The North West Frontier campaign medal awarded to Captain S. M. Bruce, 37th Lancers, who was killed in action in South Persia in May 1918 India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Captn. S. M. Bruce, 37th Lcrs.) toned, nearly extremely fine £500-£700 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 31 October 1917. Stanley Malcolm Bruce was born on 6 August 1878 at Hythe, Kent. He was educated Aberdeen House Ramsgate, under George Simmers, Clerk in Holy Orders, and at Wellington College, passing for Sandhurst. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Dragoon Guards on 16 February 1898; Indian Staff Corps, 19 May 1900; Lieutenant, 7th Bombay Lancers (Baluch Horse), 25 June 1900; Captain, 37th Lancers (Baluch Horse) 16 February 1907; Brevet-Major, 1 September 1915; Major, 6 April 1917. D.A.A.G. 25 October 1917. He was present at the punitive action against the Zakka Khel Afridis, 13th-27th February 1908. The rapid advance of Major-General Sir James Willcocks' column combined with the use of the new 10-pounder breech-loading mountain gun using smokeless powder so surprised the Afridis that they submitted quickly to the British forces. He was mentioned in despatches in October 1917 for operations against the Lashanis, Tutakis, Charrahis and other robber tribes in South Persia. Sykes states from his History of Persia, ‘In April a section of the 23rd mountain Battery under Major R. S. Rothwell, a squadron of the 37th Lancers under Major S. M. Bruce, and a wing of the 124th Baluchis under Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Twigg, reached Bandar Abbas from Bushire. This tiny force may perhaps claim the “record” for distance marched during the Great War, most of the troops covering 5,000 miles during the next three years. It also won considerable success in the field.’ Major Bruce is mentioned continuously throughout the narrative and was also involved in reconnaissance work with Major V. P. B. Williams, 4th Cavalry, in surveying 113 miles of roads for military use when Bruce was in charge of the Niriz Column. By May 1918 warfare had broken out among the tribes and Shiraz was invested by up to 5000 Qashqai tribesmen. Between 24th-26th May, Colonel E. F. Orton, 37th/15th Lancers, led a force out of Shiraz to break the siege. IOR/L/MIL/17/15/30 contains Captain N. De Brath’s despatch of the action in which Major Bruce was killed. Bruce's small force had lost communications with the main army by helio and were forced to keep a 700 yard distance from the deadly accurate Qashqai riflemen. In the ensuing skirmishes the force was outmanoeuvred in the difficult terrain by an enemy that was both cunning and ruthless. As he lay dying Major Bruce said to his Senior Indian Officer “I shall be dead soon. Hold on to this position and beat then off with fire”. Volunteers were called to assist bringing in Major Bruce and the wounded; two men of the Burma Mounted Rifles and four men 37th/15th Lancers were taken out at a gallop. Major Bruce is buried in the British War Cemetery Tehran. He was 39 years old and a bachelor. The Medal Index Card for the 37th Lancers shows that he was entitled to the British War and Victory Medals which were issued by the Indian government. Their whereabouts are unknown but it is probable that they were sent to his brother, Major John Bruce, serving in the Indian Remount Department who had taken over the administration of his brother's Will. Sold with an extensive file of copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient. For the C.B. pair awarded to the recipient’s father, see Lot 63.
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Four: Private F. Dawson, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment British War Medal 1914-20 (1437 Pte. F. Dawson. R. W. Kent R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1437 Pte. F. Dawson. R. W. Kent R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (200241 Pte. F. Dawson. R. W. Kent. R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (200241 Pte. F. Dawson. 4/R.W. Kent R.) very fine (4) £240-£280 --- Frank Dawson served during the Great War as a Private in the 1/4th Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment on the North West Frontier of India (not entitled to a Victory Medal), and saw further service during the Third Afghan War. He was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order No. 23 of 1 February 1920, and was discharged on 31 March 1920. Sold with copied Medal Index Card and medal roll extract.
The Rhodesia General Service Medal, with Silver Pick Commendation, awarded to Captain J. A. Q. Vos, 2nd Battalion, Rhodesian African Rifles - who initially commanded 1 Platoon, ‘A’ Company, under Major André Dennison, and whom after countless successful contacts with enemy ‘terrorists’ went on to be Dennison’s Second-in-Command - under the call-sign ‘Sunray Minor’ Rhodesia, General Service Medal, with Silver Pick Commendation on riband (Lt. J. A. Q. Vos) mounted as worn, edge nicks, nearly very fine £300-£400 --- Jean Vos joined the newly-raised 2nd Battalion, Rhodesian African Rifles, 1 October 1975, and was appointed Officer Commanding of 1 Platoon, ‘A’ Company. Major André Dennison (ex S.A.S.) commanded ‘A’ Company, which comprised of three platoons or ‘call-signs’ formed at Methuen Barracks, Bulawayo. The war against guerilla incursions by the communist-backed Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), operating from bases in Mozambique, Zambia, and Botswana, was three years’ old, and was far from being a conflict between blacks and whites. Black volunteers accounted for about 80% of the Rhodesian Government Security Forces, and 2 RAR was a black battalion officered by whites. Generally the night belonged to the guerillas. During the day the Rhodesian forces usually had the upper hand, especially after the organisation of Fire Force units, air-mobile troops, which could be alerted by ground patrols and swiftly deployed to cut off and wipe out specific terrorist gangs. It was as a Fire Force commander between September 1976 and June 1979 that Dennison was to excel. The potency of Dennison’s Fire Force, which initially consisted of a command helicopter, the ‘K-Car’, and three others, ‘G-Cars’, carrying sticks of four men each, supported by a fixed wing ground attack aircraft carrying napalm or the dreaded ‘Golf bomb’, was increased after March 1977 with the addition of a Dakota, or ‘Paradak’, carrying, in ‘A’ Company’s case, sixteen African paratroopers who specialised in jumping into the battle zone from dangerously low altitudes. Many of the Dakotas dated from the Second World War, and when Dennison parachuted, which seemingly he did at every opportunity, he liked to be the first man into action. Vos, who was later to become Dennison’s Second in Command, is mentioned throughout The War Diaries of André Dennison by J. R. T. Wood, and as taking part in numerous contacts in the book Masoda, by A. Binda. On 18 March, during ‘A’ Company’s second deployment (17 March - 20 April 1976), Vos’s men accounted for ‘A’ Company’s ‘1st Kills’ during the deployment. Dennison describes the contact which took place in the south east operational area, ‘Thrasher’, thus: ‘The Company deployed to Chikwedzira Dip, a District Commissioner’s rest camp in eastern Matibi 2, and before we had even taken over from ‘B’ Company, 1 Platoon had to take over a follow-up from elements of our old friends 5 Indep Company. Within ten minutes of arriving by helicopter in the Naivaswa Camp area, Gona-re-Zhou [game reserve], Lt. Vos had a contact with seven CTs. No blood was shed on either side and a day long follow up ensued. In the late afternoon (18 March) 1 Platoon contacted four terrorists, killing two. Major Dennison was in the K-Car (pilot Baldy Baldwin) and the [helicopter] gunner failed to score on the two CTs who broke and ran. They had better luck and managed [when firing back] to sever the fuel line of one of the G-Cars with a lucky shot. The helicopter crash-landed and was a total write-off but the pilot and tech escaped with comparatively minor injuries.’ Vos was posted to the 81mm Mortar Platoon in May 1976, despite this he was still on hand if required by Dennison. This was very much the case during ‘A’ Company’s sixth deployment (23 September - 4 November 1976), as Dennison relates: ‘On 13 October we were recalled to Buffalo Range [the airfield at Chiredzi] to take over Fire Force. 3 Platoon were deployed into the Humani Ranch area and the other two platoons provided three first wave sticks [i.e. the first troops to be transported into each action by the helicopters] and six follow-up sticks [or second wave]. On 14 October a member of the Selous Scouts on leave reported to Zaka police station that fourteen CTs were feeding at his kraal on the Chiredzi River, eight kilometres south of Zaka. The first wave flew into Zaka by helicopter and the other sticks were lifted in by Dakota. With the African Selous Scout as guide the choppers flew in but unfortunately over-shot the target, giving the CTs a few minutes warning. A tracker stick led by Lt. Jean Vos, on loan for the occasion, was put down and almost immediately came under heavy close range fire from a group of CTs in the river bed. Sgt. Muardi shot and killed one and the stick went to ground as the others were deployed. For the next four hours the contact ground on. Two CTs broke across the river and were engaged and missed by the K-Car, and others had obviously broken east away from the river before contact began. The early sticks were mortared in the initial stages, and the angle of entry of an unexploded bomb indicated quite clearly that it was fired from way outside the contact area.’ At the end of October, Vos commanded four 81 mm mortar crews during Operation Mardon - a concerted attack on ZANLA camps in Mozambique. Vos returned to the command of 1 Platoon and was rewarded for his services in this position with a Commendation during ‘A’ Company’s twelfth deployment in September 1977. He advanced to Second-in-Command of ‘A’ Company in March 1978, and was promoted Captain in August the same year. During ‘A’ Company’s nineteenth deployment (5 September - 17 October 1978), ‘Captain Vos took the K-Car and Major Dennison went with Vulture One. The K-Car gunner did some good work, immobilising, but not killing three CTs, and the sweep killed them and a further three.’ (bid) Sold with a copy of The War Diaries of André Dennison, by J. R. T. Wood, in which Vos is pictured.
