Medals and militaria at Noonans
The 12 October sale at Noonans features orders, decorations, medals and militaria. Let’s kick things off with a Great War 1916 ‘Courcelette, Somme’ set awarded to three brothers. The MM group of three was awarded to Private L Mann, 8th Battalion (90th Winnipeg Rifles), Canadian Infantry. His medals were Military Medal, British War and Victory Medals with Silver War Badge. His brother Private J Mann, 8th Battalion
(90th Winnipeg Rifles), Canadian Infantry, was killed in action whilst attached to No. 2 Tramways Company, Canadian Engineers. His medals were 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, and a Memorial Plaque. Lastly, there was a British War and Victory medal to Private A Mann, 8th Battalion (90th Winnipeg Rifles), Canadian Infantry, who was killed in action at Courcelette, 26 September 1916, the same day and action as his brother Lauchlan was to win his MM. This grouping has an estimate of £700-£900.
Next we have a Great War
1917 ‘Western Front’ MM and Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Private MacSwain,
42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Infantry and No. 2 Tunnelling Company, Canadian Engineers, who also received a gun shot wound to the face in August 1917. The medals are the Military Medal, with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals. Estimate is £800-£1,000.
The Crimean War has legendary status so medals from it are highly sought after, never mind the added poignancy that the region is mired in warfare thanks to Russian aggression again right now. Here we have a Crimea medal 185456, with three clasps for ‘Alma’, ‘Inkermann’ and ‘Sebastopol’. It was awarded to Charles Davies of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers who served with them in the Crimea, and in India during the Great
Sepoy Mutiny. He died in India on 7 June 1858. The estimate is £260-£300.
Not quite as popular but still sought after, especially if the medal has a some desirable clasps, is the Queen’s South Africa medal of 1899-1902. Here’s one with five clasps for ‘Cape Colony’, ‘Rhodesia’, ‘Orange Free State’, ‘Transvaal’ and ‘South Africa 1901’, awarded to George William Suter. He served with the 50th (Hampshire) Company, 17th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa during the Boer War from 7 April 1900 to 9 June 1901, and was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Boshof on 16 January 1901. The estimate is £400-£500.
We’re going to be doing something on the Indian Mutiny soon, so here’s an Indian Mutiny 1857-59 medal to William S Chapman who was commissioned Assistant Surgeon on 15 September 1857, and served with the 37th Regiment of Foot in India during the Great Sepoy Mutiny. He was promoted Surgeon on the Staff on 29 November 1871. The estimate is £240-£280.
This next lot is intriguing as it’s to a soldier who started as a Drummer Boy, aged 14, with the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. There are four medals, comprising China 1857-60, with clasps for ‘Taku Forts 1860’ and ‘Pekin 1860’; Afghanistan 1878-80; Army Long Service and Good Conduct; Army Meritorious
Service Medal. He served with the Regiment in Gibraltar, the
West Indies, Canada, India, China, Hong Kong, the Cape Colony, Burma, and Afghanistan, and was discharged on 29 June 1880, after 29 years and 338 days service. Estimate is £600-£800.
Peter Duckers has written about the Arctic Medal for us before, but this lot combines that with a Crimea medal with a clasp for ‘Sebastapol’ and a Turkish Crimea medal, Sardinian issue. They were awarded to Private R Bex, Royal Marines, who served in the Arctic on HMS Assistance, in the Crimea o HMS Medusa, and in the Third China War on HMS Urgent, when he met his death in 1860. Estimate is £1,200-£1,700.
It’s not just British medals in the auction though, there are ones from Germany as well as some WWII militaria so let’s finish with an interesting documentation group. This comprises a German passport for Eleonore Kenda, with pass photograph in civilian dress. There are visas for Italy in 1943, a Service book for a Stabshelferinnen Des Heeres, woman operative, to the same recipient, photo in civil dress. This was the women’s equipment of the Wehrmacht Soldbuch, with many entries, the last entry being 12 May 1945. There’s also an Arbeitsbuch book to the same recipient with annotations from the Commander of the Secret Police SD in Untersteiemark in 1942. A further document known as the Horekarte, which includes a Stammfitzkarte. Remaining small items of postcards, paperwork and a Strength Through Joy luggage label for the Oceania liner, 17 June 1937. Estimate is £60-£80.
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