Brian Wolfe

This is another photo of the Maharaja as a youth. The photos are quite dark with age.

Hello everyone, During the British Raj there existed literally 100s of independent states within India ruled by a Maharaja or other ruler. These states where usually in an alliance with the British and thereby were free from direct rule by the British. This is a very simplified statement and you should research into the topic more for more detailed and accurate information. In a nut shell, it was a matter of get along with the British Raj or your country might just get along without you. The followwing photos are of the Maharaja of Patiala,Sir Bhupinder Singh Mohinder Bahadur who ruled from 1900 until 1938. Following the photos are some medals so hang in there for those and a bit more of the history of Patiala after Indian Independence in 1947. Regards Brian

My final photo is of the sight displayed in my collection room along side my German artillery sight and a pair of French binoculars from around 1908. Regards Brian

Here's a view of the rear of the stand. I cut a dovetail to fit the tapered dovetail of the sight and the locking lever actually locks the sight onto the stand as it would on the mortar. Brian

Hello Everyone, I thought I'd complete this post with a view of the stand I built to display the sight. I was looking around my shop and found a couple of pieces of red oak scrap and put them to better use. The whole stand is well coated with a clear-coat keeping the oak well away from the metal parts. I hope you like it. Regards Brian

Hi Ed, That really is an unusual item. When I collected patches and travelled to the local shows I don't think I remember ever seeing one offered. Here, in my part of Ontario, Canada, the Regional Police have there own sign shop or perhaps they share it with the Region's Utilities and Works Department. When I have been in the shop for city decals and signs, years ago, I've seen these ready to ship...if only I had thought about adding one to the collection! Nice piece. Regards Brian

Thanks again for the additional information, this is perhaps the greatest strength of the GMIC. As far as my collection it starts with the Great War period, of course. Am I to take it that the first full time service started due to the war and before that it was ad hoc? Regards Brian

Many thanks Vickers and welcome to the GMIC. Regards Brian

Hi Naxos, That's what I would call gritty reality. There is no glory in these photos. Thanks for posting them. Regards Brian

A very insightful article, Peter, thank you for posting it. So little is written about the contribution India made in the Great War. There is a little more written about them and their service in WW II but still nothing that really comes close to their sacrifices. Regards Brian

A very nice restoration, well done. Regards Brian

The First Chief Constable 1842 At a further meeting of the Quarter Sessions, held on 6th December 1842, the first Chief Constable of the Staffordshire Constabulary was appointed: he was John Hayed Hatton, a 47 year old professional policeman. Under his direction men were quickly recruited and underwent rudimentary training in the yard of Stafford Prison before being allocated to one of the Districts. By the end of 1843, 79 of the original recruits had either been dismissed or discharged or had resigned. A further 16 left the following year and only 7 actually retired on pension. As the majority of dismissals were for disciplinary reasons, it seems likely that few were suited to life in a constabulary which conformed essentially to military principles. All the County Police Officers were subjected to the most stringent discipline and it was surprisingly easy for a policeman to find himself "on the carpet". In 1862 for instance, P.C. George Coleman was fined 19/ - for gossiping with prostitutes whilst he was on duty. Compare this with his colleague, P.C. George Colclough, who was fined 21/- for the more serious crime of smoking his clay pipe while on duty. Ah, the good old days. Regards Brian

Hello everyone, Here is a lapel pin commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Stafford Police in 1992. The pin measures 18.5mm wide and 24.5mm in height. On the back is marked JEEVES Co, WATERLOO LIVERPOOL and is held in place by a standard lapel spike with round spring catch as is found on almost all lapel pins today. The enamel work is in perfect condition and the pin itself is in mint condition. This is probably no surprise as if it is the same in the UK as here these pins would have been handed out by the hundreds and many probably never seen any wear but instead ended up in a drawer somwhere. As a short history of the founding of the Staffordshire Police here is an exerpt from the Commemorative magazine from 1992. October 1842 The foundations of the modern Staffordshire Police were laid in October 1842 at a meeting held at the Court of Quarter Sessions at Stafford. There is was agreed that a Chief Constable should be appointed to take charge of a County Constabulary which would be divided into three districts. The first, a Mining District in the south of the county, would include the towns of Bilston, Willenhall, West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Smethwick and Handsworth. The South Staffordshire Constabulary had been formed in 1840 to police this area and was amalgamated with the new Force on its formation. The second, a Pottery District in the north, would encompass the six pottery towns of Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton. The third area would be known as the Rural District and would consist of the remaining areas of the county. This arrangement excluded the four towns which already had an established police force: Stafford, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Walsall and Tamworth. More later on the first Chief Constable of Staffordshire.

