0:00:07 > 0:00:11One of the things I love about "Flog It!" is meeting you
0:00:11 > 0:00:16and hearing about the thousands of interesting, beautiful and often rare objects
0:00:16 > 0:00:19you bring along to our valuation days.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Together, we've made hundreds of trips to the auction rooms
0:00:24 > 0:00:28to put our experts' valuations to the test.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34In this series, we're pooling all of our knowledge together
0:00:34 > 0:00:36to help you get in the know.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Welcome to Trade Secrets.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Today, we're exploring militaria. It's a huge area
0:01:08 > 0:01:13but one which, more often than not, it's the weight behind the story
0:01:13 > 0:01:16and the personal sentiment that puts the value on the object.
0:01:17 > 0:01:22Later in the show, we see moving reminders of the First World War.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24A lot of them are of ruins.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27They are very, very poignant.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30And our experts find a few surprises from the trenches.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34I opened it up and inside was the original contents.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37There was the original tobacco. And the cigarettes.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Lord above. Look at that, eh?
0:01:40 > 0:01:44- So the old-fashioned condom.- So he was a bit of a ladies' man perhaps?
0:01:44 > 0:01:46A bit of a ladies' man on the quiet.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51And we see surprising items owned by Winston Churchill.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54I had a onesie, but it didn't look like that!
0:01:58 > 0:02:01For me, one of the most interesting aspects about "Flog It!" is
0:02:01 > 0:02:05how individual pieces tell us so much about our collective history
0:02:05 > 0:02:09and how seemingly insignificant personal objects
0:02:09 > 0:02:13can bring past times back to life quite vividly.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18If you buy World War One items, I think my tip would be
0:02:18 > 0:02:24try and buy something that you can specifically relate to a person,
0:02:24 > 0:02:28or a battle, or a time.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30If you're going to buy something military,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33make sure the story that goes with it
0:02:33 > 0:02:35is the thing that's important.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Make sure it leaves a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44If you've got something that great-great-grandfather or whoever used in the First World War,
0:02:44 > 0:02:49please, write it down so that the next lot know all about it.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Many of you have items inherited from relatives
0:03:00 > 0:03:03with firsthand experience of war.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07Many of you have wonderful wartime stories to tell,
0:03:07 > 0:03:11and we wanted to hear again some of the more memorable.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16I love this intriguing collection from World War One.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20Tony, this is an interesting sort of collection you've brought in
0:03:20 > 0:03:21for us to have a look at.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22Tell me, how did you come by this?
0:03:22 > 0:03:27Well, this was found in a trunk of an old friend of ours
0:03:27 > 0:03:32who was in the Norfolk Regiment during the First World War.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35After he died, we found these with an old, great coat
0:03:35 > 0:03:37and his old army boots and spats
0:03:37 > 0:03:41and these were things we just salvaged from that.
0:03:41 > 0:03:42Right, I see.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46There was nothing there that was particularly rare,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48but it was just a nice, genuine lot.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53Well, obviously, the market for militaria, shall we call it, is strong.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57The majority of the value is probably going to be in his field compass,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00which still retains its original leather case,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04- which is embossed with his name, there, Dalton.- Darcy Dalton.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Darcy Dalton. That's a great name, isn't it?
0:04:07 > 0:04:09- Sounds like something out of the movies.- Yeah.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Great name. Darcy Dalton. Should have been a film star.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Erm... But the one that caught my eye was the compass, obviously.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I think that was the sort of the meat of the lot, shall we say,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23especially as it came in its original leather case.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27- And then moving along from that we've got his original dog tags.- Right.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31We've got some of these matches, here, these Wind Vestas,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35which it says here is for use on motors, cycles and yachts.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38- Fancy lighting up a cigarette on a motorcycle now. - An impressive feat.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40- And rolling one at the same time. - Yes.- How's that?
0:04:40 > 0:04:43- And then you've got these various cap badges.- Yes.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46And then these rather fine buttons.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50And then to finish off, you've got these fascinating trench maps.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54These trench maps are just amazing how they ever sorted them out.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58It's always poignant to hold something that was involved
0:04:58 > 0:05:02in such a terrible period of history, really.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- So he survived the war? - He survived the war.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09- And he lived to a ripe old age, did he?- He was into his 80s.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- Into his 80s, so he was an old man. - Yes.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14- So he was married, was he? - He was married.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18- Because we've got this rather sort of...- Well, yeah.- ..interesting...
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Yeah, I wouldn't know whether his wife would know about that.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- It's the old... - It's the old-fashioned condom,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28which I suppose the gentry used to carry about with them.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33- It doesn't say anything about it, just silk and seamless.- Exactly.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35So he was a bit of a ladies' man, was he, perhaps?
0:05:35 > 0:05:37A bit of a ladies' man, probably on the quiet, yes.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Well, who knows? It may have been precautionary
0:05:40 > 0:05:44or it could have doubled up as a water carrier in times of emergency -
0:05:44 > 0:05:46you never know.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48He may have had good intentions all the while
0:05:48 > 0:05:50but, you know, life's tough as a soldier.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51I'm sure it can get lonely.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55I mean, there's nothing here that's going to be hugely valuable on its own.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58So I would say for the whole lot as a group,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- if you could estimate it at maybe sort of £40-£60...- Yes.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- ..and we'll see how we do on the day for you.- That's fine.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07When you think about the sacrifice that was made during the Great War,
0:06:07 > 0:06:12you think that items related to it should be worth a lot more.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15But the trouble is so many people went to war
0:06:15 > 0:06:17that a lot of this stuff is out there.
0:06:17 > 0:06:23- £40, £50 for this?- 75. - 75 is good to start.- Phone bid.
0:06:23 > 0:06:2675 I'm bid. 80. 80. 85.
0:06:26 > 0:06:2890. 95.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31- A phone bidder.- 95, 100, 110.
0:06:31 > 0:06:32All done at 110? It's on the telephone.
0:06:32 > 0:06:37Against you all in the room at £110. All finished? All done?
0:06:37 > 0:06:41To think this collection was in an old trunk!
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Good on Tony for salvaging something that recalls
0:06:43 > 0:06:47the sacrifices made during the Great War.
0:06:47 > 0:06:53But to me, nothing evokes the dread atmosphere of war so starkly
0:06:53 > 0:06:55as photographs that were taken at the time.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Ray, I've been thumbing through this album
0:06:58 > 0:07:01with no little amount of interest.
0:07:01 > 0:07:02It really is fascinating
0:07:02 > 0:07:04and it contains, I would have thought,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08between 300 and 400 photographs and postcards.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12- Where did it come from? - It was originally my grandfather's,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14who gave it to my father and my father gave it to me.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18- But there's some addressed to your grandmother from your grandfather? - Yes.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- During the First World War?- Yes. - Amazing.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24These albums are becoming more and more collectable
0:07:24 > 0:07:26and I think as the anniversaries approach,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30they will become more valuable and more collectable.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34The other reason is, I think, we are less personally touched now
0:07:34 > 0:07:37than we would have been 30 or 40 years ago.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Another generation has gone by,
0:07:39 > 0:07:43so we perhaps feel more comfortable that we can buy something
0:07:43 > 0:07:45that isn't directly affecting us.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48They are very, very poignant.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51I mean, a lot of them are of ruins, First World War ruins,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54- obviously in France.- Yes.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59Some of those images really are very, very chilling.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Some of those images of northern France
0:08:03 > 0:08:08and indeed, later on, Germany, that had been bombed to bits -
0:08:08 > 0:08:12there was nothing left of some of those towns.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14A lot of them are by a very famous chap.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18I think the very first one - Louis Levy, "LL",
0:08:18 > 0:08:23- who was a very famous photographer and later publisher.- Mm-hm.
