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Lot 365
* Moore (Henry, 1898-1986). Henry Moore and Irina Radetsky, circa 1930s, gelatin silver print, an image of Moore and his wife in his studio, with sculptures in the background, Moore is smoking a pipe and Radetsky is partially dressed, inscribed 'Henry Moore & Irina Radetsky (wife)' in pencil to verso, in good condition, 12.5 x 17.8 cm (5 x 7 ins)QTY: (1)NOTE:While teaching part-time at the Royal College in London, Moore met Irina Radetsky (1907-1989), a painting student. They married in 1929 and the couple moved to a studio in Hampstead at 11a Parkhill Road NW3, joining a small group of avant-garde artists. Focusing primarily on female figures, Moore drew inspiration from his wife, who served as his muse for six decades.
Lot 256
* Burleigh (Averil, 1883-1949). Portrait of the artist's husband, Charles Burleigh, oil on canvas, half-length portrait, half-profile to left, of a white-haired gentleman seated, wearing a grey jacket over a blue shirt and yellow waistcoat, a blue silk cravat at his neck, and filling a pipe in his left hand with tobacco from a pouch, signed lower right, 76 x 63.5 cm (30 x 25 ins), framed (91.3 x 78.3 cm)QTY: (1)NOTE:Averil and Charles Burleigh, and their daughter Veronica, were an interesting trio of artists who spent most of their lives working in and around Sussex. Averil and Charles met whilst studying at the Brighton School of Art, and they were married in 1905. Averil was encouraged by her husband to continue painting, and by 1915 both were exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy and the Royal Institute. Veronica, who was born in 1909, won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art, returning home to her parents in Brighton afterwards, where she became an accomplished portrait painter. The three artists worked closely together, but despite clear cross-influences among them, each developed a distinctive style. Averil, who became a leading figure in the revival of the use of egg tempera recalling artists of the Italian Renaissance, was arguably the most talented of the trio.
Lot 203
* West Indies. Island Landscape in the Caribbean, circa 1870-80, watercolour with bodycolour, depicting a gentleman sitting on a rock by the shore wearing a straw hat and smoking a pipe, behind him a mountainous landscape (perhaps Grenada), mount staining and some toning, sheet size 36.8 x 50 cm (14 1/2 x 19 5/8 ins), mounted (47 x 63.5 cm) QTY: (1)
Lot 104
Registration No: XVO 400H Chassis No: 84503355D MOT: Exempt • Benefitting from significant restoration work in 2015-2016 • Just 53,500 recorded miles and in current ownership since 2016 • Featured in ‘Classic Car Mart’ in a comparison between the Rover P5B Coupe and the Daimler V8 250 – in which the P5B won! • Accompanied by a large history file Although a marriage of expediency, the union between Rover's stately P5 model range and the ex-Buick 3528cc all-alloy OHV V8 engine, it resulted in an unexpectedly fine motorcar. Launched in 1967, the Rover P5B (or P5 Buick if you prefer) was conceived to stave off increasingly refined competition from the likes of Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz. Available in Saloon and Coupe guises - both of which employed four doors - the big Rover was equipped with independent torsion-bar front suspension, a leaf-sprung 'live' rear axle and disc/drum brakes. Fitted with a three-speed automatic transmission and power-assisted steering as standard, it proved a relaxing drive. Though, with some 161bhp and 210lbft of torque on tap, it also boasted a 115mph top speed. Well-appointed in the best Rover tradition, the P5B’s 'gentlemen's club' interior made it a firm favourite with businessmen, politicians (Harold Wilson's car was reputed to have a pipe rack in the back) and even Her Late Majesty The Queen, who owned an Arden Green Saloon. Production lasted until 1973 by which time 9,099 Coupes and 11,501 Saloons had been built. Manufactured in 1969, the P5B offered was supplied new to the United Kingdom being road registered on the 24th of September that year. Finished in Admiralty Blue paintwork with a Silver Birch roof, the Rover features a complementary Tan hide interior upholstery. Shortly before being purchased into current ownership in 2016, the P5B was provided with significant restoration work between 2015-2016 that comprised a complete respray, fitment of electronic