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Antiques dealer Kevin Bennetts recently purchased a set of World War II medals online. One of the medals had the name “JB Earl” written on the rim.
Bennetts pointed out that most service medals do not have a name on them. However, the set he bought included a Territorial Efficiency Medal, which had a service number and a surname that could be used to identify the recipient.
Bennetts published a Facebook post to try to find anyone who could tell him more about the soldier who earned the medals. The post helped Bennetts connect with David Earl, the son of the late Major James Burton Earl. “It’s really nice to repatriate these medals … but it’s really rare to be able to find the family and return them,” Bennetts said.
Major James Burton Earl was a gunner of the British Territorial Army, a World War II volunteer reserve force. He also served in Normandy after D-Day.
David Earl indicated that his father had financial problems later in life, which ultimately led to his selling his medals.
Bennetts said he could have earned nearly $400 for the medals. Regardless, he noted that he did not want to make money on them and gave them to Earl for free. “They are (Earl’s) father’s medals, he served and they belong to the family, so really money isn’t an issue,” Bennetts stated.
Earl said he is delighted to have his father’s medals back in his family’s possession. “I’m so very touched by this gesture,” Earl noted.
Those who want to view World War II medals can see over 102,000 such items in the WorthPoint Price Guide.
Dan Kobialka is a self-employed content writer and editor with about a decade of experience. He produces content across a wide range of industries, including antiques, insurance, and real estate. To learn more about Dan, please visit his website.
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