We found 131341 price guide item(s) matching your search
There are 131341 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe- List
- Grid
-
131341 item(s)/page
Lot 262
A GEORGE III GOLD QUARTER REPEATING POCKET WATCH, JOHN HOLMES, LONDON, CIRCA 1818 full plate fusee movement with diamond endstone, push pendant activating two hammers on a gong, cuvette with winding aperture and signed 'John Holmes / Strand / LONDON / No.725', matted dial with raised Roman numerals within dot minute markers and serpentine hands, engine-turned case with bold foliate band, pendant and bow, 18 carat gold London hallmarks probably for Horace Gooch, 1818, 5cm diameter; together with a gilt-metal watch chain, terminating in a probably contemporary gold-cased suspension ring and key (for the hands) and an associated winding key (2)Following his death in 1797, the business of the celebrated clock- and watch-maker, John Holmes, was apparently continued by his son William at 156 Strand, until its purchase by George Yonge in 1816. (https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/1826-silver-open-face-duplex-signed-george-yonge-son.157993/#post-1257554, accessed 06.01.23)
Lot 264
A VICTORIAN GOLD HUNTER POCKET WATCH, CIRCA 1891 keyless wind three-quarter plate English lever movement signed 'Langford / 13. Gresham St. CENTRAL POST OFFICE LONDON', white enamel dial with Roman numerals and signed 'LANGFORD / 13 GRESHAM STREET / LONDON', hunting cased, the cover with entwined initials EHB, the back inscribed 'Edith', numbered to cover, back and movement '697', 18 carat gold hallmarks for Joseph Walton, London, 1891, 4cm diameterProvenance: Edith Harriette Brookes (née Jarvis, 1872-1940), who married Gerald Remfry Brookes in 1894 (see footnote to previous lot); thence by family descent to the vendor
Lot 348
PAIR OF DIAMOND PENDENT EARRINGS, 1880S each composed of a cushion-shaped diamond surmount mounted in a cut-cown collet supporting a detachable pear-shaped diamond drop with a cushion-shaped diamond connecting link, length 3cm, case by Hennell Frazer & Haws. Later post and butterfly fittings.
Lot 359
PAIR OF CULTURED PEARL, TURQUOISE AND DIAMOND PENDENT EARRINGS, 1970s each designed as an articulated cluster of fresh water cultured pearl berries interspersed with cabochon turquoise accents, to a grey baroque cultured pearl terminal, each surmount set with a grey baroque cultured pearl accented with three brilliant-cut diamonds, to textured leaf detail, clip and post fittings, length approximately 70mm
Lot 384
THEO FENNELL: A PAIR OF GOLD, PERIDOT AND DIAMOND EARRINGS each of textured target design, centred by a circular-cut peridot with brilliant-cut diamonds to the cardinal points, post and butterfly fittings, signed Fennell, hallmarks for 18-carat gold, London, 1996 and maker’s marks, diameter 1.5cm
Lot 319
Family of six post-war Steiff ‘Peky’ Pekinese toy dogs, each with brown eyes, short mohair heads and stitched noses, long mohair bodies, largest and smallest with tag and buttons, one with tag only and one with button only, biggest 9 ½” (24cm) long, smallest 3 ¾” (9.5cm) long, (condition: generally very good), (6 items).
Lot 323
Six post-war Steiff animals, including Giraffe with button and tag, 14 ½” (37cm) tall, Okapi with button and tag, Bambi with tag, seated Rabbit with button and tag, Flossy Fish with button and tag and Macki the Hedgehog with button and tag, (condition: generally very good, except Macki, rubber legs melted ), (6 items).
Lot 363
Three post-war Chad Valley mohair Teddy bears, including a dark brown mohair bear with orange glass eyes black stitched nose and mouth, swivel heads and jointed at shoulders and hips, rexine pads, wearing a white jacket, 14 ½” (37cm) tall, (condition: some wear and bald areas), together with two similar golden mohair Chad Valley Teddy bears, (condition: some general wear), (3 items).
Lot 29
Family Group: Pair: Private A. D. Bromley, Army Service Corps British War and Victory Medals (DM2-171115 Pte. A. D. Bromley. A.S.C.) extremely fine Jubilee 1977, attributed to Mrs. Marion Bromley, Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, unnamed as issued, mounted on lady’s bow riband, in Royal Mint card box of issue, extremely fine (3) £80-£100 --- Ashley Donald Bromley attested into the Army Service Corps for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front. Post-war he settled in Maidenhead, Berkshire with his wife Marion, where he ran the family Bakery and Seed Merchant business with his brother. During the Second World War, he served in the 2nd Berkshire (Maidenhead) Battalion, Home Guard. Sold together with his Berkshire Home Guard record card and five school sporting medallions, all cased, three of which are silver. Marion Bromley was born in Kingswood, Bristol in 1903. After her marriage, she moved to Maidenhead, Berkshire, where she served for many years as the organiser of the Maidenhead Branch of the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, having joined in 1940. During the Second World War, she took charge of the local Force’s Canteen. She was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977, as a result of her long service to the W.R.V.S. She died, aged 89, in January 1993. Sold together with two WRVS badges, various local press cuttings including her obituary, a contemporary group photograph of the Maidenhead Force’s Canteen and her medal riband bar.
Lot 78
The regimentally unique and important ‘West Africa 1898’ D.S.O. group of eleven awarded to Major-General Weir de L. Williams, Hampshire Regiment, a gallant and oft-wounded Channel Islander whose adventurous early career ranged from the North West Frontier of India, through the jungles of West Africa to the South African veldt; during the Great War he landed at Gallipoli from the SS River Clyde and played a prominent role in the bloody fighting at V beach, later holding Brigade and Divisional commands on the battlefields of the Western Front Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Lieut. W. de L. Williams 1st Hamp: Regt.); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1898 (Capt. W. de L. Williams D.S.O. Royal Niger Constably) renamed; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg (Capt. W. de. Le. Williams D.S.O. Hamps Rgt.) official corrections to post-nominal letters and unit; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col. W. De L. Williams, D.S.O. Hamps R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Maj. Gen. W. De L. Williams); Delhi Durbar 1903, silver; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914-15, with palm; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., mounted court-style; together with a contemporary duplicate India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, this with officially re-engraved naming (Lieut. W. de L. Williams, 1st Bn. Hampshire Regt.), light contact marks, otherwise good very fine and better (12) £4,000-£5,000 --- Provenance: Spink, March 1992, when sold with ‘Niger 1897’ clasp on the renamed East and West Africa medal. C.B. (Military) London Gazette 1 January 1921. C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1917: ‘For services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field’ D.S.O. London Gazette 30 June 1899:
‘In recognition of services with the Royal Niger Constabulary during the recent operations in the Benin Hinterland, Siama, &c.’ French Legion of Honour London Gazette 21 August 1919. French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 24 February 1916. Roumanian Order of the Crown, Grand Officer London Gazette 20 September 1919. Belgian Order of the Crown and Croix de Guerre London Gazette 24 October 1919. M.I.D. London Gazettes 30 May 1899; 10 September 1901; 5 August 1915; 4 January 1917; 15 May 1917; 11 December 1917; 20 December 1918; and 5 July 1919. Weir de Lancey Williams was born at St Peter Port, Guernsey, on 2 March 1872, son of Lieutenant-General Sir William “Devil” Williams, K.C.B., Royal Artillery. He was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey and the United Services College, from which he entered the Royal Military College in 1889 as a Queen’s Cadet. He was commissioned into the Hampshire Regiment in 1891 and was sent to India to join the 1st Battalion. His first opportunity for active service presented itself in 1897, when he obtained an appointment as Assistant Transport Officer to the Second Division of the Tirah Field Force, formed to quell a series of tribal uprisings on the North West Frontier. One of only a handful of members of his Regiment to participate in these operations, during which he was shot through the foot on 11 December 1897, when Afridi tribesmen attempted to overwhelm the baggage train during a march down the Bara Valley. Shipped back to England to recuperate, he lost little time in arranging his next adventure, and in August 1898 headed to West Africa, on attachment to the forces of the Royal Niger Company. The appointment provided plenty of opportunities for action. As part of its efforts to establish control over the lower Niger, the Company conducted numerous expeditions – 63 in all between 1886 and 1899, when its charter was revoked on establishment of the Northern and Southern Nigerian Colonial Protectorates. Few of them involved more than three or four officers and 200 Royal Niger Constabulary troops, but the casualty returns show the risks to have been real, quite apart from the challenges presented by terrain and climate. In October 1898, quite soon after Captain Williams’ arrival, a particularly serious outbreak of fighting flared up around Asaba, a principal station of the Company, 150 miles up the Niger river. Fugitive chiefs fostered a revolt in opposition to the interference of the Company’s officers with sacrificial customs; the mission at Illah was ransacked and an attack made on the Company’s station. The disaffected district was extensive, requiring the despatch of a column of 400 Company troops, with three Maxims and two seven-pounder field pieces. Several fierce engagements were fought, resulting in casualties of eight killed and 34 wounded on the Company’s side. Williams was among the wounded, having commanded a force of 120 men which left Asaba on 2 November to deliver food and ammunition to the garrison at Isele, about 15 miles away. The narrow paths allowed single file as the only formation in which to move, and led through the thickest of forest, drastically reducing the field of view and rendering superior weapons such as the Maxims of little use. En route they met with some resistance but fought their way through and achieved their objective, with the loss of one man. However, by the time they started their return the following day the enemy had concentrated from surrounding districts and they faced some quite desperate fighting. Three miles from a town named Uburu Kiti they found the path blocked and were compelled to cut their way through the bush, under continuous attack. By the time they reached the town eight men had been wounded and ammunition was running short; here they met a strong party of the enemy defending a row of houses. The more open ground allowed the Maxim to be brought into action, but two gunners were killed in doing so, and the gun jammed after half a dozen shots. So, with 50 men, Williams charged the houses and cleared the enemy out. By the end of the day four men had been killed and 29 wounded, Captain Williams being shot in the side. Out of ammunition, and with the prospect of further fighting before reaching Asaba, the column made camp and a runner was sent ahead to ask for assistance. The relief found them after a four-hour march, very ragged, tired and blood-stained from their five-day ordeal. In June 1899 Captain Williams succeeded as commandant of the Royal Niger Company’s troops, in place of Captain H. W. E. Parker, South Wales Borderers, recently killed attempting to impose order in another remote and troublesome part of the territory. It fell to Williams to avenge his brother officer’s death, in leading a punitive expedition of 150 Hausa troops against the Suntai. This band were based about 50 miles south-east of Ibi, on the upper part of the Benue River (a tributary of the Niger), and had for some time been raiding their neighbours, who had appealed to the Company for protection. Marching from Ibi, Williams’ force attacked the town of Suntai, which put up a most determined fight. The town wall was found to be quite unclimbable, and where it was breached the defenders attempted repairs under fire in a very daring manner. The final assault through this breach cost the Company troops five men killed and 25 wounded; when the town fell and the captured chief was brought before him, Williams is said to have expressed his admiration of the plucky defence. Williams’ time with the Royal Niger Constabulary ended in September 1899 on his return to regimental duty, taking with him a D.S.O. in recognition of his services (presented to him by the Queen at Windsor, on 30th November 1899). He...
Lot 73
A post-War C.M.G., O.B.E. group of six awarded to J. R. W. Parker, Esq., who served as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Falkland Islands and High Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territories 1976-80 The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband, in Spink, London, case of issue, minor enamel damage to reverse central medallion; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; War Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1977, unnamed as issued, all mounted for display together with a London Scottish cap badge, and a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association lapel badge, good very fine (6) £600-£800 --- C.M.G. London Gazette 31 December 1977. O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1968. James Roland Walter Parker was born in 1919 and started government service with the Ministry of Labour in 1938. He served with the London Scottish during the Second World War and though he lost half a leg, as a result of war injury, it did not adversely affect his future career. After the war he resumed his duties with the Ministry of Labour until seconded to the Foreign Office in 1966. Subsequent postings took him to Nigeria, Fiji, Gambia and South Africa until, on 16 December 1976, he was appointed Governor and Commander in Chief of the Falkland Islands and High Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territories. His posting coincided with a time of increasing tensions in relations with Argentina, culminating in the Argentinean Invasion shortly after he had left office. Whilst involved in early implementation of some of the recommendations made in Lord Shackleton’s report on the Falkland Islands, Parker was also interested in the more remote areas of his territory and described his annual visits to South Georgia and the British Antarctic Territories as ‘one of the main blessings of the job’. He retired as Governor on 26 February 1980, and was succeeded in post by Rex Hunt. He died in November 2009. Sold with the original bestowal documents for both the C.M.G. and the O.B.E., these both mounted in glazed display frames; together with the original Central Chancery envelopes for both certificates; Central Chancery letters for the C.M.G.; and original telegram informing the recipient of the award of the C.M.G. (addressed ‘Personal for Governor’).
Lot 1
An inter-War C.I.E. group of eleven awarded to Colonel H. C. Manders, Royal Berkshire Regiment, late Imperial Yeomanry, later Assam Valley Light Horse, who served as Aide-de-Camp to H.E. The Viceroy of India, and was Mentioned in Despatches during the Great War The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, C.I.E., Companion’s 3rd type neck badge, gold and enamel, with small section of neck riband for display purposes, in Garrard, London, case of issue, minor green enamel damage to orb above crown; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut. H. C. Manders. 59/Co. Imp. Yeo.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt: H. C. Manders. I.Y.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. C. Manders. R. Berks. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. H. C. Manders.); Defence Medal; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R. (Major H. C. Manders, Assam V.L.H. A.F.I.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Sergt. H. C. Manders. 6th. Assam Valley Lt. Horse. I.D.F.) mounted as worn, contact marks, edge bruises, generally very fine (11) £1,400-£1,800 --- C.I.E. London Gazette 1 January 1937. M.I.D. London Gazette 5 November 1915. Horace Craigie Manders was born in Farnham, Surrey, in October 1882 and attested as a Private for the 78th Company (Rough Riders), Imperial Yeomanry on 14 March 1900 for service during the Second Boer War. Commissioned as a Lieutenant into the 59th Company (Oxfordshire Hussars), Imperial Yeomanry on 9 December 1900, he was invalided home in May 1901, but returned to South Africa three months later, remaining there until the end of hostilities. He subsequently moved to Assam, India, to work as a Tea Planter, and there attested for the Assam Valley Light Horse, Indian Defence Force. At the outbreak of the Great War, he returned home and was commissioned into the 9th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. He served at Gallipoli attached to the 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment from 1 June 1915 (Mentioned in Despatches) and later transferred to the 11th King Edward’s Own Lancers, Indian Army, in 1918. Post War, he later served as Colonel Commanding the Assam Valley Light Horse and was appointed A.D.C. to H.E. The Viceroy of India, being appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire. He died in London on 11 November 1963.
Lot 31
Five: Captain A. W. D. Rookledge, Royal Berkshire Regiment 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, Palestine 1945-48 (Capt. D. W. A. [sic] Rookledge. R. Berks.) mounted as worn, initials officially corrected on GSM, contact marks, very fine (5) £100-£140 --- Albert William Douglas Rookledge was born in King’s Norton, Birmingham, on 29 June 1924. He was commissioned into the Royal Berkshire Regiment for service during the Second World War. Afterwards appointed Captain, he served during the post war Palestine campaign. He died in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 7 February 1995.
Lot 194
Five: Battery Quartermaster Sergeant E. Edgington, Royal Garrison Artillery 1914-15 Star (34744. Gnr. E. Edgington. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (34744 Sjt. E. Edgington. R.A.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, N.W. Persia (34744 Sjt. E. Edgington. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (1406358 B.Q.M. Sjt. E. Edgington. R.A.) edge bruising and contact marks, generally nearly very fine (5) £160-£200 --- Ernest Edgington was born on 8 December 1892 and attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery at Aldershot on 18 March 1911. He served during the Great War in Egypt from 22 June 1915, and was latterly attached to No. 1 Siege Battery, R.G.A. He saw further service post-War in Persia with the 6th New Mobile Trench Mortar Battery. He was discharged on 12 March 1932 and died in Chichester, Sussex, on 3 May 1952. Sold with copied research.
