A set of medals awarded posthumously to British spy Violette Szabo is to cross the block at Dix Noonan Webb in London on July 22.

The lot, which includes one of the very few George Crosses awarded to a woman, is valued at £250,000-300,000 ($388,547-466,257).

Szabo is one of very few women ever awarded the George Cross

Szabo worked as a secret agent for the British in occupied France (she spoke fluent French) during the second world war.

She was captured, tortured and executed in 1945.

David Erskine-Hill of Dix Noonan Webb told the MailOnline: "Her award stands at the pinnacle of such distinctions and her legacy yet higher.

"As a consequence, her story has reached an admiring international audience, for it is a story of a brave and beautiful woman, in fact a very special human being, who in reality conquered her foes by an example of stoicism that remains an inspiration to this day."

Her daughter, who is behind the consignment of the medals, told the publication: "After many years of actively supporting the legacy of my gallant mother, I have reached a point in my life where I need to make a difficult decision in respect of the future of her medals.

"I have no children and therefore the ongoing custodianship of her medals needs to be addressed. Moreover, I have my own future security to consider…

"Therefore, after examining the options, I decided to place her awards up for auction."

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