July/August 2004 Medal Newsletter

Auction News
The Spink auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria on July 22 was again permeated by the theme of strong and better prices. The sale contained a good selection of fine and interesting items, hence it was no surprise to find sustained bidding both on the book and in the room. Once the sale had started it was soon clear that many collectors and others were prepared to go 'that extra mile' and more, to secure much fancied items.

The sale opened with over a hundred lots of militaria. Especially notable results came in the form of a top bid of £2900 (estimate £550-800) paid for an eye-catching collection of flags, pipe-banners and trumpet/music stand banners to a variety of regiments and the excellent £4200 (estimate £600-900) for a magnificent and rare Madras Artillery officer's uniform.

A Victoria Cross, by way of order of precedence, once more headed the sections of Orders, Decorations and Medals. This was a VC group of 13 awarded to Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Agansing Rai, 5th Gurkha Rifles for 'indomitable courage' during the Battle of Imphal - the first Gurkha VC to be offered for public sale. It brought a healthy hammer price of £115,000 (estimate £110,000-130,000) and appeared to have been purchased by a regular collector of the UK's highest award for valour.

A spectacular, but perhaps not unexpected, price of £100,000 (estimate £50,000-70,000) was required to buy the historic Large Gold Medal for Vittoria with clasp Salamanca and Small Gold Medal for Salamanca to Sir William Ponsonby. Ponsonby was one of the most famous cavalry commanders of the Napoleonic Wars who led the charge of the Union Brigade and was killed by Polish Lancers at the Battle of Waterloo.

In a sale of this quality it difficult to pick out just a few highlights, but mention should be made of First War gallantry items which regularly outstripped their estimates sometimes severalfold. For example, a well documented 'Q-ship' Distinguished Service Cross group of four to Lieutenant J.C. Jones, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve sailed way beyond its estimate (£1200-1400) to bring an astonishing £5000; whilst a Distinguished Conduct Medal group of four to Gunner, J.W. Mantle, Royal Field Artillery easily cruised to £1400 (estimate £450-550).

Likewise campaign items, whether as singles or in pairs and groups, attracted a good deal of attention at all prices levels, many outstripping their estimates by some distance. Among the single items: a China Medal with two clasps Taku Forts and Relief of Pekin to Able Seaman A.L. Pigott, HMS Orlando sold at £1250 (estimate £340-380); a Korea Medal 1950-53 to prisoner-of-war Private D.G.A. Fritchley, Glosters, with a USA Unit citation on the riband was bought at £1600 (estimate 350-400); and a General Service Medal 1962 clasp Lebanon to ALSA P.J. Friend RN, almost quadrupled its estimate when it sold at £1150 (estimate £300-350). Among the campaign groups, a group of five comprising a Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 clasps Cape Colony, Wittebergen and South Africa 1901 with Turkish Orders of Osmanieh and Medjidieh to Lieutenant J.S. Birch, Imperial Yeomanry was an intriguing lot which was doubtless reflected in the hammer price of £2100 (estimate £500-600); in contrast a modern Lebanese Service group of three to a Warrant Officer 2nd Class D. Deakin, Queen's Dragoons Guards consisting of General Service Medal 1962 clasps Northern Ireland and Lebanon, United Nations Medal for Cyprus, and Regular Army Long service and Good Conduct Medal brought £1400 (estimate £450-500).
All prices are hammer prices

Forthcoming Auction, 30 November 2004
(NB Please note the revised date - previously published as 4 November 2004)
The next Spink auction of Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria will take place on 4 November 2004. Cataloguing has already commenced and among the first items to be consigned are some fine gallantry items. The include two notable Royal Air Force groups. The first is a Second War Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross group of seven to Squadron Leader Edward Stanley Smith, Auxilliary Air Force, which illustrates gallantry and sustained determination both in and out of action. His DFC (London Gazette 2.10.1945) recommendation reads:

  'This officer has almost completed his second operational tour of Night Fighting. He started as one of the pioneers of night fighting with No. 600 Squadron during the Battle of Britain in the days when night fighting was indeed a perilous occupation. There was no proper ground control, no navigational aids, only inefficient R/T and no form of airfield lightings. In spite of all these setbacks, this officer was always in those days in the forefront to engage the enemy. Although he destroyed no enemy aircraft on his first tour, it required great courage and determination to fly at all under the conditions that then prevailed.

