Latest news with #gallantry
Telegraph
06-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
‘Most gallant' WWII officer's Victoria Cross to be put up for auction
The family of a disabled World War Two officer who single-handedly turned 'the tide of a battle' are offering his Victoria Cross for sale at auction for the first time. Lieutenant Willward Alexander Sandys-Clarke, whose family called him Peter, in April 1943 cleared three German machine-gun posts and an anti-tank pit, capturing numerous prisoners in the process. All the while, his wife heavily pregnant with their first child. When his platoon came under fire from two enemy snipers, Lt Clarke advanced towards them alone only to be shot and killed. Robin, Sandys-Clarke's son, was born back in England just over a week later. Two days after Robin's birth Irene Deakin, his widow, received the telegraph telling her he had died. Mrs Deakin, who was known as Renee, went to Buckingham Palace to meet King George VI to collect the posthumous Victoria Cross (VC) – Britain's highest award for gallantry – in his honour. Eight decades on, his medals and other prized mementos are estimated to sell for £300,000 to £500,000 at London-based auctioneers Spink & Son. Alongside the VC is an emotive letter penned by Lieutenant Edward Deakin, his brother-in-law, to his sister telling her that Sandys-Clarke had died on the battlefield. Lt Deakin, who served alongside Lt Clarke in the 1st Battalion, The Loyals, during the North African campaign, wrote: 'Peter was killed in action at about noon yesterday, Friday, April 23, towards the end of one of the most gallant and courageous actions, led by himself, which I am ever likely to see.' He added: 'All I know is that I, and we all, have lost one of the finest and bravest of us all, and that he died as he always lived, in the highest interpretation of courage and honour.' The auctioneers said the family had decided now is the right time to part with Sandys-Clarke's belongings as they want to bring his story to a wider audience. A fierce counter-attack Lt Clarke was born in Southport, Lancashire, in 1919. He was almost killed in a motorcycle accident in September 1940, leaving him nearly blind in one eye and deaf in one ear. But he refused an honourable discharge and against the surgeon's advice landed with the 1st Battalion in North Africa. The Loyals were tasked to take Gueriat-el-Atach in Tunisia, one of the strongest points in the line of German defences on the route to Tunis and a key proponent of Operation Vulcan. The Loyals launched a 2am offensive, only to be met with a fierce German counter-attack which left Sandys-Clarke as the only officer standing in 'B' Company. He was wounded in the neck and head by shell splinters but immediately returned to the battlefield when he was bandaged up could form a composite platoon to recapture the ridge that controlled the line of advance. His VC citation states: 'Without hesitating, Lieutenant Clarke advanced single-handed to clear the opposition, but was killed outright within a few feet of the enemy. 'This officer's quick grasp of the situation and his brilliant leadership undoubtedly restored the situation, whilst his outstanding personal bravery and tenacious devotion to duty were an inspiration to his company and were beyond praise.' Sandys-Clarke, who was the fifth member of the Clarke family to receive the VC, was laid to rest in Massicault War Cemetery, near Tunis. Marcus Budgen, head of the medals department at Spink & Son, said: 'This is without a doubt one of the most important Victoria Crosses to come to market for the past decade, it is certainly the most poignant story I have ever told in my career.' He added: 'It is a simply breathtaking and tear-jerking story that should inspire us all.' The sale takes place on July 24.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Judy the hero Boxer dog honoured for charging at gun-toting terrorists and saving her brother's life
The gallantry medal awarded to a hero dog who thwarted a terrorist attack on British officers and saved her brother's life has sold for £22,000. Judy, a Boxer Bitch, and her brother Punch sprang into action after detecting intruders at an army compound in Palestine in the aftermath of Second World War. They barked furiously to alert their masters then charged towards the assailants. The canines were met by a burst of sub-machine fire from the terrorists but did not take a backwards step. The two officers inside the compound heard the commotion and ran outside. They saw a pool of blood which led them to Punch who was seriously wounded with Judy draped over him. She had attempted to shield her brother from further bullets after he was shot in the throat, skull and groin. She somehow emerged unscathed from the firing frenzy other than a bullet graze to her back. The gallantry medal awarded to a hero dog who thwarted a terrorist attack on British officers and saved her brother's life has sold for £22,000. Judy, a Boxer Bitch, and her brother Punch sprung into action after detecting intruders at an army compound in Palestine in the aftermath of Second World War The Dickin Medal awarded to Judy for thwarting the attack on a British Army base in Palestine in 1946 Punch, miraculously, also survived, despite losing three quarters of a pint of blood. The terrorists would have been able to sneak in undetected to the house and murder the officers in cold blood without their dogs' intervention. Judy's devotion to her sibling and willingness to risk her life saved his. Both dogs were awarded the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent to the Victoria Cross, for their fearless actions protecting their masters on the night of August 5, 1946. Judy's medal was sold by a private collector who has owned it for 14 years. It went under the hammer at auctioneers Noonans, of Mayfair, London, where it outperformed the pre-sale estimate of £14,000 to £18,000. The dogs were the pets of Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, who was Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Jerusalem Military Court, and the Adjutant General Lt Col Niven. The officers shared a house in the Jerusalem suburb and, seemingly oblivous to the danger posed to them, had left the front door open. Judy was awarded for her heroics in Palestine. So far 38 dogs have been awarded the Dickin Medal Judy's Dickin Medal citation reads: 'For beating off a terrorist attack on British Officers at risk of her own life while serving with Army H.Q. Palestine, on August 5th 1946.' Returning to the UK and after undergoing quarantine, both dogs were presented with their Dickin Medals during the Royal Tournamentcat Olympia on June 14, 1947. The Dickin Medal was created in 1943 by Maria Dickin, the founder of British veterinary charity the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, to honour animal gallantry during the war. To date, 75 have been awarded by the PDSA, with 38 going to dogs, 32 to pigeons, four to horses and one to a cat. A Noonans spokesperson said: 'This Dickin Medal for gallantry was awarded to Judy, a boxer bitch, for thwarting a night-time terrorist attack on British officers in Palestine. 