A superb beautifully put together photo album of 40 US MEDAL OF HONOUR WINNERS signed photos (many with extra signings and letter or photos) superbly catalogued in alphabetical order by the late NSW identity Bill Connell. Bill who was a major medal collector in Australia who often travelled to the US and attended numerous Medal of Honour functions striking up long established friendships. The photos are of personal nature as opposed stock photos. It is a great opportunity to possess an instant collection with all the work done. 285 X 320
$575
Duke of Wellington Three Postal Envelope Fronts signed or initialed by Wellington, the first with cancel for ‘Free 31AU31 1829’ signed Wellington, with a red wax seal with the duke’s crest, second with cancel for ‘Free 9JY9 1835’ signed. The third to Lieutenant Colonel Lord Charles Wellesley with penny red stamp and black Maltese cross cancel, initialed with a red wax seal with the duke’s crest, verso with Limerick 1843 cancel.
All framed and glazed, good overall condition (3) $975
17th Lancers OR’s Tunic Circa 1900
A Pre WW1 17th Lancers OR’s Full-Dress Plastron dark blue tunic. White plastron front, high collar, pointed cuffs and edge piping in white. Yellow cord shoulder straps. Brass regimental buttons, all Regimental Death’s Head pattern. Internal blanket type liner. Various internal Regimental marks plus WD Broad Arrow over D in the sleeve. A Scarce original example to a very popular Regiment.
Good condition $750
Grenadier Guards Bandsman’s tunic circa 1900
Grenadier Guards Bandsman’s tunic. A good early Kings Crown period example of scarlet woolen cloth with white facings to the cuff and collar. To the front nine double rows of band pattern lace, the lace is repeated to the sleeves and back with one left hand lower sleeve chevron. The wings are again with band lace, embroidered regimental GG device and fringe tassels. Fitted with Kings Crown Royal Coat of Arms buttons. I was originally expecting Guards buttons until I viewed the War Memorials example being a bring back by an Australian Jubilee 1897 Contingent Veteran during his visit to London. The interior with blanket lining and issue stamps. Very good condition $725.00
Footnote:
The Grenadier Guards used Royal Coat of Arms buttons on their band tunics to signify their status and lineage as one of the most senior infantry units in the British Army. The Royal Coat of Arms buttons are a mark of distinction and are worn by the Drum-Majors of all five regiments of Foot Guards. This practice is a tradition that has been adopted for all Drummers of Regiments of the Household Division, including the Grenadier Guards.
12th Prince of Wales Lancers Other Ranks lance cap
12th Prince of Wales Lancers Other Ranks lance cap. Complete with its large Victorian plate with Peninsula, Waterloo, South Africa 1851 2 3, Sevastopol and Central India battle honours. Complete with plume holder and yellow and blue pom pom. Red horsehair Plume and leather backed full length brass chin chain (some loose stitching). Cloth and leather liner to inside with oil linen upper.
Overall Good condition $2675
FRENCH HAVERSAC OF THE GENDARMERIE, model 1872-1878.
Regulation haversack of the gendarmerie, modelled on that of the Second Empire, wooden frame covered with cowhide with its hair, lined with a strong canvas, complete with all its straps in buffalo leather of light canary shade treated with chrome yellow, with its leather flap hiding the entrance to the cartridge locker.
Stamp of the Gendarmerie Acceptance Commission on the shoulder straps and in the lining. A truly impressive piece with all straps surviving unbroken.
Good condition $1200
A superb & rare 4th KINGS OWN Helmet Plate 1878-81
A superb and very rare 4th Kings Own helmet plate of the extremely short period of 1878 to 1881 when the numbering of regiments ceased.
Very good condition $1475
Australian Corps of Signals OFFICERS enamel 30-42 single collar, no enamel damage and rare.
$300
Australian Corps of Signals OFFICERS enamel 30-42 Tie pin. Good enamel.
