Medals lost where they are supposed to be.

This is the story of a group of Vietnam War medals that became lost in the RSL bureaucracy but thanks to Bill research the mystery has been resolved. The returned medal tally is now 1338. Here is Bill’s story.  

Those of you who follow this blog will recall the Robson/Lethlean story, and the question I started it with: “When is a medal lost?” To that perhaps should I now add another question. “When is a medal found?”

The story below fits both questions it also falls into that category that Glyn and I call “Hmm.” That, you will remember is the category of no names, and no places. An old soldier would no doubt add “and no pack drill”.

In some ways this is another Albert RN.

It started with the request to ANZAC House by the Memorabilia Officer of an RSL to help return several medals that had been left at reception. A request that came after some considerable time of looking for the recipient but with no luck.

And at this point the story ends, because I can’t really write it. Why?

Well after even more time and several Interstate as well as Intrastate, phone calls. I found myself talking to the wife of the medal recipient. A surprised wife at that. And why?

Well in 2007 just before her husband passed away, he asked her that on his passing to give his medals, to his local RSL Sub-Branch, and this she did.

Unfortunately, it appears that the paperwork associated with the gift was never completed.

Recently (ANZAC Day) his daughter borrowed the medals from the RSL Sub-Branch for her son to take to school for show and tell.

After which they returned them to the reception at the RSL Sub-Branch. Then they were lost within the RSL.