Lt TE Waters of the West Yorkshire Regiment was attached to the ‘Glorious Glosters’ – 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment – when they made a heroic stand against overwhelming Chinese forces at the Imjin River in 1951.
After being severely wounded, Waters was captured and imprisoned in the foul conditions of the notorious Kangdong Caves. He died having refused to accept medical treatment, better food, and other amenities in exchange for his participation in Communist propaganda.
The posthumously awarded GC and two other medals were being sold on behalf of his family, who are based in Bristol, and was expected to fetch £140,000-180,000 at Dix Noonan Webb’s auction in London on February 17.
Instead, it was bought by a private collector for £280,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium) after competition between three phone bidders.
Lt TE Waters of the West Yorkshire Regiment whose George Cross medal group sold for £280,000 at Dix Noonan Webb.
The previous record for a GC was also achieved at DNW for the honour awarded to Special Operations Executive secret agent Violette Szabό – one of only four GCs to women – at £260,000 in 2015.
The GC is the equivalent of the Victoria Cross but awarded for gallantry not in the face of an enemy/in battle.
