We found 297893 price guide item(s) matching your search

Three: Second Lieutenant G. T. H. Morse, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action near La Bassée on 13 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (2. Lieut: G. T. H. Morse. Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. G. T. H. Morse.) good very fine (3) £600-£800 --- Gordon Thomas Harcourt Morse was born in 1893 at Mian Meer, Punjab, India, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel R. E. Ricketts Morse and Kathleen Morse (later of Chargrove House, Cheltenham) and was educated at Cheltenham College - where he rose to be a prefect - and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst where he was an Honorary King’s Cadet. Gazetted Second Lieutenant into the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on 8 August 1914, he served with them in France during the Great War from 12 September 1914 and was killed in action in his battalion’s attack on Croix Barbée near La Bassée on 13 August 1914. The war diary records that on this date the enemy were pushed through Croix Barbée and the Battalion entrenched for the night in the rear of the village. His Colonel wrote that he was killed instantaneously being shot while leading his platoon in an attack, and that ‘during the short time he was with the regiment he had become popular with both officers and men.’ Morse was 1 of 4 officers to be killed or mortally wounded in the attack. 2 officers were wounded and 45 other ranks were either killed or wounded. After his death his former college housemaster said of him: ‘He was industrious at work, fearless at games, loyal to his friends, and esteemed by all.’ Initially buried at Rouge Croix, he now lies in Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, Lacouture, France.

The 1914 Star awarded to Private J. H. Mullins, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), later Machine Gun Corps, whose medal entitlement was revoked following his conviction for cowardice in the face of enemy in 1916, but later reinstated 1914 Star (S-6361 Pte. J. H. Mullins. Midd’x R.) good very fine £70-£90 --- John Henry Mullins attested for the Middlesex Regiment in 1900 and served with the 4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 November 1914. He later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. On 23 May 1916 Private Mullins was convicted of cowardice in the face of the enemy and sentenced to 5 years penal servitude. This is stated on the 1914 Star Medal Roll (with the words ‘no medal’) and on his Medal Index Card (later scored out). The 1914 Star Medal Roll contains a resubmitted entry, however, under the name James Henry Mullins (all other details correct), dated 1 April 1921, confirming entitlement. His medal index card notes the change of Christian name on 7 April 1921. He was discharged Class Z on 30 September 1919.

Family group: Pair: Private E. Pearce, 21st Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action on the Western Front, at 16 years of age, on 24 July 1916 British War and Victory Medals (G-15516 Pte. E. Pearce. Midd’x R.); Memorial Plaque (Edward Pearce) nearly extremely fine Memorial Plaque (Alfred James Pearce) nearly extremely fine (4) £160-£200 --- Edward Pearce was born in 1900 at Islington, London and attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Holloway, Middlesex. He served with the 21st (Service) Battalion (Islington) during the Great War and was killed in action on the Western Front on 24 July 1916 aged 16 years. The son of Matthew Charles and Rosa Elizabeth Pearce of 21 Magdala Road, Highgate, London, he is buried in Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay, France. Alfred James Pearce, brother of the above, was born in 1893 at Islington, London and enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Wood Green, North London. He served during the Great War as a Driver with the 37th Divisional Ammunition Column, No. 2 Section, Royal Field Artillery and died at Tadworth on 15 May 1915. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.

Three: Rifleman F. W. Andrews, 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action on the Aisne on 16 September 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (11174 Pte. F. W. Andrews. 1/K.R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals (11174 Pte. F. W. Andrews K. R. Rif. C.) good very fine (3) £200-£240 --- Frederick William Andrews was born in 1895 at New Cross, Surrey and was an outdoor porter by occupation prior to attesting for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps at Winchester on 12 August 1913. He served with the 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914 and was killed in action on 16 September 1914 at the First Battle of the Aisne, following his battalion’s earlier participation, also with the 6th Brigade in the 2nd Division, at the Battle of Mons, the subsequent retreat, and the operations on the Marne. He was the son of Arthur and Annie Andrews of 251 New Cross Road, Surrey and is buried at Vailly British Cemetery, France.

Three: Lance Corporal C. C. Rand, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), who died from wounds received near Vailly during the Battle of the Aisne on 23 September 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (6380 Pte. C.C. Rand. 1/Wilts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6380 Pte. C. C. Rand. Wilts. R.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Cecil Rand) edge bruise to VM and some staining, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- Charles Cecil Rand was born in 1881 at Brixton, London, the son of Charles Joshua and Mary Rand. He first attested for the Wiltshire Regiment in September 1903 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 31 August 1914. The battalion was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, the 1st Wiltshire moved forward to high ground east of Chassemy on 14 September, crossing the Aisne later the same day and entrenched in a defensive line under heavy shell-fire north-east of Vailly. The enemy attacked in large numbers on 20 September: ‘The War Diary records that the Battalion’s right was seriously threatened - enemy getting to within 50 yards - “during this time a lot of close fighting took place.” Enemy eventually driven back. Captain H. C. Reynolds killed, Second Lieutenant H. W. Roseveare mortally wounded, 1 other officer wounded, approximately 80 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. Relieved by 1st Norfolk and 1st K.S.L.I. (22nd) and via Vailly to billets at Braine.’ (British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake refers.) Lance Corporal Rand was among those wounded in the fighting near Vailly and died of his wounds in the Aisne Valley on 23 September 1914. He was the husband of Elizabeth Jane Darcy (formerly Rand) of 2 Sperricombe Cottages, Tenby and is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France. Sold together with Buckingham Palace enclosure for Memorial Plaque and Record Office transmission slip for British War and Victory Medals - both previously mounted and in fragile condition.

Four: Lance Corporal W. G. Cottle, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), who died on 25 October 1914 from wounds received during the Battle of La Bassée Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (5600 Pte. W. G. Cottle. Wilts.: Regt.); 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (5600 Pte. W. G. Cottle. 1/Wilts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (5600 Pte. W. G. Cottle. Wilts. R.); Memorial Plaque (William George Cottle) in card envelope, good very fine or better (5) £300-£400 --- William George Cottle was born in 1883 at Oxford. He attested for the Wiltshire Regiment on 19 September 1900 at Kilworth, Wiltshire and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Boer War. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he served on the Western Front with the 1st Battalion, as part of the 7th Brigade, 3rd Division, from 21 September 1914. He died of wounds at No. 6 Clearing Hospital, Bethune on 25 October 1914 - in the days before his death, his Battalion had seen heavy fighting at Neuve Chapelle during the Battle of La Bassée. He was the husband of Sarah Ann Cottle, of the Causeway, Winterslow, Salisbury and is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, France.

Three: Major T. Roche, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), a Boer War veteran who went out to France with the original British Expeditionary Force on 14 August 1914 and was killed in action at Hooge during the First Battle of Ypres on 17 November 1914 1914 Star (Major T. Roche. Wilts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. Roche.) nearly extremely fine (3) £400-£500 --- M.I.D. London Gazettes 10 September 1901; 17 February 1915 Thomas Roche was born in 1874 at Annakissa House, Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, the son of Thomas Roche J.P., and was educated at Eastman’s Academy, Southsea and Fawcett’s School, Cork. He joined the Wiltshire Regiment from the Militia in 1895, becoming Lieutenant in November 1896 and Captain in 1900. After five years in India, he proceeded to South Africa in September 1900 and served in the Boer War, being present at operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches and received the Queen’s medal with four clasps. Returning to India, Roche was Adjutant of his battalion, 1902-06, and then, after passing through the Staff College, was Brigade-Major from 1909 to 1913, obtaining his majority in April of the latter year, having earlier been awarded the Delhi Durbar 1911 medal. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Roche served with the 1st Battalion on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. The 1st Wiltshire was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, they began their advance from Châtres on 6 September and crossed the Aisne on 14 September, suffering heavy losses near Vailly (14 -22 September) and also the following month at Neuve Chapelle during the battle of La Bassé - Roche was promoted Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 21 October 1914. Roche was killed in action by a shell near Hooge on 17 November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. The War Diary of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment described the day’s activities as follows: ‘In action. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment are in trenches at Hooge. Shelling started about 9am. Infantry attack about 10.30am. At noon about 150 Germans got into D Company’s trenches. At 12.10 a platoon of D Company executed a bayonet charge against them, and drive them out killing about 50 Germans, and wounding many others. They then started to shell D Company very heavily, also using mortar. Major Roche killed by a Shell. Lieutenant Browne seriously wounded. 2nd Lieutenant Chandler killed by bullet wound. Lieut. Goodhart took over duties of Adjutant vice Lieut. Browne wounded. 11 killed, 15 wounded.’ Temporary Lieutenant Colonel Roche was initially buried 200 yards north-east of the Chateau south of the Menin-Ypres Road near Hooge. He was forty years old when he was killed and was posthumously Mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 14 January 1915. He now lies buried in Artillery Wood Cemetery, Belgium.

Three: Private P. G. Smith, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), who was killed in action at Hooge, during the First Battle of Ypres, on 17 November 1914 1914 Star (9061 Pte. P. G. Smith. 1/Wilts: R.) in named card box of issue with Record Office transmission slip and outer OHMS envelope addressed to, ‘Mrs T. Smith, Telfont Magna, Nr Salisbury, Wilts.’; British War and Victory Medals (9061 Pte. P. G. Smith. Wilts. R.) in named card boxes of issue with Record Office transmission slip and outer OHMS envelope, similarly addressed; together with brass ‘Bed Plate’ inscribed, ‘P. G. Smith. 9051. Wiltshire. Regt.’ and a portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform, extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Percy Gordon Smith was born in Teffont Magna, Wiltshire and having attested for the Wiltshire Regiment in September 1913, he served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. His battalion was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and also when they suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, the 1st Wiltshires began their advance from Châtres on 6 September and crossed the Aisne on 14 September, suffering heavy losses near Vailly (14 -22 September) and also the following month at Neuve Chapelle during the battle of La Bassé. Private Smith was killed in action on 17 November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. The War Diary of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment described the day’s activities as follows: ‘In action. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment are in trenches at Hooge. Shelling started about 9am. In fantry attack about 10.30am. At noon about 150 Germans got into D Company’s trenches. At 12.10 a platoon of D Company executed a bayonet charge against them, and drive them out killing about 50 Germans, and wounding many others. They then started to shell D Company very heavily, also using mortar. Major Roche killed by a Shell. Lieutenant Browne seriously wounded. 2nd Lieutenant Chandler killed by bullet wound. Lieut. Goodhart took over duties of Adjutant vice Lieeut. Browne wounded. 11 killed, 15 wounded.’ Private P. G. Smith was the son of Thomas and Margaret Smith, of Teffont Magna, Salisbury and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Five: Private W. F. Oram, 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment) (Territorial Force), later Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery British War and Victory Medals (200516 Pte. W. F. Oram. Wilts. R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (200516 Pte. W. F. Oram. Wilts. R.); Jubilee 1935 (1414829 W. F. Oram. R.A.) contemporarily engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (1414829 Gnr. W. F. Oram. R.A.) mounted as worn, small edge bruise to last, nearly very fine and better (5) £200-£240 --- William Frank Oram was born in 1895 in Amesbury, Wiltshire.

