CITY COINS POSTAL Medal AUCTION 67 POSTAL MEDAL AUCTION 67 CLOSING DATE 19TH AUGUST 2016 17.00 hrs. (S.A.) GROUND FLOOR TULBAGH CENTRE RYK TULBAGH SQUARE FORESHORE CAPE TOWN, 8001 SOUTH AFRICA P.O. BOX 156 SEA POINT, 8060 CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA TEL: +27 21 425 2639 FAX: +27 21 425 3939 [email protected] • www.citycoins.com CATALOGUE AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY ON OUR WEBSITE INDEX PAGES PREFACE ............................................................................................................................. 2 – 5 THE STORY OF THE DATED QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 7 – 14 by ROBERT MITCHELL .................................................................................................................... THE MEDALS OF THE CAPE COPPER COMPANY 41 – 45 FOR THE DEFENCE OF O’OKIEP by ROBERT MITCHELL ....................................... TOWNSEND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS ........................................ 46 ALPHABETICAL INDEX ................................................................................................... 85 – 86 PRICES REALISED AUCTION 66 ..................................................................................... 87 – 90 BIDDING GUIDELINES REVISED .......................................................................................... 91 CONDITIONS OF SALE ................................................................................................ 92 LOTS WORLD WAR I GALLANTRY AWARDS TO SOUTH AFRICANS ............................ 1 – 7 ORDERS AND DECORATIONS ........................................................................................ 8 – 12 QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDALS ............................................................................. 13 – 37 BOER WAR GROUPS ......................................................................................................... 38 – 50 TOWNSEND FAMILY MEDALS .................................................... 51 – 53 O’OKIEP CAPE COPPER COMPANY MEDAL ............................................................. 54 ANGLO BOER WAR MEDALS ......................................................................................... 55 – 71 SINGLE BRITISH CAMPAIGN MEDALS ....................................................................... 72 – 79 WORLD WAR I ................................................................................................................... 80 – 139 MEMORIAL PLAQUES ..................................................................................................... 140 – 146 DELVILLE WOOD MEMORABILIA ............................................................................... 147 – 159 WORLD WAR II AND POST WORLD WAR II ............................................................... 160 – 188 SADF, SAP, SA PRISON SERVICE ................................................................................... 189 – 197 MINIATURE MEDALS, MISCELLANEOUS ................................................................... 198 – 201 FOREIGN MEDALS ............................................................................................................. 202 – 204 RENAMED MEDALS, INCOMPLETE GROUPS AND OTHERS ................................... 205 – 227 ANGLO-BOER WAR MEDALLIONS ................................................................................ 228 – 229 VARIOUS ............................................................................................................................... 230 – 247 1 PREFACE Dear Collecting Friend “At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.” It is now 100 years since that horrific and awesome opening of the Battle of the Somme in faraway France. Just two weeks later a small contingent of South Africans justly earned enduring fame for the manner in which they held their ground on the battlefront. As this Auction catalogue is published on the Web another contingent of South Africans will once again honour the memory of those who served in Flanders’s Fields and re-dedicate the hallowed memorial which is the focal point of the cemetery housing the graves of so many South Africans who fought the good fight, not only at Delville Wood, but also during so many other actions during the Great War. The South Africans who served in the frontline trenches in France in 1916 were all Volunteers – many did not return home. My late father used to say that the medals awarded to every old soldier represented “his story which never dies” and as medal collectors it is our duty, indeed our privilege, to honour them and to keep their memories alive. We too, as medal auctioneers, have a duty to reflect on their courage and self-sacrifice. It is fitting therefore that this