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Lot 801

Estonia, Order of the Eagle Cross, type 1, Second Class breast star, in silver and enamels, with gilt shield at centre, width 84.5mm, centre refixed and backplate scratched, otherwise good very fine

Lot 803

Finland, Cross of Liberty, 1918 issue, Fourth class cross with Swords, Silver medal, Bronze medal, last with related miniature; 1939 issue, Fourth class cross with swords, 1941 issue, Fourth class with Swords and Oak Leaves, Fourth class Mourning Cross, generally good very fine (7)

Lot 806

Finland, Order of the Lion, Commander’s neck badge, by A. Tillander, Helsinki 1957, in silver-gilt and enamels, width 49.5mm, in case of issue, extremely fine

Lot 809

France, Légion d’Honneur, July Monarchy, Knight’s breast badge, in silver, with gold and enamelled centre, chipped, very fine; Second Empire (1852-70), Officer’s breast badge, in gold and enamels, chipped and point bent, good fine; Knight’s breast badge, in silver, with gold and enamels, good very fine; together with Decoration of the Lis, on original ribbon, extremely fine (4)

Lot 810

France, Légion d’Honneur, Second Republic, Knight’s breast badge, in silver and enamels, with gold and enamelled centre, width 45mm, good very fine

Lot 813

Légion d’Honneur, Second Empire (1852-70), Knight’s breast badge, ‘Cent Gardes’ type, in silver, and enamels, with gold and blue enamelled centre, width 42.5mm, about extremely fine

Lot 814

France, Légion d’Honneur, Third Republic, Grand Officer’s breast star, in silver, Officers breast badges (2), by Ouizille et Lemoine and Monnaie de Paris, in silver-gilt and enamels; Knight’s breast badges (2), by Monnaie de Paris, in silver, gilt and enamels, Fourth Republic (1946-58), Officer’s breast badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, and Knight’s breast badge, in silver, gilt and enamels, both by Bertrand, very fine and better (8)

Lot 815

France, Légion d’Honneur, Fifth Republic (post 1958), Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star in silver-gilt; Grand Officer’s set of insignia, neck badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star, in silver, Officer’s breast badge, in silver-gilt and enamels and Knight’s breast badge, in silver, gilt and enamels, good very fine or better (6)

Lot 818

France, Médaille Militaire (5), Second Empire, 1852-1870, Third Republic, 1870-1951, Fourth Republic (1951-), various issues and types, in silver, gilt and enamels, various suspension types; together with Campaign Medals (10), War Commemorative Medal, 1870-71 (2), both types, the first with silver clasp Engagé Volontaire; Army Veterans Decoration 1870-71, with silver clasp; Defence of Belfort Medal; China, 1900-01, in silver, with clasp China 1900-1901; and Morocco, 1909 (5) each with one clasp ‘Casablanca’, ‘Maroc’, ‘Haut-Guir’, ‘Oudjva’, ‘Darano’, generally about very fine or better (15)

Lot 819

France, July Cross, 1830, type I breast badge in silver, gold and enamels, 40mm, with original ribbon, minor repairs to white enamel, otherwise very fine, and scarce

Lot 820

France, Early Campaign Medals (4), comprising: St Helena, 1857, in bronze; Italy Campaign, 1859, in silver, by Barre; China Expedition, 1860, in silver by Barre, with original ribbon; and Mexico Expedition 1862-1863, in silver by Barre, with original ribbon, generally toned, the second good fine, remainder good very fine, some scarce (4)

Lot 825

France, Campaign Medals (6), all in silver, comprising: Tonkin (2), 1883-1885, naval and army types; Madagascar, 1883-1886 (2), First and Second expeditions; Dahomey, 1892; Soudan, 1893, generally good very fine (6)

Lot 826

France, Colonial Medals (37) type I, 1893-1914, third model, examples with clasps ‘Algérie’, ‘Tunisie’, ‘Senegal Et Soudan’, ‘Bir Hacheim 1942’ (incorrect clasp for medal), type II, 1914-1962 (18), 2 clasps (silver) ‘Centre Africaine’ & ‘De L’Atlantique a la Mer Rouge’, and ‘Côte de Somalis 1940-1941’, 2 clasps (bronze) ‘Afrique Occidentale Française’ & ‘Maroc’, single silver clasps (11) ‘Libye’, ‘Erythrée’ (2), Madagascar, ‘Afrique’ (3), ‘Française Libre’, ‘Maroc’, ‘Indo-Chine’, ‘Extrême-Orient’, and ribbon with loose clasp, Guinée française, bronze clasps, ‘Maroc’, ‘Somalie’, ‘Rwanda’, ‘Arabie Saoudite’, ‘Detroit d’Ormuz’; with a tailor’s display piece in silver, with 14 bronze clasps, Vichy issue, in silvered bronze, with silvered clasp ‘Indochine’, and Overseas Medal (14), 1962-present, 2 bronze clasps, ‘Tchad’ and ‘Liban’, and single clasp examples ‘Koufra’, ‘Tchad’, ‘Cambodge’, ‘Yougoslavie’, ‘Rwanda’, ‘Detroit D’Ormuz’, ‘Somalie’, ‘Republique Centrafricaine’, ‘Mauritanie’, ‘Centrafrique’, ‘Zaire’, ‘Moyen-Orient, mixed grades, some rare (37)

Lot 828

France, Interwar Period Medals (9) comprising: Upper Silesia, 1920-1922, Rhineland Occupation (3), types 1 and 2 (2); Levant Campaign Medal (5), bronze clasps ‘Levant’, ‘Levant 1925-1926’, and silver clasps, 2 clasps ‘Levant-1941’ and ‘Syrie 1941’, Croix de Guerre for Foreign Service (TOE) (2), type 1, in bronze; on contemporary ribbons, mostly very fine (9)

Lot 831

France, National Order of Labour, 1942, for 10 Years’ Service, Knight’s breast badge in silver and enamels, with portrait of Petain at centre, 40mm, with ribbon, one or two tiny chips to enamel, very fine, and rare

