Aussie VC sets record at Auction
AUSTRALIA’S last privately owned Victoria Cross medal awarded at Gallipoli sold at auction tonight in Sydney, setting a world record price of $1 million.
The medal was purchased by a prominent philanthropic Australian businessman who wished to remain anonymous and who bid over the phone. Lot 1078 included seven other medals with a combined value of less than $100,000. The $1 million price tag breaks the record of $595,000 set in 2005 for a medal won by captain Thomas Hardy at Lord Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in 1805.The medal was awarded to Captain Alfred Shout who was born a KIWI but trained by the AIF! He was awarded a Military Cross for his courage and leadership at the landing at Gallipoli and won the VC later at Lone Pine further up the ridges. Just being present and soldiering on at Gallipoli took a special type of courage.
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It appears that Kerry Stokes is the “mystery purchaser” of Captain Shout’s VC, and that the medal is to go on permanent display at the Australian War Memorial.
Naturally, the AWM curators are overjoyed, as now all the Victoria Cross medals awarded to Australians for actions at Gallipoli are in the collection.
What a wonderful gesture. Well done, that man.
PQ, could not agree more. A marvellous thing to do. Bravo!!!