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Lot 591
Imperial Service Medal (7), G.V.R., 2nd issue (Alfred Edward Elkington); G.V.R., 3rd issue (Edward Hems Groom); G.VI.R., 1st issue (Henry Sharp); G.VI.R., 2nd issue (George Nicholas Chadwick; George Arthur Mitchell); E.II.R., 1st issue (Lawrence Joseph Francis Gatt); E.II.R., 2nd issue (Denver Redfern Thomas) last two in case of issue; Pair: Corporal W. Stockton, St. John Ambulance Brigade, Order of St. John, Serving Brother, silver and enamel, unnamed, with silver ‘St. John’ bar; St. John Service Medal (13502 Cpl. W. Stockton, Chester Div. No.4 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1935) in case of issue; together with a miniature Serving Sister badge, silver and enamel; St. John Service Medal (30951 A/Sts. E. M. Smith, London S.J.A.B. 1944); St. John Re-Examination Cross (2) (A70754 Beppa Sharkey) in case of issue; another (131712 George Seed) with 17 date bars; British Red Cross Society War Medal 1914-18; British Red Cross Society L.S. Medal, for 3 Years, enamelled, in card box; Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. Cape Badge, silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1915; Pakistan medals (6), generally good very fine and better (22) £100-140 British Red Cross Society L.S. Medal with award slip to ‘Miss Kathleen V. Fitzgerald’, dated 26 June 1945. 591.5. The Orders and Decorations of General Sir Hilgrove Tomkyns Turner, G.C.H., K.C., Colonel of the 19th Regiment, onetime Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey and of Bermuda, soldier and courtier under Kings George III and George IV, who secured the Rosetta Stone for England in 1801, and acted as guide to Czar Alexander of Russia and to his sister The Grand Duchess of Oldenburg on their tour of England in 1814. Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant.591.5. Tomkyns Hilgrove Turner was born in 1764, and was appointed Ensign in the Third Foot Guards on 20 February 1782. He was promoted to be Lieutenant and Captain on 13 October 1789. He went to Holland in February 1793 with the brigade of guards under Frederick, Duke of York, landed at Helvoetsluys on 5 March, Marched to Tournay, in May camped at Maulde, took part in the battle of St Amand on 8 May, the action of Famars on 23 May, the siege of Valenciennes in June and July, the assault of that place on 25 July, and its capitulation on the 28th. In August Turner marched with the British force to lay siege to Dunkirk, and on the way was present at the brilliant affair at Lincelles on 18 August, when the guards at the point of the bayonet drove out of a village and of an entrenched position a superior body of French who had previously captured them from the Dutch. He was engaged in the siege of Dunkirk and in the repulse of sorties, on 6 and 8 september, the latter at Rosenda‘l, but the covering army having been compelled to by Houchard to retire to Furnes, the Duke of York was obliged to raise the siege, and Turner marched with the guards to Cysoing, between Lille and Orchies. On 5 October the British guards joined the Austrians across the Sambre for the investment of Landercy, but the siege was not prosecuted, and Turner, repassing the Sambre with his regiment, marched to Ghent. On 17 April 1794, Turner was engaged at Vaux in the successful attack by the allies on the French army posted between Landrecy and Guise, when it was driven behind the Oise and Landrecy invested. He was present in several affairs during the siege, and was at the action of Cateau, near Troixville, on 26 April, after which he went with the Duke of York’s army to Tournay and took part in the repulse of the French attack on 11 May and subsequent actions during the same month. He accompanied the army in its retreat towards Holland in July and behind the Aa in September, took part in the fight at Boxtel on 15 September, and in the retreat behind the Meuse to Nimeguen. He greatly distinguished himself at the capture of Fort St AndrŽ, under Abercromby, and accompanied the army in the retreat behind the Waal. Turner was promoted to be Captain in the 3rd Foot Guards and Lieutenant-Colonel on 12 November 1794, when he appears to have returned to England. He was promoted to be brevet Colonel on 1 January 1801, in which year he went with his regiment to Egypt, landing at Aboukir Bay on 8 March, when he was engaged with the enemy. He took part in the action of 13 March, and in the battle of Alexandria on 21 March. He was also in the action on the west side of Alexandria on 2 September. For his services in Egypt he was made a Knight of the Order of the Crescent by the Sultan of Turkey. By the terms of Article 6 of the capitulation of Alexandria, all the curiosities, natural and artificial, collected by the French Institute were to be delivered to the victors. The French sought to evade the article on the ground that the collections were all private property, and General Menou claimed as his own the Rosetta stonefound by the French in 1798 when repairing