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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 13

An Army HQ banner, car pennant and two brassards used: '… when I commanded an Army in Egypt, Sinai & Palestine … 1916-17'.

The banner of wool bunting measuring 559 mm x 533 mm and comprising three pieces - black, red, black - sewn together horizontally, with a black reinforced cloth hoist sleeve and and three black fabric ties; attached to it with a steel pin, a piece of paper bearing, in Dobell's hand, the ink inscription: Banner and armlets when I commanded an army in Egypt, Sinai & Palestine. Called Eastern Force. 1916-17.

The car pennant of similar design and construction as the banner, measuring 190 mm x 241 mm, the hoist sleeve formed by folding back and sewing. Attached to the pennant by a steel pin, an envelope addressed in ink to Lady Dobell 38 Draycott Place London, annotated On Active Service and J.W. Shairp, stamped as PASSED BY CENSOR and WAR OFFICE, with a partially legible postmark for 1917 and containing a letter dated 18.10.17 from E.E.F., written in pencil by Lieutenant John Walter Shairp, Ayrshire Yeomanry, Dobell's ADC, reading as follows: Dear Lady Dobell, The enclosed rather dilapidated little flag is the flag which the General used to fly on his Ford car after moving up here from Ismailia. He flew it the day of his historic trip across the desert of Sinai. I thought he might like to have it as a memento of the first & - so far - the only time the desert has been crossed in a car, & he told me to send it to you. It used to lead a very energetic life mounted on top of a radiator in which the water was nearly always boiling! I hope it arrives safely in England & does not find a watery grave on the way. Yours sincerely, J.W.Shairp.

The two brassards each made from three strips of woollen cloth in the same colours and design as the banner and car pennant, sewn together horizontally, measuring 115 mm x 482 mm and 76 mm x 420 mm and each backed onto glazed linen or cotton with a buckle applied to the front. The wider of the two edged with gimp along top and bottom edges.

The banner with moth damage and only fair condition; the car pennant with slight tears and similar condition; the brassards with very slight moth damage and good condition.

Dobell's scrapbook contains a photograph of him and his Staff, most of whom are shown wearing brassards of the above type; the scrapbook also contains two images of the car referred-to by Lieutenant Shairp.

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Sold for
£400

Starting price
£180