Elaine Deering Sells War Hero Brother's Medals to Go on Cruise

• Wow, I don't know what's more pathetic on this one. The fact that this is considered news or the people making dummy accounts and pretending to be people they clearly are not. Don't feed the trolls folks. It only makes them more talkative.

• How many people on here were sock puppets? Cause now i suspect most of them were. And what the hell was the point?

• is it that serious ?!!

• Those in glass houses should not throw stones!!!!!!!! At least Elaine has not Commited Adultry!!!!!! Theft!!!!!!!or a Criminal Record for GBH like some of the above, that has left comments, not all as innocent as we make out are we???????? David Davies jealousy is a terrible Sin!!!!!!!! What have you got Nothing but a sad existence!!!!!!!!!!!

• And before anyone says anything all this money went to his money grabbing girlfriend, who used the money for an expensive Audi Convertable, and selling the car that my son bought her without a second thought !!!!!!!

• Thankyou for the above comments. For everyones information the Royal Marines have a custom that when one of their lads are killed they auction there kit off at inflated prices, to raise cash for the family. The family can take any items before the sale if they want, BUT THEY "THE MARINES" themselves sell off the kit of the dead colleague !!!! This has been a custom for years so whats the big deal if the family also sell a few items. The Marines are not going to keep all the items they purchase they would have to have a large house when you think how many have been killed in the last few years. One Gurka paid 600 pounds for his kit bag but gave it away to someone else, who has since returned it to the family. I agree Mr Langley is far from the saint he is portrayed as, we only have his word that he wasn't paid for the medals, we know different !!!

• OMG.......The woman hasnt abused her child or murdered anyone.....get over it.........compared to the other shit that goes on her crime is petty.......people sell their inherited items everyday, dont you watch the Antique Roadshow? Is there a big thing about that...No. The woman has the memories of her beloved brother thats worth the weight in gold, i think everyone should stop making a big deal about nothing. And who in the 21st century hasnt experimented in drugs hello........ive had a spliff or 2 in the sixties myself and.........does David Davies think hes clever. Watch it what goes around comes around and that goes to all who has ridiculed this poor woman...do you know what its like to lose a loved one?? It god dam hurts, why shouldnt she have a holiday sounds to me like she deserved it, i hope she had a fantastic time. And the bullies wishing her to commit suicide that is sick, your crimes of bullying are far worse than selling a few bits of tin and ribbon. What she supposed to do with the uniforms hang them in her wardrobe for ever and a day or dress her son up in them? Maybe Mr Langley would like to give me a grand for my husbands clothes so i can have a cruise. He isnt so innocent been made out to be a Hero thats a joke, he took advantage of a bereaved family, they wasnt even up for sale if you read the story properly he was buying stuffed animals and cajoled the family into selling them to make a profit some hero. Mark you sound like a decent sensible bloke are you on facebook? Whats your e mail? Like we are all so perfect we,ve never made mistakes in our life. David Davies is making them on here. Such a shame that them fit, brave, intelligent soldiers gave their life to make the world a safer place for what....the likes of the idiots on here DAVID DAVIES your a nobody you,ll never be remembered for doing anything decent in your life just bullying a grieving family i hope you get your commupence i bet you already have. And how come the girlfriend claims there was another Will, when no Witnesses have come forward, bit strange to me sounds like she making it up. Hark me going on proper Aunt Bessie me, it will all come right in the end always does. But if the Will wants it to go to his sister than thats the end of it i wouldnt give her anything but thats me and if you read other articles the family did offer the girlfriend the house but she said she wanted everything! So the offer was withdrawn you see, theres more to the story than meets the eye, i might be old but im no fool. If the girlfriend wasnt putting the family through a legal battle in court over her boyfriends estate maybe the sister wouldnt of had to sell the medals in the first place. Grief makes us do things without thinking sometimes, i do not feel angry towards this woman i feel sorry for her. Keep your chin up, your brother is watching over you and your son. God bless.

