Bible that saved British soldier’s life by stopping a bullet up for auction in Derbyshire
A Bible that saved the life of a WWI British soldier by stopping a bullet aimed at his chest could make thousands when goes under the hammer in Derbyshire
Private John William Webb was carrying the Bible in his tunic pocket when he faced an avalanche of machine gun fire in France in 1918.
But the regulation-issue book, which many men carried close to their hearts, stopped the bullet, halting its deadly progress at page 685.
The holy book - with the bullet hole still clearly visible - will now go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers.
It is expected to fetch around £1,200 when it is sold in Etwall, Derbyshire, on May 27.
The auctioneer’s militaria expert, Matt Crowson, said: “Private Webb went on to survive the war.
"He returned home to Gloucestershire, living a long life that spanned both world wars, and died in March 1963 at the age of 85.
"But without that Bible, his fate might have been very different.”
Private Webb joined the army in 1916 with the service number 26700 stencilled into the pages of the Bible.
Such markings were common, ensuring personal belongings could be returned if lost - or if their owner fell in battle.
Matt added: “Bibles like the one owned by Private Webb, were known as ‘soldiers’ Bibles’, most were pocket-sized New Testaments, often just a few inches tall, designed to fit into a uniform pocket or kit.
"Every British serviceman was issued with his uniform, helmet, boots and a Bible. Many were prized as a lucky talisman as much as scripture.”
Private Webb served with the 2/6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, a unit closely associated with Birmingham and the Midlands.
On October 24, 1918, Webb’s battalion took part in an attack on the German-held French town of Vendegies, near Cambrai, coming under sustained machine-gun fire.
And it was during this action that Webb’s service record notes he suffered a “G.S.W. Chest” – a gunshot wound to the chest.
Webb survived the attack and continued to serve until 1919, when he was discharged due to his wounds.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal, along with the Silver War Badge – issued to those honourably discharged as a result of injury.
The Bible’s current owner acquired it 20 years ago from an elderly collector, not thought to be related to Private Webb, to whom it had belonged for decades.