A poignant campaign group of three awarded to Lieutenant G. K. Cathles, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, late 14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish), London Regiment. Cathles received a severe gun shot wound to the face, 25 January 1915, leading to 17 months in hospital and 13 different operations. Offered an honourable discharge from the Army, instead he decided to volunteer for a commission in the Kite Balloon Section, Royal Flying Corps. The latter was short-lived with his nerves shattered, and once again he would have been offered a way out. However he persevered, and served as an Equipment Officer and then a Technical Officer with 144 Squadron in Egypt. Then in an astonishing turn of events that confirmed his determination, he was declassified from Technical to Flying Observer in August 1918. It was a decision that was to cost him his life - when he went up in a D.H.9 piloted by the Canadian ‘Ace’ Captain A. L. Fleming, M.C. and was killed in a flying accident, 11 August 1918 1914 Star (2316 Pte G. K. Cathles. 14/Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. K. Cathles. R.A.F.) with privately made memorial plaque in silver mounted on wood depicting the Royal Air Force Eagle above the force motto, additionally engraved ‘George Kinloch Cathles Served Royal Air Force Aug 12th 1914 - Aug 11th 1918’, generally good very fine or better (3) £600-£800 --- George Kinloch Cathles was born in October 1894, and educated at Hornsey County School, Highgate Grammar School and the South London Polytechnic. He was employed as a Shipping Clerk with a firm of East Indian Merchants prior to the war. Cathles enlisted in the 14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish), London Regiment, 17 August 1914, and served with the Battalion in the French theatre of war from 16 September 1914. He suffered a severe gun shot wound to the face, 25 January 1915, and spent the next 17 months in hospital undergoing 13 different operations. Cathles was offered his discharge from the Army, but choose to apply for a commission in the Kite Balloon Section of the Royal Flying Corps. He was commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant, 9 September 1916, and appointed as a Balloon Officer, 26 October 1916. Cathles served with No. 24 Kite Balloon Section in France from November 1916. However, his operational service in balloons was very short-lived and it appears that his nerves were shattered and he was readmitted to hospital on Christmas Day 1916. There then followed months of treatment and sick leave and a R.F.C. Medical Board arraigned on 8 May 1917 gave the following verdict, ‘His nerve for balloon work has gone, and in my opinion he is not likely to stand the strain of general service in any branch.’ Cathles continued to persevere and was re-appointed as an Equipment Officer 3rd Class in August 1917. He was promoted Temporary Lieutenant and posted to Egypt in March 1918. Cathles served as Technical Officer with 144 Squadron at Port Said, and then in an astonishing turn of events that confirmed his determination, he was declassified from Technical to Flying Observer in August 1918. It was a decision that was to cost him his life. Cathles went up in a D.H.9 with Canadian ‘Ace’ Captain A. L. Fleming, M.C. (with 8 Victories to his name) as his pilot. The aircraft crashed with the pilot surviving, and Cathles being killed - ‘the cause of the accident was in our opinion due to the machine being stalled on a turn thus causing it to go into a spin coming out into a nose dive and owing to a lack of height the pilot was unable to extricate himself.’ (Court of Inquiry findings refer). Lieutenant Cathles is buried in Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Sold with extensive copied research.
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An unusual Second War ‘1944’ D.S.O., ‘1943’ A.F.C., United States of America Bronze Star group of nine awarded to Group Captain D. C. R. MacDonald, Royal Air Force, a Hawker Hind and Baltimore pilot, who served with 613 Squadron in 1939 and commanded 211 and 52 Squadrons in the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa. He also commanded the Mediterranean Air Transport Service, December 1944 - May 1945 Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated ‘1944, with integral top riband bar; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; United States of America, Bronze Star, reverse engraved ‘D. C. R. MacDonald’, mounted for display, generally very fine or better (9) £2,800-£3,200 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 9 June 1944. The original recommendation states: ‘Group Captain (Wing Commander) MacDonald took over the command of 52 Squadron in March 1943, whilst rearming with Baltimores for use as bombers in the Middle East. In June the Squadron was transferred to this Command for reconnaissance. Later the Squadron was employed in the protection of shipping running between Sicily and Salerno from enemy submarines. These changes in role, though considerable, were made efficiently and quickly. Credit for this is due to Group Captain MacDonald. Since the arrival of the Squadron in North Africa, Group Captain MacDonald has flown a considerable number of hours on active operations. During the last six months, for example, he has flown 150 operational hours. These figures are high for a Squadron Commander, but the Squadron was without previous experience of sea reconnaissance and anti-submarine work and had to learn as it went along. It is in this respect that Group Captain MacDonald has shown outstanding leadership in the face of the enemy as he never hesitated to do the more hazardous sorties himself first of all and to pass on his experience to his squadron. The Squadron arrived in North Africa at a time when it was vital shipping be stopped between Italy and Sicily. This shipping travelled close inshore and under fighter protection. Much of this reconnaissance was carried out by 52 Squadron and on sighting reports being made shipping torpedo strikes were made by Beaufighters or Wellingtons in North Africa, and also by bombers of the Strategic Air Force. Shipping reconnaissances were also necessary to stop traffic between Sardinia and Corsica and Italy during the period of the evacuation of these islands by the enemy. Many of the successful strikes on shipping were made as a result of reconnaissance by 52 Squadron. Much of this sea reconnaissance was very hazardous. Many of the sightings of enemy shipping made by Group Captain MacDonald, despite the fact that the shipping was covered by enemy fighters, resulted in sinkings by the shipping strikes. I attribute the excellent work done by 52 Squadron in sea reconnaissance to the personal example and courageous and gallant leadership of Group Captain MacDonald, who set a very high standard of achievement to the rest of the Squadron.’ A.F.C. London Gazette 2 June 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘Since the formation of this unit [No. 72 Operational Training Unit], this officer has been engaged as chief instructor. He has produced consistently good results during the period. The school has become an exceptionally efficient training unit and Wing Commander MacDonald has set a fine example.’ United States of America Bronze Star. The official citation, dated 24 October 1945, states: ‘Group Captain D. C. R. MacDonald, Royal Air Force, first as Commander and later as Deputy Commander, Mediterranean Air Transport Service, from December 1944 to May 1945, assumed his duties at the time of departure of the American commander of the theatre. With unusual ability he applied himself to the difficult and complex task of operating an allied airline in a combat zone. His changes in operation control, and his diplomacy and tact in transactions with the associated carriers, materially increased the efficiency of the command. His enthusiastic and loyal support of the later American commander not only inspired members of the organisation but paved the way for future allied co-operation. Group Captain MacDonald’s outstanding services in the Mediterranean Air Transport Service contributed greatly to the execution of the allied war effort.’ Duncan Charles Ruthven MacDonald was born in Woolwich in 1913, and educated at home and University College, London. He joined the Royal Air Force as Acting Pilot Officer on probation in September 1934, and was posted to No. 5 F.T.S., Sealand for pilot training. Having qualified as a pilot, subsequent postings included to 4 and 614 Squadrons. MacDonald advanced to Flying Officer in March 1937, and was posted to 613 Squadron (Auxiliary Air Force) as the Regular Officer Adjutant and Instructor with the rank of Flight Lieutenant in March 1939. The Squadron was an army co-operation unit, and at the outbreak of the war was allocated to the Air Component, British Expeditionary Force in support of troops in France. Flying Hawker Hinds, they also carried out raids on German installations. MacDonald advanced to Squadron Leader in September 1940, and to Wing Commander in February 1941. He appears to have spent the remainder of the war in flying appointments in the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa, including as the Commanding Officer of 211 Squadron, July - November 1941. At this latter date an element of the squadron formed No. 72 O.T.U. (See A.F.C.). MacDonald was appointed to the command of 52 Squadron (Baltimores), Egypt, in March 1943. He moved with the Sqaudron to Tunisia in June, from where they carried out shipping reconnaissance and convoy escort duties before moving to Italy in November 1943. MacDonald advanced to Group Captain, and commanded No. 328 Wing prior to commanding the Mediterranean Air Transport Service, December 1944 - May 1945. By the end of the war he had flown over 2,000 hours, and at least 63 operational sorties. Group Captain MacDonald was presented with is D.S.O. and A.F.C. by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace in December 1946), and retired in September 1958. Sold with Bestowal Document for the D.S.O., dated 9 June 1944, and official photograph of recipient being awarded the Bronze Star. Also with copied research.
Eight: Sick Berth Petty Officer A. Bennison, Royal Navy, who served with the British Naval Mission to Serbia 1915-16 1914-15 Star (M.4003, A. Bennison, S.B.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.4003 A. Bennison. 2 S.B.S., R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (M.4003 A. Bennison. S.B.P.O. H.M.S. Revenge); Serbia, Kingdom, Medal for Zeal, silvered bronze, most silvering lost from obverse; Medal for the Retreat from Albania 1915, bronze, mounted as worn, some edge bruising, fine or better and a rare group (8) £1,000-£1,400 --- Alan Bennison was born in Dulwich, London on 13 January 1894. A Mechanic by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy on 22 January 1912 as a Provisional Sick Berth Attendant. He was confirmed at that rank in October 1912 when based at Haslar Hospital. During the war he served at Malta Hospital, June 1914-February 1915; Egmont (Malta), February 1915-February 1916; from Malta Bennison was sent out with the British Naval Mission to Serbia under Rear-Admiral Troubridge in 1915. It consisted of a torpedo and mining party and eight 4.7” guns. Each gun had 3 seaman gunners in the crew to train the Serbians. The unit also had a picket boat which was used to attack Austrian Monitors. Peter Singlehurst records that the crew of the picket boat all received Serbian awards (OMRS Journal 2000 p60 refers). He returned to Haslar Hospital, February 1916-November 1917; and the repair ship Assistance, November 1917-September 1920, being advanced to 2nd Class Sick Berth Steward in January 1918 and Leading Sick Berth Attendant in August 1920. For his services during the defence of Belgrade he was awarded the Serbian Medal for Zeal in silver. He was promoted to Sick Berth Petty Officer whilst on the battleship Revenge in October 1924 and was awarded the Long Service Medal whilst on the same vessel in 1927. Sold with copied record of service which confirms Serbian Medal for Zeal.
