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3 LARGE SPENT BULLET SHELLS

3 LARGE SPENT BULLET SHELLS

2 BRASS MILITARY SHELLS

3 LARGE SPENT BULLET SHELLS

A selection of large shells, conch shells etc

A Nailsea glass walking stick,19th century, with spiral-twist decoration,116.5cm longCondition ReportCouple of shells to foot.Irregular in manufacture.Couple of areas with white paint on. Could be removed with relative ease.

A pair of silver salts in the form of shells and one spoon, Birmingham 1898, a silver topped jar, a small silver scent bottle and other items.

Two African Tribal Masks, Decorated with Sea Shells, 32cms High

A Harrods Plate Decorated with Wreath of Fish, Croissant, Pineapples, Gammon, Pheasants, Pies, Shells and a Crab, 30cm Diameter

Animal jewellery. A fine Victorian gold and Hummingbird's head pendant, of tear shape, the bird with gold bill and glass eyes,  60mm overall, in the original shaped maroon morocco case signed for [Rowland] WARD & CO NATURALISTS 158 PICCADILLY A rare and superbly preserved example of the Victorian fashion for birds, insects, shells or fish jewellery in the 1870s.  Heads of birds, usually from South America, were bizarrely mounted as brooches, bracelets and earrings.  Two honey creepers in their shimmering blue iridescent plumage worn as earrings are in the Victorian & Albert Museum.  The present brooch by the best known taxidermist of the 19th c, Roland Ward is very similar to the chief exponent of animal jewellery the London jeweller Harry Immanuel whose bird's heads featured gold beaks and tiny glass eyes.  Seven such heads in a row form a necklace of his in the British Museum, the gilt of R C Kwok.  These are illustrated in  Gere (C) and J Rudoe, Jewellery in the Age of Queen Victoria, pp 225-231, figs 182-184 A Private Collection of Jewellery, lots 300-345 In excellent preservation and quite possibly never worn. Exterior of case slightly scuffed

Hornby Bachmann Airfix 00 Gauge Multiple Unit and assorted Coaches, Hornby L6360 two car Pacer Unit two tone blue livery, two body shells for a Pacer, Hornby Buffet Restaurant Cars (2), Gresley coach, Bachmann SR green (2), BR Maroon and cream (2) BR Maroon (1) Corridor coaches, Airfix red and cream coaches (2), Mainline maroon Kitchen car and blue full brake, Replica maroon corridor coach in original package, F-VG, (17)

A decorative orthoceras fossil; together with a selection of mineral specimens and shells.

A pair of 19th century Chinese mother-of-pearl ornamental shells, late Qing dynasty, each one intricately carved and pierced with figures leaving small dwellings in verdant landscapes filled with birds and flowers c/w stained carved hardwood naturalistic display stands, 17 cm high o/aGood condition with some minor losses, heavier wear and losses to stands

A late Victorian gold and graduated oval cameo shell necklace, with twin strand fine chain links and set with twelve cameos depicting cupid at various pursuits, largest cameo 28mm by 21mm, the smallest 14mm by 11mm, 46cm, gross weight 23.6 grams.***CONDITION REPORT***One of the smaller cameos has a few minor scratches towards the edge of the shell. No visible chips or cracks to any of the shells. Overall condition is good.PLEASE NOTE:- Prospective buyers are strongly advised to examine personally any goods in which they are interested BEFORE the auction takes place. Whilst every care is taken in the accuracy of condition reports, Gorringes provide no other guarantee to the buyer other than in relation to forgeries. Many items are of an age or nature which precludes their being in perfect condition and some descriptions in the catalogue or given by way of condition report make reference to damage and/or restoration. We provide this information for guidance only and will not be held responsible for oversights concerning defects or restoration, nor does a reference to a particular defect imply the absence of any others. Prospective purchasers must accept these reports as genuine efforts by Gorringes or must take other steps to verify condition of lots. If you are unable to open the image file attached to this report, please let us know as soon as possible and we will re-send your images on a separate e-mail. 

A lot of various exotic shells including a cameo shell and a polished nautilus shell.

Bullet shells including a Weatherby inc acrylic display, Tilbury docks coins and a brass lighter

Porcelain tray, Meissen, polychrome decorated with flowers in relief gilded jacobs shells, 20th. century, l. 41, w. 41 cm.Porselein dienblad, Meissen, polychroom gedecoreerd met bloemen, in relief versierd met vergulde jacobsschelpen, 20e eeuw, l. 41, br. 41 cm.

A miscellaneous collection of sea specimens including seahorse, puffer fish sea shells and a collection of seeds in test tubes etc

A miscellaneous collection of items including a pair of brass candlesticks, a Tole ware urn with cover, a copper bowl, teapot, a wooden cricifix, a wooden box with an inlaid cherub to the lid and a selection of sea shells.

Two boxes containing items to include a fish kettle; shells etc

PRINTS, a set of four, shells and fish, largest 52cm x 42cm. (4)

A William IV silver salver, John Welby, London 1831, the scalloped rim boldly chased with c-scrolls and shells, the well with foliate scroll engraving and centred by an inscription "Presented to the Revd Archd Nisbet / by a number of members and proprietors / of the Chapel of Ease, Albion Street / as a token of their attachment and esteem / for the faithful discharge of his duties / as their Pastor / Glasgow / anno domini 1831", raised on floral and scroll-cast feet. Diameter 31cm, 32 troy ounces

two Papua New Guinea necklaces made of nassa shells - these were also used as money || PAPOEASIE NIEUW - GUINEA twee halsbanden gemaakt met nassaschelpen, waarvan één witte en één karamelkleurige - deze colliers waren tegelijkertijd ook ruilmiddelen/muntgeld

decorative necklace made with shells || Decoratieve halsband gemaakt met schelpen - gemonteerd

† A BRONZE 'IMMORTAL AND BLACK TORTOISE' WEIGHT, MING DYNASTY 明代仙人神龜銅鎮China, 16th-17th century. Cast in openwork, depicting an immortal leaning on a long-tailed Black Tortoise gazing up toward the sky, both standing on a rocky base, the immortal dressed in a robe with long sleeves, holding a scroll in his left, both heads raised and turned to their left.Provenance: Gerard Hawthorn Ltd. Oriental Art, London, 4 October 2005. A notable private collector in Kensington, London, United Kingdom, acquired from the above. A copy of the original signed invoice from Gerard Hawthorn, dated 4 October 2005, listing the present lot as a “Chinese bronze weight, Ming dynasty, 16th/17th century”, and stating a purchase price of GBP 2,500 or approx. EUR 4,500 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, traces of use and casting flaws, few tiny nicks and losses. Good natural patina overall.Weight: 266.9 g Dimensions: Length 15.1 cmThe tortoise is one of the 'Four Fabulous Animals' - the most prominent beasts of China. These animals govern the four points of the compass, with the Black Tortoise being the ruler of the north, symbolizing endurance, strength, and longevity. The tortoise is sometimes depicted with supernatural features such as dragon ears, flaming tentacles at its shoulders and hips, and a long hairy tail representing seaweed and the growth of plant parasites found on older tortoise shells that flow behind the tortoise as it swims. In Daoist art, the tortoise is an emblem of the triad of earth-humankind-heaven. Depictions of immortals with tortoises are very popular in China and go back to at least the Han dynasty.Auction result comparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 7 April 2015, lot 3694Price: HKD 137,500 or approx. EUR 20,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A parcel-gilt bronze brushrest, Ming dynasty13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.明代仙人神龜銅鎮中國，十六至十七世紀。銅鑄一位仙人倚在烏龜上，雙雙立於岩石上，昂首仰天。仙人身著長袍，左手持捲軸。 來源：倫敦Gerard Hawthorn Ltd.東方藝術藝廊，2005年10月4日；倫敦肯辛頓知名私人收藏，購於上述藝廊。隨附藝廊原始發票複印件，日期為2005年10月4日，描述為 “Chinese bronze weight，Ming dynasty，16th/17th century”（明代，十六至十七世紀，中國銅鎮），價格為 GBP 2,500，相當於現在的EUR 4,500 。 品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損、使用痕跡和鑄造缺陷，少量微小的劃痕和缺損。 整體良好的自然包漿。 重量：266.9 克 尺寸：長15.1 厘米 在中國，龜為“四靈”之一，是北方的統治者，象徵著耐心、力量和長壽。在道教藝術中，龜是地、人、天三位一體的象徵。 神仙與神龜在中國非常流行，至少可以追溯到漢代。 拍賣結果比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：香港蘇富比，2015年4月7日，lot 3694 價格：HKD 137,500（相當於今日EUR 20,000） 描述：明代局部鎏金銅牧牛圖筆擱

An early 20th century giltwood neo-rococo picture frame. With pierced rocaille frame moulded with shells and hatched pattern, 63cm x 84cm Condition Report: Interior measurement of frame 31cm x 52cm, rebate 35.5cm x 53.5cm

A George II silver hot water pot, of baluster form and repousse decorated with shells and foliate scrolls, having hinged lid with bead finial, fluted spout and wooden C-scroll handle, all upon a stepped circular foot, maker Richard Gurney & Thomas Cook, London 1729, h.20cm, 11.8oz

A near-pair of late 18th century silver table candlesticks, the stems of knopped and fluted form to shaped square base cast with scrolls and shells further decorated with a lion head crest, having detachable sconces, marks worn but possibly Robert Jones I, London c.1780s, h.20cm, gross weight 36.5oz Both stand well.With modest age/handling wear.Some marks worn, others clear.Two small holes under knop to one column.The other with very small hole to base knop.Sconces are good but unmarked.

A late Victorian silver hot water jug, of half-reeded bellied form with hinged cover, wooden handle and stepped foot, the gadrooned top further cast with shells and scrolls, the marks worn but probably William Gibson, London 1891, further stamped 593 to underside, h.14,5cm (excluding handle), 15oz

Del Prado flying scotsman two shells, two tender, one loco and 3 UK carriages, TRIX, and small black loco Condition 5

Two boxes of shells and agates **PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR POSTING AND PACKING**

A WW I 13 PR 9 CWT artillery shell, dated 1917, h.29.5cm, together with eleven other shells. (12)

Britains 2064 155mm Gun with plastic shells and leaflet and 1292 RA Gun; Dinky 931 Leyland Comet and 422 Fordson Flat; Benbros 14 Centurion tank and Herald Swoppets Cowboy on horse back (all boxed) and three unboxed models

FREDERICK BROMFIELD (B. 1942), ARR, A CHILD ON A ROCKING HORSE AND SEA SHELLS BELOW TREES, OIL ON CANVAS, SIGNED AND DATED 1992 ON THE BACK. 121.5 x 91cms.

THREE MAHOGANY GALLERIED TWO HANDLED TRAYS, TWO INLAID WITH CENTRAL CONCH SHELLS AND THE THIRD WITH A MUSICAL TROPHY

Scissors in Leather Sheaths, office clips, shells, blotters, frog brooches, etc:- One Tray.

