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Lot 38
λ DAME LAURA KNIGHT (BRITISH 1877-1970) TWO ROMANY LASSES ON ASCOT HEATH Oil on canvas Signed (lower left) 63.5 x 76.2cm (25 x 30 in.)Provenance: Ian MacNicol, Glasgow John E. Milne Esq., Private Collection, Glasgow, acquired from the above in 1966 John Martin of London, Modern Art from Britain & Ireland, London The Collection of the Bowerman Charitable Trust, acquired from the above in 2001Exhibited: Penzance, Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Laura Knight: In the Open Air,16 June 2012 - 8 September 2012, touring exhibition to Nottingham, Djanogly Art Gallery, 22 September - 4 November 2012; Worcester, Worcester Art Gallery, 17 November 2012 - 10 February 2013 Penzance, Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Laura Knight: A Celebration, 17 May - 16 September 2021 We are grateful to R. John Croft F.C.A. for his assistance in cataloguing this lot which will be included in the Laura Knight Catalogue Raisonne currently being prepared. Gypsy and traveller communities have long cherished the tradition of gathering at racing events, particularly at Ascot and Epsom, as horses have always held significant importance within the traveller community. These occasions, following months of travel, offered a chance for communities to meet and celebrate. The races provided a vibrant backdrop for socialising and an opportunity to display their finest clothes and jewellery. It became tradition to sell flowers and lucky heather to fellow attendees, a tradition that continues to this day. During the 1930s, Laura Knight regularly attended the races at Epsom Downs and Ascot, initially recommended by her friend Sir Alfred Munnings. Her connection with Ally Bert, wife of a circus performer, led to an introduction to Mr. Sully, who owned a garage. Mr. Sully kindly agreed to chauffeur Knight and her companions in his Rolls Royce, which, with its high roof, accommodated Knight's easel and canvas comfortably. Knight would record from life scenes from these meets, capturing the festivities, characters and everyday life providing a unique insight into these historic meets. 'This Royal meeting was a special occasion for the gipsies [sic.]; they came in their bright satin gala dresses, hair elaborately arranged with curls soaped to their cheeks, their sharp black eyes alert for police as they made a round of parked cars which had passengers standing on top. Out came a crystal from a hidden pocket, and a wheedling voice offered to tell fortunes - forbidden by law. They never bothered Laura at her easel in the Rolls; she was a source of money in another way, for now she asked gipsies [sic.] of different ages to pose for her, and paid them. More important still, they knew that she liked and admired Romany folk' (J. Dunbar, Laura Knight, 1975, p. 143) Laura Knight beautifully captures the essence of Romany life through her paintings. Following on from the races, Knight was welcomed into the travelling community, spending time painting direct from life in Iver. She engaged intimately with the community which lends her work a remarkable authenticity and realism that is both honest and romantic. In the present lot, the Ascot racecourse is depicted in the distance, with the Queen Anne Enclosure visible in the upper right corner. The lawn is scattered with groups of people at leisure, relaxing and resting under the trees. Central to the composition are two female figures: one seated and the other lying with her head resting in the lap of the seated figure. The seated figure wears a striking red cape with primary blue sleeves and a yellow tartan skirt, her auburn curls flowing over her shoulders. The figure lying down has jet black hair with a curl resting on her forehead. Her arms are delicately placed on her friend's knee, her right arm gently entwined with her companion's. The soft pastel shades of her patterned dress create a serene and beautiful contrast. Condition Report: The canvas is not relined. Ultraviolet light reveals some scattered spots of retouching to the tip of the upper left corner, along the edges and to the sky as well as a couple of further small spots. Otherwise, the work is in good condition.Condition Report Disclaimer
Lot 529
A C.M.G. mounted group of four miniature dress medals representative of those worn by Brigadier-General C. W. Clark, Royal Garrison Artillery The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s badge, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves, mounted as worn on a Spink, Piccadilly wearing pin, extremely fine A C.B.E mounted group of four miniature dress medals representative of those worn by Colonel C. E. T. Rolland, Royal Artillery The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type, breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, mounted as worn on a Spink, Piccadilly wearing pin and housed in a contemporary Spink & Son Ltd., fitted case, extremely fine A D.S.O. mounted group of three miniature dress medals representative of those worn by Major G. R. de la C. Corbett, Royal garrison Artillery Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., gold (18ct) and enamel, with integral top riband