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WWII mounted Officers medal group, to include the 1939-45 Star, Africa, Burma, Italy, Defence, War, Territorial Decoration, dated 1945 and the 50th Anniversary of the Malta George Cross, presented to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Mathews P/50248 Royal Engineers, with original paperwork.LT. Col. Thomas Mathews, served in the Lancashire Fusiliers Territorial Army as a 2nd Lieutenant from 1931-1946 when he was released and granted Honorary rank of LT. Col.

Dinky Toys England; To include gift set 698 Tank Transporter With Tank (boxed) Water Tanker 643, Artillery Tractor 688, Field Tractor 686, Army Wagon 621, Humber Hawk 165, and a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith 150, all boxed. (7)

Matchbox Toys England; To include a boxed diecast Showroom & Service Station, a No.70 Thames Estate car, a Ford Anglia No.7, a Sports boat & trailer no.48, and an Army Water Truck No.71, boxed. (5)

A collection of over twenty diecast and plastic military related models, to include Corgi Panzer tanks, gun tractors, army trucks, mobile guns, with a selection of Dinky and Matchbox playworn diecast models, in two boxes. (2)

A collection of eighteen framed prints, photographs and cigarette cards such as the 'Colours Of The British Army', 18 x 86cm and the 50th Anniversary of the Normandy landings.

A collection of militaria, to include cap badges, patches, dog tags, presented to Boam. A. 316678 Tank corps, three regiment plaques presented to R.E.M.E, 49th (W.R.&N.MID) Division T.A and Royal Army Dental Corps and photographs.

WWII mounted territorial medal group, including the 1939-45 Star, Africa clasped '1st Army', Italy, Defence, War and Territorial, presented to T.75897 CPL. J. L. Neal. R.A.S.C.

WWII mounted territorial medal group, to include the 1939-1945 Star, Africa clasped '1st Army', Italy, Defence, War clasped with the mention in despatches and the Territorial medal clasped Militia for suspension, presented to 1986525 SPR. A. Dawson. Royal Engineers.

WWII Army Majors medal group, to include the 1939-1945 Star, Italy, Burma, Africa, Defence, War and the Territorial Efficiency Decoration, dated 1951, presented to Major. G. E. Davies. T.D 1678C R 8/51, boxed.

A George VI Regular Army Long Service medal, presented to 2609495 W.O CL. 2. J. G. Lymn. G. Guards.

The 'North Africa 1943' M.M. awarded to Sergeant C. G. Illsley, 565 Field Company, Royal EngineersMilitary Medal, G.VI.R. (1870031 Sjt. C.G. Illsley. R.E.), contact marks, very fineM.M. London Gazette 23 September 1943, the original citation states:'For outstanding drive, initiative and enthusiasm maintained throughout the campaign under all kinds of conditions. Amongst the many minor operations carried out the following are typical examples. Laying a tactical minefield in advance of our own forward positions under very difficult weather conditions and threat of interference by enemy patrols. Laying anti-personnel mines in forward mine-fields under intermittent mortar fire and in full view of the enemy. Improvement of tracks under intermittent shell fire to enable forward Infantry to be maintained. Due to this N.C.O.'s leadership and determination these and many other minor operations were successfully completed.'Christopher Gordon Illsley, of 565 Field Company, Royal Engineers, was discharged from service in March 1946 with the rank of Warrant Officer Class II and is further entitled to the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star (clasp 1st Army), Italy Star, and Defence and War Medals. He claimed these campaign awards in 1950 and they were sent to his address in Stirling, Scotland, shortly after; sold with copied M.M. recommendation.…

The 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of FootThe exploits of both Battalions of the 24th Foot during the Zulu War need little introduction. They are perhaps the most storied of all regiments to set foot in South Africa during 1877-79. Scores of worthy titles are recommended, with The Washing of the Spears perhaps a good place to start for one with a new-found enthusiasm.The Zulu War Medal awarded to Private J. M. Meredith, 1st Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, who was killed in action at the disastrous Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (293. Pte. J. Meredith. 1-24th. Foot.), rod perhaps tightened at some point, very fineJohn Henry Meredith was born at Rhosyoside, Ruabon, Denbighshire on 27 December 1854, son of Henry and Ann, his father being the local tailor. Young Meredith enlisted at Manchester, Lancashire on 17 June 1874, aged 19 years. He served with 'H' Company and was killed in action at Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879, with his effects, to include the Medal & clasp '1879' were claimed by his father.Both Battalions of the 24th participated in the campaign (each fielding six companies) with the 1st Battalion forming the principal element of Number Three Column, which was under the overall command of Colonel Richard Glyn of the 1st/24th: therefore Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pulleine was appointed to command in his stead.Upon crossing the Buffalo River on 11 January, the column (accompanied by the Commander-in-Chief, General the Lord Chelmsford) found itself pitching camp nine days' later at the base of a prominent feature - the hill at Isandlwana. Chelmsford, eager to bring the campaign to a swift conclusion, departed at dawn on 22 January with half the column's strength (some 2,800 men) leaving behind Pulleine with approximately 1,300 men - five companies of the 1st/24th, one company of the 2nd/24th, 700 men of the Natal Native Contingent, two 7-pdr artillery pieces and a rocket battery.Failing to take any defensive measures to secure the camp, Pulleine's force was subsequently surprised by a vast Zulu army totalling some 20,000 warriors which, by additionally using the terrain to their advantage, swept forward to the attack using their traditional 'Horns of the Buffalo' strategy - a central advance supported by encircling forces on both flanks. Pulleine deployed the 24th Foot some way in advance of the camp in an extended firing line, aiming to subdue the Zulus with superior firepower - the young Meredith must have been one of those men in the line; what he likely thought and felt at that moment defies description.For at least an hour, the British held the Zulu warriors at bay, inflicting significant casualties with their powerful Martini-Henry rifles and aided by support from the two 7-pdr guns from N/5 Battery Royal Artillery. However, as the mounted force (commanded by Colonel Anthony Durnford) began to withdraw in the face of mounting numbers of Zulus, this exposed the right flank of the British infantry firing-line; G Company (2nd/24th) was swiftly overrun and the remainder also began a withdrawal, loading and firing as they went, back towards the camp. However, by this point the Zulu encirclement of the position had almost been completed and the remains of the British force were left with no option but to either try to fight their way out or fight to the death - the result has subsequently been recorded as one of the most famous 'Last Stands' in British military history, immortalised in paintings, books, and the 1979 major motion picture 'Zulu Dawn' starring Peter O'Toole and Denholm Elliot amongst many other household names.Of the 1,800 men at Isandlwana over 1,300 of them were killed; the bodies of the slain were afterward buried in mass graves on the battlefield, their last resting places still marked to this day by white-painted stone cairns; Private Meredith is amongst them.In July 2001, DNW sold another Medal (bearing both initials but the incorrect '1878-8-9' clasp) to this man. This Medal was inspected by John Hayward in April 2006 and the assumption that a duplicate must have been made at some time. This Medal was considered entirely as issued.…

Royal Durban Rifles94 Medals issued to this unit, all without clasp.The rare campaign pair awarded to Surgeon J. Shulz, Royal Durban RiflesSouth Africa 1877-79, no clasp (Surgn. J. Shulz. M.D. Rl. Dn. Rifles.); Germany, Prussia, 1848-49 Medal, good very fine (2)Julius Shulz (sometimes Shultz) was born on 6 July 1823 at Berlin, Germany and was a son of Dr Johann Heinrich Schulz. He studied medicine at the Royal Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin from 1845-49 and qualified as a Doctor of Medicine. He first served in the Army as a Volunteer Sub-Doctor of the 4th Company, Emperor Franz Grenadier Regiment from April 1849-April 1850 and in 1855 was appointed Surgeon to the 2nd Light Dragoons of the British German Legion. He emigrated to Natal in 1857 as Regimental Surgeon to the British German Legion of settlers and was licensed to practice as physician, surgeon, surgeon-accoucheur and surgeon-apothecary in the Colony in February 1858. Initially he practiced on his farm at Westville, near Durban, but struggled to make a living. Later he moved to Smith Street, Durban, became police surgeon and health officer to the town (1874-91) and developed a successful practice. He was in medical charge of the Royal Durban Rifles when it was established in 1873 and commenced ambulance classes later that year.In the early eighteen-eighties he was a member of the Port Natal Masonic Lodge. Because hospital facilities were limited he often performed operations at his home, assisted by his wife. They had four sons. The first two learned a great deal about medicine from their father before qualifying as medical doctors in Berlin.Schulz played an active role in several societies that flourished in Durban during the latter half of the nineteenth century. During the first year of the short-lived Natural History Association of Natal (1868-71), he was scheduled to read a paper, On the physiology of the mind, in September. When the Durban Medico-chirurgical Society was formed in 1871 he was one of its eight foundation members. In 1881 he served on the council of the Natal Society. In 1879 he became one of the founding members of the Natal Microscopical Society (1878-85) and was elected its President for the first two years. On 22 October 1878 he read a paper before its members on Results of microscopic examination of water of Little Umhlanga.The good Doctor died at Durban on 10 March 1891 (Biographical Database of Southern African Science, refers).…

Four: Private E. H. Neal, Army Air Corps (Parachute Regiment)1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (14428811 Pte. E. H. Neal. A.A.C.), mounted as worn, very fine, together with cloth Badge and Para O.C.A Badge (Lot)E. Harry Neal was a native of Erdington, Birmingham and had his Second World War awards issued in August 1948.…

An Escaper's M.M. group of six awarded to Lance Corporal R. Holtby, Green Howards, who - with remarkable persistence - attempted to escape no less than three times, finally succeeding on the final runHaving joined underage Holtby was to see action in France 1940, the Dunkirk evacuation and the War in the Desert before his capture; his exploits in Italy make for exiting reading as he filed open the train door and leapt from the back of speeding trucks to make his final successful bid for freedomMilitary Medal, G.VI.R. (4391447 L. Cpl. R. Holtby. Green. Howards.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (4391447 Pte. R. Holtby. Green. Howards.), light contact wear, overall very fine (6)Provenance:Glendinning's, June 1889.M.M. London Gazette 12 September 1944, the original recommendation states:'On 9 Sep 43, before the general evacuation of Camp 54, Holtby left with eleven other prisoners and went with them to Monte Flavia, from where he set off alone to cross the lines. He had only reached Settefratti when he was recaptured by Germans. About the end of October he was entrained for Germany, but after travelling for about 2 hours succeeded in escaping and reaching Sora before he was taken ill with pneumonia. Upon his recovery he decided to make for the Anzio beachhead, but at Borgo Grappa he was again arrested by Germans. Five days later, as he was being transferred to Gisterno, he jumped off the truck and travelled to San Silvanion, where he stayed two months. After the Allied attack on Terracina he met an American patrol on 23 May 44.'Roy Holtby was born at Beverley, Yorkshire on 8 August 1921, the son of Francis and Edith Holtby. Joining the Territorial Army at Beverley before the war, his obituary notes that he joined underage - his 18th birthday was in August 1939. He was serving with the 5th Battalion in France in 1940 where they took part in the Battle of Arras and later the Dunkirk evacuation.Returning to Britian the Battalion was not linger there for long before they were posted to the desert for serving in the Middle East. Their first engagement there was to be the Battle of Gazala in which the 50th Division - to which the Battalion was attached - suffered heavy losses during the Defence of the Knightsbridge box. Either during the attack or retreat Holtby was taken prisoner of war and from North Africa was transported to Italy, finding himself at Camp 54, Fara Nel Sabina in 1943.News of the Armistice with Italy arrived on 8 September 1943 and three days later the prisoners were told they would need to make their own escapes. Formed into two parties they set out, Holtby made a more determined attempt than many of his comrades, carrying on alone where they others stopped however he was soon recaptured.Put on a train in October to be transported he seized the opportunity and filed the lock on the carriage door open. Jumping from the train he was able to escape again, this did not last long before he was recaptured for the final time. Not to be discouraged he waited until he was again being transported and leapt from the back of the truck carrying him, after so much time on the run the Allies had advanced well into Italy and Holtby was able to contact the American forces not long later.Returning to Britain after the war he was awarded his Efficiency Medal in April 1946 and settled at 71 Beaver Road, Beverley. He died at Hull on 15 June 1989.After his death an obituary was posted in the local newspaper which states:'A Modest Beverly war hero has died at the age of 67.Former soldier Mr Roy Holtby who won the Military Medal, escaped three times from prisoner-of-war camps during World War Two.On the last occasion [SIC] he helped others to safety when he filed open the carriage door of a train carrying troops.Mr Holtby, who was under age when he joined up, was among those evacuated from Dunkirk.After the War, he set up in busines [SIC] as a builder in his home town of Beverley, retiring six years ago because of ill-health.'The Green Howards Gazette of September 1989 further states:'The death took place on 16th June, 1898 of Mr Roy Holtby MM. He had suffered a heart condition for a few years. Roy joined the TA in Beverely prior to the war and served with the 5th Battalion, serving in France 1940 and was evacuated from Dunkirk. He served in the Middle East throughout the Desert Campaign until he was taken prisoner at Gazala ad was sent to Italy. He escaped twice from captivity [SIC] and on one occasion he was awarded the Military Medal. He eventually escaped to Switzerland [SIC] and eventually to England and stayed in England until demobilisation. He was a builder by trade and was very well known and respected by all his many friends.'Sold together with copied research.…