Three: Private H. E. Allcock, 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, who was killed in action at Radinghem on 18 October 1914 - positively identified 100 years later as one of the ‘Beaucamp Ligny Fifteen’, he was finally laid to rest in 2014 at Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois Grenier 1914 Star, with clasp (6774 Pte. H. E. Allcock. 2/York: & Lanc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6774 Pte. H. E. Allcock. Y. & L. R.); Memorial Plaque (Herbert Ernest Allcock) in card envelope, extremely fine (4) £400-£500 --- Herbert Ernest Allcock was born in 1882 at St. Simon’s, Leeds, the son of Charles and Emma Allcock. He attested for the York and Lancaster Regiment at Pontefract in June 1902 and served eight years with the Colours, three years being spent in India. He rejoined at the outbreak of the Great War and served in France with the 2nd Battalion from 9 September 1914, the battalion initially seeing action during the ‘Race to the Sea’ in October at the Battle of Armentieres. On 18 October 1914, the 2nd Battalion along with the 1st Battalion, Buffs (East Kent Regiment), both of the 16th Infantry Brigade, 6th Division, advanced and took the village of Radinghem in a fast reconnaissance in force before coming under fierce enemy machine gun fire. The two battalions were forced back by an aggressive German counterattack but according to Marden's Short History of the 6th Division, the situation was saved by Major Bayley's company from the Yorks and Lancs, who worked their way around the left flank of the Germans, forcing them to halt their attack. The German regiment opposite was probably the 179th (Saxon) Infantry Regiment of the German Army's 24th Division. The War Diary of the 2nd York and Lancs tells the story in reasonable detail and a brief personal account from the diary of Sergeant Lewis Sylvester survives in the York and Lancaster Regimental Museum: ‘Radinghem Sunday 18 October. Drove enemy out of positions at bayonet point. Company Casualties 60. Entrenched. Brother wounded by shrapnel. Monday 19 October. Handed over the position to the Buffs who were very severely handled by the enemy but who kept them back.’ During the engagement on 18 October, the 2nd Yorks and Lancs in fact lost 13 killed, 93 wounded and 27 missing (of whom 21 are believed also to have been killed). 32 of the 34 dead were commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, the other two being buried in Bois Grenier cemetery. Private Allcock was one of those killed in action whose body was never found. In 2009, multiple human remains were discovered during an excavation near the crossroads between Radinghem and Beaucamps Ligny. After extensive DNA testing, 11 of the 15 bodies, including that of Allcock were positively identified. The 11 identified men were: Private Herbert Allcock, Private John Brameld, Private William Butterworth, Corporal Francis Dyson, Private Walter Ellis, Private John Jarvis, Private Leonard Morley, Private Ernest Oxer, Private John Richmond, Private William Singyard, and Lance-Corporal William Warr In 2014, all 15 men were finally laid to rest in a ceremony at Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, France, attended by many proud descendants. The personal inscription on Allcock’s headstone reads, ‘Husband of Ethel, father of Ellen and Winifred, remembered always.’

Family group: Four: Sergeant T. C. Owen, 18th (Queen Mary’s Own) Hussars, who served with his regiment during the Great War from the Battle of Mons and subsequent rearguard actions in August 1914 through to his death from wounds on the Western Front on 16 April 1918 1914 Star, with copy clasp (6585 Tptr: T. C. Owen. 18/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (6585 Sjt. T. C. Owen. 18-Hrs.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R, bronze; Memorial Plaque (Thomas Charles Owen) in card envelope and outer OHMS envelope (torn) addressed to ‘Mrs C. Ray, 130 Southam St., N. Kensington, London.’ together with a ‘crossed bugles’ cloth arm badge, nearly extremely fine Three: Private A. Ray, 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), who was discharged in 1917 due to shell shock and contusions caused by active service on the Western Front in September 1916 1914-15 Star (11780 Pte. A. Ray. W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11780 Pte. A. Ray. W. York. R.) together with Silver War Badge, numbered ‘B239569’, edge bruise to second, otherwise nearly extremely fine (9) £300-£400 --- Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 April 1918 Thomas Charles Owen served with the 18th Hussars during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914, initially in the rank of Trumpeter. During the retreat from Mons on the 24th August 1914, on the extreme left of the British line, the 14th and 15th Brigades of the 5th Division were threatened by a German outflanking move and were forced to call for help from the cavalry. The 2nd Cavalry Brigade (including 18th Hussars), along with the 119th Battery RFA and L Battery RHA, were sent to their aid. Dismounting, the cavalry and the two artillery batteries, screened the withdrawal of the 14th and 15th Brigades during four hours of intense fighting. At Audregnies/Elouges, the cavalry charge of the 4th Dragoon Guards and the 9th Lancers and the heroic stand of 1st Cheshires and the 1st Norfolks are well documented, but the 18th Hussars were also also heavily involved and bore the brunt of the early German attacks and made a charge of their own. The Commanding Officer’s (Lieutenant-Colonel Burnett) report of the action makes apparent that the 18th Hussars were still in position along the mineral railway line between the sugar refinery and Elouges Railway Station until after the cavalry charge of the 4th D.G. and 9th Lancers had been broken up: ‘On the left 2 troops A Sqn in a sugar refinery, the centre 2 troops A Sqn on a mound about 300 yards S of the level crossing which lay about half a mile W of Elouges, the right B Sqn a little retired in a large cutting on a mineral line which led from the sugar refinery to Elouges station. C Sqn and machine gun in support near the western end of the same line. The whole position lay just S of the word Elouges. The Regiment was shelled a little during its retirement. We waited here for some time and then received orders to retire through Audregnies on Angres with the Regiment acting as rear guard to the Brigade. Two Sqns A and B were kept at the top of the rise above Audregnies, while C Sqn was sent to the ridge beyond that village. The two rear Sqns were preparing to follow C when all the Brigade was ordered back to the 2nd Position we had taken up during the retirement. The Sqns were sent to the same positions they had occupied before but B Sqn advanced too far beyond their original position and for a time lost touch. I went to find them but could see nothing of them and as rifle fire had broken out on the left and part of C and A Sqns were in action I came back to C Sqn and found a hostile attack developing in front of them and in front of A. The enemy’s guns opened on both these Sqns from the direction of Quievrechain and from north of the main Mons-Valenciennes Road. At that moment the remainder of the Brigade came over the skyline immediately in rear of us and the 9th Lancers in column of troops galloped across our front from left to right passing round the sugar refinery and the mound where A Sqn were on. They were quickly followed by the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards in a similar formation. Both Regiments were heavily shelled and fired on from their left flank, as they executed this manoeuvre. Their ranks were broken and they sought refuge in ever increasing numbers behind these two localities, and in the cutting further to our right rear where B Sqn ought to have been. The enemy kept up an intense shell fire, concentrating it chiefly on the factory and on the mount, and their rifle fire was also very severe. Many more horses than the ground could accommodate were now massed together, and the fierce fire they were subjected to caused a good number to stampede. I went to the factory where A Sqn were and ordered Maj Stewart to retire when he could do so in safety, I then went to the mound and gave the same orders to Lt Lawrence and Lt Gorelangton’s troops who were holding that position. I then again went to try to find B Sqn but could see nothing of them. I rode almost up to the Mons-Valenciennes Road. I then rode back to see if A Sqn had retired and found they had gone back to a colliery close to Elouges Station where the majority of the Sqn rallied. C Sqn in the meantime had retired along the mineral line to the S of Elouges. The Regiment was now very much broken up, owing to the stampede of led horses and the mixture of units caused by the rallying of the remnants of the 9th Lancers and the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards in rear of our line. We succeeded in rallying a good proportion of the Regiment at Elouges close to Elouges Station and just S of the town.’ Known correspondence from one member of the 18th Hussars confirms that his regiment had also charged the enemy at Elouges on 24 August 1914: ‘We had a fight last Sunday and Monday with the Germans. After we charged them, the regiment got split up into two parties one went one way, and the other the other. I went with one of them and stayed until Tuesday afternoon, when we had orders to go and join the other party, and take a message to them, so that we could reform the regiment as strong as possible. A Sergeant and eight of us had a tough job to get through to the remainder, but managed to join up at six o’clock Saturday morning. It is now Sunday morning, and we have just had a depatch rider landed to tell us that the party I left lost nearly all the men in a skirmish, so I think I am extremely lucky.’ (Private Archie Stephenson, 18th Hussars, letter written on 30 August 1914 to his father, published in the Hull Daily Mail, 11 September 1914) The 18th Hussars fought with the 1st Cavalry Division in both a mounted and dismounted role throughout the remainder of the Great War, winning many more battle honours, including Le Cateau, the Marne and First Ypres in 1914, Second Ypres in 1915, the Somme in 1916, Arras and Cambrai in 1917, and Amiens and Albert in 1918. Owen was promoted Sergeant and awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre prior to dying of wounds in France on 16 April 1918. He was the husband of Charlotte Ray (formerly Owen) and is buried in St. Server Cemetery Extension, Rouen. Alfred Ray was born in Walworth, Surrey in 1888 and attested for the West Yorkshire Regiment at St. Pancras on 31 August 1914. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 July 1915 and was discharged on 3 July 1917 due to shell-shock and contusions caused by active service overseas in France and was awarded a Silver War Badge. He was the second husband of Charlotte Ray (widow of the above).

Three: Private W. J. Molloy, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who died from wounds received in action at Rue Tilleloy near Laventie on 17 November 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (9147 Pte. W. J. Molloy. 1/R. Ir.: Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (9147 Pte. W. J. Molloy. R.I. Rif.); Memorial Plaque (William John Molloy) BWM dark toned, good very fine or better (4) £220-£260 --- William John Molloy was born in Shankhill, Belfast and attested for the Royal Irish Rifles at Lisburn, Country Antrim in 1908. He served with “A” Company in the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 6 November 1914 and died of wounds at No. 6 Clearing Hospital on 17 November 1914. The war diary records that 1 man was killed and 1 man mortally wounded (possibly Molloy) as the battalion took over trenches for the first time at Rue Tilleloy near Laventie on 15 November 1914. The battalion was relieved by the 2nd Lincolnshires on 22 November having suffered casualties of 10 killed, 29 wounded and 2 missing. Molloy was 25 years of age and the son of Thomas and Sarah Molloy of 2 Alexander Street, Belfast. He is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery, France.

Three: Private R. Delaney, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle during the Battle of La Bassée on 26 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (8267 Pte. R. Delaney. R. Ir: Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (2-8267 Pte. R. Delaney. R. Ir. Rif.) nearly very fine (3) £200-£240 --- Richard Delaney was born in 1884 at Ballymachugh, County Cavan, Ireland and attested for the Royal Irish Rifles at Armagh in 1906. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914 and would have been present with his Battalion at the Battle of Mons, Caudry (Le Cateau) on 26 August, and at the Aisne. On 12 October 1914 the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles deployed at La Bassée, with the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, as part of II Corps’ plan to protect the Channel Ports. There followed two and a half weeks of bitter and bloody fighting in and around the village of Neuve Chapelle where the battalion was engaged in repelling heavy attacks from Jagers and dismounted German cavalry units. Delaney was killed in action on 26 October 1914 - a day the Regimental History describes as the worst of all: ‘The Battalion still clung on to Neuve Chapelle, but it was now a grievous case. In the last two days it had lost Captains Reynolds and Kennedy and Lieutenant Rea killed, and Lieutenants Lowry and Lavelle wounded. Major Daunt had already been wounded, and the command devolved upon Captain C. S. Dixon, who had not more than four or five officers left with his thinned companies. Two of these, “A” and “C” were moved back to Richebourg St. Vaast for a short rest on the morning of the 26th. This was the blackest day of all. An enemy attack swept into the village from the north-east corner. “B” and “D” Companies were simply swallowed up, Lieutenants Finlay and and Innes-Cross, the only officers with them, and every soul in their ranks, being reported missing. About 6.30pm a counter-attack reoccupied half the village, and the rest of the Battalion, hastily summoned from Richebourg, took its place in the line.’ (The History of the First Seven Battalions, The Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War vol 2 by Cyril Falls refers). Richard Delaney was the son of James and Julia Delaney of Mount Nugent, County Cavan; he has no known grave and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.

Three: Private W. J. Shields, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who was taken prisoner of war at Neuve Chapelle, during the Battle of La Bassée, on 27 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (8568 Pte. W. J. Shields. R. Ir. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (8568 Pte. W. J. Shields. R. Ir. Rif.) good very fine (3) £200-£240 --- William John Shields was born in 1890 in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Ireland and attested for the Royal Irish Rifles at Newtownards in March 1907. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he was mobilized from the Reserve at Belfast on 5 August 1914 and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War from 14 August 1914. John Lucy was in this Battalion and describes in detail in his book - There’s a Devil in the Drum - the retreat from Mons, including the fighting at Caudry on 26 August, on the Aisne (14-22 September) - ‘this was a holocaust’ - and the overwhelming German attacks during the Battle of La Bassée, particularly at Neuve Chapelle (23-27 October) - the War Diary recording that by 24 October the battalion was ‘practically without officers’ and by the 27th no further trace could be found of “B” and “D” Companies. “A” and “C” Companies, having then been recalled to the line succeeded in driving the enemy back but were forced later on 27 October to withdraw to Neuve Chapelle with only 2 officers and 46 men succeeding in getting back. The History of the First Seven Battalions, The Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War vol 2 by Cyril Falls, gives the following account of the worst of the fighting on 26 and 27 October: ‘The Battalion still clung on to Neuve Chapelle, but it was now a grievous case. In the last two days it had lost Captains Reynolds and Kennedy and Lieutenant Rea killed, and Lieutenants Lowry and Lavelle wounded. Major Daunt had already been wounded, and the command devolved upon Captain C. S. Dixon, who had not more than four or five officers left with his thinned companies. Two of these, “A” and “C” were moved back to Richebourg St. Vaast for a short rest on the morning of the 26th. This was the blackest day of all. An enemy attack swept into the village from the north-east corner. “B” and “D” Companies were simply swallowed up, Lieutenants Finlay and and Innes-Cross, the only officers with them, and every soul in their ranks, being reported missing. About 6.30pm a counter-attack reoccupied half the village, and the rest of the Battalion, hastily summoned from Richebourg, took its place in the line. South-east of the village their splendid colleagues in the Wiltshire had clung to their trenches even when the enemy was behind them. On the morning of the 27th the enemy turned the left flank of the Battalion. After terrible fighting from house to house, in which little groups were caught by the oncoming enemy like rocks flooded by a rising tide, Captain Dixon withdrew his handful to the western outskirts in an effort to save his brigade’s flank. The battle had become at this point what the soldier aptly calls a ‘dog fight,’ a wild fury of rush and counter-rush. By evening there was half a battalion of 47th Sikhs hastily moved up, Lincolns, Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Fusiliers, remnants of the South Lancashire, and French Cyclists sent by General Conneau, clinging to the western edge of Neuve Chapelle, now in flames. And then at last, after ten days’ fighting, the last remnants of the Battalion were moved back to Richebourg St. Vaast. Captain Davis had been killed, Lieutenants Mulcahy-Morgan and Jonsson were wounded and missing. The body that retired to Richebourg consisted of two officers and forty-six men.’ Rifleman Shields was among those reported missing after the fighting at Neuve Chapelle on 27 October 1914. He was later confirmed to have been captured by the enemy and was held prisoner of war in Germany for the remainder of the war. He was repatriated on 4 December 1918 and transferred to the Class Z Reserve on demobilization on 29 March 1919.

