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Click here to subscribeTessa Sanderson Signed FDC 1996 Olympic Games - British Olympic Association Medal Winners Collection Single Postmarked 19 July 1996. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Victorian Yellow Metal Niblick Club Medal 1889 - ornate large sized medal with engraved period golfer design to centre with Niblick Club Medal inscription to edge, with crossed clubs 'far & sure' design mount to ribbon reading Presented by Donald Fisher, rear of the medal inscribed with winners from 1889 to 1923, width (club to club) 6cm, housed in original fitted case, slight a/f to lid, medal in good condition
Assorted Golf Medals (6) featuring an impressive London Scottish Golf Club 'HMP Buskin 1873 score 99' medal on ribbon with thistle clamp to ribbon and bar, 'Kendal Golf Club Captains Medal 1907 W G Dawson' white metal medal, Sheikh Golf Club 'Medal Play June 30th 1909 H.T Powell 102-16 86' hallmarked silver, 'Halford Hewitt Cup Rugby 1965 Winners' medallion with ribbon and bar, a large 'Berkshire Golf Club Derby Medal Red Course won by E Noel Layton 1929' metal medal, and 'Triangle Golf Club Hugh Dodd Cup 1935 J Mitchell enamel and hallmarked silver fob - varying sizes and shapes with various embossed golf scenes
Royal Blackheath Golf Club The Knill Cup Winners Silver Medal - the usual style oval medal embossed on the obverse with the clubs crest instituted in 1604 and on the reverse an embossed figure of the Knill Trophy which was made to commemorate the occasion when Stuart Knill (later Rt. Hon. Sir Stuart Knill, Bart) Lord Mayor of London entertained fellow member of RBGC at a dinner at Mansion House the first time that a golf club has been so honoured and probably the last time as well. (suspension ring missing)
ESSEX FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION / 1952 SOUTHERN COUNTIES AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS Cap issued for the Championship season, discoloured with age plus letters, postcards, information sheets and selection letters for the Quarter-Final v Cornwall and Final v Middlesex, winners medal and invitation and menu for the Celebration Dinner to the Essex team for winning the 51/2 Championship at the Great Eastern Hotel, London EC2 and a player's itinerary card for Lancashire v Essex 21/9/1953 at Blackburn Rovers FC. Generally good
JOHN HARVEY (TRAINER) OF HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN, LEAGUE CUP WINNERS GOLD MEDAL, 1954/55 the obverse with enamelled club crest, the reverse inscribed WINNERS H. of M.F.C. J. HARVEY 1954-55, in nine carat gold, on a presentation plaque mounted with further detailsNote: A momentous first Scottish League Cup for Hearts, the Jambos defeated Motherwell 4-2 to lift their first silverware in nearly 50 years. the medal 3.1cm high The medal is approx 12g.
JAMES 'JERRY' DAWSON OF RANGERS F.C., SCOTTISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD WINNERS MEDAL, 1936/37 the obverse with cnetral enamel lion rampant motif over inscription J. DAWSON, the reverse with central enamelled Glasgow coat of arms, over date 1936.37, and bordered with inscription SCOTTISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONS, in nine carat gold, in associated box3.5cm highQty: 19g
E. THOMSON OF CELTIC F.C., F.J.F.A. WINNERS GOLD MEDAL, 1921/22 the obverse with central enamel crest, the reverse inscribed WON BY CELTIC F.C. 1921-22, in nine carat gold, in box of issueNote: It is not entirely certain which Junior Football Association this medal relates to. Records exist for a number of junior level Celtic teams competing in Scotland and beyong. 4.3cm including suspension Qty: 13.7g
W. FAIRLEE OF AYR UNITED F.C., 2ND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS GOLD MEDAL, 1911-12 the obverse with enamelled decoration, the reverse inscribed 2nd DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP 1911-12 WON BY W. FAIRLIE AYR UNITED F.C., in nine carat gold, in gilt tooled leather box of issue with cover inscription 3.9cm high including suspension Qty: 11g Note: Ayr United Football Club were founded in 1910 via a merger between Ayr Parkhouse and Ayr F.C..They would begin life in the Scottish 2nd division, finishing 2nd in their inaugral season.Ayr won their first nine fixtures of the 1911/12 season in what remains their greatest ever league start. They would go on to lift the title, a historic event, five points ahead of their nearest rivals Abercorn.Promotion to the top flight however, depended on the outcome of an annual general meeting (this being during a period before automatic promotions). Whilst a decision to admit Ayr to the top flight was initially passed by the required majority, the delegate from St. Mirren complained that this would be at the expense of their team, who had already committed to a top-flight wage bill for the following season.Extraordinarily an u-turn was made at the expense of Ayr, with the matter of automatic promotion being suspended from discussion until next year. Indeed, it would take another season and another 2nd division title for Ayr to eventually be admitted to the top flight.This rare and historically important medal comes from the first title victory, a pivotal point in the club's history.
