WW1 / WW2 / 20th Century

A Solid Gilt Bronze, Beautiful, Independence of Brunei 1984 Desk Cannon

In fine deluxe gilt finish, a modern representation of a an early Lantaka Cannon and Carriage, bearing the Royal Crest of the Sultan of Brunei. Especially commissioned for the Independence of Brunei in January 1984. Brunei, officially the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace, it is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, the country is completely surrounded by the insular Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is separated into two parts by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state completely on the island of Borneo; the remainder of the island's territory is divided between the nations of Malaysia and Indonesia.. The government is an absolute monarchy under the Sultan, which implements a combination of English common law and sharia law, as well as direct general Islamic practices.

At the peak of the Bruneian Empire, Sultan Bolkiah (reigned 1485–1528) is alleged to have had control over most regions of Borneo, including modern-day Sarawak and Sabah, as well as the Sulu Archipelago off the northeast tip of Borneo, Seludong (modern-day Manila), and the islands off the northwest tip of Borneo. The maritime state was visited by Spain's Magellan Expedition in 1521 and fought against Spain in the 1578 Castilian War.

During the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to decline. The Sultanate ceded Sarawak (Kuching) to James Brooke and installed him as the White Rajah, and it ceded Sabah to the British North Borneo Chartered Company. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate and was assigned a British resident as colonial manager in 1906. After the Japanese occupation during World War II, in 1959 a new constitution was written. In 1962, a small armed rebellion against the monarchy was ended with the help of the British.

Brunei gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984. 28cm long  read more

Code: 11497

A King George Vth Die Struck Grenadier Guards Pagri Badge

The front has lost its gilt wash due to polishing, the rear has it remaining.The Regiment, as the Royal Regiment of Foot Guards, was formed in 1656 by King Charles the Second who was then in exile in Bruges, Flanders. It was known as the First Guards, later becoming the First Regiment of Foot Guards, and now bears the title "The First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards" in honour or the defeat of the Grenadiers of the French Imperial Guard at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
It is the only Regiment in the British Army that has directly gained it's title from the part it played in action. As seen in all of Her Majesty The Queen's ceremonial occasions, such as Changing of The Guard and Trooping the Colour.  read more

Code: 23760

A Most Rare Large Aviation Medal For the Acceptance Run of the 'LZ 4'.Zeppelin

Medal 1908, by A. Galambos. On the acceptance run of the 'LZ 4'. Germania with sword in the right wreath medallion of Count Zeppelin under oak, right a crowd of faces in an auditorium and an airship above / winged male figure with torn chain over globe and cloud. Kaiser 292.3, Gutt 14
Obverse — Goddess Germania with Sword in right hand. 60 mm. They made a smaller 33 mm silver version, and a small undated bronze version 33mm but this is the very rare, large gilt bronze version, of 60mm
Dir/ Danken/ Deine/ Deutschen.
A. Galambos on bottom
inscription — 4. 5. August 1908 on the left. A. Galambos. The Zeppelin LZ 4 was a German experimental airship constructed under the direction of Ferdinand von Zeppelin. First flown on 20 June 1908, it made a series of successful flights including a 12-hour flight over Switzerland. It was destroyed when it caught fire after landing to carry out engine repairs during a projected 24-hour endurance trial.This disaster proved fortunate for Zeppelin: donations by the German public raised 6.5 million marks, so guaranteeing the future of his development of airships. . At Westfälische Auktionsgesellschaft
Auction 71, 29-30 April 2014, a much smaller silver more common version of this medal sold for 480 euro.  read more

Code: 23707

A Very Good Pre WW1 Royal Engineer's Dress Uniform for Lance Corporal

Tunic and trousers. In excellent condition for age. Fine red cloth with single bullion corporal stripe . Fine original Royal Engineer buttons. Austrian knots and cuffs. British other ranks and NCO's uniforms made prior to WW1 are very sought after and so few survive today as to make them most scarce and very interesting. Makers label inside with date.  read more

Code: 15259

A Most Scarce WW1 Scot's Guardsman's Tunic, Part of The British Monarch’s Personal Guard

Tunic in traditional red with brass buttons. The centre regiment of the five Guards Regiments of the Household Div. The Scots Guards have over three hundred and sixty years of unbroken service to the crown. They can trace their origins back to an army that was raised by Archibald 1st Marquess of Argyll, 16 March 1642. Since this date the Regiment has served in nearly every campaign in which the British Army has been involved in. In 1686 they were brought onto the establishment of the English Army for the first time. Eight years later they took precedence within the Foot Guards, despite their seniority by length of service. The Battle Honours of the Regiment are;

Namur 1695, Dettingen, Lincelles, [Egypt]1, Talavera, Barrosa, Fuentes d?Onor, Salamanca, Nive, Peninsula, Waterloo, Alma, Inkerman, Sevastopol, Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt 1882, Suakin 1885, Modder River, South Africa 1899-1902

First World War: Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914, Aisne 1914, Ypres 1914 ?17, Langemarck 1914, Gheluvelt, Nonne Bosschen, Givenchy 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Festubert 1915, Loos, Somme 1916 ?18, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Pilckem, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 ?18, St. Quentin, Albert 1918, Bapaume 1918, Arras 1918, Drocourt-Qu?ant, Hindenburg Line, Havrincourt, Canal du Nord, Selle, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914-18

Second World War: Stien, Norway 1940, Mont Pincon, Quarry Hill, Estry, Venlo Pocket, Rhineland, Reichswald, Cleve, Moyland, Hochwald, Rhine, Lingen, Uelzen, North-West Europe 1944-45, Halfaya 1941, Sidi Suleiman, Tobruk 1941, Gazala, Knightsbridge, Defence of Alamein Line, Medenine, Tadjera Khir, Medjez Plain, Grich el Oued, Dejbel Bou Aoukaz 1943 I, North Africa 1941-43, Salerno, Battipaglia, Volturno Crossing, Roccheta e Croce, Monte Camino, Anzio, Campoleone, Carroceto, Trasimene Line, Advance to Florence, Monte San Michele, Catarelto Ridge, Argenta Gap, Italy 1943-45
Honours since the Second World War;
Tumbledown Mountain, Falkland Islands 1982, Gulf 1991  read more

Code: 15501

A WW2 German Druck Zunder 35 Fuse

Stamped “dkt 4”. This fuse was used on a variety of German mines including Anti Personnel, Behelfs Brettstckmine, Aluminium AT mines, Haft Hohlladung 3, and several improvised mines and demolition charges, also used as the main igniter in the heavy antitank mine M35610/99. Good condition. This is inert legal and safe to own in the UK. Not suitable for export  read more

Code: 23589

An Officer's Cap Badge of the Northamptonshire Regt. WW2

In silver metal and gilt. With battle honour scrolls of Gibralter and Talavera. Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver.  read more

Code: 10897

Wonderous Pieces Added Every Day & There is Probably Nowhere Else In The World You Can View Such Fabulous Wonders, & Where Everything Is For Sale

Under one roof, from a rare American Civil War Revolver used in the U.S. Navy, and by cavalry of both the North and the South. An Original, Huge, WW2 Shell from A German King Tiger Tank, to an Original Imperial Roman Legionary’s Gladius, to a Museum Quality Samurai Sword by on of the great makers of early Japan. These past three weeks we have added, and are still adding, original, ancient classical edged weapons, from Rome, Carthage, Persia, Greece, and Scandinavia, from fine English collection/s [acquired in the 1990’s or before] including; a 2000 year old gladius from the time of Julius Caesar to Augustus to Nero. A museum grade 1000+ year old Viking chieftain [king] or earl’s [jarl] sword inlaid with knotwork silver inlay. A bronze and iron Archemeanid sword from the time of the Greco-Persian wars of Xerxes the Great against the Spartans at Thermopylae. An Imperial Roman 1st century ring, the type as worn by the Imperial Pretorian Guard with the symbol of a lion, from the time of the Emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. A superb 3rd to 4th century BC Falcata sword similar to the Greek Kopis, the sword used by Hannibal’s army in the 2nd Punic War and his invasion of Rome across the Alps, and a 3rd Century Imperial Roman Sword, from the time of Emperor Constantine and the Battle of Cibalae. Plus a remarkable 1066 period Original Norman Iron Four Plate Helmet, [as Seen Depicted in the world famous so-called Bayeux Tapestry] & two early Books, one, an original 5th century Roman treatise on Roman warfare, and 18th Century biography on 18th century Warfare. Plus, as usual, many more pieces of historical interest.  read more

Code: 23533

An Original French Bond Poster 1917-18. Subscribe to the National Defence

Francais aux invalides dans la narcelle d'un zeppelin face a l'avion de Guynemer et a cote d'un tank souscrivez a l'emprunt de la defense national. A poster of an exhibition at the great French museum Les Invalides. In the square in front of the museum there was exhibited; a narcelle from a shot down Zeppelin, WW1 French ace Guynemer's plane, and a tank. Backed on to linen, from the American Forbes Library.  read more

Code: 17959

A Simply Superb Master Conductor/Composer's Solid Silver Presentation Baton

For those with an interest in presentation pieces in the realm of musical memorabilia. Engraved 'Geisha', O.M. [Order of Merit] 25th April 1925. C.A.O.S. [Choral & Orchestra Society]. In mallacca and mounted in hallmarked solid silver. Presentation gifted to a composer/conductor who would have been a contemporary of Sir Edward Elgar O.M. Sadly, we know not to whom it may have been presented. However research in the right quarter may well bear fruit. Unscrews at the midsection into two pieces. Superb quality as one might expect.  read more

Code: 14710