The rare and superb 'Operation Grapeshot' M.B.E., 'Monte Rogno' Virtuti Militi, 'Monte Cassino' Cross of Valor group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel T. Lipowski, 9th Heavy Artillery Regiment, Polish Army, whose remarkable life story includes a tragic episode during the Fall of Poland which saw him narrowly escape the fate of two of his comrades, who were arrested and murdered during the Katyn MassacreReturning to active service his extreme bravery attached to the 5th (Kresowa) Division in Italy saw him honoured on several occasions and even wounded during the Battle of Monte Cassino, being hit by shrapnel that had already passed through the lung of a brother Officer who stood besidePoland, Republic, Order of Virtuti Militari, breast Badge, 5th Class, silver and enamel, of wartime manufacture by Spink; Cross of Valor, with Second Award Bar; Cross of Merit, with swords, 2nd Type, silver-gilt; Army Medal; Monte Cassino Cross 1944, the reverse officially numbered '33078'; United Kingdom, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd Type, Military Division, Member's (M.B.E.) breast Badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Italy, Kingdom, Croce al Valore Militare, sold together with an archive including a named cigarette case, portrait and photograph album and the named document of issue for the award of the M.B.E., overall good very fine (9)Virtuti Militari awarded 30 June 1944, the original citation (translated) states:'During the operations 'Adriatyk', he distinguished himself by working in difficult conditions under strong and accurate enemy fire, especially at the Observation Point on Monte Regano. He cooperated perfectly with the infantry, conducting accurate and effective fire, not breaking off observation despite the fire. With his behaviour, he set an exemplary example for officers and privates at the Observation Points, as always. He fully deserves the decoration.'Cross of Valor awarded 6 August 1944, the original citation (translated) states:'At Cassino he organized an Observation Point and stayed there. On May 10-12, 1944, despite heavy enemy mortar and artillery fire, he remained at the Observation Point and continued his work. On May 12, 1944, despite heavy fire, he left the Observation Point to get better information and moved forward. He was wounded, but he did not want to stop his work.'Second Award Bar awarded 1945.M.B.E. London Gazette June 1945, the original recommendation states:'During the period 9th -21st April 1945, this officer worked with the maximum devotion as B.M., F.A. 5th Kresowa Division Artillery, which was in support of the Infantry in their operations against lines of Rivers Senio, Santerno, Sillaro, Gaina and Idice. Major Lipowski made a particularly great effort and showed special dexterity on 19th April and night 19th/20th, when Headquarters 5th Kresowa Division was faced with the task of co-ordinating the fire plans not only of the Divisions Artillery but also Artillery under command of the neighbouring RAK Force (Reinforced 2 Polish Armoured Brigade with 2 British Royal Horse Artillery and 3 Polish Field Regiment in SP). Rud Force (3rd and 4th Polish Infantry Brigades supported by 5th Polish Field Regiment and 7PHA) and AGPA.Major Lipowski's skillful [SIC] Staff work at HQ 5th Kresowa Division Artillery on 19th April and night 19th/20th resulted in the rapid working out and co-ordination of the Artillery fire plans which effectively helped the Infantry and assisted the Armour in breaking down enemy opposition, crossing the Gaina River and approaching River Quaderno.The Staff work at HQ 5th Kresowa Division Artillery had to be completed in a limited time in order to prepare the above Artillery plans and called for great effort and extreme accuracy. Major Lipowski not only directed the Staff work most efficiently but shone as an example of adroitness and devotion to duty.'Note the number of the recipient's Monte Cassino Cross is confirmed upon the roll.Tadeusz Lipowski was born on 29 March 1904, the son of two flour mill owners. His parents were forced to produce food for the German Army during the Great War, whilst the young Lipowski attended the local grammar school. Joining the Infantry Cadet School in 1926 he transferred to the Artillery Cadet School the next year and was commissioned Lieutenant in 1929.September 1939 and escaping to fight againPosted to Bendzen, Lipowski was set to work training new recruits, he was still there when the German Army invaded Poland in September 1939. His Regiment was left in an exposed position and forced to withdraw to avoid being encircled.Lipowski was interviewed post-war and the interviewer wrote a summary of his experiences, this narrative takes up the story:'The regiment was soon split up and within three days it had been officially annihilated although splinter groups had joined other regiments to continue fighting. Tade was able to join the Le Wolf East Polish soldiers on the 21st September and together they had fought their way out of danger or so they thought. Similar situations repeated themselves throughout Poland where the soldiers fought bravely on their own without the support of their planes which had been destroyed during the first day and without the aid of advanced weaponry…'Not long later the Russians invaded as well, tightening the noose around the Polish Army, communications at the time meant that many soldiers were not even aware of the Russian attack. One of these was Lipowski who awoke in a wood one morning to the sight of a Russian soldier on patrol. Unsure of whether this man was a friend or foe he remained hidden as the unsuspecting Russian passed beneath his sights, it was not until later that he discovered how close he had come to disaster.As the Polish defences were overrun, the Regiments began to splinter in small groups either seeking to withdraw to France and carry on the fight or set up resistance organisations. Lipowski, accompanied by two brother Officers, returned to the town in which he had been at school. His sister was living in the town and while they planned their next step she concealed them in her home.His brother came up with a plan to move them to a safer location by dressing the three men in his suits and putting them in the back of a wagon driven by a friendly farmer. Lipowski was forced to borrow a suit by his brother however the two Officers with him refused as the suits were expensive and they didn't want to take them. Instead, they removed their rank pips and took on the appearance of other ranks.During the journey the travellers were stopped by a Russian soldier, the farmer attempted to explain away the soldiers in his cart however this was for naught:'The Colonel could remain silent no longer and admitted to the Russian that they were in fact Officers so that the farmer would not get into trouble. Tadek said nothing but looked straight ahead. These Officers were only two of the many who were shot at Katyn by the Soviet secret police and left to rot in the mass grave, later discovered and dug up by the Germans two years later. Tadek had once again narrowly escaped death by what he called "good luck".' (Ibid)Reaching an underground resistance organisation, Lipowski was concealed by them and on 25 December 1939 dressed as a civilian he set out for southern Poland and the border. At one point he was stopped by a German soldier and asked when he was going, for one heart stopping moment it seemed that he was caught. This was not the case however, and it turned out the German was drunk and looking for someone to share a beer with - Lipowski agreed to a drink and later the soldier even waved him off on the tr…

Seven: Warrant Officer Class 2 M. McDonald, 3rd (The King's Own) Hussars, late 'B' Company, Kildare Battalion, Irish Republican ArmyIreland, Free State, General Service Medal 1917-21, with top riband bar and in box of issue, this inscribed in ink 'Presented to Michael McDonald, Golden Falls for War of Independence, with forwarding slip; United Kingdom, 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., Regular Army (7882816 W.O.Cl.2 M. McDonald. 3H.), good very fine (7)Michael McDonald was born on 24 February 1903 and was living at Golden Falls, Ballymore Eustace, Kildare. During the War of Independence he served in 'B' Company, Kildare Battalion, Irish Republican Army under Thomas Lawlor, Arthur Doran, Martin O'Neill and James McGrath. McDonald was duly issued with his Medal in August 1952.He has the highly unusual record of having served with distinction in the British Army from April 1939-November 1949. During that time the 3rd Hussars fought in North Africa from 1940-41. Having then split into two Squadrons, one was captured in its entirety on Java by the Japanese in 1942, but the other - with McDonald no doubt present - shared in the breakthrough at El Alamein in 1942. These events left it so short of men that it was transferred to Syria and Lebanon until April 1944, when it joined the Italian campaign.Sold together with a German Fuhrer Kompass 38 (Fk. 38), numbered P21113, by Ludolph Bremerhaven, captured by McDonald from a downed Luftwaffe from the Western Desert.…

Six: Battery Sergeant-Major W Bell, Royal Artillery, one of the few men of 10th Mountain Battery who evaded capture at Nicholson’s Nek and got back into Ladysmith on 30 October 1899, suffering a wound to the fingers of his right handEgypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (33729 Driv: W. Bell. 2/1. So: Ir: Div: R.A.; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (33729 Sgt. W. Bell, 10th M.B., R.G.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (33729 Serjt. W. Bell, R.G.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (33729 Sjt. W. Bell. R.H.A.) official correction to unit; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 3rd issue (Sjt. W. Bell. R.A.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, unnamed, mounted court-style, the Egypt pair with contact pitting, therefore good fine, otherwise very fine and better (6)William Bell was born at Brighton, Sussex in 1853 and attested on 17 July 1882. Joining the 2/1st South Irish Division he saw service with them in Egypt and was posted to 10th Mountain Battery on 1 July 1889. Joining this unit in South Africa before the Anglo-Boer War he was advanced Sergeant there on 18 January 1896.He was still present in Natal on the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. As the war got underway the British withdrew their forces back towards Ladysmith with the Boer's in hot pursuit. General White decided to try and halt the Boer advance before they reached the town with a daring night march which would take them to positions above the Boer's allowing them a dawn assault. The British had three main targets, Farquhar's Farm, Pepworth Hill and- the farthest position- Nicholson's Nek.The 10th Mountain Battery was part of Colonel Carleton's column aimed at Nicholson's Nek, supported by an enormous mule train carrying their weapons and ammunition. At some stage during the march a loud noise startled the mules and they stampeded, carrying all the equipment and some of the gunners off.Carleton continued his march and made the Nek however in the dark his men set up in the wrong place. When dawn came they found themselves on a plateau overlooked by a number of Boer positions and worse yet, without much of their artillery. Swiftly surrounded by the Boer commandos large numbers of the British were taken prisoner. Around 80 men managed to escape, including Bell, but 29 officers, 898 men and 4 Mountain Guns were taken.Bell's service papers note a wound to the fingers of his right hand however no date is given to confirm that it occurred during his escape from the trap of Nicholson's Nek. He served throughout the Defence of Ladysmith and for the rest of the war, being posted to 107th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery in 1903. Discharged later that same year he returned to service at Southampton on 2 September 1914.Serving with a reserve Brigade of the Royal Garrison Artillery he was discharged in July 1918 having earned no medals for his efforts; sold together with copied research.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax. 

Family group:The exceptional and poignant Q.P.M. for Gallantry group of seven awarded to Sergeant 1st Class W. W. Riley, New South Wales Police, who was murdered by a deranged gunman he attempted to apprehend in the Sydney suburb of Toongabbie in September 1971Queen's Police Medal, for Gallantry, E.II.R. (William W. Riley, Sgt. Cl. 1, New South Wales Police); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australian Service Medal 1939-45, these four officially impressed 'NX. 90169 W. W. Riley'; Australian Service Medal 1945-75, clasp, S.W. Pacific; Police Exemplary Service Medal, E.II.R. (William R. Riley), the last officially inscribed on pre-prepared ground, together with his 'Returned from Active Service' badge, officially numbered '170866', assorted N.S.W. Police Force badges (4), and a metalled nameplate from his burial service, good very fine (7)The Great War campaign group of three awarded to his father, Sergeant C. U. Riley, Gordon Highlanders1914-15 Star (S. 4226 Sjt. C. W. Riley, Gord. Highrs.), note second initial; British War and Victory Medals (S. 4226 Sjt. C. U. Riley, Gord. Highrs.), minor contact wear, very fine or better (3)Q.P.M. London Gazette 25 May 1972:'The Queen has been pleased to award the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry to the late Sergeant 1st Class William Watson Riley and the late Sergeant 3rd Class Maurice Raymond McDiarmid, both of the New South Wales Police Force, in recognition of their gallant conduct in the following circumstances:At a house in Toongabbie on 30 September 1971, Sergeants Riley and McDiarmid attempted to apprehend Ronald Desmond Clarke whom they knew to be armed and to have killed his brother and raped a woman. Sergeant McDiarmid forced an entry through the rear door of the house and Sergeant Riley gained an entry through the front door. Both policemen were armed with revolvers. In the events which followed three shots were fired by Clarke, two fatally wounding Sergeant Riley and the third inflicting grievous wounds to the head of Sergeant McDiarmid who died shortly afterwards. Neither officer fired his own revolver. Sergeant Riley and Sergeant McDiarmid both showed outstanding courage and devotion to duty and upheld the high traditions of the New South Wales Police Force.'William Watson Riley was born in Motherwell, Scotland on 22 February 1921, the son of Great War veteran Cecil Urquhart Riley. The family migrated to Australia when he was a child, and William was working as an orchardist when he enlisted in the Permanent Australian Military Forces (A.M.F.) in April 1940, aged 19.Having then served in the A.M.F. as a driver in the Australian Army Service Corps, he took his discharge in March 1942 and immediately re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. Posted to the Guerilla Warfare School in Melbourne, he joined the 2/6th Independent Company (Commando) in May 1942. By the time of his discharge from 2/9th Australian General Hospital in December 1945, he had served for two years on active operations in Morotai and New Guinea.Riley next joined the New South Wales Police, attending the Sydney Metropolitan Training Depot before taking up traffic duties at Camperdown and Regent Street police stations. In May 1947 he qualified as a solo motor cyclist and in August 1949 as a motor driver. In November 1950 he received his first commendation when, off duty, he rendered valuable service in combatting a fire which occurred at the railway depot at Bowenfels.Advanced to Constable 1st Class in December 1952 and to Senior Constable in July 1958, he received another commendation in the summer of 1959, his service record stating:'Commended for the excellent work performed, under adverse conditions, during the search for Bryan Thomas Bullock and Anthony James Forster who escaped from Berrima Training Centre on 29 May 1959, and were recaptured by Police near Bigga on 3 June 1959.'For much of the coming decade Riley was employed on general duties - at Bathurst, Parramatta and Blackdown stations - and he received further advancement to Sergeant 3rd Class in March 1960 and to Sergeant 2nd Class in July 1967. He was also awarded his Police Exemplary Service Medal in September 1968.A 'blood bath'Of the above cited events in Toongabbie on 30 September 1971, numerous reports appeared in the Australian press. For it was indeed - as observed by an eyewitness to those events - a blood bath. There were four fatalities within a matter of hours.Riley and McDiarmid were serving at Blackdown Police Station at the time, when a distraught women rushed in and reported a shooting and her rape at 1 Mimosa Avenue. It was later ascertained that a heavily armed and desperate gunman, Ronald Clarke, aged 23, had earlier shot his brother there.Both officers were dispatched to the address in question, in order to investigate further, although it was believed the gunman had long since fled the scene. He hadn't. He was preparing to dispose of his brother's body when the two officers arrived. The offender ran to the rear of the house and McDiarmid did likewise, making a forced entry at the back door, before being fatally wounded from a shot delivered by Clarke. Riley, meanwhile, made a forced entry at the front door, only to be twice shot by Clarke with a .22 rifle, one bullet lodging in lodging in his spine and the other fracturing his skull. The wounds were fatal and he died instantly, but McDiarmid survived his wounds a little longer, dying in an ambulance on his way to Blackdown General Hospital.Clarke sped off in a getaway car but was tracked down by a pair of patrol officers in the suburb of Lurnea. They rammed the fugitive's vehicle off the road and one of the officers - on being threatened with a revolver - shot him dead.The tragic scene at 1 Mimosa Avenue was later described by a neighbour in a newspaper report:"I went around the back of the house and saw a policeman's bloody hand grasping the door," she said."It was horrible … I'll never forget it."Mrs. Roberts said that when she reached Constable McDiarmid, he was slummed in the doorway."He was sitting in the doorway with his face shot away.""He was still conscious but couldn't talk," she said."He kept pointing inside the house."When she went in, she found Sergeant Riley lying dead in the lounge room.In the bedroom, she found the body of Warren Clarke, wrapped up in sheets."The house was a blood bath from front to back," she said."I rushed out and stopped a bread delivery woman who went to contact the ambulance. Then I ran to a neighbour's house to tell her what had happened."Mrs. Roberts said she and her neighbour, Mrs. Dawn Harris, went back to the house and tried to help the dying constable until an ambulance arrived.'Both officers were buried with full police honours, as related in another newspaper report:"Blacktown came to a standstill yesterday to pay tribute to Sergeant William Riley and Senior Constable McDiarmid who were shot dead last week.A hush fell over the town and thousands of people lines the streets to watch the almost mile-long funeral cortege pass by.Others crowded windows and rooftops of buildings and the railway bridge along the route.Simultaneously, police lined up outside every police station in the State and observed two minutes silence in honour of their dead comrades … a joint funeral.'Both men were posthumously promoted and awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry, Riley to Sergeant 1st Class. He left a widow and two children.Sold with a file of comprehensive research, including numerous police, eyewitness and newspape…

Medical StaffSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1878-9 (Civil Surgn. E. R. Mansell.), nearly extremely fine, with named card box of issue8 Medals with '1878-9' clasp issued to Civil Surgeons of the Army Medical Department.Edward Rosser Mansell was born on 28 January 1853, son of Edward Mansell of Lonsdale Lodge, Dulwich, an auctioneer and surveyor. Sent to Dulwich College, he went to Guys Hospital in 1870 and qualified L.S.A. in 1876 & MRCS in 1877.With the outbreak of the Zulu War, he served with various units including the Field Hospital forming part of Pearson’s No. 1 Column. Together with Surgeons Henry Norbury (see Lot 144) & Thompson, R.N., Mansell tended the wounded during the Siege of Eshowe.Returned home he practiced as a Hospital Surgeon in Hastings from 1881 and was made a Justice of the Peace in 1901. Married with issue of four children, Mansell died in May 1924 and is buried at Hastings Cemetery.…

