Imperial German Bronze Zeppelin Forced Landing Medal 50mm With Symbolic Cockeral & Eagle

This is Goetz’ first satirical medal. The French made quite a clamor when one of Germany’s airships developed engine trouble and was forced to land in Luneville. Goetz couldn’t hold himself back from making light of the obvious over reaction by the French.
Obverse: The French Gallic coq is speaking to the German eagle, “Par ici c’est la terre Francaise, Compris-“ ( This is French soil, do you understand?). The eagle replies, “Sehr richtig, aber mein Schiff ist deutscher boden, verstanden!!” (Right indeed, but my ship is German territory, understand!!). ZXVI in Luneville, 3. April 1913 is in exergue. Reverse: A zeppelin airship involuntarily lands in Luneville as armed French troops scurry towards it and a French bi-plane surveys the situation below. Inscription: “Vive la politesse Francaise (Cheers for the French politeness). German Empire. Due to the forced landing of the airship Z IV (LZ 16) in Lunéville on 3 April 1913. Karl Goetz, medalist.

Obv: VIVE LA POLITESSE FRANÇAISE.
Airship flying left; plane above; below, french cavalry and infantry rushing to the zeppelin.
Rev: PAR ICI C'EST LA TERRE FRANÇAISE COMPRIS - SEHR RICHTIG, ABER MEIN SCHIFF IST DEUTSCHER BODEN VERSTANDEN!!! / ZXVI IN LUNÉVILLE 3. APRIL 1913.
Cock standing right arguing with eagle standing facing.
The H class Zeppelin IV, or LZ 16, landed at Lunėville in Lorraine on 3 April 1913. This Zeppelin was powered by three 160cv engines and stretched some 148 metres in length. With a maximum diameter of 14.4 metres, it enclosed a volume of some 21,000 cubic metres.

This landing could have been construed as a provocative act by the Germans, given French sensitivity over the territories of Alsace and Lorraine. Indeed Lunėville was the seat of the last Duke of Lorraine, before Louis XV annexed the Duchy in 1766, and turned the Duke’s castle into barracks.

Indeed the Zeppelin landed on the cavalry parade ground of the French Army’s camp at Lunėville. However, the Zeppelin was still undergoing testing at this time, and was carrying civilian engineers as well as military personnel.

The crew claimed that poor atmospheric conditions had led to navigational error and the low fuel carrying capacity of the Zeppelin meant they needed to refuel.

The landing on French soil does not appear intentional as the French were able to give the airship a thorough going over. General Hirschauer, head of French aircraft inspection, rushed to the scene to oversee the examination of the Zeppelin. German technical advances were thus revealed to the French before the Zeppelin was allowed to leave.

It would not be long though before the looming shape of the Zeppelin would threaten the allies in WWI. LZ 16 would undertake reconnaissance duties over East Prussia and take part in the bombing of Warsaw.
There an identical example in the Metropolitan Museum in the USA. Accession Number: 2009.266  read more

Code: 23602

A Household Division, Welsh Guards, Drum Major's, Vintage Pace Stick. E.R II Period

Formerly used by the Welsh Guards Drum Major of H.M.Queen Elizabeth II . A pace stick is a long stick usually carried by warrant officer and non-commissioned officer drill instructors in the British and Commonwealth armed forces as an aid to military drill.
A pace stick usually consists of two pieces of wood, hinged at the top, and tapering towards the bottom, very similar to large wooden drafting compasses used on school blackboards. They are usually shod and fitted with highly polished brass. They can open so that the tips separate at fixed distances, corresponding to various lengths of marching pace, such as "double march", "quick march", "step short", etc. When opened to the correct pace length, the pace stick can be held alongside the holder's body by the hinge, with one leg of the stick vertical to the ground, and the other leg pointing forward. By twirling the stick while marching, the stick can be made to "walk" alongside its holder at the proper pace.

Otherwise, while on parade or when marching, it is normally carried tucked tightly under the left arm and parallel to the ground, with the left hand grasping the stick near the top.

The objective of the pace stick drill is to ensure uniformity in the use of the stick, as well as to maintain a high standard of steadiness and cohesion among the instructors. This meticulous display of drill prowess highlights the discipline and precision that are hallmarks of military training. Photo by David Friel - originally posted to Flickr as Colour Sergeant, Welsh Guards, with pace stick
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.  read more

Code: 25474

A Rare WW2 21st Army Group Commander-in-Chief's, Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, April 1945 Signed Certificate for Outstanding Good Service & Devotion To Duty As a Combatant.

