The group of  six medals included the Distinguished Conduct Medal, awarded for gallantry in the field. Company Sergeant Major Mulholland, of the 5th Battalion the Border Regiment, was awarded the DCM for an assault under heavy fire on a German Machine Gun post on 27th May 1940, as his brigade withdrew during the German Blitzkrieg attack on France towards the beaches of Dunkirk, from where so many British and French troops were rescued over the next few days; it was the actions of men like Mulholland that saved the British Expeditionary Force and enabled Britain to regroup to fight on alone against the Nazi threat.

The Medal Group awarded to CSM Mulholland comprised the DCM, the General Service Medal with clasp for service in Palestine, the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, and War Medal, an impressive group, and was offered with a photograph and some research papers.

After strong competition between bidders in the room, on the internet live bidding facility, and on three telephone lines, the group finally realised a total of £3720 against an intial estimate of £1200-1400, selling on the telephone to an anonymous local private collector.