the ruined Fort St Julien, and deposited in his house at Alexandria. Turner, who was a great antiquary, was deputed by Lord Hutchinson to negotiate on the subject, and, after much correspondence and several conferences with General Menou, it was decided that, considerable care having been bestowed by the French in the preservation of the collection of insects and animals, these should be retained, but the antiquities and Arabian manuscripts Lord Hutchinson insisted should be given up. The French were very angry, and broke the cases and removed the protecting coverings of many of the antiquarian treasures. Turner obtained a party of gunners and a ‘devil’ cart, with which he carried off the Rosetta stone from General Menou’s house amid the jeers of the French officers and men. These gunners were the first British soldiers to enter Alexandria. Having seen the other remains of ancient Egyptian sculpture sent on board the Madras, Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton’s ship, Turner embarked with the Rosetta stone on board the Egyptienne frigate, and arrived at Portsmouth in February 1802. At Turner’s request, Lord Buckinghamshire, secretary of state, allowed the stone to be sent first to the Society of Antiquaries, where it remained for a little while before being deposited in the British Museum. In January 1803 Turner communicated to the Society of Antiquaries a version of the inscription on Pompey’s Pillar, taken by Captain Dundas, Royal Engineers. In July 1803 Turner was appointed an Assistant Quartermaster-General to the forces in Great Britain, and on 25 June 1804 a Brigadier-General on the staff at home. In April 1807 he was transferred as a Brigadier-General to the staff in South America, where, it is thought, he was intended by the Government to become the first British Governor of the Spanish South American possessions, the capture of these being the objective of the military expeditions in 1806-07. However, with the humiliating defeat of General Whitelocke before Buenos Aires and the subsequent withdrawal from Montivideo, by the time of Turner’s arrival in South America in December 1807 all prospect of conquest had disappeared and with it all prospects of his governorship. Turner, who had been accompanied to South America by his wife and two of his four children, returned to England via the Cape of Good Hope in the spring of 1808 and was promoted to be Major-General on 25 April that same year. General Turner was a servant of the courts of three successive monarchs, comprising George III and his two sons. Under what auspices, with what influence and exactly at what period of his career he began his intimacy with the court of George III is not known. From 1803 he was Assistant Quartermaster-General of the Home District under Prince Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge, youngest son of George III, with whom Turner seems to have developed a very close friendship. In 1809 he was appointed Gentleman attendant to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, whom he accompanied on his visits to Brighton, and in 1811, when the Prince became Regent, he was appoi
Lot 595
The Royal Guelphic Order, K.C.H. (Military) Knight Commander’s breast star in silver with gold and enamel centre, the appliquŽ sword hilts also in gold and enamel, the horse of Hannover in silver, 79mm diameter, the gilt reverse signed Beaugeois Bijoutier a Paris, and fitted with pin for wearing, central medallion depressed and some enamel loss to wreath, very fine £1000-1200 Lieutenant-General Turner was made a Knight Commander of the Guelphic Order prior to 1820, the exact date not known. #1000-1200 596. Ottoman Empire, Order of the Crescent, K.C., Knight’s breast badge, gold and green enamel, 43mm diameter, with integral loop and gold rings for suspension, unusually fine quality, enamel chipped on obverse between rays of the star, otherwise nearly extremely fine and very rare £4000-5000 Nicholas Carlisle, in A Concise Account of the Several Foreign Orders of Knighthood, London 1839, lists Turner, along with Vice-Admiral Nelson, Lieutenant-General Hutchinson, Lord Keith, the Earl of Elgin, etc., as one of the fifteen recipients of the ‘Superior Class’ of the Order of the Crescent with the following entry: ‘General Sir Hilgrove Turner, G.C.H., Knight of the Imperial Russian Order of St Anne, of the first Class, Knight of the Imperial Ottoman Order of The Crescent, and late Governor of Bermuda, ‘by verbal permission of His Royal Highness The Prince Regent, ‘afterwards George the Fourth. It is to the firmness and decision of the gallant Officer, that England is indebted for the celebrated Trilinguar Inscription, discovered at Rosetta, a Fac-simile and copies of which were extensively circulated by The Society of Antiquaries of London. This famous stone now forms a prominent feature in the Hall of Egyptian Antiquities at The British Museum. It was styled ‘The Gem of Antiquity ‘by the French, as being the Key to the Hierohlyphick language.’.