ignition, attention to the cooling system, and other smaller improvements to the total of over £7,700. Thereafter featured in ‘Classic Car Mart’ magazine in a comparison between the Rover P5B Coupe and the Daimler V8 250, with the article concluding that the P5B narrowly won! Further enhanced while in current ownership, the Rover has received wheel refurbishment, a brake refresh, a new starter motor, fitment of a vintage-style radio, and servicing making expenditure since 2015 totalling above £10,600. Accompanied by the original and complete toolkit, chassis ‘84503355D’ is offered now with just 53,500 recorded miles on the odometer. Supplied with a history file that contains a large collection of invoices, previous MOT certificates, owner’s instruction manual, original sales literature, workshop manual, copy of the ‘Classic Car Mart’ magazine, and a current V5C document. With low recorded mileage and in an appealing colour scheme, ‘XVO 400H’ has much to recommend it and is offered at we feel, an attractive guide. For more information, please contact: Paul Cheetham paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk 07538 667452
Lot 461
German porcelain plaque, decorated with the Madonna Della Seggiola, after Raphael, oval 12cm x 9cm, within a modern gilt frame; also a small German hand decorated porcelain plaque featuring Queen Louise of Russia, after Gustav Richter, oval 6cm x 4.5cm, mounted within a wooden frame: and a further German hand decorated porcelain plaque featuring a pipe smoker, oval 6cm x 5cm, in an ebonised wooden frame (3) (Please note condition does not form part of the catalogue description. We strongly advise viewing to satsify yourself as to condition. If you are unable to view and a condition report is not already available, please ask for one and it will be provided in writing).
Lot 699
An interesting collection of Player's Navy Cut memorabilia, comprising a large circular display board, illustrating a lifebuoy with Players Navy Cut, and a portrait of a sailor with a hero cap and warships centrally, 132.5cm diameter, and oil on canvas portrait of a sailor with pipe and tobacco box, wearing cap bade for HMS Excellent, 101cm x 67.5cm, a print showing the same sailor, another of a cowboy smoking a pipe titled 'Players', oil on board, 71cm x 52cm, and a framed black and white print of John Player, the founder 1839-1884, in an ornate frame, 49cm x 39cm. (5) Provenance: Removed from the John Player & Son Nottingham offices in 2018 when acquired by the current vendor.
Lot 179
The Great War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain R. L’E. M. Rede, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant command of the flotilla leader Botha in a night action off Dunkirk in March 1918, when at 27 knots he rammed and ‘cut in two pieces’ an enemy torpedo boat: as Sir Roger Keyes put it, ‘the gift of rapid decision, initiative and readiness to accept responsibility was given to few’, but Rede ‘displayed all of these excellent qualities’ and was also advanced to post-rank on the Admiral’s personal recommendation Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Commr. R. L’E. M. Rede, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R.L.E.M. Rede, R.N.); France, 3rd Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamels, with rosette; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus, breast badge, gold and enamels, mounted as worn but some ribbons rather distressed, the first with loose centres and minor enamel damage, otherwise generally good very fine (6) £2,600-£3,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: R. C. Witte Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2007. D.S.O. London Gazette 21 June 1918: ‘For services in the action with enemy destroyers off the Belgian coast on 21 March 1918 ... Commander Rede of the Botha took his ship through a heavy barrage of gunfire and, without waiting to ascertain that the rest of his division were following, proceeded to engage the enemy with ram, torpedo and gunfire. He rammed and cut in two pieces an enemy torpedo boat. The success of the action was undoubtedly due to his gallant leadership and initiative.’ Legion of Honour London Gazette 7 August 1918. Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus London Gazette 11 August 1917. Roger L’Estrange Murray Rede was born at Toonah, Victoria, in August 1878, the son of a clergyman, and entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in Britannia in January 1893. Appointed a Midshipman in the cruiser Orlando on the Pacific Station in December 1895, he was advanced to Lieutenant in October 1901 and to Lieutenant-Commander in December 1909, and on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, as a recently promoted Commander, he took over torpedo boat destroyer T.B. 23. Removing to the battleship Albermarle in the following year, he won a commendation from his captain on the occasion their ship was damaged in an incident in Pentland Firth on 7 November 1915 and, on taking command of the destroyer Martin in September 1916, the appreciation of Their Lordships ‘for the promptness with which an attack against an enemy submarine was carried out on 7 August 1917’. But it was for his subsequent command of the Dover Patrol flotilla leader Botha in an action off Dunkirk on 21 March 1918, that he won his D.S.O. Commander P. K. Kemp’s H.M. Destroyers takes up the story: ‘As they lay in wait off Dunkirk, ready to slip their cables at the first sign of enemy activity, they heard firing off the coast and saw gun flashes. It was the enemy squadron from Zeebrugge bombarding Allied positions ashore off La Panne. The mixed squadron set off at full speed, sighted a line of ships in the darkness and, receiving the wrong reply to the challenge, opened fire. Rede, leading the line in the Botha, fired two torpedoes at the enemy and then turned to ram. Travelling at a speed of 27 knots, the Botha cut clean through one of the enemy without damaging her bows, the two ends dropping apart either side of her. As soon as she was through she turned in order to repeat the process, but a shell through her main steam pipe cut down her speed so much that she just failed. However, she passed through the line so close to another of the enemy that her guns set her on fire and completely wrecked her. Her next experience was somewhat less happy. One of the French destroyers, mistaking her for an enemy, fired a torpedo which hit amidships and exploded with terrific force, blowing a large hole in her port side. Orders were given to abandon the ship, but a few minutes later were cancelled when it was found that the Botha still had a chance of survival. Although she had taken a lot of water on board and her engines and boilers were wrecked, her sturdy construction was holding up to the strain. One of the French destroyers was also in trouble. In working up to full speed one of her boilers exploded, which she reported somewhat dramatically in a plain language signal: “Can go no more. Boiler go bang.” With the coming of daylight the only sign of the enemy was the ship set on fire by the Botha’s guns. All the remainder had made off in the night. She was soon finished off by the Morris, which then took the Botha in tow and just managed to reach Dunkirk with her. The two German ships sunk were the torpedo boats A-7 and A-19.’ Rede transferred to another flotilla leader, the Douglas, in July 1918, and remained in her until the end of hostilities, a period that witnessed him conveying Sir Douglas Haig and Sir Roger Keyes across the Channel on at least one occasion: ‘we crossed at over 30 knots in a cloud of spray’ (The Admiral’s memoirs refer). As it transpired, Keyes was busy pushing Rede forward for advancement to post-rank, an intention which was eventually fulfilled: ‘When I found that Roger Rede, who displayed such initiative in the action off Dunkirk in March, was not to be promoted - as I had been practically promised - I appealed to Admiral Wemyss, and reminded him of the great moral value of Rede’s action; apart from the destruction of two enemy vessels, plucked from a superior force. It was so hard that he should lose the promotion he so thoroughly deserved, because in the meantime more spectacular actions had taken place. The Service was full of gallant officers, who would face great odds without hesitation when led, but the gift of rapid decision, initiative and readiness to accept responsibility was given to few, and Rede displayed all these excellent qualities. Admiral Wemyss’ letter, in reply to mine, is amongst those I prize, and Rede was promoted the following December.’ Post-war, Rede commanded the flotilla leader Nimrod 1919-21, and was employed at the Admiralty, his final seagoing appointment being in the battleship Resolution, aboard which he died suddenly on 3 March 1930 and was buried at sea.
