M486                    IGS 1854/95 Group of Three

Thomas Dunbebin was born in Halton Nr. Runcorn, Cheshire, he attested at Liverpool on 28th September 1889, aged 23 years, a labourer. His papers show that he had previously served with the 2nd Vol. Btn. Cheshire Regt.

Thomas Dunbebin served in India and as such was to take part in the field force under Maj. Gen. W. Ellis against the Hussunzais & Akazais in the Black Mountain. The campaign took place 12th March-16th May 1891, 9 Mountain Battery are confirmed as participants.

Having been discharged in 1897 he was recalled for the duration of the S.A. campaign before discharge in July 1902.

Condition GVF. Sold with papers which confirm entitlement.

M 384/G.                             Pair & Plaque North. Fus.

M335                               Pair East Surrey

M465                      Framed Pair & Plaque

M436/          Pair and Plaque Royal Lancaster Regiment       

M249             Pair Royal Lancashire Regt.    

M377                                           1915 Trio and Plaque.

                                      11th Btn. Border Regt. (Lonsdale Batn.)

                                               1st day Somme casualty.

SOLD

It was Lord Lonsdale who raised the 11th in 1914, his recruiting poster that was to appear throughout Cumberland raised eyebrows as it asked 'are you a man or a mouse?'

William Bell was a local man born in Hethersgill, Cumberland who enlisted in Carlisle on 17th July 1915 aged 21 years, a farm labourer. William was posted to the French theatre in December  1915 and was promoted to L/cpl.  It would appear from the copy attestation papers that he was married to Bessie a local girl on 5th April 1915 shortly before being posted over-seas. Her address was 24, Raglands Court Silloth, Cumberland. A copy of the casualty enquiry form of next of kin is included in the research material. 

In addition to the death of William, tragically his younger brother Lewis was also killed with the 11th on 1st July, aged 20 years. What a tragedy for the Bell family who lost two sons on the same day. Thomas Bell was also an older brother and research indicates that he may have also been KIA during the course of the war.

The 11th Btn were a part of 32nd Div. 97th Brigade who were tasked with an attack on the Leipzig salient. They were drawn up in their assembly trench at 'Crucifix Corner' from 23rd June. The Btn. war diary paints a bleak picture of bombardment and counter bombardment of H.E. and gas leading up to 1st July. A number were killed and wounded and numerous suffered from shell shock.

The plan required the 16th & 17th HLI and 2nd KOYLI to attack the salient at zero hour. Just before zero the troops crept forward to within 30 meters of the German line and were able to rush the defenders. Attempts to push further were thwarted by heavy fire. And so it was an hour after zero the 11th rose and advanced on the Leipzig salient from  the Authuille Wood in what was supposed to be a mopping up exercise. They were met by murderous enfilade fire and cut down, over 500 casualties sustained in this initial action. The casualties included the commanding officer, Col. Machell, who was shot at the head of his men urging them on into the murderous fire. Although small groups reached the German trenches they were no longer an effective fighting force. On the 3rd of July the remnants were withdrawn.

Sold with MIC confirmation, original 'soldiers small book' with handwritten details, trench map, copy of Btn. diary, census details, details of Lewis Bell, attestation papers, photos of graves. Medals GVF. Fantastic Group.

.

M469   SOLD 1914 Trio LS Group East Lancashire Regt.

The 2nd East Lancs were serving in South Africa at the out-break of war and were shipped home, with other Regular Army units, to form the 8th Division. The Division were shipped to the western front in November 1914 to replace the depleted BEF who having fought the first battle of Ypres was all but wiped out. The MIC shows that Robert Whatnell was shipped out with the division on 6/11/14

The Divisions first set battle would have been  The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10 - 13 March 1915

It would appear that Robert came through without a scratch and served on to be awarded his L.S. medal after 18 years service.

Medals about VF toned and swing mounted. Rim bruise to LSGC @7o/c

M178                       Pair to Royal Engineers

M464        SOLD           Officer Pair Scottish Rifles and KOSB KIA

M461    SOLD  Father & Son Gp. 1914 Trio Oxs & Bucks LI & GSM Malaya.                                                                                                                     

 1914 Trio to L/cpl. A/Cpl. 8227 J. Poole 2nd Oxs & Bucks Light Infantry. Original bar to the star. Id. tag to same.  MIC confirms entitlement, entry 28/8/14. GVF. GSM Malaya to son 4176552 LAC P.J. Poole.RAF. EF.

M309                         1914 Trio Manchester Regt.

M474                       Trio & Plaque 1st Btn. Lancashire Fus.

                              KIA W Beach Gallipoli 25th April 1915

                                        Six V.C. Action   SOLD

Private 1190 Robert Sidney Cast 1^st. Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers, was born in Brentwood Essex and was killed in action on 25^th April 1915 during the assault on W Beach, Gallipoli. This action was to lead to the award of no less than 6 VC’s to the first Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers. The press were to refer to the action as ‘Six before breakfast’.

 At the outbreak of war the Fusiliers were serving overseas and made up part of the 29^th Division, formed in 1915. Originally destined for the Western Front at short notice the division was shipped out from Avonmouth to Egypt on 16^th March 1915.

