Brian Wolfe

I wish I had said that first Frank, I totaly concur. Beautiful helmets and to think that they have survived this long in such good condition. Thanks to Mervyn and Stuart for posting them. Regards Brian

Hi Sarge Booker, Very nice drawings, you have quite the talent and an eye for detail. Thanks for posting them. Regards Brian

Hi Mervyn, I do have different hardwood shapes in the shop for just this type of repair. I'll post the results, unless I mess it up then I'll just let it be forgotten. Regards Brian

Here is the reverse of the brassard showing the loops and the bent rim. I have another brassard that I will post later showing the leather staps which are missing with this example. Regards Brian

Hello Everyone, Here is one of the latest additions to my collection of Special Constabulary brassards. This one is from Cambridge, I work out of Cambridge Ontario Canada but this one, of course, is from the U.K. The brassard is stamped out of non-ferrous metal, perhaps brass and measures 50.5 mm wide and 71 mm in height, The brassard was held on to leather straps (missing) by two brass "handle-shaped" loops on the rear of the badge. The rim has been bent and at first glance makes the brassard look like it has facets around the rim. In fact when I first saw it on the internet I thought it did have facets, though this has turned out to be an illusion. I really like this brassard with the officer's number and an impressive coat of arms of the city. I hope you like it as well. Regards Brian

Hi Mervyn, I agree that many countries that use this "decoration" are not Hindu and that has always made me wonder about this story. However, I would have to say that the use as a blade catcher or breaker, for that matter, is doubtful. While the kris is a fragile weapon at the best of times the "breaker" would give well before the opponet's blade would ever break. One of the problems with using a blade breaker, or grabbing an arm band as suggested in another post on police arm bands, is that while your weapon or sleeve has been tied up an experienced fighter can make this his advantage. I would say that whatever this is or was meant to be has evolved into a decoration, or symbol. I have never seen a robust example of one of these that would serve as a blade catch or breaker from which these could have evolved into a decorative symbol. I've had several kukri over the years and only kept the one I posted as I liked the overall style and the area we are discussing is "closed" rather than the usual "open" design. Another interesting thing about your kris is that as you noted the brass piece abutting the handle is a lotus which appears in both Hindu and Buddhist religion and art. I have a book with an extensive section on the kris which I will try to find (darn renovations!). I hope other members will add to what I think is an interesting topic. Thnaks for starting it Mervyn. Regards Brian

Hi Mervyn, I have read that the area you refer to as a "V" found on the kris as well as the kukri is meant to represent the trident of the Hindu God Siva. Years ago it was said to be a blood-letting device as you are not to draw the weapon unless you "spill" blood. I think this was more of a Western misconception of the notch and the representation of the God the more likely. As always, I stand to be corrected. Regards Brian

Hello Mervyn, Yes the word at the top of the medal is "Royal". I have no idea of the origins of this medal other than what is was awarded for. There is a great temptation to start collecting these but I need to keep my focus to the areas I have decided to concentrate on otherwise I'll be broke. Hello Thomas, I agree with you completely. I do hope you didn't think I was making light of any addictions. I know all too well how serious this can be, however, making light of it does help at times. I don't want to get this but opinions to drunkeness have changes so much even in my lifetime. The comedian whose act is based on being drunk is no longer accepted by society, thank goodness. My comment was simply poking fun (in a good natured way) at men and women who have served, it was not meant as a slight. Not that you are sayng it was, I am just making it clear that there was no ill will in the post. Regarding battlefields, I doubt anyone can really imagine to the fullest the horrors of being on such fields. I recall the reaction to the movie "Saving Private Ryan" regarding the landings on D-Day. Men who were there said they had never seen a movie that was so close to the real thing. Note the wording "close" as this movie was still not accurate in presenting what it was like. True horror. Hello Peter, It must have been a monumental change in attitude brought on be the seriousness of the situation in the military at the time. The creation of so many programs to actually improve the quality of life for the soldiers took some "out of the box" thinking for the times. The idea of military life of the time with nothing but drinking as a break in the monotony must have been devastating to the moral of the men, both to those who did and did not turn to alcohol. Regards to all, Brian

Mr. Gates and his kind are examples of a new generation of ultra rich. In past years the weatlth giants were self-indulgent but today they are not content to sit on their wealth and "play". I salute Mr. Gates for his efforts to make this a better place in which to live for those less fortunate. Regards Brian

I have always been interested in these but only have one in my collection. It too is hallmarked and silver. It is hard to imagine that the military could be so "lost" to drink to actually need such medals to award temperance. Such a different world compaired with today where it is hard to find an off duty military man or police officer in his cups. I understand that there were many sports clubs started within the military of the times to give soldiers more to do with their off hours than drink. Cheers Brian

Building is complete, now for the clean up and remembering where I put everything . Cheers Brian

The Staffordshire knot has been used by the Satffordshire Police for well over 100 years back at least to the Victorian period. When the Staffordshire County Police and the Stoke on the Trent City Police amalgamated in 1968 there was a discussion with the College of Heraldry who stated that the police could not use the knot as it actually belonged to the Stafford family. Things got ironed out and the knot remained in use by the Staffordshire Police. I have a complete history of the Staffordshire knot somewhere but we are in the process of some renovations and I can not locate it at the moment. When I do I will post the full history. There is a story that the knot was developed by an executioner when he needed to hang three criminals at one time. This is a good story but knowledagble sources I have personaly contacted tell me it is just that...a story. Check out my Staffordshire Collection on the GMIC Members Gallery for more photos of Staffordshire Police memorabilia. I have included a photo of my latest addition here but have not had the time to add it to my gallery. My photo area is also packed away so the lighting is a little to be desired. This is a lapel button for off duty wear from the George V (World War 1) period. Regards Brian

These are really nice, thanks for posting them. I've seen them in use, as I am sure have other members, on documents rergarding riots in India and Pakistan. A fearsome weapon indeed. Regards Brian

Thanks for adding this information to the post. It is most interesting. Regards Brian

Thank you for sharing these photos with us Richard. Very nice uniforns indeed and that helmet.... Regards Brian

Hi Ian, Thanks for pointing that out. A number of years ago when I was putting together the bulk of the Specials collection I had missed this and then forgot about looking for one. Well, I now have one in the collection. Ouch, they are not cheap! This one was issued to William T. May who served with the Devon Police Service. It came with a small group which I will post at a later date when time and energy permits. Thanks again for jogging my memory. Regards Brian

Hello Alan, Sorry for the long delay in responding, for some reason I missed your post back in May. I can not make out the hat badge in that photo and I've been trying to match up the general shape with other on the internet without any luck. Maybe some day I'll run on to the correct match, until then it is a mystery. Regards Brian

Hi Mark, Thanks for your comments they were very informative indeed. The miniature in my photo is actually very dark, to the point of being black, in real light. While my collection has indeed been polished sometime in the distant past they are actually darker than the photos show. I hope others will post their Khedive"s Stars as well. Regards Brian

Great idea Laurence. I would have never thought of using one of these for anything but family photos. I suppose one could also take photos of their favourite medal groups and do the same. Thanks for the suggestion. Regards Brian

Here is the reverse of the two medals. The reverse shows the fortress at Jamrud in the Khyber Pass. For "type" medal collectors, which is what I am for the most part, the 1908 is a sweet medal to collect. Once you have laid out the cash for the silver and the bronze this part of the collection is complete. Unlike the IGS medals of King George V, which are numerous but for the most part affordable. I won't even get started on the cost of the Victorian era medals! Of course if you are like me there is never a time when you can actually say, "there, that's it, I'm done" as there is always just one more to add. Regards Brian

Hello Everyone, I have always been interested in India and India's history both pre and post Indepencence. It would seem that there was always a lot of "problems" in the North West Frontier during the time of the British Raj and therefore it is ripe with history. The North East Frontier was probably just as volatile but that, as they say, is another story. The 1908 IGS, North West Frontier Medal was issued in both silver and bronze. The bronze was to non-combatants such as labourers. The silver was, of course, for the regular military. Here is a short history of the campaigns that prompted the issuance of this medal. On the North West Frontier of India British and Indian forces launched campaigns in 1908 against the Zakka Khel and the Mohmands. The Zakka Khel were located south of the Khyber Pass and was the lesser of the two campaigns. The more serious campaign was against the Hill Mohmands who were located north of Peshawar. Both of theses groups were long standing enemies of the British and were responsible for countless raids into British held India for years. The British launched many punitive campaigns against such tribes along the northern frontier in an attempt to stop such raids and to bring peace to the area. For more information check out Peter Duckers book on the subject, it is a wortwhile and very informative piece of work. The two medals posted today are: On the left, the bronze medal awarded to: Grass Cutter Amar or the 19th Lancers. On the right, the silver version awarded to: 3482 Sepoy Sher Singh or the 59th Rifles. As always anyone wishing to post their specimens on my post or has any comments are most welcome.

Hi Will, Very nice collection and I like the way you have displayed your specimens. Your post has also answered the earlier question regarding the Tokar bar. It makes sence that the bar would also be found on stars other than the undated version. Thank you for posting your Khedive's Stars and the information that this has added. Regards Brian

I have always been under the assumption that any British recipients were also awarded the Star. Perhaps those other than British were only awarded the medal? In this hobby sweeping statements and assumptions are quite often proven incorrect as there seems to be a lot of Egypt Medals on the market compaired to the availablilty of the Stars. It makes me wonder if the issue of both was not as common as I have been lead to believe. I do not believe there were any bars other than the Tokar bar and that seems to have been only for the undated medal. I suppose that if a recipient of one of the dated stars were to have been involved in the Tokar operation a bar would have been issued for his medal as well though I've never seen one. Regards Brian

The last offering of today's post is the undated version for the 1888 or 1891 operations. There is one clasp for the star, "Tokar", which is found on the undated version. Yet something else to add to the collection and eventually to this post. Time and money, time and money, so little of each. I hope you like my post and please feel free to add to it. The Tokar clasp would be nice to see. Hint, hint. Regards Brian

The 1884-6 issue for service in the Nile and Eastern Sudan Campaigns. With the Star is its miniature of contemporary mint. The dates are too small to show up in the photo. The medal is a lot darker than is show here, it's a lighting/photographer thing.