• To David Davies. I am a close friend of Robert Deerings, and by insulting his family you are insulting me, I know your real name and I know where you live, and I will not hesitate to pass this information onto his family. If I had of been killed instead of Rob I know he would look out for my family, and if he were still alive today he would not stand for you disrespecting her. Rob and his sister was close and he wouldnt give a shit about her selling his kit, so mind your business, me and the lads are fucked off big time about this now, lets see how gobby you are face to face shall we. I will say this only once, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!! Do you think i enjoy seeing my mates blown to pieces, and good decent men walking round on stumps, want to know what it feels like. Stop disrespecting my mates family.........You,ve been warned!

• Firstly ive read all articles US/UK and SO WHAT!!!! the Sister sold a few bits of uniform, and Medals with blood on them. Who wants a trophy to remind us of the loss, suffering and pain caused by this bullshit war????? Certainly not me or any sane person with an ounce of grey matter. How can any soldier wear his or her medal in pride, in a war that has no meaning, purpose, or aim. The unecessary suffering and barbaric deaths them soldiers have had to witness of their comrades, who wants a medal of that????? They should burn the bloody lot of metal and ribbon. Secondly, the poor guy gave his life to protect a bunch of evil bastards like you lot, so quick to judge like your all so fucking innocent, i bet you have more skeletons in your closet, and David Davies dishing the dirt on her, you sit there like a coward behind your computor under a false name, you do realise you can be traced....how dare you, shes lost her brother...Why dont you go and fight for your country..instead of slandering innocent people, One third of the population has a traffic offence, speeding fine, penalty, drink driving etc who gives a fuck....Your obviously to thick to realise...get a life.....got to hide behind a false name have you. And what if the Woman commited suicide, get a great deal of accomplishment would you? That you,d drove someone to end their life by bullying them. Shame on you. Such a pity that the best of us die young and the evil scum that are so small minded are left on the planet to roam, where is the justice???? And is the girlfriend so innocent she is Contesting the Heros Will...should this greedy bitch get away with that???After the thousands of pounds shes made out of this, not so innocent is she??? Yet does she get slammed...does she fuck. No wonder he left everything to his sister, after all he knew her better than most, how do you know he didnt say sell them and enjoy yourself...if you dont know all the facts DO NOT JUDGE. You bunch of hypocrites. GOD BLESS AMERICA....WE FUCKIN NEED IT, WITH THE HALF BRAINS THAT RESIDENT HERE.

• Karen, I am shocked to hear Mark Walsh and you talking about the father of little Rob and revealing he has nothing to do with the upbringing of his son - how could anybody turn their back on their own flesh and blood ? Has the father even ever seen little Rob ? I cannot imagine any acceptable excuse. Besides the other court case I hope this "father" is also being taken to court to pay what is due and justice for the upbringing of his son ?

• Karen, you question whether Alexa is on drugs - it is always worrying how many people so close to us all turn to drugs - sometimes it is somebody under our nose and someone we love so much that we dont notice. Some people fall into the wrong job and the wrong crowd working late at night etc and end up trying it and carrying on using it - I know I have seen it and maybe you have and maybe others on this site ? Its not nice but rather than accusing people it helps to be subtle and show understanding. Alexa talk to me if you wish.

• Karen, You dont say whether Elaine was forced to give up her career or not ? How long did she suffer from Arthritis crippling her ? Somebody said on another site she used to work in a casino - is that fact ? I know that can be long hours and little reward but we have to remember working long hours doesnt automatically make us any better or any worse than the next human being.

• Mrs Waspe, I worked with a lady years ago who was called Elaine and looks similar to the photo on this site - she was convicected for Drink / Driving - how much of a coincidence is that ?

• I have not got a clue what Alexa is going on about, is she on drugs or maybe just drunk !!!!! Davina thankyou yes Elaine did recover from the arthritis, but it can flair up again if she contacts an infection. Mark i can not blame anyone but ourselves for selling the medals we will have to live with that i am afraid.

• David, Glad my idea gets your support - hope you had no sympathy for the person you refer to for drink driving. Did they get jailed ?

• Davina, Yes nice idea - i think some of us on this page know somebody in common with drink driving offence in past.

• Alexa Posted 08/29/2010 at 12:51:44 PM states it was Karen Waspe -what is so obvious we are issing here ?

• Alexa - what is a "sock puppet" ? What is so obvious ? Please let us all know as we seem to be missing something here ?

• Karen, Did Miss Deerings illness force her to give up a career ? Or was she able to return ? Is she still classified as "crippled" ? Why has this not been in the news ? She was very young to suffer from such a illness. Sad to hear of this illness effecting a young life. How could the father of little Rob not help financially ?

• Mark Walsh, I giggled at diamondgirl9 busting David Davis for being a sock puppet. *ggl* I know it's being denied now, but it is pretty obvious.

• Mrs Waspe I find it disgraceful that a father should not support his child - I thought the government made sure parents paid their dues in child maintenance etc - I hope this guy gets hit with a large bill and the money goes towards the up briniging of the young boy. You mention court - have you taken court action against the father for the money. Maybe it is his non payment and not accepting responsibilty that led your daughter to be stupid and desperate for money and sell her brothers medals - is he to blame ?

• I have no time for drink / drivers they put at risk innocent people without any consideration. They should face greater penalties. How would you react if a member of your family injured somebody whilst under the influence ? I should also include people driving having taken drugs. They rarely get sent to prison so hit them in the pocket - let that money go to a special fund to look after wives / girlfriends of heroes lost in action. How many people know somebody caught drink / driving ? I guess quite alot so that means this idea would raise a lot of money.

• from Karen Waspe yes message on 28/8 was from me not David Davis. No the father is not supporting his child and yes David she did have to stop working "crippled with arthritis " means just that !!Alexa keep out of the conversation you are just childish and silly, this is for adults. !! No it is not true what the papers say it is all in the hands of the court, at last David you agree with me that you can't believe all you read in the press !!! Davina interesting idea but i can't see the government going for that one, they would want all the money for themselves. The medals being sold a big mistake, should not have happened, but what is done is done and can't be changed. At least they are with Gemma, who after all loved him very much.

• I think government should have a fund for wives & girlfriends that lose partners in military action - it should have a fund to help provide for their future and any children they have - no offence but I dont think it should include brothers n sisters etc. How about an extra fine of say £100 being issue to anybody caught drink drivin / drivin wilst using mobile fone, drivin without insurance, benefit cheats, income tax cheats ? These people show no respect heros like this Rob Deering who go to war abroad and fight wilst people here abuse their rites n show little respect wot do u guyz n galz think ?

• Alexa - why "giggles" I do not understand ?????

• Explaining her reasons for selling the mementos, Elaine, 37, had said: "When you're on your own, have a child and are offered £1,100, it's a tough thing to turn down. "I used some of the money to go on a cruise because I was depressed about everything that had happened. I needed a break." IS THE FATHER OF ROB JUNIOR NOT HELPING FINANCIALLY IN BRINGING HIM UP ? IT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT TO A YOUNG SINGLE MUM BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT ETHICAL TO SELL THOSE MEDALS.

• diamondgirl9 - post at 6:15;57pm was not written by me.

• QUOTE FROM BIRMINGHAM MAIL - THIS SHOULD CLARIFY IT ''I would give her the house now if I could. "I have contacted my solicitors this week to instruct them to do this but they informed that as I am only a beneficiary of his will, and not an executor, it is out of my hands. "It has been such a hard time for me and the family since Rob died, I just want all of this to end."

• ARE THE PRESS REPORTS TRUE THAT MISS DEERING HAS NOW GIVEN UP HER CLAIM TO ROBS "ESTATE" AND LEFT IF ALL TO HIS EX GEMMA ? I HAVE READ IT ON THIS INTERNET BUT NEVER SURE WHAT TO BELIEVE AND WHAT NOT TO BELIEVE - DOES ANYBODY KNOW ?

• PLEASE NOTE I DID NOT WRITE THE LAST POST - IT APPEARS TO BE A RESPONSE FROM KAREN WASPE - BUT MAYBE SOMEBODY IS ALSO USING HER NAME AS WELL. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR ROB JUNIOR WILL WANT FOR NOTHING, I TAKE IT THAT KAREN WASPE IS SUPPORTING HER DAUGHTER AND GRAND SON - PIT MISS DEERING DID NOT REALISE THIS BEFRE SHE FELT SHE HAD TO SELL MEDALS. SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT MISS DEERING HAVING ARTHRITIS - DID SHE HAVE TO QUIT HER JOB BECAUSE OF THIS ??

• *giggles*

• @David Davies/Davis Shouldn't your 8/28 post at 6:15:57pm say Karen Waspe?

• To David i don't know why you called my daughter vile, i am sure you have known her in the past but fail to see what harm she has ever done you. I don't think you are an ex as i know most of them Why is her working career so important to you, she has never done anything either she or myself are ashamed of. She only ever claimed sickness benefit once when she was crippled with arthritis. I stgill fail to see what her previous jobs have to do with you or anyone else. Thankyou for the nice comments about Rob and Rob Jnr.

• Mrs Waspe, When did I say your daughter was a benefits cheat ? I stated that the government were clamping own on benefit cheats as the sun reported Mr Camerons new campaign. Hopefully the money they save / reclaim will be used to help families of hero soldiers lost in action. Read my notes again and see what I said. Regarding spending money on holiday I made the point that 2 different stories were reported. Also you state she worked 50 hours a week and that is something most people have to do - has she got a full history of working 50 hours per week since leaving school ???? Unsocial working hours can be hard work. People in Erdington know and see things going on around them. Glad to hear young boy will get the best of everything - he will know doubt grow up and make you all very proud and we wish him the best of luck.

• to David Davies where oh where do you get your information that Elaine is a benefit cheat, check your facts matey !!! The benefits office will gladly correct you on that. So what is it to do with you if she did use some of the money on holiday, what business is it of yours ??????????? My grandson for your information will get the best of everything i can assure you of that. I don't really care what you or the people of Erdington know about Elaine, up until she had Rob she was working 50 hours or more a week to make ends meet. She does not want to leave Rob to go back to work just yet as he obviously is very precious and means the world to us, i am sure there are thousands of mothers out there who do the same, What is it with you ?????

• Mrs Waspe, Was Rob's girlfriend really so "greedy" ? I would think it would be best to keep a low profile on this sad subject. People from Erdington know more than has been revealed. We know the Government will get things right, once they clamp down on benefit cheats they will have the funds to help hero's direct families financially. Your son is no doubt a hero. I take it that the recent article in the Sunday Mercury quoting your daughter saying she did actually use some of the money to pay for the cruise is incorrect ? We hope you win your legal battle with them and use any money towards your grandson.

• P.S.I'm also slightly offended that you would say that his medals "are not bravery medals," simply medals for completing a tour.Excuse me,but in my book,that's bravery enough.

• If your precious copies were no different than the ones that were sold,why sell them in the first place?Selfish and disgraceful.Those could have been proudly passed down to the nephew he will sadly miss out on.

• Jacky for your information they were not postumous medals, Rob received them when he was ALIVE following tours to Iraq, Kosovo and the first tour of Afghanistan, He did not receive a medal from the last tour when he was killed, as he didn't complete the tour !! Myself and his dad have copies of the medals, which are identical and made by the same company. I am broken hearted at the loss of my son, but the medals were Elaines and it is no-one elses business but hers if she sold them . She used the money to help pay off some debts not pay for a cruise, don't be gullable and believe the press, it would not have made a great story if they had put "sister sells medals to pay off debts or by food mand nappies for her son " R.I.P. Rob xxx we know you understand and you would want to see your beautiful nephew looked after xxxx

• NICKY for your information they were not postumous medals, he received them for previous tours when he was alive, they are not bravery medals or medals given on his last tour when he was killed. They are medals given to soldiers when they have completed a tour, i have a copy set and so has his father, they are made by the same people and are no different to the ones that were sold. At the end of the day they were his sisters medals and it is no-one elses business but ours. R.I.P. my precious son xx

