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Five: Captain S. Pillans, Rhodesian Forces, attached Royal Horse Artillery and South Africa Artillery, who served with distinction in the Western Desert 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, this last officially inscribed ‘SR. 598634 S. Pillans’, good very fine or better (5) £100-120 Saxon Pillans, who was born in February 1915, was originally commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment in July 1938. Advanced to Lieutenant in the following year, he was among those officers selected to form the Southern Rhodesia Light Battery, a training unit, shortly before the outbreak of hostilities. Duly qualified, he joined ‘F’ (Sphinx) Battery, 4th R.H.A. in the Western Desert in July 1940, where he served with distinction under his then C.O. Brigadier ‘Jock ‘Campbell, shortly to be awarded the V.C., and was credited with ‘an excellent job of work at the gun position’ during the unit’s first major night action against the Italians at Maktila - ‘In return the Italians gave everything they had from about three regiments of artillery, but fortunately the guns were well dug in and most of the shells that arrived were duds.’ Moreover, Pillans again distinguished himself while manning an O.P. truck just outside the southern part of the Tobruk perimeter defences - ‘The task of the small force, largely gunners, of which he was part, was to hold the El Adem road where it approached and entered the Tobruk defences, to enable the Australians and Indians to get inside unimpeded. They were attacked by a superior armoured force, which they delayed by artillery fire, but were forced to withdraw eventually.’ Following further active service in 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Battery, R.H.A. from November 1942, Pillans was posted to 11 Anti-Tank Regiment, S.A.A., in May 1943 and re-embarked for the Union that July - admitted to hospital shortly after his arrival, he saw no further active service. He had, however, qualified for the Africa Service Medal - his remaining campaign awards being issued unnamed by the Rhodesian authorities; sold with copied service record.