A 19th Century cotton bag containing a large number of cowrie shells etc

A Roman bronze oil lamp Circa 1st-2nd Century A.D.The base of the nozzle flanked by a pair of scallop shells, the ring handle surmounted by openwork decoration of a satyr mask surmounted by a scrolling palmette, 17.5cm longFootnotes:Provenance:Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, New York, 13 June 2002, lot 126.With Jean-David Cahn AG, Basel. David Rowse Collection, London, acquired from the above on the 16 June 2005.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A porcelain covered centre piece, the pierced cover decorated in burgundy and gilt, the body with reserve panel to the front painted with sea shells to a burgundy ground with gilding, raised on three mythical sea creatures, to a triform base, with puce crown, crossed swords and D mark to base, height 9.5ins

A pair of Old Sheffield Plate table candlesticks, knopped pillars, shells to angles, 23.5cm high, crested, c.1830

Natural History - Conchology - Geology - a collection of sea shells, rock and mineral specimens, including semi-precious stones; coral; stalagmites and stalactites; etc

A 19th Century Chamberlain Worcester rectangular dish decorated with a hand painted cartouche panel of a Georgian country house and gardens within a peach frame with gilt seaweed, titled Hollymount to the reverse, the border edge with encrusted shells and seaweed, painted mark, 17cm x 12.5cm, S/D.

A 19th Century Flight Barr and Barr Royal Porcelain Works, Worcester pedestal vase and cover, the vase decorated with two panels of hand painted sea shells against a pink and gilt pattern ground with ram's head handles, the slightly domed cover with a sphinx finial and pierced decoration, painted London House, N1 Coventry Street mark, height 16cm, S/D.

A 19th Century Chamberlain Worcester inkwell, the domed bowl decorated with hand painted shells raised by three mermaid creatures, the shape base and bowl inner in peach with a gilt seaweed pattern, painted Manufacturers to their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cumberland mark, height 11cm.

A 19th Century Flight Barr and Barr Royal Porcelain Works Worcester twin handled vase decorated with hand painted shells against a milk white ground with gilt seaweed, the handles formed as entwined branches terminating in leaves, painted London House 1 Coventry Street mark, height 17cm, S/D.

A 19th Century Flight Barr and Barr teapot of silver form, bat printed with cartouche panels of classical figures against a gilt bubble ground, length 24cm, together with a matching sugar basin, a 19th Century Flight Barr and Barr teapot with bat decorated shells and gilt sprigs, length 25cm, a 19th Century sauce dish on stand decorated with a burnt orange rim and a gilt fruit border, length 18cm, and a 19th Century Chamberlain Worcester cream jug decorated with a view of Force Bridge Northumberland with a gilt seaweed ground, painted mark, length 13.5cm, all A/F. (5)

After Charles and Ray Eames (American, 1907 - 1988 / 1912 - 1988), a model 670 lounge chair from a 1956 design with plywood shells and buttoned black leather upholstery on swivel bases. (Zip broken.)

A Sèvres pink lustre double shell-shaped salt, circa 1814-24The shells decorated in pink lustre on the outside and edged with gilding, a gilt palmette thumbpiece between them, on a gilt rectangular base, 13.5cm long, interlaced LL monogram enclosing a fleur-de-lys/Sevres stencilled in blue, incised Al(?) and 18 - 12For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A Sèvres white double shell-shaped salt, dated 1837The rims heightened in gilding, a gilt palmette thumbpiece between the two shells, on a rectangular base, 13.6cm long, crowned LP monogram with SEVRES and 1837 in a circle stencilled in grey, gilt W, incised H and 21 - 8 (restored chips to one shell)For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A Meissen basket centrepiece from the Podewils service, circa 1741-42Modelled by J.J. Kaendler, with two putti clad in puce andtruquoise drapery supporting a pierced oval basket painted on each side with the arms of Podewils and with moulded and gilt shells around the gilt-edged rim, the inside with scattered indianische Blumen, the rockwork shaft applied with leaves and flowers and painted in shades of brown and green around the base, 32.3cm high, crossed swords mark in blue, gilt mark P., impressed 44 (basket cleanly restuck to shaft)Footnotes:Provenance:Ole Olsen Collection, Copenhagen (by 1927)Literature:H. Schmitz, Generaldirektør Ole Olsens Kunstsamlinger II (1927), p. 38, no. 1563, pl. LV;T. Iwe, Das churcöllnische Speiseservice für Kurfürst Clemens August von Köln, in Keramos 195 (2007), p. 12, ill. 5Heinrich von Podewils (1695-1760) entered Prussian service in 1720 and, together with his two brothers, was raised to the rank of Graf (Count) in 1741. He was Prussian envoy in Copenhagen and Stockholm in 1728-29, and subsequently was Prussian negotiator following the Silesian wars, signing the peace treaties of Breslau (1742) and Dresden (1745). It was probably in connection with the First Silesian War that Podewils was sent by the newly-crowned King of Prussia, Frederick the Great, on a mission to Dresden, where he arrived on 15 November 1741. Podewils himself recorded in a memoir, 'as of the end of 1741, I was posted by His Royal Majesty to the court of Dresden where, after having successfully accomplished my commission, the King in Poland most graciously made me a gift of a portrait of himself, lavishly set with diamonds, and a costly porcelain table service' (quoted in Samuel Wittwer, Liasons Fragiles: Exchanges of Gifts between Saxony and Prussia in the Early Eighteenth Century. In Cassidy-Geiger (ed.) 2007, p. 101)).The shapes for the service had been developed around the same time for the Elector Clemens August of Cologne (Hoffmeister 1999, II, no. 361), and a handful of slightly later examples with simple flower painting have also survived. Dr. Wittwer speculates (op. cit., p. 102) that the Podewils service decoration of indianische Blumen may originally have been intended for the Elector, who preferred more European flowers. The design may then have been adapted for Podewils, perhaps because the service was urgently required. Additions to the service appear to have been ordered at Meissen, and at the Berlin manufactory after Podewils' death. In a letter to Karl-Wilhelm Finck von Finckenstein, Frederick the Great wrote of Podewils after his death: 'I regret very much poor Podewils. He was a man of honour and a good citizen. The loss of such a worthy and faithful servant will always remain a sorrowful memory' (quoted in Hoffmeister 1999, II, p. 608). One hundred and sixty-three pieces from this service (including some Berlin replacements) including the present lot were in the collection of Ole Olsen, which was sold in Copenhagen between 1943 and 1953.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A rare Meissen cloche (Wärmeglocke) from the 'Brühlsche Allerlei' service, circa 1745Modelled by J.F. Eberlein, of high domed from with a wavy gilt-edged rim moulded with scrollwork-edged panels of basketwork and trellis with shells and flower sprigs embellished in polychrome enamels, below a large painted pomegranate, flower spray and scattered flowers, surmounted by a rose finial, 31.5cm across; 16cm high, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue to inside (restuck, traces of discoloured old overpainting)Footnotes:Provenance:From the service commissioned by Heinrich Graf von Brühl in 1742 and listed at his death in 1763 in his Dresden palace in the Augustusstrasse;Catalina von Pannwitz Collection, 'De Hartekamp', Heemstede, The NetherlandsThe 'Brühlsche Allerlei' service was one of the most magnificent table services made at the Meissen manufactory and is comparable in scale and ambition to the better-known Swan Service. The service has been thoroughly discussed by Johanna Lessmann, Das 'Brühlsche Allerlei' Ein Service für Heinrich Graf von Brühl, in U. Pietsch (ed.), Schwwanenservice (2000), pp. 106-123. The service originally comprised over 2000 pieces, including dinner, dessert and coffee services, and at Brühl's death in 1763, still included 145 soup plates and 269 dinner plates. Most of the modelling work on the service appears to have been done by J.F. Eberlein and J.G. Ehder, whose work records include numerous references to the service.The service included cloches (Wärmeglocken) in five different sizes, modelled mostly by Eberlein in 1745, each surmounted by a different vegetable, fruit or flower finial (the present lot is most likely the second size; see Lessmann, p. 111 and cat. no. 146). Another, of the third size, is in the Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt (U. Pietsch, Schwanenservice (2000), cat. no 146). A third, slighly larger than the present lot, is illustrated by C. Bodinek, Raffinesse im Akkord, II (2018), ill. 445a.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A PAIR OF 50 BORE ENGLISH SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK POCKET PISTOLS SIGNED PERRY, LONDON, PRIVATE PROOF MARKS, BIRMINGHAM SILVER MARKS FOR 1781, with turn-off cannon barrels, rounded breeches, box-lock actions chiselled with trophies-of-arms carrying ovals signed on the left and inscribed ~London~ on the right, chiselled tangs decorated with flowers, walnut butts finely inlaid with silver wire tendrils, pellets and flowerheads (small losses, some lifting), fitted with grotesque mask butt-caps decorated with rococo shells, and sliding iron trigger-guards chiselled with flowers en suite with the tangs, 6.2 cm barrels (2)¦¦Provenance¦The Morton and Angela Stern Collection, sold in this room, 25th June 2014, lot 394. ¦¦

