Brian Wolfe

Hello Uwe, Thank you very much for the translation. Cheers Brian

Thanks Chip, I had a feeling that I would have to admit to my wife that she was correct. Good thing I didn't buy it thinking it was Hindenburg in the first place. Cheers Brian

This is as close as I can get with my little 8.0 mp Kodak. I used my Photoshop, zoomed in as close as possible, printed it off and photographed the printout. Our scanner will not allow us to send images and we only use it as a photocopier so this is as good as I can get. Here's is where it gets embarrassing. I would like to just ask if anyone can identify this officer but it is obvious I am hoping it is a photo of Paul von Hindenburg. I tried to compare this photo with others on the internet and for sale in e$cam but I can't find anything from the 1911 period. There are lots of photos of Hindenburg in the early 1930s and portrait paintings but nothing of him at this period. What is your opinion? Laughter at my question is expected, but try to be kind. Cheers Brian

Here's a closer look at the officer in question.

Here is the photo of the officer. He is photographed on a street of some sort but I have tried to get a close photo of the officer so the left hand side of the photo is not in the posted photo.

Here is the address and post mark.

Hello Everyone, The other day I picked up some photo postcards in an antiques mall I frequent. This particular one caught my eye, it was far in the rear of the cabinet and I couldn't see it well but liked the officer and horse, so I purchased it for $6.00. It was titled, "Pre War German Officer on horse". The postcard photo was taken in 1911, I'm not sure of the postmark but I think it could be 13 Aug. 1911. After I got it home and started to look at it closer the officer seemed familiar. The message on the back is simply signed "Paul". Can anyone translate the message? This was removed from an album and the black is the black paper from the album. Your help is greatly appreciated. As to his identity please keep looking as the photos will follow below. Many thanks. Cheers Brian

Hi Seanus, Thanks for the information. I'll check out your website. Cheers Brian

Thanks Chip, I ran a printout of the piece and will keep it with the postcard as I will probably never own the actual item. Thanks for the additional information. Cheers Brian

Watching with great anticipation. Cheers Brian

Far from boring, I really like seeing restored items especially when they reveal hidden treasures. Thanks for posting them. Well done. Cheers Brian

I forgot to ask. Would this thread include BWM/Victory Medal pairs as well? Cheers Brian

Hi censlenov, Here's a group to PTE. WILLIAM FEARN FOUNTAIN, 86th Canadian Machine Gun Brigade. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal while serving with the 1st York Regiment (7 years). Cheers Brian

Many thanks Rick. Brian

Here's what got me excited (I don't have much of a life). The back of the postcard has everyone identified! I can't read it but I think it is really great to have their names. I don't know why the writing in in red as well as black. Could the names be in red and the "occupation" be in black? I see three with "Graha" in black under their names(?). I think the unit may be identified at the top. Can anyone help with the translation? Their Commanding Officer is at the bottom but I don't think he is in the photo. Thanks for any help you can give me. Cheers Brian

I had to zoom in on this guy. He looks to me like he can hardly wait to give the enemy the whole "Nine Yards". By the way that's where that saying comes from, in case there are one or two members who haven't heard that one yet. The British machine gun belts were 9 yards long. So, "Give them the whole nine yards" was a deadly command. Can anyone identify what the badge is that most are wearing on their right chest? I've used a very strong magnifing loop (30X) but I can't make out the detail. Please keep going the good stuff in on the back of the postcard.

Hello Everyone, I have enjoyed the photos of machine gun groups that have been posted on the forum and have been watching for some of my own. Any photos whether postcard or actual photos showing soldiers with equipment usually commands quite a higher price tag than photos of only soldiers in uniform. I picked this one up at an antiques mall that I frequent on Friday. I think they are Austrians and the dealer's price tag suggested that they were. The sign in front of this group is not readable even under very high magnification. It looks like it was intentionally erased after the original photo was taken but before it was made into the postcards. Would this be a security measure? Could the photographer have erased the sign's information to keep the identity of the regiment classified? There's more to this photo but I'll write about that as I upload the photos. I hope you like my new addition. Cheers Brian

Hi Tony, I wanted to post the reverse of the pins I posted earlier but the internet kept going down here. It had been kicking me out so-to-speak every 10 to 20 minutes. I hope today it is in a better mood. The pin to the right is a Canadian issue with the prefix "C". The pin was replaced by me and I made it from stainless steel. It looks a little too long for the badge but I took the measurements and shape directly from a Canadian badge that I borrowed from a fellow collector. The one on the left has no prefix and I was told it was a British issue. Is this likely or just a dealer's pitch to get me to purchase? I noticed that this badge has a ring on the top on the back just above the crown. It would look as though this was meant to allow the badge to be worn in a broach-style or worn from a chain in a pendant fashion. Is this a common practice in the manufacture of the British issue? Could this have been a style issued to female recipients allowing them a choice of wearing styles? I understand these were worn on civilian clothing and not of the service uniform so the regulations as to proper wear would probably be more relaxed. Cheers Brian

Hi Tony, Here's the SWBs I have in my collection. I've photographed them with the first type called the Army Overseas Service Class "A" badge issued to the CEF. The other badges are referred to as the Army Overseas Service Class "B" badge. The Class "A" badges were clearly marked CEF and For Service at the Front. The Class "B" badges were for service in the United Kingdom or for service at the front. There is a Class "C", which I thought I had in my collection but now see I don't, was for those who did not qualify for either of the two previously mentioned awards. The one pictured to the right is like yours and the one to the left appears to be made of a higher silver content going by the patina. The numbering is a different size and the pins run differently on the two badges, this can be seen better in the second photo. I was not aware there were any lists available that could reveal who was issued with a particular badge. I know there are partial lists for the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve pins but they are in no particular order, or so I have been informed. Cheers Brian

Hi Miguel, I can not add to what has been said but I wanted to add that in your photo it looks like you have used an alligator clamp to hole the medal. I hope you do not use this on "good" medals as I fear it would leave teeth marks on the medal's surface. If you need to hole a medal to photograph might I suggest you use a wooden cloths pin at least. Or better yet place the medal on the top of a film can or other round shape and photograph the medal's edge from the side. Just a suggestion. Cheers Brian

Here's my Khedive's Star collection. I'm not sure if I've posted this set before but I thought it would go well here. I was too lazy to take them out of the drawer I keep them in for the photo so I hope the lighting is good enough. Cheers Brian

Hi Sabrigade, Nice find. I'm still looking for "mine". Thnaks for posting it. Cheers Brian

For the most part the Mauser is a nicely made piece of technology but I think it would need a lot more care in the field than the Enfield. For hunting I would take the Mauser over the Enfield but for the use they were intended I would rather have the Enfield. Then again perhaps as Chris has stated it could be a matter of nationality in my choice. Cheers Brian

Hello HeikoGrusdat, There are not enough words to properly describe what has been done to this medal bar and I am fluent in both English and Profanity. The recipient has long past from this world and now someone has erased what little material proof of his existance was left. This is a crime against history itself. A very shameful and sad act indeed. Brian

Hi Uwe, Thank you very much for the translation. Cheers Brian