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Three: Able Seaman J. Hepple, Drake Battalion, R.N.D., who was killed in action on the first day of the battle of the Ancre in November 1916 1914-15 Star (TZ. 4153, J. Hepple, A.B. R.N.V.R.); British War and Victory Medals (T.Z.4153 J. Hepple. A.B. R.N.V.R.) together with Memorial Plaque (Jacob Hepple) in card envelope, nearly extremely fine (4) £180-£220 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Able Seaman Jacob Hepple, from Handsworth, Birmingham, was killed in action on 13 November 1916, on the first day of the Battle of the Ancre. He is commemorated by name on the Thiepval Memorial.

A fine Boer War Brigade Commander’s C.B. group of five awarded to Major-General J. E. Boyes, The Gordon Highlanders The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1887, complete with gold swivel bar suspension and gold ribbon buckle, white enamel slightly chipped on one arm; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 4 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1884, El-Teb_Tamaai, The Nile 1884-85 (Maj: J. E. Boyes, 1/Gord: Highrs:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Major-General J. E. Boyes.); Ottoman Empire, Order of Osmanieh, 4th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, chipped in places; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, generally good very fine (5) £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: A. J. Henderson Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, April 2003, when sold with a silver-gilt C.B. breast badge. C.B. London Gazette 19 April 1901. John Edward Boyes was born in June 1843, the son of John Boyes of Cheltenham. His younger brother, Duncan, won a V.C. with the Royal Navy at Shimonoseki in Japan in 1863. 
Commissioned into the 75th Regiment in October 1861, he was advanced, by purchase, to Lieutenant in January 1867, and to Captain, again by purchase, in October 1868. Receiving his Majority in December 1880, he accompanied his regiment, now the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, on the expedition against Arabi Pasha in 1882, being present at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13 September. For his services in the campaign he was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel in November 1882, in addition to being Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 2 November 1882) and awarded the Turkish Order of Osmanieh, 4th class. 
In 1884, Boyes again accompanied the 1st Battalion during the Suakin campaign, being present at both the battles of El-Teb and Tamaai. Shortly thereafter he served with the Battalion in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85. Advanced to full Colonel in November 1886, he succeeded Colonel F. F. Daniell as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion in July 1887, a position he occupied until handing over to Colonel T. S. Gildea in February 1891. 
A Major-General by the time of the Boer War, Boyes commanded the 17th Infantry Brigade of Rundle’s ‘Starving’ Eighth Division from the time of its arrival in South Africa in April 1900. He proved to be a solid Brigade Commander who never suffered a disaster or mishap and was created a C.B. and Mentioned in Despatches for his command during the Brandwater Basin and Eastern Free State operations. A vivid account of his operations can be found in E. C. Moffet’s With The Eighth Division. 
17th Brigade comprised the 1st Battalion, Worcester Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment and 2nd, 77th and 79th Batteries R.F.A. It was frequently split up and sent to different parts of the Orange Free State as Roberts continued his clearance operations in July and August 1900. Boyes had his Headquarters at Fricksburg and Vrede at different times and became immersed in the beginnings of the Guerilla War. The General retired to Abbotsham in North Devon.

A most unusual Great War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain (Retired-Admiral, R.N.) T. P. Walker, Royal Naval Reserve, who was in command of H.M. Armed Yacht Aegusa when she was sunk by a mine in the Mediterranean in April 1916 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R. silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (T. P. Walker. Midn. R.N. H.M.S. “Modeste”); 1914-15 Star (Capt. T. P. Walker, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. T. P. Walker. R.N.R.); Italy, Kingdon, War Cross, mounted as worn, minor chips to wreaths on the first, otherwise early extremely fine (6) £2,400-£2,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918: ‘In recognition of services in the prosecution of the war. Thomas Philip Walker, R.N.R. (Admiral, Retired).’ Italian War Cross London Gazette 22 January 1922. Thomas Philip Walker was born in Bedford on 16 September 1858, and entered the Training Ship Britannia in January 1872. He was appointed Midshipman in Modeste in December 1873 and served with the Laroot Field Force during the operations against the Malays in 1875-76 (Perak Medal and Clasp). He served as Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert in 1879, was a Member of the Naval Intelligence Department from April 1896 to March 1899, and Assistant to the Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves from April 1906 to March 1908. Walker was appointed A.D.C. to the King from February 1907 to 22 March 1908, when he was promoted to Rear-Admiral. He retired in September 1911, advancing to Vice-Admiral (Retired) in May 1913, and to Admiral (Retired) in April 1917. Following his retirement in 1911, Walker was appointed an Assessor under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act to attend Admiralty Appeals in the House of Lords. Admiral Walker was granted a temporary commission as a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve in 1914, and saw active service afloat in command of H.M. Armed Yacht Aegusa, which arrived in the Mediterranean at the end of 1915. On 13 April 1916, Walker received a wireless intercepted message that a submarine had been sighted at 8 a.m., and proceeded towards the reported position. Before arriving there, he received news that the enemy had apparently gone towards the Adriatic, and accordingly altered course, hoping to catch her before sunset. At 5.35 p.m. a steamer was observed about five miles off, and almost immediately afterwards a submarine was seen coming away from the steamer. The submarine fired a torpedo which caused the ship to heel over and sink. In the meantime the Aegusa had opened a deliberate fire at 8,000 yards. The enemy was making off at full speed on the surface in an easterly direction, and soon submerged, thus escaping. A fortnight later the Aegusa was lost off Malta when she was sunk by a mine. There was happily no loss of life and Walker went on to get the D.S.O. as a Retired Admiral in his sixtieth year. He was the author of Seamanship Examination Questions of the Training Squadron, 1891; Editor of Captain Alston’s Seamanship, third edition revised and enlarged; and also of Nare’s Seamanship. Admiral Walker died on 27 August 1932. Sold with copied research including record of service.

A Great War D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Stephens, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was Mentioned in Despatches, and awarded the Serbian Order of St. Sava Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut: F. A .Stephens, R.A.M.C.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. F. A. Stephens. R.A.M.C.) engraved naming; 1914-15 Star (Major F. A. Stephens. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. F. A. Stephens.) BWM officially re-impressed; Serbia, Kingdom, Order of St. Sava, Officer’s badge, silver-gilt and enamel, Bishop with red robes, mounted as worn, minor enamel damage to motto around central medallion on last, otherwise good very fine (7) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 18 February 1915: ‘For services in connection with operations in the Field.’ Serbian Order of St. Sava, Officer London Gazette 28 January 1918. Frederick Archer Stephens was born on 5 January 1872 and was educated at Sherborne School, and King's College, London, for the medical profession. He was commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 14 November 1900, and served in South Africa during the Boer War as a Civil Surgeon. He was present in operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, from July to 29 November 1900; operations in the Transvaal from December 1900 to 31 May 1902; and operations in Orange River Colony and Cape Colony from 30 November 1900 to May 1901. For his services he received the Queen's Medal with three clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps. Stephens was promoted Captain on 14 November 1903, and was a Territorial Adjutant from 15 June 1908 to 31 October 1911. He was promoted Major on 14 November 1912, and served during the Great War initially in Hospital Ships from 13 August 1914. For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 17 February 1915) and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. He afterwards served with the Serbian and British Armies in Macedonia, and was Acting Lieutenant-Colonel from September to December 1918, being awarded the Serbian Order of St. Sava. Sold with the original Bestowal Document for the D.S.O., in OHMS envelope, together with a copy of the Statutes of the Order; the recipient’s Army Correspondence Book, principally used by the recipient as a diary, covering the period June 1916 to February 1918, together with various medical entries; and a large quantity of letters (many of them congratulating the recipient on the award of the D.S.O), postcards, and other ephemera.

A rare ‘Belgian Agent’ group of four awarded to Madame Charlotte Lints-Stassart Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Officer’s badge, gilt and enamel, French motto, with rosette on riband; Commemorative Medal for he Great War 1914-18, bronze; Allied Victory Medal 1914-19, bronze; Great Britain, British War Medal 1914-20 (C. Lints-Stassart) mounted court-style, the Belgian Victory Medal with abrasions to higher relief parts, and suspension ‘ball’ somewhat out of shape, otherwise very fine and better, rare to unit (4) £300-£400 --- Charlotte Lints-Stassart served as a Belgian Agent for British Military Intelligence during the Great War, her name being included on the British War Medal roll signed by Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund Wallinger, head of British Military Intelligence, dated 7 August 1919. Her address is given as 26 Rue en Bois, Liege. ‘Armour Against Fate’ by Michael Occleshaw gives the following information: ‘There were, of course, many other organisations which, while successful to a lesser degree, nevertheless ran the same risks and penalties. Drake tells us that the number of Agents employed by G.H.Q. alone was ‘roughly 6,000’, of whom 98 lost their lives: 91 were executed, 4 died in prison, 2 were shot, and one was electrocuted trying to cross the Dutch-Belgian frontier. A further 644 were imprisoned for sentences totalling 700 years (the time actually served amounted to 175 years), and 10 were deported. Major Wallinger, however, told Colonel Kirke that the total number of G.H.Q. Agents in the occupied territories was 5,500, of whom 1,200 were imprisoned, serving an average of 14 months, and 200 were shot or died in prison (though in a later letter he gave a total shot or dying in prison as 120). The reason for the disparity between the two men’s figures almost certainly resides in a question of terminology; a question of what was precisely meant by the words ‘Agent’ and ‘Spy’. An Agent is an individual directly employed by an Intelligence Service sent into a foreign country to obtain information. A Spy is an individual who served in the enemy’s own ranks and, more often than not, is recruited by the Agent ... the numbers employed both directly and indirectly by the British Intelligence Services was one that the Germans simply could not contain, much less control. Every sort of person was employed, ranging ‘from abbes, high officials of the Gendarmerie, a Marchioness of some 60 years of age, big industrialists and prominent barristers, down to seamstresses, poachers, smugglers, bargemen and railway officials ... ’

An interesting Victory Medal awarded to Private H. Haw M.M., West Yorkshire Regiment, who was caught stealing eggs from a Yorkshire hen-house in a ‘sting’ operation reminiscent of a modern-day children’s animation: Losing his reserved occupation in consequence, Haw went on to serve with distinction on the Western Front Victory Medal 1914-19 (49515 Pte. H. Haw. W. York. R.) edge bruising, nearly very fine £60-£80 --- M.M. London Gazette 22 July 1919. Harold Haw was born in Bradford in 1890 and spent his childhood at Fieldhouse Farm, Farsley. A married market gardener and father to two small children, his formerly quiet life was rudely interrupted when he caught the attention of the local authorities and The Shipley Times and Express on 22 June 1917: ‘Robbing a Calverley Hen-Roost - How a Thief was Captured and Punished At the Bradford West Riding Police Court, on Monday, Harold Haw, labourer, of Pudsey, was charged with stealing two eggs on June 14th, the property of Mr. Henry Jagger of Calverley. He pleaded guilty. Mr. Wm. Walker, surveyor to the District Council, and also a special constable, said that on May 31st he called to see Mr. Jagger on business connected with Council matters, and Mr. Jagger said that on particular days he did not get many eggs from his poultry. He suspected that this shortage was possibly connected with the visits of a man who was in charge of a horse and waggon delivering goods for the Farsley branch of the Leeds Industrial Co-op. Society. The thefts had coincided with the man’s visits so often that they could hardly be a coincidence. Witness arranged with Mr. Jagger that on the 14th inst. a trap should be set, and that they would watch the man. Three eggs were punctured with a pin, and placed where the hens usually laid. This method of marking was adopted as being less noticeable than any other way, and also that it could not be rubbed off. Witness attended as arranged as about 10 a.m. on the 14th inst., and along with Mr. Jagger, went into a bedroom of the farm-house, from which a window overlooked the farm-yard. Shortly after the accused, accompanied by two youths, brought his waggon into the yard. He then carried a sack of bran into the mistal through the top door. One of the eggs was on some hay near the door. Accused shortly afterwards came out and sauntered down the yard and again entered the mistal by the lower door. He did not stay inside many minutes, and later paid a short visit to the hen-house. The boys were delivering goods in a box, placing them in an old cottage, as the house was locked up, in the absence of both Mr. and Mrs. Jagger on business. Accused and the boys then went to the waggon and across to an adjacent farm occupied by Mr. Newton Wood. Witness and Jagger then went down and found two of the marked eggs gone. The third egg was in a nest in the hen-house, and a hen which was wanting to sit had gone into the nest and thus covered the egg. Witness followed accused and caught him just as he was delivering a sack of meal at Mr. Wood’s. Witness said: “I want those two eggs you have got from the other farm.” Accused replied, “What eggs?” Witness said, “Those two eggs which you have got, and which are marked.” Witness drew his attention to his badge of ‘special constable,” and informed him that he should search him if the eggs were not given up. After some little hesitation, accused handed over the two eggs, one from each side pocket of his inside coat. Witness then took his name and address, and told him that he should report him. Accused was subsequently arrested by P.C. Woodhouse.’ At trial the Clerk asked the farmer, Mr. Jagger, if the hens laid in the mistal: “Yes, but they don’t lay marked eggs!” (laughter)’ In summing up the case, the chairman described Haw’s actions as rather despicable and mean and he was given the choice between a 40 shilling fine or a month in the cells; it seems likely that he chose the latter. On 23 July 1917, Haw attested for the West Yorkshire Regiment and commenced training as a Lewis gunner. The recipient’s Army Service Record confirms his address at this time as 11 Croft Place, Pudsey, and notes his posting to France in March 1918. Serving with the 8th Battalion, he suffered a shrapnel wound to the right thumb near Tronville on 7 September 1918. Transferred to the 1/6th Battalion, he joined the Army of Occupation on the Rhine and was awarded the Military Medal. Returned home to Yorkshire, Haw died at North Bierley in 1921.

Pair: Captain A. J. W. Musgrave, Royal Navy, who was specially mentioned and p[romoted for his services in New Zealand as one of the assaulting party from H.M.S. Esk at the Gate Pah in April 1864 China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Fatshan 1857, Canton 1857 (Archer John William Musgrave) contemporary engraved naming; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1863 to 1864 (Lieut. A. J. W. Musgrave, H.M.S. Esk) officially impressed naming, contact marks, otherwise very fine (2) £2,800-£3,400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Archer John William Musgrave was born in June 1842, and entered the Navy as a Naval Cadet in October 1855. He served during the operations in the Canton river, at the destruction of the Fatshan flotilla of war junks, 1 June 1857, and capture of Canton in December 1857 (China Medal, Fatshan and Canton clasps). He became Sub-Lieutenant in November 1862, and as Acting Lieutenant of Esk, served in the assaulting party on the Maori position at Pukehinahina (commonly known as the Gate Pah) on 29 April 1864. For his services in New Zealand, and especially in the affair of the Gate Pah, he was specially mentioned (London Gazette 15 July 1864), promoted to Lieutenant (London Gazette 29 April 1864), and received the New Zealand War Medal. He was Commander of Cockatrice up the Danube river during the Russo-Turkish war, and received the approval of the Foreign Office for his services and reports. He was promoted to Captain on 31 October 1879.

Three: Leading Aircraftman A. Norburgson, Royal Air Force, who served at R.A.F. Manston in Kent during the Battle of Britain Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (245165. L.A.C. A. Norburgson. R.A.F.) extremely fine (3) £120-£160 --- Alfred ‘Alf’ Norburgson was born at Old Ford, London, on 25 March 1900, the son of wood machinist Alfred Norburgson. Educated at Roman Road School in Bow, he was borne on the books of the Royal Naval Air Service from 3 January 1918 and was posted to R.N.A.S. Tregantle in Cornwall. Transferred to the Royal Air Force as Private 2nd Class on 31 March 1918, he married Ada Edith Cookson on 29 July 1928. A contemporary local newspaper takes up the story: ‘Young Wife’s Grief - Airman’s Tragic Discovery: Pathetic Inquest Story. The pathetic story of a young wife’s depression following the failure of an operation which she hoped would enable her to bear children was related to the Deputy Coroner (Mr. E. C. Allfree) at an inquest at Ramsgate Police Station on Wednesday. The inquest was on Mrs. Ada Edith Norburgson, aged 31, wife of Leading Aircraftman Alfred Norburgson, of 35 Crescent-road, Ramsgate. When Mr. Norburgson returned home from Manston camp on Tuesday afternoon he detected a smell of gas in his flat. Opening the scullery door, he found his wife lying on the floor with her head resting on an apron in the gas oven.’ Under the stress of deep emotion, Norburgson confirmed his role at No. 3 School of Technical Training (Manston) and the failure of an operation to his wife at Halton Hospital in April 1935. Sent to Shorncliffe Hospital for ‘nerve treatment’ her mental health never recovered; the scene was further darkened by a goodbye letter written by the deceased to her husband pleading for his forgiveness. In the following three years Norburgson remarried and is recorded as living with Ada Alice Smith and her parents at 109 Crescent Road, Ramsgate. Listed as ‘R.A.F. Corporal 245165 No. 3 S. of T. T.’ in the 1939 census, he was present at Manston when the airfield sat firmly on the front line of the Battle of Britain. Heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe, Manston also served as the departure point for six Fairey Swordfish aircraft in 1942 as they attempted to engage the Prinz Eugen, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau; an operation known later as the Channel Dash. Having survived tragedy and war, Norburgson caught the attention of The Thanet Echo and Advertiser on 20 August 1948 when his father-in-law, 77-year-old Samuel Edward Smith, was found dead in a gas-filled scullery following the passing of his much loved wife: ‘Alfred Norburgson said deceased lived with him and his wife. On Friday, deceased had dinner about 1.30pm and then retired to bed. Witness and his wife went out at 3pm and when they arrived back just over two hours later they noticed a strong smell of gas. In the scullery they found deceased lying on the floor with his head resting on a cushion placed on the edge of the open oven. The gas was fully on.’

Four: Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. Holland, 13th (Irish) Imperial Yeomanry, second-in-command of the battalion when taken prisoner at Lindley on 31 May 1900; late 15th Hussars, the detachment of which regiment he commanded on the Nile Expedition in 1884-85 Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lieut. A. G. Holland, 15th Hussrs.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Capt: A. G. Holland. 15/Husrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lt. Colonel A. G. Holland. 13/Impl. Yeo.) officially engraved naming; Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, contact marks and polished but generally nearly very fine (4) £1,600-£2,000 --- Arthur Gambier Holland was born on 10 September 1848, at Springfield, St. Helens, Ryde, Isle of Wight. The son of George Henry and Charlotte Holland, he was first appointed Cornet in 1869, and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 24 July 1869, spending 27 years with the regiment. He was raised Lieutenant on 18 October 1871; Captain on 29 April 1879; Major on 12 June 1889; and Lieutenant-Colonel (half pay) on 10 September 1896. Holland first served in Afghanistan with the Quetta and Kandahar Field Forces, taking part in the advance on and occupation of Kandahar and Khelat-i-Ghilzai; operations in Yarkistan; action near Takht-i-Pul (with the Thul Chottiali Field Force), gaining a Mention in Despatches at Takht-i-Pul, when his squadron, on 4 January 1879, surprised and defeated a superior force of some 400 enemy cavalry (Despatches 7 November 1879); and the relief of Kandahar. During the second part of the campaign, he served with the 15th Hussars in General Phayre's Division. Subsequently, he saw service in the Transvaal campaign during the first Boer War of 1881, for which no medal was ever issued. During the Nile expedition of 1884-5, Captain Holland commanded the detachment of 2 Officers and 42 men of the 15th Hussars which formed part of the Light Camel Regiment, taking part in the operations with the Desert Column, including the engagement at Abu Klea Wells on 16-17 February 1885. However, he and his men were not entitled to the clasp for the action at Abu Klea on 17 January as they were just outside the area of operations for which the clasp was awarded. Holland came out of retirement and volunteered for Boer War service, being appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, 13th Imperial Yeomanry on 21 February 1900. The 13th Battalion consisted of 45th (Dublin Hunt), 46th (Belfast), 47th (Duke of Cambridge's Own or Lord Donoughmore's) and 54th (Belfast) Companies. The Battalion was known by Roberts as the 'Irish Yeomanry’; however, the 47th Company, formed by Lord Donoughmore, who had been Commander-in-Chief of the Army for 39 years to 1895, was made up of 'men of gentle birth and wealth', who, in order to join the Company, had been required to pay £130 towards the cost of a horse, their own equipment and passage to South Africa, and to donate their pay to the Imperial War Fund for the Widows and Orphans of Soldiers. The 13th Battalion embarked for South Africa in February 1900 and was ordered to join Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Colville's 9th Division at Ventersburg as mounted infantry reinforcements. However, the unit was delayed waiting for forage and Colville left Ventersburg on 24 May 1900 without them. The Battalion was then ordered to Kroonstad and later redirected to Lindley, where on arrival on 27 May 1900, was soon engaged, coming under fire from parties of Boers around the town. Colonel Spragge, the Commanding Officer, withdrew a short distance from Lindley to the point at which he had left his baggage, established a defensive position atop a group of hills and immediately sent a messenger to Colville, requesting assistance. Colville, considering that his force was too weak to be divided, pressed on with his advance and ordered Colonel Spragge to retire to Kroonstad. Colonel Spragge had also sent requests for assistance to Lieutenant General Rundle, some 40 miles south of Lindley, and he immediately set about relieving the pressure on Spragge's force, but was held up at Senekal. Meanwhile, on 28 May 1900, the Boers began their assault on Spragge's position and for the next two days the 13th Battalion concentrated on maintaining its ground. However, on the evening of 29 May 1900, Piet de Wet arrived with reinforcements, bringing the Boer force surrounding the 13th Battalion up to some 2,500 men and most importantly, also brought with him four artillery guns, which were to effectively seal the fate of the Yeomanry Battalion. Colonel Spragge, finding that the grazing for his horses was becoming restricted, ordered Lieutenant Hugh Montgomery and 16 men of the 46th Belfast Company to seize a kopje 2,000 yards to the west of their position, from which Boer marksmen were causing problems. The sortie was a failure and Lieutenant Montgomery and his men were taken prisoner. The next morning, Lord Longford and 40 men of the 45th Dublin Company were sent to take the same kopje and following a bayonet charge, they succeeded. At this point, however, the Boers brought their artillery into action and Colonel Spragge's position began to deteriorate. On 31 May 1900, the Boers attacked the kopje and the Yeomanry began to fall back. Colonel Spragge sent reinforcements to this line, but stated that ‘an irresponsible Corporal raised a white flag and in the confusion the kopje fell’. On seeing the white flag Captain Robin ordered a cease-fire, and as the Yeomanry position was now overlooked and their Colt gun had been put out of action, Colonel Sprage decided to surrender to avoid unnecessary loss of life. Roberts in the meantime had ordered Methuen and Colville to relieve the Yeomanry, but they arrived two days too late on 2 June 1900. Colonel Spragge, Lieutenant-Colonel Holland and the surviving members of the 13th Battalion were taken Prisoner of War; the casualties suffered by the Battalion at Lindley amounted to one officer and 15 men killed in action, 5 officers and 37 men wounded, and 21 officers and 440 men taken Prisoner of War. Holland was second in command of the battalion under Colonel B. Spragge, who was subsequently cleared of blame at the enquiry which followed some months later at Barberton on 25 September 1900. Lieutenant-Colonel Holland, who had been released from captivity, went on half pay on 21 October 1900. Lord Roberts said of the disaster: ‘I consider General Colville mainly responsible for the surrender of the Irish Yeomanry and would not let him retain his command.’ Subsequently, in December 1900, Broderick, the new Secretary of State for War, announced that he agreed with Roberts that Colville was ultimately responsible for the surrender at Lindley. Colville was consequently removed from command at Gibraltar and when he would not retire he was made to do so. Sold with research including copies of rolls, details of the enquiry, original copy of Holland's Birth Certificate and war services.

Four: Lieutenant T. G. Fraser, Royal Navy, who was mentioned in despatches and promoted for the Zulu War, was present at the bombardment of Alexandria and landed with the Naval Brigade at Tel-el-Kebir South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Sub: Lieut: T. G. Fraser, R.N. H.M.S. “Active”); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 2 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, Tel-El-Kebir (Lieut: T. G. Fraser. R.N. H.M.S. “Superb”); Order of the Medjidie, 4th class breast badge in silver, gold and enamel, reverse with maker’s cartouche of Mon. Paul Stopin, Palais Royal, lacking two appliqué plaques from central surround and chips to enamel; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, mounted on a contemporary wearing bar as worn, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and rare (4) £2,400-£2,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Thomas Guthrie Fraser joined the Royal Navy in January 1871, becoming Midshipman in June 1873 and Sub-Lieutenant in June 1877. As Sub-Lieutenant of Active he served with the Naval Brigade in Zululand in 1879. He was present at the action of Inyezane, 22 January 1879, formed part of the garrison at Ekowe with Colonel Pearson’s Column, and afterwards joined General Crealock’s Column and advanced to Port Durnford. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 11 March 1879), promoted to Lieutenant, and received the Zulu Medal and clasp. He was Lieutenant of Superb at the bombardment of Alexandria, 11 July 1882, and during the Egyptian war; he landed with the Naval Brigade and was present at the battle of Tel-El-Kebir, for which he received the Egypt Medal and two clasps, the Bronze Star, and the 4th Class of the Medjidie. Lieutenant Fraser retired on 29 October 1895.

Four: Captain G. Chadwick, Manchester Regiment, later Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, who flew with 19 Squadron and was twice wounded in aerial combat - the latter, on 3 May 1918, resulting in him ‘going down spinning’ near Neuve Chappelle and being taken Prisoner of War 1914-15 Star (Lieut. G. Chadwick. Manch R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G. Chadwick. R.A.F.); Serbia, Kingdom, Order of the White Eagle, Fifth Class breast badge, with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, crude enamel repair to blue enamel riband to the reverse of the last, otherwise generally good very fine (4) £700-£900 --- Serbian Order of the White Eagle, 5th Class London Gazette 15 February 1917. George Chadwick was born in Adlington, Lancashire, in June 1894. He initially served during the Great War as a Lieutenant with the 1/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (T.F.) in the Egyptian theatre of War from 5 November 1914. Chadwick transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in October 1916, and advanced to Temporary Captain in November of the same year. He carried out initial training as a pilot, and gained his ‘Wings’ with Royal Aero Club Certificate Number 4294, taken on a Beatty-Wright Biplane at Beatty School, Hendon, in February 1917. Chadwick was posted for operational flying with 19 Squadron (Spads and Dolphins), Vert Galand, Belgium in May 1917. He was wounded in action when he was ‘shot through knee after combat, forced landing near Dickebusch’ on 4 June 1917. After a period of recuperation, and employment as an instructor, Chadwick returned to 19 Squadron as a Flight Commander in March 1918. Chadwick was wounded, shot down, and taken Prisoner of War on 3 May 1918: ‘An offensive patrol at 4.56pm engaged six or seven enemy aircraft Pfalz scouts with indecisive results. Captain Chadwick was seen by Lieutenant Irving to have fabric torn from the righthand top plane and go down under partial control, subsequently seen to be attacked by further enemy aircraft and go down spinning near Neuve Chappelle, east of lines.’ Chadwick was repatriated on 2 January 1919. Sold with copied research, and photographic images of recipient in uniform.

Five: Sergeant J. Lightfoot, Manchester Regiment 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (3519407 Sjt. J. Lightfoot. Manch. R.) mounted court-style for display, good very fine (5) £60-£80 --- Jack Lightfoot was born on 6 August 1908 at Middlewich, Cheshire, and attested for service as a ‘Boy’ soldier on 7 February 1924, at 15 years of age. He was initially posted to the Regimental Depot at Ashton Under Lyne, and then briefly to 1st Battalion prior being posted to 2nd Battalion for service in India. He was appointed ‘Bandsman’ on 8 August 1926. In October 1932 his battalion moved to Khartoum, returning to the U.K. in December 1933, and he was discharged at Strenshall in February 1936 ‘time expired’. In 1937 he re-enlisted in the 5th (Territorial) Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, but by 25 October had re-enlisted in the Regular Army. He was posted to 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment and in September embarked for Cherbourg to join the B.E.F. Lightfoot was one of those who managed to escape to Dunkirk and arrived back in the U.K. on 31 May 1940. Later in the War, his battalion served in India and Burma. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 31 December 1944. On returning to the U.K. he was posted to the Central School of Artistes, and then to the Combined Services Entertainment Central Depot. He was discharged and again transferred to the Army Reserve on 27 October 1949. He resided at Havant, Hampshire, and died in 1973. Sold with copied service records and research notes.

Pair: Ship’s Corporal First Class G. Kenley, Royal Navy, later Royal Fleet Reserve, who was serving aboard the ironclad H.M.S. Alexandra when the quick actions of Gunner Harding prevented a detonation above her magazine - his valour was later recognised with the V.C. Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (G. Kenley A.B. H.M.S. “Alexandra.”); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, light contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £140-£180 --- George Kenley was born in Aberdeen on 17 August 1861 and joined the Royal Navy at Portsmouth as Boy 2nd Class on 17 January 1878. Posted to Alexandra (affectionately known by the crew as ‘Old Alex’) on 10 August 1880, he witnessed the bombardment of Alexandria on 11 July 1882 by a fleet of 15 Royal Navy ships; during the action Alexandra was struck by a 10-inch shell which passed through her side and lodged in the main deck. Gunner Israel Harding, hearing a warning shout, rushed up from below, picked it up and flung it into a tub of water, thus saving countless lives. He was later presented with the Victoria Cross by the Prince of Wales upon returning to England. Raised Able Seaman 1 September 1881 and Ship’s Corporal 1st Class 9 November 1893, Kenley was shore pensioned at Portsmouth on 25 August 1899. He served a further seven years with the Royal Fleet Reserve and was discharged on his 50th birthday.

Family Group: Pair: Private J. Beddows, Manchester Regiment British War and Victory Medals (22624 Pte. J. Beddows. Manch. R.) very fine Four: Private J. T. Beddows, Manchester Regiment India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (3442038 Pte. J Beddowes [sic]. Manch. R.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, the last two in the incorrect order; together with one red fibre identity disc ‘3442038 C.E. Beddows’, light contact marks, very fine (6) £100-£140 --- John Beddows served in the Manchester Regiment with Service No. 22624 and later transferred to the Labour Corps, being re-numbered 380897. James Thomas Beddows was born on 6 July 1907 at Pendlebury, Salford, Lancashire. He attested for service in 7th (Territorial) Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers on 10 November 1925. He subsequently transferred to a regular enlistment as Private No. 3442038 into 2nd Battalion the Manchester Regiment. He served in India and Burma, receiving the India General Service Medal and transferred to the Army Reserve in 1934. He was recalled to the colours in September 1939 returning to the 2nd Battalion of his regiment, being promoted Corporal. He embarked for France in the S.S. Biarritz in September 1939 to join the B.E.F. He was one of the remnants of his battalion who managed to escape to Dunkirk to be evacuated to England, arriving on 31 May 1940. In 1943, now Warrant Officer II (C.S.M.) he was transferred to the 5th Battalion of his regiment and served for the remainder of the war in the U.K. He was discharged to the Army Reserve on 17 November 1945. He died at Salford on 5 January 1954. Sold with copied research.

