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A Wheeler stamped flint lock rifle, early 19th century, with ram rod

A flint lock rifle, early 19th century, stamped WG

William Fox dated 1798 flint lock rifle, with ram rod

Victorian silver Shooting medal, engraved to both sides 'Presented to the 19th Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteer Corps Hurlet 24th May 1862 by Jas, Lancaster, Lieut.' and 'To be annually shot for between the married and unmarried members of the Corps and held by him who makes the most points on the side of the highest score at the Contest.', maker W.S., Glasgow 1861

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders glengarry badge, a pair of H.L.I. collar badges, and a sweetheart brooch modelled as a rifle

Assam Valley Mounted Rifle Regiment silver trophy, (Assam Valley Light Horse), the silver rhino mounted on ebony coloured wooden base, for TPR W F Morrison, Note: this presentation trophy was given to all serving members at disbandment in 1947; and a silver caddy with cover inscribed Lower Assam Golf Championship Dec 1952 (2)

A 19TH CENTURY PERCUSSION MILITARY RIFLE, fully stocked with dolphin hammer, fixed sights, ram rod and sling swivels. 36” barrel.

Recreation. KEYS (John) The Practical Bee-Master: In Which Will Be Shewn How To Manage Bees..., London: for the author 1780, 8vo, folding engraved plate at end, full calf (upper board detached, rubbed, spine cracked and lacking gilt); WALTON (Isaac) and Charles COTTON The Complete Angler, fourth edition, London 1784, 8vo, engraved frontispiece, plates and illustrations, full calf (rubbed, part of spine strip lacking); another copy dated 1875, tree calf (upper board detached); BAKER (Sir Samuel) The Rifle and the Hound in Ceylon, London 1874, 8vo, full calf gilt; PRATT (Anne) The Flowering Plants, Grasses, Sedges, and Ferns of Great Britain, 6 volumes, London: for Warne and Co, 8vo, numerous coloured engraved plates, half green calf (scuffed) (10)

A pair of modern silver spirit labels together with a silver medal for the West Kent Rifle League.

A collection of flatware including a matched set of six private die hour glass dessert forks; a set of six private die Old English pattern teaspoons by TB&S, Glasgow; together with a set of eight rifle club souvenir spoons and a King's pattern variant fork (qty) combined weight 22oz

A collection of First World War cap badges for the following regiments, Army Cyclist Corps, Royal Irish Rifles, 8th Battalion Leeds Rifles, Kings Royal Rifle Corp, Royal Artillery and Canada, plus two other badges and an unusual cast of the 1914-15 Star (9)

Two items of 5th Forfarshire Rifle volunteers presentation hallmarked silver, comprising rounded oblong snuff box by Nathaniel Mills, 8.5 x 3.5cm, Birmingham 1853 and a salver by Benjamin Smith, with floral centre and moulded scroll border, on scroll feet, London 1848, diameter 25.5cm, both bearing inscriptions to Sergeant Major James Donaldson and dated 1861, 22oz (2) (illustrated)

A Nazi Germany Cross of Honour of the German Mother bronze class (awarded to mothers who were of pure Aryan extraction who had four children) with blue and enamel cross (af) central swastika bearing the legend Der Deutschen Mutter dated on the reverse 16th December 1938 bearing a facsimile of Adolph Hitler's signature, also a Nazi Germany 1st Mai 1939 tinnie badge, also a quantity of badges comprising Rifle brigade cap badge, silver and enamel Toronto Scottish lapel badge and a quantity of other badges etc

A World War I War For Civilisation Medal awarded to Private Thomas Blackshaw Mather 4254 of the Royal Scots together with his Death Plaque, Private Mather died on the 24th August 1916, his memorial is at Ploegsteert, also in this lot is a United States War For Civilisation Medal, Chicopee Mass. 1917-18 Recognition for Services Medal, National Rifle Association Medal awarded to Sergt S Siddelley 21st C.R.V 4th Battalion 1872 and another unnamed (af) and a souvenir Penny of Boston (7)

BSA Martini Henry rifle serial number 1055, the action dated 1878, also a socket bayonet, a quantity of modern empty cartridges and a book by Ian Skennerton, 83cm barrel length Illustrated

John Tweed (British 1869-1933) - patinated bronze figure modelled with a soldier standing holding a rifle, signed J Tweed, May 1922, 10" high

A pair of shooting prize medals awarded to Trooper W. Krienke, Southern Rhodesia Volunteers, comprising British South Africa Company Rifle Competition Medal, silver, obverse, a lion above crossed rifles and the title on a scroll background, reverse engraved, ‘Salisbury’ Rifle Club, Won by ‘W. Krienke, Feb. 1904’, 39mm., integral loop and swivel-ring suspension, together with Southern Rhodesia Volunteers shooting medal, silver, obverse, lion above crossed rifles and title on a scroll background, the whole within a laurel wreath, reverse engraved within a wreath, ‘Nicholson Cup, Tpr. Krienke, 1905’, 28mm., integral loop and swivel-ring suspension, extremely fine (2) £60-80.

Russia, Jeton of the Badge of the Life-Guards 4th Rifle Regiment of the Imperial Family, gold badge with central cypher and circlet set with small diamonds, post 1908 ‘56’ zolotnik mark on loop, the reverse numbered ‘No. 17’ and inscribed in cyrillic with name and dates 9 IX 1904 and 23 IX 1908, gold chain for wearing, good very fine £6000-8000.

Pair: Sergeant G. Barnett, King’s Royal Rifle Corps Ashanti Star 1896; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Relief of Ladysmith (4277 Sgt., K.R.R.C.), extremely fine and scarce (2) £500-600 Barnett served as a Corporal in the Ashanti Expedition in 1896, one of 25 riflemen hand-picked from the 3rd Battalion, K.R.R.C., under Captain W. S. Key, who formed one section of No. 5 Company, Special Service Corps. He was subsequently one of 12 men of this detachment to serve during the Boer War and died of enteric fever in Durban on 15 February 1900.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Lieut. F. E. M. Roe, R.N., H.M.S. Sybille) engraved naming, extremely fine £400-460 Frank Edward Mervyn Roe was born in Salisbury on 21 January 1876. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in July 1890 and was appointed a Sub Lieutenant/Acting Lieutenant in September 1895 and Lieutenant in December 1898. At the time of his promotion he was serving on the Harrier and it was reported that he was ‘a Navigator of the highest class’. Later, serving on the Pelorus, August-October 1900, he was reported as being a ‘Good Navigator, untrustworthy pilot, too slow to act as executive officer’. Worse still on his next ship, the Monarch, ‘Given to drinking a good deal of wine but not been seen otherwise than sober. Slow in thought & action’. His papers show a hiatus in his service record between October 1900 and February 1905 but he is confirmed as a Lieutenant aboard the 2nd class cruiser Sybille for his Q.S.A. Medal. The Sybille was the only Royal Navy ship to be lost during the Boer War when she ran aground in bad weather off Lambert’s Bay on 16 January 1901. The Captain was ashore at the time - some reports had it that he and other Officers were attending a party - and four Officers were subsequently found guilty at a court-martial for her loss. The crew abandoned the Sybille after she struck a reef during the night and were taken off in five boats, a process that took ten hours, one man being lost. Interestingly, in light of the above events, Roe was ‘retired under the provisions of Order of Council of 30 December 1884’ in late 1902. Nevertheless his service record resumes with service on the Hermione ‘for passage home during February/March 1905. He then served on the battleship Canopus, December 1905-December 1906. On 10 December 1906 he was tried by Court Martial ‘for negligent performance of duty’ for which he was reprimanded and dismissed from the ship. Serving on Europa, January-February 1907 and Hyacinth, February-June 1907, his naval career lurched to an end when he was again tried by Court Martial ‘for drinking intoxicating liquors to excess’, for which he was deprived of one years seniority and dismissed from the ship. On 24 July 1907 as a result of his misconduct he was placed on the Retired List. Opting for the Army on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Roe attested service with the Rifle Brigade and was promoted to Corporal in October 1914. On 23 November 1914 he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war with the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade. His brave actions on 18 December 1914 were rewarded with the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette 1 April 1915), the citation for which reads, ‘For gallant conduct on 18th December, 1914, in voluntarily going to reconnoitre the enemy’s trenches and remaining out for a period of three hours in a position of danger’. On 4 February 1915, near Ploegsteert Wood, he received a shrapnel wound to his arm and was invalided home. Commissioned an officer in the 5th (Reserve) Battalion Rifle Brigade on 7 February, he returned to France in May 1915 and in July was advanced to Captain. On 9 July he was wounded a second time while engaged in erecting wire entanglements in front of the trenches and was again evacuated to England. For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1916). Returning to France for the third time in March 1916, Captain Roe, 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade was mortally wounded on 6 June 1916 and died the next day at No.10 Casualty Clearing Station. He was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Sold with copied Royal Navy service paper, Army service papers and other research.

