Brian Wolfe

Thank you for the additional information Peter. Cheers Brian

And finally the reverse showing the letters P.C.K. The medal is unnamed as issued. Cheers Brian

Here's a little closer look at the obverse.

Hello Everyone, I just got back home from attending a local show with my latest treasures. One of the items I purchased is this Polish Red Cross Decoration of Honour, 1st Class. I could not find one on the forum so I am posting mine. The Polish Red Cross Decoration of Honour was instituted 11 January 1929 and modified in 1937, 1945 and again in 1991. They were awarded in gold, silver and bronze (1st, 2nd and 3rd class) for merit in the fields of nursing, caretaking and blood donation. The one posted today is the 1945 to 1991 variation. This is based on the size (45 X 45 mm) and the eagle is not wearing a crown. After 1991 the eagle had a crown. I believe the white ribbon with narrow red stripes to be authentic. The enameled cross caught my eye so I could not leave it at the show, you know the feeling. I hope you enjoy my latest addition. Thanks for looking. Cheers Brian

Thanks Michael, I'll check that link out. Cheers Brian

Here's a photo of the two groups in their new place of residence in one of my Pakistan medal drawers. Thanks for taking a look. Cheers

Here is the reverse showing the tailor's name.

Hello Everyone, As promised here is the group of medals I mentioned purchasing in my last post. They just arrived today. They are not actually "exactly" the same as the group featured earlier in this series of posts, as I mistakenly stated. The first one has the Burma Star while this one has the Africa Star. There has been some discussion on this forum as to the proper order of these medals and I think that has been answered fully. There are many examples available of this same (correct) order on the internet. That is not why I wanted to post this group. I liked this group first of all because it consists of the WW II British medals, the India Service and the Pakistan Independence Medal, which more or less "goes" with the group I have court mounted. I also liked the fact that this group was prosessionally mounted, note the military tailor's name affixed to the back, and it is swing mounted which contrasts nicely with the court mounted group in my collection. This group is also named to a Naik in the R.P.A. The recipient was, 44023 NK.BARUI KHAN R.P.A. One of the other differences between this and the earlier group is that only the Pakistan Independence Medal is named, which is what you would normally expect. I have no doubt that this is an authentic group based on the condition of the ribbons and the tailor's name on the back. I hope you like this group. Cheers Brian

I have found out the hard way, many years ago, never to attempt to clean ribbons. In my opinion a worn and soiled ribbon indicates it was worn often by its recipient. Why attempt to remove this well earned wear? It's almost like removing part of the ribbon bar's history. Cheers Brian

Many thanks Jeff. Cheers Brian

Hello Jeff, Thanks for that information. This may well be our man and I'll research deeper into his history. Is there a link where I might print out the information you have sited (i.e. Supp to LG 16 Jan, 1919, page 856) or could you post a scan if there is no link available? Many thanks Brian

Hello Leigh, I must admit to being a bit ashamed in that I have not researched this soldier to the point I should. There is a good chance that some of his decentants still live in the Wellesley area. A check of our area's phone book listing shows no such name in the town of Wellesley, however there are a lot of folks in that surrounding area. I'll now see what I can find out through the Township records. I'm glad I posted this as it has rekindled my desire to research this fellow. Cheers Brian

Hi Leigh, It looks to have been dug in, as you say, from the fact they are carrying in the amunition from the front. I would hate to have been the gunners. Brian

Here is a close up of the soldiers handing up the rounds for the gun. This is where I get a little confused. If these emplacements were easily knocked out by the enemy then who would have been manning them? If they were manned after the enemy barrage had stopped and the enemy was on his way just how many would have been left undamaged. On top of that just how many rounds would they have expected to get off if the trench was about to be over run? I would think once any enemy soldier got in the trench and was below the gun position it would have only taken one grenade to have knocked out this emplacement. If there is only one thing I know about trench warefare it's that I'm glad I was not there. I'm looking forward to other member's opinions and comments. Cheers Brian

Here is a close up of the actual gun. I remember a scene in a movie, I think was entitled "Glory", about the American Civil War. The Union troups had just broken through the embattlements and rounded a corner within the fort. Suddenly they came face to face with a cannon. I remember the impact it had on me as the viewer. You just knew those poor fellows were about to catch hell. I can imagine the same would have happened if the enemy had reached this point in the photo. Brian

Hello Everyone, I have a photo of what I have been informed is the implacement of "Scarifice Gun" on the Western Front. I don't have a date on this photo. These guns were placed on the back slope of the trench so that when the enemy attacked and in the event they reached the trench were met with a blast from this piece. They were easily spotted by enemy artillery and therefore usually knocked out, thus the name "sacrifice" gun. I had a write up for this photo but I've misplaced it. The official label I have on the back of this photo says it is of a machine-gun post, this is obviously not a machine-gun. I think this is an interesting photo and something I never heard of before, of course there are a lot of things I have yet to hear about. Has anyone else heard about these sacrifice guns? Cheers Brian

To finish this post off I have posted a photo of the WW I 1st Canadian Div. cap badge. This did not belong to this fellow but I wanted to include it for interest. The soldier who owned this cap badge was killed in action. I have researched him completely and will post that history another time. Thanks for looking. Cheers Brian

Now the section dealing with who recommemded him and the honour or reward. I think the difference in the ink colour is very evident in the photo. It could have been changed at a later date to make the document more attractive to collectors. However, that being said, the actions for which he was recommended for and award section have never been altered and that alone made it intertesting to me. Cheers Brian

Here is a photo of the section of the document showing his unit, regtl. no. and his rank and name. Brian

Hello Everyone, I thought I'd post a page from an army forms book that I have in my collection. It is a recommendation for an "Immediate award" of a Victoria Cross for actions undertaken in 1918. One of the reasons I purchased this document, other than being a documented recommendation for the V.C. is that the soldier is from an area just about 5 km. North of where I live. I have not had the chance to research this completely nor look into whether any family members are still living in the area. He joined the CEF on 24, March, 1916 at 19 years of age. The area he came from was Wellesley Township, Ontario which is near Kitchener, Ontario. I hope the photos of the document and the action he was commended for are clear. The section where "V.C." is typed looks to have been erased and replaced with the letters "V.C.". I can't make out what he was originally recommended for, it looks like "I-MM". The ink is different from the rest of the document but I think (or at least hope) the changes were made during the same period. They have been made with a type-writer that looks to have been at least from the correct period. What became of him and what, if any, decorations he was awarded are still unknown to me. More research is needed. Considering the fairly low price I paid I do not believe this has been altered in order to enhance the value. I hope you find it interesting. Cheers Brian

Hello Explorer, As this is a forum that tries to educate its members please explain why this is not true. I know nothing about these orders and would like to learn more about them. Cheers Brian

I've gotta quit reading these posts I'm starting to want to add more of these to my collection. One is never enough, medals, potato chips, wives.... God, I'm a weak man! Cheers Brian

Hey Rick, Nice one, I liked that yours came with the photo. Cheers Brian

Hi Stogieman, That was the first thing I thought too (weight). Congrats. Brian

The seller states that you are buying one item for your bid from the board. While he is not actually misleading, as he states what you are bidding on several times, he is setting a "trap" whether intentional or not. He says he has read eBay's policies, perhaps he should read something on business ethics. The buyer has a low number of transactions (feedback) and that's a shame if he was taken in. There is another seller who sells ONLY the ribbon but posts a photograph of the medal mounted on the ribbon. I almost placed an early bid on one medal but noticed he was in fact only dealing the ribbon. I wonder how many people fall for this? Tread carefully in eBay country my friends, thar be monsters in them thar waters. Cheers Brian