Museums Will Not Be Participating in Auction for WWII Medals

Media Statement

Museums Will Not Be Participating in Auction for WWII Medals

The New Zealand museums incorporating MOTAT, Auckland War Memorial Museum, the Air Force Museum in Christchurch and Otago Museum have been in discussions with Les Munro to find a solution so that Mr Munro can make a significant donation the RAF Benevolent Fund and his WWII medals and associated memorabilia remain in New Zealand. Mr Munro has advised that he intends to proceed with their auction in London on the 25 March as originally planned.

The museums remain completely supportive of Mr Munro and reiterated their deep admiration for his altruistic aims.

Mr Michael Frawley, CEO of MOTAT, who has been leading the negotiations on behalf of the museums said: “one of the challenges New Zealand faces in this auction process is that local interested parties could end up in a bidding war against each other. Those who intend to bid at the auction should be aware of the museums’ final position; which is that we cannot bid at the auction as a consortium and neither do we have the resources to do it individually.”

“The museums will be following the auction process with interest and shall be pleased to see Mr Munro achieve his personal goal of making a substantial contribution from its proceeds towards the upkeep of the Bomber Command Memorial in London in memory of his fallen colleagues” said Mr Frawley.

ENDS

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