Genealogy Chat

I was watching silly morning TV, one of those 'sell your old stuff at Auction and buy something or other'. Two of the items the chap offered for Auction were his great-uncle's: Field Book, belt, cap, medals, wallet containing many letters and photographs and the telegram his family received announcing his death. The other Lot was another relative, also killed in War, a Naval one this time, medals, photos, letters and a complete uniform. The two items fetched less than £140 and while I was thinking 'how sad', the man announced that one of the things he wanted to do when he retired was - trace his family history! Marjorie

He's going to regret that one day.

Hi, I can only assume he must have had his one remaining brain cell removed. Even before I started tracing my family history at Christmas, such things would have been precious to me - now they would be priceless. On a similar theme, when I bought my house I looked at another on the same road, where the elderley lady had gone into a nursing home. The house was full of odds and ends of furniture etc that hadn't been removed, but in her bedroom was her family bible and wedding photo. I was so upset at the time that her family hadn't thought to give her those most precious things. Cheryl

My oh so unsentimental hubby would be flogging it too if he thought it was worth a fiver. I can't understand it. I treasure stuff like that! I get moaned at for the junk I 'hoard' Claire xx

I was thinking much the same thing the other day, how there seems to have been a run of people flogging birth certs and family bibles etc on places like ebay ever since the BBC ran those programmes and the interest in genealogy increased. Maybe I'm just being cynical but is this just people seeing an opportunity to make money? I'd treasure anything like that that came into my possession. My Dad is gutted that he has no idea where his father's war medals went to. An aunt helped my Dad to clear my grandparents house after their deaths and he thinks she may have taken them. She died herself many years ago so who knows where they ended up!

How could he, little things like that can help a hell of a lot. Small things that I have found in my loft have provided great information and an insight into how my relatives lived life. Just go to show people will do anything for money, no amount of money is worth those things. Fern.

I have a relative who threw his own son's medals away. Didn't sell them, even, just put them out with the rubbish.

It beggars belief I'm afraid - I'd kill for something as precious as that. My aunts first husband was killed in WW2 and she had his log book stamped 'killed in action' and his flying suit - it fascinated me even as a child. At my aunts funeral earlier this year, her grandchildren were talking about it and I said I'd love to see it again - they won't let those items leave the house never mind sell them. Debby

A few years back me and mate did a car boot sale and she decided to sell some of her deceased fathers records,not knowing any of these artists sold the first one for 50p,the guy replied cheers ladies this is worth about £100,we were gobsmacked packed the rest away and shes kept them ever since wonder what worth now?I even have 2 suits my gran used to wear to weddings always admired them as a child one was pink other turquise and she always kept them in the dry cleaning bags and still are to this day tucked away in a case,even the smallest of things can be such sentimental value Kazzie

Having run a small antquites shop some years ago I was amazed how meny people knew the Price of every thing but the value of nothing. Sitting in frount of me now is a trouphy dated 1910 won by a C.J.Penny were did I find it, it was in the rubbish of a house cleance I did, heading for the skip.

My nan had a son who died when he was 4 (died of diptheria). She kept his little shoes and his little shirt in a polythene bag in her bedside cabinet. When she died my mum kept them but when my mum died my aunt took them - I really hope my cousins never throw these items in the bin - I'd be so cross! Debby

there was one on the other week of a gentleman who was floggin his dead brothers medals and was a whistle????? I think his brother was in the navy.. said he wanted to get of them to clear some space. How much space qould a couple of medals and a whislte take up!!!!!! My sister and I fought over our grandads medals!!!!! She won GGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRR but hubby got me a replica set which hang in a frame in my house.!!!

My dad had his dads first world war medals. I inherited those along with my dads 2nd world war medlas, his army pass book, his discharge papers and I have all his Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes stuff. All packed away for the day my son will inherit them and he knows what they are worth-not in monetary value but sentimental value.

Hi Shelley, How did you manage to get replica medals? I'd love to get my grandads! I've got the medal card already (well, I downloaded it anyway) Carole

You're lucky Patricia Neither my son or my brother are showing the slightest bit of interest at the moment I can't understand it!. Debby

Cristina I must have missed the bit where he said they didnt belong to 'real' relatives, but still - I think I would have shifted heaven and earth to find out who they really belonged to.(Or probably hung onto them and somehow worked them into my real family history!) And what about the beautiful handmade blouse, skirt and petticoat, presumably from the same 'unreal' relative - sold for £45.the lot. When my Grandfather died in the 1970s, my Grandmother had a bonfire which reputedly lasted two days. I could weep when I think of what must have got burnt. And I could weep even harder when I think of what happened when SHE died - newly married, I hurriedly went to her house to help clear stuff and threw out two hideous flowerpots, which she had had as a wedding gift from her friend - SUSIE COOPER!!!!! Marjorie

Shelley Waiting on your reply as to how to get duplicate medals Sad to say my father (now decd) according to my mother (now decd) pawned his WW2 medals when they had no money to feed themselves these included The Burma Star and campaign medals On an even sadder note at an auction recently I found, in a dresser, the draws full personal possessions including a love letter of an obviously elderly lady judging by the date on the letter - how can relatives be so heartless. Also two watermarked photos in large old velvet frames with crowns on top of frames - I bought the photos purely so they would not be skipped - I have no idea of who they are but at least I am looking after them Ann

This thread reminds me of my Gran. Her address and telephone book was a piece of cardboard from the back of a writing pad. She had everyone on there but when she died it got thrown away and I lost touch with thre quarters of the family.

Frances It's so sad when a second marriage means that the 2nd wife has all that if no will is left. It is a very good reason for leaving a will so that treasured items stay in the family. With no will, all sorts of problems arise. My friend could not even renovate her own mother's gravestone because it was classed as part of my friend's father's estate when he died and therefore, without a will it passed to his 2nd wife.

Hi I agree with all the above & I am waiting to hear how we can get duplicate medals. Also, are they very expensive? I have my Grandads WW1 medals. I have evidence that he was entitled to Indian Medal & 3 Clasps,Queens SA Medal & 4 Clasps & Kings SA Medal & 2 Clasps but my Dad said his Mum had to sell them to feed the six children after he died in 1918. It's not always about the money. Vivienne