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Click here to subscribeTHE BARREL, ACTION AND STOCK OF A .451 MILITARY ~MONKEY TAIL~ RIFLE BY WESTLEY RICHARDS, CIRCA 1860; of military type, with sighted barrel (areas of rust), stock with one sliding barrel bolt and provision for two barrel bands (lock and mounts missing); 64.0 cm; 25 ¼ in barrel; ; Provenance; David Jeffcoat (1945 - 2020); ; ;
A RIFLE COMPANY OFFICER~S SWORD; AN 1897 PATTERN INFANTRY OFFICER~S SWORD BY HENRY WILKINSON, NO 33963 FOR 1896, A GEORGE V 1897 PATTERN INFANTRY OFFICER~S SWORD; AND AN EPÉE; of regulation type, the first struck with a proof mark on the forte, hilt with strung bugle, in its steel scabbard; the second with traces of etching on the blade, in its field service scabbard, with its knot; the third with etched blade, in its field service scabbard, with its knot; and the fourth with tapering blade and figure-of-eight shaped guard; the first: 83.2 cm; 32 ¾ in blade; (4)
A .750 CALIBRE FLINTLOCK RIFLE, THE LOCK SIGNED WESTLEY RICHARDS, CIRCA 1840, FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET; with tapering barrel formed in three stages and rifled with seven grooves, signed stepped lock engraved with foliage, fitted with semi-rainproof pan and double set trigger, full stock with large paddle-shaped butt, the butt with raised cheek-piece on the left, engraved white metal mounts comprising trigger-guard with acorn finial, side-plate of shaped outline, and engraved butt-plate, three moulded ramrod-pipes, and iron ramrod (iron parts pitted); 107.0 cm; 42 1/8 in barrel
A .56 CALIBRE U.S. MODEL 1868 BREECH-LOADING ~TRAPDOOR~ SPRINGFIELD RIFLE AND A .46 CALIBRE AUSTRIAN MODEL 1867 WERNDL SYSTEM RIFLE, LOCK DATED 1871; of regulation type, the first with sighted barrel retained by two bands and dated 1870, Springfield arsenal lock dated 1863, full stock and iron mounts , with its iron clearing rod; the second with sighted barrel stamped with Ordnance marks and the date, 1880, at the breech, dated lock (hammer missing) and iron mounts, with its iron clearing rod; the first: 82.5 cm; 32 1/2in barrel ; the second 83.5 cm; 32 7/8 in barrel; (2)
A 20 BORE GERMAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE, CIRCA 1770; with heavy octagonal swamped sighted barrel (now smooth-bored), stepped bevelled lock fitted with bevelled cock, faceted pan and moulded steel, figured walnut full stock moulded over the fore-end, about the lock and mounts (fore-end restored), the butt impressed |MA 1069|, brass mounts cast and chased in low relief, comprising trigger-guard with acanthus finial, side-plate decorated with foliage carrying a vacant oval escutcheon, butt-plate with tang en suite with the trigger-guard, and three faceted ramrod-pipes (later ramrod); 83.5 cm; 32 7/8 in barrel; ; Provenance ; The Museum of Artillery, Woolwich, inv. no.1069 ;
Three: Corporal V. Scott, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (14456828 Cfn. V. Scott. R.E.M.E.) number partially officially corrected; U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, mounted for wear, good very fine (3) £80-£100 --- Victor Scott was born in Wallsend, Northumberland, in May 1923. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in March 1943, and after undergoing initial training he was deemed unsuitable to be a wireless operator. Scott was discharged, 30 November 1944, and re-enlisted in the army the following month. He was posted to the Rifle Brigade in March 1945, and to the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in the following month. Scott served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, February 1950 - January 1957. Sold with the following related items and documents: named card box of issue for Korea 1950-53 Medal, and box of issue for U.N. Korea Medal; Soldier’s Record and Pay Book; Record of Service Card, and Royal Air Force Brief Statement of Service and Certificate of Discharge; Regular Army Attestation Certificate and a number of photographs from various stages of service career, including one of recipient in uniform.
Five: Corporal D. A. Ferguson, Royal Scots General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24867752 Pte D A Ferguson RS); Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24867752 Pte D A Ferguson RS); Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (24867752 Cpl D A Ferguson RS); Jubilee 2002, unnamed as issued; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994, E.II.R. (24867752 L Cpl D A Ferguson RS) mounted court-style as worn, minor edge bruise to both first and second, otherwise about extremely fine (5) £600-£800 --- Darren Alistair Ferguson was born in Edinburgh in 1973 and joined the Royal Scots as a junior soldier in 1989. He served initially in the Rifle Company before being posted to the Reconnaissance Company in May 1999, and was promoted Corporal in 2002. He was discharged in 2006 (premature voluntary release) after 17 years’ service. Sold with a number of photographic images of the recipient, and some copied research.
The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Bugler T. J. Moggeridge, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, who was killed in action at Caesar’s Camp, 6 January 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (4020 Bugr. T. J. Moggeridge, Rifle Brigade) extremely fine £400-£500 --- T. J. Moggeridge was killed in action at Caesar’s Camp during the siege of Ladysmith on 6 January 1900. At three in the morning of 6 January the battalion heard the furious rattle of musketry round the southern defences, and at about 5.30 they were ordered to send six companies to Caesar's Camp, four miles off, arriving there about seven. Five companies were pushed into the firing line, which was distant from the enemy only 80 yards. "For nearly the whole day the fight raged fiercely, first one side then the other gaining a slight advantage, but we could not succeed in dislodging the Boers" from the south-east of the hill. At 3.30 the enemy tried to rush forward, but were driven back, and shortly afterwards retreated under a heavy fire, "some companies firing their last round". The battalion this day lost 1 officer killed and 1 mortally wounded, and 20 men killed, 5 officers and 32 men wounded. That night officers and men lay on the stricken field soaked and physically wretched, but knowing that another big bit of work had been done. Five officers and 8 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Sir George White's despatch of 23 March 1900.
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith (7116 Pte. F. Jago. K.R.R.C.) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine £140-£180 --- Frederick John Jago was born in St. Clements Danes, London, in 1873 and attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in London on 13 February 1892. He served with the 1st Battalion in India form 8 December 1893 to 28 December 1896, and took part in the Chitral Relief Expedition of 1895 (Medal with clasp). He saw further service in South Africa from 29 December 1896 to 19 June 1900, and was wounded during the Boer War at Ladysmith on 6 January 1900. He was discharged medically unfit for further service on 18 October 1900, after 8 years and 240 days’ service. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extracts.
The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Private F. Abel, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, who was killed in action at Pieters Hill on 27 February 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (5266. Pte. F. Abel. Rifle Bde.) nearly extremely fine £400-£500 --- F. Abel was killed in action at Pieters Hill on 27 February 1900. Barton's brigade attacked Pieters Hill shortly after noon on 27 February. Behind an early use of the creeping barrage by field artillery pieces as heavy as 4.7-inch naval guns, the 6th Brigade's advance was rapid at first. Then, about 14:00, as the British infantry moved out of artillery observation and Botha reinforced his threatened flank, the attack stalled. The reserve was put in at 14:30 and repulsed due to tough Boer resistance and enfilading fire from Railway Hill to the west. At 15:00 Colonel Walter Kitchener's 5th Brigade attacked Railway Hill. After working their way slowly uphill, the soldiers carried the nek (saddle) between Hart's and Railway Hills in a brilliant bayonet charge, capturing 48 Boer prisoners. The last to move forward, Major-General Norcott's 4th Brigade, began its assault on Hart's Hill. The close artillery support proved decisive, as trench after trench was overwhelmed by direct fire. A final infantry charge cleared the crest, compelling a Boer retreat. As Botha's men fell back from the heights, the British infantry gave out a cheer.
The Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Shoeing-Smith J. Hurst, Oxfordshire Yeomanry, who was killed in action on 26 February 1902, at Elandslaagte Farm, near Klerksdorp Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (35823 Shg:-Sth: J. Hurst. 40th Coy. Imp: Yeo:) last two clasps loose on ribbon as issued, nearly extremely fine £300-£400 --- John Hurst, 40th (Oxfordshire) Company, 10th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, was killed in action at Elandslaagte farm, near Klerksdorp, on 26 February 1902. He is buried in the Military Cemetery at Klerksdorp together with 46 other members of the Imperial Yeomanry (mostly from the action at Elandslaagte). On 24 February 1902, a convoy heading for Klerksdorp bivouacked on the farm, Elandslaagte, between the Yster and Jagd Spruits, 25km south-west of Klerksdorp. The convoy was escorted by 230 Imperial Yeomanry of the 5th Battalion (13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 100th, 101st, 102nd Coys), 9th Battalion (88th Coy) and 10th Battalion (40th Coy), as well as regular soldiers, mounted infantry and artillery. In all, there were 770 troops. Early the following morning, the march resumed, with both the advance guard and the rear guard, including Yeomanry and infantry, covering the movement. After the convoy had proceeded 3km, 250 Boers under General Liebenberg attacked its front, while General J. Kemp, with 250 men, attacked its left flank. This assault was beaten off with artillery and rifle fire. A second attack was met with the same result. A third assault, by General J. G. Celliers with 100 men, came from the rear, the Boers charging through the defensive ring of infantry. Some of Celliers' men then attacked on the right flank, while Kemp renewed his attack. This broke the outer defensive ring and, shortly afterwards, resistance collapsed on every side. The wagons were stampeded towards the Jagd Spruit, where they became stuck in the muddy waters of the stream and were captured. Some mounted infantry escaped to Klerksdorp, where the alarm was raised and reinforcements gathered. They hurried to the scene, but, on arrival, confronted by Kemp and his men, they could only report back that the disaster had been complete. British losses were 73 men killed or mortally wounded, 110 wounded, 270 taken prisoner. Thirty-two men of the Imperial Yeomanry lost their lives. Of greater importance for the Boers was the capture of 156 wagons, 1500 mules, four artillery pieces, 2000 rifles and half-a-million rounds of ammunition. The Boer casualties were twelve dead and 42 wounded. The 40th Company casualties on 26 February amounted to Lieutenant T. Willis and Shoeing-Smith J. Hurst killed, Sergeant F. G. Goldsworthy, died of wounds, one man wounded and three taken prisoner. Lieutenant Willis was the last Yeomanry officer to be killed during the Boer War.
An outstanding Great War ‘1914 operations’ D.S.O., Inter-War ‘Irish troubles’ O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. L. “Ham” Riley, Rifle Brigade, who was twice wounded in action with the 1st Battalion in the retreat from Mons, services that undoubtedly led to the recommendation for his D.S.O., and was wounded for a third time before the War’s end; he was subsequently awarded the O.B.E. for his services with the 2nd Battalion in Ireland in 1921-22 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Capt. H. L. Riley, Rif: Bde.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. H. L. Riley); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Montenegro, Kingdom, Order of St. Danilo, Fifth Class breast badge, silver and enamel, generally good very fine or better (7) £3,000-£4,000 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 18 February 1915: ‘For services in connection with operations in the Field.’ O.B.E. London Gazette 1922. Montenegro, Order of St. Danilo London Gazette 9 March 1917. Hamlet Lewthwaite Riley was born in October 1882, the son of Hamlet Riley and Anne, his wife, eldest daughter of the late William Lewthwaite. Educated at Eton and at Magdalen College, Oxford, he was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade in March 1906. Advanced Lieutenant in February 1910, he served as Adjutant in India from February 1910 until February 1914, but he was back home as a recently promoted Captain by the outbreak hostilities. Riley embarked for France as C.O. of ‘A’ Company in the 1st Battalion on 19 August 1914, and was slightly wounded on the 26th at Cattenieres, and again at Ploegsteert Wood on 19 December. Twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 19 October 1914 and 7 February 1915), he was awarded the D.S.O. Having then served with distinction in the 2nd Battalion, not least in an action to capture Bridoux Fort in September 1915, he was briefly a Staff Captain in 25th Infantry Brigade, prior to being appointed a Temporary Major in the 12th (Service) Battalion in October of the same year, and remained employed in that capacity until June 1916, when, having gained the Brevet of Major and been advanced to Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, he took command of the Battalion. He remained on active service as Battalion C.O. until December 1917, in which period the 12th saw much fighting on the Somme. Wounded for a third time, seriously so, he was awarded the Fifth Class of the Order of St. Danilo, and was Mentioned in Despatches a further three times (London Gazettes 15 June 1916, 25 May 1917, and 21 December 1917). Attached to the Machine Gun Corps in early 1918, he commanded the 20th Battalion up until the end of hostilities. Returning to regimental employ after the War, Riley joined the 2nd Battalion out in Ireland - a ‘peculiarly unpleasant service’ as noted by his regimental obituarist - and one for which he was awarded the O.B.E. in 1922. But having then commanded the Battalion out in Turkey, he was compelled to resign his commission on his father’s death in 1924, in order to take up the management of his estates in Cumberland. ‘A courteous gentleman and a fine Rifleman’, Riley died in December 1932, aged 50 years. Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.
Three: Major G. C. Macdonald, Otago Mounted Rifle Volunteers Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Major G. C. Macdonald, 5th Mtd. Rifles (Otago Hussars) (1911)); New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal (Major G. Wm. C. Macdonald, 1st Reg. Otago Mtd. Rifles (1910)); New Zealand Volunteer Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Capt. G. W. Macdonald, Nth. Otago Mtd. Rifle Vols. (1907)) toned, very fine (3) £300-£400
Gordon Highlanders Regimental Award, silver, the reverse hallmarked London 1895 and inscribed ‘S.M. Wm. Robertson Hony Award 1896’, fitted with brooch fitting and replacement pin, good very fine £200-£300 --- V.C. London Gazette 20 July 1900: Sergeant-Major (now Quartermaster and Honorary Lieutenant) William Robertson, 2nd Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders ‘At the Battle of Elandslaagte, on the 21st October, 1899, during the final advance on the enemy’s position, this Warrant Officer led each successive rush, exposing himself fearlessly to the enemy’s artillery and rifle fire to encourage the men. After the main position had been captured, he led a small party to seize the Boer camp. Though exposed to a deadly cross-fire from the enemy’s rifles, he gallantly held on to the position captured, and continued to encourage the men until he was dangerously wounded in two places.’ William Robertson was born on 27 February 1865, at Dumfries, Scotland. He enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders on 1 December 1884, and served in India prior to the outbreak of the Boer War. He was invested with the V.C. by Queen Victoria at Osborne House on 20 August 1900. He was a Senior Recruiting Officer, Scottish Command, during the Great War and retired with the rank of Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel in March 1920. He died on 6 December 1949, at Portobello, Edinburgh.
Army Rifle Association Medal (2), silver, the reverse engraved ‘C. G. Wheatley, 7815209’; the second bronze, the reverse engraved ‘Hopton Cup 1920. No. 4 Platoon Team. A. Coy. 1st. Bn. Wilts Rgt. 2nd. in Army at Home Lieut. E. C. Clegg. M.C.’; together with a Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (W. Elliott 1st. R. Regt.) contemporarily re-engraved naming, plugged and fitted with a Crimea-style suspension, very fine (3) £70-£90
Renamed and Defective Medal: New Zealand 1845-66, undated reverse, naming extremely neatly erased; together with two silver shooting medal, the first an Army Rifle Association British Armies in France Medal for Skill with the Rifle, unnamed; the second a National Rifle Association Cottesloe Vase Prize Medal, unnamed; and two Dunkirk Commemorative Medals, the second of which is a cast copy, extremely fine (5) £100-£140
Renamed and Defective Medals (3): Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp, naming erased; Victory Medal 1914-19, naming erased; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse, naming erased; together with a copy General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Near East; three unofficial Jubilee and Coronation Medals, for 1887 in white metal, for 1911 in bronze; and for 1937 in white metal; a commemorative medal for the opening of Birmingham University 1909, gilt; Army Rifle Association Medal, bronze, ‘The Squadron Match, “B” Squadron 12th Lancers 1913 Private W. Spicer’; together with a silver Regimental prize medal, this unnamed; a Royal Horticultural Society Joseph Banks Bronze Medal, unnamed; and an Amateur Gardening Medal, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘Brig. Gen. B. C. Dent 1939’, in John Pinches, London, fitted case, generally nearly very fine and better (12) £80-£100 --- Sold with various parchment certificates and documents relating to Company Sergeant Major W. C. Milward, Worcestershire Regiment; ands other ephemera.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private C. N. Alexander, 21st (Yeoman Rifles) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps Military Medal, G.V.R. (C-12980 Pte C. N. Alexander. 21/K.R.R.C.) nearly extremely fine £280-£340 --- M.M. London Gazette 9 December 1916. Charles Norman Alexander, a Poulty Farmer, from Shipley, Yorkshire, where he was born in 1883, attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 11 November 1915. He served in the Great War, first on the Western Front, where he was awarded the Military Medal, before later service in Italy. He was discharged due to sickness on 10 February 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge. Sold with copy paperwork including his Medal Index Card, his entry on the Silver War Badge roll and medical records.
A Second War ‘North West Europe 1945’ M.M. group of five awarded to Private T. A. Jarvis, 5th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, for gallantry during the fighting in Waldfeucht in January 1945; he was killed in action on 8 April 1945, east of the River Ems, near Bremen Military Medal, G.VI.R. (14420487 Pte. T. A. Jarvis. K.O.S.B.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- M.M. London Gazette 12 April 1945. The recommendation states: ‘During the fighting in Waldfeucht on 21 January 1945, the platoon to which this soldier belongs was holding a small block of houses when the enemy attacked strongly and appeared to be making good headway. Private Jarvis, on two separate occasions ran out into the streets, in the face of considerable small arms fire, and threw grenades into the party of advancing enemy. On both occasions his action completely disorganised the enemy’s advance and allowed his platoon to maintain its position intact throughout a day during which its defended area was surrounded for several hours. Private Jarvis, by his complete disregard for personal safety, was an inspiration to the whole of his platoon and he contributed largely to the successful outcome of the action fought all day by his company which was completely cut off from the rest of the Battalion.’ Four days before he was gazetted for the award of the Military Medal he was killed in action on 8 April 1945, engaged with retreating German Paratroopers, East of the river Ems, near Bremen. Thomas Adam Jarvis was born in Liverpool circa 1926, the son of Thomas Jarvis Esq. He was buried in the Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg. The 4th and 5th battalions KOSB found themselves in the Low Countries in the autumn of 1944, taking part in the strongly contested assault landings on Walcheren Island, at the mouth of the Scheldt. They then fought through into Germany taking a notable part in operation Blackcock and also taking part in the capture of Bremen. Battle of Forrest Damp At Roermond two rivers join, the Maas and the Roer. In 1945 this was the tip of an area called the Roer Triangle, where the two rivers formed the left and right sides of the triangle. On 14 January the British launched operation Blackcock to clear this area on the Holland-German border; by the time the operation was completed some two weeks later, it would have seen some truly fierce fighting. At around 0300, on 21 January 1945, the 5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers moved out. Their objective was the German town of Waldfeucht. This was winter in central Europe so it was bitterly cold, with three inches of snow on the ground. The 5th KOSB had a company of men leading the way, while the rest of the force moved either in Kangaroo's or carriers. There were some Shermans from the 13/18th Hussars along for the operation as well. The lead company found a few mines, which it removed, however little other resistance was encountered. Soon the force had seized the town, which was deserted, with no German forces in place. The population would emerge from their cellars briefly and kept asking about what time it was, or were glancing nervously at time pieces. From this behaviour the British concluded that a German attack was imminent, and they thought first light was the most likely time for this. In a rush the battalion began to get ready for action. Two six pounders were brought forward to cover the north and west sides of the town. After they had been unlimbered and roughly sited, work began to dig the guns in. This was severely hampered by the frozen ground. No real progress had been made on these fighting pits when the first rays of sunlight appeared at dawn, filtering through the mist. The spreading light revealed several large box shapes lurching through the mist, towards the town. It was a full-blown German counter attack, fifteen assault guns led by two Tigers from Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 301, with infantry from either the 175th or 183rd infantry. The British asked for their Shermans to engage the Tigers, who were sitting targets out in the open. The British tanks refused to show themselves, knowing what the outcome would be, while the two 6-pounders, still exposed in the open began to fire. A blazing fire-fight soon ensued and, slowly, one by one, the crews of the guns were killed or wounded. At one gun Private Archibald Moore, who was acting as a loader, stepped forward and took over when the gun commander was wounded. With small arms rounds sparkling off the gun shield Private Moore directed his gun against one of the Tigers. The anti-tank battery's commanding officer, Captain Robert Hunter, took control of the other gun. Hunter's first shot stopped the Tiger by wrecking its tracks and he continued to pour fire into the tank until it burned. By now the Germans were about 100 yards away from the two 6-pounders pouring small arms fire and grenades at them. Captain Hunter was wounded by this storm of fire. By now there were only five men serving both guns, one of which was the wounded Captain Hunter. Together, both guns turned their attention on the last remaining Tiger and began to fire as fast as they could. Soon it too began to burn. Private Moore then grabbed a Bren gun from beside a dead soldier and opened fire upon the nearby infantry and the fleeing Tiger crew. On the east side, at the same time, another Tiger had launched an attack with supporting infantry. Here there were no plucky 6-pounders to stop the beast. Four Shermans were destroyed trying to stop it, which might account for the reluctance of the tank commanders to engage the pair of Tigers. Bitter fighting ensued as the Germans reached the outskirts of the town and began to push through. The Tiger, as it ground down the street, blasting into buildings at point blank range, ran into two men, a platoon commander named Gideon Scott and his PIAT gunner Private Kirkpatrick. The first round failed to detonate and bounced off the Tiger’s armour. Scott began to reload the PIAT. Another round was fired at the Tiger but missed. The shots had alerted the Tiger crew to the danger, and a hail of gunfire was directed towards the British defenders position. Scott was wounded in the hand. Scott had been born with deformities in both hands which had nearly prevented him from enlisting in 1939, until he challenged the recruiters to allow him to fire a rifle, which they were concerned he would have been unable to handle. Scott had shot in competitions for his college at Bisley and was quite a proficient shot. Having proven himself able to shoot he was enlisted. As they reloaded for a third shot, Scott saw a wounded soldier lying directly in the path of the giant Tiger, and who would soon be crushed by the 70 tons of tank. Scott leapt up from his position and raced out into the street, despite having already gained the Tiger’s complete attention and his position being the focus of its full firepower. He reached the wounded soldier, and with the ground shaking from the Tiger’s roar he dragged the wounded man into cover with bullets whistling about him. The Tiger led the advance through the town with infantry storming into its wake. As it approached the building chosen as the HQ, Captain Ravenscroft and his batman began to lob grenades out of the windows onto the Germans below, until they were captured. By now it was late afternoon. The Germans had reached the town square which had become no-man’s land between the two forces. The Tiger claimed a Sherman, and four more were knocked out by Panzerfausts in the fighting around the square. The situation was looking bleak, with the Germans now in control of 75% of the tow...
The unique Second War 1942 S.B.S. ‘Operation Reservist - attack on Oran Harbour’ M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant D. C. Ellis, 2 Special Boat Service, late King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, a veteran of Dunkirk, who served with 101 Troop, No. 6 Commando prior to joining the S.B.S. for the raid on the Vichy French held Oran Harbour. Paired in a Folbot with the S.B.S. raid commander, Major H. V. Holden-White, Ellis launched from H.M.S. Walney into the night, 8 November 1942. The Oran Harbour attack was the first British-American Combined Operation of the Second World War, which also produced a superb Victoria Cross for Walney’s Captain, F. T. Peters, and was described by Winston Churchill as ‘The finest British naval engagement since Trafalgar.’ Holden-White and Ellis launched mini torpedoes from their canoe against a submarine and a destroyer, seemingly hitting the latter, prior to be being captured and taken prisoner of war whilst trying to escape from the harbour. Having been repatriated, Ellis was posted for further S.B.S. service under the command of 136 Force (S.O.E.), and served in India, Ceylon and Burma, 1944-47 Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4032370 Sjt. D. C. Ellis. K.S.L.I.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, last 2 mounted in wrong order, generally very fine (6) £12,000-£15,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 27 April 1944: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa.’ The original recommendation, which is best read in-conjunction with his commanding officer’s [Captain H. V. Holden-White] own recommendation for the Military Cross, states: ‘Oran Landings. Assault on port by H.M.S. Walney and H.M.S. Hartland - 8th November, 1942. Was Captain Holden-White’s partner in the Folbot, he displayed coolness and courage in directing his Officer on to the target and later, when by himself, he salvaged and re-floated the damaged Folbot, almost under the eyes of a French sentry.’ Holden-White’s M.C. recommendation states: ‘Was in Command of the Special Boat Section Unit, which was detailed to carry out dangerous and delicate operations in-conjunction with assault on the port of Oran. He was in charge of the party operating from H.M.S. Walney in folbots and displayed courage and initiative of a high order in attacking with small torpedoes a French destroyer which was leaving the port, and it is believed that one hit on the vessel was obtained.’ Derek Charles Ellis enlisted as a Boy in the 2nd Battalion, The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry at Shrewsbury in May 1935. He transferred to the 1st Battalion the following year, and served with the B.E.F. in France, 24 September 1939 - 8 June 1940. Ellis was posted to No. 6 Commando (Special Service Brigade) in May 1941, before transferring to the Special Boat Service in April 1942. He was to become part of the newly formed 2 SBS, which was gathered from a nucleus of 101 Troop, 6 Commando and new recruits such as Holden-White. Their billet was a private hotel in a suburb of Ardrossan, Scotland, and from here they learned all things according to the gospel of ‘Jumbo’ Courtney. Ellis had been part of 101 Troop, and had taken part in a reconnaissance 22/23 November 1941: ‘At Dover 101 Troop were mostly engaged in helping the Royal Navy destroy floating mines by rifle fire, but two canoe pairs were used to make a reconnaissance on the night of 22/23 November 1941. This was in preparation for a raid the next night by a hundred men from No. 9 Commando on a coastal gun battery at Houlgate near the mouth of the river Seine. Lieutenant Smith and Corporal Woodhouse overturned in surf and were captured, while Corporal D. C. Ellis and Private Lewis missed the rendezvous and paddled back across the Channel to England. However, they had gathered sufficient information to confirm that LCA’s (landing-craft assault) could land on the beach.’ (SBS In World War Two, The Story of the Original Special Boat Section of the Army Commandos by G. B. Courtney refers) Operation Reservist In the second week of October 1942, Holden-White was summoned to Lord Mountbatten’s Combined Operations Headquarters in Whitehall. There ‘was something big on. Hush-hush. Destination secret for now, but the SBS had an important role to play. Holden-White gleaned enough information to guess that an attack was planned on the Vichy French and that SBS canoeists would be launched at the head of a sea-borne onslaught which, even for one quite new to the service, seemed to nullify what he assessed to be the section’s greatest asset, operating clandestinely.’ (SBS The Inside Story of the Special Boat Service by J. Parker refers) The above - Operation Reservist - was to be a subsidiary part of Operation Torch, the massive invasion of North Africa in November 1942. The SBS operation was to be part of the amphibious assault on Oran, 8 November 1942. The Vichy French held harbour which was heavily protected by shore batteries and contained a number of the surviving vessels of the Vichy French Navy: ‘Opposition inland was judged correctly to be minimal, but the Vichy naval chiefs were still smarting over the sinking of part of the French fleet at Oran by the British in 1940 and would take drastic measures to protect their remaining vessels. Oh, and one other thing, said Courtney. The SBS had the honour of testing a new weapon, a mini-torpedo designed to be fired from canoes, which would hopefully cut down on the need for limpet mines whose clamping was always a hazardous business. A few days later Harry [Holden-White] and Lieutenant E. J. A. ‘Sally’ Lunn went to an experimental station in Hampshire to see a demonstration of the mini-torpedoes. A stock of them was being prepared which, they were assured, would be dispatched with an officer to Gibraltar, where they would be collected by the SBS en route to wherever they were going (then still a secret). The day of embarkation came. Harry took five pairs of SBS canoeists to Greenock, where they loaded their stores, weapons and canoes aboard two converted American coastguard cutters now under the Royal Navy flag and named H.M.S. Walney and H.M.S. Hartland. Three pairs [including Ellis] led by Holden-White boarded Walney while Sally Lunn headed the other two in Hartland. Orders were now clear. They were to join a large convoy at Gibraltar, protected by destroyers and submarines. There, the two ships would pick up 400 American troops, who were to mount a sea-borne assault on Oran harbour and hold it until reinforcements arrived from inland. The SBS role in all of this was to go in first, blowing up shipping in the harbour with the still-experimental mini-torpedoes. Each pair of canoeists was to be given two torpedoes, which they were to release towards suitable targets as soon as feasibly possible. The torpedoes were to be collected in Gibraltar, they were told, where an office would explain all. Harry takes up the story: “Well, that was the first thing to go wrong. When we got to Gib, there was no bloody officer to explain it all, no bloody instructions, and the baby torpedoes were in bits. Luckily, I had Sergeant-Major J. Embelin with us, who was a demolition expert, and he was able to assemble them. But we still had only a vague idea about range and so on... Another problem for us was launching the canoes from ships. Normally, SBS crews are floated off submarines or lowered from MTBs. These cutters gave us a drop of eight to ten feet and our flimsy folbots could have been damaged. So on the way out we decided to practise and unpacked the canoes we had brought aboard in kitbag...
A highly emotive Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant S. W. Rushforth, 1st/8th Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), who died of wounds on the Western Front, 9 May 1918, as a result of saving his wounded brother’s life. Both brothers served together from March 1915, and both were awarded the D.C.M. Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1699 A. Cpl. S. W. Rushforth. 8/Lond: Regt - T.F.); 1914-15 Star (1699. Pte. S. W. Rushforth, 8-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1699 Sjt. S. W. Rushworth. 8-Lond. R.) minor edge nicks, generally good very fine (4) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 11 March 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry when he carried a wounded man across the open under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire.’ Stanley William Rushforth was the son of Mr and Mrs C. H. Rushforth of 9 Mulkem Road, Upper Holloway, London. He was also the brother of Charles H. Rushforth, both of whom served during the Great War with the 1/8th Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles). Both brothers served during the Great War together with the 1/8th Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) in the French theatre of war from 18 March 1915. Both were awarded the D.C.M. for their gallantry, with Stanley being awarded his first. Stanley Rushforth died of wounds whilst serving on the Western Front, 9 May 1918. A typed note of details given by Mr G. F. Rushforth (included with lot) gives the following: ‘Sergeant Rushforth 8th London Regiment was serving with his brother in 1918, when the enemy made an attack and followed with a gas attack. Sergeant Rushforth’s brother was wounded and had lost his gas mask, Sergeant Rushforth removed his own gas mask and gave it to the wounded man. As a result he lost his life.’ Sergeant S. W. Rushforth is buried in the St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France. Sold with photographic images of the brothers, and typed note by relative.
A good Great War 1917 ‘Western Front’ stretcher-bearer’s M.M. and Second Award Bar awarded to Private C. Keyworth, 10th (Service) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action during the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, 20 November 1917 Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (R-4056 Pte C. Keyworth. 10/K.R.R.C.); Memorial Scroll (Rfn. Charles Keyworth, M.M. King’s Royal Rifle Corps) generally good very fine £700-£900 --- M.M. London Gazette 18 June 1917. The 20th (Light) Division Citation states: ‘On 4th April 1917, for attending to the wounded under extremely heavy fire at Metz en Couture.’ M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 12 November 1917. The 20th (Light) Division Citation states: ‘On night 19/20 September 1917, in organising a rescue party on his own initiative and working 3 hours under the heaviest shell fire extricating wounded from a building that had been hit by a shell near Langemarck.’ Charles Keyworth was born in Darlington, County Durham. He served during the Great War with the 10th (Service) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps in the French theatre of war from 14 November 1915 (his number appears as R/14056 in documentation). Keyworth distinguished himself during the attack and capture of Metz-en-Couture, Pas de Calais, by the 10th and 11th Battalions of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. His Battalion suffered casualties of 6 officers killed, 2 wounded, and 22 other ranks killed with 128 wounded and 20 missing. Keyworth distinguished himself for a second time during the Third Battle of Ypres, 19/20 September 1917. Private Keyworth was killed in action on the Western Front, 20 November 1917. On the latter date the Battalion were engaged in the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, and Private Keyworth is buried in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, Nord, France. Sold with the following related documents and items: 2 Divisional Citation Cards; Rifle Record Office enclosure for Memorial Scroll; 3 Photographs, including a portrait photograph of recipient in uniform; and other photographic images.
A Great War 1918 ‘Salonika operations’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private C. Llewellyn, 11th (Service) Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, who distinguished himself when he saved the life of another soldier wounded during a night patrol, 1-2 April 1918, and he was also awarded the French Medal of Honour in Bronze with Swords Military Medal, G.V.R. (18207 Pte C. Llewellyn. 11/Worc: R.); 1914-15 Star (18207 Pte. C. Llewellyn. Worc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (18207. Pte. C. Llewellyn. Worc. R.) suspension claw loose on BWM, contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette 29 August 1918. The original recommendation, as extracted from 12th Corps Routine Order No. 65, dated 6 April 1918, states: ‘On the night 1st/2nd April, 1918 Private Llewellyn was one of a patrol sent to reconnoitre the enemy position. On approaching, advanced scouts of a patrol were fired on by enemy (estimated strength 50 rifles). One of the Scouts was wounded in both legs. The enemy were seen to move forward with the evident intention of capturing this man, but the main body of our patrol coming up engaged them with rifle fire to which the enemy replied. Under heavy enemy rifle fire, Private Llewellyn carried the wounded man to a place under cover about 50 yards to the rear, and immediately returned to his patrol and assisted in holding up the enemy who were attempting to surround them. The patrol withdrew to a position near to where the wounded man lay, and again by rifle fire held up the enemy who were endeavouring to advance. During this check Private Llewellyn carried the wounded man to a place of safety some considerable distance to the rear, and then went forward again to assist the patrol. Enemy were eventually driven back by rifle fire. Subsequently, Private Llewellyn carried the wounded man to our lines. Private Llewellyn displayed great courage and devotion to duty.’ France, Medal of Honour in Bronze, with Swords London Gazette 21 July 1919. Charles Llewellyn was born in Haverfordwest in October 1890. He was employed by Great Western Railway prior to the Great War, and served with the 11th (Service) Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment in the French theatre of war from 22 September 1915. The Battalion moved to Salonika in November of the same year, and it is was in this theatre that Lllewellyn distinguished himself. Llewellyn returned to Great Western Railway after the war, and was employed as a Driver at the Main Depot in Swansea until his retirement in 1955. He died in August 1977. Sold with typed copy of Extract from 12th Corps Routine Order No. 65 dated 6 April 1918; several annotated photographic images of recipient and a modern typed transcript of a letter from to vendor from recipient’s son.
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private J. Hobson, 4th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, late Royal Army Medical Corps, with whom he served in Gallipoli Military Medal, G.V.R. (R-40903 Pte J. Hobson. 4/K.R.Rif:C.) recipient’s address additionally engraved on edge ‘66 Potternewton Lan Chapel Allerton Leeds’, pawnbroker’s mark in obverse field, very fine £160-£200 --- M.M. London Gazette 18 July 1919. James Hobson initially served during the Great War with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Gallipoli from 20 May 1915. He subsequently transferred to the 4th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps and served with them in the French theatre of war.
A Great War 1917 ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Lance Corporal R. G. Chambers, 18th (Service) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (Arts and Crafts) Military Medal, G.V.R. (R-32603 L. Cpl. R. G. Chambers. 18/K.R.R.C.) very fine £180-£220 --- M.M. London Gazette 28 September 1917. Robert G. Chambers served during the Great War with the 18th (Service) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (Arts and Crafts) on the Western Front (entitled to Great War pair).
Pair: Private W. Halls, Rifle Brigade, who died at Scutari on 8 February 1855 Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (W. Halls. 1st. Bn. Rifle Bde.) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (W. Halls. 1st. Bn. Rifle Bde.) contemporarily engraved naming, pierced with ring suspension, edge bruising and light contact marks, good very fine (2) £500-£700 --- William Halls was born at Bildestone, Suffolk, in 1828 and attested for the Rifle Brigade at Ipswich on 15 December 1845. He served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Third Kaffir War from January 1852 to January 1854 (Medal), and subsequently in the Crimea. He was admitted to Scutari Hospital on 27 December 1854, and died at Scutari on 8 February 1855. Sold with copied medal roll extracts and other research.
The Queen’s South Africa Medal and group of shooting awards won by Captain E. C. H. Grant, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, attached Imperial Yeomanry, who died of enteric fever at Kimberley in August 1901 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Capt: E. C. H. Grant. Imp: Yeo:) in named card box of issue; together with the following shooting awards and badges: i. Charterhouse Cadet embroidered marksman badges for 1883 - 1884 ii. Army Regimental Rifle Matches 1889, silver, hallmarked Birmingham 1889, reverse engraved ‘Infantry Abroad 2nd Lieut. E. Grant, 1st A. & S. Highlanders 89 Points’ with additional silver ribbon bar inscribed ‘1890 - 89 points’, in B. Ninnes fitted case iii. Scottish Rifle Association 1897, embroidered arm badge iv. The Army Eight 1887, Officers Match, Regulars v. Auxiliaries, silver, hallmarked Birmingham 1896, reverse engraved ‘Captain E. C. H. Grant, A. & S. Highrs.’ the ribbon fitted with silver buckle and dated bars for 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1900, in B. Ninnes fitted case v. A.R.M. Gregory Jewel 1897, 15 carat gold and enamels, reverse engraved ‘Won by Capt. Grant. A. & S.H. Aggregate 600’ in fitted case vi. Army Eight, silver-gilt medal for 1898, hallmarked Birmingham 1897, reverse engraved ‘Captain E. C. H. Grant A. & S. Highs.’ with ribbon buckle and dated bar for 1899, in B. Ninnes fitted case vii. School of Musketry, Ninnes Challenge Cup 1898, 15 carat gold and enamel, hallmarked Birmingham 1897, reverse engraved ‘Won by Capt. E. C. H. Grant’ in Ninnes Goldsmith Hythe fitted case viii. The Methuen Cup 1899, silver, hallmarked Birmingham 1899, reverse engraved ‘Won by The Hythe Staff. Av. 96.37. Capt. E. Grant’ in Ninnes Goldsmith Hythe fitted case, extremely fine (9) £400-£500 --- Edward Chetwood Hamilton Grant, Captain 1st Batalion,. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, died of enteric fever at Kimberley on 25 August 1901. He was born in May 1868, educated at Charterhouse, and entered the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders January 1888; was promoted Lieutenant in January 1890, and Captain in July 1897. Having served as adjutant of his Regiment, June 1894 to December 1897, he was then appointed an Instructor on the Staff of the School of Musketry at Hythe, which post he held till October 1899. He was District Inspector of Musketry at Aldershot, November 1899. At the time of his death he was serving as adjutant of the 24th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry to which he was appointed in April 1901, having been allowed to give up his staff appointment at Aldershot to enable him to go to South Africa. His name is inscribed on the tablet in the War Memorial Cloister erected at Charterhouse.
Seven: Warrant Officer Class II A. G. Finnimore, Hampshire Regiment 1914 Star, with clasp (9303. L. Cpl. A. G. Finnimore. 1/Hamps: R.); British War and Victory Medals (9303 Pte. A. G. Finnimore. Hamps. R.); Defence Medal; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (5485193 W.O. Cl. II. A. G. Finnimore. Hamps. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (5485193 W.O. Cl. 2. A. G. Finnimore. Hampshire R.) mounted court-style for wear, the Great War awards heavily polished and worn, these good fine; the rest good very fine (7) £240-£280 --- Albert G. Finnimore attested for the Hampshire Regiment in February 1913, and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 August 1914. Promoted Sergeant in August 1915, he was appointed Company Quartermaster Sergeant in 1922, and was promoted Company Sergeant Major in 1924. He transferred to the 4th Battalion as Regimental Sergeant Major in 1929, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 208 of October 1931. He retired in February 1935, after 22 years’ service. ‘He was an excellent shot with the rifle and was Battalion shot in the 2nd Battalion in 1920, and in the 1st Battalion in 1924, 1927, and 1928. He was also runner-up in the Egyptian Command Championship in 1922.’ (Regimental Journal refers). Retiring to Alton, Hampshire, Finnemore served as a Captain in the Home Guard during the Second World War, and as Chairman of Alton Urban District Council 1952-53, in which capacity he was awarded the Coronation Medal. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal per Army Order 98 of 1953, and died in Alton on 23 September 1965. Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient in later life.
