Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Second World War St. Nazaire raid V.C. group of eleven attributed to Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. Newman, Essex Regiment, attached No. 2 Commando

Victoria Cross; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., with 2 Bars; French Legion of Honour, silver, gilt and enamel; French Croix de Guerre, with palm, mounted as worn, the Coronation awards with reversed ribands, very fine or better (11) £600-800

Ex Spink, 17 July 1997 (Lot 850), when part of a ‘fine collection of miniature medals’.

Augustus Charles Newman was awarded his V.C. for outstanding bravery in the famous raid on St. Nazaire in March 1942, when, as Commanding Officer of the military forces, he was one of the first ashore, leading his men and directing operations, quite regardless of his own safety. He later attempted to fight through to open country and not until all ammunition was expended were he and his men overwhelmed and taken prisoner (see the London Gazette 19 June 1945 for full details); sold with a copy of The Art of Jack Russell, with a signed dedication to Newman’s bravery at St. Nazaire, together with a photocopy of his lengthy handwritten report on the raid, written as a P.O.W.