This certificate states:

“21st Army Group, 1659410 Gnr W Fox 98 HAA Regt RA

" it has been bright to my notice that you have performed outstanding good service, and shown great devotion to duty, during the campaign in north west Europe. I award you this certificate as a token of my appreciation and I have given instructions that this should be noted in your Record of Service. Date April 1945, signed B.L Montgomery, Field Marshal Commander in Chief, 21st Army group.”

This certificate is in nice condition, but with age foxing, and is mounted behind glass.  read more

Code: 25462

Very Scarce British Army GPMG 'Jungle' Box 50 Round Magazine

After the Second World War the Belgian Mitrailleuse d’Appui General (MAG – General Purpose Machine Gun) was selected as the winning design to replace both the Vickers Heavy Machine Gun and Bren Light Machine Gun.

Built under licence at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield it was renamed 7.62mm L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), or 'Gimpy'.

L7A2 '50rnd Belt Box' GPMG 4,000rnd Auto-Winding Box Magazine

The design uses piston and bolt derived from the proven Browning Automatic Rifle, with the belt feed mechanism being based on that of German wartime designs, providing for a reliable and robust weapon.

The GPMG can be used as both a Light Machine Gun, firing from the shoulder or in the sustained fire mode installed on a tripod. In the sustained role it is operated by a two-man team, in a specialist machine gun platoon to provide battalion-level fire support.

The Parachute Regiment has always been a major user of the GPMG and in operations from the Middle East, Northern Ireland through to the Falklands, Kosovo and Afghanistan the GPMG has provided over 50 years of service.

The newer 5.56mm Minimi Light Machine Gun has supplemented the Gimpy in the British Army, but the Parachute Regiment still carry the Gimpy on foot patrols in Afghanistan for its superior weight of fire, stopping power and range.

Statistics

Length: 1,232mm

Weight: 10.9Kg

Calibre: 7.62mm

Feed: Belt

Range: Bipod 800m, Tripod 1,400m

Rate of Fire: 1,000 RPM

This item is for sale to UK only, Not suitable for export.  read more

Code: 23866

A Beautiful, Large & Most Fabulous Original Antique Ching Dynasty 'Rose Medallion' Canton Export Porcelain Lamp

An absolutely stunning and beautiful quality original Chinese export antique lamp, Qing Dynasty {Ching} circa 1830, with the body of a fine large size antique Cantonese porcelain vase, in rose medallion pattern with its lacquered highly decorative pierced brass oil lamp mountings, created and assembled in Paris in the 1830's. Later converted to electricity.

A large piece that could be categorised as a centre piece, most surviving antique Canton export lamps are the smaller size side lamps, but this is a statement piece of superb presence. The decoration centres around six dominant panels. On one side there are two panels with scenes of high status mandarins and courtiers above another over a panel decorated with birds and butterflies. The other side a central panel decorated with birds between two panels of people. Antique Chinese export porcelain is now become incredibly desirable and highly valuable due to the ever rising and powerful, so called Tiger Economy, of China. Rare antique Chinese porcelain is now attracting values of 10 to 100 times the prices achieved for them just 30 years ago or so. 'Canton' porcelains are fine Chinese ceramic wares made for export in the 18th to the 20th centuries, this is a piece from the earlier part of that period in the Ching Qing dynasty.

The wares were made, glazed and fired at Jingdezhen but decorated with enamels at Canton (Guangzhou) in southern China prior to export by sea through that port. Canton was a large, densely populated Chinese city. Most of the buildings in this ca. 1800 view in our gallery are two- or three-story buildings used both as residences and shops. The pagoda and five-story watchtower rise above the city, surrounded by the mountains where country estates and guard houses were located. Prominently featured in the foreground, with foreign flags, the area to which foreigners were confined was a tiny district of several acres on the banks of the river, where thousands of boats collected for trade. Many cities along China's southern coast had created foreign quarters for much earlier generations of Indian and Middle Eastern traders. The Westerners were just the latest arrivals. During the passage from Macau up the Pearl River foreigners passed through densely populated agricultural lands and market towns, but they never saw a major city until they reached Guangzhou. We call the trading system that lasted from 1700 to 1842 on China's south coast the Canton system because of this city's dominance. Guangzhou (which Europeans called Canton), an ancient city and one of the largest in South China, had flourished as an administrative and trading centre for over 1000 years before the Westerners arrived. Arab and Persian traders had lived in its foreign quarters under the Tang dynasty since the 8th century. Like most traditional Chinese cities, Canton had a large wall surrounding the central districts, major avenues within the wall, extensive market districts outside the wall, and constant contact by riverboats with the surrounding countryside and distant ports. 25 inches high not including light fitting 33 inches high with shade. The shade is around 50 years old, made of silk, but its condition is now most poor and shown for display purposes only, for use today a new example should be considered  read more

