Morton and Eden offer the world
The 29 November auction at Morton and Eden is titled World Orders, Medals and Decorations. It takes place just before the print edition of this issue goes on sale, but nicely in time for the digital edition which is on sale on 24 November. Let’s look at the British medals and start with an excellent Great War ‘Trench Raid’ Military Cross group of three awarded to 2nd Lieutenant Sidney Walton Pacey, 1st/5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, late Royal Garrison Artillery, for commanding the leading platoon of his company during a night-time trench raid at Serre on 19 June 1918. The medals include the Military Cross plus British War and Victory Medals.
The estimate is £1,400-£1,800 (plus Buyer’s Premium of 24%).
Also from WWI there’s a Great War Western Front Distinguished Conduct Medal and Long Service and Good Conduct Group of six awarded to Colour Sergeant William Hampson, 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, late Border Regiment, for conspicuous gallantry in carrying messages across the open during a bombardment. The lot comprises Distinguished Conduct Medal,
1st type;1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, 1914-1919; Coronation 1937, silver, unnamed as issued; Army Long Service and Good Conduct. Expect to pay £1,000-£1,500.
On to WWII now and an impressive Distinguished Conduct Medal and Efficiency Medal Group of five awarded to Company Sergeant Major John Caveney,
4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, for leading a fighting patrol of 15 men in action at Cherens, France, on 24-25 May 1940. This destroyed the bulk of a larger enemy patrol of 25 men, and a reinforcement of 12 further men, without a single loss or casualty to his own patrol. The lot consists of a Distinguished Conduct Medal,
1st type; 1939-1945 Star; Defence and War Medals, 1939-1945; Efficiency Medal, Territorial Type. The estimate is £2,400-£2,800.
Back to the Napoleonic Wars now and a brace of medals that cover both the Peninsular
War and Waterloo. The medals were awarded to Private George McDonald of Carlisle who enlisted for service with the 30th Foot as a Drummer Boy on 8 July 1800 at the age of 11. Serving for a total of 17 years and eight months with the colours, he was with his regiment in Egypt in 1801, in the Peninsular War in Spain, in France and Flanders, and at the Battle of Waterloo. He is confirmed on the MGS Medal Roll with entitlement as above. The medals are the Military General Service medal with clasps for ‘Salamanca’ and ‘Fuentes D’Onor’ and the Waterloo 1815 medal, with original steel clip and contemporary splt ring suspension. The estimate is £1,500-£2,000.
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