Baldwin & Sons
Auction 101 28 September 2016
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MILITARY MEDALS, Gallantry Groups, A Rare and Desirable Gallipoli and Jordan Valley Campaigns MC Group of 4 awarded to Lieutenant L.C. Brothers, 2nd Battalion Imperial Camel Corps, late 1st County of London Yeomanry, noted for his "coolness and dash" at Suvla Bay in August 1915, and later awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry during the attack on Amman in March 1918, comprising Military Cross, GVR (Ammam (sp), Lt. L.C. Brothers, Imperial Camel Corps, E.E.F., 1918); 1914-15 Star (3333 Sjt. L.C. Brothers 1st. Co. of Lond. Y.); British War and Victory Medals 1914-1920 (Lieut L.C. Brothers), the first privately engraved, the second and fourth officially impressed, the British War Medal officially re-impressed, group loose as worn with individual reverse pins for wear. Group toned, extremely fine and rare. (4)
Military Cross London Gazette, 16 September 1918
T/2nd Lt. Leonard Charles Brothers, General List and Imperial Camel Corps
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He organised the defence under a hot enfilade fire with the greatest ability, and when the majority of the men of his forward left-hand gun had been put out of action, he took charge of the gun himself and retained the position all day."
Leonard Charles Brothers was born in 1886 in Toxteth, Liverpool, the son of Interior Decorator and Antique Dealer Walter Brothers of Warwickshire, who had been working there at the time. Returning to work in London (where his father was previously based) he was raised for some time in Chiswick and Ealing, and presumably worked for some time worked with his father and brothers in the family trade.
At the outbreak of the Great War, he joined the 1st (County of London) Yeomanry (Middlesex Hussars), along with his youngest brother Sidney. The 1st County of London Yeomanry formed part of the 8th (London) Mounted Brigade., They were moved to Egypt and dis-mounted in early 1915, Brothers Medal Index Card showing he landed as a Serjeant with the 1st on the 28 April, he with the unit was sent to Gallipoli in late August 1915, the start of a campaign that would see many casualties for the Yeomen. Sjt. Brothers conduct was brought to the attention of his Commanding Officer after the crossing of the Suvla Plain and the advance from Chocolate Hill –
"No. 3333 Serjeant. Brothers L.C. was in command of the advanced troop and did not get the order to retire in time to withdraw with the Regiment so he kept himself together all night reporting himself to Lt. Roller and remaining with him. He went out several times during the night on patrols with messages and Captain Watson reports to me that he acted through the day and night with great coolness and dash." (Report by Lt Col. Sir Matthew Wilson, Commanding 1st County of London Yeomanry – based on information given by Captain O.C.S. Watson, who later was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Soon after the events at Gallipoli the British and Allied forces were removed to Egypt for respite, perhaps as a direct action of his exploits on the Peninsula Serjeant Brothers was awarded a Commission as Second Lieutenant, London Gazette of 2 April 1916 refers, and attached to the newly re-formed Imperial Camel Corps - part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF). This force was initially assembled and trained under the charismatic Brigadier-General Leslie Smith, with the 2nd (British) Battalion led by Colonel R.V. Buxton DSO, who himself became great fiend of T.E. Lawrence – "Lawrence of Arabia".
The Camel Corps Brigade was composed of four battalions, combining soldiers of British, Australian and New Zealand origins, many from yeomanry units evacuated from Gallipoli and most without any experience of Camels! Overcoming the difficulties of desert service, the force became essential during the difficult campaigns in Jordan and Palestine. Leonard Brothers was made Lieutenant of the 5th Company, 2nd Battalion Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) - beginning in early 1917 the ICC was involved in continuing raids against Ottoman forces, often focusing upon the strategic Hejaz Railway (built in 1913 to facilitate the annual Haji pilgrimage). The year 1917 also saw the Camel Corps involvement with key strategic EEF attacks at Rafa, Gaza, Beersheba, Jerusalem and "Bald Hill", driving back Ottoman forces and taking thousands of prisoners.
After the fall of Jericho on the 12 March 1918, the Jordan valley was securely in British hands, and attacks were organised upon Turkish supply lines, of which the railway line through Amman was targeted. It was in late March, 1918, that 2nd Lieutenant Brothers (then with 9 Company) was awarded the Military Cross for his part in the hard-fought action at Amman, following the death of his Company Commander Captain Newsam.
