'Largest ever' military auction as lifetime collections go under the hammer
September 14th, 2022
'Largest ever' military auction as lifetime collections go under the hammer
RICHARD Winterton Auctioneers has announced its ‘largest ever’ specialist militaria sale, with two lifetime collections due to go under the hammer.The auction, on Wednesday, September 28, includes a medal earned by a soldier who worked alongside Florence Nightingale in the Crimea and the OBE awarded to a Merchant Navy captain who saved sailors from drowning in the Atlantic after German U-boats torpedoed their cargo ships.
The sale at The Tamworth Auction Rooms in Church Street also features military watches, naval trade and divers patches and many German items and combat badges.
View the catalogue online here
Nick Thompson, medals and militaria specialist at The Lichfield Auction Centre, said it is ‘our largest and most diverse military sale yet’.“The auction includes two lifetime collections which have been a privilege to catalogue,” he said.
“Highlights include a fantastic medal and ephemera to William Green from Stafford, who worked alongside Florence Nightingale in the Crimea.
“In his later years, Green would tell how he was proud to have been called upon to attend the famous nurse when she had been laid low by fever.”
Formerly a sergeant in the Medical Staff Corps, William Green tended to Florence Nightingale in the Crimea. He was later deployed to India and the medal for that campaign can be seen pinned to his jacket in this photo.Following Crimea, Green was deployed to India and his medal from that campaign, with Lucknow clasp, named to 1st Class Orderly Wm (William) Green, goes under the hammer on September 28.
A photo of Green included in the lot shows him with the medal pinned to his jacket.
Also featuring in the sale is the archive of Captain Charles Thomas Stone.
“This very brave captain in the Merchant Navy in both WW1 and WW2 received the OBE and the Lloyd’s medal for saving souls in the Atlantic when torpedoed by German U-boats,” added Mr Thompson.
“Stone was commodore of the general steamship navigation company and the collection includes his medals plus photos, personal items and ephemera.
“It is a wonderful archive.”
The sale also features the medals, Death Plaque and paperwork to Basil Henry Belcher, pictured above, who went 'over the top' on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, with his men of the 2nd Royal Berkshires at Serre.
Other medals include those of a soldier in the 14th London Regiment who went to France in 1914, was promoted to lieutenant and, unusually, then served in the newly formed RAF.
Further lots include a rare Kriegsmarine diver’s dagger from the Second World War and a jerkin which has been sewn with original WW2 patches collected by a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, both pictured above.
Richard Winterton Auctioneers’ Stamps, Militaria & Ephemera Sale starts at 9.30am on Wednesday, September 28. Viewing is on Tuesday, September 27 from 10am-4pm by appointment.