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Single: SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL1853 impressed to JOHN HALPIN, 74^TH REGT

John Halpin was born 1822 in Limerick, Tipperary, Ireland joining the 74^th Regiment (number 1766) on the 22^nd February 1840, at the age of 18. John saw service in the 3^rd Kaffir war of 1850-53 with his unit the 74^th Highland Regiment. In 1864 after 20 years of service and in receipt of a pension he migrated to Sydney NSW along with his five children on board “The Queen of the East”. His wife was not aboard but was noted as already living in the colony; John’s occupation was listed as Shoemaker and soldier.

Good, fine SOLD

Single: SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL1853 impressed to JOHN HALPIN, 74^TH REGT

John Halpin was born 1822 in Limerick, Tipperary, Ireland joining the 74^th Regiment (number 1766) on the 22^nd February 1840, at the age of 18. John saw service in the 3^rd Kaffir war of 1850-53 with his unit the 74^th Highland Regiment. In 1864 after 20 years of service and in receipt of a pension he migrated to Sydney NSW along with his five children on board “The Queen of the East”. His wife was not aboard but was noted as already living in the colony; John’s occupation was listed as Shoemaker and soldier.

Good, fine SOLD

Single: South Atlantic 1982, with rosette. Correctly impressed to AB (R) S. G. TEMPLETON D171837Q  HMS BRILLIANT

Note: HMS Brilliant was involved in many incidents during the war including the shooting down of three A-4 Skyhawks. In defence the type 22 frigate came under Argentine air attack outside San Carlos Water where she was slightly damaged by cannon fire.

Comes with original box of issue.

Near EF SOLD

Single: St. Jean d’Acre 1840, bronze, unnamed, pierced with ring suspension

SOLD

Single: Sutlej Medal for Aliwal 1846 with clasp “Sobraon”. Correct period naming to CHAS ROBERTS 16^TH LANCERS.

Charles Roberts enlisted 13^th January 1825 in Reading, Sussex to the 59^th Foot (also shown as 52^nd), Regimental number 1638 at the age of 15 year and 2 months

Volunteered on the 18^th December 1828 to serve with the 16^th Dragoons

Transferred to the 3^rd Light Dragoons 1^st April 1846 30^th September 1848

Medically discharged unfit in 1848 at 43 years of age due to injuries sustained whilst in the saddle having served a total of 22 years and 11 months including the campaign in Afghanistan in 1838-39 at the assault and capture of Ghuznee, the action at Maharajpoor in 1843 and Aliwal and Sobraon in 1846. Comes with service docs.

 The 16^th Lancers were made famous for their charge at Aliwal completely routing the Sikh squares something the French were unable to do against the British Squares at Waterloo

 
  Contact wear Good Fine SOLD

Single: Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed, pierced with rings for suspension

SOLD

Single: Turkish Crimea 1855, French issue, unnamed, fitted with a bar suspension.

SOLD

Single: United States Bronze Star correctly named to Charles H Brown in box of issue along with the Secretary of the Army’s award card.

A period Newspaper clipping gives an insight into Charles’s service and award

“At the time, Mr Brown was a Technician Fourth Grade, assigned to duty with the 101^st Coast Artillery Battalion (AA).

Technician Brown performed meritorious service from September to November, 1942. The citation accompanying the medal said, “He volunteered to help build the important road from Port Moresby to Ioribaiwa. This road, constructed over a very treacherous jungle mountain range, speeded up supply of the Australian Army. Technician Brown’s initiative and devotion to duty made an important contribution to the successful defense of Port Moresby.”

Antiaircraft played an important role in the Papuan Campaign. Its units were among the most forward elements and in their activity in Northern New Guinea they were involved in an operation that enveloped the enemy’s rear. The campaign was marked by close cooperation and coordination between the American and Australian Anti-Aircraft units. All American Anti=Aircraft units participating in the Papuan Campaign received the Presidential Unit Citation.

A cut of the article accompanies the medal and is framed along with the Secretary of the Army’s award card.

Good very fine $475

FAMILY GROUPING

Father

Single: Volunteer Force Long Service, V.R. correct period naming to 343 SERGT H. TAYLOR 1^ST V.B. LEICESTERSHIRE REGT.

Son

Four: 1914/15 star, British War, Victory Medal and L. S. G. C. Medal (GV) all correctly impressed to 7193 C. SJT. D. TAYLOR SCO. RIF.

Note: Colour Sergeant Douglas Taylor 18^th April 1914 disembarked 5^th (M.I.) Battalion Nigeria Regiment

Single: Waterloo 1815 JOHN GILBERT 10^th REG. HUSSARS.

