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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 419

The Great War campaign pair awarded to Private V. L. Johnson, Army Service Corps, the famous cyclist who took Gold in the 660 yard sprint at London in 1908 - that year he won no less than 60 races and smashed three World Records

British War and Victory Medals (M-281758 Pte. V. L. Johnson. A.S.C.), together with his Silver War Badge (B143649), good very fine (2)

Victor Louis Johnson - or Vic to his friends and comrades - was born at Aston Manor, Warwickshire on 10 May 1883 and by 1901 was a carpenter living at home with his father, a bicycle maker. He soon proved his worth and joined Rover Racing C.C. the following year.

It was just fate that 1908, the year in which London held the Olympic Games, that Johnson truly broke through. He he won 60 races including the National Cyclists' Union British National quarter-mile title; the World's Amateur Sprint championship in Leipzig Germany; besides the Olympic Games 660 yard sprint in London, completing a single lap of the track in 51.2 seconds. He also reached the final of the Olympic Games 1,000 metre sprint but suffered a puncture and was narrowly beaten into the silver medal position. The race was declared void when the time limit was exceeded. Johnson rode a 'Rover Path Racer' and the '...very cycle that took him to victory' is on display in the Heritage Cycling Museum at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

The following year he smashed three World Records at Herne Hill Velodrome. His '28 seconds' quarter-mile time stood 21 years and was the British amateur record for 'at least 39 years'. It only lost its world status when the Union Cycliste Internationale changed the rules in 1948 and was superseded by a slower time.

During the Great War he served with the Army Service Corps and his memory was crowned when Cycling Weekly awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling.

Sold together with his large embroidered 'Olympic Games London 1908' and 'N.C.U.' jersey Badges, as worn during those famous rides, a good archive of original letters of congratulation, besides a print block with his image and several related sweetheart brooches.

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Sold for
£600

Starting price
£380