Lot 196
Six: Lieutenant F. B. A. Cardew, Devonshire Regiment, Later Royal Engineers, a cousin of Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, he was taken Prisoner of War during the Great War, before going onto see service in the Second World War attached to Montgomery’s Staff 1914-15 Star (2/Lt F. B. A. Cardew Devon. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. F. B. A. Cardew. Devon R.); France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the Great War Medals all stamped ‘Duplicate’, the Second War Medals later issues, good very fine (6) £140-£180 --- Frederick Brutton Anstruther Cardew was born in September 1897 and was educated at St. Edward’s, Oxford. He was Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, on 15 August 1914 and served during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 March 1915, latterly attached to the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was promoted Lieutenant on 22 March 1915, and was taken Prisoner of War at the Second Battle of Ypres on 8 May 1915: ‘By 5:30 in the morning on the 8th they bombarded us violently, blowing the trench in all the way along. I was buried four times that morning but managed to get out. By mid-day I had about 7 men left in my platoon (I had started on the 21st April with 44) and the trench was packed with dead and wounded, they had maxims playing on the parapet, or what was left of it, as well as guns. Then half-a-mile to our right I saw the Germans break through and by 5 o’clock they were working round behind us. By 6 p.m. my company on the extreme right next to the Germans had orders to hang on till 8 o’clock and then retire. I knew then we should be wiped out of course as they were far stronger. I was in command of the company, the rest of the officers being killed. They charged about 6:15 p.m. and we held them off for a quarter-of-an-hour fighting to the rear, front and to the right. Then they got on top of us and we had to surrender. We were marched straight to Rouler. I was so tired that I walked along asleep part of the way.’ (letter from the recipient dated 14 May 1915 refers [N.B. not included with lot]). Cardew was interned at Halle and subsequently in six other camps until 23 August 1918, when he was transferred to Holland for repatriation on 23 November 1918. He had the option of being transferred to Holland much earlier in the War, but did not accept, as he wished to effect his escape, which he attempted unsuccessfully on numerous occasions. Disembodied on 1 August 1919, he relinquished his commission with the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April 1920. Cardew re-enlisted as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 3 August 1942, and was advanced temporary Captain on 12 April 1943: his Second World War service included a period as a Staff Officer attached to Field Marshal Montgomery’s Headquarters, 1944-45. He retired in October 1946. Sold with the recipient’s Hudson’s, Birmingham whistle, and an envelope, post-marked Alton 9 October 1968, addressed to the recipient from his cousin, Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, K.G., G.C.B., D.S.O., together with an example of the Field Marshal’s autograph.
Lot 311
The important ‘Defence of Lucknow’ Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to James Luffman, a 15-year scholar at La Martinière School - a ‘Ragged Fusilier’, one of only two boys wounded during the siege and one of the six senior boys who bore arms Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (James Luffman.) fitted with contemporary silver ribbon brooch; together with the Punjab 1848-49 medal awarded to his father with clasps for Chiliamwala and Goojerat (James Luffman.) this correctly impressed but with rank and regiment neatly erased, toned, good very fine (2) £2,000-£2,600 --- Luffman’s mutiny medal has always been associated with a two-clasp Punjab medal, also named to James Luffman. It has a well executed erasure both before and after the impressed naming consistent with the rank and regiment having been obliterated. Research by Major H. E. Dadley in conjunction with A. J. Farrington of the India Office Records confirms that the Punjab medal belongs to James’s father Staff Sergeant James Luffman, 3rd Company 1st Battalion Bengal Artillery, with the medal roll confirming the clasps for Chilianwalla and Goojerat. It further transpires that there is only one man named Luffman on the Punjab medal roll. Fifty-eight medals were awarded to the Foundation boys and staff of the La Martinière School and are highly prized for their uniqueness and rarity – this one to James Luffman more so as he was one of only two boys wounded during the Defence. These boys boarded at the school and came under the auspices of the Claude Martin Charities being deemed as being from straightened but deserving families. On 13 June 1857, at the command of Sir Henry Lawrence, the scholars all marched from the Martinière to the Residency on a journey that, over the next 6 months, would turn these schoolboys into men and earn for them the soubriquet “The Ragged Fusiliers”. The siege commenced on the 1st July 1857 when Luffman was just a few days shy of his sixteenth birthday. With the firing of the first shots most of the servants fled the Residency so the military authorities impressed the younger boys of the Martinière to undertake domestic chores including, sweeping the compounds, the drawing of water, grinding the daily rations of corn to make bread and some to cook the boys meals. Others tended to the sick officers and others to take messages between garrisons. Later, Brigadier Inglis requested that as many boys as possible should be sent to pull the punkahs over the sick and wounded at the General Hospital. For this purpose 36 were told off in reliefs of 12 each and changed every 12 hours. The boys’ health suffered greatly and two died. The junior boys were used as night watchmen and for digging the wells for the “filth” of the Establishment whilst six senior boys bore arms defending the Martinière Post, operating the semaphore system on top of the Residency Tower and in supervising the younger pupils. L. E. R. Rees wrote of their plight:
‘The poor Martinière pupils, who go about the garrison more filthy than others, and apparently more neglected and hungry even than we are, are made use of to drive away these insects (flies) from the sick in hospital, and others. That they, too, should contribute their share of usefulness is but just and fair; but that they should be placed in menial attendance upon the healthy great in the garrison is, in my opinion, far from right. But I shall say nothing more on this subject, lest I assume a tone of censure.’ The Martinière Post, after the Judicial Garrison, was the most exposed defence in the Residency. Johannes’ House kept up an incessant rifle fire from just outside the perimeter with “Bob the Nailer” causing the most nuisance. The Post was defended by men from the 32nd Regiment of Foot, civilians and six armed senior boys from the Martinière named as: James Luffman, Edward Henry Hilton, David Aratoon, John Hornby, George Roberts and Samuel Wrangle. The wounding of Luffman is best described by Edward Hilton from his book “The Tourist's Guide to Lucknow”. Hilton spent much of his latter years given tours to local visitors and is well placed to give the most accurate account. The boys who carried arms used to take 20 or 30 rounds and go to the top of the house in which we were located and fire through the loopholes at the enemy and at whatever seemed a fair target. There were pumpkins and other vegetables which would have made a welcome addition to our cuisine growing in Johannes’ garden outside the line of our defence. We found it very tantalising to know that we must not venture to forage in this garden for the vigilance of the enemy’s marksmen was untiring and they never lost an opportunity of picking off any member of the garrison who was so incautious to expose himself. Seeing that the coveted vegetables were not available for us we did our best to make them unfit for the enemy and found some diversion in firing at the gourds. This “sport” was put an end to by the following circumstances: ‘Shortly after the boy Smith had been hit by one of the enemy’s marksmen, known to the boys by the soubriquet of “Jim the Rifle” located in the Johannes’ warehouse facing our post, Luffman and myself, with the intention of avenging this, went on the the roof of the building in which we were quartered and which overlooked the enemy’s position to try and get a shot at the rascal; we both used the same loophole. While on lookout one of the lads, S. Hornby, came to the roof with a supply of ammunition, and, while our attention was thus diverted our mutinous opponent across the way fired at us. His bullet struck Luffman’s musket, [which was in the loophole], glanced along the barrel and lodged in his left shoulder. As already mentioned he fortunately recovered but our target practice had to be discontinued owing to the ammunition being put out of our reach.’ 
James Austen Luffman was born on 5 July 1841, the eldest of three sons to Sergeant James Luffman, Bengal Artillery, and his wife Mary (née Bowers). Mary died on 4 August 1852, at Peshawar leaving James with the unenviable task of taking care of his three children. He sought assistance from the Claude Martin Charities who accepted the two elder brothers, James Austen and John Thomas, at the Martinière at Lucknow, with the younger, William Collins, being accepted at the sister Martinière School at Calcutta. The boys were orphaned on 11 June 1858, when their father died at Raneegunge, where he had been working as a Dak Agent for the Inland Transport Company. The Principal Registry of Probate, England, handed guardianship, until full age, to their lawful aunt Anne Still who, with her husband John, had been resident in India before returning to England living in Sudbury, Middlesex. At the denouement of the mutiny James Luffman joined the East Indian Railways together with “partners in crime” John Hornby and Edward Hilton, an understanding expected of all Martinière boys that they serve at least a year within the railway establishment. On 26 March 1859, he joined the Indian Police and performed non-gazetted appointments in and around Oudh until being gazetted on 16 January 1879 with the rank of District Superintendent of Police, a position he held until retirement on 25 October 1894. His record of service showed he worked variously in Bahraich, Hardoi, Partagarh, Jalaun, Gorackpur and Rae Barelli. It should be noted that at this time gazetted appointments in the police were generally filled by military officers or appointees from England making promotion and gazetting of locally enlisted officers discriminato...
