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Les Munro the last Dambuster to sell his medals

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Les Munro the last Dambuster to sell his medals

Old 2nd Mar 2015, 17:52
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Les Munro the last Dambuster to sell his medals

to help fund the upkeep of the Bomber Command memorial


Dambusters pilot is selling his medals to pay for the Bomber Command memorial | Daily Mail Online



Though it is sad that public funds cannot be used to maintain its upkeep, it is the least we owe them.
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Old 2nd Mar 2015, 21:46
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London is absolutely stuffed full of memorials and statues. Surely most of them must be maintained at public expense - why not this one? Do the navy have to have a whip round every time they have to clean the bird crap off Nelson's hat?
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Old 2nd Mar 2015, 22:03
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I tip my hat to Les Munro but think it a disgrace that this memorial is not kept at public expense. While I would be willing to put hand in pocket for some kind of fund I don't think it should be necessary nor should Sqn Ldr Munro have to sell his medals.

You would have thought that the Fail would have got the abbreviation Sqn Ldr correct. Or on second thoughts hardly surprising that they didn't.
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Old 2nd Mar 2015, 22:14
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One more time a member of the WW2 generation shows a truly remarkable amount of integrity while the political establishment plays point scoring games that can only be understood by those in the Westminster bubble.

It is high time that the political establishment awakened to the reality that the public are not the least bit impressed by their behaviour towards the personel of Bomber Command during WW2.

A pop singer from the sevenths and a man in is nineties have by their actions and understanding of what Bomber command crews had to do in the fight against the nazi evil bring shame on the whole of the Westminster establishment who are too wrapped up in their own self importance to understand that the whole of the UK gives not two hoots about the lot of them but has utmost respect for those who gave so much in WW2.

Les you were a hero in 1943 and you have one more time proved yourself to be a hero, those in the UK Govenment who can't even find the money to maintain the Bomber Command memorial will be forgotten tomorrow while the courage of the likes of Les Munro and the rest of the WW2 generation who defeated the most evil empire in history will be remembered for ever.
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Old 2nd Mar 2015, 22:35
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One of the MOST unselfish deeds you will ever read on these pages! Be much better. if he doesn't mind the suggestion, that Lord Ashcroft buy them on loan from Les Monro to be kept in Les's family. After all, they will return 'home' one day.
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 00:01
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What a great idea, how do we contact Lord Ashcroft?

Integrity . . . yes, that's what the word is.

The Edit:

For good or ill, I've emailed Lord Ashcroft, perhaps several mails may help, I truly don't know. I'll let you know if/when I receive a reply.

Last edited by Brian W May; 3rd Mar 2015 at 00:09. Reason: Addition
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 01:07
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Ooooops

Nutloose, you beat me to it. Should of checked before I posted.

I too thought it sad that Les believes there's a need to take the action he is. His medals would make a grand display alongside the restored Lancaster at MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology) in Auckland..

Mod, please delete my thread, ta.
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 05:32
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I will let Les know about what is being said here as he pops into the Tauranga museum very now and then. One of a kind that is for sure.
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 08:44
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Thing

Sqn Ldr may have been incorrectly typed but look on the bright side, the author slipped in that the cash will be for the UPKEEP of the memorial
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 10:02
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I missed that - well spotted!
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 12:42
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the author slipped in that the cash will be for the UPKEEP of the memorial
Good spot! I'm sure the journo would have been completely oblivious of course.
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 19:28
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Perhaps the journo should be chastised?
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 19:31
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With jokes like that you should be bounced out of here.
Eder way, I'm damned if I'm going to Mohne about it! but beware, someone else might Sorpe you out.
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 22:07
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GUYS, Guys, guys - enough already. We surrender
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Old 4th Mar 2015, 07:32
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Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund - Leave a message for Les Munro

Leave a message to Les via the link if you wish
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Old 4th Mar 2015, 09:14
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However, there's this minor snag. The NZ Government is objecting to these 'cultural items' leaving NZ.

Dambuster's medals auction hits a snag - National - NZ Herald News

Perhaps Les had hoped to go under the radar and avoid the flak? Dam(n)!
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Old 4th Mar 2015, 09:57
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How about a genius on here organise a "crowd funding" activity to either buy the medals or pay for a year's expenses. I guess poor Les is still Government Property according to the NZ Govt goons..
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Old 4th Mar 2015, 10:36
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The NZ Herald stated:

'said its (Department of Culture and Heritage) approval for export under the Protected Objects Act will be needed if the medals are sold to a non-New Zealand buyer'

In other words, these medals are not Les's to dispose of as he wishes. A tricky one - we're typically not happy when, for example, a painting, an historic airframe or a collection of medals goes overseas. However I this that it is a restraint of commercial practise.


The maintenance of memorials around London poses a huge problem for the local authorities - and in this case, Westminster Borough Council, if I recall correctly. Before planning approval was given for this memorial (I was in MB at the time) I am sure that the Council sought assurance that there would be maintenance funds available for the foreseeable future. This is a 'private' memorial (cf the Cenotaph) and therefore 'private' ie, non-public funds, are required to maintain it. Sadly.
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Old 4th Mar 2015, 10:58
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However, there's this minor snag. The NZ Government is objecting to these 'cultural items' leaving NZ.
And that also opens up another bag of worms, Say Les attends the anniversary of something or other in the UK and he attempts to bring his medals out of country to wear at the event, can the NZ authorities prevent him from doing so on the grounds he may not bring them back?

You could argue that the NZ awards aside, the UK awarded medals are cultural to the RAF in which he was serving and the Country in which they were awarded by and on behalf of a grateful Nation.

End of the day the Medals were awarded to Les and as such they are his and the decision on how to dispose of them is his alone, fair do's if NZ decides to bid on them and match every other bid plus £1, but if not I cannot see why it is anything to do with them.
As the law appears to have come out in 2005 he imported them in good faith prioe ro this date one assumes, they now appear to have changed the law to people like Les then exporting them
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Old 4th Mar 2015, 19:07
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I bet Les Munro is a fantacist...

.... like the others we read about who DON'T think they are heroes. Someone should put him straight- HE IS!

CG
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