Charlie Upham - VC & Bar

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Charlie Upham - VC & Bar

07-24-2006, 09:22 PM,

#10

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Master Sergeant

Posts: 186
Joined: Jun 2001

RE: Charlie Upham - VC & Bar

Looking forward to that movie.

Australia's last privately owned Victoria Cross medal awarded at Gallipoli has sold at auction tonight in Sydney for a world record $1 million.

The medal, awarded posthumously to New Zealand-born Australian soldier Captain Alfred Shout, was sold by his grandson, 67-year-old Graham Thomas.

"I can confirm the buyer is a prominent Australian who is going to work with the RSL to make sure the medals go on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra."

Capt Shout was mortally wounded when the last of three grenades he ignited blew up in his face.

He was the most highly decorated Australian soldier to serve during the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915, being awarded the Military Cross during the landing at Anzac Cove in April, and then the Victoria Cross for his actions in the Battle of Lone Pine in August that year.

Capt Shout's collection of medals also included the Military Cross (GVR) for the landing at Gallipoli, Star 1914-15, British War Medal 1914-18, Victory Medal 1914-19, and Queen's South Africa medal and King's South Africa medal, awarded for his service in the Boer War earlier that century.