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Lot 52
Five figurines related to Film and Television, to include, three Hasbro Star Wars: The Phantom Menace figurines, in original blister packs, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul, a Marvel Comics 'Action Man' depicting Professor Gangrene, in sealed box, and a Disney Think Way, talking Buzz Lightyear, no. 62809, with original box. (5)
Lot 611
Carnegie Hero Fund Medallion, bronze, 90mm (Mrs. Frances. Maud. Wright. “Southwark” 26th December 1910.) the reverse dated ‘1910’, contained in its case of issue, edge bruise, very fine £1,000-£1,400 --- Frances Maud Wright was awarded the Albert Medal, the Carnegie Bronze Medallion and she also received £25 from the Police Fund. A total of 16 women were awarded the Albert Medal, all Second Class awards for saving life on land, throughout the existence of the award- Hannah Rowbotham was the first, in 1881, with the other 15 awards all for acts of gallantry between 1905 and 1967. The Albert Medal was announced in the London Gazette 24 February 1911: ‘On the 26th December, 1910, at about 1 a.m., Mrs. Wright had left her house to go to friends, when she saw a man running in her direction pursued by Police Constable Haytread. The man deliberately turned round pausing to take aim and fired at the constable; he then ran on, and again turned and fired .a second shot. The constable was then close to his man, who fired a third time, before he was seized and a struggle ensued. Hay tread called to Mrs. Wright to help and asked her to blow his whistle; she came up without hesitation, well aware of the risk, and got hold of the man’s collar and struck him in the face with her fist. She then broke the police whistle off its chain and blew it. A severe struggle now ensued between the officer and the burglar, through which Mrs. Wright still retained her hold on the latter. He, however, got his arm free and again fired; locked with the constable he then fell to the ground and pressed the revolver against Haytread’s head and pulled the trigger, but the weapon providentially missed fire. Mrs. Wright had in the meantime struck the man in the face and in so doing injured her left hand; her cries for assistance were probably responsible for bringing Seaman Barber to the spot. The burglar still held the revolver, but with further assistance he was overpowered. Mrs. Wright is the wife of a newsagent’s carman and has six children. But for her fearless action, the consequences might have been serious, and a most dangerous criminal (for he had previously attempted to shoot a constable) would not improbably have escaped.’ Frances Maude Wright was born Frances Maude Egan in Southwark, London in June 1871. She was the daughter of Edward and Eliza Egan. Her father was a painter by profession. On 21st December 1893 at St Mary’s. Newington, London, she married Harry Wright. At the time of the wedding he was working in a mail yard as a timekeeper. He later enlisted during the Great War, and in his later working life was a carman. She received her Albert Medal from King George V at St. James’ Palace, 23 February 1911. Police Constable Haytread was awarded the King’s Police Medal for gallantry. Mrs Wright died in Camberwell, London in June 1960, and is buried in Camberwell New Cemetery.
Lot 327
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Company Sergeant Major W. M. White, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry, late South African Constabulary, who was killed in action on 10 October 1918 Military Medal, G.V.R. (4122 Sjt: W. M. White. 1/S.A. Inf:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, date clasp block loose on riband (99 3rd. Cl. Tpr: W. M. White. S.A.C.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (C.S.M. W. M. White. MM 1st S.A.I.); Memorial Plaque (William Mark White) glue residue to reverse of all, generally good very fine and better (5) £600-£800 --- M.M. London Gazette 12 November 1918. The original recommendation by Lieutenant Colonel H. W. M. Bamford, M.C., Commanding South African (Composite) Battalion, states: ‘In the attack and capture of Meteren on 19th July, 1918, this NCO took command when two Platoon Commanders had become casualties. By his gallant leadership the objective was gained and consolidated, under his supervision. Relieved later of his command by an officer, Sergt. White was ordered to carry an important message. He was severely wounded en route, but pluckily continued his journey and delivered his message.’ William Mark White was born in Scotland on 12 February 1880, the son of Mr. J. White of 1 Douglas Place, Galashiels, on the Scottish Borders. He served in the South African Constabulary as 3rd Class Trooper during the Boer War, and was later promoted to the rank of 2nd Class Constable on 1 February 1904; employed as a military force during the campaign, the S.A.C. fought with distinction and had the second highest casualty rate of any British or colonial regiment whilst engaged in field operations and attempts to man the Blockhouse lines. Transferred to the Pretoria District in 1905 and Transvaal Depot in 1907, White is stated in his Record of Conduct and Service (S.A.C.) as: ‘A good shoeing smith & a very steady man’. Raised to the rank of Constable, he was discharged at Durban on 31 November 1907, his conduct noted as exemplary. Briefly returning to life as a farmer, White volunteered his services at the outbreak of the Great War and attested for the 1st South African Infantry at Potchefstroom on 2 September 1915. He disembarked at Alexandria on 1 February 1916 and was transferred to Marseilles on 20 April 1916. Appointed paid Lance Corporal 4 August 1916, his army service record states that he was thrice wounded on 10 February 1917, 9 April 1917 and 27 July 1918 - the latter occasion resulting in a severe injury to his right buttock. Notified of the award of the Military Medal in August 1918, White returned to the Western Front and was advanced Acting Company Sergeant Major. He was killed in action less than two months later; aged 38 years, he is buried in Reumont Churchyard in the Nord region of France, one of just 11 identified casualties in this cemetery. Sold with copied army service record, S.A.C. record of service and extensive private research.
Lot 295
Three: Cook H. Thomas, Royal Navy, who was killed in action during the First Battle of Sirte when H.M.S. Neptune, on convoy duty to Malta, struck four mines in quick succession off the Tripoli coast on 19 December 1941, and sank within minutes; of the 764 Officers and crew in Neptune only one man survived 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Admiralty enclosure, in card box of issue addressed to ‘Mrs. M. Thomas, 57 Gaddesby Road, King’s Heath, Birmingham 14’, extremely fine (3) £60-£80 --- Hubert Thomas served during the Second World War in the Leander class light cruiser H.M.S. Neptune, as part of Force K deployed as convoy support to Malta. On 17 December 1941 the supply ship MV Breconshire was being escorted to Malta by Force K near the Gulf of Sirte, when the British ships sighted Italian battleships escorting a convoy to Tripoli. After seeing Breconshire safely into Malta, Force K sailed again to search for the Tripoli convoy. At 1:0 a.m. on 19 December 1941, whilst approximately 20 miles off the Tripoli coast, Neptune hit a mine. She then went full speed astern and struck two more mines, seriously damaging her propellers and rudder. The destroyer H.M.S. Kandahar went to assist but in doing so she herself struck a mine. At about 4:00 a.m. Neptune was struck by a fourth mine and sank within a few minutes. Only 16 men from a compliment of 764 survived the initial sinking and managed to climb aboard a raft; however, all but one man succumbed whilst on the open seas. The Neptune’s sole survivor, Able Seaman Norman Walton, was picked up by the Italians on Christmas Eve and made a prisoner of war. The loss of H.M.S. Neptune represented the greatest single tragedy for both the Mediterranean Fleet and the New Zealand Navy of whom 151 men were part of Neptune’s crew. Thomas was amongst those killed, aged 27. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, and his medals were sent to his widow Mrs. May Thomas.
Lot 610
The Posthumous Lloyd’s Bravery Medal awarded to Third Radio Officer Richard Phillips, S.S. Empire Byron, killed in action on Convoy ‘PQ17’ and awarded a Posthumous Commendation Lloyd’s Medal for Bravery at Sea (Third Radio Officer Richard Phillips, S.S. “Empire Byron”, 4th July 1942) in case its gilt embossed fitted case of issue, extremely fine £800-£1,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Posthumous Commendation London Gazette 6 October 1942: ‘For services when SS Empire Byron was torpedoed and sunk whilst part of North Russian Convoy PQ17 in July 1942.’ Posthumous Lloyd’s Medal for Bravery at Sea Lloyd's List and Shipping Gazette 31 August 1943 [joint citation]: ‘SS Empire Byron. This ship took part in a North Russian Convoy which was subjected to heavy enemy air attacks. When his vessel was hit by a torpedo Captain Wharton saw the crew away and then left by a raft, from which he transferred to a lifeboat. He divided the men in the three boats between the two big boats. After covering a distance of 250 miles in 52 days they were rescued. Captain Wharton’s courage, determination and powers of command were outstanding during the enemy attacks and it was mainly due to his leadership fine example in the boat that many lives were saved. Third Radio Officer Phillips gave his life through splendid devotion to duty. He carried the portable wireless set to the lifeboat, and despite entreaties to get into the boat he returned to the Bridge to see if he was required by the Master. He lost his life while trying to get away in the port bridge boat’. P.Q. 17: ‘Empire Byron’ and her brave Radio Officer At the end of June 1942, the new 6,645-ton Ministry of War Transport Empire Byron joined 35 Merchantmen to form the ill-fated North Russian Convoy PQ17. Carrying vital war supplies for the Red Army, and under the Close Escort of 11 Destroyers and Corvettes, the Merchantmen followed the usual summer route north of Iceland and, after the Escorts had refuelled at Reykjavik, north of Bear Island in the Barents Sea, and into Kola Inlet, North Russia. To as far as Bear Island, the Convoy and Escort was to be covered by the 1st Cruiser Squadron, comprising H.M.S. London, H.M.S. Norfolk, the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa and U.S.S. Wichita. Standing off to the north-east of Jan Mayen Island, distant heavy support was to be further provided by the Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet, Sir John Tovey in the York, the Battleship U.S.S. Washington, the British Cruisers Cumberland and Nigeria, and a further 14 Destroyers. Incomplete intelligence was received at the Admiralty that the Battleship Tirpitz had put out of her Norwegian anchorage and was at sea heading for PQ17. Staff Officers at the Admiralty and Tovey at sea disagreed, but were unfortunately overruled, and in an unfortunate example of ‘back-seat driving’, Admiral Pound ordered the 1st Cruiser Squadron to withdraw westward at nigh speed, and signalled PQ17’s Close Escort Commander at 0923 hours on 4 July: ‘Immediate. Owing to the threat of surface ships convoy is to disperse and proceed to Russian ports’. Minutes later, the First Lord urgently repeated: ‘Most Immediate. My 9.23 of the 4th. CONVOY IS TO SCATTER’. By evening, the east-bound Merchantmen and Close Escort were fatally strung out over 25 miles of wild Arctic sea. Junkers 88 aircraft from the Third Squadron of KG30 swarmed in to cripple the cordite-laden Bolton Castle and Zaafaran, while Admiral Schmundt’s ‘Ice Devil’ Submarines hastened to pick off stragglers ‘in a U-Boat’s’ paradise’. All in all they sent to the bottom in the holds of 25 ships, 210 aircraft, 430 tanks, 3,350 trucks and nearly 100,000 tons of spare parts and other supplies desperately needed by the Red Army; it reeled before the murderous advance of German Army Groups A and B. To the survivors of PQ17 it appeared that the preservation of British and American capital ships was more valuable than the convoy, the war material carried, and indeed, the seamen who perished. 6 a.m. found the crew of the PQ17’s Rear-Commodore’s Ship Empire Byron exhausted after 36 hours at action stations. The Master, Captain Wharton, had fallen asleep in an armchair having given up his bunk to the Lieutenant-in-Charge of the Maritime Artillery Unit who had been on alert even longer. It was the Empire Byron’s second North Russian Convoy and in her hold she carried a precious cargo of the new Churchill Tanks. Two miles away, at 07:15, Lieutenant-Commander Bielfeld of U -703 launched two torpedoes, both of which passed harmlessly ahead of the target. Biefeld believed he had missed astern, so added a couple of knots to the Merchantman’s estimated speed, and fired tubes II and IV. When the torpedoes missed even farther ahead, he hastened his crew to turn the boat round so as to bring her stern tube to bear. An hour later U-703 was again in an attacking position, but this time the ship’s speed had been accurately determined at eight knots. There was no doubt about the fifth torpedo, and at 08.27 Empire Byron received a direct hit in the Main Engine-Room. Wharton was so soundly asleep that he had to be woken by the Gunnery Lieutenant who informed him of the torpedoing. ‘He looked outside: there was pandemonium as the crew were already struggling to leave the ship; three of the four lifeboats had been lowered, and the fourth was on its way down. Wharton went to the Bridge to see that all papers and documents were destroyed. The Second (sic) Radio Officer, a Manchester man, asked whether he should fetch an emergency wireless for use in the boats, but Wharton told him the set had already been sent aboard them . . . Wharton dived into the sea. He was picked up by a raft, and transferred to one of the lifeboats. He ordered all the men to concentrate in two of the lifeboats, one of which had an engine. There were several bodies in the sea, one of which he recognised to his horror as being that of the young Manchester Radio Officer to whom he had spoken only minutes before . . .’ Together with the Mancunian Third Radio Officer Richard Phillips, the sinking of the Empire Byron resulted in the loss of two other crew, three Gunners trapped below, and one passenger.
Lot 66
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. and Second Award Bar awarded to Major H. S. Lewis, Royal Sussex Regiment and Tank Corps Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Cross contemporarily engraved ‘Lt. H. S. Lewis. 11th. Royal Sussex Regt. Givenchy 10th. April 1916.’, the reverse of the Bar contemporarily engraved ‘Ypres Salient 31st. July 1917.’, on original mounting pin, in case of issue, about extremely fine £1,000-£1,400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- M.C. London Gazette 24 June 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry when leading a patrol. After his party had been discovered and fired at by machine-guns he coolly completed his reconnaissance under heavy fire. With two lance-corporals he carried back a wounded man of his party under the same heavy fire. He has shown complete contempt of danger.’ M.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 26 September 1917, citation published 9 January 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when adjutant of the battalion. Throughout the operations he rendered his battalion commander most excellent service. When the battalion was counter-attacked he passed along the line encouraging and directing his men by his cheerfulness and contempt for danger. Though rendered unconscious by a shell he remained at duty on regaining consciousness he set a magnificent example to all.’ Henry Steedman Lewis attested for the Inns of Court Officer’s Training Corps on 31 December 1914, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment on 31 March 1915. He served during the Great War with the 11th (Service) Battalion, as part of 116th Brigade, 39th Division, on the Western Front from 1916, was wounded in action, and was twice decorated for his gallantry. Promoted Captain on 13 February 1917, he subsequently transferred to the Tank Corps and retired with the rank of Major. Following the War he emigrated to Brazil, and did not claim his British War and Victory Medals until 1934. Note: An unnamed M.C. and Bar, together with the recipient’s British War and Victory Medals, both named Major H. S. Lewis, were sold in these rooms in May 2017. Sold with the two original telegrams summoning the recipient to Buckingham Palace for the two M.C. investitures, dated 4 October 1916 and 29 May 1918; and War Office copies of the official citations, with accompanying War Office letter addressed to the recipient and dated 11 January 1935, these all laminated.
