The fine Great War Q-ship action D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Petty Officer W. E. Swanson, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant gunnery work in the three-masted barquentine Gaelic (Q-22) with an enemy submarine off Ireland in April 1917 Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.1599 W. E. Swanson, P.O. Atlantic Ocean. 22. Apl. 1917.); 1914-15 Star (J.1599 W. E. Swanson. L.S. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.1599 W. E. Swanson. P.O. R.N.); Naval L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (J.1599 W. E. Swanson, C.P.O. H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (5) £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2000. D.S.M. London Gazette 20 July 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ The original recommendation states: H.M.S. Gaelic (Q. 22) Action with an enemy submarine on 22 April 1917. In charge of after guns during the engagement. Second shot from the port gun hit submarine in vicinity of conning tower. Fourth shot was also a direct hit a little further forward. Later when in charge of starboard after gun secured another direct hit striking the submarine just abaft the conning tower. In total 52 rounds fired from the two after guns.’ William Edwin Swanson was born in Ardglass, Co. Down on 5 March 1892, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in June 1908. By the outbreak of hostilities, he was serving as a Leading Seaman in the battleship Colossus, in which he remained employed until removing to the Vengeance in December 1915. Advanced to Petty Officer in April 1916, he subsequently witnessed active service off East Africa, including the operations that led to the capture of Dar es Salaam in the same year. Having then volunteered for decoy ships on coming ashore from the Vengeance in early 1917, Swanson served in the Gaelic (a.k.a. Q. 22) from May-October 1917. A three-masted barquentine, built in 1876, she was surely one of the oldest ships to have been employed in decoy operations. On the evening of 22 April 1917, Gaelic sighted a submarine 5000 yards away, some 50 miles south of the Old Head of Kinsale. Hands were called down from aloft immediately and action stations sounded. The submarine kept its distance and fired shell after shell, of which six hit the Gaelic, killing two of the deck hands and wounding four, besides putting the port motor out of action and seriously damaging the rigging. After a while the sailing ship unmasked her guns and opened fire, prompting the submarine to alter course and fire a torpedo. Luckily Gaelic was able to manoeuvre sufficiently for this to pass harmlessly along the starboard side. After three misses, Gaelic’s forward gun obtained a hit on the submarine but then the firing pin broke and the gun was temporarily put out of action. Firing continued from her starboard gun and the two adversaries traded shells for about 40 minutes when the submarine moved slowly away to the south-west, still firing. Gaelic had sustained a hit in her fresh-water tank which leaked through the deck onto the starboard motor, putting it out of action, rendering her completely without power on a windless evening. However, Swanson and his fellow gunners maintained their fire, and another two hits were scored on the German submarine which eventually ceased fire, but not before Gaelic scored a final hit at a range of 4000 yards. Thus ended the protracted action, each side having fired about 100 rounds and, although the submarine, the UC-47, was not sunk, she was certainly badly knocked about. Gaelic set her sails despite the badly damaged rigging and made for the Old Head of Kinsale. At daybreak, when still 10 miles short of that landfall, she was picked up by H.M. sloop Bluebell and towed into Queenstown. Gaelic’s skipper, Lieutenant G. Irvine, R.N.R., was awarded the D.S.O. for this exploit, whilst Swanson’s impressive gunnery skills earned him the D.S.M. He subsequently saw out the war with appointments in Vivid I (October 1917-July 1918) and at the Granton naval base Gunner (July-December 1918), appointments that may have included further Q-ship operations. Then in January 1919 he joined the mine-sweeper Holderness, in which ship he served in the Baltic and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 January 1920, refers). He also added the L.S. & G.C. Medal to his accolades in March 1925. Sadly, however, as verified by his service record, he started to suffer from a form of dementia and, in October 1926, he was invalided ashore and placed in the care of the Plymouth Poor Law Institution. Sold with copied research.
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The rare Great War Lake Nyasa operations D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Petty Officer E. C. Mitchell, Royal Navy, who having survived the loss of H.M.S. Pegasus in her famous clash with the Konigsberg in September 1914, was seconded to the Lake Nyasa Flotilla, in which he ‘displayed much ability in drilling the native boat crews to a very creditable state of efficiency’ in the ex-missionary steamer Gwendolen Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (204906 E. C. Mitchell. P.O. H.M.S. Gwendolen.); 1914-15 Star (204906 E. C. Mitchell. P.O. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (204906 E. C. Mitchell. P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (204906 E. C. Mitchell Act. C.P.O. H.M.S. Hyacinth) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (5) £2,400-£2,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Spink, April 2004. D.S.M. London Gazette 24 February 1916. The original recommendation states: ‘H.M.S. Gwendolen Lake Tanganyika, whose shooting was of a very high standard rendered the redoubt untenable in the morning engagement, and hampering the enemy’s movements during the afternoon engagement. Petty Officer Mitchell displayed much ability in drilling the native boat crews to a very creditable state of efficiency, and it was largely due to his efforts that a rapid and safely conducted embarkation was achieved.’ Ernest Charles Mitchell was born in Plymouth, Devon on 3 February 1884 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in June 1899. By the outbreak of hostilities, he had been advanced to Petty Officer and was serving in the cruiser H.M.S. Pegasus, and he was likewise employed at the time of her memorable action with the Konigsberg off Zanzibar on 20 September 1914. In the lead up to her final action, Pegasus had bombarded the customs house at Bagamoyo in German East Africa, when the port authorities refused to agree to a truce. Less than a month later, on 20 September 1914, her consorts Hyacinth and Astraea having been called away, she was undergoing repairs at the port of Zanzibar when she fell victim to a surprise attack launched by the Konigsberg. Deeds That Thrill the Empire takes up the story: ‘For twenty-five minutes the Konigsberg poured in her relentless broadside, steaming slowly in until she had reduced the range from nine thousand to seven thousand yards; and still the shells of the Pegasus failed to reach her. The shot fell harmlessly into the water hundreds of yards short of the enemy cruiser. The poor little Pegasus was in a bad way from the start. The enemy’s shooting was not good, but with the advantage of range they were able to take their own time, and the British ship soon began to suffer severely. One of the first to be hit was the gunnery officer, Lieutenant Richard Turner, whose legs were shattered by a shell. As he lay stricken and bleeding to death his thoughts were all for the honour of his ship and his service “Keep it up, lads,” he said to his men. “We’re outclassed and done for; but d--- them, and keep it up!” So, having asked for brandy and a cigarette, Lieutenant Turner died; but the men “kept it up.” In fifteen minutes all the guns of the Pegasus had been silenced and not one of their shells had reached the enemy, whose guns had a range greater by two thousand yards. The cruiser’s flag was shot away from its staff. Instantly a Marine ran forward, seized the flag, and waved it aloft; and when he was struck down another came and took his place. The flag flew until the end. There was no braver man that day than the medical officer of the Pegasus, Staff-Surgeon Alfred