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Lot 1022
* ARMY & NAVY. C.S.L. A .470 NITRO EXPRESS TOPLEVER HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 45924, 26in. nitro chopperlump barrels with broad raised matt rib, open sights and folding leaf sights and ramp-mounted bead foresight, tubes engraved 'ARMY & NAVY C.S.L. LONDON. FOR CORDITE .470 3 1/4" CASE', treble-grip action, ornate carved percussion fences, rebounding back-action locks, line border engraving, brushed and blued finish overall, 14 3/4in. figured pistolgrip stock with sling eyes and including 1in. rubber recoil pad, weight 11lb. 2oz.
Lot 1027
* ARMY & NAVY C.S.L. A .470 (3 1/4IN) NITRO EXPRESS BOXLOCK NON-EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 47025, 28in. nitro chopperlump barrels with raised matt rib, open sights and leaf sights for 100, 200 and 300 yards, ramp-mounted bead foresight, tubes engraved 'ARMY & NAVY C.S.L. LONDON.' and ".470. 3 1/4" SOLID METAL CASE. 75GRS CORDITE POWDER. 500GRS. SOFT NOSE NICKEL BULLET", treble-grip action with removable striker discs, automatic safety with blue enamel 'SAFE' detail, line border engraving, brushed bright and reblued finish overall, 14 1/8in. figured pistolgrip stock with sling swivels, pistolgrip-cap and including 1in. rubber recoil pad, fore-end with grip-release catch, weight 10lb. 13oz., in a brass-cornered oak and leather case.
Lot 1337
ARMY & NAVY C.S.L. A PAIR OF 20-BORE BOXLOCK NON-EJECTORS, serial no. 57997 / 8, 28in. nitro barrels, ribs engraved 'ARMY & NAVY C.S.L. LONDON.', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. and 3/4 choke, some pitting, treble-grip actions, automatic safeties with silver-inlaid 'SAFE' details, border engraving, brushed finish overall, 14 1/2in. stocks one a replacement (slightly loose), weight 5lb. 12oz. and 5lb. 5oz.
Lot 351
A .44 CALIBRE U.S. COLT MODEL 1860 SIX SHOT PERCUSSION ARMY REVOLVER, NO. 155515 FOR 1865 AND A .36 CALIBRE U.S. COLT MODEL 1851 SIX-SHOT PERCUSSION NAVY REVOLVER, NO. 115097 FOR 1861, each of standard production specifications, the first with 8in barrel stamped with single line New York address, and with matching numbers throughout (refinished overall); the second with barrel stamped with single line New York address, fitted with later back-sight, and with matching numbers throughout (the barrel with small dents, worn throughout), the first: 35cm; 13 3/4in , (2)
Lot 229
A THORNYCROFT BUILDER'S HALF-BLOCK MODEL FOR THE TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYER SHAKESPEARE, BUILT FOR THE ROYAL NAVY, 1917, YARD NUMBER 903. finished in white and mounted on an ebonised board for wall hanging, 85N x 9Din. (218 x 23.5cm.), The name ship of a class of seven, of which two were cancelled, Shakespeare was a marked step forward and as flotilla leaders were much admired by foreign navies. Displacing 2,009 tons (deep load) they measured 329ft overall, with 31ft 6in. beam and 12ft 6in. draught, powered by 2-shaft Brown-Curtis geared turbines developing 40,000 horse power, they could make 36 knots and were armed with 5-4.7in. guns adapted from army stocks, 2-2pdr pom-poms and, 6-21in. torpedo tubes and needed a complement of 183 personnel. The addition of a 9ft rangefinder plus torpedo sights marked a huge improvement in fighting efficiency. Shakespeare was broken up in 1936.
Lot 506
Six: 1939-45 star, Africa star with 1st Army clasp, Italy star (all gilt overall), Defence and War (Plated, replacements ?), Army LS & GC Geo VI (1866588 W O Cl 2 S R Brown, RE), VF to EF, mounted for wear. With an emergency Warrant certificate to Sidney Reginald Brown, 22nd May 1942 dated 16.9.1942 (AF); an RE HM silver shooting medal, AE Life Saving Soc bronze medal, various photos of recipient including one as CSM at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Also a Staffs Yeo plume in oilskin cover; a S Africa field dressing of 1941 and a N Africa silk escape map; photo viewer and a cased bronze NRA medal un-named
Lot 784
A 6 shot .44" Colt Model 1860 Army percussion revolver, number 82669, with New York address, retaining very faint traces of cylinder scene. GWO & basically GC (worn overall, patched repairs to grip); in a good quality fitted brass bound mahogany instrument case with reproduction accessories and trade label. Pistol only Plate 6
Lot 318
Quantity of Dinky Military Vehicles. Antar Tank Transporter with Centurion tank. Para-Moke (601) with sled and parachute. 3 Scout cars, Armoured Car, 2 Army wagons, Austin Champ, etc. Plus 2 Britains BAT guns. Corgi Bloodhound missile and Matchbox military vehicles. Also a Dinky Turntable fire escape, Superior Criterion Ambulance and a few other items including road signs. FC-QGC Some age wear overall. Some for restoration.
Lot 665
An officer’s 1821 pattern sword of the Antrim Militia Artillery, very slightly curved blade 32", by Cook, Clifford St, Bond St, London, etched with grenade cannon, winged lightning, "Antrim Militia Artillery" and wreath within scrolled fenestrated panels, and owner’s crest, motto and "RW" monogram, regulation triple bar hilt, wirebound fishskin grip, in a leather FS scabbard. Basically GC (blade and hilt chromium plated overall, blade edge nicked). Note: The sword of Sir Richard Wallace, KCB, KCSI, retired Maj Gen, Indian Army, 1867. Hon Colonel Antrim Militia Artillery 1873.