Pair: Colour Serjeant Joseph Whichells, 37th Regiment and Pembroke Rifle Volunteers Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Corpl. I. Whichelloe, 37th Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (2540 Cr. Serjt. Josh. Whichells, 37th Foot) note different initial and spelling of surname, contact marks, nearly very fine and better (2) £280-320 Joseph Whichells was born near Buckingham. A Bricklayer by occupation, he attested for service with the 37th Regiment at Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire on 15 September 1846, aged 18 years, 6 months. With the regiment he served in Ceylon for 10 years, 3 months and in India for 8 months. Serving in the supression of the Indian Mutiny, he was wounded in action at ‘Arrah Dinapore’ on 29 July 1857. With the 37th Regiment he attained the rank of Serjeant in April 1857. He was appointed Colour Serjeant on loan to the Pembroke Rifle Volunteers from 2 March 1864. He was discharged at Pembroke on 18 November 1867. Sold with copied service papers.

Three: Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Cragg, Rifle Brigade Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lieut., 2nd Battn. Rifle Brigade) contemporary engraved naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Lieut., 3rd Bn. Rifle Bde.); Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed, ball and ring suspension, edge bruising, contact marks, good fine and better (3) £600-700 Cecil Webb Cragg was born in 1838 and received his first commission in March 1855, being advanced to Lieutenant in August 1855 and Captain in November 1862. He served with the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade in the Crimean campaign from 6 September 1855, including the siege and fall of Sebastopol. During the suppression of the Indian Mutiny he served with the 3rd Battalion at the affair at Secundra, siege and capture of Lucknow, battle of Nawabgunge - where he was slightly wounded, and the capture of Fort Birwah as one of the storming party - for which he was mentioned in despatches. He then served with the 4th Irregular Cavalry during the campaign in Bundlecund, 1859-60, under Brigadier-General F. Wheeler, and commanded the 1st Division Bundlecund Flying Column, April 1860-May 1861. He was promoted to Major in December 1876 and retired with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in November 1877. He died at his home in Wrotham Place, Kent on 21 February 1898. Sold with copied research.

Three: Ensign and Adjutant G. Rogers, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Alma, Sebastopol (Quartr. Mastr., 2nd Battn. Rifle Brigade) contemporary engraved naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Qr. Mr., 2nd Bn. Rifle Bde.); Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed, fitted with an ‘Indian Mutiny’ style suspension; together with a Rifle Brigade Officers’ Pouch Belt Plate, silver, 1857-68 period, some edge bruising, very fine and better (4) £600-700 George Rogers was appointed Quartermaster with the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade on 14 September 1855. With them he served in the Crimean War, being present at the the battle of Alma and the siege of Sebastopol. He then served in the supression of the Indian Mutiny, including the siege and capture of Lucknow and in numerous affairs during the Oude campaign. On 30 March 1860 he was appointed Ensign and Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion. .

Pair: Colonel C. B. Dashwood, Rifle Brigade Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (Capt., 4/R. Bde.) officially engraved naming; Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ali Musjid (Maj., 4th Bn.Rifle Bde.) mounted for display, good very fne and better (2) £800-900 Charles Browne Dashwood received his first commission on 17 July 1854. He was promoted to Lieutenant in December 1854 and Captain in February 1858. He received the brevet of Major in July 1872 and was advanced to that rank in November 1873. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1878, he retired with the rank of Colonel on 12 April 1879.

Four: Private G. W. Francis, 4th Dragoon Guards India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (4376 Pte., 4th Dragoon Gds.); 1914 Star, with clasp (4376 Pte., 4/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (4DG-4376 Pte., 4-D. Gds.) mounted as worn, very fine and better (5) £260-300 George Walter Francis was born in Wapping, London. As a member of the 15th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers, he attested for service with the Dragoons of the Line on 19 November 1895, aged 18 years, 8 months. Posted to the 4th Dragoon Guards he served with them in India before being transferred to the Army Reserve in January 1904. He re-engaged in 1907 and 1911 and was posted to active service with the 4th Dragoon Guards in August 1914. Private Francis was transferred to Class ‘Z ‘Army Reserve for demobilization in January 1919. Sold with copied service papers, war diary extract and with an enamelled 4th Dragoon Guards Old Comrades Association lapel badge.

Pair: Store Sergeant W. Williams, Ordnance Department, late Rifle Brigade India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (576 Sergt. W. Williams, 3d Bn. Rif. Bde.) official correction to rank; Tibet 1903-04, no clasp, silver issue (Store Sergt. W. Williams, Ordce. Deptt.) good very fine (2) £350-400.

Pair: Private F. Day, Rifle Brigade Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, Orange Free State (4986 Pte., Rifle Bde.) initial officially corrected, unofficial connection to last clasp; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (4986 Pte., Rifle Brigade) some edge bruising and contact marks, very fine (2) £100-140 George Frederick Day was born in West Ham, London. A Ship’s Steward by occupation, he attested for service in the Rifle Brigade at London on 4 February 1897, aged 22 years, 4 months. Serving with the 1st Battalion, he served in South Africa, March 1900-October 1902. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in April 1904 and discharged in February 1909. Sold with copied service papers. ‘Orange Free State’ clasp not confirmed.

Pair: Private T. G. Day, King’s Royal Rifle Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (5815 Pte., K.R.R.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (5815 Pte., K.R.R.C.) good very fine (2) £180-220 Thomas George Day was born in Winchester, Hampshire. A Servant by occupation, he attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps at London on 20 July 1890, aged 19 years, 3 months. With the 2nd Battalion he served in Gibraltar, December 1891-January 1895; Malta, January 1895-July 1896 and South Africa, July 1896-March 1898. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in March 1898 but was recalled to service in October 1899. With the 3rd Battalion K.R.R.C. he served in South Africa, November 1899-August 1902. Day was discharged on 4 August 1902. He died of natural causes in London on 5 August 1940. Sold with copied service papers and roll extracts.

Three: Private R. W. Rogers, Rifle Brigade, killed in action, 17 September 1914 1914 Star , with copy clasp (792 Pte., 1/Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (792 Pte., Rif. Brig.) minor contact marks, good very fine and better (3) £200-250 Robert William Rogers was born and lived in and enlisted at Norwich. Serving with the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, he was killed in action on 17 September 1914. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial. Sold with copied research. .

