Hero’s VC sells for record £840k

A VICTORIA Cross won by a naval hero, who allowed his ship to be torpedoed so he could lure a German U-boat close enough to sink it, sold for a world record £840,000 yesterday.

Vice-Admiral Gordon Campbell’s decoration, the highest award for valour, stormed past its estimate of £300,000 to go for a hammer price of £700,000.

With fees added, the total price paid was £840,000. The previous auction record for a VC stood at £678,000.

Vice-Admiral Campbell earned the medal in the First World War for his incredible ruse that saw him steer his ship, HMS Farnborough, into an enemy torpedo. The German U-boat captain observed the scene through his periscope and steered the submarine to within 30ft of the ship to finish it off.

At that moment, Vice-Admiral Campbell gave the order for his crew to open up the ship’s hidden guns, firing 45 shells at point black range. He received the Victoria Cross for his courage on February 17, 1917.

Vice-Admiral Campbell successfully used the same tactic twice more to sink two further German submarines later in the war.

King George V decreed Gordon Campbell should have a second VC but he declined it.

He did, however, receive the Distinguished Service Order three times during the war.

Vice-Admiral Campbell’s medals were bought by his great-nephew Baron Lorne Thyssen-Bornemisza.

The Baron said he intended to medals to a museum for display.

“These medals have enormous historic value for Britain, as well as personal value to me and my family,” he said. offer the