What A Way To Trat Our Heroes.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2284673/World-War-Two-heros-family-forced-sell-medals-pay-heros-care-home-fees.html

Why should his family be forced to sell these personal artefacts so as to pay for his care home fees, I was under the impression that one could retain a certain amount off cash from one's estate, surely such treasures are not part of one's estate?

[FredPuli43]

And they can be remembered for far more than two generations. I've known a Waterloo medal be sold, a few years go, by a family who were directly descended from the soldier. And I'm pretty sure I've seen a Trafalgar medal with similar provenance. The latter fetches quite serious money. so if you've got one and aren't feeling sentimental....

[Barmaid]

Sadly not, although I do have some 18th century engraved silver. Not massively valuable (not a great maker) but still something I would never sell due to the family connection.

My great great uncle's medals and his books and his poetry are also coming to me (Great War). No doubt because my grandfather knows that the person least likely to sell these and the person most likely to care for them is me. However, I do know that grandad would be of the view that were any of us in a desperate circumstances, he would condone the selling of these to alleviate the position.

[FredPuli43]

And right on cue, the auctioneers have taken a colour, full page, facing, ad in this week's Antique Trades Gazette, for this very lot. They haven't even published the catalogue yet, so you can't get a bid in, but advance publicity always helps.

[Barmaid]

Funny that.........

Also funny that the OP has been strangely absent.

[Sqad]

Was he really a hero?

Because of his personal feelings he shot AT the engines of the German planes so as to give the Luftwaffe crew a chance......a chance to escape.

Pilots in the Luftwaffe were much harder to replace than planes and one wonders how many pilots "let off" returned to kill R.A.F aircrew.

If i had been his senior officer, I would have made it quite clear of my opposition to his decisions.

[pdq1]

When it comes to auctions its only the Victoria Cross and George Medal that seem to attract buyers unrelated to the hero.