An unusual and interesting group of nineteen awarded to Alexander Gault MacGowan, an accredited War Correspondent in the 1939-45 War, whose extraordinary career commenced with service as a subaltern in the Manchester Regiment and as an R.A.F. Observer in the Great War: having been wounded in North Africa in 1943, he was captured by the Germans in France in 1944, but escaped ‘through a series of adventures that would make a Hollywood scenarist bite his nails with envy’ - and briefly fought alongside the Maquis 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; France, Croix de Guerre 1939-1940, with bronze star on ribbon; Academic Palms, Officer’s breast badge, gilt metal and enamel, with rosette on riband; War Commemorative Medal 1914-18; Somme Commemorative Medal; Colonial Medal, 2 clasps, Algerie, Maroc; War Commemorative Medal 1939-45, 1 clasp, Liberation; Medal of Liberated France 1947; Morocco, Order of Ouissam Alaouite Cherifien, Officer’s breast badge, gilt metal and enamel, with rosette on riband; Portugal, Republic, Military Order of Christ, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; U.S.A., Purple Heart, gilt metal and enamel, the Legion of Honour severely chipped in places and the Portuguese piece less so, otherwise generally good very fine (19) £3000-3500 Ex Sotheby’s 6 March 1986. Alexander Gault MacGowan, who ‘crammed more dangerous adventures into his lifetime than most men would care to experience’, was born February 1894 and was educated at Manchester Grammar School. Mobilised as a pre-war member of the Cheshire Yeomanry on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was commissioned into the 24th (Oldham) Battalion, Manchester Regiment in October 1915 and is believed to have been wounded by rifle-grenade fragments in the head and legs on the Somme in July 1916. Declared as ‘unfit for anything other than mounted duty’, he transferred to the Royal Air Force and went on to serve as an Observer on the Italian front in 1918. Commencing his career as a journalist in 1922, when he worked as a correspondent for the Associated Press out in India (where MacGowan also held a commission on the Indian Army Reserve of Officers), he moved to a new appointment in Mesopotamia in the following year. Indeed for much of the 1920s and 1930s he travelled extensively, working variously for The Times and Daily Express, and others newspapers, and was credited with discovering a new pass into Little Tibet, for which he received the thanks of the Survey of India, in addition to participating in the first flight over the Orinoco Delta and the Venezuelan Ilanos, between Trinidad and Maracay, and the first flight between Trinidad and British Guiana. Added to which he had further adventures during an epic motor car trip across the desert from Kurdistan and Mosul to Syria, the first of its kind. He later reported, ‘Hold ups were frequent, and an officer who tried it after me was stripped of everything and had to walk naked into the Lebanons! ‘In 1934 MacGowan joined the New York Sun, for whom he reported on the Spanish Civil War and produced two controversial features entitled ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel of Spain ‘and ‘The Red Vultures of the Pyrenees ‘, for he had no time for the Spanish loyalists and their left-wing sympathisers. He also had an assignment with the French Foreign Legion out in Algeria and Morocco in 1937, in addition to covering the coronation of George VI in the same year. In fact, MacGowan was still working in London on the renewal of hostilities, and accordingly he was assigned to cover the events of the Battle of Britain, in addition to acting as ‘Press Observer with the Commandos in the raid on Dieppe’. As an accredited War Correspondent with the American forces, he next travelled to North Africa and was with the French when they attacked Jabel Mansour in April 1943, when he was ‘wounded in the leg .. and was awarded the Purple Heart by special order of President Roosevelt. For the same incident he was cited for bravery and awarded the Croix de Guerre by General Henri Giraud.’ Both awards were announced in the New York Times. In the following year he reported on the Allied landings in Normandy and was attached to General Omar Bradley’s forces, riding in the jeep of the first American to reach the historic island of Mont Saint Michel. But, as subsequently confirmed by German radio, such scoops were shortly thereafter curtailed, for he was captured at Chatres on 15 August 1944: ‘MacGowan’s experience, following his capture, was unusual. Upon arrival at Chalons-sur-Marne with Makin [another correspondent who had been mortally wounded when their jeep was originally fired upon by two German armoured cars], he was placed in the temporary custody of a group of German war correspondents of the Presse-kompanie. They treated him well, but eventually delivered him to a prisoner of war camp on the line of the German retreat. From there he was started on a journey eastward aboard a train, en route to Germany. At 2 a.m., after six hours in the slow-moving train, and as the guards drowsed, MacGowan opened the compartment door and jumped from the car, fell and ran, with bullets flying about him. Still in France, he was fortunate in reaching a group of Maquis, or French resistance forces. Once he had established his identity, they hid him until the U.S. forces had advanced to the area in September. Interviewed for the World’s Press News after his return to England, the publication described British-born MacGowan as the only ‘British correspondent ‘ever known to have escaped after capture, with the exception of Winston Churchill in his escape from the Boers during the South African War in 1899’ (Europe Made Free: Invasion 1944 refers). Having ‘lived a life like Robin Hood’s’ with the Maquis, and accompanied them with the advancing Americans at the capture of a local town, MacGowan duly reported to the bar of the Paris hotel that served as a press H.Q. - the rest of his colleagues almost dropped their glasses, ‘for the usually immaculate MacGowan was dressed in borrowed French civilian clothes that fitted him like Europe fits Hitler - too big in some places, too tight in others’. In October he returned to the Sun’s offices in New York, for the first time in five years, where he was hailed as a conquering hero, ‘trim and fit in his war correspondent’s uniform, with a chest full of campaign ribbons and decorations from two World Wars.’ Returning to N.W.Europe in the Spring of 1945, MacGowan accompanied General Patton’s forces and visited the scene of Hitler’s ‘Eagle’s Nest ‘at Berchtesgaden at the War’s end. He subsequently reported on the ‘Big Three ‘Potsdam conference. MacGowan - a ‘tall, dark-haired man, with a ‘devil-may-care ‘look in his eyes ‘‘ - was European Manager of the New York Sun 1946-50, during which period he reported on U.N.O. and N.A.T.O. forces, and latterly editor and publisher of European Life. In so far as his foreign Honours and Awards are concerned, it would be impossible to ascertain the validity of his entitlement to the French War Comemmorative Medal 1914-18 and Colonial Medal, although given his Great War services were purely with the British, the former seems unlikely. However, relevant editions of Who’s Who do verify the following: ‘Officier de l’Instruction Publique, 1930 [a.k.a. Palms Academic]; Officer of Military Order of Christ, Portugal, 1933; Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, 1934; Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite, Morocco, 1938; Croix de Guerre, 1943; Medaille de la France Liberee, 1949’, together with mention of his Purple Heart. Sold with an extensive file of research, including correspondence with MacGo

Three: Private E. V. S. Pedley, 11th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who died of wounds in Gallipoli in August 1915 1914-15 Star (1816 Pte., 11/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (1816 Pte., 11-Bn. A.I.F.), together with related Memorial Plaque (Ernest Victor Starkey Pedley), good very fine (4) £250-300 Ernest Victor Starkey Pedley was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and enlisted in the 11th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force in January 1915, aged 21 years, having been employed as a Dairyman. Subsequently embarked for Gallipoli, he died of wounds - ‘shrapnel wounds in legs’ - at the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 6 August 1915 (official records and letter to his father back in England refer). His unit’s war diary for that date states: ‘6 August 1915: About 1430 this morning the enemy made an attack in force on Leane’s Trench which we recently captured - they crept up close under the parapet and delivered a heavy bomb attack. So fierce was the onslaught that the enemy succeeded in getting a foothold in the right section of our trenches .. We immediately blocked with sand bags the communication trench leading from that portion of the trench occupied by the enemy. Our men in the trench endeavoured by fire and bombs from the flank to dislodge the enemy but failed. A storming party was then formed of about 30 men under 2nd Lieutenant Prokter to rush the trench from Tasmania Post. This they did in a most dashing manner under heavy M.G. and rifle fire. As their casualties were considerable in carrying out this operation I did not consider the remainder sufficiently strong to seize and hold the position, so I detailed 2nd Lieutenant Franklyn to follow up - they charged over the open ground in a gallant manner and succeeded in completing the capture of the trench, shooting and bayonetting all the Turks left there. It was then found that a party of Turks had rallied into No. 1A sap, where for sometime they held out, but they were ultimately taken prisoner and sent off to headquarters. Meanwhile, Turkish reinforcements had been hurried up and took cover close in front of our parapets, from which they could not be dislodged even by bombs. They attempted to dig under our trenches and as there was a danger of our trenches being blown up. I decided to launch a counter-attack from the left flank to clear out the enemy from under our parapets. For this purpose 2nd Lieutenant Hall and 25 men were detailed and they succeeded in clearing the enemy out and also arrested an attack which was developing from our left. The enemy attack continued for six hours during which a heavy bombardment by heavy guns took place as well as incessant rifle and machine-gun fire. The trenches and parapets were badly knocked about but with the assistance of the Engineer Company they were speedily repaired. The enemy was completely repulsed with heavy loss and the whole of the trench left in our possession. Our casualties were heavy especially from bomb wounds.’ The Battalion sustained losses of 41 killed and 93 wounded. Pedley is buried in Shell Green Cemetery at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.

Five: Major A. H. James, Worcestershire Regiment, who was taken P.O.W. at Tobruk: his father, Major H. James, was awarded the V.C. for Gallipoli General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (2 Lieut., Worcs. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted court-style as worn, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, good very fine (10) £250-300 Anthony Howard James was born in September 1917, the son of Major Herbert James, V.C., M.C., and was commissioned in his father’s old regiment in January 1939. Posted to the 1st Battalion out in Palestine shortly before the outbreak of hostilities, he went on to witness active service in Eritrea and in the Western Desert, where he was taken P.O.W. at Tobruk in 1942. Liberated from Stalag O. 79 at Braunschweig at the War’s end, he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 4 April 1946 refers) and advanced to Captain in the 1st Battalion in Germany in July 1946, in which capacity he also served in Trieste and Pola. Having then attended Staff College at Camberley, he was advanced to Major in January 1952 and served as a Rifle Company Commander back in Germany, before taking command of ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion in British Guiana in 1957. His final appointment was as D.A.A. and Q.M.G., Headquarters, Caribbean Area; also see Lot 1162 for his father’s Honours and Awards.

Three: Rifleman F. Wilkins, Rifle Brigade General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6912880 Rfmn., Rif. Brig.); Defence and War Medals, nearly extremely fine (3) £70-90.

Sold by Order of the Family The outstanding Gallipoli V.C., Western Front M.C. group of seven awarded to Major H. James, Worcestershire Regiment, who was thrice wounded - twice in Gallipoli and again on the Somme in July 1916: his V.C. - the first such distinction won by his regiment - was awarded for extraordinary acts of bravery in June-July 1915, the last of them amounting to a protracted one man stand in an enemy sap near Gully Ravine throughout which, amidst mounds of dead and dying, he was exposed to ‘a murderous fire’ and ‘a shower of bombs’ Victoria Cross (Lieut. H. James, 4th Bn. Worcestershire Regt; 28 June & 3 July 1915); Military Cross, G.V.R. unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Worc. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); French Croix de Guerre 1914-1916, with palm, the reverse of the upper and lower arms privately engraved, ‘Lt. H. James, V.C., 1st Bn. Worc. Regt.’ and the reverse centre ‘July 7th’; Panama, Medal de la Solidaridad 1917, bronze, generally good very fine (7) £160,000-180,000 V.C. London Gazette 1 September 1915: ‘For most conspicuous bravery during the operations in the southern zone of the Gallipoli Peninsula. On 28 June 1915, when a portion of a regiment had been checked owing to all the officers being put out of action, 2nd Lieutenant James, who belonged to a neighbouring unit, entirely on his own initiative, gathered together a body of men and led them forward under heavy shell and rifle fire. He then returned, organized a second party, and again advanced. His gallant example put fresh life into the attack. On 3 July 1915, in the same locality, 2nd Lieutenant James headed a party of bomb-throwers up a Turkish communication trench, and after nearly all his bomb-throwers had been killed or wounded, he remained alone at the head of the trench and kept back the enemy single-handed till a barrier had been built behind him and the trench secured. He was throughout exposed to a murderous fire.’ M.C. London Gazette 15 October 1918: ‘During an attack, he rode forward when the situation was obscure under heavy fire, and brought back most valuable information. He then reorganised and led forward parties of men from other units and skilfully formed a defensive flank where a gap had occurred, exposing himself for many hours to a very heavy fire. By his gallantry, coolness, and utter disregard of personal safety, he set a splendid example to all ranks.’ Herbert James was born in Ladywood, Birmingham in November 1887, where his father ran a jewellery engraving business. According to his sister, it was decided that he should enter the teaching profession after his education at Smethwick Central School, and certainly he was employed as a teacher’s assistant and later primary teacher at the Bearwood Road and Brasshouse Lane Schools, but, ‘being of a roving disposition’, he wanted to go abroad, and, in April 1909, against his father’s wishes, he enlisted in the 21st Lancers, in which regiment he was appointed a Trooper and embarked for Egypt. Gallipoli By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, James was serving as a Lance-Corporal in India, but he was quickly appointed to a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment and, in March 1915, embarked for the Dardanelles. Landing at ‘W’ Beach, Cape Helles on 24 April, James received a serious head wound in the severe fighting of the 25th-26th, and was evacuated to Malta. About two months later he rejoined the 4th Battalion, in time for a newly planned attack up Gully Ravine. The following account of his exploits on 28 June was taken from The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War, by Captain H. F. Stacke, M.C.: ‘All was ready and at 9 a.m. that morning the British guns opened fire, and at 10 a.m. the attacking troops advanced. The Worcestershires were not involved in that attack, their role being confined to holding the Brigade line further to the right, but the Battalion came in for heavy gun fire while the struggle on their left swayed to and fro. On the left flank the Turkish defences along the sea cliffs were taken with comparative ease; but in the Gully Ravine itself the fire of two strong redoubts held up the attack and drove the Lowland Battalions back into our lines. That evening the 5th Royal Scots renewed the attack on these two redoubts, only to fail in their turn. The 5th Royal Scots in particular were heavily punished and most of their Company Officers were killed or wounded. Orders had been given that the 4th Worcestershires further to the right were to keep touch with the Scotsmen and to be ready to exploit any success. For that purpose Lieutenant James had been sent into the trenches of the Royal Scots to act as a Liaison Officer. When affairs became critical, he went up to the front line, at the request of the Royal Scots’ C.O., to assist in the attack. All the Scots officers in his vicinity had fallen, so Lieutenant James took command of the disorganised troops around him, restored order and established a satisfactory position. Then he went back and brought up reinforcements, only to find on his return that a renewed counter-attack by the enemy had shattered the defence. Once again, Lieutenant James re-established the line and maintained the defence until darkness fell.’ In point of fact, as verified by the citation for his subsequent award of the V.C., James led two counter-attacks himself, an extraordinary feat given the losses suffered during earlier attempts made by the Lowland Battalions - by way of illustrating the ferocious nature of the enemy’s response to such initiatives, it is worth noting that one of them, the 8th Scottish Rifles, lost 25 of its 26 officers and 448 men - all of them in the space of five minutes. And the slope up which he led his men was bereft of cover except for bushes and scrub. Over the next two or three days the fighting surged back and forth until, by 1 July, the Turks had been pushed back each side of the Ravine, but not to its immediate front, where their positions formed a salient. And it was in the attack launched on that salient by the Worcestershires and Hampshires on the 2 July - not the 3rd as cited in the London Gazette - that James rounded-off the deeds that would result in the award of his V.C. The regimental history continues: ‘After due consideration it was decided that, in view of the increasing shortage of gun ammunition, a bombing attack up the existing saps would be preferable to a big attack over the top. Two saps in the centre of the hostile line were assigned to the Worcestershires; other saps further to the left were allotted to the Hampshires. At 9 a.m. on 2 July the attack began. The attacking parties climbed out of our own sapheads, dashed across the open, rushed the sapheads of the enemy and made their way forward up the trenches. The two Turkish sapheads assigned to the 4th Worcestershires were each attacked by a party of about 30 men, those on the right being led by Lieutenant Mould and those on the left by Lieutenant James. At first all went well. The enemy, surprised by the unusual hour of attack, fell back along the trench and Lieutenant James’ party were able to make their way up the saphead. Their advance was difficult for the winding trench was full of dead bodies. Since 4 June fight after fight had raged along it and soldiers of all ranks, including even a dead General, a Brigadier of the Lowland Division, were now heaped in the trench, some half-buried by fallen sand, others but newly killed. The bombers advanced up the saphead to the trench junction at its further end. There the enemy were in waiting, and a furious bombing fight ensued. The enemy were well provided with bombs (in Gallipoli the British forces had at that date only ‘jam-tin ‘bombs. The Turks were supplied with spherical bombs of archaic appearance, but of much greater effect). and in rapid succession

The Order of St. John group of four awarded to Warrant Officer F. R. Day, Capetown Defence Rifle Association, late Imperial Yeomanry The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, silver and enamel, unnamed; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (42918 Pte., 132nd Coy. Imp. Yeo.) minor solder marks; British War Medal 1914-20 (2nd C/W.O., Capetown D.R.A.); St. John Service Medal (1622 D/Supt. S.A.R. & H. .. S.J.A.B.O. 1934); together with an engraved silver medal, ‘Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Volunteer Rifles Long Range Cup 1908’ and ‘L. Cpl. F. R. Day’, 35mm., silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1908, the last two with solder marks; with edge bruising, contact marks, fine and better (5) £120-160 Francis Reginald Day was born in Dublin. A Fitter by occupation, he enlisted into the Imperial Yeomanry at Dublin on 18 January 1902, aged 21 years. Serving with the 132nd Company Imperial Yeomanry (Irish Horse) he served in South Africa, 10 May-10 October 1902. He was discharged at his own request at Stellenbosch on 10 October 1902. During the Great War he served with the Capetown Defence Rifle Association and was employed on Garrison Duty at Simonstown. Latterly he was Divisional Superintendent of the South African Railways and Harbours District of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Overseas. Sold with copied service papers.

