Glenn R

Surprising there are few about. Same award criteria for all officers. Maybe it's possible that more female officers leave before the award length of service is reached. Don't have any statistics to offer on that one. Glenn.

Mr Fischer, thanks for sharing your cross with us. I'm sorry that it appears to be a copy. Unfortunately copies theses days, if you've not seen the specific example before can be quite convincing. When I was first collecting crosses as a teenager, they were generally very obvious. Poor metals, no details etc. They are sadly much more convincing these days. In this case, the fake has been identified and discussed but there are new fakes appearing all the time so it's only with the knowledge of identified genuine crosses that you can detect that something is worth avoiding. It is without doubt a minefield. I've done exactly what you've done as I sure most of us here have at some point so please don't be discouraged. This forum is a great way to learn and to obtain genuine pieces. There are also books in print now that can help identify crosses. I hope this experience hasn't put you off contributing here, you're in good company. If any long term collector can claim that they've never bought a dud they're with not telling the truth or are unaware that they've got a few in their collection. I bought three crosses from a dodgy source back in the early 2000's and was distraught when I realised by posting them on line. Good luck with the next one! Glenn.

I always enjoyed my correspondence with Mervyn. A sad loss and a genuine bloke.

Thanks for this. Some really amusing cartoons and artwork. Well worth taking a look at..

"The prevalence of intemperance in women". You can almost see the beak's face like some Spike Milligan character covered in dust! Don't suppose for one moment he considered that the wives of serving soldiers were under any sort of stress and needed to get a bit drunk to let off steam. Love these kind of old news stories.

And I'm by no means trying to say I'm an expert here. I just love engraved pieces. If it doesn't feel right in any way I'll pass on it. In doing so I've probably missed a few gems but hey ho.

I know that there are many good hand engravers out there who could replicate with some skill the style of engraving that we see in genuine period pieces. The potential to turn a far higher profit by faking something is never ignored entirely. Different topic I know but look on certain auction sites this year since the interest in WW1 and the centenary has widened the market to inexperienced collectors. You'd think that all the Germans did was shoot british soldiers in the wallet. Never seen so many 1914 pennies with a bullet lodged in them. I know it's a far cry from a well engraved EK fake but the principle for fakers is the same. Money from something made more desirable than it originally was. I got burned once many years ago with a piece that was very well hand engraved in a period style. I took quite a leap of faith thinking I'd found something of a golden nugget and ignored my gut feeling. Turned out it was a fake engraving. Typically it was a really attractive unit and prominent historic event. I just ignored my gut as I've said. For me it is a piece by piece decision. So many things to take into consideration and In my experience the quality and style of the engraving is only a small part of that process.

I believe the pictures are largely in German..... Sorry, I mean OF Germans.

The English one. Only had a quick look through so far though. Is that a reference to the quality of translation Chris?

Loos in September will be a massive interest for me. The North Staffordshires, many from Stoke on Trent lost heavily there.

Couldn't wait. Got my copy today. Thanks for the recommendation Chris. On initial flick through it looks superb. I do need a wheelbarrow to lift it though!

I remember this one. Nice cross.

Thanks Chris. That's recommendation enough for me. Just waiting for the post Xmas pay day then I shall be investing. This is the kind of information for me that attracts me far more than technical specs. Although admittedly that can be very useful and interesting.

That's a lovely piece Brian. I'm afraid I can shed no further knowledge on the location etc but I totally agree that the obscurity of the subject is one highly unlikely to be faked. Aside from that, my experience and interest in engraving leaves me in no doubt at all. Lovely to see such a rare thing as this. Most genuine WW2 engravings I've seen tend to be little more than hand scratched "field" engravings. I'm quite envious! Glenn.