Pirates & Firemen Stoke up the Bids of a Flaming June Sale

The 18th June did not only mark the UK mini heatwave but Bosleys June Military Auction of 550 guaranteed original lots.

Amongst one of the highlights, not only for its hammer price, but historical importance was the WW2 Royal Navy Submarine "Jolly Roger" Patrol Flag Attributed to H.M. Submarine Severn. Flown each time a successful war patrol was completed on entering home port this flag flew away to a hammer price of £7,800 and will soon be part of a UK National museum collection. Military badges. as expected with a Bosleys auction, featured strongly and an example of the  St. Columba's College OTC Irish cap badge c. 1912-22 sold for £1,000, a rare Hong Kong Volunteer Corps Scottish Company head-dress badge c. 1920-42 sold, after a fierce international bidding battle, for £1,400. The Far East collecting theme continued with a rare Imperial Japanese Combat helmet and cover selling for £1,100, WW2 Japanese Officer’s sword selling for £800 and a humble Japanese soldiers water bottle £100 showing collectibles for all pockets. The Imperial Russian Navy of Tsar Nickolas II was represented by a fine Officer’s tunic and dress cap which sold for £7,200. The collectibles of Germany 1933 to 1945 remain popular and this sale included the first part of a collection of WW2 combat helmets, a single decal SS helmet sold for £4,200, with a second example closely following at £3,800. A rare single decal army retaining the original “Chicken Wire” for attachment of camouflage sold for £2,800 and a double decal army helmet for £2,600. German headdress of the Great War was represented by a collection of Pickelhaube helmets. An Officers example of the Prussian Dragoon sold for £920 and a humble 1915 example worn by a Prussian Other Rank of an Artillery unit, complete with original field service cover sold for £820. We should not forget the headdress of the British Army with a rare Home Service helmet of the 10th (Hackney) Bn. London Regiment selling for £860, a superb Indian Army Frontier Force Officer's helmet by Hobson & Sons selling for £2,200 and it is interesting to note that a scarce WW2 Home Front ARP Repair Party Roads Helmet with Visor circa 1940-42 sold for £780.

A strong bayonet and fighting knife collection saw a top price of £1,700 paid for a WW2 2nd pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Commando fighting knife with personalised etching to blade and the attribution to an Officer of the Highland Light Infantry

It is worth noting before we close a Victorian / Edwardian Merryweather Pattern Brass Fire Brigade Helmet, attributed to the Titchborne Estate Fire Brigade of Hampshire. After a  “firey” bout of bidding the hammer fell at £5,000.

Bosleys next sale will be held at or Stafford branch on the 9th July with over 500 lots