A medal collection assembled by a late Second World War serviceman from Alsager sold for £50, 000 at auction.
The collection assembled by a late Second World War serviceman had a guide price of £20, 000 to £25, 000.
The 145-lot collection, which belonged to Edward Ernest Butler, known as Ted, was consigned by his family to Halls Fine Art’s militaria, naval and aviation auction in Shrewsbury on 27th August.
The top price went for a Great War Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) group awarded to Colour-Sergeant Major Frederick J Meachin, Cheshire Regiment, who was helped to escape from Belgium by British nurse Edith Cavell.
The medal group eclipsed its pre-sale estimate of £1, 500 to sell for £6, 500.
“It’s not clear to what action the DCM citation refers, but it’s probably the assault on Vimy Ridge in April, 1917 in which the 1st Cheshires were involved with the Canadians, “ Caroline Dennard, Halls Fine Art’s militaria specialist, told the “Shropshire Star”. She said she was “delighted” with the price achieved.
“We are delighted that Ted’s fantastic collection of medals attracted so much interest from buyers both in the UK and overseas. The prices achieved show that here in Shropshire we can sell militaria collections as well, if not better, than the London auction houses, “ she said.
The medals primarily related to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, Cheshire and Gurkha Regiments, including several Distinguished Conduct gallantry medal groups.
Born in Sandbach in 1926, Mr Butler worked for the Westminster Bank in Winsford and joined the Royal Navy in 1944, training as a coder and serving in the Far East, part of the time alongside the 14th Army and Gurkha units.
His service took him to Malaya, Singapore and Siam and witnessed Japanese soldiers surrender in both countries.
“During these years and having lived in such gruelling times, he developed a great interest in militaria and history, “ said his family.
“On returning to his banking career, now in Alsager, these interests developed.
“He bought his first medal on Crewe Market in the late 1940s and, encouraged by a close friend and collector, Tony Mullen, he became a serious collector. He spent many hours writing letters, researching and reading around the subject, focusing on the medals he had bought, the soldiers they belonged to and the conflicts they were engaged in. “
Mr Butler purchased his medals from leading auctions and individual collectors and “felt great affiliation” and affection towards the Gurkhas, with whom he served.
Having contracted meningitis, he spent less time with his medal collection and died in 2004.
“Even during the last few months before he died, when he could, he was adding to his collection (his interest was never totally gone, “ added his family.
Lance Sergeant John Purcell was born in 1894 and served with 1st KSLI and Royal Army Medical Corps. His DCM citation relates to an attack near Fayet in France on September 24, 1918, where he took command, after the death of the platoon commander and led bombing parties to storm enemy posts and suffered a head wound from machine gun and snipers fire.
