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Lot 514
TRINIDAD - 1883-94 ½d to 4d plus 1s overprinted 'Specimen' and each showing constant var broken 'M' (pos.41 of setting) (SG 106s/12s btwn) all except ½d with perf faults (1s with missing corner), fresh part o.g., superb and extremely rare, a maximum of two each existed and these may be the only survivors
Lot 543
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - 1935 Silver Jubilee 3c (SG 240) complete sheet of sixty (6 x 10) from vignette plate '9', showing easily visible constant flaws on R3/6, 5/1, 5/6, 6/6 and 9/6, fresh u/m, folded (causing minor perf splitting at foot) and a few marginal creases, nevertheless rare and desirable
Lot 544
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - 1935 Silver Jubilee 3c (SG 240) complete sheet of sixty (6 x 10) from vignette plate '11', showing diagnostic flaws on R5/5 and 7/6, and column 6 hairlines, fresh u/m, folded (causing minor perf splitting at foot) and trivial bend at lower right, nevertheless rare and desirable
Lot 545
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - 1935 Silver Jubilee 6c (SG 241) complete sheet of sixty (6 x 10) from vignette plate '10', showing easily visible constant flaws on R1/5, 2/4, 2/5, 3/6, 5/2 and 9/1, a few minor tone spots otherwise fine u/m, folded and a few minor marginal creases, nevertheless rare and desirable
Lot 576
TRINIDAD - Specimens: Small group comprising 1896-1906 2½d, 1901-06 2½d, 1904-09 1d rose-red, 2½d blue and 1s purple and blue each overprinted 'Specimen' and showing constant var broken 'M' (pos.41 of setting) (SG 117s, 128s, 135s, 137s, 142s), odd minor fault, fresh part o.g. to u/m, a rare group each stamp being one of only 12 possible
Lot 578
TRINIDAD - Paquebot: 1883-94 ½d, 1d, 4d and 1s (SG 106, 107, 110, 112) each with large part or complete 'LIGNE D' French mailboat ds in blue (octagonal on ½d and 1s, circular on 1d and 4d), 1d with superb upright cancel showing 'No 1' with the 4d showing 'No 3', dated 30 Jul 87 (Salles 1513/1), odd trivial fault but a very attractive group, the 1s being rare, 4d ex T.V. Roberts
Lot 584
TRINIDAD - Paquebot: 1899 (7 January) cover to Paris endorsed 'Voie francaise', franked by 1898 Columbus 2d x2, tied by light strike of 'LIGNE C/PAQ FR No 1' octagonal ds (Salles 1523/1) with an additional strike alongside, backstamped with 'PARIS/POSTE RESTANTE' arrival cds for 25 Jan 99, a number of faults to cover but a rare and desirable usage
Lot 494
A rare Colonial Police long and meritorious service group of six awarded to Sergeant-Major Kaboko, Rhodesian Police, late British South Africa Police Rhodesia General Service Medal (10757 Stn./Sgt.); Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C., with Bar (10757 Stn./Sgt.), the edge also stamped ‘(Dup.)’ for duplicate issue; War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Police L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (10757 African Stat. Sgt., B.S.A.Police); Colonial Police Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (10757 Afr./1/Sgt., B.S.A.P.); St. John Service Medal, unnamed, the Colonial Police Medals with contact marks, thus nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine (6) £400-500 Kaboko, a member of the Manyika Tribe who was born in Salisbury in June 1919, enlisted in the British South Africa Police in June 1941, and rose to be Salisbury’s most senior African traffic policeman before his retirement in October 1972. ‘A ruthless disciplinarian’, he was awarded his St. John Service Medal in 1959, his Colonial Police L.S. & G.C. and Meritorious Service Medals in August 1960 and January 1963, his Rhodesia General Service Medal in December 1969 and his Police Long Service Medal with Bar in August 1971. Kaboko was employed as a Caddy Master at the Royal Salisbury Golf Course following his retirement in 1972; sold with full research and verification - also see Medal News, October 1997, p. 16.
Lot 495
Five: Sergeant Mutandwa, Rhodesian Police, late British South Africa Police Rhodesia General Service Medal (11528 Sgt.); Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C. (11528 Sgt.), edge stamped ‘(R.)’ for replacement; War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Police L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (11528 African Const., B.S.A. Police); St. John Service Medal, unnamed, ‘Police’ on the fourth privately engraved, generally good very fine (5) £160-180 Mutandwa was born at Gutu in Southern Rhodesia in June 1924 and, having worked at the Iscor Steel Works on the outskirts of Pretoria, returned home and enlisted in British South Africa Police in June 1945. Thereafter, in a long career spanning nearly 30 years, he held assorted appointments in Salisbury, Gwelo, Selukwe and Bulawayo, among them Court Orderly and Interpreter, Licence Inspector and ‘Sudden Death Dockets ‘Compiler. Awarded the St. John Service Medal in 1960 and his Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C. in January 1972, he retired in December of the following and became a lay preacher in the Dutch Reform Church; sold with three original St. John Ambulance certificates, dated March 1949, December 1958 and October 1960, together with his B.S.A.P. certificate of service, dated December 1973, these in generally worn / damaged condition. #160-180 496. A rare Colonial Police long and meritorious group of four awarded to Sergeant Mabgwe-Mpofu, British South Africa Police War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Police L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, with 2 Bars (9813 African 1st Cl. Sgt. Mabgwe, B.S.A. Police); Colonial Police Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (9813 African Stn. Sgt. Petros M.B. Mpofu, B.S.A. Police); St. John Service Medal (8796 Mabgwe, 9813, Rhodesia S.J.A.B., 1956), contact marks and occasional edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine (4) £450-550 Mpofu, who changed his name from Mabgwe in 1961 (B.S.A.P. records refer), was a member of the Mzezuru Tribe who was born in October 1913. Enlisting in the British South Africa Police in September 1935, he was advanced to African Station Sergeant in August 1955 and retired in November 1965, largely having served in Bulawayo and Salisbury. Awarded his Colonial Police L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1954, he added a Bar to it in 1962 and a second Bar in 1965, and was awarded his Colonial Police Meritorious Service Medal in 1963; sold with research and verification.
