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We are one of Britain's foremost public auctioneers of Medals and
Militaria. Our six sales each year contain medal groups and individual
awards from early and Victorian campaigns, the Boer War and the
2 World Wars, as well as foreign medals.
Public auctions of GB and world coins and banknotes, medals and
militaria, toys and die-cast models and model railways are held
six times a year. The dates of our 2010 sales are as follows: April
14th, June 16th, August 11th, October 13th, December 8th.
Our next general public auction of Medals will be held at the Court
House, Warwick, on Wednesday 14th April, starting at 11
am. The online catalogue will be available approximately
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Your Collection page.
China and Afghanistan Wars pair to Major
General the Honourable Alexander Stewart, son of the 9th Earl of
Galloway
The Second China War and Afghanistan Medal pair to Major General
the Honourable Alexander Stewart was sold in our auction on Wednesday
10th February 2010 and realised £1,610.

Alexander Stewart was born on 8th November 1838, the third son
of the 9th Earl of Galloway Randolph Stewart and his wife Lady Harriet
Blanche Somerset, the daughter of the 6th Duke of Beaufort. He purchased
his commission of Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 21st June
1856.
In the Second China War (Opium War) he was present at Sinho, Tangku,
actions near Tangchow and the surrender of Pekin in 1860 serving
with Staff of the 2nd Brigade under Brigadier General Sutton. He
obtained the rank of Captain on 6th July 1867 and Major on 22nd
September 1875,
By 1879 he was serving with 1/C Battery Royal Horse Artillery in
Afghanistan and was present at the Battle of Futtehabad on 2nd April
1879. A force of about 1000 British and Indian soldiers under Brigadier
General Gough fought some 5000 Khugiani tribesmen. The only British
artillery present were 4 RHA guns under the command of Major Stewart
and were fully employed during the engagement bombarding the Khugiani
in their fortified positions. By then disengaging and retiring the
guns and their cavalry escort, it prompted the Khugiani to leave
their defensive positions to pursue the apparently retreating British.
This was Gough’s plan and as the Khugianis chased the mounted
troops they rushed passed the hidden infantry who poured a withering
fire into the Afghans exposed flank. British casualties were light,
but the Khugianis were thought to have lost 300 plus killed and
over 800 wounded. Lieutenant Walter Hamilton of the Guide’s
Cavalry won the Victoria Cross during the battle for rescuing a
dismounted trooper. Major Alexander Stewart was also present in
the engagement at and on the Gara Heights near Kam Dakka on 22nd
April 1879. He was mentioned in dispatches and granted Brevet Lieutenant
Colonel in the London Gazette dated 21st November 1879 for his efforts
in Afghanistan

He attained the rank of Colonel on 22nd November 1883 and Major
General on 29th December 1883 and subsequently died aged 57 on 6th
January 1896.
The title of Earl of Galloway was created in 1623 for Sir Alexander
Stewart who was a favorite of James VI (James I of England). The
Earl also holds the subsidiary titles of Lord Garlies (created 1607)
and Baron Stewart of Garlies (1796). Major General the Honourable
Alexander Stewart never became Earl and died before his two older
brothers who became the 10th and 11th Earls in turn.
The full medal details are 1861 Second China War Medal 2 clasps
Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Ord Offr Lt Hon 2nd Brigade/Staff)
and 1881 Afghanistan Medal no clasp (Maj & Bt Lt Col Hon 1/C.R.H.A.)
mounted in a purpose made contemporary travel display case.
Brigadier Charles Frederic Watson CMG DSO
The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment
The collection of documents, letters, photos, drawings etc relating
to Brigadier Charles Frederic Watson was well received in the will
be offered in the February 2010 auction. It was estimated at £600
and realised £747.

Charles Frederic Watson was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the
Militia Forces on 22nd January 1896. He went to South Africa and
fought in the Boer War with his Regiment and was mentioned in dispatches
in the London Gazette dated 8th February 1901 and awarded the Distinguished
Service Order as a Lieutenant announced in the London Gazette dated
27th September 1901.
He went to France with the British Expeditionary Force soon after
the outbreak of World War 1 and was soon in the thick of the action
as his letters detail. He was again mentioned in dispatches in the
London Gazette dated 20th October 1914, and promotion followed being
appointed 2nd Grade Staff Officer as Brevet Major 27th February
1915, 1st Grade Staff Officer 13th February 1916, promoted Brevet
Colonel (T./Brig Gen) 9th June 1919.

The above letter dated 24th September 1914: My Dearest Kiddie,
At 3am on 14th, the 60th & Sussex were sent to seize a ridge
– which they did, capturing 12 guns; then the Germans made
a counter attack & drove them away, although they got supported
later on. This was my Brigade – we got great kudos & hung
on while other troops pushed upon either side. This ridge we are
still holding now (10 days after) etc.

The above letter dated 2nd November 1914: My very very Dearest.
I have lost count of days! – We have been fighting and words
fail one at present. Only Boyd and I are left ! and 50 men!! We
held an entire dud position in a salient and the Germans came on
3 sides and shelled us to pieces. Boyd and I were the last to leave.
I am sending you details for you to pass on to the officers wives
from me. Col Pell wounded in leg – broken – in pain
left in a cafe cavern with a doctor but Germans surround us and
we could not move him.

Having survived the heavy fighting on the Western Front in 1914,
he commanded the 180th Brigade, 60th Division during the Palestine
campaign in WW1 and is photographed outside the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem
commanding the liberators.