Five: Sick Berth Attendant G. J. Grieve, Royal Navy, who was severely wounded in action at Athens in December 1916, being mentioned in despatches and awarded both the French Medaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre 1914-15 Star (M.4417. G. J. Grieve, S.B.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (M.4417 G. J. Grieve. S.B.A. R.N.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914-16, with bronze palmes; Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted for display, enamel chipped on reverse centre of last, otherwise good very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 23 March 1917. Croix de Guerre with Palme London Gazette 23 March 1917. Medaille Militaire London Gazette 12 May 1917. George Johnson Grieve was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, on 24 May 1893. He enlisted into the Royal Navy on 6 May 1912, at Devonport, was rated as a probationary Sick Berth Attendant and served in this rate until May 1913 when he was rated Sick Berth Attendant having completed his training at the R.N. hospital Plymouth. He joined H.M.S. Exmouth as S.B.A. on 30 July 1914. Exmouth was sent to Gallipoli as flag ship to Admiral Nicholson and remained off the beaches even after the torpedoing of the Goliath, Majestic and Triumph. Grieve was landed ashore with the Allied Naval Brigade at Athens in December 1916, in which operations he was severely wounded, as described in Blumberg’s History of the Royal Marines: ‘During the fighting Surgeon Lt. John Desmond Milligan of the Exmouth continued to attend to the wounded on the crest of a hill all through the first period of the fighting, although fully exposed to the Greek fire, and was assisted by Sick Berth Attendant Grieve, who was wounded three times in the arm.’ Following his wounding in Greece, Grieve spent several months in hospital before re joining Exmouth which ship he left on 31 August 1917, returning to duties at R.N. Hospital, Plymouth. Unfortunately, Grieve developed epilepsy and was invalided out of the Navy on 12 December 1917. He died of tuberculosis in November 1929. Sold with the following archive: i) A fine studio portrait photograph of the recipient ii) The recipient’s Mentioned in Despatches Certificate, dated 23 Marcy 1917. iii) Admiralty Telegram to Mrs Grieve informing her that he son had been severely wounded. iv) Certificate of discharge from Hospital. v) Vellum parchment certificate for Medaille Militaire. vi) Borough of Tenby certificate admitting Grieve as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough. vii) Obituary notice from a Tenby newspaper. viii) Certified Copy of Birth Certificate.
Five: Able Seaman W. A. Carter, Royal Naval Reserve and Mercantile Marine, who was wounded whilst serving in H.M.S. Cornwallis during the Gallipoli landing on 25 April 1915, on which date Midshipman Malleson, of the Cornwallis, was awarded the Victoria Cross, and was subsequently awarded the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Marines Royal Benevolent Society’s silver medal for a gallant rescue in the English Channel on 23 October 1937 1914-15 Star (A.5190, W. A. Carter, Smn., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (5190A. W. A. Carter. Smn. R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (4763D. W. A. Carter Smn. R.N.R.); Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society, silver (W. Carter. A.B. S.S. “St. Briac” October 23. 1937.) with double-dolphin suspension, good very fine and better (5) £400-£500 --- William Alfred Carter was born in Tollesbury, Essex, on 31 July 1891 and joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 18 October 1913. He served during the Great War in H.M.S. Cornwallis and was wounded in action ‘sustaining a gun shot wound to the left elbow, fractured arm’, on 25 April 1915, the first day of the Gallipoli Landings, when the Cornwallis acted as the landing ship for the South Wales Borderers, before going onto support the landings from the River Clyde. Numerous acts of gallantry were performed by the crew of the Cornwallis, which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross to Midshipman Malleson, as well as two Distinguished Service Orders; five Distinguished Service Crosses; one Conspicuous Gallantry Medal; and five Distinguished Service Medals. Total casualties were 16 killed in action and 46 wounded. Carter recovered from his wounds and went onto serve in H.M.S. Jupiter and various Defensively Armed Merchant Ships until being demobilised in 1919. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 22 May 1929. Remaining in the Mercantile Marine, he was awarded the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Marines Royal Benevolent Society’s silver medal for the rescue of four men from the yacht Tess on 23 October 1937. A local newspaper carried the following account: ‘Four men were rescued from the 60 ton yacht Tess when she was sinking in the Channel on Saturday by the Southern Railway Steamer St. Briac and arrived at Southampton yesterday. The St. Briac was delayed by the gale and did not reach Southampton from Havre until six hours after her scheduled time. Captain P. Lewis, the Commander of the St. Briac, said he had to launch a lifeboat to take the men off the yacht, which was then almost at the point of foundering. Mr. McBain, one of the four men rescued, said, “We went over to Havre to bring the boat back to Poole for Mr. Bonham-Christie, who had bought her and left again on Friday night. All three engines were put out of action by water. We were nearly waist deep in spite of baling and the yacht then took a list to starboard. We sent up flares and as a last hope soaked a mattress in petrol on deck and set it alight. This was fortunately seen by the St. Briac”.’ Carter, along with five crew mates who manned the lifeboat with the Chief Officer, Mr. D. Denny, and the Captain of the St. Briac, Mr. P. Lewis, were presented their Shipwrecked Fishermen and Marines Royal Benevolent Society’s medals at a presentation by the Mayor of Southampton on board the St. Briac at Southampton on 22 December 1937. They were also awarded The Emil Robin award as they were judged to have carried out the bravest rescue of the year. Sold with copied research.
Three: Gunner C. H. Cooper, Royal Horse Artillery 1914-15 Star (77237 Gnr. C. H. Cooper. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (77237 Gnr. C. H. Cooper. R.A.) the Star a slightly later issue; edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine Three: Gunner A. Key, Royal Horse Artillery 1914-15 Star (53936 Gnr. A. Key. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (53936 Gnr. A. Key. R.A.) contact marks, nearly very fine Three: Driver A. Leadbeater, Royal Horse Artillery 1914-15 Star (88376 Dvr. A. Leadbeater. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (88376 Dvr. A. Leadbeater. R.A.) contact marks, nearly very fine (9) £100-£140 --- Charles Henry Cooper attested for the Royal Horse Artillery and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 January 1915. His Medal Index Card notes that a replacement 1914-15 Star was issued in 1925. Arthur Key attested for the Royal Horse Artillery on 2 December 1908 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 December 1914. He was discharged from the Royal Garrison Artillery on 13 March 1919, and was awarded a Silver War Badge No. B245311. Arthur Leadbeater attested for the Royal Horse Artillery and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 July 1915. Sold with copied Medal Index Cards and medal roll extracts.
Three: Sergeant W. Gomm, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (16871 Pte. W. Gomm. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (16871 Sjt. W. Gomm. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) extremely fine Three: Private A. Davis, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (24396 Pte. A. Davis. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Arthur Davies [sic]) nearly extremely fine British War Medal 1914-20 (19883 C. Sjt. F. Panter. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) extremely fine (7) £80-£100 --- William Gomm, a Carter from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, attested, aged 29, on 16 December 1914, into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War. He served on the Western Front, from 21 September 1915. Appointed Acting Corporal on 18 August 1916, he was discharged Class ‘Z’ on 19 April 1919. Arthur Davis attested into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War on 9 December 1915. Serving with the 7th Battalion, he was discharged, aged 27, due to sickness on 13 March 1918 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 351841. Frederick Panter attested into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War, serving overseas with the 1st Battalion. He was appointed Colour Sergeant.
Three: Private J. Clarke, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (12178 Pte. J. Clarke. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (12178 Pte. J. Clarke. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) nearly extremely fine Three: Private J. W. Maberley, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (9003 Pte. J. W. Maberley. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (9003 Pte. J. W. Maberley. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) contact marks, some verdigris, very fine Three: Private A. Preston, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (699 Pte. A. Preston. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (699 Pte. A. Preston. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) edge bruising and contact marks, some verdigris, good very fine (9) £100-£140 --- John Clarke attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 2 September 1914, and served during the Great War with the 6th Battalion on the Western Front from 22 July 1915. He was discharged due to wounds on 23 December 1918 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B214836. John W. Maberley attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion in Mesopotamia from 15 December 1914. He was discharged Section ‘B’ on 28 April 1919. Albert Preston attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 24 February 1909 and served during the Great War with the 1st/4th Battalion on the Western Front from 29 March 1915. He was discharged due to sickness on 11 March 1916 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 70,238.
Three: Private J. Shelton, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (12760 Pte. J. Shelton. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (12760 Pte. J. Shelton. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) nearly extremely fine Three: Private J. Steptoe, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (3234 Pte. J. Steptoe. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (3234 Pte. J. Steptoe. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) contact marks, very fine Three: Private H. Slaymaker, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1914-15 Star (2603 Pte. H. Slaymaker Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2603 Pte. H. Slaymaker. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) contact marks, very fine (9) £100-£140 --- John Shelton attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 21 September 1915. He later served with the 7th Battalion and was discharged class ‘Z’ on 30 April 1919. Sold together with a copy of his National Roll of the Great War entry, suggesting that he first served at Gallipoli and later in Salonika. Jesse Shelton attested for the 1st/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 14 December 1914 for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 25 June 1915. He was discharged due to wounds on 31 May 1917 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 209675. Harold Slaymaker attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service during the Great War and served with the 1st/4th Battalion on the Western Front from 29 March 1915. Sold together with a hand-written note stating that, according to the Appendix of The War Record of the 1st/4th Battalion, he was named as one of the N.C.O.’s and Men who served throughout the campaign, mentioning him as serving with the Transport section.
A rare and well-documented campaign group of seven awarded to Group Captain W. H. Dolphin, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps and Royal Indian Marine, who was one of the World’s pioneer aviators, being awarded the Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate No. 82, 9 May 1911. A hugely experienced pilot, who was mentioned in despatches for his services during the Great War and on the North West Frontier in 1919, and who was bestowed with the Order of the Nile by King Fuad of Egypt 1914-15 Star (Asst. Engr. W. H. Dolphin, R.I.M.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. W. H. Dolphin. R.A.F.); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-21, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Ft-Lt. W. H. Dolphin, R.A.F.) 2nd and 3rd clasps riveted together and loose on riband as issued, surname and unit partially officially corrected; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Egypt, Kingdom, Order of the Nile, 4th Class breast badge by Lattes, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, generally very fine or better (lot) £1,800-£2,200 --- Approximately 117 ‘Mahsud’ clasps awarded to the Royal Air Force, 66 of which appear in 3 clasp medals. Wilfred Herbert Dolphin was born in Duddeston, Birmingham in May 1882. The following was provided by the Victoria Times, B.C. in 1936: ‘One of Great Britain’s pioneer aviation pilots, Wing Commander W. H. Dolphin, who recently retired from the Royal Air Force is an interesting visitor to Victoria in the course of a holiday tour of the world. Wing Commander Dolphin is visiting this continent for the first time after a life spent mostly on service in the Far East, India, Afghanistan, Mesopotamia or Iraq as it is now known. Arabia, Egypt, Palestine, Turkey and Malta, each in turn having been the scene of his activities during the last thirty years. Wing Commander Dolphin has the distinction of having worn the uniforms of all three services. Originally serving in the Royal Indian Marine, now the Royal Indian Navy, as an engineer officer, he later transferred to the Indian Army in search of more excitement, and from there was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps seeing active service with all three forces. It was in 1910, while on leave from India, that Wing Commander Dolphin made his first flight with Claude Grahame White, flying in what he describes as “a sort of flying bird cage.” He decided to master the art of flying and in May 1911, was granted his pilot’s certificate by the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain, his certificate being number 82. He associated himself with the well known pioneer of aviation, Gordon England, and the late Col. James Valentine during the early part of 1911 and had many interesting experiences with them, both in England and in France. But it was not until he was seconded for service with the Royal Air Force that he was able to make use of his knowledge of aircraft and skill as a pilot. On the formation of the R.A.F. he was gazetted to a permanent commission and has been largely concerned with the technical development of that service, although he continued active flying until shortly before his retirement last January. Among the many interesting personalities he was associated with during his R.A.F. service was Air Commodore Raymond Collishaw, the former Nanaime boy who after a distinguished career during the war is now one of the outstanding figures in the air force in Great Britain. Wing Commander Dolphin has had a career of great interest which, although arduous was full of excitement and adventure. He numbers among his many experiences life in the palaces of various Oriental rulers, expeditions against tribesmen of the Northwest Frontier, and of Kurdistan, and epic flights over inaccessible mountain country where a forced landing generally meant instant destruction, as well as tiger shoots in Bengal and big game hunting in many other parts by way of diversion. Twice mentioned in despatches, Wing Commander Dolphin has in addition to the 1914-18 war medals, the Indian Northwest Frontier medal with three clasps and the Egyptian Order of the Nile, presented to him personally by the late King Fuad of Egypt at an investiture at the Abdin Palace in Alexandria in 1922.....’ Dolphin had initially been employed as an automobile engineer, and learned to fly in a Hanriot Monoplane at Brooklands, gaining his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate, 9 May 1911. Prior to this he had spent time in India, and was a Freemason and member of the Deccan Lodge. He initially served during the Great War as an Assistant Engineer with the Royal Indian Marine, before ultimately transferring to the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force (M.I.D.). Dolphin advanced to Captain in April 1918, and served as a pilot on the North West Frontier (M.I.D. for Afghanistan 1919). Dolphin advanced to Squadron Leader in June 1923, served in Egypt the following year [Order of the Nile, 4th Class], and was appointed Commanding Officer, Marine Section, Basrah, Iraq in 1926. During the latter posting he was in charge of RAF vessels using the waterways of Iraq. Dolphin advanced to Wing Commander in July 1931, and retired in January 1936. After carrying out his ‘World Tour’, Dolphin was recalled for service at the outbreak of the Second World War. He retired as Group Captain in August 1941. Sold with the following related original documentation: M.I.D. Certificate, dated 23 October 1918; Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate, numbered ‘82’, dated 9 May 1911, and complete with photograph - this rare; Royal Indian Marine enclosure addressed to recipient at H.Q., R.A.F. Middle East, Egypt forwarding his 1914-15 Star from R.I.M Dockyard, Bombay, dated 21 December 1922; Air Ministry enclosure addressed to recipient at the Aircraft Depot, R.A.F. Aboukir, Egypt, forwarding the I.G.S. with ‘Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919’ clasp, dated 3 May 1923; Bestowal Document for the Order of the Nile, with R.A.F. Middle East enclosure, dated 19 August 1919; passport, photographic images of recipient in uniform including attending to the Duchess of Gloucester during an official visit in 1941, and copied research.
Three: Staff Sergeant G. A. Renton, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, late 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), Canadian Infantry, who was gassed and received a shrapnel wound during the Great War British War 1914-20 (147900. A.C.S. Mjr. G. A. Renton. 78-Can. Inf.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (721147 Pte. A. Sinclair. 16-Inf. Can [sic]); Jubilee 1935; Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Renton. G. A.) mounted as worn, toned very fine (lot) £600-£800 --- George Allan Renton was born in Leith, Scotland in November 1892, and attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery at Dundee in July 1910. He served during the Great War with the 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), Canadian Infantry on the Western Front (received a shrapnel wound to the left shoulder, 30 September 1918, and was gassed, 23 July 1918). Renton was a Master Mason at the St. Michael, Leuchars and Tayport Lodge, and was appointed Mark Master in May 1919. He joined the Manitoba Provincial Police in 1920, and served with them with his brother W. G. Renton (who had already served with the Fifeshire Police in Scotland). Renton transferred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as Staff Sergeant in 1932 (awarded L.S. & G.C. in August 1941). He was posted as the Senior NCO on detective duties at the Winnipeg Detective Branch in 1937. At the outbreak of the Second World War Renton was appointed to the command of the Intelligence Branch, D Division, and was ‘Invalided to Pension’ in May 1945. Sold together with the following related items and documents: Silver War Badge, reverse numbered ‘C6141’; Open Face Pocket Watch Case, by Longines, in gold and glazed, reverse engraved ‘Presented to S/Sgt G. A. Renton By Officers, N.C.O.’s & Men “D” Div. R.C.M.P. On His Retirement 31st May 1945’; Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cap Badge, Collar Badge, pair of buttons and RCMP Collar Title; Manitoba Provincial Police Cap Badge; Manitoba Provincial Police Shield; 100th Regiment, Winnipeg Grenadiers Prize Medallet, reverse engraved ‘Section Prize H.C.O. 100th Regt. W.G. 1913’; a Fifeshire Police uniform button converted into a locket containing two photographs of young men in uniform; named Buckingham Palace Enclosure for Jubilee Medal; Soldier’s Small Book; Canadian Expeditionary Force Discharge Certificate; Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force Discharge Certificate; Manitoba Provincial Police Discharge Certificate; Letter of Appreciation from Commissioner of Manitoba Provincial Police, dated 23 March 1932; 2 Postcards addressed to recipient’s parents in Tayport, Fife, Scotland shortly after the Great War; Various Education Certificates; Masonic Certificate; photographs of recipient in uniform and a number of photographic images and other ephemera.
A post-War ‘Civil Division’ O.B.E. pair awarded to Lieutenant J. C. O’Dwyer, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, later H.M. Consul-General, Berlin, whose Consular career saw him serving in Munich in the lead-up to the Second World War, and in San Francisco at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into the War The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Lt. J. C. O’Dwyer, I.A.R.O.) good very fine (2) £260-£300 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 13 June 1959. John Chevalier O’Dwyer was born was born on 15 September 1900, the son of Sir Michael O’Dwyer, Governor of the Punjab (who was murdered in 1940 by the revolutionist Udham Singh as a reprisal for the Amritsar massacre of 13 April 1919 in which an estimated 1,000 protesters were shot dead, Udham Singh being one of the survivors), and was educated at Downside School and Clongowes College, County Kildare. Travelling to India to see his parents and arrived in Lahore in December 1918, he was commissioned into the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, and served during the Third Afghan War on attachment to the 31st Duke of Connaughts Own Lancers and took part in the Third Afghan War of 1919. Returning to England he went up to Balliol College, Oxford, and after taking his degree joined the Levant Consular Service, the branch of the Foreign Office dealing with the Middle East, in 1923. Over the next five years he worked almost exclusively in Persia being appointed Vice Consul and Acting Consul in Tehran, Shiraz, Ahwaz, Meshed, Kermanshah and Basra. Contracting Pulomary Tuberculosis in 1931, O’Dwyer became very ill and in October 1931 left Basra by sea and travelled directly to Germany where he was treated at a Bavarian Mountain Sanatorium. On his recovery, he transferred to the General Consular Service and stayed in Germany initially as His Majesty’s Vice Consul in Frankfurt, before transferring to the very heart of the political scene by being appointed Vice Consul in Munich in 1936. He left Germany in May 1938 and was appointed first Vice Consul then Consul in San Francisco, California, United States of America. Promoted Consul General following America’s declaration of war on Japan following the attack at Pearl Harbor, he represented H.M. Government on all non-military matters on the western seaboard. Returning to London in 1943, he spent a year at the Foreign Office before returning to the Pacific, this time Hawaii, upon his appointment as Consul in Honolulu. Following the surrender of Japan, he was involved in the preparation of pre-trial documents for the war crimes tribunals. In 1950 O’Dwyer was appointed to Tokyo as Consul in time for the outbreak of the Korean War and later moved to Yokohama as Consul General. He returned to the Foreign Office in London in 1952 at the height of the Cold War remaining there until 1956 when he was appointed Consul General in Berlin, a post he held until his retirement in 1959. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on his retirement, he died in 1978 and is buried near his father in Brookwood Cemetery, Woking. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient presenting the C.B.E. to Lieutenant-General E. Hull, U.S. Army, whilst British Consul in Honolulu; and copied research.