Lot 284
A composite 6 shot .36" Colt Model 1851 Navy percussion revolver, the barrel and frame numbered 120938, with New York US America address, the cylinder numbererd 67539, the butt and trigger guard from an Army model, numbererd 89472. GWO & Generally GC (worn overall, cylinder scene barely visible)
Lot 285
A scarce martially marked 6 shot .36" Remington Beals Navy revolver converted to rimfire, 13" overall, barrel 7½" stamped with "Beales' Patent" etc, number 15511, the cylinder marked "Pat App'd For", government inspector's initial "J" on barrel and frame and inspector's cartouche on left hand grip. One of 500 sold to the US Army (see Flayderman P 161) and manufactured c. 1862.GWO & C (cylinder pawl requires attention, unofficial trigger guard retaining screw, patches of dark patina). Plate 11
Lot 53
NAZI ARMY OFFICER'S DRESS SWORD gilt stirrup knuckle bow and curved quillion chiselled with scrolls and other motifs, Nazi Eagle on langet wire bound black ribbed grip, plated slightly curved single edge fullered blade, black metal scabbard hung with silver bullion dress knot, indistinct Solingen maker, 36 3/4in long overall
Lot 405
Third Reich type Army Officers Pattern Sword having single edged fullered blade 795mm approx. the plain blade marked Puma Solingen with trade mark on one side and No.3 on the other, gilt brass hilt with Wehrmact eagle on langet and decorated overall with acorn and oak leaves. Black celluloid grip, wire bound, black painted plain scabbard. ++some wire missing from grip, scuffing and paint loss to scabbard otherwise good
Lot 1163
The important group of awards to Field-Marshal Sir John Michel, G.C.B., Colonel of the 86th Foot, who commanded the Malwa Field Force in the pursuit of Tantia Topee in Central India, and in China commanded the 1st Division which burned the Summer Palace at Pekin in retaliation for the murder of European captives The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia by R. & S. Garrard & Co., comprising sash badge in 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1870; and breast star in silver, gold and enamels, one green enamelled stalk lacking; South Africa 1834-53 (Lieut. Colonel John Michel, 6th Regt.) renamed; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Majr. Genl. Jno. Michel, C.B.) ‘Jno.’ re-engraved otherwise officially impressed naming; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Major Genl.Sir J Michel, K.C.B. 1st Dvn. Staff) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea, British issue, unnamed; Order of the Medjidie, 2nd class set, comprising breast star in silver, gold and enamel, 94mm; and badge in silver, gold and enamels, 57mm, this lacking suspension, the star with old repair to red enamel and other minor chips; Field-Marshal’s Baton, the surviving staff only of the Field-Marshal’s Baton presented by the Queen to Michel in 1886, comprising velvet covered wooden staff with fourteen gold lions, the original gold finials apparently lost in a burglary and replaced with silver-gilt caps to each end, these hallmarked London 1946, velvet worn overall, the campaign medals with contact marks but generally very fine or better £12000-15000 John Michel was born on 1 September 1804, eldest son of General John Michel by his second wife, Anne, daughter of the Hon. Henry Fane, M.P., and granddaughter of the eighth Earl of Westmoreland. John was educated at Eton and obtained an ensigncy in the 57th Foot by purchase on 3 April 1823, passing through the 27th to the 64th Foot, joining that corps at Gibraltar, and obtaining his lieutenancy in it on 28 April 1825. He purchased an unattached company in December 1826, and in the following February exchanged back to the 64th Foot at Gibraltar. In February 1832 he entered the senior department of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and in November 1833 passed his examination and received a first certificate. He then rejoined his regiment and served with it in Ireland until February 1835, when he exchanged to the 3rd Buffs in Bengal, where he was aide-de-camp to his uncle, General Sir Henry Fane, G.C.B., while commander-in-chief in India in 1835-40. In May 1840 Michel was promoted to a majority by purchase in the 6th Foot, over the heads of many old officers in the regiment, an appointment which provoked much criticism at the time, and in April 1842, a few weeks after the arrival of the regiment in England, he purchased the lieutenant-colonelcy. He commanded the 6th Foot at home and at the Cape of Good Hope until 1854. He was in command of a brigade during the Kaffir war of 1846-47, and during part of the war of 1852-53 was in command of the 2nd division of the army in the Waterkloof (medal). At the close of the campaign he was made C.B. ‘for distinguished service in the Kaffir wars of 1846-7 and 1851-3.’ He became brevet colonel in January 1854 and was appointed to command the York recruiting district, but exchanged to half-pay in the 98th Foot, on appointment as Chief of Staff of the Turkish Contingent. With local rank of Major-General in Turkey, he held this post until the end of the Crimean war (2nc class of the Medjidie and Turkish medal). In 1856 he was appointed to a brigade at Fort Beaufort, Cape of Good Hope, at a time of great danger and threatened war, owing to the expected fulfilment in February 1857 of an old Kaffir prophecy of the destruction of the whites. The danger was hardly over before Michel was ordered to China for a command there. He was shipwrecked in the Transit steamer in the Straits of Sunda on 10 July 1857, and carried to Singapore. His services were subsequently diverted to India and he was placed on the Bombay Staff in February 1858. In June of that yera the troops in Rajputana were concentrated at Nusseerabad and Nimach, under Major-General H. G. Roberts, Bombay Army, those at Mhow consisting of a brigade under Brigadier Honner. The latter, reinforced from Bombay, were formed into a division, as the Malwa Field Force, under Michel, the