Five: Private M. T. Scott, Manchester Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942 General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Malaya, second clasp loose on riband, as issued (4611763 Pte. M. T. Scott. Manch. R.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (5) £200-£240 --- Michael Thomas Scott was born on 10 December 1915. Living at Stalybridge, Cheshire, he enlisted into the Manchester Regiment on 16 January 1935. He served overseas in Egypt from October 1935 to January 1938; in Palestine from January to September 1938; and in Singapore from September 1938. Scott was captured by the Japanese with the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942 and was initially held at Changi. He remained a Prisoner of War of the Japanese for the remainder of the War, and was held in camps at Singapore, whose leaders were Captain Edgar, R.E., (13 March - 10 August 1942) and Captain McGhee, Gurkha Regiment (25 July 1944 - 8 August 1945). On his repatriated P.O.W. medical on 2 February 1946, it was noted he had suffered, ‘shrapnel wounds, ulcers, malnutrition and beri-beri.’ Transferred to the Reserve on 29 September 1946, Scott re-enlisted as a Bandsman in the Manchester Regiment on 21 February 1947, becoming a Private in November 1948. He served in the B.A.O.R. from July 1948 until February 1955, and in FARELF (Malaya) from May 1955 to June 1957, and subsequently in the Military Provost Staff Corps from November 1950 to December 1951. Transferred from the Manchester Regiment to the Royal Scots Fusiliers as a Fusilier Bandsman in November 1955 and back to the Manchester Regiment in January 1958, he then transferred to the 5/7 Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (T.A.) Band in July 1958. He was discharged on 25 July 1959, and died on 19 August 1981. Sold with copied research.

Pair: Private W. E. Donohoe, 26th (3rd Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916 British War and Victory Medals (26-17 Pte. W. E. Donohoe, North’d Fus.) extremely fine (2) £180-£220 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- William Edward Donohoe was born in Ashington, Northumberland, and attested there for the Northumberland Fusiliers, serving with the 26th (3rd Tyneside Irish) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 1916. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, on which date the Battalion, alongside the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Tyneside Irish Battalions, as part of the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division, was tasked with attacking the German positions at La Boisselle. Advancing at 7:45 a.m. the Battalion came under heavy fire from the moment the assembly trenches were left, but ‘advanced as if on parade under heavy machine gun and shell fire’, with small parties holding out in shell holes in No Man’s Land. The other Tyneside Irish Battalions fared no better: the 1st Tyneside Irish came under intense machine gun fire, and only one officer with a handful of men reached the objective before being forced to retire; the 2nd Tyneside Irish maintained the advance until ‘only a few scattered soldiers were left standing, the discipline and courage of all ranks being remarkable’; and the 4th Tyneside Irish managed to reach the objective, before being forced to retire, having suffered over 70% casualties. In total the tremendous casualties inflicted upon the four Tyneside Irish battalions were among the worst ever recorded on the Somme, with the 2nd Tyneside Irish suffering 489 casualties, and the four Battalions in total suffering well over 2,000 casualties. Donohoe was amongst those killed. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Sold with a Tyneside Irish cap badge; and copied medal index card and other research.

A post-War B.E.M. group of four awarded to Acting Warrant Officer Class II T. J. Harris, Royal Regiment of Wales, late Welch Regiment, who was wounded in action in Korea on 10 December 1951 British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (22339963 Act. W/O. II. Terence J. Harris, R.R.W.) edge prepared prior to naming, with Royal Mint case of issue and outer named card box; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22359963 Pte. T J. Harris. Welch.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (22359963 Sgt. T. Harris. Welch.) mounted court-style for display; together with the related miniature awards (the Korea Medal a 2nd issue type), these mounted court-style for wear, light contact marks, generally good very fine (4) £700-£900 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 3 June 1972. The original Recommendation, dated 7 February 1972, states: ‘Sergeant (Acting Warrant Officer Class II) Harris has been a Permanent Staff Instructor with this Battalion since 20 June 1969. His first 21 months with the Battalion, at that time designated The Welsh Volunteers, were spent with B Company at Newport where he was the senior Permanent Staff Instructor and as such did exceptionally good work. In April 1971, however, when the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve expanded, the Welsh Volunteers were disbanded and used to form a nucleus for two new Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve Battalions. At this stage Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris was transferred to Abertillery where a completely new Company was to be formed as part of the new 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales. Throughout his Army career Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris has always been noted for his energy and drive. At no time, however, have these qualities been more apparent and more profitably directed that in the last ten months. As the only Permanent Staff Instructor and regular soldier in the new Company, the main burden and responsibility for recruiting men for this new sub-unit devolved on Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris. He willingly and enthusiastically accepted the challenge. In the succeeding ten months, by his quiet determination, exceptional zeal and remarkable resourcefulness Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris has raised over 60% of his full establishment and is still drawing in fresh recruits. In itself this is a commendable effort but is not rested there. Using his forceful personality and dynamic drive he has forged this raw material into a thoroughly effective and happy company. No man has or could have worked harder to make this new Company a success. Their keenness, efficiency and cheerful 'esprit de corps' reflect the inspired leadership high standards and dedication of Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris. It is typical of his unassuming character that he disclaim all credit for this. Nevertheless he alone, by his tireless effort and selfless devotion - far above the normal call of duty - and his superb personal example has accomplished this notable success. Acting Warrant Officer Class II Harris is due to leave the Army in September 1972 and official recognition now of his many years of loyal service, and his recent magnificent contribution to the effectiveness, standing and sense of purpose of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve and this Battalion would be justly deserved and warmly welcomed by his regiment.’ Terence James Harris was born in 1931 and attested for the Welch Brigade at Brecon on 6 September 1950. He served with the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment in Korea from 10 October 1951 to 28 January 1952, and again from 13 February to 8 November 1952; he was wounded in action on 10 December 1951, sustaining gun shot wounds to his left leg and right thigh. He saw further active service in Cyprus from 17 December 1957 to 12 December 1958. He was discharged on the completion of his engagement with the rank of Staff Sergeant (Acting Warrant Officer Class II) on 5 September 1972, after 22 years’ service. Sold with the recipient’s Certificate of Service Red Book; original Telegram to the recipient’s mother stating he was wounded in action on 10 December 1951, with original letter from his Platoon Commander to his mother stating her son was wounded by a Chinese ‘burp’ gun in the legs during a Chinese attack; original letter from the Infantry Record Office confirming the telegram stating he had been wounded but had no further details as yet; and original letter from the Infantry Record Office stating her son had sustained Gun Shot wounds to his left leg and right thigh; 4 original letters congratulating the recipient on the award of his BEM; three photographs; an ‘Images of Wales’ history of the Welch Regiment book; and a Welch Regiment cap badge and Welch Regiment medallion.

An Interesting Great War Q-Ship D.S.M. group of four to Petty Officer R. E. Hunt, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his conduct in the Q-ship Baralong at the time of her alleged war crimes against German submariners; he later survived the sinking of Q-15 and for his conduct on that occasion was mentioned in despatches Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.9250. R. E. Hunt, A.B. H.M.S. Baralong.); 1914-15 Star (J.9250, R. E. Hunt, D.S.M., A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. Oakleaf (J.9250 R. E. Hunt. L.S. R.N.) mounted as worn contact wear and polished, good fine or better (4) £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Spink, November 1998. D.S.M. London Gazette 13 September 1915. ‘H.M.S. Baralong Sinking of German submarine U27 19 August 1915.’ One of three men recommended for the D.S.M. for this action. M.I.D. London Gazette 18 September 1917. ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ ‘Their Lordships appreciation of this man’s conduct on the occasion of the loss of H.M.S. Salvia [Q-15] on 20/6/17. He will be mentioned in the London Gazette’ (record of service refers). Robert Ernest Hunt was born in Hoxton Old Town, London, in November 1894 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in November 1912. Advanced to Able Seaman in late 1913, the outbreak of hostilities found him serving in the Battle Cruiser H.M.S. Indomitable, but shortly afterwards he joined the Antwerp, the ex-G.E.R. Passenger Steamer Vienna, only the second Q-Ship to be commissioned by the Admiralty. He subsequently participated in the first Q-Ship/U-Boat encounter of the War, when in March 1915, the Antwerp went to the rescue of three Merchantmen which had been sunk by the U-29. Although a bloodless encounter, it did persuade the Admiralty that smaller, less well-known ships were going to be required if German U-Boat Commanders were going to be tempted into action. Accordingly, the Antwerp was relegated to transport duties and her guns transferred to the newly acquired Tramp Steamer Baralong. With the guns went Able Seaman Hunt, who would shortly witness the destruction of the U-27 and the suspicious demise of half a dozen German Submariners in circumstances which would quickly attract allegations of war crimes. The ‘Baralong incidents’ Baralong was taken up for service as a Q-ship on 2 August 1914, and in the Spring of 1915 was armed with 3 concealed 12-pdr guns and went out looking for enemy submarines in the busy shipping lanes where they were wreaking havoc. Baralong had gone as quickly as possible to the scene in the Irish Sea off the Old Head of Kinsale after the Cunard liner Lusitania had been torpedoed and sunk without warning by the German submarine U-20 on 7 May 1915, with the loss of 1,198 lives, but the submarine was well clear of the area when she arrived. This caused outrage in the U.K. and in the neutral world and when next in port, Baralong’s Captain was told verbally by the Admiralty that it “was most undesirable to take any enemy submarine prisoners”. This statement may well have led to the subsequent ‘Baralong incidents.’ On 19 August 1915, the German submarine U-24 torpedoed and sank the unarmed White Star liner Arabic with the loss of another 44 lives and while Baralong was again heading at full speed towards that position off the Old Head of Kinsale, she came across yet another German submarine, the U-27 under the command of Kapitänleutnant  Wegener, in the act of shelling the Leyland liner Nicosian which was on passage from the U.S.A. with a cargo of mules and carrying American muleteers.  Baralong, flying the (neutral) American flag and with the American flag painted on shields on her sides, was manoeuvred into a favourable position about 2.5 miles away and when the submarine emerged from behind the liner to investigate this stranger, Baralong opened fire and sank the submarine in a couple of minutes with accurate gunfire. The German survivors jumped into the water and ten of them were shot dead whilst either swimming or else clinging to ropes hanging from the Nicosian. During a lull in the action, the Nicosian’s Master was taken on board Baralong and he reported that there were an unknown number of German survivors from the submarine aboard the liner. Baralong then went alongside the liner and her embarked Royal Marines lead by Sergeant Collins leapt across, spread out and, on the orders of Baralong’s Captain, despatched the four enemy boarders that they encountered on the spot. The U-boat Commander, who had also survived the sinking of his boat, was also shot dead in the water whilst apparently holding his hands up in surrender. A total of thirty-seven men, including the U-Boat Commander lost their lives altogether. When the liner subsequently reached Avonmouth, myriad stories abounded about what had happened, some of which were pure sensationalism, but nonetheless reached the American press and Germany demanded the arraignment of Baralong’s Captain and crew on charges of murder! This was naturally turned down, especially after Germany was asked to put one of her own destroyer Captain’s on trial at the same time for being responsible for the murder of the crew of a British submarine which had run aground in enemy waters and Germany refused to do so! The Captain of the Baralong, Lieutenant Godfrey Herbert, Royal Navy, was awarded the D.S.O. for his actions in sinking the U-27. As a Q-ship, Baralong operated under the name Wyandra and later accounted for a further German submarine on 24 September 1915, this time it was the turn of U-41 which was despatched in the Western Approaches to the English Channel with the loss of thirty-five men, although there were two survivors. These two unfortunate men clambered aboard an abandoned boat after Wyandra left the scene, only to return three hours later and deliberately ran the boat down. After this, German fury knew no bounds. For her own safety, and the safety of her Captain and crew, Baralong was transferred to the Mediterranean and was subsequently paid off from naval service on 22 October 1916. In order to protect her identity, the Admiralty came up with an elaborate deception scheme and it was decided to delete all references to Baralong - this even included the entry in Lloyd’s Register. This was done and the ship herself was renamed Manica and even assumed her sister’s Official Number of 112782 to complete the disguise. Now if this original Baralong were to fall into enemy hands her Captain and crew would not be arraigned as murderers. Nicosian also had her name changed to Nevisian for the same reason, although the references to her as Nicosian were not deleted from the Registers. This now posed a problem for the Admiralty as the original R.F.A. Manica was released from Naval service in 1917 and obviously could not return home as Manica as well. The Admiralty therefore conveniently purchased her; cylindrical tanks were built into her holds and she arrived at Hong Kong as the oiler Huntball, under the management of Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd. Her Managers purchased her in 1920 and renamed her Phorus in 1922, and she served them as an oil tanker until 12 August 1930, when she arrived at Singapore to be laid up. She was sold for scrap the following year and proceeded to Miri to load a final cargo of oil, departing there for Osaka, where she arrived on 3 July 1931. After discharging her final cargo, she was broken up. The ‘other’ Manica (ex-Baralong) was sold by her original owners in 1922 to Japanese owners who renamed h...

Family group: Pair: Private W. Wyatt, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who died at home of wounds received on the Western Front on 21 January 1917 British War and Victory Medals (Ch.907 - S - Pte. W. Wyatt. R.M.L.I.); Memorial Plaque (William Wyatt); Memorial Scroll, inscribed ‘Pte. William Wyatt, R.M. R.N. Division’, the Scroll mounted for display in a glazed frame, nearly extremely fine Pair: Private J. M. Wyatt, Northamptonshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 18 September 1918 British War and Victory Medals (45032 Pte. J. M. Wyatt. Bedf. R.); Memorial Plaque (John Moses Wyatt); Memorial Scroll, inscribed ‘Pte. John Moses Wyatt, Northamptonshire Regt.’, the Scroll mounted for display in a glazed frame, light scratching to reverse of plaque, otherwise nearly extremely fine (6) £300-£400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- William Wyatt was born in Hove, Sussex, and attested for the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He served with the 1st Royal Marines Battalion, Royal Naval Division, during the Great War on the Western Front, and died at home from wounds received in action on 21 January 1917. He is buried at Hove Cemetery. Sold with copied memorial card and photographs. Joseph Moses Wyatt, the brother of the above, was born in Hove, Sussex, and attested for the Bedfordshire Regiment at Brighton. Transferring to the Northamptonshire Regiment, he served with the 6th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action on 18 September 1918, aged 18. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial. Sold with copied photographs.

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (138 Sowar Zaid Gul Khyber Rifles); British War Medal 1914-20 (S-M. Tor Khan. N. Waz. Mil.) small erasure between name and unit; Indian Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (2) (33 Nk. Nur Khan, 694 (M.T. Coy) R.A.S.C.; 3837 B. Lce. Naik Saida Khan. 58th. Rfls. (F.F.)) polished and worn, fine and better (4) £100-£140 --- Tor Khan served successively with the Kurram Militia, the Khyber Rifles, and the North Waziristan Militia. He was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 3rd Class, on 1 September 1897, and the Order of British India on 26 June 1908. He was awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal for service with the Waziristan Force, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches, for services on the North West Frontier of India in 1908 (London Gazette 14 August 1908); and again during the Third Afghan War (London Gazette 3 August 1920). A contemporary account of Tor Khan describes him as ‘[o]ne of the more colourful characters who served the British cause along the Northwest Frontier of India. Reputedly the offspring of a Gordon Highlander, he was admitted to the 3rd Class of the Indian Order of Merit for conspicuous gallantry during the successful defence of an outpost against greatly superior numbers of dissident tribesmen in 1897. He obtained great notoriety for this action after shooting dead a Mullah who, approaching the outpost Koran in hand, had attempted to persuade the defenders to desert. His young son was also no disappointment to his father. When no more than nine years old, he cut the throat of his seven year old cousin (this son went on to become a Subadar in the Tochi Scouts, winning first the 2nd Class and then the 1st Class IOM for gallantry on the Frontier).’ (The Frontier Scouts by C. Chenevix Trench refers) Sold with copied research.

