Les Munro (Dambuster) To Sell His Medals

[Dr H]

This man is a real hero and deserves the medals he won.

 

But he's donating them for the upkeep of the memorial.

www.telegraph.co.uk .. f-Bomber-Command-Memorial.html

[Dennis]

£50k a year to keep it clean???

 

It is terrible that the country or similar does not pay for this, I recall when it was being built the country took over the opening but left the charity that started it with a huge debt.

 

All a disgrace, all these guys should be remembered and applauded for their heroism and sacrifice

[Christopher Lawless]

Can't we have a whip round to buy them and then give them back to him?

[Dennis]

These things should never be sold, if/when they are no longer wanted they should be required to be passed back to the country to display/IWM etc.

 

Having said that I do applaud les for giving his up for such a good cause

[KurtB]

Hi Dennis,

 

I'm not sure I agree with you about them being returned. I have 5 medals, 2 of which really mean something to me. They are my long service and good conduct, and my Afghanistan medal. I feel I earned them and they are mine to do with as I wish. I gave the MoD/Country my time and effort and gave up comfort and safety to earn those medals. They are my reward for time served and having experienced things that normal human beings should never have to. The eyes can not unsee, the brain sometimes cannot fathom the depths we sink to, to consider ourselves just. Medals are just bits of metal and ribbon without the story to go with them.

 

I think Les Munro has done what he thinks is right, and despite him choosing to use the money to ensure a "national" monument is maintained for a year, it sure beats his medals being stored in a shoebox in his closet. It would be nice if they could be returned to him, though I suspect he'd sell them again to ensure the memory of the 55,573 that paid the ultimate sacrifice stays alive. That figure is for Bomber Command alone, and entirely dwarfs the number of personnel in the RAF today.

[Dennis]

Hi Dennis,

I'm not sure I agree with you about them being returned. I have 5 medals, 2 of which really mean something to me. They are my long service and good conduct, and my Afghanistan medal. I feel I earned them and they are mine to do with as I wish. I gave the MoD/Country my time and effort and gave up comfort and safety to earn those medals. They are my reward for time served and having experienced things that normal human beings should never have to. The eyes can not unsee, the brain sometimes cannot fathom the depths we sink to, to consider ourselves just. Medals are just bits of metal and ribbon without the story to go with them.

I think Les Munro has done what he thinks is right, and despite him choosing to use the money to ensure a "national" monument is maintained for a year, it sure beats his medals being stored in a shoebox in his closet. It would be nice if they could be returned to him, though I suspect he'd sell them again to ensure the memory of the 55,573 that paid the ultimate sacrifice stays alive. That figure is for Bomber Command alone, and entirely dwarfs the number of personnel in the RAF today.

I think you have misinterpreted my posts.

 

I agree with those who earned them keeping them and I have no issue with passing them down the family to loved ones but grand kids and the like selling them, I can not agree with that, if they no longer want them then they should give them up rather than readily selling them to the highest bidder.

 

You will also note that I have also stated noting the cause I applaud les Munro for his further sacrifice for such a good cause

[The Cakes]

I think you have misinterpreted my posts.

I agree with those who earned them keeping them and I have no issue with passing them down the family to loved ones but grand kids and the like selling them, I can not agree with that, if they no longer want them then they should give them up rather than readily selling them to the highest bidder.

You will also note that I have also stated noting the cause I applaud les Munro for his further sacrifice for such a good cause

So if you had 'earned' these medals and they had passed to your grand children and they found themselves in financial difficulty you wouldn't want them to sell them? That makes no sense, they are only like anything else that someone has 'earned' it's up to them or their family as to what they do with them. I'd love to think that something like this could help my family out down the line.

[Dennis]

Just my opinion, I am sure many wish they did not have to earn them, but regardless of that, if accepted by the serviceman, they mean more than £'s and not something to profit from.

 

Yes easy for me to say as I have not 'earned' them, but my family has passed wwI medals, war time letters etc to the local museum for the benefit of the public and future generations

 

Back to the thread, it is a disgrace that he has to do this, the government etc should be ashamed