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![A George VI RAF Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to [54398] ACT FLT LT R E Clish, RAF](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/0a797a13-352e-4786-9d16-a7a20096c93a/9f2b6cba-f2c4-4b05-96fd-af2a10a17e8b/468x382.jpg)
Lot 128
A British War Medal to 2 Lieut E H Singer, together with a patriotic needlework by, and bearing the name of, R Allen, Royal Horse Artillery, and a photograph / postcard album inscribed R Allen, Rhine-land, Jan 1991, 14th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, containing forty-four studies of Artillery personnel etc, and other non-military cards, and two panoramic group photographs
Lot 137
An Edward Medal, second class, awarded for bravery in the aftermath of the Wellington Pit mine disaster at Whitehaven, Cumbria, May 11th 1910, to Samuel Turner, Mine Manager, in fitted presentation case, with photographs of Turner as Mayor[Extract form the Whitehaven News, 12th May 1910 Last (Wednesday) evening a rumour rapidly circulated through Whitehaven that a serious accident had taken place at Wellington Pit, either a heavy fall in the workings or an explosion; and hundreds of people hastened to the pit top to find the rumour confirmed that something of a serious nature had happened. The Manager, Mr. Steele, Mr. Turner (manager of William Pit); and Mr. Blair, Mining Engineer, with ready volunteers, descended the pit, but a considerable time elapsed before any information was available. Then it began to be rumour that two men had been found dead about a mile from the bottom of the shaft; and that it was feared an explosion had taken place, imprisoning the men at work some two miles or two miles and a half further on. Volunteers continued to descend the pit as required, and about a quarter past eleven o'clock the cage came up with two men, Joseph Walker, of Newhouses, and Stephen Gregory of Back Ginns, shiftsmen, who had been found in an unconscious condition at Benk's Turn about a mile in. Demands from the pit bottom for brattice cloth and bricks to be sent down were rapidly complied with, and between eleven and twelve o'clock it was reported that the exploring party had not penetrated beyond about a mile and a half. The working with which communication was cut off is about three to three and a half miles in and here 86 haggers and 54 shifts-men and boys were employed at the time of the mishap. The working is a six to seven feet one, and like the rest of the pit has always been considered remarkably free from the risk of explosion. The shaft is about 100 fathoms deep, and amongst the reports current was that an explosion had been felt at the pit mouth, and that dust and smoke had reached to the shaft. Amongst others who were on the pit top were Dr. Jos. Dickson, Mr. J. G. Dees, Dr. Muriel, Dr Norton, Mr. T. Black, Mr. C. Robinson, Mr. W. Moore, the two district nurses, Nurse Wilson, and Nurse Hampton. When the two men, Walker and Gregory, were brought up they were taken to the engine room and attended to by Dr. Dickson, under whose care they were recovered. Mr. Harris went down with the first rescue party and remained some hours in the pit. About one o'clock it was rumoured about that some of the timbering was on fire, and Vanguard extinguishers and sand were sent down the shaft. Shortly afterwards some rescue workers, of whom there were about 160 in the pit, came up and it was stated that the rescue party had got to a place known as the Low Chimney, which is on an incline on the main road about two miles in and supposed to be about 400 yards from the obstruction shutting the imprisoned men in. About half past one two more men were brought up suffering from the effects of the accident and they also speedily recovered. By this time one of the first two to come up wished to go down again, but was not allowed to do so. One of the men who came up about one o'clock reported that the men and boys in North District, 16 men and probably four or five boys, were safe, being behind a closed door. Mr. Turner had returned from the pit but was unable to afford any definite information to the Press. About three o'clock, accompanied by Mr. R. W. Moore, Mr. Turner again descended, and more wagons of bricks and lime followed later, about four o'clock, by planking, for diverting the air, were sent down. Food had previously been collected from various hotels and other sources in the town, and sent down for the nourishment of the rescuers in their arduous and dangerous task. By half past four it was considered that some hours must elapse before anything definite could be known, and some time before this the doctors and nurses left the pit top. All through the night a patient crowd of men and lads, women and children, many of them no doubt the wives and children or other relatives of the imprisoned miners, thronged the roadway between the offices and the pit head buildings, waiting with quiet and steady patience for the removal of their deep anxiety. The dark night changed to the grey dawn and broadened into day, and still they maintained their anxious and pathetic vigil, which up to five o'clock this morning was unrewarded. Wellington Pit commenced drawing coal in 1841, the pit being christened by Lady Beckett. Coal was then drawn by both the east and west shafts, but is now drawn by the east shaft alone, the west shaft being used for pumping. The seam of coal in which the men cut off are working dips considerably from the bottom of the shaft (about 150 fathoms from the surface) as it goes seaward, and there is a roof of such great depth and thickness that the pit is reckoned quite safe from the sea.”]