'Suddenly the dogs became aware of intruders within the compound. 'Racing into the darkness and barking furiously, they were met with a burst of sub-machine gun fire from one or possibly two terrorists within the barbed-wire protected perimeter. 'Apparently the intruders were stealthily creeping towards the house with the intent to kill the officers. The certificate accompanying the Dickin Medal that was awarded to Judy the Boxer 'The barking and gunfire alerted the officers, thwarted the attack and thus saved their lives. 'Judy protected and undoubtedly saved the life of her severely wounded brother Punch, at risk to her own life.' Christopher Mellor-Hill, head of client liaison at Noonans, added: 'The sale of a Dickin Medal is always hugely emotive and this story is no different reflecting bravery and courage as well as emphasising the great British tradition of the almost human-like relationship that dogs have for us and others.' In December 2024, the Dickin Medal awarded to Antis the dog who flew in over 30 wartime combat missions was reunited with his master's family after a £60,000 sale. Antis the Alsatian loyally sat next to his owner Czech airman Robert Bozdech in the turret of a Wellington bomber for operations over Nazi-occupied Europe. He was twice wounded in action; once by shrapnel over Kiel and then when a shell exploded under his aircraft during a raid on Hannover. Antis was the only dog who flew in World War Two operations and his medal had left the Bozdech family when a private collector bought it in 1994. In October 2022, the Dickin Medal for an SAS dog who did over 20 parachute jumps behind enemy lines in World War Two sold for a record £140,000 at Noonans. Rob, a black and white collie-retriever from a Shropshire farm, was involved in the North African campaign and sabotage missions in Italy.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Miner's auctioned George Cross to return to Doncaster
A George Cross awarded to a miner for his gallantry in rescuing a man trapped underground at a colliery has been bought by a council at Smith was honoured for helping save Charles Liversedge when he was buried following a roof collapse at Askern Main Colliery, near Doncaster, on 3 January medal was bought for £12,000 by City of Doncaster Council and is now set to go on display at the city's Danum Gallery, Library and Museum later this Ros Jones said: "As the daughter of a miner, I am delighted that this important medal recognising a life-saving achievement at a Doncaster pit, is coming back to the city." The medal was sold by a private collector in an auction at Noonans Mayfair on 14 council said the purchase was made possible through a private added: "This is an important part of our heritage and even more so, given these are so rarely awarded."I hope people come and see this medal and read its story." Oliver Pepys, auctioneer and medal specialist for Noonans, said only 319 miners received the original Edward Medal in bronze between 1907 and 1971."Smith was one of just 30 miners who had received the Edward Medal in bronze to exchange his medal for the George Cross," said Mr Pepys."Exchanging the medal makes it a much rarer award, which attracted substantial interest."Following his Edward Medal exploits, Mr Smith entered the military and served in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, during World War his wartime services he was awarded the 1939-45 Star; the Burma Star; the Defence Medal; and the War Medal 1939-45. Following demobilisation in 1945, he returned to the coal industry and was employed at Stargate Colliery in Ryton until later worked in the coking industry at Derwenthaugh, County Durham until his retirement in died at Blaydon, County Durham, on 25 October, 1987. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Miner's George Cross to be sold at auction
Miner's George Cross to be sold at auction 14 minutes ago Share Save Tim Dale BBC News, Yorkshire Share Save Noonans Charles Smith was originally awarded an Edward Medal, which was later replaced with a George Cross A George Cross awarded to a mineworker for his gallantry in rescuing a man trapped underground at a colliery is to be sold at auction. Charles Smith was honoured for helping to save Charles Liversedge when he was buried following a roof collapse at Askern Main Colliery, near Doncaster, on 3 January 1940. He was first awarded a bronze Edward Medal, but was invited to exchange it for a George Cross when the medal was discontinued in 1971. The medal is being sold by a private collector in an auction at Noonans Mayfair on 14 May, where it is expected to fetch between £8,000 and £10,000. Oliver Pepys, auctioneer and medal specialist for Noonans, said only 319 miners recieved the original Edward Medal in bronze between 1907 and 1971. "Smith was one of just 30 miners who had received the Edward Medal in bronze to exchange his medal for the George Cross, making it a much rarer award," he said. Noonans Charles Smith went on to service in Burma during World War Two before returning to the coal industry until his retirement Mr Smith was born in Wigan, in1908 before becoming a miner at the age of 12. It was while he was employed at Askern Main Colliery that the roof fall took place in the Warren House Seam, trapping Charles Liversedge. According to the London Gazette: "He was extricated some three hours later, without having suffered serious injury, through the gallantry displayed, in conditions of the greatest risk, by a rescue party." Mr Smith was presented with his medal by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 2 July 1940. The miner later entered the military and served in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, during World War Two. Hr went on to work at Stargate Colliery, in Ryton-on-Tyne, County Durham, from 1945 to 1961 where he averted another disaster in 1953 when he spotted a frayed cable on a mine shaft lift just as the lift, full of miners, was about to be lowered. The lift was emptied and the cable repaired. In a letter from the Colliery's Consultative Committee, the secretary thanked him for the "manner in which averted a disastrous occurrence". Having elected to exchange his Edward Medal for the George Cross, he was invested with it by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 18 July, 1972, and subsequently received the Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977. He died at Blaydon, County Durham, on 25 October, 1987. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