Pair: Private W. Gingell, 63rd Regiment of Foot, who died on the ‘Heights of Sebastopol’ on Christmas Eve 1854 Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (W. Gingell. 63rd Regt.) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, plugged and fitted with Indian Mutiny style suspension, minor edge bruising, very fine (2) £600-£800 --- William Gingell was born at Corsham, Wiltshire, in 1832 and attested as a Private in the 63rd Regiment in September 1853. The 63rd landed at Scutari on 12 August 1854 and later that month landed at Varna becoming part of the 2nd Brigade in the 4th Division. William Gingell was one of those who succumbed to the elements and died on the ‘Heights before Sebastopol’ on Christmas Eve 1854. Sold with copied research and medal roll extracts.

Three: Private W. H. Baguley, Manchester Regiment, who was taken Prisoner of War in Mesopotamia; he later served in the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps as part of the B.E.F., and died at home after the Dunkirk evacuation General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (62333 Pte. W. H. Baguley. Manch R.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, minor edge bruising to first, otherwise better than very fine (3) £140-£180 --- William Henry Baguley was born at Runcorn, Cheshire, in December 1900 and attested for service in the Manchester Regiment in January 1919. He served for a few months with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion but was posted to 2nd Battalion on 16 October 1919. His battalion was under orders for service in Mesopotamia and sailed from Tibury on 13 February 1920. His battalion served at Tikrit, Hillah and Baghdad with the ‘Manchester Column’, and Baguley was one of those taken prisoner of the Arabs at Hillah; eventually after several months of forced marches and harsh treatment at Najef, the prisoners were handed over to the British Army on 19 October 1920. Following his release he remained with his battalion and was sent to India until he returned to the U.K. ‘time expired’ on 3 December 1925. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Baguley re-enlisted into the Manchester Regiment but was posted to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, many of whom served in France with the B.E.F., including Baguley. He was posted to No. 54 Company, A.M.P.C. as acting Sergeant on 4 January 1940 and was one of those who made it to the beaches at Dunkirk and returned to the U.K. on 2 June 1940. He died in the U.K. on 3 May 1941 of ‘natural causes’, no doubt exacerbated by his time in France in the B.E.F., and is buried in Warrington Cemetery. Sold with copied service papers and extensive research.

Royal Humane Society, large bronze medal (successful) (Edward Cleary Seaman Vit. Ob. Serv. D.D. Soc. Reg. Hvm. 5th Octr 1864) fitted with ring suspension, light contact marks, very fine £140-£180 --- The following extract is taken from The Englishman, 8 October 1864: ‘The Destructive Cyclone at Calcutta 5th October 1864. The cyclone of 1842 was terrible indeed, owing to the length of time it lasted, but the damages done were not half so great; as that of 1852, which only continued for two hours, was nothing compared to those of 1842 and 1864. In 1864 the shipping suffered considerably. Off the 200 ships in harbour, only 8 or 9 have escaped without suffering any material damage, and of the remaining vessels, as far as can be ascertained at present, 12 have foundered. The Lady Franklin is supposed to have foundered with all her crew on board, and the Govindpore, off the Bankshall, also went down. They were nine men on board the latter vessel, including the captain, and were it not for the singular gallantry and courage displayed by a seaman named Edward Cleary they might probably have all met with a watery grave. Mr J. B. Roberts was at the ghat with some of the police, endeavouring to pass on a rope to the ship, which was near the middle of the stream, but could not get a single man among the large number that was there to venture out into the river, though he offered a reward of 100 rupees to anyone who would do so. To swim out to the ship in such a gale was hopeless. Despite the danger, Cleary, who had just come up, without even knowing anything about a reward being offered, volunteered to swim over to the ship with a cable. He tied the rope around his waist, dashed into the water like a true Briton, and succeeded in reaching the ship fastening one of the ends to her bow, and returned amid tremendous cheering ashore. The nine men safely came ashore by means of the rope, the captain being the last man who left her. Cleary has had his hundred rupees, and will, no doubt, get many more for his exemplary conduct.’

Three: Private A. C. Johnston, Manchester Regiment, who was killed in action in the retreat to Dunkirk on 29 May 1940 General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3525750 Pte. A. C. Johnston. Manch. R.) minor official correction; 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, good very fine (3) £140-£180 --- Archibald Carson Johnston was a pre-War regular soldier serving in the Manchester Regiment and saw service in Palestine during the Arab Revolt. He was discharged to the Army Reserve in in June 1939, but recalled to the army on the outbreak of War. He served in 2nd Battalion the Manchester Regiment in the B.E.F. and was killed in action on 29 May 1940, in the retreat to Dunkirk. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial. Sold with copied research.

Pair: Sergeant Isaac Hunt, 61st Foot, who was wounded at Chilianwala in January 1849, and died of cholera in Mauritius in February 1860 Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Isaac Hunt, 61st Foot.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (I, Hunt. 61st Regt.) the first with a few marks, nearly very fine, the second good very fine (2) £700-£900 --- Isaac Hunt was born at Ditton, Lancashire, and originally enlisted into the 81st Foot at Ormskirk on 10 May 1843, aged 19 years 9 months, a toolmaker by trade. He transferred to the 61st Foot (No. 2290) on 1 July 1844, and sailed with the regiment for India in the summer of 1845. He took part in the Second Sikh War and was wounded at Chilianwala on 13 January 1849, although he was clearly fit enough to take part in the action at Goojerat five weeks later. He is, however, shown as ‘sick’ in the following two quarterly musters. Promoted to Corporal in July 1850, he was placed in confinement on 28 February 1852 and reduced to Private. Upon the outbreak of the Mutiny he was serving with the wing left at Ferozepore until joining the H.Q. wing at Delhi, where he took part in the great assault on 14 September 1857. He was promoted to Corporal once again in January 1858 and accompanied the 61st on their 800-mile march to Bombay, leaving Delhi in April 1859, and then on to Poona where cholera broke out. Returning to Bombay the regiment sailed for Mauritius, cholera breaking out again on the voyage. Hunt was promoted to Sergeant on 22 January 1860, but died of cholera on 20 February 1860, at Port Louis, Mauritius. His Punjab medal was forwarded with his accounts to his father, Peter, of Farnworth, Lancashire. Note: Another Isaac Hunt of the 61st (No. 1850) received these two medals but he was not present at Chilianwala. He was discharged in October 1860 and died in Wiltshire in 1902. A Mutiny medal on its own graded as nearly very fine sold by Spink in March 1977, making the above pair better attributable to Isaac Hunt (No. 2290). Sold with copied research including muster details, pay lists, &c.

Pair: Major-General W. M. B. Walton, who commanded “G” Battery, “B” Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery at Tel-el-Kebir, being mentioned in despatches and made a Companion of the Bath Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (Lt. Col. W. M. B. Walton, G/B. Bde. R.H.A.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, light pitting from star, otherwise very fine (2) £800-£1,000 --- Provenance: Jack Webb Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008 (Egypt medal only). William Morritt Barnaby Walton was born on 6 December 1836, and joined the Royal Artillery as a Lieutenant on 7 April 1856. He became Lieutenant-Colonel on 16 January 1882 and commanded “G” Battery, “B” Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery at the battle of Tel-El-Kebir (despatches London Gazette 2 November 1882; C.B.; 3rd Class Medjidie; Medal with clasp; bronze star). He was promoted to Colonel in January 1886, retired as Hon. Major-General in November 1887, and died on 15 March 1888.

A Great War ‘Ministry of Munitions’ M.B.E. group of four awarded to Major C. Leese, Army Service Corps, who flourished as a winter sportsman in the Alpine climate of Switzerland but whose health suffered in the damp and exposed conditions of the Western Front A gifted amateur golfer, he repeatedly showed his prowess in the Amateur Championship but was often thwarted by Joyce Wethered and her equally successful brother Roger The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1917; 1914 Star (2. Lieut: C. Leese. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. C. Leese.) nearly extremely fine (4) £300-£400 --- M.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 1 January 1918. Clive Leese was born in Woking on 24 April 1885, the fourth son of Sir Joseph Francis Leese, K.C., M.P., 1st Baron Leese, of Send Holme, near Guildford. As Queen’s Council and Member of Parliament for Accrington from 1892 to 1910, his father was a hugely influential figure who was known in particular as a keen advocate for women’s suffrage. His mother was similarly exalted as a sportswoman; according to The Lancashire Daily Post of 28 January 1907, the only thing that could hold Lady Mary Constance Leese back from the ski slopes of Davos was ‘a severe case of influenza’. Clive Leese proved just as talented - at least his mother’s equal in winter sports - most notably in winning a third place finish in the English Figure Skate Bowl in 1905 and victory at Davos in 1907. The outbreak of the Great War saw Leese appointed Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps in the London Gazette of 19 September 1914. Posted to France from 5 October 1914, he witnessed early service at the Advanced Motorised Transport Depot. Evacuated home with an attack of pleurisy, the Proceedings of a Medical Board held at Caxton Hall on 4 February 1915 noted: ‘suffered from cold & exposure on active service with Expeditionary Force’. Raised Acting Major on 9 November 1916, Leese was seconded to the Ministry of Munitions. His name was later brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for ‘valuable services rendered in connection with the war’ and he was awarded the M.B.E. (Military). Demobilised on 22 February 1919, Leese took employment as a solicitor in the family firm of Fairfield, Leese and Munns of 31, Old Jewry, London. He further dedicated his free time to amateur golf and became firm friends with some of the leading exponents of the game, most notably Joyce and Roger Wethered, the former being recognised as perhaps the greatest ‘lady golfer’ of her generation. Having initially dipped his toes at the 1905 Amateur Championship at Prestwick, Leese made it to the last 16 at St. Andrews in 1907. In 1921 he made short shrift of a Cambridge Varsity singles opponent, and in 1923 he and Mr. G. D. Forrester inflicted a ‘crushing defeat’ upon an Oxford and Cambridge Society pairing. Representing Woking Golf Club, Leese later lost a mere 2 and 1 to the Wethereds; a lucky escape given that Joyce and Roger were later described as ‘cruel’ to a Kentish brother and sister pair. Even the great Bobby Jones of Augusta National fame was keen to note of Joyce: ‘I have not played golf with anyone, man or woman, amateur or professional, who made me feel so utterly outclassed’. The following year, Leese once again reached the last 16 of the Amateur Championship, but received an utter drubbing (7 and 6) at the hands of Roger Wethered over the Old Course. According to Sketch on 4 June 1924: ‘Out in a grand score of 33 strokes, magnificent play by Wethered left Leese looking to the heavens, likely wondering what on earth he could do to alleviate the pain.’ Leese spent the 1920s as a regular Surrey County golfer and won the prestigious Royal Mid-Surrey Scratch Medal in 1928. He later served as Chairman of the Chiswick Sports Association, but his life was cut short on the operating table in November 1932. The Leese Baronetcy subsequently passed to his eldest brother and thence to Sir Oliver William Hargreaves Leese, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O.; for the next decade the Leese name remained in the press, but instead of filling the sporting back pages in the footsteps of Clive and his mother, Sir Oliver garnered headlines as Commander of XXX Corps in North Africa and Sicily, before taking over the reins of Eighth Army in succession to Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery of Alamein.

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Lake Nyassa 1893 (J. Coghlan, A.B., H.M.S. Adventure.) very fine and rare £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. Only 28 clasps were awarded to naval European officers and men who manned the boats Adventure and Pioneer. These ships were built at Jarrow-on-Tyne, sent out to Africa in sections, and hauled over two hundred miles through virgin country and jungle to the edge of the lake where they were assembled. This remarkable undertaking, reflected in the appropriate names given to the ships, was in many ways the precursor, or even the inspiration, of the Naval Expedition to Lake Tanganyika in 1915. John Coghlan was born in Preston, Lancashire, in November 1870. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in October 1896 aboard the Boy Training Establishment H.M.S. Impregnable. Rated Boy 1st Class in November 1887, he joined his first ship H.M.S. Royal Adelaide in November 1887. He was transferred to Defence in September 1888, and it was in this ship that Coghlan was advanced to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class on 10 November 1888. He returned to Royal Adelaide for a short period before joining Mariner in December 1888. Whilst in this ship he advanced to Ordinary Seaman 1st Class in July 1889, and to Able Seaman in July 1891. Coghlan next served aboard the following Ships Victory I (March 1891), Excellent (May 1892), Victory I (April 1893), Raleigh (June 1893), and Adventure (August 1893). In this ship he took part in the action on Lake Nyassa in November 1893. Coghlan returned to Victory I in January 1894 and next joined Active in May 1895. He advanced to Leading Seaman but was disrated to Able Seaman in April 1896. In this rank Coghlan served in the following ships: Victory I (May 1896), Anson (October 1896), again being advanced to Leading Seaman in May 1898, Hibernia (April 1899), Anson (June 1899), Duke of Wellington (February 1900), and Alexandra (April 1900). He joined the Coastguard Service in May 1900 with rank of Boatman and served in the stations at St Mary's, Brixham and Torquay. Coghlan was pensioned ashore in June 1911 and joined Portsmouth R.F.R. He was recalled on 2 August 1914 to H.M.S. Vernon, but released on 19 October to take up a shore appointment in the dockyard. Coghlan’s short active service did not qualify him for the British War Medal.

The Victory Medal awarded to Pioneer A. Jones, 236th Light Railway Company, Royal Engineers, late Northamptonshire Regiment, who died on 18 December 1918 Victory Medal 1914-19 (24160 Pte. A. Jones. North’n R.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Jones); Memorial Scroll ‘Pioneer Arthur Jones, Royal Engineers’, staining to obverse of VM, this good fine; the plaque and scroll better (3) £100-£140 --- Arthur Jones was born in 1894 in London, the son of Frederick Jones of Homerton and husband of Lilian Jones of 649, Green Lanes, Haringay. He initially served on the Western Front with the Northamptonshire Regiment, but died post-Armistice and is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery. Sold with a named Northamptonshire Territorial Force Association Illuminated Card, commemorating the sacrifice of ‘No. 201851 Pte. A. Jones, 4th Bn. Northamptonshire Regt.’, this torn; and a contemporary photograph of the recipient in military uniform.

