Former Prime Minister Anthony Eden Military Cross medal group stars in militaria auction

Eden – foreign secretary three times and deputy to Winston Churchill – certainly had no illusions about how costly war could be, however. He served with distinction in the First World War, as his set of medals coming up for auction in Salisbury testifies.

It is one of the star lots in the Woolley & Wallis Medals & Coins, Arms & Armour, Militaria sale on June 22.

Here is a selection of five stand-out lots, including the Eden honours.

Bravery award

Captain (Robert) Anthony Eden, King's Royal Rifle Corps, was involved in the formation of the 21st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps (Yeoman Rifles) during the First World War. He went with the Yeoman Rifles to the Western Front as a junior officer and his early exploits included an abortive trench raid following which he led the hazardous rescue of a dangerously wounded sergeant.

He also fought on the Somme front in September 1916.

His bravery was rewarded by the Military Cross, one of six medals included in the group (pictured top) offered with an estimate of £7000-10,000 at Woolley & Wallis.

To bid for the Anthony Eden Military Cross group of medals view the catalogue entry on thesaleroom.com.

Get the lock

Lock of Napoleon's hair – estimate £6000-8000 at Woolley & Wallis.

Locks of Napoleon’s hair can be a bit like Queen Victoria’s bloomers or Churchill cigars – there are a lot of them around at auction, so provenance is key.

Woolley & Wallis is offering, guided at £6000-8000, a 19th century memorial brooch incorporating a lock of his hair with with the engraved inscription Napoleon Buonaparte lock of his hair given to Mrs Riley by Major Poppleton 27 July 1821.

A letter accompanied the gift reads: “My Dear Mrs Riley/ For all the **** favors I have received at your hands - I hope the inclosed will be **** in part of the debt owed/ Most truly yours/ Poppleton/ 27th July. 21.”

A folded slip of paper is marked in the same hand “Napoleon Buonapartes Hair Poppleton”.

Captain Thomas William Poppleton (1775-1827), 53rd Regiment of Foot, was orderly officer at Longwood (Napoleon's residence during his final captivity of St Helena) from December 10, 1815 to July 24, 1817. He seems to have been generally popular and enjoyed the favour of Napoleon, also receiving the present of a snuff box from him, and being the only orderly officer who was granted the honour of dining with him (on January 7, 1816).

Interest in Napoleon memorabilia is particularly high this year – the bicentenary of his death.

View the catalogue entry for the lock of Napoleon’s hair.

Drum up interest

Late Georgian or Regency kettle drums (timpani), marked for the Worcester Local Militia – estimate £800-1200 at Woolley & Wallis.

This pair of 57cm and 47cm late Georgian or Regency kettle drums (timpani), marked for the Worcester Local Militia, were collected by Edward Croft-Murray, former keeper of prints and drawings at the British Museum. An antiquarian and an internationally acknowledged expert on early European art and music, from the late 1930s he began to assemble an exceptionally fine collection of early musical instruments.

He played these kettle drums in private concerts and at various public functions: before Royal guests, on television (BBC2) and at the start of departmental exhibitions at the British Museum usually as part of the ‘Guild of Gentlemen Trumpeters’ which normally consisted of three natural trumpets and this pair of kettle drums.

At Woolley & Wallis the estimate is £800-1200.

To bid for the late Georgian or Regency kettle drums (timpani) view the catalogue entry on thesaleroom.com.

Swimming trunk

RAF Air Sea Rescue ‘Dumbo’ Mae West life preserver – estimate £800-1000 at Woolley & Wallis.

Estimated at £800-1000, this is an example of a rare Second World War RAF Air Sea Rescue ‘Dumbo’ Mae West life preserver, as issued to crews of RAF high speed rescue launches.

They were decorated with ink drawings of popular Walt Disney characters, including Dumbo, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Pluto. This one was formerly in the Museum of D-Day Aviation, Shoreham, and illustrated in Mick J Prodger’s book Luftwafffe vs. RAF, Flying Equipment of the Air War, 1939-45.

View the catalogue entry for the Second World War RAF Air Sea Rescue ‘Dumbo’ Mae West life preserver on thesaleroom.com.

Collect call

Collector's cabinet – estimate £80-120 at Woolley & Wallis.

Where do you keep all these wonderful coins and medals you are amassing via thesaleroom.com? Well, here is one suggestion courtesy of the Woolley & Wallis sale: a late 19th/early 20th century collector’s cabinet comprising 26 small drawers in two columns enclosed by glazed doors, bone knobs and escutcheon.

The 16in (41cm) item is estimated at £80-120.

You can bid for the collector’s cabinet on thesaleroom.com.