sabrigade

Hi Tom, Sorry about that. Hope this helps. Regards, Will

Hi Tom, There we go. Thanks for the interest. Regards, Will

Hi Tom, There we go. Thanks for the interest. Regards, Will

I recently acquired this item for my WW1 Collection. It has an "S" on the cross piece and was made in Solingen. Can any member enlighten me on what weapon it is?

Hi Owain, I am in sunny Khartoum and will only be home in a few weeks time. Will see what I can find out. Thanks for the reply. Regards, Will

Unfortunately common sense and logic does not always play a role when discussing and learning about this very vast field of study and interest. Common sense and logic in history would have had the Titanic still transporting passengers on voyages as it was deemed unsinkable in 1912. I would prefer analysing the facts and regard photographic evidence and the opinions of our very experienced specialists on this forum to provide their learned opinions as rules and logical approached have proved to be very fickle in the past. That is why I went to the effort of posting a relevent item on this discussion to broaden not only my own knowledge base but to also encourage further debate on this subject. Middle Eastern awards remain a very difficult field to research and discussion about them should be encouraged. After all, references sources in this field are very limited.

A few months ago I purchased a set of armor used in the Sudan from a Sudanese collector. After the usual permission was obtained from the Sudanese Director General of Customs,I moved the set to South Africa a while ago where I have put it on temporary display in my collection. The helmet shows signs of gold plating etc around the rim and the nose guard appears to have a brass end piece. Any suggestions or ideas on cleaning,removing rust and preserving the items?

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2008/post-3034-1215195498.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2008/post-3034-1215195477.jpg The Military Medal is named to the "SA Sharpshooters" while the War and Victory Medals are named to the "SAS".

Thanks Arthur, That is the most complete document available on the unit. His personal file did not yield much more detail either. After the war Lowings joined the South African Police and more detail and information regarding that period of his life is available. Other documents include details of his WW2 career where he was not suprisingly utilized as a musketry instructor. Regards, Will

Hi Leigh, The SA Sharpshooters was a very small and highly qualified unit of marksman who were recruited in South Africa for their shooting skills. The total complement in France was never more than 16 men. They were attached to the units of the 1st Division when and where their unique skills were required. On the available information I have on Lowings, it was stated that he joined the 1st Battalion in 1916. Not much information was/is available on this individual's other activities other than his medical discharge and treatment after the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Some sources have accreditted the SA Sharpshooters with over 3000 kills in the trenches. The SA Sharpshooter casualty rate was also very high, 35% of the unit were Killed in Action or Died of Wounds. Only 6 of the original group returned to South Africa after the war that were not medically discharged. The Sharpshooters were recruited under the auspices and financial support from Sir Abe Bailey, and are also known as the Bailey's Sharpshooters. Any additional information would be very welcome. Regards, Will

This is a photograph of my grandfather's inspection bed or kit layout for the Special Service Battalion, a South African unit, during World War 2. He was a veteran of the North African and Italian campaigns in the Second World War. He was a sargeant in the Regiment.

Hi Leigh, He joined the First Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment on 1 Dec 1916. Regards, Will

I am working on a display for a collector's gathering at the SA National Museum for Military History in August 2008. I intend displaying this medal group as well as the military and police history of the owner, LCPL B.A. Lowings. He was discharged due to the effects of exposure which he contracted in January 1918 at Paschendaele. Although they were a South African unit, the SA Sharpshooters were attached to the British First Division. Lowings award was gazetted in 1919 but I have not been successfull in finding a citation or reason for the M.M. award. He was attached to the Northamptonshire Regiment.

While travelling around Iraq in 2004, many interesting items were available if you had the time and interest to search for them and also to learn about the history of the country. The South African Brigade in World War One was sent to participate in the Senussi Campaign in which Jafaar Pasha was captured. Some relics and momentoes from this campaign did find their way back to South Africa. As part of my World War 1 South African collection, I developed an interest in this fascinating personality who became a friend of Lawrence of Arabia. This award is in my collection and I purchased it in Baghdad in 2004. Comments from the more knowledgeable forum members will be welcomed. This award/decoration looks very similar to the photograph of the awards and decorations posted by Ed on Owain's behalf.

Hi Owain, Thanks for the reply. Is there any more information available regarding this Order? I am back in Khartoum for a day or two and intend to go "hunting" in the Omdurman market again. Regards, Will

One tends to pay much higher prices in this country when purchasing silver medals as they are normally weighed and sold according to their silver value. It is therefore possible to find relative bargains but it takes a lot of patience and work to search through very old and dusty storage boxes. If I find any additional medals that I already have in my collection, I will make them available at cost prices to any interested parties and will contact them through PM.

This is definitely the medal you describe. I paid in the region of $50 for one in its presentation case a few years ago in Baghdad. They are relatively scarce and your example appears to be in very condition.

Obverse and Reverse The Khedive issued undated stars for the later campaigns near Suakin in 1887 and for the Nile in 1889. In 1893 a further issue was made of the undated variation for the action or battle of Tokar which took place on 19 February 1891. Participants in the battle who had not been awarded a star were awarded the undated star with the bar bearing the arabic inscription of " TOKAR 1308H ". Previous recipients of the star were just awarded the bar. This has made this award of the undated star with the bar to be reasonably rare to find. Most participants in the battle of Tokar has already been issued with one of the previous Khedive's Egyptian Stars. Only one issue of the star could be given to a specific individual. The medal displayed in this post, and which forms part of my collection, was purchased from a very old antique shop in the Omdurman market a few weeks ago. I also managed to find an undated star without bar from the same dealer.

Reverse and Obverse This is an example of the Order referred to in Ed Haynes's article on Medals of the Republic of Sudan under serial No 12. Not much information is available at present. Any additional comments will be welcomed. I purchased this Order in the market at an antiques stall in Omdurman a few months ago.

Hi Lorenzo, The museum is not very user friendly regarding photographs and the dusty conditions and cabinets do not help either. It is quite a well known portrait of General Gordon and I am sure it is available on the internet. I have applied to the museum committee for them to open the showcases for better and more detail photographs so I await the outcome in great anticipation. Each room and courtyard has a dedicated security official supervising matters and they tend to be very strict. Regards, Will

General Gordon portrait with his siege currency and medal.

Painting of the Khalifa in action.

Hide shields, camel saddles and another captured machinegun from Shaykan.

Clothes worn by and attributed to General Gordon. The lighting and dusty conditions are not conducive too good photographs.

Various spears showing the type and variety of the weapons used by the Ansar or followers of the Mahdi.