command of the troops in Rajputana being added thereto in August 1858, when Roberts was promoted to the command in Gujerat. Michel became Major-General on 26 October 1858. Impressed with the necessity of cutting off from the towns the bodiesof rebels under Tantia Topee, Rao Sahib, and other leaders, and compelling them to seek the jungles, Michel adopted a strategy which proved eminently successful, despite serious physical obstacles, for the rains at this season had converted the soil at Malwa into a sea of black mud, and the heat was phenomenal. He distributed his troops in lightly equipped columns at salient points in Rajputana and Malwa, with orders to follow the rebels without intermission. Starting himself from Mhow, Michel came up with Tantia Topee at Beorora on 5 September 1858. Tantia and the cavalry fled, pursued by the British cavalry. The infantry and guns made a stand, but did not await the British onset, and leaving thirty guns behind them, eight thousand well trained troops were put to flight without the loss of a man. Michel again defeated Yantia at Mingrauli on 9 October, marched against Rao Sahib the next day, and defeated him at Sindwaha on 15 October. On 5 December he anihilated one wing of Tantia’s force near Saugor, the other escaping across the Narbada into Nagpur. Other defeats of bodies of rebels followed and they began to lose heart and creep away to their homes. Between 20 June 1858 and 1 March 1859, the field force traversed an aggregate distance of over three thousand miles, of which Michel himself marched seventeen hundred miles. The operations ended with the capture of Tantia Topee, who was taken by a small column under Brigadier Meade, was at once tried by court-martial, and was hanged on 18 April 1859 for being in arms against the British. The legality of the sentence was questioned but he was admitted to have been one of the most bloodthirsty of Nana Sahib’s advisers. Michel, who was made K.C.B., remained in command of the Mhow division untilo the end of 1859, when he was appointed to the army under Sir James Hope Grant, proceeding to the north of China. Michel commanded the 1st Division at the action at Sinho, and at the occupation of Pekin on 12 October 1860. On 18 October his division burned the Summer Palace at Pekin, in return for the treacherous treatment of Mr (afterwards Sir Harry) Parkes and some other captives. The palace had already been looted by the French and most of the Imperial treasures which found their way to England were bought from French soldiers. Sir John Michel was appointed Colonel of the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment (later 2nd Royal Irish Rifles) on 19 August 1862. From 1865 to 1867 he commanded the British troops in North America, becoming lieutenant-general in June 1866, and general in March 1874. He was advanced to G.C.B. in 1871, and selected to command the troops in the first ‘autumn manoeuvres’ in the south of England in 1873. In 1875 he was appointed commander of the forces in Ireland, and was sworn of the Irish privy council. He held the Irish command from 1875 to 1880, his social qualities and ample means rendering him extremely popular. He was a J.P. for Dorset and was made a Field-Marshal on 27 March 1885. Sir John Michel died at his seat, Dewlish, Dorset, on 23 May 1886, aged 82. The medals are accompanied by an ivorine label which records the original inscription on the base of Michel’s baton: ‘From Her Majesty Alexandra Victoria Queen of the United Kin
Lot 1164
A rare Great War East Africa operations C.M.G. group of nine awarded to Colonel C. U. Price, Indian Army, C.O. of Jacob’s Rifles and a successful Column Commander whose forces captured Dar-es-Salaam in September 1916 The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; East and Central Africa 1897-99, 1 clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (Lieut., 3/Baluch L.I.); China 1900, no clasp (Captain, 30/Baluch L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col., 1/130 Baluchis); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Col.); Delhi Durbar 1903, impressed naming, ‘Colonel C. V. Price, 130th Baluchis’; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed as issued; Russian Order of St. Anne, ribbon only, mounted court style for wear, generally good very fine (8) £1800-2200 C.M.G. London Gazette 26 June 1916. Mention in despatches London Gazette 30 June 1916, 7 March 1918 and 6 August 1918 (all East Africa). Russian Order of St. Anne, 3rd Class London Gazette 15 February 1917. Charles Uvedale Price was born in May 1868 and was educated at the United Services College, Westward Ho! and the R.M.C., Sandhurst. Originally commissioned into the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in February 1888, he transferred to the Indian Army in January 1890 and served in the Zhob Valley on the North West Frontier in the same year, afterwards gaining an appointment as a Wing Officer in the 30th Regiment of Bombay Infantry (3rd Baluchis). In January 1897, however, he was attached to the 27th Bombay Infantry (1st Baluchis) as Adjutant, and went on to win his first campaign medal with them in the Uganda operations of 1897-98. During this latter campaign he was engaged against the Sudanese mutineers, including the operations at Jeruba and Kijangute, and in Budda and Ankoli, gaining a mention in despatches. Shortly afterwards he sailed for China, and served as a Captain in the course of the Boxer Rebellion. Then in 1903, back in India, Price attended the Delhi Durbar, attached as a Political Officer to His Highness the Mir of Khairpur. He was advanced to Major in February 1906. Appointed a Double Company Commander in the 130th K.G.O. Baluchis (Jacob’s Rifles) in October 1911, Price assumed command of the regiment in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1915, and went on to serve with distinction in the operations in East Africa. In July 1915, in the fighting in the Mbuyuni region, he was appointed to the