Lot 504
‘With the ensign at half-mast, and the Union Jack as a pall, the funeral procession, attended by all but four very bad cases, started at nine o’clock, and the burial service being read, the remains were consigned to their last icy resting place in this world. Improvising a crude cross, formed with a boat’s oar and a spare sledge-batten, it was placed at the head of the grave, with the following inscription: ‘Beneath this cross lie buried the remains of Geo. Porter, R.M.A., who died on June 8th 1876. Thy will be done. ‘Of all the melancholy and mournful duties I have ever had to perform, this has been the saddest. A death in a small party like ours, and under the present circumstances, is a most distressing event, and is keenly felt by all. During the service all were more or less affected, and many to tears.’ Commander A. H. Markham’s Northern Sledge Party Journal refers. A rare and emotive Arctic 1875-76 Medal awarded to Gunner G. Porter, Royal Marine Artillery, a member of Markham’s Northern Sledge Party whose sacrifice was commemorated by the naming of ‘Porter Bay ‘on the northern coast of Ellesmere Island Arctic Medal 1875-76 (G. Porter, Gnr., R.M.A., H.M.S. Alert), edge bruising, very fine £5000-6000 Ex J. B. Hayward (Gazette No. 7, June 1976, Item 198); of four casualties from the 1875-76 Expedition, the Arctic Medals of two of them reside in public institutions. George Porter enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery in Birmingham in September 1866, aged 18 years, giving his trade as varnisher. Having then collected one Good Conduct Badge, he committed a spate of misdemeanours in the period 1869-74, ranging from absence without leave to the loss of a ‘rammer overboard through carelessness at gun drill’, the cost of which latter implement was deducted from his wages. Then in April 1875, he joined the Alert, under Captain George Nares, in which ship, in the following month, he sailed for the unknown ‘High Arctic ‘, where, in company with the Discovery, Nares was to explore North-West Greenland and the northern regions of Ellesmere Island. For his own part, Porter was one of just seven R.M.A. men employed on the expedition, and indeed one of only 13 such servicemen who qualified for either of the Arctic Medals issued in the 19th century. And in common with his R.M.A. predecessors from the Franklin Search Expeditions, Porter was tasked with handling cannisters of gunpowder to blast frozen obstructions, and in creating ‘ice docks’ for the ships' winter quarters, the latter work again entailing the use of gunpowder, and of giant ice saws. Another duty he shared with his predecessors was that of officers’ servant, in Porter’s case to Lieutenant Pelham Aldrich, who, in his journal entry of 8 August 1875, observed: ‘My servant Porter is a character. He has just been telling me of a dinner he has had of the heart of a Walrus, which he captured this morning. I expressed a hope he would not be ill after it - "That is if it is good to eat" says he, alluding to a remark he had made about it being better than some sheep's liver we had the other morning! - and then he finished up with "I eat a tidy lot of it Sir" - "this 'Eart was ate too Sir" - I am to have some this morning though somewhat doubtful in the subject it is nevertheless a good thing to find out what we can actually devour with infinity in case of future requirements.’ By late August, the ships had reached Discovery Harbour, on the northern side of Lady Franklin Bay, Ellesmere Island, the site chosen for Discovery’s winter quarters. The Alert, meanwhile, continued up Robeson Channel to Floeberg Beach, to 82¼ 82'N - the highest latitude reached by any ship up to that time - and established her winter quarters on 1 September. Shortly afterwards, Autumn sledge parties established depots northward at Cape Joseph Henry for extended journeys the following spring, but at this stage, at least, Porter would appear to have been spared such challenging work - and the accompanying threat of snowblindness, frostbite, blistering of the skin and extreme thirst caused by inhaling cold, dry air and exhaling moisture. Instead, happily, he added a second Good Conduct Badge to his accolades on New Year’s Day 1876. Markham’s Northern Sledging Party In the Spring, three major sledging parties - two from Alert and one from Discovery - set out to explore toward the North Pole and along the north coasts of Ellesmere Island and Greenland, the journey ahead being likened by one Arctic officer to far worse than going into action - in fact he had never ‘seen such labour, and such misery after. No amount of money is an equivalent .. Men require much more heart and stamina to undertake an extended travelling party than to go into action. The travellers have their enemy chilling them to the very heart, and paralyzing their very limbs; the others the very contrary.’ And so it was, on 3 April, that Lieutenant Aldrich's Western Sledge Party and Commander Albert H. Markham's Northern Sledge Party left the ship, along with supporting sledges. Markham's party comprised H.M. Sledges Support, Marco Polo (with a boat) and Victoria (with another boat and Porter), the object of the journey being to attain the highest northern latitude possible, and to determine to possibility of a more fully equipped party reaching the North Pole. The departure was poignantly described by Markham: ‘At eleven o'clock, everything being in readiness for a start, all hands assembled on the floe, and prayers were read by [Reverend] Pullen. The hymn, "[Praise] God, From Whom All Blessings Flow," was then sung, after which the order was given to "fall in," and amidst the hearty cheers of those few who were left behind, the sledging parties moved off. The captain and officers accompanied us for a short distance, when, wishing us God-speed, they turned to go back. This was a signal for three cheers from the travellers, after which they settled down to their work, and the march was steadily commenced.’ Shortly after leaving the Alert, Markham noted a temperature of 33¼ below zero and described the travelling as ‘by no means good, snow deep, and the sledges dragging very heavily’, the former factor ‘rendering the task of writing up our journals when we halted extremely unpleasant and painful’: on the second day the temperature plummeted to 45¼ below zero. And by 10 April, after marching nine to ten hours every day, Markham wrote, ‘We experienced heavy work in cutting a road [with pick axe and shovel] through the line of shore hummocks that gird the coast, and did not succeed in reaching the depot [at Cape Joseph Henry] until eleven o'clock.’ Here the Northern Sledge Party collected provisions for 63 days. The next morning was thick and foggy, to which was added a heavy snow fall. The supporting sledges returned to the ship, and the two extended parties pressed onward: the Northern Sledge Party leaving terra firma and pushing straight out onto the rugged polar pack, while the Western Sledge Party continued exploration of Ellesmere's coast to the westward. Markham's sledges Marco Polo, Victoria and Support weighed a total of 6,079 lbs. - 15 men were dragging a staggering 405 lbs. per man - which offers some appreciation of the effort it took to get through the snow and over hummocks of ice as high as 20-30 feet. No surprises then that Markham observed, ‘The men appear a good deal done up.’ On 14 April, one of them complained of a ‘pain in his ankle and knee, both of which exhibited slight symptoms of puffiness’, and two days later he was unable to walk and was obliged to be put on a sledge, adding to the burden of his comrades. The temperature was 30¼ below zero and ‘all unanimously came to the conclusion that it was the most wretched and miserable Easter Sunday that any one of us has ever passed’: doubtless this was especially true for George Porter, who began complaining of stiff knees, which were
Lot 506
A rare ‘Challenger Medal ‘awarded to Dr. George Busk, a noted scientist and contemporary of Charles Darwin, who successfully nominated the latter for the Royal Society’s coveted Copley Medal Medal for the Expedition of H.M.S. Challenger 1872-76 and the subsequent scientific reports 1886-95, Neptune, left hand holding a triangle and the right arm encircling a trident and resting on a wreath, below which, the helmeted bust of Britannia left, surrounded by dolphins and mermaids, with inscription on ribbon below, ‘Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger, 1872-76’, reverse, armoured medieval knight left with gauntlet at his feet, a ribbon in part entwined around a trident bears the inscription, ‘Report on the Scientific Results of the Challenger Expedition 1886-95’ (George Busk), 75mm., bronze, good very fine £400-500 Medallic References: B.H.M. 3487 and Eimer 1797; a total of 120 such awards were issued, The Challenger Medal Roll (1895), by Glenn M. Stein, F.R.G.S., recording only eight known examples, some of which are still in family hands, while others reside in institutions - Busk's example was issued posthumously on 23 December 1895. George Busk was born in St. Petersburg in August 1807, the second son of Robert Busk, a merchant in that city. After receiving his initial education at Dr. Hartley's School, Bingley, Yorkshire, Busk studied medicine at St. Thomas's Hospital, London. Thereafter, he spent six years as an articled student with George Beaman, under the aegis of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Appointed to the Seamen's Hospital Society (S.H.S.) in 1831, having served briefly as Apothecary on the Society's first hospital ship, the Grampus, Busk joined the 104-gun ship Dreadnought as an Assistant Surgeon in the following year, aboard which ship he ‘worked out the pathology of cholera, and made important observations on scurvy’: he was to remain a Surgeon with the S.H.S. for nearly 25 years, until retiring from surgical practice in 1855, though he held the post of Consulting Surgeon from 1866 until his death 20 years later. In December 1843, Busk became one of the original 300 Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons. Besides his eventual Presidency of the same body in 1871, he subsequently occupied many influential positions in several learned scientific institutions, among them the Microscopial Society, Linnean Society, Zoological Society, and the Anthropological Institute, while in 1850 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. The Darwin connection Early in life he had established himself as a leading authority on Polyzoa, and as with all things he studied, was a patient and cautious investigator. The author of several works on varied scientific subjects, and a solid artist, he also wrote and drew about Polyzoa specimens brought back by Charles Darwin on the Beagle, the 1875-76 Arctic Expedition, and of course, Challenger. Indeed Busk was deeply involved in the debate on the theory of evolution and some sources state that he read the joint Darwin-Wallace paper at a meeting of the Linnean Society on 1 July 1858 - the paper was an important prelude to Darwin's On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection (1859) - but more recent research suggests it was the Society’s Secretary who read out the paper. Be that as it may, Busk did translate into English Professor Schaaffhausen's detailed description of a cranium discovered in the Neander Valley in 1857, two years before publication of Darwin's Origin, a translation that duly appeared in The Natural History Review for April 1861. In his related publication, The Neander Valley, Robert Silverberg states: ‘[Busk] addressed a group of English scientists that same month, displaying a plaster cast of the Neanderthal skull and a skull of a chimpanzee. He said he had "no doubt of the enormous antiquity" of the Neanderthal bones, and called attention to the way the shape of the skull approached "that of some of the higher apes." Neither Darwin nor his chief popularizer, Huxley, attended Busk's lecture, but the geologist David Lyell did, and he saw to it that the Neanderthal skull cast got to Huxley. Huxley reported, in 1863, that the skull was that of a primitive variety of man, ‘different from Homo Sapiens but not wholly distinct anatomically’, though he admitted it was the most apelike human skull yet found - Huxley added cautiously that ‘in no sense can the Neanderthal bones be regarded as the remains of a human being intermediate between men and apes’. ‘In addition, in 1863, Busk came forward with a fossilized skull found in Gibraltar in 1848, and since preserved at the Natural History Museum, London. He realized it had Neanderthal characteristics, and on the basis of the two skulls, an assistant of Lyell's christened a new species of man in 1864, Homo neanderthalensis. As a result, along with Darwin's Origin, "Neanderthal man" rapidly became the centrepiece in the contemporary evolution controversy. In fact, Darwin and Busk had a close medical, as well as scientific, relationship. Darwin was plagued nearly all his adult life with stomach problems, and on his way to Malvern Wells in 1863, he stopped in London overnight to consult Busk, whom Hooker had recommended as having ‘the most fertile brain of any man I know in regard of all such matters as your stomach’ (letter from J. D. Hooker, dated 27 August 1863, refers). Moreover, following Darwin’s failure to gain the Royal Society’s coveted Copley Medal in 1862-63, as a result of the contentious nature of his Origin, it was Busk who nominated him again in 1864, this time for his researches in geology, zoology and botanical physiology, and the ploy worked, the membership present at a meeting held that November resolving by ballot that Darwin receive said Medal. Darwin did not attend the meeting at which the award was announced, fearing the excitement would make him seriously ill, and in his absence the Medal was received on his behalf by Busk, who handed it over to Darwin's brother - a few days later the great man wrote to Busk, thanking him for proposing him for the award (Darwin’s letter, dated 4 December 1864, refers). It was around this same time that a social club was formed by eminent scientists and called the ‘X Club ‘, in order to prevent the members from drifting apart due to their various duties, and to further the cause of science. Much of the discussion at X Club meetings revolved around the affairs of the Royal Society, and in the year of the Club's founding, all except one member were Fellows, Thomas Huxley and Busk among them. Both of them were also involved in the Philosophical Club, a "think tank" within the Royal Society. Busk was awarded the Royal Medal of the Royal Society in 1871 ‘for his researches in Zoology, Physiology and Comparative Anatomy’, followed by the Lyell Medal in 1878 and the Geological Society’s Wollaston Medal in 1885. As stated above, the award of his Challenger Medal was made posthumously in December 1895 - prior to the voyage of the Challenger in 1872, a Royal Society scientific party went aboard the "floating laboratory" anchored at Sheerness, and on deck had their photograph taken, among them Busk. His ‘last labours’ were devoted to the preparation of a report on the Polyzoa collected during the expedition, the first part of the work being completed in 1884, and he was in the process of finishing the second part at the time of his death in London in August 1886 - the proofs were later corrected by his elder daughter. During his lifetime, Busk donated mainly Bryozoan material to the Natural History Museum, London, and after his death, his daughters bequeathed the rest of his collection to the Museum - which amounted to several thousand specimens - as well as some books and drawings. The Museum also holds a proof copy of Busk's Challenger work, with his corrections and annotations, and his original drawings. Dr. G. C. Cook's words perhaps
Lot 507
A rare 1st class German Atlantic Expedition 1925-27 Medal, complete with its case of issue Germany, Atlantic ‘Meteor ‘Expedition Medal 1925-27, 1st class, silver, the edge inscribed, ‘Bayer Hauptmunzamt, Feinsilber’, with silver-gilt oak leaves’ suspension, in its original gilt inscribed, red leather fitted case of issue, original riband and brooch-pin for wearing, good very fine £400-500 Issued by the Research Aid Society of German Science, and designed by the Bavarian Mint, 23 1st Class Medals were issued with gilt oak leaves to naval officers and civilian scientists, and 188 2nd Class Medals were issued with silver oak leaves to crewmen. In the aftermath of Germany’s defeat in the Great War, in a period of political and economic chaos, emerged one of the most important oceanographic expeditions of the 20th century, an expedition made possible by the establishment of the German Scientific Research Aid Council in 1920, a body charged with salvaging the pride of the country’s scientific research establishment. And it was in the spirit of that stated aim, in 1924, that Vienna-born oceanographer, Professor Alfred Merz of Berlin University, asserted that the ocean offered an open door of opportunity for exploration - that a well-planned voyage would invite solutions to many important questions of the deep - a view shared by the Council’s president, who quickly gathered the required support. As a result, the Meteor was fitted out for just such an expedition, a brigatine rig being put in place to reduce her reliance on fuel. Commanded by KapitŠn zur See F. Spiess, with Merz heading the scientific agenda, her specially trained crew numbered 123 men, including 10 officers, 29 Petty Officers, 78 ratings and 6 civilians - given that the Medal was awarded to a total of 211 recipients, it must be assumed that some of these men were exchanged during the course of her voyage, and that other individuals indirectly connected with the expedition were also eligible for the award. In any event, the Meteor departed in April 1925 and conducted a shake-down cruise to the Canary Islands to ensure readiness for the voyage. Afterwards, a strenuous around the clock programme of scientific measurements was undertaken: water temperatures, depths, atmospheric observations and collecting water samples and marine life. In the end, the Meteor criss-crossed the Atlantic on no less than 14 occasions, from the northern tropics to Antarctica, and, using the ship's early sonar, profiles of the ocean floor were created between 20¼ N and 55¼ S. In addition, the expedition established 310 hydrographic stations and made 67,400 depth soundings to map the topography of the ocean floor, and released over 800 observation balloons, while an analysis of 9,400 measurements of temperature, salinity and chemical content at varying depths established the pattern of ocean water circulation, nutrient dispersal and plankton growth - a notable discovery during this survey was the extension of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge around the Cape of Good Hope towards the Indian Ocean and the Meteor was also the first to record an entire ocean's currents and make extensive studies of surface evaporation. By the time of her return to Germany in May 1927, Meteor had spent 512 days at sea and sailed over 67,500 nautical miles, thereby achieving a victory in peace for science and for Germany. The above information has been based on research undertaken by Glenn M. Stein, F.R.G.S.
Lot 537
The original Boer War manuscript diaries of Shoeing-Smith F. H. A. O’Dell, 12th Company, R.E., comprising three separate, folded notebooks with detailed handwritten entries covering the periods April to October 1900 (approx. 60pp.), October 1900 to February 1901 (approx. 12 pp.), and February 1901 to December of the same year (approx. 20pp.), two with his name and unit inscribed on opening pages, and all in all a rare and fascinating record of a non-commissioned soldier’s experiences on active service in South Africa, a record that also amounts to a valuable history of the 12th Company’s activities in the Boer War, occasional staining , worn folded spines and page ends, but his neat ink and pencil entries in good sound condition (Lot) £200-250 Frederick H. A. O’Dell, from Ampthill, Bedfordshire, was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps for ‘Cape Colony ‘, ‘Orange Free State ‘, ‘Johannesburg ‘, ‘Diamond Hill ‘and ‘Belfast ‘, in addition to the King’s Medal with two dated clasps. Having arrived in South Africa at the end of 1899, 12th Company R.E. was attached to the 3rd Infantry Division.
Lot 592
The Royal Guelphic Order, G.C.H. (Civil) Knight Grand Cross collar chain and sash badge, circa 1830-35, the silver-gilt chain comprising 24 alternating Guelphic crowns, lions passant and reversed cyphers of King George III, unmarked but of fine quality and contained in its original fitted red leather case; the superb sash badge in gold and enamels, 112mm x 74mm excluding suspension ring, some enamel loss to both wreaths, otherwise good very fine and rare £6000-8000 General Turner was promoted to Knight Grand Cross (Military) in 1827.