A fine ‘Officer Casualty’ 1914-15 Star awarded to Lieutenant H. W. T. R. Seymour, Royal Navy, who was commended by the Australian Authorities in 1909, but was killed in action in 1916 when H.M.S. Russell struck two mines near the entrance to the Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. W. T. R. Seymour. R.N.) nearly extremely fine £80-£100 --- Hobart William Theodore Rudolph Seymour was born in Florence on 7 February 1887, the son of Edward Roe Seymour, Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. He spent his childhood at Osborne House, Tunbridge Wells, and joined the Royal Navy on 15 January 1902; posted to the training ship Britannia, Seymour was later awarded the Ryder Memorial Prize and graduated from the Royal Naval College at Greenwich in 1906, his professors repeatedly noting a talent for French and German. Appointed Sub Lieutenant on 15 September 1906 and Lieutenant on 1 April 1909, his Service Record subsequently notes ‘appreciation expressed’ by the Government of Victoria for his advice at the time of the search for the S.S. Waratah which disappeared in July 1909 with 211 passengers and crew en route from Durban to Cape Town; no trace of her was ever found and her fate remains unconfirmed. Promoted Captain of Torpedo Boat 38, Seymour spent the next three years on the China Station (Hong Kong) from 23 December 1911 to 9 May 1914, but was recalled to England and transferred to the pre-dreadnought battleship Russell on 6 March 1915. Sent to the Mediterranean to support the Dardanelles campaign, Russell joined the Cape Helles evacuation from 7 to 9 January 1916 and was the last battleship of the British Dardanelles Squadron to leave the area. Steaming off Malta on the morning of 27 April 1916, Russell soon foundered after striking two mines in quick succession laid by German submarine U-73. The devastating explosions and subsequent fire led to the loss of 27 officers and 98 ratings, a notable survivor being Lieutenant-Commander John H. D. Cunningham, later First Sea Lord from May 1946. Aged 29 years, Seymour is commemorated upon the Memorial Tablet in the Church of St. James, Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Three: Engine Room Artificer F. E. Williams, Royal Navy, who was killed in action in H.M. Submarine E.20 when it was sunk in the Sea of Marmora in November 1915 1914-15 Star (M.3935 F. E. Williams E.R.A.3, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.3935 F. E. Williams. E.R.A.3 R.N.) together with flattened card boxes of issue, forwarding letter for medals and Memorial Plaque (Frank Edgar Williams) in card envelope, nearly extremely fine --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Frank Edgar Williams was born at Hampstead, London, on 24 June 1890, and joined the Royal Navy on 5 December 1911. He joined the Submarine Service on 27 September 1913, and served aboard H.M. Submarines E.5, October 1913, E.4, October 1914, and E.20 from July 1915. He was killed in action when H.M. Submarine E.20 was torpedoed on 5 November 1915, by the German submarine UB.14 in the Sea of Marmora. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. In October, the Turquoise had ran ashore alongside a Turkish fort and unable to get off, the captain had surrendered with his crew to save unnecessary loss of life. By the greatest misfortune, he omitted to destroy his papers and among them was a note giving the time and position of the rendezvous with E.20. As E.20 lay on the surface waiting for the Turquoise, the German submarine UB.14 arrived submerged and without warning, fired two torpedoes which struck the E.20 amidships, sinking her and killing a number of her crew. Captain Heimburg, UB.14’s skipper, later gave a vivid eye-witness account of the sinking: ‘We got a perfect shot. A tremendous explosion, a cloud of smoke on the water. When the smoke disappeared, no submarine was to be seen, only men swimming around in the water. We picked up nine Britishers including the captain, a young Lieutenant Warren. Warren, it would seem had been brushing his teeth when the torpedo struck and he was only half conscious as he was dragged aboard the U-boat. He was revived by the German sailors who asked him if there was anything he wanted. “Yes,” he replied, “a toothbrush,” and on being handed one he continued brushing his teeth.’ Heimburg admitted that he could not vouch for the veracity of the anecdote, but “it’s a tip-top yarn whether it’s true or not,” he added! Sold with flattened card boxes if issue and forwarding letter for campaign medals, together with research including a fine copy photograph of the E.20 with 28 crew on deck.

An unusual Diplomatic Service group of four awarded to Sir Edward Henry Goschen, 2nd Baronet, who served in the Boer War with the 47th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Company, 13th (Irish) Imperial Yeomanry and was taken prisoner when the entire 13th Battalion was surrounded and captured en masse at Lindley on 31 May 1900 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (14182 Tpr: E. H. Goschen, 47th Coy. 13th Impl: Yeo:) fitted with silver ribbon brooch; Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, 4th Class breast badge with rosette, gold and enamels, blue enamel chipped in obverse centre; Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 3rd Class neck badge, silver, gold and enamels, with full neck cravat; Egypt, Sultanate, Order of the Nile, 3rd Class neck badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, with full neck cravat, white enamel flaked on lower arm, the first toned, extremely fine, otherwise very fine or better (4) £600-£800 --- Edward Henry Goschen was born on 9 March 1876, the eldest son of the Right Honourable Sir William Goschen, who became the British Ambassador to Berlin, and was in that appointment on the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. Goschen was also the great-grandson of George Joachim Goschen, the famous publisher of Leipzig, and a grandson of William Henry Goschen, who founded the banking firm of Fruhling and Goschen in London in 1815. He was nephew of the first Viscount Goschen, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and a first cousin of Sir Harry Goschen, Baronet, of Goschens and Cunliffe. Edward Henry Goschen was educated at Eton, which he joined in 1889 as a member of Mr R. A. H. Mitchell’s House, where he acquired his lifelong love of cricket. He then followed his father into the Diplomatic Service, and in 1897 was appointed an honorary attaché to the Embassy in Saint Petersburg. However, when the Boer War in South Africa broke out, he then volunteered his services and attested for one year’s service as a Trooper (No. 22) with the Special Corps of Imperial Yeomanry on 7 February 1900, before his unit was retitled, and he then continued in the service as a Trooper (No. 14182) with the 47th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Company, a unit of the 13th Battalion of Imperial Yeomanry, bound for service in South Africa, and as such embarking on 17 February 1900. He was then present on operations in the Cape Colony, the Orange Free State, and the Transvaal, being one of 140 men of his company present on operations. The Battalion to which the 47th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Company joined out in South Africa, the 13th Battalion, was, as one writer put it, ‘the Imperial Yeomanry dream’; Wyndham, the creator of the Yeomanry, had wanted it to represent the cream of British manhood and the ‘13th Battalion took his scheme to its ultimate extreme’. The 45th Company from Dublin had Masters of Foxhounds and the sons of much of Ireland’s legal establishment in its ranks. The 47th Company, as mentioned, came from some of England’s wealthiest families, and the 46th and 54th from Belfast represented Ulster Unionism’s commitment to the Imperial cause. The battalion’s officers included Lord Longford, Lord Ennismore, the Earl of Leitrim, James Craig, later Lord Craigavon, and Sir John Power of the Irish whiskey distilling family. Politics, money, patriotism and class, the combination was irresistible to the press and public, some of whom dubbed the battalion the ‘Millionaires’ Own’. On arrival in South Africa, the 47th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Company, well connected as well as well heeled, only spent a week in the unpleasant surroundings of the Imperial Yeomanry camp at Maitland. Admittedly their reward was weeks of training on the edge of the Karoo Desert north of Cape Town, but life there was eased by the arrival of the Dublin men to keep them company and of a spectacular array of food, drink and other luxuries which had been sent out from England. On 15 May the two companies arrived in Bloemfontein to meet the Ulstermen, who had come straight from Maitland, and just a week later the newly assembled battalion was given its first orders for active service. The 13th Battalion then joined General Colvile’s 9th Division, which was short of mounted troops, and as such the yeomanry was detailed to link up with Colvile at Ventersburg, south of Kroonstad. But, because they were delayed waiting for forage, they did not arrive in time, and Colvile had by then begun his march east to Lindley and then north to Heilbron, taking the right flank during Robert’s march on Johannesburg. The 13th Battalion Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Basil Spragge, was an experienced regular infantry officer, and he was then handed a telegram, the origins of which are still a mystery. The telegram essentially ordered Spragge to join Colvile at Lindley. Colvile later denied all knowledge of this telegram, and there is speculation that the Boers had tapped the telegraph lines and sent a bogus message to lure the yeomanry to destruction. It was still a risky deception, as Colvile himself was heading to Lindley with the 9th Division, and if he had done so, and then lingered long enough, the yeomanry would have caught up with him, providing much needed strength to the 9th Division. Colvile’s intelligence officer later confirmed that Colvile did not give this order, but despite the speculation it does not seem likely that the Boers did send the order, and more than likely it was just down to bad staff work at British headquarters who had issued the orders to Spragge, and failed to inform Colvile. Nevertheless it played right into the hands of the Boers. The 13th Battalion marched for Lindley at daybreak on 26 May, and that afternoon met a party of armed Boers who claimed to be going to Kroonstad to surrender, and Spragge naively disarmed them, invited them to lunch and then allowed them to go. The Boers promptly returned to Lindley with much valuable information. As Private Maurice Fitzgibbon of the Dublin company, son of one of Ireland’s most senior judges, recalled: ‘The scouts of the Boer commandos at Lindley had been permitted to enter our lines to find out our numbers, our armaments and the amount of our supplies, had even had lunch with us and all this information and hospitality at the expense of a few out-of-date rifles and a few perjured oaths.’ The Boers now knew of the yeomanry’s approach, but Colvile did not. When the yeomanry rode into Lindley the following afternoon, it quickly became apparent that all was not well. Colvile was gone, and no letter or message of any sort left, the town being ominously deserted and the people too frightened to give any information. Within an hour of the yeomanry’s arrival, the Boers opened fire from some of the houses, and the yeomanry were ordered to evacuate the town, which was commanded by hills and difficult to defend, and then retreat to where they had left their baggage some three miles to the west on the Kroonstad Road. After fighting a rear guard action they regrouped on the northern bank of the Valsh River. Spragge now made the most crucial decision of the entire Lindley affair. He could either make a run for it, or set up his defences and send for help. His decision to do the latter was later heavily criticised, but in reality Spragge could not have ordered a move that night, although there was a window of opportunity, albeit a brief and highly risky one, the following morning. By the time the entire Battalion had regrouped outside Lindley it was 5pm; the men were tired, and so were the horses, which had come 87 miles in three days. If Spragge had abandoned the b...

Six: Private A. J. Oxby, Gordon Highlanders, who was wounded in North-West Europe post D-Day 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all privately engraved ‘Pte. A. J. Oxby. 3250906. Gdn. Hlds.’, mounted as worn, very fine Four: Private F. Ashworth, Highland Light Infantry, who was killed in action in North-West Europe on 23 September 1944 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue addressed to Mr. H. Ashworth, 78 Greenwood St., Oldham, Lancs’, extremely fine (10) £120-£160 --- Alfred J. Oxby was born on 28 June 1917 and attested for the Gordon Highlanders, serving with the 51st Division in North Africa, Italy, and in North-West Europe. He is recorded as having been wounded in North West Europe, although the date is not recorded. A note with the lots states that he ‘fought at the Second Battle of El Alamenin, in Italy, and took part in the Normandy Landings, and was taken Prisoner of War in June 1944, in the immediate aftermath of D-Day’, although this information remains unconfirmed, and Oxby’s name does not appear in the latest published transcript of Prisoners of War of the British Army held in Germany. Frank Ashworth was born on 15 May 1920, the son of Mr. Harry Ashworth, of Oldham, Lancashire, and served with the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry during the Second World War. He was killed in action on 23 September 1944 during the Battalion’s advance into Holland, and is buried in Valkenswaard War Cemetery, Holland. Valkenswaard was the first village to be liberated on the main line of the British advanced into Holland in September 1944.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Natal, Belfast (7159 Pte. H. Dunn. Vol. Coy. Manch: Regt.) minor edge bruise otherwise good very fine £80-£100 --- Herbert Dunn was born at Crumpsall, Manchester, in 1875, and at some point he enlisted in the 5th (Ardwick) Volunteer Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. On the outbreak of the South African War he was one of those who volunteered for active service and was selected for service in the 1st Volunteer Service Company, though he was initially held in reserve. In June 1900 the reserve section joined the first contingent near Ladysmith, and were engaged with the enemy near Amersfoort. The 1st Volunteer Service Company thereafter performed convoy escort and garrison duties. The 1st V.S.C. embarked from Durban on 26 April 1901, returning to Southampton on 22 May, and Dunn was discharged on 29 May 1901. Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extracts which confirms that he was additionally entitled to the South Africa 1901 clasp.

Four: Private F. Parrott, 80th Regiment Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Drumr. Frederick Parrott, 80th Regt.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Dr. Fredk. Parrott, 80th Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Fredk. Parrett, 80th Regt.) note spelling of surname; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1526 Fredk. Parrott, 80th Regt.) attempted erasure of rank on the first two, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and better (4) £2,400-£2,800 --- Frederick Parrott was an Army “Brat” who became a Drummer in the 80th Foot, aged 14, on the death of his father, Sergeant Ambrose Parrott of the West Kent Militia, who died suddenly on 14 October 1838, at the age of 44, leaving his wife to care for their children, which led to the decision for Frederick should join the Army. This he did, and two weeks later, on 29 October - aged 14 years and 4 months - he travelled from Maidstone to Rochester to enlist. At that time the 80th Foot, later the South Staffordshire Regiment, was stationed at nearby Chatham; this was the Regiment he joined as a Boy Drummer. His enlistment must have been a great relief to his mother, since the year before, in July 1837, Frederick’s elder brother Edwin, then 17, had been convicted and transported as a convict to New South Wales, Australia. Frederick Parrott was to serve for 21 years in the 80th Foot; was never court-martialled; was five times entered in the Regimental Defaulters Book; earned five good conduct badges; and qualified for four medals. He travelled all over the world, taking part in four major and bloody battles in which the 80th Foot earned Battle Honours to display with pride on their colours and drums. By a strange coincidence, his first overseas posting was to join his Regiment in Australia, where they had gone to escort convicts and were stationed in Windsor, New South Wales. Their duties at this time were, as the Regimental History puts it, ‘[e]ngaged in the not very congenial task of suppressing convict riots’. In 1840 he left Australia and went with his Regiment to New Zealand where he served until 1845 when, suddenly, the 80th were posted to Agra in India to take part in the Sikh War. His first action was at the Battle of Moodkee. It was a bloody bayonet battle in which two of his fellow drummers were killed and two wounded, one so severely he had to be invalided back to England. At the next battle, Ferozashah, the 80th were at the head of the advancing British column when they were stopped by artillery fire. The Commander in Chief rode up and spoke to them: ‘My lads we will have no sleep until we have those guns’. The 80th fixed bayonets charged and captured the guns. Then with good discipline reformed at the head of the Column and marched past the Commander in Chief who commented, ‘Plucky dogs, we cannot but win with such men as these’. In the final battle of the war, at Sobraon, the 80th were part of Sir Robert Dick’s Division tasked to secure the entrenchments. It was another fierce affair using the bayonet, in which Sir Robert Dick was killed and the British suffered 2,500 casualties. For the part they played in the war, the 80th added three Battle Honours to the Colours of the Regiment. After a period stationed in India, the 80th were off again, called to arms and posted to take part in the developing war in Burma. Under command of Lieutenant-Colonel G. Hutchinson, they took part in the storming and capture of the Grand Dragon Pagoda in Rangoon, which meant crossing 800 yards of open ground under heavy fire and clearing the gunners manning the walls using the bayonet. The 80th then boarded H.M.S. Enterprise and sailed up river to take part in the capture of Prome. It was another battle where the 80th advanced with their bayonets and, as their Commanding General, General Goodwin, later said, ‘Most gallantly drove the enemy out of their position’. After further engagements, including at Dinebaw, the Regiment was posted back first to Calcutta and then in 1854 on home to Chatham having been granted another battle honour for their bravery in Burma - ‘Pegu’. Their stay in the UK was again brief; a short period in Canterbury, then to Fort George in Scotland and then, in 1855, to Portsmouth. However, the 80th were soon called upon to go overseas for another impending war. This time it was to South Africa in preparation for the Kaffir War. On 10 July 1856 they sailed to Cape Colony in South Africa, and were based at Fort Beaufort. But it was to be a short stay; the Mutiny had broken out in India, and in November 1857 the Regiment was despatched to Calcutta. Throughout the suppression of the Mutiny, the 80th were in constant action against bands of rebel soldiers. At the battle of Fort Simree, they again advanced with the bayonet and, in the General Officers Report it is stated: ‘The advance of the 80th under Captain Young excited my warmest approbation’. They fought bitter actions at Dhana and the Campaign in the Oude, and finally finished at the scene of the notorious massacre at Cawnpore. The 80th Regiment gained the Battle Honour ‘Central India’ and Frederick Parrott gained the Medal without clasp. Parrott remained in India with his Regiment stationed at Saugor in the Central Province in 1860, and then in Jhansi in 1861. On 30 November 1861 he was recommended for the Long Service and Good Conduct medal and this was approved by the Commander in Chief, India on 19 October 1862, granting him an annuity of five pounds. Frederick now sailed back to England and on 4 August 1863, after 20 years and 348 days abroad, he was finally discharged from the Depot in Maidstone. He had been in the Army for 21 years 37 days but, as he had joined under age, his pension was only for 15 years and 125 days. Sold with copied discharge papers and other copied research.

