Antiques Roadshow guest exclaims 'golly' as item worth six figures makes show history

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.

An Antiques Roadshow expert spoke of a "unique moment" for the BBC hit series as he shared the staggering value of a family heirloom.

BBC specialist Mark Smith was on hand at Portchester Castle where the Antiques Roadshow star was met with a couple who wanted to find out more about a grandfather's prized accolades.

"This is a unique moment on the Antiques Roadshow," Smith began. "In all the years I've been on the Roadshow, we have never had a Victoria Cross. The highest award for gallantry this country has. Who was this man?"

The man explained: "This was my wife's grandfather. Unfortunately, I wasn't privileged enough to meet him but my wife knew him when she was a young child."

She elaborated: "I have very vague memories, because I actually was only coming up for my fifth birthday when he passed away. I'm very proud of him, obviously, with what he achieved."

Smith replied: "Well, he did this during the Battle of Passchendaele and when we think about the First World War and we see those photos of those men in those mud-filled trenches, this is where he was."

The expert then read out the citation which explained why Sergeant Ockendon was awarded the Victoria Cross: "In the attack in the morning of October 4, 1917, east of Langemark, Sergeant James Ockendon was acting company sergeant major.

"Noticing the right platoon held up by an enemy machine gun which was causing many casualties, he, with absolute disregard for his personal safety, immediately rushed the gun, killed two of the gunners and followed and killed the third, who was making his escape across no man's land.

"He then led a party to an attack on a trench. This party was heavily fired on as it advanced.

"Sergeant Ockendon dashed ahead and called upon the garrison to surrender.

"They, however, continued to fire, and with great boldness, Sergeant Ockendon then opened fire himself.

"Having killed four of the enemy, he forced the remaining 16 to surrender.

"During the remainder of the day, Sergeant Ockendon displayed the greatest gallantry."

After reading out the citation, Smith simply stated: "Wow. For that, he is awarded the Victoria Cross. It's a very humble medal."

He shared that Queen Victoria wanted the medal to be made of a cheap metal like bronze as she believed it was "about the deed behind the medal".

Smith went on to point out that he also had a Military Medal and was in the assault wave on the first day of the attack at Gallipoli.

When asked if he was wounded, the guest shared: "Yeah, evidently, he got shot in the head.

"He was gassed not long before the end of the war and then he was medically discharged with honour from the army.

"And led a quiet life until the Second World War, then he joined the Home Guard," which earned him a Defence Medal.

Almost ready to conclude, Smith said: "As we said, Queen Victoria, she didn't want it to be worth money. They do have a value.

"Do you have any idea what they might be worth?"

"Not really. It's something that will never leave the family", the man clarified as the expert shared that the medals were worth a staggering £250,000 to £300,000.

The couples' jaws dropped before they broke into laughter with her whispering: "Golly."

"I didn't think it would be that much", the man said as Smith replied: "Easily."

The guest joked: "I need a stiff cup of coffee."

His wife shared: "I'm a bit like my husband - shocked. I didn't expect that at all."

The husband remarked that he would be returning the medals to the bank where they were kept in a safety deposit box.

"I think that's probably wise. That day, he deserved that," Smith replied.

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.