The outstanding Second World War Italian Eritrea 1941, Syria 1941 and Italian theatre operations and post-war Malayan Emergency group awarded to Major D.A. Sconce, Royal Artillery. Nicknamed ‘Duffle Arse’ whilst at Oxford University during the 1930’s, he was commissioned in 1935 and went to have compiled a superb typed letter album detailing his services when fighting the Italians in East Africa as an artillery observation officer, with the original artillery ranging sketches of his time being included with his medals and documents, the last showing Cassino including Monastery Hill as rendered when present in the Battle of Monte Cassino during 1944. He later saw service post-war in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency.
Group of 6: 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal; War Medal; General Service Medal 1918-1962, GVI 2nd type bust, 1 Clasp: Malaya; (MAJOR D.A. SCONCE. R.A.), mounted swing style as worn.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Together with the following original items and quantity of documentation:
A superb personal letter form dairy, as typed up by Sconce’s wife Barbara for onward sending to his mouther Markie, the book containing pasted typed versions of the letters sent to his wife, though somewhat abridged according to the recipient, with the expressions of love removed. This marks for very interesting reading, and contains his service on leaving England in 1940 for active service over in North Africa including his early battles in Eritrea including at Keren when fighting the Italians during early 1941. 108 pages in all, the last 18 pages of letters have not been pasted in. 3 photographs of the recipients in uniform are pasted in as well for his mother’s benefit.
Programme commemorating the Rugby Football Match between New College Oxford and King’s College Cambridge on 1 November 1932, Scone’s personal copy, this containing a list of players and the menu for the post-match dinner, and also signatures of some of those present.
Programme commemorating the Rugby Football Match between New College Oxford and King’s College Cambridge on 22 February 1934, Scone’s personal copy, this containing a list of players and the menu for the post-match dinner, and also signatures of some of those present.
Oxford University Air Squadron 7th Annual Dinner Attendees Card and Menu for the event held at the Clarendon Hotel on 7 May 1934, Scone’s personal copy, this nicely annotated, with Wing Commander Keith R. Park having been the guest of honour. Park later commanded Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.
Praeprandial Club Dinner Attendees Card and Menu for the event held on 4 December 1934. As he was a member, this is Layman Scone’s personal copy, with som signatures and annotations.
War Office Officer Training Corps Certificate “B” issue to Sconce when with the Oxford University Senior Contingent one his qualification in the Cavalry syllabus, dated November 1934.
University of Oxford Delegacy for Military Instruction notifying Scone of New College that he has been nominated for a commission. Dated 21 June 1935.
Territorial Army Commission Warrant issued to Second Lieutenant D.A. Sconce, General List University Candidate, dated 9 July 1935. This bearing a facsimile signature of King George V. This with its original envelope addressed to Sconce when in the R.A. Mess 2nd Field Brigade at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.
War Office letting informing Sconce that he had been passed physically fit for appointment to a commission in the Regular Army. Dated 13 July 1935.
Regular Army Land Forces Commission Warrant issued to Second Lieutenant D.A. Sconce, Royal Regiment of Artillery, dated 6 September 1935. This bearing an original ink signature of King George V.
Instructor’s Certificate of Signalling (Officers) School of Signals Qualification Certificate, issued to Sconce. Dated 10 August 1937.
Letter to Sconce from Headquarters of 22nd Field Brigade Royal Artillery concerning his preparation for a signalling instruction course to Young Signallers and Education, dated 21 October 1937.
Letter to Sconce from Headquarters of 22nd Field Brigade Royal Artillery congratulating him on the results obtained by the signallers under his care. Dated 19 April 1938.
War Office letter to Sconce notifying him of an imminent posting to the Depot from his then posting at Shorncliffe, dated 4 March 1938.
Confidential report note from the CRA 4 Division to Sconce, in which his service is noted favourably, dated 20 November (1938?).
Movement Control Order as issued as Port Sudan and marked ‘Secret Immediate’ as sent to Captain Scone when he was commanding the troops aboard the transport vessel H.T. Kohistan, dated 1 July 1941, giving instructions for the landing of troops and motor transport on the main quay at Port Sudan.
Scone’s personal sketches (3 in total) of the fighting in the Keren area of Eritrea during 1941, including features such as Cameron Hill, Mount Sichil and Mount Amba. One has the ranges of the different features. These all drawn from the observation post that he manned.
A fine colour printed sketch of the view of Cassino including Monastery Hill as rendered, presumably by Sconce when present in the Battle of Monte Cassino.
2 x identity photographs of Sconce, one as a civilian, the other as a Captain in the British Army, the latter being sent to his wife Barbara, it having been taken in Damascus in 1943.
Recipient’s matching group of miniature medals mounted swing style as worn.
Two sets of the recipients tunic medal ribbon bars.
Douglas Archibald Sconce was born on the 25th January 1913 in Brentford, Middlesex. He was born alongside his twin brother, Esmond Walter Sconce, who was later taken prisoner of war of the Japanese in Singapore during the Second World War. His father died on Christmas eve 1914. Sconce attended New College, Oxford University from 1931 to 1934. There, he would make lifelong friends. He was a sportsman, representing the college in rugby at least twice against Cambridge's Kings College on 1 November 1932, and 22 February 1934. He also attended a Praeprandial Club dinner on 4 December 1934. At the club, he would earn the nickname 'Duffle Arse’. Whilst at Oxford he had been a member of the Oxford University Officer Training Corps Contingent Senior Division, and on his leaving university he opted for a career in the British Army.
On 21 June 1935, he was nominated to a commission in His Majesty's regular army, and on 9 July he was approved as an officer in the Territorial Army. On 13 July 1935, he received a letter from the War Office deeming him physically fit for appointment to a commission in the regular army, and finally on 6th September 1935 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Royal Artillery.
Sconce qualified as an instructor of signalling on 10 August 1937. At the time it appears Sconce's talents were employed chiefly as am instructor. On 21 October 1937, he received a letter instructing him to prepare a training programme, and on 9 April 1938, he received a letter commending him for his good work with young signallers. In July 1938, he married Barbara Margaret Shore. His child, Neil Douglas Sconce, was born on 30 January 1940.
On 29 September 1940, he left Amersham station in London for Liverpool. On 2 October he set sail. At the time letters, of those in the army were censored, he notes in letters getting the 'blue pencil' from censoring his men's letters, and mentions that 'censorship is very strict.' Letters testify to his signalling skills- 'We still have realy no idea as to our final destination. Is Frank Robertson Entertaining Everybody. Tommy Only Won Ninepence at roulette.' - A letter sent on October 14, days later reaching Free Town. - on October 23 'Is Chris Anderson Painting Everyone?' before getting to South Africa. After Cape Town, to Egypt. From Egypt, to the Sudan.
On December 15, he describes 'absolutely awful.' sandstorms. On Christmas day, 1941, he describes two football games, scoring in one, but bemoaning the sandy pitch in the second. On January 14, more movements encrypted 'Kindly attend Stephen Saunders Art letters afterall' - off to Kassala in the East of the country. He was a heavy smoker - kitting himself out with 1000 cigarettes mid campaign, for fear of a drought. It was there he witnessed the first battles of his campaign.
Next, another hidden message - 'Ask George Orford David's address, try. and write to him will you.' - to Agoda. He mentions on February 22nd 'a long letter from Esmond saying they were both well and enjoying the comforts of Singapore.'
Next 'Kenneth evidently remember Eric's nurse.' - another town in Eritrea. On a letter on March 6th he says 'I have killed' and mentions that he has been in 'great danger' He clearly missed his son 'please do go on writing every little thing Neil does'
He describes his role in the fighting as 'directing fire.', but does not characterise the Italians as a good fighting force, recounting a bomb missing by '1/2 a mile' he describes at one point that 'their position was probably the strongest natural position in the world - but they have fled' On April 1 he writes 'we have rid Italian Eritrea of Italians.' On June 5th, 1941, he said he took part in engagements in Kassala, Keru, Agordat, Keren, Massaw and Amba Alagi.'
He seems to have been fairly competent - being able in Signals, shooting, command, and battlefield drawings, the latter of these being of Cassino and Monastery Hill during the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy in 1944. Remaining in service post war, Sconce saw service as a Major with the Royal Artillery out in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency. He died on 3 March 1978, in Tenterden, Kent.
