Military medals from Trafalgar to WW2 found in old cricket bag
They were discovered inside an old cricket kit bag – and represent a family's incredible military history.
The vast array of medals cover virtually every conflict fought by the British in the last 200 years, including the Battle of Trafalgar.
Among them were also diaries and photographs thought by family descendants to have long been discarded.
The collection shines a light on generations of the Tudor family, from Wolverhampton, who earned several of the medals themselves fighting for their country, but who were also keen collectors of military memorabilia.
They include Arthur Tudor who originally saw military service in the 1800s and Edward Harold Tudor who served in the First World War.
Now one of their relatives has put the cache of almost 90 medals up for auction. The family archives were kept together and sold as one lot, fetching well above their reserve price.
Arthur Tudor, a prominent figure in the town, ran the Caernavon Castle hotel in Great Berry Street. Several letters addressed to the pub from Edward Tudor to his parents form part of the collection.
Among the papers found was an enlistment document which revealed that Edward signed up for military service on February 27, 1855, at the age of 18, at precisely 3.30pm. He is described on the form as a labourer, most likely a farm labourer.
One of his first letters home, written on August 6, 1855, was sent from Parkhurst Barracks on the Isle of Wight. Another, dated October 3, 1857, came from a barracks in Gibraltar.
The Edward who fought in the Great War is thought to have been one of Arthur's grandsons, and among the collection is a Distinguished Conduct Medal he was awarded for gallantry.
There was also a W.L.Tudor, believed to be William, who served with the Staffordshire Yeomanry in the 22nd Mountain Brigade which formed part of the Expeditionary Forces that fought the Greeks and Turks in 1917.
One of the largest family medals was awarded to a Master Arthur Tudor for 'diligence, improvement and good conduct' by St James Square Academy, Wolverhampton, by its principal Alex Hunter in 1872.
Nick Thompson, medal and militaria consultant at Lichfield-based Richard Winterton Auctioneers, which organised today's sale, said: “It's one of the finest collections to come to auction for years – a belting set of stuff. I was like a kid in a toy shop when I saw it.
"We've only been able to highlight parts of the collection, there hasn't been time to sit down and work out how the various Tudors were all related.
"There is a bigger story to tell and that, hopefully, will be done by the new owner. It is worthy of proper specialised research.
“Clearly both Arthur and Edward saw the history and stories behind these medals – and they collected quality items throughout."
The total collection, auctioned in 85 separate lots, fetched around £20,000. The family archives, which formed lot 69, were estimated to realise around £1,500 but sold for £1,800.
The vendor, from Sutton Coldfield, who wished to remain anonymous, told Mr Thompson that he remembered his grandfather showing him, as a child, the latest additions to his collection. He came across them just over two years ago stored in a large cricket kit bag on the death of an elderly family member.
The medals range in time from the early 1800s to post-Second World War general service medals. They were auctioned at the Lichfield Auction Centre at Fradley Park this afternoon.
Also going under the hammer at the sale were thousands of collectable coins including gold sovereigns, a collection of almost 800 British military cap badges and helmet plates and militaria ranging from First World War rifle bayonets and war diaries to radio receivers, binoculars and a Second World war US major’s dress uniform jacket.
