Collecting WW2 Gallantry and Campaign Medals Hints and Tips

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

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Yeah - The medals haven't arrived yet but I get the impression that they fleece you at every point. On top of what I bid I had to pay commission to the auction site (I thought this was just the seller that paid that) and then some random courier charges me a fortune to collect and deliver said medals unless I either arrange a courier myself or go in person to collect the medals.
     
  2. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Afraid so: 20% buyers premium at most auction houses, plus VAT on that and as you say pricey postal charges. Hurts a bit.
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Look what arrived today ! I'll start a thread on him when I know a bit more.

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  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Well done Andy, some nice paperwork to study, looks a nice little lot.
     
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  5. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Just to match your acquisition Andy,

    I got these a few weeks back for a Chindit 1 casualty.

    1943.jpg
     
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  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Steve - Lee sent me a message yesterday that a friend of his was selling some family medals inc a Burma Star. I mentioned you might be interested.
     
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  7. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks Andy, we have chatted by pm.
     
  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi All,

    I thought I'd place this one up today. This afternoon at a well known auction house in London a Chindit 2 MM group sold for £5800.

    Sgt. Harold Bottomley of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, part of Mike Calvert's 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, was awarded the medal for his continuous bravery in the face of enemy artillery and mortar fire at the Chindit stronghold known as 'White City'.

    The medals sold for nearly double the pre-sale estimate.


    MM1944.jpg
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I wonder if the buyer knows it was downgraded from a DCM?

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  10. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    I think that was in the sale information Andy.

    It was an interesting day for Chindit related groups, a Chindit 1 MC group was up, but did not sell. This group has been around the circuit for some time and has never made the grade. This time the information let the cat out of the bag, the MC present with the group is not the awarded medal, but has been added to make up the full entitlement. Basically you would have needed to spend four figures this afternoon to acquire just the authentic condolence slip!! The rest of the medals could have been anybody's.
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Can anyone find out how much a group went for at auction that I placed a bid on? I really wanted these too, now I have the bug. This chap was a Cameron Highlander and was captured at La Bassee.

    Really curious as to how much they went for:

    Lot 915
    WW2 group - 1939-45 Star, War Medal unnamed as issued, with box lid issue top addressed to Mr B.G.Milligan, Glasgow NW...
    Estimate: Est: £30 - £40
    Auction: Two Day Auction of Coins and Collectables - Room OneTwo Day Auction of...
    Auction House: Lockdales
    Date: 14/09/2014
     
  12. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Andy,

    Looks like they went for £60. See link to prices realised for auction here:
    http://www.lockdales.com/Prices/A117pricesrealised.html
     
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  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Dam it ! They only beat me by a fiver ! :mad:
     
  14. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    You skinflint!! :lol:
     
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  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Ha....Times are hard now with the extra mouth to feed :p
     
  16. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Fair enough mate. Trouble is next time you will bid a little higher anyway.
     
  17. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Small Ships evacuation of Dunkirk award to Isle of man Steam Packet Steamer 'Tynwald' later killed in action 14/7/1942

    D.S.C. (GV1) dated 1940, hallmarks 1940, reverse engraved, ‘Charles Powell Mason, Dunkirk’ B.W.M. Mercantile Marine War Medal, 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal
    Charles P. Mason,
    D.S.C. L.G. 16/8/1940. 'Services in the withdrawal of the Allied Armies from the beaches at Dunkirk'
    Charles Powell Mason was decorated for his services as Radio Officer aboard the Tynwald, of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company which had been requisitioned.
    During the course of “Operation Dynamo”, Tynwald, had the distinction of embarking more troops than any other personnel vessel and in her multiple trips was credited with the evacuation of some 7,500 men - an incredible achievement (Some sources give her credit for actually having picked up 8,953 troops.)
    She made her first mission to the shattered port on 28 May, and was one of ten personnel ships that lifted a total of 14,760 troops from the East Pier the following day. The same day, her sister Fenella was lost.
    In the late evening of 30 May, she was one of four personnel vessels back at the pier and withdrew 1,153 troops. It was at this stage that her Master asked to be relieved on account of exhaustion, having only had four hours of rest in several days. Captain W. A. Qualtrough having then taken command, and the likes of Mason having elected to remain on duty
    The last day of the operation was 4 June; shortly after 1400 hours, the Admiralty announced that “Dynamo” was over. .
    The loss had been heavy among the Steam Packet Company vessels at the evacuation. Mona's Queen was sunk with the loss of 24 of her crew. Tynwald's sister vessel 'Fenella' was bombed and sunk alongside the East Mole, the 'King Orry' was hit and sank the following day whilst 'Mona's isle' was hit but remained afloat. Tynwald herself was sunk in 1942. She did however hold record for the most men lifted from the beaches in her several trips of any personnel vessel.
    Mason was later killed in action on 14/7/1942 during the sinking of S.S. British Yeoman.MASON, First Radio Officer, CHARLES POWELL, D S C, S.S. British Yeoman (London), Merchant Navy. 14th July 1942. Age 42. Son of Charles Edward and Eliza Mason. Panel 21.(Tower Hill).
    Tuesday 14th July 1942
    British Yeoman (British Tanker 6,990 tons, built 1923) torpedoed by submarine U 201 in North Atlantic
    Sailing from Curacao to Gibraltar . Sunk. Casualties: 36 crew , 7 service personnel

