Medals

[BadgerGrowler]

Hello,

I'm not military, and i apologise if this is the wrong forum, if so would the moderators move it to the correct one.

My Grandfather who is in his late 80's house was broken into twice within the last month, and amongst the items taken, were his World War 2 service medals.

Obviously he is very upset about the whole thing, he says whats happened has happened, but the loss of the medals has hurt him the most. Is there an organisation within the MOD or ex servicemans where WW2 campaign medals can be replaced if the police do not recover them?

Thank you, and any help would be appreciated.

[Al R]

Ministry of Defence | Defence For... | Veterans | Medals | MOD Medal Office (http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/)

Good luck.

[November4]

Can I obtain replacements of lost medals?

The Medal Office only issue replacement medals to service veterans or, if deceased, the member of the family who now holds the medals, under certain strict conditions where the loss is completely outside the individual’s control in such instances as burglary, street theft or house fire. Only World War II medals and those issued subsequently can be replaced, provided that the criteria described here are met. The Medal Office is unable to replace medals issued before World War II, such as First World War medals, under any circumstances.

Should you wish to claim for replacement medals in these circumstances, you should please provide details of the incident (i.e. burglary, fire etc.) and submit supporting contemporary evidence from the time of loss, by way of a copy of a successful insurance claim, or a Police crime report, either/both of which should include reference to the loss of the medals. A crime reference number alone is not sufficient. A lost property report is also insufficient.

If these criteria are met then the Medal Office can issue replacement medals, but please note that there will still be a charge for the medals. The Medal Office will also check official records to confirm that the medals requested had been awarded to you or your relative.

In all other cases, you may wish to consider purchasing replica medals from a specialist medal company or reputable medal dealer.

Good luck with the claim. Hopefully the Police will recover the originals but that is said more in hope than an expectation.

[teeteringhead]

As a strange coincidence, I happened to visit the Royal Mint a couple of weeks ago (it was work for me, but if you get a chance it's an amazing visit), and was surprised to find a man still making WW2 Campaign Stars - I guess this is why.

And all hand-made - to incredibly high quality standards. I was shown some "rejects" and challenged to find what was wrong - I couldn't!

Hope you are successful.

[November4]

teeteringhead, not just replacements...

Many applications are still received from service veterans who did not claim their medals at the time, particularly from World War II. The next of kin of veterans now deceased are also entitled to claim any medals that had not been awarded.

My late grandfather only claimed his war medals about 10 years ago. He didn't bother claiming at the end of the war because he was told "as he wasn't gettting any campaign medals then it wasn't worth it". He served in the UK and Iceland as an RAFP (drafted not volunteered as he always said!) and was awarded the Defence and War medals.

[Tankertrashnav]

Just a word of advice from someone who spent 30 years in the medal trade. World War 2 stars and medals were issued unnamed and as such are all identical, unlike modern British campaign medals which are individually named. Replacements are not free, and it would therefore be worth checking the MOD quote for replacements, which has already been stated will be recently struck, and compare the price with that for old medals which are widely available from reputable dealers. In many case the latter method may prove cheaper, and you will have old medals, not recently struck ones.

Btw, lest it be thought I am touting for trade I should point out that I am no longer dealing, so I have no financial motive in offering this advice.

[parabellum]

A third option.

I would expect the option suggested by Tankertrashnav would be option number one. MOD option two and a third option here;

www.awardmedals.com (http://www.awardmedals.com) but you will have to prove entitlement.

[BadgerGrowler]

I would like to thank you for all your answers, it has been much appreciated.


Best Regards

Badger Growler

[SilsoeSid]

Sorry to hear about the theft BG and it's a pity the medals weren't named.

I had my medals stolen from the car after a dinner a Wattisham a few years ago. Suit and medals locked in boot while walking in Rendlesham Forest the day after, came back to find car broken into and boot crowbarred. We drove to the local police station to report the theft (passing a 'campsite' just down the road) and did the necessary paperwork.

A good few months later, a package was delivered to my home with the medals. A medal collector had spotted them and they were handed over to the police. I don't know how the collector knew they were stolen and as I didnt have any details I've not been able to thank him/her personally, it was great to have them back.

Perhaps something in a local paper will see your Grandfathers medals 'reappear'.