Gordon Craig

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am hunting for information on the subject badge. Primarily time frame when it was used and is it a cap badge or? Regards, Gordon

Ladies and Gentlemen. This thread concerns the prize of my Russian/East German flight helmets. Since East Germany flew Russian aircraft I have collected several different types of Russian helmets that East German pilots would have worn. This presentation piece, given to a member of the East German Central Committee, has an inscription on it plus badges from the units presenting the helmet. An English translation of the Russian presentation script reads; To Comrade Werner Felfe https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Felfe Member of the Central Committee of * SEPG From the airmen of the Guards Red Banner Minsk Division. * S E P G = The United Socialist Party of Germany. You will recognize the two emblems on the side of the helmet. Regards, Gordon

Bernd D, Nice medal to a man who helped save the day at Waterloo. I'd be interested in seeing the naming on this medal if wish to post it. Regards, Gordon

Mickey, Not a problem with the name. It happens from time to time. According to the Rhodesian Services Association Low's pay records in 1980 show that he was serving with the Air Supply Platoon (Mashonaland). Thanks again with your help in gaining more knowledge on Rhodesian medals. Regards, Gordon

mickey, Thanks for informative response. I though that the T might stand for Territorial so thanks for confirming that. I found Hugh's email address on line and send an email to him. What can you tell me about the markings on this pair of medals. Regards, Gordon

Fellow medal collectors, I am seeking some information on the naming on the Rhodesian GSM. Regulations call for; serial number, rank and name. According to regulations, the Rhodesian GSM was only to be awarded to white soldiers, police etc. and the Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to coloured servicemen under the same requirements for the award. There seems to be a variety of serial numbers used which confuses me. The Rhodesian GSM in my collection has the serial number 730298. The one on the WIKI article on the Rhodesian GSM is pictured below with a serial number much different than the one in my collection. The ones I've seen on police medals are the same as the one that I have. Numerals without any characters in front of or after the numbers. Can anyone assist me in my search for answers? Another question. Since there seems to be more than one way to issue a number, is it possible identify what unit original owner of the medals served in? For example Rhodesian Light Infantry, Rhodesian SAS, Rhodesian Rifles, INTAF etc. Regards, Gordon The medal in wear by the Rhodesian SAS.

Paul, Right you are. The Azad Kashmir Independence Medal was instituted in 1948 to commemorate Azad Kashmir's Independence. It is made of bronze is 35mm in diametre and weighs 30 grams. Reference - MEDALS CATALOGUE OF PAKISTAN BY Yahya Qureshi and Rafiq Kasbati, page 41. The area is currently in Pakistan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azad_Kashmir#:~:text=Azad Kashmir Day is celebrated,government was created in 1947. Regards, Gordon

No One, Interesting question. The Pakistan General Service Medal with a bar for Kashmir 1948 was the campaign medal but I was not aware there was a commemorative medal as well. Time for some more research. Regards, Gordon

Farcas, Thanks for your continued interest in my quest. However, I do not believe that the button you posted is connected to the CPF Association of the Boer war. If it was it would say so. It is obviously associated with Col. Labelle of the Carabiniers Mont-Royal (CMR). My reference material lists, for the Patriotic Fund Association of 1900, officers as Col. D. T. Irwin, C.M.G. as the Secretary and J. M. Courtney C.M.G., I.S.O the treasurer. The CPF Association stayed in operation until August 14. Its remaining funds were transferred for use by the Canadian Patriotic Fund of 1914. I have no reference associating Col. Labelle with the CPF Association. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL AE LABELLE 1897-1902 1907-1912 On April 10, 1897, the Carabiniers Mont-Royal once again changed commanders. Succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel Prévost, Major Alfred ED Labelle was thereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Born in Montreal on August 23, 1886, Labelle was the son of a Montreal grain inspector. He entered the regiment as a private in 1882, a veteran of the North-West Campaign, he was promoted lieutenant in 1886, captain in 1887, major in 1890 before assuming command of the Carabiniers Mont-Royal fifteen years after his enlistment. A model officer, the regiment under his command achieved a high degree of efficiency. Barely two months after his promotion, Labelle, accompanied by Captain JE Peltier and Major Zépherin Hébert as well as Sergeants Levasseur and Lafleur, Corporal Bourassa and Private Barré, went to London as a member of the Canadian delegation to the ceremonies of the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne of England. On April 19, 1902, Lieutenant-Colonel François Samuel Mackay replaced Lieutenant-Colonel Labelle at the head of the Regiment. However, Labelle was to take over the reins of the Regiment in 1907 and assume command until 1912, following a petition from the officers of the Regiment demanding his return to command of the unit. At the beginning of the 20th century, Lieutenant-Colonel Labelle, who as president in civilian life of the St. Lawrence Flour Mills had powerful connections in all sectors of Montreal society and more particularly in the business world, had convinced the great French-Canadian financier Rodolphe Forget to accept, in 1907, to be the first Lieutenant-Colonel in the history of the Regiment. Regards, Gordon

