GLORY AND ITS PRICE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 257, 11 August 1933, Page 8

GLORY AND ITS PRICE.

VALUE OF WAR MEDALS. VICTORIA CROSS FOR 255. Glory has its price. But it has been discovered that it is an astonishingly loav price, says the “Sunday Chronicle.” Thousands of Avar medals, symbols of heroism that have made Britain Avhat she is, can be bought for a feAV shillings. Heroes compelled to part Avith decorations find these are the values placed by pawnbrokers and collectors on their valour; Avliieh a grateful country at the time acknoAvledged it could never repay: — V.C. 255; D.C.M., £1; M.M. ss. An amazing collection of discarded war medals is described by the writer. They had all nearly cost their original oAA’ners their lives. Some had gone for but a I'cav coppers. They are in a small, out-of-tlie-Avay paAvnbroker’s shop in Chapel Street, Blackpool, the proprietor of which is one of the biggest dealers in medals in the world. He is Mr Young Speak, avlio relates me some of the most astonishing stories about many of the medals.

Mr Speak has 5000 medals, and he estimates they are Avorth £2OOO. In addition, he has many miles of war ribbon, Avhieh he sells at no more than Id an inch. Pointing to a box containing 234 medals, he said: “They are all silver, but they are only Avorth selling as scrap at Is 4d an ounce. There av ill probably be 250 ounces there, so I should get just over £l6s 10c! for the lot.” That is how bravery is reckoned—just so much scrap!

Mr Speak evidently guessed that these Avere his visitor’s thoughts when, indicating six small gleaming medals neatly tucked ini a small box, he said: “I shall never part with those. They are in pledge with, me hut I shall never sell them even though the oAvner has not paid the interest due on them. They Avill always he here for him whenever he wants them.” What tragic stories could he told, too. of men Avho call just before so.mo public ceremony at which cxservice men are expected to Avcar medals. They buy one for a few shillings, wear it. on parade and then bring it back. Mr iSpeak’s collection contains many medals Avon for bravery in past Avars beside the Great War. And they, too, bring very small prices.