A medal collection assembled by a late Second World War serviceman from Cheshire will be going under the hammer with a guide price of £20,000 to £25,000 next month.
04/07/2025
The 145-lot collection, which belonged to Edward Ernest Butler, known as Ted, has been consigned by his family to Halls Fine Art’s militaria, naval and aviation auction in Shrewsbury on August 27. Entries for the auction close on July 25.
The medals primarily relate to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI), Cheshire and Gurkha Regiments, including several Distinguished Conduct gallantry medal groups.
Born in Sandbach in 1926, Ted worked for the Westminster Bank in Winsford and joined the Royal Navy in 1944, training as a coder and serving in the Far East, part of the time alongside the14h Army and Gurkha units.
His service took him to Malaya, Singapore and Siam and witnessed Japanese soldiers surrender in both countries.
“During these years and having lived in such gruelling times, he developed a great interest in militaria and history,” said Ted’s family. “On returning to his banking career, now in Alsager, these interests developed.
“He bought his first medal on Crewe Market in the late 1940s and, encouraged by a close friend and collector, Tony Mullen, he became a serious collector. He spent many hours writing letters, researching and reading around the subject, focusing on the medals he had bought, the soldiers they belonged to and the conflicts they were engaged in.”
Ted purchased his medals from leading auctions and individual collectors and felt great affiliation and affection towards the Gurkhas, with whom he served.
Having contracted meningitis, he spent less time with his medal collection and died in 2004. “Even during the last few months before he died, when he could, he was adding to his collection - his interest was never totally gone,” added his family.
His collection includes a Great War Distinguished Conduct Medal (DECM) group awarded to Colour-Sergeant Major Frederick J. Meachin, Cheshire Regiment, who was helped to escape from Belgium by British nurse Edith Cavell. The group is valued at £1,000 to £1,500.
“It’s not clear to what action the DCM citation refers, but it’s probably the assault on Vimy Ridge in April, 1917 in which the 1st Cheshires were involved with the Canadians,” said Caroline Dennard, Halls Fine Art’s militaria specialist.
Another notable lot is a Great War ‘Conspicuous Gallantry’, Distinguished Conduct and Military Medal trio awarded to Lance Sergeant John Purcell, 1st Battalion KSLI, valued at £800 to £1,200.
Born in 1894, Purcell served with 1st KSLI and Royal Army Medical Corps. His DCM citation relates to an attack near Fayet in France on September 24, 1918, where he took command, after the death of the platoon commander and led bombing parties to storm enemy posts and suffered a head wound from machine gun and snipers fire.
Also valued at £800 to £1,200, is a Military General Service Medal 1783–1814 with six clasps awarded to Sergeant William Shackleton, 53rd (Shopshire) Regiment of Foot. It’s one of only nine awarded to the regiment with same clasp combination.
Valued at £450 to £550 are a Sutlej Medal 1845–46 for Aliwal 1846 with one clasp and a Punjab Medal 1848-’49 awarded to Sergeant Mathew Casey, of the 53rd (Shopshire) Regiment of Foot.
For more information and to consign items to the auction, contact Caroline at Halls Fine Art on Tel: 01743 450700 or email fineart@hallsgb.com
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