War Medals

I am sure it's not "the law". As she's given them away in the first place she can't then take them back. It sounds like they have a safe home within the family , so I can't see the problem. I have my Dads war medals and I will give them to whichever one of my children wishes to keep them.

I passed my Dads and Grandads war medals to my sister's eldest son who was the eldest grandson in the family. That felt like the right thing to do. My nephew has a son of his own so they will travel on down the family. My own son was absolutely fine about it.
On another note, I can never understand how people can sell medals won by family members.

Hi Yes they have a good home and the oldest Grandson has a Son to pass them to so they will stay in the Family. Will tell MIL that Mum had the right to leave them to who she wanted. Nothing to do with her anyway No I couldn't sell them either out of respect for what they went through in the war.

So pleased to see that family medals are staying within the family....My grandad had war medals and after he died they were given to my younger brother who when he was older sold them !!! ? ??

I have my father's war medals, which, along with DH's medals (one of which is special) will go to my son to keep with his own medals. However, he has no sons of his own, but two stepsons, and in my heart, I would like DS to pass them on to my only grandson - DD's child - but I don't feel I have the right to ask it of him. Once they go to him, it's up to him to do what he wants with them. It's just nice to think that DS will have three generations of medals in his keeping and I know he will treasure them. Medals don't fetch much ordinarily. I have seen sets of five Second World War medals like my father's go for around thirty pounds, with the original box and provenance, at auction. Special ones are different, of course. Dad had no particular attachment to his medals, but he had kept his Army cap badge and treasured that more than anything.

When my ex-husband died his Mum passed his fathers medals on to me as she didn't trust her daughter not to dispose of them. They have now been passed to my son who can give them to his own son when the time is right.

My father was a Battle of Britain pilot and his medals were in a box. My husband (ex forces) thought this was wrong.

We had them mounted, with an air force blue background with a small photo and a brass plaque engraved with his name and rank.

The frame is in our hall and I intend to impress the importance of them to my two grandchildren, a boy and a girl. I had been thinking of the boy inheriting them, partly because his middle name is my father's but I suppose their mother can decide. I have confidence she will do her best to do the right thing.

My mil fell on hard times and she sold her husband's Battle of Britain medals They are kept by an American collector. I find this very sad. I wish they could have been framed for future generations....nice idea. Liz, do you have a photo of all the remaining pilots after the war as a dinner? We do have this on our wall.

Sorry LullyDully, I don't quite understand. Do you mean all the remaining BoB pilots or just the remainder of the squadron? By the way, have you visited the BoB sculpture on the banks of the Thames. Your fil's name is probably on it. My daughters took me to visit it on my 60th.

We have a letter my father wrote to his mother on the day that war broke out. He had been training to be a pilot for a while and said that he was not afraid as he had had the proper training but he feared that young men would not get so much training in the future. Very prophetic!

When my mil died all my DH wanted from her estate were the family medals. His fathers and grandfathers and various MC s from great uncles. It created a great hooha but the solicitor dealing with the estate in the end drove up with them. I do think they should go to the people who would honour them (my DH) not people who were only interested in their monetary value.

I'm , glad to say that we only have one son. My fathers medals will go to him. My Dad was in the RFC in the First World War and the RAF, Bomber Command in the second. Amongst his various medals was a British Empire Medal that was presented by the King, along with a couple of rare medals. I do hope my son values them as I do and passes the on to his son.

Liz I will.email you a copy out of.interest.

Thank you LullyDully.

I have my fathers war medals including rare one post war and his MBE mounted and hung next to the ceramic poppy from the Tower of London in its case. The GC are fascinated by them and have seen pictures of my father at my wedding in his uniform with all his medals. Who will they go to eventually? I hope GS, but if GD also wants them I can see a fight discussion ahead!