Lot 836

France, Post-World War Two Medals (32), comprising: Cross of Military Valour, with silver star North Africa Security and Order Operations commemorative (2), with clasps Maroc and Algérie; Operations in the Middle East (Suez), 1956 commemorative, with clasp Moyen Orient; Indochina commemorative (3), types with three-line reverse and clasp Indochine, and wreath reverse (2); Korea commemorative; French UN Medal with related fittings; National Defence (22), various types with various clasps; Western European Union Mission Service Medal, with clasp Ex-Yougoslavie, generally good very fine or better (32)

Lot 838

Germany, Hanover, Guelphic Order, 1841-66 issue with EA monogram on reverse, Knight’s breast badge, in silver and enamels, width 27mm, in case of issue, about extremely fine

Lot 840

Imperial Germany, Mounted Group of Five, recently made up to represent the Great War awards of Marshal Kesselring, comprising Bavaria, Order of St Michael, Fourth class breast badge, in silver and blue enamel, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Honour Cross, Military Division, Fourth class breast badge, in silver, Bavaria, Order of Military Merit, Fourth class breast badge, with swords, in silver, gilt and enamels, Saxony, Order of Albrecht, Military Division, Second class Knight’s breast badge, in silver and enamels, Baden, Order of the Lion of Zahringen, Military Division, Knight’s breast badge, in silver, gilt and crystal, first chipped on reverse, very fine or better (5)

Lot 841

Greece, Miscellaneous Orders (4), comprising: Order of the Redeemer, type 2, Officer’s breast badge in silver-gilt and enamels; Royal Order of George I, Military Division (2), Officer’s and Knight’s cross in Silver-gilt/silver and enamels; Order of the Patriarchy of Jerusalem, Knight’s breast badge in gilt-metal and enamels, this in case of issue (hinge broken) with related fittings and chipped, generally good very fine or better (4)

Lot 843

Greece, Miscellaneous Medals and Decorations (26), comprising: Cross of Valour (2), gold and silver issues; Graeco Turkish War Medal, 1912-13 (4), with 3, 2, 1 and no clasp Greco Bulgarian War Medal, 1912-13 (3), in bronze, with 3, 1 and no clasp, one on non-combatant ribbon; Military Merit Medal (6), various classes and issues; War Cross 1916-17 (3), various types, one with palm; Victory Medal (3), various types; Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (3), in gilt, silvered-bronze and bronze, the first with Army, others with Air Force ribbon, WWII Land Operations medal and star, mixed grades (26)

Lot 846

India, Bahawalpur, Imtiaz-i-Satlej, Second Class neck badge, by Spink and Son, in silver-gilt and enamels, with central enamelled surround, width 55mm, pen, sword and book attachment below slack, otherwise good very fine and rare

Lot 847

India, Bahawalpur, Imtiaz-i-Satlej, Third Class neck badge, by Spink and Son, in silver-gilt and enamels, width 55mm, good very fine and rare

Lot 848

India, Bahawalpur, Imtiaz-i-Satlej, Third class neck badge, by Spink and Son, in silver-gilt and enamels, width 55mm, centre polished, good very fine

Lot 849

India, Bahawalpur, Imtiaz-i-Abbasia, Second Class neck badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, width 51mm, about extremely fine

Lot 851

Iran, Order of the Lion and Sun, Military Division, Fourth class badge, in silver and enamels, width 59.5mm, extremely fine

Lot 852

Iran, Order of the Lion and Sun, Civil Division, Fourth class badge, with swan export mark on suspension ring, in silver, with gold and enamelled centre, central border, rays and suspension entirely set with pastes, width 62.5mm, backing plate lacking, good very fine

Lot 853

Iran, Order of the Lion and Sun, Civil Division, Fourth class neck badge, in silver, with enamelled centre, centre chipped, about very fine; Order of the Taj, Grand Cross sash badge and Fifth class breast badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, first slightly chipped and with balls at points bent, very fine (3)

Lot 856

Italy, Military Order of Savoy, Knight’s breast badge, in gilt and enamels, width 42.5mm; Order of Colonial Merit, Knight’s breast badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, width 40.7mm, good very fine or better (2)

Lot 857

Italy, Order of the Roman Eagle, type I (1942-1943), Military Division, Knight’s breast badge with swords, in silver-gilt and enamel, width 39.5mm, a little loss of gilding, otherwise extremely fine

Lot 858

Italy, Merit Star for Labour, type III (1927-1943), for overseas work, in silver gilt and enamels, 43mm, in Johnson case issue, with related fitting; and Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, set of insignia by Gardino, comprising neck badge, 58mm, and breast star, 65.5mm, in gilt, first chipped, good very fine or better, first scarce (3)

Lot 860

Italy, Order of the Crown, Grand Cross set of insignia, by Cravanzola, Rome, Victor Emanuel III issue, post 1905, comprising sash badge, in gold and enamels, width 50.7mm, and breast star, in silver, with gold, gilt and enamelled centre and gilt and enamelled eagle, 87mm, in velvet case of issue, extremely fine, with sash (2)

Lot 861

Italy, Order of the Crown various insignia (4), Grand Officer’s set by Gardino, comprising, neck badge, in gold and enamels, and breast star, in silver, with gold and enamelled centre; Officer’s breast badge, also by Gardino, and Knight’s breast badge, in gold and enamels, first two cased (second damaged), some insignia chipped, very fine or better (4)

Lot 863

Italy, Miscellaneous Decorations (19): Al Valore Militare (6), all unofficial, type 2 (6) in gilt (3), silver (2), and bronze and type IV Republican example in gilt; Al Valore Civile, official type 2, in bronze, unnamed; Al Valore Di Marina (3), first official issue, in bronze, unnamed; with two unofficial Republican examples in silvered metal and bronze; War Merit and Military Valour cross; Long Service Cross (7) royal type (3), 25 years without crown, in gilt, 16 years with crown, in silvered metal, 16 years in silver, type with VE monogram without crown, 40 years with crown, in silvered metal; and silvered metal (5); Republic issue (3), 25 years in gilt, 25 years in silvered metal (2) extremely fin or better (19)

Lot 864

Italy, Al Valore Militare, type III, Fascist period, in .800 hallmarked silver, initials ABM below sword, ‘Campagna 1943-1945’ reverse, ‘36mm, about extremely fine, and scarce

Lot 865

Italy, Al Valore Militare, type III, Fascist period, in silver, without maker’s initials, believed to be by Johnson, reverse blank, 36mm, old cabinet tone, one or two tiny rim nicks, otherwise extremely fine, and scarce

