A hundred years on and their bravery will never die
Centenary of well known First World War battles puts spotlight on medals
THIS year marks the 100th anniversary of some of the First World War’s most famous battles. While commemorations are likely to be sombre affairs, the occasion is expected to raise interest in war medals.
Military campaigns marking their centenary this year include the Battle of Passchendaele, which was fought in Belgium from July 31 to November 10, 1917.
Captain Noel Chavasse was awarded a Victoria Cross for gallantry at Passchendaele. His medal sold for a record-breaking £1.5million in 2009.
Chavasse had rescued soldiers in no-man’s land despite being mortally wounded. Astonishingly it was his second Victoria Cross. He is one of only three people to have been given two – known as a VC and Bar.
While decorations from well known battles can fetch a premium price, especially those that are rare or attached to a famous name, medal collecting can also be enjoyed by those with less money to invest.
John Millensted, medal expert at auction house Bonhams, says: ‘Medal collecting is a fascinating hobby. There is so much research involved in looking at personal acts of heroism.’
Millensted believes modern medals, such as those from the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, are a good way for new collectors to get involved. Service decorations can be purchased for about £300.
He adds: ‘If you have paperwork from the soldier selling, this will help. But be aware that members of the Armed Forces cannot sell while still in active service. There have also been incidents of medals being stolen and then sold on.’
Older medals need not be expensive. For example, a 1914 trio of Star and Bar medals awarded to a member of the Scottish Rifles discharged due to wounds can be purchased for £220 from websites such as british-medals.co.uk.
Using reputable dealers such as those listed in Medal News magazine (tokenpublishing.com) should help collectors to avoid fakes. Token Publishing prints an annual Medal Yearbook which gives details of medals available and the prices you should expect to pay.
Dan Wade, a spokesman for the trading website JustCollecting, says: ‘Ask about the back story and how a seller came to acquire the medal. Also look at it in person.’
Medals awarded to notable people in history who were not involved in battles are also highly sought after.
For example, a medal set including the George Cross awarded to Second World War heroine Violette Szabo – the French-born British Special Operations Executive agent during the Second World War – fetched £260,000 at auction two years ago.
Similar medals awarded to less well known people usually sell for between £12,000 and £25,000.
Six medals awarded to Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown – regarded by many as Britain’s greatest pilot in the Second World War – fetched £165,000 at Bonhams last year. He died early last year, aged 97.
Millensted says: ‘This incredible war pilot is in the Guinness Book of Records for having flown more types of aircraft than anyone else.’
A good collection will need to be insured after being valued by a specialist auction house. You may have to pay a fee for a written valuation. Many home insurance policies will cover medals provided you disclose them.
You may need specialist insurance cover – particularly if you often take your collection to exhibitions as many home insurers will not cover such a risk.