Wartime Tales - Part 1 Flog It: Trade Secrets

One of the things I love about "Flog It!" is meeting you

and hearing about the thousands of interesting, beautiful and often rare objects

you bring along to our valuation days.

Together, we've made hundreds of trips to the auction rooms

to put our experts' valuations to the test.

In this series, we're pooling all of our knowledge together

to help you get in the know.

Welcome to Trade Secrets.

Today, we're exploring militaria. It's a huge area

but one which, more often than not, it's the weight behind the story

and the personal sentiment that puts the value on the object.

Later in the show, we see moving reminders of the First World War.

A lot of them are of ruins.

They are very, very poignant.

And our experts find a few surprises from the trenches.

I opened it up and inside was the original contents.

There was the original tobacco. And the cigarettes.

Lord above. Look at that, eh?

-So the old-fashioned condom.

-So he was a bit of a ladies' man perhaps?

A bit of a ladies' man on the quiet.

And we see surprising items owned by Winston Churchill.

I had a onesie, but it didn't look like that!

For me, one of the most interesting aspects about "Flog It!" is

how individual pieces tell us so much about our collective history

and how seemingly insignificant personal objects

can bring past times back to life quite vividly.

If you buy World War One items, I think my tip would be

try and buy something that you can specifically relate to a person,

or a battle, or a time.

If you're going to buy something military,

make sure the story that goes with it

is the thing that's important.

Make sure it leaves a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye.

If you've got something that great-great-grandfather or whoever used in the First World War,

please, write it down so that the next lot know all about it.

Many of you have items inherited from relatives

with firsthand experience of war.

Many of you have wonderful wartime stories to tell,

and we wanted to hear again some of the more memorable.

I love this intriguing collection from World War One.

Tony, this is an interesting sort of collection you've brought in

for us to have a look at.

Tell me, how did you come by this?

Well, this was found in a trunk of an old friend of ours

who was in the Norfolk Regiment during the First World War.

After he died, we found these with an old, great coat

and his old army boots and spats

and these were things we just salvaged from that.

Right, I see.

There was nothing there that was particularly rare,

but it was just a nice, genuine lot.

Well, obviously, the market for militaria, shall we call it, is strong.

The majority of the value is probably going to be in his field compass,

which still retains its original leather case,

-which is embossed with his name, there, Dalton.

-Darcy Dalton.

Darcy Dalton. That's a great name, isn't it?

-Sounds like something out of the movies.

-Yeah.

Great name. Darcy Dalton. Should have been a film star.

Erm... But the one that caught my eye was the compass, obviously.

I think that was the sort of the meat of the lot, shall we say,

especially as it came in its original leather case.

-And then moving along from that we've got his original dog tags.

-Right.

We've got some of these matches, here, these Wind Vestas,

which it says here is for use on motors, cycles and yachts.

-Fancy lighting up a cigarette on a motorcycle now.

-An impressive feat.

-And rolling one at the same time.

-Yes.

-How's that?

-And then you've got these various cap badges.

-Yes.

And then these rather fine buttons.

And then to finish off, you've got these fascinating trench maps.

These trench maps are just amazing how they ever sorted them out.

It's always poignant to hold something that was involved

in such a terrible period of history, really.

-So he survived the war?

-He survived the war.

-And he lived to a ripe old age, did he?

-He was into his 80s.

-Into his 80s, so he was an old man.

-Yes.

-So he was married, was he?

-He was married.

-Because we've got this rather sort of...

-Well, yeah.

-..interesting...

Yeah, I wouldn't know whether his wife would know about that.

-It's the old...

-It's the old-fashioned condom,

which I suppose the gentry used to carry about with them.

-It doesn't say anything about it, just silk and seamless.

-Exactly.

So he was a bit of a ladies' man, was he, perhaps?

A bit of a ladies' man, probably on the quiet, yes.

Well, who knows? It may have been precautionary

or it could have doubled up as a water carrier in times of emergency -

you never know.

He may have had good intentions all the while

but, you know, life's tough as a soldier.

I'm sure it can get lonely.

I mean, there's nothing here that's going to be hugely valuable on its own.