bar; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine An M.C. mounted group of five miniature dress medals representative of those worn by the Reverend W. Drury, Army Chaplains’ Department Military Cross, G.V.R.; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902; 1914 Star and clasp; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves, mounted on modern ribands, nearly extremely fine (16) £180-£220 --- C. W. Clark was born in Oxton, Birkenhead, and was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1885 and served in India, Malta and Gibraltar, before being appointed Private Secretary and Aide de Camp to the Governor of Trinidad in 1893. Advanced Lieutenant-Colonel in 1913, he served during the Great War on the Western Front from 19 August 1915, and was Brigadier-General, Heavy Artillery, Headquarters, 15/Army Corps. For his services during the Great War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 4 January 1917 and 15 May 1917) and was appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1917. He retired in 1922 and died on 21 November 1944. Charles Edward Tulloch Rolland was born on 28 November 1874 in Madras, India, the son of Colonel Alexander Tulloch Rolland of the Madras Staff Corps. Emulating his father, he was Commissioned on 16 December 1893 and promoted to full Colonel on 3 June 1921. Whilst serving as Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel during the Great War he was seconded to the Research Department on 19 June 1916, and for his services he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (London Gazette 3 June 1919). He was appointed a Member of the Ordnance Committee on retirement on 1 January 1926. Garnet Robert de la Cour Corbett served with the 206th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War, and for his services was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 3 June 1918). The Reverend William Drury was born in Burton on 19 June 1876 and was educated at Christ’s Hospital and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Ordained a Priest at Worcester in 1900, he was employed as Acting Chaplain to the Forces during the Boer War and was appointed Chaplain to the Forces at Woolwich, Singapore, Aldershot and Crownhill. Raised Deputy Chaplain General 1916-18, he was three times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 22 June 1915, 4 January 1917, 15 May 1917) and later served as Chaplain to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, from 1918-23. He died at Binstead Rectory on 24 October 1943. Sold with copied research.
Lot 213
Pair: S. G. Hayward, Mercantile Marine British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (Sidney G. Hayward) good very fine Pair: Pioneer R. Mortimer, Royal Engineers British War and Victory Medals (99593 Pnr. R. Mortimer. R.E.) both in named card boxes of issue, extremely fine Pair: Private G. H. Tyler, Worcestershire Regiment, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 23 September 1917 British War and Victory Medals (40798 Pte. G. H. Tyler. Worc. R.) nearly extremely fine Pair: Corporal R. Heath, Rifle Brigade British War and Victory Medals (S-30952 Cpl. R. Heath. Rif. Brig) nearly extremely fine British War Medal 1914-20 (A.A.1224 E. C. Bennett. P.O. R.N.V.R.) nearly extremely fine (9) £120-£160 --- George Henry Tyler attested forthe Worcestershire Regiment at Worcester, and served with the 10th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. He died of wounds on 23 September 1917, and is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Lot 262
Three: Staff Sergeant K. J. Styles, Parachute Regiment, later Royal Engineers General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24274298 Pte. K. J. Styles Para.) surname partially officially corrected; U.N. Medal, on UNFICYP riband; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (24274298 SSgt K J Styles RE) mounted court-style as worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Kenneth John Styles was born on 17 February 1953 and attested for the Parachute Regiment at Worcester on 2 December 1971. He served with them overseas in Northern Ireland from 29 July to 23 November 1972; in Cyprus from 2 May to 24 June 1973. Transferring to the Royal Engineers on 2 November 1976, his future service included various further tours of Northern Ireland and BOAR. Advanced Staff Sergeant, he was discharged on 9 March 1987, after 15 years and 98 days’ service. Sold with the recipient’s original Regular Army Certificate of Service Red Book.
Lot 67
A collection of boxed ceramic boxes and covers to include: Royal Worcester Millenium and small Candytuft Flower Fairies box (cover detached); House of Ashby box; a loose Spode limited edition Millenium Celebration no 1462 together with further loose boxes including gilt metal, treen, a pair of Cloisonne small posy vases, a boxed Royal Crown Derby Old Imari 1128 dish (1 bag)
Lot 108
Large collection of late 20th century Royal Doulton and Royal Worcester lady and child figurines, including large and small examples. Examples including Lynne HN 2329, Kate Hannigan HN 3088, Ruth HN 2799, Cherie HN 2341 and more. Tallest piece measuring approx. 23.5cm. Makers marks printed to the underside of each piece. One piece AF.
Lot 274
A fine Royal Worcester porcelain figurine titled Caroline from the Les Petites collection. Designed with intricate detailing, this elegant piece depicts a young woman in a flowing gown with soft peach and black accents, complemented by a matching hat. The craftsmanship showcases the delicate hand-painted features and graceful movement characteristic of Royal Worcester's renowned figurines. Marked on the underside with the Royal Worcester backstamp. Includes the original Royal Worcester presentation box.Dimensions: 6.75"HCountry of Origin: EnglandCondition: Age related wear.
Lot 96
This Royal Worcester figurine features a delicately crafted Sparrow, captured in a naturalistic pose. The bird is beautifully painted in soft earthy tones, highlighting fine details in its feathers. Standing 2.5"H, the piece is marked with the Royal Worcester stamp on the underside. A wonderful representation of the brand's expertise in creating lifelike porcelain bird figurines, it will make a lovely addition to any collection.Dimensions: See DescriptionCountry of Origin: EnglandCondition: Age related wear.
Lot 395
The exceptional Great War Tigris Flotilla operations Posthumous V.C. awarded to Lieutenant-Commander C. H. Cowley, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the “Pirate of Basra”: having served on steamships up and down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers pre-hostilities, he mastered Arabic and made many local friends, and was ideally suited to serve as a river-pilot, interpreter and intelligence agent for the British - small wonder then that his Turkish captors murdered him after he was taken prisoner in a suicidal attempt to reinforce the Kut garrison in the Julnar in April 1916 Victoria Cross, the reverse of the suspension bar engraved (Lt. Comdr. C. H. Cowley, R.N.V.R.), the reverse centre of the cross dated ‘24 April 1915’, in its Hancocks & Co case of issue; together with his original Buckingham Palace memorial scroll in the name of ‘Lt. Commander Charles Henry Cowley, V.C., R.N.V.R.’, extremely fine £180,000-£220,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Private sale by Cowley’s descendants to Spink & Son and thence to the R. C. Witte Collection. V.C. London Gazette 2 February 1917 - joint citation with Lieutenant H. O. B. Firman, R.N.: ‘At 8 p.m. on 24 April 1916, with a crew from the Royal Navy under Lieutenant Firman, R.N., assisted by Lieutenant-Commander Cowley, R.N.V.R., the Julnar, carrying 270 tons of supplies left Falahiyah in an attempt to reach Kut. Her departure was covered by all artillery and machine-gun fire that could be brought to bear, in the hope of distracting the enemy’s attention. She was, however, discovered and shelled on her passage up the river. At 1 a.m. on the 25th, General Townshend reported she had not arrived, and that at midnight a burst of heavy firing had been heard at Magasis, some eight and a half miles from Kut by river, which had suddenly ceased. There could be but little doubt that the enterprise had failed, and the next day the Air Service reported the Julnar in the hands of the Turks at Magasis. The leaders of this brave attempt, Lieutenant H. O. B. Firman, R.N., and his assistant - Lieutenant-Commander C. H. Cowley, R.N.V.R. - the latter of whom throughout the campaign in Mesopotamia performed magnificent service in command of the Mejidieh - have been reported by the Turks to have been killed; the remainder of the gallant crew, including five wounded, are prisoners of war. Knowing well the chances against them, all the gallant officers and men who manned the Julnar for the occasion were volunteers. I trust that the services in this connection of Lieutenant H. O. B. Firman, R.N., and Lieutenant-Commander C. H. Cowley, R.N.V.R., his assistant, both of whom were unfortunately killed, may be recognised by the posthumous grant of some suitable honour.’ Charles Henry Cowley was born in Baghdad in February 1872, the eldest son of Henry Victor Cowley, an Irishman who was Senior Captain of the Euphrates and Tigris Steamship Company. His mother was half Armenian, being the daughter of Captain A. C. Holland, a former officer of the Indian Navy who later became a Tigris river boat captain, and Sushan Minas, a refugee from Persia who had fled to Baghdad in the 1830s, following the massacre of her parents. However, under English Law at the time of his birth, Cowley was a British subject - a significant distinction in light of future events. Educated in Liverpool, Cowley joined the training ship Worcester as a Cadet in January 1885 and, in July 1888, he was apprenticed to McDiarmid & Co., with whom he gained his first seagoing experience under sail. Four years later, on the sudden death of his father, he joined his mother at her adopted home in Baghdad, where he followed his grandfather and father into Lynch Bros employ on the waterways of Mesopotamia. A professional to his finger tips, he quickly soaked up the local language and customs, so much so that a fellow employee observed that by the outbreak of hostilities, no man carried greater influence over the Arabs than Cowley. By August 1914, he was the company’s senior captain and in command of the Mejidieh, in which steamer he was ordered from Basra to Baghdad to evacuate all British nationals who wished to leave. His command having then been formally requisitioned by the Royal Navy, he went on to play a critical role in carrying troops back and forth on the Euphrates and Tigris, fine work that also came to the attention of the Turks, who sentenced him to death in absentia at a military court hearing held in Baghdad - and even sent him a message declaring him to be a ‘pirate’. Such accusations appealed to Cowley’s sense of humour and, far from being perturbed, he took to flying the ‘skull and cross-bones’ flag whenever he returned to Basra. Among the more notable operations carried out by the Mejidieh in this period was her part in shelling enemy troops during the capture of Kurnah, when she had embarked two 18-pounder guns and some gunners from the R.G.A. Cowley’s ‘meritorious conduct’ was duly noted by their Lordships and he received a special letter of thanks from the Admiralty. While during the rapid advances made in the spring and summer of 1915, Cowley’s command was a leading participant of “Towshend’s Regatta”, often acting as a floating H.Q. for the General and his staff. Later still, after the tide turned at Ctesiphon, the Mejidieh was the means by which hundreds of wounded men escaped Basra. In August 1915, in an effort to protect Cowley in the event of capture, he was appointed to the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Commander in the “Wavy Navy”, and duly borne on the books of H.M.S. Espiegle for service with river steamers in Mesopotamia. But by this stage his reputation for being an infuriating thorn in the side of Turkish interests was sufficient to prompt an attempt to have him murdered, an assassin with a dagger boarding the Mejidieh one night in November 1915, only to seriously wound Captain Wingate, who was occupying the bed normally used by Cowley. Here, then, admirable evidence to contend that his subsequent decision to join the ill-fated Julnar enterprise was doubly courageous. Of his subsequent V.C.-winning exploits, Stephen Smelling’s history of Great War Naval V.Cs states: ‘Cowley received orders to take Julnar to Amarah on 14 April. The following day a call for volunteers to crew her resulted in every man of the Tigris Flotilla stepping forward. Twelve unmarried men were selected: Leading Seaman William Rowbotham, Engine Room Artificer Alexander Murphy, Leading Stoker Herbert Cooke, Able Seaman Montague Williams, Stoker Charles Thirkill, Stoker Samuel Fox, Able Seaman Herbert Blanchard, Able Seaman John Featherbee, Able Seaman Harold Ledger, Stoker George Foreshaw, Able Seaman Alfred Veale, and Able Seaman William Bond. And on 19 April Wemyss reported Julnar commissioned ‘for special duty’. Like Reed’s rank, the steamer’s new status was to be a brief one, lasting only as long as the mission. Six days were spent in Amarah fitting out. Reed wrote: ‘All cabin woodwork was removed from the inside, and the mast and top-deck stanchions were cut away. The ship was plated with armour 3/8-inch thick round the bridge and over the boiler and engine rooms, bags of atta [flour] being placed between the armour and the ship’s sides to give additional protection against bullets and shell splinters.’ The steamer was then carefully loaded with around 270 tons of food and medical provisions until, in Able Seaman Bond’s description, she resembled a floating &...
Lot 375
The unique Boer War ‘defence of Ladybrand’ D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Colonel F. White, Royal Marine Light Infantry; a taste of his mettle in action first emerged at the battle of El-Teb, when he charged headlong into an enemy redoubt and cut down an assailant with his sword, prior to being rescued by four of his men, one of whom ‘clubbed and brained’ another assailant with the butt of his rifle - all five were duly ‘mentioned’ by Colonel Tuson Small wonder then that Commandant Fourie and his Boer Commando was told where to go on offering White an opportunity to surrender his vastly outnumbered garrison at Ladybrand in September 1900, the resultant defence winning the latter the D.S.O. and the admiration of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, El-Teb_Tamaai, Suakin 1884 (Lieut: F. White. R.M.L.I. H.M.S. “Temeraire”; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen (Major F. White. R.M.L.I.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. Col. F. White. D.S.O. R.M.L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Bt. Col. F. White. D.S.O.); British War and Victory Medals (Bt. Col. F. White.); Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class breast badge, silver gold and enamels; Khedive's Star, dated 1882, mounted for wear, minor chipping and light contact marks, generally very fine or better (9) £8,000-£10,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 1995. Just four D.S.O.s were awarded to the Royal Marines for the Boer War. D.S.O. London Gazette 27 September 1901. Frederick White was born on 14 October 1861, the son of the late Major George White, R.M.L.I., and was himself commissioned in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in February 1879. He subsequently served in the Egyptian Expedition of 1882, taking part in the bombardment of Alexandria, the occupation of the lines of the town, and the occupation of Port Said. White again saw active service in the Sudan in 1884 when he was present at the battles of El-Teb and Tamaai, and the relief of Tokar, for which services he received the Order of Medjidie and was also mentioned in Colonel Tuson’s despatch for El-Teb: ‘Lieutenant White was personally ordered by the Major-General Commanding to charge the left redoubt of the enemy’s position at Teb with his company. He rushed to the front, when two of the enemy sprang on him, one on each side. He cut one man down twice with his sword, when Private Birtwhistle rushed to his assistance and forced his bayonet right through the black, breaking it short off. The black then severely wounded Private Birtwhistle, who clubbed his musket and brained him. The other black was stopped attacking Lieutenant White by Private F. Yerbury, who caught the man by the hair of his head, spinning him round and round so that he could not use his assegai, when Sergeant-Major Hirst rushed to the front and despatched him. Those four were also in a dangerous position in front of the attack at the time, as the fire from the side of the square was still continued on each side of them.’ Advanced to Captain in August 1888 and to Major in September 1896, White served on the Staff of the Royal Marines from June 1896 to February 1899, prior to his D.S.O. winning exploits in the Boer War. During that conflict he acted as a Special Service Officer from February 1900 until April 1902, his assorted appointments including those of Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at the Headquarters in Cape Town, Railway Staff Officer at Sterkstroom, Commandant at Bethulie Bridges, and a District Command under the Military Governor of Orange River Colony. Present in operations in the Orange River Colony, including the action at Wittebergen, he was mentioned in the despatches (London Gazette 19 September 1901, refers). He received the Queen’s Medal with the clasps ‘Cape Colony’ and ‘Wittebergen’, the latter being one of only seven issued to Royal Marine personnel, three of them to officers of which White was the most senior; his King’s Medal with two clasps was one of just 11 awarded to the Royal Marines. But it was for his gallant defence of Ladybrand that he was awarded the D.S.O., an action admiringly described by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in The Great Boer War: ‘On 2 September another commando of Free State Boers under Fourie emerged from the mountain country on the Basuto border and fell upon Ladybrand, which was held by a feeble garrison consisting of one company of the Worcester Regiment and 43 men of the Wiltshire Yeomanry under the overall command of Major F. White. The Boers, who had several guns with them, appear to have been the same force which had been repulsed at Winburg. Major White, a gallant Royal Marine, whose fighting qualities do not seem to have deteriorated with his distance from salt water, had arranged his defences upon a hill, after the Wepener model, and held his own most stoutly. So great was the disparity of the forces employed that for days acute anxiety was felt by the General Staff lest another of those humiliating surrenders should interrupt the record of victories and encourage the Boers to further resistance. The Boer attack was beaten back each time by the constancy of the British defence. The thin line of 150 soldiers, covering a mile and a half of ground, endured a heavy shell and rifle fire with unshaken resolution, repulsed every attempt of the burghers and held the flag flying until relieved three days later by the forces under Generals White and Hamilton.’ Another account of White’ stoic defence of Ladybrand appears in The Times History of the War in South Africa 1900-1902: ‘This little post was held by 80 men of the 1st Worcester Regiment, 43 Wiltshire Yeomanry, and 30 local volunteers, the whole under the command of Major F. White, R.M.L.I. On the evening of September 1st, a patrol came in with a report of the approach of the enemy from Modderpoort, and on the 2nd, at 7.30 a.m., a letter, signed by Commandant Fourie, was sent in asking for the immediate surrender of the garrison. White, having replied that if Fourie wanted the garrison he had better come and take it, posted the whole of his slender force on an intrenched hill to the south-west of the town. Fourie, with 800 men, opened shell and rifle fire, worked up to the post, and surrounded it on all sides. For three days and nights, however, the little garrison held firm. Of the Worcesters, Lieutenants Dorman and Moss and Corporal Kirkham, and of the Yeomanry Lieutenant Henderson and Sergeant-Major Lyford deserve special mention in this very fine defence, which Major White directed with marked resolution and ability. The town was relieved by Bruce Hamilton on the morning of September 5th.’ White was awarded the D.S.O., in addition to being mentioned in Lord Robert’s despatch of 4 September 1901. Advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1903 and awarded the Brevet of Colonel in April 1906, he retired in the rank of Colonel in April 1909. Recalled for service on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he served as a Draft Conducting Officer from 1915-19. The Colonel died at his home at St John’s Park, Blackheath in December 1924. Sold with copied record of service and other research.
