Pair: Private Thomas Albone, York and Lancaster Regiment Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, El-Teb_Tamaai (2080, Pte. T. Albone, 1/York & Lanc: R:); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, light pitting from star, otherwise very fine (2) £200-£240 --- Thomas Albone was born at Isleworth, Hounslow, Middlesex, and attested for the 65th Regiment at Westminster on 9 August 1870. He served abroad in the East Indies from January 1871 to August 1880; in Afghanistan from August 1880 to November 1881; once more in the East Indies from November 1881 to February 1884; and in the Soudan from 28 February to 21 April 1884. He was discharged at Dover on 7 June 1884, being in possession of medal for Afghanistan and for Egypt with clasp El-Teb-Tamaai. He volunteered for ‘One Year’s Service’ on 16 September 1914, and served at Home until discharged at Hounslow on 30 September 1916, being no longer physically fit for service and entitled to the Silver War Badge. Sold with copied discharge papers.
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Pair: Acting Sergeant T. S. Dibnah, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade, who died in 1925 as a direct consequence of the effects of the War, one of the last recipient’s of a Memorial Plaque British War and Victory Medals (412714 A. Sjt. T. S. Dibnah. C.M.G. Bde.); Memorial Plaque (Thomas Stanley Dibnah) in original registered forwarding envelope; Canadian Memorial Cross (412714 A-Sgt. T. S. Dibnah), on silver chain, in box of issue, extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, July 2004. Thomas Stanley Dibnah was born in Hull, England, in November 1890. He attested into the Canadian Expeditionary Force in March 1915, aged 24 years, and served on the Western Front with the 4th Canadian Machine Gun Corps in early 1916. Advanced Corporal in the Field, he was wounded on 4 August in the same year. His service record notes his subsequent transferral to 5th Canadian Field Ambulance, and thence to No. 12 Casualty Clearing Station, but by the middle of September he had been returned to active duty with the 2nd Battalion. Quickly advanced to Lance-Sergeant, he remained in France until May 1918, when he was evacuated as a result of ill health to England. Dibnah returned to Canada in August 1919, having found himself an English bride whom he had married at Seaford, Sussex, in February of the same year. Remarkably, the existence of the Memorial Plaque and Canadian Memorial Cross indicates that the Canadian authorities were satisfied that Dibnah’s death on 19 March 1925 was a direct consequence of his War service many years earlier. Sold with a gold-plated half-hunter Regina pocket watch, engraved ‘Presented to Sergeant Thomas S. Dibnah by the Township of Mariposa for service in Great War 1914-1919’, with initials engraved on reverse, in case of issue, a Victoria County Tribute Medal (Sgt. T. S. Dibnah, 2nd Bn. C.M.G.C.); a hallmarked silver named N.M.R.C. shooting medallion dated March 1991; a photograph of a couple with the recipient in uniform; and copied service papers.
A Luftwaffe Air Gunner’s Badge in its Original Presentation Packet. A mid-War type, with silver-washed wreath, and dark silver-plated Luftwaffe eagle, bright polished highlights to eagle, eagle held to the wreath by 2 domed rivets, vertical round pin. Maker’s stamp ‘W. Deumer Ludenscheid’ on back of eagle. Excellent condition, apart from fading to silver finish on wreath. Large brown paper packet, printed in gothic black lettering on front ‘Fliegerschutzen=Abzeichen ohne Blitzbundel’ and on back ‘Wilh. Deumer Ludenscheid’. Slight wear to packet, extremely good condition £300-£400
A Royal Artillery Volunteers Officer’s Forage Cap. A standard pattern example c.1880-1900, stiffened blue cloth with ornate silver lace band, silver gimp cord boss with lace ground covering most of the crown, soft leather sweatband and narrow leather chin strap, quilted crimson lining embossed with ‘Harry Lyons 12 Ritter Street Woolwich’; together with another other ranks example, possibly Indian Cavalry, very good condition (2) £100-£140
A French Napoleonic Hussar Officer’s Silver Pouch and Belt c.1810. Silver top, bottom, front, and side plates, the front one having a large ‘N’ with crown above screwed to it, gilding worn, 6ins x 4ins x 1.5ins. Top one has a Paris hallmark of diamond frame with an ‘f’ above a hunting horn, large silver ring at either end, black leather body. Tarnished silver bullion cross-belt with a large silver buckle and keeper, one silver stud missing, on mid-blue cloth backing material faded to a mid-green, generally good condition £1,200-£1,600 --- Sold with a very interesting original manuscript, whose provenance dates back to 1900, at which time it was claimed that the pouch was Napoleon’s and was taken from him at Waterloo by the then owner’s grandfather, Sir Henry Simmonds. However, whilst Captain Henry Simmonds saw Peninsular service in the 31st Regiment of Foot from 1808 to 1813, he was never knighted, nor was he present at Waterloo. The documents with the pouch and belt consist of a note from the then owner sent to Christie’s listing it, together with Simmonds’ MGS with clasps Talavera, Busaco, and Albuera; a miniature of him; one of Napoleon, and stating that Henry Simmonds had commanded the St. Helena Regiment during the life of Napoleon. Christie’s reply is dated 12 December 1900, agreeing to sell the pouch and belt. However, Simmons did later serve in the St. Helena Regiment in 1842, and the Ceylon Rifles Regiment. His M.G.S. with the above three clasps was in the Tinlin Collection 1965, and was sold by Spink 1984.
An unusual father and son Family Group: Three: Private J. Mulhall, 46th Regiment of Foot Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (John Mulhall 46th Regt) depot impressed naming; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (3053 John Mulhall 46th. Foot) officially impressed; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue (3053. J. Mulhall. 46th. Regt.) contemporarily engraved naming, pierced as issued and subsequently fitted with a Crimea-style suspension, all mounted upon contemporary top silver brooch buckles, the first two by E. & E. Emanuel, Portsmouth, edge bruising, nearly very fine and better Three: Sergeant H. S. Mulhall, Army Service Corps, late Royal Garrison Artillery 1914-15 Star (M2-046468 Sjt. H. S. Mulhall, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (M2-046468 Sjt. H. S. Mulhall. A.S.C.) mounted as worn, very fine (6) £600-£800 --- Only a detachment of the Regiment, 6 Officers and 225 men, made up of Sir George Cathcart’s Honour Guard and two companies of the Advance Party, were present at the Battle of the Alma on 20 September 1854, and the subsequent actions at Balaklava and Inkermann. John Mulhall was born in Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1838. He enlisted in his home town for the 46th Regiment of Foot on 7 February 1854, giving a false age of 18 years. Posted to the Crimea with two advance companies of the Regiment, Mulhall took part in the battles of the Alma, Balaklava and Inkermann, and was present at the Siege of Sebastopol. At some time appointed Orderly to Major-General Sir Robert Garrett, Mulhall went on to serve for almost a year on the island of Corfu, followed by 5 years and 201 days in the East Indies. Awarded the LSGC Medal on 10 August 1872, he was discharged from the Army at his own request on completion of a second period of limited engagement, with over 21 years of service to the Colours. With his conduct described as ‘very good’ and five entries in the Regimental Defaulter’s Book, Mulhall relocated to Portsmouth; he is later recorded in 1891 as living and working at Fort Purbrook in Hampshire as a Barracks labourer. Horace Scammell Mulhall, son of the above, is recorded in 1901 as a Corporal in the Royal Garrison Artillery, stationed at Rowner Fort, Alverstoke. He transferred to the Army Service Corps and served in France from 4 September 1915. Sold with copied research including the Army Service Record of Private John Mulhall.
Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Colr. Sert. Wm. Troop: 46th. Ft.) engraved naming, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine £160-£200 --- William Troop was born in Ballybantry, County Antrim, Ireland, around 1817. He attested at Belfast for the 46th Regiment of Foot on 17 July 1835 and likely marched from Belfast to Enniskillen on 16 May 1836 when his Regiment was ordered to furnish detachments in aid of the civil power. Advanced Corporal on 8 January 1838, Troop witnessed postings to Gibraltar and Barbados, being encamped on the Savannah until 18 April 1842. Transferred to Stone Barracks, he was convicted by Regimental Court Martial of being drunk on duty, and was reduced in rank on 1 June 1842. Embarked for Nova Scotia aboard Resistance on 23 February 1845, Troop spent four months quartered in the South Barracks at Halifax before embarking with Apollo for Eastern Canada. Transferred to the steamer Canada at Quebec, the regiment arrived at Montreal on 23 July and proceeded aboard the Prince Albert for La Prairie. Arriving at Tête de Pont Barracks, Troop was raised Sergeant on New Year’s Day 1847. Sent to Nova Scotia, he finally returned home to England in the summer of 1848, and was thus present to witness the controversy relating to the bullying of junior officers which delayed the departure of the Regiment for the Crimea; the affair was later detailed in The Murder of a Regiment by Major Colin Robins: ‘Excessive ragging, to the point of bullying, of one officer by his colleagues was unfortunately not unknown in the Victorian army and Perry, goaded repeatedly by Greer, eventually attacked his tormentor with a silver candlestick.’ Sent to the Crimea, Troop was one of a handful of men to survive the winter of 1854-55 relatively unscathed and without a day of sickness. Returned to Winchester, Troop was discharged after 21 years of service in the rank of Staff Sergeant of Militia. He went on to serve a brief spell with the 2nd Royal Cheshire Militia at their Macclesfield Depot, before settling into family life at Crompton Road, Macclesfield. Sold with a file of copied research.