A fine Great War Gallipoli operations D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. P. Bridges, South Staffordshire Regiment, who was severely wounded while leading his battalion into action at Lala Baba in August 1915 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; 1914-15 Star (Major, S. Staff. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.), obverse centre of the first recessed and with traces of glue repair, otherwise good very fine (4) £1400-1600 D.S.O. London Gazette 2 February 1916. Edward Charles Philippi Bridges, who was born in April 1870, was commissioned in the South Staffordshire Regiment in May 1890. Having then gained advancement to Captain, he served as an Adjutant in the Indian Volunteers 1902-04 and was placed on the Reserve of Officers in December 1905. Of his subsequent part in the Great War, the following statement of services was submitted by him to the War Office in December 1920: ‘In the Spring of 1914, being then a Captain on the Reserve of Officers, and hearing from my brother Lieutenant-Colonel T. Bridges, D.S.O., then Military Attache in Brussels, of the extreme probability of an immediate war with Germany, I at once sold my farm in Matthew County, Virginia, U.S.A., and returned to England. I reported myself to the War Office and was informed if wanted I should be notified. About 6 August 1914, I was instructed to report myself at the depot of my old regiment at Lichefield, and against the advice of my medical adviser, I at once did so. In February 1915, I was appointed Brigade Machine-Gun Officer to the 33rd Brigade. In this appointment I served continuously at Cape Helles, attached to the Royal Naval Division, and, after the Brigade returned to the 11th Division, at the Suvla landing. On 10 August 1915, I was appointed to the command of the Regiment [7/South Staffordshires], vice Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Daukes, killed in action on the 9th. I remained in command of until severely wounded in an attack on 21 August. I was evacuated to England and was admitted to the Royal Free Hospital, London, until March 1916, after which I was attached to various Staffs and to assist in training work.’ Only two officers from the 7th South Staffordshires emerged unscathed from the attack at Lala Baba in the afternoon of 21 August, the serious nature of Bridges’ wounds being summarised in the following report: ‘At Suvla Bay on 21 August 1915, he was wounded by a rifle bullet in the right arm .. At 2 a.m. on 22 August aboard a hospital ship, under anaesthetic, a tube was put in the wound. He was transferred straight to England, arriving on 9 September 1915, and was in the Royal Free Hospital .. during which time he had an anaesthetic for the evacuation of pus .. the limb is flexed at a right angle on a splint and there is great muscular wasting on both upper and forearm.’ Bridges was mentioned in General Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch dated 11 December 1915 (London Gazette 28 January 1916 refers), and was awarded the D.S.O. In May 1917, while serving as Commandant of the 5th Army School of Musketry at Warloy, Bridges was badly concussed when his horse bolted into some barbed wire entanglements - he was unable to pull the horse up on account of his disabled arm - and was admitted to hospital back in England. However, following a short spell of light duty on being discharged, he was found to be unfit for further military service in February 1918, ‘owing to wounds and disabilities contracted on service’, and was placed on the Reserve of Officers as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the same month.

An exceptional Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain F. P. H. Synge, Irish Guards, killed in action on 29 July 1917 Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut., I. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); together with Memorial Plaque (Francis Patrick Hamilton Synge); and a contemporary official typed account of the action for which the M.C. was awarded, this rubber stamped ‘Irish Guards Record Office, Buckingham Gate, 29 Sept. 1917’, extremely fine (5) £2600-3000 M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1916. The following is taken from the official typed account included with the lot: ‘Before dawn on 21st October 1915, our bombing attack had been driven back to our own barricade by the Germans, and the officer in charge (2nd Lieutenant Tallents) at our barricade was wounded. Lieutenant (then 2nd Lieutenant) Synge was sent up to relieve him and he arrived in time to assist 2nd Lieutenant Tallents in organising a counter attack. When the attack went forward he followed it, in the face of heavy bomb and rifle fire and he showed exceptional gallantry, devotion to duty, and power of command in consolidating the ground gained by building up a new barricade and clearing the intervening trench of wounded and debris while the bombing match continued a few yards further on. This officer was slightly wounded in the head early in the action, but never relaxed his efforts until his task was accomplished.’ Captain Francis Patrick Hamilton Synge was born in February 1889, the son of A. H. Synge, of Weybridge and Glanmore Castle, County Wicklow. He was educated at Winchester College and obtained a commission into the Irish Guards in August 1915. During the Great War he was wounded on two occasions, receiving a bullet through the ear on 21 October 1915, and subsequently on 9 July 1916 being wounded in the hand, chest and arm. Captain Synge was killed in action in France/Flanders on 29 July 1917, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards. He was buried at Bleuet Farm Cemetery, Elverdinghe, Belgium. An obituary and fine portrait photograph appear in the published Roll of Honour for Winchester College. Sold with copied research.

An outstanding Great War D.C.M. awarded to Able Seaman W. F. E. Northern, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, for ‘most conspicuous gallantry’ at Niergnies in October 1918, the very last action of the Royal Naval Division, when he single-handedly knocked out a tank with his Lewis gun Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (R-639 A.B. W. F. E. Northern, Hood Bn: R.N.V.R.); British War and Victory Medals (R 639 W. F. E. Northern, Act. L.S. R.N.V.R.) extremely fine (3) £2000-2500 D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919; Citation 10 January 1920: ‘For most conspicuous gallantry at Niergnies, on October 8th, 1918. When all the rest of the crew of his Lewis gun had become casualties he carried on alone, and kept his gun in action. After the enemy counter-attacked with tanks and forced back our line, he rushed forward alone with his gun and got it into action against an enemy tank. When the tank had been knocked out he advanced his gun and fired on the advancing enemy waves, dispersing them.’ Before the main body of the Third Army could advance, their flank, menaced by the enemy concentration at Cambrai, had to be secured. During the first days of October 1918, the operations had flagged and finally, on October 5th, the 17th Corps was informed that the immediate capture of Niergnies and its defences was of vital importance, and must be achieved. The Naval Division was about to entrain for the St Pol area but Sir Charles Fergusson applied for the temporary return of the Division to undertake the operation. No secret was made of the reason for the decision, and the battalions were promised relief the day Niergnies was captured. At 4.30 on the 8th October the advance began and, by 6 am the first objective had been carried. At 9.30 am the enemy counter-attacked in force, seven captured British tanks emerged from a sunken road and advanced against our line. One tank was dealt with by a captured anti-tank rifle by Commander Buckle, of the Anson Battalion, while another was dealt with by Commander Pollock, of the Hood Battalion, using a captured German gun. Two were dealt with by fire from our own guns [one of these by Able Seaman Northern] and another was knocked out by the artillery using a captured German gun reversed. Two tanks only escaped towards Wambaix. After hard fighting all morning Niergnies was finally captured and the way was now open for the advance of the Third Army, and next morning the whole line south of Cambrai moved forward. This was the very last action of the Royal Naval Division. Casualties totalled 613 officers and men from the Hood, Hawke, Drake and Anson Battalions. William Frederick Edward Northern was born on 17 November 1898, at Burton Latimer, Northants. He was enployed in the boot trade prior to joining up in January 1917. He joined the Hood Battalion in France on 8 April 1918, and was demobbed in April 1919.

A rare and most unusual Great War Southern Russia operations M.M. group of eight awarded to Flight Sergeant B. Tatton, Auxiliary Air Force, late Royal Warwickshire Regiment Military Medal, G.V.R. (1918 Pte. B. Tatton, 9/R. War. R.); 1914 Star, with clasp (1918 Pte., R. War. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1918 A. Cpl., R. War. R.); Defence and War Medals; Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Bertie Tatton, M.M.); Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (805154 Cpl., A.A.F.), the third with loose replacement riband bar and all the Great War period awards with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus good fine, the remainder good very fine (8) £800-1000 M.M. London Gazette 29 March 1919. Bertie Tatton, a native of Birmingham, first entered the French theatre of war on 4 October 1914, most probably as a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshires. Sometime thereafter transferring to the 9th Battalion, which unit arrived in Mesopotamia in February 1916, but moved to South Persia in July 1918 and to South Russia that August, he was awarded his M.M for the fighting at Baku as a member of ‘Dunsterforce ‘in the following month - Baku being the oil-rich key to control of the Caspian Sea. Formal notification of his award was received ‘In the Field ‘at Krasnovodsk on 21 October 1918 (Battalion war diary refers), the same source also listing M.M. London Gazette 29 March 1919. Bertie Tatton, a native of Birmingham, first entered the French theatre of war on 4 October 1914, most probably as a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshires. Sometime thereafter transferring to the 9th Battalion, which unit arrived in Mesopotamia in February 1916, but moved to South Persia in July 1918 and to South Russia that August, he was awarded his M.M for the fighting at Baku as a member of ‘Dunsterforce ‘in the following month - Baku being the oil-rich key to control of the Caspian Sea. Formal notification of his award was received ‘In the Field ‘at Krasnovodsk on 21 October 1918 (Battalion war diary refers), the same source also listing four other M.Ms and a brace of M.Cs for the same operations, the citations for the latter being in respect of a hotly contested action at Baku on 14 September 1918. Of this action - and there can be no doubt it was the same engagement that resulted in Tatton being decorated - the war diary states: ‘Saturday 14th: 4 a.m. - very heavy rifle fire and machine-gun fire on the left of the line which increased in intensity up to dawn. Enemy had attacked and by 8 a.m. it was reported that they had broken through Wolf’s Gap and 2,000 were advancing on Baku. Enemy demonstrated on the left of our front from Binagady Oil Stacks at dawn. Captain E. J. N. Bushill’s detachment moved to Brigade about 9 a.m. to protect our rear as the left of the line appeared to be badly broken. 11.15 a.m. - message from Russian H.Q. saying that three ship loads of Bicherakoff’s troops had arrived and were proceeding straight into action - this as it turned out was entirely false. 1 p.m. - Worcesters finding the enemy operating at their rear were compelled to withdraw from Baladgari and the railway embankment to high ground in rear, leaving our left exposed. The enemy then attacked our left, and ‘A’ Company withdrew to high ground in line with the Worcesters with enemy holding the railway embankment. ‘D’ Company fell back to the top of the cliffs. Orders from Brigade, who had fallen back one mile along the Baku Dygya road, to withdraw. Battalion H.Q. established in rear house on outskirts of town, about 300 yards behind lines about 3.30 p.m. 5 p.m. - received orders that British would withdraw to the town at dusk and evacuate. 8.45 p.m. - Brigade, 8th Battery R.F.A. and several Dunsterforce officers marched into the town prepared for street fighting and proceeded to Arsenal Square for embarkation on three ships already prepared. Embarked immediately. Ford cars, armoured cars and aeroplanes were all destroyed or thrown into the sea. Our boat sailed about midnight with all Lewis guns mounted on the bridge deck. No shots were fired at us. Practically all kits had to be left behind.’ The Battalion sustained casualties of four officers and 12 other ranks wounded, three missing and two killed. Tatton was awarded his Air Efficiency Award in 1943 (Air Ministry Orders N. 1176-N. 1198 of that year refer), and his Imperial Service Medal for subsequent services as a Warehouseman in the Supplies Department of G.P.O., Birmingham (London Gazette 18 December 1951 refers).

A 1940 Battle of France M.M. group of three awarded to Guardsman Reginald Abson, Coldstream Guards Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2655363 Gdsmn. R. Abson, C. Gds.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (3) £1200-1500 Ex Seabrook Collection, D.N.W. 28 March 2002. M.M. London Gazette 22 October 1940. The recommendation states: ‘During the period 21/22 May, 1940, at Pecq on the Scheldt, Gdmn. Abson was in charge of his company’s stretcher bearers. The posts were in a very exposed position. He repeatedly went across the open to attend to the wounded under heavy rifle fire. Guardsman Abson showed no regard for his personal safety and was a fine example to all ranks.’ Reginald Abson was born at Doncaster on 6 May 1911, and enlisted into the Coldstream Guards at Sheffield on 18 January 1932. He served with the B.E.F. in France from 19 September 1939 until 4 June 1940, when he was evacuated from Dunkirk. He was discharged for medical reasons on 11 December 1941, then being described as ‘An excellent soldier and a good fighter. A very steady and reliable man.’.

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Lieut. H. D. Baillie, 2nd Bn. Rifle Bde.) edge bruising, very fine £450-550 Henry David Baillie was gazetted an Ensign in the 2nd battalion Rifle Brigade on 27 December 1854 and was advanced to Lieutenant in March 1855. With the battalion he served at the siege of Sebastopol. In the supression of the Indian Mutiny he served at the battle of Cawnpore, siege and capture of Lucknow and the battle of Nawabgunge. Lieutenant Baille died on 27 November 1858 whilst on passage home from India, aboard the Alnwick Castle. Sold with copied research.

Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (1824 Pte. J. White, 2 Bn. Rifle Bde. 1873-4) edge bruise, very fine £300-350 Sold with copied roll extracts.

A rare Matabeleland 1893 casualty’s British South Africa Company’s Medal awarded to Trooper W. A. Cary, Salisbury Horse, who died of wounds received in action at Imbembezi British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893, no clasp (Troopr. W. A. Cary, Salisbury Horse), edge bruise, nearly extremely fine £1000-1200 William Arthur Cary was born in 1872, the fourth son of Colonel Francis Cary, and accompanied his father to South Africa in 1888, when the latter commanded the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. Completing his education at the Diocesan College, Rondebosch, Capetown, where he gained a reputation for being an excellent shot - as a Sergeant-Major in the School Corps he won a challenge cup for rifle shooting with the highest score ever made at that time - young William enlisted in the British South Africa Police on the same day as his brother, Trooper C. W. Cary, in May 1891. Still a member of the Company’s Police after it had been re-titled the Mashonaland Mounted Police in the following year, he volunteered to serve in the Matabele War in 1893, when he was appointed a Trooper in Captain Heany’s Troop in the Salisbury Horse. Cary was dangerously wounded in the engagement at Imbembezi on 1 November 1893, being shot through the head and never regaining consciousness - he died about five miles from Thabas Induna on the 3rd, and was buried that morning alongside Trooper Julius Siebert who had been similarly wounded in the same action. His Commanding Officer wrote: ‘He was a general favourite, an adept at all field sports, and a clever lad all round; and his death is sincerely regretted by his comrades. He was generally anxious - being a wonderfully good shot - to make good shooting at Imbembezi, and it was in eagerly exposing himself with that object that he was hit in the head with a Martini bullet.’.

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (3437 Pte. A. Waldron, 3d Bn. Rif. Bde.) very fine £80-100 Harvey Waldron was born in Notting Hill, London. A Baker by occupation and a member of the 3rd Middlesex Regiment, he attested for service with the Rifle Brigade on 12 October 1894, aged 18 years. With the 3rd Battalion, he served in India, November 1896-December 1902. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in January 1904 and discharged on completion of his period of service on 11 November 1906. Sold with copied service papers.

India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (673 Cpl. C. R. Gilham, 1st Bn. Gord. Highrs.) first and second clasps wired together, good very fine £350-400 Charles Robert Gilham was born at Allahabad, East Indies, and attested for the Gordon Highlanders on 4 November 1882. He served in the Chitral Relief Expedition of 1895, and in the Tirah Expedition of 1897-98. He served in South Africa from November 1899 and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette 27 September 1901). A musician by trade, he was discharged in the rank of Sergeant at Pretoria on 23 July 1902, with the intention of remaining with Head Quarters, Rand Rifle Volunteers at Johannesburg. Sold with copy discharge papers.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (6102 Pte. J. Logan, Rifle Brigade) replacement suspension rod, some edge bruising and contact marks; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (10266 L. Corpl. G. Bramley, 1/Durham L. Infy.) edge bruise; Volunteer Force Long Service, V.R., unnamed, very fine and better (3) £90-120.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6764 Pte. G. Bayliss, Rifle Brigade) last clasp loose, minor edge bruise, good very fine £80-100 Sold with copied roll extracts.