Pair: Private W. E. Latimer, Chatham Division, Royal Marines British War and Victory Medals (CH.20834 W. E. Latimer. Pte. R.M.) VM struck on unusually thin flan, and named below centre line of rim towards edge, better than very fine Pair: Driver E. E. Sapstead, Royal Field Artillery British War and Victory Medals (1430 Dvr. E. E. Sapstead. R.A.) very fine Pair: Second Lieutenant S. J. Benton, Somerset Light Infantry, late London Rifle Brigade and 28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles) British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. S. J. Benton) nearly extremely fine Pair: Private G. C. Payne, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (25874 Pte. G. C. Payne. D. of Corn. L.I.) very fine Pair: Private H. I. Page, 2nd and 2/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment British War and Victory Medals (202921 Pte. H. I. Page. R. Berks. R.) very fine Pair: Private A. L. Rowley, 1st and 5th Battalions, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (24345 Pte. A. L. Rowley. K.S.L.I.) minor edge nicks, otherwise very fine (12) £160-£200 --- William Ernest Latimer was born at Croydon, Surrey, in April 1899 and enlisted into the Royal Marines at London on 18 July 1916. He served during the Great War in the Chatham Division and in H.M.S. Calliope. He was discharged with neurasthenia in June 1918. Sydney John Benton was born at Aveley, Essex, in 1883 and served in the ranks of the London Rifle Brigade as Private No. 7494, from 1899 to 1905. He attested for service in the 28th Battalion, London Regiment, Artists Rifles O.T.C. in 1915 and subsequently received a commission in he Somerset Light Infantry. He served with the 6th Battalion on the Western Front in 1918, and was released from Service in January 1919. Herbert Isaac Page attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 9 December 1915 and served in the 2nd and 2nd/4th Battalions during the Great War on the Western Front. He was discharged on 12 February 1918, due to sickness and was awarded Silver War Badge No. 327205.
A M.V.O. and R.V.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant H. G. Barrett, Royal Horse Artillery The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 5th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, the reverse unnumbered [see footnote], minor blue enamel restoration to motto; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (49234 Sgt. H. G. Barrett. U Bty., R.H.A.); Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (49234 Sjt: H. G. Barrett. R.H.A.); Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style for display, traces of lacquer, otherwise good very fine and better (5) £700-£900 --- M.V.O. 5th Class London Gazette 2 January 1933 Henry Gulliver Barrett was born in Woolwich on 2 May 1871; his father was Richard Barrett, a Sergeant in the Riding Establishment, Royal Artillery. Following his father’s footsteps, Barrett joined the Royal Horse Artillery and as a Sergeant in ‘U’ Battery R.H.A. served in South Africa during the Boer War from 21 December 1899 to 5 March 1900. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Gratuity per Army Order 172 of October 1903. After leaving the Army he joined Royal Service, and as Clerk of the Stables at Marlborough House he was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in Silver on 31 December 1925, on the occasion of the death of Queen Alexandra, on 20 November 1925. He was subsequently in the Household of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and for many years organised the reunion dinners of ‘Q’ Battery, R.H.A. As ‘Storekeeper, Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace’, he was appointed a Member Fifth Class of the Royal Victorian Order on 29 July 1932, and was presented with the insignia in hospital by Sir Arthur Erskine shortly before he died in Croydon General Hospital on 13 November 1932. Note: Research included with the lot, compiled by John Tamplin, indicates that the recipient was allocated the M.V.O. badge no. 589; however, owing to the fact that the insignia of the Order was presented to him in hospital in a presumably hurried ceremony, and before the notification of the award had even appeared in the London Gazette, it is possible that he was invested with an unnumbered badge. Sold with copied research.
Ten: Lieutenant-Colonel A. N. R. Broomfield, Hampshire Heavy Brigade, Royal Artillery British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. N. R. Broomfield.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Efficiency Decoration, G.V.R., Territorial, silver and silver-gilt, unnamed as issued, with integral top riband bar, mounted as worn, good very fine (10) £200-£240 --- Archibald Neville Robert Bloomfield was born in 1893 and ‘volunteered for the Royal Garrison Artillery in December 1914, and was engaged on important duties at various stations in England until sent overseas in 1917. He saw much heavy fighting on the Western front and took part in the battle of the Somme and many other important engagements. He was demobilised in December 1919.’ (National Roll of the Great War refers). Bloomfield was awarded the Efficiency Decoration in 1933 (London Gazette 27 June 1933), and was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937 whilst Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding, Hampshire Heavy Brigade, Royal Artillery (Territorial Force). He saw further service during the Second World War, and died in Cape Town, South Africa, on 11 June 1973. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Private W. F. Barrett, Honourable Artillery Company Infantry British War and Victory Medals (7102 Pte. W. F. Barrett. H.A.C. - Inf.); together with an H.A.C. grenade cap badge with slider; a later H.A.C. Royal Artillery cap badge with slider; two H.A.C. all brass shoulder titles, each with two lugs; a later white embroidered red felt shoulder title with black fabric backing; and a brass H.A.C. uniform button, good very fine (2) £70-£90 --- Walter Fred Barrett enlisted on 28 February 1916, into 2nd Battalion H.A.C., he served in France from October 1916 to December 1916, and was invalided home suffering from severe trench foot and nephritis. He was discharged on 8 February 1919, due to sickness, and was awarded Silver War Badge No. B198791. His home address was at 48 Grove Road, Walthamstow.
The unique Great War M.B.E., ‘Darfur 1916 - Sudan operations’ D.C.M. group of six awarded to Warrant Officer Class 1 R. J. Sladden, 17 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, who served as the senior Warrant Officer in Darfur, Sudan in 1916, and was later commissioned rising to the rank of Captain The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type, breast badge, hallmarks for London ‘1919’; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (212 Fl. Sjt: R. J. Sladden. No. 17 Sq: R.F.C.); 1914-15 Star (212 S. Mjr. R. J. Sladden R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (212 W.O. Cl. 1. R. J. Sladden R.F.C.); Khedive’s Sudan 1910-21, 1 clasp, Darfur 1916, loose on riband (212 Sjt. Mjr. R. J. Sladden. R.F.C.) officially impressed naming, with a silver shooting prize medal, hallmarks for Birmingham 1920, reverse engraved ‘F/O. Sladden Inter Squadron Officers, Halton, May 1921’, all housed in a privately made velvet lined wooden case with ‘RFC’ embossed on lid, and R.F.C. cap badge, generally very fine (6) £4,000-£5,000 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919: ‘In recognition of distinguished services during the war.’ D.C.M. London Gazette 31 May 1916 (Egypt): ‘For consistent good work in connection with the care and repair of aeroplanes.’ One of only 92 Distinguished Conduct Medals awarded to members of the Royal Flying Corps. Approximately 63 Khedive’s Sudan 1910 Medals were awarded to R.F.C. personnel, 23 of them with them with the ‘Darfur 1916’ clasp. Robert John Sladden was born in Stoke, Devon, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Devonport in August 1906. He served as a Gunner with 148 Battery, Royal Field Artillery prior to transferring to the Royal Flying Corps and being posted to the Flying Depot, 16 July 1912. He advanced to Sergeant in July 1913, and to Senior Mechanic 1st Class and Sergeant Major, and served with 17 Squadron in the Egyptian theatre of war, November 1915 - December 1916. Sladden participated as the senior non-commissioned officer in the Darfur operations of March-December 1916, when four B.E. 2c aircraft from the squadron’s ‘C’ Flight went into action with the Governor-General Sir Reginald Wingate’s blessing, for ‘the sudden appearance out of the blue of flying chariots would impress on Ali Dinar’s followers the futility of resistance.’ Henry Keown-Boyd’s article, From Private to Pilot (O.M.R.S., June 2010), takes up the story: ‘With hindsight, the inclusion of the Flight seems to have been a curiously unnecessary addition to the burden of the war effort bearing in mind the considerable logistical and transportation problems involved, balanced against it uncertain effectiveness. Neither the aircraft or equipment and stores required could be flown in those days the 1,000 miles to destination, so four crated aeroplanes, their fuel in drums, two Leyland lorries, four Crossley tenders, a spare aero engine, two canvas hangars together with arms, ammunition and about 60 officers and men had to be transported by sea and land, the latter part of the journey across trackless desert into central Africa. Via a series of landing grounds and depots the Flight and its equipment was transported from Port Sudan via Khartoum and El Obied by rail, lorry and camel to its main base at Nahud and advance base at Jebel el Hula.’ Keown-Boyd continues: ‘The first operational flight was made on 12 May 1916 by Lieutenant F. Bellamy and on the 17th a plane piloted by Captain Bannatyne was hit by a bullet. On the 23rd, 2nd Lieutenant (later Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John) Slessor was wounded in the thigh while attacking Ali Dinar’s army retreating from its defeat at the battle of Beringia but displaying a certain defiance against Wingate’s Flying Chariots! The Sultan Ali Dinar escaped from Beringia but was killed by a Camel Corps patrol a few months later.’ Having been awarded the D.C.M. for his good work in Egypt, Sladden returned to the UK at the end of 1916. He was commissioned Acting Second Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps in April 1917, and saw out the remainder of the war with postings in the UK. Sladden advanced to Acting Captain in March 1919, and to Flying Officer in July 1920. He subsequently served at No. 1 Technical Training School, Halton, and retired as Captain in November 1921. The medal group is illustrated in both A Contemptible Little Flying Corps by I. McInnes and J. V. Webb, and On Patrol, The Story of the Khedive’s Medal 1910-22 by B. Hewitt. M.I.D. unconfirmed.
Four: Private A. J. Andrews, Middlesex Regiment and Special Constabulary British War and Victory Medals (G.49274 Pte. A. J. Andrews. Midd’x R.); Defence Medal; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, 2 clasps, Long Service 1943, Long Service 1954 (Arthur J. Andrews) VM with replacement suspension ring, otherwise very fine and better (4) £60-£80 --- Arthur John Andrews attested for the Middlesex Regiment on 7 October 1916 and served with the 25th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. He was discharged due to sickness in May 1919 and was awarded a Silver War Badge No. B.218266.
Pair: Private F. J. Archer, Rifle Brigade British War and Victory Medals (S-27477 Pte. F. J. Archer. Rif. Brig.) very fine Pair: Private G. F. Pindred, Machine Gun Corps British War and Victory Medals (31514 Pte. G. F. Pindred. M.G.C.) nearly very fine Pair: Rifleman A. D. Kemp, 9th Battalion, London Regiment British War and Victory Medals (39480 Rfn. A. D. Kemp. 9-Lond. R.); together with a duplicate British War and Victory Medal pair (394830 Rfn. A. D. Kemp. 9-Lond. R.) note additional digit in number on the duplicate pair, generally very fine (8) £80-£100 --- Frederick J. Archer attested underage for the Rifle Brigade on 8 December 1915 and served during the Great War with the 12th Battalion. He was discharged, aged 18, on 11 January 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B90993. George Frederick Pindred attested for the Machine Gun Corps and served during the Great War. He was discharged Class ‘Z’ on 19 May 1919.
