The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 17, April 23, 2006, Article 22

NEW ZEALAND VICTORIA CROSS MEDAL SALE CONTROVERSY

An article in the Northern Advocate of New Zealand highlights
a controversy resulting from the high prices medals like the
Victoria Cross are bringing in the marketplace.  Some recipients
and their descendants would like to sell their medals, where
others wouldn't dream of it:

"For 364 days of the year, World War Two veteran Fred Hyslop
keeps his Military Medal hidden in a drawer.

The Scottish-born Whangarei resident is modest about his bravery
award, and only gets it out of the drawer on Anzac Day.

And if his children decided to sell it, like WWII hero Charles
Upham's family wants to do with his double Victoria Cross, he
wouldn't mind.

"I've told my sons if they really need the money, go ahead and
sell it," said Mr Hyslop, who was enjoying a quiet beer at
Whangarei's RSA yesterday afternoon.

But some of his drinking buddies shook their heads in disagreement,
saying war medals should never be sold.

The case of Charles Upham's family wanting to sell the rare medal
has caused an uproar, and Defence Minister Phil Goff doesn't want
to pay the $3.3 million he claims the family wants.  Mr. Goff also
doubted that Mr Upham would have wanted his medals sold, as he
had always refused offers when he was still alive."

"Mr Yates' view that the medals belonged to New Zealand was shared
by most of the men at Whangarei's RSA, and Chas Sibun summed up
their attitudes' perfectly.

"It's such a prestigious award ... it's New Zealand's."

To read the complete article, see: Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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