Antiques Roadshow: Mark Smith values SAS soldier's medals at £8K
On Sunday’s instalment of Antiques Roadshow, viewers of the BBC show were taken to Dundee as guests brought in their special items to get valued.
During the repeated episode, expert Mark Smith met one man whose father was a SAS soldier as he showcased his paperwork, medals and badges.
Thrilled by the collection on the table, Mark addressed the guest as he commented: “You said to me this morning ‘my dad was a soldier’ then you started to get this stuff out and I got so excited because this man was in the SAS, this is fantastic.”
Giving more information about his father, called David Cargill, the man showed a photograph of him before being sent to France with the BEF.
Looking closely at some of the pieces laid before him, the BBC star said: “We have a Territorial medal here. He went to France and he starts off his war by coming off a beach, somewhere called Dunkirk because he has the Dunkirk medal as well. What did he join then?”
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The man replied: “He joined the Parachute Regiment, did his training and once he’d got his wings, he immediately volunteered for SAS and was accepted.”
One of the pieces in the man's collection included his father’s certificate which was signed by Paddy Mayne, the commanding officer of the SAS.
Mark added: “Now, when you see these badges and things that you have here and you see SAS wings, usually they are fake. You have a Kings Crown Parachute Regiment badge. Even they today are hard to find and usually they are copied as well.
“You then have two of the shoulder titles for the 1st SAS. Now, I’m not certain that I’ve ever seen those before, in the flesh to actually touch them but there they are.”
Pointing at the beret that belonged to his father, the Antiques Roadshow star was in awe at the genuine details it obtained including the little badge that he said was often "faked all across the world".
Moving onto a photograph, the man pointed out his father driving a SAS jeep, which Mark confessed is rare to see someone in action.
Thrilled by what he was seeing, the expert said: “These things just don’t come on the market, so to actually be able to stand here and touch the real thing, it’s fantastic!”
When it came to putting a value on the items, the BBC star said the medals alone were worth around £200. However, with all the other items on the table, Mark added: “I think you’re actually looking somewhere close to £8,000.”
An audible gasp was heard by the crowd as the man seemed a bit taken back. He said: “My father would be very surprised.” Mark thanked the man for bringing in "absolutely fantastic" items.
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
