Eight: Private R. McCullagh, Liverpool Regiment, later Mercantile Marine 1914-15 Star (1512 Pte. R. McCullagh. L’pool. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1512 Pte. R. McCullagh. L’pool. R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named card boxes of issue, and bestowal slips, slight edge bruise to VM, otherwise very fine (8) £160-£200 --- Richard McCullagh, a steam engine labourer from Liverpool, was born in Dundalk, Co. Louth, on 10 October 1895. He attested into the Liverpool Regiment for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front with the 1/6th Battalion from 24 February 1915. He appears to have served with the battalion for the duration of the war. Post-War, he worked for the shipping line Messrs. T & J Harrison of Liverpool. He served during the Second War afloat in the Merchant Navy and served as Second Engineer in S.S. Custodian on convoy duty, of which some members were sunk, and next served in S.S. Explorer on similar duty. He continued to serve until October 1968, and died in Liverpool on 20 June 1972 at the age of 86. Sold together with original photograph of the recipient taken during the Great War; a very good original crayon sketch of the recipient in uniform, drawn in 1944 in Australia; Continuous Certificate of Service book, confirming his Second War medal entitlement; an original signed regimental Christmas Card from 1915; and detailed copied research.
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Family Group: Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, date clasp block loose on riband, as issued (2805 Pte. J. Hill. Derby: Regt.) good very fine Three: Signalman J. R. Hill, Royal Signals India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (2320436 Sgln. J. R. Hill. R. Signals.); Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (John Robert Hill) in Royal Mint case of issue; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280
Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (1094 Pte. R. Gibbs, 10th Rl. Hussars) toned, good very fine £120-£160 --- Robert Gibbs was born in the Parish of Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. He enlisted into the 10th Hussars at Westminster on 5 August 1870, aged 31 years 5 month, having had previous service in the Military Train and 15th Hussars amounting to 11 years 124 days. He served as a Private in the 10th Hussars until 16 March 1880, and is also entitled to the L.S. & G.C. medal. Sold with copied discharge papers.
The Relief of Gibraltar 1783, white metal medal by J. C. Reich, 44mm, bust of General Elliot right, ELLIOT AN MARTIS SOCIVS NON: IVPITER IPSE EST, rev. depiction of the bombardment of Gibraltar, VICTRIX IN FLAMIS VICTRIX GIBRALTAR IN VNDIS, in exergue MDCCLXXXIII, without ‘R’ in exergue (BHM 254; Eimer 802); together with a French medal with bust of Wellington, bronze, 54mm, very fine (2) £100-£140
Pair: Gunner Pritam Singh, 1st Mountain Battery, Indian Army India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (33040 Dvr. Pritam Singh. 1 Mtn. Bty.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (33040 Gnr. Pritam Singh, 1 R. Mtn. Bty) generally very fine and scarce to a Sikh ‘Mountain Gunner’ (2) £100-£140 --- The 1st Mountain Battery was raised in 1851 as an artillery unit of the Punjab Frontier Force. Styled in 1928 the 1st Royal (Kohat) Mountain Battery, Royal Artillery, the unit later served during the Second World War in the Burma Campaign under higher formation 17th Indian Division - whose constituent units were famously referred to as ‘Black Cat’s’ in reference to their distinctive divisional insignia.
Commemorative Plaque for the Zeebrugge Raid 1918. A near rectangular plaque, by Pieter de Soete, 81mm x 42mm, bronze, the obverse featuring Victory rising from a cloud, St George slaying the dragon in the background, ‘Zeebrugge on St. George’s Day. April 23d. 1918’ at base; the reverse inscribed ‘To six very gallant Gentlemen: Lt. R. D. Sandford, V.C., R.N., Lt. J. Howell-Price, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.R., Sto. H. C. Bendall, C.G.M., Ldg. Sea. W. G. Cleaver, C.G.M., D.S.M., Petty Officer W. Harner, C.G.M., E.R.A. A. G. Roxburgh, C.G.M. 1918-1927’, in Fisch, Brussels, card box of issue, good very fine £100-£140 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- London Gazette 23 July 1918: Honours for Services in the Operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of the 22nd-23rd April 1918: V.C.: Lieutenant Richard Douglas Sandford, R.N. ‘For most conspicuous gallantry. This officer was in command of submarine C.3, and most skilfully placed that vessel in between the piles of the viaduct before lighting her fuse and abandoning her. He eagerly undertook this hazardous enterprise, although well aware (as were all his crew) that if the means of rescue failed and he or any of his crew were in the water at the moment of the explosion, they would be killed outright by the force of such explosion. Yet Lieutenant Sandford disdained to use the gyro steering, which would have enabled him and his crew to abandon the submarine at a safe distance, and preferred to make sure, as far as was humanly possible, of the accomplishment of his duty.’ D.S.O.: Lieutenant John Howell-Price, D.S.C., R.N.R. ‘His assistance in placing Submarine C.3 between the piles of the viaduct before the fuse was lighted and she was abandoned was invaluable. His behaviour in a position of extreme danger was exemplary.’ C.G.M.: Stoker 1st Class Henry Cullis Bendall; Petty Officer Waler Harner; Leading Seaman William Gladstone Cleaver; and Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Allan Gordon Roxburgh: ‘These four ratings were members of the crew of the Submarine C.3, which was skilfully placed between the piles of the Zeebrugge mole viaduct and there blown up, the fuse being lighted before the submarine was abandoned. They volunteered for and, under the command of an officer, eagerly undertook this hazardous enterprise, although they were well aware that if the means of rescue failed, and that if any of them were in the water at the time of the explosion, they would be killed outright.’ The above plaque commemorated the exploits of the crew of the submarine C.3 during the attack on the heavily fortified Mole at Zeebrugge, Belgium, on St. George’s Day, 23 April 1918. C.3’s role was to destroy the railway viaduct connecting the Mole with the main land installations. Towed by H.M.S. Trident, the C.3 moored alongside her objective under very heavy fire. The six man crew (all of whom were decorated for their gallantry) abandoned the submarine, making use of a motor skiff which had been installed on the vessel. At 12:20 a.m. on 23 April 1918 the C.3’s packed cargo of high explosives was detonated leaving a 100 foot gap in the viaduct.
Pair: Company Quartermaster Sergeant R. Kilroe, Kimberley Town Guard Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Kimberley (C. Qr :Mr: Serjt: R. Kilroe. Kimberley Town Gd:); Mayor of Kimberley’s Star 1899-1900, reverse hallmark with date letter ‘a’, unnamed, last lacking integral top brooch bar, nearly extremely fine (2) £300-£400 --- R. Kilroe served with No. 3 Redoubt throughout the siege.
A Great War ‘Hindenburg Line, September 1918’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant N. Wood, 2/4th Battalion, West Riding Regiment, for gallantry in charge of a bombing party at Rumilly Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (266796 Sjt. N. Wood. 2/4 W. Rid. R.); British War and Victory Medals (9266796 Sjt. N. Wood. W. Rid. R.) medals unmounted, nearly very fine (3) £800-£1,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919; citation published 11 March 1920: ‘At Rumilly, on 29th September, 1918, he took charge of a bombing party to bomb the enemy out of a trench which they had re-captured. The attempt was unsuccessful, and his party suffered many casualties. Later, he volunteered and took out a patrol under very difficult conditions, and brought back valuable information about the strength and positions held by the enemy.’ Sold with copied gazette extracts, D.C.M. and Medal Index cards, and War Diary extracts with detailed report on the operations before Marcoing, 27 September to 1 October 1918.
Three: Corporal W. G. Taylor, Royal Fusiliers 1914-15 Star (16678 Pte. W. G. Taylor. R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (L-16678 Pte. W. G. Taylor. R. Fus.) good very fine Pair: Private O. A. Wall, South Wales Borderers British War and Victory Medals (44349 Pte. O. A. Wall. S. Wales Bord.) good very fine 1914-15 Star (17249 Pte. J. Hunter. R. Sc. Fus:) nearly very fine (6) £80-£100 --- William George Taylor was born in Richmond, Surrey, in 1899 and attested underage for the Royal Fusiliers at Hounslow on 30 April 1915. He served with the 3rd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 October 1915, before proceeding with them to Alexandria three weeks later on 25 October 1915, and thence to Salonika in December the same year. He was sent back to the U.K. on 15 May 1916 when it was discovered that he was underage. Returning to France on 6 December 1916, Taylor returned to the U.K. due to sickness on 1 February 1917, and later transferred to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, and then the Duke of Lancaster’s Yeomanry, before returning to the Royal Fusiliers Depot with the rank of Corporal. He was discharged, no longer physically fit for war service, on 19 September 1919, and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B324976. Oliver Arthur Wall attested for the South Wales Borderers and served with both the 1st and 11th Battalions during the Great War. John Hunter was born in Beath, Fifeshire, in 1898 and attested underage for the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Cowdenbeath. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 July 1915, and was killed in action on 27 September 1915, aged 17 years 6 months. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France. Sold with copied research.
Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (R. Buckner, 1st. Madras Fusrs.) minor edge nicks, good very fine £200-£240 --- Robert Buckner was born in Liverpool and attested there on 22 September 1857. Arriving in India in early 1858, he served with the 1st Madras Fusiliers (later the Dublin Fusiliers) in India during the Great Sepoy Mutiny, and was discharged on 10 September 1859, after 1 year and 11 months’ service. Sold with copied discharge papers and medal roll extracts.
Four: Lieutenant W. R. Cooper, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, unnamed as issued, some staining, generally very fine Africa Service Medal (69205. R. G. Hunt) very fine (5) £60-£80 --- William Robert Cooper, a Tax Officer with the Inland Revenue, was born in Portsmouth on 5 May 1913. He attested into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and served during the Second War as a Telegraphist from 12 September 1939. He was commissioned Temporary Sub Lieutenant on 1 November 1940 and served as a Watchkeeping Officer in H.M.T. Spaniard and H.M.T. Pict, both operating from Freetown, Sierra Leone, off the coast of West Africa. Advanced Temporary Lieutenant on 1 November 1941, he saw further service as an Auxiliary Vessels Firing Officer in H.M.S. Marshal Soult and, post-War in the Boom Vessel Mitte under the Fleet officer, Schleswig Holstein. He was released from service on 11 February 1946. Sold with an original photograph of the recipient in uniform, a quantity of original paperwork relating to the recipient’s war service, and copied research. Reginald George Hunt, a clerk from Boksburg North, South Africa, was born on 21 March 1917. He attested into South African Naval Forces on 1 October 1941 and was advanced Acting Able Seaman on 1 August 1942. Commissioned Sub Lieutenant on 21 April 1944 he served in the Atlantic and Burma theatres and was released from service on 26 February 1946. He appears to have also possibly previously served for short time with the South African Heavy Artillery, in 1941, before his discharge due to a hernia. Sold with copied service papers.
An Order of St. John group of eight awarded to Able Seaman R. A. W. Hayward, Royal Navy The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s (Brother’s), breast badge, silver and enamel, heraldic beasts in angles; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Service Medal of the Order of St John, silver, straight bar suspension, unnamed, court mounted for wear, very fine (8) £100-£140 --- Rex Albert William Hayward was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, on 15 April 1925. He attested into the Royal Navy and served during the Second War in H.M.S. Matchless and H.M.S. Persimmon. He later served as a member of St. John Ambulance Brigade and was appointed a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem on 13 November 1977 and promoted to Officer in 1992. He died in Luton in 2001. Sold together with named bronze St. John Ambulance medallion; original named card box of issue for Second War medals; a quantity of interesting letters written by the recipient during the Second War; original award certificate for the Order of St. John of Jerusalem; original photographs; original crossing the equator certificate; and copied research.
Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., India (Pte. W. E. Mannas, 1 B.B. & C.I. Ry. R., A.F.I.) edge cut; together with another, G.VI.R., 1st issue, India (Pte. C. Ballard, 1-G.I.P. Ry. R., A.F.I.) generally nearly very fine or better (2) £80-£120 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
A fine ‘Royal Household’ G.C.V.O., ‘Civil Division’ K.C.B., Crimean War C.B. group of nine awarded to Colonel Sir Robert N. F. Kingscote, Scots Fusilier Guards, later Honorary Colonel, 4th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire, Receiver-General to the Duchy of Cornwall, and Paymaster to the Royal Household and Extra Equerry to H.M. King Edward VII The Royal Victorian Order, G.C.V.O., Knight Grand Cross, set of insignia, comprising sash badge, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially numbered ‘34’; and breast Star, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, reverse officially numbered ‘34’, with gold retaining pin, with full sash riband; The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Civil) Knight Commander’s, set of insignia, by Garrard, London, comprising neck badge, gold, 18ct, with maker’s mark and hallmarks for London 1877, with later ring suspension; and breast Star, silver, gold and enamel, unmarked, with gold retaining pin; The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, gold and enamel, being a refurbished badge from 1815, with gold split ring and narrow bar suspension, with integral gold two-pronged riband buckle; Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Lt. Col. R. N. F. Kingscote. Scots Fu Gds.) hunt & Roskell engraved naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, a contemporary tailor’s copy by ‘J.B.’, unnamed ; Jubilee 1887, clasp, 1897, silver, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1902, silver, unnamed as issued; Germany, Hesse-Darmstadt, Order of Philip, 2nd type, Second Class set of insignia, comprising neck badge, 49mm x 49mm, gold and enamel, unmarked; breast Cross, 59mm x 59mm, silver, silver-gilt, gold appliqué, and enamel, unmarked; Denmark, Kingdom, Order of the Dannebrog, C.IX.R. (1863-1906), Second Class set of insignia, comprising neck badge, 83mm x 39mm, gold and enamel, with gold mark on suspension loop; breast Cross, 71mm x 56mm, silver, silver-gilt, gold appliqué, and enamel, unmarked, with twin retaining pin, edge bruising and contact marks to the Crimea Medal, otherwise generally extremely fine (13) £7,000-£9,000 --- Provenance: Spink, May 2001. G.C.V.O. London Gazette 9 November 1902. K.C.B. (Civil) London Gazette 5 July 1889. C.B. (Military) London Gazette 31 July 1855. Sir Robert Nigel FitzHardinge Kingscote was born on 28 February 1830, the eldest son of Colonel T. H. Kingscote, a descendant of the 6th Duke of Beaufort. Commissioned a Lieutenant by purchase in the Scots Fusilier Guards on 27 October 1846, he was promoted Captain by purchase on 28 June 1850 and to Major in December 1854. He served throughout the Crimean War, was one-time Aide de Camp to Lord Raglan, and was present at Battles of Alma, Balaklava and Inkermann, in addition to the operations before Sebastopol. For his services in the Crimea he was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 17 July 1855, Kingscote transferred to the Retired List and was subsequently appointment as Groom-in-Waiting to H.M. Queen Victoria, in which capacity he served until 1866. Additionally an M.P. for Gloucestershire from 1852 to 1885, and sometime Honorary Colonel of the 4th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, he accepted in the latter year the post of Commissioner of Woods and Forests and, in 1888, the position of Receiver-General to the Duchy of Cornwall. Created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath for his work in these offices in 1889, Kingscote went on to become Paymaster to the Royal Household and an Extra Equerry to H.M. King Edward VIl in 1901, for which services he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in November the following year. He died on 22 September 1908.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal A. Cunningham, Royal Irish Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (9721 A.L. Cpl. A. Cunningham. 2/R. Ir: R.); 1914-15 Star (9721 Pte. A. Cunningham. R. Ir: Regt:); British War and Victory Medals (9721 Cpl. A. Cunningham. R. Ir. Regt.) minor edge nicks, good very fine (4) £600-£800 --- M.M. London Gazette 12 December 1917. Anthony Cunningham was born in Dublin and attested for the Royal Irish Regiment. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 3 January 1915, and was awarded the Military Medal. Promoted Corporal, he was demobilised on 3 March 1919. Sold with copied Medal Index Card, which states that the BWM and VM were returned and re-issued on 17 November 1925; and copied research.
