THE WWI TRIO OF CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO CORPORAL JAMES UPTON VC, 1ST BN, SHERWOOD FORESTERS, HAVE BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY SPINK OF LONDON.
25 July 2024

The First World War trio of campaign medals and the King George VI Coronation Medal awarded to Corporal James Upton, 1st Bn, Sherwoord Foresters, have been sold at auction by Spink of London.

The sale estimate was between £8,000 and £12,000. The sale hammer price realised £19,000. The identity of the purchaser has not been revealed.

However, it is understood that the campaign medals will be reunited with James Upton's Victoria Cross in the Sherwood Foresters Museum in Nottingham.

THE JAMES UPTON FIRST WORLD WAR CAMPAIGN MEDALS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY ADAM PARTRIDGE AUCTIONEERS ON THE 15TH FEBRUARY 2022.


( select to enlarge )

Medal entitlement of Corporal James Upton
1st Bn, Sherwood Foresters

  • ( Victoria Cross )
  • 1914 Star
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )


The First World War trio of campaign medals and the King George VI Coronation Medal awarded to Corporal James Upton, 1st Bn, Sherwoord Foresters, have been sold at auction by Adam Partridge Auctioneers ( Macclesfield ) on 15 February 2022. The sale estimate was between £2,000 and £3,000. The sale hammer price realised £14,400. The identity of the purchaser has not been revealed.

The medals had been entered into the auction by the grandson of James Upton. The Victoria Cross was presented to the Sherwood Foresters by Upton's sister-in-law in 1962.


[ London Gazette, 29 June 1915 ], Rouges Bancs, France, 9 May 1915, Corporal James Upton, 1st Bn, Sherwood Foresters.

For most conspicuous bravery near Rouges Bancs on 9th May 1915.

During the whole of this day Corporal Upton displayed the greatest courage in rescuing the wounded whilst exposed to very heavy rifle and artillery fire, going close to the enemy's parapet regardless of his own personal safety. One wounded man was killed by a shell whilst this Non-commissioned Officer was carrying him.

When Corporal Upton was not actually carrying in the wounded he was engaged in bandaging and dressing the serious cases in front of our parapet, exposed to the enemy's fire .

James Upton was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 24th July 1915.


James Upton died on the 10th August 1949 and was cremated at the Golders Green Crematorium, North London

News

Go to VC UK flag Home Page

Iain Stewart, 25 July 2024