Brian Wolfe

Quoth the Raven Nevermore. There are times as I sit in my study, usually later in the evening, I feel a bit like the narrator in Poe’s “The Raven” Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. ''Tis some visitor,' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door- Only this, and nothing more.' The exception being that the raven in my case is a Nazi eagle desk ornament and the “forgotten lore” attestation papers of Canadian and British servicemen of the First World War. Perhaps it is advancing age that makes me more pensive, or simply maudlin, but I start to think about these people listed on the official documents more deeply than simply an addition to the seemingly ever-growing collection. I look at the drawers and drawers (literally drawers and drawers) of medals and the filing cabinet of documents, some supporting the medals collection and some standing as the only record of passed souls and think how much this is like a morgue. The last repository of the earthly remains of soldiers long past. Walls festooned with weapons, the tools of war wielded by men much braver than me and think that it is a shame that this may be all there is left of these heroes. In some rare cases I have been put in the position of being the custodian of almost all of the family history of a soldier; past into my keeping by people who no longer care about their own roots. A sad comment on humanity as a person without knowledge of their roots is like a ship without a rudder. Still, this lack of concern on their part has allowed me to get to know some of the soldiers on a much deeper level than a simple engraved medal or statistics on an attestation document. One case involves two brothers who both went to war; one married the other a single man. As fate would have it the married brother never returned. The unmarried brother returned and took over the duties of his brother raising the children and looking after his brother’s wife until the end of their years well into their eighties. One may look upon this today as being a bit odd but it was a different time and responsibility for others seen in a different light. If you were to see the photo of them sitting by the seaside well into their eighties, a true loving couple, you would not criticize their decision. In fact what right do any of us have to pass judgement on those who went through the horrors of the Great War and suffered the grief and losses they experienced? Another case deals with brothers-in-law, one starting in the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1914 and then being killed in 1918 while serving with the Bedfordshire Regiment. The other, a younger man, earned his Aviation Certificate as a Lieutenant in 1918 and flew as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps. After the War he became an aviation engineer designing and developing aircraft through World War Two and well beyond. The last I will mention in this article concerns a gentleman whose failing marriage found him living in a hotel when he enlisted. Some of the first photos of him, in the collection, show him at work as a mason. Later on we see him just as he arrives in England. In later photos one can see the effect the war is having on him. He is no longer the healthy-looking young man but a gaunt worn out old chap who will die shortly after the last photo that was taken in 1917. Letters to his son and beloved daughter bear no mention of their mother, his estranged wife, a harbinger of the resentment and hatred that was festering in her that would later be spread to the children resulting in their rejection of his very memory. She may have held a great deal of animosity toward her husband however it is evident by the government documentation that this did not extend to her acceptance of the war widows pension. As the years past and the children aged the amount of the pension decreased as did any feelings of good will toward our poor soldier even from his children and eventually his grand children. I purchased his Memorial Cross and BWM from his grand-daughter and then received boxes and boxes of photos and documents dating back well into the mid 1800’s, at no extra cost. The choice I had was to either accept the material or it was going to the land fill (garbage). In some cases my study has become the repository of the only memories left of these lost souls with me being its curator. Stories cut short by war, others prevented from the opportunity to correct their mistakes in life and other paths changed forever. Stories once investigated, beyond the veneer of the serving soldier, into the deeper aspect of these real people and their personal trials and tribulations begins to forge a bond between researcher and subject. They become a true part of your life and to write their stories brings up a conflict somewhere between the desires to honour their memory and betrayal of a confidence shared. Looking back at the German eagle stand-in for Poe’s Raven I can’t help but hope its famous statement is a prophecy regarding war - “Nevermore”. Regards Brian

I've purchased one of these a few years ago and can't add any more to the post of historical value, however these tend to be quite fragile and are often found needing repair to the suspender attachment. A little epoxy works wonders. Regards Brian

