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Two trays of collectables; 1920's 30's Lucas engine inspection light. Dockyard knife. R.M. Burner. Puncture repair kit. Post office bank. Various silver plated flatwares. Brass cigarette case, compacts and other items.

DOROTHY HOGG M.B.E. (BRITISH 1945-2022) PAIR OF EARRINGS each modelled as a tapering oval cylinder suspending a gilt hoop, post and butterfly fittings, unmarked 3.0cm long (1 1/8in long) The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, from whom acquired by the current vendor in March 2001;Private Collection, U.K.

KATHERINE BRUNACCI (AUSTRALIAN 1986-) PAIR OF EARRINGS hallmarked, 9ct gold, tourmaline and pearls, each collet-set with a round-cut green tourmaline in a tapering, textured surround; suspending a cultured pearl drop from a textured gold cap, post and butterfly fittings Length: 2.5cm (1in)

BERNARD COHEN (BRITISH, 1933- ) FIRST PANEL PAINTING OF 1970, 1970 signed, titled and dated in pen (to reverse - on stretcher bar), acrylic on linen 90cm x 90cm (35 ½cm x 35 ½cm) with Studio La Città, Verona;Sotheby’s, London, Modern & Post-War British Art, 14 November 2012, lot 237, where acquired by the present owner.

RENE LALIQUE (1860-1945) CALENDAL SCENT BOTTLE, MOLINARD executed Post-Warclear and frosted, boxed, with contentsengraved Molinard Made in France, applied label MOLINARD DE MOLINARD GRASSE-PARIS, box printed MOLINARD GRASSE PARIS VAPORISATEUR No. 1805  bottle 11.5cm (4 ½in) high This lot includes perfume/liquid which may be designated as “dangerous goods” under transport legislation. Please note special arrangements will be required when shipping and additional costs may apply.

René Lalique (French, 1860-1945), a 'Dans La Nuit' scent bottle, designed in 1924 for Worth, clear glass, with relief-moulded marks,13.7cm high, andan 'Hélène' scent bottle, post-war, with clear, frosted and stained glass, engraved 'Lalique France',13.8cm high (2)Condition ReportHélène bottle with one polished section to the clear section below one of the stained panels.

▲ Philip Turner (1918-1997), 'Perching', bronze, numbered '1/4', on a Perspex cube, 63cm high overall Provenance: The Reid Gallery, London, 1964. Born in Sussex in 1918, British sculptor Philip Turner was educated at Marlborough College, before commencing his studies at St Martin’s School of Art in 1936. Later, he would study the basics of painting and sculpting under the tutelage of British sculptor Leon Underwood, and in 1948, would receive a Diploma of Fine Art from the Slade. Turner is credited as one of the first post-war sculptors to employ casting as a means in and of itself to create the final form, and was known to be an expert authority on bronze pouring to his colleagues. Turner had an uneasy relationship with mass-production and would take care to finish each piece by hand, welding, grinding, flaming and polishing, to produce similar, but never identical, forms. Unlike many of his contemporaries, who chose to depict man as tortured and anxious, Turner, who described his role as artist as something between oracle and entertainer, used wit, irony and optimism in his representations.

Cartier: A pair of mother-of-pearl 'Amulette de Cartier' earstuds Each 18 carat gold disc, set with mother-of-pearl and centrally highlighted by a brilliant-cut diamond in a tiered collet-setting, signed Cartier, numbered, rubbed European convention marks, post fittings, length 1.1cmAccompanied by a Cartier case. Released in 2014, originally the Amulette de Cartier collection included just pendants and necklaces of various designs. The collection was expanded to include earrings, bracelets and rings in subsequent years. However, it is understood the Cartier is phasing out the collection with minimal offerings being available at retail. Also see lot 43.

Cartier: A pair of 'Happy Birthday' diamond earrings circa 2010 Each polished hoop, engraved with the double C logo, gypsy-set with brilliant-cut diamonds, signed Cartier, numbered, post and rotating clip fittings, length 1.9cm The “Happy Birthday” collection was released in 2009. The collection was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Cartier opening its first branch in America, at 712 Fifth Avenue, New York City in 1909. The design of the collection features the distinctive Cartier monogram, usually repeatedly decorated throughout the item. That version of the Cartier logo was designed by Pierre Cartier and introduced at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris. The collection was multidisciplinary and included jewellery, clocks, pens and leather goods. 

'A helmet for Mecklenburg Field Artillery Regt. 60 Reserve Officers Black lacquered leather body, front and rear visor; front visor with green underlay, back visor with red underlay, gilt: round spike base, stars, rear spine, ball and front visor trim; gilt officer front plate of Mecklenburg star with silver reserve cross over coat of arms and crowned wreath, attached by one screw post, one post unsoldered, one post gone; gilt rounded chin scales with rosette side posts; Imperial Officer and repainted Mecklenburg cockades; one post unsoldered, brown torn leather sweatband, brown torn silk lining. Size circa 52 cm. Cf. "Buyer''s Guide for Headgear of The Imperial German Army circa 1914", James D. Turinetti, 2015-16 edition, pg. 62.USA-Los – weitere Infos hier'

Ca. AD 1279. A hammered silver penny of Edward I, struck at the London mint, dating to the post-1279 recoinage reform. The obverse bears a forward-facing crowned bust of the king with prominent facial detail and drapery, encircled by the legend ‘EDW R ANGL DNS HYB’ (Edward, King of England, Lord of Ireland). The reverse displays a long cross pattée dividing the inscription ‘CIVITAS LONDON’, with three pellets in each quarter. A fine and representative example of the classical medieval English penny, issued under Edward’s extensive monetary and administrative standardisation.Size: 15mm x 15mm; Weight: 1gProvenance: From the private collection of an Essex gentleman; previously in an old British Collection, formed in the 1990s.

A cast iron money box, in the form of a 1953 Coronation Throne, stamped to rear 'Harper' 21cm tall, together with a post office savings bank. (2)

A .22 Air Rifle with case (Please note this cannot be sent by post)

Early 19th Century Middle Eastern flintlock pistol . Approx 47cm long ( Please note cannot post)

19th century percussion cap muff pistol with octagonal barrel.Approx 16.5 cms long(please note this cannot be sent out in the post)

Dolls House, Chapel Road, an original by Steve Hilbert, 102.5cm high, with a few contents.Lamp post is not secured down properly, outside is generally good and inside pieces are all playworn.

W & T Avery Scales, together with XIX Century Post Office scales, with weights.

A Pair of Textured Circular Earstuds, stamped "375" to butterfly back, a pair of allover claw set cluster style earrings, and a pair of twisted style hoops, to butterfly and post fitting, stamped "9KT".

The rare 1814 K.C.B. neck Badge attributed to Captain Sir Thomas Lavie, Royal Navy, who was knighted for his command of H.M.S. Blanche upon the occasion when she captured the French frigate Guerriere off the Faroe Islands in July 1806The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s neck Badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks for London 1814, some loss of green enamel to wreath, one or two very minor chips to enamelled arms, otherwise good very fineProvenance:Spink, April 2023 when offered alongside other Orders, Decorations and Medals awarded to members of the Lavie family.Thomas Lavie, son of Germain Lavie and Ann Gregg, was born in Putney on 16 October 1765 and first appears in the Naval Service as a Lieutenant on the books of H.M.S. Astrea, a 32-gun frigate. During Lavie's time with this ship and under the command of Captain Lord Henry Paulet, she took the French 42-gun vessel Gloire in an hour-long engagement. Paulet was awarded a Naval Gold Medal for this action, and as Lavie was promoted Master & Commander a few months later it is possible he too served in this action.From 1796 through to 1800 Lavie was placed in command of several smaller vessels - namely the sloops H.M.S. Bittern and Seagull - before being promoted to Post Captain in January 1801. Though not appearing to remain actively employed during the Peace of Amiens (March 1802-May 1803) Lavie clearly enjoyed an element of patronage at the highest levels within the Admiralty - no other personage than Lord St. Vincent requested he be appointed to a ship despite being "low on the post list" (Selections from the Correspondence of Admiral John Markham During the Years 1801-4 and 1806-7, p. 3, Navy Records Society, 1904, refers) - a stroke of extremely good fortune in such difficult times for officers of the armed forces. Despite this, Captain Lavie appears to have next been employed as commander of the 32-gun frigate H.M.S. Iris from the autumn of 1805, before removing in June of 1806 to H.M.S. Blanche, the 38-gun frigate in which he was shortly to make his name.A Single-Ship Action, Capture, and Later LifeLavie and Blanche were patrolling off the north-eastern coast of Britain with the objective of protecting merchant ships and trade routes from attack by French raiders and privateers when they received word of an enemy squadron in the area under orders for that very purpose. Sailing north from the Shetland Islands, on 18 July 1806 the French frigate Guerriere was spotted and Lavie made all sail to close with his opponent. The resulting battle was an exceptional result for the British captain and the men under his command: Guerriere failed to prepare for action (perhaps mistakenly believing the British frigate to be French), and by the time Guerriere began to fight back Blanche had already unleashed two broadsides into their opponent's hull. French gunnery appears to have been particularly bad on this occasion, not only did Blanche suffer minimal damage with a mere four men wounded, but conversely British gunnery was excellent, with Guerriere losing her mizzenmast in addition to having over fifty of her crew killed and wounded. Brought safely back to Britain, Lavie's reward was a knighthood and Guerriere was taken into the Royal Navy as H.M.S. Guerriere; she later met her end in a single-ship action against the famous American frigate U.S.S. Constitution.Lavie (now Sir Thomas) continued in command of Blanche and saw further active service (capturing the George Washington in January 1807), but on 4 March 1807 disaster struck. Whilst en-route from Spithead to Brest to join Sir James Saumarez's blockading squadron, Blanche hit a submerged reef during a storm and swiftly began to break up. Thankfully Lavie and most of the crew survived, but were taken prisoner and spent the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars (some seven years) in French gaols.Upon Lavie's release he was court-martialled as a matter of course for the loss of his ship, but exonerated from blame due to the court concluding that a large quantity of iron used in the interior construction of the ship, along with a significant number of firearms stored near the compass, caused an unforeseen navigational error. Though free from blame, Lavie appears not to have received another active command until the end of 1821 when he was appointed to the 74-gun H.M.S. Spencer; he was, however, one of the first naval officers to be appointed a Knight Commander of the Bath upon its' expansion in January 1815. Sadly Lavie's time in command of Spencer was short-lived as he died on 1 February 1822, aged just 56, at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, and was interred at Stoke Damerel. He had married Mary Sissmore in October 1797 and it appears that at least two of their six sons followed in their father's footsteps to become officers in the Royal Navy.…

The rare and superb 'Operation Grapeshot' M.B.E., 'Monte Rogno' Virtuti Militi, 'Monte Cassino' Cross of Valor group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel T. Lipowski, 9th Heavy Artillery Regiment, Polish Army, whose remarkable life story includes a tragic episode during the Fall of Poland which saw him narrowly escape the fate of two of his comrades, who were arrested and murdered during the Katyn MassacreReturning to active service his extreme bravery attached to the 5th (Kresowa) Division in Italy saw him honoured on several occasions and even wounded during the Battle of Monte Cassino, being hit by shrapnel that had already passed through the lung of a brother Officer who stood besidePoland, Republic, Order of Virtuti Militari, breast Badge, 5th Class, silver and enamel, of wartime manufacture by Spink; Cross of Valor, with Second Award Bar; Cross of Merit, with swords, 2nd Type, silver-gilt; Army Medal; Monte Cassino Cross 1944, the reverse officially numbered '33078'; United Kingdom, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd Type, Military Division, Member's (M.B.E.) breast Badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Italy, Kingdom, Croce al Valore Militare, sold together with an archive including a named cigarette case, portrait and photograph album and the named document of issue for the award of the M.B.E., overall good very fine (9)Virtuti Militari awarded 30 June 1944, the original citation (translated) states:'During the operations 'Adriatyk', he distinguished himself by working in difficult conditions under strong and accurate enemy fire, especially at the Observation Point on Monte Regano. He cooperated perfectly with the infantry, conducting accurate and effective fire, not breaking off observation despite the fire. With his behaviour, he set an exemplary example for officers and privates at the Observation Points, as always. He fully deserves the decoration.'Cross of Valor awarded 6 August 1944, the original citation (translated) states:'At Cassino he organized an Observation Point and stayed there. On May 10-12, 1944, despite heavy enemy mortar and artillery fire, he remained at the Observation Point and continued his work. On May 12, 1944, despite heavy fire, he left the Observation Point to get better information and moved forward. He was wounded, but he did not want to stop his work.'Second Award Bar awarded 1945.M.B.E. London Gazette June 1945, the original recommendation states:'During the period 9th -21st April 1945, this officer worked with the maximum devotion as B.M., F.A. 5th Kresowa Division Artillery, which was in support of the Infantry in their operations against lines of Rivers Senio, Santerno, Sillaro, Gaina and Idice. Major Lipowski made a particularly great effort and showed special dexterity on 19th April and night 19th/20th, when Headquarters 5th Kresowa Division was faced with the task of co-ordinating the fire plans not only of the Divisions Artillery but also Artillery under command of the neighbouring RAK Force (Reinforced 2 Polish Armoured Brigade with 2 British Royal Horse Artillery and 3 Polish Field Regiment in SP). Rud Force (3rd and 4th Polish Infantry Brigades supported by 5th Polish Field Regiment and 7PHA) and AGPA.Major Lipowski's skillful [SIC] Staff work at HQ 5th Kresowa Division Artillery on 19th April and night 19th/20th resulted in the rapid working out and co-ordination of the Artillery fire plans which effectively helped the Infantry and assisted the Armour in breaking down enemy opposition, crossing the Gaina River and approaching River Quaderno.The Staff work at HQ 5th Kresowa Division Artillery had to be completed in a limited time in order to prepare the above Artillery plans and called for great effort and extreme accuracy. Major Lipowski not only directed the Staff work most efficiently but shone as an example of adroitness and devotion to duty.'Note the number of the recipient's Monte Cassino Cross is confirmed upon the roll.Tadeusz Lipowski was born on 29 March 1904, the son of two flour mill owners. His parents were forced to produce food for the German Army during the Great War, whilst the young Lipowski attended the local grammar school. Joining the Infantry Cadet School in 1926 he transferred to the Artillery Cadet School the next year and was commissioned Lieutenant in 1929.September 1939 and escaping to fight againPosted to Bendzen, Lipowski was set to work training new recruits, he was still there when the German Army invaded Poland in September 1939. His Regiment was left in an exposed position and forced to withdraw to avoid being encircled.Lipowski was interviewed post-war and the interviewer wrote a summary of his experiences, this narrative takes up the story:'The regiment was soon split up and within three days it had been officially annihilated although splinter groups had joined other regiments to continue fighting. Tade was able to join the Le Wolf East Polish soldiers on the 21st September and together they had fought their way out of danger or so they thought. Similar situations repeated themselves throughout Poland where the soldiers fought bravely on their own without the support of their planes which had been destroyed during the first day and without the aid of advanced weaponry…'Not long later the Russians invaded as well, tightening the noose around the Polish Army, communications at the time meant that many soldiers were not even aware of the Russian attack. One of these was Lipowski who awoke in a wood one morning to the sight of a Russian soldier on patrol. Unsure of whether this man was a friend or foe he remained hidden as the unsuspecting Russian passed beneath his sights, it was not until later that he discovered how close he had come to disaster.As the Polish defences were overrun, the Regiments began to splinter in small groups either seeking to withdraw to France and carry on the fight or set up resistance organisations. Lipowski, accompanied by two brother Officers, returned to the town in which he had been at school. His sister was living in the town and while they planned their next step she concealed them in her home.His brother came up with a plan to move them to a safer location by dressing the three men in his suits and putting them in the back of a wagon driven by a friendly farmer. Lipowski was forced to borrow a suit by his brother however the two Officers with him refused as the suits were expensive and they didn't want to take them. Instead, they removed their rank pips and took on the appearance of other ranks.During the journey the travellers were stopped by a Russian soldier, the farmer attempted to explain away the soldiers in his cart however this was for naught:'The Colonel could remain silent no longer and admitted to the Russian that they were in fact Officers so that the farmer would not get into trouble. Tadek said nothing but looked straight ahead. These Officers were only two of the many who were shot at Katyn by the Soviet secret police and left to rot in the mass grave, later discovered and dug up by the Germans two years later. Tadek had once again narrowly escaped death by what he called "good luck".' (Ibid)Reaching an underground resistance organisation, Lipowski was concealed by them and on 25 December 1939 dressed as a civilian he set out for southern Poland and the border. At one point he was stopped by a German soldier and asked when he was going, for one heart stopping moment it seemed that he was caught. This was not the case however, and it turned out the German was drunk and looking for someone to share a beer with - Lipowski agreed to a drink and later the soldier even waved him off on the tr…