Lot 53
A fine Great War ‘Gallipoli’ C.M.G. group of five awarded to Lieutenant Colonel C. R. Pilkington, (Commanding) 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, formerly 7th (Manchester) Company, 8th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, who was wounded in action on 4 June 1915 at the Battle of Krithia and again at Le Cateau on 21 October 1918 when he suffered shell gas poisoning The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with ribbon buckle, some minor enamel damage; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lieut., C. R. Pilkington. 77 Co. 8/Imp. Yeo.) last clasp a contemporary tailor’s copy; 1914-15 Star (Major C. R. Pilkington. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. C. R. Pilkington.) minor edge bruising and contact wear to Q.S.A., otherwise generally very fine or better (5) (5) £2,200-£2,600 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2004 C.M.G. London Gazette 8 November 1915: ‘For distinguished service in the field during the operations at the Dardanelles.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 5 November 1915 [General Ian Hamilton’s Despatch for the Dardanelles]. Charles Raymond Pilkington was born in 1875 and educated at Clifton College. He lived at Haydock, Lancashire and was a Colliery Proprietor. Pilkington served with the 77th (Manchester) Company, Imperial Yeomanry during the Second Boer War, being present at the Relief of Mafeking; operations in the Transvaal, May and June 1900; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July and August 1900; operations in the Orange River Colony, 30 November 1900 to January 1901 (Q.S.A. roll confirms entitlement to South Africa 1901 clasp). During the Great War he served with the Manchester Regiment in Gallipoli, Egypt and France. Pilkington received a rifle gun shot wound to the forehead at Gallipoli on 4 June 1915 and suffered shell gas poisoning at Le Cateau on 21 October 1918. Lieutenant Colonel Pilkington relinquished his commission in January 1922 and died on 27 October 1938. The following is extracted from The Lancashire Fighting Territorials, by George Bigwood: ‘The battalion went to Egypt (September 1914) under its Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel G. G. P. Heywood, who had the misfortune to fall sick before his men left for Gallipoli, and was subsequently invalided home. The command of the battalion on the Peninsula therefore devolved upon Major C. R. Pilkington, who was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. The regret felt by all ranks in consequence of the confinement to hospital of Colonel Heywood was tempered by the appointment of Major Pilkington as the Battalion’s leader. The Pilkington’s like the Heywood’s, have a long and honoured connection with the commissioned ranks of the 6th Manchesters and neither officer could wish for a more devoted body of men...’ The following is extracted from a letter written by Major-General W. Douglas to Lieutenant Colonel Pilkington after the Battle of Krithia. It was in this action that Pilkington had, what the Battalion War Diary refers to as ‘a very lucky escape’, when he was only slightly wounded by a gun shot wound to the forehead: ‘My dear Pilkington, in regard to our conversation today, I am still hoping that you may be able to collect evidence of some of the special acts of gallantry by officers and men of our battalion during the assault of 4 June. It is most unfortunate, that owing to the many casualties sustained, many deeds worthy of the Victoria Cross have not been reported. I hope that your men know this. The dash, steadiness, reckless bravery and endurance shown by the 6th Manchesters and indeed by the whole Brigade was equal to the best traditions of the British Army...’ The following is again extracted from The Lancashire Fighting Territorials, by George Bigwood: ‘Two days after the battle [of Krithia] one of the wounded officers sent to a brother officer in Manchester an account of the extent to which the Battalion suffered: “... The C.O. I hear had a slight wound, but I believe was able to remain near the firing line. I can only trust and pray that this is so. He is doing splendidly as C.O., and you know we are all devoted to him.” ... After the big engagement on 7 August only 93 men were left to answer the roll-call. Referring to this engagement, Colonel Pilkington said: “In the old volunteer days we used to say that the regiment would give a good account of itself when it came to hard knocks, but no one ever thought that the men would get so many hard knocks in so short a time as they got at Gallipoli. There was not a single man, however, who did not do his work thoroughly and well. I am proud of them. Everything was done cheerfully and without murmur. On 7 August we were in the front trenches and about nine o’clock at night we wee ordered to take a line 350 yards across. We got forward that night 150 yards in eight or nine hours, the Turkish trenches being only 300 yards away. That, I think, was the finest thing the regiment has ever done, especially when you consider that it was performed by men many of whom probably never used spades and shovels until the outbreak of war.” Sold with comprehensive copied research detail.



