A late Victorian era campaign medal pair: Lance Corporal William Thomas Masterson, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers

- IGS 1895. 'PF' 'Tir 97-8' 'Samana 97' (4825 Pte. W. Masterson, 1st Bn. Ryl. Sco: Fus:)
- QSA Medal. 'Transvaal' 'South Africa 02' (4825 L. Corpl. W. Masterton. Rl. Scots Fus.)

Important: Both medals and all clasps verified as entitled per the respective campaign medal rolls of 1st & 2nd Battalions Royal Scots Fusiliers as under;

- IGS 1895 Medal and 3 x clasps: Ref WO 100/87
- QSA Medal and 2 clasps: Ref WO 100/180 (shown as Masterton)

William Masterson was a native of the parish of St Peter's, Woolwich, Kent, England, where he was born circa 1876. William enlisted in the British Army, at London, England, on 2 January 1895, at which time he claimed to be 18 years & 1 month of age, and described himself as a 'Barman'. At time of enlistment he expressed a desire to join the Royal Scots Fusiliers, which regiment he was posted to from 2 January 1895. William subsequently serv ed 5 years overseas in India and then South Africa, during which he saw action on the North West Frontier of India, and later in the closing stages of the South African War. During his service with the Royal Scots Fusiliers he served as under;

- Home: 02/01/1895-08/02/1897
- India: 09/02/1897-09/02/1902
- South Africa: 10/02/1902-13/12/1902
- Home: 14/02/1902-01/01/1907

William transferred to the Army Reserve on 20 December 1902, and took his discharge from the British Army on 1 July 1907, by which time he had completed his 12 years service contract, comprising 7 years with 'The Colours' & 5 years with the 'Army Reserve'

The medals mounted for display in the swing-style. The mounting bar retaining the original long hinged pin and clasp fittings on reverse

Condition: About GVF

Code: 18987Price: 460.00 GBP

A South African War campaign medal pair: Trooper J. Callaghan, South African Constabulary

- QSA Medal. Silver. With clasp 'Transvaal (22 3rd. Cl Tpr: J. Callaghan. S.A.C.)
- KSA Medal. 'South Africa 1901' & 'South Africa 1902' (22 Tpr: J. Callaghan. S.A.C.)

Important: Both medals and all clasps verified per the respective medal rolls of the South African Constabulary, as under

- QSA Medal & clasp (ref WO 100/272) - serving with C (Eastern) Division S.A.C.
- KSA Medal & clasps (ref WO 100/366) - served 9 November 1900 - 31 May 1902

The remarks in the medal rolls show that the reciient was a 3rd Class Trooper serving with C (Eastern) Division of the South African Constabulary (ref QSA roll), and served with the S.A.C. between, 9 November 1900 to 31 May 1902

Condition: About GVF

Code: 18871Price: 225.00 GBP

An 'Old-Sweats' 1914 Prisoner-of-War campaign and long service medal group of 7: Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant John McDougall, Royal Scots Fusiliers, late Leinster Regiment

- 1914 Star ((8324 Sjt. J. McDougall. Leins: R.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (8324 Sjt. J. McDougall. Leins. R.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (8324 Sjt. J. McDougall. Leins. R.)
- Defence Medal
- War Medal
- Military LS&GC Medal. GV type II (7177165 C. Sjt. J. McDougall. R.S. Fus.)

Sold together with original ephemera including;

- Regular Army Certificate of Service (Red Book)
- Soldiers Release Book
- Several copied photographs
- Testimonial letters

Important: Sergeant John McDougall s confirmed 'Prisoner-of-War' (captured France & Flanders) 19 October 1914 - 17 November 1918

Note: All medals confirmed as entitled & issued per respective campaign medal rolls of the Leinster Regiment and Certificate of Service as under;

- 1914 Star (ref WO 329/2535)
- British War & Interallied Victory Medals (ref WO 329/90)
- Defence & War Medals: Reference 'Certificate of Service'
- Military LS&GC Medal:

John McDougall was a native of Shettleston near Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, where he was born on 1 February 1887. John's early life appears to have been a particularly hard one, as the 1891 National Census for Scotland records him at the age of 4 years living in the home of his Grandfather, who was then a 57 year old un-employed 'Coal Miner', the household having three other young women resident who were the children of his Grandfather. By the time of the Scottish Census for 1901, John, was then resident at the Smyllum Orphanage, Lanarkshire - an institution run by Catholic Nuns, which sadly was exposed in later years as a place with a notorious reputation. John enlisted in the British Army at Glasgow, Scotland, on 7 June 1907, and was posted to the Leinster Regiment. John subsequently served in India from January 1908 to November 1911, during which time he was promoted to the rank of Corporal. In 1914, and by now a Sergeant, John first entered theatre of war 'France', when he landed with his battalion on 8 September 1914. During the 'Mons Campaign' of 1914 in France and Flanders, Sergeant McDougall, was captured by the enemy and became a Prisoner-of- War, on 18 October 1914 - remaining in captivity until 17 November 1918.

