LORD ASHCROFT BUYS SGT. MAJOR GARVIN MEDALS

Lord Ashcroft bought the medal, awarded to Sergeant Major Stephen Garvin in 1857, for £228,000, from London auction house Dix Noonan Webb.

Sergeant Major Garvin is considered one of the Victorian era's greatest heroes for his daring antics in colonial India during the bitter year-long fight for independence in 1857.

He led 12 men on a brave assault on a stronghold of Indian Sepoy soldiers and, against all odds, either killed or captured all of the enemy troops.

He was presented with the VC - the highest award for valuer - by Queen Victoria herself and was also one of only a dozen men to be presented with a Distinguished Conduct Medal during the conflict.

His medal set was described by experts selling it as "unique" and had been expected to sell at auction for £140,000.

But after a bidding war erupted the hammer price was £190,000, which shot up to £228,000 with the buyer's commission added.

The medal set also includes the Punjab Medal 1848-49 with clasps Mooltan and Goojerat, the India General Service Medal 1854-95 with clasp North West Frontier, the Indian Mutiny Medal with clasp Delhi and the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

The honours made Garvin the most highly decorated non-commissioned soldier of the Indian Mutiny.

David Erskine-Hill, medals specialist at Dix Noonan Webb, said: "Garvin's decision to volunteer for the storming party was remarkable given that his chances of surviving the attack were not high.

"His bravery then and when he later also won the Distinguished Conduct Medal made him one of Victorian Britain's greatest heroes."

To read the complete article, see:
Victoria Cross and other medals sold to Tory peer for more than the price of a house (www.express.co.uk/news/uk/513890/Victoria-Cross-and-other-medals-sold-to-Tory-peer-for-more-than-the-price-of-a-house)

To read an earlier E-Sylum article, see:
LORD ASHCROFT'S VICTORIA CROSS COLLECTION GOES TO IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n28a17.html)

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