I like to collect medals but sometimes you find something else. I found the one pencil at a local flea market. And then the following week I found the other pencil with its tin, 1915 card and cardboard cut-out at an antique fair. The tin also came with a set of trio medals which I will be getting in the next couple of weeks. The soldier was part of the South African Mounted Rifles (SAMR) campaign in South West Africa and I believe his 1914/15 star shows this whilst his Victory Medal and British War Medal have a different rank and unit description.
All parts are in excellent condition, the lacquer on the pencil is now a lovely dark colour and the silver tip has toned well, except for the part below the casing.
Some pictures.
Some more pictures. The 'M' on the one pencil is difficult to pick up with my shoddy camera and camera work, I took a close-up to try and capture it better. Amazing to know these survived so well, even after 100 years!
The bottom of the casings are different. One reads "KN 14 VII" and the other " 'C' 'B' 'II' "