A ‘Queen Victoria’s funeral’ R.V.M. group of three awarded to Petty Officer (Rigger) 1st Class J. Whitcher, Royal Navy Royal Victorian Medal, V.R., silver, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (J. Whitcher, P.O. 1 Cl. (Rigger), H.M.Y. Victoria & Albert.) impressed naming; Jubilee 1897, bronze, unnamed as issued, light contact marks, therefore very fine (3) £380-£460 --- Provenance: Oliver Stirling Lee Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2004. John Whitcher was born in Southampton in September 1856, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 1st Class in September 1873. Not having witnessed any active service, Whitcher joined the royal yacht Victoria & Albert in October 1882, the beginning of a lengthy commission that saw him gain advancement to Petty Officer 1st Class in March 1895, the year in which he also received his L.S. & G.C. Medal. Indeed, Whitcher remained employed in the royal yacht until pensioned ashore in May 1901, shortly after he had been awarded his R.V.M. for services at Queen Victoria’s funeral. Sold with copied service papers and research. 

Three: Assistant Superintendent of Stores H. H. R. Hewitt Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Balaklava, Sebastopol (H. H. R. Hewitt, D.A. Comy. Field Train R.A.) Hunt & Roskell engraved naming; China 1857-60, no clasp (Asst. Supt. of Stores H. H. R. Hewitt) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, contemporary tailor’s copy by ‘J.B.’ (H. H. R. Hewitt, D.A. Comy. Field Train R.A.) engraved naming, with matching silver ribbon buckles, last with edge bruise, slight contact marks elsewhere, very fine (3) £500-£700 --- Henry Horatio Rathbone Hewitt served in the Storekeepers Department and was appointed a Clerk on 23 June 1851. He joined as Deputy Assistant Commissary in the Field Train Department R.A. on 1 April 1854. During the Crimea War of 1854-56, he served in the expedition to Kertch in June 1855 - for his services he was awarded prize money of £24. He rejoined the Storekeepers Department in Woolwich in August 1856 and was later with the Military Store Department. He later served as Assistant Superintendent of Stores in the China Campaign of 1857-60. Hewitt was appointed Commissary with the military rank of Major in August 1870, and Assistant Controller with the military rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in October 1873. Sold with copied roll extracts and other research.
Eight: Mr J. S. Last, Colonial Service, late Honourable Artillery Company 1914-15 Star (835. Dvr. J. S. Last. H.A.C.); British War and Victory Medals (835 Dvr. J. S. Last. H.A.C.-Art); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Zanzibar, Order of the Brilliant Star, 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, second war medals loose as issued, earlier awards mounted as worn, good very fine (8) £240-£280 --- Joseph Spurrier Last was born in 1897 and served with the Honourable Artillery Company in Egypt and Palestine from 12 November 1915 to 1917. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, R.A., on 20 September 1918, and appointed assistant district commissioner at Zanzibar in September 1919, and was acting district commissioner at Pemba, December 1926 to April 1927. He also held appointments as acting chief secretary, clerk to the executive and legislative councils, and editor of the official gazette, July to September 1927; acting assistant chief secretary for various periods, 1928-32. Awarded Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, 4th Class, 1929.
An Infantry Assault Badge in Silver in its Original Presentation Packet. A fine late War example in zinc, not having been silver-plated. No maker’s mark. White metal pin. The packet is blue paper, the front printed in black Gothic letters ‘Infanterie Sturmabzeichen’. On the back ‘E. Ferd. Wiedmann Frankfurt a. M. S.10’, very good condition £150-£200
Union Infantry Volunteers 1799. A large oval engraved medal with decorated rim with rose, thistle, and shamrock at top, 85mm x 57mm, silver (Hallmarks for Chester 1799), obverse engraved with Regimental banner, ‘Union Infantry Volunteers’ around, reverse engraved ‘Won by Private F Newan at a trial of Shooting at Target First Prize 1799’, with integral loop suspension, good very fine £140-£180 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Owing to the uncertainty that exists with regard to the original provenance and manufacture of some early engraved Regimental and Volunteer Medals, this lot is sold as viewed.
Pair: Private R. J. Brain, Somerset Light Infantry British War Medal 1914-20 (4726 Pte. R. J. Brain. Som. L.I.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (4726 Pte. R. Brain. 2 Bn. Som. L.I.) good very fine (2) £60-£80 --- Reginald John Brain, a stone cutter from Barton St. David, Somerset, was born in 1879. He attested into the Somerset Light Infantry on 3 November 1896 and served with the 2nd Battalion in India, Malta, and North China, before further service in India, and on the North West Frontier of Afghanistan during, and at the end of, the Great War. He was discharged on 8 January 1920. He died in Bridgwater, Somerset, in 1945. Sold together with a R.A.O.B. Jewel, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Presented to Bro. Reginald J. Brain C.P. by the Irving Lodge No. 6618 certified on 15. Nov. 1933.’, with integral top ‘Primo’ Buffalo riband bar; with copied service papers and copy Medal Index Card.
Miscellaneous Shooting Medals. A plain circular disc, 32mm, silver, hallmarked but lacking date letter, obverse engraved with a kneeling Rifleman in the firing position, reverse engraved ‘Presented by Capt. White to the Best Marksman of No. 2 Company Huntingdon for the year 1866’, pierced with three small holes (one plugged) presumably for affixing to a coat; together with a circular metal disk, the obverse engraved ‘No. 2 This Medal presented by the officers to Royal Bird as a reward of Merit for making the 2d. Best Shot September 18th 1820’, reverse engraved ‘D. Brown, Capt.; J. Muzzy, Lieut.; J. Roberts, Ensign.’, pierced with ring suspension; a Shrewsbury Archery 1854 Best Gold lapel badge in the form of a central medallion with three arrows through it, with pin-back suspension; a London Rifle Brigade Silver Medal (“B” Coy. 1932. Rfn. I. L. Jones.) in Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company, London, fitted case; and a National Rifle Association membership arm badge, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1935), the first two in fair condition; the rest good very fine and better (5) £80-£100 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
1914-15 Star (3) (5214 A. Bmbr: C. Hookins. R.F.A.; Sapr: W. A. McLaren. R.E.; T2SR-03073 Dvr: F. Wride. A.S.C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (7) (26619 Gnr. A. Workman. R.G.A.; 126077 Cpl. E. C. Bowers. R.E.; 24577 Pte. T. H. Bird. Devon. R.; 27519 Pte. W. Groom. Bedf. R.; 5179 Pte. S. Nurton. Worc. R.; M-272500 Pte. G. W. Preen. A.S.C.; M-304114 Pte. J. F. Sell. A.S.C.) some edge knocks, generally nearly very fine and better (10) £100-£140 --- Charles Hookins, a railway fireman from Pawlett, Bridgwater, Somerset, was born in 1896. He attested into the Royal Field Artillery on 1st September 1914 for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 3 August 1915, and was moved quickly to the Egyptian theatre, landing at Gallipoli on 18 August 1915. Advanced Acting Bombadier, he was discharged as a result of pulmonary tuberculosis on 13 July 1916 and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 51222. He later died at home on 9 January 1919 and is buried in St. John the Baptist Church, Pawlett, Somerset. Amos Workman, from Bridgwater, Somerset, attested into the Royal Garrison Artillery and served during the Great War in India, where he died on 10 November 1914. He is buried in Rawalpindi War Cemetery, Pakistan. Sold with copied research.
Miscellaneous Shooting Medals. A North Western Railway Volunteer Rifles struck medal, 38mm, silver, the reverse engraved ‘Best Shot Revolver Class Firing 1903-04 Won by Capt. F. T. Millard’; a 12th Royal Lancers engraved medal, 39mm, silver, the reverse engraved ‘XII Royal Lancers Best Shot of the Sergeants 1907-08 Sergt. W. W. Simkins’, with loop and ring suspension; an Egypt Command Small Arms Meeting struck medal, 39mm, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1930), the reverse engraved ‘1931 Machine Gun Match Winners 3rd A.C.C. A. Ewan.’; and a Indian Rifles Rifle Club medallion,27mm, silver and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Championship 2ndJ. G. Williams 1939-40’, with small ring suspension, good very fine (4) £60-£80 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
Four: Private L. T. Hooper, Somerset Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (51121 Pte. L. Hooper. Som. L.I.); Defence Medal; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Leonard T. Hooper) good very fine Four: Sapper A. O. Tanner, Royal Engineers British War and Victory Medals (506389 Spr. A. O. Tanner. R.E.); Defence Medal; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Arthur O. Tanner) contact marks, very fine (8) £90-£120 --- Leonard Thomas Hooper, a farm labourer from Catcott, Somerset, was born on 2 April 1897. He attested into the Somerset Light Infantry for service during the Great War. He appears in the 1939 Register as a Special Constable serving in the Somerset Constabulary. He died in 1972. Arthur Owen Tanner, a messenger with the General Post Office, was born in Clevedon, Somerset in 1896. He attested into the Royal Engineers for service during the Great War and served overseas. He died in 1979. Sold with a silver ID bracelet named to Tanner, fashioned from an erased coin; and copied research.
The important Second War C.S.I., inter-War C.I.E. and K.P.M. group of seven awarded to Sir William N. P. Jenkin, K.B.E., Director of Intelligence in Malaya, late Deputy Inspector-General of Police (C.I.D.), Government of India, who was knighted for his impressive service as a trained professional intelligence officer, and was called back from retirement in 1950 to lead what became a watershed period for the reorganisation, restructuring and training of the Malayan Police and its Special Branch The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, C.S.I., Companion’s neck badge, gold and enamel, with central onyx cameo of a youthful Queen Victoria, the motto of the order set in rose diamonds, suspended from a five-pointed silver star and silver ring suspension, with neck riband, in Garrard, London, case of issue; The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, C.I.E., Companion’s 3rd type neck badge, gold and enamel, with short section of neck riband for display purposes, in Garrard, London, case of issue; King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (William Norman Prentrice [sic] Jenkin. Indian Police Service) on gallantry riband; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W. N. P. Jenkin. R.A.F.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, edge knock to K.P.M., otherwise nearly extremely fine (7) £4,000-£5,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- K.B.E. London Gazette 14 August 1947: ‘Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Punjab.’ C.S.I. London Gazette 1 January 1946: ‘Indian Police, Deputy Director, Intelligence Bureau, Home Department, Government of India.’ C.I.E. London Gazette 3 June 1931: ‘Indian Police Service, Superintendent of Police, Punjab.’ K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1925. The original recommendation published in The Gazette of India Extraordinary on 1 January 1925, states: ‘On the 25th October 1923, Mr. A. F. Horton, Superintendent of Police, Hoshiarpur, and Mr. W. N. P. Jenkin, Assistant Superintendent of Police, with a mixed party of additional police sowars, punitive police, and regular police, very skilfully rounded up Dhanna Singh, one of the most dangerous leaders of the Babbar Akali revolutionary gang, at Manbana village, Mahilpur Police Station of the Hoshiarpur District, and succeeded in depriving him of a loaded revolver and placing him in handcuffs before he could inflict any casualties on his captors. The struggle continued, however, and Dhanna Singh managed to explode a Mills’ bomb which was concealed on his person, thereby killing himself and five police officers on the spot and fatally injuring three others, including Mr. Horton. Mr. Jenkin though very seriously wounded, displayed conspicuous gallantry.’ William Norman Prentice Jenkin was born in Ashford, Kent, on 11 August 1899. He spent his teenage years in Dumbarton and attested for the Royal Flying Corps upon reaching the age of 18; sent to South Farnborough on 4 September 1917, he was appointed Flying Officer on 30 January 1918 and qualified as an R.E.8 Pilot on 5 August 1918. Posted to the Central Depot Pool of Pilots, he relinquished his commission on account of ill health in December 1918 and joined the Indian Police Service as Assistant Superintendent, Punjab, on 27 December 1919. Distinguishing himself in the capture of the Sikh revolutionary Dhanna Singh, Jenkin learned of the award of his K.P.M. from a hospital bed. Following numerous operations and year’s leave to Scotland, he returned to the Punjab and was raised Officiating Superintendent in April 1927. Appointed Central Intelligence Officer for the Punjab, Delhi and Sind, in 1935, he became Deputy Director of the Intelligence Bureau in March 1939 and Deputy Inspector General of the Punjab in May 1946. Awarded a Knighthood following a distinguished career in the Indian Police Special Branch, Jenkin took his retirement and returned home. The Malayan Emergency In June 1948 a state of emergency was declared in the British colony of Malaya and members of the Malayan National Liberation Army - the armed wing of the Malayan Communist Party - began attacking rubber plantations, mines and police stations, derailing trains and burning workers’ houses. The British reacted by introducing emergency legislation and imposing curfews and movement restrictions on the local population, but their activities were undermined by the guerillas having the benefit of local knowledge, as well as a general lack of reliable intelligence making its way back to the authorities. In consequence, Jenkin was invited out of retirement on 22 June 1950 to take up appointment as ‘Advisor of the Special Branch/CID’ - the first trained professional intelligence officer to take over the Malayan Special Branch. Raised Director of Intelligence in Malaya, he soon realised the vital importance of strengthening the Special Branch by increasing the intake of Chinese officers, a matter that had been recommended several times in the past, but with little done about it. In December 1950, under his watch, the authorities introduced a National Service Bill which successfully enabled the drafting of males aged 17 to 45, including those of Chinese origin, into the police or army; by 1951, 1223 Chinese men wore the uniform of the Malay police, for the first time comparing favourably with the numbers of men of Indian and Pakistani heritage already serving in the uniformed branch. In November 1951, Jenkin successfully pressed for a large increase in the strength of the Special Branch/CID by the further recruitment of 80 Chinese inspectors and 500 Chinese detectives. He further brought detention camps within the purview of the Special Branch, and stressed the importance of Special Branch Officers being able to interrogate detainees to obtain information of security value. Separating ‘hardened Communists from misguided sympathisers’, he encouraged his men to determine whether any detainees could be ‘turned’ and employed as Special Branch informants. Under Jenkin, the Special Branch of 1950 successfully began to assume responsibility for the surveillance and security control of Malaya’s coastal regions and the Malay-Thai frontier. Utilising his brainchild Directive No. 9., the Malay Special Branch soon began to liaise more with the army and MI5, resulting in numerous successfully co-ordinated counter-insurgency operations against the Min Yuen; between 1950 and 1951, Communist terrorist contacts rose 109.7%, with a further 18.9% increase in casualties and 63.3% increase in surrenders. Having successfully reorganised and strengthened the Special Branch in a little over a year and a half, Jenkin resigned his position and returned home. He died on 28 December 1983. Sold with extensive copied research.
A Great War D.S.C. and Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Service group of seven awarded to Captain E. Thomas, Mercantile Marine Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1918, unnamed; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star, 1 clasp, Burma; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Services, 3rd type, silver (Captain Evan Thomas. S.S. “Lindenhall”, 1st. November 1916.) first six mounted for display; the last loose, nearly extremely fine (7) £800-£1,000 --- D.S.C. London Gazette 11 April 1919: ‘In recognition of zeal and devotion to duty shown in carrying on the trade of the country during the War.’ The S.S. Lindenhall, 4,003 tons, of the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company, was attacked by enemy forces in the Mediterranean on 1 November 1916, but was saved by her own gunfire.
Three: Private O. G. McLaren, Army Service Corps, late North Somerset Yeomanry, who was discharged as a result of shell shock 1914 Star (252 Pte. O. G. McLaren. 1/1 N. Som: Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (M22-080867 Pte. O. G. McLaren. A.S.C.) some staining, very fine (3) £120-£160 --- Ormiston Galloway McLaren, an electrician from Bath, was born on 7 July 1894. He attested into the 2/1st North Somerset Yeomanry in March 1910 and was served during the Great War on the Western Front from 2 November 1914. He was admitted to hospital suffering from frostbite. He transferred into the Army Service Corps in April 1915 for service as a Motor Driver and was later admitted to hospital in January 1917 as a result of bronchitis and shell shock. He was discharged as no longer fit for war service on 2 July 1917 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 126,006. Sold with copy service papers and copy medal index card.
A South African Transvaal Bisley Competitor’s Badge.
A thin curved silver competitor's badge, 67mm, with crowned armorial shield against four Transvaal vignettes, the reverse inscribed ‘Transvaal Bisley 1906’, with pin brooch to reverse, in Mappin & Webb, Johannesburg, fitted case; together with a small Transvaal Rifle Association medal, 32mm, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1903), unnamed, good very fine (2) £60-£80 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
Family Group: Pair: Sergeant C. W. Tait, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later Bedfordshire Regiment India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (3100. Lce. Cpl. C. Tait. 1/D.C.L.I.) officially engraved in the usual style associated with the DCLI; British War Medal 1914-20 (22175 Sjt. C. W. Tait. Bedf. R.) very fine India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4800. Pte. P. Tait. 1/D.C.L.I.) officially engraved in the usual style associated with the DCLI, very fine (3) £240-£280 --- Charles Walter Tait was born in the Straits Settlements around 1876 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in the spring of 1890. He attended a one-year ‘Pupil’s Course’ of instruction in the flute, and likely served as a member of the band of the 1st Battalion before witnessing extensive service in India. Returned home to his wife in South Africa, he later enlisted for the Bedfordshire Regiment on 7 June 1915, possibly training new recruits in England; for this work he was awarded the BWM and a silver war badge. Percy Tait was born around 1880 and enlisted in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 2 February 1895. Posted to the 2nd Battalion initially, it appears that he transferred to the 1st Battalion and followed a similar path to his elder brother, being present on the Punjab Frontier and during the Tirah Expedition. It is not known when he left the regiment, but records note that he died a civilian in Billericay, Essex, in 1907. Sold with copied research relating to both men and other members of the Tait family.
A rare West Africa D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. G. Merriman, Royal Artillery, who was decorated for services which resulted in the capture of Tambi and Toniataba in 1892 Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1892 (Capt: R. G. Merriman. R.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. R. G. Merriman.) the first with minor chips to red enamel on obverse centre, otherwise very fine and better (2) £2,800-£3,400 --- Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, July 1993. D.S.O. London Gazette 9 August, 1892: 'In recognition of his services during the recent operations on the West Coast of Africa, resulting in the capture of Tambi and Toniataba.' Only 2 D.S.O.s were awarded for the capture of Tambi.

Reginald Gordon Merriman was born on 10 November 1866 at Aden, son of General Charles James Merriman, C.S.I., Royal Engineers (late Bombay Engineers), and Eugenia Sybilla, daughter of Colonel Richard Bulkeley, Indian Army. He was educated at the United Services College, Westward Ho!, North Devon, and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where he was the Tombs Memorial Scholar of 1884. He joined the Royal Artillery in December 1884, and served in the Expedition to the Tambaku country, West Africa, in 1892, being decorated for his services, particularly in the capture of Tambi. The fortified stronghold of Tambi on the River Scarcies was assaulted on 7 April 1892. Merriman was in command of the Battery of Houssa, and after breaches had been made in the walls by his artillery, the town was assaulted and captured. The expeditionary force was then reorganised for an attack against the stronghold at Toniataba which was captured on 28 April. The Insignia were presented by the Queen at Osborne on 10 January 1893. He was promoted Captain on 31 December 1893, and Major on 9 December 1903. Captain Merriman was Adjutant of the Kent Artillery, E.D. R.A., from 1895 to 1899, and held various staff appointments at home before being appointed Lieutenant-Colonel on 29 January 1913. During the Great War he served in France from August 1916 to January 1917 with the Siege Artillery.
