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    bigjarofwasps

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    Posts posted by bigjarofwasps

    1. On 21/02/2023 at 16:01, Zulu_00 said:

      Newly issued CD with an EIIR effigy.

      Screenshot_20230221-155956_Facebook.jpg

      This medal was posted on social media, it had been sent to a medal mounting company.
       

      I thought it might be interesting for the following reasons……

       

      The recipient is from CNC.

       

      He qualified for his medal in December, and has recently been awarded it prior to him retiring.

       

      Assuming that the correct criteria has been adhered to, and the application was made to the Royal Mint on or after the qualification date.

       

      This would appear to be clear evidence of  (a) how quickly the RM can turn around medals when they want to,

      and

      (b) their currently still using the E11R effigy.

       

       

       

       

      00C1BED5-FD3C-4146-8791-6BF56326C2C4.jpeg

    2. Saw this on another internet platform, thought it might be of interest?

       

      Figures from the Royal Mint annual reports that give an idea of how many Police LSGCs for UK orders were produced each year. Going through the various orders detailed in the online MINT series files might allow the figures to be extended to about 1991:

      1952: 17,002 
      1953: 4802 
      1954: 3801 
      1955: 7975 Combined figure for Police and Fire Brigade LSGCs
      1956: 1500 
      1957: 3318 
      1958: 3451 Combined figure for Police and Fire Brigade LSGCs
      1959: 4916 
      1960: 2000 
      1961: 2000 
      1962: 2001 
      1963: 1000 
      1964: 0 
      1965: Medal not listed - unclear if an oversight, or none produced
      1966: Medal not listed - unclear if an oversight, or none produced
      1967: 1045 
      1968: 3268 
      1969: 5050 
      1970: 5484 
      Q1 1971: 886 Reports change from covering calendar year to financial year (01 April-31 March)
      1971-72: 3879 
      1972-73: 4730 
      1973-74: 2655 
      1974-75: 4914 
      1975-76: 2087 
      1976-77: 3336

      If the combined Police and Fire numbers for 1955 and 1958 are evenly split that makes roughly 85,000 medals from inception to early 1977. If the issue figure of, say, 3000 medals per year has continued in the 46 years since, that would make for another 138,000 Police LSGCs, almost all of which would be of the rhodium plated variety.

    3. Saw this on another forum, thought it might be of interest?

       

      “Quality control of the Llantrisant Mint's medal naming also seems to have been patchy - there are lists of corrections of increasing length. The Metropolitan Police also seem to have been especially fussy about the standard of appearance of their medals - the Mint's Medal room apparently became so dispirited by the constant complaints that staff started avoiding working on Police medals altogether, which only added to delays!”

       

       

      5F74081F-32C0-47CD-AA31-2A90E9593695.jpeg

    4. The Law - Newspaper of the Essex Police" - July 1978 page 11

      'Medals Muddle’
      Remarks made in the last issue of The Law about the "monumental indifference" displayed over the issue of long service medals have achieved the ultimate in response, a question in The House.

      On July 5th, Sir Bernard Braine, Member for South East Essex, asked the Secretary of State, to what steps he is taking to overcome the delays in issuing long service medals to police officers, some of whom at the present rate of issue will have retired before they receive their medals."

      Dr Shirley Summerskill, answering, said, "Every effort will be made to clear as soon as possible the backlog in the distribution of medals. Extra staff have been provided for this purpose,"

      It seems that the Royal Mint have been working on a method of lacquering the medals to prevent tarnishing and this has caused delay.'


       


      Interesting to learn, that the delays in the issuing of Police LSGC’s isn’t a new phenomenon, and has in fact been ongoing for decades!!

       

       

    5. 19 minutes ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

      The cap & badge he is wearing and his lack of a duty armlet suggests that he is a member of a divisional band. Most, but not all Metpol. divisions maintained their own bands. They sometimes adopted a cap badge other than a Metpol. issued version. They were usually funded via their divisional welfare contributions. The name/location of the photographer is not really relevant as both the photographers and their subjects often travelled.

       

      Dave.    

      Interesting, thanks Dave. 
       

      Seller has replied, photo came from a house clearance of the Till family.

    6. Saw this on a online auction site. Thought it might be of interest?

       

      Description states 

       

      Original, vintage, cabinet photograph looks circa 1890 of Met Policeman George Fred Till , 1860-1892 London.

      Name:George Till

      Service Date:1878-1880

      Service Place:Afghanistan

      Campaign or Service:Second Afghan War

      Regiment or Unit Name:2nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers

      Regimental Number:1615

       

      Have contacted the seller to confirm how the name has been identified. But whilst we wait for response. A few observations, I’ve made….

