War memorabilia

WWI centenary events have boosted interest in war memorabilia, driving up prices, says Anna Temkin in The Times. You can’t rely on “militaria” to drive an investment return, “but it is possible to amass a valuable collection”. Look for…

Medals You can get into medalcollecting quite cheaply, says John Millensted of Bonhams: it’s possible to pick up “basic” WWI examples for £25 or so. “But the ultimate medal for a serious collector is the Victoria Cross”, which today would fetch more than £100,000. The key is the citation that goes with it: if awarded for a famous action, the price could hit £150,000.

Uniforms and kit According to auctioneer Boningtons, anything indicating rank and service branch is “highly collectable”. Depending on the insignia and provenance, a soldier’s tunic could be worth up to £1,000. Take care with cap badges though – they’ve “been faked for a long time”. Prices for weaponry have stagnated in recent times, though you might get £600 for a Lee-enfield Army-issue rifle.

Posters, letters and postcards Original WWI posters are “particularly sought after”: a copy of the famous recruitment poster featuring Lord Kitchener could fetch between £400 and £600. In 2013, Boningtons sold a diary belonging to a British sergeant – in which he recorded Armistice Day and playing football with the Germans – for £800.