The '1917' D.S.O., 'Neuve Chapelle 1915' M.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. G. Gilchrist, Royal Engineers, late attached 8th Signal Company, whose bravery under fire saw him honoured in 1915 as well as receiving a total of four 'mentions' throughout the warDistinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse engraved 'Lt. H. G. Gilchrist R.E. Neuve Chapelle March 10th-14th 1915'; 1914 Star, clasp (Lieut: H. G. Cilchrist, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Major H. G. Gilchrist.), with M.I.D. oak leaves, minor pitting, very fine (5)D.S.O. London Gazette 1 June 1917.M.C. London Gazette 27 April 1915, the original citation states:'For conspicuous gallantry in repairing telephone lines under heavy fire, from 10th to 14th March, 1915 at Neuve Chapelle.'Hector Gordon Gilchrist was born at Thornton Hall, East Kilbride, Lanark on 9 May 1889, the son of James and Janet Gilchrist. His father was an engineer with a shipbuilding company and the younger Gilchrist studied at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Later working as an engineer he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the Territorial Army and posted to the Scottish Cable Telegraph Company on 2 January 1912. Gilchrist was advanced Lieutenant with them prior to being mobilised for Great War service.On the outbreak of the war he was posted to 5th Division Signals on 5 September 1914 and entered the war in France the next day. Attached to the 8th Divisional Signal Company Gilchrist went into action with them at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in spring the next year. This was a plan to break through the German lines at the village of Neuve Chapelle to seize the Artios Ridge. The attack was successful however they were unable to follow up on the offensive, around this time Gilchrist earned a 'mention' to go with his M.C. (London Gazette 22 June 1915). Advanced Captain not long later he was serving in that role when he was 'mentioned' again the next year (London Gazette 1 January 1916). Further promoted Major on 15 March 1917 he was again 'mentioned' just two months later (London Gazette 18 May 1917) to go with a D.S.O. in July.Restored to the Territorial establishment on 18 July 1918 Gilchrist was recorded serving with Scottish Troops around this time. He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel a month after the end of the war on 12 December and again 'mentioned' for the last time then (London Gazette 23 December 1918). Appointed Chief Signal Officer of I Corps he returned to Britian on 29 January 1919 for leave only to be caught there with spanish flu.Whilst still unwell he returned to the Territorial Force on 28 June 1919 - from his hospital bed at No. 3 Scottish General Hospital, Glasgow - and returned to the rank of Lieutenant. Promoted Captain on 21 May 1920 Gilchrist was posted to 52nd Lowland Division on 12 January 1921. He was never to return to active service and instead entered the business world, joining Halley Motors Ltd. in 1921.Appointed Joint Managing Director in 1924 he became sole Director in 1926. Joining the executive committee of the north-west Engineering Trades Employers' Association in 1928 he was Director of Bowden (Holdings) Ltd. in 1939. Gilchrist later died on 27 April 1960; sold together with copied research.…

The Baronet's Badge worn by Sir F. H. Newnes, 2nd Baronet Newnes of Wildcroft, a leading turn of the century newspaperman and Liberal politician, son of the 'Founding Father of Popular Journalism' Sir George NewnesBaronet's neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse inscribed 'Newnes of Wildcroft 1895', hallmarked for London 1929, good very fine, in its fitted case of issue[C.B.E.] London Gazette 10 June 1954.Frank Hillyard Newnes was born in Manchester, the son of Sir George Newnes and his wife Priscilla. His father was a Liberal Politician and founder of the publisher George Newnes Ltd., his periodicals Tit-bits and The Strand Magazine are considered forerunners of Modern Popular journalism. The younger Newnes attended Clare College, Cambridge and graduated with an M.A. and L.L.B. in 1897.He joined his father's publisher that same year and worked there for many years, also following him into politics to become the Liberal M.P. for Bassetlaw, North Nottinghamshire in 1906. He managed to take the seat from the Conservatives however lost it again in the next election in January 1910. The same year his father died and Newnes inherited the baronetcy as well as the publishing business.Newnes married Emmeline de Rutzen, the daughter of Sir Albert de Rutzen, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Bow Street, in 1913. After the outbreak of the Great War the next year he decided to join up, being commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1915. He did not remain in that service however, transferring to the Army and being advanced Captain with the 12th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Notably he did not see any service entitling him to Campaign medals, as such this badge is his only named entitlement.After the war Newnes became Director of a number of companies in the publishing trade, as well as Chairman of Country Life Ltd. He was the Director of his father's publication, The Westminster Gazette, a Liberal newspaper which Prime Minister Gladstone allowed to be decorated with the Party's green colours, leading to it being dubbed 'Pea-Green Incorruptible'.Outside of the political and publishing worlds, Newnes was deeply involved in matters of public health. He joined the Voluntary Hospitals Committee for London and was a member of the management committees of the Royal Free Hospital and its Medical School. He also became Chairman of the Post-Graduate Institute of Dental Surgery and the Eastern Dental Hospital, the latter being the reason for his award of the C.B.E. Furthermore, he was President of the Printers Pension Corporation and Vice President of the Periodical Proprietors Association.Newnes later died in Western Australia on 10 July 1955; sold together with copied research including a biography of Sir George Newnes (the recipient's father).…

17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own)We refer to The Royal Lancers for their participation:In 1879 Sir Bartle Frere Governor of Transvaal was in dispute with Cetewayo, King of the Zulus. Even though the Boundary Commission had found in favour of the Zulus, Frere demanded compensation. Cetewayo refused to concede and Frere ordered an invasion under the command of Lord Chelmsford with a force of 5000 British and 8000 native troops against 40,000 Zulus. Initially the campaign went disastrously with one of Chelmsford’s three columns being routed at Isandlwhana. Immediate reinforcements were called for from Britain and thus the 17th embarked for active service. The Regiment landed in time for the new British offensive starting in July 1879. The objective was Cetewayo’s royal kraal at Ulundi, which the force reached on 4th July 1879. Initially the British infantry squares (containing the 17th) had to withstand a concerted effort by the attacking Zulus. As the ferocity of their attacks slackened, the regiment were ordered to form line and charge. This they did breaking the Zulu infantry and pursuing the enemy for two miles. The effect was so devastating that the Zulu Army never again took to the field.625 Medals issued to the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own), 594 with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (2053. Pte. T. Rhind. 17th D.C.O. Lrs.), very fine…

The 'Indian Defence Force 1919' C.I.E. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. N. Moberly, Bombay Volunteer Rifles, later 15th Bombay Battalion, Indian Defence Force and Chief A.R.P. Warden, A.R.P. FelixstoweThe Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Companion's (C.I.E. ) neck Badge, gold and enamel; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Col. C. N. Moberly.); Defence 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911; Indian Volunteer Forces Officers' Decoration, G.V.R. (Maj. C. N. Moberly 15th Bombay Bn I.D.F.); Jubilee 1935, the third and sixth loose, otherwise mounted as worn, good very fine (6)C.I.E. London Gazette 12 September 1919.Charles Noel Moberly was born at Clapham, London on 24 December 1880, the son of George and Sarah Moberly. Attending Rugby School between 1894-1898 he matriculated to study at Yorkshire College, Leeds between 1900-1902. During this time he specialised in electrical engineering, being listed as working with the British Electrical Engineering Company in 1898 and again later 1900-1903.Becoming an Associate Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in February 1903 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment on 2 April 1904. Advanced Lieutenant very soon afterwards on 18 August 1904, Moberly joined the Bombay Electrical Supply Company as an Assistant Engineer while living at 81 Hornby Road, Bombay in 1906.Transferring to 5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment on 1 April 1908 he married Kate Fottrell in Bombay on 8 August 1908. Moberly resigned his commission on 1 October 1908 and joined the Bombay Volunteer Rifles as a Captain the same day. In this role he attended the Delhi Durbar as Honorary Major in 1911, being confirmed upon the role as receiving his medal from the allotment of the Adjutant General.Serving with the 1st Bombay Battalion, Indian Defence Force during the Great War the medal roll notes that Moberly was involved with 'Army Instruction (India)', he was advanced Major on 1 April 1917 whilst undertaking that task. Further promoted Lieutenant Colonel on 8 April 1919, the date was initially misprinted in the London Gazette as 8 April 1920 but later corrected. He was finally posted to the 15th Battalion, Bombay Battalion on 30 September 1920.Leaving India Moberly settled in Felixstowe in 1939 where he appears on the census listed as Chief A.R.P. Warden, Felixstowe. His son George Edward Moberly was an R.A.F. pilot during the Battle of Britain with three kills, two during the Battle, but was shot down and killed over the channel on 26 August 1940. Moberly himself died on 1 January 1969 and Teddars Lees House, Etchinghill, Kent.…

A rare ‘Edward VIII’ inter-War M.V.O., post War Order of St. John group of six awarded to Quartermaster and Captain W. R. Lines, 5th Lancers, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, who was 'mentioned' during the Great War, and was one of only 10 people awarded the M.V.O. 5th Class by King Edward VIIIThe Royal Victorian Order, Member's (M.V.O.) breast Badge, silver and enamel, the reverse officially numbered '488'; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast Badge, skeletal issue, silver; 1945-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. W. R. Lines. 5.Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Capt. W. R. Lines.), with M.I.D. oak leaves; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3871 Sjt: W. Lines. 5/Lrs.), mounted court-style as worn, light pitting, overall good very fine (6)One of only 10 M.V.O. 5th Class awards made during the reign of Edward VIII, of which 5 were for the Funeral of King George V.M.V.O. London Gazette 23 June 1936:'Walter Reuben Lines, Honorary Secretary, Windsor Branch, British Legion.'Serving Brother of the Order of St. John London Gazette 28 May 1948.Walter Reuben Lines was born at Canterbury, Kent on 29 April 1872, the son of William and Mary Lines of St. Mary's, Northgate, Canterbury. Attesting with the 5th Lancers in 1890 he served with them for 23 years and 330 days before being commissioned Quartermaster & Lieutenant on 25 August 1914.Lines entered the war in France on 12 July 1915, joining his Regiment which was already there as part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd (Cavalry) Division. They had seen heavy action prior to his arrival however after he joined them they were not part of any major engagements for some time. Receiving his 'mention' in early 1917 (London Gazette 4 January 1917) it was not until the First Battle of the Scarpe in April 1917 that the Regiment engaged again.Not long after this action Lines was promoted Honorary Captain, attached 1st Royal Dragoons, on 25 August 1917 and subsequently served as an Assistant Inspector with the Quartermaster General's Service. Placed on half-pay on account of ill health on 3 October 1923 he retired and settled at Windsor, living at 121 Clarence Road, Windsor.Appointed a Member 5th Class of the Royal Victorian Order for his services as Honorary Secretary of the Windsor Branch, British Legion, in June 1936, Lines one of the very few number of appointments to the Royal Victorian Order made by Edward VIII. He was later appointed a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John. Lines was still living at Clarence Road when he died in Upton Hospital on 26 January 1960; sold together with copied research.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax.  

Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), E.VII.R. (Voltr. E. J. Vint South Andaman Voltr. Rifles), officially engraved naming, official corrections, very fineOnly 15 Medals of any type ever issued to this small unit.Edmund James Vint was born at Madras on 14 May 1869, the son of Charles and Harriett Vint. Baptised by the Garrison Chaplain at St Mary's, Madras in October 1869, he moved to the Andaman Islands circa 1886. By 1895 he was an Assistant Accountant in the Treasury Office, Andaman Islands and was Head Accountant by 1905. Vint took his Medal as per Indian Army Order 166 of 1906 - the ony such award that year. He died by self-administered poison whilst 'temporarily insane' in January 1910 and is buried in Port Blair.…

'I wish very much that some measures could be adopted to get recruits for the regiment, it is the best Regiment in this Army, has an admirable internal system and excellent Non-Commissioned Officers.Sir Arthur Wellesley, 12 September 1809, commenting on the 29th Foot after the Battle of TalaveraThe M.G.S. awarded to Sergeant J. Bromley, 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot - one of 'those excellent N.C.O.s'Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco (J. Bromley, Serjeant, 29th Foot), edge bruising, nearly very fineThe 29th Foot was one of the first British units to deploy during the Peninsular War in July 1808. It fought at Roleia & Vimeiro (1808), Talavera (1809), Busaco (1810) and Albuhera (1811), capturing two French Colours at Talavera.RoliçaColonel Lake of the 29th Foot (Centre Division, Nightingale's Brigade) made the mistake of dashing up a gully toward the French position. He arrived behind Delaborde, which cost Lake his life and most of the men in the 29th. This prompted a general attack in relief by the outnumbering British. The fight was rough and uphill with Delaborde hoping for support to arrive from Loison. He repulsed three assaults by the British until nearly 1600hrs At this time Wellesley ordered a general advance to support the 29th & 9th Foot. They swarmed up the rock face using their superior numbers to reach the French positions at the top of the hill and Ferguson arrived over the hills to the east.VimeiroBrenier's brigade, marching to the sound of battle, came on four battalions abreast. At first they enjoyed success when they surprised and drove back two British Battalions. These units had let down their guard after overpowering Solignac. Victorious, the French pressed on in column, but soon ran into the 29th Foot in line and were stopped. The 29th was joined by the other two units, who had quickly rallied. Together, the volley fire of the three British battalions soon routed Brenier's men. Though Wellesley urged him to pursue, Burrard declined to interfere with the subsequent French retreat. General Brenier was wounded in this attack and captured by the 71st Highlanders.TalaveraAfter the Battle of Grijó in May, it was engaged at Talavera in July; on 27th, with two other Battalions, it attacked French positions on the hill called Cerro de Medellin. This was taken by the evening and then held throughout the next day, despite a series of French attacks and artillery bombardment; two French colours were captured in a bayonet charge that drove the French regiments from the field. Their performance led Wellesley to offer the aforementioned quote. …

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s, Chapel Stall Plate, gilded brass with engraved and painted image of a C.B. Badge, inscribed 'George Marlay Esquire, Major in the Army and Captain in the 14th (or the Buckinghamshire) Regiment of Foot, Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Nominated 4th June 1815.', 190mm x 114mm, corners pierced for attachment and screwed into frame, presented in a gold display frame with short biography and three short lengths of riband, minor chip to paint, otherwise very fineGeorge Marlay was born in 1791, the son of Major George Marlay of York House in Twickenham and his wife Lady Catherine Butler, daughter of the 2nd Earl of Lanesborough. Major Marlay served for many years with the 62nd Regiment of Foot, including during the American War of Independence where he was captured at the Battle of Sarasota. George Marlay Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and was made Captain on 19 October 1803 at the tender age of twelve - his commission likely being purchased by his father. Just two years later he was made Captain of the 2nd Garrison Battalion on 25 February 1805, but did not become a Captain in the 14th Foot until 14 June 1810 when he was of age.In 1809 young Marlay had been appointed Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Paget, and was promoted as Lieutenant-General Paget's Deputy Assistant Adjutant General in 1812 and Assistant Adjutant General in 1813. That same year he was also advanced Major, appearing in the London Gazette on 3 July.Marlay served with his Regiment at the Battle of Waterloo as a Captain of the 3rd Battalion, which was part of the 4th Division under Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Colville. The 3rd Battalion itself was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Tidy and was notably comprised mostly of young, inexperienced soldiers. Their conduct on the field of Waterloo is noted in Richard Cannon's Historical Records of the British Army - 14th Regiment of Foot:'The battalion was composed of young soldiers, who had never before been under fire, but their bearing reflected honour on the corps to which they belonged. During the heat of the conflict, when the thunder of cannon and musketry, the occasional explosion of caissons, the hissing of balls, shells, and grape shot, the clash of arms, the impetuous noise and shouts of the soldiery, produced a scene of carnage and confusion impossible to describe, a staff officer rode up to Lieutenant-Colonel Tidy, and directed him to form square; this was scarcely completed when the glittering arms of a regiment of cuirassiers were seen issuing from the smoke. The French horsemen paused for a moment at the sight of the scarlet uniforms of the Fourteenth, and then turned to the right to attack a regiment of Brunswickers; but a volley from the Brunswick square repulsed the enemy, and Lieutenant-Colonel Tidy, with the view of giving confidence to the young soldiers of the Fourteenth, drew their attention to the facility with which infantry could repulse cavalry. The French cuirassiers rallied, and appeared inclined to charge the Fourteenth, but were intimidated by the steady and determined bearing of the battalion.'Lieutenant-General Colville himself observed 'the very young third battalion of the Fourteenth, in this its first trial, displayed a steadiness and gallantry becoming of veteran troops.'Marlay was nominated as a Companion of the Order of the Bath just days ahead of the famous battle. He was later placed on half pay the following year on 25 March 1816, the same year during which the 3rd Battalion was disbanded, and later received his final promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel on 21 June 1817. At some stage of his service, Marlay spent a length of time in India where his heath declined and contributed to his premature demise.Marlay married Catherine Louisa Tisdall at All Souls' Church in Marylebone, London on 7 April 1828. The couple had three children from 1830-1, though their eldest son James was to tragically drown aged just fourteen. Their daughter Catherine later married the 7th Duke of Rutland, and their son Charles Brinsley donated a valuable collection of artworks to Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum, dubbed 'The Marlay Collection'.Marlay was just thirty-nine years old when he died at London on 8 June 1830 due to 'a diseased state of the lungs' and 'liver contracted in India'. He was interred alongside his mother, father, and eventually his son at St Mary's Church in Twickenham - now the public park Holly Road Garden of Rest. For unknown reasons George and his son were re-interred together in Highgate Cemetery in 1852, where they were later joined by his wife.Marlay is entitled to a Waterloo Medal and an Army Gold Cross for Nivelle, Nive, Toulouse and Orthes; sold together with copied research.…

