We found 132010 price guide item(s) matching your search

An impressive 19th Century brass oil lamp with fluted column, pierced floral decorated base and opaque glass shade

An ornate heavy brass standard lamp with urn-shaped column having lions mask handles on three slender tapered supports

A mid-Victorian burr walnut oval turnover-top breakfast table on carved turned column and scroll legs, 47" long

An Art Deco mahogany and walnut cross-banded octagonal occasional table on square column with plateau base, 24" wide

A polished mahogany oval tilt-top breakfast table on turned column with scroll legs

A Victorian oil lamp with brass mounted fluted column and opaque glass reservoir with fluted shade

A good quality walnut rectangular wine table on turned column with tripod base

A Victorian mahogany rectangular centre table with a fitted drawer in one end on turned column with plateau base 24" x 18"

A polished mahogany torchere with fluted column and square base, 49½" high

A good quality brass Corinthian column oil lamp with cut-glass reservoir and opaque glass shade

A 19th century mahogany circular snap-top occasional table on turned column with tripod base

A 19th Century mahogany square snap-top occasional table on turned column with tripod base

THE IMPERIALSROYAL NAVYThe South Africa Medal awarded to Staff Surgeon Sir H. F. Norbury, later Director General of Naval Medical Services [K.C.B.], Honorary Surgeon to Their Majesties King Edward VII & King George VSouth Africa 1877-79, one clasp, 1877-8-9 (H. F. Norbury, Staff Surgn. R.N., H.M.S. "Active"), toned, extremely fine, and a rare clasp to Royal Naval personnelProvenance:Spink, April 2007.Approximately 5 Medals with ´1877-8-9´ clasp awarded to Naval Brigade Officers (Norbury, Lieutenant Craigie, Lieutenant Hamilton - all on Active and Commander E.H. Davis and Lieutenant Cockran on Bodicea).Henry Frederick Norbury, K.C.B., M.D., F.R.C.S., R.N. (1839-1925) was educated at Oundle School, studied medicine at St. Bart´s, London and the University of Malta, qualified M.R.C.S 1860 and was appointed Surgeon in the Royal Navy that same year. Advanced M.D. in 1870, he was made Staff Surgeon 1872 and was appointed to the corvette Active on the Cape and West Africa stations, October 1876.Whilst on her books he was landed in Medical charge of the Naval Brigade during the Kaffir War, 1877-78, serving in the Transkei as Senior Medical Officer of six different columns of troops and was present in numerous skirmishes and in action at Quorra River and the Battle of Quintana (M.I.D. and strongly recommended for promotion).During the Zulu War of 1879 he was again landed and in charge of the Active´s Naval Brigade and served as Principal Medical Officer of Colonel Pearson´s Column being present at the Battle of Inyezane, January 1879, when the Colonel wrote in his despatches:'...I cannot speak too highly of the energy and attention to their duties of Staff-Surgeon Norbury, R.N., my Senior Medical Officer, and his assistants. The field hospital was established in a convenient place, almost immediately after the firing began, and the wounded received every attention'.He was also in the relief of the garrison of Ekowe (M.I.D.) and joined General Crealock´s Columns as Principal Medical Officer to the entire Naval Brigade and advanced to Port Durnford (twice M.I.D.). Made Fleet Surgeon in July 1879 (C.B. July 1879; he also won the Gilbert Blane Gold Medal), Norbury was appointed in charge of the Naval Hospital at the Cape of Good Hope, August 1879 and held the latter position for three years, during which time he was made M.D. of the University of the Cape. After a brief period at Impregnable training ship for boys, he was promoted Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets, April 1887. Transferred to the department of the Director General to assist the then incumbent, Sir James Dick, 1890, Norbury spent five years in this capacity before being promoted Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets, 1895 (Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John) and succeeded Sir James Dick as Director General of Naval Medical Services in 1898 and also added the K.C.B. to his laurels. Elected Honorary Fellow of the Royal Naval College of Surgeons, 1900, the old salt retired in November 1904, having been Honorary Surgeon to both King Edward and King George. He was also the author of The Naval Brigade in South Africa and furthermore captured photographs of the campaigns.…

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.…

Baker's HorseRaised in 1878, the corps was disbanded at the close of hostilities, but was re-established at Port Elizabeth on the commencement of the Zulu War of 1879. As part of Colonel Wood's Column, under Redvers Buller, this famous mounted contingent was most notably engaged at Inhlobane on 28 March 1879, when the unit had eight of its number killed and two seriously wounded.219 Medals were awarded to Baker's Horse, 202 of them with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tpr. W. H. Chamberlain. Bakers Horse.), very fine…

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. 

A 'Mesopotamia 1917' D.C.M. group of four to Private A. H. Price, North Staffordshire Regiment,Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8586 Pte A. H. Price. 7/N. Staff: R.); 1914-15 Star (11575 Pte A. H. Price. N. Staff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11575 Pte. A. H. Price. N. Staff. R.), mounted as worn, light contact marks and polishing, otherwise very fine (4)D.C.M. London Gazette 29 August 1917, the original recommendation states:'For conspicuous gallantry in action. Being the only man left of a gun team except the No.1, he kept the gun supplied with ammunition all day. He was the last to leave the enemy's trench, bringing back the gun and tripod.'Albert H. Price is noted upon his M.I.C. as entering the war at Gallipoli prior to 1 January 1916, serving with the 7th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment. This unit left Avonmouth on 19 June 1915 first landing in Alexandria before moving to Mudros.They landed on Cape Helles between 6-16 July 1915 to relieve the 29th Division, returning to Mudros at the end of July. The entire Division landed at ANZAC Cove between 3-5 August 1915 and were in action at the Battle of Sari Bair, Russell's Top and Hill 60. Soon afterwards they transferred from ANZAC to Suvla Bay, remaining there until the sector was evacuated on 19-20 December 1915. They moved to the Helles bridgehead having been rested for a week. They were then in action during the last Turkish attacks at Helles on 7 January 1916 and were evacuated between 8-9 January.The Division concentrated at Port Said, holding forward posts in the Suez Canal defences. Posted to Mesopotamia on 12 February 1916, they joined the force being assembled near Sheikh Sa'ad for the relief of the besieged garrison at Kut al Amara. Joining Tigris Corps on 27 March they were in action in the unsuccessful attempts to relieve Kut and the Battle of Kut al Amara. They saw further fighting at the capture of the Hai Salient, the capture of Dahra Bend and the Passage of the Diyala, in the pursuit of the enemy towards Baghdad.Units of the Division were the first troops to enter Baghdad when it fell on 11 March 1917; it was around this time that Price received his award. The Division then joined 'Marshall's Column' and pushed north across Iraq, fighting at Delli Abbas, Duqma, Nahr Kalis, crossing the Adhaim on 18 April and engaging again at Shatt al Adhaim. Later in the year they were twice action at Jabal Hamrin and at Tuz Khurmatli the following April. By 28 May 1918 the Divisional Headquarters had moved to Dawalib and remained there until the end of the war, enduring extreme summer temperatures. The 39th Brigade was detached and joined the North Persia Force in July 1918 which was in Transcaspia, Russia by October 1918.Sold together with a card mounted studio photograph of him in uniform with two other colleagues - his D.C.M. riband clearly visible - the photograph taken by a studio 'George' in Baku, the reverse of this marked in coloured pencil 'From Albert To Mrs E. Price, 80 Copland St, Stoke, Staff, England'; together with a further photograph of him with young recruits c.1922/24 wearing the mounted group sold here.…

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.…

'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. …

Carbutts Border RangersCaptain Thomas Carbutt, a farmer near Ladysmith with previous military experience in the Natal Frontier Guard that had been disbanded in 1876, responded to the call and began to recruit volunteers from among the local settler community for the defence of Colonial Defensive District No. 1. His 30 men wore their everyday clothes and carried their own weapons.On 22 January 1879 the disaster of Isandhlwana took place, an incident that shocked the British people and establishment to the very core. A day or so after the battle the survivors and those that had missed the battle were holed up at Rorke’s Drift or at Helpmekaar. The only Regiment in central Natal thus carrying out its duties was Carbutt’s Border Rangers. The Port Elizabeth Herald gives more detail:'His Excellency the Governor General has been pleased to accept the services of several of the inhabitants of Klip River country, who have offered themselves into a corps for the purpose of protecting the district.'Once equipped and mounted the Rangers patrolled the Waschbank Valley, the Sundays River drifts and the approaches to Ladysmith but after the massacre at Isandhlwana they extended their area of operation. They arrived at Rorke’s Drift five days after the battle to find Lieutenant Chard, who had been in command, very ill and in need of medical attention. They escorted him back to Ladysmith where he was nursed back to health. Once in the field the Rangers commandeered a deserted homestead on the farm Doornkraal, between Ladysmith and the Sundays River, as their headquarters and it was reported that a troop of Natal Mounted Police who spent the night there on 20 February found Carbutt’s Rangers dining on “their habitual diet of rum and dampers” – unleavened cakes cooked in the ashes of a fire – and living up to their nickname of the “Blind Owls”Early in April the Rangers moved to their new camp at Dundee where it is recorded that they were 30 strong on 14 April. Recruiting continued and their number rose to 37. They operated between Dundee and Landman’s Drift and later marched to Rorke’s Drift where they assembled with the other troops brought together to bury the Isandlwana dead. The column crossed the Buffalo River en route for the deserted battlefield on 21 May 1879. At the scene the Rangers found the body of a Wagon Conductor, Phillipe Du Bois, who was well known to all the troop. They took the body to his farm at Helpmekaar for burial. (AngloBoerWar.com refers).23 Medals, all without clasp, issued to this unit.South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (Qr. Mr. Burchmore. Carbutts. Br. Rangers.), unofficially engraved naming, very fineName not on roll.… 25001 SALE ROOM NOTICE: 'Appears on the roll assembled by Terry Sole in For God, Queen & Colony'

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (916. Gunr. R. Crook. 6th. Bde. R.A.), good very fineServed with O Battery, 6th Brigade and landed at Durban in April 1879, the right half of Major Duncan's Battery went to the Lower Tugela and a detachment under Lieutenant Taylor to Fort Chelmsford. They were united again at Port Durnford and shared in the advance of Clarke's Flying Column on Ulundi.…

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 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.…

99th Duke of Edinburgh's (Lanarkshire) Regiment of FootAssigned to Lord Chelmsford's Column, the unit marched to the relief of British forces under Colonel Charles Pearson besieged by the Zulu impis. At the Battle of Gingindlovu, the 99th helped defeat a Zulu impis which tried to overrun the British while laagered.904 Medals issued to the unit, 904 of these with clasp '1879'.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (482. Pte. J. McTaggart. 99th Foot.), good very fine…

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (W. Cook, 20th Foot.), traces of lacquer, very fine, mounted as wornProvenance:Glendining's, September 1987.William Cook was born at Totham, Essex circa 1785 and was a labourer also serving in the West Essex Militia upon his enlisting in the 20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot (Lancashire Fusiliers) at Haslar under a bounty of £5-5-3; a vast sum in that period. At that time he was described as having dark eyes, dark hair and a 'brown' complexion, perhaps being of West Indian heritage whose parents had made it to England.Cook was wounded by gunshot at Orthes. A fine account is offered by Colonel John Hogge, K.H., who commanded the Light Company:'I embrace the first moment I had to spare since the battle of the 27th to let you know I have again escaped one of the most murderous battles that ever I believe the old 20th witnessed. I had three most wonderful escapes, three balls struck me, one entering the glass you bought me in London, when in the act of looking at the troops opposed to us, the ball still remains in but has entirely destroyed the glass. Another entered my jacket near the right breast, was turned by striking a button, passed along my waistcoat, came out and badly wounded a man of my company. A grape shot struck the top of my shoulder, carried away the bugle and most of my right wing but did no other injury except a slight bruise. You will say my dear brother I am a fortunate fellow, I think to myself, for I believe no man ever had narrower escapes, the jacket and spyglass I shall preserve and one day I hope to show you them. I shall now begin to relate what passed on that eventful day confining myself to that part of the tragedy our Brigade acted.The Light Companies of the 23rd, 7th, 20th, and a company of Rifles were in advance about 2 miles, when we came in contact with the advance post of the enemy, we immediately engaged them and drove them about a mile into a village where they had posted, unbeknown to us, a number of men in every part. We attacked it three times but did not succeed, soon after two companies of the 7th reinforced us and we quickly drove them out, took possession and retained it till the Brigade came up, we lost in this affair two Captains and about 60 men out of the light companies of the Brigade, eleven of my company were killed and wounded. It was here I had two escapes. We were then ordered to join our Regts. I found mine just in rear of the village.Soon after an order came to us to advance and support our Portuguese Brigade, as they had just given way about half a mile in front of us. The great bone of contention was a small town [St Böes] and a range of hills just in the van of it, upon which a strong column of French were posted with 6 pieces of Artillery. The main road ran directly through the town, and the heights and all the Artillery commanded it, we fixed bayonets and there the bloody scene commenced. I passed the Portuguese and actually carried the town under a most dreadful fire of grape shot and musquetry, that ever a regiment was exposed to, out of 291, all we had, 126 men and nine officers were killed and wounded. We had two other officers wounded but they were not returned so, being slightly hit. The enemy attempted again to take it from us, they got into the town but we managed to drive them out again. They carried away about 25 of our men and Captain Tovey, they surrounded them. The 7th Division soon came up and the French retreated in all directions. We followed till darkness put an end to the contest.Genl. Moss was wounded but not badly before we took the town. Major Bent who nobly commanded us had first his horse shot and was immediately afterwards killed himself. Three balls entered him. One Captain killed and three badly wounded. Capt Russell commands what few of us are left, he certainly gets the Brevet. Col Ellis, who commands the Brigade, rode into the town after we had taken it and declared that there never was a more gallant thing done by any Regt, and his Lordship sent in soon after to know what Regt it was that had taken the town. It is certain that they had in it double our numbers, posted so as to rake every part of the road leading through the town. Had we not succeeded we should have been cut to atoms, the only chance we had was to charge through it instantly, and after driving them out get under cover of the houses. It was impossible for our men to have stood it for five minutes longer, the grape from the Artillery on the hills cut us down by the dozens at a time. I got off most fortunately with the loss only of a strap. We mustered on parade next day only 144 men and nine officers. Soult may now say he annihilated us.’Cook was in fair shape to share in the action at Toulouse and was discharged on 31 January 1816. …

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.…

The 3rd East Kent RegimentDuring the summer of 1878, the Headquarters and five companies of the 3rd Regiment "The Buffs", which had previously been stationed at Pietermaritzburg, were scattered over a wide area at various strategically important positions in Natal. Reinforced by further companies of the regiment from Mauritius, their first orders resulted in the construction of the earthwork which was subsequently known as Fort Pearson.By January 1879 the regiment numbered over 800 men, and from the 4th to the 12th they assisted the Naval Brigade in completing the arrangements made for the crossing of the Tugela by Pearson's Column, of which the regiment now formed part. Under the command of Colonel Parnell, two companies of the Buffs destroyed the military kraal at Ginghilovo and then engaged the enemy in the neighbourhood of the Inyezane River. Two men of the regiment were killed and five wounded.Following the disaster at Isandhlwana, the regiment found itself on defensive duties forming part of the garrisons at Fort Tenedos and Etshowe; six companies at the latter held strong against an enemy siege, but not without loss; two popular officers and seven N.C.O.s and men died during the blockade and no fewer than one officer and 35 N.C.O.s and men were returned on the sick-list issued on 1 April 1879.Eventually relieved, the regiment took part in the Battle of Ginghilovo and then, as part of Crealock's Division, embarked on a series of varied 'harassing duties'. Throughout the succeeding months, the men further suffered heavily from sickness. In late July, orders were received to return to Natal and in November the Battalion was embarked at Durban for the Straits Settlement.1011 Medals were issued to 2/3rd Regiment, 37 of them with the clasp '1878-9'.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (2221. Pte. R. Dawkins. 2/3rd. Foot.), clasp replaced, contact marks and scratches over naming, nearly very fineRecipient confirmed on roll as entitled to the scarce '1878-9' clasp.…

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Java (Samuel Whittle, 22nd Light Dragoons.), traces of brooch mounting at 3 and 9 o'clock respectively, suspension sometime re-affixed, some edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fineWhittle is one of only 54 members of the cavalry with entitlement to a clasp for Java.Samuel Whittle was born in Whitley, Chester circa 1778 and made his living as a hatter prior to his enlistment with the 22nd Regiment of Light Dragoons on 1 July 1795 upon reaching eighteen years of age. Whittle was to embark on what would be a twenty-four-year career with the Colours, twenty-one of which were to be spent serving abroad in the East Indies.The 22nd Light Dragoons were renumbered from the 25th Dragoons in 1794, which had been raised by Francis Edward Gwyn that same year for service in India. Whittle, therefore, joined the Regiment whilst it was still in its infancy and was likely first embarked to India with the rest of his unit to serve in the Anglo-Mysore War in 1799. Whittle would remain in the region for the next two decades. The conflict in Mysore saw the 22nd Light Dragoons fight with distinction at the Battle of Seringapatam, which was awarded to them as a battle honour.During the Napoleonic Wars, Whittle and his Regiment took an active role in the British effort to seize Java from Franco-Dutch forces in 1811. They landed on 4 August and the next day a small number escorted Colonel Robert Gillespie to the capital of Batavia. They reached the undefended city on 8 August, which immediately surrendered to Gillespie and his men. They next advanced on Dutch General Janssens stronghold at Weltervreeden, which fell to a British attack on 10 August. The British sustained under 100 losses while the enemy lost over 300 men. The nature of the island made the deployment of cavalry difficult, however after the action at Weltervreeden the 22nd were utilised in their traditional role of pursuing the retreating enemy. Some of the Regiment may have taken part in the fighting dismounted, as Gillespie's Brigade Orders refer to:'I have also to thank Captain Gall of the Body-guard, Lieutenant Dudley of the dismounted dragoons twenty-second regiment, and Captains Smithwayte and M'Craith of the Madras pioneers, for their support in the affair.'Lieutenant Dudley's Dragoons also participated in the siege of Fort Cornelis which took place later that month. The column was guided into position by a Franco-Dutch deserter who rode at their head with Serjeant Smith of the 22nd, capturing two enemy redoubts in the surprise attack after a fierce battle, at which the critical moment Gillespie led the mounted detachment of the 22nd after the fleeing enemy. The Batavians rallied several more times prolonging the conflict, however in the end most of the force was cut off and the British seized the fort on 25 August. The British sustained 630 casualties, with the 22nd suffering 6 dead and 17 wounded. The wounded included the commander of the dismounted detachment, Lieutenant Dudley, who was again 'mentioned' although this time by the Adjutant General. The Battle of Cornelis ended effective resistance in Java, though the stubborn resistance of General Janssens carried on into September.The 22nd remained in Java until 1813, after which Muster Lists indicate that they served in Bangalore, India. British occupation of the island came to an end in 1814 when Java was returned to the newly independent Netherlands. Whittle was promoted Corporal in India on 22 February 1814 and served in this capacity with John Floyd Patterson's troop. The Regiment remained there and as such did not fight at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.Whittle was at some stage advanced Serjeant, and served as such at the Battle of Maheidpoor in Captain Vernon's troop on 21 December 1817. This battle saw a decisive British victory over the Marathas, resulting in the conclusion of the Anglo-Maratha War and the cession of much territory to the British, which were incorporated into the British Raj. It was just a few years after the engagement at Maheidpoor that Whittle's time in the service finally came to an end. He was discharged in India in consequence of 'being worn out by length of service & unable to ride' on 25 August 1819. While this poor state of health is certainly understandable given his twenty years in the harsh Indian climate, one wonders if his discharge might have been influenced by his Regiment being disbanded the following year.Whittle is further entitled to an Army of India 1799-1824 Medal with a clasp for Maheidpoor, being one of only 167 Europeans with entitlement to the clasp, 28 of which were awarded to the 22nd Light Dragoons; sold together with copied research including medal rolls.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax. 

'Now, gentlemen, let us do something today which the world may talk of hereafter!Thus spoke Rear-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood from the deck of his flagship, H.M.S. Royal Sovereign, prior to the Battle of TrafalgarThe Naval General Service Medal awarded to Able Seaman E. Kendall, Royal NavyNaval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Trafalgar (Edward Kendall.), good very fineProvenance:Seaby, June 1953.Spink, December 1972.Edward Kendall was born in London around 1778 and was 27 years old when he served as an Able Seaman aboard the H.M.S. Royal Sovereign during the Battle of Trafalgar.Royal Sovereign was a 100-gun first rate ship of line and was launched at Plymouth in 1786, over a decade after she was laid down in 1774, and was the only ship built to her specific design. Reportedly slow and difficult to manoeuvre, she was nicknamed the 'West Country Wagon' by her crew.Prior to serving at the famed Battle of Trafalgar, Royal Sovereign enjoyed an active role during the French Revolutionary Wars. She served as part of Admiral Richard Howe's fleet during the Glorious First of June, the first fleet action of the War, where she was the flagship of Admiral Thomas Graves' vanguard squadron. This resounding tactical victory saw Admiral Howe issue the unorthodox order for his ships to turn and breach the French line, rake the enemy ships and engage them directly. Royal Sovereign pulled too far into the line and suffered a heavy pounding from enemy ship Terrible, with Admiral Graves mortally wounded and dying during the course of the battle. Terrible fell out of the line and Royal Sovereign next engaged Montagne. Seven enemy ships were sunk or captured but the British lost none.Now the flagship of Vice-Admiral William Cornwallis, Royal Sovereign was further engaged in the conflict known as 'Cornwallis' Retreat'. In June 1795, a French fleet of twelve ships of the line and eleven frigates gave chase to Cornwallis' squadron of five ships of the line and two frigates. After a day's chase the rearguard came within range of the enemy, and rather than abandon part of his squadron Cornwallis stood his ground to counterattack with all his might. The Vice-Admiral steered Royal Sovereign in between the French and British forces, meeting the enemy with a raking fire. The Battle ended when French Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse mistakenly believed the British Channel Fleet was approaching and subsequently ordered his fleet to withdraw, thus allowing Cornwallis to escape.Royal Sovereign was further involved in a notable altercation on 17 March 1796 when the transport ship Bellisarius collided with her while en route to the West Indies and sank almost instantly. The Battle of TrafalgarH.M.S. Royal Sovereign held the distinction of being flagship of Vice-Admiral Collingwood, Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson's second-in-command at that famous sea battle off the coast of Trafalgar, Spain on 21 October 1805. She led one column of warships during the conflict while Nelson led the other, and was the first ship of the fleet to enter the action.Recently re-coppered, Royal Sovereign was faster than the other ships present and was the first to break the enemy line in accordance with Nelson's unorthodox plan to approach the allied line with his fleet arranged in two columns, which would cut the allied line and force one-on-one fighting.As Royal Sovereign gallantly sailed alone towards the enemy and made to engage the massive Spanish three decker Santa Ana, Collingwood remarked to his Captain, Edward Rotheram, "What would Nelson give to be here?". At roughly the same time, his friend Nelson reportedly pointed to her and exclaimed, "See how that noble fellow Collingwood carries his ship into action!".Collingwood's well-trained crew aboard Royal Sovereign fired such a rapid volley at Santa Ana that four allied ships quickly came to her aid, with Royal Sovereign first receiving fire from Fougueux before being joined by Indomptable, San Justo, and San Leandro. Despite this assistance, Santa Ana suffered nearly 240 casualties and struck her colours to Royal Sovereign at 2:20 that afternoon.Hemmed in at all sides by the enemy, Royal Sovereign suffered significant damage before she could be relieved by the remainder of the British fleet. She had lost her mizzen and main masts, most of her rigging, and suffered damage to her foremast and was no longer manoeuvrable. Even so, she continued to fire at the enemy from her port-side guns. Collingwood himself also suffered a wound to his leg whilst on deck, but was lucky in that he was only one of three officers on her quarterdeck who lived to see the end of the Battle.Following the death of Nelson at around 4:30pm, Collingwood assumed command of the fleet as commander-in-chief. Collingwood removed to H.M.S. Euryalus as a consequence of Royal Sovereign being, in his words, "perfectly unmanageable" after sustaining too much damage to continue as flagship. While Nelson's final command prior to his death had been for the fleet to anchor in advance of an oncoming gale, Collingwood disagreed and focused on those vessels still able to anchor and survive the storm. He had Royal Sovereign towed away while she was still able to stay afloat. She sustained 141 casualties over the course of the Battle.After TrafalgarFollowing the battle, missing her mizzen and mainmasts and most of her rigging, Royal Sovereign returned to Plymouth to be repaired and refitted. She thereafter returned to duty as part of the Mediterranean Fleet and participated in the ongoing blockade of Toulon. In November 1811 she was ordered to join the Channel Fleet, later being converted to harbour service as a receiving ship. Renamed Captain in 1825, she was eventually broken up at Plymouth in 1841. Four of her cannons were incorporated into the Collingwood Memorial in Tynemouth, where they may be seen to this day.Little is known about the fate of Kendall aside from his service at Trafalgar, only that he is confirmed on the roll as serving with Royal Sovereign during the battle and that he lived to claim his medal; sold together with copied medal roll.…

