So the idea of reuniting orphan groups has baffled me for a long time......not "Why reunite them"....but, "How/Why did they get broken up in first place?" What a tragedy, these medals were a part of a story of someone's life, and they get separated and scattered to the 4 corners.
That said, of course I have number of examples of medals that are missing their siblings......
So here is the question that has no correct answer; but I'd like to hear folks thoughts anyway.
How do you display them?
1) Do you surround them with other original pieces that are from less sought after units to show what the soldier should have had. Or,
2) do you purchase these "Replacement Copy" medals from one of the number of sites that appear (sorry I'm a little ignorant on legitimacy....in the USA a recipient can just go to the base exchange and pick up another real medal...it is the certificate that is unique) to offer high quality official substitutes for wear without trying to claim they are original. Or
3) do you simply display the medal with a note that they were entitled to the other medals not currently in your possession?????
4) Or ???????
Until I started getting seriously interested in UK medals and their history, this was a lot easier......the challenge was trying to figure out if the Godet Pour Le Merite was a 1914-1918 piece or a 1930's piece a recipient purchased because he needed to start wearing it again. Both are "real" but you generally will never know who it belonged to....if it ever belonged to anyone or was just an example in a jeweler's store.....sadly, I don't even have that dilemma as I can only swing a cheap obvious fake Pour Le Merite. But the scenario is valid for numerous other less expensive Imperial German pieces....