Upon the creation of the Irish Free State and the disbandment of the Southern Irish regiments of the British Army in 1922, John McDougall transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers, with which regiment he again served overseas in India from March 1923 to April 1930. He was discharged at Edinburgh, Scotland, holding the appointment of Colour Sergeant (C.Q.M.S.) on 6 June 1930. Retirement from the military however was destined not to be permanent, as after the outbreak of war in 1939, John re-enlisted into his old regiment at Stirling on 10 July 1940. He was finally discharged form the British Army, when he was released holding the appointment pf Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant at Annan, Scotland, on 18 June 1946

The medals mounted as-worn by the recipient in the swing-style, suspended from silk ribands. The reverse of the mounting bar retaining the long hinged pin and clasp fittings

Condition: VF

Code: 18078Price: 695.00 GBP

A great war 'France & Flanders' Indian Cavalry pair to a famous Indian Army Regiment: Sowar Ali Akbar Khan, 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse

- 1914-15 Star (No.3453 Sowar Ali Akbar Khan 34/Horse.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (No.3453 Sowar Ali Akbar Khan 34/Horse.)

Recipient was a Punjabi Musalman holding the rank of Sowar (Trooper) while serving with the 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse - a famous Indian Army cavalry regiment

The recipient served in theatre of war France & Flanders, where between 1914-1918, the 34th Poona Horse served with the Indian Corps. In 1915, the regiment were serving as dismounted infantry in the trenches. In March 1918 the regiment embarked for Egypt, where it subsequently served in the Palestine Campaign with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force

Condition: VF

Code: 19206Price: 65.00 GBP

A 'Battle of the Somme 1916', Killed-in-Action medal group of 3 together with companion Memorial Plaque: Private James Thomson, 6/7 Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, late 7th Battalion Royal Scos Fusiliers

- 1914-15 Star (13817 Pte. J. Thomson. R. Sc: Fus:)
- British War Medal. Silver issue(13817 Pte. J. Thomson. R. S. Fus.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (13817 Pte. J. Thomson. R. S. Fus.)
- Memorial Plaque (James Thomson)

Important: Private James Thomson, is confirmed 'Killed-in-Action' on The Somme, 12 August 1916

Note: All three campaign medals verified per the respective medal rolls as under;

- 1914-15 Star: Ref WO 329/2679 (7th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers)
- BWM & Victory medals: Ref WO 329/991 (7th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers)

James Thomson, son of David Thomson and his wife Elizabeth Thomson (nee Petrie) was a native of Cupar, Fife, Scotland, where he was born on 6 November 1888. The 1901 Census for Scotland records that James, was a schoolboy living at home with his parents (his father was a Hostler), and his four brothers (George, Alexander, David (who were elder), and Stewart (the youngest) at the family home located at Provost Wynd, Cupar, Fife. James, had another elder brother, John, who in 1901 was living away from the family, serving with the Cameron Highlanders (No 5552) in the period 1900-1912. John's service papers provide 2 x residential addresses of his next of kin in Cupar, including the Provost Wynd address and a 32 Castlefiled, Cupar. From the age of 10, James is recorded as having been enrolled at Castlefield Primary School, Cupar, having previously been enrolled at Kirkgate School. The school registers show that the family residence was at 26 Castlefied in 1888-1900. Shortly afer the outbreak of the Great War, James is recorded as having enlisted for the British Army at Cathcart, Glasgow, and was subsequently posted to the 7th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers

7th Battalion Royal Scots Fusliers was a war raised 'Service' battalion of the regiment. Formed at, Ayr, Scotland, in September 1914, 7/R.S.F. was part of 45th Infantry Brigade, 15th Scottish Division. The battalion embarked for France on 9 July 1915, disembarking at Le Havre on 10 July 1915, the latter date being the recorded date of disembarkation into an overseas theatre of war 'France' recorded on Private Thomson's entry in the 1914-15 Star medal roll. 7/R.S.F. was given very little time to adjust to overseas service before the incurred their first casualties due to shellfire on 7 August 1915, in the region of 'Philosophe'. The battalin was deployed during great battle of Loos (September 1915), and in the Spring of 1916 was involved in the German 'Gas Attacks' at Hulluch and engaged in the defence of the 'Kink' position.

On 13 May, the 7/R.S.F., amalgamated with 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, to become 6/7th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers.