Lot 176
The rare Great War ‘East Africa, Lindi operations C.G.M. group of eight awarded to Able Seaman Harry Johns, H.M.S. Thistle, who showed exemplary conduct in at once going below into the after flat, when the ship was hit by an enemy 4.1 inch shell, in order to assist in extinguishing the fire’ Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R. (183788. H. Johns, A.B. H.M.S. Thistle. Lindi. 11. June 1917.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (H. Johns, Lg. Sea., H.M.S. Fox.); 1914-15 Star (183788. H. Johns. A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (183788. H. Johns. A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (183788. Harry Johns. A.B. H.M.S. Thistle.); France, Third Republic, Medaille Militarie, blue enamel badly chipped on this; Croix de Guerre 1914 1917, with bronze palme, mounted as worn, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (8) £8,000-£10,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- C.G.M. London Gazette 19 December 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry during combined naval and military operations in the neighbourhood of Lindi, East Africa, on the 10th and 11th June, 1917. He showed exemplary conduct in at once going below into the after flat, when the ship was hit by an enemy 4.1 inch shell, in order to assist in extinguishing the fire, and by his coolness and judgement prevented the fire from spreading.’ Three C.G.M.s awarded for the Lindi operations in East Africa. Medaille Militaire London Gazette 28 August 1918. Croix de Guerre London Gazette 14 September 1918. Lindi, a port of German East Africa, was occupied by the British Forces in September, 1915, but ever since that time had been practically ‘bottled up’, the surrounding country being held by the Germans. Lindi does not lie on the coast, but on the northern shore of the estuary of the river Lukuledi, which is some seventy miles north of the Portuguese frontier. In view of operations that had been planned, it became very desirable in the summer of 1917, to clear a larger area round Lindi in order to secure a better water supply and to prepare the main exits from the town and harbour. With this object in view, the main Military force moved out on June 10th, 1917, and in three days had cleared the enemy from the estuary of the river. During these operations a surprise landing was carried out at a creek on the south side, where the Germans had a 4.1" gun which commanded the estuary and had proved very troublesome. This was a combined naval and military operation. Upon the Navy, represented by the Hyacinth, Severn, Thistle and Echo, devolved the duty of embarking some 2,800 troops and 700 porters and conveying them to their starting point. This had to be done under cover of night. To reach the selected landing place the heavily laden boats had to pass close to enemy positions. The passage by water started at 1800 on the 10th September, the night being dark and the tide fair. An officer, Lieut. Charlewood, D.S.C., of the Echo, led the advance in a motor boat and placed lights, invisible to the enemy, on prominent points as leading marks. Although the Germans appeared to know that there was some movement on foot they either reserved their fire or did not observe the tows of boats passing them. The Thistle and Severn, which were following the boats, were sniped at. The main column was successfully landed by 2230 and by 0600 the next morning had occupied the hills covering the landing. It was not until 0300 on the 11th that the Germans opened fire with their 4.8" gun. Their shooting was very wild and caused no damage. The Thistle, which had anchored to superintend and cover a landing, was obliged, by the low state of the tide, to remain stationary, but fortunately, she was hidden from the enemy by a thick mist which lasted till 0700. When the mist cleared away the Germans immediately opened fire on her and after about 20 rounds, scored one hit. This killed an E.R.A. and wounded a leading stoker, also causing extensive damage. The auxiliary exhaust, fire mains, dynamo pipes, and two bulkheads were pierced. The shell, after passing through the ship's side, struck the after magazine hatch, which it completely broke up. A fire started in the magazine flat, a small confined space with the magazine below it. After the burst of the shell, the flat was on fire, and filled with fumes, smoke and steam from the holed exhaust pipe. Mr. Mark Methuen, Gunner, followed by Leading Stoker George Pascall and Able Seaman Harry Johns went into the flat and succeeded in extinguishing the fire before any further harm resulted. They all suffered from the effect of the fumes, Mr. Methuen having to go on the sick list. When the fire was extinguished, Leading Stoker Pascall went to assist in the Engine Room. Here he found that the E.R.A. had been killed, but that Leading Stoker James Leach, who was wounded in two places, had continued to stand by the engines although the engine room was filled with steam and water was pouring through the burst fire mains. Leading Stoker Leach persisted in carrying on with his duty until ordered to go up for medical treatment. The expedition was successful, the enemy being driven from his positions and forced to retire inland. Mr. Methuen received the D.S.C., and Leading Stoker Pascal, A.B. Johns and Leading Stoker Leach were awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for their conduct on this occasion. Harry Johns was born at Bristol on 1 December 1879, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 10 May 1895. Hr progressively through the rates to become Petty Officer 2nd Class on 22 June 1905, but for some reason reverted to Able Seaman just 11 days later and remained as such until the expiration of his Continuous Service engagement on 3 December 1909. Joining the Royal Fleet Reserve on the following day, he was recalled for service on 2 August 1914, joining H.M.S. Challenger. He removed to H.M.S. Thistle on 17 April 1916, and to H.M.S. Defiance on 1 October 1918, from which ship he was Shore Demobilised on 16 May 1919. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal on 12 November 1917, shortly before he received the C.G.M. These and the two French awards are all confirmed on his record of service. Sold with copied record of service.
Lot 160
The Great War D.S.O. group of five awarded to Captain J. E. A. Mocatta, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his magnificent bravery and skill in command of the destroyer Nicator at Jutland, where he once engaged the enemy at the suicidal range of 600 yards, under ‘a perfectly hair-raising bombardment’, all the while ‘leaning coolly against the front of the bridge, smoking his pipe, and giving orders to his helmsman’ Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. J. E. A. Mocatta, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Commr. J. E. A. Mocatta, R.N.); Russia, Empire, Order of St Stanislas, 3rd Class neck badge with swords, 40mm x 40mm., gold and enamel, manufacturer’s name (probably Edouard) on reverse, ‘56’ gold mark for St. Petersburg 1908-17 on eyelet, further stamp marks on sword hilts, mounted for display, good very fine and better (5) £6,000-£8,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: R. C. Witte Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2007. D.S.O. London Gazette 15 September 1916: ‘He supported Commander Bingham of Nestor in his gallant action against destroyers, battle-cruisers and battleships, in the most courageous and effective manner.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 6 July 1916. Order of St Stanislas, 3rd Class London Gazette 5 June 1917. Jack Ernest Albert Mocatta was born in Paddington, London in April 1887 and entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in Britannia in May 1902, and was appointed Midshipman in the Empress of India on the Mediterranean Station in October 1903. Advanced to Lieutenant in October 1909, after surviving the loss of the Gala in a collision in the previous year, he was serving in the destroyer Brisk on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. As it transpired, he would remain actively employed in destroyers for the remainder of the War, his subsequent pre-Jutland appointments being the Angler (March to September 1915), the Sunflower as C.O. (September 1915 to January 1916), and the Sandfly as C.O. (February to May 1916), in which latter month he removed to the Nicator. And judging by assorted reports on his service record, he was the very epitomy of a destroyer captain - dashing, plucky, skilful and energetic, and blessed with a healthy disregard for minor detail and paperwork. At Jutland, Mocatta’s Nicator was in the 2nd Division of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, and the port division of that force was commanded by the equally dashing Harry Bingham, the son of an Anglo-Irish nobleman, in Nestor; the team was completed by Nomad, under Lieutenant-Commander Paul Whitfield. Very shortly the home press would be buzzing with tales of their exploits, not least of the award of the V.C. to Barry Bingham, and, as the following account confirms, no-one lent better support to that gallant officer than Mocatta of the Nicator: ‘At 4.15 the port division, led by Commander the Hon. Barry Bingham in the Nestor, swerved out of line at full speed to attack. Other divisions followed, until, steaming at full speeds of nearly 34 knots, as fast as they could be driven, a dozen destroyers were tearing for the area of “No Man’s Sea” between the opposing squadrons. It was a chance vouchsafed to few destroyer officers, and then only once in a lifetime. They had started on the most exciting race in the world, a race towards the enemy, a race which had as its prizes honour and glory - possibly death. Almost as soon as our destroyers moved out to attack, 15 enemy destroyers, accompanied by a light-cruiser, the Regensburg, emerged from the head of the German battle-cruisers to deliver an attack upon our battle-cruisers. The British destroyers steered at full speed for a position on the enemy’s bow whence to fire their torpedoes, their course gradually converging on that of the German flotilla. At 4.40 the Nestor, Commander Bingham, followed by the Nicator, Lieutenant Jack Mocatta, and the Nomad, Lieutenant-Commander Paul Whitfield, swung round to north to fire their torpedoes, and also to beat off the enemy’s destroyer attack. These three ships were followed at intervals by the Petard, Lieutenant-Commander E. C. O. Thomson, and the Turbulent, Lieutenant-Commander Dudley Stuart. Immediately the Nestor, Nicator and Nomad turned in to attack the enemy’s light-cruisers, the German flotilla turned to an appropriately parallel course. Almost at once the destroyer fight started at a range of about 9,000 yards. Both sides fired rapidly as the distance decreased, and to onlookers the opposing flotillas were only seen as lean black shapes pouring smoke from their funnels as, with their guns blazing, they tore at full speed through a welter of shell-splashes. At about 4.45 the Nomad was hit in the engine-room, the explosion killing or wounding many men and destroying steam-pipes. At full speed, the Nestor and Nicator, followed at an interval by the Petard and Turbulent, and supported by the other destroyers, engaged the enemy flotilla at a distance which eventually dropped to about 600 yards - almost point-blank range. The Germans were outgunned, and in a very few minutes their attack was beaten off. Leaving two sinking ships behind them, and with several more hit and damaged, they made at full speed for the comparative safety at the head and tail of their battle-cruisers, closely pursued by our craft. The enemy had actually fired 12 torpedoes at the British battle-cruisers, though, thanks to our destroyers onslaught, they had been unable to approach within a range that gave them much chance of hitting. The Nestor and Nicator each fired two torpedoes at the enemy’s battle-cruiser line at a range of about 5,000 yards, while continuing to engage the German destroyers. The torpedoes missed, for, seeing the tell-tale splashes as they left their tubes, the German Admiral turned his ships away. The Petard, firing three torpedoes later at a range of about 7,000 yards, was luckier, for one of hers hit the Seydlitz, tore a hole 13 by 39 feet under her armoured belt, and put one heavy gun out of action. Swinging round to the eastward, followed by the solitary Nicator, the Nestor found herself rapidly approaching the head of the enemy battle-cruiser line, all four ships of which were soon pouring in a withering fire from their secondary armaments. The sea vomited splashes and spray fountains; but, pressing home his attack, Bingham fired his third torpedo at a range of about 3,500 yards. Throughout this period both the Nestor and Nicator were escaping destruction by a few inches, for the shell was falling all round them. According to one of Nicator’s officers, that ship avoided being hit by altering course towards each salvo as it fell, thereby confusing the enemy’s spotting corrections. “Throughout the whole action,” says the same officer, “the captain [Mocatta] was leaning coolly against the front of the bridge smoking his pipe, and giving orders to the helmsman.” His work done, Bingham still followed by the faithful Nicator, swung round through 180 degrees and made off at full speed to the westward to rejoin the British battle-cruisers, which, at 4.40, having sighted the approaching High Seas Fleet, had altered course to the northward. Here there occurs a slight discrepancy between the official reports of the Nestor and Nicator. Mocatta states that during the run back both ships were subjected to a very heavy fire at a range of about 3,000 yards from the leading battleships of the High Seas Fleet. Bingham says nothing of the batt...
Lot 165
The Great War Memorial Plaque to Major F. J. W. Harvey, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross aboard H.M.S. Lion at the battle of Jutland Memorial Plaque (Francis John William Harvey) with Buckingham Palace enclosure and card envelope, extremely fine £5,000-£7,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Victoria Cross London Gazette 15 September 1916: ‘Whilst mortally wounded and almost the only survivor after the explosion of an enemy shell in “Q” gunhouse, with great presence of mind and devotion to duty ordered the magazine to be flooded, thereby saving the ship. He died shortly afterwards.’ Francis John William Harvey was born in Upper Sydenham, Kent, on 29 April 1873, to Commander John William Francis Harvey and Elizabeth Edwards Lavington Harvey (née Penny). In 1884, aged 11, he moved with his family to Southsea where he attended Portsmouth Grammar School, achieving excellent academic results. After leaving school, Harvey was accepted by both the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, graduating in 1892 and the following year was made a full lieutenant, joining H.M.S. Wildfire for his first seagoing commission. After just a year at sea, he was sent on gunnery courses at H.M.S. Excellent, qualifying in 1896 as an instructor first class in naval gunnery. Between 1898 and 1904, he spent much of his time attached to the Channel Fleet, practising and instructing in gunnery, and on 28 January 1900, he was promoted to Captain. In 1903 he was posted aboard H.M.S. Royal Sovereign, teaching gunnery to the heavy units of the Channel Fleet. In 1910, Harvey became Instructor of Gunnery at Chatham Dockyard and the following year was promoted to Major, a report commenting: "The degree of efficiency in the Gunnery Establishment at Chatham is very high, both as regards general training and attention to detail. Great credit is due to all concerned but particularly to Major F. J. W. Harvey”. On the strength of this report, he was posted as senior marine officer aboard H.M.S. Lion, the 27,000-ton flagship of the British battlecruiser fleet, commanded by Rear-Admiral David Beatty. H.M.S. Lion had eight 13.5-inch guns and Harvey was stationed in “Q” turret, directing their operation and fire. After action in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, Lion was badly damaged during the Battle of Dogger Bank and returned to Rosyth for repairs where Harvey remained for the whole of 1915 and the first five months of 1916, continuing his gunnery training and preparing for major fleet action. He wrote to a fellow officer in H.M.S. Orion describing his experiences: “As to the fighting in a turret, one doesn't suffer any discomfort and my chief feeling has been of 'curiosity' mixed with the idea that whoever else is coming to grief, oneself will be all right. I am under no delusion though, that if a projectile does hit one's turret it will in all probability come right in and send one to glory.” His preparations for action came to fruition on 31 May 1916, when the British fleet sailed to engage the main body of the German High Seas Fleet at the Battle of Jutland. During the battle, H.M.S. Lion was hit by nine shells from the German battlecruiser, Lutzow. One shell struck “Q” turret, where arvey was at Action Stations, and punched a piece of the 9-inch face plate into the turret before detonating, blowing off the armoured roof of the turret and starting a fire. The initial explosion killed or wounded everyone stationed in the gun house itself, but Harvey, despite severe wounds and burns, gave orders down the voice pipe for the magazine doors to be closed and the magazine compartments to be flooded, an action which would normally prevent the cordite in the magazines detonating. The magazine was consequently flooded and locked up within minutes of the hit; however, there were still ready charges in the gun room and gun barrels. Many crewmen remained in the shell room and magazine below and the fire, which was thought to have been extinguished, gained strength and ignited the remaining cordite charges, setting off a large explosion that killed all the men in the vicinity, the flame of the explosion reaching as high as the top of the ship's masts. Other ships of the battlecruiser fleet were not so lucky; at about the same time as Harvey's death, H.M.S. Indefatigable, H.M.S. Queen Mary, and Rear-Admiral Horace Hood's flagship, H.M.S. Invincible were destroyed with a combined loss of 3320 lives. All three ships were lost due to magazine explosions similar to the one narrowly avoided on H.M.S. Lion. In the aftermath of the battle, Major Harvey was buried at sea with full military honours alongside the other 98 fatal casualties on H.M.S. Lion. His bravery in the face of certain death did not go unnoticed as he was mentioned by name in Admiral Jellicoe's post-battle dispatch and he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. His widow Ethel was presented with the award at Buckingham Palace by King George V on 15 September 1916. Winston Churchill later commented: "In the long, rough, glorious history of the Royal Marines there is no name and no deed which in its character and consequences ranks above this." Harvey’s Victoria Cross group of medals is held by the Royal Marines Museum.
