'Even if it's worth two million... we won't part with it' – Victoria Cross worth £250,000 features on Antiques Roadshow
The son of a British Indian Army officer who won the Victoria Cross after single-handedly storming two Japanese positions during the Second World War has been moved to tears after finding out how much the medal is worth.
Military medal specialist and Victoria Cross expert Mark Smith valued the rare military award at £250,000 when the son of Captain Gian Singh showed it to him on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow, which was filmed at Pollok Country Park in Glasgow.
However, the Victoria Cross, which is awarded to members of the British Armed Forces who show unparalleled bravery in the face of the enemy, will not be going up for sale, regardless of its monetary value.
The VC was presented to Naik (Captain) Singh by King George VI in October 1945 for his "magnificent gallantry" and "devotion to duty".
His son now plans to donate it to a museum to ensure his father's brave deeds are remembered, saying: "Even if it's worth two million, ten million... we won't part with it.
"The medals will be going straight to the bank and from there, I think, the family, we will collectively decide it should go to the museum where people can actually see and appreciate what my father did in the Second World War."
Medal expert Mr Smith was bowled over by being in the presence of a Victoria Cross saying: "As a medal collector, this is the ultimate moment because there is really only one medal which every medal collector craves to have in their collection.
"Actually, just to see one out of a case in a museum is an incredible treat because it is the Victoria Cross, the highest award this country has for bravery."
Along with the Victoria Cross was a scrap book holding images of Capt Singh, who served in 4th Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment during the Second World War.
It also held a copy of the citation which described Capt Singh's actions in Burma on 2 March 1945 as the Japanese held a strong position either side of the Kamye-Myingyan road.
It said: ""Ordering his Light Machine Gunner to cover him, he, alone, rushed the enemy foxholes, firing his Tommy Gun.
"He was met by a hail of fire and wounded in the arm.
"In spite of this, he continued his advance alone, hurling grenades.
"He killed several Japanese including four in one of the enemy main weapon pits.
"By this time a troop of tanks moved up in support of this platoon and came under fire from a cleverly concealed enemy anti-tank gun.
"Naik Gian Singh quickly saw the danger to the tanks and, ignoring the danger to himself and in spite of his wounds, again rushed forward, killed the crew and captured the gun single-handed."
Visibly moved by reading about Capt Singh's courageous actions, Mr Smith then asked his son if his father ever spoke of his service.
Mr Singh explained that his father would not talk to his children about it, but he later found out he would become emotional whenever he spoke about it to others, adding: "Obviously, he lost a lot of his friends in that battle."
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