He first entered theatre of war 'France' on 10 July 1915. While serving with the 6/7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, James was killed in action on 12 August 1916. At the time of his death, 6/7 R.S.F., was serving as part of the 45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division on the Somme, and were involved in the ‘attack on Switch Line (12/8) - objective taken and consolidated south-eastward from Munster Alley.’ (British Battalions on the Somme, by R. Westlake, refers). Per the respective entry in the 'Register of Soldiers Effects', sometime prior to his death in action, James had nominated his mother Elizabeth P Thomson as his sole legal heir to receive his remaining belonging and effects from the British Army

After his death in action, the body of James Thomson was never recovered from the battlefield of the Somme. His life however, and the supreme sacrifice that he made, is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on a panel at the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

The Thiepval Memorial commemorates more than 72,000 men of British and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave, the majority of whom died during the Somme offensive of 1916

Sold together with some copied research, including Medal Index Card

Condition: GVF

Code: 19205Price:

A desirable medal combination including an 'Immediate' MSM and later service in ‘Malabar’ in a group of 7: Trooper Thomas Ryan, Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles, Auxiliary Force India, late 3rd Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers & 20th Battalion Manch

- 1914-15 Star (17213 Pte T. Ryan, Manch R)
- British War Medal (17213 Cpl T. Ryan, Manch R)
- Allied Victory Medal (17213 Cpl T. Ryan, Manch R)
- IGS Medal 1908. GV with clasp 'Malabar 1921-22' (363 Cpl T. Ryan, S.P.M. Rfls)
- 1937 Coronation Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal GV first type (244739 A. Cpl. T. Ryan, 3/F.S.Coy. R.E.)
- Efficiency Medal. GV 'India' with 2 x bars (Tpr. T. Ryan. S. Prov. Mtd. Rif, A.F.I.)

Important: The MSM an immediate award for ‘France’

Note: The Great War era medals all verified per the respective medal rolls and or London Gazette as under;

- 1914-15 Star: Ref WO 329/2592
- British War & Interallied Victory Medals: Ref WO 329/416
- Meritorious Service Medal: London Gazette issue of 1 January 1918

Thomas Ryan, son of John and Alice Ryan, was a native of, Patricroft, Eccles, Manchester, England, where he was born in 1895. His father was a ‘Cotton Spinner’. Prior to the Great War, the Ryan family resided at, 6 Atherton Grove, Patricroft, Manchester (1901 & 1911 Census refers). By 1911, Thomas was working as an ‘Errand Boy’ for a local warehouse. Thomas enlisted in the British Army on 17 November 1914, for ‘The Duration of the War’, and was posted to his local regiment, 20th (Service) (5th City Pals) Battalion Manchester Regiment. Thomas, together with the rest of his battalion, first entered theatre of war ‘France’ on 9 November 1915. He transferred to the Royal Engineers on 7 April 1917.

Shortly after the Great War, Thomas gained an appointment in British India, where he was employed in the Tea Industry – his service papers recording his subsequent forwarding address at a Tea Estate, located in located in Mananthavady Wayanad, region of Malabar, in Southern India – the district bordering the centre of operations during the ‘Moplah Revolt’ in Malabar, during 1921. Thomas Ryan – and his wife Hilda, were long term residents in the Nilgiris – Wayanad region of Southern India, with shipping records (a sailing from Southampton to Bombay) recording Thomas still working as a Tea Planter, in India as late as December 1946

The Southern Province Mounted Rifles had its origins the Southern Provinces Mounted Infantry raised in Coimbatore on 12 February 1904. The regiment being restyled in April 1905, at which time the regiment was headquartered at Ootacumund, with its 5 x troops spread over the below locations;

- Ootacamund
- Calicut
- Bezwada, later changed to Waltair
- Munaar
- Tinnevelly Bridge

Reference 'The Auxiliary Force India And its Predecessors With Medal Roll Of The Volunteer Long Service Medal '(Harfield, 2015), the returned strength of this unit in 1921, with its HQ in Madras was 233 x 'All Ranks', of which only 'Part' of the unit deployed in support of the Civil Authorities during the 'Moplah Rebellion' of 1921. By profession the ranks of this unit were mostly drawn from a range of occupations with more than 40% drawn from amongst the Planters who managed the estates in the Nilgris Hills, as well as good representation from expatriates who worked in the Forestry Commission, Salt & Abkari Departments and Indian Civil Service amongst others

By 1932, the various sections & patrols of the unit were located as under;

- Madras
- Nilgiri - Wayanad
- Mepaddi - Mananthavady
- Coimbatore
- North Anamalai
- South Anamalai

A rare instance of a campaign medal awarded to an A.F.I. unit that served in the 'Malabar' campaign in Southern India