Lot 294
Three: Ordnance Artificer Fourth Class T. Marsden, Royal Navy, who was killed in action during the First Battle of Sirte when H.M.S. Neptune, on convoy duty to Malta, struck four mines in quick succession off the Tripoli coast on 19 December 1941, and sank within minutes; of the 764 Officers and crew in Neptune only one man survived 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Admiralty enclosure, in card box of issue addressed to ‘Mrs. E. Marsden, 673 Tongemoor Road, Bolton, Lancashire’, extremely fine (3) £60-£80 --- Thomas Marsden served during the Second World War in the Leander class light cruiser H.M.S. Neptune, as part of Force K deployed as convoy support to Malta. On 17 December 1941 the supply ship MV Breconshire was being escorted to Malta by Force K near the Gulf of Sirte, when the British ships sighted Italian battleships escorting a convoy to Tripoli. After seeing Breconshire safely into Malta, Force K sailed again to search for the Tripoli convoy. At 1:0 a.m. on 19 December 1941, whilst approximately 20 miles off the Tripoli coast, Neptune hit a mine. She then went full speed astern and struck two more mines, seriously damaging her propellers and rudder. The destroyer H.M.S. Kandahar went to assist but in doing so she herself struck a mine. At about 4:00 a.m. Neptune was struck by a fourth mine and sank within a few minutes. Only 16 men from a compliment of 764 survived the initial sinking and managed to climb aboard a raft; however, all but one man succumbed whilst on the open seas. The Neptune’s sole survivor, Able Seaman Norman Walton, was picked up by the Italians on Christmas Eve and made a prisoner of war. The loss of H.M.S. Neptune represented the greatest single tragedy for both the Mediterranean Fleet and the New Zealand Navy of whom 151 men were part of Neptune’s crew. Marsden was amongst those killed, aged 21. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, and his medals were sent to his mother, Mrs. Emma Marsden.
Lot 75
The particularly fine Second War immediate ‘Augsburg Raid’ D.F.C., D.F.M. group of seven awarded to Hampden and Lancaster navigator, Warrant Officer F. S. Kirke, Royal New Zealand Air Force, a veteran of at least 41 operational sorties prior to taking part in the Augsburg Raid, including on one, 5 November 1941, when he suffered a fractured skull and severe burns. Kirke distinguished himself during the famous low-level unescorted daylight raid on the M.A.N. diesel factory at Augsburg, 17 April 1942, when in a Lancaster piloted by ‘Ginger’ Garwell. Their Lancaster was the only one of 44 Squadron to reach the target - other than the one flown by Squadron Leader J. D. Nettleton, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for the raid. Garwell’s ‘aircraft was hit badly in the fuselage as it ran in towards the target, but Kirke, lying face down over the bomb sight in the nose, cooly directed his pilot. The aircraft lifted as its bombs went but it was streaming fire and doomed. A couple of miles out of the city Garwell found an open field and accomplished a masterly crash-landing. Four of the stunned and shaken crew, Kirke among them, stumbled from the blazing wreck. The other three died. The survivors were captured.’ Kirke was taken prisoner of war, and interned at the infamous Stalag Luft III, Sagan. He became, ‘the first member of the RNZAF to wear the dual ribbons of the D.F.C. and D.F.M...’ Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1942’, and reverse additionally engraved ‘N.Z.39864 Sgt. F. S. Kirke RNZAF’; Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (N.Z.39864. Sgt. F. S. Kirke. R.N.Z.A.F.) suspension claw re-pinned, and loose; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; New Zealand War Service Medal, mounted as worn - the DFM in reverse, cleaned, generally nearly very fine or better (lot) £4,000-£6,000 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 5 June 1942. Jointly listed with Flying Officer 65503 A. J. Garwell, D.F.M. (for the award of the DFC), and Sergeants 778173 L. L. Dando and 999625 J. Watson (both for the award of the D.F..M.): ‘On 17th April, 1942, Flying Officer Garwell, Warrant Officer Kirke and Sergeants Dando and Watson were members of the crew of a Lancaster aircraft which took part in the daring daylight attack on Augsburg, involving a flight of some 1,000 miles across enemy territory. Soon after crossing the enemy's coast their aircraft was damaged in a running fight with 25 to 30 enemy fighters. Despite this they pressed on until the target area was reached. In the face off fierce and accurate anti-aircraft fire which further damaged the bomber and set it on fire the bombs were released on the objective. The task accomplished, it was necessary to make a forced landing in a field some 2 miles from the target. In the most harassing circumstances this very gallant crew displayed great fortitude and skill which has set a magnificent example.’ D.F.M. London Gazette 6 June 1941. The original recommendation states: ‘This N.C.O. has carried out a total of 24 operations against the enemy during the course of which he has completed 172 hours flying as Navigator. He has always shown the greatest keenness at his work. His navigation in all kinds of weather has been of the very highest order. Throughout all these operations, he has shown outstanding ability, determination and devotion to duty.’ Frank Skipworth Kirke was born in Wellington, New Zealand in March 1917, and was educated at Marlborough College, Blenheim. He enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Ohakea as a Leading Aircraftman in October 1939, advanced to Temporary Sergeant, and embarked for the UK in April 1940. Kirke was posted for training as a Navigator to No. 12 O.T.U. in June 1940, before briefly being posted to 106 Squadron in September 1940. He was posted for operational flying to 83 Squadron, 6 October 1940, and then on to 61 Squadron, 17 March 1941. Kirke was awarded the D.F.M. for his service with 83 Squadron, and the following is given in Night After Night: New Zealanders in Bomber Command by M. Lambert: ‘On the otherhand, Kirke, 25, was vastly experienced [by the time he joined 44 Squadron - February 1942] and held the D.F.M. He’d enlisted in the RNZAF in October 1939, and by May 1941 had flown 34 ops on Hampdens, 25 with 83 Squadron, the rest with 61 Squadron. He’d been decorated after all that, the citation saying his navigation ‘has been of the very highest order’. After five months instructing he was posted to 455 Squadron, RAAF, also on Hampdens. He did four trips with 455 before surviving a nasty crash on Guy Fawkes Day 1941, which left him with a fractured skull and burns. Recovered after four months, he joined 44, completing three ops on Lancasters before the Augsburg raid.’ Kirke wrote to his sister about his investiture at Buckingham Palace, 5 October 1941: ‘There was nothing in it really. I just staggered up to the King, he stuck the medal on my chest and away I went... There was the usual crowd of sightseers floating around outside the main gates so I sailed passed in lordly disdain inside the taxi... Naturally all the women were staring at the heroes and all the fellows were wish it was over so they could go and have a beer.... All the crowd cheered and created hell so I sneaked smartly into the nearest pub and did a spot of steady drinking....’ Kirke had advanced to Flight Sergeant in September 1941, and to Warrant Officer in April 1942. He served as an instructor at No. 25 O.T.U., Finningley, at the same time as A. J. Garwell [whose D.F.C., D.F.M. group was sold as part of the Ron Penhall Collection, in these rooms in September 2006]- whom he was to be later crewed up with at 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron for the Augsburg Raid. In November 1941, Garwell joined the ‘Intensive Flying (Lancaster) Flight’ at Boscombe Down, at which establishment he flew on occasion as 2nd Pilot to Squadron Leader J. D. Nettleton, a timely encounter for before too long they would be flying alongside each other in the Lancasters of 44 Squadron and, more significantly, in the famous daylight raid on Augsburg. By that stage - April 1942 - the recently commissioned Garwell had flown two further sorties to Germany with his new unit and had very much become Nettleton’s right-hand man. On the way out to dispersal in a squadron truck for the Augsburg raid, the pair of them agreed that they would not take evasive action if attacked by fighters, but rather hold their course. As Garwell put it, “The only thing to do is press straight on and keep flat on the ground. If anyone gets crippled I suggest he throttles back and belly-lands straight ahead.” Kirke was one of two Kiwis to fly on the Augsburg Raid. The Augsburg Daylight Raid, 17 April 1942 No better account of this extremely gallant enterprise may be quoted than that written by Chaz Bowyer in For Valour, The Air VCs: ‘At 3.12 p.m. John Nettleton lifted Lancaster R5508 ‘B’ off the Waddington runway, followed by six other Lancasters from 44 Squadron. Once all were airborne and beginning to close up in tight formation, the last Lancaster to leave circled and returned to base, being simply a reserve machine to slot into any gap at the start of the sortie. The remaining six aircraft settled into two Vics of three as they drummed low across Lincolnshire heading southwards. In front Nettleton had Warrant Officer G. T. Rhodes in Lancaster L7536 ‘H’ to his left, and Flying Officer J. Garwell, D.F.M. in R5510 ‘A’ to starboard. The second Vic close behind was led by Flight Lieutenant N. Sandford in R5506 ‘P’...
Lot 354
Collection of 21 1980s action figures to include 18 x Mattel Masters of the Universe featuring Webstor, Two Bad, Merman, Kobra Khan, 2 x Mantenna, Clawful, 3 x Buzz Off, Spikor (legs reglued to body), Man at Arms, Man E Faces, Leech, Tri-Klops and Mekaneck) and 3 x LJN Thundercats (2 x Snowman of Hook Mountain and Tusken Warrior)
Lot 347
33 Kenner DC Super Powers action figures from the 1980s to include Parademon, 2 x Lex Luther, Superman, Golden Pharaoh, Wonder Woman, Kalibak, 2 x Aquaman, 2 x Robin, Plastic Man, Green Arrow, Orion, 2 x The Flash, The Joker, 2 x Martian Manhunter, Darkseid etc, gd overall condition with a group of Kenner stands
Lot 132
A collection of approximately 51 early 50s and 60s comic books by DC, Gold Key, Archie series, King Comics, The Original Comic and more. Titles to include Superboy, The Flash, Plastic Man, Black Orchid, Captain Actain issues 1-5, Rip Hunter - Time Master, Batman, Adventure Comics, Detective Comics, Sea Devils, Metal Men, The Shadow, Young Romance, Crime Patrol, Fantastic Tales, Justice, Texas Ranger in Action and more.
