Seven: Petty Officer R. H. Miller, Royal Navy 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oakleaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J.107444 A.B., H.M.S. Drake) contact marks Victory Medal 1914-19 (2) (57657 Pte. V. G. Gibson, Worc. R.; 52828 Pte. J. H. Holmes, W. York. R.) last lacking suspension ring; Memorial Plaque (Sidney John White) nearly very fine and better (10) £90-110 M.I.D. London Gazette 13 October 1942. As a Petty Officer aboard the minelayer Abdiel, for service in the Mediterranean from April 1941. M.I.D. London Gazette 14 December 1943. As a Petty Officer aboard the minelayer Abdiel, when the ship was mined and sunk off Taranto on 10 September 1943. The Abdiel, commanded by Captain D. Orr-Ewing, D.S.O., was sunk by mines off Taranto on 10 September 1943, two days after the Italian capitulation. The vessel was being used as a fast transport employed in ferrying men of the British 1st Airborne Division (6th Royal Welsh Battalion) to the Italian mainland. The ground mines had just been laid a few hours earlier by two German torpedo boats as they vacated the harbour of their former ally. Shortly after midnight, two mines detonated beneath Abdiel and the minelayer sank in just three minutes with great loss of life amongst both soldiers and sailors. The Airborne Division lost 58 killed with some 150 injured; the Royal Navy lost six officers and 42 ratings killed. There was a suggestion that the ship’s degaussing equipment had been turned off to allow troops below decks to sleep better with less noise.
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Six: Warrant Officer Class 2 D. W. Regan, Royal Signals 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (2328953 W.O. Cl.2, R. Sigs.) minor correction to rank, slight edge bruising, good very fine (12) £60-80 Together with a mounted set of six miniature dress medals.
A well-documented Second World War Commando’s group of six awarded to Trooper T. R. Jones, Royal Artillery, attached No. 3 Commando, who captured an Italian flag during the first raid on Sicily and was taken prisoner but escaped after the desperate fight at the Punto Malati 13-14 July 1943, later renamed ‘3 Commando Bridge ‘on the orders of General Montgomery 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, very fine and better (6) £600-800 Thomas Richard Jones, who was born in Shrewsbury in 1922, fought with No. 3 Commando from late 1941 to the end of the war. During the first Commando raid on Sicily in 1943 he captured an Italian flag, as related in an accompanying copy of a wartime Shrewsbury newspaper report, which includes a photograph of Jones: ‘An Italian flag that can be seen flying in a shop window in the borough in connection with ‘Salute Week ‘is one of the first two captured from the enemy in the Sicilian campaign. It was taken by Trooper Thomas Richard Jones, aged 22, of the Commandos, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Jones, 13, Old Heath Square, Harlescott. In the town where the Commandos landed two Italian flags were flying, and the one captured by Jones was over the post office. Jones came home early this year bringing the trophy with him and, in view of the ‘Salute ‘campaign, it was lent to the Mayor. Jones was one of a force which captured a vital bridge in Sicily and held it until nightfall but eventually they were taken prisoner, and Jones, with others, was held under a German guard in a wood for 36 hours. When our guns shelled the wood the prisoners overpowered the guard, and Jones was one of the men who escaped. Before the outbreak of war he was employed by the Chatwood Safe Company and in August 1939, joined the Royal Artillery. As he was too young to go overseas he was posted to an anti-aircraft unit and nearly two years later volunteered for the Commandos.’ No. 3 Commando was the first Army Commando to be raised during the Second World War and took part in all the great raids, Dieppe among them, spearheaded the invasion of Sicily, fought through Italy, and landed in France on D-Day to link up with the Airborne. Fortunately for posterity’s sake, two of the best Commando memoirs of the 1939-45 War were written by ex-3 Commando Commanding Officers - Commando by Brigadier ‘Jock ‘Durnford Slater, D.S.O. and Bar, and Storm from the Sea by Brigadier Peter Young, D.S.O., M.C. and two Bars; see, too, the catalogue entry for the M.M. won by Troop Sergeant-Major E. G. ‘Lofty ‘King (Dix Noonan Webb, 5 April 2006), an entry with full details regarding the Commando’s activities at Dieppe and on D-Day, for Jones was surely present in these operations, in addition to the costly engagements in Sicily. At Dieppe, the Commando was charged taking an enemy battery near Bernaval Le Grand, a small village about half a mile from the sea, but, as it transpired, only a few of them ever reached the beaches, their Eureka landing craft and H.Q. ship running into five E-Boats. As one survivor put it, ‘Our flotilla was dispersed over a wide area, smoke and the smell of cordite was everywhere, dawn was breaking and a heavy curtain of fire was coming from the shore where the enemy had been alerted. We were sitting ducks.’ Only six of their landing craft eventually put men ashore on Yellow Beach 1, where they assaulted the enemy batteries until overwhelmed. The Commando suffered 140 casualties during the raid. Sicily and No. 3 Commando Bridge No. 3 Commando's opening raid on Sicily was made with the objective of destroying the coastal battery and defences near the town of Cassibile, thus allowing the vanguard of the 8th Army to land - a successful operation carried out on the night of 9-10 July 1943, but only after carrying out a frontal assault on the battery and much bitter fighting. And it was in Cassibile that Trooper Jones captured his Italian flag. The Commando was then re-embarked on the Prince Albert for its next task - the capture of the Punta dei Malati Bridge - Durnford Slater being given just a few hours notice of a plan that also involved a separate attack on another bridge at Primasole by the Airborne. Moreover, he was dubious about intelligence reporting ‘some easily discouraged Italian toops’ as the only opposition, for if the bridge was worth taking, it was equally worth defending - and he was right, his Commando eventually running into the 1st German Parachute Division after landing under fire several miles behind enemy lines at Agnone at 2200 hours on 13 July. First of all, however, operations at the bridge went well, the defenders being knocked out and the 350-strong Commando deployed in captured pill-boxes, surrounding orange groves and ravines. But, as Robin Neilland's The Raiders - The Army Commandos 1940-46 explains, elite German forces were on their way to do battle: ‘Until dawn 3 Commando had a marvellous time, shooting up everything which came along, until the road approaches to the bridge were littered with overturned or burning vehicles, but their arrival had been detected and the Germans began to mortar their positions heavily and, never slow to react, soon brought up a Tiger tank, which began to flay the Commando positions with its 88mm gun, while staying sensibly out of range of their only anti-tank weapon, the infantry PIAT. A party, sent to stalk the tank could not get close enough over the open ground, and German paratroopers were moving up to box in the troops, causing a steady stream of casualties. By 0430 hours, with no sign of 50th Division, the Commando position was becoming untenable. They had many wounded, their positions in the open valley could be overlooked and enfiladed, enemy infantry were arriving in ever increasing numbers and the tank kept rumbling about behind the ridges, appearing at regular intervals to put down more fire. The only thing missing was 50th Division, held up by the enemy at Lentini some miles away. Around 0500 hours, Durnford Slater gave the order to withdraw from the bridge in small parties, either to lie up in the hills until the Eighth Army finally arrived or, if possible, infiltrate back to their own lines. Widely deployed and still under tank fire, the Commando withdrew. They were forced to leave the wounded behind, to be captured by parachute troops from the 4th Brigade of the Hermann Goering 1st Parachute Division, who looked after them well - a kindness No. 3 Commando was able to repay a few weeks later at Termoli.’ No. 3 Commando, which was slowly reformed over the next few days, lost a total of five officers and 23 men killed, four officers and 62 men wounded and eight officers and 51 men missing - some 45% of the unit’s strength. So impressed was Montgomery, that he later ordered Durnford Slater to have a slab of stone, carved with the unit name, cemented into the Punta dei Malati Bridge, where it remains to this day. D-Day and beyond After seeing more action in Italy, particularly at Termoli, No. 3 Commando returned to the U.K in January 1944, in readiness for the coming Allied invasion at Normandy. The Commando’s allotted task on D-Day was to land with 1st Commando Brigade at La Breche to the west of Ouistreham. They were then meant to advance four miles to the bridges over the River Orne, and if the bridges had been destroyed, they were to ferry themselves over in rubber boats. They were then to continue their advance in a north-easterly direction, seizing the high ground near Le Plein. And what actually happened to the Commando on that memorable day, and in the period following until it was withdrawn to the U.K., is vividly described by Peter Young, the run-in to the beach attracting enemy fire that was ‘far too accurate to be pleasant’ - three of the Commando’s landing craft received direct hits from high-velocity shells, causing 20 casualties before
Family group: Five: Alfred Turner, Special Constabulary, late British Army 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals; Special Constabulary Long Service, E.II.R. (Alfred Turner), mounted as worn, generally good very fine Rhodesian General Service Medal (PR75667 Rfn. R. J. Turner), good very fine (6) £30-50.
Five: Private J. McCarter, Camerons 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (2939632 Pte., Camerons) surname re-impressed Pair: Warrant Officer Class 2 R. Lewis, Royal Artillery General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Borneo (880478 W.O. Cl.2, RA); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (8800478 Sgt., R.A.) good very fine and better (7) £80-100.
Eight: Sergeant R. J. Lune, Royal Air Force 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, E.II.R., 2 clasps, Malaya, Arabian Peninsula (1354241 Sgt., R.A.F.) 2nd clasp loose; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (1354241 Sgt., R.A.F.); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, South Arabia (S1354241 Sgt., R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (1354241 Sgt., R.A.F.) most with contact marks, nearly very fine and better (8) £220-280 M.I.D. London Gazette 11 October 1955. ‘.. for distinguished service in Kenya’. With copied gazette extract.
