Brothers' war medals to be auctioned
First World War medals honouring two hero brothers killed in action have been handed to a Black Country auction house to form part of a military sale.
A relative from Dudley, who wanted to remain anonymous, has sent the medals to Aston's auctioneers and valuers, in Tower Street. Experts at the Dudley auction house say the medals could fetch more than £2,000.
Military and collections expert Keith Hartwell, says it is extra special to have found two brothers who have both achieved the Military Medal.
"It's extraordinary to get two medals from two brothers who died in the same conflict together and very rare," he said. "Its going to make it a special auction."
One Military Medal belongs to Arthur Ernest Senior, a sergeant with the First Battalion the Rifle Brigade.
Arthur was killed in action on October 23, 1916 – and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, in France.
Arthur's brother, known only as A. Senior, was given the Military Medal for bravery in the Great War.
He was a soldier with the 7th Norfolk Regiment and was killed in action April 28, 1917.
The brothers were also awarded the 1914-15 Mons Star, the War Medal and Victory Medal.
After researching the family history through national archives, Mr Hartwell found another brother Ernest Montague Senior – but sadly has not traced his medals.
Ernest was part of the 6th Battalion of The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) who died of wounds suffered in battle on April 10, just 18 days before his brother A. Senior.
The Duisans British cemetery in Etrun, France is Ernest's last resting place.
The family originally lived in Norfolk, East Anglia, but details of how the three brothers died is a mystery.
"Had one or two brothers died fighting, the army would usually have called any remaining family back from the front – but I'm not sure why this didn't happen here," Mr Hartwell said.
