RARE REGIMENTAL COMMANDER’S PENINSULA WAR GROUP AWARDED TO ONE OF THE FIRST KNIGHTS COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE BATH FETCHES HAMMER PRICE OF £90,000 AT NOONANS

During the Peninsula War (1807-14) Scottish-born Lieutenant-General Sir John Cameron, K.C.B. of the 9th Foot saw not one but two horses killed under him and following a successful charge, he was involved in taking between 300-400 prisoners. Appointed one of the first Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B) on his return from the Peninsula Wars, in which his regiment’s losses exceeded those of any other regiment, his rare Regimental Commander’s Peninsula War group of four was sold by Mayfair-based Auctioneers Noonans today (Wednesday, June 29, 2022) in a sale of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria for £90,000. The medals has attracted good interest and were bought by a private collector of important historical medal groups, who bid over the phone [lot 44].

Following the sale, Mark Quayle, Medal Specialist (Associate Director) Noonans commented: "An excellent price that is reflective of both the aesthetic beauty of the group, and the bravery of the man at various keys points of this nation’s history."

Another lot that sold well was the unique Second War 1942 S.B.S. ‘Operation Reservist - attack on Oran Harbour’ M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant D. C. Ellis, 2 Special Boat Service, a veteran of Dunkirk, who served with 101 Troop, No. 6 Commando prior to joining the S.B.S. for the raid on the Vichy French held Oran Harbour. These sold to a UK private collector of important gallantry awards for £18,000 and after the sale, Christopher Mellor-Hill, Head of Client Liason at Noonans commented: ‘'We are pleased to see this iconic Special Boat Services Gallantry award make such a handsome price of £18,000 in what was the first Anglo - American joint operation in WW2.” [lot 105].  

The outstanding Second War ‘V.C. Action’ immediate D.F.M. group of five awarded to Stirling rear gunner, Warrant Officer H. W. ‘Pete’ Gough, 149 (East India) Squadron, Royal Air Force - awarded for his gallantry during the raid on the Fiat Works, Turin, 28 November 1942 sold for £11,000 and were bought by a relatively new collector of interesting historical gallantry awards who is based in the UK [lot 111].