Kiwi's Gallipoli VC likely to go to overseas buyer

A Victoria Cross awarded to a New Zealander serving in the Australian Army at Gallipoli is likely to go to an overseas buyer, says a Sydney auction house selling the medal.

Bonhams and Goodman chief executive Tim Goodman said a British and an American collector had expressed strong interest in Captain Alfred John Shout's VC, even though the medal is required by law to remain in Australia.

Captain Shout - born in Wellington in 1881 - moved to Sydney when he was 26 and became the most highly decorated soldier in the Australian Army to serve at Gallipoli.

In 1915, he was awarded the Military Cross during the landing at Anzac Cove, and was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for his role in the battle of Lone Pine, where he died from injuries days after the Australian charge on Turkish-held trenches at Lone Pine.

The Canberra Times newspaper said yesterday that both collectors had said they would keep the VC in a vault in Australia if their bid was successful.

It is the only one of nine VCs awarded to soldiers in the Australian Army at Gallipoli that is not held at the Australian War Memorial.

The museum will not bid at the July 24 auction, where Captain Shout's elderly grandson is selling the VC, Military Cross and other medals.

The newspaper said the British collector was politician and businessman Lord Michael Ashcroft, who reputedly already owns more than 100 VCs.

The British billionaire made headlines this year when it was revealed he donated A$1 million ($1.24 million) to the Australian Liberal Party just before the 2004 federal election.

- NZPA