Alex K

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Hi all, don't know if this the right place but! I visited Ypres many years ago (Late 1960's) and visited the Menin Gate, just up the road was a small cafe where we stopped and I purchased which appear to be some original postcards taken some small time after WWI, these were in a special book full of postcards showing German War cemetries as they were just post war. I would like to post them now to see how they compare with the modern versions, Much to my surprise the book is still intact, I also have a similar book showing the devastation around Ypres if anyones interested Grave Photo's are from Langemarck, Houthem, Gheluwe, Zillebeke, Westroosebeke, Wervicq, Staden, Hollebeke Regards Alex K

At the risk of sounding stupid, what are the ball-park figures for these awards?, not my specific field but I admit would love to own one. regards

Hi Sorry it's the largest I've got. regards Alex

Hi Achern, very interesting to see them in production, I also notice that one of the photo's shows the 1939-45 star ribbon with what looks like a "Bomber Command" clasp, thanks for posting regards Alex

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Shame that a well respected sportsman should end his glory days in such a manner. His victories were I'm sure an inspration to many who wished to emulate him. performance enhancing substances are however not part of the "Spirit of the Game", he now stands to lose any respect he may have earned. Now where's my Crack pipe and ganja stash!!?

Hi it has the typical slip arm found on many british cap badges, but I admit I can't relate it to any specific British regiment in my archive, I suspect it is not military but some form of Civil badge, Best Guess St John's ambulance brigade, but I admit I could be wrong, see if others can shed any light regards Alex K

I have to ask the obviously stupid question (For those in the know) how can you tell?, they beat the stuffing out of me, and is part of my collecting field. Alex K

Now that's good news

Hi Noor,, thanks for the link, I had actually found who he was eventually, I appreciate your input regards attached from another thread (Bringing History back to life) I colourise black and white image as a small pastime, so getting medals, uniforms etc correct is important otherwise no point in doing it regards Alex

Hi iffig, thanks for your interest, I have however after much digging around identified the decorations Estonia Defence League White Cross 3rd Class and the Latvian Aizsargi Cross of Merit. The Armoured Train Badge and the Latvian Aizsargi members badge and estonia 7 Defence League Sakalamaa regional unit.

A very sad but unfortunately common occurence, as they are fairly unique combinations when they are "Fenced" any decent dealer will spot them and inform authorities. it is unfortunately a sign of the times, someone visiting the establishment realises the potential "Monetery value" and re-visits in the small hours.When I wall display items from my medal collection I purchase a cheap modern copy, of my original, many sites now produce them, that way they are still on view, any a##hole that pinches them is in for a suprise when he tries to get rid of them, my originals are still safe, in this case it is sentimental and not monetery, I hope he gets them back intact

That is one seriously fantastic award, I wish I had one.

"To be honest, that's where the Arctic Convoys really belong, a clasp on the Atlantic Star." I personally agree, a clasp would sufficiently cover those that fought in that campaign, even though one could argue that it was more North Sea than Atlantic Ocean. Lets not forget that the Soviets issued commerorative medals to vets for this campaign long before the British Gov ever thought of it or had the politcal interest in doing so,

I know, it seems somewhat ironic he lived in a place that had the name of his arch rival! The point I was trying to make, that unfortunately, there were persons in the "establishment" that felt at that period of the war, carpet bombing was not a specific requirement, carpet bombing by it's very nature is indiscrimate, throw his teddy in the corner, possibly but I suspect that it was more to do with the lack of recognition for his men than a desire to be covered in bling. Special medals for all other services, maybe not, existing ones would cover that, however a specific bar to wear with say with the 39-45 star would have been enough recognition, (Battle of Britain etc) bar ie "Bomb Disposal", "Ronson tank corps" I believe there is an eigth army bar worn with the Africa star, to denote the Desert Rats, so it could have been done if the political will was there regards Alex

Hi, my comments were based on the attached, admittedly from Wikipedia, If I am wrong then I'll stand corrected regards "Within the postwar British government there was some disquiet about the level of destruction that had been created by the area-bombing of German cities towards the end of the war. However, Harris was made Marshal of the Royal Air Force in 1946,[24] and was also made GCB[25] until he retired on 15 September 1946 and wrote his story of Bomber Command's achievements in Bomber Offensive. In this book he wrote, concerning Dresden, "I know that the destruction of so large and splendid a city at this late stage of the war was considered unnecessary even by a good many people who admit that our earlier attacks were as fully justified as any other operation of war. Here I will only say that the attack on Dresden was at the time considered a military necessity by much more important people than myself."[26] Bomber Command's crews were denied a separate campaign medal (despite being eligible for the Air Crew Europe Star and France and Germany Star) and, in protest at this establishment snub to his men, Harris refused a peerage, the sole commander-in-chief not made a peer in 1946.[27] Disappointed by the criticisms of his methods, Harris moved to South Africa in 1948 and was the manager of the South African Marine Corporation (Safmarine), from 1946 to 1953. In 1953 Churchill, now Prime Minister again, insisted that Harris accept a baronetcy and he became Baronet.[28][29] In the same year he returned to the UK, and lived his remaining years in the Ferry House in Goring-on-Thames, located directly adjacent to the River Thames."

With regards to the SAS, those deserving of specific military recognition most probably received them, the point with the SAS it was and still is a very covert operation, and subject to nil publicity, that's what makes them so unique, I'm sure that many serving and ex-members have a high degree of awards. a specific bar would not prove anything. Bomber command, yes a deliberate and political act by the then ruling government and subsequent administrations, It became politically incorrect in subsequent years to associate the mass carpet bombings and loss of life over many major German cities, "Bomber Harris" was virtually forgotten or ostricised after the war because he was "Bad news", that's why the many bomber crews who fought and 50 000 who died were refused recognition, A memorial to them has since been erected in London, a medal bar is small but tangible recognition eventually

Condor Legion, Hermann Plocher in Condor uniform and one of his vets

Unknown POW Normandy

hI iffig, thanks for the info, I guessed he was estonian his uniform and other military symbols did have me baffled. regards Alex

Hello Marco, as mentioned there are very wide differences between an EKI and a Ritterkreuz, whilst being of the same "Family" the difference in cost between both is astronomical. IMHO a cased EKI (WWII) in good condition with case etc should go for between 300-400GBP nowadays, Be aware, there ARE many fakes on internet selling sites and you can get your fingers burnt, best deal with sites such as GMIC, and other collectors forums where you have greater chance of obtaining an genuine example. The area of TR collecting is frought with danger, (That's why I stopped collecting it) best regards Alex K

Hi Guy's fantastic information, including name. (How do you know from just a spange, amazes me) No unfortunately I don't OWN an image of him but do have one downloaded from the internet, don't now remember where I got it from but was from an image hosting site, I can post if you want but if the copyright holder wants it deleted I will ofcourse oblige

Hi all, another identification request on a spange, anyone know what this spange consists of, secondly an unknown badge is it turkish pilots? regards Alex