TacHel

Rick, I just need some help in understanding here... Are you saying that the crown on an BMVKX is more or less a second award of the same class? Or a promotion within the same class?

Yeah... Looks more like Celine Dion's mother than EIIR! Notice how the detailing of the crown remained, a definite hint at the horrible amount of plating used and the complete lack of quality control.

On a brighter side... The mint has regained control of Canadian military medals. No more crappy triple plated horrors like this! No more lower bidder nonsense!

It was a really well done permanent court mount, the only way to remove anything would entail damaging the ribbons (at the front). The suspension rings being under said ribbons. I honestly don't recall seeing a service award... But I must admit that my gaze was fixed on those 2 MVKs. If I understand you correctly, one would earn an BMVK3X "before" being entitled to the crown on the same award? So this set would be more plausible if the BMVK3X had no crown? (I'm confused now)...

In the case of the bar I saw... The fact the EK2 was 3rd and that there was a Kyfhauser medal in lieu of a frontkampferkreuz... IMHO, definitely denotes a pre 1934 bar... Isn't it in 34 or 35 that the new order of precedence came out?

Well, I guess "the snivellers' medal" sounds better than what we call the Golden Jubilee medal in the armed forces. Canada decided to award it to people who had the longest time in rank, in other words, to people who hadn't been promoted in a looooooong time. We salute them with a hand to the forehead fingering the letter "L". :rolleyes:

What a coincidence, I was about to post the same question! Last week at a gun show I saw for sale a WW1 Bavarian set and found it odd to see 2 classes of the Military Merit Cross worn. The set was comprised of: Bav. Mil. Merit Cross 2nd class with swords and crown, Bav. Mil. Merit Cross 3rd class with swords and crown, EK2, Kyfhauser. So this is actually legit??

You can't tell from this post but I'm actually in complete awe:o I salute you Rick, an absolutely fascinating story of an exceptional character brought back to life by your "genius". Thank you for sharing this! A book of such obscure but incredibly interesting characters would probably make the best seller list! Food for thought?

Are you serious? No precedent for this... I can't imagine that happening. Then again, the award of her golden jubilee medal was soooo botched in Canada, not much would surprise me.

The only Honorary Titles of the Russian Federation worn on the small 4 corner mount with tri-colour ribbon that I know of are: -Hero of the Russian Federation -Pilot Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation -Honoured Military Pilot of the Russian Federation -Honoured Military Navigator of the Russian Federation All other "honorary titles" (and there are many!) being represented by a similar rather plain looking uni-colour breast badge except for the actual title name inscription. (See pic below-left) I've been spending a lot of time lately going over Russian ODM auction sites and keep coming across honorary titles all mounted on the tri-colour ribbon like the four previously mentioned (see pic below-right), but the official Russian Federation web site still shows ONLY the plain badges. Mind you, they aren't the fastest at web site updates!! To date, I have found 6 such different items. My question is: are these actual new approved designs for wear or are they rejected prototypes? HONOURED TEST NAVIGATOR OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. Badge at left is the approved version on the official RF web site. Badge at left is a mystery. Can ANYBODY shed some light on this subject?

eBay has its limits, which I have reached... I have a new friend in Russia now supplying me.:whistle:

I just got this beauty in! EMERCOM's Cross for Valor. Instituted on 30 May 2005 by ministerial order 426. Awarded to soldiers of the civil defense forces, military personnel, members of the State Fire Service or employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for bravery and courage shown in saving lives and property, flawless execution of duty, that were previously honored with government or departmental awards.

Simple blazer crest, definitely post 1952.

Beautiful work! Thanks for sharing with us!

Great collection! I truly enjoyed it! Hope you'll add to this post when you acquire some more of these superb Canadian artefacts!

Well dang, you learn something new every day! Have you tried here Chris? CLICK HERE

Everything on the attestation says 1916. The cross should have the royal cypher of George V even if the cross is a replacement cross or if for some weird reason the next of kin was only found 50 years later. The government has large stocks of spares with all cyphers. The Canadian Memorial Cross, also known as the Mother's Cross or Silver Cross. All three possible cyphers, GVR, GVIR, EIIR. This is really weird my friend...:unsure:

A QEII Cross means post 1952 service death... Possibly Korea? Barring that, it would mean a service death on an early UN mission... But judging by the other medals, if it is indeed for him, my money would be on Korea. ADDENDA: After re reading your statement "I assume it being a QE2 cross that he died after WW2 for WW1 related wounds?" I've NEVER heard of a cross being attributed so many years after the fact. Unless there's a fine print in the award criteria that I've never seen or even heard of, this man re enlisted and succumbed to wounds received under the reign of HRH EII. The only other possibility that I can imagine is that the cross isn't for him... Isn't there his name and serial number on the back?

Issued in 2007 to denote the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Militia (police force), without a doubt, the most colourful medal to come out of the Interior Ministry to date (maybe tired of being outshone by civilian/veteran associations?).

Below is a current variant of the same badge. Notice the smaller EMERCOM emblem and lighter manufacture.

This is the same award but with enamels. It's an earlier version. Many previously enameled awards are now being produced "sans colour"...

I can find no maker's mark on any of the 3 displayed in my previous post. The Merit Cross 1st class and Merit Medal both came as is without a case. The Merit Cross 2nd on the other hand is cased. The inscription on the back of the case: C.E. JUNCKER, BERLIN SO 36 I also just noticed the marked differences in the ribbon of your and my Cross 2nd class. Is my cross on the wrong ribbon?

Your English is impeccable my friend. Below are mine, hence my question as to the red tone. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2009/post-3030-12579598015.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2009/post-3030-125795980931.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2009/post-3030-125795981834.jpg Does the darker on yours usually denote an older or later award?

Is it the lighting or is the red of the crosses quite darker than usual?

The first award of the Canadian "Sacrifice Medal" will be made in November 2009 following an extensive review and amendment of the award prerequisites. Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean will present the first ones this month. A heated debate had developed over the award criteria, only personnel wounded or killed while facing an hostile force were eligible. This has now been expanded as follows: Criteria for award of the "Sacrifice Medal": - Death or injuries sustained as a result of hostile action; and - Death while in military service (since Oct. 7 2001), training, rescue etc.