Ulsterman

I agree Colin ! Never have so many benefited from so few...to paraphrase. Rick has a depth of knowledge and 40 years worth of experience behind him. Also, he is the direct heir of the "ancient ones' arcane lore and their observations and experience that went back to the 1940s. Much was lost with the deaths of Ludvigson, Seymour, Colson and the others. Tony Colson, before he died, once wrote on the WAF that he'd learned more about imperial stuff in 3 months from the cyber- collective (led by Rick) than he had in thirty years beforehand. That was praise in the highest. I just hope the book is not just a collection of photos of bars followed by lengthy descriptions. I'll be impressed if it has an in-depth discussion of fakes, many of which are subtle and now, 40 years + old. Personally, I have identified two specific bar fakers over the past 10 years. I recognize their sewing techniques and "styles". I' d bet Stogieman, who seems to have studied items deeply and widely enough to identify specific manufacturers, has done so also (if he's studied bars).

Next up, the Catholic/Republican areas. On the left is the tricolor in the distance. The wall ahead says, "welcome to Provoland" ("Provo"= member of the Provisional I.R.A., or "PIRA" as we used to say).

a neighborhood burnt out in 1969/70 and bricked up, "borderlands". Unlivable still almost 15 years later.

A typical neighborhood scene. the garage behind the tip on the left was a chop shop run by the UDA. FTP= "Fxxk the Pope.", a quote from the 36th Ulster Division soldiers as they went over the top on July 1, 1916 on the4 first day of the Somme.

a memorial neighborhood 'park' where once a house had stood. Burnt down in 1969 by rampaging mobs.

The RUC were not popular with the lads on Charlotte street, some trenchant graffiti:

a famous one.

another one in the small 'village' area. Lots of bad things happened here in 1969/70.

another mural commemorating the shutting of the gates of Londonderry by the protestant Apprentice boys before the Jacobite army:

another, more sanguine:

King Billy crossing the Boyne water in 1690:a common theme.

another one , a UDA neighborhood. I dated a girl from here once.

a UDA mural, I think from off the Shankhill area

a UVF neighborhood/ battalion mural...

another ...the infamous "peace wall"....between the two sides...

A random walk through Loyalist Belfast- @mid 1980s.

Well, this thread made me go up to the attic and begin rummaging about in boxes i haven't looked inside for 20+ years. I had forgotten i had all this stuff. The Belfast brigade poster is rare. I saw one similar from the 1980s go oneBay for $350 about a year ago and i suspect that was low.

I reckon that is why 'twas posted here, Paul. Tom: When is the medals bar book coming out? I certainly hope you acknowledged Rick after he identified the owner of the bar on the cover?

Whoa!! The Belfast brigade poster is a keeper! That is worth some REAL serious cash these days. The victory 74 poster is quite a rare one too. Did you ever obtain any badges? The Troops out Now poster was cranked out well into the early 1990s. I remember seeing it on the walls of the "troops Out" seminar (Billy Bragg played a few songs) at the Labour Party conference in 1988! here's one you cant' move from 1987 or so (can it be 21 years?)!

Thanks Gordon!! Hows' the medal hunting in Budapest these days?

[quote name='Alex K' date='Oct 6 2008, 09:59 ' post='295398'] Is this a real film and if so which one? I don't recall Old Ronny being a Nazi soldier. Alex Edit, the breast eagle looks Cr@p It's the movie where he and two other pilots escape trhough occupied Holland- A classic 1940s war flick. About 35 years ago many uniforms were sold off by Hollywood costume warehouses. Some were original surplus uniforms (like the WW1 overcoats that sold for $50 in 1991) and most others were like this. They still show up once in a while. there was an article in benders' magazine @ 15 years ago about this entitled "Hollywood dresses the military". Rommels' uniform was lent to the movie company that made the "Desert Fox" with James Mason. It disappeared off the set. It's still out there somewhere and the Rommel family wants it back.

Thanks Chip! I have more. I bought a roll of undeveloped film @ 10 years ago of an as yet unidentified local vets reunion @ 1930. Lots of the men are wearing no medals, but about 40% were wearing something or other. There were a surprising number of Alfons badges.

hi Lorenzo. What's the medal in the box in the middle of the 2nd shelf? It looks English made.

navy officer?

Menschen Ohne Vaterland? Not a bad film actually.