jeffskea

The Medal for Distinguished Labor in Mining and Geology, type 1, var. 2 (vertical pin).

This is a small collection of badges I recently bought, some of them I recognize on this thread already. I tried to translate the words on each so that is all I know about them. From left to right top to bottom: 1. Monument of Mother Albania badge 2. Badge for Distinguished Students 3. Badge for Distinguished Employees 4. Albanian Democratic Front (FDSH) Distinguished Activist Badge 5. Skenderbeu Badge 6. Albanian Flag pin 7. Red Star cap badge Most of the pins are made of very thin, cheaper looking metal. The last one is my 15th Anniversary of the People's Army badge with the Pobeda Factory, Moscow, Russia screwback. It is nicer quality with enamels. Jeff

Here is my new Order of Skanderbeg 2nd Class, and according to Eric Shena's reference book looks like the type 2, var. 3 by PRAWEMA.

Here is the last medal and certificate.

Here is a small documented group I picked up recently, when I bought them I was unaware they were awarded to the same person so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out. The group includes: A Medal for Bravery, type 1, awarded to Sotir Cimo Rapo on 21 Aug 1948, No. 685, the citation is roughly translated: "For service to the homeland border protecting against violations and provocations by fascist 'monarko' Greeks, is distinguished for bravery, loyalty, and determination." Then there is a Medal for Meritorious Service to the People, type 1, var. 2 (vertical pin with 'Per Sherbim Te Mire Popullit' on reverse) also awarded to Sotir Cimo Rapo on 12 Dec 1969, No. 4618 Finally a Medal for the 10th Anniversary of the Army 1953, awarded to Sotir Cimo Rapo on 10 July, 1953, certificate no. 28. The certificate also states that Sotir Rapo was born in Cerven, Fier, Albania in 1921. So he would have been 27 during the Greek Civil War and 48 when he received his Medal for Meritorious Service to the People. He would have been at the right age to serve during WWII but am not aware if he was awarded a Liberation Medal or not. Jeff

Here is the full medal.

Hello, I just recently picked up some nice Albanian awards. Here is a Red Star 1st Class with RPSSH on the bottom of the obverse. I understand that to be the type 2 version, which I understand was awarded after 1976? Jeff

I just noticed on the obverse of the 1st Class Red Star, the bottom has R.P.S.S.H. which in Eric's book says unreported possibly not produced. I will take a better picture of it and post. The red on the stars looks to be enamel.

The Order of Skanderbeg 2nd Class looks like a Type 2, Var. 3 - the pin back doesn't look the same as the 1st or 2nd Var's. The Order of Labour 1st Class is a type 1, Var.3 by PRAWEMA The Orders of the Red Star includes the 1 Class Order, and the 1st and 2nd Classes of the later type. The Badge Commemorating the 15th Anniversary of the People's Army is made by Pobeda Factory in Moscow. The Medal for Bravery was awarded for service in 1948 against the Greeks.

Hello, I am new to this forum and have just recently collected a nice group of Albanian orders and awards. Thanks to the great research work of Eric Schena I have learned much about this interesting country's medals and I understand it is a fairly small market. I got these for a fairly reasonable price I believe and have more on the way I just thought I'd post the whole collection so far. The most interesting I found was a documented group of three which I will post in the appropriate section. I wasn't aware that the three medals with certificates were awarded to the same person until I received them today so was surprised. Anyhow I am intrigued by Albanian awards and look forward to researching them more. Jeff

Hello, Just looking at the first picture of the France and Germany Star - in my opinion I would say that it is not an original - as you noted the crown doesn't look right, the font for the VI is too small and not correct, and the "E's" - the middle dash on the letter should be shorter than the top and bottom dash of the "E". In addition I can't see much pebbling behind the "France and Germany Star" writing which is suspect as well. The suspension ring seems larger than the others and the top of the star which attaches to the ring is too small. It does not look legitimate to me. From what I've learned those are some things to look for. Jeff

sorry for the late reply Mopsi but thank you very much for the info I will email them and see what they can find. Much appreciated. Jeff

Fairly certain should be engraved capitals.

http://www.ebay.ca/i...984.m1438.l2649 I have never seen something like this come up on ebay before, a C.G.M. awarded to PO Walter Thomas William Scott, survivor of the H.M.S. Glowworm sinking after ramming the Admiral Hipper. Quite apprehensive as to it being genuine - the details seem very crisp and from my limited experience found few discrepancies from an original but still seems a bit too good to be true. The one thing suspect to me is the naming - the original sold for auction from DNW for 20,000 GBP in 2003 and the medal was named P.O. W. T. W. Scott, P/J. 113793. This item is named P/J. 113793. Scott. W.T.W. PO. RN. - from what I can find, no other WWII C.G.M. was named quite like this, I saw one with the service number before the name, but the initials always came before the surname and the PO and RN were P.O. and R.N.. Does anyone have any more input on the details of this medal and it's naming - it is being sold in the U.S. and while convincing my gut tells me it's not quite right - something this unique and prestigious would probably be a good candidate to be forged - be interested to hear others input. Thanks. Jeff

I just picked up this very nice chromolithograph in excellent condition showing 33 beautiful pictures of the German State Orders. I'm not too familiar with German Imperial awards but this seems to be a very complete display of them. The Orders are extremely detailed with rich silver/gold/coloured paint. I will post a better picture once I have my camera. It has 'Bibliographisches Institut in Leipzig' on the bottom centre of the paper with 'Meyers Konx-Lexikon, 5. Aufl' on the bottom left of the paper and 'Zum Artikel >> Orden <<' bottom right. Jeff

Hi Peter I agree as wellthe ED and VD are attractive medals for sure and stood out much more than a plain medal and you are probably very right he simply wanted one and had his twenty years in to justify it to himself! Still can't help but notice his miniature set included an EVII CFALSM so I suspect he was still up to something with the EVII VD anyhow in the end the man served a very long time for his country spanning pre-WW1 to at least WWII maybe even longer, so it just makes for an interesting story, fun to speculate and wonder of the man's personality. Thanks Mervyn for posting this interesting medal and the man connected to it in some way.

Hi Mervyn, for the father his name is Eli George Cosh born in Scotland 1866 died 1937. He was a Tailor in Ganaoque, Ontario. no mention of any Militia service but there is a wealth of info on ancestry for both father and son.

Just brainstorming some more but regarding Maj Cosh not quite qualifying for his Efficiency Decoration yet in 1933 I suspect that as a senior militia officer in the early '30s upon hearing about the new ED awarded to officers for long service and seeing that enlisted service counted half, etc, he assumed all his previously earned service on his CAFLSM re-qualified - it actually adds to a further 20 yrs if u divide by half add 4 war yrs and his 6 yrs as an officer. Some administrative misunderstanding but I'm sure it happened back then.

In addition the Ottawa Highlanders are the predecessors of the current Canadian Army Reserve unit called the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. They were named the Ottawa Highlanders from 1922-33 specifically so it sounds like the right man for sure. That unit has held many different names since its foundation around 1856 but I suppose you can rule out the decoration belonging to his father as the Ottawa Highlanders were not around during the reign of Edward VII under that name. Jeff

Hello Mervyn this is what I found but it poses a few questions: http://www.dnw.co.uk...so?itemid=67176 Rex Frederick Reginald Cosh born 26 Jan 1894 in Gananogue, Ontario - above is the link from Dix Noonan and Web auctions with his full medals and biography for sale in March 2009 - One issue though he wouldn't have qualified for the E.VII.R VD or TD if he was born in 1894 - he was awarded the Colonial Auxilliary Forces Long Service Medal instead of the Decoration as a Lt in 1927 wth the Ottawa Highlanders and the Efficiency Decoration as a Major in 1933 - his miniature set had a E.VII.R Medal though so kind of an interesting situation. The CAFLSM was awarded to NCOs for 20 years service with war service counting double so if he received it in 1927 then he would have had to join around 1911 at 17 years old if my math is correct. I don't understand the ED being awarded in 1933 as it required 20 yrs service (again war counted double enlisted service counted half) - so it would make more sense that he be awarded it during WWII in which he also served. For Canada, the Volunteer Decoration was awarded between 1894-1901 when it was superseded by the Colonial Auxilliary Forces Officers Decoration awarded til 1930 when the Efficiency Decoration was then established. The Territorial Decoration was awarded from 1908 to 1930 but to Territorial Officers in the UK only - as it was still around in 1930 perhaps there was some misunderstanding and he thought he was entitled to it - it looks similar to the VD above except it had a yellow strip down the middle like its ED successor but no top brooch. Or perhaps he joined before 1911 and wanted to wear a decoration that showed he served under the reign of King Edward VII? Regardless he never wore it with his other medals as it was never included in his mounted set of 10. Maybe it was his father's. The Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is a very interesting award but only Regular force NCOs and men were eligible (From all three services land, sea and air), it being replaced by the appropriate Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medals - in 1932 for the Army - 1925 for the RCN LSGC and 1944 for the RCAF LSGC. A little confusing of a situation but very interesting and intriguing - glad to hear any other theories. Jeff

I've personally only come across two but I don't think they are too uncommon - finding one with the recipients medals is a bit less frequent -being a smaller pin they probably were easily separated from the medals unfortuneately. It would be something to be proud of for sure as not everyone would have received one.

Hello, here is a similar WWI badge - a Canadian Expeditionary Force "For Service at the Front" badge. They have a 5 digit number on the reverse which I find doesn't correspond to the recipient's service number and the warning of a $500.00 fine or 6 months imprisonment for misuse.

Hello, Has anyone seen many stars turned ito brooches? I've heard that many Sudanese and Egyptian soldiers preferred to wear them like this. Jeff

I see thanks for the info, Uwe. Jeff

Hello, I recently picked this medal up, my first Finnish one, and haven't been able to find too much information on it, other than I presume it was awarded to Finns during the Olympics at Helsinki in 1952 - just wondering how a recpient earned this and how the different classes were decided. Any info is always appreciated. Jeff