Three: Private W. J. Byrne, 1st Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers), who was killed in action at Le Ruage during the Battle of Armentières on 18 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (11265 Pte. W. Byrne. R. Ir.: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (11265 Pte. W. Byrne. R. Ir. Fus.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- William Joseph Byrne was born in 1895 at Dublin, Ireland. He attested for the Royal Irish Fusiliers at Dublin on 9 June 1913 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 August 1914. His battalion, as part of the 10th Brigade in the 4th Division, suffered heavy casualties in the area of Harcourt at the Battle of Le Cateau, 26 August, and were again in action at the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne in September. Private Byrne was killed in action on 18 October during the battle of Armentières, at a time when the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers were involved in fighting near Le Ruage, 17-19 October 1914. Having earlier made good ground from Armentières - where the local inhabitants welcomed the men with gifts of bread, coffee and chocolate - Captain M. B. C. Carbery of C Company was killed on 17 October near Le Ruage and Private Byrne was one of eight men of the battalion killed in action the following day. The battalion was relieved after dark on 19 October and returned to Houplines. William Joseph Byrne was the son of Patrick and Annie Byrne, of 31, Blackhall St., Dublin and is buried in Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

The Victory Medal awarded to Private J. Markey, 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment, who was captured at Premesques, during the Battle of Armentières, in October 1914 Victory Medal 1914-19 (10011 Pte. J. Markey. Leins. R.) heavily polished with slight edge bruising, good fine £60-£80 --- John Markey served with the 2nd Battalion, Leinster Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 September 1914. He was captured before 10 November 1914 and sent to Limburg prisoner of war camp (Leinster Reporter articles dated 2 January 1915 and 15 May 1915 confirm.) Private Markey was undoubtedly captured at Premesques on 20 October 1914 when the Leinsters, having taken the village two days earlier, were completely surprised and overrun by a German counterattack. 155 men of the 2nd Leinsters were killed and 300 were wounded or taken prisoner. It was the Leinsters’ only major action of 1914.

Four: Staff Sergeant H. W. Jordan, 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was wounded and taken prisoner of war at Etreux, the scene of his Battalion’s epic rearguard action during the retreat from Mons, on 27 August 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (9990 Pte. H. Jordan. R. Muns: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (9990 Pte. H. W. Jordan. R. Muns. Fus.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (7658070 S. Sjt. H. W. Jordan R.A.P.C.) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (4) £400-£500 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 30 January 1920. Horace Walter Jordan was born in 1885 at Camberwell, London and attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers in 1913. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he disembarked with B Company of the 2nd Battalion at Havre on 14 August 1914 and moved forward to Mons where the battalion was held in reserve for the fighting on 24 August. During the retreat, the 2nd Munsters occupied the position of honour as rearguard to the 1st Guards Brigade which, in turn, acted as rearguard for the 1st Division commanded by Major General Lomax. On the morning of Thursday 27 August 1914, the Irishmen, supported by two 18-pounders of the 118th Battery R.F.A. and a troop of the 15th Hussars, held the villages of Fesmy and Bergues, together with two important road junctions in that immediate area. Approaching them in an arc from North to East was an entire German Army Corps preceded by masses of cavalry and backed by an impressive array of artillery. Early in the afternoon, having inflicted savage casualties on 12 battalions of the German 2nd Guards’ Reserve Division which had attacked Fesmy, the Munsters began to withdraw to the South to the village of Oisy, and on to Etreux. At 5.30pm the battalion was located at a crossroads just east of Oisy. Jordan’s “B” Company, however, was missing and the retreat was held up. The company reappeared at about 6.30pm but the delay, according to Captain McCance’s regimental history, proved ‘fatal to the battalion’. Approaching the village of Oisy, the battalion came under heavy fire from the houses on the northern outskirts, followed by salvoes from eight German field guns positioned south-east of the village. Now, for the first time, the Irishmen began to fall thick and fast and although the one remaining 18-pounder promptly came into action, its ammunition was nearly exhausted. After a series of desperate bayonet attacks, and with the artillerymen all dead and wounded about their gun, the gallant Munsters fell back to an orchard on the west of the road. Despite a further bayonet charge, at odds of fifty to one, which had temporarily held the enemy, the orchard was now ringed by Germans against whom the survivors, lining the four sides of the orchard, made every shot count. Ultimately, due to appalling casualties, lack of ammunition and the overwhelming superiority of enemy numbers, the survivors of the Battalion were compelled to surrender around 9pm. They had been fighting for 12 hours and their senior surviving officer was a Lieutenant but their sacrifice had ensured that Haig’s 1 Corps could continue unharassed on its way. Jordan was wounded in the heel and taken prisoner of war at Etreux on 27 August 1914. He was initially held at Gardelegen prisoner of war camp and was later sent to Merseburg. Upon his return to England after the war he was Mentioned in Despatches for valuable services rendered whilst a prisoner of war.

Four: Sergeant J. R. Cornall, 19th (Queen Alexandra’s Own Royal) Hussars 1914 Star, with clasp (172 Pte. J. R. Cornall. 19/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (172 Cpl. J. R. Cornell. 19-Hrs.); Panama, Republic, Solidarity Medal 1917-18, Third Class, bronze, contact marks, traces of lacquer, nearly very fine or better, the last rare (4) £300-£400 --- Panama Medal of Solidarity 3rd Class London Gazette 17 February 1920 . John Robert Cornall was born in 1889 at Bintree, Norfolk. A Horse Breaker by trade, he attested for the 19th Hussars on 26 February 1907 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 September 1914. He enlisted in the Royal Tank Corps on 21 January 1919 and he died in 1924 whilst in the rank of Sergeant. Note: The Panama Medal of Solidarity was instituted in 1918 and although Panama played no active part in the Great War, they did award this medal in solidarity to the allies, Panama having previously declared war on Germany on 7 April 1917. The award was issued in three grades: Gold (silver gilt) to commanders in chief; Silver with a rosette to Generals and senior officers; and Bronze to officers and other ranks. Michael Maton’s Honour the Recipients of Foreign Awards identifies from the London Gazette 61 Panama Solidarity Medals in bronze, 5 in silver and 1 in gold.

Three: Private S. Willoughby, 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who was killed in action near Clary on 27 August 1914 1914 Star (8966 Pte. S. Willoughby. R. Dub: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (8966 Pte. S. Willoughby. R. D. Fus.); Memorial Plaque (Samuel Willoughby) in card envelope, good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- Samuel Willoughby was born at Hackettstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland, and first attested for the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in February 1902. He was discharged after 21 days ‘owing to mis-statement as to age on enlistment’ but successfully re-attested at Carlow in 1904. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Willoughby arrived at Boulogne on 23 August 1914 with “A” Company in the 2nd Battalion and entrained for Le Cateau. On 25 August, the battalion fired its first shots at enemy cavalry, reportedly bringing two down. On the morning of 26 August, the battalion took up a position on the right of the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment around the Cattenières-Caullery bridal path, as part of the 10th Brigade in Snows’ 4th Division. As the Battle of Le Cateau wore on, “A” and “D” Companies moved to occupy a defensive line east of Haucourt. Enemy shelling on Haucourt began at 2pm, followed later by an infantry attack and at this point troops around Haucourt began to withdraw in some confusion, and in small, mixed detachments. ‘A’ and ‘D’ companies (about 400 men) commanded by Major H Shewan, of the Dublin Fusiliers, were left behind and retired about midnight on the 26-27th August. On approaching Clary, they came under fire. Captain Trigona believed the fire may be from British troops and signalled that they were Royal Dublin Fusiliers, to which the response was “Dublin Fusiliers, right, come on”. However, German uniforms were spotted and the detachment began to fall back on Ligny. Whilst the detachment was fully engaged with the enemy and being surrounded, small ‘rushes’ were made to get away, but each of these suffered heavier casualties than the last. At the end of the day, the 400 strong detachment had been reduced to two Officers and 30 men who’d escaped. One officer was killed, 6 officers taken prisoner, and 44 men killed or mortally wounded, the remainder became prisoners of war. Private Willoughby was reported missing presumed dead on 27 August 1914. He was the son of Samuel and Anne Willoughby, of Church Rd., Hacketstown and the husband of Annie Willoughby, of Mill St., Hacketstown, Co. Carlow. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.

Pair: Lieutenant G. P. N. Thompson, 8th (Service) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who was awarded the 16th (Irish) Division Gallant Conduct Certificate, and was killed in action near Hazebrouck on 4 May 1918 British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. P. N. Thompson); Memorial Plaque (Gerald Pittis Newman Thompson) in card envelope; Memorial Scroll, ‘Lieut. Gerald Pittis Newman Thompson, Royal Dublin Fusiliers.’, nearly extremely fine (4) £300-£400 --- Gerald Pittis Newman Thompson was born in 1898 on the Isle of Wight, the only son of Dr. C. I. and Mrs. Thompson, of Bradley Lodge, Newport, Isle of Wight and the nephew of Mr. Newman Thompson, First Auditor of the Bank of Ireland. He was educated at Aldwick House, Bognor, Epsom and Sandhurst and was commissioned Second Lieutenant from the latter college to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 19 July 1916. He served on the Western Front with the 8th/9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers and was awarded Major-General Hickie’s Irish Brigade Certificate for his gallant conduct during 1917. Having been advanced Lieutenant on 19 January 1918, Thompson was killed in action near Hazebrouck on 4 May 1918 while serving on attachment with the 8th (Service) Battalion, and is buried in Nieppe-Bois (Rue-du-Bois) British Cemetery, Vieux Berquin, France. Sold together with the recipient’s Irish Brigade Gallant Conduct Certificate (very good condition), in envelope dated 21 February 1918, and signed by ‘W. B. Hickie’, Major-General, Commanding 16th Irish Division, reading, ‘2nd Lieut. G. P. N. Thompson 8/9th R. Dublin Fusiliers, I have read with much pleasure the reports of your regimental commander and brigade commander regarding your gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field during 1917 and have ordered your name and deed to be entered in the record of the Irish Division’. Note: Major General Hickie instituted the 16th (Irish) Division Gallant Conduct Certificate in February 1916, announcing it during an inspection of battalions returning from a period of instruction in the trenches alongside more experienced units. On 17 February, whilst praising the performance of the 9th Royal Munster Fusiliers, he is known to have declared that whenever the name of a man came before him for having performed a meritorious deed he would have the fact recorded “…on a parchment sheet specially prepared in Dublin, so that a heritage worth preserving might be passed onto future generations to the glory of the Irish Brigades in France in 1916.” Hickie’s parchment certificate was always awarded in addition to, rather than instead of, any other decoration that was awarded. It was produced in two versions. The second type, of which Thompson’s certificate is an example, was awarded from the latter part of 1917 and differs from the first version in that it was additionally inscribed across the top with ‘Everywhere and Always Faithful’, had an added border, and the first letter of the main text was enlarged and decorated with an oak leaf design. Also sold with a letter to the recipient’s father from the Director of Graves Registration and Enquiries, informing the former of the whereabouts of his son’s grave.

