A World War II Victoria Cross awarded to Lieutenant Willard Alexander Sandys-Clarke will be sold at auction in London on July 24 with an estimate of £300,000 to £500,000.
Sandys Clarke could have been invalided out of the war after he was badly hurt in a motorcycle accident while in service in 1940.
But, despite deafness in one ear and partial blindness in one eye, he turned down an honourable discharge and, in 1943, posthumously became the 5th member of his family to win the British army’s highest award.
The group of medals won by Lieut Sandys Clarke will be sold in London on July 24. Image courtesy of Spink.
Lieut Sandys-Clarke (called Peter by his family) was killed fighting the Axis powers at Guiriat El Atach, Tunisia on April 23, St George’s Day and Good Friday.
The citation for his award reads: “The sole remaining officer was Lieutenant Clarke, who, already wounded in the head, gathered a composite platoon together and volunteered to attack the position again. As the platoon closed on to the objective, it was met by heavy fire from a machine-gun post. Lieutenant Clarke manoeuvred his platoon into position to give covering fire, and then tackled the post single-handed, killing or capturing the crew and knocking out the gun. Almost at once the platoon came under heavy fire from two more machine-gun posts. Lieutenant Clarke again manoeuvred his platoon into position and went forward alone, killed the crews or compelled them to surrender, and put the guns out of action.”
Sandys-Clark was shot and killed while trying – alone – to take out a sniper.
Lieut Sandys Clarke was from a family with a heroic military past and no fewer than four other Victoria Cross holders. Image courtesy of Spink.
Sandys-Clarke had twice been refused a front-line posting because of his injuries. At his third attempt he succeeded and was sent to North Africa and into action with his unit 1st Battalion, The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire).
He was 23 years old when he died.
The VC will be auctioned by Spink in London on July 24. It is being sold by a direct descendant of Lieut Sandys-Clarke.
Sandys-Clarke was born in Southport, Lancashire. He volunteered for the Territorial Army in 1938, while working (apparently somewhat reluctantly) in his family’s cotton business.
Massicault War Cemetery in Tunisia where Sandys-Clarke is buried in a grave bearing the regimental motto LOYAUTÉ M’OBLIGE (Loyalty Binds Me). Image from Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The medal is being sold with a substantial collection of documents and personal effects, including letters, telegrams, photographs, and Sandys-Clarke’s school rugby cap.
The feats that won him the award are well known and legendary. And extraordinary.
If the medal sells for the top estimate it will become one of the most valuable Victoria Crosses. The record is held by the cross awarded to Irish civilian Thomas Kavanagh, who was awarded one of the earliest VCs in 1857. His medal sold for £930,000 in 2022.
Many VCs are in museum collections, the largest of which is the Ashcroft collection assembled by Lord Ashcroft. It was on display at the Imperial War Museum until last month, when the permanent gallery housing it was closed.
Lord Ashcroft, who owns around 10% of the VCs ever awarded, may well be one of those chasing this award, one of the most extraordinary of all such medals.
