THE VICTORIA CROSS GROUP AWARDED TO PRIVATE FRANCIS MILES, THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT, HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY MORTON & EDEN.
Wednesday, 25th May 2005


( select to enlarge )

Medal entitlement of Private Francis Miles,
5th Bn, The Gloucestershire Regiment

  • Victoria Cross
  • 1914-15 Star
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 ) + MiD Oakleaf
  • War Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )

The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Private Francis Miles, 5th Bn, The Gloucestershire Regiment, were sold at auction on Wednesday, 25th May 2005, by the London auctioneer Morton & Eden for a hammer price of £72,000. The group was bought on behalf of the Michael Ashcroft Trust, the holding institution for Lord Ashcroft's VC Collection.


For the award of the Victoria Cross.

[ London Gazette, 6 January 1919 ], Bois l'Eveque, France, 23 October 1918, Private Francis George Miles, 1st / 5th Bn, The Gloucestershire Regiment.

For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack on the 23rd October 1918, during the advance against the Bois l'Eveque, when his company was held up by a line of enemy machine guns in the sunken road near the Moulin J. Jaques.

Private Miles alone, and on his own initiative, went forward under exceptionally heavy fire, located a machine gun, shot the gunner, and put the gun out of action. Observing another gun nearby, he again advanced alone, shot the gunner, rushed the gun, and captured the team of eight. Finally he stood up and beckoned to his company, who, working on his signals, were enabled to work around the rear of the line and to capture sixteen machine guns, one officer, and fifty other ranks.

It was due to the courage, initiative, and entire disregard of personal safety shown by this very gallant soldier that the company was enabled to advance at a time when any delay would have jeopardised seriously the whole operation.

Francis Miles was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 30th May 1919.


After Francis Miles had been invested with his Victoria Cross he returned to his home village of Clearwell. Francis Miles returned to work in the colliery but suffered from poor health for the rest of his life. He died on the 8th November 1961 and is buried in St Peter's Churchyard.

In 2003 members of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regimental Association gathered to pay tribute to Private Francis Miles VC, buried in his home village of Clearwell, Gloucestershire. The Association was disturbed to discover the deteriorating condition of his grave and headstone, so decided, with the family's permission, to commission a new stone. On the 23rd May 2004, a new headstone was dedicated to Francis Miles VC in St Peter's Churchyard.

Acquisitions

Go to VC UK flag Home Page

Iain Stewart, 25 May 2005