Victoria Cross awarded to Irishman — the first given to a civilian — sells for €1m

The bravery of the Mullingar clerk in crossing the lines at the Siege of Lucknow won him the first ever Victoria Cross given to a civilian. Picture: Noonans

The first Victoria Cross (VC) awarded to a civilian – an Irishman called Thomas Henry Kavanagh – has been sold at auction for a world record price of over €1m.

The medal had a guide price of between £300,000 (€347,000) and £400,000 (€462,000) but it exceeded all expectations when it went under the hammer on Wednesday for £930,000 (€1,073,355) the Mayfair-based auctioneers, Noonans.