So I would say for the whole lot as a group,

-if you could estimate it at maybe sort of £40-£60...

-Yes.

-..and we'll see how we do on the day for you.

-That's fine.

When you think about the sacrifice that was made during the Great War,

you think that items related to it should be worth a lot more.

But the trouble is so many people went to war

that a lot of this stuff is out there.

-£40, £50 for this?

-75.

-75 is good to start.

-Phone bid.

75 I'm bid. 80. 80. 85.

90. 95.

-A phone bidder.

-95, 100, 110.

All done at 110? It's on the telephone.

Against you all in the room at £110. All finished? All done?

To think this collection was in an old trunk!

Good on Tony for salvaging something that recalls

the sacrifices made during the Great War.

But to me, nothing evokes the dread atmosphere of war so starkly

as photographs that were taken at the time.

Ray, I've been thumbing through this album

with no little amount of interest.

It really is fascinating

and it contains, I would have thought,

between 300 and 400 photographs and postcards.

-Where did it come from?

-It was originally my grandfather's,

who gave it to my father and my father gave it to me.

-But there's some addressed to your grandmother from your grandfather?

-Yes.

-During the First World War?

-Yes.

-Amazing.

These albums are becoming more and more collectable

and I think as the anniversaries approach,

they will become more valuable and more collectable.

The other reason is, I think, we are less personally touched now

than we would have been 30 or 40 years ago.

Another generation has gone by,

so we perhaps feel more comfortable that we can buy something

that isn't directly affecting us.

They are very, very poignant.

I mean, a lot of them are of ruins, First World War ruins,

-obviously in France.

-Yes.

Some of those images really are very, very chilling.

Some of those images of northern France

and indeed, later on, Germany, that had been bombed to bits -

there was nothing left of some of those towns.

A lot of them are by a very famous chap.

I think the very first one - Louis Levy, "LL",

-who was a very famous photographer and later publisher.

-Mm-hm.

And a lot of these of France, he photographed during the First World War

and they're sad, but they are an important part of history.

Then we've got, I think, an amazing card here.

This is 1915, stamped with the censor's mark,

because everything had to pass the censor,

and they weren't allowed to say what was going on.

"I am still in the best of health," which is something of a feat in 1915,

"and spirits," even more importantly.

"Weather here is grand."

How on earth you can be sitting, being bombed to bits in a trench

and all you're allowed to talk about is the weather.

It's a great, great collection. Why are you selling it?

Well, it's just sitting on the shelf doing absolutely nothing

and somebody else who likes that sort of thing should be looking at it.

It should be where people can see it, really,

-because it's destruction that should never happen.

-No.

-Value? Any ideas?

-It was valued a few years ago at £100.

-At £100? I think that's about its value.

-Yeah.

-£100-£150.

But these sort of cards have become more and more collectable in the last few years.

Shall we start at 120?

Thank you, Chris. 120.

Straight in at £120.

150, 160. 160 in front. 170.

180. 190. 200.

And 10. 220, 230.

At £230 in front. All done, now?

Yes! The hammer's gone down. Cracking result.

That's social history and you can't really put a price on that.

It's a very sad pastime, but a fascinating one to look through these cards.

That sale price proves that collectors will pay good money

for items that help to keep our past alive.

The poignancy of war is often captured in the most unexpected items,

like this simple gift box, issued to the troops at Christmas time.

-Brenda, how are you doing?

-Very well, thank you.

Now, I think this is really, really interesting.

I've got one of these at home, which was my grandfather's.

They're always known as Queen Mary's Gift Box,

-but they're not really Queen Mary's because they are...

-Princess Mary.

This box was given to me by an elderly gentleman

about 25 years ago because he knew I collected tins

and I've got dozens of them.

And then I opened it up and inside was the original contents

with the card from Princess Mary to the troops,

which said, "With all best wishes for a happy Christmas

"and a victorious New Year."

And this was in 1914.

And then there was the original tobacco.

And the cigarettes.

And the badge with "Victory" written on it.

For me, what was lovely about Queen Mary's Gift Boxes,

I've got one at home that was given to my grandfather.

