In recent months, both large and small IFAs have been liquidated, leaving creditors to seek compensation from the FSCS. And with thousands of customers claiming the mis-sale of split-capital trusts as well as endowment policies, potential liabilities are mounting for many current and former IFAs.It might be expected that the FSCS would be sympathetic to the plight of people like Graham Ward. She has received many phone calls, letters and visits from people trying to contact Keith Bell. Mr and Mrs Bell had written to Mrs Derry from hotels in Australia, France and Spain, but she now has no idea where they are. We also, unsuccessfully, asked the Bells’ former solicitors if they could put us in contact with their client.There is no evidence that Mr and Mrs Bell are doing anything other than having a long retirement holiday. But their disappearance is symptomatic of a growing problem for clients of IFAs who want to obtain mis-selling compensation.

The FSCS provided Mr Ward with the supposedly current address of Mr Bell, but when he wrote to that address, a flat in Farnham, the mail was returned as “gone away”.We spoke to Janet Derry, who bought the property from the Bells. FSCS conducted an investigation into Ariston and concluded that the firm had sufficient funds to meet Mr Ward’s claim. But this is of little help to Mr Ward, who took out his Scottish Amicable policy in 1991. The sale was conducted by an IFA – and no one now seems to know where the financial adviser has gone.Keith Bell, an adviser in Farnham, Surrey, sold Mr Ward the policy while trading through a partnership with his wife called Ariston Insurance But Ariston ceased trading in 2002. Having checked the Financial Services Authority (FSA) website and found that Ariston had closed down, Mr Ward concluded that he should be entitled to money from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) – the industry-funded body that meets the debts of IFAs and many other financial services businesses that become insolvent.The problem is that Ariston did not become insolvent – it simply ceased trading. Graham Ward thinks he has a clear case of endowment mis-selling and the facts seem to support him. But Mr Ward, a retired aircraft worker living in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, has hit a problem that seems insuperable – the firm that sold him the product has vanished.

Ryton Arms, at , is offering a British Sten MK2 SMG, in nice condition with a sling for £175 or a WW2 German K-98 Mauser Rifle with Bayonet lug for £210.. Among these is an American WW2 flying helmet selling for £58 and a French WW2 helmet for £65.* Regimentals ( ) has advertised a British paratrooper’s helmet, dated 1944 with webbing strap, for £425. It is also offering a 1944 combat helmet, known as the turtle helmet, for £120.Among their selection of French memorabilia, Regimentals is offering a French WW2 dispatch rider’s helmet, painted in the WW2 French brown with an RF grenade badge to face for £65.Among American items, you can find a WW2 paratrooper’s helmet in excellent condition, complete with swivel strap, selling for £725 or a US Marine Corps helmet for £325.* You can also buy deactivated weapons. Battlefield Relics is selling a WW2 German flying helmet (winter type) complete with throat mike and wiring loom, in very good condition for £225 or a WW2 German flag of medium size, for £98. Relics also stocks headgear of the Allied forces. I have got some escape maps of the area of the D-Day landings and maps of the Caen area that were probably used in 1944″.However, John has found that prices have risen in his hobby as interest in the Second World War and in the SAS has increased. “Items from the special forces are horribly expensive,” he explains “Rare commando daggers are changing hands for about £1,000.

I have a about 150 knives in my collection plus the other items and I daren’t sit down and think how much they’re all worth”.* For those with plenty of storage space, vehicles from the Second World War may appeal. * Among the most coveted large-scale items from WW2 are Sherman tanks and duplex-drive amphibian tanks, left. A Sherman tank is estimated to start selling from £50,000 depending on condition; however these are rare and difficult to find.* Many specialists in wartime memorabilia will sell German memorabilia. A Marmin Herrington armoured car is being sold by RR Services for £6,000, or Willys and Ford Jeeps are selling from £7,000. So I now have a wide collection, particularly of what are called “evade and escape” items, including concealed compasses and knives, silk and tissue maps, the pouches that carried these kits, saws and anything else that might have been used by these units.