Sydney B. Vernon - Orders, Decorations and Medals

Dealer in Orders, Medals, and Decorations of the World ~ Est. 1967

Legion of Honor-Knight 1870-silver & enamels-with gold centres-in the case of issue by LEMOINE FILS-with documentation attributing the award to: Lieut. Colonel Roger Mialin of the French Army-it is recorded that Lt Col Mialin was awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honor when he was Capt of Reserve, 21st April 1917, in the Artillery, and promoted to Officer 27th Dec. 1934, when he was an Artillery Colonel-included is a letter from the Chancellery of the Legion of Honor, in French, with translation; a photocopy his service record, and translated by Bob Elliott, a noted authority on Orders & France Decorations, & correspondence relating to same -rare w/documents, $250.00

Medal for Establishment of Universal Suffrage-Louis Napoleon-1848, after the revolution of that year-rare commemorative medal, as his Presidency lasted from 1848-1852-when he came Emperor Napoleon III-well struck, with integral loop at top, $200.00

INDIA GEN SVC 1895-1902-Victoria-bar PUNJAB FRONTIER-1897-98-TO NO 4853 PTE D. PROVAN 2 HIGH. L.I., gdVF, $275.00 (Note: as per British Battles & Medals-medals with this bar to the HLI were named in block capitals-others were engraved in running script)

GROUP: Three MILITARY MEDAL (MM)-GeoV-naming is: 22259 SJT. H.T. GOULDING Z.157T.M. BY (Trench Mortar Battery) R.G.A. (Royal Garrison Artillery) WAR & VICTORY MEDALS GNR. R.A. (Gunner Royal Artillery)-included are 1. LONDON GAZETTE entry 18 JUNE 1917 2. Verification from the National Archives re award of the MM-rare, EF, $595.00

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (DSO)-GEOV; WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (MID) to: TEMPORARY CAPTAIN A. WITHAM ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. The award citation is as follows: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In an enemy attack he maintained the fire of his battery throughout the day in close support of the infantry, and finally man-handled his guns for 400 yds to a position whence the teams could hook in and saved all the guns. He showed the greatest coolness and resource." With the group are Photostatted copies from BRITISH GALLANTRY AWARDS (page 147) which indicates that Witham was one of perhaps six officers who were originally gazetted for an Military Cross 18th February 1918, but which was cancelled in favor of a D.S.O. 1st May 1918.Furthermore this D.S.O. was awarded for gallantry in contrast to the majority being awarded for services in the field with general citations. His service details from the Royal Artillery Institution, Woolwich include the following: Born 1880, served in the ranks for 15 years, and was commissioned in Sept. 1914, served in France & Flanders 1915-1918 M.I.D., and was WOUNDED THREE TIMES. When in the ranks he served in the Boer war receiving the QSA with 5 bars, and the KSA with 2 bars, as well as the Dehli Durbar 1911 (these three whereabouts unknown). Full documentation will be supplied with the group. The DSO has a slight flaking of the enamel under the king's cypher, otherwise in excellent condition. Pertinent dates of awards are as follows: M.C. LONDON GAZETTE 18 FEB 1918 2.M.C CANCELLED IN FAVOR OF A D.S.O. 1ST MAY 1918 The recipient retired as Capt,/ Honorary Major in 1923. Even though the group is missing 3 medals, nevertheless it is of the highest rarity, especially as being mentioned on page 147 of BRITISH GALLANTRY AWARDS. It must be emphasize that this is not an award for staff work, or being a good boy, but for GALLANTRY IN ACTION! $3,200.00

INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1895-1902 Victoria-bars PUNJAB FRONTIER 1897-98 & SAMANA 1897-to: 4172 PTE J.ROCHFORT 2ND BN ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT-complete with verification of award and copy of service record, $375.00

GENERAL SERVICE 1918-62-GeoVI-fixed suspender-bar S.E. ASIA 1945-46 to: 6969 L/NK GULZARA SINGH 2 PATIALA INFY. (Scarce to this unit which served with the 26th Indian Division in either/or Java/Sumatra in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), $125.00

Police Long Service Medal to Chief Inspector of Police-LO Kai-Wah Peter-silver-named on rim in English & Chinese-this medal was for service before and after Hong Kong was turned over to the PRC-with ribbon bar, and verification of his service in the ROYAL HK POLICE FORCE & The Hong Kong Police- extremely rare to a Senior officer-case-with ribbon bar, Mint, $450.00

Border Medal 1939-Japanese troops invaded USSR and were soundly defeated, which affected WWII as Japan stayed neutral when Germany invaded USSR, allowing for large transfers of troops to Europe, $325.00

