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

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





Plus 18 of these Gallipoli Medals 15 of which were named?


15 Named WW1 Victory medals



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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

"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.

 

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:

 

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

 

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

Best.
John.

 

Simply vandalism, that's all.

 

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 ?

 

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

 

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.

 

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