Three: Major G. Rooke, 2nd/10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles, attached 2nd/2nd King Edward’s Own Gurkha Rifles, who was wounded in action on 19 December 1914, and was killed in action leading his Company at the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915 1914 Star, with clasp (Major: G. Rooke. 2/10 Gurkha Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (Major G. Rooke.) toned, extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Giles Rooke was born at Lymington, Hampshire on 16 June 1874, the son of Major-General Rooke, Royal Artillery, and was educated at Bedford School. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army on 30 August 1893, and was advanced Major in the 10th Gurkha Rifles on 30 August 1911. Rooke was on leave at home when War was declared with Germany in August 1914 and as such was despatched to Dublin, to temporarily join the 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, where he took command of ‘B’ Company, during the autumn of 1914. In November 1914 he was ordered from Dublin to France, there to join the 2nd/2nd Gurkha Rifles, as part of the Dehra Dun Brigade, Meerut Division of the Indian Corps. Shortly after arriving in France he was wounded in action on 19 December 1914 at La Quinque Rue on the Festubert Road. Upon recovering from his wounds, he rejoined his regiment and subsequently took part in the battle of Neuve-Chapelle, 10-12 March 1915, and then the Battle of Aubers Ridge, 9 May 1915. Battle of Aubers Ridge, 9 May 1915 The Dehra Dun Brigade which was to carry out the initial assault had the 2nd/2nd Gurkha Rifles on the right, 1st/4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders in the centre and the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on the left. The Gurkhas also had a Company of the 6th Jats attached to them. The Meerut Division had just 26 howitzers to deal with 750 yards of German parapet, which was no more than 150 yards away from their own front line. With the same timing as that for the British sector, the barrage opened at 0500 hours and intensified its rate of fire thirty minutes later. At this moment the leading waves of the Dehra Dun Brigade left their trenches and moved out into no man’s land. The soldiers were greeted with such ferocious machine gun and rifle fire that those that survived the clamber out over their own parapet, could only advance a few metres before being sent to ground by the hail of bullets. All this was happening whilst the bombardment was reaching its full intensity and to complicate the matter further, the troops forming the subsequent waves continued to arrive in the forward trenches. These were soon blocked with dead; wounded; soldiers moving forward and those being forced back. The actual infantry attack was supposed to commence the moment the bombardment lifted at 0540 hours but as the Gurkhas and Highlanders attempted to clamber across the numerous water filled ditches they were cut down by the machine gunners safe in their almost impregnable shelters. Within minutes hundreds of men had been killed and wounded and the advance bogged down half way across no man’s land. The attack had been a complete failure. Word then came through that the 1st Division on the right were going to make a second effort at 0700 hours following a 45 minute barrage. The Meerut Division agreed to do its best but was cut down as before. Despite this second failure Lieutenant-General Anderson commanding the Meerut Division decided that they would make another attempt. He called for a 60 minute bombardment at 0745 hours which incurred the wrath of the German artillery which put down a counter barrage onto the densely packed Indian trenches. This new bombardment by the Indian gunners turned out to have been a waste of ammunition; by the time it had finished it was evident that the 1st Division were unable to prepare a worthwhile assault. The Highlanders and Gurkhas who had gone over the top would just have to lie there under the retaliatory shelling until something could be done about their position. Led by Major Rooke, the 2nd/2nd Gurkhas made yet another heroic attack on the German defences, which again proved totally futile. Following the failure of the first two attacks by the Indian Corps, a further assault by the Dehra Dun Brigade (including Rooke's Company of Gurkhas) was ordered at 0845 hours. However the neighbouring British unit, 1st Division, reported that the situation on their front was so confused that they would not be able to support the Dehra Dun attack and the Commanding Officer of the Indian Corps, General Willcocks, postponed it until further notice. However, owing to the orders not being properly communicated, Rooke did not learn of the cancellation and as a result had actually launched the attack by mistake. Leading his men over the top, he was quickly cut down together with a number of his men, but groups of determined Gurkhas pressed on under a hail of machine gun fire linking up with comrades who had been pinned down in No-Man's Land during the previous attacks. A small band reached the German wire, where according to the German war diary, they discarded all their equipment and 'running like cats' along the wire, spotted a gap, ran through it brandishing their kukhris, and vaulted over the breastwork, taking on the defenders in hand to hand combat. This small group was eventually cut down and later buried by the Germans but the location of their graves, like many others, was later lost. Rookes obituary states that he ‘was gallantly leading the men of “A” Company against the enemy when he was struck down... the Company got further forward than anyone else.’ He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Neuve-Chapelle Indian Memorial, France. Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.
Three: Private R. W. Gosney, Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps, later Second Lieutenant, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, who was Mentioned in Despatches in Mesopotamia, and was killed in action at the Battle of Ctesiphon on 22 November 1915 1914-15 Star (1742 Pte. R. W. Gosney. Ceylon. Plr. R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. R. W. Gosney.) good very fine (3) £120-£160 --- Reginald Wilkie Gosney was born on 3 August 1888, the son of Charles F. Gosney, a Ceylon Tea Planter, and was educated at Crewkern Grammar School. Upon leaving school he followed his father into the tea industry, and attested for the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps in 1913. He served with them during the Great War, before being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, and was posted on attachment to the 76th Punjabi Regiment. In March 1915, the 76th Punjabis arrived in Mesopotamia to join the 12th Indian Division. After taking part in the Battle of Shaiba, where the Turkish counter-attack was repulsed, the regiment participated in the operations in Persian Arabistan. In June and July, the 76th Punjabis took part in the operations along the River Euphrates, which led to the capture of Nasiriyah. For his gallantry during these operations Lieutenant Gosney was Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 5 April 1916). In August, the 76th Punjabis joined Major General Charles Townshend's 6th Indian Division in its advance towards Baghdad. Gosney was killed in action at the Battle of Ctesiphon on 22 November 1915, the first major engagement on the advance to Baghdad. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Second Lieutenant A. W. Marslen, East Surrey Regiment, late Tank Corps and 5th (City of London Rifle Brigade) Battalion, London Regiment British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. A W. Marslen.) very fine Pair: Lieutenant C. H. Pye, Royal Air Force, late 15th (Civil Service Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment, who was twice wounded on the Western Front British War and Victory Medals (5852 Pte. C. H. Pye. 15-Lond. R.) very fine Memorial Plaque (Frank Perton) traces of verdigris, otherwise generally very fine (5) £80-£100 --- Ambrose William Marslen, an Accountant from Henley-on-Thames, was born in Balham on 20 September 1893. He attested for the 2nd/5th (London Rifle Brigade) Battalion, London Regiment on 4 January 1916 and saw service on the Western Front from 6 January 1917, where he injured his knee whilst falling into a trench during a raid, south of Mori, on 12 June 1917. Appointed Lance Corporal, he received a war time commission into the Tank Corps on 16 November 1917, before transferring into the East Surrey Regiment, with whom he was wounded at Cambrai, as a result of the effect of mustard gas on 20 October 1918. Invalided to the Dover convalescent home, he relinquished his commission on account of ill health contracted on active service, on 14 May 1919, retaining the rank of Second Lieutenant. Sold with detailed copy service papers and research and an original black and white photograph of the recipient. Charles Hugh Pye, a Civil Service Clerk, was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire on 9 March 1891. He attested for the 15th (Civil Service Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment on 10 February 1916, serving on the Western Front from 22 July 1916. He was wounded, with a gunshot wound to his right thigh on 7 October 1916, whilst serving in the Somme sector and further wounded by the effects of mustard gas at Bourlon Wood on 3 December 1917. He was commissioned as an Honorary Lieutenant into the Royal Air Force on 5 July 1918 with whom he served in the U.K. before his discharge on 7 May 1919. Awarded a Silver War Badge, his Great War medals were sent to his address at 15 Homecroft Road, Sydenham, London SE26. Sold with detailed copy service records and copy Medal index Card. Frank Perton, a Trade Painter from Shepherds Bush, London, was born in November 1888 in Battersea, London and attested for Rifle Brigade on 16 January 1906. A frequent offender, he saw pre-war service at Home and in Egypt and returned from India with the 4th Battalion before entering the Western Front theatre on 20 December 1915. He was killed in action on 10 May 1915 in the Hooge area. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. A unique name on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission register.