J. Hewitt. Nearly all the casualties occurred on deck, and there he was from the start to the finish, giving what help he could to the wounded men. On one occasion he was holding a ruptured artery in the neck of one man, and, with his other hand, stanching the flow of blood in the leg of another, while his assistants went for bandages. He could do nothing to help in the fighting, but there was certainly no braver man in the ship. When she had fired about two hundred shells, the Konigsberg withdrew, leaving the Pegasus a battered and fast sinking wreck. At the beginning of the action there were 234 officers and men on board the British vessel, and of these 35 were killed and 53 wounded … ’ In a controversial decision, Commander R. Ingles, R.N., Pegasus’s captain, had in fact struck her colours to avoid further bloodshed, but his action was ignored by the Konigsberg. Among the survivors, Mitchell was borne on the books of the Hyacinth and selected for special duties on Lake Nyasa. The lake had already witnessed the first naval engagement of the Great War, when H.M.S. Gwendolen, an ex-missionary steamer which had hastily been converted for use as a gunboat, attacked the German gunboat Hermann von Wissmann on 14 August 1914. The latter was on a slipway at Sphinxhafen and sustained serious damage. Mitchell was otherwise occupied aboard the Pegasus at that time, but he was clearly present in future actions fought on the lake, the first of them following the arrival of Lieutenant-Commander G. H. Dennistoun, R.N.V.R., who took command of a budding British flotilla, including the captured German tug Helmuth. And that action took place on 30 May 1915, after local fishermen reported that the Hermann von Wissmann was under repair. Gwendolen landed a detachment of Askaris, who secured the area, prior to charges being placed on the enemy gunboat, and further action being taken by way of gunfire. The recommendation for Mitchell’s D.S.M. certainly appears to fit this action, rather than a later quoted date in December 1915 on Lake Tanganyika. Be that as it may, the Germans once more set about restoring the von Wissmann to operational fitness, thus resulting in another visit by the Gwendolen to their lake shore base at Spinxhafen. A boarding party of Askaris found the enemy gunboat unmanned and, taken in tow by Gwendolen, it was re-christened ‘H.M.S. King George V’ of the Royal Navy’s Nyasa Flotilla. Dennistoun and the flotilla remained actively employed until his return home in 1918, assisting in the transportation of supplies for our land forces. He was awarded the D.S.O. For his own part, Mitchell was gazetted for his D.S.M. in February 1916, added the L.S. & G.C. Medal to his accolades in September 1917, and appears to have remained actively employed on the East Africa station until returning to an appointment in Vivid in June 1918. He was finally pensioned ashore in February 1924. Sold with an original letter from the recipient, written in January 1964, in which he explains the background to the Lake Nyasa operations, and his part in them.
The important Jutland C.B. group of seven awarded to Vice-Admiral A. Craig-Waller, Royal Navy, who commanded H.M.S. Barham on that memorable occasion; in company with her consort Valiant, Barham was credited with being the most accurate British battleship engaged at Jutland, when she fired a staggering total of 337 15-inch shells with commendable results: but her achievements came at a cost, six direct enemy hits causing her casualties of 26 killed and 46 wounded The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s, breast badge converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamels, in Garrard, London case of issue gilt inscribed ‘A. W. Craig’; 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. W. Craig, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals,with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. A. W. Craig. R.N.); France, 3rd Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamels, these last four mounted as worn; Japan, Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with central cabochon, with neck cravat in its original black lacquered case of issue together with various fitments; Russia, Empire, Order of St. Anne, Military Division, 2nd Class neck badge, gold and enamels by Edouard, in original case of issue and outer paper envelope, both marked for 2nd Class, the mounted group contained in an old leather case, the lid gilt inscribed, ‘Vice-Admiral A. Craig-Waller, C.B.’, good very fine or better (7) £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Spink, July 2000. C.B. London Gazette 15 September 1916: ‘The Rear-Admiral commanding reports that the ships under his command were handled and fought by the captains in the manner one would expect from those officers and in accordance with the best traditions of the British Navy.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 15 September 1916. Russian Order of St. Anne, 2nd Class, with swords London Gazette 5 June 1917. Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class London Gazette 29 August 1917. French Legion d’Honour, Officer London Gazette 27 May 1919. Arthur William Craig (later Craig-Waller) was born at Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland on 18 June 1872, the son of a clergyman. Having attended the training ship Britannia as a Cadet in 1884-85, he specialised in gunnery and passing out with five Firsts was advanced to Lieutenant in June 1892. A succession of seagoing appointments having ensued, he was advanced to Commander in December 1902 and to Captain June 1908, in which rank he served as Assistant Director of Naval Ordnance in 1909-11. By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, however, Craig-Waller was back at sea with command of the battleship Albemarle, in which capacity he remained employed until June 1915, when he removed to the battleship Barham. And it was for his command of Barham in the 5th Battle Squadron at Jutland that he gained wider fame and recognition, not least her excellent gunnery discipline which inflicted serious damage on the S.M.S. Derfflinger, Lützow, Moltke, Seydlitz and von der Tamm. Admiral Scheer later paid tribute to Barham and her consorts, describing their arrival on the scene of battle as a critical moment for his battle cruisers: ‘The new enemy fired with extraordinary rapidity and accuracy.’ Barham’s rate of fire was indeed phenomenal: she expended 337 15-inch and 25 6-inch shells and, with Valiant, was credited with a combined total of 23 or 24 hits, thereby winning them the accolade of the most accurate British battleships engaged. But Barham also suffered severe damage, most notably when Admiral Evan-Thomas turned the 5th Battle Squadron north at around 1650 hours on the 31 May, a manoeuvre that placed Barham in the killing zone of Admiral Hipper’s battle cruisers. One heavy calibre shell from the Derfflinger detonated above Barham’s medical store compartment, blowing a 7ft by 7ft hole in her main deck and sending lethal shell fragments through her middle and lower decks; another destroyed the ship’s sickbay, killing the staff and its patients, including eight boy ratings. In total, Barham was hit by five 13-inch shells and one 11-inch shell and suffered casualties of 26 killed and 46 wounded. Craig-Waller - who had also done his best to persuade Evan-Thomas to follow Beatty’s main battle group in the absence of a signal - was appointed C.B., in addition to being awarded the Russian Order of St. Anne, 2nd Class, with swords; his subsequent award of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class, in August 1917, likely reflected his part in the battle, too. Appointed to the command of the battleship Renown in April 1918, Craig-Waller was appointed an A.D.C. to the King in February 1919, awarded the French Legion d’Honour in May 1919, and advanced to Rear-Admiral in November 1919. He retired in the rank of Vice-Admiral in 1922 and submitted an account of the 5th Battle Squadron at Jutland to the R.U.S.I. Journal in the 1930s; see Volume 80, Issue 520. Having then volunteered his services after the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, by which date he was aged 67 and ‘employed on A.R.P. work’, the Admiral died in Walton-on-Thames in February 1943.
‘As Kingsmill, the third to attack, levelled up for his torpedo drop, Samples saw that the fabric of the aircraft's wings had been torn by enemy flak and was full of holes. But the Swordfish flew on until a cannon shell hit the fuselage immediately between them, wounding both men. When the air gunner, Don Bunce, looked up from his Vickers machine gun, the bloody Samples was shouting directions at him and Kingsmill. Then, screaming insults at the Germans, Bunce shot down one plane while Kingsmill struggled to control the Swordfish. Samples was looking at the German gun crews in their sleek, black anti-flash overalls when he felt a sudden burning sensation in his leg. Looking down, he was astonished to see a neat pattern of holes in his flying boots. But although blood was oozing out, he felt no pain, and he failed to notice that Kingsmill had dropped his torpedo, aimed at Prinz Eugen from about 2,000 yards. With the aircraft on fire and ripped by the flak, Kingsmill struggled to maintain height. He tried to communicate with Samples, not realising that the speaking tube had been shattered. Despite his wounds, Samples climbed up and shouted into his ear: “We'll never make it, ditch near those MTBs" – pointing towards some British boats which had also attacked the Germans. Shortly afterwards the three men were pulled from the drink by friendly hands … ’ The fate of Swordfish W5907 on 12 February 1942, as described in the obituary notice of Lieutenant-Commander ‘Mac’ Samples, D.S.O.; The Daily Telegraph, August 2009, refers. The post-war diplomatic service C.M.G., O.B.E., and outstanding Second War ‘Channel Dash’ D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Commander R. M. ‘Mac’ Samples, 828 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm Flying immediately behind the force leader’s aircraft, as observer to ‘Pat’ Kingsmill in Swordfish W5907, amidst curtains of flak and swathes of cannon shell, Samples sustained extensive wounds, including a smashed ankle and leg, and shrapnel to his right hand, backside and lower back; of the six Swordfish that went in, none returned, just five airmen out of 18 living to tell the tale. The force’s leader, Lieutenant-Commander Eugene Esmonde, D.S.O., R.N., was awarded a posthumous V.C., a distinction which recognised the valour of all of 825’s participating aircrew: ‘Their aircraft shattered, undeterred by an inferno of fire, they carried out their orders, which were to attack the target. Not one came back. Theirs was the courage which is beyond praise’ The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with neck cravat in its Spink, London case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamels, reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1942’, with its Garrard & Co. case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil), Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Nepal, Coronation Medal 1955, generally very fine or better (8) £30,000-£40,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- C.M.G. London Gazette 4 June 1971. D.S.O. London Gazette 3 March 1942 – joint citation: Temporary Acting Sub-Lieutenant (A.) Charles Major Kingsmill, R.N.V.R. Temporary Sub-Lieutenant (A.) Reginald McCartney Samples, R.N.V.R., who were Pilot and Observer of a Swordfish that was badly hit early in the action by cannon shells from an enemy fighter. Both were wounded but with part of the aircraft shot away, and the engine and upper wings in flames, they flew on undaunted until they had taken aim and fired their torpedo. They then turned and tried to come down near some ships, but these opened fire, so they flew on until their engine stopped and their aircraft came down into the sea. Soon afterwards they were picked up, still cheerful and dauntless, by one of H.M. vessels.’ O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1963. Reginald McCartney Samples was born in Liverpool on 11 August 1918 and was educated at Rhyl Grammar School and Liverpool University, where he was reading commerce when war was declared. It was direct from university that he joined the Fleet Air Arm in the summer of 1940 and, on completing his training as an observer, he was posted to No. 825 Naval Air Squadron (N.A.S.) in January 1942; some sources state that he was present in the Bismarck action of May 1941, whilst under training. Samples’ hitherto unpublished account of his part in the Channel Dash action, as requested by Commander Prentice, R.N., and dated at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, on 26 June 1942, is reproduced here: ‘Sir, I have the honour to submit, as requested, a report on the operation carried out by 825 Squadron against the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prince Eugen in the Channel on Feb. 12th last. May I first of all thank you, sir, for your congratulatory letter and apologies for my belated reply due to difficulties in writing with a damaged hand. 825 Squadron, consisting of 6 Swordfish aircraft and led by Lt. Cdr. Esmonde, took departure over Ramsgate at 1220 on 12th Feb. at a height of 50 ft. to contact the German warships on a course of 142 (T). Kingsmill (my pilot), N.A. Bunce and myself were in ‘C’ machine of the first sub-flight, the second sub-flight being led by Lt. Thompson, R.N. Visibility was patchy and hazy over the sea (there were several feet of snow and ice on land) and though we sighted at about 4-5 miles, the Gneisenau and Eugen were only vaguely to be seen, Scharnhorst apparently being farther north and not visible. The enemy had a screen of destroyers and to make the run on Gneisenau we had to pass between two of them at a range of approx. 3 miles to port and starboard of us. Very heavy flak was encountered at this time and at about 5000 yds. We were attacked by a squadron of Me. 109s which peeled off from about 1500 ft. on our port quarter and came in singly from astern, setting all mainplanes on fire and destroying part of the tail unit and fuselage. Simultaneously, we were hit by flak coming up through the deck, and Kingsmill and myself were both wounded in the left foot and leg. It was very apparent that to maintain the run in would be ridiculous, particularly in the face of enemy F.W. 190s forming astern, so we took a staggering, avoiding turn to port, noticing as we did that the C.O., who had obviously been hit badly, stalled about 200 yds. ahead of us and hit the water. Our aircraft was rather difficult to manage but we were able to come round in a circle and make a second run. It is rather interesting to note here that we passed below the second sub-flight coming into the attack. They were tucked in very close formation – a fact which no doubt explains their total loss. On our second run we were again attacked by fighters but dropped our torpedo at about 2000 yds. and again took avoiding action. We did not claim a hit, as we did not wait and see! Our aircraft was in very bad shape and was lolloping rather than flying along; the rockets and distress signals in the dinghy were exploding in the wing and creating a sight that might have been pleasant to see could we have appreciated it at the time. I endeavoured to get a course home, and the A.G. took over look-out astern, but unfortunately some M.T.Bs which my pilot made for turned out to be E-boats and gave us a hot reception with...
The rare Second War Landing-Craft Operations Clearance Unit (L.C.O.C.U.) D.S.M. group of five awarded to Petty Officer H. C. Gore, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry as a frogman and demolition expert on D-Day and in the contested landings in the South of France Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P.O., H. C. Gore. R/JX.209374) officially engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, extremely fine (5) £2,400-£2,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Seedies Roll lists a total of just 10 D.S.M.s, 3 D.S.C.s, and one D.S.C. and Bar to L.C.O.C. Units during the Second World War, mainly for the landings in Normandy and the South of France. D.S.M. London Gazette 6 November 1945: ‘For bravery, skill and great devotion to duty in the reconnaissance and destruction of unknown obstacles and mines, and in the rescuing of survivors whose craft had been destroyed in a minefield during the Allied landings in the Baie de Cavalaire in the South of France, June-August 1944. And for similar good services in the landings in Normandy.’ The recommendations for this batch of awards are to be found in the National Archives under reference ADM1/30497 which reads: ‘The Honours and Awards Committee has considered the good services of certain ratings in the destruction of underwater obstacles and mines during the invasion of the South of France, and submits that the King may be asked to approve the Awards set forth below. During the landings in the Baie de Cavallaire in the South of France these ratings successfully carried out under fire the initial reconnaissance of unknown obstacles and mines and achieved their destruction. They also did good work in helping to save the lives of wounded soldiers of the United States Army when the craft in which they were embarked struck mines and was sunk.’ Henry Charles Gore was a frogman in a Landing-Craft Obstruction Clearance Unit, one of 120 such men engaged on D-Day, two of whom were killed and ten wounded; six of them were awarded the D.S.M. Just two L.C.O.C.U. units subsequently participated in the landings in the South of France, making Gore’s award of the D.S.M. most unusual. Lieutenant H. Hargreaves, a L.C.O.C.U. commander, later described what he and his fellow frogmen, such as Gore, faced on D-Day: ‘The invasion of Normandy to the average person was the greatest combined operation that had ever taken place, and that in fact was the truth. However, few people know of the work carried out by small, special units, both before the operation, and during the initial assaults. We were one of the small units which had this particular role to play. A role which was not easy, and from which many of us did not expect to return, but one which we were determined to carry out until our work was completed. For the invasion of Normandy the Force Commanders used approximately a hundred and twenty officers and men of the ‘Locku’ units divided into ten parties, or units. Each unit had an officer and eleven men, and each was allotted to its own beach and had its own particular job to do. In my case, and that of a brother officer, we found ourselves detailed to deal with the obstacles on a beach near the village of La Riviere. We were supposed to go in at H hour, which was the very beginning of the assault. We were dropped into our craft from an L.S.I. at seven o’clock in the morning and went hell-for-leather for the beach, and arrived hoping to find the front row of obstacles on the water’s edge, and not in the water, but discovered some two or three feet of water over them. We left our craft and got to work at once on posts with mines secured to the tops of them, specially constructed wooden ramps which were mined, and steel hedgehogs with mines and anti-aircraft shells on top of them, and we were subjected the whole time to quite a hot fire from rockets, shells and bombs. We must have been about four hundred yards from the beach when the firing first started, and they didn’t forget to inform us that they knew we were coming. When we finally got on the beach we discovered that we were being systematically sniped, not only with rifles but also by odd bursts of machine-gun fire - a most unpleasant experience - but one that we soon got used to. As time went on we almost forgot about it until we realised that opposition was dying down because in the meantime the Army had landed and was dealing with machine-gun posts, mortar posts, and all the other unpleasant places Jerry had prepared for us. The weather was very much worse than anyone would have expected in June, and we had the greatest difficulty working in a very heavy surf. It was hard going and we soon got pretty tired, but in the meantime the obstacles were being slowly but systematically destroyed. As we made an initial gap for the landing craft to come through, so we increased the size of the gap as time went on. We succeeded in clearing the whole of the beach some thousand yards in length, with obstacles going out to over four hundred yards by the end of D Day. That didn’t end our work, of course, although the worst was over. Landing craft of all shapes and sizes were simply pouring on to the beach, and in the meantime, having cleared that beach, we had to proceed to another beach and get rid of the obstacles there. In all, we successfully disposed of over two thousand five hundred obstacles, practically every one mined, in addition to this, as a sort of savoury, we cleared the explosives out of half a dozen beetle tanks. Not long before D Day a special jacket had been invented to protect us against that terrible blast which can be experienced when a mine or shell explodes underwater. This jacket was known as a ‘Kapok Jacket’ and was worn underneath our swim suits. It proved to be a most wonderful thing, and saved the lives of no less than three of my men. One of my Petty Officers, who was working in about six feet of water, had a shell or mortar bomb explode in the water quite close to him, and although he was completely knocked out, and in fact paralysed for several hours, he had no injuries whatever, and no after effects. A Royal Engineer who was swimming towards the beach from one of the landing craft, and was some distance farther away from the explosion than the Petty Officer, was killed outright, and I have no doubt that many men suffered the same fate on that day. I would like to make it quite clear that we don’t in any way look upon ourselves as supermen, or heroes, or anything like that at all, and we did not by any means clear all the obstacles off the beaches in time for the landing craft to get in. There were nowhere near enough of us to have hoped to do it. What we could, and did do, was to clear an initial gap for the landing craft to beach safely, and to increase that gap as quickly as possible until the beach was entirely free from obstacles. Consequently many of the landing craft who didn’t use the gap, because of the simple fact that there just wasn’t room for them, struck obstacles, or had holes blown in them or their bottoms torn out, with the result that many men had to swim ashore with full equipment. When our original job had been completed we had to keep our reputation as ‘Jack the Handyman’ by doing many jobs to assist on the beaches, such as winching drowned vehicles out of the water. We did this by taking a wire with a hook on the end, right out to sea in our swim suits and breathing sets, hook up the vehicle, come to the surface and signal to the operator ashore to...
