THE VICTORIA CROSS, MILITARY MEDAL AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR JAMES OCKENDON, ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS, IS TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION BY NESBITS ANTIQUES AUCTIONS OF SOUTHSEA.
21 May 2025


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Company Sergeant Major James Ockendon,
1st Bn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

  • Victoria Cross
  • Military Medal ( MM )
  • 1914-15 Star
  • British War Medal ( 1914 - 20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914 - 19 )
  • Defence Medal ( 1939 - 1945 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )
  • Croix de Guerre ( Belgium )


The Victoria Cross, Military Medal and campaign medals awarded to Company Sergeant Major James Ockendon, 1st Bn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, is to be sold at auction by Nesbits Antiques Auctions based in Southsea, Hampshire. (This is the VC medal group recently seen on the TV programme Antiques Road Show ).

The estimated sale price is between £220,000 and £260,000.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 8 November 1917 ], Langemarck, Belgium, 4 October 1917, Acting Company Sergeant Major James Ockendon, 1st Bn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

For most conspicuous bravery in attack ( East of Langemarck, Flanders ). When acting as Company Serjeant Major and seeing the platoon on the right held up by an enemy machine gun he immediately rushed the machine gun, regardless of his personal safety and captured it.

He killed the crew with the exception of one man, who made his escape. Sergeant Ockendon however, followed him, and when well in front of the whole line killed him and returned to his company.

He then led a section to the attack on a farm. Under very heavy fire he rushed forward and called upon the garrison to surrender. As the enemy continued to fire on him, he opened fire, killing four, whereupon the remaining sixteen surrendered.

James Ockendon was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 5th December 1917.


James Ockendon died on the 29th August 1966 at Southsea and was cremated in the Porchester Crematorium.

For the award of the Military Medal

[ London Gazette, 28 September 1917 ], Near Wijdendrift, Belgium, 6th August 1917, Acting Company Sergeant Major James Ockendon, 1st Bn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

The battalion relieved another when the enemy fired a healvy barrage causing many casualties and much confusion with many men becoming separated. Ockendon rallied the survivors and led them forward again.

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Iain Stewart, 21 April 2025