A Great War 1916 ‘Battle of Ginchy’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant A. Smith, 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, whose meritorious deeds also resulted in the award of the 16th (Irish) Division Gallant Conduct Certificate Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8222 Sjt: A. Smith. 9/R. Dub: Fus:); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (8222 Sjt. A. Smith. R. D. Fus); together with a Silver War Badge, the reverse numbered ‘B151301’, medals mounted as worn and contained in a fitted leather case, good very fine (3) £800-£1,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 20 October 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. When all his officers had become casualties, he rallied the remains of the platoon and led them forward to the final objective.’ Arthur Smith was born in 1893 and first attested for the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1910. He served in the rank of Sergeant with the 9th (Service) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front and was decorated for gallantry at Ginchy on 9 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. On this day, Ginchy was captured by the 16th Division and several German counter-attacks were defeated. The loss of Ginchy deprived the Germans of observation posts, from which they could observe all of the battlefield and eliminated the salient at Delville Wood, which had been costly to defend, due to observed German artillery-fire from three sides. Smith’s battalion, as part of the 48th Brigade helped clear the western part of the village. In addition to the award of his D.C.M., Sergeant Smith also received a ‘16th (Irish) Division’ Gallant Conduct Certificate for Ginchy. He was discharged on 20 February 1919 on account of being permanently unfit due to aggravated melancholia, his address at the time of discharge being, ‘3 Charlemont Row, Harcourt Road, Dublin.’ Neither M.I.D. or Silver War Badge entitlement confirmed. Sold with the recipient’s Irish Brigade Gallant Conduct Certificate, on folded card backed parchment, upper section cut away, signed by ‘W. B. Hickie’, Major-General, Commanding 16th Irish Division, reading, ‘No. 8222 Sgt. A. Smith. D.C.M. 9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, I have read with much pleasure the reports of your regimental commander and brigade commander regarding your gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on Sept. 9th 1916 and have ordered your name and deed to be entered in the record of the Irish Division’. Note: Major General Hickie instituted the 16th (Irish) Division Gallant Conduct Certificate in February 1916, announcing it during an inspection of battalions returning from a period of instruction in the trenches alongside more experienced units. On 17 February, whilst praising the performance of the 9th Royal Munster Fusiliers, he is known to have declared that whenever the name of a man came before him for having performed a meritorious deed he would have the fact recorded “…on a parchment sheet specially prepared in Dublin, so that a heritage worth preserving might be passed onto future generations to the glory of the Irish Brigades in France in 1916.” Hickie’s parchment certificate was always awarded in addition to, rather than instead of, any other decoration that was awarded. It was produced in two versions. The first type, of which Smith’s certificate is an example, was awarded between February 1916 and the early Summer of 1917 and was inscribed across the top with ‘The Irish Brigade’ in Celtic script together with a green shamrock. This upper section is missing from Smith’s certificate. After the Battle of Ginchy, the award of the parchment certificate was accompanied by a hollow, dark green felt diamond, know as the ‘Ginchy Diamond’, to be worn on the right upper sleeve of the uniform.

Three: Corporal R. Roseveare, 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own), who was killed in action at Strazeele, during the opening stages of the Battle of Armentières, on 13 October 1914 1914 Star, with copy clasp (2881 Cpl. R. Roseveare. 3/Rif: Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (2881 Cpl. R. Roseveare. Rif. Brig.) good very fine (3) £200-£240 --- Richard Roseveare was born in 1888 at Plymouth, Devon and attested there for the Rifle Brigade in 1907, gaining promotion to Corporal in 1912. He served with the 3rd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from the time of their disembarkation at St. Nazaire on 10 September 1914 and would have been present with them through a period of heavy fighting north of Soupir on the Aisne, 22 - 30 September. Entrained for St. Omer on 10 October, the battalion moved forward from Hazebrouck three days later and took part in the action around Strazeele in the opening phase of the Battle of Armentières. The war diary records that all four battalions of the Rifle Brigade were engaged along the Bailleul Ridge on 13 October with the 3rd Battalion incurring casualties of 3 officers wounded, 11 other ranks killed and 65 wounded. Corporal Roseveare was among those killed. He was the son of Annie Roseveare of 67 Jubilee St., Plymouth, Devon and is buried in Meteren Military Cemetery, France.

Pair: Rifleman W. Cresswell, 8th Battalion (Post Office Rifles), late 5th (City of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade), London Regiment, who was killed in action on 3 October 1918 British War and Victory Medals (306264 Pte. W. Cresswell. 5-Lond. R.) in paper packets in damaged named card box of issue, all in outer OHMS transmission envelope addressed to ‘Mrs Cresswell, 91 Wellington Road, Bromley by Bow’; Memorial Plaque (William Cresswell) extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- William Cresswell was born in Colchester and resided in Bow, London. He served with the 5th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) on the Western Front from 3 August 1918. Posted to the 8th Battalion (Post Office Rifles) on 10 August, he was killed in action by a machine gun bullet on 3 October 1918 at the start of the Fifth Army’s Final Advance in Artois. He was the son of Arthur and Martha Cresswell of 91 Wellington Road, Bow, Bromley, London and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France. Sold together with a card framed photograph, 80mm x 130mm, thought to be of the recipient in uniform; a canvas wallet, stamped to the front ‘L.R.B. France, 1918’; two letters, dated 18 September 1918 and 28 September 1918, written by the recipient whilst on active service in France with Y Platoon, 8th London Regiment, and sent to his mother, one written on YMCA B.E.F. Paper with matching envelope; a letter dated 6 October 1918 from 2nd Lieut. F. R. Julian, Y Platoon, B Company, 8th London Regt., to the recipient’s mother offering condolences and providing details relating to her son’s death, burial, grave location and personal effects; a letter of condolence dated 1st November 1918 to the recipient’s mother on paper with letter heading ‘Baltic House, 27 Leadenhall Street, London’ - signature illegible; a letter dated 21 November 1919 to the recipient’s father from Lieut W. L. Taggart-Webb, late 17th London Regt, regarding the burial location of the recipient; a birthday card to the recipient’s mother from the recipient’s brother, Jim; War Office Form No. 1A; Army Form W. 3171A; Dependent’s Form F; and Dependent’s Form 4K, all forms with reference to the recipient.

Pair: Private L. P. Hewett, 1/14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish), who was reported missing, presumed dead, after heavy fighting at Messines Ridge on 31 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (1310 Pte. L. P. Hewett. 14/Lond: R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (1310 Pte. L. P. Hewett. 14-Lond. R.); Memorial Plaque (Leonard Percy Hewett) with Buckingham Palace enclosure; Memorial Scroll, ‘Pte. Leonard Percy Hewett 14 London Regt.’ in OHMS transmission tube, address label torn off, nearly extremely fine (4) £160-£200 --- Leonard Percy Hewett was born on 16 July 1894 in Paddington, London and was a resident of Hanwell. He served with H Company of the London Scottish during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 September 1914 and was reported missing on 1 November following fighting at Messines the previous day. His date of death was recorded for official purposes as 1 November 1914. Ray Westlake in British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 uses a mixture of war diary extracts and eyewitness accounts to describe the multiple difficulties confronting the London Scottish at Messines on 31 October 1914: ‘Advanced up slopes of Messines Ridge to firing line just east of Messines-Wytschaete road. Heavy casualties among leading companies at crest of ridge. Enemy attacked about 9pm and were driven back by rifle fire and a series of charges. The rifles in use had been issued at Abbots Langley and were Mark 1 pattern converted to take Mark VII ammunition. Battalion records show that not a man had opportunity to fire the new weapons. It would soon be discovered that the magazines had springs too weak and that front stop clips were the wrong shape for Mark V II rounds. The rifles could only be used as single-loaders. However, Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay notes that - “steady shooting beat off the attack.” A second attack was also repulsed - “remembered it was Hallowe’en... saw a party of men in kilts in our rear. Did not know if they were our men of Germans. They got within a dozen yards, when we saw they were wore spiked helmets, and shot them. Were attacked in both front and rear.”, wrote one man present. A third attack forces the Scottish back - “they advanced in quarter column with a brass band playing at their head, playing the Austrian National Anthem.” Another eyewitness mentions seeing the Medical Officer, Captain A. Mac Nab, bayoneted and killed whilst attending to the wounded. Forward trenches almost surrounded. Reserve line at Enfer charged the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Lindsay records - “a prolonged and confused struggle... there was hard fighting, bayonets were crossed, fire was exchanged at close quarters... officers, sergeants and men had to act on their own initiative.”’ The following extract is from War Service of the Staff of Coutts & Co. 1914-1918: ‘Leonard Percy Hewett entered the service of Coutts Bank at 440 Strand on the 14th October 1912, and in 1914 was employed in the Securities Department. He joined the London Scottish in 1910 at the age of 16 years 6 months, and at the outbreak of war was mobilised with that Battalion. A short time after, he proceeded to France with them and took part in the First Battle of Messines in October, after which engagement he was reported missing on the 1st November 1914. No further tidings being received, the War Office in due course presumed his death.’ Hewitt was the son of Mr. L. W. Hewett, of 10, Milton Rd., Hanwell, London and, having no known grave is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium and also on the Coutts Bank War Memorial, The Strand, Charing Cross, London. Sold together with an old photograph of the Coutts Bank War Memorial.

Three: Private L. G. M. Wilkins, 1/14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish), who was wounded and captured at Messines on 31 October 1914, and died in captivity on 7 March 1915 1914 Star, with clasp (2235 Pte. L. G. M. Wilkins. 14/Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2235 Pte. L. G. M. Wilkins. 14-Lond. R.); Memorial Plaque (Leslie Guy Millward Wilkins) nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- Leslie Guy Millward Wilkins was born in 1894 at Wimbledon, Surrey and attested for the London Scottish in August 1914, serving with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 September 1914. Having performed various duties in St. Omer, his battalion travelled to Ypres on London buses and then marched to Wytschaete on the morning of 31 October - from there they advanced up the slopes of Messines Ridge to the firing line just east of the Messines-Wytschaete road: ‘Heavy casualties among leading companies at crest of ridge. Enemy attacked about 9pm and were driven back by rifle fire and a series of charges. The rifles in use had been issued at Abbots Langley and were the Mark 1 pattern converted to take Mark VII ammunition. Battalion records show that not a man had the opportunity to fire the new weapons. It would soon be discovered that the magazines had springs too weak and that the front stop clips were the wrong shape for the Mark VII rounds. The rifles could only be used as single-loaders. However, Lieutenant-Colonel Lindsay notes that “steady shooting beat off the attack”. A second attack also repulsed - “remembered it was Hallowe’en... saw a party of men in kilts in our rear. Did not know if they were our men or Germans. They got within a dozen yards, when we saw they wore spiked helmets, and shot them. Were attacked in both front and rear”, wrote one man present. A third attack forced the Scottish back - “they advanced in quarter column with a brass band playing at their head, playing the Austrian National Anthem.” Another eyewitness mentions seeing the Medical Office, Captain A. MacNab, bayoneted and killed whilst attending to the wounded. Forward trenches almost surrounded. Reserve line at Enfer charged the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Lindsay records - “a prolonged and confused struggle... there was hard fighting, bayonets were crossed, fire was exchanged at close quarters... officers, sergeants and men had to act on their own initiative.’ (British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake refers) A withdrawal towards Wulveringhem was ordered the following day (1 November). After the fighting at Messines, Paul Maze, a liaison officer with the 2nd Cavalry Division, saw the battalion and later wrote: ‘His kilt in rags, looking utterly exhausted, a Sergeant of the London Scottish was forming up his men who stood like sailors being photographed on a shore within sight of their wreck’ (A Frenchman in Khaki by Paul Maze refers) Having suffered casualties of 394 (all ranks) at Messines, the battalion’s commanding officer received telegrams of congratulation from Field Marshal Sir John French and Brigadier-General C. E. Bingham, 4th Cavalry Brigade, the latter writing, ‘I venture to ask you to convey to your Regiment my deepest gratitude and admiration for the work they performed on October 31 and through the following night. No troops in the world could have carried out their orders better, and while deploring the losses you have incurred, I unhesitatingly affirm that the Allied Armies in France owe to the London Scottish a place of high honour amongst their heroes’ Private Wilkins was wounded and captured at Messines on 31 October 1914. He died of his wounds whilst a prisoner of war at Lille on 7 March 1915. He was the son of Francis and Emilie of 4 Malcolm Road, Wimbledon and is buried in Lille Southern Cemetery, France. He is also commemorated on a plaque in the Warrior Chapel, St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Road, Wimbledon.

