Paul L Murphy

The box is incorrect and is for the Special Member badge of the Imperial Seaman Relief Association.

Here is an example of the 6th class which I have in my collection. All classes are very rare since post 1945 it was pretty much an instant death sentence if you were found to be the reecipient of one of these in China.

The inscription on the case lid is for Honorary Member so this piece dates from when it was used for that (same badge just a different usage over time).

There might be different levels but this one seems to be a common badge for all.

A couple of other additions to the collection. Here is a closeup of the Kings Crown tunic button that was worn until 1953. This is made by Gaunt with an address in Montreal. This is a large metal version of the cap badge (about three times the size of the normal cap badge) which is designed to be stuck on a presentation piece such as a trophy. I have also purchased a small collection of RCMP related lapel pins, which seems to be a large collecting field in its own right. Rather than mix them in with this thread I will start a new topic on that subject once I have sorted them out.

We overlooked this one when we wrote the book. It is the badge of a Voluntary Nurse in the Japanese Red Cross and was used until WWII (don't have the exact dates).

The writing on the bottom says "Kubota" which is a Japanese surname. No doubt the name of the user of the bowl.

You are correct, it is a copy.

If you look at my book you will see that it is found without any suspender, with the Commemorative suspender and also (rarely) with a suspender bar that has the Geneva Cross between the medal and the pin. It should not be on a ribbon since it was never sanctioned for wear. Regards, Paul

Showa Year 9 awards in both cases. He retired about the time of the Manchurian Incident and I suspect the GK3 was for that and the ST2 was his retirement kick upstairs in the seniority of long service award.

I have a Showa era Sacred Treasure 2nd class and Golden Kite 3rd class documents to a general, both of which are in cases. Hence my earlier comments about perhaps it depends on the class of award. It is also possible that some of the cases are actually private purchased rather than what came with the document. I do not know at this stage.

Yikes ! The value is at least double what I had expected so I am pleased in that regard. I think a large part of the value is the fact that it is such a good collection so my intention is to add to it whenever I can. There are already a few good books about RCMP uniforms so I am not sure if there is room for another one. Also I am conscious that there are gaps in the collection which would need to be filled in order to make it comprehensive. Besides, I need to get that book about Japanese orders and medals finished first ! :cheers:

The medal he is holding up in the picture is his Knight Batchelor badge. Could they have got it wrong and he has in fact been knighted for this (rather than it being a distinct medal) ?

Older documents are normally found in a wooden box or tube. More recent documents come in a cardboard tube. However I have not yet worked out the time period when it switched over, and it may have depended on the class of award as well.

Most Japanese military records were destroyed during WWII, in particular during the fire bombing of Tokyo. Any records that do remain will only be released to the next of kin. Hence, unless you can find your recipient in public information such as published books it is not possible to research the individual.

I got this group of medals recently together with three service and pay books to the recipient. He is C-21151 Private Ovila Boucher of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. Both his parents were French so it is interesting that he ended up in a Canadian Scottish regiment liberating his homeland. The only information I have found on this regiment was in wikipedia and the medal combination appears to be typical of what they would have got. If anyone knows whether or not it is possible to research individual Canadian soldiers from WWII please let me know. Similarly if anyone knows any good sources for information about this unit feel free to tell me.

Apart from some duplicated items, that is everything in the collection. I will continue to modify the posts as and when new information comes to light about some of these items. I am reading through some of the books about the RCMP which I bought with the collection so they may yield some more detailed information. If anyone wants to give me an eductated guess on the value of all this then please do ! I swapped items for it so, while I know what I swapped and its calue, I have only a very general idea of the individual value of these items since many of them are new to me. Needless to say if there are more RCMP items out there that anyone would like to add them please do so. Enjoy :cheers:

And finally, here is the operational belt. The buckle mechanism is missing part of the upper buckle fitment but I will keep my eyes out to pick one up.

Here is the pouch used on the operational belt for carrying a small Maglite torch.

Here is the left handed version of the pre 1996 holster.

Next we move to the type of equipment used on the black Sam Browne operational belt with the service uniform that was introduced in 1990. The post 1996 holster and ammunition case has already been posted. Here is an example of the pre 1996 holster for a revolver. Here is the pre 1996 ammunition case for revolver speed loaders.

And the ammunition case. I have two more examples of this type of belt combination in the collection but will not post photos since it duplicates what you see here.

Next the handcuff case.

Some closer photos of the component parts, first the holster.

This is a nice post 1968 Constable and Sergeant's Sam Browne belt with holster, ammunition case and handcuff case. Note the angle of the holster on the belt since this was worn by a mounted trooper.