September 2018 Auction List – Closes at 5pm on Tuesday 11th September (lots closing in order, with a 30 second interval from this time) • Should you wish to bid via email rather than the live bidding facility please email us at [email protected] by 4pm on Tuesday 11th September • If you are downloading this list early in the sale, please note that many further pictures will be added to the site in due course, and that the final lot descriptions occasionally change (saleroom notices), and that the description on the live website will always take precedent. Part 2 of a Collection of Officer Casualty Medals and Groups. 1. A 1914-15 Star to Lieutenant W.G. Thompson, Royal Flying Corps, late Suffolk Regiment and late 5th London Regiment, shot down in flames on 14th July 1917, George Oefele’s only aerial victory. 1914-15 Star named to 770 Lance Corporal W.G. Thompson, 5th London Regiment. Born on 12th September 1889 at Cambridge, he was later commissioned as a Lieutenant into the 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, he gained a flying certificate on a Maurice Farman Biplane at Thetford Military School on 5th February 1917. He was killed in action whilst attached to the Royal Flying Corps from 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment on 14th July 1917. Captain Thompson was the son of William Frederick and Lydia Thompson of Brunswick Lodge, Cambridge, he is buried at Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension. His widows address is given as Mrs J.T. Thompson, Rockingham House, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire on his medal index card. With a folder full of research including copy squadron records for June and July 1917, combat reports.. the report of 14th July 1917 states ‘Lt. Thompson failed to return, Patrol report he was seen at about 3.40pm at about 5000ft just N.E. of Bapaume. Anti-aircraft report a F.E.8 was brought down by an E.A. just W of Cambrai at 3.30pm and it has therefore been assumed it was Thompson’. He had been flying as part of 41st Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force. It is believed he was shot down by Vizefeldwebel George Oefele of Jasta 12, it was Oefele’s only victory before he himself was shot down and killed in action on 22nd July 1917 near Oppy while in combat with Camels and Pups. Interesting Royal Flying Corps Casualty. GVF £175-225 2. A Victory Medal to Lieutenant A.S. Forbes, who was killed in action whilst attached to the Machine Gun Corps from the Seaforth Highlanders in August 1916. Victory Medal named to Lieutenant A.S. Forbes. Alexander Stewart Forbes, 10th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders attached 161st Company, Machine Gun Corps was killed in action on 17th August 1916 and is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension. His Medal Index Card shows him as entitled to a British War Medal, and his address as Buckstone Cottage, Burrows Hall, Chobham, Surrey. A digital file that will be emailed to the purchaser contains research including photographs, and a piece from Westminster School stats ‘Alexander Forbes was born on the 29th March 1894. His parents were Patrick Lewis Forbes, of Hampstead, and Sara Mildred Leckie of Blackheath, Kent. He was admitted as a Homeboarders in January 1909 and threw himself into the sports scene. The Elizabethan regularly mentions his sporting achievenemtn in Cricket, Shooting and Gym throughout his time at the school. According to the House Notes in February 1912. Alexander was, along with W.M. Frankish (Homeboarders 1907-12), often to be seen in the Gym disporting themselves with skipping ropes. He won the Brinton Medal for Shooting in June 1913 and his athletic career was only interrupted when he contracted scarlet fever in March 1912. After leaving the school in July 1913, Alexander joined an Anglo-Russian cotton manufacturing company, which enable him to travel to Russia, which is where he was he heard the news that war had broken out. He returned to London and became 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th (Reserve) Battalion, the Seaforth Highlanders in November 1914. The following October, he was promoted to Lieutenant and, undoubtedly due to his shooting experience at school, was attached to the 181st Machine Gun Company. The company joined the 60th 2/2nd London Division and by the 29th June had gone with them to France. Alexander had not been at the western front two months when he was wounded in action near Albert. He died the following day on 17th August 1916, aged 22. Good very fine £50-60 3. A Memorial Plaque to Lieutenant G.R.M. Caldwell, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Gyards who was killed in action in October 1918, he had served on the Western Front from October 1914. Memorial Plaque named to Gavin Ralston Mure Caldwell. Lieutenant Gavin Ralston