03-06-2003, 11:47 PM
William
Your points about the dollar values of the medals to be returned are spot on.My Waterloo medal cost a couple of hundred Australian dollars...I was happy to return it,especially because I knew it had GENUINELY been stolen.On the other hand I am equally sure my Special Forces gallantry group was sold by the recipient.But remember British awards have the recipients name around the rim.Literally a week after the wife put the caveat on the auction stopping the sale I was sent a copy of a British news paper with headlines screaming..."War heroes stolen medals to be auctioned!"Of course the rim naming confirms that the award was ORIGINALLY the recipients and the magistrate seemed un -interested in worrying about the proof of theft.LEGALLY I am sure I could have won had I wished to fly to the UK and put the case before a higher court...but that was throwing good money after bad.MORALLY I could never win...so back they went...he was a top soldier,believe me.I only wish the group had been of little value and I'd have sent them straight back.
Please don't blame the dealer.He had bought them from another reliable dealer in London and bear in mind there was nearly 10 years between the sale to me and the auction.How long can you expect a dealer to provide 100% return when he has been conned as well?We came to a mutually agreeable settlement and I was greatful for that.
Yes Tal you are right !The recipient sells them in 1988 for $000 and the wife sees them 10 years later with an estimated sale price of $00000.You can imagine the discussion around the family breakfast table!
Mike
Your points about the dollar values of the medals to be returned are spot on.My Waterloo medal cost a couple of hundred Australian dollars...I was happy to return it,especially because I knew it had GENUINELY been stolen.On the other hand I am equally sure my Special Forces gallantry group was sold by the recipient.But remember British awards have the recipients name around the rim.Literally a week after the wife put the caveat on the auction stopping the sale I was sent a copy of a British news paper with headlines screaming..."War heroes stolen medals to be auctioned!"Of course the rim naming confirms that the award was ORIGINALLY the recipients and the magistrate seemed un -interested in worrying about the proof of theft.LEGALLY I am sure I could have won had I wished to fly to the UK and put the case before a higher court...but that was throwing good money after bad.MORALLY I could never win...so back they went...he was a top soldier,believe me.I only wish the group had been of little value and I'd have sent them straight back.
Please don't blame the dealer.He had bought them from another reliable dealer in London and bear in mind there was nearly 10 years between the sale to me and the auction.How long can you expect a dealer to provide 100% return when he has been conned as well?We came to a mutually agreeable settlement and I was greatful for that.
Yes Tal you are right !The recipient sells them in 1988 for $000 and the wife sees them 10 years later with an estimated sale price of $00000.You can imagine the discussion around the family breakfast table!
Mike
