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Military Medal

Campaign medals were awarded to cover specified conflicts, while gallantry medals recognise personal accomplishments by members of the armed forces or acts of civilian bravery.

Collecting areas range widely in this field, from regiments and types of medals to those awarded by certain countries or for special forces. Many campaign medal groups will also include gallantry awards too, and the latter involve remarkable stories of heroism.


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Cavalry charges into history at Omdurman

18 September 2023

Australian saleroom Abacus Auctions will feature a compact but significant collection of medals formed by British expatriate Dr Cecil Walkley.

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Bravery recognised by Montgomery

18 September 2023

This Second World War Distinguished Conduct Medal group of five was awarded to Serjeant John Chapman of the 4th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers.

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Victoria Cross value – without the actual VC

07 August 2023

Such was the notoriety of Gunner James Collis that his family did not attend the funeral even though he had three sons in the army.

Gold box

Pick of the week: Well done to naval hero Waldegrave

17 July 2023

The practice of presenting gold and enamel swords and freedom boxes, already popular in England in the 18th century, became more widespread during the Napoleonic Wars.

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Spink tops coins and medals table

13 February 2023

The record business enjoyed by London’s coin auction houses during Covid lockdowns largely continued last year.

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Chicken’s bravery award

13 February 2023

The Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross offered by Morton & Eden (20% buyer’s premium) on July 20 was awarded to Master George Bell Chicken, a civilian volunteer attached to the Indian Naval Brigade.

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‘Rob the Parachuting Dog’

13 February 2023

Instituted by Maria Dickin, the founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), in 1943, the Dickin Medal has been awarded on 71 occasions – 32 of them going to pigeons, 34 to dogs, four to horses and one to a cat.

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Edward Medal recognised colliery rescue courage

13 February 2023

The sale of gallantry awards held by Baldwin’s (20% buyer’s premium) on September 15 included this Edward Medal Exchange George Cross awarded for bravery at the Hedley Pit in 1930.

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Record for an RAF Victoria Cross

13 February 2023

Of only 26 flying Victoria Crosses issued to date, four were awarded for the Malayan campaign in December 1941-February 1942.

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Coins and medals: Upwards and onwards as market rises with inflation

13 February 2023

The unexpected but very welcome increase in demand that the market experienced amid Covid lockdowns continued in 2022 as restrictions eased – and auction houses are optimistic about another strong performance this year

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The key to value when it comes to selling Waterloo Medals

30 January 2023

With 39,000 of these campaign honours given out, which ones can generate extra demand and achieve higher prices?

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Saleroom’s very local hero from just down the road

30 January 2023

Medals awarded to a gallant soldier who was gassed in the First World War were sold at auction just a few minutes’ walk from the house where he was born.

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Titanic survivor was luckier serving on land in wartime

30 January 2023

The personal stories behind medals are becoming increasingly relevant to collectors.

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Medal collectors increasingly keen on extras

30 January 2023

In its earliest days flying was frequently lethal, in and out of combat.

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Rare gold medal awarded to one of Nelson's Band of Brothers takes six-figure sum at auction

30 January 2023

Vice Admiral Davidge Gould was the last surviving member of Nelson’s Band of Brothers, dying in 1847

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Top stories this week – including news of an export block placed on a record breaking RAF Victoria Cross medal

13 November 2022

The most popular stories on this website over the last week included news of an export block issued on a Victoria Cross medal in the hope a UK buyer will emerge.

Squadron Leader Scarf

UK buyer sought for record breaking RAF Victoria Cross medal

01 November 2022

An export block has been issued on a Victoria Cross medal in the hope a UK buyer will emerge.

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Falklands appeal fuels £82,000 bid

31 October 2022

Relatively few gallantry medals available for what was short self-contained conflict, heroic stories involving highly collectable regiments, a relatively morally unambiguous backstory (for British collectors at least)… the Falklands War can generate high demand at auction.

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Born in Brecon, Aussie grit

31 October 2022

Lt William Emlyn Hardwick (1885-1918) was born in Brecon but by the time he enlisted to fight in the First World War he was living in Australia.

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Medals and militaria: The Grimsby exiles

31 October 2022

Despite their sterling service with the Allies, a large number of Polish soldiers could not return home when the fighting ended, as a fascinating archive reveals.