELSON OB PATRIAM PVGNANDO MORT. OCT.XXI. MDCCCV, within a wreath 38mm dia, a white metal medal 'Chronology of the Reigns of England', by Thomason, circa 1830, 51mm dia, and a bronze Manchester Royal Jubilee Exhibition medal, by Heaton, 1887 in presentation case, VF - EF
7 Medals & Awards Signed & Flown FDC with Stamps and FDI Postmarks, Including The Award of the Military Cross to Airmen 1986, 2 x Appointment to the most Excellent Order of the British Empire 1985, The Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal 1986, The Award of the Air Efficiency Award 1986, Mentioned in Despatches 1987, The Award of the George Medal to Airmen 1987. Good condition. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99.
Mint GB 2012 Olympics Stamps, 2 x Official Royal Mail Stamp Collections, Miniature Sheet and Official Envelopes for Miniature Sheets, Includes 29 Gold Medal Winners (Miniature Sheets) Roll of Honour Olympic Games, 34 Gold Medal Winners (Miniature Sheets) Roll of Honour Paralympic Games, A Miniature Sheet Welcome to the London 2012 Olympic Games, 27 Official Envelopes. Good condition. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99.
Queen Victoria Royal Naval long service and good conduct medal, awarded to A Noble, Sergt, No.775, Ports. R.M.L.I.; also an Edward VII Royal Naval long service and good conduct medal awarded to D.323 G.Judson, Sean R.N.R.; and a George V Royal Naval long service and good conduct medal awarded to J16855 C.W. Hazell. L.S. HMS Defiance (3)
Queen Victoria British South Africa Company's medal, awarded to Trooper H.L. Oldman 'K' Troop B.F.F. Rhodesia 1896 rev. no clasp; also two Queen Elizabeth II Africa General Service medals awarded to N.48227 Pte. Musyimi Kabuu K.A.R., Kenya bar, and 4093615 A.C.I F. Quigley RAF, Kenya bar (3)
Queen Victoria Crimea medal with Sebastopol bar, awarded to N.1910. John Gillett, 2nd Bat.Ljc (engraved); also Afghanistan medal to 10B/529 Pte. M.McKeon. 2/14th Regt.; East and West Africa medal with Benin 1897 clasp awarded to T.E.Jones. Blaks Mte, HMS Theseus; and an Edward VII South Africa medal with 1901/02 bars awarded to 1081 Pte. H. Joice. Rly. Pnr Regt. (4)
Queen Victoria India medal with Relief of Chitral 1895 bar, awarded to 3620 Lcc. Corp. J. Smith 1st Bn E.Lanc. Regt; also India General Service medal with Burma 1885-7 and 1887-89 bars, awarded to 942 Pte. G. Bridle 2nd Bn Hamps. Regt.; and Edward VII Natal Rebellion medal with 1906 bar to Tpr. E.G.H. Smith, Royston's Horse (3)
Great War medal group comprising 14-15 Star, Great War medal, Victory medal, Special Constabulary Faithful Service and George V Jubilee silver medallion, awarded to 2nd Lieut. F Hampson; also Great War medal and Victory medal awarded to 26939 Pte. L. Hampson. Manch.R.; and a Ches. Reg. silver medallion awarded to W. Hampson (8)
Football, collection of memorabilia relating to W. Joyce of Hampstead, Walthamstow & Crescent F.C., 3 silver medals all hallmarked, Essex County Challenge Cup, London Postal League & L.P.J.C.C. all 1930s in presentation cases, Plaque 1932-3 Athenian League Champions, another non silver medal London postal 1950, Athenian League Badge v Spartan League 1933 with full details on back, two letters from Essex F.A. notifying selection for League Select team and press cutting from these.
Trade cards & stickers, Football, two complete FKS sticker albums, Wonderful World of Soccer Stars 1968/9 & World Cup Soccer Mexico 1970, Sainsbury's England Squad Medal Collection 1998 (complete) plus unopened packs of 'The Final Five' & a pack of four medals, The Sun Pocket Book of Soccer & Sticker Album (complete), two Fleetway My Favourite Soccer Star albums (both complete) & other items (some albums with writing noted o/w gd/vg)
An impressive scratch-built ? scale model of a Ransomes Class AM Working Thrashing Machine, fitted with Self-Feeder, Chaff Bagger, Caving Blower and Pneumatic Tyred wheels, built circa 1960-1966 by A Buckley (took six years to build) and won a bronze medal at the 1968 Model Engineer Exhibition, Thrasher constructed mainly in wood with metal parts and rubber tyres, finished in pink and red, coming with a well-made carry case and various wooden parts (one broken) that fit mainly along the top of the machine and a few loose items, framed copy of the Bronze Medal certificate, correspondence between the builder and Ransomes (1955-1980) and plans for a Marshall & Sons Thrasher 4'6'' Class SM 1943R , VG, carry case G
6th Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry group of WWI medals with associated documents, typed war memoir manuscript, and books. This lot comprises a framed group of medals and badges: Military Medal named to 11972 PTE E. W. FELLOWS. 6/D.C.L.I Defence Medal 1914-15 Star named to 11972 PTE. E.W. FELLOW. D. OF CORN.L.I British War Medal 1914-20 11972 PTE. E.W. FELLOWS. D.C.L.I Victory Medal named to 11972 PTE. E.W. FELLOWS. D.C.L.I. Kings Royal Rifle Corps cap badge with ribbon of the Order of St George Cornwall Regiment cap badge Royal Fusiliers cap badge A group of five miniatures including Military Medal and Cross of St George. Together with Soldier's service and pay book, Certified copy of Attestation, Field Medical Card, and Field Message book. Framed Home Guard Certificate to Edgar William Fellows, framed Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras Air Raid Precautions examination certificate to same. Cardboard medal box with WW2 compliments slip addressed to: Mr E.W. Fellows, 45 Lissenden Mans, London, NW5. Typed manuscript 'C'est La Guerre being the experiences & opinions of a P.B.I.' by E.W. Lows, with Martin Secker compliments and regrets slip Books - A Short History of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Devonport, 1929; The Immortal Salient, and a small quantity of maps
A matched Indian WWII group of eight to '5030933 L-NK Rilbahadur, Gurung, 1 GR': comprising Indian Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal General Service Medal with Jammu & Kasmir 1947-48 clasp', Commonwealth Independence Medal,1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal and War Medal, mounted in a display case (different recipients to General Service Medal and Commonwealth Independence Medal)
A post-war O.B.E. group of six awarded to Group Captain Otto Maxwell Berkeley, Royal Air Force, late Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve: Military OBE, 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, War Medal, Defence Medal and RAF Air Efficiency Award 'Act. Wg. Cdr., R.A.F.V.R.', mounted in a display case.*Biography - Otto Maxwell Berkeley (previously von Berckefeldt) was born in Calcutta, India in February 1908. His movements between the wars remain largely unknown, but according to an announcement in the London Gazette of 21 June 1938 - in which he renounced his family name in favour of 'Berkeley' - he was then an accountant and resident at Thorpe Green, Chertsey. Later the same year he became an Acting Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. In January 1940, Otto was advanced to Flying Officer, the first of several rapid advancements, and by July 1944 was serving in the Equipment Branch as an Acting Wing Commander. Granted a permanent commission as a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force in January 1946, he was awarded the Air Efficiency Award in March 1947 and the O.B.E. in the New Year's Honours in 1950. Later that year, he was posted to the R.A.F. Headquarters at Oslo in Norway, as part of Allied Air Forces Northern Europe, where he served as Head of Logistics, and on returning to an appointment in the Air Ministry in London in early 1954, he was advanced to Group Captain. Otto was placed on the Retired List in October 1958 and died in March 1961.* Notes See Lot 281 Dix Noonan Webb 7th March 2007
A framed family group of WWI & WWII medals: comprising a WWI trio to '04037 Pte H Whitfield AOC', 1914-15 Star, War Medal and Victory Medal, a WWII group of three 1939-15 Star, Air Crew Europe Star and Defense Medal to Pilot Officer H H Whitfield, and one other WWII group of four to F Edgington mounted together with cap and lapel badges, photographs and related ephemera.* Notes The Air Crew Europe Star is a reproduction
A framed group of WWI medals: comprising 1914 -15 Star 'G-6036 Pte C Tucker R Fus', a pair to 'Dvr D W Kube SASC; a trio to ' T-27868 Dvr E Tungate ASC' with postage box and another trio to 'Major H F Nutter L'Pool R'. mounted on a photograph of a man in uniform in a glazed display case. * Note The 1914 Star is to 'Major H F Nutter L'Pool R, War Medal and Victory Medal to 'M2 192939 Sjt A Rainbird ASC
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