A signed representation of the uniform ribands worn by Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, K.G., G.C.B., D.S.O. A framed representation, comprising of 38 ribands, of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath; The Distinguished Service Order; 1914 Star, with rosette; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; General Service Medal 1918-62 [for Palestine]; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, with 8th Army emblem; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; together with the ribands of 24 foreign Orders, Decorations, and Medals, together with a copied faded portrait photograph of the recipient, mounted in a glazed wooden frame, 455mm x 350mm, with the recipient’s signature on part of possibly a letterhead ‘ Montgomery of Alamein, K.G.’, signed in blue ink, ‘Montgomery of Alamein F.M.’, good condition £90-£120
Three: Private W. J. F. T. Wright, 25th (1/2 Wessex) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (T.F.) 1914 Star, with clasp (1803 Pte W. J. F. T. Wright. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (1803 Pte. W. F. [sic] Wright. R.A.M.C.) nearly extremely fine (3) £160-£200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Divisional Commander’s Parchment Certificate For Gallant Conduct and Devotion to Duty: ‘On 25th, 26th and 27th March, 1918, at Lihons, Rosieres and Caix Private Wright worked exceedingly well and was extremely cool under shell fire. His example of devotion to duty under difficult circumstances was a great encouragement to others.’ William Joseph Frederick Thomas Wright served during the Great War with the 25th (1/2 Wessex) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (T.F.) on the Western Front from 5 November 1914. Sold with the following related items and documents: riband bar; 8th Divisional Commander’s Parchment Certificate For Gallant Conduct and Devotion to Duty, dated 21 March 1918; OHMS envelope addressed to ‘Mr. W. Wright, 11 Melbourne Street, Plymouth’; and copied research.
A French Royal and Military Order of St. Louis attributed to Général de Brigade Jean-Pierre Piat; a Baron of the Empire and a staunch Bonapartist, he was wounded on five occasions, including at the Battle of Ligny during the Waterloo campaign on 16 June 1815 France, Kingdom, Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Knight’s breast badge, 42mm x 36mm, gold and enamel, ball finials, with small gold mark to one obverse fleur-de-lys, with original fragmentary riband with bow rosette, contained in brown leather case, slight enamel damage, good very fine £1,000-£1,400 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, May 2016. Jean-Pierre Piat was born in Paris on 6 June 1774. He entered the army as a 2nd Lieutenant on 10 January 1792 in the 56th Regiment of Infantry - later the 88th Line Infantry demi-brigade. With them he served in the Northern Army during 1792-93 and was wounded in the hand at the battle of Neerwinden, 18 March 1773. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 10 Vendémiaire year II. Served in the wars of Years II-IV with the Army of the Sambre and Meuse. Went to Italy and was appointed Captain of Grenadiers on the field of battle on 26 Ventôse Year V, for his conduct at the passage of the Tagliamento. He then served with the Eastern Army in Egypt. He distinguished himself at the battle of Sedenian, 17 Vendémiaire Year VII and was appointed Battalion Commander on 8 Frimaire Year VII. Piat was wounded in action at Bénéhadi, 19 Germinal Year VII, with a shot to the kidneys, was wounded in the face during the siege of Cairo and received a knee injury at Alexandria, 30 Ventôse Year IX. Returning to France in Year X, the 88th went into garrison in Phalsbourg. On 11 Brumaire Year XII he was appointed Major of the 2nd Line Infantry and was created a Legionnaire of the Legion of Honour. Piat then served in the campaigns of the Grande Armée during the period Year XIV-1807. Was promoted to an Officer in the Legion of Honour on 15 December 1808 and was advanced to Colonel of the 85th Infantry Regiment on 7 April 1809. With the Grande Armée he served in Russia where he was granted the title of Baron. Served in Saxony during 1813. On 2 April 1813 the Emperor appointed him a Brigadier-General and as such he served in Italy. Following the first abdication of Napoleon, Piat returned to France in 1814 and on 27 November 1814 he was appointed a Knight of the Order of St. Louis by King Louis XVIII. Notwithstanding his royalist order, he like many others returned fully supported the return of Napoleon as Emperor of France. In 1815 he commanded a brigade in the Girard division of the 2nd Corps and was wounded in action at the battle of Ligny, 16 June 1815. Following the second abdication of the Emperor Piat was placed in the reserve until his retirement on 5 April 1824. After the July Revolution 1830, he commanded the Var Département; was awarded the Commander Class of the Legion of Honour on 16 November 1832, then commanded the haute-Alpes Département, 1833-37. Then after a period of service with the General Staff he retired once more in August 1836. With the February Revolution 1848 he became active in the support of Prince Louis Napoleon. For his services he was appointed a Grand Officer in the Legion of Honour in 1850 and became a Senator in the Upper House from March 1852. General Piat died in Paris on 12 April 1862. Sold with the original parchment bestowal document for the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, signed ‘Louis’ and dated 27 November 1814; together with the booklet, Some Aspects of the Order of St. Louis and its Insignia, by Robert J. Sadlek; and copied research.
Pair: Captain S. Hilton, Royal Fusiliers, who was Mentioned in Despatches British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. S. Hilton.) polished, nearly very fine Pair: Warrant Officer Class II E. Newman, Army Cyclist Corps British War and Victory Medals (18917 W.O. Cl. 2. E. Newman. A. Cyc. Corps.) polished, nearly very fine Pair: R. E. Taylor, British Red Cross and Order of St. John of Jerusalem British War and Victory Medals (R. E. Taylor. B.R.C. & St. J.J.); together with a British Red Cross Society Medal for War Service 1914-18, with integral top brooch bar; and a St. John Ambulance Association Re-examination Cross, silver, the revere engraved ‘A7307 Lily Taylor’, in fitted case of issue, good very fine (8) £80-£100 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 18 December 1917.
Five: Bombardier P. B. Chaters, Royal Artillery India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935 (4447290 Gnr. P. B. Chaters. R.A.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (4447290 Gnr. P. B. Chaters. R.A.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (4447290 Bdr. P. B. Chaters. R.A.) mounted as worn, minor edge bruising, heavy contact marks to Defence Medal, generally very fine (5) £120-£160
A rare Knight’s breast badge of the Order of St Ferdinand and of Merit awarded to Captain Sir Francis Le Hunt, Royal Navy Italy, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Order of St Ferdinand and of Merit, Knight’s breast badge, gold and enamels, circa 1814, original ribbon, nearly extremely fine and a very rare piece of insignia £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: Bonhams, April 2014, from a family source with note (no longer present) stating presented to Captain Francis Le Hunte, Royal Navy. The Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit was instituted by His Majesty Ferdinand the Fourth on 1 April 1800, the first recipient being Vice-Admiral Horation Nelson, K.B., Duke of Bronte. At first it consisted only of two Classes, Grand Crosses and Commanders but, on 25 July 1810, His Majesty added to it, Knights, as a third Class, the lesser cross to be worn suspended from the button-hole of the cape of the coat, with a riband, one third part narrower in breadth than that of the Commanders. Carlisle’s Foreign Orders of Knighthood, of 1839, lists all the British recipients - 9 of the Grand Cross, including Nelson, Exmouth and Wellington; 18 Commanders, and 14 Knights. Francis Le Hunte, of Artramont, County Wexford, entered the Royal Naval Academy on 1 November 1800, and, after a course of more than four years’ study at that institution, embarked, 18 April 1805, as a Volunteer, on board the Nemesis 28, Captain Philip Somerville, stationed in the Channel, where, from September 1806 to April 1808, he cruised as Master’s Mate in the Narcissus 32, Captain Charles Malcolm. The next nine months were employed by this officer in the Pallas 32, Captain George Erasmus Seymour, on the coast of Spain. In July 1811, exactly two years after he had passed his examination, he received, with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, an appointment to the Sicilian flotilla at Messina. His confirmation took place 26 September following, and, on 15 February 1813, we find him serving on shore in command of a party of seamen, and co-operating with the troops under Brigadier Hall (Captain Robert Hall, R.N., and a Brigadier in the Army of King Ferdinand, died 7 February 1818), in an attack upon a strong body of the enemy, consisting of a complete battalion, with two troops of cavalry and two pieces of artillery, located at Pietra Nera, on the Calabrlan coast. On that occasion he stormed and carried, in a very gallant style, several obstinately defended batteries, and by his exemplary conduct attracted as well the admiration of the Brigadier as the observation both of soldiers and sailors. The enemy at Pietra Nera had upwards of 150 men killed and wounded, and 163 taken prisoners. The loss to the British was very trifling (Vide Gazette 1813 p. 726). He was afterwards sent with a division of gun-boats to guard the island of Ponza; and in March and April 1814, being attached to the expedition against Genoa and its dependencies, he particularly distinguished himself by his gallant and able conduct at the reduction of the enemy’s forts in the Gulf of Spezia (Vide Gazette 1814 p. 984). During the short war of 1815, Commander Le Hunte, who had been advanced to that rank on 15 June in the preceding year, was selected to serve in the river Scheldt with a brigade of seamen under the orders of Captain Charles Napier. After the overthrow of Napoleon he assumed command, 20 June 1815, of the Erebus 16, and retained it, in the Downs, until 4 September following. He was advanced to Captain on the Retired List on 1 July 1851, and died at Atramont House in October 1859.
Collar Badges, Badges, Buttons and Rank Insignia. A good selection of Victorian & Edwardian Other Rank’s British Army Collar Badges and British and Commonwealth Badges, Buttons and Rank insignia including Territorial Other Rank’s Badges, including South Staffordshire Regiment (2). Royal Berkshire Regiment (2), Royal Scots Fusiliers, Royal Army Medical Corps (2), 9th Lancers, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, Highland Light Infantry (2), Northumberland Fusiliers (4), Essex Regiment (2), Lancashire Fusiliers, West Riding Regiment (2), Leinster Regiment (2), Somerset Light Infantry (2), Royal Dublin Fusiliers (2), a Royal Artillery Cap Badge with slider, Royal Artillery large cannons (2), Victorian Band Badges, a matching pair of Victorian Canadian Collar Badges, assorted Crowns, Pips and Buttons, A King’s (Liverpool) Regiment Officer’s Badge in silver and gilt, a Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) Sporran Badge, etc., some mismatched pairs and fixings missing, generally good condition and better (lot) £80-£100
Pair: Company Sergeant Major J. Cusack, Royal Garrison Artillery, later Cape Garrison Artillery Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (37098 Sgt. J. Cusack. W.D., R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (37098 C.S. Major. J. Cusack. Cape G.A.) good very fine (2) £120-£160 --- James Cusack was born in Durban, Natal, around 1867, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Fort Rowner (Gosport) on 13 March 1883, his age declared as 15 years, 11 months. Appointed Bombardier in the 2/1st Southern Division, he was raised Sergeant 1 August 1894 and Company Sergeant Major 30 September 1899. Posted overseas to Mauritius and South Africa, his Army Service Record notes marriage at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Cape Town, and discharge in 1904.
Four: Warrant Officer Class II L. F. Besant, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (5381404 W.O. Cl.2. L. F. Besant. Oxf. &. Bucks.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (4381404 C. Sjt. L. F. Besant. Oxf. & Bucks.) minor official correction to unit on last, mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, the GSM and LS&GC both 1st issue miniatures, these lacquered and mounted court-style as worn, light contact marks, very fine and better (4) £80-£100 --- Sold with various Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry cap badges.
Three: Sergeant A. E. Paxton, Royal Engineers 1914 Star (21096 Dvr: A. Paxton. R.E.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (21096 Dvr. A. Paxton. R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (1855635 Sjt. A. E. Paxton R.E.) edge nicks, generally very fine (3) £100-£140 --- Albert Edward Paxton attested for the Royal Engineers and served with the 15th Field Company during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 November 1914.
A post-War ‘Civil Division’ B.E.M. group of twenty-one awarded to Mr. W. W. WÄ™glewski, Polish Forces Poland, Republic, Order of Polonia Restituta, Fourth Class breast badge, gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; Order of Polonia Restituta, Fifth Class breast badge, gilt and enamel; SPK Combatant’s Cross, silver and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘3.5.87 W. W. Weglewski 21.8.87’; Cross of Merit, silvered and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘3.5.1971 W. W. WÄ™glewski Londyn’; Army Medal, bronze, with two Additional Award oak leaf Bars on riband; Air Force Medal, silvered, lacking all enamel, the reverse engraved ‘193860 W. W. WÄ™glewski’, with three Additional Award oak leaf Bars on riband; Cross of Merit, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘Walter Wladyslaw WÄ™glewski London 11th November 1970’; SPK Veterans’ Cross, gilt; SPK Cross for the Campaign of September 1939, silvered, the reverse engraved ‘0312 Choi Lot W. W. WÄ™glewski’; SPK Veterans’ Cross, silvered-bronze; Great Britain, British Empire Medal, (Civil) E.II.R. (Walter Wladyslaw Weglewski); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, these four all engraved ‘793860 W. W. Weglewski’; European Confederation of Combat Veterans Cross, gilt and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Walter Wladyslaw WÄ™glewski 1976’; Belgium, Kingdom, Commemorative Cross of the Royal Federation of Veterans of King Albert I of Belgium, gilt, with bronze, silver, and gold palms on riband; France, Fifth Republic, Combatant’s Cross, gilt; Combat Volunteer’s Cross 1939-45, gilt, the reverse engraved ‘5145 W. W. W. 59452’; War Medal 1939-45, gilt, 2 clasps, Liberation, France, mounted court-style for wear; together with a Hungarian Veterans’ Order, Second Class set of insignia, comprising neck badge, gilt and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Walter W. Weglewski W.1.82’; and breast Star, gilt and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Walter Wladyslaw Weglewski 27.6.1982’, a number of the awards of modern manufacture, generally nearly very fine and better (22) £600-£800 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 12 June 1976: Walter Wladyslaw Weglewski. For services to the community, State of New South Wales, Australia.
The Great War O.B.E. awarded to Major M. J. Long, Royal Artillery The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, silver-gilt hallmarks for London 1918, privately engraved to arms of reverse ‘5th. Nov Maj. M. J. Long. R.A. 1918’, the top wearing pin further engraved ‘For services with Anti Aircraft 1916-17-18’, light polishing to gilt finish, otherwise extremely fine and most attractive engraving £120-£160 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 7 June 1918: ‘Anti-Aircraft Defences, Home Forces.’ Michael John Long was born in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, on 13 November 1853, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Shoeburyness on 13 May 1869. Raised Sergeant 15 September 1875, and transferred to the School of Gunnery the following month, he is recorded in 1891 as a Captain in the Royal Artillery and residing at Toxteth Park in Liverpool. Advanced Major in the UK, British Army Records and Lists of October 1915, he was later decorated for his work in combating the German Zeppelin and Gotha bomber raids using the world’s first integrated air defence system; in total 10 airships and 22 aircraft were brought down by the Home Forces air defences.
The unique Great War C.B.E., ‘Niger Sudan Campaign 1897’ D.S.O. group of six awarded to Colonel A. J. Arnold, 3rd Hussars The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar, pin removed from this; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Niger 1897 (Lieut. A. J. Arnold. 3/Hussars); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Rhodesia (Lt. Colonel A. J. Arnold. 3/Drgn: Gds:); British War Medal 1914-20 (Bt. Col. A. J. Arnold); Royal Niger Company Medal 1886-97, 1 clasp, Nigeria 1886-1897, silver issue (Brevet Lt-Col. A. J. Arnold D.S.O.) the last five mounted as worn, the first with chips to white enamel and minor losses to both wreaths, otherwise better than very fine (6) £6,000-£8,000 --- Only 36 known British army recipients of the rare Royal Niger Company medal in silver. The medal was awarded to Africans in bronze with clasp ‘Nigeria’ and numbered on the edge. The only D.S.O. awarded for the ‘Niger Sudan Campaign 1897’. Alfred James Arnold was born in Manchester on 10 April 1866, third son of Alfred Rr Arnold, and Durnvilia, daughter of W. J. Taaffe, County Dublin. He was educated at a private school, and at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and originally enlisted into the 5th Dragoon Guards in 1886. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant, 3rd Hussars, in 1893, and joined the Royal Niger Constabulary in 1894. He commanded the same from 1895 to 1899 and commanded troops throughout the Niger Sudan Campaign operations of 1895-96, including the battles of Egbon, Bida and Ilorin in 1897, being mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 11 June 1897) promoted to Captain and Brevet Major. He received the Medal and clasp, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 15 June 1897): “Alfred James Arnold, Lieutenant, 3rd Hussars, commanding the Forces of the Royal Niger Company; In recognition of services during the Niger Sudan Campaign.” The Galloping Third by Hector Bolitho records: ‘When the regiment returned to Aldershot, in May 1895, Lieutenant Chaworth-Musters took his detachment, with their wigs and costumes and ancient matchlocks, to the Royal Tournament at the Agricultural Hall in Islington. Eighteen months later, this 'most promising' young officer, 'an excellent rider, and a good sportsman', was leading the mounted troops of the Royal Niger Company, during one of the little wars waged by the European Powers in the 'scramble for Africa'. In this instance, the enemy was the powerful Mahommedan emir of Nupe, 350 miles up the Niger. The 3rd Hussars deserve some credit for the success of the expedition: another of their officers, Major A. J. Arnold, was in command of the 500 Hausas who defeated upwards of 20,000 of the emir's troops at Bida, on January 26, 1897, and then marched to Illorin, where all the district submitted to the authority of the Company. The journals of the time recall the wild outburst of joy among the negroes who had thus been ‘secured from slave-raiding’. Major Arnold received the D.S.O.: Lieutenant Chaworth-Musters, who had been ‘foremost in setting an example to the native levies’, was unfortunately ‘stricken down with fever’ and he died on the ship that was bringing him home.’ Arnold became Captain, 3rd Dragoon Guards, on 3 March 1898, and served on the Niger in 1899, on the Expedition to Siama, being promoted to Major and given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, 8 July 1899. For his services in the Transvaal War of 1901 he was mentioned in Despatches on 7 March 1899, and received the Medal with clasp. He was given the Brevet of Colonel on 8 July 1905. Colonel Arnold retired on 14 November 1906. He was ‘Inspector of Exploitation for the Portuguese Chartered Company at Beira, Mozambique in East Africa, 1899-1913, receiving an annual salary of £1500 from the Mozambique government, whilst drawing no pay as an officer of the British Army. During the Great War he commanded the 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, at home, 1914-15, and the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, at Gibraltar from August 1915, being mentioned for services during the war in 1918, and created Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1919. The British War Medal is confirmed as his sole entitlement for the Great War. Colonel Arnold was also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Sold with some copied research including Medal Index Card.
