Auction Catalogue

30 June 2004

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Important British and World Coins, Tokens, Historial and Art Medals, Numismatic Books and Banknotes

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

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Lot

№ 1566

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30 June 2004

Hammer Price:
£55

Belgium, Death of Yvonne Vieslet, 1918, a bronze medal by Jenny Lorrain, Yvonne proferring food to a prisoner through the bars of a gate, rev. sword in a field of wheat, pax above, 65mm (Frankenhuis –; BDM –). Good very fine and very rare, a poignant subject (£40-60)

Yvonne Vieslet, a 10-year old girl from Marchienne-au-Pont, was shot in the back by a German soldier while attempting to give some food to a French prisoner-of-war on 12 October 1918. She died of her wounds several hours later in hospital. ‘La plus jeune héroïne de la guerre’ is commemorated by a monument to her at Marchienne and the school at Monceau-du-Sambre is named after her. Sold with further documentation.

Jenny Lorrain, Brussels-based sculptor and medallist; this is only the third medallic work by her seen by the cataloguer. Illustration reduced