0:08:23 > 0:08:28And a lot of these of France, he photographed during the First World War
0:08:28 > 0:08:32and they're sad, but they are an important part of history.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Then we've got, I think, an amazing card here.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40This is 1915, stamped with the censor's mark,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42because everything had to pass the censor,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and they weren't allowed to say what was going on.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48"I am still in the best of health," which is something of a feat in 1915,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51"and spirits," even more importantly.
0:08:51 > 0:08:52"Weather here is grand."
0:08:52 > 0:08:57How on earth you can be sitting, being bombed to bits in a trench
0:08:57 > 0:08:59and all you're allowed to talk about is the weather.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02It's a great, great collection. Why are you selling it?
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Well, it's just sitting on the shelf doing absolutely nothing
0:09:05 > 0:09:09and somebody else who likes that sort of thing should be looking at it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11It should be where people can see it, really,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14- because it's destruction that should never happen.- No.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18- Value? Any ideas?- It was valued a few years ago at £100.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22- At £100? I think that's about its value.- Yeah.- £100-£150.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27But these sort of cards have become more and more collectable in the last few years.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Shall we start at 120?
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Thank you, Chris. 120.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Straight in at £120.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38150, 160. 160 in front. 170.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41180. 190. 200.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44And 10. 220, 230.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47At £230 in front. All done, now?
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Yes! The hammer's gone down. Cracking result.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52That's social history and you can't really put a price on that.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56It's a very sad pastime, but a fascinating one to look through these cards.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02That sale price proves that collectors will pay good money
0:10:02 > 0:10:05for items that help to keep our past alive.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13The poignancy of war is often captured in the most unexpected items,
0:10:13 > 0:10:18like this simple gift box, issued to the troops at Christmas time.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21- Brenda, how are you doing? - Very well, thank you.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Now, I think this is really, really interesting.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27I've got one of these at home, which was my grandfather's.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30They're always known as Queen Mary's Gift Box,
0:10:30 > 0:10:35- but they're not really Queen Mary's because they are...- Princess Mary.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37This box was given to me by an elderly gentleman
0:10:37 > 0:10:41about 25 years ago because he knew I collected tins
0:10:41 > 0:10:44and I've got dozens of them.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48And then I opened it up and inside was the original contents
0:10:48 > 0:10:53with the card from Princess Mary to the troops,
0:10:53 > 0:10:57which said, "With all best wishes for a happy Christmas
0:10:57 > 0:11:00"and a victorious New Year."
0:11:00 > 0:11:02And this was in 1914.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05And then there was the original tobacco.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07And the cigarettes.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11And the badge with "Victory" written on it.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14For me, what was lovely about Queen Mary's Gift Boxes,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16I've got one at home that was given to my grandfather.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20But mine, like 99% of the rest in the world,
0:11:20 > 0:11:22has had all the contents taken out of it.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Look at that, eh?
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- There's no health warning on those, is there?- No!
0:11:29 > 0:11:31And it's got Princess Mary's stamp on it.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35It's got Princess Mary's monogram just there, hasn't it?
0:11:35 > 0:11:38And let's just see what else it's got in there.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42- Have you seen that?- Yes.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43Isn't that just lovely?
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Let me just shut the box up so we can see this cover.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51- Because what we see in the saleroom today is normally just that, isn't it?- Yes.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- Because these contents have long since gone.- Yes.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56And the thing that I always think is really, really sad
0:11:56 > 0:12:00- is they make little or no money. - No, I know.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03That, without the contents, in an auction is probably, what - £5 or £10?
0:12:03 > 0:12:04Something like that.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07I just think it ought to be worth a whole load more than it is.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11If you think of the First World War, it was actually really barbaric.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Life in the trenches just must have been awful.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18And these guys were given these gifts from the Queen.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21I'm a great believer that these things are very personal
0:12:21 > 0:12:25and as such, should be kept and treasured by the people they mean something to
0:12:25 > 0:12:28and probably shouldn't just be cotton-woolled in museums.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Why are you selling it?
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Well, I've got so many hundreds of tins
0:12:34 > 0:12:38and the house we're in now, you can't display them like we used to be able to.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40So you take it to "Flog It!" and flog it.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44I don't know how many other people have seen one with the contents.
0:12:44 > 0:12:45No, and that's the key thing.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47- The fact that you've got all of this...- Yeah.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49..I just think that's absolutely lovely
0:12:49 > 0:12:53and I think at auction, this is going to make between £20 and £40.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57- You know, they've got a real bit of history, there, haven't they?- Yes.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00- And so well done you for bringing it in.- Some museum might buy it.
0:13:00 > 0:13:01Let's live in hope.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- I can start the bidding at 50. £55. - Fantastic.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07- That's a real good price. - Where's 60 in the room now?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10At £55 I'm bid. With me at £55.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Against you all, then, at £55.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15Is there 60 in the room? Are you done, then? To sell.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18- Against you all, then, at £55... - GAVEL BANGS
0:13:18 > 0:13:21They really should be worth more but they're not.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24But perhaps, when the anniversary comes round,
0:13:24 > 0:13:28they will make the money that I think they should do.
0:13:28 > 0:13:33I find it very sobering to think that instead of tucking into turkey,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36surrounded by loved ones on Christmas Day,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39British soldiers in the trenches were receiving
0:13:39 > 0:13:41these simple gift boxes.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Our memories are often worth more to us than gold
0:13:45 > 0:13:48and, as David Fletcher knows, this is especially the case
0:13:48 > 0:13:52when it comes to marking the feats of the previous generation
0:13:52 > 0:13:55who were called up to fight for their country.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59This object is very important to me.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03I'm sure that it's the sort of thing which many people will recognise.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06It's a First World War memorial plaque
0:14:06 > 0:14:13and plaques like this made of bronze were given to the next of kin
0:14:13 > 0:14:17of those men and women who lost their lives in the First World War.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21The Government recognised that there was an appalling loss of life
0:14:21 > 0:14:26and that loss of life was going very largely uncommemorated.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30So, as a gesture, they decided to stage a competition
0:14:30 > 0:14:34and in 1916, the winner was announced.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37His name was Edward Preston.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39There were over one million made.
0:14:39 > 0:14:44This was awarded to my great-uncle, who died in 1918 in Salonika,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47actually after the war finished.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51He wasn't killed in action. He died of a disease he contracted whilst he was there.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55It's not of any great financial value, as you might imagine,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58because there are so many of them about,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00but it does mean a very great deal to me.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12Most of the war-related objects we see were things used in action.
0:15:12 > 0:15:17But occasionally a piece turns up with a more hopeful story to tell.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22Jennifer, this is a fascinating little piece of social history.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24It's a little carved panel.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Can you tell me - where did you get it?
0:15:26 > 0:15:28It was left in the house when we moved in
0:15:28 > 0:15:30and that's really all we know.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- Do you like it?- No.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37- Is that why you want to sell it? - Yes.- OK, let's have a look at it.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39We see a carved figure here
0:15:39 > 0:15:46and we have a little panel which says, "Home from the front."
0:15:46 > 0:15:49And we see, I don't know if that's perhaps a foot missing,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- perhaps shot off in the war.- Yes.
0:15:52 > 0:15:58So it's, I suppose, rather sad in that way.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00These were terrible situations
0:16:00 > 0:16:05where hundreds of thousands of young men were killed
0:16:05 > 0:16:09and the objects that we have from the wars
0:16:09 > 0:16:11do keep things alive.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13A rather naive carving.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- It's not someone who has done fine work.- Oh, no.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20And it had occurred to me that this is perhaps something
0:16:20 > 0:16:25that he may have done after coming back from the war,
0:16:25 > 0:16:29perhaps injured, perhaps not able to work,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32and this is how he spent his time.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34So it's...
0:16:34 > 0:16:38- There could be a little story behind that...- Oh, yes.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40- ..if we knew.- Yes, if we knew. - If we knew.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44It would have been of greater interest if she had been able
0:16:44 > 0:16:49to tell us the story, tell us the person who had carved the panel
0:16:49 > 0:16:53and to have perhaps photographs or maybe letters -
0:16:53 > 0:16:56all these things which give it provenance,
0:16:56 > 0:17:02which give it a story, make the item more desirable for the buyers.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05If we maybe put it in, £20-£30,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07- would you be happy enough with that? - Oh, yes.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09I think it's charming.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11I don't.
0:17:12 > 0:17:13Small carved picture of a squaddie.
0:17:13 > 0:17:18- £30? £20, then.- Come on. Someone come in.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Any advance on £20? The bid's in front.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23One bid at 20. Yeah, 22. 25.
0:17:23 > 0:17:2728, 30, 32, 35.
0:17:27 > 0:17:2938. At 40.
0:17:29 > 0:17:3242. 45.
0:17:32 > 0:17:3448. At 50. At 50.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35Well, this is good, this is good.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Any advance on £50? 55.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41At 55. Standing on my right.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45- All finished now at £55. - That's a great result. £55.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- The hammer's going down. Yes! - GAVEL BANGS
0:17:47 > 0:17:48Jennifer, that's great.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Whatever you choose to collect,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55it pays to look for things with stories that touch you.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01It's a good idea to concentrate on a particular battle, conflict or person.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07And if you do decide to part with family items, please write down the stories
0:18:07 > 0:18:09to ensure they live on.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19We've seen all sorts of militaria on today's programme,
0:18:19 > 0:18:24from the spoils of war to the medals that represent the bravery of the ordinary man.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28But there is one man in particular whose place during World War Two
0:18:28 > 0:18:33was so important that anything related to him has become hugely valuable.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40Winston Churchill led Britain's coalition government
0:18:40 > 0:18:43between 1940 and 1945.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46During this turbulent time in British history,
0:18:46 > 0:18:48he became the nation's hero,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52leading the country to victory against Nazi Germany
0:18:52 > 0:18:53in the Second World War.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57The image of him dressed in a three-piece suit,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00more often than not with a cigar in hand,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03has come to symbolise our wartime success.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Now, here at Longleat House they have a very impressive collection
0:19:08 > 0:19:10of Churchill memorabilia,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13possibly one of the best collections in the world,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15and I particularly like this.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17It's a red velvet siren suit
0:19:17 > 0:19:20and it was the predecessor to the onesie.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Now, I had a onesie, but it didn't look like that!
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Apparently, the siren suit was worn by Churchill
0:19:25 > 0:19:29when he ran from the house to the air-raid shelter which was in the garden,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33to take cover from the bombing during the Blitz of the Second World War.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37Now, if you look carefully, you can see some little patches
0:19:37 > 0:19:38which have been sewn up.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41They are burn marks from his cigar.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43So while he was wearing that, running along,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45he was still smoking his cigar.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49And talking of cigars, one of Churchill's unsmoked cigars
0:19:49 > 0:19:52recently sold in auction, back in 2010,
0:19:52 > 0:19:56for a staggering £2,125.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Now, here at Longleat House they have one of Churchill's cigars
0:19:59 > 0:20:01but it's been half-smoked
0:20:01 > 0:20:03and it has the most wonderful provenance.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Now, this half-smoked cigar is accompanied
0:20:06 > 0:20:09by a handwritten letter by Juliet Duff
0:20:09 > 0:20:13to the Sixth Marquis on the 5th November 1963 -
0:20:13 > 0:20:17watertight provenance - and it reads...
0:20:17 > 0:20:19"Darling Henry, this cigar was smoked by Winston Churchill
0:20:19 > 0:20:23"on Tuesday evening October 29th 1963,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26"at 28 Hyde Park Gate
0:20:26 > 0:20:33"during a game of bezique played between him and your loving coz, Juliet."
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Isn't that brilliant? But it gets even better.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39There's a typed letter right next to it and look at this.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44"My dear Bath, I understand that you would like one of my cigars for your collection
0:20:44 > 0:20:46"and I send you one herewith.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50"Yours very sincerely, Winston Churchill."
0:20:50 > 0:20:55And that's signed in ink and it's dated 10th June, 1963.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Now, that type of provenance is absolutely invaluable,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01especially when related to wartime memorabilia.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03That kind of thing puts the value up,
0:21:03 > 0:21:08so try and support your item with some written documentation.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Despite his obvious fondness for cigars,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Churchill lived a long life.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20He died at his London home in January 1965
0:21:20 > 0:21:23at the ripe old age of 90.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35War touches us all in some way - our parents, our grandparents may have had a firsthand experience
0:21:35 > 0:21:37of a life-shattering conflict.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40This is certainly the case for our expert, Philip Serrell.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46I don't come from an overly sentimental family,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48but this is one of the most poignant things that I've got, really.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51It really does mean something.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I can remember, as a kid, finding this in a drawer at home
0:21:54 > 0:21:58and it was just sort of, you can see from the state of it, there was...
0:21:58 > 0:22:02No care had been taken of it. There was water spilled on it and all sorts.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05In fact, I got it all framed up and all the rest of it.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09And it was to my grandfather and it's from Buckingham Palace, dated 1918,
0:22:09 > 0:22:11and I'll just read it to you.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14It says, "The Queen joins me in welcoming you
0:22:14 > 0:22:16"on your release from the miseries and hardships
0:22:16 > 0:22:19"which you have endured with so much patience and courage.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21"During these many months of trial,
0:22:21 > 0:22:25"the early rescue of our gallant officers and men from the cruelties of their captivity
0:22:25 > 0:22:28"has been uppermost in our thoughts.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31"We are thankful that this longed-for day has arrived
0:22:31 > 0:22:33"and that back in the old country you will be able
0:22:33 > 0:22:35"to once more enjoy the happiness of the home
0:22:35 > 0:22:39"and to see good days among those who anxiously look forward to your return."
0:22:39 > 0:22:41And it's signed King George.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Now, I sort of naively thought when I found this as a young boy
0:22:44 > 0:22:48that this was a letter from the king to my granddad
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and it sort of added to the mystique and the memory, really.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54But it isn't. These were probably churned out in their thousands
0:22:54 > 0:22:57and anybody who was a prisoner of war got one.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01But I know that he had a real, real tough time as a prisoner of war
0:23:01 > 0:23:04and this meant an awful lot to him,
0:23:04 > 0:23:06so it's really quite nice now that I've got this.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08It's a special thing for me, that.
0:23:13 > 0:23:1721st-century Winchester is a peaceful, beautiful place,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20but it has a 2,000-year-old link with British military history.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23This incredible square is the Peninsula Barracks,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26once home to serving army regiments.
0:23:26 > 0:23:31Now, part of it is home to a museum dedicated to a very brave band of soldiers -
0:23:31 > 0:23:33the Gurkhas.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42but who are these fearsome Nepalese fighters?
0:23:42 > 0:23:46"Better to die than be a coward." The Gurkha motto sets the tone
0:23:46 > 0:23:50that reflects their fearsome and valiant reputation.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52They've served with British soldiers all over the world,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55from World War One to World War Two,
0:23:55 > 0:23:59to campaigns in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01Even the young Prince Harry lived with a Gurkha regiment
0:24:01 > 0:24:05for his 10-week tour of duty in Afghanistan.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11The Gurkhas originate from the hill villages of Nepal,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13where they were a proud warrior nation.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18The British fought them at the height of the empire-building in the 1800s
0:24:18 > 0:24:21and realising their potential, put them in uniform
0:24:21 > 0:24:23and eventually made them part of the British Army.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33The Gurkhas became renowned as tough, masculine soldiers,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36fearless in the face of the enemy.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39They earned a reputation for front-line fighting all over the world.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45There are many legends about the Gurkhas and their bravery
0:24:45 > 0:24:47and also about this, the kukri, the traditional knife.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50It's the symbol of the Gurkha and the symbol of Nepal.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54It has a curved blade that averages around 14 to 16 inches long.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57There's a selection here laid out in front of me.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59The one I've picked up here in the leather sheath
0:24:59 > 0:25:01was used during the First World War.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03That's razor sharp.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05These were made by blacksmiths in the hills of Nepal
0:25:05 > 0:25:07and throughout India.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11Here is a knife that was used during the Second World War
0:25:11 > 0:25:13and note the canvas.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16There were around 120,000 Gurkhas enlisted,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18each having two or possibly three knives.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23Right up to the present day these are still being made in Nepal
0:25:23 > 0:25:24and in India.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27The sheaths are made out of water buffalo hide.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31It's beautifully balanced, absolutely beautifully balanced.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35It's slightly smaller now but it's still as lethal. That is razor sharp.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41SOUNDS OF BATTLE
0:25:58 > 0:26:02One notable Gurkha hero was Havildar Gaje Ghale,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06a platoon sergeant in Burma in 1943.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11The official battle log said, "hurling hand grenades,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14"covered in blood from his own, neglected wounds,
0:26:14 > 0:26:18"he led assault after assault, shouting the Gurkhas' battle cry -
0:26:18 > 0:26:23" 'Glory be to the goddess of war. Here come the Gurkhas!' "
0:26:23 > 0:26:2713 Victoria Crosses have been issued to the Gurkhas so far
0:26:27 > 0:26:29and 13 to their British Army officers.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33That's a total of 26 and they have three here in the museum.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36The Victoria Cross is always issued with a purple ribbon.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40It's cast from bronze from melted down captured Russian cannons
0:26:40 > 0:26:42from the Crimean War.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45On the face side there's a high relief of a lion
0:26:45 > 0:26:47standing over the crown
0:26:47 > 0:26:49and underneath it says, "For valour."
0:26:49 > 0:26:54On the reverse it's quite plain but it's inscribed to the recipient with the date.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58And they were only issued for conspicuous bravery
0:26:58 > 0:26:59in the face of the enemy.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05And as you can see, these ones are behind glass for security reasons.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06They're highly valuable.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11One of the toughest battles for the Gurkhas in recent years
0:27:11 > 0:27:14has been with British red tape.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served with the Sixth Gurkha rifles,
0:27:18 > 0:27:20led a high-profile campaign
0:27:20 > 0:27:24which led to the Gurkhas and their families being allowed to live in the UK.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36For close on 200 years, Gurkhas have been a part of our armed forces,
0:27:36 > 0:27:41proving themselves again and again with their character, dedication
0:27:41 > 0:27:42and bravery.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47One Chief of Staff in the Indian Army said of them,
0:27:47 > 0:27:52"If a man says he's not afraid of dying, he's either lying or he's a Gurkha."
0:28:00 > 0:28:04So many memories and emotions can be bound up in wartime items
0:28:04 > 0:28:08and they are always valuable indicators of life
0:28:08 > 0:28:10in those terrible times.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12If you have any item with a military connection
0:28:12 > 0:28:15and you're sure you want to part with it,
0:28:15 > 0:28:19then please bring it along to one of our valuation days.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20Well, that's it for today.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23If you're thinking of going out and doing some buying and selling,
0:28:23 > 0:28:27good luck, but until then, it's goodbye from Trade Secrets.