The outstanding campaign group of seven awarded to Corporal C. J. O'Dell, Special Air Service & Parachute RegimentO'Dell served with the famed 11th Battalion at the Battle of Arnhem and was taken a Prisoner of War on 23 September 1944, when sharing in the fruitless task of relieving Frost's 2nd Battalion at Arnhem Bridge - he didn't go quietly, made good his escape but was re-captured by SS Troops in Holland with a hole in his leg; the gallant O'Dell subsequently saw further campaign service with the S.A.S.1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 3 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya, Cyprus (866848 Pte. C. J. O'Dell. A.A.C.), neat rods between clasps, mounted as worn, good very fine (7)Charles John O'Dell was born on 2 July 1918 and was a joiner by trade upon his joining the East Surrey Regiment on 1 September 1938. He joined the Parachute Regiment and served with the 11th Battalion during the Battle of Arnhem. On 18 September 1944, the Battalion jumped under fire, onto DZ ‘Y’ at Ginkel Heath, in Holland, with the second lift at Arnhem during Operation Market-Garden. The 11th Battalion was fought to a stand-still suffering heavy casualties just over 1,000 metres short of relieving Frost’s 2nd Battalion at the Arnhem bridge, before falling back to the 1st Airborne Division perimeter at Oosterbeek.The remnants of the 11th Parachute Battalion, along with those from the 1st and 3rd Parachute Battalion’s, and the 2nd Bn, The South Staffordshire Regiment, would be put under command of the 11th Battalion’s Second-in-Command, Major. Richard Thomas Henry Lonsdale, and become known as ‘Lonsdale Force’. They would hold their positions from the 20-25 September.O'Dell himself was taken a Prisoner of War on 23 September 1944 and taken into captivity. He did his very best to make it back to allied lines:'Escapes attempted: YESFrom Holland but was retaken again, it was before I was registered. I was retaken in Holland. No I was not physically fit, I had a small hole in leg, was retaken by SS Troops.'He spent time at Fallingbostoll and then at Salzitter Arb. Kdo. 7005 building camp from November 1944-April 1945. Returned home, he saw further active campaign service in post-War Palestine with the 17th Parachute Battalion, Army Air Corps. He subqeuently transferred to the Special Air Service, with whom he appears to have served in Malaya & Cyprus. In the near future, when previously closed sources are opened to the public, may reveal that he was one of the original members of Brigadier ‘Mad’ Mike Calvert’s newly formed Malayan Scouts in 1950. O'Dell returned to Arnhem for the 50th Anniversary in 1994 and died at Colchester in July 2013; sold together with his Parachute Regiment beret.Please see Lot 456 for his miniature dress medals.…

Pair: Major A. C. Anderson, Royal Army Pay Corps, late 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Lt. A. C. Anderson 13/18 H.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (Major A. C. Anderson RAPC.), mounted court-style as worn, good very fine and an unusual combination (2)Angus Campbell Anderson was born on 31 August 1930 and served in the ranks for some 212 days, before being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the Royal Armoured Corps on 21 January 1954 having had joined the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) in October 1953. He served with this unit on active service in Malaya and then as Adjutant from 1959-63, having been made Captain - and counted on the books of the Pay Corps- in October 1959, also having had a spell at the Portuguese Cavalry School in September 1959. Advanced Major in December 1966, Anderson was Staff Paymaster 2 HQ Scotland in April 1972 and was also involved in assisting the Norwegian Contingent at the Edinburgh Tattoo that same year.Having seen further active service in Northern Ireland, the good Major died on 20 November 2011 in Woking, his final unit being listed as The Light Dragoons; sold together with engraved plaques from the Portuguese Cavalry School, 1956, HPCCD RE Officers Mess, February 1976 & HQ RCT Sgts Mess, May 1985, besides inscribed Norwegian book for the 1972 Tattoo and copied research.…

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (J. Tate, 89th Foot.), short-hyphen reverse, good very finePurchased October, 1982.James Tate was born in County Down, Ireland in 1807 and was a shoemaker upon his joining the 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot at Newry on 3 March 1825. He would go on to see in excess of two decades of service in the East Indies.First sharing in the actions of the First Burmese War (Medal & clasp), Tate volunteered for the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot in September 1830. His service record includes various periods of imprisonment during his career and plenty of times up before Regimental Court Martial. He joined the 6th (Royal Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot in November 1935 and finally the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot in April 1842. With them he was present at the Battle of Maharajpoor in December 1843 (Bronze Star) and was discharged in April 1846, clearly surviving long enough to claim this Medal.…

United Arab Emirates, Ras Al Khaima, Order of the Tower of Qasimi Medal; a good section of sash riband, 102mm wide; and plaster cast models (2), 167mm, all by Spink & Son, very fine (4)The Medal of the Order of the Tower of Qasimi is awarded to civilians, Officers, and personnel of the Army and police belonging to the rank of Captain and below.The plaster casts depict the approved design and a not-approved design for the obverse face of the Medal.…

Sold by Order of a Direct DescendantAn outstanding 1873 K.C.B. group of three awarded to Admiral Sir H. Smith, Royal Navy - who was rewarded with a C.B. for his capture of Aden in 1839, the first colonial acquisition under the reign of Queen VictoriaSmith latterly played a prominent and central role during the First Opium War in the Volage and Druid; he took the honour of firing the first shots of the conflict and was to the fore in every major engagementThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Knight Commander's (K.C.B.) set of Insignia, by R. & S. Garrard, London, comprising neck Badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks rather rubbed, with full neck riband and gold clasp; breast Star, gold centre, silver and enamel, gold retaining pin, reverse cartouche with maker's details, in slightly damaged case of issue; China 1842 (Henry Smith, Captain. H.M.S. Druid.), suspension replaced with dual loop, swivel and straight silver bar; Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued, good very fine (3)K.C.B. London Gazette 24 May 1873.[C.B.] London Gazette 13 August 1840.Henry Smith was born circa 1803 and joined the Royal Navy at the tender age of eleven in 1814, being made a Lieutenant in July 1821. He joined the Genoa on the Lisbon Station in April 1823 and then as First Lieutenant to Captain Courtenay in the Fairy, who went out to the West Indies in May 1827. The following year, Smith took command of the brig Ferret, before advancing as Acting-Captain of the Magnificent in September 1829. It was in 1831 that he was officially promoted.Aden - C.B.Removed to Volage in November 1837, it was in this vessel that he first wrote his name into history. In January 1838, the Sultanate of Lahej agreed to transfer a number of its possessions, including the town of Aden to Britain but later decided against this and opened fire on the sloop-of-war H.C.S. Coote. Smith was given command of an expedition, comprising Volage, the brig Cruizer, Coote, the schooner H.C.S. Mahé and three transports to secure Aden. Smith and his small expedition arrived at Aden on 16 January 1839 and in the morning of 18 January Volage, Cruizer, and Mahé sailed to the front of the town from where they were fired upon.At 0930hrs, the rest of the expedition arrived and the warships sailed in close to Aden's batteries to bombard them. By 1100hrs the gunnery of the ships had demolished Aden's lower batteries and destroyed a large tower, while landing parties ordered by Smith had cleared out the remaining enemy musket men in the rubble. At this point Smith ordered the main two landings of troops to take place, which were completed successfully with two naval casualties and sixteen from the army, with the defending garrison of 1,000 men suffering around fifty casualties. (The Royal Navy, a History from the Earliest Times to the Present William Clowes, refers).So it was that Smith had captured the first Colonial acquisition for Great Britain and her new sovereign, Queen Victoria. He was rewarded with an immediate C.B. and the thanks of the George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, the Governor General of India.Opium War - further firstsThe cataloguer turns to Clowes again for further details of these important events:'Provocation and outrage continued; and when, on August 30th, Volage, 22, Captain Henry Smith, reached Macao, and at once proceeded to Hong Kong, her arrival was extremely welcome. On September 4th, the refusal of the Chinese at Kowloon to permit the transit of provisions across the harbour obliged Captain Smith, in concert with Mr. James Douglas (afterwards Sir James Douglas), of the Cambridge (the Cambridge was purchased by the Chinese government after regular hostilities began), formerly of the H.E.I. Co.'s marine, to employ his boats to drive off a squadron of war-junks, and so to open a passage for the supplies. Further outrageous action induced Elliot to call upon Smith to proclaim a blockade of the port of Canton as from September 11th.Negotiations were subsequently entered into; but Elliot displayed such unwise weakness that the Chinese were only encouraged to persist in their implacable attitude. At length, the Hyacinth, 18, Commander William Warren, having joined the Volage, Elliot stiffened himself so far as to inform the Chinese, on October 28th, that if the British shipping lying below the Bogue were subjected to more of certain annoyances which had become intolerable, retaliatory measures would be adopted. The Chinese admiral, Kwan, returned first a temporising and then an insulting answer, and on November 3rd got under way with twenty-nine junks, evidently intending to attack. Smith made a further fruitless attempt to negotiate, and then, with the Volage and Hyacinth, opened fire, and in a short time won a success which would have been much more complete than it was, but for the interference of Elliot, who, when three junks had been sunk and as many more driven ashore, procured a cessation of the firing, alleging his desire to spare the lives of the Chinese. Kwan, on returning to Canton, was thus able to boast that he had been victorious; and he was rewarded accordingly.'It had been on 4 September 1839 at around 1400hrs that Smith fired the first shots, sending several in anger in the direction of some war junks in the Chinese squadron.On 30 June 1840 Smith was given command of another frigate, Druid (to which his Medal is named), in which he continued to blockade, taking eight merchant ships as prize by 10 July as Senior Naval Officer on the south of the Chinese coast. On 6 August, the missionary Vincent John Stanton was captured by the Chinese while swimming in Casilha Bay near Macao. Smith took a small avenge this, these being Druid, the sloops Larne and Hyacinth, and two smaller vessels. On 19 August Smith with 120 Royal Marines, 80 seamen, and 180 local volunteers, successfully fought the Battle of the Barrier in which he attacked the Chinese works and barracks at Portas do Cerco, including destroying seventeen guns and two junks; casualties were light, with four of the British wounded. By 1900hrs, the entire force had re-embarked on the ships and left the area ablaze, with so many cannonballs having been fired by the ships that they picked up their used shot to recycle it before leaving. It was said of Smith's actions at the battle that 'seldom has a more signal service been rendered in so short a space of time'. Druid continued after this to protect British trade and hunt down pirates, at one point having several men of a boarding party killed when the junk they were investigating blew up.Smith was again to the fore at the Second Battle of Chuenpi on 8 January 1841. With joint attacks going in on the forts at Tycocktow and Chuenpi, guarding the entrance to Canton. Smith was to attack the former and having anchored some 200 yards off, they set to their work. The firing quickly created a breach in the fort which was attacked by boats manned by the crews of the ships and quickly taken. Twenty-five cannons were destroyed and the casualties of the Chinese were suggested to be 'very severe'. Smith was praised by Commodore Bremer for his conduct during the action. The opening to Canton was now complete.During the Battle of the Bogue, on 25 February Smith took Druid in with a portion of Bremer's force to attack the Chinese batteries on the south, south-wes…

A Campaign decanter box, used by Ensign James Gammell during the Peninsular WarA square 'campaign-style' mahogany decanter box, with decorative brass inlay and escutcheon, brass handles to sides and a brass plate affixed to the top lid bearing the engraved inscription 'This case went through the Peninsular campaigns of 1813-1814 with its owner, Ensign James Gammell 59th Regiment, who retired from the Army (as Captain of 92nd Regiment) in 1825. He died on 25th September 1893 in his 97th year, having been the last surviving Officer of the Peninsular War.', the interior with a red leather, green baize and mahogany lining and housing four glass decanters, complete with their stoppers and each bearing a silver-plated label, 'Gin'; 'Rum'; 'Whiskey'; and 'Brandy' respectively, these likely not contemporary to the case, 215mm x 220mm, brass inscription polished, key lacking, otherwise in good sound conditionFor the recipient's medals and biography, please see Lot 104.Please note that due to the weight and contents of this Lot, postage is not available. Collection at the various Medal Fairs around the United Kingdom can be arranged.…

An Escaper's campaign group of four awarded to Sergeant W. H. Price, 1st Battalion, Border Regiment, later Military Provost Staff Corps, who was wounded and went 'in the bag' at Tournai in May 1940 only to escape from Stalag VIII-BGeneral Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3653478. Pte. W. H. Price. Bord. R.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., Regular Army, E.II.R. (3653478 Sgt. W. H. Price. M.P.S.C.), mounted as worn, the retaining pin missing, light pitting and contact wear, very fine (4)William Herbert Price was born on 15 June 1919, the son of Isaac Price and a native of St. Luke's Avenue, Lowton, Golborne. Enlisting with the Border Regiment on 3 October 1936 he was stationed with the 1st Battalion when they in Palestine prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, returning to Britain in April 1939.Posted to France in December 1939 they were stationed on the frontline during the Phoney War and were at the front of the British advance into Belgium prior to the Ardennes Offensive in May 1940. As such they were still in Belgium when they engaged the German advance at Tournai on 20 May. They held out for that day and into 21 May however lost some ground on the second day, which is the day that Price is listed as slightly wounded and taken prisoner of war. His service papers note details of his interrogation after his capture in response to the question was, he interrogated he states:'Yes. In a wood S Tournai, May 1940 […] soup with promise of good meal & cigarettes.'It seems that Price was the subject of a gentle interrogation then despite this he was unfortunate to be taken when he was. The next day reinforcements in the shape of 1/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers retook the lost ground whilst the Borderers were pulled back and eventually evacuated.Price was taken initially to Marienburg and later Thorn like most British prisoners from France he was transferred to Stalag 11-B in April 1941 and from there to Stalag VIII-B at Lamsdorf. Whilst there he worked in a saw mill it was from here that he attempted his escape, noting that he and two comrades -Corporal W. B. Wren and Private Kennel- slipped out at night from the shoemakers in the camp.Unfortunately, there were retaken '…by German police man assisted by German Pole', apparently at the time Price was unfit, suggesting that they had struggled with life on the run. He also noted attempted sabotage during the attempt, they tried to damage some railway signalling equipment however this seems to have been unsuccessful.A newspaper article of the time notes that his father believed him dead in France and had held a memorial service for him. Fortunately before a planned memorial could be erected the British Red Cross informed him that his son may be alive. Price remained in the Military after the war, going on to join the Military Provost Staff Corps, responsible for staffing British Military Prisons; sold together with copied research.…

