Victorian, Princess Victoria's 89th Regiment of Foot Highlander Officer’s Scottish Basket Hilted Regimental Combat Broadsword. Of The Crimean War, & The Indian Mutiny Later to Become The Princess Victoria's Royal Irish Fusiliers Serving In The Boer War

This superb Scottish highlander officer's sword has spent 30 hours being hand polished in our workshop, in order to return it to just as it looked, when first used in service in 1853, made by Hawkes & Co.of London.

The 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot was a Highlanders regiment of the British Army, raised on 3 December 1793.
It sailed for Gibraltar in 1854 and then saw action at the Siege of Sevastopol in winter 1854 during the Crimean War. It transferred to the Cape Colony in 1855 to protect British interests there before embarking for India in 1857 to help suppress the Indian Rebellion. It returned home in August 1865 and became the 89th (The Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot in May 1866. It returned to India in 1870 and was deployed to Rangoon in Burma in 1876 before going back to India in 1880.

Under the Childers Reforms the regiment amalgamated with the 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot to form the Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) in 1881. The regiment was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 87th (Prince of Wales's Irish) Regiment of Foot and the 89th (The Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot. The regiment got its nickname, the Faughs, from its Irish war cry "Faugh A Ballagh" (Fág a' Bealach, meaning Clear the Way) from the Napoleonic Wars.

The 1st Battalion saw action in the Anglo-Egyptian War in 1882.

Both battalions served in South Africa during the Second Boer War (1899–1902). The 1st battalion was present at the Battle of Talana Hill in October 1899 and the various engagements leading to the Relief of Ladysmith. Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion saw action at the Battle of the Tugela Heights

Painting Oil on canvas, by Louis William Desanges, 1860 (c). of Surgeon Home V.C. with his Scottish basket hilted broadsword, defending a wounded corporal, at the Seige of Lucknow in the Indian Mutiny

The desperate action at the British Residency at Lucknow saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). Under siege from July 1857, a relief force fought its way into the city in September 1857 but the siege could not be lifted until November.

Surgeon Home (1826-1914) and Assistant-Surgeon Bradshaw (1830-1861) were part of the relief force. For their bravery and good conduct they were both awarded the Victoria Cross. According to 'The London Gazette' of 18 June 1858:

'The dooly bearers had left the doolies (covered stretchers), but by great exertions, and notwithstanding the close proximity of the sepoys, Surgeon Home and Assistant-Surgeon Bradshaw, got some of the bearers together, and Assistant-Surgeon Bradshaw with about twenty doolies becoming separated from the rest of the party, succeeded in reaching the Residency in safety by the river bank.'  read more

Code: 25834

Fit For A King. Late 16th Century Style Holbein Swiss Dagger, a Fabulous Masterpiece, With a Superbly Pierced Scabbard Depicting a Scene of Landsnicht Knights. Designed By Hans Holbein For King Henry VIIIth. Only The Second We Have Seen in 20 Years

Wonderful 16th century pattern dagger, designed by Hans Holbein one of the greatest Old Master artists in the reign of King Henry VIII, with brass fully three dimensionally piecerd scabbard displaying scenes of Landsnecht knights mounted on horseback. This is not only a wondrous and extravagant dagger, it is a fine example object d'art. The dagger that gained its name from its design, and patterns of dagger, by Hans Holbein, one of the worlds greatest portrait artists of the 16th century, whose most famous owner of a Holbein pattern dagger was King Henry VIIIth, as can be seen in his portrait see the gallery. Holbein travelled to England in 1526 in search of work, with a recommendation from the renown Erasmus. He was welcomed into the humanist circle of Thomas More, where he quickly built a high reputation. He returned to Basel for four years, then resumed his career in England in 1532 under the patronage of Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. By 1535, he was King's Painter to Henry VIII of England. In this role, he produced portraits and festive decorations, as well as designs for jewellery, plate, and other precious objects, including daggers. His portraits of the royal family and nobles are a record of the court in the years when Henry was asserting his supremacy over the Church of England.

Holbein's art was highly prized from early on in his career. French poet and reformer Nicholas Bourbon (the elder) dubbed him "the Apelles of our time," a typical highest accolade at the time. Holbein has also been described as a great "one-off" of art history, since he founded no school. Some of his work was lost after his death, but much was collected, and he was recognised among the great portrait masters by the 19th century. Recent exhibitions have also highlighted his versatility. He created designs ranging from intricate jewellery to monumental frescoes.

Holbein's art has sometimes been called realist, since he drew and painted with a rare precision. His portraits were renowned in their time for their likeness, and it is through his eyes that many famous figures of his day are pictured today, such as Erasmus and More. He was never content with outward appearance, however; he embedded layers of symbolism, allusion, and paradox in his art, to the lasting fascination of scholars. In the view of art historian Ellis Waterhouse, his portraiture "remains unsurpassed for sureness and economy of statement, penetration into character, and a combined richness and purity of style"

Double edged blade. This is a fabulous 19th-century representation of Holbein’s 16th century dagger, One of Holbien’s versions had a most similar pierced and chiselled decorative scabbard displaying scenes from the dance of death. In July 2000 Christie’s Auctioneers sold another 19th century representation of this Holbein dagger, it sold for £3,760, 25 years ago. The most famous example of a Holbein pattern dagger is depicted being worn by King Henry VIIIth in his portrait by Hans Holbein, we show this portrait in a gallery with Henry and his version of his personal most similar and beautiful Holbein Dagger. This Renaissance style dagger is based on original drawings from the work-books of Holbein the Younger, from whence the dagger gets its name. This is an accurate design that a nobleman of very high status could have chosen in around 1536, out of Holbein's work-books, and to have a personal dagger commissioned by a dagger maker.