Lot 238
A notable campaign group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel P. R. Oliver, ‘The great Peter Oliver of Everest’, 13th Frontier Force Rifles, Indian Army, who was killed in action in Burma on 25 February 1945 - an internationally renowned mountaineer who made a number of notable ascents in the Himalayas he participated in the British Everest expeditions of 1936 and 1938, and his illustrations were used in a number of books on Himalayan mountaineering India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (Capt. P. R. Oliver, 1-13 F.F. Rif.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, good very fine and better (5) £700-£900 --- Peter Roderick Oliver was born at Monsoorie, India, on 29 August 1907, the son of Major E. W. Oliver, Indian Army, and was educated at Sherborne School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army on 1 September 1927, and was posted to the 1st Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles (Coke’s) on 1 November 1928. He served as a Company Officer until March 1930 when he was appointed Quartermaster, retaining that post until attached to the South Waziristan Scouts from December 1933-February 1937. Frank Smythe wrote: ‘For some years he was attached to the South Waziristan Scouts, a force of levies recruited to guards the North-West Frontier, in which he saw much varied service and participated in a number of skirmishes.’ Relinquishing this appointment, he rejoined the 1st/13th as a Company Officer, then officiating Company Commander, serving with them on the North West Frontier from 9 October to 16 December 1937, before being appointed Station Staff Officer, Fort Lockhart (on the North-West Frontier) in February 1939, a post he held until August 1939. Mountaineer Peter Oliver was elected to the Alpine Club in 1933. The foremost mountaineer of his generation, Frank Smythe, wrote: ‘His qualifications included three seasons’ climbing and exploration in the Himalayas, and one season without guides in the Alps. His first climbs were made with E. H. Marriott in the Kanawar Kailas group, Baspa valley; thenceforward part at least of his leaves were spent in the hills. In 1930 he visited the Dhaula Okar range above Dharmsala in the Kngra valley and recorded his experiences in Vol. III of The Himalayan Journal. These ascents, made either alone or with an unskilled orderly, involved both rock climbing and snow and ice work. Like the good mountaineer he was quickly becoming, he records how, when descending a steep snow slope overlaid with loose hail, he took the greatest care to drive his crampons into the firm substrata...’ Oliver made a number of notable ascents in the Himalayas, and participated in the British Everest expeditions of 1936 and 1938. He was a talented artist and his illustrations were used in a number of books on Himalayan mountaineering, and was immortalised as ‘Peter Oliver of Everest’ by Jon Masters in Bugles and a Tiger: ‘Scouts on the move were a magnificent sight. The British Officers were indistinguishable from the men – all brown as berries, all wearing khaki turbans, gray shirts flapping loose outside khaki shorts, stockings and nailed sandal... Several famous mountaineers, including the great Peter Oliver of Everest, had served with Scouts at one time or another.’ Second World War Oliver was appointed GSO III in 5th Indian Division (which was formed in India in 1939) on 17 July 1940, and was advanced to Staff Captain of the 9th Infantry Brigade in the same division on 14 July 1941. He returned to India in March 1942 following active service with the famous 5th Indian Division in the Sudan (September 1940 to January 1941), Eritrea (January to June 1941), and the Western Desert (June 1941 to March 1942). He was promoted to Acting Major in April 1941 and temporary Major in July of the same year. Back in India Oliver went to the Tactical School. His next appointment was to HQ, 2nd Division in June 1943 as DAQMG, at which time he was promoted Acting (afterwards Temporary) Lieutenant-Colonel. Then, in September 1944 he was made second-in-command of the 8th Battalion of his regiment before proceeding to take command of the 9th Battalion in November 1944. The 9th Battalion Frontier Force Rifles was the Machine Gun Battalion of the famous 17th Indian Division and Colonel Oliver led the battalion into Burma in January 1945. As a Machine Gun Battalion, companies were parcelled out to brigades as operations required, leaving the C.O. with undefined duties. As such, Colonel Oliver was attached to Divisional HQ during the advance on Meiktila. The Adjutant of the battalion later wrote: ‘I always thought Peter took over the battalion somewhat reluctantly - his consuming desire was to get into Combined Operations, and I think he found commanding a Machine Gun Battalion something less than romantic.’ Killed in Action Douglas Monghir, another brother officer in Oliver’s Battalion in Burma, wrote: ‘Peter Oliver was cast in the mould of a Boy’s Own Paper hero of the Empire, lean, tanned, tall and handsome... Before he joined us he had a party in the Regimental Centre in Abbottobad and said “I shall either be killed or win a VC”.’ At Taungtha on 25 February 1945 Colonel Oliver met his death in action. The 5th Indian Division was was advancing on the village in a pincer movement and the fighting became confused. Divisional HQ found itself involved in the battle and Oliver, who was then in charge of the Divisional Headquarters Column, went in his jeep to find the leading troops of the Divisional HQ escort, who had taken a wrong turning, and ran into a Japanese ambush: ‘Unfortunately he ran into a party of Japs with an L.M.G. and was killed while returning their fire from the edge of the road. His body was brought back by Subadar Saif Ali and a small party, and he was buried the next morning just outside Taungtha’. According to his obituary in The Journal of the Alpine Club: ‘Together with his driver and his orderly he left the jeep and engaged the enemy with his rifle. The sound of his firing warned the vehicles [that had taken a wrong turning] and by taking a diversion they managed to escape. Having accomplished his purpose, he decided to return, but before he could regain the jeep he was shot in the neck and body by machine gun fire and instantly killed.’ Oliver was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches for Burma (London Gazette 9 May 1946), and is buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery. Sold with an original named group photograph of 1st Battalion (Coke’s) 13th Frontier Force Rifles officers, c.1932 (including Oliver); a pencil sketch by Oliver depicting men of Coke’s Rifles moving stores, initialled ‘PRO’ and identified on reverse as ‘Sketch by Peter Oliver of Cookies’; a superb research file including copies of original service records, extensive correspondence from former Frontier Force Regiment officers with whom Peter Oliver served in the 1930s and ‘40s (mid-1980s, from which some of the anecdotes and details below are extracted), and various obituaries &c.; and a copy of Everest: The Unfinished Adventure by Hugh Ruttledge (Hodder & Stoughton, 1st Edition, 1937), being a full record of the 1936 Everest Expedition, illustrated with Oliver’s sketches (including a self portrait) and containing references to him throughout, as well as several photographs. Note: Various diaries, sketches and artefacts (including the ice axe used by him in the 1938 Mount Everest Expedition) are held in the Sherborne School archives. Other papers and diaries, including WW2 era correspondence to his mother and...
Lot 258
Pair: Private A. T. Pursloe, Gloucestershire Regiment Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22400157 Pte. A. T. Pursloe. Glosters.) officially re-impressed naming; U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, reverse of first showing signs of acid cleaning, otherwise nearly very fine and better (2) £140-£180 --- Anthony Thomas Pursloe was born at Prestbury, near Cheltenham on 11 April 1932. Educated in Cheltenham, he worked for a car dealer and garage proprietor before commencing his National Service in the summer of 1950. It is speculated that he served in the Glosters as a post Imjin reinforcement. Married in Cheltenham in 1954, he died there aged 60 in June 1992. Sold with copied research and birth certificate.
Lot 937
† DENIS MCLOUGHLIN (1918-2002); three original watercolour and crayon designs for murals at The Royal Artillery in Woolwich, one depicting a theatre scene in which the artist has illustrated himself within the box, 21 x 27.5cm, one titled 'South Wall' with a cafeteria scene, and the other with a couple beneath a lamp post, with a laminated photograph of the artist painting one of the murals in situ, dated circa. 1943, and a copy of Illustrated Magazine dated November 27th 1943, containing a small article about the murals. PROVENANCE; from the original collection of British illustrator Denis McLoughlin, and then by family descent. This mural designs are illustraed in The Art Of Denis McLoughlin by David Ashford, page 21-25.