Mure Caldwell, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, was killed in action on 9th October 1918. The son of the Reverend William H. McK. Caldwell and Elsie Caldwell of Fetcham Rectory, Leatherhead, Surrey, he is buried at Wambaix Communal Cemetery. With copy papers, and including a copy of the official telegram notifying his parents of his death on 9th October 1918. The 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards Intelligence Summary for 8th-9th October 1918 reads ‘8th Trenches near Ribecourt. The Battalion paraded at 10am and proceeded to trenches running North West of Mon Plaisir, near Masbieres. The Battalion paraded at 1am and marched to trenches West of Seranvilliers. The Battalion attacked at 4.30am and finally considered near Castinieres. Casualties – Lieut G.R.M. Caldwell killed, 3 O.R.’s killed, 4 O.R.’s wounded and 2 O.R.’s wounded. (Remained at Duty). His papers indicate that he had previously attended Winton House, Winchester and Clifton College, he had also served with 2/7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as a Lieutenant having been appointed on 21st October 1914. Nearly extremely fine £120-150 4. A Memorial Plaque to Second Lieutenant J.W. Lewis, Devonshire Regiment who died of wounds on 15th July 1916 of wounds suffered the previous day. Memorial Plaque named to John Walter Lewis. Second Lieutenant John Walter Lewis, ‘A’ Company, 3rd attached 8th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment died of wounds on 15th July 1916. The son of Reverend Walter Allen Lewis and Annie Phoebe Campbell Lewis of Goodleigh Rectory, Barnstaple. Lewis was a native of Devonport. He is buried at Daours Communal Cemetery Extension. Daours Communal Cemetery is just outside Amiens, which is many miles from the front-line, this would indicate he was wounded and evacuated to a field hospital. The History of the Devonshire Regiment states that on 14th July ‘The 8th Devons had many difficulties to contend with. From Minden Post they had nearly four miles to cover over broken country, with many tranches to cross and many obstacles to avoid. In places they had to move in single file, the communication trench for the last part of the route was so congested that the troops had to leave it and cross the open, but despite all, the 8th were in position in time, if without much to spare. A Company led by Lewis lined up on the right and D led by Captain Bellwood on the left, in column of half companies, platoons extended at three paces, with C led by Lieutenant Savill, in support 200 yards behind in small columns, and B company led by Lieutenant Boyd in Marlborough Wood in battalion reserve. About 3am the advance began, the battalion crawling stealthily forward up the slope. The Germans were apparently quite unaware of the impending attack., for there was nothing like the barrage discovery of the advance would have brought down, though they occasionally sprinkled the ground with ‘whizz bangs’. These inflicted a few casualties, among them Sergt. Paddon an original member of the battalion, who had done fine work on July 1st, together with a whole section of bombers who had been detailed to clear Marlborough Trench, which ran into the snout from the S.E. but the advance crept on undetected.’ A short sharp bombardment took place at 3.20am… the history then continues ‘There ha been some crowding in this stealthy advance, companies had got mixed, men were in their wrong lines. Still, when the barrage burst out, the battalion was in a line of sorts and under 100 yards from the enemy’s line. Directly the guns opened the men leapt up, and a wild rush carried them into the trenches, almost before the Germans could put up an fight. On the right ‘A’ Company met little resistance and after clearing the trench and bombing the dugouts, forged ahead to their second objective, which roughly corresponded to the Eastern portion of Circus Trench as far as the point where it turns North into the wood. This line, too, they successfully secured - by 3.45 consolidation had been begun, while patrols, which were pushed out to clear up the wood gathered in some sixty more prisoners. It was during this consolidation that the company was so unfortunate as to lose it commander, Lieutenant J.W. Lewis, who had taken command when Captain Tregelles was killed in Mansel Copse, he had led the advance with skill, and by clever handling of his men, had brought them so close up, when the attack opened that they were into the hostile line without giving the Germans a chance to resist effectively.’ Nearly extremely fine £110-130 5. Memorial Plaque named to Walter Twiss Thorp. Lieutenant Walter Twiss Thorp was killed in action on 28th March 1918, whilst serving with 1/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, he is buried at Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery.