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Auction: 17003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 540

An impressive group of eleven awarded to Major A. G. Denoon, Seaforth Highlanders, who was twice decorated and twice wounded in the Great War

1914 Star, with clasp (9256 L. Sjt. A. Denoon, 2/Sea. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. A. G. Denoon); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Special Constabulary Long Service, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Sub. Inspr. Alexander G. Denoon); Belgium, Order of the Crown, Fifth Class breast badge, gilt and enamel; Belgium, Croix de Guerre 1914-18, with bronze palm, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, and Great War Aisne, Somme, King Albert and Flemish Cross of the Three Cities commemoratives, the latter with clasps for Nieuwpoort, Diksmuide and Ieper, and Dunkirk 1940 Commemorative Medal, reverse enamel damaged on the Belgian Crown, re-gilded and polished overall, generally very fine (Lot)

Alexander Gilchrist Denoon was born in September 1887 and served for 10 years in the ranks, latterly as a Warrant Officer 2nd Class.

He landed in France as a Lance-Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders on 21 August 1914 and remained on active service until the war's end. The Battalion was heavily engaged in the retreat to Mons in 1914, suffering heavy casualties, among them Lieutenant-Colonel Sir E. R. Bradford, Bt., the unit's C.O., who was killed at the crossing of the Aisne in mid-September. In the following month, the Battalion was engaged in the attack on Meteren, when it carried enemy positions at the point of the bayonet, in addition to heavy fighting at Frelinghen; the unit's war diary records 'no firing' on Christmas Day 1914, when the Seaforths were free to 'walk about in the open'.

On 1 July 1916, the Battalion went into action with the 1st East Lancashires and 1st Hampshires at Redan Ridge on the Somme. In the ensuing fighting - which cost the Seaforths nearly 400 casualties - one of Denoon's comrades, Drummer Ritchie, won a memorable V.C.: amidst a galling fire, he stood on the parapet of a trench and rallied his comrades by sounding the 'Charge'.

Denoon was twice wounded in the Great War, one of those occasions likely taking place on the Somme. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in November 1916; he received his other wound in April 1917, when he was evacuated to the American Women's Hospital for Officers at Lancaster Gate, London.

His gallant service was recognised by the awards of the 5th Class of the Belgian Order of the Crown (London Gazette 24 September 1917, refers) and Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 11 March 1918, refers).

He remained in the Regular Army after the war, gaining numerous prizes for his marksmanship and sporting prowess, prior to being placed on the Retired List in the mid-1930s. Recalled on the renewal of hostilities, he served as a Major in his old regiment and latterly in the R.A.O.C. He was Chairman of the London Branch of Seaforth Highlanders Association from 1930-51.

Sold with an extensive collection of related militaria and shooting or other awards, together with a quantity of original documentation and photographs, including:

(i)
An officer's basket-hilted sword, with polished steel scabbard, by John Jones & Co. of 6 Regent Street, London SW, the blade etched and engraved 'Ne Obliviscaris' and appertaining to the 1st Battalion of Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, original fish skin grip, in canvas case, scabbard with minor corrosion and indentation at tip

(ii)
The recipient's skean dhu, together with his swagger stick, the latter with silver fitments, with hallmarks for London, 1909.

(iii)
Presentation cup, All Ireland Army Rifle Meeting, 1922, unmarked, won by 'Lieut A. G. Denoon, Seaforth Highlanders'; and another, The Officer's Cup, Northern Ireland District Rifle Meeting, 1924, silver hallmarks for Sheffield, 1919, won by 'Lieut. A. G. Denoon, The Seaforth Highlanders', on black wooden plinth.

(iv)
Presentation regimental or shooting spoons (6), five with silver hallmarks for Birmingham or Sheffield, in the period 1906-33, the sixth silver -plated.

(v)
An attractive Seaforth Highlander's Association Medal, 9ct gold, engraved on reverse to 'A. G. Denoon, Chairman, London Branch, 1930-34', with Bars in yellow or rose gold, for '1936-40', '1939', '1941-45' and '1946-51', in Henry Tatton & Sons of Edinburgh case of issue.

(vi)
Northern Ireland District Officer's Challenge Cup medallions, four in Birmingham hallmarked silver with gold central shields, two dated '1924' and two dated '1925', engraved on the reverse to 'A. G. Denoon', for 200 yard, 300 yard and 500 yard sporting endeavours; another in bronze with bronze shield, engraved '1925', for 2nd Lewis Gun Match, in Gibson & Co. cases of issue.

(vii)
Cripplegate Rifle Club Medals (4), in silver, engraved on reverse to 'A. G. Denoon', for 1st and 2nd place performances between 1932 and 1937; another, in bronze, for 3rd place in the 1934 Championship, in J. A. Wylie & Co. card boxes of issue.

(viii)
Army Rifle Association Medals (2), one in silver, unnamed, in case of issue; another, in bronze, engraved 'A. G. Denoon, Sea. Hrs., 1924.'; a further medal in bronze for Second Prize in the Prince of Wales Cup.

(ix)
London Rifle Association League Medals (4), one in silver, dated '1936-37', in T. Fattorini box of issue, and three in bronze.

(x)
National Rifle Association commemorative medal, bronze, unnamed, in Elkington & Co. Ltd. case of issue, and a further L. & M. R. A. Centenary Medal, dated 1962, engraved 'Major A. G. Denoon'; The Bell Medal in bronze, presented by the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs, in card box of issue; a regimental Shield Medal, dated '1926' and named 'Lieut. A. G. Denton', in F. Phillips case of issue; together with additional shooting awards (6), three of a green enamel oval laurel wreath design, and the remainder small bronze medals.

(xi)
St. John's Ambulance Association Long Service badge, named to '448736 Alexander G. Denoon', bronze, in original card box of issue.

(xii)
Assorted badges and medals relating to the Royal Army Temperance Association (5), Seaforth Highlanders Association (2), and British Legion.

(xiii)
Award document for the recipient's Belgian Order of the Crown, titled 'Albert, Roi des Belges', dated 8 September 1917, and a related document dated 15 February 1918; together with his Croix de Guerre award document from The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated 10 September 1917.

(xiv)
The recipient's warrants for his appointments to Company Sergeant-Major, Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's), dated 22 September 1916, and 2nd Lieutenant, Land Forces, dated 18 December 1916.

(xv)
A quantity of correspondence and certificates appertaining to his assorted commemorative awards, including Belgian Veteran and Dunkirk issues.

(xvi)
War Office letter of official release from Active Military Duty, dated 10 August 1946.

(xvii)
The Holy Bible (3), one annotated in pencil by the recipient, 'If anything should happen, please send this home, France 1914'; another, annotated in 1915 with his service number and home address; the last with gold embossed initials, 'A. G. D.'

(xviii)
A selection of original photographs, ranging from the Great War period to reunion ceremonies, including the recipient with shooting trophies and in later life wearing his medals.

(xix)
Great War period silk souvenir postcards (5), together with an old envelope containing a collection of used stamps, the majority G.V.R.

(xx)
A regimental calendar displaying a full-length portrait of H.R.H. The Duke of Windsor, in military uniform of the Seaforths, the calendar attached beneath, commencing January 1938, labelled on reverse 'E.T.W.D. Calendar, K1809.'

(xxi)
A Masonic certificate in the name of 'Alexander Gilchrist Denoon', of the Castle Bar Lodge, No. 5036, London, dated 26 May 1934, and a certificate for the Walton-On-Thames Lodge, in envelope addressed to his wife at 26 First Avenue, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

(xxii)
Queen Mary's Xmas 1914 tobacco tin, containing two packets of cigarettes, together with an old vesta box.

(xxiii)
A British War Medal 1914-20 (31043 Pte. A. J. S. Davidson, Cam'n Highrs.), good very fine


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Sold for
£1,100