Lot 20
Matchbox by Lesney - Accessory pack A-1, BP Garage Pumps and Signs' (lacking sign and lamps) otherwise excellent in gd orig box, two x 4 ton Leyland van, W & R Jacob & Co Ltd, # 7, open wagon 'Sand & Gravel Supplies', Lesneys Modern Amusements fairground steam traction engine, and two x B-type Bus 1912-1920, 'Dewars' # 2
Lot 253
Battle of Britain pilots multisigned RAF Coltishall Hawker Hurricane cover SC29. W Clark, R Jones, K Williamson, T Pickering, K Lawrence, B Green, G Beake, R Smyth, O Burns, D Lichfield. Good Condition. All signed items come with our certificate of authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.95, EU from £4.95, Overseas from £6.95.
Lot 242
Battle of Britain pilots signed 46th ann cover JSF9. Signed by Erich Steinhilper, G Benn, R Wright, J Keatings, G Leggett, J Gibson, J Booth 600sqn. Good Condition. All signed items come with our certificate of authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.95, EU from £4.95, Overseas from £6.95.
Lot 181
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND PRINCE PHILIP, portrait studies, a pair, black and white full length, both signed to mounts "Elizabeth R 1976" and "Philip 1976", housed in embossed blue leather frames with gilt cyphers by Plante & Johnson London SW1, housed in original hardboard boxes image sizes 18.9 cm x 14.6 cm, frame sizes 32.2 cm x 22.4 cm
Lot 21
δ Sidney Nolan (1917-1992) Paradise Garden Coloured crayon on paper, 1971, signed in pencil, 310 x 241mm (12 1/8 x 9 1/2in); bound into the special edition book, 1971, signed and numbered from the edition of 20 ink, published by R Alistair McAlpine, London, 320 x 246mm (11 5/8 x 9 3/4in) (unframed) δ This lot is sold subject to Artists Resale Rights, details of which can be found in our Terms and Conditions.
