Former England cricketer to sell £100k Gloucester Regiment military medal collection

A Military Cross awarded to a First World War soldier from Herefordshire is going under the hammer as part of a remarkable collection of military medals owned by former England cricketer Jack Russell.

The medal was awarded to Graham Bromhead Bosanquet, an officer in the Gloucestershire Regiment, who was killed in action on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

It forms part of a larger collection of 135 military decorations collected by Russell which are to be auctioned at Noonans Mayfair on 15 April and are expected to achieve in the region of £100,000.

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Russell's military history "addiction"

The former England wicket keeper describes his lifelong fascination with military history as "an addiction".

Russell, who debuted for England in 1988, enjoyed a distinguished cricketing career that included 54 Test matches and 40 one-day internationals before he retired in 2004 due to a back injury.

Originally from Stroud, he began playing for Gloucestershire at just 17 and remained closely associated with him home county throughout.

He said: "When abroad on tour with the England cricket team I would always try to spend as much time as I could visiting the nearest battlefield or military site and, whenever possible, pay my respects to any military graves that I could find."

Since retiring from cricket, Russell has established himself as an artist and now runs a gallery in Chipping Sodbury. 

Reflecting on his interests, he said that had he not pursued cricket and painting, "there is no doubt I would have ended up being a soldier".

Russell started collecting medals around 30 years ago, saying "initially I collected to all regiments, but I soon focused my attention on my home county regiment, trying to cover each battalion and as many campaigns as possible".

On his decision to sell his collection, he said: "I feel that I have got as close to the regiment and its fighting men as I possibly could, and it is now the time to hand them on to other collectors to take guardianship and look after these extraordinary men's medals for the next stage of their journey."

Reflecting on where his collecting journey will go next, he added: "My Gloucestershire roots are strong so I may start collecting medals to Gloucestershire men who fought in other regiments. I may even narrow it down to soldiers from my hometown, Stroud. Who knows? 

"However, I am certain that my passion for military history will continue to grow – with me it is an addiction!"

Graham Bromhead Bosanquet's Military Cross

Bosanquet's Military Cross is expected to fetch between £5,000 and £7,000 when it goes to auction next month. 

Born in Llandinabo, Herefordshire, on 17 November 1885, he was the only son of Admiral Sir Day Hort Bosanquet, a senior officer in the Royal Navy and British politician. 

Bosanquet served with the 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment during the Great War.

He was killed in action at Ovillers, aged 30, whilst attached as Brigade Major to the 64th Infantry Brigade and is buried in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boiselle, France.