The Baronet's Badge worn by Sir F. H. Newnes, 2nd Baronet Newnes of Wildcroft, a leading turn of the century newspaperman and Liberal politician, son of the 'Founding Father of Popular Journalism' Sir George NewnesBaronet's neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse inscribed 'Newnes of Wildcroft 1895', hallmarked for London 1929, good very fine, in its fitted case of issue[C.B.E.] London Gazette 10 June 1954.Frank Hillyard Newnes was born in Manchester, the son of Sir George Newnes and his wife Priscilla. His father was a Liberal Politician and founder of the publisher George Newnes Ltd., his periodicals Tit-bits and The Strand Magazine are considered forerunners of Modern Popular journalism. The younger Newnes attended Clare College, Cambridge and graduated with an M.A. and L.L.B. in 1897.He joined his father's publisher that same year and worked there for many years, also following him into politics to become the Liberal M.P. for Bassetlaw, North Nottinghamshire in 1906. He managed to take the seat from the Conservatives however lost it again in the next election in January 1910. The same year his father died and Newnes inherited the baronetcy as well as the publishing business.Newnes married Emmeline de Rutzen, the daughter of Sir Albert de Rutzen, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Bow Street, in 1913. After the outbreak of the Great War the next year he decided to join up, being commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1915. He did not remain in that service however, transferring to the Army and being advanced Captain with the 12th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Notably he did not see any service entitling him to Campaign medals, as such this badge is his only named entitlement.After the war Newnes became Director of a number of companies in the publishing trade, as well as Chairman of Country Life Ltd. He was the Director of his father's publication, The Westminster Gazette, a Liberal newspaper which Prime Minister Gladstone allowed to be decorated with the Party's green colours, leading to it being dubbed 'Pea-Green Incorruptible'.Outside of the political and publishing worlds, Newnes was deeply involved in matters of public health. He joined the Voluntary Hospitals Committee for London and was a member of the management committees of the Royal Free Hospital and its Medical School. He also became Chairman of the Post-Graduate Institute of Dental Surgery and the Eastern Dental Hospital, the latter being the reason for his award of the C.B.E. Furthermore, he was President of the Printers Pension Corporation and Vice President of the Periodical Proprietors Association.Newnes later died in Western Australia on 10 July 1955; sold together with copied research including a biography of Sir George Newnes (the recipient's father).…

A rare ‘Edward VIII’ inter-War M.V.O., post War Order of St. John group of six awarded to Quartermaster and Captain W. R. Lines, 5th Lancers, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, who was 'mentioned' during the Great War, and was one of only 10 people awarded the M.V.O. 5th Class by King Edward VIIIThe Royal Victorian Order, Member's (M.V.O.) breast Badge, silver and enamel, the reverse officially numbered '488'; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast Badge, skeletal issue, silver; 1945-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. W. R. Lines. 5.Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Capt. W. R. Lines.), with M.I.D. oak leaves; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3871 Sjt: W. Lines. 5/Lrs.), mounted court-style as worn, light pitting, overall good very fine (6)One of only 10 M.V.O. 5th Class awards made during the reign of Edward VIII, of which 5 were for the Funeral of King George V.M.V.O. London Gazette 23 June 1936:'Walter Reuben Lines, Honorary Secretary, Windsor Branch, British Legion.'Serving Brother of the Order of St. John London Gazette 28 May 1948.Walter Reuben Lines was born at Canterbury, Kent on 29 April 1872, the son of William and Mary Lines of St. Mary's, Northgate, Canterbury. Attesting with the 5th Lancers in 1890 he served with them for 23 years and 330 days before being commissioned Quartermaster & Lieutenant on 25 August 1914.Lines entered the war in France on 12 July 1915, joining his Regiment which was already there as part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd (Cavalry) Division. They had seen heavy action prior to his arrival however after he joined them they were not part of any major engagements for some time. Receiving his 'mention' in early 1917 (London Gazette 4 January 1917) it was not until the First Battle of the Scarpe in April 1917 that the Regiment engaged again.Not long after this action Lines was promoted Honorary Captain, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, on 25 August 1917 and subsequently served as an Assistant Inspector with the Quartermaster General's Service. Placed on half-pay on account of ill health on 3 October 1923 he retired and settled at Windsor, living at 121 Clarence Road, Windsor.Appointed a Member 5th Class of the Royal Victorian Order for his services as Honorary Secretary of the Windsor Branch, British Legion, in June 1936, Lines one of the very few number of appointments to the Royal Victorian Order made by Edward VIII. He was later appointed a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John. Lines was still living at Clarence Road when he died in Upton Hospital on 26 January 1960; sold together with copied research.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax.  

The outstanding campaign group of seven awarded to Corporal C. J. O'Dell, Special Air Service & Parachute RegimentO'Dell served with the famed 11th Battalion at the Battle of Arnhem and was taken a Prisoner of War on 23 September 1944, when sharing in the fruitless task of relieving Frost's 2nd Battalion at Arnhem Bridge - he didn't go quietly, made good his escape but was re-captured by SS Troops in Holland with a hole in his leg; the gallant O'Dell subsequently saw further campaign service with the S.A.S.1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 3 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya, Cyprus (866848 Pte. C. J. O'Dell. A.A.C.), neat rods between clasps, mounted as worn, good very fine (7)Charles John O'Dell was born on 2 July 1918 and was a joiner by trade upon his joining the East Surrey Regiment on 1 September 1938. He joined the Parachute Regiment and served with the 11th Battalion during the Battle of Arnhem. On 18 September 1944, the Battalion jumped under fire, onto DZ ‘Y’ at Ginkel Heath, in Holland, with the second lift at Arnhem during Operation Market-Garden. The 11th Battalion was fought to a stand-still suffering heavy casualties just over 1,000 metres short of relieving Frost’s 2nd Battalion at the Arnhem bridge, before falling back to the 1st Airborne Division perimeter at Oosterbeek.The remnants of the 11th Parachute Battalion, along with those from the 1st and 3rd Parachute Battalion’s, and the 2nd Bn, The South Staffordshire Regiment, would be put under command of the 11th Battalion’s Second-in-Command, Major. Richard Thomas Henry Lonsdale, and become known as ‘Lonsdale Force’. They would hold their positions from the 20-25 September.O'Dell himself was taken a Prisoner of War on 23 September 1944 and taken into captivity. He did his very best to make it back to allied lines:'Escapes attempted: YESFrom Holland but was retaken again, it was before I was registered. I was retaken in Holland. No I was not physically fit, I had a small hole in leg, was retaken by SS Troops.'He spent time at Fallingbostoll and then at Salzitter Arb. Kdo. 7005 building camp from November 1944-April 1945. Returned home, he saw further active campaign service in post-War Palestine with the 17th Parachute Battalion, Army Air Corps. He subqeuently transferred to the Special Air Service, with whom he appears to have served in Malaya & Cyprus. In the near future, when previously closed sources are opened to the public, may reveal that he was one of the original members of Brigadier ‘Mad’ Mike Calvert’s newly formed Malayan Scouts in 1950. O'Dell returned to Arnhem for the 50th Anniversary in 1994 and died at Colchester in July 2013; sold together with his Parachute Regiment beret.Please see Lot 456 for his miniature dress medals.…

Natal CarbineersThe unit participated in the invasion of Zululand in January 1879 and, on 22 January, suffered 23 killed in action at Isandhlwana. The unit was subsequently relegated to garrison duties at Landman's Drift on the Mzinyathi, or Buffalo River. The unit remains to this day as the Ingobamakhosi Carbineers.75 Medals to this unit, all with clasp '1879'.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tr. Brown. Natal Carbineers.), post a little bent, very fine…

A rare post-war Malaya operations D.F.C. group of eight awarded to Squadron Leader A. F. Peers, Royal Air Force, who amassed 1400 hours of operational flying as C.O. of No. 110 Squadron, making numerous paratroop and supply dropsDistinguished Flying Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated '1953'; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Ft. Lt. A. F. Peers, R.A.F.); Coronation 1943, sold together with the recipient's flying logbooks, mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (8)D.F.C. London Gazette 6 October 1953:'In recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Malaya.'The original recommendation states:'Squadron Leader Peers has served with the Far East Transport Wing for over two years and, for the past 14 months, he has commanded No. 110 Squadron. During this period of command, he has displayed outstanding powers of leadership and a high standard of personal efficiency, both in the air and on the ground, and this has been reflected throughout the Squadron.His operational flying in Malaya has covered 1404 hours in paratroop and supply drop operations. Many of these sorties have been completed in extremely arduous and hazardous conditions which have required the utmost skill and determination. This officer's devotion to duty and courage in air operations are of the highest order. He has given outstanding service on operational flying over a long period.'Arthur Frederick Peers joined the Royal Air Force in London in July 1942 and embarked for Canada after attending an elementary flying school. He subsequently qualified as a flying instructor at Pearce, Alberta but returned to the U.K. in March 1944 and joined the Anson Flight at R.A.F. Lyneham. It was here, in the period September-November 1944, that he also flew Dakotas to France and Belgium as the campaign in north-west Europe progressed.Next ordered to India, Peers served in No. 267 Squadron in the Burma campaign from June 1945 to V.J. Day, operating out of Akyab and Rangoon. Having then been attached to a Communications Squadron in Delhi, he returned to the U.K. in August 1946.As it transpired, his next overseas posting was to another Communications Squadron, which he joined in the Far East in October 1950. A flurry of flights piloting the unit's Dakotas ensued, back and forth between Changi, Kuala Lumpur, Kai Tak, Labuan and Saigon, among other locations. Some of these flights were of a 'top brass' nature, his passengers including Sir Henry Gurney, the High Commissioner of Malaya, Lieutenant-General Sir Harold Briggs, the Director of Operations in Malaya, and General Sir John Harding, C.-in-C. Far East Land Forces.In March 1951, Peers transferred to No. 48 Squadron, piloting Valettas and undertaking his first supply drops over Malaya. Shortly afterwards he took command of No. 110 Squadron, another Valetta unit, flying his first paratrooping sortie in July 1952. The pace of Operational outings gained momentum in September-October of the same year, when he flew numerous supply drops and three further paratrooping sorties. Likewise in the period April-May 1953, when he continued to be rated as an 'Exceptional' pilot. He finally returned to the U.K. in August of that year, shortly before the award of his D.F.C. was announced.Having then entered the jet age in Meteors of No. 2 Squadron, he added Javelins to his types' flown in No. 11 Squadron in Gelsenkirchen. His other appointments in the 1950s and 1960s included No. 64 Squadron at Duxford and No. 152 Squadron at Stradishall. His final posting was to the R.A.F. Technical College at Henlow, Bedfordshire and he was placed on the Retired List as a Squadron Leader.Sold with a complete run of his R.A.F. Flying Log Books (5), covering the periods November 1942 to April 1948; April 1948 to March 1951; March 1951 to July 1956; August 1956 to March 1960, and April 1960 to October 1962.…

The rare 'H.M.Y. Helga, Irish Sea 1918' D.S.M. group of six awarded to Leading Deck Hand E. E. Duff, Royal Navy and Merchant Fleet Auxiliary, who was in charge of Helga's gun when she was credited with sinking a German submarineDespite her Irish heritage, Helga was commandeered by the Admiralty in March 1915 and later used by the Royal Navy to shell Liberty Hall in Dublin from the River Liffey with her pair of 12-pounder naval guns during the Easter Rising of 1916Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (Ldg. Dk. Hd. E. E. Duff, (A.P.) H.M.Y. Helga. Irish Sea 4. Apl 1918); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (210674. E.E. Duff, Lg. Sea. H.M.S. Highflyer.); 1914-15 Star (E.E. Duff, A.B. M.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (E.E. Duff. D.H. M.F.A.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (Ernest. E. Duff), good very fine (6)D.S.M. London Gazette 29 November 1918, the original citation states:'HMY Helga attack on enemy Irish Sea 4 April 1918. In charge of gun when HMY Helga sank an enemy submarine.'Ernest Edwin Duff was born at Deal, Kent on 12 April 1885. A telegraph boy, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 12 April 1903. A succession of shore and sea-based appointments followed and on 21 February 1911 he was drafted to Highflyer, serving aboard her until 29 May 1913. Later that same year he was invalided from the service with myopia on 9 October.Duff married Kathleen Power in Dublin in September 1916 and despite his disability enrolled in the Merchant Fleet Auxiliary, joining H.M.Y. Helga for service during the Great War.1916 Easter UprisingChris Shouldice takes up the story in his online article 'The Captain's Table':'HMY Helga is infamously known for its role in shelling Dublin during the 1916 Rising but before she was pressed into war service, she had a far more benign profession as a protection cruiser and research vessel for the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. Built in the Liffey Dockyard in Dublin in 1908 and originally named the Helga II, her purpose was to engage in fishery patrols, monitoring the coast for any illegal fishing activity. She was also equipped with a laboratory for marine research and took part in research projects like the survey of Clare Island in 1909.As the British found themselves in an unexpectedly lengthening war in Europe, she was taken over by the Admiralty in 1915 for military purposes as an armed auxiliary patrol yacht. She was renamed the HMY Helga and served as an anti-submarine patrol vessel and an armed escort.It was however in Ireland during the 1916 Rising that the Helga's most notable acts occurred. The Helga was summoned by British forces to the capital to use artillery to root out Irish Volunteers. On the 26th of April 1916, positioned on the Liffey, she raised her 12-pound artillery guns over the Loop Line railway bridge and fired at her first target Liberty Hall, the headquarters of the Citizen Army. Her shots were less than accurate, and her shells destroyed much of the surrounding buildings and beyond. She also targeted the GPO and Bolland Mills which Eamon De Valera had occupied.1918 rescuing survivors from R.M.S. Leinster.In 1918, she successful sank a German U-Boat Submarine off the coast of the Isle of Man. This was the Helga's first and sole confirmed sinking during the war. However, the presence of U-boats continued to be a real threat to the merchant and passenger vessels in the Irish Sea.In 1917, the Germans began placing their U-boats in the Approaches, the name given to the region near the entrance and exit to the Irish Sea. This was an attempt to stifle the British attempts at Trans-Atlantic trade. The RMS Leinster was typical of their targets, a passenger ship which, along with three other sister ships, made daily crossings from Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) to Holyhead. Known for its exceptional speed, the RMS Leinster held a place of pride in Irish eyes, as it was seen to be their representative in the commercial competition over the Irish Sea. The Leinster along with its sister ships, had won the tender for the Royal Mail delivery from Ireland to the British mainland. While it provided valuable employment to the people of Kingstown and Holyhead in Wales, the requirements of this contract were strict. There was a stipulation that the post collected in Dublin had to be delivered to the mainland the following day. This meant that the RMS Leinster ran daily, and on-time no matter the circumstances.On the morning of the 9th of October (1918), the RMS Leinster set out from Dun Laoghaire, filled to capacity, for what was to be its final voyage. Despite the U-boat warnings, that morning was no different, the war had been in action for four years, and the crossings were routinely unprotected. Furthermore, the level of censorship which the British government exercised over the press meant that many civilians were largely unaware of the danger that awaited them. Lurking under the waters off Kish Island was U-boat 123, which had already sunk two boats since it left Germany days earlier. At 09:45, the first torpedo was fired, shooting past the brow of the Leinster. The second was a direct hit, and a third torpedo sunk the entire vessel.Coaling, or refuelling, that same morning in Dublin was HMY Helga, the same ship which had been shelling the city two and a half years earlier. That day however, the Helga succeeded in being first on the scene of the Leinster sinking, and managed reach it just in time to rescue approximately 90 passengers, though there is some confusion as to the exact number. These passengers were not returned to Kingstown but disembarked in Wales. Due the controls on wartime press, the British government were keen to keep any such disasters out of the public eye'.Duff died on 11 November 1935 at Dover, at the time he was employed on the Trinity House Pilot Cutter, S.S. Prudence. (The Dover Express of 22 November 1935 refers).Sold together with his silver wound badge, this numbered B158828, a copy photo of Helga, a postcard of Highflyer, copy of Helga's ships log from the National Maritime Museum for 4-5 April 1918 and a copy of Irish Naval service.…

Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Trooper J. W. Orr. C. Lt. Horse), officially engraved naming, good very fineProvenance:Baldwins, April 2003.John Williams Orr was born on 21 January 1867 at Calcutta, son of John and Lucy Orr. His father was a solicitor and young Orr followed his father into that profession, coming back to England to sit his examinations in 1884. He then returned to Calcutta to join his father's firm Orr, Johnson & Robertson of Old Post Office Street.It was in 1895 that he joined the Calcutta Light Horse, one of the most fêted Indian Volunteer units. He was an active member and in August 1897 came second in their tent pegging competition, second in the April 1898 quarterly Wapenshaw Shooting competition and won the 1901-02 tent pegging challenge bowl, at that time recorded as a Troop Sergeant-Major. Orr married Ada Howlett at Godalming and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in November 1906, being admitted in January 1907. Joining the Bengal Civil Service in January 1908, Orr is noted as a Trooper on the Calcutta Light Horse roll of August 1914 and was awarded his Medal as per Indian Army Order 625 of November 1914. Deputy Superintendent & Remembrancer of Legal Affairs at the Bengal High Court in 1915, he retired to Braunton, Barnstaple, Devon and died in January 1947.…