       

      Interesting headdress he’s wearing. Not seen a Constable wearing one like this before? Could the fact it’s been taken in Battersea have something to do with the power station perhaps? Can’t see any letter on his collar only number?

       

      He’s also wearing the Egypt Medal and Khedive Star, as well as the Afghanistan medal. Interestingly although the 2nd battalion Royal Fusilier's did serve in Afghanistan campaign, they didn’t serve in Egypt? 

       

      George Till doesn’t appear to have ever been posted to Battersea. He was in V and Y Divisions and died in 1892. He was also only ever a Constable.

      Would be interested, to hear other members thoughts. 


       

       

       

       

      14D633D7-FF4D-44FF-9DD1-894649187FFE.jpeg

    7. Saw this posted on a social

      media platform, thought it might be of interest?

       

      “Met Officer, reached my 20 years last October.
      Gave it a month and heard nothing about my long service medal so made some enquiries, they were behind due to COVID.
      Fair enough but had no update so contacted them again.
      Due to the death of her majesty the Royal Mint haven't produced any as they do not have a picture of the King.
      Transferred my local government pension over to my Met one when I joined so I'm off, April 2024.
      Exit interview and long service medal all in one go”. 

       

      Beggars two questions in my mind…

       

      1. What was the excuse prior to Covid and the passing of E11R, which accounted for the lengthy delays in the issuing of LSGC’s?

       

      2. What kind of delays, can we expect given these two current set of circumstances on top of the previous reasons for delays? 
       

       

    8. Reliability of my source, is untested. Although they are involved in ceremonial stuff within the U.K. oldest police force, so I have no reason to doubt the validity of their information. They have also expressed their disappointment in not being awarded said medal, as well. 
       

      My understanding is that Worcestershire Medals, will be producing this award and that they won’t be physically available until July.

       

      Putting all this aside for a second, I find it very difficult to believe that “every” serving soldier would be issued with one, anyway!!  

       

      Going slightly off topic, but quoting the my same source further…

       

      Covid Medal is out.

      Wider Service Medal is in.

      Nuclear Medal, is still to be finalised, including ribbon.

      NDM isn’t even being considered. 
       

      Royal Mint have suspended any new orders, a few months back now. Whilst they clear previous backlog. No new or current medals, will be produced for the foreseeable future. Delays as much as 12 months have been suggested. 
       

       

    9. The saga continues, with regards to the criteria for the KCM. 
      Although, “sources” in positions of know, believe that it’s going to be limited to Royal household members, and military personnel directly involved. Estimates of anything between 500-5000 max. Certainly nowhere near, the mass issue of previous jubilee awards. I fear there will be a lot of disappointed people, but at least EBay, won’t be flooded with them……

      A19051A4-D6C0-4EE1-B79B-2EF528411647.jpeg

    10. On 07/02/2023 at 12:21, Danny980 said:

      23 years in the Army (Irish Guards) and 22 years in the Metropolitan Police, and still going!!EA002DD2-67FF-4C25-A188-6FA770E4E585.thumb.jpeg.1e1fecb59c5f92d3e6bd46aa3fc19303.jpeg

      Smashing group Danny, thanks for sharing!!!!!

       

       

      In other news, am hearing rumours that the next generation of LSGC’s won’t appear for at least another 12 months!! Not sure of the source or how much credence, to draw from this rumour. But if I’m honest I wouldn’t be at all surprised! 
       

       

    11. 19 hours ago, Megan said:

      The King appears to be going for simplicity in his official iconography. The new stamps have just been released:

      _128549347_charlesstamp.jpg.webp

       

      No crown, not on his head or even anywhere on the stamp. It's the same portrait as on what coinage has so far been seem... so it seems likely that it will also be used for medals.


       

      Interesting, thanks Megan. 

       

      Surely medals can’t be much longer now, can they?? 
       

       

    12. Putting all historic delays in the issuing of LSGC’s aside for a moment.


      I thought forum members might be of interest to learn, that the Royal Mint are currently not excepting any orders for new LSGC’s.
      Just how long that has been in effect and how long it is expected to last, hasn’t been confirmed.

      But it doesn’t bold well, if historically there was a standard delay.

      Now coupled with this newest delay, which one would assume is due to the changing of effigy, and assumably delays due to Covid.

      Just how much of a backlog there was prior to this and just how big this backlog is increasing by, doesn’t bear thinking about……!


       

       

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