See a plain wooden hilted version of Holbein’s original dagger in photo 8 in the gallery in the Wallace Collection in London.
This is a formidable dagger of impressive proportions and most substantial weight.
.  read more

Code: 23326

Now Sold A Really Rare Original WW2 Luftwaffe Night Fighter Airbase Command Commandant's {Fliegerhorst Kommandantur} of Stade, Double Sided Banner, Of A WW2 Night Fighter Luftwaffe Airbase For Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 {NJG 1} & Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 {NJG 3}

A most worthy candidate as the centrepiece of any, important or significant collection of original WW2 German Third Reich war trophies, captured by allied soldiers at the close of WW2. A representation of all the sacrifices made by the allied armed forces that fought and died to successfully destroy the Third Reich war machine.

Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 1 was formed on 22 June 1940 and comprised four Gruppen (groups). NJG 1 was created as an air defence unit for the Defence of the Reich campaign; an aerial war waged by the Luftwaffe against the bombing of the German Reich by RAF Bomber Command and the United States Air Force. In 1941 airborne radar was introduced with radar operators, and standardised in 1942 and 1943. Consequently, a large number of German night fighter aces existed within NJG 1.
Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (NJG 3) was a Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 3 was formed on 29 September 1941 in Stade from Stab./Zerstörergeschwader 26. Pilots of NJG 3 claimed approximately 820 aerial victories by day and night.

Measuring 19 inches wide and 15 inches tall, both sides of the banner feature yellow fields trimmed in silver ribbon and 2 1/4 inch long silver wire fringe. One side in silver bullion lettering has the text.

Just one of the fighter aces was Oberst Günther Radusch (11 November 1912 – 29 July 1988) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander. As a fighter ace, he claimed 65 enemy aircraft shot down in over 140 combat missions. He claimed one victory in the Spanish Civil War. During World War II, he was credited with 64 aerial victories in Defense of the Reich all of which claimed at night and includes the destruction of 57 four-engined bombers.

Stade airfield (German: flugplatz Stade or Fliegerhorst Stade) was an airfield 285 west-northwest of Berlin.
It's construction began in the spring of 1935, disguised as a civilian project. The first occupants arrived as early as October 1935 when the first students of the Fliegerersatzabteilung 47 (Pilot Replacement Unit 47) began their course. First use was that of a multi-engine piloting school in 1936 and a second training unit arrived at the airfield in 1937 from Ludwigslust, bringing their Junkers Ju52 and Ju86, Dornier Do17, Focke-Wulf Fw56 and Fw58 aircraft. In 1939 a new large hangar and the first concrete runway (Startbahn II) was built.
After the beginning of the war in 1939, the training units were withdrawn to the east in Brandenburg. In November, they were replaced with night fighters,
In April 1940, air transport aircraft filled with parachutists and mountain troops flew from Stade to begin the occupation of Norway.
In 1941, night-fighters of II./NJG1 were stationed here, making Stade an important part of the defense against Alllied strategic bombers. Although II./NJG1 left after some time, Stade was never really long without nightfigthers after this first prolonged stay. It is during this period that the second runway (Statbahn III) was built. Construction of the Northerly runway ('Startbahn I') was begun, but for unknown reasons it was never completed.
Allied attacks upon Stade;
22 Apr 44: strafed by VIII Fighter Command P-51 Mustangs – claimed 1 x Me 210 and 1 x Ju 88 destroyed, plus 2 x He 111s damaged.
18 Jun 44: bombed by 45 B-24 Liberators. (445th Bomb Group Mission 103 – 45 B-24s dropped 520 x 100 lb. AN-M30 General Purpose bombs)
06 Oct 44: bombed by 29 B-24s.
31 Dec 44: bombed by 13 B-17 Fortresses – 5-6 night fighters destroyed or damaged, 2 hangars burned out and at least one runway cratered.
03 Feb 45: low-level attack by VIII Fighter Command P-51s – claimed 1 x He 111 destroyed and 2 more damaged.
09/10 Apr 45: bombed by 22 RAF Halifaxes and 14 USAAF B-24s in a joint night attack.
18 Apr 45: strafed by RAF Tempests – claimed 2 x Do 217s and 1 x Fw 190 destroyed plus other aircraft damaged. Same date, demolition of the airfield began and unserviceable aircraft destroyed.
01 May 45: occupied by 2nd Battalion Welch Guards.

Stade Operational Units: 10./JG 26 (Nov-Dec 39); Stab/JG 1 (Dec 39 – May 43); II./ZG 1 (Feb 40); I.(Jagd)/LG 2 (Feb-Mar 40); KGr. z.b.V. 104 (Mar-May 40); II./JG 52 (Sep 40); I./JG 27 (Oct 40); II./JG 51 (Oct 40); 3./JG 54 (Oct-Nov 40); Stab/ZG 26 (Sep 41); Stab/NJG 3 (Sep 41 – Apr 45); III./NJG 3 (Nov 41 – Aug 44), II./JG 1 (Feb 42); Luftbeobachterstaffel 2 (Oct 43 - Jun 44); Stab/JG 302 (Nov 43 – Jan 44); III./JG 76 (Jul-Aug 44); I./JG 26 (Apr 45).

School Units: FFS C (twin-engined conversion school) Stade (Nov 37 - Sep 39); Stab and I./Flieger-Ausb.Rgt. 42 (Apr 39 - Jan 40); Bombenschützenvorschule Stade (1940); Flieger-Techn.Schule 2 (1940-43).