Pair: Captain William Gammell, 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of FootCrimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lieutenant W. Gammell, 39th Regt.); Turkish Crimea (Lieutenant W. Gammell, 39th Regt.), both contemporarily engraved in upright capitals, individually mounted upon twin-pronged silver riband buckles and their original ribands, contained within a bespoke fitted leather case, the top lid tooled in gilded letters stating 'Medals of Capt. William Gammell, Late 39th Regiment', traces of old lacquer, highlights polished and contact marks, about very fine (2)William Gammell, fifth son of Captain James Gammell, was born at Beech Hill, County Down, on 11 July 1833. Whilst little is known of his early life, on 12 March 1852 he was commissioned Ensign in the 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot and just over one year later purchased his lieutenancy in the same unit. Lieutenant Gammell and the 39th embarked for the Crimea in the spring of 1854 where they participated in the Siege of Sevastopol and assault on the Redan on 18 June (Waterloo Day) 1855. Interestingly, Gammell and three of his comrades may have been the subject of one of Roger Fenton's famous photographs from the campaign.In 1856 the regiment were sent to Canada (exchanging one harsh climate for another) and a year later Gammell purchased his captaincy. From 1859-64 further garrison duty beckoned in Bermuda, but not long afterward Captain Gammell resigned his commission to take up a post as a Barrack Clerk in the Transport Commissariat. The reason for this extreme and unusual change of career is unknown, but this position took him to London, Hong Kong, and Dublin prior to his retirement in October 1878. Appearing to settle-down (he married Caroline Brennan in May 1881), sadly domestic bliss was to barely last a year before Gammell died of 'acute bronchitis' on 23 March 1882 at the young age of 48. There were no children from his marriage, and indeed his widow was only to survive him by four years.For the medals of his father, Captain James Gammell see Lot 104, and for the medals of a brother, Captain Harcourt Gammell R.N., see Lot 105.…

The 94th RegimentThe 94th Regiment was stationed at Aldershot when a sudden order was received on 12 February 1879, directing it to Natal. All officers and men were recalled at once, with a further 350 volunteers joining to bring the Regiment to war strength. The men embarked from Southampton aboard the S.S. China and arrived at Durban on 2 April.Forming part of Newdigate's Division, the 94th formed at advance post at Conference Hill, where they built two forts and a stone laager under the direction of officers from the Royal Engineers.At the battle of Ulundi, the 94th was the only regiment in Newdigate's Division that had six companies present; in the engagement, two of its men were killed and one officer and eighteen men were wounded. Following Ulundi, the Regiment retired to Entonjaneni and subsequently assisted in disarming the Zulus and dismantling Sekukini's stronghold. It also bore the grim duty of burying those who fell at the Zlobane on 28 March.During the opening clash of the First Boer War in 1880, A & F Companies of the 94th Foot were attacked in the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit where they would take significant casualties losing 156 men killed or wounded with the rest taken as Prisoners of War. The other 6 Companies would end up under siege for the rest of the war.992 Medals were issued to the 94th Regiment, 948 of them with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (...Patk. Lacey. 94th Foot.), attempted erasure over most of naming, thus fineConfirmed as Quartermaster of the 94th Foot upon the roll.…

The outstanding Second World War C.B., 'Southern Desert, Iraq' O.B.E., Great War Fighter "Aces" D.F.C. mounted group of fourteen miniature dress medals worn by Dolphin Pilot Air Commodore F. Woolley, Royal Air ForceCredited with 4 victories, but possibly as many as 8 from July to November 1918, he served as a Special Service Officer with Air Staff Intelligence in Iraq where he spent three years in the desert with Bedouin tribesmen collating intelligenceDuring the Second War he served as Chief Intelligence Officer, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied Air Forces 1943-45The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion's (C.B.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Officer's (O.B.E.) Badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals 1914-18; General Service 1918-62, G.V.R., 1 clasp, Southern Desert, Iraq; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star with rose on riband; Pacific Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; United States of America, Legion of Merit, gilt and enamel, with miniature Star on riband; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, mounted as worn, slight wear to enamel on Order of the Bath, overall very fine (14)His full-size medals sold in these rooms in April 2014.C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1946.O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1931. The original recommendation reads:'This Officer has been a Special Service Officer in Iraq since March 1928. Although occupying the most lonely and isolated post in the whole Command, he has consistently displayed, under extremely trying conditions, a tact, patience, and perseverance which are worthy of the highest praise.'D.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.M.I.D. London Gazette 2 June 1943.United States, Legion of Merit London Gazette 27 November 1945. The original recommendation reads:'Air Commodore Frank Woolley, Royal Air Force, as Chief Intelligence Officer, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied Air Forces from February 1943 to May 1945, displayed wise judgment and unqualified devotion to duty in the successful fulfilment of his assignment. Called upon to furnish a synthesis of all intelligence information regarding conduct of operations and to integrate the Anglo-American intelligence structure of the headquarters, he overcame many obstacles to provide source information of high value and veracity and at the same time achieved a smoothly functioning, closely knit intelligence organization. Commodore Woolley's exceptional ability was of great benefit to the conduct of air operations.'Belgium, Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 July 1919.Frank Woolley was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire in 1899 and was educated at the County Secondary School. He joined the Army straight from his school O.T.C. on his 18th birthday, and was accepted for a Commission in the Territorial Forces Association. Posted to the 7th Training Reserve Battalion at Rugeley, he subsequently applied to join the Royal Flying Corps, and after initial tutoring at Denham was Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the R.F.C. on 7 November 1917.Woolley went to France in July 1918 where he was posted to No.1 Aero Supply Depot before receiving his first operational posting on 14 July with No. 79 Fighter Squadron (Sopwith Dolphins), based at St. Marie Cappel east of St. Omer, with whom he fought and flew for the rest of the War. He was without doubt heavily engaged with the enemy for the next four months, '...and the local papers in his home town of Ilkeston credited him with eight victories, and recorded that he himself had been shot or forced down no fewer than three times, evidence of an exciting four months' flying.' (Winged Warriors, Derbyshire Fighter Pilots in World War I, by Barry Marsden refers).His first victory occurred on 27 September, when, according to an account that appeared in the Ilkeston Advertiser, 'he was on readiness at his home base when word was received that an enemy two seater was busy on a reconnaissance over the British front line. He was ordered to intercept the hostile aircraft, and, piloting a Dolphin, sighted it below him somewhere north-west of Armentieres. The first burst from his twin Vickers killed the enemy observer, and the subsequent running battle took both warplanes over the town, where the observation machine suddenly dived away to smash through the roof of a building. When Frank landed back at his home airfield his delighted CO praised his "splendid effort", and promised that "the facts would be reported to the proper quarter".' (ibid). Woolley's own account of the action confirms this: 'I was at 2,000 feet among the clouds South West of Armentieres when I saw a hostile 2-seater, probably an Albatros, about 1,000 feet below me. On being engaged the enemy aircraft dived towards Armentieres. I dived after him and fired two bursts into him at close range. The enemy aircraft spun and crashed into a house in Armentieres.' (recipient's combat report refers).The following day Woolley shot down another aircraft: 'I saw 10 Fokker Biplanes attacking a Bristol Fighter. I climbed into a cloud at 6,000 feet whilst Lieutenant McNeaney attacked the enemy machines. A dog fight ensued in which I saw two Fokkers go down after which Lieutenant McNeaney went down, followed by a Fokker. I attacked this enemy aircraft and fired a short burst at point blank range, and saw him go down and crash.' (Ibid).A month later on 26 October, Woolley despatched an L.V.G. two-seater at 3,000 feet south-east of Renaix before recording his final confirmed victory on 4 November, when 'at 9,000 feet I spotted a Halberstadt two-seater working over Renaix. I flew north and then east and so got east of him and in the sun. I then dived on the enemy aircraft who turned west and then north. I fired a burst at very close range. The enemy aircraft went into a vertical dive and crashed in a gulley between Sulsique and Renaix.' (Ibid).After the Armistice Woolley took up adjutant duties with the Squadron and became a Flight Commander, the Squadron became part of the Allied Occupation Force in December and moved to Cologne. Here he accepted the opportunity to fly numerous surrendered German aircraft, including Fokker DVIIs, Rumplers, and Halberstadts. Whilst stationed in Germany he learnt of the award of his D.F.C. and also received the Belgian Croix de Guerre, having the latter pinned on his chest by King Albert himself. He transferred to the unemployed list in October 1919, but was recalled to a short-service Commission the following June and served at R.A.F. Lee-on-Solent and Calshot. Qualifying as a pilot flying seaplanes and multi-engined flying boats, he fell in love with the Solent area, and wrote to tell his fiancée: 'I am sure that you will love this place too, and if I live long enough to retire this is where we shall live.'Southern Desert, Iraq - With the BedouinIn July 1927 Woolley was appointed to a permanent Commission in the General Duties branch of the Royal Air Force and, having been promoted Flight Lieutenant in January 1928, he embarked upon a course in Arabic at the School of Oriental Studies in London. After completing the course in March he was immediately posted to HQ Iraq as a Special Service Officer with Air Staff Intelligence, and for the next three years was responsible for the collection of intelligence in the vast unmapped desert west of Basra, spending the time living with the Bedouin tribesmen, 'sharing the hardships of their primitive, nomadic lifestyle, enduring searing heat, frequent dust and sandstorms, plagues of flies, and living off revolting food and foul water.' (Win…

Sold by Order of a Direct DescendantThe unique and superbly well-documented 'Far East Communication Squadron 1950' A.F.M. group of seven awarded to Master Signaller J. B. C. Browne, Royal Air Force, who was awarded his Nuclear Test Medal for the 'Christmas Airways' flights to Christmas Island during Operation GrappleBrowne's remarkable career saw him flying during the Second World War, earning his A.F.M. in the east for flights which included missions to China redacted from his service papers and flying the Royal Couple during their 1961 Royal Tour of NepalAir Force Medal, G.VI.R. (571907 Sig. I. J. B. C. Browne. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, Arabian Peninsula (571907 Sig. I.A. J. B. C. Browne. R.A.F.), the second detached in its named box of issue; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (M. Sig. J. B.C. Browne. (571907) R.A.F.); Nuclear Test Medal, unnamed as issued, the first six mounted as worn, the last in its named box of issue, sold together with a large archive including the recipient's flying log books, minor contact wear to sixth, overall good very fine (7)A.F.M. London Gazette 8 June 1950, the original recommendation states:'Signaller I Browne joined the Squadron in October, 1948, having been in Japan from October, 1947, and has been employed as a V.I.P. Signaller. He is a first class non-commissioned officer with exceptional technical ability, having consistently held an 'A' category since August, 1946. During the last six months he has completed 300 flying hours on some of the most important flights assigned to this Squadron, and he has also extended his 'A' category to cover York aircraft as well as the Dakota, the type in which he is primarily signaller and, on numerous long distance flights during his tour of duty in the Far East Communication Squadron, he has carried out his duties in an exemplary manner. He has shown ability, coolness and enthusiasm and is an outstanding non-commissioned officer.'Note the Recipient's Flying Log Book for the period of 1947-1952 is missing, it is believed to have been recalled owning to a redacted mission in China rather than misplaced or lost.John Blake Cameron Browne (who later changed his surname to Howard) was born in Kensington, London on 19 February 1922, the son of Andrew and Wilhelmina 'Billy' Browne. His father was a former professional soldier who served as a Sergeant-Major with the Essex Regiment and was seriously wounded in the leg at Gallipoli. He appears to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and left the family in 1929 leaving his wife to raise the children herself. The young Browne received only a basic education however this was enough for him to pass the entrance tests for an apprenticeship at R.A.F. Halton on 24 August 1937.He was initially posted to the Electrical and Wireless School before transferring to No. 2 Wireless School on 26 March 1938. He must have proven himself a quick learner as he was soon selected to leave Halton for Cranwell, where he specialised as a Signaller. He was still there on the outbreak of the Second World War on 3 September 1940, they spent the day dispersing the aircraft around the perimeter of the airfield in case of air raids.The Second World WarQualifying as Wireless Electrical Mechanic on 29 January 1940, Browne reached his majority the next month on 19 February and was appointed Aircraftman Class I the same day. Posted first to No. 29 Squadron and advanced Leading Aircraftman on 1 April 1940 he served with them at R.A.F. Digby. Here he was on the receiving end of several bombing raids, being promoted Corporal on 31 December 1940. The Squadron re-equipped with Bristol Beaufighters to replace their old Blenheims not long later.Transferring to R.A.F. Pembury he undertook an air gunner's course, becoming qualified on 6 January 1943 and advanced Sergeant on 7 January. Joining No. 10 Radio School Carew Cheriton, he served there until 17 February 1943 when he was posted to Coastal Command's 131 Operational Training Unit which was located on Loch Erne in Northern Ireland. There he had his first flight on a Catalina flying boat on 18 February.Having qualified, Browne was posted to the newly formed 265 Squadron based in Northern Madagascar. After a gruelling journey across Africa, he finally reached the posting in early June and began to undertake fleet escort and search and rescue missions as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. Racking up increasing Operational flying time in December he had 250 hours and was advanced Flight Sergeant on 6 January 1944.Over the next year he was to continue in this role, adding Meteorological Flights to his duties. The last of Browne's wartime flying was with 265 Squadron having undertaken 562 hours of Operational flight with them and an impressive 1076 hours in total. Posted to R.A.F. Wymeswold on 5 May 1945, he arrived on 8 May - V.E. Day - to discover the station all but deserted, the guard on the front gate informed him that everyone was celebrating in the pub.V.I.P. Flying, a Redacted Mission and a Crash LandingBrowne retrained with Douglas Dakotas and was soon posted to 147 Squadron, flying for Transport Command. This Squadron flew from Britain to Europe allowing Browne to assemble a collection of European banknotes which he stuck into his log books.Joining 24 Squadron for V.I.P. transport flights in October 1946 he was posted to the British Commonwealth Air Force in Japan the following year. The next year Browne again moved, this time to the Far East Communications Squadron. Two months after he joined them a period of one week on his service records is redacted, this combined with his missing log book covering this period is suggestive of a clandestine mission. The cataloguer must leave it to the reader to imagine the nature of this work however it occurred at a time that Browne was known to have been flying to China, then embroiled in the Civil War.Returning to Britain in April 1950 he was awarded the Air Force Medal at R.A.F. North Luffenham for his work with the Far East Communication Squadron. His work there had also entitled him to the Malaya bar for his General Service Medal however this would not be issued at the time and Browne was to receive the G.S.M. for a separate campaign. Joining 242 Operational Conversion Unit as a Trainer and he was recommended a Commission at that point however he rejected the offer, feeling that he preferred his role as a Warrant Officer.Returning to No. 24 Squadron on 6 December 1953 he rang in the new year with a promotion to Master Signaller on 31 December. One of his early flights here on 22 May 1954 was transporting Anthony Eden (then Foreign Secretary) and Lord Ismay (then Secretary General of Nato) from Geneva to Paris and thence to Britain. A further flight in July almost led to disaster as the crew lost their way between Suffield, Alberta and Britain. An S.O.S. signal was sent out and after a tense period of waiting were picked up by a passing liner which was able to give them their co-ordinates, with their available fuel they were just able to make an emergency stop at the Azores Islands.That same year he performed trips to Australia which included the transport of material and personnel involved in the developing Nuclear programme. During one routine training mission the next year out of R.A.F. Abingdon the Hastings aircraft Browne was flying in crashed on landing. Fortunately the crew were all unharmed although the aircraft itself lost a wing. The next year he transferred to No. 47 Squadron flying mostly to the Middle East, Cyprus and Malta.Christmas Island Airways and Operation GrappleBrowne had alr…

The Great War D.S.O., M.C. group of nine awarded to Hon. Brigadier T. I. Dun, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was wounded during the course of protracted service in France and Flanders, thrice 'mentioned' and served with armoured cars between the wars, authoring a book on his experienceDistinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R.; The Most Venerable Order of St. John, Officer's breast Badge, silver and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. T. I. Dun, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. I. Dun); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, enamel work slightly chipped, very fine and better (9)Provenance:Spink Numismatic Circular, May 1987.D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917.Thomas Ingram Dun was born at Kelvin, Glasgow on 1 May 1892 and studied medicine at Glasgow University and Anderson Medical School.Qualifying on the eve of the Great War, he was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps in September 1914 and went on to witness active service in France and Flanders from May 1915 to November 1918, being wounded and twice decorated. He was also advanced to the acting rank of Major and thrice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 15 June 1916, 25 May 1918 and 30 December 1918, refer).Remaining in the Regular Army between the wars, Dun specialised in obstetrics and served in India (1919-24) and Egypt (1929-35) in addition to appointments in the UK. It appears he was at one time attached to an armoured unit during his time in Egypt, or certainly one 'Thomas Ingram Dun' is the credited author of From Cairo to Siwa: Across the Libyan Desert with Armoured Cars, which was first published in Cairo in 1933.A Lieutenant-Colonel on the staff of the Louise Margaret Hospital in Chatham on the eve of hostilities, Dun was quickly embarked for India where he served as C.O. of the Combined Military Hospital in Quetta (1940-42), and as C.O. of the 35th (1942-43) and 126th (1943-45) General Hospitals. He held the acting ranks of Brigadier and Major-General in the same period, the latter while acting as Deputy Director of Medical Service in India's Eastern Command.Post-war, Dun served as Assistant Director of Medical Services, Salisbury Plain (1946-48) and as Officer in Charge of Medical Services for the A.T.S. and W.R.A.C. (1948-53). Appointed an Officer of the Order of St. John in the summer of 1952, his final post was as President of the Standing Medical Board at Aldershot, and he was placed on the Retired List in the honorary rank of Brigadier in May 1955. He died in September 1975.…

The superb posthumous 'Amiens 1918' M.M. awarded to Corporal W. H. Bowen, 19th Battalion, Australian Infantry, who saw service at Gallipoli, was four times wounded, and finally killed in action at the time of earning his decorationMilitary Medal, G.V.R. (1149 Cpl H. W.Bowen. 19/Aust.Inf.), very fineHerbert William Bowen was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1888 and enlisted on 10 March 1915 with the Australian Imperial Force. Posted to the 19th Battalion Bowen embarked with them on 25 June 1915 for Gallipoli where they formed part of the first wave of reinforcements after the initial landings. The unit landed on 21 August and were immediately thrown into the Battle of Hill 60, Bowen appears to have passed through this unscathed however he was wounded on 1 September 1915. A telegraph sent to his wife confirming this notes that it was not reported to be a serious wound.Joining the evacuation of the Peninsula the Battalion was posted to the B.E.F. in France on 18 March 1916. They were soon in action during the Battle of the Somme at the bloodily contested front of Pozières, here the Australian 1st Division suffered over 5,000 casualties before eventually being relieved. Bowen was wounded here suffering multiple gunshot wounds on 28 July and being treated at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station before hospitalization.Rejoining his unit on 9 April 1917 after an extended rehabilitation in England he served without incident for the rest of the year during which time the Battalion saw action at Bullecourt and Passchendaele. In the effort to resist the German Spring Offensive however he was again on the frontline and was gassed on 28 May 1918, necessitating another recovery process.Finally returning to his unit on 13 July 1918 Bowen joined the action on 11 August 1918 during the Battle of Amiens. After his act of gallantry he was again wounded in action, the witness statement of Private H. S. Doohan, quoted in his service papers gives further details, stating:'I saw Cpl. Bowen. D. Company. after he was wounded (think arm) at Framerville about 5 or 6 a.m. I was a runner and was going up to the position when I saw him. He called out as he passed me on his way back to R.A.P. He was a walking case. I did not see anything more of him. He had to go through the orchard to get to the Aid post and the shelling was very heavy. Bowen was big, broad, fair, reddish complexion, about 33 years.'Bowen is commemorated upon the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial; sold together with copied research.…

A rare post-war K.P.M. for Gallantry awarded to Constable 1st Class E. B. O'Regan, New South Wales Police Force, who was shot while confronting armed robbersKing's Police and Fire Services Medal, for Gallantry, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Const. 1/Cl. Edward B. O'Regan, N.S.W. Police Force), in its Royal Mint case of issue, official naming on pre-prepared ground, extremely fineK.P.M. London Gazette 29 August 1947.Edward Bernard O'Regan was born on 15 August 1916 and joined the New South Walers Police Force as a Constable in July 1939. A native of Lithgow in N.S.W., he was described on his enlistment papers as standing at 6.1 feet and weighing nearly 12 stone.By the time of his K.P.M.-winning exploits in May 1946, he was still serving as a Constable, but he was about to receive accelerated promotion to Constable 1st Class. And of those gallant deeds, his service record states:'Specially commended for the very fine policeman ship and conspicuous bravery displayed when, in company with Constable A. E. Gilchrist, the arrest was affected of an armed bandit, M. J. Delaney, at Harris Park on 23 May 1946, and also in connection with the attempted apprehension of two offenders who were disturbed when about to break into the Cabramatta Post Office at 2 a.m. on 30 May 1946. Promoted to Constable 1st Class as on, from 23 May 1946, and submission made for the award of the King's Police and Fire Services Medal 'for Gallantry' in accordance with the recommendation of the appraisement committee.'Of the incident at Cabramatta - and under the headline 'Two More Police Shot; Big Manhunt' - a local newspaper takes up the story:'The men shot were detectives Regan and Gilchrist. They disturbed the men at the back of Cabramatta Post Office. The men fired shots and wounded both detectives. The wounds were not serious.The men ran across to a black sedan car, in which they drove off at high speed towards Fairfield. All police cars in the metropolitan area were posted to a search for the sedan. Detectives were called from their beds in all parts of the metropolitan area.Detectives Regan and Gilchrist, though wounded, joined in the hunt. Later, however, both detectives had to abandon the hunt and seek treatment at Parramatta Hospital. Regan was shot in the thigh, but the nature of Gilchrist's injuries were not known at 3 a.m. today.The sedan in which the men made their getaway was stolen in Newtown earlier in the night.One of the men was wearing a blue suit. A pocket was torn from his coat during a struggle with the detectives.Three detectives have been shot in two days. On Tuesday night Detective Sergeant Wilson was shot while in plain clothes room of Darlinghurst Police Station.'O'Regan, who was duly recommended for the K.P.M. for Gallantry, resigned from the N.S.W. Police Force in August 1947. He died at Parramatta in July 1967; sold with copied service record and newspaper reports.…

A scarce Boer War Militia Officer's D.S.O. group of four awarded to Major M. A. Foster, 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, who was further twice 'mentioned'Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Jubilee 1897, silver, unnamed as issued; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Capt. & Adjt. M. A. Foster, D.S.O., Som. L.I.), unit officially corrected to include post-nominals; King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Maj. & Adjt. M. A. Foster. D.S.O., Som. L.I.), the last three mounted as worn in this order, minor enamel damage to D.S.O. and contact wear overall, very fine (4)Provenance:Noonans, June 2012.Spink, July 2018; April 2023.D.S.O. London Gazette 27 September 1901.M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901, 29 July 1902.Montagu Amos Foster was born on 19 March 1861, the son of William Foster of Wilbury Road, Brighton, Sussex. Foster was privately educated and became a notable linguist over the course of his life. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Second East Norfolk (Militia) on 10 December 1879, he was gazetted to a regular commission with the Somerset Light Infantry on 28 January 1882, with the rank of Lieutenant. Promoted Captain in September 1887, he served as an Adjutant in the Militia from May 1899 until February 1904.Foster also returned to the Militia, serving as Captain and Adjutant with the 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. It was with this role that he appears upon the roll for the Jubilee Medal. Later entering the Boer War, with the Battalion sailing on the Kildonan Castle in Spring 1900, upon arrival they were split up with the majority of the unit divided along the lines of communication between East London and Queenstown, Cape Colony, while some officers were detached to the Staff. Foster's role would likely have been with one of the mobile columns that operated in the region hunting down the Boer Commandos - a role for which he was further 'mentioned' twice on 10 September 1901 and 29 July 1902.Foster certainly came home to receive his D.S.O. in an investiture on 29 October 1901, however, he returned to South Africa, being promoted Major in April 1902 and is listed as stationed there until 13 May. Seeing further service in the East Indies between 1902 and April 1904, Foster returned to Britain on 16 April and served at home until March 1909 when he was placed upon the retired list. Foster had married Ida Frances, the daughter of Brigadier-General W. G. Thompson, C.M.G., D.S.O. and had two children with her, Mary and Cecil William Foster; sold together with copied research comprising a C.D. containing research and photographs, a copied caricature and career summery as well as a Record of Service, medal rolls and extracts from the London Gazette and West Somerset Free Press.…

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (W. Cook, 20th Foot.), traces of lacquer, very fine, mounted as wornProvenance:Glendining's, September 1987.William Cook was born at Totham, Essex circa 1785 and was a labourer also serving in the West Essex Militia upon his enlisting in the 20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot (Lancashire Fusiliers) at Haslar under a bounty of £5-5-3; a vast sum in that period. At that time he was described as having dark eyes, dark hair and a 'brown' complexion, perhaps being of West Indian heritage whose parents had made it to England.Cook was wounded by gunshot at Orthes. A fine account is offered by Colonel John Hogge, K.H., who commanded the Light Company:'I embrace the first moment I had to spare since the battle of the 27th to let you know I have again escaped one of the most murderous battles that ever I believe the old 20th witnessed. I had three most wonderful escapes, three balls struck me, one entering the glass you bought me in London, when in the act of looking at the troops opposed to us, the ball still remains in but has entirely destroyed the glass. Another entered my jacket near the right breast, was turned by striking a button, passed along my waistcoat, came out and badly wounded a man of my company. A grape shot struck the top of my shoulder, carried away the bugle and most of my right wing but did no other injury except a slight bruise. You will say my dear brother I am a fortunate fellow, I think to myself, for I believe no man ever had narrower escapes, the jacket and spyglass I shall preserve and one day I hope to show you them. I shall now begin to relate what passed on that eventful day confining myself to that part of the tragedy our Brigade acted.The Light Companies of the 23rd, 7th, 20th, and a company of Rifles were in advance about 2 miles, when we came in contact with the advance post of the enemy, we immediately engaged them and drove them about a mile into a village where they had posted, unbeknown to us, a number of men in every part. We attacked it three times but did not succeed, soon after two companies of the 7th reinforced us and we quickly drove them out, took possession and retained it till the Brigade came up, we lost in this affair two Captains and about 60 men out of the light companies of the Brigade, eleven of my company were killed and wounded. It was here I had two escapes. We were then ordered to join our Regts. I found mine just in rear of the village.Soon after an order came to us to advance and support our Portuguese Brigade, as they had just given way about half a mile in front of us. The great bone of contention was a small town [St Böes] and a range of hills just in the van of it, upon which a strong column of French were posted with 6 pieces of Artillery. The main road ran directly through the town, and the heights and all the Artillery commanded it, we fixed bayonets and there the bloody scene commenced. I passed the Portuguese and actually carried the town under a most dreadful fire of grape shot and musquetry, that ever a regiment was exposed to, out of 291, all we had, 126 men and nine officers were killed and wounded. We had two other officers wounded but they were not returned so, being slightly hit. The enemy attempted again to take it from us, they got into the town but we managed to drive them out again. They carried away about 25 of our men and Captain Tovey, they surrounded them. The 7th Division soon came up and the French retreated in all directions. We followed till darkness put an end to the contest.Genl. Moss was wounded but not badly before we took the town. Major Bent who nobly commanded us had first his horse shot and was immediately afterwards killed himself. Three balls entered him. One Captain killed and three badly wounded. Capt Russell commands what few of us are left, he certainly gets the Brevet. Col Ellis, who commands the Brigade, rode into the town after we had taken it and declared that there never was a more gallant thing done by any Regt, and his Lordship sent in soon after to know what Regt it was that had taken the town. It is certain that they had in it double our numbers, posted so as to rake every part of the road leading through the town. Had we not succeeded we should have been cut to atoms, the only chance we had was to charge through it instantly, and after driving them out get under cover of the houses. It was impossible for our men to have stood it for five minutes longer, the grape from the Artillery on the hills cut us down by the dozens at a time. I got off most fortunately with the loss only of a strap. We mustered on parade next day only 144 men and nine officers. Soult may now say he annihilated us.’Cook was in fair shape to share in the action at Toulouse and was discharged on 31 January 1816. …

A post-war K.P.M. awarded to Superintendent 1st Class and Deputy Commissioner W. R. Lawrence, New South Wales Police Force and afterwards a Member of the N.S.W. Legislative Assembly, who was further awarded the M.B.E. in 1966King's Police and Fire Service Medal, for Distinguished Service, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Walter L. Lawrence, Supt. Cl. 3, N.S.W. Police), note second initial, official naming on pre-prepared ground; good very fine[M.B.E.] London Gazette 1 January 1966.'For public and social welfare services in the state of New South Wales.'K.P.M. London Gazette 2 January 1950.Walter Richard Lawrence was born at Lawson's Creek, Mudgee, New South Wales on 3 January 1895. Educated at country public schools, he originally found employment as a wool classer and station manager but, in January 1922, he elected to join the New South Wales Police Force.Appointed to the Criminal Investigation Department, he was advanced to Detective Sergeant (D.S.) 3rd Class in January 1933, D.S. 2nd Class in June 1927 and D.S. 1st Class in June 1939, followed by his promotion to Inspector in November 1942. Having latterly served in the Traffic Department, Lawrence was awarded the K.P.M. and promoted to Superintendent 1st Class in October 1951.Having then retired in January 1955, he added the M.B.E. to his accolades for his good deeds and public service to the state of New South Wales, where he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly 1956-66 and an Alderman for Drummoyne. He died in Sydney in March 1966; sold with copied service record, which confirms his entitlement to the Coronation Medal.…

A Second World War D.F.M. awarded to Flight Lieutenant W. Woodhouse, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was decorated for his gallantry as a Navigator in No. 57 Squadron, his operational tour including the famous daylight raid on Le Creusot in October 1942 and four trips to the 'Big City'Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1166133 F./Sgt. W. Woodhouse, R.A.F.), good very fineD.F.M. London Gazette 11 June 1943.Wilfred Woodhouse was educated at Raddlebarn School, Maple College and Birmingham University, and attended a course at Ruskin College of Art in 1937-38. Having also attended several civil defence courses in the interim, he joined the Royal Air Force in June 1940 and was trained as a navigator.He subsequently joined No. 57 Squadron at R.A.F. Scampton as a Flight Sergeant in August 1942 and flew his first sortie - against Cologne - on the night of 15-16 October 1942. Next up was Operation 'Robertson', the daylight raid against Le Creusot on the 17th, when 94 Lancasters from No. 5 Group were assigned to attack the Schneider works, the whole under Wing Commander L. C. Slee, the C.O. of No. 49 Squadron.Woodhouse flew in one of several 57 Squadron aircraft allocated to the force, he and his crew having undertaken special low-level flying exercises over Lincolnshire in the interim. Despite the obvious risks, the raid turned out to be a great success, just one Lancaster becoming a cropper after hitting a roof top. Others suffered damage from bird strikes, as the force raced over 300 miles of French countryside at tree-top height, but all returned home, having delivered their attack in just seven minutes. Even the likes of Guy Gibson, who led six aircraft against the nearby transformer station at Montchanin, appeared to be satisfied with the results.'Bomber' Harris was also impressed and ordered another daylight raid, this time against Milan, in which Woodhouse participated on the 24th. In fact, he was to make three further trips to Italy over the next month or so, namely two sorties to Turin and another to Genoa. These besides sorties to Duisburg, Stuttgart and Weismar. And in mid-January 1943, he flew his first sortie to the 'Big City', one of four such trips undertaken by him at the height of Bomber Command's battle of Berlin.Two further trips to Cologne - and other heavily defended targets such as Essen, Hamburg and Munich - made up the remainder of his operational tour and he was recommended for his D.F.M. in April 1943. Subsequently commissioned, he was demobilised as a Flight Lieutenant in October 1945.Post-war, Woodhouse qualified as a teacher and was employed by the City of Birmingham Education Department, including a stint as headmaster of Leigh School; sold with copied career correspondence.…

The 'Post-War' R.R.C. group of six awarded to Matron E. Prescott, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, who was further 'mentioned' for her services in Sicily in March 1944Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially dated '1949', mounted for wear upon a lady's bow riband in its fitted Garrard & Co. box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-42; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, sold together with original material including the R.R.C. slip of issue named 'Matron E. Prescott, R.R.C.' and the envelope of issue named to the same, overall nearly extremely fine (6)R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1949.Ethel Prescott was born at Lund near Driffield, East Riding, Yorkshire on 22 October 1893, the daughter of Thomas and Jane Prescott. She was educated at Dame Chatterton's School for Young Ladies, North Dalton and after a brief spell as a housekeeper she went to train as a nurse with the Royal London Hospital.Qualifying as a state registered nurse and midwife she joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service on 15 August 1927 at Shorncliff, Kent as a Staff Nurse. Posted to India, Prescott was stationed at Rawalpindi in 1928 and saw a further six years of service on the subcontinent with postings at Murree, Peshawar, Nowshera and Quetta.Returning to service as a Sister on 30 May 1941, her first wartime posting was the Hospital Ship H.M.H.S. Aba. Later posted to South Africa she served at Pietermaritzburg in 1943 before being transferred to service in Italy. It was here that Prescott was 'mentioned' (London Gazette 23 March 1944, refers) before being posted to New York with the rank of Matron swiftly following.She remained in North America and Britain between 1944-45 before finally returning to the front in Germany in 1945. Prescott served in Burma in 1946 and finally at Wheatley in a hospital well known for its treatment of head injuries.After the war Prescott went on to serve as Matron at Dulverton Hall, Scarborough, a home for retired clergymen. Her medals were sent to her on 31 August 1948 at The Woods, Beckingham, Doncaster and she retired from Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service on 22 October 1948 with the rank of Honorary Principle Matron. She was admitted into the Royal Red Cross the next year, her award was sent to her at 72 Greengate, Malton, Yorkshire.Sold together with copied research and an original archive comprising a named slip of issue for the R.R.C., photograph of the recipient in uniform, newspaper cutting announcing the award, box and addressed envelope of issue and corresponding riband bar for the campaign medals.…

A superb I.D.S.M. awarded to Havildar D. Chand, 1-2nd Punjab Regiment; who latterly joined a Indian Parachute Regiment after Indian Independence and was killed in action during Operations in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (12524 Hav. Durga Chand, 1-2 Punjab. R.), minor official correction to forename, very fineI.D.S.M. Recommendation confirmed 20 September 1945, the recommendation states:'During the recent operations in the Sillaro valley Hav Durga Chand has on several occasions distinguished himself.On 15 Feb 45 in C Di Lucca 008298 he was in command of a party of eight IORs at pt 358 013297 when enemy estimated twenty attacked this post. Hav Durga Chand engaged them at short range and though outnumbered stuck to his post and inflicted at least five casualties on the enemy who then withdrew.In the third week of February 45, Hav Durga Chand with another sepoy led two recce patrols around pt 342 013299 and obtained very useful and accurate information of enemy mortars and Spandau positions on the reverse slopes of that feature. These enemy posns were subsequently engaged by our mortars and heavy casualties were inflected resulting in the reduction of enemy activity in that area.Again on 5 March 45 when the enemy attacked pt 358 Hav Durga Chand was in comd of a section there. Working his way behind the leading enemy scouts he captured one of them whilst his section inflicted four casualties on the remainder.During this period of one month in which his coy was actively engaged Hav Durga Chand on every occasion led his men with great gallantry. His leadership devotion to duty, and perseverance have been of the highest order.'Note the recipient's recommendation has been located and the book The Indian Distinguished Service Medal lists him as receiving the award, however, no London Gazette entry has been located either by the cataloguer or in the above-mentioned reference work.Durga Chand was born at Dharmpur Dasuya Hoshiarpur, Punjab. He served through the Second World War with the 1-2 Punjab Regiment and is listed as killed in action with the 1st Parachute Regiment during the Jammu and Kasmir Operations on 1 August 1949; sold together with copied research.…

The unique and outstanding post-war M.B.E., Second World War North-West Europe operations immediate M.M., 'Japan B.E.M.' mounted group of twelve miniature dress medals awarded to Major (Q.M.) A. P. 'Bobby' Joyce, Welsh GuardsIn a remarkable career - spanning active service in Normandy in 1944 to Northern Ireland in the 1970s, the whole with the Welsh Guards - he first came to prominence for his M.M.-winning deeds in March 1945, deeds that reached a wider audience on the front and back pages of The Victor some 30 years later: the comic's colourful depiction of his gallant actions included a scene of him lobbing a grenade into a Spandau position - "Share that with your mates, Fritz"Whether he shared such sentiments with Rudolph Hess remains unknown, but he commanded the former Nazi leader's 'Old Guard' at Spandau Prison in the early 50s, a far cry from his subsequent duties in South Arabia and Northern IrelandThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Member's (M.B.E.) Badge, silver; Military Medal, G.VI.R.; British Empire Medal (Military), G.VI.R.; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48; General Service 1962-2007, 2 clasps, South Arabia, Northern Ireland; U.N. Korea 1950-54; Coronation 1953, mounted court-style as worn, very fine or better (12)His full-size awards were sold in these rooms in April 2019.M.B.E. London Gazette 2 June 1973.The lengthy original recommendation speaks of valuable service as a Staff, Transport and Messing Officer at the Guards Depot in 1972-73, home to some 2,500 soldiers. It concludes:'His devotion to duty and his constant pre-occupation with the well being of the men under his command have earned the respect and regard of every soldier at Pirbright.'M.M. London Gazette 12 July 1945. The original recommendation - for an immediate award - states:'Lance-Sergeant Joyce was in command of the leading section of No. 7 Platoon, the left forward platoon during a Company / Squadron attack on the village of Bonninghardt on 7 March 1945. During the attack his section came under fire from a Spandau dug-in by the side of a farmhouse and another opened up from the house itself, directed at No. 8 Platoon on his right flank.Lance-Sergeant Joyce, realising he was caught in the open, dashed forward with his section and got them under cover close up by the house. His quickness in appreciating the situation, and his determined action in carrying on, caused the enemy gunner to withdraw behind the house. He then single-handed ran across to the house, leaving his section to give him covering fire, and got up to the window where the Spandau was firing, enfilading the platoon to the right. He got up under the window and shot the enemy firer and, after hurling a grenade through the window, he dashed back and brought up his section to consolidate the area of the house.His action enabled the platoon to seize the farm and surrounding buildings, capturing 26 Germans from 22 Para Regiment and enabling his platoon to carry on with the attack in which they consolidated on their objective. The speed, resourcefulness and determination of Lance-Sergeant Joyce's action undoubtedly saved the Company many casualties and largely contributed to the success of the attack.'B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1952:'In recognition of non-operational services in Japan in connection with operations in Korea.'The original recommendation - for an M.B.E. - states:'Company Sergeant-Major Joyce has been C.S.M. of a Reinforcement Company in Japan since the formation of 'J' Reinforcement Unit supplying drafts and replacements to the Commonwealth Division in Korea.Throughout his service with the unit, he has devoted himself whole-heartedly to this new task. The well being of his Company has been his constant care and he has shown unabated vigour and achieved outstanding success and follow on from the original. His sound judgment, knowledge of his men, drive and loyalty have been of the greatest assistance to his Company Commander and these qualities have contributed in large measure not only to the smooth working of the Company but also to the efficiency and morale of drafts passing through his hands.'Austin Peter Joyce was born at Wakefield, Yorkshire in November 1923 and originally enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment in March 1942. It seems probable that it was in this capacity that he was served in the Pacific theatre of war, prior to transferring to the Welsh Guards in October 1943.Posted to the 1st Battalion - and the subject of rapid promotion - he came ashore as a 19-year-old N.C.O. at Normandy in June 1944. Here, then, the commencement of his part in the Battalion's hard-fought contribution to the campaign in North-West Europe, in which he was advanced to Company Sergeant-Major and won his M.M. He returned to the U.K. in late March 1945 and was embarked for Palestine at the year's end, where he served until April 1948 (Medal & clasp).Having then been awarded the B.E.M. for his valuable services in Japan - in support of the operations in Korea - in the period September 1950 to June 1952, he served in Germany in the following year, with command of the 'Old Guard' to Rudolf Hess at Spandau Prison.Active service resumed with a tour in South Arabia in the period 1956-60 (Medal & clasp) and he was commissioned Lieutenant (Q.M.) in May 1963. Of his subsequent part in the Northern Ireland operations little is known (clasp), but he attained the rank of Major (Q.M.) and was awarded the M.B.E. for his valuable service to the Guards Depot at Pirbright. Having been sent his M.M. and B.E.M., Joyce finally enjoyed the experience of an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 7 November 1973.…

BRITISH ARMYThe 1st King's Dragoon GuardsWhen stationed at Aldershot, on 12 February 1879, the King's Dragoon Guards received a sudden order for service in South Africa. With as little delay as practicable, they were brought up to war strength by volunteers from other corps and the transfer of horses; on 27 February the left wing embarked at Southampton under the command of Major Marter, in the hired transport Spain; the right wing, with Headquarters, followed the next day under Colonel Alexander in the Egypt.Both ships arrived at Durban on 8 April, the men marching to Pietermaritzburg and then on to Dundee where they were joined by the 17th Lancers. On 19 April both regiments began marching towards Rorke's Drift, arriving at the battleground of Isandhlwana two days later; here they attempted to identify and bury the bodies of those who perished almost three months previously.Engaged in reconnaissance for a time thereafter, on 6 June the K.D.G's were involved in a particularly savage exchange at Erzungayan: the Zulus were found strongly posted in a wood which was intersected with dongas, and in front of which was a line of four large kraals and from here they poured a heavy fusillade upon men under the command of Colonel Buller and those of the 17th Lancers under Colonel Lowe. Seeing this, and fearing the Zulus might rush out upon the horses, the K.D.G's formed up on the flank and right rear of the 17th; the Zulus however remained completely concealed in the wood, and General Marshall had little choice but to give the order to retire. Realising their opportunity and following in skirmishing order, the Dragoon's had barely crossed the Upoko, in which there were quicksands, when a brisk fire was opened upon them.Thereafter, the regiment was employed on regular reconnaissance and skirmishing duties, using Fort Newdigate as a staging post; in these raids scores of native villages were destroyed. On the night of 7 August 1879, a detachment marched to Emptonjaneni, twelve miles distant from Ulundi. In the night a fearful storm of wind and rain smashed into the camp and continued until 11 a.m. the next morning. Lightning strikes, shock and the sheer ferocity of the weather left 360 transport bullocks dead in the camp, with approximately 90 more being discovered dead in the surrounding bushes.On 18 August Major Marter marched with a squadron of K.D.G's under orders to establish a chain of outposts to St. Paul's, 40 miles distant, and to keep up communications throughout the line by patrolling day and night, in order to prevent the King from breaking across. The men subsequently joined Clarke's Column and on 27 August the expedition commenced which resulted in the capture of the King.719 Medals were issued to the 1st King's Dragoon Guards, 641 of them with the '1879' clasp.Pair: Troop Sergeant-Major W. McGill, 1st King's Dragoon GuardsSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (2181. Sergt. W. McGill. 1st. Dn. Gds.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (2181. Tp: Sgt: Maj: W. McGill. 1st Dgn. Gds.), very fine (2)William McGill was born at Edinburgh in 1847 and was discharged to pension on 13 May 1890.…

An 'Arnhem P.O.W.' group of five awarded to Corporal R. S. Telford, 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who went 'in the bag' on 23 September during a fierce tank attack on the Battalion's perimeter1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Cadet Forces, E.II.R. (WO. R. S. Telford. A.T.C.), sold together with the recipient's dog tags and soldier's release book, light pitting and contact marks, very fine (5)Robert Smith Telford was born on 13 June 1919, a native of Dumfriesshire and enlisted on 1 September 1939 with the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Joining the 7th (Galloway) Battalion he was with them in Scotland during the Fall of France, indeed the Battalion was not to leave Britain for some time. They transferred to the 1st Air Landing Brigade in 1943 and continued to train with them until the D-Day Landings.7th Battalion took off on 17 September 1944 for Operation Market Garden, landing in the Ede area in 1944 and initially all went well. The next day however they came under attack by several parties of German troops with armoured vehicles in support, a situation which would become increasingly familiar over the next week of fighting.Moving off they fought a sharp action at Johanna Hoeve farm but managed to repel a German attack and continue on towards Arnhem. Arriving at Oosterbeek, some 5 kilometeres west of Arnhem on 19 September they dug in there to assume their corner of the perimeter. The enemy started to probe their lines not long later, and by 09:00 on 20 September they had established the Battalion's positions allowing the battle to begin in earnest. Some of the ferocity of the fighting can be ascertained from the war diary which notes the first armoured 'kill' made by the unit:'The first "kill" was an armoured car which was blown up and set on fire by the atk gun covering the NORTH face. Later another atk gun under Lt HANNAH, and escorted by a Pl of B Coy, went out to watch the rd leading SOUTH from the rd and rly crossing at 699791. Soon after it was in posn a TIGER tk, towing a flame-throwing apparatus, appeared and a spirited action took place. As a result of the courageous behaviour of our atk gun crew, and of Cpl WATSON and Pte McWHIRTER in particular, the TIGER tk was completely knocked out and the crew killed.'Through that day and the next, 7th Battalion halted the enemy advance, unable to withdraw due to constant pressure and concern over losing their limited equipment in the dark. A break in the attacks on 22 September allowed them the chance to reform and prepare their positions for another attack, however they could not have been prepared for the forces ranged against them.A heavy barrage opened the day and at around 11:00 'B' Company came under heavy attack by a force of tanks with infantry and artillery support. Their anti-tank gun was knocked out, forcing them back from a line of buildings, however they gamely held on to their slit trenches and bunkers, fighting for every yard. Their partial withdrawal allowed the German infantry to push onto the flank of 'C' company who also came under attack from Armoured cars to their front.Soon the action became an attempt by the Germans to consolidate a piece of their hard won gains in the face of heavy fire and counter-attacks by the Battalion. They were able to prepare machine gun positions in the wood between 'B' and 'C' companies, thus keeping that gap open and completing their objective.The only option was a counter-attack which was carried out by 'C' Company, who despite several losses managed to retake the wood and capture a number of the enemy. The line re-established they managed to hold off further attacks for the rest of the day, taking a tally of German tanks, damaged or destroyed in the process. It was noted in the war diary that the Regimental Aid Post was full to bursting as the Medical Aid Post had fallen into enemy hands, suggesting that some areas of the perimeter were still occupied by the enemy.Telford is listed as being taken prisoner of war during the days fighting, it is likely he was a victim of the morning offensive which almost saw the line break. Taken to Stalag 11B at Fallingbostel he remained there until being repatriated at the end of the war. Upon his return to the British Army he was posted to a Holding Regiment, Royal Artillery but saw no service with them instead being demobilised on 11 April 1946. Later joining the Cadet Forces he was awarded the Cadet Forces medal with them. Telford died in Dumfries on 8 December 1898 and is buried at Lockerbie; sold together with copied research, a set of original dog tags and an original soldier's release book named to the recipient.…

The post-war K.P.M. awarded to Inspector 1st Class J. T. Dunnet, New South Wales Police ForceKing's Police and Fire Services Medal, for Distinguished Service, G.VI.R., 1st issue (James T. Dunnet, Insp. 1st Class, N.S.W. Police Force), official naming on pre-prepared ground, good very fineK.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1947.James Thomson Dunnet was born in Caithness, Scotland on 4 September 1887 and served in the Leith Police Force for a year or two before immigrating to Australia. Settling in New South Wales, he was appointed a Constable in the local police force in November 1910.He was subsequently advanced to Detective Sergeant (D.S.) 3rd Class in July 1928, D.S. 2nd Class in September 1935 and D.S. 1st Class in October 1938, followed by his appointment to Inspector in January 1942.Dunnet's final promotion was to Superintendent and Inspector 1st Class in March 1945, and he was also entitled to the Imperial Service Medal (London Gazette 30 April 1948, refers); sold with copied service record.…

A fine 1953 A.F.C. and wartime pilot's group of seven awarded to Squadron Leader L. K. Grzybowski, Royal Air Force, late Polish Air ForceA a Pilot in No. 131 Polish Fighter Squadron, he quickly saw action in September 1939 when he was credited with the destruction of two German aircraft, actions for which he was later awarded the Virtuti Militari, 5th ClassSubsequently taken P.O.W. by the Russians, he was released for service in the Polish Army in Russia and the Middle East, prior to reaching the U.K. and undertaking a protracted tour of 56 sorties of a 'Ramrod' nature in Mustangs of No. 306 Squadron in 1944-45, gallant work that won him the Cross of Valour and BarAir Force Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated '1953'; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Poland, Virtuti Militari, 5th Class, GR Tech type as issued in late 1944-45; Poland, Cross of Valour, with Bar, mounted as worn, together with his Polish Pilot's Badge, by J. R. Gaunt, embroidered R.A.F. uniform wings and Flying Log Books, generally very fine or better (9)A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1953.King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air London Gazette 1 January 1952.Leszek Kazimierz Grzybowski was born in Dabrowa Gornicza, Kielce, Poland on 20 December 1915 and entered the Polish Air Force College in August 1935.Duly qualified as a pilot, he joined No. 131 Polish (Fighter) Squadron at Poznan in October 1938 and was likewise employed at the outbreak of hostilities. As cited, he was quickly credited with the destruction of two German aircraft, namely a share in a He111 on 3 September and a Me110 on 9 September. He may also have contributed to the destruction of a Ju86. More certain, however, is the fact he was taken P.O.W. by the advancing Russian Army in the same month and remained behind wire until April 1942, when he was released for service in the Polish Army in Russia and the Middle East.Having then reached the U.K. in February 1943, he undertook a succession of training courses and joined No. 306 (Polish) Squadron in August 1944. Here, then the commencement of a protracted operational tour in which he flew 56 sorties in the unit's Mustangs over Austria, Belgium, Germany and Holland, the majority being of a 'Ramrod' nature and including numerous outings to the Ruhr and one to Arnhem in support of 'Market Garden' in September 1944. But he also flew several 'anti-diver' (V-weapon) sorties off the English coast in March 1945, And his final sortie, flown on 25 April 1945, was a trip to the Nazi playground of Berchtesgaden, home to Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest'.According to records held by the Sikorski Museum, he was awarded the Polish Cross of Valour in April 1945, a Bar in August 1945, and the Virtuti Militari, 5th Class on 25 July 1945, 'for actions in the Polish campaign in 1939, when serving in 131 Fighter Squadron'. He also appears to have been entitled to the Polish Air Medal and 2 Bars.Post-warGrzybowski retained his commission in the R.A.F. after the war and remained on the strength of 306 Squadron until January 1947, when he was posted to the Polish Re-settlement Corps in Framlingham, Suffolk. Several months later he joined a communications unit at R.A.F. Tangmere, about which time he was married to Joan Fleming at Carshalton Beeches, Surrey.Two further stints with the Re-settlement Corps having followed, he joined an instructor's course at South Cerney in early 1949, thereby shaping the future of his R.A.F. career and adding to his laurels the A.F.C. and King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air for services in the Central Flying School 'Refresher Squadron' at R.A.F. South Cerney.He continued to fly after his retirement from the R.A.F. in December 1970 and died in Tadcaster, Yorkshire in August 1992.Sold with a quantity of original documentation and photographs, comprising:i)The recipient's R.A.F. Pilot's Flying Log Books (4), covering the periods September 1943 to December 1950, January 1951 to December 1957, January 1958 to November 1970, and June 1971 to January1976, the first with ink endorsement regarding missing Polish Air Force log book and some 500 hours.ii)A small selection of career photographs, including a studio portrait in uniform and a card-mounted group photograph of 'B Flight, No. 4 Squadron' in June 1943, with multiple signatures to reverse.iii)A large selection of wartime and later correspondence, mainly in Polish, and including Red Cross communications from a Polish P.O.W., exchanges with fellow pilots in the U.K., and a reference from a former C.O. at R.A.F. Coltishall, dated 20 May 1947.…

Five: Private L. Merignac, 7th (Galloway) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who was taken a Prisoner of War at the Battle of ArnhemGeneral Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3184987 Pte. L. Merignac. K.O.S.B.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5)Louis Merignac was born a Newcastle-under-Lyme on 6 May 1908 and served in Palestine before the Second World War, being a post man by trade. He was present with the famous 7th (Galloway) Battalion, who went into the Battle of Arnhem on 17 September 1944. Following the ferocious fighting that followed, the remainder of the unit withdrew on 25-26 September. Merignac was not in that number as was confirmed as having been captured on 24 September. He was held at Stalag 1V B and whilst behind the wire suffered severe stomach illness, being evacuated by French Commando to Breesen and Herren Steinfeld, which resulted in two months in hospital. He refused an operation whilst in enemy hands and returned home to his wife at Berwick-upon-Tweed. The Second World War campaign medals were issued in June 1950, whilst Merignac died in 1967.…

The campaign group of four awarded to Captain D. J. R. Simson, Royal Navy, who was killed by a German sniper on 23 May 1940 while serving aboard H.M.S. Keith at Boulogne when the port was infiltrated by German troops; he also received a posthumous 'mention'Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (Capt. D. J. R. Simson. R.N.); 1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, these in box of issue and with named Condolence slip, extremely fine (4)M.I.D. London Gazette 27 August 1940.David James Robert Simson was born on 7 September 1892, later studying at Osborne and then Dartmouth, taking the King's Medal. He was promoted Midshipman on 15 January 1910 and served aboard Russell and Lancaster in the Mediterranean and with Lion during her first commission. Later being further advanced Sub-Lieutenant on 15 April 1913, during the Great War he served on the destroyer Acasta and battleship King George V at the Battle of Jutland.From March 1918 he first held command on Usk. Simson was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander on 15 January 1923, Commander on 30 June 1928, and between 1929-30 was the Executive Officer at the boys' training establishment at Shotley. After this time he returned to serving aboard destroyers and commanded, among other vessels, Vanquisher in the Mediterranean, Valorous in the Home Fleet, and between 1934-35 the cruiser Cumberland in China. During the Naval Review in 1935 Simson commanded Thanet before commanding Vivien and Winchelsea and from May 1936 the new destroyer Grenville. He was promoted Captain on 30 June 1936 and was later placed in command of Codrington from 24 August 1939 until 26 November and was then in charge of Keith from 15 February 1940.On 10 May 1940, the Germans launched their invasion of France and the Low Countries. That day Keith and her sister Boreas escorted the light cruisers Arethusa and Galatea as they carried bullion from the Dutch port of Ijmuiden to the United Kingdom for safe keeping. On 12 May, she returned to the Hook of Holland in the Netherlands to evacuate Allied troops. After the destroyer Whitley had to be run aground on 19 May when she was damaged by German aircraft, she was scuttled by Keith. Keith was one of three destroyers on 21 May that evacuated 468 civilians from France. Two days later she was in Boulogne-sur-Mer, loading British troops at the Gare Maritime to be evacuated and was attacked by German troops who had infiltrated the port area. Simson was shot by a sniper and several crew members and a dozen soldiers were also killed.He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Keith sailed for the UK immediately afterwards and was later active during Operation Dynamo. She was sunk off Dunkirk by German air attacks on the morning of 31 May 1940.Brigadier W. A. Fox-Pitt, who served as commander of the 20th Guards Brigade to defend Boulogne and was subsequently awarded a D.S.O., wrote to Simson's brother, Lieutenant-Colonel A. M. Simson on 20 August 1946:'My only means of communication with England during the battle was through H.M. Ships so that if there was no destroyer in, I was completely out of touch. The last destroyers left Boulogne during the night of the 23/24th and I was out of touch with England until H.M.S. Keith came in about 3p.m. By this time I had ordered a withdrawal into a closer perimeter round the Harbour in order to prevent the Germans getting round my northerly flank and cutting us off.I went aboard the Keith and had a conference with Simson and discussed the situation and sent off certain signals explaining the progress of the battle. I also had a very welcome cup of tea and gave one of the officers a letter to post for me in England. We were both pretty certain then that it was a waste of life to continue to hold Boulogne as my casualties were mounting pretty rapidly.However, a signal arrived while I was on board from the Prime Minister saying "You will evacuate all non military personnel (Pioneer Corps etc), the 20th Guards Brigade will fight it out". I then left the Keith and went and saw my Battalion Commanders and gave further orders for holding the town. I was away about two hours and then returned to the Keith, for further orders. While on board I received the signal telling to evacuate. As it was getting late I went ashore immediately to get my orders out and understood that the destroyers would put out and come back again after dark for the evacuation. I had only just left the ship when the air attack started and during the attack Simson was killed. The destroyers left the port as soon as they could and I continued with my arrangements for evacuation. I did not know that Simson had been killed until the destroyers came in later. Condor of the Whitshed, was then left in command of the Flotilla. Just before dark the destroyers came in again and I was told that I must evacuate immediately. This meant putting my plan in motion very quickly, but eventually all the troops were evacuated by about 2 a.m. on the 25th.My recollections of your brother are pretty vivid. I found him most helpful in concocting signals to England. He was at all times thoroughly calm and collected and very quick to grasp the situation on shore. He realised the importance of the destroyers as my only link with Dover, and I fear it may have been for this reason that he stayed in the port so long, as the destroyers were a very tempting target. I don't remember the Germans being within small arms range of the Keith at the time of the air attack, but the aircraft were machine gunning as well as dropping bombs. The real battle between the destroyers and the land targets took place later when the destroyers completely silenced the Germans for the rest of the night and I saw a German tank knocked out by one of their guns myself.'Sold together with the following archive comprising:i)The handwritten letter to Mrs Simson from Admiral Sir B. H. Ramsay, dated 25 May, written from Dover expressing his deepest sympathy upon his death.ii)Officer's bicorn hat, epaulettes and sword belt in named tin, together with Greatcoat Epaulettes.iii)Two sets of his pre-Second World War miniature medals, with riband bars.iv)Silver Oar rowing prize for the VIIIth Flotilla Officers Race 1925 H.M.S. Venturous, silver napkin ring and silver clothes brush.v)Letter to his wife and that to his brother from Fox-Pitt, besides photographs and assorted calling cards (5), newspaper cutting, Blue Lists (2), The List 1940, black armbands (2), besides a four leaf clover and lucky heather.…

Shanghai Volunteer Corps Long Service Medal, silver, hallmarks to rim, the reverse officially engraved 'B.Q.M.S. J. A. Cheeseman. Act. 1920-1931', good very fineProvenance:Sotheby's, July 1998.James Alfred Cheeseman was born at Reading on 13 August 1893, the son of The Rev. James & Isabella Cheeseman, the sixth of nine children. Young Cheeseman was educated at Chester College School and Paradise Street School in Cambridge before going out east - described as a draper - in 1913. With the outbreak of the Great War, he volunteered with 109 fellows from Shanghai and proceeded to England to join the New Army via the Suwa Maru. Joining King Edward's Horse (No. 894), he served on the Western Front from October 1915 and whilst serving in an Observation Post with 'A' Squadron at La Bourse was wounded by a rifle grenade on 24 March 1916 (1914-15 Star Trio). His daughter later wrote how the wounds effected his lower spine and knee, partially crippling him.Returning to Shanghai in May 1919, he joined the Shanghai Volunteer Artillery Company and the Whizzbangs Shanghai Amateur Football Club. Cheeseman would likely have been called out to share in the actions with his Battery against the Chekiang Kiangsu warlords in 1924-25. Married to Kathleen, he was to face tragedy as she produced a daughter on 16 October 1926 but died the next day, with their infant passing on 20 October 1926. A second marriage several years later (see group photograph) produced another daughter, Dora, who lived until 2015.Awarded his Long Service Medal as per the Shanghai Municipal Gazette of 7 August 1931, the Artillery Battery was disbanded several years after, with Cheeseman joining the Municipal Police Specials from September 1937 - perhaps serving during the emergency. He had also been made Manager of the famous department store Lane Crawford (founded 1862) shortly before its collapse. He thence set up the Textile Import Company, with offices in the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Building.Promoted Sub-Inspector in the Specials in November 1939, Cheeseman was living on the Tifeng Road. Following the uncontested invasion of Shanghai by the Japanese on 8 December 1941, life continued comparatively unchanged and the Municipal Police were required to maintain the administration, under the Shanghai Provisional Council of 1941Under considerable pressure from the United States Administration, the foreign Extra Territorial Treaties, which had established the China Treaty ports in the 19th century including Shanghai (except that for Hong Kong), were abrogated on 11 January 1943 by the Treaty Between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and India and His Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China for the Relinquishment of Extra-Territorial Rights in China and the Regulation of Related Matters - so that at the end of the Japanese War Shanghai, and other occupied treaty ports would be returned to the Chinese Government (KMT) in Nanking.This also had the effect of terminating the Police service contracts in March 1943. That same month, Cheeseman and other expatriate members of allied countries were put into one of the internment camps - described as Civil Assembly Centres. His family went into the Lunghwa Centre. That place held just under 2,000 people and was described thusly:'The camp was large, containing seven concrete buildings, five large wooden barracks (originally built as stables by the Japanese), and numerous outbuildings. There were fifty nine dorms and 127 rooms for families.'In addition to malnutrition, malaria and typhoid were a common problem. A fellow internee was J. G. Ballard who, in his book Empire of the Sun (later made into a Stephen Spielberg film), gives a vivid description of life in this camp. At the end of the Pacific War, when the employees of the Municipal Council, civil servants, Police, Fire etc. came out of the internment camps in August and September 1945, they were unemployed. Some managed to obtain jobs in Shanghai and Hong Kong, which it appears the Cheesemans went to. He arrived back at Liverpool in November 1950.…

The Second World War campaign group of four awarded to Guardsman K. O. Gammell, Grenadier Guards; reputedly the tallest man in the Brigade of Guards (standing at 6ft. 7 1/2in. tall) he was destined for a fine academic career but instead enlisted in the British Army upon the outbreak of war, tragically he died on Christmas Eve 1943 of wounds received during the Italian Campaign1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army (2622616 Gdsmn K.O. Gammell Grenadier Guards); Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, all privately and contemporarily engraved '2622616 Gdsmn K.O. Gammell Grenadier Guards' in upright capitals, mounted court-style for wear, sometime lacquered, about extremely fine (4)Kenrick Orm Gammell, son of Kensington and Doris Gammell, was born in Bedford on 18 May 1910. Clearly academically gifted, after education at Bedford School (a boys public school founded in 1552) he went up to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (1928-31) and graduated with a B.A. Becoming a schoolmaster in Essex, the outbreak of war in September 1939 thwarted his plans to take up a post as Headmaster of Akley Preparatory School and instead he enlisted in the Grenadier Guards, being posted to the 6th Battalion after his basic training.Formed in 1941, the 6th Battalion was posted to Syria in September 1942 and saw action in the Tunisia campaign before participating in the invasion of Italy a year later. On 23 October 1943, Gammell was severely wounded in an action near Naples and evacuated to North Africa. Sadly he succumbed to his injuries on 24 December and is buried at Bone Military Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria. In addition to an obituary in the 'Bedfordshire Times and Standard' (7 January 1944), his grave bears the moving epitaph: 'Thoughts Too Deep For Words. A Very Dear Only Son. He Was 6 Feet 7 1/2 Inches Tall'.Sold together with a Guards Depot Recruits Musketry prize medal in the form of a watch-fob, engraved Rct. K. Gammell. For his father's Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, see Lot 107.…

The rare and remarkable 'Tiddim Defence of Point 6052' M.C. and 'Battle of Imphal' Second Award Bar group of five awarded to Captain C. F. V. Martin, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light InfantryMilitary Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated '1944', with Second Award Bar dated 1944; 1939-1945 Star; Burma Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, sold together with the named Buckingham Palace forwarding slip for the Military Cross and Second Award Bar and a further archive, good very fine (5)M.C. London Gazette 18 May 1944, the original recommendation states:'While in command of a company on pt. 6052 on the 26th of January 1944, the enemy put in a persistent attack from 1745 hours to 1830 hours, which was repulsed with heavy losses. At 2300 hours the enemy again attacked with even more determination but was again driven back. During both these attacks, Captain Martin ran from post to post in the open, directing the fire and encouraging the men, regardless of his personal safety. Throughout the 27th and the 28th, the enemy sent frequent harassing parties to wear down our defences and to prevent our men from sleeping. On the 29th of January, our position was again very heavily attacked, this time by two enemy companies, from 0530 hours to 1030 hours. Although the position was thinly held, our casualties equivalent to one platoon, and the men tired through three sleepless nights, the enemy was driven back time and again with very heavy losses estimated at 200 killed and wounded. Although completely without sleep during these four days, Captain Martin went from trench to trench, encouraging the men and urging them to hold on, despite close range grenade, small arms and very heavy mortar fire. When the enemy broke through the wire and threatened to swamp the defences, he personally organised and led a counterattack which, by determined hand to hand fighting wiped out all the enemy who had broken in. Captain Martin's splendid example of personal gallantry and leadership in the face of heavy odds, his spirit of endurance and determination to hold out, inspired all ranks to resist at all costs, over a period of four days, a persistent enemy attempt to capture a position of extreme tactical significance'Second Award Bar London Gazette 5 October 1944, the original recommendation states:'On the morning of the 26th of May 1944, Captain Martin was leading a Company taking part in the attack on Red Hill RK 224488.In the initial stages of this attack Captain Martin was wounded leading his Company under heavy MMG fire on to the objective, but ignoring his wounds this officer personally led a grenade throwing party to wipe out a Japanese Bunker, which was holding up the advance of his company. With complete disregard for his own safety and despite his wounds this officer approached the bunker, the occupants of which had been catching our grenades and throwing them back, and by waiting 3 seconds after the cap of the grenade had been struck before he threw it, succeeded in wiping out the bunker and thereby clearing the way for the advance. In doing this Captain Martin was again wounded, but continued to lead his Company forward until he collapsed from loss of blood.This magnificent example of gallantry and selfless devotion to duty under heavy fire was not only a supreme inspiration to every man in the Company, but a vital contributory factor in the success of the attack.'Clifford Frederick Victor Martin was born in Oxfordshire on 17 July 1919, the son of Captain Victor and Rose Martin. Granted a Regular Army Emergency Commission and gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant with the number 113619, he joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 16 January 1940.Martin then saw service out in India and Burma when on attachment to the Indian Army and serving with the 7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment. He likely received his attachment to the 7th Battalion in the aftermath of the retreat from Burma in 1942, during which the Battalion had formed part of the 46th Indian Brigade in the 17th Indian Division. After withdrawing from Burma, the 17th Division then found itself stationed in Assam.They were not part of the failed First Arakan Offensive of late 1942 into the spring of 1943, but instead undertook intensive training to learn from the mistakes of the previous year in readiness to take the offensive against the Japanese in 1944 and 1945.The Defence of Point 6052Their first major operation occurred in January 1944, and it was Martin - then commanding a composite formation of 'A' and 'C' companies - who bore the brunt of it. It was for this period while serving as a temporary Captain that he was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry during the defence of Point 6052.Martin's composite company was established on Point 6052, seven miles south of Tiddim, to form a patrol base. They launched several patrols to engage and identify the Japanese in the area and the perimeter of the base was at one point attacked but the company was able to hold on. This attack occurred on 26 January 1944, the day Martin earned his first Military Cross.It was estimated that the 7/10th Baluch killed more than 200 Japanese in the area, while themselves suffering only 3 killed and 10 wounded over the course of the month. The positions were dug in all round defences on ground of the 7/10th Baluch's choosing. This enabled them to repel the Japanese attacks, unlike at Pa-an in 1942, and showed that the retraining of the past 18 months had paid dividends.In the aftermath of his honour, Martin received a personal letter from General Slim, commander of the 14th Army, stating: 'I am very pleased to hear that your gallant action has been rewarded, and sent you my warmest congratulations on a well deserved honour.'The Battalion continued to send out patrols in the areas in front of and around Point 6052 in February and March, with the men and officers gaining valuable experience in operating as light infantry during this period. The Battalion, along with the 4/12th Frontier Force Rifles, withdrew along the Tiddim Road on 4 April in the face of increasing pressure during the Japanese advances and the repositioning in readiness for the Battle of Imphal.ImphalHaving retreated onto the Imphal Plain, they were sent to protect the Panel airstrip. The Battalion took over positions in the 'Catfish Box' area on 5 April, also at this point receiving reinforcements to create a fourth company and bring it up to strength as an ordinary infantry unit.A Company, under the command of now acting-Major Martin, was sent to Point 5846 on the Bishenpur-Silchar Road while the rest of the Battalion took the opportunity to re-organise and to incorporate the new company. The 7/10th Baluch moved to the 17th Divisional Box at Chingphu, north of Bishenpur, in mid-May as a response to increased Japanese pressure on the entrance to the Imphal Plain from the Bishenpur region.Red Hill PimpleThey began to dig in immediately upon arrival in their capacity as a protection of the divisional HQ. A series of patrols were sent out around the area as reports arrived of Japanese forces coming from the west, and a major clash ensued on 20 May involving one platoon on a ridge overlooking the divisional area. This force managed to hold out for more than 8 hours and successfully held up a major Japanese group. On 25th May, the Battalion was ordered to carry out an attack on Point 2926, 'Red Hill Pimple'. That evening, 3 Companies - A, B and C, respectively - moved to their jumping off positions, which included the ridge itself, without being heard or noticed by the Japanese.The A and C Companies were to attack the Japan…