Code: 22231

A Fabulous, Original, Cased Set of 3 German 15cm Howitzer Steel Shell Cases

The box case still with it's original German Army camouflage paint. Each shell case is dated. The 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18 or sFH 18 (German: "heavy field howitzer, model 18"), nicknamed Immergren ("Evergreen"), was the basic German division-level heavy howitzer during the Second World War, serving alongside the smaller but more numerous 10.5 cm leFH 18. It was based on the earlier, First World War-era design of the 15 cm sFH 13, and while improved over that weapon, it was generally outdated compared to the weapons it faced. It was, however, the first artillery weapon equipped with rocket-assisted ammunition to increase range. The sFH 18 was also used in the self-propelled artillery piece schwere Panzerhaubitze 18/1 (more commonly known as Hummel).

***We bought a collection of these scarce collectors items, original Third Reich shell cases, some are now sold.

The sFH 18 was one of Germany's three main 15 cm calibre weapons, the others being the 15 cm Kanone 18, a corps-level heavy gun, and the 15 cm sIG 33, a short-barreled infantry gun. The gun originated with a contest between Rheinmetall and Krupp, both of whom entered several designs that were all considered unsatisfactory for one reason or another. In the end the army decided the solution was to combine the best features of both designs, using the Rheinmetall gun on a Krupp carriage.

The carriage was a relatively standard split-trail design with box legs. Spades were carried on the sides of the legs that could be mounted onto the ends for added stability. The carriage also saw use on the 10 cm schwere Kanone 18 gun. As the howitzer was designed for horse towing, it used an unsprung axle and hard rubber tires. A two-wheel bogie was introduced to allow it to be towed, but the lack of suspension made it unsuitable for towing at high speed. The inability of heavy artillery like the sFH 18 to keep up with the fast-moving tank forces was one of the reasons that the Luftwaffe invested so heavily in dive bombing, in order to provide a sort of "flying artillery" for reducing strongpoints.

The gun was officially introduced into service on 23 May 1935, and by the outbreak of war the Wehrmacht had about 1,353 of these guns in service. Production continued throughout the war, reaching a peak of 2,295 guns in 1944 Inert empty and safe, but not suitable for export or for sale to under 18'  read more

Code: 18417

18th Century Ching Dynasty Chinese Matchlock Musket Powder Flask. Qianlong {aka Chien-lung} Period

Leather covered wood with iron spout. Wooden slide at the base of the spout for opening and closing the flask to release. Very scarce to find, somewhat crude in its manufacture but typical of the time and the region within which it was used in the North West province of China and the mountains of Tibet. Somewhat similar to examples from the old Ottoman Empire, but their versions tended to have leather tooling decor. How or why the two regional types were so similar is unknown, although possibly via the *Silk Road route. Which had been the origin of trade between the East and the West for almost 2000 years

Qianlong {aka Chien lung period}, used until the Boxer Rebellion. Most likely brought back to England by a British soldier that either served in the Opium War, or defended the legations at the siege in Peking.

China pioneered the use of gunpowder for fireworks and artillery in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Sophisticated firearms technology, however, developed more rapidly in Europe during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and was then introduced into China by merchants, diplomats, and missionaries during the seventeenth century. Improved designs for cannons and practical types of hand-held guns were eagerly promoted and officially adopted as regulation military equipment under the Qing emperors Kangxi (reigned 1662–1722) and Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795). In addition to mastering the use of bow and arrow and other weapons, both Kangxi and Qianlong owned and used guns, particularly for hunting. This was in keeping with their overall belief in the importance of martial training, which they encouraged by personal example.

Thomas Child spent from 1870 to 1889 in Beijing, and John Thompson traveled in northern China from circa 1869 to 1872. By this time period, observers noticed that soldiers were often equipped with older, antique guns. I tend to date this type to circa 1720 to the 1750’s.

