£1,200
WWII. Operation Market Garden, 1st British Airborne Division flag 1944, of Bellerephon and Pegasus, maroon cotton(?) twill and light blue wool, with ink inscription “Urquhart Maj Gen September 1944” on the heading and, in chalk “Home from Home…Good Luck to All…”, 45.5 x 63.5cm
Provenance: Acquired by Lucy Ann Godson in 1944; thence by descent to the present vendor
This flag has an interesting, but frustratingly inconclusive provenance. Undoubtedly dating from the period, its excellent state of preservation points to it having always been regarded as an heirloom. According to the testimony of Lucy Ann Godson (1923-2005) of Leadenham, Lincolnshire, the daughter of a gamekeeper and his wife, it was given to her by a serviceman that she refused to name (other than by an improbable nickname), whom she described as batman to Major General [Roy] Urquhart (1901-1988). After employment as a domestic servant in a Lincolnshire country house she embarked on a brief marriage before marrying again in 1949. Her second husband survives her and has confirmed that his wife had served in the ATS. He was born in 1927 and by coincidence, he joined the army at 16 and after training as an airborne soldier became a glider pilot. It is understood that he was one of those selected to fly to Arnhem as part of the second wave.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
28.80% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
30.6% inc VAT*
