Selling war medals

dorian · Guru

Selling war medals

Possum3 · Guru

Unfortunately, sentiment doesn't count when families need money, times are tough - perhaps successful bidder will donate it to War Memorial.

Mariner30 · Senior Member

Hopefull the AWM buys it.

dorian · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
Unfortunately, sentiment doesn't count when families need money, times are tough - perhaps successful bidder will donate it to War Memorial.

How tough can times be? The recipient of the medal was awarded it posthumously. ISTM that this warrants a reciprocal sacrifice.

Mariner30 · Senior Member

dorian wrote:
Possum3 wrote:
Unfortunately, sentiment doesn't count when families need money, times are tough - perhaps successful bidder will donate it to War Memorial.
How tough can times be? The recipient of the medal was awarded it posthumously. ISTM that this warrants a reciprocal sacrifice.

Without knowing the circumstances of his family it is a bit rough to put your spin on the article.

It could be that one or more of his offspring may have had or have a critical medical emergency situation, where that money may help with their medical bills and treatment etc etc.

That is just one possible scenario

No doubt the family has had numerous family discussions about the situation.

Not for us to judge others in that position.

( My father also fought...and was wounded...in New Guinea, spent time at Milne Bay )

smwhiskey · Senior Member

dorian wrote:
I think the proper thing to do with such a medal is to keep it in the family, at whatever cost, or donate it to the Australian War Memorial. Selling it to the highest bidder just seems wrong.

Its hard to judge. Not everybody has the same sentimentality around such things.

deverall11 · Guru

Disrespectful toward the meaning of the medals maybe. Things like that do not have a monetary value.
Would an gold medal winning olympic athlete sell their medals???
Not a black and white situation.

rmoor · Senior Member

Mariner30.

My late father was also at Milne Bay.

78 Wing (75 and 77 Squadrons).

We didn't find out until he passed that he too had been wounded (not particularly serious).

He never spoke of any of it, just a long lasting loathing for one particular race.

My mother could well be the last surviving person to have ever flown on G for George?

Mariner30 · Senior Member

rmoor wrote:
Mariner30.
My late father was also at Milne Bay.
78 Wing (75 and 77 Squadrons).
We didn't find out until he passed that he too had been wounded (not particularly serious).
He never spoke of any of it, just a long lasting loathing for one particular race.
My mother could well be the last surviving person to have ever flown on G for George?

rmoor,

My parents had much the same thoughts, probably due to having experienced it first hand,

They would never intentionally buy anything that was ' made in Japan' after the war.

Our dad never spoke of the various battles and skirmish's that the 22nd AIB were involved in...up unto his medical discharge ( headshot ) and malaria.

He WOULD describe the terrible mud and and mozzies that they had to sleep and ' work '

His brother was in the 9th Divison.

That generation who served and fought...like your dad...were the greatest generation in living history.

The Lancaster was my favorite model to build as a teenager a looong time ago, naturally

I have an un-opened Spitfire model here that l will do on a rainy day soon.

The great grand kids aren't gonna get that one lol

yobarr · Guru

deverall11 wrote:
Disrespectful toward the meaning of the medals maybe. Things like that do not have a monetary value.
Would an gold medal winning olympic athlete sell their medals???
Not a black and white situation.

Only the lowest of the low would sell something as sacrosanct as a Victoria Cross, no matter what their financial position.

Do these people not understand that this family member DIED so that they could enjoy the freedoms that they now have?

Typical of the money-hungry group of people that society quickly is becoming. If they don't want the medal, as suggested earlier, it should be given to the AWM.

Lowlifes, in my opinion, and to be treated with nothing more than contempt. NO Cheers here, unfortunately.

Gundog · Guru

While the Victoria Cross is the most prestigious military medal awarded to an individual, the medal and ribbon have no real intrinsic value, the metal from which medal is cast in bronze from captured cannons buring the Crimean war.

As for whatever reason the owner of a VC chooses to sell it, is their choice, the futher down the hereditary line it travels, can possibility reduce the interest, but if collector or museum desire to own it, it will remain honored and not just stashed away gathering dust.

One VC receiptant may be forced to sell his, because of neccessity, fortunatly he would be able a replica to wear of special occasions.

My family history has 3 generations that have served, My father is badly wounded in the middle east, travelled back to Australia on a Hospital ship via India, he never recovered fully from his wounds, he never spoke of the war when we were kids, the day I left home to join the RAAF I could see the pride in his eyes, I had the same pride when 2 of my sons joined the Army.

dogbox · Guru

www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/john-french-s-victoria-cross-sells-for-record-1-46-million-at-sydney-auction/ar-AA1erWSq

Whenarewethere · Guru

The thing I find strange is the people buying them.

A possible motive is they are pretending relatives have been in more battles than in reality.

Gundog · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
The thing I find strange is the people buying them.
A possible motive is they are pretending relatives have been in more battles than in reality.

Why is it strange, lots of people collect various things, I don't think its a pretend thing, more like to preserve the action and medal for prosperity.

.Or maybe its an investment

deverall11 · Guru

The ability or the increase in selling these medals could possibly open the door - no pun intended to
the increase thieving of these as the market opens up. I was always of the opinion stealing was medals
or the equivalent was on a hiding to nothing. But if there is a market, ....