First ever Victoria Cross to be auctioned - 26/03/2010

The first ever Victoria Cross (VC) is to go under the hammer, it has been revealed.

The medal, which dates back to 1857, is expected to sell for approximately £120,000, according to the Telegraph.

In honour of his exceptional heroism, the decoration was awarded to major John Simpson Knox by Queen Victoria on June 26th of that year.

Knox led troops into a number of battles between 1854 and 1856, the first engagements for which soldiers were considered for a VC.

Medal Specialist Oliver Pepys said that the lot was of exceptional historical importance.

He told the news provider: "The lot is fascinating. [It] is the first Victoria Cross ever handed to a soldier of the British army.

"In all my years of working with rare medals and war artefacts I have never seen a more unusual keepsake - it is truly extraordinary."

He went on to reveal that the major showed "incredible bravery" and led two assaults from the trenches on Russian troops. He also lost an arm in battle.