A particularly fine Second World War tank commanders M.C. and escapers Bar group of eight awarded to Major E. E. Tonks, 10th Hussars (Royal Armoured Corps), who, having won his first decoration for courage and determination of the highest order, when he advanced on foot alone, and with a Bren gun killed or wounded the crew of the anti-tank gun that was holding up the advance, was taken P.O.W.: having then enjoyed a meeting with Rommel - and a ride in his staff car - he set about engineering his escape, a goal that was finally achieved in early 1944, following a shoot-out with a German patrol Military Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Cross officially dated 1944 and privately inscribed, Capt. E. E. Tonks, 10th R. Hussars, and the reverse of the Bar officially dated 1944; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; British Fire Services Association Long Service, bronze, with B.F.S.A. clasp, the reverse of the suspension device officially inscribed E. E. Tonks and the edge numbered 3402; British Fire Services Association Long Service, silver, the reverse of the Twenty Years suspension device officially inscribed E. E. Tonks and the edge numbered 1856, together with a set of related miniature dress medals (exclusing the B.F.S.A. awards), generally good very fine (16) £4000-5000 M.C. London Gazette 3 August 1944. The original recommendation states: On 23 January 1942, at Saunnu, this officer was commanding a troop of tanks when they came under heavy and close range fire from anti-tank guns. Lieutenant Tonks tank was hit almost immediately, and burst into flames. The advance of the remainder of the Troop was held up. Showing courage and determination of the highest order, Lieutenant Tonks advanced on foot alone, and with a Bren gun killed or wounded the crew of the anti-tank gun that was holding up the advance, thus allowing it to be continued and saving further casualties. This officers coolness, devotion to duty and complete disregard for his personal safety was an inspiration to all. Two days later, this officer was captured and has now succeeded in escaping. He got away to our troops in Southern Italy, a distance of some 700 miles. Again, this officer showed his customary initiative, determination and courage in making good his escape. Out of 1850 P.O.Ws in his camp, under 50 escaped. The following covering remarks were attached to this recommendation, dated 21 March 1944, by Brigadier C. B. Harvey, C.O. 29 Armoured Division: The attached recommendations for immediate awards went in to 2 Armoured Brigade H.Q. approximately the last two weeks of February 1942. I did not put them forward again, as I was informed that recommendations for officers and O.Rs that had become P.O.Ws in the meantime would be attended to when they were back in our hands. It appears that the recommendations for these two officers were, in fact, lost. Recently Lieutenant Tonks escaped and is back in the U.K., and Lieutenant Wyatt is known to be at leave in Italy. I would like to put these recommendations forward again with the remark that during my command of 10th Royal Hussars there were none more richly deserved. Bar to M.C. London Gazette 9 November 1944. The original recommendation states: Captured at Msus on 25 January 1942 by the Germans, Lieutenant Tonks was imprisoned at Tripoli, Capua, Padula and Bologna (Camp 19). Whilst at Padula he took part in several tunnel schemes; the last one was conceived by him and he had already worked on it for sometime before divulging it to the Escape Committee. This had, however, to be abandoned when a concrete wall was reached. After the Armistice, Lieutenant Tonks, braving the German fire which burst forth as the mass evacuation was commencing, successfully evaded recapture. During his journey he met a party of paratroops, dropped to guide P.O.Ws to the coast, and remained with five of them in a peasants hut on the mountain for a few days. He was then instrumental in saving them from a German patrol. A Sergeant remained behind, and the others compelled a German officer they had captured to lead them through the lines, but all except Lieutenant Tonks were wounded slightly when the German caused a mine to explode; in the confusion, the German escaped. They proceeded a little further before staying in a hut for the night. The next day they ran into some anti-personnel mines and one of the party was killed. The sound of the explosion caused Americans to find them and the wounded were sent to hospital. Edward Edmund Tonks was born in September 1913 and enlisted in the 16th/5th Queens Royal Lancers shortly before the outbreak of hostilities. Quickly selected for officer training, he was commissioned in the 10th Royal Hussars from Sandhurst in 1941, and embarked for the Middle East that November. Here he fought with distinction as a Troop Leader in command of three Honey tanks, right up until his capture on 25 January 1942, just 48 hours following the deeds that won him his first M.C. As evidenced by the nature of the recommendation for his second M.C., Tonks was always a reluctant prisoner, and he was unlucky to have been captured in the first place, his tank having shed one of its tracks mid-battle. Even so, the enemy had to approach him with extreme caution and superior numbers, their first attempt having ended in near-disaster as he loosed off a revolver round into the windscreen of their approaching truck. An hour or two later, while being interviewed by an enemy officer in a tent, Rommel stepped in and, having exchanged salutes, he asked Tonks with a wry grin whether he had enjoyed himself, the latter replying that he had "until now." He was then placed in Rommels staff car and taken to where some other officers of the Brigade were being held. Of his subsequent adventures in Italy, he later wrote an account for the Royal Hussars Journal, a detailed account that adds greatly to the bland statements recounted in the recommendation for his second M.C. He once woke up atop a haystack, where he had rested for the night, to find the farm in question surrounded by German troops - they stayed for ten days, a near-collapsed Tonks being grateful to receive some cheese, apples and wine from the farmer on the enemys eventual departure. And this just days after a bullet had nearly hit him in the head, as he ran alongside a railway line with an enemy scout car in hot pursuit. At length, Tonks was put in touch with a team of British parachutists, the whole making their way towards Monte Cassino with a view to crossing over to our lines, but on emerging from their mountain hut one morning, he was startled to be confronted by a German officer and four soldiers coming down a track. Tonks takes up the story: The officer called on me to put my hands up and as he said this one of our party put his head out of the hut. The German officer told me to get the rest of the party out. I went into the hut and told them to come out shooting. The noise was deafening, the soldiers were killed, the officer was wounded and gave in. He said he wanted to come with us ... We decided that we had to move quickly and the German said he would lead us through the enemy lines. He was ordered to move in front and one of us had a gun in his back. We were supposed to be a working party and we followed the German in single file passing through one line of German positions so close I could have touched any of the German soldiers we passed. We got down into the valley without incident. We were suddenly challenged by a German sentry. We didnt answer but scrambled up the hillside into the woods and ran like hell ... Passing along a narrow road we came to a wire fixed to several posts along the way I had chosen to take. I indicated to the German to cross over the wire which he was reluctant to do. We ordered him over and followed him into the wood onl
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Edwardian pair of egg cups with embossed acanthus leaf, floral scrolls and fluting each raised on a circular footed base, height measures 1 1/2ins (4cm). Together with an a selection of items to include three thimbles, two are hallmarked Chester, a wine bottle coaster with wooden base and pierced gallery border, diameter measures 5 1/2ins (13.5cm) hallmarked Birmingham 1992, sponsors mark reads S.J.R, a miniature photograph holder with personal engraving and stamped 800, height measures 2 3/4ins (7cm) and several continental items. The egg cups are in reasonably good condition. They have surface scratches and some build-ups of polish on the decoration. They both have dents around their bases, resulting in one of them standing unsteadily. They are hallmarked Birmingham 1901. The hallmarks are rubbed but legible. he thimbles are all in good condition. They all have polish in the decorations, as well some small surface scratches. The two hallmarks are clear. The third thimble does not have a hallmark, but it does have another mark which is hard to make out. One of the thimbles has some tiny holes in the end. he wine bottle coaster is in very good condition. There are some minor surface scratches and marks to the silver, and the wood is a bit scuffed, but there is no serious damage at all. The hallmark is clearly legible. he photograph holder has some surface scratches and small dints, but is otherwise in good condition. The hinge and clasp work well, the engraved inital 'A' and date '23.2.1915' are
* A selection of various modern items to include seven cased wine and bottle labels, hallmarked Birmingham 2003-5, four napkin rings, a pair of dwarf silver filled candlesticks, measuring 2 1/2 inches (6.5cm), hallmarked Birmingham 2001, a cased spoon and napkin ring, hallmarked Birmingham 2003/4 and a cased christening silver and mother of pearl spoon and napkin ring, hallmarked Sheffield 2007. Approximate total gross weighable silver 8ozt (259gms).
* A selection of plated ware to include; two wooden mounted wine coasters; set of cake forks; a number of fish eaters; several knifes to include Kings Pattern; a selection of sixteen blue glass liners for condiments; an oval tray with acanthus scroll engraving and pierced gallery borer, raised above four claw ball feet, maximum diameter measuring 14 1/2 inches 37.5cm).
A pair of silver enamelled oval four vices design chain link cufflinks, with different scenes depicting a horse racing, three cards, a bottle of wine and a lady sat in a chair. Weight-13 grams. Length of each panel-1.7cms, width-1.3cms. The cufflinks are in generally good condition, there are minor scratches to the enamel, wear and tear. The silver is stamped 925, this is quite worn to the back of both of the panels. Some of the enamel appears quite faded in places.
9ct gold charm bracelet with thirty four charms to include a piano, an enamel guitar, a horseshoe, a pig, a poodle, St Christopher, a Matadors jacket plus twenty seven other various charms. Weight 70.3grams. The bracelet is in generally good condition, there is some slight tarnishing to the bracelet and the charms to various degrees, to the hour glass charm the glass from the stand is missing, there is slight damage to the enamel of the guitar, there are also minor scratches and dents to all the bracelet from general wear and tear. All the charms include: a piano, cat, guitar, 21 key, wine cooler, banjo, horse, spinning wheel, jug, ballerina, hourglass, golfer, rabbit, heart, whistle, Toby jug, Pisces, aeroplane, bag, scooter, bicycle, horseshoe, pig, blacksmith, ring, pig, poodle, teddy bear, Aladdins lamp, binoculars, St Christopher, fan, Matadors jacket and a kettle.
AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY AUSTRIAN PAINTED TERRACOTTA FIGURE of a young grape picker in typical dress, holding bunches of grapes in both hands, his right hand raised to his open mouth, an empty basket to his side, on a naturalistic base, incised No 522, 48cms high, his companion modelled as a young vintner, with a tasselled hat, holding a wine glass aloft in his left hand, a bunch of grapes in his right, leaning against a barrel, incised No 523, 49cms high.
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