Collecting WW2 Gallantry and Campaign Medals Hints and Tips

Discussion in 'WW2 Militaria' started by Drew5233, Aug 26, 2014.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    A Hancock's & Co. official VC specimen medal has sold today 15/10/2020) at the auction house DNW for £24,000. The specimen is thought to have been struck some time between 1940 and 1950. The pre-sale estimate was £3000-4000.

    Probably someone with a little too much spare cash, but not nearly enough for a real one!
     
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  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Ashcroft?
     
  3. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    At £20,000 over the estimate it must have been really in demand by at least two different collectors.
    This years Nobel for economics went for work on auction theory - I wonder what it says about such a discrepancy between the reserve and actual sale?
     
  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I suppose it being a specimen and in essence, a real VC but not actually issued to anyone, it is as near as you get to owning the real thing. It comes in a presentation case, but has the word 'specimen' written on the reverse.

    VC sp.jpg
     
  5. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    I remember my Grandfather had a collection of medal dealers catalogues (from the 1980s) and one had a VC in it to William Allison White for the princely sum of ..............£5,000 . There were no takers because it appeared in several quarterly issues .

    T William Allison White, M.G. Corps.

    For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack.

    When the advance of the infantry was being delayed by an enemy machine gun, he rushed the gun position single-handed, shot the three gunners, and captured the gun. Later, in similar circumstances, he attacked a gun accompanied by two men, but both of the latter were immediately shot down. He went on alone to the gun position and bayoneted or shot the team of five men and captured the gun. On a third occasion, when the advance was held up by hostile fire from an enemy position, he collected a small party and rushed the position, inflicting heavy losses on the garrison.

    Subsequently, in consolidating the position by the skilful use of captured enemy and his own machine guns, he inflicted severe casualties on the enemy. His example of fearless and unhesitating devotion to duty under circumstances of great personal danger greatly inspired the neighbouring troops, and his action had a marked effect on the operations.

    Re-united with his other medals it was later bought by the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Buckland, Dix & Wood, London, 1993. (Now DNW)


    Kyle
     
  6. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    DNW have an auction coming up on December 20th 2020 . Although theres some really good lots I`m not sure if I agree with museums selling off their bequests despite the reasoning behind it ?

    Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria (3 December 2020) | Dix Noonan Webb

    Kyle
     
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  7. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I was thinking basically the same thing Kyle. I'd be very upset if I had donated my relatives medals to a museum and then a few years later they sold them on to raise funds. A rather tricky position all round.

    On a different note, Spinks December offerings included the medals and other items belonging to Hughie Green. I will be keeping a close eye on these and I mean that most sincerely.
     
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  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

  9. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    No gallantry award but a long service group to a former DLI soldier /Green Howard/Lanc? Para .Killed in Action in Normandy . Some nice documentation .
    Coins, Medals and Militaria, Arms and Armour, Sporting and Taxidermy
    Sale Date(s)
    11 Mar 2021 11:30 GMTDate Format
    Venue Address
    Fine Art Salerooms
    Brewery Square
    Dorchester
    Dorset
    DT1 1GA
    United Kingdom
    4d68fdcf-767d-49f9-a2bb-acdf0142e8c6.jpg
    6a35e279-e0f5-46ba-a419-acdf01422f5d.jpg

    Auctioneer's estimate
    200 GBP - 400 GBP Starting bid £120

    Kyle
     
  10. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    That's a nice collection of items Kyle. I especially like box with his initials. Unusual (ish) to see a soldier start in India as a Para and end up in NW Europe.
     
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  11. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    I think he was Green Howards in India pre war, having been originally a TA Soldier (7th DLI) and progressed to the 6th Airborne

    Kyle
     
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  12. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Cracking group, as usual though a miles off estimate from the auctioneers to draw the interest, I'd guess it will go a good bit over a thousand - with his paybook its one I'd love but can only dream of
     
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  13. mark abbott

    mark abbott Junior Member

    But note the IGS is renamed.
     
  14. AndyBaldEagle

    AndyBaldEagle Very Senior Member

    I agree, that will go three or four times above highest estimate I would think.

    Andy
     
  15. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Just an update for those interested the Airborne group sold today (11/3/2021) for £1,500
    sold.jpeg
    Kyle
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2021
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  16. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    To be Sold on: 21st July 2021 at Dix Noonan Webb
    Estimate: £160,000 - £200,000
    The medals of Group Captain Peter Townsend:


    The Important Battle of Britain fighter ace’s C.V.O., D.S.O., D.F.C. and Second Award Bar group of eleven awarded to Group Captain Peter Townsend, Royal Air Force, who in February 1940 became the first pilot to bring down an enemy aircraft on English soil, later commanding No. 85 Squadron from May 1940 until June 1941, a period that witnessed him completing over 300 operational sorties, twice taking to his parachute - once when wounded - and raising his score to at least eleven enemy aircraft destroyed.

    Appointed Equerry to H.M. King George VI in 1944, and Comptroller to the Queen Mother’s Household in 1953, his famously controversial and ultimately forlorn romance with the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, brought him further celebrity status to add to his spectacular wartime achievements.

    Turning his attention to writing, in later years he authored the classic Battle of Britain memoir ‘Duel of Eagles’ whilst his well regarded 1978 autobiography ‘Time and Chance’ tells the story of his eventful personal life.

    To be sold with the recipient’s original Flying Log Books, bound in one volume - with later annotation in his own hand - covering the entirety of his operational career.

    The Royal Victorian Order, C.V.O., Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse officially numbered ‘C1106’; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1941’; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverses of the Cross and the Bar both officially dated ‘1940’; 1939-45 Star, 1 clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1977, unnamed as issued; Netherlands, Kingdom, Queen Juliana’s Coronation Medal 1948; Order of Orange-Nassau, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband, breast awards mounted court-style in this order, and all housed in an attractive custom made glazed leather display case, with sterling silver plaque, engraved ‘Gp. Capt. P. W. Townsend R.A.F. C.V.O. D.S.O. D.F.C.’, last with enamel damage, contact wear overall but generally good very fine unless otherwise stated (11).

    Medals.jpg
     
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  17. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949
    Name: A Brown
    Service Date: 1936-1937
    Service Place: India
    Campaign or Service: India - NW Frontier
    Regiment or Unit Name: 2nd Battalion The Green Howards
    Regimental Number: 4449027

    TD
     
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  18. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I'm slightly surprised that these have come onto the market at all.
     
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  19. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I believe that they were previously up for sale back in 2004 CF, £62,000 that time around.
     
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  20. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

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