A British Empire Medal awarded to a leading Dorset conservationist is being auctioned in London.

Helen Brotherton, who died in August 2009 aged 95, was a pioneer and a founder of Dorset Wildlife Trust, who was instrumental in securing Brownsea Island for the National Trust.

She received her British Empire Medal for her work with the WVS in Warwickshire during WWII. Appointed evacuation officer for the county, she ran the sick bays, which kept infectious patients out of hospital beds needed for war wounded.

Moving to Poole after the war, she looked after her sick mother who never recovered from the loss of her son Eric, during the fighting.

Always a keen naturalist, she soon got involved with local wildlife issues and was a key supporter of the NT.

She was appointed OBE in 1963 and CBE in 1984, and received many other awards.

Her BEM is to be sold by speci-alist London auctioneers Morton & Eden on Friday June 10, along with miniatures comprising her MBE, the BEM and her World War II Defence and War Medals. The group is estimated at £300-500.

In the same sale is the Military Cross awarded posthumously to her brother, Major Eric Brotherton, who served in the Royal Tank Regiment, based at Bovington Camp.

He served in France and Belgium, where he was wounded in 1940, and in Libya where he was again wounded in August 1941.

Promoted to major while serving in Italy, he died of wounds received during the Battle of Gemmano Ridge.

He is commemorated in the Church of the Transfiguration at Canford Cliffs and his medal group is estimated at £600-800.

A Great War memorial plaque commemorating the death of one of Helen’s relatives, Lance-Serjeant Kenneth Robson Brotherton, who was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, is estimated at £200-300.