1914-15 Star (2) (1870 Pte. E. H. Evans, R.A.M.C.; 1185 Pte. W. H. Thompson, 3/Bn. A.I.F.); British War Medal 1914-20 (4) (201496 Pte. J. F. Finlay, H.L.I.; 111415 Pnr. J. McGuire, R.E.; 168411 Spr. M. Lawless, R.E.; 25/172 Rflm. J. C. Fleury, N.Z.E.F.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (5) (5524 Pte. J. O’Dwyer, R. Ir. Regt.; 6015 Pte. A. S. Conway, 2-Lond. R.; 124341 Pte. L. Atkin, M.G.C.; T4-2606 Pte. H. Clarke, A.S.C.; S-16120 Pte. D. Dalton, A.S.C.) very fine and better (11) £120-160 1185 Private William Henry Thompson, 3rd Battalion A.I.F., was killed in action in Gallipoli sometime between 7-12 August 1915. He was buried in the Lone Pine Cemetery. 25/1722 Rifleman John Charles Fleury, 4th Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on 3 October 1916. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Caterpillar Valley Memorial, Longueval, near Bapaume, France. He was the son of the Rev. L. R. Fleury of 41 Leinster Gardens, Bayswater, London. .

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. T. H. Brook-Ascough) good very fine £30-50 Thomas H. Brook-Ascough qualified for a single British War Medal 1914-20 for his services in the 18th Battalion, Rifle Brigade in India, in which theatre he arrived in January 1916 (his MIC entry refers).

Four: Warrant Officer Class 1 V. J. McKibbin, Canterbury Mounted Rifles 1914-15 Star (7/84 S.S/M., N.Z.E.F.); British War and Victory Medals (7/84 W.O.1, N.Z.E.F.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (7-84 Sq. S. Mjr., Canterbury Mtd. Rif.) mounted court style as worn, very fine and better (4) £240-280 M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1918. ‘.. in recognition of Valuable Services Rendered with the Forces in Egypt’. 336 ‘Immediate’ M.S.M’s. were awarded to the New Zealand Forces in the Great War (4 to the Army for Gallantry, 4 to the New Zealand Navy Auxiliary Service for Minesweeping, and 328 to the Army for Meritorious Service. Victor James McKibbin was born at Pleasant Point, South Canterbury on 24 May 1893 to William McKibbin and Margaret nee Morgan, early farming settlers. A Commercial Traveller by occupation and a member of the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifle Regiment, he attested to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Timaru on 14 August 1914, aged 23 years, 3 months. He sailed from Lyttelton, Christchurch with the battalion on 23 September 1914 for Wellington to be joined by the other battalions with their transports. The fleet departed on 16 October 1914 with McKibbin aboard Transport No. 11 (Athenic) and disembarked at Alexandria on 3 December 1914. He was made Sergeant on 14 August 1914, Staff Sergeant on 1 January 1916, Squadron Sergeant-Major 8 April 1916, and Warrant Officer 30 April 1918. He embarked for New Zealand at Suez on the Devon on 5 April 1919. During his service in Egypt he was admitted to hospital on 7 August 1916 for 10 days at Alexandria sick with ‘jaundice’. During this period he met his future wife, Margaret Elsie Louise Dodd, who was a volunteer nurse, and married her in Cairo. He was discharged on 2 July 1919 after 4 years and 231 days of service. In 1942 he was Managing Director of a motor business and living at 56 Dyers Pass Road, Cashmere, Christchurch, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Home Guard (Christchurch East Battalion). He was promoted to Lieutenant from 1 August 1943 and was posted to the Reserve of Officers with effect from 1 January 1944. Victor James McKibbin died at the above address on 4 June 1962, aged 69 years. At the time of his death he was Managing Director of South Island Motors Ltd and Treasurer of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club, and was a member of the Metropolitan and New Brighton Trotting Clubs. Included are about 30 pages of copies of his attestation to the N.Z.E.F., military history sheets, casualty form, certificate of discharge, appointment to commission in the Home Guard, notification of promotions in the Home Guard, page from the nominal roll of N.Z.E.F. 1914, notification of his M.S.M. in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 3 June 1918, and certified copy of entry of death, and obituary from the Christchurch Star, 5th June 1962.

Three: Warrant Officer 1st Class Henry Fretwell, New Zealand Permanent Staff New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal (S.S.M. W.O.1), N.Z.P.S.); Permanent Forces of the Empire L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (S.S.M. (W.O.1), N.Z.P.S.); New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., Field Marshal’s bust (W.O.1, N.Z.P.S.) first with edge bruise, very fine (3) £800-1000 Approximately 159 Permanent Forces of the Empire Long Service Medals were issued to New Zealand recipients during the reign of George V. Approximately 145 G.V.R. ‘Field Marshal’s bust’ M.S.M's. were issued with the ‘New Zealand’ reverse. Henry Fretwell was born on 29 April 1880 near the town of Mataura, south of Gore in Southland Province. He was educated at the Gore and Orepuki Public Schools. On leaving school he first worked for John Stocker, a blacksmith, and William Forbes, a gold miner, both at Orepuki. He then joined the New Zealand Railways before taking up gold mining with a partner, selling his share and joining the Canadian Flat Gold Mining Company from October 1900 to mid-1901. He applied to the No. 2 Service Company, Permanent Militia on 16 May 1901 and when this was turned down he joined the Orepuki Rifle Volunteers and continued gold prospecting. He enlisted as a probationer in the Royal New Zealand Engineers during February 1905 and was attested at the Permanent Force Depot, Buckle Street, Wellington on 11 February 1905. He was transferred to the Shelley Bay Section of the R.N.Z.E. and was promoted to 2nd Class Sapper on 11 August 1906. On 15 October 1907, on the reorganisation of the Permanent Force, he was transferred to the Electric Light Section of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and became a Gunner. He was next posted to the Electric Light Section, R.N.Z.A. at Dunedin on 21 July 1909, and was transferred there to the Artillery Section on 1 August 1911. On 1 May 1912 he was appointed to the New Zealand Permanent Staff and posted to the Otago Military District as Sergeant Instructor, the appointment being confirmed on 2 December 1912, and remained there until 18 May 1916, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, before being posted to Trentham Camp as Musketry Instructor to recruits being trained for overseas service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He applied for overseas service but was refused as his skills were required for training in New Zealand. In January 1918 he was transferred to the NZEF and attached to 'A' Company of the 47th Reinforcements. He was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class on 1 May 1918 and discharged from the N.Z.E.F. on 5 December 1918 without overseas service. He was next posted to Christchurch as an Instructor, later becoming the Sub-Area Sergeant Major and then, on 1 June 1920, he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 1. In 1924 his instructional duties took him to Burnham Camp where he was involved with training senior cadets. He next passed a Vickers Machine Gun course at Trentham Camp. Henry Fretwell was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, the Canterbury Regiment on 28 April 1928 until being discharged at the height of the Depression in March 1931, managing to find employment as Club Manager of the Canterbury Branch of the Automobile Association. He was recalled for service on 26 September 1939, attested at Burnham Camp for services in the New Zealand Temporary Staff and later the Permanent Staff (Temporary). Later he was appointed a Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, the Canterbury Regiment in February 1941. He retired at his own request on 24 June 1943, suffering from chronic lymphatic leukaemia, and died in Christchurch on 7 February 1948 at the age of 67 years. Fretwell’s New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal was approved on 15 September 1922 and presented to him at Christchurch on 11 October 1922. His Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was approved on 28 March 1923, which he also received while at Christchurch on 5 April 1923. His New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal was approved on 5 March 1926 which he received, again, at Christchurch on 15 March 1926. In addition to the these three he was also entitled to the War and New Zealand War Service Medals 1939-45.

Volunteer Officers’ Decoration, V.R. cypher, reverse inscribed, ‘Leonard Boor, Hony. Surgeon, Nelson City Rifle Vols.’, hallmarks for London 1894, complete with brooch bar, extremely fine £180-220 Captain G.T. Stagg, R.N.Z.A. in The Long Service Medals Awarded in the New Zealand Army 1887-1957 records that 54 Volunteer Officers’ Decorations were awarded in New Zealand, of which 45 were Victoria issues. J.M.A. Tamplin in The Volunteer Officers’ Decoration records 51 recipients traced, including that to Boor. Note: All New Zealand awards bore the cypher ‘V.R’ and not the expected ‘V.R.I.’ as issued to officers outside the United Kingdom. Leonard Boor gained the Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries, London, 1851 and became a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England, 1852. In the New Zealand Army List of 1866 he is recorded as Surgeon of the Wellington Militia (2nd Hutt Battalion) from August 1863. He was later resident at Nelson where he was Public Vaccinator. He was awarded the V.D. on 22 November 1894 as ‘Brigade Surgeon L. Boor, General Medical List N.Z. Vols., and Hon. Surgeon Nelson City Rifle Vols.’ With some copied research.

