Brian Wolfe

Nice indeed!

But it poses a question.... what was the 2nd medal found ? :-)

Hopefully not a DCM??

I think it was the IGS, perhaps Timo will weigh in to confirm this or correct my memory.

Brian

Sorry about that last photo post, I was trying to post both views but messed up.

Here's the rest of the naming.

I hope you like my new addition and the short history.

This is one of the treasures of my British collection.

Regards

Brian

The next two photos are of the naming on the medal.

Brian

Hello Everyone,

The story of this medal, as far as my collection is concerned, started about a year ago when I purchased a four clasp QSA from fellow GMIC member, Timo (aka Noor). The medal I purchased was to a member of the Manchester Regiment. A few months ago Timo contacted me regarding an email he had received from the collector who had sold him the same QSA in the past. I didn't ask permission of this fellow to use his name so I will not do so. It seems that this collector had sold the QSA and later found a second medal to the same recipient and wanted to see if he could arrange a reunite. Timo contacted me as he had sold the medal to me and, not wanting to prevent a reunite, I agreed and he put me in touch with the original owner. The second medal was the only other medal the recipient of the QSA I had was entitled to so this reunite would be the total entitlement, making the reunite even more important.

The collector offered a trade for another QSA with exactly the same four clasps as the one I had, plus it was to the same regiment. The condition of the one offered was far above the condition of the one I was willing to trade plus this new medal was the only medal the soldier named was entitled to. I could not have asked for more, better quality, documentation and the one medal was his complete entitlement. The greatest part was that I was able, as was Timo, to be involved in a reunite. Collecting does not get better than this. Thanks once again to Timo.

Here is the history of the recipient, I think you will find it worth your time to read.

2206 Pte. H. BOARDMAN. MANCH : REGt.

H. Boardman enlisted in the Manchester Regiment on 9.6.1888 at the Depot, Ashton-under-Lyne, on an 8 year Short Service engagement, using the alias James Shelmerdine. He stated he was 18 years 11 months old, a labourer, born at Manchester in July 1869 and that his father was Charles Shelmerdine, 19 Kennedy Street, Manchester. Some time later his records were altered to show James Shelmerdine as an alias and his real name as Boardman. His medal rolls show the initial H, but an entry on his records, show his initial as J. To confuse matters further, he had a tattoo on his left forearm of "RGB", suggesting yet another different Christian name. He was posted to 1st Bn. until 21.2.1890 when he was transferred to the 2nd Bn. in India, where he stayed until 16.2.1896 when he returned home for discharge to the Army Reserve. As a result of the Boer War he was recalled to the colours on 26.12.1899 and served in South Africa. For some unknown reason he was sent home for discharge on 5.6.1901 having completed over 13 years service. He was awarded a 5 pound war gratuity by the Captian commanding D Coy, The Depot, Manchester Regiment on 26.7.01 and was awarded the QSA with clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal and Wittebergen. He was later awarded the clasp South Africa 1901 in the 1903 supplementary roll.

Following are some photos of this fine medal.

Regards

Brian

Hi Tim,

That is interesting indeed. I'm pretty new to collecting Japanese medals but I've never seen one of these before. I hope other, more knowledgable, members will weigh in with their opinions.

Thanks for posting this interesting medal.

Regards

Brian

Very nice, I too am doing things like this all the time.

Please post them as we would like to see your work.

Regards

Brian

Thanks for your positive words gentlemen.

Regards

Brian

Many thanks fellows.

I look forward to adding to this section this summer when we are out and about.

Regards

Brian

This is the finished project. I don't know how many times I had to remove a medal and try again but finally I managed to complete it. The medals are not even at the bottom but I had to stop somewhere and I like the way it turned out. I've seen a lot worse work on original period groups.

I chose the 15 Year Long Service Cross as I had it on hand and from what I understand it cold have been the one on the original. In researching period groups containing the Long Service Cross I noticed that some were mounted with the number of years service as the obverse and others were with the Imperial Crown as the obverse. I decided to mount it with the crown showing.

Considering that I paid way too much for the ribbon bar I'm not sure I would do this again, (we all know I probably will), but it was a fun project and I didn't stab my finger even once with the needle.

I hope you like my newest addition to the collection.

Regards

Brian

This is the view of the back. I won't show it again as it looks the same in the finished state.

I have no qualms that this is an original bar, especially considering the condition.

Hello Everyone,

Last year I purchased an Imperial German medal bar that had lost its medals. I'm sure someone had removed the medals and sold them as singles thereby destroying the group. Since I already had replacements for the missing medals I decided to purchase the bar.

The next step would be to reaffix the medals to the bar. How hard could that be, I'm thinking. Once the bar arrived I could see this was going to be quite the task as I had forgotten about the metal plate upon which Imperial medals are mounted. Using curved sewing needles I was, after a lot of tedious work, able to once again see the bar as it may have once appeared.

I'll post the ribbon bar, as it looked when it arrived, first and then the finished project.

Regards

Brian

This section is where you can post your photos of museums and their collections. In order for this section to also serve as a quick reference for the membership please use the name of the city, followed by the type of museum it is, in your Topic Title. This will allow members to quickly find museums in their areas or in cities they are planning to visit.

For example,

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: National War Museum

The "Topic Description (Optional)" can then be used for any additional information.

I look forward to an interesting and informative section.

Regards

Brian

Come on Brian, you don't really expect us to wait until next christmas do you? Some of us may be dead and/or the topic may have been removed.

Reveal all, well not quite my friend, as I can't wait to see what you have there

Stuart

I would but you know what a "pill" I can be, besides it really is worth waiting to see.

Regards

Brian

Hello Trakkles,

Thank you for posting this wonderful collection.

It was most enjoyable to view it with my coffee this morning.

Regards

Brian

Excellent find.

"Amazing" is not enough to say about this group.

Regards

Brian

One of the best purchases for my collection was made from a fellow GMIC member.

I don't have permission to use his name so I will just say to him, "Thanks again for making it possible for me to add this group and ribbon bar to my collection".

Regards

Brian

Most enjoyable, thanks for taking the time and effort to post these images.

Regards

Brian

An excellent addition to your magnificent collection.

Now to review the whole post, as I do from time to time,especially over as coffee on a sunny Sunday such as today.

Thanks for not only posting your latest addition but taking the time to display your whole collection.

When Linda sees me looking at your collection she just says, "No! No! Bad Brian bad!

As if I'd be tempted to collect.

Regards

Brian

Damn.... I thought you were going to liven up my weekend with tales of your youth and ladies of easy virtue.. :-(

Ha ha.

My youth and ladies of easy virtue = Zzzzz

Regards

Brian

is it spelled "Horr"?

Darn! I hate it when that happens. No, It should have been "horror".

Thanks for pointing that out.

Are you able to make those changes as I am unable to correct the title arae of the post.

Thanks Chris.

Regards

Brian

Finally the framed document that was unharmed. I have covered the document because I am waiting until Christmas to reveal it to the membership. No it's not a naughty picture (in case you were wondering).

It is always a treat to open parcels but parcels such as this are the best of the best.

I hope you liked my little photo documentry.

Regards

Brian

Next I opened the cardboard wrap that was exposed after the outter shell had been removed. This revealed the bubble wrapped item.

This is the package as it looked after the tape and the first layer of heavy plastic was removed. It reminded me of biology class witout the smell of formaldehyde.

I really can't say enough good things about Canada Post, the Royal Mail and the U.S. Postal service, I've found them to be top notch. I know there are many who would not agree and perhaps I have been lucky. It is some "shippers" that I have issues with.

Canada Post will place a damaged package into a plastic bag and tag it as damaged. Then you can inspect it and, if necessary, make a claim. Some of these bags have contained letter-style envelopes with one or two medals in the group contained within dangling from a tear in the thin paper envelope, some have contained the broken glass shards of framed pictures. I usually put these in new frames anyway so no big deal.

This post is in regard to the second well packed item that arrived earlier this week.

The package arrived looking like it had been vacumed packed. At first I thought it was a shippment of yarn, wool or cloth material for Linda as she is always receiving such parcels and some of these dealers actually vac-pack the items. The package turned out to be mine and contained an item in a frame. I will not show the item in the frame as it is of a WWI Christmas theme and I intend to post it next Christmas, so you have a little under 12 months to wait. I think it is a cool item.

The following series of photos shows the packing job that resulted in an unbroken delivery of a framed item with the glass intact. The first photo is the package as I received it.

Regards

Brian

Hello Everyone,

Earlier this week I received a package that contained my latest addition to my optics collection. The item had been wrapped in bubble pak and then surrounded with those Styrofoam "peanuts" and shipped in a heavy gage cardboard box. When I opened the box and dug down through the Styrofoam "peanuts" what I found looked like a leg of mutton wrapped in bubble pack. This got me thinking about all of the great packing jobs, like this one, and all of the disasters I've encountered over the years.

I would like to hear about your stories both good and bad regarding packages you have received. I'll post a few to start things off, please add to them and lets see who comes up with the best and worst experiences. I have one to post with photos but I am sure,like the rest of my stories, you may not have taken photos. No problem, your written words and our imaginations will do the trip, I mean trick. My mind must have drifted back to the 1960s for a moment.

Oh yes, the tip (so this post fits the category).

I've shipped everything from cast iron to porcelain plates, so thin you could see through them, with no problems. I use crumpled news paper. Wrap the item in tissue paper so the newsprint ink will not get on the item and then pack crumpled news paper around the item. Those Styrofoam shapes are good for sturdy metal objects but not delicate china etc. Styrofoam shapes will transfer the shock wave through each piece and then breaking porcelain and glass objects. Crumpled news paper will absorb the shock wave well before it reaches the packed item.

Please add your tips and your experiences. Not only will it be interesting but educational. That almost sounds like something you'd say to get your kids tricked into playing an educational video game.

Regards

Brian