Hammer highlights from Tamworth auction of medals and militaria

A catalogue of collectables

RICHARD Winterton Auctioneers' latest Militaria Sale at Tamworth uncovered numerous interesting medals and military items.

These included the archive of a soldier who served during the First Boer War and World War One, a vintage Caterpillar Club badge, and a scarce King Edward VII Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Imperial Yeomanry Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Other highlights inclued a Victorian two clasp Canadian General Service Medal and a number of lots relating to Tanks veteran Captain Reginald Frank Shaw MBE.

Read on for more details.

1st Boer War and WW1

This fascinating archive from a soldier who served during the First Boer War and the First World War sold at £660.

Medals include a Queen's South Africa medal with clasps for Defence of Ladysmith and Talana correctly impressed to 584 SEJT TH Wain, Royal Leicestershire Regiment, and a WW1 Pair correctly impressed to 48093 Class 2 Warrant Officer Leicestershire Regiment.

Also included is Thomas Wain's Queen Victoria chocolate tin; 1915 dated trench whistle; black and white photo of Thomas; certificate of education; letter; and a red tunic from the late 19th or early 20th century belonging to Thomas.

There is also a hand-sketched picture of Thomas in a frame drawn by a schoolmaster who had been called up to the Army; the sketch was  made after they were de-mobbed in 1919.

Online records suggest Thomas was medically withdrawn out of the Army in 1900 and sent to recuperate at the Chelsea Hospital Barracks.

Eventually discharged, he received his pension in 1904 before signing up again to help fight in WW1.

"This archive has come direct from his family," said militaria valuer Jeff Clark.

"There is scope for more in-depth research to Thomas Wain.

"We believe the tunic is of late-Victorian era and was a private purchase by the wearer due to its quality."

Caterpillar Club

This vintage Caterpillar Club badge named to Sergeant Wallis and presented by the Irving Company sold at auction for £580.

It dates from 1922 but is highly likely to have been awarded during the Second World War. This example still has its ruby eyes intact and comes in a vintage brooch box.

The lot also included other pin badges relating to the British Legion but not connected to Sgt Wallis.

Yeomanry Long Service

This scarce King Edward VII Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Imperial Yeomanry Long Service and Good Conduct Medal sold at £500.

Struck in silver with original light-yellow ribbon and correctly named to Staff Sergeant Major F Cramp, this example is in good condition.

A total of only 1,674 such medals were awarded to men in more than different Yeomanry regiments.

Canadian Medal

This Victorian two clasp Canadian General Service Medal sold at £480.

This medal has a swivel suspender and the clasps are for Fenian Raids 1866 and 1870. Named to 3556 Dr J Tucker RA, it comes with a length of ribbon with a pin fastener at the top.

Captain RF Shaw MBE

The Tamworth auction included a number of lots relating to Captain Reginald Frank Shaw, a British officer in the Tank Corps during the First World War.

He is best known for serving on the Western Front and was later deployed as a Battle Practice and Whippet Tank Instructor during the British intervention in southern Russia in 1919 and 1920.

The auction featured his WW1-era military MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in its Garrard & Co box, sold at £440, and a 19th century Russian Kindjal dagger with scabbard, given to or acquired by Capt Shaw, sold at £800.

In his later years, Capt Shaw gave away his full-size medals but a miniature set together with a framed photograph and other ephemera sold at £660.

Another lot including a cigarette case and flask engraved RFS and RF Shaw resepctively sold at £320.

See the carousel below for links to the online catalogue.

To book a free valuation of all types of medals and militaria with Jeff Clark, call 01827 217746 or email tamworth@richardwinterton.co.uk.

Free valuations and home visits for large collections and house clearances are also available.