• Hi guys i am the mother of the above Royal Marine hero, i would just like to inform you i or Robs sister are not cold and heartless. We loved Rob to bits and miss him greatly. A piece of metal will never bring him back and yes we regret selling them. For everyones information the money did not pay for a cruise, i paid for the cruise for my beautiful grandsons first birthday. You are all intelligent people and know the press never tell the truth. Yes Elaine is hard up because she is a single parent and yes she was misguided by a lot of money, but it does not mean she loves her brother any less. We have our memories and lots of other momentoes of our gorgeous hero. David Davis i don't know who you are but you are verging on slander. We all do things at times we are not proud of but if his greedy girlfriend had not contested his will because Rob didn't want to leave her anything, Elaine would not be in the position she is now. His girlfriend has had thousands from the military and will get 800 pound a month for life just because they shared a house for less than twelve months. Please do not abuse myself and my daughter we are just ordinary people that have lost a precious son and brother and for us life will never be the same again. Don't for pity sake begrudge Elaine a bit of enjoyment on a holiday i paid for.

• This hurts my feelings. I'm in the navy but we get pulled to go out in the fields. Although I would be passed just knowing that people that close to you would trade a piece of you off after something like that really makes me wonder where people keep there compassion...

• I don't condemn her for selling the medal...well not entirely. But I do understand that she's going through a hard time. My question is, why didn't she invest in a business or something productive so she could go into more cruises in her lifetime? Oh well, it's her "things" so she could live in the guilt if she wants to.

• Honestly.Who sells their brother's posthumous war medals?I don't care if you don't set particular sentimental value for them yourself,but do you think if he were alive to receive them himself he'd pawn them off for a cruise?!Show a little respect.What a bitch.

• Elaine is not naive in this, she is cold and heartless. Trust me I knew her and she has "history".

• I could tell you stories to make you ill about this vile lady. Let me just say she Elaine would not think twice about seliing anything. She now says in todays Sunday Mercury sher is going away on another cruise - where is she getting the money for to pay for it ? She says she is unemployed and skint so what is she going to sell next ?

• Obviously, lots of people care. Some here completely and utterly miss the point naturally or were trained that way. Rob gets my sympathy, not his cold mother and sister.

• really, who cares? they are sentimental and valuable to some, and not to others. they were certainly her's to sell. it's not like she stole them from a war hero and then sold them. her brother would have probably wanted her to go on that cruise, and anyway he could have helped, he would have. who knows? Elaine, if you are reading this (as if), I don't think you are a bad person. I hope you and your child or children enjoy the cruise.

• I've been in a similar situation as the lady actually. My grandfather passed away last year and I've been slowly selling the things out of it that I don't need. Now my grandfather was an accountant who worked on some important projects like the Hibernia project and actually spent some time over in Iran when they had the whole change approx. 35 years ago and had to leave really fast. I would never sell some of his awards and stuff (I may eventually donate them to the national archives as they do have some relevance to my country's history) but honestly if something happened to my family and we needed the money I would. However, I would never sell it to go on a cruise. The stuff I'm selling now are mostly books or extra kitchen gadgets that I don't use and I use the money to buy food and pay the bills. Some of the books I won't even part with because of the sentimental value of them when my grandpa would loan them to me.

• "white" is the moron here. That he said they are just pieces of metal means he's clueless. It is not the metal and ribbon itself that meant something to the recipient. The metal and ribbon are tokens of his nation's appreciation for what he did, how he did it, how he exemplified the finest virtues and strengths he and his nation own. They signify these honors so that all who met him would immediately know that he is held in high esteem by many who reserve it for only the most deserving. They are usually cherished by the hero's family as yet another aspect of their loved one now gone which they can still see, still touch, still contemplate on all that they stand for, and still remember him by. Since the subject boneheads couldn't think past their wallets, minimum basic human decency would call for them to gift the medals to someone who would appreciate them. Profiting from your dead son's/brother's war medals is simply crass and callous. These two freaks deserve to be rejected. So, the only point "white" has is on the top of his skull. He only compounds the terrible loss of this hero by still being around on this planet, pumping the gene pool with his defective spermatozoa. And yes, yes, the brother was not only an exemplar of the finest virtues of man, he was, I emphasize, was, one of physical pulchritude as well. It is very sad that he will not be able to improve the gene pool.

