Brian Wolfe

Here is the reverse.

Hello Everyone, I purchased three medals a while ago that were sold as German. One I've posted on the Identification thread as I cannot find it any where. The other two I know are German but I have some questions about the ribbon being correct. The one I am posting here is a commemoritive medal from Baden. The ribbon that came with it looks like the Fire Services Long Service ribbon (blue and white stripes) only I think it is too wide for even that at 36 mm. I believe the Fire Service ribbon is narrower. I have showed this medal along side another Baden commemorative in the last photo and would like to know if this medal would take the same ribbon. Your help is, as always, greatly appreciated. Regards Brian Oops I've posted it twice. Sorry.

Nice collection and thanks for sharing them with us and a belated happy birthday to your Enfield as well. When I read your post I could help but think that it is interesting that those who like all matching serial numbers and those who would rather have a weapon that "saw" action both see thenselves as purists. Happy new year and good collecting for 2011. Regards Brian

Congratulations on a great addition to your collection, Matt. Regards Brian

Regarding the time machine. I think there may be a few members, myself included, who would first use it to avoid ever meeting the ex-wife, or in my brother's case the first 4 ex-wives. What is the malfunction with little brothers? Regards (still in the present) Brian

This made me recall the prices of the times and it made me wish for that same machine, Dan. Like many of my fellow elder members I was collecting during that time period, the problem was that I was being paid at the rate of the times so much was still out of the reach of my modest income. Thanks for posting this, it was quite nostalgic. Regards Brian

Thanks fellows, I am indeed a luck guy. Regards Brian

Here is the reverse. What looks like rust on the frame is actually the silver which has tarnished. I attempted to take a photo that showed this better but the camera and my photographic skills are not good enough. I hope you like the cross, I sure do. It is one of my prised possessions, as you can well imagine. Regards and all the best of the season. Brian

Hello Everyone, Much to my surprise one of my Christmas gifts this year from my youngest daughter and her boy friend was this 1914 EK 2 with the ring marked S-W. More amazing than the cross was the story behind the gift. If there is one area my youngest daughter, or any of my other four children for that matter, has not interest in it's military history and even less so for the collecting of medals. It seems she figured this lack of interest on her part would make the surprise even greater, which it was. She started by contacting, by email, my good friend and fellow GMIC member, Samir, in India, for his advice on what to buy and where to purchase a medal. He coached her and suggested a dealer we both purchase from who has a shop in the Toronto area. So Lacey and Alex set out for the shop of emedals which is about an hour's drive from here. The weather would have stopped me from such a trip at this time or the year but being young and a young lady on a mission she, well "they", braved the weather and made the trip. They had checked the other Iron Crosses in my collection to make sure they got one that I didn't have before the journey. Now, the family is more than welcome in my collection room but going in the room is right up there with catching spiders, that seems to be something only for Dad. I think the biggest suprrise was to realize that someone has been listening to me when I have been prattling on about collecting and my collector friends. You just never know who's listening. I'll "pencil" Lacey back into the will now. Regards Brian

Hi Darrell, What a magnificent medal and with the supporting documentation makes this one great find. A nice addition to your collection and thanks for sharing it. Regards Brian

Hello Graeme, I hope you mean that you are in good spirits otherwise, like Stuart in Australia, you have your globe mounted the wrong way around. Cheers Brian

Well done Hugh. Regards Brian

Hello Graeme, This is listed in the book, "Medals Catalogue of Pakistan" by Yahya Qureshi and Rafiq Kasbati under the section dealing with Pakistan Police, United Nations and Other Medals (pg. 42). There is not much information regarding this medal but it identifies it as, "Sitara-i-Basalat" and says, "This is old desigh of Sitara-i-Basalat". From what I can make out from the photograph in the book the ribbon has a central dark blue stripe with a red stripe on each side of the central stripe with light blue stripes as the borders. As to the traslation I can not be of any assistance at all. I hope this gives you a point of reference from which to continue your research. Please keep us posted with what you discover as time passes and I will do the same. Regards Brian

