Bilco

I think you're right Simon - the SLR mag had an angled base - see http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=346901

Bill

It looks rather like the magazine fron the FN SLR, the standard infantry weapon of the British forces in the 1950s to 1970s.

Bill

There's a copy of the 2nd edition of Laslo for sale here  http://www.britishmedalforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=400&t=121135&sid=e0f865406366f7c701154c13517a9d00

Bill

David - the fingers look fine to me ...

This is my main 'tell'.

Bill

Many thanks Jim. And thank you for the info on USNRF and Great Lakes ILL - I wondered what the significance of that was. The medal is staying 'as bought'.

Bill

7 hours ago, 15THPACAV said:

I must say that I do not understand collecting only Victory Medals, as opposed to the recipient's full medal entitlement, be it a BWM & VM pair, a 14-15 trio, or a 14 trio. 

Many fine WWI groups or pairs are still very reasonable in price, and can be found all over the internet, from dealers to auction houses, to Ebay.

Personally, I would be most unhappy with an incomplete pair or group.

 

Have a look at the Victory Medal section of this Forum - http://gmic.co.uk/forum/254-inter-allied-victory-medals-of-the-great-war/

There are lots of single Victory medals on the market - and lots of varieties to find. But some prices are high for the rarer ones - Brazil, Cuba, Siam.

Bill

Hi Claudio,

Congratulations - a nice piece at a very nice price!

Bill

Hi Claudio,

It looks good to me. Did you get it from Mercado Livre?

Bill

Many thanks for your thoughts on this, Tim & Paul. I was coming to the conclusion that swapping a ribbon from another medal was the only way of finding a replacement, but I don't like the idea of messing up a perfectly good, if unattribited, medal! If the ribbon wasn't held in place by the wrap brooch and stitches it might not be so bad, but the US vics almost always have these fixings.

Bill

Hi Gents,

My first medal of 2017! Arrived today ...

... obverse ...

... reverse.

The clasp rope segment count is 26^1/2 3^1/2 26^1/2 3^1/2  ,which appears to make it a Gleim Type III, according to Laslo and Jim Michels books. It has the smooth background and width of 6.3mm, and would have been made by the US Mint.

It makes a nice companion to my edge-engraved example. I'm wondering if I should make an attempt to fit a better piece of ribbon, and reinstate the clasp and brooch in their proper positions - if I can source an original piece of US ribbon. Your thoughts are invited.

Bill

Hi Bence - I'd say it's a good one that has suffered a few knocks over the last 100-odd years.

Bill

Many thanks macchianera72 - it's always nice to hear that I have a good 'un, even better to hear that it's a bit special!

Bill

And I thought that my Brazilian vic, at £2500, was expensive! On eBay this morning was a British vic for £36,526 - mind you, it came with an identity bracelet made from a French silver coin!!

It's now been taken down, after several people asked the seller if he really meant to ask that amount.

Bill

Hi John,

I recommend this thread on the BMF to check the authenticity of your medal  http://www.britishmedalforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=104123

Then this one to check on your man  http://www.britishmedalforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=36464

Bill

Many thanks Herman!

Bill

Many thanks Vincent. It was the different shape of the ball that made me wonder, as well as that coppery tint! There is no stamp on the edge, but also no casting marks or file marks. The medal as a whole looks to be much better quality than the photo in Jim Michels' book.

Bill

Hi Gents,

I'm after your opinions of this medal ....

obverse

reverse

It has a small/narrow ball or very thick wire suspension, the 'Paul Dubois' is present but rather indistinct compared to otherOfficial type 1s I have, and the colour has a rather coppery, slightly shiney tone. The planchet edge is clean and smooth; diameter 36mm, 2mm thick.

So, is it an Official Type 1 with an odd suspension, a well-made copy, or something else?

Bill

Hi Gents,

I'm after your opinions of this medal ....

obverse

reverse

It has a small ball or very thick wire suspension, the 'Paul Dubois' is present but rather indistinct compared to Official type 1s I have, and the colour has a rather coppery, slightly shiney tone. The edge is clean and smooth, diameter 36mm.

So, is it an Official Type 1 with an odd suspension, a well-made copy, or something else?

Bill

Thanks Tony - the age on attestation matches the Passenger List age. The Last Residence in UK address is just 'Cunard White Star, Liverpool'. He's with his wife Daisy, and seems to be permanently resident in England.

I suppose the other answer is that someone had some medal 'bits', and stuck them together to sell on the Bay!

Bill

The photos of the edge of the above medal show it was awarded to R-8840 PTE. G. CROW K.R.R.C. The medal card I found on Ancestry shows the name George Crow, and service in the Sussex Regiment after the K.R.R.C., but at the top of the card it says:

"Not Identical with No 4480 G Crow KRRC on 14 Star Roll". It's odd that the second service number could have been wrongly taken down - 8840 versus 4480 - but I can't find another suitable G Crow on the Medal Cards. The Ancestry Medal Card entry shows both KRRC numbers, as well as the Sussex Regt number.

This G Crow is shown as going to France 21/4/15 and being discharged 29/9/17. Did he emigrate to the US, hence his medal ending up over there?? Or is this just a put-together? The ribbon, brooch, and clasps are genuine US items.

I found in the UK Outward Passenger Lists 1890-1960 on Ancestry a George Crow, dob 1896, departed Southampton for New York 20 May 1936. That dob would have made him 19 in 1915, so a good fit with the Medal Card. So, it's possible to imagine that he saw the US servicemen who had been in France, who had the clasps to show for it and he had none, so he 'self-awarded' some to his Victory medal.

Bill

I wasn't sure which thread to put this in - USA or GB  - on eBay item #332051536282

Is there a story behind this, or just a put-together??

Bill

The equivalent malaise amongst British troops in India was 'Doollaly Tap', from a notoriously unpleasant transit camp at Deolali, 100 miles north east of Mumbai, where troops awaiting return to the UK were held. 'Doolally Tap' was a form of madness brought on by boredom and the conditions, and from it the name 'Doolally' came to be used for any form of eccentricity or insanity - "He's gone Doolally"

Bill

Looks good to me.

Bill

Liverpool Medals currently have a modern copy of this medal in their list ...

The reverse is completely blank - Laslo shows the original was engrailed - with a ring of 95 raised dots around the circumference - with the centre blank.

Liverpool Medals are asking £95 if you fancy a punt!

Bill

Aaargh! If I'd waited a month ......

Bill