A scarce Sir Galahad Casualty South Atlantic Medal awarded to Lance Corporal D. A. Padgett, Royal Army Medical Corps South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24417860 LCpl D A Padgett RAMC) extremely fine £1,200-£1,600 --- Doug A. Padgett served with the 16th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps during the Falklands War, and was waiting to be disembarked from Sir Galahad when it was bombed and set on fire by enemy aircraft on 8 June 1982. The Attack on Sir Galahad ‘I served as a Combat Medical Technician with 55 Field Surgical Team attached to 2 Field Hospital serving in the Falklands. I was at Port Stanley and moved to Fitzroy on Sir Galahad where we were bombed. I was on the tank deck awaiting disembarkation when the air strike happened and the bomb went off behind me and to my left. I was sitting on the front bumper of a Landover which shielded me from most of the blast. I just received flash burns on my left hand. At first I was confused and disoriented and angry that the ship had turned off its lights (as I thought at the time). Actually the bomb had exploded and filled the tank deck with smoke. As reality crept in I understood that we had been hit. It was then I realised that I had to act and do my job as a medic. As the smoke started to clear I could see people running round, confused, hurt, screaming and shouting. I gathered to me what medics were available and proceeded to work on the wounded. It was obvious that the fire was spreading and in the centre of the tank deck was a pile of munitions waiting to be disembarked. Basically a giant bomb waiting to explode! The exits to the rear were out of action so we had to move forward with our casualties. Whilst finding access to the boat deck along the bulkhead there was a guy very badly injured. He was disembowelled; one leg was off above the knee, the other missing below the knee. He was waving his arms and asking for help. I knew there was nothing I could do for him so I had to make a decision and I left him. I just walked past him with my casualty. I’ve felt guilt and regret for ever since that I didn’t even say anything to him. I came to the bottom of a stairwell and I saw two young Welsh Guardsmen. They obviously didn’t think they were going to make it out. They shook each others hands, pointed their rifles to each others head and pulled their triggers. There was nothing I could have done to stop them. It was their decision. When I thought back about this incident I just felt so disgusted with myself that I’d felt no sympathy, remorse or other emotion and they killed each other in front of my eyes. Eventually we gained access to the boat decks and continued performing our job. I was casevaced ashore and re-kitted. I was treated, then sent back to Fitzroy to work with the surgical team where I performed triage duties. I spent the rest of the Falklands war working with that unit.’ (the recipient’s own account, published in After the Falklands refers). Padgett retired from the Army in 1989. Sergeant Naya, Royal Army Medical Corps, serving alongside Padgett on the Sir Galahad, was awarded the Military Medal for this action.
Seven: Major N. Shaw, Royal Artillery India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (784161 Bmbr. N. Shaw. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (Major. N. Shaw. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (Lieut. (Q.M.) N. Shaw. R.A.) mounted as worn, good very fine (7) £180-£220 --- N. Shaw served in India in 1936 with the 7th/4th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. He later fought in Burma against the Japanese and during the Malayan Emergency against communist backed pro-independence guerilla forces.
Pair: Colour Sergeant T. Donnellan, 97th Regiment of Foot Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Colr. Sergt. Thos, Donolon. 97th. Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 2nd issue, large letter reverse, engraved naming (1082 Color Sergt. Thomas Donnellan. 97th. Regt.) minor edge bruising, scroll suspension and claw tightened to second, very fine (2) £300-£400 --- Thomas Donnellan attested for the 97th Regiment of Foot in the Athlone District on 27 March 1838. Initially posted to Athlone, Parsonstown, Dublin and Newbridge, he was raised Corporal 14 April 1840 and embarked from Ireland to Corfu on 30 January 1841. Appointed Orderly Room Clerk three months later, he was made Sergeant Probationer and spent the next six years on the island - most likely barracked at the Old Fortress. Transferred from Malta to Halifax (Nova Scotia) in July 1848, Donnellan returned to Walmer in June 1853 and enjoyed a year of home service in Kent and at Windsor. He subsequently fought in the Crimea before Sebastopol and during the Indian Mutiny, being later recorded as having died at Lucknow on 12 May 1858. Sold with copied research.
A Great War D.S.O. and U.S.A. Military Order of the Dragon group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. Craik, 19th Bengal Lancers (Fane’s Horse), Indian Army, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; China 1900, no clasp (Lieut. J. Craik. 19th Bl. Lcrs:) official correction to regimental number; 1914-15 Star (Major J. Craik.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. J. Craik.); Delhi Durbar 1903, silver, unnamed as issued, complete with integral silver riband buckle; United States of America, Military Order of the Dragon, China 1900 (J. Craik. Captain. 19th Lancers. No. 207.) complete with original embroidered riband and integral top Pagoda suspension brooch, light contact marks to the earlier medals, otherwise good very fine or better (7) £2,800-£3,200 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918: ‘James Craik, Major (Temp. Lt-Col.), Reserve of Officers, Retired Pay, Lancers, Indian Army.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 11 December 1917 and 20 December 1918. James Craik was born on 24 November 1871 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Hampshire Regiment on 7 November 1891. Promoted Lieutenant on 14 July 1893, he transferred to the Indian Army on 18 July 1896, and was appointed to the 19th Bengal Lancers (Fane’s Horse), being employed with the 16th Bengal Lancers during the China Expeditionary Force in 1900. Promoted Captain on 10 July 1901, he was employed with Imperial Service Troops as Inspecting Officer, Phulkian States Cavalry, Umballa, from December 1903 to December 1908, and was appointed Squadron Commander, 19th Lancers, on 1 November 1906. Promoted Major on 7 November 1909, he retired in 1912. Recalled for duty as Transport Officer following the outbreak of the Great War, he served as Deputy Assistant Director of Railway Transport from 15 May 1916, and was appointed Assistant Director General of Transportation with the rank of temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 9 May 1917. For his services during the Great War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches, and was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.
Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Nivelle, Nive, Toulouse (Thos. Champ, Capt. 43rd Foot.) toned, good very fine £2,000-£2,400 --- Thomas Champ joined the 43rd as Ensign on 5 December 1799; Lieutenant, 18 November 1803; Captain, 15 September 1808; Brevet-Major, 27 May 1825; retired on half-pay, unattached, 19 September 1826; exchanged to 20th Regiment, 6 September 1831; retired from the Army, 27 September 1831. He was present with the Regiment at Copenhagen in 1807. Served in the Peninsular War and was present at San Munos, Nivelle, Nive, Tarbes, and Toulouse, and received the Medal with clasps for Nivelle, Nive, and Toulouse; he also took part in the expedition to New Orleans. Major Champ died at Leamington on 22 September 1851, aged 73, and is buried in St Nicholas Churchyard, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
An outstanding Second War ‘Relief of Tobruk’ Immediate D.C.M. group of six awarded to Company Sergeant-Major R. Oliver, 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (4448623 Cpl. R. Oliver. Durh. L.I.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for display, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (6) £2,800-£3,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 24 February 1942. The recommendation for an Immediate D.C.M. states: ‘At Tobruk on the night 7/8th December, 1941 ‘C’ Coy carried out an attack on the left of the Battalion on Pt 157. Cpl Oliver became separated from the rest of the Coy in the dark. He collected seven men, carried out two assaults on enemy M.G. positions, captured two machine-guns and twenty prisoners and then organised a defensive position with enemy captured weapons on the flank of his Coy. He showed great courage during the operations and was an excellent example to his men.’ On the 3 December 1941 the 1st Durham Light Infantry received orders to support the Border regiment in an attack focused on an enemy held position known as Point 157. If successful the Durhams were then to move through and attack a second position known as Point 162, both positions being on the escarpment east of El Duda. The evening of the 3rd was spent in preparation as the men of 1st D.L.I. were lorried to positions occupied by the Essex Regiment near El Duda. On 7th December the go-ahead was finally received but with one small amendment; the 1st D.L.I. would lead the attack supported by the Border Regiment. At 17:00hrs the men, assisted by scouts of the Essex Regiment, set out for their start line which this was reached at 19:20hrs, zero hour being 20:30hrs. With “A” Company on the left and “C” Company on the right supported by “B” Company and elements of H.Q. Company with “D” Company also following up, the 1st Durhams set off at 20:30hrs precisely in perfect text book order. There was a three quarter moon illuminating the starry sky when suddenly the desert air was filled with tracer and machine gun bullets which all seemed to be heading in the direction of 1 D.L.I. “B” and H.Q. infantrymen found what cover they could in holes and disused sangers. “A” Company unfortunately were caught in the front line of the enemy fire while “C” Company unbeknown to Lieutenant-Colonel Arderne had reached the enemy and had began clearing them. 2/Lt. Bruce Ballantyne attempted to lead a platoon of “A” Company in a move up the enemies flank yet despite their efforts the move failed and 2/Lt. Ballantyne was himself killed. The overall picture however was not good to continue the advance as it was would result in a great number of casualties; with this in mind Captain Jim Gray, the Adjutant, was sent back through the Durham lines in an effort to bring up tanks to support the floundering infantry attack. A short time later through the pitch blackness the British armour was sighted, and promptly fell into the holes and sangers which “B” Company were sheltering in! They managed to haul themselves free and laid down very accurate fire on the enemy positions. Rallied by this, Colonel Arderne gave the order to “B” and “D” Companies to fix bayonets and charge. Following behind the tanks they advanced into the enemy positions only to find “C” Company already there! Led by Captain Adrian Keith, M.C., they had cleared out the enemy and were busily rounding up prisoners. It was at this point that Captain Keith was killed by an Italian who had surrendered but was still in possession of a hand grenade. Corporal Oliver’s impressive gallantry did not go unnoticed and “C” Company without doubt took the full honours for their action that night. When the Border Regiment duly arrived to take over they found that their work had already been taken care of by the Durhams, thus bringing about the relief of Tobruk. Ralph Oliver was the son of Wilfred and Flora E. Oliver (née Cherry) of 27 Gas Street, Hartlepool. Wilfred had himself served with 2 D.L.I. at the outbreak of W.W.1 and was an old contemptible. Ralph was the eldest of seven brothers, two of whom were killed during the war, and attended Brougham Street School. Enlisting into the Durham Light Infantry at the age of 17, he saw pre-war service in India, Sudan and China with both regular battalions (1st and 2nd D.L.I.). He earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Tobruk whilst with “C” Company 1st D.L.I. and finished the war having attained the rank of Company Sergeant-Major. In 1948 he attended Buckingham Palace where he was presented with his D.C.M. by the King.
