South-east England

A car boot sale find 25 years ago has revealed how a luxury cruise liner was converted for transporting thousands of troops during the Second World War.

British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill memorabilia in the form of slippers, brandy balloon and cigar box.

Major Henry Milligan of the Royal Army Medical Corps not only won a Military Cross for bravery in the First World War in 1917, but gained another one.

Soldiers are often associated with hard drinking – but rarely temperance.

A Second World War beret sold at a Kent auction was not only one of the famous maroon British paratrooper examples but had star billing of its own.

Princess Margaret’s lover Flight Lieutenant Peter Townsend (1914-95) has been introduced to a new generation of TV viewers due to Netflix TV series The Crown – but militaria lots sold at auction also underline his renown as an RAF ace.

This late Victorian carved lime and soft wood panel is by James Peake (c.1839-1918), a carver and gilder.

The sale at Bellmans (22% buyer’s premium) in Wisborough Green, West Sussex, on March 8-11 included an example of Alexander Crichton’s famous walrus silver and glass claret jug.

The city of Liverpool holds a special place in the oeuvre of John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-93).

A recent sale at Dawsons’ (23% buyer’s premium) sale in Maidenhead included two George IV tablewares by Edward Farrell chased and embossed with tavern scenes in the manner of Dutch genre painting.

A late 19th century christening bowl offered by Hampshire auction house Hannam’s (23% buyer’s premium) was admired both for its artistry and ownership history.

Police are investigating the provenance of a collection of Japanese ivories in connection with a high-value burglary in Surrey.

Contained in an old buckram folder, a collection of scouting ephemera proved a highlight of a sale of books and ephemera held in Chichester.

Traditional high-society portrait by Sir Oswald Birley finds modern-day auction fans including an overseas buyer

Given a modest estimate of £100-150 in a January 3 sale at Oxfordshire auction house Jones & Jacob (18% buyer’s premium), an edition of Hero & Leander published in 1949 by Christopher Sandford sold instead at £1500.

Adrian Gilmour, co-owner of the Hungerford Arcade, is thrilled at news that non-essential retail can reopen in April.

Algernon Mayow Talmage (1871-1939) is probably not the most familiar name in the canon of Modern British artists, but some believe he is undervalued.

Traditional 18th century styles rub shoulders with stand-out Modern design in regional sales

If the famous image of the Milton Shield by Elkington and its £800-1200 estimate drew a double-take at a recent auction, there was good reason.