Family group: Volunteer Force Long Service (India & the Colonies), E.VII.R. (Ar. Sgt. S. F. Samson, Poona Voltr. Rfls.) Five: attributed to Assistant Accountant General Gideon Samson, Pakistan Army, late 10th Baluch Regiment 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, all unnamed as issued; together with two silver medals, one inscribed, ‘B.B.C.I. I.S.H. Tournament Runner Up 1935’ Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, in lady’s card box of issue, attributed to Rachel Samson, good very fine and better (9) £80-100 Gideon Samson was born in Mhow on 6 September 1898. He was first commissioned in July 1941, serving with the 10th Baluch Regiment; was appointed a war substantive Lieutenant in October 1942 and was Temporary Captain until March 1944. Following the independence of India in 1947 he opted to serve with the Pakistan Army and subsequently became Assistant Accountant General. Medals to Gideon Samson with British Forces Identity Card - bearing photograph; riband bar, postcards (9 unused) of Quetta; postcard to 2nd Lieutenant G. Samson at Baghdad; photographs (13) - some of Gideon Samson, one of Gideon and his wife Rachel. The medal to Rachel Samson sold with C-in-C. India letter of thanks for ‘your very valuable war service in the cause of troops welfare’, dated New Delhi, 1947, with envelope addressed to ‘Mrs Samson, 84 Garden Quarters West, Karachi’, and with named award document for the Coronation Medal together with forwarding slip addressed to ‘Mrs R. Samson, c/o Red Cross Society, Karachi’. Also with handwritten biographical and service details of both Gideon and Rachel provided by their daughter.
Family group: Five: Field Reservist J. P. S. Marais, Rhodesian Police Reserve, late South African Air Force Rhodesian Police Reserve Long Service (50377 F./R.); Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these four officially inscribed, ‘580856 J. P. S. Marais’, generally very fine and better Pair: Field Reservist J. A. M. Marais, Rhodesian Police, the son of J. P. S. Marais Rhodesian General Service Medal (18845H. F./R.); Zimbabwe Independence Medal 1980, officially numbered ‘82772’, extremely fine (7) £40-60 John Peter Stevenson Marais was born in Middelburg, Cape Province in April 1924 and enlisted in the South African Air Force in February 1943. Having then attended wireless, photography and telephone courses, he was posted to the Middle East that October, initially with an appointment in No. 17 Squadron in Palestine, but from January 1945 in No. 15 Squadron in Italy, in which capacity he remained employed until the end of the War - he was not entitled to the 1939-45 Star. Marais was demobilised in March 1946.
Seven: Reservist D. E. Durrant, Rhodesian Police Reserve, late East African Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Rhodesian General Service Medal (11820X. F./R.); Rhodesian Police Reserve Long Service (11820X. F./R., (R.)); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Southern Rhodesia (CR. 1774 P./A./Cpl.), good very fine and better, rare (7) £250-300 Dennis Edward Durrant, a pre-war member of the Rhodesian Territorials, was called up in September 1939 and, following a brief appointment on the strength of the Royal Armoured Corps out in Egypt, reverted back to the auspices of the Southern Rhodesian Military with an appointment as a Driver in the 11th Division Reconnaissance Unit in April 1941. Subsequently employed as a Trooper in the T.O.S. from October 1942, and by East African Forces from February 1944, he was awarded his Efficiency Medal by H.E. the Governor in July of the latter year and his Rhodesian Police Reserve Long Service in August 1977; sold with copied service record.
Six: Field Reservist D. K. H. Thorpe, Rhodesian Forces, late Kenya Police Rhodesian General Service Medal (21152Q. F./R. Thorp, D. K. H.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Defence and War Medals; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (I.P. I. D. K. H. Thorpe), generally good very fine or better and an unusual combination of awards (6) £80-100.
A rare campaign group of five awarded to Private M. G. van Tonder, who, having served briefly in the Royal Air Force in 1945, was among those selected for the elite 100-strong ‘C’ Squadron (Rhodesia) 22 S.A.S. in Malaya in the 1950s, and later enjoyed a long career as a Police Reservist Rhodesian General Service Medal (57350 F./R., (R.)); Rhodesian Police Reserve Long Service (5753C F./R.); Zimbabwe Independence Medal 1980, officially numbered ‘63481’; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (S.R. 1034 Pte., S. Rhod. Mil. F.), the first an officially re-impressed replacement issue, good very fine and better (5) £800-1000 M. G. Van Tonder was born in Southern Rhodesia in 1928 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in July 1945, being demobilised shortly afterwards at the War’s end. In 1952, however, he volunteered, and was accepted, for the elite 100-strong ‘C’ Squadron (Rhodesia) 22 S.A.S. Squadron raised to fight in Malaya, a chapter in his career well-illustrated by accompanying original photographs - among fellow squadron members was Ron Reid-Daly, who later became O.C. of the Selous Scouts. Upon its return to Salisbury, the unit was officially disbanded, and Van Tonder returned to civilian life, joining the British South Africa Police as a Field Reservist in 1957. He remained similarly employed until 1981 and was awarded his Rhodesian Police Reserve L.S. Medal in January 1972, in addition to his Rhodesian General Service Medal and the Zimbabwe Independence Medal. Sold with the recipient’s original R.A.F. Permanent Pass, original Malayan Scouts S.A.S. arm badge, Rhodesian S.A.S. ‘Wings ‘, various other badges and buttons, and several original and evocative photographs of the recipient in Malaya with ‘C ‘Squadron; together with full research and verification for each award.
Pair: Trooper R. H. Dunnhill, Royal Armoured Corps Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22058268 Tpr., R.A.C.); U.N. Korea, unnamed, good very fine (2) £160-200 Trooper R. H. Dunnhill, ‘C ‘Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment, served in Korea, November 1950-October 1951. A native of Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Three: Chief Petty Officer Air Engineering Mechanic (Weapons) W. R. F. Davies, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, who served with 845 Squadron in the Falklands and was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct after a Harrier training aircraft crashed near Yeovilton Air Station in 1985 General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Malay Peninsula (FX.065354 W. R. F. Davies, N.A.M.1 R.N.); South Atlantic 1982, with small rosette (CAEM(W) W R F Davies D065354U 845 Sqn.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (CEL W R F Davies D065354U HMS Osprey); Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, silver laurel leaves mounted on blue ribbon, good very fine (4) £2000-2500 Queen’s Commendation London Gazette 30 July 1985: ‘Chief Petty Officer Air Engineering Mechanic (Weapons) William Richard Ferady Davies. On 7 February 1985 a twin seat Harrier training aircraft from the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton crashed four miles north of the Air Station. Chief Petty Officer Air Engineering Mechanic (Weapons) Davies was the senior weapons specialist rating in the salvage team which arrived at the scene of the accident forty minutes after the crash. The impact of the aircraft had been followed by explosion, fire and disintegration of the airframe: the ejection seats were cast forward of the main wreckage and had come to rest inverted. The two ejection seats were quickly assessed as in a highly dangerous condition. The seat cartridges had been damaged by heat and with the seats part drawn and distorted, their entire condition was unstable and liable to explosion. In harrowing, testing and dangerous conditions, and with total disregard for his own safety Davies thoroughly examined the cartridges on both ejection seats and coolly took steps to render them safe; throughout this hazardous operation he took pains to keep the command informed of each stage of progress. Following the successful completion of his task the main salvage operation was able to be undertaken. Throughout this whole operation, in extremely arduous conditions Chief Petty Officer Air Engineering Mechanic (Weapons) Davies displayed great courage, composure and professional devotion to duty in the highest traditions of the Service.’ Sold with original citation for Commendation together with copied commendation certificate, Discharge Certificate and letter of congratulations. An original news cutting that also accompanies the group explains that this operation took Davies two-and-a-half hours to complete, during the whole of which time the bodies of the two aircrew who died in the impact were still in their seats.
Five: Corporal R. A. Duckett, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24903441Fus., RRF); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia, unnamed; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, unnamed; Jubilee 2002, unnamed; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994 (24903441 Cpl., RRF) extremely fine (5) £320-360 Richard Alan Duckett was born on 31 December 1972 and enlisted at Coventry on 17 April 1990. He served in the R.R.F. until 1 March 2005. Sold with card boxes of issue for the Jubilee 2002 and A.C.S.M. Also with copied Certificate of Service and photocopied photograph of the recipient.
Pair: Private J. R. Cunliffe, Light Infantry General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (25097813 Pte., L.I.); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Sierra Leone (25097813 Pte., L.I.), officially impressed naming, the first with minor official correction, good very fine and better (2) £450-500.
Four: Sergeant Phillimon, Rhodesian African Rifles Zimbabwe Independence Medal 1980, officially numbered ‘01875’; Rhodesia General Service Medal (R 4612 Cpl.); Rhodesia Exemplary Service Medal (R4612 Sgt,); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (4612 Pte., Rh. A.R.), the last with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus fine, the remainder very fine and better (4) £100-120 Phillimon was awarded the Exemplary Service Medal on 15 June 1973.
