Iraq Military Cross at DNW

A superb Iraq 2003 MC group of seven awarded to Corporal AW Currie, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers – the only military cross to the regiment - was sold for £18,600 (includes Buyer’s Premium of 24%) by Dix Noonan Webb in its auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria on 15 September 15.

Coming under heavy machine gun fire near Al Uzayr security base on the night of 8 August 2003, Currie, who is from Motherwell, led his team forward in a prolonged fire fight with over 20 enemy gunmen operating from five different positions.

Also of note in the sale was the landmark posthumous George Medal awarded to Sergeant DJ ‘Aaron’ Garside of the 10th (Volunteer) Battalion, Parachute

Regiment, who sustained fatal injuries in saving the life of a recruit under his supervision during live hand grenade training in July 1979. This sold for £4,960 .

The highest price of the sale was paid for an impressive and large Garter Principal King of

Arms badge from the Most Noble Order of the Garter, which sold for £68,200 against an estimate of £15,000-£20,000. The gold and enamel badge weighing 56.8g overall, dated from c. 1820-30. It is not known who it was made for, however there are three possibilities: Sir Isaac Heard, Principal Garter King of Arms 17841822; Sir George Nayler, Principal Garter King of Arms 1822-31 or Sir Ralph Bigland, Principal Garter King of Arms 1831-38. After July 1883 such insignia of office became returnable to the Crown upon resignation or death.

Elsewhere, the World War II medals and orders awarded to flamboyant and controversial media magnate Robert Maxwell fetched £9,300. As Captain Robert Maxwell, Queen’s Royal Regiment, he fought across Europe from the Normandy Landings to the capture of Berlin.

There was an exceptional Hurricane and Spitfire pilot’s DFM group of five awarded to Flying Officer JD Rudling, 136 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, who was awarded the DFM for the Defence of Chittagong, and was later shot down and killed over Burma on 29 April 1944. These sold for £16,120.

Finally, an extremely fine and scarce to a female recipient,

GSM 1918-62 with one clasp for ‘Palestine 1945-48’, awarded to a Mrs A Minshall went for £161.20.

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