A medal awarded to First World War pilots for gallantry, which was discovered in a dusty attic in Purbeck, has fetched thousands at auction.

Pensioner Ian Dickson, who was in his 80s, died at Christmas and an auctioneer was invited to carry out a probate valuation of his possessions at his home in Swanage.

The auctioneer discovered an Air Force Cross, which had been awarded to Mr Dickson’s father Second Lieutenant Clift Dickson in 1918, and several other general service medals in a plastic carrier bag in the loft.

Around 680 Air Force Crosses were awarded to officers in the Great War for courage or devotion to duty while flying, although not in operations against the enemy.

The silver military decoration went under the hammer at Cottees Auctions Ltd on Tuesday for £2,400.

Auctioneer John Condie said: “It’s becoming increasingly unusual to find valuable objects in this way because more and more people are aware of what they’ve got these days.

Posted: 01|18|07 at 8:26 am. Filed under: UK News.