Sold by Order of the Family The outstanding Gallipoli V.C., Western Front M.C. group of seven awarded to Major H. James, Worcestershire Regiment, who was thrice wounded - twice in Gallipoli and again on the Somme in July 1916: his V.C. - the first such distinction won by his regiment - was awarded for extraordinary acts of bravery in June-July 1915, the last of them amounting to a protracted one man stand in an enemy sap near Gully Ravine throughout which, amidst mounds of dead and dying, he was exposed to ‘a murderous fire’ and ‘a shower of bombs’ Victoria Cross (Lieut. H. James, 4th Bn. Worcestershire Regt; 28 June & 3 July 1915); Military Cross, G.V.R. unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Worc. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); French Croix de Guerre 1914-1916, with palm, the reverse of the upper and lower arms privately engraved, ‘Lt. H. James, V.C., 1st Bn. Worc. Regt.’ and the reverse centre ‘July 7th’; Panama, Medal de la Solidaridad 1917, bronze, generally good very fine (7) £160,000-180,000 V.C. London Gazette 1 September 1915: ‘For most conspicuous bravery during the operations in the southern zone of the Gallipoli Peninsula. On 28 June 1915, when a portion of a regiment had been checked owing to all the officers being put out of action, 2nd Lieutenant James, who belonged to a neighbouring unit, entirely on his own initiative, gathered together a body of men and led them forward under heavy shell and rifle fire. He then returned, organized a second party, and again advanced. His gallant example put fresh life into the attack. On 3 July 1915, in the same locality, 2nd Lieutenant James headed a party of bomb-throwers up a Turkish communication trench, and after nearly all his bomb-throwers had been killed or wounded, he remained alone at the head of the trench and kept back the enemy single-handed till a barrier had been built behind him and the trench secured. He was throughout exposed to a murderous fire.’ M.C. London Gazette 15 October 1918: ‘During an attack, he rode forward when the situation was obscure under heavy fire, and brought back most valuable information. He then reorganised and led forward parties of men from other units and skilfully formed a defensive flank where a gap had occurred, exposing himself for many hours to a very heavy fire. By his gallantry, coolness, and utter disregard of personal safety, he set a splendid example to all ranks.’ Herbert James was born in Ladywood, Birmingham in November 1887, where his father ran a jewellery engraving business. According to his sister, it was decided that he should enter the teaching profession after his education at Smethwick Central School, and certainly he was employed as a teacher’s assistant and later primary teacher at the Bearwood Road and Brasshouse Lane Schools, but, ‘being of a roving disposition’, he wanted to go abroad, and, in April 1909, against his father’s wishes, he enlisted in the 21st Lancers, in which regiment he was appointed a Trooper and embarked for Egypt. Gallipoli By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, James was serving as a Lance-Corporal in India, but he was quickly appointed to a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment and, in March 1915, embarked for the Dardanelles. Landing at ‘W’ Beach, Cape Helles on 24 April, James received a serious head wound in the severe fighting of the 25th-26th, and was evacuated to Malta. About two months later he rejoined the 4th Battalion, in time for a newly planned attack up Gully Ravine. The following account of his exploits on 28 June was taken from The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War, by Captain H. F. Stacke, M.C.: ‘All was ready and at 9 a.m. that morning the British guns opened fire, and at 10 a.m. the attacking troops advanced. The Worcestershires were not involved in that attack, their role being confined to holding the Brigade line further to the right, but the Battalion came in for heavy gun fire while the struggle on their left swayed to and fro. On the left flank the Turkish defences along the sea cliffs were taken with comparative ease; but in the Gully Ravine itself the fire of two strong redoubts held up the attack and drove the Lowland Battalions back into our lines. That evening the 5th Royal Scots renewed the attack on these two redoubts, only to fail in their turn. The 5th Royal Scots in particular were heavily punished and most of their Company Officers were killed or wounded. Orders had been given that the 4th Worcestershires further to the right were to keep touch with the Scotsmen and to be ready to exploit any success. For that purpose Lieutenant James had been sent into the trenches of the Royal Scots to act as a Liaison Officer. When affairs became critical, he went up to the front line, at the request of the Royal Scots’ C.O., to assist in the attack. All the Scots officers in his vicinity had fallen, so Lieutenant James took command of the disorganised troops around him, restored order and established a satisfactory position. Then he went back and brought up reinforcements, only to find on his return that a renewed counter-attack by the enemy had shattered the defence. Once again, Lieutenant James re-established the line and maintained the defence until darkness fell.’ In point of fact, as verified by the citation for his subsequent award of the V.C., James led two counter-attacks himself, an extraordinary feat given the losses suffered during earlier attempts made by the Lowland Battalions - by way of illustrating the ferocious nature of the enemy’s response to such initiatives, it is worth noting that one of them, the 8th Scottish Rifles, lost 25 of its 26 officers and 448 men - all of them in the space of five minutes. And the slope up which he led his men was bereft of cover except for bushes and scrub. Over the next two or three days the fighting surged back and forth until, by 1 July, the Turks had been pushed back each side of the Ravine, but not to its immediate front, where their positions formed a salient. And it was in the attack launched on that salient by the Worcestershires and Hampshires on the 2 July - not the 3rd as cited in the London Gazette - that James rounded-off the deeds that would result in the award of his V.C. The regimental history continues: ‘After due consideration it was decided that, in view of the increasing shortage of gun ammunition, a bombing attack up the existing saps would be preferable to a big attack over the top. Two saps in the centre of the hostile line were assigned to the Worcestershires; other saps further to the left were allotted to the Hampshires. At 9 a.m. on 2 July the attack began. The attacking parties climbed out of our own sapheads, dashed across the open, rushed the sapheads of the enemy and made their way forward up the trenches. The two Turkish sapheads assigned to the 4th Worcestershires were each attacked by a party of about 30 men, those on the right being led by Lieutenant Mould and those on the left by Lieutenant James. At first all went well. The enemy, surprised by the unusual hour of attack, fell back along the trench and Lieutenant James’ party were able to make their way up the saphead. Their advance was difficult for the winding trench was full of dead bodies. Since 4 June fight after fight had raged along it and soldiers of all ranks, including even a dead General, a Brigadier of the Lowland Division, were now heaped in the trench, some half-buried by fallen sand, others but newly killed. The bombers advanced up the saphead to the trench junction at its further end. There the enemy were in waiting, and a furious bombing fight ensued. The enemy were well provided with bombs (in Gallipoli the British forces had at that date only ‘jam-tin ‘bombs. The Turks were supplied with spherical bombs of archaic appearance, but of much greater effect). and in rapid succession
The important group of awards to Field-Marshal Sir John Michel, G.C.B., Colonel of the 86th Foot, who commanded the Malwa Field Force in the pursuit of Tantia Topee in Central India, and in China commanded the 1st Division which burned the Summer Palace at Pekin in retaliation for the murder of European captives The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia by R. & S. Garrard & Co., comprising sash badge in 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1870; and breast star in silver, gold and enamels, one green enamelled stalk lacking; South Africa 1834-53 (Lieut. Colonel John Michel, 6th Regt.) renamed; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Majr. Genl. Jno. Michel, C.B.) ‘Jno.’ re-engraved otherwise officially impressed naming; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Major Genl.Sir J Michel, K.C.B. 1st Dvn. Staff) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea, British issue, unnamed; Order of the Medjidie, 2nd class set, comprising breast star in silver, gold and enamel, 94mm; and badge in silver, gold and enamels, 57mm, this lacking suspension, the star with old repair to red enamel and other minor chips; Field-Marshal’s Baton, the surviving staff only of the Field-Marshal’s Baton presented by the Queen to Michel in 1886, comprising velvet covered wooden staff with fourteen gold lions, the original gold finials apparently lost in a burglary and replaced with silver-gilt caps to each end, these hallmarked London 1946, velvet worn overall, the campaign medals with contact marks but generally very fine or better £12000-15000 John Michel was born on 1 September 1804, eldest son of General John Michel by his second wife, Anne, daughter of the Hon. Henry Fane, M.P., and granddaughter of the eighth Earl of Westmoreland. John was educated at Eton and obtained an ensigncy in the 57th Foot by purchase on 3 April 1823, passing through the 27th to the 64th Foot, joining that corps at Gibraltar, and obtaining his lieutenancy in it on 28 April 1825. He purchased an unattached company in December 1826, and in the following February exchanged back to the 64th Foot at Gibraltar. In February 1832 he entered the senior department of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and in November 1833 passed his examination and received a first certificate. He then rejoined his regiment and served with it in Ireland until February 1835, when he exchanged to the 3rd Buffs in Bengal, where he was aide-de-camp to his uncle, General Sir Henry Fane, G.C.B., while commander-in-chief in India in 1835-40. In May 1840 Michel was promoted to a majority by purchase in the 6th Foot, over the heads of many old officers in the regiment, an appointment which provoked much criticism at the time, and in April 1842, a few weeks after the arrival of the regiment in England, he purchased the lieutenant-colonelcy. He commanded the 6th Foot at home and at the Cape of Good Hope until 1854. He was in command of a brigade during the Kaffir war of 1846-47, and during part of the war of 1852-53 was in command of the 2nd division of the army in the Waterkloof (medal). At the close of the campaign he was made C.B. ‘for distinguished service in the Kaffir wars of 1846-7 and 1851-3.’ He became brevet colonel in January 1854 and was appointed to command the York recruiting district, but exchanged to half-pay in the 98th Foot, on appointment as Chief of Staff of the Turkish Contingent. With local rank of Major-General in Turkey, he held this post until the end of the Crimean war (2nc class of the Medjidie and Turkish medal). In 1856 he was appointed to a brigade at Fort Beaufort, Cape of Good Hope, at a time of great danger and threatened war, owing to the expected fulfilment in February 1857 of an old Kaffir prophecy of the destruction of the whites. The danger was hardly over before Michel was ordered to China for a command there. He was shipwrecked in the Transit steamer in the Straits of Sunda on 10 July 1857, and carried to Singapore. His services were subsequently diverted to India and he was placed on the Bombay Staff in February 1858. In June of that yera the troops in Rajputana were concentrated at Nusseerabad and Nimach, under Major-General H. G. Roberts, Bombay Army, those at Mhow consisting of a brigade under Brigadier Honner. The latter, reinforced from Bombay, were formed into a division, as the Malwa Field Force, under Michel, the command of the troops in Rajputana being added thereto in August 1858, when Roberts was promoted to the command in Gujerat. Michel became Major-General on 26 October 1858. Impressed with the necessity of cutting off from the towns the bodiesof rebels under Tantia Topee, Rao Sahib, and other leaders, and compelling them to seek the jungles, Michel adopted a strategy which proved eminently successful, despite serious physical obstacles, for the rains at this season had converted the soil at Malwa into a sea of black mud, and the heat was phenomenal. He distributed his troops in lightly equipped columns at salient points in Rajputana and Malwa, with orders to follow the rebels without intermission. Starting himself from Mhow, Michel came up with Tantia Topee at Beorora on 5 September 1858. Tantia and the cavalry fled, pursued by the British cavalry. The infantry and guns made a stand, but did not await the British onset, and leaving thirty guns behind them, eight thousand well trained troops were put to flight without the loss of a man. Michel again defeated Yantia at Mingrauli on 9 October, marched against Rao Sahib the next day, and defeated him at Sindwaha on 15 October. On 5 December he anihilated one wing of Tantia’s force near Saugor, the other escaping across the Narbada