MEDAL DETECTING

From car boot bounty to harrowing war experiences, the realm of military medal collecting is all about uncovering the stories behind them

- ELLIE TENNANT

Sgt Liddell remained in his exposed position, which was now attracting fire, with complete disregard for his own safety and attempted to eliminate the machine gun with his grenades, at the same time waving to the platoon to advance..."

*With utter disregard for his personal safety, he carried the wounded man to a ditch, helped to dress his wounds and personally helped him back to the nearest aid post...

These vivid accounts of bravery might read like heroic scenes from dramatic war films, but they're accounts of real soldiers' lives - just a few glimpses of the awe-inspiring histories behind every antique military medal.

“The aesthetics of medals appeal but, for most collectors myself included it’s the history of the recipient that really excites, explains Adam Chapman, medal dealer at Harland Military Antiques, collector and consultant at Duke’s Auctioneers.

“When somebody puts a set of medals on your desk and you start to research the person who was awarded them, you often uncover an incredible story. It’s like being a detective.’ Adam has been hooked on antique medals since he was six, when his grandparents let him rifle through a large box of garage 'junk' destined for the tip and he found a number of medals from his grandfather's RAF days. This sparked a hobby that evolved into a career and a lifelong addiction'.

Expert medal dealer Chris Dixon of Dixons Medals has been obsessed with medals for a long time, too -55 years, in fact. 'I bought my first medal - a Waterlod one - for £5 when I was 21,' he recalls. 'I'd just opened my first shop. I sold it a few days later for £7 and I was hooked from that moment onwards.'