Gallantry Medal sold for £10,000 in auction
A QUEEN’S Gallantry Medal (QGM) awarded to a member of the Royal Air Force for his bravery in Cyprus in July 1974 has been sold in an auction for £10,000.
The QGM was given to the late Acting Flight Sergeant William Barker Oldroyd, as reported last week by this paper.
He was awarded the QGM, along with Acting Squadron Leader Richard Alec Chasemore, his Commanding Officer, for “their joint efforts in dealing with a fire adjacent to a petrol store at Nicosia Airport” while “lying prone under fire from aircraft equipped with rapid firing cannon”.
The medal and its case were sold to an unnamed online bidder, together with Oldroyd’s RAF Long Service and Good Conduct medal, a pair of matching miniature medals, and a “comprehensive portfolio chronicling the circumstances giving rise to the award of the QGM”.
The auction took place last Saturday and was conducted by North Yorkshire-based auctioneers Elstob & Elstob as part of a “Fine Art and
Antiques Sale” that also included a collection of Gordon Highlanders’ militaria.
“[The] actions [of Oldroyd and Chasemore] undoubtedly prevented widespread injuries and loss of life, as well as extensive damage to the nearby military RAF station,” Elstob & Elstob’s David Douglas said.
“The medal is particularly noteworthy because it is one of the first of its type to be awarded. Examples of other Queen’s Gallantry Medals include the gentleman who came to Princess Anne’s rescue during the attempt to abduct her from a vehicle in The Mall.”