command of the flanking column, comprising Jacob’s Rifles, the 4th K.A.R. and Cole’s Scouts, sent by Brigadier-General Malleson to envelop the enemy’s left. Carrying out a well timed circuitous night march, Price attacked at daybreak on the 14th, but by 8 a.m. his force was checked by strong enemy resistance, and it became necessary to await more positive news from the main attacking force to the Germans’ front. This initiative, however, also lost momentum, and by the time Malleson’s order to call off the assault reached Price, his force had been under a lively hostile fire for at least an hour. Unperturbed, Price disengaged and ‘brought away his force in a steady and well-executed withdrawal, with slight loss’ (Official history refers). In early July 1916, as C.O. of a 500-strong force, comprising the 5th Light Infantry and a company of the 101st Grenadiers, Price was given the task of capturing Tanga. Carrying out a successful landing on the southern shore of Manza Bay on the 5th, he moved his force inland towards Amboni, ‘which was reached next day after disposing of some slight resistance on the way’. And on the 7th, he and his men crossed the Zigi River, the final natural barrier between them and their goal. Tanga, however, was found to have been deserted by the enemy, although some had remained behind in the surrounding bush from where they sniped at the British with good effect. Flushing out such opposition by means of frequent patrolling, Price moved on to Kange on the 17th. Then in early August, he was given overall command of two columns, numbering in total some 1400 men, to secure the crossings of the Wami River. This he successfully accomplished in little more than a week, thereby assisting in opening up the way forward to attack Dar-es-Salaam. For the final advance on the seat of government and principal port of German East Africa, Price’s force was bolstered in strength by some 500 men and equipped with 20 machine-guns. The whole was assembled at Bagamoyo at the end of the month, and on the 31st, in two columns, it advanced on Dar-es-Salaam, while two smaller parties penetrated north to secure the railway line and some important bridges. Just four days later, having encountered little opposition, Price’s main force was assembled on the heights near Mabibo, from which the port could be seen less than three miles away. And early on that morning, after the Royal Navy had despatched a delegation aboard the Echo with a formal summons to surrender, the 129th Baluchis, which had acted as Price’s advanced guard throughout the operation, entered and took over the town. Once again, the Germans had made a hasty retreat, leaving behind 80 hospital patients and 370 non-combatants. For his part in some of the above related operations in German East Africa, Price was awarded the C.M.G and mentioned in despatches, in addition to gaining appointment to the Russian Order of St Anne. And in the later operations of that theatre of war between 1917-18, he again distinguished himself and was twice more the recipient of a ‘mention ‘. The Colonel, who retired to South Africa, died in May 1956. For the recipient’s Order of St. Anne, see Lot 669.
Lot 1225
Family group: The rare and important Second World War St. Nazaire raid D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer Harry Howard, Royal Navy, who was responsible for scuttling H.M.S. Campbeltown after she had rammed the dock gate - and fortunate indeed to make his escape in M.G.B. 314 - a story related by him under the title ‘Stand by to Ram ‘in Carl Olsson’s wartime publication From Hell to Breakfast Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (M. 31976 H. Howard, C.E.R.A.); British War Medal 1914-20 (M. 31976 Act. E.R.A. 4, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage bust (M. 31976 E.R.A. 1, H.M.S. Cairo), together with Boston War Heroes Day Presentation Gold Medal (Mayor Maurice J. Tobin), 10-carat, dated 10 July 1942, the reverse engraved, ‘Harry Howard’, and Mayor of Salt Lake City Presentation Key, dated 23 June 1942, this engraved ‘Chief Artificer Harry Howard’, minor official correction to number on the second, the earlier awards a little polished, but otherwise very fine and better The Second World War campaign group of three awarded to his brother Sergeant J. A. Howard, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, who was taken P.O.W. at Dunkirk 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., Territorial (7599542 Sjt., R.A.O.C.), these extremely fine (12) £20,000-25,000() Only 24 Distinguished Service Medals were awarded for the St. Nazaire raid, the vast majority to men of Coastal Forces, Howard’s award being one of three to the Campbeltown. D.S.M. London Gazette 21 May 1942: ‘For great gallantry, daring and skill in the attack on the German naval base at St. Nazaire.’ The overall movements and events aboard H.M.S. Campbeltown have largely been related in the footnote to the D.S.C. awarded to Warrant Engineer W. H. Locke (see Lot 1197), but luckily for posterity’s sake Harry Howard, a native of Sheffield, later published his own account of the raid in Carl Ollson’s wartime anthology From Hell to Breakfast, from which the following extracts have been taken: ‘At about 1.20 the Engineer Officer, who had been popping up and down from the deck, came to see me in the engine-room and said, ‘Only about ten minutes more. ‘I went into the stokehold for a last look round where men were watching the clock and handling the fuel controls. It was silent here except for the droning of the feed pumps and the roar of the oil burners. I made sure every man knew the handhold he was to cling to when the ‘Stand by to Ram ‘order came through .. By now the ship was shaking, and above the whine of the engines I could hear the sound of gun-fire. In the same instant the telegraph rang full steam ahead, and we pushed in every ounce of steam pressure we had. The old Campbeltown began to tremble till all the footplates were quivering