Lot 541
SIX BOXES OF COMIC BOOKS includes comics from The Amazing Spiderman, X-Men, Detective Comics, Batman, Action Comics, Superman, Fantastic Four, Thor, Daredevil, Captain America, Avengers, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, also includes a box of signed comic books, list of noteworthy comics available on request
Lot 47
MARVEL; a collection of action figures, mostly Avengers, including Hasbro Titan Hero series infinity gauntlet, Hasbro Titan Series Thanos figure, Diamond Select Toys Rescue diorama figure, Hasbro Thor figure, Hasbro Blast 'n' Battle Groot and thirty-five 7.5 inch Avengers Age Of Ultron figures, including Captain America, Ant Man and Thor.
Lot 764
Two Vintage Circa 1970 Articulated Action Man Dolls, with fuzzy hair, fixed eyes and gripping hands, playworn, (damages noted to hand, face, hair and feet), with an assortment of original Quartermaster Stores clothing and accessories, with another articulated male fashion doll with outfit, cigarette smoke odour noted.
Lot 547
A Quantity of Predominantly Circa 1980's/1990's Plastic Action Figures and Model Vehicles to include KPT 1988 - MASK Skybolt, Transformers G1 Octane, LJN Toys Thundercats Thundertank (damaged ), Thundercats Lion-O, Mumm-Ra, Masters of the Universe He-Man (Battle Armor), The Real Ghostbusters - Egon Spengler, small parts may be missing, playworn. (One Box).
Lot 5235
(Motor Racing, Grand Prix Sunbeams.) An early 20th Century photograph album containing 50+ mounted photographs in total of Grand Prix motor racing and motor cars c.1913-1914, mainly Isle of Man RAC Tourist Trophy, 10th/11th June 1914, predominantly the Sunbeam grand prix motor racing team, small number of images signed by drivers, with some further mounted postcards, small number of these also driver signed, and some other related ephemera including two original Sunbeam pit armbands, comprising 1914 Isle of Man TT armband, red silk with black printed lettering "Tourist Trophy. - 15. Sunbeam II. Depot Attendant", approx. size 10.5 x 25.5cm, and armband for 1914 French Grand Prix, held Lyon, 4th July, pale violet and white fabric with red lettering "Grand Prix de L'A.C.F. 1914 Sunbeam", approx. 11.5cm x 16cm, both mounted to a card leaf of the album, evidently having belonged to the compiler of the album with pencil caption beside "my pit brassards", certainly very rare and quite possibly the only surviving examples from the penultimate and last Grand Prix races before WW1 overtook Europe in August 1914. Approx. 35 images of 1914 Isle of Man TT include the Sunbeam team and all four Sunbeam grand prix cars assembled in front of Fort Anne Hotel, Douglas, IoM, the cars with number plates MN 523 to MN 526, each with drivers and riding mechanics sat within posing, MN 523, No.4, Kenelm Lee Guinness (1887-1937), MN 524, No.21, Algernon Lee Guinness (1883-1954), MN 526, No.15, Dario Resta (1882-1924), and MN 525, no number, L.G. Hornsted (1883-1957), several others standing behind cars posing including Louis Coatalen (1879-1962), the energetic and ambitious Breton who was engaged by Sunbeam as chief engineer in 1909 and transformed the Wolverhampton firm to become the foremost British exponents of motor racing internationally at the highest echelons, image approx. 10.5 x 15cm, several other images similar of Sunbeam cars and drivers in front of Fort Anne Hotel including L.G. Hornsted posing in MN 525, signed by him in pencil to lower left of image, small portrait photos A. Lee Guinness and K. Lee Guinness etc, images on the course including A. Lee Guinness and riding mechanic in Sunbeam MN 524, No.21 with Dunlop advertising banner and spectators in background; No.12, Leon Molon (1881-1952) in his Minerva; No.19, Christian Riecken (1880-1950) in his Minerva; No.18, Otto Goebel? in his Adler; No.20, Sam Wright in his Humber; No.4, K. Lee Guinness in his Sunbeam; two images of an upturned crashed car, No.6, John Hancock's Vauxhall; No.4 K. Lee Guinness in his Sunbeam entering pits enclosure; No.13, W.G. Tuck in his Humber; No.20, Sam Wright in his Humber; No.13, W.G. Tuck in his Humber; No.10, Sir Alfred Rawlinson (1867-1934) in his Rawlinson Hudson; K. Lee Guinness in his No.4 Sunbeam posing, and in following image on track entering a corner; W.O. Bentley (1888-1971), later founder of Bentley, in his DFP; No.9, Rene Berger in his SAVA; No.23, Josef Rutsch in his Adler; No.15, Dario Resta in his Sunbeam MN 526; No.14, Frank Clement (1886-1970), in his Straker-Squire; image depicting No.17, William Watson in his Vauxhall, on straight being pursued by the fourth Sunbeam car without a race number, driven by L.G. Hornsted, this image with pencil note to card mount beside "Hornsted & self chasing Watson - Vauxhall", evidently the compiler of the album being L.G. Hornsted's riding mechanic, possibly CD Day? ('Motorsport' May 2006 issue "Array of Sunbeams" article states "A spare car with the same body and bolster fuel tank as the other 1914 cars, as it might have had to be nominated for the race, was taken to the IoM. Two months before, one of the cars was sent to Brooklands for tests, driven by LG Hornsted and CD Day, Sunbeam’s subsequent production manager."); plus image of racing cars on ferry with one car about to be unloaded, presumably Douglas IoM, these images of IoM TT mainly approx. 