Brian Wolfe

Hi Mervyn, I'm not sure about the second one but I don't believe the first Coat of Arms is the one. This is a true mystery. I have been looking for Canadian Police possibilities since I purchased the photo locally. I don't think they wore a St.John's badge, so I am still thinking the officer is British. Hi Tom, The attempts at using my scanner was a bust. My dear wife intervened otherwise it would have been in the bin this morning. I do have a new camera with a closeup feature that allows photos withion 1/2 inch distance and when I read all of the instructions and get it loaded into my computer this may give us the answer. Many thanks to all for your time spent on this investigation. Regards Brian

Thanks Darrell, You have no idea how much my blood pressure has been up with worry on this one. The condition was so good I was thinking I would be up for the "GMCI Dummy of the Year" award. Thanks again, your opinion was better than medication! Regards Brian

This is the Cross in the presentation box. The interior box top is white and the area where the EK rests is a cream colour. The lighting in my photo area makes it look yellow, which it is not. Thanks for taking a look and I am interested (mixed with apprehension)to hear from the members. Regards Brain

This is the lid of the box. The hinge and clasp all are in excellent condition. The only wear is to a small section on the bottom on upper right hand corner (as the box sits in the photo). I didn't bother to show the wear as it is pretty common to any medal box that is 60 years old and not at all extensive.

This view of the reverse shows the pin and hinge, which again is what I would expect it to be, according to what I have seen here on other examples.

This is the reverse. The photo doesn't show the blueish patina that is has developed. The core is magnetic and I think the blue hue indicates a silver content to the frame. Soldering on the frame is neat and I think is what I would expect with a genuine EK I.

Hello Everyone, This cased 1939 EK I just arrived yesterday. It has no maker's marks but I think (hope) it is genuine. What do you think? Thanks in advance for your opinions, they are greatly valued. Regards Brian

The photo below is a cadet in the amry uniform of the NCC. The navy and air force, I believe, wear blue uniforms. Regards Brian

Here's the reverse. Written below the domed circle with NCC on it is written their motto, "Unity and Discipline"

Here is a closer view of the obverse.

Hello Everyone, Here is a medal you don't see very often. It's not that they are what you would call rare but rather they are not that common on the open market. Now, watch as they flood the market since I have made the "not common on the open market" statement. It is the India National Cadet Corps Seven Years Long Service Medal awarded for seven years of service as a cadet instructor or NCC commissioned officer with the National Cadet Corps . This one is named to: NCCJ8144 S.O., KARAN SINGH, NCC The "J" in the regimental number usually indicates that the recipient is a junior officer. The "S.O" may be Senior Officer or possibly Staff Officer. The National Cadet Corps (NCC)was founded in 1948 and is the successor of the University Officers Training Corps which was founded in 1942 by the British. It was felt that the University Officers Training Corps program never quite met the standards of the British military and the NCC was formed after WWII. The NCC is a voluntary program that trains cadets from High Schools and Colleges from all over India though the Head Quarters is in New Delhi. While enrolment in the course does not mandate a military career for the students the NCC became the second line of defence during the 1965 and 1971 India/Pakistani Wars. The NCC is open to both boys and girls and is the cadet training program for the army, navy and air force. Regards Brian Reference material: Medals and Decorations of Independent India, Edward S. Hayner and Rana T.S. Chhina, Manohar 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NCC_Cadets.jpg Permission to post images of cadet granted by Wikipedia

Hi Scott, Welcome to the forum. You have a Waterloo Medal? I hope, when you are able, you will post an image for us to see it. One of the many still on my loooooong wish list. Regards Brian

Very good post, it's nice to see the two variations in the same post rather than having to search the listing for, in this case, the earlier issue. Thanks to all for have and (hopefully)will add to the post. Regards Brian

A beautiful addition to your collection, congratulations. Regards Brian

My scanner is not of a very good quality but I will see what it will do this weekend. Regards Brian

That's an interesting armband Kevin, not the shape one usually sees. Nice specimen. Regards Brian

I'm trying a larger size. Is that Manchester on the badge? I think (or imagine) I can see CHESTE or something like it. Brian

Hello Everyone, Kevin's post of the St. John's Badge gave me the idea of enlarging that part in my photo. This is as close as I can get at the moment. I have a new 12.1 mega pixel camera still in the box with a close up feature down to 1cm so I may be able to post a clear and closer photo when I fugure out the new camera. Until then perhaps someone can play with this image to see if the badge has the police service named. Thanks again for all of you help. Regards Brian

Thanks Mark, Every bit of information helps to solve this or any mystery. It's like a criminal investigation, we garther what we know about the scene and in the end we hope to solve the case. I started out with the wrong date and now we are closing in. Regards and thanks again. Brian

Hello nazfrank, I wouldn't say that. After all I beileve I replied to your post stating something to the effect that there was no need to use that sort of language here etc. and yet I was very happy to give you the information on the bayonet. That's like having a beer with a fellow member after "having words" albeit mild words (so it would be light beers then? ) Perhaps you are not allowed to post for sale until you have more posts. Check the rules, as I don't know what they say about this. Also, didn't that member also prove your items to be genuine? My memory on this is fogging. Anyway, check the rules that may be the problem. Regards Brian

Hi Nick, I was looking at the City of Manchester Coat of Arms and it seems different from the belt buckle, unless there was an older version of the CofA. Regards Brian

Hi Stuart, Good eye. That pushes the date of the photo forward to after the Boer War era. Thanks for your input, it makes the mystery much clearer. Regards Brian

Hi Mervyn. True. Kevin's version also has the same ribbon, and looks much neater in its attachment. Since there is more than one medal with this same ribbon do you think it may have been officially unofficial? If you know what I am getting at. Regards Brian

I would say that the removal of the saw teeth is not fatal, that is to say, it has its own merits. Mervyn is correct that the saw teeth were removed during the war and this makes it an important piece of bayonet evolution and history itself. The value is still well below the specimens with teeth and since it has been decades since I actively collected I will not venture to guess at a value either. One of the interesting points about the presence of saw teeth is that a story was circulated that the teeth would tend to draw intestines out of the wound when the bayonet was withdrawn from the abdomen. This was of course false as the teeth point forward and were to be used as an actual saw and not to disembowel the enemy. The teeth did make a much more nasty wound than bayonets without teeth. The Butcher Blade style also had a version with teeth and were issued to pioneers (engineers) to cut limbs for machine gun emplacements etc. They are also found with the teeth removed. There was a much longer bayonet yet that predated the First World War that was produced with and without teeth. I really miss that part of my collection but one cannot hold onto everything forever. Regards Brian

He still "lives"? Does Kev know about this? An interesting photo regarding the mix of uniform parts etc. Regards Brian