Rowland, Searches for this type of information are usually done through individuals who specialize, and get paid for, the research they do. I recommend that you contact Dewald Nel at dewald@nelsantiques.co.za Regards, Gordon

Farcas, You are correct. T. P. Tansey was not a jeweler. The company made "Banners, Badges, Buttons, Pins, and "ephemera" as the WorthPoint article your posts mentions. Here is the poster that I referred to yesterday. I was unable to save a picture of it so I printed and scanner the advertisement. Regards, Gordon

Farcas, I have the book that this quote came from. Unfortunately, the book only concentrates on the overall operation of patriotic funds in Canada and on individual provinces from the period 1914-1919. It says nothing at all about badges unfortunately. Regards, Gordon

Farcas, Interesting observations. In your earlier post you said and I quote below; Would you be able to post that particular page here? It has been suggested that this badge dates to the Boer War but I have not reference indicating that CPF badges were made in that period. The earliest reference that I can find for T. P. Tansey is a poster dated 1904. With that date the firm could have existed during the Boer War. http://www.925-1000.com/td/f/Canada/Tansey-1904.jpg The CPF was established with the funds, properties, etc of the Canadian Patriotic Fund Association (established in 1901) and was essentially regional for some time after the CPF act was passed in August of 1914. It eventually became more centrally controlled. Thanks again for your interest. Your posts have been helpful. Regards, Gordon

Farkas, Thanks for taking the time to help in my research. I haven't looked at he British Badge Forum so perhaps I'll do that now. Regards, Gordon

ksg, Your welcome. Glad that I could help. Real airship artifacts are very hard to find. Great pictures of the crash. Regards, Gordon

ksg, Yes it is. Great artifact to have. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30089210 http://aircraftinvestigation.info/airplanes/images/Zeppelin%20LZ76%20L%2033/image6.png Also, http://aircraftinvestigation.info/airplanes/Zeppelin LZ76 L 33.html Regards, Gordon

Phil L. They would have performed the normal Forestry Officer tasks depending on their rank. Having uniforms doe not mean that they had different duties from a civilian forestry officer. They wore uniforms because they looked after forests on military land although they were not in the military. The same practice had been followed in the past particularly in the Third Reich era. They probably had the additional tasks in assisting in forested areas where live firing took place. The recovery of rounds that had not detonated etc. Regards, Gordon

I come seeking some information about the pictured Canadian Patriotic Fund badge. This badge is in my collection along with some well know round Canadian Patriotic Fund badges. The crest beneath the maples leaves appears to be the same as the one on the cover of the book "THE CANADIAN PATRIOTIC FUND - A RECORD OF ITS ACTIVITIES FROM 1914 TO 1919" by Phillip H. Morris. Any assistance in that can be provided would be very much appreciated. The maker is Tansey of Montreal. Regards, Gordon

No One, Thanks for posting these Ethiopian items. We don't see many posts from Ethiopia. Here is a link to another thread on the GMIC discussing Ethiopian badges. https://gmic.co.uk/topic/16518-ethiopian-militaria/ Regards, Gordon

