Arthur Merriman's medal group auctions for $106,500 at Bosleys

An outstanding second world war Battle of Britain UXB George Cross, OBE medal group awarded to the "saviour of Regent Street" Lt Col Arthur Douglas Merriman has sold with outstanding results at Bosleys on July 3.

Arthur Merriman medal group George Cross
The George Cross for civilians is the equal highest award in the UK honours system, next to the military Victoria Cross



The UK auction saw the medal group auction for £70,000 ($106,472).

Merriman was a government scientist with Britain's ministry of supply as well as an officer of the Royal Engineers.

He received the George Cross, the equal highest award in Britain next to the Victoria Cross, in 1940 after the Luftwaffe dropped a bomb on London's famous Regent Street.

Working as a bomb diffuser, he proceeded to remove most of the explosive from the bomb, minimising the damage caused and saving hundreds of lives.

His OBE was awarded in 1944 for "gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East".

Also featuring in the sale was a Dickin Medal, which was awarded to a pigeon named Duke of Normandy, who was the first to reach the UK with news of the successful D-Day landings. It sold for £8,000 ($12,168).

The Dickin Medal, instituted in 1943 by Maria Dickin, is a special award for animals and has only been awarded on 64 occasions, 32 of which were for pigeons.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fantastic selection of second world war memorabilia, including a signed photograph from Dambusters hero Guy Gibson.

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