Lot 133
Britains - The Golden Jubilee Series - A Group of Boxed Sets. Comprising: Set No. 40266 'The Gurkha Contingent Pipe Band Set 1'; plus sets 40267, 40278 & 40269. Conditions generally appear Excellent to Near Mint overall, contained in generally Excellent set boxes. Not checked for completeness. See photo.
Lot 763
Scottish crewel work binding: The Book of Common Prayer, Oxford: The University Press, n.d. late 19th Century, 32mo, Crewel work cover on a linen backed brocade cloth with metal thread scrolling vines issuing flowers, rosehips, a strawberry and a thistle, within a cartouche, edged with a twisted metal thread trim, bookseller label for R. Grant & Son, Edinburgh, Scotland; within later green leather wrapped box enclosing a torn postcard dated 1889 to Mrs Buck, Pipe Hill, Lichfield
Lot 611
A COLLECTION OF TOBBACCO PIPES AND CHEROOT HOLDERS, comprising eleven vintage cheroot cigar holders all in cases except one, some with carved horn detail, some names are KB, Best Vienna Meerschaum, PC, eight tobacco pipes to include a vintage Swiss made wood smoking pipe with bone effect mouthpiece and a silver ram detail on the front Reg No. 140098-149090, W.H.C vintage black pipe, small pipe with two carved dogs, with case, cased pipe with a carved head (mouthpiece is broken), amber stem pipe with silver decorative detail in case, ceramic whistle pipe with stag detail, etc. (Condition Report: all items are in well used condition and the cases very worn, some pipes and cases have s.d.) (1 box)
Lot 520
SIX PICTURES AND PRINTS, comprising a late 19th century watercolour depicting fishing boats off the coast, initialled M.D approximate size 12cm x 22cm, a late 19th / early 20th century hand painted ceramic tile, depicting a gamekeeper outside a cottage, inscribed and initialled 'The Keepers Cottage' H.H, a print of a male figure lighting a pipe, Lucy Dawson print of Scottish Terriers, a print of a West Highland Terrier and a John Charles Dollman print 'The Rising Generation'
Lot 409
A SET OF FOUR FRANKLIN PORCELAIN 'MAIKO' FIGURINES, AND TWO CHINESE FIGURES, the Franklin Porcelain figures by Tokutaro Tamai comprising 'The Maiden of the Lilting Song', 'The Maiden of the Fluttering Fan' (hand and fan broken off, but included, fan broken and repaired across centre with a small area of loss),'The Maiden of the Treasured Tea' and 'The Maiden of the Perfect Blossom' (loss of one leaf), with certificates, height of tallest 25cm, together with a Chinese ceramic figure of a fisherman (repair with small area of loss), and a carved wooden figure of a wise man (some cracks especially in base and around centre of pipe) (6 + loose piece + certificates) (Condition Report: specific obvious damage as stated, otherwise appear ok)
Lot 491
TWO BOXES AND LOOSE MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, to include chromed State Express Cigarette box, Ronson Art Deco style combination Cigarette Case & Lighter, Dutch? wall mounted wooden pipe rack, three wooden dolls chairs, Victorian papier mâché Snuff Box with Rose Barton print of Chelsea Bridge to lid, vintage Surridge 'Peter May' cricket bat, Austin tennis racquet, quantity of assorted Bayko Building set parts and accessories, Box Brownie Camera, Marbles, Dominoes, Playing Cards, vintage Advertising tins, carved wooden tray (in need of attention), wooden frames letter rack, assorted boxes etc. (2 boxes and loose)
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