into Nagpur. Other defeats of bodies of rebels followed and they began to lose heart and creep away to their homes. Between 20 June 1858 and 1 March 1859, the field force traversed an aggregate distance of over three thousand miles, of which Michel himself marched seventeen hundred miles. The operations ended with the capture of Tantia Topee, who was taken by a small column under Brigadier Meade, was at once tried by court-martial, and was hanged on 18 April 1859 for being in arms against the British. The legality of the sentence was questioned but he was admitted to have been one of the most bloodthirsty of Nana Sahib’s advisers. Michel, who was made K.C.B., remained in command of the Mhow division untilo the end of 1859, when he was appointed to the army under Sir James Hope Grant, proceeding to the north of China. Michel commanded the 1st Division at the action at Sinho, and at the occupation of Pekin on 12 October 1860. On 18 October his division burned the Summer Palace at Pekin, in return for the treacherous treatment of Mr (afterwards Sir Harry) Parkes and some other captives. The palace had already been looted by the French and most of the Imperial treasures which found their way to England were bought from French soldiers. Sir John Michel was appointed Colonel of the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment (later 2nd Royal Irish Rifles) on 19 August 1862. From 1865 to 1867 he commanded the British troops in North America, becoming lieutenant-general in June 1866, and general in March 1874. He was advanced to G.C.B. in 1871, and selected to command the troops in the first ‘autumn manoeuvres’ in the south of England in 1873. In 1875 he was appointed commander of the forces in Ireland, and was sworn of the Irish privy council. He held the Irish command from 1875 to 1880, his social qualities and ample means rendering him extremely popular. He was a J.P. for Dorset and was made a Field-Marshal on 27 March 1885. Sir John Michel died at his seat, Dewlish, Dorset, on 23 May 1886, aged 82. The medals are accompanied by an ivorine label which records the original inscription on the base of Michel’s baton: ‘From Her Majesty Alexandra Victoria Queen of the United Kin
A fine Second World War M.B.E. group of ten awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 E. T. Maxfield, Royal Armoured Corps, late Worcestershire Regiment and Gloucestershire Regiment: a veteran of the Somme, where he was severely wounded in October 1916, he went to land on ‘Gold Beach ‘on D-Day with 61 Reconnaissance Regiment, displaying courage on ‘many occasions’ during the ensuing operations in North-West Europe The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; 1914-15 Star (21386 L. Cpl., Worc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (21386 Cpl., Worc. R.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Jubilee 1935; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., India (S. Sjt., I.U.L.), mounted as worn, generally very fine or better (10) £500-600 M.B.E. London Gazette 21 June 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘Warrant Officer Class 2 Maxfield enlisted, under age, in the Worcestershire Regiment 30 years ago today, on 2 February 1915. Throughout that time his conduct has been of the highest standard, and his record entirely unblemished. He was appointed Lance-Corporal in 1915, and went to the Middle East in November. In 1916 he went with the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment to France. He fought on the Somme and at Ypres. In October he was severely wounded near Bapaume. After the War he served two years with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine, and became a Sergeant in 1920. When his battalion was disbanded, he was transferred to the Gloucestershire Regiment. He served in India from 1922 until 1937. From then until the start of the War he was training recruits at the depot. In 1940 he was promoted C.Q.M.S. and joined the 7th Battalion, Glosters in Ireland. Here he was promoted to C.S.M. He joined 61 Reconnaissance Regiment in October 1941 as S.S.M. His work for and value to this regiment merit the highest praise. In Ireland and England, during the training years, his conduct set the fine standard for his fellow Warrant Officers and Sergeants. His unfailing courtesy to all ranks, his selfless devotion to his squadron and the Regiment, and his example of strict yet friendly discipline have been in great measure responsible for the spirit of the Regiment. There is not a man in the Regiment who was not glad to carry out his orders. On active service again, this time at the age of 47, he has been Sergeant-Major of ‘A’ Echelon since shortly after D-Day. His experience, initiative and on many occasions courage have made him quite invaluable. It would be hard to imagine a finer Warrant Officer than S.S.M. Maxfield, or a more faithful servant to the Army. I recommend him most strongly for this award.’ Edwin Thomas Maxfield orignally entered the Balkans theatre of war in December 1915, but, as verified by the above recommendation, later served in France on the Somme, as a Corporal in the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, and was severely wounded there in October 1916. Transferring to the Gloucestershires after the Great War, he served in India 1922-37, and was awarded his Jubilee 1935 Medal while employed as a Sergeant in the 1st Battalion (the official roll refers), in addition to qualifying for the L.S. & G.C. Medal. And his subsequent award of the M.B.E. was mainly in respect of services in 61 Reconnaissance Regiment, R.A.C., in North-West Europe from D-Day to February 1945 - the landings on ‘Gold Beach ‘met with strong and determined enemy resistance, our casualties amounting to over 400 killed, wounded or missing.
The Order of St. John group of four awarded to Warrant Officer F. R. Day, Capetown Defence Rifle Association, late Imperial Yeomanry The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, silver and enamel, unnamed; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (42918 Pte., 132nd Coy. Imp. Yeo.) minor solder marks; British War Medal 1914-20 (2nd C/W.O., Capetown D.R.A.); St. John Service Medal (1622 D/Supt. S.A.R. & H. .. S.J.A.B.O. 1934); together with an engraved silver medal, ‘Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Volunteer Rifles Long Range Cup 1908’ and ‘L. Cpl. F. R. Day’, 35mm., silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1908, the last two with solder marks; with edge bruising, contact marks, fine and better (5) £120-160 Francis Reginald Day was born in Dublin. A Fitter by occupation, he enlisted into the Imperial Yeomanry at Dublin on 18 January 1902, aged 21 years. Serving with the 132nd Company Imperial Yeomanry (Irish Horse) he served in South Africa, 10 May-10 October 1902. He was discharged at his own request at Stellenbosch on 10 October 1902. During the Great War he served with the Capetown Defence Rifle Association and was employed on Garrison Duty at Simonstown. Latterly he was Divisional Superintendent of the South African Railways and Harbours District of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Overseas. Sold with copied service papers.
A Great War ‘1914’ D.S.O. group of four awarded to Captain James Reginald Russell, Royal West Kent Regiment Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R. , silver-gilt and enamel, complete with brooch bar, minor enamel damage; 1914 Star, with clasp (2 Lieut., R.W. Kent R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.) nearly extremely fine (4) £1600-2000 D.S.O. London Gazette 1 December 1914. ‘For exceptional grit and gallantry in the trenches near Neuve Chapelle between 23 and 29 Oct.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 1 December 1914 & 17 February 1915. James Reginald Russell was born in Westonbury, Pembridge, Herefordshire on 9 October 1893, the son of Henry Freeman Russell, J.P., of Southfield, Leominster, Herefordshire. He was educated at Bromsgrove and Sandhurst and was gazetted into the Royal West Kent Regiment in July 1914, being promoted to Lieutenant in October 1914. He served with them at the Battle of the Marne, being for some weeks at Missey. It served also at the Battles of the Aisne and Neuve Chapelle. Such was the action in the latter battle, that Lieutenant Russell was one of only two officers left out of the original fourteen. For their great services, Lieutenants Russell and White received the congratulations of General Smith-Dorien, were mentioned in despatches and each awarded the Distinguished Service Order - one of the first to be gazetted for the Great War. In a speech to the 1st Battalion R. W. Kent Regiment on 8 November 1914, General Smith-Dorien said of the two officers, ‘I have received from the brigadier-general commanding your brigade an appreciation of the gallant conduct of Lieut. White and the other young officer (2nd Lieutenant Russell), who is not on parade today. The way these two young officers handled the regiment after all your officers had fallen; how they stuck to it and how eventually when the time came they brought the regiment out of it. I have brought their names to the notice of the Field Marshall Commanding the Troops and sincerely hope they will receive the reward they so richly deserve’. Russell was invalided to England in November 1914 suffering from a serious illness. In August 1919 he married Gwendolen Edith Lawson, daughter of Rev. G. W. Lawson. The following year the two travelled to America. Catching Influenza in New York, Captain Russell died of Pneumonia in Los Angeles, aged 26 years. Sold with D.S.O. bestowal document; the book, The First Seven Divisions, by Ernest W. Hamilton - this signed and marked by Russell; the magazine, T.P.’s Journal of Great Deeds of the Great War, 5 December 1914, which contains the article, ‘Gallant West Kents’; together with a number of newspaper cuttings re. Russell’s marriage and obituary. .
A fine Great War Gallipoli operations D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. P. Bridges, South Staffordshire Regiment, who was severely wounded while leading his battalion into action at Lala Baba in August 1915 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; 1914-15 Star (Major, S. Staff. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.), obverse centre of the first recessed and with traces of glue repair, otherwise good very fine (4) £1400-1600 D.S.O. London Gazette 2 February 1916. Edward Charles Philippi Bridges, who was born in April 1870, was commissioned in the South Staffordshire Regiment in May 1890. Having then gained advancement to Captain, he served as an Adjutant in the Indian Volunteers 1902-04 and was placed on the Reserve of Officers in December 1905. Of his subsequent part in the Great War, the following statement of services was submitted by him to the War Office in December 1920: ‘In the Spring of 1914, being then a Captain on the Reserve of Officers, and hearing from my brother Lieutenant-Colonel T. Bridges, D.S.O., then Military Attache in Brussels, of the extreme probability of an immediate war with Germany, I at once sold my farm in Matthew County, Virginia, U.S.A., and returned to England. I reported myself to the War Office and was informed if wanted I should be notified. About 6 August 1914, I was instructed to report myself at the depot of my old regiment at Lichefield, and against the advice of my medical adviser, I at once did so. In February 1915, I was appointed Brigade Machine-Gun Officer to the 33rd Brigade. In this appointment I served continuously at Cape Helles, attached to the Royal Naval Division, and, after the Brigade returned to the 11th Division, at the Suvla landing. On 10 August 1915, I was appointed to the command of the Regiment [7/South Staffordshires], vice Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Daukes, killed in action on the 9th. I remained in command of until severely wounded in an attack on 21 August. I was evacuated to England and was admitted to the Royal Free Hospital, London, until March 1916, after which I was attached to various Staffs and to assist in training work.’ Only two officers from the 7th South Staffordshires emerged unscathed from the attack at Lala Baba in the afternoon of 21 August, the serious nature of Bridges’ wounds being summarised in the following report: ‘At Suvla Bay on 21 August 1915, he was wounded by a rifle bullet in the right arm .. At 2 a.m. on 22 August aboard a hospital ship, under anaesthetic, a tube was put in the wound. He was transferred straight to England, arriving on 9 September 1915, and was in the Royal Free Hospital .. during which time he had an anaesthetic for the evacuation of pus .. the limb is flexed at a right angle on a splint and there is great muscular wasting on both upper and forearm.’ Bridges was mentioned in General Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch dated 11 December 1915 (London Gazette 28 January 1916 refers), and was awarded the D.S.O. In May 1917, while serving as Commandant of the 5th Army School of Musketry at Warloy, Bridges was badly concussed when his horse bolted into some barbed wire entanglements - he was unable to pull the horse up on account of his disabled arm - and was admitted to hospital back in England. However, following a short spell of light duty on being discharged, he was found to be unfit for further military service in February 1918, ‘owing to wounds and disabilities contracted on service’, and was placed on the Reserve of Officers as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the same month.