• First off, White has a point. Maybe they're just not sentimental people, maybe he told her before he left to take a vacation by selling his stuff if he didn't come back. Not my values, I still have my dad's ww2 medals and gun collection and would rather starve than sell them, but I can't judge someone else for selling out. Her brother is gone, holding onto a piece of cold metal isn't going to bring him back. On a lighter note, I enjoy Mark's long winded posts. I picture him as a sweet piece of eye candy with lots on his mind and a velvety voice like Patrick Warburton. ***** wait, what was the subject of the story again? I got lost in a mental image. (:

• Just because she didn't value something the government gave her to commemorate her brother's death doesn't mean she didn't value her brother's life. If someone gave you $10000 for the death of a loved one(you know.. like what is popular in lawsuits across America) that you would rather charish it and wouldn't spend the 10k for sentimental reasons.

• its jsut a piece of metal, i woudlnt need one to remember a brother by. get over it morons.

• Dont worry, she'll be shamed into exile or suicide and all will be right with the world once again

• Something tells me that if the Late Rob Deering could have seen what would his sister do to them. bet ya that he would have changed his will to give such items to the fiancee instead. talk about a family of greedy guts.

• I got the name from that song...great music.. and no you didnt bring me down, i think the nevada heat, cramps and 3 kids that don't hear or comprehend the word no has made me slightly insane today . What were we discussing again?? Oh yeah, this girls search for a husband that's one of God's chosen circumcised.

• I think I would be less judgemental of this sister and mother if the money they made selling his honors were for more noble reasons. Say perhaps they were terribly in debt for one reason or another, someone needed surgery/medical procedure, or a niece or nephew needed help with college. I know if I died in the line of duty I would have wanted my family to do what was needed to help out. But for a cruise? I think not. Yes your soldier died so you can have freedoms (like selling shit on ebay....but not particularly his shit.....for a ship ride). That's where I draw the line.

• @Grandma - gentle rebuke - the album is "Honky Chateau"; the song is "Honky Cat". Being a big Elton John fan, and having just seen him in concert for the 7th time (it was great), I could not let that pass. Limos? I am impressed and jelaous. Enjoy.

• @Mark, you don't write Walls O'Text (your TM), Hammer does. Not holding it against her, per se, just sayin'. *flares eyelids tightens scalp whilst remembering*

• @HonkyCat No worries! It's all good. Besides, it's not like it was the first time I've been criticized for my patented Wall O' Text (TM) posts! ;) (I write 13,000 pages per annum in my journal/blog and currently have 11 different non-fiction books underway in various states of progress. I sometimes can't refrain from being immoderately verbose.) Mea culpa, HonkyCat. It's all good.

• I'm in the UK and saw this story about a week ago.. the woman and her family are clearly a bunch of septic knob-ends and have no use in society. If she had needed the money for something essential or urgent ie. an operation for her offspring (yes,unfortunately she's got one, poor little sod) or something similar that's more understandable,but to use it to waft off on a cruise is wrong -hidoeus woman.. Apparently the bloke that bid on them gave them back to his fiancee at no charge which is pretty decent .. RIP Rob ..your family may not have respected your memory but others certainly do.

• I agree with salad.

• Honky Cat (hey i got a album by Elton Jon called that!!), I was making a funny! Didn't mean to bring you down. Sorry. Just to get everyone in place to welcome the weekend!!! I got one in my car in a mini cooler (yes ONE!) and as soon as i get out of here, I will sit there and drink the whole darn thing!!! Then will go home and have more!!!!! Ok don't eveyone yell at me, I live right around the corner from where i work! i could walk, but it's to darn hot out!!! and i don't go on any public roads. Just out on street and drive less then .2 miles and turn into driveway!!!! So i'm not drunk driving!!! And i am NOT driving tonight!!! Actually, it's a stagette party and we are in limos!!! so no one is driving but the driver!!

• Yeah yeah i could use a beer... that was shitty .. sorry mark

• So upon further review of the article, including the additional link provided by CallMeMister...I still think the mom and sister could use a lesson in family heritage or lack thereof.

• What?? Your kidding me right Pete? My step mother stuffs her own catches! she's been a taxidermist for about 30 yrs. But if she was making that kind of money, i'm going see her soon, so i gotta get her thoughts. Wow. $500 bucks to stuff a bird someone shot! And then sell it on ebay! Wow. Total messed my head up!!!! Hey Sharon, let me know how it is, want to take the rug rats to the drive in one weekend in Aug to see it. But not sure if it's worth the money. Enjoy!