Lot 441
The outstanding Baltic 1918-19 operations C.M.G., Great War D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Captain J. A. Moreton, Royal Navy, who had earlier won a ‘mention’ for his leadership of a boarding party in a famous action off the Taku Forts, when cutlass wielding Jack Tars from Whiting and Fame stormed and captured four Chinese destroyers; he was, moreover, among the ‘first 100’ volunteers of the submarine service and commanded Holland class boats in the Edwardian period, Admiral Bacon describing him as ‘by far the best captain of a submarine boat we have had, approaching very closely to the ideal’ The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with full neck cravat in its Garrard & Co case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top ribbon bar; China 1900, 1 clasp, Taku Forts (Lieut. J. A. Moreton, R.N., H.M.S. Whiting.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. J. A. Moreton, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. J. A. Moreton. R.N.) the BWM officially re-impressed; Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold I, Officer’s breast badge with swords and rosette, gold and enamels; France, 3rd Empire, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge with rosette, gold and enamels, a superior quality badge with three dimensional suspension wreath; Croix de Guerre 1914 1917, with Palme, the last eight mounted for display, minor glue deposits to reverse of D.S.O. and minor enamel chips elsewhere, otherwise good very fine (9) £4,000-£5,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. C.M.G. London Gazette 8 March 1920: ‘For valuable services in command of H.M.S. Erebus in the Baltic.’ The original recommendation states: ‘With regard to the Libau operations which lasted from 30 October to 14 November 1918, the S.N.O. in the first phase to whom my orders were sent to prepare for and organise effective support to the Lettish troops should that place be attacked was Captain L. L. Dundas of H.M.S. Phaeton. He performed these duties most efficiently in conjunction with our and the Lettish military authorities. When it was evident that a determined attack was imminent, I detached Dauntless (Captain C. H. Pilcher) and Erebus (Captain J. A. Moreton) from my forces in the Gulf of Finland and sent them down there, Captain Moreton then assuming the duties of S.N.O. there. It was under his directions that the determined attack by the Russo-German Force on 14 November was repulsed. Captain Moreton’s great knowledge of war chiefly gained whilst in command of a monitor on the Belgium coast was demonstrated to the full, both here and in the Gulf of Finland whilst bombarding forts Krasnaya Gorka and Saria Lotchard in support of the left flank to the Russo-Estonian attempt to recapture Petrograd and his guns were used to the very best advantage. He showed also an exceptional confidence and power of command in both operations.’ D.S.O. London Gazette 26 April 1918: ‘In recognition of services performed on the Belgian coast during 1917.’ Belgian Order of Leopold, Officer London Gazette 17 January 1919. French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 24 March 1919. John Alfred Moreton was born in Bushbury, Hertfordshire on 21 May 1876, and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in Britannia in December 1891, direct from the training ship Worcester. Appointed a Midshipman in August 1892 and confirmed in the rank of Sub Lieutenant in May 1896, he joined H.M.S. Centurion on the China station in December 1898, where he transferred to the torpedo boat destroyer Whiting at the time of the Boxer Rebellion. The Whiting, under the command of Lieutenant Colin MacKenzie, R.N., and the Fame, under Lieutenant Roger Keyes, R.N., afterwards Admiral of the Fleet, participated in a spectacular cutting-out operation on 17 June 1900, when both ships were ordered to capture four Chinese destroyers lying between Taku and Tongku. Each ship towed into action a whaler manned by a dozen bluejackets, all of them volunteers, on one of the last occasions boarding parties went into action with the cutlass. And command of the Whiting’s bluejackets fell to Moreton. In his subsequent report to the Rear-Admiral, China Station, dated 27 June 1900, Keyes stated: ‘After a slight resistance and the exchange of a few shots, the crews were driven overboard or below hatches; there were a few killed and wounded; our casualties were nil. No damage was done to the prizes, but the Fame’s bow was slightly bent when we closed to board, and the Whiting was struck by a projectile about 4 or 5 inches abreast a coal bunker. This was evidently fired from a mud battery on the bend between Taku and Tongku, which fired in all about 30 shots at us, none of the others striking, though several coming very close ... There was a good deal of sniping from the dockyard so I directed all cables of the prizes to be slipped and proceeded to tow them up to Tongku.’ Moreton was mentioned in despatches: ‘I beg to recommend to your notice Lieutenant J. A. Moreton of this ship who carried out the operation of boarding the first destroyer in a very able manner.’ He also became one of just 16 Royal Navy officers awarded the ‘Taku Forts’ clasp. On arriving back in the U.K. in September 1901, he volunteered for services in submarines, one of the ‘first 100’ to do so, and he remained similarly employed for the next four years, commanding Holland Boat No. 3 and gaining - in October 1902 - the Admiralty’s approval for the manner in which a number of submarines under his command were navigated from Barrow to Devonport. In the opinion of his senior officer, Captain Reginald Bacon, R.N., he was ‘by far the best captain of a submarine boat we have had, approaching very closely to the ideal. Besides which he is the best officer of Lieutenant’s rank I have ever known.’ In fact, so impressed was Bacon with his protégé that he enlisted his services in his next seagoing command. Moreton was advanced to Commander and, on returning to submarine duties, lent valuable advice to a special committee charged with assessing the capabilities of hostile submarines. In August 1910, he was appointed Executive Officer of the battleship Duncan in the Mediterranean Fleet, but he was serving in the battle cruiser Indomitable on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Subsequently present at the battle of Dogger Bank, he was advanced to Captain in December 1915, the same month in which he took command of the 12-inch monitor General Wolfe. Attached to the Dover Patrol under his old friend Reginald Bacon, General Wolfe was heavily involved in long range bombardments of German positions whilst anchored off the Belgium coast. In his history The Dover Patrol, Bacon refers to the General Wolfe and her sister monitors as having ‘formed the backbone of the Fleet for bombardments during 1915 and for the patrol off Ostend and Zeebrugge during 1916 and part of 1917. They took day and day about in patrolling the coast. Every night one of them anchored in the open off La Panne, 14 miles from Ostend.’ Moreton was awarded the D.S.O., in addition to being appointed an Officer of the Belgium Order of Leopold I and awarded the French Croix de Guerre, and he received the former distinction at a Buckingham Palace investiture in March 1919; no reference has yet been found in respect of...
Lot 551
A group of mixed collectable pottery including a Continental vase held by three cherubs, with blue and white colouring, factory mark to base, height 24cm, two Worcester display plates, one with painted exotic birds within a cobalt blue border and gilt rim, attributed by cataloguer, 28 x 20cm, a Royal Worcester oval dish, with central painted sprigs of flowers within a cobalt and floral decorated gilt border, marked to underside with puce factory stamp, length 29cm, width 18cm, four Worcester porcelain bowls, decorated with a transfer Chinoiserie design, diameter 26cm, two Continental paste bud vases, one with applied girl figure to the side, the other with boy figure, marked with numbers to the base, height 10cm, a large Wedgwood blue jasperware fruit bowl with applied classical decoration, raised on pedestal foot, height 13.5cm, diameter 22cm, an Eleanor Newell of Flaxton Pottery vase, with rustic glaze, applied metal factory stamp to the lower side, height 13.5cm, etc and a seven piece Continental porcelain dressing table set decorated with blue and white Dutch scenes, all in a Rococo moulded manner, height of candlesticks 19cm, length of fan shaped tray 38cm (19). Condition Report: Vase has a possible repair to one of the cherubs, a good repair but now fading. Oval dish has some old cracks which are more visible underneath than on top.
Lot 556
ROYAL WORCESTER; four boxed modern mugs, a Royal Doulton character jug modelled as Buddy Holly, D7100, a miniature Royal Doulton character jug modelled as Sir Stanley Matthews, D1761, a modern Royal Doulton Classics figure 'The Land Girl', HN4361, a Royal Doulton Classics comemmorative plate, three Royal Albert commemorative Queen Elizabeth II teacups, a Royal Albert 'Lily of the Valley' pattern teacup and two mugs from the Lowry Museum (14).
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