Replacement Units: Flieger-Ers.Abt.14 (Oct 35 – Sep 37); Flieger-Ers.Abt.42 (Nov 38 – Mar 39); III./Fallschirmjäger-Ers.-u.Ausb.Rgt. 4 (c.Jan 45 - ? ).


On 18 April 1945 all flyable aircraft were flown to Uetersen, the remainder and the facilities were destroyed. The occupation by the British from 1 May 1945 left some surprises for the British: due to the fast Soviet advance, the commander of the E-Stelle (Erprobungsstelle or "Evaluation Unit") at Werneuchen) was ordered by the Oberkommando dere Luftwaffe (OKL) to evacuate equipment to Stade. As a result, the British discovered amongst others a camouflaged and incomplete Ju-248 V.1 prototype (a reworked Me163 rocket powered interceptor with landing gear instead of a retractable skid) at the airfield.
The Fighter aces of NJG 3;
Helmut Lent
Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein
Guenther Radusch
Walter Borchers
Paul Zorner .
Gerhard Raht
Martin Drewes
Werner Hoffmann
Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld
Hans-Joachim Jabs
Rudolf Frank
Helmut Bergmann
Werner Husemann
Hubert Rauh
Paul Szameitat
Hans Krause
Rudolf Sigmund
Alfons Koster
Alfred Kuhne
Arnold Doring
Reinhold Eckardt
Erhard Peters
Wilhelm Schmale

The closest example of such a historical one as this is one for another airbase commandant that was sold in America in 2017 at RIA est $12,000 to $14,000. That one had its hanging pole, but just like ours, in pretty much identical superb condition, with no damage all braiding present, no fading at all. Both are exactly the same size. See photo 9 in the gallery

RIA Rock Island Auction is the likely most important militaria auctioneers, for the rarest of all forms of militaria, in the US, if not the world.  read more

Code: 25832

WW2 German Luftwaffe Reconnaissance & Air/Sea Rescue,Clasp From One Of Ian Fleming’s Naval Intelligence Section’s So Called ‘Red Indians’ 30 Commando Special Engineering Unit. Collected During A Clandestine Recon Mission At An Airbase

Luftwaffe recon clasp in silver. Early war solid nickel silver clasp with nickel silver riveted eagle head. Top ‘Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Silber’

Instituted January 30, 1941, the Clasp for Reconnaissance, Air/Sea Rescue, and Meteorological Squadrons in silver was awarded for specialized squadrons in the Luftwaffe and even Kriegsmarine upon the completion of sixty combat missions.

A highly desirable original collectors item, uncleaned unpolished, kept just as is, untouched and unmolested for the past 80 years

Originally taken by a commando of 30 commando X troop while on clandestine missions as part of 30 Commando reconnaissance and sabotage.

The brain child of naval commander Ian Fleming & Lord Louis Mountbatten, 30 {30AU} Commando, this wartime unit was a secret well kept for over 50 years after the war by the Official Secrets Act, some remains classified, see Reading. At the time, officially, they didn’t exist. The members of this unit were forbidden to discuss or document their activities, a pledge that many of the men kept even many years after the war was over, or even for their entire lives!
Due to the fact these men operated in very small groups on ‘need-to-know’ basis it is very difficult to get clear picture of everything they were doing.
Fleming’s/NID30AU secretary Miss Margaret Priestley (a history professor from Leeds University) played a vital role in the running and administration of 30AU and became his inspiration for Miss Petty Pettaval - the original character name that became Miss Moneypenny.
As revealed here for the first time!(6) (see Beau Bête)
Miss Preistley transferred over to NID30AU during the winter of 1943-44 from DNR - (Department of Naval Research) where she worked as a civilian, although there were obvious links between DNR and NID30AU as intelligence on enemy targets was collected for Fleming’s ‘Black List’.

Also Known as:
Fleming himself referred to the men of the unit as behaving like 'Red Indians'. (A reference he also used when referring to his character, James Bond, four times in his first novel Casino Royale. Which effectively makes this unit the ‘literary James Bond’s wartime unit’.)
Formerly:- (NID30 Command Office at Admiralty),
Special Engineering Unit.
'RED' Marines.
Latterly:- 30 Assault Unit,
 30 Advanced Unit, 30AU
 and incorrectly as 30th Assault Unit.
The number '30' was used for no better reason than it was NID/Miss Priestley’s Office Door number at the Admiralty. (Fleming’s Office was No. 39) 'Assault Unit' was 'overt' cover for the fact that they were intelligence gathering.
Date Founded: 30 September 1942
Date Disbanded: 26 March 1946
Date Reformed: February 2010 - 30 Cdo IXG
Mission When Founded:
The collection of technical intelligence and personnel from enemy headquarters and installations. Ahead of allied advances and before enemy could destroy it, to ‘Attain by Surprise’.

30 Commando consisted of Royal Marine, Army and Royal Navy elements that were organised into three Sections: No. 33, No. 34 and No.36 respectively. Initially code-named the Special Engineering Unit, the unit reported to the Chief of Combined Operations, though the Admiralty retained ultimate control of No.36 Section. No.35 Section was left vacant for the RAF to utilise but they never raised a troop to participate in 30 Cdo. Although they did supply intelligence officers and specific targets to pursue after D-Day for ‘Operation Crossbow’.
Unit members were given general commando skills and weapons training, and were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment. Parachute training, small boat handling, recognition of enemy documents, search techniques including lock picking and safecracking, prisoner handling, photography and escape techniques were also taught.
A significant number of the initial recruits were formerly policemen. Although at least one ‘expert’ was recruited straight from prison, thought by the police to be the best safe-breaker in England at the time.
30 Cdo’s operational tactic was to move ahead of advancing Allied forces, or to undertake covert missions into enemy territory by land, sea or air, to capture intelligence, in the form of equipment, documents, codes or enemy personnel. 30 Cdo often worked closely with the Intelligence Corps' Field Security sections. More often than not each team consisted of two special operations Jeeps (As used by the SAS and 30AU) manned by one Naval Commander in possession of a ‘Black Book’ which listed targets from Ian Fleming’s famous ‘Black List’. The Naval Commander was the only man in each team who knew where and what the targets actually were. This Naval Commander was usually accompanied by at least one weapons expert or scientist who he relied on to evaluate the information or equipment they encountered. There were also usually at least six Royal Marines and one RM Officer whose main job was to do any fighting required and to keep the Naval Commander and any experts alive and out of trouble. (For details Reading section.)
The individual Sections served in all the Mediterranean and NW European operational theatres, usually operating independently, gathering information from captured facilities. The unit served in North Africa, the Greek Islands, Norway, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, and Corsica, 1942-1943 as 30 Commando.
s the Allies broke through 30AU split into many ‘Field Teams’ and these were responsible for capturing many and varied targets throughout Germany.
Team 2 under Curtis captured Prof. Helmut Walter, designer of the Me163 Rocket Plane and Midget Submarines at Kiel. (Kept by the British!).
Team 5 under USN Lambie captured Prof. Herbert Wagner (10) (Handed to US Agents) designer of the guided flying bomb Hs293, already used to sink HMS Egret and to kill over 1000 troops on HMT Rohna. He went on to work for the US Navy. He did not surrender in Bavaria with Dornberger and the von Braun brothers as the Allied military would have us believe. (2) (see Reading section).
The capture of Prof. Magnus von Braun (Martin) V2 fuel chemist. (Handed to US Agents). He did not surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe. (see Reading for details)
The capture of the designer of the Nazi V2 (who went on to the NASA Saturn V), Prof. von Braun and his brother. (Some men were convinced they were some of the scientists they caught!) Did they surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe or was that staged afterwards? (see Beau Bête for details and FREE preview PDF, in Reading)
Team 55 under Glanville captured the entire Nazi Naval records collection at ‘Tambach Castle’. (1)
Team 4 under Job(e) captured the Bremen dockyards with type 21 & 25 submarines and destroyers. Then took the surrender of Bremerhaven and captured Naval HQ SS Europa and Z29 Destroyer. (1)(All handed over to US Agents).
Team 2 Postlethwaite captures the Torpedo testing facility at Ekenförde. (1)
Another team captured Admiral Dönitz (as Führer).
And many other things yet to be revealed by the government!
Ref; https://www.30au.co.uk
An amazing historic collection of information, including. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beau-B%C3%A9te-assigned-Flemings-intelligence/dp/B08R7XYHXW read more  read more

Code: 25831

Four Royal Marine Commando WW2 Burma Campaign Medal Group, of Ronald Edward Meadowcroft 1939-46. Including Burma Railway Assisting POW Liberation Action

Acquired direct from his family.

The Royal Marines participated in the Burma Campaign during World War II, primarily in commando and amphibious assault roles. Specifically, No. 44 (Royal Marine) Commando was heavily involved, landing on the Teknaf peninsula and participating in operations like Operation Screwdriver and Operation Passport. They also supported other units in amphibious landings and worked alongside the Chindits.
Royal Marines in the Burma Campaign:
No. 44 (Royal Marine) Commando:
This unit was a key component of the 3rd Special Service Brigade and saw action against the Japanese in the Arakan region.
Amphibious Operations:
Royal Marines Commandos were frequently used in amphibious landings to support larger formations like the 25th and 26th Indian Divisions.
Chindits:
Royal Marines were involved with the Chindits, who were special operations units known for their long-range penetration tactics in the Burmese jungle.
Supporting Role:
Royal Marines also served in a supporting role, providing engineer support and contributing to the defense of vital installations.

The campaign in Burma was brutal, with significant casualties from both combat and disease.
Operation Screwdriver:
No. 44 Commando participated in this operation, landing at Alethangyaw and securing the town for the advance of other units.
Operation Passport:
Following their time on Akyab, No. 44 Commando was ordered to Myebon as part of Operation Passport.
Other Operations:
They were also involved in operations in the Arakan region, supporting the advance of other units  read more

Code: 25827

A Near Mint And Truly Magnificent, Early Victorian, 1847 Albert Pattern, British North Somerset Regimental Officer's Cavalry Helmet. Possibly The Best Original Example Outside Of The Royal Collection. Original, Crimean War Period

High polished nickle silver skull, stunningly and ornately decorated with applied mercurial gilt floral trim around the full body, visor, and down the rear of the helmet, and especially around the front badge. The badge is a diamond brilliant cut steel eight-pointed silver star on the front which was almost wholly covered by an oval device in gilt, in the centre of which is the Royal Cypher (VR) on a frosted gilt ground with the oval garter surround bearing the regimental title 'North Somerset'. Large rosettes affix the red morocco leather-backed gilt chin scales. Its mercurial flaming torch plume holder, with white horse hair plume, topped by a frosted gilt rose mount, completes the helmet magnificently. The liner is full, and intact.
Formerly from the late collection of one of England's most esteemed military antique collectors and Antiques Roadshow travelling consultant expert for around 30 years, Roy Butler

When in combat or on 'the charge' the plume could be removed. See pictures {painting and original photos} in the gallery of the helmet worn in the Crimea with and without plume.

After Britain was drawn into the French Revolutionary Wars, the government of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger proposed on 14 March 1794 that the counties should form Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry that could be called on by the King to defend the country against invasion or by the Lord Lieutenant to subdue any civil disorder within the county. A meeting of householders at Frome in Somerset on 2 May 1798 resolved to form a military association to defend the town and country. Its services were accepted on 2 June, and the Frome Troop of Cavalry was formed. Other troops were formed at about the same time at Road, Wolverton, Mells, Beckington and Bath.

These independent troops all served until the Treaty of Amiens in 1802 when they were disbanded. The peace was short-lived and Britain declared war on France again in May 1803, beginning the Napoleonic Wars. The Frome Volunteers offered their services again in July and were accepted on 17 August as the Frome Selwood Troop of Volunteer Cavalry. The volunteers formed two troops, becoming a squadron in June 1804 when they united with the East Mendip Cavalry to become the Frome and East Mendip Regiment of Volunteer Cavalry. The regiment became the North Somerset Yeomanry in 1814 with six troops.

From 1820 to 1840 the regimental headquarters was at Mells Park, home of Thomas Strangways Horner, commanding officer (CO) from 1804 to 1839, when he was succeeded by his son. Another long-serving CO was Richard Boyle, 9th Earl of Cork and Orrery, Lt-Col Commandant

For some years the Keynsham Troop was without any officers, and although its members were keen and turned out promptly when required, their appearance and discipline had deteriorated to the point where they were known locally as 'The Cossacks'. It was disbanded in May 1842, but many of its members transferred to other troops of the regiment or joined the Gloucestershire Yeomanry Cavalry. In 1854 on the outbreak of the Crimean War, 342 out of 398 officers and men in the North Somerset regiment volunteered to serve their country.

The North Somerset Yeomanry raised the 48th (North Somerset) Company for the IY, which arrived in South Africa on 23 March 1900 and served in 7th Battalion, IY.The company served until 1901, earning the regiment its first Battle honour: South Africa 1900–01 The regiment's CO, Viscount Dungarvan was already serving in South Africa in February 1900 and was seconded to the IY as second-in-command of the 22nd Battalion in 1901–02

1/1st North Somerset Yeomanry
The 1st Line regiment mobilised at Bath in August 1914 as part of the 1st South Western Mounted Brigade. In October 1914 it moved to Sussex with the brigade, but left it shortly afterwards. It landed in France on 3 November and joined the 6th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, on 13 November, replacing the 10th Hussars who moved to the newly formed 8th Cavalry Brigade As such, it was one of only six yeomanry regiments to be posted to a regular cavalry division in the war

The regiments Battle Honours were
South Africa 1900–01
First World War
Ypres 1914 '15, Frezenberg, Loos, Arras 1917, Scarpe 1917, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Beaurevoir, Cambrai 1918, Pursuit to Mons, France and Flanders 1914–18

Overall in simply superb condition, the original horsehair plume has very good long hair {with commensurate wear for age}. It has a storage mounting screw thread bolt for the helmets display, but its too long for wearing in mounted service with the plume affixed.

THE LANES ARMOURY, THE PREMIER HOME OF ORIGINAL AND AFFORDABLE ANCIENT ANTIQUITIES, MILITARY ARMOURY ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES IN BRITAIN  read more

Code: 25819

A Remarkably Beautiful & Elegant Proto Celtic Bronze Age Bracelet Circa 2600 Years Old. That Continued Use Into Era Of The Great Iceni Celtic Queen Boudica. And, The Bracelet That Inspired Gustav Klimt One Of The Greatest Art Nouveau Artists In The World

This is an original Celtic 2600 year old bronze serpentine ringed cuff bracelet, 'object vertu' that was directly copied by one of the greatest Art Nouveau artists in the world, Austrian, Gustav Klimt leader of his Art Nouveau Jugendstil Vienna Secession Movement. Gustav Klimt's painting "Dame Mit Fächer" (Lady with a Fan) sold at Sotheby's in London, in 2023 for $108.4 million. See photo in the gallery of the {circa 1895} Jugendstil Vienna Secession bracelet, an obvious direct copy.

This is one of two fabulous examples we acquired from the same former collection. Very similar designs but obviously recovered from areas of differing geological conditions that it was conserved within, for the past 2400 years, that it was buried. One has a course encrusted patination, this one has a more naturally polished aged surface.

From the 8th to 6th centuries BC, developing out of the Urnfield culture of the 12th century BC (Late Bronze Age) and followed in much of its area by the La Tène culture. It is commonly associated with Proto-Celtic speaking populations.

By the 6th century BC, it had expanded to include wide territories, falling into two zones, east and west, between them covering much of western and central Europe down to the Alps, and extending into northern Italy. Parts of Britain and Iberia are included in the ultimate expansion of the Celtic culture. Where the snake serpentine designs of jewellery and adornments continued into Ancient Britannia, and the realm in Norfolk of the greatest and most famous Iceni Queen, Boudica, scourge and destroyer of the 70,000 to 80,000 Britannia based 9th Legion of Rome and their pro Roman supporters, in 61 A.D. In the Roman towns of Camulodunum, Verulamium, and Londinium.

This bracelet was the direct inspiration, but actually it is clearly an identical copy, for Gustav Klimt's
Art Nouveau Jugendstil Vienna Secession, brass cuff bracelet

See the gallery the stunning Gustav Klimt Jugendstil Vienna Secession brass cuff bracelet, circa 1895, currently offered by exclusive jewellery and object vertu dealers DFS in New York
Sale price $5,500.00.

The history of the evolution of the Celts from their Austrian origins

In German historiography, these seats of power are called fürstensitz. These were large, fortified hill forts situated on easily defendable locations. There were at least 16 such seats of power, while there were probably more just waiting to be discovered. The most important ones were at Hochdorf, Wurzburg, Heuneburg, Hohenasberg, Breisach, Mont Lassois, Vix, and Camp de Chassey, amongst others. These fortified settlements were protected by a complex system of ditches and earthen ramparts.

Most modern scholars and historians associate the culture with the Celts. It is commonly understood that this intriguing culture was the foundation from which emerged the wondrous Celtic world that we all know so well. In many aspects, this was is clearly the earliest, Proto-Celtic stage in Bronze and Iron age Europe.

2,25 inches across, 1 inch high.

Photo 10 in the gallery is a same period Celtic Diadem in the Metropolitan Museum in the USA. One can clearly see the distinct design in this piece reflected in the bracelet. Possibly both forms of these adornments were worn together and simultaneously by the Celtic hi-born {tribal leaders, princes princesses and the like} A diadem is a type of crown, specifically an ornamental headband, often jeweled, worn by monarchs and others to signify royalty or high status. It can also refer to a jeweled ornament in the shape of a half crown worn by women. In a broader sense, "diadem" can be used to describe any emblem of regal power or dignity.

For reference see; Stead, I. M. (1997). Celtic Art. Harvard University Press

https://www.metmuseum.org/

2 inches x 1 inch high.
Originally, 2600 years ago, it could be expanded by hand wider for wear

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of trading  read more

Code: 25825

Early Luftwaffe Transport & Glider Silver Squadron Combat Clasp in Silver (Frontflugspange für Transport und Luftlandflieger in Silber)From One Of Ian Fleming’s Naval Intelligence Section’s So Called ‘Red Indians’ 30 Commando Special Engineering Unit

The first Flight Clasps were introduced on January 30, 1941 by the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Goring The Bronze grade clasp was awarded for participation in 20 combat missions, the Silver grade clasp for 60 missions, and the Gold grade clasp for 110 missions.

Constructed of silvered tombak with nice patina. The reverse is unmarked which includes a barrel hinge complete with a flattened tapered pin and round wire catch, The clasp has no damage or repairs and in good condition.

The silver grade clasp, being the second out of 3 grades, was awarded to transport aircraft and glider pilots for carrying out 60 missions.

A highly desirable original collectors item, uncleaned unpolished, kept just as is, untouched and unmolested for the past 80 years

Originally taken by a commando of 30 commando X troop while on clandestine missions as part of 30 Commando reconnaissance and sabotage.

The brain child of naval commander Ian Fleming & Lord Louis Mountbatten, 30 {30AU} Commando, this wartime unit was a secret well kept for over 50 years after the war by the Official Secrets Act, some remains classified, see Reading. At the time, officially, they didn’t exist. The members of this unit were forbidden to discuss or document their activities, a pledge that many of the men kept even many years after the war was over, or even for their entire lives!
Due to the fact these men operated in very small groups on ‘need-to-know’ basis it is very difficult to get clear picture of everything they were doing.
Fleming’s/NID30AU secretary Miss Margaret Priestley (a history professor from Leeds University) played a vital role in the running and administration of 30AU and became his inspiration for Miss Petty Pettaval - the original character name that became Miss Moneypenny.
As revealed here for the first time!(6) (see Beau Bête)
Miss Preistley transferred over to NID30AU during the winter of 1943-44 from DNR - (Department of Naval Research) where she worked as a civilian, although there were obvious links between DNR and NID30AU as intelligence on enemy targets was collected for Fleming’s ‘Black List’.

Also Known as:
Fleming himself referred to the men of the unit as behaving like 'Red Indians'. (A reference he also used when referring to his character, James Bond, four times in his first novel Casino Royale. Which effectively makes this unit the ‘literary James Bond’s wartime unit’.)
Formerly:- (NID30 Command Office at Admiralty),
Special Engineering Unit.
'RED' Marines.
Latterly:- 30 Assault Unit,
 30 Advanced Unit, 30AU
 and incorrectly as 30th Assault Unit.
The number '30' was used for no better reason than it was NID/Miss Priestley’s Office Door number at the Admiralty. (Fleming’s Office was No. 39) 'Assault Unit' was 'overt' cover for the fact that they were intelligence gathering.
Date Founded: 30 September 1942
Date Disbanded: 26 March 1946
Date Reformed: February 2010 - 30 Cdo IXG
Mission When Founded:
The collection of technical intelligence and personnel from enemy headquarters and installations. Ahead of allied advances and before enemy could destroy it, to ‘Attain by Surprise’.