The 'Trench Raid 1918' D.C.M., 'Asiago Plateau August 1918' Al Valore group of five awarded to Company Sergeant-Major H. Loughman, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, who rushed and cleared two machine gun posts during a raid in 1918Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6445 C.S.Mjr: H. Loughman. 2/Bord:R.); 1914-15 Star (6445 Sjt. H. Loughman. Bord. R.); British War and Victory Medals (6445 W.O.Cl.2. H. Loughman. Bord. R.); Italy, Kingdom, Al Valore Militare, silver issue (Altipiano D'Asiago H. Loughman 8-9 Agosto 1918), good very fine (5)D.C.M. London Gazette 15 November 1918, the original citation states:'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a raid. He was with the leading platoon, and when the first lines of his company were held up by hidden wire and very heavy machine-gun fire, he dashed forwardwith a few men and rushed two machine guns one after another, killing or capturing the teams. This action enabled his company to reform and successfully rush the objective. He showed magnificent courage and rendered most valuable service.'Al Valore Militare London Gazette 29 November 1918.Herbert Loughman entered the war in France on 22 March 1915 with the 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment. The unit saw action at the battles of Neuve Chappelle, Aubers Ridge and Festubert, Loughman was noted as wounded in action in the Lancashire Evening Post casualty list of 15 October 1915. They saw heavy action on the Somme and at Passchendaele before being posted to Italy in 1918.There they were present for the Second Battle of the Piave River and later the fighting on the Asiago Plateau. It was there that Loughman won his Al Valore and likely also the D.C.M. The Whitehaven Advertiser and Cleator Moor and Egremont Observer in October 1918 states that he was awarded the D.C.M. and Al Valore for services in Italy. The Battalion was later in action at Vittorio Veneto and finished the war in Italy.Loughman was demobilised and appears in the newspapers not long after the war being fined for keeping a machine pistol as a souvenir, possibly something he picked up on a trench raid; sold together with copied research.…

'The C.O., Michael, and John had each destroyed an Me. 110, while Mac [McArthur] shot down two Junkers 87 dive-bombers. He would have got an Me. 110 also and got his sights on it, but nothing happened when he pressed his trigger. His ammunition was finished. So a very lucky Me. 110 lived to fight another day. Mac was very pleased about this fight, and certainly a bag of two for one's first action is very good. But it made him rather over-confident, and for the next few days he regarded the German Air Force rather as an organization which provided him with a little target practice and general harmless amusement. He soon learnt better!'One of numerous references to J. H. G. 'Butch' McArthur in David Crooks's wartime account of No. 609 Squadron in the Battle of Britain; Spitfire Pilot, refers.The outstanding Battle of Britain ace's immediate D.F.C. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander J. H. G. 'Butch' McArthur, Royal Canadian Air Force, late Royal Air ForceA superb airman, who had honed his flying skills in the Experimental Section of the Royal Aircraft Establishment in the lead up to hostilities, he claimed 8 confirmed 'kills' and 3 'probables' as a Flight Commander in Spitfires of No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron at the height of the Battle, on one occasion closing the range to just 10-20 yardsHis numerous combats, and those of his fellow pilots in 609 Squadron, are vividly recounted in the pages Flight Lieutenant D. M. Crook's famous wartime publication Spitfire PilotPost-war, and having served in the Royal Canadian Air Force at the time of the Korean conflict, his remarkable flying career ended in tragedy during a pleasure flight over Las Vegas in May 1961: both he and his passenger - a croupier from the famous Horseshoe Club - were killed when their aircraft inexplicably dived into the groundDistinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1940'; 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; U.N. Korea 1950-54 (30386 McArthur J. H. G.), officially inscribed Canadian issue; Canadian Forces Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, the reverse of the suspension bar officially inscribed 'F/L J. H. G. McArthur', mounted as worn, good very fine (7)Provenance:Sotheby's, 6 March 1986 (Lot 628), when sold by the recipient's sister.D.F.C. London Gazette 22 October 1940:'This officer has led his flight and squadron with skill and determination. His brilliant leadership has been reflected in the high standard of morale in the flight. He has destroyed at least seven aircraft.'The original recommendation, for an immediate award which was approved by Dowding, states:'This officer has been a great asset to the Squadron since he joined it on 1 August 1940. His flying has been of the highest standard and he always leads his flight with skill and determination. On the occasions that he has led the Squadron he has displayed a sound sense of leadership and initiative. Individually he has always been keen and energetic in his desire to engage the enemy.To date he has destroyed 7 (confirmed) and 2 (unconfirmed) enemy aircraft and has severely damaged 2 others.'Covering remarks:'An outstanding fighter pilot who has now destroyed 8 enemy aircraft (confirmed) and 3 others probably, besides damaging a further 2.His brilliant and inspiring leadership has raised the morale of his flight to a very high standard since he took it over.'James Henry Gordon McArthur - or "Butch" to his friends and comrades - was born in Tynemouth on 12 February 1913 and was educated at West Jesmond Council School and Rutherford College, prior to attending the Marine School in South Shields. He subsequently found employment with the Marconi Company as a seagoing Radio Officer, in addition to obtaining certificates for Aircraft Radio Operation and Navigation.The latter qualifications led to his participation in the England to Australia 'MacRobertson Air Race' in 1934, when he flew with Captain Neville Stack, A.F.C., as his Radio-Navigator but their attempt ended in Athens - under controversial circumstances.On his return home, McArthur qualified for his Aero Certificate (No. 12614) at Redhill Aero Club in March 1935 and then teamed up with Captain T. Campbell-Black for an attempt on the London to Cape Town return record. Having flown non-stop from Hatfield to Cairo in their De Havilland Comet G-ADEF 'Boomerang', they took off for another refuelling stop in Kenya but, due to a problem with the aircraft, they were compelled to bale out north of Khartoum. Both landed safely in the desert and, on being rescued, gained membership of the famous Caterpillar Club, McArthur then being the youngest member.Brief employment as a First Officer in British Continental Airways having followed, McArthur was granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force in May 1936. Confirmed in the rank of Pilot Officer after attending a course at R.A.F. Thornaby, he was posted to the Station Flight at Aldergrove and thence, in May 1938 to the Experimental Section at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough as a Flying Officer and test pilot.McArthur was likewise employed on the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939 and, on being advanced to Flight Lieutenant, attended a refresher course at No. 7 O.T.U., Hawarden in July 1940. A subsequent posting to No. 238 Squadron was short-lived, however, for he was called back to Farnborough. But he continued to press for an operational posting.Battle of BritainThat wish was granted on 1 August 1940, when McArthur joined No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron, an Auxiliary Air Force unit, as a Flight Commander at Middle Wallop. Commanded by Squadron Leader H. S. Darley, D.S.O., 609 was largely manned by a pre-war class of weekend gentlemen fliers, among them Noel "Aggy" Agazarian and John Dundas; the latter's brother, Hugh, flew as wingman to Douglas Bader throughout the Battle.Over the coming weeks, on being 'scrambled' out of Middle Wallop and the satellite airfield at Warmwell, McArthur's 'brilliant leadership' of his flight - and on occasion the squadron - undoubtedly left its mark on such men. In writing to his mother in October 1940, John Dundas reported with pride that 609 was finally gaining recognition, listing McArthur's award of the D.F.C. as a case in point. He also noted that he had been given command of 'B' Flight, owing to McArthur being in hospital. More on that, later.Meanwhile, McArthur opened his operational account on 8 August 1940, when he destroyed a brace of Ju. 87s in a dogfight over the Isle of Wight-Weymouth sector. His combat report takes up the story:'…I dived on the outside of the Ju. 87 from just over 5,000 feet, fired a 7 second burst and saw him turn on his back and go into the sea. The formation then split up and I regained 4,000 feet very quickly. Height of Ju. was about 100 feet. I then dived again and gave a long burst of 10 seconds on another Ju. 87 which started to emit black smoke and dive into the sea. I then found the Me. 110. I climbed up a bit and was coming in at him from the port side and slightly above him. I turned quickly away from him and after a turn or two found myself quickly on his tail. I then found I had no more ammunition so pulled the override and hurried home … 'In Spitfire Pilot, David Crook recalls the squadron's 'bag' thus:'The C.O., Michael, and John had each destroyed an Me. 110, while Mac [McArthur] shot down two Junkers 87 dive-bombers. He would have got an Me. 110 also and got his sights on it, but nothing happened when he pressed his trigger. His ammunition was finished. So a very lucky Me. …

Army Pay DepartmentSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8 (Capt: T. W. Drage. A.P.D.), very fine40 Medals issued to the Army Pay Department, 8 of these with clasp '1877-8'.[C.B.] London Gazette 25 June 1897.Thomas William Drage was born at Windsor on 18 October 1847 and initially served in the 17th Foot as an Ensign, selling his commission for £450 in July 1867 to take up his position as a Deputy Assistant-Superintendent of Stores. He was made Assistant-Paymaster in April 1878 and having served in Zululand (Medal & clasp), saw further campaign service in Egypt & Sudan (Medal & clasp, Bronze Star), being 'mentioned' for his services. He afterwards took up post in Barbados and retired as Colonel in November 1887, having been Chief Paymaster. He was on the Staff of His Royal Highness The Field Marshal Commanding for the 1902 Coronation (Medal).…

A good immediate 'Tobruk 1941' M.M. group of six awarded to Corporal G. Guthrie, 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, for his conspicuous gallantry in commanding a mortar detachment in a Bren Carrier during the capture of 'Dalby Square' on 23 November 1941 during Operation CrusaderHe subsequently served in Orde Wingate's Second Chindit Expedition, Operation Thursday, in 1944Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4745714 Cpl G. Guthrie Y.& L.R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine and better (6)M.M. London Gazette 24 February 1942, the original recommendation states:'On 23 November 1941, during operations outside Tobruk, Corporal Guthrie was commanding a Mortar detachment in a Bren Carrier supporting the attack by a rifle Company on an enemy post, when about 500 yards from the objective the company came under very heavy Machine Gun and Mortar Fire. The Carrier was turned sideways to enable the mortar to come into action behind it; whereupon it immediately came under heavy and accurate Machine Gun Fire. In spite of this Corporal Guthrie immediately proceeded to unload the mortar and ammunition himself and got his mortar into action. When short of bombs he made several journeys to the enemy side of the carrier to obtain more bombs although the enemy fire had not been subdued. During the whole operation Corporal Guthrie maintained his mortar in action and by his coolness and disregard of the enemy fire set an excellent example to the men under his command.'The recommendation was additionally endorsed by the Brigadier Commanding 14th Infantry Brigade:'Recommended for an immediate award of the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty under fire.'George Guthrie was a native of Leeds, a mill worker at Pool, Lorrimer and Tabbener's prior to the war. He attested as a regular soldier in the York and Lancaster Regiment and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Second World War initially in North Africa. Awarded the M.M. for his gallantry on 23 November 1941, he was with 'B' Company, 2nd Battalion, under Captain Northover when he was given the task of capturing 'Dalby Square', a large enemy post on the western side of Tobruk:'The attack was across flat country devoid of cover. The enemy put up a very strong resistance. He was holding his post with a large number of machine guns and light automatics, which his defensive artillery fire was intense and accurate. About 400 yards from the objective "B" Company was held up. Two Bren carriers with 3-inch mortars were then brought forward, and using the carriers as cover, both detachments opened up on the enemy. This had the immediate effect of reducing the enemy's small-arms fire. "B" Company then advanced again and rushed the position with the bayonet.' (The Regimental History refers).After serving in the Western Desert, Guthrie proceeded to India and saw further service with the 2nd Battalion as part of Orde Wingate's second Chindit Expedition, Operation Thursday, in early 1944 where the 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment was part of 65 and 84 Columns; sold together with copied research.…

A scarce 'Mohmand Operations' I.D.S.M. awarded to Subedar-Major M. Bakhsh, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment, a long-served Indian officer who additionally received a 'mention' for the Loe-Agra Operations on the North-West FrontierIndian Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd 'Crowned Head' Type (Subdr. Maj. Maula Bakhsh, 3-2 Punjab R.), minor official correction to last initial of first name, good very fineJust 98 of this 'Crowned Head' G.V.R. type issued.I.D.S.M. G.G.O. 309 of 1936.M.I.D. G.G.O. 166 of 1936.Maula Bakhsh enlisted for service with the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment on 24 May 1909 and rose steadily through the ranks during a career spanning some 27 years. He was made Jemadar in August 1918, Subedar in June 1923, and was finally promoted Subedar-Major on 12 June 1934 - this rank was the aspiration for any Indian soldier wanting to make a career out of the Army. The Subedar-Major was the most senior Indian rank in the Battalion.Bakhsh likely received his 'mention' for one of two events during the Loe-Agra Operations between 23 February-13 April 1935, either for his personal participation in a 'well arranged ambush of a sniping party' undertaken by two platoons of the 3rd Battalion, or an attack on a picquet. On the first instance, after an exceptionally detailed reconnaissance that afternoon, the same evening the troops involved (almost certainly with Subedar-Major Bakhsh) left camp to take up their positions. Official History takes up the story:'The party was in position by 2030 hours. Owing to the excessive darkness visibility was difficult beyond ten to fifteen yards.At 2245 hours a party of approximately twenty five enemy snipers came down the track immediately north of the Jindai Khwar from a westerly direction, and it transpired later that there was another party of ten following behind them. The section north of the Khwar opened fire on the leading party at a range of about five yards. This was immediately followed by rapid fire from the remainder of the ambush party. The enemy scattered and taking cover behind rocks and walls began a heavy but futile fire at close range on the ambush party. The firing ceased at 2330 hours, during which time, the enemy collected their casualties. They then moved off to the north west, making much noise and shouting abuse at each other and at the troops.The enemy losses in this successful affair were one killed and four wounded, of whome two died of their wounds. There were no casualties among the troops.' (Official History of Operations on the North-West Frontier of India 1920-1935, p. 177, refers).The second possible occasion is also worth noting in detail; the attack on Kila Hari has been described as 'one of the most ferocious and sustained attacks that was ever inflicted by tribesmen in the history of the North-West Frontier'. The night defence of the Kila Hari post in the Loe-Agra operations of the Nowshera Brigade in April 1935 by a party of the 72nd Punjabis (3/2nd Punjab Regt) is an epic - a small detachment was attacked by an unexpectedly-well-led tribal lashkar of some 1,000 Shamozais. The picquet was almost overwhelmed in the hand-to-hand fighting which involved revolvers, bayonets, stones and knives and lasted an incredible ten hours; this piquet consisted of one rifle company and a machine-gun platoon drawn from the 3/2nd Punjabis. An intelligence report, received during the afternoon of 5 April, stated that a large enemy lashkar had been sighted and was intending to launch an attack on Kila Hari Post from the east, but this report was considered unreliable and not given credence.The unexpected attack began about 7.30 p.m. when Shamozai swordsmen attempted to rush the machine-gun post. This resulted in severe hand-to-hand fighting but the tribesmen's attack, although pressed home with considerable ferocity, was beaten back. The enemy made further assaults at approximately 15-minute intervals until midnight, but all were repulsed. At about 9.30 p.m. the lower post on the ridge was heavily attacked, followed by other attacks against other posts which were also beaten off. The tribesmen surrounded the position and kept it under constant fire until just before dawn, when they withdrew. It was then confirmed that during this night attack 28 tribesmen had been killed and almost certainly a far larger number wounded.As for Bakhsh's I.D.S.M., the Official History makes no reference to any specific actions by the 3/2nd Battalion during the Mohmand operations, but it is worthy of note that this is a unique award to the Regiment for that campaign; sold together with copied service history extracts, Indian Army lists, Gazette entries, a compact disk of copied research, and official histories - also a copy of an article written by the recipient in 1936 for the Duke of Wellington's Regiment journal, 'Comrades in Arms: Friendship Between British and Indian Troops in Nowshera' (The Iron Duke, No. 35, October 1936, p. 217-218 refers).…