Lot 942
LIVERPOOL AND NORTH WEST POSTAL HISTORY; an interesting scrap album believed to have been compiled by Jabez D Rich and others containing newspaper cuttings, letters, flyers, memorial cards and invitations from the second half of the 19th century. Items include a General Post Office caution flyer dated October 30th 1812, flyer for the service held at the 'Synagogue of the Manchester Hebrew Congregation' on the day of the burial of the Prince Consort, a Post Office Circular, an invitation for the opening of the Mersey Railway dated Wednesday 20th June 1886, a flyer for the 'Penny Postage Jubilee Dinner' 1890, an invitation to the opening ceremony of the new lower level of The Queen's Pier on the Isle of Man, a programme for the 'Grand Football Match' between Liverpool PO and Birmingham PO (undated but 19th century), an invitation for the opening of the Liverpool International Exhibition 1886, and a letter from the City of Liverpool Public Libraries declining the offer to buy this album in 1965 (1)Provenance: Jabez D Rich married Ann Musgrave, the daughter of Thomas Moore Musgrave - English Postmaster. At the time of the marriage Rich was chief clerk and later became postmaster.
Lot 604
Eight: J. Kwasiborski, Polish Forces Poland, Republic, Cross of Valour 1920, bronze; Victory and Freedom Medal 1945, bronze; Monte Cassino Cross 1944, bronze, reverse numbered, ‘48649’; Great Britain, 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Vatican, Holy See, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross, bronze; together with the recipient’s 2nd Polish Corps badge, the reverse officially numbered ‘007857’, suspension post re-soldered; and various other Polish unit badges and cloth insignia, including those for the 3rd Carpathian and 5th Kresowa Infantry Divisions, generally good very fine £300-£400 --- Jerzy Kwasiborski was born on 22 September 1922 and served with the 2nd Polish Corps during the Second World War. Sold with the numbered award booklets for the Monte Cassino Cross and the 2nd Polish Corps Badge; the recipient’s two British Soldier’s Service and Pay Books; and other ephemera.
Lot 48
General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Iraq, N.W. Persia (5329786 Pte. J. R. Howard. R. Berks. R.) very fine, and a two clasp medal scarce to unit £100-£140 --- James R. Howard attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War. He later transferred to the Royal Berkshire Regiment, which whom he also saw service, post-War, during the Iraq and North West Persia campaigns.
Lot 75
A post-War C.B.E. group of six awarded to Engineer Rear-Admiral H. S. Roome, Royal Navy The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with short section of neck riband for display purposes; 1914-15 Star (S. Lt. H. S. Roome. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. H. S. Roome. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with a Boy Scouts Medal of Merit (H. S. Roome 18-5-60) good very fine (7) £600-£800 --- C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1949. M.I.D. London Gazette 8 March 1918: ‘For services in Destroyers and Torpedo Boat Flotillas during the period ending 31st December 1917.’ Henry Steward Roome was born on 7 May 1896, the son of Engineer Rear-Admiral G. W. Roome, C.B.E., and was educated at the Royal Naval Colleges Osborne, Dartmouth and Keyham. He was appointed Midshipman on 15 September 1913, and joined H.M.S. Bellerophon on 7 April 1914. He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant 8 days later and to Lieutenant on 15 October 1917. He served in Grand Fleet Destroyers, being appointed to Cheerful in December 1915; Narborough, April 1916; Oriana, August 1917; and Lark, June 1918 (Despatches). He was appointed to R.N. College, Keyham, in August 1918; Lieutenant-Commander (E), July 1925; Commander (E), December 1928; Captain (E), June 1940; Rear-Admiral (E), April 1947. A.D.C. to the King, 1946-47. He served during the War of 1939-45, H.M. Dockyards, Devonport and Sheerness, and at the Admiralty. He was Manager of the Engineering Department at H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth, from 1945 until his retirement in 1950. He retired to Pencelli, near Brecon, and died on 21 December 1981.
Lot 107
A Great War ‘Fresnoy, September 1918’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private C. Still, 1st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, late 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, serving with whom he was wounded in October 1914 and mentioned in Haig’s despatch of April 1918 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (74116 Cpl. C. Still. 1/M.G.C.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (8811 Pte. C. Still. 2/R. Suss: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (8811 Cpl. C. Still. R. Suss. R.) medals unmounted, very fine £1,000-£1,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 12 March 1919; citation published 2 December 1919: ‘On 24th September, 1918, near Fresnoy, he was sent forward in charge of a machine-gun team to consolidate with the infantry. He showed great courage and determination in keeping his gun in action and covering the front line post, and later he pushed his gun forward in front of the infantry, and materially assisted in checking the enemy counter-attacks. On the night of the 24th, although severely wounded himself and having his No. 2 gunner killed, he did excellent work in endeavouring to silence the enemy’s enfilade fire. In spite of his wound, he remained at his post until ordered to withdraw.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 24 May 1918 (Haig’s despatch of the 7th of April 1918): ‘Still, 8811 L./C. C. (now 74116 M.G. Corps.) Royal Sussex Regiment.’ Charles Still was born in 1888 and enlisted at Chichester on 11 September 1907, aged 18 years 10 months. He was discharged to Reserve in June 1912 and mobilised on 7 August 1914, serving with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, in France from 31 August 1914. Wounded by a gun shot in the scalp on 3 October 1914, he was treated at No. 2 General Hospital at Havre. In September 1915 he was invalided to England via Versailles with an abscess of the foot. He returned to France in September 1916, and transferred to 2 Company M.G.C. on 11 July 1917, this unit later being designated 1 Battalion, M.G.C. Still was severely wounded whilst winning his D.C.M. on 24 September 1918, and was discharged as a Lance-Sergeant on 9 September 1919. Sold with copied research including D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, service papers, gazette notices, and 1/M.G.C. war diary extracts.
Lot 76
A post-War C.B.E., Great War 1918 ‘German Spring Offensive’ M.C. group of six awarded to Captain F. C. Braby, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was twice wounded and Mentioned in Despatches The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, with miniature width neck riband, in Central Chancery case of issue; Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved ‘Lt. F. C. Braby. 2/8th. Lan. Fus. Attd. 197 Inf. Bdg. H.Q. Somme France March 1918’; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. F. C. Braby.); Defence Medal; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style as worn, lacquered, good very fine (6) £1,000-£1,400 --- C.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 2 June 1962: Frederick Cyrus Braby, Esq., M.C., D.L., Chairman, Industrial Coal Consumers Council. M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a determined enemy attack under intense machine-gun fire. He collected all men in the vicinity and organised a successful defence. He checked and inflicted considerable casualties on the enemy, handling his men with skill and courage. Later in the day, he did good service in carrying important messages through heavy machine-gun fire to the rearguard.’ The Battalion War Diary additionally states: ‘For gallantry on 25 March 1918.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 23 May 1918. Frederick Cyrus Braby was born on 1 May 1897 and was educated at Charterhouse School and the University of Manchester. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers and served with the 2nd/8th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 28 February 1917 (wounded twice, Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Military Cross). He saw further service post-War in the Territorial Army. In civilian life Braby served as Director of the family firm Fredrick Braby and Co. Ltd., and was the firm’s Chairman from 1942 to 1965. He was President of the Engineering and Allied Employers’ London and District Association, and Chairman of the Industrial Coal Consumers’ Council and the British Non-Ferrous Metals Association. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in 1955, and was a County Commissioner of the Boy Scouts Association for Kent from 1952 to 1967. In addition, he served on the committees of numerous Charitable organisations. For his services he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1962. He died on 15 July 1983. Sold with the recipient’s original Bestowal Document for the C.B.E., with accompanying correspondence from the Prime Minister’s office and the Central Chancery; original Document appointing the recipient a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Kent; various newspaper cuttings; and much copied research, including Battalion War diary extracts and other ephemera.
Lot 25
Three: Private D. L. Hatcher, Royal Berkshire Regiment, late Hampshire Regiment British War and Victory Medals (42790 Pte. D. L. Hatcher. Hamps. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, N.W. Persia (5329307 Pte. D. L. Hatcher. R. Berks. R.) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £140-£180 --- Douglas L. Hatcher attested for the Hampshire Regiment for service during the Great War, and served with the 2nd Battalion before transferring to the 8th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. He served post-War with the 1st Battalion during the North West Persia campaign.
