SBS Medal sale ..

[timetraveller]

I read in the new edition of Britain at war magazine at time of going to press that a former SBS Soldier Sgt Collins whom served in the Falklands has put his medals up for auction

Some info taken from the Magazine ..

Serving with 3 SBS RM's and attached to 3 Commando Brigade ,Sgt Collins commanded a four man team which maintained a covert observation post overlooking San carlos for two weeks prior the landing of the Task Force to re take the Falkland Islands . www.charterhouse-auctions.co.uk (http://www.charterhouse-auctions.co.uk) Shelbourne , Dorset

Collection includes
Military medal , Campagin service medal with bar Northern Ireland , South Atlantic Medal with rosette , Naval Long service and Good conduct medal .

............

I find it sad that someone has to sell what they earned over the years , More must be done to help ex servicemen

[Vinny_121_DDS]

I would feel guilty buying something like that. I did not earn it, and it wouldn't mean that much to me in the first place. If I did win the auction, I would immediately give it to a war museum.

[gaijinsamurai]

It is a shame. It would be better if the medals were to stay in his family, or at the least go to a museum.

Of course, I wouldn't mind if they wound up in my collection, though!

[DeltaWhisky58]

The medals have already been sold - the sale took place on 21st September as described on the link you posted. They fetched £40,000.


Friday, September 21st
Antiques, Collector's Items & Clocks
http://www.charterhouse-auctions.co.uk/GE82170807/mm%20group_small.jpg (http://www.charterhouse-auctions.co.uk/GE82170807/mm%20group.jpg)
Lot 620 A Medal Group, comprising Military Medal, Campaign Service Medal with bar Northern Ireland, South Atlantic Medal with rosette, and Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the Military Medal awarded to PO 29088B Sgt T Collins Royal Marines, with letters of commendation, press cuttings, a cartoon and a war artist's drawing See illustration
Note: Sgt Collins, serving with three Special Boat Service Royal Marines and attached to 3 Commando Brigade, commanded a four man team which maintained a covert observation post above San Carlos for two weeks prior to the landing of the Task Force to re-take The Falkland Islands. The action of SAS and SBS teams relayed much vital information regarding Argentine strengths and dispositions in The Falkland Islands, enabling the re-taking of the islands to be undertaken successfully Sold for £40,000

[gaijinsamurai]

L 40,000 is a lot, in my opinion.
I've been collecting British campaign medals for a little over ten years, and the only thing I've seen go for a higher amount is the Victoria Cross.

Is it a "fair" price? Hard to say. I suppose it depends on your perspective.

[Mastermind]

Once, in my life, I was down and out...once is enough...but many folks get that way occasionally. I tried to get help....but it seemed that every place I turned, I was given the cold shoulder. I was forced to move and in packing, I came across my little box of medals...I opened them and looked at them and remembered what I had done to earn them. I felt a huge wave of resentment. "How dare my country treat me this way, after all I had done for it!" I almost tossed them...then thought, "Wait, I might be able to sell them or pawn them...better keep them." I had no idea how really worthless they were to other folks.

My bad times passed, I got a job, then a better job, then opened a business, made money, went broke and made a good come back...I struggled and fought and scraped along with my other countrymen. I succeeded…and I give a large part of my ability to succeed in the tough business world because of some of the things I learned in the military…things like perseverance, toughness and fortitude.

Finally, I felt secure...I retired, and now I live in a very nice home, in a nice neighborhood....I still have my medals and I open the box and look them over occasionally. I can't believe at one time I was going to toss them...to sell them for a few dollars if I could. I remember thinking how bitter I was toward my country in my time of weakness...and I have to condemn myself for ever thinking that my country owed me something... I now realize that it was a great honor to have been able to help protect my country...and to have served with all those other guys, some of whom gave their all. It was my country, the one I foolishly resented for that short time, that made it possible for me and my family to have made a good life.

Some say we should do more for the brave service men and women...and perhaps we should, they certainly deserve our thanks. But, lets not forget that serving our nations is not a task to be thought a drudgery. It is really a great privilege and an honor.

[jimmytx3]

Some say we should do more for the brave service men and women...and perhaps we should, they certainly deserve our thanks. But, lets not forget that serving our nations is not a task to be thought a drudgery. It is really a great privilege and an honor.[/quote]

Perhaps......:bash:

[GETSOME]

Is there any reason why he sold his medals?

[lee8]

Most ex service men who have won medals of distinction don`t regard them with much importance.

Of the VC winners most never wear the medal, and the reason being is mainly people asking why they got it.

Of the WW11 winners that survived they`ve been recorded in interviews openly admitting they hate having to retell the horror they had to go through.

I suspect this guy had more things important to spend £40,000 on than a simple piece of unimportant metal.