Three: Captain R. C. C. Smart, Royal Navy, in command of Q-Ship Saros British War and Victory Medals (Commr. R. C. C. Smart. R.N.); War Medal 1939-45, unnamed, mounted as worn, good very fine (3) £140-£180 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1998. Robert Charles Cator Smart was born in September 1882 and joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman on 15 June 1899. In September 1914, Brigadier General Sir George Aston, R.M.A. brought to notice the excellent services rendered by Lieutenant Smart, who acted as Senior Embarkation Officer and Beach Master on the occasion of the embarkation of the Marine Force at Ostend. From October 1914 to October 1915, he was second in command of the Armed Merchant Cruiser Laurentic, including service off East Africa. From November 1915 he was in command of the Q-Ship Saros, and was commended by the Admiralty for actions with enemy submarines on 30 October and 2 November, 1916. On each occasion Saros drove away U-Boats which had opened fire, the latter action being with U-21 which missed with a torpedo. On 19 March 1917, Saros and another U-Boat exchanged fire, during which exchange Saros was holed but managed to make it safely back to Malta. On 16 August 1917, off San Remo, Italy, the Austrian submarine U-28 torpedoed and sank Saros, the entire crew being rescued by a French trawler. Smart was subsequently second in command of H.M.S. Challenger form November 1917 to May 1919, in East Africa. He was promoted Captain in 1927, having retired in 1922, and returned to active duty on shore during WWII. Sold with extracts from various books concerning his Q-Ship adventures and a copy of his service record. Also entitled to the 1914-15 Star.

Three: Private F. Varnham, Manchester Regiment, who was severely wounded at Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 1914 Star (7809 Pte. F. Varnham. 1/Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7809 Pte. F. Varnham. Manch R.) mounted court-style for display, good very fine (3) £80-£100 --- Frederick Varnham was born in Greenwich around October 1888. At a young age he was sent to the training Ship Exmouth at Grays, Essex, run by the Forest Gate School District, which trained boys from poor families in skills they could use in a naval or merchant navy career. However, on 27 June 1902, at the age of 13, he attested at Aldershot as a private in 4th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. He joined his battalion in Cork in the Summer of 1902, just after its return from South Africa. On the disbandment of the 4th Battalion in 1906 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion and appointed Lance Corporal on 20 July 1911, but reverted to Private at his own request in April 1913. He was discharged from the army in June 1914 ‘time expired’, but joined the Army Reserve a few days later. Varnham was mobilised and posted to 3rd Battalion on the outbreak of the Great War, and on 9 November 1914 he went to France to join the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment. On 12 March 1915 his battalion was ordered to attack Bois de Biez, to the South East of Neuve Chapelle; during this attack Varnham was severely wounded with shrapnel wounds in the right leg and knee and was evacuated to the U.K. the following day. He was discharged from the army ‘being no longer fit for war service’ on 22 April 1916 and was issued Silver War Badge No. 154883. He died at Ashton Under Lyne in 1963. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

A Great War ‘Gallipoli’ M.M. group of five awarded to Private J. Pearson, Manchester Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Gallipoli in early June 1915 Military Medal, G.V.R. (275420 Pte. J. Pearson. 7/Manch. R.); 1914-15 Star (1822 Pte. J. Pearson. Manch: R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (275420 Pte. J. Pearson. Manch. R.); Victory Medal 1914-19, this neatly erased; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R. 1st issue (John Pearson) with named ‘Lancs.’ card box of issue, mounted court-style for display; together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, numbered 484083; and an Old Contemptibles Association lapel badge, light contact marks, very fine and better (5) £300-£400 --- M.M. London Gazette: 30 January 1920 (’The Prisoner of War Gazette’). Awarded under the Terms of Army Order 193 of 1919. John Pearson was born at Harpurhey, Manchester, on 2 May 1894 and enlisted as a Private in the 7th (Territorial) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment on 29 May 1913. Following mobilisation his battalion sailed from Southampton on 10 September 1914, destined for Egypt as part of the first Territorial Division to leave England on active service; the 7th Battalion landed at ‘V’ Beach, Gallipoli, on 7 May 1915. On 4 June 1915 his battalion attacked the Turkish trenches; John Pearson, serving in ‘B’ Company, was reported as missing in action and it was not until October 1915 that he was confirmed a prisoner in Turkish hands. He was one of four men of the 1/7th Battalion Manchester Regiment who were taken prisoner by the Turkish Forces at Gallipoli. In February 1916 the Foreign Office confirmed that he was one of the wounded P.O.W.s interned at Kiangeri camp, moved to Bozanti, and later transferred to Afion Kara Hissar. He remained in the hands of the Turks until he was repatriated to the U.K. and disembodied on 4 April 1919, being awarded a Silver War Badge No. 484,083. Sold with extensive copied research.

Four: Private T. Green, Manchester Regiment, late Manchester Company, Volunteer Medical Staff Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, clasp block loose on riband (13110 Pte. T. Green. R.A.M.C.) with contemporary silver brooch bar; British War and Victory Medals (36540 Pte. T. Green. Manch. R.); together with a silver and enamel ‘God Speed’, fob medal from Manchester Harriers Club 1898, finely engraved to the reverse ‘To Tom Green - A Memento from his Clubmates on his leaving for South Africa Feb. 13th 1900 ‘God Speed’’, mounted court-style for display, edge bruising, minor enamel damage to last, generally very fine (4) £140-£180 --- Tom Green was born in Liverpool in 1877 and at some time he joined the Manchester Volunteer Medical Staff Corps, a volunteer unit set up in 1888. Green was one of those volunteers who were selected for one year’s voluntary service in the South African War and attested for service in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He and the Manchester Company of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps sailed for South Africa on 24 February 1900; most of his company served in No. 5 General Hospital at Cape Town. He returned to the U.K. in August 1901. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Green attested for service in December 1915, but was not called up until May 1916, when he was posted to 13th (Service) Battalion, Manchester Regiment. He joined his battalion in Salonika in the Spring of 1916 and served as a machine gunner. In June 1918 he transferred to 9th Battalion the South Lancashire Regiment. He was discharged to Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 21 April 1919. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

An outstanding Second War D.S.M. group of five awarded to Assistant Steward W. Barnett, for his part in Captain Fogarty Fegen’s Victoria Cross action in H.M.S. Jervis Bay against the Admiral Scheer in 1940 Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (W. Barnett, Asst. Std. H.M.S. Jervis Bay.) impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (5) £2,000-£3,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. D.S.M. London Gazette 11 March 1941: ‘For courage and devotion to duty when H.M.S. Jervis Bay defending a large convoy was sunk by a powerful German warship.’ One of seven D.S.M’s awarded for this action. The following recommendation is taken from the official report on the loss of the Jervis Bay: ‘W. Barnett, Assistant Steward, T.124. This man was stationed in the foremost shell room, when things went wrong and the lights went out Barnett stuck to his post endeavouring to get the emergency lighting to work. He would not leave his post until he received definite orders to do so although he could serve no useful purpose by remaining below.’ William Barnett was one of many Merchant Navy men who volunteered to serve aboard his ship when it was taken up and converted to a war ship. These ‘T.124’ men were borne as naval ratings rather than merchantmen during the period of their service with the Royal Navy. Early in November 1940, the liner H.M.S. Jervis Bay (14,164 tons), serving as an armed auxiliary cruiser, was escorting a convoy of 38 ships across the Atlantic to British ports. The ship was under the command of Captain E. S. Fogarty Fegen, R.N., the convoy being under the command of Rear Admiral H. B. Maltby, R.N., who flew his flag on the Cornish City. On 5 November at about 5p.m. the convoy was attacked by the German pocket battle ship Admiral Scheer (10,000 tons, main armament six 11-inch guns) at a position some 1,000 miles east of Newfoundland. The enemy opened fire at a range of ten miles and the Jervis Bay steamed to engage although her 6-inch guns were outranged by the enemy's heavy 11-inch weapons. The action which ensued lasted for about an hour, the Jervis Bay sustaining the full weight of the enemy’s fire and effectively preventing him from concentrating on the convoy. At the end of that time the auxiliary cruiser was heavily on fire with every gun out of action, but night was coming on and the convoy, having concealed its movements by throwing over smoke floats, had scattered over a wide area. The Jervis Bay, though badly mauled, still continued to float, but two hours after the action ceased she sank with colours flying. Captain Fogarty Fegen, to whom a posthumous award of the Victoria Cross was made, lost an arm during the action and went down with his ship. The number of crew saved was 65, including a few Officers. The final number lost was 33 Officers and 147 Ratings killed, 13 of the latter being Canadians, with one Officer and nine Ratings later dying of wounds. A Swedish vessel, the Stureholm, which was sailing with the convoy turned back in a very gallant manner and her Commander, Sven Olander, lowered his boats and picked up the survivors. From the evidence of these men it was established that the steering gear of the Jervis Bay was smashed early in the action. Although the heroic delaying action of the Jervis Bay enabled the convoy to scatter over a wide area the speed of the Admiral Scheer enabled her to locate, overhaul, and sink, six of the ships. The remaining 32 ships in the convoy reached port safely. The following ships were sunk: Beaverford (10,042 tons), Maiden (7,908 tons), Mopoan (5,389 tons), Fresno City (4,955 tons), Kenbane Head (5,299 tons), and the Trewellard (5,201 tons). Including the Jervis Bay the tonnage of British ships lost in this action totalled 52,558 tons. 357 Officers and men were lost and 68 Officers and men were taken Prisoners of War. Although a major hunt was immediately instigated by the Admiralty, the Admiral Scheer managed to elude the allied forces and return in safety to Germany. Assistant Steward Barnett was one of the fortunate survivors of the Jervis Bay, but lost some of his upper teeth in the action, for which he was treated aboard H.M.S. Cormorin. In addition to the posthumous Victoria Cross granted to Captain Fogarty Fegan, one D.S.O., one D.S.C., one C.G.M., and seven D.S.M.s were awarded for this action. When the survivors reached safety and recounted their experiences, the story of the Jervis Bay thrilled the free world. It became one of the most famous naval sagas of all time, told and retold, commemorated in song, verse and film. ‘If ever a ship deserved a V.C.,’ said The Times, ‘that ship is surely the Jervis Bay.’ As Captain Olander of the Stureholm put it, ‘There she rode like a hero’. Sold with copied Admiralty ‘Secret’ report on the loss of H.M.S. Jervis Bay with recommendations for all awards, list of survivors and report of Fogarty Fegen’s posthumous V.C.

A Great War ‘La Bassée February 1915’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant J. F. Le Cras, Manchester Regiment, late Guernsey Royal Artillery Militia, who was briefly taken Prisoner of War at Givenchy in 1914, before escaping, and was later wounded at Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1787 [sic] Cpl. J. Le Cras. 1/Manch: R.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (787 Pte. J. Le Cras. Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals (787 Sjt. J. Le Cras. Manch. R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (No. 787 Pte. J. Le Cras. Manch. Rgt.) contemporarily engraved naming, mounted court-style for wear, sometime lacquered, contact marks and minor edge bruising, very fine and better (7) £2,000-£2,400 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 5 June 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and ability on 19th and 21st February, 1915, near the La Bassée road, in voluntarily reconnoitring the enemy’s position from a distance of only 20 yards and obtaining most useful information on both days.’ John Frederick Le Cras was born on 3 September 1881, in St Saviours, Guernsey, Channel Islands. At the age of 14 he ran away to sea, but returned to Guernsey some time between 1898 and 1900 and joined the Guernsey Royal Artillery Militia. In 1905 he attested for service in 2nd Battalion the Manchester Regiment at St. Peter Port, serving in the Guernsey and Alderney garrisons. He served in India with his battalion arriving at Trimulgherry in December 1906. His battalion was on duty at the 1911 Delhi Durbar, and his name appears on the medal roll. Le Cras served in France with the B.E.F., landing with the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment on 27 August 1914. He was briefly taken prisoner at Givenchy but managed to escape and earned the D.C.M. at La Bassée. He was wounded at Neuve Chapelle on or around 10 March 1915, and was repatriated to England. After recuperating he was posted as an instructor to the Machine Gun Corps, but was then posted to the Railway Depot Royal Engineers at Longmoor in November 1917. He was promoted to Sergeant, Railway Operations Head Quarters at Cherbourg, where he remained for the rest of his war service. He was demobilised and transferred to Class ‘Z’ Army Reserve on 25 August 1919. In August 1939 Le Cras joined the Kesteven and Grantham National Defence Company, later Home Guard, and was sent to guard Spitalgate Aerodrome, near Grantham. He later transferred as a Private in ‘B’ Company, 3rd Kesteven Home Guard, and was later Range Warden and Sergeant at Honnington Range. On the stand down of the Home Guard he received a Certificate of Good Service from the Battalion Commander and ‘the Order of Merit, Northern Command, Home Guard’. He was discharged from the Home Guard in 1945, and died in 1968 aged 77. Sold with extensive copied research including a 14-page copy of a typed memoir My Life Story by John Frederick Le Cras, D.C.M., dated March 1960.

Three: Lieutenant-Commander John Martin, Royal Naval Reserve, Commander of sailing Q-Ships Dargle and Fresh Hope British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr. J. Martin. R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (John Martin) mounted as worn, very fine (3) £300-£360 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1998. John Martin was temporary Lieutenant in August 1915, and temporary Lieutenant-Commander in April 1919. The Admiral Commanding Orkney and Shetland, Admiral F. E. Brock, complained to the Commander in Chief, Grand Fleet about the commander of the sailing Q-Ship H.M.S. Dargle, Lieutenant J. Martin, saying that Martin was of ‘an excitable temperament which is most undesirable... He is constantly using his motors and does not appear to realise the importance of making his vessel look like a peaceful merchant ship... He is constantly making complaints about his ship.’ Martin resigned from his command on the grounds of ill health, but Captain James Startin, Senior Naval Officer, Granton, who felt that he was a very capable officer ‘but certainly difficult as regards naval etiquette and discipline’, had him transferred to another vessel. A year later, as commander of Fresh Hope, another sailing Q-Ship, Martin justified this good opinion by bringing the fore-and-aft schooner into an encounter with a U-Boat on which he scored four direct hits. After the War, Martin was engaged in mine sweeping duties in the East Indies in command of H.M.S. Ban-What-Him.

