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1	Military Cross Medal Group awarded to Major/Flight Lieutenant Bernard Green who took part in 'The Great Escape' from Stalag Luft 3 in March 1944. To be sold on the instructions of his daughter Miss J Green and comprising: George V Military Cross, 1914-15 Star (inscribed), 1914-20 War Medal (inscribed) and 1919 Victory Medal with MID leaf spray, 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, 1939-45 War Medal with MID leaf spray and Special Constabulary Medal for long service. A full set of miniatures, a full set of ribbons and a set of ribbons minus 1935-45 War Medal. Together with World War I associated ephemera and postcard photographs relating to Major Bernard Green, and the East Kent Yeomanry, Royal East Kent mounted Rifles and Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Light Infantry, including a Roll Book belonging to Major Green for No 1 Platoon, 'A' Company. World War II ephemera collected by Flt Lt Bernard Green, including items of particular interest relating to 'The Great Escape' of which there are photographs of POWs and a collection of 'Sweetheart' letters from Stalag Luft 1 (7), Stalag Luft 2 (2) and Stalag Luft 3 (27). A programme and two ticket stubs for the film premiere of 'The Great Escape' from the World Charity Premiere screening on 20th June 1963, which Bernard Green attended. Various books relating to 'The Great Escape', including 'Scangriff' - Spotlight on Stalag Luft III (2), Brickhill [Flt Lt Paul] - The Great Escape, and Brickhill & Norton - Escape to Danger with inscription by Bernard Green, etc. Also Bernard Green's RAF officers cap and dress tunic with medal ribbons and 'AG' cloth badge and a further collection of related letters, certificates, service books, invitations, services association information, passport, and a collection of vintage postcards. Together with this lot two copies of The Illustrated London News, various books, and a collection of vintage maps and guides, formerly the property of Bernard Green. BERNARD 'POP' GREEN On 23rd/24th March 1944, 76 Airmen escaped from POW camp Stalag Luft 3 at Sagan in Poland. Their escape through the tunnel 'Harry' and the story of the days that followed became known as 'The Great Escape' and has now become part of British folklore. Bernard Green was born in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire on 23rd December 1887. He was educated at Clifton College, London University and Cambridge University. At the outbreak of war in 1914 Bernard joined the Royal East Kent Rifles as a private. He was subsequently commissioned into the Buckinghamshire Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire light Infantry as a Second Lieutenant in June 1914. In 1917 he was mentioned in despatches, and in 1918 was awarded the Military Cross. He became a specialist machine-gunner, and when he resigned his commission in 1920 he was granted the rank of Major, although modestly it was a title that he very rarely used. Between the war years he worked for the family paper making firm, and in 1926 became a Special Constable, eventually achieving a long service medal. In 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War Bernard Green applied for a commission as an officer air gunner with the RAF Volunteer Reserve. In December 1939 he took up active service as Pilot Officer 76904, at the RAF Number 3 Bomb Gunnery School. It's not clear why, in July 1940, at the age of 53 Bernard took up a place as rear gunner on a Hampden bomber. The plane was flying out of R A F Waddington with 44th Squadron on a mine laying mission. It may have been due to shortage of men or his strong sense of duty and loyalty to his squadron . In the early hours of 20th July the Hampden was hit by flak off the coast of Denmark and ditched into the sea in Tannis Bay, 300-400 metres off shore at Kandestederne. Two of the crew perished, but P/O Green and P/S Farrands survived and swam ashore. Later that morning Bernard Green came into contact with a party of local peat cutters and refused the opportunity of concealment from the enemy, as he knew what the consequences would be for his rescuers if found. A unit of German soldiers had been alerted and soon arrived to collect him. Bernard Green was sent to Dulag Luft in Oberursel where he was interrogated and then sent on to Stalag Luft 1 at Barth. Subsequently he was moved to Stalag Luft 3 at Sagan, in Poland. It seems that Bernard Green took a very active part in the daily operations of escape work at Stalag Luft 3. He was a popular character and would have been a father figure to the majority of the much younger men, hence his nickname 'Pop'. He was certainly known to have acted as a 'penguin' in distributing the waste soil over the compound as tunnel 'Harry' took shape. The events of the Great Escape have been well documented and are known to many through John Sturges' classic film. One fact that many are not aware of is that there was thick snow on the ground in that part of Poland in March 1944. Green and others did make their escape after overcoming the shortfall of the tunnel and gathered with a group of about twelve others all dressed as Czech workmen. They walked for some distance through the woods in thick snow and eventually made their way to a railway station south of Sagan. It was from there that they travelled about fifty miles and alighted from the train just short of Hirschberg. Continuing on foot and approaching a village that was impassable because of heavy snow in the fields, Bernard Green was captured by a German soldier as walked straight through the village. Flight Lieutenant Green as he was now known following promotion, was eventually taken back to Stalag Luft 3 and spent 14 days in the "cooler". Sadly, as is well known, many of the escapees were not so lucky. Bernard Green spent the rest of the war at Sagan. At 57 years old he was surely the oldest of the men who attempted such a brave escape. In 1947 Flight Lt Green was mentioned in despatches as published in The London Gazette on 7th January. In June 1963 Bernard and his wife attended the World charity film premiere of 'The Great Escape' at the Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square. He died following ill health on 2nd November 1971. The account of the personal military history to be available on view with the items, and facsimile copies of the documents only to handled on view, unless by special arrangement	Nil	13000
2	RAF medal group for 1122289 Sgt Harry Tompkin, comprising: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star (1st Army clasp), Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, together with a kit bag, Aircrew first aid kit, RAF service records and some coins and bank notes Estimate: 100-200	Nil	280
3	RAF interest relating to 1424 Sgt Joan Tompkin, including medal ribbons only, and buttons, personal wartime diaries, RAF service record details, photographs and many wartime and other letters, and ephemera Estimate: 100-200	Nil	300
4	A collection of vintage photographs, entires and assorted ephemera Estimate: 20-30	Nil	50
5	RAF interest relating to Sqn Ldr Harry Pepper, including three dress uniforms, cap, tropical tunic, evening dress tunic, various club ties, buttons, etc, contained in a Pendragon leather trunk Estimate: 70-100	Nil	110
5A	An extensive private collection of British and Commonwealth Regimental cap badges and insignia being sold on behalf of a deceased's estate from which the collection has been built up over decades. The collection is mounted on baize boards with paper titles and covers. Subjects covered include Australia, Indian Calvary, Indian Infantry, Militia Volunteers, Homeguard, Womens Services, RAF, Royal Marines, Gurkhas, Canadian Infantry, Guards, Gadroon Guards, South Africa, Terratorials, Yeomanry, Arms, Volunteer Batallians etc. There are over 1,500 examples in the collection, mounted on 40 boards. Please note no further information is available by way of condition reports, precise inventory, precise numbers, authenticity etc. Due to the size and scale of the collection, you will have to make your own informed judgement on all of these factors.	Nil	4600
5B	A gilt framed photographic portrait miniature of an Army Officer, 8½cm high. Estimate: 10-30	Nil	15
5C	Assorted military tunic buttons, badges and associated items. Estimate: 30-50	Nil	75
6	A 19thC mahogany cased portable stereoscopic viewer with brass fittings, marked R & J Beck Ltd, London. Estimate: 150-250	Nil	220
7	A Georgian mahogany writing slope complete with fitted interior, 40cm. Estimate: 20-40	Nil	35
8	A pair of Imari chargers decorated with reserves of flowering branch decoration with dragons and flaming pearls, 31cm diameter. Estimate: 50-70	Nil	75
9	A pair of Doulton Slaters stoneware vases with slender everted necks and bands of gilt floral decoration, both drilled for electricity, 39cm high. Estimate: 30-50	Nil	55
10	Banknote: Grantham Bank, £1, 9th May 1810, serial no. S(?) 2345, black and white, arms top left, for Manner & Scott. Provenance: Bought at auction from Goldings in the 1980's. N.B. According to the standard catalogue of Provincial Banks and Bank Notes, Grantham Bank was started in 1793. The Bank was short lived and folded in 1816, making these notes fairly rare. This note of £1 would not have been owned by the average man as it would have been more than a months wages. For comparable examples, see Messrs Spink of London, auction sale 30th September 2005, lot no 626. Estimate: 300-500	Nil	300
11	A 19thC salt glazed stoneware spirit bottle with moulded label stamped SUMMERBYS WINE & SPIRIT, VAULTS, GRANTHAM, 18½cm high. Estimate: 200-300	Nil	300
12	A 19thC Japanese Imari vase converted to a table lamp, 33cm high. Estimate: 80-120	Nil	110
13	A 19thC Japanese Imari vase converted to a table lamp, 33cm high. Estimate: 80-120	Nil	110
14	A pair of white marble and gilt metal table lamps, 30cm high, with turquoise silk shades. Estimate: 10-30	Nil	10
15	A green pottery table lamp, the spirally fluted slender column applied with floral rope swags, on a gilt wood base, 56cm high, with an ivory silk shade. Estimate: 10-30	Nil	12
16	A Celadon pottery table lamp, decorated with Chinese motifs in white slip, on gilt metal foot rim with claw feet, 53cm high, with a cream ivory shade. Estimate: 30-50	Nil	55
17	A Celadon pottery table lamp, decorated with Chinese motifs in white slip, on gilt metal foot rim with claw feet, 53cm high, with a cream ivory shade. Estimate: 30-50	Nil	55
18	A porcelain and gilt metal table lamp, modelled as an oil lamp with a vase shaped column, painted with figural panel and opposing panel of flowers in mirror shape reserves against a green ground, 47cm high, with a cream silk shade. Estimate: 60-90	Nil	90
19	A cut glass table lamp with mushroom shade, overall with diamond and hob nail cutting, 49cm high. Estimate: 100-150	Nil	150
20	A cut glass table lamp with mushroom shade, overall with diamond and hob nail cutting, 49cm high. Estimate: 100-150	Nil	150
21	A channel set diamond solitaire ring, 0.25ct approx, yellow metal shank stamped 18ct and plat. Estimate: 60-100	Nil	52
22	A white sapphire set ring, a block of twelve (4 x 3) tiny stones to a yellow metal shank. Estimate: 25-40	Nil	45
23	A gypsy style five stone set ring of three small rubies and two small diamonds to yellow metal shank stamped 18ct. Estimate: 100-150	Nil	90
30	A diamond solitaire ring, of 0.5 pts approx, set to a yellow metal shank. Estimate: 40-80	Nil	38
31	An amethyst set dress to yellow metal shank stamped for 9ct. Estimate: 40-80	Nil	38
33	A Victorian memorial ring with seed pearl set, ruby centred flower motif, with curled snakes either side, memorial window to reverse, to yellow metal shank, ring size M. Estimate: 100-150	Nil	95
36	A Victorian buckle keeper ring, Birmingham 1900, 15ct, 2g. Estimate: 20-30	Nil	20