The rare and important Second War St. Nazaire raid D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Commander (E.) W. H. Locke, Royal Navy, who was Warrant Engineer aboard H.M.S. Campbeltown and taken P.O.W. after the loss of M.L. 177 Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’, hallmarks for London 1948; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (Lt. Cdr. W. H. Locke. R.N.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed, mounted court-style as worn, good very fine or better (7) £30,000-£40,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 2008. D.S.C. London Gazette 11 September 1945: ‘For gallantry, determination and devotion to duty in H.M.S. Campbeltown in the raid on St. Nazaire in March 1942.’ Wilfrid Harry Locke was born in Surrey on 5 March 1910 and entered the Royal Navy in January 1926. Appointed as a Warrant Engineer in October 1941, he was placed in charge of the engine-room of the former American four-stacker Campbeltown in early 1942, which ship had been allocated a key role in forthcoming Operation ‘Chariot’, namely to ram the southern caisson of the Normandie Dock in St. Nazaire, laden with delayed action explosives, thereby destroying the facility and denying the Tirpitz use of the only suitable dry-dock on the Atlantic coast. Accordingly, over a two-week period in March 1942, the Campbeltown was fitted out at Devonport and outwardly altered to resemble a German Mowe-class torpedo boat, while internally she was fitted with a special tank containing four tons of T.N.T. and eight-hour delay fuses, which were to be activated two hours before she reached the Normandie Dock. Setting out on her final voyage with the raiding force on 26 March, she took over as Force Leader shortly after midnight on the 28th, when seven and a half miles remained in the run up the Loire. Finally, at about 0130, with less than two miles to go, the German defences awoke. C. E. Lucas Phillips takes up the story in The Greatest Raid of All: ‘A continuous stream of projectiles of all sorts was now striking the Campbeltown, but so violent was the sound of our own weapons that the ring of bullets on her hull and the crack of small shells was hardly noticed; but when larger shells shook her from stem to stern none could be unaware, and what every survivor was to remember for ever afterwards was the unchecked glow of the darts of red and green tracer flashing and hissing across her deck and the quadruple whistle of the Bofors shells. Bullets penetrated her engine and boiler-rooms, ricocheting from surface to surface like hornets, and Locke, the Warrant Engineer, ordered hands to take cover between the main engines of the condensers, except for the throttle watchkeepers ...’ With 200 yards to go a searchlight fortuitously illuminated the check-point of the lighthouse on the end of the Old Mole, enabling Lieutenant-Commander S. H. Beattie on the Campbeltown’s bridge to correct his aim on the caisson. Having then ploughed through the steel anti-torpedo net, the old four-stacker closed on her collision course at 20 knots, and every man aboard braced himself for the impact. At 0134 the Campbeltown crashed into the gate, rearing up and tearing the bottom out of her bows for nearly 40 feet. Commando assault and demolition parties streamed ashore, while below the sea cocks were opened to ensure the Germans could not remove her before she blew up. As she settled by the stern, Beattie evacuated the crew via M.G.B. 314, and Lieutenant Mark Rodier’s M.L. 177. Locke and Beattie, with some 30 or more of Campbeltown’s crew boarded the latter, and started off down river at 0157 hours. Lucas Phillips continues: ‘The boat was embarrassingly overcrowded but Winthrop, Campbeltown’s doctor, helped by Hargreaves, the Torpedo-Gunner, continued to dress and attend to the wounded both above and below deck. Very soon, however, they were picked up again by the searchlights lower down the river and came under fire from Dieckmann’s dangerous 75mm and 6.6-inch guns. Rodier took evasive action as he was straddled with increasing accuracy. The end came after they had gone some three miles. A shell ... hit the boat on the port side of the engine-room lifting one engine bodily on top of the other and stopping both. Toy, the Flotilla Engineer Officer, went below at once. Beattie left the bridge and went down also. He had no sooner left than another shell hit the bridge direct. Rodier was mortally wounded and died a few minutes afterwards ... The engine room was on fire, burning fiercely, and the sprayer mechanism for fire-fighting had also been put out of action. Toy, who had come up momentarily, at once returned to the blazing compartment but was never seen again. Locke, Campeltown’s Warrant Engineer, was able partially to repair the extinguisher mechanism. The flames amidships divided the crowded ship in two, but the ship’s company continued to fight the fire for some three hours by whatever means available. At length, when all means had failed and the fire had spread throughout the boat, the order to abandon ship was given at about 5 a.m. One Carley raft had been damaged, but few of the wounded ratings were got away on the other, and the remainder of those alive entered the icy water, many of them succumbing to the ordeal. All of Campbeltown’s officers were lost except Beattie and Locke, among those who perished being the brilliant and devoted Tibbets, to whose skill and resourcefulness the epic success of the raid was so much due and whose work was soon to be triumphantly fulfilled.’ Locke and the other survivors were rounded up by the Germans by 0930 hours, which was expected to be the last possible time for the acid-eating, delayed action fuses in Campbeltown to work. Thus it was with all the more satisfaction that at 1035 hours the British prisoners, gathered together in small groups across the St. Nazaire area, heard the terrific explosion which blew in the caisson and vaporised Campbeltown’s bows. The stern section was swept forward on a great surge of water and carried inside the Normandie Dock where it sank. Thus, the main goal of the operation was achieved for a cost of 169 dead and about 200 taken P.O.W., many of them wounded, out of an original raiding force of 611 men. Yet only six of Campbeltown’s gallant crew were eventually decorated, Beattie being awarded the Victoria Cross. For his own part, the wounded Locke was hospitalised at Le Baule and Rennes, prior to being transferred to Marlag und Milag Nord camp at Tarnstedt at the end of April 1942. Nor was he a willing prisoner, official records revealing his part in the digging of a 130ft. tunnel from the camp’s dining room in September 1943, as part of a team of 30 men. That having been discovered by the enemy, he joined a team of 60 men in April 1944 in digging another tunnel parallel to the old one, but this too was discovered when a section of the roof collapsed. He also volunteered to make a hasty exit by wire cutting, but this plan was vetoed by the Escaping Committee. His award of the D.S.C. was not gazetted until after his liberation, a distinction that prompted his former boss, Lord Mountbatten, to write in person: ‘From my personal knowledge as Chief of Combined Operations, I know how well deserved this recognition is and am delighted to see that the part you played in such a hazardous expedition has been recognised nearly four years afterwards. I hope that you have fully recovered from your captivity and should like to wis...
