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Lot 488
Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (Sgt. J. P. Scott R-63912) suspended from WW2 R.C.A.F. sterling silver and enamel Observer’s brevet wing badge, stamped Birks Sterling, with pin fitting, together with silver-gilt R.C.A.F. Operational wings, stamped Stephenson Sterling, with pin fitting, very fine (2) £200-£300 --- James Philip Scott, Sergeant (Air Observer) R.C.A.F., attached 22 Squadron R.A.F., was killed in action on 6 April 1942. He is buried in Brest (Kerfautras) Cemetery. Sergeant Scott was navigator of Beaufort 1, N1016, OA-X, of 22 Squadron flown by Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell, R.A.F.V.R., in a suicidal but successful low-level torpedo attack on the German battle-cruiser Gneisenau in Brest harbour on 6 April 1941. Having released his ‘fish’, crippling the Gneisenau, Campbell’s Beaufort came under heavy flak and was quickly shot down killing all four airmen. Campbell was subsequently awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, the citation stating: ‘In recognition of most conspicuous bravery. This officer was the pilot of a Beaufort aircraft of Coastal Command which was detailed to attack an enemy battle cruiser in Brest Harbour at first light on the morning of 6th April 1941. The aircraft did not return but it is known that a torpedo attack was carried out with the utmost daring. The battle cruiser was secured alongside the wall on the north shore of the harbour, protected by a stone mole bending around it from the west. On rising ground behind the ship stood protective batteries of guns. Other batteries were clustered thickly round the two arms of land which encircle the outer harbour. In this outer harbour near the mole were moored three heavily-armed anti-aircraft ships, guarding the battle cruiser. Even if an aircraft succeeded in penetrating these formidable defences, it would be almost impossible, after delivering a low-level attack, to avoid crashing into the rising ground beyond. This was well known to Flying Officer Campbell who, despising the heavy odds, went cheerfully and resolutely to the task. He ran the gauntlet of the defences. Coming in at almost sea level, he passed the anti-aircraft ships at less than mast-height in the very mouths of their guns and skimming over the mole launched a torpedo at point-blank range. The battle cruiser was severely damaged below the water-line and was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before. By pressing home his attack at close quarters in the face of withering fire on a course fraught with extreme peril, Flying Officer Campbell displayed valour of the highest order.’ It is virtually certain that Campbell, having released his torpedo, was almost immediately killed or wounded by the first predicted flak. When the aircraft was later salvaged the Germans found the body of ‘Jimmy’ Scott, the fair-haired Canadian, in the pilot’s seat usually occupied by Campbell. All four crew members were buried by the Germans in the grave of honour in Brest cemetery. Sold with copied record of service and other research including several copied news cuttings, one of which erroneously states that Scott was awarded a posthumous Distinguished Flying Medal. It is surprising, though, that Campbell’s three crewmen did not at least receive a posthumous M.I.D.
Lot 85
The Second War 1945 North West Europe ‘Paarlo’ M.C. group of eleven awarded to Captain Robert Maxwell, Queen’s Royal Regiment, who fought across Europe from the Normandy Landings to the capture of Berlin. Later rising to prominence as a flamboyant and controversial media magnate, Member of Parliament, fraudster and suspected spy - his mysterious drowning off the Canary Islands in 1991, ruled accidental by a subsequent inquest, left behind financial scandal and a fallen business empire and continues to excite speculation and conspiracy theories Military Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1945, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Poland, Republic, Cross of Valour 1944, bronze, unnumbered; Czechoslovakia, Republic, Military Medal for Merit; War Commemorative Medal 1939-45; Bulgaria, People’s Republic, Order of Stara Planina, First Class neck badge, 68mm, silver, gilt and enamel, in (damaged) case of issue; Finland, Republic, Order of the White Rose, Second Class set of insignia, by Tillander, Helsinki, comprising neck badge, 51mm, silver-gilt and enamel, and breast star, 78mm, silver, with gilt and enamelled centre and gilt retaining pin; Poland, People’s Republic, Order of Merit of the People’s Republic, Second Class set of insignia, comprising neck badge, 60mm, silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star, 81mm, silver and gilt, with silver and red enamelled centre; together with the related miniature awards, these also including Swedish Order of the Polar Star, the four campaign medals all official later issues, generally extremely fine (lot) £6,000-£8,000 --- Provenance: Sotheby’s, January 1993, when sold by direction of the Joint Court-appointed Receiver to the Estate of the late Robert Maxwell, M.C. M.C. London Gazette 12 April 1945: ‘For gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe’ The original recommendation states: ‘During the attack on Paarlo on 29 January 1945, Lieutenant Maxwell was leading his Platoon when a heavy artillery concentration fell on and near the Platoon killing and wounding several men. The attack was in danger of losing momentum but this Officer, showing powers of leadership of the highest order, controlled his men with great skill and kept up the advance. During the night another Platoon of the Company was counter attacked and partially overrun. An attempt to restore the position with another Platoon failed but Lieutenant Maxwell repeatedly asked to be allowed to lead another attempt; this request was eventually granted. This Officer then led two of his Sections across bullet swept ground with great dash and determination and succeeded in contacting the Platoon who had been holding out in some buildings. Showing no regard for his own safety he led his section in the difficult job of clearing the enemy out of the buildings, inflicting many casualties and causing the remainder to withdraw. By his magnificent example and offensive spirit this officer was responsible for the relief of the platoon and the restoration of the situation.’ Robert Maxwell was born Ján Ludvîk Hyman Binyamin Hoch in 1923 in the small town of Slatinské Doly in Carpathian Ruthenia, Czechoslvakia (later Hungary and now Solotvyno, Ukraine). He was one of seven children born into a poor Yiddish speaking Orthodox Jewish family, many members of which died in Auschwitz after the occupation of Hungary by the Nazis in 1944. Having left home for France in 1939, aged 16, Maxwell joined the Czechoslovak Army in exile in Marseilles in May 1940 but after the fall of France and evacuation of the British Army, he transferred in Britain to the Pioneer Corps and subsequently in 1943 to the North Staffordshire Regiment. He served throughout the campaign across Europe from the Normandy Landings to the fall of Berlin, was commissioned into the Queen’s Royal Regiment in January 1945 and the same month won the Military Cross at Paarlo, Netherlands: 'During the night 29th/30th [January 1945] about fifty enemy crossed the river in assault boats and, preceded by heavy shelling and mortaring, made an unexpected counter-attack on “A” Company in Paarlo. The Germans got into the houses held by 8 Platoon (Lieutenant M. L. Baker) and there was fierce fighting in the dark. In one house Lance-Corporal Dennis most gallantly held them at bay with his Sten gun until 7 Platoon, splendidly led by Second-Lieutenant R. Maxwell, counter-attacked with tank support and cleared the enemy from the village. Our artillery then took a heavy toll as the Germans withdrew across the river. Ten prisoners were taken and there were numbers of other casualties, including the enemy company commander. Our losses were seven killed and wounded...’ (History of the Queen's Royal Regiment. Vol VIII 1924-1948, compiled by Major R. C. G. Foster, M.C. refers). Maxwell received his award from Field Marshall Montgomery. He achieved the rank of Captain by the end of the war and afterwards for two years was a press censor for the foreign office in Berlin, becoming a British citizen in in 1946 and changing his name to Robert Maxwell in 1948. Using contacts gained during the Allied occupation, Maxwell made a start in business by becoming the British and United States distributor for Springer Verlag, a publisher of scientific books. In 1951 he bought a controlling stake in Butterworth Springer, renamed it Pergammon Press and rapidly built it into a major publishing house. By the 1960s, Maxwell’s business success had made him hugely wealthy and in 1964, representing the Labour Party, he was elected Member of Parliament for Buckingham, holding the seat until 1970. In 1984, he acquired Mirror Group Newspapers, giving him control of six British Newspapers, including the pro-Labour Daily Mirror, and precipitating a media war between himself and Rupert Murdoch, the proprietor of the News of the World and The Sun. Maxwell rescued the third division football club Oxford United from bankruptcy in 1982. As chairman, he helped to lead them to the top flight of English football in 1985 and the club won the League Cup the following year. By 1991 Maxwell’s business empire was heavily in debt and struggling to remain solvent. On 5 November 1991, he was found to be missing from his yacht, Lady Ghislaine (named after his youngest daughter) which was cruising off the Canary Islands. His naked body was later recovered from the Atlantic Ocean. The official ruling at an inquest held in December 1991 was death by a heart attack combined with accidental drowning although three pathologists at the inquest had been unable to agree on the cause of death. Maxwell was afforded a lavish funeral on the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem. The ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state occasion, was attended by many dignitaries and politicians and no fewer than six serving and former heads of Israeli intelligence listened while Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir eulogised him stating ‘he has done more for Israel than can today be told’ (Gideon’s Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad by Gordon Thomas refers). Robert Maxwell’s death triggered the complete collapse of his publishing empire. As lenders rushed to call in their debts, it emerged that Maxwell had used hundreds of millions of pounds from his companies’ pension funds in an unauthorised attempt to save his businesses from bankruptcy. In 2003, Foreign Office papers were released which revealed that British intelligence officers had suspected Maxwell of being a Soviet agent with one report describing him as ‘a thoroughly bad character and almost certainly financed by Russia’. ...
Lot 2595
A reproduction office swivel chair, with button back red leather upholstered back, arms and seat, on reeded legs, height 89cm.Additional InformationLeather with general creases and a few scuffs, but essentially OK. The leather is a bit grubby around the outer edge of the seat and into the button creases. General scuffs and wear to the frame but essentially fair.