Very nice Jock. A few months ago I was offered one of these in mint condition and it was a late war Canadian made helmet. This was offered along with a gas mask, aslo in mint condition. It was through the son of a vetran who was issued with these but I don't believe he ever went onverseas. His son was a fellow employee (I am now retired) so I offered top end market value, which was well above what I think he would ever get from anyone else. All of a sudden his father decided to keep the helmet and gas mask even though he is, to put it indelicately, a vegetable in a nursing home. I found out through another friend that the son figured that I was trying to cheat him and decided to try to sell it elsewhere. I would not be surprised if I hear back from him someday wanting to take the deal I offered, but I was a bit insulted that he thought I was attempting to take advantage of him and especially a disabled vertran. Again this congratulations on a great find. Regards Brian

Very interesting and quite valuable information thank you for posting them. Regards Brian

Thanks for posting this Chris. Regards Brian

I saw a documentary on such things and a cartridge fired blunt end forward had diminished accuracy and it was supposed that the bullet itself would be more prone to jamming when loading it, as the pointed end would not be there to guide it into the chamber. Another fact that has been true since the invention of the modern “bullet” shaped round is that once it enters the body, especially in the torso, it will turn end over end and at times come out backwards and even with the side of the round exiting first. This produces several different exit wound shapes and degree of damage. The wound left within the torso can actually be much wider than either the entrance or exit wound might indicate due to the end over end “tumbling” of the round as it passes through flesh. Many, if not all, modifications that did occur by the men in the trenches were not as effective as the soldier might have desired but left him at least with the idea that he was using a much more dangerous projectile than had been issued, even though this would have been a contravention of jus ad bellum (the laws of warfare). Regards Brian

An interesting and valuable addition to the forum. Thank you for taking so much effort and time to record this important piece of history. Regards Brian

That can be very true, tannic acid, I think. Possibly the off gassing of acid fumes would be over for older cabinets, but that's just a guess. I have used oak in display cases and cabinets for medal collections for other collectors/customers in the past and I would suggest using several coats of clear be applied to help prevent the off gassing of the acid. I've always preferred to use pine in cabinets, well coated, for my own collection. Regards Brian

I just ran onto this post and it is well "worth a look". Thanks for posting this Chris. Regards Brian

I am always amazed at how many experts there are in the world. Some days I think that I may be the sole person left on this planet who is not an authority on...well, just about everything. As I find it always necessary, let me clarify that these comments are not directed toward any member here or any one in particular. I would not want to be the source of anyone “taking their ball and going home” which has happened in the past though not precipitated by me. One hundred years have passed and the information we have today is probably as accurate as can be found in “The People’s War Book”, The History of the World War” or “The Pictorial History of the Great War”, all written in1919 or shortly thereafter. These and other books about the war were, of course, written by the victors, because as we know “history is written by the victors”. We take the written word, often from bias sources, and declare them as gospel. Anyone challenging those sacred writings is deemed as a heretic and they and their seed must be purged from the face of the earth. It’s like the debate over whether the large end or the small end of the hard-boiled egg is the one to be opened, apologies to Jonathan Swift. What next! Of my God, hide the women and children and surround the chicken farms with armed guards as “they” are about to burn them to the ground. I exaggerate here because the children would have to have Wi-Fi access anywhere you could possibly think to hide them and the women would be telling us to settle down and use our brains for a change. Of course that’s because that is their primary purpose in life. Without them mankind would have been extinct decades ago. What do I know about either the First or Second World Wars? Personal experience equals zero. Conversations with veterans over the course of my lifetime would reveal that at least the Second World War was spent on leave going to pubs and dating cute British girls. Sounds pretty sweet to me (joke). Common sense (one of my lesser attributes) would tell me that everyday could not have been an “over the top boys” day, unlike what the popular media would have us believe. There just were not enough people available for the carnage to be unbroken. As I have said this according to one of my lesser attributes, that being common sense. As far as the war being started by and directed by stupid leaders I would have to say that this is from a point of view a century after the facts. What was the last count for injured U.S. veterans? Over 400,000, according to the television. I wonder just how today’s military actions will be viewed 100 years from now. Will we be viewed as a society that could have avoided these wars and acknowledged as, not “the greatest generation” but one of the stupidest? For that answer you’ll have to check out my blog 100 years from now. The article in question has sparked a few of us into thinking about the subject and in my less than humble opinion it has served its purpose. If any member takes offence by this response then I would point out that you have taken the time to think and express your opinion. And that my friends, certainly earns my respect. Keep that grey matter churning. Regards Brian PS: I see that Peter has posted a reply as I was composing this rant. As always he has said more with a lot less words. He is so irritating!