The unique Great War Red Sea operations C.G.M. group of nine awarded to Sergeant J. F. McLaughlin, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was decorated for his gallant deeds at the capture of Salif in June 1917 Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R. (P.O. 8873. Sergt. J. F. McLaughlin, R.M.L.I. H.M.S. Topaze. Salif. 12. June 1917); China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (P.O. 8873. J. F. McLaughlin, Pte., R.M., Nav. Depot. Wei-Hai-Wei.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (P.O. 8873. Corpl. J. F. McLaughlin. R.M.L.I. H.M.S. Proserpine); 1914-15 Star (P.O. 8873. Sgt. J. F. McLaughlin. R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (P.O. 8873 Sgt. J. F. McLaughlin. R.M.L.I.); Naval Good Shooting Medal, E.VII.R. (P.O. 8873. Cpl. J. F. McLaughlin, H.M.S. Hermione. 1910. 6 In. Q.F.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (P.O. 8873 J. F. McLaughlin, Corporal R.M.L.I.); France, 3rd Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (9) £12,000-£16,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1999. A unique combination of awards to the Royal Marines. C.G.M. London Gazette 11 August 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry at the capture of Salif on the 12 June 1917. Just before the surrender he came across 11 unwounded and 1 wounded Turkish soldiers. Followed by one Petty Officer, Sergeant McLaughlin jumped among them, shot one, and made seven surrender.’ James Francis McLaughlin was born in Gibraltar on 6 January 1878, and joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Eastney in January 1897. Among those landed with the North China Field Force in July 1900, he took part in the relief of Pekin operations in the following month, in addition to serving at the R.M. depot at Wei-Hei-Wei. Advanced to Corporal in February 1902, he subsequently qualified as a gun layer and 2nd captain of gun and, whilst serving in H.M.S. Hermione in 1910, he was awarded the Naval Good Shooting Medal for his skills on her 6-inch Quick Firing gun. Having then witnessed active service in the Persian Gulf aboard the Proserpine, he added the L.S. & G.C. Medal to his accolades in August 1912. Advanced to Sergeant in June 1913, McLaughlin was serving in the battleship Queen on the outbreak of hostilities, and he quickly saw action off Gallipoli during the landings in April 1915. Transferring to the Topaze in the Adriatic in February 1916, he participated in operations in support of the Regia Marina, prior to her transfer to the East Indies station in March 1917. Red Sea C.G.M. Operating out of Aden, Topaze saw action against the Turks in support of the South Arabian campaign, her guns contributing to the bombardment of enemy positions on the island of Kamaran on 10 June 1917. But it was for his deeds in a related action at Salif two days later that McLaughlin was awarded his C.G.M., when Topaze and her consorts closed the enemy batteries and landed parties of Marines and bluejackets to capture the position. Salif lies on a peninsula, the north end of which is a mud flat covered at high tide by the sea. On the east side of the village is a hill with a hollow depression in its face, in which the enemy garrison took up their position, when the ships approached at dawn on the 12th; here they were well screened from the fire of the ships. The Espiegle entered the inlet between the peninsula and the mainland, so as to bring a cross fire on the place. The Northbrook went close inshore at the south end of the peninsula; Minto, Topaze and Odin made a line to the north of her, as near the shore as possible. The Topaze and Odin ran in so close that the enemy could not depress their guns sufficiently to reach them. The Turks had two Krupp mountain guns and three one-inch Nordenfeldts; their shells did no harm as they had to be laid so that their line of fire would clear the crater. The Northbrook’s men landed at the south end of the peninsula and took up a position on the right of the town, the others all landed at the pier and extended behind a ridge, which was flanked by a salt mine on the south, and by houses on the north. The Royal Marines were in the centre of the line. The Odin’s seamen entered the village and took possession of the condensing plant and the telegraph office. Commander A. R. Woods, D.S.O., R.N., of the Topaze, was in command, with Commander Salmond second-in-command; there was no Royal Marine officer present. The ships’ guns fired a barrage on the hill, and under cover of this the parties advanced and gained the foot of the hill. The attack was directed against three sides, the fourth being closed by the Espiegle. At a given signal, the hill was rushed and they completely surrounded the Turks, who made a good fight, the engagement lasting for over three hours. In the course of the fighting, McLaughlin encountered 12 Turkish soldiers and went for them single handed, followed by one Petty Officer, and between them they shot one, took seven prisoner and the rest bolted. He and two Naval ratings were subsequently awarded the C.G.M., whilst Commander Woods was awarded a Bar to his D.S.O. McLaughlin remained employed in the Topaze until the summer of 1918, when he returned home to an appointment in the Portsmouth Division. He was demobilised and pensioned ashore in October 1919. Sold with his original parchment Certificates of Service (2), and another on paper; Certificate of Discharge and Character Certificate on Demobilisation; Pension Certificate for Conspicuous Gallantry, and a postcard photograph of McLaughlin and other Royal Marines aboard H.M.S. Topaze in 1917.
A George III silver basket, of gadrooned oblong form with shells and foliage at intervals, reeded sides and swing handle, on conforming foot, 33.5cm l, maker's mark rubbed, London 1810, 39oz 10dwt A well made basket in good condition with little wear, no play in handle, no dents, engraving or repairA little used example
A George II silver salver, engraved at later date with crest, coronet, initial H of Hamilton and motto THOROUGH, in gadrooned rim with shells at intervals, on three ball feet, 23cm diam, by Dorothy Sarbitt, London 1754, 14oz 5dwt Field 'whippy' and with light wear and polish scratches consistent with age, no repair, feet undamaged
▲ Jenny McNulty (1942-2016) 'Still life (Square of Shells)'signed and dated 'Jy McNulty 1999' u.l., also signed and dated verso, oil on canvas 41 x 41cm, unframedProvenance: With Duncan Campbell Fine Art, London.Condition ReportThe signature and date on the front are scratched into the paint. A tiny spot of paint loss to the extreme top left corner. A 5cm long crack to the centre of the right edge. The work presents well overall and is ready to hang. Not examined under UV light, for a full report please contact the department.
A Chelsea porcelain Kakiemon plate and a Chelsea porcelain Kakiemon soup plate, c.1755, red anchor mark to soup-plate, each plate after Meissen originals, moulded with cruciform Gotzkowsky Erhabene Blumen and painted in the Kakiemon palette, the centre of one painted with a circling phoenix, the border painted with two lotus flowerheads alternating with shells, 24.3cm wide; the other with a central crane, the border with two birds in flight alternating with flowering shrubs and fences, each enriched in gilding, brown line rims, 23.6cm wide (2)Provenance: Property of the late Hugo Morley-Fletcher MA FSA (1940-2022).Note: For a similarly-moulded Meissen-style plate decorated with the Kakiemon ‘two quail’ pattern at the centre, see Elizabeth Adams, Chelsea Porcelain, London, 1987, p. 102.
A Napoleon III ormolu-mounted tortoiseshell and brass-inlaid 'Boulle' marquetry mantel clock, the mounts cast by Auguste Delafontaine, third quarter 19th century, the arched case surmounted by a figure of Chronos, the repousse brass dial with enamel Roman numerals within a laurel wreath border, above a glazed panel behind figures of the Fates, flanked by uprights headed by scrolling pilasters surmounted by shells, the apron inlaid with the inscription CUNCTA CUM TEMPORE REGUNT between scrolling feet, the sides and back inset with glazed panels, on a conforming bracket, the mounts stamped AD, the twin train movement stamped EM 7370 and 10.6, 114.5cm high, 44.5cm wide, 22cm deepNote: This clock is a direct copy of a Louis XIV period clock and bracket, attributed to the workshop of André-Charles Boulle, with movement by Antoine Gaudron, which is now in the Louvre, having been gifted in 1985 by Jean-Paul and Michel Fabre (OA 11029). In the 1732 inventory of André-Charles Boulle's atelier, a clock of this model is listed as 'une boeste contenant les modeles de la pendule a Parques avec le Temps isolé', clearly indicating a clock depicting the three Fates with Time 'isolated', watching the three sisters from above as Clotho divides the thread of life, Lachesis measures it, and Atropos cuts it. The model derives from a design by Boulle, published by Mariette in 'Nouveaux desseins de meubles et ouvrages de bronze et de marqueterie inventés et gravés par André-Charles Boulle', circa 1715. The Delafontaine bronze factory was first established in the late 18th century by Jean-Baptiste-Maximilien Delafontaine (1750-1820), and was subsequently under the direction of Jean-Baptiste's grandson, Auguste-Maximilien, under whose tenure the present clock was most likely produced. In 1870, located at 10 rue de L'Université, the firm created decorative works of art of the highest quality and was a main competitor to the Barbedienne foundry.Please note that Roseberys do not guarantee the working order or time keeping of any timepiece.