After the war he commanded a Royal Warwickshire Battalion from
1922-26 and served in the Indian Army 1927-31 as a Brigade and Brigade
Area Commander.
This outstanding large collection of documents, letters, photos,
drawings relating to Brigadier Charles Frederic Watson CMG DSO The
Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment included Commission Warrants
2nd Lieutenant Militia Forces dated 22nd January 1896, (thought
to be his father’s - Frederic Watson 11th Foot Captain dated
26th September 1867 and Major dated 12th June 1880), bestowal documents
CMG dated 1st January 1916, CMG Statutes, letter and envelope of
transmission, a large quantity of photos of aerial reconnaissance,
portrait photos in uniform (some with medals), officer groups, family,
glass photo plates, 100-200 letters mostly to his wife from 1914-18,
with detail of operations etc, wide range of censor marks and Field
Post Office cancels, panoramic hand drawn and photo terrain sketches,
Boer War notebook etc. An archive as complete as thi rarely comes
available.
Outstanding Special Air Service WWII Distinguished
Service Order group to Lieutenant Colonel John Anthony Marsh
The WWII DSO, OBE, twice MID group to Lt Col John Anthony Marsh,
S.A.S, D.C.L.I. and Bermuda Regiment, was offered in our December
2009 auction, estimated at £10,000. Bidding opened at £13,000
and 4 telephone lines were in use to record bids. The final result
was a staggering £33,000 hammer price. Adding in the buyer's
premium, the total result was £37,950.

As an under officer in the OTC he qualified for the King’s
Hundred at Bisley in 1938. When he left school he joined the Artist’s
Rifles as a private before being commissioned in to the DCLI at
the start of WWII. In 1942 he was posted to 1 DCLI but arrived just
after the Battle of Bir-el-Harmat and found no battalion to join.

He successfully applied to transfer to the SAS and served with
1st SAS through the North African campaign and from September 1942
to February 1943 he fought with A Sqn under the famous Major Paddy
Mayne raiding behind the German lines in the Western Desert. Later
as right hand man to Harry Poat he took part in the Kufra raids,
operating against Benghazi and as far as Tripoli West before returning
to Kabrit. He is thought to have been the first Allied officer into
Tripoli after the German surrender in North Africa.

After the conclusion of the North African campaign GHQ said there
was no further use for the SAS and they should be disbanded. David
Sterling by now was a prisoner of war and it was left to Paddy Mayne
to fight for their survival. The result was the formation of the
Special Raiding Squadron to be used for special assaults in support
of the Army. The SRS was reduced to a strength of 300-350 with many
disappointed officers and soldiers having to return to their original
regiments. Captain Marsh was selected as the commander of A Section
No 2 Troop in the newly formed SRS. Prior to the invasion of Italy
he was in the Lebanon for ski training.
The first job for Captain Marsh and the SRS was the capture of
the large coastal batteries at Capo Murro di Porco, preparing the
way for the Sicily Invasion. The 6 heavy guns were entrenched on
some cliffs near Syracuse with a garrison of about 700 and the battery
had to be silenced before the main invasion force was to land. Landing
under cover of darkness in heavy seas on the 10th July 1943, the
SRS scaled the cliffs and succeeded in destroying the battery, killing
some 100 Italian defenders and capturing over 200 more, this all
for the loss of only 1 SRS soldier, a remarkable achievement.
They marched into Syracuse on 12th July and boarded their assault
ship the Ulster Monarch. They were then almost immediately tasked
with an attack on the Italian Naval Base of Augusta which was duly
captured in the face of German and Italian opposition. The SRS continued
planning and marching in Siciliy but the speed of the Allied advance
foiled further planned raids.
The invasion of the Italian mainland commenced on 3rd September
1943 and ths SRS were soon called upon to land behind the German
defensive lines at the town of Bagnara with Captain Marsh again
being involved. There was heavy opposition from the German garrison
but with the arrival of the main Allied forces the Germans withdrew
leaving the town in Allied hands.

Three weeks later the SRS were to land and attack the port of Termoli
on the Italian Adriatic coast. The aim was to disprupt German resistance
to the advance of the Allied 78th Division up the coastline.
Major Marsh is mentioned in many of the SAS books including 24
pages about the Termoli attack in “These Men Are Dangerous”
by D.I. Harrison an SAS officer who was in Captain Marsh’s
troop.
The award of the D.S.O. to Captain Marsh was announced in the London
Gazette dated 27th January 1944 for action with the Special Raiding
Squadron at Termoli in October 1943. The citation was:
“Captain Marsh, with fifty six men, was holding a front of
one mile on the right flank of the Sector west of TERMOLI. At mid-day
on the 5th October 1943, his positions were subjected to very heavy
and accurate shelling and mortar fire, at the height of which, his
position was further weakened by the transfer of one of his Sections
to another Sector. At this time the enemy were developing a determined
counter-attack on his left flank. Despite the intensity of enemy
fire he held fast and with his own fire pinned down groups of enemy
infantry which attempted to infiltrate into his own position. Later
in the afternoon several of his own men were badly wounded, whilst
some distance away on his right flank his remaining other Section
was being gradually forced back. Although by this time Capt Marsh’s
position had become untenable, he refused to move until he was able
to communicate his intention to the troops on his left. Meanwhile,
with his few remaining men, he succeeded in beating off further
attacks on his position by German Infantry.
Striking north to join up with his right hand Section he came
across two wounded men. From them he learned that he was completely
cut off but pushed on, taking his wounded men with him, until finally
pinned down by machine gun fire. He eventually succeeded in evacuating
all the wounded men to our own lines under cover of darkness although
only 150 yards from an enemy post.
Throughout Captain Marsh showed great coolness and determination.
His high standard of courage and complete disregard for personal
safety throughout the Operation played a decisive part in saving
a very dangerous situation.”
A letter written in 1985 from the DCLI Regimental Secretary to
his wife says:
“You probably know that DSOs are normally awarded to Commanding
Officers or Brigade Commanders for acts of distinguished leadership.
For a young lieutenant to receive a DSO usually means that he was
recommended for a VC, but that this was not subsequently awarded
for some technical reason. Certainly I found the citation most inspiring
to read and believe that it was written with the higher decoration
in mind.”
The SAS have only been awarded a single Victoria Cross since its
formation and this was to Major Anders Lassen for his actions in
Italy in April 1945 when he was killed in action.
After his involvement in the Italian campaign, he returned to England
in preparation for D-Day. After the invasion he was parachuted behind
the enemy lines in command of C Sqn 1st SAS to help the Maquis with
continual raiding in heavily armed jeeps, disrupting German communications
and tying down large quantities of enemy troops that were badly
needed at the front. He continued through the war in Belgium, Holland,
Germany and finally Norway and was twice mentioned in dispatches
published in the London Gazette dated 10th May and 8th November
1945.

After the war he was posted as a Staff Captain at South West District
and then to 1 DCLI in Cyprus. After a further staff appointment
in Tripoli he returned to England as Training Major of 21 SAS. In
1954 he rejoined 1 DCLI as OC A Coy in Bermuda. He retired in 1957
and returned to Bermuda to work for the Trade Development Board.
Six months later he was commissioned into the Bermuda Militia Artillery
that he commanded until the amalgamation of the island forces when
he then took command of the Bermuda Regiment. While in this position
he met a number of heads of state and VVIPs in an official capacity
including J.F. Kennedy, Haile Selassie etc. On his retirement he
was awarded the OBE in the London Gazette dated 30th June 1970.
He died on 14th November 1984 in Bermuda and was accorded a state
funeral.

The group is being sold on behalf of the family and has never before
been on the market.
The full medal details are WWII Distinguished Service Order, OBE
(Military), 1939-1945, Africa (8th Army clasp), Italy, France and
Germany stars, Defence Medal, BWM (MID oakleaf loose) and KGVI FID
DEF Territorial Efficiency Medal to Lt Col John Anthony Marsh S.A.S,
D.C.L.I. and Bermuda Regiment (Capt J.A. Marsh D.S.O. D.C.L.I. on
Efficiency).

The group was sold together with a wealth of original photos, documents,
newspapers, etc, contained in a 2 large albums.
Charge of the Light Brigade group to Private
Charles Watson 17th Lancers

The famous charge of The Light Brigade took place during the Battle
of Balaklava on the 25th October 1854. The lead up to the attack
and who issued what orders to whom are a typical Victorian web of
intrigue. The end result was that Lord Cardigan led some 670 cavalrymen
of The Light Brigade along what became known as the “Valley
of Death”. The valley was dominated on either side by the
Fedyukhin and Causeway Heights. These heights were manned by some
20 Russian infantry battalions with over 50 artillery pieces, with
further batteries in a redoubt at the end of the valley.
The 17th Lancers were on the left of the front rank of the charge
with the 13th Light Dragoons on the right. The other regiments in
the following ranks were the 4th Light Dragoons, 8th and 11th Hussars.
They were exposed to a withering barrage of musket fire and cannon
balls from 3 sides for over a mile as they charged down the valley.
The charge succeeded in reaching the redoubt and driving the Russians
from the position. However once the impetus of the charge was lost
and heavily outnumbered, the survivors were forced to retire back
down the same valley subject to a further hail of fire depleting
their ranks even further.

The total casualties were approximately 156 killed or missing and
122 wounded, with over 330 horses lost. It seems remarkable that
the toll was not even higher considering the volume of fire that
they faced. The 17th Lancers suffered the highest number of casualties
with 24 killed and 37 wounded.
Pte Watson was 1 of only 4 men from the regiment along with Regimental
Sergeant Major Charles Wooden, Sergeants John Shearingham and James
Nunnerly to be awarded the French Medaille Militaire for the Crimean
War, given with the citation “Alma, Balaklava and Inkermann,
and were never absent from their duties.”
Lummis, Brighton and Sewell all confirm he rode in the charge.
Roy Dutton in Forgotten Heroes states he enlisted in 1846 and died
in Secunderabad on 21st January 1864, possibly from cholera. He
also notes that a single Crimea Medal named to Watson was sold by
Glendinning’s in 1923, 1928, 1935 and 1936 but never with
the Indian Mutiny Medal.
Private Charles Watson's medals were offered in our December 2009
auction, on behalf of the family. They had never before been on
the market and realised £11,500. The details of the group
are as follows: 1854 Crimea Medal 4 clasps Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann,
Sebastopol engraved in a running script style C. Watson 17th Lancers,
1855 Turkish Crimea Medal (Sardinia) un-named as issued, 1858 Indian
Mutiny no clasp impressed Pte Chas Watson, 17th Lancers.
Excellent WO1 RSM Black Watch Northern Ireland
Mention in Dispatches Group for 37 years service
The Northern Ireland Mention in Dispatches group to Warrant Officer
Class 1 Regimental Sergeant Major William Malarky, Black Watch,
was offered in our December 2009 auction, on behalf of the recipient,
with an estimate of £1,700. It attracted considerable attention
from the bidders and eventually realized £5,750.