• I'm thinking they were stuffed birds like hunting trophies, Grandma. At least that was my impression. It costs something like $500 to stuff an animal, so I assume they're rather expensive.

• lol. grandma....hell, being in the deep south...I hardly see a man with full set of teeth, except for the seniors but those don't count cause they can put them in a glass. So when I see real pearly whites I go Lady Gaga. Good day fellow posters, off to see new cats and dog film with 12 food processor.

• Oh the story! Sorry forgot what i was doing! 1st of all, Stuffed birds? someone sells stuffed birds on ebay? What are they? Like stuffed animals or real birds that have been stuffed? And people BUY these? Ok " as i shake my head" I guess anyone will buy anything! This guy knew what the worth of the items were the minute he saw them. So when they offered, he jumped. Glad his heart took over after that. Little confused thought. It says in pete's story he returned the medals to the fiancee for free. What happened to the rest of the stuff? Says they sold the medals, uniform and shell casing. I would think that the shell casting was worth the metal content but the uniform? if that is worth anything but memories, I guess i should put my wool navy uniform on ebay! Black wool with the white navy buttons on the pants. and the black wool pullover with white stripes on the hanging collar (dont know what it is called) Got it off a sailor in 1976 OOps, don't mean i got it OFF the sailor!!! he gave i to me as a memento as the ship was being commissed and he was leaving. Sick minds on here. and i know that is going to go thru some minds when they read this.

• I'm with you, Russell. The money mom and sister made was burned in moments. But the medals could have been passed down for generations to those who appreciated them and the deeds of their ancestors. It just seems like a really callous, short-term play.

• wow. Boy can some people use a beer right about now? Catty!!! Sharon you crack me up!!!! But i did have to go back a stare! Yeah, not to many british guys are worth a secone (or 3rd, or 4th) look! to bad he was a little older.... Can we say " Couger" !!!!! an hour and i'm making for the weekend!!!!!

• Thank God for such courageous soldiers as this. Too bad his family (Sister & Mother) make me wanna puke.

• Even if neigth the mother nor sister valued the items they should have given them to the fiance. My grandmother (before she died) kept her husband's (my grandfather) military items until the day she died (kept it for 46 years). I honestly don't see how you can just sell that stuff, especially when he never even made it home.

• Mark... are you always so opinionated? And long winded? Sheesh you got a serious case of ego mania if you think people wanna read paragraph after paragraph of your thoughts on every single news article

• @ Linda DITTO, DITTO FROM HOUSTON

• @CallMeMister Thanks for the additional news link. It does add in a bunch of other information missing from this story. I take back what I said about the buyer. In light of further explanation, he was still taking advantage of the situation, but as he was not specifically looking or intending to make a war memorabilia purchase, and doesn't routinely do that, then he certainly wasn't being predatory or an all around dirt-bag. I'm not sure what to think about the widowed fiance taking all of this to court because she claims there was a newer will filed that named her as the beneficiary. Although she is claiming the Military lost the paperwork, it's looking more like it never happened. I'm personally okay with the the sister, who was named the sole beneficiary in the only extant will, selling off of the memorabilia to take a cruise to console herself for the loss of her brother...but if the sister tries to go after half the share of the house that his widow's fiance is living in, then I might just side with everyone here in believing that she is selfishly callous, money-grubbing, greedy person who is not deserving of any kind of sympathy. (And btw, I did catch first off that he was a British Soldier. I don't have working knowledge of what is S.O.P. for H.M.S., but considering we borrowed the vast majority of our Military Protocols from the military of our previous overlords, I would assume they are quite similar in this respect.)

• What a complete loser of Mother??? and Sister?? is you want to give them those names. Do you think the man is turning over in his grave??? We honor our deceased in the South!