The Qing dynasty (English pronunciation; Ching), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China (1636–1912) and the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history.
It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speaking ethnic group who unified other Jurchen tribes to form a new "Manchu" ethnic identity. The dynasty was officially proclaimed in 1636 in Manchuria (modern-day Northeast China and Russian Manchuria). It seized control of Beijing in 1644, then later expanded its rule over the whole of China proper and Taiwan, and finally expanded into Inner Asia. The dynasty lasted until 1912 when it was overthrown in the Xinhai Revolution. In Chinese historiography, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the Ming dynasty and succeeded by the Republic of China. The multiethnic Qing dynasty lasted for almost three centuries and assembled the territorial base for modern China. It was the largest imperial dynasty in the history of China and in 1790 the fourth-largest empire in world history in terms of territorial size. With 419,264,000 citizens in 1907, it was the most populous country in the world at the time.

*Silk Road, ancient trade route, linking China with the West, that carried goods and ideas between the two great civilizations of Rome and China. Silk went westward, and wools, gold, and silver went east. China also received Nestorian Christianity and Buddhism (from India) via the Silk Road. See image 6 in the gallery. The road inspired cellist Yo-Yo Ma to found the Silk Road Project in 1999, which explored cultural traditions along its route and beyond as a means for connecting arts worldwide across cultures.  read more

Code: 21273

French Very Fine & Most Rare 18th Century Lanthorn Powder-Flask Attributed To Nicolas Noel Boutet

A rare 18th century French flask with a most unusual fold-down nozzle system. With a large, rounded lanthorn body, flattened on the back, with shaped top mount and folding swelling nozzle, reeded brass medial mount, and rings for suspension. For an almost identical example, mounted in silver, see Herbert G. Houze, The Sumptuous Flaske, 1989, pp. 116-117 (illustrated). We also show in the gallery a cased set of the worlds finest flintlock pistols and fowling piece complete with tools and an identical lanthorn flask made by Nicolas Noel Boutet, possibly for Napoleon. This fabulous set is in the Met in New York. We acquired a most similar set, also by Nicolas Noel Boutet, around 50 years ago, that cased set came from a castle in Czechoslovakia, and was commissioned from Boutet for a Prince, that set also had an identical lanthorn flask. Today Iit would likely be approaching a value of a million dollars. Nicolas Noel Boutet was one of the world's greatest gunsmiths, if not The worlds greatest gunsmith, and he made guns for most of the crowned heads of Europe, including Napoleon Bonaparte. He was based at the Imperial Armoury at Versailles. Lanthorn is a transluscent form of ox horn used in the earliest days to make window panes or lanterns. It was the earliest known material for the ingress of light into a room from daylight. In fact the word lantern is a derivative form of lanthorn itself. With lanthorn panes a lantern could be created with a candle to create a portable light and protect the flame from wind. Here are some early instructions as to how it was made; Take the lightest, translucent, hollow portion of an ox or steer horn (these being the thinnest)
Soak this in water for a month
Saw it, split it and press it into plates
Take a short, edge bladed round nosed knive called a "lift" and use it to delaminate the layers (Purportedly up to 12 layers can be gotten from a thick horn).
The Horn may be clarified by coating both sides with tallow, and pressing it between hot irons, thinning it further.
The finished leaves are scraped with steel scrapers, buffed on a polishing wheel, then slightly moistened with vinager and a buffing compound, finally being polished by a buffing compound applied by the palm of the hand (historically the horns were buffed with charcoal and water applied with part of an old beaver hat - the final polish being given by wood ashes applied with the hand). Boutet made several forms of lanthorn flask as its translucent property enable the owner to determine how much powder the flask contained at a glance if held to the light and its resistance to denting was an advantage over copper. A most similar attributed to Boutet flask sold in Butterfield and Butterfield Auction House in San Francisco in 1994 estimated at 1,500 to 2,500 dollars. Minor early crack to the lanthorn body  read more

Code: 22557

A Fabulous Quality & Simply Beautiful Original Victorian Uniform Dolman Tunic of a Captain of the Pembrokeshire Hussars. An Hussar Regiment That Fought With Distinction In The Boer War.

