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Regimental Sergeant Major William 'Bill' Gilchrist (front)

The bravery medals of a British soldier who took out an enemy tank at Dunkirk despite being shot in the helmet three times have sold for almost £6,000.

Sergeant Major William Gilchrist had helped evacuate the Dutch Royal Family while under fire from the German army before taking part in the Allied retreat from France.

He showed the 'greatest contempt for danger' as he tried to hold off the German advance with an anti-tank gun.

Narrowly surviving three bullets to his head, he single-handedly destroyed one tank and was only dragged away by his colleagues when his gun jammed.