J. EVERISS OF WEST BROMWICH ALBION, BIRMINGHAM FOOTBALL COMBINATION RUNNERS-UP GOLD MEDAL, 1935/36 the obverse with enamel shield motif, the reverse inscribed RUNNERS-UP WEST BROMWICH ALBION J. EVERISS 1935-36, in nine carat gold, in boxNote: The Birmingham Combination (active 1892-1954) was a competition open to teams from the city and its surrounding areas. It was founded as the Birmingham & District Junior League, and changed its name in 1908. The league was also affiliated to the Birmingham County F.A. Winners of the league would have had to have been elected to the Birmingham & District League in order to gain promotion.West Brom lost the final of the competition to Aston Villa.It is thought that J. Everiss will be related to Fred Everiss, long time secretary-manager of the club (1902-48), whose son Alan also joined the West Brom staff in 1933. 3.5cm including suspension Qty: 8.39g
P. MCKEW OF CELTIC A.F.C., WINNERS GOLD MEDAL, 1912/13 the reverse inscribed CELTIC A.F.C. WINNERS 1912-13 P. McKEW, in nine carat gold, in associated boxNote: Whilst the history of Celtic Athletic Football Club is not known, it is likely to be one of many clubs formed with roots in the Irish diaspora, much like its more famous Glasgow bretheren. 3cm high Qty: 5.2g
NEIL 'NEILLY' GIBSON OF RANGERS F.C., SCOTTISH CUP WINNERS GOLD MEDAL, 1903 the obverse inscribed Scottish Football Association in blue enamelled lettering around a pierced oval depicting a lion rampant, beneath a thistle motif, the reverse inscribed 1902-3 CHALLENGE CUP WON BY RANGERS F.C. Neil Gibson, in nine carat gold 4cm Qty: 11.1g Note: This rare and important pre-war medal was awarded to Scotland international Neil Gibson, for his part in Rangers 1903 Scottish Cup triumph.Gibson signed for Rangers from Larkhall club Royal Albert in 1894, where he had only been for a few months after signing from junior team Larkhall Thistle.During his time with the Gers he won four consecutive league titles (including the 1898-99 invincible season), as well as three Scottish Cups, five Glasgow Cups, and three Glasgow Charity Cups.The decorated star received plaudits from his contemporaries. Former Hibs manager Willie McCartney said of Gibson that he was ‘The greatest of my, and any generation following, in Scottish football’. Steve Bloomer of Derby County and England thought he was ‘the greatest footballer I ever saw’. Harry Wood summed him up as ‘Pavlova in football boots’.Rangers won this trophy after defeating hearts 2-0 in the second replay. They also defeated rivals Celtic 3-0 in the quarter final of the competition, Stenhousemuir 4-1 in the semis.
Football medals, three large sized medals with ribbons attached, one issued for the 1954 World Cup with raised relief of players heads & red and white ribbon, the other a medal issued for the 1974 World Cup with relief of Munich Stadium with German flag coloured ribbon, & 1978 World Cup issue with World Cup Trophy relief & previous winners to reverse, with original blue and white ribbon attached (gd)
FA Cup winners 15ct gold medal awarded to E Smith, assistant secretary of West Bromwich Albion, in 1931, engraved to the reverse 'Winners Football Association Cup 1931 E Smith Asst Secretary', in original fitted leather box embossed in gilt 'W.B. Albion F.C. 1931'. The medal is being sold with a collection of related ephemera including Football Association dish, pen and badge set in original box, items from the Hundredth Anniversary Banquet, The Story of The Football League 1888-1938, Albion News etc.
1913 Leinster Final Winners Medal Medal: G.A.A. - Hurling 1913. A rare Provincial circular silver and gold Medal, the obverse with etched Celtic design, and gold overlay crossed hurls and Provincial Coats of Arms, the reverse hallmarked, and 'Deanta in hEireann' stamped, inscribed Sen. Hur. C'ship - Kilkenny 1913". Scarce (1) * Captained by Dick "Dry" Walsh, the Cats beat Dublin at Wexford Park on a score line of 7.5 to 2.1. They went on to win the Final, beating Tipperary 2.4 to 1.2.
