Glenn R

Are we absolutely sure that's not his actual face?

Good idea Greg. Some clearer pics of the cross may just help identify it.

Hello and welcome to the forum. I don't know the answer to that one. I assumed it was purely a veteran's association slso would be intrigued to know if there was ever any more to it.

Any freikorps experts answer that one?

All the best,

Glenn.

Dwayneski, thanks for sharing your crosses first of all! There is such an infinite variety of 1914 crosses. As Greg says, materials vary greatly from the core to the frames also the dimensions so it really is often very difficult to be definitive. It is a nice uncleaned cross and I like the photo of the three together.

There is a lot of really good EK knowledge here so I hope you will enjoy sharing your crosses and knowledge.

All the best

Well I hope the recommendation is to your liking mate. I am quite sure it will be......but on to more pressing matters!

I love that picture, that is such a good shot of him. I'm really envious of anyone who got to see him live. I was introduced to him by a mate shortly after he died so missed that boat entirely.

It was one of those moments you hear religious types talk about "seeing the light". I had to go out and get everything I could get my hands on. Read everything, watch everything. Just a genius.

Got in tremendous trouble some years ago at home for having his portrait tattooed!

Good to meet a fellow obsessive!

Hello Martin. Well with that interest you'll love this book I assure you. It really is the best study on this subject.

I am a Zappa fan indeed. Pretty obsessively so mate. Good to meet another one. Music is the best after all!

Deptfordboy.....Santa has been kind. I can guarantee your Xmas is going to be spent getting flak for ignoring everyone, let me know what you think.

Hello Robin. They usually are very good value. This one is excellent. Hope you have a great Christmas too.

You'd enjoy this one I'm sure Chris.

I recently got myself a copy of this.......

http://www.naval-military-press.com/great-war-medal-collectors-companion.html

I know £60 sounds a lot but we all know how text books go up in value. It's a relatively limited run and I can't even begin to describe just how good this book is. Extensively researched, full of photos and references. I didn't realise the research that the author has done into fakes alone. This makes it worth the money especially if gallantry awards and rarities are your area.

Anyone else invested?

Glenn.

You're welcome. I will see what else I can look up. These single medals often get overlooked and undervalued but they can tell some amazing stories and each one is a piece of history.

Hello. Just a preliminary search of the Medal Rolls shows the attached. Samuel E Bennett was entitled to the War and Victory medals and served with the Royal Welsh Regiment and the Territorial Reserve. Seems he survived the war too. Can't find any service records but I've not had chance to look properly yet.

Hope this is of interest.

Glenn.

I love Klein and Quenzer crosses especially these examples with the Matt core. I see absolutely no problems with the packet either. Nice little set.

My identification skills on 39 EK2's isn't so good I'm afraid apart form the odd manufacturer. Looks like a good genuine cross to my eye though. Any EK2 men out there help out on this one?

Not to worry, commonly Zimmerman will have the mark 20 on the underside of the pin but there are also unmarked examples like yours. Just adds to the mystery...is it a Godet or a Zimmerman?

Nice cross. Thanks for sharing.

It's either a Godet or a Zimmerman. Most likely the latter. It's 100% original as far as I'm concerned and I'd buy it if I was looking for one.

Hope that helps,

Glenn.

It's just the age old problem. There will always be copies and unscrupulous dealers will pass them on as genuine. The profit margin will always be higher and in business that's what counts even if relatively speaking it's quite low, turnover counts and there's an endless supply of these. There is no law to say that they should bear some mark to say that they are replicas but personally I feel there should be.

These will always eventually find their way into the hands of somone who will pass them on as real. The manufacturers of them don't care.

Yes a really good book. One of my favourites for such a small book.

Oh no, not hijacking at all. I will have a proper read of this later. I'm absolutely fascinated to read that. Just at a quick glance it looks incredible. Gommecourt too. 1/5th North Staffords suffered heavily there too as you know. That was another place I visited and walked last week. Where your pic of where the German front line was taken, facing the wood, we walked that around to Foncquevillers. The British line running roughly beneath the pylons just visible in your picture.

