School criticised for aiming to sell former pupil’s Victoria Cross

A school has been criticised for planning to put a First World War soldier’s Victoria Cross up for sale.

The medal was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Philip Bent, who served in the 9th Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment – known as the Tigers, and was killed aged 26.

Lt Col Bent died in Belgium in 1917 leading a charge with the call of “Come on the Tigers”, according to the

London Gazette.

His mother donated the Victoria Cross and four other medals to his former school, Ashby Boys’ Grammar in Leicestershire, to inspire pupils.

They were later lent to the Royal Leicestershire Regiment Museum, but have not been on display for more than 40 years due to insurance costs.

Now Ashby School says it intends to sell the medals to pay for new sports facilities. It is estimated that the medals could fetch around £250,000.

Captain Tim Wilkes, chairman of trustees at the Royal Leicestershire Regiment, is against the sale. “You have to consider what the wishes of Mrs Bent were when she gave the medals into the safeguarding of the school – to inspire future generations,” he said.

Elaine Blunt, chairman of governors at the school, said the medals had been locked in a safety deposit box for more than 40 years and a sale was “an opportunity to bring great benefits to the school”.