The medals mounted for display in the swing-style, mounted on a red felt board. The board including a bi-metal cap badge of the Manchester Regiment (with slider fitting), and an engraved name plate

Sold together with a copied set of service papers (Manchester’s & RE Service), and Medal Index Cards for the Great War medals, all the pages individually laminated

Condition: Mostly GVF

Code: 19015Price:

A Pipe-Majors group of 7: Pipe-Major D. 'Swank' McLeod, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

- British War Medal. Silver issue (3-7366 Pte. D. Macleod. Seaforth)
- Interallied Victory Medal (3-7366 Pte. D. Macleod. Seaforth)
- IGS Medal 1908. GV 'North West Frontier 1930-31' (2810142 Sjt. D. Mac Leod.Seaforth)
- Defence Medal
- War Medal
- Military LSGC. GVI 'Regular Army' (2810142. W.O.Cl.2. D. Macleod. Seaforth)
- Efficiency Medal, GVI first 'Territorial' (2810142 W.O.Cl.2. D. McLeod, Seaforth)

The group court mounted for display.

Pipe-Major Donald 'Swank' Macleod served during the Great War with the 2nd and 7th Battalions Seaforth Highlanders, the former''s Pipers (of which Macleod is listed in the Regimental records) were, ''largely employed as runners, orderlies, etc., and suffered very heavy casualties. On several occasions during the open fighting they were employed in the attack as pipers. Of 23 pipers who went to France with the battalion 6 were killed and 10 wounded in the first year of the war. The opinion of the officers is that only the difficulty of reinforcements limits the employment of pipers in action.''

Provenance: Matt Taylor Collection, Christies (London) 1983

Research: The medals accompanied with some copied research including photograph of recipient in uniform, as part of the 'Highland Brigade Gathering Cawnpore, 1931 - Pipe Majors'

Condition: Great Wars medal polished GF, others GVF

Code: 10967Price: 1975.00 GBP

A regimentally unique full entitlement campaign medal pair combination for Iraq and India service: Private A. G. Walker, 1st Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)

- GSM 1918. GV first type with clasp 'Iraq' (30406 Pte. A. Walker. R. Highrs.)
- IGS Medal 1908. GV 'Waziristan 1921-24' (2745852 Pte. A. G. Walker. Black Watch)

The IGS medal is a 'Royal Mint' issue

Important: The recipient did not serve overseas during the Great War. The respective campaign medal rolls confirm the two medals listed above, and here offered, as the recipients full and only medal entitlment. The GSM 1918 and clasp per medal roll (ref WO 100/G5/415) signed at Dera Ismail Khan, North West Frontier Province, India, and the IGS 1908 and clasp per medal roll (ref WO 100/I25/491) signed at Quetta, India, on 20 December 1925. The medal rolls show that Private Walker had been attached to 32nd Divisional Signal Company (which became "B" Divisional Signals), and was returned to his unit, 1/Black Watch on 1 May 1922. Private Walker took his discharge on 28 January 1923

Note: A study of both the GSM and IGS medal rolls confirm that a total of only 3 x 'Other Ranks' of the regiment qualified for both of the above medals and clasps while serving on attachment. However only Private Walker has the distinction of having earned the 'pair only' as a full medal entitlement - the other 2 x recipients each additionally earned Great War British War & Interallied Victory Medals, and one of those recipients - Private Cunningham - is recorded as having been issued 'Replacement' GSM & IGS medals

A unique full medal entitlement campaign medal pair to the Black Watch

Sold together with some copied medal roll entries and medal index cards

Condition: GVF

Code: 15484Price: 1275.00 GBP

A British Red Cross Voluntary Nursing group of 3: F. Dale British Red Cross Society

- British Red Cross Society: Proficency in Red Cross First Aid (012404 F. Dale)
- British Red Cross Society: Proficency in Red Cross Nursing (37857 F. Dale)
- British Red Cross Society: For Merit Medal. Reverse named (9782 F. Dale)

Note: All medals fitted with correct ribbons, and where issued retaining their original integral top bars with their original hinged pins and clasps

Condition: EF

Code: 19203Price:

An inter-wars 'Home Counties' British Red Cross Society nursing group of 4: Ms Annie Hurn, British Red Cross Society

- B.R.C.S: Proficency in Red Cross First Aid. Reverse named 14563 A. Hurn
- B.R.C.S: Proficency in Red Cross Nursing. Reverse named 11146 A. Hurn
- London County Council: Homes Nursing Medal. Reverse named and dated Annie Hurn 29-3-26
- London County Council: First Aid Medal. Reverse named and dated Annie Hurn 26-3-26

Note: All medals fitted with correct ribbons. The BRCS awards retaining their original integral top bars with hinged pins and clasps, as issued

Condition: VF

Code: 19202Price: