Catalog Auction info Auction #152 - Two-Day Sale, November 21st & 22nd (#152) 11/21/2026 9:00 AM EST Starts Ending 11/21/2026 9:00 AM EST Auction Info Lot #240 Rare Webley & Scott Mark I 455 Automatic Pistol Identified To Lt. Commander A.G. Onslow, D.S.C., Killed In Action at the Battle Of Jutland Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000 Starting: $7,000 Description Description: serial #97832, 455 Auto, 5” barrel with a bright excellent bore. This is a fascinating Webley pistol which, according to the included Webley & Scott research letter and scans of the original factory ledgers, was sold to Arthur Gerald Onslow, then a young lieutenant, on July 29, 1913. The pistol was shipped directly to his duty station in Sheerness, torpedo boat number 18, which he was then in command of. The pistol was shipped with 100 cartridges and also bears the notation in the ledger “A Prsent Per Mr. Murray”. Onslow joined the Royal Navy in 1900 and, in 1904, was serving on the HMS Hyacinth suppressing pirate operations on the Somali coast. During land operations, Onslow displayed extreme courage and heroism engaging hostile dervishes in close quarters combat. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for his daring actions in Somaliland, a quite rare decoration of which only eight were ever awarded after its inception in 1901. Onslow was the final recipient of the decoration before it was converted to the Distinguished Service Cross in 1914. Onslow’s extremely rare CSC medal was sold at auction in England in 2017 for £5,500. Onslow worked his way up to command of HMS Onslaught, an Admiralty M-class destroyer and in May-June of 1916, went straight into the attack in the largest and most important naval surface battle of the First World War at Jutland. In the early morning hours of June 1, Onslow ordered the ship’s torpedoes fired at the assembled German fleet. At a distance of some 3000 yards away the German battleship SMS Pommern was struck, her magazines exploded, and the entire ship and its crew were lost within 20 minutes. Onslow and his crew were responsible for the only loss of a battleship class vessel on either side, but there was little time to celebrate as just moments later a shell from the SMS Schleswig-Holstein struck the bridge of the Onslaught, killing the first lieutenant and mortally wounding Onslow who was taken below. Sub-lieutenant Harry Kemmis was one of the only surviving officers and took command of the ship, managing to navigate it to safety despite its crippled state. Lt. Commander A.G. Onslow died some time in the afternoon of June 1. Incredibly, the shell fragment that killed Onslow was kept by a midshipman Reginald Arnot after the battle until 1948 and later transferred to the Navy trophy room in Portsmouth in 1951. A rather grisly memento, this fragment was sold at auction in England in 2018 for £700. Sub-lieutenant Kemmis’s private purchase pistol was also sold at an auction in England in 2013, a Colt Government Model in 455 Automatic, for £11,000 and was allowed to remain a functional piece as a designated “heritage pistol”. Onslow’s pistol here remains in nice condition retaining perhaps 70-75% original bright blue showing scattered flaking to mild gray-brown patina along the sides of barrel, slide and along the fronstrap, with high edge silvering and a few pinprick pits along some edges. There are some light tool marks around the disassembly piece on the right side of the slide that are mostly unobtrusive. The extractor and hammer remain bright, the other small parts retain most of their original blackened finish and all markings are crisp and clear. The left grip panel is an original black checkered hard rubber panel while the right is an original black checkered Bakelite panel. The left rates very fine showing some light dings and handling marks while the right rates very good plus showing a small crack along the top rear edge. The barrel and slide are matching the frame, one original magazine in excellent condition is included and the action seems to function well mechanically. The pistol includes the aforementioned scans of the Webley records and scans of Onslow’s official naval record. This is a particularly interesting and important piece of World War One history, now one of four known artifacts associated with HMS Onslaught and such an important naval battle 110 years ago. A wonderful and extremely rare opportunity for the advanced martial collector. (13F12682-1) {C&R} (10,000/15,000) Categories: Firearm, Handgun Terms and conditions TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE The following paragraphs represent the terms under which all sales by Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. are conducted. Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase, we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them. All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. Therefore, it is important that absentee bidders pay for their items in a timely fashion. All requests for refunds received after 30 days of the sale date will not be considered. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to reject any bid in order to protect our consignor’s interests. PAYMENT POLICY All invoices are payable upon receipt. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept cash, check, wire transfer, Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express as payment for items purchased. Online payment is available for buyers directly through the online invoicing process. Bidders who fail to pay their invoices in full by the 25th day following the sale agree to have their total invoice amount charged to the credit card listed on file and therefore forfeit any cash discount they may have previously been entitled to. Credit card purchases are limited to $50,000.00 per customer, per auction. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to demand cash or hold merchandise until funds are collected in full. There will be a $35.00 charge for all returned checks. A 21% Buyer’s Premium will be added to all purchases regardless of price with a 3.5% discount when paid with check, cash or wire transfer. This premium is to be paid as part of the purchase price. Additionally, the 2.5% cash discount will only apply to invoices paid promptly, within 14 calendar days of the auction. Buyers should be aware of common delays in the mail and if that is a concern they are welcome to call our office to receive wire transfer information. No items are to be removed from our facility until paid for in full by the purchaser. All International customers must make payment via wire transfer, credit card payments will not be accepted. GUIDELINES FOR FIREARM DELIVERIES All Federal, State and Local firearms laws will be strictly adhered to. FFL holders may take possession of any firearm on day of sale (excluding Class III) when they present a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License. If an FFL dealer is sending an “agent” to pick up items, that person must be a bona fide, paid employee of the company with a W4 on file. Outside contractors cannot be used as pickup agents. A SIGNED LETTER FROM THE FFL STATING THIS FACT MUST BE PRESENTED AT TIME OF PICK UP. The FFL Dealer will in turn be notified that a transfer was made to you as their agent. New Hampshire residents over the age of 21 may take possession of any firearm, on day of sale, provided the proper paperwork is completed and the transfer has been approved either through the N.H. State Police or the FBI NICS System, whichever is appropriate based upon the type of firearm(s) purchased. Non-resident individuals from states without waiting periods may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check. If you reside in a state with a waiting period, your items will need to be shipped to a dealer in your state. No modern handguns will be delivered to non-resident individuals. All modern handguns purchased by non-resident individuals will need to be delivered to or shipped to an FFL holder in the buyer’s home state. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and all items must be paid for on day of sale. Bidders should be familiar with their local and state laws as Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be responsible for any parties purchasing items which may not be possessed in, or shipped to their state of residence. Some states have restrictions on transfers to C&R License holders, study your state and local laws before bidding. If you are the winning bidder of an item that you find does not comply with your state’s laws, you will still be required to pay your invoice, Amoskeag Auction Co. will then re-offer the arm on your behalf. FIREARM CLASSIFICATION: ANTIQUE - no paperwork required MODERN - Post-1898 firearm which requires an FFL or 4473 with corresponding successful background check in order to be delivered. C&R - for firearms that fall under the ATF Curio & Relics licensing and if purchased by a person with a “C&R License” no paperwork is required. NOTE: Items that meet the age requirements but have been altered from their original configuration may NOT be delivered on a C&R License. SAFETY WARNING Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. does not warranty the safety of any article it sells. Therefore, it is imperative that, before you use any firearm, purchased here or anywhere else, you have it examined by a qualified gunsmith to determine whether or not it is safe to use. SHIPPING • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will make every effort to ship items in a timely fashion. All items, with the exception of Modern and C&R handguns, are shipped via UPS Ground unless other arrangements have been made. All merchandise is shipped Signature Required. • All Modern and C&R handguns are shipped via UPS Next Day Air service. • Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and for insurance on the items being shipped. Purchasers who self-insure can forego insurance charges if Amoskeag Auction is notified of your intent to self-insure. PICKING UP MERCHANDISE • Pickup will be by appointment only. • OUR OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY FOLLOWING THE SALE. No merchandise will be delivered on those days. We will resume normal business hours on Wednesday. • Our office hours are Monday through Friday - 8:00 am to 4:00pm.