Lot 871

Italy, Messina Earthquake Merit Medal, 1908, type III, in bronze, 35mm; Messina Earthquake Medal, 1908, in silver, by L. Giorgi, 31.5mm, the first good extremely fine, and scarce, other nearly very fine (2)

Lot 873

Italy, Miscellaneous Great War Period Medals, comprising: Italian-Austrian War Medal, 1915-1918, 4 clasps, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918; Allied Victory Medal (8), official types 1, 2, 3 and 4; re-issue types 2 and 3; and unofficial types 1 and 5; Great War in Europe commemorative; Medal of National Gratitude; Liberator of Piave Medal, 1918Unification of Italy Medals (5), 1848-1918 (3), 1848-1922 (2), Red Cross Merit Medal (2), in silver and bronze; Medal for War Volunteers, 1915-1918, in bronze; Order of Vittorio Veneto; Fiume Medal, 1919, other miscellaneous WWI commemoratives (5), and two loose clasps, 1913 silver and 1918 bronze, mostly very fine or better (27)

Lot 875

Italy, Miscellaneous Aeronautical Decorations, comprising: Al Valore Aeronautico (6), Fascist period, type I (3), in silver, and in bronze (2); type II (3), in gilt-metal, silvered-metal, and bronze; Air Force Long Service Medal, Aerial Navigation Medal,; Republic, Army Long Command Merit Medal, (3), in gilt-metal, silvered-metal, and bronze; Medal of Honour for Distance Navigation (2), two types one in bronze-gilt, other bronze; good very fine or better, some of later or unofficial manufacture (13)

Lot 876

Italy, Fascist Period, Miscellaneous Medals (20) comprising: March on Rome 1922, in bronze, by Lorioli & Castelli; Medal for Social Redemption, in bronze; Fascist Campaign Merit 1923, in bronze; Italian Schools Abroad, type IIg, in bronze; Colonial Combatant’s Rally in Napoli, 1934; Ministry of War Shooting Medal, 1935, by Petri, in hallmarked silver; East Africa 1935-1940 (3), two gladius clasp; East Africa Volunteers 1935-1936; Spain Campaign Commemorative Cross, 1936 (3), one a copy; Spain Campaign Commemorative Medal, 1936 (3); Spanish Volunteers (3) various types,;20th Anniversary of the Anti-Fascist Resistance; Fascist Gathering 1933, , generally extremely fine (20)

Lot 880

Abyssinia, 1867-68, with original ribbon and silver clasp with reverse pin for wear (Lieutt G. A. Sweny 1st Battn 4th The K. O. R. Regt), toned, a few small rim nicks and tiny marks in places, very fine, with related attributed miniature (2). NOTE: M.i.D.: London Gazette: 16 June 1868, 30 June 1868, and 10 July 1868. Lieutenant Colonel George Augustus Sweny (1837-1918), son of Captain John Paget Sweny, served as Baggage Master of the 4th King’s regiment and as A.D.C. to Colonel commanding the Infantry Brigade, being thrice mentioned in despatches for the Abyssinian campaign, and having been present at the action at Arogee and the capture of Magdala. He gained the rank of Colonel in the Royal Fusiliers, and for a time transferred to the 7th Foot in 1870. He latterly resided at Rohallion, St. George Street, Toronto, Canada.

Lot 881

The D.S.O. Group of 7 awarded to Brigadier-General William Frederick Sweny, C.M.G., Royal Fusiliers, who was attached to the Egyptian Army as ‘El Kaimakam’ between 1902 and 1906 and commanded the Arab Battalion as Senior Inspector during the Bahr-el-Ghazal incident. He also served in the Great War as Commander of the 72nd Infantry Brigade, B.E.F. in 1914, being wounded three times and awarded the D.S.O., as well as the French Legion d’Honneur and Croix de Guerre, comprising: Distinguished Service Order, GVR, silver-gilt, 1914 Star with clasp ‘5th Aug. – 22nd Nov. 1914’ (Major W. F. Sweny. R. Fus.), British War and Victory Medals (Brig. Gen. W. F. Sweny.) the latter with bronze M.i.D. spray of oak leaves, Khedive’s Sudan, 1896-1908, no clasp (El Khaimakhan. W. F. Sweny Bey.), France, Legion d’Honneur, Officer’s breast badge in silver-gilt and enamels, with upper wreath suspension and rosette to ribbon, France, Croix de Guerre, 1918, in bronze, group swing-mounted on bar with reverse pin for wear, lightly toned, extremely fine (7) NOTE: D.S.O.: London Gazette New Year’s Honours 1917; M.i.D.: London Gazette: 11 December 1917; C.M.G.: London Gazette Birthday Honours 1919. Brigadier General William Frederick Sweny (d. 1950), son of Lt. Col. George Augustus Sweny, served in the Egyptian Army between 1902 and 1906 and received the Khedive’s Sudan medal for the Bahr el Ghazal incident in 1906, when Belgian Congolese troops refused to vacate this area following the lease reverting back to the Anglo-Egyptian government. In the Great War he served as Brigadier General with the Royal Fusiliers, and commanded the 72nd Infantry Brigade, B.E.F.

Lot 882

The Miniature C.M.G. and D.S.O. Group of 8 as worn by Brigadier-General William Frede-rick Sweny, C.M.G., Royal Fusiliers, comprising: The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, Companion’s breast badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, Distinguished Service Order, GVR, silver-gilt, 1914 Star with clasp ‘5th Aug. – 22nd Nov. 1914’, British War and Victory Medals, the latter with bronze M.i.D. spray of oak leaves, Khedive’s Sudan, 1896-1908, no clasp, France, Legion d’Honneur, Officer’s breast badge in silver-gilt and enamels, with upper wreath suspension and rosette to ribbon, France, Croix de Guerre, 1918, in bronze, group swing-mounted on bar with reverse pin, lightly toned, extremely fine (8)

Lot 883

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Vittoria, Toulouse, with ornate silver clasp to ribbon (G. Burgess, 15th Light Dragns.), dark, slightly uneven tone, extremely fine. NOTE: Ex Sotheby’s, 17 December 1990, lot 173; offered with copied medal roll entry confirming entitlement.

