Tony Farrell

It appears you've had considerably more success than I had with the island's authorities.

Alas not yet.

There you go.

They're unofficial but are worn in RNLI rig. Unlike the RHS/Stanhope medals (which are recognised bravery awards), they would not be worn in 'military' uniform. Other than maybe the SCC, I couldn't envisage a scenario where a long serving lifeboatman would be wearing a uniform.

Regarding the recognition of long service (good conduct was always a given for officers, hence why no award) for commissioned ranks in the REGULAR (ie. full time) branches of the armed forces, this did not occur until 2016, when the respective service medals were extended - along with minor amendments to the requirement criteria. Officers in the Volunteer Force of the United Kingdom were granted decorations for 20 years' service in 1892 - with the Volunteer Decoration being extended to the Colonial Auxiliary Forces of India and elsewhere two years later. The regular forces medals are quite straightforward. The numerous issues to the volunteer, auxiliary, militia and reserve formations less so. It's a complex subject... and that's before we even include the naval side of things.

It's a CSI and a CIE most likely, i.e. the lowest grades within the orders and the most numerous, though in the case of the former (Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India) 170 companions could hardly be described as numerous.

A nice find. For a KAR collector that's quite a rarity.

I'd say they were either East African Rifles or Uganda Rifles, i.e. pre-KAR. They appear to be wearing a Gurkha-style rifles uniform with Kilmarnock caps that may have been adopted by a contingent visiting the UK for the coronation of Edward VII, as the local tropical drill uniform would've been unsuitable for the UK climate. I can't quite make out the medal ribbons, but they look jubilee-ish, so it could even be a visit for the 1897 jubilee. Nothing concrete on this, just gut. It looks like it was taken in the UK.

The MC was not originally conceived as a fighting gallantry decoration. Its tenure as a 'distinguished and meritorious service' award was short-lived. By 1916 its status had been redefined as a combat award - quite possibly due to the input of the (then) Prince of Wales, who felt he'd not earned his MC (though it fell within the original remit). The same could be said of early DCMs, many of which were well below the 'VC near miss' par the medal since became.

Thanks for posting that Emmanuel. I have only ever seen one for sale (on ebay) several years ago. The sale was closing whilst I was on a train leaving London. My sporadic phone signal - courtesy of numerous tunnels - ensured I did not secure it. I still have nightmares.

I would be very interested to learn if any members have an example of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in their collection. They are very similar in appearance to the Solomon Islands MSM.

I'd say 1887/97, 1902 and an Afghanistan worn in the (then) correct position - with coronation and jubilees to the fore. The campaign medal could be a NW Canada, but the Afghanistan issue is more likely. The ribbon tone is not suggestive of a Canada GS, and the lack of Khedive's Star pretty much rules out an Egypt. So... ?

They're most likely stores or manufacturer's batch contract numbers - the Victorian equivalent of NSNs or 22Cs - and not individual service numbers. It appears to be an 1887 dated tunic of the 18th Hussars pattern.

It's known as a forage cap - or camp hat, tent cap etc. Essentially a peakless soft bonnet worn in undress uniform as opposed to shakos or helmets. Typically worn around camp for training, it was also worn on campaign in lieu of standard regimental head dress - particularly if such had been destroyed or lost. They lasted into the late Victorian era before being supplanted by Kilmarnocks, glengarries, Atholls and Balmorals, but one could say they survived beyond that as Tams and the GS caps of WW2 - which are not that much removed from caubeens and berets.

It was simply the default paint finish. Bright colours on vehicles were generally not fashionable in the '50s and '60s (in the UK at least), which might be why white became the default police vehicle livery from the late '60s, as they needed to be more visible due to the increase in traffic and motorways. The high-vis stripes were a '70s innovation to make them stand out even more as tastes changed - the high-vis aspect migrating over to ambulances, which were also corporately finished in whites, maroons and creams. Black was retained for some time on police vans, however, as it made them less conspicuous for scenarios that required their usage. Buses? Deregulation sounded the death knell for classy corporation liveries and shepherded in the era of gaudy, decal-encrusted rubbish we still have today.

I am attempting to establish a definitive timeline for the SAS Polisie - a stumbling point being the changeover of title from SA Railways (plural?) & Harbour Police to SA Railway Police - particularly as to why the change became necessary. I would also like to pinpoint a date for the changeover from the first type Faithful Service (LS) medal to the second - though I suspect it was 1951. As such, if any members have examples of either type in their collections then I'd appreciate any feedback on their award dates, as the medals 'should' be dated. This concerns the pre-'65 medals only.

Double issues of the same medal are not unheard of, whether they be from two differing issuing authorities, or unit admin office submissions. It's not even a double issue technically, as the St John's issue of the medal had a different reverse from that of the Met, though it was ostensibly the 'same' medal. I wouldn't think too hard on this.

He was most probably a member of the St Johns Ambulance as well as being a copper and (of consequence) received a double issue of the medal - albeit with two differing reverses.

Hi Emmanuel. You did very well to hammer that MPM (I was an underbidder). It is most certainly a rare piece. As you say, there is scant information relating to it and I have found no mention of it in the appropriate records. I can confirm, however, that (at least) 245 Police LS medals were awarded in the period between 1974-77 - with 300 having been initially manufactured. How many were made and awarded after this date I cannot say, but I have the rolls for police, fire and prisons awards up until '77.

The Black Majority Rule issue aside, an article by Brian Taylor in the OMRS MoH supplement of 1982 states that the Commonwealth honours and awards effectively ceased* upon UDI and a committee was soon established to create a replacement system: the Honours & Awards Act of 1969 (No.50/69) being the fruit of their labours. A Government Notice (893A/69) published in the Rhodesia Government Gazette on 10th November 1969 established the creation of the Rhodesian GSM - with further awards being authorised a year later in November 1970 by a series of notices (1093-1113/70). *ISTR a member of the Rhodesian Army winning a Queen's Medal at Bisley during the post UDI and pre-republic era (65-70), and also one or two RRAF LS&GCs being awarded, hence my query. I'm not sure how Rhodesian awards could thus have been awarded from 'at least 1967' when the H&A committee was still deliberating, with their conclusions being some two years distant.

There are three distinct Northern Ireland provincial issues: Ulster Special Constabulary Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve Police Reserve

I doubt we'll have 'police' in thirty years' time, rather Private Law Enforcement Contractors. The upper echelons have made it quite clear that they don't want 'careerists'. The 'job truly is ****ed' as my ex-Met mate would say.

Every day a school day. Ta. ☺️

Could you expand on what the HAC police detatchment is? Are they TA who are also specials?