SHIPSHAPE MEDALS - Amazon S3 · 2016-05-24 · badges of honour. news and views on the booming . insignia market page 6. dambusters. preview . of a hero’s medal group sale page

BADGES OF HONOURNEWS AND VIEWS ON THE BOOMING INSIGNIA MARKET❯❯ Page 6

DAMBUSTERSPREVIEW OF A HERO’S MEDAL GROUP SALE ❯❯ Page 7

GREAT WAR RELICS WHY PERSONAL STORIES COUNT IN FIRST WORLD WAR COLLECTING❯❯ Page 4

SHIPSHAPE MEDALSSUPERB NAVAL AWARDS IN LONDON AUCTION ❯❯ Pages 2-3

MILITARIA: A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT antiquestradegazette.com

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Shipshape medals sell out

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Tom Derbyshire r e p o r t s

■ Superb naval honours sold together in London auction all get away and sail to high prices

IT seems only natural that John Goddard would collect naval medals.

Although he followed a career in law instead of a life afloat, his father Peter had been a Lieutenant Commander, RNVR, during the Second World War.

Not only that, but Peter was an ardent medal collector in his own right – in a “low-key way”, as John says – and “very much with an emphasis on the Royal Navy in which he had served”.

A member of the Orders and Medal Research Society (OMRS), he introduced his son to that world by taking him to one of the early society conventions.

“I attended my first ever auction there, conducted by Michael Naxton [then of Sotheby’s, now the agent for Lord Ashcroft – see ATG No 2216], but it wasn’t until my father became unwell in 1986 and needed help with his collecting that I became genuinely interested,” says John.

That interest grew into one of the best British naval medals collections, and a very successful sale of John’s collection at London auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb (20% buyer’s premium) on November 24.

The bulk of the collection was made up of Naval General Service Medals (for actions 1793-1814), comprising 50 of the 83 medal lots. The remaining honours – non-NGSM medals awarded to naval recipients – were just as keenly fought for by the bidders.

Of the 83 medal lots, all sold – and 74 sold above the high estimate (in many cases multiples of the high estimate). Only one sold below estimate.

The 115 Goddard lots in total sold for a hammer total of £1,299,190 (£1,559,028 including commission), against a high pre-sale estimate of £791,950.

The overall selling rate was 96% – the only lots that did not sell were five Nelson letters.

DNW say interest in the collection was worldwide, with bidders from the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa among those taking part.

Left: the NGSM to Yeoman of the Powder Room Richard Levertine is one of only five six-clasp NGSMs. Including Trafalgar and several other great British victories, it doubled hopes to sell for £50,000 on commission.

Above: the NGSM awarded to Admiral Joseph Bullen, a veteran of the American War of Independence, and a close friend and confidant of Nelson, includes one of only three Santa Margaritta 8 June 1796 clasps ever awarded (the other two are in museums). Bullen was involved in 69 actions but remarkably received only this one clasp to his NGSM. Estimated at £24,000-28,000, it sold for £70,000 to a commission bidder. It was the highest price for an NGSM in the sale and the second-highest price overall.

Right: the NGSM to Able Seaman Samuel Blackmore came with a fantastic personal history. Blackmore served with Nelson, Hardy and Cockburn in three important actions and was taken prisoner three times. Two of the three clasps on the medal are extremely rare. It sold at £65,000.

Above: this is the Naval Small Gold Medal awarded to Royal Navy Vice Admiral Sir William Parker for the action against the French fleet three days prior to the Glorious First of June 1794. He was later the recipient of a Naval Large Gold Medal for the Battle of Cape St Vincent. It is the earliest dated Naval Small Gold Medal and fetched the highest price in the auction: £75,000 against an estimate of £30,000-40,000. The buyer was a commission bidder.

Above: this NGSM was awarded to Commander Henry G Etough, who was Acting Master of the British ship Shannon when it captured the American vessel Chesapeake in 1813. Only 42 Shannon wh Chesapeake clasps were issued and DNW said the commanding officer’s medal “is as good as it gets”. Estimated at £24,000-28,000, it attracted north American bidding before selling to an internet bidder at £38,000.

Above: This China 1900 Medal was awarded to one of only two Royal Marines killed during the Defence of Legations in the Boxer Rebellion. Both were sold as part of the Goddard Collection. This one fetched the higher price of £19,000 against an estimate of £12,000-15,000. The buyer was a commission bidder.

Above left: Nimrod Dix of DNW. Above right: collector John Goddard.

medals and militariaNAVAL HONOURS

AUCTIONEER’S VIEWATG talks to Nimrod Dix, partner in Dix Noonan Webb who oversaw the Goddard Collection sale.

ATG: Just how good was this collection compared to other naval collections?ND: It had the finest selection of Naval General Service Medals to be sold at auction since the Hamilton Smith collection in 1927.

As a whole, the collection included 50 NGSMs and 33 other lots of naval medals but the concentration of quality within this relatively small number meant that it was absolutely outstanding. There have been larger collections but few which have been assembled with such a discerning eye.

ATG: How did the auction go compared with your pre-sale hopes?ND: The figures speak for themselves. The total hammer price was half a million pounds above the high estimate and every single medal was sold. We are absolutely delighted.

