Crimean War Victoria Cross - And Fateful Cannonball - Sell For $387,500 In London Auction

We like history at Antiqueswest.com and see a lot of it in our search for unusual pieces and fine things. It is indeed rare, however, when something like the medal set of Major John Simpson Knox comes along.

Maj. Knox's Victoria Cross, the British Army's equivalent of our Medal of Honor sold along with his Crimean War campaign medals this week at Spinks in London. Accompanying the set was the Russian cannonball that took the good major's arm during the battle at Sebastopol.

The medal, the first ever won by a serving British soldier, was cast from the bronze of captured Russian cannon, poetic in that artillery was responsible for his horrific wound.

Knox performed the first of two acts of valor on 20 September 1854 during the Battle of the River Alma. According to his citation he "acted with conspicuous courage in reforming the ranks of the Guards at a decisive moment of the action".

In June the following year, while serving as a lieutenant with the Rifle Brigade, he volunteered for an attack on heavily defended Russian positions at Sebastopol.

According to the citation: "He remained in the field until he was twice wounded, all the time acting with great gallantry."

Knox retired from the Army in 1872 and took up residence at Cheltenham where he died in 1897. He was buried in the town's cemetery.

The understated by magnificent VC was sold along with three other medals - the Crimea Medal, the French Legion of Honor and the Turkish Crimea Medal. The cannonball, retrieved by a fellow soldier and given to the wounded Knox after the battle, was a most unusual addition.