Natal HussarsRaised by Major Eastwood in 1863, the N.H. was amalgamated with the Greytown Mounted Rifles in the same year. Even so, the overall strength of the contingent employed in the Zulu War of 1879, when it accompanied the Southern Force under Colonel Pearson, remained minimal.40 Medals were awarded to the Natal Hussars, all of them with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tr. De Waal. Natal Husrs.), post a little bent, very fine…

'H.M.S. Eclipse was escorting a Northern convoy on 29th March 1942 when in Arctic weather she fought an action with German destroyers of the Narvik class. In a running fight in the snow she badly damaged one of the enemy, hitting her six times with 4.7 shells. As the Eclipse was about to finish off this ship with a torpedo attack two other German destroyers appeared, and the Eclipse was hit. She hit one of the enemy, which did not pursue them, and she proceeded to Murmansk. She had been handled throughout with great skill and determination in very severe conditions, with one of her guns out of action owing to ice.'(The remarkably exciting award recommendation for Eclipse's crew following her life and death struggle in Artic Waters)An exciting Post-War C.V.O. group of nine awarded to Commander D. L. Cobb, Royal Navy, who was 'mentioned' as gunnery officer of Eclipse during a remarkable destroyer action in March 1942 which saw her cripple a German destroyer only to be engaged by two more enemy vessels and drive them offLater 'mentioned' again for good service in the Aegean including his bravery in the tragic sinking of Eclipse, Cobb went on to command Cockade when she brought relief to those affected by the 1957 Sri Lankan Floods and was heavily involved in implementing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award while a Deputy LieutenantThe Royal Victorian Order, Commander's (C.V.O.) neck Badge, silver and enamel, in its Collingwood box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Korea 1950-53 (Lt Cdr. D. L. Cobb R.N.), officially re-impressed; U.N. Korea 1950-54; Jubilee 1977, the last eight mounted court-style as worn, overall very fine (9)C.V.O. London Gazette 31 December 1977.David Laurence Cobb was born in March 1922 in Hendon, London, the son of Samuel and Mary Cobb. He joined the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet on 1 May 1939 and was advanced Sub-Lieutenant during the Second World War. Posted to H.M.S. Eclipse he was 'mentioned' for his services during a convoy escort mission with her (London Gazette 23 June 1942). The award recommendation includes greater detail stating:'As Gunnery Control Officer, controlled a steady and accurate fire on the enemy, hitting him repeatedly, under very difficult conditions.'Still with her when she was transferred to the Aegean, Cobb received further plaudits for his cool and effective gunnery. This gunnery was put to the test during the Gaetano Donizetti action on 22 September 1943. This Italian freighter had been seized by the Germans to carry arms to Rhodes, escorted by the torpedo boat TA10. Eclipse encountered the convoy and attacked immediately, her guns were worked immaculately, sinking Gaetano Donizetti in minutes and damaging TA10 so heavily that she was scuttled days later.Cobb was again 'mentioned' for 'Operations in Dodecanese Islands culminating in the sinking of Eclipse on 24 October 1943' (London Gazette 4 April 1944 refers). The recommendation adds:'A painstaking and efficient G.C.O., always cheerfull [SIC] in adversity and setting a high example. His handling of the gun armaments was responsible for the successful outcome of two engagements in the Dodecanese against surface craft.'Still with her the next month Cobb was present for the horrific sinking of Eclipse, when she struck a mine on 24 October and broke in two, sinking within five minutes. Of the ships complement of 145 men there were only 36 survivors and tragically at the time she was also carrying 'A' Company, 4th Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), who lost 134 men out of 170.Cobb was extremely lucky to survive the sinking and joined the complement of Beaufort on 18 December 1943. This vessel was stationed in the Aegean as well and was present for the bombardment of Kos and later the failed attempt to halt the German invasion of Leros.Post war Cobb continued to serve being promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 16 February 1950 and later Commander in 1953. Posted to command H.M.S. Cockade in 1957, taking part in relief efforts of the Sri-Lankan Floods of 1958. That same year Cobb took part in the Navy Pageant at the Royal Tournament.Placed upon the retired list on 2 January 1961 and was appointed assistant secretary of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Appointed Deputy Director of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme in 1977 and the same year Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London. It was likely for his work with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards that he was awarded his C.V.O.. Cobb died at Sydney, Australia on 29 January 1999; sold together with copied research.…

A good 'Operation Olive September 1944' immediate D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant R. A. G. Smith, 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), who led the charge on an enemy machine-gun nest with a small band of comrades to great success, later the same day he went off hunting alone and single-handedly pulled off a repeat, this time bringing home the enemy prisoners under their own gunDistinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (6472861 L. Sjt. R. A. G. Smith. R. Fus.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style, very fine (6)D.C.M. London Gazette 8 February 1945. The recommendation, for an immediate award approved by Alexander, states:'On the night 6-7 September 1944, 'W' Company, 8 Royal Fusiliers was ordered to attack the enemy and consolidatethe position in the area of the village of Croce.L-Sgt Smith was Platoon Sergeant of the Leading Platoon. On his own initiative he went forward of his Platoon with a small party of men, overran many of the enemy and cleared up a large area of enemy resistance. Alone, showing complete disregard for his own personal safety, he attacked an enemy MG post and killed the crew with his TMC, captured the MG and returned to his Platoon.Later, now single handed, he went forward to another MG post, he captured the enemy gun crew and with their weapon brought them back to our line. Had these enemy MGs not been silenced they would have taken very heavy toll on L-Sgt Smiths Company, which in turn may well have prejudiced the security of the whole of the Croce feature.Apart from these two outstanding incidents, L-Sgt Smith set a very high example of leadership and military qualities and his whole conduct was in the very highest tradition of the Service.'Ronald Arthur George Smith was born on 8 April 1920 at Hornsey, London and was a cabinet maker upon his joining the Territorial Army in June 1940. He was to join the 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in October 1940.Smith served with his unit in Iraq, joining PAIFORCE as Lance-Corporal in November 1942. Having served through the Middle East, the unit landed in Italy on 10 September 1943. It was present in the Volturno crossing of October 1943 - being photographed going into action through the mud by Ronald Lambert of No. 2 Army Film & Photo Unit (IWM NA 7876, refers) - and they also shared in Operation 'Shingle' at the Battle of Anzio in January 1944.Little more needs be said about his services in winning his D.C.M. during Operation 'Olive', for his part at Croce, but more can be read of the wider events in the article Autumn Assualt in Italy (Warfare History Network, refers). Smith was made Sergeant on 10 November 1945, transferred to the Gordon Highlanders and was released in September 1946. He took work as a projects manager in Oxfordshire and died in Adderbury in February 1999; sold together with newspaper cutting and copied research.…

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s, Chapel Stall Plate, gilded brass with engraved and painted image of a C.B. Badge, inscribed 'Edward Lowther Crofton Esquire, Post Captain in the Royal Navy, Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Nominated 4th June 1815.', reverse with maker's stamp for Hughes, 8 Peterboh. Co.., Fleet Str., London, 191mm x 114mm, corners pierced for attachment, very fineThis stall plate was produced between 1826 and 1838, during which time Hughes copper and steel plate makers was headquartered at Peterborough Court, Fleet Street.Edward Lowther Crofton was born on 24 November 1783, likely in County Roscommon, Ireland, the son of John Frederick Lowther Crofton and the grandson of Anglo-Irish politician Sir Marcus Lowther Crofton, 1st Baronet. Crofton embarked on a career in the Royal Navy, with whom he was commissioned Lieutenant in March 1804, Commander in February 1805 and was promoted Post Captain on 4 March 1811.Crofton was active during the War of 1812 and served as Post Captain in the Naval Brigade of Rear-Admiral Sir George Cockburn during the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814. Following the British burning of the enemy capital at Washington D.C., they returned to their ships and travelled up river towards Baltimore, Maryland and proceeded to bombard the harbour's Fort McHenry in an attempt to take the city. The fort was well-defended and stood up to the 25-hour bombardment after which the British fleet departed. The conflict notably inspired the American national anthem.Crofton's conduct during the engagement was praised by the Rear-Admiral in his public letter, in which he stated: '...the brigade of seamen with small arms, commanded by Captain Edward Crofton, assisted by Captains Sulivan, Money, and Ramsay, who commanded divisions under him, behaved with a gallantry and steadiness which would have done honour to the ablest troops, and which attracted the admiration of the army.'A year after the battle, Crofton was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in June 1815. The following year he married Mary Leader on 23 April 1816 and the couple went on to have issue of at least one son and one daughter, who was born at Putney Hill in Surrey on 10 September 1818. Their son, also named Edward Lowther Crofton, was a Captain in the 77th Regiment of Foot who died of cholera in the Crimea on 27 September 1854 during the march from Alma to Balaclava.Crofton died just a few years after his award of the C.B. in September 1818; sold together with copied research. …

Sold by Order of the Recipient'We swing between the steel gates to see sabotaged cranes lying toppled and half-immersed in the foul thickness of what was once water - like the skeletons of prehistoric creatures preserved in their death throes...Their only light relief is when they are allowed to blow up the massive stocks of light ammunition left behind by fleeing Iraqis...My team is working just inside the main harbour wall; those not diving or supervising are huddled around a brazier in whatever layers of clothing they can fit over their uniform. They look like a group of down-and-outs surviving inner city decay on an English winter's day.I am met by their CO, Lieutenant Peter Williams, once a carefree Sub Lieutenant with me in Avenger. He now looks drawn and a good deal older - but I dare say so do I. His exploits will rightly win him a Distinguished Service Cross...I inspect their 'goodies', row upon row of Iraqi ordnance: booby traps extracted from dark corners; abandoned shells and grenades; flares and machine-gun bullet bandoliers and weapon cases. They are all stacked neatly into little symmetrical pyramids along the jetty.'Captain Craig brings to life the scenes in the Gulf in Call for FireAn outstanding Gulf War Bomb Disposal 1991 D.S.C. group of twelve awarded to Commander A. P. Williams, Royal Navy, who led Fleet Diving Unit B during Operation 'Granby'He led 'utterly from the front' with a cool confidence to the task, keeping a detailed - and hitherto unpublished - diary of events during those pivotal days and 'personally led several countermining sorties - by day and night - against some of the 1,500 Iraqi mines' and latterly in the post-War efforts in 'appalling and hazardous conditions to clear the Kuwaiti harbours' - thus adding a scarce 'Kuwait' clasp to his laurels for his work commanding Fleet Diving Unit B & NP1037Distinguished Service Cross, E.II.R., the reverse engraved 'Lt A P Williams RN', with its Royal Mint case of issue; Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (Lt A P Williams RN); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Kuwait (Lt A P Williams RN); N.A.T.O. Medal, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia; N.A.T.O. Medal, 1 clasp, Kosovo; Jubilee 2002; Jubilee 2012; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., with 2 Additional Service Bars (Lt Cdr A P Williams DSC RN), with the named box of issue; Oman, Sultanate, Sultan's Commendation Medal (Midal ut-Tawsit), with emblem upon riband; 45th Anniversary National Day Medal; Saudia Arabia, Kingdom, Kuwait Liberation Medal; Kuwait, Emirate, Liberation Medal, silver grade, mounted court-style as worn, these last two separately as per Order of Wear, good very fine, in a case used by the recipient, the lid blocked 'Commander Peter Williams DSC' (12)Approximately 11 D.S.C.s awarded in the post-Second World War era for actions relating to Minewarfare, Diving and EOD work.Just 7 D.S.C.s awarded for Operation 'Granby'.D.S.C. London Gazette 29 June 1991:'Williams arrived in the Northern Arabian Gulf on 1 February 1991 as Deputy Officer in Charge of Fleet Diving Unit B (FDU B). He moved into action immediately, co-ordinating training, refining techniques on new equipment, establishing an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) cell and overseeing inspections for Improvised Explosive Devices (lEDs) in ships of the RN Task Group as they arrived in Bahrain.During hostilities Williams was the supervisor of an airborne EOD team and of diving operations from Gemini craft, spending many hours in helicopters in the front line of Naval operations, often within ten miles of the enemy coast. Insisting on putting himself in the way of danger before his men, he showed remarkable courage and stamina by leading personally on countermining sorties, placing charges on live buoyant mines and diving for protracted periods, often at night, on live ground mines in order to bring them to the surface for exploitation. In addition he conducted the unenviable task of recovering dead bodies from the sea into helicopters. He led a team of two men on an inspection of HMS Gloucester to search for a mine reportedly entangled in her propeller shafts.Moving ashore on 5 March to Mina Ash Shuaybah he took over as Officer In Charge of FDU B. He established a base camp and helped co-ordinate EOD operations with American and Australian Units for clearing the ports of Mina Al Ahmadi, Mina Ad Dohah and Faylakah Island. The work involved rendering safe unstable live ordnance, beached mines, booby traps and lEDs, clearing buildings and oil tankers of ordnance and collecting dead bodies from the harbour waters. Often these jobs required him and his team to first reach the scene through areas of antipersonnel mines and barbed wire. Throughout this extremely dangerous operation he showed an implacable professionalism and positive leadership which was beyond his experience. At all times his men saw him in the leading role, tirelessly taking on the most hazardous tasks himself.The conditions under which FDU B operated were atrocious. With no infrastructure ashore the men lived in cargo containers on a jetty with no light, sanitation or potable water, in an atmosphere heavy with acrid smoke and toxic fumes from the oilfield fires burning inland, and diving in water with zero visibility due to the thick oil pollution.All the time they were at risk from random gunfire from uncontrolled factions of the local population. Williams's conspicuous leadership, resolute professionalism and boundless energy ensured that his Unit's effectiveness remained at peak levels from start to finish and that his men's morale was of the highest order in the face of dire adversity.'Personel Report covering the dates 1 February-23 April 1991, as Officer in Charge Fleet Diving Unit B & NP1037 to Commander Task Group 321.1, from Commodore C. J. S. Craig, Commander Task Group 321.1:'This is to certify that Lieutenant Williams has conducted himself to my entire satisfaction.Williams came into theatre after two weeks has elapsed of the Gulf War, becoming Deputy Officer in Charge of a Fleet Diving Unit. Initially a supervisor of the airborne EOD teams, he personally led several countermining sorties - by day and night - against some of the 1500 Iraqi mines.Shortly after the war finished he took over he took over as the Officer in Charge of the combined diving team which worked for several weeks in appalling and hazardous conditions to clear the main Kuwaiti harbours - a task which was completed ahead of time and thankfully without any casualties. Throughout this period Williams has led courageously, and utterly from the front, has shown stamina, cheerfulness and professionalism, and has set a fine example to his people. He has briefed clearly, shown economical style with his signalled reports and demonstrated an ability to organise events sensibly and wisely.I have recommended his without reservation for transfer to the General List and would see him developing his professional potential through further command for which I also have recommended him.Altogether Williams can be extremely proud of his achievements in peace and war in the Gulf.'SALE 25001 NOTICE:Now offered together with his Royal Navy Divers Log (Form S. 1627), covering the periods 12 February 1985-8 March 2004, including his Ops during the Gulf War, a terrific resource with a plethora of detail. Further accompanied by his SBS RN Officers MCD Advanced EOD Course Certificate (9 June-25 July 1986) and MCD Officer Qualification Certificate (3 November 1986) and Minewarfare brochure, featuring Williams as OIC FDU2.