and rattling. ‘Now for it, ‘I thought. My mouth felt a bit dry. Another minute or so, and then the loud speaker blared from the bridge - ‘Stand by to Ram! ‘Each man threw himself at his selected handhold, some at steel ladder rungs, others clasping stanchions. In a flickering glimpse I saw the Engineer Officer wedging his body against one of the side ribs in the engine-room, and then I sprang at the big wheel I had picked. But she struck even as I was leaping, and I was flung a full six yards down the engine-room, hitting a Chief Engineer full in the stomach and nearly knocking him out. All the lights went out, leaving only the blue glimmer of emergency lamps. There was an instant stillness, except for the hell that was now breaking loose on deck. The loud speaker called again: ‘Abandon ship! ‘That was not the order we expected. We had been told that if we jammed the gate properly, the order would be: ‘Finished with main engines. ‘With a sick feeling of disappointment I thought at first we had bounced off the gates (Nobody could know, when we planned this party, whether in fact that might not happen. The specially strengthened bows of the Campbeltown might have given way under the impact). So stopping some of the men who were leaving the stokehold, in case there might have been a slip-up in the order and we might after all still want steam, I rushed up on deck to the bridge to find the Captain. He told me: ‘Get your men up and away to hell out of it. ‘And as I looked forward I saw that I needn’t have asked about that order. The Campbeltown was jammed slap into the lock-gate, nearly at the point where it joined the dock wall. Her bows were buried inside the gate, and she was right on the place aimed for on the sketch plan at the conference two days before. As a piece of masterly navigation on the part of the Captain that was the most wonderful thing I have ever seen in all my years at sea. I had no time to look at more or notice what else was going on around me. And there was plenty. The night had gone crazy with flashes and bangs and whistles from flying metal. I just legged it back to the engine-room and said, ‘It’s all right to come up, and you can get ashore all right from the fo’c’sle head. Beat it, everybody. ‘Then I went to do the final job to which I had been assigned. That was to unbolt the condenser inlet covers and to open the inlets, so that even if the explosive charges failed to go off, the Campbeltown would scuttle and block the channel into the dock and perhaps tear away part of the lock gate as well, as she sank. I had picked a young E.R.A. to do this job with me, and we worked by torchlight in the empty engine-room, because all the lights had now gone out. We worked quickly, but the job did not in fact take long, because I had previously loosened and removed many of the bolts. As I passed through the engine-room to go on deck for the last time I saw a young electrician busy with screwdriver and torch making some adjustments to the switchboard controlling the explosive fuses. He was whistling softly as though he was merely intent on a pleasantly interesting job. I never saw him again .. ‘Back on Campbeltown’s deck, Howard was compelled to get down and crawl amidst bullets and splinters which were rattling against the armour-plate along the rails: ‘It was bright moonlight and there was a vast pandemonium going on. Mixed with the din of their gun-fire I could hear the Campbeltown’s steam escape blowing off .. There were some wounded men being carried along towards the escape ladders and some dead .. Machine-guns were firing tracers towards us from the top of the lock pumping-house. Suddenly the firing stopped as the Commandos got there and wiped out the German crews with grenades .. The fo’c’sle was on fire, but we managed to get ashore by means of one of the bamboo scaling ladders used by the Commandos. I landed on the plank-covered top of the long deep channel slit into the dock wall which was designed to receive the lock gate. I slipped just as I was stepping off on to the level ground, and some ratings caught me. I could see the glare of the searchlights and gun-flashes that they were holding up a badly wounded Commando officer in kilts, and were getting him to rescue boats .. It is a sight I shall always remember; to see the dark forms of the dead and wounded men being carried aloft on the shoulders of their comrades, silhouetted against the glare of burning buildings and explosions, towards the rescue boats .. I had covered about 200 yards when we were challenged near the corner of some buildings. I flicked the answering colour on my signal torch and gave the password. They were two Commandos, placed there as guides to the boat. They had white armbands on, and stood there as calmly as though they were road cops seeing children safely over a school crossing. They waved us on in the right direction. At the boat a young Lieutenant on the bridge was calling out, ‘Come along, come along! ‘and then, ‘Any more for the Skylark? Any more for the Skylark? ‘I checked all my men on boar
Lot 345
A RARE ENGLISH SHOT-PROOF PAVISE, EARLY 17TH CENTURY of pentagonal form with rounded corners, widening slightly to its obtuse pointed upper edge, rising at its centre to a low pyramidal boss, fitted at the rear with a reinforcing plate and pierced at it upper end with an outward-flanged vision-slit, each side fitted with four sturdy rivets for the attachment of enarmes, its inward -turned edge file roped and bordered by an incised line (minor cracks, the lower edge split), and round-headed lining-rivets with sub-circular internal washers retaining substantial remains of a thick leather buff lining (heavily patinated overall) 64.5cm; 25 3/8in high Inv. A476 Literature Francis Grose, Military Antiquities respecting a History of the English Army from the Conquest to the Present time, London 1812, volume II, p.358, plate 48. The exceptional weight of this shield would suggest that it was intended for siege use.