Lot 595
The Royal Guelphic Order, K.C.H. (Military) Knight Commander’s breast star in silver with gold and enamel centre, the appliquŽ sword hilts also in gold and enamel, the horse of Hannover in silver, 79mm diameter, the gilt reverse signed Beaugeois Bijoutier a Paris, and fitted with pin for wearing, central medallion depressed and some enamel loss to wreath, very fine £1000-1200 Lieutenant-General Turner was made a Knight Commander of the Guelphic Order prior to 1820, the exact date not known. #1000-1200 596. Ottoman Empire, Order of the Crescent, K.C., Knight’s breast badge, gold and green enamel, 43mm diameter, with integral loop and gold rings for suspension, unusually fine quality, enamel chipped on obverse between rays of the star, otherwise nearly extremely fine and very rare £4000-5000 Nicholas Carlisle, in A Concise Account of the Several Foreign Orders of Knighthood, London 1839, lists Turner, along with Vice-Admiral Nelson, Lieutenant-General Hutchinson, Lord Keith, the Earl of Elgin, etc., as one of the fifteen recipients of the ‘Superior Class’ of the Order of the Crescent with the following entry: ‘General Sir Hilgrove Turner, G.C.H., Knight of the Imperial Russian Order of St Anne, of the first Class, Knight of the Imperial Ottoman Order of The Crescent, and late Governor of Bermuda, ‘by verbal permission of His Royal Highness The Prince Regent, ‘afterwards George the Fourth. It is to the firmness and decision of the gallant Officer, that England is indebted for the celebrated Trilinguar Inscription, discovered at Rosetta, a Fac-simile and copies of which were extensively circulated by The Society of Antiquaries of London. This famous stone now forms a prominent feature in the Hall of Egyptian Antiquities at The British Museum. It was styled ‘The Gem of Antiquity ‘by the French, as being the Key to the Hierohlyphick language.’.
Lot 598
Russia, Order of St Anne, a magnificent large Grand Cross breast star by Rundell Bridge & Rundell, circa 1814, in silver, gold and enamels, 107mm diameter, the reverse centre plate inscribed ‘Rundell Bridge & Rundell, Jewellers to Their Majesties, His Royal Highnefs the Prince Regent, and The Royal Family’, fitted with silver pin for wearing and contained in its original red leather case, the bottom with affixed label inscribed in ink ‘St Anne’, extremely fine and extremely rare £5000-6000.
Lot 599
Russia, Order of St Anne, Grand Cross breast star by Hamlet, circa 1820-30, in silver, gold and enamels, 82mm diameter, the reverse centre plate inscribed ‘Hamlet, Goldsmith & Jeweller, to His Majesty, His Royal Highnefs the Duke of Clarence & Royal Family. Prince’s St. Leicester Sq. London’, fitted with silver pin and gold catch, very fine and rare £2000-2500
Lot 618
France, First Empire, A Rare Ceremonial Baton, probably for a high civil office, the faded purple velvet-covered wooden staff embellished with 30 bronze-gilt Imperial Bees surmounted by bronze-gilt Crown finial, 763mm overall, 32mm diameter, the velvet worn but the metalwork in excellent condition for age, very rare £1000-1500.
Lot 632
Indian States, Patiala, Maharaja’s Turban Badge, by the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company, Ltd., 78 x 73mm., silver-gilt badge formed of a star of radiating Indian weaponry linked by a wreath; in the centre, surmounted by a crown, a fine enamelled portrait of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh; reverse with supporting hook, to each side, five silver chains connected to hallmarked silver-gilt hook fittings, the badge reverse bearing the manufacturer’s initials and hallmarks for Birmingham 1946, extremely fine, rare £1200-1500 On the badge Bhupinder Singh (1900-38) is portrayed wearing a uniform with orders and medals, including the star and sash of the Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (G.C.S.I.). On his head he wears a turban with a similar turban badge to the above, this being held in place by five chains. Bhupinder Singh was succeeded as Maharaja by Yadavindra Singh (1938-48). Born in 1913 and educated at Aitchison College, Lahore. He served as Superintendent of Police for the Patiala District and in 1933 was appointed the Chancellor of Khalsa College, Amritsar. A keen sportsman, in 1934 he was selected by India to play in the cricket test against England. He was President of the Indian Olympic Association, 1938-60. In 1946 he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to King George VI and Pro-Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes. In post-independence India he was appointed Rajpramukh for Patiala and East Punjab States Union, 1948-56. A Member of the Indian delegation to the 11th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in 1958 he represented India at the 10th annual conference of UNESCO and later led the Indian delegation at meetings of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization. In 1960 he was appointed Chairman of the Indian Council of Sports and in 1965 he was appointed to the prestigious post of Ambassador to Rome, 1965-67. He died in 1974. It is tempting to think that the above badge was ordered by Yadavindra Singh in relation to one of the official appointments made in 1946. .
Lot 716
New Zealand 1845-66, reverse undated (John Crisp, A.B. H.M.S. Iris. 1860-61) officially engraved naming, nearly very fine £350-400 John Crisp's medal was issued on 10th March 1877. 72 medals (10 to R.N. officers, 49 to R.N. ratings, 1 to R.M. Officer, and 12 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) were awarded to H.M.S. Iris of which 34 are known, including 3 with reverse dated 1860, 4 with reverses undated, and the rest dated 1860-1861. This is a rare example with officially engraved dates on the edge, the issuing uthorities having run out of dated reverse medals.
Lot 720
Three: Commander William Watson Smyth, Royal Navy, gazetted for good service in China and New Zealand and later appointed a Naval Knight of Windsor Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Fatshan 1857, Canton 1857, unnamed as issued; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1860 (W. W. Smyth, Actg. Mate H.M.S. Niger) officially impressed naming, good very fine and very rare (3) £2000-2500 William Watson Smyth's New Zealand War medal was issued on 18 February 1871, and is one of only 6 medals issued to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. 66 medals (13 to R.N. officers, 37 to R.N. ratings, and 16 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) were awarded to H.M.S. Niger for the Second New Zealand War of which 30 are known including 2 to R.N. Officers with reverses dated 1860, 3 to R.N. ratings with undated reverses, and the rest with reverses dated 1860-1861. He entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in October 1853, joining the steam flag ship H.M.S. Ajax flying the flag of Rear Admiral Sir William Carroll, K.C.B., in which he served in the Baltic Campaign of 1854-55. He was promoted to Midshipman in October 1855 and, in May 1856, he was appointed to the Sloop H.M.S. Niger, Captain the Honourable Arthur A. Cochrane, C.B., for service with the Pacific Squadron. He took part in the opening stages of the Second China War and was also present at the destruction of the Chinese fleet in Fatshan Creek on 1 June 1857, and the storming of Canton in December 1857. He was Gazetted on 1 August 1857, ‘as having been engaged in the Niger’s boats at the destruction of a flotilla of Chinese gunboats’ (Midshipman Niger’s 2nd Gig, 1 June 1857: Destruction of Fatshan Flotilla of War Junks). In 1858 H.M.S. Niger (Captain P. Cracroft, R.N.) was transferred to the Australian Station commanded by Commodore William Loring, C.B. William Smyth was promoted to Mate in October 1859, and took part in the early actions in Taranaki including the capture of Te Kohia Pa on 17-18 March 1860, and the attack on Omatto and Waireka on 28 March 1860. He was given independent command of the colonial schooner Caroline, formerly known as Ruby, which had been requisitioned for naval service and was reported as rendering valuable service in transporting and landing troops and stores in support of the various naval actions. On 12 December 1860, William Smyth was transferred in a death vacancy to Commodore Loring's Flag Ship H.M.S. Iris. In this vessel he was present at the action at Mata-rikoriko (Winking Eyes) on 29 December 1860. During the early part of 1861, the Iris landed a small Naval Brigade, which took part in the skirmish at the Valley of Waitara. Smyth was Gazetted ‘as having been engaged in the spirited action with the enemy’. On promotion to Lieutenant in March 1862, he was transferred to the steam corvette H.M.S. Tribune, also serving on the Pacific Station, and remained in her until she returned to England in 1865. He was invalided from H.M.S. Tribune in 1865 ‘ ‘for preservation of life’, his nine years service in Far Eastern waters, including adverse climatic conditions and active involvement in two wars, having taken a heavy toll on his health. His health showed only minor improvement and when appointed to the training ship Impregnable, based at Devonport in September 1865, he was far from well. In July 1867 he was appointed First Lieutenant of H.M.S. Ganges, a training ship for boys based at Falmouth. His services while holding this post were commended but continuing failing health resulted in his early retirement as a Commander in 1873 after nearly 20 years of service. His good services were recognised in January 1876 when Queen Victoria selected him to be the youngest, aged just 37, of the Naval Knights of Windsor, whose number never exceeded seven retired naval officers at any one time, under the terms of the Will of Samuel Travers. He did not enjoy this rare distinction for long as he died in 1877, having served a little under two years among the select band of august naval officers. He was buried in the grounds of Travers College, Windsor Castle.