The 'Spanish Flu 1919' O.B.E., 'Egypt' M.C. group of five awarded to Major W. F. T. Haultain, Royal Army Medical Corps, attached 29th Lancers, a graduate of Cambridge University's Officers' Training Corps, who was further 'mentioned' by General Allenby for his serviceHe went on to serve as the Zone Medical Officer with the Edinburgh Home GuardThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st Type, Officer's (O.B.E.) Badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. W. F. T. Haultain.), with M.I.D. oak leaves; Defence Medal 1939-45, minor contact wear, overall very fine (5)O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919:'… for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt.'M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919:'… for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt.'M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919.William Francis Theodore Haultain was born at Edinburgh on 14 January 1893, the son of Francis W. N. Haultain, a well-known obstetrician and gynaecologist. The younger Haultain studied at Edinburgh Academy before joining Caius College, Cambridge and graduated with a B.A. in 1914.He joined the Red Cross as a Dresser in August 1914 and worked with the 2nd Scottish General Hospital until April 1915 when he returned to Edinburgh to study as a Surgeon. He graduated M.B., B. Chir. in 1916, qualifying as a Surgeon. Commissioned Lieutenant from the Cambridge University Officer Training Corps on 5 August 1916 he entered the war in France on 25 August 1916.Haultain was attached to 29th Lancers as Medical Officer, at the time the unit was serving in the trenches as Infantry. They were transferred back into their more traditional role in Palestine in February 1918 where they were in action at the Battle of Magiddo. After the war he was posted to the 31st C.C.H. with the acting rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. His service papers note that he was granted specialist pay whilst a 'Surgical Specialist at 31 C.C.H.'His obituary in the International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology states:'He was awarded the M.C. later the Battle of Cambrai in 1918 and a Mention in Lord Allenby's despatches and the O.B.E. followed the excellent work he did in 1919 during the malaria-influenza epidemic in Palestine.'Going on to work at Aberdeen University he was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1922, joining 2nd Highland Field Ambulance as Major during the 1921 strike. Haultain was further noted as serving as Major with the City of Edinburgh Battalion, Home Guard as Zone Medical Officer.In his professional career he was the author of Ante Natal Care and Handbook of Midwifery and Gynaecology and was a lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology to the School of Medicine of the Edinburgh Royal Colleges. After this he became a founder member of the College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a Fellow of that College as well as the College of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1945. Haultain retired in 1958, his obituary in the International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology reads:'In everything Haultain did there was an expression of his genuine love for and interest in his fellow men. His delight was to help, be the need great or small and the needy young or old, rich or poor. His thoughtfulness, his understanding and his unobtrusive personal contribution to the smoothing and brightening of many a path for student, colleague and friend were characteristic of his kindliness and generosity. Many will miss but remember with gratitude, this kind man.'…

The rare 'H.M.Y. Helga, Irish Sea 1918' D.S.M. group of six awarded to Leading Deck Hand E. E. Duff, Royal Navy and Merchant Fleet Auxiliary, who was in charge of Helga's gun when she was credited with sinking a German submarineDespite her Irish heritage, Helga was commandeered by the Admiralty in March 1915 and later used by the Royal Navy to shell Liberty Hall in Dublin from the River Liffey with her pair of 12-pounder naval guns during the Easter Rising of 1916Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (Ldg. Dk. Hd. E. E. Duff, (A.P.) H.M.Y. Helga. Irish Sea 4. Apl 1918); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (210674. E.E. Duff, Lg. Sea. H.M.S. Highflyer.); 1914-15 Star (E.E. Duff, A.B. M.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (E.E. Duff. D.H. M.F.A.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (Ernest. E. Duff), good very fine (6)D.S.M. London Gazette 29 November 1918, the original citation states:'HMY Helga attack on enemy Irish Sea 4 April 1918. In charge of gun when HMY Helga sank an enemy submarine.'Ernest Edwin Duff was born at Deal, Kent on 12 April 1885. A telegraph boy, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 12 April 1903. A succession of shore and sea-based appointments followed and on 21 February 1911 he was drafted to Highflyer, serving aboard her until 29 May 1913. Later that same year he was invalided from the service with myopia on 9 October.Duff married Kathleen Power in Dublin in September 1916 and despite his disability enrolled in the Merchant Fleet Auxiliary, joining H.M.Y. Helga for service during the Great War.1916 Easter UprisingChris Shouldice takes up the story in his online article 'The Captain's Table':'HMY Helga is infamously known for its role in shelling Dublin during the 1916 Rising but before she was pressed into war service, she had a far more benign profession as a protection cruiser and research vessel for the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. Built in the Liffey Dockyard in Dublin in 1908 and originally named the Helga II, her purpose was to engage in fishery patrols, monitoring the coast for any illegal fishing activity. She was also equipped with a laboratory for marine research and took part in research projects like the survey of Clare Island in 1909.As the British found themselves in an unexpectedly lengthening war in Europe, she was taken over by the Admiralty in 1915 for military purposes as an armed auxiliary patrol yacht. She was renamed the HMY Helga and served as an anti-submarine patrol vessel and an armed escort.It was however in Ireland during the 1916 Rising that the Helga's most notable acts occurred. The Helga was summoned by British forces to the capital to use artillery to root out Irish Volunteers. On the 26th of April 1916, positioned on the Liffey, she raised her 12-pound artillery guns over the Loop Line railway bridge and fired at her first target Liberty Hall, the headquarters of the Citizen Army. Her shots were less than accurate, and her shells destroyed much of the surrounding buildings and beyond. She also targeted the GPO and Bolland Mills which Eamon De Valera had occupied.1918 rescuing survivors from R.M.S. Leinster.In 1918, she successful sank a German U-Boat Submarine off the coast of the Isle of Man. This was the Helga's first and sole confirmed sinking during the war. However, the presence of U-boats continued to be a real threat to the merchant and passenger vessels in the Irish Sea.In 1917, the Germans began placing their U-boats in the Approaches, the name given to the region near the entrance and exit to the Irish Sea. This was an attempt to stifle the British attempts at Trans-Atlantic trade. The RMS Leinster was typical of their targets, a passenger ship which, along with three other sister ships, made daily crossings from Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) to Holyhead. Known for its exceptional speed, the RMS Leinster held a place of pride in Irish eyes, as it was seen to be their representative in the commercial competition over the Irish Sea. The Leinster along with its sister ships, had won the tender for the Royal Mail delivery from Ireland to the British mainland. While it provided valuable employment to the people of Kingstown and Holyhead in Wales, the requirements of this contract were strict. There was a stipulation that the post collected in Dublin had to be delivered to the mainland the following day. This meant that the RMS Leinster ran daily, and on-time no matter the circumstances.On the morning of the 9th of October (1918), the RMS Leinster set out from Dun Laoghaire, filled to capacity, for what was to be its final voyage. Despite the U-boat warnings, that morning was no different, the war had been in action for four years, and the crossings were routinely unprotected. Furthermore, the level of censorship which the British government exercised over the press meant that many civilians were largely unaware of the danger that awaited them. Lurking under the waters off Kish Island was U-boat 123, which had already sunk two boats since it left Germany days earlier. At 09:45, the first torpedo was fired, shooting past the brow of the Leinster. The second was a direct hit, and a third torpedo sunk the entire vessel.Coaling, or refuelling, that same morning in Dublin was HMY Helga, the same ship which had been shelling the city two and a half years earlier. That day however, the Helga succeeded in being first on the scene of the Leinster sinking, and managed reach it just in time to rescue approximately 90 passengers, though there is some confusion as to the exact number. These passengers were not returned to Kingstown but disembarked in Wales. Due the controls on wartime press, the British government were keen to keep any such disasters out of the public eye'.Duff died on 11 November 1935 at Dover, at the time he was employed on the Trinity House Pilot Cutter, S.S. Prudence. (The Dover Express of 22 November 1935 refers).Sold together with his silver wound badge, this numbered B158828, a copy photo of Helga, a postcard of Highflyer, copy of Helga's ships log from the National Maritime Museum for 4-5 April 1918 and a copy of Irish Naval service.…

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Capt: J. R. Galley, 2nd. Bn. Nat: N. Contt.), good very fineThomas H. Galley was born at Port Elizabeth in 1858. He served as a Captain in the 2nd Battalion, Natal Native Contingent before emigrating to the United States, taking work as a sugar boiler.Galley enlisted into the United States Army in January 1882 and served as a Corporal in Captain Thomas Robinson's 'H' Company of the 19th Regiment of Infantry. He died of pneumonia at Fort Ringgold, Texas on 7 February 1884 and was buried in grave 77, Plot 12. This Medal was noted in his effects.…

Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Trooper J. W. Orr. C. Lt. Horse), officially engraved naming, good very fineProvenance:Baldwins, April 2003.John Williams Orr was born on 21 January 1867 at Calcutta, son of John and Lucy Orr. His father was a solicitor and young Orr followed his father into that profession, coming back to England to sit his examinations in 1884. He then returned to Calcutta to join his father's firm Orr, Johnson & Robertson of Old Post Office Street.It was in 1895 that he joined the Calcutta Light Horse, one of the most fêted Indian Volunteer units. He was an active member and in August 1897 came second in their tent pegging competition, second in the April 1898 quarterly Wapenshaw Shooting competition and won the 1901-02 tent pegging challenge bowl, at that time recorded as a Troop Sergeant-Major. Orr married Ada Howlett at Godalming and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in November 1906, being admitted in January 1907. Joining the Bengal Civil Service in January 1908, Orr is noted as a Trooper on the Calcutta Light Horse roll of August 1914 and was awarded his Medal as per Indian Army Order 625 of November 1914. Deputy Superintendent & Remembrancer of Legal Affairs at the Bengal High Court in 1915, he retired to Braunton, Barnstaple, Devon and died in January 1947.…

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877 (1982. Gunr. J. Carter. 7th Bde. R.A.), lacquered, very fineServed with No. 10 Battery (Gatling Field Battery), 7th Brigade. This was the first ever Mounted Gatling Field Battery in the British Army and first went into action at the Battle of Ulundi. On that day they were used in front of the square and combined with the infantry fire, threw off the enemy.…

91st (Princess Louise's Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of FootThe unit was stationed at Aldershot when the sudden order to proceed to Natal arrived on 13 February 1879 and having added some 400 volunteers from various units, embarked the Praetoria at Southampton a week later. Landing at Port Natal on 17 March they marched for the Tugela and made camp in Zulu territory on the left bank of the river on 20 March. Providing the advanced guard of the Etshowe Relief Column, at Ginginhilovo they famously held the rear face of the laager and faced down the enemy attacks which came in waves. Later that month they lifted the Siege of Eshowe. Whilst on campaign, half of the time it found itself without any tentage whatsoever and the remainder with only a fraction of that required for its men. They sailed from Durban.998 Medals issued to the unit, 923 of these with clasp '1879'.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (2051. Pte. J. Wells. 91st Foot.), very fineJohn Wells was born at Grassthorp, Nottingham in 1855 and was an iron puddler by trade upon his enlistment in the 58th Brigade of Infantry at Swansea in September 1876. Posted to the 91st Foot on 16 February 1879, he sailed for South Africa days later and shared in the Zulu campaign with them. He served again in South Africa from November 1880-September 1881 and then on St Helena from September 1881-August 1882. He was discharged at Stirling and joined the Army Reserve, in which he served until 1892.…

The outstanding Second World War C.B., 'Southern Desert, Iraq' O.B.E., Great War Fighter "Aces" D.F.C. mounted group of fourteen miniature dress medals worn by Dolphin Pilot Air Commodore F. Woolley, Royal Air ForceCredited with 4 victories, but possibly as many as 8 from July to November 1918, he served as a Special Service Officer with Air Staff Intelligence in Iraq where he spent three years in the desert with Bedouin tribesmen collating intelligenceDuring the Second War he served as Chief Intelligence Officer, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied Air Forces 1943-45The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion's (C.B.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Officer's (O.B.E.) Badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals 1914-18; General Service 1918-62, G.V.R., 1 clasp, Southern Desert, Iraq; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star with rose on riband; Pacific Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; United States of America, Legion of Merit, gilt and enamel, with miniature Star on riband; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, mounted as worn, slight wear to enamel on Order of the Bath, overall very fine (14)His full-size medals sold in these rooms in April 2014.C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1946.O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1931. The original recommendation reads:'This Officer has been a Special Service Officer in Iraq since March 1928. Although occupying the most lonely and isolated post in the whole Command, he has consistently displayed, under extremely trying conditions, a tact, patience, and perseverance which are worthy of the highest praise.'D.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.M.I.D. London Gazette 2 June 1943.United States, Legion of Merit London Gazette 27 November 1945. The original recommendation reads:'Air Commodore Frank Woolley, Royal Air Force, as Chief Intelligence Officer, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied Air Forces from February 1943 to May 1945, displayed wise judgment and unqualified devotion to duty in the successful fulfilment of his assignment. Called upon to furnish a synthesis of all intelligence information regarding conduct of operations and to integrate the Anglo-American intelligence structure of the headquarters, he overcame many obstacles to provide source information of high value and veracity and at the same time achieved a smoothly functioning, closely knit intelligence organization. Commodore Woolley's exceptional ability was of great benefit to the conduct of air operations.'Belgium, Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 July 1919.Frank Woolley was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire in 1899 and was educated at the County Secondary School. He joined the Army straight from his school O.T.C. on his 18th birthday, and was accepted for a Commission in the Territorial Forces Association. Posted to the 7th Training Reserve Battalion at Rugeley, he subsequently applied to join the Royal Flying Corps, and after initial tutoring at Denham was Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the R.F.C. on 7 November 1917.Woolley went to France in July 1918 where he was posted to No.1 Aero Supply Depot before receiving his first operational posting on 14 July with No. 79 Fighter Squadron (Sopwith Dolphins), based at St. Marie Cappel east of St. Omer, with whom he fought and flew for the rest of the War. He was without doubt heavily engaged with the enemy for the next four months, '...and the local papers in his home town of Ilkeston credited him with eight victories, and recorded that he himself had been shot or forced down no fewer than three times, evidence of an exciting four months' flying.' (Winged Warriors, Derbyshire Fighter Pilots in World War I, by Barry Marsden refers).His first victory occurred on 27 September, when, according to an account that appeared in the Ilkeston Advertiser, 'he was on readiness at his home base when word was received that an enemy two seater was busy on a reconnaissance over the British front line. He was ordered to intercept the hostile aircraft, and, piloting a Dolphin, sighted it below him somewhere north-west of Armentieres. The first burst from his twin Vickers killed the enemy observer, and the subsequent running battle took both warplanes over the town, where the observation machine suddenly dived away to smash through the roof of a building. When Frank landed back at his home airfield his delighted CO praised his "splendid effort", and promised that "the facts would be reported to the proper quarter".' (ibid). Woolley's own account of the action confirms this: 'I was at 2,000 feet among the clouds South West of Armentieres when I saw a hostile 2-seater, probably an Albatros, about 1,000 feet below me. On being engaged the enemy aircraft dived towards Armentieres. I dived after him and fired two bursts into him at close range. The enemy aircraft spun and crashed into a house in Armentieres.' (recipient's combat report refers).The following day Woolley shot down another aircraft: 'I saw 10 Fokker Biplanes attacking a Bristol Fighter. I climbed into a cloud at 6,000 feet whilst Lieutenant McNeaney attacked the enemy machines. A dog fight ensued in which I saw two Fokkers go down after which Lieutenant McNeaney went down, followed by a Fokker. I attacked this enemy aircraft and fired a short burst at point blank range, and saw him go down and crash.' (Ibid).A month later on 26 October, Woolley despatched an L.V.G. two-seater at 3,000 feet south-east of Renaix before recording his final confirmed victory on 4 November, when 'at 9,000 feet I spotted a Halberstadt two-seater working over Renaix. I flew north and then east and so got east of him and in the sun. I then dived on the enemy aircraft who turned west and then north. I fired a burst at very close range. The enemy aircraft went into a vertical dive and crashed in a gulley between Sulsique and Renaix.' (Ibid).After the Armistice Woolley took up adjutant duties with the Squadron and became a Flight Commander, the Squadron became part of the Allied Occupation Force in December and moved to Cologne. Here he accepted the opportunity to fly numerous surrendered German aircraft, including Fokker DVIIs, Rumplers, and Halberstadts. Whilst stationed in Germany he learnt of the award of his D.F.C. and also received the Belgian Croix de Guerre, having the latter pinned on his chest by King Albert himself. He transferred to the unemployed list in October 1919, but was recalled to a short-service Commission the following June and served at R.A.F. Lee-on-Solent and Calshot. Qualifying as a pilot flying seaplanes and multi-engined flying boats, he fell in love with the Solent area, and wrote to tell his fiancée: 'I am sure that you will love this place too, and if I live long enough to retire this is where we shall live.'Southern Desert, Iraq - With the BedouinIn July 1927 Woolley was appointed to a permanent Commission in the General Duties branch of the Royal Air Force and, having been promoted Flight Lieutenant in January 1928, he embarked upon a course in Arabic at the School of Oriental Studies in London. After completing the course in March he was immediately posted to HQ Iraq as a Special Service Officer with Air Staff Intelligence, and for the next three years was responsible for the collection of intelligence in the vast unmapped desert west of Basra, spending the time living with the Bedouin tribesmen, 'sharing the hardships of their primitive, nomadic lifestyle, enduring searing heat, frequent dust and sandstorms, plagues of flies, and living off revolting food and foul water.' (Win…

