Medals and militaria sale is 'largest yet'

Medals and militaria sale is 'largest yet'

MEDALS and an accompanying archive detailing the heroic career of a Walsall Royal Marine are going up for auction on Tuesday (January 22).

Sergeant Benjamin William Carpenter served with distinction in World War Two and the Korean War and didn’t leave the Marines until 1955.

Service records show that Sgt Carpenter, pictured, was born in Lichfield on August 24 1924, at one time lived in Hart Street, Walsall, and married his wife Margaret on July 29 1950.

The immaculately kept archive of medals, badges, awards, photographs and paperwork is coming to auction in Richard Winterton’s Coins, Medals and Militaria Sale from noon on January 22 at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park.

The archive’s current owner is a collector who acquired it some years ago. It is not known whether Sgt Carpenter is still alive.

Militaria expert Nick Thompson said: “This significant and historical archive is an absolute treasure trove mapping out a distinguished military career.

“An enthusiast will find hours and hours of research here.”

Among the collection is a blazer bearing the Royal Marines badge worn by Sgt Carpenter, 11 boxed shooting medals won by him, dogs tags and a personally engraved pewter drinking mug from the sergeants’ mess dated 1954.

As a whole, the medals and militaria section of the auction is “the largest here yet”, said Mr Thompson.

“There is a vast number of fine and collectable medal groups including WW1 casualty memorial plaques and some WW2 casualty groups for the D-Day invasion,” he added.

“Also up for auction are several family-related medals – brothers, father and son, etcetera.

“On the militaria side of the auction are lots of interesting items including watches, compasses, binoculars, bayonets and a complete US-issue leather flying suit which would have been electrically heated.”

Also included in the sale is a large number of German Third Reich medals, badges, reference books and uniform items.

Richard Winterton’s next three-day sale takes place on January 22-24 and incorporates the specialist coins, medals and militaria section at noon on the Tuesday.

The main sale begins with jewellery at 9.30am.

Viewing for all lots is on Saturday, January 19 from 9.30am until midday, Monday, January 21 from 9am-4pm and on the day of sale from 8.30am.

Nick Thompson carries out free valuations of coins, medals and militaria at The Lichfield Auction Centre every Tuesday between 9am and noon.

Richard Winterton Auctioneers also offers free valuations of jewellery, antiques and other collectables at the Wood End Lane auction centre on Tuesdays from 9.30am-4pm.

Free, no obligation home visits are available for large collections or big items. Telephone 01543 251081 or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk.