VC coming up for sale

[Simon O.]

DNW in London have a VC group coming up for sale in their next auction. A New Zealand Cross too i see.

just a little over my budget

VC

NZC

[WalterB]

I think we can assume that Lord Ashcroft will take the VC at all costs so it can be part of his already impressive collection...

[David B]

Here's a picture of a New Zealand Cross. Not mine of course!

[WalterB]

Wow, David, that is a beauty. I love the suspension on the cross

[Prosper Keating]

Both unsold. Obviously potential buyers are unconvinced by the reassurances of the glorious leaders of the western world that the economy is bullish. Mind you, only a fool would leave money in stocks, shares or the bank these days. A VC, even at £100k, represents a good place to store money and will give you a better return on your money than the financial institutions over the same period.

PK

[WalterB]

Prosper, you are so correct in stating this. It is not with a great sense of pleasure and vindication that I point out to my friends that my purchases of "old medals and ratty old helmets" (my friends' words, not mine) have appreciated over time and have turned out to be a much better and safer investment than the mutual funds and high-tech stocks that many of my friends have touted about. The only problem that I have, which I refuse to admit to these friends, is that I cannot imagine ever parting with my collection.

[David B]

Walter, Yep it sure is a beauty, here's the Modern one - only two of these new ones have been awarded

Did you see how on both the suspension forms a 'V' for Victoria

[Douglas J Schrack]

Sold!

According to the Victoria Cross website the award was sold as of yesterday, June 20th to Lord Ashcroft. Who is this guy.

Doug

[WalterB]

David B, that is a beautiful medal, thanks for posting it (I had not noticed the V, very neat!).

Douglas, Lord Ashcroft is a very wealthy MP who has purchased virtually all of the VCs that have come up for sale. It is rumored that he has a collection of over 100 of them. I would love to see this collection...

[Dan T]

Don't bother bidding. Moneybags Ancram of the tory party is on the case.
Did you know that recently a scraping was taken from a VC for an analysis. It was actually Chinese! Good ole Ruskies were trading with all and sundry!

[Tony Farrell]

I thought it was common knowledge that the cannon (captured at Sebastopol) which was used for VCs was of Chinese origin. If anyone would like to have a real close look at one of these babies, then there's one outside Ely Cathederal in Cambridgeshire - complete with cascabel.

And what's Michael Ancram got to do with all this? Lord Ashcroft KCMG is the bloke with the bronze.

And Dave, who's been awarded the (revised) New Zealand Crosses?

[Dan T]

God Tone don't you read your Medal News? Thought it was common knowledge that Michael Ancram has the largest VC collection in the world.(over 100) He nevers bids in person but all the recent ones that have come on the market have gone to him.
Apparently he also has the VC to Para Sgt Mackay from the Goose Green episode. That was a private sale though and very low profile.Also are you sure that the one in Ely is not a museum copy. The Staffordshire Reg musuem got screwed recently and their family donated VC on display was stolen. Only after the crime did they reveal that the real deal was tucked away in their safe.

[Tony Farrell]

Dan, the chap with (what has to be) the ultimate VC collection is Michael Ashcroft, not Michael Ancram - a very different fish. Apparently, although he funded the purchases, he's placed them in a trust. Whilst I can only speculate as to his reasons, I can assure you that the bloke is a total VC-head, and really knows his eggs.

Lord Ashcroft, the Florida-based, multi-millionaire tycoon & former Tory party treasurer has had a passion for the award since boyhood and had published an article in one of the nationals recently on the subject. He's also a bit of a philanthropist and has donated considerable sums to Belizean charities, being a dual Belizean/British national.

With a taste for the indigenous Belikin beer and a fascination with the VC, I'm sure we'd get on famously. That tenuous link, though, is about it. "Tony who?"

[David B]

G'day Tony, Here are the two Citations - I remember the second one clearly, even though I was only 7 at the time.


Jacinda Margaret AMEY
Citation

On 24 April 1992 Ms Amey was one of five members of a Meteorological Service team, stationed on the remote sub-Antarctic Campbell Island, who were snorkelling when one of them, Mr Mike Fraser, was attacked by a shark, believed to be a white pointer. The other swimmers, apart from Ms Amey, swam to shore. Ms Amey waited until the shark moved away from Mr Fraser and then went to his aid and towed him to shore. Mr Fraser had lost his right forearm and his left forearm was severely lacerated and appeared to be broken. He was having trouble breathing and required urgent medical treatment. Having got him to shore, Ms Amey then joined the rest of the team in doing what they could for Mr Fraser until he could be flown to New Zealand. Ms Amey displayed great courage and bravery with complete disregard for her own safety in going to Mr Fraser's assistance.

-------------------


Reginald John DIXON (Deceased)
Citation

On 9 June 1995, Mr Dixon, aged 47, and his wife were passengers on Ansett Flight 703 when the aircraft crashed in the Tararua Ranges near Palmerston North. Mr Dixon escaped from the wreckage with fractures. However, despite his injuries, he returned to the aircraft to help other passengers trapped in the wreckage. As a result of this selfless action, he was critically burned when a flash fire broke out on the left wing of the aircraft near a hole in the fuselage from which he was helping passengers escape. He was hospitalised and underwent surgery and skin grafts. Mr Dixon remained in a coma, and although he made some initial improvement, his condition worsened and he died two weeks later, the fourth victim of the crash.

The situation in which Mr Dixon found himself was extremely dangerous and he displayed great bravery in returning to the aircraft, although injured, to help other passengers which subsequently resulted in the loss of his own life. His bravery undoubtedly ensured that the loss of life was not greater.

[David B]

And I believe this action should have won a NZC (He won the New Zealand Bravery Star - the one below).

Walter Bruce BUTLER
Citation

On the morning of 7 December 1998, Mr Butler, aged 76, heard screams for help from a neighbour, a sixteen year old girl, who was being attacked by a young male wielding a large knife. The youth appeared intent on sexually violating the girl and had stabbed her several times in the upper back. Mr Butler rushed to the girl’s aid and in doing so was himself savagely attacked by the youth who left the scene when passengers from a passing car stopped to assist. Mr Butler received wounds to his face and body which required over 400 stitches. Mr Butler’s actions may well have saved the girl’s life and he was fortunate not to have lost his own. He displayed outstanding bravery.