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Falklands War medal sells for £6k at auction

PA Media The South Atlantic medalPA Media
Mr Haley's South Atlantic medal, similar to one pictured here, sold for more than double its valuation

A Huddersfield photojournalist's Falklands War medal has sold for more than double its valuation at auction.

Paul Haley's South Atlantic medal, which was auctioned alongside other items relating to the conflict, fetched £6,500 on Thursday.

Mr Haley worked for Soldier magazine during the conflict and was attached to the 5th Infantry Brigade.

He decided to sell the items after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in his liver and lungs.

The money from their sale will go to his family.

"I think we will have a few meals out," added the 73-year-old.

Mr Haley, from Linthwaite, captured one of the most famous images of the conflict when he snapped 7 Platoon, G Company on Mount Tumbledown after they found out the war had been won on 14 June 1982.

Imperial War Museum/Getty Images 7 Platoon, G Company, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards on Mount Tumbledown celebrate the news of the Argentine surrenderImperial War Museum/Getty Images
Paul Haley captured this image of soldiers celebrating news of the Argentine surrender on Mount Tumbledown

Mr Haley, who now lives in Morley, said it had been "lovely" to have seen so much interest in what the auctioneer described as an "absolutely superb" item.

The medal was sold with his Falklands-stamped passport, an Argentine bayonet and bullet from the conflict, two stones from Mount Tumbledown and 200 original hand-printed images.

"I was a 31-year-old press photographer doing my job, you don't think there's anything special happening," said Mr Haley, who is still in touch with the surviving members of 7 Platoon, G Company.

"You just concentrate on the work and getting the best pictures you can in difficult circumstances."

TOLGA AKMEN Paul HaleyTOLGA AKMEN
Mr Haley says "the time is right" for someone else to appreciate the history of the items

The Imperial War Museum had been among those interested in buying the items, but Mr Haley said their bid was unsuccessful.

The BBC has asked auction house Spink to confirm the identity of the buyer.

Mr Haley said he had "thought long and hard" about whether to sell the items, which had a guide price of between £2,000 and £3,000.

"I just thought it was the right time to let it go now rather than it staying in a drawer forever and people not caring about it," he said.

"That's why I wanted them to go to a museum where people can appreciate them."

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