8 x 13cm; 13 photographs of luxury/racing cars of the period, some with the compiler of the album seated, including series of 4 images of a Darracq c.1910, number plate BHH1, three of which with the compiler of the album posing seated within, pencil note to card leaf of album "Self & the 20 Darracq", each image approx. 10 x 16cm, another image with pencil caption above "Algy & Bill in 1913 GP Sunbeam after conversion", depicting Algernon Lee Guinness and 1 other in Sunbeam car, approx. 8.5 x 13.5cm, 8 other images various cars of the period, one with pencil caption beside "Father's 25 Darracq", others captioned "Metallurgique", "Charles Cotton", "100 x 160 Brooklands", etc; 8 contemporary postcards of grand prix motor racing, including one depicting K. Lee Guinness and signed by him in black ink "Kenelm", the image of him in his Sunbeam at the Circuit de Picardie, Grand Prix de l'A.C.F. 1913, another of Dario Resta in his sunbeam at same Grand Prix, signed in pencil "Yours Dario Resta" (slightly faint), plus postcard Caillois in his Sunbeam French Grand Prix 1913, 3 postcards 1908 French Grand Prix, two colour art postcards motor racing of the period; 3 other photographs motor racing of the period, appears to be the 1913 French Grand Prix, Circuit de Picardie, Amiens, 12th July, as one image showing the No.19 Sunbeam car crashed at foot of short steep hill in a river, with a group of spectators and people surrounding the car and nearby - Kenelm Lee Guinness drove the No.19 Sunbeam car in this race and is stated as having retired after 15 laps, having crashed into a river, a spectator was killed in this accident, the two other images, presumably the same Grand Prix, of Dario Resta in his Sunbeam, and cars and mechanics working in pit enclosure, all approx. 9 x 13.5cm; the motor racing material in album preceded by 76 further contemporary photographs of Ceylon and many of the corresponding sea voyage, mounted folding menu of SS Warwickshire, September 27th, 1912, containing several pencil signatures, several of photos of people on board the ship playing family games on deck, posing etc. Oblong contemporary cloth album, approx 25 x 30cm. Louis Coatalen's oustanding light car designs and other technological innovations made Sunbeam highly competitive during this period, even against the large Grand Prix cars of the period with engines three and five times the capacity of the Sunbeam. Wins included the legendary success at the 1912 Coupe de l’Auto to winning the 1914 and 1922 Tourist Trophy and 1923 and 1924 Grand Prix. Coatalen designed the 1914 Isle of Man TT cars with four-cylinder 3.2-litre twin-cam 16-valve engines, with which Kenelm Lee Guinness was to win that two-day 600-mile race over the punishing Manx mountain course, involving driving for 10hr 37min 49sec. Dario Resta’s car broke a big-end bolt on the first lap and Algy Guinness’s Sunbeam, after being in a secure second place on day two, retired when a propellor-shaft joint seized. But KLG had vanquished two sleeve-valve Minervas and three other cars, out of 22 starters, to win at 56.44mph. His fastest lap was 59.3mph, an indication of how difficult was the IoM course. (In the 1922 TT over the same course Jean Chassagne in an eight-cylinder Sunbeam averaged 55.78mph in the now one-day race, but in rain.) The fourth unnumbered Sunbeam car MN 525 driven by LG Hornsted must have also participated in the race, as evidenced by the photograph in the album of it in action chasing down the Vauxhall of WJ Watson. All four Sunbeams were driven from Wolverhampton to the Fort Ann hotel in the IoM. They wore number plates MN 523 to MN 526, these apparently being trade plates, indicating that Coatalen disdained paying tax on cars intended to uphold British prestige. The three main Sunbeam cars that competed in the 1914 IoM TT (MN 523, 524 & 526, race numbers 4 for KLG, 15 for Resta and 21 for Sir Algernon), are miraculously all still intact (see Motorsport Magazine online article May 2006, 88, Array of Sunbeams).
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