A Great War D.S.O. group of five awarded to Major V. A. Jackson, York and Lancaster Regiment Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with brooch bar, in Garrard, London case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Capt., York & Lanc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); Belgium, Croix de Guerre, ‘A’ cypher; together with a mounted set of five miniature dress medals, nearly extremely fine (lot) £1000-1200 D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917. M.I.D. London Gazette 15 June 1916, 4 January 1917, 11 December 1917 & 20 May 1918. Croix de Guerre London Gazette 12 July 1918. V. A. Jackson was born on 1 September 1892 and was educated at Wellington College. He married D. E. Garthside Spaight, of Derry Castle, Killaloe, Co. Clare. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the York and Lancaster Regiment in January 1902 and was promoted to Lieutenant in March 1903, Captain in September 1911 and Major in January 1917. During the Great War he served as Adjutant for the 1/4th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment to October 1915. He was afterwards on the Staff as Brigade Major for the 154th Infantry Brigade, October 1915-January 1916, and for the 164th Infantry Brigade, January 1916-March 1917. He was then G.S.O. 2nd Grade with the 55th Division, March-November 1917 and with 8 Corps, November 1917-June 1918. For his services he was four times mentioned in despatches, awarded the D.S.O. and Belgian Croix de Guerre and given the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel. Sold with ‘2nd York and Lancaster’ Prize Medal, silver and enamel, reverse inscribed, ‘Cross-Country Running, Lieut. & Adj. V. A. Jackson, 1910’; British Legion Badge (3), enamelled, one in card box of issue; National Reserve Lapel Badge, silver; 84th Regiment cap badge; other badges and buttons (10).
A Great War M.C. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant Norman McCracken, Royal Sussex Regiment, late Royal Fusiliers Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; 1914-15 Star (1805 Pte.,R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut.); Defence and War Medals, unnamed; Belgium, Order of Leopold II, Knight’s breast badge, silvered metal and enamel, silver palm on ribbon; Belgium, Croix de Guerre, ‘A’ cypher, good very fine (8) £850-950 M.C. London Gazette 18 July 1917. ‘Temp. 2nd Lt., R. Suss. R.’ ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has performed valuable work when on patrol. He twice took out patrols under very heavy fire and came in contact with the enemy each time. He also organised the cutting of our own wire, which was carried out under heavy shell fire’. Norman McCracken was born in Kilburn, London on 13 November 1881 and was educated at Highgate School. By occupation a Mercantile Clerk, he attested for service in the Royal Fusiliers at Westminster on 2 September 1914. Posted to the 18th Battalion, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 14 November 1915. He was posted to No.4 Officer Cadet Battalion in the U.K. on 20 May 1916 and on 25 September 1916 was discharged to a commission in the Royal Sussex Regiment. Returning to France McCracken won the Military Cross for his bravery in action. Serving with the 7th attached 3rd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment McCracken was wounded at Epehy on 21 September 1918 - suffering a gunshot wound to the left thigh. Sold with copied service papers, gazette extracts and m.i.c. The M.I.D. and Belgian decorations not confirmed.
A Second World War ‘Eritrean Campaign’ M.C. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. H. Platt, Royal Engineers, for gallantry during the final attack on Cheren Gorge in March 1941 whilst attached to King George V’s Own Bengal Sappers & Miners Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated 1941; India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. J. R. H. Platt, R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Lt. Col. J. R. H. Platt, M.C. R.E.); Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, together with matching set of mounted miniature medals, ribbon bar and two brass belt buckles, extremely fine (Lot) £1200-1500 M.C. London Gazette 30 December 1941: ‘In recognition of distinguished services in the Middle East (including Egypt, East Africa, The Western Desert, The Sudan, Greece, Crete, Syria and Tobruk) during the period February, 1941, to July, 1941. - Captain (Acting Major) John Richard Hooke Platt, Corps of Royal Engineers (attached King George Vs Own Bengal Sappers and Miners).’ The recommendation states: ‘On night of 18/19 March Major Platt led a demolition party of 2 Fd Coy S.M. on to the road block in the CHEREN gorge. This party came under fire from hand grenades and machine guns at close range and was withdrawn under difficult circumstances without loss owing to Major Platt’s cool leadership. On 25 March, during the final attack on CHEREN gorge Major Platt again led this demolition party on the road block, keeping parallel with the attacking infantry, blew a number of charges while the attack was in progress and remained working all day under fire. On 26 March he was again on duty at the road block and set a fine example under heavy fire, encouraging his men and showing a complete disregard of personal danger until finally he was wounded. Major Platt’s personal example contributed largely to the success of the operation.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 18 February 1938 (North West Frontier). John Richard Hooke Platt was born on 29 October 1908, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, R.E., on 30 August 1928; Lieut, 30 August 1931; Captain, 1 August 1938; Major, 30 August 1945; Lieutenant-Colonel, 10 October 1950. General Staff Officer Grade 1, Far East Land Forces, 7 December 1948 to 4 August 1951.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Company Sergeant-Major F. E. Wheeler, 23rd Royal Fusiliers Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (L-5915 C.S. Mjr. F. E. Wheeler, 23/R. Fus.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (5915 Serjt. F. Wheeler, Rl. Fus. M.I.); Tibet 1903-04, 1 clasp, Gyantse (5915 Sergt. F. Wheeler, 1st Bn. Ryl. Fuslrs.); 1914-15 Star (B-5195 C.Q.M. Sjt. F. E. Wheeler, R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (L-5915 W.O. Cl. 2 F. E. Wheeler, R. Fus.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (L-5915 W.O. Cl. II F. E. Wheeler, R. Fus.) mounted for display, nearly very fine or better (7) £2000-2500 D.C.M. London Gazette 1 May 1918: East of Bourlon Wood 27th November - 4th December 1917:- ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Always cool and courageous, he performed his duties regardless of hostile fire, and though blown up by a shell and wounded he still carried on, and rendered invaluable aid to his company commander. He was also instrumental in digging out a machine gun team who had been buried by a shell, his promptitude in getting to work saving all their lives. No man could have set a higher example of the duties of a company serjeant-major in action.’.
A Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant S. Turnbull, Royal Engineers, late London Regiment and Machine Gun Corps, who was decorated for his services in the 2nd Tank Brigade Signals Company, R.E. Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (547281 Sjt. S. Turnbull, R.E.); 1914-15 Star (1725 Pte., 23-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1725 Sjt., 23-Lond. R.), mounted as worn, occasional edge bruising and somewhat polished, nearly very fine or better (4) £700-900 D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919: ‘He has done consistently good work in charge of cable-laying parties in every action in which the Brigade has taken part. On several occasions he has laid and maintained lines under shell fire and it has largely been due to him that communications have been successfully maintained.’ Sidney Turnbull was born in Battersea, London in 1895 and enlisted in the 1/23rd London Regiment at St. John’s Hill in July 1913, aged 18 years. Arriving in France in March 1915, he was wounded near Hulluch that October and evacuated via No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station to Estertet and thence to Le Havre. Rejoining his regiment in the Field in early 1916, he transferred to ‘B’ Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Heavy Section) in January 1917, and to the 2nd Tank Brigade Signals Company, R.E. as a Sergeant that July, and it was in the latter capacity that he won his D.C.M. Turnbull was demobilised in March 1919; sold with an original portait photograph and the recipient’s Certificate of Discharge.
A Great War ‘Battle of Kut’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Serjeant W. Cole, Dorset Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7728 Pte., 2/Dorset Regt.); 1914-15 Star (7728 Pte., Dorset R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (7728 Pte., Dorset R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (5718090 Sjt., D.C.M., Dorset R.) last with correction to service number, some contact marks, very fine (5) D.C.M. London Gazette 22 January 1916. ‘For conspicuous gallantry at Kut-al-Amara (Mesopotamia), on the 28th September 1915, in bringing up ammunition to the firing line at least three times under heavy fire’. M.I.D. London Gazette 5 April 1916. Private William Cole, Dorset Regiment, entered the Asiatic theatre of war on 6 November 1914. Serving in Mesopotamia with the Dorsets he won a D.C.M for the battle of Kut, 27-28 September 1915. The regimental history states: ‘After some months spent in Amara the battalion covered themselves in glory at the Northern Redoubt which they took at bayonet point during the assault on Kut in September 1915. Not listed among the Dorset’s taken after the fall of Kut-al-Amara. Sold with copied m.i.c. and other research. .