A Great War M.B.E. group of five awarded to Mr Henry A. Harrington, Director of Posts at Alexandria, Egypt, late Sergeant, 3rd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, breast badge, hallmarks for London 1918; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, The Nile 1884-85 (2288. Lce. Cpl. H. A. Harrington, 3/K.R. Rif: C.); Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidieh, Fifth Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel, with mint mark to reverse; Egypt, Kingdom, Order of the Nile, Fourth Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, good very fine (5) £1,500-£2,000 --- Only 4 Egypt medals issued to 3/K.R. Rif. C. with this combination of clasps. M.B.E. London Gazette 30 March 1920: ‘For services in connection with the war - Henry Augustus Harrington, Esq., Postmaster, Alexandria.’ Order of the Nile, 4th Class London Gazette 29 December 1916: ‘Director of Post Office, Alexandria.’
Henry Augustus Harrington was born at the Rifle Depot, Winchester, on 3 April 1864, where his father was serving as a Colour-Sergeant in 3/60th King’s Royal Rifles. Henry enlisted in his father's regiment as a boy recruit in February 1879 and, as per regimental musters, 'Lad W. H. Harrington' was embarked for South Africa in February 1880. At the onset of the First Anglo-Boer War, it is likely young Henry was kept back at the battalion's base at Newcastle. In December 1881, he was appointed to the Mounted Infantry of 3/60th Royal Rifles, the regiment being retitled the King's Royal Rifle Corps in the same year.
He was embarked for Alexandria in July 1882, ande was present in the actions at Magfar and Kassassin, and at battle of Tel-el-Kebir (Medal & Clasp; Khedive's Star). Promoted to Lance-Corporal in April 1883, Harrington was next detailed to serve as Postmaster for the Army of Occupation at Cairo, and he remained similarly employed until June 1884; he was detached for duty in the South Staffordshire and Essex Regiments in the same period. During the Nile operations he was detached for duty on the staff as Postmaster at Dongola (Clasp). He served in the Egyptian Postal Service from 1883 to 1916. Postal Arrangements in Sudan in 1884 The trained staff available for postal service consisted of the Chevalier Santoni, nine Egyptian employees, and three or four British non-commissioned officers [one of whom was Sergeant Harrington] who had worked at the Post Office at Cairo. These men were reserved for the three principal Post Offices [Sergeant Harrington was to serve on the staff at Dongola as Postmaster during the 1884-85 Sudan Campaign], the intermediate offices being served for the most part by convalescent soldiers. Mails were made up at Cairo for battalions and corps on information telegraphed to the Commandant of the base. A parcels post was established under the superintendence of the Commandant of the base. The mails were carried from Cairo to Assiut by railway; Assiut to Assuan by steamers; Assuan to Philae by railway; Philae to Halfa by steamers; Halfa to Sarras by railway, Sarras to Abu Fatmeh by camel; and Abu Fatmeh to the south by camel. Separate contracts were made for the carriage of letters, parcels, and newspapers, by camel; three camels sufficed as a rule for the letters, and ten for the parcels, &c. Local posts were also organised by the military authorities on the Line of Communications; the means of transport being almost entirely camels, sometimes hired, but generally government property. The post riders were either natives or Egyptian soldiers. Regular post offices were opened at Dongola [where Harrington was appointed postmaster] and Korti and also a transit office on board the Lotus, by the Egyptian postal authorities, in which a complete postal service was established, letters could be registered and money orders obtained. (History of the Sudan Campaign, Vol. 1 p. 86 refers). On 1 November 1885, Harrington reverted to Regimental Duty, from pay with the 2nd Essex Regiment at Assuan, and, on 1 January 1886, he purchased his discharge in Egypt to accept an offer from the Egyptian authorities of a position in the Post Office. And there he remained happily employed for many years, rising to the office of Local Director of Posts at Alexandria. During the Great War he showed 'a general interest in the welfare of British troops' and undertook canteen work. He was awarded the M.B.E. and appointed an Officer of the Egyptian Order of the Nile (London Gazette 29 December 1916, refers); his Order of Medjidieh was likely awarded in the same period but was not gazetted. Henry Harrington died at Walton-on-Thames on 4 November 1948. Sold with research copied to CD.
Five: Captain F. C. Parsons, British Red Cross Society and Serbian Relief Fund, late Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles British War and Victory Medals (F. C. Parsons. B.R.C. & St. J.J.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., reverse inscribed (Captain F. C. Parsons S.P. Mtd Rfls.) complete with top suspension brooch; Serbia, Kingdom, Order of St Sava, Fourth Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in fitted case of issue; together with gilt medal for Serbo-Turkish War of 1912, this last unconfirmed, extremely fine (6) £500-£700 --- Francis Cotton Parsons was born on 29 November 1867, the second son of William Baldock Parsons, of Aylmer Hall, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Educated at Waterbeach, Cambridge and Amersham Hall School, Reading and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was appointed to the Indian Civil Service in 1886. Parsons subsequently served in Madras as Assistant Collector and Magistrate, in 1894 as Special Settlement Officer, in 1897 as Head Assistant Collector and Magistrate, the following year as Special Settlement Officer in Malabar, in 1901 Head Assistant Collector in South Canara, in 1902 Sub-Collector and Joint Magistrate, in 1904 Collector and Magistrate, becoming a District and Sessions Judge during 1907-08. He was later an Assistant Magistrate and Assistant to the Governor of Vizagapatam and retired in August 1914. He is shown in 1912 as being on ‘Leave ex-India 2 yrs’. It is not known what he did in this period but it is possible that he is entitled to the Serbian Medal for the war with Turkey. He had, meanwhile, in December 1905, been appointed a Captain in the Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles. With the outbreak of war, Parsons served with the British Red Cross Society and the Serbian Relief Fund, being awarded the Order of St Sava, 4th Class (FO372/1162 confirms.) Parsons is confirmed as being out there before the retreat and was the administrator with the Second Farmers unit. He died at Lausanne on 23 December 1924. Sold with copied research.
Pair: Trooper L. Grisdale, Canadian Light Horse, Canadian Cavalry, who was killed in action during a mounted patrol, 9 August 1918 British War and Victory Medals (227022 Pte. L. Grisdale. Can. Cav. Bde.) good very fine 1914-15 Star (2) (77067 Pte E. Smyth. 7/Can: Inf:; 20690 Pte W. M. Tawse. 10/Can: Inf:) last with Silver War Badge, reverse numbered ‘C331’, last with verdigris, generally very fine (4) £100-£140 --- Lionel Grisdale was born in Thorold, Ontario, Canada in July 1897. He served during the Great War with the Canadian Light Horse, Canadian Cavalry on the Western Front. Trooper Grisdale was killed in action on the Western Front, 9 August 1918, when he was in a mounted patrol which went forward into the enemy line in front of Bouchoir to cut off a German ammunition convoy. The objective was safely reached by the patrol, but on its return was caught by flanking enemy machine gun fire, and Trooper Grisdale was instantly killed. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Edward Smyth was born in Belfast, Country Antrim in January 1888. He served during the Great War with the 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia), Canadian Infantry on the Western Front. Private Smyth died of illness, 4 October 1917, and is buried in the Fort Massey Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia. William Michael Tawse was born in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in January 1888. He served during the Great War with 10th Battalion (Canadians), Canadian Infantry on the Western Front, and was wounded in action at St. Julien 23 April 1915. Private Tawse was discharged due to his wounds, 27 September 1916.
Four: Captain A. E. Farrow, Royal Horse Artillery British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. A. E. Farrow.); Coronation 1902, silver, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (67663 B.Q.M. Sjt: A. E. Farrow. R.H.A.) generally very fine (4) £200-£240 --- Albert Edward Farrow was born in Tongoo, Burma, on 14 January 1873 and attested for the Royal Horse Artillery, serving in the ranks for 22 years and 60 days. Present at the Coronations of both H.M. King Edward VII in 1902, and H.M. King George V in 1911, as part of the Royal Horse Artillery’s Coronation Contingent, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 67 of April 1907. He was commissioned Lieutenant (District Officer) on 27 March 1912, and served during the Great War in India from 4 August 1914 (entitled to a British War Medal only). He was promoted Captain on 18 December 1919, and died on 19 March 1927. Sold with copied research.
An Inter-War M.B.E. group of five awarded to Sub-Conductor H. I. Macdonald, Indian Miscellaneous List, later Director, Regulations and Forms, Executive Council of the Governor General The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, hallmarks for London 1931, on 2nd type riband; British War Medal 1914-20 (S-Condr. H. I. Macdonald, I.M.L.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, mounted-court-style as worn; together with the related miniature awards, good very fine (5) £300-£400
Five: Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. Townsend, East Surrey Regiment British War Medal 1914-20 (Major C. H. Townsend.); Ottoman Empire, Order of Osmanieh, Fourth Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Order of the Medjidieh, Fourth Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Sudan 1899, unnamed as issued; Egypt, Kingdom, Order of the Nile, 3rd Class neck badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, the first four mounted court-style as worn, together with similarly mounted set of five miniature dress medal and tunic riband bar, all contained in a specially fitted double-fronted glazed leather display case by Spink, Piccadilly, nearly extremely fine (5) £1,000-£1,400 --- Order of Medijieh London Gazette 23 September 1902. Order of Osmanieh London Gazette 22 March 1912. Order of the Nile London Gazette 20 June 1916. Cuthbery Hanson Townsend was born on 5 April 1872, at Rushbrook, near Queenstown, son of Admiral S. P. Townsend, R.N. He was educated at United Service College, Westward Ho!, North Devon, and R.M.C. Sandhurst 1891. Noted to be acquainted with French and German, following training at the Royal Military College he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 18 June 1892, into the East Surrey Regiment. Promoted Lieutenant on 29 May 1894, he was appointed Adjutant in November 1896. Seconded to Egyptian Army on 9 March 1899, he was A.A.G. Egyptian Army 1905-07. He retired from the British Army in 1910 but continued to serve in Egypt. He was Governor of Berber Province for three years, then Governor and Commandant of Troops, Kassala Province for four years. He retired from the Egyptian Army and Sudan Government Service in 1917, and was employed at the War Office 1917-18 (single B.W.M. for services in Sudan confirmed. He was afterwards Regional Director of Pensions for the N.W. Region, 1919-25. His first wife, Letitia, died on 2 May 1938, and he remarried on 2 April 1946 to Muriel Amy Denton. He died on 27 January 1956, while living at Godrevy, Park Hill Road, Ewell, Surrey. Sold with original Commission Certificate dated 18 June 1892, and copied research saved to CD.
Six: Yeoman of Signals, G. V. Topping, Royal Navy 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (C/JX. 161983 G. V. Topping. Ldg. Sig. R.N.) a somewhat later issue with official corrections; Korea 1950-53, 2nd issue (C/JX. 161983 G. V. Topping. Yeo. Sigs. R.N.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, this a later United States issue, the first four mounted as worn, the Korea pair loose, good very fine (6) £140-£180 --- Sold with a uniform riband block for the first four medals, with silver rosette on the riband of the Atlantic Star, suggesting entitlement to the France and Germany clasp.
A Second War M.B.E., Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of eleven awarded to Major A. Shelton, Royal Artillery The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; Military Medal, G.V.R. (39929 Sjt: A. C. Shelton. 48/D.A. R.F.A.); 1914 Star, with clasp (39929 Sjt. A. Shelton. R.F.A.); British War Medal 1914-20 (39929 W.O. 11. A. Shelton. R.A.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (39929 W.O. 2. A. Shelton. R.A.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (1026026 W.O. Cl.I. A. Shelton. R.A.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1026026 W.O. Cl.II. A. Shelton. R.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (39929 B.S. Mjr: A. Shelton. R.H.A.); Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial, reverse officially dated 1950, with integral top riband bar, mounted court-style for display purposes, light pitting from star to both the MM and BWM, these very fine, the rest better (11) £700-£900 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1941. M.M. London Gazette 11 November 1916. M.S.M. London Gazette 18 January 1919: ‘In recognition of valuable service rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders.’ Arthur Shelton attested for the Royal Artillery at Glasgow on 16 November 1905, and served during the Great War initially with the 35th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery on the Western Front from 6 October 1914. He was awarded the Military Medal whilst serving with the 48th Divisional Artillery, and an ‘Immediate’ Meritorious Service Medal whilst serving as Battery Sergeant Major of the 2nd/1st (Warwick) Battery, Royal Horse Artillery (Territorial Force). Discharged on 11 June 1931, he re-enlisted in the Royal Artillery on 10 May 1939, and was commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) in the Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) on 5 August 1939. He was promoted Captain on 5 August 1945, and Major on 1 May 1947, and relinquished his commission having exceeded the age limit on 5 April 1948, retaining the rank of Major. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration in 1950 (London Gazette 21 April 1950). Sold with copied research.
Four: Attributed to Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Commander R. C. Hewson, Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, very fine Five: Attributed to P. F. St. John, Royal Navy 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, with Admiralty enclosure, very fine (9) £80-£100 --- Ronald Charles Hewson was born at Westcliff on Sea, Essex in 1911. He joined the Royal Navy as a Telegrapher with service number C/WRX688. Having ‘Passed Out’ from H.M.S. King Alfred he was appointed Temporary Sub-Lieutenant on 15 November 1940. In 1942 the Navy List records him as serving in H.M.S. Valkyrie. He was promoted Temporary Lieutenant on 1 September 1942, and by October 1943 is noted as serving in H.M.S. Rodney. In 1945 he is recorded as serving in H.M.S. Collingwood and at the R.N. Radar School and was holding the rank of Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Commander. He was released from Naval Service on 4 January 1946. Sold with the recipient’s Official Royal Navy Identity card in the name of Temp. Sub. Lieut. Ronald Charles Hewson, with photograph, and dated 28 November 1940,; Original parchment Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve Certificate of Service; original ‘Passing Out’ certificate from H.M.S. Royal Alfred having been examined for the rank of Temp. Sub-Lieutenant; original wartime commission certificate as Temp. Lieutenant, dated 29 May 1941; original annual report as to his conduct at the R.N. Signal School, in 1941; various press cuttings; several naval photographs of warships including H.M.S. Rodney at sea and in action shelling the German coastal defences at Alderney; various wartime naval dinner menu cards; several photographs of the recipient in uniform, both alone and in groups; personal travel expenses ledger; and a scruffy ex-library copy of ‘H.M.S. Rodney at War’ by Kenneth Thompson. Peter Francis St. John was born in Plymouth, Devon in 1922. Research notes with the medals indicate that he served in the Royal Navy in the Second World War in H.M.S. Prince of Wales, but 6 months prior to H.M.S. Prince of Wales being sunk by the Bismark he transferred to another ship, possibly H.M.S. Exeter. The research notes also indicate that the recipient played soccer for Torquay United and Totnes Town. He died in Plymouth in 1997. Sold with a hand written note from the previous owner stating that the medals were a gift directly from the family; a family photo album containing several photos of the recipient and other family members, some in uniform; a group photo of four seamen in uniform stated to include the recipient and several loose family photographs; and a South Hams, Plymouth and District runners up hallmarked silver-gilt prize medal 1949-50, in box with hand written inscription to ‘P. F. St. John’ in the lid.
Three: Attributed to Third Officer G. Humphrys, Women’s Royal Naval Service 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; with Admiralty enclosure, in named card box of issued addressed to ‘Miss G. Humphreys, Greenbank, Hastings Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex’; together with a silver A.R.P. lapel badge in red box of issue, with an official receipt slip for the badge issued by Bexhill Borough Council, extremely fine Three: Attributed to Miss B. A. Chance, Auxiliary Territorial Service France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-4r, with Army Council enclosure, in partially named card box of issue, very fine Voluntary Medical Service Medal, silver, with five Additional Award Bars, four with Geneva Cross and one with Kings Crown centre, with V.A.D. top suspension pin bar (Margaret E. Tuttiett.) good very fine (7) £70-£90 --- Miss Georgina Humphrys appears in the October 1945 Navy List as Third Officer Women’s Royal Naval Service, with seniority 12 March 1944. She still appears in the Navy List for 1958 as Third Officer in the Women’s Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Margaret E. Tuttiett of 4 Cranfield Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, appears on the list of British Red Cross Society Volunteers 1914-18, and worked as a full time V.A.D. Assistant Nurse for V.A.D. Detachment Sussex 24, at The Red Cross Hospital at 13-15, Cantelupe Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. She died at Bexhill-on-Sea in 1970.
Family Group: A Second War M.B.E. group of six awarded to Warrant Officer Class I J. E. Eames, Royal Sussex Regiment, late Hampshire Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War near Amiens on 20 May 1940 - escaping, he was recaptured 24 hours later, and held in captivity for the rest of the War The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; British War and Victory Medals (24603 Sjt. J. E. Eames. Hamps. R.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (5485467 W.O. Cl. II J. E. Eames. Hamps. R.) generally very fine and better Coronation 1911, County and Borough Police (P.C. Joseph Eames Winchester City Police) good very fine (7) £600-£800 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 29 November 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Field.’ The original Recommendation states: ‘Regimental Sergeant Major Eames, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, served with the Battalion from its inception at the outbreak of War. This Warrant Officer was invaluable in helping lay the foundation of general discipline and in training and building up a healthy structure of non-commissioned officers, in spite of the almost complete lack of any real experience amongst those from whom he had to draw. His assistance in training young officers was also of great importance. He set a fine example to all and his deportment and patience at all times went far in guiding the numbers of young recruits onto the right lines. This example was carried out in full, when, on the weekend of 18-20 May 1940 the Battalion, entirely alone in a French Sector (just west of Amiens) was attacked by General Rommel’s Panzer Division. A very great deal is owing to this fine old soldier (who had been a pensioner and was 52 years old at the time) for the manner in which all ranks carried out their orders and held their ground until he and other survivors had not alternative to being taken Prisoner. After being taken Prisoner he escaped with some others on the same evening (20 May 1940), but they were overtaken by Armoured Cars 24 hours later. I recommend that this Warrant Officer be awarded the M.B.E.’ Joseph Edward Eames was born in 1889, the son of Police Constable Joseph Eames, Winchester City Police, and served during the latter stages of the Great War with the Hampshire Regiment. Advanced Company Sergeant Major, he proceed to Guernsey on 19 December 1924 for posting to the Permanent Staff, 1st Battalion, Royal Guernsey Light Infantry, and served on the island for a number of years. Returning to his parent unit, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1933. Eames subsequently transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment, and served with the 7th Battalion as part of the British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War. He was captures and taken Prisoner of War on 21 May 1940 (see M.B.E. Recommendation), and held in captivity for the rest of the War. For his services leading up to his capture he was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He died at Ryde, Isle of Wight, on 10 September 1949. Sold with a postcard photograph of the recipient, and copied research.
Four: Leading Aircraftman J. Gordon, Royal Air Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with Air Council enclosure and ticker tape confirming rank and number, in named card box of issue addressed to ‘J. Gordon Esq., c/o Cruickshank, 403 Bilsland Drive, Ruchill, Glasgow, N.W.’; together with the recipient’s riband bar; and a Published Services Guide to Alexandria, Fourth Edition, as issued free to British Forces in North Africa, good very fine Four: Attributed to B. Lane, Royal Air Force 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1939, with silver star emblem on riband; together with a matching mounted miniature medal group; riband bar for the Croix de Guerre; R.A.F. shoulder embroidered eagle badge; R.A.F. cap badge; and two sets of named card identity tags to B. Lane, with service numbers 1672182 and 10596201, good very fine (8) £100-£140 --- French Croix de Guerre unconfirmed.
A fine ‘Military Division’ M.B.E., M.S.M. combination group of six awarded to Warrant Officer P. A. ‘Paddy’ Jeffers, Royal Air Force, who completed over 40 years continuous service The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type, breast badge, silver; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, South Arabia (D2227774 Act. F. Sgt. P. A. Jeffers R.A.F.); Jubilee 1977; Royal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R. (WO P A Jeffers (D2227774) RAF); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, with Second Award Bar (2227774 Sgt. P. A. Jeffers. R.A.F.) mounted for display, generally good very fine or better (6) £800-£1,000 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1972. Patrick Anthony Jeffers was born in Crosshaven, County Cork in December 1925. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force as an AC2 in January 1944, and advanced to Sergeant in April 1952. ‘Paddy’ Jeffers served at the Aden Supply Depot, Steamer Point, from November 1965, and subsequently at Muharraq and Sharjah. He advanced to Flight Sergeant in January 1966, and to Warrant Officer in July 1969 (received AOC’s Commendation, 24 June 1960 and 13 June 1964). Jeffers was a much respected Warrant Officer who served continuously until 14 June 1984, being discharged at the age of 58 and having served for 40 years and four months (awarded L.S. & G.C. in January 1962 and the Second Award Bar in December 1977). Jeffers was considered the ‘Father’ of the R.A.F. Catering Trade, and his latter years were spent at the R.A.F. School of Catering, R.A.F. Hereford. He was awarded the M.S.M. in June 1978, and was in the first tranche of awards of the M.S.M. on its re-introduction to the R.A.F. On retirement Jeffers became the Secretary of the Hereford City Conservation Club, and he died in December 2007. Sold with typed details of service originally provided by recipient.