30 Commando consisted of Royal Marine, Army and Royal Navy elements that were organised into three Sections: No. 33, No. 34 and No.36 respectively. Initially code-named the Special Engineering Unit, the unit reported to the Chief of Combined Operations, though the Admiralty retained ultimate control of No.36 Section. No.35 Section was left vacant for the RAF to utilise but they never raised a troop to participate in 30 Cdo. Although they did supply intelligence officers and specific targets to pursue after D-Day for ‘Operation Crossbow’.
Unit members were given general commando skills and weapons training, and were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment. Parachute training, small boat handling, recognition of enemy documents, search techniques including lock picking and safecracking, prisoner handling, photography and escape techniques were also taught.
A significant number of the initial recruits were formerly policemen. Although at least one ‘expert’ was recruited straight from prison, thought by the police to be the best safe-breaker in England at the time.
30 Cdo’s operational tactic was to move ahead of advancing Allied forces, or to undertake covert missions into enemy territory by land, sea or air, to capture intelligence, in the form of equipment, documents, codes or enemy personnel. 30 Cdo often worked closely with the Intelligence Corps' Field Security sections. More often than not each team consisted of two special operations Jeeps (As used by the SAS and 30AU) manned by one Naval Commander in possession of a ‘Black Book’ which listed targets from Ian Fleming’s famous ‘Black List’. The Naval Commander was the only man in each team who knew where and what the targets actually were. This Naval Commander was usually accompanied by at least one weapons expert or scientist who he relied on to evaluate the information or equipment they encountered. There were also usually at least six Royal Marines and one RM Officer whose main job was to do any fighting required and to keep the Naval Commander and any experts alive and out of trouble. (For details Reading section.)
The individual Sections served in all the Mediterranean and NW European operational theatres, usually operating independently, gathering information from captured facilities. The unit served in North Africa, the Greek Islands, Norway, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, and Corsica, 1942-1943 as 30 Commando.
s the Allies broke through 30AU split into many ‘Field Teams’ and these were responsible for capturing many and varied targets throughout Germany.
Team 2 under Curtis captured Prof. Helmut Walter, designer of the Me163 Rocket Plane and Midget Submarines at Kiel. (Kept by the British!).
Team 5 under USN Lambie captured Prof. Herbert Wagner (10) (Handed to US Agents) designer of the guided flying bomb Hs293, already used to sink HMS Egret and to kill over 1000 troops on HMT Rohna. He went on to work for the US Navy. He did not surrender in Bavaria with Dornberger and the von Braun brothers as the Allied military would have us believe. (2) (see Reading section).
The capture of Prof. Magnus von Braun (Martin) V2 fuel chemist. (Handed to US Agents). He did not surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe. (see Reading for details)
The capture of the designer of the Nazi V2 (who went on to the NASA Saturn V), Prof. von Braun and his brother. (Some men were convinced they were some of the scientists they caught!) Did they surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe or was that staged afterwards? (see Beau Bête for details and FREE preview PDF, in Reading)
Team 55 under Glanville captured the entire Nazi Naval records collection at ‘Tambach Castle’. (1)
Team 4 under Job(e) captured the Bremen dockyards with type 21 & 25 submarines and destroyers. Then took the surrender of Bremerhaven and captured Naval HQ SS Europa and Z29 Destroyer. (1)(All handed over to US Agents).
Team 2 Postlethwaite captures the Torpedo testing facility at Ekenförde. (1)
Another team captured Admiral Dönitz (as Führer).
And many other things yet to be revealed by the government!
Ref; https://www.30au.co.uk
An amazing historic collection of information, including. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beau-B%C3%A9te-assigned-Flemings-intelligence/dp/B08R7XYHXW read more  read more

Code: 25826

WW2 Kriegsmarine Destroyer Badge The Destroyer Badge (German: Zerstörerkriegsabzeichen)From One Of Ian Fleming’s Naval Intelligence Section’s So Called ‘Red Indians’ 30 Commando Special Engineering Unit

Badge By Friedrich Orth, It was a World War II German military decoration awarded to officers and crew for service on Kriegsmarine destroyers. It was instituted on 4 June 1940 by Grand Admiral Erich Raeder following the battle of Narvik. It was also awarded to the crews of torpedo boats and fast attack craft until the institution of the Fast Attack Craft War Badge.

The medal, designed by Paul Carsberg of Berlin, consists of an outer oakleaf laurel wreath of oak leaves with the national emblem of eagle clutching a swastika at its apex. The central area features a side-view of a destroyer cutting through a wave

A highly desirable original collectors item, uncleaned unpolished, kept just as is, untouched and unmolested for the past 80 years

Originally taken by a commando of 30 commando X troop while on clandestine missions as part of 30 Commando reconnaissance and sabotage.

The brain child of naval commander Ian Fleming & Lord Louis Mountbatten, 30 {30AU} Commando, this wartime unit was a secret well kept for over 50 years after the war by the Official Secrets Act, some remains classified, see Reading. At the time, officially, they didn’t exist. The members of this unit were forbidden to discuss or document their activities, a pledge that many of the men kept even many years after the war was over, or even for their entire lives!
Due to the fact these men operated in very small groups on ‘need-to-know’ basis it is very difficult to get clear picture of everything they were doing.
Fleming’s/NID30AU secretary Miss Margaret Priestley (a history professor from Leeds University) played a vital role in the running and administration of 30AU and became his inspiration for Miss Petty Pettaval - the original character name that became Miss Moneypenny.
As revealed here for the first time!(6) (see Beau Bête)
Miss Preistley transferred over to NID30AU during the winter of 1943-44 from DNR - (Department of Naval Research) where she worked as a civilian, although there were obvious links between DNR and NID30AU as intelligence on enemy targets was collected for Fleming’s ‘Black List’.

