Gordon Craig

Gents, Time to add some more uniforms to this reference thread that Charles started for this purpose. The first uniform I will post pictures of is tunic from the same era as Charles M51 Panzer Tunic. It is the two pocket everyday service tunic. Made of a rough cotton type of material instead of the high quality wool of the M51 Panzer Tunic. It has 5 plastic buttons on the front and none for the pockets. Instead of closing the neck with a hook and eye there is a cloth tab on one side and a small brown plastic button on the other. Charles and I have not been able to find any reference for this method of closing the nexk. Also not that the white collar liner is made of a stiff plastic material. The collar liner has a series of small holes along the top and bottom that are used to sew the collar liner to the tunic. This tunic is well marked as being manufactured in 1955. This tunic is for a third Liutenant in the Infantry. Note the small stars used for rank indication. The stars were also "flater" during this time period than later rank stars. This is indicated by the green arm of service and the crossed rifles.

Ulsterman, There was a book done on these badges but Charles and I ahve been unsuccessful in acquiring a copy. We got to look at one at the National Museum but that is as close as it got. Regards, Gordon

Charles, Thanks. I should have worked that out for myself! Regards, Gordon

Order of Victory, Welcome the select few of us who have managed to acquire a presentation case of Hungarian armed forces awards. Regards, Gordon

Charles, Great article. Gor any extra Pengos? Cheers, Gordon

Charles, Very interesting stuff. Great looking bank notes with areal history to tell. Regards, Gordon

Christophe, Here is the URL for the car auction. https://www.pastbuy.net/lo/galerie.php?ObjI...ode=P&pic=1 Grant, Not a car for me. I don't care for Volvo's. I'll stick with my Jaguar. The other option is a BRM 2 from Hungarian syrplus vehicles although my wife woul kill me! Cheers, Gordon

Zsolt, Thanks for posting your set of Soyus 36 badges. Nice to know there are two different sets available. Yours most certainly is the "official" set but someone did a really great job producing the set I bought on Saturday. Were the red cased sets given out at a specific time or to specific people? Regards, Gordon

Gents, Here is something that you just can not do without in your collection. The parade car reportedly used by Erich Mielkes is for sale in Germany. It is a lengthened 1976 P254 in black. For a meer 25,000 Euros it can be yours! Regards, Gordon

The other side of the comemorative coin.

One side of the comemorative coin.

A close up of the badges in the case.

The interior of the case. The small statue in the upper left hand corner depicts the "Liberation Monument" in the Citadel in Budapest. The local inhabitants of Budapest refer to the statue as "The Bottle Opener" and you can actually buy this statue in souvenire shops made as a bottle opener.

Something else to add today. At the May Budapest Militaria Show I picked up a cased set of commemorative badges for the Soyus 36 flight. The case is wooden with a varnished finish on the top and a felt coveered exterior base. Since the case contains the one dated badge in this series and this badge is dated 1980 we can date this set to 1980. You will note from the pictures that the plush lined interior has recesses to fit each badge. I feel the set is incomplete as the badge in the lower left corner, as seen by the viewer, is duplicated by another badge in a recess that it fits exactly while the badge in this location is too small for the recessed area it was sitting in when I bought the set. If anyone has a picture of the badge that would fit in this recess I would appreciat it if they would post it. In addition, the case contains two rectangular badges, upper right side, which do not have recessed areas, and were probably added at some time after the set was produced. The purpose of producing this cased set is unknown to me. The deal for the case also included a commemorative 100 Forint coin, in a sealed plastic holder, for the Soyuz 36 space flight. Regards, Gordon

Kevin, I agee. I was referring to the device you post. Cheers, Gordon

Kevin, I think this badge fits in with a post I made several weks ago. Similar good quailty enamel badge for wear on the side of the cap from WWI for donations to the war effort as Hunyadi says. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=14567 Regards, Gordon

Here is a picture of an early case for a Flag Order that sold on ebay last year for more then it was worth so I do not own it. It should illustrate the difference in colour between the early Flag Order cases and the later ones. Note the similarity to your case. An interior with a red bottom and a white top. Rgeards, Gordon

The exterior of the case.

A close up of the award showing the exact fit in the case.

Rodion, For comparison here is a picture of my cased Order of Merit for the Socialist Hungary. As Hunyadi says, the medal is a very tight fit. The interior of the case is white. The blue tinge to it in the photo is because I did not use a flash to prevent reflection from the award itself. This is a late style case with the painted exterior but the interior maintained its high finish. Regards, Gordon

Charles, Great pin. Hard to beleive they could scape together a parade that soon after the Russians set up house in Budapest. Had a great May Day at City Park. Just finished watching the fireworks from our balcony. How about you? You are a lot closer and your balcony would be a great place to see them from! Regards, Gordon

Grant, Yes they came in silver and gold as well. Regards, Gordon

The top of the box.

Rodion, I agree with Hunyadi on your box. I would also say it was for an early issue of the Flag Order 5th Class. Th early issue boxes are a brighter red than the later ones which have more of a maroon colour to them. The early boxes also have more rounded corners than the later ones. I would also say that there has never been an award in this box. I've posted pictures of the award and box for the Falg Order 5th Class from my collection for your reference purposes. Regards, Gordon

Grant, Nice acquisition. Hard to get the complete set in a case. Regards, Gordon