A brilliant opportunity for collectors

The medal had originally appeared in an eBay auction in 2008, though, due to a hoax bidder, the sale was cancelled.

It has now been consigned to the Cheshire auction after it was revealed that another collector, who was outbid in the eBay sale, approached the owner and bought it privately for a large, yet undisclosed sum.

"I've had the great pleasure of owning it for the last four years but now I've decided to put it back on the market so another collector - or perhaps a museum - can have the pleasure of enjoying it," said the current owner, who does not wish to be identified.

The Naval General Service Medal was awarded to James Sharman, who has recently been identified as the man who carried Lord Nelson below decks after he was shot by a sniper at the battle. Sharman served aboard the Victory, Admiral Nelson's flagship, where his heroics in assisting the dying lord attracted the attention of Captain Hardy.

Following the battle, Hardy commended Sharman for his efforts, making him caretaker of the Britannia Monument in Yarmouth - a similar Nelson memorial to the one found in London's Trafalgar Square.

In a bizarre twist to the medal's fascinating background, Sharman would later meet Charles Dickens, who was then staying at Yarmouth's Royal Hotel. Dickens is said to have been fascinated by Sharman's past and even based the character of Peggoty on him in his famed novel, David Copperfield.

Rarely does a item with such significance and history appear on the market, making this a brilliant opportunity for militaria collectors. Sharman's medal will go to auction with a pre-sale estimate of £15,000-18,000, though it is likely to far exceed this sum.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has an incredible selection of Lord Nelson memorabilia, including the magnificent snuff box he gifted to his secretary George Unwin. For those looking for a truly unique Nelson collectible, we also have this wonderfully presented, authentic lock of the admiral's hair.