Three: Private G. Mullins, Grenadier Guards Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Pte. G. Mullins. Grenr. Gds.) contemporarily re-engraved naming, with top silver riband buckle; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (3711. Geo Mullins, Grenr. Gds.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (3719. G. Mullins. 2B. G.G.) contemporarily impressed naming, pierced as issued, nearly extremely fine (3) £500-£700
Pair: Trooper W. Ascough, Household Battalion, who was severely wounded in action at Arras and was later evacuated home after the Battalion suffered 70% casualties over four days during the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917 British War and Victory Medals (2531 Tpr. W. Ascough. Household Bn.) in flattened named card box of issue, extremely fine (2) £70-£90 --- Willie Ascough, a groom coachman, was born at Harbury, Warwickshire, in 1887, and originally enlisted for the Coldstream Guards on 24 June 1916. Placed in Reserve, he was called up for service on 4 January 1917 and attested at Windsor for the Royal Household Battalion on 7 January 1917. Formed as an infantry Battalion at Knightsbridge Barracks some four months earlier, the troops of the Household Battalion were largely drawn from the reserve units of the household cavalry, the men skilled in horse riding and equine management; much retraining and re-equipment was necessary to convert such cavalry troops into foot soldiers, capable of conducting the increasingly mechanised war on the Western Front. Posted to France 6 May 1917 - likely as Battalion reinforcements - Ascough served as part of 10th Brigade, 4th Division, and witnessed heavy engagement during the final two weeks of the Battle of Arras. Initially successful, the British advance ground to a stalemate as the Germans adapted to the 'set piece' attacks and concentrated ever more artillery pieces to the east of the town. Wounded in action on 24 June 1917, Ascough's Army Service Record notes a severe gunshot wound to his left eye and admittance to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen. Rejoining his unit in the field 22 September 1917, Ascough was present with the Household Battalion during the Battle of Passchendaele; losses were particularly severe on 9 October 1917 when 45 men of the Battalion were hit by barrage shellfire as they attempted to advance along the Poelcapelle-Schreiboom road. The following day another 50 men were struck by shellfire at the assembly position as they prepared to go 'over the top' at 5.25am and follow the Poelcapelle-Cinq Chemins road towards Requette Farm. Relieved by the 25th Northumberland Fusiliers on the night of 12-13 October, it was later found that of the original 498 men of The Household Battalion who went into action, 348 had become casualties. 13 Officers had also been hit by shrapnel and gunfire, the enemy response so intense that few of the dead could be found and later identified. Sent to No. 10 Field Ambulance and admitted to No. 12 General Hospital, Ascough was evacuated home to England per A.T. Panama on 22 November 1917, suffering from nephritis. Admitted to University College Hospital with headaches, he never returned to active overseas service and was transferred to the Coldstream Guards at Caterham on 4 April 1918, before discharge in February 1919. Having lost so many of its original cohort, approximately 450 men, the Household Battalion was effectively disbanded on 10 February 1918.
Seven: Warrant Officer Class II L. W. Spalding, Queen’s Own Buffs, Royal Kent Regiment, late Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment and Military Provost Staff Corps 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22549499 Cpl. L-W. Spalding. M.P.S.C.); U.N. Korea 1950-54; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Near East, Cyprus (22549499 Sgt. L. W. Spalding. R.W.K.) with official corrections; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (22549499 W.O.Cl.2. L. W. Spalding. Queens Own Buffs) unit partially officially corrected on last, mounted as originally worn, very fine and scarce to unit (7) £500-£700 --- Provenance: Philip Burman Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, May 2018. The Military Provost Staff Corps, formed in 1901, is one of the smallest Corps in the British Army. Its task is to provide the guards for military prisons. During the Korean War two prisons were established, one in Kure, Japan and one in Pusan. The latter was a joint Commonwealth unit run by Canadian, Australian and British Provost and known as the Canadian Provost Prison Unit. The aim of the prison was to “Turn bad soldiers into good soldiers” and in Korea was universally recognised as imposing a very harsh regime. In 1950 prisoners were required to dig their own prison cells 10ft x 10ft x 8 ft deep, which were covered by barbed wire. (Details of life in this unit are given in the book “Chinese Hordes and Human Waves” page 59, by B. A. H. Parritt). Before being accepted into the Corps Spalding would have already been qualified to be a sergeant, been interviewed by two Boards, including one by a Brigadier, and would have to attend a 13 week Induction Course. Korea Medals to the MPSC are very rare as only 15 members qualified.
Three: Private J. Kavanagh, Army Cyclist Corps, later Royal Highlanders 1914-15 Star (2687 Pte. J. Kavanagh, A. Cyc. Corps.); British War and Victory Medals (2687 Pte. J. Kavanagh. A. Cyc. Corps.) mounted as worn, very fine (3) £50-£70 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Joseph Kavanagh attested for the Army Cyclist Corps and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 October 1915. Subsequently transferring to the Royal Highlanders, he was discharged in February 1919.
Three: Battery Sergeant Major G. Kirkham, Royal Horse Artillery, late Bengal Horse Artillery India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (Staff Sergt. G. F. Kirkham. Bengal Arty.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow, naming erased; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (4550 Batty. Serjt. Mjr. Geoe. Kirkham C Bgde. R H A.) suspension claw loose on last, edge bruising and light contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £240-£280 --- George Kirkham was born in Mitcham, Surrey, in 1824. He attested at London for the Army of the Honourable East India Company on 17 July 1844, and sailed to India not long thereafter aboard Queen. Initially posted as Gunner to 1st Troop, 1st Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery, Kirkham rendered service at Loodiana and Ferozepore in November 1848, before being ordered to Jullundur and then Waziristan where he was employed in keeping the local tribesmen under control. He first saw action on the North West Frontier as Staff Sergeant with 1/1 Bengal Horse Artillery between 28 April and 18 May 1852, the roll stating: ‘Against the Ootman Khels and Ranezai tribes 11 May 1852, under Brig. Gen. Sir Colin Campbell KCB, to destroy the group of villages called Nowa Dand belonging to the Ootman Kheyl tribe which aided and abetted Agoon Khan, the murdered of a Government official, and to punish the people in the valley of Ranezai who had refused to pay the fine they had agreed to disburse on account of misdemeanour towards the British Government.’ Promoted Quartermaster Sergeant at the Capture of Lucknow, the 1/1 Bengal Horse Artillery later transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery in 1861. Volunteering as Sergeant Major for ‘A’ Battery, 2nd Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, Kirkham was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with annuity in January 1863, before likely returning home to Woolwich with his unit in the spring of 1865.
Shoulder Titles. A good selection of British Army Great War and earlier Shoulder Titles including Border Regiment, North Staffordshire Regiment, Derbyshire Regiment, Oxfordshire Regiment, Gloucestershire Regiment, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Northamptonshire Regiment, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Gordon Highlands, East Kent (Buffs) Regiment, South Staffordshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment, Yorkshire Regiment, Cornwall Light Infantry scarce, North Lancashire Regiment pre 1907 pattern ‘S’, etc., some hexagonal lugs, very good condition (18) £110-£150
Shooting Medals. A small selection comprising Rifle Association Medal, 26mm, gold (9ct., 7.73g), attractively engraved to obverse with elephant motif and ‘4th. Batt. W. R. Regt. Capt. E. P. Chambers 1909’; Surrey Rifle Association Medal, silver, 33mm x 52mm, reverse engraved ‘Major H. N. A. Hunter D.S.O.’; Rifle Association Medal, silver, 46mm x 70mm, unnamed; Londonderry Cup, No. 4 APP. Wing, Royal Air Force Medal, silvered, 32mm, reverse engraved ‘Shooting R. Toll 1930.’, with small loop suspension; Army Rifle Association Cross, bronze, 25mm, unnamed, very fine (5) £120-£160
Family Medals: A Great War M.M. group of five awarded to Acting Sergeant J. T. Hadlow, Royal Army Medical Corps Military Medal, G.V.R. (2773 L.Cpl. J. T. Hadlow. 82/(2/H.C.) F.A. R.A.M.C. - T.F.); 1914-15 Star (2773. Pte. J. T. Hadlow. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2773 A.Sjt. J. T. Hadlow. R.A.M.C.); Serbia, Kingdom, Gold Medal for Bravery, 31mm, bronze (Sgt. J. T. Hadlow. No. 495211. 82nd. F.A. R.A.M.C. T.F.) contemporarily engraved naming, contact marks to MM and polishing throughout, good fine and better Three: Private A. T. Hadlow, Highland Light Infantry, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 26 October 1915 1914-15 Star (11411 Pte. A. T. Hadlow, High, L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (11411 Pte. A. T. Hadlow. H.L.I.) good very fine (8) £500-£700 --- M.M. London Gazette 26 April 1917. Serbian Gold Medal for Bravery London Gazette 20 September 1919. John Thomas Hadlow was born in Kent around 1873. He married Ellen McDonnell at St. Alphege’s Church, Canterbury, on 15 October 1905, and attested at Sandwich for service with the 82nd Field Ambulance (2nd Home Counties), Royal Army Medical Corps, on 17 September 1914. Sent to France aboard the S.S. Kingstonian on 22 December 1914, Hadlow served as part of the 27th Division which was largely composed of regular infantry units returned from India, Hong Kong and Canada. The Division saw considerable action at St-Eloi, Gravenstafel, St. Julien, Frezenburg, and Bellewaerde from 24-25 May 1915, with Hadlow’s Field Ambulance likely extremely busy as part of the casualty evacuation chain. Raised Lance Corporal 14 March 1915, and employed in ‘general duty and bearer’, Hadlow’s Army Service Record notes a number of indiscretions. These included a severe reprimand for striking a Private and further brushes with the military authorities for failure to carry out an order. Transferred to Salonika on 12 December 1915, Hadlow suffered a short bout of malaria, but recovered to be appointed Acting Lance Sergeant on 15 August 1917 and Acting Sergeant on 27 August 1918. Albert T. Hadlow was born in Ramsgate and originally attested at Canterbury for the Royal Field Artillery. Transferred to the 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, he served during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 December 1914, and died of wounds on 26 October 1915. He is buried in La Gorgue Communal Cemetery, France.
Pair: Captain D. R. Hadow, Army Service Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Capt. D. R. Hadow, A.S.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. D. R. Hadow, A.S.C.) official correction to rank on the second, both medals officially engraved, mounted as worn together with related pair of mounted miniature medals, nearly extremely fine (3) £100-£140
1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; Pacific Star; Burma Star (6); Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal (2); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal (4); New Zealand War Service Medal; U.N. Korea 1950-54 (2), both unnamed as issued; U.N. Medal (2), both unnamed as issued on UNFICYP ribands; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Non Article 5 (5), all unnamed as issued, good very fine and better (29) £120-£160
Militia L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (6305 T. Piddington. 3rd Oxford L.I. Mil.) extremely fine £400-£500 --- T. Piddington was awarded his Militia Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 27 of February 1905, one of 13 such awards to the 3rd Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry. Sold with copied research.
Military Head Dress Badges. A very good selection of Victorian & early Edwardian British Army Other Rank’s Head Dress Badges, Cap Badges including Cheshire Regiment, West Riding Regiment, Army Ordnance Department, Somerset Light Infantry, Grenadier Guards (3), King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (2), Royal Engineers (2), Sherwood Foresters, Highland Light Infantry, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, Essex Regiment (2), Welsh Regiment (2), Leicestershire Regiment (2), Royal West Kent Regiment (4), Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Royal Sussex Regiment, Worcestershire Regiment, East Yorkshire Regiment, Border Regiment, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Seaforth Highlanders (2), Norfolk Regiment, Yorkshire Regiment, North Staffordshire Regiment, South Staffordshire Regiment, Middlesex Regiment, Manchester Regiment, Royal Scots, Coldstream Guards, with Helmet Plates including Royal Scots (Home Service) (2), 17th Lancers (2), 9th Lancers, 10th Royal Hussars, Royal Home Counties Reserve Regiment, etc., very good condition (lot) £260-£300
Renamed and Defective Medals (3): India General Service 1854-95, 2 copy clasps, Hazara 1888, Kachin Hills 1892-93, naming erased and suspension reaffixed; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (68. Pte. W. Hopkinson. 2/Manch: R.) suspension reaffixed, with traces of brooch mounting to obverse; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue, naming erased; generally nearly very fine (3) £70-£90
Seven: Warrant Officer Class II J. R. Yolland, Royal Artillery Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (889322 Sgt. J. R. Yolland. R.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (889322 W.O. Cl.2. J. R. Yolland. RA.) the first six mounted as worn, the last loose, contact marks, polished and worn, nearly very fine (7) £180-£220 --- John Robert Yolland was born in 1924 and attested for the Royal Artillery at Exeter on 30 January 1939, his service reckoning from 24 September 1942. His service record states that he served during the Second World War in North Africa from 15 July 1943 to 16 March 1944 (too late to qualify for the Africa Star); and in North West Europe from 7 November to 6 December 1944 (entitlement to the Italy Star unconfirmed, although he may have seen operational service in the geographical areas covered by the Italy Star en route to and from North Africa). He saw further service as a Bandsman with the B.O.A.R., and was discharged on 1 January 1969 after 29 years and 337 days’ service. Sold with the recipient’s Regular Army Certificate of Service Red Book.
King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (16750 Corpl: H. E. Austin. R.H.A.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (7382 Pte. R. Ducker. Norf. R.) severe edge bruise partially obscuring rank on first; initial and surname officially re-impressed on second, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £60-£80 --- Henry Edmund Austin was born in Margate, Kent, in 1876. A clerk, he attested at London for the Royal Artillery on 13 October 1896, joining ‘A’ depot at Woolwich soon thereafter. Sent to South Africa with ‘R’ Battery from 24 October 1899, he witnessed a number of engagements before transferring to ‘N’ Battery on 20 January 1901 (also entitled to a Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Wittebergen, and Relief of Kimberley). Austin returned home to England on 8 June 1904, being discharged on 12 October 1908. Rowland Ducker was born in the small village of Swanton Novers, Norfolk, in 1888. A moulders labourer, his Army Service Record notes that he attested for the Norfolk Regiment on 10 January 1907 and served at Warley, Pietmaritzburg and Gibraltar. Posted as telegraphist to Karachi and Quetta during the Great War, the recipient later made a request to the War Office for an M.I.D. oak leaves emblem, his papers stating: ‘Brought to the notice of the Government of India for valuable service rendered in India in connection with the war, dated Simla, 3.6.18.’
A Boer War D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private J. Emmons, 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (4270 Pte. J. Emmons, 2nd Rl: Berks: Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4270 Pte. J. Emmons, 2: R: Berks: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4270 Pte. J. Emmons. Rl: Berks: Regt.) light edge bruising and contact marks, very fine (3) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901. Army Order 15 of 1902..
