Gordon Craig

I am seeking information on the Philippine Defence medal as issued to American forces when it was originally authorized in 1945. What did the attachment on the back of the ribbon look like? Did it come in a box or a paper envelope? Any information on the medal, as originally issued, would be appreciated. Regards, Gordon

Peron, 5th M is 5th Mounted Rifles. S.A.S.E is South African Service Engineers, Ref - https://stampssa.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/SA-Mil-Abbreviations.pdf Regards, Gordon

Phillip S, Sorry that I missed your post in 2022. I can not answer either question from memory so I will not try. All of my Hungarian reference books are still in storage. Cimbineus wrote my reference book and he could certainly answer your question should he log on again. Regards, Gordon

Phillip S, Very nice set of badges. I can not say much about this set as all of my reference books are in storage since we moved into a condo. It's too bad that the first badge posted doesn't show what the back looked like. There is another type of case with the position of the large and small badges reversed. The back of these badges is the same as the one that you posted. Regards, Gordon

Displayed are four for pistol shooting competition documents in which a chap named Seiger to part. Some are for team shooting and some for single competition. They date from the 70s and the 80s. Regards, Gordon

Try the Anglo Boer War site https://www.angloboerwar.com/other-information/91-research-and-family-history/1851-qsa-medal-roll-index Regards, Gordon

Glad that I could add something to you on Hungarian medals. Regards, Gordon

The Order of Merit for Mothers comes in two classes. Silver and gold with gold the highest. The Medal of Merit comes in four classes. Bronze, Silver, silver and gold, and Gold with gold the highest. In the reference I have on hand for these awards the criteria for the awarding is not clear so if anyone has that criteria please add it to this thread. Here is my translation of the Hungarian text in my reference book; A star with 10 rays, in the center of which is the figure of a women with an infant held in her left arm and an unfurled flag in her right hand. Next to her is a little boy with his left hand on the flagpole with a small girl next to him. At the bottom is the 1949 State Coat of Arms. The State Coat of arms is enameled on the Order and is not enameled on the Medal. Six sides are smooth.(?) Material: gold-plated stamped. Size: 43 mm. They were worn on a red-white-grey-red, even striped ribbon. The Order of Merit and Medal of Merit were awarded from 1951 until 1957. It could be given to mothers who brought six or more children into the world and raised them. I-II for the Order of Merit, I-IV for the Medal of Merit. He had a degree.(?)The Order of Merit I degree could be awarded to a mother who raised a child of II or more. Distinguished degrees awarded to 35,000 mothers between 1951-57. Regards, Gordon

Freejack, I collected Third Reich artifacts for a number of years and then quit. There are two things that you need to accept if you buy German artifacts from this era. At some point you will buy something you feel is legit only to find out later that it is a fake. Also, as you have already noted, some collectors will tell you an article is real and some will tell you it is fake. Who do you believe? And is the person giving you their opinion of your pictured item knowledgeable or not? I now collect post war German artifacts. Mostly police and ODMs from many different countries. No matter what you collect there is always the danger of copies made to deceive the collector. Third Reich era prices are so high that they attract people to make fakes. It is too much of a mine field for many collectors. Regards, Gordon

Freejack, There is a sub forum on the Waffen Awards Forum (WAF) that I would suggest you post your cross on. The collectors who post there specialize in the area you are seeking answers on. https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/-1957-medals-orders-and-decorations Regards, Gordon

Interesting review of the Order. I'd like to add some pages from a book, published by the Republic of Argentina in 1968, on the regulations from 1957 and 1958. The pictures are glossy prints pasted onto the pages of the book and suffer from clarity but as an official book it is a useful document. I acquired it from a rare book seller in South Africa several years ago. Regards, Gordon

Tony, Thanks for adding to the thread. I was wondering if it would be possible to judge WWI and WWII badges like this by makers mark and your badge certainly lends credence to that theory. Regards, Gordon

Farkas, While I'm willing to accept these badges existed in WWII I feel that they probably had a long history. https://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/651255/Women-sewing-circles-helped-Britain-win-WW2-war-UK Possibly dating from WWI or even earlier. There were many Women's Sewing Circles in Canada that came into being in 1914. I am sure the same thing happened in the UK. And not just for the RN. Here is an example of one of the Canadian groups founded in WWI to knit for the troops. Primarily for a specific and many of the wives became members of the sewing circle. http://rhymeswithfyfe.blogspot.com/2013/06/westmount-soldiers-wives-league.html I have a badge to this organization but unfortunately none on file that I can post now. Do the search continues for more background on these badges. Regards, Gordon Thomas Fattorini Ltd What I have posted below does not guarantee that theses badges were produced during WWI but an interesting fact about a factory that did produce Home Front badges during WWI. Regards, Gordon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Thomas Fattorini Ltd is a manufacturing jeweller and designer-maker of awards, trophies, ceremonial swords, civic insignia, medals and name badges. The company is located on three sites in Manchester, Birmingham and London with their head office in Skipton, North Yorkshire. History[edit] The company was founded in 1827 by Antonio Fattorini an Italian speaking immigrant who was born in 1797, from Bellagio near Como in the north of Italy and who settled in Yorkshire where he began to trade in jewellery, watches and barometers.[1][2] He was one of many Italian immigrants who came to in England between 1790s and 1851 at the time when the Napoleonic wars left northern Italy with a destroyed agriculture and much hardship. The regional origins of most of the Italian immigrants were the valleys around Como, and Lucca with the people from Como being skilled artisans, making barometers and other precision instruments.[3] The first record of him trading was at Upton Yard off Briggate, Leeds 1826.[4] The retail outlets that he established were consolidated in the first generation into three enterprises: Thomas Fattorini in Skipton established in 1827 with the assistance of his brother-in-law Baldisaro Porri who was also a barometer maker and merchant in Skipton, Fattorini and Sons in Bradford in 1829, and Antonio Fattorini in Harrogate in 1831.[5] During the First World War the company manufactured badges for the armed forces, including the Royal Flying Corps (R.F.C) badge,[6] and Home Front badges for civilians.[7] Thomas Fattorini Ltd registered its punch at various Assay offices: Birmingham (1918),[8] Edinburgh (date?), London (date?) and Chester (1898). The British Hallmarking Council chose a new commemorative mark to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022 which was designed by Thomas Fattorini. It depicts an Orb, and reflects the traditional fineness mark for platinum.[9][10]

Farcas, Thanks for the link to Sally Bosley's site. So far I've restricted myself to Canadian badges to women's groups (and yes men knit-my brother knit his own socks while he served in Europe in WWII) and I would have bought the Newfoundland badge if it were still available. I might by it yet but there are so many things I want to buy right now!!!!! Regards, Gordon

Farkas, Thanks for finding this article with the explanation of what the requirements were for awarding the badge and the time frame (1943). Always great to see new badges I need to look for! Regards, Gordon

Andy, Thanks for posting pictures of your collection. Regards, Gordon

Gentlemen, It's been years since I posted on this thread and I could not add much then. I can now as I finally have a Kappenabzeichen. But first, here is a link to another thread on this forum that has focused on books written on Kappenabzeichen. These are all new to me and might be of interest to others as well. https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/austro-hungarian-forum/austrohungarian-kappen-armeeabzeichen-645909/ I mentioned a book earlier in this thread that I bought shortly afterwards and here is a picture of the cover. Written in Italian but with German translations in the back of the book. Now my Kappenabzeichen. It is from the Isonzo front and is marked ISONZE-ARMEE 1915. There are two sizes to this badge. Mine is of the large type measuring 29 x 43 mm. The smaller one measures 20 x 30 mm. The markings on the back of the badge are for maker G. Hermann Wein III Hauprstr. 31. There is also a ring with the same badge on it. All three of these artifacts appear in the book I have listed here. The ring pictured sold at auction in 2012 for 300 Euros. The text on the rings auction is printed below. Haupteigenschaften Kategorie : Antikschmuck > Schmuck & Accessoires > Ringe > Silber Identifizierungsnummer: 55354 Schätzwert/Estimation: 300 EUR Weitere Informationen Jahr 1915 Er hat einen Innen Durchmesser von 19,4 mm Er ist 8,6 Gramm schwer Er ist an der breitesten Stelle 12 mm breit und hat eine Gesamthöhe von 22,5 mm He has an inner diameter of 19.4 mm Ring Size 61 He is 8.6 grams He is at the widest point, 12 mm wide and has a total height of 22.5 mm

Thanks Graham. In retrospect I should have started a new thread with this request. I posted it here as it is being sold as a WWII Wound Badge. Regards, Gordon

Can anyone identify this badge for me please. Regards, Gordon

Since this is a German wedding you might be better off to post it on one of the German forums. Since the man stands on the brides side who was being married could help. He looks a little old to be the brides father. Possibly grandfather? Nice foto. Regards, Gordon

The Luftwaffe soldier appears to be wearing the Luftwaffe Fliegerbluse type tunic. The buttons are not visible on this type of tunic. There were two types of Fliegerbluse. Early or late but from this photo it is not possible to tell which one he is wearing. The other two soldiers are wearing Heer tunics but again it is not possible to tell with any certainty what type they are. The photo could be from late in the war as the two members of the Heer are wearing their collars open. Or that could be just because they are home. Regards, Gordon

Good morning, What you have here is often referred to, in English, as a Hungarian Officers Combat Badge. You can find good examples of this badge on emedals at https://www.emedals.com/europe/hungary/badges . With the attachment prongs missing it is hard to give a price for this badge. The front is ok but has some enamel damage. Regards, Gordon

Farkas, It is common practice to have each row covered by one strip of plastic. Regards, Gordon

Michael, It took a long time to issue green uniforms to the air force. I was posted to 601 Telecommunications Squadron in Metz France when integration took place. I was back in Canada before the green uniforms were issued. It was at least two years after integration before we were issued work dress and some time after that before we received our dress uniforms. Regards, Gordon

Simon68, There is a sub forum on the GMIC dedicated to the research of Victory Medals. I would suggest that you post your question on that sub forum. Regards, Gordon