Missing Medals row

Kyt · Apr 5, 2009

If an organisation was responsible for the care of something that precious then I think they should be held responsible if they are lost.

Veteran's missing WWII medals subject of ongoing row

Airman's sister upset that local legion which housed the memorabilia refuses to share in the cost of replacement with the BC/Yukon command

What happened to Vancouver war hero Lionel James Champion's medals?

For years, they were on display in East Vancouver's Collingwood Legion Branch 48, along with his air force log book.

But they mysteriously disappeared when the Collingwood legion closed its old branch and demolished the building two years ago.

Since then, Champion's sister Hilda Perry has been fighting to find out what happened to the airman's medals and log book -- war memorabilia that would fetch thousands of dollars on the open market.

"They were in a display case along with the quote from the [London] Gazette giving details of why the King gave him the medal. I'm heartbroken that they've been taken," said Perry.

She has tried getting answers from the legion and from Royal Canadian Legion's BC/Yukon Command, but has failed to find out who took her brother's medals and log book.

It would cost about $670 to have the medals replaced.

The BC/Yukon Command has offered to pay half the cost to replace the six medals -- including the Champion's Distinguished Flying Medal, awarded for courage in combat with a German fighter -- if the branch will pay half. But the branch is refusing to pay anything, said command executive director Linda Sawyer.

"Maybe you can shame them into it," Perry told The Vancouver Sun.

In a letter sent to Perry on Feb. 16, Sawyer said the Collingwood branch executive had twice declined to participate in paying for replacement medals. While not accepting responsibility for the loss, Sawyer said the command felt it was the "right thing to do" to share in the cost of replacing them if Perry wanted to pay half.

In 2001, the Distinguished Flying Medal was taken out of the case and loaned to an Abbotsford school for a presentation on the war, but was returned, said Perry. "I have a letter from the teacher saying they were returned and I saw them after that in the legion," she said.

But according to Sawyer, the Collingwood legion disputes the medals were returned.

"I don't know how low a person could be to steal a veteran's medals. That really hurts," said Perry.

The missing medals include the DFM -- a silver medal awarded for "acts of valour and courage and devotion to duty performed whilst in active operations against the enemy" -- the 1939-45 Aircrew Star, the Aircrew Europe Star and Clasp, the Defence Medal, the 1939-45 War Medal, and a CVSM and Clasp.

Perry's brother, the rear gunner on a Lancaster bomber flying with the RCAF's 57th Squadron, earned his DFM on Aug. 6, 1944 during a daylight attack on a target near Paris when it was attacked by an Me 109F. The German fighter put one engine out of action and badly damaged the aircraft, seriously wounding the upper turret gunner and putting both mid-upper and rear turrets out of action. The Lancaster was under continuous attack for 40 minutes and could only return fire from the front turret.

The London Gazette, which announced that King George VI had awarded Champion the DFM, gave a short description of what Champion did during the fight.

"Throughout this time, although the situation under these circumstance must have seem hopeless to him, Sergeant Champion remained in his damaged turret and directed his pilot with such good effect that the enemy, having failed to vitally damage the aircraft, broke off the engagement. It was largely due to this outstanding example of devotion to duty and disregard of personal safety that the aircraft was enabled to return safely to this country."

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the medals or log book can call The Sun at 604-605-2340.

gbellett@vancouversun.com
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Kyt · Apr 17, 2009

War hero's medals and log book found

The medals and Royal Canadian Air Force logbook of Second World War hero Lionel Champion, which mysteriously vanished from a Royal Canadian Legion's branch two years ago, are being returned to Champion's family.

Champion's sister, Hilda Perry, was overcome when she heard Thursday that the logbook and medals -- including her brother's Distinguished Flying Medal -- had been located and would be returned.

"I just couldn't believe it. It's just wonderful news," she said.

Linda Sawyer, executive director of the Royal Canadian Legion Pacific Command, said she was delighted the six medals and logbook had been found.

The medals had been on permanent display at the Collingwood Legion for years, but when the building was demolished they were taken by a member who didn't realize Champion's family still lived in Vancouver, she said.

Champion died 10 years ago.

"This person didn't know about the family and thought there was no one alive to take them, so they were removed for safe-keeping and kept in a commemorative case," Sawyer said.

"Once this person saw the story in The Vancouver Sun, we were contacted and we are now making arrangements to have the medals given back to Mrs. Perry," Sawyer said.

"We are absolutely delighted."

Champion's DFM was awarded by King George VI for bravery exhibited when his Lancaster bomber was attacked and badly damaged by a German fighter. It was during a daylight raid on a target near Paris in August 1944.

The opening attack had left the aircraft virtually defenceless, knocking out all its guns except those in the forward turret.
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liverpool annie · Apr 17, 2009

That's a lovely end to a distressing story !

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Missing Medals row

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