Dublin First All-Ireland Winners Medal, 1889 Medal: G.A.A. (Hurling 1889) A rare 9ct gold Maltese shaped cross, the obverse with cross hurls and sliother, with etched shamrocks, the reverse inscribed 'G.A.A. All-Ireland Hurling, Championship 1889 - N. O'Shea [Captain - Dublin], hallmarked (J.R. Ryan Dublin), with pin back. Extremely Scarce; together with a plated Teapot and Sugar Bowl (inscribed - "Dublin 1887 - 1st Prize High Jump - won by N. O'Shea") as a collection. (3) Note: In only the third staging of the competition 8 teams participated - 3 Leinster and 5 Munster. The Tournament began on the 27th July and ended the 3rd November. The defending champions were Tipperary, they were beaten in the Provincials. The final saw Dublin play Clare in Inchicore in front of 1,500 spectators. They won under the captaincy of Nicholas O'Shea, a Tipperary man, on a score line of 5.01 to 1.06. This marked Dublin's First Title in the G.A.A. (1)
Bert Williams (1920-2014) England & Wolverhampton Wanderers - 1953/54 Wolverhampton Wanderers Division 1 Championship Football League Winners 9ct gold medal - the first time Wolves had achieved the honour, embossed to the front, engraved to the reverse 'Season 1953-54 B.F Williams Wolves', hallmarked, c/w original case and Signed Cutting 'My Best Wishes Bert Williams' - Provenance, from direct descendant (2)
1968/69 Album of Wonderful World of Soccer Stars collectors cards album 22 Clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester City, Newcastle Utd, Manchester Utd plus the other clubs; each club has a complete set of 15 player cards; total (330 cards) complete and good. Also the FAC winners 1872-1972 Esso collection complete set of medals + 1 spare 1972 medal in the original album; also footballers cards to include 1963 Star Footballers (The Tiger) 60/50 (duplication), Footballers 30/50 (Buchans), ABC Footballers (series 2) 53/50 (duplication); fair/good. (A Lot)
Bobby Smith 9ct gold 1961 Tottenham Hotspur v. Leicester City F.A.Cup Winners medal the reverse obverse inscribed THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS 1960-61, R.A. SMITH with ring suspension in original case Smith played a major part in the 1960-61 "Double Winning" season, the first to occur in the 20th Century. He was the club's top goal scorer in the "Double" season with 33 goals in just 43 matches including the opening goal in the final. Third in the Spurs all-time goal scorers behind Harry Kane and Jimmy Greaves. In 317 senior matches he scored 208 goals. In the final played on 6th May 1961 at Wembley, Spurs defeated Leicester City 2-0, Smith with the opening goal
Gold 1992-93 Arsenal F.A.Cup Winners medal awarded to David Dein MBE obverse with FA crest, reverse lettered THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS 1992-93, 30mm. diameter, 20.11gms., hallmark indistinct The following Lots 328 to 354 are the property of David Dein MBE, former co-owner and vice-chairman of Arsenal FC and former vice-chairman of the F.A. The lots are being offered for Charity and all proceeds will be donated to The Twinning Project charity which David set up connecting football clubs with prisons helping rehabilitate prisoners.
Thomas Fenner 9ct gold Division 3 Southern Section League Championship winners medal, 1930-31 the obverse inscribed THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS DIVISION 3 SOUTHERN SECTION, the reverse inscribed NOTTS COUNTY, T. FENNER, 1930-31, with ring suspension, 30grms Notts County won the Division 3 Southern championship this season with 59 points, Crystal Palace finishing runners-up with 51 points.
Arsenal v. Parma UEFA European Cup Winners Cup Final Winners Medal, 1994 awarded to David Dein MBE, of circular form, yellow metal, obverse bearing UEFA emblem and reverse lettered COUPE DES VAINQUEURS DE COUPE EUROPEENNE 1994, 30mm., weight 16.63gms. In the match played on 4th May 1994 at The Parken Stadium, Arsenal defeated Parma 1-0 The following Lots 328 to 354 are the property of David Dein MBE, former co-owner and vice-chairman of Arsenal FC and former vice-chairman of the F.A. The lots are being offered for Charity and all proceeds will be donated to The Twinning Project charity which David set up connecting football clubs with prisons helping rehabilitate prisoners.