Five: Captain A. W. D. Rookledge, Royal Berkshire Regiment, later Royal Air Force, who was one of the small group of Berkshires to serve in post-War Palestine 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, Palestine 1945-48 (Capt. D. W. A. [sic] Rookledge. R. Berks.) mounted as worn, initials officially corrected on GSM, contact marks, very fine, last scarce to unit (5) £140-£180 --- Albert William Douglas Rookledge was born in King’s Norton, Birmingham, on 29 June 1924, and at some point after he referred to himself as Douglas William Albert. He was commissioned into the Royal Berkshire Regiment 15 January 1944 for service during the Second World War, and afterwards he served during the post-War Palestine campaign with the Royal Berkshire Regiment attached to 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Temporary Captain during the qualifying period, one of only 22 Berkshire Officers to have served in Palestine. On 17 January 1949 he relinquished his Commission on appointment to a Short Service Commission in the Royal Air Force Regiment with the rank of Flying Officer. Promoted Flight Lieutenant on 29 June 1950, he died in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 7 February 1995.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private J. Shepherdson, York and Lancaster Regiment, who was subsequently awarded a Second Award Bar attached Trench Mortar Battery Military Medal, G.V.R. (203504 Pte. J. Shepherdson. 1/4 York & Lanc: R.) minor edge bruise, very fine £260-£300 --- M.M. London Gazette 13 September 1918. M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 23 July 1919. Joseph Shepherdson, a native of Hull, attested for the Yorkshire Regiment at Hull, and served initially with the 1/5th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, before transferring to the 1/4th (Hallamshire) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. He appears on the wounded list of 4 September 1917. Awarded both the Military Medal and a Second Award Bar, his Bar is documented on page 137 of the history of the 1/4th Hallamshire Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment by Captain D. P. Grant.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal C. H. Manser, Royal Munster Fusiliers Military Medal, G.V.R. (3-5793 Pte. C. Manser. 1/R. Muns: Fus:); 1914-15 Star (5793. Pte. C. H. Manser. R. Muns. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (5793 Cpl. C. H. Manser. R. Mun. Fus.) polished and worn, good fine and better (4) £600-£800 --- M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1916. Charles Hubert Manser attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of War from 31 July 1915. Proceeding to the Western Front, he was awarded the Military Medal, and was discharged Class ‘Z’ on 1 August 1919. Sold with copied Medal Index Card, which states that his Star was re-issued in February 1923, the original having been named ‘Mauser’; and copied research.
Canada General Service 1866-70, 2 clasps, Fenian Raid 1866, Fenian Raid 1870 (1067 Sgt. R. Clapperton, 4th. Bn. R.B.) Canadian style impressed naming, good very fine £600-£800 --- Only 11 two-clasp medals to the 4th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Three of these recipients, including Sergeant Robert Clapperton, earned their 1870 clasp while serving with the Grand Trunk Railway Brigade.
Family Group: Four: Sapper T. W. Scott, Royal Engineers 1914-15 Star (64826 Spr: T. W. Scott. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (64826 Spr. T. W. Scott. R.E.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Thomas William Scott) officially re-impressed; together with a 1915 Royal Engineers commemorative cross, good very fine Pair: Second Lieutenant J. R. Scott, King’s Royal Rifle Corps British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. R. Scott.) nearly extremely fine (6) £70-£90 --- Thomas W. Scott attested for the Royal Engineers and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 July 1918.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, date clasp block loose on riband (5743 Pte. A. Isherwood. R. Lanc. Regt.) first digit of number officially corrected, polished, very fine £100-£140 --- Note: The medal roll indicates that the recipient was entitled to a King’s South Africa Medal, rather than the two date clasps on the QSA.
A very rare ‘Chinese Civil War’ C.G.M. awarded to Able Seaman Clifford Beese, H.M.S. Kiawo, for ‘conspicuous courage amongst the survivors of the boarding party’ who had attempted the rescue of the crews of the steamers Wanhsien and Wanting which had been seized by Chinese troops at the port of Wanhsien on the Yangtze river in September 1926, an action described by one historian as a ‘twentieth-century revival of a Nelsonic manoeuvre’; Beese was amongst the wounded and received one of two C.G.M’s awarded for this action, the only such awards made in the inter-war period and his sole entitlement Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R. (J.103009 C. Beese. A.B. H.M.S. Kiawo. Wanhsien. 5.9.26.) naming officially impressed in small capitals, mounted as worn, suspension claw tightened, edge bruises and nicks, otherwise nearly very fine and rare £12,000-£16,000 --- Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection (Part I), Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. C.G.M. London Gazette 16 May 1927. The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the following decorations and medals to officers and men of H.M. Navy and the Mercantile Marine, in recognition of their services at Wanhsien, Yangtze River, China, on 5 September 1926, and the connected events: C.G.M. Able Seaman Clifford Breese, H.M.S. Kiawo, ‘for conspicuous courage amongst the survivors of the boarding party.’ At the end of August 1926, General Yang Sen attempted to commandeer the British steamer Wanliu to provide his troops with free transport. As she was discharging passengers at Yunyang, 40 miles down river from the port of Wanhsien, on the Yangtze river, Chinese soldiers from a sampan boarded her whilst another sampan approached. The Chinese rushed the bridge and engine room but were driven back by the ship’s officers. The approaching sampan collided and sank, drowning many soldiers and losing thousands of dollars in currency meant for the troops. In the confusion the soldiers aboard the Wanliu seized the Captain and threatened to kill him unless they were taken to Wanshien. He had no option but to comply; however, on arrival at the destination, they were met by H.M.S. Cockchafer whose Captain and crew were able to order the Chinese to disembark. In order not to lose face, General Yang Sen then seized the S.S. Wanhsien and the S.S. Wantung, placing about 300 soldiers aboard. The two ships were moored alongside the Cockchafer with their rifles trained on her. Hopelessly outnumbered, the Cockchafer was trapped. After negotiations for the release of the men and ships had failed, the Admiralty ordered a naval expedition to Wanhsien to secure their release. H.M. Gunboat Widgeon and the steamer Kiawo, the latter manned by officers and men from H.M. Ships Despatch, Mantis and Scarab, made up the expedition to support H.M.S. Cockchafer. Beese, himself, came from the Scarab. On September 5, the expedition, led by Commander F. C. Darley, R.N., calmly sailed into the trap. When the British ships made their move to release the hostages, they were subjected to a fierce fire from cannon, machine guns and rifles. The British ships promptly replied, firing at the Chinese on the ships as well as at the gun emplacements around the shoreline. During this action the Kiawo attempted a boarding but was repelled by overwhelming odds and suffered heavy casualties. Nevertheless she managed to attain the release of the hostages who were all safe, apart from Mr Johnson, the Chief Engineer of the steamer Wantung, who unfortunately drowned while trying to swim to safety. Commander Darley, two Lieutenants, and four men were killed, while two officers and four men were wounded, including Able Seaman Beese. Petty Officer F. W. Warburton, of H.M.S. Kiawo, was also awarded the C.G.M., when he took command of the boarding party after Lieutenant A. R. Higgins R.N. was killed during this action. These two C.G.M.s were the only awards of this rare medal made between the period 1920 and the Second World War, and being peacetime awards are of great rarity. Awards for the action at Wanhsien, in addition to these two C.G.M.’s, were two D.S.C.’s, four D.S.M.’s and 28 mentions in despatches. Clifford Beese was born at Bristol, Gloucestershire, on 31 August 1904, and was a cabinet maker by trade when he engaged for 12 years service in the Royal Navy on 31 August 1922. His record of service notes that he was ‘wounded in action with Chinese troops on 5/9/26’ and that he was ‘awarded C.G.M. for service at Wanhsien 5/9/26 (London Gazette 6/5/27)’. He was confined for 7 days in November 1929 for being drunk and striking a constable on shore, and for 14 days in October 1931 for absence, although his conduct was always described as Good or Very Good. Beese was granted free discharge from the service on 16 March 1932, the C.G.M. being his sole medal entitlement. The original Admiralty Appreciation Signal of the Wahnsien incident accompanies the C.G.M. and reads as follows: ‘Admiralty to Commander in Chief, China. “Having received your telegraphic report of the expedition to Wanhsien on Sunday 5 September, Their Lordships, while deeply regretting the loss of valuable lives and the number of casualties suffered, note that the traditional gallantry of H.M. Service was fully sustained by all Officers and Ratings who took part in the hazardous expedition which resulted in the extrication of H.M.S. Cockchafer from her dangerous position and the rescue, with one exception, of the British Mercantile Marine Officers of the two Steamers. Their Lordships desire that an expression of their warm appreciation may be conveyed to all Officers and Ratings concerned.” Sold with copied research, including London Gazette entries, service papers, and copied extracts from Armed with Stings by A. Cecil Hampshire and Gunboat! by Bryan Perrett, both of which give detailed accounts of this remarkable incident.