An outstanding Great War D.C.M. awarded to Able Seaman W. F. E. Northern, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, for ‘most conspicuous gallantry’ at Niergnies in October 1918, the very last action of the Royal Naval Division, when he single-handedly knocked out a tank with his Lewis gun Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (R-639 A.B. W. F. E. Northern, Hood Bn: R.N.V.R.); British War and Victory Medals (R 639 W. F. E. Northern, Act. L.S. R.N.V.R.) extremely fine (3) £2000-2500 D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919; Citation 10 January 1920: ‘For most conspicuous gallantry at Niergnies, on October 8th, 1918. When all the rest of the crew of his Lewis gun had become casualties he carried on alone, and kept his gun in action. After the enemy counter-attacked with tanks and forced back our line, he rushed forward alone with his gun and got it into action against an enemy tank. When the tank had been knocked out he advanced his gun and fired on the advancing enemy waves, dispersing them.’ Before the main body of the Third Army could advance, their flank, menaced by the enemy concentration at Cambrai, had to be secured. During the first days of October 1918, the operations had flagged and finally, on October 5th, the 17th Corps was informed that the immediate capture of Niergnies and its defences was of vital importance, and must be achieved. The Naval Division was about to entrain for the St Pol area but Sir Charles Fergusson applied for the temporary return of the Division to undertake the operation. No secret was made of the reason for the decision, and the battalions were promised relief the day Niergnies was captured. At 4.30 on the 8th October the advance began and, by 6 am the first objective had been carried. At 9.30 am the enemy counter-attacked in force, seven captured British tanks emerged from a sunken road and advanced against our line. One tank was dealt with by a captured anti-tank rifle by Commander Buckle, of the Anson Battalion, while another was dealt with by Commander Pollock, of the Hood Battalion, using a captured German gun. Two were dealt with by fire from our own guns [one of these by Able Seaman Northern] and another was knocked out by the artillery using a captured German gun reversed. Two tanks only escaped towards Wambaix. After hard fighting all morning Niergnies was finally captured and the way was now open for the advance of the Third Army, and next morning the whole line south of Cambrai moved forward. This was the very last action of the Royal Naval Division. Casualties totalled 613 officers and men from the Hood, Hawke, Drake and Anson Battalions. William Frederick Edward Northern was born on 17 November 1898, at Burton Latimer, Northants. He was enployed in the boot trade prior to joining up in January 1917. He joined the Hood Battalion in France on 8 April 1918, and was demobbed in April 1919.
Family group: An extremely rare and unusual Iraq 1920 operations D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant C. Downs, Royal Garrison Artillery, attached Inland Water Transport, whose gallant deeds saved the defence vessel Grey Fly after she came under heavy fire on the Euphrates Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1402109 Sjt. C. Downs, R.G.A.); 1914-15 Star (20700 Bmbr., R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (20700 Sjt., R.A.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (20070 Sjt., R.G.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (1402109 Sjt., D.C.M., R.G.A.), one or two edge bruises, otherwise very fine and better The Egypt and Sudan campaign pair awarded to Private A. Downs, Manchester Regiment Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (2086 Pte., 2/Manch R.); Khedive’s Star 1882, slight pitting and bruised over unit, otherwise very fine (6) £3000-3500 Just 32 Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded between the Wars, and only around six of these for the Iraq operations. D.C.M. London Gazette 28 January 1921: ‘For conspicuous gallantry on 20 August 1920 whilst the defence vessel Grey Fly was proceeding towards Samawah. Being under close fire from the enemy an awning caught fire, and Sergeant Downs drew water from the river, climbed over the roof and put out the fire, and saved the ship.’ As verified by the History of The Royal Regiment of Artillery - Between the Wars 1919-39, by Major-General B.P. Hughes, C.B., C.B.E., another defence vessel - the Fire Fly - employed in these operations was less fortunate, being sent to the bottom of the Euphrates off Kufa by an 18-pounder which had been captured by the Arabs at Hillah - although the breech block had been removed before its capture, the enemy managed to forge a rough substitute. This was just three days before Downs won his D.C.M. in the Grey Fly, while en route to the relief of Samawah, about 70 miles from Kufa.
A particularly fine Second World War Coastal Forces D.S.M. group of five awarded to Temporary Lieutenant (E.) R. J. A. Bunce, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who was decorated for his gallant deeds as a Chief Motor Mechanic in the 50th M.G.B. Flotilla Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A.C.M.M. R. J. A. Bunce, P/MX. 98931); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Ty. Sub. Lieut. (E.) R. Bunce, R.N.V.R.), mounted as worn, together with his wartime identity disc, good very fine or better (6) £1400-1600 D.S.M. London Gazette 9 May 1944. The original recommendation states: ‘Acting Chief Motor Mechanic Bunce has consistently shown skill and devotion to duty of a high order. On the night of 3 August 1943, when in M.G.B. 604 under my command, the boat was rammed in the engine room. Bunce worked up to his waist in oil and water, with the engine room full of wreckage and steam, and kept one partly submerged engine running for six hours and 33 minutes. He repeatedly dived below the engine, at great risk of being caught in the turning shafts, and was eventually successful in cutting the water inlet suction pipe so that the engine drew water out of the bilges. During the action on the night of 24-25 October 1943, the lights failed in the plotting house, on the bridge, and down the whole port side of the ship [M.G.B. 609], due to a sudden short. He effected emergency repairs under difficulty in 30 seconds, thus materially assisting in the continuation of the action.’ Robert Joseph Arthur Bunce was born in Tooting, London in July 1915 and joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as an Ordinary Seaman in March 1936. A Signalman serving aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Ceres on the outbreak of hostilities, he came ashore in October 1940 to take up successive appointments in the naval bases Lanka in Ceylon and Sheba in Aden, following which he returned to the U.K. in June 1941. Thereafter, as verified by his service record, he was ‘discharged to R.N. engagement’, and by May 1942 was serving as an Acting Chief Motor Mechanic at the Portland Coastal Forces’ base Attack - here then the commencement of his long association with M.G.Bs. Moving to the Lowestoft base Mantis in June 1942, where he was recommended for a decoration for services in M.G.B. 21 that September, Bunce remained similarly employed until removing to the 50th M.G.B. Flotilla, operating out of Midge at Great Yarmouth, in May 1943. And it was in the course of this latter appointment, for gallant service in M.G.Bs 604 - when rammed and flooded - and 609, that he won his D.S.M. An indication of the importance of the actions fought by M.G.B. 609 and her consorts on the night of 24-25 October 1943 is to be found in the London Gazette of 15 October 1948, for therein was published a full account of the night’s proceedings, via Admiral of the Fleet Jack Tovey’s original despatch of 18 November 1943 - one of just four epic Coastal Forces’ actions chosen for post-war publication to represent the many daring feats and sacrifices made by that gallant body of men in the ‘Battle of the Narrow Seas ‘, and beyond. In it, Tovey describes a series of ferocious firefights with around 30 E-boats, at least two of which failed to return to base. As part of the 50th Flotilla, operating out of Midge at Great Yarmouth, M.G.Bs 609 and 610 formed ‘Unit R ‘that night, the former commanded by Lieutenant P. N. ‘Pat ‘Edge, R.N.V.R., with Bunce aboard, and the latter by Lieutenant W. ‘Bob ‘Harrop, R.N.V.R. - both officers shortly to be D.S.Cs. One and all were in for a busy night, but by dawn the two ‘Dogboats ‘had contributed towards a significant turning point in Coastal Forces’ fortunes, the whole by means of highly skilled radar work and disciplined gunnery - and cold blooded courage of a high order. In summary of 609’s and 610’s engagements that night, Tovey stated in his famous ‘Coastal Forces Despatch ‘: ‘Unit R - M.G.Bs 609 and 610 - moved up to their northerly position at about 0100, and obtained hydrophone contact and then radar contact even before they were alerted by shore radar. From 0100 to 0141 Unit R stalked the enemy, keeping between him and the convoy. As soon as the enemy showed signs of closing the convoy, Unit R attacked, twice forcing him to withdraw to the eastward, the second time for good. The second boat in the line, on which 609 and 610 concentrated their fire, was undoubtedly hit hard and forced to leave the line. This group of E-Boats was the only one to operate north of 57F buoy, east of Sheringham .. the Senior Officer of this unit, Lieutenant P. Edge, showed a quick and sound appreciation of the C.-in-C’s object in fleeting the unit, i.e., the defence of the northbound convoy, and throughout handled his unit with tactical ability of a high order. Skilful use of radar gave him an exact picture of the enemy’s movements and enabled him to go into action at a moment of his own choosing. The moment he chose was entirely correct and there is no doubt that this well fought action saved the convoy from being located and attacked.’ Bunce remained actively employed in 609 until May 1944, when he removed to M.T.B. 734, in which boat he served off Normandy prior to coming ashore in mid-July. Having then been commissioned as a Temporary Sub. Lieutenant (E.), he would appear to have ended his war with an appointment in the frigate Grindall. Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including Admiralty letter of notification for the award of the recipient’s D.S.M., dated 11 May 1944, and related Buckingham Palace forwarding letter in the name of ‘Sub. Lieutenant (E.) R. J. A. Bunce, D.S.M., R.N.V.R.’; official letters regarding the award of his L.S. & G.C. Medal, dated in March and May 1949; his R.N. and R.N.V.R. Certificates of Service and Signal History Sheet; a Sea Cadet Corps letter confirming his advancement to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant; and an interesting selection of wartime photographs (approximately 10), including M.G.B. crew line-up and scenes of the U-532 arriving at Liverpool on 17 May 1945.