Raymond Kopa continental gold and enamel 1959 European Cup Winners medal, the obverse inscribed COUPE DES CHAMPIONS EUROPEENS, the reverse inscribed VAINQUEUR 1959 with ring suspension In the fourth year of the competition Real Madrid successfully retained the European Cup and this was Raymond Kopa's hat-trick of winners medals. In the match played on 3rd June 1959 at the Neckarstadion, Real Madrid defeated Kopa's former club Reims 2-0 Provenance: Mullock Madeley, Football Memorabilia including The Raymond Kopa Collection, 11th April 2001, Lot 609 Raymond Kopa was integral to the legendary Real Madrid team of the 1950s, playing and winning the European Cup three years in a row, the club winning the first five finals since the competition's inception. Often considered one of the best players of his generation, Kopa was an attacking midfielder agile, quick, and known for his dribbling, play making and prolific scoring. Awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1958, in 1970, he became the first football player to receive the Legion d'honneur and in 2004, Pele named him one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers at a FIFA Awards Ceremony. The following lots 621 to 668 relate to the career of Raymond Kopa
A rare group of 1930’s Chinese football medals awarded to A. MacArthurcomprising, TIENTSIN HONG LEAGUE B.M.C. FOOTBALL CLUB RUNNERS-UP 1931-32, silver medal cast with two figures of footballers contesting the ball, medallist’s monogram BHM?, inscribed to A. MACARTHUR, 3.3cm diameter; T.F.A. RUNNERS-UP 1st DIVISION 1931-32, silver medal similar to above, cast with different scene with two footballers, inscribed to A. MCARTHUR, 3.3cm. diameter; T.F.A. HONG CUP RUNNERS-UP B.M.C. FOOTBALL CLUB 1932-33, 1933-34, larger silver medal similar to above, cast with different scene with two footballers, inscribed to A. MACARTHUR, 4cm, diameter; TIENTSIN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION large silver-gilt medal, cast with a footballer with the ball, inscribed WINNERS PETERS CUP 1933, 4.9cm. diameter; two bronze medals for T.G.S. SPORTS, one inscribed 1938, 3.3cm. diameter; Tientsin Race Club Member’s Medal, oval with red and white enamel, 4cm. high; and Chinese silver pendant formed as a Pagoda, stamped silver marks to reverse, 6cm. high (7)
Archie Clark 9ct gold Division 3 Northern Section League Championship winners medal, 1937-38 the obverse inscribed THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS DIVISION 3 NORTHERN SECTION, with ring suspension, 21grms Tranmere Rovers won the Division 3 Northern championship this season with 56 points, Doncaster Rovers finishing runners-up with 54 points.
Edgar Chadwick 15ct gold Southern Football League Championship winners medal, 1900-01 the obverse inscribed SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, the reverse inscribed SOUTHAMPTON F.C., WINNERS, 1900-1, E, CHADWICK, 16grms Southampton won the champions this season with 41 points, Bristol City being runners-up on 39 points
Jimmy Rimmer continental yellow-metal 1982 European Cup Winners medal the obverse inscribed UEFA Jimmy Rimmer, the reverse inscribed COUPES DES CLUBS CHAMPIONS EUROPEENS 1984 in original fitted case In the 1982 European Cup Final played on 26th May 1982, Aston Villa defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 to win their first-ever and to date only European Cup Provenance: Christie's South Kensington, Football Memorabilia, 13th September 2006, Lot 92
Frank Barson 15ct gold Aston Villa v. Huddersfield Town 1920 F.A.Cup Winners medal the obverse inscribed 1920, the reverse inscribed THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, Frank Barson, Winners, English Cup 1920 with ring suspension, 19grms The 1920 F.A.Cup, the first since the end of the First World War was played on 24th April 1920 at Stamford Bridge, Aston Villa defeated Huddersfield Town 1-0, with the goal coming in extra time from Billy Kirton, the first ever F.A. Cup Final to require extra time to be played, this was Aston Villa's sixth F.A.Cup victory and at that time was a record Provenance: Bonhams Sporing Memorabilia, 21st March 2007, Lot 159
Raymond Kopa continental gold and enamel 1958 European Cup Winners medal, the obverse inscribed COUPE DES CHAMPIONS EUROPEENS, the reverse inscribed VAINQUEUR 1958 with ring suspension In the third year of the competition Real Madrid successfully retained the European Cup and this was Raymond Kopa's second of his three-in-a-row winners medals. In the match played on 28th May 1958 at the Heysel Stadium, Real Madrid defeated Milan 3-2 Provenance: Mullock Madeley, Football Memorabilia including The Raymond Kopa Collection, 11th April 2001, Lot 608 Raymond Kopa was integral to the legendary Real Madrid team of the 1950s, playing and winning the European Cup three years in a row, the club winning the first five finals since the competition's inception. Often considered one of the best players of his generation, Kopa was an attacking midfielder agile, quick, and known for his dribbling, play making and prolific scoring. Awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1958, in 1970, he became the first football player to receive the Legion d'honneur and in 2004, Pele named him one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers at a FIFA Awards Ceremony. The following lots 621 to 668 relate to the career of Raymond Kopa