It sounds like you have a dislike for the Snow family's take on history. I too have such problems with some researchers and authors but in the field of science, so fair enough. I am assuming that your comment about Dan Snow being a "coming out atheist" is in reference to his involvement with the British Humanist Society. Lucky for us that by definition Atheism is not a religion so we won't run afowl of the rules. However I don't see the relevance. I believe he is also related to Canadian historian and author, Margaret MacMillan,"The War That Ended Peace" and "Paris 1919", both well worth a read. I'm making no comment about what you have said but thought I'd some additional information to your comment. Regards Brian

Well, your opinions are based on your knowledge and education, which serves you well. Perhaps I should have said that it was a good article for those who may not be as well versed as many of our member in the area of the First World War. Many hold to those myths presented because that is what they have heard over the years time and time again. For example, when I was a kid I was told that there were no medals given out to Japanese soldiers and that the only medal a German soldier could ever be awarded was the Iron Cross. It didn’t take long after I could read that I noticed the photos in some of the history books showed German soldiers wearing several medals...imagine my surprise. I was not aware of the average time a British soldier spent in the front lines (provided the article is correct) so I may have learned something from the post. So no debate this evening my friend. Regards Brian

Nick, this could very well be the best post on WWI to ever hit the forum. Thanks, I really enjoyed it and even learned a thing or two. Regards Brian

Interesting medals and a very informative post thanks gentlemen. Regards Brian

I am totally against your view. The Thames was polluted enough; surely there could have been some other alternative to the disposal of their remains. Seriously, now that you mention the Schlieffen plan the French Plan 17 also comes to mind. The original German plan was to encircle Paris and thereby ending the war quickly. The French Plan 17 basically involved a drive with full force to the East thereby stopping any attack in its tracks. The point I am making here is that most countries had similar plans in that they involved a total commitment to one objective with no thought to alternative actions or even different options. Once committed all sides were doomed to an all out state of total warfare. Regards Brian