William Malarky enlisted in the Black Watch (The Royal Highland
Regiment) on 8th August 1972 in Edinburgh. He served in 5 tours
of Northern Ireland in 1975, 1976-77, 1982-83, 1985-86, 1990-91,
tours of Hong Kong, Brunei, Belize, Germany, Rhodesia, Canada, Italy
and Berlin. It was after the 1983 tour that as a corporal, he was
Mentioned in Dispatches which was announced in the London Gazette
dated 28th October 1983. It was awarded for outstanding service
as the Divis Flats OP commander during the Black Watch 1983 Belfast
tour.

Divis Flats was a 15 storey block of flats on Divis Street in Belfast
where the Army had had an Observation Post (OP) since 1969, as it
dominated the surrounding built up area. Every movement into and
out of the OP perched on top of the flats was a battalion operation.
There was a secure lift up to the top of the flats, and then someone
within the OP would open the steel trapdoor and lower a ladder to
allow access. The OP was manned by a 6 man team which Cpl Malarky
commanded for most of his tour from December 1982 to May 1983. This
sensitive position was under constant threat with its position known
to the terrorists and all movement of personnel and re-supply being
a potential target.
He reached the career pinnacle of WO1 RSM of Tayforth Universities
OTC and was discharged on 22nd July 1997 on completion of his engagement.
The summary of his Service Record states:
I have no hesitation in recommending WO1 Malarky to any prospective
employer as a man of total integrity and loyalty who is not afraid
of hard work and is prepared to try his hand at anything. He is
very much a team player, which has been proved not only on the sportsfield,
where he has represented his country and the Army, but also on Active
Service, and I would expect him to settle into any new job very
quickly. The Army’s enormous loss in WO1 Malarky’s departure
will undoubtedly be the gain of his new civilian employer.
However he re-enlisted immediately on 24th July 1997 in the Royal
Irish Regt (Home Service Part Time) as a CSgt and served with the
4th Bn in Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone. He was awarded a GOC’s
Commendation in 2002 “in appreciation of your exceptionally
valuable service in Northern Ireland as a Platoon Commander from
July 1997 to March 2002.” He was discharged in January 2007
on the disbandment of the Royal Irish (HS) having completed nearly
37 years service.

The full medal details are 1962 CSM Northern Ireland clasp with
MID oakleaf, 1980 Rhodesia Medal, 2002 Golden Jubilee Medal, Accumulated
Campaign Service Medal with 1 clasp and QEII Regular Army bar LSGC
to 24293802 WO1 RSM W. Malarky BW (Pte on CSM, Cpl on Rhodesia,
SSgt on ACSM & LSGC). Sold with copies of MID & GOC’s
Commendation certificates, 2 certificates of service on discharge
dated 1997 and 2007, 2 Confidential Reports, letters of congratulations
etc. A superb record of a career professional soldier’s service.
Outstanding Woman’s World War 2 French
Resistance King's Medal For Courage in the Cause of Freedom Group
The French Resistance King's Medal For Courage in the Cause of
Freedom, French 1939 Croix de Guerre with star group to Madame Margueritte
di Giacomo caused some excitement in our December 2009 auction.
Estimated at £3,500, it eventually sold for £4,025.

Madame Margueritte di Giacomo was a member of the Shelburn Resistance
Group near Paris in 1944. She was a young mother who ran a hostel
for hiding escaping Allied airmen and also assisted by guiding them
through German lines. The various commendations show she helped
between 36 and 40 airmen to escape, a remarkable woman.

The King’s Medal was awarded at the British Embassy in Paris
in November 1946 for: “Madame Di Giacomo sheltered at least
36 Allied evaders; she fed them, and cared for them in every possible
way until she was able to arrange for their evacuation. She also
provided false papers and identity cards. Although she has a young
daughter Madame Di Giacomo’s devotion to the Allied cause
was such that she not only housed Allied evaders, but also did convoy
work, and in August 1944 crossed the German lines with six evaders
whom she guided to safety. Madame Di Giacomo was, at all times,
an inspiration to those with whom she came in touch; she showed
a complete disregard for her own safety and a fine patriotic spirit.”
Only approximately 3200 King’s Medal for Courage in the Cause
of Freedom were issued and the number issued to women is not known.

The USA Medal for Freedom was presented in February 1947 for:
“Madame Di Giacomo, French Civilian, for exceptionally meritorious
achievement which aided the United States in the prosecution of
the war against the enemy in Continental Europe, from December 1943
to August 1944. She distinguished herself by her great courage,
ingenuity, and determination in the performance of hazardous missions.
Completely disregarding her personal safety she assisted directly
in the evasion of thirty eight Allied airmen, and, through her unselfish
devotion to the Allied cause contributed materially to the success
of the war effort, thereby meriting the praise and recognition of
the United States of America.”

The Croix de Guerre with star was granted on 17th March 1945 again
for her assistance to Allied airmen.


The full medal details are King's Medal For Courage in the Cause
of Freedom (Ladies Bow), French 1939 Croix de Guerre with star,
1939-45 Combat Volunteers Cross and USA Medal of Freedom with bronze
palm to Madame Margueritte di Giacomo (all un-named as issued).
Sold with copies of superb range of named supporting documents including
British Deputy SCAEF certificate for helping Allied airmen, USA
Presidential certificate for helping Allied airmen and tube of transmission,
2 Award certificates and citation for Croix de Guerre and star,
French certificates for helping Allied airmen with Diploma of General
de Gaulle, Diploma of L’Union Nationale des Evades, original
citation and translation of King’s Medal, invitation to British
Embassy to receive King’s Medal, Ministry of Defence attestation
stating she served in Shelburn Resistance Group in 1944, list of
41 airmen she helped to escape, silk parachute with details of escapees
typed on etc.
World War I Western Front DCM & MM group
to CSM Rubery 1/6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment
The WWI Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal group to
Company Sergeant Major John Henry Rubery, 1/6th Royal Warwickshire
Regiment, was offered in Warwick & Warwick’s auction on
Wednesday 14th October 2009. It was estimated at £2,500 and
realised £3,335.

John Henry Rubery enlisted on 1st March 1912 in the Royal Warwickshire
Regiment. The 1/6th Warwicks disembarked in Le Havre, France on
23rd April 1915. It is likely that Pte/LCpl Rubery arrived with
the battalion. The battalion spent late 1915 and first half of 1916
in the Hebuterne and Foncquevillers area of operations.
On 1st July 1916, the 1/6th and 1/8th Warwicks were in the lead
attack of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division on the quadrilateral
close by Munich Trench. Both battalions succeeded in reaching the
quadrilateral and the cutting beyond, but suffering very heavy casualties
they were unable to hold on and in the evening they were ordered
to withdraw. The battalion remained on the Somme for the rest of
the year.
On the 3rd February 1917 the battalion was in the line south of
Biaches when they were subject to a very heavy bombardment and trench
raid by the 1st Prussian Guards, who succeeded in getting into the
British trenches where severe fighting took place. The battalion
history records “No comment is needed except that eleven decorations
awarded to the Battalion for that single action.” Division
Routine Orders dated 27th April 1917 announced the award of the
Military Medal to Sergeant Rubery, this was then confirmed in the
London Gazette dated 26th May 1917. It is highly likely therefore
that the MM was awarded for this action.

By the end of July 1917 the battalion had moved to the Ypres front
in preparation for the Third Battle of Ypres. It suffered heavy
casualties in August and after a rest returned for the Battle of
Langemarck attack on 4th October. The battalion captured their initial
objectives and by the end of the day had captured over 300 prisoners,
10 machine guns and 2 anti-tank guns, but this success came at a
price with the battalion suffering 33 killed and 158 wounded. The
battalion was later withdrawn to the Vimy Ridge area and then in
November headed off to Italy.
The London Gazette dated 6th February 1918 announced the award
of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to Acting Company Sergeant Major
Rubery “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When
his officers became casualties during and advance he took command
of all the men in the neighbourhood and led them forward to the
company’s objective, which he consolidated, capturing a large
number of prisoners and several machine guns. His leadership and
example were of the greatest value.” The DCM is highly likely
to be for the Battle of Langemarck.
Company Sergeant Major John Henry Rubery was discharged on 29th
March 1919.

The group is being sold on behalf of the family and has never before
been on the market.
The full medal details are WWI Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military
Medal and 1914-15 star trio to 243115 W.O. Cl 2 J.H. Rubery R. War
R. (1547 LCpl on star, Sjt 1/6 - T.F. on MM, A.C.S.Mjr 1/6 - T.F.
on DCM) very fine and better. With copies of London Gazette, certificate
of demobilization dated 29th March 1919, photo in uniform with wife,
2 photos later in life, 24 WWI greetings postcards mostly silks
including Royal Warwickshire Regiment silk card, part of Birmingham
Daily Mail dated 9th February 1918 announcing DCM etc.
Outstanding World War I DFC group to Lieutenant
Spurling Royal Flying Corps
“A hero, straight from the pages of W.E. Johns”, is
how one of our staff described the member of the Royal Flying Corps,
whose medals we sold in our August 2009 auction. The WWI Distinguished
Flying Cross and 1915 Star trio group to Lieutenant Arthur Rowe
Spurling, Bermudan Volunteer Rifle Corps and Royal Flying Corps,
estimated at £3,000, realised the magnificent figure of £12,650,
including the buyer’s premium.

Arthur Rowe Spurling was born in Hamilton, Bermuda, on 19th May
1896. He attested in the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps (BVRC) on
11th February 1915 with number 989 and sailed with the first War
Contingent of 1 officer and 88 NCOs and men for England on 8th May
1915. They were posted to the Lincolnshire Regiment, where Pte Spurling
was allocated the number 17150.
A postcard, dated 1916, is addressed to “Ethel”
Dear Ethel, At last I am in England again but I had to go
back to the line again after getting wounded in the hand on July
3rd and on the 13th I was wounded in the foot & buried for a
few hours, so I was sent down to hospital with shell shock &
wounded in the foot but now I have just come out of hospital in
London & I am on leave.

He was commissioned on 29th July 1917, posted to the Royal Flying
Corps School of Instruction at Hendon on 30th July 1917 and joined
89 Sqn on 30th August 1917. He graduated from the Military Wing
and qualified for service in the RFC on 26th September and was posted
to 40 Training Sqn Croydon on 7th October 1917. He was posted to
France and joined 49 Sqn on 13th July 1918.

The award of the DFC was announced in the London Gazette dated
2nd November 1918.
On his return from a recent bombing raid, this officer was
separated from his formation owing to clouds. After flying for some
twenty minutes, and thinking that he was over our lines, he came
down to find his position; seeing an aerodrome, he was preparing
to land when, at 2000 feet, a Fokker biplane attacked his machine;
Lieut Spurling than observed some thirty machines of the same type
heavily camouflaged; with great gallantry he dived through the centre
of the formation, shooting down one machine in flames; two others
were seen to be in a spin, one of which crashed. Five of them then
closed on his machine, but by skilful manoeuvring Lieut Spurling
enabled his observer to shoot down two of these in flames. The three
remaining aircraft broke off the combat and disappeared in the mist.
A fine performance, reflecting the greatest credit on this officer
and his observer. His observer, Sgt F.W. Bell, received the Distinguished
Flying Medal for this action.
The Bermuda Colonist newspaper dated 18th October 1918 provides
more detail.
A formation of British machines had been carrying out some
important operations well over the German lines. On the return journey
the weather suddenly became hazy, and one of the pilots lost touch
with the formation in the clouds. The British pilot set his course
due west, and flew on for some time. Having made what he thought
was sufficient allowance for the distance to the British lines,
he put down the nose of his machine and saw beneath him an aerodrome.
The wind, however, freshened considerably, and so far as covering
the ground was concerned he had been making only half the speed
shown on airspeed indicator. As he circled over the aerodrome, preparing
to land, a German Scout machine suddenly appeared from the clouds
above him, and immediately to attack. Marveling at the unusual temerity
of the German in daring to attack over an English aerodrome, the
British pilot checked his descent and opened fire on his attacker.
At this moment he became aware that no fewer than thirty German
machines were actually climbing towards him from the aerodrome.
Realising now that he was over an enemy aerodrome, he dived towards
the first group of German squadrons, both he and his observer firing
on every machine upon which they could get their guns to bear. The
enemy pilots appeared too bewildered by the outstanding audacity
of the British airmen to attack them effectively at first, and their
own tremendous numerical superiority seemed further to confuse them.
One German plane burst into flames in the air, two more went down
spinning and side slipping completely out of control. Four enemy
scouts had by this time got into position to attack, clinging to
the tail of the British machine. Two of these were sent blazing
to earth. Shaking himself clear of the remainder, the British pilot
opened his throttle and sped homewards leaving on that German aerodrome
three blazing wrecks, and two other crashed machines as a highly
satisfactory outcome of what might have proved a fatal mistake.
He was credited with 6 victories, the 5 Fokker D.VIIs on 23rd
August mentioned in the DFC citation and a further D.VII on 25th
July 1918 all while flying a D.H.9 bomber. He was transferred to
the unemployed list on 19th September 1919 and returned to a hero’s
welcome in Bermuda on 22nd September. On March 3rd 1920 General
Sir James Willcocks, the Bermudan Governor presented his DFC in
the Hamilton Council Chambers.
In WWII he obtained his commission again and served in Canada
with RAF Ferry Command. The Mid Ocean News newspaper dated 27th
October 1942 records
Rowe Spurling, former Extra Revenue Officer, later in charge
of transport censorship at Darrell’s Island and now Security
Officer of RAF Ferry Command at Dorval with the rank of Flight Lieutenant,
is credited with unearthing a Nazi spy, a radio operator, in the
Ferry Command. Flt Lt Spurling learned from a woman enemy alien
that her knowledge of the movements of aircraft came from English-born
Brian Percy Pettit who represented himself to her as a member of
the German Gestapo and had offered her a $100 a week job in California.

The group was sold on behalf of the family and had never before
been on the market.
The full medal details are WWI Distinguished Flying Cross and
1914-15 star trio to Lieut A.R. Spurling R.A.F. (17150 Pte Linc
R on star) good very fine to good extremely fine. Sold with a superb
range of supporting documents including 1917 Commission Warrant,
RFC Graduation certificate dated 26th September 1917, DFC case of
issue, box envelope and transmission slip for pair, aviator’s
certificate, soldier’s pay book, Training Brigade Transfer
Card, hand written book of flying notes, set of 16 gilt RFC buttons,
10 silver coloured RAF buttons, 2 ribbon bars, typed notes for directing
artillery fire from the air, RFC wings altered to RAF, RAF wings,
10 Bermuda newspapers all relating to Lt Spurling, etc.
Outstanding World War II Burma Wounded in
Action MM group, to Corporal, later Major, P.D. Kelley, South Wales
Borderers
The WWII Military Medal group to Acting Corporal and later Major
Peter Douglas Kelley South Wales Borderers was offered in our auction
on Wednesday 12th August 2009 and it realised £2,875.

The 6th SWB arrived in India in October 1942. They were involved
in action from March 1944 onwards. The battalion was involved in
a five-day battle with the Japanese 128th Infantry Regiment at Pinwe
in mid November 1944. It was during this battle that Corporal Kelley
was recommended for a commission for “gallantry and initiative
at the Battle of Pinwe”, during which the battalion suffered
over 150 casualties.

