Military Cross leads North Yorkshire sale

A large selection of Victorian, First World War, Second World War, Post-War medals and civil awards will be offered in the Militaria and Ethnographica Sale at Tennants Auctioneers in North Yorkshire on December 11.

Among the notable lots is a First/Second World War MC group of five medals, awarded to Major Cecil Cotton, and comprising a Military Cross (George V – Salonica), 1914 Star with Mons Clasp, British War Medal, Victory Medal with MID oak leaf, and Defence Medal, estimated at £900-1,200. The lot will be sold with photocopied research material regarding the recipient, who was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished services in connection with Military Services in Salonica. Cotton later went to work for Cook, Son & Co. (St Paul’s) Ltd, a textiles dealer, where he rose to the position of managing director.

Also of interest is The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire Companion (C.I.E.) Neck Badge, awarded to Harold Lancelot Newman, estimated at £700-900; Newman, the great grandfather of the vendor, served in the Imperial Forestry Commission of India, rising to be Chief Conservator of Forests for the State of Bombay, the most senior position in the State Forestry Service, and was awarded the medal in the 1930 King’s Honours List.  

A good private collection of Victorian and Edwardian military headgear will be sold in twenty-three lots, with highlights including a 19th-century bell top shako to the Yorkshire Hussars, circa 1810, made by Hawkes, Moseley & Co., Piccadilly, estimated at £3,000-4,000, and a Victorian officer’s bearskin busby to the 3rd Militia Battalion the Durham Fusiliers labelled with the owner’s name, Capt. G. Sowerby, estimated at £600-800.

From the same private collector are several scarlet tunics to local regiments, including the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, the Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment) and the Northumberland Fusiliers. Of note is an Edwardian scarlet tunic to a Colour Sergeant in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment labelled for a J. Rowe, estimated at £100-150.  

Also on offer is a good private collection of antique firearms, pistols and revolvers, led by a pair of 19th-century 28 bore percussion duelling pistols by Rivere, London, estimated at £4,000-5,000; and a pair of 19th-century flintlock duelling pistols by W. Ketland & Co., London, estimated at £3,000-5,000. Elsewhere of interest in the collection is a 19th-century 12 bore side by side double barrel percussion sporting gun by Westley Richards, estimated at £1,500-2,500; a scarce Remington new model police six shot .36 calibre percussion revolver, estimated at £1,000-1,500; a 19th-century 54 bore five shot double action percussion revolver by Deane & Son, London, estimated at £900-1,200; and a 19th-century Tranter’s patent 54 bore five shot trigger-cocking percussion revolver, estimated at £1,000-1,500.

From another vendor is a rare mid-19th century twenty shot over and under 7mm pinfire Le Faucheux pattern revolver, estimated at £800-1,200.  

The sale will also include a good range of cap and other badges, cloth insignia and helmet plates, and a variety of edged weapons including a private collection of British Cavalry swords, bayonets and fighting knives.  

Among the examples of ethnographica in the sale is a good range of tribal weapons from Fiji and Australia, including a 19th-century Fijian Vunikau (Rootstock) war club, estimated at £500-700; a 19th-century Australian Aborigine leangle type club, possibly from the Murray River region, Victoria, estimated at £400-500; and an early-19th century large Fijian Kiakavo (Gunstock War Club), estimated at £300-400.