An Eastern People’s Silver Award 2nd Class with Swords for Bravery, in Presentation Packet with Inscription in Georgian Script. Standard type, with ring stamped ‘100’ [Rudolf Wachter and Lange, Mittwaida] and rare with maker’s stamp. Slight fading to finish otherwise good condition. In its brown paper packet, top section printed ‘Tapferkeits-und-Verdienstauszeichnung mit Schwertem’, middle section printed ‘2. Klasse, in Silber’, lower section printed in 3 line Georgian script, good condition and extremely rare to find in Georgian £100-£140
Royal Flint Regiment 1807.
A circular engraved medal with double-stepped rim, 56mm, silver, unmarked, obverse engraved ‘George Rex III’ above crown, ‘1807’ below, ‘Royal Flint Regiment’ on riband around, reverse inscribed ‘James Wilkie Best Shot wh. Ball at 100 Yards September Firings’, with integral ring suspension, nearly extremely fine £140-£180 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Murray Collection, Glendining’s, May 1926. Referenced in Hastings Irwin. Owing to the uncertainty that exists with regard to the original provenance and manufacture of some early engraved Regimental and Volunteer Medals, this lot is sold as viewed.
An interesting Victory Medal awarded to Sapper D. H. Gibson, Royal Engineers, who served as a Tunneller with No. 176 Company and was likely involved in the construction of the extensive gallery network at Vimy Ridge Gibson returned home to Nottinghamshire only to have a ‘marvellous escape’ when caught by a violent thunderstorm one evening as he walked back from the local mine – his accompanying friend died on the spot after been burned from ‘the chin to the sole of his foot’ by a lightning bolt Victory Medal 1914-19 (158361 Spr. D. H. Gibson. R.E.) nearly extremely fine £40-£50 --- David Henry Gibson was born at Newthorpe Common, Nottinghamshire, around 1887, and worked as a coal miner in the local pits. He attested for the Royal Engineers at Hucknall on 2 February 1916, his service papers stating him taking lodgings around that time at Hampden Street, Giltbrook, Nottinghamshire. Posted to France, Gibson joined No. 176 Company on 1 July 1916 and appears to have spent approximately two years as a tunneller. Conditions became so bad underground and in the trenches on the Western Front that he reported to the 59th Field Ambulance in July 1918 suffering from mosquito bites; transferred to No. 4 General Hospital at Camiers, the state of his thighs was such as to necessitate evacuation home to Chester War Hospital to recover for 17 days. As the War neared its weary end, Gibson was posted to a Tunnelling Depot Company at Crowborough before being finally demobilised. He then returned home to Nottinghamshire and his former life as a collier. An article which was published on page 7 of the South Notts Echo on 19 June 1920 notes the following episode: ‘Killed in a Field Newthorpe Common Miner’s Tragic End A violent thunderstorm broke over Eastwood and district between 10.30 and 11 o’clock on Saturday night, causing the death of a Newthorpe Common miner named Thomas Bates, aged 39, who leaves a widow and six children. The deceased’s companion, a miner named David Henry Gibson of Hempden Street, Newthorpe Common, had a marvellous escape, being stunned by the lightning and rendered prostrate. Gibson states that he was in company with Bates from 7.45 p.m., and they were returning home from Newthorpe about 10.30 across the fields. He had just got over a stile and his companion was following when there was a vivid flash of lightning and he remembered no more. It afterwards transpired that Gibson, lying in an unconscious state for half-an-hour, had sufficiently recovered to call for help, and a man named Harry Goodin, a miner, of New Eastwood, who was passing on the main road, heard the shout and went to their assistance, finding Gibson still in a dazed condition and his companion dead. P.C. Hindley, who received information and went to the scene of midnight, states that the deceased, who burned from the chin to the sole of his foot, the fluid passing from the chest down the left side, where it burned a hole in the outer-case of his silver watch, also breaking and charring the watch chain. The watch had stopped at four minutes to 11. The lightning also dislocated one of the overhead wires on the Notts. and Derbyshire tramways at Giltbrook, and the late cars returning from Nottingham were held up until the early hours of Sunday morning, many passengers for Eastwood and Heanor having to complete their journey on foot.’
Germany, Third Reich, Iron Cross 1939, Second Class breast badge, by Wilhelm Deumer, Ludenscheid, in scarce LDO Box, silver with iron centre, suspension ring stamped ‘3’, housed in its original fitted black paper covered box, the domed lid printed ‘LDO’, extremely fine £400-£500
A Wehrmacht Close Combat Clasp in Silver. A very rare 1945 ‘Last Ditch’ production, the area behind the eagle and crossed bayonet and stick grenade being solid and not fretted-out as it normally is. However, still a superb quality example in excellent condition, and retaining most original factory finish, apart from a slight fading to the silver plating. Not maker marked. Tapered fluted pin, very good condition and an extremely rare example £400-£500
A ‘Duplicate’ Great War D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel K. H. Bruce, Gordon Highlanders, who was wounded at Ypres, and was Mentioned in Despatches Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2nd. Lieut. K. H. Bruce. Gordons.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Lt. K. H. Brice. Gordons.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Capt. K. H. Bruce. Gordons.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. K. H. Bruce. Gordons.); Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, the named medals all stamped ‘Duplicate’, mounted for wear, lacquered, about extremely fine (7) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917 Kenneth Hope Bruce was born on 26 May 1879 and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Oxford. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders on 23 May 1900, and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War. Promoted Lieutenant on 22 January 1902, he saw further service in India with the Mohmand Expedition in 1908, and was promoted Captain on 17 October 1908. Bruce served during the Great War with the Staff on the Western Front from 4 October to 2 November 1914, and then again from 12 October 1915 to 2 June 1917, and was wounded at Ypres. Subsequently serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Palestine from 20 June 1917 to 28 June 1918, for his services during the Great War he was promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel; was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 4 January 1917); and was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. Following the cessation of hostilities he was appointed Assistant Adjutant General, General HQ, British Army of the Rhine on 3 June 1919. He died in London on 27 February 1970.
Pair: Private J. A. McLaren, Seaforth Highlanders British War and Victory Medals (S-28414 Pte. J. A. McLaren. Seaforth.) contact marks, very fine Pair: Private F. Chilcott, Machine Gun Corps British War and Victory Medals (52449 Pte. F. Chilcott. M.G.C.) stain and edge digs to VM, with replacement ring, otherwise nearly very fine Pair: Lance-Corporal T. G. Binning, Canadian Machine Gun Corps British War and Victory Medals (550274 L. Cpl. T. G. Binning. C.M.G. Bde.), sold together with three named cross country medallions, very fine Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (A122 Pte. J. Channon.) on silver chain, very fine (7) £140-£180 --- Thomas George Binning, a mechanic from Cheddar, Somerset, was born on 6 January 1888. He attested into the North Somerset Yeomanry and served for three years before emigrating to Detroit, U.S.A. He attested into the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 29 June 1916 for service during the Great War, and served on the Western Front with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps from September 1918. He was demobilised in Toronto, Canada, on 31 May 1919. John William Channon was born in Highbridge, Somerset, on 11 November 1892. He attested into the Canadian Expeditionary Force for service during the Great War, and was killed in action whist serving with the 1st Battalion on 29 June 1916. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France, and is also commemorated on the West Huntspill, Somerset, Memorial.
Pair: Corporal A. C. Westlake, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (9541 Pte. A. C. Westlake, D. of Corn: L.I.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (9541 Cpl. A. C. Westlake. D. of Corn. L.I.) polished, nearly very fine Pair: Private W. D. Verrent, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (16832 Pte. W. D. Verrent. D. of Corn: L.I.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (16832 Pte. W. D. Verrent. D. of Corn. L.I.) the first abrasively cleaned, good fine Four: Private G. H. T. Rickards, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later Somerset Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (24591 Pte. G. H. T. Rickards. D.C.L.I.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, staining to VM, good fine and better Pair: Private A. Wyles, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later Labour Corps British War and Victory Medals (23609 Pte. A. Wyles. D. of Corn. L.I.) very fine Silver War Badge ‘B53569’ [awarded to No. 6132 Sergeant F. G. King, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry]; together with a Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Depot) unmarked silver medal, the reverse engraved ‘A. E. Pedrick 5432295 Boxing.’ generally very fine (12) £100-£140 --- Archibald Carlisle Westlake served in France from 19 December 1914 and was later discharged due to wounds on 25 May 1919. A resident of Myrtle Road in Hounslow, he married Miss Emily Eliza Margarete Pearson whilst home on leave in April 1917. William David Verrent was born in County Kerry, Ireland, on 12 February 1895. He served in France from 3 September 1915 and is listed as a casualty in the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser on 2 October 1916. Further noted as a resident of St Ives, he was discharged in consequence of wounds on 24 August 1917; online family research indicates that he may have lost a leg at the Battle of the Somme and made use of crutches for the remainder of his life. George Henry Thomas Rickards was born in Brixton on 5 October 1890, the son of a Mayfair valet. He later worked as a shipyard labourer and died on 13 March 1969, his last address recorded as 32 Orchard Grove, Brixham, Devon. Frederick George King was born around 1867 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry at the age of 47 years on 11 September 1914. Posted as Corporal to the 8th Battalion, D.C.L.I., he was raised Sergeant and discharged from the Army in consequence of sickness, later being issued SWB ‘B53569’ under AO 291/18, paragraph 2c. Albert Edward Pedrick was born in Holborn in 1902. A labourer, he enlisted in London on 10 March 1922 and was discharged on 9 March 1934 having completed 12 years of service with the Colours.
Germany, Prussia, Iron Cross 1870, First Class badge, silver with iron centre, of one piece construction, flat pin stamped ‘800’ silver, nearly extremely fine £460-£550 --- This badge would appear to be an example produced for veterans who were still serving during the Great War.
An Indian Mutiny C.B. group of four awarded to Colonel C. H. Barchard, 20th Bengal Native Infantry The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1882, complete with gold ribbon buckle, several enamel chips to white enamel arms; Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Ensign C. H. Barchard, 20th Bengal N.I.); India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (Lieut. C. H. Barchard, 20th Native Inftry.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Delhi, Lucknow (Major C. H. Barchard, 20th Regt. N.I, A,D,C.) the campaign medals fitted with silver ribbon buckles, unless otherwise stated, nearly extremely fine (4) £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: Alan Wolfe Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2005, when sold with correctly dated C.B. for 1858. Charles Henry Barchard was born in London on 27 June 1828, and educated by the Rev. James Alexander Emerton, of Hanwell. He entered the Bengal Army in 1845 as an Ensign in the 20th Native Infantry, first seeing action in the Punjab campaign at the battles of Chilianwala and Goojerat. Promoted to Lieutenant in September 1849, he served in two expeditions on the North West Frontier; in the punitive expedition under Colonel S. B. Boileau against the Bori Afridis in November 1853; and in the expedition under Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Craigie, C.B., against the Aka Khels and Bussi Khels, in March 1866 (Mentioned in Despatches). 

During the Indian Mutiny he served as aide-de-camp to Sir Archdale Wilson, Bt., and was present at the actions on the Hindon in May 1857 (despatches); action of Budlee-ke-Serai in June 1857 (despatches); siege, assault and capture of Delhi, from June to October 1857 (despatches); operations before and capture of Lucknow from February to March 1858 (despatches and thanks of Governor-General; medal with two clasps, C.B.); charger shot in action before Delhi; slightly wounded in action before La Martiniere, Lucknow; and thanks of the Punjab Government for exertions and aid rendered during the famine at Kurnal in 1861.

The matter of Barchard’s charger being shot from under him at Delhi is moot. In his letters to his wife from the siege of Delhi, Colonel Keith Young says Barchard was accidentally wounded when his horse shied, causing a holster pistol to discharge, wounding Barchard in the leg, but it is possible this was a different incident. After the mutiny, Barchard was posted to the cavalry, serving in the early 1860s with the Stud Department, and thereafter with the 7th Bengal Cavalry, becoming second-in-command in 1874. He retired as Honorary Colonel in October 1875, and died in England in June 1902.
Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 2nd issue, large letter reverse, impressed naming (Wm. Doble, Serjt. Royal Invalid Artillery.) fitted with original steel clip and silver bar suspension, very fine £120-£160 --- William Doble was born in the Parish of St Stephen’s, Saltash, Cornwall, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Devonport on 6 October 1832, aged 22. He was promoted to Sergeant in April 1846, was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in March 1854, and discharged at Woolwich from the Royal Invalid Artillery on 24 March 1857, being ‘quite worn out by length of service.’ During his service of 24 years 171 days he had served abroad in the West Indies for 7 years 1 month, and was entitled to a gratuity of £15 on discharge. Sold with copied discharge papers.
A French Navy Admiral and General Staff Officer's Sword M. An.XII (1803).
Overall 97cm long, double edged 79cm. Superb quality heavily gilded brass hilt retaining almost all original finish. Crossguard has Neptune holding his trident on front, and a large anchor on the back. Inside of guard has a large high relief anchor, silver wire grip, and Greco-Roman helmet pommel. Small spots of very light pitting on blade, generally very good condition £500-£700 --- This is an age restricted lot: the successful buyer will be required to either collect in person, or arrange specialist shipping.
An Eastern People’s Silver Award First Class in its Presentation Case. Standard type with concave back and wide pin. Almost mint unissued condition. The case is covered in black artificial leather, with a silver image of the Star printed on the flat lid. Inside it is lined on the lower section in black velvet, and white artificial silk in the top section, extremely good condition £100-£140
A Luftwaffe Clasp for Bomber Aircraft in Gold in its Original Presentation Case. An excellent quality early example, gold plated tombak with polished highlights, polished nickel winged bomb. Wide flat tapering pin. No maker’s mark. Case covered in blue paper artificial leather, inside the top section is covered in white, the bottom in cream felt. Printed in silver gothic lettering on lid ‘Frontflugspange fur Kampfflieger gold’, extremely good condition £260-£300
An 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot Officer’s 1829 Pattern Shako. A good quality untouched example, the black beaver body with flush leather top bound, front peak and bracing bands, to the front standard 1829 pattern gilt crowned back plate with silver rayed star, gilt overlaid laurels, with battle honour scrolls ‘Toulouse, Peninsula, Nive, Nivelle, Orthes’, to the centre circlet with ‘Salamanca, Pyrenees’, with stippled ‘XI’, correct pattern side ornaments bearing the Royal Crest, copper gilt chin chains with original leather held up behind the shako plate, complete with scarce original carrying tin, orb missing from shako plate, leather damage to top bound, no sweat band remaining, overall good condition £2,000-£2,400
Pair: Private F. E. Tucker, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (29600 Pte. F. E. Tucker. D.C.L.I.); together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge (B78960) very fine Pair: Private E. A. Brownett, Wiltshire Regiment, late Somerset Light Infantry, who was killed in action in Mesopotamia on 16 January 1917 British War and Victory Medals (26046 Pte. E. A. Brownett. Wilts. R.) extremely fine Pair: Private J. Pople, Royal Berkshire Regiment British War and Victory Medals (29087 Pte. J. Pople. R. Berks. R.) edge bruises, contact marks, fine (6) £70-£90 --- Fred Evan Tucker was born in Winscombe, Somerset, on 2 November 1898. He attested into the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 26 September 1916 for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front, where he was wounded twice before transferring into the Labour Corps. Discharged on 17 January 1919, he was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B78960. He died, aged 83, in February 1982. Ernest Arthur Brownett, a postman from Langford, Somerset, was born in 1894. He attested into the Somerset Light Infantry for service during the Great War and transferred into the Wiltshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 16 January 1917, whilst serving with the 5th Battalion in Mesopotamia, and is buried in Amara Cemetery, Iraq. John Pople, a shop assistant from East Brent, Somerset, attested into the Royal Berkshire Regiment for service during the Great War and saw later service with the Labour Corps. He died in 1963. Sold together with some original paperwork relating to Pte. Tucker, and copied research.
British War Medal 1914-20 (4) (5164 Pte. A. McLaren. R. Scots; 242300 Pte. G. McLaren. W. Rid. R.; S-40699 Pte. R. McLaren. R. Highrs.; 203826 Pte. A. McLaren. N. Staff. R.) edge digs to second medal, otherwise very fine £60-£80 --- Archibald McLaren attested into the Royal Scots on 25 January 1915 and served during the Great War on the Western Front with the 8th Battalion from 1 September 1915. He was discharged on 20 February 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 480,430. Angus McLaren, from Newchapel, Staffordshire, was born in 1885. He attested into the North Staffordshire Regiment for service during the Great War, and saw later service with the Royal Berkshire Regiment. Sold together with copy research.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E., (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, mounted on investiture pin, very fine £90-£120 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
Pair: D. C. Jensen, Canadian Forces Korea 1950-53, Canadian issue, (D. C. Jensen. 9871H) renamed; U.N. Korea 1950-54 (D. C. Jensen. 9871H) mounted for wear, very fine Pair: M. LeBeau, Canadian Forces Korea 1950-53, Canadian issue, silver (SC 18212 M. LeBeau); U.N. Korea 1950-54, French language issue (SC.18212 M. LeBeau) number partially officially corrected on both, good very fine (4) £60-£80 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
Four: Corporal J. Wellings, 72nd Highlanders Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (2978 Cpl. J. Wellings. 72nd Highrs.) modern re-engraved naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (John Wellings 72nd. Highlanders); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (John Wellings 72nd Highlanders) lighly engraved naming, plugged and fittted with a Crimea-style suspension; Germany, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Saxe-Ernestine House Order Merti Medal, silver, mounted for wear, the Crimea medal lacquered, generally nearly very fine (4) £400-£500 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK ---
A Great War M.C. and Second Award Bar group of five miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant-Colonel R. Blandy, 9th Gurkha Rifles, late Royal Munster Fusiliers Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar; India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1908, Waziristan 1919-21; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, mounted court-style with torn Spink & Son label to reverse, nearly extremely fine (5) £240-£280 --- M.C. London Gazette 25 August 1917:
‘For Distinguished Service in the Field in Mesopotamia.’ M.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 11 January 1919:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty [in Mesopotamia]. He commanded with great-ability a patrol which, under the fire of the enemy, discovered after dark a ford over the river by which the troops crossed on the following night. But for his intrepid action the troops would not have been able to cross.’ Raleigh Blandy was born at Funchal, Madeira, on 22 May 1884, a scion of the famous Blandy family that controlled the Madeira Wine and Shipping trades. Commissioned into the Indian Army on 29 August 1906, he served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers during the Mohmand campaign 1908 before transferring to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles. In December 1911, his unit, as part of the Dehra Dun Brigade, took part in the Coronation Durbar in Delhi (Medal). From April to October 1913, Blandy commanded a group of 11 Gurkhas who were signallers assigned to the Triangulation Survey Party in the Pamirs. Promoted Captain on 29 August 1915, he served during the Great War in Mesopotamia from late September 1916, and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry during the crossing of the Tigris River at ‘Shumran Crossing’ on 23 February 1917 - an epic action for 2nd Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles, and their seminal battle honour for the Great War: Major Wheeler, leading the first ‘assault tow’, was awarded the Victoria Cross, and Lieutenant Russell an immediate D.S.O. Blandy himself was in command of the 'Second Tow', and the regimental history of 9 Gurkha Rifles describes his part in the forced landings at Shumran, as follows: ‘Immediately after landing the first tow, the ten boats started on their return journey. But shelling and small arms fire permitted only six to reach. These were loaded with 'C' Company under Captain R. Blandy and Lieutenant S. D. Gladstone, but gain came under heavy small arms fire, wounding or killing the rowers. Captain Blandy seized the oar and guided the boat in, collecting two bullets through his left sleeve and whilst disembarking, was wounded in the abdomen by a bullet which providentially deflected off his belt buckle, thus not proving fatal.’ During the crossing of the ‘Shumran Bend’, 2/9 Gurkha Rifles suffered a total of 107 casualties, including 7 British Officers, of whom 2 were killed and another 5 (including Blandy) were wounded. Blandy was awarded a Second Award Bar to his Military Cross for reconnaissance work in advance of another river crossing later in 1917; and for his services during the Great War was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 15 August 1917 and 12 March 1918). In May 1918, he transferred to the newly-raised 4th Battalion, 11th Gurkha Rifles as a Company Commander, which proceeded to take part in the final Palestine campaign, and continued to serve with them until their disbandment in India in late 1919. Returned to the 9th Gurkhas, Blandy was promoted Major on 29 August 1921, and by 1927 was serving with the Burma Military Police. He returned to his unit in 1928 and was appointed Second-in-Command, served with in the Malakand. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 3 June 1932, he commanded the 2nd Battalion from 1932 until his retirement on 1 January 1935. He died in 1967. Sold with the recipient’s riband bar; and four photographic images of the recipient. Note: The recipient’s full sized awards, also mounted court-style by Spink & Son, were sold by Spink in April 2014.
Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Captain, I. A. Fane, 46th. Regt. 18 May, 1855.) contemporarily engraved naming, mounted as worn with a top Hunt & Roskell silver riband buckle with gold pin, edge bruising, nearly very fine £300-£400 --- Provenance: John Fane Collection (i.e. direct from the family), Dreweatt’s, November 2009. John Augustus Fane was born in Wormesley on 23 September 1830, the son of John William Fane, High Sheriff and Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Oxfordshire Militia. Appointed Ensign on 19 October 1849, Lieutenant on 31 December 1852, and Captain on 29 December 1854, he landed with the 46th Regiment of Foot in the Crimea on 8 November 1854. Returned home on 6 February 1855, he received the Crimea Medal by Royal presentation on 18 May 1855. Resigning from the Army upon the sale of his commission on 29 May 1857, Fane subsequently served in the Oxfordshire Rifle Volunteers and died in 1908. Sold with an attractive pair of related silver dress miniatures, comprising Crimea Medal, clasp Sebastopol, and Turkish Crimea Medal, Sardinian issue, mounted upon contemporary wearing pin; with a small gilt-metal regimental cap badge, a silver and blue enamel College of Nursing badge, numbered ‘16378’ to reverse, by J. R. Gaunt & Son., and a large Metropolitan Police Special Constabulary badge, by W. Lewis of Birmingham.
Four: Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. Clephane, 79th Regiment Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (Major R. D. Clephane, 79th Highlanders) contemporary engraved naming in upright capitals, probably by Hunt & Roskell; Italian States, Kingdom of Sardinia, Al Valore Militare, silver, mint mark ‘F.G’ (Bt. Lt. Coll. Robt. Douglas Clephane, 79 Regt.); Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, unnamed, all four fitted with contemporary silver ribbon buckles, (4) £2,400-£2,800 --- Al Valore Militare: ‘Served the Eastern campaign of 1854 and 1855, including the battles of the Alma and Balaklava, and siege of Sebastopol, including the assault of 18th June, the expeditions to Kertch and Yenikale.’ Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class, London Gazette 2 March 1858. Robert Douglas Clephane was born on 1 January 1821, at Kirkness House, Loch Leven, son of the Sherrif of Fifeshire. He was appointed Ensign in the 79th Highlanders, by purchase, on 8 June 1836; Lieutenant, by purchase on 18 September 1840; Captain, by purchase, on 11 April 1845; Major on 13 August 1854; and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 6 June 1856, for services during the assault on the fortifications at Sebastopol on 18 June 1855. He retired by the sale of his commission on 6 June 1856, residing at Duddington, Midlothian and later at Moffat, Dumfries. He died at Strattendry, Fife, on 2 February 1887, aged 67.
A French Napoleonic Hussar Officer’s sabretache c.1810. Dark green leather, faded almost to black, centre covered in sage green material, with a silver-plated border of stylised oak leaves & flowers. In centre a large silver plated, highly detailed crowned Napoleonic eagle. Possibly brought back from the Peninsula or the Waterloo campaign. Measures along bottom 11ins, side 12ins, top 8.5ins 3 nickel suspension rings on top, three very small moth holes in green fabric, otherwise good condition £1,000-£1,400
Crimea 1854-56, no clasp, unnamed as issued; together with a French, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; and a Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (1782. R. Spearing. 1. B. 14. Foot.) contemporarily engraved naming, suspension ring removed and plugged, replaced with unofficial ring soldered above, contact marks and edge bruising, therefore fine, the MM better (3) £80-£100 --- Robert Spearing was born in Wookey Somerset in 1826. He attested into the 14th Foot in December 1849 and served in the Crimea for one year and four months during the Crimean War. Discharged in 1859, he returned to Wookey and was later one of three Crimea veterans present at the Wookey Diamond Jubilee celebrations of 1897. He died in 1904. Sold with copied research.
Fifeshire Volunteers 1802. A circular engraved medal with thistle decorated rim, 58mm, silver, with some faint partial Edinburgh? hallmarks, obverse engraved with ornate crowned ‘GR’, with ‘Reward of Merit’ above and ‘Fifeshire Volunteers’ below, reverse engraved ‘Won by Ensign R. Wilkie, Best Shot with Ball at the Hundred Yards Target Practice 27th April 1802’, within a wreath of laurel, with ornate swivel ring suspension, some hairline cracks, very fine £260-£300 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Murray Collection, Glendining’s, May 1926. Owing to the uncertainty that exists with regard to the original provenance and manufacture of some early engraved Regimental and Volunteer Medals, this lot is sold as viewed.
Three: Battery Sergeant-Major P. Beezley, Royal Artillery Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (G.nr. & Dr. P. Beezley. R.A.) contemporary engraved naming, unofficial rivets; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (Batty. Serjt. Major P. Beezley. 14th Bde. R.A.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed and fitted with replacement large ring suspension, all three fitted with silver ribbon buckles, edge bruising and contact marks to the Crimean awards, good fine, otherwise very fine (3) £260-£300
The C.B.E. and Brazilian O Globo merit medal attributed to Mr J. A. Cayton, Representative, British Council in Canada, formerly British Council in Brazil The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, with full neck riband in Garrard, London, case of issue; Brazil, Republic, Merit Medal of the Brazilian newspaper O Globo, silver-gilt, with neck riband, in case of issue, nearly extremely fine (2) £260-£300 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1972: John Alwyn Cayton, O.B.E., lately British Council Representative in Canada. John Alwyn Cayton served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in the Second World War and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1943). He was awarded the O.B.E. on 11 June 1960, for services as Representative, British Council, Brazil, residing in Rio de Janeiro; and was promoted to C.B.E. in the New Years Honours of 1972, for services as Representative, British Council, Canada. O Globo is a Brazilian newspaper based in Rio de Janeiro. Sold with a calling card for ‘Mr J. A. Cayton, O.B.E., Representative, British Council, Brazil.’
Five: Acting Sergeant R. G. Pearce, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (5438386 Cpl. R. G. Pearce. D.C.L.I.) mounted as worn, good very fine Five: Private J. L. Williams, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry France and Germany Star; 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (5438165 Pte. J. L. Williams. D.C.L.I.) court mounted in this order, good very fine (10) £100-£140 --- Ronald George Pearce was born in Bude, Cornwall, on 6 June 1921. A carpenter by trade, he attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 15 May 1939 and was appointed Private in the 4/5th Battalion. Mustered in the trade of carpenter and joiner Class I, Group B, under A.O. 137/40 on 13 February 1941, he witnessed extensive service in North West Europe and was raised Acting Sergeant on 14 October 1945 when part of the British Army of the Rhine. Released from service in May 1946, his reference adds a little more detail: ‘Exemplary. Served with distinction in the North West European campaign. A fine leader. Very thorough, reliable and hard working, a skilled tradesman. He has commanded the Pioneer Platoon with success. His conduct has been beyond reproach.’ Sold with the recipient’s original typed letter of reference, dated 12 August 1945, mounted on card, a contemporary photograph of the recipient in military uniform, a bronze XXX Corps Alamein & Cuxhaven 1944-45 medallion, unnamed, and a file of copied research. John Leslie Williams was born in Camelford, Cornwall, on 20 February 1920. A stone mason’s apprentice, he attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 2 May 1939 and served in Normandy with the 5th Battalion, D.C.L.I., from 17 June 1944 as a Commanding Officer’s signaller throughout the North-West Europe campaign. Appointed Lance Corporal 25 November 1944 he was struck off strength from the British Army of the Rhine on 14 October 1945. Posted to Reserve, he was awarded the Efficiency Medal in 1946 and died at the East Cornwall Hospital in Bodmin on 14 August 1984. His obituary in the Silver Bugle reads: ‘He served throughout the whole of the North West European Campaign as the Commanding Officer's signaller. He will always be remembered in this capacity where his calm, stubborn and persistent voice was so often heard holding the Battalion's wireless net together on those difficult and temperamental No. 18 sets. No doubt he drove the CO and other members of Tac HQ mad with his continuous tuning and netting calls, but to his compatriots trying to keep in contact with Battalion HQ, his voice conveyed confidence and assurance. So often he would be heard calmly requesting "Through me” to an out-station struggling to get through in the heat of battle. He set his standard of excellence in Normandy and maintained it at Falaise pocket, the crossing of the Seine, the race to Arnhem, the winter campaign of 1944 and the crossing of the Rhine, culminating in the final battles for Bremen.’ Sold with an original photograph of the recipient in military uniform and copied research.