On the 14th February 1945 the Japanese launched a series of attacks
against the Allied bridgeheads across the Shweli River. It was during
these actions that Corporal Kelley earned the award of the Military
Medal.
The citation stated:
On 16th February, 1945, during the action fought on the west
bank of the Shweli River to cover the withdrawal of another Brigade
Headquarters, this NCO led his section in an attack on a strong
enemy road block between his company and Battalion Tactical Headquarters.
During a bayonet charge on a Japanese light machine gun post, he
was wounded and was evacuated to Company Headquarters for dressings.
Later, he came back to his platoon, bandaged in several places,
and reported to his Platoon Commander who was still engaged in attacking
the road block. The Platoon Commander asked him what he was doing
and where his equipment was. Corporal Kelley replied that he had
returned to lead his section again, and that, if he had been seen
picking up his equipment, his company Commander would not have allowed
him to return. He rejoined his section, and after a quick reconnaissance
ordered another attack on the same post, which was quickly captured
in spite of heavy casualties. In this attack, Corporal Kelley personally
accounted for four Japanese killed, but was himself again wounded,
this time very severely. The personal courage and leadership of
the NCO, both in this action and throughout the whole campaign,
have been of the highest order.
N.B. Several weeks previously he had been recommended for a
commission for “gallantry and initiative at the Battle of
Pinwe.” His papers confirming the recommendation and posting
him to Bangalore arrived at Battalion Headquarters a few days after
the incident described above. The severe wounds received in this
engagement however, have detained him in hospital for seven months
and have so far prevented his proceeding with his commission as
directed.

The medal group was offered together with a copy of a letter extract
from Major D.C.W. Lord, 6th South Wales Borderers, South East Asia
Command.
….Peter has always been a good keen soldier, far above
the average intelligence and I am very sorry that he was unable
to proceed to OCTU before he was wounded. The Commanding Officer
was at the time loath to lose good leaders so his application was
held up for a while whilst the C.O. attempted to obtain immediate
commissions; unfortunately he failed. Peter is of course far too
modest as it was his own personal example, leadership and bravery
that gained his award; I only submitted what I saw. He was with
me when I was the platoon commander of a special platoon, “Guerillas”,
which consisted of potential officers and NCOs. During the time
we were together I always found him one of the most reliable members
of the platoon and certainly the coolest under fire. On the many
patrols I did I always found Peter dressed ready and waiting to
go out with me irrespective of which platoon was responsible for
providing the patrol; that alone was a perfect example to all present,
especially as conditions were very difficult at the time. He won
his M.M. at Myitson at a later date but I expect he will tell you
about his experiences when he arrives home. I only mentioned the
above in an attempt to show you that he has most certainly earned
every inch of ribbon he has won.
Included with the group was an exercise book with 42 complete pages
of hand written notes on his service in Burma, containing fascinating
details on jungle life. A brief extract follows.
To round off my picture without a mention of the men with
whom it was my privilege to fight would be to leave this tale sadly
incomplete. Of John, need more be said? Yes, one thing only and
that is his complete disregard for personal danger in tight spots.
To sum up, I saw him once sitting in a one man fox-hole reading
“The Stars Look Down”. The Japs were about to attack
again but John calmly sat there and told a signaler to “ring
‘em up and tell ‘em to hold everything ‘till I’ve
finished the chapter!” Can you beat it? Besides John and myself
there was – “Griff”, a devil-may-care young Welshman,
he was lance corporal in charge of my light machine gun. He courted
danger in the same light hearted manner in which he courted his
sweetheart in South Wales, and it earned him a periodical MM for
gallantry and devotion to duty. A former miner, he took life –
and death – very casually….

The group was sold on behalf of the family and had never before
been on the market.
The full medal details are WWII Military Medal, 1939-1945, Burma
Stars, Defence Medal, BWM, QEII DEI GRATIA Cadet Forces Medal and
Order of St Lazarus to Major P.D. Kelley MM ACF (6104867 A.Cpl S.
Wales Bord on MM) very fine and better, some chipping to enamel
on St Lazarus. Also sold with a letter from Rev Sparrow dated August
1945 to Mrs Kelley, Buckingham Palace letter of MM transmission,
photo in uniform and an exercise book with 42 complete pages of
hand written notes on his service in Burma.
Unique Boer War, World War I DSO group to
RNAS Armoured Car Squadron
The Boer War, WWI Distinguished Service Order, 1914 Star trio
and 3 Russian awards group to Major Wells-Hood was sold in our auction
held on Wednesday 17th June 2009 and realised £70,150, including
the buyer’s premium, after fierce bidding on 4 phone lines,
including calls from Hungary and Belarus.
Private William Wells Hood served with the 66th Company Yorkshire
Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War in South Africa and was awarded
the Queen’s South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Transvaal
and Wittebergen clasps and also the 66th Company Yorkshire Imperial
Yeomanry Medal.
Before the start of World War I he had obtained a commission in
the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and was a Sub Lieutenant in 1914
in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). It was the RNAS who raised
the first British Armoured Car Squadrons in WWI with 6 squadrons
of 12 vehicles each.
The London Gazette, dated 2nd May 1916, announced the award of
The Order of St Anne Third Class to Lieutenant-Commander William
Wells-Hood by His Majesty the Emperor of Russia in recognition of
valuable services rendered. The London Gazette, dated 11th August
1917, announced the award Mention in Dispatches.
The award of his Distinguished Service Order was announced in
the London Gazette, dated 17th May 1918 - “This officer joined
the Armoured Cars at the outset of war, and served with them in
Belgium, South-West Africa, France, the Caucasus, Armenia, the Dobrudja,
and Galicia. Throughout the Galician retreat he fought every day
and night, under every sort of difficulty, always cheerful and ready,
and inflicted very heavy casualties on the enemy. His last fights
round Gusiatyn were very severe, and drew the praise of the Russian
General in command. In the last day’s fight he brought down
an enemy aeroplane.”
He transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Motor) as a temporary
major on 1st June 1918, with seniority backdated to 3rd April 1916.
He finally relinquished his commission on 17th December 1920 and
retained the rank of major.
The group was sold on behalf of the family, who live locally and
has never before been on the market.
The full medal details are WWI KGV Distinguished Service Order,
1899 QSA 3 clasps Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, 66th Company
Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal, 1914 star trio and bar with MID
oakleaf, Russian Order of St George 4th Class, Order of St Vladimir
Medal with Swords, Order of St Anne 3rd Class, WWII Defence Medal
and BWM.
British North Borneo Company's Medals from
the Collection Of Alan Cathery