$275
Original French Uniform DOLMAN OF A MOUNTED HORSEMAN, SECOND EMPIRE. Circa 1870
Dolman in dark blue cloth, with braids and braids of white wool, pewter buttons. Collar and facings in dark blue cloth. Beige canvas interior lining with the number "259" and complete with all ball buttons. Very minor moth nips but in overall very good condition.
$765
17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers Victorian 1856 Pattern lance cap. A good scarce example with black patent leather body and peak. The crown is of white patent leather, with ornate metal fleur bosses to each corner. Regimental plate to front with skull and crossed bones, the four battle honours for the Crimea only making it the first pattern post Crimea. Lion head bosses support leather lined brass chin chain. Central band is very sound but shows some age fading, Blue and yellow woollen boss with skull and crossbones regimental button to centre supports a white horsehair plume mounted in brass metal plume holder (repaired) Leather and cotton lining to the interior with one small tear to the inside top. The overall condition is good, and age wear to the sweatband.
Solid body in good condition $2850
A scarce USMC WW2 frog skin camouflage overalls believed to be used in France during the war. Purchased over 10 years ago in France and appears to have been worn by a POW as high on the back near the collar are two large red letters PW and also on each Leg (one letter on each). As an ex-Infantry man, I can understand why overalls would not have been flavour of the month, having to drop all your gear to climb out of them to use the loo would be a pain, so give them to the POW’s.
True to pattern in herring bone twill with all press studs, zip and decorative cuff buttons. Internal straps have been removed which seems to be normal. Ankle draw strings still present. No visible rips or holes. Good colour external with an almost light blue hue to the internal three dot pattern.
Good condition $1575
Single: Afghanistan 1878-80, 3 clasps, Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul 856. Gr. W. English. F/A. R.H.A.
near EF $1185
Single: Crimea 1854 one clasp “Sebastopol” unnamed as issued
near VF $300
Single: Crimea 1854 four clasps “Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol” Serjt. C. Dunbar. Royal Horse Arty. Officially impressed. Dunbar is a confirmed member of C Battery A Brigade, being one of only 149 4 clasp medals to the unit. The unit’s greatest action was in support of the Heavy brigade at Balaklava under Brandling when they devastated the Russians when they were reforming after the famous charge of the Heavies perhaps saving a possible reversal of the famous charge.
Brandling, pushing his already tired men who had just returned from all night piquet duty at Inkermann, arrived with ‘C’ Troop on the left flank of the British heavy cavalry, just as Scarlett was forming his men up to charge the close packed ranks of Russian cavalry who greatly outnumbered them. The charge drove the Russians back but reforming and with artillery and infantry support, looked as if they might turn the table on the now dispersed and winded British cavalry. Seeing this, Brandling set up his battery some 800 yards from the enemy and commenced a well-disciplined volley of 49 rounds which did great damage to the closely packed Russians who broke. Brandling followed up the Russians and engaged some Russian cavalry and artillery at and by No. 2 Redoubt before withdrawing to cover from the return fire. Brandling then rode off alone scouting along a ridge only to see the Light Brigade trot past into the North Valley and out of sight. Realising the danger he returned to his troop and ordered his now exhausted men to the crest of the ridge where he engaged the Russian guns who were causing so much carnage to the Light Brigade. He kept his guns firing until the survivors of the fateful charge had trickled back. Lord Raglan complimented Brandling for his efforts on that day. Finally, on hearing of the death of his close friend, Captain Louis Nolan (the first man killed in the charge and the one who is often blamed for the Brigade advancing up the wrong valley), he set off to find his body and then buried him with the help of some of his men. Bartram was discharged in March 1857.
Comes with extensive research.
Gd VF $2400
Pressed tin National Helmet Plate with cockade (some paint loss), All 7 sweat band tongues are present. Chin Chains with Infantry flaming bomb boss. White wool pom pom. Overall sound condition considering the age and the material used in manufacture.
