News & Blog

Spink Success

Posted on Thu, 22 April 2010 by Phil Mussell - General News, Medal News

The two VC groups that Spink had on display at the last Britannia have just sold for no less than £210,000 (hammer £252,000 including premium) EACH! The first - to Major John Knox of the Rifle Brigade was a very early award being for Valour in action during the Crimean War 1854/55. It was sold with his campaign medals and a cannon ball - reputed to be the one that smahed his left arm during the assault on the Redan in June 1855!


The second lot of the day - and the second VC - was a much later award being the posthumous award to Act.Wng. Cmdr Hugh Malcolm Gordon RAF for commanding an attack on Bizerta Airfield in November 1942. Gordon was killed in Action a month later. It was sold with his World War II campaign medals.


The other wonderful group on display at Spink's table at Britannia was the GCB, large Army Gold Medal and Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword group to Lt-Gen. Kenneth Alexander Howard, Earl of Effingham. This fetched a magnificent £58,000 (hammer - £69,600 including premium)


Look out in the June/July MEDAL NEWS for further highlights including the Battle of Britain DFC group that fetched £150,000 and the unique "Mau Mau Emergency" DCM that fetched £72,000 !