Lot 597
Russia, Order of St Anne, 1st type, Grand Cross sash badge by Andreas Paskewitz, St Petersburg, circa 1814, gold with enamelled centres, the four arms each set with a red crystal in a silver mount, the angles of the cross each set with a single pear-shaped paste stone in a silver mount, and the points of each arm set with three smaller round pastes in silver mounts, 82mm x 71mm excluding suspension ring, the reverse suspension loop with maker’s mark ‘A.P’ and St Petersburg assay office mark, test mark to reverse, otherwise nearly extremely fine, a highly important fully provenanced badge awarded to the first British recipient of this Order £60000-80000 After the defeat of Napoleon in 1814 and his exile to Elba, and in preparation for the Inter-Allied conference which took place later in Vienna, the monarchs of the Grand Alliance were invited to visit London. Alexander 1, Tsar of Russia, and King Frederick William III of Prussia accepted, but the Austrian Emperor refused and sent Prince Metternich in his stead. The King of Prussia was accompanied by BlŸcher and Hardenburg, while the Tsar was preceded by his sister, the Archduchess Catherine of Russia, who was also the widow of the Grand Duke of Oldenburg. General Turner was appointed by the Prince Regent to attend on the Grand Duchess and to make all the arrangements for her stay in London and for a tour of some of the towns and great country houses of England. He was present at many of the state and social functions given to the Allied Sovereigns, and has left some interesting memoranda and correspondence illustrating the intrigues of the representatives of the various nations, the characters of the actors, and the open antipathy between the Prince Regent and the Duchess of Oldenburg, all contributing factors towards the eventual triple alliance of France, England and Austria, and the rape of Poland by Russia and Prussia. For General Turner’s service to the Grand Duchess and the Emperor during their tour of England, the Emperor made him a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Anne, of which order he is believed to be the first British recipient. Advised of the honour in a letter from Count Lieven dated 8 July 1814, the General went to considerable trouble to obtain permission to wear this order, as there existed a prohibition against the wearing of foreign decorations. In support of his claim he made the following 'Statement of Services': ‘Statement of Services of Lieut.-Genl. Sir Hilgrove Turner. Who served in all the actions of the Campaigns of 1793-94-95 in Holland, Flanders, France, and Germany in the last part of 1794 he had the rank of Field Officer. In the actions of the campaign in Egypt in 1801, in the latter part of which he served as a General Officer. He was ordered with troops to South America in 1807, arrived in the Rio de la Plata, tho’ too late for the action at Buenos Aires and was under the necessity of going with the troops to the Brazils and Cape of Good Hope. He had the honour of the charge of the monuments taken in Egypt and now deposited in the British Museum which were obtained with considerable expense and risk on his part. He commanded a body of troops in Jersey, which effected a forcible landing with the Duc d'Aumont on the coast of Normandy, to aid and assist the operations of the allies in their entrance into France, at Caen bv detaining a large body of troops from joining the great army on the frontiers last year 1815 and for which he has had the honour to receive a letter of approbation from His Majesty’s Secretary of State for the War Department.’ (Ref Sir Hilgrove Turner, Soldier and Courtier under the Georges, Arthur F. Loveday, Alkham Press, 1964).
Lot 604
George IV Presentation Gold Ring 1820, set with carnelian intaglio laureate bust of the King wearing the badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, 20mm x 17mm, the reverse of the stone inscribed ‘georgivs. iv. dg. brit. rex. mdcccxx’, the bezel further inscribed ‘Given by His Majesty to Sir H. Turner’, strong fluted stirrup shank, excellent condition £3000-5000 Believed to have been given to General Turner by the King upon his accession to the throne as George IV in 1820.
Lot 605
George IV Presentation Gold Ring 1821, a massive gold ring with scallopped decoration to the thick bezel and substantial shank, set with superb carnelian intaglio bust of the King wearing the chain and badge of the Order of the Garter and the badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, 27mm x 21mm, the reverse of the stone inscribed ‘georgivs iv dei gratia britt rex mdcccxxi’, superb condition £5000-7000 Believed to have been given to General Turner in appreciation of his services when accompanying the King on his visits to Ireland and Scotland in 1821.
Lot 953
Three: Private E. J. Stone, Royal Fusiliers 1914 Star , with clasp (10991 Pte., 4/R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (L-10991 Pte., R. Fus.) nearly extremely fine (3) £140-180 Private Edward J. Stone, 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 13 August 1914. Sold with copied m.i.c.
Lot 1044
A group of five awarded to Captain A. F. Watts, Canadian Expeditionary Forces, awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus for services in North Russia British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, no clasp, these two unnamed; Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd Class breast badge with swords, by Eduard, St. Petersburg, 39 x 39mm., gold and enamel, ‘56’ gold and St. Petersburg mark for 1908-17 on eyelet, manufacturer’s name on reverse, lower left interarm eagle with sword hilt replaced; together with a mounted set of five miniature dress medals, the C.V.S.M. with clasp, the Order of St. Stanislaus in silver-gilt and enamel, with handle of one sword missing; together with two identity tags, Capt. A. F. Watts, CE. Cdn.’, good very fine and better (12) £1600-2000 Alexander Francis Watts was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 4 May 1894. An Accountant by occupation and a member of the 90th Winnipeg Rifles, he was commissioned into the 90th Battalion at Winnipeg on 1 November 1915. Posted overseas in June 1916 he was transferred to the 8th Battalion and in March 1917 to the 18th Reserve Battalion. He was on command to the Royal Flying Corps, 1 June-20 November 1917. He proceeded overseas to North Russia in September 1918 and was promoted to Acting Captain. He remained in North Russia until September 1919 at which time he was ranked as Temporary Captain and had been awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus 3rd Class. Returning to Canada he was discharged at Winnipeg on 4 October 1919. Living in Vancouver and employed as an Investigator, whilst on the Reserve of Officers attached to the Winnipeg Rifles, he re-engaged on 16 November 1940. He served with the South Alberta Regiment in Canada and was honourably discharged on 25 July 1946. Captain Watts died on 29 January 1964. Sold with original letter with envelope from Alexander Watts to Janet Walters (they married in 1921), written on paper headed, ‘The Canadian Syren, Northern Russia Expeditionary Force, Army Post Office, London, dated 14 May 1919: ‘My Dearest Janet, No I have’nt forgotten about my little girlie, how could I, but the reason I have’nt written is that we have been on the move rather fast lately and have been sleeping under the stars most of the time .. For the last three weeks we have been pushing on and have taken three small villages and the train has only just caught up to us. They had to repair the track as they came on, which was blown up in almost every hundred yards and all the bridges either blown or burned. .. The American Railway Troops are working at it and we have taken over all the railway ahead of Saroka. At present we are only two miles or so from Lake Onega, so you see we are getting on a bit. However I think our time is getting short out here as there are any amount of English troops and we are about the only ones left who are not regulars. ..’ With framed ‘Notary Public, Seattle, Washington, 1920, certificate of award for the Order of St. Stanislaus, written in Russian and English: ‘Order 278, dated Sept. 13th 1919. In recognition of valuable services rendered to the Russian Army, and activities within the Northern Region, I award the Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd Class, with Swords and Bow,- to Captain Alexander F. Watts, of the British Army, Canadian Detachment. Signed (Printed) Miller, Lieutenant-General, General Staff’. Also with framed Statement of Service in the Canadian Armed Forces (2) - for World Wars I and II; photographs of the recipient; photographs of his and his wife’s memorial stone; copied service papers and copied war history extracts.