Three: Bugler W. A. Marshall, 1/14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish), later 11th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (Territorial Force) 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (1856 Bglr. W. A. Marshall. 14/Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (1856 Pte. W. A. Marshall. 14-Lond. R.); together with a London Scottish Reel Club medallion, silver and enamel, the reverse inscribed ‘Juniors Sword Dance. Bugler W. A. Marshall.’, good very fine or better (4) £120-£160 --- William Alfred Marshall was born in 1893 in Bethnal Green, London, the son of James and Rebecca Marshall, and attested for the London Scottish in 1913. He served with them as a Bugler during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 September 1914, later transferring to the 11th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (Territorial Force).

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Lance Sergeant P. W. Turner, 17th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) (Territorial Force) who died of wounds on the Western Front on 30 June 1916 Military Medal, G.V.R. (2779 L. Sjt: P. W. Turner. 17/Lond: R. - T.F.); 1914-15 Star (2779, Pte. P. W. Turner, 17-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2779 Cpl. P. W. Turner. 17-Lond. R.); Memorial Plaque (Percy William Turner) with Buckingham Palace enclosure, in card envelope; Memorial Scroll, ‘L. Serjt. Percy William Turner London Regt.’ the surname amended to ‘Jackson’, in its OHMS scroll tube, addressed to, ‘Mr. W. Jackson’, slight edge bruise to M.M. otherwise good very fine or better (6) £400-£500 --- M.M. London Gazette 14 September 1916. Percy William Jackson, alias Percy William Turner, was born in 1893 at Harston, Cambridgeshire, the son of William and Amy Ann Jackson. He attested for the Poplar and Stepney Rifles at Bow, London in October 1914 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 March 1915. He died of wounds on the Western Front on 30 June 1916 and was awarded the Military Medal, the latter being notified in an edition of the London Gazette carrying retrospective ‘non-immediate’ awards mostly for the period March to June 1916. He is buried in Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Sold together with the Imperial War Graves Commission commemorative scroll for Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension, France in its tube, named to ‘Jackson (served as Turner)...’; the recipient’s card identity tag with string, named, ‘2779 Rfn. W. P. Turner. C.E. 17 London’; together with the recipient’s father’s Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes medal, metal, open book on cross with crossed swords suspension and letters RAOB, registered manufacturer EH, with buffalo horns top bar, in original box, engraved to the reverse, ‘G.C.K.P. W. Jackson. Companion. 1923.’

A fine Great War April 1918 ‘Aveluy Wood’ D.C.M., 1916 ‘Somme’ M.M. and 1919 ‘North Russia Archangel Command’ Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Sergeant J. Johns, 1/22nd (The Queen’s) Battalion, London Regiment, later 46th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (682490 Sjt: J. Johns. M.M. 1/22 Lond: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (5238 L.Cpl. J. Johns. 1/22 Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (5238 Sjt. J. Johns. 22-Lond. R.) light contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £2,400-£2,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a counter-attack by his company. After all the officers and the warrant officer of his company had become casualties, he took command, and later extricated the company from a dangerous position without a casualty.’ (Annotated Gazette states ‘Near Aveluy Wood, 9 April 1918.’) M.M. London Gazette 9 December 1916 M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 22 January 1920: ‘For bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia - Archangel Command.’ Joseph Johns was a native of Bethnal Green and served with the 1/22nd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Queen’s) during the Great War on the Western Front from 17 June 1916. He was awarded the Military Medal for services with his Battalion on the Somme, September - October 1916, during which period his Battalion captured High Wood and Eaucourt l’Abbaye and made attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt, as part of the 142nd Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division. Having been promoted to Sergeant, he was awarded the D.C.M., the annotated London Gazette stating that it was for gallantry near Aveluy Wood on 9 April 1918. A close inspection of the battalion War Diary reveals that it was on 5 April that the battalion was involved in heavy fighting near Aveluy Wood, matching the citation: ‘Martinsart - 5 April - The enemy attacked at 7.50am and drove back the outposts in the front line held by the 23rd Battn. The right flank of the 24th Battn. (holding the left front line of the Brigade sector) was compelled to fall back owing to enemy pressure. At 4.15pm A and D Companys counter-attacked to regain this lost ground. They were unsuccessful however owing to heavy machine-gun fire, especially from the right flank of the position. Officer casualties: Lts. Wicker and Boyer killed; Captain Dudley, Lt. Anderson, 2nd Lts Grosin, Benwell, Owens and Boxall wounded.’ The battalion was then relieved from the line on 7 April. The diary later states that on 10 May 1918, at Warloy, following inspections and refittings, the Field Marshall Commander in Chief awarded the D.C.M. to both Johns and Colour Sergeant Edwin Sullivan. After the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, Johns’ appetite for more active service led him to re-enlist in the 46th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. This battalion, which in April 1919 was just forming for service with the North Russia Relief Force, consisted of volunteers, mostly battle hardened veterans from the Western Front. It included a large number of Australian troops who had been awaiting demobilisation and a number of Officers who had relinquished their commissions to serve in the ranks. One member of the 46th battalion would write on the ‘very mixed crowd in action with him - a testimony to the multinational character of the anti-Bolshevik forces’. Another would write on their arrival in June that ‘they are all volunteers and any quantity of ex-officers in the ranks, Colonels galore; fellows wearing D.S.O.’s and M.C.’s on a private’s uniform.’ The 45th and 46th Battalions, Royal Fusiliers played a leading role in the operations in Northern Russia. Arriving in Archangel in early June 1919, they would take part in many operations on the Dvina front, including the 10 August 1919 offensive, which was the largest battle fought by British troops during the Russian Intervention. They were also among the last British troops to leave the North Russian port more than four months later. Appointed Corporal and given the regimental number 129110, Johns distinguished himself in action once more in Russia, adding a Bar to his Military Medal. The award was approved by Brigadier-General L. W. de V. Sadleir-Jackson, Commanding Dvina Force, on 21 August 1919 and was gazetted the following January by which time Johns had been restored to his Great War rank of Sergeant.

Three: Private P. J. Robinson, 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment (Territorial Force), who met his death by shell-fire near Ypres on 17 November 1914 - the first member of his regiment to be killed in action during the Great War 1914 Star, with clasp (2636 Pte. P. J. Robinson. 1/1 Herts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2636 Pte. P. J. Robinson. Herts. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Philip James Robinson ‘was the only son of Mr and Mrs Robert Robinson of 75 New Road. Philip, know as “Buff”, was a Sunday School teacher at St. Mary’s and a member of the choir. He joined the Territorial Force at Hertford with the first group of volunteers a few weeks after war broke out. “Buff” went to France in November 1914 [6 Nov] and was the first member of the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment to be killed in action. He met his death by shell-fire on 18 November 1914 whilst his “C” Company rested outside Ypres having just come out of the front line. His parents received the following letter from Major Page Croft, the Commanding Officer of “C” Company: ‘I deeply regret to have to inform you that Private Robinson lost his life from the effects of a German shell yesterday, November 18th. His death was instantaneous, and he could not have suffered pain. He was a splendid young fellow, full of pluck and good spirits, and having known him for so many years I feel his loss keenly. He was the first of our Regiment to die for his country, and I trust it may be a small consolation to you to know that he won the esteem of all officers and men, and that his devotion to duty was an example to his countrymen. Believe me, yours in deepest sympathy - H. P. Croft, Major” “Buff” was 22 years old when he died.’ (Our Boys: Ware Men in the First World War by Derek Armes refers). Close examination of the war diary of the 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment reveals that the date of Private Robinson’s death was in fact 17 November 1914. This is also the date of death accepted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Three: Corporal A. E. Boardman, 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, who was killed in action near Ypres on 18 November 1914 - a member of 12 Platoon, E Company, he is clearly identifiable in the well known photograph of his unit taken at Letchworth Train Station immediately following the outbreak of War 1914 Star (2270 Cpl. A. E. Boardman. 1/1 Herts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2270 Cpl. A. E. Boardman. Herts. R.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Ernest Boardman) with Buckingham Palace enclosure, nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- Arthur Edwin Boardman was born in 1893 at Hove, Sussex and was a resident of Herne Hill, Surrey. He attested for the Hertfordshire Regiment, Territorial Force, on 26 June 1912 and was promoted Corporal in June 1913. A Journalist by profession, he was mobilised on the outbreak of war and served with E Company of the 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment on the Western Front from 6 November. He was killed in action in the early hours of the morning on 18 November as he went from trench to trench with ration supplies, close to Zillebeke, near Ypres. Shortly before his death he was warned, ‘Watch out for the machine guns - they are lively tonight,’ to which he is said to have replied, ‘Never mind that - I have to look after feeding the men.’ He was the son of Leonard Duncan and Eliza Ann Boardman of 238 Croydon Road, Caterham Valley, Surrey and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Corporal Boardman and his comrades in 12 Platoon, E Company, 1st Hertfordshire Regiment were photographed standing in full kit on the platform at Letchworth train station immediately after the outbreak of war in August 1914. Having been called to their war stations on 4 August 1914, the Territorials in this famous photograph were waiting for a train to take them to Norfolk to complete three months of training, after which they joined the British Expeditionary Force. Boardman was the first member of the platoon to be killed after their arrival on the Western Front. A copy of a Daily Mail article re the aforementioned photograph is with the lot. Also sold together with a photograph of the recipient in uniform, 53mm x 36mm; named Record Office enclosure for the 1914 Star; named Record Office enclosure for the British War and Victory Medals; a 1914 Princess Mary Christmas Card with envelope.

A Great War M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant T. H. Brown, Royal Canadian Dragoons, who saw earlier campaigning with the 7th Dragoon Guards in South Africa and Somaliland Military Medal, G.V.R. (23 Sjt. T. H. Brown. R. Can: Dns.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4475 Pte. T. Brown. 7/D. Gds:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4475 Pte. T. Brown. 7/D. Gds:); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (4475 Pte. T. Brown 7/D. Gds:); 1914-15 Star (23 Cpl. T. H. Brown. R. Can: Dns:) the number 3 appearing impressed as an inverted 2; British War Medal 1914-20 (23 Sjt. T. H. Brown. R.C.D.) generally nearly very fine (6) £500-£700 --- M.M. London Gazette 14 May 1919. Thomas Henry Brown was born in 1880 in South Bermondsey, Surrey and attested for the Lincolnshire Regiment at Hertford on 12 September 1898. He was immediately transferred to the 7th Dragoon Guards and served with them during the Boer War in South Africa from February 1900. Remaining in South Africa after the conclusion of hostilities he was posted to Somaliland in January 1903 and served there until July, taking part in the expedition against Muhammed bin Abdullah under Brigadier General W. H. Manning. He returned to England for 9 months and, having extended his service, was reposted to the 5th Dragoon Guards. Embarking for South Africa once more in May 1904, he remained there until December 1908, and returning home was discharged in September 1910 after 12 years with the colours, his conduct being described as exemplary. Brown served during the Great War with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. He advanced to Sergeant and was awarded the Military Medal. The Royal Canadian Dragoons disembarked in France on 5 May 1915 and fought dismounted in an infantry role as part of Seely's Detachment with the 1st Canadian Division. The regiment remounted on 24 January 1916 and returned to its cavalry role as part of the 1st Canadian Cavalry Brigade, continuing to fight in France and Flanders until the end of the war.

Three: Corporal R. R. Patterson, 47th Battery, 44th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action during the First Battle of Ypres on 24 October 1914 1914 Star (33737 Cpl. R. R. Patterson. R.F.A.) with flattened lid to named card box of issue; British War and Victory Medals (33737 Cpl. R. R. Patterson. R.A.) with flattened lids to named card boxes of issue; Memorial Plaque (Robert Reilly Patterson) nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- Robert Reilly Patterson was born in Ipswich, Suffolk and attested for the Royal Artillery in London in August 1904 aged 16 years and 2 months. He was promoted Corporal in March 1914 and, having been posted to the 47th (Howitzer) Battery in April of that year, served with them as part of the 44th (Howitzer) Brigade in Charles Munro’s 2nd Division during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 August 1914. He was killed in action on 24 October 1914 during the First battle of Ypres. Private Patterson was the son of William John and Letitia Patterson of 5 Tadema Road, King’s Road, Chelsea, London and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Sold together with Record Office forwarding letters for Great War medals; forwarding letter for clasp for 1914 Star; and photograph of panel of Menin Gate Memorial bearing the recipient’s name.