South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (1393 Pte. W. H. Saul. O.B, A.S.C.), ex-swivel mount, suspension re-affixed, fineOrdnance Branch, Army Service Corps.…

Army of India 1799-1826, 2 clasps, Assye, Argaum (N. McQueen, 78th Foot), short-hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, edge bruising, polished and worn with pride, good fineNeil McQueen was one of just 17 European recipients of the Medal with these 2 clasps. Ten others were awarded to men of his regiment, three to the 19th Light Dragoons, one to the 74th Foot and two to H.E.I.C. men.…

The campaign group of six awarded to Private W. R. P. Seymour, Gloucestershire Regiment, late Royal West Kent RegimentSeymour was wounded in action in Italy in October 1944 and went on to be one of the 'Glorious Glosters' who was taken a Prisoner of War with 8 Platoon, 'C' Company at the Battle of Imjin River, April 19511939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53 (3959731 Pte. W. R. P. Seymour. Glosters.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, mounted court-style as worn, good very fine, together with his United States Presidential Unit Citation riband (6)William R. P. Seymour was born in Dublin in 1923 and during the Second World War served in the 5th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. He was wounded in action on 20 October 1944, when the unit were thrown to attack the Gustav Line. He was transferred to the Army Reserve, by this time his family living at Ravenhill Avenue, Belfast.Recalled to the Army with the outbreak of the Korean War, Seymour would served with the 8 Platoon, 'C' Company, 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. He shared in the actions at taken Prisoner of War at the Battle of Imjin River, 22-25 April 1951.As part of the United Nations Forces, the 1st Battalion was despatched to Korea in 1950 when the Communist North Koreans invaded South Korea without warning. Later, a Chinese Communist Army came to the assistance of the North Koreans. ln April 1951 the British 29th Infantry Brigade was holding a wide defensive position behind the lmjin River. The Glosters occupied a vital part of this front, astride the main track to Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, which was the traditional invasion route from the north.For days a Chinese attack had been expected and on the evening of 22 April, small parties of the enemy were observed approaching and then crossing the wide river bed. A patrol of 'A' Company at "Gloucester Crossing" did great execution to these parties, but soon the trickle of Chinese became a flood, and by 2330hrs the patrol had used up all its ammunition and was recalled.By 0300hrs on the morning of the 23rd, St George’s Day, 'A' Company’s position on a commanding feature named Castle Hill was under extremely heavy attack, as was 'D' Company on their right, and an hour later 'B' on the right of 'D' was equally engaged. After six hours fighting, much of it hand to hand, 'A' Company was driven back from Castle Hill and a desperate but unsuccessful counter-attack was launched to retake it, during which Lieutenant Curtis lost his life but gained a posthumous Victoria Cross. 'D' Company’s position was now untenable, so it was later withdrawn after further fighting, together with the remnants of 'A'. 'B' Company was later pulled back, and the whole Battalion now took up position on the hills around the village of Solma-Ri.The Chinese did not closely follow up this withdrawal, but meanwhile very large numbers of them had crossed the river and infiltrated past the Glosters. Their attacks on other parts of the front had been equally severe, and now the other United Nations units on their flanks had been forced back so that by mid-day the Glosters were completely separated from the rest of the Division, and indeed almost surrounded.That night 'B' and 'C' companies were heavily attacked, the former being reduced to one officer and 20 other ranks. Early the following morning, Colonel Carne decided to concentrate the remnants of his Battalion on the top of a steep and rugged feature known as Hill 235 on the map, but now as Gloster Hill (presumably one and the same 'Battalion Hill as recalled by Seymour). On the 24th no major attack developed against the Battalion, but two relieving columns of armour and infantry, sent forward by Division, failed to fight their way through. The Glosters were now completely cut off, but although short of ammunition and water they were in good heart and determined to hold out for as long as possible.ln the very early hours of the 25th, the Chinese launched an all-out attack on the hill wave after wave of shooting, screaming men surged forward, regardless of the defenders fire. Chinese trumpets directed them and encouraged them. ln order to confuse them it was decided that one of the British bugles should be blown. The adjutant then ordered Drum Major Buss to sound his bugle and on being asked what calls, replied everything except Retreat. Of all the calls the Long Reveille was the one which made the deepest impression. The battle continued with every weapon involved, and then at 9 o'clock a highly successful air strike was delivered by the US Air Force which for the time being halted the Chinese decisively. lt was during this pause that the Colonel received instructions over the wireless to fight his way out, his job done, and Brigadier Brodie wrote in the Operations log book at Brigade HQ 'Nobody but the Glosters could have done this.'The Battalion split up into groups which tried to work their way back independently, but the United Nations forces were now consolidating after their withdrawal fully seven miles to the rear, and only one party succeeded in reaching them, the rest being killed or captured. Out of 750 men of the Battalion only 150, including the rear echelon, remained on which to rebuild the unit. Lieutenant Colonel Carne, who survived his harsh imprisonment, later received the V.C., and the Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to commemorate its magnificent stand. The Queen graciously granted permission for the emblem of the Citation to be worn by all members of the Regiment.Having been captured, Seymour was one of a band of British and American captives who were (probably) forced to sign a Statement of Protest against the bombing og a POW Camp in North Korea, their names being broadcast on Peking Radia at 0900hrs on 9 November. After his return home on his debrief he gave two statements:'My reason for my statement is that Pte. R. T. Othen was in my Squad and was taken to Hospital where he died.''Pte. E. K. Gudge was wounded on C. Coy. 8 Plt. position and when we had to withdraw back to what was so called Batt Hill [Gloster Hill] he was taken to the RAP where he died on the 24.4.51. Who was with him when he died I have forgot. Best we were told that he had died before we moved to the last position.'Sold together with a letter from RHQ and copied research.…

The Great War D.S.O., M.C. group of nine awarded to Hon. Brigadier T. I. Dun, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was wounded during the course of protracted service in France and Flanders, thrice 'mentioned' and served with armoured cars between the wars, authoring a book on his experienceDistinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R.; The Most Venerable Order of St. John, Officer's breast Badge, silver and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. T. I. Dun, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. I. Dun); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, enamel work slightly chipped, very fine and better (9)Provenance:Spink Numismatic Circular, May 1987.D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917.Thomas Ingram Dun was born at Kelvin, Glasgow on 1 May 1892 and studied medicine at Glasgow University and Anderson Medical School.Qualifying on the eve of the Great War, he was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps in September 1914 and went on to witness active service in France and Flanders from May 1915 to November 1918, being wounded and twice decorated. He was also advanced to the acting rank of Major and thrice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 15 June 1916, 25 May 1918 and 30 December 1918, refer).Remaining in the Regular Army between the wars, Dun specialised in obstetrics and served in India (1919-24) and Egypt (1929-35) in addition to appointments in the UK. It appears he was at one time attached to an armoured unit during his time in Egypt, or certainly one 'Thomas Ingram Dun' is the credited author of From Cairo to Siwa: Across the Libyan Desert with Armoured Cars, which was first published in Cairo in 1933.A Lieutenant-Colonel on the staff of the Louise Margaret Hospital in Chatham on the eve of hostilities, Dun was quickly embarked for India where he served as C.O. of the Combined Military Hospital in Quetta (1940-42), and as C.O. of the 35th (1942-43) and 126th (1943-45) General Hospitals. He held the acting ranks of Brigadier and Major-General in the same period, the latter while acting as Deputy Director of Medical Service in India's Eastern Command.Post-war, Dun served as Assistant Director of Medical Services, Salisbury Plain (1946-48) and as Officer in Charge of Medical Services for the A.T.S. and W.R.A.C. (1948-53). Appointed an Officer of the Order of St. John in the summer of 1952, his final post was as President of the Standing Medical Board at Aldershot, and he was placed on the Retired List in the honorary rank of Brigadier in May 1955. He died in September 1975.…

Shanghai Municipal Council Emergency Medal 1937, bronze (Sgt. W. W. Graham S.M.P.), engraved between rays, good very fineWilliam Walter Graham was born on 1 October 1902, son of Herbert and Constance, of 53 Kelmscott Road, Wandsworth. Graham joined the British Army circa 1919 and went to India and thence onto Shanghai. It is assumed he served in the Shanghai Defence Force 1927-28 and joined the Shanghai Municipal Police in 1928 (Constable No. 813). Promoted Sergeant in 1931, he married Alda Madeira and they lived at Embankment Building, overlooking the Soochow Creek - which would offer a good viewpoint for the following troubles.Graham would have been on active service during the August-November 1937 emergency (Medal) and then took long leave from February-July 1939 with his wife and (by now) two children. Promoted Sub-Inspector (North China Herald, 12 June 1940 refers) and added to the Foreign Affairs Team as part of the Western Area Police Force, things were to take a severe turn.Following the uncontested invasion of Shanghai by the Japanese on 8 December 1941, life continued comparatively unchanged and the Municipal Police were required to maintain the administration, under the Shanghai Provisional Council of 1941 Under considerable pressure from the United States Administration, the foreign Extra Territorial Treaties, which had established the China Treaty ports in the 19th century including Shanghai (except that for Hong Kong), were abrogated on 11 January 1943 by the Treaty Between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and India and His Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China for the Relinquishment of Extra-Territorial Rights in China and the Regulation of Related Matters - so that at the end of the Japanese War Shanghai, and other occupied treaty ports would be returned to the Chinese Government (KMT) in Nanking.This also had the effect of terminating the Police service contacts - in Graham's case on 22 February 1943.That same month, Graham and other expatriate members of allied countries were put into one of the internment camps - described as Civil Assembly Centres.The Graham family were interned in the Yu Yuen Road camp which, like Ash Camp, held a large number of former Shanghai Municipal Council employees. Located at 404 Yu Yuen Road, it was composed of the grounds and buildings of the former Western District Public School and the Shanghai Public School for Girls. "G Block", the Girls' School, next to the Fire Station, and "B Block", the Boys' School, and "T Camp" were temporary wooden huts along Tifeng Road , which had been constructed to house British troops during emergencies. Some 972 internees were held at Yu Yuen Road throughout the internment period. Internees were moved near the end of the war to Yangtzepoo, finally being discharged from the Lunghwa Camp in August 1945. As a result of the British/China treaty of 1943 - at the end of the Pacific War, when the employees of the Municipal Council, civil servants, Police, Fire etc. came out of the internment camps in August and September 1945, they were unemployed. Some managed to obtain jobs in Shanghai and Hong Kong, but the majority returned the their home, which the Grahams did on the Tamaroa on 22 November 1945.Although compensation was paid by the British Foreign Office to former Council employees covering the loss of their pension rights - Graham received £841 6s 5d being his superannuation funds - that for loss of property continued for years, mostly unsuccessfully. The family settled in Peterborough where Graham worked for Baker Perkins Ltd, manufacturers of food processing equipment. He died on 12 December 1961.…

The Zulu War Medal awarded to Private H. Muldowney, Army Hospital Corps, who is understood to have been wounded in action at the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit in December 1881, during the First Boer WarSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (3891. Pte. H. Muldowney. A.H.C.), contact marks overall, nearly very fineHarry Muldowney was born St Faith, Winchester in 1860 and enlisted in the Army Hospital Corps in 1878. Having served in South Africa, he saw further active service in the Egypt & Sudan 1882-89 campaign.… SALE 25001 NOTICE:Gold match safe weighs 34g. Naming of the Aero Club of America Medal now added to the Lot.

The 2nd Battalion, 4th 'King's Own Royal' RegimentThe unit received orders at the North Camp, Aldershot, in the first week of December 1878 to proceed to Natal on active service. Embarked in the transports Dunrobin Castle and Teuton on 10 and 13 December respectively, the Battalion arrived at Cape Town in early January 1879. United once again after a long voyage, the men marched to Pietermaritzburg, and from there, upon receipt of the news of the disaster at Isandhlwana, on to Helpmakaar.The companies of the Battalion were subsequently distributed in reserve over a wide area of country, including the Utrecht district, Potgreter's Farm, Luneberg, Balte's Spruit and Conference Hill. Following the Battle of Ulundi, the men were relieved by those of the 24th Regiment, and proceeded to the Transvaal; on 8 September, Colonel Bray, with three companies of the regiment, assisted by the Frontier Light Horse and a detachment of Engineers, blew up the caves known as Umbellini's, in the neighbourhood of the Intombi River. Manyanyoba, the independent chief who had long given great trouble, then surrendered.On 8 February 1880, the Battalion embarked for Bombay, leaving two companies behind to assist with the defence of the frontier.999 Medals were issued to 2/4th Regiment, 971 of them with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (421. Pte. D. Sullivan. 2/4th. Foot), very fineDaniel Sullivan was born at Tosist, Kinmaine, County Kerry in 1855 and enlisted at Cork in October 1874. Having served in South Africa, he transferred to the Army Reserve at Lancaster in October 1880. Sullivan re-enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Portsmouth in December 1880 and served in India from November 1882-March 1889 and would see further active service in the Third Burmese War (Medal & clasp). He was released for the second time in April 1889; sold together with copied research.…