Lot 1075
Five: Private H. Winter, Welsh Regiment, captured in Crete, 6 January 1941 General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3959444 Pte., Welsh); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £200-250 Harry Winter was born on 9 October 1918. A Plumber by occupation, and living at 51 Wyndham Crescent, Canton, Cardiff, he enlisted into the Welsh Regiment on 18 April 1936. With the regiment he served in Palestine before the war. Serving with the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment he was captured by the Germans in Crete on 6 January 1941. He was held as a prisoner-of-war at Camp IVB at MŸlhberg, September-November 1941; Camp IVC at Suderenland, November 1941-September 1944, and at Camp IVD at Torgau, September 1944-April 1945, during which time he worked in the Stone Quarries at Suderenland, November 1941-September 1944 and the Coal Mines at Halle, September 1944-April 1945. Sold with copied ex-P.O.W. Questionnaire Form and with named card box of issue for G.S.M.
Lot 1110
A well-documented Second World War Commando’s group of six awarded to Trooper T. R. Jones, Royal Artillery, attached No. 3 Commando, who captured an Italian flag during the first raid on Sicily and was taken prisoner but escaped after the desperate fight at the Punto Malati 13-14 July 1943, later renamed ‘3 Commando Bridge ‘on the orders of General Montgomery 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, very fine and better (6) £600-800 Thomas Richard Jones, who was born in Shrewsbury in 1922, fought with No. 3 Commando from late 1941 to the end of the war. During the first Commando raid on Sicily in 1943 he captured an Italian flag, as related in an accompanying copy of a wartime Shrewsbury newspaper report, which includes a photograph of Jones: ‘An Italian flag that can be seen flying in a shop window in the borough in connection with ‘Salute Week ‘is one of the first two captured from the enemy in the Sicilian campaign. It was taken by Trooper Thomas Richard Jones, aged 22, of the Commandos, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Jones, 13, Old Heath Square, Harlescott. In the town where the Commandos landed two Italian flags were flying, and the one captured by Jones was over the post office. Jones came home early this year bringing the trophy with him and, in view of the ‘Salute ‘campaign, it was lent to the Mayor. Jones was one of a force which captured a vital bridge in Sicily and held it until nightfall but eventually they were taken prisoner, and Jones, with others, was held under a German guard in a wood for 36 hours. When our guns shelled the wood the prisoners overpowered the guard, and Jones was one of the men who escaped. Before the outbreak of war he was employed by the Chatwood Safe Company and in August 1939, joined the Royal Artillery. As he was too young to go overseas he was posted to an anti-aircraft unit and nearly two years later volunteered for the Commandos.’ No. 3 Commando was the first Army Commando to be raised during the Second World War and took part in all the great raids, Dieppe among them, spearheaded the invasion of Sicily, fought through Italy, and landed in France on D-Day to link up with the Airborne. Fortunately for posterity’s sake, two of the best Commando memoirs of the 1939-45 War were written by ex-3 Commando Commanding Officers - Commando by Brigadier ‘Jock ‘Durnford Slater, D.S.O. and Bar, and Storm from the Sea by Brigadier Peter Young, D.S.O., M.C. and two Bars; see, too, the catalogue entry for the M.M. won by Troop Sergeant-Major E. G. ‘Lofty ‘King (Dix Noonan Webb, 5 April 2006), an entry with full details regarding the Commando’s activities at Dieppe and on D-Day, for Jones was surely present in these operations, in addition to the costly engagements in Sicily. At Dieppe, the Commando was charged taking an enemy battery near Bernaval Le Grand, a small village about half a mile from the sea, but, as it transpired, only a few of them ever reached the beaches, their Eureka landing craft and H.Q. ship running into five E-Boats. As one survivor put it, ‘Our flotilla was dispersed over a wide area, smoke and the smell of cordite was everywhere, dawn was breaking and a heavy curtain of fire was coming from the shore where the enemy had been alerted. We were sitting ducks.’ Only six of their landing craft eventually put men ashore on Yellow Beach 1, where they assaulted the enemy batteries until overwhelmed. The Commando suffered 140 casualties during the raid. Sicily and No. 3 Commando Bridge No. 3 Commando's opening raid on Sicily was made with the objective of destroying the coastal battery and defences near the town of Cassibile, thus allowing the vanguard of the 8th Army to land - a successful operation carried out on the night of 9-10 July 1943, but only after carrying out a frontal assault on the battery and much bitter fighting. And it was in Cassibile that Trooper Jones captured his Italian flag. The Commando was then re-embarked on the Prince Albert for its next task - the capture of the Punta dei Malati Bridge - Durnford Slater being given just a few hours notice of a plan that also involved a separate attack on another bridge at Primasole by the Airborne. Moreover, he was dubious about intelligence reporting ‘some easily discouraged Italian toops’ as the only opposition, for if the bridge was worth taking, it was equally worth defending - and he was right, his Commando eventually running into the 1st German Parachute Division after landing under fire several miles behind enemy lines at Agnone at 2200 hours on 13 July. First of all, however, operations at the bridge went well, the defenders being knocked out and the 350-strong Commando deployed in captured pill-boxes, surrounding orange groves and ravines. But, as Robin Neilland's The Raiders - The Army Commandos 1940-46 explains, elite German forces were on their way to do battle: ‘Until dawn 3 Commando had a marvellous time, shooting up everything which came along, until the road approaches to the bridge were littered with overturned or burning vehicles, but their arrival had been detected and the Germans began to mortar their positions heavily and, never slow to react, soon brought up a Tiger tank, which began to flay the Commando positions with its 88mm gun, while staying sensibly out of range of their only anti-tank weapon, the infantry PIAT. A party, sent to stalk the tank could not get close enough over the open ground, and German paratroopers were moving up to box in the troops, causing a steady stream of casualties. By 0430 hours, with no sign of 50th Division, the Commando position was becoming untenable. They had many wounded, their positions in the open valley could be overlooked and enfiladed, enemy infantry were arriving in ever increasing numbers and the tank kept rumbling about behind the ridges, appearing at regular intervals to put down more fire. The only thing missing was 50th Division, held up by the enemy at Lentini some miles away. Around 0500 hours, Durnford Slater gave the order to withdraw from the bridge in small parties, either to lie up in the hills until the Eighth Army finally arrived or, if possible, infiltrate back to their own lines. Widely deployed and still under tank fire, the Commando withdrew. They were forced to leave the wounded behind, to be captured by parachute troops from the 4th Brigade of the Hermann Goering 1st Parachute Division, who looked after them well - a kindness No. 3 Commando was able to repay a few weeks later at Termoli.’ No. 3 Commando, which was slowly reformed over the next few days, lost a total of five officers and 23 men killed, four officers and 62 men wounded and eight officers and 51 men missing - some 45% of the unit’s strength. So impressed was Montgomery, that he later ordered Durnford Slater to have a slab of stone, carved with the unit name, cemented into the Punta dei Malati Bridge, where it remains to this day. D-Day and beyond After seeing more action in Italy, particularly at Termoli, No. 3 Commando returned to the U.K in January 1944, in readiness for the coming Allied invasion at Normandy. The Commando’s allotted task on D-Day was to land with 1st Commando Brigade at La Breche to the west of Ouistreham. They were then meant to advance four miles to the bridges over the River Orne, and if the bridges had been destroyed, they were to ferry themselves over in rubber boats. They were then to continue their advance in a north-easterly direction, seizing the high ground near Le Plein. And what actually happened to the Commando on that memorable day, and in the period following until it was withdrawn to the U.K., is vividly described by Peter Young, the run-in to the beach attracting enemy fire that was ‘far too accurate to be pleasant’ - three of the Commando’s landing craft received direct hits from high-velocity shells, causing 20 casualties before
Lot 9