blue cloth with white facings, silver bullion lace and braid trim including pointed ornamental cuffs, Austrian knot devices to back, 17 loops, with plain silver plated buttons to chest, shoulder cords with regimental buttons and 3 embroidered rank stars, white silk lining, pair matching overalls with double silver lace stripe. Good Condition, the lace generally bright overall. The officer who wore this superb uniform served alongside Col Cropper as a fellow Captain of the Pembrokeshire Hussars. As we know not this uniform's officer's name we show with the gallery the details of Col. Croppers distinguished career in the Zulu War and both Boer Wars. Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry. This type of cavalry first appeared in the Hungarian army of King Matthias Corvinus. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen was subsequently widely adopted by light cavalry regiments in European and other armies. The hussars played a prominent role as cavalry in the Napoleonic Wars (1796-1815). As light cavalrymen mounted on fast horses, they would be used to fight skirmish battles and for scouting. Most of the great European powers raised hussar regiments. The armies of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia had included hussar regiments since the mid-18th century. In the case of Britain, four light dragoon regiments were converted to hussars in 1806-1807.

Hussars were notoriously impetuous, and Napoleon was quoted as stating that he would be surprised for a hussar to live beyond the age of 30, due to their tendency to become reckless in battle, exposing their weaknesses in frontal assaults. The hussars of Napoleon created the tradition of sabrage, the opening of a champagne bottle with a sabre. Moustaches were universally worn by Napoleonic-era hussars; the British hussars were the only moustachioed troops in the British Army leading to their being taunted as being "foreigners", at times.

The French hussar of the Napoleonic period was armed with a brass-hilted sabre, a carbine and sometimes with a brace of pistols, although these were often unavailable. The British hussar was armed with, in addition to his firearms, the 1796-pattern light-cavalry sabre. British hussars also introduced the sabretache (a leather pouch hung from the swordbelt) to the British Army.

An extract from Chapter IX of the Historical Records of the Pembroke Yeomanry
The Pembrokeshire Hussars Yeomen, with the other 3 companies of the Welsh Yeomanry Battalion reached Cape Town on the 6th April, 1900, and were sent to Maitland camp, joining some 3,000 other yeomen, waiting their turn to go to the front. Stellenbosh and Wellington were the next places visited, and after some days of useful drilling the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry were ordered to join the Army at Bloemfontem.

On May 16th the Pembrokeshire and the two Montgomeryshire Companies of the Battalion, some 300 strong moved out to the North-west on a patrolling expedition, and after a week of this returned to Bloemfontein in time for the Queen's birthday parade. The Pembrokeshires. were given the place of honour in the van, and their smart appearance and soldier-like bearing, to quote his words, so pleased General Pretyman that he subsequently had the Yeomanry ranked past him in single file.

On May 27th the Pembrokeshire Squadron was ordered to Smithfield, Orange River Colony, Nos. 2 and 4 Troops being shortly afterwards sent to Rouxville, a small township nearer the Basuto Border, Nos. 1 and 3 Troops remaining at Smithfield under Major Cropper.

Leaving No. 1 Troop behind at Smithfield, under Captain Richardson the remaining three Troops of the Pembrokeshires on July 29th started on a three weeks' "trek," but nothing happened of interest, and after passing through Wepener and Dewetsdorp the company once more found itself at Bloemfontein.

On August 21st the company left by train for Ventersburg Weg, and with one of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Companies, and the Denbighshire Hussars formed part of Colonel White's column. On the 24th the advanced scouts of the column were in touch with the enemy, and next day the Pembrokeshire Yeomen exchanged their first shots with the Boers.

The Pembrokeshire Yeomanry, under Major Cropper, were forming the rearguard of the column which was moving back to Ventersburg, and had dispatched a troop under Lieutenants Jones and Blunt, to burn a farm from which the column had been fired upon.

The attacking troop, however, met with a hot reception, and Lieutenant Jones, whose horse was shot, had a narrow escape, and would have been captured but for the brave conduct of Trooper Atkinson, and Farrier Sergeant Williams, of Lampeter, who rode back to their officer's assistance.

Sergeant Williams, in his gallant act, was killed, and was buried in Ventersburg Cemetery, with the following epitaph on the little cross that marks his grave “Died whilst gallantly attempting to rescue his officer." Trooper Atkinson was recommended for the coveted Victoria Cross, but was only awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

As the Boer Commando, against which Colonel J White's Column was operating had managed to escape, the Yeomanry were entrained for Winburg, and after a reconnaissance had been made against Oliver's Commando in that neighbourhood the Pembrokeshire men were moved to Bloemfontein.

Next the Pembrokes were hurriedly moved to the rescue of Lady brand, White's column being attached to General Bruce-Hamilton's Brigade. After some sharp short skirmishes Ladybrand, with its plucky little garrison of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, was relieved.