Lot 2486
An 18th century and later country made wing back settle with hinged seat, height 160cm, width 112cm, depth 45cm, with cushion embroidered in William Morris design fabric.Additional Information18th century and later elements, back slats appear later replacements, repairs done at various times, some historic signs of woodworm, some chips, losses, scuffs, scrapes, general wear commensurate with age and use throughout.
Lot 2501
An early 20th century oak framed swivel captain's armchair with leather back and seat cushion, raised on four swept feet.Additional InformationOverall condition is poor, very heavy losses to the leather, holes throughout to the arms and the back also to the seat where it is cracked very badly, the arm pads are replaced, the frame is loose and when picked up the whole back section lifts up in one. The action does not work correctly, the height of the seat is 43cm. Sadly overall in rather poor fettle.
Lot 2455
A set of four Victorian carved walnut dining chairs, with floral upholstered backs and seats, on turned and carved tapered legs, height 92cm.Additional InformationAll of the chairs will need reupholstering. All of the chairs slightly loose in the joints where the uprights at the back meet the seat. One of the chairs with repairs to the hoop where the upper section has detached, but these repairs are not recent. General age wear, scuffs, knocks and scratches to the surface throughout.
Lot 2500
ATTRIBUTED TO GLENISTER OF HIGH WYCOMBE; an early 20th century architect's/draftsman's chair with adjustable back and seat on four splayed supports, bears plaque to reverse inscribed 'N P Maths 6-146', and two further small folding chairs (3).Additional InformationGeneral wear, fading to upholstery.
Lot 2452
A Victorian walnut salon chair, with green dralon upholstery, raised on spiral fluted legs, together with a George III oak Country Kitchen dining chair with solid seat, a stained beech rocking chair and an inlaid Edwardian side chair (4).Additional InformationAll with light age wear but generally ok, the panelled seat to the oak chair is not original and has a later finish to it.
Lot 2593
A 1920s carved and stained oak monk's seat, with hinged top and arms carved as lions, with box seat, on stile feet, height with top up 99cm, width 92cm, depth 46cm.Additional InformationTop with wear to the varnish and staining, lesser so to the top of the seat of the box, other general rubbing and scuffs here and there but essentially fair.
Lot 2456
A 19th century dark oak monk's bench in the Jacobean style with panelled detail and hinged seat enclosing a storage compartment, raised on turned bun feet, width 102cm, depth 46cm.Additional InformationSplitting to the back and sides, joints and the dowels are showing, so could do with a slight amount of restoration. Wear to the ebonised colour.
Lot 2458
A Victorian carved walnut chaise longue, upholstered with William Morris and Co style floral upholstery, with serpentine show frame back and scrolling arms, on carved scroll legs, height 89cm, width 183cm.Additional InformationFrame with general age wear, scuffs, scratches and knocks here and there throughout. The springs and stuffing to the inside of the seat are defective and this will need attention.
Lot 698
A Victorian moulded walnut framed shaped back salon open arm elbow chair on cabriole front legs to brass caps and horn casters 63.5 cm wide x 102.5 cm high and a circa 1900 mahogany walnut framed footstool in matching upholstery and an early 20th Century Swiss oak framed hall chair in the 18th Century manner, the upholstered back with swept scroll arms on turned supports on an upholstered seat and bobbin turned front legs united to the rear legs by stretchers 65 cm wide x 54 cm deep x 101 cm high
Lot 730
A circa 1900 upholstered high back two seat sofa on square tapered legs to brass caps and castors by Howard & Sons of Berners Street, London, 167 cm wide x 72 cm deep x 80 cm high ( Rear left leg stamped '15489-5310 Howard & sons Ltd Berners St.' , the castors stamped 'Howard & sons Ltd London')
Lot 655
An Edwardian rosewood seven-piece salon suite, all upholstered in lemon fabric and comprising: a two seat settee the arched top rail inlaid with foliate sprays, padded and pieced back above outswept arms and sprung seat, raised on square tapering legs, terminating in brass caps and castors, 91.5 x 146 x 62cms; together with six matching salon chairs. (7)
Lot 610
A Victorian oak carved settee, with all over tracery carving, the three panel stepped top, surmounted by acanthus carved finials, above carved arms with spirally fluted uprights and sprung seat, the sides carved with Boyd clan crest, raised on further spiral fluted legs, terminating in gadrooned bun feet, 130 x 141 x 65cms.
Lot 682
An early 20th Century mahogany framed chair, in the 19th Century style, with needlework upholstery depicting courting couples, the acanthus carved yoked top rail above a padded back and seat, above a shell carved apron, foliate scroll carved cabriole legs, terminating in whorl feet, 92 x 60 x 54cms.
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216352 item(s)/page