Miscellaneous

Lot 1472    SESSION 6 (9.30AM WEDNESDAY 29TH MARCH)    Miscellaneous

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

PAIR OF GERMAN PERCUSSION PISTOLS, by Sauer & Son, c1850s, 20cm long octagonal barrel, twirled rifling, fixed sight, rear sight in silver, consecutive serial numbers on underside of barrels, 0021270 and 0021271, 32 bore, one missing ram rod, most metal parts except barrel decoratively engraved, top of barrel engraved, 'I. P. SAUER u SOHN a SUHL', plate on butt of grip engraved, 'R. v B'. One pistol with small piece missing from black forewood cap and the hammer on one does not cock back fully, very light underlying rust on barrels, otherwise very good condition. (2)

These pistols were gifted to Lt Cecil Daniel Lockhart while he was convalescing in London. According to his family, the gift was made to him by Colonel Ricketts of the British Army as a reward for his 'bravery and leadership' in the First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux (30 March - 5 April 1918).

In the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18, Vol V, The A.I.F. in France 1918, by C.E.W.Bean, Lieutenant Lockhart is mentioned along with Sergeant Lawton as the last to leave during an intense battle at Villers-Bretonneux. In another published account it is related how determined Lieutenant Lockhart was in maintaining machine gun fire on the enemy in the face of fierce fire from the Germans. When ammunition was exhausted, one of his men, Sergeant Charlie Lawton, was shot and despite the ongoing assault by the Germans, Lockhart refused to leave his sergeant and instead picked him up and tried to carry him to safety. Unfortunately he fell and the Germans advanced upon them. Lawton in the meantime had passed away from his injuries and Lockhart, with Lawton on top of him, was able to feign death in spite of being kicked by a German trooper to see if he was still alive. The Germans then proceeded to shoot all men who were lying wounded in the face of their advance. When they had gone, and as the daylight faded, the injured Lieutenant Lockhart was able to crawl to the safety of the allied front line.

Cecil Daniel Lockhart, correspondence clerk, age 21, born at Summer Hill, NSW; Enl.20Mar1916 in 9 MG Coy; Emb.01May1916; promoted through the ranks and appt Lt 15Feb1918; invalided to UK 19Apr1918; RTA 13Apr1919; Appt terminated 27Jul1919; awarded OBE in King's Birthday Honour List 1936 for social services in the State of NSW.

With research.

See also lot 2156.

Please note: If you wish to view or purchase this item you will be required to produce a current gun or driver's licence to staff.

No mail out for this lot, collection only from the Sydney Office.