Ex Sotheby’s in March 1888

Note: John Gilbert served in Captain Grey’s number 4 troop and participated in the action on the far left of the battlefield, late in the day. Major Howard, who was the only 10^th Hussar officer killed that day, could possibly  have been the last Anglo-Allied officer killed , attacking a French square on the last attack.

71 medals are recorded to exist from the unit.

Fitted with replacement clip and ring suspension. VF SOLD

Single: Waterloo 1815 RICHARD WILLIAMS 7^TH REGIMENT HUSSARS.

To best describe the 7^th Hussars on the day, the following is a quote from one of their officers printed in ‘Waterloo Letters, edited by Major General H. T. Siborne;

"We charged twelve or fourteen times, and once cut off a squadron of cuirassiers, every man of whom we killed on the spot except the two officers and one Marshal de Logis, whom I sent to the rear"

Note: 65 medals are recorded to exist from the unit.

Fitted with original steel clip and replacement ring suspension. VF SOLD

Single: Waterloo 1815 WILLIAM COTTLE, 2^nd BATT. 44^th REG: FOOT.

The Essex regimental museum website records an insight into the day’s events as follows;

“French Lancers attacked as the Regiment was forming up when it was at a disadvantage having no support on either flank and arranged in lines 2 men deep rather than the squares employed as defence against cavalry. This deployment allowed the lancers to attack from front and rear.

A French lancer made a grab for the colours with his lance but the flag was secured by Ensign Christie despite serious wounds. The Lancer then tried to escape with some of the colour still on his lance but he was killed in the attempt to get away.”

The Regiment earned great praise for their stand against the attack from Lord Wellesley-"The troops were long and severely engaged and conducted themselves with utmost gallantry".

14 other ranks were killed and 151 were wounded. Two officers were killed and 17 wounded.

Note: Only 38 waterloo medals are recorded to have surfaced for the unit making this one of the scarcest Regiments to obtain.

Fitted with replacement silver clip and bar suspension. VF SOLD

Keith Rocco's painting of the 23rd in action against French cuirassiers and Dutch lancers

Single: Waterloo Medal 1815 correctly named to William Cooksey, 23rd Reg. Light Dragoons fitted with original steel clip and later ring suspension.

23rd Light Dragoon casualties at Waterloo; 13 men killed, 5 officers & 23 men wounded, 1 officer & 31 men missing.

Served in Captain John Martin's number 2 troop. Ex Gascoigne collection March 1909. Originally sold by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge February 1879 and later again sold by Spink's (c1995) of where it has resided in a collection ever since.

Slight edge bruising VF SOLD

Near EF SOLD

Light contact marks otherwise VF SOLD

Single;  Maori War medal to Private William Williamson, 1st Waikato Regiment, killed in action at Titi Hill, Mauku, in October 1863, a native of Bendigo, Victoria. reverse undated  with the naming engraved in the correct period style to W. Williamson, Pr. 1st Waikato Regt

On the morning of the 23rd October 1863 firing was heard in the direction of Bald Hills. Lieutenant D. H. Lusk, who commanded the church stockade, sent out two scouts to reconnoitre. They discovered Maoris shooting cattle in the valley between the hills. On receiving their report Lieut. Lusk sent to the river stockade for reinforcements and at the same time dispatched a mounted orderly to Drury. The river stockade was in charge of Lieut. J. S. Perceval, an impulsive and inexperienced young officer. Disobeying his orders to join the church garrison he led a party of 13 men to the right, heading for the crest of Titi Hill, hoping to take the Maoris in the rear. The Maoris came skirmishing over the hill and rapidly outflanked Perceval’s party on both sides, pinning them down in some felled timber. About this time they were joined by Lieut. T. Norman who had just returned from Drury with the men’s pay.

Lieut. Lusk, observing the predicament of Lieut. Perceval, led his men in a foray up Titi Hill to join him. A desperate close-quarter battle followed, with repeated charges by about 150 Maori warriors. It was during this hand to hand fighting that the Militia casualties occurred; first Lieut. Perceval fell, then Lieut. Norman and several of the men. Falling back and clearing his right flank Lusk got his men into the cover of the bush. Retiring in good formation keeping to the cover of the forest and maintaining accurate shooting by sections, the party reached the church stockade without further casualties.

The fight was broken off and the Maoris headed for the Waikato River taking their wounded with them. Their dead were estimated at 30. During all this time the mounted orderly was having trouble convincing the Imperial officers in charge at Drury of the state of affairs at Mauku. Finally they dispatched two companies of Waikato Militia who arrived at Mauku that evening - too late to be of assistance.