ATG: Who were the bidders and buyers?ND: There was worldwide interest in the sale and commission bids submitted in advance secured 37 lots, which was more than a third of the total. The internet brought in more bidders on the day.

Overall, there were 22 successful UK buyers and 12 from overseas, including six trade buyers who were probably acting for clients.

ATG: Did bidders try for multiple lots or did they tend to target a particular lot?ND: Some bidders were targeting specific lots that they wanted for their collection, while others took a broader view and wanted one or maybe two examples from what will always be seen as a landmark sale. To better answer your question, one particular client was successful in getting more than a dozen exceptional lots.

ATG: What were the most competitive bidding battles on the day?ND: Many of the NGSMs attracted fierce competition. The medal to Admiral Joseph Bullen, which has the only Santa Margaritta 8 June 1796 clasp available to the market, fetched a hammer price of £70,000, which was far above the high estimate of £28,000.

ATG: Regarding the non-NGSMs on offer, did the sale go as you had hoped?ND: Yes it did. It was not just the classic early medals that attracted bidders. A group

of medals for the Boer and First World Wars with one of only 33 King’s South Africa Medals awarded to the Royal Navy quadrupled its high estimate, selling for £4400. There was interest right across the board.

ATG: What is your overall assessment of the market in the wake of this sale?ND: The results reflected the care and connoisseurship which John Goddard showed in building up the collection.

NGSMs from the wars against the French and others in the late 18th and early 19th centuries formed the heart of his collection and I have never seen so many rarities in one sale during my many years in this business. John had acquired one of only five six-clasp NGSMs as well as the medals to Samuel Blackmore and Henry Etough [see above].

But John’s collection was about much more than the NGSM. It included a rare Canada General Service Medal to the Royal Marines, a unique East & West Africa Medal, the awards of both Royal Marines who were killed in the Defence of Legations during the Boxer Rebellion [see right], and an interesting selection to submariners who served in the Falklands War.

The international market for medals, like others, is driven by rarity and quality, and John’s collection had both in abundance.

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ALWAYS READ THE LABELRight: a “concrete, cast-iron” provenance and online exposure helped this Crimean War Russian naval ensign and a swallow-tailed answering pennant c.1855 to race past a £400-600 guide and sell for £10,000 (plus 20% buyer’s premium).

Charles Miller of the eponymous west London auction house says the vendor bought it in the last two or three years at his local saleroom for about £200-300.

Miller says: “I thought it may go a bit further because of the Crimean angle, and then it was evident from thesaleroom.com online data that we were getting a lot of Russian bidders registering. It was the most looked-at lot online in the whole sale.”

On the day, three phone bidders, all thought to be Russian, quickly took the price soaring up. Miller feels that provenance was key.

“It very clearly reeked of age and had a wonderful provenance label carefully written out and sewn in, saying exactly which officer captured it and when. It was so plausible it was incontrovertible to us and anyone else.”




Shipshape medals sell out

“Research revealed that the honours had in fact been awarded to the same man – who had served under both Nelson and Wellington”


FLYING THE FLAGRight: this year features the ongoing First World War anniversary, with Gallipoli particularly in focus. Next year, the Battle of Jutland will doubtless prompt consignors to try their luck with naval items.

An early example came this October, however: a Rear Admiral’s flag. It was flown from HMS New Zealand at the battle from May 31-June 1, 1916, when Rear Admiral Sir William Pakenham commanded the Second Battlecruiser Squadron. It was sold by Sevenoaks, Kent, saleroom Ibbett Mosely on October 14, in a glazed and stained oak presentation case, together with two letters from the captain of the ship, JFE Green, helping with the provenance.

The initial bidding came from a northern English dealer, but keen interest came from the Royal Navy Museum, Portsmouth. They were the underbidders against a private collector, who won the bidding battle at £1800 (estimate £400-600).

Launched in 1911, HMS New Zealand was battle cruiser of the Indefatigable class paid for by the Dominion of New Zealand.

DOUBLING UPThe added value that a Trafalgar or a rare Boat Service clasp creates for a Naval General Service Medal (NGSM) 1793-1840 has been outlined before in ATG – and in the story left.

Likewise, a clasp for a certain battle, such as actions in the War of 1812 involving Britain and the US, will boost the price of a Military General Service Medal (MGSM), or the regiment involved.

But we had never heard of a pair of NGSM and MGSM awarded to the same recipient before. North Yorkshire auctioneers Tennants (17.5% buyer’s premium) have sold such a pair for £17,000 against an estimate of £5000-7000 (shown above).

It was offered in the Militaria and Ethnographica auction in Leyburn on September 30, consigned by a couple from the nearby York area “who have slowly been clearing a large family home of some of its treasures”.

The medals were awarded to Patrick Campbell, able seaman and later captain, 48th Regiment of Foot. The NGSM had a Copenhagen 1801 clasp, while the MGSM featured three clasps for Peninsular War battles (Talavera, Busaco and Albuhera).