Lot 893

The Great War ‘Armoured Trains’ Group of 7 awarded to Commander Astle Scott Littlejohns, C.M.G., Royal Australian Navy, late Royal Navy, who served in WWI as Captain of the armoured train H.M.A.T. Jellicoe in France and Flanders, for which he was awarded the C.M.G. He also commanded this and two other armoured trains at Antwerp, where he was wounded in action by high-explosive shell during a sortie, comprising: 1914 Star with Bar (Act. Commdr A. S. Littlejohns, CMG., R.N. Armd. Trains.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr. A. S. Littlejohns. R.N.), the latter with M.i.D.; Belgium, Order of Leopold, Knight’s breast badge with swords and silver palm upon ribbon; Belgium, Military Decoration, 1st Class, in bronze-gilt, with Distinguished Service type ribbon; Belgium, Croix de Guerre; and Thailand, Order of the White Elephant, Officer’s breast badge, in silver and silver-gilt with rosette, the group swing-mounted on bar (lacking reverse pin) for wear, toned, good very fine, an extremely rare (and possibly unique) combination of awards (7) NOTE: M.i.D.: London Gazette, 14 January 1915: ‘for gallant and distinguished service in the field’; C.M.G.: London Gazette, 22 December 1915: ‘in recognition of distinguished service in command of armoured trains in Flanders’; Order of Leopold: London Gazette, 28 April 1916: ‘in recognition of his services which connected with armoured trains in Belgium’; Belgian Croix de Guerre: London Gazette, 14 September 1918. Astle Scott Littlejohns was born on the 13th of June 1873, the son of W J Littlejohns, R.N. of Greenwich Park, and entered the Royal Navy for service on the 15th of January 1886. He served aboard various ships, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander despite some rather average reports from his superior officers. Consequently, he resigned at his own request in February 1902. Despite attending one or two retired officer courses, it was not until the outbreak of the Great War that he served with any real success, when he was placed as an officer with the Royal Naval Armoured trains in France and Flanders. Here, commanding 3 armoured trains, he finally distinguished himself as an officer. He appears to have played a role in the defence of Antwerp, and was slightly wounded during a sortie from this city by high explosive shell. The three armoured trains under his command: H.M.A.T. Jellicoe, H.M.A.T. Deguise, and H.M.A.T. Churchill, covered the withdrawal of the Royal Naval Division from Antwerp, and then supported the French, Belgian and British forces during the Battles of Ypres, Givenchy, La Bassée, and Neuve Chapelle. The Jellicoe itself was was armed with three 4.7-inch guns and, a handful of R.N. and R.M. personnel aside, was manned by around 70 Belgian volunteers. For this service he was presented the C.M.G. at Buckingham Palace on the 15th of April 1916, but late on in the Great War, and possibly from his wounds and other ailments, he was given a less demanding administrative position as Naval Representative for the Commonwealth of Australia from the 28th of February 1918, in which position he remained for over 3 years. It is believed that his Thai award might relate to his work in this role, as suggested by his service papers, which also show that he died on the 3rd of December, 1939. Offered with copied service papers.

Lot 894

A Great War Jutland Group of 6 awarded to Vice-Admiral John Douglas Edwards, C.B., Royal Navy, who commanded the Cruiser H.M.S. Falmouth at Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank, and during the Battle of Jutland, and was for a time Brigadier-General with the R.A.F. whilst serving with the Air Ministry, comprising: 1914-15 Star (Capt. J. D. Edwards, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. D. Edwards, R.N.); France, Legion d’Honneur, Officer’s breast badge with rosette, in silver-gilt and enamels; Czechoslovakia, Croix de Guerre, breast badge, in bronze; and Italy, Messina Earthquake Medal, 1908, in silver, eng. in upright capitals (Commdr. J. D. Edwards. H.M.S. Sutlej), group court-mounted, toned, a few light hairlines and small chip to enamel of Légion d’Honneur, otherwise good very fine (6) NOTE: C.B.: London Gazette, 15 September 1916: ‘commanded and fought in the Falmouth with great skill and gallantry’. France, Legion d’Honneur: London Gazette, 15 September 1916; Russia, Order of St Anne: London Gazette, 5 October 1917; Czechoslovakia, Croix de Guerre: London Gazette, 26 August 1921. John Douglas Edwards was born on the 29th of September, 1871, as Port Louis, Mauritius. He entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in 1887, and progressed steadily through the Officer ranks. During WWI, as Captain he commanded H.M.S. Falmouth of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron, with a complement of 376. She took part in the Battle of Jutland as part of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron, where she was hit by a German shell, but survived the battle. For his rôle as Captain, Edwards was awarded the C.B. In a smaller and lesser-known action on the 19th of August, 1916, Falmouth engaged two Zeppelins which were shadowing the British ships, when she ran across the line of fire of the German submarine U-66 which discharged two torpedoes at less than 1,000 yards range, both striking Falmouth on the starboard side. The ship did not sink for many hours and throughout the following night proceeded under her own steam until the early morning, when she was taken in tow. Quite unsuspected by the British, the Germans had established a line of submarines running out from Flamborough Head to intercept shipping approaching the Humber. As Falmouth approached, U-63 got home two torpedoes which, surprisingly enough, did not sink the vessel, though she had now been hit four times. She remained afloat for another eight hours and eventually sank five miles south of Flamborough Head. All the crew were taken off by the escorting destroyers and there was no loss of life, but one stoker died from his injuries later. Offered with copied service papers, which also confirm the award of his Messina Earthquake medal for service aboard H.M.S. Sutlej, and that Edwards died on 30th March, 1952.

