TacHel

Thanks for the great info! :cheers:

Box cover.

Finally got a hold of one for a proper scan.

If these are fakes... Yikes... So much for the tell tale clues that guided us in the past... I mean really... Dang! :wacky:

Made for royalty?

Wow! What incredible detailing for such a large photo!

And 1/2 the battalion will end up on sick parade... Those that make it anyway.

Wow! Another great job! You know you're good when somebody looks at your work and smiles from ear to ear... I'm beaming! Superb detailing!

I'm just trying to picture the incredibly steep bleacher that was required for such a photo... Imagine if a few of the guys at top lost their footing?

This is a link to a thread showing 2 such commemorative medals established and bestowed under the authority of the fleet commander. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/55177-fleet-commanders-awarding-commemorative-medals/ Commemorative "badges" are not regulated by the Defence Ministry and are tolerated for wear on the uniform. Even if a commemorative "badge" is in the form of a medal and hangs from a ribbon like the two you'll see at the thread above, calling them "commemorative badges" removes any and all restrictions. Like I mentioned before, air force and navy commanders have been going nuts over this loophole and are issuing commemorative pieces like there's no tomorrow! Squadron, base, wing, division, brigade anniversaries... Name it. As for using already existing awards like the "Long Cruise" badge, hey, its MUCH cheaper than having a firm design and produce a new award, especially when your own unit supply has boxes full of them. But I would guess the silver ones were made especially at the request of a pretty financially well off commander who really wanted his deserving personnel to have something special. That, or a Russian firm is selling them as souvenirs to tourists, that wouldn't surprise me either, commemoratives can be purchased with ease, they'll even sign and officially stamp the award document for you!!

Wow!... My jaw dropped... My shoulders are slumped... I am simply in awe at this INCREDIBLE group and research! It could occupy, on its own, an entire showcase in a museum!

Does the picture have a caption (unit? date?) ? There's nearly 700 people in that picture, that's an entire battalion! :o

It is extremely possible the fleet commander, or even individual captains had them made and bestowed them. Naval commemoratives established and bestowed by unit commanders are becoming incredibly abundant! I think the Pacific fleet commander alone has established more than a dozen different commemorative medals and badges in the past 3-4 years. And because that are commemoratives, they are allowed for wear on the uniform.

I asked around on a few Russian forums. What I got was that these were presented to the lower ranks, able seamen, leading seamen, petty officers etc because most of the medals went to officers... They were actually introduced by angry unit commanders seeing their men getting nothing to mark the event. This already being an award for merit, they were presented as such to the most deserving. No explanation on why two variants (brass, silver) though...

Thanks! :cheers:

When was the march renamed?

Nobody? :(

Absolutely SUPERB sets! I am drooling all over my keyboard! I had never seen or even heard of the "Tolstoi medaille" before... Simply marvelous!!! And with the Crosses of St George, incredible! Any further info as to where these would<ve been earned? On which front? In what campaign/battle?

Pigeon... Oh man I haven't heard that in almost 30 years! I've always said air force NCOs are the smartest people in the military... We send the officers off to war while we wait in the bunker watching TV and playing euchre. :cheers:

Pffft... "Boat People"... Bah humbug! :beer:

Great stuff! I love unit scrolls!

Well... My wife is going back under the knife on September 19th... The bone did not heal, she's in constant pain but still manages to work and smile. Quite the gal I married! She'll be getting a ceramic prostesis replacing the femoral head. Any spare positive thoughts and vibes you might have lying about will be much appreciated...

2 questions: 1- This one has M.S.A. in lieu of a year on the top bar, at the minimum I would've expected M.E.S.A.. Any idea of the year and why this inscription? 2- Any idea what the ribbon device means?

Wow... Interesting to say the least. I'd use the words fascinating, touching... A great tribute to a fallen comrade.

IMHO, such a small representation might've been worn on the chest or sticking out of the boutonnière by a non Russian who probably had Orders from his own country that had precedence. The Duke of Brunswick's minis are simply breathtaking! Where on Earth do you get these incredible pictures from???