THE medals of a gallant Furness man who took on two machine guns are set to sell for thousands of pounds at auction.

Seven military awards to Sergeant Harry Campbell are included in the London auction by Dix Noonan Webb on May 8 to 9 and carry a pre-sale estimate of £3,000 to £4,000.

Sgt Campbell, who was born in Barrow, won the Military Medal for bravery at a place known to troops as Happy Valley during the Korean War.

The official citation to the award was published in the London Gazette on April 15 in 1951.

It noted: "‘During the night of 3 to 4 January 1951, at Chaegunghyon, Korea, Sergeant Campbell was with the rearguard company of his battalion when it withdrew through a defile from defensive positions.

"The force was ambushed at close range in a river bed and in the confusion of the attack men and vehicles were scattered. Sergeant Campbell displayed great coolness and leadership, organising and controlling his men throughout the action.

"He personally stalked two light machine-gun positions which were blocking the escape and put them out of action with hand grenades.

"He later gathered together a party of men, and led them to break out of the ambush.

"His coolness and courage throughout this action which took place at night, at close quarters and in considerable confusion, undoubtedly contributed to the escape of a large part of the trapped force."

Henry Adams Campbell was born in February 1918 and served in the Army with the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, the Royal Armoured Corps, the Royal Ulster Rifles in Korea and the S.A.S. Regiment.

He left the Army in 1961 and died in the Royal Infirmary Chester in July 1975.