A well-documented Second World War Commando’s group of six awarded to Trooper T. R. Jones, Royal Artillery, attached No. 3 Commando, who captured an Italian flag during the first raid on Sicily and was taken prisoner but escaped after the desperate fight at the Punto Malati 13-14 July 1943, later renamed ‘3 Commando Bridge ‘on the orders of General Montgomery 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, very fine and better (6) £600-800 Thomas Richard Jones, who was born in Shrewsbury in 1922, fought with No. 3 Commando from late 1941 to the end of the war. During the first Commando raid on Sicily in 1943 he captured an Italian flag, as related in an accompanying copy of a wartime Shrewsbury newspaper report, which includes a photograph of Jones: ‘An Italian flag that can be seen flying in a shop window in the borough in connection with ‘Salute Week ‘is one of the first two captured from the enemy in the Sicilian campaign. It was taken by Trooper Thomas Richard Jones, aged 22, of the Commandos, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Jones, 13, Old Heath Square, Harlescott. In the town where the Commandos landed two Italian flags were flying, and the one captured by Jones was over the post office. Jones came home early this year bringing the trophy with him and, in view of the ‘Salute ‘campaign, it was lent to the Mayor. Jones was one of a force which captured a vital bridge in Sicily and held it until nightfall but eventually they were taken prisoner, and Jones, with others, was held under a German guard in a wood for 36 hours. When our guns shelled the wood the prisoners overpowered the guard, and Jones was one of the men who escaped. Before the outbreak of war he was employed by the Chatwood Safe Company and in August 1939, joined the Royal Artillery. As he was too young to go overseas he was posted to an anti-aircraft unit and nearly two years later volunteered for the Commandos.’ No. 3 Commando was the first Army Commando to be raised during the Second World War and took part in all the great raids, Dieppe among them, spearheaded the invasion of Sicily, fought through Italy, and landed in France on D-Day to link up with the Airborne. Fortunately for posterity’s sake, two of the best Commando memoirs of the 1939-45 War were written by ex-3 Commando Commanding Officers - Commando by Brigadier ‘Jock ‘Durnford Slater, D.S.O. and Bar, and Storm from the Sea by Brigadier Peter Young, D.S.O., M.C. and two Bars; see, too, the catalogue entry for the M.M. won by Troop Sergeant-Major E. G. ‘Lofty ‘King (Dix Noonan Webb, 5 April 2006), an entry with full details regarding the Commando’s activities at Dieppe and on D-Day, for Jones was surely present in these operations, in addition to the costly engagements in Sicily. At Dieppe, the Commando was charged taking an enemy battery near Bernaval Le Grand, a small village about half a mile from the sea, but, as it transpired, only a few of them ever reached the beaches, their Eureka landing craft and H.Q. ship running into five E-Boats. As one survivor put it, ‘Our flotilla was dispersed over a wide area, smoke and the smell of cordite was everywhere, dawn was breaking and a heavy curtain of fire was coming from the shore where the enemy had been alerted. We were sitting ducks.’ Only six of their landing craft eventually put men ashore on Yellow Beach 1, where they assaulted the enemy batteries until overwhelmed. The Commando suffered 140 casualties during the raid. Sicily and No. 3 Commando Bridge No. 3 Commando's opening raid on Sicily was made with the objective of destroying the coastal battery and defences near the town of Cassibile, thus allowing the vanguard of the 8th Army to land - a successful operation carried out on the night of 9-10 July 1943, but only after carrying out a frontal assault on the battery and much bitter fighting. And it was in Cassibile that Trooper Jones captured his Italian flag. The