Above, Left to right. Lot 3069: Beretta 686 Onyx Sporting, 12 bore, single trigger, boxlock ejector, over and under shotgun, estimate £450 - 550, Lot 3038: British Martini-Henry Mk IV service rifle, estimate £600 - 1,000 & Lot 3071A: William Moore & Grey, 10 bore double trigger percussion pigeon gun, estimate £600 - 800.
Medals and Memories: Stories of Service
Perhaps the most poignant section of the sale is the medals – tokens of valour and service that tell deeply personal stories. Medals awarded to women remain rare, and so the WWI medal trio awarded to Sister A.E. Middleton of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (Lot 3128) is especially significant. Women played a crucial role in wartime, particularly as nurses on the front lines, yet their recognition in the form of medals was far less common than their male counterparts. Sister Middleton’s group, along with her Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. badge, is a rare and moving reminder of the contribution of women in war.
The sale also includes an impressive group awarded to Commander John Cecil Gilbert Martin of the Royal Navy (Lot 3146), whose service spanned some of the most dangerous theatres of WWII. His medals – which include an OBE, Atlantic, Africa and Burma Stars, along with personal effects and documentation – bring to life the career of a man who dedicated himself to his country’s service both at sea and on land.