Pair: Private John Keller, Kumara Rifle Volunteers Volunteer Force Long Service, V.R. (22 Pte., Kumara R. Vols) modern engraved naming; Shooting Medal, obverse: rifleman knelt shooting rifle, reverse: inscribed, ‘Won by No. 22 Private John Keller, Kumara Rifle Volrs., Best Shot Westland District 1893, 91 Points’, with ornate silver brooch bar, nearly extremely fine Legion of Frontiersmen Medal for Long Service and Efficiency, silver, re-engraved on reverse, ‘F/Mn. G. H. Whyte’, on ‘New Zealand’ L.S. & G.C. ribbon, some scratches on reverse, good very fine (3) £80-120 The Volunteer Force Long Service Medal to Keller is an incorrect ‘Victoria Regina’ issue and is named in a modern machine-engraved style to accompany his original shooting award. No. 22 Bandsman John Keller, Kumara Rifle Volunteers, was awarded the New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal in 1896.

Efficiency Medal (4), G.VI.R., 1st issue, Militia (1477347 Gnr. W. Rodgers, R.A.); another, G.VI.R., 1st issue, India (Sergt. J. Mennie, Ben. Arty. A.F.I.) correction to surname; another, G.VI.R., 1st bilingual issue, Union of South Africa (Cpl. J. C. Heyneke, S.A.E.C.); another, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (549947 Gnr. J. A. Ayres, R.A.) last with contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4) £100-140 John Christoffer Heyneke was born in Johnnesburg on 17 April 1915. A Miner by occupation and a member of the 1st Transvaal Scottish, he volunteered for service with the Union Defence Force on 9 April 1940. In February 1941 when serving with the S.A.E.C. in Nairobi, he accidently shot himself in the left forearm whilst cleaning his rifle. He later served in the Middle East. In addition to the above medal he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star and War and Africa Service Medals. Sold with copied service papers. .

New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal, 2nd type (Major A. S. Brewis, N.Z.M.C. (1918)) minor edge bruising, nearly extremely fine £100-140 O.B.E. London Gazette 31 December 1918. Doctor Andrew Seymour Brewis was born on 6 October 1865 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England and was educated at Durham University and St. Thomas' Hospital, London and took his degrees in 1886 and 1889. He served for three years in the 1st Newcastle Rifles and 3rd Volunteer Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers from 1878 to 1881. Arriving in New Zealand in 1891, he established his practice in Waikato in the following year. He was appointed a Lieutenant in the New Zealand Medical Corps (Territorial Force) on 11 May 1905, promoted to Captain in June 1905, and to Major in December 1915. First serving with the 4th (Waikato) Mounted Rifles, he was transferred from No.1 Company Waikato Mounted Rifles Volunteers to No. 2 Battalion Auckland Mounted Rifle Volunteers in June 1905. He was posted to command No. 5 Mounted Field Ambulance in May 1912. He attested to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Trentham on 27 November 1915 and embarked for service overseas on the Maunganui (H.M.T.S. No. 37) on 8 January 1916 with the 9th Reinforcements for Egypt, and was attached to New Zealand General Hospital at Cairo before being posted to No. 3 N.Z. Field Ambulance at Moascar. In April 1916 he embarked at Alexandria for France on H.T. Minnewaska. There in June he was temporarily attached to No. 1 N.Z. Field Ambulance in France, from which he was detached in July to London for duty and posted to the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch, and then to the Reserve Group (Otago-Canterbury Regiment), Sling Camp (Salisbury Plain). In January 1918 he was transferred from Sling and detailed to Command No. 2 N.Z. General Hospital at Walton-on-Thames. In March he was posted to the N.Z. Rifle Brigade Reserve Depot at Brocton, from where, in July, he was admitted to the N.Z. Convalescent Home at Brighton. Found to be unfit for general service in the near future, he was then evacuated to New Zealand. Soon after his return he was appointed to be Commandant, Queen Mary's Hospital, Hanmer effective 29 January 1919. 3/2001 Major A.S. Brewis was struck off the strength of the N.Z.E.F. from 12 August 1919 and was transferred to the Reserve of Officers with effect from 10 May 1921. He was posted to the Retired List effective 25 November 1925 with permission to retain his rank and wear his prescribed uniform. For his wartime services he was awarded the O.B.E., British War and Victory Medals. Sold with a copied service papers, General Orders, and New Zealand Gazette Notices (over 120 pages).

A FINE AND RARE .700 CALIBRE TURKISH MIQUELET-LOCK RIFLE OF EXCEPTIONAL SIZE, FIRST HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY with very heavy slightly swamped octagonal barrel rifled with seven grooves and retained by a single slender brass band, the muzzle fitted with blade fore-sight and decorated with a broad panel of gold-encrusted foliage and flowerheads within a ropework frame, the breech with a further panel of gold-encrusted foliage and differing flowerheads including a stylised vase in the centre, large arch-shaped back-sight pierced with eleven apertures and encrusted with gold over its entire surface en suite with the breech, the tang overlaid with a brass panel engraved with foliage, steel lock of characteristic form encrusted with gold foliage and beadwork on the lock-plate, cock, bridle and steel, steel button trigger, figured walnut full stock applied with brass plaques pierced with foliage beneath the muzzle, breech and opposite the lock, faceted butt applied with further plaquettes divided by a solid band of fluted brass in the centre and at the base (small losses, the butt-cap missing), bone fore-end cap, and remaining in fine condition throughout (later ramrod) 104.2cm; 41in barrel Provenance Jacques Arlaud, St Ouen, 1958 Exhibited Splendeurs de l'Art Turc, no. 75

A .600 CALIBRE TURKISH MIQUELET-LOCK RIFLE, DATED ???? CIRCA 1814/15 with octagonal sighted twist barrel rifled with nine grooves, retained by five slender and four shaped engraved silver bands, chiselled with a shaped panel encrusted with gold flowers and foliage at the muzzle and breech (light wear), the former fitted with standing back-sight pierced with four apertures, steel tang decorated en suite, steel lock of characteristic form encrusted with gold flowers including the date on the underside of the mainspring (light wear), highly figured burrwood full stock, inlaid over the fore-end and around the lock with brass rondels enriched with minute brass nails, shaped butt formed of contrasting panels of green-stained horn, bone and dark hardwood, inlaid with rondels and nails en suite with the fore-end (minor repairs), green-stained barrel bolt escutcheons, trigger-plate and fore-end cap (small chip), and original steel ramrod 72.5cm; 28 1/2in barrel

A BELGIAN PERCUSSION MILITARY RIFLE FOR THE RUSSIAN MARKET BY P.J. MALHERBE A LIEGE, CIRCA 1825-40 with rebrowned barrel fitted adjustable back-sight and with later bayonet bar on the right of the muzzle, signed border-engraved back-action lock, figured walnut full stock of regulation type, regulation brass mounts including escutcheon engraved with the crowned Imperial cypher of Nicholas I, butt-plate with the Imperial double eagle and 'no. 903' on the tang, folding patchbox-cover, a pair of steel sling swivels, and with a steel ramrod, perhaps the original 76.5cm; 30 1/8in barrel

A BRASS HILTED SWORD BAYONET, AND FOURTEEN FURTHER BAYONETS, 19th AND 20th CENTURIES the first for a German Rifled carbine with bayonet bar, 18in spear pointed blade, lacking spring to the hilt; along with two Chassepot bayonets; five German WW I bayonets two with scabbards; a bayonet for a Comblain rifle with 20in blade; a Chassepot bayonet with scabbard, and the Chassepot with saw back blade; two Gras bayonets; two Continental bayonets with double edged blade (15)

A GROUP OF GUN ACCESSORIES comprising a cap dispenser made by Ken Steggles; a small powder flask for a pistol; a powder flask by Dixon with beaded design; a large French pistol flask of pineapple form; a shot dispenser nozzle; a Continental multi tool put in a horn body; a large bore powder dispenser; a barrel wrench for a percussion pocket pistol; a Popes patent pinfire cartridge extractor; part of a rifle backsight by Parker; two military sling swivels; a lions head boss; a ramrod for a rimfire pistol; a steel spring; a breech inspectors tool, a gun screwdriver by Hawkesley with horn handle; a tin of Kynoch percussion caps, and part of a powder flask body (19)