Antiques Roadshow star left completely speechless in history-making valuation

One lucky Antique Roadshowguest made history on the BBC programme after receiving a staggering valuation for a historic medal. The hit BBC show headed to Portchester Castle for its latest instalment with Fiona Bruce at the helm.

She was greeted by hundreds of guests who took along their most prized possessions to receive an expert valuation. Expert Mark Smith met a couple who headed to the castle, with medals from the man's grandfather from the early 1900s.

Expert Mark told the couple that one medal was extremely unique, as they had never had a Victoria Cross feature beforehand. He informed the couple that it was the "highest award for gallantry in this country," as he became inquisitive about who it had belonged to originally. 

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"This was my wife's grandfather," the male guest said. He went on to add: "Unfortunately, I wasn't privileged enough to meet him, but my wife knew him when she was a young child." However, Sergeant James Ockendon died when the woman was just five, as she revealed her memories are very vague.

Mark explained: "Well, he did this during the Battle of Passchendaele, and when we think about the First World War and we see those photos of those men in those mud-filled trenches, this is where he was." He went on to read the citation which explained the bravery and heroism that Sergeant Ockendon had shown while in service.

It said: "In the attack in the morning of October 4, 1917, east of Langemark, Sergeant James Ockendon was acting company sergeant major. Noticing the right platoon held up by an enemy machine gun, which was causing many casualties, he, with absolute disregard for his personal safety, immediately rushed the gun, killed two of the gunners and followed and killed the third, who was making his escape across no man's land.

"He then led a party to an attack on a trench. This party was heavily fired on as it advanced." Mark went on to explain that Ockendon had opened fire and forced 16 enemies to surrender while in conflict.

"During the remainder of the day, Sergeant Ockendon displayed the greatest gallantry," the citation ended. Shocked by the achievements, Mark asked the couple if Ockendon had been injured. They replied: "Yeah, evidently, he got shot in the head.

"He was gassed not long before the end of the war, and then he was medically discharged with honour from the army." However, the couple admitted they had no idea how much the collection of achievements would be worth and revealed that they would "never leave the family."

Expert Mark revealed that the collection could fetch a staggering fortune between £250,000 and £300,000, with the man joking that he needed a "stiff cup of coffee".

The couple also confirmed that the medals would not be sold, and instead, were being returned to a bank vault where they have been securely persevered.

Antiques Roadshow airs at 8:15pm on Sunday, and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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