Fair Vintage  /  What We Buy  /  Military Medals  /  WW1 Medals
1914 Star · British War Medal · Victory Medal · gallantry awards · medal groups · UK-wide

Sell WW1 medals.
Regiment researched. Valuation written. Record preserved.

1914 Star, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. Named and unnamed. Individual medals or complete groups. With papers and photographs or without. Every group assessed individually — regiment identified, gallantry awards recognised, casualty rolls referenced.

WW1 medals are among the most historically significant items we handle. The story behind each group matters to its value. We research it. Free insured postage. Written valuation per medal. Paid in 72 hours.

Get your free postage pack → Email photos first
Per medal
Written valuation
regiment identified
Research
Named rolls & casualty
records referenced
£5,000
Insurance both ways
standard, no extra cost
72 hrs
Payment guaranteed
or +3% added

What we buy

Campaign medals

  • 1914 Star (Mons Star) — with or without clasp
  • 1914-15 Star
  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal (Inter-Allied War Medal)
  • Mercantile Marine War Medal
  • Allied Victory Medals (Belgian, French, Italian)

Gallantry awards

  • Military Medal (MM) — most common Other Ranks gallantry award
  • Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
  • Military Cross (MC) — Officers' gallantry
  • Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
  • Mention in Despatches (MiD) — oak leaf
  • Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)

Casualty & rare groups

  • Groups to casualty recipients (KIA/DoW)
  • Royal Flying Corps and RAF groups
  • Tank Corps and Machine Gun Corps groups
  • Nurse and WAAC groups
  • Colonial and Dominion forces — ANZACs, Canadians
  • Groups with original paperwork and photographs

Supporting documents

  • Discharge papers (Army Form Z.18, W3236)
  • Medal rolls and citation copies
  • London Gazette extracts (for gallantry citations)
  • Photographs — in uniform, family groups
  • Pay books and service records
  • Letters from the front

Regimental items

  • Cap badges and collar dogs
  • Officers' pips and rank insignia
  • Regimental buttons
  • Trench art — shell cases, bullet crosses, lighters
  • Identity discs and dog tags
  • Officer's Sam Browne belt and accessories

WW2 and later medals

  • WW2 campaign stars (1939-45, Africa, Italy, France etc.)
  • WW2 gallantry awards — DCM, MM, MC groups
  • Korea, Malaya, Cyprus, Falklands groups
  • Long Service medals and Royal Victorian Medals
  • Commonwealth forces medals — all periods

What makes a WW1 medal group more valuable

Not all WW1 medals are equal in value. The factors that distinguish a significant group from a common one are well understood — and we research all of them.

  • Gallantry award present: An MM, DCM, MC, or DSO in the group increases value significantly. A gazetted gallantry award — meaning the citation appears in the London Gazette and can be read — adds further, particularly if the action described is notable.
  • Casualty recipient: A group to a soldier killed in action or died of wounds is researchable. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records, the Soldiers Died in the Great War volumes, and regimental histories allow the recipient's story to be documented. Documented groups are worth more.
  • Rare regiment or corps: Groups to uncommon units — Royal Flying Corps, Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Engineers, Machine Gun Corps, Tank Corps — attract premium above common infantry regiments.
  • The 1914 Star with clasp: The clasp "5th Aug. — 22nd Nov. 1914" was awarded to those who served in the original BEF under fire before 22 November 1914. Only about 378,000 were awarded, compared to 2.3 million Stars without clasp. The clasp significantly increases value.
  • Original provenance: Discharge papers, photograph, medal rolls, and letters from the front transform a group into a documented historical record. The full provenance package is worth considerably more than the medals alone.
The process

Four steps to your WW1 medals valuation

Step 01

Request your free postage pack

Tell us roughly what you have. We send a free prepaid, tracked and insured label the same working day.

Step 02

Pack medals and documents

Medals in a padded box. Paper items in acid-free sleeves between cardboard. Do not roll documents. Photograph everything before posting for your own records. Insured to £5,000 from courier scan.

Step 03

Live YouTube opening

Your parcel opened publicly on YouTube before any specialist touches it. Every item visible on camera. Broadcast time confirmed in advance.

Step 04

Research, written valuation, payment

Regiment identified. Gallantry awards noted. Rolls referenced. Written valuation per medal. Accept or decline. Return anything free. Payment within 72 hours — or we add 3%.

Full process guide →
Common questions

Answered honestly.

Call us on 01234 815116 or email support@fairvintage.co.uk. We respond within one working day.

Get your free pack →

What makes a WW1 medal group more valuable?

A gallantry award (Military Medal, DCM, Military Cross) increases value significantly, particularly if gazetted. A rare regiment or corps helps. A casualty recipient makes the group fully researchable. The 1914 Star with clasp is rarer than without. Original papers, photographs, and letters transform a group into a documented historical record.

My WW1 medals are unnamed. Are they still worth selling?

Some British WW1 medals were issued unnamed. Unnamed medals have value but generally less than named examples, particularly for gallantry awards. We assess every group individually and note naming status explicitly.

I have a WW1 medal trio with papers and photos. How do I send them safely?

Pack medals in a small padded box. Paper items should be placed in acid-free sleeves or between cardboard. Do not roll or fold documents. Photograph everything before posting. Your parcel is insured to £5,000 from the moment the courier scans it.

Do you buy WW2 medals as well?

Yes. We buy British military medals from all periods — Napoleonic through to the Falklands. WW2 groups, Korea, Malaya, and later campaign medals are all assessed individually.

Is it legal to sell military medals in the UK?

Yes. It is entirely legal to sell British military medals in the UK. The only special case is the Victoria Cross, which is subject to specific conventions. Contact us if you have a VC and we will advise appropriately.

How quickly will I be paid?

Within 72 hours of your parcel going live on YouTube — guaranteed. If we miss that window, we add 3% to your total.

Related guides
All Medals
Sell military medals UK — all periods
Medal Values
Military medal values UK — what affects value?
Inherited Items
Inherited collections — thoughtful handling
All Categories
Everything we buy — full list
Regiment identified · Rolls researched · Free insured postage · No obligation

Find out what your WW1 medals
are actually worth.

Request your free pack today. Every group researched — regiment identified, gallantry recognised, rolls referenced. Open live on YouTube. Written valuation per medal. Paid within 72 hours.

Get your free postage pack → Email photos first
✓  REGIMENT & ROLLS RESEARCHED ✓  GALLANTRY AWARDS RECOGNISED ✓  FREE INSURED POSTAGE BOTH WAYS ✓  PAID IN 72 HOURS OR +3%