A Sèvres porcelain cup and saucer (Gobelet ‘Hébert’ et soucoupe of the second size), c.1770, the interlaced foliate handle on the cup with gilt foliate terminals, the body decorated with a broad rich frizes colorées of shells, diaper, hatched and scale ornament panels suspending garlands below from gilt looped scrolls, the saucer similarly decorated, gilt dentil rims, the cup - 5.9cm high, the saucer - 12cm diameter (2)Provenance: The Antique Porcelain Company, New York (according to the paper label attached to the reverse of the saucer). American Private Collection. Anonymous sale, Bonhams, London, 5 July 2018, lot 174. Property of the Late Hugo Morley-Fletcher MA FSA (1940-2022).Condition Report: This cup and saucer appear to be in very good condition and are bright and fresh in appearance. On the cup there are some minute areas of mis-firing to the green enamels of the leaves and to some arched hatched panels – these date from the time of manufacture, they are extremely small and minor (and are barely discernible). On the saucer there are some minute areas of wear to the gilding – this is also very minor and barely noticeable.
A gilt-pewter salt cellar, French or Italian, late 19th century, modelled with Neptune astride a dolphin and holding a hinged lidded shell-shaped well, flanked by two scallop shells, on a rococo style pierced and scrolling foliate base, with incised L to underside, 17cm high, 25cm wide (VAT on hammer price)Provenance: The George Farrow Collection.
A Sèvres porcelain coffee-can and saucer (Gobelet 'litron' et soucoupe of the fourth size), c.1766, blue interlaced L cyphers enclosing date letter N, painter’s marks for L. J. Thévenet, the blue-ground borders with gilt diaper panels divided by brightly-coloured shells and gilt scrolls suspending pendant swags, gilt dentil rims, the can - 4.7cm high; the saucer - 10.6cm diameter (2)Provenance: American Private Collection. Anonymous sale, Bonhams, London, 5 July 2018, lot 175. Property of the Late Hugo Morley-Fletcher MA FSA (1940-2022).Note: Louis-Jean Thévenet (père or l’aîné) was a painter of flowers and patterns at Sèvres from 1741 to 1748. Condition Report: There is slight wear to the gilt rims and the scrolls and diaper panels on the saucer, but these are otherwise in good condition.
A COLLECTION OF MAJOLICA CERAMICS to include four Bretby items comprising a nineteenth-century glazed garden seat with foliate and floral patterns to the stand and concentric mustard and yellow coloured circles to the seat, height 43.5cm x diameter 28.5cm, manufacturers marks to the interior (crack across the seat, signs of restoration under the rim of the seat, signs of wear to the rim of the seat, crazing, chips to the base), a Leaf plate with walnut decoration, manufacturers mark to the underside (a chip to the rim, crazed), and a leaf-shaped cake stand height 10cm x diameter 24cm (flecks of white paint), and a planter with wavy rim (hairline crack to the rim, areas of white paint, wear to the interior, height 20cm x diameter 23cm), and a Crab sculpted wall plate with various seas shells, marked 'Alvaro Jose, Caldas' underside, diameter 31cm (one of the crab legs is broken but included)
A LEGA 'SAKIMATWEMATWE' MULTI-FACED SCULPTURE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO depicting a local multi-faced Bwami deity, carved from wood with two faces to the front, and another to the reverse, all with varying expressions, all faces inlaid with cowrie shells in the eyes, one with a cowrie shell to the mouth, the other two have two cow teeth inset to the upper part of the mouth, natural pigments around the facial features, with two horns to the top, height 47cm x width 18cm (1) (Condition Report: one of the teeth is chipped, some chips to the painted areas noticeably around the lips)
Golden-Coloured Matching Pair of Mortar Shells Marked "2 BTT 70" and a Single White Mortar Flare Casing with Rusted Tail Marked "P1 1/79"This collection comprises three mortar shells, featuring a matching pair with gold-coloured bodies marked "2 BTT 70" and a distinctly different single mortar shell with a white body and rusted tail section, marked "P1 1/79". The gold-coloured mortars are identical, bearing the same markings and overall design. Contrasting with these, the central white mortar exhibits visible rust near its open end and along a band encircling its body. The fins on the rusted and gold mortars are visible, indicating their intended aerodynamic stability. Importantly, the white mortar’s tail section also includes a metal fin assembly with minor rust and the stamp "P1 1/79", adding to its identifiable features.
A pair of small bonbon dishes, decorated in the Victorian high rococo style with shells, flowers, garlands and pierced panels each raised on four paw feet with shell knees, Marks & Cohen (Walter Henry Marks & Samuel Tobias Cohen, London 1902, complete in original fitted case, together with a later silver mustard pot, with later plated spoon, total silver weight 3.09toz.
13 Boxed Triang Rolling stock with 3 OO Graham Farish packaged Brown/Cream coaches, plus others(3800g)Triang R332 GWR Composite coach Celestory roof boxed, plus another un-boxedTriang R333 GWR Brake/3rd coach Celestory roof boxedTriang R227 BR Utility van boxedTriang R622A SR Composite coach boxedTriang R728 Brake 2nd Coach Blue with seats boxedTriang R729 Blue buffet car boxedTwo boxes of Triang R384 'Completely Knocked Down' Pair of Marron buffet cars, three built, one part-builtTriang R122 Cattle wagon boxed w/internal packingTriang R124 Brake van boxedTriang R561 'tri-ang' container wagon boxed9 un-boxed Triang coaches and wagons including one dummy logoThree Triange loco shells Condition: Rolling stock - FairBoxes - Fair
Juvenilia.- Hoffmann (Dr. Heinrich) The English Struwelpeter, manuscript copy, "written and illustrated for the amusement of her nephews and nieces...by Aunt Mary", pen and ink and watercolours, some soiling and staining, contemporary cloth, [c.1870]; and 2 other 19th century manuscript pieces of juvenilia including copies of birds, shells, insects etc from Shaw's Naturalist's Miscellany by a young girl Harriet Lockwood in 1814 and an album of sepia pen and ink cartoons by W.J. Rawle, 4to (3)
A famille rose porcelain dishChina, Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912), Qianlong (1735 - 1796)finely decotated in overglaze famille rose enamels with in the middle a man in European costume with a yellow jacket is seated on a rock surrounded by flowers and playing an oboe; around him is a border of baroque scrolls and shells in rose-pink and pale blue; outside this is a border of cresting in red and gold. On the rim are European figures in compartments. Provenance: Portuguese private collectionReferences: Victoria and Alber museum London - ceramic room 137, the Curtain Foundation Gallery, C.31-1915 (accession number) - given by Lieutenant-colonel Kenneth Dingwall D.S.O, , Diameter: 20.5 cm€ 500 - € 600
An attractive late 18th / early 19th Century French giltwood Centre Table, with moulded mottled grey and pink serpentine marble top, the frieze carved with central scallop shells, scrolling foliage and trellis panels, upon cabriole legs headed by acanthus clasps and reaching to scallop feet, approx. 120cms wide x 76cms deep (47" x 30"). (1)
An attractive 19th Century French figural Mantle Clock, the top surmounted with elegant young lady resting, inset with circular enamel dial with Roman numerals, on a base embellished with floral and leaf decoration, approx. 46cms (18") high; An attractive 19th Century French ormolu figural Mantle Clock, the top with male resting against a rock with book in hand, over a circular dial with Roman numerals, the base decorated with shells and grotesque masks, approx. 43cms (17") high. (2)
James Bond 007 - Guns Plastic Goldeneye 007 cap gun with silencer made by Wicke on backing card; Marushin M84 metal finish blank firing Baretta boxed with blank shells and firing caps. (5)Please satisfy yourself to Firearms laws in your country and shipping restrictions before purchasing this lot.UK law prohibits the sale of imitation firearms with the following exceptions. Summary If you are wanting to purchase an RIF, then you must: 1. Be over the age of 18; 2. Belong to a historical re-enactment group of 2 or more people; and 3. Have valid PLI in place. The onus of satisfaction for the above criteria is, however, placed on the seller of the RIF. As the purchaser, however, you should be prepared to submit documentary evidence of the above on request for a valid sale.Condition Report: CR:- All in good condition. Marushin Baretta has a scratch on it
* Attributed to Thomas Bewick (1753-1828). A group of decorative cand tailpieces, 5 original wood engraved boxwood printing blocks, highly decorated with shells, flora and fauna, scrolls or celestial features, handwritten labels in pencil (late 19th or early 20th century) to sides reading 'T. Bewick, section border from Miss Bewick', 'T Bewick, Printers Ornament from Miss Bewick', 'T Bewick Very Early, Saint (?)', largest surface size 81 x 82 mm, smallest surface size 25 x 75 mm, accompanied with impressions taken from the blocks printed on modern good-quality handmade paperQTY: (5)
* Natural History. A collection of approximately 150 prints, mostly 19th-century, engravings, lithographs and prints of mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, insects, domestic animals and shells, including examples by or after Edwards, Buffon, Curtis, Sowerby, Howitt and Lizars, occasional duplicates, various sizes and conditionQTY: (approx.150)
Buonanni (Filippo). Numismata summorum pontificum Templi Vaticani fabricam indicantia : chronologica ejusdem fabricae narratione, ac multiplici eruditione explicata, at que uberiori numismatum omnium pontificiorum lucubrationi veluti prodromus proe missa..., Rome: Sumptibus Felicis Caesaretti, & Paribeni, Typis Dominici Antonii Herculis,1696, engraved vignette to title, 86 plates (13 folding) of coins, architectural plans and diagrams, some light toning to a few leaves, small wormhole beginning at P2 to end of volume causing minor loss to a few plates, together with:Buonanni (Filippo). Numismata pontificum romanorum, quæ à tempore Martini V. usque ad annum M.DC.XCIX. vel authoritate publica, vel privato genio in lucem prodiere, explicata, ac multiplici eruditione Sacra, & Prophana illustrata A P. Philippo Bonanni Societatis Jesu, Tomus Secundus..., Volume 2 (only, of 2), Rome: Ex typographia Dominici Antonii Herculis, 1699, woodcut vignette to title, 51 plates (6 folding) of coins, architectural plans and views, some light toning to a few leaves, some plates with spare spotting, both volumes uniformly bound in modern half calf over marbled boards, gilt lettering to spines, both spines lightly and evenly sunned, minor scuff mark to foot of spine to the first work, tall 4toQTY: (2)NOTE:Filippo Bonanni (1638–1725) was an Italian Jesuit scholar, naturalist, and historian, best known for his work in conchology. He was one of the earliest scientists to systematically classify mollusc shells and published Recreatio mentis et oculi in observatione animalium testaceorum (1681), the first comprehensive books on shells.
Donovan (Edward). The Natural History of British Shells, including figures and descriptions of all the species hitherto discovered in Great Britain, systematically arranged in the Linnean manner, with scientific and general observations on each, 5 volumes bound in 3, London: Bye and Law for the author and F. C. and J. Rivington, [1799]-1804, 180 hand-coloured engraved plates after the author, some offsetting and light spotting, light toning to a few plates, title dated 1804, 1800, and 1801 respectively, endpapers renewed, all edges gilt, contemporary tan calf gilt, with gilt armorial to centre of each cover of George, 6th Earl of Coventry (1722-1809), rebacked, original labels relaid, edges a little rubbed, 8voQTY: (3)NOTE:Nissen, ZBI 1147.
Wood (William). General Conchology; or, a description of shells, arranged according to the Linnean System, volume I [all published], London: printed for John Booth, 1815, half-title, 60 hand-coloured engraved plates, captioned in pencil, some spotting to endpapers, bookplate of Major General Apsley Cherry-Garrard (1832-1907), contemporary diced half calf gilt, one or two small stains, 8vo QTY: (1)NOTE:Nissen ZBI 4455.
Wood (William). Index Testaceologicus, an Illustrated Catalogue of British and Foreign Shells, containing about 2800 figures accurately coloured after nature, a new and entirely revised edition... by Sylvanus Hanley, London: Willis and Sotheran, 1856, 46 hand-coloured engraved plates (in clean condition), some spotting to text and endpapers, top edge gilt, contemporary green half morocco gilt, some fading to spine, joints and edges a little rubbed, 8vo, plus Supplement to the Index Testaceologicus; or a Catalogue of Shells, British and Foreign, London: printed for W. Wood, 1828, 8 hand-coloured plates, advertisements at rear, original boards, rebacked, some edge wear and stains, 8voQTY: (2)
Mawe (John). The Linnaean System of Conchology, describing the orders, genera, and species of shells, arranged into divisions and families: with a view to facilitate the student's attainment of the science, 1st edition, London: for the author, 1823, 37 hand-coloured lithograph plates, some light offsetting, abrasions from bookplate removal at front, contemporary half calf, joints splitting, small areas of worming, 8vo, together with Burrow (E. I.) Elements of Conchology, according to the Linnaean System, new edition, London: printed for James Duncan, 1825, 28 mostly hand-coloured engraved plates, some light offsetting and spotting to text, contemporary half calf, spine a little rubbed with some worming, partial fading to covers, 8vo QTY: (2)NOTE:First work Nissen ZBI 2740.
A stunning Boehm porcelain figurine featuring a pair of coastal birds in flight, gracefully perched above a detailed rocky shoreline adorned with realistic shells and eggs. This exquisite piece is part of a limited-edition collection, showcasing Boehm's signature artistry and attention to detail. The figurine is marked with the Boehm hallmark on the underside, confirming its authenticity and status as a limited-edition work.Issued: 20th centuryDimensions: 15"HCountry of Origin: United StatesCondition: Age related wear.
Each comprised of various shells and stones, some in the shapes of animals.Longest 21 inches (54 cm).No condition report? Click below to request one. *Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and Doyle New York shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available.Request a condition report
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