No One, Theses medals you posted should simply be considered miniatures. Some appear to have been ordered by individuals others just mass produced like any other commodity. I have both of these types in my possession. Some with the hope of attributing them to an individuals, other since they just ended up in my possession by accident. Collecting miniatures is not my main collecting area. There are collectors who collect nothing but miniature medals and they will probably have their own opinion as to how one should refer to them. I replied to your thread for a specific reason. The terms repro, fake, copies etc. seem to be used by many interchangeably and I don't think that they should be. Miniatures ordered by a person who was entitled to wear the same full sized orders are just that. Miniatures of his or her authorized entitlement. They should not be referred to as "fakes" or "repros" as they were not made to deceive. Regards, Gordon

What is a "genuine fake miniature". Miniatures are not issued but are a private purchase by an individual so there is no such thing as a "true miniature". The more money one pays the better the miniature looks. Regards, Gordon

There were approximately 1300 of these medals given out, by the Lord Mayor, at the banquet at the Guild Hall on the 28th of December 1914 to children selected by the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association. A number of pensioners from the Royal Military Hospital at Chelsea also received medals. The medals were not named and I am not aware of any role for these medals. Regards, Gordon

USN, According to the Anglo Boer War site your man served with the Fourth Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment and was awarded the QSA and the KSA as shown in your photos. I didn't search the QSA role to see what bars he had been awarded. I'll leave that up to you. Regards, Gordon

This is an interesting medal but Ed only partly explains who can qualify to be awarded it. This is from the Indian Army site. Regards, Gordon Greeting future officers, we all aim for the olive green but don’t know much about the various medals serving personnel wear on the uniform. Today we will discuss one such medal the ‘Uchh Tungta Medal’ also known as the ‘High Altitude Medal’. History The medal was instituted in 1986 to reward service at extremely high altitudes on India’s Himalayan border where blizzards may rage for weeks at a time and temperatures may fall below -50 centigrade. The medal’s official name is ‘Uchh Tungta Medal’. Conditions of Eligibility The conditions of eligibility for the award shall be as follows:- (a) Personnel who have been detailed for duties connected with the defence of the borders and who have completed an aggregate service of 180 days during the first spell of tenure on the active strength of a unit/formation in the areas where high altitude allowance is admissible commencing from 1st April 1984. (b) Aircrew personnel and personnel of ejection crew of Air maintenance units who carried out a minimum of 10 sorties or 40 hours of flying on transport support roles from 1st April 1984. (c) All personnel who died or sustained wounds leading to premature evacuation irrespective of time limit to stay. This will take effect from the date of issue. Eligible categories The categories of personnel eligible for the award shall be:- (a) Commissioned Officers, Juniors Commissioned Officers, Other Ranks, and Non-Combatants (enrolled) of the Regular Army embodied Auxiliary and Reserve Forces or any other lawfully constituted Armed Forces. (b) Nursing Officers and other members of Nursing Services in the Armed Forces. Design of the Medal and Ribbon Medal: The medal shall be circular in shape, made of cupro-nickel, 35 millimeters in diameter, and fitted to a plain horizontal bar. the face with the Ashokan Lions(State Emblem of India) above the national motto ‘सत्यमेव जयते’ (Satyameva Jayate = Truth Alone Prevails) in Hindi characters, circumscribed ‘Ucchh Tunga Medal’ in Hindi and ‘UCCHH TUNGA MEDAL’; the reverse with a representation of the Himalayan Mountains. Ribbon: The medal shall be worn suspended from the left breast by a silk ribbon which shall be 32 mm in width of Azura Blue color background with white diagonal reverse V Shape stripes of 2 millimeters in width with a distance of 5 millimeters between the two stripes. Note Cabinet Minister of Defence Shri Rajnath Singh officiating as chief guest of the 55th Raising Day(Oct 24) celebrations of ITBP announced High Altitude Medals will now also be awarded to personnel of ITBP, BSF, and SSB who serve at posts located above 9,000 feet.

USN, Quite a task you have set for yourself. It should be a nice addition to your collection once it is restored to its former glory. In the photo you provided of this type of tunic he appears to be wearing the two Boer War medals. Reference to these rolls should tell you what campaign bars he is entitled to. Good luck with the tunic and I'd like to see it when it is completed. Regards, Gordon