Four: Attributed to Sergeant S. Lovett, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with badly damaged Royal Air Force Service and Release book, very grubby worn and with loose pages, named to 1272801 Cpl./Sgt. S. Lovett, very fine; Four: Representing the entitlement of Sergeant F. R. Lamin, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 1939-45 Star; copy Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with a hallmarked silver school sports medallion from Robert May’s Grammar School, Odiham, with engraved detail ‘R. Lamin Snr. X-Country Hurdles - 14-16 Hurdles 1934’, in Mappin & Webb case of issue, very fine Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (W/O. C. T. Broomfield. (358950) R.A.F.) nearly extremely fine (9) £80-£100 --- Stephen Lovett served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from 12 December 1940 and served overseas from 28 July 1943. His service book confirms the award of the four medals for his service in the M.E.F., 240 Wing, 205 Group. He was released from service in June 1946. Francis Roland Lamin, 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, was killed in service on 29 October 1941 when Hampden Mk.1, X3021 ZN, from R.A.F. Coningsby crashed into the sea off the Lincolnshire coast. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Pair: Corporal M. H. Michaud, 22nd Royal Regiment, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps Korea 1950-53, Canadian issue, silver (SE-103633 M. H. Michaud) in named card box of issue; U.N. Korea 1950-54, French language issue (SE-103633 M. H. Michaud) in named card box of issue, virtually Mint condition (2) £200-£240 --- Marc Henri Michaud was born at St. Joseph d’Alma, Quebec, on 30 July 1924, and attested for the 22nd Royal Regiment, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, at Quebec on 11 March 1949. He served with the Regiment in Korea, and died in South Korea on 8 October 1953. His body was repatriated and he is buried in St. Charles Cemetery, Quebec, Canada.
Pair: Private J. S. Piche, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment, who was killed in action near Packsong, just north of the Imjin River, 28 September 1951 Korea 1950-53, Canadian issue, silver (SD-802422 J. S. Piche); U.N. Korea 1950-54, French language issue (SD-802422 J. S. Piche) very fine (2) £300-£400 --- Joseph Sergeant Piche was a native of Montreal, Quebec, and served with the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment in Korea. He was killed in action near the village of Packsong, just north of the Imjin River, Korea, 28 September 1951. Private Piche is buried in the UN Military Cemetery, Tanggok, Korea. Sold with copied service papers.
![Pair: Private W. G. Chief, Canadian Forces Korea 1950-53, Canadian issue, silver (SH 62356 W. G. Cheif [sic]); U.N. Korea 195](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/0a3d0cde-6405-4ab3-ad2b-aeb000ae022d/f51bdb45-14d6-4916-9b97-af1900eba052/468x382.jpg)
Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. Richard Down, 6th or Inniskilling Drag.) fitted with original steel clip and German silver bar suspension, light marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine £4,000-£5,000 --- Richard Down was appointed Cornet in the 6th Dragoons on 7 March 1811; Lieutenant, 31 March 1814; Captain, 29 September 1824; exchanged to half-pay Unattached, 7 April 1826. Captain Down died at 13 Grand Parade, Brighton, on 9 November 1857, aged 66.
A Great War ‘Salonika’ M.C group of five awarded to Captain J. R. Green, Hampshire Regiment Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. J. R. Green. Hamps. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. R. Green.); France, Thrd Republic, Medal of Honour, with Swords, gold (silver-gilt), unnamed, good very fine and better (5) £1,000-£1,400 --- M.C. London Gazette 11 January 1919: ‘For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. He commanded his company with great skill and determination. After the capture of all his objectives he organised his command under exceptionally heavy artillery fire, and throughout the action displayed a very high standard of command and set a fine example of courage and devotion to duty. When the enemy endeavoured to counter-attack he drove them back’ French Medal of Honour with Swords in Gold London Gazette 17 March 1920. John Russell Green was born on 10 August 1891 and following the outbreak of the Great War attested for the Welsh Field Company, Royal Engineers (Reserve) on 19 October 1914. He was discharged to a commission in the Hampshire Regiment and served with the 10th Battalion in the Gallipoli theatre of war from 4 October 1915. Advanced Captain, he saw further service in Salonika, and was awarded the Military Cross. He died on 15 January 1953. Sold with the named Bestowal Document for the French Medal of Honour with Swords in Gold, with War Office enclosure; named War Office enclosure for the Military Cross; various portrait photographs of the recipient; and copied research.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Civil) Knight Commander’s 2nd type set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver and silver gilt, with both full sized and miniature width neck riband; Star, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, in Garrard, London, fitted case of issue, about extremely fine (2) £700-£900
Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (215723 H. Hill, A.B., H.M.S. Philomel); together with an Italian Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver; and a ‘Princess Margaret’ Deliverance from Bolsheviks Medal 1919, by Spink, London, 38mm, white metal, the obverse featuring a fouled anchor enclosed by a life-belt, ‘Princess Margaret’ in raised letters above, and privately engraved ‘William Williamson’ below, the reverse inscribed in raised letters, ‘Riga - London, 3rd Jany. 1919, 17th Jany. 1919, From the Grateful Passengers in Remembrance of their Deliverance from the Bolsheviks’, pierced with ring suspension, the AGS pitted and worn, therefore fair, the others better (3) £140-£180 --- Harry Hill was born in Beaminster, Dorset, on 30 April 1886 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Boscawen on 29 July 1901. Advanced Able Seaman on 22 September 1905, he served in H.M.S. Philomel from 12 February 1908 to 25 July 1909, and was one of 35 men from the ship who landed to provide assistance following the Messina Earthquake on 28 December 1908. He served during the Great War in H.M.S. Princess Margaret from 9 November 1915 to 20 January 1920, and was advanced Leading Seaman on 1 May 1916. Acting on some disturbing news, the minelayer, H.M.S. Princess Margaret berthed at Riga on 19 December 1918, where she landed her marines on 27 December who, accompanied by an armed party from H.M.S. Ceres, marched through the town. The following day frightened British subjects began to arrive on board. On 29 December it was heard that a Lettish Regiment had mutinied, and arrangements were made for the defence of the approaches to H.M. vessels by the aid of search lights, and the use of star and lyddite shells. Even more refugees joined Princess Margaret that night, bringing the total on board to 392 souls, 143 men, 169 women and 80 children. From 30 December to 3 January 1919 armed parties were constantly landed to police the town and so ward off menacing parties. On 3 January 1919 Princess Margaret sailed for Copenhagen, where two days later she landed some of the refugees prior to her passage to the United Kingdom where the remainder were disembarked. Hill was shore pensioned on the reduction of the Navy on 21 August 1922. Sold with copied record of service; and extensive copied research relating to H.M.S. Princess Margaret in the Baltic, including a copy of the ship’s Log.
1914 Star (2) (8559 Pte. A. Batley. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.; 7280 Pte. A. Pope. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (20934 Pte. G. F. Phillips. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) contact marks, generally very fine (3) £120-£160 --- Arthur Batley attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 16 October 1907 and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. Awarded a clasp to his 1914 Star, he was discharged due to sickness on 21 March 1919, and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B220481. Alfred Pope attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 29 October 1902 and served with the 2nd Battalion during the the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. He later served with the 5th Battalion and was discharged on 30 August 1916 due to wounds, being awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 52815. George. F. Phillips attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 10 August 1915 and served with the 1st Battalion during the the Great War. He was discharged due to sickness on 17 January 1919 and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B214806.
British War Medal 1914-20 (7) (206014 A.Sjt. A. H. Chapman. Devon. R.; 15628 Sjt. J. Cade. Som. L.I.; G-19487 Pte. J. Cook. R.W. Kent. R.; 4140. Pte. A. Piper. 9-Lond. R.; 2417 Pte. C. E. Tolley. 16-Lond. R.; 3812 Pte. J. S. Williamson. 16-Lond. R.; 5492 A. Sjt. W. G. Patmore. 22-Lond. R.) some edge bruises and contact marks, generally nearly extremely fine (7) £80-£100 --- Archibald Henry Chapman attested for the Devonshire Regiment during the Great War and served with the 2/6th Battalion. He was disembodied on 25 January 1920. Joseph Cade attested for Somerset Light Infantry during the Great War and served on the Western Front with the 8th Battalion from 8 September 1915. Charles E. Tolley attested for the 16th (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 21 January 1915. John S. Williamson attested for the 16th (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment during the Great War, on 15 February 1915. He was discharged on 14 February 1919, aged 30, and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 476970.
Victory Medal 1914-19 (9) (2. Lieut. F. S. Dawson.; 677 Sgt. G. W. Turner. R.A.; 1348 Sjt. R. Butler. R. Lanc. R.; 307716 Pte. E. Illingworth. W. Rid. R.; 46497 Pte. J. Tallentyre. Durh. L. I.; S-10434 Pte. W. Henry. Cam’n. Highrs.; 3-5122 Pte. N. Morrison. Cam’n. Highrs.; 7989 Pte. J. Ross. Cam’n Highrs.; 1367 L-Nk. Sultan Mohd, 29 Mule Cps.; RPCD-378 Bhisty Bahadur Ali.) some edge bruises, some contact marks, a few spots of verdigris, generally very fine (9) £140-£180 --- Frank Stewart Dawson was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and served during the Great War in the Inland Water Transport section. George W. Turner attested for service in the Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War and served on the Western Front from 6 June 1915. He was appointed Sergeant and awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 12 September 1916). Reuben Butler attested for service with the Royal Lancaster Regiment during the Great War. Appointed Sergeant, he served on the Western Front with the 1/5th Battalion from 14 February 1915. Edward Illingworth attested for the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, on 5 December 1915 and served during the Great War with both the 1/5th and 9th Battalions. He was discharged on 26 April 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B233,368. James Tallentyre attested into the Durham Light Infantry for service during the Great War on 19 November 1917. He served with the 15th Battalion and was discharged on 24 July 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B305,317. William Henry was born in Dalkeith, Midlothian and attested at Musselburgh into the Cameron Highlanders on 25 August 1914. He served on the Western Front with the 1st Battalion from 12 November 1914 and was wounded, with a Gun Shot Wound to his face, on Christmas Day 1914. (His name is misspelt as Hendry on the 1914 Star roll). Wounded again in 1916, he was transferred to the Reserve, Class WA, before being recalled and was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 13 March 1919) for his bravery at Epehy in September 1918. Sold with copied research. Neil Morrison attested for the Cameron Highlanders on 12 November 1909, serving with B (South Uist) Company. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 May 1915 and was wounded the following year. He was discharged as a consequence of those wounds on 8 August 1917 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 236,928. Sold with copied research. James Ross, a Butcher from Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, attested, aged 18, into Cameron Highlanders on 14 August 1907. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 19 December 1914 and was discharged on 13 August 1919.
Victory Medal 1914-19 (10) (1812 Bmbr. W. Ramsey. R.A.; 52260 A. W. O. Cl. 2. J. G. Kingswood. R.E.; G-72579 Pte. W. C. Morris. The Queen’s R.; GS- 86167 Pte. W. G. T. Jones. R. Fus.; 45438 Pte. W. Sharman. Linc. R.; 62148 Pte. F. Lees. W. York. R.; 64974 Pte. J. W. Garside. York. R.; 61696 Pte. E. G. Parker. Ches. R.; 20893 Pte. A. E. Boyce. Y & L. R.; 030015 Pte. J. Waters. A.O.C.) ring missing and suspension poorly replaced on Morris’ medal, ring missing on Jones’ medal, some edge bruises, contact marks and verdigris, generally very fine (10) £70-£90 --- John George Kingswood attested for the Royal Engineers on 22 September 1914 and served during the Great War on the Western Front from 24 August 1915. Appointed Warrant Officer Class 2, he was discharged due to sickness, aged 46, on 25 February 1918 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No, 333,884. William Charles Morris attested for the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment during the Great War and served with the 2/4th Battalion. Frank Lees, a Colliery Driver from Great Wyrley, Staffordshire, attested for the Royal Field Artillery on 16 January 1917 during the Great War. He transferred to the West Yorkshire Regiment and served on the Western Front with the 3rd Battalion from 1 April 1918. He received a Gun Shot Wound to his neck and arm on 29 June 1918 and was discharged on 18 February 1919. James W. Garside attested for the Yorkshire (Green Howards) Regiment during the Great War, and serving with the 6th Battalion. Ernest George Parker attested for the Cheshire Regiment on 15 January 1916 and served during the Great War. He was discharged aged 30 on 8 July 1919 and awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B252325. Albert E. Boyce attested for the York and Lancaster Regiment and served during the Great War with the 6th Battalion in Egypt from 25 August 1915. He was discharged Class ‘Z’ on 28 April 1919. John Waters attested for the Army Ordnance Corps and served during the Great War. He was discharged Class ‘Z’ on 31 August 1919.
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46, unnamed as issued to Indian personnel; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (534921 Pte. F. W. Allidine. 13-Hrs.); together with the planchet only of a silver Khedive’s Sudan Medal 1896-1908, silver (4890 Pte. G. Robinson. 2nd. L.F.) later engraved naming edge, with traces of brooch mounting to obverse; edge bruising, nearly very fine, the GSM better (3) £80-£100 --- Frederick Walter Allidine was born at Preston, Lancashire in 1881 and attested for the 11th Hussars at Norwich on 8 September 1900. He later transferred to the 13th Hussars, serving during both the South African War and the Great War (also entitled to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps and a 1914-15 Star trio). He was discharged in December 1920, his conduct being described as exemplary, and was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in October 1921. Sold with copied research.
Canada Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (30372 W.O.2. S. Beard C.A.S.C.) second digit of number double-struck, polished and slightly worn, minor edge bruise, nearly very fine and scarce £400-£500 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919. Sidney Beard was born in London, England, in April 1882, and having emigrated to Canada attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Valcartier on 23 September 1914. Posted to the Canadian Army Service Corps, 1st Divisional Train, he served with them during the Great War on the Western Front, and was advanced Company Quarter Master Sergeant on 9 May 1917. For his services during the Great War he was awarded the Colonial Meritorious Service Medal; he also received a Silver War Badge. Demobilised in May 1919, he subsequently settled in London, Ontario, and died there in October 1960. Sold with copied research.
Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (914711 Gnr. C. R. Cambridge. R.A.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Walter Dew); National Fire Brigades Union Long Service Medal, silver, edge officially numbered ‘1791’, with 20 Years top riband bar, and three Additional Five Years award Bars, unnamed as issued, generally very fine (3) £60-£80 --- Charles Robert Cambridge was discharged to the Territorial Army Reserve on 6 June 1946, and probably had Second World War Service. Walter Dew is noted, in research accompanying the medal, as the son of Detective Chief Inspector Walter Dew, who was involved in the hunt for both Jack the Ripper and Dr. Crippen, and arrested Dr. Crippen in Canada.
Liverpool City Police Good Service Medal, silver, reverse engraved ‘Presented by Watch Committee to Con. 199D. J. B. Jones 19-8-44’, with top silver riband bar; Association of Professional Fire Brigade Officers Long Service Medal, silver, 1 clasp, 10 Years (Supt. J. F. Collins. 1913.); National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal, bronze, 1 clasp, Ten Years, the edge officially impressed ‘10559’ and engraved ‘Sidney Fennell’, the reverse engraved ‘Gellygaer’; National Fire Brigades Union Long Service Medal, silver, 1 clasp, Five Years, with top ‘Twenty Years’ riband bar, the edge officially impressed ‘1141’, and the reverse engraved ‘Presented to C. H. Chinnery, Woodford Fire Brigade, 1914’; together with a Professional Fire Brigade Association lapel bade, generally very fine (5) £80-£100
Guild of St. George Life Saving Medal, 33mm, silver, the obverse depicting the Pistrucci design of St. George slaying the dragon, the reverse showing Christ and his disciples in a boat during a gale (see Mark, Ch.4, vv.35-41), the edge engraved ‘From T. E. Harvey, Esq., M.P., to H. Alexander for saving life 21.4.1912’, with loop ands ring suspension; together with three related medals, in gilt, silver, and bronze, all unnamed, generally very fine (4) £60-£80 --- Thomas Edmund Harvey (1875-1951) served as Member of Parliament for West Leeds from 1910 to 1918, and was Master of the Guild of St. George from 1934 to 1951.
Shipping Federation Medal for Meritorious Service, 1st (1910) type, silver (A. Hellman 12th. January 1922) unmounted, small test-mark to edge, nearly extremely fine, rare £300-£400 --- Arthur Hellman, an Able Seaman in the S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was, along with Second Officer Robert Spencer; Boatswain Martin Wennerburg; Able Seaman Arthur Edward Clerk; and Donkeyman Henry Fudge, all of the Dalton, awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Bronze; the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society Medal in silver; and the Shipping Federation Medal for Meritorious Service. ‘On the 12th January 1922, the S.S. Tidal of Cardiff, laden with coal, was in distress about 8 miles off the Corton Lightship, near Lowestoft, the vessel having shipped tremendous seas, which caused her to take a heavy and increasing list. In response to signals of distress the S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne came to her assistance, and although the weather conditions were very bad the master of the Dalton decided to try to launch a boat. Volunteers were called for, and after the Dalton had been manoeuvred about 50 yards to the windward of the Tidal a life-boat, in charge of Mr Robert Spencer and manned by the seamen mentioned, was launched and succeeded in rescuing the crew and passengers consisting of ten men, two women, and three children, and safely transferred them to the Dalton. The rescuing boat had only gone some 30 yards on the return journey when the Tidal foundered.’ (The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scrlett refers). A piece of Plate (Salver) value £15 was awarded by the Board of Trade to James J. Shaw, Master of the Dalton, and a pair of Binoculars value £8.2.6 to Robert Spencer, Second Officer. Henry Fudge was subsequently selected for the ‘Emile Robin’ award for 1922.
Royal Life Saving Society Award of Merit, silver (T. E. Harvey 1932); Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Cross (3) (A. Watson July 1954; T. Hawkins; H. Collins 1974); the first with five date bars for 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959, and with top R.L.S.S. riband bar; Royal Life Saving Society Proficiency Medal, bronze (A. Watson June 1953), with four date bars for 1955, 1956, 1957, and 1958, and with top R.L.S.S. riband bar; together with five R.N.L.I. badges, including those for the President of the R.N.L.I. Ladies’ Life-Boat Guild; and the Chairman of the R.N.L.I., generally very fine (10) £70-£90
Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Swimming Proficiency Medal, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1929), the reverse inscribed ‘Presented by the Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society to Doris M. Parkes, Garston Ch. of E. School, for proficiency in swimming exercises with the object of Saving Life, 1/10/30’, with top floreate silver riband bar, in fitted case of issue, good very fine £40-£50
French Life Saving Society of the Oise, silver medal, 32mm, the reverse engraved ‘L. J. Dubois 2 Février 1868’; French Life Saving Society of the Seine, silver medal, 31mm, the reverse engraved ‘E. L. A. M. Roussel Mbre. Honre. 1885’; French Life Saving Society of the Aisne, silver medal, 40mm, the reverse embossed ‘Prix Arthur Lacroix’; together with a French General Society of Life-Savers bronze medallion, the edge numbered ‘170’; a French Medal for Hygiene, bronze-gilt, the reverse inscribed ‘Eugéne Pétel, Paris 1902’; a French Ministry of Social Affairs Medal of Honour, silver-gilt, ‘Mme. E. Petel 1970’; and a Dutch National Union of Royal Societies Medal for those decorated with life-saving awards, bronze, generally very fine (7) £100-£140 --- Louis Jules Dubois was a member of the fire brigade of 29 years, and was awarded the Life Saving Society of the Oise silver medal for saving the life of the mayor’s wife who dell into the Canal of Ourcy, and also the life of a child who had fallen into a well.
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