A RARE First World War medal is set to spark interest when it goes under the hammer today because it was awarded to ... a woman.

The Victory Medal was awarded to Clara Godling, from Brightlingsea, and is expected to make between £300 and £500 when it is sold at Reeman Dansie in Colchester.

Auctioneer Lewis Rabett said: “The medal in itself is not particularly rare. Every serving soldier would have got one but the reason this one is rare is because it was to a woman, and she was a war casualty.

“I’ve never seen a one from a female casualty before.”

Clara served with Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps but she was killed on November 7, 1918 - just four days before the armistice.

A local collector is selling the medal and Mr Rabett hopes a local museum will buy it.

He said: “It is the collecter’s hope that it goes on to somebody who will treasure it so the story isn’t forgotten.

“It would be nice if it stayed locally so people in Brightlingsea can remember and learn about the contribution that was made to the war effort by people from where they live.”

Ms Godling is buried in a Commonwealth Military cemetery in Rouen, France, but her name is on Brightlingsea’s war memorial.