2 weeks Ago By Hayley Anderson
Antiques Roadshow delivered a tear-jerking moment when a guest was stunned by the valuation of his father's "prestigious" medal. The beloved BBC show set its scene in Pollock Park, where expert Mark Smith encountered a man eager to present a treasured family possession: a Victoria Cross medal. Smith expressed the significance of the item, saying, "This is the ultimate moment because there is really only one medal that every medal collector craves to have in their collection," highlighting the rarity and honour associated with the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest award for valour.
The medal, which belonged to the guest's father, Captain Gian Singh, was awarded for heroic actions in Burma, now known as Myanmar, during the Second World War. The son shared: "Not father no [did I find out what he did]. My dad never talked to us about the story, no.
" Smith then unveiled the citation accompanying the medal, detailing the brave acts that led to Singh's recognition: "Firing his Tommy guns and hurling grenades, Naik Gian Singh made two lone charges against the Japanese astride the...
Mingan Road in Burma." The account continued: "It was essential that the enemy should be dislodged from this area, and when a Punjab platoon assaulting a nearby village came under very heavy fire, Naik Gian Singh ordered his machine gunners to cover him as he rushed the enemy foxholes. "Our tanks had now moved up and come under fire, but Naik Gian Singh, who had sustained several wounds, again rushed forward and annihilated a Japanese anti-tank gun crew, capturing the weapon single-handed.
He then led his section in clearing all enemy positions." Despite his injuries, Singh requested to continue leading his section until the "whole action had been completed," and was granted permission. Upon hearing the story, Smith exclaimed: "Wow.
So I know these things happen really just in the heat of the moment but that still takes some bravery to do that." "To be that involved in the battle and to just keep going even though he's wounded is absolutely incredible. And he never spoke about it.
" The guest replied: "Well, not to us, not to the children. I think he used to get emotional whenever he talked about it. Obviously, he lost a lot of his friends in that battle.
" Smith noted that the medal was made of bronze, as per Queen Victoria's wish, who said she didn't want it to be "made of something precious...
it's not about the medal, it's about the deed behind the medal." The expert asked if the owner had any idea of the medal's value, to which he replied that he did not. Smith took a dramatic pause then disclosed: "It's a quarter of a million pounds," prompting the owner to grimace and onlookers to audibly gasp in amazement.
Unfazed by the valuation, the guest declared emphatically: "Wow. Even if it's worth £2 million, £10 million, still we won't part with it, no way." As Smith began to speak again, emotion overcame the man, as he discreetly brushed away the beginnings of tears.
Acknowledging the significance of the item, Smith responded: "They are some of the most iconic things we have in this country for our military all across the world. "And I will tell you now, meeting your dad and his medals today have been a 'true' honour. Thank you so much.
" Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer..