A scarce Second War D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Commander J. Staniforth, Royal Naval Volunteer (Supplementary) Reserve, who served as a Landing Craft Flotilla Officer in the Sicily, Italy and South of France Landings Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’, in Garrard, London, case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with the original Buckingham Palace forwarding letter for the D.S.C., in the name of ‘Lieut. Commander J. Staniforth, D.S.C., R.N.V.(S.).R.’, extremely fine (7) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.S.C. London Gazette 11 December 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Commander Jack Staniforth, H.M.S. Hamilcar. L.C.M. Flotilla Officer during the landings in Sicily and Italy, subsequently he became a Squadron Commander in the South of France landings. This officer is recommended for outstanding operational services in Minor Landing Craft during the last two years in the Mediterranean. He was commended by General Montgomery and by Rear-Admiral MacGregor for the fine work of his L.C.M.’s during the South of Italy landings. The Squadron Commander of “C” L.C.T. Squadron reports on this officer as follows: “I was very impressed with the very efficient way in which he organised and ran his Squadron during the landings in the South of France.” ’ Jack Staniforth, a native of Sheffield, was appointed a Sub Lieutenant in the “Wavy Navy” in May 1942 and by the end of the year was attending a Landing Craft training centre at Hayling Island. He remained employed in this sphere of operations for the remainder of the War, subsequent appointments including the Commando establishment at Largs and, as an Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Commander, Hamilcar, the base in Algeria and later Messina.

The regimentally unique ‘Northern Ireland’ D.C.M., ‘Meritorious Service’ B.E.M. group of four awarded to Staff Sergeant Mick ‘The Rat’ Rattigan, 3rd Battalion, Royal Green Jackets Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (23738257 A/Cpl. M. Rattigan. R.G.J.); British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (23738257 S. Sgt. M. Rattigan, D.C.M., R.G.J.); General Service Medal 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (23738257 Cpl. M. Rattignan. R.G.J.); Oman, Sultanate, Tenth Anniversary Medal, unnamed as issued, court mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine and better (4) £20,000-£30,000 --- One of just 19 D.C.M’s were awarded for the entire Northern Ireland conflict. D.C.M. London Gazette 24 July 1973. The original recommendation states: ‘On the afternoon of 28 August 1972 Lance-Corporal Rattigan was a member of a foot patrol in the Beechmont area of Belfast. Beechmount Avenue is notoriously dangerous as it gives gunmen and snipers long fields of fire and easy escape routes. At 1530 hours the patrol reached Beechmount Avenue and split up; one section moved on across the Avenue and up Beechmount Grove; the other carried on along the Avenue prior to taking up a parallel route up Beechmount Pass. At this stage Lance-Corporal Rattigan’s Section Commander stopped and searched a passer by. He was about to release him when six high velocity shots were fired at the patrol from the western end of Beechmount Avenue. The patrol returned fire and, under the direction of the Platoon Commander began to manoeuvre out of their extremely exposed position on the Avenue and into the building site. The Section Commander [Corporal Ian Morrill] had been fatally wounded in this first burst of fire. As soon as he realised this, and saw that the Section Commander was being given such medical assistance as was possible, Lance-Corporal Rattigan immediately took over command of the section, nominated a Rifleman as his second in command, and supervised the move to better fire positions. In order to locate the gunmen and to improve individual fire positions Lance-Corporal Rattigan exposed himself to fire several times. He acted decisively and with considerable courage throughout this incident and commanded his section with skill in the ensuing hot pursuit. Later that same day, at 2230 hrs, he was on patrol in Locan Street. Two gunmen were seen at the top of St. Mary’s Practising Primary School. Under his direction the section sniper fired two shots at the gunmen. Eight shots were immediately returned. Throughout the gun battle which followed Lance-Corporal Rattigan kept a very firm grip on his section and gave excellent fire control orders. On the afternoon of 22 October Lance-Corporal Rattigan (by now promoted to Corporal) was on a mobile patrol on the Springfield Road when he noticed three men standing by a bus stop. He thought there was something suspicious about them and decided to investigate. The first man he searched, a Protestant, was found to be carrying a loaded Luger pistol with a round up the breach. One of the other men was a Catholic. These men were subsequently screened and the Protestant duly charged. It seems likely that he was the gunman of an assassination squad and the Catholic was his intended victim who owes his life to Corporal Rattigan’s alertness. These three incidents typify Corporal Rattigan’s success as a section commander. But in addition to specific acts of leadership in difficult and dangerous situations Corporal Rattigan was first class in his dealings with the local population. As a result he was held in very high regard as a tough, able but also reasonable and courteous N.C.O. by both the Catholic and Protestant communities in his platoon and section area on the Lower Woodvale interface. Corporal Rattigan’s all round performance throughout the four month operational tour in Belfast has been outstanding.’ B.E.M. London Gazette 30 December 1985. (Colour Sergeant, Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion). Michael Rattigan - ‘Mick the Rat’ to those who knew him - was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire. ‘He rose to the rank of colour sergeant in the Royal Green Jackets and was enormously respected within the regiment, in particular by the many men he trained in his later years as an instructor. He is remembered as a scrupulously fair and honest NCO. After leaving the army, Mick found adjusting to mundane civilian life difficult. He had a number of jobs, mainly in security, but in the mid 1980s worked in Saudi Arabia providing military training, and later in Mozambique, where one close shave too many convinced him that he was too old to be playing soldiers. After returning to live in Kent he managed property for a number of years. He died in Hythe in 2008.’ (Deeds of Heroes: The Story of The Distinguished Conduct Medal 1854-1993, by Matthew Richardson refers) Sold together with a copy of the original recommendation for the DCM signed by the recipient; letters of congratulation on award of DCM (4) from Lieutenant Colonel L. L. Dunphie, MC; Major General R. E. Worsley, OBE; Brigadier A. L. Watson; and the OC, 39 Infantry Brigade; a copy of detailed original recommendation for BEM; a letter from Ameed Rukn, Deputy Commander Sultan of Oman’s Land Forces congratulating Rattigan on the award of his BEM; and a photo of recipient whilst serving with the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces in December 1985.

A very rare ‘August 1918’ American D.S.C. group of four awarded to Gunner E. W. R. Auty, Royal Field Artillery 1914-15 Star (17106 Gnr: E. W. R. Auty. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (17106 Gnr. E. W. R. Auty. R.A.); United States of America, Distinguished Service Cross, bronze, the edge officially numbered ‘6278’, in case with gold debossed lettering ‘D.S.C.’, together with badly damaged box of issue, officially numbered ‘6278’ with spare brooch bar, good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- United States of America D.S.C. London Gazette 17 August 1920: ‘For distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign’ Edward William Robert Auty was born on 20 January 1894 at Poplar, London and attested there for the Royal Artillery on 9 November 1914. Posted to the B/109 Brigade on 27 November 1914 he served with them as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France from 30 August 1915 (B/109 Brigade became D/108 Brigade on 21 June 1916). He was gassed whilst serving with 338th Battery on 13 July 1917 and invalided to England on the Hospital Ship St. Patrick on 5 August 1917. Returning to France on 21 March 1918, he was posted to 112 Battery, 24 Brigade on 6 April 1918. Gunner Auty was awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry at Vierstraat, Belgium in August 1918 with Lieutenant W. T. J. Munday, also of 112th Battery, 24th Brigade, R.F.A. The citation for Lieutenant Munday’s award is as follows: ‘For extraordinary heroism in action near Vierstraat, Belgium, August 30, 1918. While in command of an accompanying gun, Lieut. Munday advanced in close support of the attack of the 106th American Infantry. With a signaller, he made a daring reconnaissance in advance of our lines, and returned with valuable information. In an encounter with an enemy patrol, near Rosignol Wood two of the enemy were captured.’ Just 24 British servicemen were awarded the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Service Cross, which was only ever awarded for extraordinary heroism in the face of the enemy. A list of all 24 awards is contained in Decorations United States Army 1862 – 1926 - an official U.S. Government publication. The following descriptions of the awards to Auty and Munday are extracted from this list and show identical units, places and dates: 17106 Signaler Edward W. R. Auty, 112th Battery, 24th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, British Expeditionary Force. Near Vierstraat, Belgium, 30 & 31 August 1918. D.S.C. number unknown. Awarded in War Department General Order No. 60, 1920. Lieut. William Thomas John Mundy, 112th Battery., 24th Brigade., Royal Field Artillery, B.E.F. Near Vierstraat, Belgium, 30 & 31 August 1918. D.S.C. number unknown. Awarded in W.D.G.O. No. 60, 1920. Sold together with a letter to Auty, from the Colonel in charge of R.F.A. records, regarding the award of his American D.S.C., dated 27 October 1920.

Family Group: A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant L. Norris, Royal Field Artillery Military Medal, G.V.R. (93068 Sjt: L. Norris. 58/Bde: R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (93068 Sjt. L. Norris, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (93068 Sjt. L. Norris. R.A.) nearly extremely fine Three: Private J. Norris, Royal Scots, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 25 February 1915 1914-115 Star (10107 Pte. J. Norris. R. Scots.); British War and Victory Medals (10107 Pte. J. Norris. R. Scots.) with named lid of card box of issue; Memorial Plaque (John Norris) in card envelope of issue, extremely fine (8) £500-£700 --- M.M. London Gazette 6 January 1917. Lindsay Norris attested for the Royal Field Artillery and served with them during the Great War initially in Egypt from 14 July 1915. Proceeding to the Western Front, he was awarded the Military Medal ‘for repairing telephone wire under heavy fire.’ Subsequently transferring to the Royal Garrison Artillery he was discharged, Class ‘Z’ Reserve, on 18 March 1919. John Norris, brother of the above, was born in Greenock, Scotland, and attested for the Royal Scots. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 19 December 1914, and was killed in action on 25 February 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Sold together with Imperial War Graves Commission correspondence.

Three: Captain R. B. Creyke, Royal Navy Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (R. B. Creyke, Mate.); Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; St. Jean d’Acre 1840, silver, unnamed as issued, fitted with contemporary replacement silver bar suspension, each medal fitted with silver ribbon buckle and long pin for wearing, nearly extremely fine (3) £1,000-£1,400 --- Provenance: Glendining’s, March 1998, when mounted in glass fronted display case, the black-on-gold painted labels from which accompany the group. Richard Boynton Creyke entered the Navy in July, 1829, as first-class volunteer on board the Atholl, on the west coast of Africa, from which vessel, in April, !831, he was transferred to the Medina, where he remained until July of the same year. He joined the Ocean as a midshipman in December, 1831, the Magpie in November, 1832, and the Rolla in November, 1833. In these vessels he was employed at Sheerness, and on the North Sea and Lisbon stations. He went to the Mediterranean in April, 1834, in the Revenge, and as a Mate became attached to the Bellerophon in May, 1838. In the Bellerophon, as a Mate, he took part in the operations on the coast of Syria, and was present at the bombardment of St. Jean D’Acre. In July, 1841, he was appointed to the revenue cutter Defence, employed in the North Sea, and was transferred, in July, 1843, to the steam vessel Blazer, Captain John Washington (afterwards Hydrographer) employed on surveying service in the same neighbourhood. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in September, 1843. From February, 1844, to October, 1845, he served on the west coast of Africa in the Penelope, Alert, and Growler, the former being the Commodore’s vessel on that station. He commanded the boats of the Alert in an attack on pirates at the Arguin islands, near Cape Blanco, for which he was mentioned favourably in the despatches of the Commodore. In January, 1846, he was appointed to the survey of the west coast of Scotland, under Captain C. G. Robinson, in the Shearwater, and in October of the same year was made an Assistant-Surveyor. In October, 1847, his name was transferred to the books of the San Josef and subsequently to the Impregnable and Fisgard, his services throughout being continued in the survey of the west coast of Scotland. In February, 1855, Lieutenant Creyke was appointed First Lieutenant of the Merlin, Captain Bartholomew J. Sulivan, attached to the Baltic fleet, in which vessel he assisted in surveying the north part of Cronstadt, as well as the vicinity of Sweaborg, previous to its bombardment, at which he was present. For his services on this occasion he was so strongly recommended by the Commander-in-Chief to the favourable consideration of their lordships, that he was promoted to the rank of Commander in September of the same year, and in the following November again resumed his duties as an Assistant-Surveyor on the west coast of Scotland, under Captain E. J. Bedford, with whom, as Chief Assistant-Surveyor, he continued to serve until about the year 1861. He was promoted to be Retired Captain on 11 February 1862, in consideration of his services and the impaired state of his health. For his war services Captain Creyke has received the Syrian and Baltic medals. For the recipient’s miniature dress medals, see Lot 639.

Four: Gunner and Driver Henry Larway, Royal Horse Artillery Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Alma (Driver Henry Larway. R. Horse A.) contemporary engraved naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Gunner Hy. Larway, F Tp. R.H.Art.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (Driver H Larway B Bde. RHA); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, pierced and fitted with small rings for suspension, light contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (4) £300-£360 --- Henry Larway was born in the Parish of St Mary Magdalen, Taunton, Somerset, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Taunton on 10 January 1853, aged 18 years 2 months, a silk weaver by trade. Posted as Gunner to the 6th Battalion Horse Brigade, he served overseas in Turkey and the Crimea with “I” Troop R.H.A. from June 1854 to 9 February 1855, and was present at the battle of Alma (Medal with clasp); he afterwards served in Bengal from 9 November 1857 to 28 April 1862, including service during the Indian Mutiny with “F” Troop R.H.A. (Medal). He re-engaged at Woolwich for a further term of 9 years on 7 January 1865, as a Gunner until 19 March 1871, after which he was mustered as a Driver. He was recommended for his L.S. & G.C. on 1 April 1872, and was discharged from “E” Battery, “B” Brigade R.H.A. at Coventry on 29 January 1874. His discharge papers state that ‘He is in possession of Five good conduct badges, also in possession of the Crimean Medal with Clasp for Alma, Turkish Medal, Indian Mutiny medal & good conduct medal with Gratuity of £5.’ Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.

Three: Captain and Quarter-Master Henry Clowes, 2/7th Foot Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (911. C/Sgt H. Clowes. 2/7 R. Fus:) officially engraved naming; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Qr. Mr. H. Clowes. 2/7th Foot.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (911. Qr. Mr. Serjt. H. Clowes, 2-7th Foot) light contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (3) £650-£750 --- Henry Clowes served 20 years 178 days in the ranks of the 7th Royal Fusiliers, becoming Quartermaster-Sergeant of the 2nd Battalion. He was commissioned as Quartermaster with Honorary rank of Lieutenant on 12 June 1878, and granted the Honorary rank of Captain on 12 June 1888. He retired on 16 December 1894.

Pair: Lieutenant R. H. Story, Royal Navy Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Sub. Lieut. R. H. Story, R.N. H.M.S. Eclipse); Khedive’s Star, 1882, unnamed as issued, light pitting, very fine (2) £160-£200 --- Richard H. Story was born in Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, on 7 July 1859 and entered Britannia as a Naval Cadet on 15 July 1872. He was appointed Midshipman on 17 October 1874, and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 16 October 1878. He served in H.M.S. Eclipse from 10 November 1880, before transferring to the Half Pay List with the rank of Lieutenant on 29 August 1883.

Three: Painter F. E. Eades, Royal Navy Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (F. E. Eades. W. R. Svt. H.M.S. “Seahorse”.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (F. E. Eades, Pntr. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Royal Arthur.); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued, good very fine (3) £240-£280

Family group: Pair: Gunner J. H. Kingsbury, 14th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died at Le Treport from wounds received on the Western Front on 17 May 1918 British War and Victory Medals (169369 Gnr. H. Kingsbury. R.A.); Memorial Plaque (Joseph Henry Kingsbury) in card envelope, good very fine or better Pair: Private A. S. Kingsbury, 2nd/19th Battalion, London Regiment (St. Pancras), late 2nd/21st Battalion, London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles), who died of pneumonia in Cairo on 31 October 1918 British War and Victory Medals (4727 Pte. A. S. Kingsbury. 21-Lond. R.) in named card box of issue and torn OHMS outer envelope; Memorial Plaque (Alfred Samuel Kingsbury), together with a King Edward VII 1903 School Attendance Medal with 1905 brooched clasp, base metal, awarded to A. S. Kingsbury; Y.M.C.A. Gospel of St. John booklet; a Wesleyan Methodist card envelope containing three small prayer and hymn booklets; and Record Office transmission letter for BWM and VM, medals and plaque extremely fine Four: Marine G. Kingsbury, Royal Marines 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with Admiralty enclosure, in paper packets and card box of issue addressed to ‘Mr G. Kingsbury, 2A Henslowe Rd. East Dulwich. SE22.’, together with 2 heavily worn Royal Marines cap badges, extremely fine Pair: Private W. T. Townsend, Army Service Corps 1914-15 Star (M2-049888 Pte. W. T. Townsend. A.S.C.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (M2-049888 Pte. W. T. Townsend. A.S.C.) good very fine (lot) £200-£240 --- Joseph Henry Kingsbury was born in 1878 at Camberwell, London and resided at East Dulwich prior to attesting for the Royal Garrison Artillery at Peckham, Surrey. He served with the 444th and 14th Siege Batteries on the Western Front and died of wounds at No. 3 General Hospital, Le Treport on 17 May 1918. He was the son of John Thomas and Jane Elizabeth Kingsbury of 48 Crawthew Grove, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London and is buried at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, France. Alfred Samuel Kingsbury, younger brother of the above was born in 1894 at Camberwell, London. Together with his brother Charles, he attested for the 2nd/21st London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles) towards the end of 1915 and both brothers then served with them in Egypt from July 1916 as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Alfred later transferred to the 2nd/19th Battalion, London Regiment (”C” Company) but died of pneumonia in Cairo on 31 October 1918. He is buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. George Kingsbury, son of Joseph Henry Kingsbury, was a native of East Dulwich, London and served during the Second World War with the Royal Marines in North Africa, Egypt and Crete. W. T. Townsend father-in-law of George Kingsbury, served with the Army Service Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 March 1915. He was discharged Class Z on 25 June 1919. Sold together with research into the wartime service of the Kingsbury family members and a substantial, good quality, well captioned Kingsbury family album of postcards and photographs, including many cards sent by the five Kingsbury brothers from France, Egypt and Salonika during the Great War.

Pair: Lieutenant J. H. C. East, Royal Navy Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (Lieut.J. H. C. East, R.N. H.M.S. Myrmidon.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, unnamed as issued, good very fine (2) £400-£500 --- James Henry Cunningham East was born in Kingstown, Co. Dublin in March 1858 and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in Britannia in January 1871, aged 12 years. Advanced to Sub. Lieutenant in March 1877, he served aboard H.M.S. Warrior between May and August 1878, which famous ship may now be seen at Portsmouth, fully restored. East next joined the survey ship Alert, an appointment that lasted until September 1882. During that period the Alert, commanded by Captain G. S. Nares, the famous Arctic explorer, carried out an extensive survey in South American waters and in the South Pacific, details of which appear in British Oceanographic Vessels: ‘The Alert sailed from Plymouth in September 1878 via Madeira, St. Vincent, Montevideo and the Falkland Islands, reaching the Strait of Magellan on New Year’s Day 1879. Throughout 1879 and the first half of 1880 the Alert surveyed the coast of Patagonia, Nares being recalled and replaced by Captain J. L. P. Maclear, his second-in-command on the Challenger, in spring 1879. Leaving South America in June 1880, the Alert sailed via Tahiti and Fiji to Sydney, arriving in January 1881. After six months surveying off the eastern and northern coasts of Australia the ship sailed to Singapore for a refit where she was ordered to survey Amirante and neighbouring islands in the south-western Indian Ocean. These surveys were conducted between March and May 1882 and the Alert then returned to England via South Africa, St. Helena and the Azores, arriving at Plymouth in September.’ A full account of the expedition by the ship’s surgeon, R. W. Coppinger, was published in London in 1885, under the title Cruise of the Alert: Four Years in Patagonia, Polynesian and Mascarine Waters, 1878-82. Passing his examinations for 2nd Class Assistant Surveyor in September 1884, while serving in the Myrmidon, another survey vessel, East witnessed active service off the Sudan in the same ship, surveying in the Red Sea during the Egyptian campaign, especially in 1884, off Suakin, Port Berenice, Hanish Island and Zeila. It was noticed variously that ‘Eyes weak from survey in Red Sea’, ‘Eyesight will not bear a long continued strain of work’, and on 12 May 1885, he was invalided with ‘retinal paralysis’. Following various surveys and re-surveys [of his eyesight] until 28 November 1885, he was sent to Belleisle. He was in Thalia from November 1887 to March 1888, whither the Khedive’s Star was sent. East returned to Myrmidon as Senior Lieutenant from 1 April 1888 to 31 January 1889, whence he transferred to Rambler when the crew from one transferred to the other. From Rambler, he was ‘discharged dead’ on 24 January 1890, having died at Albany, Western Australia, on that date aged 31 years, the reason being given as ‘climatic fever’. He is probably buried in Albany. Sold with copied record of service.

Pair: Surgeon R. Lesly, Army Medical Department, who died of enteric near Suakin in May 1885 Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Surgeon R. Lesly, Med. Staff); Khedive’s Star 1884-86, unnamed as issued, edge bruise to first, otherwise good very fine or better (2) £400-£500 --- Robert Lesly was born Robert Sole at St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, in October 1855, and, given the rather unfortunate combination of initial and surname, subsequently changed his surname to Lesly, practicing medicine in London prior to entering the Army Medical Department as a Surgeon in February 1884. Family sources state that he was present in the abortive expeditions under General Sir Hubert Stewart and General Sir Charles Wilson. He may, too, have served at the base hospital at Suakin, and indeed aboard the hospital ships Bulumba and Ganges. More certain is the fact he died of enteric fever at Fatmeh, near Suakin, on 21 May 1885. Sold with copied research.

Six: Private J. T. Monk, King’s Royal Rifle Corps India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, N.E. Frontier 1891 (5143 Pte. J. T. Monk. 4th. Bn. K.R. Rif. C.) surname officially corrected; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (5143 Pte. J. T. Monk. 1st. Bn. K.R. Rifle Corps); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, unofficial rivets between fourth and fifth clasps (5143 Pte. J. T. Monk, K.R.R.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5143 Pte. J. Monk. K.R.R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (R-13988 Pte. J. T. Monck [sic]. K.R.R.C.) first four mounted as worn from a top silver riband bar, the last two loose; together with five London County Council School Attendance Medal, awarded to the recipient’s family, to ‘M. Monk’ for the years 1902, 1908, and 1910; to L. Monk for the year 1906; and to H. Monk for the year 1912, the first four in white metal, the last in bronze, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (11) £400-£500

Five: Private T. Power, Royal Irish Fusiliers India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897 (3454 Pte. T. Power. 2nd. Bn. Ryl. Ir. Regt.) renamed; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (3454 Pte. T. Power. 2nd. Bn. Ryl. Ir. Regt.) renamed; 1914-15 Star (6-12964 Pte. T. Power, R. Ir. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (6-12964 Pte. T. Power. R. Ir. Fus.) the first two renamed, very fine (5) £100-£140 --- Thomas Power served with the 6th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers in the Gallipoli theatre of War from 12 July 1915.

Four: Corporal H. A. Smith, Royal Sussex Regiment and British Red Cross; discharged on account of his wounds in 1916, he subsequently served throughout 1918 as an instructor in Fancy Bag making, teaching interned Allied soldiers in Switzerland a civilian trade 1914 Star (9681 Pte. H. A. Smith. 2/R. Suss: R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-9661 Cpl. H. A. Smith. R. Suss. R.); together with a duplicate issue British War Medal 1914-20 (H. A. Smith.) very fine and better (4) £160-£200 --- Herbert Archibald Smith was born in Chichester, Sussex, on 25 July 1891 and attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment on 14 March 1911. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 August 1914, and was discharged on account of wounds on 13 September 1916, being awarded a Silver War Badge. He subsequently enrolled in the British Red Cross on 20 May 1918, and served with them during the latter stages of the Great War in Switzerland, as an instructor in fancy bag making, being erroneously awarded a duplicate British War Medal. He was discharged on 23 November 1918, and his profession on the 1939 Register is recorded as ‘fancy leather worker’. Note: Classes in Fancy Bag making were established by the British Red Cross in Switzerland for interned Allied soldiers, and were just one of the training schemes offered - classes were also given in French polishing, piano-parts manufacturing, watch repairing, tailoring and leather work &c.. Originally established at Seeburg in February 1918, they moved later that year to Vevey, where the electrical and mechanical classes were held. Sold with the recipient’s riband bar which indicates entitlement to the clasp to the 1914 Star; and copied research.

Ten: Chief Petty Officer R. W. H. Boulton, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (J. 33008, R. W. H. Boulton, B. Tel., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 33008 R. W. H. Boulton. Tel. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (J. 33008 R. W. Boulton. P.O. Tel. H.M.S. Emerald.) mounted as worn, nearly very fine and better (10) £140-£180 --- Reginald William Henry Boulton was born on 13 March 1899 in Birmingham and was pensioned in March 1939 as a Chief Petty Officer. Serving again during the Second War, Boulton was appointed a temporary acting Warrant Telegraphist in November 1944.

Four: Chief Petty Officer S. R. Harris, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (216991, S. R. Harris, P.O. 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (216991 S. R. Harris. P.O.1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (216991 S. R. Harris. C.P.O. H.M.S. Vernon), ship corrected on last, light contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £100-£140 --- Sidney Reece Harris was born on 10 June 1886, at New Cross, Kent. He commenced naval service on 13 September 1901, as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Impregnable. He was advanced to Able Seaman, H.M.S. Duncan on 21 June 1905, Leading Seaman, H.M.S. Bonaventure, on 29 October 1909, and Petty Officer on 3 August 1911. During the Great War he saw service in H.M.S. Psyche, H.M.S. Ocean, H.M.S. Orvis, H.M.S. Vernon and H.M.S. Opportune. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in 1919, and his war gratuity was paid to H.M.S. Fox (Borodino). He died in February 1926 at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar.

Four: Stoker Petty Officer F. R. Ballard, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (K. 271, F. R. Ballard, L. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K. 271 F. R. Ballard. S.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (K. 271 F. R. Ballard. S.P.O. H.M.S. Hawkins), polished, nearly very fine (4) £100-£140 --- Frank Richard Ballard was born in Charing, Kent, on 23 February 1890 and entered naval service on 24 February 1908. He spent a large part of the war in H.M.S. Brazen, and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. in April 1923.

Four: Stoker Petty Officer A. Gilson, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (K.19832, A. Gilson. Sto.1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.19832 A. Gilson. Sto.1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (K.19832. A. Gilson. L.Sto. H.M.S. Cumberland.) minor official correction to ship on last, worn in parts, therefore good fine Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue (JX.141241 L. R. Cox. P.O. H.M.S. Drake.) light contact marks, very fine (5) £120-£160 --- Anthony Gilson was born in Malta on 17 February 1894 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 2 July 1913. He served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, and was advanced Leading Stoker on 26 September 1929. He served in H.M.S. Cumberland from 25 February 1930 to 20 February 1932, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 17 February 1931. Promoted Stoker Petty Officer on 10 August 1934, he was shore pensioned on 8 July 1935. Recalled for War Service on 13 October 1939, he was finally shore released on 14 August 1945.

Family group: Three: Private R. G. Carpenter, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, who was killed in action at Soupir during the Battle of the Aisne on 14-16 September 1914 1914 Star (16338 Pte. R. G. Carpenter. 2/G. Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (16338 Pte. R. G. Carpenter. G. Gds.); Memorial Plaque (Richard George Carpenter) nearly extremely fine Pair: Private S. Carpenter, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, who died of disease at No. 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, France, on 16 February 1919 British War and Victory Medals (46253 Pte. S. Carpenter. Rif. Brig.); Memorial Plaque (Sydney Carpenter) nearly extremely fine (7) £300-£400 --- Richard George Carpenter was born in 1893 at Christchurch, Eastbourne, Sussex, and attested there for the Grenadier Guards on 25 March 1913. He served with No. 1 Company of the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914. After engaging the enemy at Mons on 23 August and again two days later at Landrecies during the retreat, his battalion halted at Villers Cotterets, where heavy fighting took place and two platoons were surrounded and killed at a cross-roads in a clearing known as Rond de la Reine, fighting to the last man. At the Battle of the Marne, the enemy was engaged at La Tretoire on 8 September, at a cost of 41 casualties, and the Marne was crossed at Charly the following day. Sir Frederick Ponsonby in his Regimental History notes the Grenadiers witnessed signs of the German retreat and much looting and vandalism in every village as they advanced. Having reached the Aisne, they crossed in heavy mist on the morning of 14 September, and the Grenadiers engaged the enemy in the woods at La Cour de Soupir Farm with No. 1 Company in the vanguard. It was here between 14 and 16 September that Private Carpenter was killed in action. A flavour of the fighting is provided by Ponsonby in his regimental history: ‘At Soupir the road ran uphill through a dense wood, and it was impossible to see very far ahead. Progress was necessarily very slow, and the advanced guard had orders to move with the utmost caution. No. 1 Company, under Major Hamilton, formed the vanguard, and half of No. 2 Company, under Captain Symes-Thompson, was sent as a flank guard to the left, where the ground rose steeply above the road, and the trees were very thick. About half-way the vanguard came into touch with the German outposts. At the same time they were joined by some men of our 5th Brigade, who had gone too far to their left, and in consequence had narrowly escaped being captured by the enemy. Two platoons of No. 1 and one platoon of No. 2 were sent off to the left, and, having got into touch with the cavalry on that flank, took up a position in the woods above Chavonne, where they remained for the rest of the day. Meanwhile, the leading men of the advanced guard, under Lieutenant Cunliffe, pushed on, and near La Cour de Soupir ran right into the enemy, who were in superior numbers. All the men were taken prisoners, and Lieutenant Cunliffe was wounded. Shells were now screaming through the trees with monotonous regularity, and the hail of bullets grew ever thicker as the advanced guard came up to La Cour de Soupir. It became evident that the Germans were not only in strength at the top of the hill, but were advancing across the open against our left flank, and at the same time trying to surround the advanced guard by working through the woods on the right flank. No. 3 Company, under Captain Gosselin, was sent off to the right with instructions to clear the enemy off some rising ground and protect the right flank. This it succeeded in doing, but found vastly superior numbers opposed to it, and could not make any farther progress. It was here that Lieutenant des Voeux was killed, being hit through both lungs by a chance shot in the wood. Urgent appeals from the firing line induced Major Jeffreys to send two platoons of No. 4 to help No. 1 Company, and one to the right for No. 3, while the remaining platoon, with the machine-guns, under Lieutenant the Hon. W. Cecil, was posted on the edge of a clearing in case those in front were driven back. The advanced guard had now done its part. It had ascertained where the enemy was posted, but if an advance was to be made, it was clear that it would have to be strengthened considerably. Colonel Feilding therefore sent the 3rd Coldstream up to the left of the road and the Irish Guards to the right. Pushing through the woods and picking up platoons of No. 1 and No. 2 Companies Grenadiers, these troops came up to the hard-pressed No. 1 Company on the open ground near La Cour de Soupir.’ (The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918 by Lieut.-Colonel The Right Hon. Sir Frederick Ponsonby refers) Having now firmly established themselves on the north bank of the river, the Grenadiers dug-in and were subject to heavy shelling and counter attacks for a further two days before being relieved at dawn on 17 September. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records a total of sixty five 2nd Grenadiers’ war dead for the period 14 to 16 September 1914. Thirty nine of these men - including Carpenter - do not have a precise date of death but are instead recorded simply as having died between 14 and 16 September. Sydney Carpenter, younger brother of the above, was born in 1900 at Eastbourne, Sussex and served during the Great War with the Rifle Brigade, initially with the 12th (Service) Battalion and subsequently with the 2nd Battalion. He died of disease at No. 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, France on 16 February 1919 and is buried in Halle Communal Cemetery, Belgium. Sydney and Richard Carpenter were sons of Richard and Laura Harriett Carpenter, of 9, Beach Rd., Eastbourne, Sussex.

Three: Shipwright R. C. Cornhill, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (M. 7859, R. C. Cornhill, Shpt. 2., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M. 7859 R. C. Cornhill. Shpt. 2. R.N.) very fine Pair: Engineering Room Artificer W. J. Woolley, Royal Navy British War and Victory Medals (M. 30357 W. J. Wooley. Act. E.R.A. 4. R.N.) very fine (5) £70-£90 --- Robert Clifton Cornhill was born on 25 November 1886 in Southampton and entered naval service in 1914, serving until his discharge in December 1919.

Four: Able Seaman R. Kitson, Royal Navy, who was Mentioned in Despatches in May 1918 1914-15 Star (J.3856, R. Kitson, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (J.3956 R. Kitson. A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.3856 R. Kitson A.B. H.M.S. Pembroke.) light contact marks, very fine (4) £120-£160 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 12 May 1918. Rupert Kitson was born on 5 September 1892, at Cardiff, South Wales, and commenced naval service as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Ganges, on 9 March 1909. He was advanced to Able Seaman, H.M.S. Astraea, on 1 May 1912 and served during the Great War in a number of ships including, H.M.S. Blenheim, H.M.S. Puncher, H.M.S. Blanche and H.M.S. Boadicea. For his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in 1925, when serving in H.M.S. Pembroke, and was shore pensioned on 4 September 1932. He rejoined the service in August 1938, and was finally demobilised on 20 July 1945.

Four: Able Seaman J. R. Newman, Royal Navy 1914-15 Star (J.1830, J. R. Newman, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.1830 J. R. Newman. A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (J.1830. J. R. Newman. A.B. H.M.S. Marshall Ney.) good very fine (4) £100-£140 --- John Richard Newman was born on 1 January 1885, at Portsea, Hampshire, and commenced naval service on 5 October 1903, as Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Firequeen, with service number SS118. He served during the Great War in H.M.S. Woolwich (Hind), H.M.S. Vivid II (Acheron), H.M.S. Attentive and H.M.S. Marshall Ney, and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in October 1918. He was demobilised on 14 February 1919.

Five: Leading Seaman W. R. Berry, Royal Naval Reserve 1914-15 Star (A.6787. W. R. Berry. Smn., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (6787A. W. R. Berry. L.S. R.N.R.); Defence Medal; Service Medal of the Order of St John, with Second Award Bar (24210 Pte. W. Berry. No.10 Dist. S.J.A.B. 1942.) spot of verdigris to reverse of VM, generally nearly very fine (5) £60-£80

Three: Deck Hand T. Hunt, Royal Naval Reserve 1914-15 Star (D.A. 8104, T. Hunt, D.H., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (8104D.A. T. Hunt. D.H. R.N.R.), polished, about very fine Three: Engineman R. E. Whelan, Royal Naval Reserve 1914-15 Star (E.S. 164, R. E. Whelan, Engn., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (164E.S. R. E. Whelan. Engn. R.N.R.) good very fine (6) £70-£90

Three: Second Lieutenant R. S. Gorman, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, late Army Service Corps 1914-15 Star (M2-073423 Pte. R. S. Gorman. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. R. S. Gorman.) mounted as worn, very fine (3) £70-£90 --- Robert Swan Gorman attested for the Army Service Corps and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 18 April 1915. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 26 September 1917, and saw further service with the 4th Battalion.

Three: Corporal E. Wyeth, Essex Regiment 1914-15 Star (10608 Pte. E. Wyeth, Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (10608 Cpl. E. Wyeth. Essex R.) nearly very fine Pair: Private C. C. Southwood, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 1914-15 Star (S-6503 Pte. C. C. Southwood. The Queen’s R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (S-6503 Pte. C. C. Southwood. The Queen’s R.) good very fine Pair: Private C. Lancaster, East Surrey Regiment 1914-15 Star (6548 Pte. C. Lancaster. E. Surr: R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (6548 Pte. C. Lancaster. E. Surr. R.) nearly very fine Pair: Private E. Figg, 5th Battalion, London Regiment British War and Victory Medals (305490 Pte. E. Figg. 5-Lond. R.) number and rank officially corrected on VM, nearly extremely fine Pair: Private E. Spencer, 21st Battalion, London Regiment British War and Victory Medals (654531 Pte. E. Spencer. 21-Lond. R.) edge nick to BWM, nearly very fine Victory Medal 1914-19 (2) (16734 Pte. C. Ireson. The Queen’s R.; 50887 Pte. A. E. Neilson. The Queen’s R.) nearly very fine (13) £100-£140

Pair: Private H. Griffiths, York and Lancaster Regiment 1914-15 Star (19295 Pte. H. Griffiths. York: & Lanc: R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (19295 Pte. H. Griffiths. Y. & L.R.) VM officially re-impressed, nearly very fine Pair: H. Cheetham, Mercantile Marine British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (Herbert Cheetham) nearly extremely fine 1914-15 Star (2) (19086 Pte. A. Oates, L’pool R.; No.2359 Sepoy Nazar Din, 55/Rfls. F.F.); British War Medal 1914-20 (3) (J.81628 C. Macorison. Ord. R.N.; Mid. F. H. Thomas. R.N.R.; 9396 Pte. G. A. Harris. Som. L:I.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (4) (W.Z.4846 H. Jones. Ord. R.N.V.R.; S-15435 Pte. C. C. Edwards. Rif. Brig.; 20735 Pte. E. S. Gask. Rif. Brig.; Sepoy Sher Zaman. 124 Baluchis) the two Sepoys medals fine, the rest generally very fine (13) £80-£120