Mike McLellan

It’s much too tempting to assume that RBR stands for Royal Something Regiment. After we eliminate the obvious Berkshire, Borders, Bermuda, etc , there are very few to zero in upon, even among the amalgamated regiments. I would almost wager that it was not a Royal regiment, but rather a privately sponsored entity with or without official endorsement. I think that it’s also safe to say that it is now defunct but still within the grasp of a zealous historian. Good luck! Mike.

The inclusion of the order of Medjidieh makes this one beautiful trifecta of the Crimean War. The box, regardless of outward appearance, is icing on the cake. Stunning. I’d love to hear more about Capt. Stuart. Mike

Haven’t a clue, but very, very nice. Mike.

Wow! That was fast! What were the ribbons that sealed your search? The orders? At any rate, nice job

Wessel, the WW I Victory medal was a multi-national medal which is discussed at great length in its own section of this site. The WW II victory medal, however, was a US medal, and would not be worn on the uniform shown above. There’s no reason to suppose that the Colonel was attached to any American Outfit. Mike.

S.A.C. : South African Constabulary? Mike

Beautiful! Mike

Okay Wessel, my vote is the Glengarry. If you mount it in a box type frame, it can lay flat and be recognizable as a hat. The tam, once it’s smooshed flat will be unrecognizable. On a mannequin, either will look nice. Better yet, get another badge and display both hats. Mike.

Quite an impressive ribbon. That number will be critical in either finding your man, or confirming his identity once you narrow your search down by slogging through the archives at Kew. The number itself is a bit of a puzzle. Is it 1090 ? Or 16905 or...? I think it’s traceable, but it’ll take some detective work. Start with the London Gazette Archives. Good luck! Mike By the way, Wessel, the Victory Medal was not an American medal exclusively.

Thanks, Mike. The added E looks rather crudely done. The owner might have felt that identifying the squadron was as important as identifying the individual. Certainly a team player. Was this squadron particularly notable in any of its exploits? Mike.

Thanks for posting, G. I don’t know why, but I expected to see greater similarities between your number 1 and Bob’s oak truncheon. Given the rush for equipment, early on, I expected that there would exist a template or some means of ensuring uniformity of equipment. At the time, there were 1.5 million people in greater London, and I’m certain there were more than a few wood turners among them. Anyway, more questions than answers. The adage, “The more we know, the less we know” is apropos. Thanks again. Mike.

Nice. Your collection is very similar to mine. I think a tackle box will not do justice to such a nice assortment. A tackle box, although it may contain treasures that we collectors cherish, will be seen as just a box of junk to others, especially our spouses. I don't have a man-cave either, or any room that I can devote to my personal interests. I found that if you confine your junk to one small organized area, like a nice cabinet or a box type picture frame, your collection can become a relevant part of the family and although your spouse may snort every time she walks by it, even she will have to admire its aesthetic beauty. You might find a suitable cabinet or frame at a second-hand or antique shop. If you're handy, you can add depth to a nice frame with bits of wood, or build one outright. It has to look halfway decent to pass muster in a typical household, so take your time and keep your eyes peeled when you visit the landfill.

Very nice additions to your collection, Bob. The oak truncheon is fascinating. I would expect early Met stocks to be stamped by the maker, Parker @ Holborn. This one is clearly not from that firm. Yet, the MP Crown stamp is proof positive that it spent part of its life with the Metropolitan Police regardless of its initial origin. Even the scratched initials give it added character. Both of them are great sticks. The WR IV one really tugs at the limits of our imaginations, especially as it does have the Parker stamp. Really, really nice group that you’ve put together. I think a family photo might be in order. Thanks Alan, for dropping by. Always a source of quality information. I think some photos of your collection would add much to our learning. Cheers, Mike. Bob, As an afterthought, I took another look at G’s oak truncheon. It’s quite similar to your stick. Maybe, if he reads this, he can post a view of the butt end of his truncheons, we could make a better comparison.

Thanks muchly. Mike

All right brother. I googled “BNA” and the only hit I got was the Nashville Airport. Was this guy a singer at the Grand Ole Opry? Seriously, what is BNA? I like to cruise around various sites, especially if they’re relevant to this hobby of ours. Thanks. Mike.