Five of these very rare Silver Crosses, and four in Bronze were
issued to those serving in the North Borneo Armed Constabulary,
for gallantry during a number of small police actions between 1884
and 1915. These involved the pursuit of bandits and rebels, largely
via rivers meandering through mangrove swamps and the across jungle
clad hills, in tropical rainstorms (with rainfall up to 200 inches
a year, mostly in the afternoons) with ambushes and much sweat and
toil by British Company officers, with Sikh and Malay (Sugat) police,
Dyak guides and local Dusan and Kadazan porters.
An example of the circumstances resulting in these awards is given
on Owen Rutters British North Borneo 1922, describing the attack
on Mat Sallah's Ranau fort near Tambunan on 13th December 1897,
during which Mr Jones and 4 Sikhs were killed and 9 wounded. "Throughout
the action the Indian police behaved splendidly, even after the
severe handling they had received, and were anxious to make a second
attempt. During the action, Sergt. Natna Singh, although himself
seriously wounded, succeeded after two attempts in picking up Mr
Jones's body and carrying it back to a place of safety, after which
he returned to the attack. For this gallant action in face of a
point-blank fire he was given a commission and the Company's Cross
for Valour".
They were made by Joseph Moore Ltd of Birmingham, and the hallmark
is that for 1890.
The medal was unsold in our June 2009 auction, but realised £529
when reoffered in our August 2009 sale.
British North Borneo Company Medal, bar
'PUNITIVE EXPEDITION'

This, originally issued unnamed, was awarded to those who took
part in "punitive expeditions in 1897-98, including actions
at Inanam, Ranau, Ambong, Labuk and Sugat, western British North
Borneo" (now Sabah, Malaysia). Source: The Medals Collector
by S.C.Johnson 1920.
In July 1897 Mat Salleh attacked a small Government post on Gaya
Island, just offshore from Jesselton, capital of the West Coast,
(now Kota Kinabalu). He killed a Sikh policeman and captured Mt.
Neubronner. Three days later, a small force under Mr Hewitt, the
resident of Labuan, recaptured Gaya and with 78 police and Sikh
police and Dyaks, blocked the Inanam river mouth, captured 2 forts
and recovered much loot and Mr Nuebronner, unharmed. Salleh escaped,
but again sallied forth, raiding Ambong. He then retreated to Ranau,
in the shadow of Mt. Kinabalu (13,455 feet), and was attacked by
Hewitt along with 38 Sikh, Sugat and Pathan police and a 7 pounder
gun. Mat Salleh again fled but was later cornered and killed at
Tambunan near Ranau in December 1897.
Spinks records 13 silver and 75 bronze medals as being awarded
with this bar. The silvers were named to officers, and the bronzes,
issued unnamed, were in some cases engraved, both officially and
privately, and in 1906 could be exchanged for a new silver issue.
The medal was offered in our June auction and realised £460.
Victorian Campaign Medals Popular.
Victorian campaign medals were well received at the auction held
on April 8th 2009. The following results were obtained.
- 1849 Punjab Medal, with Mooltan clasp, to Archd Donaldson, 32nd
Foot, with repaired suspender and plug, together with 1859 War
Office letter accompanying the medal and research, estimated at
£200, realised £299.
- 1899 Canada G.S.M., with Fenian Raid 1866 clasp, to Pte C.L.
Sanders Barrie I. Co, estimated at £220, realised £299.
- 1879 South Africa Medal, with 1878 clasp, to 1850 Pte F. Allen
80th Foot, estimated at £250, realised £380.
- 1885 North West Canada Medal, without clasp, engraved to Sergt
Thos Salons, estimated £240, realised £276.

- Group consisting of 1896 India Medal, with 2 clasps of Punjab
Frontier 1897-98 and copy of Tirah 1897-98, together with 1899
QSA with 3 clasps of OFS, Transvaal and South Africa 1902 and
WWI 1914 Star trio and clasp, to L – 4408 Pte F. Stanesby,
The Queen’s R., estimated at £350, realised £690.
- 1899 Queen’s Sudan Medal, to 957 Pte J. Murphy 2 / R.
Bde, estimated £240, realised £299.

- 1900 China War Medal, with Relief of Pekin clasp, together with
WWI B.W.M., to 4193 Pte W. Thomas 2nd RI Welsh Fus, estimated
at £400, realised £448.
- 1902 Coronation (Police Ambulance Service) Medal, to Pte A.
Taylor, estimated at £150, realised £391.

- 1903 Transport Medal, with 2 clasps of China 1900 and S. Africa
1899 – 1902, to J.W. Ross (only 178 issued with both clasps),
estimated at £900, realised £1,552.
- A Boer War Distinguished Conduct Medal group realised £3,795
and a full report appears on our Articles
Library page.
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