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Thanks Strapper, I'm glad you were out fishing... I hope you at least caught something. The dagger is completely unmarked, but what is a 'virgin' dagger? Cheers Bruce

Thanks Mervyn, It's going on the dagger rack with the Naval Midshipman dagger I bought from your shop a few weeks ago. I've always wanted to get one but because I don't know anything about them I was always a bit apprehensive. This was bit of an impulse buy and when it went at the low price I started to get worried that I may have bought a repro. The weird elastic strap on the scabbard did not inspire much confidence. There are no markings anywhere! Regards Bruce

Can anybody help with this Fairbain Sykes dagger. It's my first purchase and am not sure of its pattern, date or even if it is real! Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Bruce

Thanks Paul, Could it be that this medal was originally engraved as Ensign J L WALL, then later changed to LIEUT JOHN QUIN ///// WALL? If you look at the scan below a very faint L can be seen in front of WALL. If so, why on earth would anyone got to so much hassle on a fake medal?? Taking into account that the name John Quin Wall does not appear on the Waterloo Medal role. Why erase the name that does appear and re-name it with a name that does not!!! Very strange... maybe some people just have too much time on their hands.

Thanks Peter Out of interest sake here are two more pictures of chaps from this unit: Here is a picture of my Uncle in what I now assume is a Reconnaissance armed vehicle. The driver/gunner has the same beret badge as in the previous photos. Next to this picture in his album he's written "43 Recce in the Reichswald Feb 1944". It looks as though there are a few Para's as well, and what looks like a German POW. Absolutely fascinating stuff!

Here is another photo probably taken only a few moments before or after the first photo. In it is the same bunch of "chaps", except that the "new chap" in the photo is my great uncle, and I'm assuming "the chap" taking the photo is the "other chap" from the previous photo. I hope this is making sense... Jokes aside... here are the close-ups requested by GRA

Peter you are correct, I was only guessing when I said that it was a red cross. My mistake - I suppose it just looked like it was red! Thank you for all the info, it is a great help. The beret badge is a mystery. He has it in almost all the photos and has it on his peak cap as well. Would love to find out what it is. I've included another picture that he must have taken. Does the chap standing on the right look to be an SAS Officer?

Any ideas on the arm patch : white shield with a red cross and sword. I have another photo with this chap in a car with the same badge on the front of the car. Was this an official war correspondent unit insignia?

I have received a WW2 photo album of a great uncle of mine, who served as a war correspondant during WW2. The album has photos from Normandy, Mere Eglise, Ardennes, Reichswald forest, etc. I believe he may also have been attached to the 101 airbourne (even though he was British) while in Normandy. Can anyone help identify his unit from the badges on his beret, shoulder and arm patches in the picture below? According to the album inscription this photo was taken in Antwerp, Sept, 1944

Here is the sellers description : 'WWII German Iron Cross 2nd class with ribbon. Good condition as shown. 100% GUaranteed Original, Magnetic core, no black light glow, all is as should be'. He's also selling a Deutsche Kreuz for R6'999 (or +- 700EUROS) Here is the description: 'Nice piece here, More than rare! WWII German Cross in Gold. Maker Marked for Steinhauer & Luck, Beautiful piece. Unfortuneately there is a small chip in the enamel on the black swastika as shown. 100% Guaranteed Original, Surely one of the highlights of ones collection!!

Any help with this EK2. It's available here locally for R300 (Approx. 30Euros). Price seems a little low to me! Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the reply Paul, I really value the opinions of the members on this forum. Are the missing engravers signature, and wrong lettering, on these kind of medals the only signs that destinguish the fakes from the real thing? Or are there other tell tale signs that exist that would betray a fake. I believe from reading other threads that it was not uncommon for people to re-engrave and re-name these medals (any medals for that matter). What signs would one look for in such a case. In other words how would one destinguish an original re-named medal from an out-right fake?

Here are the scans of the medal. I picked it from a local newspaper classified advert and did'nt pay too much for it either. So, if it is a dud you won't hurt my feelings. Any comments are as always greatly appreciated.

Many thanks Gents, I think we can be certain that it is most likely a re-name. I'll list a few scans of the medal early next week, to see what you think. Once again the relies are greatly appreciated.

Thanks Peter, I have just downloaded the complete list of men who served in the 1st Batt, 40th Reg of Foot - form the National Archives website. There too is no mention of a Lieut. Quinwall. In fact a of search all the Archives on the website for the name Quinwall, comes back with a zero. I can only assume that the medal is a re-name. Unless, you can help point me in another direction, or have another idea as to why he is not on the list. This medal was going to be my first purchase in this area - an area in which I must admit I know very little. Thanks for the info, it is appreciated.