Lot 748
Three: Able Seaman Albert Howard Mayne, Royal Navy East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Sierra Leone 1898-99 (A.B., H.M.S. Fox); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 8 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Relief of Kimberley (1571. A.B., H.M.S. Mon..) officially engraved naming, unofficial rivets between first and second clasps; Life Saving Medal, silver straight-armed paty cross surmounted by an eagle, obverse inscribed, ‘A.B., R.N.’, reverse inscribed, ‘Presented to A. H. Mayne by J. G. Williams Esqre. for saving his daughter ‘May ‘from drowning, March 10th 1896’, hallmarks for Birmingham 1901, manufacturer’s name erased, with silver brooch bar inscribed, ‘A. H. Mayne’, first two with edge bruising and contact marks, fine, naming on Q.S.A. especially worn; last very fine, rare (3) £1000-1400 87 ‘Sierra Leone 1898-99’ clasps awarded to Fox. Only 24 eight-clasp Queen South Africa Medals awarded to the Royal Navy, of which 17 were awarded to Monarch. Albert Howard Mayne was born in Glamorgan on 29 January 1875. A Clerk by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in September 1890 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in September 1891. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman on the Cruiser in January 1893 and Able Seaman on Collingwood in April 1894. He was based at Victory I, November 1895-April 1896; on Fox, April 1896-May 1899 and on Monarch, May 1899-October 1900. He was discharged in 1905 having completed his period of service. Sold with original photograph of the recipient in uniform wearing his three medals; copied service paper and confirmation of clasps.
Lot 751
East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, Benin 1897, Sierra Leone 1898-99 (E. Talbot, Ord., H.M.S. St. George) second clasp unofficially riveted, otherwise very fine, rare £400-450 Eight medals with this combination of clasps issued to R.N. or R.M. recipients. Talbot served aboard the Alecto in Sierra Leone. 167 ‘Benin 1897’ clasps awarded to Barrosa; 51 ‘Sierra Leone 1898-99’ clasps awarded to Alecto.
Lot 753
East and West Africa 1887-1900, 3 clasps, Benin River 1894, Brass River 1895, Benin 1897 (D. Statt, Dom. 2Cl., H.M.S. Widgeon) lightly polished, otherwise better than very fine and very rare £600-700 Ex Douglas-Morris Collection 1997, where it is described as a unique combination of clasps to the Royal Navy or Royal Marines. However, it is believed that there were actually three recipients of this clasp combination. Daniel Statt was born in Jersey, Channel Islands, on 5 October 1869, and was a servant before joining the Royal Navy. He entered the service as a Domestic 3rd Class aboard the Indus on 7 May 1888 when aged 19 years, and next joined Lion (August 1889) as a Domestic 2nd Class. He transferred to Shannon (April 1891) and was advanced to Domestic 2nd Class on 18 October 1891. In this rate he served aboard Sirius (April 1892) and Vivid I (June 1893), was paid off to shore in August 1893 ‘services no longer required’ but rejoined the same ship a month later. He then served aboard Widgeon (September 1893) and St George (December 1896). Whilst serving in Widgeon he was landed for service on shore in various Naval Brigades. He took part in the Expedition up the Benin River in 1894 to punish the rebellious Chief Nanna, and served in the punitive expedition against King Koko on the Brass River in 1895. Whilst in St George he was advanced to Domestic 1st Class on 1 December 1896, and took part in the Benin Expedition of 1897 against the slave trading Chief Overiami, culminating in the capture and destruction of Benin City. His services in these actions were recognised by the award of the East & West Africa medal with three clasps. He was put ashore at Simonstown, South Africa, at his own request, and after two years ashore he joined Philomel in December 1898, as a Domestic 2nd Class. He served in South African waters between October 1899 and March 1901 whilst aboard Philomel earning him the Queen’s South Africa medal without clasp. He was put ashore from this ship as ‘unsuitable’ on 30 June 1900 but re-entered the service aboard Britannia on 16 July 1901 in the rate of Domestic 1st Class. Transferred to Niobe in the same rate on 21 August 1901 and served until paid off ashore on 18 November 1902. After this date he appears not to have sought further employment in R.N. ships. Domestics at this time were not eligible for the L.S. & G.C. medal.
Lot 758
Pair: Captain & Quarter-Master W. Cox, Army Ordnance Department South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (Condr., Ord. Store Dept.); Ashanti Star 1896, edge bruise and light contact marks to first, otherwise very fine or better and a rare combination of awards (2) £700-900 William Cox was born in Ludlow, Shropshire in May 1851 and enlisted in London in August 1870. His subsequent overseas postings were to South Africa, November 1876 to December 1888; Jamaica, March 1889 to August 1892; and Africa (Gold Coast), November 1895 to March 1896. ‘He served with distinction in the Zulu War of 1877 and 1879, and in the Ashanti Expedition of 1895-96, receiving a Medal for the former, and a Star for the latter from the late Queen Victoria. Among his treasured curios was the King of Ashanti’s chair or throne, made of mahogany, seated with leather, and handsomely decorated with gold; and the King’s executioner’s stool or block. The Captain had suffered from attacks of intermittent malarial fever, from which he suffered in Ashanti. For his services in the mobilisation of the troops for South Africa for the war of 1899-1901, Captain Cox was personally thanked by the Duke of Connaught, the late Earl of Airlie, General Stockton and General Douglas’ (local newspaper obituary notice refers). Having been commissioned back in June 1879, Cox was placed on the Retired List in the rank of Captain retired in April 1902, and he died in Ash, Frimley on 13 August 1908, after being stung by a ‘red headed fly ‘whilst fishing in the Basingstoke Canal - a carbuncle formed on his neck and blood poisoning set in causing his death; sold with further research.
Lot 760
Three: Captain J. M. Middlemist, Deputy Inspector-General of the Gold Coast Constabulary, late Seaforth Highlanders, who, having assumed military command at Kumassi, died of injuries sustained in the famous defence of that place in 1900 Ashanti Star 1896; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1897-98 (Capt. & Insptr., Seaforth Hdrs.); Jubilee 1897, together with related miniature dress medals (3), comprising Ashanti Star 1896, East and West Africa 1887-1900, clasp, ‘1897-98’ and Ashanti 1900, clasp, ‘Kumassi’, generally good very fine and rare (6) £1400-1600 James M. Middlemist was originally commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders in March 1888, and, having qualified as an Instructor in Musketry, was advanced to Lieutenant in March 1891. In the following year, as was quite common with officers of the Militia and Volunteer Force, he volunteered for an overseas posting, and gained an appointment as Adjutant of the Gold Coast Constabulary. From then until his death at the defence of Kumassi in May 1900, he remained similarly employed, although during the Ashanti operations of 1896, he was attached to the Sierra Leone Hausas and served with Baden-Powell at Beckwai. In the subsequent operations in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast in 1898, he was slightly wounded in the Karaga expedition and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 7 March 1899). Middlemist - who had been advanced to Deputy Inspector-General of the Gold Coast Constabulary in December 1898 - arrived at the fort at Kumassi on the evening of 18 April 1900, in response to an appeal for reinforcements from the Governor. With him he brought ‘about a hundred of his constabulary, plus carriers and servants’, in addition to Captains Marshall and Bishop, and Dr. Hay. No doubt on the orders of the Governor, whose wife Lady Hodgson was also in residence, Middlemist was quickly given overall military command, and, so empowered, opted for an offensive strategy. Thus, on 23 April, he despatched three columns from the fort to carry out attacks against the camps and villages of the rebels, two of them achieving their aims without serious opposition. But the third, under Captains Marshall and Bishop, with Dr. Hay, was ambushed at Ejissu, some ten miles from Kumassi, and by the time it had effected a ‘fighting retreat ‘back to the comparative safety of the fort, had sustained many casualties. At this stage in the proceedings Middlemist realised that the Ashanti rebels were on the verge of closing the net around Kumassi, and, appreciating that the only possible way of protecting his European garrison, together with its loyal followers, was to retreat into the immediate environs of the fort, immediately set about moving everyone inside, in addition to establishing a line of picquets around its walls. And just a few hours after these defensive manoeuvres been completed - in the early morning of 25 April - the storm broke, a large and determined rebel force entering the town of Kumassi. A long day of ferocious fighting followed, during the course of which Middlemist had to recall his picquets into the safety of the fort, at which moment, those left outside - among them a large crowd of refugees - made a desperate dash for the gates, also intent on getting inside and away from the Ashantis. For some minutes a fierce melee erupted at the fort’s entrance and it was only by the liberal use of their carbine butts that the guard managed to beat the crowd back and close the gates. Middlemist was to the fore throughout, trying his best to restore order, but during the course of his exertions he was severely crushed by the gathered throng, sustaining internal injuries, and, as it transpired, these proved fatal, for he also went down with malaria a few days later, the added burden of which was too much for him. He died on 5 May and was buried in a small clump of trees a few yards north of the fort; sold with research.
