History buffs and military collectors are about to get a rare glimpse into the life of one of the First World War’s most lethal snipers, Lieutenant Neville Methven.
His extraordinary exploits are coming back into the spotlight as his medals go under the hammer, revealing the story of a marksman whose skill and courage became the stuff of legend on the Western Front.
Leading a Fearless Sniper Unit
Lieutenant Methven commanded a 24-man sniper unit known as Bailey’s South African Sharpshooters, a crack team operating in the deadly no-man’s land between the British and German trenches.
Over two harrowing years, his unit was responsible for over 3,000 enemy casualties, yet the dangers they faced were staggering—only six members survived the conflict.
Methven himself became renowned for his deadly precision with a heavily modified Lee Enfield rifle, personally eliminating more than 100 German soldiers.
For his leadership and bravery, he was awarded the Military Cross.
A Marksman’s Early Life
Born in Stirling, Scotland, in 1884, Neville Methven moved to Mozambique as a child with his family, who were linen manufacturers.
Before the war, he worked as a private marksman for diamond and gold magnate Sir Abe Bailey.
When the British War Ministry sought skilled sharpshooters to counter the deadly German snipers on the Western Front, Methven was handpicked to lead the South African Sharpshooters attached to the British 1st Division.
The Battlefields of the Somme and Passchendaele
Methven’s unit operated in the thick of major battles like the Somme and Passchendaele.
He later recalled the dangerous missions that involved hiding in shell holes before dawn and targeting enemy troops under the cover of heavy artillery barrages.
“By arrangement, a further heavy gun barrage would be laid across the German positions and, while the infernal din was going on, we would pick off the enemy in their trenches,” Methven said.
His deadly precision earned him praise from General Peter Strickland, who highlighted the discipline, gallantry, and coolness shown by Methven and his men under fire.
Life After the Trenches
After the war, Methven continued a life of adventure. In the 1930s, he became a game warden and trophy hunter in Malawi, famously taking down a man-eating pride of lions that threatened the public.
He later worked as a bank manager and lived to the age of 90, passing away in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in 1974.
Medals Ready for Auction
Now, Lieutenant Methven’s medal group—including the Military Cross, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, and the King George VI Coronation Medal—is being auctioned through London-based Morton & Eden.
The medals, consigned from the collection of the late Dennis Trotter, are expected to fetch between £3,000 and £5,000.
A spokesperson for Morton & Eden said, “This historic group of medals represents a powerful reminder of the vital contribution made by brave, skilled marksmen in the trenches during the Great War.”
David Kirk added that Methven’s personal feats make this auction a unique window into the extraordinary lives of soldiers on the Western Front.
Remembering a Legendary Sniper
Methven’s life, from his deadly accuracy on the battlefield to his adventurous post-war years, paints the picture of a man whose courage and skill left an indelible mark on history.
The sale of his medals ensures that his story—and the extraordinary feats of his fellow sharpshooters—will continue to be remembered for generations.