War hero’s medals going under the hammer in Newbury expected to fetch £12,000
A collection of medals awarded to decorated Brigadier Victor Henry Jaques (1896-1955), CBE DSO MC and Bar over the course of his 25-year career is expected to fetch £12,000 when it’s sold in the Military and Collectables auction at Special Auction Services in Newbury on Wednesday, November 22.
Jacques served in the First World War and quickly rose up the ranks, becoming a Lieutenant in 1917. He received his first medal, the Military Cross, on October 15, 1918, "for conspicuous gallantry and dash during a raid on enemy trenches".
Jaques received a bar to his Military Cross a year later for actions in an attack on a German position north of the Ormignon River during the Hundred Days Offensive.
In 1920 he left the army to become a lawyer but rejoined his old regiment and fought in Italy during World War II where he was promoted to Major and then the temporary rank of Lt Colonel.
In 1945 he was selected as an undercover Special Operations Executive in the Far East.
Militaria Specialist Adam Inglut said: “This is an extraordinary medal group, just looking at it is impressive, and to read the back story of this incredible man and the courageous acts he performed while under fire is just staggering. There are not many people in the world who could have done what he did, and it is an honour to handle and sell this astonishing group.”
The medals are being sold alongside war records, commissions/warrants, certificates for awarded medals, passports, army forms, photographs and copies of the London Gazettes that Jaques appeared in.
The Militaria and Collectables auction will comprise 1064 lots of Militaria, Single Owner Collection of Truncheons, Tribal & Ethnography, Mechanical Music, Radio & Telephony, Ephemera and much more and will take place on Tuesday, November 21 and Wednesday 22 at Special Auction Services, Nexus Park, Plenty Close, Off Hambridge Road, Newbury.
Bidding will also take place online via
https://auction.specialauctionservices.com/upcoming-auctions/
See below for the full list of medals belonging to Brigadier Victor Henry Jaques.
• Distinguished Service Order
• Military Medal with Bar
• Order of The British Empire (CBE)
• WWI British War
• WWI British Victory with Oak Leaf
• WWII 1939-45 Star
• WWII Africa Star
• WWII Burma Star
• WWII Italy Star
• WWII Defence
• WWII War
• Fifth Class of the Order of the White Elephant
