Good morning

I wondered if you would be kind enough to give your opinion on the authenticity of the attached medal,please?

Are the versions with the 6 leaves either side earlier than those with 8 leaves?

Kind regards

Dave

Amazing selection Owain, I had no clue there were so many versions and I particularly love the boxed version with the Mappin & Webb clasp.

Owain

Sorry, I am afraid I do not. If I have it wrong please all accept my apologies. The wonderful website "Royal Ark" has it listed like this and all the other examples similar to this I have seen have been labelled in a likewise manner e.g. domestic engagement. I had no reason to doubt their description and as the ribbons are so close it seemed very plausible.

Dave

Here are 2 of the versions-

Left-Auxiliary & Medical Personnel

Right-Military

Finally realised how to draw on pictures!

Hi Emmanuel

Nice to see both versions of the General Service Medal(Military & Civil) with the black stripe  This I believed to be the  2nd version until I read Tony McClenaghan's book "Indian Princely Medals" where he mentions the second type has a blue stripe and a possible 3rd type with a black stripe. I have attached a fuller picture of the version with the blue stripe and you will see that this has the slightly differing attachment to the medal as shown in my original pictures. You will notice both of your examples have the same two elements overhanging the edge of the medal itself, whereas the "blue" version is attached directly to the edge.

I have now established three versions are in existence but I cannot see that anyone other than Tony McClenaghan has mentioned this fact.

It appears that Tony McClenaghan has 3 possible issues for this medal, where the second version has a blue stripe and the third version a black stripe. So I guess they could both be right.

I have realised all the Military Medals with this attachment (as above) have the wrong ribbon attached. It has a blue stripe where it should be black.

Thanks Peter, I will give it a try.

Hi Guys

I have noticed there appear to be two different versions of attachments to this medal, are they both OK  or is one a replica?

I appreciate the pictures are of the military and civilian versions but they were the first images I found.

I am referring to the part that directly attaches to the medal not the whole suspension device.

Cheers

Dave

I have recently happened upon a second variation of the medal awarded for this network. Originally I had read there were two versions of this cross, a silvered-brass version and a brass version but they both displayed the same suspension. This recent acquisition has a different suspension which corresponds to the miniature versions I have previously seen on the web. I struggled to find any crosses similar to the second suspension but eventually located one in a photograph of medals awarded to Jaques Neyme at http://polices.mobiles.free.fr/biographies/bio_neyme.html .

Does anyone else have anything to confirm of contradict my views?

This network is a very interesting one in relation to the SOE and Captain Michael Trotobas whose biography I am currently reading.

Here are some links for anyone who is interested.

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1997-04-66-11

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1997-03-48-4

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1997-04-66-15

http://reseausylvestre.skyrock.com/1.html

1st Suspension-Silvered Bronze

Reverse

Sorry I can't manage to upload the reverse of the first picture or comparison pictures, probably too big I guess.

Thanks for your comments. 

Dave 

Happy Easter Everyone

I recently acquired a collection of medals and badges from Canada belonging to a unknown Romanian veteran. I have a couple of questions which I hoped someone might be able to help me with please?

1-Within the collection of badges appears to be a Chess Champion medal 1951, would this maybe be able to locate the owner's identification?

2-It appears the medal of Liberation from the Fascist Yoke has been attached to Military Merit Medal ribbon(don't know whether it was 1st or 2nd class). Was this deliberate or as the other ribbon attachment appears to be broken just an error by someone later?

Cheers

Dave

Here is the medal

Good evening Guys

I have located another Unofficial Belgian Resistance medal. Does anyone happen to have any information they could share with me please?

It is blank on the reverse.

Cheers

Dave

Stuka

Here is an opportunity

https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/1921-commemorative-cross-75y-anniversary-telegraphes-with-the-rare-gold-clasp/222798432981?hash=item33dfd24ad5:g:UokAAOSwZ11aXeCt

Good luck if the price is right?

Dave

Thanks for your observation.

I seem to remember this medal described as a Resistance Association medal previously, but not anything specific.

I guess the original medal in question could be yet another variant, it would be nice to know the exact title though.

Hi Guys

I recently saw this medal and wondered if anyone could tell me what it is?

Merry Christmas to you all.

Dave

Thanks again Guy , that is very helpful. 

Many thanks Guy, do you possibly have any further information on the Association, as I am not familiar with it?

I can find a similarly named French Association but not a Belgian one.

Hi guys 

Does anyone recognise this? 

My pleasure. 

I think I am right in saying the civilian workers at Bletchley did not receive any award at all prior to this and were not allowed to speak of their activities for a very long length of time. Thus many passed away with nobody aware of their considerable services to the war effort and were even looked upon in a bad light for no mentionable contribution to the war effort. Also being eligible in 2009 for services which ended in 1945 l do not think many of these actually survived to receive their badge,although I would be glad to be mistaken . 

Further to above:

"Those who served at Bletchley, but are sadly no longer alive, are currently listed in a register held and maintained by the Bletchley Park Trust. Although we cannot issue commemorative badges in respect of those who have died, GCHQ will support the Trust by preparing a properly bound copy of this register to be held at Bletchley Park, and by maintaining an online copy of it."

I know some of you will be saying this is not a medal as the title clearly states it is a badge. So I apologise for wrongly naming it as so, but as you were required to provide wartime service and received it with accompanying literature from David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, it seems a little more than a "badge".

Hugh

From GCHQ website:

I recently acquired this medal and felt the need to share with anyone who is interested. I am afraid I don't have the certificate that the Prime Minister issued to the recipient. Dave