Lot 1398
A rare Great War East Africa operations C.M.G. group of nine awarded to Colonel C. U. Price, Indian Army, C.O. of Jacob’s Rifles and a successful Column Commander whose forces captured Dar-es-Salaam in September 1916 the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; East and Central Africa 1897-99, 1 clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (Lieut., 3/Baluch L.I.); China 1900, no clasp (Captain, 30/Baluch L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col., 1/130 Baluchis); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Col.); Delhi Durbar 1903, impressed naming, ‘Colonel C. V. Price, 130th Baluchis’; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed as issued; Russian Order of St. Anne, 3rd class breast badge, with swords, by Osipov, St. Petersburg, gold and enamel, manufacturer’s initials on reverse, ‘56’ zolotnik mark for 1909-17 on eyelet, and other stamp marks on sword hilts, generally good very fine (9) £3500-4000 c.M.G. London Gazette 26 June 1916. mention in despatches London Gazette 30 June 1916, 7 March 1918 and 6 August 1918 (all East Africa). russian Order of St. Anne London Gazette 15 February 1917. charles Uvedale Price was born in May 1868 and was educated at the United Services College, Westward Ho! and the R.M.C., Sandhurst. Originally commissioned into the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in February 1888, he transferred to the Indian Army in January 1890 and served in the Zhob Valley on the North West Frontier in the same year, afterwards gaining an appointment as a Wing Officer in the 30th Regiment of Bombay Infantry (3rd Baluchis). in January 1897, however, he was attached to the 27th Bombay Infantry (1st Baluchis) as Adjutant, and went on to win his first campaign medal with them in the Uganda operations of 1897-98. During this latter campaign he was engaged against the Sudanese mutineers, including the operations at Jeruba and Kijangute, and in Budda and Ankoli, gaining a mention in despatches. shortly afterwards he sailed for China, and served as a Captain in the course of the Boxer Rebellion. Then in 1903, back in India, Price attended the Delhi Durbar, attached as a Political Officer to His Highness the Mir of Khairpur. He was advanced to Major in February 1906. appointed a Double Company Commander in the 130th K.G.O. Baluchis (Jacob’s Rifles) in October 1911, Price assumed command of the regiment in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1915, and went on to serve with distinction in the operations in East Africa. in July 1915, in the fighting in the Mbuyuni region, he was appointed to the command of the flanking column, comprising Jacob’s Rifles, the 4th K.A.R. and Cole’s Scouts, sent by Brigadier-General Malleson to envelop the enemy’s left. Carrying out a well timed circuitous night march, Price attacked at daybreak on the 14th, but by 8 a.m. his force was checked by strong enemy resistance, and it became necessary to await more positive news from the main attacking force to the Germans’ front. This initiative, however, also lost momentum, and by the time Malleson’s order to call off the assault reached Price, his force had been under a lively hostile fire for at least an hour. Unperturbed, Price disengaged and ‘brought away his force in a steady and well-executed withdrawal, with slight loss’ (Official history refers). in early July 1916, as C.O. of a 500-strong force, comprising the 5th Light Infantry and a company of the 101st Grenadiers, Price was given the task of capturing Tanga. Carrying out a successful landing on the southern shore of Manza Bay on the 5th, he moved his force inland towards Amboni, ‘which was reached next day after disposing of some slight resistance on the way’. And on the 7th, he and his men crossed the Zigi River, the final natural barrier between them and their goal. Tanga, however, was found to have been deserted by the enemy, although some had remained behind in the surrounding bush from where they sniped at the British with good effect. Flushing out such opposition by means of frequent patrolling, Price moved on to Kange on the 17th. then in early August, he was given overall command of two columns, numbering in total some 1400 men, to secure the crossings of the Wami River. This he successfully accomplished in little more than a week, thereby assisting in opening up the way forward to attack Dar-es-Salaam. For the final advance on the seat of government and principal port of German East Africa, Price’s force was bolstered in strength by some 500 men and equipped with 20 machine-guns. The whole was assembled at Bagamoyo at the end of the month, and on the 31st, in two columns, it advanced on Dar-es-Salaam, while two smaller parties penetrated north to secure the railway line and some important bridges. Just four days later, having encountered little opposition, Price’s main force was assembled on the heights near Mabibo, from which the port could be seen less than three miles away. And early on that morning, after the Royal Navy had despatched a delegation aboard the Echo with a formal summons to surrender, the 129th Baluchis, which had acted as Price’s advanced guard throughout the operation, entered and took over the town. Once again, the Germans had made a hasty retreat, leaving behind 80 hospital patients and 370 non-combatants. for his part in some of the above related operations in German East Africa, Price was awarded the C.M.G and mentioned in despatches, in addition to gaining appointment to the Russian Order of St Anne. And in the later operations of that theatre of war between 1917-18, he again distinguished himself and was twice more the recipient of a ‘mention’. The Colonel, who retired to South Africa, died in May 1956. £3500-£4000
Lot 13
B.S.A. CO., A FINE LEE-SPEED PATENT BOLT-ACTION SPORTING RIFLE, NO. 40745, RETAILED BY ARMY & NAVY C.S.L., 24 1/2-inch barrel with raised fore sight, fixed rear sight with folding leaves and ladder sight, receiver with magazine cut-off, the bolt cover engraved with the retailer's name, tang safety, detachable box magazine, 14 1/4-inch stock with pistol grip, retaining much original finish overall, 7lb. 4oz., black powder proof
Lot 26
ARMY & NAVY C.S.L., A .360 (2 1/4-INCH) HAMMER RIFLE, NO. 41547, 26-inch barrels with full length file cut rib, folding leaf sight, the rounded frame, rebounding back locks, hammers and top lever with scroll engraving, 14-inch figured replacement stock with pistol grip, 7lb. 2oz., black powder proof, left hammer tip replaced, worn overall
Lot 373
Tin Plate Toys "A German Second World War army staff car and mobile gun, the car clockwork powered with battery powered electric lights, driver and three passengers in full uniform, the officer with binoculars, two men with rifles, fabric folding hood, 10” long, the gun with two detachable sets of two wheels each, folding legs and adjustable barrel, 15” long overall, boxed, F-G"
Lot 558
A .44 STARR PATENT 1858 SIX-SHOT 'DOUBLE ACTION' PERCUSSION ARMY REVOLVER, serial no. 6514, 11 1/2in. overall, with blued round sighted barrel, plain cylinder, blued frame marked 'STARR ARMS. CO. NEW. YORK.' and 'STARR'S PATENT. JAN. 15. 1856', walnut butt, and some original blued finish throughout.