World War II Commem. Cross-bar ARNHEM-NIJMGENWALCHEREN 1944-awarded to the Dutch Resistance for aid to the Allies in the ill-fated airborne landings-as immortalized in the movie; A BRIDGE TOO FAR, $75.00

ARMY OF THE SANTIAGO-bronze issue-reverse named to: William F.Jordan-in excellent shape, with ribbon but no brooch No 646-served with the 9th Regiment at El Caney in Cuba-unit was in combat-an excellent item; later ribbon-rare, EF, $850.00

HUGUENOT SOCIETY OF AMERICA-Gold Medal Membership Medal-on reverse at top in small capitals in 2 lines- TH HUGUENOT SOCIETY OF AMERICA-lower down is engraved No 71 FRANCIS ASBURY ROE REAR ADMIRAL U.S.N.-do google search and a great deal of research is available on this naval officer, who served before, during and after the Civil War-born 1823, died 1901-two ships in the U S Navy were named after him-this piece is not marked gold but it is such lacking the ornate suspended and ribbon surely an extremely rare item to an outstanding officer, EF, $1150.00

Born in Elmira, New York, Roe entered the United States Navy as a midshipman on October 19, 1841, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1848. Roe left the Navy for eleven months, from June 1848 to May 1849, serving aboard the mail steamer SS Georgia. After he returned to the Navy, he was assigned to Porpoise and served in an expedition to chart the North Pacific. Cape Roe on the Japanese island of Tanegashima was named for him during this expedition. In 1854, while serving in Porpoise on the Asiatic Station, he participated in an engagement with 13 Chinese armored junks off Macau. Six of the junks were sunk and the others were scattered. Roe received his commission as Master on August 8, 1855, and as Lieutenant on September 14 of the same year. From 1857 to 1858 he served in the U.S. Coast Survey. During the U.S. Civil War, in April 1862, he was recommended for promotion for gallantry for his actions on board Pensacola while serving as executive officer, as that ship led Admiral David Farragut's starboard column past Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on July 16, 1862, and placed in command of Katahdin on the Mississippi River. While commanding Katahdin, Roe defeated Confederate General John C. Breckinridge's attack on Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Roe was ordered to command Sassacus on the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in September 1863, and captured and destroyed several blockade runners in the sounds of North Carolina. Eight months later he was again commended for gallantry for engaging the Confederate ram CSS Albemarle and capturing the gunboat CSS Bombshell on May 5, 1864. After the end of the war, Roe commanded Michigan on the Great Lakes. He was promoted to Commander on July 25, 1866, and given command of the steamer Tacony on a special mission to Mexico. Roe served as fleet captain for the Asiatic Station from 1868 to 1871. Roe was promoted to Captain on April 1, 1872, and commanded Lancaster on the Brazil Station from 1874 to 1875. He was promoted to Commodore on November 26, 1880, and to Rear Admiral on November 3, 1884 while serving as governor of the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was transferred to the retired list October 4, 1885.

Same-but named on reverse to: F/O (Flight Officer) DAVID P. DOAK A.C. (Air Corps)-apparently the USAAF used Warrant Officers for piloting Glider Craft 1944-1945 and used the above designation, $200.00

NEW YORK-ONEIDA COUNTY WAR COMMITTEE MEDAL FOR THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR-beautifully struck bronze medal-reverse named to: J.G. Williams 18th U.S.I.-(U S Infantry)-below is some information of the service of the 18th USI in the Spanish American War, and the Philippine Insurrection: "At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war the 18th U.S. Infantry was stationed in Texas Headquarters, Band and Companies D and H at Fort Bliss, near El Paco, and Companies A, B, C, E, F and G at Fort Sam Houston, near San Antonio. On April 22, 1898 the regiment was assembled under Col. D. D. Van Valzah at New Orleans. Here the third battalion, companies I, K, L, and M were organized by transferring a nucleus of noncommissioned officers and seasoned privates from other companies to drill recruits that had already begun to arrive in response to President McKinley's call. Companies I and K were first to complete their organization and companies L and M completed their organization shortly after the first of July. Following Admiral Dewey's victory at Manila Bay on May 1st it became apparent that troops would be needed to occupy the city of Manila and a number of Volunteer regiments from the western states were ordered to San Francisco for embarkation for the Philippine lst Battalion, Companies A, B, E and G, under command of Lieut-Col. C.M. Bailey; 2nd Battalion, Companies C, D, F and H, under Major Chas. Keller; 3rd Battalion, Companies 1, K, L and M, under command of Capt. C. R. Paul., $750.00