When these two medals came in for valuation it was initially thought that they had been awarded to two family members sharing the same name. Further research by Tennants’ militaria specialist Oonagh Drage revealed that the honours had in fact been awarded to the same man – who had served under both Nelson and Wellington.

Following lengthy bidding in the room, on the phones and on the internet the pair sold on the phone to a keen private collector, also from the York area.

Drage said Campbell was a distant relative of the vendors, but they knew nothing about him.

“They did, however, come across a large miniature portrait frame which was inscribed in ink to the reverse with a short biography of Patrick Campbell which confirmed that he did receive the Naval General Service Medal with Copenhagen clasp and the Military General Service Medal.”

According to the Medal Yearbook 2016, “it should be noted that one naval officer, Lt Carroll, received the MGSM and clasp for Maida, while a few other officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines received the medal with clasps for Guadaloupe, Martinique or Java, and these, naturally, are now very much sought after”.

Above: the NGSM awarded to Admiral Joseph Bullen, a veteran of the American War of Independence, and a close friend and confidant of Nelson, includes one of only three Santa Margaritta 8 June 1796 clasps ever awarded (the other two are in museums). Bullen was involved in 69 actions but remarkably received only this one clasp to his NGSM. Estimated at £24,000-28,000, it sold for £70,000 to a commission bidder. It was the highest price for an NGSM in the sale and the second-highest price overall.

Above: this is the Naval Small Gold Medal awarded to Royal Navy Vice Admiral Sir William Parker for the action against the French fleet three days prior to the Glorious First of June 1794. He was later the recipient of a Naval Large Gold Medal for the Battle of Cape St Vincent. It is the earliest dated Naval Small Gold Medal and fetched the highest price in the auction: £75,000 against an estimate of £30,000-40,000. The buyer was a commission bidder.

Above: this NGSM was awarded to Commander Henry G Etough, who was Acting Master of the British ship Shannon when it captured the American vessel Chesapeake in 1813. Only 42 Shannon wh Chesapeake clasps were issued and DNW said the commanding officer’s medal “is as good as it gets”. Estimated at £24,000-28,000, it attracted north American bidding before selling to an internet bidder at £38,000.

Above: This China 1900 Medal was awarded to one of only two Royal Marines killed during the Defence of Legations in the Boxer Rebellion. Both were sold as part of the Goddard Collection. This one fetched the higher price of £19,000 against an estimate of £12,000-15,000. The buyer was a commission bidder.

THE DEALER’S VIEWRoan Handley, of the London Medal Company, says: “Naval medals in general are always popular. Their records are firstly more readily available, and the romantic and swashbuckling nature of some of the stories behind the early naval actions are what in many ways appeal.

“However, this stretches right through the late 18th and early 19th century naval period, and the many facets of the naval story is what appeals to some collectors. For certain, the Naval General Service Medals of the Napoleonic era and the medals for exploration are what generally command the highest premiums.”

Of more recent interest, the London Medal Company is offering the DSO medal group above, with a quantity of original items and ephemera, for £2850. The DSO was awarded to Lieutenant Commander LJ Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, who commanded landing craft LST 65 during the Operation Ferdy landings behind enemy lines at Pizza-Vibo Valentia Marina on September 8, 1943. Displaying “courage and determination in entering the harbour while under heavy shell and mortar fire”, Smith’s craft was hit 40 times, suffering 40 casualties, before it successfully beached. The photo, above right, shows some of the damage.n london-medals.co.uk

medals and militaria


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WE’VE done 1914. Now we are well into 1915. And while 1916 delivers the Somme and Jutland in particular, will collectors’ appetites for First World War centenary sales continue well into 1917 and 1918?

Judging by the press releases continuing to flow to ATG High Command, auctioneers are still finding plenty of interest for Great War memorabilia, certainly as always for the rarest items with excellent provenances.

But what is the dealer view? ATG asks Roan Hackney from the London Medal Company about the strength of the market.

ATG: We have noticed that First World War documents, photo albums, diaries and so on revealing individual stories at all levels are in strong demand. Has this been the case recently with your customers?RH: I believe the ability to be able to research further into the story behind the person is what makes this form of collecting particularly strong.

In many ways it opens a stronger link to that person, his or her thoughts from the time, whether in written form or visually recorded through a lens.

Most groups only comprise the medals sadly, so obviously any form of documentation is more unusual, and groups with diaries or photograph albums really get the collector close to the person behind the medals, as well as being able to access potentially unique source material, and thoughts. Hence the strong demand.ATG: What are the most popular First World War items recently in your experience? Are customers tending to go more for medals or is there interest across the board?RH: I would say medals are the most popular; however, there has always been considerable interest in all aspects of militaria collecting from the period. Many everyday objects which were common at the time are now extremely hard to come by.ATG: Are you experiencing an increase in items being offered to you to buy because of the war anniversary? Where do you source your items from, generally?RH: No, I would say the opposite. With the advent of various research facilities, particularly the online ones, more and more people are discovering an interest in their family military history, and because of all the remembrance events and programmes/books coming out, I think we are being offered less. Nevertheless, a considerable quantity still exists, as – by the very nature of Great War medals and memorabilia – plenty is out there.