Sound condition $1250
Unusual Pressed plate with Cockade containing the Cockrel. Complete with red pom pom and good chin chains. The interior is a bit rough with some of the tongues damaged but are mostly all present. In surprisingly reasonable condition given the age and the cheapness of manufacture.
Quite good condition $1425
This is a quality made example with gilt cannons and flaming bomb. The upper braid and the pom pom are both gilt. The 6 tongues are edged with gilt and are in good condition. There has never been room for chin chains and within the inside of the sweet band is an indication that a leather strap was probably used. Traces of a gilt makers name. In all a fine example of a senior Officers Shako.
Good condition $1475
A fine example of a British made magnetic 5 MAI 1915 example. Un-boxed.
VF $125
Numerous copies of 5 MAI 1915 were made throughout the UK. This example is not common being nonmagnetic white metal.
VF $135
An extremely rare cast iron example of the rare type 2 Karl Goetz medal for 7 MAI 1915. On discovering his initial mistake of using the date of the 5 MAI 1915 he hurriedly produced this example to counter the criticism. But it was too late as the Germans stopped production and confiscated his remaining stock. It is believed that only 41 or 45 examples of this medal were made. It must be remembered that Goetz was a “backyard” operator, Melting unsold medals and casting in both iron & bronze examples in his own home. Note the UMLAUTS above the title on the reverse striking which is always missing on the copies.
VF $850
The British having obtained an example of his first striking and knowing that the 5 MAI 1915 was two days prior to the actual sinking were quick to capitalize on this mistake by implying that the dreadful Germans had pre-empted the strike. For propaganda purposes and a way to raise funds for St. Dunstans Blinded Soldiers and the Red Cross, they proceeded to copy the medals for sale in an attractive box with an explanation leaflet. This outfit is complete.
VF $185
An emotional and Historical WW2 relic of immense importance to the history of Ukraine being a 19th century Bronze Bust of Napoleon by Antoine Denis Chaudet, with a rear hair ribbon with shoulder drapes of the type used by Houdon.
Its history is as follows. Prior to the well-known “Death Match” in which 8 Ukrainian footballers were arrested by the Nazi’s, several of the lead up matches were played in June 1942. The Germans wanting a suitable Trophy, liberated this Bronze from a Ukrainian Institution. They had the front of the socle polished and engraved as follows.
FUSSBALL TURNIER
CHARKOW JUNI 1942
DEM SIEGER
Under German occupation, all Soviet organizations and clubs were dissolved. By the end of 1941, German administration allowed newly formed Ukrainian sport clubs. In January 1942, football trainer and sport reporter Georgi Dmitrievich Shvetsov founded the club Rukh (Movement). He tried to engage the best players in Kyiv.
But most of the former Dynamo players, among them the very popular goalkeeper Trusevich, did not want to play in Rukh, probably because they took Shvetsov for a collaborator. Trusevich found a job in the Bakery No. 1 which guaranteed their workers and their families normal supplies of food. More former Dynamo players found jobs in the bakery. The German director Joseph Kordik, an engineer from Moravia, encouraged them to form a football team: FC Start. After World War II Kordik declared to the NKVD that in reality, he was Czech, not German.
Three players of the former club Lokomotiv Kyiv were incorporated into the new team. Four former players who were directly submitted to the German administration also played for Start: three Ukrainian policemen and one engine driver of the German Railways Reichsbahn in Kyiv. None amongst the Start players had played for the Dynamo team in the years immediately before the war, although some of them had left the club only a couple of years before.
Matches in June and July 1942
Seven Start matches are documented for June and July 1942: against the Ukrainian teams Rukh and Sport, three Hungarian military teams, a team of the German artillery and the German railway team RSG. FC Start won all these matches, scoring 37 goals in total and conceding only 8. There is an enormous amount of material dealing with the “Death Match on the internet.
Some damage to the nose and chin of the Bronze otherwise good condition overall.
POA