A very fine Second War Boston and Mosquito navigator’s ‘1943’ D.F.C., ‘1942’ immediate D.F.M. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant A. Liddle, 107 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, a low-level specialist, who flew in at least 60 operational sorties, often carried out at ‘rooftop’ height or lower, and often as lead navigator. Liddle distinguished himself with his pilot George Turner on the ‘at all costs’ raid on the Gosnay Power Station, 27 August 1943, and during the raid on the Ijmuiden Steel Works, 27 November 1942, when “we all shot out of our cockpits and raced round to the front of the aircraft in order to get Arthur out. Both he and the nose of the aircraft were a mess. There was blood everywhere and great chunks of the perspex were missing. Arthur was covered in blood unconscious and very cold..... All the shells that had hit her [the Boston] had come from dead ahead or the right. One had burst on the actual bombsight, flinging fragments of steel (and perspex) into Arthur’s leg, arm and face.” Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’; Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1132613 Sgt. A. Liddle. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for wear, generally good very fine (6) £3,800-£4,600 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 24 December 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, Pilot Officer Liddle has completed twenty-one operations against the enemy, some from high level, others from low level. He has often been the leading Navigator of formations of squadron aircraft. Pilot Officer Liddle has shown the utmost skill and coolness and has been at all times exceptionally eager to engage the enemy. On the 27th August, 1943, he was leading navigator of a formation of six aircraft detailed to attack a Power Station near Gosnay, from a low level. Soon after crossing the enemy coast the formation was attacked by fighters and these attacks continued all the way to and most of the way back from the target. Undeterred and unflurried by the evasive action which it was necessary to take against these fighters, Pilot Officer Liddle guided his formation to the target and bombed it accurately in the face of fierce opposition from the ground. He then accurately navigated his pilot back across enemy territory to base in spite of the course lying directly into a bright setting sun. I consider that the high courage, determination, coolness and exceptional skill which this officer has always shown justifies the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Remarks by Station Commander: Pilot Officer Liddle displayed exceptional gallantry and efficiency on all his operational sorties. Recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross.’ D.F.M. London Gazette 15 December 1942. The original recommendation states: ‘Sergeant Liddle was the Navigator in the leading aircraft of two Boston IIIs detailed to carry out a cloud-cover and low-level raid on the steel works at Ijmuiden on 27 November, 1942. The formation made an excellent landfall as the target was sighted on the horizon before the coastline itself became visible. During the bombing run the aircraft in which Sergeant Liddle was flying came under very heavy accurate fire from the mole at Ijmuiden. The Observer's cockpit received a direct hit which shattered most of the perspex and wounded Sergeant Liddle in the face and in the chest, arms and legs but, disregarding his injuries and unperturbed by the intense barrage of light flak which had to be negotiated, Sergeant Liddle dropped his bombs on the target. Even after setting course for home, it was some time before Sergeant Liddle had to tell his pilot, Pilot Officer Turner, that there was a lot of blood about which prevented him from seeing his maps and navigation log and, in addition, he was feeling the effects of the icy blasts blowing through the holes in the perspex. Nevertheless, Sergeant Liddle, by a supreme effort, managed to pull himself together and guide the pilot to Horsham St. Faith where a safe landing was made and Sergeant Liddle removed to hospital. Sergeant Liddle has now complete 8½ sorties of which 4 have been low-level attacks, all carried out successfully. I consider that Sergeant Liddle’s fine conception of his duty justifies the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. 29th November, 1942. Remarks by Station Commander: Sergeant Liddle’s action in continuing and completing his mission when badly wounded is a magnificent example of gallantry and determination. Strongly recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’ Arthur Liddle was born in Blaydon, County Durham in December 1914. The son of a coal miner, he volunteered for service with the Royal Air Force in December 1940. Having passed the initial exams, and the additional one for aircrew, he applied for training as either a pilot or navigator, and was sent to an Initial Training Wing, before being posted overseas to Canada, under the Empire Air Training Scheme, and then passed out as an Observer/Bomb Aimer. Having advanced to Sergeant and returned to the UK by April 1942, Liddle was posted for further training as a navigator to No. 17 O.T.U., Upwood. After three months, and having crewed up, he was posted for operational flying to 107 Squadron (Bostons), Great Massingham, near Norwich, Norfolk. The squadron then operating in the Boston Mk III aircraft, were to be tasked with both high-level pinpoint bombing as well as low level strikes. These low level strikes would be made on the industrial plants in the Low Countries and German held airfields in France in order to entice enemy fighters up to engage in combat with the Boston’s and escorting Spitfires, the ops being known as ‘Circus Operations’. Whist under training at 17 O.T.U., Liddle had met Sergeant Ron Chatfield, a qualified wireless operator. In 1992 Chatfield would make a recording at The Imperial War Museum in London, detailing his RAF career, with both 107 and 88 Squadrons. Chatfield remembered that he had approached Pilot Officer George Turner, a pilot, who was also looking for a crew at the O.T.U., and suggested himself and Arthur Liddle should team up. All three agreed and a crew was formed that would turn out to be a very efficient and most importantly ‘a lucky crew’ on all their ops together. After the first few missions a Canadian gunner, Pilot Officer George Murray, was incorporated into the crew as an under gunner, as the Boston was found to be very vulnerable to attack by enemy fighters coming up from below. Turner, Little and Chatfield were initially sent along with five other new crews to 107 Squadron in July 1942, and were then immediately sent to Scotland to commence army co-operation training to become proficient in smoke laying from a low level. This training was undertaken for their forthcoming part in Operation Jubilee (19 August 1942, the Dieppe Raid), when both Canadian and British troops made a landing on the beaches of Dieppe. The Boston squadrons, 88, 107 and 226 would lay down smoke, to help the troops attempting landings on the beaches. The sixteen crews of 107 and 88 Squadrons assigned to the operation were sent to R.A.F. Ford in Sussex on 17 August, in order to be properly briefed, whilst 226 were sent to Thruxton. Some 32 sorties were carried out by the Boston’s over Dieppe during the landings, with no losses, but several aircraft were hit by flak. Twelve aircraft from 107 were detailed to attack the Hitler Battery by the River D’Arques that was still in operation after the initial attack, but...
Pair: Sepoy Sundru, 1st Punjab Infantry, Indian Army India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Samana 1891 (144 Sepoy Sundru 1st Punjab Infy.); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Waziristan 1901-2 (144 Sepoy Sundru 1st Pjb. Infy.) suspension slack, post bent on second medal, contact marks, good fine (2) £120-£160
Three: Bombardier P. A. Rudd, Royal Artillery (Mounted Bands) British War and Victory Medals (29774 Bmbr. P. A. Rudd. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (29774 Bmbr: P. A. Rudd. R.A. (Mtd: Bands.)) heavily polished and worn, with contact marks throughout, fair to fine, the last scarce to unit (3) £70-£90 --- Percy Arthur Rudd was born in Croydon in 1882 and attested for the Royal Artillery in 1898. He was later awarded the L.S.G.C. Medal on 1 April 1917 whilst serving in the Royal Artillery Mounted Band; consisting of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, it fell to musicians like Rudd to specialise in military band ensembles, with the intention of display at royal and state occasions. At the outbreak of the Great War, it was hoped that military scores would bolster morale, patriotism and recruitment figures, the orchestra later proving a popular success story across the country.
Four: Warrant Officer Class II W. L. Johnson, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (L-5971 W.O. Cl.2. W. L. Johnson. R.W. Kent R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (L-5971 R.Q.M. Sjt: W. L. Johnson. 11/R.W. Kent R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (L-5971 Q.M. Sjt. W. L. Johnson. R.W. Kent R.) contact marks, generally nearly very fine (4) £140-£180 --- M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1918: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in Italy.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 25 May 1917. William Lewis Johnson, a resident of Broadwater, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for devotion to duty whilst serving as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. He later received the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity in March 1920. Sold with copied research.
A fine Second War ‘retaking of Point 198 on the Djebel Roumana’ Immediate M.M. group of seven awarded to Private W. W. Wilson, 5th Battalion, Black Watch, who was later wounded on D-day and killed in action on 4 October 1944, at St Odenrode, Holland Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2758531 Pte. W. W. Wilson. Black Watch.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine (7) £1,600-£2,000 --- M.M. London Gazette 22 July 1943. The recommendation for the award of an Immediate M.M. states: ‘During the retaking of Pt 198 on the DJEBEL ROUMANA by 5 Black Watch on the afternoon of 6th April, 1943, this private soldier was a member of No. 7 section to whose skill the ultimate retaking of pt 198 was to no small measure due. Quite unperturbed by the mortaring which was heavy and sustained and grenades which he had to undergo for four hours, Pte. Wilson maintained his L.M.G. in action throughout the fight. On the following morning two spandau posts were found with the German team lying dead over their weapons both posts being within 20 yards of the point that Pte. Wilson had reached the previous evening. It was only Pte. Wilson’s quiet courage and high sense of duty which enabled him to work his way up the very steep slope of the ROUMANA feature to a point so close to the enemy and it was only when he got so close that he could see to fire. Pte. Wilson never relaxed and fired his Bren unceasingly during the enemy’s withdrawal that night. No praise is too high for the gallantry of his action.’ William Walsh Wilson was born in 1921, son of James and Jane Wilson of East Wemyss, Fife, Scotland. The following information was provided by Corporal W. Kingston who served with Wilson in the same platoon: ‘Corporal Wilson was a butcher by trade and was known as ‘Rigger’. He often butchered pigs to supplement rations. He was killed leading a patrol which consisted of himself and two others. This was at St Odenrode in Holland and Wilson was killed by a bullet through his head from a sniper.’ Corporal Kingstone also thought that Wilson was not long returned to the Battalion having been wounded in Normandy. Corporal W. W. Wilson was killed in action at St Odenrode, near Eindhoven, on 4 October 1944, aged 25, and is buried in Uden War cemetery, Nertherlands.
Pair: Private D. McNab, 42nd Royal Highlanders Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Balaklava (846 D. McNab. 42nd Royal Highs) faint privately engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (846 Pt. David McNab. 42 R.H.) engraved naming, fitted with original steel clip and rectangular bar suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £200-£240
Six: Warrant Officer Class II A. E. Piper, Hampshire Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers British War and Victory Medals (352001 W.O. Cl. 2 A. E. Piper. R.A.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (352001 W.O. Cl. 2. A. E. Piper. R.A.); Coronation 1902, bronze, unnamed as issued; Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (1170 C.S. Mjr. A. Piper. 1/Hants: R.G.A.V.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (352001 W.O. Cl.II. A. E. Piper. R.G.A.) mounted as worn, light contact marks, the Coronation 1902 somewhat polished and worn, therefore fine, the rest good very fine and better (6) £400-£500 --- Arthur E. Piper was awarded the 1902 Coronation Medal by virtue of being the senior N.C.O. of the 1st Hampshire Volunteer Artillery, and was awarded the Volunteer Long Service Medal per Army Order 100 of May 1907; and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 507 of November 1920. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient c.1905 together with copied medal roll extracts.
Six: Gunner E. Bauer, South African Artillery 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘114594 E. Bauer’, good very fine Four: Gunner J. M. B. Cleland, South African Artillery 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Defence Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘143971 J. M. B. Cleland’, nearly very fine and better (10) £80-£100 --- Emil Bauer initially served from 14 June 1940 as Gunner in the 18th Battery, 6th Light Brigade, South African Artillery. Embarked at Durban for the Middle East per S.S. Ile de France, on 9 June 1941, he witnessed extensive active service in North Africa and Italy, much of this time spent with the 42nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Repatriated 23 May 1945, he returned home to Blue River, East London. Sold with copied Army Service Record. John Morton Blignaut Cleland was appointed to the 5th Field Regiment, South African Artillery, on 14 March 1941. Leaving Durban on 22 July 1941, he served in North Africa with the Eighth Army against Axis Forces led by General Erwin Rommel, but his service was prematurely cut short by ill health. Embarked home via the Suez Canal 11 December 1942, Cleland spent much of the spring of 1943 suffering from sickness which resulted in two stays at military hospital. Discharged in consequence on 4 August 1943, he likely returned to the family address at 185 Dunbarton Road, Arcadia, Pretoria. Sold with copied Army Service Record.
Three: Bandsman W. E. Wilson, Royal Norfolk Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Dunkirk on 27 June 1940, but was lucky to escape the fate of 97 of his comrades who were massacred by the S.S. at Le Paradis 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (5769719 Pte. W. E. Wilson R. Norfolk.) last officially re-impressed, mounted court-style for display, good very fine (3) £80-£100 --- W. E. Wilson attested for the Royal Norfolk Regiment and served with the 2nd Battalion as a Bandsman with the British Expeditionary Force in France. The Battalion's resistance at the La Bassee Canal earned a terrible retribution when the surviving 97 men surrendered to the Germans on 27 May 1940; taken into an open field they were deliberately gunned-down by S.S. troops - only two men survived the horrific incident. Wilson, however, was one of those members of the Battalion who had escaped the encirclement; many of these men were successfully evacuated, but Wilson was captured and taken prisoner of war on 27 June 1940. He was repatriated on 5 November 1943. Sold with copied research.
Six: Trooper R. Nicholson, Royal Horse Guards Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (153 Tpr: R. Nicholson. R.H. Gds:); 1914 Star, with clasp (153 Tpr. R. Nicholson. R.H. Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (153 Tpr. R. Nichgolson. R.H. Gds.); Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (153 Pte. R. H. Nicholson. R. Horse Gds.) good very fine (6) £300-£400 --- Robert Nicholson served with the Royal Horse Guards during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914.
Three: Captain J. Whelan, Royal Garrison Artillery British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. Whelan.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (9698 C.S. Mjr: J. Whelan. R.G.A.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £80-£100 --- James Whelan was born on 25 May 1877 and attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery, serving in the ranks for 19 years and 252 days, and being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 49 of 1913. Appointed to a Regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant on 12 January 1915, he was promoted Lieutenant on 10 April 1916, and served during the Great War with the 62nd Company, R.G.A. in Aden on coast defence duties from June 1916. He was promoted Captain on 3 November 1917 and, having attained the fixed compulsory retirement age, he was placed on retired pay on 25 May 1922. A hand-written note accompanying the lot adds: ‘Captain Whelan was involved in fighting a fire caused by a spontaneous explosion - He, along with others, entered the smouldering magazine and extinguished the fire, knowing full well that a further explosion might take place at any moment, from which there would be no escape. Whelan was ill afterwards due to breathing cordite fumes. He recuperated in Aden and was granted 2 months home leave. Also suffered broken leg when his horse bolted, slipped and fell on his leg. Both incidents are well documented.’ Sold with an array of original documents, including a copy of a typed letter to the O.C. Royal Artillery, Aden, confirming the explosion in a magazine at Fort Norbut, and the ‘gallant conduct’ of Captain J. Whelan, R.G.A.; A hand-written witness statement by the Doctor treating Captain Whelan, who noted ‘Patient was for two hours fighting a cordite fire’, dated 25.7.18, at Aden; Army Form A Furlough and Leave, confirming two months of leave at Kirkee, dated 26 July 1918; Army Form A.45B. Proceedings of a Medical Board, confirming fracture of the left femur in consequence of the horse bolting at Quetta on 13 October 1915, the latter document torn and extremely fragile.
A Boer War D.C.M. group of three awarded to Company Sergeant Major J. J. Waldron, 47th (Fortress) Company, Royal Engineers Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (16586 Coy. Serjt:-Maj: J. J. Waldron. R.E.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (16586 Lce. Corpl. J. J. Waldron... R.E.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (16586, Co. Sjt. Maj: J. J. Waldron, R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (16586 Serg’t. J. J. Waldron. R.E.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, mounted for wear, heavy pitting to Egypt medal from Star which has partially obscured naming, this good fine, the rest very fine and better (5) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 26 June 1902. J. J. Waldron was additionally awarded an Annuity Meritorious Service Medal per Army Order 103 of 1945. Sold with the named card box of issue for the M.S.M. (but lacking the medal)
A fine Second War ‘Italian theatre’ M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Major L. C. Downing, Royal Artillery The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (Capt. L. C. Downing (M.B.E.) R.A.) good very fine (7) £200-£240 --- M.B.E. London Gazette 24 August 1944. The original recommendation states: ‘Italy. 5th Sept. 1943 to 31st Dec. 1943. This officer has rendered invaluable service continually over a period of many years, more especially during the period under review. During the Trigno, Sangro and Ortona Battles, the Regiment were deployed in an AA and Medium Role in the Forward areas. The Battery under his command was at all times most ably and efficiently led, inflicting considerable casualties upon the enemy both in the air and on the ground. His application of field gunnery was most noteworthy. During the period under review he worked incessantly both by night and by day, without personal thought, under trying and most difficult conditions, in face of great danger, between his troops, thereby encouraging them to still greater success. At all times this officer carries out his duties in a most soldierly like manner and sets a magnificent example to all Ranks under his command.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 13 January 1944. Leonard Charles Downing was born in Islington in 1909 and attested for the Royal Artillery as Gunner on 9 April 1940. Appointed to a commission soon thereafter, he was Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the M.B.E. for service with the 51st (London) H.A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery. Assigned to 6th Army Group (Royal Artillery), the 51st were heavy involved in airfield and railhead defence duties, followed by intense periods of assault in support of 1st Canadian Division; encouraged by Brigadier Murray MacIntyre, the Gunners were increasingly called upon to use their versatile 3.7-inch H.A.A. guns for ground support tasks, even wire cutting. This unconventional deployment proved so successful that during the winter of 1943-44, over two thirds of available H.A.A. guns were deployed in forward areas to harass the enemy. Employing HF (Harassing Fire), CB (Counter Battery) and CM (Counter Mortar) shoots, the 51st H.A.A. Regiment also developed a technique known as ‘Honey Combing’; the use of this method which involved the firing of accurate air bursts over enemy A.A. positions later proved highly valuable during the assault on the Gothic Line.
Six: Private E. J. Moon, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War in 1943 General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6342885. Pte E. Moon. R.W. Kent. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (6) £120-£160 --- Edwin James Moon was born on 7 March 1916 and attested for the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment on 14 March 1934, his home town recorded as Maidstone. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served in India, Haifa, Malta and North Africa before being recorded as missing in the Aegean on 16 November 1943. Confirmed as a Prisoner of War ‘in German hands’, he spent over 18 months at Stalag XI-A camp at Altengrabow in Saxony-Anhalt; as home to 60,000 British, Australian, American, French, Belgian, Serb and Russian prisoners, the camp later bore witness to one of the last airborne operations of the Second World War, code named Operation Violet, where six teams of specialist Allied troops under the command of Major Worrall attempted to assure the protection of those within. Repatriated home to England on 17 May 1945, Moon later sought permission from the military authorities to take employment overseas. He was discharged upon completion of engagement in 1954. Sold with copied research including the recipient’s Army Service Record.
Five: Attributed to Seaman R. F. Taylor, Mercantile Marine 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, with Minister of Transport enclosure, in named card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. R. F. Taylor, “Bell & Hare”, 724 High Road, Tottenham, N17’; together with the General Register and Record Officer of Shipping and Seamen named letter confirming the recipient’s entitlement and enclosing the ribands for the above entitlement, dated 14 February 1958, extremely fine An unattributed Second World War group of six 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (11) £60-£80
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