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    gavinmedals

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    Everything posted by gavinmedals

    1. Hi David, if I have the description correct it is a known SAAF badge. It is the SAAF Navigator / Air Gunner brevet worn in 1937. I believe they are relatively rare as I have only seen very few in many years. I had one that sold on one of Michael Kaplan's auctions a couple of years ago but cannot recall what it went for. Will see if I still have this info. Cheers Gavin
    2. Hi Mervyn, thanks for the tip. I am certainly aware of the Bronze Cross being the subject of tampering and I will bear the above news in mind as I am looking for a BSA Company medal in a group. Cheers Gavin
    3. Hi Mervyn, I agree that the RGSM is underrated at the moment although as soon as you start talking Selous Scouts or Rhodesian SAS it becomes a bit of a different matter. Also the Rhodesian's were very sparing with their decorations and lately they seem to be doing very well, if they come onto the market e.g. Silver Cross of Rhodesia, Police Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and so on. Apart from those where there is some published information / pre research already done I would suspect that it is nearly impossible to research under current circumstances. (hopefully I am wrong) Cheers Gavin
    4. Hi Chris, good one William, i have not seen this before and am scouring through some references. One thing though is if the abbreviation is in Dutch / Afrikaans then the "C" would be a strange one. Cheers Gavin
    5. Chris, the USA DFC was seen as a foreign award and would thus not be mounted in the front of a South African group according to the order of precedence. As I recall the only "foreign" medal that received precedence over the South African series of awards, even after the Republic was established in 1961, was the Victoria Cross. Cheers Gavin
    6. Hi, while waiting for the medal from the safe some of the following info for further consideration, unfortunately I am not near some of the references that I normally use at hand however there is a photo of Dodson in the book "2 Squadron in Korea" page 27. Brent's book says there were 55 USA DFC's awarded to South Africans for Korea. He completed 75 sorties and served Korea from 4 March 52 to 19 Aug 52. He completed his tour on the F51D Mustang. The Cheetah Squadron formed part of the 18th US Fighter Bomber group. In terms of the order of wear the group is not correctly mounted assuming that he was only serving in the SAAF and the correct order as I have it would be as follows: SA Korea medal, 39-45 Star, Italy Star, War medal, Africa Service medal, USA DFC, USA Air Medal, UN Korea, South Korea Medal. According to my information he also received the Distinguished Unit Citation emblem during this time. I have at times seen the USA medals worn after the UN Korea. Cheers Gavin
    7. Hi Mervyn / Chris, thank you for showing the group, it is a great group. I am fortunate to have a few pilot groups in my collection. For interest sake there is a SA Korea pilot group to Naude with an American DFC and Air Medal on the currect City Coins Auction, Auction 63. I have checked Forsyth's rolls and there is no reference to him having received the British DFC. Cheers Gavin
    8. Yes, they are the American Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. In terms of the former there were about 48 awarded to South Africans for Korea and 178 Air Medals. Regards Gavin
    9. David, Thank you for the detailed story and the statistics on the decorations awarded. Will. thanks for sharing your group as well. A new addition?
    10. In addition the Arctic Medal would most likely have been mounted after his campaign medals?
    11. Hi Chris, that could very well be. In addition I have taken a bit of a closer look and suggest that the second ribbon is perhaps the horizontal ribbon for the DFC, as the stripes are more blue. Cheers Gavin
    12. Hi, thanks for listing these. I received a copy of these from Henk a number of years ago and agree that they are the best references for the ABO medal I have come across. Well worth a read by any one interested in the ABO medal and medals in general for that matter. Cheers Gavin
    13. Hi, agree that it looks like a KSA ribbon on the ribbon bar, however I do not see a QSA ribbon. This seems a bit odd, given that I was always led to believe that the KSA was not awarded without the QSA or do I have it wrong? Cheers Gavin Apologies omitted to mention that it is great tunic.
    14. Hi, I would suggest that you try and source the book; "Heroes of the Albert Medal" by Allan Stanistreet. Apparently it gives the full account of each Albert Medal awarded to both men and women of the armed services who did not survive to exchange their medals for the George Cross in 1971. Unfortunately I do not have a copy to help you out however it is available through the Medal News website. Cheers Gavin
    15. Great tunic complete with insignia and medal bars. Are you able to attribute it to an individual?
    16. Great group and really enjoyed all the ephemera that went with it. It just adds to the whole story. Thank you for sharing. Gavin
    17. Hi, I am aware of the following guys you can try is Alec Kaplan and son (Mike Kaplan), 115 DUNOTTAR STREET, SYDENHAM, 2192, JOHANNESBURG, PO BOX 28913, SANDRINGHAM, 2131, R.S.A. TEL: +27 11640 6325 / 485 2195 There is also the War Store which is at the SA National Military History Museum in Johannesburg. Hope this is of help Cheers
    18. Brian, thank you for taking all the time to post and share the stories. Still some reading to do but it is appreciated. I have a SA Police group to a POW, I am waiting for the copies of the research document and will share once I have had a chance to work through the paperwork Cheers Gavin
    19. It is a change however back to the medal, it looks like an Air Force Cross. It was instituted by warrant dated 11 April 1981 following approval by PW Botha, State President of South Africa at the time. Awarded to members of the South African Air Force and other members of the SADF, Auxiliary service or other armed forces attached to the SAAF. It was awarded for "distinguished service in dangerous situations by their exceptional courage, leadership, skill, ingenuity or tenacity in the handling of personnel, weaponry or other equipment." The paratrooper to her right has been awarded the Army Cross, if I am spotting the colour correctly. Cheers Gavin
    20. Chris, you are correct with the order of precedence. The DTD came before the DSO. Great impressive collection of groups. Cheers Gavin
    21. Hi, I have had a quick look in Vol 2 of the "Salute the Sappers" and there are a number of short references to him. An initial glance through the various photos in the book i have not found any depicting him, however a more studious look may deliver results. A brief reference is made to the incident. It occurred in April. On the 12th April Capt Pavitt and Lt van Ryneveld undertook a dangerous recovery of three casualties from a mine field near Ravenna. The casualties were Cpl W Chant and two that went out to try and recover him, both Capt Burton and Sgt Lobban were also fatally wounded. The following day Capt Pavitt became company commander of 11 Field Company and the unti moved to a position North of Alfonsine. At this site they began the construction of a 151m three pierced bridge to extend the so called Route 16 over Saterno. While moving forward to recon the site in dusk and "armed" only with a torch, he captured 12 Germans. His Military Cross was gazetted on 13/12/1945 There is a photo of the "Springbok Bridge" on page 324, if interested let me know and I will give it a shot to scan it in. The bridge was approximately 305 metres long and was considered one of the finest achievements of the SAEC in Italy. Apparently the bridge was constructed in just 8 days working day and night by three companies under the respective command of Mjrs Pavitt, Thompson and Cowin. I will go through a few more references and see if I can find anything else, however hope this is a start. Perhaps someone has a copy of the citation. Regards Gavin
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