Lot 267
‘F... you! Have you surrendered?’ and upon receiving a negative response he cried, ‘Well why the f... don’t you go on firing!’ Captain Pakenham to an opponent during the battle of the ‘Glorious First of June’, according to a contemporary (perhaps apocryphal) account. The important and rare Post Captain’s Naval Gold Medal awarded to Admiral of the Red the Hon. Sir Thomas Pakenham, G.C.B., Captain of the 74-gun H.M.S. Invincible at the memorable ‘Glorious First of June 1794’ Naval Small Gold Medal 1794-1815, the reverse engraved in capitals ‘THE HON: THOMAS PAKENHAM CAPTAIN OF H.M.S. THE INVINCIBLE ON THE 1 OF JUNE MDCCXCIV + THE FRENCH FLEET DEFEATED +’, enclosed within plain gold band and glass lunettes, small integral ring for suspension from later gold wire straight suspension, fitted with gold three-pronged ribbon buckle, good very fine £60,000-£80,000 --- Provenance: Shown by Spink at British Numismatic Society, February 1927; Baldwin’s 1936; Glendining’s, May 1946 (£115); John Barnett Collection 1963. For Earl Howe’s dramatic and overwhelming victory on 1 June 1794, His Majesty King George III presented Gold Chains to six of the seven Flag Officers, as well as to the Captain of the Fleet, Sir Roger Curtis, Kt. (the First Captain of the Queen Charlotte). It was then announced that His Majesty had signified his intention to institute a Naval Gold Medal to reward the admirals and captains who were ‘conspicuous for courage and conduct’ in that action, as well as those who might distinguish themselves on future occasions. Immediate measures were then taken to design and manufacture these new medals, but it was nearly two and a half years before they were ready. The larger medal was given only to Flag Officers, Commodores and Captains of the Fleet, which in this case meant all seven recipients of the Gold Chains to which they now appended the large medal. The smaller medal went to fifteen captains of ships of the line, whilst captains of the 11 repeating frigates, which did not lie in the line of battle, were ineligible for the award. The Honourable Thomas Pakenham was born on 29 September 1757, fourth son of Thomas, 1st Lord Longford. He was the younger brother of Captain Lord Longford who commanded the America 74 at the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778, and was the uncle of Major-General Sir Edward Pakenham who was killed at the Battle of New Orleans in 1814. He entered the Royal Navy at an early age in 1771 on board the Southampton frigate, with Captain John MacBride, with whom he moved to the Orpheus in 1773. In 1774 he was on the coast of Guinea with William Cornwallis in the Pallas, and in 1775 was Acting-Lieutenant of the Sphinx on the coast of North America. In the following year he was promoted by Lord Shuldham to be Lieutenant of the frigate Greyhound, and while in her saw much boat service, in the course of which he was severely wounded. In 1778 he joined the Courageux, commanded by Lord Mulgrave, in the fleet under Keppel, and was present in the Battle of Ushant on 27 July. In the following spring he was moved into the Europe, going to North America with the flag of Rear-Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot, and on 21 September 1779 was promoted to the command of the 14-gun sloop Victor, newly captured from the enemy. He was then sent to the Jamaica station, where, on 2 March 1780, he was posted by Sir Peter Parker the elder, as Captain, to the 22-gun San Carlos, as a reward for his distinguished services as Acting-Captain of the Bristol, under Commodore Cornwallis. His old wound, however, received while in the Greyhound, broke out again, and compelled him to return to England in the autumn. In December 1780 he was appointed to the Crescent of 28 guns and 198 men, attached to the fleet under George Darby, which relieved Gibraltar in April 1781, and was sent on to Menorca in company with the Flora, under William Peere Williams-Freeman. On their return journey, in passing through the straits, they fell in, on 30 May, with two Dutch frigates. In the ensuing Battle of Cape St Mary, one of the Dutch frigates, the Castor (commanded by Pieter Melvill van Carnbee), struck to the Flora, while the other, the 36-gun Den Briel, overpowered and captured the Crescent. The Crescent was immediately recaptured by the Flora, the Den Briel making her escape; but both Crescent and Castor had received so much damage in the action that they fell into the hands of two French frigates on the way home, 19 June, the Flora escaping. Pakenham had, however, refused to resume the command of the Crescent, maintaining that by his surrender to the Den Briel his commission was cancelled, and that when recaptured the ship was on the same footing as any other prize. For the loss of his ship he was tried by court-martial and honourably acquitted, it being proved that he did not strike the flag until, by the fall of her masts and the disabling of her guns, further resistance was impossible. In the month of July following, Captain Pakenham was tried by a court-martial at Portsmouth, for having struck his colours to the Dutch frigate, and the following highly honourable sentence was pronounced: ‘The Court are unanimously of opinion, that the Hon. Captain Pakenham throughout the action, in a variety of instances, behaved with the coolest and ablest judgement, and with the firmest and most determined resolution; and that he did not strike the Crescent’s colours until he was totally unable to make the smallest defence; the court therefore doth unanimously and honourably acquit the Hon. Captain Pakenham. The Court cannot dismiss Captain Pakenham, without expressing their admiration of his conduct on this occasion, wherein he has manifested the skill of an able and judicious seaman, and the intrepidity of a gallant officer; and from the great and extraordinary number of killed and wounded on board the Crescent, as well as the state she was in at the time of her surrender, their highest approbation of the support given by the officers and men to their Captain, and of their courage and steadiness during the action; a circumstance that, at the time it reflects honour on them, does no less credit and honour to the discipline kept up by Captain Pakenham.’ He was therefore at once appointed to the frigate Minerva, of 38 guns, which he commanded in the following year at the relief of Gibraltar by Lord Howe. At the commencement of the war with revolutionary France, in 1793, we find him commanding the Invincible, of 74 guns, attached to the Channel Fleet, under the orders of Earl Howe. On the glorious 1st June, in the following year, that ship acquired at least her due portion of renown, having, by her heavy and animated fire, in a little while, so crippled and annoyed a French 84-gun ship, that she bore up and became an easy conquest to the Queen Charlotte. On this memorable day, the Invincible lost her main-top-mast; had her fore and main lower-masts and yards shot through; rigging and sails much cut; 14 men killed and 31 wounded. So little, however, did her commander think of his ship’s casualties, that on seeing the crippled state of the Queen Charlotte, he sent an officer expressly to say to the Earl Howe, Commander-in-Chief, that the Invincible was sufficiently manageable to bear his flag. The boat that conveyed this message afterwards took possession of the subdued ship. The honours that were conferred upon Earl Howe and his brave associates, were commensurate with the victory they had achieved, Captain Pakenham being one of the officers who were named in his Lordship’s official despatch, as having ‘particular claim to his notice’, and subsequently honoured with a gold medal for...
Lot 30
Pair: Warrant Officer Class II E. Borton, Royal Berkshire Regiment British War Medal 1914-20 (200393 W.O. Cl. 2. E. Borton. R. Berks. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (3705 Sjt: Cook E. Borton. R. Berks: Regt) edge bruises, some polishing to BWM, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £50-£70 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 25 May 1917 Henry Ernest Borton, a Baker from Pangbourne, Berkshire, was born on 6 September 1875. He attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 6 February 1893 and served during the Second Boer War in South Africa (entitled to a Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and Transvaal; and a King’s South Africa Medal with the two date). He attested for further service on 26 May 1914 and served on the Western Front with the 1/4th Battalion from 30 January 1915. Appointed Company Sergeant Major on 26 December 1915, he was Mentioned in Despatches in May 1917. Post war he re-engaged as a Territorial on 19 April 1920 and served until 10 August 1930. He died, aged 81, in Reading, Berkshire, on 15 February 1957.
Lot 279
Waterloo 1815 (Ely Gladall, 2nd Reg. Life Guards.) fitted with contemporary elaborate silver post and straight bar suspension surmounted by flaming grenade device, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise better than good fine £2,200-£2,600 --- Provenance: Purchased Spink, February 1980. Ely Gladhall was born in the Parish of Batley, near Halifax, Yorkshire, and enlisted for the 2nd Life Guards at Doncaster on 25 September 1802, aged 19, a weaver by trade. He served 21 years 86 days, including 2 years allowance for Waterloo, and was discharged at Windsor on 19 December 1821, in consequence of ‘Length of Service.’ His conduct was described as ‘Good, and he is hereby strongly recommended to the favourable consideration of the Board [for pension] having proved himself an excellent soldier.’ Residing at Halifax, he was duly admitted to an Out-pension of 9d per diem on 7 February 1822. He continued to take his pension at Halifax until his death on 6 February 1862. Sold with copied discharge papers.