An emotive Peninsular War Medal awarded to General J. H. Bainbrigge, 20th Regiment, who, having had charge of the Regimental Colours as a 17 year old Ensign in the retreat to Corunna, was seriously wounded near Pampeluna on 28 July 1813, as a result of which his left arm had to be amputated two weeks later - his extensive and colourful account of his experiences in the battles of the Pyrenees was subsequently published in the regimental history Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Vimiera, Corunna, Vittoria, Pyrenees (John Bainbrigge, Lieut., 20th Foot) original riband and buckle as worn, good very fine £3000-3500 John Hankey Bainbrigge was born in July 1791, the younger son of Colonel Philip Bainbrigge - who was mortally wounded at the head of the 20th Foot at Egmont-op-Zee in October 1799 - and was appointed an Ensign in his father’s old regiment in March 1808. Quickly seeing action at Vimiera, aged 17 years, and in the retreat to Corunna, when he had charge of the regiment’s Colours in the rear-guard, he was advanced to Lieutenant in April 1809 on his return to the U.K. Back in the Peninsula in time to see further action at Vittoria and in the Pyrenees, he was seriously wounded in the engagement at Sauroren, near Pampeluna on 28 July 1813, as a result of which his left arm had to be amputated two weeks later. Luckily for posterity’s sake, Bainbrigge wrote an account of his experiences in these operations at the request of his children some 40 years later, a colourful and entertaining account that was published in Smyth’s History of the XX Regiment (London, 1889 - see appendices for General Bainbrigge’s Narrative of Roncesvalles and Sauroren), and from which the following extracts have been taken: ‘The French army had been newly clothed and appointed since the battle of Vittoria, and though their greatcoats were worn over their uniforms, they nevertheless made a splendid appearance. Their columns swept down the valley at a rapid pace, exposed to a sharp fire from the 7th Portuguese Cacadores, under Lieutenant-Colonel O’Toole. This was an exciting time, one which I shall not readily forget. Thoughtless, no doubt, as young men normally are, yet I could not repress the idea that this day might prove my last on earth, and when the whizzing of passing bullets became more frequent, I think I fully made up my mind to be hit .. The Colonel pointed to a chapel on the hill side overlooking Sauroren; we formed into sub-divisions of companies, right in front, and closed up to half distance. Just as I expected to be ordered to halt my company, for the regiment to deploy in line, Lieutenant-Colonerl Wauchope desired me to file off the Grenadiers to the right, saying, ‘You will enter the wood, and do your best to check the advance of the enemy’s column now entering it from the other side of the valley. ‘In giving this order to me, I have always thought the Colonel committed an error; the regiment could ill-afford to spare its best company, though reduced in numbers by its exertions and losses on the 25th. On arriving at the edge of the wood, I passed through the line of our Light Company, telling Lieutenant Fitzgerald that I had instructions to proceed on and feel for the enemy. When half way down the hill, I first met the French advance party. I fancied they were taken by surprise, but soon perceived that I had to contend with old soldiers who knew their work thoroughly. We at once commenced firing, and I retired slowly up the hill, inclining to my right, files a little extended and defending every stone and tree; the enemy stretched out to his right and left, and increasing rapidly in numbers, were turning both my flanks. About this time I brought down one of the enemy myself; observing him stationed in a bush very close to me, I took a musket from the man next to me, aimed deliberately and fired; he disappeared, and I saw no more of him. I doubt whether these men were Tirailleurs, though they were acting as light infantry, for the one I fired at wore a bearskin cap, like Guards; they were some of the finest looking soldiers I ever saw. However, we still presented a bold front as we retired slowly upwards. On reaching the edge of the woods we found to our great joy not an enemy, but a strong detachment belonging to Major-General Byng’s Brigade. Here I rallied the men, and, being well together, I determined on advancing again without communicating with the supporting detachment. The enemy fell back before us .. ‘‘Shortly after this advance, I received a musket shot through the elbow of my left arm and another ball struck me in the side, lodging in my back. It is possible the same bullet did all the mischief, as both wounds were received at the same time. I continued with my men as long as I was able to stand, when, becoming faint from loss of blood, I gave over command of the company to a Sergeant; and a Corporal assisted me to the rear and placed me under the first bit of rising ground we came to, where I was sheltered from the enemy’s fire .. I lay for a considerable time on the spot to which I had been removed until a Portuguese medical officer, attached to the Commissariat, came accidentally to the same place. He was mounted on a pony and pitying my forlorn situation assented to the request that he should accompany me to the village in our rear; this kind-hearted man helped me to get into the saddle, and, leading the way, took me to the town of Villalba. I had no difficulty in procuring a quarter, the inhabitants having fled in terror, abandoning their homes for fear of a sortie from the garrison of Pampeluna. Several medical officers had established themselves in the place, and were examining and dressing the wounds of such as arrived there from the field of battle. I took possession of a room with a nice bed in it; and at night Major-General Ross came to see me. With his usual liberality, he threw his purse on the bed, desiring that I should take what money I required. This was the last time I had the happiness of seeing my much esteemed General, an officer beloved by every soldier who served under him .. Sir Philip Bainbrigge, my brother, who was in the Quarter-Master General’s Department, joined Headquarters from a reconnaissance at the close of the action; on inquiry he learnt that I was wounded, and contrived to find me out in the course of the night. He urged my speedy removal from Villalba, because another battle might be fought next day, and sorties from the fortress of Pampeluna were frequent. He provided me with a horse to carry me to the bagge camp, which was two leagues on the other side of Pampeluna, and, as I said before, General Ross sent my servant from the regiment to take care of me. Weak and suffering as I was it would have been far pleasanter to remain where I lay, but the bare idea of risking being made a prisoner, in the event of a successful sortie, enabled me to make the exertion necessary, and in the morning I commenced the journey: my shattered arm tied up in a sash, amd my servant leading the horse. The bagge was reached in the course of the same day; but as there was no surgeon to examine my wounds, I decided on proceeding to Vittoria at once, which place I reached in five days more. At Vittoria I had the satisfaction of meeting the three officers of my own company who had been wounded a few days before me. We were lodged together in the same house. My arm, from some unaccountable reason, was not amputated until the 12 August; mortification had commenced, yet through the mercy of God, the skill and unremitting attention of Staff Surgeon Berry, and aided by a naturally vigorous constitution, I recovered. By the end of September, I was enabled to mount my horse and proceeded to Bilbao and embarked in October, on board a return transport for England. My wounds opened afresh on the voyage, which proved a most tempestuous one of five weeks. There happene
Lot 60
Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, 4th impression, [with] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 1998, first edition, 7th impression; both volumes signed by the author, hardbacks in dust wrappers complete with slip case and Waterstone's 'signed first edition' wrapped label.
Lot 137
A large carved composition stone head of an Aztec deity in the form of a tapering key stone, the male mask staring forwards open-mouthed and wearing an elaborate scroll carved headress with an underscroll detail beneath the neck 38cm wide, 64cm high, 31cm deep Provenance: from an English country house collection.
Lot 888
P.Dupont, London, a silver pair cased pocket watch, circa 1780, no. 894, the fusee verge movement with square baluster pillars, silvered winding disc, unmarked repoussŽ outer case, signed silver dial with raised numerals, with a Viner & Co, London, silver George IV hunter pocket watch, London 1829, no.780, with a fusee verge movement with a flat three arm steel balance and a diamond end stone, white enamel dial and black numerals, winding hole at the 4 o'clock position
Lot 70
A turquoise set bracelet, the graduated curb link bracelet set with five turquoise cabochons, with attached safety chain, unmarked, weight 7.8gms, a turquoise and diamond seven stone ring, all set in yellow metal with scroll carved shoulders, weight 3gms, along with a turquoise set bar brooch, designed as a rope twist knot set with turquoise (3)
Lot 75
An untested sapphire and diamond five stone ring, the three graduated, oval, mixed cut sapphires interspersed with two old brilliant cut diamonds (each of approximately 0.22ct) and further diamond set points, all within yellow metal scroll carved gallery and plain hoop stamped ''18ct', weight 5.2gms
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