A rare and historic set of medals awarded to Marsie Taylor, a British woman who served as a courageous naval hero during World War II, is set to be auctioned off in May. The collection, which includes the prestigious British Empire Medal (BEM) for gallantry, is expected to draw significant interest due to Taylor’s exceptional record and the scarcity of these decorations.
Taylor, who was born in London, served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service and was recognized for her extraordinary courage during the Blitz in 1940. Her heroic efforts of rescuing civilians trapped under the wreckage of the Morley College air raid shelter for over 10 hours, despite the constant risk of collapse, earned her the British Empire Medal.
After her commendable service in London, Taylor was chosen for top-secret duties under General Eisenhower’s staff, contributing to significant Allied operations such as Operation Husky—the invasion of Sicily—and Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings in Normandy.
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In 2016, Taylor was honored as the first woman to receive the Legion d’Honneur by the French ambassador for her contributions to the liberation of France. This distinguished decoration marked the culmination of a legacy that encompassed multiple theaters of the Second World War.
Described as a “rare and exceptional piece of WWII history” by Lawrences Auctioneers, Taylor’s medal set sheds light on the often under-acknowledged roles of women in military and support services during the war.
Matthew Denney, a militaria specialist at Lawrences, referred to the medals as an “extraordinary opportunity to own a piece of history” and highlighted Taylor’s remarkable service and critical contributions to planning the Allied invasion of Normandy during WWII.
The medal group, listed as Lot 609, is estimated to be valued between £400 to £600.
Lawrences’ Militaria Auction will take place on Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 15, with global online bidding available. Further details and registration can be found at www.lawrences.co.uk.