Brian Wolfe

Hi Mervyn, Now that you mention this I do recall reading somewhere that this damage is sometimes done by the relitives. It is really a poor attempt and not "buffed" out by a jeweller. I will try to post a photo of the damage later today. Regards Brian

Thanks Kevin, I look forward to seeing your items. I am really happy to see the support this thread is getting. I've learned more that I could have ever dreamed since starting it. Regards Brian

You're right, the trip was worth it. Congrats on the additions to your collection. Regards Brian

Hi Tim, Thanks for the photo that certianly makes the answer to my question very clear. Would the ends of the attachment device cause sctraches on the reverse of the medal? It looks like it might very well cause damage through the wearing of the bar. If this is so then do you encounter such damage on single medals from time to time; this would, in my mind, indicate that the single medal has been a part of a medal group at one time. I don't collect Japanese medals though I keep fighting the temptation as they would go well with my Japanese sword collection. As if a collector ever needed a reason to collect something new! Regards Brian

Hello Everyone, Here's mine. The lighting in my collection room is not good for photography and the frame is just too heavy to take down so I apologize for the quality of the photo. The sources of glare are from the ceiling spot-lights and my poor old bald pate. I purchased this probably 30 years ago at a local gun show where it was being used as a table cloth under a mix of hunting and military rifles. I was lucky that the fellow was not keen on any sort of oiling on the surface of the weapons and so the flag was not damaged. I had to pay a bit more to convince him to take all of the items off the flag but it was worth it (in my opinion). Last weekend my sister-in-law who is from China was surprised to see the Japanese flag with what she, at first glance, thought was Chinese writing on it. This was the first time she has been in the collection room; I'm picky who I let in my collection room and since they have been married for three years now I figured the marrige has "taken". I was surprised that she could read a lot of the flag's Kanji though she cautioned that the meanings might not be 100% accurate. Some day I would like to get it translated. As may show up in the photo mine has the corner reinforcement and what's left of the original strings. Regards Brian

I thought I'd get my Special Constabulary brassards together in a display case, at least for a while. I like to change-up the display case once in a while. I have other cloth brassards but they are in another cabinet and there really wasn't room for them all. I hope you like them. Regards Brian

As I have said on many occasions I like groups that include the Special Constabulary L.S.G.C. Medal. It shows, to me at least, that the Specials were indeed special in that they and were, and are for that matter, community-minded individuals. Here is a group to PTE. F. (Frank) ROWE R.A.M.C. with the SC Medal and bar for 1941. Pte. Frank Rowe joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and had a regimental number of 25, which I would think would have been an early enlistment. I have not researched this further at this point and when I do I will add the information to this post. He survived the Great War and served as a Special during the rein of King George V (post WWII). The bar suggests that he served through the Second World War and was also arawded the Defence Medal. Now for some interesting things about this group. An attempt to erase the R.A.M.C. from the BWM and the Victory Medal has been made. The name and regigmental number remained untouched. It was as if he wanted to erase the memory of serving in the Medical Corps yet he was proud of having served his country during the conflict. Looking at both medals I could make out what I thought was R.A.M.C. Then checking the Archives for the name and regimental number I verified that this was indeed the correct unit. It makes me wonder what horrors he may have seen to make him want to erase the unit from his medals, and possibly his memory. Further to his credit, no matter what he had experienced during the war he went on to serve his community afterward and then through the Second World War. Yet another group of medals to a fellow of sterling character. Regards Brian

I just got this nice little lapel pin in and wamted to show it off. It is 18mm wide and 21mm in height. The pin has the standard spike on the back with the typical "pinch" holder to keep it on the jacket. It is marked JEEVES LTD., WATERLOO, LIVERPOOL on the back. While it is a small item I do like the green enamel work around the Staffordshire knot and the red enamel in the crown. Thanks for taking a look. Regards Brian

I've never seen any of these at all. I'm probably the only member reading this post that has not seen one. I assume the medal was afixed to the individual metal pieces and then that was attached to the bar. In what time period would this have been used? Regards Brian

That is indeed a very nice badge. Would this have a pin back and would this be worn on a uniform or only on civilian dress? Regards Brian

Very impressive Chris. Thanks for showing it to us. Almost as nice as a medal. Regards Brian

Thanks for clearing that up Chris. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how anyone could write anything on the flag without it showing through. Regards Brian

No prpoblem. I really appreciate your efforts and look forward top the information. Regards Brian

Very nice Mervyn, I had one that was a lot longer made for the USN (U.S.Navy). Other than the N.S.N. stamp it was maked and had a label just like your's. As soon as I traded it I regretted doing so, but "thems the breaks". Regards Brian

Hello Para38, Welcome to the GMIC. If possible it would probably be best if you could post in English, while I can read your post I know it would not take too long before you lost me if the post was too long or complicated. My French is poor at best. Regards Brian

Hi Chris, A box for shipping stick grenades? Perhaps it is too short for that but that's my guess. Brian

Hello Chris, I agree with Satsuma in that you should see the writing coming through the reverse side of the flag. At least this is the case in all of the ones I've seen, including the one I have. These are indeed messages of well-wishers. Another common wish, which is on my example, is for a long and glorious career in the military. I do not agree that the stains are necessarily blood, it is however a common myth. I would suggeest that these are sweat stains. These were stored in the soldier's helmet to provide additional padding and therefore were susceptible to staining. I would be interested in what the other members have to say. Regards Brian

Your collection never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for posting these great items. Regards Brian

Hello Tomas, This is a very interesting, and I would think, unique artifact. Thanks for sharing it with us. Regards Brian

Hi Paul, Thank you for this new information. It is a welcomed addition to my data bank on PC. C. Fairbrass. Regards Brian

Hi Damian, I think you mean Mervyn; he posted the photos. You can tell the difference between us as I am the good looking, yet incredibly modest, fellow. Regards Brian

Hello Beau, Congratulations on some very nice finds. Regards Brian

Outstanding! Words just can't do this justice. Thanks for sharing it with us. Regards Brian

Very impressive collection, thanks for sharing it with us. Regards Brian

An interesting spear and impressive bindings. Thanks for the history as well, it certianly makes this post a source for research. Regards Brian