Commando was then re-embarked on the Prince Albert for its next task - the capture of the Punta dei Malati Bridge - Durnford Slater being given just a few hours notice of a plan that also involved a separate attack on another bridge at Primasole by the Airborne. Moreover, he was dubious about intelligence reporting ‘some easily discouraged Italian toops’ as the only opposition, for if the bridge was worth taking, it was equally worth defending - and he was right, his Commando eventually running into the 1st German Parachute Division after landing under fire several miles behind enemy lines at Agnone at 2200 hours on 13 July. First of all, however, operations at the bridge went well, the defenders being knocked out and the 350-strong Commando deployed in captured pill-boxes, surrounding orange groves and ravines. But, as Robin Neilland's The Raiders - The Army Commandos 1940-46 explains, elite German forces were on their way to do battle: ‘Until dawn 3 Commando had a marvellous time, shooting up everything which came along, until the road approaches to the bridge were littered with overturned or burning vehicles, but their arrival had been detected and the Germans began to mortar their positions heavily and, never slow to react, soon brought up a Tiger tank, which began to flay the Commando positions with its 88mm gun, while staying sensibly out of range of their only anti-tank weapon, the infantry PIAT. A party, sent to stalk the tank could not get close enough over the open ground, and German paratroopers were moving up to box in the troops, causing a steady stream of casualties. By 0430 hours, with no sign of 50th Division, the Commando position was becoming untenable. They had many wounded, their positions in the open valley could be overlooked and enfiladed, enemy infantry were arriving in ever increasing numbers and the tank kept rumbling about behind the ridges, appearing at regular intervals to put down more fire. The only thing missing was 50th Division, held up by the enemy at Lentini some miles away. Around 0500 hours, Durnford Slater gave the order to withdraw from the bridge in small parties, either to lie up in the hills until the Eighth Army finally arrived or, if possible, infiltrate back to their own lines. Widely deployed and still under tank fire, the Commando withdrew. They were forced to leave the wounded behind, to be captured by parachute troops from the 4th Brigade of the Hermann Goering 1st Parachute Division, who looked after them well - a kindness No. 3 Commando was able to repay a few weeks later at Termoli.’ No. 3 Commando, which was slowly reformed over the next few days, lost a total of five officers and 23 men killed, four officers and 62 men wounded and eight officers and 51 men missing - some 45% of the unit’s strength. So impressed was Montgomery, that he later ordered Durnford Slater to have a slab of stone, carved with the unit name, cemented into the Punta dei Malati Bridge, where it remains to this day. D-Day and beyond After seeing more action in Italy, particularly at Termoli, No. 3 Commando returned to the U.K in January 1944, in readiness for the coming Allied invasion at Normandy. The Commando’s allotted task on D-Day was to land with 1st Commando Brigade at La Breche to the west of Ouistreham. They were then meant to advance four miles to the bridges over the River Orne, and if the bridges had been destroyed, they were to ferry themselves over in rubber boats. They were then to continue their advance in a north-easterly direction, seizing the high ground near Le Plein. And what actually happened to the Commando on that memorable day, and in the period following until it was withdrawn to the U.K., is vividly described by Peter Young, the run-in to the beach attracting enemy fire that was ‘far too accurate to be pleasant’ - three of the Commando’s landing craft received direct hits from high-velocity shells, causing 20 casualties before

A well-documented and exceptional Second World War immediate D.S.O., two tour D.F.C. group of eight awarded to Squadron Leader J. B. Starky, Royal Air Force, late Royal New Zealand Air Force: in what was undoubtedly one of the great ‘epics ‘of the last war, he flew home his crippled Lancaster after two crew had baled out and two others lay seriously wounded - but Starky was no stranger to perilous flight, having already survived a crash-landing in the desert and coaxed back another Lancaster minus six feet of its starboard wing Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse of the suspension bar undated, an official replacement in its Garrard, London case of issue; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’, an official replacement in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-45, the first two virtually as issued, the remainder very fine or better (8) £2500-3000 D.S.O. London Gazette 28 September 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘At 20.11 hours on the night of 5-6 September 1943, Lancaster Y-DS 682 took off for Mannheim. The Captain, Acting Squadron Leader J. B. Starky, was on his forty-seventh trip; the remainder of the crew had about 20 sorties each to their credit. At 01.50 hours the aircraft, with starboard elevator almost completely shot away, the Navigator and Wireless Operator missing, and two more of the crew wounded, forced landed successfully at Ford. What follows is the story of events in between: The trip was uneventful until some 20 miles short of the target. The weather was clear and the aircraft was flying at 19,000 feet. Suddenly without any previous warning, a night fighter dived in a head-on attack. Our aircraft was badly hit, the cockpit was filled with smoke and a bright light gave the impression of a fire. It then went into a violent spiral - the central column rocking violently - and being unable to regain control the Captain gave the order to abandon by parachute. The Mid-Upper Gunner, Sergeant K. Tugwell, called out that the Rear-Gunner was stuck in his turret and the Captain made a desperate effort to regain control. The stick became a little easier, due to the dinghy which had been jammed in the tail unit blowing free, and the Captain regained control. The night fighter - a Ju. 88 - then attacked again from the rear. Both tail and Mid-Upper Gunners held their fire, and shot it down in flames. Squadron Leader Starky then attempted to take stock. He found that both Wireless Operator and Navigator had jumped by parachute, that his Flight Engineer was wounded in the shoulder and the 2nd Pilot wounded in the arm and head. The Bomb Aimer, Flying Officer B. A. W. Beer, had attempted to jump from the front exit, but had been unable to jettison the escape hatch. When he was finally half way out of the aircraft, he heard the Captain say ‘Hold on! ‘as he had the aircraft back under control. The Rear-Gunner was now manning the mid-upper turret, while the Mid-Upper Gunner and Bomb Aimer attended the wounded. The Captain then attempted the most difficult task of bringing his badly damaged aircraft back to base without the assistance of a Wireless Operator or Navigator. He set an approachable course for base and carried on this for over 30 minutes. By this time the Bomb Aimer had gone back to do the navigation, but as the navigators log had gone he had no plot and gave the Captain an amended course for base. On their way across France they were repeatedly fired at by A.A. batteries and as his inter-com had now gone, the Captain was compelled to take evasive action only from the judgment of the gun flashes. On one occasion the Bomb Aimer had to go through to tell the Captain that shells were bursting dangerously near the tail. In this precarious state the damaged Lancaster made its way back through the enemy fighter belt. The Mid-Upper Gunner manned the wireless set and succeeded in getting acknowledgment to a laborious S.O.S. The Bomb Aimer tried unsuccessfully to work GEE. Eventually the Channel was reached and as they drew near the coast the Captain and Bomb Aimer flashed S.O.S. on their lights. As they crossed the shore an immediate green was received and Squadron Leader Starky effected a masterly landing of his now uncontrollable aircraft, bringing it in at an air speed of 140 m.p.h. The story of this flight is an epic, and the return of the aircraft to this country must be considered due firstly and primarily to the superb airmanship and captaincy of Squadron Leader Starky, and actually to the magnificent co-operation of the rest of the crew. Squadron Leader Starky has already been recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross for his really magnificent work during two tours of operations, and I consider that his latest achievement is worthy of the immediate award of the Distiguished Service Order.’ D.F.C. London Gazette 10 September 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘This officer is now on a second tour of operations. In 1941-42 he carried out a most successful tour on Wellingtons in the U.K. against targets in Germany and German occupied Europe - finishing in the Middle East with attacks against objectives in the Mediterranean. Flight Lieutenant Starky has now completed 42 sorties and has attacked many highly defended targets, including Essen, Benghazi and Pireaus, and has recently been actively engaged in the Battle of the Ruhr. On one occasion recently he collided with another aircraft over enemy territory and lost a large piece of his starboard wing, but succeeded by superb airmanship in bringing his badly damaged aircraft back to base. This officer has at all times shown resolution, courage and ability of the highest order in his attacks on enemy targets. His cheerful contempt for danger and his keenness for operational flying, have set a fine example to the other aircrew of this squadron.’ Mention in despatches London Gazette 11 June 1942. James Bayntun ‘Jim ‘Starky, who was born in Gisborne, New Zealand in November 1916, enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in July 1940 and commenced pilot training at No. 1 E.F.T.S., Taieri, near Dunedin that August. Following further training at Wigram, Christchurch, he was embarked for the U.K., where he attended No. 20 O.T.U. at Lossiemouth in Scotland and converted to Wellingtons prior to going operational as a 2nd Pilot in No. 149 Squadron at Mildenhall, Suffolk in June 1941. Quickly participating in nine operational sorties over the next few weeks, Dusseldorf, Bremen, Essen, Mannheim and Munster among the chosen targets, in addition to a brace of trips to Brest to attack the Prinz Eugen and Scharnhorst, he was ordered to the Middle East in September 1941, the same month in which he was appointed Flight Sergeant. Posted to No. 148 Squadron on his arrival - another Wellington unit, operating out of Kabrit - his aircraft was hit by flak on his very first sortie to Benghazi on 5 November. Appointed 1st Pilot in the same month, he had his work cut out for him on the night of the 25th while en route to another target, for local Arabs had exchanged a landing ground’s fuel supply for water - his engines cut out shortly after take-off and although by means of pressing his head against the canopy windscreen to peer into the darkness he managed to effect a full glide angle crash-landing, two members of crew were killed outright and others seriously injured - had he not managed to jettison the bomb load none would have survived. Having been knocked out and injured himself, Starky nonetheless set off into the desert to find help, walking 12 miles over rough terrain until staggering into Landing Ground 60 covered in blood - he then guided an ambulance to the crash site. In due course mentioned in despatches for his gallantry and l