One section of the Pembrokes was nearly cut off, and Trooper Atkinson had his horse shot, and was only saved by the gallantry of Sergeant Millett, who brought him out on his horse, covered by the rifles of a few Pembroke Yeomen.

Major Cropper's men assisted in driving a Boer Commando into the hands of General Hunter, and after another attempt to corner a Commando at Doornberg the Pembrokes were engaged in the Bethulie district assisting in re- organising and provisioning the neighbouring towns.

Meanwhile the Troop of the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry left under Captain Ernald Richardson at Rouxville had not been left idle and had been on duty garrisoning Fauresmith, Jagersfontein, and Pitensburg, three towns in a hotbed of Boerdom. At Fauresmith with two companies of HighlandIanders and Lovat's Yeomanry Scouts they were practically in a state of siege for two months. Hertzog's Commando joining the besieging force and here Trooper Stanley Thomas, of the company was killed, and another trooper (Greatorex) finding, on returning from picket duty, that he had left his bandolier outside, coolly clambered over the earthworks to get it. He, of course, drew the enemy's fire on him, and was badly hit.

Trooper Francis of the company made a famous ride with despatches from Fauresmith to Jagersfontein, and after being fired on by both friend and foe delivered his despatches and was rewarded with the rank of Corporal and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Captain Richardson's Troop, after Fauresmith was relieved, saw some active service with the columns in Cape Colony, and lost one or two wounded. The troop forming part of Colonel Hubert's column, and after several fights against Kritzerger eventually joined their squadron.

Major Cropper's three troops now took part in the relief of Phillipolis, and marched 60 miles in 24 hours - the Pembroke men out-distancing the other units of Colonel White's columns, and after rescuing the score of Nesbitt's Horse, who for a fortnight had held out against 600 men, repaired to Springfontein.

Reinforced by a squadron of the London Rough Riders, Colonel White's column moved out from Springfontein to clear the Boers from the line between and Bloemfontein. Three miles out from the town the Rough Riders, who were acting as scouts, were surprised in a narrow nek, and lost one killed and three wounded.

But the Pembrokes and some guns came to the rescue, and the dashing leadership of Major Cropper in the subsequent pursuit, earned the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry the commendation of their Column Commander.

In the early part of November, 1900 the Squadron, still with Colonel White's Column, were operating to the West of the Free State Capital, and had several' hot engagements with Hertzog and Brandt Commandoes, at one of which, with the 16th Lancers, near Aasvogel Kop the Pembroke men specially distinguished themselves.

News was now received that the Boer leader Haasbroek, who was marching down country to join De Wet, was expected to cross the Modder River between the Column and Bloemfontein. A hurried march brought the Column within touch of the Boers just after they had crossed the river, and after a hot fight the Commando was driven back, but not without heavy losses on both sides. The Pembroke Squadron dashing gallantly on this occasion was once more mentioned in despatches.

The Squadron now took part in the big Christmas drive of De Wet, who had close on 4,000 Boers under his command and despite the almost 4,000 Boers under his command and despite the almost perfect trap, De Wet and his men broke through the cordon.

But the chase was not given up, and the British Troops came on his rearguard, and after a hand to hand fight, in which the regular cavalry and Yeomanry specially distinguished themselves, darkness came and stopped the pursuit. The Boers lost 8 killed 33 wounded and 18 prisoners, and a large number of horses.

General Knox, the British Commander, followed De Wet right up the East side of the Orange Free State, occasionally hastening his movements with a few shells or a sharp skirmish. In all these latter fights the Pembroke Yeomen bore their part.

At Hammonia near Ficksburg a very stiff fight with the Boers took place. The enemy had surprised the Denbighshire Hussars, who were acting as an advance guard, and the Pembroke and Montgomeryshire Yeomanry were ordered up, and eventually drove the Boers off, clearing the ridge with their hot and sharp fire.

The company still in pursuit of De Wet spent its Christmas Day at Kaffir Kop, but hardly had the Christmas dinner been finished than scouts rode in to say that De Wet had again given the Troops the slip. On January 1st, 1901, the Pembrokes were again hot on De Wet's trail, and on the 3rd. at Kaffir Kop, the Pembrokes with the rest of the Welsh Yeomanry were ordered to make a flanking movement to dislodge the Boers, who had taken up some strong positions.