This rare Camel Corps group is still worthy of further detailed unit research, as the recipient may well have met and known T.E. Lawrence, sold with a large quantity of research both military and genealogical, related dress miniatures Middlesex Regiment sweet-heart brooch, graduated bronze Camel bell with cowrie-shell decorated hessian hanger, and a small Bedouin copper cooking pot with cover.
Estimate: £5000-7000
Military Cross London Gazette, 16 September 1918
T/2nd Lt. Leonard Charles Brothers, General List and Imperial Camel Corps
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He organised the defence under a hot enfilade fire with the greatest ability, and when the majority of the men of his forward left-hand gun had been put out of action, he took charge of the gun himself and retained the position all day."
Leonard Charles Brothers was born in 1886 in Toxteth, Liverpool, the son of Interior Decorator and Antique Dealer Walter Brothers of Warwickshire, who had been working there at the time. Returning to work in London (where his father was previously based) he was raised for some time in Chiswick and Ealing, and presumably worked for some time worked with his father and brothers in the family trade.
At the outbreak of the Great War, he joined the 1st (County of London) Yeomanry (Middlesex Hussars), along with his youngest brother Sidney. The 1st County of London Yeomanry formed part of the 8th (London) Mounted Brigade., They were moved to Egypt and dis-mounted in early 1915, Brothers Medal Index Card showing he landed as a Serjeant with the 1st on the 28 April, he with the unit was sent to Gallipoli in late August 1915, the start of a campaign that would see many casualties for the Yeomen. Sjt. Brothers conduct was brought to the attention of his Commanding Officer after the crossing of the Suvla Plain and the advance from Chocolate Hill –
"No. 3333 Serjeant. Brothers L.C. was in command of the advanced troop and did not get the order to retire in time to withdraw with the Regiment so he kept himself together all night reporting himself to Lt. Roller and remaining with him. He went out several times during the night on patrols with messages and Captain Watson reports to me that he acted through the day and night with great coolness and dash." (Report by Lt Col. Sir Matthew Wilson, Commanding 1st County of London Yeomanry – based on information given by Captain O.C.S. Watson, who later was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Soon after the events at Gallipoli the British and Allied forces were removed to Egypt for respite, perhaps as a direct action of his exploits on the Peninsula Serjeant Brothers was awarded a Commission as Second Lieutenant, London Gazette of 2 April 1916 refers, and attached to the newly re-formed Imperial Camel Corps - part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF). This force was initially assembled and trained under the charismatic Brigadier-General Leslie Smith, with the 2nd (British) Battalion led by Colonel R.V. Buxton DSO, who himself became great fiend of T.E. Lawrence – "Lawrence of Arabia".
The Camel Corps Brigade was composed of four battalions, combining soldiers of British, Australian and New Zealand origins, many from yeomanry units evacuated from Gallipoli and most without any experience of Camels! Overcoming the difficulties of desert service, the force became essential during the difficult campaigns in Jordan and Palestine. Leonard Brothers was made Lieutenant of the 5th Company, 2nd Battalion Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) - beginning in early 1917 the ICC was involved in continuing raids against Ottoman forces, often focusing upon the strategic Hejaz Railway (built in 1913 to facilitate the annual Haji pilgrimage). The year 1917 also saw the Camel Corps involvement with key strategic EEF attacks at Rafa, Gaza, Beersheba, Jerusalem and "Bald Hill", driving back Ottoman forces and taking thousands of prisoners.
After the fall of Jericho on the 12 March 1918, the Jordan valley was securely in British hands, and attacks were organised upon Turkish supply lines, of which the railway line through Amman was targeted. It was in late March, 1918, that 2nd Lieutenant Brothers (then with 9 Company) was awarded the Military Cross for his part in the hard-fought action at Amman, following the death of his Company Commander Captain Newsam.
This rare Camel Corps group is still worthy of further detailed unit research, as the recipient may well have met and known T.E. Lawrence, sold with a large quantity of research both military and genealogical, related dress miniatures Middlesex Regiment sweet-heart brooch, graduated bronze Camel bell with cowrie-shell decorated hessian hanger, and a small Bedouin copper cooking pot with cover.
Estimate: £5000-7000