1/13th Prince Albert's (Somerset) Light Infantry RegimentPrior to the outbreak of the Zulu War, the 1st Battalion, 13th Prince Albert's Light Infantry, was engaged in operations against Sekukuni on the Transvaal border but, as war became imminent, it was moved south and formed part of Wood's Column, with which it remained throughout all operations.On 2 January 1879 the Column left Utrecht and reached the Blood River two days later. Having left two companies of men under Major Leet at the fortified outpost of Balte's Spruit, the Column crossed into enemy territory and constructed a fort at Tinta's Drift on the White Umvolosi; two further companies were left to garrison under Major Moysey, and the Battalion then moved on towards Zunguin Nek. It was here that the enemy was met in force on the 24th and defeated with loss.On 27 March a patrol of mounted men and natives were sent out towards Zlobane, the Native Irregulars under the command of Major Leet; such was the latter's gallantry in the retreat which ensued after the encounter with the enemy that he was awarded the Victoria Cross and promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel.At the Battle of Kambula the 13th gallantly checked the enemy at the right rear of the laager. According to The South African Campaign of 1879, 'Captains Evans and Fowne's companies were posted in Leet's redoubt, the fire from which made great havoc throughout the engagement. When the attack slackened, two companies of the 13th, under Captains Thurlow and Waddy, moving to the right front of the cattle laager, did great execution amongst the retreating Zulus, who were closely followed up and cut to pieces by the Mounted Corps.' During this engagement, two officers were severely wounded, six men of the regiment were killed and nineteen more were wounded.Not long after, at the Battle of Ulundi, the 13th occupied the right of the square, within 30 yards of which numbers of the enemy's dead were subsequently found. As before, casualties were significant, with Lieutenant Pardoe killed, together with two ranks, and eleven more wounded.After a wet and trying march, the Battalion arrived at Durban and embarked for England aboard H.M.S. Euphrates, arriving home on 18 September, after 4 years and 9 months of service in South Africa.1033 Medals were issued to the 1/13th Regiment, 688 of them with the '1878-9' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1878-9 (1680. Pte. T. Dickerson. 1/13th. Foot.), good very fine…

The superb campaign pair awarded to Colonel W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infantry, an Australian-born Indian Army Officer, who was thanked for his services in the Jowaki Expedition 1877, seeing out all of his service on the North-West Frontier and Afghanistan, being thrice 'mentioned' in the latter campaignIndia General Service 1854-94, 3 clasps, Umbeyla, North West Frontier, Jowaki 1877-8 (Lieut. W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infantry) unofficial connection between 1st & 2nd clasps; Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Kabul, Kandahar (Maj. W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infy.), good very fine (2)Ex-Brian Ritchie Collection.William Benjamin Aislabie was born at Richmond, Van Diemens Land, Australia, the son Reverend William John Aislabie and his wife Amerlia. Notably his elder brother was Rawson Aislabie - later Major General - one of only five officers to escape the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny at Delhi. His grandfather was Benjamin Aislabie, a famous cricketer and secretary of the M.C.C.. Most of the Reverend Aislabie's children appear to have been born in Australia, suggesting the family was residing there at the time. However they had returned to Britain by 1851, settling at Alpheton, Suffolk where the younger Aislabie appears upon the census.The Indian Army and North-West FrontierCommissioned into the Indian Army as an Ensign on 20 December 1859, Aislabie was advanced Lieutenant in the 3rd Sikh Infantry on 23 November 1861. Serving throughout the Umbeyla campaign of 1863, he was present for the actions of 15-16 December as well as the Hazara campaign of 1868, including the expedition against the tribes on the Black Mountain.Promoted Captain after the Hazara campaign on 29 June 1869 he was serving in that rank during the Jowaki Expedition 1877. Whilst there his commanding officer, Colonel Mocatta, succeeded to the command of the force consisting of the 1st Sikhs and 4th Punjab Infantry in addition to the 3rd Sikhs. Aislabie took command of the Regiment and led them during the campaign in which his column was to make a demonstration through the Tortung Pass towards Gumbut. The operation involved some skirmishing and cost the life of one man of the 3rd Sikhs and five wounded before returning to Kohat next day.In September Aislabie, in command of a detachment of 220 rifles, relieved a similar party of the 1st Sikhs at Gundiali and was employed for a fortnight in heavy patrolling duty from Gumbut. At the end of the month he commanded 447 rifles and, together with the 1st Sikhs, covered the building of a fort at Gundiali during which three men were wounded.In the autumn the Jowaki Afridis turned up the heat, attacking tribes between Peshawar and Kohat. Two 'Piffer' punitive columns were organised under Brigadier-Generals Keyes and Ross. The 3rd Sikhs advanced with the main force (the Kohat Column) under the former and on 1 December 1877 attacked and captured Jummoo, the principal stronghold of the Jowaki Afridis. The tribesmen fled into the hills and the Jowaki headmen sought peace. But, they found the terms unacceptable and hostilities were resumed until the tribesmen were utterly defeated by 250 British cavalry on 15 February. Aislabie was subsequently thanked for his services in Keyes despatch (GO No. 738 of 9 August 1878) in the following terms:'The command of the 3rd Sikh Infantry devolved, in the absence of Colonel Mocatta and Major Money, on Captain W. B. Aislabie, who carried out the duty in the advance on Piah, the advance on the Dargai heights and operations at Narel Kula to my entire satisfaction and with much credit to himself.'AfghanistanWith the renewal of hostilities in the Second Afghan War on 6 September 1879, Aislabie accompanied his Regiment from Bunnoo to Kurram. Orders were received for the march to the Shuturgardan Pass on the road to Kabul on 20 September which they were to defend with distinction. The pass was reached on 25 September and Aislabie was duly present at the repulses of the enemy with heavy loss on 2 October and again on 14 October.On the latter occasion, 'A large body of tribesmen had, for a short time, commanded the British position and broken its telegraphic communication with the Kuram. Major C. J. Griffiths, who went out with 250 Sikhs to dislodge the enemy, was wounded early in the engagement, but his men, led by Captain W. B. Aislabie, drove the tribesmen from the heights with the loss of their main standard, captured by Jemadar Gunesa Sing, and of two or three hundred killed and wounded, whilst, including Griffiths and Signalling-Sergeant Browne, the victors had only eight men wounded.'With this heavy engagement the Afghans were totally routed and pursued for two miles though not dispersed. For this action he was 'mentioned' in Roberts' dispatch of 15 October which states: '… and further brings to my notice the names of Major Griffiths, 3rd Sikhs, who led the attack until wounded; of Captain Aislabie, 3rd Sikhs, who succeeded to the command…'Following the abandonment of the Shutargardan on 30 October and the Regiment's arrival at Kabul, Aislabie took part in the defeat of the Afghans by Macpherson's Brigade in the Chardeh Valley on 10 December, and again on 11 December when Massy's guns were recovered. When 400 men of the 92nd Highlanders, the Corps of Guides, and 300 rifles of the 3rd Sikhs, under Brigadier-General T. D. Baker marched out from the Sherpur cantonment on 13 December to attack and carry the Takht-i-Shah peak, Aislabie went up the spur with 100 rifles as escort to No.3 Mountain Battery. For his work in this action he was again 'mentioned'.In the afternoon next day, 'the enemy attacked a strong picket left on the conical hill below Asmai heights and succeeded in driving the defenders away with the loss of 2 mountain guns, following them down into the plains. The 100 rifles under Captain Aislabie were ordered at the double to check the enemy and cover the retirement. The 3rd Sikhs formed skirmishing order, passed through our retirement, engaged the enemy and drove them up the hill ... In this affair all ranks behaved with coolness and gallantry.'Between 14 and 23 December Aislabie served in the Defence of Sherpur. Promoted to Field Rank on 20 December, he was appointed Wing Commander in his corps on the same date, vice Major Griffiths. He accompanied the regiment into the Logar, Wardak, and Maidan valleys in May 1880 to collect supplies and destroy refractory Ghilzai villages. Joining the march from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar in August he was present at the crushing defeat of Ayub Khan at the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September. For services in the Afghan War of 1878-80, he was three times mentioned in Roberts' despatches, received the Medal with two clasps and the Bronze Kabul to Kandahar Star.EpilogueThe 3rd Sikhs arrived at Dera Ghazi Khan in November 1880 and occupied the Right Infantry lines and, on the departure of Colonel Money on sick furlough to Europe, Aislabie was appointed to officiate as second in command. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 20 December 1885 he finally became Commandant of his corps in December 1887 on the retirement of Major Griffiths. 'By GGO dated 15th March, Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. Aislabie was permitted to retire from the service with effect from 18th March [1889] and was struck off the strength of the Regiment.'Returning to Britain, Aislabie was granted probate on the estate of his brother Major-General Rawson Aislabie the next year in 1890. He died at Cheltenham on 12 June 1910, his obituary in the Gloucester Journal reads:'Lieut. Colonel William Benjamin Aislabie who died on June 14th at 1, Berkeley-place, Cheltenham, retired from the Indian Army on December 20th, 1885. He served in the Frontier…

Chalumna Volunteer CavalryRaised in 1877, they served with a strength of 13 in the Fast London Cavalry in Basutoland in HQ Column and with the East London Cavalry in the 9th Xhosa War.44 Medals issued to the unit, 34 of them with clasp '1877-8'.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8 (Tpr. A. Brooks, Chalumna Vol: Cavy.), official correction to unit, very fine…

A 'Last Stand at Cassell 1940' P.OW. group of three awarded to Trooper A. E. Kettener, 1st East Riding Yeomanry1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (7889318 Tpr. A. E. Kettener. E. Riding Yeo.), the first three numbers officially corrected, sold together with his service and pay book, light contact marks, very fine (3)Alfred Edward Kettener was born on 15 May 1919 and worked as a Railway Messenger with L.N.E.R. when he enlisted on 14 February 1938 with the Territorial Army. The next year the East Riding Yeomanry was reconstituted as a result of the threat of war and formed into an armoured unit. Kettener was posted to them and entered the war with the formation in France on 2 March 1940.Ordered to joined 145th Brigade they moved through the town of Cassel in late May 1940, meeting the first German thrust outside the town. Holding there alongside the 140th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery they were forced back on 28 May to the town of Cassell itself. They came under repeated and heavy attack there over the next day with their vehicles being targeted, slowing their capacity to manoeuvre as well as their headquarters being hit by a shell.It was concluded by 29 March that a withdrawal was going to be necessary so the Regiment mounted up and at 21:30 commenced the breakout from Cassell. Progress was slow to start with due to the congestion on the roads and they were further delayed by the troops on foot failing to reach their positions in time. As a result they were not clear of Cassell until after midnight and were not underway properly until 01:00 on 30 March.This delay proved fatal as the Germans reached the village of Drogland ahead of the British, colliding with the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Word went back that the enemy were ahead of them and the Yeomanry separated with 'A' Squadron pushing north towards Herzeele with the O.C. Unfortunately the rest of the column was under heavy attack and needed to reform which they did under the 2 i/c, leading the 'A' Squadron becoming separated from the rest of the unit.At Herzeele they found themselves facing a large force of German infantry with armoured support which soon mopped up the exhausted and strung out Yeomanry formation. Those few members of 'A' Squadron that escaped were armed only with rifles and pistols with a few hand grenades, they scattered and attempted to make for the coast.Meanwhile 'B' Squadron came under attack by German tanks, they gave good account of themselves but were unable to rejoin 'A' Squadron. Pushing first North and later East they made for the town of Watou, reported to be in British hands. The Regimental Headquarters Tank Valient was knocked out by an anti-tank gun near the town which proved to be occupied by the Germans, they had taken it on 28 May.'C' Squadron, was the last in line pushed directly East towards Watou, taking heavy losses all the while including Major Radcliffe their commander. Near the town they encountered other British troops who confirmed that it had been taken however by this stage the Squadron was down to three armoured carriers. They attempted to push north but all the vehicles were soon put out of action, from this point they ceased to exist as a coherent unit.Initially taken to Stalag XXA, Thorn, with most of the British troops taken in France Kettener was moved to Marienburg in September 1940 and set to work at Mewe Barracks. In December his role changed to road construction and finally in September 1941 he was set to farm work which continued for the rest of the war. As the Allies closed in in 1945 he was moved to Greidswald and finally liberated at Barth.Remaining with the Yeomanry he was awarded his efficiency medal the next year in 1946 and his campaign awards in 1948 at 145 Ella Street, Newland Avenue, Hull; sold together with copied research and the recipient's original service and pay book.…

Lonsdale's HorseRaised by Commandant R. La T. Lonsdale, late of the 74th Regiment, for service in the Zulu War of 1879, the unit accompanied the Relief Column sent to Eshowe.93 Medals were awarded to Lonsdale's Horse, 79 of them with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tpr. F. V. Kirby. Lonsdales, Horse.), heavily cleaned, suspension re-affixed, fine…

The campaign group of three awarded to Major F. C. Griffin, Royal Artillery, who was killed in the attack on the fortified village of Ambiokh during the Bhootan campaign, when an enemy shell hit an open gunpowder cask in the midst of his small battery, killing three officers and four gunners outrightCrimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lieut. F. C. Griffin Royal Artillery) contemporary engraved naming; India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Umbeyla, Bhootan (Major F. C. Griffin. R.A.) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, fitted with silver swivel-bar, recently mounted court-style, suspension, lightly polished otherwise good very fine or better (3)Frederick Cockburn Griffin was born at Budock, Cornwall on 26 February 1832, the son of Cahterine and Captain Charles Griffin, Royal Navy. Joining the Royal Artillery as a Cadet on 28 January 1947 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 19 December 1849, being advanced Lieutenant on 3 October 1851.In that rank he served with No. 1 Battery, 9th Battalion, Royal Artillery in the Crimea where he was one of two Lieutenants. This unit was present for the final bombardment of Sebastopol and eventually its fall, Griffin must have performed well during the campaign as he was advanced 2nd Captain not long later on 23 February 1956.Further promoted Captain on 19 January 1961 he was posted to India in command of half of 'C' Battery, 19 Brigade R.A. Whilst there Griffin took part in the Umbeyla expedition- this was planned as a swift strike at a force of hostile tribesmen on what the British believed to be friendly ground. Sadly they were mistaken and the campaign became a slow slog with the same patches of ground being repeatedly fought over costing the British 1,000 casualties.Again Griffin must have performed well during the fighting as he was advanced Brevet Major on 5 August 1864. That same year he was involved in the Bhootan campaign in command of two Armstrong Mountain guns which accompanied the Daling Column along with two 8-inch Mortars. This Column- one of four launched into Bhutan - left on 28 November 1864 under the command of Major C. J. S. Gough, V.C., and Major J. R. Pugh.Their first major engagement was an attack on the fortified village of Ambiokh on 6 December 1864. This fortified village was located upon a thickly wooded hill below the fort of Dhalimcote- or Dalinkote, the name given upon Griffin's service papers- and defended by a solid stockade. As the British approached the Bhutanese could be seen removing the woodwork from the walls and tours in order to mitigate the effects of British artillery.As the guns opened fire the infantry advanced, only to find themselves attacked by Bhutanese troops hidden in the forests. The village was soon taken in the face of heavy resistance and the attack continued towards the fort, which posed a tougher challenge. It was situated at the top of the hill, above a steep slope and proved a difficult proposition for both infantry and artillery. The mountain guns were brought up as closely as possible and began a covering fire for the infantry struggling up the hill and suffering heavy casualties in the face of a furious fire. The mortars were brought up to add to the covering fire and Griffin joined them to measure out the charges, British Battles on Land and Sea relates the tragedy that follows, stating:'By this time, our mortars had been dragged to the ridge below the fort, and placed in position there, "The charge of powder," says Dr Rennie, "contained in the made-up cartridges being too great for so short a range, it was necessary to weigh out charges specially suited for it, and a barrel of gunpowder was opened for the purpose. At the second round from the mortars, one of the shells burst at the muzzle, and caused the explosion of the powder-cask. Major Griffen, who at the time was weighing the charges out, Lieutenant Anderson and Waller of the Royal Artillery, and four gunners of the same corps were killed by the explosion, while Lieutenant Collins of the Royal Engineers, and several artillerymen, were severely mutilated."Brigadier Dunford had a narrow escape from being also a victim.'Three of the four artillery officers, Major Griffin, Lieutenants E. A. Anderson and E. Waller, together with four of the gunners were killed outright, and Lieutenant W. H. Collins R.E. and a number of men were wounded. Fortunately the mountain guns were still in action and well manned, they breached the walls and the infantry poured into the fort, taking it and winning the battle.Griffen is commemorated on a memorial at St. Paul's Cathedral, Calcutta alongside other officers killed during the Bhootan expedition; sold together with copied research.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:Lot is NOT subject to 5% Import Tax. 

The Military General Service Medal awarded to Sergeant T. Harris, 5th Regiment of Foot, who was slightly wounded in the Battle of Bergen 1799Military General Service 1793-1814, 6 clasps, Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (T. Harris, 5th Foot.), minor pitting, very fineProvenance:Whitaker Collection 1890.One of 33 Medals with 6 clasps to the Regiment, 2 of this combination.Thomas Harris was a native of Gloucester, Gloucestershire and attested for service on 20 May 1799. Entering the Napoleonic War in Holland his service papers note 'Wounded slightly on the breast in Holland 19 September 1799'. This was the date of the Battle of Bergen where an Anglo-Russian army was defeated by a Franco-Batavian force.Here the Regiment, both the 1st and 2nd Battalions, were part of the centre-right column under General Dundas. Their role was to take and hold the village of Warmenhuizen, which they did alongside three Russian Regiments, holding it for the duration of the Battle. They suffered 345 other ranks and 22 Sergeants wounded in action, given how recently Harris had attested it is very likely he was a Private at the time.He went on to serve with the Regiment through much of the Peninsula Campaign, earning himself a 6-clasp medal. He was discharged on 11 September 1821, his conduct described as 'very good'. Harris is further entitled to a silver medal of merit; sold together with copied service papers.…

The scarce 'Benin 1897' casualty's East and West Africa Medal awarded to Gunner A. A. Targett, Royal Marine Artillery, who was specially recommended for his service in the expedition, having been seriously wounded while manning a Maxim Gun outside Benin CityEast and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (A. A. Targett, Gr R.M.A., H.M.S. St George.), slight contact wear, very fineAlred Arthur Targett was born at Portsmouth in June 1869 and attested with the Royal Marine Artillery at Eastney Barracks on 9 March 1888. He served with a number of shore establishments before being posted to Royal Arthur on 2 May 1893 and served with her for three years. Joining St. George on 24 January took part in the Benin Punitive Expedition, helping to crew a Maxim gun.In this role he was present for the attack on Benin City which occurred on 18 February 1897. Targett's service papers note, 'Feb 197 Present at attack on Benin Specially Recommended'.Unfortunately there was stiff opposition to the advance and Targett was to suffer as a result:'-shot by a man in a tree while storming Benin - when trying to remove the bullet it was found that the pubic bone was shattered & the bullet impacted - also bullet wound of chest (which was removed).'(IBID)It should be noted that the diary of Private Lewis (OMRS Journal March 2019) states that Targett continued firing the Maxim despite his wounds. The Globe and Laurel quotes the journal of Corporal Rogerson, R.M.A. which describes the role of the Maxim's during the Battle, stating:'Water was being served out, our guns put down, and we were lying about, glad of a rest, when, suddenly, fire was opened on us. "Mount the gun," was the order, and mounted it was, and in action, in less than thirty seconds, on the bush to the right, while the infantry fired volleys. The St. George's bluejackets, the 1st Section of the Marine Battalion, under Captain Byrne, our two maxims and their thirteen men, were the only troops in front, Lieut. Robertson, with the 2nd Section of the Marine Battalion being with the carrier column, in the rear. As soon as the bush to the right. Everything was stopped, as before, by the carriers burying their heads in the earth. The respective Nos. I shouldered the guns, another picked up the tripods, and the rest of the guns' crews brought up the belt boxes, but it was with difficulty that any advance was made as the coolies laid down on, and hid, the ammunition.Meanwhile the Bluejackets and Marines had left us about 200 yards in rear, while desultory firing from the right bush was still going on. This became so hot that Sergeant Turner halted and mounted his gun in a position just in front of the hot spot and backed by a large tree, I came up and took up a position and mounted three yards on his right and immediately opened fire. We had not been there five minutes before Gunners Howlett, Targett and Sinister were wounded- Captain Byrne was shot through the right side and Private Varndell in the open during the advance, while Gunners Jones and Denman were wounded slightly. An incessant fire came from the trees opposite, scarcely fifty yards away and as the guns had not sufficient elevation to clear them, I directed Gunner Flatman to place boxes under front legs…'They held their ground until the rearguard came up and then brought their guns forward to the now captured Benin City. Targett was posted to S.S. Malacca on 3 March 1897, his wound was clearly severe however despite this he was able to continue serving until March 1909 with a number of ships and shore establishments. Targett returned to service in August 1914 and served at Dunkirk before being transferred to Holm in the Orkneys in October 1915; sold together with copied research including service papers, a copy of Globe and Laurel and a casualty roll.Further entitled to a 1914 Star Trio.…

3rd Battalion, 60th Foot (King's Royal Rifle Corps)The unit arrived to join Lord Chelmsford’s Relief Column just in time to fight in the Battle of Gingindlovu on 1 April 1879 and the following relief of the Siege of Eshowe. Following the conclusion of hostilities, the unit was left behind on garrison duty in South Africa, being there when the First Boer War broke out. They would share in the Battle of Ingogo River and also the disastrous Battle of Majuba Hill in early 1881.999 Medals issued to the unit, 964 with the clasp '1879'.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (1728. Pte. G. Faulkner. 3/60th. Foot.), nearly extremely fine…

Frontier Light HorseRaised by Lieutenant F. Carrington at King Williams Town, Cape Colony, in 1877. Command soon passed to Major Redvers Buller, K.R.R.C., under whom the F.L.H. served in the final stages of the Ninth War, suffering casualties. In July 1878, the unit, 276 of all ranks, marched from King Williams Town to Pietermaritzburg in Natal, and from there to Sekukuniland in the Transvaal. During September and October the corps saw service against the Sekukini and in November returned to Natal and fought through the Zulu War of 1879 with Wood's Column.At Hlobane on 28 March 1879, the F.L.H. acted as the rear-guard during the withdrawal and subsequently lost nearly 20% of the 156 all ranks engaged. Their Commanding Officer was killed and was succeeded by Captain C. D'Arcy, who on reconnaissance with Sergeant O'Toole would both go on to win the Victoria Cross. The unit was armed with Martini-Henry carbines with a short sword bayonet.478 Medals were awarded to the Frontier Light Horse, 179 of them with clasp '1879'.The Zulu War Medal awarded to Trooper A. Whitecross, Frontier Light Horse, who gallantly saved the life of Trooper Patterson at Hlobane Mountain - for which he was 'mentioned' by Lieutenant-Colonel BullerSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (209, Tpr. A Whitecross, Frontr. L. Horse), very fineAlexander Whitecross was born in Scotland circa 1837 and served with Pulleine's Rangers in 1877-8 before joining the Frontier Light Horse, with whom he served from 14 July 1878-8 August 1879.A good account of his gallantry is offered by Greaves in Crossing the Buffalo:'So steep was the descent down the Devil's Pass that many of Buller's men and horses fell to their deaths; for the survivors, their ordeal was to become even more serious as the Zulus from the main force now reached the lower reaches of the pass and began closing in on both sides. The Zulus began firing at point-blank range into the desperate soldiers while others darted among them, stabbing and spearing to death.Trooper Patterson had managed to lead his horse safely down the pass and had just mounted up when he was speared from his horse leaving him defenceless. As the Zulus closed to kill the injured rider, Trooper Whitecross drove them off by using his rifle as a club. Patterson was hauled to safety and both lived to tell the tale.'His named was 'mentioned' by Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Buller in the despatches of 29 March 1879.It is understood he served in Prince Alfred's Volunteer Guard during the Basuto Gun War of 1880-81 but died in November 1893 and did not live to claim a Medal (Frontier Light Horse in the Anglo-Zulu War 1879, refers).…