The Shill’s Revenge A few days ago, over in the Japan Section, a discussion was started regarding the use of “shills”. If you have never visited the Japan Section you should do so, it is quite interesting and quickly becoming the place to go for researching Japanese medals and decorations. A “shill”, in case you didn’t know, is a person who is employed by an auctioneer to drive up the bids so that the item sells for more than it normally would have. Years ago and before the internet I used to dabble in antiques, buying, repairing and reselling them. This involved a lot of evenings spent in auction houses and estate sales. One auctioneer in particular kept several burly rotund fellows employed to move the items onto the stage and off again after the item had been auctioned off. When not engaged in this activity they would sit in large armchairs which were perched on folding tables like well fed yet dishevelled scavengers, at the rear of the bidder’s area. If you watched them closely one would always make an indiscrete bid if the item was not reaching the bid that the auctioneer was trying to reach. Remember, the higher the final bid the more the auction house profits in their “cut”. Now, with the advent of the internet and the auction sites available, more people than ever are placing bids and “attending” auctions from the comfort of their own homes. With this new venue comes the return of the old practise of employing shills, though in a slightly different way. Today, regardless of the rules set out by the online auction sites, people are able to cheat through several means if they are inclined to do so. Spouses can each have an account and bid on the other partner’s items to run the bid higher. Other adult family members and friends can also perform these duties not even to mention the person who will set up two separate memberships and bid on their own items. I’m not sure if this is still the case but eBay used to charge extra to place a reserve bid on an item assuring the seller would get a minimum amount for the item that would be acceptable to the seller. Using one of these underhanded means circumvents this “legal” reserve bid option and at no extra cost; which finally brings me to the meat of my story. There is a local collector that I was acquainted with through our wives who worked together. This fellow used to spend each and every day on eBay and bought and sold with a passion that surpassed the border between fanaticism and a sick obsession straight to the lunatic fringe. He had taken an early retirement for the armed forces and had a small pension so this allowed him the luxury, if not the funds, to sit in front of the computer screen all day long. He had approached me several times to place bids on his items at what he considered a reserve bid, without having to pay eBay for their service. Each time he asked I declined. As a bit more background information, he collected WWI medals named to members of his old regiment. One of the arrangements he made with me, that I agreed to, was that if he were away and not near a computer I would bid on items he was interested in so that he would not miss out on them. While he was away one time there was a BWM named to a Sergeant from his regiment offered for sale. I waited until near the end and not seeing his eBay name as a bidder placed a maximum bid high enough to assure I would “win” it for him. Unknown to me he had access to a computer and had been watching the medal himself. Being a paranoid and rather untrusting person he placed a very high maximum bid just before the auction closed (sniped) and won the item. He then wanted me to plead with the seller, a well known dealer here in Ontario, Canada, that he should only have to pay the price that my first bid would have come to and not the final bid. He even had the nerve to ask that I pose as his wife bidding on the item as his birthday gift. Talk about one sick individual! I flatly refused to do this. A day or two later I was contacted by the seller (remember we, my wife and I, are quite well known to this dealer) and asked for the facts as he had spun her several odd stories. I told her that she should ignore them and that I would purchase the medal if he didn’t want to pay the amount he had bid. Needless to say this fellow was enraged at my decision. He paid the deal the agreed upon price of his final bid. I didn’t tell him but I would have let him have the medal for what I paid if he hadn’t purchased it. The difference between the two bids was only twenty dollars. Actually I still considered him a friend at that time, (talk about gullible), and would have gifted the medal to him, had he not been such an ass. Shortly after this he asked me once again to act as a shill on a couple of auctions he had going. One was an individual medal and the other was a small South African War group. By this time I had had it with him so I said I would do it under these conditions. He would tell me his “reserve” bid that he wanted me to assure and I would place a maximum bid higher than that. Then if my bid was the winning bid he would have to actually follow through and sell the item or items to me. In the end I did indeed win both auctions and I had placed my maximum well above what he wanted as I really did want these in my collection. I made the payment through Pay Pal and then, he went ballistic. He didn’t want to let me have the items and said he would refund my Pay Pal costs. I gave him a choice, either hand over the medals or explain to eBay why he had broken the rules regarding following through with the conditions set out by eBay and also why he was trying to use shills in his auction. I knew the names and eBay user names of two of his friends who were actively acting as shills for him and was ready to burn him. Yes, I am the type of person who, if you piss me off bad enough, will hug you as I pull the pin on the grenade! In the end he acquiesced and let me have the medals after telling me what I could do with them. I didn’t follow his suggestion, of course, opting instead to place them in my collection. We haven’t spoken since and that’s alright by me as this is one time revenge, if not justice, was levied on a seller who was using shills. Regards Brian

When I was a young child my father would often take me along with him to the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. This of course was against their official policy, but being a smaller town it was accepted. There was a couple of members who served in the Boer War as well as service men and women from both World Wars. I seldom missed a chance to strike up a conversation with the members, though most of the stories had little to do with being in the front lines. We also had a couple of neighbours who served in WWI with whom I spoke with on many occasions. Some of my father’s friends had also served in the German Army and their stories also often had to do with time away from the front (most of which is not suitable to print here), which serves to show that soldiers are soldiers no matter where they are from. Regards Brian

Asjemenou, It’s really good to hear the comments that this group is most likely genuine. I used to hesitate to question such groups as I didn’t want to upset anyone, especially the member posting the group. With the passing of time I started to realize that any questioning, at least by me, was in the interest of gaining knowledge and getting to the facts not only for myself and other members but also for the owner of the group in question. So, congratulations on a fine group. Gentlemen, Thanks for weighing in on my questions as I am sure it was a positive exercise for all. I tend to question almost everything except, it seems, when it comes to making a quick purchase for myself. Then it seems that afterwards I am beating myself up for not having questioned the item before I foolishly parted with my cash. It is a shame that the British and Canadian governments didn’t see fit to name the medals for the Second World War service people, as they had in times past. I think this would make a good post all on its own at some time. Regards Brian

Hello John, Welcome to the forum. I think this would be better in the British section rather than herein the "blog section" as more members with the knowledge you need will see it. I would suggest that you repost it under the British section. Regards Brian

Good work, Mike. Not to drag this out but were these "confirmed" as authentic or simply sold "as is" groups. Just to be clear I am not taking a stance on this question, only asking the questions that need asking when it comes to larger groups of unnamed British medals. I think we owe it to the hobby to be a bit skeptical. Regards Brian

Gentleman, I’m not so quick to accept this as a genuine original group. I do agree with Mervyn concerning the Defense Medal. The first thing that I find a bit suspicious is the France and Germany bar. I don’t care what medal ribbon it is on as when these were put together by the recipient or later by their heirs the bar could end up on nearly any ribbon so if in doubt the first medal’s ribbon on in the group got the bar attached. It should have been on the Atlantic Star, but this is not a consideration when discussing the possibility of whether this is authentic or not. The problem is that in the case of the France and Germany bar it served the purpose of representing a star. This being the case then the recipient would have had the equivalent of six stars. The other issue I have is the existence of the Burma Star. It seems to me to be highly unlikely for the recipient to have been in both theaters of war, though not impossible. I would not say that the patina or the “correct” damage proves or disproves much as it was very easy to “match” a group of medals, especially a number of years ago when they were more were available. In addition to this, the damage the stars made on each other or on the medals next to the star was common to all groups and individual medals that had been issued quite often exhibit this damage. As to the mounting style, it looks fine to me; though not professional by any means. If the group was put together several years ago the ribbons could easily show age, I don’t see any extreme wear on the ribbons to suggest that the group was worn a lot. In fact to my eye the ribbons look quite new. If this is an authentic group then the fact that the medals were mounted on a bar yet the ribbons show almost no wear (if any at all) suggests that the group was mounted after the original recipient had passed then on. This is not to say the group is a fake as they could have been mounted by a son or daughter etc. once they were in their hands. At the same time I think it has to be taken into consideration that the group may have been a “put together” of individual medals, for whatever reason; use on stage or television for a play comes to mind. Since none of these (British and Canadian) medals were named it is hard to say if it is or is not authentic. My first thought is that it has been put together for whatever reason and not an awarded group. Having said that we know that war makes for conditions and situations that make such decisions impossible to fit nicely with in the normal guidelines. To my way of thinking this group would fall under the category of plausible yet not completely probable. Thoughts? Regards Brian

This is an absolutely fascinating post. There is so much to learn and only one live-time to do so. Regards Brian

A very nice grouping to add to your collection. Well done. Regards Brian

Hello Ehjaz, Good to see you posting here my friend and thank you very much for setting the record straight. Regards Brian

The Ross rifle was discarded early in the war in favour of the Lee Enfield and along with it the bayonets. These became surplus equipment and therefore available for modification. There are many examples of shortened Lee Enfield bayonets used as trench raid knives as well suggesting that "found" weapons were fair game for modicication. Modifying your issued bayonet would be taboo of course. Even entrenching shovels were sharpened for use as battle axes when on trench raids. I would also think that these modifications may have been undertaken by the armourer in the field to supply the soldiers' needs. For such a "modern" war at the time there was a lot of brutal Medieval technology in use. Regards Brian