An early morning reconnaissance discovered the bodies of the slain Militiamen, stripped and laid out in a row. They had all been tomahawked and a white haversack on a stick had been erected to mark their location.

Those killed were: Lieutenants John Perceval and Thomas Norman, Corporal M. Power, Privates W. Beysick, George O’Born, Farquhar McGillavray, and William Williamson, all of the 1st Waikato Regiment, and Private William Worthington of the Forest Rifles. Worthington was buried at Mauku but the bodies of the others were taken to Drury for burial where, in the overgrown churchyard of St. John’s, is still standing the forlorn monument to Australia’s first war dead which was erected by their comrades of the 1st Waikato Regiment (Ref. Australians in the Waikato War, L. L. Barton, Sydney, 1979).

Sold with further details including the roll of the 1st Waikato Regiment awarded the medal under the terms of N.Z.Gazette No. 63 of 1869, and copies of official correspondence to his brother who claimed his estate and to whom this medal was issued in 1872.

Near EF SOLD

Single; Crimea medal one clasp "Alma". Officially Impressed to J. YOUNG 55th REGT. On the roll as wounded in Alma and subsequently died at Scutari in 1854.

Comes with a letter home of 4 pages of stop start writing, almost like a diary where he describes the arrival of the wounded from the Charge of the Light Brigade to Scutari. Also included is an official disbursement of his assets, An official letter regarding the medal plus an Official envelope addressed to his Sister in Easey Street Collingwood Melbourne Australia.

A choice Crimea to a casualty with extremely rare Ephemera and a bonus Australian connection

Small EK at 6 o'clock otherwise EF SOLD

Single; Crimea medal one clasp "Alma". Officially Impressed to J. YOUNG 55th REGT. On the roll as wounded in Alma and subsequently died at Scutari in 1854.

Comes with a letter home of 4 pages of stop start writing, almost like a diary where he describes the arrival of the wounded from the Charge of the Light Brigade to Scutari. Also included is an official disbursement of his assets, An official letter regarding the medal plus an Official envelope addressed to his Sister in Easey Street Collingwood Melbourne Australia.

A choice Crimea to a casualty with extremely rare Ephemera and a bonus Australian connection.

Small EK at 6 o'clock otherwise EF SOLD

Single; Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Territorial correctly named to 750767 Gnr. J. D. Mc Neil. R.A.

J. D. McNeil was awarded his Efficiency Medal per Army Order 33 on 28 February 1937.

Minor edge bruise, nearly extremely fine SOLD

SINGLE; General Service Medal 1962-2007 clasp Malay Peninsula (23782257 L/Cpl/ J. S. Fish. RE.)

Comes in named card box of issue with original envelope addressed to ‘Mr. J. S. Fish, 5 Duckmanton Road, Duckmanton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire’.

extremely fine $125

A Great War 1918 ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Corporal A. L. Fraser, 60th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for his repeated gallantry during a night raid on July Farm, east of Wytschaete, 13/14 March 1918. He was wounded in action on the Western Front, 2 September 1918

Single; Military Medal, G.V.R. impressed to 1940 Cpl A. L. Fraser. 60/Aust: Inf:

M.M. London Gazette 25 April 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous bravery and initiative during a raid on July Farm, east of Wytschaete, on the night of the 13th/14th March 1918. This NCO accompanied Lieutenant John Charles Moore [M.C. and Bar, M.M.] and helped him to get the men into position. When the barrage lifted, he was one of the first to enter the enemy’s position and received the prisoners from Lieutenant Moore. During the whole action he showed a daring and disregard for his own personal safety which was a distinct encouragement to his men and of great assistance to Lieutenant Moore. He stayed behind with Lieutenant Moore and helped this officer to carry in a wounded man under heavy machine gun fire. His work in helping with the organisation of the party and in the training previous to the raid went far to ensure its ultimate success. Strength of raiding party - one officer and twenty other ranks.’

Albert Leopold Fraser was born in Bendigo, Victoria in 1896. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne, 15 January 1915. Fraser served with the 8th Australian Infantry Battalion in Gallipoli, and was evacuated to hospital with frostbite, 8 December 1915. He transferred to the 60th Australian Infantry Battalion in July 1916, and served with them in the French theatre of war from that month.

Fraser advanced to Corporal in February 1917, and was awarded the M.M. for his gallantry at July Farm, east of Wytschaete, Ypres, 13/14 March 1918. He was wounded in action, 2 September 1918. Fraser returned to Australia in December 1918, and was discharged in January 1919.