The Pembrokeshire Yeomanry some 30 strong, attempted to rush the enemy, who were lining a rocky kopje fronted by a deep donga. Down the slope which led to the enemy's position went the small troop, and as they galloped the fire grew fiercer. The few" Boers who were supposed to be there numbered apparently close on 500. Some twenty yards in front of his men was Major Cropper, till stopped by a precipitous descent of some 20 feet. No horseman could ride down it, and to dismount was to count certain death. Slowly Major Cropper, who had been twice hit while so gallantly leading his men, wheeled his horse round and pointed with his hand for them to retire, which was at once done. When Major Cropper reached the ridge he fell off his horse into the arms of Colonel Forbes, al- most senseless, gasping “Couldn't do it, sir."

He had been hit three times and had ridden grasping his saddle with both hands. The gallant Major was at once invalided home, and a few months afterwards died of his wounds. No one else was hit in this death ride, although several had their clothes riddled with bullets, and their horses wounded.

The remnant of the Pembrokes were now under the charge of Lieutenants Jones and Blunt.

The other Troop under Captain Richardson had by now rejoined the company, and after some hot work after De Wet in wild Karoo desert, found themselves in March, 1901, engaged in clearing the country south of Bloemfontein.

Then came more clearing of the rebel farms, and finally the new 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company of Yeomanry arrived to relieve them.

A few more weeks were spent with Colonel White's Column, and then orders were issued for the old company to proceed to Worcester, where remnants of the original 9th Battalion were to mobilise.

Another misfortune befell the Company ere its departure for home. Sergeant Major Prothero, after successfully resisting an attack of enteric fever, fell a victim to pneumonia, to the great regret of all ranks.

At last the company embarked for home, and on their arrival at Tenby were accorded a splendid reception, and the members of the Squadron later had the honour of receiving the medals from the King on that memorable day when His Majesty decorated some thousands of his Imperial Yeomen in London.  read more

Code: 22420

Ancient Chinese Pottery Figure of a Xianbei Warrior Around 1500 Years Old. A Stunning Ancient Chinese Antiquity That is A Beautiful, Historical Work of Art From Ancient China

Only the second example of such a fine example of an original ancient Xianbei warrior figure we have had in the past 20 years.
This figure is clad in the military uniform of the ancient Chinese Xianbei people; with a covered "wind hat", trousers, short upper tunic and a cape tied around the neck, the outfit was designed to protect one against the wind and dust. Northern Dynasties (A.D. 286 - 581). Figures, some known in Chinese as mingqi, were placed in the burial chambers of the elite, in the belief that the figures represented would become available for the service of the deceased in the afterlife. The more diverse the processional figures were, the more powerful the individual buried with these figures was
They were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The Northern Wei (386-535), which was the first of the Northern Dynasties (386-581) founded by the Xianbei. Among the Xianbei peoples, and also at their descendants the Qi-Dans, women were quite equal with men. They rode horses and used bow and arrow just as good as men, an old poem says. Also during the following Tang Dynasty, women could do much the same as men. However, there were severe punishments for adultery.

In 534, the Northern Wei split into an Eastern Wei (534-550) and a Western Wei (535-556) after an uprising in the steppes of Northern China inhabited by Xianbei and other nomadic peoples. The former evolved into the Northern Qi (550-577), and the latter into the Northern Zhou (557-581), while the Southern Dynasties were pushed to the south of the Yangtze River. In 581, the Prime Minister of Northern Zhou, Yang Jian, founded the Sui Dynasty (581-618). His son, the future emperor Yang Guang, annihilated the Southern Chen (557-589), the last kingdom of the Southern Dynasties, thereby unifying northern and southern China. After the Sui came to an end amidst peasant rebellions and renegade troops, his cousin, Li Shimin, founded the Tang Dynasty (618-907); Li led China to develop into one of the most prosperous states in history. Sui and Tang dynasties were founded by Han Chinese generals who also served the Northern Wei Dynasty. Through these political establishments, the Xianbei who entered China were largely merged with the Han, examples such as the wife of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Duchess Dou and Emperor Taizong of Tang's (Li Shimin's) wife, Empress Zhangsun, both have Xianbei ancestries, while those who remained behind in the northern grassland emerged as later. The figure is in very good condition for age, with a small chip on the front foot and on the rear trouser bottom, possibly contemporary. 9.5 inches high. As with all our items, it comes complete with it's Certificate of Authenticity.  read more

Code: 22395