VC up for auction

[Bruce MacMillan]

Another bit of Canadian history available to the highest bidder.
https://www.dnw.co.uk/auctions/catal...10300&search=1

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Bruce MacMillan

Canadian history available to the highest bidder.

Quote: ".. together with applicable local taxes if purchased by a Canadian Citizen."

And perversely, should a Canadian wish to be that highest bidder to retain this history in Canada, they will be penalised with additional taxes that presumably a foreigner is not required to pay.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Oh yes, the foreigner will have to pay taxes and import duties.

You know what they say: there are only 2 things certain in life - death and taxes....

[cletrac (RIP)]

There are no taxes on used items coming into Canada.

[rob love]

But there are taxes if it's in Canada, as these are. While the auctioneers are overseas, the medals are still here. Furthermore, to be removed their export has to be approved by the cultural exports act. As such, the auction house has indicated it will not accept payment until the export is approved.

[Ed Storey]

If past history is any indication, the CWM will be 'opening the financial purse strings' of the nation in order to add this medal set to their collection.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The debate continues:

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/s...cked-1.4257683

[Robert Bergeron]

OMG : LCol Currie's VC !

At whatever cost , these must remain in Canada and on public display.

We need to pay more attention and respect to our heroes in this country.

On another note , what Her Majesty giveth , her Majesty can yank back at her pleasure , with compensation of course....

[Ed Storey]

Is the Currie VC the only SWW Canadian one not on public display or was that statement just CBC hype?

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Is the Currie VC the only SWW Canadian one not on public display or was that statement just CBC hype?

That statement came from Tanya. I saw a little table of the locations of the other 14 or 15 VCs.

[Ed Storey]

Yes the Ottawa Citizen printed a table of who holds each SWW Canadian VC but does that mean the ones held by museums are actually on display?

[Ed Storey]

It looks like the post from Hanno was deleted while I wrote this response.

Hanno, inspirational words but there is little anyone can do unless someone wants to go door-to-door to raise the money to keep them in Canada. Keep in mind that the politics and interest in the military/history are very different in Canada from those in NW Europe. Living in Canada we are constantly subjected to a Federal Government willing to give millions of taxpayers dollars away for whatever cause is on top of their agenda. For me anyway it is a case of if the Federal Government feels that Currie's VC Group is of national importance to stick in a museum, then pony up the cash and buy it. At a time when defence spending and procurement is in crisis and the Veterans community has to fight for adequate funding, my tax dollars are being used to pay the wages of the Afghan Army and have paid off a convicted terrorist. Paying lip-service to history and not having an adequate budget on hand to purchase the medals group really comes as no surprise.

It is laughable really, a rich person from outside of Canada legally bought an export controlled medals group by outbidding our government, I am now curious to see how this all plays out.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hello Ed,

Indeed: basically I said that if anyone feels it is not right to leave these medals leave Canada, then make your voice heard rather than shrug one's shoulders and say that nothing can be done to convince the gummint. I am not up to date on current Canadian politics or the state of the Canadian Armed Forces. So on second thoughts I deemed it better to delete my post as I don't want to stir the pot too much.

Hanno

[Robert Bergeron]

Hey , could someone please post the famous picture of then Major Currie in Normandy taken just after the action he was awarded the VC for please . That way our friends will understand our frustration . You know the picture where he is holding his pistol and a dumbass German officer in front of him seems to not realise what just happened .What do you mean the war is over for me ? That picture is worth $600,000 ... ( i can't post right now , i just have my Iphone ) .Cheers .

[Tony Smith]

Is it this one?:

https://thediscoverblog.files.wordpr...11/a111565.jpg

This seems to be the most common WW2 google image search result for "Currie VC".

Maj D Currie on the left with pistol and binos, German Officer is surrendering to Sgt-Maj G Mitchell.

[rob love]

Saved here for posterity.