Nick

Cheers Paul for info

I believe many of the Medal Index Cards are not online as yet. I think it will require a trip to Kew or pay a researcher to do it for you it usually does not cost that much and saves a lot of hassle (unless you have a lot of research to do, then it is worth the trip).

Yes I believe so.

Sal Nice pictorial report, look forward to the next instalment.

I agree that the second award shown is what I believe to be the later post war version inferior in quality to the war time award.

It is not gone it was moved to the Sword & Daggers forum. It should have left an image but it didn't for some reason.

Many UK Police Forces sent officers to Cyprus for the emergency. Indeed PC Eden Maurice from the Metropolitan Police was awarded the GM for his actions, he was killed on duty in Cyprus.

The QPM for gallantry was last issued in 1977. From about 1953 until 1977 it was only issued posthumously for gallantry. In 1977 mainly due to the fact that the George Medal had been changed to allow for posthumous awards, the QPM for Gallantry was made sadly redundant by those at Central Chancellery. The QPM is still awarded for Distinguished Service.

Bob I agree with you US medals really are pretty nasty in their design and manufacture, but I think this is a sign of the times. British awards whilst in my opinion are still superior in design and manufacture are still by comparison to Victorian awards now cheaply manufactured and not as well finished. It seems craftmanship and quality, probably due to the combination of cost and the availability of cheap alloys, just seems to be on a downward spiral. Very sad for those that receive their well earnt awards. There is simply no comparison to the quality of Imperial designs and manufacturing.

I hate that oversized crown it is UGLY !!! As for the OSM I would not be at all suprised to see a new GSM on the horizon as I don't think the OSM is sustainable in its current form.

Raz Thats a real beauty there especially with its box. Thanks for showing it.

It should not be too hard to find this guy with a little research. KPM Gallantry group to a colonial white officer as John says DNW have sold a few of these recently. Nick

Don Thanks for the informative thread, very interesting and again a good reminder of how well some things are faked. flame

Ralph No 3 (deaths Head) is the 17th/21st Lancers Badge. Now called the Queens Royal Lancers. Not sure if it is a restrike as badges is not my area but it looks pretty good to me. The RNAS is unusual but I am a little suspicious of that one but as I say I am not an expert on badges so don't take my word for anthing.

Rosette ribbon device was to represent a bar on the 1914 star. The bar was awarded to those that had been under fire between 5 August 1914 and midnight on 22/23 November 1914. The oak leaf is for a MID (Mention in Dispatches).

Ralph Do like that last tinnie, pretty scarce and very nice !

I have heard of the Austrian in Bronze but not the others in reverse metals. But have never seen an example.

Cheers Gordon I never realised the Olympic and Faithful Service Crosses came in 57 form.

Some Imperial from ebay a few years ago I will let you decide.

Reverse

I will link this topic both in the Imperial and Third Reich Section as it applies to both. A couple of years ago a few very dangerous looking fake bars were coming out of California. I did get my money back on this bar but it was being sold on ebay along with a few others. I managed to get the photos of the other groups off of ebay at the time, so I can't comment on the originality but I will let you guess the rest. From photos these bars look pretty good. The only thing I was unsure about at the time was the eagle on the RAD award, but I was happy with the rest of the bar. When it arrived it was another matter. Not only is the bar fake ALL the medals bar the 1914-1918 Honour Cross were cast fakes. It was so light it would have blown away in the wind.

Paul That bar looks suspiciously like a set of some very dangerous fake medal bars that were being sold out of California a couple of years back. Not only are the bars fake, but the medals are all fake too. I will post a seperate thread on them. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1070 You did well to steer clear !

There are many examples of fake badges where manufacturers names have been spelt wrong or non existent manufacturers LDO or Lieferant numbers used. Who knows why ? Possibly a mistake or ignorance on the part of the faker or maybe (but unlikely) as a warning that this is not good. You need to look past the manufacturers mark and compare the rest of the detail of the award with a known original, by the maker that this purports to be. I warrant this will clarify things a little more.

Cheers Don It shows nothing escapes the fakers flame

Not so sure on todays RN regulations but there certainly use to be a Ceremonial Warrant Officers Sword and sword belt for RN Chief Petty Officers. I think the sword was plainer with a black handle compared to the officers sword ? I found this link but it does not show CPOs only POs Uniforms: http://www.royal-marines.mod.uk/static/pages/7097.html DevonRex may be able to help as he is mob.