Hi Mervyn, I can see why this pair was sold quickly. I'm sure there will be many members hoping, while reading your post, that this pair will be available for purchase. Thank you for taking the time to share this pair of medals with us, especially considering it was gone so quickly. Regards Brian

Looks like a case of the veteran thinking that he would do what he wanted regardless of the "new" regulations. I like this one. Regards Brian

Hello Nick, Just to add a little more to this thread, here is a photo of the same two medals but with the traditional Austrian ribbon mounts. Regards Brian

Herllo Rudi, Exquisite is the word that comes to mind to describe this medal and case. It was indeed a pleaseure to see this and many thanks for sharing it. Regards Brian

Hello Mervyn, To your statement about why we (well, not "we" including me) post such photos you are spot on. I find these shots of such ceremonies most interesting. I like to look at the secondary characters to see their impressions and expressions when they are clear enough to see. Thank you for posting them. Regards Brian

Hello Dieter3, Congratulations on a fine example to add to your collection. Regards Brian

Dan, Now I'll have to leave you my cabinet shop as well. Many regards Brian

Hi Dan, That's good to know as none of my family is interested in my collection. Since you are the first to ask.... On the other hand I am working on a plan to take it with me. I'll keep you posted on how that works out. I think the point I was trying to make (poorly, as turns out) is that a collector who has purchased something legally from an honest source does not owe it to the family to return it. In one of the cases I mentioned the lady was very ignorant and demanded I return the medals at my loss, turns out her only connection was the last name. I agree with both you and Chris, it's up to the present owner and each case may be a different set of circumstances. Regards Brian

In the past couple of years I have been contacted by these so-called "family members" who want their family's medals returned. I have contacted these folks and, not being one to concern myself about a profit, have offered to sell them back for exactly what I paid. Both cases wanted the medals back at my cost and loss! First of all, what makes anyone think they are entitled to "family" medals once they have been sold? Someone has decided to sell the medal or medals; it was a legal transaction no different than any other legal transaction. Sure, we can get all warm and fuzzy and return the medals to the family, if that is what you are going for. The original soldier was the one who earned the award not somebody years and years later who can only claim association through DNA. If you are looking for a warm and fuzzy then donate some cash to the Salvation Army. I know this sounds cold hearted and one might say, "Sure, easy for you to say because it was not your family members medals". True, however, late last year a I located a group of three Canadian medals, two WWII and a CD (the only one named), and I was sure it was a family member. I ended up paying $650.00 Canadian for the group which is one heck of a high price. I didn't and don't see this group as being rightfully mine. Well, actually I do now as I own them outright. One must be careful about falling into the trap set by those wanting something for nothing, they may only be related by name only and not by direct blood line (or DNA). If someone wants something "back" then they will make an offer befitting their desire to reclaim the item. Everything has a price tag and the fact that someone is not willing to even pay a reasonable price is proof of my statement. Keep the medal, it's yours, no difference between you having it or a museum, bottom line is that it no longer is in the hands of the soldier's family. Who knows, if he were alive today he might not even like them or they him, for that matter. I guess this would be a bad time to say Merry Christmas. Regards Brian

Is it possible that the fellow in the first photo is holding a studio prop? It may have been a matter that he showed up in uniform sans a rifle and this one was handy. I know this used to happen here in Canada though it was usually a riding crop. The Japanese lower ranks would often borrow a sword from an NCO for their photo, it must have confused the folks back home when the letter and photo arrived. Just a thought. Regards Brian

Hello SWL, The brass oil bottle like the one Kev has shown above can be purchased on eBay without a lot of money being spent. That's where I got mine, too bad I sold my Lee Enfield collection years ago. Ah, lots of regrets. Regards Brian

Hi DAnny, Nice addition, I wish to add one to my collection some day if time and the bank are kind. Well done. Regards Brian