The fascinating Victorian inkwell with a V.C. connection, fashioned from a Crimean cannonball and commissioned by Major-General Viscount R. Frankfort De Montmorency, who was recommended for the Victoria Cross at the Redan Redoubt, and whose son won the award with the 21st Lancers at OmdurmanRound Shot, 2.7 inches diameter, hollowed out, with an ornate silver cap atop, hallmarks for London 1857, the shot set on the obverse with a Crimea Medal and on the reverse with a plate engraved with the cypher of Viscount Frankfort De Montmorency, three grape-shot 'legs' 0.9 inches diameter affixed beneath, with - but not affixed to - its original wooden stand, somewhat dented in places but overall very fineRaymond Harvey de Montmorency, 3rd Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency, was born at Theydon Bower, Essex on 21 September 1835; the only son of Viscount Lodge Raymond de Montmorency, 2nd Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency and Georgina Frederica de Montmorency, the daughter of Peter Fitzgibbon Henchy Q.C. of Dublin. The young De Montmorency was educated at Eton before entering the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, being commissioned Ensign with the 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot on 18 August 1854. Further promoted Lieutenant on 12 January 1855 he was serving in that rank on the outbreak of the Crimean War. De Montmorency entered the war in the trenches of Sevastopol and was present for the storming of the Great Redan on 8 September 1855 (Medal and clasp). His gallantry during the attack, which cost the British dearly, he was recommended for the Victoria Cross - although the recommendation was not successful. Instead, his reward was an independent command and he was sent to India for the suppression of the Indian Mutiny and placed in command of a detachment in Central India (Medal and clasp).Promoted Captain on 29 March 1861, he exchanged into the 32nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and served as Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Edward Brooke from 6 December 1861 until 31 December 1864. During this time Brooke was commanding troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands. Following this De Montmorency moved on to become Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) Sir John Michel commanding the British Forces in North America during the 1866 Fenian Raids (Medal and clasp). Doubtless the logistical difficulties of organising a defence against the raids kept him busy, however he did find time to get married on 25 April 1866 to General Michel's eldest daughter Rachel in Montreal.De Montmorency also found the opportunity to travel and was in Abyssinia at the time of Napier's expedition; he volunteered privately to take part and was with the Army up to the gates of Magdala (Medal). Promoted Major on 28 September 1869 and further advanced Lieutenant-Colonel on 14 June 1876, he served with the British Forces in Egypt and the Sudan from 1886-7. De Montmorency was given the local rank of Major-General in 1887 and commanded the troops at Alexandria before directing a British field column during operations on the Nile for which he received a 'mention'. Promoted Major-General in the British Army on 30 November 1889, he succeeded to the peerage on 25 December of that year upon the death of his father.Posted to India, the now-Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency was given command of a first-class district in Bengal (1890-1895) and later Dublin District from 1895-1897, retiring on 21 September 1897. The next year, his son Lieutenant Raymond de Montmorency, 21st Lancers, went on to serve at the Battle of Omdurman on 2 September 1898. During the fighting he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in attempting to rescue Lieutenant Grenfell who had been unhorsed. Driving away the Dervishes around him he found the Lieutenant already dead, rescuing the body and placing it upon a horse; with the assistance of two other men he cut his way free. Promoted Captain on 2 August 1899, the young De Montmorency raised his own company - Montmorency's Scouts - for the Boer War but was killed in action at the Battle of Stormberg. His father died on 7 May 1902 of apoplexy at Bury Street, London and was buried at Dewlish, Dorsetshire. The titles passed to his younger son Willoughby John Horace de Montmorency; sold together with copied research including a biography of the 3rd Viscount de Montmorency and his entry in the Dictionary of National Biography, 2nd Supplement, Volume I.…

Pair: Private E. B. Fisher, 9th LancersPunjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Goojerat, Chilianwala (E. B. Fisher, 9th Lancers); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 3 clasps, Delhi, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (E. B. Fisher, 9th Lancers), minor contact wear and edge nicks, otherwise overall good very fine (2)Edward Bird Fisher was born at St. Michael, Beccles on 5 December 1821 and attested for the 9th Lancers in London on 1 December 1845. His service papers note that during the Punjab Campaign he was present for the Passage of the Chenab on 4 December 1848 and the Battles of Chillianwala and Goojerat. In the former they were one of the Regiments that did not break and instead managed to prevent the Sikh forces from turning General Gough's flank.Fisher was still with the Regiment on the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny, serving in Captain Drysdale's 'B' Troop. Their first action was the Battle of Badli-ki-Serai on 5 June 1857, which helped to clear the way to Delhi. They were present throughout the siege itself and were present for the capture of the city on 14 September.Fisher saw further action at Boolundshuhur, Alligurh and Agara as well as actions at Kanoge and Mariagung. The Regiment later joined the Army under General Sir Colin Campbell being assembled to retake Lucknow, and were present for the destruction in of the Gwalior Contingent at Cawnpore and Seria Ghat in December.They started the next year with action at Shumshabad in January 1858 during the advance on Lucknow. The 9th were present for the final recapture of Lucknow in March, as well as actions at Allegunge, Bareilly, Shahkehanpore and Mahomadee. They closed out the war with service in the Central India Campaign being present at the passage of the Gogra, the affair at Mulchlegaon and Kumb-da-Kote between 1858-59.Fisher was finally discharged on 29 February 1860 after seeing 13 years and 6 months service in India. He joined the Metropolitan Police on 11 June 1860, serving with the Holborn Division until 10 July 1878 and died on 15 March 1879; sold together with copied service papers.…

'After receiving Surrender Order from Southern Area Command via Major J. E. Eliot R.A., I took a small craft with a motor and approx. 18 Officers & men of R.A., R.E., A.C.S., Bombay Sappers & Miners, from Tebay Island-Singapore and with some hazards reached the Indragivi [SIC] river Sumatra on the evening of the 18-2-1942. The names of those on board whom I can remember are shown below…Sgt. A. E. Armstrong [SIC] No 1059778.'(The Testimony of Captain James Gordon, 9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery on his dramatic escape from the Fall of Singapore)The Evaders group of five awarded to Warrant Officer Class II J. E. Armstrong, 9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery, whose unit went 'in the bag' during the Fall of Singapore, Armstrong however escaped capture and managed to join a small group of survivors in a remarkable journey to safety in India via Sumatra1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., Regular Army, G.VI.R. (1059778 Bmbr. J. E. Armstrong. R.A.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R. (1059778 W.O. Cl. 2. J. E. Armstrong. R.E.M.E.), minor pitting, very fine (5)John Ernest Armstrong was born at Wallsend in 1910 and enlisted on 22 December 1924. Posted to the 9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery at Singapore in February 1942 where they manned the guns of Changi Command, being responsible for No 7, 22 and 32 Batteries. When the city came under attack by the Japanese and it's fall became inevitable, their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Heath ordered the guns destroyed. The men on the Island were ordered to act as infantry however this did not account for the men who had left Singapore Island.Amongst these was Armstrong who is listed upon the Liberation Questionnaire of Captain James Gordon, 9th Coast Regiment. On his Questionnaire he noted the names of several men whom he had organised when the surrender order came through. Requisitioning a small boat he led them to Sumatra, Gordon lists those whose names he remembered aboard the boat which includes Armstrong.Very few managed to escape the Fall of Singapore and fewer still made it back to Allied lines, the Regimental History notes that Armstrong and 4 other Senior N.C.O.Ss from 22 (Sphinx) Battery managed to get away. Two of these were later 'mentioned' having been caught by the Japanese and killed in a massacre on 21 February.Armstrong however was not amongst them having travelled to Padang, Western Sumatra. From there he made it back to India, transferring to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers on 22 March 1945. He was awarded his Meritorious Service Medal with them in 1950; sold together with copied research.…

ChaplainsSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Ag. Chaplain. A. Walsh.), very fine15 Medals to Army Chaplains, 9 of these with clasp '1879'.A. F. Walsh served as an Acting Chaplain in Zululand with 1st Division at Sekukuni and afterwards returned to Pretoria.…

An outstanding 'Trench Raid' M.C. group of eight awarded to 2nd Lieutenant J. F. Thoburn, 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, later Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Army Service CorpsThoburn was photographed alongside his comrades before going into action and also wrote at length regarding the action which won his decorationMilitary Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. F. Thoburn.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, Territorial, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1947', good very fine (8)M.C. London Gazette 11 January 1919:'When the enemy, in a determined counter-attack, gained a footing in our trenches this Officer led his men over the top and attacked those who had got through the wire, killing several, dispersing the remainder, and capturing a machine-gun and trench mortar. The confidence inspired in his men by his example restored a critical situation.'Jack Fancourt Thoburn enlisted into the Honourable Artillery Company on 17 April 1916 and served in France with the 3rd Company, 2nd Battalion (as No. 7455) from 18 November 1916. Sharing in the action at Bucquoy in February 1917, he was wounded in action. Thoburn was subsequently commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the Rifle Brigade, serving with the 13th Battalion in France from March 1918. He earned his outstanding M.C. for his actions on 12-13 September, when a Trench Raid captured the enemy positions around Havrincourt Wood. Poison shells were sent down and a heavy counter came the following evening. Thoburn was photographed with his comrades before going into action and also wrote of his experiences:'I am off in an hour's time to the line, Captain Jenkins and Wallis are going with me for which I am awfully glad. We three are great chums. You know that since I have been a soldier I have passed through some awfully rough times and most trying experiences, especially in the earlier stages of the war, and I am by now pretty used to being knocked about : but going again into the thick of the fighting gives one a strange sensation - an indescribable feeling - going up to face death, but one must not think of that, the same Mighty Power that kept me all through those awful Somme battles, can still keep me. I'm just going to do my duty to the very best of my ability - my safety lies in Higher Hands. God knows what I have done in the last few days. I must tell you a little of what I have been doing, in myself I am quite fit, but very tired. My hands are cut up with innumerable cuts, my feet are shooting with pain from not taking my boots off for so long, but we are all in the same boat and are feeling quite happy. It is a lovely sunny day and quite warm, all our company officers are squatting outside our little dugout writing home.Now as some time has elapsed since these episodes, I think I can give you a few details of my adventures without in any way falling foul of my duties as a censor. One comes to my mind - We were leading the Company up, preparatory to "going over the top". Wood (the Coy Commander) and myself were trying to find our way in a wood, it was pitch dark. Wood went first and he suddenly disappeared, the next moment I followed him, falling about twenty feet through bushes, thorns and brambles. At the bottom I stumbled to my feet, breathless with the fall and choked with the gas from the shells that the Boches were firing around us. I heard Wood's voice for a moment and then I lost him - I got caught among the barbed wire - round and round I ploughed until I heard to my immense relief Davis' voice. We lay there together, our men just behind us waiting for the moment. Just like a cyclone it came, with one terrific roar our barrage breaks - then clear and distinct above the rumble of the guns came the sharp crack of the Machine guns - then over we went, and did some quick work. The prisoners came trooping up in groups. I came upon a party of young boys, they were terror stricken - up went their hands the moment they saw me and actually cried like babies. Two of our officers were killed, it was awfully hard luck, they were both such jolly good chaps, one of them was married. In consequence of their death, Hunter and I went to their company to help them and which meant we were very unfortunate, because we had to do the work of both companies. When "C" Coy was in, we were, and when "D" Coy was in, we were also, getting no respite from fighting.I enclose two ribbons - the black and white is the Iron Cross, the other ribbon is foreign, probably Turkish. I cut them from the tunic of a Boche Machine gunner - with his gun he held me up for some time doing a good deal of damage. He it was who killed our two officers, anyhow he was dead when I got up to him and these ribbons were his decorations; he was an intelligent looking fellow and looked quite peaceful in death.In one of the captured trenches we had a meal off German bread and sausage, the bread was damp, heavy and nearly black - the sausage reminded me of the German Mail and their uncooked dainties. Some tried the Boche wine, but the general verdict was that it was like methylated spirits. We found some good cigars and it was really amusing to see all our men swaggering about with cigars in their mouths. But there was more serious work ahead. The afternoon of the attack I had come off duty in the advance line and was lying down at Coy Headquarters - when there was a cry, "the Boches are coming", I sprang up and rushing along by a way that I know, gained the front line. There I found Hunter with some men retiring down the trench and some twenty yards away the Germans were coming down toward us. Our men were a bit windy, but Hunter and I made them make a stand and fetch bombs. Hunter is a fine bomber, so he threw the bombs, while I carried on with a borrowed rifle and my revolver. We retired very slowly - the Boches were chucking their bombs. These bombs of theirs make an awful row, but don't do much damage unless you get too close to one. Unfortunately they had also got some of ours, which are of a different calibre. I was bringing up the rear as we retired, and was having quite a pretty little duel with the Hun Serg. Major who was leading their attack - he evidently wanted me as a prisoner, for every time we faced each other round a traverse he signed and shouted to me to put my hands up. Of course my only answer was revolver ammunition, it was not likely that I was going to put my hands up to a Boche. Well at last we got to a fair stock of bombs, so we made a halt and bombed steadily. Hunter stands 6 ft 4 in and throws bombs magnificently. This went on for about twenty minutes, and then we found that we were not being answered, so we decided to advance. First of the party came myself with my revolver - then came Hunter with bombs and one or two men. We went round two traverses then we came upon two Huns. The first was the Serg. Major - dead, the next was a young lad, he had been hit in the hand and had a nasty gash in his head. As this poor lad saw me he tried to collect himself but he was far too gone, I can see his bloodshot eyes now as he tried to raise his head - on the other side of the trench was a Boche officer, dead, As we advanced we found quite a number of dead, we had done better than anticipated - we made a rush and took six machine guns, one Minnen-werfer and coil of telephone wire. So we had managed to stop rather a large counter attack. The "D" Company Commander sent in a very good report to Battalion Headquarters about our work, which was encouraging. The Corporal and two men who backed us up have been recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal. I have written but bald facts, of course there is much more but I must not tell just yet.The German Planes a…

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant'After some delay...a letter was received on Tuesday from Sir George explaining that the claim of the old Peninsular veteran had been doubly recognised; with the sanction of H.R.H, the Queen has been informed through Sir Henry Ponsonby of Captain Gammell's case, and Her Majesty was so interested in it that she decided to present to the veteran her Jubilee medal, in addition to the Peninsular medal...Those who know what a staunch supporter of the Throne and Constitution he has always been, as well as a brave officer in his younger days, will heartily congratulate him on the double honours he has received, especially his kind recognition by the Queen' (Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette, Thursday 28 September 1893, refers)The historically fascinating and unique Peninsular War and Queen Victoria Jubilee pair awarded to Captain J. Gammell, late 59th, 92nd and 61st regiments of Foot, who was almost certainly the last surviving British Officer of the Peninsular War and who claimed his campaign Medal in 1889 - an astonishing 75 years after the battle in which he participated and such a remarkable circumstance that The Queen herself then commanded that he should also be awarded her Jubilee MedalMilitary General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Nive (Ensign, James Gammell. 59th Foot.), this officially named in the style of the Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89; Jubilee 1887, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted together upon a silver bar for wear, on their original ribands and contained within a bespoke fitted leather case by Mallett, Goldsmith, Bath, the top lid tooled in gilded letters stating: Presented by Command of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to Capt. James Gammell, late 92nd, 61st and 59th Regiments, when in his 93rd year, 9 March 1889., traces of old lacquer, otherwise about extremely fine (2)James Gammell, second son of Lieutenant-General Andrew Gammell and Martha Stageldoir, was born in London on 3 January 1797. Scion of an old Scottish family, his father enjoyed a long (if undistinguished) military career and appears to have been a personal friend of H.R.H. the Duke of York; it is he who may have been responsible for the elder Gammell's appointment to the socially-prestigious 1st Foot Guards in September 1803.On 29 September 1813, young James Gammell was commissioned Ensign (without purchase) in the 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot (London Gazette, 2 October 1813, refers). The 2nd Battalion of the 59th had already seen its fair share of active service during the Napoleonic Wars, having been in Spain in 1808 and 1809 before being re-deployed on the disastrous Walcheren Campaign. Returning home, in 1812 the unit was sent back to the Iberian Peninsula where they participated in most of the final battles of that campaign including Vittoria (June 1813); Nivelle (November 1813) and the Nive (December 1813). Gammell clearly must have joined his regiment in the summer or autumn of that year, as his single-clasp Medal attests; for his first (and indeed only) major battle he must have seen a significant amount of fighting as the 59th suffered casualties of some 159 men killed and wounded. The regiment returned home at the conclusion of hostilities, and Gammell is next noted as being promoted into the Sicilian Regiment on 27 April 1815 (London Gazette, 6 May 1815, refers).Remaining in the peacetime Army, like many young junior officers Gammell moved through several different units over the next few years. The Sicilian Regiment may have offered the chance for some interesting soldiering, but it is unlikely he ever spent time with them as on 1 June the same year he transferred (still as Lieutenant) into the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot. Likely with them on garrison duty in Jamaica from 1816-22 on 21 August 1823 he moved again, this time to the 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot - but again still as a Lieutenant. In 1825 he was promoted to Captain in the 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) by purchase (London Gazette, 14 May 1825, refers) - but yet again he was not destined to remain long in his regiment as a mere five months later the London Gazette carries another entry (dated 22 October) stating that he had retired on 6 October that year.It is quite likely that, in reality, Gammell had no need to be a soldier as he was an independently wealthy man. In 1816, soon after his father's death, his grandfather purchased an agricultural estate for him and, though the two were later to fall out over the subject of Gammell's marriage to a Miss Sydney Holmes, the estate ensured he was to receive a steady source of income for him and his family for the rest of his life. Marrying Miss Holmes on 21 September 1825, the couple went on to have no less than ten children and in 1834 the Gammell family moved to Edinburgh before relocating to Bath in 1856-57 and taking up residence at 16 Grosvenor Place. Here Gammell was to remain until his death on 23 September 1893 at the remarkable age of 96, which makes him quite likely the last surviving British officer to have participated in the Peninsular War - a fact supported by several primary and secondary sources, the latter including a reference in the Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society (March 2009) and the book Wellington's Men Remembered: A Register of Memorials to Soldiers who Fought in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. He was interred at Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, and the occasion included his coffin being conveyed to the site in a closed hearse, covered in a Union Jack, and a wreath stating: 'In kindly remembrance of the last of the Peninsular officers.'However, his story does not end here, as just a few years previously he became the subject of a remarkable tale which led to the award of two medals - the first of which he had earned as a 17-year-old Ensign in the 59th Foot all those years ago. The 'Bath Chronicle' takes up the story:'Captain James Gammell, the only surviving officer of the British Army which fought in the Peninsular War, died on Saturday last at 16, Grosvenor Place, Bath, where he had resided for many years...By his death the work of charity in the neighbourhood of Larkhall loses a generous friend, the Conservative cause one of its most ardent supporters, and the Queen one of the most loyal and devoted of her subjects. His loyalty and attachment to her Majesty was one of the dominant features of Captain Gammell's character and his enthusiasm was evidenced during the celebration of the Royal Jubilee in 1887. Flags were liberally displayed at his residence, and the letters "V.R." in gas jets, with a shield bearing the Royal arms, and the motto "Tria in juncta uno - Quis separabit." ...In March, 1889, the Bath Chronicle thus described how Captain Gammell received the Peninsular medal and the Queen's Jubilee medal: -A curious and gratifying incident has just occurred, which for the credit of all concerned is worth recording. At the latter end of December Colonel Balguy happened to be at the National Provincial Bank, and a casual remark made by him led a venerable gentleman near to say that it was just 75 years ago that he donned the red coat. Surprised at the communication, Colonel Balguy rejoined "You must have been in the Peninsula." "I was at Bayonne in 1814, when the French made their sortie," replied the stranger. "Then you have a medal?" He explained that he never had one nor had he applied for one, and in reply to further questions, stated that he was an Ensign in the 59th Regiment, and retired as a Captain from the Gordon Highlanders in 1825. The conversation again turned upon the medal, and after some hesitation he accepted Colonel Balguy's o…

The Naval General Service Medal awarded to Rear-Admiral E. R. P. Mainwaring, who saw a remarkable forty-two years of active service and commanded the boats during the capture of the American letter-of-marque Rapid in 1814Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Egypt (E. R. Mainwaring.), note absence of third initial, good very fineEdward Reeves Philip Mainwaring was born on 16 June 1788 at Prince Edward Island, Canada. Scion of a great 'fighting' family of Whitmore, Staffordshire and with lineage stretching back to the Norman Conquest, his father fought during the American War of Independence and all four brothers also entered either the Army or Royal Navy - one, Benjamin, was an officer aboard 'The Fighting Temeraire' at Trafalgar and another, Frederick, fought at Waterloo as a Lieutenant in the 51st Regiment of Foot.Young Edward entered the Navy in the summer of 1799 as a First-Class Volunteer and was appointed to the 44-gun H.M.S. Roebuck which acted as a troopship between March and September 1801 for British operations during the Egyptian campaign. In November 1801 he was appointed Midshipman in the 64-gun H.M.S. Haarlem and, as was usual for the time, continued to receive appointments to other vessels when required. He was advanced to Acting-Lieutenant in 1806 aboard the 18-gun sloop H.M.S. Espoir but shortly afterward was promoted Lieutenant (11 June 1807) and removed to the 74-gun H.M.S. Plantagenet, with which vessel he saw out the rest of the Napoleonic Wars.It was with this ship that Mainwaring appears to have experienced the most exciting days of his active service. After a deployment to the Baltic Plantagenet and her crew were next assigned to the North American and West India stations. Consequently seeing much action during the War of 1812, Mainwaring must have been aboard in July 1813 when U.S. Navy Sailing Master Elijah Mix tried to destroy Plantagenet with torpedoes designed by inventor and engineer Robert Fulton. Mix made the attempt no less than seven times; the first six all missed, and the seventh prematurely exploded. The 'Yankey Torpedo' was a known threat to officers and men of the Royal Navy, and one wonders what Mainwaring thought about being on the receiving end of such an 'ungentlemanly' way of warfare.Returning to more traditional ways of engaging with the enemy, in 1814 Plantagenet was pursuing the American latter-of-marque Rapid when both vessels were becalmed when the wind died away. Mainwaring was ordered to take command of the ship's boats and, after rowing for an astonishing 11 hours, came up with the Rapid, boarded and captured her notwithstanding a spirited defence by her crew of 40 men. For this action, Mainwaring was publicly thanked by the Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station, Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren.Despite the vast reductions in manpower and ships in the aftermath of the conflict, after a mercifully short period on half-pay (1815-18) Mainwaring was fortunate to be employed at sea once again and for the following eight years served aboard the 74-gun Ramillies and the 84-gun Ganges; in the latter vessel on the West India and Brazilian stations as well as at home. Promoted Commander on 27 May 1826, perhaps a desire to somewhat settle-down led to both an appointment with the Coast Guard service and his marriage to Miss Eliza Hill, daughter of the Reverend Hill, Rector of Snailwell in Cambridgeshire. He was employed by the Coast Guard until 1835 and four years later was given command of the 18-gun sloop H.M.S. Electra on the South America Station, returning home in 1841 on promotion to Captain. Slowly but steadily rising up the seniority list to be promoted Rear-Admiral (Retired) on 12 April 1862, Admiral Mainwaring died at Brighton on 5 October 1865 at the age of 77, with his death being noted in many local newspapers and journals - all of which specifically state that he was actively employed for more than 40 years; an impressive feat indeed during the age of sail and many years of peace in Europe.…

The '1916 Trench Raid' D.C.M. awarded to Sergeant H. P. Evans, 19th Battalion, Australian Infantry, who was killed in action during the final days of the Somme OffensiveDistinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1890 L.Cpl. H. P. Evans. 19/Aust:Inf:), nearly extremely fineD.C.M. London Gazette 22 September 1916, the original citation states:'For conspicuous gallantry during a successful raid on the enemy's trenches. He carried in the body of a sergeant, who had been killed, 200 yards under intense shellfire. On another occasion he shot the leader of an enemy patrol whilst reconnoitring.'Hamblett Poole Evans was born at Coldfield, Warwickshire in 1889, the son of George and Kate Evans of Silverdale, Manor Road, Sutton Coldfield. Emigrating to Australia he was working as a storekeeper when the Great War began and joined the Australian Imperial Force in New South Wales, being posted to the 19th Battalion.This unit was posted to Gallipoli, arriving at Anzac Cove just after the initial landings they saw action at the attack on Hill 60. Evans was not to remain with the unit for the duration of their time in Gallipoli, being evacuated with gonorrhoea on 13 November. Almost immediately upon his recovery he caught malaria on Lemnos which incapacitated him until after the evacuation of the peninsula.He joined the British Expeditionary Force Evans and the rest of the Battalion went into the trenches in the Armentières area. Around this time his service papers record:'Complimented by Lt Gen W. R. Birdwood K.C.S.I., K.C.M.G., C.I.E., D.S.O., in Army Corps Orders dated 26.6.16. for gallant action on the night of 20/21st June 1916.'A week after the action he was commended for, on the night of 25-26 June he took part in a trench raid, it seems to have been for this action that the award of the D.C.M. was made. Caught in a shell blast in August, Evans was evacuated to Britain with shrapnel wounds and a sprained ankle.Rejoining his unit on 3 November he was with them for the capture of Gird trench on 14 November 1916. Evans was killed in action during the attack and is commemorated upon the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.…

BRITISH ARMYThe 1st King's Dragoon GuardsWhen stationed at Aldershot, on 12 February 1879, the King's Dragoon Guards received a sudden order for service in South Africa. With as little delay as practicable, they were brought up to war strength by volunteers from other corps and the transfer of horses; on 27 February the left wing embarked at Southampton under the command of Major Marter, in the hired transport Spain; the right wing, with Headquarters, followed the next day under Colonel Alexander in the Egypt.Both ships arrived at Durban on 8 April, the men marching to Pietermaritzburg and then on to Dundee where they were joined by the 17th Lancers. On 19 April both regiments began marching towards Rorke's Drift, arriving at the battleground of Isandhlwana two days later; here they attempted to identify and bury the bodies of those who perished almost three months previously.Engaged in reconnaissance for a time thereafter, on 6 June the K.D.G's were involved in a particularly savage exchange at Erzungayan: the Zulus were found strongly posted in a wood which was intersected with dongas, and in front of which was a line of four large kraals and from here they poured a heavy fusillade upon men under the command of Colonel Buller and those of the 17th Lancers under Colonel Lowe. Seeing this, and fearing the Zulus might rush out upon the horses, the K.D.G's formed up on the flank and right rear of the 17th; the Zulus however remained completely concealed in the wood, and General Marshall had little choice but to give the order to retire. Realising their opportunity and following in skirmishing order, the Dragoon's had barely crossed the Upoko, in which there were quicksands, when a brisk fire was opened upon them.Thereafter, the regiment was employed on regular reconnaissance and skirmishing duties, using Fort Newdigate as a staging post; in these raids scores of native villages were destroyed. On the night of 7 August 1879, a detachment marched to Emptonjaneni, twelve miles distant from Ulundi. In the night a fearful storm of wind and rain smashed into the camp and continued until 11 a.m. the next morning. Lightning strikes, shock and the sheer ferocity of the weather left 360 transport bullocks dead in the camp, with approximately 90 more being discovered dead in the surrounding bushes.On 18 August Major Marter marched with a squadron of K.D.G's under orders to establish a chain of outposts to St. Paul's, 40 miles distant, and to keep up communications throughout the line by patrolling day and night, in order to prevent the King from breaking across. The men subsequently joined Clarke's Column and on 27 August the expedition commenced which resulted in the capture of the King.719 Medals were issued to the 1st King's Dragoon Guards, 641 of them with the '1879' clasp.Pair: Troop Sergeant-Major W. McGill, 1st King's Dragoon GuardsSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (2181. Sergt. W. McGill. 1st. Dn. Gds.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (2181. Tp: Sgt: Maj: W. McGill. 1st Dgn. Gds.), very fine (2)William McGill was born at Edinburgh in 1847 and was discharged to pension on 13 May 1890.…

An 'Arnhem P.O.W.' group of five awarded to Corporal R. S. Telford, 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who went 'in the bag' on 23 September during a fierce tank attack on the Battalion's perimeter1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Cadet Forces, E.II.R. (WO. R. S. Telford. A.T.C.), sold together with the recipient's dog tags and soldier's release book, light pitting and contact marks, very fine (5)Robert Smith Telford was born on 13 June 1919, a native of Dumfriesshire and enlisted on 1 September 1939 with the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Joining the 7th (Galloway) Battalion he was with them in Scotland during the Fall of France, indeed the Battalion was not to leave Britain for some time. They transferred to the 1st Air Landing Brigade in 1943 and continued to train with them until the D-Day Landings.7th Battalion took off on 17 September 1944 for Operation Market Garden, landing in the Ede area in 1944 and initially all went well. The next day however they came under attack by several parties of German troops with armoured vehicles in support, a situation which would become increasingly familiar over the next week of fighting.Moving off they fought a sharp action at Johanna Hoeve farm but managed to repel a German attack and continue on towards Arnhem. Arriving at Oosterbeek, some 5 kilometeres west of Arnhem on 19 September they dug in there to assume their corner of the perimeter. The enemy started to probe their lines not long later, and by 09:00 on 20 September they had established the Battalion's positions allowing the battle to begin in earnest. Some of the ferocity of the fighting can be ascertained from the war diary which notes the first armoured 'kill' made by the unit:'The first "kill" was an armoured car which was blown up and set on fire by the atk gun covering the NORTH face. Later another atk gun under Lt HANNAH, and escorted by a Pl of B Coy, went out to watch the rd leading SOUTH from the rd and rly crossing at 699791. Soon after it was in posn a TIGER tk, towing a flame-throwing apparatus, appeared and a spirited action took place. As a result of the courageous behaviour of our atk gun crew, and of Cpl WATSON and Pte McWHIRTER in particular, the TIGER tk was completely knocked out and the crew killed.'Through that day and the next, 7th Battalion halted the enemy advance, unable to withdraw due to constant pressure and concern over losing their limited equipment in the dark. A break in the attacks on 22 September allowed them the chance to reform and prepare their positions for another attack, however they could not have been prepared for the forces ranged against them.A heavy barrage opened the day and at around 11:00 'B' Company came under heavy attack by a force of tanks with infantry and artillery support. Their anti-tank gun was knocked out, forcing them back from a line of buildings, however they gamely held on to their slit trenches and bunkers, fighting for every yard. Their partial withdrawal allowed the German infantry to push onto the flank of 'C' company who also came under attack from Armoured cars to their front.Soon the action became an attempt by the Germans to consolidate a piece of their hard won gains in the face of heavy fire and counter-attacks by the Battalion. They were able to prepare machine gun positions in the wood between 'B' and 'C' companies, thus keeping that gap open and completing their objective.The only option was a counter-attack which was carried out by 'C' Company, who despite several losses managed to retake the wood and capture a number of the enemy. The line re-established they managed to hold off further attacks for the rest of the day, taking a tally of German tanks, damaged or destroyed in the process. It was noted in the war diary that the Regimental Aid Post was full to bursting as the Medical Aid Post had fallen into enemy hands, suggesting that some areas of the perimeter were still occupied by the enemy.Telford is listed as being taken prisoner of war during the days fighting, it is likely he was a victim of the morning offensive which almost saw the line break. Taken to Stalag 11B at Fallingbostel he remained there until being repatriated at the end of the war. Upon his return to the British Army he was posted to a Holding Regiment, Royal Artillery but saw no service with them instead being demobilised on 11 April 1946. Later joining the Cadet Forces he was awarded the Cadet Forces medal with them. Telford died in Dumfries on 8 December 1898 and is buried at Lockerbie; sold together with copied research, a set of original dog tags and an original soldier's release book named to the recipient.…

The Zulu War Medal awarded to Captain G. K. Torry, 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal Tower Hamlets Light Infantry (Militia)South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Lieut: G. K. Torry. 2/Tower Hamlet Mil:), officially impressed late issue, good very fineJust 2 Medals to the 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal Tower Hamlets Light Infantry (Militia).Provenance:Ex-Major Tylden Collection.Medal issued in July 1919.Gewase K. Torry served attached to the 80th Foot during the Zulu Campaign and was certified as having been present at the Battle of Ulundi. Both Battalions of his unusual militia unit were eventually absorbed into the Rifle Brigade.Torry himself was advanced Captain into the 4th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers in June 1880 and appointed to the Army Reserve in November 1882. He was removed from the Reserve on account of his age in April 1899, but returned to the fold for a Staff posting at home during the Great War (no Medal entitlement).…