Lot 241
A Great War Pair & Memorial Plaque awarded to Private James Sydney Swinden, 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment, killed in action during the Salonika Campaign on the first day of the offensive at Kumli, the 15th of April 1918, where the 2nd Cheshires suffered 50% casualties, comprising: British War and Victory Medals (315439 Pte. J. S. Swindon. Ches. R.); Memorial Plaque (James Sydney Swinden); With original memorial certificate, portrait photo in uniform, and contemporary memorial poster. Private James Sydney Swinden was born in 1896 in Horley, Surrey, and he enlisted for Great War service with the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment at Camberwell, London. He was present with this battalion in Salonika, where he was killed in action on 15 of April 1918. This date coincides with a fierce offensive launched on the evening of 14/15 April in the face of vastly superior Bulgarian numbers near the Struma River in and around the village of Kumli – just 50 miles to the northeast of Thessalonika. Consolidating their position around Kumli, with outposts near Kjupri and Barakli, they repelled numerous bayonet attacks and bomb attacks, and endured sustained sniping and shelling. The 2nd Cheshires suffered roughly 50% casualties, and only after 3 days of fighting were they relieved. It would appear that Private Swinden died on the first day of the offensive, and his name is commemorated at the Doiran Memorial. Extremely fine or better, tiny verdigris spots to plaque (3)
Lot 231
A Great War Mesopotamia Trio & Memorial Plaque awarded to Private Frank Gallagher, 6th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who was killed in action on 9 February 1917 during an offensive prior to the re-capture of the city of Kut on the River Tigris, comprising: 1914-15 Star (19433 Pte F. Gallagher, L. N. Lan: R.); British War and Victory Medals (19433 Pte. F. Gallagher. L. N. Lan. R.); Memorial Plaque (Frank Gallacher). Lightly toned extremely fine (4). Private Frank Gallagher was born c.1900, the son of Francis and Margaret Ann Gallagher, of Oak Street, Bolton, Lancashire. He was killed in action on 9 February, 1917, at the age of 19, whilst fighting with the 6th (Service) Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, part of the 38th (Lancashire) Infantry Brigade, 13th Division, in Mesopotamia. Between December 1916 and March 1917 General Maude launched a major offensive to defeat the Ottoman forces in Mesopotamia, which resulted in the re-capture of Kut on 24 February. On 9 February the 38th Brigade launched an attack from ‘Pioneer Trench’ toward the opposing line of enemy trenches, and it would appear that Private Gallagher was killed in this offensive, near the Hai River Salient and the Dahra Bend. His name is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, in Iraq.
Lot 224
A Great War ‘Mons’ Trio & Memorial Plaque awarded to Corporal Francis John Normal, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, killed in action near Ypres on 11 July 1915, comprising: 1914 Star with ‘Mons’ clasp dated ‘5th Aug. – 22nd Nov. 1914’ (8033 Pte F. J. Norman. 1/Devon. R.); British War and Victory Medals (8033 A. Cpl. F. J. Norman. Devon. R.); Memorial Plaque (Francis John Norman); A few light contact marks, good very fine (4). Corporal Francis john Norman was born in 1890 in Axminster, the son of Richard and Elizabeth Norman; brother of Sydney (also a WWI casualty); husband of E. E. Gubb (formerly Norman) of 3 North Devon Cottage, Combe Martin. Local memorial websites remark that he may have been called Frederick, but this is unconfirmed. Enlisting for service with the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment at Barnstaple (his service number suggests an enlistment date of late 1905) as a pre-war regular, he was present with his Regiment on the Western Front in France and Flanders, where he was killed in action on 11 July 1915, apparently then with the 2nd Battalion. A German offensive was launched that day after the explosion of a large mine, and it may have been that he was in the area of this attack. He was buried at the Chester Farm Cemetery, Zillebeke, near Ypres, Belgium.
Lot 232
A Great War Trio & Memorial Plaque awarded to Private James Norman Lomas, of “B” Company, 30th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), late Royal Sussex Regiment, who died of wounds received on 23 August 1918, most likely during the closing stages of the Battle of Albert (the third of this name), comprising: 1914-15 Star (9718 Pte. J. N. Lomas. R. Suss. R.); British War and Victory Medals (9718 Pte. J. N. Lomas, R. Suss. R.); Memorial Plaque (James Norman Lomas). Lightly toned extremely fine (4). Private James Norman Lomas was born c.1896 at Galleywood Common, Warwick, the son of James and Elizabeth Lomas. In 1911 he lived at 353 Camp Hill View, Stockingford, Nuneaton, and had worked as a ‘Clip Run Miner’. In WWI he joined the 1st Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment at Horsham, but later became part of the 30th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). He died of wounds on 23 August 1918, and is buried at the Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, France. This date coincides with the date of a major offensive launched as part of the Battle of Albert, near Arras, which took place between 21-23 August, 1918. This was the third battle of this name, taking place at Albert on the Somme.
Lot 210
*An Egypt and Sudan Campaign Pair awarded to Private F. Mullens, 3rd Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, comprising: Egypt and Sudan, 1882-1889, reverse dated 1882, single clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (3196. Pte F. Mullens. 3/ K. R. Rif. C.); Khedive’s Star, 1882, unnamed as issued, pair lightly toned, extremely fine (2). Private F. Mullins’s name is confirmed on the medal roll for the Egypt Campaign. He also served is the Anglo-Zulu War in South Africa, with additional medal entitlement.
Lot 245
A Great War Casualty Pair awarded to Private James Porter Stevens, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (British Columbia Regiment), killed in action on 10 October 1916 during the fierce and often ‘hand-to-hand’ trench-fighting which took place during the capture of ‘Regina Trench’ (or Staufen Riegel) on the Somme near Thiepval, comprising: British War and Victory Medals (447543 Pte. J. P. Stevens. 2-C. M. R.); Lacking ribbons, toned, extremely fine (2). Private James Porter Stevens was born on 9 May 1883 at Rhodes, Manchester, the son of Thomas Stevens and Elizabeth Boyle, of Kilmarnock, Scotland. He attested for Great War service at Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on 27 August 1915, joining the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles. He was killed in action on 10 October, 1916, during the fighting to take ‘Regina Trench’ near Courcelette, France. Having already taken ‘Hessian Trench’ some weeks before, the 2nd C.M.R. were involved in the attacks launched to capture and clear the nearby ‘Regina Trench’, where heavy fighting took place with many casualties on both sides. Private Stevens was buried at the Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, France.
Lot 239
An Imperial Service Medal Group of 3 awarded to Private Edmund George MacReady, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, comprising: British War and Victory Medals (241968 Pte. E. G. Mac Ready. R. War. R.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., in case of issue, with reverse brooch pin for wear (Edward George MacReady); Also offered with a silver-gilt and enamel ‘Royal Antidiluvian Order of the Buffaloes’ badge, in case of issue, engraved to the recipient and dated ‘Dec. 2nd 1927’, bearing hallmarks for Birmingham dated 1927, and 2nd Warwickshires Brass cap badge. Generally toned, about extremely fine (5)
Lot 279
A Fine Great War D.S.O. and Bar Group of 4 awarded to Brevet-Major Robert McCowan Hill, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was recommended for his first D.S.O. for ‘gallantry and devotion to duty’ whilst attached to the 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders at Cuinchy on 23 March 1916, where he amputated the leg of a wounded officer – apparently in the field – ‘on the spot and under heavy fire’. On a second occasion, despite being wounded himself, he went forward into an advance position to treat a full machine-gun team which had been severely wounded, before returning to his post to treat wounded ‘all round him’ – working in such conditions for a further 16 hours, comprising: Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., in silver-gilt and enamels, by Garrard & Co., with bar denoting second award sewn onto ribbon, clasp with reverse brooch pin, in fitted case with named gilt plaquette marked ‘Capt. R. McCowan Hill. M.B., R.A.M.C., March 23. 1916’; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. M. Hill. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. M. Hill) the second with MiD bronze spray of oak leaves attached to ribbon; With original ribbons as worn, well-toned, good very fine (4) D.S.O.: London Gazette: 16.05.16 – (attached 2nd Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders) ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went to an area which was under intense bombardment, amputated the leg of a wounded officer, and attended to other wounded under most difficult and dangerous circumstances. Finally, he accompanied two stretcher cases back under shell fire.’ Bar to D.S.O.: London Gazette: 26.11.17 (details published London Gazette: 06.04.18) - ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on the way to battalion headquarters his party was caught in an enemy barrage and four of them were wounded. He at once dressed their wounds on the spot in a most exposed position and under heavy fire. On arriving at the aid post he was informed that a whole machine-gun team were casualties in an advanced position. No stretcher-bearers were available, and he at once went forward and attended to them on the spot under heavy fire. He then returned and worked at his aid post under intense shelling; often attending to cases in the trench outside when the aid post was full. Casualties were being caused all round him, and he was wounded himself, but, though suffering severely, he ‘remained at duty for sixteen hours until the battalion was relieved. He set a most inspiring example of courage and devotion to duty to all ranks.’ MiD: London Gazette: 05.06.1919 (Brevet-Major) Major Robert McCowan Hill was born c.1882 at Ayr, Scotland, the son of William Hill, a commercial traveller from Cambusnethen and who was for a time Provost of Cumnock, and Jeanie Hart Hill (née McCowan) – the daughter of the auctioneer John McCowan, also a Provost, & keeper of the Eagle Inn, Cumnock. He was educated at Glasgow University and took a position as House Surgeon at Paisley Royal Alexandra Infirmary, where he married Jeanie McCowan (a nursing sister) in the first ceremony to take place in the Infirmary’s chapel, as recorded in newspapers at the time. They then settled in Upper Tooting, London, where he set up a practice before the war. During the Great War he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Lieutenant on 5 October 1914. Attached to the 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, it was at Cuinchy (between Béthune and La Bassée) that he was recommended as Temporary Captain for his first D.S.O in performing an amputation upon a wounded Argyll’s officer’s leg under ‘heavy fire’ as well as helping numerous other wounded men on 23 March 1916. He subsequently received his D.S.O. from the King at Buckingham Palace on 27 May 1916. He was awarded a second D.S.O. in mid-late 1917 for once again treating a large number of wounded during an enemy barrage ‘in a most exposed position’. His citation records that he went forward under heavy fire to treat a machine gun team ‘in an advanced position’ and that he continued to work for over sixteen hours in this way. He was also later mentioned in despatches in 1919 and given the rank of Brevet Major on 5 June 1919. After WWI service he returned to medicine, working in South London in Balham/Tooting, and he died on October 8 1958, at Rosedene, 56 Buckingham Way, Wallington, Surrey, aged 75. Worthy of further research regarding the precise location of his second award. For the medals awarded to his nephew, Captain David Hunter, 7th Battalion Parachute Regiment, see lot 282.
Lot 212
*An Egypt and Sudan Campaign Pair awarded to Private J Banham, 1st Royal West Kent Regiment, comprising: Egypt and Sudan, 1882-1889, reverse dated 1882, single clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (2208. Pte J. Banham. 1/R. W. Kent. R.); Khedive’s Star, 1884, unnamed as issued, the first with light contact marks from star, otherwise good very fine (2). Private J. Banham (service number 2206) is confirmed on the medal roll for the Egypt Campaign.
Lot 234
A Great War Trio & Memorial Plaque awarded to Private John Henry Smith, 17th Battalion (Glamorgan Bantams) Welsh Regiment, who was killed in action on 25 November 1917 – the last day of the 40th Division’s offensive to take Bourlon Wood – the ‘Butchery at Bourlon’, after which the Battalion ‘ceased to exist’ comprising: 1914-15 Star (14226 Pte J. H. Smith. Welsh. R.); British War and Victory Medals (14226 Pte. J. H. Smith. Welsh R.); Memorial Plaque (John Henry Smith). Old cabinet tone, good extremely fine (4). Private John Henry Smith, of 156 Broadway, Cardiff, Wales, was killed in action whilst serving with the 17th Battalion ‘Glamorgan Bantams’ – this one of the new ‘Pals’ regiment created during WWI. He was killed on 25 November 1917, which was the final day of the attack upon Bourlon Wood. Fighting as part of the 40th Division, and in support of newly unleashed tanks, the three day attack was successful, but resulted in ‘the appalling figure of over 4,000 casualties (after which they) symbolically took the acorn as their divisional sign after their ordeal’. The battalion was later that day considered to have ‘ceased to exist’ and the few survivors were absorbed elsewhere. The 17th Welsh Regiment lost 18 Officers and 301 other ranks, earning 8 Military Crosses, 4 D.C.M.s, and 15 M.M.s. Private Smith’s name is recorded on the Cambrai Memorial, France, and he was mentioned in various local newspapers with a small portrait photo.
Lot 211
*An Egypt and Sudan Campaign Pair awarded to Private James Busby, 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment, comprising: Egypt and Sudan, 1882-1889, undated reverse, single clasp, El-Teb_Tamaai (1859 Pte J. Busby. 1/York & Lanc: R.); Khedive’s Star, 1884, unnamed as issued, pair lightly toned, the first with traces of lacquer and small pawn broker’s marks by suspension, otherwise about extremely fine (2). Private James Busby’s name is confirmed on the medal roll for the Egypt Campaign.
Lot 227
1914 Star (Pte G. Dowler. 1/ R. Berks:R.), one small graze, otherwise a lustrous extremely fine. Private George Dowler, of Sherman Road, Reading, was killed in action on 16 May 1915, at the age of 30, whilst serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment during the Battle of Festubert. He is remembered at the Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. The battalion war diary records that on that day, near Richbourg l’Avoue, the battalion was heavily shelled in recently captured German trenches.
Lot 282
The Rare ‘Pegasus Bridge’ M.C. Group of 6 awarded to Captain David ‘Jock’ McCowan Hunter, No. 3 Platoon, ‘A’ Company, 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion, Army Air Corps, late Royal Scots. His battalion was parachuted in as part of ‘Operation Tonga’ to provide immediate reinforcements for the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry who had famously seized the key bridges over the River Orne (Horsa Bridge) and the Caen Canal (Pegasus Bridge) between Benouville and Ranville shortly before. He was recommended for the M.C. for leading his platoon ‘all through the day’ at Benouville, despite his own serious wounds, and in the face of repeated German counter-attacks led by elements of the 21st Panzer Division, until they were relieved by Lovat’s Commandos many hours later. Hunter also served soon after in the Ardennes and Rhine crossing operations, where his Platoon for a time formed the spearhead of the entire 21st Army Group advance into Germany, with Lieutenant Hunter leading his unit from the front. He later , comprising: Military Cross, G.VI.R. ‘GRI’ type, reverse engraved to lower terminal of cross ‘1944’; 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; General Service Medal, 1918-1962, single clasp, S. E. Asia 1945-46 (Lt. D M Hunter AAC); Operation Overlord Commemorative Medal, gilt metal; Group swing-mounted on bar as worn, lightly toned, extremely fine (6) M.C.: London Gazette: 31 August 1944 – ‘for gallant and distinguished services in Normandy’ (The original recommendation states: ‘During the airborne action at Benouville on 6 June 44 this officer received a very painful head wound early on in the day. The fighting was of a most strenuous nature but despite his wound Lt Hunter was always to the forefront of the fight encouraging his men by his own outstanding example. He continued to fight with the Company all through the day and was eventually evacuated when his Company was relieved by a counter attack. The example and devotion to duty of this officer was quite outstanding and contributed largely to the success of the operation.’) Captain David McCowan Hunter was born on 28 August, 1922, at Burnholme, Cumnock, Scotland. He joined the army in January 1942, having obtained his OTC certificates from George Watson’s College in Edinburgh and at St Andrews, he went straight to O.T.C.U. at Barmouth, Wales in June 1942, being commissioned into the Royal Scots as 2nd Lieutenant on 6 June 1942. In December 1943 he volunteered to join the Parachute Regiment, transferring from the oldest regiment to the newest (mainly ‘to impress the girls’, as recorded in his personal memoir), and after four weeks of intense physical tests and parachute training he joined the 7th (Light Infantry) Battalion, Parachute Regiment, part of the Army Air Corps in late January 1944. This new elite unit, created in 1942, initially included the Glider Pilot Regiment, seventeen Battalions of the Parachute Regiment, the Air Landing Regiments, Air Observation Post Squadrons, and by 1944 would include elements of the Special Air Service. The 7th Battalion formed part of the larger 6th Airborne Division which would play a major role on ‘D-Day’. Lieutenant Hunter was initially posted to a reserve company, but once ‘Haggis’ Fleming was injured by a dropped grenade, ‘Jock’ Hunter was recommended by the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel R. G. Pine-Coffin (aptly nicknamed ‘Wooden Box’) to lead “A” Company’s No.3 Platoon as Platoon Commander. This came at the expense of several more-established English officers, as the platoon contained a number of Scotsmen amongst its number. This turn of events led to his participation in ‘Operation Tonga’. Lieutenant Hunter’s superb memoir recalls the tension ahead of the parachute drop: “We arrived at the airfield in the evening of 5th June. We then filed past the WAAF parachute packers who handed us our parachutes. “I hope that’s not your dirty washing in there”, I said to the attractive girl who handed over my bag. We took off just before midnight and in about an hour we were over the DZ (drop zone). Anti-aircraft flak exploded around us causing the plane to shudder… Six planes carrying our brigade, the 5th Parachute Brigade, were in fact shot down, at least one of them was with our battalion and these men were all lost… Finally the green light came on and one after another we plunged through the large hole in the floor of the plane. As I jumped I felt the sudden swish of the plane’s slipstream and, before I had time to panic, the sudden tug on my shoulders as my chute opened. It wasn’t the WAAF’s underwear after all. As I floated down I could briefly admire the view and quite dramatic it was as lines of red tracer bullets shot through the darkness criss-crossing in different directions…” “The 7th Battalion pathfinder was Lieutenant John Rogers. I saw his green lamp flashing and eventually made contact with him. He told me that he was in the wrong place but he was able to direct me to the RV, a small wood in a gully. Colonel Pine-Coffin and my company Commander Major Nigel Taylor were already there. By 2.30 am less than 40% of the battalion had turned up. The other half of my platoon had not turned up (they had been dropped some miles away and turned up some days later). The CO had received the signal from the bridges that the assault by the glider coup de main force had been successful and the bridges were held intact….The CO decided he could not delay further. He left his second in command Major Steele-Baume (where do the English get these names?) to pick up any stragglers. A Company was sent over the bridges. One was later to be called “Pegasus Bridge” after the insignia of the Airborne Forces. I went first, leading my depleted platoon. It was still dark. There were a few bodies lying on the bridges. I couldn’t make out whether they were ours or theirs. It was my very first experience of death. I was still only 21.
Lot 213
HM Queen Elizabeth II, a printed letter on Buckingham Palace headed paper, personalised 'to Cyril' (Cyril Dickman was the Head Palace Steward for 50 years) and signed 'yours sincerely Elizabeth R', thanking him for his good wishes on her sixtieth birthday, dated 1986, together with another printed letter relating to the death of Bobo (Margaret MacDonald, nanny, dresser and confidante of HM Queen Elizabeth II), also personalised and another manuscript note written on memorandum paper dated 1987, thanking Cyril for his good wishes sent on her fortieth wedding anniversary and a typed note from Sir Kenneth Scott (Private Secretary to HM Queen Elizabeth II for 10 years) (3) Provenance: The late Cyril Dickman who was the Head Palace Steward for 50 years, and by descent Other Notes: Margaret "Bobo" MacDonald, once described as the Queen's closest confidante, was a farmer's daughter from Inverness and served Her Majesty for 67 years - first as nursemaid and then as dresser, looking after her clothes and jewels. "Bobo" is thought to have been the Queen's first spoken word. 21 X 15cm Folded in the envelope. Minor yellowing and envelope with expected wear.
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