A scruffy teddy bear that was a lucky mascot for the British Army after D-Day sold for £4,000 at auction - after it sparked a global bidding war.

The toy travelled with soldier Thomas Matthews in his M10 tank as he and his squadron dashed across Europe fighting the Nazis in World War Two.

It was given to him by a liberated Dutch villager after his D-Day landing on Juno Beach with the Royal Artillery's 62nd anti-tank regiment in 1944.

The battle-hardened bear came under enemy fire as Thomas and his squadron fought their way across Nazi-occupied territory.

He even "saw action" at the Battle of the Bulge - the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front.

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New owner Kirsty Johnston with the teddy bear. Photo: SWNS

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Thomas Matthews in Berlin, second from left. Photo: SWNS

The teddy proved a lucky charm for the brave squaddie, who was shot twice in the leg with spent bullets, which he simply pulled out before plastering over the wounds.

Thomas, who died in 1990 aged 74, gave the 4ft-high cuddly toy to his son, also Thomas who kept it tucked away in his loft at his home in Stafford for 40 years.

The bear – which took part in the Allies’ victory parade in Berlin in 1945 and doubled up as Thomas' pillow during the war – was auctioned with an estimated value of £400.

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Thomas Matthews senior in 1964 at the tank museum in Bovington. Photo: SWNS

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The large battle-weary teddy bear. Photo: SWNS

But it sold for ten times that amount when a retired nurse beat off competition from around the world with a winning bid of £4,000.

Proud new owner Kirsty Johnston, a 59, of Barnet, London, said: “I thought it would sell for more than its estimate thanks to its provenance.

“I saw a story about it in the newspaper. I collect WW1 and WW2 bears.

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Retired nurse Kirsty Johnston bought the teddy bear for £4,000. Photo: SWNS

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Thomas Matthews with mum Marjorie in 1946 just before he was given the bear. Photo: SWNS

“I have around 1,000. I’ll be taking him home to join a nice collection of old bears in my sitting room. Hopefully he’ll have a good Christmas.”

Previous owner Thomas Matthews Jnr, 76, a retired aircraft technician, who is married to Mo, 75, said: “We have no children, no one to leave the bear to.

“I hated the thought of him ending up in a skip during house clearance because someone though he was just a scruffy old bear.

“He’s seen and done a lot of things – more than most people.

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Just before Xmas 1945 in Hamm, Germany. Thomas Matthews back, second left. Photo: SWNS

“My father was given the bear by a teacher he was billeted with in Holland. He was humbled by the gift as she had so little.

“She wanted him to take the bear home for me as she was so appreciative of what he’d done.

“One of my first memories of dad is seeing him – and the bear – after he was demobbed in 1946.

“I would only have been about three, but I remember him walking through the door at 2.15am and saying ‘what the bloody hell is he doing up at this time?’ We were all there to welcome him home.

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Thomas Matthews (L) in 1943  in the Tank corps with the 79th Armoured Brigade. Photo: SWNS

“He had a large German ammunition box and inside was the bear and a yellow corduroy elephant.

“He told me he’d used the bear as a pillow when he slept in his M10 tank destroyer at Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during the Second World War.

“The bear also crossed the Rhine, came under shell fire and took part in the Allies’ victory parade in Berlin, sitting on dad’s lap.

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From left, Thomas Matthews, with fellow D-Day men at end of war in Berlin. Photo: SWNS

“It was bigger than me back then. I was a bit frightened of it at first. It sat on a chair by the side of the bed.

“It ended up in the loft for decades until this year.

“Our local paper requested stories to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Dad took part in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944 at Juno Beach and the bear was part of his war story.”

Auctioneer Charles Hanson who sold the bear on Monday (December 9) said: “I’ve never heard such an amazing story connected to a humble teddy bear.

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In Ramsdonkveer with members of the Dutch Resistance. Photo: SWNS

"He’s crossed Europe in a tank with the Allies and come under enemy fire but, though he’s a little battle-weary, he’s survived.

"I’m honoured to have sold him.

“I’m thrilled for all concerned. It’s an incredible result for an incredible bear.

“We had bids from all over the world, including America, but he’s staying in England where he belongs.”