A Great War ‘Western Front, August 1918’ D.C.M. and M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant Leslie Symons, 18th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (C-7504 Sjt: L. Symons. M.M. 18/K.R. Rif: C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (C-7504 Sjt: L. Symons. 18/K.R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals (C-7504 Sjt. L. Symons. K.R. Rif. C.) mounted on card for display, very fine (4) £1,800-£2,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 30 October 1918: ‘C/7504 Sjt. L. Symons, M.M., K.R.R.C. (Penzance). For conspicuous gallantry during an attack which was heavily pressed by the enemy, some of whom actually succeeded in entering the trench of his post. He eventually beat off the enemy. He was gassed and wounded, but continued firing at a machine gun that was enfilading his post. He set a splendid example to his men.’ Annotated gazette states: ‘N. Kemmel. 11 August 1918.’ M.M. London Gazette 13 November 1918. War Diary confirms award also for August 1918. Leslie Symons was a native of Penzance, Cornwall. The following report was published in the Cornishman & Cornish Telegraph on 20 November 1918: ‘West Cornwall News - Penzance Sergt. L. Symons, King’s Royal Rifles (son of Mr J. F. Symons of 24 Leskinnick Terrace, Penzance) who was awarded the D.C.M. and M.M. has received the following letter from the Colonel of the battalion to which he was attached prior to proceeding overseas: “I have only just heard that you have won both the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. It is a record to be proud of and I congratulate you on the gallant conduct which well deserved this recognition. I always admired your repeated attempts to get to France while under age; and am very glad that you have so fully justified the belief that you would be a credit to your regiment overseas. I hope your wound is better and that you will soon be restored to health to enjoy the peace you have helped us win.”’ Sold with copied research including gazette notices, D.C.M., M.M. and Medal Index Cards, and extracts form the Battalion War Diary for August 1918.

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Centaur 26 Augt 1808 (F. E. Seymour, Midshipman.) good very 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 --- --- Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, June 1994; Collin Message Collection. 42 clasps issued for this action. Francis Edward Seymour was born in London on 2 September 1788, a great grandson of Edward, 8th Duke of Somerset. Francis Seymour joined the navy on 8 July 1801, aged 12 years, and embarked as a Volunteer on board the Malta. In the Leander he assisted at the capture of the French frigate La Ville de Milan on 23 February 1805, and the simultaneous recapture of her prize, the Cleopatra. In the Centaur he was present at the capture, on 25 September 1806, of four heavy French frigates from Rochefort, after an action in which Sir Samuel Hood lost his arm. In the same ship he accompanied the expedition of 1807 against Copenhagen and witnessed the surrender of Madeira. After serving briefly aboard the Victory, he rejoined the Centaur on 7 August 1808, as Acting Lieutenant. In late August, Sir Samuel Hood in Centaur accompanied by Implacable, Captain Thomas Byam Martin, joined Rear Admiral Nauckhoff and the Swedish fleet in Oro Roads and they all sailed from there on the 25th, in pursuit of the Russian fleet which had appeared off Sweden two days earlier. Due to their superior sailing Centaur and Implacable were soon well in advance and closing on the Russians who appeared to be in disorder. By the morning of the 26th, Implacable was able to bring the leewardmost of the enemy's line-of-battle ships, the Sewolod 74, Captain Roodneff, to close action. After 20 minutes the enemy's colours and pendant were lowered but the approach of the whole Russian force obliged Sir Samuel to recall Captain Martin. A Russian frigate took the crippled ship in tow but when the Russian Admiral hauled his wind, Centaur and Implacable gave chase and forced the frigate to slip her tow. The enemy ships again bore down in support but instead of engaging they entered the port of Rager Vik (also known as Port Baltic or Rogerswick). When boats were sent out to try and tow her in to harbour Centaur stood in and, after driving the boats off, ran across the bow of the Sewolod just as she was entering the harbour. The Centaur then lashed the Sewolod’s bowsprit to her mizen-mast and both ships soon drifted aground. The Russians refused to strike and the battle went on until the arrival of the Implacable finally induced the Russian ship to surrender. Implacable had to heave Centaur off. However, the prize was so firmly aground that after taking out the prisoners and wounded men, Sir Samuel ordered her to be burnt. Implacable lost six men killed and twenty-six wounded including two who did not recover and three who had limbs amputated. Centaur lost three killed and twenty-seven wounded, and the Sewolod 180 killed or wounded, and many more missing. Seymour was appointed to the Jason on 28 April 1814, as Flag-Lieutenant to H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence, under whom he accompanied Louis XVIII to Calais. He was promoted Commander in 1814, and from 1828 until April 1831, was employed as Inspecting Commander in the Coast Guard. Sold with copied record of service (ADM 196/6) and additional notes compiled by Colin Message.

Pair: Private E. Schofield, York and Lancaster Regiment, who was killed in action on 7 July 1916 1914-15 Star (240462 Pte. E. Schofield. York: & Lanc: R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (240462 Pte. E. Schofield. Y. & L.R.); Memorial Plaque (Ernest Schofield); Memorial Scroll ‘L/Cpl. Ernest Schofield York and Lancaster Regt.’, generally good very fine (4) £120-£160 --- Ernest Schofield enlisted at Barnsley and served in France from 19 April 1915 with the 1/5th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. During the Battle of the Somme, eight battalions of the York and Lancaster Regiment went ‘over the top’ on 1 July 1916, suffering huge casualties. 11 Battalions of the regiment later fought during the Somme offensive, the sheer weight of loss resulting in large numbers of men being unaccounted for in the confusion of war; recorded ‘presumed dead’, Schofield was later confirmed killed in action on 7 July 1916 and is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, France.

A Korean War B.E.M. pair awarded to Lance-Corporal W. N. S. Lawson, Royal Engineers British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (22844618 L/Cpl. William N. S. Lawson, R.E.) edge prepared prior to naming, and both ‘4’s in the recipient’s number overstamped over a ‘3’, on original mounting pin, in Royal Mint case of issue and outer card box; U.N. Korea 1950-54 I22644618 L/Cpl Lawson W. N. R.E.) extremely fine (2) £200-£240 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 9 June 1955: ‘In recognition of services in Korea during the period 1 August 1954 to 31 January 1955.’ The original Recommendation, dated 1 February 1955, states: ‘Sapper (Unpaid Acting Lance-Corporal) William Norritt Stewart Lawson, 28 Field Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, is a fitter who has been employed during the greater part of he period in question at the Divisional water point at Cobalt. He has been responsible for the efficient functioning of the machinery, on which the water supply of the division has depended, and has shown great skill and devotion to duty at this isolated task. Weather conditions have varied from flood to intense cold, and Sapper Lawson has worked all hours of the day and night, with judgement and determination, to keep the equipment in order. No day has passed without the division being able to draw water, and many of our neighbouring allies whose water points had failed under the extreme climate, were supplied from this source.’

A fine and interesting Great War D.C.M., M.M. pair awarded to Sergeant J. Curran, 19th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, who after a distinguished wartime career, deserted and was convicted by the civil authorities of aggravated assault and house breaking, these crimes resulting in a period of imprisonment and the forfeiture of his Great War campaign medals Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (38544 Sjt: J. Curran. M.M. 19/Manch: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (38544 L. Cpl. J. Curran. 19/Manch: R.); together with British War and Victory Medals, both with naming erased, mounted court-style for display, several heavy edge bruises, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 October 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward with two men and surprised and captured an enemy post of one officer and six men in broad daylight. Later, he assumed command of his platoon, and under a very heavy barrage held an isolated position until relieved. His conduct throughout was splendid, and inspired his men.’ Annotated Gazette states: ‘Nr Ridge, 8 May 1918.’ M.M. London Gazette 28 September 1917. Fortunately Sergeant Curran’s correspondence file survives at the National Archives, from which the following information is sourced: 24 June 1920: Awarded 14 days’ detention for absence from 22:00, 12 June 1920 to 00:50, 13 June 1920, resisting an escort, and stating a falsehood to his C.O. 7 July 1920: Declared a deserter by Court of Inquiry held at Kinnel Park. 4 August 1920: Arrested by G.P. at Manchester and rejoined at Kinnel Park on 5 August 1920. 7 August 1920: The military authorities now discover that Curran had been awarded three months hard labour on 19 June 1920 at Chester Castle Sessions for aggravated assault on a female. He is arrested at Kinnel Park and committed to Liverpool Prison to serve sentence. 4 October 1920: Discharged from the Army having been convicted by a Civil Power, his character at the time being given as ‘bad’. A statement made by Curran in relation to his health states: ‘I am always coughing and spitting phlegm and short of breath. I consider this is the result of hardships in the trenches and being gassed on several dates, 31 July 1916 at Ypres, 1 May 1918 at Ypres, and 15 May 1918 at Ypres. 25 May 1927: John Curran (a.k.a. John Ryan) held at Albany Police Station awaiting trial. The following letter to the O.C., 17th Manchester Regiment from a Police Sergeant sheds some light on this: ‘I beg to report that the above named ex-soldier, John Ryan [name at top of sheet given as John Curran] is awaiting sentence at County of London Sessions commencing 14 June 1927 on a charge of house-breaking. When arrested on 2 May 1927, prisoner refused to give any particulars of himself. He now states that he served in the 17th Manchesters under Colonel MacDonald from 5 March 1916 till the end of the war when he was discharged as a Sergeant. He also states that he was awarded the D.C.M. and M.M., and that his Army character was very good...’ A letter written by Curran from Brixton Prison two weeks later requesting details of his service states: ‘Dear Sir, I am in some trouble and should thank you ever so mutch [sic] if you can kindly let me have the deeds that I got my D.C.M. and M.M. for.’ In relation to the forfeiture of his medals, it is clear that he was originally destined to lose his gallantry awards as well as his campaign medals. However, on 22 April 1922 a letter from the War Office cleared the whole issue up: ‘I am commanded to inform you that the Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded to No. 90232, Private J. Curran, Manchester Regiment, for service as No. 38544 Sergeant J. Curran, M.M., 19th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, vide the London Gazette dated 3 October 1918, and forfeited by him in consequence of his discharge on the 4th October 1920 (on conviction by the Civil Power) under Article 1236 of the Royal Warrant for pay, etc., of the Army which was in force on that date has been restored by the Army Council under Article 1240 of the above mentioned Royal Warrant. The Army Council have also decided under the power delegated to them by the terms of the 9th Ordinance of the Royal Warrant dated 24 March 1919, governing the award of the Military Medal, that this decoration awarded to the above named man for service as No. 38544 Private, Manchester Regiment, vide the London Gazette dated the 28th September 1917, shall not be forfeited... I am further to state that as the above mentioned decorations have not been returned to this Department it is presumed that they have been previously issued to Private Curran and are now in his possession. I am to add however that the commemorative war medals earned by this man are forfeited under Article 1236(b) of the Royal Warrant.’ World War I medal roll confirms ‘B.W.M. and V.M. returned, forfeited, 4.10.20.’ Sold with copies of his National Archives correspondence file and other research.

Six: G. E. Aitchison, Union Defence Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘2138 G. E. Aitchison’, mounted as worn, good very fine Six: A. M. Dumas, Union Defence Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘144851 A. M. Dumas’, good very fine Four: F. W. Dickinson, Union Defence Force 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘90740 F. M. Dickinson’, mounted as worn, good very fine Pair: J. L. Hodges, Union Defence Force War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, both officially impressed ‘39151 J. L. Hodges’, good very fine Pair: C. A. Schoute-Vanneck, Union Defence Force War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, both officially impressed ‘70763 C. A. Schoute-Vanneck’, mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted, good very fine (20) £140-£180 --- C. A. Schoute-Vanneck was a post-War Scientist in the Department of Physics, University of Natal, Durban, who wrote the following academic papers: 'Magnetospheric Propogation of VLF Waves from France to South Africa' (Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestial Physics, 1959); 'The Electron Density, Distribtion in the Magnetosphere Derived from Whistling Data' (Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestial Physics, 1963); '27kHz Radio Transmissions Observed and Sunrise and Sunet in South Africa' (Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestial Physics, 1968); and 'VFL Radio Transmission ay Sunrise' (US Journal of Geophysical Research, 1974).

Five: Corporal C. Swann, Manchester Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, unofficial rivets between second and third, and third and fourth clasps (5197 Cpl. C. Swann. Manchester Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5197 Pte. C. Swann. Manch: Regt.); 1914-15 Star (2673 Pte. C. Swann. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2673 Pte. C. Swann. Manch. R.) edge bruising and contact marks to the Boer War pair, these nearly very fine; the Great War awards better (5) £400-£500 --- Private C. Swann is confirmed as one of those men of the 1st Battalion the Manchester Regiment who was present at Elandslaagte. Medal roll indicates that he was also entitled to the clasps for Cape Colony and Orange Free State, the medal roll is also annotated that the Laings Nek clasp was issued later. Swann served with the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 July 1915; he later served at home in the 2nd Garrison Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Sold with copied research.

A well-documented Belgian group of eight awarded to ‘Action and Intelligence Agent’ Adjutant R. E. M. Mottiaux, a decorated Aviator of the Great War who served with the Resistance Movement during the Second World War, was captured, and died in captivity whilst incarcerated at the infamous Flossenburg Concentration Camp on 7 April 1945 Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Chevalier’s badge, silver and enamel, French issue, with ‘L’ silver palm on riband; Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, with bronze ‘A’ palm on riband; Croix de Guerre, L.III.R., bronze, with bronze ‘L’ palm on riband; Commemorative Medal for the Great War, bronze, with two bars; Allied Victory Medal, bronze; Commemorative Medal for the Second World War, with 'Lighting Bolts' and 'Crossed Sabres' riband devices; Resistance Medal 1940-45; Political Prisoners Cross 1940-45, silvered and enamel, with silver 2 Star clasp, all unnamed as issued, good very fine and better (8) £300-£400 --- Roger Ernest Marie Mottiaux was born in Belgium on 7 April 1891 and served during the Great War in the Belgian Aviation Corps, being awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm ‘[f]or courage and dedication he has shown throughout his long presence at the front.’ He served during the Second World War as an Action and Intelligence Agent in the Resistance Movement from 1 July 1943, and was appointed Adjutant on 8 June 1944. Arrested and deported to Germany, he was incarcerated at the Flossenburg Concentration Camp, and died in captivity on 7 April 1945. For his services he was posthumously awarded the Belgian Order of Leopold II and the Croix de Guerre, the joint citation stating: ‘Although the father of several children, he put himself at the disposal of the intelligence and action service as early as 1943 and thereafter fulfilled all of the perilous missions that were entrusted to him.’ Sold with the following archive of original named and dated award documents: i) the recipient’s award document in French with citation for the Posthumous awards of Order of Leopold II and the Croix de Guerre, dated 16 September 1946; ii) award document in French with citation awarding the Great War Croix de Guerre with Palm to the recipient as a member of the ‘Aeronautique Militaire, dated 2 September 1922; iii) award document for the Posthumous award of the Resistance Medal in French, undated; iv) award document in French for the Posthumous award of the Political Prisoners Cross with 2 x silver stars clasp, dated 3 August 1949; v) brevet in French awarding the Great War Allied Victory Medal to the recipient as a member of the ‘Aviation Militaire’, dated 31 August 1919; vi) award document in French for the Posthumous award of the Second World War Commemorative Medal 1940-45 with ‘Eclaires Croisses’, dated 4 October 1946; vii) brevet document ‘Lettre D'Avis’ in French confirming the recipient to be an Action and Intelligence Agent with effect from 1 July 1943, dated 15 September 1950; viii) brevet document ‘Lettre D'Avis’ in French confirming the recipient to hold rank of Adjutant (Warrant Officer Class II) in the Action and Intelligence Network with effect from 8 June 1944, dated 4 October 1946.