Pair: Private A. W. P. Jones, East India Railway Volunteer Rifles, later East India Railway Regiment, Auxiliary Forces of India Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Voltr. A. W. Jones E.I. Ry. Voltr Rfls.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, India (Pte. A. W. P. Jones. 1-E.I Ry. R. A.F.I.) edge bruise to first, generally very fine (2) £80-£100 --- Arthur William Palmer Jones was born in Jemalpur, Bengal, in 1883. Recorded as a boilermaker in the employment of the Indian Railways, he married Margaret Shepherd at Wellesley Square Church, Calcutta, on 5 December 1905, and later witnessed extensive service with the Volunteer Rifles and Indian Defence Force. He was awarded his Volunteer Force Long Service Medal in March 1915, and Efficiency Medal in June 1937.
1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. F. B. Moncreiff. R. Scots.) nearly extremely fine £80-£100 --- Francis Beresford Moncreiff was born in Edinburgh on 18 June 1883, the son of The Honourable Francis Jeffery Moncreiff and grandson of James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff of Tulliebole. His father at that time was well-known as an Edinburgh Academicals rugby union player and Scotland’s first International Captain. Educated at Fettes College, Moncreiff was appointed to a commission in the Royal Scots and crossed to France on 8 July 1915. A year later he was recorded as wounded in action in The Civil and Military Gazette of 8 August 1916. At this time the Royal Scots were deployed on repeated attempts to capture and hold the village of Guillemont and the strongly defended Delville Wood, Mametz Wood and High Wood; the latter was later described by the military historian Richard Holmes as ‘ghastly by day, ghostly by night, the rottenest place on the Somme.’ Casualties proved so great that the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, left the sector on 23 August 1916 and played no further major role in the Battle of the Somme. Evacuated home, Moncreiff never recovered from his injuries and he died 12 years later on 18 December 1928, and is buried at All Saint’s Church, Little Wenham, Suffolk, his gravestone reading ‘In Proud Remembrance of Francis Beresford Moncreiff, severely wounded on the Somme, 23rd July 1916, he died on the 18th Dec. 1928 after great suffering very nobly endured.’
Three: Guardsman G. Heath, Grenadier Guards, later Special Constabulary British War and Victory Medals (28240 Pte. G. Heath. G. Gds.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue, 2 clasps, Long Service 1941, Long Service 1953 (George Heath.) very fine Three: Private A. Puffer, South Staffordshire Regiment, later Special Constabulary British War and Victory Medals (39502 Pte. A. Puffer. S. Staff. R.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Albert Puffer) nearly extremely fine (6) £80-£100 --- George Heath was born in Hanley, Staffordshire, in 1899, and attested for the Grenadier Guards in November 1916. Posted to France from 9 June 1917 to 24 February 1919, his Army Service Record confirms a gunshot wound to the face on 28 March 1918 during the opening phase of the German Spring Offensive. He later rejoined the 2nd Battalion in the field on 19 April 1918 and was discharged in March 1920.
Family Group: An outstanding Great War ‘Dewdrop Trench 1916’ D.C.M. and ‘Sensee River 1917’ M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal C. E. Read, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who died of wounds in December 1917 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (10444 L. Cpl. C. E. Read. 1/Middx: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (10444 Cpl. C. E. Read. 1/Midd’x: R.); 1914-15 Star (G-10444. Pte. C. E. Read, Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (G.10444 Cpl. C. E. Read. Midd’x R.) together with Memorial Plaque (Charles Edward Read) contact marks and polished, otherwise nearly very fine Three: Private George Read, 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who killed in action at Thiepval in September 1916 1914-15 Star (G-3232 Pte. G. Read. Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (G-3232 Pte. G. Read. Midd’x R.) together with Memorial Plaque (George Read) good very fine Four: Ernest J. Read, 1/8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who was invalided home with gas poisoning at Ypres April 1915, and later rejoined in the Labour Corps 1914-15 Star (2362 Pte. E. J. Read, Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2362 Pte. E. J. Read. Midd’x R.); Defence Medal, unnamed, nearly very fine (14) £2,800-£3,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 21 December 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action at DEWDROP TRENCH on the 28th October 1916. He showed marked courage and skill in the capture of a strong point, which contained a machine gun and was causing many casualties.’ M.M. London Gazette 18 June 1917: ‘West of the SENSEE River on 23rd April, the 33rd Division took part in a general attack at 4.45 a.m. only the flank portions of its line reached their objectives. The centre of the Division was met with most determined resistance. After several hours fighting, our centre was driven back to its starting point. The troops on our left did not appear. Our flank troops, who had gained the objective, consisted of officers and men of the 1st Middlesex Regt., and the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at first about 170 strong. They were completely isolated, about 1200 yards from our original line, and about the same distance from our right flank in the HINDENBURG LINE. When the enemy found nothing to the left of our left, he sent strong forces behind them, and attacked these companies from flank and rear - he also reinforced his original centre - “We were taking prisoners in front and being attacked from behind” as one wounded man described it. A hurried attack was made by the Division from the original line at 6 p.m. without much immediate success. The artillery barrage for this attack passed over our isolated troops, of whom no news had been received. Fighting continued during the night all along our lines, but the enemy was evidently very unsettled, for he retired in haste about 4 a.m., 24-4-1917, leaving rifles, ammunition, mine warfare and equipment in large quantities. Our centre at once advanced and found our isolated groups holding their positions stoutly. The gallant conduct of this man, together with others, directly influenced the retirement of the enemy.’ (Official account of action for which M.M. was awarded provided by the War Office to his next of kin in August 1920 refers) Charles Edward Read attested for the 1st Middlesex Regiment on 10 May 1915, at Hounslow and landed in France on 30 September 1915. He won the D.C.M. for his actions during the capture of Dewdrop Trench when the 1st Battalion suffered 208 casualties in killed, wounded and missing. He won the M.M. for his actions during the battle of Arras on 23 April 1917. Lance-Corporal Read died of wounds on 7 December 1917, aged 20, and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, south west of Poperinghe. Sold with 33rd Division Gallantry Cards for both awards, these dated 28 October 1916 and 23 April 1917 respectively, together with War Office copies of the ‘official account of the deeds for which the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal were awarded to the late Lance-Corporal C. E. Read, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment’, dated 13 August 1920, together with two news cuttings and copied research. George Read served in France from 25 July 1915, and was killed in action in the attack on Thiepval Ridge on 26 September 1916. He is commemorated by name on the Thiepval Memorial. Sold with copied research. Ernest J. Read served in France from 9 March 1915, until invalided home with gas poisoning during the second battle of Ypres, 24 April 1915. He later returned to France and served with the Labour Corps. During the Second War he served as a Civil Defence Warden. Sold with named transmission card for Defence Medal ribbon and CD cloth Warden’s badges, together with a white metal Silver Jubilee Medal issued by Middlesex County Council and copied research.
