Home / War and Conflict / Hero's VC Sells for £320K After Daring WWI Charge
Hero's VC Sells for £320K After Daring WWI Charge
1 Dec
Summary
- Captain Haine's Victoria Cross sold for £318,000 at auction.
- He single-handedly attacked 100 Germans with machine guns.
- His medal citation praised his 'splendid personal example'.
The Victoria Cross awarded to Captain Reginald Haine, a World War I hero, has achieved a remarkable price of nearly £320,000 at auction. Captain Haine distinguished himself during the Battle of Arras, leading six assaults against a heavily defended German position armed with machine guns. Despite facing overwhelming odds, his unit successfully captured the stronghold and 50 prisoners after an intense battle lasting over 30 hours.
For his extraordinary gallantry in 1917, Captain Haine received Britain's highest military honor, the Victoria Cross, with the citation commending his 'splendid personal example'. His military career also included earning the Military Cross during a separate engagement and serving in the Home Guard during World War II. He famously described the Germans he fought as 'an awfully sporty crowd'.
His medals and personal wartime archive, including diaries and photographs, were returned to his family after being housed in Lord Ashcroft's VC Gallery. The family then opted to sell the collection, with the Victoria Cross alone fetching £260,000, bringing the total sale price to £318,000, a testament to his enduring legacy of bravery.
