Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[JC T ONE]

Its sad what this world has come to

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4814448/WW2-heros-medals-sold-to-pay-for-care-home-fees.html



http://bfbs.com/news/uk/ww2-fighter-pilot-forced-sell-medals-62939.html


Hope the auction goes well.
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[Greg]

Nothing surprises me any more in this country!
There seems to be an overwhelming trend to help the wrong people!???

[Norfolkjohn]

While I totally agree than no Ex-serviceman - especially one with a service record like Branse Burbridge's - should have to sell anything to be able to be well cared for in their latter years there is perhaps a little more to this particular case.

A follow up article from the Telegraph (see below) explains more about the decision taken by Mr Burbridge's family and having read the book about his life, and in particular his religous connvictions, I think I can understand the attitude being taken. That said I would still rather have seen a situation where the necessary care had been fully funded without the need to sell the medals or entrtain the notion of donations and offers of support.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9897945/Hero-RAF-war-pilots-family-decline-donations-despite-medal-selling.html

Given that the medals will almost certainly be sold it would be nice to hope they may go to a museum (Hendon or IWM) where they could be put on public display and help to tell the remarkable story of what Branse Burbridge and his Nav/Rad Bill Skelton did back in 1944. However I fear they will go to a private collector and within weeks the world will once again forget the name of Branse Burbridge. He does not deserve to be forgotten !
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One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning