WWII VC hero's medals fetch $1 million - Ted Kenna

[JPL]

The family of World War II hero Ted Kenna will drink a beer in his honour after his medals, including a Victoria Cross, were sold to a mystery buyer for more than $1 million. The VC was the centrepiece in a collection of 10 of Kenna's medals that were displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra until being sold at a Melbourne auction on Thursday. A bidder, taking her instructions from a mystery caller, paid $1,002,000 for the collection - a world record for Australian medals. Mr Kenna's medal, earned for single-handedly taking out a Japanese machine-gun post, is the first WWII VC to be sold publicly and is one of only 20 awarded to Australian soldiers during the war. The bidder told AAP the buyer, and what the buyer planned to do with the medal, would remain secret.

Read the entire article: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/wwii-vc-heros-medals-fetch-1-million-20110728-1i1ry.html

Another link showing the medals: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/victoria-cross-sold-as-part-of-1m-haul-for-ted-kenna-war-medals/story-e6frg6nf-1226103711275

Jean-Paul

[Paul R]

I posted the items from the two links so that they can be viewed after the article is removed from the website.

WWII VC hero's medals fetch $1 million Belinda Merhab

July 28, 2011 - 5:44PM

AAP

The family of World War II hero Ted Kenna will drink a beer in his honour after his medals, including a Victoria Cross, were sold to a mystery buyer for more than $1 million.

The VC was the centrepiece in a collection of 10 of Kenna's medals that were displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra until being sold at a Melbourne auction on Thursday.

A bidder, taking her instructions from a mystery caller, paid $1,002,000 for the collection - a world record for Australian medals.

Advertisement: Story continues below Mr Kenna's medal, earned for single-handedly taking out a Japanese machine-gun post, is the first WWII VC to be sold publicly and is one of only 20 awarded to Australian soldiers during the war.

The bidder told AAP the buyer, and what the buyer planned to do with the medal, would remain secret.

Mr Kenna's son, Rob Kenna, said the record result was humbling.

"I don't know what dad would say about this ... because he wasn't driven by money at all and he would never sell it and he left the responsibility to us," an emotional Rob Kenna told reporters.

"His wish was to share the value of that medal in dollar terms among the four children.

"The first thing I'm going to do is buy a pot for him and drink it, that's what he would want me to do.

"(The family will) be having a beer together, a wine as far as the girls go, and thinking about dad."

The sale might generate mixed feelings among diggers, but it was what his dad had wanted.

The family has no idea who bought the collection, but Mr Kenna said he hoped the buyer would share it with the Australian public.

"Of course we'd want it on public view, and that was one of the main reasons (we sold it).

"If it moved down through the family then it would disappear into one person's hands and sell for $5 million in 50 years' time and one person benefits," he said.

"We want all Australians to share in it and let's just hope it works out that way."

"(VC recipients) represent those people that fell and they were so courageous in their actions, right through their service, not only that one action. That's what people miss, but you've got to look behind the medal to the heart."

Private Kenna's exploits in Papua New Guinea on May 15, 1945 are among the most famous feats by Australia's list of VC winners.

With his platoon pinned down by heavy machine-gun fire, he stood in full view of the enemy less than 50 metres away, firing a Bren gun from the hip.

Return fire sailed between his arms and body.

Undeterred, he fired on the post until his magazine was exhausted, before seizing another rifle and shooting dead the enemy gunner with his first round.

Three weeks later, he was shot in the face and spent nine months in hospital where he met his wife Marjorie, with whom he had four children, 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

He died in 2009, aged 90.

[peter monahan]

Wonder if it's gone to Lord A., to add to his apparently massive VC collection. Hope not! I'm with the family - let the public see it.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Thankyou Paul, for taking the time to re-post this. An important item and nice to know what happened.

Peter, I have a feling that Australia has a ban on important medals leaving the Country - perhaps a collector in Australia could confirm that ?

[Jason]

Hi Mervyn, I was speaking to some of the ex-military guys at work about this auction, and they mentioned that Australian VC's aren't permitted to leave the country....here's hoping.

regards Jas

[peter monahan]

Here, here!

P