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April 2005 Medal NewsletterAUCTION NEWS
There is a second notable Waterloo medal, this one with an excellent story. This is the medal to Lieutenant George Gunning, 1st Dragoons. The Royal Dragoons were one of the three Regiments which formed the Union Brigade at Waterloo. Led by General Ponsonby they were at the centre of the famous charge that helped save the Allied centre during the early stages of the battle. Gunning led a troop in the charge, was wounded, and was involved with the capture of the Eagle of the French 105th Regiment. His own account of this incident was given in a letter to the Cheltenham Chronicle in 1816 and published privately in 1834 in ‘Documents of the Gunning Family’. It is a lengthy and very interesting account, but the relevant part is given here.
The capture of an enemy Eagle was of course an event of great importance. Corporal Stiles was later at pains to state, as clearly as he could, his role in the drama. In a letter to Gunning dated 31 January 1816 Stiles, now promoted to Ensign, asks him if he would support his claim to the honour in a letter to his commanding officer. ‘This day Colonel Clifton sent for me about the taking the Eagle and Colours. He asked me if I had any person that see me take the Eagle, I told him that you see me, I believe, as the officer of the French was making away with it. I belonged to your Troop at that time, and you gave me orders to charge him, which I did, and took it from him. When I stated it to him this day, he wants to know the particulars about it, and me to rite to you for you to state to him how it was. I would thank you to rite to the Colonel as you was the nearest officer to me that day.’
Another photograph of a veteran has come in for sale, this time with an Indian Mutiny medal. Lambert Cowan is pictured wearing his medal and looking at a book with (presumably?) his young granddaughter at his side. To date we have been unable to trace Mr Cowan. A note on the photograph says ‘he was the brother to Sarianne Cowan who married L.G.A. Campbell of Fairfield’. Perhaps before the catalogue goes to press, someone related to Mr Cowan browsing the internet will pick this up and let us know who Mr Cowan was?
... With cataloguing complete for our next sale on 28 April, those of you who subscribe to the auction catalogue can expect to see a copy arrive through your letterbox quite shortly. Over the last few months in this website newsletter, we have brought you details of some of the most interesting lots as they were consigned for sale. With an auction now numbering over 600 lots there are many other items worthy of mention. It is interesting to note just how many different theatres of operation are represented by the wide variety of fine groups in all price brackets. There is a rare Defence of Leros Military Cross group of six to Lieutenant F.J. Belle, Royal Welch Fusiliers, wounded and taken prisoner of war during this action. The group comes with official and other documents and photographs, some of which relate to the time he spent as a prisoner-of-war (estimate GBP 1200-1500). Also included is an 'Immediate' Military Medal for Italy to Private M. Pook, Hampshire Regiment, who died the day after the action at Porto S. Venere in September 1943 when he was wounded in the leg (GBP 1000-1200). A scarce Madagascar Deigo Suarez operations 1943 group of six comprises an OBE, India General Service Medal 1908-35, 1939-45 Star, Defence and War Medals, and Coronation Medal 1953 to Colonel G.F. Houghton, Royal Corps of Signals a 'tireless, able and fearless officer' (OBE recommendation) (estimate GBP 340-380). For service in Italy during the attack on Villia Grande is the Second World War Military Medal group of five to Private J. Hastie, Essex Regiment (GBP 800-900), while for operations in Tobruk 1941, there is the single Military Medal to Private C.A. Churan, Essex Regiment present during the capture of El Duda 1941 when he exhibited complete disregard for personal danger in his capacity as a signal linesman (estimate GBP 900-1100). Good interwar groups are represented by the rare 1938 Palestine Military Medal to Private H.A. Attwood, Essex Regiment (only two Military Medals to this regiment for this campaign) who saved the life of a noncommissioned officer by bayoneting a bandit (estimate GBP 1800-2200), and the scarce Gurkha Officer casualty group to Colonel A.G.B. Lang, 1 Gurkha Regiment, who was severely wounded in the defence of Wana Camp, Waziristan 1894 (estimate GBP 400-450). An interesting group, which straddles both nineteenth and twentieth centuries, is the group of 15 to Major General F.G. Anley CB, CMG, Governor of Wadi Halfa, a province in the Sudan, who commanded a Mounted Infantry Battalion in South Africa, 1 and 2 Battalions Essex Regiment 1912-14, 12 Infantry Brigade 1914-16, during which time the Brigade never yielded a trench to the enemy, and 234 Brigade in Palestine (estimate GBP 3800-4200). The sale also includes a rare North Russian Military Cross in a group of 5, which was awarded unusually for the suppression of the Slavo-British mutiny at Troitsa, to Captain A.M. Barrett, Berkshire and Essex Regiments. Recruited from former Bolshevik prisoners of war, deserters, prisoners in local goals and similar types, the Slavo-British Legion was trained and commanded by British officers to fight against the Bolsheviks in North Russia. Its formation was inevitably somewhat controversial, but its fighting qualities were soon vindicated. However, in 1919, a mutiny broke out started by the 1st (Dyer's) Battalion and at least two British officers were killed and others taken prisoner. This was soon stamped out and the Legion was disarmed. Captain Barrett was commander of one of the companies of Dyer's battalion and was instrumental in putting an end to the mutiny (estimate GBP 1400-1600). A numismatic rarity is the Boer War Distinguished Conduct Medal and scarce G.VI.R. 'Crowned Head' Meritorious Medal group to five to Colour Sergeant C.E. Munson, Essex Regiment, twice mentioned in despatches during the Boer War (estimate GBP 1800-2200). Gallantry items from the nineteenth century include an exceptional Distinguished Conduct Medal for the Crimea, Indian Mutiny and the North West Frontier 1863 in a group of six to Quarter Master Sergeant John Mackenzie, Royal Highlanders, late Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. Present at the siege and fall of Sebastopol, before moving to India where he was in action on several occasions. Mackenzie was thanked by Colonel Taylor, 79 Foot, for his conspicuous conduct at Lucknow (estimate GBP 5000-5500). The Battle of El-Teb is represented by another exceptional Distinguished Conduct Medal in a group of three to Corporal D. McPherson who was wounded at the battle and later promoted in the field for gallantry at the battle of Tamaai. McPherson with his bayonet came to the aid of Colonel Burnaby who was being attacked by the enemy. During the fighting McPherson received a severe spear wound to his face (GBP 4500-5000). A historically interesting group of four is that to Lieutenant Colonel W.V. Moul, Cheshire Regiment, Assistant Provost Marshal in Dublin during the troubled years 1916-17. The group consists of India General Service Medal 1854-95, Queen's and King's South Africa Medals 1899-1902, and Coronation Medal 1911. Before his execution, Sir Roger Casement is said to have given Moul his 'bejewelled personal pistol' (GBP 700-800). A particularly fascinating and unusual group is that to a Royal Chef at Buckingham Palace 1968-74, R.H. Aubrey, who received 36 awards, mainly foreign orders and medals, all of which are accompanied by original permission to wear letters or certificates and all of which come in original cases of issue. The group includes awards from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sudan, Sweden, and Thailand ((estimate GBP 3000-3500). Among some fine quality foreign orders are a Japanese Order of the Sacred Crown, First Class set of insignia, the Badge and Star of gold and enamel, the latter set with pearls (GBP 8000-12000); and three orders from the Indian State of Patiala - Family Order Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, believed to be the only known set (estimate: GBP 7000-8000), Order of the Holy Saint set of insignia, believed to be one of only three sets manufactured (GBP 7000-8000), Order of Krishna set of insignia, believed to be one of only three sets manufactured (estimate GBP 7000-8000). We look forward to your attendance at the sale or to receiving your bids in advance. Please contact us if you have any enquiries.
SPINK HOST LONDON BRANCH MEETINGS, ORDERS & MEDALS RESEARCH
SOCIETY There will be a short presentation (about which more details next month) followed by the opportunity to talk about and handle medals in a relaxed environment. Enquiries about the Branch and its activities should be addressed to: Bob Barltrop 01582 715472, or Stan Bates 07810 790817 (stanley.bates@ukonline.co.uk).
NEW REFERENCE WORKS FOR MEDAL COLLECTORS BIOGRAPHICAL LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE HERTFORDSHIRE YEOMANRY 1794-1920
Over recent years Colonel Sainsbury has published a number of works related to the Hertfordshire Yeomanry. Specifically of interest to medal collectors these have included a roll of honour and lists of honours and awards. This recently published work presents the biographies of those officers who have served in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry throughout its history. The information given in the biographies of the hundreds of officers listed includes details of entitlements to honours, awards, and campaign medals.
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‘The Union brigade was in line, but by bringing up our left shoulder
in the attack we came in contact with the French nearly in a column of
squadron in echelon, so that the right squadron of the Royals came in
contact with the left corner of the square of the enemy, and suffered
most severely in officers and men. The centre and left squadrons of the
Royals did great execution against the middle of the enemy’s square.
I commanded the left half of the centre squadron. As a matter of course
the Enniskillins did not receive so much fire from the square as fell
on the Royals; but the Greys came in contact with the right corner of
the square, and also received a volley of musketry from the light infantry
of the enemy on the extreme right of their attack; this body of troops
retired in excellent order. It is impossible to say too much in praise
of the steadiness of this body, and the broken regiment formed on them.
I saw an eagle among a small body – I told Corporal Styles to secure
it, and led the men on to the attack. At this moment I saw no officer
near me. I killed the French officer who commanded the party, whose sword
passed between my arm and my body at the moment my sword passed through
his left breast. He was a fine looking, elegant man; his last words were
“Vive Napoleon”. The prisoners said he was the commanding
officer of the 105th Regiment. It was the work of a moment. I saw the
eagle in the hands of Corporal Styles and I ordered him to leave the field,
and not give up the eagle until he had a proper receipt for it at head
quarters from one of the Duke of Wellington’s personal staff.’
From
‘across the pond’ we have an M.G.S. with the scarce clasp
for Fort Detroit. This is to Sergeant John Brownridge, 41st Foot. Brownridge,
from Sowerby in Cumberland, was at the Capture of Fort Detroit, the battles
of Queenston and Miami, and the action at Lundy’s Lane in 1814,
and volunteered for the ‘Forlorn Hope’ at the assault of Fort
Eire the same year. 