The rare and important Second World War St. Nazaire raid D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Commander (E.) W. H. Locke, Royal Navy, who was Warrant Engineer aboard H.M.S. Campbeltown and taken P.O.W. after the loss of M.L. 177 Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53 (Lt. Cdr., R.N.); U.N. Korea, mounted court-style, generally good very fine or better (7) £20,000-25,000 Only 17 Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded for the St. Nazaire raid, the vast majority to men of Coastal Forces, Locke’s award being one of just two to the Campbeltown. D.S.C. London Gazette 11 September 1945: ‘For gallantry, determination and devotion to duty in H.M.S. Campbeltown in the raid on St. Nazaire in March 1942.’ Wilfrid Harry Locke, who was appointed as a Warrant Engineer in October 1941, was placed in charge of the engine-room of the former American four-stacker Campbeltown in early 1942, which ship had been allocated a key role in forthcoming ‘Operation Chariot ‘, namely to ram the southern caisson of the Normandie Dock in St. Nazaire, laden with delayed action explosives, thereby destroying the facility and denying the mighty Tirpitz use of the only suitable dry-dock on the Atlantic coast. Accordingly, over a two week period in March 1942, the Campbeltown was fitted out at Devonport and outwardly altered to resemble a German Mowe-class torpedo boat, while internally she was fitted with a special tank containing four tons of T.N.T. and eight-hour delay fuses which were to be activated two hours before she reached the Normandie Dock. Setting out on her final voyage with the raiding force on 26 March, she took over as Force Leader shortly after midnight on the 28th, when seven and a half miles remained in the run-up the Loire. Finally, at about 0130, with less than two miles to go, the German defences awoke. C. E. Lucas Phillips takes up the story in The Greatest Raid of All: ‘A continuous stream of projectiles of all sorts was now striking the Campbeltown, but so violent was the sound of our own weapons that the ring of bullets on her hull and the crack of small shells was hardly noticed; but when larger shells shook her from stem to stern none could be unaware, and what every survivor was to remember for ever afterwards was the unchecked flow of the darts of red and green tracer flashing and hissing across her deck and the quadruple whistle of the Bofors shells. Bullets penetrated her engine and boiler-rooms, ricocheting from surface to surface like hornets, and Locke, the Warrant Engineer, ordered hands to take cover between the main engines of the condensers, except for the throttle watchkeepers ..’ With 200 yards to go a searchlight fortuitously illuminated the check-point of the lighthouse on the end of the Old Mole, enabling Lieutenant-Commander S. H. Beattie on the Campbeltown’s bridge to correct his aim on the caisson. Having then ploughed through the steel anti-torpedo net, the old four-stacker closed on her collision course at 20 knots, and every man aboard braced himself for the impact. At 0134 the Campbeltown crashed into the gate, rearing up and tearing the bottom out of her bows for nearly 40 feet. Commando assault and demolition parties streamed ashore, while below the sea cocks were opened to ensure the Germans could not remove her before she blew up. As she settled by the stern, Beattie evacuated the crew via M.G.B. 314, and Lieutenant Mark Rodier’s M.L. 177. Locke and Beattie, with some 30 or more of Campbeltown’s crew boarded the latter vessel, and started off down river at 0157 hours. Lucas Phillips continues: ‘The boat was embarassingly overcrowded but Winthrop, Campbeltown’s doctor, helped by Hargreaves, the Torpedo-Gunner, continued to dress and attend to the wounded both above and below deck. Very soon, however, they were picked up again by the searchlights lower down the river and came under fire from Dieckmann’s dangerous 75mm. and 6.6-inch guns. Rodier took evasive action as he was straddled with increasing accuracy. The end came after they had gone some three miles. A shell .. hit the boat on the port side of the engine-room lifting one engine bodily on top of the other and stopping both. Toy, the Flotilla Engineer Officer, went below at once. Beattie left the bridge and went down also. He had no sooner left than another shell hit the bridge direct. Rodier was mortally wounded and died a few minutes afterwards .. The engine room was on fire, burning fiercely, and the sprayer mechanism for fire-fighting had also been put out of action. Toy, who had come up momentarily, at once returned to the blazing compartment but was never seen again. Locke, Campeltown’s Warrant Engineer, was able partially to repair the extinguisher mechanism. The flames amidships divided the crowded ship in two, but the ship’s company continued to fight the fire for some three hours by whatever means available. At length, when all means had failed and the fire had spread throughout the boat, the order to abandon ship was given at about 5 a.m. One Carley raft had been damaged, but few of the wounded ratings were got away on the other, and the remainder of those alive entered the icy water, many of them succumbing to the ordeal. All of Campbeltown’s officers were lost except Beattie and Locke, among those who perished being the brilliant and devoted Tibbets, to whose skill and resourcefulness the epic success of the raid was so much due and whose work was soon to be triumphantly fulfilled.’ Locke and the other survivors had been rounded up by the Germans by 0930 hours, which was expected to be the last possible time for the acid-eating, delayed action fuses in Campbeltown to work. Thus it was with all the more satisfaction that at 1035 hours the British prisoners, gathered together in small groups across the St. Nazaire area, heard the terrific explosion which blew in the caisson and vaporised Campbeltown’s bows. The stern section was swept forward on a great surge of water and carried inside the Normandie Dock where it sank. Thus the main goal of the operation was achieved for a cost of 169 dead and about 200 taken P.O.W., many of them wounded, out of an original raiding force of 611 men. Yet only six of Campbeltown’s gallant crew were eventually decorated, Beattie being awarded the Victoria Cross. For his own part, Locke was incarcerated at Marlag und Milag Nord camp at Tarnstedt, and was not gazetted for his award of the D.S.C. until after being liberated, a distinction that prompted his former ‘Chief ‘, Mountbatten, to write: ‘From my personal knowledge as Chief of Combined Operations, I know how well deserved this recognition is and am delighted to see that the part you played in such a hazardous expedition has been recognised nearly four years afterwards. I hope that you have fully recovered from your captivity and should like to wish you the best of good fortune in the future.’ Locke remained in the Royal Navy after the War, seeing service aboard the Padstow Boy, Jason and the aircraft carrier Indefatigable, and was present in operation off Korea in the Hart as a Lieutenant-Commander (E.). Having then removed to the Bellerophon, he was placed on the Retired List in 1955; sold with a copy of The Art of Jack Russell, with a signed dedication to Locke’s bravery at St. Nazaire.

A LALIQUE OPAQUE GLASS CIRCULAR DISH, decorated four scallop shells and signed R Lalique, France, No. 3010 (see illustration).

A George II silver shaped circular waiter by Richard Rugg, London 1757, the raised scroll border with shells at intervals, on three pad feet, engraved with a crest, scratch weight '9=11' under, 19cm (7.5in) diameter, 278g (8.75 oz)

A George II silver hexa-foil taper stick by William Grundy, London 1755, with a reel capital, a fluted and knopped stem and shells to the base, 11cm (4.5in), 137g (4.25 oz)See Grimwade, no. 3147.

THE PROPERTY OF A LADY AND A GENTLEMAN BY DIRECT DESCENT FROM THE RECIPIENT A FINE PRESENTATION SWORD TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL THE HONORABLE WILLIAM MONSON, DATED 1802 with curved blade double-edged for its last third, etched in imitation of watering, applied on one face with the gilt presentation inscription and on the other with the owner's blued and gilt monogrammed initials and full crested arms, each side incorporating a long slender blued and gilt panel with stylised key terminals and enriched with a spray of foliage at the forte, gilt-brass stirrup hilt cast and chased in low relief, comprising slender down-curved quillon, ropework quillon-block, knuckle-guard decorated with oak foliage at the top, and lion mask cap pommel, and the grip retaining its original binding of plaited and twisted silver wire, in its fishskin-covered wooden scabbard with large brass mounts comprising finely chiselled locket with the mask of Mercury on each side in high relief, a pair of bands for suspension decorated with lilies and clam shells, and openwork chape decorated with acanthus, and retaining its red silk and bullion sword knot: in its original mahogany case lined in red velvet (the lid now glazed for display), and retaining its original leather belt embroidered with silver wire and with a brass buckle chiselled with a prowling lion 77.5cm; 30 1/2in blade The presentation inscription reads: 'This scymetar [sic] was presented in the year, MDCCCII, to the Honorable Lieutenant Colonel William Monson, by the Non-Commissioned Officers and privates of the LVXXVI, regiment, as a tribute of respect, esteem and gratitude.' William Monson (1760-1807) received a commission into the 52nd Regiment of Infantry in 1780 with which he proceeded to India. He became Captain on 5th August 1785 and took part in the Battle against Tipu Sultan of Mysore. He commanded a Light Company which successfully attacked the southern entrenchment of Seringapatam on 22nd February 1792. Monson remained in India after the peace and became Major in 1795. Two years later he exchanged into the 76th regiment where he became Lieutenant General. In 1803 he was appointed to the command of the first Infantry Brigade at the outbreak of the Mahratta war. He led the storming party at Allyghur on 4th September 1803 where he was severely wounded and incapacitated from field duty for six months. In 1804 he led a force of four thousand natives to keep watch on Jeswunt Rao Holkar who was threatening the British ally the Rajah of Jeypore. When Holkar broke camp and retreated Southwards Monson pursued him against the orders of Lord Lake with the intention of alarming Holkar and disbanding his army. This failed and in the forced retreat the cavalry was annihilated. Monson managed to escape with his infantry but attacks on his force continued and he arrived in Agra on 29th August with only a few hundred of the original force. In spite of this defeat he was again employed by Lake in the final operations against Holkar in Northern India. He acted as second in command to General Fraser on 21st February 1805 and became the chief command when his superior was wounded, from which position Monson wrote a report of the victory to Lord Wellesley. In 1806 he returned to England where he entered parliament and died in Bath the following year. ++

A late 19th century French Louis XV style walnut salon suite, comprising two seater armchair and a pair of single chairs, the frames crisply carved with shells and scrolls, on moulded front cabriole legs

GEORGE II SILVER WAITER with raised scrolliated border at intervals with scallop shells, the centre engraved later with a fruit filled basket with evidence of an armorial beneath, within an outer border of scrollwork, shell work and flowers, standing upon three leaf capped scroll feet, by Elias Cochart, London 1758, 12 1/2" diameter, 30oz

A late 19th century Doulton ceramic vase of shell form, mounted with a cherub tying a swag of seaweed and shells, upon a base encrusted with shells, coral and crab, impressed marks to base 'Doultons' and 'EK', together with a painted monogram, 38cm (15in) high

A Georgian Boys Midshipman's Dirk. The hilt having a ring turned bone grip with a decoratively pierced pommel. The guard embossed with shells to the corners. The engraved sheath terminating with a foliate finial. 13½ ins (34 cms).

A Large Dutch Marquetry Dressing Mirror. The arched swing mirror having a marquetry frame inlaid with tulips, adjoining s-scroll uprights inlaid with shells & flowers on an ebonised plinth base & bun feet. 38½ ins (98 cms) high, 36 ins (92 cms) high, 8¾ ins (22 cms) wide.

A pair of Tiffany & Co Sterling marked servers The silver gilt bowls, chased handles decorated with bull rushes dolphins and shells, marked to reverse, (2), 16cm long

A near pair of silver salts in the form of scallop shells, on ball feet, Chester 1896 and Birmingham 1901.

A near pair of silver salts in the form of scallop shells, on ball feet, Chester 1909 and Birmingham 1911, together with a silver thimble detailed 'James Walker the London Jeweller', Chester 1928, within a red leather case.

A pair of Regency style cut glass oval dishes, early 20th Century, each cut with a central roundel flanked by stylized scallop shells (minor faults).

A carved cameo conch shell, decorated in relief with a lady playing a harp, together with three other carved cameo shells.

A BRASS FENDER of rounded oblong form, the fascia pierced with scrolls and shells, central embossed band, moulded base and lion paw feet, 52 1/2" wide

A CUT GLASS CHANDELIER of urn form with five graduated tiers of plain Albert prisms, hanging from a brass circlet applied with glass scallop shells and suspended from a similar corona linked by faceted bead chains, fitted to take eight electric bulbs, 20th century, 38" high

A ROYAL WORCESTER BLUSH PORCELAIN SPECIMEN VASE with lobed flared rim painted with flowers, on bulbous base and lobed foot applied with leaves and shells, 9" high, puce mark for 1897

A Martin Brothers stoneware gourd vase by Charles and Edwin Martin, modelled covered in limpet shells, in shades of pale blue, green and brown incised Martin Bros, London & Southall 2-1904 18cm. high

A Newlyn copper picture frame easel back, hammered in relief with a frieze of fish and shells stamped Newlyn to the backplate 22cm. high

A set of three South Staffordshire enamel candlesticks, mid-18th Century, each urn shaped sconce and baluster stem painted with polychrome flowers within puce shell and scroll borders, on a similarly decorated domed quatrefoil base, cornered with salmon and puce scallop shells above a turquoise and puce band, height approx 27cm (some repairs and replacement nozzles).

A 19TH CENTURY CARVED HARE COURSING POWDER HORN The curved horn engraved with a hare coursing scene with the Hare being pursued. On another panel entitled 'The Finish of the Course', the dog looks on, over the dead hare. The Horn has an inscription, 'Engraved with a Pen Knife by C Wood'. 16 in (40 cms) long. * Charlie Wood is one of the most celebrated Scrimshaw carvers. In 1865 he had a cabin on the S S Great Eastern, across the Atlantic, where he engraved plans and dimensions of the vessel on nautilus shells brought up in the dredge. For similar example see accompanying leaflet from July 1977 offering a horn for sale by Morris Tucket in Chudleigh Knighton, Devon'

A pair of Royal Worcester iridescent glazed and gilt decorated nautilus shell pattern table centres, on coral pattern supports, the circular bases encrusted with shells, 8.5ins high (impressed and puce printed mark to bases, and date codes for 1888)

A late Victorian figured walnut and ebonised collector's rectangular cabinet by C. Ash & Sons of London, the top opening to reveal fitted divisions and five graduated drawers under, 11.75ins x 8.25ins x 10.5ins high, containing a collection of shells and mineral specimens (ebonised stringing missing, cracked, slightly damaged and with later folding handle to lid)

A 19th Century Davidsons pressed purple marble footed sugar with relief moulded seaweed and shells, 14cm across

A Victorian floral display made from shells, overall depicted in an open basket and raised on a square socle base, housed under a glass dome and raised on a turned wooden base

A 19TH CENTURY GILT GESSO PICTURE FRAME, the shallow border pierced and moulded with scrolls, foliage and shells, sight size 38 1/2" x 27"; another similar frame; a Victorian gilt cushion moulded frame with egg and dart border, now painted grey, sight size 27 1/2" x 36" and one further 19th century gilt gesso frame (re-gilded) (4)

Mahogany wheel barometer, the 9" silvered dial signed L. Sioli 1807, Richmond, the chevron banded case inlaid with conch shells and stylised flowerheads and surmounted by a broken arch pediment

A collection of shells, Marine, Freshwater and land, bivalve, snail and mollusc, predominantly 20th century; a three tier collection box

A George III oak and mahogany longcase clock, painted arched enamel dial inscribed Geo. Slater, Burslem, Roman numerals, moon phase dial painted with a sailing ship on a choppy sea, shells and leaves to spandrels, seconds subsidiary, twin winding holes, eight-day movement striking on a bell, the hood with swan neck pediment, turned columns, shaped rectangular trunk door flanked by turned split columns, canted base, outlined with boxwood stringing, shaped apron, bracket feet, 234cm high, c. 1820

A George II Irish mahogany rounded rectangular tea table, dished top with re-entrant angles above a deep frieze applied with shells, shaped apron, cabriole legs with shells to knees, ball and claw feet, 81cm wide, 69cm high

A mahogany twin pedestal bow centre sideboard, in Chippendale Revival style, shaped back carved with S-scrolls, gadrooned borders, two drawers flanked by a pair of oval panelled doors, blind fret canted angles, cabriole legs, carved shells to knees, ball and claw feet, 184cm wide, 122cm high, c.1920

A Victorian oak mirror back sideboard, the stepped cornice above a swell frieze carved with stylised dolphins, shells and scrolling leaves above a central rectangular bevelled mirror, carved panels and bowed upstands, the canopy supported on tapered spirally fluted acanthus carved uprights, the projecting base with three drawers above an open niche flanked by heavily carved leafy doors, plinth base, bun feet, 214cm wide, 214cm high, c.1870

A good pair of Victorian E.P.N.S. comports, in the Oriental taste, gadrooned borders, each deep circular bowl resting on beaded and foliate engraved stems above three supports cast as camels draped with tasseled hangings, shaped canted triform base cast with shells, scrolls, stiff foliage and flowers, faux tasseled apron, fluted feet, 29cm diam, numbered 4188, c.1870

19th Century Meissen Table Centre, depicting loosely clad women pulling in nets containing a child and a fish, on a rocky base, encrusted tadpoles, shells and shellfish, crosswords mark, impressed number 47 and incised number C35, 30cms, (12").

A Portrait Miniature, European School 19th century, depicting a gentleman, wearing a red coat with blue lapels, white stock and a powdered wig tied with a black bow, opaque colour on ivory, in a 19th century Rocco pierced gilt bronze frames, with various 'C' scrolls and foliage surmounted by scallop shells, oval, 3.5x3cm: A Portrait Miniature, British School Mid 19th Century, depicting a young woman, wearing a scarlet shawl over a white dress, opaque colour on ivory, bears inscription "Copied by Mr. Egly June 16 1847", 11x9cm., (2)

A late Victorian / Edwardian electroplate tea tray, rectangular with an everted rim, the latter elaborately cast in a pierced design of Rococo foliate scrolls, diaper fields and shells, the handles centred upon vacant domed oval cartouche, 52cm x 36cm

A jug: The Goldfinch and The Swallow, both named, another with Bird Subjects on each side, cracked, another jug: Shells (52B) repaired and a ladle, broken (4)

A stoneware oviform jug with hinged pewter cover enamelled and gilded with oriental figures and another: Shells (52H) (2)

A pear shaped jug with fluted necks: Shells (52B) gilt decoration, 177mm

A pear shaped jug with hinged pewter cover: Shells (52B) green ground, zigzag border, gold line decoration, 205mm

Two pear shaped jugs with hinged pewter covers of varying size: Shells (52B) and (52H) green decorated necks with gilt decoration, tallest 280mm (2)

A large pear shaped jug with hinged pewter cover: Shells (52H) the neck with brown printed border, 260mm and another mallet shaped jug: Shells (52B) mottled orange lustre ground, 222mm (2)

A candlestick: Shells (52B) and other varieties, 256mm

Three large door finger plates: Shells (52E), two small door finger plates: Shells (52C) a door handle and a bell pull plate: Shells (52I) and two small door knobs (52L) some damage (9)

A jug and basin: Shells (52B) and (52H) pink border, green lining, 240mm high (2)

A porcelaineous side plate: I See You My Boy (311) green border, gold line decoration and another: Shells (52B) pink ground, green lined rim (2)

A set of six plates: Shells (52B) green borders with gilt scroll decoration and another similar in pink (7)

A WAITER, of shaped square form with a raised reeded border, on four scroll feet, by Adie Brothers, Birmingham 1960, together with two butter shells and two napkin rings (5)

AN EDWARDIAN FRUIT BOWL of tapering circular form, the border cast with shells and foliate decoration, the body pierced with crosses, with a presentation inscription, on a pedestal foot, by James Dixon & Sons, Sheffield 1903, with traces of gilding, (c.22oz), 101/2” dia.

A PAIR OF LATE VICTORIAN SALTS in the form of scallop shells, Birmingham 1900, together with three vesta cases, a pair of sugar tongs and other items(a lot)

A COALPORT BONE CHINA TWO-HANDLED CABINET PLATE, painted to the well with two white roses, signed F. Howard, the cream borders gilt with formal scrolls and shells, 24cms diameter

A Royal Worcester flower trough, moulded with shells and decorated with a lustre glaze, bridged by a central figure of a young boy playing with a small dog, impressed mark and raised registration mark, 19th century, 46cm.

A small Delftware wet drug jar, painted in blue with the inscription 'S:E:Spin:Cerv' within a scrolling cartouche of cherubs, shells and floral motifs, with strapwork handle and raised on a flared foot, c.1730-50, minor chipping, 17.5cm. Cf. John C. Austin, British Delft at Williamsburg, p.228 pl.539 for a similar example.

A Delftware wet drug jar, painted in blue with a cartouche of shells and putti around the black inscription 'S. Croci', 18th century, minor glaze wear, 16.5cm. Syrup of saffron was used as a colouring and flavouring agent in medicinal preparations but sparingly; it being an abortifacient and a fatal poison in larger quantities. It was also used to treat nervous disorders.

Two Bow triple shell salts, or sweetmeat dishes, each raised on a pierced base, encrusted with shells and brightly painted in polychrome enamels, unmarked, c.1755-60, both with damage and restoration, 18cm. (2)

A rare Chelsea fish tureen, cover and stand, modelled as a plaice with gaping mouth, the handle formed as seaweed, the stand moulded with groups of shells and painted with rushes, unmarked, c.1752-58, damages and restoration, 28.2cm. (3) Cf. F S McKenna, Red Anchor Wares, pl. 82. The British Museum, Room 46, MLA1994,7-3,1 and MLA19285-22,4.