Quirky World...Arctic explorer’s medal to fetch £30k
The honour was presented posthumously to John Irving who sailed as part of Sir John Franklin’s expedition which left for the Arctic in 1845 but became trapped in ice resulting in the deaths of more than 120 men.
Irving, who served in the Royal Navy, was among the first to die and his grave was found in 1879. The Arctic Medal, which is being sold by Irving’s family, was presented by Queen Victoria to members of several expeditions between 1818 and 1855.