1st Bn. Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers Victorian Officer's helmet plate circa 1880-87. Fine scarce silvered crowned star mounted with laurel sprays and strap inscribed 1st BATTN. DERBYSHIRE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS; black velvet centre with strung bugle. Three loops. VGC Redesignated as 1st VB in April 1887.
20 Infantry cap badges mounted on shield. Good selection beautifully mounted on varnished wooden shield, each with gold illuminated script below. Northampton ... Berkshire ... West Kent ... KOYLI ... KSLI ... Middlesex ... KRRC ... Wltshire ... Manchester N. Stafford ... York & Lancs ... DLI ... HLI ... Seaforth ... Gordon ... Cameron ... RUR ... R. Irish Fusilies ... Argyll & Sutherland ... Rifle Brigade. All complete with fixings. (20 items)
Rifle Brigade, KRRC & Light Infantry. 12 various badges. Rifle Brigade : glengarry ... glengarry (replaced loops) ... WW1 ... WW2 ... 1950s. KRRC : glengarry ... QVC Militia (replaced loops) ... QVC ... KC. Oxf & Bucks LI ... Green Jackets Brigade (anodised) .... Royal Green Jackets (anodised) . All complete with fixings. (12 items)
Kings Royal Rifle Corps Boer War two clasp Kings South Africa Medal Awarded to 2991 CLR-SERJT F. ROADS K.R.R.C. bearing clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901 and SOUTH AFRICA 1902. Edge knocks. Colour Sergeant Frederick Roads, enlisted in 1885, He saw service during the Ashanti Rebellion earning the medal and star. He served in South Africa from November 1899 until 1903 gaining the QSA with five clasps and the Army Long Service Good Conduct Medal in 1904.
Scottish. Argyllshire Highland Rifle Volunteers Victorian Officer's shoulder belt plate. Good scarce silvered rectangular plate mounted with Thistle star; to the centre, within a Celtic circlet, a gilt crowned silvered coiled bugle horn bearing a gilt boar head. Reverse with four screw posts. Became a VB of the A & SH on 1st July 1881, redesignated 5th VB 1st December 1887 during which time the plate continued in service.
Rifle Brigade 19th century Officer's pouch belt plate circa 1823-55. Good scarce die-stamped unmarked silver example as worn in the Crimea. Laurel sprays surmounted by a Guelphic crown on Waterloo tablet; centrally a Maltese cross, lions between the arms which bear honours, within a title circlet, a strung bugle. Four shortened screw posts and complete with backing plate which bears a stout brooch pin. Slight service wear, GC.
1st Nottinghamshire Rifle Volunteer Corps (Robin Hoods) Victorian post 1881 helmet plate. Good scarce die-stamped blackened brass crowned Maltese cross, lions between the arms, bearing a circlet inscribed 1st NOTTINGHAMSHIRE R.V. CORPS, RH cypher, reversed entwined, to voided centre. Three loops. GC Raised on 15th November 1859.
1st Nottinghamshire Rifle Volunteer Corps (Robin Hoods) Victorian post 1881 Officer's helmet plate. Fine scarce die-stamped blackened white metal example with burnished highpoints. Crowned Maltese cross, lions between the arms, bearing a circlet inscribed 1st NOTTINGHAMSHIRE R.V. CORPS, RH cypher, reversed entwined, to voided centre. Three loops. VGC Raised on 15th November 1859
1st Nottinghamshire Rifle Volunteer Corps (Robin Hoods) 1899 HM silver pouch belt plate. Fine rare Birmingham hallmarked die-stamped silver crowned Maltese cross by by H & S (Hobson & Sons), lions between the arms, mounted with circlet inscribed 1st NOTTINGHAMSHIRE R.V. CORPS, RH cypher, reversed and interlaced, to voided centre with mirrored backing disc. Four screw posts to reverse. VGC Raised on 15th November 1859
2nd South Middlesex Rifles Volunteers Victorian post 1881 Officer's pouch belt plate. Good die-stamped silvered crowned Maltese cross bearing circlet SOUTH MIDDLESEX RIFLE VOLUNTEERS. Three screw posts (top one shortened). GC Formed 14th October, 1859 at Waltham Green. Joined KRRC in 1881 as a VB but retained designation until became 10th Bn. Middlesex Regiment 1st April, 1908.
German Third Reich WW2 Army / Waffen-SS Infantry Assault badge for motorised and mechanised infantry units A good die-stamped bronzed issue. Rifle with fixed bayonet superimposed on oval oak wreath surmounted by eagle and swastika. Vertical round pin with securing hook. VGC Designed by Junker of Berlin and instituted 20th December 1939; bronze version instituted June 1940.
9th (Bakewell) (High Peak Rifles) Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers Victorian Officer's pouch belt plate circa 1860. Fine rare die-stamped silver plated crowned oak sprays resting on HIGH PEAK RIFLES scroll on mirrored backing plate. Centrally, an ornate strung bugle. Three screw posts complete with washers and hooped nuts. J & Co (Jennens) to reverse. VGC A meeting was held on the evening of 6th January, 1860 at the Batemans Arms Inn to enrol volunteers. First commission to the unit not until 28th February. On Friday 23rd March some volunteers were instructed by Sergeant Kelly of the Chesterfield Militia and on the 28th April the whole Corps assembled at Middleton for company drill.
9th (Bakewell) (High Peak Rifles) Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers waist belt clasp circa 1860. Fine scarce brass interlocking buckle with matching benchmark to both halves. Circlet inscribed HIGH PEAK RIFLES; centre with Royal Crest on lined ground. Plain belt loops. GC A meeting was held on the evening of 6th January, 1860 at the Batemans Arms Inn to enrol volunteers. First commission to the unit not until 28th February.
1st Middlesex (Victorias) Rifle Volunteers Officer's waist belt clasp circa 1859. A fine and scarce silver-plated interlocking buckle with matching numbers to both halves. Plain circlet, centrally a lion mask in high relief. Plain belt loops. VGC Duke of Cumberlands Sharpshooters survived the volunteer disbandments of 1814 as a rifle club being granted the title The Royal Victoria Rifle Club in 1835 and in 1853 permitted to be styled the Victoria Volunteer Rifle Corps; became 1st Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1859 with HQ at Kilburn. In 1867 HQ moved to St. Johns Wood.
2nd Nottinghamshire Rifle Volunteers Victorian glengarry badge circa 1880-87. Good scarce die-stamped white metal crowned strap inscribed 2nd NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. R. V; Arms of Nottingham to voided centre. Loops. VGC HQ at East Retford. Redesignated 4th (Nottingham) VB Sherwood Foresters in 1887; its HQ moved to Newark in 1890.
WW2 Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Division silver breast badge. Good scarce crowned eagle resting on a tablet inscribed TOBRUK with crescent below. Two bayonets rise from the crescent onto the eagle wings. Reverse with issue number and impressed 800. Screw post and unmarked circular retaining nut to reverse. Minor service wear. VGC Unit formed in Syria during 1940 from personnel arriving from the Soviet Union.
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