Lot 901

Miscellaneous Great War Medals (13), British War and Victory Medal pair (1105 A. Cpl. H. T. Northcott. R.A.M.C.), 1914-15 Stars (3- 133096 Pnr. G. Evans. R.E. / 100346 Dvr. W.E. Harris. R.F.A. / erased), British War Medals (3- 2-Lieut. D.A. Bell / 1105 A. Cpl. H.T. Northcott R.A.M.C. / 206926 Cpl. S.L. Smallwood R.A.F.); Victory Medals (4- 48506 Pte. A. Hill, 1-7-R. Warwick R. / Lieut. H.D.A. Hunter / 1552 Dvr. Mohd. Shafi / 110801 Gnr. F.P. Simpson. R.A.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Foster), fine and better; with Silver Jubilee 1935 and Coronation 1937 pair to John Chaston, with forwarding letters for both medals, Coronation 1953, in case of issue, with lady’s bow and forwarding letter to Jane May Roach; Civil Defence Long Service, pre 1968 type, with fire watching exemption certificate to Miss E.B.M. Clifford, Warden, Swindon Area Civil Defence Service; Bomber Command and National Service commemoratives, both in cases of issue; Birmingham 1902 Coronation medal, in case of issue; L.C.C. King’s medal for school attendance, with related ribbon and bars, and Masonic Million Fund medal, cased, mostly extremely fine (lot)

Lot 912

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Companion’s neck badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, 49mm, toned, one or two tiny chips to enamel, about extremely fine

Lot 914

The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, the bullion breast star awarded to Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Burrard Neale, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., as Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, 16th January 1824, in gold and silver wire with sequins, and an embroidered and woven centre, paper-backed, 99mm, in original case, with original bestowal document and envelope with official red-wax seal, good very fine, and a rare early example of the Order insignia. NOTE: K.C.B.: London Gazette, 2 January 1815; G.C.B.: London Gazette, 14 September 1822; Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Burrard Neale (1765-1840) was the eldest son of Lieutenant-colonel William Burrard (1712–1780), governor of Yarmouth Castle in the Isle of Wight, whose elder brother, Harry Burrard (d. 1791), was created a baronet in 1769. He added the additional name of Neale on his marriage to Grace, daughter of Robert Neale of Shaw House, Wiltshire. He joined the Royal Navy in 1778 aboard H.M.S. Roebuck and was present at the reduction of Charleston in 1780, and distinguished himself at the Mutiny at the Nore in 1797 as Captain of the San Fiorenzo, which refused to take part in it. His career progressed rapidly, and in 1801 aboard H.M.S. London he took part in the capture of the French ships Marengo and Belle Poule. He was made a Lord of the Admiralty in 1804, and was for many years the MP for Lymington. He was made Captain of the Fleet in 1808 under Lord Gambier, with whom he was present at the attack upon the French Fleet at Basque Roads, and was promoted, to Rear-Admiral in 1810. He was again promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1814, was nominated for the K.C.B. in 1815, and for the G.C.B. in 1822. He served as Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean between 1823 and 1826, which post carried with it a nomination for the G.C.M.G.. See also back cover illustration.

Lot 915

The Orders (and Dress Miniatures) awarded to Sir Basil Edward Nicolls, K.B., C.V.O., C.B.E., whose long and distinguished B.B.C. career began in the 1920s and spanned the introduction of television in the early 1950s, comprising: Knight Bachelor’s badge, first type, in silver-gilt and red enamel, hallmarked London, 1926; The Royal Victorian Order, Commander’s neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels, no. 1124, by Collingwood, in case of issue with neck riband and instructions for wearing, with Warrant; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, type 2, Commander’s neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels, by Garrard, also in case of issue with neck riband and instructions for wearing, with Warrant; Dress Miniatures mounted for wearing (6): C.V.O., C.B.E., 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, India General Service with 1 clasp Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, generally extremely fine (lot) NOTE: C.B.E.: New Year Honours, 1 January 1945; C.V.O.: 8 June 1950: ‘For personal services to The King as Director of Home Broadcasts, BBC’.; The lot is offered with original Warrants for the C.V.O. and C.B.E. as well as a copy of the very first issue of The Listener, volume 1, no. 1, which appeared on 16 January 1929. Sir Basil Nicolls was instrumental in the introduction of the magazine, which was to appear weekly until its closure in January, 1991. Sir Basil Nicolls (1899-1903) served in the Great War and in India before joining the BBC, a private company until it became a Corporation in 1926. He was briefly Acting Director General from June to December 1952 and was actively involved in preparations for the now-celebrated broadcast of the Coronation in June 1953 via the new, popular medium of television. He also escorted the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh during their visit to Broadcasting House and to the BBC’s Maida Vale studios on February 27, 1953 (when the photograph reproduced here was taken). Provenance: By family descent.

Lot 916

Royal Victorian Order, Commander’s neck badge (C.V.O.), in silver-gilt and enamels, reverse numbered C10, reverse centre scratched, good very fine NOTE: Attributed to The Honourable Sir Alan Johnstone (1858-1932) who received the award as Chargé d’Affaires to the Grand Duchies of Hesse and Baden, 11 October 1901. He was appointed K.C.V.O. on 20 November 1905 whilst Ambassador at Copenhagen and G.C.V.O. on 25 April 1908 during the King’s visit to Copenhagen; he was also made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog. Between 1910 and 1917 he served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to The Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Lot 917

Order of the British Empire, Military Division, type 1, Member’s breast badge, hallmarked 1919, extremely fine; St George and the Dragon, silver and enamelled pendant, with red crystal droplet, width 22mm, very fine; Kaisar-i-Hind, miniature Third Class badge, in bronze; together with copy medals (5), comprising Victoria Cross, George Cross and a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and Afghanistan trio, extremely fine (8)

Lot 918

Order of St. John, breast star, in gilt and white enamel, 50mm; Officer’s breast badge, in silver and white enamel; Membership medal, in silver (14808 W.J. Martin Northern Heights Div. No 1 Dis, S.J.A.B. 1935); Imperial Service Medal, George VI type 2 (Edward Charles Barnes), good very fine or better; and a Khan Sahib badge, George V, reverse erased (5)

Lot 920

Coldstream Guards, jewelled military badge in silver and enamels, in the form of a Garter Star, with blue enamel Garter, central cross set in rubies, the ground within the cross and star set with diamonds, 25mm, with reverse pin for wear, in original case of issue by S J Phillips of New Bond Street; with a related set of six buttons in 18 ct. gold, with matching split-ring fittings for wear (one of these lacking), in original Ortner & Houle of St James’s Street case of issue, extremely fine and of good quality (lot)

Lot 921

Queen Victoria’s (Empress of India’s) 21st Lancers, jewelled military badge in gold and silver, with central monogram set with diamonds, crown above, with cross lances behind with ruby and diamond guidons, set upon straight bar with reverse pin for wear, 41mm, in original Jones of St James’s Street case of issue, with additional gold pin fitting for wear as a tie-pin, extremely fine

Lot 925

Battle of Copenhagen (?), Nelson Badge bearing the date of the Battle aprl  2 1801, cast in silver, oval portrait of Nelson with title adml. lord nelson of the nile. around and with date below, aprl 2 1801, having integrally-cast suspension ring and trophy-of-arms garniture including a fouled anchor, the smoothed reverse with contemporary engraving tonnant 80 g below a pair of crossed ship’s spars, 47mm x 45mm (cf Hardy 26; MH 492), very fine, suspended on a short silver watch-chain loop, extremely rare NOTE: Ex Morton & Eden 53, 1 December 2011, lot 1388. The evidently-struck copper-gilt badge used as the prototype for this and other cast badges is illustrated by Sim Comfort in his article The Naval Copenhagen Badge (in MCA Advisory vol. 4, no. 8, pp. 8-14). The piece discussed is surrounded by an elaborate contoured mount with the inscription in memory of the battle of copenhagen, only the lower part of which (without the inscription) is reproduced on the cast badges. Comfort proceeds to list the six examples of the cast badge in the National Maritime Museum, pointing out that two of them (engraved Orion 74 and Mars 74) are, like the present lot, inscribed with the names of ships which were not present at Copenhagen. Contrastingly, one of the gilt metal badges (object ID MEC 1170) is named on the reverse to Captain J. Rose of the 24-gun Jamaica which was present at Copenhagen; similarly the gold piece described by Milford Haven is to Captain George Murray of the Edgar, the ship which led Nelson’s squadron into battle at Copenhagen. Comfort’s own conclusions regarding these various cast medals remain controversial. Admiral The Marquess of Milford Haven (writing in 1919) listed and illustrated the gold specimen to Captain Murray, from the Payne Collection, and was moved to speculate that the badges may have represented a special award for Copenhagen sponsored by Nelson’s prize agent Alexander Davison, made in the face of a general failure by the authorities to render official recognition of individual contributions at the Battle. Whilst contemporary Press reports indicate that Davison was actively considering a Copenhagen medal in the wake of his successful Battle of the Nile awards, examination of the extensive Davison papers has so far yielded no evidence that this ever occurred. In addition to the NMM’s six examples a silver badge is held at the National Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth as part of the Lily Lambert Collection, bearing the ship’s name Donegal 74, and a further specimen is in the Royal Greenjackets’ Museum (officers of the Rifle Corps were present at Copenhagen as sharpshooters). The present lot, however, appears to be the only specimen to have been offered for public sale in recent times.

Lot 929

The Royal Geographical Society’s Victoria Medal awarded to Colonel Sidney Gerald Burrard, K.C.S.I., Royal Engineers, Surveyor of India, for his work on the Topography of the Himalayas (including Everest) in 1913 and who was considered ‘the eminent, member of the Community of Surveyors of the Empire’, together with his Baronet’s Badge, comprising: (i) Royal Geographical Society, Victoria Medal, in gold, by W. Wyon, young head of Queen Victoria, rev. the draped figure of Athena standing holding a wreath and map, at her feet a globe and sextant (Colonel S.G. Burrard, C.S.I., R.E., F.R.S. 1913), 55.5mm, 131g all in, glazed with gold rim, in original fitted Wyon case of issue (Eimer 1229); (ii) Baronet’s Badge, United Kingdom type, in silver-gilt and enamels (Burrard of Walhampton 3 April 1769), hallmarked London, 1935, in original Royal Mint case of issue, two tiny marks to glass near edge of the first, extremely fine (2) NOTE: C.S.I.: London Gazette, 12 December 1911: ‘Coronation Honours’; K.S.C.I.: London Gazette, 22 June 1914: ‘Royal Engineers, Surveyor-General in India’; 1913: S. G. Burrard Indian Survey - ‘For his distinguished contributions to geography and geodesy.’ Colonel Sidney Gerald Burrard (1860-1943) was born at Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, and was the eldest son of Lieutenant Colonel Sidney Burrard of the Grenadier Guards. After being educated at Uppingham and at Wellington College he was sent to Woolwich to join the Royal Engineers. He was a talented Cadet, particularly in Mathematics, receiving his first commission in April 1879. He sailed for India in 1882, and spent two years at Roorkee at the Head Quarters of the Bengal Sappers and Miners, before joining the Survey of India in September 1884. In this role he performed important work in accurately calculating and revising longitudes in India, and establishing tidal observatories at either end of the Suez canal, but it was in his work as Superintendent of the Trigonometrical Survey in Calcutta from 1899 onwards that he performed much of his greatest work. Written in collaboration with Sir Henry Hayden, Director of the Geological Survey of India, he wrote the book ‘A Sketch of the Geography and Geology of the Himalayan Mountains and Tibet.’ This work published a mine of hitherto unknown information regarding the Himalayas, including names, heights of peaks, classification into ranges, rivers, glaciers, lakes etc. In 1911, Burrard was made Surveyor-General of India in 1911, and was made C.S.I. at the Durbar in Delhi. In 1907 he had become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and in 1913 he was awarded the Victoria Medal. The President of the Society, Lord Curzon, commented at the presentation: “There is not a scientific explorer of our time who has not consulted and in some measure been guided by Colonel Burrard, and there has not been a Surveyor-General of equal scientific attainments since the days of Everest.” He was later made K.S.C.I. in 1914, and continued an extended tenure as Surveyor-General until the end of WWI, retiring in 1919.

Lot 933

The D.S.O. Group of 6 awarded to Major John Keily Gordon, who won the D.S.O. whilst commanding ‘S’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, in Mesopotamia. He later reached the rank of Brigadier, as Commander R.A. of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division in 1936-37, comprising: Distinguished Service Order, GVR, in silver-gilt and enamels; British War and Victory Medals, the latter with bronze M.i.D. spray of oak leaves (Major J.K. Gordon.); Delhi Durbar Medal, 1911, Jubilee Medal, 1935, Coronation Medal, 1937, all unnamed as issued, uneven reverse tone, BWM & Victory well-polished, light marks and hairlines, nearly very fine (6) NOTE: M.i.D.: London Gazette, 27 August 1918; D.S.O.: London Gazette, 11 January 1919: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He commanded his battery with marked skill and ability when subjected to heavy enemy shelling. The good shooting of his of his battery, and its steadiness in action, were largely due to his coolness and personal influence.’ John Keily Gordon was born on the 31st of March, 1883, and was educated at Wellington College. Having passed out as a Gentleman Cadet from the Royal Military Academy, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on the 21st of December, 1901, and joined the Royal Artillery. Early on in the Great War he was promoted to the rank of Captain on the 30th of October 1914, and then to Major on the 27th of January 1916. ‘S’ Battery (6 guns) had been based in Bangalore in India until 1915 when it was moved to Mesopotamia, and attached to the 6th Indian Cavalry Brigade of the 7th (Meerut) Division. He was awarded the D.S.O. for commanding his Battery in action in Mesopotamia. He later served as Commanding Officer of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Cairo in 1935 when his unit became mechanised, then as Commander, R.A. in the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division in 1936-37. He also appears to have played a role in the creation of 4 Survey Company. He retired with the honorary rank of Brigadier on the 30th of September, 1941. Sold with a set of matching dress miniatures, copied Gazette entries and further research. For the awards to his son, Captain John Lionel Hugh Gordon, M.C., Royal Artillery, see lot 936.

Lot 935

An Interesting M.B.E. and ‘Passchendaele’ M.C. group of Four awarded to Captain Robert Launcelot Busby, 2/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, taken P.o.W. in 1918, who afterwards rose to prominence in Manchester and Salford as Director of the local racecourse and as a local politician, and later served as Commandant of the Salford “Specials” during the Blitz, comprising: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, Member’s second type breast badge, in silver; Military Cross, GVR, the reverse privately engraved (Captain R. L. Busby); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. L. Busby) the latter with M.i.D., mounted on bar with reverse pin for wear, lightly toned, good very fine, offered with an extensive file of copied research, including his MIC entry which confirms his BWM & Victory Medals were issued in 1928. (4) NOTE: M.C.: London Gazette, 06 April 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On his Commanding Officer becoming a casualty, he took charge of the situation, communicated with the forward troops, and sent messages to Brigade Headquarters under difficulties. He collected men from various units scattered about in shell holes and sent them forward under a responsible leader. The men though tired out, were everywhere inspired by his coolness and tact.’ M.i.D.: London Gazette, 23 May 1918: ‘For the March Retreat in 1918 where he was captured and spent the remainder of the war as a POW’ M.B.E.: London Gazette, 09 June 1938: ‘For political and public services in Manchester and Salford.’ Robert Lancelot Busby was born in Hampstead, London, in 1880, and lived with his uncle Charles Frail, following the death of his parents. Frail was a respected figure in horse racing, and in 1898 he acquired 132 acres of land beside the River Irwell in Salford where the foundation stone of the Club Stand for Manchester Racecourse was laid three years later. Robert was appointed Secretary of the new racecourse in 1904. At the outbreak of war he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers as 2nd Lieutenant in the 2/8th Battalion in August 1915, but his battalion did not proceed to France until early 1917, when Busby had reached the rank of Captain and Adjutant. As Adjutant, he was responsible for the unit’s war diary, and one entry of his written on the eve of an attack at Passchendaele on 9 October 1917 reads as follows: ‘Conditions were almost indescribable. The night was inky and the track led over ground covered with innumerable shell-holes full of mud and water. This march would normally take about one and a half hours. It took the Battalion eleven and a half hours.’ The regimental history further describes how the men were often up to their waists in water so ‘several drowned through sinking down in the water from the weight of their equipment and sheer exhaustion.’ The C.O. of the 2/8th was wounded on the morning of 9 October, where Busby assumed command of the Battalion H.Q. and went forward to rally the men: according to the regimental history they ‘responded cheerfully to the inspiration of his coolness and tact.’ Eventually the Battalion’s objective was reached but they suffered casualties of 13 officers and 374 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. In another war diary entry dated 31 October 1917 Busby listed those decorated for their part in the attack, with his own name listed amongst those awarded the MC. In March 1918, his Battalion was positioned near Peronne where it faced ‘head on’ the ‘German Spring Offensive’ with heavy bombardments of gas and artillery which was swiftly followed by large-scale infantry attacks. Some 500 of its ranks were killed, wounded or taken prisoner in this attack, and Busby himself was interned at the Citadel Queists POW Camp in Germany before being repatriated to England at the end of November. Post-war, Busby returned as a Director at Manchester Racecourse, and ‘as much at ease with a groundsman as with a member of the Jockey Club’ he gained a reputation as one of the best racecourse organisers in the country. He was awarded the M.B.E. in June 1938, and on the outbreak of hostilities Busby was appointed Commandant of the ‘Salford Special’ Constabulary, in which role he worked tirelessly despite the devastation caused during German air-raids over Manchester in 1940. On two nights in December around 8,000 homes in Salford were destroyed and Busby’s office was also wrecked - and a direct hit on the racecourse resulted in the cancellation of the New Year meeting. Having worked himself to near-exhaustion, he was persuaded that he should take recuperative leave, and Busby retreated to Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales but tragically on the 18th of August 1941, he took his own life. Ex Dr Alan Stott collection, D.N.W., 25 March 1997, lot 111. Full details of his career and tragic death appeared in a biographical article in Medal News in February 2012 - “A Study in Fortitude”.

Lot 938

The Exceptionally Rare D.S.M. and two bars (both for North Russia) Group of 6 awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class James Paterson, Royal Navy, present aboard H.M.-25 during the attack upon Ostend, and also later in the various actions which took place on the Dvina River near Archangel in North Russia, where H.M.-25 engaged and sank the enemy gunboat Boguchi and attacked a number of batteries near Tulgas, prior to her eventual scuttling with the Allied withdrawal, this one of only two D.S.M. with two bar awards made in the Great War, comprising: Distinguished Service Medal, GVR, 2 clasps (269167. J. Paterson. C. E. R. A. 1Cl. H.M. Monitor, 25.); 1914-15 Star (269167 J. Paterson. C.E.R.A. 1., R. N.); British War and Victory Medals (269167 J. Paterson C.E.R.A. 1 R.N.), the latter with M.i.D.; Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (James Paterson, C.E.R.A. 2CL H.M.S. Seahorse.), and Russia, Cross of St George, 4th Class, in silver, numbered 248446, medals court-mounted for wear, lightly polished with a few contact marks, good very fine (6) NOTE: D.S.M.: London Gazette, 12 January 1916: ‘Belgian Coast operations’; D.S.M. (Bar): London Gazette, 12 December 1918: ‘White Sea Operations, Dvina & Vaga Rivers’; D.S.M. (2nd Bar): London Gazette, 12 December 1919: ‘for services in Russia, 1918, 1919’. Concerning the first D.S.M. award, Paterson and his vessel H.M.-25 are specially mentioned in Vice Admiral Reginald H S Bacon’s despatch of the 3rd of December, 1915, as follows: “On the 6th September I attacked Ostende with five monitors including General Craufurd (Commander E Altham R.N.) and “M.25” (Lieutenant-Commander B. H. Ramsay, R.N.), and damage was done to submarine workshops and harbour works. The enemy returned our fire with heavy guns of calibre probably larger than our own, and with considerable accuracy. Again the shooting on the part of our vessels was remarkably good, and the assistance rendered by the Auxiliary Craft most valuable.” Having taken part in these important operations on the Belgian coast, which also included an attack upon Zeebrugge, C.E.R.A. 1st Cl. Paterson was also involved in the action of the Dvina River near Archangel in North Russia . She was one of 5 such vessels used in this action, and using her 7.5-inch naval gun she quickly engaged and repelled the Bolshevik gun boats which had thus far hindered progress of the ground troops near the Dvina on the 26th and 28th of August, 1919. M-25 also was of much assistance in an attack upon enemy batteries near Tulgas, despite suffering some damage from a single direct hit and a number of casualties amongst her gun team, and she successfully sank the large gunboat Moguchi with two well-placed shells, as detailed in ‘Big Gun Monitors’ by Ian Buxton. Due to the falling level of the river soon after, both M-25 and M-27 returned to Archangel and scuttled on the 16th of September 1919, to prevent them falling into the hands of the Bolshevik forces. The original recommendation for Paterson’s first bar to the D.S.M. reads as follows: ‘In charge of Engine Room Department – kept machine in highest state of efficiency in Dvina River for 45 days during which time the ship was almost constantly at half an hours’ notice, & no opportunity for boiler cleaning. In every case, when negotiating the more difficult parts of the River Channel, [the] ship had to be steered by the screws, the rudder being useless in the basin (?). The slightest mistake in the handling of the engine would have entailed the loss of the monitor and the entire expedition.’ Paterson was later awarded another bar to his D.S.M. for services in White Russia, making his one of only two DSM & 2-bar awards were made during the entire Great War, the other being awarded to Deckhand L. Findlay, R.N.R. Paterson’s 2nd Bar recommendation reads as follows: ‘Was C.E.R.A. in charge of machinery of M.”25” during the winter and opening of the River Campaign in May 1919 – Relieved at the end of May 1919. He received a bar to his D.S.M. decoration for service in River Dwina, August to October 1918. Very much above average in ability and always ready with his machinery for any service. Looked after his machinery and department in the most efficient manner possible during winter. In action at River Front during May 1919. Very strongly recommended.’

Lot 939

A Rare D.S.M. Group of 6 awarded to W.O. Class II John Harrison, Machine Gun Corps (Motors), late Royal Naval Air Service, awarded the D.S.M. for his services at the action in Galicia at Brzezany on the 1st of July, 1917, and two Russian decorations for his service with the RN Armoured Car Division, comprising: Distinguished Service Medal, GVR (F.2893. J. Harrison, P.O. Mech. R.N. Armd Cars. Austria. 1st July. 1917.); 1914-15 Star (F.2893, J. Harrison, P.O.M., R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (80263 W.O. Cl. 2. J. Harrison M.G.C.); Russia, Cross of St George, 4th Class, in silver, numbered 131302; and Russia, Medal for Bravery, 4th Class, in silver, No.1032302, court-mounted, polished, good very fine and rare (6) NOTE: D.S.M.: London Gazette, 30 November 1917: for miscellaneous services’. John Harrison was born on the 11th of December, 1895 in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and he enlisted for service with the Royal Navy on the 30th of December 1914 as a Petty Officer Mechanic. Whilst on attachment with the Royal Naval Air Service, he joined the Armoured Cars Division with whom he saw action at Brzezany, Russia (in what is now Western Ukraine). W.O. Class II John Harrison is mentioned by name in the despatch of Commander Locker-Lampson for this action, who wrote: ‘I would also venture to bring to the notice of their Lordships the work of the following Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers: C.P.O. John MacFarlane (killed) F.2863; P.O.M. John Harrison F.2893; George Gardner, F.9891; John Marshall McEwan (wounded) F.10029. These were volunteers who assisted Lieut.-Commr. Smiles to repair the roads under very heavy fire during the attack on Brzezany’. In ‘The Czar’s British Squadron’ by Perrett and Lord, the action at Brzezany on the 1st of July 1917 is described as follows: ‘The cars were due to cross their start line at 09.55 and the infantry to go over the top five minutes later. Watched by Kerensky from a forward observation post, Wells Hood led out his squadron in the Rolls armoured. The cars gathered speed in a cutting and then burst out onto the wastes of No Man’s Land, Shells burst alongside the road ... bullets clanged off the armour, but within minutes they were level with the first line of enemy trenches and were enfilading them with their fire. ... While the Russian infantry came up Wells Hood protected the Corps’ left flank from interference, and then pressed on down the road to Brzezany until he found it blocked by a barbed wire and sandbag barricade. Smiles called for volunteers to go forward with him and remove the obstruction. He was joined by Chief Petty Officer MacFarlane, Leading Petty Officer Harrison and Petty Officers Gardner and McEwan, and together they crawled up the roadside ditch to the barricade, which was now under such shellfire that Locker Lampson wondered how any of them survived. Dodging shell-bursts, they were able at length to dismantle the structure piece by piece, but in the process MacFarlane was killed and McEwan badly wounded. The cars passed through ...’ He later joined the Machine Gun Corps (Motors) on the 26th of March 1918. Sold with copied Royal Navy and Army service papers, showing his home address as 6 Ashville, Shegoneil Avenue, Belfast.

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