Suspension claw re-pinned, nearly very fine $2000

A good Great War 1918 ‘Somme’ M.M. awarded to Private F. B. O’Donnell, 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for the capture of 4 machine guns and 45 prisoners during the attack near Hargicourt, 18 September 1918

Single; Military Medal, G.V.R. impressed to 6802 Pte F. B. O’Donnell 3/Aust. Inf.

M.M. London Gazette 17 June 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Hargicourt on 18th September 1918. With his Platoon Sergeant and Section Leader, Pte. O’Donnell under heavy machine fire rushed an enemy machine gun and helped to capture four machine guns and 45 prisoners. He killed the crews of two of the guns. Prior to this action he single handed captured a small enemy post and a garrison of eight. He did excellent work throughout and set a fine example of determination and fearlessness.’

The following additional detail is given in the Official History of Australia in the War 1914-1918, Vol. VI:

‘Lieut. Lord, to advance quickly, split his platoon into two, half led by Sgt. McMillan. Half way up the northern slope of the spur the left stopped by machine gunners in a knot of trenches. Leggett’s platoon on the north side of the valley was sniping across at these when it saw three Australians coming from the south towards the nest of guns. They were Sgt. McMillan and two of his men (L/Cpl Bradford and Pte F. B. O’Donnell). Following closely on the barrage, they had seen a machine gun firing on the troops on the left, and they hurried to work round into the trench full of Germans, putting on a bold face on their surprise they hurled their bombs. The whole trench-full surrendered, whereupon all the other Germans in the valley fled to the rear.’

Francis Bernard O’Donnell was born in Haymarket, Sydney in 1888. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Liverpool, New South Wales, 6 November 1916. O’Donnell was subject to court martial on two separate occasions - firstly for striking a superior officer, 23 April 1917, and latterly for fighting and drunkenness in the field, 11 June 1918.

O’Donnell served with the 3rd Battalion Australian Infantry Battalion in the French theatre of war from October 1917. He was awarded the M.M. for his gallantry near Hargicourt, Somme, 18 September 1918 (Sergeant McMillan’s D.C.M. was sold in these rooms in February 2019). On the latter date the Battalion War Diary records losses of 1 officer and 7 other ranks killed, 5 officers and 71 other ranks killed, whilst giving 60 Germans killed, approximately 200 captured, along with 22 guns and 20 machine guns captured during the attack. O’Donnell returned to Australia in May 1919.

Very Fine $2350

Six: 1939-45 & Pacific Stars, War Medal & Australian Service Medal. ASM 45-75 one clasp SW Pacific. ALL medals correctly named plus an original gilt Dutch War Cross & clasp unnamed. NX153403 Sig. V. C. Luther 9 Australian Div. Sigs.

Disembarked Milne Bay 1942 with later service in Borneo. He has a few charges shown and his file has a sealed section.

VF $585

Six: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star (North Africa 1942-43), Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal all correctly named to J. G. SISSONS R.A.N.V.R. Stars for Navy casualties, regardless of cause or location of death, were issued unnamed.

Enlisted in the RANVR in Sydney 20^th May 1941 service number S/V95 (Sydney Volunteer 95)

Commenced training under the “Dominion Yachtsman Scheme” as a potential Officer

Embarked for the UK on the 16^th October 1941

Between December 1941 to October 1942 saw service on the Minesweeper HMAS Collingwood, HMS Victory, Minesweeper HMS Llandudno, HMS King and back to the London Depot before making  Sub Lieutenant 9^th October 1942

Posted as Sub Lieutenant to the HMS Quebec for Combined Operations Depot Inveraray 15^th November 1942

Posted to HMS Copra (Combined Operations Depot) 1^st April 1943 and duty with the Motor Launch 1038 near North Africa

Sub Lieutenant Sissons was killed in action 11^th July 1943 during raiding operations South of Syracuse, Mediterranean Sea as part of Operation “Husky” and the invasion of Sicily.

The crew of HDML1038 were tasked with undertaking “raiding operations” with members of the specially trained 41 Commando, Royal Marines. The objective of HDML 1038 was to land the Commandos south of Syracuse for a pre-emptive strike for when the main landing to occur after.

Sub Lieutenant Sissons is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial on Panel 84, Column 2 as his body was not recovered.  

Note: Comes with Four Allied Military (Italy) 1 Lira notes, Female Relatives Badge numbered N3598, Mothers and Widows Badge numbered N1450 and the rare RAN Killed in Action next of kin gold lapel pin “This lapel pin is presented by the Chief of Navy in recognition that your loved one, who was a valued member of the Royal Australian Navy, died in Service. May you look upon this in remembrance and wear it with pride”

Near EF SOLD