The Africa General Service Medal awarded to District Commissioner H. M. Douglas, Aro Frontier Force, whose long service in Africa saw him thanked by the Secretary of State for his actions during the Ngor Rising and a brace of 'mentions' for fine services in NigeriaAfrica General Service 1902-56, 4 clasps, Aro 1901-1902, S. Nigeria 1902, S. Nigeria 1904, S. Nigeria 1905-06 (Dis: Comr. H. M. Douglas, Aro F.F.), extremely fineM.I.D. London Gazette 23 February & 18 September 1906.Harold Mordey Douglas was born at Sunderland in January 1875, the son of Mordey and Emma Douglas. Joining the Colonial Service in 1894 he served initially as consular agent for Puerto de la Luz, Canary Islands. He was appointed Assistant District Commissioner with the Niger Coast Protectorate in 1897 - the start of a long career in Africa. Whilst in the Protectorate he became involved in organising transport for a cross river-expedition which occurred in 1900.The outbreak of the Anglo-Aro War in 1901 saw Douglas appointed Political Officer with No. 2 column, Aro Field Force. The fighting was surprisingly fierce given the disparity in forces with the city of Arochukwu falling after four days of fighting. The war ended not long after the fall of Bende in the Spring of 1902.Appointed District Commissioner for South Nigeria in 1902, Douglas received the thanks of the Secretary of State for his prompt actions taken in suppressing the Ngor rising in June 1902, earning his South Nigeria 1902 clasp in the process. Again appointed Political Officer to the Imo River expedition, Southern Nigeria in March 1904 he served under the command of then Major Hugh Trenchard.Joining the Bende-Onitsha Hinterland expedition, again as Political Officer, he was 'mentioned' for this service as well as earning the 1905-1906 clasp. The London Gazette on 23 February 1906 states the following of his work there:'After the withdrawal of the Ouitsha Hinterland patrol from the Owerri District, the inhabitants of a small district to the east of Owerri, which had not been visited, refused to allow passage along their roads, and fired on a military escort travelling over one of them. The District Commissioner, Mr. H. M. Douglas, and a small force under Lieutenant Halfpenny, with 86 rank and file, visited the country and met with constant resistance, four soldiers being killed and three wounded before this thickly-populated district submitted.'After the expedition Douglas was appointed Senior District Commissioner in 1906 before transferring to Central Province as Acting Provincial Secretary in 1908-09. His final role was as Acting Assistant Provincial Commissioner and Provincial Secretary of Central Province in 1910-13. Douglas was still living at Warri Province in 1914, he died on 24 May 1926 at the Kapara Estate, Fort Jameson, North-East Rhodesia; sold together with copied extracts from medal rolls, London Gazette entries and other research.Note further information on Douglas can be found in an Article in the O.M.R.S. journal of March 2019 entitled 'Black Douglas'.…

Ferreira's HorseRaised by Colonel Ignatius Ferreira at Pretoria during the first British occupation of the Transvaal, this distinguished body was subsequently employed against the Sekukuni in June 1878. In the Zulu War of the following year, it served under Redvers Buller in Colonel Wood's Column and sustained a number of casualties at Sekukini's Stronghold on 28 November 1879.201 Medals were awarded to Ferreira's Horse, 60 of them with the '1878' clasp and 100 of them with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Troopr. J. Morris. Ferreira's Horse.), pawnbroker's mark to rim, very fineRoll also notes 'see Border Horse'.…

Transvaal RangersRaised in April 1878 and commanded by Captain Pieter Johannes Raaf, formerly in command of 84 men known as 'Raaf's Rangers', the Transvaal Rangers consisted of approximately 60 European volunteers, supported by 148 men of the Transvaal Mounted Rifles. They were created in an attempt to maintain the numerical strength of the volunteer corps in the face of numerous resignations - and the return of the Diamond Fields Horse to Kimberley - and to make a stand against Sekukini and his allies. Seeing an eventful war, the Transvaal Rangers were heavily engaged at Hlobane on 28 March 1879 and took part in the hunt for Cetchwayo as part of Baker Russell's Column. They were disbanded in September 1879.243 Medals were awarded to the Transvaal Rangers, 101 of them with the '1878' clasp and 122 with the '1879' clasp.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tpr. C. Hagart. Transvaal Rangs.), claw tightened, nearly very fine…

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (4696 Gnr. R. L. Lead, R.A.), an officially impressed late issue, good very fineRoll states 'Rep[laced] 24/5/03.'273 Medals were issued to members of the Battery, 132 of them with the '1879' clasp. Robert L. Lead served with N Battery, 5th Brigade, commanded by Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel. A. Harness, C.B.. They formed part of Glyn's Column of the army of invasion in January 1879, and comprised 130 men of all ranks, with six guns, 73 horses, 36 mules and six mule-carts, with transport wagons. In the disastrous encounter with the enemy at Isandhlwana, the Battery lost Brevet Major Stuart Smith and 61 men, together with two guns, 24 horses, 30 mules and 534 rounds of ammunition. The Battery re-crossed the Buffalo River with the remains of the column on 23 January and remained at Rorke's Drift until the 25th, before proceeding to Helpmekaar where it remained until 17 April; during this time considerable sickness prevailed.Proceeding to Dundee, the Battery formed part of Newdigate's Division and took part in garrison duties. Leaving the guns at Fort George under the command of an officer, with the dismounted men, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Harness, with approximately 35 mounted men and officers, took part in the search for the Zulu King. The Column was shortly afterwards broken up and the Battery proceeded to the Transvaal.…

A very fine 1945 M.M. group of four awarded to Private S. K. May, Cameron Highlanders, who was present during the Fall of Tobruk; on that day the Battalion marched into captivity to the skirl of their pipesMilitary Medal, G.VI.R. (2929616 Pte. S. K. May. Camerons.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, very fine (4)M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1945.Stanley Kitchener May was born at West Derby, Lancashire on 9 June 1916, the son of Robert and Ellen May. He enlisted in Liverpool on 29 August 1939 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion Cameron Highlanders, being sent to Middle East. They were part of the British garrison caught at Tobruk in June 1942 by the German counterattack in the Middle East.The final attack occurred on 20 June with the Camerons being isolated by a sharp offensive which saw German panzers taking the centre of the city that same day. May was listed missing on 21 June 1942 and taken prisoner of war, the Battalion made quite the impression as they went into captivity with an account of their march given by Sergeant Lloyd, South African Armed Forces, to Outspan magazine:'It was mid-day when we heard it. Faintly at first and then louder it came, a rhythmic swinging sound, unexpected but unmistakable - the skirl of pipes. We scrambled out of our shelters to look, and saw, swinging along bravely as though they were marching to a ceremonial parade, a tiny column of men, led by the pipes and a drum, with the Drum-Major striding ahead. Silence fell as they came, and the drum tapped the pace for a moment as the pipers gathered their breath. Then, as they wheeled in towards us, they broke into Pitbroch o'Donuil Dhu with all the gay lilt of the Highlands and all the defiance and feeling any Scot can call out on his pipes. Smartly they march to attention, and halted as if on parade. To the strains of their regimental march the Camerons had come in to surrender'May was taken initially to Camp No 78 at Sulmona, Italy and later Stalag 11b/357, Fallingbostel, Germany. He was reported liberated on 9 June 1945, likely at Fallingbostel which was the first P.O.W. camp to be liberated. It should be noted that no recommendation has been found for the award however it is likely either related to his actions at Tobruk or time as a P.O.W.A passenger list has him going from Liverpool to Wellington, New Zealand in 1950 where he appears to have been working. May was living at Upper Hutt, Wellington and made a living as a rubber worker between 1950 and 1981.Sold together with copied research and an archive of original material including:i)A Regimental tie.ii)Soldier's pay book.iii)Soldier's release book.iv)Two army forms named to the recipient.v)A compliment slip from the New Zealand High Commissioner.vi)Medal slip of issue.vii)A spare strip of M.M. riband.viii)A named message of congratulations from the King.ix)All contained within an original war office medal box of issue named to the recipient.…

Alexandra Mounted RiflesFounded in 1865, with Captain Arbuthnot commanding the unit which fell into Pearson's Column. The majority of their number reported for service in December 1878.Approximately 30 Medals to the unit, 29 of them with clasp '1879'.South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Trumpt. St. Geo Arbuthnot. Alexandra. Md. Rifls.), good very fineSt George Arbuthnot was surely the young son of Captain W. T. Arbuthnot, who commanded the unit, this the only Medal inscribed to a Trumpeter.… 25001 SALEROOM NOTICE:'St George Arbuthnot was brother of the unit Commanding Officer, not the son.'