We source our items from what is offered to us by families, and through collectors, auction houses and other dealers. But with the increase in auction fees, we do find collectors specifically prefer to now come directly to us and to cut out the auctions. They are generally guaranteed a better return.

Dealer’s view of a market where centenaries come thick and fast

ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKSTo prove a point about the demand for First World War items shining a light on real lives, a scrapbook containing extracts of the day-to-day life of a young British nurse sold for £2600 at Derbyshire saleroom Hansons on November 23.

And it was secured by a Staffordshire genealogist, Yvonne Clay (right), amid strong competition from bidders worldwide. International clients as far as Asia left commission bids, as well as a number of national institutions who all expressed interest.

Bidding in the room, Clay emerged victorious, going well beyond an estimate of £400-600. Hansons’ militaria consultant Adrian Stevenson says it was bought “in the hope to delve deeper into the life and family history” of Violet Gossett, whose personal and poignant account dates from 1916-19.

The scrapbook – found in an attic – includes not only narrative but photographs, postcards, military passes and telegrams, as well as thank-you letters and impromptu concert party programmes.

Stevenson adds: “I thought it may just break the £2000 barrier, but never did I imagine it would sell for £2600. I’m really pleased it went to a local lady who is passionate and interested in finding out more about Miss Gossett and her life and family tree.”

RETIREMENT GIFTBelow: this decorated helmet forms part of a group of memorabilia on offer from the London Medal Company for £2550.

It accompanies a Military Cross medal group awarded to Lieutenant H Robinson, 4th attached 9th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, late Artist’s Rifles, later Royal

Berkshire Regiment. The hand-painted early Great War rare first pattern Brodie Helmet was repainted in the late 1920s with

regimental colours, and gives details of Robinson’s service. It includes the regimental badges of the Artist’s Rifles, Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Berkshire Regiment, giving dates served in units, and Battle Honours he was present at: Ypres, Somme, Arras, Lys, Cambrai and Passchendaele.

Robinson served from 1920-25 in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, and was issued with this helmet presumably as a gift

on his retirement. It seems to have been painted with the quality displayed by a regimental drum painting company such as Potters.Roan Hackney says: “The helmet we have together with the medal

group was painted after the war, as a personal souvenir, almost certainly on the request of the recipient himself. By the nature of what is painted on it, representing the recipient’s personal service, I would say that it is unique, but it must be remembered that this is not official, it is a personal request by the recipient.”

Right: the ‘death penny’ – memorial plaques given to family in the First World War – were produced in a huge number and at auction they may make £60-100. But every now and again certain factors will push the price up considerably.

The plaque shown here sold at Bonhams Knightsbridge on November 19 for a low-estimate £3000. It commemorates Daisy Maud Anscombe, who died aged 25 on June 29, 1918. She served with the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF).

Bonhams’ specialist John Millensted says: “Plaques to women are very scarce. No-one is sure of the exact figure but it is estimated that there around 600 made compared to those given to men at over 1.3 million. Bonhams seem to have sold the majority that have come up for sale over the last 15 years. We may see one every couple of years as they often get overlooked.”

It was consigned by a private collector selling up and bought by a UK collector in the room.

The WRAF was formed on April 1, 1918. As a wartime force, it was disbanded two years later. In that time, 32,000 WRAF personnel had proved a major asset to the RAF and paved the way for all future air service women.n A memorial plaque commemorating Acting Major Edward Mannock, VC, DSO and two Bars, MC and Bar, the highest scoring and most decorated British pilot of the Great War, sold for £22,000 at Dix Noonan Webb in September 2014. He was killed in action in July 1918.

Daisy death penny sells for £3000

TAKE COVERRight: a bit less ornate, but very desirable – this First World War British other ranks helmet with the sacking cover still across sold for £550 (estimate £400-600) at the C&T November 10 sale. Most of these fragile covers did not last.

medals and militariaFIRST WORLD WAR



Email: [email protected] Website: www.wallisandwallis.org

WEST STREET AUCTION GALLERIES, LEWES, SUSSEX, ENGLAND BN7 2NJTELEPHONE: +44 (0)1273 480208 FAX: (0)1273 476562

Spring Connoisseur Collectors’ Auction17th & 18th May 2016

Further entries can be accepted until 7th April 2016Catalogues may be ordered in advance £12(every lot illustrated)

www.the-saleroom.com

Officer’s helmet of the 6th Dragoon Guards, 1834-1843 patternReserved for the Spring Connoisseur Collectors’ Auction

Over 100 lots for the Spring Auction have already been received,

including three Baker rifles, three blunderbusses, Winchester rifles, a seven-barrelled flintlock volley

gun by Nock, a large E.I.C. flintlock rampart gun, a flintlock boat gun

by Bumford, an Elliott carbine and several flintlock Brown Besses taken

from a very fine private collection of military antique firearms.