Lot 572
A ROGERS & SPENCER .44 SIX-SHOT SINGLE-ACTION PERCUSSION ARMY REVOLVER, serial no. 3316, 13 1/4in. overall, with octagonal sighted barrel, grooved top-strap marked 'ROGERS & SPENCER / UTICA N.Y', walnut grips with inspector's mark on the left grip (both grips chipped, iron parts discoloured).
Lot 686
A .44 REMINGTON NEW MODEL SIX-SHOT SINGLE-ACTION PERCUSSION ARMY REVOLVER, serial no. 91118, 14in. overall, with blued sighted barrel marked 'PATENTED SEPT. 14. 1858 / E. REMINGTON & SONS. ILION. NEW YORK. U.S.A. / NEW MODEL', blued frame (top-strap slightly modified at the rear to fit a target sight), blued cylinder, walnut grips with inspector's mark on the left grip, brass trigger-guard, numerous inspection marks throughout (hammer replaced), and much original blued finish.
Lot 702
A .442 (RIMFIRE) TRANTER PATENT 'MODEL 1863' SIX-SHOT DOUBLE-ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, serial no. 4042, 12 1/4in. overall, with blued octagonal sighted barrel engraved with a band of foliage at the muzzle, border engraved action retaining some original blued finish, chequered walnut butt, and Tranter patent cartridge extractor, Birmingham proof marks.
Lot 703
A .442 (RIMFIRE) TRANTER PATENT 'MODEL 1863' SIX-SHOT DOUBLE-ACTION ARMY REVOLVER RETAILED BY J. LANG, LONDON, serial no. 5295, 12in. overall, with octagonal sighted barrel retaining traces of original blued finish, border engraved frame retaining some original blued finish and signed 'J. LANG / LONDON' on the top-strap, cylinder with feint traces of original case-hardened finish, chequered walnut butt, and bright Tranter patent cartridge extractor, Birmingham proof marks.
Lot 926
* ARMY & NAVY 4-BORE SINGLE-BARRELLED ROTARY-UNDERLEVER HAMMERGUN, serial no. 15139, 45 1/2in. black powder only barrel with hexagonal breech section (some exterior pitting), engraved 'ARMY & NAVY C.S.L. LONDON.', Jones patent rotary-underlever, rebounding back-action lock, plain finish overall, retaining very slight traces of original colour-hardening, 14 7/8in. figured stock including 1in. rubber recoil pad, grip fore-end fastener and horn finial, weight 18lb. 7oz.
Lot 1032
A FINE WILLIG-ENGRAVED COLT .44-40 WIN SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, serial no. SA71919, 7 3/8in. nitro barrel, blade foresight with fixed rear sight, blued and silver finish overall, polished ivory grips relief engraved with the busts of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the barrel, frame and cylinder deeply carved and relief engraved with stylised bold acanthus scrollwork on a matt background with gold-inlaid scroll highlights, gold-washed hammer, trigger and pins, the barrel gold-inlaid with a portrait of Tatanka Jyotke (Chief Sitting Bull) atop a crossed calumet and ball-headed war club inlaid in gold, the frame with carved scenes of gold-mining and the portrait of Eliphalet Remington, the cylinder carved with scenes of settlers wagon trains and scenes of battle from the civil war, with portraits of General Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant, the pistolgrip-cap with a native American Indian and a train, the backstrap carved with the bust of Apache chief Geronimo, the barrel signed 'C. Willig'
Lot 1321
J. PURDEY & SONS -A PAIR OF 12-BORE SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTORS, serial no. 17783 / 4, 30in. Whitworth-steel nitro chopperlump barrels (wall thicknesses marginal) with matt game ribs, 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. imp cyl and 3/4 choke, articulated front triggers, removable striker discs, arrow cocking-indicators, bright finish overall, 14 1/4in. highly-figured semi-pistolgrip stocks including leather-covered buttpads, weight 6lbs. 13oz., in their brass-cornered oak and leather case with canvas outer, the case bearing the crest of a back to back 'D' surmounted by a Ducal crown. The maker's have kindly confirmed that the guns were made in December 1906 for Prince Paul Demidoff Provenance: The Demidof dynasty was one of the wealthiest and most powerful industrial families in Russia. The founder, Nikita Demidof (1656 -1725) was a free blacksmith from Tula. His guns found favour with Peter the Great and such was the relationship that formed, he was to become the main provider of arms to the Russian Army and in 1720 he was ennobled . The family expanded its interests in metallurgy and mining and by the end of the 18th century, they were responsible for the manufacture of 40 percent of Russian cast iron (the Palace of Westminster was constructed using Demidof metal products). With the growth of their industrial might, the Demidof family became great exponents of political, cultural and educational advancement by setting up academies, amassing a world class art collection and founding an annual prize for Russian literature. After the revolution, with Russian society and its religious orders in disarray, it was Prince Paul Alexandrovitch Demidof who would play a key role in the re-establishment of the Russian Grand Priory of The Order of St. John of Jerusalem in exile. He is listed as "ancient officer du reg. des chevaliers gardes, commandant Hereditaire de L'Ordre de Malte" in the Almanach de St Petersburg 1913-14. Membership of the priory was by lineal descent established by Emperor Paul I and as a hereditary Commander, he along with the thirteen other surviving Commanders re-established the activity of the Russian Grand Priory of the Order of Malta in Paris, by virtue of their inviolable privilege as Russian nobility (the 'Union de la Noblesse Russe' having been ratified under French Law in 1926). The Order of St John of Jerusalem was established by