A historic collection of artifacts once the property of General David L. Brainard will be sold on September 21, 2007, in the rooms of London auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb. Brainard was the only survivor of the sledge party that achieved a "farthest north" record during the Lady Franklin Bay Arctic Expedition of 1881-84 (popularly known as the Greely Expedition). He was also the expedition's last survivor, passing away in 1946.

Among the medals in the collection is Brainard's Explorers Medal for the "farthest north" record, and a special Explorers Club medal commemorating the fifth anniversary of Robert Peary's North Pole discovery. Also included are the General's Purple Heart, awarded in 1933 for wounds received during a battle with Sioux Indians in 1877, and his accompanying campaign medals and foreign decorations for the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection and First World War.

A handcrafted Inuit bone knife brought back from the Arctic is prominent among the other items, which also include original photographs, books, letters, a monogramed cloth card case and expedition calling card, and an officer's commission signed by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Go here for a biographical sketch of Gen. David L. Brainard:

copyright 2007 Glenn M. Stein, FRGS