Natal Mounted PoliceRaised by Major Dartnell in 1874, the N.M.P. was never given the same opportunities as the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, later Cape Mounted Riflemen, and the unit always had difficulty in trying to obtain proper arms and equipment. Nonetheless, it always attracted a 'very good class of recruit', and in 1877, when Shepstone annexed the Transvaal, a 25-strong N.M.P. contingent acted as his sole escort. Moreover, of those men who served in the Zulu War of 1879, over 30 of them lost their lives at Isandhlwana.256 Medals were awarded to the Natal Mounted Police, 167 of them with the '1879' clasp.The Zulu War Medal awarded to Trooper A. R. Parsons, Natal Mounted Police, who was Killed in Action at the Battle of Isandhlwana - he was perhaps the unluckiest man on the field, for he accidentally discharged his weapon and was left in camp in punishmentSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tr. A. R. Parsons. Natal Md. Police.), nearly extremely fineExhibited:Anglo-Zulu War Society, Royal Logistic Corps HQ, 2009.Details of his sad demise is recorded by Holt in the History of the Natal Mounted Police:'Taking fifteen days' supplies on ox wagons, the column moved on to Isandhlwana on the 20th January. A month's supplies were left behind at Rorke's Drift, where a number of sick and wounded remained in hospital. The men paraded at 4 a.m. and the police acted as advance-guard. Some of them had to scout the country, keeping at least a mile from the road. They climbed up and down stony hills for miles, coming out on the plain where the Isandhlwana church now stands, the troops being halted on the nek below Isandhlwana Hill. The police had had a hard task, and were anticipating rest and food for themselves and their beasts when a Staff officer rode up and ordered Inspector Mansel to place out-posts on all the commanding hills on the east. Colonel Clarke recalls the fact that his troop was sent to an outlying ridge, and it was left there until long after dark, when a non-commissioned officer rode out and explained apologetically to the ravenous men that they had been forgotten by the Staff officer. It was then 8 p.m., and they did not reach camp until an hour later, when dinner (which consisted of biscuits and bully beef) was over.At 9.30pm Fall in for orders was sounded, and the police were informed that they had to parade at 3 a.m. with the volunteers to reconnoitre in the direction of Matyana's stronghold. The news that Major Dartnell was to be in command was received with cheers. The police, having only a few hours in which to rest, did not trouble to find their kits, and they never saw them again. All but thirty-four members of the police went off before dawn. They took no rations, being informed that they would be back at noon, when a hot meal would be provided for them. There was many a man wished, sorrowfully, afterwards, that he had put something to eat in his pocket.They covered a considerable extent of the country during the morning without getting a glimpse of the enemy, and after midday met the Native Contingent, under Colonel Lonsdale. The troopers offsaddled for a while, and then received sudden orders to move in an easterly direction, away from the main camp, where small bodies of the enemy had been reported. On a ridge near the Isipezi Mountain a few Zulus were seen, whereupon the force dismounted, while Inspector Mansel, with a small number of police, Sergeant-Major Royston, and a few of the Carbineers, galloped out to reconnoitre. It was soon seen that the enemy were there in large numbers, for they opened out until they covered the whole ridge, and dashed down the hill in an attempt to surround Inspector Mansel's party, who, however, wheeled back and escaped the impi. A trooper named Parsons, in attempting to load his revolver, accidentally discharged the weapon. His horse shied and he fell off. As a reward he was sent back to camp in disgrace, the incident causing a good deal of merriment. Parsons was killed during the attack on the camp the next day.'…

AN ARTS AND CRAFTS OAK DROP-LEAF GATELEG TABLEwith four plank top, terminating on turned column legs with elongated rounded feet, 72cm high x 134cm long x 56cm deep (closed), each leaf 37.5cm wide

An early 20th century mottled green marble pedestal, with circular top over a fluted column and octagonal plinth base, in four sections,111cm high

A brass table lamp, of tapering banded columnar form to a turned hardwood foot, 84cm high In overall good decorative order, some wear to base and the column, modern bulb fitting, untested.stands relatively stable, the added fitting leans very slightly, base diameter 16cm column early 20th century, lamp itself late 20th century See images, 

A MAHOGANY PEDESTAL DESK20th century, stamped to the central drawer 'Gillows Lancaster', the inverted breakfront top with a moulded edge over an arrangement of nine graduated drawers with fluted column corners, on ogee bracket feet and castors, 77cm high x 137cm wide x 63cm deep

A DANISH MAHOGANY BREAKFAST TABLE19th century, the circular tilt top on a faceted baluster column and inswept platform base with three lions paw feet, 72cm high x 115cm diameter

AN ANTIQUE TERRACOTTA PEDESTALprobably Elizabethan, with a spiraled cylindrical column on an octagonal plinth, with later metal sundial to the top, 68cm high x 25cm diameter

A REGENCY FIGURED MAHOGANY CIRCULAR TRIPOD TABLE the top with radiating triangular veneer on a tapering square column and inswept platform base with lions paw feet, 71cm high x 45cm diameterProvenance: A private North Dorset collection.

A DUTCH BRASS CHANDELIER19th century, with a turned central column and six scrolled branches, 57cm high x 62cm diameter

A REGENCY MAHOGANY TRIPOD TABLE the circular top over a turned baluster column and outswept reeded legs terminating on brass feet and castors, 75cm high x 69cm diameterProvenance: The Bond Family, Holme Priory.

Vinyl - 90 UK pressing Northern Soul / Soul / Funk / Disco 7” singles to include: Billy Butler, Barbara Acklin, The Steve Karmen Big Band, Shirley Ellis, Inez And Charlie Foxx, Otis Redding, The Five Stairsteps, Eddie And Ernie, Matata, The Meters, Ike & Tine Turner & The Ikettes, Charles Leonard, Dean Parrish, The Impressions, The Crow, King Curtis & The Noble Knights, The World Column, Donald Height, The Dells, Bobby Caldwell, Grover Washington Jr. The Chantelles, Barbara Lynn, Ramblers Dance Band, Lorraine Chandler, Willie Parker, Al Wilson, Pioneers, Gene Latter and many others. Condition at least VG overall with some labels written on

A PAIR OF ONYX AND GILT METAL MOUNTED COLUMN LAMPS 20TH CENTURY with shades 58cm high, 73cm high with shades, 16.5cm at base Provenance: Private Collection, Lancashire Estate Condition Report: PLEASE NOTE: ALL LOTS ARE LOCATED AT SACKVILLE WEST STORAGE IN ANDOVER (SP10 3SA) AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO VIEW  With wear, marks, knocks and scratches as per age, handling, use, and cleaning Some discolouration and pitting to metal Chips and nibbles to one of the marble bases One of the plastic bulb fitments is broken at the top, please see images Small marks to shades, see images  ADDITIONAL IMAGES: Please 'Ask a Question' to request additional images for this lot. Condition Report Disclaimer

A SIMULATED MARBLE COLUMN 20TH CENTURY 139cm high, 38cm square at base Provenance: Private Collection, Lancashire Estate Condition Report: PLEASE NOTE: ALL LOTS ARE LOCATED AT SACKVILLE WEST STORAGE IN ANDOVER (SP10 3SA) AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO VIEW. Some old chips, splits, and losses to column, please see imagesSome wear and fading to paint and details on columnColumn has slight wobble where it connects to base ADDITIONAL IMAGES: Please 'Ask a Question' to request additional images for this lot.  Condition Report Disclaimer

A BROWN FAUX MARBLE PEDESTAL LATE 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY Various old marks to surfaces 114cm high, column 30cm diameter, base 46cm square Condition Report: PLEASE NOTE: ALL LOTS ARE LOCATED AT SACKVILLE WEST STORAGE IN ANDOVER (SP10 3SA) AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO VIEW. With wear, marks, knocks and scratches commensurate with age and use Some old chips, splits, and losses, please see images ADDITIONAL IMAGES: Please 'Ask a Question' to request additional images for this lot.Condition Report Disclaimer

An unusual 19th century walnut chess topped tripod table, the inlaid surface above a most unusual textured column to tripartite base and bun feet, width 60cm, height 74cm.Condition Report: Yes, the top of this table is flat.