Farkas

On 01/01/2024 at 18:24, Marcon1 said:

Hi all,

 

Can anyone tell me from which publication these 2 pages are ??

They were part of the description of 2 medals by an American dealer on Ebay.

 

 

Don't know who Archie Meyer is, could be the writer or just the owner of this copy.

 

With thanks, Marcon1.

Hi Marcon,

i reckon it’s the owner of that copy. I can’t find anything about him/it.  There is one book which keeps popping up but it doesn’t have that many pages. It is the first one of these below👇
 

I did find an interesting article about books on the wider topic. Quite in depth with 22 pages including images, the link for it is below..,

https://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/download/350/387

& 1st page of it 👇

Cheers

tony 🍻

35 minutes ago, Harry the Mole said:

Here you go... this is what diligent searching can turn up on eBay if you look around enough. But as always, you need to know a little bit about what you are hunting down.

 

 

Both medals were purchased on eBay. The one on the left is cast in bronze, and the one on the right is bronze coated. Both look the same, but the one on the left is the size of the original with the cross at 36mm wide and 41mm high. The one on the right is 34mm wide and 39mm high.

 

Other differences are that the one on the left has no visible seams on the sides of the arms of the cross and the mane of the lion is curled. The cross on the right has seams on the sides of the arms of the cross and the lions mane is straighter. The borders of both crosses are also narrower than an original VC, but the medal on the left is of far superior quality of the one on the right.

 

 

The cross on the right turns up on eBay quite regularly, and the one on the left - less frequently, and sometimes it is usually poorly cast. But you can drop lucky and get yourself a good tailors copy like the example on the left for next to nothing.

 

Cheers,

             Steve

I’ll be coming to you next time I see an interesting one. I saw one or two but it was hard to see past ‘knowing for certain’ they weren’t original.

This one for example 👇

it seemed (to me) like good sharp detail but then even I saw the ring loop is terrible 🤷‍♂️

Now looking at your examples I see it’s nothing like them.  Like I said I may have to start running a few past you for your critique… you never know I may get lucky 🤭

tony 🍻🍻

9 hours ago, Harry the Mole said:

I would have thought that attachment holes would be the norm - as used on other ribbon attachments, such as rosettes, Mons Star bar, oakleaf... A nice little VC though.

 

Hey, Tony... keep looking on fleabay, it's surprising what crops up on there. I have another tailors copy VC that I purchased on there about three months back. I'll see if I can get it photographed later today and post it on this thread. Again it is another one that would slip under the radar of many collectors.

 

Cheers,

            Steve

hi Steve,

yes you’ve got me looking now 😁 the seller of this little fella sells collectibles rather than being a militaria dealer, my preference when looking for overlooked bargains.

I thought maybe it was from a time they couldn’t, or didn’t, drill such small holes… I’m always the optimist 🤞

or maybe not for a ribbon at all, maybe it was attached to something else.

Anyway, nice to hear it’s a fair looking design as I see now, as you mentioned previously, how crappy looking some of the things out there are.

cheers

tony 🍻

2 hours ago, cazack said:

nice looking attachment

 

if the cross was genuine would it not have 2 x holes for it to be able to be attached to the ribbon?

 

C

Thanks C, 
&Yes indeed…

That’s partly why I’m wondering if it may be older (did they always have the tiny holes) or may be something else altogether 🤷‍♂️

I’m still looking…

tony 🍻
 

Hello Steven,

I agree.
You are in the right place already.

If you search ‘soldbuch’ you’ll see literally hundreds of examples of Gents such as The Prussian making sense of them for mere mortals such as you and I 🤷‍♂️

We hope to see some pics soon

cheers

tony 🍻

Hi Gents,

and particularly Steve aka Harry the Mole…

Steve, after reading of your find, the old tailors VC, I found myself paying a little more attention to things that popped up on EBay…

I spotted this 👇

A cute little VC for attachment to a ribbon bar I guess. It looked ‘older’ to me and it was just a total cost of fiver all in.

Any thoughts Gents?

cheers 

tony 🍻

I think this link will be (would have been) helpful..,

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/merchant-seamen-medals-honours/

On 05/11/2022 at 12:06, cazack said:

hello

 

I would like to know where and how I can locate MFA medal cards and records

 

kind regards in advance

 

C

Better late than never 😊

National Archives website has some records available to download. It’s free to sign up, takes 30 seconds and it’s worth it as then you can download for free..,

tony 🍻

5 hours ago, diwe said:

Hi Tony: Thanks so much about your informative comments. I also know the seller and bought from him before. He is a great guy and he was also curious about what we would find out about this strange tunic. So thank you again for you detailed response. It is really highly appreciated! 

Yes, I like him too, Ive bought some lovely  guards stuff from him too. 👍

cheers

tony

Moving this helpful & interesting thread to the top where it deserves to be 👍

Just to clarify, the other topic you posted only showed the shoulder boards which despite seemingly being incomplete were in fact used briefly (details in my reply there) and on their own look fine to me.

The pictures on this topic show the complete tunic and, as you say yourself, the button arrangement does not match a Coldstream pattern.

The collar, cuffs, shoulder boards and tail may well be a ‘related set’ but they are not original to this tunic.

The tail button detail is cut at the top.

To me, the collar is badly attached.

The shoulder boards are way too short.

The cuff tunic material clearly has scars where the previous detail has been removed.

The lining is red with a white tail facing whereas it should be white with a red tail facing.

& as you said the buttons of a Coldstream Guards tunic would certainly be in pairs, regardless of its age, the rank or other.

The guy selling it is a good guy in my experience but in this case I think the £200 price tag is indicative of the issues he knows it has.

Possibly it was simply an innocent way that someone showcased their set of details and it might be worth 200 for them alone if you like it.

tony.

Hi diwe,

did you see my reply to your previous post about this? Some answers there…

tony 🍻

On 23/12/2023 at 15:49, General Gordon said:

Just thought at this time of year I would share a few photos from my collection. These are items sent to troops in the field between 1900 ( 2nd Boer War) to W.W.1 (1914 - 18 )

 

 

Nice! I did not know there was such variety, I’d heard of ‘Queen Mary tins’ but this is new to me, 🍻

Yes, well said Sir!

Happy Christmas all…

tony🍻

2 hours ago, gjw said:

Hey all, first off a very Blessed Christmas to all of you and your families!

 

I was surprised with my wonderful Christmas gift my kids got me.  Very happy and thankful.  I've got some great kids (all 8 of them)!

 

Anyway, here it is

 

 

Best Regards 

 

Greg

 

That’s another beauty mate 🍻🍻

Happy Christmas to you and yours 🍻🍻

33 minutes ago, Christian1962 said:

Hi Tony!

Johann Christlbauer was a well-known producer of high end quality medals, especially he produced a lot of silver medals for local fire brigades of towns and cities. They are known from the end of the 19th century and in the interwar period. I must confess that I don't know, how long the company existed. I will have a look if I will find a medal in my collection and post it here.

Regards

Christian

I just own one: Dienstbotenmedaille des Landes Oberösterreich:

 

 

Thanks Christian, that settles it for me.

Corroborates the few scraps I found. 👍

So Gents, did any of you know that Johann is an alternative for Josef? Because I didn’t have a clue 😊

My concern was I found Josef but he died in 1897, too early for our KTK’s. And I was looking for a possible son called Johann or anyone by that name.

Eventually, mercifully I might add, I realised Johann was Josef. Then I found reference to a commemorative medal produced by…

‘private Christelbauer mint of Austria’  in 1899, so that proved the business continued after Josef died in 1897.

With Christians existing knowledge of them , then it’s settled, 😁

I like the sound of 👇

JOHANN (JOSEF) CHRISTLBAUER MINT.

Cheers Gents

tony 🍻

1 hour ago, cabbell2207 said:

Thank you so much Farkas for the information,i really appreciate it.Hard to see from the photos but when its in the light you can just make out the faint finish in the recesses. Diolch

 

 

🍻🍻 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Hello Gents,

I’m usually up overnight at least 2 nights a week, if I can I spend them on here learning a little bit more.

But all to often I get a bit of an OCD type fixation especially when I feel the answer is somewhere waiting to be found.

For this topic, I’ve spent months on and off trying to ID all the makers on the list I found elsewhere, with some success but still not all of them. Hence the big pause. I struggle with the thought of giving up… or did!
With help, I have identified all the makers that I have examples of. So until I have got any additional one or someone else posts on here another mark that they have… F’ the others on that previous list.

So I have offered myself, and accepted, a compromise. 🤝

A new list.

A GMIC list.

Verified with examples.

Amongst mine I have 7 different makers marks.

1. ☘️ (clover symbol) 

2. FA

3. GW

4. HMA

5. JC

6. MKT

7. W&A

1. ☘️ (clover symbol) 

The clover symbol was used by BSW.

BRÜDER SCHNEIDER A.G WIEN

2. FA

FRANZ ADLER METALLWARENFABRIK

3. GW

GYORFFY ES WOLF FEMIPARI RT.

4. HMA

HAUPTMUNZAMT

5. JC

JOHANN CHRISTELBAUR & SON

6.MKT

METALL-KUNSTSTOFF-TECHNIK

7. W&A

WINTER & ADLER, WIEN

I’ll leave it there for now, I’d hate to delete all the above by mistake, list with photos to follow.

Any comments, additions or corrections, complaints or other always welcomed.

tony 🍻

By the way…

I just googled JOHANN CHRISTELBAUR & SON and (😡) found nothing 🤷‍♂️ So for now I have doubts about this one (☹️) 

A whopping 106.9k views for this topic!  Clearly proves that the people visiting this forum would miss GMIC if it was gone…

🍻

58 minutes ago, Harry the Mole said:

Good luck.

thanks Steve 🍻

11 hours ago, cabbell2207 said:

Hello all,

i just recently acquired this 1914 Mons Star Medal and was wondering if it looked good?

Thank you

Hi cabbell2207,

personally I like it,

it’s got the design quirks I look for that replica ones often don’t, the name on the reverse is a bit sloppy but that’s not unusual for these…

but I’m not one of the experienced heads, so that’s just my best guess so to speak.

Also GNR Odger did receive a trio so no problem with that either 👍

cheers

tony 🍻

On 18/12/2023 at 13:52, Harry the Mole said:

They all look OK, although I prefer the military pistols to the civilian one's. It's always nicer to see them in hand too. Maybe you would get 'mates rates?'

 

Cheers,

          Steve

He’s a lovely fella and it’s not been about the money in our dealings so far, giving me extra bits & bobs and a gorgeous old book he knew I’d like.

He said he’s going to auction because that way the price is what it is. I’d get mates rates but as he’s not sure what they are worth nowadays… what would that be 🤷‍♂️

I told him which I fancied most &
he sent me this message yesterday…

“Hi tony, the gun with the loop on the handle is a customs percussion cap pistol and the very large Flintlock is an Austrian one. The ones in the middle with the English crown on and the ones next to it, probably used in the battle of Waterloo, has markings on the trigger guard which confirms the regiment were there, hope you’re doing well, Bob”

So I’ve asked for more pics & if he doesn’t mind me posting them I will.

fingers crossed

tony 🍻

6 hours ago, diwe said:

I have a question regarding the scarlet cloth tunic for the foot regiments, in particular the Coldstream Guards. It was my understanding that general officers associated with the Coldstream Guards (or another foot regiment with the Household division), e.g. the Colonel of the Regiment (a ceremonial position), which is currently Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall, do only wear full colonels insignia on the scarlet cloth tunic. I have seen images of Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall wearing the scarlet cloth tunic (Home Service Dress Tunic) of a (full) colonel. The same applies to the Colonel-In-Chief, HM King Charles III. Nonetheless, I came across a scarlet cloth tunic for the Coldstream Guards that spots a sword and baton (i.e. insignia for a general officer) and saw rank insignia for a general including the Star of the Order of the Garter on a frock coat for generals. Can someone explain? Thanks so much! 

Hi diwe,

as I understand it…

In 1902 the officers rank insignia changed, including adding the extra star for…

captains 2 upto 3 stars

Lieutenant 1 upto 2 stars

2nd Lieutenant 1 star

- From 1902 until 1922 Brigadier Generals wore the crossed sword and baton on its own.

- From 1922 until 1928 the rank was ‘replaced’ /retitled with Colonel-Commandant. 

- From 1928 the rank was again replaced, this time with Brigadier and the insignia as still used today

So with a bit of luck, if the rest of the tunic tallies with that period, I would say it’s a Brigadier Generals or Colonel-Commandant tunic dating between 1902 -1928. 

cheers

tony 🍻

On 26/11/2023 at 14:39, DLE said:

Hello, 

 

I stumbled across this site/forum and I am hoping someone may be able to help.

 

I am looking for information about the above medal/citation.

My grandfather, Sgt. Henry Desmond #72217 Unit B/115 Brigade RFA was awarded this medal for his actions at Salonika in 1918. It is possible he served with the 26th Division for the whole war and they did brief service in France in 1915 before proceeding to Salonika.

 

The decree was issued on July 16, 1918 by the Minister of Defence file # 47901 but I am confused/uncertain what date his actions would have caused him to earn such a medal. He officially received the medal/citation on January 23, 1921 in Belgrade.

I am looking for information as to why he would have been awarded this medal.

The only thing he would tell my father was "someone took my horse and I went and got it back" he did not discuss it in any further detail.

 

When I came across this site, I happened to see a post from January 29, 2015 and a member (Paja) indicated they found a book “Knights of the Star of KaraA’orAe with Swords” by Tomislav VlahoviA and the member translated/posted the names from this book my grandfather was listed in the book. I just don't know what happened.

 

I have information his place of enlistment was Royal Field Artillery (E. Dulwich S.E.) Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Swindon).

 

It is entirely possible information I am looking for is in fire-damaged records in London unfortunately.

My father had the original citation translated (he also has the medal) and we believe it was done correctly, but it does not specify what he did. My father spent many years off and on trying to find out why this medal was awarded but he was unsuccessful.  He has since passed away and I am trying to do this in his memory and so I can share it with my mother.

 

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. ( I have included pictures of what I found on the post on this site from 2015).

 

Dana

Hello Dana,

it’s good to see you continuing the search.

I haven’t got the answer but I have a little bit I can add that may help… This is his Medal roll/records from ww1, they are held at the national archives.

They list him as Gunner and show his unit as RFA 345B which is a different unit (I presume) he must have served with earlier. Perhaps that will change the possible location he was serving in at the time?  I’m not too familiar with the RFA set up but I hope this helps a little 

Best Wishes

tony 🍻

Hi Richard, 

just downloaded a couple CPF files at the National archive for you…

cheers

tony 🍻

21007 GNR G.A. CROWTHER R.FA.

I hope someone finds you one day Richard  🤞