centenary catalogue includes and highlights a diverse selection of medals and awards to South Africans who served at that time. Gallantry groups for France awarded to South Africans include (Lot 1) the Military Cross to Captain Wardill of the South African Heavy Artillery, no less than five Military Medals including the groups awarded Private George Baker (Lot 5) who along with Alexander Estment assisted Private William Faulds in his memorable exploit at Delville Wood for which he was later rewarded with the coveted Victoria Cross and the Delville Wood group to John Granger (Lot 7) whose recommendation for a DCM was downgraded to an MM. Some excellent general groups which include Decorations and Orders are offered, such as (Lot 8) the fine 1910 MVO group awarded to Police Captain Robert Montgomery Crawford; the DSO and Royal Humane Society Bronze medal Boer War pair to Frank Ewart (Lot 9) of the Liverpool Regiment; the South African Naval Service World War II DSM group awarded to Daniel Smit (Lot 11) of HMS Dorsetshire and the British WWI MC group awarded to Bernard Hawkes (Lot 12). Captain Hawkes was wounded at “Tea Trench” in Delville Wood just 5 weeks after the South African Brigade were withdrawn in July 1916. Such was the thrill for us at City Coins and the cataloguer in handling a “Raised Date” QSA medal (Lot 13) that it induced him to write the opening article for this catalogue! I hope readers find the article interesting. The story of Howard Grestock has yet to be researched and written – my preliminary investigations suggest that this will be a rewarding story. The Auction highlights amongst the single QSA medals on offer include a rare “Times of Natal” War Correspondent (Lot 21) and the exceptional medal awarded to the Australian Sergeant, later Lieutenant, Geoffrey Hensman of the 1st West Australian Contingent (Lot 28). Such was his exceptional gallantry that he was widely expected to be awarded the Victoria Cross to the extent that he was even depicted in the Taddy’s Cigarette Card series “V.C. heroes – Boer War”. Private Lambrechs’ Boer War group (Lot 49) which includes a rare Cape of Good Hope Colonial Long Service medal warrants a special mention. In time to come, this Auction will surely be remembered for the two exceptional groups of medals awarded for the Defence of O’okiep. Both, a rare silver (Lot 51) and a bronze (Lot 52) medal, of the 2 Cape Copper Company are on offer and are sure to arouse considerable interest with Boer War collectors. There is also a good selection of medals for collectors of the South African Anglo Boere Oorlog medaljes. Although few in number the single campaign medals on offer include a number of absolute gems such as (Lot 72) awarded to a recipient who served during all three campaigns of the South Africa 1853 medal and (Lot 74) awarded to an historically important officer of the Zulu War. In line with our thoughts in remembering the casualties of the Great War we are pleased to include several Memorial Plaques (Lots 140 – 146). We would be overjoyed of course if one of these were to be reunited with the recipient’s medal pair or trio. The Auction includes an extensive group of ephemera (Lots 147 – 159) relating to the South African National Memorial at Delville Wood. Of special interest is the original album with three records preserving the speeches made by Sir Percy Fritzpatrick and General Hertzog at the Unveiling Ceremony on 10th October 1926. A contemporary CD is included. The bronze plaque (Lot 153) is sure to attract many bids. The sale concludes with a good South African Korean War group (Lot 196), various foreign medals and ZAR medallions. The Kruger medallion commemorating his visit to the Dutch Court (Lot 229) is rare and sure to attract keen bidding amongst collectors. In closing this Preface Natalie Jaffe writes: In the midst of working on this Postal Medal Auction I was advised that I required immediate surgery. My recuperation was spurred on by the good wishes of family, many friends and collectors who have become friends. In addition, there was the pressing need to finalise the Auction. I have been privileged over the years to have had the support of both Rob Mitchell and Johan Louw and I am indeed appreciative for their unending support, expert medal and numismatic knowledge in preparing both this and past auction catalogues. I take this opportunity to thank all the vendors who have entrusted their medals and collections to me over the years. It has been my ardent wish that the City Coins catalogues are stimulating and with due reverence promote the fine hobby of medal collecting doing justice to every vendor. In Auction 65 City Coins was fortunate to offer the group of medals awarded to Lieutenant General Rogers of the S.A.A.F. albeit that his Order of the Star of South Africa was missing from the group of medals