Auction Catalogue

6 July 2005

Starting at 9:30 AM

.

Ancient, British and World Coins, Token, Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books and Banknotes

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

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Lot

№ 1253

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6 July 2005

Hammer Price:
£90

A group of medals awarded to P.J. Wells, a noted pre-War athlete who was killed in action in Tunisia in December 1942:
Ampleforth College, award medals (3), in bronze (2), and silver, unsigned, arms, revs. wreath, named (bronze: A.C.A.S. 1935, Junior 100 Yards, Second, P.J. Wells; A.C.A.S. 1935, Junior 440 Yards, Second, P.J. Wells; silver: A.C.A.C. 1937, Open 440 Yards, Second, P.J. Wells), all 45mm; Oxford University Athletic Club, medals (2), in bronze and silver, unsigned [by W.J. Dingley], arms, revs. wreath, named (bronze: Freshmen’s Sports, 1937, 100 Yards, 1st, 10.3 Secs, P.J. Wells, Magd[alene College]; silver: March 1939, P.J. Wells, Magd. Coll., 100 Yards, 10.1), hallmarked Birmingham 1938, 60 and 45mm; [Oxford University] Standard Medal, a bronze award, unsigned, arms, rev. wreath, un-named, 29mm; O[xford] U[niversity] A[thletic] C[lub] v. A[mateur] A[thletic] A[ssociation], 1939, a shield-shaped bronze badge, back engraved (100 Yards, 2nd), 32 x 24mm; Universities Athletic Union, a bronze award medal, unsigned, unicorn, rev. wreath, engraved (Athletics 1938, 100 Yds, 1st), 39mm; Polytechnic Harriers, Kinnaird Inter-Club Trophy, a silver award medal by Toye, St George slaying dragon, rev. lozenges and wreath, edge impressed (100 Yds 1939, 2nd), hallmarked Birmingham 1938, 29mm; other award medals (3), one in silver [12]. Generally very fine or better, silver medals toned (£80-100)

Reverse of fifth only illustrated. Peter John Wells, BA, son of Henry Walter and Norah Louise Wells of Wimbledon, was educated at Ampleforth and Magdalene College, Oxford. He served as a captain in the Royal Artillery in the early part of the War before transferring to the RAF, where he was attached to 651 Squadron. He was killed in action on 6 December 1942, aged 23, and is buried at the Beja war cemetery, Tunisia. Wells’ time for the 100 yards as recorded on the 1939 medal, 10.1 seconds, was just a fraction slower than the fastest time run in Britain that year, 9.9 seconds, by Arthur Sweeney