• LOL...alexa...I was to busy looking at the hunk in white tshirt to read correctly....it went alittle like this.. A personnel carrier of the British Royal Marines WOW..blah blah OHHHHHH yummmy sister sold medals "that dirty bitch" but Come to mama you sweet young thing....."had regrets"......scroll up....pant pant pant..... former fiance...LUCKY BITCH comments.....scroll back up......ahhoooooooooooooogggggga!!! *sigh* Load pic to new screen saver

• @Mark: you missed two pretty important points in this article. Rob was in the British army, not US. I don't know personally how they deal with fiances and personal belongings, but it may be different than the US military. The other point is, the buyer did not show up to by the medals, he went to buy stuffed animals the sister had put up on eBay. When he showed up the sister and mother offered to sell him the medals et al. So calling him a profiter at the expense of others is a bit harsh. Also, I found a much more detailed account of this story from Googling Elaine Deering. It helps to clear up some vagarities and shed more light on the matter. It does paint the sister in an even darker light too, in my opinion. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1297519/Fianc-e-dead-soldier-upset-sister-sells-medals-enjoy-cruise.html

• *screeches to a halt* Whoa. How'd I miss that? Well alrighty then. So the brother was the fluke in their family genetics. And he was the one we lost. No, we couldn't have lost the mother and/or the daughter, nooooo. We have to lose the good child. Life sucks and then you die.

• *screeching halt*** back the truck up... scrolling up scrolling up .......reading again... Why is everyone just upset with girl for selling? According to article " Elaine and her mother offered to sell Langley Rob's medals, uniform and a memorial shell casing given to them by the military." Guess we know who the fav kid was now don't we. RIP soldier boy...and thanks for your sacrifice.

• You know, my first emotional response was to shame the sister... However, upon further consideration I realized it wasn't just the sister that agreed to the sale, but the soldier's mother as well! Apparently this was a family made decision. So, as the entire family was unanimous in this decision, how can it be considered horrible or wrong? The entire family claims that "It's what Rob would have wanted them to do." They probably knew Rob better than any of us do, so who are we to say anything to the contrary? Unfortunately for fiancees, they do get stiffed not only by the families, but by the Military too. The U.S. Military does not even give a flag to the widowed fiance, even if she is the only surviving "family" the deceased has, or is named an inheritor of the deceased in their will. It's sad, but it's S.O.P. I'm suspecting the family probably wasn't fond or approving of the fiance to have not offered them to her. It sounds as if she was entirely estranged from the family in the first place. However, don't be fooled by Langley's change of heart either. Ultimately he did a good thing, but only after being predatory and preying upon the gullibility and vulnerability of a family that was still undoubtedly mourning their loss of a beloved family member. He knew he was making a score and earning 400% profit off it. This guy has earned a living off of capitalizing upon the misfortunes of others. Eventually his conscience caught up with him and he realized he was being a dirt-bag and he sought some form of redemption. In this particular instance he did the right thing...but after how many years and how many families had he parted from the mementos of their loved ones to sell to collectors for a profit? Yes, he done good in the end, but don't make him out to be a saint, either.

• But these did hold memories. They obviously held memories and/or meant something to the fiance or she wouldn't have accepted them. I have to agree that this was fairly low rent and egocentric. Good thing I didn't see those birds on eBay. I'm always getting screwed on there.

• Wow what a great sister... sounds like my brother..

• What a piece of S--t this girl is. Can you be any more self centered and despirate?

• decent rack, however.

• It's like watching an earthquake knockdown two houses and leave the one in the middle untouched. Sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, one of your children can turn out to be a real ass, while the other is a real hero. If we're lucky, we'll see her suffer some karma for her selfish callousness. He is an angel in overwatch of his brothers in arms still toiling in theatre.

• Oh come on, i understand that in the same circumstances maybe those things would mean alot to you and you would keep them. But it's hardly fair to go judging someones moral or ethical values because they sold some metal that obviously didn't mean much to them. It's not selling on their brother or their brothers memories, and if you think in those kind of terms then you are basically insane.

• hey brad-you're probably right

• Probly because the fiance didn't make a big enough offer to the sister :P

• Langley = Good guy....Elaine = horrible human.

• My sister is a Marine and if anything ever happened to her,God forbid,I would cherish her things forever..

• Why the hell didn't the sister offer them to his fiancee?

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