Archer

Hi Len In die land van die blindes is eenoog koning! I am not an expert on the QSA. But ... (i) Engraved medals were given to "other ranks" in certain circumstances. However, medals to Colonials like Tyghe seem to have been impressed. (ii) Depends on the price, I guess (like was it between R300-R500, or was it between R1300-R1500?). But if you're not 100% happy, return it and save yourself some heartache. (iii) The original medal was issued off the Nesbitt's Horse Roll. Hope this helps a little bit. William

Your medal is engraved not impressed. I can't tell whether officially or unofficially from the photo. It is certainly on the roll. The recipient appears on the Nesbitt's Horse Roll signed at Redhouse on 28 August 1903 as entitled to the clasp SA1901. He is shown as Sergt. Tyghe T. (no number). The remarks column states "issue from 1/15367". He appears again on the Roll signed at Redhouse on 20 July 1905 as entitled to the clasps CC and SA1901. He is shown as Sergt. Tyghe (no number). The issue of "M[edal] & cl[asps]. C & O" is noted (authorised on 17 April 1907 [sic]). The 'remarks' column notes "(603 J) Marshalls Hse". He also appears on the Marshalls Horse Roll signed at Johannesburg on 19 May 1903 as entitled to the clasps CC and OFS. He is shown as 603 Tyghe J [sic]. The remarks column states "Nesbitt's Horse (Sergt. T.)" [sic].

Thanks, Amit. Still working on it. Cannot yet find any substantiation. Rob - you say you were aware of this bar. Can you share "chapter and verse" with us please? Thanks! William

We need the photographs! The Southern Naval Command has been active combating piracy off the Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands ... POR (Spl) is a naval rating - stands for Petty Officer Radio Specialist. IN is the Indian Navy.

Notes originally compiled by T.F. Mills 19th Hussars September 1891: At sea 1891: India: Bangalore 1896: India: Secunderabad 1899: South Africa: Ladysmith 11 October 1899: War breaks out in South Africa 1902: Regiment re-designated as the 19th (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) Hussars 1903: Ireland: Curragh 1908: England: Norwich 1910: England: Aldershot 1912: England: Hounslow Barracks 4 August 1914: Great War breaks out August 1914: France and Flanders: split into squadrons as divisional cavalry

It's a beautiful item.

Luvverly!!!!

This is the "short set" of miniatures attributed to His Majesty, and sold in London some time ago.

Prague There is another dealer on a smart shopping street near Old Town Square - but for my purposes the best is the military antiques shop down a passageway at 58/32 Národní - just further down the pavement and on the same block and side of the road as Tesco. It may be the same as "Antikvariát galerie Mùstek" (see google maps), but anyway here is a picture also taken from google maps.

Well back I am ... and my collection is bigger! Vienna Mrs. Rochowanski certainly is to my mind one of the nicest and most obliging medal dealers in the world - Her husband's shop is more or less opposite the State Opera House.

I had exactly the same problem.

Pleasure! We're talking about the 1/4th Royal West Kents here. You'll find a lot more about them here. William

You can't ask that question about modern French medals. The first Indo-China medals may have come out with a dull bronze finish, but you can step into the Monnaie de Paris this morning and buy a medal in shiny bright finish which is completely "genuine" for € 25 ... say US$ 35. Whether you buy a dull bronze medal or a shiny bright one, you cannot guarantee it was ever worn by an Indo-China veteran. Simple as that. :lol:

Have to agree. Where do you find the time, Sarge?

Spin Baldak. "The third Afghan War began in April 1919, the new Emir of Afghanistan, Amanullah, decided to bolster his popularity by invading India in order to seize the old Afghan provinces west of the River Indus. He believed that the British and Indian troops would be too war-driven to resist. Although there was a shortage of artillery and machine guns, a division from Peshawar defeated a superior Afghan force in the Khyber Pass and forced them back towards Jellalabad. The main Afghan attack took place in the Tochi-Kurram valley area where the Waziristan Militia deserted to the enemy. A large Afghan force beseiged two battalions of Sikhs and Gurkhas and a squadron of cavalry in Thal. Although under constant attack for a week until they were relieved by a different convoy. In Baluchistan the British stormed the Afghan fortress of Spin Baldak on May 27th. Spin Baldak guarded the road to Kandahar and its capture reduced the chance of an Afghan invasion by that route. Amanullah’s invasion had failed but the peace treaty that brought the war to an end did recognize full Afghan independence. In the next 40 years another war was to take place on Afghan soil involving the world" (The Continuing Role of the Outside World in Afghanistan)

I followed your link Sarge, and saw your album "(1980) Officer's & N.C.O. Rank Insignia: Saint John's Ambulance Brigade". I should tell you that SJAB does not use military ranks like lieutenant, captain, major and colonel. The correct nomenclature is to be found here Otherwise a lovely site! And thanks also to Hauptman!!

Typically, the establishment of "white" officers in a Colonial Battalion would be smaller than the establishment of officers in a Regular Army Battalion - so it's more likely these are the regimental officers present on the station when the photograph was taken.

Mervyn - many of the crowd members look like Mohammedans to me - very unlikely therefore to be in Botswana (Bechuanaland)

Very interesting! Right now I think E stands for Emergency, one of the A's for Auxiliary or Assistant or some such, the other for African, and the W for some kind of mustering like Warden, Warder or Worker. Note that the medal to Mutti Kituu is named SW while the medal to Sisia Kesa is [probably] named W [not 11].

I've changed my mind - the unit I was thinking of was called the Kenya Police Reserve Air Wing, formed in 1949.

I guess this is the group to AW.550 11 Sisia Kesa, E.A.A.W. ? The AW prefix probably indicates nothing more than a block number issued to a member of the E.A.A.W. Is the "11" impressed separately from "AW.550" as shown above ? Lot 797 in the Spink auction of Thursday 19 July 2007 was:

East African [Police] Air Wing ? " " Army Welfare ? The race/gender of the recipient may be significant: what is the full naming around the rim?

Could we have a close up on those dog tags?

Hi Will Which jurisdiction/obedience of the Order of St. Lazarus do you belong to? Forgive my asking, but you are not on the list of members of the South African Grand Bailiwick. William

You need a bigger banknote :lol: