GLORY AND ITS PRICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21562, 5 August 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

GLORY AND ITS PRICE

VALUE OF WAR MEDALS VICTORIA CROSS FOR 25» Glory has its price. But, it has been discovered that it is an astonishingly low price, says the Sunday Chronicle. Thousands of war medals, symbols of heroism that have made Britain what she is, can be bought to-day for a few shillings. , Heroes compelled to part with decorations find these are the _ values placed by pawnbrokers and collectors on their valour; which a grateful country at the time acknowledged it could nevex repay:—V.C. 255; £1; M.M. ss. An amazing collection of discarded war medals is described by the writer. They had all nearly cost their original owners their lives. Some had gone for but a few coppers. They are in a small, out-of-the-way pawnbroker'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, who relates me some of the most astonishing stories about many of the medals. Mr. Speak has 5000 medals, and he estimates they are worth £2OOO. In addition, he has many miles of war ribbon, whiclpi 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 worth selling, as scrap at Is 4d an ounce. There will probably be 250 ounces there, so I should get just over £l6 10s for the lot." That is ho» bravery is reckoned —just •so much scrap! Mr. Speak evidently guessed that these were his visitor's thoughts, when, indicating six small gleaming medals neatly tucked in a small box, he said: " I shall never part with those. They are in pledge with me, but I shall never sell them even though the owner has not paid the interest due on them. They will always, be here for' him whenever he wants them." What tragic stories could be told, too, of men who call just before some public ceremony at which exservice men are expected to wear medals. They buy one for a few shillings, wear it on parade, and then bring it back. Mr. Speak's collection contains many medals won for bravery in past wars beside the Great War. And they, too, bring very small/ prices.