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Three: Lieutenant O. Huddleston, Chinese Labour Corps, late West Yorkshire Regiment, who commanded dozens of Chinese labourers in the crucial work of returning the battlefields of the Western Front to a habitable and relatively safe environment, post-Armistice 1914-15 Star (11754 Pte. O. Huddleston. W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. O. Huddleston.) extremely fine (3) £140-£180 --- Oswald Huddleston was born in Flamborough, Yorkshire, on 13 August 1891. He attested for the West Yorkshire Regiment at Harrogate on 31 August 1914, and served in the Mediterranean theatre from 7 September 1915 to 1 July 1916, and France from 2 July 1916 to 27 July 1917. Appointed to a commission with the 3rd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment in November 1917, his service was temporarily put on hold when he suffered a bayonet wound to the thumb whilst 'going through a hedge' on exercises at Romford. This necessitated an operation involving bone removal from the terminal phalanx on 7 February 1918. Recovered, he returned to France and was appointed to the 162nd Chinese Labour Corps on 11 April 1919.  Today, very little is published regarding the Chinese Labour Corps. The story of the largest and longest-serving non-European labour contingent in the war has largely been passed over, indeed the Chinese labourers have been referred to in the British press as 'the forgotten of the forgotten.' In total, 94,146 Chinese labourers served in the Corps as a non-combatant part of the British Army, engaged during hostilities in the building and repairing of docks, railways and airfields, the loading and unloading of supplies and munitions, vehicle repair, and - once the conflict was over - battlefield clearance. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, they had a reputation 'for hard work, ingenuity and improvisation.'  Deployed in the important work of clearing live ordnance and exhuming bodies from battlefield burials and moving them to the new war cemeteries, the life of British Officers assigned to the Chinese Labour Corps of 1919 was challenging and almost as perilous as during the war. According to author Michael Summerskill in China of the Western Front, many of its officer cadre consisted of missionaries and sinologues. However, for the remainder, the language barrier and lack of knowledge regarding Chinese customs proved a real hindrance to the effectiveness of their units. Nearly 2,000 Chinese labourers died from the Spanish flu and accidents involving heavy machinery, booby-traps, poison gas shells and live grenades. Today, many of these brave men rest in the Chinese Cemetery at Noyelles-sur-Mer on the Somme, which bears a poignant inscription at its entrance chosen by Shi Zhaoji, Chinese Ambassador to Great Britain: 'These are my friends and colleagues whose merits are incomparable.' Sold with an attractive Birmingham 1920 hallmarked silver and yellow metal shield watch-fob, privately engraved to reverse ‘H.P.C.C.C. O. Huddleston. 1920.’

A fine Great War ‘Battle of Jutland’ D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Chief Yeoman of Signals W. W. Day, Royal Navy, who was decorated for gallantry aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Nestor as she attempted to lead a near-suicidal torpedo attack against the German High Seas Fleet Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (216047. W. W. Day, Yeo. Sigs. “Nestor” 31st. May-1st. June. 1916.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (216047 W. W. Day, Lg. Sig, H.M.S. Proserpine:); 1914-15 Star (216047, W. W. Day, Y.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (216047 W. W. Day. Y.S. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st type (216047. W. W. Day, Yeo. Sig. H.M.S. Victory) light contact marks throughout, otherwise nearly very fine (8) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.S.M. London Gazette 5 October 1918: ‘Additional Awards for Services in the Battle of Jutland on the 31st May, 1916.’ The official recommendation states: ‘H.M.S. Nestor, Battle of Jutland, 31 May-1 June, 1916. Whilst under heavy shell fire did carry out his duties with the greatest efficiency and coolness, although one of his staff was killed alongside him and he was handicapped by his halliards, semaphore and searchlight being shot away. Always a most zealous and capable Yeoman.’ William Walter Day was born in Bromley, Kent, on 25 October 1884. He joined the Royal Navy as a schoolboy on 25 July 1901, and witnessed rapid promotion in a little over a year from Boy 2nd Class to Signalman aboard H.M.S. Lion. Advanced Yeoman of Signals aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Venus on 1 February 1913, Day served at various shore establishments and depot ships from 1914 to 1916, before being posted to the destroyer H.M.S. Nestor on 25 May 1916, with less than a week to go before the largest fleet engagement of the Great War, the Battle of Jutland. To gain a real insight of the little destroyer’s part in the Battle, the following extract from Deeds that Thrill the Empire brings the story to life: ‘Some of our destroyers, too, had a busy and fruitful time during the run south. Nominally, they accompanied the battle-cruisers in order to protect them against submarine attack (in which they succeeded to perfection), but opportunity came to them for still more effective work. At 4.15 a division of these vessels, under the command of Commander The Hon. E. B. S. Bingham, in the Nestor, moved out towards the enemy with the object of delivering a torpedo attack. On the way they met a flotilla of hostile destroyers setting out towards our own battle line with a similar object, and a fierce fight ensued between the opposing craft, in which two of the enemy’s vessels were sunk without loss to us. The hostile attempt to attack our battle-cruisers was thus frustrated, and our boats pressed on with their original plan. The Nestor, Nomad and Nicator rushed in at the enemy under a terrific fire and discharged torpedoes at them. By all the rules of the game, they should have been sunk with every man on board, and, as it was, the only one of the three to escape was the Nicator, whose commanding officer, Lieutenant Jack Mocatta, was rewarded with the D.S.O. ‘The Nestor and Nomad were both disabled within easy reach of the enemy’s guns, and neither of them survived the experience, although, happily, many of those on board were saved by the enemy. These included Lieutenant-Commander Paul Whitfield, in command of the Nomad, who was specially promoted to the rank of commander, and Commander Bingham, of the Nestor, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for “the extremely gallant way in which he led his division in their attack, first on the enemy destroyers, and then on the battle-cruisers. He finally sighted the enemy battle fleet, and, followed by the one remaining destroyer of his division (Nicator), with dauntless courage he closed to within 3,000 yards of the enemy in order to attain a favourable position for firing the torpedoes. While making this attack, Nestor and Nicator were under concentrated fire of the secondary batteries of the High Seas Fleet. Nestor was subsequently sunk.”’ Plucked from the choppy North Sea by the Germans, Day was landed at Wilhelmshaven on 3 May 1916. Transferred from a German P.O.W. camp to Holland on 30 April 1918, it was only then that official reports of his brave actions aboard Nestor reached the Admiralty in London; recommended for the D.S.M. and accelerated promotion, he was raised Chief Yeoman of Signals on 18 January 1921, before being shore pensioned in the summer of 1922. Day returned to service during the Second World War, but his time was cut short in June 1941 in consequence of mental health problems, most likely associated with the horrors witnessed at Jutland and the deprivations associated with two years as a prisoner of war. Sold with an original small Battle of Jutland 1916 Commemorative Medal, base metal with ring suspension, in Spink & Son Ltd. card box; a set of period silk ribands; and copied research.

The historically important Great War Victory Medal awarded to Colonel T. Sinclair, Army Medical Service, who personally conducted the first post-mortem examination of Baron Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen in a hanger of No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, just hours after he was extricated from the wreckage of his red triplane, near Corbie, on 21 April 1918 Having analysed the pathway of a single .303 bullet through the Baron’s torso using a rudimentary piece of wire, it was Sinclair’s report which gave considerable weight to the argument that the fatal shot came from a trailing aircraft, rather than the ground - thus, the Canadian Pilot, Captain A. R. Brown, was officially credited with the ‘kill’ shortly after receiving a Bar to his D.S.C. Victory Medal 1914-19, with copy M.I.D. oak leaves (Col. T. Sinclair.) mounted on contemporary wearing pin, better than very fine £500-£700 --- ‘Copy extracts from A. H. File No. 21/13/506 In the Field 22nd April 1918. We have made a surface examination of Captain Baron von Richthofen and find there are only the entrance and exit wounds of one rifle bullet on the trunk. The entrance wound is on the right side about the level of the ninth-rib, which is fractured, just in front of the posterior axillary line. The bullet appears to have passed obliquely backwards through the chest striking the spinal column, from which it glanced in a forward direction and issued on the left side of the chest, at a level about two inches higher than its entrance on the right and about in the anterior axillary line. There was also a compound fracture of the lower jaw on the left side, apparently not caused by a missile – and also some minor bruises of the head and face. The body was not opened – these facts were ascertained by probing from the surface wounds.’ Thomas Sinclair, Colonel AMS, Consulting Surgeon IV Army, B.E.F. Thomas Sinclair was born in Belfast in 1858. Credited by the Ballymena Weekly Telegraph as ‘one of the most outstanding Ulstermen of his generation’, Sinclair graduated with distinction from the Royal University of Ireland and became Professor of Surgery at Queen’s University in 1886. Appointed surgeon to the Royal Victoria Hospital and consulting surgeon to the Ulster Hospital for Children, the Forster Green Hospital, and the County Antrim Infirmary, Sinclair spent the next thirty years training a generation of medical students in the art of surgery - indeed, under his tutelage, the Belfast School of Modern Surgery came to be regarded as one of the most advanced in the British Isles. Volunteering for active service at the outbreak of hostilities, Sinclair served as Colonel in Egypt from 15 November 1915, before being transferred to the Western Front as Consulting Surgeon to the Fourth Army, which at that time was commanded by that other distinguished Ulsterman, Lord Rawlinson. Decorated with the C.B., ‘in recognition of work well and faithfully done on various fighting fronts’, Sinclair was further Mentioned in Despatches on 4 January 1917 whilst serving as Consultant. However, quite by accident and pure circumstance, it was from Headquarters on a sunny spring day in 1918 that Sinclair received the order to proceed immediately to a small hangar at Poulainville aerodrome on the Somme; awaiting his inspection lay the body of one of the most dangerous foes of the Great War. Controversy remains to this day as to who exactly fired the fatal shot which killed the Red Baron. During the autopsy it was noted that Sinclair used a piece of wire, rumoured to be fence wire, to track the path of the bullet, rather than a more appropriate smooth and rounded apparatus. Such a crude improvisation laid open the opportunity for error and inaccuracy, but it is widely accepted that this first report remains the most important piece of evidence to this day which addresses the circumstances of death and factual wounds, more-so given that the infamous red Fokker Dr.I. 425/17 triplane was scavenged within hours for souvenirs. Sinclair’s conclusions however, remain contested, especially following recent analysis of the path of the machine gun bullets fired from the trenches by Sergeant Cedric Popkin of the 24th M.G.C., 1st Australian Imperial Force. Elected to the Ulster Senate representing Queen’s in 1921, Sinclair was later honoured as Founder of the Modern Ulster School of Surgery and is remembered via a large and impressive oil portrait by George Harcourt, R.A., which hangs to this day in the Great Hall of Queen’s University, Belfast. His acceptance speech was particularly humbling: ‘What a sustaining and consoling thought it is to me that so many warm friends consider that I have not altogether lived in vain, but have been enabled in some degree to alleviate or assuage the heavy burden of human suffering throughout the years.’ Sinclair died of illness on 5 November 1940.

Pair: Lieutenant A. A. Hill, Machine Gun Corps, late Sherwood Foresters and 28th (County of London) Battalion (Artists Rifles), London Regiment, who was severely wounded in action whilst attempting to capture Le Cateau and force a German retreat to the Sambre-Oise Canal British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. A. Hill.) nearly extremely fine (2) £80-£100 --- Alexander Augustus Hill was born in Hull, Yorkshire, in 1882. Educated at Derby Grammar School and Denstone College, Staffordshire, he attested at Dukes Road, Bloomsbury, for the 28th (County of London) Battalion (Artists Rifles), London Regiment on 15 February 1916, and was appointed to a commission with the 3rd Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), on 19 December 1916. Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, Hill joined the Base Depot at Camiers on 7 July 1918, and was posted to the 25th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, on 11 July 1918.  On 17 October 1918, the British Fourth Army launched a major attack across the River Selle designed to destroy the German defences, capture Le Cateau, and liberate almost 40 towns and villages that had been occupied since August 1914. Infantry and tanks, preceded by a creeping barrage, moved forward on a 10-mile front and met strong enemy resistance, exacerbated by large swathes of uncut wire. Fighting was particularly fierce along the line of the Le Cateau-Wassigny railway. The following day, Hill’s war came to a sudden halt when he suffered a severe gunshot wound. Removed to the 8th General Hospital at Rouen and then evacuated to England per H.S. Panama, the loss of tissue from his left buttock proved a painful and troublesome injury. He was released from service on account of this wound on 21 March 1919.

The unique I.G.S. 1908-35 Medal awarded to Flight Lieutenant R. J. O. Bartlett, 20 Squadron, Royal Air Force, a Wapiti pilot who was mentioned in despatches for his gallantry against the Upper Mohmands in 1933. Bartlett was subsequently employed as an Instructor at R.A.F. College, Cranwell, and was killed in a flying accident there, 7 October 1936 India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1930-31, Mohmand 1933, with M.I.D. oak leaf (F/O. R. J. O. Bartlett. R.A.F.) 2nd clasp loose on riband, as issued, good very fine £700-£900 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 3 July 1934: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished service rendered in connection with the operations against the Upper Mohmands during the period July - October 1933.’ The Royal Air Force received little recognition for their services in the above operations, being awarded 1 D.F.M. and 3 M.I.D.s. Of the 3 M.I.D.s, one went to the Group Captain commanding No. 1 Indian Group, who co-ordinated the operations; one to Bartlett and one to an other rank. Approximately 180 ‘Mohmand 1933’ clasps awarded to the R.A.F., only 26 of which were to officers, six of which had this combination of clasps - with Bartlett’s being the only one with an M.I.D. oak leaf. Roy James Oliphant Bartlett was commissioned in the Royal Air Force in 1928, and posted to the Aircraft Depot, India in March of the following year. Having gained his ‘Wings’, he advanced to Flying Officer in January 1929 and subsequently served with 5 Squadron out of Quetta. Bartlett was posted to 20 Squadron (Wapitis) at Peshawar in April 1933. Bartlett returned to the UK, and was posted to No. 1 Armament Training Camp, Catfoss, in February 1934. He advanced to Flight Lieutenant in April 1934, and was posted to 17 Squadron (Bulldogs) at Kenley in October of the same year. Subsequent postings included with 3 and 214 Squadrons, before being posted as an Instructor to R.A.F. College, Cranwell in August 1936. Flight Lieutenant Bartlett was killed in a flying accident on 7 October 1936. He and Flight Commandant H. F. B. Burton were both flying Hawker Fury Mk1s, when they collided during camera gun practice. Both pilots successfully abandoned their respective Furies, but Bartlett was tragically struck by one of the falling aircraft, and killed. He is buried in St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Cranwell. Sold with copied research.

