GEORGE KIDNER auctioneers and valuers

A Great War trio to 56743 Spr W. Butterworth R.E., 1914-15 Star, BWM and Victory Medal.

A Great War trio to 49898 Dvr. A. Bowles R.A., 1914 Star (R.F.A. and with rosette fixed to ribbon), British War Medal and Victory Medal (R.A.); together with a collection of WWII medals comprising: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 8th Army clasp, Defence Medal, and two 1939-45 War Medals, and a small quantity of ephemera.

Three medals to an A.T.S. subaltern, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, Efficiency Medal (Territorial) (Sub J M Hilton ATS); together with transmission documents for the medals, and a small quantity of research.

A set of WWII medals, comprising 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, in issue box to Mr M. Quinlan; together with a school attendance medal, and a good collection of associated ephemera including the recipient's pay book.

A Great War trio to T4-110716 Pte. J.F. Bartlett A.S.C., 1914-15 Star, War Medal and Victory Medal, mounted for wearing; and other items including an Italian fascist badge.

The impressive and exceedingly rare Second World War Triple D.S.O. group of orders, medals and decorations to Lieutenant-General Sir Harold Rawdon Briggs, K.C.I.E., K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. and Two Bars; Indian Army, Commander of the 5th Indian Division in the Western Desert, Iraq and Burma (1942-44), G.O.C-in-C. Burma Command (1946-48), and finally Director of Operations, Federation of Malaya (1950-51); comprising: K.C.I.E. Star and Neck Badge, K.B.E. Star and Neck Badge, C.B. Neck Badge, GVIR Distinguished Service Order and Two Bars, 1914-15 Star (2-LT H.R. Briggs. 31 Punjabis), 1914-18 War Medal and Victory Medal with oak leaves (Capt. H.R. Briggs), GVR India General Service with clasp for North West Frontier 1930-31, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal with oak leaf, Indian Independence Medal; and with a mounted set of corresponding miniatures. The lot is offered together with the recipient’s collection of highly important photographs, documents and other ephemera relating to his campaigns in Africa and in Burma, and including: an album, 'The Western Desert 1940-1945', containing the recipient's own account of the campaign together with photographs of troops, artillery, transports, P.O.W.s, and senior officers (including the recipient); newscuttings; and the recipient's warrant for his D.S.O. of December 1941; a similar album 'Burma Campaign 1943-44' with further very good photographs, maps, handwritten accounts of the campaigning, correspondence, the warrants for the recipient's C.B.E., K.C.I.E. and C.B., his Commission from George VI to Governor of Burma; and a small collection of ribbon bars and insignia. The Miniature group includes G.S.M. with clasp for Malaya, which is not present with the full sized medals.Harold Rawdon Briggs attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst before being commissioned into the Kings Regiment (Liverpool) in 1915. After seeing action in France, he transferred to the Indian Army in 1916 and fought in Mesopotamia and Palestine, becoming a company commander in the 31st, and later the 152nd Punjabis. He then transferred to the 10th Baluch Regiment and saw active service in the North West frontier region. At the outbreak of World War Two he was a Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 2nd Battalion 10th Baluch Regiment, and in 1940 he was made Brigadier and given command of the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade. After an initial deployment to the Western Desert, Briggs was sent to East Africa where he commanded 'Briggsforce' in action in Eritrea, and was awarded his first D.S.O. Returning to the Western Desert, Briggs took part in various actions including Operation Crusader and the Battle of Gazala, and was promoted to command the 5th Indian Division. For his leadership during this period he was awarded his second D.S.O. 5th Indian Division was then deployed to Burma (via Iraq), where it distinguished itself in various actions, and Briggs was awarded his third D.S.O. Following the war he served as C-in-C Burma command, and in 1948 (the year in which the order was discontinued) he was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire. In 1950 he was recalled to active duty as Director of Operations in Malaya, where his ‘Briggs Plan’ was considered a key element in the resolution of the Malayan Emergency. Of this highly successful and distinguished officer, Field Marshall Slim said

A Great War pair to Lieutenant J. Thomson, War Medal and Victory Medal. Research suggests that the recipient was Indian Army.

A group of five medals to Pte B Shoat, 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, GVI G.S.M. with clasp for Palestine 1945-48 (19030765 Pte B. Shoat Suffolk).

Of Victoria Cross and George Cross interest, the passenger manifest for R.A.F. flight 2281 (Hong Kong to Brize Norton, May 1981), endorsed with the signatures of fourteen Australian, New Zealand and Indian V.C. and G.C. winners who were passengers on the flight; together with a collection of associated photographs and ephemera, and other items of military interest. The following signatures are included: G.W. Beaman (GC Aust), Sir Hughie Edwards (VC Aust), S. Gibbs (GC Aust), L. Goldsworthy (GC Aust), J. Gregson (GC NZ), J. Hinton (VC NZ), A. Hulme (VC NZ), K. Payne (VC Aust), Miss Daphne Pearson (GC Aust), M. Pratt (GC Aust), Rambahadur Limbu (VC 10th Gurkha Rifles), A. Lowe (GC NZ), W.S. McAloney (GC Aust), C. Upham (VC and Bar NZ).

A Great War pair to 41392 Pte. W. Culpan R. Lanc R., War Medal and Victory Medal; together with a school EVIIR Coronation medal and a French coin.