TOPIC:

In 1999 I was the consultant to the Spink Boer War two day centenary sale.

The research I did on the recipients of various medals was fascinating. The old War Office records threw up some previously unknown and unpublished details, including gallantry citations and the account of the escape of Lieut Webber I.Y. Other interesting details were unearthed from a variety of previously untapped contemporary sources.

The research was done in the days before google search and the internet were fully up and running, including the Commonwealth War Graves and indeed this site!

Subsequently I've discovered that some medals had even more stories to them that I'd originally known. The raised dates QSA to J.F.P. Nash of Lord Strathcona's Horse is a classic example. I could find few biographical details about him at the time. Some years later I stumbled across his entry in the King William's Town (Isle of Man) College Register. It transpired that he had been awarded the D.S.O. for gallantry at Festurbet in May 1915 as a Captain in the Canadian Infantry and subsequently killed in action in 1916.

Here's the quiz question: has anyone else unearthed interesting and previously unknown stories about people in that sale. I'd be fascinated to know.

Best wishes,

Justin

Justin,

It must have been a great privilege to have worked on the compilation of the catalogue and to have created something that is much admired and used. I imagine you could have spent longer on the research but for the deadline that could not be moved?!

One of the groups my brother and I purchased was lot 950, the medals to Admiral Moore RN. Subsequent research uncovered a book written about him and two photograph albums held by the National Maritime Museum so we were really able to understand more about the man and his career.

The appearance of the campaign medals without his GCB, GCVO and CMG was something of a disappointment and this was compounded by the delivery that subsequently arrived from Spink. I will try to find a picture of the complete group that was sold by DNW and a picture of the medals as delivered by Spink. This is not a comment on anything Spink did as they were just passing through the medals after these changes had been made.

Regards
David

Justin,

I cannot find a picture of the full group to Admiral Moore. It was part of the Captain Douglas-Morris sale on 12 Feb 97.

The full group was:

GCM (m), GCVO (nr 315), CMG b/b in gold, Jubilee 1897, Coronation 1911, Egypt (1) Tel-El-Kebir (Comdr. A. W. Moore, R.N., H.M.S. Orion), QSA (0) (Rear Adml. A. W. Moore, C.B., C.M.G., R.N. H.M.S. Gibraltar), Khedive’s Star 1882, Order of the Medjidie, 3rd class neck badge, Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (Successful) (Lieut. A. W. Moore R.N. H.M.S. “Glasgow” 7 Oct. 1874).

There is a picture in the catalogue but this is not available on line.

This is how lot 950 arrived:



I think I was expecting something more than arrived.

Regards
David

H E Worthing *Harry Evans* - His medals was sold at this auction and I am unable to trace the buyer or any records.

This is a late great family member, would anyone be able to offer any advice?

Jamie,

If you write a letter/email for the buyer and send it to Spink (concierge@spink.com) along with the auction and lot details, they may be able to forward it to the buyer for you.

Kind regards
David