The Indian Mutiny Medal to Joseph Henry Lockwood who, as an Assistant Apothecary, was attached to the Shannon’s Naval Brigade, serving throughout all of the affairs of the mutiny with the Brigade. Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Asst. Apothy. J Lockwood. Shannon. Naval Brigade) extremely fine and scarce £1,800-£2,200 --- Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. Joseph Henry Lockwood was born into a Eurasian family on 21 June 1835, at Berhampore, the son of Joseph Lockwood, Drum Major 40th Regiment N.I., one of only two Bengal Marine Native Infantry Regiments that, because of caste, could voyage overseas, and his wife Diana. He joined the Bengal Subordinate Medical Department as Hospital Apprentice on 13 January 1853; was advanced Assistant-Apothecary on 11 May 1858; advanced Hospital Steward on 26 February 1863; and advanced Apothecary 1st Class on 20 September 1867. On joining the service, Lockwood was attached variously to H.M. 27th and 70th Regiments at Rawalpindi and Peshawar, with stints at the Presidency's General Hospital and 2nd Company 6th Battalion Artillery. Lockwood was on medical leave at the outbreak of the mutiny. Recalled, he was one of a very small number of Subordinate Medical Officers seconded from the Bengal Army to the British and Indian Naval Brigades. Lockwood served under Dr Anthony Beale, who later stated that Lockwood ‘had been attached to the Naval Brigade under my Medical charge from 18 August 1857,’ the date the Shannon's First Party departed Calcutta, ‘his rank then being described as Acting Assistant-Apothecary and Assistant Steward.’ Lockwood remained with the Brigade until 25 May 1858. James Flanagan, Assistant Surgeon of Shannon’s Naval Brigade, reported in April 1858 that ‘I have known Mr Lockwood for the last nine months, while acting with me as Assistant Apothecary. His strict attention to his duties and gentlemanly bearing have elicited my warmest admiration as well as the officers and men of this Brigade with whom he has come professionally in contact. I consider him a young man of considerable ability, and one who, if he followed in the course he has pursued while acting with me, will yet prove an ornament to his profession’. Furthermore, in 1862, Flanagan confirmed Lockwood’s application for his Mutiny medal and two clasps when stating that ‘he had been engaged in the Relief of Lucknow, and the operations against the city from 2nd to 16th March, including the battles of Khujwa, Futtehgurh and the second battle of Cawnpore’. (IOR L/MIL/5/100 dated 11 March 1862 refers.) After the mutiny he worked for many years at the Garrison and General Hospitals Allahabad. In early 1870 he sailed to Ireland to study and qualified there as a Licentiate of the King’s and Queen’s College of Physicians (Ireland) L.K.Q.C.P., Licentiate of Royal College of Surgeons (Ireland) L.R.C.S.I. and a Licentiate of Midwifery L.M. On return to India he was posted, 7 December 1872, to the Sutlej Bridge Division, Indus Valley (State) Railway and took charge of medical affairs. The district was notoriously unhealthy and in 1874 a pestilence caused the deaths of countless bridge workers. Sadly Lockwood, too, succumbed and he died on 22 August 1874 while recuperating at Almora. Though a qualified doctor, Lockwood was unable to be promoted beyond Apothecary 1st Class due to the regulations existing at the time, a situation that changed a few years after his death when, in 1881, the government recognised the iniquity of the situation. Lockwood married Jane Fleming on 12 December 1867 at Allahabad without issue. Sold with a comprehensive file of research.

A Second War M.B.E. group of twelve awarded to Major (Quartermaster) R. T. Guscott, Middlesex Regiment, who was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal during the Great War, and was taken Prisoner of War following the fall of Hong Kong, 25 December 1941 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (L.11350 C.Q.M. Sjt. R. T. Guscott. Midd’x. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (L-11350 W.O. Cl.2. R. T. Guscott. Midd’x. R.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (6188477 W.O. Cl.1. R. T. Guscott. Midd’x. R.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (L 11350 Q.M .Sjt. R. T. Guscott. Midd’x. R.) mounted as worn, the pre-Second War awards all replacement issues (although not marked as such), the originals having presumably been lost at the fall of Hong Kong, good very fine and better (12) £1,000-£1,400 --- Provenance: Wallis and Wallis, June 1964; Jack Webb Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, August 2020. M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1942. M.S.M. London Gazette 12 December 1919. Robert Thomas ‘Bob’ Guscott ‘was born on 10 November 1888 and enlisted into the Middlesex Regiment on his 18th birthday in 1906. He served with the 2nd Battalion at home until 1913 and then went to Malta when the Battalion started out on its overseas tour. This was cut short when war broke out in 1914, and the Battalion joined the B.E.F. in France in November of that year. By that time he had risen to the rank of Colour-Sergeant. He remained continuously on active service with he 2nd Battalion until Armistice Day 1918. For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches in January 1917 [London Gazette 14 January 1917] and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1919. Guscott rejoined the 2nd Battalion after the war and, in August 1919, he went to Egypt when the Battalion continued its overseas tour, which had been interrupted in 1914. He was posted for a tour of duty at the Depot in 1921, and in 1923 he became Regimental Sergeant Major at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. There he remained until 1930. On 22 January 1930 Guscott was appointed to a commission as Lieutenant (Quartermaster) and in March of that year he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, then stationed at Madras. He returned to this country with the Battalion on completion of its overseas tour in the Sudan in December 1931 and remained with it until, in 1935, he was posted to the Depot. In October 1937 Guscott was posted to the 1st Battalion in Hong Kong and as soon as war was imminent in 1939 he began the hard task of equipping the unit to War Scale. The results were so efficient that he was recommended for, and awarded the M.B.E. Publication was made on 1 January 1942, and that same month he was promoted to the rank of Major (Quartermaster). He did not learn of the award until after the end of the War, for after the capture of the Colony by the Japanese in December 1941, he was reported missing. Nine months later news filtered through that he was prisoner of war. He was repatriated on 21 November 1945, and retired on 29 December 1946, going to live at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex. He died on 8 February 1964.’ (The recipient’s obituary, published in The Die Hards, refers). Sold with copied research.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. pair awarded to Sergeant J. Hurley, East Lancashire Regiment, who was later brutally set upon and murdered by a notorious thug and member of the ‘Blackshirts’ in his home town of Accrington Military Medal, G.V.R. (240065 Sjt: J. Hurley. 1/5 E. Lanc: R.-T.F.); British War Medal 1914-20 (240065 Sjt. J. Hurley. E. Lan. R.) nearly very fine (2) £200-£240 --- M.M. London Gazette 4 February 1918. Joseph Hurley was born at Church, near Accrington, in 1894. He attested for the 1/5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, on 18 January 1912, and served overseas in Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai and the Western Front. In the absence of a surviving citation, a clue as to the circumstances leading up to the award of the M.M. lies in the Divisional History; from November 1917 to January 1918, his Battalion was stationed in the La Bassee Sector and were involved in repeated trench raids on the German lines near Givenchy. Returned home to Cobden Street, Accrington, at the cessation of hostilities, Hurley took employment as a steeplejack and labourer through much of the 1920s and early ‘30s. Settling into relative obscurity, everything changed on one fateful night in late December 1934, when he was set upon and killed by another local man, William Hodson. A known troublemaker and nicknamed ‘Bronco Bill’ on account of the style of hat which he habitually wore, Hodson took affront at Hurley and his apparent disdain for the ‘Blackshirt’ organisation and set upon him with extreme violence. A detailed piece published in the Accrington Observer & Times on 12 February 1935, adds: ‘Flying Kicks. The man [Hodson] got up and appeared to walk two strides away, and then turned round and took two flying kicks at the man on the ground, one connecting with the left side of the face and the other with his chest. He then went to the other side - the right side - and kicked him there. He returned to the left side, and was shouting something when a lady came forward. She appeared to try and stop prisoner, but she was pushed away. Hodson then stood at one side. He appeared to be challenging the crowd...’ The accused then seized Hurley round the waist, lifted him off his feet and threw him to the ground. Unconscious on the floor, Hurley had no opportunity to defend himself. Admitted to Hospital just after midnight on 22 December 1935, Hurley died soon thereafter as a result of a fractured skull and beating to the entirety of the body. William Hodson was later convicted of murder at the Manchester Assizes. Sentenced to death on 6 March 1935, he was later shown clemency upon rendering assistance to the prison staff during a riot at Dartmoor Prison, and paroled in the mid-1940s. Sold with extensive research.

A fine Great War 'Salonica' D.S.O., M.C., Al Valore Militare group of six awarded to Major R. H. Jones, King's Liverpool Regiment, late Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and Hampshire Regiment, who repeatedly displayed marked leadership in patrol actions Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut: R. H. Jones. L'pool R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major R. H. Jones.); Italy, Kingdom, Al Valore Militare, silver, unnamed as issued, gilding slightly rubbed on first, otherwise good very fine and better (6) £2,600-£3,000 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 1 February 1919: 'For conspicuous gallantry during an attack on an enemy position at White Scar Hill on September 18th, 1918. He was in charge of the attacking party, and, owing largely to his courage and determination, the enemy position was taken by assault. Under subsequent heavy shelling he held on to the position, and when ordered withdrew his force in order to our lines. His coolness and disregard for safety were most marked.' M.C. London Gazette 19 April 1917: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He handled his party with great courage and initiative throughout. On one occasion he was in command of a party which accounted for eleven of the enemy.' Italian Al Valore Militare in silver, London Gazette 31 August 1917. Richard Hodkinson Jones was born in the parish of Westhoughton, Lancaster, on 18 May 1890. A schoolmaster, he was appointed to a Commission on 2 December 1914 as Temporary Second Lieutenant, 14th (Service) Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment. Serving as part of 22nd Division, he fought in Salonika from 6 November 1915 and took part in the action at Macukovo, where men of the King's Liverpool Regiment and Lancashire Fusiliers briefly captured a ruined village and killed over 200 of the enemy amidst brutal hand-to-hand fighting. Jones was subsequently awarded the Military Cross for a patrol action against the Bulgars at Cakli, and was wounded not long thereafter on 2 May 1917 at Pearse Ravine. Specially employed with the 12th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, from 13 July 1917, Jones was again conspicuous for his gallantry and devotion to duty at White Scar Hill. For this outstanding display of courage, he was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and Mentioned in Despatches on 30 April 1919. Following steady promotion throughout the war years, on 12 April 1920 Jones was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel whilst commanding the 7th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as part of the Army of Occupation. He finally relinquished his commission a couple of months later and returned to his school master's duties, but satisfaction in civilian life was short lived. In 1921, Jones returned to the Army and the 2nd Battalion, King's Regiment, but further recognition and career progression was curtailed due to failing health. Forced to retire in the rank of Major on 15 July 1930, Jones died at the British Sanatorium, Montana, Switzerland, on 13 May 1931. Sold with copied research.

A superb Great War ‘Machine Gunner's’ D.C.M. and Second Award Bar, M.M., and Russian Medal of St. George group of six awarded to Sergeant A. Burnett, Royal Scots and Machine Gun Corps, who repeatedly showed great presence of mind when holding back waves of enemy storm troopers Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (18327 Cpl. A. Burnett. M.M. 25/M.G.C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (18327 L.Cpl. A. Burnett. 27/Coy. M.G.C.); 1914-15 Star (11928 Pte. A. Burnett. R. Scots.); British War and Victory Medals (11928 Sjt. A. Burnett R. Scots.); Russia, Empire, Medal of St George for Bravery, 3rd Class, silver, the reverse officially numbered ‘167785’, the silver medals toned, nearly extremely fine (6) £4,000-£5,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of two Vickers guns, reconnoitring for positions for them under direct hostile fire, and doing the same later in the day for corps machine guns. Again, for tactical skill and initiative when, a flank having been thrown open, he disposed a gun so as to protect that flank, holding on until nearly surrounded and two of his team killed. At all times his conduct in action has merited the highest praise.' D.C.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This N.C.O. was in charge of a machine gun, his flanks being protected by infantry, when about 500 of the enemy attacked. On the infantry withdrawing to a fresh position he covered the movement and remained firing his gun from the top of a disused dug-out, inflicting severe casualties, and helping to break up the attack. He was all the time under machine-gun fire. M.M. London Gazette 16 November 1916. Russian Medal of St. George, 3rd Class, London Gazette 15 February 1917. Alexander Burnett was born in Leith, Midlothian, in 1881, the son of Annie McGlade Burnett and brother of 1140, Private John Burnett, “B” Company, 7th Battalion, Royal Scots, who died in the Quintinshill rail disaster on 22 May 1915. Attesting for the Royal Scots on 11 August 1914, he was posted to France on 11 May 1915 with the Regimental machine-gun section and soon found himself transferred with other sections of 27 Brigade to the fledgling 27th Company, Machine Gun Corps. Wounded in action in the rank of Private, he returned to the Western Front, was advanced Lance Corporal, and decorated with the Military Medal - presumably for services during the Battle of the Somme. He was also amongst a relatively small band of men to receive recognition from Imperial Russia, less than a month before the start of the Russian Revolution. Transferred to the 25th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, Burnett was raised Corporal 20 December 1917, Acting Sergeant 1 April 1918, and Sergeant on 22 April 1918. As a skilled tactician and experienced soldier, he survived repeated German attacks during the German Spring Offensive and enjoyed the rare distinction of having both his D.C.M. and Second Award Bar gazetted on the same date. His gallant actions on the Vaulx-Morchies Line were later noted in the publication 25th Division in France & Flanders, by M. Kincaid Smith: 'Cpl. Burnett, M.M., Sergt. Whiting, and L-Cpl. Bretherton did splendid work with their guns, and all received well-earned decorations.' Wounded for a second time on 29 May 1918, which effectively ended his campaign, he was discharged from the Army on 7 March 1919 and awarded Silver War Badge No. 487219. An indication of the intensity of the fighting faced by Burnett and his fellow machine-gunners at around that time can be found in the casualty report for 9 April 1918 to 4 May 1918: in this brief period the 25th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, suffered 3 Officers killed, 17 wounded and 10 missing in action. They also recorded 34 Other Ranks killed, 207 wounded and 167 missing. Sold with a large file of research, including written correspondence from the 1970s between the vendor and extended family of Sergeant Burnett, who noted that he was 'a very quiet chap by nature, and never spoke much of the war when he came home.’

Five: Warrant Officer Class II A. Leevers, Army Service Corps British War and Victory Medals (T4-252699 Sjt. A. Leevers. A.S.C.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (T4-252699 Dvr. A. Leevers. A.S.C.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal (M-30567 W.O. Cl. II A. Leevers. R.A.S.C.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, mounted as worn, contact marks, nearly very fine (5) £260-£300 --- Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 July 1918. Alfred Leevers was awarded the T.F.E.M. per Army Order No. 300 of 1927. The Liverpool Echo of 15 July 1918 contains the following: ‘A Southport Soldiers’ Honour: Acting Sergeant Alfred Leevers, A.S.C., who has been awarded the French [sic] War Cross, is a son of Mr. William Leevers, Union Street, Southport. One of his brothers has been killed and another is in the Army.’ In the 1939 Register he is recorded as a resident of Wennington Road, Southport, and was a wood repairer and French polisher. Sold with small original group photograph supposedly including the recipient.

Seven: Donkeyman J. Malin, Mercantile Marine, who was awarded a post-War British Empire Medal whilst serving aboard the S.S. Moreton Bay British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (John Malin); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; together with a cast copy British Empire Medal (Civil), G.VI.R., 1st issue, added for display purposes, good very fine (8) £60-£80 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 2 January 1950. John Malin was awarded the B.E.M. for service aboard the S.S. Moreton Bay at a time when she offered a commercial service from London to Sydney. Fitted out in 1946 to carry 514 passengers, her final sailing took place on 30 November 1956 before being sent to the breakers. Sold with two original O.H.M.S. boxes of transmittal, named to the recipient.

Three: Private S. Beet, Northumberland Fusiliers 1914-15 Star (15795 Pte. S. Beet. North’d Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (15795 Pte. S. Beet. North’d Fus.) good very fine Three: Private F. E. Wilson, Essex Regiment, later Middlesex Regiment and Royal Engineers, who was wounded on the Western Front on 11 April 1916 1914-15 Star (14882 Pte. F. E. Wilson, Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (14882 Pte. F. E. Wilson. Essex R.) minor stain to last, good very fine Three: Private J. Bamford, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, later Labour Corps, who was twice wounded on the Western Front, on 20 May 1916 and 20 September 1917 1914-15 Star (3503 Pte. J. Bamford, L.N. Lanc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (3503 Pte. J. Bamford. L.N. Lanc. R.) the VM worn to high relief, otherwise very fine (9) £120-£160 --- Sidney Beet attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 25 August 1915. He later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Francis Edward Wilson was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, in 1894. A clerk by profession, his Army Service Record notes that he attested at London for the Essex Regiment on 4 September 1914, and served in France from 25 July 1915 to 9 May 1916. His first period of service overseas was promptly suspended when suffering a gunshot wound to the neck, face and right thigh on 11 April 1916. Evacuated to England, he transferred to the Middlesex Regiment on 11 November 1916 and later served back in France with the Royal Engineers Railway Troops. James Bamford, a resident of Preston, Lancashire, served in France from 8 August 1915 to 1 June 1916, and again from 9 February 1917 to 2 October 1917. His Army Service Record notes that he was twice wounded, including a gunshot wound to the right thigh on 20 May 1916, and a second wound on 20 September 1917. The latter was initially judged as ‘slight’, but his medical notes describe a head injury: ‘Depressed fracture skull (old G.S.W.). States that he was wounded in the head in 1917 and had an operation on his head. Suffers from constant and severe right-sided headache.’

Seven: Flight Lieutenant T. H. Fynn, Royal Air Force, later Rhodesian Police Reserve, who was taken Prisoner of War when his Lancaster, of which he was the pilot and sole survivor, was shot down over Stuttgart on 15 March 1944 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Rhodesia, General Service Medal (10835B F/R T. H. Fynn); Rhodesian Police Reserve Long Service Medal (10835B F/R Fynn, T. H.); Zimbabwe, Independence Medal 1980 (060935) nearly extremely fine (7) £400-£500 --- Terence Hugh Fynn was born in King William’s Town, South Africa, on 27 February 1916, a direct descendent of Henry Francis Fynn of Northern Ireland, who settled in the Eastern Cape in the 1820s and gave his name to the suburb of Fynnlands in Natal. A farmer by profession and member of the British South Africa Police Reserve, Fynn attested for the Royal Air Force in October 1940, and was trained as a Pilot aboard Tiger Moth, Avro Anson, Oxford and Fairey Battle aircraft. Sent to Leuchars, Babbacombe, Newquay and Padgate, he converted to bombers at R.A.F. Swinderby from 29 August 1943 to 13 October 1943, before posted to Dunholme Lodge in Lincolnshire with 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force. Operating the Avro Lancaster bomber, 44 Squadron was heavily engaged at this time with attacks on the Biscay Ports, the Ruhr, Berlin, and the major industrial heartland cities of occupied Europe. According to the Operations Record Book, Fynn bombed Dusseldorf on the night of 3/4 November 1943, as part of a 15-aircraft sortie likely targeting the Rhenania Ossag oil refinery. A few days later, he carpet-bombed Berlin, a mission repeated on 23 December 1943 and again on 1 January 1944. This was followed by an attack on Stettin on 5 January 1944, the O.R.B. entry for Fynn’s aircraft noting: ‘attack was seen to be very good, with good fires taking hold of blocks of buildings. Rear gunner could see fires from 90 miles away and altogether a very good trip.’ Fynn is recorded on a further ten operational sorties to Berlin, Leipzig and Stuttgart, the entry of 15 March 1944 noting: ‘F/Lt. Fynn failed to return from this operation but no signals were received from him. All the other aircraft reached and bombed the target and returned to base successfully’. Initially posted missing in action, it later emerged that he was the sole survivor of his Lancaster’s crew, spending the remainder of the conflict as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I in western Pomerania. Liberated by Russian forces on 30 April 1945, Fynn returned to Rhodesia, joined the Police Reserve in 1961 and served until Independence. Sold with the original slip for Campaign Stars, Clasps and Medals, with named envelope to recipient, c/o. O.H.M.S. Southern Rhodesia, and extensive copied research, including an annotated photographic image of the recipient with this Lancaster crew.

The I.G.S. 1908-35 Medal with ‘North West Frontier 1930-31’ clasp awarded to Flying Officer E. N. V. Everett, Royal Air Force and Flying Instructor for the Madras Flying Club, who was killed in a flying accident whilst piloting a DH 80 A with Rajah IV Krishna Rau, 25 August 1935 India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (F/O. E. N. V. Everett. R.A.F.) good very fine £200-£300 --- Ernest Norman Victor Everett was commissioned Pilot Officer (on probation) in the Royal Air Force in January 1928, being confirmed in that rank the following January. He was posted to the Aircraft Depot, India in October 1928, and advanced to Flying Officer in June of the following year. Everett was posted as a pilot to 60 Squadron (DH 9A’s) at Kohat in January 1930. Everett transferred to the Reserve of Air Officers, and was killed in a flying accident over India on 25 August 1935. Everett was employed as the Flying Instructor for the Madras Flying Club, and on the latter date had been flying a DH 80A with Rajah IV Krishna Rau and a Mr H. J. Carter of the Imperial Tobacco Company. The aircraft belonged to the Rajah, and was flying from Secunderabad to Madras, a journey of just over 300 miles, when a wing broke off and the aircraft crashed near Nellore - some 80 miles short of Madras.

Pair: Second Lieutenant P. E. O. Booth, Machine Gun Corps, attached Middlesex Regiment, who was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916 British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. P. E. O. Booth.) good very fine (2) £240-£280 --- Percival Edward Owen Booth was born in Hendon, Middlesex, in 1892, and was commissioned in the Middlesex Regiment for service during the Great War. He served on the Western Front from 15 May 1916 and was killed in action on 1 July 1916, whilst attached to the Machine Gun Corps, during the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He is buried in Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, France.

Three: Signalman A. J. Journet, Royal Signals U.N. Medal, on UNFICYP riband, with ‘2’ emblem; U.N. Medal, on UNTAG riband; Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991(24762343 Sig A J Journet R Signals) mounted as worn, polish residue, some contact marks, good very fine (3) £140-£180 --- Sold together with copy research suggesting that the recipient served with 30 Signal Regiment, who having served with the United Nations force in Namibia, in 1989, became the first ground force detachment sent to the Gulf as part of Operation Granby in 1990 to establish satellite communications.

Five: Private H. F. McCourt, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, who was killed in action during Operation Jubilee, the Dieppe Raid, on 19 August 1942, and was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches for his gallantry during the raid 1939-45 Star; Defence Medal, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, with M.I.D. oak leaf; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1939, with bronze palm on riband; together with the recipient’s Birk’s Memorial Bar ‘Pte. H. F. McCourt, R.H.L.I., Died in his Country’s Service, 19 Aug. 1942’, about extremely fine (6) £400-£500 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 14 March 1946: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services at Dieppe in August 1942.’ French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 25 November 1946. Hugh Francis McCourt was born at Eganville, Ontario, on 16 January 1921, and attested for the Canadian Active Service Force at Hamilton, Ontario, on 5 March 1940. He served during the Second World War as a Private with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry overseas from February 1941, and was killed in action in the Dieppe Raid, Operation Jubilee, on 19 August 1942, for which he was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches. He is buried in Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, France. Sold with an R.H.L.I. cap badge and copied service papers.

Four: Chief Cook W. Betts, Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary, who served aboard the S.S. Ophir during the Messina Earthquake rescue operations of 1908 1914-15 Star (W. Betts. W. R. Ck.1. M.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (W. Betts. Ch. Ck. M.F.A.); Italy, Kingdom, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver, unnamed as issued, VM officially re-impressed, good very fine (4) £160-£200 --- William Betts is recorded in Angels in Blue Jackets, The Navy at Messina, 1908, as serving as a scullion aboard the S.S. Ophir.

A Second War ‘Civil Division’ M.B.E. group of ten awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. A. Branch, Chief of Police, Leeward Islands, late Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and Durham Light Infantry, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal for saving life on Anguilla in November 1931 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1914-15 Star (410906 Pte. J. R. A. Branch. P.P.C.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. R. A. Branch.); War Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Lt. Col. John R. A. Brnach.’, lacking integral top riband bar; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Captain J. R. A. Branch. 20th. Nov. 1931.) with integral top bronze riband buckle, the first nine mounted court-style as worn, the last loose; together with the related set of nine miniature awards (omitting the RHS Medal), the ED again lacking integral top riband bar, these similarly mounted, polished and worn, with almost all the gilding rubbed from the ED, therefore good fine and better (10) £600-£800 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1941: John Reginald Arthur Branch, Esq., Superintendent of Police, Leeward Islands.’ John Reginald Arthur Branch was born in St. John’s, Antigua, Leeward Islands, on 24 June 1894 and was educated at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Initially attesting for the 1st Universities Company, 38th Battalion, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Montreal on 17 February 1915, he served with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry during the Great War on the Western Front from 31 July 1915, before being commissioned temporary Second Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry on 25 October 1916. Promoted Lieutenant, he was wounded on the Western Front on 23 September 1918. Following the cessation of hostilities, Branch returned to the Leeward Islands, and served with the Islands’ Police, ultimately rising to the rank of Chief of Police. For his gallantry in saving life at sea off Anguilla on 20 November 1931 he was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal (R.H.S. Case no. 51,083), and was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1941 New Year’s Honours’ List.

A scarce Great War ‘Western Front’ A.R.R.C. group of four awarded to Sister Zoe B. Douet, Territorial Force Nursing Service, who served at No. 55 General Hospital, Wimereux, France Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver and enamel, on lady’s bow riband, in Garrard, London, case of issue; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Sister Z. B. Douet.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Sister Z. B. Douet. T.F.N.S.) with flattened named card boxes of issue and outer OHMS transmission envelopes addressed to ‘Miss Z. B. Douet, A.R.R.C., 8 Nevill Road, Rottingdean, Sussex’, nearly extremely fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- A.R.R.C. London Gazette 5 June 1919. M.I.D. London Gazette 30 December 1918. Miss Zoe Blanche Douet was born at South Norwood, Surrey, in 1872 and trained as a nurse at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, from 1904 to 1907. She served during the Great War with the Territorial Force Nursing Service as a Nursing Sister at No. 55 General Hospital, British Expeditionary Force, at Wimereux, France, from 30 April 1917, and for her services was awarded the A.R.R.C. and was Mentioned in Despatches. She died in Brighton in 1926. Sold with the recipient’s Territorial Force Nursing Service small cape badge, in Gaunt, London, case of issue; original Mentioned in Despatches Certificate, dated 8 November 1918; original letter permitting her to retain her T.F.N.S. badge following demobilisation after 4 years’ war service; personal reference from the Matron in Chief, T.F.N.S. confirming her war service, dated 31 March 1920; Membership Registration Certificate of the College of Nursing, dated 19 May 1919; and letter addressed to her sister following her death in 1926 passing on condolences from Her Majesty Queen Mary, from the Matron in Chief, T.F.N.S.

The Waterloo medal awarded to Lieutenant G. A. F. Dawkins, 15th Hussars, who was present at the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball on 15th June, and who was wounded at Waterloo on 18th June 1815 Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. G. A. F. Dawkins, 15th or King’s Reg. Hussars.) fitted with replacement steel clip and ring suspension, the obverse with some light marks, otherwise good very fine and better £5,000-£7,000 --- George Augustus Frederick Dawkins was a peripheral member of the Dawkins family of Over Norton, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. He was appointed an Ensign in the 3rd Foot Guards on 1 February 1812, and transferred in the same rank to the 15th Light Dragoons on 3 June 1813. His name appears on the list of guests invited to attend the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball at Brussells on the eve of the battle of Quatre Bras. He was wounded at Waterloo on 18 June, and was placed on half-pay on 25 June 1816. He died on 14 November 1821, aged 30 years and four days, and is named on the Family Memorial tablet in St Mary’s Church, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.

A fine and scarce 1918 Great War Sopwith Camel fighter ace’s D.F.C. and Second Award Bar group of three awarded to Captain S. C. Joseph, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force - who was the highest scoring Jewish ace of the Great War - claiming at least 13 aerial victories through a combination of destroyed, forced down out of control and shared destroyed enemy aircraft. All with 210 Squadron, over the Western Front between May - October 1918. A ‘gung-ho’ pilot and Flight Commander, Joseph had a traumatic September during which he nearly succumbed to anti-aircraft fire, and was later wounded in aerial combat leading to a crash landing Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., with bar for second award, unnamed as issued. British War and Victory Medals (Capt. S.C. Joseph, R.A.F.) mounted for wear, generally very fine (3) £15,000-£18,000 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 21 September 1918 (Sea Patrol): ‘A gallant pilot who has accounted for eight enemy aircraft within the past four months. On many occasions the enemy, were numerically superior to Lieutenant Joseph's patrol, but this did not prevent his attaining success.’ D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 2 November 1918 (Sea Patrol): ‘A very gallant and skilful officer. He led his formation under a large force of enemy aircraft with a view to inducing them to descend to attack him. In this ruse de guerre he was successful, and, in accordance with arrangements previously made, another formation of our machines then appeared on the scene, and a combined attack was made on the enemy, resulting in the destruction of four Aeroplanes and three more being brought down completely out of control. Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was conferred on this officer less than two months ago he has personally destroyed one enemy machine, brought down another out of control, and has helped to destroy a third. Captain Joseph was wounded on the occasion of the combined attack.’ Approximately 66 D.F.C. and Bars awarded for the Great War. Captain S. C. Joseph was the highest scoring Jewish Ace of the Great War, and the only Ace of the conflict to hail from Birmingham. Solomon Clifford Joseph was born in Birmingham in April 1893, and was the son of a fine art dealer specialising in jade. The family home was 14 Speedwell Road, Edgbaston, and his father’s business was based in Birmingham. Joseph joined the Royal Naval Air Service in August 1917, and carried out pilot training at Crystal Palace from 12 August 1917, and at Vendome from 15 September 1917. He trained on the Caudron Biplane at the British Flying School, Vendome, France, attaining his Royal Aero Licence (No.5475) on 7 October 1917. Subsequent training postings were to Cranwell and Manston, before being posted to Dunkerque on 16 February 1918. After a brief posting to 12 (N) Squadron R.N.A.S. in February 1918, Joseph then went to 10 (N) Squadron R.N.A.S. later the same month. He was posted as a pilot for operational flying to 210 Squadron in March 1918, and transferred with the Squadron into the Royal Air Force the following month. Flying in Sopwith Camels from various bases in France, Joseph remained with the Squadron until 28 November 1918. The Squadron, of which Joseph was to become a Flight Commander, were initially engaged on ground-attack duties in an effort to help stop the German Spring Offensive. They were subsequently engaged on offensive patrols and bomber escort missions over Belgium. May, and into the Fray Joseph claimed 13 victories with 210 Squadron, between May and October 1918. His first victory came when he forced down an Albatros DV out of control over Armentières on 8 May 1918. A précis of the Combat Report gives an early indication of his close-up style of fighting: ‘In general engagement with 14 Albatros and Pfalz scouts over Armentières got on tail of one of former and after firing 90 rounds from 50 – 10 yards E.A. went down out of control. Confirmed by Lieut. F.V. Hall.’ The following day Joseph shared another Albatros forced down out of control near Bailleul: ‘Patrol attacked an Albatros two-seater near Bailleul and after Capt. Carter had shot the observer in firing 60 rounds from 30-20 yards. Lieut. Joseph got behind & above E.A. and fired about 60 rounds into the pilot from 20 yards. Pilot collapsed & E.A. went down out of control diving on its back. Not seen to crash owing to ground mist, but did not reappear.’ (Ibid) On 14 May, Joseph attacked a further three enemy aircraft and forced an Albatros DV down out of control near Ypres-Zillebeke: ‘Between Ypres & Zillebeke at 12,000ft. In general engagement with 12 E.A. Lieut. Joseph attacked 3 individually in successive dives. Then observed Albatros Scout below dived & fired at 50-40 yards, E.A. went down Out of Control unable to observe result as I was attacked by 5 E.A. & chased back to the line, my machine being hit in the tail.’ (Ibid) The following day Joseph was involved in an inconclusive aerial combat with a Pfalz Scout near Armentières, when he fired 150 rounds at 50-100 yards. The enemy aircraft was seen to turn on its back and go down in a deep spiral dive, but no result was observed. He concluded his success for the month, with the shared destruction of a Kite Balloon near Pont Riqueu on 21 May. A Summer ‘Ace’ The clear skies of summer continued to appeal to Joseph, and he had his most successful day to date on 6 June 1918, when he destroyed an enemy aircraft near Neuf Berquin, and shared in the destruction of another near Vieux Berquin: ‘Attacked wireless E.A. near Neuf Berquin diving & firing 300 rounds at 80-40 yards, observer was killed & collapsed in the cockpit, Lieut. Joseph followed E.A. down to 800ft. & saw him still descending when at 200ft. Pulled off thereafter to attack 2 other E.A. circling over Estaires. Wireless E.A. is confirmed by A.A. 'J' Battery to have crashed near Neuf Berquin... Lieut. Joseph then with Lieut. Campbell attacked (another) wireless machine at 4,000ft. Over Morris, Joseph dived & fired 400 rounds at 60-40 yards range. Observer was killed & collapsed in the cockpit. Lieut. K.Y. Campbell fired burst of 50 rounds at pilot from close range from side of E.A. which was followed down to 800ft. Owing to machine-gun fire from the ground, Pilots had to pull off & did not observe results. E.A. confirmed by A/A 'J' Battery to have crashed near Vieux Berquin.’ Three days later, Joseph added to his score when he forced a Pfalz DIII down out of control near Ploegsteert Wood: ‘While on Offensive Patrol, our formation observed 7 Pfalz scouts at 8,000ft. Over Ploegsteert Wood and dived to attack. Shortly after, 7 more Pfalz and 3 tri-planes came up from the East and a general engagement ensued. I attacked one Pfalz scout and fired a burst of about 60 rounds at close range. E.A. spun down out of control. I could not observe result as I attacked a Triplane immediately after, but without decisive results.’ (Ibid) There was a flurry of activity for Joseph at the end of June, when he firstly shot down an LVG C Type in flames north of Armentières on the 26: ‘While leading Offensive Patrol I observed a L.V.G. 2-seater at 15,000ft. And fired a burst of 160 rounds at 60 yards to point blank range. E.A. dived omitting smoke and afterwards burst into flames. When last seen was still falling out of control and emitting volumes of smoke. This is confirmed by Lieut. Highstone. Pilot was unable to watch final result as he was attacked by 3 Triplanes.’ (Ibid) The above was closely foll...

Five: Private H. Holstead, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 1914-15 Star (18623 Pte. H. Holstead. L.N. Lan. R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (18623 Pte. H. Holstead. L.N. Lan. R.) renamed; Victory Medal 1914-19 (18623 Pte. H. Halstead. L.N. Lan. R.); Defence Medal; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1915, very fine Pair: Corporal H. J. E. Hooper, East Surrey Regiment, late Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 26 October 1917 British War and Victory Medals (240440 Cpl. H. J. E. Hooper. E. Surr. R.) traces of adhesive to reverse of both, otherwise nearly extremely fine Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (3530 C.Sjt: N. H. P. Page. Devon: Regt.) minor edge bruising, very fine (8) £80-£100 --- Henry John Edward Hooper was born in Burnham on Crouch, Essex, around 1893. An assistant professional golfer at Chertsey, he attested for the 2/6th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, on 11 December 1913, and spent the first few years of the war on home service. Posted to Redhill in January 1916, his Army Service Record notes neglect of duty for leaving the Reigate guard room in a dirty condition. Posted to the Western Front on 15 September 1917, Hooper transferred to the 4/5th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 19 September 1917 and was killed in action barely a month later on 26 October 1917. His medals were later posted to his mother at 12 Herbert Road, Clacton-on-Sea. Sold with an original postcard photograph of the recipient in civilian attire; further entitled to TFWM under A.O. 143/20. Nathaniel Henry Pettitt Page attested for the Devonshire Regiment at Exeter on 28 June 1892. He served overseas with the 2nd Battalion during the South African Campaign from 20 October 1899 to 21 May 1903, and was discharged as Colour Sergeant on 15 November 1910. Sold with a reproduction Princess Mary Christmas tin.

A rare and well-documented ‘Balloonatics’ campaign group of seven awarded to Flight Sergeant and Observer J. Baxter, Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force - decorated for his service whilst attached to the Belgian forces during 1917, and a Police Constable with the City of London Police prior to and after the Great War 1914-15 Star (F.4573, J. Baxter, A.M. 1. R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (30212. F. Sgt. J. Baxter. R.A.F.); Coronation 1911, City of London Police (P.C. J. Baxter.); Jubilee 1935 (P.C. J. Baxter.); Belgium, Order of Leopold II, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, with rosette on riband, obverse centre missing Lion; Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, with bronze palm emblem on riband, mounted for wear, but additionally mounted on card for display, generally very fine unless otherwise stated (7) £800-£1,200 --- Order of Leopold, Chevalier London Gazette 25 July 1918. The recommendation, dated 8 December 1917, states: ‘A non-commissioned flying officer who has rendered the greatest services during the ascents made on behalf of the British artillery placed as the disposal of the Belgian Army.’ Croix de Guerre London Gazette 25 July 1918. The combination of Belgian awards to the R.F.C. is very rare, only five such being awarded, with a further three later awarded to the R.A.F. James Baxter was born in Hornsey, London in May 1888. He joined the City of London Police at Cloak Lane in May 1910, and was Commended and awarded ten Shillings for courageous conduct in stopping a runaway horse on 18 July 1913. Baxter enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service in May 1915, and served with No. 8 Balloon Company in the French theatre of war from 1 September 1915. It was not long before the R.N.A.S. Balloons were transferred to the control of the Royal Flying Corps, and Navy personnel were at liberty to transfer Services if they so desired. Baxter joined the R.F.C. as Sergeant in June 1916, and the Royal Air Force in April 1918. He advanced to Flight Sergeant in April 1917, and at some stage advanced his status from being ground staff on the handling of the balloons to becoming an Observer, being entitled to wear the distinguishing observer’s brevet. Baxter was granted his Aeronaut’s Certificate by the Royal Aero Club of the UK on 2 October 1916, and as such served as a “Balloonatic” with the 16th Balloon Company, R.F.C. He was demobilised on 24 March 1919, and rejoined the City of London Police the following month. Baxter retired to Pension in May 1936, and was appointed to the First City of London Police Reserve in August 1936. He resigned in October of the same year in order to take a permanent position with the London Telephone Service of the General Post Office. After the war he resided at 1 College Hill, London, EC4, and died in November 1961. Sold with the following original and related documentation: Bestowal Document for both Belgian awards, with Ministry of Foreign Affairs enclosure letter (both with typed translations); Ministry of Foreign Affairs enclosure for the two Belgian awards; Royal Air Force Demobilization Account document; typed letter from recipient to Officer Commanding, Port Depot, Royal Air Force, Havre, regarding his application for the 1914-15 Star, dated 6 March 1919; St. John Ambulance Association First Aid Certificate, named and dated February 1911; letter from recipient as member of the First City of London Police Reserve to the Commissioner of Police for the City of London agreeing to serve for an indefinite period from June 1936; with other ephemera and copied research.

Three: Private S. Greasley, West Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 9 October 1917 British War and Victory Medals (1671 Pte. S. Greasley. W. York. R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1671 Pte. S. Greasley. W. York. R.) last with officially re-impressed naming, good very fine (3) £100-£140 --- Stanley Greasley was born in Leeds and attested there for the West Yorkshire Regiment. He served in 2/8th and 1/8th Battalions during the Great War on the Western Front, and was reported missing, presumed killed in action, on 9 October 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Sold with a double sided 9ct gold fob locket containing photographs believed to be of the recipient and sweetheart, together with another very small oval photograph of his sweetheart.

Family Group: Pair: Captain W. Hamilton, 183rd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, who died on 14 August 1917 British War and Victory Medals (Capt. W. Hamilton.); Memorial Plaque (William Hamilton) this mounted in an attractive period frame, good very fine Pair: Captain J. Hamilton,Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), who was killed in action on the Western Front on 1 January 1917 British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. Hamilton.); Memorial Plaque (James Hamilton) this mounted in an attractive period frame, very fine Pair: Private D. R. Hamilton, Highland Light Infantry British War and Victory Medals (31711 Pte. D. R. Hamilton, H.L.I.) very fine (8) £600-£800 --- William Hamilton was born in Dalziel, Lanarkshire, in 1885, the second son of James Hamilton, of 'Haymount,' Gardenside Avenue, Uddingston, Lanarkshire. A mining engineer and former Assistant General Manager at the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company, Hamilton died on 14 August 1917 whilst serving with the 183rd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers. Newly assigned to XIV Corps, 2nd Army, the 183rd Tunnelling Company operated at Pilckem from 31 July to 2 August 1917, and were subsequently involved in operations at Langemarck from 16 to 18 August 1917. William Hamilton is buried at the Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium. James Hamilton was born in Dalziel, Lanarkshire, in 1887, the third son of James Hamilton. He was killed in action on 1 January 1917 whilst serving with the 6th Battalion, The Cameronians, and is buried at Martinpuich British Cemetery in the Pas-de-Calais, France. Captured by the 15th (Scottish) Division on 15 September 1916, Martinpuich was the scene of repeated enemy counter-attacks in the winter of 1916-17, the terrible conditions exacerbated by freezing temperatures and snowfall. David Russell Hamilton was born in Dalziel, Lanarkshire, in 1897, the sixth son and eighth child of James Hamilton. He served with the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, and was appointed to a Commission on 17 December 1917, although remained on home service for the remainder of hostilities. Qualified M.B., Ch.B., at the University of Glasgow in 1922, he became an experienced medical practitioner serving Lanarkshire. Sold with extensive copied research.

Pair: Private H. E. Norman, 11th (Cambridgeshire) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, who was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916 British War and Victory Medals (16703 Pte. H. E. Norman. Suff. R.) nearly extremely fine (2) £300-£400 --- Herbert E. Norman attested for the Suffolk Regiment and served with the 11th (Cambridgeshire) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 1916. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. The Battalion War Diary for 1 July 1916 reads: ‘7:28 a.m. The mine opposite left of 101st Brigade was exploded. 7:30 a.m. The infantry assault was launched. The Battalion followed the 10th Lincolns from our assembly trenches down into Sausage Valley and across to the German lines. Owing to the failure of the 102nd Brigade on the left to capture La Boiselle, our advance from the moment it left our assembly trenches was subjected to a very heavy fire from machine guns from La Boiselle. In spite of the fact that wave after wave were mown down by machine gun fire, all pushed on without hesitation, though very few reached the German lines.’ Relieved on 4 July, the Battalion had suffered total casualties of 691. Norman is buried in Ovillers Military Cemetery, France. Sold with copied Medal Index Card and War Diary extract.

A rare ‘Palestine 1945-48 operations’ B.E.M. pair awarded to Aircraftman 1st Class A. Vickers, Royal Air Force, a Motor Transport Driver who detected, and single-handedly repelled, a gang of armed Arab thieves at No. 120 Maintenance Unit, Levant - wounding two of the thieves, and capturing one in the process, all of which was done under small arms fire British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (659202 A.C. 1 Cl. Albert Vickers. R.A.F.) suspension claw loose; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (659202 A.C. 1. A. Vickers. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, otherwise generally very fine (2) (2) £360-£440 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 29 October 1948: ‘For gallantry and good service in Palestine prior to evacuation on 30th June 1948.’ The original recommendation states: ‘No. 120 Maintenance Unit, Levant - A.C.1. Vickers, an M.T. driver, set his colleagues a fine example by his devotion to duty and his determination to complete his work regardless of difficulties or dangers. On one occasion, Arabs had broken in and were stealing equipment. He called out the Striker Force but, realising the need for prompt action, he immediately launched an attack on the thieves unaided. Although under fire himself, he wounded one Arab and pressed on with his attack. Unexpectedly confronted by another Arab, A.C.1 Vickers felled him with the butt of his rifle and cooly arrested the wounded Arab, although this involved crawling forward under fire and in the face of thieves with a high reputation for skill at this form of fighting. This airman’s courageous action was typical of the high sense of duty and courage he displayed through the evacuation of his unit. His brave action undoubtedly saved the loss of valuable equipment.’ The Secretary of State for Air, in making recommendations to the Committee for the George Cross, the George Medal and the British Empire Medal, graded Vickers as No. 1 of the three airmen being put forward for recognition. A total of only six B.E.M.’s were awarded to the Royal Air Force for the whole of the Palestine operations between 1945 and 1948.

A Great War D.C.M. group of six awarded to Battery Sergeant-Major F. H. Makey, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 4 October 1917 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (28518 B.S. Mjr: F. H. Makey, 66/Sge: By., R.G.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (28518 Gnr: F. H. Mackie, 2nd S.D., R.G.A.); China 1900, no clasp (28518 A. Bomb: F. H. Mackie, 62nd Coy. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (28518 W.O. Cl. 2 F. H. Makey, R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (28518 By: S. Mjr: F. H. Makey, R,G.A.) mounted for display, note variation in surname; together with an erased 1914-15 Star, second and third with contact marks, very fine and better (7) £800-£1,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his battery was being shelled, he superintended the collecting and removal of the wounded, setting a fine example of coolness and indifference to his own personal safety. He has on several occasions behaved in a similar manner, notably on one occasion, in clearing the congestion of traffic which had been thrown into confusion at some cross roads by shell fire.’ Frederick Makey was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, the son of William Joseph Makey. He served with the R.G.A. in both the Boer and China Wars. In the Great War he entered Egypt on 29 December 1915, and his bravery and leadership in action whilst serving with the 66th Siege Battery R.G.A. earned him the D.C.M. He was killed in action, in either France or Flanders, on 4 October 1917, aged 39 years, and was buried in the White House Cemetery, St. Jean-les-Ypres. He was the husband of Dorothy Mabel Makey, of 4 Privett Road, Gosport, Hampshire. Sold with copied research, including two Medal Index Cards, one in the name Makey, the other Mackie. His 1914-15 Star was returned by his family to have the incorrect surname amended, 19 August 1920.

The scarce Second China War C.B. pair awarded to Lieutenant-General Franklin Dunlop, Royal Artillery, who commanded the Troops in China from the breaking out of hostilities in 1856 to the end of April 1857; in January 1857 he suffered severely from the attempt by the Chinese to poison the inhabitants of Hong Kong by mixing arsenic mixed with the bread sold on 16 January; he nevertheless recovered to command the Artillery at the capture of Canton in December 1857 The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, 22 carat gold breast badge, hallmarked London 1857, maker’s mark ‘WN’ for William Neale, complete with gold swivel-ring bar suspension, gold three-pronged ribbon buckle, and gold three-pronged top brooch buckle; China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Canton 1857 (Coll. Frankiln Dunlop C.B. Royal Arty.) officially impressed naming, nearly extremely fine (2) £4,000-£5,000 --- Franklin Dunlop was born at Onchan, Isle of Man, on 17 February 1812, and choosing a military career was appointed Gentleman Cadet on 30 January 1827. He joined the Army on 18 December 1829, as Second Lieutenant, and some three months later was gazetted First Lieutenant to the 5th Battalion, Royal Artillery. Having been made Captain in the 7th Battalion on 23 November 1841, he became Lieutenant-Colonel on 20 June 1854, and full Colonel exactly three years later. On the latter date he had never been on half-pay, but in continuous active service; and now came his chance for distinction. When trouble arose in the Far East, Colonel Dunlop was placed in charge of the troops in China, from the breaking out of hostilities in 1856 to the end of April 1857. In January 1857, he suffered severely from an attempt made by the Chinese to poison the inhabitants of Hong Kong by mixing arsenic with the bread sold on 10 January. At the capture of Canton in December 1857, Colonel Dunlop commanded the Artillery, and was awarded a C.B. and the China medal with clasp for his services. Colonel Dunlop's next appointment was to the command of the artillery forces in Canada, as Colonel on staff with headquarters at Montreal. The date of this promotion was 31 December 1861; he had become a full Colonel on 26 October 1858, and had passed the staff college. He vacated the appointment in 1857, and retired with full pay on his promotion to Major-General on 2 February 1868. Less than three months afterwards - on the 23rd April - he received the honorary rank of Lieutenant-General. His good service pension of £90 per annum, dated 23 March 1861, had been increased to £100 per annum on 12 May 1866. General Dunlop died on 24 April 1887 at his residence ‘Sunnyside’, in the village of Holmwood, near Dorking.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Lance-Corporal H. F. Tallent, Essex Regiment, who suffered from shell shock, a gunshot wound and a broken leg during the course of his service Military Medal, G.V.R. (43623 Pte.-L.Cpl. H. F. Tallent. 1/Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (43623 A.Cpl. H. F. Tallent. Essex R.) the MM extremely fine, the pair very fine (3) £280-£340 --- M.M. London Gazette 14 May 1919. Henry Francis Tallent attested for the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, on 19 September 1914. A motor scout, his Army Service Record notes service overseas with the British Expeditionary Force from 31 July 1916 to 22 November 1917, but this was curtailed upon receiving a gunshot wound to the left foot which necessitated removal to the University War Hospital, Southampton. Returned to the Western Front from 26 May 1918 to 12 October 1918, Tallent was decorated with the Military Medal before returning to hospital suffering with a fractured fibula. He was finally discharged in March 1919, his home address given as 21 Madeleine Road, Petersfield.

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel A. P. De Villiers, Cape Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Lt: Col: A. P. De Villiers, Cape G.A.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, V.R., ‘Victoria Regina et Imperatrix’ (Lieut. Col. A. P. de Villiers. Cape Garrison Arty.) this on original investiture pin and clearly never worn, good very fine (2) £300-£400 --- ‘The death occurred this morning, at his residence at D'Urban Road, of Lieutenant Colonel A. P. de Villiers, Commanding the Cape Garrison Artillery. The deceased gentleman, who was a member of the firm of Lindenberg and De Villiers, auctioneers, was an enthusiastic Volunteer, having survived the Colony and the Empire for twenty-two years as a citizen soldier. He worked his way from private in the ranks to Commanding Officer, a record of which he was always proud as also of the fact that, though not of British blood, he was a British subject. His connection with Volunteering commenced in 1879 when he joined the Cape Town Volunteer Engineers, saw service with his corps in the Transkei Rebellion of 1879-80, and afterwards became successively lieutenant, captain, adjutant, major, and ultimately lieutenant-colonel, to which latter post he was appointed on the recommendation of Colonel Forbes-Taylor, R.A. He rendered great assistance in the inception and establishment of the new corps of Garrison Artillery, of which unit he became first head. In 1899 he became entitled to the long service medal, and was duly invested with it - on paper. As a matter of actual fact, he never received it, though nearly two years have elapsed since he became entitled to it. He was a very popular officer, beloved by his men, and his general presence was welcome everywhere. At the outbreak of the war he went into active service with his corps. Last August he was found to have contracted a severe kidney affection, and was sent by his medical advisers to Europe to recruit, but his insidious complaint was too much for him, and after spending over six months under medical care - nine weeks of which he passed in Netley Hospital - he returned home to the Colony. His demise - at the early age of 41 - will come as a shock to many of his old friends, who will find it hard to realise that the cheerful and buoyant "A.P. (Apie)" of the old days is no more. He leaves a widow and three daughters.’ Sold with details of obituary notice (undated but circa 1903-10) and funeral arrangements and several copied photographs of De Villiers in uniform.

Five: Warrant Officer Class II P. Pynisky, 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, who was killed in action on during Operation Hydra, the Peenemunde Raid, 17-18 August 1943 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, Canadian issues in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp, mounted court-style for display in this order; Canadian Memorial Cross, G.VI.R. ‘W.O.2 Air Gunner P. Pynisky R104462’, nearly extremely fine (6) £500-£700 --- Peter Pynisky was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, on 5 June 1921. A steel mill worker of Greek Catholic heritage, he attested for the Royal Canadian Air Force on 31 July 1941, and earned his Air Gunner’s Badge on 27 April 1942. Posted to 44 Squadron in March 1943, he died on the night of 17/18 August 1943 whilst serving as mid upper gunner aboard Lancaster DV202 under the command of Pilot Officer Reginald Harding, Royal Canadian Air Force. Directed to attack the V-1 and V-2 rocket facility of Peenemunde on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom as part of Operation Hydra, the crew of seven departed Dunholme Lodge at 2140hrs and were subsequently lost without trace, with one of three aircraft of No. 44 Squadron shot down on this mission. Remarkably, some 70 years later and during a heat wave, the remains of the Lancaster bomber were discovered poking out of the water of a lake in northern Germany. On 16 July 2014, the story caught the attention of The Mirror newspaper, who traced Elaine Towlson, the daughter of Sergeant Stanley Shaw, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, air gunner aboard the bomber: ‘When Elaine was just nine years old she waved him off on another vital mission against the Nazis, wondering when she would see him again. But she never did. At 31, he was the father figure among the crew, some of whom were boys barely out of school. She still remembers his visits home, often accompanied by three or four of his crewmates who would bring her sweets and hoist her on to their shoulders on trips to the cinema.’ An eyewitness account by German soldier Botho Stuwe describes what happened to their Lancaster bomber: ‘There was a flash and a line of tracer fire, then an explosion. This fireball hung there and then it fell from the point of impact down in a curving line into the Kolpinsee.’ Pynisky is commemorated along with his crew on the Runnymede Memorial. Sold with copied R.C.A.F. Service Record, and private research, including a photographic image of the recipient in uniform.

A Great War M.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant J. G. Barraclough, Royal Fusiliers, who served with the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. G. Barraclough.); Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Fifth Class breast badge, gold and enamel, unmarked; France, Third Republic, Medal of Honour, with Swords, in ‘Gold’, silver-gilt, unnamed, very fine and better (5) £600-£800 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 22 March 1919: 'For valuable services rendered in connection with the War.' Italian Order of the Crown, Fifth Class London Gazette 29 September 1922. French Medal of Honour, 'avec Glaives en Vermeil', London Gazette 5 November 1920. Jackson Gurth Barraclough was born at Whitby, Yorkshire, on 4 July 1887. Educated at St. Paul's, Birmingham, he was appointed as Cadet to the Artist's Rifles Officer Training Corps on 6 December 1915. Appointed to a Commission with the 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, he was sent to France on 28 September 1916 and immediately transferred to the 17th Battalion of the Regiment. Posted to Courcelette on the Somme, Barraclough was wounded in the right knee on 12 February 1917 and suffered concussion from a shell burst. The recipient's Officer Service Papers add: 'Smashed up my knee till it locked in a bent position in going "over the top" to my post while relieving.' Sent to Seaford to recover, the incident later manifested itself in a speech impairment and lameness exacerbated by fluid retention and swelling. Barraclough was later released from service with effect from 1 March 1919, under Royal Warrant promulgated in Army Orders of 16 December 1918. Despite his afflictions, he went on to serve once again during the Second World War, and is recorded as a Temporary Lieutenant (Special Branch) in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from 14 March 1944. This included postings to H.M.S. Braganza and the holding camp H.M.S. Mayina on the island of Ceylon. Sold with copied Officer Service Papers and private research.

Four: Private R. C. McGowan, Winnipeg Grenadiers, who was killed in action during the defence of Hong Kong on 19 December 1941, on which date Company Sergeant Major John Osborn, of the same unit, was awarded the Victoria Cross 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp and additional ‘Hong Kong’ clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver; together with the recipient’s Birk’s Memorial Bar ‘Pte. R. C. McGowan, Wpg. Gren., Died in his Country’s Service, 19 Dec. 1941’, about extremely fine (5) £400-£500 --- Robert Clarence McGowan was born at Gladstone, Manitoba, on 15 December 1919, and attested for the Winnipeg Grenadiers at Winnpeg, Manitoba, on 25 April 1941. He departed Vancouver, as part of “C” Force, in the troopship Prince Rupert on 27 October 1941, arriving in Hong Kong, after brief stops at Honolulu and Manila, on 16 November 1941. What followed in the desperate struggle to defend the colony that December resulted in the decimation of the regiment’s ranks - one of its number, Company Sergeant-Major John Osborn, winning the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in the fierce fighting on 19 December, on which date McGowan was killed in action, just six days before the Colony fell. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong. Of the 1,975 Canadians who sailed from Vancouver in October 1941, 290 were killed in action, 267 died in captivity, and a further 493 were wounded in action. In 1995, the Manitoba government gave the name ‘McGowan Bay’ to a small bay on Wither Lake in his honour.

Three: Private W. Rhodes, West Yorkshire Regiment, who was wounded and taken prisoner of war at Oppy on 3 May 1917 British War and Victory Medals (1600 Pte. W. Rhodes. W. York. R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1600 Pte. W. Rhodes. W. York. R.) contact marks, very fine (3) £200-£240 --- William Rhodes was born in the parish of St. Johns, Bradford in 1896 and enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment on 24 March 1914, at the age of 17, his home address being at 117 Garnett Street, Bradford. He served overseas with 2/6th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was recorded as missing on 3 May 1917, subsequently being confirmed as a prisoner of war in Germany on 17 July 1917, having been captured at Oppy, on which occasion he was wounded by shrapnel. He was repatriated to England on 5 December 1918 and was demobilised from 5th Reserve Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment on 30 March 1919, suffering from neurasthenia and stomach troubles.

Pair: Corporal Hashimu, No. 1 Battery, Northern Nigeria Regiment (Artillery), who was killed in action during the Sokoto-Birmi expedition of April-July 1903 Ashanti 1900, 1 clasp, Kumassi (631 Corpl: Hashimu. W.A.F.F.) low relief bust, officially impressed naming; Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, N. Nigeria, N. Nigeria 1903 (Corpl: Hashima. N. Nigeria Regt.) low relief bust, second clasp loose as issued, officially impressed naming, extremely fine (2) £400-£500 --- Corporal Hashimu served with No. 1 Battery, Northern Nigeria Regiment (Artillery), West African Frontier Force, with the column which moved from Beckwai on 13 July 1900, for the relief of Kumassi (Medal with Clasp). He received the Africa General Service medal with Clasp ‘N. Nigeria’ for the expedition against the Emir of Yola, August to September 1901; and the Clasp ‘N. Nigeria 1903’ for services during the Sokoto-Birmi expedition, 15 April to 27 July 1903. The roll for this clasp states that Corporal Hashimu was killed in action during the campaign. Of the 17 men killed during this campaign, 10 died at the storming of Birmi on 27 July 1903, when No. 1 Battery N.N. Regiment were engaged firing shrapnel at the town from their 75 mm guns.

Five: Sergeant J. Robinson, East Surrey Regiment, who was killed in the attack on Ale Alley and Beer Trench near Ginchy on 3 September 1916 British War and Victory Medals (192 Sjt. J. Robinson. E. Surr. R.), with flattened named card box of issue and transmission slip, in damaged outer envelope addressed to, ‘Mrs. J. Robinson, 55 White Hart Line, Barnes, SW’; Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (192. Sjt. J. Robinson. E. Surr. R.); with flattened named card box of issue and transmission slip in damaged outer envelope similarly addressed; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (192 Sjt. J. Robinson. 5/E. Surr: Regt.); Memorial Plaque (Jacob Robinson) with Buckingham Palace enclosure, nearly extremely fine (5) £600-£800 --- Jacob Robinson was born in 1879 at Putney, Surrey and resided at Tottenham, Middlesex prior to attesting for the East Surrey Regiment at Wimbledon, Surrey. He served during the Great War ranked Sergeant in the 5th Battalion (Territorial Force) in India for one year and seven months, after which he was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion in France where he was killed on 3 September 1916, only a month after his arrival, during the attack on Ale Alley and Beer Trench near Ginchy: ‘On 3 September, 7th Division, on the right of 24th Division was to attack Ginchy, half a mile south-east of 9/East Surrey. Germans in Ale Alley and Hop Alley could enfilade units advancing on Ginchy. The battalion was ordered to assist by attacking, at noon, Ale Alley from the north-west, whilst a bombing party from the brigade on the right would attack from the south. The battalion was also to capture Beer Trench, which was then lightly held. However, the neighbouring brigade declared a change of plan, so that their bombers would attack Hop Alley instead. Captain Ingrams and Second Lieutenant Tetley led around forty men attacking Ale alley at noon, with a second attack 40 minutes later. Unfortunately, the attack by the brigade on the right did not progress and the Surrey men failed to break into the two Alleys. Captain Ingrams was killed and Lieutenant-Colonel de la Fontaine was very severely wounded leading an attack. An officer and three men crawled forward to a shell hole and sniped at Germans, who they reported to be holding Ale and hop Alleys in strength. Part of Beer Trench was, however, seized and thirty Germans advancing towards it were badly hit by Lewis gun fire. The war diary complained of the support given to the battalion’s attack. ‘Our own artillery did not assist us very much. Our heavy guns were throwing shells into our trench instead of Ale Alley. Our stokes guns failed to fire anywhere near the enemy trench and the T.M. firing smoke bombs stopped firing much too soon.’ (The Journey’s End Battalion: The 9th East Surrey in the Great War by Michael Lucas refers). Sergeant Robinson’s T.F.E.M. was issued posthumously under Army Order 143 of 1920. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Three: Sergeant R. Edens, 19th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who died of disease on 7 July 1918 1914-15 Star (55193 Pte. R. Edens. 19/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (55193 Sjt. R. Edens. 19-Can. Inf.); Memorial Plaque (Ralph Edens); Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (55193 Sgt. R. Edens); Memorial Scroll, ‘Serjt. Ralph Edens, Canadian Infantry Bn.’, nearly extremely fine (6) £300-£400 --- Ralph Edens attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force and served with the 19th Battalion Canadian Infantry, during the Great War on the Western Front. He died of disease on 7 July 1918, aged 25 years, and is buried in Watford Cemetery, Hertfordshire.

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. Owen, Middlesex Regiment, who was three times Mentioned in Despatches Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. D. C. Owen, Midd’x Rgt.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. D. C. Owen.) mounted court-style as worn, toned, nearly extremely fine (4) £1,000-£1,400 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1917. M.I.D. London Gazettes 4 January 1917; 15 May 1917; and 20 May 1918. Douglas Charles Owen was born on 17 December 1880 and was educated at Rugby. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment on 4 May 1901, having previously served with the 4th Volunteer Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War in 1902, being promoted Lieutenant on 24 September 1902. Advanced Captain on 26 August 1909, and Major on 4 May 1916, he served during the Great War on the Western Front on the Staff from 22 February 1916, and for his services was three times mentioned in Despatches and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. Owen was given the command of the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, on 18 October 1918, and commanded them for the final three weeks of the Great War, during which the Battalion, as part of the 33rd Division, distinguished themselves at the crossing of the River Sambre on 5 November 1918. He died in 1949, and is buried in Thurston, Suffolk.

Three: Private J. McIlroy, Gordon Highlanders, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 16 May 1915 Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between the fourth and fifth clasps (7511 Pte. J. McIlroy. Gordon Highrs:); British War and Victory Medals (7511 Pte. J. McIlroy. Gordons.) very fine (3) £80-£100 --- James McIlroy attested for the Gordon Highlanders and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, and then with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 28 October 1914 (also entitled to a 1914 Star with clasp). He was killed in action on 16 May 1915, but has no known grave and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France, which bears the names of those soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in the neighbourhood of Festubert and Neuve-Chapelle before 25 September 1915.

A fine 'Defence of Ladysmith' Queen's South Africa Medal awarded to Private A. Spray, King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was blown up by a 6-inch shell from a Boer artillery piece commanding high ground to the south of the town, and was later wounded in the knee Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (8601 Pte. A. Spray, K.R.R.C.) small pawnbroker’s mark to obverse, extremely fine £200-£240 --- Arthur Spray was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, in 1873, the son of lace mender Eliza Spray. He attested for the King's Royal Rifle Corps at Birmingham on 20 June 1894 and was posted from depot to the 4th Battalion at Winchester on 22 October 1894. For reasons unknown, Spray absconded just before Christmas Day in 1895, and spent almost a month on the run from the military authorities. Placed in confinement on 21 January 1896, he was tried by the District Court Martial and found guilty of desertion and loss of equipment resulting in 30 days' imprisonment with hard labour. Remarkably, less than a year later, Spray returned to the cells when given a further 14 days' hard labour on 10 December 1896, but the unexpired portion of his punishment was remitted upon Spray's agreement to transfer to the 2nd Battalion, and he headed to South Africa forthwith.  According to the recipient's Army Service Record, Spray served three terms in South Africa, from 15 December 1896 to 5 April 1899, 18 September 1899 to 26 July 1900, and 11 December 1901 to 9 October 1902. These were separated by five months in India and a brief spell back in England. Most importantly, Spray was present throughout the Siege of Ladysmith in Northern Natal, from 2 November 1899 to 27 February 1900, and returned home to give a rare firsthand account which was published in The Nottinghamshire Guardian on 28 July 1900: 'A Nottingham Soldier's Experience At the invitation of Mr. Godfrey L. Evans, a meeting was held on Tuesday on the lawn of his residence, Hamilton-road, the chief object of the gathering being to hear an address by Private A. Spray, of the 2nd King's Royal Rifles, on "The Siege of Ladysmith..." He said that many of the soldiers looked like scarecrows, having gone seven days without a wash and with no change of underclothing. "Gentleman Joe," the name of a gun, sent his first shot on the morning of November 27th, just after breakfast, and another shell struck the ground a few feet in front of where the speaker was standing, sank six feet, and then exploded, blowing up the rough sun-shelter, and scattering the men right and left, but hurting no-one. The speaker described the various battles in which he had taken part, and the circumstances under which he was wounded in the knee. After the 6th of January, when the Boers were supposed to have lost only a few men, he saw them carting their dead and wounded all day long, under the white flag. The lecturer then described, in vivid fashion, the scene when the relief column came to Ladysmith, and said that the invalids were splendidly treated on board the hospital ship, Lismore Castle, on their way home...'  Spray was particularly fortunate that the 96-pound shell from the French-manufactured creusot gun "Gentleman Joe" had failed to find its mark, for other similar weapons including "Long Tom" and "Puffing Billy" had delivered a particularly intense barrage from 8 to 9 a.m. that morning. Ladysmith: The Diary of a Siege points to a most unpleasant incident not far away, and taking place just minutes earlier: 'This morning a Kaffir was working for the Army Service Corps (being at that moment engaged in kneading a pancake), when a small shell hit him full in the mouth, passed clean through his head, and burst on the ground beyond.'  Referring to the events of 6 January 1900, Spray's life was saved once again when large numbers of Boers, encouraged by President Kruger, launched a major attack on Ladysmith designed to overwhelm the garrison and take the town. At Wagon Hill, a confused and fierce fight took place in the dark between the Boers and the men of the King's Royal Rifles, Gordon Highlanders and Imperial Light Horse, supported by a hotchkiss gun. The enemy retreated but the siege prevailed, and by mid-January 1900, the remaining cavalry horses had to be shot for food.

A Second War ‘Burma operations’ M.B.E. group of ten awarded to Captain Edmund Edmunds, Royal Artillery, attached 21st Indian Mountain Regiment The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya (Capt. E. Edmunds. M.B.E. R.A.) second clasp loose as issued; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (Capt. E. Edmunds. M.B.E. R.A.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (Lt. E. Edmunds. M.B.E. R.A.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (10) £400-£500 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 25 March 1946. The recommendation states: ‘Capt EDMUNDS took over the work of Quartermaster for 21 Ind Mountain Regt at a time when the Regiment was re-equipping for war. When the Reg advanced into BURMA in 1945 owing to the painstaking work of Capt EDMUNDS it was complete in every respect. Throughout the operations of 1945 Capt EDMUNDS showed himself a model of efficiency. Whenever the Regt was short of anything he allowed himself no rest until the deficiency had been made good. During the battles in MEIKTILA often single Batteries were sent out anything up to thirty miles away from the regiment. In some cases the enemy infiltrated between these batteries and the Regiment. Captain EDMUNDS never failed to visit them and to keep then properly supplied and equipped. When the MEIKTILA airfield was being attacked and shelled supply parties had great difficulties and suffered many casualties. Each day Captain EDMUNDS went with the Regt Supply Party to superintend the drawing of stores and supplies. On all these occasions he showed himself as a cool, calm and efficient soldier who by showing no regard for his own safety inspired all men working under him. He never allowed difficulties or dangers to interfere with his duties.’

A good Second War A.F.C. group of seven awarded to Flight Lieutenant S. D. Walbank, Royal Air Force, who completed an operational tour as a Hurricane nightfighter pilot 1941-42, sometimes flying solo low-level sorties to France Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1944’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Malay Peninsula (Flt. Lt. S. D. Walbank, R.A.F.),mounted court-style, contact marks, generally very fine (7) £1,800-£2,200 --- Provenance: Glendining’s, December 1988; Dix Nooonan Webb, March 2008 and September 2015. A.F.C. London Gazette 8 June 1944. The original recommendation states: ‘This officer has been employed on Anti-aircraft Co-operation duties since October 1942. He had previously completed an operational tour with a Hurricane Night Fighter Squadron. During the time he has been employed on Anti-aircraft Co-operation work he has displayed exceptional devotion to duty and keenness in carrying out the tasks allotted him. He has completed over 100 hours night flying on Search-light Co-operation - much of it under adverse conditions. Flying Officer Walbank is a competent pilot who has shown the greatest keenness to fly at night.’ Stanley Douglas Walbank was born in Bradford in September 1917 and commenced his operational career as a Sergeant Pilot in No. 87 Squadron, a Hurricane nightfighter unit operating out of Charmy Down, and St. Mary’s in the Scillies, in March 1941. A few days later, with operations limited as a result of poor weather conditions, the Squadron’s Operational Record Book (O.R.B.) reported that ‘Two new Sergeants unfortunately overshot and made the aerodrome look rather like a salvage dump’, therein, possibly, the reason for Walbank’s transferral to No. 247 Squadron that April, although as we shall see, he was in fact a capable pilot. Also by that stage allocated to night fighting duties in Hurricanes, 247 went fully operational on moving to Predannack that summer, but a spate of convoy patrols filled the void, Walbank flying three such sorties on 27 May alone. So, too, by way of proving his skills, 25 minutes of aerobatics on 20 July, an episode made possible by using a brake-test as his excuse to get airborne - ‘a rather dubious excuse, one might add’, according to the O.R.B. And the occasional “Scramble” - and numerous “Rhubarbs” and “Intruders” - followed in the period leading up to his posting to anti-aircraft co-operation duties with No. 286 Squadron in October 1942, the O.R.B. crediting him with carrying out a solo “Intruder” operation to Morlaix and Lannion in October, the same month that he was sent to Colerne to gain experience with Havoc “Turbinlite” aircraft. But it was really after the Squadron moved to Exeter in May 1942, that the pace of cross-channel operations quickened, Walbank’s outings including a trip to Rennes in June, when his Hurricane was engaged by an E-Boat on his return to the coast - ‘He hit back and saw strikes on the vessel, the return fire ceasing, and landed back at Exeter at 0430 having carried out the whole operation between 200 and 500 feet’. While on other occasions suitable targets were frustratingly scarce: ‘Flight Sergeant Walbank took-off at 0200 to intrude on the St. Briene-Rennes railway. He had quite an interesting trip, although an unproductive one. Near Lamballe he saw a well lighted chateau with two men standing on the front steps. He restrained a strong desire to shoot them up, in case they were French, and moved on. At Montauban, and again near Rennes, he saw a train, but in both cases left them alone, as they were passenger trains - although probably full of Hun troops. He toured around a bit longer, both along the main line and up and down the branch line from Rennes to St. Malo. Eventually, he left the country at Painpol, having been over enemy territory for an hour’ (247’s O.R.B. refers). Taking into account such low-level, solo, night forays over enemy occupied territory, it is perhaps not surprising that 247’s O.R.B. describes Walbank as one of the Squadron’s best pilots, nor, too, that he was consequently selected to serve in No. 536 Squadron, a newly formed Hurricane-Havoc “Turbinlite” co-operation unit, that September. Yet, if the O.R.B’s comments are anything to go by, he must have been mighty relieved to be re-mustered with No. 286 Squadron a few weeks later: ‘The forming of 536 Squadron unfortunately lost us Flying Officer Hamilton, and Flight Sergeants Walbank and MacKay, who were posted as permanent Hurrie satellites. In view of the piss poor, repeat, piss poor, opinion held by all and sundry of Havoc co-operation duties, our sympathies go out to these types. We are sorry to lose them.’ Awarded the A.F.C. for his subsequent services in No. 286 (Anti-aircraft Co-operation) Squadron 1942-44, in which period he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer, presumably Walbank was next transferred to the Burma front. Having then been placed on the Reserve at the War’s end, he obtained a regular commission as a Flight Lieutenant in May 1948, served in the Malay Peninsula in the mid-1960s, and was finally placed on the Retired List in July 1969. Sold with the recipient’s original Buckingham Palace forwarding letter for his A.F.C.; and copied research.

A fine Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840 awarded to Captain G. Cheyne, Royal Navy, who, having been taken prisoner following the Seagull’s ‘glorious resistance of 2 hours and 30 minutes’ against a far superior Danish flotilla off Norway in June 1808, was ‘employed with the Army under the Duke of Wellington near Bayonne’ in February-August 1814 - but only after he had managed to pass ‘the fearful bar of the Adour in an open boat with five men’, an example of ‘dashing intrepidity’ that won the admiration of his Admiral Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Algiers (George Cheyne, Lieut. R.N.) minor edge nicks, better than very fine £2,400-£2,800 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2007. George Cheyne was baptised at St. Andrew’s Church, Edinburgh in March 1788 and entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in the Texel on 12 October 1804. Removing to the Seagull of 16 guns and 94 men, as Master’s Mate, under Commander Robert Cathcart, in September 1805, he was subsequently present at her loss off Norway: ‘The latter vessel was captured off the coast of Norway 19 June 1808, by a powerful Danish force, consisting of the Lougen, of 20 guns and 160 men, and of six gunboats, all heavily armed and manned, after a glorious resistance of two hours and 30 minutes, in which she lost eight men killed and 20 wounded, and was reduced to a sinking state. Mr. Cheyne was, with the rest of his shipmates, taken prisoner and confined until the following October’ (O’Byrne refers). A rather more informative account of this action, namely the official report submitted by Commander Cathcart, was published in the London Gazette of 17-20 September 1808: ‘I beg leave to acquaint you, that in His Majesty’s sloop Seagull, under my command, yesterday at 2 p.m., off Norway bearing W.N.W. seven or eight leagues, I discovered a brig inshore running to the eastward, and immediately made all sail in chase of her; at half-past four we came within gunshot and hoisted our Colours, which she answered by hoisting Danish Colours and opening fire on the starboard side. At this time it became nearly calm from a fresh breeze we had at W.S.W. and which obliged us to get our sweeps out, in order to get between her and the shore. At five we got within musket-shot of the enemy and commenced action; having now most of our sweeps shot away and a great part of the rigging. At twenty minutes past five we discovered several gunboats coming towards us, which had been concealed behind the rocks; and it being perfect calm, they had every advantage they could with in placing them. They took their position on each quarter, raking us every shot, while the brig had the same advantage on the larboard bow. At half-past six five of our carronades were dismounted on the larboard side (the only side we could bring to bear on the enemy), and several of the officers and crew killed or wounded. Every method was used to get the Seagull round, so as to bring the starboard guns to bear, but without effect; with our sweeps being all shot away, the gunboats hulling us every shot they fired, five feet of water in the hold, and all our sails and rigging cut to pieces, at half-past seven, from the sinking state of the ship, and also the great slaughter made by the gunboats, I considered it an indispensable duty for the preservation of the surviving officers and crew, to order the Colours to be hauled down. I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, there was scarcely sufficient time to remove the wounded out of the Seagull before she sunk. The force opposed to her was the Danish brig of war Lougen, mounting 20 guns (18 long-18-pounders and two long-6-pounders); six gunboats, most of them carrying two 20-pounders and from 50 to 70 men each. The action was fought close to the mouth of the harbour of Christiansand. I cannot speak in terms adequate to the defence of every officer and man under my command on this trying occasion. I received that support from Mr. Hatton, the First Lieutenant, I had every reason to expect from his general good conduct; and the officers and crew have my warmfelt thanks for their cool and steady behaviour; and I consider it a duty I owe them, to add, that never was more British valour displayed than on this occasion, although opposed to so very superior a force. The enemy must have suffered very considerably, but I have not been able to ascertain to what extent. Several of the Danes perished on board the Seagull, so precipitately did she go down; I herewith send to you a list of the killed and wounded on board the said sloop.’ Following his release in October 1808, Cheyne joined the Nightingale, under Captain William Wilkinson, while his subsequent appointments in the Ganymede (1809-10) and Alexandria (1810-11) were under his old C.O., Robert Cathcart, the whole on the Home or Baltic Stations; so, too, his time in the Victory under Sir James Saumarez (1812). Advanced to Lieutenant in the Defiance in December 1813, he removed in the same month to the Porcupine, under Captain John Coode and, in February 1814, to the sloop Woodlark. It was in this latter capacity, using a Spanish boat ‘destined to assist the operations of the Army under Marquess of Wellington’, that he made his courageous crossing of the ‘fearful bar’ of the Adour (Rear-Admiral Penrose’s despatch, as per London Gazette 15 March 1814, refers). Those duties discharged, Cheyne joined the Queen in the Mediterranean that September, prior to removing to another command of John Coode, the Albion, in December 1815, and in her was present at the bombardment of Algiers. Cheyne came ashore when the Albion was paid-off in May 1819, was advanced to Commander that August and, on half-pay, to post-rank in April 1832. Sold with extensive copied research.

The British War Medal awarded to Sir Norman Strathie, K.C.I.E., Indian Civil Service, who served during the Great War as a Corporal in the Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles, Indian Defence Force British War Medal 1914-20 (593 Cpl. D. N. Strathie, S. Prov. M. Rif. I.D.F.) good very fine, rare to unit £200-£240 --- K.C.I.E. London Gazette 1 January 1944: David Norman Strathie, Esq., C.I.E., Indian Civil Service, Adviser to His Excellency the Governor of Madras. C.I.E. London Gazette 2 January 1939: David Norman Strathie, Esq., Indian Civil Service, Member, Board of Revenue, Madras. Sir (David) Norman Strathie was born in Glasgow on 31 October 1886 and was educated at Glasgow Academy and Balliol College, Oxford. He entered the Indian Civil Service in 1911 and served initially as Under Secretary in the Revenue, Judicial, and Public Departments, Madras. He served during the Great War with the Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles, Indian Defence Force, from November 1917 to February 1918 (entitled to British War Medal only). Thereafter he was Commissioner of Income Tax, Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Inspector of Local Boards, and Adviser to the Government of Madras. He served as Commissioned of Income Tax for Palestine, and became Chief Civil Representative with the Southern Army in India. During the Second World War he returned to the U.K. and served in the Home Guard in London. Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1944, for his services as tax expert and adviser to the Governor of Madras, he retired from the Indian Civil Service in 1946, and subsequently served as Financial Secretary of Jamaica from 1946 to 1949. He died on 3 August 1959. Strathie was evidently an accomplished Baritone, as he entertained the listeners of Madras Radio on one occasion with a medley of songs (appearing on the programme just after a Violin Recital given by Yehudi Menuhin). Sold with copied research.

Three: Sergeant G. Verrall, 22nd (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s), London Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 30 December 1916 British War and Victory Medals (1959 Sjt. G. Verrall. 22-Lond. R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1959 Sjt. G. Verrall. 22-Lond. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- George Verrall served during the Great War on the Western Front with “A” Company, 22nd (County of London) Battalion, the London Regiment, and was killed in action on 30 December 1916. He is buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), Belgium. Sold with a Second War pair of medals comprising Defence and War Medals 1939-45, unnamed as issued but accompanied by medal issue slip in the form of a letter from Army Headquarters, Adjutant General’s Branch, New Delhi, dated 10 April 1950, and addressed to Mr. G. E. Verrall, c/o The Borneo Company Ltd., Mercantile Bank Bldgs. Singapore.

Family Group: Three: Private P. L. Orr, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 4 January 1917 British War and Victory Medals (S-22435 Pte. P. L. Orr. Camerons.); Memorial Plaque (Peter Orr) good very fine Pair: Second Lieutenant J. S. Orr, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. J. S. Orr.) nearly extremely fine Pair: Private J. K. Orr, Scottish Rifles British War and Victory Medals (235309 Pte. J. K. Orr. Sco. Rif.) very fine (7) £200-£240 --- Peter Lightbody Orr was born in Dalziel, Lanarkshire, on 22 October 1893, and served on the Western Front with 'B' Company, 5th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders. The Hamilton Advertiser of 13 January 1917, adds: 'Orr. -died of wounds received in action, on 16 December, 1916, in a Field Ambulance on 4 January, 1917. Peter Lightbody Orr, Cameron Highlanders, aged 22 years, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Wm. K. Orr, Symington, Motherwell.' He is buried in Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension in the Pas-de-Calais. James Symington Orr was born at Motherwell, Lanarkshire, on 27 March 1899. Appointed to a Commission in the Cameron Highlanders on 23 March 1918, he graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1926 and appears to have worked as an Assistant Senior Medical Officer. John Kirk Orr was born at Dalziel, Lanarkshire, on 4 July 1898. He enlisted into the 10th Battalion, Scottish Rifles, on 10 February 1916, and is recorded in his Army Service Record as suffering a gunshot wound to the thigh which resulted in paralysis of the nerves. He later became a dental student in Glasgow. Sold with copied research.

A fine and rare Second War Landing Craft Gun C.G.M. group of six awarded to Able Seaman T. H. R. Hills, Royal Navy, who took over as the coxswain of L.C.G.12 in Operation “FERDY” the fiercely opposed landings on the Italian Coast at Vibo Valentia; when an enemy shell burst just above the bridge leaving him the only person alive on the bridge, he took control and steered the craft through bursting shells and ammunition out of range of the enemy’s guns and brought her to safety Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (A.B. T. H. R. Hills. C/JX. 373402); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last five privately engraved ‘A.B. T. H. R. Hills C.G.M. C/JX. 373402’, nearly extremely fine (6) £10,000-£14,000 --- C.G.M. London Gazette 25 January 1944: ‘For gallantry, leadership and undaunted devotion to duty under heavy and continuous fire from the enemy during landings on the Italian mainland.’ Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. ‘Able Seaman Thomas Henry Richard Hills, C/JX.372402 Able Seaman Hills was serving in a Landing Craft which was heavily damaged by a shell which burst just over the bridge. All the officers were killed or badly wounded and he was the only man left alive on the bridge. With complete coolness he took control and steered the craft through bursting shells and ammunition out of range of the enemy’s guns and brought her to safety.’ The original recommendation for this award in Admiralty Honours and Awards file H&A 1257/43 is in the National Archives under reference ADM1/14593 - Operations “Baytown” and “Ferdy” awards to personnel for services in support of the invasion of Sicily (sic). It reads: ‘L.C.G.12 - Operation “BAYTOWN” L.C.G.12 at “Ferdy”. This rating was the only person left alive on the bridge of L.C.G.12 at “Ferdy”. He took charge and brought L.C.G.12 out of range of the enemy’s guns.’ Fleet Honours Committee, Commodore Parker, 31st October, 1943, noted: ‘Concur. Propose Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. An outstanding act of gallantry and devotion to duty.’ Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, Admiral A. B. Cunningham, 2nd November, 1943, also noted: ‘Fully concur with the recommendation of the H & A Committee.’ Able Seaman Thomas Henry Richard Hills received his award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal at an Investiture on 19 November 1946. Operations “Baytown” and “Ferdy” Vibo Valentia is high up the ‘foot’ of Italy, midway between Reggio Calabria and Cosenza. Two landing attacks were planned by the Allies in September 1943, first across the Straits of Messina in operation “Baytown”, the first landing on the Italian mainland, and then further up the coast in operation “Ferdy” at Vibo Valentia. These were planned to disrupt enemy activities and to hasten their retreat north. Operation “Ferdy” was originally scheduled to take place on 6 September 1943. The object was to land 231 Brigade at Gioja, some miles behind enemy lines. This would help speed up the advance of XIII Corps, interfere with the enemy’s programme of withdrawal and road demolition, and, in the words of Flag Officer Sicily, ‘put some Germans in the bag’. Operation “Ferdy” was put into action on Tuesday 7 September, when the assembled force proceeded at 1830, to sail so as to arrive at Vibo Valentia Marina at 0530 on D-Day, 8 September. Paul Lund and Harry Ludlum take up the story in their War of the Landing Craft in the aptly named chapter The Guns of Vibo Valentia: ‘It had been thought that the landing at Vibo Valentia would be well behind the enemy’s lines and would only meet with slight opposition. But [...] the van of the German withdrawal happened to be passing when the landing occurred and this accounted for the large number of guns and machine guns brought to bear… And then it came, with a sound so full of bitter, impersonal hatred… the LCT’s ran the gauntlet of shell-fire into the harbour. The air was full of the sharp crack of the guns and the almost instantaneous explosion of the shells, which gave no preliminary whistle, for these were high velocity German 88-millimetre guns. We continued to stand, silent, clustered together in the tank space, watching the approach of several more landing craft, one of which carried a cargo of ammunition. As she now waddled towards the shore shells began to fall on either side of her. “Christ” said a low voice, “she only needs to get the next lot in that ammo, and there’ll be fuck-all left.” “There’ll be fuck all left of any of us, mate, if that lot goes up,” added another. But as we awaited what seemed like the inevitable fate of that LCT, there suddenly broke out to seaward the sound of gunfire followed by bursts of Oerlikon and pom-pom fire, which immediately drew the attention of the German gunners and dramatically eased the situation for the LCTs… It transpired that an LCG and an LCF had closed the shore and begun to engage the enemy defences. It was twelve minutes past six when LCG 12 opened fire with her two four-point-sevens at the battery of mobile German 88s, while LCF 4 sprayed the woods above the town where machine-gun nests were giving trouble. The effect of this intervention was instantaneous for the German gunners at once turned their attention on the LCG with her greater fire power and began to score hits. But LCG 12 stood her ground and continued to fire and so give the landing craft a chance to make good their escape from the harbour. Later[…] looking through their binoculars where LCG 12 had ceased firing. “She’s under way and she’s badly damaged” Snagge said. The three of us watched in silence as the LCG slowly headed away from the shore. As we made our way down the Italian coast with the warmth of the sun on our backs, each of us knew how much we owed to LCG 12. Months later, bit by bit, we heard the full story of Operation Ferdy and the part that LCG 12 and the LSTs and support craft had played. For 38 minutes LCG 12 had engaged the enemy shore batteries and during that time she was hit several times. Then, at 6:50 a.m. after most of the LSTs had left the beach, a shell exploded above the bridge killing all the craft’s officers and many of the crew. It was at that moment, when conditions aboard the gun craft had reached a critical state, with no one in control, with both her guns out of action and still under heavy fire, that Ordinary Seaman T. H. Hills with great presence of mind and under considerable difficulty took the craft out to sea and to safety. His coolness saved the LCG and the lives of the rest of her company. And the distraction that LCG 12 had provided during those 38 minutes had allowed nearly all the 16 LCTs to escape – only one being hit. But the operation was successful in fulfilling its main object for it greatly increased the speed of the enemy withdrawal and hardly a bridge was demolished on the long road to Sapri.’ Sold with copied research including Admiralty recommendation and extracts from various publications.

Five: Second Engineer Officer D. Browning, Mercantile Marine, who died whilst serving aboard the S.S. Fort Bellingham on 26 January 1944 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Ministry of Transport enclosure, extremely fine (5) £60-£80 --- David Browning was born in Thornliebank, Scotland, on 19 April 1911. He joined the Merchant Navy in 1937 and witnessed initial service aboard the Cameronia, before transferring to the British Steam Merchant Fort Bellingham. A straggler of convoy JW-56A, the Fort Bellingham was singled out and sunk in the Barents Sea by a torpedo from U-957. 36 men died from a complement of 73, with Browning’s service record additionally annotated ‘presumed drowned’. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial. Sold with copied research.

Four: Acting Sergeant W. Kerridge, Royal Engineers, who died at home on 1 November 1918 1914-15 Star (630 Dvr. W. Kerridge. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (630 2 Cpl. W. Kerridge. R.E.); Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (440072 2 Cpl. - A. Sjt. - W. Kerridge. R.E.) good very fine and better (4) £100-£140 --- William Kerridge was born at Longsight, near Manchester and attested there for the East Lancashire Field Company, Royal Engineers. He served with them during the Great War in the Egyptian theatre of War from 26 September 1914, and died at home on 1 November 1918, while serving in 494th Field Company, R.E.. He is buried under a C.W.G.C. headstone in Salford Cemetery, Lancashire. His Territorial Efficiency Medal was issued posthumously in February 1922. Sold with copied research.

A Second War 1940 ‘Southampton Blitz’ B.E.M. awarded to Crane Driver F. C. Clouder, who was employed by Southern Railway at the Southampton Docks, and was originally recommended for the George Medal for his gallantry in saving the life of a Anti-Aircraft gun crew member during a luftwaffe raid on the docks, 14 August 1940 British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Frederick Charles Clouder) very fine £400-£500 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 24 January 1941, Frederick Charles Clouder, Crane Driver, Southern Railway, Southampton Docks: ‘Just after bombs had been dropped in Southampton, Clouder volunteered to assist in removing a wounded soldier from the roof of the Cold Store. This was burning fiercely and A.A. shells standing there were exploding from the heat on the roof. He ran to a crane and guided a rope sling looped on to the crane hood which was placed on the Cold Store roof. The solider was placed in the sling and Clouder lowered him to the ground. As the raid was still in progress Clouder showed great presence of mind and courage in carrying out this operation in spite of flames and smoke as well as exploding A.A. shells.’ The original recommendation, for a George Medal, states: ‘At about 4.30pm on 15th August, 1940, just after bombs had been dropped in Southampton Docks, Clouder volunteered to assist in removing a wounded soldier (member of an A.A. Gun Crew) from the roof of the Cold Store, which was burning fiercely and A.A. shells were exploding from the heat on the roof. He ran to a crane on No. 40 Berth and an employee of Messrs. Joe Rose and Company, Stevedores, - W. W. Fisher - sat in a rope sling, looped on to the crane hook and was placed on the Cold Store roof. The soldier was apparently unconscious so Fisher placed the sling under the man’s arms and Clouder lowered him to the ground. The fire, by this time, was rapidly spreading towards Fisher [who was awarded the G.M. for his actions that day] - who was standing on the roof edge - and Clouder did not wait for the sling to be released from the wounded soldier, but raised the crane jib to enable Fisher to grasp the crane hook and he was lowered to the ground in this manner. The Docks and Marine Manager stated in his report, that in view of the fact that the raid was still in operation and flames and smoke as well as exploding A.A. shells had to be contended with, both these men showed great presence of mind and courage. In a letter received subsequently by Clouder, from Lt. Col. Commanding 24th Light A.A. Regiment, that gentleman states “I express sincere thanks for your courageous action in assisting in the rescue of an injured member of a gun’s crew at the “Cold Storage” building on August 15th, 1940. By voluntarily driving the crane, while the situation remained distinctly dangerous, you made possible the rescue of the injured man from probable death by gas or burning.” Frederick Charles Clouder was born in Lymington, Hampshire. He resided on Aldermoor Road, Southampton and was employed as a Crane Driver Southern Railways at Southampton Docks in the 1940s. In later life he resided at Foundry Lane, Millbrook and died in December 1968. Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of recipient.

Three: Officer’s Steward 2nd Class C. J. Crawley, Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine, who survived the sinking of H.M.S. Surprise in the North Sea on 23 December 1917 British War Medal 1914-20 (L.9068 C. J. Crawley. O.S.2 R.N); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Charles J. Crawley); Victory Medal 1914-19 (L.9068 C. J. Crawley. O.S.2. R.N.) good very fine £120-£160 --- Charles James Crawley was born in Stepney, London, on 22 September 1897. He served as Assistant Steward in the Merchant Navy before transferring to the Royal Navy on 3 July 1916 as Officer’s Steward 3rd Class. Posted to H.M.S. Wildfire and H.M.S. Lance, he was advanced Officer’s Steward 2nd class aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Surprise on 27 October 1917, and had a particularly fortunate escape on 23 December 1917 when the latter struck a mine and sank in the North Sea whilst escorting a convoy back from Holland to Harwich on the so-called ‘beef run’. Of four destroyers engaged in convoy escort that night, only H.M.S. Radiant was left undamaged to pluck the survivors from the water; 48 crew from the Surprise died in the explosion of drowned in the darkness, the German minefield having wrought havoc amongst the Royal Navy and Merchant Fleet. Crawley ended his war aboard the ageing destroyer H.M.S. Osprey which was transferred to Londonderry in 1918 and paid off the following year. He left the Royal Navy at around this time and died on 17 October 1927.

A Great War C.B.E., M.C., group of five awarded to Chaplain to the Forces First Class, The Reverend J. Carden, Army Chaplains’ Department, who was robbed and murdered in Cairo by a local fruit hawker and his accomplice The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander's 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Rev. J. Carden. A.C.D.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Rev. J. Carden.) mounted as worn, good very fine and better (5) £1,800-£2,200 --- C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919: 'For valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in France.' M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1916. Portugal, Kingdom, Order of Christ, Commander, London Gazette 7 October 1919. John Carden was born Gustav John Hessenauer at Wurtemberg on 22 March 1882, the son of Gustav John Hessenauer, a commercial clerk, and his wife, Annie Louisa Redman, of 71 Brailsford Road, Lambeth, Surrey. Educated at Canterbury Cathedral School and Dulwich College, he was baptised into the Roman Catholic Church at St. Joseph's, Roehampton, on 18 January 1903. A year later he entered St. Augustine's House, Walworth, to prepare to enter Seminary, transferring to St. John's at Wonersh to study for the priesthood on 1 September 1905. Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Southwark, Hessenauer took up his first appointment at a parish in Chatham on 6 April 1910. Appointed Temporary Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, on the outbreak of hostilities, he served in France and Belgium from 9 May 1915 and was decorated with the Military Cross. Raised Assistant Principal Chaplain, and later Temporary Chaplain to the Forces, 1st Class, his good work was further recognised in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of 16 March 1919. A little before this time, Father Hessenauer changed his name by deed poll to Carden; all of his awards, save his M.C., were gazetted to him as John Carden. Retained in the service as Chaplain to the Forces, Carden was posted to Egypt as Senior Catholic Chaplain in 1924. Appointed Chaplain to the Forces, 2nd Class, and posted to Headquarters, Southern Command, as Assistant Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain, he was raised Chaplain to the Forces, 1st Class, on 1 March 1931, before taking retirement and taking residence at Cairo in the spring of 1932. Two years later he was murdered. An extract from the Daily Mail describes the incident: 'The victim is a former Roman Catholic chaplain in the British Army, Father John Carden, aged 51, who resigned his commission two years ago. Last June he came to live in Egypt. Early this morning his unclothed body was found by a servant in a bedroom of the lonely villa which he rented at Helmich, a Cairo suburb, with the head almost severed. An old razor blade was wedged fast in the wound in his throat and his chest bore terrible slashes as evidence of the desperate struggle he must have waged against his assassins. Police inquiry reveals that robbery was apparently the motive of the crime, as drawers had been emptied and papers ransacked in Father Carden's house.' Sold with extensive copied research.

Family Group: Three: Private J. H. Light, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 21 August 1916 British War and Victory Medals (1538 Pte. J. H. Light. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1538 Pte. J. H. Light. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) this with original flattened named card box of issue and original registered envelope addressed to his mother Mrs. E. Light, at Crazies Hill, Henley on Thames, nearly extremely fine Three: Private H. Light, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 25 September 1915 1914 Star (9816 Pte. H. Light. 2/ R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals (9816 Pte. H. Light. R. Berks. R.) nearly extremely fine (6) £300-£400 --- James Henry Light, the son of Jesse and Emma Light of Crazies Hill, Henley on Thames, was born in Henley on Thames and attested there for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He served with the 2/4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action on 21 August 1916. He is buried at Laventie Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, France. Harry Light, the brother of the above, was born in Henley on Thames and attested there for the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 6 November 1914, and was killed in action on 25 September 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

A Second War ‘North West Europe’ M.M. awarded to Sergeant A. Pateman, Royal Canadian Signals, who was originally recommended for the D.C.M. for his distinguished service attached to 3rd Canadian Infantry Division through into Germany Military Medal, G.VI.R. (H 38728 Sjt. A. Pateman. R. C. Sigs.) suspension claw re-pinned, very fine £600-£800 --- M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1945. The original recommendation (for a D.C.M.) states: ‘Sgt. Pateman is a cable detachment commander with Sigs 3 Cdn Inf Div. Throughout the whole period of operations in NW Europe and especially since the beginning of the assault on the Siegfried Line in Feb, this NCO supervised the laying and maintenance of vital lines through flooded areas, over almost impassable roads, over rivers and through heavily mined areas. Often he and his crews were pinned down by shellfire. His leadership under very adverse conditions as experienced throughout the months of Feb, Mar and Apr, and his untiring efforts in getting lines laid and maintained contributed greatly to the success of the operations. Sgt Pateman’s work has been outstanding, his courage, determination and devotion to duty have been an example and inspiration to all ranks and his actions are worthy of the highest traditions of his Corps.’

Six: Leading Stoker S. J. Dodge, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Lizard at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and was Mentioned in Despatches for his services during the sortie of the Goeben and Breslau from the Dardanelles in 1918 Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (312316 S. J. Dodge. Sto. 1Cl., H.M.S. Perseus); 1914-15 Star (312316 S. J. Dodge. L. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with small M.I.D. oak leaves (312316 S. J. Dodge. L. Sto. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (312316 Ch. B. 13861 S. J. Dodge. L.Sto., R.F.R.); Romania, Kingdom, Military Bravery Medal, 2nd Class, silvered bronze, mounted for wear, fine and better (6) £500-£700 --- Stephen Joseph Dodge was born in Folkestone, Kent on 1 July 1889. Employed as a Gardener’s Lad, he joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 25 October 1907, and was promoted to Stoker 1st Class in November 1908 whilst serving in H.M.S. Minotaur. He served in H.M.S. Perseus, December 1911-September 1913, seeing service in the Persian Gulf. In June 1914 he joined the destroyer H.M.S. Lizard, serving in her until January 1919, being advanced to Acting Leading Stoker in March 1915 and being confirmed at that rank in September 1915. Serving on the destroyer he was present at the battles of Heligoland, Dogger Bank, and Jutland. Later on in the war, H.M.S. Lizard was involved in opposing the sortie by the Yavuz Sultan Selim (ex-Goeben) and Midilli (ex-Breslau) from the Dardanelles in 1918. After the war Dodge served in the battlecruiser H.M.S. Princess Royal, April-May 1919 before being demobilised on 20 November 1919. For his services during the sortie of the Goeben and Breslau Dodge was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 14 September 1918) and awarded the Romanian Military Bravery Medal 2nd Class (London Gazette 17 March 1919). The recommendation for the M.I.D. reads: ‘Stephen Joseph Dodge, Ldg. Sto. Off. No. 312316. For coolness under heavy fire. He proved himself particularly able and efficient in assisting to repair a broken steam pipe joint during the action.’

1914-15 Star (8693 Pte. T. Green. R. Muns. Fus.) traces of adhesive to reverse, otherwise good very fine £80-£100 --- Thomas Green was born in Limerick in 1888 and attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers on 28 January 1908. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War at Gallipoli from 25 April 1915, presumably being one of those Munsters who landed from the River Clyde, and was wounded in action at the First Battle of Krithis on 28 April 1915. After recovering at hospital in Malta, he rejoined his unit on 28 June 1915, and was wounded in action at a second time, by gun shot to the left shoulder, at Suvla on 4 October 1915. After again recovering on Malta, he rejoined the Battalion on the Western Front on 7 May 1916, and was wounded a third time (shell shock) at Bernafray Wood on the Somme on 4 September 1916. Green was posted missing on 21 March 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive, and was later reported to have been captured and taken Prisoner of War. He was repatriated on 9 December 1918, following the cessation of hostilities, and transferred to the Reserve on 28 March 1919. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

A scarce Great War 'double issue' group of seven awarded to Chief Engineer R. A. Mackenzie, Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary, late Royal Naval Reserve, who was torpedoed in the mid-Atlantic in 1942 and survived a week in an open boat, aged 62 years 1914-15 Star (Eng. Lt. R. A. Mackenzie, R.N.R.); 1914-15 Star (Engr. R. A. M. Mackenzie, M.F.A.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Eng. Lt. R. A. Mackenzie. R.N.R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Engr. R. A. M. Mackenzie. M.F.A.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (Robert A. Mackenzie.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Eng. Lt. R. A. Mackenzie. R.N.R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Engr. R. A. M. Mackenzie. M.F.A.) good very fine and better (7) £400-£500 --- Robert Aitkenhead Mackenzie was born at Forres, Morayshire, on 23 June 1880. He commenced a long maritime career as apprentice fitter aboard the James Carmichael on 18 January 1897, and served from 1902 to 1905 as Assistant Engineer aboard the S.S. Minnetonka, S.S. Cambrian and S.S. Michigan. Issued a Second Class Engineer's Certificate of Competency at Dundee on 3 May 1905, he was appointed to a Commission with the Royal Naval Reserve on 22 March 1915, and was immediately sent to H.M.S. Manica as Temporary Engineer Lieutenant. Requisitioned by the Admiralty and adapted to carry a kite balloon for naval observation, H.M.S. Manica reached the Island of Lemnos on 16 April 1915 and was assigned to the Second Squadron to support the Gallipoli landings at Anzac Cove. On 19 April 1915, her balloon observers directed the bombardment of an Ottoman Army encampment, and a few days later were involved in the destruction of barracks at Kabatepe. Furthermore, on 27 April 1915, an observer in Manica's balloon sighted an Ottoman transport ship on the far side of the Gallipoli peninsula, and successfully directed H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth's 15-inch guns to hit and sink her. On at least two occasions Ottoman aircraft attempted to bomb either H.M.S. Manica or her balloon. None of the attacks succeeded. Mackenzie went on to witness the Suvla Bay landings aboard H.M.S. Manica, before returning to Birkenhead for leave and a refit of the ship. He remained aboard her following the addition of a seaplane and transfer to German East Africa, but in August 1917, his Temporary Commission was terminated. He subsequently joined the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary and served aboard a number of merchant vessels as 1st Engineer, and was later issued medals in recognition of Great War service in both branches of the fleet. Advanced Chief Engineer, Mackenzie was posted to the merchantman D'Entrecasteaux in 1942. A hand-written letter from the recipient's daughter, dated 16 April 1975, describes his experience: 'On his second voyage after the beginning of the war he was taken off his ship in South Africa to superintend repairs in the engine room to two Vichy ships which had been sabotaged before capture. Eventually he sailed in one of these, the D'Entrecasteaux, and was torpedoed half-way across the South Atlantic, near the end of 1942. They were in an open boat for a week and finally sailed into St. Lucia in the West Indies. He returned home by troop-ship from New York - invalided out.' Mackenzie was discharged at Dundee on 1 August 1946. Sold with two original letters from the recipient's daughter to the vendor; a portrait photograph of the recipient; and extensive copied research.