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  Venda National Force Awards

  By Megan · Posted 3 minutes ago

  Thank you, Archie.   The first one has the same obverse as described & shown on Wikipedia, but they claim the reverse (which they don't have an image of) bears the arms of the Republic of Venda.   Your second example has the arms of the Republic of Venda on the obverse, and the information/date of independence on the reverse.   I just love medals!!!!
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  1939 EK1 with screw back Opinion needed

  By Farkas · Posted 4 minutes ago

  I read a while back that it’s not just the fakers knowledge that has improved their work but their ability to recreate accurately, not so much reliance on sand casting now. Getting the correct weight is no longer (such) a problem with modern materials/alloys. Also modern techniques can recreate the finer details better than ever.   There are sites now that will recreate uniforms from pictures, hand made in India, it’s getting very difficult to trust your eyes, luckily they haven’t got the linings quite right yet   Myself, not in this case but in some others, I know enough to say ‘no, that’s bad’ but am still seldom confident to say ‘yes, that’s good’.   The only positive (if buying not selling) I guess is that copies/fakes bring down the prices of the genuine pieces. I’ve said on here before, I stopped buying postcards and RPPC because I found a fake amongst my collection, that ended it for me there and then… those modern printers are so good sadly.   100% Thank goodness for the learned Gents on here. 👍   tony 🍻    
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  Unknown belgian medal

  By Jef · Posted 21 minutes ago

  Dear SVAPR, The frontside shows: " Mouvement National Royaliste" (MNR) which is a Belgian WWII resistance group, active in Brussels area and Flanders. It's dutch name was Nationale Koningsgezinde Beweging or NKB. This is a non wearable commemoration medal given by the veteran association. I know the NKB/MNR had at least 7  wearable medals, I never saw this one. Frontside and revers shows also "Brigade De Zuen". This must be a subdivision of the NKB/MNR. I don't find info about that group, sorry. I hope someone else does. Kind regards from Belgium, jef
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  6 NOVEMBER 1900 - BOTHAVILLE / DOORNKRAAL

  By archie777 · Posted 39 minutes ago

  DCM (Edw VII): unnamed  ABO: Artlst D.F. Botes; Africa General Service medal  1902-56, clasp Somaliland 1902-04: 38 Serjt. D.F. Botes. Som. Bur. C.   David Frederick Botes enlisted in the ZAR State Artillery in 1898 (Muster No 657) and was in action at Magersfontein and Paardeberg. At Bothaville he was one of the 28 “blue uniformed” gunners who were taken prisoner. He was sent to Ceylon (PoW No 15073) and held in the Urugasmanhandija Camp where he signed the Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown on 2 July 1902 and returned to the Transvaal. Early in 1903 he volunteered for service in the Somali Burgher Contingent against the “Mad Mullah” in Somaliland. This small mixed force of Boer, Colonial and British Volunteers was commanded by Captain W. Bonham.   The Recommendation for the award of the DCM to three members of the Somali Burgher Corps as, submitted to King Edward VII, was worded as follows: “It is further most humbly submitted to your Majesty that Silver Medals forDistinguished Conduct in the Field be conferred upon the undermentioned soldiers of the Boer Contingent in recognition of their gallant conduct during the operations in Somaliland.   Sergeant D.F. Botes, Corporal S.J. Herbst,  Trooper C.J. Dwyer (sic). War Office July 1903”. These awards were duly gazetted on 7 August 1903. A year later, Captain Bonham’s recommendation report dated 3 May 1903 for the award of the DCM to these three men September 1904 was published in the London Gazette.   He had reported as follows:  “Serjeant Botes has always been the first to volunteer for any hard work or arduous duty; has shown fine soldierly qualities throughout the campaign. All these men displayed coolness and steadiness in action, and performed distinguished service in the affair near Gumburu on 16th April, 1903.” In his covering report Major P.A. Kenna, who commanded all the Mounted Troops of the Somaliland Field Force, endorsed Captain Bonham’s recommendations and went on to recommend Bonham for the award of the D.S.O. The “affair near Gumburu on the 16th April” preceded the disastrous action at Gumburu on 17 April 1903 when a significant British force was surrounded in the thick bush and attacked at close quarters and were virtually annihilated by a far superior force of the Mullah’s mounted riflemen. Interestingly Captain Bonham singled out the names of four other men of his Burgher Corps in the following manner: “All these men have done exceptionally good work throughout the campaign. It is not recommended that they should receive any military reward or decoration, but, if the General Officer Commanding thinks fit, that their names should be submitted to Lord Milner with a recommendation that their services should be rewarded in such manner as may seem good to the Colonial Government, either by assistance in re-settlement or employment in Government service.” In an article by Don Forsyth on the Somali Burgher Corps Botes is noted as “Served previously in Magoto War. Returned from Ceylon & joined SAC”.
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  Collector's query

  By Farkas · Posted 48 minutes ago

  Hi Gents, I’ve not considered either previously and thought I’d have a quick look into them and see what I thought…   Myself, from a purely aesthetic standpoint I definitely prefer the look of both pieces of the Order of St. Michael and George Then, if I am reading things correctly, there is a difference in who gets it and why. It is often the UK Government that decides someone is to be put forward for the Order of the Bath, and therefore award, in my opinion, can be politically driven. In comparison, the Monarch themself decides who is awarded the Order of St. Michael and George and it is far more exclusive a ‘club’ At the monarch's pleasure, though typically awarded for extraordinary non-military service in a foreign country or for services to foreign and Commonwealth affairs Though under King charles iii a politically involved Monarchy is to be the new norm, I would still give more significance to receipt of the Order of St. Michael and George than the Order of the Bath in simple terms.   Me too, or at least knowing the identity of the recipient.   Every way I look at it…👇 this one.   & Its worth noting that, due to this image👇, of an angel standing on a slave (allegedly, being a big no-no… combined with a new ‘woke’ King… it may not be around much longer.   tony 🍻