Lot 767
Eight: Major R. H. Green, Royal Army Medical Corps Ashanti Star 1896; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (8286 S. Major, R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (8286 Serjt.-Maj., R.A.M.C.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Hon. Lieut. & Q.M., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Q.M. & Major); Coronation 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (8286 Sjt. Mjr., R.A.M.C.), minor official correction to initials on the first, contact marks to earlier awards but generally very fine or better and rare (8) £600-800 Robert Henry Green, who was born in July 1868, served in the ranks 1889-1900 and as a Warrant Officer 1900-13, in which latter year he was commissioned as a Quarter-Master and Honorary Lieutenant, and in which period he saw active service in the Ashanti Expedition 1895-96 and in the Boer War 1899-1902, and was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901 and 17 January 1902 refer). Stationed in Egypt on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he quickly returned home and was embarked for France, where he served until the end of the War, gaining three further ‘mentions ‘(London Gazette 22 June 1915, 1 January 1916 and 10 July 1919 refer), and advancement to Q.M. and Hon. Captain in July 1917 and to Temporary Major later in the same month. Green, who served at Woolwich 1919-20 and attained the substantive rank of Major on his retirement in September 1922, died in September 1948.
Lot 796
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (282980 Sto. A. W. Pariser, H.M.S. Powerful) engraved naming, nearly very fine; together with an Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., 3rd issue (Arthur Mitchel Pariser), in case of issue, good very fine (2) £380-420 The published roll lists the recipient of the Q.S.A. as ‘Parrisey’. Sold with the rare and original document for the banquet given by the Corporation and inhabitants of the Borough of Portsmouth to the ‘Officers and Men of the Naval Brigade in honour and appreciation of the Splendid Services rendered by them to their Queen and Country during the War in South Africa, 1899-1900’. Named to ‘Alfred W. Pariser, Stoker’ and dated 24 April 1900. This in a damaged glass-fronted gilt frame. Together with a fascimile of the document addressed to Captain The Honorable Hedworth Lambton, C.B., Officers and Men of the Naval Brigade of H.M.S. Powerful from the inhabitants of Simon’s Town. This in a slightly damaged glass-fronted wooden frame; together with a ‘Vanity Fair’ Print of Captain The Honourable Hedworth Lambton, entitled ‘H.M.S. Powerful’, with a picture of the ship inset at the top right, dated ‘June 28th 1900’, print and border approx. 373 x 227mm. showing, contained in a gilt and glass-fronted frame, approx. 525 x 372mm.
Lot 801
Six: Acting Chief Petty Officer F. Stephens, Royal Navy, who was among those lost on the occasion of H.M.S. Formidable being torpedoed in the Channel on 1 January 1915 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (P.O. 2 Cl., H.M.S. Terpsichore) large impressed naming; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Jubaland (P.O. 2 Cl., H.M.S. Terpsichore); 1914-15 Star (179143 Act. C.P.O., R.N.); British War Medal 1914-20, unnamed; Victory Medal 1914-19 (179143 Act. C.P.O., R.N.); Naval Good Shooting Medal, E.VII.R. (179143 P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Formidable, 1910, 12 in. B.L.) contact marks and edge bruising, thus nearly very fine or better, the second rare (6) £600-700 Ex Captain K. J. Dougas-Morris, R.N. Collection and Barrett J Carr Collection. Frederick Stephens was born at Cocking, Sussex on 8 December 1878 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1894. Advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class in January 1901, he served on the 2nd class cruiser Terpsichore from February 1901 to February 1903, which period encompassed both of that ship’s active commissions in the Boer War, in addition to her part in the Jubaland operations of November 1900 to April 1901. He was advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class in October 1902. A total of 273 Queen’s South Africa Medals were awarded to the ship’s company of the Terpsichore, 136 of them without clasp. Just 225 Africa General Service Medals were issued to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines for ‘Jubaland ‘, 45 of them to the ship’s company of the Terpsichore. Joining the battleship Formidable in the same rate in April 1909, Stephens was awarded the Naval Good Shooting Medal in the following year and the L.S. & G.C. Medal in January 1913, but, having been appointed an Acting Chief Petty Officer, was among those lost when that ship was torpedoed by the German submarine U.24 off Portland Bill in the English Channel on 1 January 1915: ‘.. At 2.20 a.m., as the squadron was passing through a number of fishing smacks, Formidable was struck by a torpedo on the starboard side abreast her foremost funnel. She swung out of the line and began to lower her boats at the same time beginning to list to starboard. The weather had been growing steadily worse and the ship was soon listing so badly that her engines stopped and she lay helpless with her head to the sea. The night was now very dark and the launching of the boats, without the assistance of steam, was a difficult operation. In all, four were got out, but of these one barge capsized, but the other, containing 43 men, was picked up by the Topaz. The pinnace, with 60 men, managed to reach Lyme Regis, and the cutter, with 71 men, was later picked up by the Brixham smack Provident, skipper William Pillar, who by splendid seamanship gybed his small craft, despite the danger, and came alongside the cutter. This boat was overloaded and in a bad way, but all the men were safely transferred before she sank, though the Provident only carried a crew of three men and a boy. Diamond also picked up 37 officers and men. Meanwhile. the bulk of the ship’s company were still on board the battleship when, about 3.05 a.m., she was struck by another torpedo, this time on the port side, abreast the after funnel. All hope of saving her had now vanished and the men were sent to break up woodwork for saving life. During this time a large liner with lights burning passed close to the scene, but although Topaz made a signal to her to stand by, which she acknowledged, she did not comply and steamed out of sight. Topaz was then ordered by Captain Loxley to steam away as the submarine was still in the vicinity. With great reluctance Commander W. J. B. Law obeyed, endeavouring to stop another steamship on his way. At 4.45 a.m., about two and a half hours after she was first struck, Formidable turned over to starboard and sank. Of the 780 persons on board, 35 officers, including Captain Loxley, and 512 men were drowned.’ Stephens, who was the son of John and Sarah Stephens of Newhaven, Sussex, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Sold with copied service paper.
Lot 878
Four: Corporal Edwin Hindle, 1/60th King’s Royal Rifles Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (E. Hindle, 1st Bn. 60th R. Ri[fles]); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (E. Hindle, 1st Bn. 60th Rifles); Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Red River 1870 (2279 Cpl. E. Hindle, 1/60 K.O.R.) officially engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (2279 Corpl. E. Hindle, 1st Bn. 60th Foot) the first two with edge bruising and contact marks, good fine or better, otherwise nearly extremely fine and a very rare group (4) £2000-2500 Only 174 Red River clasps were issued to British units, including 121 to the 1/60th Rifles. Edwin Hindle was severely wounded at Delhi on 17 September 1857. All clasps fully confirmed on the relevant rolls.
Lot 993
Five: Lance-Corporal A. E. Standen, 2nd Rhodesia Regiment, afterwards British South Africa Police Reserve 1914-15 Star (1042 Pte., 2-Rhodesia Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (1042 L.-Cpl., 2-Rhodesia Regt.); Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service 1939-45; Special Constabulary Long Service, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Arthur E. Standen), the earlier awards a little polished, otherwise generally very fine and a particularly rare combination of awards (5) £400-500 Arthur Edward Standen, the son of Frederick Watt Standen, a Manager of the Standard Bank of South Africa, and the grandson of a Deputy Assistant Commissary General in the British Army, first entered the African theatre of war as a Private in the 2nd Rhodesian Regiment in March 1915. He subsequently served in the 1939-45 War as a Constable in the British South Africa Police Reserve in Umtali District, Southern Rhodesia, and was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in February 1946; also see Lot 32 for his Grandfather’s South Africa 1834-53 Medal.
Lot 994
Three: Private A. C. Townsend, Rhodesia Regiment 1914-15 Star (939 Pte., 2 Rhodes. A. Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (939 Pte., 2-Rhodesia Regt.), very fine or better and rare (3) £100-120 Albert Charles Townsend originally enlisted in the Rhodesia Regiment in July 1903, was discharged ‘time expired ‘in August 1905 and recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in 1914.
Lot 1030
Five: Sergeant A. Urquhart, Royal Artillery, afterwards Rhodesian Special Constabulary British War Medal 1914-20 (177103 Sgt., R.A.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (177103 Sjt., R.A.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (600363 Sgt., R.F.A.); Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service 1939-45; Special Constabulary Long Service, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Alexander Urquhart), the earlier awards with contact marks and polished, thus nearly very fine, the last two very fine and better, and a particularly rare combination of awards (5) £400-500 Alexander Urquhart served in the British South Africa Police Reserve as a Constable from February 1941 until November 1949, thereby qualifying for his Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service 1939-45, in addition to the Special Constabulary L.S. Medal.
Lot 1035
Seven: Bombardier R. V. Merry, Royal Artillery, afterwards a member of the Southern Rhodesian Forces British War and Victory Medals (949 Bmbr., R.A.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (949 Bmbr., R.A.); Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, generally good very fine and rare combination of awards (6) £400-450 Ralph V. Merry, a member of the Royal Field Artillery (Territorials), arrived in Southern Rhodesia in April 1928, where he initially settled with his brother at Banket. He subsequently served in the Army in the 1939-45 War and qualified for the Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service. His Jubilee and Coronation Medals require verification.
Lot 1042
Four: Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel S. A. C. Pearse, Rhodesian Forces, late Hampshire Regiment British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., Southern Rhodesia, the reverse officially engraved, ‘T./Lt. Col. Stanley A. C. Pearse’, very fine and better, rare (4) £250-300 Stanley Arthur Caxton Pearse was appointed a Lieutenant in the Southern Rhodesia Territorials in March 1927, following earlier service in the Hampshire Regiment. Having then served as Adjutant at the School of Cadets, he was placed on the Supernumerary List in January 1931 and the Reserve of Officers in January 1934, and resigned his commission in April 1937. Recalled on the renewal of hostilities, he was appointed a Lieutenant & Adjutant in the 2nd Rhodesia Regiment, but transferred to staff duties in the following year, in which capacity, from late 1943, he served as Southern Rhodesia Military Liason Officer in Durban. Having been appointed a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1944, Pearse was awarded the Efficiency Decoration in January 1946; sold with copied service record.
Lot 1057
Pair: Driver L. G. Deadman, a member of the Mechanical Transport Company, British South Africa Police, in the Great War British War and Victory Medals (MT-95 Dvr., B.S.A.P), together with the recipient’s original illuminated ‘disabled’ and ‘honourably discharged’ certificate, dated ‘16.2.19’, very fine and rare (2) £100-120 Leslie George Deadman ‘put in considerable service with the B.S.A.P. Mechanical Transport, operating in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland .. and will be particularly remembered for his services to the game of bowls, playing for Rhodesia some years ago’ (his obituary notice, The Outpost, October 1960, refers).
Lot 1070
Three: Private R. Wilson, South African Infantry, later Southern Rhodesia Forces British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte., 2nd S.A.I.); Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service 1939-45, good very fine and better and rare (3) £250-300 Radcliffe Currie Wilson settled in Rhodesia after the Great War and died at Salisbury in April 1959, aged 57 years. Sold with a portrait photograph, a copy of his marriage certificate, his wife’s ‘Loyal Service’ certificate for the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland 1953-63, signed by Federal Prime Minister Sir Roy Welensky, and an original ‘In Loving Memory’ card. Also see Lot 906 for the campaign awards of his Father-in-Law.
Lot 1099
Five: S. Mentoor, South African Forces 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal, all officially named (C286861 C. Mentoor) Five: W. Johnson, South African Forces Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal, all officially named (C301948 W. Johnson) Four: A. L. Davies, South African Forces 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War and Africa Service Medals, all officially named (209793 A. L. Davies) Pair: S. Kirkland, South African Forces War and Africa Service Medals, both officially named (105843 S. Kirkland) very fine and better (16) £60-80. #60-80 1100. Seven: Major J. K. Irvine, Rhodesian Forces, attached South African Forces, who was wounded in action in October 1944 while serving in the 1/6th Field Regiment, S.A.A. 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal 1939-45 (S.R. 598437); Efficiency Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue, Southern Rhodesia (1039 Major), the sixth with attempted erasure of initials and surname, very fine and better and rare (7) £250-300 John Kenneth Irvine was born in Bulawayo in April 1917, and moved to Salisbury in March 1926. A merchant by profession, he enlisted in the Southern Rhodesia Light Battery (S.R.L.B.) in September 1939, was transferred to 4th Battery, Royal Horse Artillery in the Western Desert in April 1940, back to the S.R.L.B. in August 1942, when he was commissioned, and to the 1/6th Field Regiment, South African Artillery in March 1943, in which latter unit he remained employed until the end of hostilities and was wounded in action in Italy on 13 October 1944 - ‘Bomb wounds, scalp’. Irvine, who was released in the rank of Lieutenant in June 1946, was awarded his Efficiency Medal in October 1953; sold with copied service record.
Lot 1122
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.
Lot 1125
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.
Lot 1164
A rare Great War East Africa operations C.M.G. group of nine awarded to Colonel C. U. Price, Indian Army, C.O. of Jacob’s Rifles and a successful Column Commander whose forces captured Dar-es-Salaam in September 1916 The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; East and Central Africa 1897-99, 1 clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (Lieut., 3/Baluch L.I.); China 1900, no clasp (Captain, 30/Baluch L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col., 1/130 Baluchis); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Col.); Delhi Durbar 1903, impressed naming, ‘Colonel C. V. Price, 130th Baluchis’; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed as issued; Russian Order of St. Anne, ribbon only, mounted court style for wear, generally good very fine (8) £1800-2200 C.M.G. London Gazette 26 June 1916. Mention in despatches London Gazette 30 June 1916, 7 March 1918 and 6 August 1918 (all East Africa). Russian Order of St. Anne, 3rd Class London Gazette 15 February 1917. Charles Uvedale Price was born in May 1868 and was educated at the United Services College, Westward Ho! and the R.M.C., Sandhurst. Originally commissioned into the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in February 1888, he transferred to the Indian Army in January 1890 and served in the Zhob Valley on the North West Frontier in the same year, afterwards gaining an appointment as a Wing Officer in the 30th Regiment of Bombay Infantry (3rd Baluchis). In January 1897, however, he was attached to the 27th Bombay Infantry (1st Baluchis) as Adjutant, and went on to win his first campaign medal with them in the Uganda operations of 1897-98. During this latter campaign he was engaged against the Sudanese mutineers, including the operations at Jeruba and Kijangute, and in Budda and Ankoli, gaining a mention in despatches. Shortly afterwards he sailed for China, and served as a Captain in the course of the Boxer Rebellion. Then in 1903, back in India, Price attended the Delhi Durbar, attached as a Political Officer to His Highness the Mir of Khairpur. He was advanced to Major in February 1906. Appointed a Double Company Commander in the 130th K.G.O. Baluchis (Jacob’s Rifles) in October 1911, Price assumed command of the regiment in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1915, and went on to serve with distinction in the operations in East Africa. In July 1915, in the fighting in the Mbuyuni region, he was appointed to the command of the flanking column, comprising Jacob’s Rifles, the 4th K.A.R. and Cole’s Scouts, sent by Brigadier-General Malleson to envelop the enemy’s left. Carrying out a well timed circuitous night march, Price attacked at daybreak on the 14th, but by 8 a.m. his force was checked by strong enemy resistance, and it became necessary to await more positive news from the main attacking force to the Germans’ front. This initiative, however, also lost momentum, and by the time Malleson’s order to call off the assault reached Price, his force had been under a lively hostile fire for at least an hour. Unperturbed, Price disengaged and ‘brought away his force in a steady and well-executed withdrawal, with slight loss’ (Official history refers). In early July 1916, as C.O. of a 500-strong force, comprising the 5th Light Infantry and a company of the 101st Grenadiers, Price was given the task of capturing Tanga. Carrying out a successful landing on the southern shore of Manza Bay on the 5th, he moved his force inland towards Amboni, ‘which was reached next day after disposing of some slight resistance on the way’. And on the 7th, he and his men crossed the Zigi River, the final natural barrier between them and their goal. Tanga, however, was found to have been deserted by the enemy, although some had remained behind in the surrounding bush from where they sniped at the British with good effect. Flushing out such opposition by means of frequent patrolling, Price moved on to Kange on the 17th. Then in early August, he was given overall command of two columns, numbering in total some 1400 men, to secure the crossings of the Wami River. This he successfully accomplished in little more than a week, thereby assisting in opening up the way forward to attack Dar-es-Salaam. For the final advance on the seat of government and principal port of German East Africa, Price’s force was bolstered in strength by some 500 men and equipped with 20 machine-guns. The whole was assembled at Bagamoyo at the end of the month, and on the 31st, in two columns, it advanced on Dar-es-Salaam, while two smaller parties penetrated north to secure the railway line and some important bridges. Just four days later, having encountered little opposition, Price’s main force was assembled on the heights near Mabibo, from which the port could be seen less than three miles away. And early on that morning, after the Royal Navy had despatched a delegation aboard the Echo with a formal summons to surrender, the 129th Baluchis, which had acted as Price’s advanced guard throughout the operation, entered and took over the town. Once again, the Germans had made a hasty retreat, leaving behind 80 hospital patients and 370 non-combatants. For his part in some of the above related operations in German East Africa, Price was awarded the C.M.G and mentioned in despatches, in addition to gaining appointment to the Russian Order of St Anne. And in the later operations of that theatre of war between 1917-18, he again distinguished himself and was twice more the recipient of a ‘mention ‘. The Colonel, who retired to South Africa, died in May 1956. For the recipient’s Order of St. Anne, see Lot 669.