Jagdish Mittal and Kamala Mittal 'Indian Tapestry. An Introduction to Indian Tapestry and its Examples,' First edition, Devanagari script throughout, vibrant original decorative boards, some splitting to spine, ink owner inscription to front free endpaper, vg text block with full photographic plates and patterns, pp.213, Suruchi Publications, Hyderabad, 1954.A scarce work in a very good condition by renowned art collectors, winners of the Padma Shri medal and creators of the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art.
(Diverse works) A collection of thirty one. Gertrude Jekyll. 'Wood and Garden,' original cloth with gilt decorations, ninety monochrome plates including frontis, very light spotting to edge of text block, vg, Longmans, Green, and Co, London, 1899; J. H. Kellog. 'Ladie's Guide in Health and Disease,' embossed full leather rubbed, text block detaching form binding, some spotting, plates, International Tract Society, London, 1900; Herbert A. L. Fisher. 'Studies in Napoleonic Statesmanship. Germany,' prize binding with gilt decorations, winners medal from St Peters School, York, some spotting to prelims, At the Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1903; Ernest Seton Thompson. Wild Animals I Have Known,' reprint, rubbed cloth with decorations, plates and illustrations throughout, George N. Morang & Company, Toronto, 1900; With twenty seven diverse works including S. Coleridge-Taylor, F. Kingdon-Ward and Philip Jose Farmer. (31)
Football interest; two early 20th century silver and enameled York crested Faber cup medals, 1910 - 1911, 28 x 50mm, a silver York City A.F.C cup & medal Competition medal, 1911, a silver York crested Y.&D. senior cup medal, 1912-13, a silver York charity cup winners medal, 1914-15, and another silver charity cup competition medal, 1914.
WW2 Royal Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross Winners Service Dress Tunic, good four pocket officers service dress tunic with kings crown pilots wing to the breast. Below the pilots wing is medal ribbons for WW2 service and that of the Distinguished Flying Cross. RAF officers tunic buttons and rank lace to the cuffs. Cloth lined interior. Generally good condition.
Two sets of WWI and WWII military medals and a quantity of associated printed ephemera and photographs, etc. Framed WWI medals awarded to Graham Knox Senior: British War Medal (named), Grand Fleet Football winners medallion, Old Contemptibles Association badge, Service Award badge. Awarded to Mr TV Elford (father-in-law of Graham Elford Knox) :British WWI War Medal (marked). In a separate frame, medals awarded to Graham Elford Knox (son of Graham Knox Snr): 1939-45 Star, The Pacific Star with Burma bar, Defence Medal and War Medal (not marked). Together with an album of photographs of HMS Swiftsure and a further framed certificate from The HMS Ganges Association.
Three: Leading Seaman S. Higgs, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Lion at the Battle of Jutland 1914-15 Star (J.31136, S. Higgs, Ord., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.31136 S. Higgs. A.B., R.N.) mounted for display with traces of adhesive to reverse of VM; together with a gold prize medal (9ct, 7.36g), the reverse engraved ‘H.M.S. Resolution Winners Kings Cup 1922-1923 S. Higgs’; and a bronze prize medal, the reverse engraved ‘Runners-Up 1st B.S. 2nd Div. Ships Football Compt. 1922-23. Resolution’, generally very fine or better (5) £300-£400 --- Sydney Higgs was born in Stone, Staffordshire in May 1897. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1914, and advanced to Leading Seaman in January 1919. Higgs served with H.M.S. Lion (battle cruiser) from January 1915, and served with her at the Battle of Jutland where she was Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty’s fleet flagship of the Battle Cruiser Fleet. The Lion was hit a total of 14 times during the battle, including sustaining near-catastrophic damage to Q-turret, and suffered 99 dead and 51 wounded. Although mortally wounded, Major Francis Harvey, Royal Marines, the Q-turret gun commander, ordered the magazine and turret to be flooded, which although costing him his life saved the magazine from exploding, which would undoubtedly have sunk the ship; for his bravery and self sacrifice he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. Higgs was discharged by purchase in August 1923.
Three: Able Seaman H. J. Beck, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Acasta was sunk in the Norwegian Sea by the German Battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, during Operation Alphabet- the evacuation of Norway, 8 June 1940 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Admiralty enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. K. H. Rhodes, 17 York Road, Erdington, Birmingham 23’; together with the recipient’s Memorial Scroll (Able Seaman H. J. Beck Royal Navy), in envelope of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. K. H. Rhodes, 28 Cliveden Avenue, Perry Barr, Birmingham’; named Buckingham Palace enclosure, in envelope addressed to ‘Mrs. Kathleen Beck’; and a H.M.S. Cardiff 3rd Cruiser Squadron Prize Medal, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘Cruiser Arbuthnot Winners 1927 Ord: Beck’, nearly extremely fine (4) £300-£400 --- Harry John Beck was born in Aston, Birmingham, on 4 September 1908, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 8 January 1924. Advanced Ordinary Seaman on 4 September 1926, and Able Seaman on 4 March 1928, he served during the Second World War as an Able Seaman in the destroyer H.M.S. Acasta from 23 August 1939, and was killed in action during Operation Alphabet on 8 June 1940. On 31 May 1940 H.M.S. Glorious sailed from the Clyde to the Norwegian coast to carry out air operations in support of the evacuation of allied forces from Norway in Operation Alphabet. On 8 June she returned to Scapa Flow, escorted by the destroyers H.M.S. Ardent and Acasta. On the way through the Norwegian Sea the funnel smoke from Glorious and her two escorting destroyers was spotted by the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at about 3:46 p.m. The German ships were not spotted until shortly after 4:00 and H.M.S. Ardent was dispatched to investigate. H.M.S. Ardent and H.M.S. Acasta laid a protective smokescreen to hide the British ships, and engaged the German ships with their 4.7 inch main armament, which proved to be ineffective. Despite coming under heavy fire from the much larger guns of the Germans, H.M.S. Ardent carried out a torpedo attack. She managed to score a single hit, but was struck repeatedly by enemy shells, and eventually capsized with the loss of 10 officers and 142 ratings. H.M.S. Acasta was finally sunk after roughly two hours of fighting; the battle flag of the Gneisenau was lowered to half-mast and her crew brought to attention to honour the brave fight of Acasta and her crew. Meanwhile, the Scharnhorst switched her fire to H.M.S. Glorious at 4:32 p.m. and scored her first hit six minutes later on her third salvo, at an approximate range of 24,000 metres (26,000 yd), when one 11.1 inch shell hit the forward flight deck and burst in the upper hangar, starting a large fire. This hit destroyed two Swordfish being prepared for flight and the hole in the flight deck prevented any other aircraft from taking off. Splinters penetrated a boiler casing and caused a temporary drop in steam pressure. At 4:58 p.m. a second shell hit the homing beacon above the bridge and killed or wounded the captain and most of the personnel stationed there. Glorious was hit again in the centre engine room around 5:20 p.m. and this caused her to lose speed and commence a slow circle to port. She also developed a list to starboard. The German ships closed to within 15,000 metres and continued to fire at her until about 5:40 p.m. Glorious finally sank at around 6:10 p.m. with the loss of 1,207 out of her crew of 1,250. The whole engagement lasted just short of three hours and cost the lives of 1,519 officers and ratings. From Acasta there was just one survivor. Beck was amongst those killed, aged 31. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. His medals were sent to his widow Kathleen Hilda Beck, who had subsequently remarried. Sold with the recipient’s Parchment Certificate of Service; a Vocational Training Certificate; various photographs, including one of the recipient on his wedding day, and a postcard photograph of him outside his shop; various newspaper cuttings; letter to the recipient’s widow from the British Red Cross Society; and a copy of the book ‘The Man who hit the Scharnhorst’, the Ordeal of Leading Seaman Nick Carter.
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