A historical mail bag, signed by 10 perpetrators of the notorious Great Train Robbery, where they looted over £2 million, will be auctioned soon. The daring criminals, involved in one of the most infamous heists in Britain, ambushed a train, stole 120 mail sacks containing the equivalent of nearly £50 million today, and now, 63 years later, a collection of memorabilia from the event is set to go under the hammer.
These items, amassed by the seller’s father, an enthusiastic collector of London’s underworld and criminal artifacts, include a noteworthy mail bag signed by 10 members of the gang, all of whom were apprehended and sentenced. According to a spokesperson from Lucas Field Media, representing Ewbank’s Auctions, the seller’s father had acquaintances within that realm.
The auction will feature a cream drawstring mail bag, resembling those crafted by the gang members during their prison terms post-robbery. The bag comes with a color photograph depicting the Royal Mail Travelling Post Office train that was targeted during the heist near Ledburn, Bucks, as it journeyed from Glasgow to London Euston.
During the August 1963 robbery, the gang manipulated a signal light using a glove, causing the train to halt, then proceeded to board it by incapacitating the train driver and unloading cash sacks into waiting vehicles via a human chain. The bag bears the signatures of the mastermind Bruce Reynolds, along with other notorious members of the gang.
The aftermath of the robbery left a tragic mark on its victims. The train driver, Jack Mills, suffered severe injuries and continued to battle pain and headaches for years. Another victim, David Whitby, never recovered from the psychological trauma of the incident and passed away at a young age due to a heart attack.
All the culprits were eventually apprehended and imprisoned. Ronnie Biggs, one of the gang members, gained notoriety after escaping prison and living as a fugitive for over three decades in Australia and Brazil.
Ewbank’s Auctions near Guildford, Surrey, anticipates the mail bag to fetch between £70 to £100 at the auction. Additionally, a Monopoly banknote worth £500, crucial in cracking the case due to fingerprints found on game items at the gang’s hideout, will also be up for sale. The auction will include signed press photographs of key gang members, offering a glimpse into the history of this infamous event.
The auction for these items is scheduled to take place on Friday, August 28.