    Kyle


    http://www.british-medals.co.uk/british-medals/awards-gallantry-and-distinguished-service/superb-small-ships-evacuation-dunkirk-awar

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  18. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

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    Platoon Sergeant William James Percival, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards

    Platoon Sergeant William James Percival, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, killed in action at Dunkirk 31 May 1940, 1939-45 Star (2614470 Sgt W. J. Percival Gren Gds), War Medal, 1939-1945 (2614470 W. J. Percival Gren Gds); medals privately named in a modern style; pair court mounted for display. Good extremely fine. (2) £80-100
    Platoon Sergeant William James Percival, the son of William and Alice Percival, of Faversham Kent, enlisted for service with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in 1936. Having also served with the 2nd Battalion prior to mobilisation, he was sent on active service with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards as part of the BEF. He served in a Bren Gun Carrier Platoon, comprised largely of Vickers-Armstrong ‘Universal Carrier’ tankettes, armoured with Bren Guns and Anti-Tank Guns. Platoon Sergeant Percival was killed in action at Dunkirk 31 May – 1 June 1940. Sold with useful documentation and several original photographs, one in full parade dress, another showing him alongside the ‘Universal Carrier’ armoured tankettes

    http://www.baldwin.co.uk/media/cms/auction-archive/auction-75/BALDWINS%20Auction%2075%20-%2008%20-%20MILITARY%20MEDALS.pdf

    Kyle
     
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  19. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

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    Group of six mounted as worn plus Dunkirk Medal. Geo VI MM (Military Medal) small EK, 1939-45, France & Germany Stars, War & Defence Medals, Geo VI Territorial Efficiency Medal (Ind Imp) MM to 4272310 Fus J R Marley, R North'd Fus, Terr Efficiency to 4272310 Cpl J R Marley KRRC, WWII Medals un-named as issued. MM awarded for the Defence of Dunkirk 1940 'On the 24th May 1940 Fusilier Marley's platoon were moving to occupy a bridge at Aire which was believed to be unoccupied. One the way, the platoon met the enemy in superior force & were hard put to it to hold their own. Fusilier Marley assisted the platoon Sergeant in firing a Bren gun with conspicuous effect against the enemy infantry. Later he helped with the evacuation of a wounded man. On several occasions he took messages & carried up ammunition under fire. He was a fine example to his comrades'. LG 11th July 1940. Lot includes Dunkerque Medal with certificate from French, he served 32 years & 335 days with the colours from the 1st Sept 1939 to 31.07.72. He was a native of Morpeth. Red service book included with certificate of service etc. Medals VF & better.
    Sold £2,500 Corbitts

    Kyle
     
  20. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Lance-Corporal Alexander Miller, Seaforth Highlanders,
    A scarce ‘Crowned Head’ Palestine M.M. group of five awarded to Lance-Corporal Alexander Miller, Seaforth Highlanders, who was wounded at Dunkirk in 1940 and subsequently served as a Sergeant in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
    Military Medal, (GV), 2nd ‘crowned head’ issue (L. Cpl. Seaforth), G.S.M. clasp, Palestine (Pte. Seaforth), 1939/45 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal (the last three WW2 issues privately impressed Cpl Seaforths),
    A. Miller, mounted as worn
    M.M. London Gazette 6 November 1936:
    ‘For gallant and distinguished services rendered in connection with the emergency operations in Palestine during the period 15th April to 14th September, 1936.’
    Alexander Miller enlisted Seaforth Highlanders 1932. Served Palestine and Egypt from December 1933 to December 1936, then served in China. Returning home in February 1939 having transferred to the Reserve, he rejoined the Colours on 2 September 1939 and went to France on 18 October 1939. His battalion was virtually wiped out at Dunkirk and Miller himself was wounded there (note with refers). On recovery he then transferred to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, with whom he served as a Sergeant at Home for the remainder of the war.
    With two original photographs and his original Certificate of Service which notes: ‘Military Medal, Palestine 15-4-36. Awarded scroll for devotion to duty during the disturbances in Palestine 1936. Certificate dated 1/11/36 under the authy. of Comdr. Br. Forces in Palestine & Transjordan.’
    A rare award and unique to the regiment


    http://www.british-medals.co.uk/british-medals/awards-gallantry-and-distinguished-service/rare-crowned-head-military-medal-palestine

    Kyle
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