A rare and most unusual Great War Southern Russia operations M.M. group of eight awarded to Flight Sergeant B. Tatton, Auxiliary Air Force, late Royal Warwickshire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (1918 Pte. B. Tatton, 9/R. War. R.); 1914 Star, with clasp (1918 Pte., R. War. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1918 A. Cpl., R. War. R.); Defence and War Medals; Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Bertie Tatton, M.M.); Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (805154 Cpl., A.A.F.), the third with loose replacement riband bar and all the Great War period awards with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus good fine, the remainder good very fine (8) £800-1000 M.M. London Gazette 29 March 1919. Bertie Tatton, a native of Birmingham, first entered the French theatre of war on 4 October 1914, most probably as a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshires. Sometime thereafter transferring to the 9th Battalion, which unit arrived in Mesopotamia in February 1916, but moved to South Persia in July 1918 and to South Russia that August, he was awarded his M.M for the fighting at Baku as a member of ‘Dunsterforce ‘in the following month - Baku being the oil-rich key to control of the Caspian Sea. Formal notification of his award was received ‘In the Field ‘at Krasnovodsk on 21 October 1918 (Battalion war diary refers), the same source also listing M.M. London Gazette 29 March 1919. Bertie Tatton, a native of Birmingham, first entered the French theatre of war on 4 October 1914, most probably as a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshires. Sometime thereafter transferring to the 9th Battalion, which unit arrived in Mesopotamia in February 1916, but moved to South Persia in July 1918 and to South Russia that August, he was awarded his M.M for the fighting at Baku as a member of ‘Dunsterforce ‘in the following month - Baku being the oil-rich key to control of the Caspian Sea. Formal notification of his award was received ‘In the Field ‘at Krasnovodsk on 21 October 1918 (Battalion war diary refers), the same source also listing four other M.Ms and a brace of M.Cs for the same operations, the citations for the latter being in respect of a hotly contested action at Baku on 14 September 1918. Of this action - and there can be no doubt it was the same engagement that resulted in Tatton being decorated - the war diary states: ‘Saturday 14th: 4 a.m. - very heavy rifle fire and machine-gun fire on the left of the line which increased in intensity up to dawn. Enemy had attacked and by 8 a.m. it was reported that they had broken through Wolf’s Gap and 2,000 were advancing on Baku. Enemy demonstrated on the left of our front from Binagady Oil Stacks at dawn. Captain E. J. N. Bushill’s detachment moved to Brigade about 9 a.m. to protect our rear as the left of the line appeared to be badly broken. 11.15 a.m. - message from Russian H.Q. saying that three ship loads of Bicherakoff’s troops had arrived and were proceeding straight into action - this as it turned out was entirely false. 1 p.m. - Worcesters finding the enemy operating at their rear were compelled to withdraw from Baladgari and the railway embankment to high ground in rear, leaving our left exposed. The enemy then attacked our left, and ‘A’ Company withdrew to high ground in line with the Worcesters with enemy holding the railway embankment. ‘D’ Company fell back to the top of the cliffs. Orders from Brigade, who had fallen back one mile along the Baku Dygya road, to withdraw. Battalion H.Q. established in rear house on outskirts of town, about 300 yards behind lines about 3.30 p.m. 5 p.m. - received orders that British would withdraw to the town at dusk and evacuate. 8.45 p.m. - Brigade, 8th Battery R.F.A. and several Dunsterforce officers marched into the town prepared for street fighting and proceeded to Arsenal Square for embarkation on three ships already prepared. Embarked immediately. Ford cars, armoured cars and aeroplanes were all destroyed or thrown into the sea. Our boat sailed about midnight with all Lewis guns mounted on the bridge deck. No shots were fired at us. Practically all kits had to be left behind.’ The Battalion sustained casualties of four officers and 12 other ranks wounded, three missing and two killed. Tatton was awarded his Air Efficiency Award in 1943 (Air Ministry Orders N. 1176-N. 1198 of that year refer), and his Imperial Service Medal for subsequent services as a Warehouseman in the Supplies Department of G.P.O., Birmingham (London Gazette 18 December 1951 refers).
A Great War Somme operations M.M. group of four awarded to 2nd Lieutenant J. Scott, Machine Gun Corps, late Royal Fusiliers Military Medal, G.V.R. (8142 A. Sjt. J. Scott, 1/R. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (8142 Pte., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.), mounted as worn, together with illuminated M.G.C. presentation certificate of service 1915-18, in the name of ‘Lieut. J. Scott’, and an attractive embroidered crest of the Royal Fusiliers, very fine and better (Lot) £500-600 M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1916. John Scott was born in Dumfries in June 1895, the son of a Church of Scotland lay-preacher, and was working as a correspondence clerk at Carlisle Railway Station, employed by an agent of the Glasgow and South Western Railway, on the outbreak of hostilities. Enlisting in the 18th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in August 1915, he quickly transferred to the 1st Battalion and arrived in France that November. Gaining steady promotion over the coming months, he was awarded his M.M. for bravery on the Somme, most probably in the 1st Battalion’s costly attack on the ‘Hill Street ‘and ‘West Brompton ‘features on 21 August 1916, when ‘good shooting at close range’ was noted by the Battalion’s diarist. Sometime therafter, Scott returned home and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps in April 1917, in which capacity ‘he was unlucky enough to sustain serious injuries to both thighs, his right leg, hands and chin’ in October 1918, injuries that resulted in the amputation of his leg and a finger. After a lengthy period of recuperation, and advancement to Lieutenant, he was finally demobilised in August 1919. Settling in Glasgow, where he was employed at Central Station, Scott died in May 1952, aged 56 years - details taken from an accompanying biographical note.
A Great War M.M. group of four awarded to Private F. Simcoe, East Surrey Regiment, who was killed in action in August 1917 - as a member of the 8th Battalion, it is worth speculating whether he had earlier survived that unit’s famous ‘football advance ‘over No Man’s Land on the 1 July 1916 Military Medal, G.V.R. (5523 Pte., 8/E. Surr. R.); 1914-15 Star (5523 L. Cpl., E. Surr. R.); British War and Victory Medals (5523 Pte., E. Surr. R.), nearly extremely fine (4) £400-500 M.M. London Gazette 26 May 1917. Frederick Simcoe, who was born in Bedford and enlisted in the East Surreys at Northampton, first entered the French theatre of war in July 1915. Subsequently awarded his M.M. for services in the 8th Battalion, he was killed in action on 7 August 1917, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
A Great War M.M. awarded to Private T. Greenwood, Cheshire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (201715 Pte., 1/4 Ches. R.-T.F.) claw tightened, slight edge bruising, very fine £180-220 M.M. London Gazette 19 March 1918. Thomas (Josh) Greenwood enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment on 10 October 1907. He served overseas with the 2nd Battalion in India, February 1909-November 1914; with the B.E.F. in France, January-May 1915 where he was gassed and wounded in the neck; with the Egypt Expeditionary Force, February 1916-June 1918; in Taranto, Italy, June-August 1918, and then with the Army of the Black Sea, October 1919-September 1920. Re-enlisting in June 1919, he was discharged at his own request on 13 August 1929. Greenwood died at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, on 5 March 1967, aged 78 years. In his prime he was a good boxer and was noted in the regiment as a champion ‘backward long jumper’. He was known in the regiment as ‘Josh the Devil’ because of the large tattoo of the fallen angel across the whole of his chest and shoulders. Sold with some copied service and family history.
The Great War M.M. awarded posthumously to Lance-Corporal A. E. Nelson, 14th Battalion (Young Citizen Volunteers), Royal Irish Rifles, who was killed in action at Thiepval Wood on the first day of the battle of the Somme Military Medal, G.V.R. (6322 L. Cpl. A. E. Nelson, 14/R. Ir. Rif.) nearly extremely fine £500-600 M.M. London Gazette 11 November 1916. Lance-Corporal Albert Ernest Nelson, 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on 1 July 1916, and is buried in the Connaught Cemetery, Thiepval. He was aged 21, son of Albert Edward and Mary Nelson, of Bryson Street, Belfast. Private William McFadzean, of the 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for throwing himself on top of a box of bombs which had overturned in a crowded trench, two of which exploded, their pins having fallen out, killing him instantly. This occurred early on the morning of 1 July 1916, whilst the bombs were being distributed to the bombers previous to the famous advance from Thiepval Wood.
A 1940 Battle of France M.M. group of three awarded to Guardsman Reginald Abson, Coldstream Guards Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2655363 Gdsmn. R. Abson, C. Gds.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (3) £1200-1500 Ex Seabrook Collection, D.N.W. 28 March 2002. M.M. London Gazette 22 October 1940. The recommendation states: ‘During the period 21/22 May, 1940, at Pecq on the Scheldt, Gdmn. Abson was in charge of his company’s stretcher bearers. The posts were in a very exposed position. He repeatedly went across the open to attend to the wounded under heavy rifle fire. Guardsman Abson showed no regard for his personal safety and was a fine example to all ranks.’ Reginald Abson was born at Doncaster on 6 May 1911, and enlisted into the Coldstream Guards at Sheffield on 18 January 1932. He served with the B.E.F. in France from 19 September 1939 until 4 June 1940, when he was evacuated from Dunkirk. He was discharged for medical reasons on 11 December 1941, then being described as ‘An excellent soldier and a good fighter. A very steady and reliable man.’.
A Second World War Middle East operations B.E.M. group of seven awarded to Staff Sergeant J. H. W. Gale, Royal Engineers, late Royal Warwickshire Regiment British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (No. 1868311 Staff Sgt. John H. W. Gale); British War and Victory Medals (25010 Pte., R. War. R.), initials ‘J. H.’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, generally good very fine (7) £300-350 B.E.M. London Gazette 14 October 1943: In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.’ The original recommendation states: ‘This N.C.O. has shown untiring energy and devotion to duty over a long period. He has been employed on the erection and maintenance of water and petrol installations for a factory, supply depots, railway marshalling yards and convoy bivouacs. His outstanding efforts in the face of continued overwork, and technical difficulties, have proved an example to all, and have contributed in a considerable measure to the success of these operational installations in supplying the forward troops.’ John Henry William Gale, who was serving in 54 C.R.E. at the time of the above award, was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 24 June 1943).