Six: Captain A. D. Mackenzie, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War following the Fall of Tobruk; escaping from captivity following the Italian Armistice, he was killed in action at Bottola, Italy, on 6 October 1944, whilst fighting with the Partisans against the Germans General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Lieut. A. D. Mackenzie. Camerons.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (6) £260-£300 --- Archibald Donald Mackenzie was born in London on 22 October 1914, the son of Captain L. A. Mackenzie, Royal Engineers, who died of wounds during the Gallipoli campaign in October 1915, and was educated at Highfield School, Liphook, Winchester College, and Christ Church, Oxford. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders on 29 August 1936, and was promoted Lieutenant on 31 January 1938. He served with the 2nd Battalion in Palestine in 1938, and having been promoted Captain on 1 March 1940 (and temporary Major on 25 October 1941), served in the Second World War in the Western Desert, and was present at the Defence of Tobruk. Eluding capture at the fall of Tobruk, Mackenzie was one of the party that escaped, but was overtaken and captured near Mersa Matruh. Held at a Prisoner of War camp at Viano, Italy, following the Italian armistice he escaped captivity and joined a band of the Red Star Brigade partisans. He was killed in action at Bottola, whilst fighting for the partisans against the Germans on 6 October 1944, and is buried at Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa, Italy: ‘His soul lived on amongst the Partisans, shining to them as a light from the mountains as an example of valour, scrupulous honesty, courage, and sacrifice.’ Sold with copied research.

Five: Private G. W. Thurstance, Manchester Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at La Bassée in 1940, and received a scarce confirmed ‘Prisoner of War’ award of the France and Germany Star General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Malaya (3525495 Pte. G. H. [sic] Thurstance. Manch R.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (3525495 Pte. G. W. Thurstance. Manch.) minor edge bruising, good very fine (5) £300-£400 --- George William Thurstance was born on 16 January 1914 at Red Bank, Manchester. He attested for service on 11 February 1932, being posted to 1st Battalion, the Manchester Regiment as a Private. He served in the West Indies and then in the Middle East. In November 1937 his battalion was ordered to Palestine to assist in quelling the Arab Revolt. In February 1939, Private Thurstance was transferred to the Army Reserve, time expired; however, he re-enlisted into the 2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, on 27 June 1939, and was then voluntarily transferred to 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, with which he embarked on the S.S. Biarritz, to land in France to join the B.E.F. Private Thurstance failed to make it back to the evacuation beaches at Dunkirk and was initially reported as missing, but was later confirmed as a Prisoner of War having been taken at La Bassée in the retreat to Dunkirk and was interned in the notorious Stalag XXA, at Torun, Poland. He was only reported as being safe in allied hands on 17 May 1945. He remained in the army after the War and later served in the Malayan Emergency. He was finally discharged from the army on 21 April 1945. Note: An article appeared in the Orders and Medals Research Society Journal (September 2017) written by Bob Barltrop, titled ‘Special Awards of the France and Germany Star to Dunkirk P.O.W.s’, in which this medal group featured (albeit lacking the France and Germany Star, ‘which had been erroneously removed by a previous owner’). The research in the article confirms that the France and Germany Star could only be awarded to P.O.W.s taken at Dunkirk, if operational service was performed after escape or release and prior to repatriation, such as fighting with the local resistance or partisans, and could only be awarded if a senior officer confirmed this on Army Form A.F.B2070, to which reference is made in Private Thurstance’s service papers, which confirms the award of the France and Germany Star. Sold with extensive copied research including service papers confirming his medal entitlement and a copied photographic image of the recipient.

The 1914 Star awarded to Lance-Corporal J. Ryan, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who was killed in action on 14 September 1914 1914 Star (8568 L.Cpl. J. Ryan. L.N. Lan: R.); Memorial Plaque (James Ryan), plaque with drilled hole to top, minor staining and verdigris, traces of adhesive to reverse, otherwise very fine (2) £120-£160 --- James Ryan was born in Liverpool and enlisted for the 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Preston. Posted to France on 12 August 1914, he fought at the Battle of Mons and was killed during the Great Retreat on 14 September 1914. He has no known grave and is commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.

A rare Great War campaign group of three awarded to Captain A. W. A. Davies, Royal Army Medical Corps, late Uganda Railway Volunteers, Mombasa Marine Defence, who served as a Dresser, H.M. Hospital Ship Goorkha, attached Indian Medical Service, was wounded, and was awarded a Silver War Badge 1914-15 Star (Dresser A. W. A. Davies.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. W. A. Davies.) nearly extremely fine, the first rare to rank (3) £300-£400 --- Albert William Abell Davies was born in Aldsworth, Gloucestershire, on 20 May 1890 and was educated at the University of London, before completing his medical training at Guy’s Hospital. A member of the Uganda Railway Volunteers, Mombasa Marine Defence, he served during the Great War initially as a Dresser in H.M. Hospital Ship Goorkha as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 19 May 1915, before being commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 24 November 1916. Promoted Captain on 24 November 1917, he was subsequently wounded (University of London O.T.C. Roll refers), and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 451,961. He died in Sanderstead, Surrey, on 23 July 1960. Sold with copied research, including the 1914-15 Star roll extract for H.S. Goorkha, in which the recipient is one of only two Dressers listed.

Family Group: Three: Private J. Axton, Manchester Regiment 1914-15 Star (7460 Cpl. J. Axton. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (7460 A. Cpl. J. Axton. Manch. R.) very fine Five: Private J. Axton, Manchester Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, and died of cholera on 29 May 1943 whilst working on the notorious Burma-Siam Railway General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3525605 Pte. J. Axton. Manch.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, good very fine (8) £300-£400 --- John Axton (Senior) was born at Ashton Under Lyne on 10 October 1884 and attested for service in the Manchester Regiment on 5 February 1902 at the age of 17. He was posted to 4th Battalion the Manchester Regiment on 13 February 1902, and was then posted to serve in 3rd Battalion in South Africa after the end of hostilities in the South African War. In 1906, on the reduction of 3rd Battalion he was posted to India to join the 1st Battalion. He returned to the U.K. and was transferred to the Army Reserve in 1909. He was recalled to the ‘Colours’ in August 1914 to join the newly formed 11th (Service) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment at Ashton Under Lyne, and embarked at Liverpool with his battalion for service in Gallipoli. In the summer of 1916 his battalion was deployed to the Western Front and was later involved in heavy fighting around Moquet Farm, Stuff Redoubt and Hessian Trench. He was invalided home in April 1917, and on returning to France was posted to 2/10 Battalion the Manchester Regiment which was under orders to transfer to the Ypres Salient. The battalion was heavily engaged in the third battle of of Ypres (Passchendaele) and at Frezenberg Ridge. He was again repatriated on account of wounds or sickness on 31 January 1918 and was discharged on 5 September 1918 as ‘no longer fit for War Service’ and was entitled to Silver War Badge No. B 10832. John Axton (Junior), the son of the above, was born on 3 September 1914, and on 3 April 1933 he attested for service in 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, transferring to 1st Battalion in early 1937, to serve in the Middle East, the battalion moving to Palestine in January 1938. In September 1938 his battalion embarked for Singapore. His engagement came to an end in March 1940, but he re-enlisted on 26 December 1941 and was promoted Sergeant. He was captured and taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, and was initially held at Changi; he was later one of those prisoners forced to become part of ‘Force F’, comprising prisoners forced to work in the Japanese labour camps on the notorious Burma-Siam Railway, in close proximity to the Thailand-Burma border. Held at Son Krai (No.2) Camp, just south of Three Pagodas Pass, he died of cholera on 29 May 1943. He was initially buried at the camp but after the war his remains were re-interred in Thanbyuzayat Cemetery, Burma. Sold with copied research.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (Tpr. J. Burdon. Murray’s Horse) two small edge bruises, otherwise good very fine and rare £300-£400 --- This irregular corps was raised in Natal, mostly in Pietermartizburg district, during the last week in October 1899, and took the field in the Anglo-Boer War early in November, about 80 strong, under the Hon. Thomas Keir Murray, ex-Colonial Secretary of Natal, who held the rank of Commandant. Within a week the strength had risen to 150. No military rank was held by members, they being purely civilians who had volunteered to assist, in a military capacity, the military forces in any possible way in face of the invasion of Natal by the enemy forces early in the war, their rapid advance down country, and the investment of Ladysmith. The members provided themselves with everything - horse, arms, equipment, uniforms and other necessaries at their own cost, and they served without any pay or allowances, except rations and ammunition. Their particular efficiency lay in their value as scouts, guides, interpreters and intelligence work. Many of the members had an intimate knowledge of the districts operated in, were good Zulu and Afrikaans linguists, and full of veld craft. This force was really a commando, with an organisation, or absence of any, similar to the system of Boer commandos, but with military discipline. The first and urgent duties of the corps were that of patrolling the districts south of the Tugela River, and putting up at big a show of force as possible during the critical fortnight following the retirement of the British forces across the Tugela River, closely beset by the enemy in strength, pending the arrival of reinforcements from Cape Town and overseas, being hurried northwards to stem the tide of invasion. These duties Murray's Horse carried out with great determination and efficiency. Thereafter a portion of the force was released from their military duties, but Commandant T. K. Murray, and the bulk of the unit, now known as Murray's Scouts, remained on active service with the Natal Field Force until the relief of the beleaguered Ladysmith on 28th February 1900, when they, too, were released from military service and returned home. (A Short History Of The Volunteer Regiments Of Natal And East Griqualand, Past and Present, compiled by Colonel Godfrey T Hurst refers.)

A Second War ‘Malta Blockade Runner’s’ D.S.M. awarded to Able Seaman S. P. Martin, Merchant Navy, who after his ship was torpedoed in November 1941, endured nine days in an open boat prior to being interned by the Vichy French Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (S. P. Martin. A.B.), extremely fine £1,400-£1,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.M. London Gazette 24 February 1942: ‘For bravery, resolution and devotion to duty.’ Seedie’s Merchant Navy List confirms: ‘S.S. Empire Pelican. For services during Operation “Astrologer” - an independent run to Malta in November 1941.’ Samuel Patrick Martin was born in Dublin in March 1920, and was one of a small group of handpicked Merchant Navy men assigned the dubious privilege of sailing a Blockade Runner to Malta in late 1941. Such had been the punishment meted out to the early convoys that it was decided to try and sneak through single, disguised and unescorted Merchantmen, a plan that quickly suffered a similar fate to previous initiatives. Indeed of the four Blockade Runners which eventually undertook this perilous and clandestine trip, just one got through. For his own part, Martin sailed in the Empire Pelican, the ex-American Steamer Stanley. Setting out from the Clyde in late October 1941, the ship was painted in peacetime colours and disguised as a Spanish (and later Italian) vessel. But such tactics failed to impress the Italian bombers that encountered her on 14 November, just 12 hours away from Malta, south-west of Galita Island. Badly damaged by a torpedo, her Captain had no alternative but to finish her off with scuttling charges. Martin, meanwhile, had managed to get a boat away with eight men, but had to endure machine-gun attacks until the Empire Pelican finally slipped beneath the waves. His efforts to get the boat back to Gibraltar ended after nine days at sea, when he and his companions were picked up by an Italian Patrol Boat, the whole being landed at Bone, in Algeria. Subsequently interned by the Vichy French in Algeria, this gallant band of Merchant Seamen was finally liberated following the Allied Landings on 8 November 1942. Martin, who attended an Investiture later that year, went back to sea in January 1943 and remained in the Merchant Navy for many years after the War.

Abyssinia 1867 (1083 J. Curren H.M. 96th. Regt.) minor edge bruising, good very fine and rare to unit £300-£400 --- Only three officers and 19 other ranks of the 96th Foot qualified for the Abyssinia Medal 1867-68, all for service with the ‘Transport Train’. James Curren was born at Banbridge, Co. Down, Ireland, in 1837 and attested at Liverpool for service as a Private in the Rifle Brigade on 22 August 1855. He transferred to the 69th Regiment on 1 January 1857 being promoted Corporal on 1 November the same year. He served in India and Burma, but was reduced to Private in April 1860 after assaulting another Corporal. In January 1864 he transferred to the 108th (Madras Infantry) Regiment at Trimulgherry, near Secunderabad, being promoted Corporal in February 1887, Sergeant in March and Colour Sergeant in April of the same year. In June 1885 he was transferred to the 1/18th (Royal Irish) Regiment, reverting to Private and in 1866 transferred to the 96th Regiment. Private Curren was in a party of three officers and 19 other ranks who were seconded for service in the Transport Corps for the Expedition to Abyssinia in 1868. He remained in India for the rest of his army service, transferring again to 40th (2nd Somerset) Regiment in 1873. He was discharged after a Disability Board had concluded that he was ‘permanently impaired’ returning to the U.K. and was finally discharged from the army at Netley Hospital in 1877. Sold with copied service papers and other research.

A superb Great War ‘Ostend Raid’ D.S.O. group of five to Engineer Commander W. A. Bury, Royal Navy, the officer who was severely wounded when he blew up Vindictive in Ostend Harbour on the night of 9-10 May 1918, having previously distinguished himself in Vindictive in the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Eng. Lt. Cr. W. A. Bury, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Eng. Commr. W. A. Bury. R.N.) the War Medal with re-engraved naming; Belgium, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., mounted as worn, together with a mounted group of five related miniature awards but with 1914 Star, the B.W.M. with 7 clasps, North Sea 1914, Home Sea 1915, Narrow Seas 1916, Narrow Seas 1917, North Sea 1918, Zeebrugge Ostend, Ostend 10 May 1918, generally good very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Spink, July 1995. D.S.O London Gazette 28 August 1918: ‘In recognition of the distinguished services mentioned in the foregoing despatch (Vice-Admiral Sir Roger J. B. Keyes. Commanding the Dover Patrol). The following officers who performed distinguished service in the second blocking operation against Ostend on the night of 9/10 May 1918: Engineer Commander William Archibald Bury, R.N. “This gallant officer greatly distinguished himself in Vindictive on 23rd April, and as soon as he knew another operation was contemplated, volunteered, begging to be allowed to remain in charge of the engine room department of that vessel. He worked most energetically to fit her out for further service, and on the night of 9th/10th May he again rendered invaluable service, setting a fine example to his men He remained in the engine room until the last possible moment, and when everyone was clear he blew the bottom out of the ship by firing the main and auxiliary after charges. He was severely wounded.” H.M.S Vindictive, the old cruiser, did much sterling work during the Zeebrugge-Ostend Raid on 23 April 1918. She was chosen as one of the two block-ships to be employed on an equally hazardous enterprise - the second crack at Ostend harbour on the night of 9/10 May following. Her after magazine and upper bunkers on both sides were filled with 200 tons of wet cement, the maximum she could carry for the depth of water in the approaches to Ostend harbour.

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Amazon 13 March 1806, 6 Jan Boat Service 1813 (Joseph Payne.) good very fine £8,000-£10,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Glendining’s, October 1911; Fergus Gowans Collection (1947-71); Christie’s, November 1985; Colin Message Collection. 30 clasps issued for Amazon’s action, and 25 for the Boat Service action. Joseph Payne is confirmed on the rolls as a Landsman at the first action and as an Ordinary Seaman in the boats of Bacchante at the latter. It is a unique name and a unique clasp combination. Payne, born in London and with a stated age of 22, was a Landsman on the Amazon 38 (turned over from Victory), at the former action and an ordinary seaman in the boats of Bacchante at the latter. His surname is given as ‘Paine’ (no. 362) in the Amazon's books (ADM 36/16336). He appears as Joseph Payne (no. 217) on Bacchante's and like most of the crew had joined directly from the Amazon. His age on commissioning in November 1811 is given as 28. A Joseph Payne was baptised on 4 December 1785 in St Saviour's, Southwark, who is very likely to be this man. Two French ships, the Marengo 80 and Belle Poule 40 were returning to their home port from the East Indies, when they were spotted by the Foudroyant, Amazon and London. Amazon (Captain William Parker) pursued the Belle Poule and London, the Marengo. Both the French ships were brought to action off Brest and forced to surrender. The Boat Service clasp was awarded to crews of boats from Bacchante and Weazle who attacked French gunboats in Otranto harbour and captured five of them. Sold with research notes compiled by Colin Message.