Lot 15
Seven: Captain S. O. Belcher, Royal Berkshire Regiment, later Army Education Corps 1914-15 Star (11247 Sjt. S. O. Belcher. R. Berks. R.); British War and Victory Medals (11247 Sjt. S. O. Belcher. R. Berks. R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (7730737 W.O. Cl. 1. S. O. Belcher. A.E.C.) mounted for wear, contact marks, nearly very fine (7) £160-£200 --- Stanley Oswald Belcher was born in Cookham, Berkshire in 1893. He attested into the Royal Berkshire Regiment for service during the Great War, and served on the Western Front with the 5th Battalion from 30 May 1915. He continued to serve post war, transferring to the Army Education Corps and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst serving as Regimental Sergeant Major. Commissioned Lieutenant on 14 April 1939, he served at home during the Second World War, and was promoted Captain. He died in Aldershot, Hampshire, on 2 November 1963.
Lot 74
A fine post-War C.B.E., ‘Pathfinder Squadron Commander’s’ D.S.O., ‘1940’ D.F.C. and post-war Q.C.B.C. group of ten awarded to Wellington and Stirling pilot Group Captain O. R. Donaldson, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 34 operational sorties with 115 Squadron between September 1939 - August 1940, before going on to command 7 Squadron, October 1942 - May 1943. Mentioned in Despatches twice for the Second World War, awarded the Q.C.B.C. for his part during a bomb explosion at R.A.F. Marham in September 1954, and further Mentioned in Despatches for services in the Suez The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, blue enamel damage; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated ‘1943’, with integral top riband bar; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type, breast badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1940’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Near East, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Act. Gp. Cpt. O. R. Donaldson. R.A.F.) second clasp loose on riband, as issued, breast awards mounted as originally worn, with Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air Emblem and a Path Finder Force Badge, all housed in custom made display case, generally very fine or better, unless otherwise stated (10) £4,000-£5,000 --- C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1953. D.S.O. London Gazette 11 June 1943: ‘Group Captain Donaldson has completed a large number of sorties since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. During the six months he has commanded the squadron, it has maintained its fine operational record and fresh honours have been achieved. By his sound organisation, thorough training and personal example, he has fashioned a first class fighting unit. Each operation is most carefully planned and executed and nothing which deserved his personal attention is omitted. Group Captain Donaldson’s firm and tactful handling of aircrews, his cheerful spirit and devotion to duty have earned him the unswerving loyalty of all ranks. He is a skilful pilot with a fine record of successful bombing sorties against the enemy. His example as a captain of aircraft has been an inspiration to his unit.’ O.B.E. London Gazette 10 June 1948. D.F.C. London Gazette 11 June 1940: ‘One night in May, 1940, this officer was captain of an aircraft detailed to attack focal points behind the enemy’s positions. In the neighbourhood of Hirson he came under heavy anti-aircraft fire which he regarded as indicating that he was near a profitable objective. In spite of the enemy fire Flying Officer Donaldson made five attacks on a road through a nearby wood. As a result a large fire and thirteen violent explosions occurred in what must have been an important enemy dump. He has consistently shown the highest degree of courage and determination.’ Q.C.B.C. London Gazette 25 January 1955: ‘The Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders for the publication of the names of the undermentioned personnel who have been commended for gallantry displayed when two 1,000lb. bombs exploded without warning at Royal Air Force Station, Marham, on 20 September 1954.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1945 and 1 January 1946. M.I.D. London Gazette 13 June 1957 (Suez). Oliver Russell Donaldson was born in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada in January 1912. He was appointed to a Short Service Commission as Acting Pilot Officer on probation, General Duties Branch, Royal Air Force in November 1936. Donaldson was confirmed as a Pilot Officer the following year, and advanced to Flying Officer in November 1937. Donaldson was posted as a pilot for operational flying with 115 Squadron (Wellingtons) at Marham. Between September 1939 - August 1940 he flew in at least 34 operational sorties over Germany, Norway, France, Belgium, Holland and Denmark. Donaldson took part in the disastrous attack on the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau when they attempted to move from their berths towards Norway, 7 April 1940. The Squadron were subsequently engaged in attacking enemy shipping of Norway and occupied airfields. When the German attack on France opened, 115 Squadron began raids in Germany and, later occupied Europe. Donaldson was awarded the D.F.C., and advanced to Flight Lieutenant in September 1940. He was proceeding on a well-earned leave to Canada when his Log Book was “lost at sea due to enemy action”. Donaldson advanced to Temporary Squadron Leader in December 1941, and served as commanding officer of 7 Squadron (Stirlings) at Oakington, 2 October 1942 - 3 May 1943. In late 1942 the Squadron was one of five squadrons selected to form the nucleus of the Pathfinder Force. Donaldson was awarded the D.S.O., and advanced to Wing Commander in August 1943. He served as Station Commander of R.A.F. Wyton, July 1944 - February 1945. Donaldson advanced to Group Captain in July 1952, and was rewarded with the Q.C.B.C. for his involvement in the following incident: ‘On 20th September 1954, two 1,000lb bombs exploded on the perimeter track at Marham, killing an NCO. The squadron’s Operations Record Book shows: ‘On Monday 20th September, 2 x 1000lb bombs exploded accidentally some 150 yards from the squadron dispersal and several of the squadron’s aircraft were damaged. The damage to most was very slight but one aircraft WK133 received damage which has entailed placing it CAT3. A piece of shrapnel entered the port lower mainplane skin inboard of rib 6 and ricocheted forward passing through rib 6, the main spar and rib 7, after which it passed through the trailing edge of the aileron. The top skin of the mainplane was slightly buckled along the path of the shrapnel. As a result of this damage, the aircraft needs a complete port mainplane change.’ An additional section records: ‘One airman from the squadron, LAC Hopkins, together with two airmen from 115 Squadron, distinguished themselves by rescuing chief technician Bawley, the tractor driver. The three airmen were approximately 200 yards from the scene of the accident but within 30 seconds they had chief technician Bawley clear of the tractor, this regardless of the fact that there were four more unexploded 1000lb bombs lying on the peritrack and that shrapnel was falling about them whilst they were running towards the tractor. It was unfortunate that, in spite of their efforts, chief technician Bawley died after being admitted to King’s Lynn Hospital.” Group Captain Donaldson retired in May 1957. Sold with copied research.
Lot 84
A post-War M.B.E. pair awarded to Miss Gwendolen Jackson, Women’s Royal Navy The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type, breast badge; Jubilee 1977, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn, with case of issue for the first, very fine (2) £140-£180 --- Sold with original warrant for M.B.E. dated 28 June 1979, together with Downing Street letter from P.P.S. to Margaret Thatcher, dated the month previous, addressed to Miss Jackson at Greenhill, Sheffield, and an investiture photograph of the recipient with family.
Lot 226
A fine Great War ‘1916 Somme’ M.S.M. group of three awarded to Lance Corporal J. J. Nicholls, 5th Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds on the Western Front, 12 October 1918 British War and Victory Medals (1703 L. Cpl. J. J. Nicholls. C.A.M.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (1703 Pte J. J. Nicholls. 5/F. Amb: Can: A.M.C.); Memorial Plaque (John Jeffery Nicholls) generally nearly extremely fine (4) £400-£500 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1917. John Jeffery Nicholls was born in Kingsbridge, Devon in October 1891, and was the son of Mr and Mrs J. J. Nicholls, of 12 Barton Villas, Dawlish, Devon. Nicholls served during the Great War with the 5th Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps on the Western Front. He was awarded the M.S.M. in recognition of ‘his splendid achievements during the 5th Field Ambulance tour of the Somme in September 1916 (Courcelette).’ Lance Corporal Nicholls, according to the CEF Burial Registers - “Died of Wounds - while with a comrade guiding a medical party in two motor ambulances to the Regimental Aid Post of the 24th Battalion, located in a Chateau on the northern outskirts of Iwuy, an enemy shell burst on the road between the cars and Private Nicholls was severely wounded in the thighs by shrapnel. He was immediately taken to No. 10 Field Ambulance where he died”. His injuries consisted of shrapnel wounds to his thighs, a fractured right femur and perineum damage. Lance Corporal Nicholls died of wounds, 12 October 1918, and is buried in the Queant Communal Cemetery British Extension, Pas de Calais, France. Sold with copied research.
Lot 42
1914-15 Star (2) (18162 Pte. L. Hurford. R. Berks: R.; 18862 Pte. H. S. Radburn. R. Berks. R.) rank and initials double struck on latter; British War Medal 1914-20 (3) (8339 Sjt. A. Illsley. R. Berks. R.; 8446 Pte. J. R. McLean. R. Berks. R.; 3508 Pte. F. H. Russell) generally very fine (5) £100-£140 --- Leonard Hurford attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment for service during the Great War on 27 May 1915 and served with the 8th Battalion on the Western Front from 16 December 1915. Appointed Sergeant, he was discharged, as a consequence of wounds, on 6 March 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B186,493. Harry Sidney Radburn attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment for service during the Great War on 19 July 1915 and served with the 5th Battalion on the Western Front from 1 December 1915. Appointed Lance Sergeant, he also served with the 8th Battalion and was discharged, as a consequence of wounds, on 4 July 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. D248232. Albert Illsley was born in Speen, Berkshire in 1880. He attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment in 1906 and served in India with the 2nd Battalion. He served with his Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 6 November 1914, before later service with both the 5th and 1st Battalions. On 9 September 1916 the Reading Mercury included his name in a casualty list, as being wounded as a Lance Corporal. Upon his recovery, he was later appointed Sergeant and was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette, 11 February 1919): on 3 October 1918, The Newbury Weekly News reported: ‘Another Newbury man has won the Military Medal. This time it is Sergt. A. Illsley, 1st Royal Berks. Regt., for deeds of gallantry in the recent push on August 22nd.’ Moste likely Illsley was awarded the M.M. for his actions at Quesnoy Farm, near Rumilly, France. Illsley was killed in action near Rumilly, on 9 October 1918, and is buried in Forenville Military Cemetery, France. James Roderick McLean attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served during the Great War, on the Western Front, with the 1st Battalion, from 12 September 1914. He saw later service with the Labour Corps, Somerset Light Infantry and Army Ordnance Corps. Frederick Henry Russell attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served during the Great War. He saw later service with the Labour Corps, 8th (Post Office Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment and the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Sold together with two impressed identity discs.
Lot 195
Four: Sergeant J. Spicer, Royal Garrison Artillery 1914-15 Star (41468. Gnr. J. Spicer. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (41468 Sjt. J. Spicer. R.A.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (41468 Gnr. J. Spicer. R.A.) nearly very fine (4) £100-£140 --- John Alfred Spicer was born in Brighton on 31 July 1894 and served with the Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War on the Western Front from 6 June 1915, latterly as a member of the Trench Mortar Battery. He saw further service post-War in Iraq with the 5th Medium Battery, R.G.A., and was hospitalised in Bombay in September 1920 suffering from Malaria. He died in Brighton on 21 December 1967. Sold with copied research.
Lot 90
A Great War ‘North Africa’ M.C. group of six awarded to Major G. E. J. A. Robinson, Royal Army Medical Corps, attached Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery (Territorial Force), for his gallantry in rescuing the crew of H.M.S. Tara from captivity at Bir Hakim in March 1916 Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Capt. G. A. Robinson. Notts. R.H.A. 1916, Halazin Jan. 23rd., Bir Hakim March 17th.’; 1914-15 Star (Capt. G. E. J. A. Robinson. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major G. E. J. A. Robinson.); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1922, with integral top riband bar; Italy, Kingdom, Al Valore Militare, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn and housed in a Spink, London, fitted case; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted and housed, good very fine and better (6) £1,400-£1,800 --- M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1916. George Edward James Antoine Robinson was born in Penzance, Cornwall, the son of George Robinson and his wife Alexina, née Corin, on 11 December 1869 and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. Practising medicine in Nottingham, he was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Lieutenant on 8 October 1908, and served during the Great War with the 1st/1st Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery. ‘He was awarded a Military Cross for his part in the rescue from arduous captivity in the Libyan desert, of nearly 100 British sailors captured by the Turks when their patrol vessel H.M.S. Tara was torpedoed by U35 off Sollum on 5 November 1915 - the sailors had initially been handed over to the custody of Senoussi warriors who force-marched them through the desert, eventually incarcerating them in an underground cistern at Bir Hakim. Word of their plight eventually reached a motorised detachment operating under the command of the Duke of Westminster more than 100 miles away. In an exploit worthy of the Boy's Own Paper, the rescue column dashed across the desert in Rolls-Royce armoured cars and scouting vehicles, with only the vaguest directions to guide them and two native guides who could not agree where Bir Hakim was. The 92 captives were close to starvation when they were found, and Dr. Robinson had to use all his medical skills in supervising the distribution of food rations sufficient to satisfy their cruel hunger, but not so large as to over-tax their digestions. They were quickly evacuated to the hospital at Alexandria.’ (Genealogy of the Corin Family refers). For this same operation the Duke of Westminster was awarded the D.S.O. Interestingly, Robinson would almost certainly have travelled aboard H.M.S. Tara in her former guise; for before being requisitioned for War service, she was the L&NW Railway steamer Hibernia, ferrying between Holyhead and Dublin. For his services during the Great War, in addition to being awarded the Military Cross, he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 21 June 1916 and 5 June 1919). He was also recommended for a ‘Mention’ on 19 June 1917: ‘Owing to the remarkable way this Medical Officer has attended to the health of this unit only one man has gone to hospital (and he returned to duty within 12 days) since this unit left Kantara in January 1917 and especially during the period of 1 March to 31 May 1917.’ Post-War, Robinson continued in medical practice in Nottingham, and died in July 1952. Note: The recipient’s Italian Al Valore Militare is unconfirmed.
Lot 88
A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Captain G. D. Boissier, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut: G. D. Boissier. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G. D. Boissier.) mounted court-style for wear, light contact marks, lacquered, nearly very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1918. Geoffrey Dumaresq Boissier was embodied as a Private in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Territorial Force) on 31 August 1914 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion on 29 December 1914, serving with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 July 1915. Wounded on 24 March 1916, he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 12 May 1916, and held the rank of Temporary Captain from May 1916 to March 1918 whilst serving in Salonika. He was released on 2 May 1919, retaining the rank of Captain. Post-war he lived at ‘Shrublands’, Banbury, Oxfordshire. Sold with copied Medal Index Card and other research.
Lot 287
Waterloo 1815 (Samuel Smith, 3rd Batt. Grenad. Guards.) fitted with contemporary replacement silver post-loop and straight bar suspension, polished and worn, otherwise good fine £1,800-£2,200 --- Samuel Smith was born at Fresonfield, near Halston, Norfolk, and enlisted for the Grenadier Guards at Norwich on 10 May 1804, aged 25, for unlimited service, a labourer by trade, having 2 years previous service in the 13th Light Dragoons. He was discharged at Windsor Barracks on 2 November 1818, in consequence of ‘being wounded in the Hand at the Battle of Waterloo’, where he served in Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Stables’ Company. Stables was himself wounded at Waterloo and died from his wounds on the following day. Sold with copied discharge papers and Company medal roll.
Lot 535
A CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE BEAKER VASETRANSITIONAL C.1640The flared neck painted with a scene of a figure offering a tribute of a vase containing three halberds to an official who stands beneath a willow tree and is flanked by attendants holding fans, the central section has two further figures on a bridge in a mountainous landscape, above a band of pointed leaves to the flared foot, the different registers, rim and foot incised with anhua bands, the base incised with a cursive '1658', 45cm.Provenance: the collection of Nicolas de la Mare Thompson (1928-2010).The halberd was the weapon associated with Lu Bu, a warrior in the Yuan dynasty novel, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The ancient weapon symbolises rank in military achievement. During the Tang dynasty it was customary for official households of the third rank and above to post a halberd at their gate. The halberd is a pun for ‘rank’, it represents rapid promotion.明末清初 青花平升三級紋花觚來源：Nicolas de la Mare Thompson（1928-2010）收藏。Nicolas是朱湯生（1941-2011）的哥哥，朱湯生曾於1992-2003任職蘇富比亞洲藝術部主席。
Lot 253
A post 1902 Welch Regiment Field Officers Dress Cap in black cloth with broad red band and piping with Regimental cap badge 'The Welch', the peak with broad gilt braid border. With leather band to the interior. 26cm wide. 31cm front to back. And a similar cap with dark blue velvet band and lacking cap badge (2) *Condition: First externally good with light cracking to peak and loss of colour to braid, internally with signs of wear, Second more recent manufacture.
Loading...-
131341 item(s)/page