Consistently Achieving High PricesUnit 4, High House Business Park, Kenardington, Kent TN26 2LF

www.candtauctions.co.ukTel: +44 (0) 1233 510050

Email: [email protected]

One of the UK’s leading specialist Militaria Auction Houses

Regular Militaria Auctions Taking Consignments for next Auction

Wednesday 17th February 2016

Magazin Royal s. c. r. l.Antiques Arms & Armour Military Antiques

Gilbert PutterieTel: +32 (0)2 267 72 07

Mobile: +32 (0)475 49 24 50

Yvons LeyssensMobile: +32 (0)477 20 62 04

Belgiumwww.magazinroyal.be

Email: [email protected]

www.the-saleroom.com

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SALESILVER, JEWELLERY, PAINTINGS AND ANTIQUES Tuesday 15th December at 10am

Email: [email protected] on www.cotswoldauction.co.uk

On view: Saturday 12th December 10am-7pm, day prior 10am-6pm and day of sale from 9am

Bid live online at

Silver: Victorian regimental goblet, Sampson & Mordan spirit barrel combination scent bottle, George III wine funnel Robt Hennell, Georgian and later crane pattern ribbon threaders, Russian, silver plate. Watches: gent’s Bulgari Ergon, 1940s Movado calendar watch, Omega, Tissot Seastar. Jewellery: Sybil Dunlop-style Arts & Crafts necklace, Victorian agate bracelet and pendant, pietra dura, jade, Georg Jensen, collection of 1960s designer jewellery by Maughan Harvey. Furniture: Sheraton period satinwood drum table, antique elm refectory dining table. Pictures: J.F. Herring senior (attributed), Petrus Van Schendel, H. Pether, W.A. Gibson, H. Hardy, W. Batsford, Russian icons. Misc: Eastern rugs, objets de vertu, Chinese celadon bowl.

Arts & Crafts silver and blue chalcedony necklace in the manner of Sybil Dunlop

Est. £250-£350

ParadeAntiques

Tel:+44 (0)1752 22144327 New Street, The Barbican

Plymouth, PL1 2NBOpen every day

Early 19th Century Fijian Ula Throwing Club

WWII German U-Boat Binoculars 7x50 blc Carl Zeiss

French Revolution 1798 Pattern Infantry Sword

WWII German Army Winter Fur Hat 1943

Post WWI US Military Aeronaut Senior Balloon Pilot Metal Wings

1854 Crimea Medal, Sebastopol Bar to French Recipient

American Civil War Starr 44 Single Action Percussion Revolver

c1900 Imperial Russian Line General’s Pickelhaube

www.paradeantiques.co.uk

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IN a somewhat ironic twist, the proceeds from a Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar awarded to a pilot who died in the Dambusters raid, which is up for auction in London on December 15, will go towards building a dam.

The honour awarded to Flight Lieutenant John Vere ‘Hoppy’ Hopgood, who subsequently became one of the central figures of the 1943 raid, is to be offered by Morton & Eden, estimated at £30,000-40,000.

It is being sold by Hopgood’s family, and a donation to the charity WaterAid will go towards a project in Uganda. This aims to supply more than 95,000 people with safe, clean water – involving construction of a sand dam.

Hopgood joined the RAF in 1940. He took part in numerous dangerous sorties over enemy territory and in October 1942 he was awarded the DFC. A few months later, in January 1943, he received his second award Bar.

He was one of the first to fly the new Lancaster bombers and he gave Guy Gibson, his Wing Commander in charge of 106 Squadron, his first instruction in flying the Lancaster.

Gibson and ‘Hoppy’ became firm friends and when Gibson was asked to form the elite 617 Squadron he immediately selected Hopwood afor the top-secret operation. ‘Hoppy’ was Gibson’s deputy on the raid, flying his Lancaster M-Mother behind Gibson in G-George in the attack on the Möhne Dam on the night of May 16-17, 1943.

Gibson, writing in his memoir Enemy Coast Ahead, described the scene as they left: “The night was so bright that it was possible to see the boys flying on each side of me quite clearly. On the right was John Hopgood, in M-Mother, that grand Englishman whom we called ‘Hoppy’; one of the greatest guys in the world.”

Even before M-Mother had reached the target, however, it came under heavy fire and, not only was the plane damaged, but the crew sustained considerable injuries.

Although suffering a serious head wound, Hopgood was able to maintain the aircraft’s position in the attack formation. Once Gibson had successfully released his own bomb, which failed to breach the dam wall, Hopgood pressed on with his own attack in the face of heavy enemy flak.

Despite having one wing on fire and extensive damage to the aircraft, Hopgood released his bomb. While it narrowly missed the primary target, it exploded in the valley below, hitting a power station and disabling a number of

Dambuster turns dam-maker

Militaria collection pays suitable tribute to Polish soldier father

1. Second World War Polish officer’s peaked cap estimated at £200-400, sold to an online buyer from the UK for £1200 at C&T on September 2. 2. Polish tropical slip-on insignia set which sold for £155 at C&T on November 10.3. 318th Squadron Polish Air Force squadron badge sold for £1550 on November 10.1 2

3

WHAT fires a collector to target a particular area of the militaria market?

Family connections were the impetus behind a collection of Polish memorabilia consigned to Kent auctioneers C&T, which they are offering in a series of sale sections.

As with the John Goddard naval items covered on page 10, a father who served in the forces inspired the collector – now a vendor – to concentrate on a specific field.

C&T auctioneer Matthew Tredwen says: “This summer we were contacted by a gentleman who stated that he had a collection of Polish militaria, mostly from the Second World War but also some earlier and post-war pieces.

“While on another call in the north of England, I visited the vendor and sat down and spoke with him about the collection. He told me that his passion for the items stemmed from his late father, who served with the Polish 2nd Corps during the Second World War.

“He acquired many of the items in the collection from friends of his father and from relations he still had in Poland.”

The Polish 2nd Corps was formed in 1943 from various units fighting alongside the Allies and served with the British 8th Army in Italy in 1944-45, fighting with distinction in fierce battles such as the final action at Monte Cassino.

Tredwen says: “Cataloguing the collection was quite a task as some of the regimental breast badges are very scarce and there is not a great deal of research material currently available on the market.

“Due to an advertising campaign we launched about the collection, news spread around the collecting community like wildfire. We were contacted by a number of very interested clients both here in the UK, north America and Poland.”

The first part of the collection was offered in the C&T September 2 Military Collectables auction with a pre-

sale estimate of £4000-6000. Tredwen adds: “Bidding was fierce from buyers in the room and online. All lots in part one sold and the total was £12,430.

“When it came to cataloguing the second part of the collection, we were swamped with enquiries from other private collectors wanting to put Polish items into the next auction. We took a further, smaller collection from a British collector which consisted of a number of very interesting Polish regimental badges and insignia.

“Part two, along with items from other vendors was offered in our auction on November 10. Once again the interest from previous buyers and new buyers was intense and many lots sold way over the estimates.“

The third and final part of the collection is to be sold in the next Specialist Military Auction on February 17 next year.

“Already a number of other Polish items have been consigned from other vendors for this auction,” says Tredwen.

THE AUCTIONEER’S VIEWMatthew Tredwen of C&T explains the appeal of regimental badges and insignia.

n Along with medals and decorations, collecting military headdress badges is one of the oldest areas of militaria collecting. As a result, some very large collections have been accumulated over the years.n In 2015 we were very fortunate to have the opportunity to offer for sale the collection of Colin Churchill. This collection has included headdress badges from British regiments from

the Victorian era to the current day and his main passion: uniform collar badges. Churchill wrote one of the leading reference works on British military collar badges which is classed as the ultimate reference on the subject by collectors and dealers alike. His other passion, which a lot of collectors did not realise, was cloth insignia worn on uniforms and headdress by the British armed forces.n It is no secret that many collectors of regimental badges are of an older generation. However, since offering this collection we have noted an increase of younger collectors coming into the market. This has helped with keeping up very strong prices on both metal and cloth badges.n Bidding has been fierce between trade and

private collectors at our auctions, especially for rare items. One collector told me that he has never seen some examples we have had and feared that if he did not push the boat out and keep on bidding on certain lots, he may never get the opportunity to acquire another.n As a result of having the Churchill collection going through our saleroom, we have been contacted by a number of vendors wishing to cash in on their collections, especially those of an older generation, who are unsure if this strong market can continue.n We are convinced that the market is stronger than ever and we are eagerly seeking more collections to offer to our clients in 2016 and beyond. We will continue to sell items from the Colin Churchill collection in 2016.

Left: officer’s Glengarry badge, 10th Blackmoor Vale Corps, c.1887, sold for £360 (estimate £150-250) to a private collector in the C&T September 2 sale.

ALL over the world, largely due to Captain Mainwaring and his bungling Dad’s Army platoon, the Home Guard is famous. Thanks to a new film being released in February directed by Oliver Parker, they will become even better known.

Churchill’s ‘secret army’ is definitely not as famous, however. The enamel badge shown left, sold at Lockdales (17.25% buyer’s premium) of Ipswich on November 14-15, gives a clue to this organisation.

It came from an estate and was bought by a British collector for £480.

This ‘army’ was made up of secret Auxiliary Units – guerrillas in effect – who would hide away in underground bunkers and fight back after an invasion of Britain, mainly concentrated on the south coast.

Information is, perhaps not surprisingly, sketchy, but Chris Elmy of Lockdales believes this was a lapel badge “issued after the war, to illustrate that a person had been chosen to be a member of the ‘secret army’. Only those with the same badge would know what it meant, like a secret society”.

The units were stood down in 1944

after the threat of invasion lifted but it was only two years ago that representatives were invited to the main Remembrance Day parade in London. The BBC at the time said that 3500 volunteers made up the resistance army, members of which had to sign the Official Secrets Act.

About 500 well-equipped bunkers – Operational Bases – are thought to have existed. The BBC said: “The individual units were entirely self-contained, with no knowledge of the identity or locations of the other resistance groups.”

How Churchill’s secret army of volunteers became the forgotten army

medals and militariaBADGES & INSIGNIA





IN a somewhat ironic twist, the proceeds from a Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar awarded to a pilot who died in the Dambusters raid, which is up for auction in London on December 15, will go towards building a dam.

The honour awarded to Flight Lieutenant John Vere ‘Hoppy’ Hopgood, who subsequently became one of the central figures of the 1943 raid, is to be offered by Morton & Eden, estimated at £30,000-40,000.

It is being sold by Hopgood’s family, and a donation to the charity WaterAid will go towards a project in Uganda. This aims to supply more than 95,000 people with safe, clean water – involving construction of a sand dam.

Hopgood joined the RAF in 1940. He took part in numerous dangerous sorties over enemy territory and in October 1942 he was awarded the DFC. A few months later, in January 1943, he received his second award Bar.

He was one of the first to fly the new Lancaster bombers and he gave Guy Gibson, his Wing Commander in charge of 106 Squadron, his first instruction in flying the Lancaster.

Gibson and ‘Hoppy’ became firm friends and when Gibson was asked to form the elite 617 Squadron he immediately selected Hopwood afor the top-secret operation. ‘Hoppy’ was Gibson’s deputy on the raid, flying his Lancaster M-Mother behind Gibson in G-George in the attack on the Möhne Dam on the night of May 16-17, 1943.

Gibson, writing in his memoir Enemy Coast Ahead, described the scene as they left: “The night was so bright that it was possible to see the boys flying on each side of me quite clearly. On the right was John Hopgood, in M-Mother, that grand Englishman whom we called ‘Hoppy’; one of the greatest guys in the world.”

Even before M-Mother had reached the target, however, it came under heavy fire and, not only was the plane damaged, but the crew sustained considerable injuries.

Although suffering a serious head wound, Hopgood was able to maintain the aircraft’s position in the attack formation. Once Gibson had successfully released his own bomb, which failed to breach the dam wall, Hopgood pressed on with his own attack in the face of heavy enemy flak.

Despite having one wing on fire and extensive damage to the aircraft, Hopgood released his bomb. While it narrowly missed the primary target, it exploded in the valley below, hitting a power station and disabling a number of

anti-aircraft guns. Knowing his personal chances of survival were now gone, Hopgood bravely took his doomed Lancaster into one last climb, thus enabling three of his crew to bail out before the plane finally crashed to the ground. Two crew members survived and

became prisoners-of-war. Hopgood was only just 21.

While Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross, and a few of the other surviving pilots and crew members given medals, the courage and sacrifice of those who perished was never officially recognised by the issue of decorations.

Hopgood’s DFC and Bar therefore remains the only testament to his valour. It is being sold together with contemporary photographs and related

memorabilia, including the original letter from Gibson to John’s mother Grace confirming his death and letters between Hopgood and his sister Marna, who herself was serving in the ATS. A facsimile of Hopgood’s Pilot’s Flying Logbook will also be included, the original logbook having been presented by his family to the Imperial War Museum.

David Kirk of Morton & Eden says: “This is undoubtedly one of the most iconic DFCs to come to auction in recent years. Hopgood’s family has agonised over the decision to part with the medal but feel that John himself would approve.

“He was evidently a very thoughtful and idealistic young man who, we believe, would be glad to know that the proceeds from the sale of his medal will go towards the building of a much-needed sand dam to benefit thousands of people in Uganda.”

Dambuster turns dam-maker

Militaria collection pays suitable tribute to Polish soldier father

Above: Dambuster Flight Lieutenant John Hopgood, with his DFC and Bar shown below.

1. Second World War Polish officer’s peaked cap estimated at £200-400, sold to an online buyer from the UK for £1200 at C&T on September 2. 2. Polish tropical slip-on insignia set which sold for £155 at C&T on November 10.3. 318th Squadron Polish Air Force squadron badge sold for £1550 on November 10.

3

sale estimate of £4000-6000. Tredwen adds: “Bidding was fierce from buyers in the room and online. All lots in part one sold and the total was £12,430.

“When it came to cataloguing the second part of the collection, we were swamped with enquiries from other private collectors wanting to put Polish items into the next auction. We took a further, smaller collection from a British collector which consisted of a number of very interesting Polish regimental badges and insignia.

“Part two, along with items from other vendors was offered in our auction on November 10. Once again the interest from previous buyers and new buyers was intense and many lots sold way over the estimates.“

The third and final part of the collection is to be sold in the next Specialist Military Auction on February 17 next year.

“Already a number of other Polish items have been consigned from other vendors for this auction,” says Tredwen.

Left: officer’s Glengarry badge, 10th Blackmoor Vale Corps, c.1887, sold for £360 (estimate £150-250) to a private collector in the C&T September 2 sale.

after the threat of invasion lifted but it was only two years ago that representatives were invited to the main Remembrance Day parade in London. The BBC at the time said that 3500 volunteers made up the resistance army, members of which had to sign the Official Secrets Act.

About 500 well-equipped bunkers – Operational Bases – are thought to have existed. The BBC said: “The individual units were entirely self-contained, with no knowledge of the identity or locations of the other resistance groups.”

How Churchill’s secret army of volunteers became the forgotten army

Right: this small autograph album kept by a nine-year-old boy featured in Nicholas Mellors’ sale in Newark on November 26-27. The boy was the son of James Brown, senior medical officer for 617 Squadron – the Dambusters – stationed at Scampton and Swinderby, and the album contains many important Second World War RAF signatures. Many are from 617 and some of the signatures are from men who took part in the raid. Among the Dambuster signatures are pilot Squadron Leader Henry Melvin ‘Dinghy’ Young, DFC and Bar. Young was second in command of the raid, which was led by Wg Cdr Guy Gibson. He was shot down and killed with the rest of the crew on returning from the raid.

Estimated at £3000-5000, it sold for £5800 (plus 20% buyer’s premium) to a UK buyer. Mellors says: “This historically important lot had a lot of interest in it before the auction.”

Victoria Cross denied to deserterLeft: when George Gill West showed incredible courage as his camp was attacked by Boer militia in October 1900 – an act of bravery which cost him his life – he was recommended for the Victoria Cross.

There was a slight problem, however: he was serving in the Cape Town Highlanders under an assumed name at the time. The honour was denied because he was a deserter. West, an outstanding sailor who deserted from the Royal Navy after being denied promotion to officer class, bribed his way onto a passenger ship to the diamond mines of South Africa and joined the Highlanders when the (second) Boer War broke out.

He was posthumously given the Distinguished Conduct Medal (shown here), however, for the battle in which he fought as Private John Moore. His family received the DCM but under his real name, and the South Africa medal under his pseudonym. The medals, together with letters and other memorabilia, sold for a low-estimate £3000 at Moore Allen & Innocent (18% buyer’s premium) of Cirencester on November 6.

The medals were sold with those of Pte John Monk, West’s nephew, who served in India, South Africa and the First World War.


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IN a previous ATG medals and militaria feature (ATG No 2206), we covered a ‘time capsule’ of First World War equipment ranging from uniforms and boots to cooking gear and kit bag sold at Irish saleroom Fonsie Mealy in July for around £5300.

We spoke of how rare it was. Talk about making yourself a ‘hostage to fortune’... Of course, another excellent ‘time capsule’ has now come up at auction, this time in Buckinghamshire at Marlow auctioneers Bosleys (20.5% buyer’s premium).

The Bodman brothers archive sold on November 4 for £8800 against an estimate of £5000-8000.

This extensive selection of hats, uniforms, trench maps, note books and ephemera such as a Prussian

Pickelhaube helmet reflects the brothers’ military service. As with many First World War personal items, it proved so emotive that it affected the Bosleys staff.

Auctioneer Steven Bosley says: “The cataloguer had catalogued it as individual pieces for maximum return. However, he came to me and said he could not split it and all must go together. After all these years it would be wrong to split the brothers apart.”

Bosley rates it as “the best, most complete archive that we have ever encountered” and the “most emotional as one brother had been killed”.

The cataloguing worked and Bosley reports a good bidding contest on the day between online, room bids and a major museum.

A trade buyer in the room was ultimately successful.

WHO WERE THE BODMAN BROTHERS?n The belongings are those of Second Lt Charles Bodman (right) of the 15th Bn Durham Light Infantry and Private Christopher Bodman of the Machine Gun Corps, contained in a original travelling trunk.n They lived in the village of Marshfield, Gloucestershire, where their parents ran a local draper and grocer shop.n Charles was killed in August 1918 and has no known grave. Christopher survived and on his return placed his tunic and brother’s belongings in the trunk. HIs father had died in 1917 but Christopher ran the shop with his mother until she died in the 1930s.n On inheriting the business, he pulled down the blinds, bolted the door and closed the shop – and it remained that way until his death in 1983, a time capsule in itself. His will stated the shop must be sold by public auction on the premises. n Steven Bosley says: “The buyer of the archive in 1983 remembered the shop in the town as a boy, always closed, always a mystery. It had lain complete in his care for the past 32 years. When this time capsule of a bygone age was auctioned and the trunk rediscovered it only seemed right that he should buy it.” The archive was consigned by his family.n Bosley adds: “Since the sale several remote relatives of the Bodman brothers have been in touch to say they remembered the shop, or ‘museum’ as two had called it.”n By a strange coincidence, Chippenham Auction Rooms are offering oil cans, packaging, vintage fire extinguishers and a top hat from the Bodman’s store among lots being sold from the former Yesterday’s World museum in Battle, East Sussex, on December 11-12. Some confusion exists as to whether the shop was still running up to 1983. The museum guidebook stated: “[Christopher] had a ruling that nothing should be sold unless there was a duplicate on the shelf. Consequently, the shop was like a time capsule...”

Time capsule take two

Above: tunic, cap and equipment from the Bodman brothers lot sold at Bosleys, and a view of the whole archive left.

Mallams

View catalogue on line: www.mallams.co.uk Image requests and information [email protected]: (01235) 462840

VIEWING: Friday 11th December 9am – 5pmSaturday 12th December 9am – 4pmAnd the morning of sale from 8.30 am

The Collector’s SaleMonday 14th December 2015at 11amABINGDON

To Include: The G. L’E. Turner Collection of Toys, Games, Pastimes & Amusements. Churchilliana, Scientific Instruments, Cameras, Toys, Transport, Militaria, Guns & Medals



Documents

SHIPSHAPE MEDALS - Amazon S3 · 2016-05-24 · badges of honour. news and views on the booming . insignia market page 6. dambusters. preview . of a hero’s medal group sale page