An extremely rare Silver Cross of Rhodesia group of three awarded to Colour-Sergeant J. ‘Jock ‘McKelvie, Support Commando, 1st Rhodesian Light Infantry, late Royal Marine Commandos Silver Cross of Rhodesia (727700 Sgt. J. McKelvie); General Service 1962, 3 clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Northern Ireland (RM. 22353 J. McKelvie, Mne., R.M.); Rhodesia General Service (727700 Sgt. McKelvie, J.), this last an official replacement stamped ‘(R.)’, generally good very fine (3) £2500-3000 The Silver Cross of Rhodesia was awarded on just 30 occasions, four of the recipients being members of the Rhodesian Light Infantry. The official citation for McKelvie’s award, signed by Lieutenant-General J.S.V. Hickman, Commander of the Army, in July 1976, states: ‘Sergeant McKelvie was involved in 14 contacts during the period May 1976 to February 1977. In all these contacts he displayed considerable initiative, leadership and gallantry and, together with his men, accounted for over 60 terrorists. The following contacts are particularly noteworthy: On 9 November 1976, Sergeant McKelvie and seven men were dropped by helicopter into an area in which a large group of terrorists were based. The helicopter was subsequently grounded. Despite the lack of air support, Sergeant MeKelvie and his men killed 18 terrorists in the space of three hours. Sergeant McKelvie's conduct during this contact was exemplary. The success of this contact, which was enhanced by the killing of a further five terrorists and the capture of one, was due principally to Sergeant McKelvie’s personal example, gallantry and coolness in the face of determined opposition. On the 24 November 1976, Sergeant McKelvie and seven men were dropped by helicopter into an area containing a group of terrorists. Once again, through determination, aggression and first class leadership, Sergeant McKelvie and his men, who were later joined by additional men, killed 13 and captured two wounded terrorists. Throughout these and other contacts Sergeant McKelvie has inspired confidence and aggressive spirit in his men. His gallantry, example and disregard for his personal safety have been of the highest order and his professional dedication and determination have been an inspiration to all who serve with him. While in a contact in December 1976, he was severely wounded in the thigh and leg causing him to be hospitalised for two months.’ John ‘Jock ‘McKelvie was born in Glasgow in July 1946 and joined the Royal Marines in July 1963. During his 12 years with the Marines he served with 40, 41 and 42 Commando R.M., and was present in operations in Borneo, the Malay Peninsula and Northern Ireland - his official certificate of service confirms. Having been promoted Sergeant in January 1974, he took premature voluntary release in June of the following year, and, with much experience of Commando and anti-terrorist operations under his belt, was a natural candidate for the Rhodesian Army, in which he served with distinction, winning the Silver Cross of Rhodesia. Accompanying research suggests that McKelvie left Rhodesia at short notice, as a result of which he never received his Rhodesia General Service Medal. However, as confirmed by an accompanying letter, and with Lieutenant-General John Hickman’s blessing, a replacement was obtained ‘through the official manufacturer’ and mounted for display with his original Silver Cross and General Service 1962 awards in 2001. Sold with the recipient’s original Royal Marines certificate of service, together with congratulatory letters from President Wrathall, Lieutenant-General J. S. V. Hickman, and officers of the 1st Rhodesian Light Infantry, for the award of his Silver Cross; an eye-witness account of the action fought on 9 November 1976, written by one of the helicopter pilots; three official group photographs, and several other associated photographs, letters and confirmation of provenance.
Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Captn. H. J. Darell, 1st Bn. 60th R. Rifles) minor edge bruising and contact marks, very fine £600-700 Henry John Darell received his commission by purchase in the 60th Rifles in May 1837 and became a Lieutenant by purchase in July 1841 and Captain by purchase in January 1844. He served in the 2nd Sikh War, being present at the siege and storm of Mooltan and the capture of the citadel; in the battle of Goojerat, and the pursuit of the Sikh army under Rajah Shere Sing until its final surrender at Rawal Pindi. He also took part in the occupation of Attock and Peshawar and the expulsion of the Afghan force under Ameer Dost Mohammed beyond the Khyber Pass. Darell was awarded the brevet of Major on 28 May 1853 and retired on 28 November 1854.
India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Lieutt. Wm. Tate Groom, 1st Madras Fusrs.) minor edge bruise and slight contact marks, good very fine £300-360 William Tate Groom was born in London on 20 August 1831. He was educated privately at Bognor Regis and at Rugby School. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Madras Fusiliers on 20 August 1850 and was advanced to Lieutenant in March 1854. Groom served in the relief of Pegu in December 1852 and the second investment of the city in January 1853. Serving in the supression of the Indian Mutiny, he was dangerously wounded in the right thigh at Lucknow on 5 October 1857, and subsequently died of his wounds. Lieutenant Groom was dangerously wounded during the taking of the ‘Yellow House ‘between Alumbagh and Charbagh on 5 October 1857. Colonel R. Napier in his despatch of the same date to Major-General Sir James Outram mentions Groom in action a day or two earlier: ‘In the afternoon of the 1st, the column formed in the road leading to the Paen Bagh, and advanced through the buildings near the gaol, occupied the mass of houses on the left and front of Phillips’ Garden, under guidance of Mr Phillips the former occupant, and the enemy were driven from some houses and a barricade on the left of our advance, by fifty men of the Madras Fusiliers, led by Lieutenant Groom under a sharp fire of musketry, in a very spirited manner’. Sold with copied research.
The Afghan Medal to Captain C. J. R. Fulford, 26th Bengal Native Infantry, who was shot by an assailant on 20 April 1882 Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Capt., 26th Regt. Ben. N.I.) good very fine £400-500 Cecil John Russell Fulford was born at St. Leonards-on-Sea on 8 April 1845, the eldest son of Admiral John Fulford, Royal Navy. Educated at the Royal Military Academy, he entered the Army as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 18 July 1865. Posted to India, he continued to serve with the Artillery until September 1870 when he was appointed Second Wing Subaltern in the 26th Native Infantry on probation for the Bengal Staff Corps. In March 1871 he was advanced to First Wing Subaltern and in January 1877 became Wing Officer and Quartermaster. In November 1878 he accompanied the regiment on service with the Southern Afghanistan Field Force and for a time in December he officiated as Brigade-Major to the Second Brigade of Infantry. After service in Afghanistan, 1878-79, he was posted home and joined the Staff College at Sandhurst. On passing the College he returned to India in early 1881 and rejoined his old regiment. With them, he was appointed Quartermaster of the corps and Wing Commander. In July 1881 he was appointed Officiating Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General at the headquarters of the Rohilkhand District, and in September was additionally appointed Officiating Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. In the spring of 1882 he was transferred as D.A.Q.M.G. to the Peshawar District. On 20 April 1882, in the evening, while he was out walking along the road by the the shrine in front of the mission house in the cantonment of Peshawar, a fanatical Pathan crept up behind him and shot him in the back with a pistol loaded with a bullet and about a dozen pellets. Captain Fulford died of his injuries on 4 May 1882. The Pathan who shot Fulford was, within a few minutes of his crime, shot and bayoneted by a sepoy of the 35th N.I., while attacking Colonel Rowcroft and a soldier of the Cheshire Regiment with a knife. Sold with copied research.
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Lieut. H. C. Gribble, 3rd Dn. Gds.) good very fine and a rare casualty £1400-1800 Landed at Ismailia, 24 August 1882. Present at the battles of Magfar, 24 August, and Mahsamah, 25 August 1882. Attached to the 7th Dragoon Guards, he was killed in action at the battle of Kassassin, 28 August 1882, taking part in the ‘Moonlight Charge’ of the 7th Dragoon Guards and the Household Cavalry Brigade. On the morning of the 28th August the Egyptians threatened the advanced troops at Kassassin, and the Household Squadrons and the 7th Dragoon Guards, at Mahsamah, were ordered forward. All day, in burning sun and parched with thirst, they remained out in the desert. As all was apparently quiet, Drury Lowe returned at 4.30 p.m. to Mahsamah to feed. Many a time has one seen horses mad with thirst, but surely never so mad as on that day, for no sooner was the canal in sight than the horses took charge of their riders, and rushing down the muddy banks, plunged into the water girth-high, and drank as if they had never drunk before. Before the Brigade got back to camp guns were heard again, and immediately the order came to turnout. It was now dark and the 7th Dragoon Guards, leading, directed the advance by the evening star. A mile or two further on the flashes of the Egyptian guns, as they bombarded the camp at Kassassin, gave a more tangible objective. Drury Lowe, having received orders to attack the enemy's left, made a wide sweep to the north. At this time the 7th were in the first line, the guns of N Battery, R. H. A., behind, and the Household Troops in support. Suddenly the Brigade came under fire from Infantry and Artillery, and the 7th were ordered to wheel outwards to uncover the guns, and then to form up in support of the Household Squadrons. By this time the moon had risen. Squadrons showed up black, and flash answered flash as the opposing guns opened one on the other. The order now came to charge, and away went the Household Squadrons led by the gallant Ewart. Into the Egyptian Infantry and up to the guns thev went, the 7th following as a solid reserve in hand, but a little of this work was enough for the enemy, and they evaporated in all directions. It was now about 9 p.m., and, the firing having, ceased, all returned to camp. The losses of the Regiment on this occasion were: Lieut. Gribble, 3rd Dragoon Guards, attached, killed, and three men wounded.’ (Ref. Seventh (Princess Royal’s) Dragoon Guards. The Story of the Regiment.).
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (262 Pte. T. Preston, 1/Welch R.) jeweller’s mark and other fine scratches to obverse, very fine, scarce £140-180 Most of the regiment were entitled to the clasp ‘Gemaizah’ but 53 men served with the Mounted Infantry and received a ‘no clasp’ medal. Of these, 17 men of the regiment, including Preston, were present at the Battle of Korosko, 3 August 1889.
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89 (3), dated reverse, no clasp (252 Pte. M. .shcroft, 2/Manch. R.) edge bruising, contact marks, fine; another, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-el-Kebir (296 Pte. R. Martin, 1-R. Ir. Fus.) late issue, contact marks, nearly very fine; another, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (1707 L. Serjt. W. Conran, 2nd D. of C. Lt. Infty.) late issue, contact marks, good fine (3) £150-200.
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (525 Pte. A. Brace, 2/Essex R.) slight edge bruising, pitting, nearly very fine £140-180 Awarded a Testimonial of the Royal Humane Society for saving the life of Corporal William Marriott who was in imminent danger of drowning in the Nile at Keneh (ref. R.H.S. Case Book 1885) - not with lot.
India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (673 Cpl. C. R. Gilham, 1st Bn. Gord. Highrs.) first and second clasps wired together, good very fine £350-400 Charles Robert Gilham was born at Allahabad, East Indies, and attested for the Gordon Highlanders on 4 November 1882. He served in the Chitral Relief Expedition of 1895, and in the Tirah Expedition of 1897-98. He served in South Africa from November 1899 and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette 27 September 1901). A musician by trade, he was discharged in the rank of Sergeant at Pretoria on 23 July 1902, with the intention of remaining with Head Quarters, Rand Rifle Volunteers at Johannesburg. Sold with copy discharge papers.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (7454 Pte. J. Wedderburn, North’d. Fus.) correction to several letters of surname, replacement suspension rod, carriage showing evidence of further clasps now removed; another (8243 Pte. C. Holland, Manch. Regt.) this lacking suspension/clasps; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935 (3595055 Pte. O. Evans, Bord. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (21136639 Rfn. Dhanbahadur Rai, 7 G.R.) nearly very fine and better (4) £70-90 Medal to Wedderburn with copied service papers showing entitlement to the Q.S.A with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. Medal to Holland with some copied service papers. Evans not entitled to the clasp ‘North West Frontier 1935’ - this has been fitted at a later date.
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