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V11 2008 INDEX
E-SYLUM ARCHIVE
SALE OF VICTORIA CROSS REPLICAS CRITICIZED
Given the high prices brought by genuine Victoria Cross
medals, numismatists should be aware of replicas being sold by a number of
organizations. The Telegraph reported on one replica outlet this week.
-Editor
The British National Party has been accused of
insulting troops by selling replicas of medals including the Victoria
Cross for #12.Although not illegal, the Ministry of Defence has condemned the sales of the fake honours as "an insult to both he Queen and our brave personnel".
MPs similarly criticised the far-right party for exploiting the sacrifices of servicemen for financial gain.
Also for sale on the party's official website are replicas of three World War II campaign medals and a World War I medal.
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration for valour in the face of the enemy to members of the armed forces.
Under strict military rules, only armed forces heroes who have won the cherished medals in combat - or their widows - are allowed to wear them.
Tory MP and ex-Army officer Patrick Mercer called on Defence Secretary Des Browne to make the BNP sales illegal.
He said: "This is utterly shameful. Medals for gallantry and campaigns are absolutely nothing to do with any political party. The Defence Secretary should look at this to see whether legislation should be introduced to forbid it."
To read the complete article, see: BNP criticised for selling replicas of Victoria Cross (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2514940/
BNP-criticised-for-selling-replicas-of-Victoria-Cross.html)
Wayne Homren, Editor
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.
To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com
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