Have you read this?..... http://www.tommyatgommecourt.com/page1.aspx

Well worth the money. Great little book.

Glenn.

I have a couple of pairs and a nice trio to the 15th. All casualties. The trio to a High Wood casualty, a bombing Sgt killed by a bombing raid on the Starfish Trench shortly after the wood was taken. I have his photo and a copy of a letter to his mother from a mate who was taken prisoner the same day. The letter says he last saw him that morning collecting bombs, muddy and wet but in good health. Visited him at Thiepval last year.

The Robin Hood diary sounds fantastic. My Great Great Uncle was a Sgt with the Notts & Derby killed in 1917 by artillery.

Glenn.

Thanks Chris I thought as much. Tony, it's a great area to walk isn't it? Fascinating place. I'm sure you're familiar with the London Cemetry too then? I have a few medal groups to Civil Service Riflemen including a High Wood casualty. The London rifle regiments are all interesting but the 15th has always fascinated me.

To be honest that area around the Cameron's memorial is very heavy clay so I have a feeling it's that which has caused the leather to stay preserved so long.

Incredible group. What a story too. I was actually in Delville Wood yesterday and at the South African memorial. To have survived that encounter in itself was an achievement. Over 3000 other ranks went into the wood n 16.06.12 and by 20.06.12 when they were relieved it was less than 140 that came out. The South African memorial is quite the most moving memorial.

That is a fantastic grouping.

Hello all,thought WW1 history buffs may be interested in this.

I've just returned from a visit to the Somme area, a trip I make at least once a year. I revisited and walked the area around High Wood yesterday, one of my areas of interest, especially concerning the actions of the 15th London Rgt. While walking the perimeter of the wood we found the usual ordnance including several intact Mills Bombs.

To my surprise, I found these two pieces of what I strongly believe to be German ammo pouches. They had clearly been thrown up by farming activity and were just lying on the surface if the ground. I have never found leather items in this manner before and considering that they are not far off a hundred years old they are in remarkably good condition.

For those of you who know High Wood, I found them around 20 feet into the field, directly in front of the memorial to the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders.

Had I left them in situ they would have undoubtedly deteriorated over the course if the coming winter.

Tony, that's fantastic. Very rare to be able to put a genuine history to a particular cross. I can understand why you have kept it. I often wonder when I look at less collectible crosses just how valuable they'd become if their history was known.

Sounds like your cross has a superb story behind it.

Hey Greg, how you keeping mate?

Yes seems a vey similar tale doesn't it? I think you're right on the strong design and if being something from the dark side. As a kid that's powerful imagery. I also remember endlessly looking st the covers of my dad's Sven Hassell books. You know, the old seventies/eighties covers? I think Lemmy from Motörhead always wearing one has an impact on me as a teenager too.

Hi Tony, nice that You've still kept your crosses though. There a some I should never have sold on myself. Particularly a couple of boxed spanges I used to have which have rocketed in price insanely. I've moved a lot more into WW1 Trios and researching British groupings these days. I've only ever been an Iron Cross collector as far as German is concerned really with a few exceptions.

I've discovered the pleasure in researching medal groups and casualties. Even managed to visit a few graves. I will start posting some of my groupings in the relevet forum soon.

Cheers,

Glenn.

We may have discussed this here before but do you all know what started the obsession we share with this medal?

I bought my first EK1, what I now know was a an unmarked Klein and Quenzer, for £40 about 22 years ago. I've owned and sold hundreds since then.

When I actually think about it I'm quite sure it was Oddball from Kelly's Heroes wearing one around his neck that started it for me.

I remember watching it as a kid and thinking how cool he was and how much I'd have loved that cross.

Good job he wasn't wearing a Pour Le Merite! I'd probably be a broken man by now!

What about you guys?

I have a soft spot for the "humble" KO. Funny things us collectors. I reckon that if they were less common we'd find more to love about them. I've owned a few stupidly rare crosses that I've lusted after for ages. Once in the hand I've found them quite ugly. Ratchet backs for example. So desirable but like a piece of rudimentary gynaecological equipment! (controversial?)

How many KO crosses we see were awarded in the field and worn in the field? That's the thing I love about crosses.