Campaign Groups and Pairs 146
Three: Company Quartermaster Sergeant C. J. Niven, Gordon Highlanders, who was Mentioned in Despatches and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on 13 March 1915
1914 Star (10193 C. Sjt. C. Niven. 1/6 Gord: Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (10193 C. Sjt. C. Niven. Gordons.); together with the remnants of the recipient's cap badge and shoulder titles, nearly extremely fine (3)
£160-£200
Charles John Niven attested for the Gordon Highlanders and served as Company Quartermaster Sergeant with the 1st/6th Battalion (Territorial Force) during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 November 1914. He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on 13 March 1915, on which date the Battalion distinguished themselves in action, but suffered total casualties of 3 Officers and 29 other ranks killed, and 9 Officers and 217 other ranks wounded.
For his services during the Great War Niven was Mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch on 31 May 1915 (London Gazette 22 June 1915)- given the date of the Despatch it is most likely that it was a ‘posthumous’ Mention for his conduct at Neuve Chapelle. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.
Sold with copied research including Battalion War Diary extracts.
147
Three: Orderly D. A. Bruce, British Red Cross Society, who served as a Chauffeur with the Scottish Unit at Rouen 1914 Star (D. A. Bruce. B.R.C.S.); British War and Victory Medals (D. A. Bruce. B.R.C.S.) nearly very fine (3) £240-£280
David Alexander Bruce, a native of Helmsdale, Sutherland, enlisted in the British Red Cross Society on 1 October 1914, and served during the Great War on the Western Front as both an Orderly and a Chauffeur with the Scottish Unit at Rouen.
148
A scarce ‘Baltic 1919’ M.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Blacksmith W. J. C. Coleman, Royal Navy, a veteran of the Battle of the Falklands, 8 December 1914, he went on to serve during the blockade of the Königsberg in the Rufiji River in East Africa in April 1915 and during operations in the Dardanelles
1914-15 Star (346033 J. C. Coleman. Blk. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (346033 W. J. C. Coleman. Blk.1. R. N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (346033. W. J C. Coleman, Blksth. H.M.S. Curlew.); Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (346033. W. J. C. Coleman. Blksmth. “Delhi” Baltic 1919.) mounted for display, lacquered, contact marks, nearly very fine (5)
£500-£700
Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996. M.S.M. London Gazette 8 March 1920.
The following details are taken from Admiralty recommendations for honours: ‘Meritorious service in connection with repairs to Fleet Auxiliaries, construction of seaplane base and aerodrome at Biviko during the period July to December 1919.’
William James Clarence Coleman was born in Falmouth in December 1883. A Blacksmith by trade in civilian life, he continued his career when joining the Royal Navy on 14 April 1903, being ranked as a Blacksmith’s Mate. Coleman served with the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Cornwall, January 1914 - March 1917 and was promoted to Blacksmith in August 1914. He was serving in Cornwall at the Battle of the Falklands on 8 December 1914, when his ship sank the German light cruiser Leipzig - after suffering 18 hits herself.
Coleman was later present for the blockade of the German light cruiser Königsberg in the Rufiji River in East Africa in April 1915, and he went on to see service in the Dardanelles from May 1915, and then in the Far East from the end of that year. After a period ashore based at Vivid II, his next seagoing appointment was on the light cruiser H.M.S. Curlew, January 1918 - May 1919, during which time he was awarded the long service medal. Coleman then served on the light cruiser H.M.S. Delhi, May 1919 - June 1921, taking part in the British campaign in the Baltic against Bolshevik forces. For his services in the campaign Coleman was awarded the Royal Navy M. S.M. He was promoted to Chief Blacksmith in April 1924 and was pensioned ashore on 15 April 1925.
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