Noor

I don't live in Estonia but I managed to open an account there on osta site. Bought few items there recently. Please let me know in case I can help. These are early Stalin era school letter of commendations? i have some docs from same period, that i don't need, what's your collecting interest in there?

What about this one - is it possible to point out the period?

Hello all, A random pick up here from Dublin. So, what's the thoughts are these wings real or fake? As I can see, they are heavily faked.

Hi all, A random find here that I actually even don't know what to do - a Finnish marksman badge with the number on the back. I am just wondering, is it possible to research them or no hope? Thanks, Noor

Nice medal! James Ridgey was born 1879 in Old Ford, London as a son of William Ridgley. Address Canal Cottages, Lea Bridge road, Essex. James married with Florence Chamberlaine on 25 Dc 1903. They had a daughter Annie Chamberlain Ridgley. Attested 11 Aug 1897 to 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers. Prior to that he marked down his trade as a Barmen. Served in South Africa from 15 Feb 1900 until 19 Oct 1902. Aden (not sure?) 1 Feb 1903 until 10 Aug 1909. He was discharged 10 Aug 1909. He was also entitled to Queens South Africa Medal with the clasps Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Cape Colony, Orange Free State. They settled in London and James worked as a labourer frenchman in metropolitan water board.

Henry Skeggs was born Dec 1832 in Tewin, Hertford as a son of Thomas and Skeggs and Charlotte Jane Parker. Henry had 6 brothers and sisters. They lived Oakley Valley, Tewin. Enlisted to the Royal Regiment of Artillery 12 Nov 1853. Served 4/15 Brigade, royal Artillery. Served in total 21 years and 176 days, including in Turkey, Halifax and Gibraltar. During his service, he married with Elizabeth Sarah Paige (1835-1898). They had 10 children, many born in the places where henry was serving (Channel Islands, Nova Scotia, Gibraltar, South Africa). Commanding officer testimony says that his conduct has been very good. Received 5 good conduct badges but also his name appears seven times in the Regimental Defaulters book and he has been tried 2 court tribunals (that didn’t stop him to receive Long Service medal obviously). Served until 8 May 1875. His wife Elizabeth died in West Ham 1898. Henry re-married 1901 with Ellen Keeling and they lived in West Ham, Essex. Henry passed away age 78 April 1911. He is buried 25 April 191 to Newham, London.

Leslie Erroll Collyer Mead was born 24 Feb 1879 in Lewisham, London as a son of John Mead (1832-1906) and Harriet Mead (1838-1911). Baptised 27 Mar 1879 in Holy Trinity, Etham, Greenwich. His father was a Ship owner and broker. Life must be good for them because 1881 Census shows that they had 3 Domestic Servants. Also he had brothers James Percy Collyer (1868-1929), Stanley Collyer and John Collyer Mead (d:1944) and sisters Florence (1862-1922), Agnes (1867-1939 ), Elisabeth (d:1948) and Constance (1867-1939(?)). With his brothers James, Stanley and John they formed a company MEAD, SON & HUSSEY, carrying on business as Steamship Owners, Ship and Insurance Brokers at Portland House, Lloyd Avenue, E.C.3. After the Great War, 1921, this company was dissolved. He studied in Oxford and Cambridge, Felsted School / Chigwell School, where he obtained lower certificate on 1894-95. He gained rank of Temporary Lieutenant 30 August 1914 (same LG input as his brother Stanley Collyer). Embarked to the Theatre of War 30 Aug 1914. Promotion to the rank of Temporary Captain 26 Mar 1915. Relinquish his commission as Temp Major and retain rank of major 8 Mar 1919. Served (at least in the end of the war) with the base Supply Depot, H.Q. Calais. Applied his medals 7 Nov 1921. Address given in Paris. 1919 he lived Woodford Green, Essex. Married with Marie Therese. Leslie died in France 28 Sep 1958, address given 7 Rue Albert Samain Paris, France. Lots of to research here. If you even google the company name, that they owned, you can find out ships that they owned, etc…

Thanks Hendrik!

Dear all, With one haul of medals and badges that i picked up is as well French Medaille Coloniale with Maroc and Sahara clasps. Can someone help me with these silver stamps on the clasps please? I assume these are all pre WW2 manufactured?

Hi all, Picked up this last week, when I was on my "holidays" at a NATO Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise. It is an USA 4229 Labor Service Company (also known as Estonian Guard Company) Private LÕOKE permanent pass. There were in total 4 companies of Estonians in US military after 1945 and their unit numbers were 4221, 4027, 4228 ja 4229. They were even used for guarding the Nuremberg tribunal and war criminals in there. Weird twist in history - most of these men were escaping from communist Soviet Union (Estonia was occupied by the Red Army 1944) and therefore fought in German side, including private LÕOKE, who actually was forced to wear German uniform until end of the war! I thought it was an interesting piece to pick up and share here too. another doc that I got belonged to Herbert Vasemägi - emigrated to US, NY 1957. Previously mobilized to Estonian Waffen SS Legion, WIA July 1944 in Estonia, evacuated to Germany Sep 1944 and 1945 POW in Belgium. Not fully sure but I think he was a Guard as well at some stage.

Hi all, A quick question to ask. A random pick up last week - a Soviet Medal for Military Merit with solid medal ring and number 3,163,931. Like I understand, then this example must be one of the very last ones that were issued as numbered award around end of 1947? But did they issued around 1947-48 still MMMs for WW2 service as a follow-ups or could be something more interesting and worth to get this number researched? Also got another one with the number 163,333 (on large medal ribbon plate sadly, that were used later stage on the Great War) that I believe is mid 1942 issued. Many thanks, Timo

Thanks Matthew for confirming, we'll appreciated!

Hi all, I am planning to move on this badge but just before I wanted to have a second opinion that the badge is original. To me all the period details are there and I think it's a good one. Any thoughts or red flags here? Thanks, Noor

Time to move on Staršina (NCO) Mikhail Klyuchnikov medal as well...

What's the letters?