But mine, like 99% of the rest in the world,

has had all the contents taken out of it.

Look at that, eh?

-There's no health warning on those, is there?

-No!

And it's got Princess Mary's stamp on it.

It's got Princess Mary's monogram just there, hasn't it?

And let's just see what else it's got in there.

-Have you seen that?

-Yes.

Isn't that just lovely?

Let me just shut the box up so we can see this cover.

-Because what we see in the saleroom today is normally just that, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Because these contents have long since gone.

-Yes.

And the thing that I always think is really, really sad

-is they make little or no money.

-No, I know.

That, without the contents, in an auction is probably, what - £5 or £10?

Something like that.

I just think it ought to be worth a whole load more than it is.

If you think of the First World War, it was actually really barbaric.

Life in the trenches just must have been awful.

And these guys were given these gifts from the Queen.

I'm a great believer that these things are very personal

and as such, should be kept and treasured by the people they mean something to

and probably shouldn't just be cotton-woolled in museums.

Why are you selling it?

Well, I've got so many hundreds of tins

and the house we're in now, you can't display them like we used to be able to.

So you take it to "Flog It!" and flog it.

I don't know how many other people have seen one with the contents.

No, and that's the key thing.

-The fact that you've got all of this...

-Yeah.

..I just think that's absolutely lovely

and I think at auction, this is going to make between £20 and £40.

-You know, they've got a real bit of history, there, haven't they?

-Yes.

-And so well done you for bringing it in.

-Some museum might buy it.

Let's live in hope.

-I can start the bidding at 50. £55.

-Fantastic.

-That's a real good price.

-Where's 60 in the room now?

At £55 I'm bid. With me at £55.

Against you all, then, at £55.

Is there 60 in the room? Are you done, then? To sell.

-Against you all, then, at £55...

-GAVEL BANGS

They really should be worth more but they're not.

But perhaps, when the anniversary comes round,

they will make the money that I think they should do.

I find it very sobering to think that instead of tucking into turkey,

surrounded by loved ones on Christmas Day,

British soldiers in the trenches were receiving

these simple gift boxes.

Our memories are often worth more to us than gold

and, as David Fletcher knows, this is especially the case

when it comes to marking the feats of the previous generation

who were called up to fight for their country.

This object is very important to me.

I'm sure that it's the sort of thing which many people will recognise.

It's a First World War memorial plaque

and plaques like this made of bronze were given to the next of kin

of those men and women who lost their lives in the First World War.

The Government recognised that there was an appalling loss of life

and that loss of life was going very largely uncommemorated.

So, as a gesture, they decided to stage a competition

and in 1916, the winner was announced.

His name was Edward Preston.

There were over one million made.

This was awarded to my great-uncle, who died in 1918 in Salonika,

actually after the war finished.

He wasn't killed in action. He died of a disease he contracted whilst he was there.

It's not of any great financial value, as you might imagine,

because there are so many of them about,

but it does mean a very great deal to me.

Most of the war-related objects we see were things used in action.

But occasionally a piece turns up with a more hopeful story to tell.

Jennifer, this is a fascinating little piece of social history.

It's a little carved panel.

Can you tell me - where did you get it?

It was left in the house when we moved in

and that's really all we know.

-Do you like it?

-No.

-Is that why you want to sell it?

-Yes.

-OK, let's have a look at it.

We see a carved figure here

and we have a little panel which says, "Home from the front."

And we see, I don't know if that's perhaps a foot missing,

-perhaps shot off in the war.

-Yes.

So it's, I suppose, rather sad in that way.

These were terrible situations

where hundreds of thousands of young men were killed

and the objects that we have from the wars

do keep things alive.

A rather naive carving.

-It's not someone who has done fine work.

-Oh, no.

And it had occurred to me that this is perhaps something

that he may have done after coming back from the war,

perhaps injured, perhaps not able to work,

and this is how he spent his time.

So it's...

-There could be a little story behind that...

-Oh, yes.

-..if we knew.

-Yes, if we knew.

-If we knew.

It would have been of greater interest if she had been able

to tell us the story, tell us the person who had carved the panel

and to have perhaps photographs or maybe letters -

all these things which give it provenance,

which give it a story, make the item more desirable for the buyers.

If we maybe put it in, £20-£30,

-would you be happy enough with that?

-Oh, yes.

I think it's charming.

I don't.

Small carved picture of a squaddie.

-£30? £20, then.

-Come on. Someone come in.

Any advance on £20? The bid's in front.

One bid at 20. Yeah, 22. 25.

28, 30, 32, 35.

38. At 40.

42. 45.

48. At 50. At 50.

Well, this is good, this is good.

Any advance on £50? 55.

At 55. Standing on my right.

-All finished now at £55.

-That's a great result. £55.

-The hammer's going down. Yes!

-GAVEL BANGS

Jennifer, that's great.

Whatever you choose to collect,

it pays to look for things with stories that touch you.

It's a good idea to concentrate on a particular battle, conflict or person.

And if you do decide to part with family items, please write down the stories

to ensure they live on.

We've seen all sorts of militaria on today's programme,

from the spoils of war to the medals that represent the bravery of the ordinary man.

But there is one man in particular whose place during World War Two

was so important that anything related to him has become hugely valuable.

Winston Churchill led Britain's coalition government

between 1940 and 1945.

During this turbulent time in British history,

he became the nation's hero,

leading the country to victory against Nazi Germany

in the Second World War.

The image of him dressed in a three-piece suit,

more often than not with a cigar in hand,

has come to symbolise our wartime success.

Now, here at Longleat House they have a very impressive collection

of Churchill memorabilia,

possibly one of the best collections in the world,

and I particularly like this.

It's a red velvet siren suit

and it was the predecessor to the onesie.

Now, I had a onesie, but it didn't look like that!

Apparently, the siren suit was worn by Churchill

when he ran from the house to the air-raid shelter which was in the garden,

to take cover from the bombing during the Blitz of the Second World War.

Now, if you look carefully, you can see some little patches

which have been sewn up.

They are burn marks from his cigar.

So while he was wearing that, running along,

he was still smoking his cigar.

And talking of cigars, one of Churchill's unsmoked cigars

recently sold in auction, back in 2010,

for a staggering £2,125.

Now, here at Longleat House they have one of Churchill's cigars

but it's been half-smoked

and it has the most wonderful provenance.

Now, this half-smoked cigar is accompanied

by a handwritten letter by Juliet Duff

to the Sixth Marquis on the 5th November 1963 -

watertight provenance - and it reads...

"Darling Henry, this cigar was smoked by Winston Churchill

"on Tuesday evening October 29th 1963,

"at 28 Hyde Park Gate

"during a game of bezique played between him and your loving coz, Juliet."

Isn't that brilliant? But it gets even better.

There's a typed letter right next to it and look at this.

"My dear Bath, I understand that you would like one of my cigars for your collection

"and I send you one herewith.

"Yours very sincerely, Winston Churchill."

And that's signed in ink and it's dated 10th June, 1963.

Now, that type of provenance is absolutely invaluable,

especially when related to wartime memorabilia.

That kind of thing puts the value up,

so try and support your item with some written documentation.

Despite his obvious fondness for cigars,

Churchill lived a long life.

He died at his London home in January 1965

at the ripe old age of 90.

War touches us all in some way - our parents, our grandparents may have had a firsthand experience

of a life-shattering conflict.

This is certainly the case for our expert, Philip Serrell.

I don't come from an overly sentimental family,

but this is one of the most poignant things that I've got, really.

It really does mean something.

I can remember, as a kid, finding this in a drawer at home

and it was just sort of, you can see from the state of it, there was...

No care had been taken of it. There was water spilled on it and all sorts.

In fact, I got it all framed up and all the rest of it.

And it was to my grandfather and it's from Buckingham Palace, dated 1918,

and I'll just read it to you.

It says, "The Queen joins me in welcoming you

"on your release from the miseries and hardships

"which you have endured with so much patience and courage.

"During these many months of trial,

"the early rescue of our gallant officers and men from the cruelties of their captivity

"has been uppermost in our thoughts.

"We are thankful that this longed-for day has arrived

"and that back in the old country you will be able

"to once more enjoy the happiness of the home

"and to see good days among those who anxiously look forward to your return."

And it's signed King George.

Now, I sort of naively thought when I found this as a young boy

that this was a letter from the king to my granddad

and it sort of added to the mystique and the memory, really.

But it isn't. These were probably churned out in their thousands

and anybody who was a prisoner of war got one.

But I know that he had a real, real tough time as a prisoner of war

and this meant an awful lot to him,

so it's really quite nice now that I've got this.

It's a special thing for me, that.

21st-century Winchester is a peaceful, beautiful place,

but it has a 2,000-year-old link with British military history.

This incredible square is the Peninsula Barracks,

once home to serving army regiments.

Now, part of it is home to a museum dedicated to a very brave band of soldiers -

the Gurkhas.

Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years,

but who are these fearsome Nepalese fighters?

"Better to die than be a coward." The Gurkha motto sets the tone

that reflects their fearsome and valiant reputation.

They've served with British soldiers all over the world,

from World War One to World War Two,

to campaigns in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Even the young Prince Harry lived with a Gurkha regiment

for his 10-week tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The Gurkhas originate from the hill villages of Nepal,

where they were a proud warrior nation.

The British fought them at the height of the empire-building in the 1800s

and realising their potential, put them in uniform

and eventually made them part of the British Army.

The Gurkhas became renowned as tough, masculine soldiers,

fearless in the face of the enemy.

They earned a reputation for front-line fighting all over the world.

There are many legends about the Gurkhas and their bravery

and also about this, the kukri, the traditional knife.

It's the symbol of the Gurkha and the symbol of Nepal.

It has a curved blade that averages around 14 to 16 inches long.

There's a selection here laid out in front of me.

The one I've picked up here in the leather sheath

was used during the First World War.

That's razor sharp.

These were made by blacksmiths in the hills of Nepal

and throughout India.

Here is a knife that was used during the Second World War

and note the canvas.

There were around 120,000 Gurkhas enlisted,

each having two or possibly three knives.

Right up to the present day these are still being made in Nepal

and in India.

The sheaths are made out of water buffalo hide.

It's beautifully balanced, absolutely beautifully balanced.

It's slightly smaller now but it's still as lethal. That is razor sharp.

SOUNDS OF BATTLE

One notable Gurkha hero was Havildar Gaje Ghale,

a platoon sergeant in Burma in 1943.

The official battle log said, "hurling hand grenades,

"covered in blood from his own, neglected wounds,

"he led assault after assault, shouting the Gurkhas' battle cry -

" 'Glory be to the goddess of war. Here come the Gurkhas!' "

13 Victoria Crosses have been issued to the Gurkhas so far

and 13 to their British Army officers.

That's a total of 26 and they have three here in the museum.

The Victoria Cross is always issued with a purple ribbon.

It's cast from bronze from melted down captured Russian cannons

from the Crimean War.

On the face side there's a high relief of a lion

standing over the crown

and underneath it says, "For valour."

On the reverse it's quite plain but it's inscribed to the recipient with the date.

And they were only issued for conspicuous bravery

in the face of the enemy.

And as you can see, these ones are behind glass for security reasons.

They're highly valuable.

One of the toughest battles for the Gurkhas in recent years

has been with British red tape.

Actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served with the Sixth Gurkha rifles,

led a high-profile campaign

which led to the Gurkhas and their families being allowed to live in the UK.

For close on 200 years, Gurkhas have been a part of our armed forces,

proving themselves again and again with their character, dedication

and bravery.

One Chief of Staff in the Indian Army said of them,

"If a man says he's not afraid of dying, he's either lying or he's a Gurkha."

So many memories and emotions can be bound up in wartime items

and they are always valuable indicators of life

in those terrible times.

If you have any item with a military connection

and you're sure you want to part with it,

then please bring it along to one of our valuation days.

Well, that's it for today.

If you're thinking of going out and doing some buying and selling,

good luck, but until then, it's goodbye from Trade Secrets.