 The Btn. War diary details intensive training including practice at boarding boats from the troop ships during day and night.

 On the night of 24^th April 1915 the troops were cheered from the Port of Mudros and steamed to a point off of the peninsula. At dawn on the 25^th the battalion were loaded into the ships boats and towed by steam cutters to within a few hundred metres of the beach. It was at this point that the sailors took to their oars and rowed for the beach. As they neared the beach the Fusiliers saw for the first time the barbed wire that had been laid at the waters edge. As they neared the beach a terrific fire was aimed at the armada, nearly all of the sailors were killed or wounded with heavy casualties to the 1^st Lancs. Who were packed tightly in the small boats.

 As the boats drifted on the tide the order was given to wade ashore. Many of the troops waded ashore in 4 feet of water struggling with their heavy loads to gain the beach only to come up against the barbed wire. With rifles jammed following emersion in the salt water and sand they were helpless and were cut down by the heavy fire.

 Major Shaw 1/Lancs. Fus. On the right of me on the cliff was a line of Turks in a trench taking pot shots at us, ditto on the left. I looked back.
There was one soldier between me and the wire, and a whole line in a row on the edge of the sands.
The sea behind was absolutely crimson, and you could hear the groans through the rattle of musketry.
A few were firing. I signalled to them to advance. I shouted to the soldier behind me to signal, but he shouted back
'I am shot through the chest'. I then perceived they were all hit."

 Captain Willis, who led C Company into the attack later recalled 'Not a sign of life was to be seen on the
Peninsula in front of us. It might have been a deserted land we were nearing in our little boats.
Then crack! The stroke oar of my boat fell forward, to the angry astonishment of his mates.
The signal for the massacre had been given; rapid fire, machine guns and deadly accurate sniping opened from the cliffs above,
and soon the casualties included the rest of the crew and many men.

 We toiled through the water towards the sandy beach, but here another trap was awaiting us, for the Turks had cunningly
concealed a trip wire just below the surface of the water and on the beach itself were a number of land mines,
and a deep belt of rusty wire extended across the landing place. Machine-guns, hidden in caves at the
end of the amphitheatre of cliffs enfiladed this.

   Our wretched men were ordered to wait behind this wire for the wire-cutters to cut a pathway through.
They were shot in helpless batches while they waited, and could not even use their rifles in retaliation since the sand
and the sea had clogged their action. One Turkish sniper in particular took a heavy toll at very close range
until I forced open the bolt of a rifle with the heel of my boot and closed his career with the first shot,
but the heap of empty cartridges round him testified to the damage he had done.

 In spite of the heavy casualties the survivors cut through the wire and overwhelmed the defenders who were dug in above the beach. At the end of this one day 63 out of 80 of the naval ratings were killed or wounded and 11 officers and 350 men of the 1^st Btn. had been killed or wounded.

 To honour the gallant action of the Btn. W Beach was thereafter referred to as Lancashire Landing.

 Medals are GVF and the plaque in VGC. Please note spelling of Sydney. (Name is unique to the Btn.) Research includes copy of war diary, A4 copy portrait photograph of recipient, medal forwarding letter, memorial scroll, Buckingham Palace letter, census details, other research material.  

M415                                   Mercantile Marine Pair

M307            MSM Group of Three

M177      SOLD           Pair South Staffs.

M479                Trio and plaque NZEF (4)

Two members of the 1st Otago were shot at dawn during the war, thankfully both were recently pardoned and their surviving families received their medals. That they volunteered to fight for the 'old country' was apparently not enough.

 

M338     SOLD                           Pair Cheshire Regt.

M236                         Manchester Regt.

M383                         Pr. 7th Batn. KRRC KIA

M392               Territorial Medal Gp. To M.G.C.

M355       SOLD                   Pair to Tank Corps

M410                          1914-15 Star Trio Northumberland Fus.

M181                           Pair 8th London P. O. Rifles.

M352                IGS Group of Three R.A.

M337        SOLD              Pair Scots Guards.

M443              SOLD          Somme Casualty Border Regiment.

8th Borders were to suffer one officer and 130 Other Ranks Killed in action on this day.

Sidney Dent is Named on the Kings Lynne War Memorial. (Details Below.)

Thiepval Memorial. Born King's Lynn. Husband of Mrs. R. Dent, of 6 Frederick Place, King's Lynn; three children. Employed by Messrs. Cranfield, millers. Enlisted into the Norfolk Regiment, number 17310, at King's Lynn, December 1914. Went overseas in late 1915. Initially reported wounded and missing. (Born Wiggenhall St. Germans 1885?)

8th (Service) Battalion Formed at Carlisle, September 1914, as part of K3.
September 1914 : attached to 75th Brigade, 25th Division.
22 June 1918 : transferred to Composite Brigade in 50th Division.
7 July 1918 : disbanded in France.

Medals NEF Plaque Mint. Very collectable group.

SOLD

M277                 Pair & Plaque Liverpool Regt.

M348        SOLD       1914 Trio 2nd Suffolk Died in France.

The Suffolk's were in Ireland at the out-break of war and following the 'War Book' immediately moved to France. The 2/Suffolk fought the early battles of Mons and Le Cateau with the 14th Brigade (5th Div.) At Le Cateau the Suffolk's stood firm against enfilading fire from superior numbers. The C.O. of the Suffolk's Lt. Col. Brett had fallen at Le Cateau and command had passed to Major E. Doughty. As the Suffolk machine guns ran out of ammunition, this officer with a small party of men managed to get a small amount of ammunition forward before he also fell. The Suffolk's were forward of the Brigade and severely pressed, three platoons of the  Argyll's twice attempted to reach the Suffolk trenches but were driven back with heavy losses. The Argyll's rallied under the protection of 59 Company RE who gave up their trenches to the Argyll's and lay in the open. The Suffolk's were eventually overwhelmed after being under constant artillery and machine gun fire for over 9 hours. Only 2 officers and 111 men mustered after the battle. (Mil Ops France & Belgium) This soldier would have been a part of these historic battles and at the time of his death he would have been one of a few survivors to the 2nd Batn. Original ribbons VF/GVF

M270                      Pair Leic. Yeomanry

M278                                         Pair 11th London

M310     SOLD         Scarce Guards Machine Gun Regt.

M267      Pair to Manchester Regt. 19th Service Batn.Pals

M481          Family Group Pilot Officer Casualty-Burma.   SOLD

Pilot Officer Jacob Munday was killed on 2nd August 1945 whilst on operational duties in Burma. Official records indicate an accident, in truth he was reported missing and so the cause of loss remains a mystery.

Jacob Munday was born on the 19th October 1919, he enlisted (RAFVR)  on 17th April 1941. He was a Police officer in Co. Durham and a photo of recipient in Police uniform is included.

His 'Airman's Service Booklet' shows that his parents, John and Winifred were probably the licensees of the Guide Post Inn at Ryhope Sunderland. The pub is still there! He was flying with 684 squadron in Burma which among other duties provided reconnaissance photography, flying Beaufighters. Jacob was involved in active operations as a local newspaper cutting of the period details an attack in the Irrawaddy Delta by rocket firing Beaufighters, one of which was flown by him. 

There are a number of documents included; Air Ministry Certificate of death, birth certificate, air ministry details of estate, copy of will, Buckingham Palace slip, other air ministry letters, original medal box addressed to his mother.

Medals are mint and contained in the original wrappers with ribbons. Worthy of further research.

WW1 Pair to John Munday J65394 Ord. R.N. father of the above. He enlisted 18/2/17 at the age of 25 years and was to serve for the duration of the war. The medals are EF Also included are the census details of the Munday family from 1871. The family were originally from Dorset but moved to the Durham area and were shown as a part of the mining community.

WW2 Pair War and Victory Medals addressed to H. Munday and an address in Tyne & Wear. The medals are in mint condition and come with a photograph of a march past by members of the civil defence. From documents held they would appear to be the medals of Jack Munday who served in the RE and Signals during the war from 1942. The medals were a late issue and were issued in about 1990 to H. Munday (Hilda Munday shown as NOK.) after the death of the recipient. There is also the soldiers book named to the above and original documentation..

M490    RESERVED            Royal Irish Regiment Group of three.

The internal conflict in Sierra Leone began in 1991, it was one of the most savage of the recent African wars. In 1998, the UN deployed a monitoring group formed by Nigerian and other African troops who met with some success with local forces in expelling rebels from the capital and removing the military Junta.

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_462.shtml

In 2000 rebels carried out attacks and kidnappings of UN forces and so a UN operation was put in place to reinforce those on the ground. This resulted in British troops being deployed in the guise of RM and Para Regt. with other support.

In July 2000 230 troops from the Royal Irish Regt. were deployed to the country in order to assist train local forces. On 26th August 2000 a patrol from the RIR of 11 were taken hostage by rebel forces known as 'The West Side Boys.' Negotiations took place between the rebels and British negotiators, six soldiers were released. The deteriorating situation led to a rescue; Operation Barras on 10th September 2000 to secure the release of the remaining hostages and their equipment. Forces made up of Special Forces, 1 Para and supporting arms were successful after a 2/3 hour fire fight in securing the release of the remaining hostages. One British Special Forces soldier died, MOD estimates put rebel fatalities at about 25. 

Scarce group to R.I.R. and a fairly scarce combination.

M440                      Pair to Sgt. RAF

M412            Group of Six to RCT/RLC

M404                            W.O. Group to R.E.

M491

Staff Sgt. James received GOC,s commendation for services in Northern Ireland Jan-March 1984. Official Commendation cert. included as well as no less than five original letters of congratulations from Maj. Gen. L. Leask CBE Brig. C R Watts OBE etc. Commendation referred to two specific dates during tour.

Also some original & copy photos of recipient and others. 

Nice Commendation group to senior NCO. GVF and better.

M492              Pair to Green Howards.

Sold with copy of certificate of Service which shows rank of Sgt. on leaving the service after 22 years service on 21/11/91. A number of photos of recipient and cased Tercentenary (1688-1988) in HM silver named to recipient, issued to all serving members of the Regiment.

Nice Pair of medals to senior NCO