HISTORY goes under the hammer at Europe's biggest Army base this weekend as the force hosts its first-ever auction of military memorabilia.

More than 300 lots will be offered for sale at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, on Sunday, including uniforms dating back to the 1800s, helmets and headgear, ceremonial swords, paintings, prints and silverware.

But among the items likely to attract the interest of genuine collectors are a medal and certificate signed by Adolf Hitler, found in the debris of the Reich Chancellery by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1945, and a white gold and diamond Coldstream Guards brooch, expected to fetch about £3,000.

The auction has been organised by the Strensall-based Army Benevolent Fund and regional director, Brigadier Jeremy Gaskell, said yesterday: "We arrange a number of fund-raising events every year, but decided we wanted to do something different and, once we decided on the auction, we wrote to every regiment in the British Army asking for help.

"We couldn't expect the best: most of the really valuable memorabilia will already be in vaults or on show in regimental museums around the country, but the response has still been very good.

"We have even had items donated by the Army's two most senior officers, Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Charles Guthrie, and Chief of General Staff, General Sir Mike Walker."

Sunday's auction, which will be held in Megiddo Lines from 1pm, will be conducted by Rodney Tennant of Tennants of Leyburn.

The event also includes displays of modern Army equipment and trade stands as well as performances by the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion, The Highlanders, and the Queen's Division Normandy Band.