An “extremely rare” grouping of military items including a British 1899 issue leather hobnail boot with a shrapnel hole sold for £6500 at a Buckinghamshire auction on July 3.

Extracted from Antiques Trade Gazette | Tom Derbyshire

While a few similar First World War groupings emerged for sale during the Great war centenary sales of 2014-18, this example was related to the earlier second Boer War – items linked to Lance Corp Henry George Pullin of the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.

Offered with an estimate of £1800-2200 at specialist militaria auction house Bosleys (20% buyer’s premium) in Marlow, it included a helmet with the original khaki foreign service helmet cotton cover tailored with pagri and the rare feature of a neck flap.

Pullin is believed to have been wounded at Klip Drift on February 16, 1900, during the Battle of Paardeberg – a family story says that possibly explains the torn boot and its retention as a souvenir. The group comprised 10 items including his medals and a Queen Victoria 1900 chocolate tin.

He remained with the Gloucester Regiment Volunteers and later Territorial Force and in 1915 volunteered for overseas service. His records show he was discharged due to sickness, maybe related to his South Africa wound.

The grouping was found in an attic when a family member was clearing out a house. It sold to a private bidder via thesaleroom.com.