Ulsterman

very nice!

Gentlemen!! There are rules here, that is why we thrive. That was rude. That was over the line.

I seem to remember a WAF thread @3-5 years ago about a special ski/winter/mountain sports proficiency badge issued to locals at Burchesgarden. perhaps it is that one. There was a picture of the local fireCapatin, the posters' Granddad, wearing this badge.

Oh My God- That is the ultimate imperial court lackei bar. Value?! A LOT!

Did you get it Gordon? Does Vatera take paypal?

outstanding!!

Stunning Theodor! Bravo!! :cheers:

I'd like to check to see if it was sold at Spinks or Wallis in the 1960s/70s.

Hmmmmm...thinking pilot.....images of Sopworth Camels plunging earthward in flames....

another mistake in wear-this time from @ 1940. Just got this one today.

ho ho ho- "activist"= long term survivor of the Kun Bela Communist regime. Many of the old Communists were shot in 1949-56.

Johanniter Order. Great photo-if only a liiitle bigger.

British stars were awarded to troops under British command. De Gaulle was ferocious (to the point of Churchill once wishing him guillotined-as did many others before and after) about keeping Free French troops as separate and integral as they could be. I'd be surprised if the French allowed British campaign medals if they were in Free French units. However, we know that Polish, Ethiopian, Norwegian and Czech forces in exile received the campaign stars for certain. I think Dutch troops did as well, as I remember Dutch RAF groups having both types of medals.

What US service medals? The Legion of Merit actually makes sense (despite the date) and what is the "Eisenhower" medal? The British awards should be easy to look up though. Anyone able to look at the award cards? I suspect he learned to game the system and applied for medals he thought he's earned and was able to work the system a bit in his favor. Note the Soviet anniversary award too.

You are right-someone had to guard the Elector as he pillaged the local teenaged female population. Ironically, the restored Elector turned out to be a bigger dissipate than King Jerome, who everyone later agreed was hard working, brilliant and brave-and a meritocratic liberal, despite his playboy escapades and gross selfishness. These medals are fascinating pieces of history. I read somewhere that many have turned up on the market over the past few decades because the churches where they had been deposited as memorial trophies had sold them off (some had been stolen).

Hussars:

Lifeguards/Dragoons:

The cavalry:

Here are some of the men who received the medals-from Knotels' masterly "Uniform" books. Some of the older officers started their careers during the American revolution as hessian Fahnrichs. One Colonel in 1814 was allegedly at Trenton. By the way, methinks that this thread should be sent over to Napoleonics.

Did you get the package as well? :rolleyes:

very cool. Somewhere I have a vague memory of the Steel works letter to a 1919/1969 50th anniversary medal awardee. Given my limited Hungarian skills, I wonder if it somewhere says, "Oh by the way, here's a badge'. Off to go look.

wow! You are having a good Xmas! It's going to get better too- :rolleyes:

cool. It will/woul;d be interesting to see what sorts of people receive this medal. Is it a merit medal like the US army commendation medal, or more like a bronze star for merit?

very odd. Not impossible, but unlikely though. Competent pre-war professional NCOs were transferred to rebuilt/new units as the war went on. Last week, for example, Detlev had a group to a pre war Wrtnmbrg. NCO who made it to LtdR. in a Bavarian unit after transfer and promotion. His bar (with docs) shows a Wurt. LS medal and a Bavarian MVO4x.

$31 for mailing costs!!! It must be massive. It appears well worth the money though. Hew Strachen is not lavish with praise like this very often. I'm going to print this out and ask the wife for this book for Xmas.