Here is yet another brassard like the ones above. I've added this to the collection only because of the four digit number. I noticed that I have omitted any information regrading these in the post abouve so I'll do that now. These aluminum brassards were made by HIATT & Co. B'HAM (Birmingham), this is stamped in the middle of the border along the front bottom of the brassard. The full width along a horizontal plane between the loops is 102mm and 58mm in height at the loops. The badge proper, that is to say where the information is displayed, measures 83mm, again along a horizontal plane, and 52mm in height. The thickness is 3mm. Now if I can find a single digit number I will be in Special Constabulary memorabilia heaven. Regards Brian

Many thanks for the information everyone. I based my dating as WW I due to the hand engraving, which is not very scientific on my part, a guess really. Thanks again. Brian

Hi Ian, That's good to know, now the search continues. Regards Brian

Here's an interesting trio from Independent India.They are named to: 054498 K WM3/MCWM1 THAKUR ONKAR SINGH I.N. His medals are as follows: 30 Years Long Service Medal: 054498 K THAKUR ONKAR SINGH MCWM1 IN 20 Years Long Service Medal: 054498 WM3, T.O.SINGH, IN 9 Years Long Service Medal: Unnamed WM3 = Weapons Mechanic 3rd class MCWM1 = Master Chief Weapons Mechanic 1st class IN = Indian Navy I have no ideas what the "K" stands for. There is little doubt that this sailor would have had more medals than just the 20 and 30 Years Long Service Medals, I have added the 9 Years LS Medal to round out the group. So, other than his occupation, rank and the fact that he was a member of the Navy there's not a lot to tell about the man from this little group. It's still nice to see a group such as this showing the years of service. This is one of my court mounts as the medals arrived loose. Regards Brian

As if I could ever tell her what to do! And yes she is a treasure. Regards Brian

Very nice pair Darrell, two of my favourite medals. I've always thought this to be one of the most interesting periods in British Empire history. Thanks for posting them. Regards Brian

Hi Bob, Looking for good items on eBay is like going to the same antiques mall week after week. Not much chamges and you get a little tired of the some old-same old, even some of the better shows for both antiques and militaria are like that. At first it seems like there is no end of great items but then after your collection grows there is less and less that intertests you. GMIC has also changed quite a bit even since I joined up. Members have come and gone, some with little impact and there are others who have added greatly to the forum. I like where we are at the moment and quite often think this would be a good "place" in time to stay but everything changes and with luck for the better. I used to think the GMIC was as good as it could get, WRONG!, I think it has improved with that passing of time and the changes it has brought. I'm not talking about the format, though I really like it, I mean the present members. They are all very helpful and can take a joke. Well...except for that guy in Quebec who needs to move to Ontario and lighten up. Only kidding Frank, your cool...but Ontario is the place to live. Will eBay improve? No, if your not already doing so, you'll end up like me and purchse the bulk of your new items from private dealers and collectors. Will the GMIC improve? I think there's a good chance of that. The future members will make that determination. From the forum's track record I think it will only get better. Ah, Sunday morning and too much coffee = long rants. Regards Brian

My wife is in love with these and would like to start a collection, I will NOT show her this post! Everytime we visit a gun show she stopes and looks at the displays of pocket pistols and says she would like to collect them. Here in Canada you do not require a permit if the pistol is old enough, the exact date escapes me but a flint lock, for example, would not require permiting. A very nice pair of pistols, thanks for posting them. Regards Brian

:lol: Spit and elbow grease! Funny how often going back to basics works. A very nice job indeed, well done. Regards Brian

Les makes some VERY good points concerning enamelled items. Lets consider another approach and do nothing! Really, I mean it. What is on that medal, tobacco tar, rust, whatever was deposited through the lifetime of the medal. Perhaps you should consider leaving it alone. A nice like-new medal is alright but shows no character or personality. Quick story: I just received a group from India consisting of the India Independence Medal, 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal and 1939-45 War Medal. No more details as I will be posting it later. I purchased this group for many reasons but one was because it was already mounted with the original ribbons. The ribbons showed white stains from the brass polish that had been used by the recipient years ago. The stars now have a deep patina so the polish has been on the ribbons for a long time. When I received the group the dealer had disassembled the group so the shipping package could be smaller and therefore cheaper to post. I have the original ribbons but no backing board or pin attachment device. Since I like court mounting medals this is not a problem. The question is, now that they are no longer mounted do I remount using new ribbons or use the old ribbons complete with the stains? Or try to clean the ribbons. There is a post regarding this on the forum but the consiences of the respondents to the post is to NOT try to clean old ribbons. I shall proceed to mount this group using the original ribbons and the tailor's original needle holes to produce something close to the group as it was owned by the brave Havildar (same as a Sergeant) who was awarded these medals. Ok, so it was a long story. At least consider leaving this medal as is, you may be removing some of its personality. Regards Brian

Tobacco smoke stains are extremely easy to clean so Rick's suggestion to use only a Q-tip soaked in soapy water may do the trick IF it is indeed from cigarette smoke. Just water will not likely work as the tobacco tar will repell the water so making the water "wetter", which is what soap will do, is needed. When I was cleaning the butcher's scale I mention earlier the tar, which is what it actually is, ran off as a liquid as soon as the cleaner touched it. Think about what tobacco smoke is doing to lungs! End of sermon. Regards Brian

Hello JustinG. This is a very nice collection to the Kreigsmarine. I like that you have displayed them so well too. It must have taken a good deal of perseverance to have put this together in what Gordon called a "relatively short time". If you don't mind sharing this information, how long did it take? I've put together a set of Canadian hat badges to a specific WW II action and it took me three years to complete, but I admit I was not driven to complete it. Lucky for me the hat badges in my collection are not as rare as yours. Regards and cheers. Brian