Brother Gerard as a separate Order from an existing Benedictine Establishment of Hospitallers, its main purpose being to provide for pilgrims visiting Jerusalem. Given papal independence by Pascal II in 1113 it became an independent monastic Order and then evolved into an Order of Knights, participating in the crusades alongside the Knights Templar and the Teutonic Knights. Their base was established in Rhodes in 1312 where it ruled as a sovereign power before then moving to Malta in 1530 as a feudal power. The Order of St. John was very successful in recruiting members of the European aristocracy and consequently were took control of many wealthy estates throughout the continent -many of which had previously been under the influence of the Knights Templar (having co-existed initially, the Order helped to destroy the Knights Templar in the early part of the 14th century, their leaders being burned alive as heretics) Napoleon's occupation of Malta in 1798 saw the Order dispersed, but many of the Knights sought refuge in St Petersburg. Here they elected the Russian Emperor, Paul I as their Grand Master. As Grand Master he created a Russian tradition within the Hospitaller Order, the "Russian Grand Priory" open to all Christians and following the tradition of St John. And in 1810 / 11, after Imperial Decrees by Alexander I of Russia, the Order was recognised and given full fiscal and legal separation from the main Roman Catholic hierarchy
Lot 1463
ARMY & NAVY 12-BORE SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 45467, 28in. sleeved nitro barrels, 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl and 1/2 choke, treble-grip action with removable striker discs, automatic safety, beaded border and bold scroll engraving, brushed bright and reblued finish overall, 14 1/4in. figured stock, weight 6lb. 8oz., in its canvas and leather case
Lot 1
ARMY & NAVY C.S.L. A .360 NO. 5 ROOK RIFLE, NO. 15553 26-inch octagonal barrel with machined top surface, folding leaf sight, rounded frame with scroll engraving, 14-inch stock with pistol grip and cheek piece, 5lb. 11oz., black powder proof, stock head broken and poorly repaired, mechanism defective, worn overall. Please note that VAT @ 5% is payable on the hammer price
Lot 1
ARMY & NAVY C.S.L. A .500 HAMMER RIFLE, NO. 7576 28-inch barrels, file cut rib with folding leaf sight, dolls head extension, the frame, rebounding back locks, hammers and top lever with scroll engraving, 14 /14-inch stock with pistol grip and cheek piece, 8lb. 5oz., black powder proof, worn overall, barrels coming apart at the muzzles. Please note that VAT @ 5% is payable on the hammer price
Lot 1
:A COLT .44 'MODEL 1860' SIX-SHOT SINGLE-ACTION PERCUSSION ARMY REVOLVER, serial no. 17184, 13 1/2in. overall, the barrel with New-York address, rebated cylinder, frame cut of a shoulder-stock, brass trigger-guard, one-piece walnut grips (some wear and pitting throughout), in modern lined and fitted case with bullet mould.
Lot 1
:REMINGTON .44 'NEW MODEL' SIX-SHOT SINGLE-ACTION PERCUSSION ARMY REVOLVER, serial no. 110231, circa 1870, 13 1/2in. overall, with blued octagonal sighted barrel marked with patent, maker's and model details, blued cylinder and frame, brass trigger-guard, walnut grips (reblued throughout), the cylinder with Liege proof mark.
Lot 1
* A FINE COLT .44 'MODEL 1860' SIX-SHOT SINGLE-ACTION PERCUSSION ARMY REVOLVER, serial no. 158467 for 1866, 13 3/4in. overall, with blued sighted barrel signed 'ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON', blued rebated cylinder with naval engagement scene, case-hardened frame, blued grip-strap and trigger-guard, case-hardened rammer, figured one-piece grips, and much original finish throughout (action seized), London proof marks, matching numbers with the exception of the wedge and rammer (neither numbered), in original brown leather flap holster (belt loops missing).
Lot 1
American Civil War period non regulation US Army Officer's sword having wire bound shagreen grip, open work metal hilt cast with eagle above "US" the German made blade with etched "US" and foliate decoration to one side and eagle and foliage to the other, imported and sold by Schuyler Hartley & Graham of New York, and in original metal scabbard, blade 82cms long, hilt and scabbard with overall discolouration, blade undamaged but with some discolouration
Lot 1
A 6 shot .44" Rogers & Spencer SA Army percussion revolver, 13" overall, barrel 7?" stamped on the top flat "Rogers & Spencer, Utica, NY", number 1331, the barrel scratched on the left side with owner's name "Fred Abele", plain walnut grips, the left hand one with ordnance inspector's initials "RPB". GWO & C, retaining traces of original blued finish (small patches of pitting and wear, small repairs to one grip, rammer plunger and one nipple replaced). Plate 13
Lot 1
Airfix: nine 1/32 scale plastic infantry sets including American, British 8th Army, Japanese, British Commandos, Russian, British Paratroops (two missing), Australian and Afrika Corps in original boxes; H0-00 scale Foreign Legion, Infantry Combat group and Japanese Infantry (all incomplete) in original boxes, overall G, boxes F-G, two slight graffiti (11)
Lot 1
A CASED SMITH & WESSON .32 (RIMFIRE) MODEL NO.2 'ARMY' SIX-SHOT SINGLE-ACTION REVOLVER, serial no. 58131, 10 3/4in. overall, with sighted tip-up barrel marked 'SMITH & WESSON. SPRINGFIELD. MASS.' on the raised sighting rib, cylinder engraved with patent dates, spur trigger, varnished walnut grips, and traces of original blued finish, in lined and fitted mahogany case, the lid with circular brass escutcheon.
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