A ‘Balcombe Street Siege’ terrorist incident Q.G.M. awarded to Constable B. C. Court, Metropolitan Police, for his bravery in attempting to apprehend four IRA gunmen running amok through the streets of London on 6 December 1975. The six-day siege that ensued gripped the nation ‘with marksmen on rooftops, in adjoining flats and outside the building, both sides prepared for a long battle of nerves. Television and radio crews set up their camps. One reporter who was covering the events for radio was Jon Snow, now a Channel 4 newsreader. “I think we all fell victim to Balcombe Street fever,” he recalled.’ The IRA men, upon surrender and trial, received unprecedented sentences, and the Metropolitan Police who ended their terror spree were recognised with the award of 3 George Medals, and 5 Queen’s Gallantry Medals Queen’s Gallantry Medal (Barry Charles Court) remnants of adhesive to reverse, good very fine £7,000-£9,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Q.G.M. London Gazette 18 October 1977 (jointly listed with Inspector H. Dowswell, Sergeant M. P. McVeigh, Inspector J. F. Purnell all of the Metropolitan Police and all for the award of the George Medal; and with Constables A. S. Claiden, R. Fenton, S. P. Knight and Sergeant P. W. Mansfield all of the Metropolitan Police and all for the award of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal): ‘On 6th December 1975, several shots were fired from a passing car into a restaurant and Inspector Purnell and Sergeant McVeigh, who were unarmed and on plain clothes duty in the vicinity, went quickly towards the scene. They saw the suspect car and as Sergeant McVeigh broadcast a report, Inspector Purnell hailed a passing taxi and asked the driver to follow the vehicle. A chase followed and as the taxi got close to the car it turned into a side turning, began to slow and then stopped. The Inspector told the taxi driver to stop about 20 yards from the car and both officers got out. The driver saw four men running away pursued by the two officers; he heard shots and stopped his cab to broadcast a description of what was taking place to police through the cab radio system. After leaving the taxi the officers had seen the men first walk and then run up the road. As the men ran they fired shots at both the officers who pursued them for some distance. At one point the gunmen dropped a bag and as Inspector Purnell ran past the bag he saw that it contained weapons. Police cars then began to appear; the men fired at them and then turned round and ran back towards Inspector Purnell and Sergeant McVeigh. The gunmen split into two pairs and as they approached, Inspector Purnell armed himself with a gun barrel from the bag; both officers then had to take cover as the men were shooting as they ran. Three men were seen to run down some steps into a side street and the fourth took another direction. Having instructed Sergeant McVeigh to broadcast details over his radio, Inspector Purnell followed the direction which the single running man had taken. He chased the man for some way but he eluded him, managed to join up with the other three gunners and they entered a block of flats where they forced their way into a flat and held the occupants hostage. Meanwhile the first police vehicle to arrive at the scene was a transit van driven by Constable Court with Constable Knight and Claiden amongst the passengers. They had been alerted by radio of the incident and saw the suspects running along the road pursued by Inspector Purnell and Sergeant McVeigh. Constable Court drove his vehicle past the men, stopping about 5 yards in front of them to cut off their escape. As soon as the van stopped Constable Court heard a bang and knew that one of the men was shooting at him. At the same time Constables Knight and Claiden, who were armed, left the van and began to return fire. Constable Court realised that bullets were entering his van and for the safety of the remaining unarmed officers who were still in the vehicle and had taken cover on the floor he began to move away to avoid injury to them; as he did this he could see the men running away, but firing their weapons at Constables Knight and Claiden who were pursuing them. As they gave chase the two officers saw the gunmen fire on a second police vehicle when it arrived at the scene. In the second vehicle were Inspector Dowswell, Sergeant Mansfield and Constable Fenton who were in plain clothes and unarmed. They had received a radio message of the incident and heard shots being fired as they approached. When they arrived they saw the four men standing by a gate. The siren of the police car was sounding and the men broke up into two pairs, ran past the car firing at it as they went. Inspector Dowswell, Sergeant Mansfield and Constable Fenton all left the car and pursued the men until they reached the top of the steps where the gunmen had turned off, one of the gunmen deliberately stopped and fired a shot at them. Inspector Dowswell then ran on and with Constable Knight continued to follow three of the men until they entered the block of flats. All the officers involved in this incident displayed outstanding bravery and devotion to duty when they faced these armed and ruthless terrorists who did not hesitate to use their weapons.’ The above incident describes the drive-by shooting at Scott’s Restaurant in Mayfair by an IRA unit, leading to their pursuit by the police and ultimately the ‘Balcombe Street Siege’. The following article which appeared in The Daily Express in December 2015 sketches the necessary details of an event that was televised and gripped the nation at the time: ‘It was just before 10pm on Saturday December 6, 1975. John and Sheila Matthews, a married couple in their 50s, were watching an episode of the US detective series Kojak in their council flat in Balcombe Street, Marylebone, London. Little did they know but they would soon be involved in their very own crime drama. As shots rang out on screen there was a bang on the front door. John went to open it and four armed men barged in. The siege of Balcombe Street had begun. For the next six days Britain held its breath. The men who had so violently disturbed the Matthews that night 40 years ago were part of a six-strong group of highly trained and ruthless IRA gunmen, a so-called “active service unit” who had been carrying out a string of attacks in England since the autumn of 1974, including the deadly Guildford pub bombings, for which the authorities later arrested and convicted the wrong men. Joe O’Connell, Hugh Doherty, Edward Butler and Harry Duggan believed a terror campaign would help bring about the withdrawal of British troops from Ulster and lead to a united Ireland. After a six-month ceasefire the gunmen recommenced their attacks in August 1975 by bombing another pub frequented by soldiers in Caterham, Surrey. A month later two people were killed when the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane was bombed. Then on November 12 the men threw a bomb into Scott’s Oyster Bar in Mayfair, killing one. Overall the gang launched more than 40 attacks in and around London. “These bomb attacks are becoming so familiar as to seem almost commonplace. Police believe the public are going to have to be more vigilant than ever,” the BBC reported. In October the IRA men attempted to kill Sir Hugh Fraser, a Tory MP who had made a speech denouncing them. They placed a bomb under his car but the plot didn’t go according to plan and instead Gordon Hamilton Fairley, Britain’s number one cancer specialist, was killed ...
A Collection of Victoria Cross Autographs. An Autograph book, compiled by Constance Mary Graves-Sawle, containing a large quantity of autographs from various balls, country house parties, and other social and formal events (many of them in Cornwall), including the following Victoria Cross recipients: William Dick-Cunyngham, V.C., Gordon Highlanders (Afghanistan, 1879) Alan Hill, V.C., 48th Regiment of Foot (Laing’s Nek, South Africa, 1881) Israel Harding, V.C., Royal Navy (Alexandria, Egypt, 1882) Frederick Corbett, V.C., King’s Royal Rifle Corps (Kafr Dowar, Egypt, 1882) William Edwards, V.C., Highland Light Infantry (Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt, 1882) Arthur Wilson, V.C., Royal Navy (El Teb, Egypt, 1884) Percival Marling, V.C., King’s Royal Rifle Corps (Sudan, 1884) William Malliard, V.C., Royal Navy (Crete, 1898) The Hon. Raymond de Montmorency, V.C., 21st Lancers (Battle of Omdurman, Sudan, 1898) John Norwood, V.C., 5th Dragoons (Ladysmith, South Africa, 1899) Edmund Phipps-Hornby, V.C., ‘Q’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery (South Africa, 1900) Llewellyn Price-Davies, V.C., King’s Royal Rifle Corps (South Africa, 1901) John Gough, V.C., Rifle Brigade (Somaliland, 1903). Together with an invitation to Lady Constance Graves-Sawle on the occasion of the dedication of the Sandhurst Royal Military College Memorial Chapel 1937; along with the commemorative book for the service of dedication. A glazed and framed photograph of Lieutenant R. C. Graves-Sawle, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, the son of Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Graves-Sawle and Constance Graves-Sawle, who was killed in action at Ypres on 2 November 1914, along with the recipient’s Memorial Scroll, named to ‘Lt. Richard Charles Graves-Sawle, Coldstream Guards’; and a photograph of the recipient’s memorial tablet. A glazed and framed engraving of Admiral of the White Thomas Graves, who served as Second in Command to Admiral Howe at the Battle of the Glorious First of June 1794; along with a pair of Vice Admiral’s rank slides, generally good condition (lot) £300-£400
Five: Chief Petty Officer C. G. R. Reynolds, Royal Navy, who made a gallant attempt to save the life of a seaman who fell overboard between the battlecruiser H.M.S. Invincible and a collier in Scapa Flow 1914-15 Star (133354. C. G. R. Reynolds. C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (133354 C. G. R. Reynolds. C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (133354 C. G. R. Reynolds, C.P.O. H.M.S. President III.); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (unsuccessful) (C. G. R. Reynolds. R.N. 19th. April 1909.) with integral top riband buckle, very fine and better (5) £240-£280 --- R.H.S. Case No. 36588: ‘On the 19th April 1909, R. Brown, A.B., fell overboard from H.M.S. Invincible in Scapa Flow, Orkney, the sea being rough at the time. Denison, Reynolds and O’Rourke at great risk endeavoured to save him, but failed.’ Charles George Richard Reynolds was born in Southsea on 9 May 1870 and joined the Royal Navy at Portsmouth as Boy 2nd Class on 22 November 1888. Raised Ordinary Seaman aboard Calliope and Leading Seaman aboard Collingwood, he was advanced Petty Officer in 1897 and Chief Petty Officer aboard the protected cruiser Amethyst on 24 October 1908. A few months later he was awarded the R.H.S. Medal in bronze, his service record stating: ‘Strongly commended by C in C Home Fleet for his promptness in endeavouring to save the life of Brown, A.B. 167999 on the 19th April 1909.’ Shore pensioned on 10 May 1910, Reynolds transferred the following day to the Royal Fleet Reserve, with whom he served during the Great War; posted to Eagle from 25 September 1914 to 5 April 1916 and the cruiser Liverpool from 6 January 1917 to 16 April 1919, he witnessed the end of hostilities as part of the Aegean Squadron. Liverpool was later committed to the Russian Intervention, supporting the White Army from November 1918 and later transporting military delegations to the port of Novorossisk to establish contact with General Anton Denikin. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal on 24 January 1919, Reynolds died in Wolverhampton in March 1954.
India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp (2), Mohmand 1933 (505186 Dvr. Jan Mohd, I.A.S.C. (M.T.)); North West Frontier 1935 (11036 Sepoy Kishan Singh. 1-14 Punjab R.) generally very fine or better (2) £50-£70 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
A Second War ‘Bomber Command’ D.F.C. group of six awarded to Rear Gunner Flight Lieutenant H. W. J. Stewart, Royal Canadian Air Force, who was awarded an Immediate D.F.C. for his gallantry in shooting down a Focke Wulfe 190 and assisting his pilot in evading the attention of no fewer than six enemy fighters in December 1942, and was subsequently killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down during a raid over Berlin on 23 November 1943, on what was his fifth Operational Sortie to the ‘Big City’ Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1943, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence Medal, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, the campaign stars and medals all in card boxes of issue; together with the recipient’s Canadian Memorial Cross, G.VI.R., ‘F.L. H. W. J. Stewart, D.F.C. J15536’, fitted with a Birks R.C.A.F. silver and enamel brooch bar, in embossed case of issue; and Birks Memorial Bar ‘F/L H. W .J. Stewart D.F.C. R.C.A.F. Died in his Country’s Service 23 Nov. 1943’, extremely fine (8) £1,600-£2,000 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 8 January 1943 (in a joint citation with Acting Wing Commander Donald Peveler, D.F.C. [awarded the D.S.O.]): ‘In December, 1942, Wing Commander Peveler and Pilot Officer Stewart, were captain and rear gunner respectively of an aircraft engaged in a search for the crew of an aircraft lost at sea. When leaving the area after searching for 12 hours, 3 Junkers 88's attacked their aircraft. Pilot Officer Stewart gave a splendid running commentary on the movement of the enemy aircraft which enabled his captain to take evasive action. Wing Commander Peveler manoeuvred his aircraft with superb skill and determination until safety was gained in the clouds, but the bomber had been damaged and the second pilot and bomb aimer wounded. Some time later a further attack was made by 3 Focke Wulfe 190’s. In the ensuing combat, despite the heavy odds, Pilot Officer Stewart, by his accurate shooting, shot down one of the fighters and damaged another while the third was driven off. Displaying magnificent airmanship Wing Commander Peveler flew his badly damaged aircraft safely back to this country. Pilot Officer Stewart's coolness and gallantry very materially assisted his captain throughout this hazardous operation. Wing Commander Peveler has always displayed outstanding leadership and an example of devotion to duty worthy of the highest praise.’ Herbert William Joseph Stewart was born in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, in 1919, and having emigrated to Canada attested for the Royal Canadian Air Force on 11 October 1940. After undergoing training at No. 1 I.T.S.; No. 4 E.F.T.S.; and No. 1 B.G.S. he was commissioned Pilot Officer in May 1942. Whilst serving with 10 (O.T.U.) Special Detachment, he was awarded an Immediate D.F.C. for his gallantry in shooting down a Focke Wulfe 190 and assisting his pilot in evading the attention of no fewer than six enemy fighters. Posted to 156 Squadron (Pathfinder Force), R.A.F. Warboys, flying Lancaster Mark III’s, and promoted Flight Lieutenant, Stewart was killed in action on a raid over Berlin on 23 November 1943, along with his entire crew, on what was his fifth operational sortie to the Big City. He is buried in Berlin War Cemetery, Germany. Sold with the recipient’s silver Operational Wings; R.C.A.F. padded Officer’s Cap Badge; a personal R.C.A.F. identity bracelet, the front engraved ‘H. W. J. Stewart R-77141’, the reverse engraved ‘Love Beth May 1941’; a personal diary; and three letters, including one from the High Commissioner to the U.K. at Canada House, and another from the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary regarding the D.F.C.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal J. Redpath, East Yorkshire Regiment, who was subsequently awarded a scarce Second Award Bar with the Hull Pals, and died of wounds on 29 September 1918 Military Medal, G.V.R. (16632 Cpl. J. Redpath. 8/E. York: R.); 1914-15 Star (16632 Pte. J. Redpath. E. York: R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (16632 Cpl. J. Redpath E. York. R.) traces of verdigris, polished and worn, good fine (3) £260-£300 --- M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1916. M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 21 October 1918. John Redpath was born in Choppington New Pit in 1882 and lived in Choppington as a Miner. He attested for the East Yorkshire Regiment at Scotland Gate, Bedlington on 3 October 1914 and served with the newly formed 8th Battalion, part of Kitchener’s Army on the Western Front, from 9 September 1915 being pretty much straight into action at Loos. Promoted Corporal on 10 March 1916, he served on the Somme from 1 July 1916 to November 1916, and was awarded the Military Medal. On 17 February 1918 the 8th Battalion disbanded in France, and they then formed part of the 10th Entrenching Battalion with soldiers from the 12th West Yorkshire Battalion and the 10th (Service) Battalion (1st Hull Pals) East Yorkshire Regiment. It was this Battalion, the Hull Commercials, that featured in the series “The Trench”, and it was for service with this Battalion that he was awarded a Second Award Bar to his M.M. Wounded on 29 June 1918, most likely from the start of the Fifth Battle of Ypres, whilst serving with the 10th Battalion, he died of wounds on 29 September 1918 at the 8th Casualty Clearing Station, Boulogne, and is buried in La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck, France. He is additionally commemorated on the Choppington, Bedlington and Choppington Miners’ War Memorial.
A scarce Great War A.F.M. awarded to Sergeant Mechanic R. H. Derry, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, who served at the R.N.A.S. Airship Station Luce Bay, 1916-18 Air Force Medal, G.V.R. (208252 Sergt. Mech. Derry. R. H., R.A.F.) suspension slack, very fine £1,400-£1,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- A.F.M. London Gazette 2 November 1918. One of 102 Air Force Medals awarded for the Great War. Richard Harry Derry was born in Lincoln in January 1882, and resided with his wife at 2 Denman Road, Peckham, London. He enlisted as A.M. 1 in the Royal Naval Air Service on 16 September 1915. Derry advanced to Petty Officer (Engineer) in February 1918, and transferred as Sergeant Mechanic in to the Royal Air Force in April 1918. His service during the Great War included at H.M.S. President II, and at the R.N.A.S. Airship Station Luce Bay in Scotland, from August 1916. Derry was discharged in April 1920.
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (904. W. Balcombe. 1/Rl. Suss: R.) suspension claw re-pinned, edge bruising, therefore nearly very fine £600-£800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- William Balcombe was born in Lewes, Sussex. He attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester in June 1882, and served with the 1st Battalion in Egypt and the Soudan from November 1882 to September 1885 (additionally entitled to Khedive’s Star). Balcombe was discharged in June 1894.
1914 Star (9028 Dmr: J. Kilgannon. 1/Devon: R.) good very fine £100-£140 --- John Kilgannon was born in Devonport in 1882, the second son of Irish-born Army Service Corps pensioner James Kilgannon of the Town Barracks, Exeter. He joined the Devonshire Regiment as Drummer aged 14 years and is recorded in the Daily News (London) on 2 July 1901 as ‘dangerously ill’ at Standerton in consequence of enteric fever. Returned home from South Africa, Kilgannon married Agnes Gillard in 1906 and is recorded in 1911 as garrisoned at Tidworth Barracks in Hampshire. Crossing to France with the 1st Battalion around 22 August 1914, Kilgannon immediately found himself engaged in the defence of the Belgian town of Mons. The Western Guardian of 8 October 1914, notes: ‘Drummer J. Kilgannon, who has died in hospital at Braisne [sic] from a gunshot wound received at Mons, leaves a widow and four children at Mermaid Yard, Exeter. Kilgannon had had 18 years’ service, and went through the South African war, at the conclusion of which he was one of those drummers presented by the county with a silver drum.’ At the age of 34, Kilgannon died of his wound on 20 September 1914 and is buried in Braine Communal Cemetery, Aisne, France.
A Second War B.E.M. awarded to Head Warden R. O. Arnold, Doncaster Civil Defence British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Richard O. Arnold) mounted on investiture pin, nearly extremely fine £100-£140 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- B.E.M. London Gazette 15 June 1945: ‘Head Warden, Civil Defence, Doncaster.’
Three: Corporal R. G. Gill, Cape Mounted Rifles Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Bechuanaland (2812 Cpl. R. G. Gill. C.M. Rif.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (2821 Cpl. R. G. Gill. Cape M.R.) rank unofficially re-engraved; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 )2821 Corpl: R. G. Gill. Cape M.R.) clasp facing slightly bent on first, light contact marks, good very fine (3) £700-£900 --- Sold with the recipient’s riband bar; and copied research confirming all the clasps.
India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Malabar 1921-22 (7177659 Pte. S. Judge, Leins. R.) minor edge nicks, good very fine £160-£200 --- Stephen Judge was born in Edinburgh on 31 October 1865 and attested for the Connaught Rangers at Leith on 7 January 1916, serving with the 6th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front (entitled to British War and Victory Medals). Transferring to the Leinster Regiment he served with the 1st Battalion in India and was present during the Malabar rebellion of August 1921 to February 1922, the last fighting done by members of any of the six southern Irish regiments that were disbanded in July 1922. Sold with copied research.
A post-War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Group Captain J. F. R. Eales-White, Royal Air Force, late Royal Scots Fusiliers and Machine Gun Corps The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. F. R. Eales-White.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £120-£160 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 8 June 1950. James Frederick Robert Eales-White was born on 12 April 1895 and was commissioned temporary Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Promoted Lieutenant on 1 April 1916, he served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from November 1916; posted to the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) on 28 May 1918, he served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in 1918. Post-War, Eales-White was commissioned in the Royal Air Force on 10 May 1921, and was advanced Wing Commander on 1 July 1939. He served with them during the Second World War, and was promoted Group Captain on 1 October 1946. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1950 Birthday Honours’ List, he retired on 30 October 1950. Sold with copied research.
Six: Private T. D. Luckhurst, East Kent Regiment 1914-15 Star (1266 Pte. T. Luckhurst. E. Kent R.); British War and Victory Medals (1266 Pte. T. Luckhurst. E. Kent R.); Defence Medal; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (200088 Pte. T. Luckhurst. 4/E. Kent R.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Thomas D. Luckhurst) nearly very fine (6) £120-£160 --- Thomas Daniel Luckhurst was born in Homestall, Kent on 31 March 1892 and attested for the 4th Battalion, East Kent Regiment (Territorial Force) at Sittingbourne on 18 May 1911. He served with the 1/4th Battalion during the Great War in India for service with the Waziristan Field Force from 5 August 1915, and was later attached to the Supply and Transport Corps. He saw further service during the Second World War as a Special Constable in Sittingbourne, ands died on 3 April 1974. Sold with copied attestation papers, medal roll extracts, and other research.
Elizabeth Cross, E.II.R. (Pte J M Winter R Irish 24763004); together with the related miniature badge, in fitted case of issue and outer named card box, extremely fine, scarce £800-£1,200 --- James M. Winter served with ‘B’ Company, 4/6 Fermanagh and County Tyrone Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment, and was severely wounded in the Omagh Bombing on 15 August 1998. He died as a result of his injuries on 13 January 2002, aged 36.
Six: Captain R. G. Gibbings, Hampshire Regiment, later Union Defence Force British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. G. Gibbings.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Lieut. R. G. Gibbings. Hamps. R.); War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, these both officially named ‘64914 R. G. Gibbings.’; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Union of South Africa, a contemporary tailor’s copy, the reverse engraved ‘Lt. R. G. Gibbibgs - G.S.C.’, with integral bilingual top riband bar, this stamped ‘Silver’ to reverse, generally very fine and better (6) £240-£280
The unique Army of India medal awarded to Private George Bainbridge, 65th Foot, who received one of only four Corygaum clasps to European recipients and the only one to a British regiment Army of India 1799-1826, 2 clasps, Poona, Corygaum (G. Bainbridge, 65th Foot) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, edge bruising and a little polished, otherwise about very fine and excessively rare £12,000-£16,000 --- Provenance: Glendining’s, July 1910 (Lot 152 £48); Brigadier-General G. L. Palmer Collection, Glendining’s, June 1919; G. Hamilton-Smith Collection, Glendining’s, 1927; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Godfrey Dalrymple-White Collection, Glendining’s, July 1946; Brian Ritchie Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2004. One of only 4 Corygaum clasps awarded to European recipients. The War Office rolls shows Poona clasp only but both clasps are confirmed on the roll at the India Office which carries the following annotation: ‘G. Bainbridge, Horse Guards, 27th October, 1858, medal sent that bar for Corygaum may be added. Sent to Horse Guards, 4th November, 1858.’ The other three recipients of the Corygaum clasp were Lieutenant Charles Swanston, Madras European Regiment; Assistant Surgeon John Wylie, Madras Artillery; and Bugler John Nicholas, Bombay Rifle Corps. George Bainbridge was born in Durham in 1783. Following the 65th Foot’s participation in the Capture of Poona in late 1817, George Bainbridge was present at the epic struggle at Corygaum. Whilst marching with a detachment from Seroor to strengthen the garrison of Poona, Captain F. F. Staunton, 2-1st Bombay N.I., encountered the Peishwah’s army, estimated at twenty thousand horse and about eight thousand infantry, encamped on the right bank of the Beemah, above the village of Corygaum. Staunton’s detachment comprised of his own corps, barely six hundred strong, a few Madras artillery with two six-pounders, and about three hundred auxiliary horse, some 900 in all. Seizing the village of Corygaum he held it against all attacks, and though heavy losses were sustained he succeeded in withdrawing his force by night in safety to Seroor. Of the eight European officers present, three were killed and two wounded. The Bombay N.I. had 53 killed and 134 wounded, whilst the Madras Artillery had 13 Europeans and 5 natives killed, 9 Europeans and 6 natives wounded, and the Auxiliary Horse had 96 casualties in total. In recognition of their gallantry the 2-1st Bombay N.I. were constituted Grenadiers, and Captain Staunton was made A.D.C. to the Governor-General, and presented by the H.E.I.C. with a sword of honour and 500 guineas, and in due course nominated a Companion of the Bath. Later the same month Bainbridge was recorded as being ‘in Camp’ with Captain John Clutterbuck’s Company of H.M’s 65th, near Bombay. In April 1820 he was serving with Captain R. J. McLean’s Company. He embarked from India in the Charles Forbes in August 1822 and, reaching England on 23 January 1823, was invalided the following month at Weedon Barracks.
