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Why would anyone do this ?- Cut medals in half !

Discussion in 'WW2 Militaria' started by Mr Jinks, Dec 13, 2025.

  1. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Years ago I read a story about a workman who pulled a collection of war medals out of a skip at a refuse centre . For some reason each medal had its suspender either cut or snapped off . There was over 300 medals and it was something I could never understand ,I remember my Grandfather (who was a bit of a collector /hoarder ) was horrified .

    Browsing through a well known auction site today I find this ! Australian named War and British Defence Medals

    upload_2025-12-13_21-25-54.png

    upload_2025-12-13_21-28-52.png

    Plus 18 of these Gallipoli Medals 15 of which were named?
    upload_2025-12-13_21-31-6.png

    15 Named WW1 Victory medals

    upload_2025-12-13_21-35-28.png

    Plus similar miniatures ?

    It`s an Aussie seller and I don`t want to link to his sales they are easily found . Serious question "Is there any legitimate reason for the medals been in this condition or is it just purposely destroying soldiers history ? "


    Cheers

    Kyle
     
  2. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I used to get upset about silver thruppeny bits and Maundy money that had been drilled for a watch chain or charm bracelet. These have been guillotined, including that stock tag number. I'd say it's the stock of a closed-down medal / coin dealer who found no market and sold for scrap value. Scorched Earth policy. If he couldn't make a profit then he was determined that no-one else would. Bastards. The world is full of bastards.
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2025
    Chris C, 4jonboy, JimHerriot and 3 others like this.
  3. JohnG505

    JohnG505 Getting there...... Patron

    According to the seller, his father bought them from the Australian Defence Force during the 1980s, already cut in half.

    I should think the silver medals will easily sell.

    John.
     
    Wobbler and JimHerriot like this.
  4. SteveDee

    SteveDee Well-Known Member

    Yes, I guess they now have a uniqueness that gives them a value.

    I could understand why individual servicemen may be moved enough (emotionally) to do this to their own medals; maybe from a sense of regret around what they had witnessed or done.

    But too many here for that to be the reason.
     
    Quarterfinal, JohnG505 and JimHerriot like this.
  5. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    "According to the seller, his father bought them from the Australian Defence Force during the 1980s, already cut in half."

    Non claimed medals that are made 'invalid' by this way?

    Bit like how the CWGC breaks up decommissioned headstones.
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2025
    Quarterfinal likes this.
  6. Wobbler

    Wobbler Patron Patron

    As you can imagine, this also cropped up on the medal forum, so thought you may like a look at what was said there about this. I’ve edited out the various member names:

    IMG_7544.jpeg

    IMG_7539.jpeg

    IMG_7540.jpeg

    IMG_7541.jpeg

    IMG_7542.jpeg

    IMG_7543.jpeg
     
    JohnG505 likes this.
  7. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    N.B. these ‘silver’ medals are cupro-nickel so probably of little intrinsic value.
     
  8. JohnG505

    JohnG505 Getting there...... Patron

    Yeah but he also sold WW1 British War Medals, which are solid silver.

    Best.
    John.
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2025
    Wobbler likes this.
  9. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Simply vandalism, that's all.
     
    Wobbler likes this.
  10. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    An unpleasant thought, but might these common medals have been donated to museums operated by the ADF in the distant past and a decision then made that that they would not be retained ? Perhaps rather than have them come on to the market with the possibility that the families of the donors might become aware, they were defaced and then weighed-in ?
     
    JohnG505 likes this.
  11. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    I`m not sure how the Australian`s issued their medals in WW2 but the British had to apply ? Based on the same assumption for the Aussies how would the ADF have stocks of unclaimed medals bearing in mind these examples are named ? To name them someone had to have made a claim ?

    Kyle
     
  12. Rootes75

    Rootes75 Well-Known Member

    To me it just seems like such a silly thing to do? If they are for scrap why bother your time cutting them in half? Just weigh it all in.
     
  13. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    For the same reason you don't use complete headstones to pave roads. You break them up first.
     

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