Lot 1174
A rare Great War East Africa operations M.B.E. group of four awarded to Captain A. Crawford, Royal Army Medical Corps The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt., R.A.M.C.), good very fine (4) £300-350 M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919: ‘For valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in East Africa.’ Andrew Crawford appears to have entered the East Africa theatre of war in May 1915.
Lot 1177
A rare and emotive Second World War clandestine operations M.B.E. group of three awarded to Lieutenant A. W. O. Newton, an ‘F’ Section, S.O.E. agent who was parachuted into France as a saboteur instructor in June 1942, captured in April 1943, and brutally tortured before being sent to Buchenwald: his brother suffered the same fate but both survived to be liberated by the advancing Allies in April 1945 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, together with related G.VI.R. ‘Loyal Service ‘badge and original O.B.E. warrant, this in the name of ‘Alfred Willie Oscar Newton, Lieutenant in Our Army’ and dated 13 August 1945, the medals very fine and better, the warrant torn in several places (Lot) £400-500 M.B.E. London Gazette 30 August 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘This officer was parachuted into France with his brother on 30 June 1942 as a saboteur instructor to a circuit in the unoccupied zone. In this capacity he worked for a period of nine months, throughout which period he showed outstanding courage and devotion to duty. He travelled continuously and organised and trained sabotage cells in various regions, in particular Lyon, St. Etienne and Le Puy. These groups subsequently carried out effective sabotage on enemy industrial installations and railway communications. Newton was arrested in April 1943 with his brother and incarcerated at Fresnes, where he spent over a year in solitary confinement. He was later transferred to Buchenwald concentration camp where he suffered grave hardships. He was liberated in April 1945 when American forces occupied the camp. For his courageous work in the French Resistance and his remarkable endurance during his two years in captivity, it is recommended that he be appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division).’ No better summary of the wartime story of S.O.E’s famous ‘Twins ‘, Alfred and Henry Newton, maybe found than that published in E. H. Cookridge’s Inside S.O.E.: ‘The two saboteurs selected for the job by Buckmaster [the destruction of the German radio station at St. Assise] were Alfred and Henry Newton, twin sons of a former Lancashire jockey who had been a racing trainer in France and had lived there with his family for many years. The brothers had become well-known on the Continent as variety artistes, ‘The Boorn Twins ‘, performing a comic tap-dancing act. When the Germans invasion came, Alfred and Henry, who had both married French girls, decided to try and bring their families to England. Alfred Newton had three children, Gigi 10, Jimmy 9 and Coco 3. They trecked in night marish conditions along roads crowded with refugees to Penzon in the Vendome. There the men were apprehended by the Vichy police, interned as ‘enemy aliens ‘and put into a works battalion. After many difficulties the twins escaped to Spain, were arrested by Franco’s police and taken to the internment camp at Miranda de Ebro. They were not released until Christmas 1941. At the British Embassy in Madrid they learned that their families had been evacuated from France by the Red Cross and brought to Lisbon for repatriation to Britain. During the sea journey they had all been drowned, when their ship, the Avoceta, was torpedoed in an Atlantic gale on 25 September 1941. By the time the brothers arrived in London they had but a single thought between them - vengeance on the Nazis. They were given an opportunity almost immediately. I know of hardly another case where a rank-and-file agent was directly enrolled with S.O.E. Nearly always the volunteers came from the Forces. But the story of the Newton twins had become known to British Intelligence officers at Gibraltar and was reported to Headquarters in London. When they arrived aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Hesperus in Liverpool, they were taken to a Field Security Officer, given tickets to London and asked to see a Major at the War Office. This officer gave them an address near Baker Street. The address was 6 Orchard Court, Portman Square, and the man who welcolmed them was Major Lewis Gielgud, the chief recruiting officer of the French Section of S.O.E. Henry Newton spoke for them both: ‘Give us a couple of tommy guns and a bunch of hand grenades and we know bloody well what we’re going to do. ‘Major Gielgud had some difficulty in explaining that it was not as simple as that. But he realized that he had two men who would shirk no task, however dangerous or difficult. He decided they were ideal material for training as saboteurs. For several weeks, at Special Training School No. 17 for industrial sabotage at Hertfordshire, the twins were put through their paces. They were circus acrobats and as tough as they come. When the Chiefs of Staff ordered the destruction of St. Assise transmitter, Buckmaster had no doubt whom he wanted for this job. At last the big day came. Peter Churchill was to be dropped ahead of the Newtons, who had become ‘Arthure ‘and ‘Hubert ‘, two French artisans, to conduct them to the German radio station. The signal heralding their arrival to the local reception group was to be: Les durs des durs arrivent (The toughest of the tough are arriving). The target was of the utmost importance. The St. Assise station was used by the German naval command for directing U-boats in the Atlantic. Its destruction would have caused a breakdown in these communications and probably saved the lives of many British and Allied seamen. Many weeks of preparations preceded the despatch of the two saboteurs. The Newton twins were taken to the big S.O.E. radio station at Rugby and shown all over its installation, to learn what they had to look for at St. Assise. A ‘safe house ‘was prepared at Le Pepiniere, eight kilometres from St. Leu, in the vicinity of the German transmitter. R.A.F. reconnaissance aircraft brought back scores of aerial photographs of St. Assise and the twins were briefed for endless hours. On 28 May Buckmaster and Major Guelis, the briefing officer, came to Wanborough Manor with the latest report of the Meteorological Department, which forecast perfect weather. Eventually they all drove to Tempsford airfield. ‘Arthure ‘and ‘Hubert ‘, rigged up in old suits of an authentic French cut, were put aboard a Whitely, with a load of propaganda leaflets from the political Welfare Executive which were to be scattered on the way. But the aircraft developed engine trouble and the S.O.E. men had to be transferred to a Wellington. Just when they were inspecting their parachuting gear, ‘Gerry ‘Morel ran on to the tarmac. ‘The operation is off. Sorry, you’ll have to get out, ‘he told them. The twins were livid.’ However, as confirmed by the activities described in the above recommendation, the ‘Twins ‘were indeed actively employed in France shortly afterwards. Cookridge continues: ‘A few weeks later Alfred and Henry Newton were dropped on another mission - to teach sabotage to Resistance groups in the Lyons area. They were getting into their stride and did some excellent work when, through the betrayal of a V-man, an Alsatian named Robert Alesch who posed as a priest and was known as ‘The Bishop ‘, they were caught by the Gestapo. The twins underwent unspeakable torture at the Gestapo H.Q. at Lyons, at the hands of it notorious commander, S.S. Sturmbann-Fuhrer Barbie and his thugs. They never gave any of their comrades away and spent the last two years of the War at Buchenwald, where they had a miraculous escape from the gallows, and were freed in 1945.’ Robert Alesch was tried and executed after the War.
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