Also Known as:
Fleming himself referred to the men of the unit as behaving like 'Red Indians'. (A reference he also used when referring to his character, James Bond, four times in his first novel Casino Royale. Which effectively makes this unit the ‘literary James Bond’s wartime unit’.)
Formerly:- (NID30 Command Office at Admiralty),
Special Engineering Unit.
'RED' Marines.
Latterly:- 30 Assault Unit,
 30 Advanced Unit, 30AU
 and incorrectly as 30th Assault Unit.
The number '30' was used for no better reason than it was NID/Miss Priestley’s Office Door number at the Admiralty. (Fleming’s Office was No. 39) 'Assault Unit' was 'overt' cover for the fact that they were intelligence gathering.
Date Founded: 30 September 1942
Date Disbanded: 26 March 1946
Date Reformed: February 2010 - 30 Cdo IXG
Mission When Founded:
The collection of technical intelligence and personnel from enemy headquarters and installations. Ahead of allied advances and before enemy could destroy it, to ‘Attain by Surprise’.

30 Commando consisted of Royal Marine, Army and Royal Navy elements that were organised into three Sections: No. 33, No. 34 and No.36 respectively. Initially code-named the Special Engineering Unit, the unit reported to the Chief of Combined Operations, though the Admiralty retained ultimate control of No.36 Section. No.35 Section was left vacant for the RAF to utilise but they never raised a troop to participate in 30 Cdo. Although they did supply intelligence officers and specific targets to pursue after D-Day for ‘Operation Crossbow’.
Unit members were given general commando skills and weapons training, and were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment. Parachute training, small boat handling, recognition of enemy documents, search techniques including lock picking and safecracking, prisoner handling, photography and escape techniques were also taught.
A significant number of the initial recruits were formerly policemen. Although at least one ‘expert’ was recruited straight from prison, thought by the police to be the best safe-breaker in England at the time.
30 Cdo’s operational tactic was to move ahead of advancing Allied forces, or to undertake covert missions into enemy territory by land, sea or air, to capture intelligence, in the form of equipment, documents, codes or enemy personnel. 30 Cdo often worked closely with the Intelligence Corps' Field Security sections. More often than not each team consisted of two special operations Jeeps (As used by the SAS and 30AU) manned by one Naval Commander in possession of a ‘Black Book’ which listed targets from Ian Fleming’s famous ‘Black List’. The Naval Commander was the only man in each team who knew where and what the targets actually were. This Naval Commander was usually accompanied by at least one weapons expert or scientist who he relied on to evaluate the information or equipment they encountered. There were also usually at least six Royal Marines and one RM Officer whose main job was to do any fighting required and to keep the Naval Commander and any experts alive and out of trouble. (For details Reading section.)
The individual Sections served in all the Mediterranean and NW European operational theatres, usually operating independently, gathering information from captured facilities. The unit served in North Africa, the Greek Islands, Norway, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, and Corsica, 1942-1943 as 30 Commando.
s the Allies broke through 30AU split into many ‘Field Teams’ and these were responsible for capturing many and varied targets throughout Germany.
Team 2 under Curtis captured Prof. Helmut Walter, designer of the Me163 Rocket Plane and Midget Submarines at Kiel. (Kept by the British!).
Team 5 under USN Lambie captured Prof. Herbert Wagner (10) (Handed to US Agents) designer of the guided flying bomb Hs293, already used to sink HMS Egret and to kill over 1000 troops on HMT Rohna. He went on to work for the US Navy. He did not surrender in Bavaria with Dornberger and the von Braun brothers as the Allied military would have us believe. (2) (see Reading section).
The capture of Prof. Magnus von Braun (Martin) V2 fuel chemist. (Handed to US Agents). He did not surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe. (see Reading for details)
The capture of the designer of the Nazi V2 (who went on to the NASA Saturn V), Prof. von Braun and his brother. (Some men were convinced they were some of the scientists they caught!) Did they surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe or was that staged afterwards? (see Beau Bête for details and FREE preview PDF, in Reading)
Team 55 under Glanville captured the entire Nazi Naval records collection at ‘Tambach Castle’. (1)
Team 4 under Job(e) captured the Bremen dockyards with type 21 & 25 submarines and destroyers. Then took the surrender of Bremerhaven and captured Naval HQ SS Europa and Z29 Destroyer. (1)(All handed over to US Agents).
Team 2 Postlethwaite captures the Torpedo testing facility at Ekenförde. (1)
Another team captured Admiral Dönitz (as Führer).
And many other things yet to be revealed by the government!
Ref; https://www.30au.co.uk
An amazing historic collection of information, including. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beau-B%C3%A9te-assigned-Flemings-intelligence/dp/B08R7XYHXW  read more

Code: 25823

English Seamen By Froude. English Seamen in the 16th Century, Lectures Delivered at Oxford Easter Terms 1893-4

A superb green leather bound volume, with Morocco leather title and gilt tooling to the spine and covers, bearing a large gilt tooled crest on the front cover. New impression with illustrations 1907. Longmans, Green, and Co., London

From Sir John Hawkins to Sir Francis Drake's defeat of the Armada. The great British maritime heroes of legend, principally during the reign of Good Queen Bess who was well famed for her fondness for English seamen.

James Anthony Froude FRSE, 23 April 1818 – 20 October 1894) was an English historian, novelist, biographer, and editor of Fraser's Magazine. From his upbringing amidst the Anglo-Catholic Oxford Movement, Froude intended to become a clergyman, but doubts about the doctrines of the Anglican church, published in his scandalous 1849 novel The Nemesis of Faith, drove him to abandon his religious career. Froude turned to writing history, becoming one of the best-known historians of his time for his History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Inspired by Thomas Carlyle, Froude's historical writings were often fiercely polemical, earning him a number of outspoken opponents. Froude continued to be controversial up until his death for his Life of Carlyle, which he published along with personal writings of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle. These publications illuminated Carlyle's often selfish personality, and led to persistent gossip and discussion of the couple's marital problems.  read more

Code: 24583