Volunteer Officers’ Decoration, V.R. cypher, silver and silver-gilt, the reverse hallmarked London 1892, and attractively engraved ‘Presented by Her Majesty Queen Victoria, To Surgeon Major Cook, 3rd Middlesex Artillery, December 22nd 1892.’, complete with top suspension brooch, good very fine £140-£180 --- Volunteer Officers’ Decoration London Gazette 6 December 1892. John Cook, M.D., was appointed Surgeon-Major, 3rd Middlesex Volunteer Artillery, on 16 January 1892. Sold with copied gazette notice and other research.
A fine Second War C.M.G., inter-War K.P.M. group of five awarded to Inspector General R. C. Morris, Burma Police The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with section of neck riband for display purposes, in Garrard, London, case of issue; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (Dy. Insp. Genl. R. C. Morris. Police Dept); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue, for Distinguished Service (Ralph Clarence Morris, Indian Police, Burma.) last four mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £800-£1,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1941. K.P.M. Gazette of India 1 January 1935. The official citation, published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on 1 January 1935, states: ‘Mr. Ralph Clarence Morris, Deputy Inspector-General of Police for Railways and Criminal Investigation, joined the Indian Police in 1908 as an Assistant Superintendent and very early in his career showed promise of developing into an officer of more than average merit. During the Great War he acted in the capacity of Personal Assistant to the Deputy Inspector-General of Military Police from May 1917 to February 1920 and was highly commended for his exceptional ability, self-reliance, resource and industry. While in charge of the Police in the Meiktila District in 1921 he dealt effectively with a serious outbreak of crime. In October 1921 he was specially selected for the post of Superintendent of Police Supplies which he held till February 1926 and brought the Department to a high state of efficiency. In June 1926 he was promoted to the Selection Grade and officiated as Deputy Inspector-General, Administration, from April to November 1928 when he was appointed as Assistant Inspector-General of Police. He held this post with distinction for about three years, earning the highest praise from the Inspector-General. In March 1931 he was appointed as Deputy Inspector-General of Police for Railways and Criminal Investigation and during the strenuous months of that year of rebellion he showed himself once more to be a very able, hard working and successful officer. As officiating Inspector-General of Police from June 1933 to January 1934 he gave complete satisfaction in the administration of the force and proved himself to be a sound and efficient administrator.’ Ralph Clarence Morris was born in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, on 10 March 1889. Educated at Ludlow Grammar School, he joined the Indian Police and served in Burma from 6 December 1908. Enjoying steady advancement in his career, Morris also saw the increasingly violent opposition to British rule in Burma led by a section of English-educated nationalists, as detailed by author S. R. Chakravarty in The Tharrawaddy Rebellion in Burma: ‘Influenced by Indian revolutionaries - especially those from Bengal - the mid-1920’s witnessed the development of secretive Burmese cells with a mission to convince the local populous of the need to self rule. Arguing that ‘liberty’ and ‘good government’ could not be delivered by one group of people to another, the revolutionaries succeeded in stirring up the people with arguments of imperialism being founded upon force and fraud.’ The resultant anti-imperialist rebellion broke out on 22 December 1930, taking the immediate form of attacks on police stations and governmental buildings. It ended in August 1931 with the capture of the nationalists’ leader, physician and former monk Saya San. Awarded the India General Service Medal and confirmed as entitled to the Silver Jubilee and Coronation Medals, Morris was decorated with the C.M.G. in 1941 as Inspector General of Police, Burma, and is later recorded in the Civil List for Burma (1 September 1942) as ‘on leave preparatory to retirement’. Relocating to Bournemouth, Morris died on 28 May 1959. Sold with copied research.
Four: Captain K. F. T. Caldwell, Royal Artillery, later A.D.C. to the Governor of Kenya and senior assistant Game Warden in that Colony 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut. K. F. T. Caldwell. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. K. F. T. Caldwell.); Italy, Kingdom, Al Valore Militare, silver, mint mark Crowned ‘Z’ over ‘F.G’, unnamed as issued, very fine (4) £300-£400 --- Italy, Al Valore Militare (Silver) London Gazette 12 September 1918. Keith Farquhar Townley Caldwell was born on 21 November 1886, son of Colonel R. T. Caldwell, V.D., M.A., LL.M., 3rd Gordon Highlanders. He was educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, in July 1910; Lieutenant in July 1913; Temporary Captain in August 1915; Captain in July 1916; placed on half-pay on 14 December 1919; and then employed under the Colonial Office from 22 January 1920. Caldwell served with 47th Battery, R.F.A., in France and Flanders from late 1914 until wounded in mid-1915; he then served as Adjutant to 4th Reserve Brigade, R.F.A. (T.F.), from July 1915 until end of the War. Employed in Kenya Colony as Assistant District Commissioner from December 1918 to September 1919, he then acted as A.D.C. to Governor of Kenya between September 1919 and October 1922, and later: Assistant Game Warden, Kenya, from October 1922; Game Warden (Temporary), Kenya, from January to November 1923, and again in 1926; and Senior Assistant Game Warden, Kenya, from 1 January 1925.
The outstanding N.G.S. medal awarded to Admiral Thomas Bennett, R.N., who was wounded as a 12 year-old midshipman at the battle of Camperdown, and was second Lieutenant of the Seahorse in Captain John Stewart’s extraordinary and brilliant ‘Gold Medal’ night action with a Turkish squadron in July 1808 Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Camperdown, Seahorse Wh Badere Zaffere (Thomas Bennett, Lieut.) together with contemporary miniature medal with two engraved clasps on original ribbon fitted with silver ribbon buckle, good very fine (2) £18,000-£22,000 --- Provenance: Sotheby, June 1971 (to Fergus Gowans Collection); Glendining’s, March 1989; John Goddard Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, November 2015. Camperdown [298 issued] - including 3 officers and 20 men of the Monarch. Seahorse Wh Badere Zaffere [32 issued] - including 11 officers of which the following six are known: Thomas Bennett, Lieutenant (third senior officer aboard the Seahorse and senior surviving claimant); Hon. George P. Campbell, Midshipman; Lord John Hay, Midshipman; Viscount A. G. Kenmore, Midshipman (Honeyman Collection, Huntington Library, U.S.A.); William Oastler, Surgeon; Edwin L. Rich, Midshipman (Royal Naval Museum). A surprisingly rare clasp despite the number awarded. Thomas Bennett was born on 22 February 1785, at Hereford, a nephew of Francis Bennett, Esq., Purser of the Nassau 64, who perished in that ship when wrecked on the coast of Holland, 14 October 1799, and of Commander William Bennett, R.N., who died in 1819. He entered the Navy in March 1797 as a Volunteer, on board the Monarch 74, Captain John Elphinstone, flagship afterwards of Vice-Admiral Richard Onslow, under whom he fought and was wounded, while only twelve years of age, in the battle of Camperdown, 11 October following. On leaving the Monarch, in which ship he had previously witnessed the mutiny at Spithead, he successively joined the Nassau 64, Captains William Hargood and George Tripp, guard-ship at the Nore, and, in the early part of 1798, the Amphion 32, Captain Richard Henry Alex. Bennett, employed on the North Sea, African, and West India stations. Among other achievements he assisted, while cruizing off the island of Jamaica in company with the Alarm 32, in effecting the capture, 25 November 1799, of the Asturiana, Spanish letter-of-marque, mounting 28 guns, with a complement of 180 men; and for his zeal and activity on various occasions, but more especially in the boat-chase of a privateer off Port Royal, was ultimately, in 1801, transferred by the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Hugh Seymour, to his flagship, the Sans Pareil 80. The premature death, however, of the gallant Admiral depriving him of the immediate promotion he had been promised, Mr. Bennett did not obtain any advancement in his profession until January 1802, when he appears to have been appointed Acting-Lieutenant, for a short time, of the Tartar 36, and Vanguard 74, both commanded by Captain James Walker. He returned home in the course of the same year on board the Cerberus 32, Captain James Macnamara; and on being reappointed as Admiralty Midshipman, at the commencement of hostilities, to the Amphion, then commanded by Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy, conveyed Lord Nelson to the Mediterranean, where he was promoted by his Lordship, who had previously made him his Signal Officer, into the Camelion 18, Captain Thomas Staines, 25 July, 1803 – an act which was officially confirmed on 9 December following. During the next two years Bennett was warmly engaged, nearly the whole time as First-Lieutenant, in destroying the enemy’s coasting-trade between Toulon and Genoa. On one occasion, on 29 August 1803, whilst attacking five vessels under the batteries at Rimasol, his clothes and hat were shot through in an extraordinary manner, and every person in his own boat, except himself, two men, and a boy, was either killed or wounded. Seahorse with Badere Zaffer, Gold Medal action In May 1805, after assisting at the capture, within sight of the British fleet, of Le Renard schooner, of 12 guns, he exchanged into the Seahorse, of 42 guns and 281 men, commanded at first by Captains Hon. Courtenay Boyle and Robert Corbett, and from April, 1806, until June, 1811, by Captain John Stewart, in whose distinguished services during that period he proved an active participator. On the failure of Sir Arthur Paget’s pacific mission to restore peace between Great Britain and Turkey, Captain Stewart was despatched, in August 1807, to examine the ports in the Cyclades, to report as to their capacity, and to promote and facilitate trade with Malta. Cruizing in the Archipelago on the evening of 5 July 1808, the Seahorse fell in with two Turkish frigates, the Badere Zaffer, 52 guns, and the Alis-Fezan of 26 guns. The crew of the Badere Zaffer alone was nearly double that of the Seahorse, and her armament was heavier, but Captain Stewart engaged both ships, and after an action of about half an hour, the smaller Turkish frigate, much damaged, made sail away. Her consort fought in the most determined manner, and made several unsuccessful attempts to board the Seahorse, who poured broadside after broadside into her opponent with most destructive effect. For more than three hours the contest raged, from nine p.m. till past midnight, when the ships separated, the Turk with all her topmasts shot away, and her fire silenced. At dawn, the Seahorse bore down to renew the engagement, and the Turkish captain, though ready to fight again, was compelled by his crew to surrender, his ship being so shattered that she was with difficulty kept afloat. What occurred after the Badere Zaffer had struck her colours is best told in the words of an officer present: ‘The little Arab who commanded the Turkish ship, on being brought aboard and asked for his sword, had no idea of surrendering it; indeed he had, immediately after his colours were struck, dressed himself entirely in white, meant perhaps as a flag of truce. Having obtained permission to return to his ship, and being in the confusion of the moment unguarded, he got one of the fighting lanterns, which were still alight, and had reached the magazine passage then not secured, and over ankle deep in gunpowder, when just as he was in the act of taking the candle from the lantern the schoolmaster, who had come aboard the prize from curiosity, and happened to be providentially on the lower deck, immediately on seeing the danger knocked down the Arab, dowsed his glim, and saved us from the inevitable destruction of one, if not both, frigates. He was removed on board the Seahorse, and as he spoke Italian fluently, Captain Stewart rebuked him severely in that language for his breach of the laws of honour and war, to which he listened with unmoved patience. When the speaker ceased, the little tiger bent forward his head, and pointing to his neck, said, “Take it, it is yours, don’t hesitate, for had the fortune of war been mine I would have had your head off two hours ago. I only did my duty in attempting to blow up my ship, and I curse my own stupidity for not succeeding.” His officers declared that during the action he had put 17 of his own men to death with his own hand in attempting to keep them at their quarters.’ The British loss was five men killed and ten wounded; the loss of the enemy, one hundred and seventy killed and about two hundred wounded, many mortally, showing the difference in the handling and gunnery of the two ships. Captain Stewart took his shattered prize into Malta, and being unsuitable for the British Navy, she was sold to some merchants. In addition to the Naval Gold Medal, Captain Stewart received a £100 sword from the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund for this service. The First-Lieutenant, George Dow...
‘During the night 25/26 Sep the 1st Airborne Div were evacuated from the North Bank of the Neder Rijn just West of Arnhem.... The entire arrangements for launching the boats, taping the routes and bringing back officers and men were the responsibility of Lt. Col Henniker. This officer planned the operation, using every conceivable type of boat and raft and personally directed the work throughout the night from the river bank - often under heavy and accurate mortar and MG fire... I regard this officer’s splendid work as the main factor in the successful rescue of between 2000 and 3000 All Ranks of the 1st Airborne Div.’ (Taken from the Recommendation for the award of an Immediate D.S.O. to Henniker, written by Major-General G. I. Thomas, Officer Commanding 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, and endorsed by Field Marshal Montgomery) The important 1953 ‘Malaya Emergency’ C.B.E., Second War immediate ‘Arnhem operations’ D.S.O., rare ‘Mohmand 1933’ M.C. group of twelve awarded to Brigadier Sir Mark ‘Honker’ Henniker, Royal Engineers - one of the founders of the 1st Airborne Division, and a member of ‘Boy’ Browning’s ‘Dungeon Party’. A true character, highly intelligent, and a man of action, he honed his skills on the North West Frontier, and successfully escaped with his men from the beaches of Dunkirk in a rowing boat! As the first Chief Royal Engineer, 1st Airborne Division, Henniker was integral to the planning of the famous Bruneval Raid, February 1942, and the attempted destruction of the Heavy Water Production Plant at Telemark, Norway, in November of the same year. He once again helped plan the airborne element of the invasion of Sicily, and took part in the airborne landings of Operation Husky, flying in by glider as part of HQ 1st Airlanding Brigade in July 1943. Despite being wounded by shrapnel and breaking his arm, the unit Henniker was with captured an Italian Coastal Battery and took over 90 Prisoners of War. Commandeering an airborne engineer with a motorcycle, Henniker made his way to the Ponte Grande to ensure that the enemy demolition charges had been removed. He then joined up with the landing force and made his way to assist in the relief of the 1st Parachute Brigade at Primosole Bridge. He ‘continued to fight, though swathed in bandages.’ His was not a ‘quiet’ war: Henniker then took part in the seaborne landings at Taranto, and was once again prominent in a boat (on this occasion a dingy in a partly-cleared minefield) when coming to the rescue of the survivors of H.M.S. Abdiel, the latter having hit a mine in Taranto Harbour on 10 September 1943. The pinnacle of his career was to arrive when serving as C.R.E., 43rd (Wessex Division) during Operation Market Garden. Henniker was responsible for the planning and execution of Operation Berlin - the iconic night-time evacuation of the remnants of the beleaguered 1st Airborne Division under Roy Urquhart, trapped in German-occupied territory north of the Lower Rhine and just West of Arnhem. On the night of 25-26 September 1944, Henniker executed his intricate plan and secured the rescue of some 2,400 men across the Lower Rhine, in all manner of boats and rafts - all under heavy fire, and all personally directed by him throughout the night from his position on the river bank The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated ‘1945’, with integral top riband bar, reverse centre slightly loose; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Mohmand 1933 (Lieut. M. C. A. Henniker. M.C., R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, Near East, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Brig. M. C. A. Henniker. C.B.E. D.S.O. M.C. Staff.) second clasp loose as issued, with official corrections; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, breast awards mounted as originally worn, with enclosure for Near East M.I.D. emblem, cleaned, generally very fine unless otherwise already stated (12) £60,000-£80,000 --- C.B.E. London Gazette 30 October 1953. The original recommendation states: ‘Brigadier Henniker has Commanded with skill and energy 63 Gurkha Infantry Brigade. He has worked with great determination to bring to a successful conclusion his campaign against the Communist Terrorists in the States of Negri Sembilan and Malacca, the area for which he and his Brigade are responsible. In the latter he has very nearly achieved his object. He never spares himself in travelling long distances over difficult roads regardless of any lurking dangers to see and visit the troops under his Command and his leadership and direction has resulted in many successes for the units under his Command. He has shown balance and co-operation in his dealings with the Civil Administration and the Police and it has been by this close co-operation that so much has been achieved in his area. He has led his Brigade carefully and confidently and has done much over and above the normal run of his duties to further the efforts of everyone in bringing the Emergency in Malaya to a successful conclusion.’ O.B.E. London Gazette 24 August 1944 (Italy). The original recommendation states: ‘Lt. Col. Henniker’s handling of the limited engineer resources of the division from the time of landing at Taranto until the arrival of 5 Corps, was outstanding. His foresight contributed to a degree to the opening up of communications by road and rail, to the functioning of the docks in Taranto and to the bringing into use of the aerodromes at Gioja and Bari.’ D.S.O. London Gazette 1 March 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘During the night 25/26 Sep the 1st Airborne Div were evacuated from the North Bank of the Nedder Rijn just West of Arnhem. The entire arrangements for launching the boats, taping the routes and bringing back officers and men were the responsibility of Lt. Col Henniker. This officer planned the operation, using every conceivable type of boat and raft and personally directed the work throughout the night from the river bank - often under heavy and accurate mortar and MG fire. His example, and fine control, were throughout an inspiration to all and acted as a stimulus to the many feats of bravery performed by all ranks. I regard this officer’s splendid work as the main factor in the successful rescue of between 2000 and 3000 All Ranks of the 1st Airborne Div. His fine leadership and disregard of his own safety were in the best traditions of The Corps.’ M.C. London Gazette 3 July 1934: ‘For distinguished services rendered in the field in connection with military operations against the Upper Mohmands, period July - October 1933.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 31 May 1955 (Malaya) and 13 June 1957 (Near East) Sir Mark Chandos Auberon ‘Honker’ Henniker, 8th Bt., was the son of Frederick Henniker and was born in Minehead, Somerset, in January 1906. He was educated at Marlborough College, The Royal Military Academy Woolwich, and King’s College, Cambridge. Elephants on Parade! Henniker was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1926, and served attached to the Bengal Sappers and Miners on the North West Frontier. During his time there he gained a reputation as a bit of a character, and ‘enjoyed being saluted by his elephants when an officer of the Raj. If he was wearing uniform, he saluted back; if in...
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