Pair: Acting Leading Deck Hand R. B. Small, Royal Naval Reserve British War and Victory Medals (4923S.D. R. B. Small. Act. L.D.H. R.N.R.) extremely fine Pair: Chief Motor Mechanic R. W. House, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve British War and Victory Medals (M.B.1128 R. W. House. C.M.M. R.N.V.R.) in named card box of issue, extremely fine Pair: Telegraphist S. G. Roffey, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve British War and Victory Medals (L.Z.6415. S. G. Roffey. Tel. R.N.V.R.) very fine (6) £80-£100 --- Robert Burns Small, a clerk from Leyton, London, was born in Manor Park on 25 January 1888. He attested into the Royal Naval Reserve on 22 May 1916 for service during the Great War, transferring to the Special Trawler Reserve on 21 July 1916 and served afloat in H.M.D. White Oak. He was demobilised to shore on 5 February 1919. Sold with copied service papers and the original copy of his Freedom of the City of London certificate. Richard Wallis House, an engineer from Handsworth, Birmingham, was born on 21 October 1892. He attested into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 11 April 1916, for service during the Great War. Advanced Chief Motor Mechanic on 1 April 1917, he served afloat in H.M.D. Dreel Castle and was demobilised to shore on 10 February 1919. He died in Birmingham in 1960. Sold with copied service papers and an original photograph of the recipient in uniform. Stanley George Roffey, a Post Officer Learner from Southend-on-Sea, was born in Croydon on 12 March 1898. He attested into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 21 October 1916 for service during the Great War. Appointed Telegraphist, he served afloat in H.M.S. Warrior II and H.M.S. Wallington and was demobilised on 6 April 1919. He died, aged 41, at Southed-on-Sea, on 16 July 1939. Sold with some original paperwork, two school attendance medals, copied service papers and copied research.
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (2), G.VI.R. (Cey/18044386 Pte. R. Anthony. R.P.C.); E.II.R. (23217270 Rfn. J. J. Morrissey. R.B.) generally good very fine or better (2) £60-£80 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
Three: Private W. Coulson, 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Etreux during the Battalion’s epic rearguard acting during the retreat from Mons on 27 August 1914 1914 Star, with copy clasp (7989 Pte. W. Coulson. R. Muns: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (7989 Pte. W. Coulson. R. Mun. Fus.) nearly very fine (3) £500-£700 --- William Coulson attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, landing at Havre on 14 August 1914 and moving forward to Mons where the battalion was held in reserve for the fighting on 24 August. During the retreat, the 2nd Munsters occupied the position of honour as rearguard to the 1st Guards Brigade which, in turn, acted as rearguard for the 1st Division commanded by Major General Lomax. On the morning of Thursday 27 August 1914, the Irishmen, supported by two 18-pounders of the 118th Battery R.F.A. and a troop of the 15th Hussars, held the villages of Fesmy and Bergues, together with two important road junctions in that immediate area. Approaching them in an arc from North to East was an entire German Army Corps preceded by masses of cavalry and backed by an impressive array of artillery. Early in the afternoon, having inflicted savage casualties on 12 battalions of the German 2nd Guards’ Reserve Division which had attacked Fesmy, the Munsters began to withdraw to the South to the village of Oisy, and on to Etreux. At 5.30pm the battalion was located at a crossroads just east of Oisy. Jordan’s “B” Company, however, was missing and the retreat was held up. The company reappeared at about 6.30pm but the delay, according to Captain McCance’s regimental history, proved ‘fatal to the battalion’. Approaching the village of Oisy, the battalion came under heavy fire from the houses on the northern outskirts, followed by salvoes from eight German field guns positioned south-east of the village. Now, for the first time, the Irishmen began to fall thick and fast and although the one remaining 18-pounder promptly came into action, its ammunition was nearly exhausted. After a series of desperate bayonet attacks, and with the artillerymen all dead and wounded about their gun, the gallant Munsters fell back to an orchard on the west of the road. Despite a further bayonet charge, at odds of fifty to one, which had temporarily held the enemy, the orchard was now ringed by Germans against whom the survivors, lining the four sides of the orchard, made every shot count. Ultimately, due to appalling casualties, lack of ammunition and the overwhelming superiority of enemy numbers, the survivors of the Battalion were compelled to surrender around 9pm. They had been fighting for 12 hours and their senior surviving officer was a Lieutenant but their sacrifice had ensured that Haig’s 1 Corps could continue unharassed on its way. Coulson was amongst those taken Prisoner of War at Etreux on 27 August 1914 and was held at Giessen P.O.W. camp. Sold with copied research.
A fine Second War ‘Chindit operations’ group of eight awarded to Colour Sergeant A. Fowler, Essex Regiment General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6007062 Cpl. A. Fowler. Essex. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (6007062 C.Sjt. A. Fowler. Essex. R.) mounted as worn, very fine (8) £80-£100 --- Albert Fowler was born in Chelmsford on 2 March 1913 and attested for the Essex Regiment in 1927. He served with the 1st Battalion in Palestine and as C.Q.M.S. in the Sudan in 1940. Embarked for Tobruk 17 October 1941, he fought against Axis forces under Erwin Rommel and later against the Imperial Japanese Army at Kohima. A Chindit, there are photographs of him with Earl Mountbatten at a Chindit dinner in 1969. Discharged in 1949, he worked as a confectioner in West Kirby, Hoylake.
Three: Stoker Petty Officer R. Allan, Royal Navy, who was killed in action in H.M.S. Shark at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, on which occasion her Captain was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross 1914-15 Star (282434, R. Allan. S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (282434 R. Allan. S.P.O. R.N.) naming a little feint to VM, generally very fine (3) £500-£700 --- Robert Allan was born in Bothwell on 10 October 1875, the son of John Allan of 71 Calder Street, Whifflet, Lanarkshire. He joined the Royal Navy at Portsmouth on 18 April 1908 and served aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Shark as Stoker Petty Officer from 21 March 1914, and was present in the engagement with the German Fleet on the night of 15-16 December 1914 following the raid on Scarborough; witnessing the extensive damage meted out to the destroyer Hardy by the German light cruiser Hamburg, Shark broke off her attack on the enemy ship and resumed station screening the British battlecruisers. Two years later, Shark served as one of four destroyers of the 4th Flotilla assigned to cover the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron during the Battle of Jutland. At about 6 p.m. she led an unsuccessful torpedo attack on the German 2nd Scouting Group, with Shark firing two torpedoes; crippled by return gunfire and with her fuel pipes and steering gear wrecked, Commander Loftus Jones declined an offer of assistance from the destroyer Acasta - which would have placed Acasta in extreme danger - and continued the fight which led to the sinking of the German torpedo boat SMS V48. The German destroyers then closed on Shark, during which time Loftus Jones lost a leg and witnessed the destruction of his 4-inch gun and bridge. Shortly before 7 p.m. he ordered the ship to be abandoned. In total, 86 men of the 92 aboard Shark were killed. Commander Loftus Jones was later gazetted for a posthumous Victoria Cross in March 1917. Aged 40 years, Allan is commemorated upon the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
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