A Bushoong Pwoom Itok Wood Mask, Kuba, with projecting forehead, conical eyes, large triangular nose and small boat shape mouth, decorated with bands of red pigment; a Bamana Chi Wara Antelope Headdress, Mali, carved from wood with a pair of wrythen twisted horns, on a crimson cloth covered pill box hat trimmed with cowrie shells, 67cm (2)

A Songye Small Power Figure (Nkisi), DRC, of carved wood, set into half a calabash with thorny twigs, shells, nuts and seeds, with basket weave and twisted cloth borders, 31cm diameter; a Baule "Mouse Oracle", Ivory Coast, carved from a small hollowed out tree trunk, the exterior carved with the masks of a horse, an antelope and a fish, the interior with two compartments, the base set with a pierced metal panel, the lift-off lid with stylised antelope carved handle, 47cm; a Cham-Mwana Terracotta Divination Vessel, Nigeria, modelled as a stylised figure with flask body, 29cm (3)

An Indian Copy of a Percussion Service Pistol, with 24.5cm steel barrel, the lock plate stamped with a crown, the walnut stock with brass furniture, steel lanyard ring and ramrod, 40cm; a Similar Percussion Pistol, the 20cm steel barrel stamped 978453213674, the walnut stock with brass furniture, 37cm; a Quantity of Air Rifle Pellets, empty Remington .22 Long Rifle shells etc. and a hard plastic pistol case

A Collection of Four First World War French Inert 35mm Brass Shells, each with steel projectile and brass fuse, the underside marked with flaming grenade, various serial numbers, PDPs for Pinchart Deny à Paris and with dates for October 1914, February 1916 x2 and September 1916, 17cm (4)

Natural History - Conchology - a collection of exotic sea shells & coral various inc mushroom coral, Tubipora pipe organ coral, spiny conch etc

Natural History - Conchology - a collection of exotic sea shells & coral inc fan coral, mushroom, coral, conch, sea snail etc

Britains 18inch Heavy Howitzer No.1 garrison mounting, FIRST VERSION, fumed metal finish, with three shells, loading base and shell cases 1, 2 and 3 in original box (Condition Very Good, breech block missing, box Good) (1)

‘Greater daring than that of the Shaitan can hardly be imagined... a very little resolution of the enemy’s side would have disposed [of her crew of nine] easily at point blank range’ (Official History of the Great War refers) A rare ‘River Tigris Operations’ Great War D.S.M. group of four awarded to Petty Officer W. H. Rowe, Royal Navy, Gunlayer of H.M. Armed Launch Shaitan, whose crew of 9, armed with a single 12-pounder, in a display of cool audacity at the expenditure of only 2 or 3 shells, captured over 250 Turkish Troops and contributed largely to the evacuation of Amara Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (152932. W. H. Rowe. Lg. Sean. H.M.S. Shaitan.) minor official correction to rate; 1914-15 Star (152932. W. H. Rowe. P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (152932 W. H. Rowe. P.O. R.N.) nearly extremely fine, rare (4) £3,000-£4,000 --- D.S.M. London Gazette 13 September 1915. The original Recommendation states: ‘Shaitan, Amara, 3 June 1915. Gunlayer of Shaitan’s 12 pdr gun, an excellent shot, cool and steady. I recommend him from early advancement.’ Rowe was awarded his D.S.M. for his role in pursuit of the enemy gunboat Marmariss and the capture of Amara by H.M. Armed Launch Shaitan. For their daring exploit and resolution, Shaitan’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant M. Singleton, was awarded the D.S.O., and two of the crew (Coxswain A. J. Roberts and Gunlayer W. H. Rowe) were awarded the D.S.M. Singleton’s D.S.O. citation, which appeared in the same London Gazette, is as follows: ‘For his services during the advance from Qurnah and capture of Amara at the beginning of June 1915. Lieutenant Singleton was in command of the armed launch Shaitan, and displayed great skill and energy in pursuit of the enemy gunboat Marmariss and other craft. He went ahead of the main force through Amara in a gallant manner, and performed the remarkable feat in his small armed tug of bringing to surrender a body of about 11 officers and 250 Turkish troops, whom he had intercepted, and causing a large number to retire, thus largely contributing to the surrender of the town.’ William Henry Rowe was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 16 September 1874 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 17 March 1890. He was advanced Leading Seaman on 1 December 1910 and served during the Great War in H.M. Armed Launch Shaitan from 1 August 1915, whilst borne on the books of H.M.S. Clio and H.M.S. Alert. He transferred to H.M.S. Dragonfly, with the rate of Petty Officer, on 11 December 1915, and served in her until 7 January 1918. He was shore demobilised on 5 December 1919, and subsequently joined the Royal Fleet Reserve. H.M. Armed Launch Shaitan on the River Tigris By May 1915 the Turks had been driven from the lower reaches of the Tigris, and in order that the Navy might render assistance to the Army in following them up, a number of flat bottomed tug boats were commandeered and commissioned as H.M. Ships for use on the river. One of these, the Shaitan, in reality little more than a harbour tug with a single piece of artillery, was placed under Singleton’s command. Crewed by eight men, his boat was armed with a 12-pounder quick-firing gun in her bows and a smaller gun aft. Advancing from Qurnah in June, the Shaitan, due to Singleton’s skilful boat handling, got ahead of the other small craft, and reached a point three miles south of Amara on her own. As she entered the reach of the river immediately below the town, which was situated on the east bank, large numbers of enemy troops were seen crossing the river to the western bank by a bridge of boats and getting into a barge secured to the Turkish gun boat Marmarris. The bridge of boats was then opened, the enemy gun boat clearly going to depart up river. Singleton immediately opened fire with the 12-pounder, causing the troops to abandon the barge for a safer spot on the west bank. Shaitan then steamed on and as she passed through the bridge of boats found the town was occupied in force. Half a battalion of Turks, moving through the streets to the river front, smartly retreated. Around the next bend on both banks yet more troops were retiring from the Shaitan which was in effect surrounded. The Turks held their fire for fear of drawing the attention of Shaitan’s 12-pounder, and she continued upstream for about half a mile, whence Singleton called on a party of about two hundred Turks with six officers to surrender. The Bluejacket’s disarmed them and, taking their weapons on board, compelled them to march down river abreast of the tug. On the way back to Amara, Singleton took more prisoners, who emerged from trees and threw down their arms; and, unattended, the sorry Turkish party obediently walked to the now deserted town where they sat down by a coffee shop and awaited the arrival of British troops. Thus the Shaitan, at the expenditure of only two or three shells, captured 250 Turkish troops and 11 officers and contributed largely to the evacuation of Amara by 2,000 troops. As the Official History of the Great War rightly stated, ‘Greater daring than that of the Shaitan can hardly be imagined... a very little resolution of the enemy’s side would have disposed [of her crew of nine] easily at point blank range.’ Sold with copied record of service and other research.