On his second tour with No. 488 Squadron and subsequently as Commanding Officer of No. 264 Squadron, he destroyed one enemy aircraft on the night of 30-31 March, 1945. This was his award for a large amount of flying often in extremely bad weather and with no guarantee of open bases to return to. Throughout he has shown the same keenness and determination to engage the enemy, should he be found, as he did in the early days, and although his personal score is small, his example and leadership have been an inspiration to his Squadron and have resulted in the destruction of many enemy aircraft.

In all he has completed 105 sorties against the enemy in defensive and offensive patrols over England, the beachhead and subsequent front line areas'.

His AFC citation (London Gazette 2.6.1943) states:

  'Squadron Leader Smith has served as officer commanding the Development Flight, since November, 1940. During this period he has been almost solely responsible for all the trials and reports on fighters up to December, 1942. In addition he has made affiliations with Bomber Command and has assisted with considerable flying on bomber types. In July, 1942, Squadron Leader Smith was selected for special duties with the Royal Air Force delegation in Washington. His flying ability and keenness have invariably been of the highest order'.

The second is a Second War Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal group of six to Squadron Leader J.I.C. Waddicar, Royal Air Force for an attack on Bremen which was frequently the target for raids in June and July 1942. Bomber Command was to become increasingly concerned at the growing competence of the Luftwaffe night fighters in intercepting aircraft returning along the bomber tracks. The epic return flight of Stirling N3751 BU-P on the night of 27-28 June, badly damaged by flack over the target, attacked by five enemy fighters, and shot at from the sea, is an outstanding example of how perilous the return trips from these bombing raids had become.

The citation (London Gazette 21.7.1942, 214 (FMS) Squadron) states:

  'These airmen were members of the crew of an aircraft detailed to attack Bremen on the night of 27 June '42. Sergeant Griggs acting as captain. The objective was successfully bombed but, over the target area, the aircraft sustained much damage from anti-aircraft fire. One of the starboard engines was hit and put out of action. Shortly afterwards, the bomber was subjected to an attack by an enemy fighter, fire from which caused further damage. Almost immediately a second fighter opened fire, and Sergeant Wildey, the 1st wireless operator, was wounded in the arm. The first fighter then returned to the attack but was met with a long and vicious burst from Sergeant Waddicar's guns, which sent the aircraft spinning towards the ground, where it exploded on impact.

Some time later, after crossing Holland, Sergeant O'Hara, the navigator, who had skilfully guided his captain thus far, sighted two enemy fighters closing in. Sergeant Watson, who was tending the injured wireless operator, immediately attempted to man his turret, but it was jammed. With the assistance of Sergeant O'Hara who held his legs, he managed to reach his guns and he then delivered an effective burst at the leading fighter, which caused it to dive towards the sea completely out of control. Meanwhile, Sergeant Waddicar, with commendable ingenuity, had temporarily repaired one of his guns which had failed and opened fire at the second aircraft from close range. The attacker dived away and exploded before hitting the water.

The bomber was not yet out of danger, being subjected to machine gun fire from the sea. A few minutes later another fighter appeared opening fire with a long burst, but Sergeant Waddicar's return fire, caused it to break off the engagement. Sergeant Griggs, displaying fine airmanship, eventually flew his severely damaged aircraft safely back to base where he made a crash landing. Throughout the operation, these airmen displayed unflinching courage, great fortitude and splendid team work in foiling the attacks of five enemy fighters, three of which were shot down. Their conduct upheld the highest tradition of the Royal Air Force.'

On its return to base at 0500, Stirling BP-U crash landed with its wheels retracted. In recognition of the sustained courage and fortitude shown by this crew, all the surviving members received the DFM. Although not unique, the decision to decorate six airmen from one crew was most unusual. Squadron Leader James Ian Cunningham Waddicar DFM served in the RAF between 1940-56.

The sale also includes a strong showing of First World War gallantry awards. Among a section of Military Crosses for a wide selection of actions are:

1. A single MC named to 'Lieutenant W.E. Leveson R.G.A. (S.R.) Doiran 1917' (London Gazette 1.1.1918)

2. An MC with 1914-15 Star to 'Captain Gerald Jones. 1/7 Essex Regiment. March 1917 Gaza', later killed in action in Palestine 2.11.1917 (London Gazette 16.8.1917)

3. A 'Zillebeke Lake' 1918 MC group of three to Second Lieutenant G.S. Leach, Durham Light Infantry who was in command of the platoon on the left of the attack south of Zillebeke Lake on 15th September 1918.
   'He had previously reconnoitred the ground most thoroughly, and during the operation led his men over most difficult ground to the final objective. After consolidating his line he personally attacked the enemies' post and brought in 8 prisoners and 2 machine guns. Throughout the engagement he led his men with great daring and dash and his conduct was a stirring example to all ranks' (London Gazette 1.2.1919)

4. A 'Bullecourt' MC and Bar group of five with related miniatures to Major G. W. Meats, West Yorkshire Regiment

   'In an attack he assembled his company on difficult ground within 100 yards of the enemy trenches, and led his men with such dash into the hostile trenches that the enemy were completely surprised and a large number of prisoners were captured. He consolidated and held the captured ground in spite of an enemy counter-attack which threatened his position. He showed splendid leadership and courage' (London Gazette 5.6.1918)

   'When the enemy rushed one of our bombing posts and drove it in, he at once organised a bombing party, and under heavy machine-gun fire got out of the trench and bombed the advancing enemy with such energy that they retired in disorder. His quick perception of the situation and prompt action were invaluable, and enabled the position to be speedily re-established' (Bar to MC London Gazette 18.6.1918)

There are also a number of excellent Great War Military Medals are named to a variety of regiments including:

1. A single MM to 350287 Pte. A. Shaw. 1/9 Royal Scots, TF (London Gazette 12.12.1917)

2. A single MM to S-12428 Pte. J. Campbell. 8/10 Gordon Highlanders (London Gazette 18.6.1917)

3. A Western Front MM group of five to Private William Taylor, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, late Northumberland Fusiliers, who was taken prisoner of War during the First World War: the group is accompanied by several original documents (London Gazette 19.3.1918)

4. An Archangel MM group of five to Sergeant Major E. Doe, Royal Field Artillery
   'During the attempted enemy attack near Sredmekrenga, 24th and again 25th July 1919, this N.C.O as No. 1 of his gun is chiefly responsible for the heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. The whole attack on both days was warded off entirely by our R.F.A. and prisoners all testify to the wonderful and uncanny way in which our guns found them. This N.C.O. has carried out frequent patrols down the Alexandrova Road'

5. An MM group of three to Sergeant S.G. Clatworthy, East Surrey Regiment with St John Ambulance Association badge, reverse engraved '118942 Jessie Gittins', with 1909 bar, reverse engraved '118942' (Jessie Gittins was Sergeant Clatworthy's mother).

The November auction is also attracting some fine classic medals from the Napoleonic period including: a Military General Service Medal 1793-1814, two clasps, Vittoria, Pyrenees to W. Rolfe, 57th Foot; a Military General Service Medal 1793-1814, ten clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Albuhera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St. Sebastian, Orthes, Toulouse to Richard Blundell, 48th Foot; and a Waterloo Medal 1815 to Corporal Isaac Fawcett, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards.

For further information, or if you are interested in consigning orders, decorations and medals to our November 2004 auction, please contact JOHN HAYWARD on 020 7563 4049 or RICHARD BISHOP on 0207 563 4053. Richard can also be contacted by email.

British Battles and Medals
Seventh Edition
The Editorial Team is now working relentlessly to complete the manuscript for the next edition of this important medallic reference work. Our thanks to the many collectors who have supplied corrections, addenda and suggestions. We have had a wide variety of interesting contributions which will add significantly to the comprehensiveness and accuracy of this book. Further information about British Battles and Medals and its publication will follow in due course.

Those other Eagles: A tribute to the British, Commonwealth and Free European Fighter Pilots who claimed between two and four victories in aerial combat 1939 - 1982
by Christopher Shores. London: Grub Street, 2004. Casebound, 764 pages, illustrated. Price: £50

This is a companion volume to Volumes 1 and 2 of 'Aces High', which have established themselves as classic works of reference. 'Those Other Eagles' follows a similar format, listing individuals alphabetically with a great deal of biographical detail and the 'where', 'what', 'when' and 'how' of each 'score'. The information in drawn from official records, personal log books, diaries and interviews.

Honour the Air Forces
by Michael Maton. Devon: Token Publishing, 2004. Casebound, 520 pages. Price: £65

This new work details about 40,000 RAF and Dominions Air Forces recipients of Second World War gallantry and distinguished service. The book also includes other statistical information.

OMSA and OMRS Conventions
Representatives of Spink will again be attending the Convention of the Orders and Medals Society of America in Sacramento, August 2004 and the Convention of the Orders and Medals Research Society, London, September 2004. We look forward to meeting collectors at these two events. If you want to make a specific appointment then please contact us in advance to make the necessary arrangements. 

Catalogues
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Buying Medals on the Spink Website
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