Heroic soldier's gallantry medals sell for thousands at auction
Medals that were awarded to a British soldier for his numerous acts of heroism during the First World War have sold for more than £5,000 at auction.
The scarce WWI triple gallantry medal group, including a Military Cross & Bar, Distinguished Conduct Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal, were awarded to Herbert Disney for his "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty".
Phone and internet bidders battled to win the collection, which ended up going for £5,510 in the sale run by Hansons Auctioneers on the anniversary of his death in 1960 at the age of 71.
Matt Crowson, head of militaria at Hansons, said it was "an impressive result for a hugely important medal collection honouring an exemplary WWI soldier".
"It seems particularly timely to honour him on the anniversary of his death just before Remembrance Day," he said.
"His story reminds us all of the sacrifices and bravery of our Armed Forces through the generations.
"Alfred, as he was known, rose from humble beginnings and conquered childhood health issues to achieve the ultimate trio of bravery awards.
"After signing up to serve his country in 1915 at the age of 26, he climbed the military ranks in months.
"By all accounts, he became an inspirational junior officer to the men under his command."
Born in Barrow-upon-Soar in Leicestershire, Alfred had a challenging start to life, having been diagnosed with pleurisy and emphysema at the age of 10.
But this did not affect his fitness and was rated A1 when he enlisted in 1915, joining the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment) as a private.
He then transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (MGC), with his battalion entering the war in France in March 1916.
He rapidly rose through the ranks, being promoted to corporal in February 1916, then acting sergeant.
Family accounts suggest he took part in the Battle of Delville Wood and the Battle of Guillemont, with his leadership skills and composure earning him the DCM in 1917.
He was sent for Officer Cadet training and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in September 1917, going on to earn the Military Cross.
The citation for the medal, in the London Gazette, said he had twice "brought up supplies of ammunition and rations though intense artillery barrages". "Later he personally rescued a gun and tripod, organising a fresh team from stragglers, and with them providing invaluable assistance during a crucial moment of the operations," the citation continued.
He demonstrated the same courage in November 1918 during the Battle of Sambre, seeing him winning the bar to his Military Cross. His citation for the MC Bar said he showed "fine courage and good work on 4th November 1918 during the attack on the Forêt de Mormal".
"When in charge of a section of machine guns he observed that the infantry were held up by heavy machine gun fire," the citation read.
"He succeeded in personally capturing two enemy machine guns with about 12 prisoners. He brought one of the guns into action, and effectively silenced the machine gun fire that was holding up the advance."
Militaria expert Mr Crowson said the action in the Battle of Sambre would have made his second Military Cross one of the latest in the Great War.
"The award of the MC and Bar, plus the DCM, would likely make 2nd Lt Disney one of the most highly decorated soldiers in the Machine Gun Corps," he said.
"It's also know he served as an officer in the Home Guard during the Second World War, with his family referring to him as 'Captain Disney'."
Also auctioned was Mr Disney’s officer’s cap, identity bracelet, trench maps, Field Service Book, a 1918 book entitled 'The Employment of Machine Guns', two fob watches, WWI-era embroidered postcards, a 1915-issued Princess Mary tin with scarce silver-tipped bullet pencil, photographs and ephemera relating to his time in the Machine Gun Corps.
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