WW2 Medals in Charity shop

Just a pity the MOD never engraved them before issue.

Probably wouldn't be so many in second hand shops for sale if they were engraved.....they have an identity and story attached to them.

 

With ref to how these medals get onto the openmarket, whether by charity shops or auction rooms is a story in itself

I first wondered about it here, on my response numbered #47
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/books-films-tv-radio/17715-dickinsons-real-deals-2.html#post337009

Ron

 

I remember back in the 60s going into an old second hand shop, he had a few boxes which were filled with WW1 and WW2 medals, and i mean lots, which were being sold for shillings.

No one seemed to buy them, and i wonder what happened to them all
I know that he melted down the silver ones!!

 

How do u tell a Grandchild that their Grandfather was war weary and couldn't wouldn't talk to his family.
Children are asking questions now and they want to know everything that went on.
I didn't I was seen and not herd.
my dadda lost his dad when he was three and ended up with nuns. Perhaps he would have thrown meddles away if he had one but I dont think so I used to watch him when the TV was on and his unit was there wow.
They dont make men like that anymore do they. Whats a meddle loved to have met the man

 

This subject is so personal and emotive. I, like most on the forum could never dispose of the awards to family members, but others (normally not fully understanding, what these pieces of metal represent) do not have the same strong feelings.

My Nan (god bless the most amazing lady I have ever met) felt so angry and distressed after the news finally came back to her that Grandad was gone, decided not to keep his medals and letters. She was never asked why, nor does anyone blame her for it, she had her own reasons.

Since researching his Burma journey, I have begun to collect medals to the Kings Liverpool Regiment. It is a fascinating hobby and has taught me the value of history, reasons for war and most of all the unbelievable bond and comradeship that is found and built during these times of conflict.

I am glad I have never had to face the reality of combat, but I must say, I do feel I have missed out on the friendship and collective spirit that this often brings about.

 

I have been a medal collector for 40yrs and the thing that I always found most fascinating ,was not the acquisition;but researching the man behind them-sometimesmore costly than the medal or medals. Besides research adds provenance and hence value.

jainso31

 

I would normally have posted this item on a thread entitled Dickinson's Real Deal but, for whatever reason, the Forum won't or can't let me access it so I'm posting here instead.

This afternoon I watched DRD as usual and up popped this item in which a young lady was selling her Great Uncle Harold's medals who had served in two wars. Her father had been left them when her great uncle died and now that he had passed away, in her words, "she had no further use for them"

One of the resident dealers eventually bought them for £230.

The set consisted of 2 Great War medals and at least 5 WW2 including one for gallantry, The young lady had brought along a letter that explained how the recipient had to go to the Palace to receive the award, she also revealed that her Great Uncle was in the Navy and held the rank of Quartermaster.

Have a look at the set and perhaps you can identify the medal for valour.

Ron

 

Always sad to see these reminders of peoples lives going "under the hammer", sadly it is human nature that not everyone is interested and that a feeling of detachment exists.
Eventually they do end up in the hands of people who will look after them and that is a happy (happier) ending of a sort.

Saw on on DRD the week before last a gent was selling a set of medals , he said they had been in a drawer for 20 years , no one in the family really was interested in them and selling them to a collector who would appreciate them was not a bad thing to do , he was not looking a day out at Alton Towers , a reasonable individual but much as it may be difficult for us to understand some people just are not interested in medals which belonged to people that they did not know.

 

Diane

Your link is perfect and I think the apostrophe is the culprit.

This was the message I was receiving:
Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /forum/books-films-tv-radio/17715-dickinsons-real-deals.html on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

Ron

 

Eventually they do end up in the hands of people who will look after them and that is a happy (happier) ending of a sort.

A very important point worth emphasising.

On a lighter note I know for a fact that one person will especially cherish the Victory Medal of 242828 Private Thomas Ryan of the East Lancashire Regiment as he just outbid me on ebay with 2 seconds remaining! Wonder if it was Croonaert?

 

This Saturday i have to take Father (91 yr old desert rat) and my jeep for the launch of this years poppy appeal in Lowestoft he will say bloody medals dangling about can't i just wear my ribbon bar. He would thow them away if i gave him the chance.

 

Transfered to another thread

 

That's the heartlessness in this. What would a "British Empire Medal - Gallantry (civil division)" have entailed? What was grandaddy doing to have it awarded, never mind the others? In my humble opinion, if the family doesn't give a damn, so much better that it is passed on to a collector who will, and will at least spare a thought for the Old Forgotten One.



-- added --

Oops! Where is the post I was replying to?

 

That's the heartlessness in this. What would a "British Empire Medal - Gallantry (civil division)" have entailed? What was grandaddy doing to have it awarded, never mind the others? In my humble opinion, if the family doesn't give a damn, so much better that it is passed on to a collector who will, and will at least spare a thought for the Old Forgotten One.



-- added --

Oops! Where is the post I was replying to?

Za,

As I had noted Ron, tranferrred his post (which I had quoted & was answering) to the DRD thread, I deleted my post here for not wanting to run 2 threads with same topic.

Regarding what it was awarded for, thats anyones guess, as there is no name quoted, cna't do a LG/NA look up. I agree with the bit about a collector appreciating it more than the family member, my gripe is to do with the ignorance of sellers vs the knowledge of a dealer.

Apologies

Regards

simon