War Memorial to return WWII medals

Kyt · Oct 23, 2008

Makes you wonder what the RSL was playing at - they should be the last ones to get involved in such an affair

War Memorial to return WWII medals - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The Australian War Memorial in Canberra is to return a collection of World War II medals after being told the family in central Queensland had not given permission for their sale.

Tom Jarman loaned his brother's service medals to the Yeppoon RSL and was alarmed to read in the newspaper that they had been sold to the Australian War Memorial.

Mr Jarman's daughter, Rikki Jeffrey, says copies were made of the medals and the originals sold off.

She says the RSL is now investigating the matter.

"We don't know how it came the copies were made," she said.

"But there had been an exchange of the real medals for a gun collection and then the person who did the exchange sold the medals to the War Memorial."

Ms Jeffrey says the medals may eventually be donated to the War Memorial but she says her father will not be loaning them to the RSL again.

"There is no thought of that happening again and he also wants the faked ones removed," she said.

"As a family we don't want anyone benefiting from our uncle's death, his brother's death, and to have the real ones back.

"His intention at this stage is that they will probably go to the War Memorial in Canberra."
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Medals on loan copied then sold off - Rockhampton News, Weather, Sport & Local Classifieds | Rockhampton Morning Bulletin - 2008-10-20 08:00:00.0 - localnews

IF he hadn't seen a story in The Morning Bulletin, Tom Jarman would be none the wiser today about the disappearance of his most treasured memories.

The Australian War Memorial was proudly announcing it had acquired the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to his brother Squadron Leader Eric Jarman.

"When I saw the article I was absolutely dumfounded," Tom, who lives in Yeppoon, said.

"I loaned the medal and other items to the RSL museum in Yeppoon in 2004 and as far as I knew, it was still there because no one had asked our permission to sell it.

"But it turns out that story was true. Someone, without our knowledge or permission, made copies of everything in the collection and the originals found their way into the hands of a collector who sold them to the Australian War Memorial."

Tom said the revelation had been devastating because he would never seek to cash in on his brother's gallantry.

It is now apparent that the RSL Yeppoon curator swapped the collection for a number of weapons worth about $8000.

The curator said he thought the collection was owned by the RSL and has since apologised to the Jarman family for his error.

The Australian War Memorial says it will reunite the family with its heirlooms.

Nick Fletcher, senior curator said: "The Memorial acted in good faith when we purchased the DFC, service medals and personal items of Eric Jarman from a private collector.

"We later learnt the family never intended that the medals be sold. We completely understand the family's position and feel it is only appropriate that they be returned to the family.

"While the collection is significant because it helps to commemorate the sacrifice of thousands of Australians with Bomber Command during the Second World War, it is more important that the Jarman family's wishes are respected in every way."

Stan Keller, president of Yeppoon RSL, said yesterday an internal investigation into the affair was continuing and he could not make further comment at this stage.

But Mr Jarman said someone had made a significant amount of money.

"We don't know who is to blame, or who got the cash, but we would like to," he said.
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Kyt · Oct 23, 2008

This is the story about their sale

http://ww2chat.com/forums/war-air/3439-war-memorial-purchases-special-medal.html

Antipodean Andy · Oct 23, 2008

Why on earth would you want to exchange a DFC for a collection of weapons?

A shame the medals won't be on public display anymore but hopefully they will be again in the future.

Antipodean Andy · Oct 27, 2008

War medals may be returned this week - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The Australian War Memorial says a collection of medals that were sold without the permission of the central Queensland owner could be returned as early as this week.

Tom Jarman, from Yeppoon, loaned his late brother's World War II service medals to the Yeppoon sub-branch of the RSL, but without his knowledge, copies were made and the originals sold.

The RSL is investigating what happened.

The war memorial's senior curator, Nick Fletcher, says the medals will be returned to the Jarman family as soon as possible.

Mr Fletcher says medals are very important to families.

"Yes, in many cases it's the last surviving piece of memorabilia that relates them back to that family member. There are still members of the Jarman family alive who remember Eric, so the medals play a significant role in how they recall him," he said.

"At this stage we're still talking to the family about how quickly we can return them to them. Well I hope to have it done before the end of the month and if we can manage it this week we'll certainly do so."
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spidge · Oct 27, 2008

Smells a bit fishy. I think we will hear more.

Kyt · Nov 14, 2008

Precious wartime medals returned - Rockhampton News, Weather, Sport & Local Classifieds | Rockhampton Morning Bulletin - 2008-11-14 08:00:00.0 - localnews

A MYSTERY chunk of rusted shrapnel, carefully wrapped in tissue paper and placed inside a box, accompanied the priceless medals and mementos of Yeppoon war hero Eric Jarman when they were returned to his family.

The shrapnel was in a precious package of memories sent to Eric's elderly brother Tom at his Yeppoon home this week by the senior curator of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Tom had endured weeks of uncertainty after it emerged the War Memorial had bought Eric's Distinguished Flying Cross and a collection of other medals and memorabilia from a collector.

The Jarman family had previously loaned the collection to Yeppoon RSL and had never authorised the sale.

Cradling the DFC yesterday, Tom said he was very relieved to have it back and wanted to thank the War Memorial for being so understanding.

"I haven't seen any of the collection for four years and we will spend time as a family studying it before deciding what to do with it. But it will stay together now."

The package from Canberra was a mini museum in itself, and beautifully presented.

But he was puzzled by the shrapnel, because it had not been part of the collection he had loaned to the RSL.

"I'd like to know its significance and where it was from," said Tom.

Along with six medals, the collection contains Eric's log book and a Morning Bulletin newspaper cutting detailing his bravery.

The young pilot was killed on a bombing raid over Germany in 1944.

He was decorated for his skill and determination during a 1942 raid on Cologne.
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